Category: The Citizen

Casino gaming across Africa has exploded over the past decade. Mobile internet, flexible payment methods, and a growing appetite for online entertainment have pulled millions of new players into the space, from Johannesburg to Lagos to Nairobi.

And while the platforms keep evolving, the games driving most of that action are the same ones that have been filling casino floors for generations. What they all share is a dependence on chance.

Not skill, not systems, not timing. Pure probability.

That matters to understand upfront, especially now that phone bill deposit casinos have made it easier than ever to jump into a game on impulse. Funding a session through mobile airtime takes seconds, which means the barrier between “I feel like playing” and “I’m playing” has basically disappeared.

That convenience is great, but it also makes it more important to know what you’re actually getting into with each game. So let’s talk about the four games that dominate the chance-based category, and what you genuinely need to know about each one.

Roulette is probably the most recognizable casino game on the planet, and its appeal hasn’t dimmed since 18th-century France. A ball, a spinning wheel, and a bet on where the two meet.

That’s it. What most players don’t think carefully about is which version of the game they’re playing.

European roulette has 37 pockets, numbers 1 to 36 plus a single zero, giving the house a 2.7% edge.

American roulette adds a double zero, which sounds minor but nearly doubles the house edge to 5.26%.

If you’re playing online and both options are available, European roulette is the straightforward choice. French roulette takes things a step further with rules like La Partage, which returns half your stake on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero.

That brings the house edge down to 1.35% on those bets, the best available on any roulette variant.

The thing that catches people out with roulette is the Gambler’s Fallacy. Red comes up six times in a row, so black must be “due.

” It isn’t. Every spin is completely independent.

The wheel doesn’t know what happened before, and neither does the ball. Betting systems built around this idea, Martingale, Fibonacci, d’Alembert, don’t change the odds at all.

They change how you distribute your bets, not what the game actually does to your money over time. Blackjack sits in an interesting spot because it genuinely rewards better decision-making, up to a point.

The goal is simple. Beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 without going over.

The decisions you make along the way have real mathematical consequences. Basic strategy is the term for the statistically correct play in every possible hand situation.

Hit a 16 against a dealer’s 7? Yes. Split aces? Always.

Double down on 11 against a dealer’s 6? Definitely. These aren’t opinions.

They come from calculated probabilities across millions of hands. Players who apply basic strategy consistently can bring the house edge down to roughly 0.

5%, which is among the lowest you’ll find in any casino. That said, blackjack is still a chance-based game at its core.

You can make every correct decision and still lose, because you don’t control the cards. Card counting, the technique made famous in books and films, works theoretically but is essentially useless on modern platforms that use multi-deck shoes and continuous shuffle machines.

It’s not a practical option for the vast majority of players. What actually helps is knowing the table rules before you sit down.

Does blackjack pay 3:2 or 6:5? (6:5 is significantly worse for you.) Does the dealer hit or stand on soft 17? Can you surrender? These rule variations shift the house edge more than most players realize.

African online platforms vary considerably on this, so it’s worth checking before you play. Slots are the most played games on every online platform in Africa, and arguably the most misunderstood.

Players frequently talk about machines being “hot” or “due for a payout.” None of which reflects how these games actually work.

Every spin is determined by a Random Number Generator. The outcome is decided the moment you press the button.

The reels spinning are visual presentation, not a mechanism. Previous spins have zero influence on what happens next, full stop.

The two numbers worth paying attention to are RTP and volatility. RTP (Return to Player) tells you what percentage of total bets the game returns over millions of spins, typically 94% to 97% on reputable platforms.

Volatility tells you how those returns are distributed. Low volatility slots pay out smaller amounts more regularly, which suits players on tighter session budgets.

High volatility slots can go cold for long stretches then pay heavily when they hit, better suited to players comfortable with bigger swings. Progressive jackpot slots are their own category.

Games like Mega Moolah have made ordinary people extraordinarily wealthy overnight, but they carry lower base RTPs, often around 8892%, because a portion of every bet feeds the jackpot pool. You’re paying a statistical premium for access to that life-changing number at the top.

Whether that’s worth it depends on what you want from the session. Baccarat has a reputation for being a high-roller game, which has put a lot of players off unnecessarily.

In practice, it’s one of the simplest games in any casino and carries some of the best odds available to players. Two hands are dealt, Player and Banker, and you bet on which will be closer to 9, or whether they’ll tie.

Drawing rules are fixed and automatic. You make one decision: where to put your money.

That’s genuinely all there is to it. The Banker bet has a house edge of 1.

06% after the standard 5% commission on wins. The Player bet sits at 1.

24%. Both are excellent.

The Tie bet, which typically pays 8:1, looks attractive until you see the house edge sitting at around 14%. Avoid it.

Live dealer baccarat has become one of the most popular formats on African online platforms precisely because it recreates the atmosphere of a real table without requiring you to leave your phone. Regional review sites like CasinoHEX SA have covered this shift extensively, reviewing which platforms offer the best live baccarat experiences for players in the region — including game quality, betting limits, and how well the platforms handle local payment methods.

What Connects All of These Games House edge. That’s the thread running through every game on this list.

It’s the mathematical advantage built into the game’s structure, not something that can be overcome with systems or intuition. It exists in every bet, on every spin, in every hand, and over time it asserts itself regardless of short-term variance.

Short-term variance is the reason any of this is entertaining. It’s why you can sit down for a session, run hot for an hour, and walk away ahead.

It’s also why a bad run can feel like the game is broken when it isn’t. The math is working exactly as designed.

The practical takeaway is straightforward: know the house edge on the game you’re playing, set a session budget before you start, and treat that money as spent the moment you deposit it. The games on this list, played on reputable, licensed platforms, offer genuine entertainment value and some of the better odds in the gambling world.

But they’re entertainment, not income. Play them that way, and the experience tends to be a lot more enjoyable.

.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania will send seven teams to the upcoming East Africa Netball Club Championships scheduled for May, with the host nation expected to take place in Kenya.

According to Tanzania Amateur Netball Association (Chaneta) secretary general, Rahma Kilimba, the country will be represented by Tamisemi, Magereza, Jeshi Stars, JKT Mbweni, Uhamiaji, AIA and Polisi Arusha. The seven clubs have already been notified and are preparing for the regional assignment.

“All clubs are in intensive preparations ahead of the competition,” said Rahma. The championships are expected to bring together leading netball clubs from Tanzania, the host nation, Uganda and Zanzibar, offering a vital platform for talent exposure and competitive benchmarking.

The tournament is regarded as one of the most important regional club competitions, giving players the opportunity to test themselves against some of East Africa’s strongest sides. Competition is expected to be intense, particularly from Kenyan and Ugandan clubs, who have traditionally performed well in both regional and continental competitions.

Zanzibar’s participation is also seen as a boost to the event, underlining the growing popularity and reach of netball across East Africa. Kilimba noted that the regional championships form part of Chaneta’s broader and structured annual calendar aimed at strengthening the sport at all levels.

The year began with district and regional leagues staged from January to March, alongside executive committee meetings, leadership seminars and umpiring and coaching courses held in Dar es Salaam. Between April and June, Chaneta’s activities include constitutional reforms, Mei Mosi competitions in Njombe, First Division League matches in Dodoma and officiating courses in Lindi.

Participation in the East Africa Club Championships during the same period highlights the strategic importance of regional exposure in Tanzania’s development agenda. The second half of the year remains equally busy, featuring Shimisemita in Mbeya, Feassa Games in Morogoro, national team training camps in Dar es Salaam and under-19 youth competitions in Morogoro.

Tanzania is also scheduled to compete in continental tournaments and World Cup qualification-related events later in the year. From October to December, Chaneta will oversee Second Division League matches in Tanga, Union League competitions in the Coast Region, Shimiwi, Shimuta and Shimivuta tournaments, as well as the East Africa Universities Championships in Dodoma and the Nyerere Cup.

“With such a calendar, our focus is consistency. The regional championships are just one of many key milestones as we build a stronger netball foundation nationally and regionally,” she said.

.

Unguja. The government has pledged to strengthen oversight of customs tax assessments following concerns that some importers are being charged duties based on container size rather than the actual goods inside.

The issue was raised in the Zanzibar House of Representatives by Jaku Hashim Ayoub, who sought clarification on the legal basis for assessing cargo using container measurements such as 40-foot containers instead of the value of the goods transported. Responding to the question, Dr Juma Malik Akil, Minister of Finance and Planning, said customs duties are legally determined by the value and quantity of goods, not container size.

He explained that under Section 122 of the Customs Act of the East African Community, read together with the Fourth Schedule of the law, customs valuation is based on the actual price paid for goods in the country of purchase under conditions of fair commercial competition. According to the Minister, duty calculations under the East African Community Customs Act of 2004 take into account several factors, including the purchase price of goods, country of origin, exchange rates, tariff rates, freight charges and insurance costs.

However, Dr Akil acknowledged that challenges can arise if container-based assessments are applied without regard to the actual cargo or legal requirements. He said the government is closely monitoring the practice to ensure compliance with the law and fairness for traders.

“To address potential irregularities, the Government is strengthening supervision and inspection of tax assessment systems to ensure duties reflect the actual contents of containers. It is also expanding the use of cargo inspection technologies such as scanners and digital systems to reduce inaccurate valuations,” he said.

In addition, he said, traders will continue to have the right to appeal and request reviews of tax assessments they consider unfair, while authorities review procedures and regulations to eliminate gaps that may cause disputes or disrupt trade. The Minister said the measures are intended to promote transparency, equity and efficiency in customs administration.

.

Kigoma. The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has dismissed claims that it is responsible for delays in payments processed by various institutions, councils and individuals across the country.

The clarification follows complaints from members of the public who said they had experienced delays in receiving payments, with some institutions reportedly attributing the problem to the central bank’s payment systems. Speaking during a two-day seminar for journalists held from February 2627 in the Kigoma Region, BoT Assistant Manager for Economics and Statistics at the Dodoma branch, Mr Shamy Chamicha, said the central bank has never delayed or disrupted payment systems.

“There have been challenges in some institutions where people complete assignments but their payments are delayed. When questioned, they are told the central bank’s systems are the problem, which is not true,” he said.

Mr Chamicha urged service providers to be transparent with their clients instead of shifting blame to the central bank. He emphasised that BoT remains committed to ensuring smooth and efficient payment systems while continuously improving service delivery.

“Our focus is to continue educating the public so that they are not inconvenienced, and at the same time to strengthen our systems to make them even more efficient,” he said. BoT Assistant Manager for Public Relations, Ms Noves Moses, who spoke on behalf of the bank’s Communications Manager, Ms Victoria Msina, said the bank has received calls from members of the public seeking confirmation on whether its systems were experiencing challenges.

“When we receive such complaints, we are surprised because there is no such issue at the Bank of Tanzania. Our systems are functioning properly.

We urge the public not to be misled under the guise of BoT,” she said. Some residents of Kigoma Ujiji Municipal Council said they had encountered payment delays from certain institutions, affecting their personal plans.

Ms Mariam Ibrahim said she once attended a meeting where participants received their allowances more than two weeks after the scheduled date, with organisers citing the central bank’s systems as the cause. “We waited for more than two weeks without payment.

When we asked, we were told the central bank had not opened the system,” she said. Mr Juma Mloka shared a similar experience, saying a contractor delayed his payment for a month while claiming that notification had already been sent to the central bank.

“They tell us the central bank has strict payment systems. We accept it because we don’t know whether it is true or not, but it inconveniences us,” he said.

.

Songea. The candidate of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Dr Lazaro Bunungu, has won the Peramiho parliamentary by-election after garnering 69,002 votes out of 79,720 cast, equivalent to 87 per cent of the total votes.

Announcing the results, the Returning Officer for the Peramiho Constituency by-election, Mr Exavery Luyagaza, declared Dr Bunungu duly elected Member of Parliament. Mr Luyagaza said the declaration was made in accordance with Section 105(1) of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Councillors’ Elections Act No.

1 of 2024, read together with Regulation 58C of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Councillors’ Elections Regulations of 2025. The seat fell vacant following the death of the former MP, Jenista Mhagama, who passed away on December 11, 2026. A total of 14 political parties fielded candidates in the by-election, each pledging to advance development initiatives for residents of Peramiho. Speaking shortly after being declared the winner, Dr Bunungu thanked voters for their confidence in him and pledged to serve all constituents irrespective of their political affiliations.

He said he would work closely with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the promises made during the campaign are fulfilled. .

Dar es Salaam/Upcountry. Following reports of a rise in Covid-19 and severe influenza cases in several parts of the country, levels of public alertness and adherence to preventive measures appear low, particularly in major cities.

A survey conducted by The Citizen in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Moshi, Mbeya and Tanga found that despite large crowds in markets, bus terminals, churches, mosques and entertainment venues, most people were neither wearing face masks nor observing physical distancing. Similarly, many public and private institutions no longer have handwashing facilities in place, unlike during the initial phase of the Covid-19 outbreak between 2020 and 2023. Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, February 26, 2026, health stakeholders warned that the absence of firm monitoring systems and sustained public health education could accelerate the spread of infections, especially during the ongoing rainy and cold season.

They cautioned that failure to take early precautions, such as wearing masks in crowded places, washing hands with running water and soap, and self-isolating when symptomatic , could trigger a surge in infections and place renewed pressure on the national health system. Public health expert Dr Ali Mzige urged households to reinforce hygiene practices and ensure family members observe preventive measures when attending gatherings.

“When there is dust, strong winds and no precautions are taken, transmission becomes easier. A person can be infected through handshakes, contaminated water, unwashed fruits, uncooked food, or when someone coughs without covering their mouth,” he said.

“Cleanliness begins at home. When many people gather in one place, such as prisons, camps, schools and hospitals, transmission becomes easier.

Wearing masks and washing hands with running water will help reduce infections,” he emphasised. When contacted, the director of Health Services, Social Welfare and Nutrition at the President’s OfficeTamisemi, Dr Rashid Mfaume, said guidelines had already been issued by the Chief Medical Officer.

“Implementation now rests with regional and district medical officers,” he said. The situation on the ground In Dar es Salaam, where population density and economic activity are high, daily life appears to be continuing as normal, with little visible sign of heightened health concern.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services and commuter minibuses (Daladala) remain overcrowded, with no observable precautions. Some passengers appeared to have flu-like symptoms but continued with their activities without self-isolating.

“Unfortunately, I only briefly heard about coronavirus yesterday, but I am still carrying passengers as usual. I have not seen anyone wearing a mask or using sanitiser.

Perhaps it is just talk. However, this week many passengers have been coughing and sneezing,” said Amosi Abel, a Bodaboda operator in Tabata.

Daladala drivers said they had not taken any measures, citing a lack of official follow-up or fresh announcements. A similar situation was observed in parts of Kilimanjaro Region, which receives tourists and visitors from various countries.

No visible precautionary measures were in place in markets or bus stations, and there were no posters or public notices promoting preventive practices. However, some regions have begun responding.

In Arusha, authorities have written to all seven district councils, instructing health departments to prepare facilities to manage patients presenting with symptoms and to strengthen public awareness through government communication channels. Arusha Regional Epidemiologist Dr Robert Hongo said 54 health workers from various councils had recently undergone training to prepare for potential outbreaks.

“We continue to conduct surveillance and provide public education through community radio. At present, there is an increase in flu and cough cases in Arusha,” he said.

In Mbeya, Regional Medical Officer Dr Elizabeth Nyema said meetings had been convened to plan response measures, including strengthening screening at the Kasumulu border with Malawi. “We have directed officers at Kasumulu to intensify screening of incoming travellers.

Fortunately, there is a scanner at the border. Given the ongoing rains and cold weather in Mbeya, we must remain vigilant,” she said.

Despite these efforts, residents in cities such as Mwanza, Tanga and Dodoma reported no renewed public awareness campaigns. “Life is continuing as usual.

We are not hearing announcements or seeing warning posters,” said a Mwanza resident. Health authorities at regional and council levels are being urged to reinstate public education campaigns and ensure preventive measures are observed, particularly in densely populated urban centres.

Without such action, the risk of a new wave of infections may continue to build quietly. .

Veteran Tanzanian music producer Joachim Kimaryo, alias Master J has issued a strong warning to up-and-coming artistes, saying poor understanding of contracts remains one of the biggest problems pushing musicians into long-term financial loss. Speaking in a recent interview, the producer said many artistes sign recording deals worth millions of shillings without consulting lawyers, only to later discover they have lost control of their music and earnings.

According to Master J, the issue is not a lack of opportunity, but a failure to prioritise legal protection at the most critical stage of an artist’s career. “I honestly don’t understand artists when it comes to contracts,” he said.

“You are signing a deal worth millions, but you fail to spend Sh100,000 or Sh300,000 to consult a lawyer. That is where the problem starts.

” He said legal advice is essential in helping artistes understand what they are agreeing to before committing their signatures. “When you take a contract to a lawyer, you protect yourself from being exploited,” he said.

“It is better to share that responsibility with a professional who understands the law.” Master J noted that many artists rush to sign contracts because of immediate financial pressure, without considering the long-term consequences.

“The hunger is now, the problems are now, but artistes forget to think about the future,” he said. “When fame finally comes and you go back to read that contract, that’s when the pain begins.

” He explained that some contracts allow record labels to own an artist’s entire catalogue, including future works, a clause many musicians fail to fully understand at the time of signing. “You realise that someone else is earning from your masters because you signed away your rights,” he said.

“That is when artistes start to suffer.” The producer said such situations later force artistes to spend large sums of money trying to regain ownership of their work, often through long and painful legal battles.

.

The Met Gala has officially revealed its dress code for 2026, announcing ‘Fashion Is Art’ as the guiding concept for this year’s highly anticipated event. The dress code follows the earlier announcement that the gala’s overall theme will be Costume Art.

Hosted annually by Anna Wintour, the Met Gala serves as the main fundraising event for the Costume Institute at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each year, the gala’s theme and dress code set the tone for bold fashion statements on the museum’s iconic steps.

According to the creative mastermind behind the Met Gala’s themes and exhibitions Andrew Bolton, the inspiration behind the theme lies in fashion’s ability to connect different artistic disciplines. Bolton explained in a statement to Vogue that fashion acts as a unifying element across the museum’s galleries.

“What connects every curatorial department and every single gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body,” he said, describing fashion as a shared thread that inspired the exhibition and the gala’s creative direction. With the dress code now confirmed, guests attending the 2026 Met Gala are encouraged to view the human body as a “blank canvas,” exploring how designers use clothing as a form of artistic expression.

The concept invites imaginative interpretations, blurring the line between fashion, sculpture and performance art. The announcement comes two months after the gala revealed its co-chairs for the year.

Notably, Beyonce will return to the Costume Institute Benefit for the first time in a decade, joining Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams as co-chairs of the event. In addition to the co-chairs, the 2026 Met Gala host committee will feature a diverse group of cultural and fashion-forward figures, including Zoa Kravitz, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Teyana Taylor, Misty Copeland and Lena Dunham, among others.

While Anna Wintour will continue to lead the event, the 2026 gala will also mark a notable moment for Vogue, as her successor, Chloe Malle, joins the host committee and officially steps onto the Met Gala stage for hosting duties. As anticipation builds, the 2026 Met Gala is shaping up to be a celebration where fashion, art and individuality converge once again turning the red carpet into a global canvas.

.

Dodoma. Tanzania’s horticultural body has unveiled what it describes as the most ambitious exhibition ever staged in the country’s fast-growing fresh produce industry, in a move aimed at positioning the nation as a continental agribusiness hub.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (Taha), Ms Jacqueline Mkindi, on Thursday presented plans for HortiLogistica Africa 2026 to senior Cabinet ministers responsible for agriculture and investment, Mr Daniel Chongolo and Prof Kitila Mkumbo, respectively. Permanent secretaries and other senior ministry officials also attended the meeting.

Ms Mkindi said the international exhibition is scheduled to be held in Tanzania for the first time in November 2026, with northern Tanzania earmarked as the host region due to its established commercial farming clusters and export-oriented infrastructure. Strategic focus on horticulture During her presentation, Ms Mkindi described the proposed event as a potential turning point for both Tanzania and the wider African horticulture industry.

“Beyond many other benefits, the exhibition will unlock investment opportunities, expand domestic and international market access, attract tourists and strengthen publicprivate collaboration,” she said. Horticulture, encompassing fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices, has emerged as one of Tanzania’s most dynamic agricultural sub-sectors, contributing to employment creation and foreign exchange earnings as the country seeks to diversify its economy.

According to Taha, HortiLogistica Africa 2026 is intended to serve as a strategic platform linking growers, exporters, technology providers, logistics firms and financiers to strengthen value chains, enhance productivity and connect African producers more directly to global markets. Government signals support Mr Chongolo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with the private sector to boost production, promote value addition and enhance the competitiveness of Tanzanian agricultural products in international markets.

For his part, Prof Mkumbo said the proposed expo aligns with Tanzania’s broader development vision of attracting investment, creating employment opportunities and increasing agriculture’s contribution to national economic growth. Analysts note that hosting a high-profile continental trade event could raise Tanzania’s profile among global buyers at a time when supply chain resilience and food security remain pressing global concerns.

Beyond a trade fair TAHA is positioning HortiLogistica Africa 2026 as more than a conventional trade exhibition. Ms Mkindi said it is envisaged as a long-term platform to integrate technology, markets and capital in ways that promote sustainable growth within the horticulture sector.

If realised, the event would mark a significant milestone for Tanzania’s agribusiness ecosystem and test the country’s capacity to translate policy ambitions into tangible export growth. With two years remaining before the proposed launch, stakeholders say sustained coordination between government and industry will be critical to ensuring the initiative delivers on its objectives.

.

Dar es Salaam. A newly released State of Internet Governance 2025 Report has revealed a widening gap between Tanzania’s digital ambitions and the realities of internet governance, warning that restrictions on online freedoms could slow the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Launched yesterday the report paints what experts described as a “digital paradox”, rapid expansion of infrastructure and services alongside growing restrictions on digital freedoms. The study assessed Tanzania’s digital governance landscape during the 2025 General Election year and found both significant progress and serious structural weaknesses.

Speaking during the launch, Tech and Media Convergency (TMC) policy Tech Lead, Robert Majige, said Tanzania had made notable strides in expanding its digital ecosystem. “Tanzania demonstrated regional and international digital ambition,” he said, citing three international ICT awards won at the WSIS+20 Forum in Geneva and the country’s first-ever National ICT Awards launch.

He added that telecommunications towers increased to 10,029, mobile subscriptions reached 106.9 million, internet usage rose to 808 petabytes, and 5G coverage expanded to 30.1 percent of the population. “These indicators show the country is moving forward technologically,” he said.

The report also notes that Zanzibar accelerated reforms through fibre expansion, ICT centres and data centre development, reinforcing Tanzania’s broader digital ambitions. However, the findings suggest that the digital transformation agenda faces serious setbacks, particularly in relation to internet access and online freedoms.

According to the report, 173 digital governance incidents were documented in 2025, of which 52 percent were classified as regressive, 28.3 percent progressive and 19.7 percent neutral. These regressive incidents included arrests of social media users, online intimidation, network disruptions and restrictions on digital platforms, particularly during politically sensitive periods.

Mr Majige noted that internet restrictions were among the most concerning developments. “The report shows that in 2025 there were situations where the internet was restricted, including the shutdown of X and internet disruptions during the general election,” he said.

“These incidents have had economic, social and political consequences.” The economic impact was substantial.

The report estimates that internet disruptions and platform restrictions cost the Tanzanian economy more than $250 million (about Sh590 billion), including losses from the suspension of X and the election-period internet blackout. The shutdown also disrupted mobile money services and remittances, which form the backbone of Tanzania’s informal economy.

Chief Executive Officer of TMC, Ms Asha Abinallah, said the report was prepared by 26 civil society organisations under the Internet Governance Tanzania Working Group to monitor digital governance trends. “Our aim is to show the real situation.

We started the first report in 2024 (launched in 2025) when we recorded 49 incidents, but in the election year of 2025 we recorded 173 incidents,” she said. “This report highlights areas where Tanzania is doing well and areas where improvements are needed.

” The study also identified growing concerns over online gender-based violence. Data showed 3,644 negative online mentions targeting a leading female political figure, reaching an estimated 59.4 million users and generating nearly one million interactions.

Executive Director of Tamwa, Ms Rose Reuben, said the economic implications of internet shutdowns were particularly worrying. “When we say many Tanzanians depend on the internet to earn a living, including sending and receiving money, the shutdown of networks makes us ask what can be done to avoid such economic losses,” she said.

The report concludes that sustainable digital transformation requires more than infrastructure expansion. It recommends regulatory reforms that balance security with digital rights, stronger protection of online expression, judicial oversight of network restrictions and a commitment to avoid internet shutdowns.

Experts warn that unless these reforms are implemented, Tanzania risks undermining its ambition to build an inclusive digital economy under the National Development Vision 2050. .