Category: The Citizen

Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega has directed contractors constructing roads linked to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to operate around the clock to ensure key infrastructure is completed within the required timelines.

The directive targets strategic road sections in Arusha, one of the cities expected to host activities during the tournament, which Tanzania will co-host with Kenya and Uganda.

Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar has urged taxpayers to continue paying taxes voluntarily, on time and in full, saying domestic revenue remains critical in financing major development projects and improving social services.

Speaking during the Taxpayer Appreciation Run and Walk held at the Gymkhana Grounds in Dar es Salaam ahead of the President’s Best Taxpayer Awards and celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Mr Omar said the government continued to rely heavily on domestic revenue to drive the country’s development agenda.

He said TRA is expected to collect approximately Sh36 trillion in the 2026/27 financial year as part of projected domestic revenue of Sh46 trillion to pary finance the government’s Sh62.3 trillion budget. Mr Omar said revenue collection performance in the 2025/26 financial year reflected strong cooperation between the government and taxpayers.

He noted that TRA exceeded its monthly revenue collection target by three percent last month and expressed confidence that the authority would meet its annual target by June 30.

‘Every financial year marks a new beginning. As we enter July, we embark on another journey with even greater goals. We wish business people and investors success in their economic activities, but such success should go hand in hand with fulfilling the responsibility of paying taxes voluntarily, on time and in full,’ he said.

Mr Omar said major projects currently under implementation, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), improvements to the TAZARA railway and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), had largely been financed through tax revenues collected from citizens and businesses.

He said the SGR had transformed the transport sector by carrying thousands of passengers in a single journey, helping to reduce road congestion and improve efficiency in economic activities.

Mr Omar also urged Tanzanians to embrace a culture of regular physical exercise, noting that good health increases productivity at workplaces, reduces healthcare costs and boosts economic output.

‘I urge TRA staff, taxpayers and tax consultants to continue participating in physical exercise because a healthy body enhances decision-making and improves service delivery,’ he said.

The minister also stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and national unity, saying these remained essential foundations for business growth, investment and revenue collection.

‘Without peace and stability, economic activities cannot flourish. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard the country’s peace so that citizens can continue working, producing, earning income and paying taxes for national development,’ he said.

Mr Omar also congratulated TRA on its 30th anniversary and commended taxpayers for their contribution to national development through tax payments, while calling for stronger cooperation between the government, taxpayers and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, TRA Commissioner General Yusuph Mwenda said strong cooperation between the authority and taxpayers had remained a key pillar of revenue collection success.

He said the achievements had been driven by increased trust and collaboration between TRA and taxpayers, contributing to higher government revenue and supporting the implementation of development projects and essential public services.

‘TRA has continued implementing major operational, systemic and technological reforms aimed at simplifying service delivery and improving revenue collection efficiency. Digital systems have reduced bureaucracy, increased transparency and accountability, and enabled taxpayers to access services more quickly and conveniently,’ he said.

Mr Mwenda added that TRA would continue investing in innovation, technology and taxpayer education to strengthen the business environment, expand the tax base and stimulate sustainable economic growth.

Former Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume has said his decision to chair the Board of Trustees of the Edward Lowassa Foundation was driven by a long-standing friendship with the late former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and their shared interest in education and conflict resolution.

Speaking during the foundation’s second Board of Trustees meeting in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, Mr Karume said he initially hesitated to take up the role, citing his reduced involvement in public duties.

When the Pacific Rim Gaming Policy Forum convened its closed-door roundtable in Auckland this past spring, the discussion quickly moved past the predictable talking points.

Among the voices shaping the conversation was Charlotte Wilson, editor at BetPokies NZ – a specialist whose cross-market research into emerging and regulated gaming jurisdictions has placed her at the forefront of digital casino analysis.

The session’s central question was deceptively simple: do Tanzania and New Zealand, two markets separated by geography and economic context, share enough structural DNA to influence each other’s digital gaming trajectories? Wilson’s answer was a qualified – but well-evidenced – yes.

Two Markets, One Structural Tension – BetPokies NZ Perspective

For Charlotte Wilson, Tanzania’s position in the digital gaming conversation is inseparable from its regulatory architecture. The Gaming Board of Tanzania, established under the Gaming Act, Cap. 41, governs all licensed gambling operations in the country, and Wilson treats its licensing framework as a meaningful indicator of where the Tanzanian market is heading.

As she noted during the roundtable, the Board’s 2022 push to formalise mobile betting platforms – documented in coverage by www.thecitizen.co.tz – represents not merely a domestic policy decision but a regional signal. East Africa’s gambling audience is digitally mobile-first, and Tanzania is actively positioning itself to capture that shift through regulated channels.

New Zealand’s trajectory runs along a different fault line. The Department of Internal Affairs administers the Gambling Act 2003, which continues to prohibit domestic online casino operators from holding New Zealand-issued licences.

This creates what Wilson describes as a “regulatory vacuum that the market fills regardless.” Offshore platforms, compliant with foreign licensing authorities, serve New Zealand players in a space that is tolerated but not explicitly governed by domestic law.

The Gambling (Facilitation of Online Gambling) Amendment Bill, which has circulated in various forms through Parliament, remains unresolved – a persistent gap Wilson returns to in her editorial assessments at betpokies.co.nz.

Where Tanzania and New Zealand Markets Begin to Converge

Despite obvious differences in development stage, Wilson identifies forces that connect TZ and NZ more tightly than most industry observers acknowledge:

Mobile-first user behaviour: Both markets show dominant smartphone usage for digital gaming, which reduces the relevance of desktop-optimised platforms and puts pressure on operators to deliver seamless mobile experiences.

Payment infrastructure as a licensing filter: In Tanzania, M-Pesa integration has become a de facto requirement for any operator seeking meaningful market reach. In New Zealand, localised payment options carry comparable weight – platforms accommodating POLi casinos demonstrate a practical commitment to frictionless, locally-relevant financial access.

Regulatory intent versus regulatory capacity: Both jurisdictions have stated aims to modernise gambling oversight, but enforcement resources remain asymmetric relative to market size.

Consumer protection as a reputational battleground: Player dispute data, not just licensing status, is increasingly what sophisticated users reference when evaluating operator legitimacy in both markets.

Grey market tolerance as a transitional phase: Neither country has achieved full domestic operator licensing for online casino play, meaning players in both TZ and NZ currently operate in environments shaped by offshore compliance standards.

Taken together, these five pressure points reveal a pattern that Wilson describes as “convergent friction” – distinct markets experiencing the same structural stress from different starting positions.

The implication for operators is concrete: a platform built to perform in one of these environments is, by design, better equipped to serve the other.

“When I map these two markets side by side, what stands out is not the gap between them but the speed at which that gap is closing. Operators who treat Tanzania and New Zealand as unrelated bets are already behind the curve,” shares Charlotte Wilson.

How BetPokies NZ Interprets Payment Infrastructure Signals

Wilson draws her Tanzania analysis partly from www.thecitizen.co.tz, which she regards as one of the more reliable sources tracking the intersection of telecoms policy and gambling regulation in East Africa.

Her reading of recent reporting there points to a consistent pattern: Tanzanian regulatory bodies are currently prioritising revenue formalisation over consumer protection, with the expectation that safeguards will follow once the licensing infrastructure matures.

This sequencing, Wilson argues, is not unusual for emerging digital markets – but it does create an uneven playing field for players during the transition period.

In New Zealand, she applies a comparable analytical lens to the Department of Internal Affairs’ annual gambling expenditure data. The figures consistently show that casino-style games account for a growing share of offshore spend.

For Wilson, this is less a marketing observation than a structural one: payment method adoption reveals where regulatory gaps actually sit, not where they theoretically should. When an operator invests in integrating locally used payment solutions, it signals alignment with the market it claims to serve.

This analytical approach is a fixture of Wilson’s editorial work at BetPokies NZ, where payment infrastructure is treated as a primary market signal rather than a secondary product feature.

What Responsible Operators Should Internalise

The roundtable’s most practically useful segment came when Wilson was asked directly what operators in either market should take from this cross-regional comparison. Her response was grounded in a principle she applies consistently in her reviews: alignment between a platform’s licensing jurisdiction, its payment infrastructure, and its stated player protection policies is the baseline test of operational credibility.

A platform licensed in Malta or Curaçao serving Tanzanian or New Zealand players is not inherently problematic – but the absence of locally-relevant payment options, accessible dispute resolution mechanisms, and region-specific responsible gambling tools signals a gap between paper compliance and real accountability.

The Answer the Roundtable Was Built Around

The convergence of Tanzania and New Zealand within a single digital gaming conversation reflects a wider shift in how global gaming growth is being distributed across regulatory tiers. Wilson’s conclusion at the forum was direct: markets at different stages of regulatory maturity are increasingly connected through shared user behaviour, common payment infrastructure dependencies, and the same cohort of offshore-licensed operators.

Her analysis, drawn from years of editorial work at BetPokies NZ and anchored in primary regulatory data from both jurisdictions, points to one clear answer – regulatory developments in Dar es Salaam carry genuine relevance for how players in Auckland experience digital gaming.

TZ and NZ are not parallel stories. They are, as Wilson put it, two chapters of the same industry text, written at different speeds but converging on the same page.

Air Tanzania has increased flights between Dar es Salaam and Mumbai, India, from four times a week to daily services, citing rising passenger demand for business, medical, education and tourism travel.

Air Tanzania Director of Marketing and Commercial Services, Dominic Louis, said the new schedule took effect this month after strong traffic growth on the route.

For many people outside the continent, Africa is often understood through headlines. Some focus on elections and political transitions. Others highlight currency volatility, debt concerns or security challenges.

These developments are part of Africa’s reality and deserve attention. However, they rarely tell the full story of a continent undergoing one of the most profound economic and demographic transformations of the 21st century.

Having spent years building businesses across Africa and the Middle East, I have come to appreciate that the most important stories are often the ones that never dominate international news. They are the stories of entrepreneurs creating opportunities where none previously existed.

They are the stories of businesses embracing technology to solve uniquely African challenges. They are the stories of expanding cities, improving infrastructure, growing regional trade and a generation of young Africans determined to shape their own economic future.

Those stories may not always capture headlines, but they are quietly transforming the continent. One of the biggest misconceptions about Africa is that it is treated as a single market. In reality, Africa is a collection of 54 diverse economies, each with its own strengths, regulatory environments, consumer behaviour and investment opportunities.

Understanding this diversity is essential for anyone looking to invest, expand or build long-term partnerships across the continent. Success in one market does not automatically translate into another. The businesses that succeed are those that invest time in understanding local realities rather than relying on broad assumptions.

What continues to impress me most is the resilience and ambition that exist across African markets. Whether operating in manufacturing, logistics, mining, technology, telecommunications, agriculture, healthcare or hospitality, there is a common determination to build institutions and businesses capable of competing globally.

Governments continue to invest in roads, ports, energy infrastructure and digital connectivity. The private sector is becoming increasingly sophisticated, embracing innovation and adopting technologies that improve efficiency and productivity.

Entrepreneurs are identifying solutions tailored to local challenges rather than simply importing models from elsewhere. These developments receive far less attention than political uncertainty or economic shocks, yet they are the forces that will ultimately shape Africa’s long-term trajectory. Perhaps Africa’s greatest competitive advantage is its people.

The continent has one of the world’s youngest populations, with millions of young people entering the labour market every year. This demographic transition presents challenges, particularly around education, skills development and job creation, but it also represents one of the greatest economic opportunities of our generation.

If governments and businesses invest in education, entrepreneurship and innovation, Africa’s youthful population can become one of the world’s most powerful engines of growth.

Technology is already accelerating that transformation. Across the continent, digital payments, fintech, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and mobile technologies are changing how people transact, access financial services and run businesses.

In many instances, African innovators are not simply adopting global technology-they are developing solutions specifically designed for African markets, solutions that are increasingly attracting global attention. This digital revolution is also lowering barriers for entrepreneurship.

Today, a young entrepreneur with a smartphone can reach customers, access finance and build a business in ways that were unimaginable only a decade ago. Alongside digital transformation, traditional sectors remain equally important. Infrastructure continues to require long-term investment. Manufacturing is creating opportunities to strengthen regional value chains. Agriculture, which remains the backbone of many African economies, has enormous potential for value addition, food security and export growth.

Mining continues to supply the critical minerals needed for the global energy transition, while healthcare and education present opportunities for both social impact and commercial investment. None of these opportunities diminish the challenges the continent faces. Infrastructure gaps remain significant. Regulatory environments continue to evolve.

Access to finance remains limited for many businesses. Skills shortages, governance challenges and policy uncertainty still affect investment decisions in several markets. These realities should not be ignored. But neither should they define Africa. Every emerging market has experienced periods of uncertainty during its development journey.

The countries and businesses that succeed are those that maintain a longterm perspective rather than allowing short-term volatility to dictate every decision. The same principle applies to Africa.

The investors who create lasting value here are those who build relationships, understand local markets, develop local talent and commit themselves beyond individual business cycles. That approach requires patience. It requires listening before acting. It requires partnerships built on trust rather than transactions.

Above all, it requires recognising that Africa is not simply a destination for investment-it is increasingly becoming a source of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic leadership. As someone who has worked across multiple African markets, I remain optimistic about what lies ahead. The Africa I have experienced is not defined by its headlines. It is defined by possibility.

Seventy-nine young agribusiness practitioners from five regions have completed a two-week financial literacy training programme aimed at equipping them with skills to serve as community trainers in financial management, investment and entrepreneurship, in a move expected to strengthen agricultural productivity and improve food security.

The training was delivered under the Vijana Kilimo Biashara (VKB) programme, implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and in collaboration with the Bank of Tanzania Academy (BoT Academy).

Upon completion, the participants were certified as financial educators (CFEs), enabling them to train farmers, livestock keepers and small-scale entrepreneurs within their communities. Speaking in Arusha, BoT Academy Principal Dr Nicas Yabu said the trainees, drawn from Arusha, Dodoma, Singida, Morogoro and Manyara regions, had been equipped with financial knowledge and the responsibility to cascade it at grassroots level.

He said the programme seeks to shift financial awareness from formal institutions to rural communities where most agricultural activity takes place but where financial literacy remains limited.

‘We have trained them on how to earn, save and invest. The aim is for them to return and empower communities to use financial resources effectively and build stronger livelihoods through agriculture and enterprise,’ he said.

The training covered financial services, savings culture, investment opportunities, credit access and responsible borrowing, with inputs from the Bank of Tanzania, UTT AMIS, insurers and commercial banks.

WFP Country Representative Officer-in-Charge Christine Mendes said the initiative is part of the VKB programme, which aims to equip young people with skills for employment and agribusiness development while strengthening financial management.

Since 2023, more than 77,000 young people across eight regions have been reached, while the latest cohort brings the number of certified financial educators to 150.

One participant, Shedrack Minja from Manyara, said the training had shifted his mindset, adding that agriculture should be treated as a business requiring planning, saving and reinvestment.

The BoT Academy and WFP signed an MoU on July 31, 2025, to strengthen financial literacy among youth through the VKB initiative.

Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi has directed institutions involved in combating drug trafficking to develop new strategies in response to changing tactics employed by those involved in the illicit trade.

He said that despite progress made in combating narcotics, authorities continue to face challenges arising from constantly evolving criminal methods, including the production of new synthetic drugs designed to resemble traditional narcotics.

President Mwinyi made the remarks on June 27, 2026, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Zanzibar Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdullah during an event marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Zanzibar.

‘I direct institutions involved in this fight to strengthen cooperation, accountability and professionalism, understand the tactics used by these criminals and ensure laws are properly enforced,’ he said.

He said drug traffickers had increasingly adopted technology in conducting illegal trade activities, while social media was also being used to influence young people.

According to President Mwinyi, efforts to combat narcotics cannot succeed through legal enforcement alone without adequate investment in education, upbringing and awareness campaigns that encourage young people to engage in economic activities.

‘I remind families, which form the first line of defence against drug abuse, to strengthen efforts in promoting values, education and good communication within households. Failure to do so creates gaps that can be exploited by drug traffickers,’ he said.

He also said the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar had taken various measures to tackle drug-related crimes, including establishing the Zanzibar Drug Control and Enforcement Authority.

Among achievements recorded since the authority was established, he said, was the dismantling of major drug trafficking networks.

According to President Mwinyi, four criminal networks involved in trafficking heroin, khat and mixing narcotics into various food products within Zanzibar and internationally were identified and dismantled during the 2025/26 financial year.

The government has also strengthened rehabilitation and treatment services through the establishment of a treatment centre in Kidimni, Central District in South Unguja Region, where 769 people affected by drug abuse have been registered for treatment and support services.

Acting Minister of State in the Office of the First Vice-President Hamza Hassan Juma said drug trafficking was controlled by wealthy individuals operating through organised systems and called on the government to provide more equipment to help authorities tackle technologically driven criminal operations.

He said there was a need for all citizens, including shehas and leaders at various levels, to unite in the fight against drugs in Zanzibar.

Meanwhile, Zanzibar Drug Control and Enforcement Authority Commissioner General Colonel Burhani Zubeiri Nassoro said the authority had successfully dismantled four major networks involved in the transportation and distribution of narcotics.

He said cooperation between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania anti-drug authorities had contributed to reducing drug-related crimes.

‘We will continue this cooperation to ensure we build a nation with strong young people because a nation without strong youth is a nation without a future,’ he said.

This year’s theme for the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is: ‘The evidence is clear: Invest in prevention.’

Visitors heading to this year’s Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), popularly known as Sabasaba, will need more than enthusiasm to enter the exhibition grounds-they will also need a smartphone.

In a landmark move that reflects Tanzania’s growing digital transformation agenda, the Government has abolished paper tickets for the 50th edition of the country’s flagship trade exhibition, making digital tickets the only means of entry.

The decision signals a major shift in the way one of East Africa’s largest trade fairs will operate, placing technology at the centre of visitor experience as Tanzania pushes to expand digital services across public institutions and the business sector. Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam on Friday, the Minister for Industry and Trade, Judith Kapinga, said all entry tickets would be purchased electronically through the TanTrade Biashara App.

“We have completely done away with paper tickets. All tickets will be digital to simplify services and eliminate unnecessary inconvenience for visitors,” Ms Kapinga said.

Android users can already access the platform to purchase tickets, while the version for Apple App Store users is expected to become available once final technical processes are completed.

The digital ticketing system forms part of a broader package of innovations introduced for this year’s exhibition, which marks the Golden Jubilee of the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair.

Running from June 28 to July 13, the exhibition carries the theme: “Sabasaba International Trade Fair for Tanzania’s Development,” with the sub-theme: “Tanzanian Products Going Further Globally and a More Digital Tanzania in Trade.”

Beyond replacing paper tickets, organisers have also introduced a digital Wayfinder system that will allow visitors to use their mobile phones to navigate the expansive exhibition grounds and locate exhibitors with ease.

The innovation is expected to significantly reduce the time visitors spend searching for exhibition stands, particularly as this year’s fair is set to attract a record number of participants.

According to Ms Kapinga, more than 3,891 exhibitors, including over 430 international exhibitors from more than 23 countries, are expected to participate.

Visitor numbers are projected to exceed 590,000, underlining the growing importance of the exhibition as a regional business and investment platform.

“This year’s exhibition will set a new record both in participation and in the use of digital technology to improve the visitor experience,” she said.

The minister added that the fair is also expected to generate more than 12,800 direct and indirect jobs, further reinforcing its contribution to Tanzania’s economy through trade, investment and entrepreneurship.

The digital transition mirrors the Government’s wider ambition of building a technology-driven economy, where digital platforms improve service delivery, promote efficiency and create new opportunities for businesses.

Preparations for the exhibition are now at an advanced stage, with extensive renovation works completed on exhibition halls, office buildings, tents, food service areas, water systems, sanitation facilities and specially designed Golden Jubilee attractions.

Ms Kapinga said the anniversary celebrations were intended not only to commemorate five decades of the country’s premier trade exhibition but also to demonstrate Tanzania’s readiness to embrace innovation as a driver of economic growth.

“The theme reflects the Government’s commitment to making Tanzania a regional hub for trade, investment and the application of technology across East Africa and the continent,” she said.

The official opening ceremony is scheduled for July 3, while a special Golden Jubilee Awards Night will be held on July 6 to recognise outstanding contributors to the exhibition’s history.

The event will conclude on July 13, with the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, expected to officiate at the closing ceremony.

The government has urged employers across the country to take advantage of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) penalty waiver by clearing outstanding social security contribution arrears.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities), Mr Deus Sangu, said the initiative would help lower business costs, improve productivity and support economic growth.

He said the waiver forms part of the Sixth Phase Government’s broader efforts under President Samia Suluhu Hassan to improve the business environment, strengthen the social security system and address employers’ concerns. Mr Sangu made the remarks in Dar es Salaam during the 67th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), where he witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NSSF and ATE.

The agreement seeks to strengthen institutional cooperation through information and expertise sharing and improve the implementation of the two institutions’ mandates for the benefit of employers, employees and the country.

Mr Sangu said employment opportunities had continued to grow through government policies and collaboration between the government and the private sector.

NSSF Director General Mr Masha Mshomba said the penalty waiver, which took effect on June 1, 2026, and will remain in force until December 31, 2026, aims to ease financial pressure on employers and enable them to focus on business productivity.

He added that the partnership between NSSF and ATE would strengthen the provision of social security education and increase awareness among employers and employees on the importance of social security.

ATE Chief Executive Officer Ms Suzanne Ndomba-Doran welcomed the waiver, describing it as a timely measure that offers employers an opportunity to regularise their statutory obligations without affecting business sustainability.

She said the initiative reflects cooperation between the government and social security institutions in promoting compliance with the law, expanding registration and increasing contribution collections while protecting workers’ interests.

“We encourage employers to seize this opportunity and regularise their contribution obligations without delay,” she said.

Ms Ndomba-Doran said ATE has continued to raise awareness of the waiver through its communication platforms and education programmes to ensure employers fully utilise the opportunity, supporting business sustainability and growth in the employment sector.