Category: The Citizen

Arusha. Young people from East and Central Africa have been urged to take the lead in combating drug abuse by educating communities, promoting prevention efforts, and actively participating in initiatives aimed at curbing the use and trafficking of illicit substances in their countries.

The call was made by Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) Commissioner General, Mr Aretas Lyimo, during the closing of the three-day East African Youth Forum on Drugs 2026 (EAYFD), held in Arusha. Mr Lyimo challenged young people to reject any involvement in drug use and trafficking, stressing that their choices today will shape the future of their nations.

He said young people are a critical force in preventing drug abuse and should be regarded as partners in addressing a challenge that continues to affect communities and hinder economic development across the region. “You should not be seen only as beneficiaries of anti-drug programmes, but as key partners in designing and implementing sustainable solutions to this cross-border challenge,” said Mr Lyimo.

“From today, go back to your communities and become ambassadors in the fight against drugs. I believe you will be part of the solution to this problem,” he added.

He said drug abuse and trafficking remain serious threats to social welfare and economic growth across many African countries, calling for stronger cooperation among governments, institutions, and young people. Mr Lyimo also urged stakeholders to invest more in awareness and prevention programmes to protect the younger generation, which is expected to drive future development.

“Prevention remains the most effective way to reduce drug abuse. We must invest in life-skills education, strengthen family support systems, and create safe environments where young people can openly discuss the challenges they face without fear,” he said.

The forum, held under the theme “Accelerating Drug Demand Reduction among East African Youth,” brought together more than 200 youth leaders from Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Mauritania, and South Africa. Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Forum Coordinator, Ms Halima Omar, said the event aimed to bring together youth leaders from institutions and organisations involved in drug control efforts to share experiences and discuss challenges in tackling drug abuse.

“We recognise that young people are among the most affected by drug abuse, yet they are also the generation we rely on to shape effective youth policies and secure the future of our nations. That is why we felt there was important work to be done,” she said.

Ms Omar said addressing drug abuse requires collective action and cross-border knowledge sharing. “This challenge cannot be solved in isolation.

That is why we organised this forum for the first time, bringing together young people from different countries to discuss how we can help youth break free from drug dependence, whether it is used as an escape from personal challenges or for recreation,” she said. A participant from Kenya, Mr George Ochieng, said the forum had strengthened young leaders by equipping them with practical skills and knowledge to become agents of change at the community, national, and regional levels.

“We also had the opportunity to discuss youth leadership, mental health, advocacy, and youth participation in policy-making processes within our respective countries,” he said. .

Dar es Salaam. As Tanzania continues to invest heavily in expanding access to education, attention is increasingly turning to a critical question: how can teachers be supported to deliver quality learning in the classroom? The answer was at the centre of the National Teaching Skills Competition awards ceremony held in Dar es Salaam on May 6, 2026, where 35 teachers from pre-primary, primary and secondary schools were recognised for excellence and innovation in teaching.

The winners will receive plots of land near their workplaces as part of a government effort to motivate teachers and encourage professional excellence. Speaking during the event, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Prof Riziki Shemdoe, said teachers remain the backbone of national development because they shape the knowledge, skills and values of future generations.

He urged teachers across the country to continue embracing innovative teaching methods and modern technologies to help learners develop critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills needed in the 21st century. “The government will continue to value teachers’ contributions by improving working conditions and providing incentives that enhance teaching and learning,” he said.

The competition comes at a time when Tanzania is implementing major education reforms under the Education Sector Development Plan and the new competency-based curriculum, both of which place greater emphasis on learner-centred teaching, digital skills and improved learning outcomes. Education experts say rewarding teachers for excellence is increasingly important as the country seeks to address persistent learning challenges, particularly in foundational literacy and numeracy.

According to the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE), the 2026 competition focused on strengthening teaching competencies in reading, writing and arithmetic, commonly known as the 3Rs. For pre-primary education, special attention was placed on helping children master letter sounds, an area that has been identified as a challenge for many learners.

TIE Director General Dr Aneth Komba said the competition aligns with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of ensuring that every child can read fluently by the time they reach Standard Three. “The aim is to improve teaching and learning of foundational skills so that children acquire the competencies needed for future learning,” she said.

Dr Komba noted that preparations for the competition involved analysing learner performance data from the National Examinations Council of Tanzania and reviewing new curriculum requirements to identify priority areas for improvement. A total of 3,153 teachers registered for the competition through a digital platform known as the National Teaching Skills Competition System.

Of those, 1,263 uploaded lesson videos for assessment. The competition was conducted at council, regional and national levels, with judges evaluating lesson planning, content delivery, learner participation, use of ICT, teaching aids, continuous assessment and the promotion of 21st-century skills.

The initiative reflects a growing shift towards professional development that recognises classroom practice rather than focusing solely on academic qualifications. Education analyst and lecturer, Dr Thomas Jabir, said teacher motivation remains one of the most important factors influencing learning outcomes.

“When teachers are recognised for good performance, it boosts morale and encourages others to improve. Such programmes also create opportunities for sharing best practices across schools and regions,” he said.

He added that as Tanzania expands school infrastructure and enrolment, equal attention must be paid to classroom instruction because learning outcomes depend largely on teacher effectiveness. Data from government education reports show that Tanzania has made significant progress in increasing school enrolment over the past decade.

However, education stakeholders have repeatedly pointed to the need for stronger teacher support systems, including continuous professional development, mentorship and access to digital teaching resources. The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Culture and Sports, Husna Sekiboko, said improving education requires collaboration among teachers, parents, learners and community leaders.

She noted that ongoing reforms in education governance and management are intended to strengthen service delivery and improve student learning outcomes nationwide. .

Arusha. The High Court of Tanzania, Sumbawanga Sub-Registry, has conditionally discharged Mr Ng’umbu Kapeza, popularly known as Masanja, after noting a reconciliation reached with his former wife, whom he attacked with a machete, with the pair later restoring their relationship and even having a child after the incident.

The ruling was delivered on Friday, May 29, 2026, by Justice Thadeo Mwenempazi, who ordered that the accused be released on condition that he does not commit any criminal offence for 12 months. The court said that despite the seriousness of the offence and the severe harm suffered by the victims, it also considered the reconciliation between the parties, the remorse shown by the accused, and the fact that peace had been restored within the family.

Mr Kapeza faced two counts of attempted murder, contrary to section 211(a) of the Penal Code, and causing grievous harm, contrary to section 222(a) of the same law. According to court records, the incident occurred on the night of December 23, 2023, at the Kashelami area in Mpanda District, Katavi Region, when the accused attacked the home of John and Tatu while they were asleep.

The court heard that Tatu was formerly married to the accused before they separated, and she began living with John. It was alleged that the accused, together with two others, forcibly entered the house and attacked the victims using machetes.

In evidence presented in court, Tatu identified the attacker as her former husband. The matter was reported to the police, and investigations commenced.

Medical reports from Katavi Referral Hospital showed that the victims sustained severe injuries, including broken bones and permanent disability. The accused was arrested on January 18, 2024, and later gave caution statements admitting involvement in the incident.

During the trial, he pleaded guilty to all charges and admitted the facts presented by the prosecution under section 198 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA). Following the plea, the court convicted him without calling witnesses.

During mitigation, the prosecution urged the court to impose a harsh sentence given the seriousness of the offence and the injuries sustained, despite the accused having no prior criminal record. The defence, however, asked the court to consider that he was a first-time offender, had pleaded guilty early, had shown remorse, and had cooperated fully with investigations.

It was further argued that the incident was triggered by emotional anger after the accused allegedly found Tatu with another man in circumstances where the separation process had not been formally completed. The court was also told that the accused is a father of a large family with four wives and 28 children, six of whom are still young and dependent on him.

A key submission in mitigation was that after the incident, the accused and Tatu reconciled, resumed their relationship, and even had a child together. The court was further informed that Tatu had forgiven the accused and appeared in court to confirm the reconciliation.

In his ruling, Justice Mwenempazi said the court considered both aggravating and mitigating factors. He noted that despite the seriousness of the offence and the severe injuries suffered by the victims, the accused was a first-time offender, had shown remorse, reconciled with the victims, and restored peace within the family.

The judge further observed that a custodial sentence could disrupt the reconciliation already achieved between the parties involved. For those reasons, the court invoked its powers under section 38(1) of the Penal Code and ordered that the accused be released conditionally for 12 months, during which he must not commit any criminal offence, failing which he would be brought back before the court for sentencing in accordance with the law.

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Uzbekistan. Tanzania has called for increased climate adaptation financing and stronger support for vulnerable developing countries as the 8th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with global leaders warning that time is running out to meet environmental targets by 2030. The week-long gathering started on June 01, 2026, and brought together 2,378 representatives from 168 countries to discuss solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, collectively known as the triple planetary crisis.

Speaking on behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Minister of State in the Second Vice President’s Office of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Hamza Hassan Juma, said climate adaptation remains a matter of survival for developing countries, particularly those in Africa. “For developing countries, climate adaptation is not a choice but a matter of survival,” he said, while welcoming the launch of the ninth replenishment cycle of the GEF, which secured approximately $3.9 billion (Sh9.9 trillion) in new pledges from donor countries.

Mr Juma said Tanzania appreciates recent reforms introduced by the GEF, including simplified project procedures and faster access to funding, which have helped countries implement environmental projects more efficiently. “As one of the beneficiary countries of the GEF, Tanzania welcomes such improvements to enhance flexibility, easy access to funds, and timely execution of projects,” he said.

Tanzania has been allocated $33.5 million (Sh87.1 billion) under the GEF-8 cycle and an additional $20 million (Sh52 billion) from the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). According to Mr Juma, the country has already secured approvals for its entire allocation.

The minister noted that the Assembly was taking place at a critical moment as the world approaches 2030, the deadline for several global environmental and sustainable development commitments. He urged the international community to intensify efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, strengthen climate resilience and accelerate environmental recovery.

A major focus of discussions throughout the Assembly was the growing gap between adaptation needs and available financing. Tanzania cited findings from the Adaptation Gap Report 2025 showing that developing countries require an estimated $365 billion annually to implement climate adaptation measures, while current financial flows remain far below that level.

“Tanzania emphasizes that adaptation should remain a cross-cutting priority across all GEF-9 interventions,” Mr Juma said. He also called for greater investment in technology transfer, innovation, ecosystem-based approaches and locally led adaptation initiatives.

The country further appealed for additional resources to support vulnerable nations that contribute the least to global greenhouse gas emissions but suffer the most severe climate impacts. Beyond public financing, delegates discussed the growing role of private sector investment in addressing environmental challenges.

Valerie Hickey, Director for Environment at the World Bank Group, said, “the GEF can play a critical role in helping governments establish regulations and policy frameworks that reduce investment risks and attract private capital.” She advocated what she described as a “Goldilocks blend” of concessional and commercial finance, where public funding helps absorb risks while maintaining commercially viable investments capable of generating measurable environmental benefits.

The Assembly also highlighted the need for governments to align environmental, economic and development policies to achieve lasting results. In his closing remarks, Interim GEF Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson Claude Gascon said the world already possesses the knowledge, evidence and solutions needed to address environmental challenges.

“What we need now is the collective determination to act with greater speed, greater coherence, and greater ambition than ever before,” he said. Mr Gascon stressed that environmental protection should no longer be treated as a separate policy area but as the foundation of economic resilience, food security, public health and sustainable development.

He called for continued public development assistance, stronger policy coherence among governments, greater participation by the private sector and a whole-of-society approach involving communities, women, youth, scientists, farmers and civil society organizations. “The last sprint to 2030 has begun.

Let us act with urgency and with purpose,” he said. As delegates departed Samarkand, the message emerging from the Assembly was clear: achieving global climate and environmental goals will require not only more funding, but also stronger partnerships, better policies and faster implementation.

For Tanzania and many other developing countries, securing adequate adaptation finance remains one of the most urgent priorities in the coming years. This story was produced as part of a reporting fellowship to the Eighth GEF Assembly supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.

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Dodoma. Government has directed Regional, District Security and Defence Committees to ensure all buyers with outstanding debts to coffee farmers and other crops are barred from participating in crop purchasing next season, a measure aimed at protecting farmers’ interests and eliminating payment disputes in the sector.

Speaking on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at a coffee-sector meeting held in Dodoma Minister of Agriculture, Mr Daniel Chongolo, said the government will not issue licences to any buyer who has not paid farmers debts. He said the Cooperative-Development Commission together with Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) should take action against individuals or associations causing payment disputes to farmers in order to strengthen transparency and trust in coffee business.

Mr Chongolo said the government has received reports of success in controlling smuggling of crops from Misenyi and Kyerwa districts and congratulated leaders of those areas for good management of farmers’ crops. He said coffee has continued to be one of important commercial crops in the country earning Tanzania more than $400 million last year and becoming second crop in foreign exchange earnings after tobacco.

The minister said coffee demand in world market continues to increase, while Tanzania continues building reputation of producing high quality coffee with strong international competitiveness. He emphasized importance of increasing production alongside coffee quality through the use of quality seedlings, strengthening extension services, and investment in coffee-processing to add value before trading in both domestic and international market.

“We do not want to see extension officer without knowledge behind farmers. We need experts with ability to help farmers use technology and modern methods,” he said.

In another development, TCB in collaboration with PASS Trust have launched Fertiliser-Loan Guarantee Scheme (FCGS) for coffee farmers aimed at facilitating access to inputs and increasing production of the crop programme scheme. PASS Trust Director of Business Development, Mr Adam Kamanda, said institutions have invested a total of Sh12 billion in that programme where TCB contributed Sh6 billion and PASS Trust same amount He said funds will be used as loan guarantee for farmers and expected to enable provision of fertiliser loans worth more than Sh75 billion annually.

“This programme aims to remove obstacles facing farmers in accessing inputs on time and increasing productivity in coffee production,” said Mr Kamanda. On her part TCB Chairperson of Board of Directors, Ms Prof Aurelia Kamuzora, said stakeholders in that sector discussed various issues including market access, production of quality seedlings, youth and women participation, as well as monitoring of coffee crop development plan.

He said Tanzania aims to reach production of 300,000 tonnes of coffee per year from 86,000 tonnes currently through ongoing improvements in the sector. Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairperson on Industries, Trade, Agriculture and Livestock, Mr Khalid Nsekela, said achievements of coffee sector should not be measured only by increase in production, but by how they improve lives of farmers and increase competitiveness of Tanzanian coffee in the world market.

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It’s clear this guy who has just joined me at my table knows me better than I know him because he called my name after saying hi. I soon learn he’s called Dennis.

I’m a typical M’bongo who subscribes to the creed instilled unto us by Mwalimu Nyerere: all human beings are my kin, and Africa (read Bongo) is one. I offer Dennis a “welcome drink”, and we’re soon conversing on numerous topics until we navigate into family matters.

At some point, he declares: “I’ve vowed never to marry againnever!” he says, his face a picture of hurt. “Why?” I ask and add before he has answered: “That’s a very drastic decision and how come you’re using the word ‘again’ like you’re a divorcee?” “Yes, I had a wife, but what she did to me was terrible; unforgivable I now know women are bad by their very nature,” says Dennis.

This sounds interesting, I say to myself. A once-married man describing womenthe whole lot of them as naturally bad? I ask him to explain, and he gives a long, detailed story of how his wife moved to bewitch him.

Imbibing the second beer that I had unconsciously offered him, he narrates: “You see, I used to hold the job of a driver-mechanic attached to a senior government official. Now my wife’s evil friends advised her to get the services of a powerful witchdoctor based in Bagamoyo.

” The mganga, they told her, could fix me so I would have neither the desire nor the capacity to do anything with any woman other than her!” He tells me he got the details of his wife’s machinations from one of the very friends who gave her directions to the Bagamoyo witch doctor. “One day I arrived home unannounced at 8pm–my boss having cancelled an upcountry trip–and when I neared my house, I peeped through the sitting room window of our semi-finished house and saw a man in boxers and a singlet, seated on my favourite couch, with a slaughtered black cat and some witch doctor’s paraphernalia on the floor,” he says.

He entered the house quietly through the back door, rushed to the sitting room and attacked the mganga viciously. His wife, who was “poorly dressed”, fainted and was crushed to the floor after he beat her mganga to near-death.

Dennis says he helped the mganga to his feet, and dragged him to the door, pushed him out and let him flee into the dark night. “I didn’t want him to die in my house,” says Dennis, as he hails a barmaid to bring us a round.

He returned to look at his wife, still unconscious, he says, adding. “I checked her breathing and concluded she was alive, then I walked to the nearby grocery and started to drink afresh,” he says.

He informs me the wife has since vanished, together with her child whose father he doesn’t know. When I return from the gents, I find Dennis polishing off his beer.

He then excuses himself, saying a client has called him from his garage. When I’m ready to leave, I demand my bill.

I’m told it’s Sh12,000. It means Dennis didn’t pay for the round he ordered! When I express my disappointment to our mhudumu, a guy at a nearby table asks, “Kwani, bro, what story was Dennis telling youI saw you listening to him keenly.” When I brief him, he laughs and says, “It was all fiction Dennis tells that same story to any patron who cares to listenand he often earns free beers for it.

” Oh, Bongo, my beloved country; I say to myself as I part with my hard-earned twelve thou and leave! .

Jua Kali represents what I consider to be the very definition of a properly executed film. It excels at showing rather than telling, serving as a masterclass in visual storytelling and impeccable pacing.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a short film operating within a limited runtime, but it uses every second with purpose. From the editing and deliberate pacing to the cinematography and composition, every element works together to build a rich, immersive world.

Rather than simply presenting a plot, director Joash Omondi pulls the audience into an experience. What emerges is a piece of cinema that doesn’t feel like a story trying to tell you a story.

Instead, it invites you to inhabit its world, allowing you to absorb events naturally as they unfold. There is no exposition dumping.

Nobody pauses mid-scene to explain what is happening or who a character is. The film trusts its audience to observe, interpret and connect the dots.

At its core, the story is deceptively simple, following a day in the life of Diana, a Nairobi domestic worker. Yet beneath that simplicity lies something far more profound.

While Jua Kali is undeniably Kenyan in its setting, its themes resonate far beyond Nairobi. Watching it as an East African viewer, it quickly becomes clear that this is not simply a Kenyan story.

It is a story about labour, dignity, resilience and survival, experiences that are instantly recognisable across the region. Whether in Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Kigali or Mombasa, Diana’s world feels familiar.

Across East Africa, domestic workers, cleaners, security guards, street vendors and countless informal labourers form the backbone of urban life. They wake before dawn, endure long commutes, work exhausting hours and often receive little recognition for their contribution to the cities they help sustain.

Jua Kali shines a light on these realities without ever turning them into a lecture. The film contains social and political commentary, but its message is seamlessly woven into the fabric of everyday life.

There is no preaching, no overt attempt to steer the audience towards a particular conclusion. Instead, the commentary emerges organically through the environment, the characters and the situations they navigate.

That authenticity is one of the film’s greatest strengths. There is so much that East African audiences will recognise, from the casual conversations and workplace dynamics to the small, everyday interactions that shape urban life.

At no point does the film stop to explain itself or announce its intentions. It simply presents a world that feels lived-in and real.

Beyond its narrative strengths, the technical execution is equally impressive. The sound design is remarkably intentional, particularly in its strategic use of silence.

When certain sounds do emerge, they carry greater emotional and narrative weight because sound is treated as an active storytelling device rather than mere background noise. The cinematography displays similar discipline.

Ordinary spaces and mundane objects are framed with care and purpose, giving them unexpected cinematic significance. When Omondi chooses to linger on a moment, the extended duration allows its emotional weight to settle naturally.

Perhaps this cohesion is no accident. Omondi not only wrote and directed the film but also edited it and composed its score.

That singular creative vision is evident throughout the production, resulting in a film whose visual rhythm, soundscape and storytelling feel perfectly aligned. In the end, Jua Kali is a remarkable short film and a testament to the power of understated storytelling.

It is visually rich, technically accomplished, socially relevant and emotionally resonant. More importantly, it respects the intelligence of its audience.

As East African cinema continues to gain international recognition, Jua Kali stands as an example of the stories that deserve to be told. It is deeply local without being confined by geography.

While Diana’s journey unfolds in Nairobi, the emotions, struggles and dignity at the heart of her story belong to the entire region. That is what makes Jua Kali such a compelling piece of cinema.

It reminds us that the most powerful stories are often the ones hiding in plain sight. .

In an era increasingly defined by economic competition, technological disruption and cultural influence, the most successful nations are no longer merely those endowed with abundant natural resources, but those capable of transforming their cultural heritage into strategic capital for sustainable development. Tanzania stands uniquely positioned in this global landscape through Kiswahili, a language that has evolved beyond communication into a powerful instrument of national unity, African identity and international influence.

Today, Kiswahili represents a unique linguistic legacy. It is a key economic asset with the huge potential to accelerate Tanzania’s socio-economic transformation, deepen cultural diplomacy, expand employment opportunities for youth, empower women and rapidly strengthen the country’s growing tourism sector.

According to UNESCO estimates, Kiswahili is spoken by about 200 million people globally, making it one of the most influential African languages in the modern world. It has already attained official language status within the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This recognition places Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and Tanzania in an exceptional position to transform this linguistic heritage into a globally competitive economic and diplomatic resource. UNESCO’s formal recognition of Kiswahili as one of its official working languages marked a historic milestone for Tanzania and Africa as a whole.

The decision elevated the status of the language within international education systems, academic scholarship, translation services, publishing industries, media networks and digital technologies. Increasingly, international organisations, multinational technology companies and digital communication platforms are seeking Kiswahili experts to expand their engagement with East and Central African markets.

Within the rapidly evolving global knowledge economy, Kiswahili could emerge as a key driver of the creative industries. Tanzania now possesses a rare opportunity to position itself as the global hub of Kiswahili cultural content through music, cinema, literature, Swahili cultural festivals, podcasts, digital storytelling and creative media production.

The remarkable expansion of Bongo flava, Swahili cinema and performance arts has already generated employment for thousands of young Tanzanians in audio production, videography, scriptwriting, digital marketing, photography, event management and online content creation. Ladies and gentlemen, we can do much more! Women, in particular, remain at the heart of preserving and advancing Swahili cultural heritage.

Across Tanzania’s coastal communities, women continue to drive economic activities linked to traditional crafts, fashion design, culinary arts, storytelling, seaweed farming and community tourism enterprises. Their growing participation demonstrates how culture can become an effective mechanism for economic empowerment, poverty reduction and inclusive development when supported through targeted investment, access to patient capital and finance and effective and creative institutional partnerships.

Equally significant is the role Kiswahili can and should play in addressing youth unemployment, one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing Africa today. The rise of artificial intelligence, digital communication systems, online education and multilingual technologies has sharply increased demand for Kiswahili translators, digital content creators, language trainers and cultural consultants.

Tanzania has a strategic opportunity to establish itself as the global centre for Kiswahili learning, research and digital innovation. This emerging ecosystem could generate thousands of new jobs across tourism, education, fashion, gastronomy, publishing, technology and international media industries.

More importantly, it would position Tanzania as the principal custodian and exporter of Swahili cultural capital to the world. Tanzania, through a public, private and community partnership (PPCP) led by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Umoja Conservation Trust (UCT), National Arts and Culture Council (Basata), National Council of Sports (BMT), Tanzania Kiswahili Council (Bakita), National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and Glow Consulting Services, now has a fantastic opportunity to position Kiswahili culture as Africa’s next major cultural export.

Through music, literature, cinema, fashion, poetry, arts and cultural galleries, a national cultural troupe, gastronomy and international cultural festivals. This unique and strategic PPCP will significantly increase tourism revenues, attract foreign investment and elevate Tanzania’s international cultural and sustainability visibility.

However, realising this vision will require deliberate, urgent, national strategies and sustained investment. Key government institutions, private sector stakeholders and academic institutions must collaborate to strengthen and reposition Swahili conservation, Kiswahili education, language technology, cultural preservation and tourism infrastructure.

Government alone will not be able to succeed. Young people, starting with journalists, writers and environmentalists must be equipped with digital and creative skills (including conservation education) that will enable them to transform Tanzania’s cultural heritage into sustainable economic dividend within an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Looking ahead, Kiswahili possesses huge potential to become one of Africa’s defining pillars of the knowledge economy, cultural conservation and creative economy. As the world increasingly seeks authentic cultural narratives and diverse linguistic identities, Tanzania is uniquely positioned to lead through a language, culture and civilisation that already unites millions across the continent.

Indeed, Kiswahili is not just a historical inheritance; it is a unique conservation pillar and economic asset for the current and future generations. It is a harvest of the Union capable of transforming the United Republic of Tanzania into a continental centre of cultural diplomacy, cultural conservation, creative enterprise, women’s empowerment, youth employment and sustainable development in the 21st century.

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Dar es Salaam. A Tanzanian musician based in Switzerland is pushing Bongo Flava onto the international stage after independently producing and releasing a 16-track album that blends Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, Reggae and electronic sounds, with songs performed in both English and Kiswahili.

Muchi Melo, a singer, songwriter and producer originally from Tanzania, released his latest album MASAKIE on May 15, positioning it as a bold effort to take Bongo Flava beyond its traditional borders while staying firmly rooted in African identity. Unlike many contemporary projects that rely on multiple collaborators, Muchi Melo took full creative control of the album, writing, producing and performing all 16 tracks himself in a move that highlights his artistic independence and ambition.

Speaking to The Beat, Mello who was raised in Dar es Salaam and originates from Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region, said the project was driven by a desire to elevate Tanzanian sound globally while remaining authentic to his roots. “MASAKIE is my way of showing that Bongo Flava can travel anywhere in the world without losing its identity.

I wanted to carry Tanzania with me in every sound,” he said. He added that working independently came with challenges but also gave him full artistic freedom.

“Doing everything myself was not easy, but it allowed me to express exactly what I feel without compromise. This album is 100 percent me,” he told The Beat.

“The creation of MASAKIE represents six months of intense dedication, creativity and hard work,” the artist said in a statement, underscoring the personal investment behind the project. The album moves across genres with ease, weaving together African rhythms and global urban sounds, while also reflecting the artist’s bilingual approach, switching between Kiswahili and English to widen its reach and connect with diverse audiences.

Since its release, MASAKIE has been gaining traction on streaming platforms and social media, with listeners across different countries responding positively, helping to steadily raise Muchi Melo’s international profile. He also noted that living in Switzerland has influenced his sound and perspective.

“Being outside Tanzania has opened my mind musically, but my heart is still in Bongo Flava. I represent Tanzania in everything I do,” he told The Beat.

Although now based in Switzerland, the artist continues to carry his Tanzanian musical identity at the centre of his work, deliberately pushing Bongo Flava into new markets through a global sound that remains anchored in its East African roots. .

Dodoma. Members of Parliament (MPs) have been signing attendance registers on behalf of colleagues and travelling without authorisation have prompted National Assembly Speaker, Mr Mussa Azzan Zungu, to issue a stern warning, while directing the House Clerk to seek explanations from legislators who travelled to Morocco.

He also urged Prime Minister, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, to stop allowing both ministers and their deputies from the same ministry to be away from Parliament simultaneously on official trips, insisting that at least one of them must remain in the House to follow proceedings. Mr Zungu, who is also the CCM legislator for Ilala Constituency, issued the directive in Parliament on Friday, June 5, 2026, instructing Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Baraka Leonard, to write to MPs who travelled to Morocco and require them to provide explanations within four days.

Several MPs and ministers were reportedly seen in Morocco, where they had travelled to watch Tanzania’s Under-17 national football team, the Serengeti Boys, take on Senegal in the final. The match was played on the night of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with Senegal emerging 4-3 winners on penalties after the game ended 1-1 in official regulation time.

Reports, however, indicate that some MPs and ministers were seen outside the stadium during the match, suggesting they may not have travelled solely to watch the final and could have been engaged in other activities. Speaking after Question and Answers session, Speaker Zungu said absenteeism in Parliament had become widespread.

“Clerk, I direct you to immediately write letters to MPs who travelled to Morocco without the Speaker’s permission and require them to explain themselves. Their responses must reach us within four days from today,” said Mr Zungu.

The Speaker said absenteeism had taken various forms, including MPs asking colleagues to sign attendance registers on their behalf to create the impression that they had attended parliamentary sittings when they had not. “A practice has recently emerged whereby an MP does not come to Parliament but asks another MP to sign for them.

This is unacceptable. From now on, we will closely monitor this because we have a system capable of identifying who was absent and who signed on their behalf.

Both individuals will be held accountable,” he said. Mr Zungu also revealed that some MPs seek permission from his office to travel to their constituencies but instead leave the country, a practice he described as dangerous.

He said Parliament has a monitoring system capable of determining whether an MP is in their constituency or outside the country and can even identify the country where they are located, regardless of whether their phone is switched off. The Speaker called on the Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Ms Angellah Kairuki, to assist in addressing the matter, saying all travel must comply with established procedures and regulations.

He said it was embarrassing for Parliament and disappointing for voters when their representatives fail to attend parliamentary proceedings without valid reasons, noting that some MPs remain absent despite being in Dodoma. “But ministers are also leaving together.

I know they have permission, but Prime Minister, these officials should not all be granted travel permits at the same time. If the minister leaves, the deputy minister should remain in Parliament.

They should not both be absent,” said Mr Zungu. Before the Speaker made the remarks, Dr Mwigulu, while responding to a question, had instructed MPs and ministers to ensure they are present on June 11, 2026, when the government presents its 2026/27 budget.

Stakeholders weigh in The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, spoke to various stakeholders regarding the concerns raised by Mr Zungu over absenteeism in Parliament. Former MP, Ms Ferister Njawu said it was shameful for legislators who sought office from voters to be labelled absent and fail to attend parliamentary sessions.

Ms Njawu acknowledged that absenteeism among MPs is not a new phenomenon but stressed that anyone genuinely committed to representing constituents and raising their concerns must consistently participate in parliamentary proceedings. “Regarding the Morocco trip, I think they also made a mistake, although perhaps the decision was driven by excitement over watching the young players.

However, I do not agree with the practice mentioned by the Speaker, where people seek permission to travel to their constituencies, but instead leave the country. What would happen if something happened to them while abroad?” she asked.

Lawyer Godfrey Wasonga said the problem stems from weaknesses in parliamentary rules, which he argued do not provide the Speaker with sufficient authority to make decisive rulings while strengthening one side and limiting the other. Mr Wasonga said the Parliamentary Standing Orders and the Constitution should grant citizens broader powers to hold absentee MPs accountable rather than leaving such matters solely in the hands of political parties.

A parliamentary staff member who requested anonymity said Rule 167 of the National Assembly Standing Orders outlines the conditions under which MPs may be granted permission to travel or remain away from Parliament. “In subsection five of that rule, it is stated that, for the purposes of subsection four, permission shall be granted through parliamentary offices in Dodoma, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar,” the official said.

Subsection four states that any MP unable to attend parliamentary sittings or committee meetings for specific reasons must obtain permission from the Speaker, while subsection three provides that any MP who misses half of a session’s sittings without valid reasons shall receive a warning. However, the official said that, based on his experience dating back to the Ninth Parliament under former Speaker Samuel Sitta, the current 13th Parliament has recorded the highest levels of absenteeism despite still being in the early stages of its tenure.

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