Category: The Citizen

The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has launched an Electronic Matching System (EMS) for the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market (IFEM), a move expected to enhance transparency, efficiency and price discovery in the country’s foreign exchange market.

The new platform replaces a largely manual process under which commercial banks spent hours negotiating foreign currency transactions, matching buyers with sellers and agreeing exchange rates before trades could be completed.

As the world counts down to the kick-off of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of Dar es Salaam’s leading entertainment hubs, KWG, has completed major preparations to welcome football fans set to follow the tournament in a unique and immersive setting.

From food and beverages to entertainment and match-viewing infrastructure, everything has been carefully put in place to ensure fans enjoy a premium experience throughout the month-long competition, which is expected to attract millions of viewers worldwide.

The 2026 World Cup is already being billed as historic, as it will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and will feature more teams than ever before in the tournament’s history. In response to the scale of the event, KWG has stepped up its preparations, aiming to provide football lovers with the best possible environment to follow every match from the group stages through to the final.

A key focus has been placed on food service, with kitchen teams preparing a wide-ranging menu designed to cater for the diverse tastes of visitors expected across its outlets during the tournament.

At the same time, the bar section has been upgraded with an expanded selection of beverages, offering fans a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere as they enjoy live action from stadiums around the world.

To ensure the entertainment does not stop after the 90 minutes on the pitch, KWG has lined up DJs and curated music programmes to keep the energy alive before kick-off, during half-time and after matches.

The preparations also include significant investment in live broadcast equipment, with more than 100 screens installed across its branches to guarantee clear and uninterrupted viewing for every customer.

The expansion of screens is expected to ease congestion during high-profile fixtures involving global football giants such as Brazil, Argentina, England, France, Germany and Spain.

KWG has also strengthened its customer service operations, training additional staff to ensure efficient service delivery despite the anticipated surge in fans throughout the tournament period.

Its branches in Mlimani City, Masaki, Mikocheni and Coco Beach are expected to become key meeting points for football fans across Dar es Salaam, offering a shared, high-energy viewing experience.

The World Cup opening festivities are scheduled to begin at 8:30pm East African Time at the Estadio Azteca, featuring international performers ahead of the opening match.

The celebrations will run for approximately 90 minutes before Mexico face South Africa in the tournament opener, kicking off at 10:00pm local time.

Several people narrowly escaped death after a B One Coach bus caught fire following an accident in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region.

Acting Kilimanjaro Regional Fire and Rescue Force commander Jeremiah Mkomagi confirmed the incident, saying it occurred on the night of Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in the Rosinde area of Romu Ward, Hai District.

Mr Mkomagi, said the accident was caused by a burst tyre on the right side of the bus’s rear axle, which ruptured the fuel tank and triggered the fire. According to Mr Mkomagi, the bus was carrying 23 passengers and three crew members, but no injuries or deaths were reported.

However, he said none of the passengers managed to salvage their belongings as the fire destroyed all property inside the vehicle.

‘At around 4:41 am, the Fire and Rescue Force at Hai Station received reports of a fire involving a passenger bus belonging to B One Coach Company. Officers arrived at the scene and found the bus engulfed in flames before successfully extinguishing the fire,’ said Mr Mkomagi.

He said the losses resulting from the accident included the destruction of the bus and the passengers’ luggage inside the vehicle.

‘The force continues to educate motor vehicle owners on taking precautions against fire outbreaks, conducting regular vehicle inspections, and reporting incidents early to the Fire and Rescue Force through emergency number 114,’ said Mr Mkomagi.

South African music star Tyla is adding another major milestone to her rapidly rising career. The Grammy-winning artiste has officially joined Disney and Pixar’s highly anticipated Toy Story 5, making her debut in one of the world’s most beloved animated franchises.

Disney recently confirmed that Tyla will voice a special cameo character known as Inflatable Flamingo in the Sub-Saharan African version of the film.

Reflecting on the announcement, Tyla said the role carries deep personal meaning.

‘Toy Story has been such a special part of my childhood, so being part of this film is a full-circle moment for me. I’m incredibly excited for audiences to experience it, and it means so much to know that African viewers will hear an African voice bringing one of these beloved characters to life.’ she said

The announcement has sparked excitement among fans across the continent and beyond, further cementing her growing influence on the global entertainment stage.

Known for chart-topping hits such as Water and her signature blend of amapiano, pop and R and B, Tyla has become one of Africa’s biggest music exports in recent years. Her involvement in Toy Story 5 marks her first voice-acting role and places her alongside some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names.

The upcoming film reunites audiences with iconic characters Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and Forky as they embark on a brand-new adventure. This time, the toys must navigate a world where children are increasingly drawn to technology rather than traditional playthings.

Scheduled for release on June 19, 2026, Toy Story 5 is expected to be one of Disney and Pixar’s biggest releases of the year. The film features returning cast members including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Joan Cusack as Jessie.

While some social media users have described Tyla as the first African performer to appear in the Toy Story franchise, Disney has not officially confirmed that distinction. What is clear, however, is that her casting marks another significant step for African representation in one of animation’s most successful franchises.

For Tyla, the role is the latest achievement in a career that continues to break new ground. From topping international music charts and winning prestigious awards to now becoming part of the Toy Story universe, the South African star is proving that her influence extends far beyond music.

As anticipation builds for Toy Story 5, fans will be eager to hear Tyla bring her character to life when the film arrives in cinemas next year.

Continued investment in telecommunications infrastructure is driving the expansion of mobile network coverage across Tanzania, with fifth-generation (5G) mobile technology now reaching 32.83 percent of the population despite relatively low smartphone penetration.

According to the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), 5G population coverage increased to 32.83 percent in the quarter ending March 2026, up from 30.13 percent in the previous quarter.

Tanzania’s ports are recording strong growth in vehicle imports, container traffic and dry bulk cargo, reflecting increased trade activity and investment in port infrastructure.

Latest performance data show cargo volumes and vessel calls rose across most categories during the 2026 reporting period, reinforcing the role of the Port of Dar es Salaam as a regional trade gateway.

The Government has said the National Budget for the 2026/2027 financial year will focus on key economic sectors as it seeks to build a resilient economy anchored on digital transformation, strategic investment and sustainable fiscal policies for inclusive growth.

This was said on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, by the Minister for Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, when briefing journalists on the eve of the budget presentation in Parliament.

Ambassador Omar said the 2026/27 budget is the first to be implemented under the National Development Vision 2050, and has been prepared in line with the Fourth Five-Year National Development Plan (2026/27-2030/31) as well as the ruling party’s 2025 election manifesto. He said in the course of preparing the budget to be presented in Parliament on Thursday, June 11, 2026, the Government received 727 proposals from stakeholders in both the public and private sectors on possible reforms in taxes, fees and various levies.

The proposals were reviewed by the Tax Reforms Technical Committee and a high-level technical committee, with the recommendations incorporated into the final proposals to be tabled before Parliament.

According to the Minister, the 2026/2027 budget will prioritise measures aimed at stimulating economic growth through reforms to strengthen productive sectors, increase domestic revenue collection to enhance fiscal self-reliance, and reinforce discipline in the use of public funds.

He further said the budget will emphasise the promotion of clean and alternative energy, acceleration of formalisation of the informal sector, improvement of the investment and business environment, and expansion of digital payment systems to reduce reliance on cash transactions.

The Government assured Tanzanians that it will continue to enhance stakeholder engagement and public participation in tax reforms and broader economic policy formulation to ensure the budget benefits citizens and supports national development.

Detailed allocations on revenue, expenditure and policy reforms will be presented during the formal budget speech in Parliament.

Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi said Zanzibar is seeking to open a new chapter of cooperation with Singapore, with a focus on economic diplomacy, trade and investment.

Dr Mwinyi made the remarks on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, during talks with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the State House in Zanzibar.

President Shanmugaratnam is on a three-day official visit to Tanzania. Dr Mwinyi said the long-standing relationship between the two countries should now be directed towards identifying new opportunities for economic cooperation that would deliver greater benefits to both sides.

He said Zanzibar was keen to strengthen collaboration in areas such as skills and technology transfer, education, innovation, capacity-building and strategic investment.

‘We will strengthen cooperation in strategic sectors and promote trade and investment,’ he said.

The Zanzibar leader assured Singapore of his government’s commitment to maintaining and deepening the cordial relations that have existed between the two sides, describing them as an important bridge between the people of Zanzibar and Singapore.

He invited Singaporean companies and investors to explore opportunities in Zanzibar, particularly in the blue economy and tourism sectors.

Dr Mwinyi said the blue economy offers significant investment potential, particularly in oil and natural gas exploration, deep-sea fishing, and marine products processing.

He noted that preliminary studies have indicated the presence of energy resources in some parts of Zanzibar, creating opportunities for investment in the oil and gas sector.

On seaweed farming, he said the crop supports thousands of livelihoods and that Zanzibar is seeking investment in value-addition industries to reduce reliance on exporting raw seaweed.

The President also identified the energy sector as a key area for investment, citing rising electricity demand driven by growth in tourism, hotel development, and large-scale investment projects.

He further called for Singapore’s support in advancing Zanzibar’s digital transformation agenda through technology transfer, digital public services, capacity-building for public officials, and expanded training opportunities for Zanzibaris in Singapore.

Dr Mwinyi described the visit as the beginning of a new phase of cooperation that could unlock fresh development opportunities for both sides.

For his part, the Singapore leader said his coubtry was committed to strengthening cooperation with Zanzibar and supporting its development aspirations.

He commended Zanzibar for the reforms it has undertaken in recent years and pledged to encourage Singaporean investors to explore business opportunities on the islands.

Following the talks, Dr Mwinyi hosted a luncheon in honour of his Singapore counterpart at the Zanzibar State House.

The High Court of Tanzania, Dodoma Sub-Registry, has quashed life imprisonment and 30-year sentences imposed on two men convicted of gang rape and sodomy, after finding that defects in the charge sheet rendered the proceedings invalid.

The freed men, Mr Patrick Manyuli and Mr Samwel Frank, were originally charged at Dodoma District Court with two counts of gang rape, contrary to sections 130(1) and 131A(2)(i) of the Penal Code, and sodomy, contrary to section 154(1)(a).

They were accused of committing the offences on December 17, 2024, at Maili Mbili area in Dodoma Region against a 19-year-old woman. The judgment was delivered by Justice Dr Juliana Masabo on Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Appeal No. 5212/2026, challenging the district court decision of December 29, 2025.

The court found that the charge sheet contained incurable defects that invalidated the entire proceedings.

Basis of appeal

The appellants had initially been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and 30 years respectively, in addition to being ordered to pay Sh1 million compensation to the victim.

It was alleged that on the night of the incident, the victim was attacked while asleep in her room by two men who broke into her house.

Prosecution witnesses told the court that one attacker had dreadlocks while the other had short hair.

Armed with a screwdriver, they allegedly threatened the victim, gagged her and dragged her to an unfinished house, where they raped and sodomised her in turns.

After the incident, the suspects fled, leaving the victim at the scene. She later reported the matter to neighbours and police before receiving medical treatment.

Evidence showed that the accused were arrested and identified during an identification parade conducted by police.

However, the appellants challenged their conviction on 14 grounds, including failure by the prosecution to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, inconsistencies in evidence, and failure to call key witnesses, including co-tenants and a social welfare officer.

High Court decision

In her judgment, Justice Masabo raised a key issue not listed among the grounds of appeal, but which she said went to the root of the case.

She noted that the charge sheet identified the victim only by initials ‘A.M.’ rather than her full name.

However, during trial, witnesses referred to the victim inconsistently, with some calling her ‘the victim’ and others using different names not linked to the initials in the charge sheet.

The judge said proper identification of a complainant is a fundamental requirement, as it enables an accused person to understand the charge and prepare a defence.

She stressed that a charge sheet must contain sufficient particulars to safeguard the right to a fair hearing.

‘The record is silent on whether there was any special order or court directive authorising the use of initials instead of the victim’s full name,’ she said.

She added that even if such authorisation existed, the prosecution was required to ensure consistency between the charge sheet and the evidence presented.

The court further held that where discrepancies arise, the prosecution must seek amendment of the charge in accordance with the law.

Justice Masabo concluded that the inconsistency between the charge sheet and evidence was fundamental and prejudicial to the accused persons’ right to a fair hearing.

She ruled that the defect was not a mere technicality but a fatal flaw that vitiated the entire proceedings from the outset.

The High Court therefore declared the proceedings at Dodoma District Court invalid, quashed the convictions and sentences, and ordered the immediate release of the appellants unless held for other lawful reasons.

Tanzania’s ambition to become a significant player in the global minerals value chain will depend on stronger investment in research, exploration and innovation, experts said yesterday during the opening of the 11th University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Research and Innovation Week.

The conference, held under the theme Harnessing Tanzania’s Mineral Wealth for Renewable Energy, Digital Transformation and Societal Security, brought together policymakers, researchers, engineers and industry players to discuss how the country can convert its mineral resources into long-term economic gains.