Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Rukwa Regional Commissioner and veteran politician Charles Makongoro Nyerere is among three CRDB Bank customers who have won tickets to watch the FIFA World Cup final live in Canada through the “Fainali Ndo Mpango” campaign in partnership with TemboCard Visa.

The other winners are Abdullauf Suleiman Muta and Arun Vithaldas Lodhia, both residents of Dar es Salaam Region. The winners join the first draw winners, namely Keneth Bina, Arnold Samugabo, and Erick Mlinga, all residents of Dar es Salaam, as well as Gasper Melkiory Kavishe from Morogoro Region.

Apart from the grand prize, three other customers won a modern 85-inch television set, a decoder, and a subscription package that will enable them to follow all FIFA World Cup final matches to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. The winners of these prizes are Amina Awadhi, Ester Kabakama, and Lusekelo Michael. Speaking about the promotion, CRDB Bank Senior Manager for Card Business, Karington Chahe, said the winners were selected after using TemboCard Visa cards (Debit, Prepaid, or Credit) to make various payments, automatically qualifying them for the draw.

He congratulated the winners and encouraged other customers to continue using the cards to increase their chances of winning various prizes. Chahe added that the campaign is still ongoing, with six more opportunities to win World Cup travel packages and seven more large-screen televisions with full subscriptions to watch all the matches.

He said the aim of the campaign is to reward customers and promote the use of digital payments, noting that the world is increasingly moving toward digital systems and Tanzanians should adapt to these changes. “This campaign is part of CRDB Bank’s efforts to encourage the use of digital payments, bring innovation to financial services, and reward our customers for their loyalty,” he said.

He further explained that any customer who makes at least 30 transactions per month using a TemboCard Visa at POS machines or online automatically qualifies for the draw. Meanwhile, two winners from the first draw in the television prize category have already received their prizes.

The winners are Samson Mkumbo and Theresia Mawalla, both residents of Dar es Salaam. Another winner, Eunice Masigati from Dodoma, received her prize in Dodoma.

The prizes were handed over by CRDB Bank PLC Tanzania, DR Congo, and Burundi Manager for Card Transaction Monitoring and Dispute Management, Flora Josephat Mackanja, together with Chahe. .

When unveiling the Cabinet, in November 2025, Her Excellency, the President, made a fundamental change, which many may have not noticed, but which was significant for those with a keen interest in local government, in general, and in urban development, in particular. The office of the Regional Development and Local Government, was shifted from the President’s Office, to the Prime Minister’s Office, PORALG to PMORALG.

The President had her reasons, but my gut feeling is that she wanted to shift this important office, to where action is supposed to be, that is, the Prime Minister’s Office. The Prime minister is the prefect for all government activities.

The move was very much welcome by all those who long to see active and functioning local governments. Local governments in Tanzania, include those that are focused on rural governance and development (District Councils) and those that are trained on the governance and management of urban areas, that is city, municipal and town councils.

Way back in 1996, these was a Local Government Reform Agenda, which aimed at putting in place, semi-independent local government authorities, which, while implementing the national agenda and being agents of the central government, were, at the same time, expected to have their own programmes and to be responsive to local needs and aspirations. They were expected to be largely financially independent, and to be able to hire and fire personnel as they deemed it necessary.

The Local Government Reform Agenda was kind of still-born, but the relationship between local governments and the central government was that which is described as D-by-D, that is Decentralization by Devolution. The Prime Minister’s Office therefore needs to enforce this agenda.

The reason why there needs to be a focus on urban areas is because the country is urbanizing. Currently, the urbanisation rate is 35.76 percent of population (2024) and growing at (4 percent pa) faster than the national population growth rate.

Urban areas are supposed to be engines of development, yet urban areas in developing countries do not play this role, because they are unplanned, they lack the necessary infrastructure; they are generally generating costs more than benefits. Among the reasons for this situation, are the fact that some 60 percent of urban land in Tanzania, for example, is in informal or unplanned areas.

The proportion of urban residents living in unplanned areas is much higher, given that more than one households, occupy on piece of land or house. Transport is a huge problem and urban dwellers spend hours and a high part of their budget, on congested roads and in overloaded means of transport.

The litany of what is wrong in urban areas is long. The question is, who should take action? Today we all agree that the majority of urban residents live in informal areas; that urban areas are developing in an unplanned manner; that most people earn their livelihood by undertaking activities in the informal sector.

Who should be tasked with the current situation of unplanned development in urban areas throughout the country? Is it the Ministry of Lands? Or the Ministry responsible for local government? This is an area that needs urgent resolution. The onus of managing urban areas, including ensuring that they grow in an orderly manner, lies with local authorities, not with sector ministries, such as that of lands, or of transport, or of telecommunication.

If urban areas must govern and manage themselves, they need strengthening. The urban directors must be experts who are well-versed in managing urban areas.

If we do not have such cadre of personnel, they must be trained. Urban directors must be appointed on merit and through competition.

They must be tasked to solve the myriads of problems in their urban areas. In London, the problem of transport lies to a large extent, with the London government not with the central government.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has earned himself world and local fame, for ensuring smooth and efficient public transport in that largest City in the UK. The way things are in Tanzania, is that residents of the largest urban area in the country, Dar es Salaam, have no idea who their mayors and directors are.

They have no idea who manages the city. Projects like BRT and DMDP and those implemented by DAWASA, TANROADS, TARURA, or sector Ministries, are identified more with the central government than with local governments One area where the Prime Minister and his Minister of State, need to focus their attention on, is to groom urban authorities so that they, to a large extent, run their affairs.

They are no longer babies. They need to be weaned from, and stop being spoon-fed by, the central government.

In our next article, we will argue why the Vice President’s office also needs to have a serious urban agenda. .

Dar es Salaam. One of Tanzania’s leading swimming clubs, Bluefins, has unveiled a 33-member squad for the FK Blue Marlins Invitational Swim Meet scheduled for this weekend at the FK Secondary School swimming pool in Dar es Salaam.

The team comprises 15 female and 18 male swimmers who are expected to compete against some of the country’s finest young talents in what promises to be a highly competitive championship. The tournament has attracted 15 swimming clubs from across Tanzania, including participants from Zanzibar, setting the stage for intense competition as swimmers battle for medals, personal best times and qualification opportunities for future national events.

Bluefins head coach and founder, Rahim Alidina, said the club remains committed to nurturing young swimmers and giving them a platform to grow their abilities through regular competition. “We continue to develop young swimmers and provide them with the platform whereby they can showcase and challenge their own abilities and continue to grow and develop their skills,” said Alidina.

“Our goal is to train as many young swimmers as we can who can later on become swimmers that the nation will be proud of,” he added. Alidina noted that this year’s squad includes several newcomers who will be competing at a major event for the first time.

Among them is young swimmer Ummeabiha Esmail, who is set to make her debut at this level of competition while representing Bluefins. “Our youngest swimmer in this event is Ummeabiha Esmail, who will be representing Bluefins for the first time at this level of competition,” said the coach.

“We have also selected many seven-year-olds who will be participating in a swim meet for the first time.” According to Alidina, the swimmers have undergone intensive preparations ahead of the gala, with the technical bench optimistic that the team can deliver impressive performances in both individual and relay events.

He expressed confidence that the swimmers would not only challenge for medals but also register new personal best times that could help them secure qualification for the upcoming Tanzania National Junior Championships expected to take place next month. Female swimmers selected for the event are Ummeabiha Esmail, Deborah Nouidui, Inaya Raheel, Kanzi Mussa, Zainab Amijee, Diti Latigra, Irhaa Raheel, Sakina Abdulali, Fatema Lookmanjee, Naqiyah Aziz, Khairaat Lakhani, Maahira Noorani, Insiya Adamji, Amatullah Mustansir and Mariyah Sulemanji.

The male team includes Burhanuddin Fazleabbas, Adam Hassanali, Hasan Alidina, Hayderali Khimji, Saifuddin Jariwalla, Shuneal Bharwani, Lucca-E’jaaz Hasham, Shabbir Murtaza, Dev Maru, Jujhar Singh, Zayyanabbas Dhalla, Yug Maru, Abbas Hemani, Rayyan Kassam, Burhanuddin Yusuf, Abbasali Tariq, Azaan Momin and Mohammadhussein Imran. .

Dar es Salaam. Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar has called for accelerated digital customs reforms and stronger regional cooperation as African economies face increasing pressure to modernize their trade systems, enhance border security, and facilitate cross-border commerce.

The minister stated that rapid changes in global trade, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), e-commerce expansion, and emerging security risks, are reshaping the role of customs authorities and increasing the need for technology-driven systems. “The world continues to experience major changes in international trade driven by technology, artificial intelligence, online commerce and security challenges,” Mr Omar said.

He said customs administrations are now expected not only to collect revenue but also to support legitimate trade flows, strengthen supply chain security and improve the efficiency of cross-border transactions. Mr Omar made the remarks on Thursday, May 14, 2026 during the official opening of the 32nd Governing Council Meeting of the World Customs Organization East and Southern Africa (WCO ESA) region in Zanzibar.

The meeting has brought together customs commissioners, policymakers and delegates from 24 member states to discuss digital transformation, trade facilitation, border security and regional cooperation. According to the minister, Tanzania has a long-standing history in customs administration within East Africa, dating back to 1896 when some of the earliest customs systems in the region were established.

He emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states through modern digital systems, risk management frameworks and non-intrusive cargo inspection technologies to improve efficiency at border points. The discussions come as governments across Africa intensify efforts to improve customs efficiency under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to increase intra-African trade and reduce trade barriers across the continent.

Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Commissioner General Yusuph Juma Mwenda said TRA has continued investing in digital customs infrastructure and integrated cargo management systems to simplify trade procedures and improve operational efficiency. Mr Mwenda said the authority has also expanded customs services through single-window clearance systems designed to reduce delays and improve transparency in cargo processing.

“We have continued implementing reforms aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and trade facilitation through digital customs systems,” he said. Analysts say efficient customs administration has become increasingly important for countries seeking to position themselves as regional logistics and investment hubs, particularly as supply chains become more digitised and trade volumes continue growing.

Industry experts note that inefficient customs procedures remain among the major contributors to high trade costs across Africa, affecting business competitiveness and slowing regional integration efforts. The meeting is also expected to strengthen collaboration among member states in combating smuggling, counterfeit trade and other forms of illicit cross-border activities that continue to undermine government revenues.

For Tanzania, hosting the WCO ESA meeting reinforces the country’s ambition to position itself as a regional trade gateway through investments in ports, railways and logistics infrastructure. Delegates are expected to continue technical discussions on customs modernisation strategies and policy coordination throughout the meeting.

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Same. Preliminary findings by geological experts investigating land subsidence in Marieni Village, Chome Ward, Same District in Kilimanjaro Region, have shown the area is unsuitable for human settlement due to its unstable soil structure, which poses a serious risk to residents.

The findings follow a recent assessment conducted after cracks appeared in several houses as a result of ground movement in the village. So far, 10 households have abandoned their homes, while one church building has been rendered unusable after developing large cracks linked to the shifting ground.

Following the incident, affected residents have moved their families and belongings to temporary shelters provided by relatives and friends as they await the government’s decision on the future of the area. When The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, visited the village on April 1, 2026, it found one church building abandoned after its walls developed deep cracks, while the floor also showed signs of sinking.

Speaking to Mwananchi on May 14, 2026, the Geological Survey of Tanzania Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ally Samaje, said investigations revealed that the soil layer stretching from the surface to the hard rock beneath is weak and unstable, placing residents’ lives at risk. He said the area is therefore unsuitable for residential settlement and would instead be more appropriate for agricultural activities because there is no major underground pressure affecting farming operations.

“In the investigation we conducted, preliminary findings show the area has a thick layer of soft soil, while hard rocks are located much deeper underground. As a result, houses are built on unstable soil.

When the soil absorbs water, it easily shifts or moves, causing land subsidence and sinking houses,” he said. Mr Samaje added that the hilly terrain in the area further increases the risk of erosion and land movement.

“The area is more suitable for agricultural activities because there is no major danger in that regard. However, it is unsafe and not advisable for people to continue living and constructing houses there because the soil is unstable,” he added.

He further said the institution had already submitted preliminary findings to district authorities to help inform residents and ensure precautionary measures are taken to avert possible disasters. “As we continue preparing the final report, precautionary measures must be taken.

We have already informed district leaders so they can alert residents and help prevent harm and possible disasters,” said Mr Samaje. One resident, Ms Marry Godfrey, said villagers remained uncertain about what would happen next and appealed to the government to identify alternative settlement areas should permanent relocation become necessary.

“Where we are now, we still do not know what will happen regarding this area. We have only secured temporary shelter with relatives.

What we are waiting for is the government’s statement on whether we will return to our homes or not,” she said. Another resident, Ms Cathbert Wilfred, said villagers were awaiting the government’s final decision on whether they would be allowed to continue living in the area or be relocated elsewhere.

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In biblical hermeneutics, there is a principle known as the “Law of First Mention”. It posits that the first time a concept is mentioned in the text, it carries a fundamental weight, establishing a pattern or a root principle that governs everything that follows.

If we apply this theological lens to the cartography of the city of Dar es Salaam, we find ourselves standing at the gates of Buguruni. To understand the chaos of our modern sprawl–the “uholela” that defines our outskirts–we must go to the origins.

Buguruni is not just another ward: it is the first mention of unplanned urbanism in Tanzania. Solve the Buguruni issue, and you can find a blueprint of the nation’s urban crisis.

A tale of three cities The history of Dar was written in the ink of segregation. During the colonial era, the city was a trinity of racial and economic enclaves.

Oysterbay was the sanctuary of the Whites, Upanga and Posta were the domain of the Asians, and Kariakoo was designated for the Swahili–the African pulse of the city. The birth of Kariakoo itself was an act of colonial convenience.

In the 1910s, a sizable market existed in Upanga. However, the colonial masters, sensitive to the “inconvenience” of the Asians, relocated the market to Kariakoo.

This shift sparked a commercial explosion. Kariakoo drew Africans from across the territory, becoming so successful that it eventually lured back the Asian merchants into the Swahili section.

The city planners were meticulous with Kariakoo and Ilala. These wards were surveyed, gridded, and drained.

But as the population surged, the planning stopped at the border. People overflowed into the neighbouring lands, and the government simply looked away.

That silence was the birth of Buguruni–the city’s oldest slum. It was the exact moment where uholela began, later creeping like a slow-moving vine into Vingunguti and beyond.

The geography of the jungle By the 1960s, Buguruni was the extent of the city. Beyond it lay the wild.

To younger residents today, it is hard to imagine that just 60 years ago, Kinyerezi was a lion-infested forest. Even in the 1990s, it was still a village.

If you lived in those areas and wanted an education–you moved to the city. Buguruni developed alongside Uhuru Road, one of the first tarmacked arteries in the country, terminating at Mandela Road.

Because of the lack of planning, the area matured into a dense, informal labyrinth. Today, the original homeowners are elderly or gone, and the ward is now a sea of tenants.

The demographic remains true to its roots: Buguruni is the catchment for the migrant worker, the kibarua arriving from mkoani with a dream and a suitcase. They seek proximity to the centre.

Here, the cost of life is squeezed to its barest essentials. You can still find a room for a monthly rent of Sh30,000 today.

For many, it is simply a place to lay their head at night because the greatest asset of Buguruni is not the roof, but the walking distance to the city centre. The high cost of the outskirts Compare this to the modern middle class.

In search of “amenities” and “status,” they have fled to places such as Mbweni–30 kilometres away. They pay a heavy price for this distance, not just in fuel, but in the loss of productivity.

A professional living in Mbweni loses at least three hours a day on the road. That is 15 hours a week.

We are burning our most valuable human capital in the gridlocks of our roads. Meanwhile, a place like Buguruni stares at us from just 4 kilometres away from Kariakoo, and 7 kilometres from Posta.

From Buguruni, one can walk to Kariakoo with ease. It is the ultimate “low-hanging fruit” for urban renewal.

The 400-hectare opportunity The question, then, is: what do we do with Buguruni? If it represents the origin of our challenge, it must also become the starting point of our response–and that response cannot be incremental. Seen clearly, Buguruni is not just a slum but a 400-hectare inner-city corridor, minutes from the commercial heart of Dar.

From Malapa to Sheli, the area spans roughly 1.5 kilometres and houses about 70,000 people in nearly 10,000 largely dilapidated buildings.

That is not a problem. It is an opportunity.

If we were to re-imagine Buguruni through the lens of modern, high-density planning, it can comfortably accommodate hundreds of thousands in vertical apartments. This will be the city within a city catering to the working class–young professionals in the early days of their careers.

This will eliminate the Sh5,000 daily commute and replace it with a 25-minute walk. This is not just about real estate: it is about reclaiming the soul of the city.

Buguruni has been a victim of poor planning longer than any other part of Tanzania. So, we go back to the “Law of First Mention” and we realise that the fix for our national urban crisis must start where the crisis began.

A regenerated Buguruni would serve as a lighthouse for the rest of the country. We shouldn’t push people to the edges while we can build a city right here where it belongs.

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Kampala. The East African Development Bank has unveiled a $13 million fund targeting women and youth-led businesses across East Africa, as the regional lender also announced changes in its top leadership.

According to the bank statement, the new facility, announced during the bank’s Governing Council meeting in Kampala, is aimed at expanding access to finance for enterprises led by women and young entrepreneurs through partner financial institutions across member states. The initiative forms part of EADB’s 20242028 Strategic Plan, which focuses on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development in the region.

The announcement came as the bank reported a strong financial performance for the year ended December 2025, with profit before tax rising by 51 percent to $16.93 million from $11.20 million recorded in the previous year. Loan disbursements also increased sharply by 140 percent, while outstanding loans rose by 52 percent at the close of the financial year, reflecting stronger lending activity and improved operational performance.

Outgoing Governing Council chairperson and Uganda’s Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Matia Kasaija, said the performance demonstrated the bank’s growing capacity to mobilise resources and finance projects across strategic sectors in member states. “This strong performance is a testament to EADB’s enhanced capacity to mobilise resources and deploy innovative financing solutions.

In the past year, we supported a more diverse range of projects across key sectors in our member states,” he said. He added that the bank remained committed to implementing its five-year strategic plan while expanding its investment portfolio and deepening its development impact across the region.

Mr Kasaija said the newly established fund underscored the bank’s recognition of the role played by women and young people in driving economic growth and innovation in East Africa. “We recognise that youth and women are critical drivers of economic growth and innovation across East Africa.

The establishment of this fund is a strategic step towards scaling enterprises led by these groups through prudent and targeted financing,” he said. According to him, a significant share of the fund will be financed through the bank’s profits, while management has also been tasked with mobilising additional resources from development partners to ensure sustainability and broaden its reach.

The meeting brought together senior government officials and members of the EADB Board of Directors from member states, including Rwanda’s Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, John Mbadi, and Tanzania’s Minister for Finance, Khamis Mussa Omar. The session also marked leadership changes within the institution in line with the bank’s charter.

Mr Murangwa was confirmed as the new chairperson of the Governing Council, succeeding Mr Kasaija, while Uganda’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ramathan Ggoobi, was appointed chairperson of the Board of Directors for a two-year term. He replaces Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Dr Natu Mwamba.

Established in 1967 under the Treaty for East African Cooperation, EADB was mandated to provide financial and technical assistance to projects that contribute to the region’s socio-economic development. The institution was later re-established under a new Charter in 1980, expanding its mandate to offer broader financial services aimed at supporting regional integration and economic growth.

Today, the bank is jointly owned by Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, alongside development finance and commercial institutions, and continues to play a key role in financing regional development projects. .

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank has launched a new green financing strategy aimed at helping farmers and agribusinesses adapt to the growing effects of climate change through increased access to climate-resilient agricultural financing.

The Green Agri-Finance Strategy 20252027 seeks to support environmentally sustainable farming practices while strengthening food production, livelihoods and environmental protection across the country. The initiative comes when many farmers in Tanzania continue to grapple with unpredictable rainfall, prolonged dry spells and floods that have disrupted agricultural production and reduced incomes.

Speaking during the launch, Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Hamad Yussuf Masauni, said climate change remains a major threat to agriculture, food security, water resources and livelihoods. He noted that financial institutions have a critical role to play in helping farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions.

“Sustainable agriculture and environmental protection must go hand in hand,” he said, adding that financial institutions have a responsibility to support investments that enable farmers to continue producing food while protecting the environment for future generations. Mr Masauni commended TADB for integrating environmental sustainability into agricultural financing, saying the move supports government efforts to build a resilient and sustainable economy.

He also stressed the importance of collaboration among the government, banks, development partners, researchers, civil society organisations and the private sector in addressing climate financing challenges. “Building a strong agriculture sector requires cooperation, practical solutions and sustainable financing,” he said.

TADB Managing Director Frank Nyabundege said the bank’s new strategy is intended to help farmers and agribusinesses sustain production despite increasing climate-related risks. “As an agricultural development bank, we remain committed to supporting farmers and agribusinesses across the country.

Through this strategy, we want to increase financing for projects that improve food production, protect the environment and improve people’s livelihoods,” he said. Under the strategy, the bank plans to finance projects involving irrigation, renewable energy, water conservation, sustainable livestock keeping, fisheries and environmentally friendly farming technologies.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, supporting millions of livelihoods, but warned that changing weather patterns continue to affect productivity in many regions. Mr Nyabundege noted that the strategy builds on the bank’s decade-long experience in agricultural financing and responding to evolving needs within the sector.

According to him, TADB has disbursed more than Sh1.42 trillion in loans over the past 10 years, including about Sh67 billion directed towards projects linked to climate-related challenges. The bank said the financing has benefited more than 2.

6 million smallholder farmers and supported over 812 agribusinesses operating across various agricultural value chains. Mr Nyabundege also acknowledged support from President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration in strengthening the bank’s operations and expanding financing to the agricultural sector.

He said partnerships would remain essential in ensuring successful implementation of the strategy. “We will continue working closely with the government, development partners and other stakeholders to support programmes that help farmers cope with climate change,” he said.

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By Anna Tibaijuka Last week I explained why Tanzania remains underinsured and why insurance penetration is still very low. The key message was simple: we are living with high risks but very little protection.

Today I am address a widespread misunderstanding that is quietly damaging the insurance sector: The belief that insurance companies have unlimited money. This belief is not correct–and if it continues, it will undermine the entire system.

Insurance companies do not create money. The funds used to pay claims come from premiums paid by ordinary people: workers, farmers, traders, and business owners.

In simple terms, insurance is a pool of money contributed by the public to support those who suffer losses. It is not free money.

It is shared money. Insurance works on a simple principle: many people contribute small amounts so that the few who suffer losses can be compensated.

For example, if 1,000 people contribute Sh100,000 each, the total fund becomes Sh100 million. If only a few people suffer accidents, the fund is sufficient to compensate them.

This system works because not everyone suffers loss at the same time. It is based on what economists call high risk but low probability.

Events such as accidents, illness, fire, and death are serious, but they do not happen to everyone at once. This allows risks to be shared across many people.

However, the system depends on balance. It cannot work if claims become too many, too large, or exaggerated.

No system can pay out more than what it collects. In Tanzania today, we are seeing a growing problem of unrealistic claims.

Some claimants expect very large compensation, sometimes hundreds of millions of shillings, regardless of the level of insurance cover. This is especially common in third-party motor accident claims.

There is an important distinction that must be understood. A court may award compensation based on the damage suffered.

But an insurance policy pays only up to the limit agreed in the contract. If the policy limit is Sh100 million and the court awards Sh300 million, the insurer will pay only Sh100 million.

The remaining amount may be the responsibility of the vehicle owner or driver. This distinction between legal liability and insurance liability is not well understood, and this misunderstanding is creating unrealistic expectations, prolonged court disputes, and pressure on the insurance system.

If insurance is treated as if it has unlimited capacity, the consequences will be serious. Premiums will rise, insurance will become unaffordable, companies may withdraw from the market, and fewer people will be insured.

Ultimately, it is the public who will suffer. There is therefore a need for greater understanding of insurance principles within the legal system.

Courts, lawyers, and claimants need to appreciate that insurance is a contract-based system with defined limits. It is not an open-ended compensation mechanism.

Another challenge is what economists call moral hazard. This occurs when people take advantage of insurance because they believe someone else will always pay.

It can lead to exaggeration of claims, careless behaviour, and even fraud. This weakens the system for everyone.

Many people also rely on third-party claims after accidents instead of protecting themselves. This is risky.

Third-party claims take time, may be disputed, and may not be fully paid. That is why individuals should consider taking personal insurance, such as health insurance, personal accident insurance, and life insurance.

These provide direct and reliable protection. Insurance is not just a business.

It is a collective system of protection. When one person is compensated, the money comes from others.

Therefore, excessive or unrealistic claims affect all contributors. The way forward is clear.

Tanzania needs stronger public education on how insurance works, better training within the legal system, control of fraud and exaggerated claims, and greater promotion of personal insurance products. Insurance companies are not unlimited sources of money.

They are custodians of funds contributed by the public. If the system is misunderstood or misused, it will become expensive, shrink, or fail.

But if it is respected and properly managed, it will protect society. Next week I will examine how Tanzania can build a strong, inclusive, and sustainable insurance sector for the future.

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Dar es Salaam. Rising numbers of Tanzanians being diagnosed with depression have raised concern among experts, who link the trend to economic pressure, changing social structures and limited access to mental health services.

Government data presented in Parliament on May 11 show that 1,709 people were screened for mental health conditions between July 2025 and March 2026. Of these, 1,362 were diagnosed with depression and placed on treatment. Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa told lawmakers that the figures reflect ongoing community screening and early intervention efforts aimed at improving mental health care.

He said the government has also expanded training for health workers to improve early identification and management of mental health conditions, with a focus on community-level care. Despite these efforts, specialists say the numbers point to a growing but largely under-recognised mental health challenge.

Sociologists and psychologists cite economic hardship, unemployment, family breakdown and social pressure as key drivers of depression, particularly among young people and urban residents. A sociologist at the University of Dar es Salaam, Ms Faudhia Mfaume, said financial strain and rising social expectations are contributing to emotional exhaustion.

“Many people are struggling to survive economically while meeting family and social demands. This creates pressure that can develop into depression,” she said.

She noted that weakening family and community support systems have left many individuals without traditional safety nets for coping with stress. Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) sociologist Mr Alfani Mduge pointed to youth unemployment and prolonged job searches as major risk factors.

“Many young people spend years without stable income or employment, which leads to frustration and hopelessness,” he said. He also highlighted stigma around mental illness as a barrier to treatment, noting that some people still associate depression with spiritual causes.

SAUT lecturer Ms Linah Kabula said social media, relationship conflicts and loneliness are also contributing to emotional strain. “People compare their lives to unrealistic standards online, which increases feelings of inadequacy,” she said.

Clinical psychologist Dr Kelvin Kiberiti of Bugando Medical Centre said untreated stress is one of the main pathways to depression. “When stress is prolonged without support, it affects emotional stability and daily functioning,” he said.

He called for stronger mental health services at lower-level health facilities to improve access to care. At Muhimbili National Hospital, Dr Isaac Lema said substance abuse, financial pressure and family breakdown are increasingly linked to mental health cases.

“Mental health challenges are often connected to alcohol use, debt stress and unstable relationships,” he said. He urged integration of mental health services into general healthcare to improve early detection and treatment.

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