Category: The Citizen

Azam FC ended Young Africans’ dominance in the CRDB Federation Cup after edging the Mainland Tanzania champions 3-2 in a thrilling final played at the CCM Kirumba Stadium.

The defeat brought an end to Yanga’s remarkable run in the competition, having won the trophy in four consecutive seasons. The Jangwani Street giants lifted the title in the 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, establishing themselves as the competition’s most dominant side in recent years.

Azam started brightly and took the lead in the 27th minute through a well-worked move involving Ivorian midfielder Jean Jacques Ngita. His incisive pass found striker Jonathan Sowah, who calmly finished to hand the Ice Cream Makers a deserved advantage.

Yanga responded positively and eventually levelled matters through Zimbabwean striker Prince Dube. The forward finished off a fine attacking move after being set up by midfielder Allan Okello, restoring parity before the break.

The game took another twist when Azam were reduced to 10 men. Defender Che Malone was shown a straight red card by referee Sifu Amon from Mbeya following a rough challenge on Dube, leaving Azam with an uphill task for the remainder of the contest.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Azam refused to retreat and continued to threaten on the counterattack. Their determination paid off in the 85th minute when substitute Elias Lawi headed home from a well-delivered corner kick by former Yanga midfielder Feisal ‘Fei Toto’ Salum to make it 2-1.

However, Yanga once again showed resilience and found another equaliser just three minutes later. Team captain Bakari Mwamnyeto rose highest to score after another excellent delivery from Okello, sending the match into extra time.

With penalties looming, Azam delivered the decisive blow in the 112th minute. Substitute Jephte Kitambala capitalised on a defensive mistake by Yanga centre-back Ibrahim ‘Bacca’ Hamad, who misjudged an attempted back-pass to goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.

Kitambala pounced on the loose ball and calmly slotted home, sparking wild celebrations among Azam players and supporters.

The victory handed Azam their first major silverware in several seasons and denied Yanga a fifth successive Federation Cup title. It also highlighted the fighting spirit of the Chamazi-based side, who overcame adversity and played a significant part of the match with 10 men.

For Yanga, the defeat marked a disappointing end to their Federation Cup campaign and brought to an end one of the most successful eras in the history of the competition.

Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has pledged to help reunite children of Namibian liberation fighters with their families after hearing emotional appeals from residents of Kongwa, where many fighters once lived during the liberation struggle.

The issue emerged during her visit to Kongwa, where some children of former liberation fighters and mothers who had been separated from their children shared painful memories and longstanding appeals for reunification.

Some of the children spoke to President Nandi-Ndaitwah in a Namibian language, while several mothers broke down in tears as they recounted how their children had been taken by liberation fighters and never returned.

Moved by the testimonies, the President instructed officials accompanying her to collect detailed information about the affected families to facilitate efforts aimed at reconnecting them.

She said the process would include tracing children now living in Namibia and supporting legal arrangements to reunite families.

Among those who spoke was Nashikale Makinamala, who said his father had been among military officers based in Kongwa before returning to Namibia with him.

Makinamala said he was the eldest of three children and that after his father died during the liberation struggle, he later received support to return to Kongwa. However, he said his siblings remained in Namibia and contact with them had since been lost.

An unnamed mother, overcome with emotion, said she had not seen her son, now believed to be a doctor in Namibia, since he was a child. President Nandi-Ndaitwah embraced her and assured the families that efforts would be made to reconnect them with their relatives.

Speaking later at a memorial site where she laid wreaths, President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the relationship between Tanzania and Namibia remained deeply rooted in shared history.

‘The brotherhood between Namibia and Tanzania is now one of blood ties. We remain grateful to Tanzania for allowing its land to be used in the liberation struggle for Namibia and other southern African nations,’ she said.

Earlier, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities), Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, said the lives of Kongwa residents reflected the history of the liberation movement.

He said local communities had lived alongside liberation fighters as family members and, in some cases, formed family ties that resulted in children being born, with some later leaving for Namibia with their fathers while others remained in Kongwa.

Kongwa District Council chairman White Zuberi said many families had for years been calling for help in tracing and reuniting with children who left with liberation fighters.

He said some mothers had died carrying the pain of separation, while others and their children continued to hope for reunion.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to inaugurate a new radiotherapy services building at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) Northern Zone Referral Hospital, a Sh17 billion facility aimed at improving cancer care in the region.

The facility, which will serve up to 1,500 patients annually, is set to be officially opened on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, during the President’s one-day visit to Kilimanjaro Region.

Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu told journalists on Monday, June 22, 2026, that the project will significantly ease the burden on cancer patients who previously travelled to Dar es Salaam for radiotherapy at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute.

‘The President is expected to make a one-day visit to our region on June 24, during which she will inaugurate the radiotherapy building at KCMC Northern Zone Referral Hospital,’ said Mr Babu.

He said the Sh17 billion project was financed through government funding under the Sixth Phase Government, which contributed Sh5.5 billion, alongside development partners.

‘This reflects continued collaboration between government, partners, and institutions in improving access to health services,’ he said.

KCMC executive director, Prof Geleard Masenga, said the facility marks a major milestone in cancer care in the Northern Zone, noting that patients previously faced long and costly referrals to Dar es Salaam.

‘This service is a major relief for patients. For many years, they had to be referred to Ocean Road for radiotherapy. Now that the burden has been significantly reduced,’ said Prof Masenga.

He said non-communicable diseases account for about eight in every 10 admissions at the hospital, with cancer patients forming a significant proportion requiring radiotherapy.

According to him, between 60 and 70 percent of cancer patients treated at KCMC require radiotherapy services.

He said the hospital began offering limited radiotherapy services on February 25 this year, during which 80 patients have already received treatment.

Prof Masenga added that the facility currently handles more than 30 patients daily and is expected to treat over 1,500 patients annually once fully operational.

The new unit is expected to improve access to specialised cancer treatment across the Northern Zone and reduce the need for long-distance referrals to Dar es Salaam.

The National Bank of Commerce (NBC), the main sponsor of the NBC Championship, has expressed pride in the growing success of football in Tanzania, as it officially handed over the 2025/2026 championship trophy to Geita Gold FC, who were crowned champions after finishing top of the table with 77 points.

The title win also secures Geita Gold FC a place in the 2026/2027 NBC Premier League, alongside Kagera Sugar FC, who finished second with 71 points and also earned promotion to the top flight.

The trophy was presented yesterday at Nyankumbu Stadium in Geita, following Geita Gold FC’s final match of the season, a 2-0 victory over Big Man FC of Lindi.

The match attracted hundreds of fans as well as various football officials, government leaders and political representatives.

Speaking during the ceremony, NBC Lake Zone Head of Business Mafwimbo Bihemo, who represented NBC Managing Director Theobald Sabi, said the bank was delighted with the positive impact of its investment in football, reflected in increased competition, the emergence of new talent and the overall improvement of domestic leagues.

He said NBC, which has invested over Sh32 billion in sponsoring the NBC Premier League, NBC Championship and youth football competitions, will continue working with stakeholders to ensure football grows further and contributes to social and economic development in the country.

‘We congratulate all participants of the NBC Championship for the strong competition they showed throughout the season.

Special congratulations go to Geita Gold FC for winning the title and Kagera Sugar FC for earning promotion to the NBC Premier League.

These achievements reflect the growing level of competition in Tanzanian football,’ said Bihemo.

He added that NBC is already seeing results from its investment through improved domestic leagues, stronger club competitiveness, and better performances by national teams in international competitions.

‘We are proud to see Tanzanian football continuing to grow. The competitiveness that starts from youth leagues, the NBC Championship, and up to the NBC Premier League has improved the quality of the game and produced players capable of competing at higher levels.

This is exactly the impact we aim to achieve through our investment,’ he added.

Bihemo further said NBC will continue strengthening its support to football stakeholders through various financial services, including club loans and health insurance for players and technical benches, as well as financial literacy programs aimed at improving the welfare of those involved in the sport.

On his part, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President Wallace Karia praised NBC for its major contribution to the development of Tanzanian football through sponsorship of the three leagues, noting that the current level of competition in domestic football is a direct result of that investment.

‘Today we are seeing a highly competitive NBC Championship from start to finish. Clubs are now more professionally managed, able to sign quality players and properly prepare for competitions. This is a major milestone for our football,’ said Karia.

He urged Geita Gold FC and Kagera Sugar FC to use their promotion to the NBC Premier League to further strengthen their squads in order to raise the level of competition and also invest in stadium infrastructure so that fans can enjoy home matches in better conditions.

Speaking on behalf of Geita Gold FC players, team captain Yusuph Mhilu thanked fans, club officials, the technical bench and sponsors for their support in achieving the title.

He said the team is fully aware of the strong competition in the NBC Premier League and has already begun preparations to ensure it competes at a high level in the upcoming season.

Stromme Foundation Tanzania has called for expanded investment in back-to-school pathways, particularly at secondary level, warning that hundreds of vulnerable adolescents remain at risk of missing education opportunities despite growing demand for re-enrolment programmes.

The call comes as Tanzania joins the rest of Africa in commemorating the International Day of the African Child, which highlights children’s rights, inclusive education and the importance of ensuring that children are not permanently excluded from learning due to poverty, early pregnancy, child labour, forced marriage or other social challenges.

According to the Foundation, 284 adolescents returned to school in 2025 through government-recognised education pathways supported by the organisation. Of these, 178 re-entered through primary education pathways, while 106 returned throughsecondary education pathways. In 2026, more than 250 additional adolescents have already been supported back into education. Through partnerships with local implementing organisations, including the Organization for Community Development (OCODE) and Community Research and Development Services (CORDS), Stromme Foundation supports Complementary Basic Education in Tanzania (COBET/MEMKWA)programmes designed to help children who have dropped out of school resume learning.

The Foundation says its support goes beyond enrolment by improving learning environments through classroom rehabilitation, sanitation facilities and inclusive infrastructure designed to make schools safer and more accessible.

Interventions include improved latrines, water and hygiene facilities, disability-access infrastructure, ramps, girls’ changing rooms and incinerators in supported schools.

Despite these gains, Stromme Foundation says access remains limited, especially for adolescents seeking secondary education opportunities.

In Bagamoyo District, for example, only one centre currently offers a secondary education pathway, creating barriers for learners travelling from distant communities and for students who do not have access to boarding facilities.

The Foundation is therefore urging greater government investment in expanding secondary-level pathways by leveraging existing public school infrastructure, similar to support currently provided under primary-level COBET/MEMKWA programmes.

For the organisation, the need for expansion is reflected not only in enrolment figures but also in the stories of children whose lives have changed after receiving a second chance.

Agnes was sent to work as a domestic worker at the age of nine after her family could no longer afford to keep her in school. Today, after returning through the programme, she studies at Nianjema Primary School in Bagamoyo and ranks among the top-performing pupils in her class.

‘I always knew I belonged in school,’ she said.

Theresia’s education was interrupted by poverty and early pregnancy. With support through Stromme Foundation Tanzania and OCODE under the GRIEG project, she returned to learning at Jupiter Open School in Bagamoyo.

‘Going back to school has truly changed me. I feel safer, happier and closer to achieving my dreams,’ she said.

She now hopes to become a doctor.

In Longido District, Naserian escaped forced marriage at age 12 and returned to school through support from CORDS. She is now a head girl and the top student in her class.

Joel’s journey began after living on the streets following family separation. Supported through COBET/MEMKWA, he returned to school, became Head Boy and is preparing for national examinations.

‘I have a dream of becoming President one day,’ he said.

Stromme Foundation Tanzania says these stories demonstrate the transformative role education plays when structured pathways are available for children seeking to return to learning.

As Africa marks the International Day of the African Child, the Foundation is calling on government, development partners, communities and families to strengthen inclusive education systems and ensure that every child receives a second chance.

The message, the Foundation says, is simple: no child should be left behind because their education was interrupted by poverty, crisis or harmful social practices.

For nearly two decades, Wema Sepetu has lived under the bright and unforgiving lights of fame.

From the moment she was crowned Miss Tanzania 2006, her name became part of Tanzania’s popular culture. She moved from the beauty pageant stage to acting, entrepreneurship, entertainment and social media influence. To many, she is a celebrity. To others, she is a symbol of beauty, resilience, controversy, reinvention and survival.

After years of public speculation, painful labels and relentless online commentary about her journey to motherhood, Wema Sepetu’s birth of a baby boy has become more than celebrity news.

But behind the glamour, applause, headlines and millions of online reactions lies a painful reality many women in public life face: fame can become a battleground.

For women like Wema, social media is not only a space for visibility, branding, business and connection. It is also a space where insults, rumours, body-shaming, moral policing, false information and personal attacks can spread within minutes.

This is the hidden face of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, a form of abuse that is increasingly targeting women through phones, social media platforms, messaging apps, blogs and other digital spaces.

Wema’s public journey shows how women celebrities are often treated as public property. Their bodies are discussed without respect. Their relationships are judged without mercy. Their personal struggles become entertainment. Their mistakes are amplified, while their achievements are often reduced or ignored.

In the digital age, a woman’s fame can easily be turned against her.

Online abuse against women is not always understood as violence. Many people dismiss it as ‘just comments,’ ‘normal celebrity life,’ or ‘the price of being famous.’ But words can wound. False rumours can damage reputations.

Online attacks can affect mental health, family relationships, business opportunities, public confidence and personal safety.

For women in the entertainment industry, the abuse is often gendered. They are attacked not only for what they do, but for who they are as women. They are judged for their clothes, body size, age, motherhood, relationships, marriage status, fertility and private choices.

This kind of abuse reflects a wider social problem in which women are expected to be visible, but not too powerful; admired, but not independent; successful, but still controlled by public expectations.

Wema Sepetu’s experience mirrors that of many women journalists, politicians, activists, artists, students and digital entrepreneurs not only in Tanzania but around the world. When women become visible online, they often face coordinated attacks meant to shame them into silence.

This is not just a personal issue. It is a gender equality issue. It is a freedom-of-expression issue. It is a media ethics issue. It is also a digital rights issue.

When a woman is bullied until she withdraws from online spaces, society loses her voice. When a female journalist is threatened for reporting the truth, the public loses information. When a woman politician is attacked with sexualised insults, democracy loses equal participation. When a young woman is blackmailed with private images, her education, dignity and future may be put at risk.

Online violence does not remain online. It follows women into their homes, workplaces, families and communities.

This is why the story of Wema Sepetu should not be reduced to entertainment gossip. It should open a serious national conversation about how Tanzania protects women and girls in digital spaces.

Technology has empowered women to build careers, speak out, mobilise communities, sell products, create art and tell their own stories. But without safety, justice and accountability, it can also be used to silence, shame and harm them.

There is a need for stronger public awareness of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. Many women and girls do not know where to report abuse; they fear being blamed or are told to ignore threats, even when they are serious.

Silence protects perpetrators.

Tanzania needs stronger survivor-centred reporting, digital safety education, responsible media coverage and coordinated action among law enforcement, regulators, civil society, schools, media houses and technology platforms.

Freedom of expression is not freedom to abuse. People should stop sharing harmful content, support victims and report abuse.

Wema Sepetu’s story reminds us that women in the public eye are human beings with dignity and rights. Visibility should never become an excuse for cruelty.

As Tanzania embraces digital transformation, the safety of women and girls must remain central. A safer internet is about justice, respect, accountability and equality.

When fame becomes a battleground, society must ask: are we using technology to empower women, or turning it into another weapon against them?

For what happened to Wema Sepetu and many other women, the message is clear: online abuse is not entertainment. It is violence and it must be stopped!

Tanzania national women football team (Twiga Stars) coach Bakari Shime has handed Saudi Arabia-based striker Clara Luvanga another opportunity to prove herself on the international stage after naming her in a provisional 34-player squad for preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals.

The squad announcement has put the spotlight firmly on Luvanga, who returns to the national fold just days after missing Tanzania’s two international friendly matches against Malawi.

The recall comes on the back of another outstanding season for the Al Nassr forward. Luvanga has become one of the most consistent performers in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, where she has emerged as a prolific scorer over the past three campaigns. Despite her impressive club form, the striker has often struggled to command a regular starting place with Twiga Stars. She has previously been left out of squads or used sparingly, leading many fans to question why her club performances have not translated into a bigger role in the national team.

Her return to the squad is therefore likely to attract considerable interest as supporters wait to see whether she will finally be given the platform to replicate her club exploits in national colours.

Shime’s squad also features several foreign-based players, underlining Tanzania’s growing pool of talent abroad. They include Julietha Singano of Mexico’s Juarez, Opah Clement of Spain’s Eibar, Diana Lucas of Turkey’s Trabzonspor, Noela Luhala of Lithuania’s MFA Žalgiris and Enekia Kasonga of Mexico’s Gallos Femenil. Among the local-based players called up are goalkeepers Najiath Abbas (JKT Queens), Nusra Hamis (Fountain Gate Princess) and Janeth Shija (Simba Queens).

The defensive unit includes Asha Omary (Simba Queens), Ester Mabanza and Diana Mnaly of Yanga Princess, Donisia Minja and Anastazia Katunzi of JKT Queens, Fatuma Issa (Simba Queens) and Ester Maseke (JKT Queens). In midfield, Shime selected Elizabeth Chenge, Aliya Fikiri, Anastazia Shau and Asha Mlangwa of JKT Queens, Marry Siyame and Winfrida Charles of Fountain Gate Princess, Veronica Mapunda of Mashujaa Queens, Bahati Steven of Bunda Queens and Rehema Ramadhani of Fountain Gate Princess.

The attacking options also include Edna Makamba of Tausi FC and Simba Queens forwards Aisha Mnunka and Elizabeth Joseph.

However, one notable absentee is Brighton striker Aisha Masaka, who remains sidelined through injury. Shime said the technical bench decided against including the forward because she has been out of action for an extended period and is still undergoing rehabilitation.

“She is still facing challenges after sustaining injuries since the last WAFCON. We remain in contact with her club’s medical team because we cannot compromise her health,” said Shime.

The East African Community (EAC) has launched citizen consultations in Rwanda as part of the process of drafting a Constitution for the proposed EAC Political Federation.

The exercise, which has already been conducted in Uganda, Kenya and Burundi, seeks public views on the future political structure of the bloc. It is now underway in Rwanda before moving to remaining Partner States.

The Political Federation is the fourth and final stage of EAC integration, following the Customs Union, Common Market and the planned Monetary Union. Speaking during the launch, Rwanda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Usta Kaitesi, said regional integration remains central to addressing shared challenges and opportunities.

‘Whether in trade, investment or infrastructure development, cooperation provides a stronger foundation for progress than working in isolation,’ she said.

She urged citizens to participate freely in the consultations, saying their views would help shape a governance framework for the proposed federation.

EAC Secretary General Ambassador Stephen Mbundi said the consultations in Rwanda will run for two weeks in Kigali, Rubavu, Huye and Nyagatare.

He said the exercise will engage government institutions, Parliament, the Judiciary, academia, civil society, the private sector, youth groups, women, persons with disabilities, faith-based organisations, political parties and the media.

‘These consultations are designed to enhance public participation in shaping the institutional and governance framework of the Political Federation,’ he said.

Ambassador Mbundi said the integration process has evolved through structured consultations among Partner States since its launch. According to an EAC statement issued on June 17, 2026, the process dates back to 2004 when Heads of State established a committee to explore ways of fast-tracking political integration. In 2017, the EAC Summit endorsed a Transitional Political Federation framework as an interim step and directed the drafting of a Constitution.

The regional launch of the drafting process was held in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2018 under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, who was appointed to provide political guidance.

Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Fidelis Mironko, said citizen participation is central to the process.

‘The consultation provides a platform for citizens to contribute views and aspirations for the future of East Africa,’ he said.

Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Constitutional Matters and former Ugandan Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki said public input will help strengthen the draft Constitution.

‘The Constitution belongs to the people of East Africa,’ he said. The draft Constitution is being prepared by a team of experts appointed by the EAC Council of Ministers in 2019.

It is informed by comparative studies of federal systems and reviews of EAC legal and institutional frameworks.

The consultations are part of a wider regional exercise aimed at building consensus on governance arrangements for the proposed Political Federation.

The 2026 BET Awards is set to bring together a cross-generational mix of global stars, with Tems, Queen Latifah and Doechii among the headline performers confirmed for this year’s ceremony in Los Angeles.

The show, scheduled for Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theatre, continues BET’s positioning of the awards as ‘Culture’s Biggest Night’, blending legacy acts with the new wave of streaming-era artists.

This year’s performance roster also includes names such as Cardi B, Kehlani, Jill Scott, Common, Rick Ross, Don Toliver, French Montana, T.I., Max B, The War and Treaty, and emerging act kwn, signalling one of the most genre-diverse lineups in recent editions.

Tems’ inclusion further reinforces the growing presence of African artists on the BET stage, where she is expected to deliver one of the most closely watched performances of the night, following her continued global crossover success in R and B and Afrobeats-infused sounds.

Queen Latifah’s return to the stage adds a strong legacy dimension to the lineup, with anticipation building around a potential special live moment, while Doechii represents the rising new-school energy driving contemporary hip-hop and experimental R and B.

Industry observers note that this year’s performances reflect a deliberate balance between iconic influence and emerging global sounds.

The 2026 ceremony will be hosted by comedian Druski, marking his debut as emcee.

East Africa’s film industry has scored major international recognition after a Tanzanian-Kenyan co-production and a Ugandan feature project were selected for the prestigious Locarno Open Doors 2026 programme in Switzerland.

The Ones With the Tempered Flowers, directed by Tanzanian filmmaker Neema Ngelime and produced by Kenyan producer Ivy Kiru, is among six projects chosen for the Open Doors Projects programme.

The experimental documentary explores themes of womanhood and motherhood through a unique artistic lens.

Joining it is Uganda’s A Vineyard for A Lobster, directed by Talemwa Pius and produced by Gashumba Emmanuel.

The fiction feature uses a snow-covered landscape as a powerful allegory to examine the lingering effects of colonialism.

Open Doors is the talent development and co-production platform of the internationally renowned Locarno Film Festival.

The initiative supports filmmakers from under-represented regions by providing mentorship, training, networking opportunities, and access to international industry professionals.

The selected projects will participate in workshops, project presentations, and industry events from August 5 to August 10, during the 79th Locarno Film Festival.

The programme is currently in the second year of a four-year cycle dedicated to supporting filmmakers from 42 African countries.

The selection places East African storytelling on a global stage and highlights the growing influence of the region’s filmmakers within the international film industry.

It also follows a series of recent achievements for African creatives at major global cultural platforms, reinforcing the continent’s rising presence in cinema and the arts.

With stories centred on identity, memory, womanhood, and colonial legacies, the selected projects showcase the diversity and depth of contemporary African storytelling.