Category: The Citizen

Tanzania’s long-distance running star Alphonce Simbu is set to lead one of the strongest men’s fields ever assembled for the TCS Sydney Marathon when the race takes place on August 30, 2026.

Simbu, one of Tanzania’s most decorated distance runners, will be among the headline attractions at the prestigious event after organisers confirmed him as part of the elite men’s field.

The Arusha-based athlete heads to Australia in excellent form following another outstanding season on the international circuit.

He boasts a personal best of 2:02:47, placing him among the fastest marathon runners in the world, and recently reinforced his credentials with a second-place finish at the 2026 Boston Marathon, one of the six World Marathon Majors.

His consistent performances have made him one of Africa’s leading marathon runners and one of the athletes expected to challenge for victory in Sydney.

The race is expected to feature a highly competitive field, with Simbu lining up against several of the world’s top marathon runners in what organisers have described as one of the deepest elite men’s fields ever assembled on Australian soil.

The quality of the field is expected to produce a fast race as athletes battle not only for victory but also for valuable ranking points ahead of major international competitions.

For Simbu, the Sydney Marathon provides another opportunity to build on an impressive career that has seen him consistently compete against the world’s best over the past decade.

His recent performances have underlined his ability to compete with the sport’s elite, and expectations are high that he can once again challenge for a podium finish.

The TCS Sydney Marathon has continued to grow in stature in recent years, attracting some of the world’s leading distance runners as it cements its place among the most prestigious road races on the international calendar.

A strong performance in Sydney would further enhance Simbu’s growing reputation as one of Tanzania’s greatest marathon runners and provide another significant milestone in a career that has already delivered numerous international achievements.

Meanwhile, contrary to earlier speculation, fellow Tanzanian runner Magdalena Shauri has not been included in the official elite entry list for this year’s race.

Shauri had been linked with a possible appearance in Sydney, but the organisers’ confirmed elite roster does not feature her among the athletes set to compete in the women’s elite race.

Tanzania has continued to strengthen its reputation in international road running through athletes such as Simbu, whose consistent performances have kept the country’s flag flying high at major global competitions.

All eyes will now be on Sydney on August 30 as Simbu seeks to add another memorable performance to his distinguished marathon career and once again demonstrate Tanzania’s growing strength in long-distance running.

Minister for Transport Prof Makame Mbarawa has outlined a new vision for the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), centred on modernising infrastructure, introducing new technology and strengthening management systems to restore the railway’s competitiveness.

Prof Mbarawa said the transformation plan is aimed at positioning TAZARA as a strategic transport link connecting the Port of Dar es Salaam with Zambia and the wider Southern African region.

Tanzania’s mining sector has received a major vote of confidence after AngloGold Ashanti’s Geita Gold Mine secured a $500 million (about Sh1.3 trillion) financing facility arranged by Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), strengthening funding support for one of the country’s largest gold-producing operations.

The financing facility, announced by Nedbank CIB on July 15, 2026, is expected to provide funding certainty for the Geita operation as Tanzania continues to rely on gold as a key source of export earnings and foreign exchange.

The Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) has been commended for introducing a digital system that enables effective tracking and follow-up of patients receiving treatment during medical camps.

The minister of information, arts, culture, and sports, Paul Makonda, said the system has improved continuity of care by allowing doctors to access patients’ medical histories, including previous diagnoses, tests conducted, and treatments provided.

He made the remarks during a seven-day free medical camp in Arusha, organized by the Arusha Regional Commissioner’s Office in collaboration with his office as Member of Parliament for Arusha Urban, the Ministry of Health, national referral hospitals, specialized health institutions, and private hospitalsMakonda said the system ensures patients do not lose access to follow-up care after medical camps end.

‘JKCI has established an effective system that tracks patients treated at each camp. When a patient returns, doctors can immediately access their records, know when they were treated, the condition diagnosed, and the steps already taken,’ he said.

He encouraged other health facilities to adopt similar digital solutions to improve patient management and avoid restarting medical assessments whenever patients attend different camps.

JKCI Executive Director Dr Peter Kisenge said the institute participated in the Arusha camp for the third time, bringing a team of specialists including cardiologists, a pediatric cardiologist, nutrition experts, and modern diagnostic equipment.

‘We have brought more than four cardiologists, a pediatric cardiologist, electrocardiogram (ECG) machines, and echocardiography equipment that uses artificial intelligence technology,’ he said.

He added that JKCI experts were educating citizens on preventing heart disease and other non-communicable diseases through the ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign, which encourages people to monitor key health indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, heart rate, oxygen levels, weight, and height.

Dr Kisenge said early health checks can help detect risks that may lead to stroke, heart failure, and heart attacks, allowing timely intervention.

He also revealed that JKCI introduced “Dozee,” a patient monitoring technology placed beneath a mattress that collects and analyzes vital health information without attaching multiple wires to a patient’s body.

The technology monitors indicators such as heart rate, breathing patterns, and blood oxygen levels and can alert healthcare providers when a patient’s condition changes and requires further attention.

Dr Kisenge said JKCI continues to invest in advanced technologies for treating heart and blood vessel diseases including procedures involving the heart’s electrical system and robotic-assisted surgeries.

Uganda is due to discharge its last Ebola patient on Thursday, triggering a 42-day countdown that could see the country declared free of the virus, a spokesperson for the government said.

The wider outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in May, has caused 2,011 confirmed cases of infection and 754 confirmed deaths in the ?DRC as of Wednesday, according to data from the government.

An online Ugandan health ministry portal on Thursday showed the number of recoveries stood at 17, with one current admission in an isolation unit and two deaths. It said five cases were locally acquired and 15 were imported.

All cases are linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain and the WHO has said it is the ?third-worst outbreak on record.

Alan Kasujja, a Ugandan government spokesperson, said in a post on X late on Wednesday that a patient would be released from an isolation unit at the Mulago National Referral ?Hospital, located in the country’s capital, on Thursday morning.

Kasujja said the patient’s discharge would start the clock on the World Health Organization’s required ?waiting period before an outbreak can be declared to be finished.

“When that happens, Uganda starts counting down,” Kasujja said. “If 42 ?days pass without a single new case, WHO guidelines stipulate that we will be declared Ebola free.”

The government has urged development partners, local government authorities (LGAs) and the private sector to sustain reforms introduced under the WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, saying long-term access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services depends on strong institutions, effective coordination and reliable financing rather than infrastructure alone.

The call was made in Morogoro yesterday during the programme’s official close, where more than 80 representatives from government institutions, development partners, and civil society organisations reviewed its achievements and lessons.

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, the ministry’s senior statistician in the Department of Policy and Planning, Ms Diana Kimario, said the programme’s conclusion marked a transition from donor support to national ownership. “The real measure of success will be how well we sustain and scale the pilots, systems, partnerships, and innovations established by this programme,” she said, adding that the government would integrate the lessons into national planning and budgeting.

Implemented by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the programme operated in Dodoma, Arusha, and Simiyu regions through partnerships with the Ministry of Water, the Ministry of Health, and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (Ruwasa).

Rather than focusing solely on infrastructure, the initiative strengthened planning, management, and service delivery by building the capacity of local institutions to manage water systems after construction.

Ms Kimario said the programme supported eight priority areas, including professionalising rural water supply through asset mapping and service clustering, strengthening the capacity of Ruwasa and the Ministry of Health, improving electronic data systems for evidence-based decision-making, and developing phased rural service regulation plans.

Ministry of Water Director of Monitoring and Planning Diana Kimario speaks on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during the official closing ceremony of the WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme in Morogoro. The event brought together more than 80 representatives from government institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to review the programme’s achievements and lessons. PHOTO | COURTESY

‘It also promoted district-wide safety-managed sanitation planning, integrated climate resilience and gender equality and social inclusion into service delivery, strengthened sector monitoring, and reviewed reporting and service delivery monitoring systems,’ she said.

Ms Kimario said the programme had demonstrated that sustainable WASH services depended on strengthening systems that support service delivery rather than simply constructing infrastructure.

She urged LGAs to institutionalise the tools and approaches developed under the programme and strengthen monitoring to improve accountability.

She also called on development partners to adopt systems-strengthening approaches in future initiatives, including programmes supported by the World Bank and Unicef.

SNV Water Sector Lead Olivier Germain said the programme’s formal closure would not diminish its long-term contribution to the sector.

“The knowledge, partnerships, and systemic improvements achieved through WS4H will continue to support the nation’s efforts to provide reliable and sustainable services for all citizens,” he said.

A Dodoma resident, Ms Julieth Kafanabo, said one of the programme’s major achievements was strengthening the capacity of local authorities and health institutions to improve service delivery while promoting climate resilience, gender equality, and social inclusion.

“Women, young people, and vulnerable groups were increasingly represented in decision-making,” she said.

As Tanzania pursues Vision 2050, stakeholders said the partnerships, skills, and institutional reforms established through the programme should be sustained to accelerate progress towards universal access to safe, climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

A stakeholders’ platform has been launched for the north-eastern marine area of Unguja Island to coordinate and oversee the development of sustainable ocean activities after challenges and opportunities facing the marine sector were identified.

The challenges include mangrove destruction, water pollution, the impacts of climate change, and limited community participation in conservation decision-making.

The platform will also focus on opportunities in sustainable fishing, ocean literacy, investment, research, youth employment, and broader coastal community development.

It has been established under the Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu (Together, Let Us Conserve Our Ocean) project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for pound 11.4 million (Sh33.34 billion).

Speaking on Thursday, July 16, 2026, during the launch of the platform in Unguja, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mr Zahro Kassim Al-Harous, said the initiative had come at the right time.

His speech was read on his behalf by Pemba Officer-in-Charge, Dr Salim Mohamed Hamza.

‘This platform has come at the right time. It is evidence that we are strengthening these efforts by combining our strengths, knowledge, and resources through a unified system of cooperation,’ she said.

Mr Al-Harous said the platform would improve coordination, strengthen communication between the government and stakeholders, promote experience sharing, and ensure decisions consider citizens’ interests, development, the blue economy, and environmental conservation.

The platform has been established based on principles of inclusion and accountability, with a main committee, secretariat, executive committee, and technical committees.

He said the initiative would help create a strong marine resource management system that balances the interests of natural resources, the environment, and communities.

‘The vision of the blue economy is to see Zanzibar’s ocean continue to be a source of prosperity for citizens. We are implementing these activities in partnership with the Great Global Initiative, whose goal is to ensure that by 2030 at least 30 percent of marine areas are conserved,’ he said.

Project Coordinator, Dr Igulu Mathias, said the initiative seeks to promote marine resource conservation, coastal forest protection, sustainable use of plastic products, and improved research and data collection.

He said the project aims to support the development of effective policies to manage the value chain of plastic products while working with research institutions and conservation organisations to strengthen management capacity.

The four-year project, running from 2024 to 2028, has a budget of pound 11.4 million (about Sh33.34 billion).

Zanzibar Department of Marine Conservation Director, Dr Makame Omar Makame, said the platform was established based on a shared understanding that marine and coastal resources are key to the livelihoods and development of Zanzibar’s people.

‘Our ocean provides employment, but it also provides food, income, and various economic, social, and geological opportunities,’ he said.Dr Makame said coastal marine ecosystems play an important role in conserving biodiversity, protecting beaches from climate change impacts, and ensuring the availability of vital ecological services for present and future generations.

Seaweed farmer from Kidoti, Ms Rukia Haji Juma, said communities benefit from the ocean as it provides income to support livelihoods while teaching them the importance of environmental conservation

Tanzania’s oldest university has achieved what many education experts describe as a significant milestone for the country’s higher education sector after emerging as one of the best university in East Africa for graduate employability in the latest QS World University Rankings (QS-WUR).

The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) scored 85.3 in the Employment Outcomes indicator, ranking 131st globally among 1,504 universities that qualified for the rankings from more than 8,800 institutions assessed worldwide.

Defending champions Dar City face mounting pressure at the top of the Basketball Dar es Salaam League (BDL) as Stein Warriors and Pazi continue to close the gap in what is shaping up to be an exciting three-way title race.

Dar City lead the standings with 18 points from nine matches, while Stein Warriors and Pazi are tied on 17 points after playing the same number of games.

The defending champions have also dominated statistically, scoring 763 points while conceding only 412, giving them the league’s best offensive and defensive record. Stein Warriors have scored 693 points and conceded 445, while Pazi have registered 625 points and allowed 504.

The battle for top spot comes at a time when players have an added incentive to win following sports betting firm betPawa’s renewal of its sponsorship of the league through the popular Locker Room Bonus (LRB) program.

The renewed partnership will see basketball players competing in the 2026 BDL season share an estimated Sh588.9 million, with every victory bringing an instant financial reward.

Under the program, each player in a winning team receives Sh88,750, while members of the technical bench also earn bonuses after every league victory.

A total of 12 players and four technical officials, including two coaches, from every winning team qualify for the payments, making every match more rewarding and increasing the competition for league honours.

Speaking during the sponsorship signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, betPawa Regional Manager for Southern and Eastern Africa, Bwalya Noah, said the company remains committed to investing directly in players.

‘At betPawa, we believe success on the court should create value for the people who make it happen.

That belief gave birth to the LRB. When a team wins, the players and technical staff who earned that victory should receive an immediate reward,’ she said.

Noah said the initiative recognises players’ efforts, rewards excellence and ensures outstanding performances translate into tangible financial benefits.

She added that the program has become one of Africa’s leading sports development initiatives, benefiting thousands of athletes in Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria and Cameroon, while hundreds of Tanzanian basketball players have also earned bonuses.

Basketball Dar es Salaam League president Shendu Hamis welcomed the renewed sponsorship, saying it has significantly improved the league’s competitiveness.

‘This partnership continues to bring real value to our league. It motivates players to perform at their best because every victory now carries an immediate financial reward,’ said Hamis.

He noted that the Locker Room Bonus has changed the mindset of clubs and players, encouraging professionalism while raising the overall standard of competition.

Meanwhile, betPawa East Africa Marketing Coordinator Nassoro Mungaya said the company will continue working with the Basketball Dar es Salaam League and the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) to strengthen the sport through better administration, player registration, match reporting and sustainable investment.

The long-held dreams of Songosongo island residents in Kilwa District, Lindi Region, to secure reliable transport will finally materialise following the commencement of a modern ferry construction project designed to provide safe travel and boost the local economy.

The Sh5.7 billion ferry, fully funded by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is being constructed by the contractor Qiro Group Ltd.

Speaking on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during the project’s official launch at the Malindi port slipway in the Urban West Region of Unguja, Lindi Regional Commissioner Zainab Telack said the ferry would bring immense relief to the islanders who have long endured severe transport hurdles.

She noted that despite the island’s critical importance to the national economy, driven by its natural gas reserves and luxury tourist hotels, transportation has remained perilously unreliable, with residents sometimes getting lost at sea while using makeshift vessels.

“This island is vital to our economy; it produces substantial natural gas and serves as a premium tourism destination boasting large hotels. Until now, our tourists have strictly relied on air travel,” Ms Telack stated.

“We are now confident that this modern ferry will offer tourists an alternative, safe route to explore our country. Tourism drives our economy. Therefore, alongside providing safe transit for Songosongo residents, we are unlocking the doors to accessible tourism on these islands, which will ultimately boost the economy for both the citizens and the nation at large,” said the regional commissioner.

Songosongo Ward councillor Hassan Mbai said the island’s 5,600 residents feel as though they have been reborn, noting that since independence in 1961, they have relied on highly unreliable and dangerous maritime transport.

“To tell the truth, if we were not in paradise, then we must be near its gates. God has miraculously protected us all these years, even though our local ferries were incredibly unsafe,” Mr Mbai reflected.

He added that the dire transport situation forced government experts and institutional officials to execute local projects remotely via phone calls, as reaching the island was considered too hazardous.

“On behalf of the residents of Songosongo and Kilwa, we are overjoyed today. We firmly believe our travel safety will drastically improve once this modern vessel is completed,” he said.

For his part, acting TPDC executive director, Mr Francis Mwakapalila noted that the corporation deeply recognises the immense economic and strategic contributions of Songosongo island through its continuous natural gas production.

“Consequently, this investment forms a core part of our CSR strategy to uplift the welfare and living standards of the communities surrounding our project areas,” said Mr Mwakapalila.

He revealed that TPDC allocated Sh5.76 billion for the project, with 100 percent of the funding derived from the corporation’s effective internal revenue management, ensuring that national energy resources directly benefit the citizens.

Furthermore, the Director of Ferries at the Tanzania Electrical and Mechanical Services Agency (Temesa), Mr Lukombe King’ombe, noted that alongside the Songosongo project, the agency is managing the construction of six other similar vessels to serve various regions across Mainland Tanzania.

“We are currently constructing a new ferry for the Mafia-Nyamisati route, which will serve as the second operational vessel there. Additionally, we are building five other ferries designated to serve communities across Lake Victoria,” explained Mr King’ombe.

A consulting engineer from the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), Mr Lazaro Isaac, detailed that the new ferry will measure 28.8 metres in length and 8 metres in width.

It will boast the capacity to carry 54 seated passengers, two small vehicles, and an estimated 10 tonnes of general cargo.

He noted that the eight-month project commenced following an advance payment of Sh1.5 billion on June 16, 2024.

Execution has currently reached 31 percent, and the contractor is expected to complete the vessel by February 2027, as per the contract.

Wrapping up the launch, Qiro Group Ltd managing director, Mr Yang Hao, popularly known locally as ‘Makame Mchina’, assured stakeholders that his company is fully committed to delivering the ferry on schedule while strictly adhering to all stipulated quality and safety requirements.