Category: The Citizen

Zambia’s Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, hosted Africa’s richest Indian, Prateek Suri, in a prestigious courtesy meeting that highlighted the growing importance of leadership diplomacy and mutual respect in global affairs. With a net worth approaching $2 billion, Suri is widely regarded as one of Africa’s youngest and most influential business leaders.

However, his meeting with the Vice President was not driven by commercial objectives. Instead, it was a symbolic engagement rooted in appreciation, dialogue, and shared values.

The meeting was conducted in a cordial and welcoming atmosphere, reflecting Zambia’s tradition of openness and hospitality. Both leaders engaged in thoughtful conversation on leadership, national identity, and the role of vision in shaping prosperous societies.

Suri spoke warmly about his recent visit to Zambia, recalling his admiration for the country’s people, culture, and governance. “Zambia reflects confidence and dignity,” he said.

“The clarity of leadership and the unity of its people are truly remarkable.” He noted that his experiences in the country had strengthened his respect for Zambia’s development journey and reinforced his belief in Africa’s rising global influence.

Vice President Nalumango, in turn, shared her vision for building a strong, inclusive, and resilient nation. She emphasised her focus on empowering youth, strengthening social cohesion, and promoting ethical governance.

“Our responsibility is to lead with purpose and compassion,” she stated. “We believe in engaging with leaders who recognise the importance of people-centred development.

” She also highlighted Zambia’s commitment to maintaining stability and fostering positive international relationships, positioning the country as a respected voice in regional and global affairs. Analysts described the meeting as an example of “soft diplomacy” in action–where trust, respect, and dialogue take precedence over formal negotiations.

Such interactions, they noted, play a crucial role in enhancing a nation’s global image and strengthening cross-border understanding. For Suri, the visit represented another step in his ongoing engagement with African leadership based on learning and mutual respect.

His approach continues to resonate with leaders who value sincerity and long-term relationship-building. As the meeting concluded, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue and cooperation.

The prestigious courtesy interaction stood as a reminder that true leadership is defined not only by influence, but by humility, respect, and shared vision. .

By Bryan Bwana Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) drives economic opportunity for millions across Africa’s Great Lakes and East African region. From gold and gemstones to tantalum and tin, ASM contributes significantly to national exports, rural livelihoods, and economic inclusion.

Yet, despite its importance, the sector remains largely informal, environmentally hazardous, socially risky, and under-regulated. This contradiction not only undermines the sector’s long-term viability but also blocks access to global markets that increasingly demand responsible and traceable minerals.

A regional ASM compliance framework, harmonized across East African governments–can transform ASM into a formal, equitable, and sustainable engine of growth. Drawing on global best practice and emerging realities, such a framework would enable environmental protection, human rights compliance, safer operations, stronger markets, and regional integration.

Why the Great Lakes region needs a regional ASM compliance framework ASM accounts for a substantial share of minerals exported by the Great Lakes countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It supports millions of rural livelihoods, contributes significant foreign exchange earnings, and drives local entrepreneurship and business linkages.

However, lack of formal compliance means that huge mineral revenues leak outside formal systems, environmental degradation persists and workers lack protections or social safety nets. Without structured compliance, ASM’s contribution will remain unstable, predatory, and undervalued.

Demand-side pressures Are Increasing Globally Operators and exporters are now required to meet international standards if they want to access global supply chains. Standards such as the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals, World Gold Council’s Responsible Gold Mining Principles, Fairmined Certification etc require traceability, environmental compliance, human rights protections, and socio-economic safeguards.

Global buyers are increasingly rejecting untraceable minerals, especially if linked to child labour, conflict, mercury pollution, or environmental harm. The Great Lakes region cannot compete in global value chains without formal compliance systems.

Current national ASM regulations in the Great Lakes region differ widely. For example, licensing categories vary, environmental requirements differ, reporting obligations are inconsistent, governance and enforcement capacity vary, traceability systems are not interoperable etc.

This fragmentation constantly increases compliance costs for regional buyers, weakens enforcement capacity, allows cross-border regulatory arbitrage and limits regional data coherence. A harmonized regional framework will help build credibility, attract investment, and reduce smuggling.

ESG, Environmental and Social Risks Require Collective Action ASM operations often use rudimentary techniques that damage land, pollute water, emit mercury, and expose workers to health hazards. While some national laws exist, enforcement is weak.

Institutionalised regional standards will make environmental and social safeguards consistent, measurable and auditable. This will lead to better outcomes for the economies, workers, communities, and ecosystems.

The Great Lakes regional ASM standards framework must be informed by established global standards and adapted for ASM realities. Best Practice Principles to Inform the region’s Framework Used by responsible refiners and buyers, this guidance defines risk categories, outlines supply chain traceability and requires annual reporting.

A regional mineral traceability hub could implement a shared risk management platform. Fairmined and fairtrade certification This is a voluntary certification system that rewards ASM units for reducing environmental harm, ensure fair wages and community investment and provide price premiums to miners.

These interventions are driven by the fact that certified ASM gold has wider access to ethical buyers in Europe, North America, and Asia. IFC performance standards and ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 Though designed for large projects, these standards inform stakeholder engagement, environmental mitigation planning and health and safety principles.

All global standards are complex, and must be simplified to be adapted for ASM cooperatives and associations. The following steps outline a practical roadmap on how the Great Lakes region governments could build a Regional ASM framework; Create regional ASM body Under institutions such as the East African Community (EAC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and South Africa Development Cooperation (SADC).

This body would then be charges with drafting regional standards, coordinating implementation, facilitating compliance reporting and harmonizing licensing and data systems. Create a unified traceability and risk monitoring system A shared digital platform is instrumental in registering ASM miners, tracking mineral flows from mine to export and linking with national customs and geological information systems.

This would boost global buyer confidence. A regional standard should include: Baseline environmental protection requirements; Rehabilitation obligations for mined land; Health and safety minimum standards; Mandatory medical screening and exposure tracking.

These should be scaled for ASM realities, with tiered requirements based on scale and risk. Tiered compliance categories Not all ASM units are the same.

A tiered framework allows: Entry level compliance (basic legal registration); Environmental and traceability compliance; Voluntary certification (e.g.

, Fairmined); Formalize and Support ASM Cooperatives Governments must provide legal status to cooperatives and ASM associations. This will lead to formalisation and the advantages that could tug along like training on compliance, access to finance, shared processing facilities (e.

., mercury-free plants) etc.

This will in return increase productivity and reduce risk. Agreements for certificates of origin, environmental compliance certificates and health and safety training.

Mutual recognition would reduce paperwork and increase regional integration. Global examples of Regional Cooperation West Africa’s ECOWAS Principles ECOWAS has developed harmonized mining policies that guide member states toward aligned legal frameworks.

Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Mineral Development Strategies SADC promotes best mining practices, environmental safeguards, and regional cooperation. Colombia’s National Formalization Models While not regional, Colombia’s experience shows how coherent formalization can build certified ASM sectors that access global markets.

It is clear, global supply chains will increasingly source only traceable, responsibly mined minerals. Mobile traceability, digital health records, and satellite monitoring will make compliance accessible to ASM units.

If implemented, the Great Lakes region stands to lead globally by being one of the first regions with a harmonized ASM compliance framework. A classic of regional integration driving competitive advantage Bryan Toshi Bwana is the Founding Trustee, Umoja Conservation Trust (UCT) www.

umojaconservation.org .

Dar es Salaam. A Tanzanian justuce has been shortlisted for election to the bench of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the court elects six judges this year.

According to a statement from the ICC website, Deo John Nangela, a justice of the Court of Appeal, is among the candidates who will be elected during the Assembly of States Parties’ 25th session scheduled for December 717, 2026. Dr Nangela is listed among other candidates from Uganda, Ghana, Japan and Colombia. Justice Nangela is widely regarded as one of Tanzania’s experienced legal professionals.

Appointed to the Court of Appeal in January 2025 by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, he previously served as Principal Judge of the High Court in Sumbawanga and also worked in the Commercial Court. Before joining the Judiciary, he was Director of Business Regulation at the Fair Competition Commission.

Academically, he holds a PhD in Law from the University of Cape Town, a Master of Laws from SOAS University of London, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Dar es Salaam. He also lectured at the University of Dar es Salaam’s School of Law for nearly a decade.

His areas of expertise include commercial and competition law, electronic contracts, dispute resolution and human rights. Election process Under Article 36 of the Rome Statute, ICC judges are elected from individuals of high moral character, integrity and recognised competence, qualified to hold the highest judicial offices in their home countries.

To ensure transparency and uphold ethical standards, the Assembly of States Parties has established a permanent vetting mechanism through the Independent Oversight Mechanism, which allows confidential reporting of any allegations of misconduct against nominees. The allegations of misconduct should be submitted not later than May 31, 2026, ICC stated.

Recently, the ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mr Mame Mandiaye Niang, recently met leaders from several African states, including Tanzania, on the sidelines of the 39th summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, where discussions centred on strengthening cooperation, promoting accountability for international crimes and safeguarding victims’ rights. During the talks, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, joined counterparts from other African nations in reaffirming support for closer collaboration with the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor.

Mr Niang said the court remains ready to work “shoulder to shoulder” with African countries to combat impunity, noting that stronger national justice systems and regional partnerships are essential in addressing atrocities such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. He also stressed that victims must remain central to justice efforts, urging governments to ensure their voices are heard and their rights protected through credible legal processes.

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Let’s get straight to it. Sis, get your own money.

Not because men are wicked. Not because marriage is a scam.

Not because love is fake. But because depending 110 percent on a man for your survival is dangerous.

There is something that happens to a woman who does not have her own money. Her life shrinks.

Her options disappear. Her voice loses weight.

Not because she lacks intelligence, but because she has nothing to back her decisions. Let’s laugh small but think deeply.

He would tell you to go to hell, but you would still ask him for transport money! Hahaha you can’t even afford to go to hell without his help. He insults you, and you still have to wait for airtime just to respond.

He disrespects you, and unamezea, why? because he is the one paying for your fuel. That is not love.

That is dependency. That is a woman living someone else’s life while sacrificing her own.

Marriage is not a poverty alleviation programme. It is not a rescue mission.

It is not an employment contract. It is a partnership, but if you enter it without your own money or identity, you have no leverage.

You are not a partner. You are a dependant.

Sis, do not reduce your life to someone else’s pay cheque. Do not pause your growth because you are waiting to be chosen.

Have a life. Build a life.

Fund your own existence. Yes, you are a woman.

Yes, you can nurture, support, and love. What skill do you have? What income stream is yours? What can you afford on your own? Not “our money”.

There is a fulfilment that comes with spending money you earned with your own hands. Nothing else compares.

That money builds your confidence. Your dignity.

Your backbone. Man’s money is sweet.

Gifts are nice. But the money you earned? That one gives you life.

That one lets you breathe. That one lets you survive without asking, pleading, or begging.

If you don’t have a dime of your own, you will negotiate respect. You will tolerate nonsense.

You will shrink to exist. If you have your own money, your own life, and your own identity, disrespect becomes optional.

You are no longer stuck. You are no longer at the mercy of anyone.

Sis, get your own money. Build your own life.

Not for love. Not for marriage.

Not for anyone else. But for you.

So that if he disappears. So that if he insults you.

So that if life shifts. You can still stand.

You can still pay your own bills. You can still move, survive, and live.

You are a woman. But have a life.

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I had a rough day, and I need to rewind before taking the last lap to the place I call kwangu. Music is playing loud as usual, but, I say to myself, I’ll stomach it.

Yeah, because I’ll be engrossed in the copy of the newspaper in my hands. Just before the beer I’ve ordered has landed on the counter, an old associate (call him Abrah) appears and taps me on the shoulder.

He says hi above the cacophony of a Singeli song, and I say hi back. Abrah tries to speak to the akaunta, saying something that I guess is, “Can I have a beer?” It takes a long time before the accountant can hear what brand he’s ordering, thanks to the noise.

My beer isn’t yet opened as Abrah and I try to converse, but we can hardly hear each other. I’m placing the palm of my right hand on my bottle’s top because I’m feeling rather agitated by the fact that Abrah and I can’t have any meaningful conversation.

It’s too noisy! Abrah and I urge the akaunta (call her Stela) to reduce the volume of the music, but she ignores our request. “Wazee, I can’t reduce the volume because drinkers here want it loud.

Her exact words, Watu wanapenda saundi. It’s like, those of us who prefer reasonable music volume aren’t people! We’re both holding our bottles in a “protective” way lest she open them against our go-ahead.

She looks at us straight in the face and says, appealingly, “I beg you to move to the table over there, at the back, where the noise from the speaker won’t affect you much.” She insists that without Saundi, most people will leave, which would be bad for business.

We shake our heads this way and that way in unison, meaning we aren’t in agreement with her proposal. Abrah signals to me that he can’t stand the “madness” and says goodbye to me by way of waving while saying something I can only guess is, “I am going, I can’t stand this madness!” The good thing is, there’s another drinking outfit, a grocery, near his house, which, much as it lacks in vibe, has some sobriety.

I’ll be alone now, meaning I won’t mind the noise that much. I shut my mind out of the music madness and focus on the contents of my newspaper.

It’s not the best way of spending time in a bar, for in drinking joints, one should soberly interact with fellow men and exchange ideas, kubadilishana mawazo. Or, share information on what’s going on in the country or even across the world.

But then, in most of the kinds of bars that Wa Muyanza and his ilk frequent, there’s nothing like that. The interesting thing is, despite the din, i.

e., the sound, most patrons are seemingly quite okay with ithappy.

Engaging in animated conversations, laughing, giving and high fives! Some are even talking on their mobile phones! But maybe this is all fine for us, the hoi polloi. Makes us forget the miseries that underlie our lives; yeah.

When there’s enough noise around you, you get drunk faster, which means you spend less money to attain the purpose that takes real drinkers to the bar to get drunk. .

Dar es Salaam. Bertha Nanyaro’s appointment as a Partner at Victory Attorneys and Consultants in 2025 marked a defining moment in a career shaped by purpose, discipline and service.

It reflected a philosophy that she holds dear that leadership is not a privilege, but a responsibility. For her, the role demanded making decisions with those absent from the room in mind, a commitment to protecting professional standards, and a determination to widen access where barriers once stood.

It also required accountability, not only for outcomes, but for the growth of others. Victory Attorneys and Consultants is a local law firm with a global outlook.

It delivers high-quality legal services to both international and domestic clients, combining technical rigour with strategic insight. Within this environment, Ms Nanyaro, who is a Corporate Commercial Lawyer and Investment Advisor by profession, emerged as a standout figure.

Her elevation made her the firm’s first female partner and one of the youngest women to attain such a position in competitive legal practice in Tanzania and across the region. For Nanyaro, the appointment carried significance beyond personal achievement.

It sharpened her awareness that young women are observing her journey and measuring what is possible through what they see. This awareness reinforced her resolve to act with integrity, intention and consistency, knowing that her conduct sets a visible standard.

She joined the firm as a Junior Associate, rose to Head of Department, and ultimately assumed partnership. In her current role, she leads the Mergers and Acquisitions, Commercial Transactions and Investment Department.

There, she has built a purpose-driven and performance-focused team known for strategic clarity, technical excellence and disciplined execution. “My mission is clear: to use the law to help businesses grow, elevate people and shape Tanzania’s development trajectory,” she said.

“My journey in the legal profession is a story of courage, conviction and an unwavering belief that the law can be both a shield and a bridge. It protects rights while opening doors of opportunity.

” Her fascination with law began early. As a young woman, she observed how diplomacy, governance and legal systems influenced public order and national development.

She came to recognise a central truth: when law is applied with integrity and vision, it can transform societies. This realisation planted the seed of a lifelong calling.

It placed her at the intersection of legal excellence and transformational leadership. She graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam in 2015 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

She later pursued postgraduate training at the Law School of Tanzania. In 2018, she was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania.

Her academic journey continued through advanced studies with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), the International Federation of Catholic Universities (UNICAP), the Project Management Institute (PMI Global), and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) in London. She specialised in contract management, construction law, project management, Public-Private Partnerships and arbitration.

These qualifications strengthened her expertise in corporate and commercial law, investment advisory, infrastructure project management and sustainable development. Deliberate goal setting, disciplined execution and a refusal to drift defined her ascent.

Positions once recorded in her notebook as future ambitions gradually became reality. “I believe clarity is power.

If you are not clear about where you are going, life will assign you somewhere convenient,” she said. “Every stage of my journey has been guided by disciplined execution, technical mastery and the courage to act even when outcomes were uncertain.

” Impact remains the compass guiding her leadership. She measures success not by titles, but by the positive change attached to each mandate she receives.

Leadership, she explains, became a responsibility rather than an ambition, because it expands the scale at which one can serve. “I am deeply committed to elevating women into spaces that shape economic growth, regulation and national strategy,” she said.

“But elevation is not symbolic. It is structural.

It requires building competence, expanding networks, granting exposure to decision-making rooms and fostering economic independence. I rise best when others rise with me,” she explains.

Her guiding principles are professional competence, integrity, accountability, empathy and empowerment. These values, she insists, are non-negotiable.

They form the foundation of her leadership and shape every professional decision she makes. Empowerment, in her view, must be tangible.

She actively mentors young female lawyers navigating complex fields such as corporate and commercial transactions, fintech, mining, investment advisory, arbitration and emerging sectors. Several of her mentees now occupy leadership roles or hold specialised technical responsibilities.

She also collaborates with women-focused funds and organisations. Her work involves structuring governance systems, strengthening compliance frameworks and shaping advocacy strategies.

Through these efforts, she has contributed to initiatives that extend impact to thousands of women across Tanzania. Beyond her professional commitments, she supports the education of more than seven young girls who would otherwise have been unable to continue their studies.

She regards education as generational leverage. By investing in it, she believes, lasting social transformation becomes possible.

Within Victory Attorneys and Consultants, the ethos of empowerment is institutionalised. The firm operates under the motto “We Rise Together.

” Young lawyers, both women and men, are deliberately exposed to direct client ownership. They receive sponsorship to attend national and international forums.

Structured mentorship programmes support professional growth. Continuous training builds mastery in emerging areas such as fintech, arbitration, artificial intelligence and technology law.

The firm also champions Tanzania’s national moot court competition. This initiative provides early exposure to advocacy excellence for students from universities across the country.

Many former participants now work in leading law firms, auditing institutions, academia and corporate environments. Despite these advances, Nanyaro acknowledges that the legal profession remains male-dominated, particularly within decision-making structures.

Women often feel compelled to prove their competence repeatedly. To counter this, she believes women must cultivate technical depth, executive presence, consistency and courage.

Institutions, in turn, must dismantle structural bias and intentionally create equitable pathways to leadership. The burden of excellence, she argues, should not rest disproportionately on women to justify their presence.

“Female representation ensures that laws reflect lived realities,” she said. “When women participate in drafting, negotiation and adjudication, policies consider first-hand experiences, especially in areas such as labour rights, land ownership, access to finance and family law.

Inclusive lawmaking builds inclusive economies,” she quips. Creating environments where women thrive requires systemic change.

Institutions must establish inclusive policy frameworks, provide equitable access to high-value assignments, sponsor mentorship and learning programmes, reward competence fairly and normalise women in leadership. Culture, she notes, shifts when systems shift.

The legacy she hopes to leave is the normalisation of women in power. She wants young women to enter boardrooms without hesitation or self-doubt.

“I want decisiveness in women to be respected rather than misunderstood,” she said. “If my journey shifts even one narrative from limitation to possibility, or enables even one woman to rise without apology, then my legacy will have substance,” she says.

Her ability to merge legal precision with commercial awareness has elevated her standing within Tanzania’s corporate landscape. In 2025, she was recognised as Tanzania’s Notable Practitioner in Investment Funds and Corporate Matters by the International Financial Law Review 1000 (IFLR1000).

The ranking is among the most respected and widely acknowledged in the global legal industry, particularly in corporate and financial law. The recognition affirmed her growing influence in corporate and investment advisory practice.

“The recognition assigns responsibility to sustain excellence,” she said. “Reputation in corporate law is built on trust, depth and consistent delivery.

This honour reminds me to keep raising the bar,” she adds. Early in her career, between 2015 and 2016, she contributed to initiatives supporting asylum seekers and refugees.

Working in collaboration with institutions such as Asylum Access and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Tanzania, she engaged with the Centre for the Study of Forced Migration and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Through this experience, she witnessed how legal identity and policy frameworks could restore dignity, opportunity and belonging to displaced communities.

The exposure reinforced her belief in law as a tool for human restoration. Her professional journey also includes service at the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) in 2017. There, she engaged with the legal dimensions of infrastructure development, a critical engine of national growth.

The experience broadened her understanding of public-sector operations and strengthened her appreciation of the law’s role in economic transformation. To young women entering male-dominated industries, her message is one of assurance and resolve.

She insists that it is entirely possible to rise in such environments. History, she notes, offers abundant examples of transformative female leadership in both public and private sectors.

What it requires, she says, is intentional mastery, consistent delivery, clarity of execution and unwavering integrity. “When your competence is undeniable and your character is consistent, you do not merely earn a seat at the table.

You influence the direction of the room,” she said. .

Washington. Iran told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday that Tehran will consider bases, facilities and assets of the “hostile force” in the region as legitimate targets if it faces military aggression.

US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric towards Iran “signals a real risk of military aggression,” Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations said in the letter, adding Iran did not want a war. .

Washington. The United States has paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owes to the UN, a United Nations spokesperson said on Thursday as President Donald Trump hosted the first meeting of his “Board of Peace” initiative that experts say could undermine the United Nations.

“Last week, we received about $160 million from the United States as a partial payment of its past dues for the UN regular budget,” the UN spokesperson said in a statement. Trump said during his comments at the opening “Board of Peace” meeting that Washington would give the United Nations money to strengthen it.

The US is the biggest contributor to the U.N.

budget, but under the Trump administration it has refused to make mandatory payments to regular and peacekeeping budgets, and slashed voluntary funding to U.N.

agencies with their own budgets. Washington has withdrawn from dozens of U.

N. agencies.

U.N.

officials say the U.S.

owed $2.19 billion to the regular U.N.

budget as of the start of February, more than 95% of the total owed by countries globally. The U.

S. also owes another $2.4 billion for current and past peacekeeping missions and $43.6 million for U.

N. tribunals.

“We’re going to help them (U.N.

) money-wise, and we’re going to make sure the United Nations is viable,” Trump said. “I think the United Nations has great potential, really great potential.

It has not lived up to (that) potential.” Countries, including major powers of the Global South and key U.

S. allies in the West, have been reluctant to join Trump’s “Board of Peace” where Trump himself is the chair.

Many experts have said such an initiative undermines the United Nations. Trump launched the board last month and proposed it late last year as part of his plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza.

A U.N.

Security Council resolution recognized the board late last year through 2027, limiting its scope to Gaza, the Palestinian territory it was meant to oversee following Israel’s devastating more than twoyear assault. Under Trump’s plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza, the board was meant to oversee Gaza’s temporary governance.

Trump subsequently said the board will tackle global conflicts and look beyond Gaza as well. U.

N. experts say that Trump’s oversight of a board to supervise a foreign territory’s affairs resembles a colonial structure and criticized the board for not having Palestinian representation.

There was no U.N.

representative at the “Board of Peace” meeting on Thursday. .

Dar es Salaam. As the Masika rains sweep across Tanzania, access to timely weather information and modern technology is becoming essential for safeguarding crops and supporting the country’s agricultural backbone.

For many smallholder farmers, the difference between a bumper harvest and a disappointing season often hinges on knowing what the weather will do next. A farmer in Mbarali, Mr Thadeus Mpendakazi, said checking weather forecasts is now part of his daily routine.

“Weather information helps us plan better. It guides us in choosing crops that can withstand dry spells or excessive rain,” he told The Citizen.

Mr Mpendakazi spoke during a partnership meeting involving the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), Norges Vel and the World Food Programme (WFP), focused on improving delivery of weather and climate information, particularly short-term forecasts such as 10-day outlooks. Participants discussed ways to ensure forecasts reach farmers promptly, in formats and languages they can understand.

Another farmer, Mr Justice John, said forecasts are practical tools that directly influence farming decisions. “A warning about delayed rains may prompt me to adjust planting dates.

An alert about heavy rainfall gives me time to protect young crops or improve drainage,” he said. TMA official, Mr Wilbert Muruke, emphasised that reliable weather information is key to protecting livelihoods and strengthening food security.

“TMA will continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure weather and climate information is accessible, simple to understand and useful in guiding decisions that build resilience in agriculture,” he said behalf of director general of TMA. Forecast accuracy in Tanzania now exceeds 88 percent, with TMA using modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and big data analytics, to enhance early warning systems for farmers and communities.

Country Manager for Norges Vel Tanzania, Ms Sesilia Jeremia, noted that engagement with farmers allows development partners to design practical and inclusive solutions. In a country where agriculture supports millions of livelihoods, timely, reliable and easy-to-use weather information could determine whether farmers thrive or struggle during the rainy season.

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Dar es Salaam. The body of retired Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Polycarp Pengo, will be laid to rest on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Pugu Pilgrimage Centre on the outskirts of the city.

According to the funeral programme released by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, members of the public and the faithful will pay their last respects at Pugu from 7:00am to 9:45am, before a requiem Mass begins. Prior to the burial, Cardinal Pengo’s body will lie in state at St Joseph’s Cathedral on Friday, February 27, from 9:00am to 04:00pm, allowing mourners to offer final tributes before the body is transferred to Pugu for the final rites.

Cardinal Pengo died on February 19, 2026, at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, where he had been receiving treatment. Before news of his passing, Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi had indicated that the cleric might be flown abroad for specialised care.

In announcing the death, Archbishop Ruwa’ichi said burial arrangements would be communicated once preparations were complete and called on the faithful to pray for the late cardinal’s eternal rest. He chose Pugu as his resting place During his lifetime, Cardinal Pengo had openly expressed his wish to be buried in Pugu, saying the site held deep personal and historical significance.

“It was my wish to rest here alongside the first missionaries who brought the Gospel to our land,” he once said. He explained that he wanted to avoid any debate about being buried in his native regions of Tunduru, Masasi or Sumbawanga.

“I came to Dar es Salaam. I belong to Dar es Salaam.

I will remain here,” he said at the time. Samia, CCM lead tributes President Samia Suluhu Hassan led national condolences, saying she had received news of the cardinal’s death with deep sorrow.

She described him as a spiritual leader and patriot who contributed significantly to strengthening faith, moral values, unity and national cohesion through decades of service in the Catholic Church. “The nation has lost a leader who served with integrity and dedication.

His contribution to spiritual and moral formation will continue to be remembered, valued and honoured,” she said. The President also conveyed her condolences to Archbishop Ruwa’ichi, the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, religious leaders and all believers affected by the loss, praying for the late cleric’s eternal peace.

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi also sent a message of sympathy, noting that Cardinal Pengo’s 55 years in priesthood, 43 years as a bishop and 28 years as a cardinal were marked by humility, social solidarity and dedication to community welfare. A fearless moral voice Throughout his leadership, Cardinal Pengo built a reputation as a forthright cleric who spoke truth to power, even when his message was uncomfortable for those in authority.

In the early 2000s, as corruption scandals rocked the country, he used the pulpit to condemn graft as “a sin that cries out to God”, arguing that theft of public resources was not only illegal but morally wrong because it deprived the poor of essential services such as healthcare and education. During general elections, he consistently urged calm and wisdom, maintaining that the Church’s role was not to endorse political parties but to offer moral guidance, promote justice and peace, and respect individual conscience.

His message was particularly evident during the constitutional review process and the 2015 General Election, when he called for fairness and restraint, helping to ease political tensions and prevent religious divisions. Defender of family and values Cardinal Pengo was also known for his firm defence of the family institution in line with Catholic teaching.

He openly opposed what he viewed as foreign pressures that could weaken African and Christian moral foundations. He often said that while a nation could endure economic hardship, it should never lose its dignity and moral values — a position that earned him respect among those who saw him as a guardian of ethical patriotism.

From village roots to the Vatican Born on August 5, 1944, in Mwazye Village, Rukwa Region, Cardinal Pengo was ordained a priest on June 20, 1971. He later pursued Moral Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University, earning a doctorate in 1976. He was appointed Bishop of Nachingwea in 1983 and later served TunduruMasasi in 1986. In 1990 he became Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar es Salaam and was named full Archbishop in 1992. In 1998, Pope John Paul II elevated him to the rank of cardinal, granting him membership in the College of Cardinals and the right to participate in papal conclaves in 2005 and 2013. He retired in 2019 and was succeeded by Archbishop Ruwa’ichi. His legacy Cardinal Pengo’s motto, In Caritate et Veritate — “In Love and Truth” — captured the spirit of his service.

He was widely regarded as a calm yet firm leader whose words carried moral weight, believing that genuine justice must be rooted in both compassion and truth. In Tanzania’s history, the name Polycarp Cardinal Pengo will endure as a symbol of spiritual leadership that shaped not only the Church, but also society, politics and the nation’s conscience.

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