Category: The Citizen

I have long tracked the nationwide debate sparked by public-private partnership (PPP) policies in Tanzania’s water sector, and I have long observed that this discussion has moved far beyond the technical scope of infrastructure financing to develop into an ideological dispute over the future roles of the state, the market, and public service delivery. Idrissa Kwekweita, a political commentator who published work on the Sauti ya Ujamaa platform, put forward the core argument of the opposing camp, claiming that the PPP model currently being rolled out is nothing more than a disguised form of privatisation for the water sector.

The public grievances underpinning these criticisms are fully justified: Tanzanian residents’ anger at long-standing flaws in local water institutions, including operational inefficiency, pipe network leakage, insufficient service coverage, and a lack of accountability mechanisms, is entirely well-founded. However, I must raise a core, reality-centred question: if the PPP model is rejected completely, where will the massive funds needed to upgrade Tanzania’s already decaying water infrastructure come from? In my view, Tanzania’s current water crisis is fundamentally structural rather than an issue reducible to an ideological label.

Data from Tanzania’s official 20152020 water sector report corroborates this: over the same period, only 11 percent of the country’s water sector funding came from government fiscal budgets, while the remaining 89 percent relied entirely on donors and international development partners. To clear up misunderstandings, I will address the opposing camp’s two core criticisms one by one.

First is the oversimplified claim that “PPP equals privatisation.” Under Tanzania’s current legal framework, the state permanently retains ownership of core infrastructure in the water sector, and maintains statutory authority to regulate water prices and oversee all stages of service delivery.

Second is the widespread concern that “private capital will only focus on profitable urban areas and ignore poor communities.” In fact, across four major global infrastructure sectors- electric power, telecommunications, transportation, and banking- a common universal logic is widely adopted: revenue from mature, profitable service hubs is used to support the expansion of services to less developed regions, and the applicability of this logic leaves space for further in-depth discussion.

Can states design sound institutional frameworks that leverage mature market forces to subsidise the expansion of water services to underserved communities? Our core argument is that a modern, well-regulated Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework is precisely the key pathway to address this question: it can resolve Tanzania’s current water development dilemma and refute criticisms opposing the entry of private capital into the water sector. First, in response to the counterclaim that “existing public water systems shield low-income residents from prohibitive water costs”, we dismantle this assertion using empirical data from official Tanzanian government reports.

Currently, urban households spend an average of Sh5,000 per day to purchase water from informal water vendors, while rural households spend Sh2,000 per day for unreliable access to water. The price of water from existing public systems is 46 percent below actual operating costs, a gap that has directly led to long-term underinvestment and ageing infrastructure.

Nationwide, 43 percent of treated freshwater is lost to leaks, illegal connections, and other issues, totalling nearly Sh2 trillion in losses over seven years. This translates to annual economic losses of roughly $2.4 billion, accounting for 3.

2 percent of Tanzania’s GDP. Citizens also spend nearly 1 billion hours each year coping with water supply shortages.

The country’s water use breakdown is 85 percent for agriculture, nine percent for domestic use, and one percent for industrial use. Tanzania has 29.4 million hectares of land suitable for irrigation, but only 727,280 hectares had been developed as of 2022. The government’s 2028 development target is to exceed 1.

6 million hectares, a core development goal tied to national food security and industrialisation that is impossible to meet relying solely on public funding. The crises of Bolivia’s “Water War” and Argentine social unrest cited by critics stemmed from weak regulation, flawed contracts, political instability, and governance failures, not from private capital itself.

Well-regulated PPP models implemented across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Latin America have delivered outcomes, including expanded service coverage, reduced water leakage, and improved service quality. In fact, private capital is already deeply embedded in Tanzania’s core economic sectors, including banking, mining, telecommunications, energy, and manufacturing.

The core challenge for the country’s water sector has never been whether to introduce private capital, but how to establish a compliant, standardised PPP framework. Can Tanzania build institutions strong enough to ensure that capital serves the country’s long-term transformation rather than becoming a tool for private actors to pursue narrow self-interest? To achieve this goal, reliance must be placed on transparency, accountability, regulation, and political discipline, not merely emotional slogans.

David Kafulila, a guest speaker at a previous policy forum, argued that “PPPs are not free lunch”, which highlights the core reality of related debates: all infrastructure construction, modernisation, and development come with costs. Tanzania must choose between the traditional state-led model, which is struggling to bear the pressure of rising demand and ageing infrastructure, or a new smart, accountable system that can unlock investment while protecting public interests.

The real challenge has never been rejecting capital, but preparing to regulate and manage capital wisely. Dr Bravious Kahyoza is an economist and World Bank-certified PPP expert .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is stepping up efforts to strengthen oral healthcare amid growing concern over rising cases of preventable dental diseases linked to changing lifestyles, sugar consumption and poor oral hygiene practices.

The renewed focus emerged during the second Tanzania Dental Expo (TDE), which brought together policymakers, dental professionals and international experts to discuss prevention, technology and innovation in oral healthcare. The event also marked a milestone for Tanzania’s dental sector following the visit of Prof Nikolai Sharkov, President of the FDI World Dental Federation, becoming the first FDI president to visit the country.

Speaking during the event, Prof Sharkov said oral health should no longer be treated as a separate or cosmetic issue, warning that oral diseases are increasingly linked to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and other non-communicable illnesses. “Prevention remains the most important strategy.

Countries should prioritise preventing oral diseases through public awareness, healthier lifestyles and stronger oral healthcare systems,” he said. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), oral diseases affect nearly 3.

5 billion people globally, with untreated tooth decay ranking among the world’s most common health conditions. Tanzania continues to face similar challenges despite gradual expansion of oral healthcare services.

The Ministry of Health’s Fifth National Oral Health Survey released in 2020 showed that 76.5 percent of adults aged 30 years and above had experienced dental caries, with tooth extraction remaining the most common form of treatment. Health experts attribute the trend to excessive sugar consumption, limited awareness and poor oral hygiene habits.

Assistant Director of Oral Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Baraka Nzobo, warned that widespread misuse of fluoride toothpaste was also contributing to oral health problems, particularly among children. He explained that children below six years require toothpaste with lower fluoride concentrations of around 1,000 parts per million (PPM), while adults and older children require between 1,450 and 1,500 PPM.

“The toothpaste is not a cosmetic product. It is medicine and dosage matters according to age,” Dr Nzobo said.

Organisers of the expo said one of the key goals was to improve public awareness while exposing Tanzanian professionals to modern technologies and treatment methods. President of the Tanzania Dental Association (TDA), Dr Gema Berege, said rapid changes in science and technology require dental professionals to continuously update their skills and knowledge.

Experts noted that simple behavioural changes, including reducing sugar intake and promoting proper brushing habits, could significantly lower the country’s burden of oral diseases. .

Arusha. Communications regulators from East African Community (EAC) member states are developing new regional rules aimed at reducing mobile roaming charges, improving cross-border connectivity and supporting the bloc’s growing digital economy.

The proposed framework seeks to enhance connectivity across borders, making communication easier and more affordable for travellers, businesses and investors operating across East Africa. Officials from communications regulatory authorities across the region met in Dar es Salaam to review the proposal, which focuses on harmonising pricing structures, strengthening consumer protection measures and aligning operational standards among member states.

Following a technical review, the draft framework is expected to be submitted to the EAC Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications and Meteorology for consideration and formal adoption. The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the EAC to deepen economic integration, facilitate regional trade and accelerate the expansion of digital services under the bloc’s emerging Single Digital Market agenda.

Opening the policy meeting, EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, said affordable and reliable digital connectivity had become a strategic driver of trade, investment and regional integration. “Affordable, seamless and reliable cross-border communication is no longer simply a telecommunications issue; it is a practical requirement for the realisation of the EAC Common Market and the emerging Single Digital Market,” said Mr Malueth.

He noted that the proposed framework seeks to strengthen regulatory coordination and deliver practical solutions that improve how citizens, businesses and travellers experience regional integration in their daily lives. “The new framework aims to introduce cost-based roaming tariffs while ensuring affordable access to voice, SMS and mobile data services, which are increasingly critical for e-commerce, logistics, financial services and digital trade,” he said.

“It also proposes stronger consumer protection measures to guard against unfair billing practices, unexpected roaming surcharges and service disruptions, while promoting greater transparency in cross-border mobile services.” The meeting brought together regulators, technical experts, regional organisations and development partners, including representatives from the World Bank, as East African governments continue investing in broadband infrastructure and digital transformation programmes.

Technical experts, regional organisations and development partners during the meeting. Speaking on behalf of Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) Director General Eng Peter Mwasalyanda, Director of Licensing and Compliance John Wallace Daffa said Tanzania remains committed to advancing regional digital integration and competition within the communications sector.

Mr Daffa said Tanzania currently has five mobile network operators competing in the market, adding that previous roaming reforms had already demonstrated the benefits of lowering communication barriers across the region. “Roaming is no longer considered a luxury.

It is aligned with the EAC vision of free movement of people, goods and services, and reducing the cost of doing business,” he said. He said the proposed framework also seeks to strengthen cooperation among regulators on compliance monitoring, quality-of-service standards, dispute resolution, interoperability, fraud prevention and traffic management.

An Arusha resident, Gift Mlacha, said lower roaming charges could unlock new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, cross-border traders, transport operators and tourists by reducing communication costs and improving access to digital services. The East African Community comprises eight member states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

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Geita. Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Geita, Flavian Kassala, has called on parents and guardians across the country to uphold their responsibilities in raising and supervising children fairly, warning against discrimination in child upbringing.

Bishop Kassala made the remarks on May 29, 2026, in Chato District, Chato, during a funeral mass for the late mother of former President John Magufuli, John Magufuli, Mrs Sussana Ngolo Mussa. He said that, in the wake of economic and technological advancement, society is increasingly facing moral and social risks, including some people opting not to have children, while others abandon children after birth.

“There are now risks in our society. Some people do not want to have children, and if you look closely, not all children without care are orphans.

Some are born and then abandoned, and others are left on their first day of life. That is why orphanages continue to increase,” he said.

The Bishop further stressed that although science allows for safe termination of pregnancy, the act remains a violation of children’s rights before birth and goes against God’s will. He urged parents to recognise that every child’s destiny is in God’s hands, adding that there should be no discrimination in the way children are raised.

The funeral mass was led by the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza, Renatus Nkwande, assisted by Bishop Kassala, Bishop of Bunda Simon Masondole, alongside other clergy. Vice-President Emmanuel Nchimbi led the national delegation of mourners, which included former Vice-President Philip Mpango, former Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, former Deputy Prime Minister Doto Biteko, and former Speaker of Parliament Tulia Ackson, among other senior government leaders.

Reading the family history on behalf of the Magufuli family, Marko Magufuli said Mrs Sussana Ngolo Mussa was born on June 1, 1936, in Matale Ng’ombe village, Misungwi District, Mwanza, as the only child in her family. He noted that she later received basic education that enabled her to read and write.

In 1954, she married Joseph Magufuli, and in 1958, the marriage was formalised in Sungusila village, Geita. During her lifetime, she was blessed with 15 children, eight girls and seven boys and was known for her strong work ethic, engaging in farming and supporting a large household of 38 people, which shaped her children’s discipline and diligence, including the late President Magufuli.

Mrs Sussana began experiencing serious health challenges in 2018, including stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and had been receiving treatment at various hospitals, including the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, Muhimbili National Hospital, and Bugando Medical Centre. Her condition reportedly changed on the morning of May 25, 2026, when she was taken to Chato District Hospital.

Although she initially improved and was discharged, her condition deteriorated later that evening, and she passed away at 7:40pm. She is survived by eight children, four daughters and four sons, 77 grandchildren, 125 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

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A fusion of fashion, music, and sustainability is set to take over Alliance Franaaise de Dar es Salaam this Friday as Style Swap returns for its fifth edition with a bold new collaboration alongside Undarground. The event, dubbed “Style Swap x Undarground,” promises an evening where circular fashion meets nightlife culture, transforming the dancefloor into a space for creativity, self-expression, and conscious consumption.

Scheduled for May 29, the event invites fashion lovers, music enthusiasts, and sustainability advocates to explore a new way of engaging with style. In one playful post inspired by singer Mariah Carey’s famous phrase, one attendee writes, “It’s tiiiimmmeeee,” before revealing excitement over the event’s fashion section where guests will be able to pick funky outfits directly at the venue.

Among the creatives bringing their vision to the event is Kwa Mzungu, a Dar es Salaam-based fashion brand known for blending vintage aesthetics, local culture, and bold self-expression. Founded by designer Lisa-Marie, the brand has built a distinct identity through statement pieces that combine timeless influences with contemporary street style.

“Fashion should feel free, expressive, and personal,” says Lisa-Marie. “I love creating pieces that allow people to feel confident while embracing their individuality without limits.

” While denim remains central to many of her creations, the designer also experiments with fabrics such as kitenge, cotton, and linen, reflecting a fusion of global inspiration and Tanzanian creativity. “Vintage fashion has character,” she says.

“You can take something pre-loved and completely transform it into something fresh, bold, and full of energy.” Her inclusion in Style Swap x Undarground aligns naturally with the event’s focus on creativity, sustainability, and personal style.

Known for reimagining vintage and pre-loved fashion into expressive looks, the designer brings an energy that matches the event’s dancefloor-driven atmosphere where music, movement, and fashion intersect. The concept behind Style Swap builds on the growing global shift toward circular fashion, a movement encouraging the reuse, redesign, and repurposing of clothing to reduce waste and overconsumption.

Previous editions in Dar es Salaam focus on clothing exchanges, upcycling, and community-driven fashion culture, encouraging participants to trade garments instead of buying new ones. Organisers say this fifth edition marks a new chapter for the platform.

“We are bringing something fresh to the clothing racks by teaming up with Undarground for a night built around bold self-expression, fashion, and music.” The event goes beyond fashion and music alone.

“Alongside the swap, we are excited to showcase a new wave of designers bringing fresh aesthetics and pieces made specifically for movement and nightlife. ,” There will also be a jewellery-making workshop using recycled materials by Africraft, live painting, a mending station, and curated dancefloor-ready racks.

. For Dar es Salaam’s emerging creative community, Style Swap x Undarground reflects a wider movement where sustainability, nightlife, and artistic experimentation are beginning to intersect.

Instead of fast fashion and disposable trends, the event encourages a more thoughtful and expressive approach to dressing, one designed not only for appearance but also for community, rhythm, and reinvention. .

Dar es Salaam. Fintech NALA, founded by Tanzanian entrepreneur Benjamin Fernandes, has secured $50 million in credit financing to expand its global reach.

The financing is from Liquidity and MUFG-backed Mars Growth Capital. The facility starts with a $25 million tranche, with an option to scale to $50 million, to support global expansion, product development and cross-border payments infrastructure.

NALA’s founder and CEO, Benjamin, said the funding will strengthen liquidity for real-time payments and expand its corridors across Africa and Asia, while it continues to hold more than 50% of its 2024 $40 million equity round, avoiding dilution. NALA added that it remains in a strong capital position, still holding more than 50 per cent of the funds raised in its 2024 $40 million equity round.

It said this allows the new credit facility to be deployed without further dilution to existing shareholders. “The financing from Liquidity validates our vision of building the definitive stablecoin payments infrastructure for the long term,” said Mr Fernandes.

He said the company’s rapid growth had, at times, outpaced its ability to pre-fund cross-border payments. “We grew faster than we could handle pre-funding for single direction payments and everything broke,” he said.

“Liquidity came in quickly and were highly flexible. This is a lifeline for us.

It provides the cash required for NALA to pre-fund customer accounts and unlock our next phase of growth.” Liquidity said the facility was designed following detailed analysis of NALA’s operational model, including its stablecoin-based payment rails and real-time settlement infrastructure.

“Our team structured a facility that accounts for NALA’s compliant stablecoin rails, real-time cross-border payments and rapid growth in emerging market corridors,” said Paul Brodie, global head of investments at Liquidity. He said the firm conducted extensive scenario-based stress testing before structuring a tailored financing solution aligned with NALA’s scaling requirements.

Justin Langen, director at Liquidity, said the financing was structured to adapt to the company’s growing transaction volumes and expanding geographical footprint. “We worked closely with management to co-develop a tailored credit solution rather than relying on an off-the-shelf approach,” he said.

NALA has recorded rising demand for its business-to-business stablecoin payment services over the past year, particularly from enterprise clients seeking faster cross-border settlement solutions. The company said the new funding will enable it to pre-fund larger enterprise accounts and support contracts expected to go live in 2026. NALA operates a consumer payments application alongside Rafiki, its business-to-business payments infrastructure API, which provides access to more than 249 banks and 26 mobile money services across 16 countries.

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Job cuts have made things in newsrooms most difficult, with surviving scribblers mostly left to their own devices–or AI–to sort out goofs we’re all susceptible to. Since it’s hard for one to proofread one’s own work, we should all brace ourselves for harder times ahead.

Scribblers will, now and then, be exposed to ridicule, not because their mastery of English is bad, but because of constrained gate-keeping. Which is why we’ve to be excused for repeating this perennial advice of ours: Before you hand over your work to the next person in the production chain, read, and read, and read it again.

Having thus lectured (bah!), we’ll now proceed to do what this column is essentially all about, namely, sharing linguistic gems collected over the week. Here we go The Thursday, May 21 edition of Bongo’s huge and colourful broadsheet has a story on Page 3 entitled, ‘RC office photographer killed, 7 injured in Shinyanga road crash.

‘ Now, in Para 5, the scribbler writes: “According to the police commanderthe accident was caused by negligence on the part of the Toyota Harrier driver who was driving from Shinyanga to Tinde at high speed before ON HEAD collision with the press vehicle.” On head collision? No way! When vehicles crash against each other “face-to-face,” we call that a HEAD-ON collision.

Yes; not “on head” collision! Page 4 is coloured by a photo whose caption reads, “Musoma District Commissioner Juma Chikoka makes remarks at a MEETING of the Musoma Municipal Council MEETING held on Tuesday” Using the word “meeting” twice was unnecessary. Let’s offer a rewrite that’ll get rid of one: “Musoma DC Juma Chikoka makes remarks during a Musoma Municipal Council MEETING held on Tuesday” Page 9 is carrying two feature stories, one of which has a headline that reads, ‘Teacher-student relations are decisive in promoting EDUCATIONAL.

‘ What we’ve on this headline is, we aver, a case of absent-mindedness on the part of the gatekeeper who handled the article. Why? Because it is unlikely he doesn’t know the word “educational” is an adjective, not a noun, which is to say, it can’t end a sentence the way it has.

We aver he meant to write, “promoting EDUCATION.” Now let’s look at a story appearing on Page 2 of Bongo’s senior-most broadsheet of Saturday, May 23, whose headline reads, ‘National IDs centralised, MPs told.

‘ In this one, the scribbler, purporting to report on what the Home Affairs minister said, writes the following: “He said this while responding to a basic question by Mtoni MPwho wanted to know when the Government would begin printing national identity cards in Zanzibar SIMILAR to passports to improve accessibility.” When you say “printing national identity cards in Zanzibar SIMILAR to passports” is like saying there’s a need to print national IDs in Zanzibar that will look almost exactly like passports.

However, what the MP actually said is that there’s a need to print national IDS in Zanzibar, JUST LIKE authorities are currently printing passports there. Finally, a look at Page 15 of the esteemed broadsheet.

Here, there’s a story entitled, ‘What to expect from TACEC 2026.’ To the uninformed, by the way, TACEC is the acronym for Tanzania Annual Customer Experience event, whose 2026 edition is scheduled to take place on July 3. In the last-para-but 3, the scribbler writes: “However, the demographic breakdown of the respondents reveals that overper cent of the respondents were AGED between 18 TO 40 years old (sic!) with males constituting 52 per cent” Hello! We don’t say “between this TO that;” we say “between this AND that.

” Ah, this treacherous language called English! .

Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has launched a new digital environmental monitoring platform, the Tanzania Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (TOCEMS), aimed at strengthening the country’s efforts to combat environmental pollution.

The system, developed by the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), was unveiled during celebrations marking the council’s 40th anniversary since its establishment in 1986. The event, held in Dar es Salaam, brought together government leaders, environmental experts, development partners and private sector stakeholders involved in environmental conservation. Dr Nchemba acknowledged that tackling environmental pollution remains a major challenge, but pledged full government support to strengthen NEMC’s capacity to enforce environmental laws and regulations effectively.

“I will personally ensure that NEMC becomes a stronger authority capable of taking firm action against environmental polluters,” he said. He also commended NEMC for its four decades of commitment to environmental protection, stressing that safeguarding the environment is essential for the survival of both humanity and other living species.

“A clean and safe environment is not optional. Without it, human beings and other species face serious risks of extinction,” he said.

Dr Nchemba warned that environmental degradation is no longer a distant threat but a reality already affecting communities across the country. “In the past, many people viewed environmental destruction as merely a theory, but today we are witnessing its real consequences.

Climate change and environmental degradation are realities that must not be taken lightly,” he said. He cited uncontrolled tree cutting, desertification, water shortages and declining rainfall as some of the visible impacts of environmental destruction.

“People cut down trees unnecessarily, leading to desertification, water scarcity and reduced rainfall. At the same time, competition for land use continues to increase due to rapid population growth and expanding economic activities,” he said.

He stressed the need for Tanzanians to adopt sustainable lifestyles and embrace environmental conservation measures before the situation worsens. “If we fail to change now, circumstances will eventually force us to change,” he warned.

The Prime Minister also revealed that the government, under President Hassan, has increased the agriculture budget more than fivefold to promote irrigation farming and reduce forest destruction caused by uncontrolled agricultural expansion. He noted that Tanzania’s population is projected to exceed 100 million within the next 30 years, making it necessary to strengthen environmental institutions such as NEMC to cope with increasing pressure on natural resources.

“NEMC must be empowered and strengthened to improve efficiency in environmental management as human activities continue to expand,” he said. He urged NEMC to intensify environmental education campaigns at family and community levels to raise public awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.

The celebrations also featured exhibitions showcasing various environmental initiatives and innovations. .

Dodoma. Tanzania has recorded concrete progress in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse following intensified nationwide enforcement operations and strengthened regulatory measures.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs and Coordination), Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, told journalists in Dodoma on May 29, 2026, that the country’s anti-narcotics drive delivered measurable results in 2025 through enhanced implementation of national strategies aimed at reducing the supply and demand for illicit drugs, mitigating their social and health impacts, and strengthening cooperation at national, regional and international levels. He said authorities seized a total of 1,074.72 tonnes of narcotic drugs during operations conducted across various regions in 2025. The haul included 1,014.06 tonnes of cannabis, 26.36 tonnes of khat, 3.

20 tonnes of skunk cannabis and 29.52 tonnes of kratom, a newly identified psychoactive substance derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant. Prof Kabudi noted that although cannabis remained the most commonly seized drug, the volume confiscated fell by 55.97 per cent compared with 2024. He attributed the decline to the destruction of cannabis plantations in 2024, tighter enforcement measures, and expanded public awareness campaigns targeting cultivation communities.

He further disclosed that authorities intercepted a new narcotic substance, kratom, in Dar es Salaam, where 29.52 tonnes were seized after being imported disguised as fertiliser. Subsequent investigations confirmed the substance was a controlled narcotic.

Seizures of khat increased by 42.88 per cent compared with 2024, a rise the minister linked to strengthened surveillance and enforcement, particularly along border points and established trafficking routes. The government also stepped up inspections at customs checkpoints, transport terminals, courier services, and firms handling precursor chemicals and controlled medicines to prevent diversion into illicit markets.

As a result, authorities seized 31.76 tonnes and 183.5 litres of precursor chemicals, alongside 2.36 kilograms and 160 millilitres of controlled medicines.

On enforcement, Prof Kabudi said 1,124 drug-related cases were filed in courts in 2025, while 1,373 cases were concluded, with the State securing convictions in 1,058 cases. He added that assets worth more than Sh3.3 billion linked to drug offences were confiscated.

Beyond enforcement, the government expanded treatment and rehabilitation services for people affected by drug dependence. A total of 85,425 individuals received treatment through mental health units in regional and zonal referral hospitals, methadone-assisted treatment clinics, and sober houses nationwide in 2025. Public education campaigns were also intensified through community outreach programmes, schools, and media platforms, reaching an estimated 25 million people during the year.

Kabudi said Tanzania had strengthened cooperation with local and international partners through intelligence sharing, capacity building, and joint operations targeting trafficking networks. He said the government would continue working with stakeholders to eliminate drug trafficking and abuse, commending institutions involved in enforcement and rehabilitation efforts, and stressing that coordinated action remains central to sustained results.

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Dar es Salaam. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Tanzania has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with nine higher learning institutions aimed at strengthening graduate employability, practical skills development, innovation, and career readiness among young people across the country.

The agreements, signed on May 28, 2026 in Dar es Salaam, formalise and expand collaboration between UNDP Tanzania and the institutions through student-focused programmes, innovation initiatives, strategic dialogue, and enhanced institutional engagement. Speaking during the signing ceremony, UNDP Tanzania Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to preparing young people for an increasingly dynamic and competitive global environment.

“The transition from university into the world beyond should not be left to chance. Young people should graduate not only with a degree, but with exposure, experience, and a clearer sense of direction,” he said.

He added that the partnership establishes a long-term framework designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and labour market realities, while strengthening pathways for young people to transition into employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles. The collaboration will be implemented under the UNDP Young Talent Development Programme, which brings together universities, development partners, and private sector actors to promote career readiness, mentorship, innovation, and practical learning opportunities for students and recent graduates.

The partner institutions include the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), the University of Dodoma (UDOM), Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA), Arusha Technical College (ATC), St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST). Through the agreement, UNDP Tanzania and the participating institutions will jointly implement career development initiatives, competency-based learning, mentorship programmes, innovation and entrepreneurship support, applied research, and enhanced engagement with employers and development partners.

The initiative also includes structured activities such as skills development workshops, internships, fellowships, innovation challenges, guest lectures, and professional networking opportunities for students and graduates. It further seeks to position higher learning institutions as active contributors to Tanzania’s development agenda through innovation, research, youth leadership, and practical solutions to national challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the participating institutions, Deputy Rector for Academic, Research and Consultancy at the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA), Grace Temba, said the collaboration marks a significant step towards strengthening links between universities and real-world opportunities. “As universities, we provide academic knowledge, but partnerships like this help connect students to practical experience, mentorship, and wider opportunities.

Those connections are vital in preparing young people for the future,” she said. According to available data, Tanzania produces nearly 60,000 graduates annually.

However, many continue to face challenges in transitioning into the labour market, largely due to mismatches between academic training and workplace demands, as well as limited direct linkages between universities and employers. .