Category: The Citizen

Though colonisation and slave trade are considered by some as things of the past, they remain subjects of conversation due to their impact on the continent of Africa. Africa as a whole was colonised by Western countries for over a century, though the slave trade had persisted for over four centuries.

Tanganyika was colonised by Germany from 1884 to 1919, and by Britain from 1919 to 1961. Zanzibar was colonised by the Portuguese from 1498 to 1698, then by the Omani Sultanate from 1868 to 1890, and by the British from 1890 to 1963. Colonisation impacted the entire societal life of African communities as it brought about not only new ways of doing things, but also of thinking, believing, and living. A large-scale impact on how people live is, in other words, an impact on their ‘culture’ which sociologists define as ‘a people’s way of life.

‘ The time of colonisation ‘proper’ spans a century, about three to four generations if we consider a generation to be 25 to 30 years. This period severely disrupted cultural continuity, creating a significant disconnect between pre-colonial ways of life and today’s traditions and history.

It has also only been 110 years since the abolition of slave trade in our land in 1916, just four generations before the young adults of today. Rather than assign blame, it is important to recognise that, continent-wide, the most distressing years in African history are the epochs of slavery and colonisation.

We can begin by critiquing the labelling of cultures as “primitive.” A saying goes, “If you want to kill a dog, give it a bad name!” This was exactly what happened.

Indigenous industries, artworks, artefacts, customs, beliefs, and languages were all labelled as “primitive”, meaning meaningless, “uncivilized,” and not worth anything. However, reason defeats such a position, as cultural worth is accorded equal dignity across cultures.

The measure of technological and social progress was what the colonisers had in Europe; it is a man-made ideal. Moreover, colonisation suppressed and devalued the already developed systems of knowledge, self-governance, religion, trade, law, and sustainability practices that had evolved over centuries and were deeply rooted in the communities in question.

Young people learnt the best trade secrets of their traditional communities, which in turn assured the community not only its sustenance, but its sustainability. In place of all these functional and systemic legacies, they (colonisers/colonialists) took it as their duty to “civilise” the African societies.

This disruption, among other things, has endured as a legacy of those complicated years, which have left only thin and weak threads linking the generation today with the historical, linguistic, artistic, and cultural corpus that existed among our people ten generations ago. The question now comes: Can the young generation today maintain the integrity of what they received in fragile parts, and hand it over as a meaningful legacy to those who are yet to come? When we look at African governance, despite its variety, we see one thing in common: instability and fragility.

Why is it this way? I believe it is because we are learning a new way to govern ourselves, a way that has no organic roots with who we are or with our cultures. This is not a justification of the chaotic socio-political state in most African countries, but a call for a deeper look into the fundamental causes of the chaos and an ‘almost-anarchy’ violent state of affairs all over the continent.

In history, monarchies thrived in African kingdoms, with some emerging even as threats to European kingdoms of the time. But the moment democracy was introduced, the chaos rather thrived, proving it to be a system that only works after a long time when the independence of the legal system has matured enough to safeguard the democratic principles chosen to guide the socio-political space without bias.

Even deeper questions can be asked regarding the authenticity of African states’ sovereignty as independent states that first manage their affairs for the good of their people, as their first priority. The wave of neo-colonialism embedded in the global economy hits hard on African states, making us not truly free due to debts, alliances, etc.

, without which our affairs in the global space can be even more complicated. The death of our cultural systems, be it organic or enforced, hits hard on society today, as we would be better off living in a framework engineered inside out by our ancestors, as such systems mature with time.

Today, most of our education excludes what we need to know about our roots; we tend to go more global. We use a curriculum built by people who do not even use the same one in their countries; a stumbling block many African countries will take time to surpass.

What changes a nation and brings genuine growth is the worldview of who they are as a people in the genuine sense, and that is impossible without a deeper grasp of history and rootedness in their cultural systems. Shimbo Pastory is an advocate for positive social transformation and a student of the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.

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Masasi. Six months ago, Mr Abdeleheman Saidi feared he would never be able to send his daughter, Safina, to college.

Today, as he walks through his five-acre family farm in Mipande Village, Masasi District, he is optimistic that a bumper sesame harvest will finally enable his daughter to pursue her dream of becoming an accountant. Mr Saidi is among more than 9,000 farmers in southern Tanzania who received improved sesame seeds distributed by the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA) as part of efforts to boost productivity and improve farmers’ incomes.

The initiative saw COPRA distribute 13 tonnes of improved sesame seeds to farmers in Lindi, Mtwara and Ruvuma regions. Beneficiaries were selected from farmers who sold their produce through the digital auction system during the 2024/25 agricultural season.

The programme was accompanied by training on good agronomic practices aimed at helping farmers maximise yields and improve crop quality. For Mr Saidi, the support has brought renewed hope to his family.

His daughter Safina, the only girl among five children, was selected to join the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) after completing Form Four in 2024. However, financial constraints prevented her from enrolling. “I was heartbroken when I failed to take my daughter to college last year because of low yields caused by poor-quality seeds,” said Mr Saidi.

“After receiving the improved seeds, the crop has performed very well. The harvest looks promising and I am confident that when I take my produce to the auction, I will earn enough to pay for my daughter’s education.

” Mr Saidi expects to harvest up to two tonnes of sesame from four acres this season, a significant increase compared to the previous season when he harvested only 439 kilogrammes from one acre. Safina said the entire family had worked hard to ensure the farm succeeded and expressed gratitude for the support received through the programme.

“I thank COPRA for providing us with these improved seeds. They have given us hope,” she said.

“I would like to see the programme expanded so that more farmers can benefit. Higher productivity means higher incomes and better opportunities for families like ours,” she said.

Speaking during the distribution of the seeds six months ago, COPRA Director General Ms Irene Mlola said the initiative formed part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods. She noted that collaboration between government institutions, regional administrations, local government authorities, agricultural extension officers and farmers had been instrumental in the programme’s success.

According to Ms Mlola, the initiative also supports implementation of Tanzania’s Agricultural Master Plan 2050, which seeks to modernise agriculture, increase productivity and improve incomes across the sector. .

Dar es Salaam. North Coast Swimming Club delivered an outstanding performance at the 10th Tanzania National Junior Swimming Championships, emerging as one of the strongest teams in the competition and reinforcing their rapid rise in the country’s swimming scene.

The club finished second overall in the medal standings after collecting a total of 27 medals, narrowly behind Kenya’s Bandari Swim Club, which topped the table with 38 medals. The championships brought together 410 swimmers from 22 clubs competing across 84 disciplines, making it one of the most competitive junior events in the region.

Bandari and North Coast were evenly matched in gold medals, with both clubs securing 17 golds each. However, Bandari edged ahead in the overall tally through superior performance in silver and bronze medals.

The Kenyan side won eight silver and 13 bronze medals, while North Coast collected five silver and five bronze medals. Tanzania’s Mwanza Swim Club also impressed, finishing third in the medal standings with 15 gold, seven silver and 10 bronze medals.

In the points classification, North Coast that founded just two years ago, continued to show remarkable progress, finishing joint second with Mwanza Swim Club on 119 points. Bandari Swim Club claimed the overall title in the points category with 124 points, underlining its dominance across both genders and multiple disciplines.

A closer breakdown of the category results showed strong regional variation in performance. North Coast dominated the women’s category with 92 points, ahead of Bandari, which accumulated 79 points.

In contrast, Mwanza Swim Club was dominant in the boys’ category, topping the table with 118 points. Bandari followed with 45 points, while North Coast finished sixth with 27 points, reflecting an area of improvement for the rapidly growing club.

Speaking to The Citizen, North Coast Chairman Lameck Borega praised the swimmers, coaches, management and parents for what he described as a strong and encouraging performance. He said the results reflected the positive direction the club is taking and expressed confidence that it would continue to develop into one of the country’s leading swimming institutions in the coming years.

Borega also acknowledged the support of Dar es Salaam Independent School (DIS), noting that all North Coast swimmers train at its swimming pool, which has played a key role in their development and preparation. The event also featured international participation beyond East Africa, with clubs from Zambia, including Aquatics Riders Swim Club, Kalene Swim Club, Lechwe Swimming Club, Ndola Rapids Swim Club and Orcas Swim Club, adding to the competitive depth of the championships.

Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) Secretary General Inviolata Itatiro commended all participating swimmers, coaches, parents and sponsors for ensuring the success of the event. She noted that swimming in Tanzania is growing steadily and called for continued collaboration to further elevate the sport’s standards nationally and regionally.

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Dar es Salaam/Shinyanga. As dawn breaks over Tinde, Samuye and Ishina Bulaindi villages in Shinyanga Region, bicycles and motorcycles loaded with sacks of charcoal slip out along dusty tracks towards main roads linking rural settlements to urban markets.

Across the landscape, land lies stripped bare. Fresh stumps and blackened earth bear witness to recent tree felling for charcoal production.

Here, charcoal is more than a household fuel. It is the backbone of a sprawling informal economy that continues to expand despite forest laws, enforcement checkpoints and patrols.

Yet the scale of the trade has exposed what analysts describe as a major forest governance failure. Data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism shows that 95 percent of charcoal in Shinyanga enters the market illegally, bypassing licensing requirements, royalty payments and official transport procedures.

The findings, contained in a 2019 technical report on Tanzania’s charcoal sub-sector, suggest nearly all charcoal from the region is harvested, moved and sold outside the legal framework. Under the Forest Act, commercial harvesting requires permits issued by authorised forest officers, while transportation must be accompanied by Transit Passes under the Forest (Amendment) Regulations, 2022. The law also empowers the Tanzania Forest Services Agency to inspect, seize and halt illegal consignments.

However, evidence from villages visited shows the illegal trade operating at a scale that continues to evade state control. Residents describe a system in which charcoal is transported through informal “rat routes” using bicycles and motorcycles, bypassing official checkpoints almost entirely.

These routes connect villages such as Tinde, Samuye and Ishina Bulaindi to urban trading points. Shinyanga District Forest Officer and senior conservator Fabian Balere acknowledged ongoing violations despite enforcement efforts.

“I do not have complete data to confirm the 95 percent figure, but violations in harvesting and transport still occur,” he said. He added that authorities continue patrols and awareness campaigns with local leaders to improve compliance.

However, the volume of charcoal movement raises questions about enforcement systems. In the villages, residents say transport often takes place openly, particularly at night and early morning.

Some say local economies now depend directly or indirectly on the trade. Producer Maduhu Alphonce, known locally as Pako, said charcoal remains one of the few reliable sources of income.

“We cut trees, prepare kilns and sell charcoal to traders who take it to town,” he said, adding that “This is how many people survive because opportunities are limited.” Another producer, Mr Mponhela Jumanne, said demand keeps the business growing.

“As long as there are trees and buyers, people will continue producing charcoal,” he said. However, villagers say environmental damage is increasingly visible.

Some describe once-wooded areas now reduced to bare land, with shifting rainfall patterns and declining soil quality. “We used to have many trees, but now large areas are empty,” said 69-year-old Rebeka Hamduni.

“The heat is worse and farming is not the same.” Another resident, Mr Rajabu Njige, 76, said households remain trapped between survival and destruction.

“We know trees are disappearing, but people need money and fuel,” he said. Women also report health impacts from heavy smoke exposure during cooking.

“When cooking, the smoke affects the chest and eyes,” said Ms Hamduni, adding, “We live like this because charcoal is what we can afford.” The International Energy Agency estimates household air pollution from traditional cooking fuels causes about 815,000 premature deaths annually in Africa.

In Tanzania, more than 33,000 deaths a year are linked to biomass-related illnesses. Experts warn that communities dependent on charcoal remain highly exposed.

Environmental damage is also accelerating regionally. Government data shows the Lake Zone loses about 193,424 hectares of forest annually, while national estimates suggest 469,420 hectares are lost each year.

Poor production efficiency worsens the crisis, with traditional methods recovering only about 20 percent of wood energy. Despite this, demand continues to rise; census data shows that over 80 percent of households in Shinyanga rely on biomass fuels.

Charcoal trader Dora Katunzi said prices range between 32,000 and 70,000 shillings per sack, depending on size. “The demand is constant because many households depend on it,” she said.

Trader Dotto Leonard said most transport remains informal due to difficult licensing procedures. At the village level, leaders say communities gain little from the trade despite bearing its environmental costs.

Nyambui sub-village chairman Masesa Chaula said local leaders are often excluded from forest management decisions. Councillor Jafary Makwaya said pressure is increasing as dependence on charcoal grows.

Analysts say the situation reflects a broader crisis involving weak enforcement, illegal trade, health risks and environmental degradation. Environmental governance expert Nehemia Shimwela said institutional weaknesses are driving forest loss.

“When enforcement is weak, forests disappear faster and communities remain trapped in dependence on unsafe energy,” he said across the wider region and beyond. (To be continued) .

Dar es Salaam. A day after being expelled from the opposition Chadema, former Zanzibar Vice Chairman, Mr Said Issa Mohammed, has dismissed the decision as procedurally flawed and unconstitutional, insisting he remains a legitimate party member protected under the party constitution.

The expulsion, announced on Sunday, June 7, 2026, followed a resolution of the Chadema Pemba Zone Executive Committee during an emergency meeting held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Chake Chake, Pemba. The disciplinary action stems from Mr Mohamed’s involvement in filing Civil Case No.

8323 of 2025 against the Chadema Board of Trustees and the party secretary general. In the case, Mr Mohamed, alongside two members of the Zanzibar Board of Trustees, Mr Ahmed Rashid Khamis, and the late Ms Maulida Anna Komu, accused the party of unequal distribution of assets and resources between Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

However, on May 28, 2026, the High Court of Tanzania dismissed the case, citing legal deficiencies in the filings, including failure to specify the commencement date of the alleged violations. The ruling was delivered at the Dar es Salaam Registry by Judge David Ngunyale.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Monday, June 8, 2026, Mr Mohamed said he was neither formally notified nor given a hearing before the expulsion decision was taken. “A party member is not a roadside fixture.

A member is protected by the party’s rules, ethics, and constitution. For a member to be expelled, due process must be followed.

I was not given any official notice; I only saw reports circulating on social media,” he said. He maintained that he still considers himself a legitimate Chadema member, arguing that he was not summoned to respond to any allegations or allowed to defend himself as required under party procedures.

“The party constitution clearly outlines the rights of a member. When accused, a member must be summoned to a formal meeting, informed of the allegations, and given a chance to respond.

Only then can the relevant organs make a decision. I have not seen such procedures followed, which is why I consider this misconduct,” he added.

‘We gave him 14 days’ However, Chadema Pemba Zone chairman, Mr Omar Nassor, dismissed Mr Mohamed’s claims, saying he was allowed to respond within 14 days following a written notice but failed to do so. “The executive committee met on May 23, 2026, and thereafter, he was issued a letter requiring him to explain himself within 14 days.

He did not respond within that period. After the deadline expired, we reconvened on June 6, 2026, and reached the decision,” said Mr Nassor.

He added that party procedures do not always require a physical summons, arguing that written communication and opportunity to respond are sufficient under Chadema rules. “We gave him a chance to respond, but he remained silent.

After the 14 days had elapsed, the committee met and decided in line with our constitution. He is therefore no longer our member,” he said.

Following Chadema’s response, The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, contacted Mr Mohamed again regarding the alleged letter, but he said he would respond later. Chadema statement In a public statement issued on Sunday, June 7, 2026, Pemba Zone secretary, Mr Abdulla Hassan, said the executive committee acted in accordance with the party constitution, rules, and guidelines in handling Mr Mohame’s disciplinary case.

“After receiving and deliberating the report before it, the committee was satisfied that Mr Said Issa Mohammed had violated the party constitution, rules, and guidelines. As a result, the Pemba Zone Executive Committee resolved to expel him with immediate effect from June 6, 2026,” said Mr Hassan.

He added that from that date, Said Issa Mohammed ceased to be recognised as a member, leader, or representative of Chadema at any level. Chadema Mainland vice-chairman, Mr John Heche, and secretary general John Mnyika attended the meeting.

The party further said that any statements or activities undertaken by Mr Mohamed after his expulsion would be personal and not associated with Chadema. .

Dar es Salaam. Farmers, livestock keepers, and policymakers have been urged to prepare for the opportunities and risks associated with a developing El Niao phenomenon, with experts warning that above-normal rainfall expected later this year could boost agricultural production while increasing the risk of floods and disease outbreaks.

The call comes as the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) monitors the emerging weather pattern, while climate experts caution that increasingly unpredictable conditions linked to climate change are already affecting crop production, livestock health, and rural livelihoods across the country. Agronomists, veterinarians, and meteorologists say preparedness will be critical if Tanzania is to maximise the benefits of increased rainfall while minimising potential losses.

TMA Forecasting Manager, Dr Mafuru Kantamla, said El Niao has already begun developing, although it remains weak. “At the moment, it is still classified as a weak El Niao, but it is continuing to strengthen, and we are monitoring its development closely,” he said.

According to Dr Kantamla, the phenomenon is associated with rising global temperatures and could influence weather patterns across East Africa, including Tanzania, later this year. “In East Africa, El Niao events are often associated with increased rainfall.

The warmer conditions contribute to the formation of moisture-bearing systems that can enhance rainfall when combined with other weather factors,” he said. Although the effects are not yet being felt directly in Tanzania, he said the most significant impacts could emerge during the October-to-December short-rains season if the phenomenon continues to strengthen, with some areas likely to experience heavy rainfall and flooding.

The anticipated rainfall has prompted agricultural experts to advise farmers to adjust their production strategies. Itracom Fertilizer Limited Agronomy Research Manager, Dr Tulole Bucheyeki, said farmers should prioritise cultivation in well-drained upland areas rather than flood-prone valleys.

“When rainfall is expected to be above normal, farmers should consider growing crops in areas where adequate soil moisture can be maintained without excessive waterlogging,” he said. According to him, crops such as maize, groundnuts, and wheat could perform well if farmers adopt appropriate farming practices and closely follow weather forecasts.

Dr Bucheyeki encouraged farmers to plant early to allow crops to establish strong root systems before heavy rains intensify. He also advised growers to select varieties suited to wetter conditions and avoid late-maturing crops in areas expected to receive prolonged rainfall.

He warned that excessive rainfall during harvesting periods could damage crops and increase the risk of aflatoxin contamination, particularly in maize and groundnuts. However, he noted that water-demanding crops such as rice and sugarcane could benefit significantly from increased rainfall if properly managed.

While agriculture could gain from improved water availability, livestock experts caution that wetter conditions may create new challenges. The Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Hezron Nonga, said abundant rainfall generally improves pasture growth and water availability, reducing pressure on grazing areas and helping minimise conflicts between farmers, pastoralists, and conservation authorities.

Nevertheless, he warned that excessive rainfall could create favourable breeding conditions for disease-carrying insects, particularly mosquitoes linked to Rift Valley Fever. Heavy rainfall can trigger the hatching of dormant Aedes mosquito eggs, increasing the likelihood of disease.

Rift Valley Fever can cause abortions and deaths among cattle, sheep, and goats, while infected people may develop severe illness and, in some cases, die. Dr Nonga also warned of a possible increase in tsetse fly populations, which thrive in moist environments and dense vegetation.

The insects transmit parasites responsible for sleeping sickness in humans and nagana disease in livestock. He said climate change is already altering weather patterns across Tanzania, citing unusually persistent rainfall in Morogoro and severe droughts experienced in recent years that caused major livestock losses.

For this reason, he said preparedness must become a national priority through stronger disease surveillance systems, expanded livestock vaccination programmes, improved early-warning mechanisms, and greater collaboration among health, livestock, and environmental authorities. As Tanzania faces increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, experts say investments in climate-smart agriculture, resilient livestock systems, and disaster preparedness will be crucial to protecting lives, livelihoods, and the economy.

“Climate change is here, whether it brings floods or droughts, we must be prepared,” said Dr Nonga. .

A friend read The Re-write in a single sitting, neglecting some of her Sunday responsibilities. As she read, she sent me messages about the parts that made her angry, made her laugh, or made her shake her head in disbelief.

When she finished, she insisted that I read it because she needed someone to discuss it with. So I picked it up.

At first, I was not convinced. Temi and Wale are younger than I am, and I found some of their decisions difficult to relate to.

I took longer to get through the book than I expected. But somewhere along the way, The Rewrite became a story about ambition, family expectations, timing, and the mistakes that continue to shape us.

The novel follows Temi and Wale. Temi is a talented writer determined to be published, willing to make difficult choices in pursuit of that dream.

Coming from a privileged background, she often left me questioning her decisions, especially her tendency to lie. Blackburn writes with the same laugh-out-loud voice I loved in her debut, Yinka, Where Is Your Husband? Even as the novel deals with heartbreak, family, and quiet pain, it kept making me laugh, and that balance is harder to pull off than it looks.

Wale, meanwhile, is seen by many as a bad boy, someone who keeps his feelings carefully guarded. Throughout their relationship, Temi felt that everything happened on Wale’s terms.

She told him she loved him, but he never said it back. Eventually, they break up, and Wale joins a reality dating show called The Villa.

“For a good week after our breakup, I cried and cried In bed, I tossed and turned, and in the morning, I’d wake up feeling like death.” In an attempt to make sense of the breakup, she writes a novel, The Ultimate Payback, inspired by her relationship with Wale.

However, she exaggerates parts of the story to process her anger, heartbreak, and feelings for him. As I read, I found myself thinking about past mistakes, conversations handled poorly, and relationships that ended too soon.

Years later, Wale’s attempt to repair his public image leads to an unexpected reunion when Temi is hired to ghostwrite his memoir. The arrangement forces them to revisit the story they have been telling themselves about their relationship.

As Temi works on Wale’s memoir, she gets a front-row seat to the life he had rarely spoken about during their relationship. Growing up, Wale learnt that feelings were not something to be discussed openly.

His mother struggled with alcoholism, and he and his brother took on responsibilities no child should have to carry. This made me think about how boys are taught to survive pain rather than talk about it.

“The rules are different for boys. And you know it.

Would you want to date a guy who cries all the time?” Many boys grow up hearing that vulnerability is weakness and that emotions should be hidden rather than expressed. Wale’s silence throughout much of his relationship with Temi does not excuse the hurt he causes.

But it does help explain it. Temi’s flaws are different.

She lies even when honesty would serve her better, damaging both relationships and her career. We learn that beneath those choices is a woman who never believed she was worthy of love unless she earned it.

That part of the book resonated with me because I believe how we see ourselves shapes how we move through the world. If you believe you are not enough, no amount of success, praise, or reassurance from other people is likely to convince you otherwise.

In different ways, both Temi and Wale are shaped by beliefs they formed long before they met. The relationship suffers not only because of what they do, but because of what they believe about themselves.

While romance sits at the centre of the novel, mental health is another important theme, and one that Blackburn handles with care. Through Wale’s story, she explores the lasting impact of childhood experiences and how people learn to hide their emotions to survive.

It reminded me how important it is for men to have space to be vulnerable, to talk about what they are feeling, and to seek support without shame. Some of the supporting characters were not explored deeply enough.

I found myself wanting to know more about Shona, Temi’s friend, and how she arrived at her views on relationships. There were moments when the secondary characters felt more like plot devices than fully realised people.

When I finished, I understood why my friend needed someone to talk to. Rewriting the past only works if both people are willing to do the work it requires, including being honest about their own mistakes.

Jane Shussa is a digital communication specialist with a love for books, coffee, nature, and travel. She can be reached at [email protected].

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Dar es Salaam. In the global maritime industry, the term “Class One” is not merely a label; it is a certificate of industrial sovereignty.

For Tanzania, a nation defined by its 3,500km coastline and the Great Lakes, the recent international recognition of the Dar es Salaam Merchant Group (DMG) signals the dawn of a new era in which “Made in Tanzania” is no longer a slogan, but a benchmark of global engineering excellence. The JuneJuly 2026 edition of Forbes Africa, titled “Africa’s New Blueprint for Growth: Tanzania,” dedicated two pages to profiling DMG’s transformation into a Class One shipbuilding powerhouse.

The recognition marks a historic shift, with Tanzania entering an elite shipbuilding league previously dominated by only a few African nations. For DMG, the journey to this global stage was anchored in the reconstruction of MV Liemba.

At more than 115 years old, the world’s oldest operating passenger vessel became a flagship example of how Tanzania can restore heritage ships to modern safety and performance standards through a $1.3 million project. However, the feature went beyond a single vessel, highlighting the emergence of a homegrown, multi-sector conglomerate capable of managing national maritime strategy and delivering multi-million-dollar contracts.

Defining “Class One” excellence In naval architecture, achieving Class One status means a shipyard can independently design, fabricate, and deliver complex marine vessels to international classification standards without outsourcing core engineering. The distinction is considered critical for Tanzania’s industrial independence.

Maritime safety and ship design expert, Mr William Kennedy, noted that the achievement separates a repair yard from a true shipbuilder. “Most African yards stop at fabrication.

DMG has moved into naval architecture and systems integration, which is why they can deliver a 1,200-passenger vessel with 400 tonnes of cargo capacity without outsourcing core design,” Mr Kennedy told Forbes. This capability allows DMG to control the full design lifecycle, from hull design and stability calculations to sea trials, keeping skills and capital within the country.

Transferring skill, not just steel Perhaps the most significant impact of the recognition lies in the “human blueprint” established by DMG. Managing director, Mr Rayton Kwembe, highlighted a model that prioritises knowledge transfer over transactional output.

“We recruited about 100 local workers with limited shipbuilding experience. We now run the yard with only nine Korean personnel,” he told Forbes.

The approach includes recruiting Tanzanian graduates from institutions such as the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and Ardhi University, and training them under international experts, noting that results have been rapid. A senior member of the Korean engineering team noted that Tanzanian engineers progressed from apprentices to managers within 24 months, absorbing complex structural design skills at a pace rarely seen globally.

Economic and local impact The economic ripple effects of Class One recognition are already evident. With a $58 million contract to construct a new passenger vessel in Kigoma and additional contracts for tugboats in Mwanza and Lake Nyasa, more value is retained within the domestic economy.

“When you build ships here, you also build steel supply chains, welding skills, marine engineering courses, and pride in our youth,” said Tanzania Shipping Company Limited (Tashico) managing director, Mr Eric Hamissi. He praised DMG for reversing the long-standing pattern of importing expertise while exporting capital.

“DMG has set the benchmark. Class One is no longer a dream.

It is a Tanzanian reality,” he said. On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the impact is also felt at the community level.

Kigoma boat operator, Mr Juma Bakari, said local involvement in shipbuilding has transformed perceptions. “For years, we watched ships come from outside.

Now we hear the vessel was designed and built here by our children,” he said, adding that national pride is “worth more than the ticket.” A blueprint for the future DMG’s strategy extends beyond shipbuilding into broader maritime planning.

The company is involved in developing Tanzania’s maritime policy, linking ports, rail, and shipping operations. Mr Kwembe said the vision is to ensure that “trading is linked with manufacturing” to break dependence on imports.

By investing in infrastructure in Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, and Zanzibar, DMG has promoted a localisation-driven development model that positions it not only as a contractor but also as a strategic partner in national development. .

Many first-time founders assume a good co-founder is someone who mirrors their strengths. A strategist seeks another strategist.

A creative looks for another visionary. An engineer partners with another technical mind.

This assumption feels intuitive, but it is deeply flawed. In high-uncertainty environments, which describe most African markets accurately, partnering with a professional mirror is one of the fastest ways to limit a company’s range of motion.

Research suggests founder dynamics are a failure risk. Noam Wasserman’s work (often cited by Harvard Business Review) estimates that 65 percent of high-potential startups fail due to co-founder conflict, which is why “team issues” can outweigh product or funding in the early stages.

Harvard Business Review’s CB Insights’ analysis of 101 startup post-mortems lists “Not the right team” as the third most-cited reason for failure. In practice, this is why complementary skill pairs tend to outperform mirrored teams in volatile markets: similarity hides gaps, while difference surfaces them early enough to fix.

A high-value co-founder is not someone who reinforces what you already do well; they are someone who expands what the company can do altogether. Organisational psychology points to deliberate skill asymmetry as a defining feature of durable partnerships.

Strengths are paired, not duplicated, so weaknesses are addressed before they become structural liabilities. The mistake many founders make is asking who feels familiar rather than who fills the gaps.

Shared history, trust, or interpersonal ease are mistaken for alignment. Comfort creates short-term harmony, but long-term resilience is built through cognitive diversity and productive tension.

High-value co-founder relationships follow repeatable sustainable patterns. For example, one partner often builds systems, operations, and internal coherence, while the other drives the company into the market, builds relationships, and converts capability into traction.

Vision is balanced by execution, authority by credibility, innovation by discipline, and speed by control. These combinations allow companies to move quickly without fragmenting under pressure.

Effective partnerships also distribute leadership. One founder may carry external visibility while the other anchors culture, process, and internal accountability.

This division is not about ego or hierarchy. It is about stability.

Startups fail as often from internal imbalance as from external competition. For founders applying this thinking, the process begins with a self-audit rather than a search.

Before recruiting a partner, founders must identify their own weaknesses, including technical gaps, operational blind spots, or market limitations. The goal is not to find a clone, but to design a complete leadership system.

Compatibility should be tested through shared execution, not conversation alone. Short pilot projects reveal how potential partners make decisions, handle pressure, and distribute responsibility.

Values alignment matters as much as skill complementarity, particularly around accountability, conflict resolution, and decision rights. Finally, high-value partnerships are protected by structure.

A good co-founder is someone who completes the system you are building. Founders who treat skill asymmetry as a design principle build companies that endure beyond individual personalities, shifting markets, and changing trends.

Choose wisely so that the company scales through its systems instead of being constrained by its founders’ limits. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Mainland big guns, Young Africans (Yanga), Simba SC and Azam FC are among Tanzanian clubs set to benefit from FIFA’s expanded Club Benefits Programme (CBP), a global compensation scheme tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026 that rewards clubs for releasing players to national teams during both the qualification campaign and the final tournament.

The development places Tanzania’s football heavyweights in line for fresh financial inflows from world football’s governing body, in recognition of their long-standing contribution to national team duty through player development and release. The programme is particularly significant for Yanga, Simba and Azam, who have consistently supplied key players to the Taifa Stars as well as other national teams across Africa during the World Cup qualification cycle, strengthening their eligibility for multiple payments under the scheme.

Under the qualifying stage arrangement, FIFA will pay clubs approximately USD 2,360 for every World Cup qualifying match in which one of their registered players featured while on international duty. The payment also extends to players included in the matchday squad, including substitutes, increasing the scope of compensation for participating clubs.

The initiative is part of FIFA’s broader effort to strengthen cooperation between clubs and national teams, while ensuring that clubs are financially recognised for releasing players during international windows, which often disrupt domestic league schedules. Record $355 million fund increases support for clubs worldwide FIFA has confirmed a record USD 355 million fund for the 2026 CBP cycle, representing a 70 per cent increase compared to the previous World Cup edition.

The fund is structured under a renewed agreement between FIFA and the European Football Clubs (EFC), reflecting a broader commitment to club football development. For the first time, the programme includes World Cup qualifying matches, with USD 100 million allocated specifically for this phase.

Based on 905 qualifying fixtures, clubs are expected to earn an average of around USD 2,360 per player, per match depending on involvement. A further USD 250 million has been reserved for clubs whose players participate in the final tournament, scheduled for June 11 to July 19, 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

These payments will be calculated on a per-player, per-day basis, taking into account squad selection and the duration of each player’s involvement with their national teams. The remaining USD 5 million will be set aside for administrative costs linked to programme implementation, with any balance directed back into global club football development under the FIFAEFC agreement.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the expanded model as a landmark step in recognising the contribution of clubs worldwide, noting that the inclusion of qualifiers ensures “more clubs than ever before” benefit directly from the World Cup cycle. European Football Clubs (EFC) chairman Nasser Al-Khelaafi also welcomed the revised structure, saying it strengthens the partnership between clubs and national teams while ensuring a fairer distribution of financial rewards across all levels of the game.

Eligibility for payments will be determined by player registration at the time of international release, with additional safeguards covering replacements and mid-tournament transfers to ensure transparency and fairness. .