Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. The High Court of Tanzania has sentenced two Dar es Salaam residents to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of trafficking more than 15 kilogrammes of heroin, while acquitting a third accused person for lack of evidence.

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court, sitting in Dar es Salaam and presided over by Justice Sedekia Kisanya, convicted Suleiman Ngulangwa and a diploma student at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Mr Farid Said, for trafficking 15.19 kilogrammes of heroin. The court, however, acquitted Ms Sharifa Bakari, the mother of Farid Said and aunt of Mr Suleiman Ngulangwa, after finding that the prosecution had failed to link her to the narcotics.

Justice Kisanya also ordered the return of Sh873,000 seized from the second and third accused after ruling that the prosecution had not proved the money was proceeds of crime. According to the judgment delivered on Monday, June 1, 2026, and uploaded to the Judiciary website on Tuesday, June 2, 2016, Ms Bakari was found with Sh373,000, while Mr Said had Sh500,000. Initially, all three accused were charged with trafficking heroin allegedly recovered on November 30, 2022, in the Charambe Secondary School area of Temeke District, Dar es Salaam.

The accused denied the charges. During the trial, the prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered nine exhibits.

How the arrests were made The court heard that on November 27, 2022, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Hassan Msangi received intelligence information regarding a suspected drug trafficker at Utamu Restaurant along Ufipa Road in Kinondoni District. After informing his superior, ASP Msangi mobilised a team of officers and proceeded to the area, where an informant identified the first accused, Mr Ngulangwa.

According to prosecution evidence, Mr Ngulangwa was arrested but attempted to flee before being re-arrested. An independent witness, Mr Mohamed Maalim, the restaurant manager, was called to observe a search during which officers recovered Sh5 million, a vehicle key, a motor vehicle and two mobile phones.

The court heard that a preliminary search was conducted at the scene before a more detailed search was carried out at the offices of the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA). Two days later, on November 29, 2022, Inspector Wamba Msafiri escorted Mr Ngulangwa to a house near Charambe Secondary School, where he allegedly led officers to a stash of drugs.

A search resulted in the recovery of a sack containing 16 packages suspected to be narcotics. Police also recovered Sh500,000 from Mr Farid Said’s room and Sh373,000 from Ms Bakari’s room.

The substances were subsequently submitted to the Government Chemist Authority, which confirmed they were heroin weighing 15.19 kilogrammes. Defence arguments Mr Ngulangwa denied the charges, telling the court he worked as a car broker and had initially been arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft.

He disputed the prosecution’s account of events, claiming he was blindfolded and unlawfully detained until December 17, 2022. He also denied any knowledge of the drugs. Ms Bakari told the court she was a small-scale trader dealing in juice, halwa, cakes, mandazi and bottled water.

She said she had been caring for her sick mother in Mbande from November 9 to 29, 2022, and was arrested at her home during the night before being forced to sign documents she did not understand. Mr Said told the court he was a DIT student studying electrical and telecommunications engineering and lived in student hostels.

He said he was arrested after returning home from the hostel on November 29, 2022, and denied any involvement in drug trafficking. Court findings In his judgment, Justice Kisanya said the prosecution had successfully proved that the substance produced as Exhibit PE3 was heroin weighing 15.19 kilogrammes.

The key issue before the court, he said, was whether the accused persons could be linked to possession of the narcotics. The judge found that the evidence placed Mr Ngulangwa at the centre of the operation and sufficiently connected both him and Mr Said to possession and knowledge of the heroin.

However, the court found no evidence showing that Ms Bakari knew about the drugs or participated in the trafficking operation. “In conclusion, the second issue of whether the accused were found in possession of Exhibit PE3 is answered in the affirmative for the first and third accused and in the negative for the second accused,” Mr Judge Kisanya.

Despite mitigation pleas from the convicted persons, the court noted that the law prescribes a mandatory life sentence for trafficking narcotic drugs. The judge also ordered the destruction of the heroin in accordance with the law and directed that forfeiture proceedings be undertaken.

He further ruled that any property not subjected to successful forfeiture proceedings should be returned to its rightful owner. .

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Under-17 national football team, popularly known as the Serengeti Boys, will tonight take on Senegal in the final of the CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 10pm East African Time in Rabat.

The match at Moulay El Hassan Stadium presents Tanzania with an opportunity to make history by becoming the first Tanzanian national team to win a Caf continental title. The Serengeti Boys have already written a remarkable chapter in the country’s football history by reaching the Afcon U-17 final for the first time.

Their impressive campaign has captured the imagination of football fans across Tanzania and highlighted the growing strength of the nation’s youth football development structures. Head coach Elieneza Nsanganzelu believes his players are ready for the challenge despite facing one of Africa’s strongest youth football nations.

“We respect Senegal because they have a strong team, but we have prepared well and believe in our abilities. The boys have shown courage, discipline and determination throughout the tournament.

We are ready to fight for the trophy and make Tanzania proud,” said Nsanganzelu. Tanzania’s road to the final has been nothing short of extraordinary.

The Serengeti Boys opened their campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Mozambique before producing another dominant display to defeat Angola by the same scoreline. Their only setback came in the final group-stage match, where they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Mali.

However, the result did little to derail their momentum as they progressed to the knockout stage. In the quarter-finals, Tanzania survived a thrilling encounter against Algeria.

The match ended 3-3 after regulation time before the East Africans prevailed 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure a place in the last four and qualify for the Fifa U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year. The semi-final against Egypt proved equally tense.

After a goalless draw, the Serengeti Boys once again held their nerve from the spot, winning 4-3 on penalties to reach the final. Several Tanzanian players have emerged as stars during the tournament.

Fourteen-year-old Dismas Athanasi Shida has scored three goals and become one of the competition’s standout performers, while midfielder Razaki Mbelegendi has impressed with his creativity and two crucial goals. The team’s success has also been recognised at senior level, with Luqman Mbalasalu and Kassaim Juma receiving call-ups to the Taifa Stars squad for upcoming international friendlies against Uganda and Rwanda in Morocco.

Senegal, meanwhile, arrive in the final determined to retain the title they won in the previous edition. The Young Lions of Teranga reached the final after defeating hosts Morocco 7-6 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the semi-finals.

Goalkeeper Assane Sarr and playmaker Souleymane Commissaire Faye are expected to play key roles for the West Africans, who have built a reputation as one of the continent’s most successful youth football nations. For Tanzania, however, tonight’s final represents more than just a football match.

It is the culmination of years of investment in youth development and a chance for a talented generation to cement its place in the country’s sporting history. With the trophy now just one victory away, the Serengeti Boys will be hoping to complete a fairytale journey and bring African football’s most prestigious youth title home to Tanzania.

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Babati. The High Court in Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry has allowed an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and set aside a decision of the Ilala District Court, which had acquitted Mr Nurdini Juma, who was charged with trafficking 314.45 grammes of cannabis.

The court overturned the acquittal and ordered that the case be remitted to the lower court for retrial before a different magistrate, allowing the accused to enter his defence. In a judgment delivered on Friday, May 29, 2026, Justice Hamidu Mwanga said the trial magistrate erred in law by finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case and acquitting the accused before he was called to enter his defence.

Mr Juma was charged with trafficking narcotic drugs, specifically 314.45 grammes of cannabis, contrary to the law. It was alleged that on February 15, 2025, at Kivule Njia Panda ya Shule in Ilala District, he was found in possession of the drugs.

During the trial, the prosecution called six witnesses, including the Government Chemist, who confirmed through laboratory analysis that the exhibits were cannabis weighing 314.45 grammes. Other witnesses testified on the preservation and transportation of the exhibits, maintaining an unbroken chain of custody.

The court also heard that the arresting officer acted on confidential information and proceeded to the accused’s residence in Kivule. It was further stated that a neutral local witness was present during the search operation.

During the search, 10 bundles of suspected cannabis were allegedly recovered from the room occupied by the accused. However, after the prosecution closed its case, the Ilala District Court ruled that no prima facie case had been established.

The magistrate held that the arresting officer was not credible and that the search witness was not independent because he was a neighbour of the accused. Dissatisfied with the ruling, the DPP appealed to the High Court, arguing that the evidence adduced was sufficient to require the accused to enter his defence.

In Appeal No. 912/2026, the DPP raised three grounds, including that the trial magistrate erred in law in finding prosecution witness four not credible, that witness six was not independent, and that the prosecution had failed to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt.

Court ruling After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Mwanga said that at the stage of determining a prima facie case, the court is not required to determine guilt, but only whether there is sufficient evidence to require the accused to enter his defence. He said the prosecution’s evidence clearly showed that the drugs were recovered from the room occupied by the accused, while laboratory analysis confirmed the substances as cannabis.

The judge further held that the trial magistrate erred in rejecting the search witness solely on the basis that he was a neighbour, noting that there was no evidence of bias, hostility, or personal interest. “The fact that the witness was a neighbour of the accused alone cannot render him independent.

There was no evidence of hostility, bias, or personal interest against the accused,” part of the judgment reads. The court also observed that the trial magistrate evaluated the evidence as though making a final determination of guilt, rather than assessing whether a prima facie case had been made, requiring the accused to defend himself.

“The evidence presented by the prosecution was neither inherently unreliable nor discredited to justify an acquittal at that stage. I therefore find that a prima facie case was established requiring the accused to enter his defence.

The trial magistrate erred in law in acquitting him at that stage,” said the judge. “In the result, the appeal succeeds.

The order of acquittal is set aside. The case is remitted to the trial court for the accused to enter his defence before a different magistrate,” he ruled.

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Dar es Salaam. A total of 22 swimming clubs and about 410 swimmers from Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia are expected to compete in the 10th Tanzania National Junior Championship 2026, scheduled for June 6 and 7 at the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Masaki, Dar es Salaam.

The two-day championship, organised by the Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) in collaboration with Africa Aquatics and World Aquatics, is regarded as one of the country’s premier youth swimming competitions and a key platform for identifying future national team athletes. The event will feature swimmers from across Tanzania alongside competitors from Kenya and Zambia, adding an international dimension to the championship.

Among the foreign clubs expected to participate are Aquatics Riders Swim Club , Kalene Swim Club, Lechwe swimming Club, Ndola Rapids Swim Club and Orcas Swim Club, all are from Zambia. Also in the list is Bandari Swim Club from Kenya.

TSA Secretary General Inviolata Itatiro said preparations for the championship have been completed and all stakeholders are looking forward to a highly competitive event. “We are delighted by the response from clubs and swimmers.

aving 22 clubs and around 410 swimmers participating is a clear indication that swimming continues to grow in Tanzania and across the region,” said Itatiro. Tanzania clubs are qua Riders Swim Club, Bluefins Swim Club, Braeburn Sharks, Champion Rise Swim Club, Dar Swim Club, FK Blue Marlins, Lake Victoria Sports Club, Malaika Aqua Eagles, Milestones Swimming Club, Monti Aqua Force, Mwanza Swim Club, North Coast Swimming Club, Pigec Swimming Club, Premier Swim Club, Riptide Swim Club, Taliss-IST and Wahoo Swim Club-ISZ.

According to Inviolata, the championship has continued to grow in stature, attracting increasing numbers of swimmers while providing a pathway for athletes aspiring to compete at regional and international levels. ” This championship is an important platform for talent identification and development.

It gives young swimmers an opportunity to compete at a high level while preparing them for future regional and international competitions,” she said. Participants will compete in various age groups and swimming disciplines, with medals and honours at stake in what promises to be a thrilling contest.

The tournament has received support from Clyde and Co Genesis Sports Ltd, Pepsi, RM, IST, Kilombero Sugar, Jusfit sports Gear and G1 Security. Inviolata expressed confidence that the participation of foreign swimmers would help raise the standard of competition and provide valuable exposure for local athletes.

“We expect exciting races and strong performances throughout the two days. Most importantly, we want the championship to inspire more young people to take up swimming and pursue excellence in the sport,” said Inviolata.

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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is intensifying efforts to unlock growth capital for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) amid fresh warnings that up to seven in every 10 young businesses fail within their first three years, underscoring the urgency of bridging the country’s persistent “missing middle” financing gap.

The concern formed the centre of discussions at the second Tanzania Impact Investment Forum (TIIF) 2026, which opened in Dar es Salaam yesterday, bringing together more than 300 investors, policymakers, development finance institutions and entrepreneurs to explore ways of strengthening access to growth capital for SMEs. The three-day forum, hosted by the Embassy of Switzerland in Tanzania, is themed “Unlocking Growth Capital: Investing in High-Impact SMEs and Transformational Projects.

” New data presented alongside the forum, drawn from the Tanzania Investment and Consultant Group Limited (TICGL), shows that between 60 and 70 percent of newly established businesses in Tanzania collapse within three years, largely due to financing constraints, weak business systems and an unfavourable operating environment. Speaking at the opening of the forum, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Nicole Providoli, said the most persistent constraint facing the sector is not the absence of ideas or early-stage funding, but the inability of growing enterprises to access scale-up capital.

“These are businesses expanding access to essential services, strengthening livelihoods, and opening new economic opportunities. They are contributing to more inclusive and resilient communities, while also helping to build Tanzania’s next decade of growth,” she said.

“These businesses deserve capital. They are ready for it.

And the question is: what would it take to get that capital to them?” she added. She said while investor appetite for Tanzania is growing–particularly in agriculture, climate-smart solutions, manufacturing and digital services many SMEs fail to meet institutional investment thresholds due to limited track records, weak financial systems and perceived risk.

Ambassador Providoli added that TIIF is designed to directly address this mismatch by linking investment-ready SMEs with capital providers through structured deal rooms and investor matchmaking sessions. This year, more than 30 SMEs underwent pre-forum investment readiness training in partnership with Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A), with 15 selected to pitch directly to investors.

Stanbic Bank Tanzania Managing Director Manzi Rwegasira said impact investment requires coordinated effort across all stakeholders, including government, financiers and the private sector. “For the Government, the key is not necessarily providing funds, but creating an enabling environment that allows all actors to participate effectively in investment,” he said.

British High Commissioner to Tanzania Marianne Young also stressed the demographic opportunity, noting that Tanzania’s large youth population presents both a challenge and an economic opportunity. “The question is how Tanzania can harness this demographic dividend to build a sustainable economy.

The UK will continue to support efforts in this direction,” she said. However, economists warn that structural constraints in Tanzania’s business environment continue to undermine SME survival rates.

University of Dar es Salaam economist Prof Abel Kinyondo said high borrowing costs and regulatory pressures remain key barriers to growth. “Interest rates in Tanzania are still high compared to other markets, and this affects business expansion,” he said.

He also pointed to taxation and regulatory costs as additional constraints, arguing that policy reforms are needed to improve competitiveness. “Many SMEs are not failing because there is no demand, but because operating costs are too high and the environment is not sufficiently enabling,” he said.

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Nairobi. A Kenyan High Court has extended by three weeks an order blocking the construction and operation of a proposed US-linked Ebola quarantine facility, while directing the government to disclose full details of its agreement with Washington.

The 50-bed isolation unit, planned at a military air base in Nanyuki in central Kenya, was intended to receive American citizens exposed to Ebola in outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The proposal has sparked widespread public concern, with critics accusing the United States of attempting to shift health risks to Kenya.

On Tuesday, Judge Patricia Nyaundi ruled that no construction or operational activity should proceed at the site until the case is fully determined. She also ordered the government to publish all agreements, health protocols and operational arrangements related to the facility within seven days, with the matter set for hearing on June 23. The ruling follows earlier interim orders issued after a legal challenge by civil society organisations, including concerns over transparency and public health preparedness.

Despite the court restrictions, reports from diplomatic sources indicate that US military aircraft have continued to transport personnel and equipment to the site in recent days. Public opposition to the project has been mounting.

Hundreds of residents in Nanyuki staged protests earlier this week, with organisers alleging that two people were shot dead during clashes with police. Authorities, however, said they were not aware of any confirmed fatalities.

The facility has become a flashpoint for debate over Kenya’s health security and sovereignty, with critics warning of potential risks and lack of public consultation. President William Ruto has defended the arrangement, saying it forms part of Kenya’s long-standing health cooperation with the United States and broader efforts to strengthen preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks.

He maintained that the facility would serve both Kenyan and foreign nationals in the event of an emergency. The United States has not issued a detailed public response to the latest court ruling.

The case continues to attract national attention, highlighting tensions between international health partnerships, domestic legal oversight and public concerns over safety and transparency. .

Dar es Salaam. The High Court in the Kigoma Sub-Registry has ordered that members of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into post-election violence investigations be served through a public notice to be published in Mwananchi newspaper.

The directive was issued on Monday, June 1, 2026, by Justice Agustine Rwizile, who is presiding over a case challenging the legality of the commission. The order followed the failure of the commissioners, or their representatives, to appear in court when the matter was called.

The commission, commonly known as the Judge Lila Commission, is chaired by Court of Appeal Judge Shaban Lila. It was established by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, with members announced on May 18, 2026. Other members include retired High Court judges Gad John Mjemmas, Awadh Mohamed Bawazir and Aishieli Nelson Sumari.

President Hassan established the commission following the report of an earlier Presidential Commission of Inquiry into post-election violence, chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman. Days after the new commission was announced, activists Buberwa Kaiza and Joseph Mabugo, through lawyers Mpale Mpoki and Hekima Mwasipu, filed a case challenging its legality.

They named the Attorney General, Justice Lila, and the three commissioners, Mr Mjemmas, Mr Bawazir and Ms Sumari, as respondents. The applicants are seeking leave to institute judicial review proceedings to nullify the President’s decision to establish the commission and appoint its members, and to restrain it from continuing its work.

On May 27, 2026, the court sat in the absence of all parties and directed respondents to file counter-affidavits within one day, while fixing the matter for hearing and ordering service of summons. However, only the Attorney General appeared in court, represented by Senior State Attorney Stanley Kalokola, who confirmed receipt of the documents and said a response had been filed on behalf of the first respondent, but he did not represent the remaining commissioners.

Applicants’ counsel Mpoki told the court that all respondents had been duly served, including service at the Attorney General’s Office. Mr Kalokola maintained that while the Attorney General had filed a counter-affidavit, he had no instructions to represent the other respondents.

In light of this, Mr Mpoki applied for substituted service through a newspaper of wide circulation, proposing Mwananchi. Justice Rwizile granted the application and ordered publication of the summons in Mwananchi by June 4, 2026, ahead of the next hearing scheduled for June 8, 2026. The case, filed under certificate of urgency, argues that unless heard promptly, the commission may continue its work despite allegedly lacking constitutional and legal authority.

Court documents show that following post-election violence, police arrested several suspects and instituted multiple criminal cases. While those cases were ongoing, President Hassan ordered the release of some suspects on the basis of available evidence.

She later established a commission to investigate alleged breaches of peace, known as the Chande Commission, which submitted its report on April 23, 2026. The report indicated that 518 people had been killed, with others injured, warning that the figure could be higher. After receiving the report, the President formed another commission to investigate criminal conduct arising from the same events.

The applicants argue that the move lacks legal basis, particularly as suspects had already been released without judicial determination, and that it amounts to discrimination contrary to Article 13(1) of the Constitution. They further argue that under the Commission of Inquiry Act (Cap.

32 R.E 2023), the President has no authority to establish another commission after the Chande Commission concluded its work.

They contend that under Section 21(1)(a) and (b), any further action should have been directed to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to instruct police to conduct additional investigations. They also argue that where sufficient evidence exists, those implicated should be prosecuted.

In addition, they maintain that the President has no authority to establish a commission to investigate criminal matters, as that mandate rests exclusively with the DPP. They cite the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act (Cap.

430 R.E 2023), arguing it vests sole authority in the DPP to oversee criminal investigations, except those under military jurisdiction.

They further submit that the DPP is constitutionally mandated to direct and supervise criminal investigations, except those tried by military courts. .

Dar es Salaam. Technology-driven financing solutions are transforming how Tanzanians acquire essential assets, with growing numbers of people obtaining smartphones, motorcycles, vehicles and household equipment through flexible repayment plans instead of paying the full cost upfront.

Powered by digital financing platforms, mobile money services and data-driven credit assessment systems, asset financing has expanded significantly in recent years, creating opportunities for low- and middle-income earners who previously struggled to afford major purchases. Today, motorcycle riders can acquire bodabodas through lease-to-own arrangements, traders can secure smartphones and repay in instalments, while entrepreneurs can obtain vehicles and equipment through technology-enabled financing products.

Industry players say digital financing is helping bridge longstanding gaps in access to credit, particularly among young people and workers in the informal sector who often lack the collateral or employment records required by traditional lenders. Kinondoni-based car dealer Emmanuel Mkonyi said technology-enabled vehicle financing has made car ownership more accessible while helping dealers manage repayment risks.

Customers can choose from a range of financing arrangements depending on their financial circumstances, with technology playing a central role in enforcing repayment agreements, he said. “If a customer fails to make a payment by the agreed date, the system automatically disables the vehicle, making it unusable until they contact us.

We can also track the location where the vehicle has been immobilised, allowing us to follow up when necessary,” said Mr Mkonyi. He explained that customers purchasing vehicles available in the showroom are required to pay 50 percent of the vehicle’s value upfront, with the balance settled over six months to one year.

For imported vehicles, buyers can pay a 20 percent deposit before shipment, an additional 30 percent upon arrival, and clear the remaining balance through an agreed repayment schedule. “The demand for vehicle financing has grown rapidly because many people want to own cars but cannot afford to pay the full amount at once.

Technology has made it possible for us to offer financing while still protecting our business,” he said. Mr Mkonyi said prospective customers are required to submit bank statements and other financial records to assess their cash flow and repayment capacity.

“Without proper assessment, the risks would be too high,” he said. According to him, financing has become the dominant sales model for the business, reflecting growing demand for flexible payment solutions.

“Since introducing the system about two years ago, most of our vehicle sales have been conducted through financing arrangements. We have not experienced significant repayment challenges because we strictly adhere to the screening process,” he said.

Independent economist Oscar Mkude said the growing use of technology in asset financing reflects the evolution of Tanzania’s digital economy and highlights the role innovation can play in expanding financial inclusion. “What we are witnessing is a practical example of how the digital economy is transforming access to financial services.

Processes that previously required lengthy physical interactions can now be completed much faster and more conveniently through technology,” he said. Mr Mkude noted that digital platforms are reducing transaction costs, accelerating loan approvals and enabling lenders to monitor repayments more efficiently.

However, he cautioned that lenders must continue strengthening customer assessment procedures to ensure borrowers can meet their obligations. “Sustainability will depend on balancing accessibility with prudent risk management,” he said.

Despite such concerns, Mr Mkude said the broader economic impact remains positive. “Access to financing for productive assets allows more people to participate in economic activities.

It creates opportunities for entrepreneurship, supports business expansion and contributes to broader financial inclusion,” he said. He added that digital financing is lowering barriers to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs by reducing the amount of capital needed to start a business.

“In many cases, individuals no longer need large amounts of savings to begin income-generating activities. Technology-based financing enables them to acquire the tools they need and gradually pay for them as their businesses grow,” he said.

For her part, smartphone loan agent Martha Mlay said she launched her business in January this year and offers various smartphone brands through partnerships with suppliers. Customers enter financing agreements through authorised agents, while the devices are linked to digital repayment systems capable of restricting certain functions when payments are missed.

“We started operating in Buguruni Malapa, where customers can acquire smartphones and repay daily, weekly or monthly depending on their income levels. Daily repayments start from Sh1,200, although the exact amount varies according to the type of phone and repayment period,” she said.

According to Ms Mlay, demand has exceeded expectations as many customers cannot afford to purchase smartphones outright, while others need replacements after losing or damaging their devices. The business has also created employment opportunities for young people through a growing network of agents who help identify and recruit customers.

“I pay a commission of Sh30,000 for every smartphone an agent successfully facilitates. This encourages them to bring in customers they know personally, helping to reduce the risk of defaults,” she said.

Buguruni resident Lightness Fisoo said she acquired a smartphone through the programme after her previous device became unusable. “I operate a small business and my phone is important for communicating with customers.

When the screen of my old phone broke, I could not afford to buy a new smartphone immediately. This financing option gave me an alternative,” she said.

Ms Fisoo, who currently repays Sh1,200 a day, said the arrangement has enabled her to continue running her business without disruption. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania national golf team coach Fadhili Nkya has expressed confidence that his players will deliver strong performances at the Africa Region IV Men Team Championship, which tees off today at Tamarina Golf Club in Mauritius.

The championship, running from June 2 to June 6, will bring together some of the region’s emerging golf nations, including hosts Mauritius, Kenya, Seychelles, Reunion Island, Burundi and Tanzania. Tanzania will be represented by Jumanne Mohamed, Isiaka Dunia, Enoshi Wanyeche and Victor Mbunda, with Nkya leading the team as coach.

Speaking before the tournament, Nkya said the golfers had undergone intensive preparations at Kili Golf Club in Arusha and are ready to compete against some of the best players in the region. “We have prepared well for this championship and the players are in good shape.

Training sessions at Kili Golf Club were productive, and I believe the team is ready to represent Tanzania with pride,” said Nkya. “We know the competition will be tough, but the players have shown commitment and determination throughout the preparations.

I am optimistic they will not let us down.” The tournament will be played over 54 holes in a stroke-play format across three rounds, with each country fielding four golfers.

The best three scores from each team will count towards the daily standings, while individual honours will also be up for grabs. Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) Operations Manager Johnson John said the team had everything required to perform well and gain valuable international experience.

“We are sending a strong and competitive team to Mauritius. The players have prepared well and we believe they will represent Tanzania positively,” said Johnson.

He noted that competing against golfers from different countries would help improve the players’ skills and expose them to higher levels of competition. “This tournament gives our golfers valuable experience because they will compete with strong teams from across the region.

Such exposure is important for the growth of the players and Tanzanian golf in general,” he said. According to the event programme, teams arrived in Mauritius on June 2 before taking part in official practice sessions, a managers’ meeting and the opening ceremony.

While Kenya and Mauritius are widely regarded as favourites for the title, Tanzania will be aiming to make a strong impression and continue its progress on the regional golf stage. .

I am currently reading Can Feminism Be African? by Minna Salami, in which she asks provocative questions about what it would mean for Africa to be a feminist continent. Her questions sent me back to Adichie’s TED Talk, later published as the short book We Should All Be Feminists, which lays out the case for feminism in the simplest possible terms.

I paused Salami to revisit it because I wanted to sit with the book that first made the idea feel simple again. Adichie draws on her experiences as a feminist in Nigeria, though the encounters she describes are not unique to it.

She recalls her late friend Okoloma asking, after one of their many arguments, whether she knew she was a feminist. It was not a compliment.

In his mouth, as in many people’s, “feminist” carried a freight of accusations. To be a feminist where I live is, for many people, to be an angry woman who hates men, or, as Adichie puts it, someone who hates bras, hates african culture, thinks women should always be in charge, doesn’t wear makeup, doesn’t shave, has no sense of humour, and doesn’t use deodorant.

I laughed out loud reading it. It is funny, and it is also, sadly, mostly true.

Because of this, many women find it hard to admit they are feminists. I have watched people reach for “humanist” instead, to dodge the association.

I did it myself five years ago; I did not want to be the angry, man-hating woman. I was wrong.

Adichie went the other way, piling qualifiers onto her feminism to outrun the caricature. At one point, she writes, she was a “Happy african feminist who does not hate men and who likes to wear lip gloss and high heels for herself and not for men.

” The joke is that she has to say all of it at all. In primary school, Adichie’s teacher promised to make the class monitor whoever scored highest on a test.

The monitor was a real power; the monitor wrote down the noisemakers, and any child would want it. Adichie got the highest score.

She was passed over anyway, because the monitor had to be a boy, and to the teacher, this was so obvious it needed no explanation. At my own schools, the “St.

Kayumbas” of the world, that prize was a big deal too, and I suspect it still is. I return to this because it remains true.

A woman more qualified than the men around her is still passed over for being a woman, and the unfairness of it is the whole reason the feminist movement still matters, in the West, yes, but in Africa, too. There are other urgent things to fight for here.

This is one of them: that people be measured by their qualifications and not their gender. Adichie’s other examples translate easily to my context.

An unmarried woman wears a wedding ring to a conference to be granted the respect reserved for married women. Adichie tips a parking attendant, and he thanks her male companion instead, because in his mind, money in a woman’s hand must have come from a man.

I have my own version. Several restaurants in Dar es Salaam assume a woman alone has come only to find a man to pay for her, so they ignore you when you walk in, certain you will not be buying anything.

Once, when a group of us arrived in Masaki, the greeting was “kama hamnunui chakula hamuwezi kupiga picha,” if you’re not buying food, you can’t take photos. Same assumption: that women cannot feed themselves.

This did not happen to someone I heard about. It happened to my friends and me.

What the book asks of you is simple: what do you actually believe a feminist is? Strip away the caricature of the angry, man-hating woman at war with her own culture. A feminist is a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes, the insistence that women be treated as human beings who deserve respect for being human, and the acknowledgement that for centuries, they were not.

Things are better now. They are not yet equal.

To call this conviction by some softer name, to reach for “humanist” as I once did, does it a disservice. The word may have been coined in Europe, but where it was coined has nothing to do with whether it is true.

We are biologically different, men and women; we are not unequal. Adichie’s book is short and simple, and that is exactly why I keep returning to it.

It hands you the argument in a form you can carry into a restaurant in Masaki or a primary-school classroom and recognise at once. .