Category: The Citizen

Moshi. Brussels Airlines of Belgium has officially launched direct flights to Tanzania, marking its first landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) with more than 248 tourists on board.

The inaugural service comes as international flight operations at KIA increase from 148 to 152 weekly movements, a development expected to further boost tourism growth and air transport in the country. Speaking during the reception ceremony on June 3, 2026, Minister for Transport Prof Makame Mbarawa said the new route marks a significant milestone in strengthening Tanzania’s aviation sector and enhancing economic and social ties with Europe.

He said the airline’s entry reflects Tanzania’s rising profile in tourism and aviation, noting that KIA continues to serve as a key gateway to major attractions including Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Prof Mbarawa praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, saying her vision has continued to attract more airlines and boost tourist arrivals, which have risen from 1.

6 million to over two million annually. He added that the government will continue improving aviation infrastructure, safety and service quality to create a more enabling environment for global carriers.

Brussels Airlines is expected to operate twice-weekly flights, strengthening links between Tanzania and Europe while opening new opportunities for trade, tourism and investment. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s ambitious quest to join the ranks of uranium-producing nations has entered a defining phase, as the long-delayed Mkuju River project edges closer to industrial production amid growing pressure to secure financing and meet critical regulatory milestones.

Valued at approximately $1 billion (Sh2.6 trillion), the uranium project in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region, is increasingly being viewed by both government officials and investors as one of the most strategically important mining ventures. For nearly 13 years, the project remained largely dormant after a collapse in global uranium prices forced investors to shelve plans for commercial extraction despite extensive exploration work and regulatory approvals.

However, a combination of rising demand for nuclear energy, stronger uranium market fundamentals and renewed investor confidence has revived hopes that Tanzania could soon emerge as one of Africa’s newest uranium producers. Yet even as preparations gather pace on the ground, the project faces a crucial challenge: securing long-term financing and advancing construction before the current special mining licence expires in April 2028. Developers of the project, Mantra Tanzania Limited, a subsidiary of Uranium One Group under Russia’s Rosatom State Corporation, have acknowledged that the remaining duration of the licence has become a key consideration for some financial institutions assessing the project.

Speaking during a recent meeting with government officials in Dodoma, Mantra Tanzania chief executive officer Ilya Shchukin said the company was in the final stages of negotiating financing arrangements with Russian financial institutions as well as Tanzanian banks, including CRDB and NMB. According to him, the company is seeking capital to finance construction of both the uranium mine and the large-scale processing plant expected to anchor industrial operations in Namtumbo.

“The challenge is that some financial institutions are hesitant to provide long-term loans when the licence is expected to expire in April 2028,” he said. However, Mantra Tanzania says discussions with the lenders remain active and investor interest has not diminished.

Speaking with BusinessWeekly, the company’s Sustainability Manager, Mr Majani Moremi, said financing for the project was being structured in phases to support the approved work programme, including preparations for the construction of the main processing facilities. He said the company was advancing discussions with a consortium of Russian and Tanzanian banks and had already reached preliminary agreements in that area.

“The project is viewed by the company and its shareholders as a long-term strategic investment for Tanzania, with priority placed on the consistent delivery of key milestones within the current licence period,” he said. Despite concerns among some financiers, the government has moved to reassure investors that it remains fully committed to the project.

Deputy Minister for Minerals, Steven Kiruswa, said the government had no intention of revoking the company’s licence and urged Mantra Tanzania to accelerate preparations to ensure uranium production begins within the anticipated timeframe. Dr Kiruswa said the project carries significant economic importance because of its potential contribution to employment, infrastructure development and industrial growth.

“This is a strategic project for the nation. Tanzanians are expecting to benefit from the economic opportunities that will come with its implementation,” he said.

The renewed momentum surrounding the Mkuju River project follows the commissioning of a pilot uranium processing plant by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in July 2025, a milestone widely regarded as the most significant breakthrough since the deposit was discovered. The pilot facility was established to test processing technologies under actual operating conditions while generating technical data needed to design the future industrial complex.

According to Mantra Tanzania, the pilot phase has already yielded encouraging results. Mr Moremi said the pilot plant had enabled engineers to test technological solutions under real deposit conditions, helping to reduce risks associated with the design and construction of the main production facilities.

He noted that confidence in the project had been strengthened by improved global uranium market conditions, geological exploration results confirming the deposit’s substantial resource potential and the successful implementation of the pilot phase. “The pilot plant has produced positive results so far and has enabled the validation of key technological parameters needed for full-scale development,” he said.

The company’s implementation programme envisages a two-stage approach comprising the pilot phase and the construction of a main processing complex with a design capacity of 3,000 tonnes of uranium per year, scheduled for commissioning in 2029. To date, approximately 2,500 tonnes of ore have been mined and processed through the pilot facility, with more than 4,000 samples collected for analysis. Construction preparations are already underway, including infrastructure works required to support future mining and processing operations.

The Mkuju River deposit is estimated to contain about 139 million tonnes of uranium ore and is expected to sustain operations for more than two decades. Once operational, the project is projected to contribute more than one percent of Tanzania’s gross domestic product over the long term–a significant contribution for a single mining investment.

The government estimates indicate that more than 4,000 direct jobs could be created during operations, while more than 100,000 indirect employment opportunities may emerge through construction, transport, logistics and associated supply chains. Mantra Tanzania estimates that at least 21,000 households in Namtumbo and neighbouring communities stand to benefit economically through various value-chain activities linked to the project.

Mr Moremi said workforce localisation remained one of the company’s long-term priorities. “The project is intended not only to produce uranium but also to build local technical expertise and create sustainable economic opportunities for communities around the mine,” he said.

Beyond mining exports, discussions have also begun on the possibility of establishing a uranium-powered electricity generation facility in the future. Although still at a preliminary stage, the proposal reflects Tanzania’s growing interest in diversifying its long-term energy mix as industrial demand for electricity continues to rise.

If realised, such a development would place Tanzania among a small group of African countries exploring nuclear-related energy solutions. Even so, the project continues to attract scrutiny from environmental groups because of its proximity to the Selous ecosystem.

In 2012, UNESCO approved Tanzania’s request to excise part of the protected area to allow uranium extraction activities, a decision that drew criticism from conservation organisations concerned about potential environmental impacts. Mantra Tanzania insists the project complies with international environmental and radiation safety standards and says lessons learned during the pilot phase have strengthened environmental management plans ahead of commercial production.

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By Charles Makakala Amonth or so ago, I was invited to speak at a forum where one of my fellow panellists was Prof Elgidius Ichumbaki, the current chairman of the University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly (Udasa). After the session, we connected over his academic work on Kilwa–a place of deep personal interest to me.

I promised to follow up for more materials on its rich history. I will, for Kilwa, I believe, deserves a far greater place in our cultural and intellectual conversations.

Last week, however, it was not Kilwa that brought Prof Ichumbaki back to my attention, but an Udasa communique titled “Cuba Shall Never Die”. It was an interesting document.

For starters, it read like a script pulled straight from a 1970s politburo meeting. It was full of phrases such as: “US fascist puppet dictator”, “warmongering” and “Long live the Cuban Revolution”.

This is an ideological dialect that I am familiar with–and I was hoping it died with the USSR. But here we are–courtesy of our own “UD” scholars.

In the statement, Udasa expresses unreserved solidarity with Cuba, condemns US sanctions, and demands their removal. The authors wax lyrical about Cuba’s anti-colonial and humanitarian in Africa.

In their eyes, Cuba is a vanguard of resistance against imperialism and a symbol of humanity’s finest values. That last bit left me uneasy.

Initially, I hesitated to respond. Not having spoken to Prof Ichumbaki since our panel discussion, I wondered whether writing this article was prudent.

But my hesitation evaporated after reading a reaction from a former senior government official who celebrated the communique as a revival of the “golden era” of intellectual activism at “UD”: the age of Cheche, Walter Rodney, revolutionary politics, etc. I had heard enough.

After all, the Cold War rhetoric was only a small part of the issues I saw in Udasa’s statement. Firstly, the text presents Cuba’s economic struggles as though they were caused exclusively by American sanctions.

Certainly, sanctions have imposed costs, but to attribute Cuba’s predicament solely to Washington ignores decades of economic mismanagement and the suppression of the private sector in Cuba, leading to queuing in agonising breadlines. Secondly, while Cuban doctors have undoubtedly delivered valuable services across Africa and beyond, Udasa ignores the fact that the Cuban government reportedly retains up to 90 percent of the salaries paid by host countries while severely restricting the doctors’ freedom of movement.

To portray the entire system as purely “selfless humanitarianism” is a slap in the face to healthcare workers being financially exploited by Havana. Thirdly, the statement suffers from absolute silence about political oppression under the Cuban regime.

How can members of an academic assembly blindly cheer for a one-party state where independent academics, journalists, and protesters are routinely jailed or exiled for dissenting? Let us be clear: Cuba was good to Africa, and we should never forget that history. But historical solidarity does not grant an eternal licence to oppress one’s own people without scrutiny.

We should oppose any oppression that harms Cubans, whether it comes from within or without. The two positions are not contradictory.

Indeed, Cubans themselves make that very argument. Statistics suggest that even without sanctions, the revolution took Cuba backwards.

On the eve of the 1959 revolution, Cuba was a prosperous middle-income country with a GDP per capita equivalent to Spain’s and higher than Portugal’s. Over the decades that followed, much of Latin America moved forward while Cuba stagnated.

Today, Cuba imports 80 percent of its food, its once-vibrant independent media has been extinguished, and its historical GDP per capita growth ranks among the worst in the world. Little wonder so many Cubans vote with their feet: between 2022 and 2024 alone, roughly 500,000 migrated to the US, many hoping external pressure will force their government to change course.

This raises an obvious question: why is Udasa spending its limited institutional capital on geopolitical declarations about a Caribbean island while ignoring the views of many ordinary Cubans themselves? Critics might call it virtue signalling–projecting radicalism abroad while overlooking pressing realities at home. Tanzania is currently navigating an unprecedented political and social moment.

Udasa has the opportunity to issue fiery statements every week if it wishes. Why, then, is its voice so rarely heard on matters at home? And before anyone cites the October 2025 communique, that statement was issued six months ago.

I do not wish to be disingenuous: it is not safe for Udasa to speak freely on domestic matters, and I do not expect them to do so. However, one can still expect nuance, balance, and intellectual restraint rather than rhetoric that reads like pamphlets from another era.

Finally, what about the American blockade? I answered this question in January when the Americans unseated Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela: when you kill thousands of your people, I do not care how justice finds you, as long as it does. The Americans may often overreach, but they serve as a blunt instrument of pressure for millions trapped under repressive systems.

I think our friends at Udasa have forgotten who they speak for–not regimes, but citizens whose freedoms and dignity are trampled upon. Charles Makakala is a Technology and Management Consultant based in Dar es Salaam .

Dar es Salaam. The new initiative provides skills and hope for recovering drug addicts.

For many people recovering from drug addiction, overcoming dependency remains only the beginning of a long and difficult journey. Finding a job, earning a living and regaining societal trust remain among the biggest challenges they face after rehabilitation still.

It is these hurdles that a new partnership between the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) and the Vocational Education and Training Authority (Veta) seeks to address. The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday, June 3, 2026, that will enable recovering drug users to acquire vocational skills and improve their chances of securing employment or starting their own businesses.

DCEA Commissioner General, Mr Aretas Lyimo, said the initiative is designed to give recovering drug users the tools they need to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society. He noted that while treatment programmes help individuals overcome addiction, many struggle to reintegrate into their communities due to unemployment, poverty, and social stigma.

“Recovery does not end when someone leaves a rehabilitation centre. Many former drug users return to communities where opportunities are limited, making them vulnerable to relapse.

We must help them build a future, “he said. Under the agreement, beneficiaries will have access to vocational training programmes offered by Veta, equipping them with practical skills in areas such as mechanics, electrical installation, tailoring, carpentry, and information technology.

The skills are expected to help them secure jobs or establish small businesses, allowing them to support themselves and their families. Mr Lyimo said the partnership reflects a growing recognition that tackling drug abuse requires more than law enforcement and rehabilitation services.

“People need hope, opportunities and a chance to regain their dignity. When we invest in skills and economic empowerment, we are also investing in lasting recovery,” he said.

According to him, drug abuse remains a significant challenge in Tanzania and elsewhere, particularly among young people. Its effects extend beyond the individual, often contributing to family breakdown, crime, poor health and reduced economic productivity.

The Commissioner expressed optimism that the initiative would help many recovering drug users regain independence and contribute positively to national development. For those emerging from addiction and looking for a fresh start, the programme offers something many have struggled to find a genuine second chance.

Veta Director General, Mr Anthony Kasore, said the authority was committed to ensuring that recovering drug users receive the support needed to become productive members of society. He described the agreement as an important opportunity to support young people and others who have successfully undergone rehabilitation and are ready to start a new chapter in their lives.

“Rather than being isolated by society, these individuals should be given an opportunity to participate in economic and social activities. Skills training can help them become self-reliant and restore their confidence,” he said.

He added that the programme would also benefit recovering drug users who have already acquired skills informally. Through Veta’s recognition and certification system, such individuals will be assessed and awarded certificates that formally recognise their competencies, improving their chances of finding employment.

He also urged parents and communities to encourage young people to enroll in vocational training programmes, arguing that practical skills can help keep them engaged in productive activities and reduce their vulnerability to drug abuse and other social challenges. Drug abuse remains a significant concern in Tanzania, particularly among young people.

Beyond its impact on health, the problem contributes to family breakdowns, crime, reduced productivity, and other social, and economic challenges. .

Shinyanga. The ruling CCM Parents’ Wing Secretary General, Mr Ally Hapi, has urged party members to undertake self-assessment, warning that growing political competition requires the ruling party to strengthen its foundations and avoid complacency.

Speaking on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during a meeting with party members at the CCM regional offices in Shinyanga Municipality, Mr Hapi said the party’s continued hold on power would depend on its ability to address internal weaknesses and prepare members to respond effectively to emerging challenges. He called on members to deepen their understanding of the party’s ideology, establish training programmes, and embrace the demands of the digital era.

“The challenges facing the party include complacency, where some members assume victory is guaranteed, and a failure to educate ourselves about the party. We are also witnessing leadership positions being won not on merit but through the power of the ‘bag’–money,” said Mr Hapi.

“We must compete for leadership positions fairly, transparently, and with integrity,” he added. He also challenged party leaders to be proactive in defending CCM against criticism and opposition narratives.

“Leaders in our party must be able to withstand opposition tactics. When someone speaks negatively about the party, stand up, organise a public meeting and defend it.

Do not wait for the publicity secretary to respond on your behalf,” he said. Shinyanga Regional Commissioner, Ms Mboni Mhita, outlined the region’s security situation and highlighted major development projects under implementation, while affirming strong cooperation between the party and government leadership.

“The relationship between the party and government in Shinyanga Region is excellent. The region has received more than Sh1.7 trillion for the implementation of various development projects, and our responsibility is to ensure the CCM election manifesto is implemented effectively,” she said.

Ms Mhita said government and party leaders continue to work closely to address challenges and oversee development initiatives across the region. “At this meeting, I am accompanied by the District Commissioner and the Executive Director so that we can listen to issues raised by members and ensure they are addressed at all levels, from the village upwards,” she said.

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Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) has taken an unprecedented step to safeguard the integrity of the Mainland Premier League by scheduling all matches in the final three rounds of the season to kick off simultaneously.

Traditionally, only fixtures on the last day of the campaign are played at the same time to prevent teams from gaining an advantage by knowing results elsewhere. However, with both the title race and relegation battle entering a decisive phase, TPLB has extended the arrangement to rounds 28, 29 and 30. According to the fixture schedule, all Round 28 matches will kick off at 4pm on June 24, while Round 29 fixtures will be played simultaneously at 4pm on June 27. The final round of the season, Round 30, will also start at 4pm on June 30. The move is widely viewed as an effort to minimise the risk of match manipulation and ensure that clubs competing for the title, continental qualification places and survival fight under the same conditions.

With only a handful of matches remaining, the championship contest remains wide open. Defending champions Young Africans (Yanga), Simba and Azam FC are all still in contention and need maximum points to strengthen their title ambitions.

At the other end of the table, the battle to avoid relegation is equally intense. Clubs including KMC, Tanzania Prisons, Mbeya City, Namungo, Mtibwa Sugar, Mashujaa, Coastal Union, Fountain Gate, Dodoma Jiji and Pamba Jiji are still fighting for safety, making every remaining fixture crucial.

Football stakeholders believe simultaneous kick-offs reduce the possibility of teams altering their tactics based on results from other venues. Without knowing developments elsewhere, clubs are forced to focus solely on securing positive results in their own matches.

The decision comes amid growing concerns across world football over match-fixing and result manipulation, particularly during the closing stages of competitions when the stakes are highest. By ensuring all teams play at the same time, TPLB aims to preserve the credibility of the league and ensure final standings are determined purely on sporting merit.

Round 28 features several high-profile fixtures, including Mtibwa Sugar versus Simba, Yanga against Azam FC and Namungo hosting KMC. Three days later, Round 29 will see Azam FC face Coastal Union, Simba take on Singida Black Stars and Yanga meet TRA United.

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Arusha. Tanzanian banks are increasingly moving to the centre of blended finance deals across Africa, as development financiers turn to them to unlock lending in sectors considered too risky for private capital.

The shift was highlighted yesterday in Arusha during a panel discussion on ‘Blended Finance and Risk Mitigation for Tanzania’s Investment Pipeline’ at the Tanzania Investment Summit 2026, where financiers stressed that scaling investment will depend on how effectively domestic banks are integrated into financing structures. Moderated by Convergence Finance Senior Associate for Africa, Basil Kandaya, the session brought together different financial institutions.

The discussion centred on how blended finance is moving from theory into practice in order to unlock private capital in markets where risk perception remains high. IFC Director for Trade and Supply Chain Finance, Nathalie Louat, said blended finance is increasingly being used as a market-building tool rather than just a funding mechanism.

“Blended finance is not just a financial tool. It is an instrument for market creation,” she said.

Ms Louat explained that concessional capital, often deployed through IDA-backed facilities, is used to de-risk early-stage investments and attract commercial lenders. She said IFC structures aim to mobilise several times the original concessional contribution, with leverage ratios reaching up to six times in some cases.

However, she cautioned that impact, efficiency and transparency remain critical. “If we cannot clearly show development impact and who is benefiting, then concessional finance risks sitting idle instead of being catalytic,” she said.

From Tanzania’s guarantee sector, PASS Trust managing director, Yohane Ibrahim Kaduma, said risk-sharing instruments have been central in pushing banks into sectors they would otherwise avoid. “We started by carrying the risk ourselves, but we quickly realised that collaboration with banks was the only way to scale,” he said.

Mr Kaduma said guarantee facilities now enable lending to smallholder farmers and agribusinesses who would otherwise be excluded from formal credit. He added that PASS operates across multiple financing levels, from small digital loans of about $100 to larger facilities of up to $20 million.

CRDB Bank Plc, one of Tanzania’s largest lenders, said blended finance has directly changed its risk appetite in agriculture. CRDB Head of Credit Sanction, Ms Azmina Hemed, said the biggest question for banks remains repayment certainty.

“The biggest thing for a bank is simple — how do we get the money back,” she said. Ms Hemed said concessional finance and guarantees have enabled CRDB to expand lending into agriculture by lowering funding costs and sharing risk with development partners.

In some cases, she said, this has reduced borrowing costs to single-digit interest rates, compared to market levels that can exceed 20 percent. She added that guarantee-backed structures have allowed the bank to scale lending without breaching internal risk limits.

Ms Hemed went on to say collateral requirements and regulatory constraints continue to limit access to finance, particularly for smallholder farmers and informal businesses. From the development finance side, representatives from PIDG, DEG and DBSA said modern blended finance structures increasingly combine multiple instruments within a single investment pipeline.

PIDG Business Development Manager Doris Muthami said no institution can finance projects alone across their entire lifecycle. “Flexibility is critical.

No single institution can finance the whole lifecycle of a project alone, which is why collaboration is essential,” she said. DBSA’s Senior Debt and Blended Facilities specialist, Mr Bongo Bacela, said blended finance plays a structural role in correcting market failures that keep private capital away from risky sectors.

“Blended finance plays a key role in correcting market failures by absorbing early-stage risks that discourage private investors,” Mr Bacela said. He added that this early-risk absorption is what allows commercial financiers to enter markets that would otherwise remain underfunded.

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Dar es Salaam. Former Iringa Urban MP, Peter Msigwa, has revealed that a question from his 18-year-old son became the turning point that prompted him to leave CCM and return to Chadema.

Rev Msigwa, who represented Iringa Urban through Chadema for a decade, defected to CCM on June 30, 2024, before announcing his return to the opposition party on May 23, 2026. He says the events surrounding the October 29, 2025, General Election, played a decisive role in his decision. Speaking in an exclusive interview during his tour of Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) newsroom at Tabata Relini yesterday, Rev Msigwa said he spent months reflecting on his political future after reports of killings during and after the election.

He said family discussions and a troubled conscience forced him to reassess his position and conclude that leaving Chadema had been a mistake. The defining moment, he said, came when his son asked whether he would still be praising CCM if his three sons had been among those killed.

“My conscience began troubling me after the election because of the unprecedented killings that occurred in our country. My son asked me: ‘Dad, if my two brothers and I had been among those who died, would you still be saying long live Chama Cha Mapinduzi?'” recalled Rev Msigwa.

“When I combined that question with what my conscience was already telling me, I realised we were not on the right path as a nation,” he added. Rev Msigwa said the question reinforced concerns he had already been grappling with while watching events unfold, and convinced him that the country was heading in the wrong direction.

“I returned to Chadema after apologising and being forgiven for the mistakes I made. I ask everyone I offended within the party to forgive me because I never expected an election to be conducted in a manner that would result in loss of life,” he said.

According to him, the events of October 2025 fundamentally changed his view of CCM, its philosophy, and its relationship with citizens. “I went to vote, but what I witnessed at the polling station was beyond anything I expected.

It raised many questions and forced me to reflect,” he said. The veteran politician said his return to Chadema had drawn mixed reactions.

Some supporters welcomed him back, while others remained sceptical about his motives. “I expected all reactions.

Those who criticise me, those who doubt me, and those who support me are all my people,” he said. “My only request to those who doubt me is to give me time.

As a believer, I know people are judged by their fruits,” he said. Rev Msigwa dismissed claims that he returned to Chadema after failing to secure a position in CCM.

“If I wanted positions, they are available in CCM. I could have remained there, continued praising the party, and waited for an appointment,” he said.

“Given my credentials, remaining in CCM would have benefited me. But I chose to return to a place where I believe in standing by my principles,” he added.

Drawing a parallel with the biblical story of Moses, he said that despite enjoying life under Pharaoh’s rule, Moses eventually chose to stand with his own people. “Despite the benefits I could have enjoyed in CCM, I chose to return to where I believe my calling lies.

This is where my happiness lies,” he said. Reflecting on his time in CCM, Mr Msigwa said he leaves with both lessons and regrets.

On the positive side, he said the ruling party is disciplined and follows established procedures in implementing its activities. However, he argued that CCM has become increasingly dependent on state institutions to win elections.

“What saddens me is that CCM can no longer win elections without relying on the state. That is dangerous for national stability,” he said.

According to Mr Msigwa, such dependence undermines the independence of institutions including the judiciary, Parliament, the police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “When citizens begin to see courts serving the interests of a few people, they lose confidence.

When they see Parliament failing to speak for them or hold the government accountable, they also lose confidence,” he said. He warned that erosion of public trust creates pressure within society and weakens democratic governance.

“The soul of a nation lies in independent courts, professional police officers, and a Parliament that holds the government accountable. When that independence disappears, people begin to drift towards authoritarianism,” he said.

Asked whether he attempted to push for reforms while in CCM, Mr Msigwa said he occasionally expressed his views but acknowledged that it was not always easy to influence decision-making within such a large political party. He maintained that Tanzania needs constitutional reforms, independent electoral institutions, and greater willingness among leaders to listen to citizens.

Mr Msigwa also said politicians should neither oppose everything nor defend everything simply because of party loyalty. “I have learned to rise above party politics on fundamental issues.

There have been improvements in classrooms, health facilities, and maternal and child health outcomes,” he said. “But development achievements cannot be used to justify violations of human rights.

That is a lesson I carry with me from my time in CCM,” he added. “When citizens begin to see courts serving the interests of a few people, they lose confidence.

When they see Parliament failing to speak for them or hold the government accountable, they also lose confidence,” he said. He warned that erosion of public trust creates pressure within society and weakens democratic governance.

“The soul of a nation lies in independent courts, professional police officers, and a Parliament that holds the government accountable. When that independence disappears, people begin to drift towards authoritarianism,” he said.

Asked whether he attempted to push for reforms while in CCM, Mr Msigwa said he occasionally expressed his views but acknowledged that it was not always easy to influence decision-making within such a large political party. He maintained that Tanzania needs constitutional reforms, independent electoral institutions, and greater willingness among leaders to listen to citizens.

Mr Msigwa also said politicians should neither oppose everything nor defend everything simply because of party loyalty. “I have learned to rise above party politics on fundamental issues.

There have been improvements in classrooms, health facilities, and maternal and child health outcomes,” he said. “But development achievements cannot be used to justify violations of human rights.

That is a lesson I carry with me from my time in CCM,” he added. .

Dodoma. Seven people have died, and 17 others have been injured in a road accident involving a minibus and a lorry at Sekenke Hill in Iramba District, Singida Region.

The minibus was travelling from Singida Region to Tabora, while the lorry was heading from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza. According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in the morning after the lorry, which reportedly experienced brake failure, collided with the minibus, causing it to veer off the road and plunge into a ravine.

The crash left seven people dead and 17 others injured, who were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Iramba District Hospital Chief Medical Officer, Dr Peter Janga, said the facility received 17 injured victims and six bodies, noting that one of the injured later died while undergoing treatment.

He said the remaining patients were in stable condition and continued to receive medical care. “We received reports that the vehicles collided and fell into a ravine, which caused multiple injuries.

Most patients sustained injuries to different parts of their bodies,” said Dr Janga. One of the survivors, Mr Emmanuel Sande, said he was travelling in the minibus from Singida to Igunga District in Tabora Region when the accident occurred.

Mr Sande said he had fallen asleep due to fatigue during the journey and woke up after the crash. “We were travelling, and I was asleep.

When I woke up, I found we had been involved in an accident. I thank God that despite the injuries, we survived,” said Sande.

Efforts to reach the Singida Regional Police Commander for comment proved futile until publication of this report, with his assistant saying he was attending a meeting. ENDSBy Rachel Chibwete Dodoma.

Seven people have died, and 17 others have been injured in a road accident involving a minibus and a lorry at Sekenke Hill in Iramba District, Singida Region. The minibus was travelling from Singida Region to Tabora, while the lorry was heading from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in the morning after the lorry, which reportedly experienced brake failure, collided with the minibus, causing it to veer off the road and plunge into a ravine. The crash left seven people dead and 17 others injured, who were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Iramba District Hospital Chief Medical Officer, Dr Peter Janga, said the facility received 17 injured victims and six bodies, noting that one of the injured later died while undergoing treatment. He said the remaining patients were in stable condition and continued to receive medical care.

“We received reports that the vehicles collided and fell into a ravine, which caused multiple injuries. Most patients sustained injuries to different parts of their bodies,” said Dr Janga.

One of the survivors, Mr Emmanuel Sande, said he was travelling in the minibus from Singida to Igunga District in Tabora Region when the accident occurred. Mr Sande said he had fallen asleep due to fatigue during the journey and woke up after the crash.

“We were travelling, and I was asleep. When I woke up, I found we had been involved in an accident.

I thank God that despite the injuries, we survived,” said Sande. Efforts to reach the Singida Regional Police Commander for comment proved futile until publication of this report, with his assistant saying he was attending a meeting.

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isselectedendDar es Salaam. SportPesa Tanzania is celebrating a remarkable milestone after two women from different generations and walks of life secured life-changing wins worth more than Sh857 million combined, highlighting the growing role women are playing in Tanzania’s sports entertainment industry.

isselectedendThe winners, Grace George Litimba and Husna Dauda Abubakari, may come from different backgrounds and stages of life, but they now share one thing in common: they have both become part of one of Tanzania’s biggest female winning stories. isselectedendGrace George Litimba made national headlines after securing an incredible S00,000,000 payout on Aviator, making her the biggest Aviator winner ever recorded in Tanzania.

isselectedendA teacher, businesswoman, and mother in her 50s, Grace has spent years balancing family responsibilities, her profession, and running a business. Speaking after receiving her winnings, she said the money would be used to grow her investments, expand her business, and support her family.

isselectedend”This win has completely changed my life. I want to make smart decisions for the future by increasing my investments, growing my business, and supporting my parents and children,” she said.

isselectedendWhile Grace’s story captured national attention, another inspiring winner was making history through SportPesa Supa Jackpot. isselectedendThirty-six-year-old Husna Dauda Abubakari, a businesswoman from Kibaha and a passionate Young Africans SC supporter, recently secured S57,989,839 after correctly predicting all 14 matches in the SportPesa Supa Jackpot.

isselectedendA proud mother to a one-month-old baby, Husna was joined by her husband and family when she travelled to claim her win at SportPesa’s offices, turning the occasion into a celebration for everyone who had supported her journey. isselectedend”When I first saw the results, I honestly could not believe it.

I kept checking again and again because winning this amount felt unreal. This is a life-changing moment for my family and me,” she said.

isselectedendAn avid jackpot player, Husna revealed that she had also prepared a prediction slip for the 16/16 jackpot tier, which carried a potential prize of over Sh800 million. Unfortunately, she did not have enough funds available to place the additional ticket.

isselectedendSpeaking on the milestone, Tracy Humplick, Head of Marketing from SportPesa Tanzania, said the two winners represent a powerful shift in how the industry is evolving. isselectedend”What makes these stories special is not only the size of the wins, but the people behind them.

Grace and Husna come from different generations and different life experiences, yet both found themselves celebrating life-changing moments through our platforms. Their stories demonstrate that opportunities can emerge for anyone, regardless of age or background.

” isselectedendThe stories of Grace and Husna reflect a growing trend within Tanzania’s sports entertainment industry, where women are increasingly engaging with products such as Aviator and Supa Jackpot. Together, their stories send a powerful message across Tanzania: women are not only participating in sports entertainment — they are winning big, breaking barriers, and redefining expectations at every stage of life.

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