Category: The Citizen

Kenya’s government has signed a 154.2 billion Kenyan shilling ($1.2 billion) agreement with China Road and Bridge Corporation to expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Transport Minister Davis ?Chirchir said on Tuesday.

The East African nation ?plans to nearly triple the annual passenger ?capacity at the Nairobi airport to 22 ?million people from 7.5 million. The project was previously ?halted last year after Kenya cancelled a 2024 agreement with India’s Adani Group following the indictment of its founder ?in the United States.

“The project scope includes ?the construction of a new terminal building and associated support , ?the modernization and upgrading of existing infrastructure, the improvement of airside and landside operations,” Chirchir said on his X account.

Kenya is aiming to maintain ?its role as ?a regional ?aviation hub as countries such as Ethiopia and Rwanda invest heavily in ?new airport construction to attract airlines ?and ?travellers.

Last week, Chirchir said the government had appointed Africa’s Trade and Development Bank and the Africa Finance ?Corporation ?to arrange financing for the project.

Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed a commitment to strengthening cooperation in diplomacy, culture, education, science and world heritage.

The commitment emerged during talks between the UAE Minister of Culture, Sheikh Salem bin Khaled Al Qassimi, and Tanzania’s ambassador to France, Saidi Yakubu, at the Tanzanian Embassy in Paris on Wednesday.

The two leaders agreed to continue consultations and strengthen cooperation between institutions from both countries to promote people-to-people relations, preserve and promote cultural heritage and enhance their contribution to peace, mutual understanding and global development.

Sheikh Al Qassimi, who also serves as chairperson of the UAE National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, visited the Tanzanian Embassy in Paris as part of efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, Ambassador Yakubu said Tanzania and the UAE continue to enjoy close relations built on mutual respect, economic cooperation and a shared vision for sustainable development.

The discussions come at a time when Tanzania and the UAE are recording growing political, economic and social ties following efforts by leaders from both countries to deepen cooperation for mutual benefit.

The new head-to-head World Cup tiebreak rule has already produced group winners and early exits, while the scramble for one of the eight best third-placed spots means plenty still hinges on the final round of group games beginning on Wednesday.

When goal difference was the first deciding factor in separating side’s level on points, a three-point deficit could still be clawed back in the last group game.

Now, FIFA has made the result between tied teams the first criterion, ahead of goal difference, goals scored, fair play, and, if necessary, FIFA rankings.

At the last ?World Cup, three countries secured qualification to the knockout rounds after two group games, but no group winners had been confirmed.

Those three teams had beaten the second-placed sides but the three-point gap meant they could still be overhauled on goal difference.

That led to possible drama where a goal either way could shake things up. In the end, all three stayed top, though Brazil came within one goal of losing first place to Switzerland.

This time, four teams enter the final matchday already assured of top spot, a direct consequence of beating their ?closest rivals under the new system.

Mexico, the United States, Germany and Argentina all hold three-point leads that cannot be overturned on the final day. The same logic applies to those already out.

In 2022, two teams were out after two rounds, but they were both four points off second spot, so their elimination owed nothing ?to tiebreak scenarios.

Now, Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama all sit three points off third place but their earlier results mean even a win will not salvage their tournament.

The US play Turkey in Group D on Thursday, and ?this is the only dead-rubber across the 12 groups, because for the first time since the 1994 World Cup, finishing third in your group does not automatically mean elimination.

With eight ?of the 12 third-placed sides reaching the Round of 32 – and goal difference likely to come into play – many will not know their fate until the final whistle of the last group game on Saturday.

Qatar’s sports minister and national team player Assim Madibo visited Canada midfielder ?Ismael Kone to check on his after he was injured during their World Cup game, the Qatar Football Association said on ?Wednesday.

Qatar suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat ?by Canada in their Group B clash, ?during which Kone sustained a broken ?leg following a clumsy second-half tackle from ?Madibo. Kone has since undergone surgery.

“They were received by the President of the Canadian Soccer Association,” ?the Gulf country’s soccer governing body ?said on Facebook.

“This visit reflects the spirit of sportsmanship ?the strong relationships on and off the field. We wish the player a speedy recovery and a quick return to ?the pitch,” ?it ?added.

The Qatar Football Association posted photos of the visit, with one ?showing the two players hugging ?each ?other. Kone was sitting in a wheelchair.

Qatar are set to play against Bosnia and ?Herzegovina ?in their final group ?match, while tournament co-hosts Canada take on Switzerland.

Financial experts have expressed mixed reactions to Tanzania’s accelerated push towards a cash-lite economy, following the government’s decision to make digital payments mandatory across key sectors from July 2026.

While some economists describe the move as a milestone for transparency and efficiency, others warn that gaps in infrastructure, cybersecurity, affordability, and financial inclusion could undermine its success.

For five decades, the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), popularly known as Sabasaba, has served as Tanzania’s premier marketplace of ideas, products, innovations and investment opportunities.

What began as a platform to showcase local industries has evolved into one of East Africa’s most important trade exhibitions, attracting thousands of exhibitors, investors, policymakers and consumers from across the world.

This year, the fair reaches a significant milestone as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years since its establishment.

The Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) said on June 24,2026, preparations are in the final stages for what is expected to be the largest edition of the exhibition ever held.

Scheduled to run from June 28 to July 13, 2026, the 49th edition of the fair coincides with the 50th anniversary celebrations, creating a unique moment for reflection on the exhibition’s contribution to Tanzania’s economic transformation and its future role in connecting local businesses to global markets.

Speaking ahead of the event, TanTrade Director General Dr Latifa Khamisi Mohamed said the Golden Jubilee edition represents far more than a celebration of longevity.

‘The Sabasaba Trade Fair has played a critical role in promoting trade, investment and industrial development in Tanzania over the past 50 years. This year’s exhibition will not only celebrate that history but also showcase the future opportunities available to Tanzanian businesses in regional and international markets,’ she said.

The exhibition comes at a time when Tanzania is intensifying efforts to boost exports, strengthen industrialisation and encourage greater participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in international trade.

Over the years, Sabasaba has become an important gateway for local producers seeking buyers beyond Tanzania’s borders. From agricultural products and manufactured goods to technology solutions and financial services, the fair has increasingly reflected the diversification of the country’s economy.

This year’s main theme, ‘The Sabasaba International Trade Fair is Tanzania’s Pride,’ underscores the event’s national significance.

Supporting themes such as ‘Tanzanian Products More International’ and ‘Tanzanian Businesses More Digital’ highlight the government’s ambition to expand export markets and accelerate digital transformation within the business community.

According to Dr Mohamed, organisers are expecting strong participation from both domestic and international exhibitors, a sign of growing confidence in Tanzania as a trade and investment destination.

‘Our vision is to bring together businesses from Tanzania and around the world so that they can create partnerships, access new markets and identify investment opportunities. The response we have received so far indicates that this will be one of the most successful exhibitions in the history of Sabasaba,’ she said.

For many businesses, the fair remains an important platform for networking and market expansion.

Managing Director of a Dar es Salaam-based food processing company, Mr Hussein Mussa, said the exhibition has helped local enterprises gain visibility and establish commercial relationships that would otherwise be difficult to secure.

‘Trade fairs such as Sabasaba allow businesses to interact directly with customers, distributors and investors. Many SMEs cannot afford international marketing campaigns, so having access to thousands of visitors in one location creates enormous opportunities for growth,’ he said.

To mark the Golden Jubilee, TanTrade has organised a series of special activities, including a walkathon on June 27 and a fireworks display later that evening to officially launch the celebrations.

The highlight of the anniversary programme will be the Golden Jubilee Night on July 6, featuring historical exhibitions, a documentary chronicling the evolution of Sabasaba, entertainment performances and awards recognising institutions and individuals who have contributed to the success of the fair over the past half-century.

Russia has accused the United States of failing to deliver on “understandings” reached between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald ?Trump at a summit in Alaska last August, a shift that suggests growing frustration in Moscow.

In the space of three days, three Russian officials have said, without providing specifics, that Washington has not followed through.

Their comments follow an intensification of Ukraine’s drone strikes deep inside Russia – including two attacks last week on a Moscow oil refinery – and a Group of Seven summit at which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Trump and other Western leaders that Kyiv was turning the tide of the ?war.

Moscow rejects that, and has continued heavy attacks of its own.

Russia says US not living up to ‘spirit of Alaska’

Ever since Trump began trying last ?year to end the war in Ukraine, sometimes criticising Putin but more often blaming Zelenskiy for failing to reach a ?deal, the Kremlin has repeatedly expressed gratitude for his efforts.

Since the Alaska summit, it has often spoken of “the spirit of Anchorage” – shorthand, analysts say, for Russia’s contention ?that Trump is sympathetic to its central demand that Ukraine give up the whole of its Donbas region in return for a freezing of battle lines elsewhere.

The US ?has not spelled out what, if anything, was agreed, and allied leaders were unconvinced that Trump had achieved anything by rolling out the red carpet for Putin.

However, only a month after the summit, Trump, in a characteristic shift, suggested Ukraine could recapture all the land Russia had seized, and Moscow was soon expressing disappointment.

In the first of a flurry of high-level statements on the ?encounter, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday that only one side had remained committed to the understandings, “while the other side, as it now appears, has ?not been fully able to do its part”.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that the summit may have been a US “ploy to buy time to rearm the Kyiv “.

Lavrov’s ?deputy, Sergei Ryabkov, also accused the US of departing from the “fundamental understandings” reached in Alaska, according to Interfax. It quoted him as saying, however, that dialogue with the US would continue.

“We also see Washington’s line moving closer to the most rabid anti-Russian policies pursued by the US’s closest European allies – namely, the UK and France,” another agency, RIA, quoted Ryabkov as saying, referring to last week’s G7 summit in France.

‘Putin needs to give a response’

Gerhard Mangott, an Austrian analyst and veteran Putin ?watcher, said the shift reflected Moscow’s nervousness ?at a “very critical situation for ?the Russian economy and military” in light of a surge in Ukrainian attacks inside Russia. He said Moscow believed these were being assisted by the U.S.

“Putin needs to give a response that is visible to the population and that demonstrates ?that he still has cards to play,” Mangott said, predicting further military escalation and a Russian push to get ?Trump back onside.

Putin, speaking ?about the recent Ukrainian strikes, said on Tuesday that “the entire West” was working for Kyiv.

Oleg Ignatov, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, said Russia was dismayed by the absence of U.S. mediation efforts since February, when Trump launched a war against Iran together with Israel, and Washington’s attention shifted.

Russia has consistently ruled out the ?possibility of ?mediation by European governments, which have given little or no sign that they would encourage Kyiv to ?make major concessions.

Ignatov said Russia wanted the U.S. side to resume diplomacy to help Russia end the war on its own terms.

“There’s no structured diplomatic process, there’s no deal on the table, there’s ?actually nothing,” Ignatov said. “The Russians are very disappointed about this, they really want the Americans to engage.”

Zanzibar’s Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla has moved to calm controversy over employment, health insurance, and union affairs, reaffirming that services and opportunities will be provided without discrimination across the United Republic of Tanzania.

He made the remarks on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, when he adjourned the Third Session of the 11th House of Representatives, concluding debates that had triggered heated discussion inside and outside the House.

Australian authorities ramped ?up surveillance and testing after confirming two cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu, while Papua New Guinea suspended all poultry imports from the country.

Tests are underway in South Australia after two dead sub-Antarctic seabirds and a pelican were found on Monday near Fowlers Bay, more than 1,200 km (746 miles) east of Esperance in Western Australia where ?the first two confirmed cases were reported, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

South Australia state Primary Industries ?Minister Claire Scriven told ABC Radio it could be several days before results from the ?bird samples are available.

“In terms of the turnaround times, it sort of depends on the outcomes … we hope ?this doesn’t get to South Australia, but we know, of course, that it may,” Scriven said.

A South Australia Primary ?Industries Department spokesperson said there were no confirmed bird flu cases in the state, but it will investigate any reports of sick or dead birds and will alert the public if a positive case is found.

Ground-based surveillance and drone surveys are being carried ?out at sea lion breeding sites along South Australia’s west and far west coasts, while testing frequency has been ?increased in high-risk areas.

Two more birds are being tested in Western Australia, far from the initial cases, but authorities said there ?no evidence of a wider spread, the ABC reported. A total of 11 samples have been sent for testing in Western Australia from 94 reports of dead or unwell birds over the past three days, the report added.

The confirmed cases have prompted neighbouring Papua New Guinea to ban poultry meat and product imports from Australia, the Department ?of Agriculture said on Wednesday.

While ?Australian poultry meat is ?mainly grown for local consumption, Papua New Guinea is Australia’s largest export market, buying A$44 million ($30.38 million) worth of products in 2023.

The department said the ban was imposed ?despite the poultry sector remaining free of bird flu, adding that it was “actively engaging ?with PNG to ?resolve this issue.”

Until now, Australia had been the only continent without a confirmed mainland case, though the virus was detected in late 2025 on the sub-Antarctic territory of Heard Island.

Human infections remain rare, but the global spread of avian ?influenza has ?devastated flocks and disrupted the supply and pricing of poultry meat ?and eggs in many countries. In its efforts to tackle bird flu, Australia has tightened farm biosecurity, increased testing of shorebirds, vaccinated vulnerable species ?and conducted response simulations.

Imagine a household that spends more money than it earns. Normally, the family would have to borrow from a bank, relatives or friends.

The lender would ask difficult questions: How much do you need? How will you repay? Can you afford the loan? These questions impose discipline because the lender risks losing money if the borrower cannot repay.

Now imagine that the family owns a machine capable of creating money whenever it runs short. The temptation would be obvious. Why go through the trouble of convincing a bank or a relative to lend when you can simply create the money yourself?

This simple example helps explain one of the most important principles of modern economics. Governments are generally expected to borrow from financial markets, commercial banks and the public through Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds.

They are discouraged from borrowing directly from their central banks because central banks possess a unique power: they can create money.

The Finance Act, 2026 has therefore generated considerable public debate because it introduces a new provision allowing the government, under specified emergency circumstances, to obtain temporary advances from the Bank of Tanzania. Supporters argue that every country requires emergency financing mechanisms during disasters and major economic shocks.

Critics fear that such provisions could become a back door through which governments gradually finance ordinary budget deficits by creating money. Who is right?

The answer is that both sides have a point.

Central bank financing is not inherently bad. The economic concern is not simply that the government may borrow from the Bank of Tanzania.

It is that borrowing from a central bank differs fundamentally from borrowing from commercial banks or the public. When the government issues Treasury Bonds, it mobilises savings that already exist within the economy.

When it borrows from the central bank, new purchasing power can be created. If used sparingly during genuine emergencies, such financing can help stabilise an economy during crises.

However, if used repeatedly to finance ordinary budget deficits, the result may be excessive growth of money relative to production, leading to inflation, pressure on the exchange rate and a gradual erosion of confidence in the national currency.

For this reason, economists generally regard central-bank financing as an emergency instrument rather than a routine source of government funding.

History also provides cautionary lessons.

In this regard, Zimbabwe’s experience remains the most familiar example in Africa. Faced with severe fiscal pressures and shrinking financing options, the government increasingly relied on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to finance public expenditure.

What began as a response to economic difficulties gradually evolved into persistent monetary financing.

The result was runaway inflation that destroyed savings, eroded public confidence and eventually forced widespread reliance on foreign currencies, particularly the US dollar.

Zimbabwe’s experience was not caused by central bank financing alone, but it demonstrated how dangerous the situation can become when emergency measures lose effective restraint.

Tanzania is neither the United States nor Zimbabwe. Our circumstances are different.

Nevertheless, these international experiences illustrate an important lesson: borrowing from a central bank can either help a nation overcome a crisis or contribute to economic instability depending on the safeguards that accompany it.

This is why the exact wording of the new law matters.

The Finance Act, 2026 allows temporary advances where an unforeseeable or unavoidable event causes a temporary deficiency of revenue.

It identifies three circumstances: a disaster as defined under the Disaster Management Act; an external economic event, circumstance or cause of exceptional magnitude and impact; or a constitutional state of emergency.

The first and third conditions are relatively clear. The second is less so.

What exactly constitutes an external economic event of exceptional magnitude and impact? A global recession? A sudden increase in oil prices? A decline in aid flows? A fall in export earnings? A sharp depreciation of the shilling? The law does not specify.

As a result, much would depend on how this provision is interpreted and implemented.

This concern becomes more significant when viewed against the country’s broader fiscal situation. In a recent series of articles on debt and development, I noted that Tanzania’s debt-service obligations are estimated to consume approximately 45 percent of government revenue.

Whether one agrees with the precise figure or not, it is clear that debt servicing now absorbs a substantial share of public resources.

The International Monetary Fund generally regards debt-service burdens above approximately 18 percent of government revenue as an early warning indicator for low-income countries.

In such circumstances, access to direct central bank financing may become increasingly attractive to any government facing revenue pressures.

This is why Parliament should strengthen the safeguards in the law itself.

It should consider introducing amendments requiring the Minister for Finance to report any such borrowing to the National Assembly within a specified period, indicating the amount borrowed, the interest rate charged, the reason for the borrowing and the proposed source of repayment.

The Governor of the Bank of Tanzania should certify that the advance is consistent with the Bank’s mandate to maintain monetary stability.

The law could also require all such advances to be disclosed publicly and repaid within a fixed period unless Parliament expressly approves an extension.

These measures would not weaken the government’s ability to respond to genuine emergencies.

On the contrary, they would strengthen public confidence that extraordinary powers will be used only for extraordinary circumstances.

The issue, therefore, is not whether the government should ever borrow from the central bank.

Most economists would agree that exceptional situations sometimes require exceptional measures.

The real issue is who decides when circumstances are exceptional, and who ensures that tomorrow’s emergency does not quietly become today’s budget policy.