Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Young swimming talents from across the country are set to light up Dar es Salaam during the 10th Tanzania National Junior Championship 2026, a prestigious competition aimed at nurturing the next generation of aquatic stars.

The two-day championship will take place from June 6 to 7 at the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Masaki, bringing together junior swimmers from different regions in a celebration of talent, discipline and sportsmanship. Organised by the Tanzania Swimming Association in collaboration with Africa Aquatics and World Aquatics, the event is expected to attract hundreds of participants, coaches and supporters eager to witness the country’s rising stars in action.

According to organisers, the championship has become one of the most important platforms for identifying and developing young swimmers capable of representing Tanzania at regional and international levels. “This championship is more than just a competition.

It is an opportunity to inspire young athletes, build confidence and strengthen the future of swimming in Tanzania,” said one of the event coordinators ahead of the tournament. Participants will compete in various swimming disciplines and age categories, with organisers promising exciting races, strong competition and memorable performances throughout the event.

The championship will also provide young athletes with exposure to professional standards in swimming while encouraging teamwork, dedication and healthy competition among participants from different clubs and schools. Parents, sports stakeholders and swimming enthusiasts have been encouraged to attend and support the event as Tanzania continues investing in youth sports development.

Over the years, the Tanzania National Junior Championship has produced several swimmers who have gone on to compete in major regional competitions, highlighting the tournament’s growing importance in the country’s sporting calendar. With excitement building ahead of the competition, all eyes will now turn to IST Masaki as the nation’s future champions prepare to dive into action and make history in the pool.

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Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, swore in nine newly appointed judges of the Court of Appeal of Tanzania, urging them to uphold justice, professionalism and the independence of the Judiciary.

The swearing-in ceremony, held at the State House in Dar es Salaam, marked the completion of the recent appointments to the country’s highest court. Speaking shortly after administering the oath of office, President Hassan said the judges had earned the appointments through distinguished service within the Judiciary and called on them to serve the country with integrity and patriotism.

“Go and serve the country with patriotism, wisdom and without bias, affection or hatred in delivering your judgments,” she said. “You carry a great responsibility in ensuring justice is served and that the rights of citizens are protected.

” President Hassan said the delivery of justice was a divine responsibility and stressed that strengthening the Judiciary would improve public confidence and efficiency in the justice system. “Your appointment is aimed at increasing the capacity of those entrusted with administering justice,” she said.

She further urged the judges to safeguard the dignity and independence of the courts while maintaining professionalism and efficiency in their duties. “Your decisions must put humanity first, the nation first and the country first,” she emphasised.

The judges sworn in were Justice Imani Aboud, Justice Rabia Mohamed, Justice Dr Yose Mlyambina, Justice Immaculata Banzi, Justice Cyprian Mkeha, Justice Yohane Masara, Justice Dr Juliana Masabo, Justice Abdi Kagomba and Justice Mzee Ibrahim. The ceremony was attended by senior government leaders, including Vice-President Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, as well as officials from the Judiciary.

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Globally, social media is credited for substantively changing the course of affairs. Humanity has grown to accept and pattern its life around the ultra-dynamic fabric enabled by the fast and functional global interconnectedness through social media.

As such, while social media is a tool for building personal bonds among family and friends, it plays a role in the large scale integration of people as well as expression of their socio-political opinions, at all societal levels. Political opinions flood social media today, as it is too many, a safer and quicker avenue to express how they feel and what they envision in relation to the public affairs and politics.

In social media public opinion is built by evidence-based consensus. When an injustice is published on social media, it influences how the collective response of people who access social media will be towards whoever is responsible.

Ideally, for interest of safety in online spaces, participation in social media is regulated to ensure that all users are real, verifiable, and safe, and the platform is not misused under cover of privacy. However, browsing through Tanzania’s popular social media accounts such as those of social and political commentators, influencers and political actors, one immediately notices comments by fake accounts, or human-operated “bots.

” These bots replicate their political opinion all over these comment spaces. These comments are repeated such that sometimes a fake account has over 20 repeated comments on one post, hence flooding the comment sections to suffocate normal comments.

They do this mostly for posts of leaders, especially when there are many people who express dissatisfaction and disagreement in those spaces. In normal circumstances, comments from real people are linked to real accounts that have a sense of permanence and identity, with at least evidence of continued use and a community around them, or things they like, etc.

But the uniqueness of this new downpour is that these fake accounts are often publicly tagged “new,” with very few followers (less than 20), and linked to a bunch of similar accounts. This online tug of war between normal people and anonymous keyboard warriors behind fake accounts that are pro X party leave more questions than answers because of the unnatural desperation, especially for the latter, who are oftentimes also pouring insults and even unimaginable threats.

The very existence of these accounts, and the silence of regulatory authorities on the same, validates a conclusion that our socio-political life needs an overhaul. In posts that ask critical questions, these fake accounts pour repeated comments in praise of their leader, and the importance of protecting “peace” in the country.

Same accounts are used to publish extremely negative comments: threats, harassment, insults, and abuses against critics. Similar accounts also take sides of certain religions, attempting to make political problems to be religious ones and instigating a religious conflict.

Same accounts have been used to manipulate the closure of accounts of critics by mass-reporting, or what experts call ‘brigading,’ which is a kind of cyberbullying. The questions remain: ‘Why are the questions asked by the critics not answered?’, and secondly: ‘Who is the beneficiary of this commotion in public online spaces?’ As a regular internet user, the human-operated “bots” disaster appears to me as engineered; given the patterns.

Most likely the purpose is to disrupt the trend of critical socio-political maturation that happens via the social media, especially among young people. But again, ‘No one is master of the obvious.

‘ The current generation of young people ought to remember that freedom in different countries around the world was brought about by young people, through the quality of their opinion, and engagement in politics with genuine intentions to serve their country. It is a shameful defeat of a generation, if in an age where 75 per cent of the population are below the age of 35, young people are still being bought for political canvasing for peanuts, an evidence of which is the self-sabotage by young people who choose a side different from that which genuinely pursues justice.

Young people ought to have a mind of their own, and not to be puppets that are manipulated for little shameful money. While it is obvious that the human-operated loyalist bots are run by young people, who are jobless, and accept such a shameful task as a job, against the dream of a just society that fellow young people are fighting for, the matter of who is engineering it is open for personal deliberation based on the sides of those bots, and it is beyond the reach of this discourse.

Nonetheless, the huge sums of money spent to silence whistle-blowers, to manipulate media, and to block free expression of political opinions could be diverted to gathering such bits of opinion and working on them. But the latter is not the case.

It is time those in public service answer questions by facts, and not by unfounded political opinions on the obvious. The whole fiasco of human-operated bots siding anonymously with the ruling circles is not because there is so much to admire, but because there is a desire to hide things.

This dead-on-arrival defensive move is directly linked with injustices that every normal person is mourning about, and which should be addressed responsibly, before we reach a chaotic state of no return. .

Dar es Salaam. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and competition for jobs intensifies globally, graduates entering the labour market are being urged not to rely solely on academic certificates, but to develop creativity, integrity and problem-solving skills that can help them thrive in a rapidly changing economy.

The message featured prominently during the University of Dar es Salaam’s (UDSM) 56th graduation ceremony held on Monday, May 25, 2026, where university leaders challenged graduates to view education not merely as a pathway to employment, but as a tool for transforming society and contributing to national development. The remarks come at a time when Tanzania, like many countries, is grappling with a growing number of university graduates entering a labour market unable to absorb all of them into formal employment.

As a result, policymakers, educators and employers are increasingly calling for graduates capable of creating opportunities for themselves and others through innovation, entrepreneurship and the effective use of technology. Speaking during the ceremony, UDSM Vice-Chancellor William Anangisye said higher education must be accompanied by a strong sense of social responsibility.

Prof Anangisye said a total of 878 graduates completed studies at various academic levels, with women accounting for 42.7 percent of the graduating class. He said 9.

4 percent of the graduates attained doctoral degrees, while 60.6 percent completed master’s programmes, with the remainder graduating at undergraduate and diploma levels. “Use the education you have received to benefit Tanzanians and our nation.

Education is not a personal ornament. It is a responsibility, a duty and a debt owed to society,” he told the graduates.

Drawing inspiration from the philosophy of Tanzania’s founding president, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Prof Anangisye reminded graduates that those fortunate enough to receive higher education have an obligation to use their knowledge in service of others. His remarks reflect a longstanding national debate on the purpose of education.

Since independence, Tanzania has championed education as a tool for social transformation rather than individual advancement alone. However, changing economic realities and rising youth unemployment have prompted renewed calls for universities to produce graduates with practical and entrepreneurial skills alongside academic knowledge.

Prof Anangisye said the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan continues to invest in higher education, skills development and university infrastructure to equip young people for active participation in national development. He cautioned graduates against becoming discouraged if formal employment opportunities do not materialise immediately after graduation.

“Do not sit and wait for employment alone. Let your education help you think critically, solve problems and create new opportunities,” he said.

He noted that sectors such as entrepreneurship, agriculture, trade, research and the digital economy offer significant opportunities for graduates willing to innovate and apply their knowledge creatively. The vice-chancellor also urged graduates to serve as ambassadors of the university by upholding discipline, accountability and ethical conduct throughout their professional lives.

At the same time, he emphasised the responsible use of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, arguing that such tools should be used to advance society rather than undermine social values and cohesion. The chairperson of the University Council, Ms Mwanaidi Maajar, echoed similar sentiments, saying today’s world demands far more than academic qualifications.

“Society no longer needs certificates alone. It needs innovation, integrity and people who can solve real-life challenges.

I’llYour success will be measured by the impact you make in improving the lives of others,” she said. She added that information and communication technology has become an essential driver of learning, research and service delivery, making it imperative for graduates to harness technological knowledge to bring positive change to their communities.

According to her, UDSM has equipped graduates not only with academic knowledge, but also with values, creativity and leadership skills necessary for advancing sustainable development in Tanzania and beyond. Education policy analyst and lecturer Hosea Rwegasira said the advice offered by university leaders reflects broader global trends, as employers increasingly value adaptability, communication skills and the ability to solve complex problems as technology transforms workplaces.

“Universities are producing graduates into a world where many traditional jobs are evolving or disappearing. Academic qualifications remain important, but employers are also looking for critical thinking, digital literacy, teamwork and innovation,” he said.

Dr Rwegasira noted that artificial intelligence is likely to automate some routine tasks, but it will also create new opportunities for graduates who can combine technical knowledge with creativity and ethical judgement. “The graduates who will succeed are those who continue learning after graduation and who can identify solutions to challenges facing communities and industries,” he added.

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Africa represents the future in many ways. It is the youngest continent in the world, with growing markets, expanding cities, and enormous untapped potential.

But potential alone is not enough. The digital divide remains wide, while policies and regulatory systems continue to hinder innovation, and many young people still struggle with unemployment and unstable livelihoods.

That is why investors who are willing to understand local realities and invest in local talent matter so much. Gateway to Africa by Prateek Suri enters that conversation.

Suri grew up in a family of businesspeople. From a young age, he joined his father at the family’s electronics shop on weekends, learning how business works long before adulthood.

Reading this made me think about the importance of exposing younger generations to practical skills early on, especially in business and wealth creation. In many ways, this is how generational wealth and confidence are built: through participation, observation, and shared experience within families.

Suri does not pretend that he comes from nothing, as successful people often do. He acknowledges the role his environment played in shaping him.

He insists that he wanted to make it on his own. But he also names the schools he attended, the network he built while in school, and his childhood friends from wealthy families.

I am not dismissing his determination, but I would not call this building a business from scratch. He already had what many young people are still trying to find.

After university in Dubai, Suri returned to India to build a business of his own. But he quickly encountered the realities of operating in an environment that was not always friendly to young entrepreneurs.

Even with his privileged background, navigating customs processes and regulations in India proved difficult. “I wrestled with challenges of building an electronic trading business in an environment that did not fully support it,” he writes.

These frustrations were not limited to India alone. Across different African markets, including Tanzania, he encountered the same challenges: Port delays, difficult customs processes, regulatory uncertainty, and officials seeking bribes.

Yet throughout the book, he argues that relationships, openness, accountability, and integrity helped him navigate many of these obstacles. As I read this, I thought about how many young people in Tanzania give up on entrepreneurship, not because they lack ambition or ideas, but because the systems around them make it difficult to survive.

Access to finance remains a challenge, but so do bureaucracy, complex regulations, and unpredictable policy environments. These barriers continue to fuel youth unemployment across the country.

The book repeatedly returns to a reality many Africans already know well: opportunities exist, but navigating the systems around them often becomes part of the business itself. What stood out most was how Suri sees Africa as a collection of unique markets, each with its own culture, habits, challenges, and possibilities.

He writes about intentionally learning the cultures and ways of life of the countries where he operated, understanding that knowing the people behind the market matters just as much as the business itself. Part of that approach involved hiring local people who understood their communities and could help bridge the gap between the company and the market it served.

“The success of a business is not just measured by the revenue it generates, but by the lives it impacts and the community it uplifts,” he writes. In countries where youth unemployment remains high, businesses that invest in local talent and communities can become part of the solution.

But that also requires governments to create environments where both young entrepreneurs and investors can realistically succeed. I liked Suri’s reflections on the consumption culture and the environmental cost.

At a time when technology and business are often discussed only in terms of profit and expansion, he pauses to ask bigger questions about responsibility and inequality. “How can we ensure that our innovations benefit humanity as a whole, rather than exacerbating existing inequalities?” he asks.

Suri is sincere. That much comes through.

But sincerity and accessibility are not the same thing. He sees Africa’s future with genuine optimism, and he has spent real money and effort trying to help shape it well.

But he is still, at the end of it, a billionaire. His foundation, his networks, his capacity to absorb failure and keep going, these are not just personality traits.

They are resources. Readers who come to this book looking for a blueprint should hold that in mind.

The lessons are real, but they were learned from a starting point that most young entrepreneurs in Tanzania, or anywhere on the continent, do not share. .

Dodoma. The government has sought a Sh2.44 trillion budget for the Home Affairs ministry for the 2026/27 financial year, outlining plans to recruit more than 10,000 new personnel, expand security infrastructure, strengthen the fight against cybercrime and human trafficking and modernise policing systems across the country.

Presenting the ministry’s budget proposals in Parliament yesterday, Home Affairs minister Petrobas Katambi said the proposed spending reflects growing demands on the country’s security institutions amid evolving social and technological challenges. “Of the total budget, Sh1.95 trillion, equivalent to 80 percent, will be used for recurrent expenditure, while S89.85 billion, or 20 percent, has been allocated to development projects,” he told lawmakers.

According to the minister, S53.96 billion of the development budget will come from domestic sources, while Sh35.89 billion will be sourced externally. The ministry plans to recruit 10,919 new employees during the 2026/27 financial year in a move aimed at addressing staffing shortages across institutions under the ministry.

The recruitment targets include 8,040 officers for the Police Force, 1,046 prison officers, 500 personnel for the Fire and Rescue Force, 1,000 immigration officers, 84 staff members for the National Identification Authority (Nida) and 249 personnel for the ministry headquarters. The planned recruitment slightly exceeds the number of workers hired during the current financial year.

Mr Katambi said that between July 2025 and April 2026, the ministry recruited 10,238 employees, including 5,650 police officers, 1,564 prison officers, 1,444 firefighters and rescue personnel, 1,487 immigration officers and nine employees for Nida. The minister also revealed that the government plans to spend Sh38.81 billion on training programmes for 23,547 employees during the next fiscal year.

The training programmes will involve 15,508 police officers, 3,500 prison officers, 1,508 firefighters and rescue personnel, 2,789 immigration officers and 157 Nida employees. “In 2026/27 the ministry expects to promote 23,089 employees,” Mr Katambi said, noting that more than 13,000 police officers are expected to receive promotions.

The promotions will also cover prison officers, firefighters, immigration personnel and ministry staff as part of efforts to improve morale and service delivery. The government further outlined plans to modernise policing operations and improve security infrastructure nationwide.

Mr Katambi said the ministry, through the Police Force, will implement priority projects worth Sh171.59 billion during the 2026/27 financial year. The projects include the purchase of 190 operational vehicles worth Sh30 billion and 1,500 motorcycles for ward and shehia policing at a cost of Sh6 billion.

The ministry also plans to install ICT systems and procure 6,010 long-range communication radios valued at Sh14.36 billion. In addition, the government intends to procure and install an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) worth Sh15 billion to strengthen criminal investigations.

The minister said the Police Force also plans to purchase military equipment worth Sh91.73 billion and police uniforms and tailoring equipment worth Sh15.24 billion. Meanwhile, 15 short-range communication towers will be installed in regions including Iringa, Kagera, Unguja North, Katavi, Morogoro, Mbeya, Mwanza, Mara, Njombe, Coast and Songwe to improve communication systems within the force.

The ministry has also launched a five-year programme running from 2026/27 to 2030/31 for the construction and rehabilitation of police buildings and officers’ housing. The programme includes construction of police offices and residential houses worth Sh8.99 billion and rehabilitation of officers’ houses worth Sh880 million.

Mr Katambi told Parliament that the government also plans to build 42 police stations, including 12 stations that were burnt during the 2025 General Election. Other projects include continued construction of the Police Referral Hospital on Kilwa Road in Dar es Salaam, construction of a police rest house in Dodoma and rehabilitation of student dormitories at police colleges and the Tanzania Police School in Moshi.

The minister said Tanzania has also stepped up efforts to combat cybercrime as cases continue to rise. According to Mr Katambi, reported cybercrime cases increased from 748 in 2024/25 to 1,323 between July 2025 and April 2026. He attributed the increase to improved investigative capacity, online patrols and increased public cooperation in reporting offences.

To strengthen the country’s response, Tanzania has sent police officers for specialised training in Russia, Brazil, Turkey, India, South Korea and Egypt. By April 2026, a total of 157 officers had undergone specialised training in cybercrime investigations, digital forensics, counterterrorism and scientific investigative techniques.

The ministry also plans to establish zonal cybercrime investigation offices in Dodoma City and Zanzibar and strengthen systems for monitoring cyberattacks and misinformation online in collaboration with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). On human trafficking, Mr Katambi said authorities rescued and assisted 160 victims between July 2025 and April 2026, including victims repatriated from Oman, Malaysia, India, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

The victims included 60 children, 96 women and four men. The government has also established a Counter Trafficking in Persons Call Centre using toll-free number 195 and is developing a digital information management system known as TIPMIS.

Mr Katambi said the ministry’s priorities for the coming financial year include improving housing and infrastructure for security agencies, enhancing the use of ICT, conducting crime-related research, strengthening staff capacity and improving productivity activities through agriculture, livestock keeping and industry. He said the measures are aimed at ensuring the ministry remains capable of responding to changing security threats while improving public safety and service delivery nationwide.

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Chato. Suzana Magufuli, mother of Tanzania’s late fifth-phase President John Pombe Magufuli, has died at her home in Chato, Geita Region, following a prolonged illness.

She died on Monday, May 25, 2026, at around 7:00pm, according to family confirmation. The news was confirmed by the late President Magufuli’s daughter, Jesca Magufuli, who said the family would announce funeral arrangements in due course.

“Our grandmother (Suzana Mussa) passed away at 7:00pm at her home in Chato after a long illness. The family will communicate funeral arrangements.

The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away,” Jesca told Ayo TV. The family has since announced that Suzana Magufuli will be buried on May 28, 2026, at the family cemetery in Chato District, Geita Region.

Family spokesperson Gorodian Magufuli said the funeral service will be held at the Roman Catholic Church of the Rulenge-Ngara Diocese, St John Maria Muzeyi Mlimani Parish in Chato District. Suzana Magufuli was widely regarded as a key pillar of the Magufuli family and a respected elder within the community.

Leaders mourn Suzana Magufuli Senior government leaders have expressed condolences following her death, describing it as a loss not only to the family but also to the nation. President Samia Suluhu Hassan said she had received the news with deep sadness and joined the Magufuli family in mourning during this difficult period.

“On behalf of the Government and on my own behalf, I join the family in this difficult time of mourning as we pray for strength, comfort and patience,” President Hassan said in a statement issued by State House Director of Communications Bakari Machumu. Vice-President Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi also sent his condolences, saying he stood with President Hassan and all Tanzanians in comforting the bereaved family.

“I join the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, in conveying condolences and comforting the family and all mourners following the death of Mrs Suzana Magufuli,” he said. He prayed for the deceased to rest in eternal peace and urged the family to remain strong during the mourning period.

Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi also expressed his condolences, saying the death was a national loss given the Magufuli family’s contribution to the country’s history. “This loss is not for the family alone but for all Tanzanians who have been touched by the significant contribution of this family to the nation,” he said.

Suzana Magufuli’s death comes 1,895 days after she buried her son, former President John Magufuli, who died on March 17, 2021, at Mzena Hospital in Dar es Salaam. .

Dar es Salaam. At Sinza Primary School in Ubungo District, Dar es Salaam, the principle of “equal opportunity” is separated by a literal and figurative wall.

On one side, the newly “upgraded” English Medium wing boasts well-designed, clean classrooms and attractive environments. On the other, the regular Swahili-medium wing continues to grapple with the “sorrowful” state of public education that has long plagued the nation.

This internal schism within a single government compound is the most visible face of Tanzania’s emerging “two-tier” education system. The situation in Sinza is no longer an isolated incident.

A random survey conducted in the Kinondoni District alone found that government English medium primary schools increased from just one in 2021 to more than ten in 2026. Nationally, the appetite for these institutions has exploded, with the government now owning 68+ such schools across the country as of April 2025, branding it as “progressive,” there’s an alert over the creation of institutionalised class divisions within the public sector. A parent residing in Sinza, Ms Sophia Amoni, represents the desperate middle.

“I’ve always wanted my child to attend a quality school, but private schools were beyond my reach,” she admits. To her, the English Medium wing is a lifeline, despite the annual fee of S00,000. However, for her neighbour, Juma Amos, a petty trader in Kimara, that fee is an insurmountable barrier.

His children are relegated to the Swahili side, where the national average classroom-to-pupil ratio (PCR) is a staggering 1:72, compared to the 1:47 enjoyed by their peers just metres away. The situation in Bahi District, Dodoma, mirrors this pathetic inequality but with even steeper entry barriers.

The Bahi English Medium Primary School, a government institution, mandates a “food contribution” of Sh250,000 and an “admission fee” of Sh250,000. In a region where basic education is constitutionally intended to be “fee-free,” these mandatory costs effectively exclude the very citizens the public sector is meant to serve. Furthermore, Bahi enforces a strict “SPEAK ENGLISH ONLY” rule within the school premises, creating a linguistic enclave that critics say fosters a misguided perception of Kiswahili as an “inferior” medium.

The then Minister for State (PO-RALG), Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, defended these developments during the launch of the Chief Zulu English Medium Primary School in Songea back in 2024. He argued (in front of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who officiated the launch) that the school, built for Sh626.4 million using internal municipal revenue, aimed to help parents who need quality English medium services at a “more affordable” cost. He highlighted that the Songea school provides practical ICT education and French lessons to meet global market demands.

However, child psychologists warn of the long-term impact of this physical and social separation on young minds. The psychological cost A child psychologist in Dar es Salaam, Dr Amina Mrema, notes that when children in the same neighbourhood enter different gates of the same school, one for the “elite” and one for the “poor”, it creates a “class consciousness” that can lead to resentment and low self-esteem in those excluded.

“We are teaching children from the age of six that their worth is tied to their parents’ ability to pay contributions to a government they all theoretically own,” she observes. The intensity of the problem lies in the statistics: English Medium public schools enjoy a pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) of 1:47, while the Swahili-medium majority remains at 1:70 or more.

By creating these tiers, the government risks violating Article 11 of the Constitution, which guarantees equal education opportunities for every citizen. As concerned groups highlight in this investigation, this “two-tier system” is effectively producing two different types of Tanzanians within the same public institution.

Joining this psychological critique is a prominent Educational Psychologist from the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Robert Mbele, who points to a fundamental “variation between the recently enacted and the intended curriculum”. He argues that while the national curriculum aims to promote 21st-century skills such as collaboration and social responsibility, the current segregated school structure actively undermines these goals.

“Collaboration requires a shared environment where students of different backgrounds learn to solve problems together,” he explains. “When you segregate them by their parents’ ability to pay, you are not just separating classrooms; you are stunting the development of the very socio-emotional skills the policy claims to prioritise”.

He observes that the focus on “quality” in English wings often masks the underlying reality that graduates across the system still lack creativity and problem-solving skills because the system elements, like proper teacher training and inclusive environments, are weak. An education analyst, Dr Thomas Jabir, further underscores that the “appeal” of English medium public schools is often not about the language itself, but about the government’s decision to provide better infrastructure to those select few.

When “quality education” becomes a luxury .

Arusha. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court Commercial Division decision ordering Exim Bank (Tanzania) Limited to pay more than $11 million to M and Five B Hotel and Tours Limited, ruling that the dispute had already been conclusively determined in an earlier case.

The judgment was delivered in Dar es Salaam on May 12, 2026, by a panel of Justices Dr Gerald Ndika, Zainab Muruke, and Agness Mgeyekwa, before a copy was later uploaded to the court’s website. The appellate court agreed with Exim Bank’s submissions that the suit was barred by the doctrine of res judicata, which prevents courts from rehearing matters already conclusively determined.

Earlier, the High Court Commercial Division had ruled in favour of M and Five B Hotel and Tours Limited and ordered Exim Bank to pay special damages exceeding $11 million, punitive damages of $1 million, interest, and costs. The High Court found that the bank had acted negligently by failing to verify signatures and authenticate payment instructions issued on the company’s accounts, resulting in unauthorised withdrawals.

Exim Bank challenged the ruling before the Court of Appeal, faulting it on several legal grounds. According to court records, the bank granted the company a loan of Sh900 million on May 12, 2011, at an annual interest rate of 10 percent.

Later, on July 11, 2012, the facility was restructured, and a further term loan of $3 million was issued to facilitate completion of a five-star hotel project in Arusha and boost the company’s working capital. The loan was repayable within 36 months and secured through various guarantees, including company assets and personal guarantees from directors Mathias Manga and Belinda Manga.

On August 30, 2016, Exim Bank filed Commercial Case No. 109 of 2016 against the company and its guarantors, alleging breach of the loan and guarantee agreements.

It sought recovery of an outstanding debt exceeding $2.8 million, together with interest and costs. In their defence filed on October 4, 2016, the company and its guarantors denied liability, arguing that their failure to repay the loan resulted from the bank’s negligence in operating their accounts.

They alleged that more than $1.4 million had been fraudulently withdrawn without their knowledge or authorisation. While that case was still pending, the company filed another commercial case, No.

104 of 2017, on June 22, 2017, against Exim Bank, seeking compensation for alleged negligence, fraud, and unauthorised withdrawals. It accused the bank of improperly managing its current and loan accounts, leading to the withdrawal of more than $1.4 million without approval.

The bank opposed the suit, arguing that the dispute had already been raised in earlier proceedings and should be struck out. However, the High Court dismissed the objection, finding that the two cases arose from different causes of action, one concerning breach of a loan agreement and the other negligence and conversion of funds.

The High Court subsequently heard the matter and ruled in favour of M and Five B Hotel and Tours Limited. Meanwhile, the first case, which had already proceeded to a hearing, was dismissed with costs, prompting Exim Bank to appeal through Civil Appeal No.

193 of 2023. On July 31, 2024, the Court of Appeal upheld Exim Bank’s appeal, ordering the company to pay an outstanding debt exceeding $2.8 million. Current appeal In the present appeal, Exim Bank challenged the High Court ruling that had ordered it to pay more than $11 million to the company.

It argued that the High Court erred by hearing a matter that had already been conclusively resolved in earlier proceedings. The bank maintained that allegations of negligence and poor account management had already been raised in the earlier case relating to the loan facility.

It further submitted that the second suit was barred by the doctrine of res judicata, which prevents courts from revisiting matters already determined. Judges’ findings After reviewing the submissions and the record, the judges agreed that the matter was barred by the doctrine of res judicata, as the central dispute had already been conclusively determined in earlier proceedings involving the same parties.

The court noted that allegations of negligence and unauthorised withdrawals had already been addressed in the first case concerning the loan facility. Although the first case focused on breach of a loan agreement and the second on negligence and conversion of funds, the court held that both arose from the same dispute over the operation of the company’s accounts.

It stressed that differences in how claims were framed could not change the substance of the dispute. The judges further noted that the company had already raised claims of unauthorised withdrawals exceeding $1 million in the earlier proceedings.

They concluded that the second case merely repeated issues already heard and determined. For res judicata to apply, the court said, it must be shown that the matter was previously decided, involved the same parties, and was determined by a competent court.

The Court of Appeal also referred to its earlier judgment of July 31, 2024, in Civil Appeal No. 193 of 2023, in which it ruled that Exim Bank had not breached the loan agreement as there was no contractual duty to manage accounts in the manner alleged.

Following that decision, the judges held that the High Court should not have proceeded with the second case. “We therefore find that the judgment of the court in the first case had the effect of res judicata, thereby rendering the second case liable to dismissal,” the judgment stated.

The court added that there was no need to consider the remaining grounds of appeal. The appeal was allowed, and the High Court judgment, including orders for damages, interest, and costs, was quashed.

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Dodoma. Tanzania’s economic diplomacy drive has been yielding gains in trade, investment, infrastructure, healthcare and tourism, Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo told Parliament on Tuesday.

Presenting his ministry’s proposed Sh359.3 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, Mr Kombo said the government has continued to use diplomacy as a strategic tool to unlock economic opportunities and strengthen Tanzania’s global partnerships. The minister outlined a series of bilateral and multilateral engagements that have attracted billions of shillings in concessional loans, grants, infrastructure financing and trade opportunities.

Among the major achievements highlighted was the growth of medical tourism following President Hassan’s state visit to Comoros in July 2025. During the visit, President Hassan pledged to dispatch Tanzanian medical specialists to Anjouan Island, leading to a medical outreach programme conducted in October 2025. “Approximately 3,600 patients received direct treatment, while 1,500 others were referred to Tanzania for specialised medical care,” Mr Kombo said. He added: “That initiative has stimulated an increase in the number of patients from Comoros coming to Tanzania for specialised treatment services and, in turn, boosted medical tourism.

” The minister also cited progress in regional infrastructure integration, including the launch of construction works for the 282-kilometre Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line linking Uvinza in Tanzania and Musongati in Burundi. According to him, the project will stimulate economic activities and deepen regional integration once completed.

In March 2026, Tanzania and Uganda also signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of the Isaka-Lusahunga-Murongo-Kikagati SGR project connecting the two countries. At the same time, construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) reached 79 percent by January 2026 and is expected to be completed in July this year.

“The completion of this project is expected to increase government revenue, strengthen investment in the energy sector and create employment opportunities for Tanzanians,” Mr Kombo said. Mr Kombo further highlighted Tanzania’s expanding cooperation with Asian partners, particularly China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

He said China had agreed to cancel an interest-free loan worth RMB100 million (equivalent to approximately Sh34 billion), easing the financial burden on the government. “Through that visit, Tanzania successfully negotiated debt relief amounting to RMB100 million,” he said while referring to the January 2026 visit by Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi.

Mr Kombo said China had also pledged continued support for development projects under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), including livestock technology initiatives and the deployment of specialist doctors to Tanzanian hospitals. Japan, meanwhile, has committed major support to healthcare and fisheries development projects.

Among the projects is the establishment of a kidney treatment and transplant centre at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, valued at 1.5 billion and funded by Tokushukai Medical Corporation of Japan. “The centre will improve kidney treatment services in the country, support specialist training and reduce the costs and challenges faced by patients travelling abroad for treatment,” the minister said.

South Korea also approved a concessional loan package worth $2.5 billion through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to finance strategic projects, including the expansion of Muhimbili National Hospital, construction of Bagamoyo fishing port and a railway training college in Dodoma. According to Mr Kombo, South Korea has recognised Tanzania among its five priority African partners for development cooperation between 2026 and 2030. He said the decision reflected investor confidence in Tanzania’s political stability, investment climate and development performance.

The minister also reported strong growth in Tanzania’s regional trade. Exports to East African Community (EAC) member states increased from $1.16 billion in 2024 to $1.22 billion in 2025, while exports to Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries rose by 19.4 percent from $2.97 billion to $3.55 billion over the same period.

“Tanzania continues to benefit from a positive trade balance within SADC,” he noted. Mr Kombo further revealed that Tanzania secured preliminary financing commitments worth approximately $1.52 billion from international investors for Phase Seven of the SGR project during an investment forum held in Morocco in November 2025. The investors included JP Morgan, AIIB, Standard Bank/Stanbic Tanzania and Credit Agricole CIB.

In tourism, the minister said Tanzania had intensified promotional campaigns in Qatar, China and Oman as part of efforts to increase tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings. He pointed to the launch of the Ngorongoro-Lengai Geo Museum project in Arusha, valued at around Sh32 billion and funded through Tanzania-China cooperation.

“The museum is expected to become a major catalyst for increasing the number of tourists from China and other countries,” he said. The minister also highlighted growing opportunities in education and skills development through partnerships with China, India and Indonesia.

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