Category: The Citizen

Dodoma. CRDB Bank Foundation has allocated Sh2 billion to support members of Umoja wa Wanawake, Samia, and youth groups in Dodoma Region through its iMbeju Programme.

The announcement was made during a seminar in Dodoma, organised by the Foundation in collaboration with the Office of the Mtumba Constituency Member of Parliament, Mr Anthony Mavunde, who is also the Minister of Minerals. At the event, Mr Mavunde handed over a symbolic Sh2 billion cheque to the women’s groups and 20 motorcycles to 10 youth groups to strengthen their economic activities.

Speaking at the event, Mr Mavunde said the initiative aligns with government efforts to create jobs, increase household income and support small and medium enterprises. “Your collaboration with the government to empower youth and women should be a model for other financial institutions.

The funds and resources being disbursed today are important for entrepreneurs. I trust the women and Samia groups will reinvest the support to benefit others.

The youth receiving motorcycles will also work to improve their livelihoods,” he said. CRDB Bank Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Tully Mwambapa, said the investment was part of a national strategy to develop human capital as a driver of Tanzania’s economy.

“Youth and women are not just beneficiaries; they are key partners in economic growth,” Mwambapa said. Since its establishment in 2023, the Foundation has provided entrepreneurship and financial literacy training to more than one million youth and women, with some benefiting from start-up capital exceeding Sh20.4 billion nationwide.

Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Ms Rosemary Senyamule, also a founder of Umoja wa Wanawake and Samia, said the programme will strengthen women’s economic participation in the region and nationally. She said that the iMbeju Programme is one of the Foundation’s main initiatives promoting financial inclusion and supporting small businesses.

Recent initiatives include the Go Green and iMbeju programme, which supports innovative youth enterprises contributing to environmental sustainability and the National Development Vision 2050. The Foundation said it will continue working with the government and development partners to ensure investment in youth and women drives economic growth that benefits households and communities. .

Dar es Salaam. The $89 million budget shortfall that has forced the convening of an emergency summit of East African Heads of State, troubling as it is, may be only one symptom of a deeper malaise, The Citizen has learnt.

Beneath the financial strain lies a more corrosive crisis: mistrust among partner states, unresolved conflicts and weakening confidence in the Community’s own ability to manage its affairs. In recent years, the EAC has expanded ambitiously, admitting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and later Somalia, even as long-standing tensions among existing members have continued to simmer.

The conflict between Rwanda and the DRC has exposed the bloc’s limitations in conflict resolution. Accusations of support for armed groups, border tensions and diplomatic expulsions have repeatedly shaken relations.

Yet, despite EAC-led initiatives and regional force deployments, progress has often appeared fragile and externally driven, with global powers stepping in to influence ceasefire processes. Similarly, relations between Burundi and Rwanda have periodically deteriorated over allegations of harbouring dissidents and supporting rebel groups.

The EAC, which prides itself on being a political federation in the making, has struggled to assert itself as the primary arbiter. “The inability to resolve conflicts internally weakens the legitimacy of the Community,” argued a Dar es Salaam-based regional integration scholar, Dr Mathews Komba.

“If external actors are seen as more effective mediators, it erodes confidence in the bloc’s institutional architecture,” he said. Beyond the Great Lakes, mistrust has quietly hardened between Tanzania and Kenya.

Trade disputes, periodic border frictions and public rhetoric have strained what is often described as the backbone relationship of the EAC. In recent months, Kenyan activists have openly criticised Tanzanian policies, while Tanzanian authorities have linked certain Kenya-based groups to online mobilisation campaigns deemed destabilising.

Though diplomacy remains intact, the public tone has been sharper than usual. Meanwhile, tensions between Kenya and South Sudan over trade routes, security cooperation and political alignments add another layer of complexity.

South Sudan itself continues to grapple with internal instability, raising questions about whether the bloc’s rapid expansion risks importing unresolved domestic crises into regional forums. Can such a climate genuinely guarantee flourishing integration? Governance deficits inside EALA The concerns are not only political but institutional.

Tanzania’s Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Dr Abdullah Makame, has openly criticised governance lapses within the bloc’s organs. “The (EAC) Treaty requires the Council of Ministers to present annual reports.

The Council had accumulated a six-period backlog,” he noted. “We worked and cleared the final three, but this shows the Council and Secretariat have not been up to date on their responsibilities.

” He further pointed to non-adherence to statutory requirements under Sections 8 and 10 of the Budget Act, emphasising lapses in accountability and transparency. Such internal governance weaknesses compound the trust deficit.

If member states doubt the Secretariat’s compliance with its own legal framework, political goodwill inevitably thins. Regional integration analyst Prof Samuel Msofe said: “When resolutions are passed but poorly implemented, or reports are delayed for years, member states begin to question the seriousness of commitments.

” The decision by President William Ruto to call for an emergency summit as the funding gap threatens paralysis is timely. Yet analysts argue that focusing narrowly on remittances would miss the moment.

“This is not just about balancing the books,” said Prof Msofe. “It is about rebuilding trust.

Without trust, even a fully funded Secretariat cannot deliver integration.” The bloc’s ambition of eventually forming a political federation demands deeper solidarity than is currently evident.

The principle of non-interference often clashes with security realities, while sovereignty concerns limit collective enforcement mechanisms. Expansion without consolidation? The EAC now comprises eight partner states.

Expansion signals attractiveness, but it also stretches fragile institutions. Admitting countries with ongoing internal conflicts or governance challenges risks overwhelming mechanisms that are already under strain.

“What we see is widening before deepening,” noted Dr Makame. “The Community is expanding geographically without consolidating politically.

” Ahead of the March 7 summit, experts argue that the conversation must move beyond plugging the financial gap to confronting structural weaknesses head-on. They insist that strict enforcement of Treaty obligations is non-negotiable.

“Accountability and transparency, as required under the Budget Act, should not be treated as optional but as the backbone of credibility within the Community,” emphasised the EALA MP. Equally urgent, according to Dr Komba, is the need to strengthen the EAC’s internal conflict-resolution architecture.

He maintains that the bloc must develop binding and respected mechanisms capable of addressing disputes among partner states without defaulting to external mediation. “If East Africa is to speak with one voice, it must first prove capable of resolving its own disagreements through its own institutions,” he noted.

Trust-building must also extend beyond presidential summits. Scholars suggest sustained diplomatic engagement, joint parliamentary forums and people-to-people programmes to soften hardened national narratives.

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Harare. Veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation war mounted a court challenge on Tuesday to proposed changes to the constitution that would extend presidential terms from five years to seven, allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stay in office until 2030. Mnangagwa, 83, was meant to step down in 2028, after serving two five-year terms.

There has been a succession battle in the ruling ZANU-PF party over how to replace him. The president came to power after a 2017 military coup ousted post-independence leader Robert Mugabe.

The latter’s 37 years in power were strongly supported by the veterans who helped him defeat white minority rule before independence from Britain in 1980. The challenge, by six veterans, alleges that the changes, which also include a provision that the president be elected by parliament rather than through a direct popular vote, are unconstitutional. “The bill seeks, in both design and effect, to prolong the 1st respondent’s incumbency and current term of office,” the court papers read.

“That constitutional violation is further deepened by the manifest intention not to hold a referendum, notwithstanding the constitution’s entrenched safeguards against unilateral alteration of the democratic tenure framework”. Zimbabwe government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said: “The people who have made this court application are only six individuals out of the thousands of war veterans in this country.

” Speaking by telephone, he added that they had a “right to represent themselves and their own personal views”. Lovemore Madhuku, the lawyer representing the war veterans, said the cabinet amending the constitution and putting it to a parliamentary vote – where it will face little opposition from the ZANU-PF majority that controls both houses – rather than holding a referendum, defied constitutional norms.

“If the court agrees, they (the veterans) will seek an order that nullifies the bill,” he said. .

Millions of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein suggest the existence of a “global criminal enterprise” that carried out acts meeting the legal threshold of crimes against humanity, according to a panel of independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The experts said crimes outlined in documents released by the US Justice Department were committed against a backdrop of supremacist beliefs, racism, corruption and extreme misogyny.

The crimes, they said, showed a commodification and dehumanization of women and girls. “So grave is the scale, nature, systematic character, and transnational reach of these atrocities against women and girls, that a number of them may reasonably meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity,” the experts said in a statement.

The experts said the allegations contained in the files require an independent, thorough and impartial investigation, and said inquiries should also be launched into how it was possible for such crimes to be committed for so long. The US Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A law, approved by Congress with broad bipartisan support in November, requires all Epstein-related files to be made public. The U.

N. experts raised concerns about “serious compliance failures and botched redactions” that exposed sensitive victim information.

More than 1,200 victims were identified in the documents that have been released so far. “The reluctance to fully disclose information or broaden investigations, has left many survivors feeling retraumatized and subjected to what they describe as ‘institutional gaslighting,'” the experts said.

The Justice Department’s release of documents has revealed Epstein’s ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business – both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl. He was found hanged in his jail cell in 2019 after being arrested again on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors.

His death was ruled a suicide. .

Dar es Salaam. As the holy month of Ramadan begins today, coinciding with the Christian season of Lent for the first time in recent memory, businesses that depend on leisure spending are bracing for a difficult stretch.

For bar owners along the streets of Mwenge and Ubungo, guest house operators in Sinza and Kinondoni and food vendors in Buguruni and Magomeni, the mood has shifted almost overnight. Where music and laughter typically spill onto the pavements, a calmer atmosphere is expected to define the coming weeks.

A few days before the fast began, The Citizen observed unusually high activity in popular drinking spots in Mikocheni and Sinza. Some patrons openly joked that they were “finishing their sins” before turning to prayer and self-restraint.

Guest houses reported full bookings, while bars operated late into the night. But that surge was short-lived.

“From today, we expect sales to drop by more than half,” said a bar owner in Sinza, Mr Juma Ally. “When only Muslims were fasting, Christian customers still came.

When it was Lent alone, some Muslims still came. Now both groups are stepping back at the same time.

” Tanzania has a good population of Christians and Muslims. In urban centres such as Dar es Salaam, where nightlife and informal entertainment form a significant part of the local economy that overlap matters.

Mr Ally employs eight workers who include bartenders, security guards and cleaners. “If sales fall drastically, I will have to reduce shifts.

It affects not just me but families depending on these wages,” he said. Guest houses, especially those offering short-stay services, are likely to feel an even sharper pinch.

In areas such as Manzese, Tandale, Mwenge, Temeke, Tandika, Buza, Tabata and parts of Sinza, some lodge operators admit that their peak business often comes from daily, short-term clients. “One month can determine whether we cover rent and utilities comfortably,” said a lodge manager in Sinza, who requested anonymity.

“During Ramadan alone we see a slowdown. With Lent at the same time, it is going to be tough.

” Sex workers, many of whom operate discreetly around city hotspots such as Ubungo, Posta, Kariakoo and Oysterbay, are also expected to suffer income losses. A community organiser working with vulnerable women in Ilala said demand typically drops sharply during Ramadhan.

“Some clients disappear completely. Others say they are repenting or focusing on church activities,” she said.

“For women who depend on daily earnings, even a two-week slowdown can mean failing to pay rent.” Street food vendors, popularly known as mama lishe, are adjusting their strategies.

While lunchtime traffic may shrink as fasting customers abstain, evenings could present new opportunities. “In Ramadhan we prepare iftar meals–pilau, dates and fresh juice,” said Ms Asha Mgeni, who runs a food stall at Ubungo Riverside.

“Office workers who cannot reach home before sunset buy from us. So for us it is not all loss; it is about timing.

” However, vendors whose sales depend on alcohol pairings–nyama choma joints and grilled meat stands near bars–anticipate leaner days. A butcher in Shekilango said orders from bar operators had already reduced.

“They used to buy in bulk for weekends. This week they have cut orders by almost 40 percent,” he said.

Beyond direct sellers, the ripple effects extend to suppliers. Beverage distributors, music DJs, bouncers, taxi drivers who rely on late-night trips, and even mobile money agents near nightlife zones could see transactions fall.

A regular patron at a popular bar in Mikocheni, Mr Patrick Mhando, said he has chosen to stop drinking during both seasons. “I am Catholic.

Lent is a time for reflection. This year, because Ramadan is also starting, I feel it is a good moment to reset completely,” he said.

“I will save that money and focus on my family.” Such personal decisions, multiplied across thousands of customers, create a noticeable economic shift.

According to industry estimates from beverage traders, alcohol sales in predominantly Muslim neighbourhoods can fall by up to 60 percent during Ramadan alone. With Lent overlapping, traders predict a broader citywide dip.

However, religious leaders say the economic slowdown should be viewed in context. A cleric at a mosque in Ilala noted: “Ramadan is about discipline, charity and empathy for the less fortunate.

Businesses may slow, but communities often increase charitable giving.” Similarly, a priest in Ubungo, Mr Johnson Mkuti, said Lent encourages Christians to reduce excess spending and support those in need.

“The money saved from luxuries can be redirected to helping others,” he said. Indeed, some sectors may benefit.

Supermarkets selling dates, juices and cooking oil often report higher evening sales, while transport services see increased movement at sunset as families rush home for iftar. .

Arusha. Shock gripped the Court of Appeal as Yusuph Nguku faced judges after his appeal against a death sentence for murdering his six-year-old daughter was dismissed.

In a warning statement admitted as evidence, Mr Nguku confessed that he and his accomplice (not appellant) took his daughter, Rose Yusuph, to Lusesa village in Mwasanga Forest. Upon reaching the forest, Mr Nguku strangled her from behind while the accomplice held her.

He then severed her left hand and left foot, placing them in a black nylon bag. Mr Nguku said the accomplice had persuaded him to remove parts of Rose’s body to aid in running a business, promising Sh5 million in return.

Both Mr Nguku and the accomplice were charged at Mbeya High Court with murder under Sections 196 and 197 of the Penal Code, relating to an incident on May 3, 2019, in Lusesa village, Mbarali District, Mbeya Region. On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, including Rehema Kerefu, Lucia Kairo, and Dr Deo Nangela, dismissed criminal appeal 920/2023, upholding the death penalty by hanging.

The judges held that circumstantial evidence, together with Mr Nguku’s warning statement, proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. How it happened Mr Nguku was originally sentenced on December 5, 2023, by the Mbeya High Court.

Third prosecution witness, Schola Chafumbwe, testified before the court that she and Mr Nguku married in 2007 and had four children by 2019. Due to marital conflict, she had left with the lastborn, leaving the other three children, including the deceased. She said on May 3, 2019, Mr Nguku reported Rose missing through her brother.

First witness, Mr Hebron Mwangomale, recalled seeing Mr Nguku selling items by the roadside with a young girl that day. Mr Nguku identified himself as from Igurusi Village and later Mbalizi, where he stayed with Rose in a guesthouse before renting a room in Mr Sanga’s house, but on May 4, he reported the girl missing.

The fourth witness said that on May 9, Mr Nguku brought a photo of Rose (the deceased) to the police station, and on May 10, claimed to have found her buried near Rombo Bar. He remained silent when asked how he identified the site, but asked a second witness to accompany him.

Local leaders and relatives were informed, and the group recovered a plastic bag containing body parts. The first witness said Mr Nguku reportedly told him, “Blood is heavier than water,” before police arrested him.

Mr Nguku admitted during questioning that he committed the crime with his accomplice, who persuaded him to remove parts of the child’s body. Though initially released for insufficient evidence, police later rearrested him.

The eighth witness conducted a post-mortem, confirming that the left hand and foot had been severed and that the body was partially decomposed. Mr Nguku admitted his marriage and separation from Ms Chafumbwe and claimed that on May 2, 2019, he took Rose (the deceased) to Mbalizi to buy beans; but upon returning, she was missing.

He denied leading police to the crime scene, saying officers directed the recovery, and denied prior knowledge of the second accused. The second accused claimed he was arrested on May 10, 2019, and denied any involvement with Mr Nguku or the deceased.

Court verdict The High Court found Mr Nguku guilty, relying heavily on his warning statement. Appeal and decision Mr Nguku’s appeal raised six grounds, including alleged misuse of his statement.

The Court of Appeal rejected all, noting the reliability of circumstantial evidence. Judge Kerefu observed that no one directly witnessed the murder, but the court relied on Nguku’s warning statement, oral admissions, and the fact that he was last seen with Rose.

Citing prior case law, the judgment concluded that Mr Nguku’s guilt was proven beyond a doubt. “Considering all circumstances, the court is confident that the case against Mr Nguku was proven beyond any doubt,” the judgment posted on the Judiciary Portal stated.

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Dar es Salaam. Bongo Flava veteran Joseph Haule, popularly known as Professor Jay, has confirmed his return to the stage, declaring he is ready to reclaim his place in Tanzania’s music industry.

The rapper is set to headline the fourth season launch of Bongo Flava Honours on May 1. Organised by Deiwaka World, the event will mark his first major performance after an extended absence from the spotlight.

Speaking on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, during the official announcement of the new season, Professor Jay said he is back after stepping away due to various challenges, including health concerns. He revealed that he is preparing one of the biggest performances of his career, designed to officially mark his return and reconnect with supporters who have stood by him throughout his journey.

“Professor Jay wa ‘Mitulinga’ is now fit. I am taking fans from where I started in Bongo Flava to where I stopped.

Many artistes I have worked with will be present to show love. That day will be more than just a show,” said the former Mikumi MP on the opposition Chadema.

Widely regarded as a pioneer of Bongo Flava, Professor Jay played a pivotal role in shaping Tanzania’s hip-hop movement, using his music to address social issues while building a loyal, cross-generational fan base. His appearance at Bongo Flava Honours has already generated excitement, with fans eager to witness the return of one of the genre’s most influential voices.

With his comeback confirmed, Professor Jay signals the start of a new chapter, one that could redefine his legacy and reassert his presence in Tanzania’s evolving music scene. .

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has identified several key areas in which traders commonly evade taxes, notably in the issuance of receipts, payroll reporting, and the taxation of imported goods.

The observations were made yesterday during the launch of a new TRA tax centre in Masaki, part of ongoing efforts to bring services closer to taxpayers and improve compliance across the country. Speaking at the event, the Acting Commissioner for Operations, Mr Charles Mabula, said some traders continue to avoid paying taxes by failing to issue electronic fiscal receipts, as required by law.

“This situation has caused the authority to lose revenue that should otherwise be collected from goods sold,” he said. Mr Mabula noted that the introduction of the IDRAS tax system would support taxpayers who do not possess electronic fiscal devices by allowing them to issue receipts free of charge.

He added that the system would improve transparency and enhance the accuracy of tax records. He further said that in recent years, TRA investigations had uncovered a growing number of sophisticated tax evasion schemes, particularly in the construction, transportation, and import sectors.

Investigations, he explained, show that some operators use shell companies, falsified documents, and concealed transactions to underreport revenues and reduce their tax liabilities. “In the construction sector, several traders register a company, operate it briefly, then shut it down and open another under a different name.

Meanwhile, a third company is used to process fictitious transactions to mask real earnings,” he said. He added that this pattern has become increasingly common, making enforcement more complex and requiring closer scrutiny of company records and business relationships.

“We have identified cases where companies generate fake receipts and prepare documentation for sales and purchases that never took place. For instance, a company may report sales of one billion shillings with purchases of 900 million shillings.

Yet these transactions exist only on paper. The aim is to minimise declared profits and reduce tax payable,” he explained.

Mr Mabula said such practices deprive the government of substantial revenue each year and create unfair competition, as compliant businesses struggle to compete with those that evade taxes. He stressed that fair competition depends on equal compliance and that traders who honour their obligations are placed at a disadvantage when others manipulate the system.

In the transport sector, he said, tax evasion has taken a different form. Some traders falsely claim to export goods to neighbouring countries, such as Burundi, while the goods remain in Tanzania and are sold locally without paying customs duties.

“Some operators use fake identities, alter cargo information in transit, or even remove export stickers from trucks. In the system, the cargo appears to have crossed the border.

In reality, it remains in the country,” he said. He added that such practices undermine legitimate traders who comply with regulations and distort the integrity of cross-border trade.

Investigations have also revealed the use of foreign-registered shell companies created under false names and presented as consignees for allegedly exported goods, while the cargo never leaves the country. “These are paper companies.

They are registered abroad under fictitious names and used to legitimise shipments that are claimed to be exports, yet the goods never depart. The intention is to evade customs duties and related taxes,” he explained.

In import operations, Mr Mabula said, some traders establish fake companies to bring goods into the country. Once the goods arrive, they are collected and distributed outside the official tax system, often being sold without issuing receipts.

Construction materials and livestock, particularly imported goats intended for resale, were cited as sectors frequently associated with this practice. “Goods enter the country legally but are diverted from full tax assessment.

They are later sold without proper documentation. As a result, the government loses both income tax and value-added tax,” he said.

He added that tax evasion is also evident in the employment of expatriates. In some cases, companies pay foreign employees two salaries: a smaller amount locally for official records and a larger sum directly from abroad.

“What is declared locally is modest, while the bulk of the compensation comes from overseas. This reduces Pay As You Earn deductions and deprives the government of rightful revenue,” he said.

Mr Mabula emphasised that such schemes significantly reduce public revenue and hinder the implementation of development projects in critical sectors, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure. “Tax is the foundation of national development.

Every shilling lost to evasion is a shilling denied to essential services. We will continue strengthening our monitoring systems and take firm legal measures against anyone found evading tax,” he said.

He added that the authority is investing in advanced digital tools and data analysis systems to detect irregularities and close loopholes that enable fraudulent practices. TRA Commissioner Mr Yusuph Mwenda said proper tax collection requires fairness between small and large businesses, with small enterprises paying taxes commensurate with their lower earnings and larger businesses contributing according to higher income levels.

“The opening of this new branch is part of our broader efforts to expand the tax base. Revenue growth will not come from increasing tax rates.

It will come from increasing the number of taxpayers and ensuring compliance,” he said. Mr Mwenda added that TRA currently operates 53 customs offices, 33 regional offices, and 101 district offices nationwide.

This, he said, demonstrates the authority’s commitment to making services accessible to traders and the general public. “Our goal is to enable traders to spend more time growing their businesses rather than travelling long distances for tax services.

Additional centres are planned, including six more in Dar es Salaam this year,” he said. He noted that TRA staff are committed to delivering professional, efficient, and equitable services, guided by principles of transparency and accountability.

The authority is also intensifying efforts to educate taxpayers about their rights and obligations. This, Mr Mwenda said, is essential for promoting voluntary compliance and fair competition by eliminating tax evasion.

The newly opened branch aims to enhance equitable compliance and improve service delivery. Taxpayers are encouraged to use the IDRAS system, which enables them to complete most tax-related activities within 24 hours without visiting TRA offices.

Through the system, taxpayers can apply for refunds, request tax relief, submit official correspondence, and issue electronic receipts. The platform also allows for real-time tracking of applications and transactions, reducing delays and uncertainty.

Mr Mwenda assured users who experience challenges that TRA staff across the country are ready to provide assistance and technical support. “Taxes cannot be hidden.

Even if a matter goes to court, evaders will ultimately be required to pay. Our systems are becoming more robust, and our resolve is firm,” he said.

Ms Victoria Soka, Chairperson of the Tanzania Association of Tax Consultants (TATC), welcomed the opening of the new office, saying it would reduce the need for taxpayers to travel to Kinondoni and improve access to education and advisory services. She also praised the IDRAS system, noting that although users are still addressing operational challenges, the platform has significantly reduced the need for physical visits to TRA offices.

“The system has transformed how taxpayers interact with the authority. It has saved time, reduced costs, and improved efficiency.

With continued refinement, it will further strengthen compliance and service delivery,” she said. Ms Soka added that collaboration between TRA and tax consultants remains vital in promoting awareness, improving compliance, and supporting business growth.

She urged traders to embrace digital systems and adhere strictly to tax laws, noting that compliance not only supports national development but also fosters a level playing field for all businesses. The launch of the Masaki tax centre marks another step in TRA’s broader reform agenda, which seeks to modernise tax administration, improve service quality, and strengthen revenue collection.

As the authority intensifies its fight against tax evasion, officials say sustained public cooperation will be critical in securing the resources needed to support Tanzania’s development ambitions. .

Dar es Salaam. Two decades after stepping into the spotlight as television’s most famous secret pop star, Miley Cyrus is returning to celebrate the legacy of Hannah Montana.

Disney Production Company, through its Disney+ channel, has announced that the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special” is set to premiere on March 24. Filmed before a live studio audience, the special will feature an exclusive interview with Cyrus hosted by podcast star Alex Cooper. The discussion will revisit the creation of the iconic character, the show’s meteoric rise, and its lasting cultural impact on audiences worldwide.

The event will also include previously unseen archival footage and recreated versions of some of the series’ most memorable sets, including the Stewart family living room and Hannah’s famed closet. Musical throwbacks and nostalgic moments are expected to transport fans to the era when the blonde-wigged alter ego dominated screens and music charts alike.

When Hannah Montana premiered on Disney Channel in 2006, it quickly became a global phenomenon. The Emmy-nominated series ran for four seasons and helped redefine youth entertainment by blending television storytelling with pop music, launching Cyrus into international stardom.

The franchise later produced platinum-selling albums, sold-out tours, and a feature film, cementing its place as one of Disney’s most influential properties. Reflecting on the milestone, Cyrus described the anniversary, dubbed the “Hannahversary”, as both personal and collective.

“The show has shaped my life. I am grateful to the fans who have stayed connected to the character and its message over the past 20 years,” she said.

The special is produced by HopeTown Entertainment and Unwell Productions, with Miley Cyrus, Alex Cooper, Tish Cyrus-Purcell, and Matt Kaplan serving as executive producers, and Ashley Edens as showrunner. Ahead of the premiere, Disney+ will allow subscribers to revisit the original series and related films, underscoring the franchise’s enduring popularity.

Twenty years on, Hannah Montana remains more than a television show; it is a defining chapter in pop culture history, and the role that introduced Miley Cyrus to the world. .

Dar es Salaam. The ninth prosecution witness in the treason trial of Chadema national chairman Tundu Lissu has told the High Court how police received information that youths were mobilising each other to prevent the 2025 General Election and support the opposition leader.

The witness, PS 18544 ASP Geofrey Aggrey, 47, of the Regional Crime Officer’s office in Arusha, Anti-Robbery Unit, testified on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, under examination-in-chief led by Senior State Attorney Renatus Mkude. Mr Lissu faces one count of treason under Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code.

The charge arises from words he allegedly uttered regarding an intention to prevent the 2025 General Election from taking place. The prosecution alleges that on April 3, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Mr Lissu, being a citizen of Tanzania, with the intent to incite the public, persuaded people to prevent the holding of the 2025 General Election.

He is said to have uttered and written words pressuring the Head of State, including: “If they say this stance signals rebellion, it is true Because we say we will prevent the election, we will mobilise rebellion, which is how to obtain change So we are going to cause chaos, especially this election, we will truly disrupt it We are going to cause very serious chaos” The case is being heard at the High Court of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, before a panel of three judges led by the Judge in Charge of the High Court, Iringa, Dunstan Ndunguru, assisted by Judges James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde. In his testimony, the witness told the court that on April 3, 2025, while on patrol in various parts of Arusha, he received a radio call from the Acting Regional Crime Officer (RCO) for Arusha, Superintendent of Police Boni Mgogo.

The officer informed him that youths at a bajaji stand in the Morombo area were mobilising each other to prevent the 2025 General Election. The witness said he and other officers proceeded to the scene, where they found a group of youths allegedly mobilising against the election.

Upon seeing the police, the youths fled, but two suspects, identified in court as P4 and P7, were arrested. He directed that they be taken to Murieti Police Station.

Police also impounded four bajajis at the scene, two of which belonged to the arrested suspects. While at the station, the witness said he received further instructions from the Acting RCO directing him to take the two suspects to the RCO’s office for questioning.

There, he questioned them about allegedly conspiring to prevent the General Election. According to the witness, the suspects stated that they were supporting, Mr Lissu’s call to prevent the election and cause chaos.

He told the court that he was subsequently instructed to open an investigation file and interrogate the suspects further in collaboration with other officers. He then recorded his statement.

After completing his examination-in-chief, the witness was cross-examined by the accused, who put a series of questions to him regarding the arrests and the conduct of investigations. .