Category: The Citizen

For years, cash has been at the centre of everyday transactions in Zanzibar. From paying for a bus ride and buying food at a neighbourhood shop to settling bills and sending money to family, notes and coins have remained a familiar part of daily life. But a quiet shift is taking place.

Increasingly, some of those transactions are moving from physical cash to mobile phones, digital wallets and smart cards, bringing cashless payments closer to the everyday routines of ordinary consumers.

One of the clearest examples is now visible on Zanzibar’s roads, where the newly introduced electric bus service has brought with it a payment experience significantly different from the traditional daladala journey.

Instead of handing money to a conductor, passengers using the ZanBus electric buses pay through smart cards integrated with the Mixx by Yas digital payment platform. A passenger boards, taps or presents a card, the fare is deducted and the journey continues.

The new system is also becoming a real-life test of how quickly consumers can adapt to a cashless way of paying for an essential daily service.

The electric buses began commercial operations on August 1, 2026, following the launch of the first fleet of 15 buses.

The wider public transport project is expected to expand significantly, making the payment system an important part of Zanzibar’s broader transport and digital transformation agenda.

A different way to pay for the journey

Under the current fare structure, regular passengers on the new electric buses pay Sh700 per journey, while students and senior citizens aged 70 and above pay Sh350, or half the regular fare. The initial electric bus routes include Malindi-Buyu and Malindi-Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.

‘On the first day, it was challenging to use the system or where to get the cards but as time goes on, passengers are learning from one another, while I and the bus drivers are guiding the passengers,’ said electric bus conductor Rajab Mohammed.

While the technology for cashless payments is already available, consumers are still learning how to incorporate it into their routines.

The first phase consists of 15 electric buses, but Zanzibar’s ambitions extend far beyond that initial fleet.

Mobile money initially became popular largely because it offered a convenient alternative to physically carrying cash or travelling to a bank to send money to another person.

The next stage of digital finance is increasingly about direct payments for goods and services.

Unguja resident Maryam Abdallah shared how the change has affected her own household.

‘Since the services started, I cannot recall giving cash to my four children who use these buses daily to and from school,’ she said.

For small traders, restaurants, shops and other service providers, accepting digital payments can provide an alternative to handling cash throughout the day.

For financial service providers, growing digital activity can create opportunities to develop services around payments, savings, merchant solutions and other financial products.

‘We are proud to work with the government, institutions and the private sector to facilitate digital payments for a range of services that directly affect people’s daily lives,’ Mixx by Yas said in a comment to the development in Zanzibar.

The projects include parking payments under the Stone Town Municipal Authority, payments to clove farmers through the Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC), as well as the payment of traffic fines.

The firm said Mixx has also enabled the Kikoba savings service in partnership with the Department of Cooperative Development, SOS Children’s Villages, Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation, as well as various civil society and community-based organisations.

‘These projects demonstrate how Mixx is going beyond payment services to build a broader digital financial services ecosystem that makes people’s lives easier, enhances transparency and the efficiency of collections, and brings more people into formal financial services,’ it said in a statement, adding that Zanzibar’s journey to digital economy is growing rapidly.

‘We see Zanzibar moving more rapidly towards a digital economy over the next five to 10 years. Mobile payments will continue to evolve from being an alternative means of payment to becoming an integral part of everyday life-from transport and commerce to government services, tourism, healthcare, education and financial services.’

‘At Mixx, we believe this future will be built through systems that connect citizens, businesses, government institutions and the private sector within a single digital payments ecosystem.

The goal is not simply to facilitate payments, but to create an environment where every citizen and business, including those that have not been fully reached by banking services, can easily access and use financial services.’

A new technology developed by a young Tanzanian innovator is helping smallholder farmers in Manyara Region make planting faster, more precise and potentially more productive.

The innovation offers a homegrown solution to some of the challenges that have increasingly been driving farmers to look beyond traditional methods.

Dubbed; SmartShamba Multi-Crop Planter, developed by young Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) graduate Ibrahim Meshack, the technology was among the exceptional showcased during the National Education, Skills and Innovation Week in Tanga.

Mr Meshack became among the five innovators selected for commercialization support from the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH).

At its core, SmartShamba is designed to address one of the most important stages of crop production: getting seeds into the ground accurately, on time and at the right spacing.

‘Our main goal is to increase crop production and enable farmers to increase their income. That is why we have continued to improve this machine so that it can operate efficiently, reduce planting time and reach more farmers,’ Mr Meshack told The Citizen.

The planter is designed to place seeds at uniform spacing and depth, helping improve germination and crop establishment. It can be used with Guta two-wheel tractors (power tillers), which are already widely used by smallholder farmers.

Its design also allows it to operate on sloping, uneven and moderately rough terrain, according to the product profile.

That matters in a country where access to large tractors remains beyond the reach of many small-scale farmers.

Mr Meshack said the machine has already moved beyond the prototype stage. ‘It has been tested on more than 50 acres and, since 2025, has been used to plant more than 150 acres. It can plant an acre in about 30 minutes, compared with roughly one and a half hours using a tractor under the conventional arrangement.’

The cost advantage is also significant. Mr Meshack estimates the cost of planting with SmartShamba at about Sh35,000 an acre, compared with over Sh60,000 using a tractor. He, however, is careful not to attribute higher yields to the machine alone.

Seed quality, rainfall, soil conditions, fertiliser and general farm management all influence production. In one trial cited by the innovator, a field planted with SmartShamba produced an average of 25 bags, while an area planted traditionally produced about eight bags under similar conditions.

According to experts, agriculture remains central to livelihoods, food security and the wider economy. Yet increasing productivity will require more than expanding cultivated land.

Farmers will need technologies that reduce production costs, improve efficiency and make better use of available inputs.

SmartShamba illustrates how that transition can begin from a problem identified on the farm rather than from technology looking for a problem to solve.

COSTECH’s support is intended to help innovations such as SmartShamba move along the difficult path from prototype to commercial product. Of 261 applicants for the programme, 34 reached the pitching stage and 12 passed it, with five ultimately selected for support. The assistance includes grants and technical support aimed at helping the innovations develop commercially.

COSTECH Director General Amos Nungu has repeatedly stressed the importance of taking innovations beyond ideas and into applications and markets.

‘Our role is to support innovators through incubation, capacity building and links with the private sector,’ he said, adding that the government’s current initiatives were also placing greater emphasis on turning youth innovations into companies, jobs and economic value.

That commercialisation pathway could be particularly important for agricultural technologies, said an Agritech expert, Ms Agness Mbowe. ‘An innovation can demonstrate that it works, but its wider impact depends on whether it can be produced at scale, sold at an affordable price, maintained locally and supported with the inputs farmers need.’

Meshack says there is already demand for SmartShamba, but increasing production remains a challenge.

‘We already have customers who need this product and we expect to continue selling to them as production increases. Our goal is to ensure SmartShamba reaches more farmers and helps increase their production,’ he said.

He also points to seed availability as another challenge. This highlights a broader reality: technology can solve one part of the agricultural value chain, but its full benefits depend on the strength of the wider system.

The Mainland Tanzania Premier League resumes today with two round four matches, as Simba seek to maintain their perfect start to the 2026/2027 campaign when they face struggling Coastal Union at Major General Isamuhyo Stadium.

The Msimbazi Street giants will kick off at 7pm, shortly after Mashujaa host Kagera Sugar at Lake Tanganyika Stadium in a 4pm encounter. The two matches present contrasting battles, with Simba looking to strengthen their position at the top while Coastal Union and Kagera Sugar fight to move away from the lower reaches of the table.

Simba go into the match in second place with nine points from three matches, having won all their games. Young Africans lead the table on the same number of points but have a superior goal difference of plus nine, compared with Simba’s plus four.

The Reds have also been efficient rather than spectacular, scoring six goals and conceding two. Their campaign began with a 2-0 victory over Kagera Sugar before they followed it with a 2-1 win against Pamba Jiji and another 2-1 success away to Singida Black Stars.

A fourth consecutive victory would therefore take Simba to 12 points and put further pressure on Yanga, who currently enjoy the advantage in goal difference. More importantly, it would underline Simba’s early title credentials under coach Steve Barker.

Barker has already stressed the importance of collecting maximum points if Simba are to remain among the leading sides.

‘Our goal is to get a lot of points in these games. We want to win our games and that will give us a good chance. This is a good start for us and we have to continue to build from here,’ said Barker.

The coach, however, will expect greater discipline from his players after three Simba players have been sent off in their opening three league matches.

David ‘Duchu’ Kameta was dismissed against Kagera Sugar, Ibraheem Jabaar saw red against Pamba Jiji, while Anthony Mligo became the third player to be sent off in the 2-1 victory over Singida Black Stars.

Coastal Union arrive in Dar es Salaam under pressure. They have collected just one point from three matches, leaving them 14th with a minus-four goal difference. They have conceded six goals while scoring only two.

The gulf in early-season form makes Simba favourites on paper, but Coastal Union’s position could make them particularly dangerous. A positive result would provide a significant lift to a side already struggling for consistency.

The recent head-to-head record also favours Simba, who have four wins and one draw in the last five meetings. Earlier at Lake Tanganyika Stadium, Mashujaa, ninth with three points, will meet Kagera Sugar, who sit 15th with one point. Mashujaa have won once and lost twice, while Kagera have drawn once and lost twice.

The wider table shows an early battle forming behind the leading pair. Azam and Polisi Tanzania have seven points each, while Geita Gold and Mbeya City have six.

With only three matches played by most teams, the standings remain tightly packed, meaning every point gained or dropped could quickly alter the picture. For Simba, however, the immediate objective is straightforward: beat Coastal Union, move to 12 points and keep the pressure on Yanga at the summit.

Patients suffering from prostate problems, kidney and bladder conditions, urinary tract diseases and severe erectile dysfunction will have an opportunity to access specialist treatment at cost-effective rates during a four-day urology camp.

The camp, scheduled for September 3 to 6, aims to reach about 300 patients and will bring together specialists from Aga Khan Hospital and Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad, India, in collaboration with Turlink Medical Tourism Agency.

A major focus of the camp will be new treatment options for men with enlarged prostates, using technologies known as Rezum water vapour therapy and Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP).

Both procedures are minimally invasive and are designed to treat prostate enlargement while allowing patients to recover more quickly, with recovery typically taking from a few days to about a week, depending on the individual and the procedure.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Aga Khan Hospital urologist Dr Husam Uddin said the camp would cater for patients with a range of urological conditions, including kidney and bladder diseases, urinary stones, male reproductive health problems, erectile dysfunction and some paediatric urology cases.

‘Globally, prostate cancer is a major health concern, particularly among men aged 50 and above. About two in every five men are affected, yet many tend to ignore the warning signs.

This camp will therefore provide an important opportunity for Tanzanians to access specialist treatment at an affordable cost,’ he said.

Doctors will also assess men suffering from severe erectile dysfunction, particularly those who have not responded to medication and may require penile implants.

He said particular attention would be given to prostate enlargement, a condition that can make it difficult for men to pass urine and may interfere with their daily lives.

One of the new treatment options to be offered is Rezum, a minimally invasive procedure that uses controlled water vapour to treat enlarged prostate tissue.

‘The treatment is minimally invasive and can be suitable for patients with moderately enlarged prostates.The body gradually absorbs the treated tissue, which can help relieve the patient’s symptoms, ‘he said.

For men with larger prostates, specialists will assess whether HoLEP, a laser-based procedure, is appropriate.

While Rezum uses steam to treat and reduce enlarged prostate tissue, HoLEP uses a laser to remove obstructing prostate tissue, helping improve the flow of urine.

Turlink Medical Tourism Agency managing director Dr Fumagwa Hassan, said the initiative was aimed at bringing specialised treatment closer to Tanzanian patients who might otherwise have to travel abroad.

‘Many patients travel abroad to look for these services, and that comes with significant costs,’ he said. ‘We thought it was important to bring some of these technologies closer to the people who need them, he said.

According to him, patients would only have to pay consultation fees, if found with prostate will only be required at the usual price the procedures and those with health insurance are allowed to use their coverage.

He said patients from Dodoma, Arusha, Mwanza and other parts of the country could travel to Dar es Salaam for specialist care instead of travelling long distances outside Tanzania.

Dr Hassan, said the initiative aims to support Tanzania’s ambition of becoming a medical tourism destination for patients from across the region. He said the camp was expected to attract patients from neighbouring countries, including Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia and Malawi.

A specialist in urology and male reproductive health at Aga Khan, Dr Isaac Mawala, said men should not ignore urinary problems or simply assume that they were an unavoidable part of ageing.

‘Some of these conditions can be treated, and the right treatment depends on the patient and the nature of the problem,’ he said.

Dr Mawala said Rezum could provide selected patients with an alternative to more invasive prostate surgery, while laser treatment would be considered for patients whose condition required it after specialist assessment.

I urge people interested in the camp to register before September 3 at Aga Khan Hospital or at the Turlink Medical Tourism Agency offices at Harbour Plaza, Posta Mpya, Dar es Salaam.

Passenger transport by bicycle is losing popularity in Tanga as the growing use of motorcycle taxis, commonly known as bodaboda, continues to reshape the city’s transport sector.

The decline marks a significant shift for a city where bicycle taxis were once a common means of transport, particularly before motorcycle taxis became widespread. Athuman Idd, a bicycle taxi operator in Tanga, said about 20 years ago the business had many operators and provided a reliable source of income.

However, he said the number of customers had declined as more passengers turned to motorcycle taxis. He said bicycle transport was once profitable because operators did not need to spend money on fuel, relying instead on their physical strength to transport passengers and goods.

According to Mr Idd, cyclists who were physically fit could carry passengers and heavy loads and earn enough to support their livelihoods.

However, he said some young people had abandoned the business after becoming involved in alcohol and drug abuse, which affected their ability to work and carry passengers or heavy loads.

‘Alcohol and drug abuse have also contributed to the decline of this business,’ he said.

Passenger Muhina Omari said she still preferred bicycle taxis because they were relatively affordable compared with some other forms of transport.

However, she said the business had been affected by the rapid increase in motorcycle taxis, which have become the preferred choice for many passengers because they get them to their destinations faster. Mechanics also affected

Bicycle mechanic Mustakimu Mussa said the decline in bicycle transport had also affected his business.

He said before the sector began to decline, he could repair more than 15 bicycles a day, but he now repairs about four. Mr Mussa, who started repairing bicycles in 2001, said the decline was largely due to reduced use of bicycles, particularly for passenger transport.

He recalled a time when Anita bicycles were popular and there were numerous bicycle taxi stands across the city.

‘Those stands have disappeared. In the past, when you reached Barabara ya Kumi, you could find four or five stands. At Kumi na Tatu, there were three or four, while Ngamiani had six or seven. But motorcycles have taken over. Every young person wants to move forward in life,’ he said.

Despite the decline, Mr Mussa said bicycles still had a place in society, including among people who use them for exercise.

However, he said passengers increasingly wanted to reach their destinations quickly, making motorcycles more attractive because of their speed.

Bicycle sellers feel the pinch

Rasuli Yusuph, who has operated a bicycle shop for more than 20 years, said the business had also become increasingly difficult as motorcycle use expanded.

He said he previously sold five or more bicycles a day, but now he may sell just one or, on some days, none at all. ‘Business has become very difficult compared with the past. This is due to the increase in motorcycles, as people now see motorcycles as more useful than bicycles,’ he said.

Mr Yusuph said the shift could change the history of transport in Tanga, a city that has long been associated with bicycle transport.

The experiences of bicycle operators, mechanics and traders point to a broader transformation in Tanga’s transport sector, with the rapid growth of motorcycle taxis reducing the role bicycles once played in moving passengers and goods across the city.

Australia’s online safety regulator has secured a legally enforceable undertaking from Roblox to strengthen protections for children after testing found that adults could still contact young users without parental consent.

The Australian eSafety Commissioner said its testing earlier this year identified gaps in Roblox’s safety systems, including allowing adults to send connection requests to children under 16 without the consent of a parent or carer. Children and adults could also view and respond to each other’s posts on forums outside gaming environments.

The regulator also found that children’s connections, profiles and biographical information, including account names, connections and avatar images, could be visible to other users on the platform.

The findings have renewed concerns over the potential for online grooming, sexual exploitation and abuse, prompting Roblox to commit to additional safeguards under the court-enforceable undertaking.

Under the new requirements, Roblox must introduce measures to prevent adults from contacting unknown children under 16 without parental or carer consent and ensure children’s accounts are private by default.

The company must also improve its reporting systems so users can easily report harmful content and receive notification of the outcome of their complaints. An independent third-party auditor will assess the effectiveness of Roblox’s safety measures, including its age-estimation technology.

Roblox has three months to implement the measures. If it fails to meet the commitments, the eSafety Commissioner may apply to the Federal Court for orders requiring the company to comply.

The action comes after prolonged engagement between the regulator and Roblox over child safety concerns. In September 2025, Roblox had already committed to making accounts belonging to users under 16 private by default and introducing measures to prevent adults from contacting children without parental consent.

However, eSafety said subsequent testing showed that gaps remained despite the measures Roblox had introduced.

The regulator said Roblox is the second-most popular game among children in Australia, with national research estimating that about 1.7 million Australian children use the platform.

The developments also highlight the need for parents and carers to remain actively involved in children’s online activities. eSafety advises families to use parental controls while also helping children develop safe online habits, noting that no parental control tool is completely effective.

The latest measures are expected to provide greater protection for young users, although their effectiveness will become clearer after Roblox completes the required changes and the independent assessment of its safety systems.

A growing generational battle between Generation Z and Millennials is moving beyond social media into everyday life in Tanzania, with the two groups developing different views about success, money, relationships and patience.

Millennials are those born between 1981 and 1996, while Generation Z, commonly known as Gen Z, comprises people born between 1997 and 2012. The two generations have come of age in markedly different social, economic and technological environments, shaping distinct attitudes towards work, relationships, money and personal success.

Gen Z increasingly embraces speed and immediate opportunities, while Millennials tend to value gradual progress, endurance and long-term commitment.

For many Gen Zs, the idea that success must take years is difficult to accept. Their digital upbringing has exposed them to opportunities unavailable to previous generations.

For 24-year-old content creator and online entrepreneur Edson Kyoma, popularly known as Eddy Vibes, waiting for traditional opportunities is no longer the only way to build a future.

“We have grown up seeing that you do not have to wait for someone to give you an opportunity. If you have an idea, a phone and the skills, you can start something today,” he said.

He said the same thinking influences relationships.

“Gen Z does not believe you should remain with someone just because you have already spent years together. If we are not compatible, I would rather leave than spend more years trying to force something that does not work,” he said. That approach is viewed differently by Millennials. For 38-year-old Millennial entrepreneur Ms Saida Hamisi, success cannot be measured by how quickly someone appears to achieve something.

“Life has stages. You cannot build something strong by always looking for the fastest way. Some things require time, experience and sacrifice,” she said.

She said relationships also require patience and compromise.

“People are not perfect. If every time you have a disagreement you decide that the relationship is over, you will spend your life moving from one person to another. You have to learn patience,” she said.

However, some Gen Zs argue that young people should date early to gain experience. Millennials are more likely to argue that relationships should come at the right stage of life, when an individual has sufficient emotional and financial maturity.

A sociologist from the University of Dar es Salaam, Ms Faudhia Mfaume, said the changing attitudes should be understood within wider social and economic changes. “Every generation grows up under different economic and social circumstances. What young people consider possible today is influenced by technology, education, employment opportunities and the environment around them,” she said.

“If young people reject everything associated with previous generations and older people dismiss everything coming from young people, society loses an opportunity to combine experience with innovation,” she said.

For his part, SAUT sociologist Mr Alfani Mduge said social media has accelerated changes in social attitudes and expectations.

“Social media has changed how people see themselves and how they measure success. Young people are constantly exposed to other people’s achievements, and this can create the feeling that they must achieve similar things immediately,” he said.

Another SAUT sociologist Ms Linah Kabula, said the differences should not automatically be interpreted as a breakdown of social values.

“Generational differences are normal because every generation develops its own way of understanding society. The challenge comes when those differences create conflict instead of dialogue,” she said.

She added: “People compare their lives to unrealistic standards online, which increases feelings of inadequacy.”

Digging deeper, Clinical psychologist from Bugando Medical Centre, Dr Kelvin Kiberiti, said changing relationship expectations could affect emotional wellbeing if people failed to develop conflict-management skills.

‘When we see it as a very normal thing, it is quite different from what we see. When stress is prolonged without support, it affects emotional stability and daily functioning. We might see these young people viewing others as enemies, which is not right,’ he said.

With similar sentiments, another clinical psychologist from Muhimbili National Hospital, Dr Isaac Lema, said both generations need better emotional understanding.

“People need to understand that relationships involve challenges, disagreements and adjustment. At the same time, patience should not mean remaining in situations that are harmful,” he said.

Arusha Airport has begun operating around the clock following the installation and inspection of a modern runway lighting system.

The move opens up new opportunities for tourism, business, and investment across northern Tanzania.

The development ends years of restrictions on night flights at the airfield, which previously closed at 6 pm due to a lack of lighting required for aircraft to land and take off safely after dark.

Arusha Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla confirmed the start of 24-hour operations on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after inspecting the newly installed lighting system.

‘I am satisfied that the lights are working properly. Our airport is safe and ready for use,’ said Mr Makalla.

He noted that extended operating hours would give airlines greater flexibility in scheduling flights while making travel more convenient for tourists, business travellers, and other passengers arriving outside former operating hours.

The move is expected to provide a major boost to tourism, with Arusha serving as a key gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, which includes Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Mr Makalla said the new operating hours would attract more visitors and strengthen the city’s economy by improving regional access.

‘This step will increase tourism and contribute to Arusha’s economic growth. It will also reduce the inconvenience caused by cancelled or delayed flights when travellers arrive after normal hours, as aircraft can now land both day and night,’ he said.

Beyond tourism, 24-hour operations will benefit hotels, tour operators, transport companies, restaurants, and other businesses dependent on visitor flow.

The regional commissioner added that the improvements form part of preparations for Arusha to host major international events, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Extended hours will allow delegates and fans to use Arusha Airport throughout the day and night, reducing reliance on peak daytime schedules.

Arusha Airport manager, Mr Edgar Mwankuga, said the facility had been handling a growing volume of passengers, particularly during peak tourism seasons, making 24-hour capacity essential.

The rollout follows a government investment of approximately Sh11 billion to upgrade the infrastructure and expand capacity.

Mr Mwankuga said the investment included extending the runway from 1.64 kilometres to 1.84 kilometres, enabling the facility to accommodate larger aircraft, such as the ATR 72 and Bombardier Q400.

The aircraft-parking apron has also been expanded to approximately 15,000 square metres, alongside terminal improvements to streamline passenger flow.

‘The completion of the lighting project means airlines can now schedule flights beyond previous limits, improving connectivity between Arusha and other domestic and regional destinations,’ he said.

‘For the tourism sector, the change is particularly significant, as visitors arriving in the evening will no longer have to wait until the following day to reach the region by air,’ added Mwankunga.

The gambling industry spends enormous sums chasing novelty, yet its steadiest earner is a wheel designed in eighteenth century France. Roulette has outlived every fashion in the business, and the reason is not nostalgia. It is accounting.

Understood as a product rather than a pastime, roulette has a set of commercial properties that almost nothing else in entertainment can match, and the move online has only sharpened them.

A margin you can set your watch to

Every bet on a roulette table faces the same built-in margin, created by the gap between the payout odds and the true number of pockets on the wheel. On a European wheel that margin is about 2.7 percent of everything staked, spin after spin, forever. Compare that with sports betting, where one unlucky weekend can genuinely cost an operator money, or with jackpot games, where one win rearranges a month’s accounts.

Roulette revenue is boring, and in finance boring is the highest compliment. It is the fixed-deposit of the gaming floor: a small, certain percentage that compounds with volume.

Going online removed the cost floor

A physical roulette table is expensive to run. It occupies premium floor space, needs staff across every operating hour, and serves perhaps a dozen players at a time. A digital table has none of those constraints.

One certified game can serve thousands of players simultaneously, around the clock, at a marginal cost close to zero. The margin per bet did not change when roulette went online.

The volume that margin applies to exploded, and the overhead underneath it collapsed. Few legacy products anywhere have made that transition so cleanly.

Variants are price points, not new games

The modern twist is segmentation. Operators now offer the same wheel at different speeds and volatilities: quick-fire formats for players who want more rounds per hour, multiplier versions that trade steady payouts for occasional large ones, single-zero tables for the price-conscious. It is the strategy of an airline selling one flight in four fare classes.

A mid-sized market shows this at retail level: anyone browsing online roulette in NZ through Christchurch Casino’s platform will find roughly fifteen distinct takes on the game in one catalogue, from classic European layouts to speed and multiplier formats. Same wheel, carefully differentiated shelf.

A product that travels lighter than any casino

The other commercial property worth noting is portability. A physical casino is a real estate project measured in years and millions; a digital roulette catalogue reaches a new audience the moment the platform does, in any language, on any phone. That is why the online segment has become the growth story of the wider industry.

It is the same distribution economics that reshaped music, film and retail, a shift Guardian business coverage has followed through sector after sector. Demand follows smartphones, and the product carries no freight: no wheel to ship, no floor to build, no croupier to train.

For a game whose economics were already attractive, frictionless distribution is the multiplier that turned a table into an industry.

The player’s side of the same ledger

For the customer, the arithmetic that makes roulette dependable for operators carries a plain message: over time, the margin works against the player, modestly but relentlessly. That is not a scandal, it is the price of the entertainment, the same way a cinema ticket is the price of a film. The sensible response follows directly.

Choose single-zero tables, since the price there is lowest. Treat the budget as spending, decided before the first spin, not as an investment. And ignore any system promising to beat the wheel, because the margin that guarantees the operator’s revenue is precisely the thing no betting pattern can remove.

The industry’s most dependable product is dependable for exactly one side of the table, and knowing which side you are on is the whole game.

All runners taking part in this year’s Zanzibar International Marathon will receive insurance cover from Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC), providing protection against injuries, death and disability during the event.

The insurance cover will apply to all registered participants competing at Maisara Stadium on September 20, 2026, at no additional cost to runners.

ZIC Managing Director Jape Ussi Khamis said the company had partnered with the marathon organisers to strengthen participants’ safety while supporting sports tourism and economic development.

Speaking on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during the handover of the insurance policy in Unguja, Mr Khamis said the sponsorship would also help promote Tanzania and Zanzibar internationally by attracting visitors through sports tourism.

‘Unlike previous years, every registered runner will automatically receive insurance cover. There is no additional process or cost because the cover is included in the registration system,’ he said.

The policy covers incidents that may occur during the race, including death, injury and disability.

Mr Khamis said ZIC would also cover medical treatment for runners who experience health problems during the event, from the competition venue to hospital care.

‘If a runner completes the race with a health problem, they will not have to go to hospital and pay for treatment themselves as happened in the past. ZIC has already covered the runners, providing support from the venue through to hospital services,’ he said.

Zanzibar International Marathon Chairman Hassan Mussa Ibrahim said the insurance would cover both local and international participants.

He said the 2026 event would feature 5km, 10km and 21km races, while organisers had begun discussions to introduce a 42km marathon from next year.

Mr Ibrahim called on other institutions to follow ZIC’s example by supporting initiatives that directly benefit communities and contribute to development.

He said the marathon organisers would also promote ZIC’s insurance products while encouraging Tanzanians to develop a culture of taking insurance cover against unexpected risks.

The partnership places runners’ safety at the centre of this year’s Zanzibar International Marathon while supporting efforts to promote healthy lifestyles, sports tourism and economic activity.