Category: The Citizen

By Muhsin Masoud Last week’s part of this series ended by highlighting procedures that are usually followed in state-owned firms in getting approval of organisational structures. Other lengthy processes in state-owned firms are employment procedures.

In private entities, boards usually approve budgets for new employees alongside annual budgets and the responsibility for recruitment is entirely left to the management, which is accountable for the employees they hire. In contrast, state-owned firms usually must obtain government approval before they proceed and in some cases, even the recruitment procedures and the interviews are conducted outside the entities’ domain.

When management wishes to recruit a promising talented candidate from the industry to a state-owned firm, the process often takes too long, usually around six to nine months to complete. In the private sector, the difference is stark.

The candidate is approached and the recruitment process is often completed within a month or less, leading to more efficient operations and better performance. In state-owned firms, it is not unusual for the entire recruitment process to be completed, only for the management to receive a call from a senior government official questioning why a certain candidate was recruited or why someone else wasn’t.

If the chief executive is not strong enough, the entire process might have to start all over again, adding another six months of delay. How can these entities compete under such circumstances? As an example from one case well known to me, one CEO faced a situation where, even after obtaining all the necessary approvals, the process was halted by interference from another government organ without any valid reason and letters of appointment were withheld, preventing the candidates from being officially hired.

As a result, services and operations were disrupted and management, not surprisingly, took the flak. Even remunerations and incentives are dictated by government-approved salary scales.

Bonuses in some cases, must also be approved by shareholders even when performance targets have been significantly exceeded. The situation differs significantly from companies with which these state-owned firms are competing.

How can state-owned firms attract top talent and deliver better services when their incentives are controlled and significantly lower compared to those of private competitors? Most of the time, complaints are directed at management, criticising poor service quality compared to private competitors and employees’ performance being below industry standards. There was an instance that I am aware of where the head of a certain state-owned firm received instructions from the ministry to abolish certain incentives granted to managers despite the entity’s strong performance.

He objected, risking his position to defend the decision. This overlooked the fact that the industry these employees worked in involved significantly higher risks and more demanding duties than those in other government departments.

These are just a few examples of obstacles that state-owned firms face in human resource management due to lack of decision-making power granted to those who are entrusted and accountable for running these organisations. These kinds of interferences often persist due to the perception that these entities are merely extensions of ministries.

At times, heads of department in ministries may believe that they have the authority to instruct CEOs to take certain actions. One CEO was once summoned by a department head in a ministry and instructed to contact managers from other institutions to arrange for a meeting.

Instead of focusing on core responsibilities of the entity, the CEO was expected to perform secretarial tasks. A colleague once told me that, in reality, the heads of these independent entities are comparable to permanent secretaries because they are also accounting officers sometimes managing budgets larger than those of ministries.

Unfortunately, this fact is often overlooked. A colleague leading a large public entity once shared with me that he was summoned to a ministry with only an hour’s notice, without being informed of the meeting’s agenda.

He declined to attend, demanding proper notice and details of the discussion. He was bold.

I remember a similar experience when I was in the middle of a meeting and was urgently summoned to attend another one, with warnings of repercussions if I didn’t comply. When I arrived, I found that the meeting was entirely irrelevant to my role.

After half an hour, I decided to leave and return to my office to continue with the duties that I was primarily responsible and accountable for. The next article will highlight further the downside of regarding state-owned firms as departments within ministries as well as other prolonged approvals and their impact on performance.

Dr Muhsin Salim Masoud is a seasoned banker and academic, who has also served as managing director of the People’s Bank of Zanzibar and Amana Bank. .

Dar es Salaam. As the NBC Premier League enters its final five matches of the 2025/26 season, Young Africans (Yanga) goalkeeper Djigui Diarra has once again emerged as the leading contender in the clean-sheet race, reinforcing a growing trend in Tanzanian football where foreign goalkeepers continue to dominate the country’s top flight.

The Malian international currently tops the standings with 13 clean sheets, placing him on course to finish the season as the league’s best-performing goalkeeper and further highlighting the increasing influence of imported shot-stoppers in a competition where foreign keepers have consistently set the benchmark for defensive excellence. According to the latest clean-sheet rankings, Diarra has registered 13 clean sheets, ahead of Simba SC’s Mohamedou Kassaly of Niger with 12 and Azam FC’s Aishi Manula with 11. The top four places are occupied by foreign goalkeepers, with Rwanda’s Jean Noel of Tabora United sitting fourth on 10 clean sheets.

The trend is not new A look back at the 2024/25 season shows a similar pattern. Simba’s Guinea international Moussa Camara finished as the league’s best goalkeeper in terms of clean sheets with 19, while Diarra was second with 17. Tanzania’s Patrick Mntalai of Mashujaa was the highest-ranked local goalkeeper in third place with 12 clean sheets.

The numbers suggest that foreign goalkeepers have become increasingly influential in determining the fortunes of Tanzania’s leading clubs. In the current season, three of the top four clean-sheet leaders are foreigners.

Last season, the top two positions were also occupied by foreign shot-stoppers. The consistency of players such as Diarra, Camara and Kassaly demonstrates why clubs continue to invest in experienced goalkeepers from across the continent.

Diarra’s impact has been particularly remarkable. Since joining Yanga, the Malian international has transformed the club’s defensive stability and has remained one of the most reliable performers in the league.

His command of the penalty area, distribution and leadership have made him a key figure in Yanga’s pursuit of another league title. The clean-sheet race also mirrors the current league standings.

Yanga, Simba and Azam boast some of the strongest defensive records in the competition and occupy the top positions in the table. With Yanga and Simba locked in a fierce title battle and Azam maintaining pressure behind them, defensive solidity has proven just as important as attacking firepower.

Recent league statistics show Yanga and Simba among the teams with the fewest goals conceded this season. Another notable feature is that foreign goalkeepers are no longer confined to the traditional giants.

Jean Noel (Gabon) at TRA United (former Tabora United) and several other imported keepers at mid-table clubs have emerged among the league’s best performers, suggesting that teams increasingly view experienced foreign goalkeepers as a shortcut to defensive improvement. However, the data also shows that local goalkeepers remain competitive.

Manula continues to rank among the league’s elite despite fierce competition, while Zanzibar-born Zuberi Foba has maintained a strong presence for Azam. Goalkeepers such as Yona Amos (Pamba Jiji), Ramadhani Chalamanda (JKT Tanzania) and Mlussa Mbisa (Tanzania Prisons) have also demonstrated that Tanzanian talent remains capable of competing at the highest level.

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Lindi/Mtwara. Despite repeated government assurances over the years regarding the development of aquaculture centres, the reality on the ground, particularly at the Nyengedi project in Mtama District, Lindi Region, tells a very different story.

Presenting the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries’ revenue and expenditure estimates for the 2021/22 financial year in Parliament, the then docket’s minister, Mr Mashimba Ndaki, announced that the government had embarked on the rehabilitation, expansion and construction of aquaculture development centres, including Nyengedi. “Mr Speaker, the Ministry has continued with the rehabilitation, expansion and construction of aquaculture development centres to expand extension services and fish fingerling production.

The centres at Kingolwira, Mwamapuli, Nyengedi and Ruhila have commenced rehabilitation and expansion works for Sh802.3 million,” said Mr Ndaki. Three years later, during the 2024/25 financial year, the then Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Abdallah Ulega, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the facilities.

“Mr Speaker, during 2024/25, the Ministry will continue improving extension services and fingerling production through the management and operation of five aquaculture centres, Ruhila in Ruvuma, Kingolwira in Morogoro, Mwamapuli in Tabora, Machui in Tanga and Nyengedi in Lindi, to enable them to produce three million fingerlings,” Mr Ulega told Parliament. However, more than five years after the initial pledge, conditions at Nyengedi paint a stark contrast between official commitments and implementation.

A visit by The Citizen to the site found an abandoned facility, with two dilapidated ponds engulfed by weeds and overgrown grass. The area appears neglected and poses potential safety risks.

At the investment site, estimated to cover more than 10 acres, visitors are greeted not by signs of progress but by silence, broken only by wind rustling through thick vegetation that has overtaken almost every corner of the property. Residents warn that the area is home to highly venomous snakes.

The scene reflects total abandonment. Little suggests the site was once earmarked to become a major aquaculture investment centre and modern fish hatchery, repeatedly highlighted in government plans.

Amid the overgrown surroundings stands a deteriorating building. Sections of the roof have been damaged, while several iron sheets, doors and windows have been removed.

With no security in place, the structure has been left vulnerable to vandalism. Its faded walls are now covered with graffiti and other markings.

Residents say the area has become unsafe, particularly after dark or for those visiting alone. They allege it has turned into a hideout for criminal activity involving groups of young people seeking alternative sources of income.

According to residents, the building was constructed to coordinate project operations. Today, it stands as a symbol of unfulfilled promises, with no activity, no security and no indication of ongoing work.

Nearby, two ponds excavated during the project’s initial phase have become stagnant pools surrounded by thick vegetation. There is no sign of production or investment activity.

It appears work stopped abruptly and never resumed. Residents say even the security guard assigned to protect the facility eventually left after going for long periods without pay.

The contractor responsible for implementing the project also abandoned the site without explanation. Today, Nyengedi is no longer viewed as a beacon of economic opportunity.

Instead, it stands as a reminder of a stalled project that left behind shattered expectations and unanswered questions. Given its current condition, residents find it difficult to believe there was ever a serious plan to transform the area through government investment.

What remains is a shadow of what they were promised. The Citizen investigation found no evidence of development corresponding to either the pledges made or the funds reportedly allocated.

Meanwhile, residents who surrendered their land continue to wait for compensation. Information obtained in Lindi Region indicates that compensation assessments for affected residents required about Sh53 million.

However, only Sh21 million was made available, slowing implementation and leaving some residents unpaid to this day. Based on the Sh802.3 million allocation announced by Mr Ndaki for four projects, each project would have received an average of more than Sh200 million.

Residents argue that such funding would have been sufficient to settle compensation claims while still facilitating development at Nyengedi. According to government figures, the fisheries sector currently contributes about eight percent to the national gross domestic product (GDP), with a target of increasing that contribution to 10 percent by 2030. To realise that goal, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has developed strategies to promote aquaculture, including the construction and rehabilitation of strategic centres such as Nyengedi in Lindi Region and Ruvula in Mtwara Region.

The centres are regarded as key pillars in advancing the Blue Economy agenda, which seeks to ensure the sustainable use of aquatic resources to create employment, increase production and improve livelihoods. The Nyengedi project Located about 65 kilometres from Lindi Municipality in southern Tanzania, the Nyengedi Centre was expected to become a major hub for fish fingerling production and extension services across the southern zone while creating employment opportunities.

Instead, it remains mired in implementation challenges that continue to raise concerns about its future. In Nyengedi Village, within Nyengedi Ward in Mtama District, what was once viewed as a transformative investment project has become a story of frustration, uncertainty and prolonged waiting.

The proposed fish hatchery project, alongside plans to rehabilitate and expand the Nyengedi Aquaculture Development Centre, was initially welcomed as a potential catalyst for economic growth. It was expected to support fingerling production, promote freshwater fish farming and create jobs for young people across southern Tanzania.

More than a decade later, however, the project remains stalled without satisfactory explanations, while residents who surrendered their land have yet to receive full compensation. For many residents, what began as a vision of development has instead become a source of hardship.

Among those affected is Mr Ismail Mituka of Nyandeni Ward, who recalls surrendering his land in good faith after being assured the project would bring development and benefit local communities. How it started According to Mr Mituka, the project dates back to the early 2000s, when a foreign investor and a local partner arrived in the area seeking land for a fish-farming venture.

“They told us it was a major project that would bring development, create jobs and improve livelihoods. We voluntarily agreed to surrender our land,” he says.

He explains that the investor initially intended to compensate residents directly. However, the process was later halted by government authorities and transferred to the Mtama District Council.

Residents say that marked the beginning of the project’s troubles. Following an assessment, Mr Mituka was offered compensation that he believed was far below the value of his property.

“I had 1.4 acres planted with coconut trees, oil palms and other crops, but I was told I would receive only Sh210,000. That was completely unfair,” he says.

He rejected the payment, although some residents accepted it for fear of losing everything. Those who declined compensation later returned to their land and resumed farming for a time.

That situation proved temporary. Several years later, the government returned with plans to establish a regional aquaculture development centre through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.

Residents were again asked to surrender their land, this time with assurances that full compensation would be paid. “They told us this was a government project and that funds had already been secured.

We were only asked to wait for the process to be completed,” says Mr Mituka. According to him, a fresh assessment placed compensation requirements at about Sh53 million.

However, only Sh21 million was secured, causing delays from the outset. Despite the funding gap, construction commenced with the excavation of two ponds and the development of limited infrastructure.

To be continued tomorrow .

Dar es Salaam. A total of 246,197 students have been selected to join Form Five and technical colleges for the 2026 academic year, the government has announced.

The figure marks an increase from 214,141 students placed last year. The selected students comprise 114,102 girls and 132,095 boys, including 631 students with special needs.

Announcing the placements in Dar es Salaam, on Monday, May 1, 2026, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments), Prof Riziki Shemdoe, said 172,114 students, equivalent to 69.9 percent of the total, had been selected to join Form Five studies in both boarding and day secondary schools. Of these, 85,987 girls and 86,127 boys have been allocated places in 856 schools, including 825 boarding schools, 25 day schools, and six schools offering both day and boarding facilities.

The figure represents an increase from last year, when 188,787 students were admitted to Form Five in 812 schools. Prof Shemdoe said 1,548 high-performing students, comprising 762 girls and 786 boys, had been selected to join eight secondary schools designated for top achievers.

According to the placement list, 163,499 students have been assigned to boarding schools, while 7,067 have been placed in day schools. Meanwhile, 74,083 students, representing 30.1 percent of those selected, have been admitted to technical and vocational institutions.

The group includes 28,115 girls and 45,968 boys. Among them, 3,144 students have been selected to pursue programmes at four higher technical institutions: Arusha Technical College (ATC), Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), and the Water Management Development Institute (WMDI).

In addition, 2,330 students have been selected for diploma-level health training institutions, while 2,983 have secured places in diploma teacher-training colleges. Another 65,626 students have been admitted to institutions offering training in other professional fields.

Prof Shemdoe said the first term for Form Five students will begin on July 6, 2026, with reporting scheduled between July 4 and July 31, 2026. “Students selected for technical colleges will receive admission instructions directly from their respective institutions,” he said. The minister stressed that placements were made strictly based on academic performance and available spaces, meaning there would be no opportunity for school transfers due to limited capacity.

“Parents wishing to transfer their children to any of the eight schools designated for top-performing students should note that there is no room for transfers because all available places have been filled,” he said. Prof Shemdoe congratulated teachers, parents, and guardians for their contribution to students’ academic success and urged them to continue supporting learners throughout their education journey.

He also congratulated the selected students and encouraged them to work hard to qualify for higher education and advanced professional training after completing Form Six and technical college programmes. The minister further called on regional commissioners, district commissioners, and local government directors to accelerate the government’s plan to establish Form Five secondary schools in every division.

According to him, the initiative will help ensure that all students who pass the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) are able to continue with advanced-level studies. .

Football is no longer just a sport. It is now one of the most powerful media products in the world.

Across Africa, millions of people wake up thinking about football, argue about football throughout the day, and spend evenings glued to television screens, mobile phones, radios, and social media discussing football. Stadiums create emotion, but media transforms football into a billion-dollar industry.

The modern football league is not built only on players and coaches. It is built on cameras, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, headlines, digital clips, and nonstop content distribution.

In many ways, football without media would still be a sport but not the global business empire it is today. The English Premier League offers one of the clearest examples.

While the quality of football matters, the league’s global dominance is driven heavily by media packaging. Every match becomes content.

Every rivalry becomes a story. Every player becomes a brand.

Broadcasters, digital platforms, podcasts, influencers, and sports journalists collectively keep audiences emotionally connected even when matches are not being played. Football has mastered something many industries still struggle to achieve: constant audience engagement.

In Tanzania and across East Africa, this media influence is impossible to ignore. European football leagues dominate conversations, advertising, social trends, and viewing habits.

Fans know the latest transfer rumours in England faster than developments in their own domestic leagues. This is not simply because foreign football is better.

It is because foreign leagues understand the business of storytelling and media distribution at a much deeper level. Modern football leagues are media companies disguised as sports competitions.

This is where African football faces an important challenge. Many local leagues focus heavily on match organization but underestimate the power of media value creation.

A football league today cannot grow through fixtures alone. It grows through visibility, storytelling, personality building, digital engagement, and audience experience.

Fans no longer consume football only for 90 minutes. They consume football all week.

Unfortunately, many African leagues still operate with outdated media thinking. Coverage is often inconsistent, production quality remains weak, and digital engagement lacks strategy.

Some clubs still treat media as secondary rather than central to growth. Yet globally, media rights now generate more revenue than ticket sales for many major leagues.

This should be a wake-up call. Football audiences today are built digitally first.

If leagues fail to dominate digital conversations, they risk becoming invisible to the next generation. Social media, in particular, has changed the relationship between fans, clubs, and players.

Footballers are no longer controlled entirely by traditional media interviews or press conferences. Many now communicate directly with fans through personal platforms, building audiences independent of clubs and broadcasters.

In some cases, players themselves have become media brands larger than the teams they represent. This creates both opportunity and danger.

On one side, football becomes more accessible and engaging. On the other, sensationalism sometimes overtakes substance.

Headlines become more valuable than analysis. Controversy generates clicks faster than tactical discussion.

Football media increasingly competes not only for viewers, but for emotional reactions. Yet despite these challenges, football and media remain deeply dependent on each other.

Football provides emotional drama; media transforms that drama into commercial value. The bigger question for Africa is whether local leagues can learn from this model without losing authenticity.

There is enormous untapped potential in African football. The passion already exists.

Stadium rivalries are intense. Fan loyalty is powerful.

Talent is abundant. What is often missing is strategic media investment.

Local leagues must begin seeing themselves not only as sports competitions, but as entertainment ecosystems. African football does not necessarily need to imitate Europe completely.

In fact, authenticity could become its greatest strength. Local stories, community identity, cultural energy, and fan passion are assets global audiences increasingly appreciate.

The leagues that will grow in the future are not simply those with the best players. They will be the leagues that understand how to capture and sustain attention.

Because in modern football, winning no longer happens only on the pitch. It also happens on screens, timelines, headlines, and digital conversations.

The real battle today is not just for trophies. It is for audience attention and media owns a significant part of that game.

Angel Navuri is a Media, Partnerships and Growth Strategist .

Lindi. The government has acquired a 16 percent non-dilutable free carried interest in the Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project, strengthening state participation in one of Tanzania’s strategic mineral investments as required under the country’s mining laws.

The stake, formalised through agreements signed between the government and Lindi Jumbo Limited in Ruangwa District, will be held through a joint venture company, Ndovu Graphite Limited. Lindi Jumbo Limited will retain the remaining 84 percent.

The acquisition is significant because Tanzania’s mining legislation requires the government to hold a minimum free carried interest in large-scale mining projects, enabling citizens to benefit directly from the exploitation of natural resources through dividends, oversight and participation in key decisions. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Minerals minister Anthony Mavunde said the agreement reflected the government’s commitment to ensuring Tanzanians receive a fair share of benefits from the country’s mineral wealth while maintaining an attractive investment environment.

“The government continues to strengthen its participation in strategic mining projects while providing investors with a predictable and stable business environment,” he said. The project comes at a time when global demand for graphite is rising due to its use in electric vehicle batteries, energy storage systems and other clean energy technologies.

Tanzania is seeking to position itself as a key supplier of critical minerals required for the global energy transition. According to Mr Mavunde, the Lindi Jumbo deposit ranks among the world’s highest-grade graphite projects, with average ore reserves of 17.9 percent Total Graphitic Carbon (TGC).

The mine is expected to produce about 40,000 tonnes of graphite annually over an estimated 24-year lifespan. He said the government’s long-term objective is to encourage value addition and industrialisation by attracting investments in mineral processing and downstream industries linked to strategic minerals.

Lindi Jumbo director Andrew Cunningham said the project has evolved from exploration activities that began in 2015 into a producing mine serving international markets. He said the operation processed nearly 170,000 dry tonnes of ore in 2025 and produced 16,421 tonnes of graphite concentrate graded between 94 and 96 percent TGC.

Confirmed sales orders exceeded 27,800 tonnes during the same period. Mr Cunningham said the company spent Sh57.5 billion on local suppliers between 2024 and 2025, with 91 percent of procurement directed to Tanzanian businesses.

The company also contributed more than Sh11.3 billion in royalties, taxes and other statutory payments. The project and its contractors employ 280 workers, more than 95 percent of whom are Tanzanians, while over half come from communities surrounding the mine.

Presenting findings from the project’s feasibility study, Treasury Registrar representative Emmanuel Luvanda said development costs were estimated at $27.8 million. He said government revenue from royalties, taxes, fees and dividends over the mine’s projected life is expected to reach about $233 million, including an estimated $41.8 million in dividend payments arising from the state’s shareholding.

The project’s total production value over the 24-year period is estimated at about $816 million. .

Arusha. Tanzania’s newly elected members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have officially been sworn in after being elected by Parliament on May 4, 2026, in Dodoma.

The legislators took the oath of office before EALA Speaker, Mr Joseph Ntakirutimana, on Monday, June 1, 2026, at the East African Community (EAC) headquarters in Arusha during a hybrid sitting of the Assembly. Those sworn in were Mr Kosato Chumi, Mr Kambarage Wasira and Ms Fatuma Kange.

Tanzanian East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member, Kosato Chumi, speaking during an emergency parliamentary sitting in Arusha on June 1, 2026 They replace former EALA members, Mr Ngwaru Maghembe, Mr James Millya and Ms Angela Kizigha, who left the Assembly after being elected Tanzania Members of Parliament. Ms Kizigha was later appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan as Presidential Advisor on Social Affairs.

The EAC Secretary General, Mr Stephen Mbundi, was also sworn in as a member of the Assembly in accordance with EALA rules. Besides elected legislators, ministers responsible for EAC affairs in partner states, the Secretary General and the EAC Counsel serve as ex-officio members of the Assembly.

In his remarks, Mr Mbundi said EALA plays a critical role in ensuring accountability within the Community and pledged to work closely with the Assembly in fulfilling its mandate. “I will work closely with you, Honourable Speaker, and all honourable members to fulfil our responsibilities in accordance with the law, guidelines and directives of the EAC Council of Ministers,” he said.

The sitting, which was conducted virtually with only a few members physically present in the Assembly chamber, experienced technical difficulties after microphones malfunctioned, delaying proceedings. As a result, the Secretary General waited for about 10 minutes before taking the oath.

The newly sworn-in members thanked the Tanzania government for entrusting them with the responsibility of representing the country and working alongside lawmakers from the EAC’s eight partner states in lawmaking and oversight of community affairs. East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member, Fatuma Abdallah Kange, taking the oath during an emergency sitting held in Arusha on June 1, 2026 Meanwhile, Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and Uganda’s Minister responsible for East African Community Affairs, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, presented the Community’s budget estimates for the 2026/27 financial year amounting to $110.9 million.

The EAC Council of Ministers approved the budget during its 60th extraordinary meeting to finance the operations of the Community’s organs and institutions. The largest allocation, amounting to $59.7 million, has been earmarked for the EAC Secretariat, which coordinates implementation of the Community’s programmes and projects.

This represents a slight increase compared with the 2025/26 financial year. East African Community (EAC) Secretary General, Ambassador Stephen Mbundi, taking the oath during a parliamentary sitting held in Arusha on June 1, 2026 EALA has been allocated $19 million, slightly lower than last year’s budget, while the remaining funds will be distributed among other organs and institutions of the Community.

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Arusha. Construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has surpassed 81 percent, with project officials saying the venture is not only nearing completion but is also creating opportunities for young Tanzanians in the energy sector.

The update was provided during the Fourth University Students Conference in Arusha, where more than 200 students met industry leaders to discuss careers and skills required in the oil and gas industry. The 1,443-kilometre pipeline, which will transport crude oil from Uganda’s Hoima oil fields to the Port of Tanga, began construction in 2022 and is expected to be completed next year ahead of planned oil transportation in 2027. Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) director of Planning and Investment, Derick Moshi, said the project was more than 81 percent complete and preparations were also underway for the construction of an oil refinery in Tanga.

“The project is now more than 81 percent complete, and we expect it to be finished next year,” he said. Mr Moshi said EACOP had created more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs since construction began, while helping build local skills across the energy value chain.

EACOP Director of Operations Paul Hiegel said the student conference was intended to help young people understand developments in the industry and prepare for emerging opportunities. “We recognise that young people are the workforce of today and tomorrow.

We want them to understand the opportunities available and prepare themselves for the sector,” he said. EACOP’s Director of Human Resources and Services and Acting Tanzania Manager, Geofrey Mponda, said 8,856 workers had been employed on the Tanzanian section of the project as of Saturday.

He said 90 percent of the workforce were Tanzanians, most of them young people. The conference was organised by EACOP and its lead shareholder, TotalEnergies, as part of a programme aimed at preparing young Tanzanians for opportunities in the energy sector.

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Dar es Salaam. The music industry has been thrown into mourning after a fire yesterday gutted recording and film production studios belonging to HighTable Sound Entertainment, owned by Bongo Fleva artist Barnaba Classic.

The fire broke out in Kijichi, Dar es Salaam, at around 8.30 pm, shortly after Barnaba had returned to the city from Arusha.

According to the artist, he had visited the studios briefly after arriving before heading home. Minutes later, he received an emergency call informing him that a major fire had broken out at the facility.

“My heart is broken. I have cried deeply.

I am weak. Our headquarters has been reduced to ashes,” said the artiste, expressing his distress over the loss.

The damage is considered significant, coming barely two weeks after the studios had undergone costly renovations. The facility is a key hub for music production and employs several young people under HighTable Sound Entertainment.

Despite the loss, Barnaba thanked God, as well as the Fire and Rescue Force, police, and nearby residents who rushed to the scene to help contain the blaze. He said this was not the time to assign blame, but rather to confront the setback and rebuild.

Following the incident, Barnaba announced the suspension of all scheduled activities, including a press conference set for today at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam. The launch of his new film, Siri Yangu ya Kikulacho, literally means, My Betraying Secret, has also been postponed until further notice.

Fans and stakeholders in the music industry have continued to send messages of sympathy and encouragement, rallying behind the artist as he comes to terms with the loss of a major creative and financial investment. .

Dar es Salaam. Amsons Group director Salim Baabde has been elected chairman of the Tanzania Association of Oil Marketing Companies (TAOMAC), taking over leadership of the petroleum industry lobby group at a time when operators are grappling with supply chain pressures, regulatory demands and shifting market dynamics.

Mr Baabde was elected during TAOMAC’s 26th Annual General Meeting in Dar es Salaam on May 29, succeeding TotalEnergies Tanzania managing director Mamadou Ngom, who completed his term of office. Oryx Energies managing director Imani Mtafya was elected vice chairman.

The new leadership assumes office as the petroleum sector continues to play a critical role in Tanzania’s economy, supplying fuel for transport, power generation, manufacturing and other productive sectors. The industry has in recent years faced challenges linked to global fuel price volatility, foreign exchange pressures and the need to maintain reliable fuel supplies.

In a statement, TAOMAC said the newly elected Board of Governors was expected to steer the association through one of the most demanding periods for the industry. “This election comes at a time when the industry is facing unprecedented challenges.

The new board is expected to guide the organisation through one of the most turbulent periods in its history,” the association said. Mr Baabde brings experience from the association’s leadership, having served as vice chairman and as a member of the outgoing Board of Governors.

The annual meeting drew companies representing more than 97 percent of Tanzania’s petroleum import market, highlighting TAOMAC’s influence in industry policy discussions and engagement with government regulators. Members also approved the association’s 2026 budget and elected a 10-member Board of Governors.

Most board members retained their seats, while three new companies joined the board: GM and Company, Mansoor Industries Limited (MOIL) and Petroafrica Tanzania Limited. TAOMAC said MOIL and Petroafrica had previously served on the board between 2020 and 2024, while GM and Company secured representation for the first time.

Newly elected members of the Tanzania Association of Oil Marketing Companies (TAOMAC) Board. The association noted that the new board reflects the diversity of Tanzania’s petroleum industry, bringing together companies operating through the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara, as well as multinational, regional and local firms.

TAOMAC represents oil marketing companies operating in Tanzania and serves as a key platform for industry coordination, policy advocacy and engagement with government agencies on fuel supply, regulation and market development. The association plays an important role in discussions on petroleum imports, storage, distribution and pricing, making its leadership significant for a sector that remains central to Tanzania’s economic growth and energy security.

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