Category: The Citizen

Tanzania is seeking to deepen economic cooperation with Russia, targeting increased investment in strategic sectors including mining, infrastructure, energy and agriculture following President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s recent landmark visit to the Russian Federation.

The call was made during celebrations marking Russia Day at the Russian Cultural Centre in Dar es Salaam over the weekend. The event, hosted by Russian Ambassador to Tanzania, Andrey Avetisyan, was dedicated to Crimea and brought together government officials, diplomats, business leaders and members of the Russian community in Tanzania.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde said relations between the two countries had entered a new phase driven by stronger economic diplomacy and growing trade ties.

Mr Mavunde, who represented the Tanzanian government at the event, said President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s state visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg earlier this month had opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.

‘This was a truly historic moment and the first visit by a Tanzanian Head of State to Russia in nearly six decades,’ he said. ‘The discussions between President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President Vladimir Putin have injected fresh momentum into our partnership and laid a strategic roadmap for future cooperation.’

The minister noted that Tanzania and Russia are preparing to mark 65 years of diplomatic relations, recalling that Russia was among the first countries to recognise Tanzania’s independence and establish diplomatic ties in December 1961.

According to Mr Mavunde, bilateral cooperation has expanded beyond historical and political ties to include trade, investment, education, tourism, energy and mining.

He said annual trade between the two countries has been growing by an estimated 20 to 25 percent, with dozens of Russian companies sourcing products from Tanzania while Tanzanian firms continue to import goods from Russia.

To accelerate this growth, Tanzania is inviting more Russian state-owned corporations and private investors to explore opportunities in the country.

‘We welcome targeted partnerships in strategic infrastructure, mineral value addition, green energy and large-scale modernised agriculture,’ Mr Mavunde said.

The minister also highlighted growing collaboration in education, noting that Russia has expanded scholarship opportunities for Tanzanian students to 150 annually, alongside additional slots offered by Russian universities.

He said language and cultural exchanges would play an important role in strengthening future cooperation, particularly among young people.

Another major outcome of President Samia’s visit, according to Mr Mavunde, is the planned launch of direct Air Tanzania flights linking Tanzania and Russia from July.

He described the new route as a significant milestone expected to boost tourism, trade and investment by reducing travel barriers between the two countries.

In the mining sector, Mr Mavunde reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the development of the Mkuju River uranium project being implemented by Mantra Tanzania Limited, a subsidiary of Rosatom.

He said the project, which is expected to be completed by 2028, represents one of Tanzania’s highest-priority strategic investments and will support the country’s entry into the nuclear energy value chain.

‘The project demonstrates our shared commitment to using advanced technologies to support sustainable industrial and economic development,’ he said.

Mr Mavunde added that the government remained committed to supporting Rosatom’s long-term engagement in Tanzania and facilitating the successful implementation of the project.

He further reiterated Tanzania’s commitment to maintaining strong bilateral relations with Russia based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and shared development interests.

‘As President Samia stated during her visit, Tanzania values Russia’s long-standing friendship and contribution to Africa’s development,’ Mr Mavunde said. ‘The success of the recent visit demonstrates what can be achieved when nations build bridges based on mutual respect and common interests.’

One of the league giants, Simba SC kept the pressure firmly on their title rivals after a narrow but important 2-1 victory over Pamba Jiji FC at the KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam on Sunday in the Mainland Tanzania Premier League. The result ensured the title race remains tightly contested as the season enters its decisive phase.

The win means Simba SC remain second on the table with 61 points from 26 matches, just two points behind leaders Young Africans (Yanga), who continue to top the standings with 63 points.

The gap keeps the championship battle finely poised, with every remaining fixture now carrying significant weight. In the chasing pack, Azam FC sit third with 55 points, while Singida Black Stars, TRA United, and JKT Tanzania remain within reach of the upper half, hoping to finish strongly.

Simba SC started the match with high intensity and quickly imposed themselves on possession. Their early pressure paid off in the 7th minute when Ellie Mpanzu broke the deadlock. The goal came from a perfectly weighted pass by Neo Maema, who split the Pamba Jiji defensive line and released Mpanzu into space. The forward showed composure to slot the ball past the goalkeeper and give Simba an early lead.

However, Pamba Jiji FC responded positively and refused to be overwhelmed. Their persistence was rewarded in the 18th minute when Mathew Tegisi Momanyi capitalised on a defensive lapse to level the score. The equaliser shifted momentum slightly, forcing Simba SC to reorganise and regain control in midfield.

The second half saw a more dominant Simba side, with increased tempo and sharper attacking transitions. They controlled possession and pushed Pamba deeper into their own half, creating several chances before finally restoring their advantage in the 64th minute. Libase Gueye finished off a well-worked move to make it 2-1, a goal that ultimately proved decisive.

Despite late pressure from Pamba Jiji FC, Simba SC’s defence held firm, showing discipline and game management to secure all three points. The victory was crucial in maintaining their title challenge and ensuring the race with Yanga remains alive heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

The result also highlights Simba SC’s growing consistency under pressure, with key attacking contributions from Mpanzu and Gueye underlining their depth in crucial moments of the season. While Young Africans (Yanga) still hold a narrow advantage at the top, the two-point margin ensures that the championship outcome remains wide open.

In another Mainland Premier League fixture, Tanzania Prisons secured a 2-1 win over Dodoma Jiji FC at Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya. The result leaves Tanzania Prisons in 15th place with 23 points from 26 matches, as they continue their fight to avoid relegation in a tense end to the seaso

The High Court of Tanzania, Morogoro Sub Registry, has quashed the conviction and 30-year prison sentence of Thomas Francis and Clarence Francis after finding the prosecution failed to prove the charge of armed robbery beyond reasonable doubt.

The appellants were convicted by the Kilosa District Court for allegedly committing armed robbery on July 6, 2024, at Mbegesela hamlet in Ikombe village, Mikumi Ward, Kilosa District, where they were accused of stealing Sh8 million from Mr Hamis Ndemeka and threatening him with a machete.

They were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

However, in a ruling delivered on Friday, June 19, 2026, Justice Stephen Magoiga overturned the conviction following their appeal.

He said the trial was marred by evidential gaps and legal irregularities, including failure to administer oaths or affirmations to the accused and witnesses before giving evidence.

In their appeal, the appellants raised eight grounds, arguing the prosecution failed to prove the existence of the alleged Sh8 million or how it was stolen, and that the trial court failed to properly evaluate defence evidence, including a claimed land dispute with the complainant.

They also cited inconsistencies in prosecution testimony, saying key accounts did not corroborate the complainant’s version of events.

They further argued the investigation was defective, as the case was initially reported as assault and later changed to armed robbery, with no money, weapon, or bag ever recovered or produced in court.

Justice Magoiga noted serious doubt arising from the shift in classification nearly a year after the incident.

He said the investigating officer gave no explanation why the initial report did not refer to stolen money, despite the complainant being issued a PF3 form and taken to the hospital.

The court held this unexplained change weakened the prosecution’s case.

The judge also noted that although the appellants were arrested on July 6, 2024, and granted police bail, they were not arraigned until June 25, 2025, almost a year later, with no satisfactory explanation for the delay, raising fair trial concerns.

On evidence, the court found no proof that the alleged machete, cash, or bag were recovered or linked to the appellants, or that they were ever searched in connection with the offence.

Justice Magoiga said this failure to trace or produce key exhibits fatally weakened the prosecution’s case.

The court also questioned the cause of the complainant’s injuries, noting that while a machete attack was alleged, the investigating officer also observed broken glass and blood at the scene, leaving uncertainty over how the injuries occurred.

It further identified contradictions in witness testimony, including claims unsupported by the complainant’s own evidence, and noted a long-standing land dispute between the parties which could not be ignored in assessing credibility.

The High Court also found procedural irregularities in the District Court trial, where witnesses and appellants testified without being sworn or affirming statements as required by law.

However, Justice Magoiga ruled that a retrial was unnecessary, stating the prosecution’s case itself fell far below the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

‘I find that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt,’ he said.

The court allowed the appeal, quashed the conviction and 30-year sentence, and ordered the immediate release of the appellants.

Oil prices declined on Monday after US-Iran talks concluded in ?Switzerland with Tehran saying it had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, easing worries about a supply shortage global markets.

Brent crude fell $1.68, or 2.09%, to $78.89 a barrel by 0633 GMT. Prices had climbed to $82.30 at the start of trading, fuelled by a bumpy start to the talks with threats from US President Donald Trump to restart the war on Iran and Tehran’s announcement it had again closed the Strait of ?Hormuz.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $76 a barrel, down 60 cents, ahead of the contract’s expiry later on Monday. ?The more active August contract fell 69 cents to $75.16 a barrel. There was no settlement in the ?U.S. market on Friday due to a holiday.

“The decline has been driven primarily by improving prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough between the United ?States and Iran … reviving hopes that sanctions on Iran could eventually be eased,” said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based ?research firm.

High-ranking US and Iranian officials wrapped up their first round of talks in Switzerland on Monday, mediators said. The talks began on Sunday under the terms of a memorandum of understanding reached last week to extend a tenuous ceasefire from April for at least another 60 days.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his ?country had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets and the launch of a reconstruction and development ?plan for Iran.

“Such a development would allow nearly 1.5 million barrels per day of Iranian crude to return to international markets, significantly improving global supply at ?a time when demand growth remains moderate,” Sachdeva said.

‘Very real risks’

Before the talks, the number of ships that passed the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply on Sunday, shipping data showed, after Iran announced it had again closed the waterway, citing Israeli and US violations of the interim peace deal.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 20 people on Saturday, Lebanon’s state news agency NNA said, one day after a ceasefire with Hezbollah ?took effect, aimed at halting months ?of escalating violence.

“Recent developments show ?that moving towards a more permanent deal will be challenging, with very real risks of a flare-up in hostilities during the 60-day ceasefire,” ING analysts said in a note ahead of the announcement of the ?conclusion of the talks in Switzerland.

Still, oil prices fell more than 8% last week on hopes ?of more supply ?from the release of cargoes stranded in the Gulf and the potential lifting of US sanctions on Iranian oil as part of the US-Iran deal.

Over 25 million barrels of Iranian oil have passed through the virtual blockade line since Monday, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company, Hamid Bovard, ?told state ?TV on Sunday.

The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq have offered more oil to customers in ?the past week.

Iraq plans to restore crude production gradually to between 4.2 million and 4.3 million barrels per day, Iraq’s deputy oil minister for upstream affairs said in ?a statement on Sunday.

The body of the late Tabora Regional Police Commander, Richard Abwao, who passed away on June 20, 2026 while receiving treatment at Muhimbili National Hospital, is expected to be laid to rest in Tabora before being transported to Shirati Village in Rorya District, Mara Region, for burial.

Tabora Regional Commissioner, Mr Paul Chacha, told journalists in Tabora that the public farewell ceremony will take place at the Field Force Unit (FFU) grounds in Kitete Ward, Tabora Municipality.

He said officers from the Tanzania Police Force, political leaders from various parties, government officials, and residents of Tabora will be given an opportunity to pay their last respects. He further noted that, alongside the official convoy, 10 buses have been arranged to transport residents from Tabora to Rorya for the burial.

‘We have lost a very strong and dedicated leader in our region, and I urge residents of Tabora to turn up in large numbers to bid farewell to our beloved Abwao as he takes his final journey,’ said Mr Chacha.

He added that the public viewing ceremony will begin at 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, following a Holy Mass to be held at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora.

Mr Chacha also reassured residents that Tabora will remain peaceful throughout the period, calling on police officers to continue working with professionalism and strength, and to ignore negative commentary on social media, which he dismissed as lacking substance.

‘Those mocking remarks on social media, I can only say they are the work of criminal gangs. It is clear that no criminal can love the police or any security organ,’ he said.

Tabora Municipality Mayor, Mr Gulam Dewji, described the late Commander Abwao as a principled leader who understood his responsibilities and executed his duties with integrity.

‘We will remember him for his patriotism, his approachable nature, his inclusive leadership style, his respect for both senior and junior members of society, and the sense that everyone mattered in his leadership,’ said Mr Dewji.

Tabora Regional Chairperson of Transport Operators, Mr Mrisho Shime, said the group once had strained relations with the police, but Commander Abwao helped bridge the gap between boda boda riders and law enforcement, significantly improving compliance with traffic regulations.

‘We used to be like cats and dogs whenever we met police officers. But it was simply a lack of education on road safety. He worked tirelessly, and today you even feel like visiting a police station just to continue learning,’ he said.

A resident of Tabora, Mr Omari Msuya, said he had never had the opportunity to sit at the same table with the regional police commander until Abwao’s tenure, during which community engagement became a reality.

‘For us in Tabora, we have lost a very good leader. We are short of words, other than to thank God for the gift of Abwao to the people of Tabora,’ he said.

The government has urged mining investors to accelerate the implementation of licensed projects, saying Tanzania now expects investment commitments to translate into jobs, exports and broader economic gains.

The call comes as Faru Graphite Corporation, which is preparing to develop a major graphite project in Mahenge District, Morogoro Region, says it is ready to resume preliminary construction activities after the rainy season.

Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 on Monday, with the captain becoming the outright leading scorer in men’s World Cup history with 18 goals.

The 38-year-old entered the Group J match level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose on 16 goals before opening the scoring in the first half to set a new record.

He later added a second goal to seal victory and take his tally to 18, extending his remarkable scoring streak to six consecutive World Cup matches.

Messi’s first goal came after he had missed an early penalty, but the Argentina captain made amends by finishing off a flowing move after combining with his teammates before converting Facundo Medina’s low cross.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had already made history in Argentina’s opening 3-0 victory over Algeria, becoming the first player to appear at six World Cups and the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the tournament.

The victory moved the defending champions closer to the knockout stage and maintained their perfect start to the tournament after successive wins in Group J.

The Argentine, who turns 39 later this week, continues to add to a legacy that has already placed him among football’s greatest players.

The Opposition party Chadema has called on leaders at all levels to uphold integrity, accountability, and prioritise public interest in the execution of their duties.

Speaking at a public rally held in Njombe Town Council on June 21, 2026, Chadema Vice Chairman, John Heche said leaders must be role models by shunning corruption and the abuse of public office, while also respecting the law and ensuring justice for all.

Heche emphasised that ethical and transparent leadership is essential in strengthening public trust and accelerating social and economic development in the country.

He further stressed that leaders must listen to citizens and implement promises made for the benefit of communities, rather than making unilateral decisions that disregard legal frameworks.

‘That is why, as Chadema, we are saying we need a new Constitution that will introduce provisions capable of transforming your lives,’ Heche said.

He added that the push for a new Constitution is driven by the need to ensure leaders can be held accountable when they misuse their powers and harm citizens.

Chadema Secretary General John Mnyika said the country has long experienced demands for constitutional reform, noting that the current Constitution, enacted in 1977, is outdated and no longer fits the present political and governance environment.

‘The committee that drafted the CCM Constitution is the same one that drafted the national Constitution under a one-party system,’ Mnyika said.

He added that when multiparty politics was introduced, the Nyalali Commission recommended a new Constitution, but the ruling party rejected the proposal despite sustained public calls.

Meanwhile, Benedicto Mligo said they fully support constitutional reforms, arguing that the Warioba draft Constitution had already taken the country closer to a people-driven constitutional framework.

‘To be honest, at present, all resources are being plundered and citizens are not benefiting,’ Mligo said.

For many patients, weight becomes a hospital matter only after it has started affecting sleep, movement, blood pressure, sugar levels or daily work.

Doctors say the delay is common because many people still see weight as a private matter rather than a medical risk.

The concern was highlighted during specialist clinics held on 17 and 18 June 2026 at The Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam, involving Dr Syed Tanseer Asghar and Dr Sana Sharafat Ali.

Dr Tanseer is a bariatric, laparoscopic and general surgeon. In ordinary language, he treats patients whose weight has begun to harm their health, often using small cut surgery.

‘Many people hear weight loss surgery and think of appearance,’ Dr Tanseer said. ‘But for the right patient, the concern is health. When weight is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, poor sleep, reflux, joint pain or difficulty walking, it needs proper medical assessment.’

The hospital’s Comprehensive Obesity Clinic, launched in May 2026, places such care within a wider process of assessment, counselling, lifestyle support and follow up. The clinic focuses on medically supervised care for people struggling with weight management and related long term diseases.

Dr Tanseer’s Tanzania work has been linked to the growth of surgery for serious weight related illness, with about 100 surgeries performed locally, according to figures shared ahead of the consultations. His wider international experience runs into thousands of bariatric procedures.

Specialists caution that surgery is only suitable for selected patients. Patients need medical checks, review of diabetes and blood pressure, nutrition advice, emotional readiness and follow up planning.

‘Good surgery begins before the operation,’ Dr Tanseer said. ‘Sometimes the safest advice is to wait until the patient is better prepared.’

The issue is becoming harder to ignore. WHO says one in eight people globally were living with obesity in 2022. In Tanzania, a 2025 study found that overweight and obesity among women rose from 22 percent in 2010 to 32 percent in 2022.

Dr Sana, recognised as Pakistan’s first female vascular surgeon, brings another part of the same health picture. Her work deals with blood flow problems, painful veins, wounds that heal slowly and safe blood access for kidney patients who need dialysis.

‘Blood flow problems may begin quietly,’ Dr Sana said. ‘Swelling, painful veins, wounds that do not heal and dialysis access problems should be assessed early.’

Doctors say patients should seek help when symptoms keep returning, including burning stomach acid, painful swelling, visible painful veins, wounds that fail to heal, uncontrolled sugar or blood pressure, or weight that affects normal activities.

The Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam is expected to host another similar specialist clinic in September 2026. For many patients, the first consultation may simply help them understand the problem before it becomes an emergency.

Dar es Salaam’s night-time soundscape is increasingly becoming a public health concern, as rising noise from bars, concerts and entertainment venues disrupts sleep, affects productivity and exposes residents to long-term risks such as stress, hypertension and hearing loss.

Across Kinondoni, Ilala, Temeke, Ubungo and Kigamboni districts, residents say loud music has become a regular feature of night life, particularly over weekends and during public entertainment events.