Category: The Citizen

Dar/Lusaka. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) has announced a month-long programme of activities to mark its 50th anniversary, signalling a historic shift from a symbol of anti-colonial liberation to a modern corridor of economic transformation.

The golden jubilee, held under the theme “Tazara@50: From Liberation to Transformation,” comes at a pivotal moment for the partner states of Tanzania and Zambia. For five decades, the railway, popularly known as the “Uhuru Railway”–has served as a strategic link between the Port of Dar es Salaam and the hinterland of Southern Africa, breaking colonial trade barriers and advancing regional integration.

Speaking on the milestone, Tazara managing director and chief executive officer, Mr Bruno Ching’andu described the anniversary as a defining moment that honours the past while ushering in a new era of service delivery. “As Tazara turns 50, we are not only celebrating a proud legacy of liberation, sacrifice and regional solidarity; we are also embracing a new chapter of transformation through revitalisation,” said Mr Ching’andu in a statement issued on Thursday, June 11, 2026, signed by the authority’s head of public relations.

“This is a moment for all of us to reflect, celebrate and rally behind the rebirth of Tazara as a corridor of opportunities,” he added. For the partner states, the celebrations go beyond historical reflection, signalling the launch of a transformational agenda for the next 50 years.

Central to this rebirth is a major shift in the railway’s operational model. Following a concession agreement signed on September 29, 2025, Tazara is transforming through a public-private partnership (PPP) with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.

The move is expected to revitalise the binational railway, originally constructed between 1970 and 1976 with support from the People’s Republic of China to promote economic independence in the region. Today, the railway remains a vital link to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets, strengthening trade and bilateral ties.

The commemorative activities will officially launch on Sunday, July 14, 2026, the exact date commercial operations began 50 years ago. The Authority has lined up an extensive programme to engage the public and stakeholders, including an open week for public interaction and a series of scholarly lectures in Lusaka and Dar es Salaam to reflect on the railway’s historical journey.

“To engage the business community and long-term partners, a two-leg corporate golf tournament will be held in both capital cities. Media tours and community outreach activities will also highlight the railway’s transition into a modern logistics hub,” reads part of the statement.

As the partner states look ahead, the message remains clear: Tazara, born as a tool of liberation, is being reborn as a key corridor of opportunity for the Southern African region. Management has invited former employees, current staff, and communities along the railway line to take part in the golden jubilee celebrations.

.

Dar es Salaam. The government has directed all public institutions to prioritise the procurement of electric and gas-powered vehicles as part of efforts to reduce operating costs, cut reliance on imported petroleum products and improve public spending efficiency.

Presenting the government’s revenue and expenditure estimates for the 2026/27 financial year in Parliament, Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar said the directive is part of broader public finance reforms aimed at strengthening resource management and sustainability. He said ministries, departments and agencies must integrate the purchase of electric and gas-powered vehicles into their planning and budgeting processes.

“The government directs public institutions to consider procurement of electric and gas-powered vehicles in their plans and budgets. This aims to minimise operating costs and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products,” Mr Omar said.

He said the policy is intended to improve efficiency in public expenditure by ensuring national resources are used in a more productive and cost-effective manner. “The government will continue to strengthen management and control of public expenditure to achieve the national objectives of building a strong, inclusive and competitive economy,” he said.

Mr Omar added that implementation of the directive will be guided by existing legal and regulatory frameworks, including the Budget Act (Cap. 439), the Public Finance Act (Cap.

348), the Local Government Finance Act (Cap. 290) and the Public Procurement Act (Cap.

410). He said adherence to these laws, along with medium-term planning and budget guidelines, is expected to improve discipline in public spending and ensure value for money in government operations.

According to the minister, tighter expenditure controls will support the country’s long-term development agenda and economic transformation goals under Vision 2050. The government says the shift towards cleaner and more cost-efficient transport technologies within the public sector will also help reduce exposure to volatile global fuel prices and support broader energy transition efforts. .

Dar es Salaam. The government has said it will proceed with implementing a Sh62.3 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, despite heightened global and domestic economic risks, banking on tighter fiscal discipline, stronger revenue collection and policy reforms.

The budget marks an increase from Sh56.49 trillion allocated in 2025/26. Presenting the estimates in Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar said the government would focus on improving economic stability while sustaining development spending. He said priority areas include prudent fiscal and monetary policy management, improving the investment and business environment, strengthening foreign exchange availability, expanding agricultural financing, promoting climate-smart agriculture and investing in alternative energy sources such as gas and electricity.

“The government will continue implementing prudent monetary and fiscal policies, improving the investment and business environment, strengthening the National Strategy for Improving Availability of Foreign Exchange, expanding the Agriculture Development Fund and investing in climate-smart agriculture,” Mr Omar told Parliament. The minister said efforts to stabilise foreign exchange supplies are aimed at cushioning the economy against external shocks, particularly in import-dependent sectors vulnerable to currency fluctuations.

He added that the government will also continue to diversify energy sources to reduce reliance on imported petroleum products and strengthen long-term energy security. Diplomatic engagement and cooperation with development partners will also remain a priority, aimed at safeguarding external financing and sustaining investment flows into key national projects.

Beyond economic measures, Mr Omar said governance systems will be strengthened through improved rule of law, enhanced cybersecurity capacity, stronger internal audit systems and better monitoring and evaluation of public spending. However, he cautioned that implementation of the budget could still face significant risks, including rising interest rates, inflation, currency depreciation and shifts in development partners’ policies.

Other risks include contingent liabilities, climate change, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions and cyber threats, all of which could affect service delivery and fiscal stability. “These risks may lead to higher borrowing costs for both government and the private sector, increased demand for foreign currency for imports, and a slowdown in production and economic activity,” he said.

Mr Omar warned that such pressures could widen the budget deficit, increase inflation and reduce the government’s ability to finance both development and recurrent expenditure. He also noted that climate change and natural disasters could result in loss of life and damage to infrastructure and ecosystems, raising recovery and reconstruction costs.

Geopolitical tensions, he added, could disrupt external financing flows, including grants, concessional loans and foreign direct investment, which are key to major infrastructure and social development projects. In addition, changes in development partners’ policies could reduce the predictability of external support, complicating medium-term budget planning.

The minister further said contingent liabilities and debt-related obligations could increase fiscal pressure through higher debt servicing costs and settlement of unforeseen claims, limiting fiscal space for priority development spending. .

On June 3, 2026, two things happened simultaneously. In Brussels, the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Development committees voted 81 to 1 to block Pound 156 million in EU development funding for Tanzania.

In Moscow, President Samia Suluhu Hassan sat across from Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, becoming only the second Tanzanian head of state to visit Russia since Mwalimu Julius Nyerere made the journey in 1969. That same week, a bipartisan bill in the United States Senate, the “Reassessing the United States-Tanzania Bilateral Relationship Act”, introduced by Senators Shaheen and Cruz, proposed suspending US security assistance, development aid, and trade support pending certification of meaningful democratic reforms. These three developments are not political noise.

They are a structural shift in Tanzania’s external financing environment, arriving precisely as the government launches its most ambitious development agenda in a generation. The EU committees’ objection is not yet final.

A full Parliament plenary must ratify it within two months, requiring a majority of all Members of the European Parliament. The Tanzanian government was right to note that the committee vote remains part of an ongoing process.

Tanzania’s Fitch B+ sovereign rating was reaffirmed in March 2026, and the country received the award for best public debt management office in Africa this year. These are markers of institutional credibility that carry real weight in multilateral financing conversations.

However, institutional credibility and diplomatic credibility operate on different tracks. The EU objection, now on its second iteration after the Commission revised its original plan without satisfying Parliament, cites Tanzania’s refusal to allow a human rights subcommittee visit in May 2026 and the continued detention of opposition leader Tundu Lissu on charges carrying the death penalty.

Whatever one’s view of the underlying governance questions, the practical consequence for investors is concrete: EU-backed concessional financing, blended finance vehicles, and development-partner-supported infrastructure deals face increased procedural uncertainty for as long as this standoff persists. The US bill sharpens that picture.

Tanzania’s AGOA eligibility has not yet been formally challenged, but the bill creates the legislative architecture for that challenge if conditions are not met. A bipartisan instrument in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is not a symbolic gesture.

It is a live one. Into this environment, President Samia’s Moscow visit delivered a deliberate counterweight.

The outcomes were substantive: Air Tanzania will launch direct flights to Moscow and Zanzibar from July 2; TISEZA signed an investment cooperation agreement with Russia’s Roscongress Foundation; and bilateral trade up 20 to 25 percent in 2025 is projected to generate over $2 billion in investment across mining, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure over the next three to five years. Tanzania also showcased the Bagamoyo Port project to Russian capital at SPIEF 2026. Multi-vector foreign policy is not ideological realignment.

It is what any sovereign economy does when traditional financing partners attach conditions it is unwilling to meet on the timeline demanded. The instinct is rational.

But it carries pricing implications. Russian capital operates in a different sanctions environment from Western institutional capital.

Deals with Russian counterparties, particularly in energy and mining, will face additional due diligence layers from any co-investor or lender operating under US or EU regulatory frameworks. That is a structural complication, not a dealbreaker.

But it must be priced in. The deeper issue is Tanzania’s Vision 2050 financing gap.

The government’s own figures, presented at the Tanzania Impact Investment Forum last week, identified $30 to $40 billion needed through to 2030, with 70 percent expected from the private sector. Western DFIs and multilateral development banks are not the only source of that capital, but they are among the most concessional, the most scalable, and the most compatible with the blended finance structures Tanzania’s flagship projects require.

Narrowing the pool of willing partners at the moment the country needs to widen it, is a tension no amount of economic diplomacy fully resolves. Tanzania’s fundamentals remain compelling: 6 percent GDP growth, $6.3 billion in foreign exchange reserves covering 4.

9 months of imports, private sector credit expanding at 23.5 percent, and exports at $17.6 billion in 2025. These are the numbers of a country that needs sustained capital access to convert macro performance into structural transformation. The June 3 convergence: Brussels, Moscow, Washington did not change Tanzania’s fundamentals.

It changed the environment in which those fundamentals must be financed. Investors operating in this market should read it accordingly.

Amne Suedi is the Managing Director of Shikana Investment and Advisory, Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Zanzibar, and Chair of the Switzerland-Tanzania Chamber of Commerce. .

Dar es Salaam. Three customers of CRDB Bank have won tickets to watch the FIFA World Cup final live in Canada through the bank’s Fainali Ndo Mpango na TemboCard Visa campaign.

The winners are Godfrey Chibulunje, Habiba Sarah Filikunjombe and Lenah Munyua, all from Dar es Salaam. They join three other customers who won in the second draw, bringing the total number of winners set to watch World Cup matches live in Canada to six.

In addition, four other winners will travel to the United States to watch matches live, raising the total number of beneficiaries of the campaign to 10. Apart from the grand prize, four customers–Kayn Senga of Dar es Salaam, Faik Said Khamis of Zanzibar and Athumani Ali Omari of Dar es Salaam–have won 85-inch Hisense television sets, decoders and subscription packages that will enable them to follow all World Cup matches being played in the United States, Mexico and Canada until the tournament concludes on July 19. Speaking about the promotion, CRDB Bank Senior Cards Manager Karington Chahe said the winners were selected through a draw after using their TemboCard Visa cards (Debit, Prepaid or Credit) to make various payments. He congratulated the winners and encouraged other customers to continue using the cards to increase their chances of winning.

Chahe said the campaign is still ongoing, with six more opportunities to win World Cup travel packages and seven additional large-screen televisions with full match-viewing subscription packages. He noted that the campaign aims to reward customers while promoting the use of digital payment solutions, adding that the world is increasingly embracing digital systems and Tanzanians should keep pace with these changes.

“This campaign is part of CRDB Bank’s efforts to promote digital payments, drive innovation in financial services and reward our customers for their loyalty,” he said. To qualify for the draw, customers are required to make at least 30 transactions per month using their TemboCard Visa cards at point-of-sale (POS) terminals or through online platforms.

Meanwhile, two winners from the second draw in the television category, Amina Kaswala and Lusekelo Mwamala, have received their prizes. The prizes were presented by CRDB Bank’s Head of Card Business, Omar Nkulo.

.

Dodoma. Young entrepreneurs have been urged to strengthen financial discipline, improve record-keeping and embrace formal business practices to enhance their chances of accessing finance and building sustainable enterprises.

The call was made during the third Think Equal Lead Smart (TELS) Knowledge Session held in Dodoma, where business leaders, financial inclusion advocates and entrepreneurs explored practical ways of helping youth-led enterprises become finance-ready. The session was organised by the CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt) through its TELS programme, implemented in partnership with tAhe Vodacom Tanzania Foundation and in collaboration with the Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC).

The forum examined challenges that continue to hinder young entrepreneurs from accessing and effectively utilising capital. Discussions centred on financial discipline, savings culture, business record management, reinvestment strategies, digital financial tools and a better understanding of available financing options.

Speaking at the event, CEOrt Head of Projects Hawa Urungu said findings from previous TELS engagements across the country had consistently shown that access to finance remains one of the biggest obstacles facing young entrepreneurs. She noted that while training programmes have helped improve business knowledge and confidence among entrepreneurs, many enterprises still lack the financial systems and structures required by lenders and investors.

“Young entrepreneurs across Tanzania are already contributing significantly to economic activity in various sectors. However, many businesses continue to struggle with the financial systems and structures required for expansion,” she said.

According to her, strengthening entrepreneurs’ understanding of financial readiness and improving access to financing opportunities are critical to building resilient and sustainable businesses. Ms Urungu said participants engaged in practical discussions on financial inclusion, savings and reinvestment, business discipline and the challenges faced by youth as they transition from informal survival enterprises to growth-oriented businesses.

She added that partnerships between development organisations, the private sector and financial institutions could play a crucial role in expanding access to information, networks and financing opportunities. TWCC Deputy Chairperson Naima Nyange said many young entrepreneurs and women operating in informal and semi-formal sectors continue to face significant financing barriers, including collateral requirements, limited credit histories and inadequate awareness of available funding opportunities.

“Creating more practical engagement around financial readiness helps strengthen confidence and improves how entrepreneurs position themselves for growth,” she said. For participants, the session offered valuable insights into what lenders and investors look for when assessing businesses.

Mama Health co-founder Salma Nguku said many entrepreneurs struggle to understand the requirements financial institutions consider before extending credit. “For many young entrepreneurs, business growth depends largely on personal savings and small profits because accessing finance can feel difficult and intimidating.

Discussions like this help simplify financial systems and make it easier to understand what businesses need to improve before seeking capital,” she said. Another participant, entrepreneur Meshack Tweve, said the forum reinforced the importance of sound financial management in ensuring long-term business sustainability.

“Small businesses often focus on sales and daily operations without paying enough attention to record-keeping, savings and financial management. The session helped explain why these areas matter when preparing a business for financing and growth opportunities,” she said.

.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s economy expanded at a faster pace in 2025, foreign investment reached its highest level in decades and the government says the country is ready to begin implementing the newly adopted Vision 2050 development blueprint.

Presenting the State of the Economy Report 2025 and the National Development Plan 2026/27 in Parliament on Thursday, the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Prof Kitila Mkumbo, said Tanzania was concluding the Vision 2025 era with stronger economic fundamentals despite persistent global geopolitical and economic uncertainties. According to the report, real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.

9 percent in 2025, up from 5.6 percent in 2024, while GDP per capita rose by 7.

4 percent to Sh3.54 million ($1,390) from Sh3.30 million ($1,264). “The implementation of the 2025/26 National Development Plan concludes the journey of Vision 2025 and lays the foundation for the commencement of Vision 2050,” Prof Mkumbo told Parliament.

The report shows that Tanzania’s economy expanded to Sh234.1 trillion ($91.81 billion) in 2025 from Sh211.98 trillion ($81.2 billion) in 2024 following GDP rebasing using 2019 as the benchmark year. Agriculture remained the largest contributor to GDP, accounting for 24.3 percent, followed by construction (11.9 percent), mining (10.3 percent), trade and repair services (8.6 percent) and transport and storage (8.3 percent).

Financial and insurance services recorded the fastest growth rate at 15.7 percent, followed by electricity and gas (11.8 percent), mining (9.4 percent) and information and communication (8.8 percent). The government projects economic growth of 6.

3 percent in 2026 as implementation of Vision 2050 begins. Investment reaches historic high Investment emerged as one of the strongest-performing sectors during the year.

According to the World Investment Report 2025 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Tanzania increased by 28.3 percent to $1.72 billion in 2024, up from $1.34 billion in 2023. Mining attracted the largest share of investment at $442.2 million, followed by financial and insurance services ($401.3 million), manufacturing ($223.1 million) and information and communication ($152.1 million). “Overall, the statistics show that Tanzania is among the fastest-growing investment destinations in Africa and ranks 11th in terms of FDI inflows,” Prof Mkumbo said.

He also highlighted the performance of the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (Tiseza), which registered 915 projects worth $10.95 billion in 2025, compared with 901 projects valued at $9.3 billion in 2024. “This number of registered projects has broken the record for project registration since the establishment of the Tanzania Investment Centre in 1996 and subsequently Tiseza in 2025,” he said. The projects, spanning manufacturing, commercial real estate, transport, tourism and agriculture, are expected to create 162,895 jobs.

Inflation remains stable The report shows that Tanzania maintained relative price stability despite global energy shocks. Average inflation stood at 3.

3 percent in 2025, compared with 3.1 percent in 2024, largely driven by higher food prices.

However, the rate remained within the national target range of three to five percent and met convergence criteria set by both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Within the EAC, Tanzania recorded one of the lowest inflation rates at 3.

3 percent, compared with Kenya’s 4.5 percent, Uganda’s 3.

6 percent and Rwanda’s 7 percent. Global risks persist Despite the positive performance, the government warned that international conflicts continue to pose risks to the economy.

Prof Mkumbo said research conducted jointly by the National Planning Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found that tensions involving Iran had contributed to rising oil prices, higher transport costs and supply chain disruptions. “The war against Iran has caused panic in global oil markets due to fears of disruptions in oil transportation through the Persian Gulf and other major international shipping routes,” he said.

According to the report, crude oil prices rose from about $100 per barrel in March 2026 to $126 in April before easing to between $90 and $95 in early June. The minister noted that Tanzania imports all refined petroleum products, with between 60 and 70 percent sourced from Gulf countries, India and Singapore.

Agriculture could also face challenges because Tanzania imports between 30 and 40 percent of its urea and DAP fertilisers from Gulf states, particularly Qatar. However, he said the situation could also create opportunities, including providing transhipment and cargo-storage services for vessels unable to access Middle Eastern ports and attracting investors seeking alternative destinations away from conflict-prone regions.

Poverty declines, but challenges remain The report also unveiled findings from the 2025 Household Budget Survey, the first to be conducted simultaneously in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. The proportion of people living below the basic-needs poverty line in Mainland Tanzania declined from 34.4 percent in 2007 to 28.2 percent in 2012, 26.4 percent in 2018 and 25.1 percent in 2025. While describing the trend as encouraging, Prof Mkumbo acknowledged that poverty reduction remains slower than desired.

“The trend shows that greater efforts are required to accelerate poverty reduction so that it matches the pace of economic growth as envisioned under Vision 2050,” he said. Five years of progress Reviewing achievements under the Third Five-Year Development Plan and the first five years of President Hassan’s administration, Prof Mkumbo said economic growth had increased from 4.

7 percent in 2021 to 5.9 percent in 2025, while export earnings rose from $6.4 billion to $10.6 billion.

Major infrastructure milestones included the completion of 680.38 kilometres of the Standard Gauge Railway between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, commissioning of the 2,115-megawatt Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, completion of the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge and near-completion of the Kilwa fishing port project. The report also showed unemployment declining from 8.

7 percent in 2020/21 to 6.2 percent in 2024. The labour force reached 27.3 million people, while annual employment growth rose to 7.

8 percent from 2.3 percent.

Vision 2050 flagship projects The government says 2026/27 will mark the beginning of Vision 2050 implementation through the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan, which will focus on governance, economic transformation, human development, environmental sustainability and strategic enablers such as energy, transport, research and digital transformation. Flagship projects include the Bagamoyo Marine Eco-City and Integrated Transport Hub, the Mchuchuma-Liganga coal and iron complex, a national irrigation and agro-processing programme, a rare earth minerals processing hub in Dodoma, the LNG project in Lindi, a Great Lakes industrial and blue economy hub, and an integrated urban development programme.

The 2026/27 development plan is estimated to cost Sh86.3 trillion, with the private sector expected to finance nearly 70 percent of the programme. “Following the completion of all these Vision 2050 implementation instruments, the task before us now is only one: implementation,” Prof Mkumbo said.

.

Dar es Salaam. Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar has indicated that the 2026/27 national Budget will include targeted tax relief measures alongside reforms aimed at expanding the tax base and improving revenue collection efficiency.

Briefing journalists in Dar es Salaam ahead of his Budget presentation in Parliament on Thursday, June 11, 2026, Mr Omar said the government is pursuing a balanced approach that supports economic growth while strengthening fiscal sustainability. He said the upcoming Budget has been prepared through broad consultations involving government institutions, the private sector, civil society, academia and individual taxpayers, resulting in 727 proposals on tax, legal and administrative reforms.

According to him, 125 proposals were accepted in full, 121 were accepted with modifications, 295 were rejected, while 107 were referred for further technical review. A further 47 lacked sufficient data for decision-making, and 32 are at various stages of implementation.

Mr Omar said the review process was guided by the Tax Reforms Taskforce and a high-level technical “think tank” comprising experts from government, research institutions and the private sector. He said the engagement was aimed at ensuring that tax policy reforms reflect national priorities while improving fairness, efficiency and compliance within the tax system.

“The objective is to widen the tax base while also reducing unnecessary burdens on taxpayers and improving the business environment,” he said. Mr Omar confirmed that the government will introduce measures aimed at simplifying tax administration, strengthening compliance and improving revenue collection systems.

At the same time, he said, the Budget will provide room for targeted tax reliefs designed to ease pressure on households and businesses, particularly in priority sectors of the economy. He added that the government remains committed to reducing multiple taxation, improving predictability in the tax regime and encouraging investment to support job creation.

The Finance Minister said the 2026/27 Budget is being prepared under the framework of the Tanzania Development Vision 2050, the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan and the CCM Election Manifesto 2025, making it a key policy instrument for long-term transformation. He said priority expenditure will continue to focus on strategic infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), roads, water systems, energy and human capital development.

Mr Omar urged taxpayers to meet their obligations, saying voluntary compliance remains critical to financing national development priorities. “Nation-building requires shared responsibility.

As government improves systems and reduces burdens, citizens must also play their part by paying taxes willingly and on time,” he said. (For more budget coverage, read pages 11, 12 and 13) .

World Bicycle Day is an annual global observance held on June 3. This year (2026) the occasion was celebrated on Wednesday, June 3, with the theme “Cycling for a Greener Future”.

The day is dedicated to highlighting the bicycle as an affordable, reliable, and sustainable means of transportation that benefits physical health and the enAvironment. It is possible that this day was celebrated in Tanzania; though, if that was the case, celebrations were very low key.

Which is very sad. Not many years ago, acquiring a bicycle was a main aspiration; and a feat when this ownership was realized.

The bicycle used to be the workforce for society. The bicycle owner was regarded highly, and the bicycle was a prized possession.

Raleigh (“the all-steel bicycle” from Nottingham, England) ruled high, during the colonial days and in the early years of independence. Gazelle, Humber, and BSA were brands to reckon with.

All these were from Europe. There even used to be a bicycle licence, levied each year.

The Indians came in with their Avon brand but all these were overshadowed when the Chinese came in with their Phoenix and Flying Pigeon Brands. For the mainly rural bicycle enthusiast, Phoenix is the bicycle, though, in their early days in the late seventies, these bicycles were fragile.

Few will remember that there used to be a publicly-owned National Bicycle Company (NABICO) with a factory in the Mwenge area of Dar es Salaam. In the 1970s/80s, it produced a bicycle branded Swala, the Swahili word for antelope, as part of efforts to industrialise and promote self-reliance in post-colonial Tanzania.

Swala was a national symbol representing speed, reliability, and local technological appropriation. Today, most bicycles are imported, new or second hand.

During the economic hardships days of the late 1970s and 1980s, characterized, among others, by severe fuel shortages, President Nyerere famously encouraged urbanites, particularly in Dar es Salaam, to ride Swala bicycles to and from work, instead of driving cars. The iconic photograph of Mwalimu riding a bicycle, would have, in today’s parlance, gone viral.

While for the young man of yesteryear, owning a bicycle was the goal, and indeed, some brides were transported on a bicycle on their wedding day, the young man of today yearns to own a car. Today, the UN is urging us to appreciate the importance of the bicycle.

World Bicycle Day is celebrated on June 3 each year, having been established by the United Nation’s General Assembly on April 12 2018, through a resolution that recognizes the uniqueness, longevity and versality of the bicycle as well as its contribution to sustainable development goals (SDGs). This year’s theme “Cycling for a Greener Future”, reminds us that every ride can contribute to healthier communities, cleaner air and a more sustainable future.

So, for a developing country like Tanzania, grappling with travel and a multitude of economic constraints, encouraging the use of the bicycle is appropriate. It is cheap to acquire and run; it offers immense health benefits, including lowering blood pressure; it is environmentally friendly, with zero emissions; and, it can encourage the formation of social and neighbourhood communities.

However, contemplating cycling on our urban roads is like contemplating suicide. Motor vehicle drivers are most unfriendly to cyclists.

Road designers easily leave out provisions for pedestrians and cyclists, and even when such provisions are made, they are easily taken over by traders. Those who maintain roads, hardly care about marking and repairing pedestrian and cyclist ways.

It is no wonder that bicycle fatalities are high on African roads. According to the UN, vulnerable road users–such as those walking or riding bicycles–account for roughly half of all traffic fatalities on the continent, primarily driven by a lack of protected infrastructure, reckless driving, and poor post-crash care.

We need to create a society that loves the bicycle through school and public education. Drivers, in particular, must see pedestrians and cyclists as fellow road users, not aliens.

Road designers and maintainers should provide and care for non-motorised road users. Those regulating the use of roads, should enforce regulations and impose heavy penalties for reckless drivers.

Using the bicycle should not be seen as a sign of poverty. We know of ministers in rich countries, going about their business on bicycles.

Formation of bicycle clubs need to be encouraged. Use of the bicycle must be propagated by the Honourable MPs, councillors and all professionals.

Work and popular assembly places should have facilities for cyclists such as parking and changing rooms. Next year’s World Bicycle Day, which will be on Thursday 3rd June should not pass so quietly.

.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania could face rising fuel and fertiliser costs if the conflict in the Middle East persists, the government has warned, as recent disruptions in global commodity markets have already begun affecting domestic energy prices.

Presenting the State of the Economy Report 2025 in Parliament on Thursday, the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Prof Kitila Mkumbo, said geopolitical tensions involving Iran continue to affect global commodity markets, transport costs and supply chains. The warning comes weeks after the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) announced fuel prices for June 2026, citing the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran as a key factor influencing developments in the domestic petroleum market.

While petrol prices in Dar es Salaam fell slightly by Sh29 per litre to S,086, diesel prices increased by Sh85 per litre to S,333 despite a government subsidy of Sh534.91 per litre aimed at shielding consumers from global price shocks. According to Ewura, the conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, has heightened uncertainty in international oil markets and affected countries that rely on fuel imports from the Middle East, including Tanzania.

Prof Mkumbo told Parliament that research conducted jointly by the National Planning Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found that the conflict had contributed to higher oil prices, increased transport costs and disruptions to global supply chains. “The war against Iran has caused panic in global oil markets due to fears of disruptions in oil transportation through the Persian Gulf and other major international shipping routes,” he said.

According to the report, crude oil prices rose from about $100 per barrel in March 2026 to $126 per barrel in April before easing to between $90 and $95 in early June. The minister said Tanzania remains vulnerable to such shocks because it imports all its refined petroleum products, with between 60 and 70 percent sourced from Gulf countries, India and Singapore.

The report further warns that the agricultural sector could face additional pressure because Tanzania imports between 30 and 40 percent of its urea and DAP fertilisers from Gulf countries, particularly Qatar. Any prolonged disruption in the region could increase production costs for farmers and place upward pressure on food prices, according to the report.

However, the government believes the crisis could also create opportunities for the country. Prof Mkumbo said Tanzania could benefit from increased demand for transhipment and cargo storage services if access to some Middle Eastern ports becomes constrained by the conflict.

“For example, there is an opportunity to provide transhipment and cargo storage services for vessels unable to deliver cargo to Middle Eastern ports because of the conflict,” he said. The government also expects Tanzania to attract investors seeking alternative destinations away from conflict-prone regions as implementation of Vision 2050 gathers pace.

The warning comes as Tanzania seeks to sustain economic growth, maintain price stability and attract investment while navigating growing uncertainty in the global economy. .