Category: The Citizen

Burkina Faso has said it rejected a proposal by the United States to take in foreigners being deported as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Trump aims to deport millions of immigrants who are in the U.

S. illegally and his administration has sought to ramp up removals to third countries, including several in Africa.

Burkina Faso’s neighbour Ghana said in September the government had agreed to take in nationals from other West African countries. But Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore told a national broadcaster on Thursday night that Ouagadougou had refused multiple approaches by the Trump administration to accept third-country deportees.

“Burkina Faso is not a land of deportation,” Traore said, calling the request from the U.S.

unworthy and indecent. Noting that Burkina Faso recently decided to lift visa fees for all Africans, he said the country’s hospitality “should not be seen as an opportunity for a third country to get rid of certain populations that it considers undesirable.

” Burkina Faso’s military-led government, headed by Ibrahim Traore, took power after two coups in 2022. Relations between the country’s authorities and Western powers have grown increasingly strained as the junta has grown closer to Russia. The U.

S. Embassy in Ouagadougou temporarily paused all routine visa services from Friday and advised residents to refer to the embassy in Togo’s capital Lome.

No reason was given. The U.

S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the U.

S. had tried to send third-country deportees to Burkina Faso.

Traore did not say what Burkina Faso might have received had it agreed to the proposal. Ghana has said the decision to take in West African deportees did not amount to an endorsement of Trump’s immigration policy and that Ghana was not getting anything in return .

U.S President Donald Trump has not won the Nobel Peace Prize.

He responded to the snub with humour after Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, saying she personally called to tell him she was accepting it “in his honour.” Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Trump said, “She called me — a very beautiful call — and told me she was accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in my honour, because she believed I truly deserved it.

I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me,’ though maybe she should have.” Although President Trump refrained from directly criticising the Nobel Committee, the White House took a sharper tone.

Communications Director Steven Cheung accused the committee of choosing “politics over peace,” suggesting that Trump’s record of mediating global disputes had been unfairly dismissed. White House officials had earlier expressed disappointment over the decision, pointing to Trump’s recent role in helping broker a ceasefire deal in Gaza and his previous diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula.

President Trump highlighted what he described as his “strong record of promoting peace and stability,” claiming that few leaders had done more without resorting to war. .

Shinyanga. The CCM presidential candidate, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has unveiled a comprehensive plan to expand irrigation farming across Tanzania, aiming to boost agricultural growth to 10 percent annually by 2030. She made the revelation on Saturday, October 11, 2025, when addressing campaign rallies in Maswa and Maganzo, Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region.

President Hassan said the construction of 738 irrigation schemes will form the backbone of her administration’s agricultural transformation agenda. “Irrigation farming is our priority.

We are going to build 738 irrigation schemes across the country by the end of this year. My target is that by 2030, the agriculture sector will grow by 10 percent annually,” said President Hassan.

She noted that the sector currently grows at around four percent per year but explained that the government’s long-term strategy aims to raise that growth rate significantly through irrigation, mechanisation, and expanded markets. “When I talk about agriculture, I mean crops, livestock, and fisheries.

They are all part of the same value chain that feeds our economy and our people,” she added. The CCM hopeful said her administration has already made strides in agriculture through fertiliser and input subsidies, rehabilitating livestock dips, improving markets, and building infrastructure to support farmers and pastoralists.

She emphasised that irrigation development is crucial for ensuring food security, increasing farmers’ incomes, and protecting them from climate change. President Hassan also pledged continued investment in agro-processing industries to provide markets and jobs for youth, particularly graduates from technical colleges.

“We are strengthening trade and industry so that our young people have jobs. Our industries will process crops, livestock, and fisheries products, all coming from irrigation-supported production,” she said.

Addressing thousands of supporters at the Kambarage Grounds in Shinyanga, she urged citizens to vote for CCM, assuring that her government would deliver even more progress than in the past four years. “Development is a journey that begins step by step.

In the past five years, we made progress in all sectors. I assure you that we are going to do even greater things in the next phase,” she said, stressing that uplifting every Tanzanian and to ensure dignity and respect was the core agenda of her administration.

In her Maganzo address, she reiterated that her administration will continue supporting small-scale miners, promising to resolve long-standing disputes between them, large mining companies, and surrounding communities. She also announced plans to develop key infrastructure, including the 54-kilometre KolandotoMwangongo road, to improve transportation and market access for farmers.

On health, she pledged to enhance specialised medical services so residents would no longer need to travel long distances for advanced care. “We want Shinyanga to have specialised health services available within the region so people no longer have to travel far to seek medical attention,” she said.

President Hassan noted that 40 percent of the country’s mining revenue comes from small-scale miners, highlighting their crucial contribution to the economy and promising continued support. “We have issued more than 1,700 new licences to small-scale miners in the past five years, up from 332 before.

We have already started addressing the conflicts between big and small miners, and if you give us another term, we will end those conflicts completely,” she assured. Meanwhile, the Tanzania Food Vendors Association Chairperson, Ms Havijawa Omary, praised President Hassan for promoting clean energy use among small business operators, which has improved health and livelihoods.

“Clean energy has saved our lives and reduced cases of tuberculosis among us. We thank President Hassan for her support,” said Ms Omary.

As the campaigns continue, CCM’s agricultural agenda, particularly its focus on irrigation farming, stands out as a key pillar in its vision for a more resilient, productive, and inclusive economy. .

Tabora. Tobacco-buying companies that delayed payments to farmers for the previous agricultural season have been ordered to clear all outstanding dues by October 30, 2025. The firms owe farmers more than $5 million (about Sh12.25 billion) for last season’s crop and have also been instructed to include interest as compensation for the delay.

The directive was issued on Thursday, October 9, 2025, by Agriculture Minister Hussein Mohamed Bashe during a meeting with cooperative leaders, bankers, and tobacco buyers at Chem Chem Ward in Tabora Municipality. “I am giving you 21 days, until the 30th of this month.

I don’t want to hear of any farmer complaining about unpaid dues. Let’s not provoke one another.

It is unacceptable that a new farming season starts while farmers are still waiting for payments from the previous one,” said Mr Bashe. He also directed the companies to submit written explanations to the police outlining the reasons for the delay and to provide clear payment schedules to ensure all dues are settled before the end of the month.

“Submit statements to the nearest police station explaining why farmers have not been paid despite collecting their tobacco long ago,” he emphasised. On farmer registration, the minister directed tobacco buyers and financial institutions, in collaboration with the government, to enrol all growers in a central digital database.

The system will record details such as farm size, crop type, and production levels to promote nationwide transparency. “Registering farmers individually through cooperatives will help curb theft, smuggling, and adulteration of tobacco.

It will also make it easier to trace production and compensate farmers when challenges arise,” said Mr Bashe. He warned that any company failing to participate in the registration exercise would not be licensed to purchase tobacco in the next farming season.

Tabora Regional Commissioner, Mr Paul Chacha, also ordered companies with outstanding debts to report to the police until all payments are cleared. “They must continue reporting here until they have paid everything.

These companies have been a constant source of trouble, and this is not the time to inconvenience our farmers,” said Mr Chacha. The meeting further agreed that farmers should join agricultural insurance schemes to protect themselves against potential losses from natural disasters.

Participants also resolved that tobacco prices would not be reduced, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring farmers earn fair returns from their labour. Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Mr Onesmo Ngonyani, a tobacco grower, welcomed the registration initiative, saying it would protect farmers from exploitation by unauthorised middlemen.

“Some traders buy our tobacco at unfairly low prices and store it in warehouses because they have more capital. We end up waiting helplessly, and others even smuggle it, leaving us to bear the losses,” he said.

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Gaborone. Botswana has enforced a new rule requiring mining companies to sell a 24 percent stake in new concessions to local investors if the government chooses not to buy the stake, its mines ministry said on Friday.

The rule was proposed last year as part of draft legislation, but the government had not said when it would take effect. The Mines and Minerals Act previously gave Botswana’s government the right to buy a 15 percent shareholding in any mining concession upon being licensed, with an option for a higher stake in diamond projects.

The Southern African country is the world’s top diamond producer by value and an emerging copper mining hotspot. The Ministry of Minerals and Energy said in a statement that the rule requiring 24% local ownership in mining projects had entered into force on October 1.

As well as increasing local ownership of the country’s mineral wealth, the law aims to promote local value-adding activities and ensure mining companies establish environmental rehabilitation funds. When the amendment to the Mines and Minerals Act was being debated in parliament, the former mines minister said local investors could buy stakes in concessions with the help of domestic pension funds.

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Oslo. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, recognised for her “tireless efforts to restore democracy through peaceful means and her courage in the face of authoritarian repression.

” The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Machado for “her unwavering commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law,” describing her as a symbol of peaceful resistance in Latin America’s ongoing struggle for freedom. Machado, a longtime critic of President Nicolas Maduro’s government, has faced arrests, harassment, and political bans over her activism.

Despite these challenges, she has continued to mobilise Venezuelans through civic campaigns and international advocacy, calling for free and fair elections and an end to political persecution. In a brief statement following the announcement, Machado dedicated the award to “the Venezuelan people who have suffered, resisted, and dreamed of a free nation.

” She added, “This honour belongs to every citizen who has chosen courage over silence.” During her remarks, Machado also mentioned that she had spoken with U.

S President Donald Trump, to whom she expressed gratitude for his support and said she accepted the prize “in his honour,” acknowledging what she called his “decisive backing of Venezuela’s democratic cause.” The decision to award Machado the Peace Prize has been widely applauded by global human rights organisations and democracy advocates.

Leaders from across Latin America and Europe hailed the recognition as a powerful message of solidarity with the Venezuelan opposition movement. However, reactions from Caracas were sharply critical.

Government officials dismissed the award as “politically motivated interference,” accusing the Nobel Committee of siding with foreign interests. Machado’s win marks the first time in over a decade that the Nobel Peace Prize has gone to a Latin American figure.

Analysts say the choice underscores the committee’s growing focus on democracy and civic freedoms amid rising global authoritarianism. In Washington, President Trump — who has long touted his administration’s foreign policy achievements — later responded warmly to Machado’s gesture, saying he was “deeply honoured” by her dedication.

“This is a great day for freedom and for the people of Venezuela,” Trump told reporters. “Maria Corina Machado has shown tremendous courage, and I’m proud to have supported her cause.

” The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize will be formally presented at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, 2025 coinciding with the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. .

By Mariam Gichan At dawn on the shores of Lake Victoria, fishermen cast their nets in the calm water, hoping for a good catch. Nearby, schoolchildren walk past rocky hills whose walls bear faded geometric markings, ancient art left behind thousands of years ago.

Few pause to wonder what those red ochre lines mean, or who drew them. In the Mara Region, a team of Tanzanian archaeologists and students from the University of Dar es Salaam is working under the Lake Victoria Archaeology and Heritage Project (LAHP) to uncover the human past hidden in the lake’s surrounding landscapes.

Across rock art shelters in Musoma, Bunda, and Butima, the researchers are piecing together a story that stretches from the Late Stone Age to the Iron Age. Their findings are remarkable: rock art with geometric patterns left by hunter-gatherers, pottery fragments linked to Kansyore and Urewe traditions, stone tools, and ornaments made from ostrich eggshells and snail shells.

They have even discovered human remains. Perhaps most surprising are obsidian tools traced to Lake Naivasha in Kenya over 480 kilometers away evidence of ancient trade routes and cross-basin mobility.

For many, archaeology might seem like a pursuit of dust and bones, but these discoveries hold urgent lessons. Lake Victoria once dried up completely during the Late Pleistocene, forcing communities to adapt or migrate.

Understanding how ancient societies survived extreme climate events offers insights into how we might respond to modern climate change. The evidence of long-distance exchange also challenges us to view migration not as a crisis, but as an enduring human practice.

And research into ancient diets and diseases could even inform modern health solutions. Yet this is not just about science it is about identity.

Tanzania is world-renowned for Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli, which tell the story of human origins. But Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical lake and a lifeline for millions, has remained largely overlooked in archaeological research, especially on the Tanzanian side.

While Kenya and Uganda have long studied their portions of the lake, Tanzania’s heritage has remained in the shadows. The LAHP is changing that, and doing so hand in hand with local communities.

Villagers have guided researchers to hidden sites such as Balima, Kusengo, and Nyakakumu, sharing oral histories passed down through generations. Students participate through field schools, gaining practical experience that takes them beyond classroom theory.

The collaboration benefits everyone. Communities earn income by supporting fieldwork, while young Tanzanians gain professional experience in archaeology without depending solely on foreign projects.

A 2024 roundtable funded by the Gerda Henkel Stiftung highlighted how partnership between researchers and communities can foster trust, pride, and sustainable knowledge-sharing. Still, the threats are serious.

Quarrying for stones and gravel destroys archaeological sites. Graffiti defaces ancient rock art.

Unauthorized excavations risk damaging fragile evidence, while erosion and animal waste continue to erode paintings that have survived for millennia. Equally troubling is Tanzania’s lack of laboratory facilities for analyzing discoveries.

Many samples must be sent abroad for testing, creating dependency on foreign institutions and delaying results. Without stronger funding and research infrastructure, the dream of a fully Tanzanian-led archaeological science remains out of reach.

Archaeology is not only about the past it can also shape the future. Imagine Lake Victoria attracting tourists not only for fishing and sunsets but for guided tours of ancient rock art shelters.

Imagine school curricula that teach Lake Victoria’s archaeology alongside Olduvai, instilling pride in regional heritage. Imagine communities earning income from cultural tourism that protects, rather than destroys, their landscapes.

Other African regions have done this successfully, Tanzania can too, if it invests in its archaeological assets. The researchers behind LAHP are only at the beginning.

Their next steps include documenting more sites, conducting deeper excavations, and linking their findings with those in Kenya and Uganda. Ultimately, they envision Lake Victoria as a regional research hub, attracting international scholars and nurturing Tanzanian expertise in archaeology.

But they cannot do it alone. Government support, institutional partnerships, and international collaborations will be essential.

Funding, research permits, and logistics from the state are critical. And, perhaps most importantly, Tanzanians themselves must recognize the value of this hidden heritage.

Because history is not only about the past it is about who we are. The people who lived, fished, and painted on the shores of Lake Victoria thousands of years ago are part of our shared story.

Their resilience during droughts, their openness to exchange, and their creativity in art and technology still speak to us today. If quarrying and neglect erase these voices, we lose more than artifacts we lose a chance to understand ourselves and to inspire future generations.

Lake Victoria continues to feed millions with fish and water. But it also has the power to nourish our sense of belonging, if only we choose to see it.

The time to act is now before the lake’s ancient stories are washed away forever. .

Dar es Salaam. There was a time when discovering new music meant waiting for your favourite DJ to drop a fresh track on the radio or catching the latest video on TV.

Today, the spotlight has shifted from radio and television to the palm of your hand, where just a few seconds of sound can turn an unknown artist into a global sensation. TikTok has emerged as the most powerful platform for discovering, sharing, and popularising music worldwide.

We have seen it time and again. Songs like Water by Tyla, Love Nwantiti by CKay, Shake It to the Max, and Komasava by Diamond Platnumz gained massive attention after fans began creating videos featuring them on TikTok.

When American star Chris Brown shared a dance clip of Komasava, it exposed the track to an even wider audience, proof that a moment on TikTok can open doors to the global market. According to the TikTok Music Impact Report 2024, produced in partnership with analytics firm Luminate, the platform has become central to the global music ecosystem, propelling songs from obscurity to the top of international charts.

Eighty-four percent of the songs that entered the Billboard Global 200 chart in 2024 first went viral on TikTok before reaching mainstream streaming platforms. Another 12 percent achieved viral fame while already on the chart, while only four percent managed to chart without any TikTok moment.

The findings highlight a major shift in how music reaches listeners, where once radio and television were the main routes to success. “TikTok has changed everything about how we release and promote music,” says one of Tanzania’s popular club DJs, Mr Ridhiwani Maulid alias DJ Rima.

The research also found that artists who perform well on TikTok experience an average of 11 percent growth in their on-demand streams during the three days after their videos peak on the platform. This means that for musicians, TikTok virality doesn’t just bring fame, it translates into tangible streaming numbers and earnings.

Music manager Godfrey Abel alias Bob agrees, saying the platform has transformed how managers operate. “We used to plan album launches and radio tours.

Now, we plan content calendars for TikTok. You have to understand trends, visuals, and audience behaviour,” he explains.

He adds that the platform rewards creativity and connection. “Even unknown artists can suddenly become global stars if the timing and sound are right,” he shares.

Beyond boosting new releases, TikTok is also breathing new life into older tracks. The report reveals that in 2024 alone, over 50 older songs re-entered the Billboard Global 200 after going viral on the platform.

Many users, particularly Gen Z, enjoy rediscovering hits from past decades and giving them new life through videos, memes, and remixes. In Tanzania and across Africa, the effects are already visible.

Local artists such as Diamond Platnumz, Zuchu, Harmonize, Jay Melody, Marioo, and Rayvanny have seen their songs trend globally thanks to TikTok dance challenges and remix clips. However, not everyone sees the trend as entirely positive.

Some fear the obsession with virality could pressure artists to make music tailored to the TikTok format, short, catchy, and danceable, rather than focusing on depth and long-term artistry. Others argue that fame on the platform doesn’t always guarantee sustainability, as many viral songs fade as quickly as they rise.

According to Abdulla Khamis, alias DJ Dully, the platform can make you famous in a day, but it can also forget you just as fast. “If you don’t have a plan after the trend dies, your song fades with the hashtag,” he says.

TikTok has proven to be more than just a social app, it is now the heartbeat of modern music discovery. .

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) defensive midfielder Aziz Andabwile was absent from the national football team, Taifa Stars, during their crucial World Cup qualifier match against Zambia due to citizenship clarification issues.

The decision came as a surprise to many fans who had anticipated seeing the talented midfielder feature in the game. Andabwile joined the national team camp when it opened at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Ground before the squad relocated to Zanzibar in preparation for the match.

Despite his presence in camp, his name was notably absent from the matchday lineup, raising questions among supporters and media alike. Prior to the game, there had been no official indication that Andabwile was unavailable due to injury, unlike central defender Dickson Job, who was sidelined because of a fitness issue.

This fueled speculation and curiosity among fans eager to see the midfielder in action. In response to inquiries, Taifa Stars head coach Hemed “Morocco” Suleiman explained that Andabwile’s omission was linked to a complex citizenship matter.

Suleiman stated that the coaching team had received information that Andabwile, despite being Tanzanian, had represented Malawi’s U-20 national team during the 2019 COSAFA tournament in Zambia. “After receiving this information, and to protect the integrity of the team, we were advised to remove him from the matchday squad while awaiting formal clarification from the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) regarding his eligibility,” said Suleiman.

Suleiman further explained that TFF had officially written to FIFA seeking guidance on whether Andabwile could legally play for Tanzania at the senior level. Unfortunately, a response had not been received by match time, compelling the coaching staff to err on the side of caution and leave him out of the line-up.

Clifford Ndimbo, TFF’s Media and Communications Officer, confirmed the matter, stating that the federation is awaiting a response from FIFA. “As far as I know, the matter is currently with FIFA following our letter,” Ndimbo said.

Andabwile himself addressed the situation, stressing that he is a Tanzanian citizen with a valid passport and other official documents. He explained that his previous stint with Malawi’s U-20 team did not affect his eligibility.

“I am Tanzanian, and there is no issue with my citizenship. I went to Malawi to play club football and was registered with Big Bullets FC after leaving Mbeya City.

The clarification has already been provided by the CEO of Yanga,” he said in a phone interview. .

Mahenge. Tanzania is set to reap significant economic and social gains from the newly launched $300 million graphite mining project, which is expected to boost the country’s position as a major global supplier of critical minerals.

The project, led by Faru Graphite Corporation in partnership with Australia’s Black Rock Mining, will operate for more than 26 years. It is expected to create around 900 direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs, while also stimulating infrastructure development in the host communities.

Speaking during the official launch here on Thursday, October 9, 2025, Minister for Minerals Antony Mavunde said the Mahenge project is a joint venture between the Tanzanian government, which holds a 16 percent non-dilutable stake, and private investors, who hold the remaining 84 percent. “This structure protects national interests while benefiting from private sector expertise,” he said.

Until recently, Tanzania contributed just 0.6 percent of the global graphite supply, lagging behind regional producers such as Madagascar and Mozambique.

“The Mahenge project is set to change that dynamic. With large-scale mining licences granted in 2022, full-scale operations have begun, positioning Tanzania as a rising graphite producer,” he added.

Graphite is crucial for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. The high quality of Mahenge’s graphite, combined with Tanzania’s access to hydropower and deep-water ports, makes the project especially valuable globally.

The government has ensured that residents displaced by mining operations have received new homes, part of Faru Graphite’s social responsibility programme. Chief Finance Officer Paul Sims said the mine will generate over 900 full-time jobs across four development phases, with 400 positions already filled in Phase 1.

The project also stimulates the local economy through procurement from Tanzanian suppliers, supporting SMEs in accommodation, catering, logistics, and retail. Infrastructure development is a key component.

Faru is funding a 70-kilometre electricity transmission line from Ifakara to Mahenge to power the mine and surrounding communities. Roads and bridges, including the Farujon Access Road, will also be improved in partnership with Tanroads, enhancing transport safety and local economic opportunities.

The $300 million project is financed through a blended model, with $150 million in debt provided by CRDB Bank, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation. The remainder is being raised through equity markets in Australia.

Faru CEO John de Vries said construction has already started, with Phase 1 expected to produce 90,000 tonnes of graphite per year. Treasurer Nehemiah Mchechu noted that revenue from taxes, royalties and social contributions will support education, healthcare and infrastructure nationwide.

The Ambassador of South Korea, Eun Ju, praised the project as a strategic collaboration that reflects shared goals under Tanzania’s development aspirations as outlined in the Dira 2050, aimed at using mining to drive GDP growth and industrial transformation. .