Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. A Tanzanian entrepreneur has developed a digital platform designed to connect shippers, drivers and freight forwarders through a system that functions much like ride-hailing Uber.

Azizi Chamani, 35, is behind CargoLink–a web-based freight platform built to modernise the transport sector and address inefficiencies in cargo movement across Tanzania and East Africa. Founder and chief executive officer of Top Notch Company Limited, Azizi Chamani “I was inspired by the inefficiencies I observed in the logistics chain, where thousands of trucks either return empty after offloading cargo inland or arrive empty at the Port of Dar es Salaam to pick up new shipments,” Mr Chamani said in an interview.

“This imbalance in cargo flow costs businesses and the economy millions every year,” added Mr Chamani who the founder and chief executive officer of Top Notch Company Limited that owns the platform. Mr Chamani, who holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a specialisation in Blockchain Management from Guglielmo Marconi University in Italy, said CargoLink was developed to digitise how cargo is booked, moved, and paid for–an area that has remained largely manual despite advancements in digital banking and mobile money.

“Ultimately, our goal is to make Tanzania the digital logistics hub of East Africa and support the country’s Development Vision 2050 by enhancing trade efficiency and digital innovation,” he said. The platform allows shippers to post cargo, drivers to accept jobs, and payments to be processed securely online.

Mobile applications for Android and iOS are in their final stages of development and are expected to launch in the coming months. From idea to reality With endorsement from the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), Mr Chamani said CargoLink has engaged with regulators, industry stakeholders, and the private sector to establish partnerships.

“The entire project–its platform, services, and brand identity–has been fully copyrighted and trademark-protected, ensuring the long-term integrity of the brand,” he said. “So, we can confidently say CargoLink is no longer just an idea–it is an operational solution gearing up for a large-scale rollout by early next year,” he said.

Currently self-financed through Top Notch Company Limited, the project seeks to raise between $1.5 million and $2 million to scale operations across Tanzania and expand regionally. According to him, the funds will support system upgrades, hardware acquisition, marketing and workforce expansion.

“We are in discussions with both local and international investors who see the long-term potential in what we’re building,” he said, adding that the doors are wide open for strategic partners and investors who share their vision. How it works Through CargoLink, businesses, importers, and exporters can post shipments by entering details such as pickup and drop-off points, cargo type, and schedule.

They can then choose to work directly with a verified driver or through a registered freight forwarder. Freight forwarders handle logistics documentation, negotiate rates, assign vetted drivers, and manage multi-leg, cross-border shipments.

Once a shipment is booked, it can be tracked in real time via GPS, offering full visibility for shippers, forwarders, and drivers. Payments are processed digitally, reducing fraud and ensuring secure, cashless transactions.

The platform also supports multi-leg bookings–for example, from Dar es Salaam to Lubumbashi–optimising routes and minimising empty return trips. To ensure reliable service delivery, CargoLink plans to provide branded smartphones equipped with GPS and preloaded applications to fleet owners and drivers, particularly those lacking compatible devices.

Mr Chamani believes the timing is right for such innovation, given the ongoing expansion of regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), increased government emphasis on transport efficiency, and widespread smartphone penetration. “Tanzania is a natural logistics hub,” he said.

“With the Port of Dar es Salaam handling over 95 percent of the country’s international trade and serving landlocked nations like Zambia, Rwanda, and the DRC, efficient freight coordination is essential.” While Kenya’s Mombasa port remains a major competitor, Mr Chamani said CargoLink’s dynamic booking and route optimisation features could complement both ports and promote collaboration.

“Our vision is not just to build a platform,” he added, “but to help reshape how goods move across East Africa–efficiently, transparently, and digitally.” .

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt) in a bid to enhance dialogue aimed at improving the business environment, boosting tax compliance, and supporting national revenue growth.

Speaking during a high-level meeting organised by the CEOrt on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, TRA Commissioner General Yusuph Mwenda said the authority was shifting from a forceful tax collection approach to one that promotes cooperation and facilitation. “Our direction now is to enable rather than to compel.

A modern tax system should make it easier for businesses to meet their obligations, grow, and create jobs,” said Mr Mwenda. “As we pursue the National Development Vision 2050, collaboration with the private sector through CEOrt is essential for building an inclusive and resilient economy.

” The meeting, which brought together senior TRA officials, CEOrt members, government representatives, and tax experts, focused on strengthening tax administration, identifying priority policy reforms, and promoting private-sector participation in shaping tax policies. Mr Mwenda noted that the government had prioritised improving the business climate, including the establishment of the National Tax Review Committee, which includes members from the CEOrt.

CEOrt board member David Nchimbi emphasised the need for transparent and predictable tax systems, saying they were key to attracting investors and accelerating sustainable development. “This meeting provides a vital platform for open dialogue between the government and the private sector, enabling practical policy reforms aligned with business realities,” said Mr Nchimbi.

CEOrt board chairperson David Tarimo said the discussions centred on critical issues such as tax assessments, compliance facilitation, and building mutual trust between TRA and the business community. “CEOrt will continue to act as a bridge for evidence-based dialogue between the private sector and the government.

Honest and respectful engagement fosters solutions that strengthen governance and business growth,” said Mr Tarimo. Participants commended TRA for continuing its digital transformation agenda, while urging fair and consistent interpretation of tax laws across all sectors.

The meeting took place as TRA reported robust revenue performance. In the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, domestic revenue collection reached Sh8.97 trillion–exceeding its target by over six percent.

CEOrt, which brings together more than 230 institutions and companies from various sectors, marks its 25th anniversary this year of championing private-sector development in Tanzania. MultiChoice Tanzania Managing Director and CEOrt member Jackline Woiso expressed optimism about ongoing cooperation between the private sector and the government, saying it would foster an enabling investment climate and promote inclusive, sustainable growth.

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Dar es Salaam. On any given day, Kariakoo is a controlled chaos.

Crowded pavements overflow with shoppers, handcart pushers yell for space as they ferry bales of clothes and sacks of rice, and the constant honk of vehicles competes with traders calling out their wares. The market stretches in every direction, a maze of wholesale shops, stalls, and warehouses that fuel the daily life of Tanzania’s commercial capital.

From electronics and textiles to spices, shoes, and household goods, Kariakoo remains the heartbeat of Dar es Salaam’s economy. But in recent years, the city has witnessed the rise of sleek shopping malls, air-conditioned complexes, and satellite business districts.

Places like Mlimani City in Ubungo, with its supermarkets, cinemas, and global brands, have introduced a modern shopping mall culture to Dar. The East Africa Business Centre, also in Ubungo, which was launched recently is trying to capture the wholesale trade with Chinese imports and electronics.

Smaller hubs in Mwenge, Sinza, and Manzese, as well as new neighbourhood mini-malls, have emerged to offer convenience closer to residential areas. Despite this wave of alternatives, Kariakoo’s dominance remains unshaken.

Its appeal stretches far beyond Dar es Salaam, into Tanzania’s hinterland and even across the borders of East and Central Africa. A market built on history Kariakoo’s supremacy cannot be understood without tracing its history.

The area itself takes its name from the “Carrier Corps” — the thousands of African porters recruited by the British during World War I to transport supplies. After the war, the colonial administration designated the area as a trading hub.

In the 1970s, President Julius Nyerere sought to formalize commerce in the bustling but chaotic market by commissioning the construction of the Kariakoo Market Corporation building. Designed by Chinese architects and engineers, the concrete structure with its distinctive honeycomb ventilation remains one of Dar es Salaam’s most recognizable landmarks.

When it opened in 1975, it became the largest covered market in East Africa. “Kariakoo was always more than a marketplace,” explains Martin Mbwana, former chairman of traders’ association.

“It became a symbol of urban growth, a centre of commerce, and an anchor for small traders and entrepreneurs during the ujamaa period. To this day, its reputation as the place where ‘everything is available’ holds true,” he adds.

The hub that never sleeps According to Mr Mbwana, that reputation has only grown over the years. Kariakoo today is not just a market but a vast ecosystem of trade.

Shops open early and often close late at night. Some sections, especially wholesale areas, operate almost round the clock as trucks unload goods destined for towns as far away as Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Kigali in Rwanda.

For traders like Josephine Mboma from Ndola, Zambia, Kariakoo is indispensable as it provides a gateway to manufacturers in other parts of the world. She travels to Dar at least once every two months to purchase bales of clothes, kitchenware, and cosmetics.

“Everything you want, you will find in Kariakoo–cheaper, faster, and in bulk,” she says while negotiating a deal for household goods. “Other places are good for certain products, but for serious business, Kariakoo is unmatched.

” The same sentiment is echoed by Emmanuel Niyonzima, a Burundian trader who deals in textiles. “In Bujumbura, if you ask, ‘Where did this fabric come from?’ the answer is always Kariakoo,” he laughs.

A regional artery Kariakoo’s reach is regional. Traders from Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and even parts of Kenya and Uganda rely on it as a redistribution hub.

For many, Kariakoo provides a cheaper alternative to traveling directly to Dubai, Guangzhou, or Istanbul to source goods. “In Kariakoo, you are essentially accessing the global supply chain,” notes Mr Mbwana “Importers bring in containers through Dar es Salaam port, and Kariakoo acts as the clearing house.

It links the international wholesale market with the informal traders of East and Central Africa. That is why it is irreplaceable.

” On any given evening, lorries and buses loaded with goods depart Kariakoo, bound for Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, or border towns like Tunduma. From there, merchandise filters across frontiers, sustaining livelihoods along the way.

Competition rises And yet, Dar es Salaam has changed. The emergence of new commercial centres has diversified the city’s retail landscape.

Dar es Salaam’s commercial landscape has diversified rapidly over the past two decades, with new centres emerging to complement the city’s traditional markets. When Mlimani City opened its doors in 2007, it introduced modern mall culture to Tanzania, offering urban families not just a place to shop but also a weekend destination for leisure, complete with supermarkets, cinemas, and international brands.

In Ubungo, the East Africa Business Centre carved out a niche as a wholesale hub, attracting traders with its wide selection of electronics and fast-moving consumer goods. Other areas have developed their own specialties.

Mwenge, long known for its roadside artisans, established itself as the go-to destination for crafts and furniture, while Manzese evolved into a bustling marketplace where spare parts and affordable food draw steady crowds. In Sinza and other middle-class neighbourhoods, smaller plazas have sprouted, housing boutiques, pharmacies, and fast-food outlets that cater to the growing demand for convenience closer to residential areas.

Together, these hubs have reshaped the city’s retail ecosystem–broadening options for consumers while redefining the way Dar es Salaam shops and trades. These developments have chipped away at Kariakoo’s monopoly by offering convenience and a more organized shopping experience.

Congestion, limited parking, and the risk of petty crime in Kariakoo have driven some consumers toward these alternatives. Still, analysts argue that the new centres serve different niches rather than directly threatening Kariakoo.

“The alternatives are complementary,” says Mr Mbwana. “The malls cater to lifestyle shopping, while Kariakoo is about scale, bulk, and variety.

Both are necessary for a growing city.” Challenges Kariakoo must confront But Kariakoo’s supremacy is not without strain.

Both traders and shoppers often point to a set of persistent challenges that weigh heavily on the market’s daily operations. Congestion is perhaps the most obvious, with narrow streets perpetually clogged by traffic, handcarts, and crowds of buyers, slowing down both business and transport.

Security is another concern: while the market attracts thousands every day, it is also a hotspot for pickpocketing and occasional scams that discourage some visitors. Regulation and taxation add to the frustrations.

Traders complain of inconsistent enforcement of levies, with some accusing authorities of harassment or unfair practices. On top of this lies a widening modernization gap.

Whereas malls across the city provide air-conditioned order, electronic billing, and card payments, Kariakoo still runs largely on traditional bargaining, manual accounting, and cash transactions. Attempts to address these issues have been made, but progress has been uneven.

Proposals for electronic payment systems, tighter security, and infrastructure upgrades have surfaced several times, yet many of these plans have either stalled or failed to take root. As a result, Kariakoo continues to thrive on its own terms–dynamic and indispensable, but carrying the weight of challenges that remain unresolved.

Why it endures Yet despite these hurdles, Kariakoo endures and thrives. The reasons are both economic and cultural.

First, it remains the cheapest source of goods. Bulk buying and intense competition among traders drive prices down.

Second, it is the widest in variety, whether it is imported electronics, Congolese fabrics, or fresh cassava, Kariakoo has it. Third, it is deeply connected to regional supply chains, serving as a lifeline for small traders in neighbouring countries.

There is also an intangible pull. “Kariakoo is an experience,” says Severine Mushi, the current chairman of the traders’ association.

“You go there not just to buy, but to negotiate, to feel the energy, to see the real economy at work. In a mall you are just a customer.

In Kariakoo, you are part of the hustle.” The road ahead As Dar es Salaam grows into a megacity — with a population projected to surpass 10 million by 2030 — the question is not whether Kariakoo will survive, but how it will adapt.

Urban planners argue that modernization is inevitable if the market is to cope with increasing demand. Others fear that over-regulation could strip Kariakoo of the very dynamism that makes it special.

According to Mr Mushi though Kariakoo may not have the polished glass facades of Mlimani City or the organised parking of the East Africa Business Centre, but its unmatched blend of affordability, variety, and regional reach keeps it firmly on the throne of Tanzania’s commerce. “These are just extensions given the proximity of Kariakoo to all major facilities including the port of Dar es Salaam,” he says.

As he succinctly puts it: “You can build as many malls as you want. Kariakoo is not just a market — it is an institution.

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Jerusalem. A senior Hamas official said on Wednesday that negotiators from his Palestinian militant group and Israel had exchanged lists of prisoners and hostages who would be released should a deal be reached during the ongoing Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt.

Israel hopes the talks will lead to the release or the recovery of the bodies of the remaining 48 hostages seized during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, plus 1,700 Gazans who were detained since the October 7 attacks, including all women and children.

For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans. Following are some of the most prominent Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

It is not yet clear if any of them will be released: ABDALLAH AL-BARGHOUTI Barghouti was sentenced to 67 life terms in 2004 by an Israeli military court for his involvement in a series of suicide attacks in 2001 and 2002 that killed dozens of Israelis. Barghouti prepared the explosive belts used in the attacks, including one on a Jerusalem Sbarro restaurant in which 15 people were killed, the Israeli army said.

A father of three, he was born in Kuwait in 1972. In 1996, he moved with his family to live in Beit Rima village near Ramallah in the West Bank. IBRAHIM HAMED Hamed, who was handed 54 life terms, was arrested in 2006 in Ramallah.

He is accused by Israel of planning suicide attacks that killed dozens of Israelis. Hamed, who had been on Israel’s wanted list for eight years before his arrest, was the top West Bank commander of the Izz el-Deen Al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing.

He holds a degree in political science from Birzeit University near Ramallah. While he was a fugitive, Israel detained his wife for eight months.

HASSAN SALAMA Born in Gaza’s Khan Younis refugee camp in 1971, Salama was convicted of orchestrating a wave of suicide bombings in Israel in 1996 that killed dozens of Israelis and wounded hundreds more. He was sentenced to 48 life terms in jail.

Salama said the attacks were a response to the assassination of Hamas bombmaker Yahya Ayyash in 1996. Salama was arrested in Hebron in the West Bank later that year. NON-HAMAS FIGURES: MARWAN AL-BARGHOUTI – FATAH A leading member of the Fatah movement that controls the Palestinian Authority, Barghouti is seen as a possible successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He made his name as a leader and organiser in both of the Intifadas, or uprisings, waged by the Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1987. He was arrested in 2002, charged with orchestrating gun ambushes and suicide bombings and sentenced to five life terms in 2004. Fatah officials have said that he set up the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the Fatah armed wing, on the orders of the first PA president, Yasser Arafat. AHMED SAADAT – PFLP Saadat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was accused by Israel of ordering the assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001. Pursued by Israel, he took shelter at the Ramallah headquarters of Arafat.

Under a deal with the Palestinian Authority in 2002, Saadat stood trial in a Palestinian court and was incarcerated at a Palestinian Authority jail, where he was held under international supervision. The Israeli military seized Saadat in 2006 following the withdrawal of the foreign monitors, and put him on trial in a military court.

The charges against him included involvement in a militant group, weapons dealing and deadly attacks. However, the Justice Ministry decided there was not enough evidence to charge him with Zeevi’s assassination.

He was sentenced to 30 years in jail in 2008. .

Dar es Salaam. The case involving the alleged abduction of former Tanzanian Ambassador to Cuba, Mr Humphrey Polepole, is scheduled to come before the High Court in Dar es Salaam today for a preliminary hearing.

The case, filed as a habeas corpus petition, seeks a court order compelling authorities to produce Mr Polepole. His legal team, led by Advocate Peter Kibatala, filed the petition on his behalf under a certificate of urgency.

The respondents in the case are the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Attorney General (AG), the Regional Crimes Officer (RCO) and the Regional Police Commander (RPC) for Dar es Salaam. According to a court summons seen by The Citizen and confirmed by Advocate Kibatala, the matter has been scheduled for hearing before High Court Principal, Judge Salma Maghimbi, at the Dar es Salaam sub-registry on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.

m. “The matter has been called before Judge Maghimbi for directions.

Summons have already been issued to all parties,” said Advocate Kibatala. In the urgent petition, Kibatala stated that Mr Polepole was reportedly abducted on the night of October 6, 2025, by individuals believed to be police officers who allegedly stormed his residence in Ununio, Kinondoni District.

The petition claims that Mr Polepole has not been charged in any court and is being unlawfully detained at an undisclosed location, violating his constitutional rights. “The applicant’s welfare requires immediate attention and intervention, including confirmation of his safety and well-being,” reads part of the affidavit supporting the petition.

The legal team is requesting that the court direct the respondents to either release Mr Polepole on bail or formally charge him in a competent court. Advocate Kibatala further noted that Mr Polepole, a Tanzanian citizen, has served in various roles, including District Commissioner for Ubungo and Ambassador to Malawi, Cuba, and other Latin American nations.

He said that Mr Polepole voluntarily resigned from his ambassadorial post earlier this year, citing dissatisfaction with the state of governance in the country. Mr Kibatala’s affidavit states that Mr Polepole had previously expressed fears for his safety due to threats linked to his outspoken political views.

He further alleges that unidentified assailants broke into Mr Polepole’s Ununio residence on the night of October 6 and abducted him. “His brothers, Godfrey and Augustino Polepole, have confirmed the incident publicly through local media reports,” Kibatala stated.

He said that despite widespread concern, none of the respondents have disclosed Mr Polepole’s whereabouts or legal status, raising public anxiety. “I have reason to believe that the fifth respondent, the Dar es Salaam Zonal Police Commander, has knowledge of and authority over the applicant’s detention,” Kibatala asserted.

Reports of Mr Polepole’s abduction began circulating on social media on October 6 through a video clip shared by his brother Augustino, who said that unidentified individuals had raided the former envoy’s home and taken him to an unknown location. .

Zanzibar. Family often shapes the path of generations, guiding children towards professions or roles reminiscent of their parents.

Lawyers raise lawyers, doctors raise doctors, and politicians raise politicians. Such has been the case for Mfaume Khamis Hassan, whose political ambitions are deeply rooted in his family’s legacy.

Mr Mfaume, now a contender for Zanzibar’s presidency in the 2025 General Election, hails from a family long involved in politics. Both his late father, Khamis Hassan Kombo, and mother, Miza Silima Khamis, were members of the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), which led the Zanzibar Revolution on January 12, 1964. Although they were not present in Zanzibar during the Revolution, they actively engaged in movements that toppled the Sultan’s regime, paving the way for the People’s Republic of Zanzibar before it united with the Republic of Tanganyika to form Tanzania.

Political engagement also influenced Mr Mfaume’s elder brother, Ali Khamis Hassan, a committed member of the Civic United Front (CUF), who worked on party mobilisation. Growing up in this environment planted the seeds for Mr Mfaume’s eventual political career.

Through him, the family’s activism evolved into leadership ambition, culminating in his bid for Zanzibar’s highest office: President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council. Early life and education Mr Mfaume was born on June 16, 1967 at Mnazi Mmoja Referral Hospital, Zanzibar.

He is the seventh child in his family. His education began at Kisiwandui Primary School and continued at Forodhani Primary School.

He later attended Haile Selassie Secondary School in Unguja, Zanzibar, completing his secondary education before embarking on military training. He joined Zanzibar’s Special Anti-Smuggling Unit known in Kiswahili as Kikosi Maalumu cha Kuzuia Magendo (KMKM) under a 15-year contract, serving from 1985 until his voluntary retirement in 2000. Political journey After leaving the military, Mr Mfaume pursued competitive politics rather than follow his parents’ path as loyal party supporters.

In 2002, he joined the National League for Democracy (NLD), quickly rising within the party ranks. Within six months, he was appointed Deputy Secretary-General for mainland Tanzania and later confirmed as Vice-Chairman in Zanzibar.

Following the death of NLD founder Dr Emmanuel Makaidi on October 15, 2015, Mr Mfaume assumed national leadership of the party. The 2025 General Election marks his second bid for Zanzibar’s presidency, having also contested in 2020. He has twice sought parliamentary office for Kiwajuni constituency in 2010 and 2015. Life outside politics Away from the political arena, Mr Mfaume is a farmer and livestock keeper, with experience in fishing and small-scale business.

He is married to three wives and has four children. His presidential campaign focuses on service to the people of Zanzibar, prioritising development, peace, and security.

Key areas include improved healthcare, better education, youth employment, and the elimination of Zanzibar’s marginalisation. Youth employment and social development Mr Mfaume places particular emphasis on youth employment, arguing that work prevents young people from falling prey to crime, substance abuse, and other social vices.

“If a young person has meaningful work, they have direction and income,” he says. “Leaving them idle is equivalent to endangering the nation.

” He promises that under his leadership, every young person in Zanzibar will have access to productive opportunities that generate income, while the government benefits from taxes collected from their economic activity. “This is achievable if Zanzibaris have faith in our vision,” he adds.

Mr Mfaume draws inspiration from Zanzibar’s first President, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, who mobilised youth into constructive activities to contribute to national development while steering them away from social harm. He intends to emulate this model, ensuring the islands’ youth are fully engaged in advancing Zanzibar’s progress.

Appeal for peace and unity As Zanzibar approaches the 2025 election, Mfaume urges citizens to maintain peace and unity. He calls on them to vote in large numbers and to resist being influenced by demonstrations intended to disrupt the islands’ stability.

“As a soldier, I understand the consequences when peace is disturbed,” he says. His message is clear: leadership is about harnessing the islands’ potential, particularly the energy and talent of young people, while safeguarding peace, development, and the nation’s future.

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Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russian forces had captured almost 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) of land in Ukraine in 2025 and that Moscow retained complete strategic initiative on the battlefield.

Russia’s 2025 gains would amount to nearly 1 percent of Ukraine’s land area, and the country controls nearly 20 percent in total. Putin, addressing a meeting with Russian top military commanders on his 73rd birthday, said Ukrainian forces were retreating in all sectors of the front.

He said Kyiv was trying to strike deep into Russian territory, but it would not help it to change the situation in the more than 3 1/2-year-old war. “At this time, the Russian armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative,” Putin told the meeting in northwestern Russia near Russia’s second-largest city of St.

Petersburg, according to a Kremlin transcript. “This year, we have liberated nearly 5,000 square km of territory – 4,900 – and 212 localities.

” Ukrainian forces, he said, “are retreating throughout the line of combat contact, despite attempts at fierce resistance.” Russia’s Defence Ministry on Tuesday reported the capture of two more villages along the front, which Ukraine’s top commander says now extends over 1,250 km (775 miles).

Ukraine’s military in August dismissed Russia’s recent offensives as a failure, with Moscow’s forces failing to capture a single major Ukrainian city this year. Ukrainian accounts say Kyiv’s troops have made gains in the Donetsk region, particularly around Dobropillia, a town near the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has also said Ukrainian forces have regained ground in the border Sumy region, where Russia has established a foothold. Russian Army General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of Russia’s armed forces, told the meeting of top commanders that Russian forces were “advancing in practically all directions.

” Ukrainian forces, he said, were focused on slowing the Russian advance. Gerasimov, overall commander of Russia’s war effort, said the heaviest fighting was gripping Pokrovsk and areas towards Dnipropetrovsk.

Moscow’s troops were moving on the key cities of Siversk and Kostyantynivka in the main theatre of the Donetsk region. Gerasimov said they were clearing Ukrainian forces from the city of Kupiansk, under Russian attack for months in Ukraine’s northeast, and were moving forward in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions further south.

They were also progressing in setting up buffer zones in Sumy and Kharkiv regions in the north. In his remarks to the meeting, Putin said Russia’s objectives remained the same as when he launched its “special military operation” in February 2022, saying it was aimed at “demilitarising and denazifying” its smaller neighbour.

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Siha. A Civic United Front (CUF) parliamentary candidate for Siha Constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, Mr Daudi Ntuyehabi, has been killed by residents after being accused of stabbing another man during a dispute.

The incident occurred on the night of October 7, 2025, in Kilingi Village, Siha District, according to Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Maigwa. Commander Maigwa said violence erupted after a quarrel involving Mr Ntuyehabi and another young man, Mr Abdul Issah Mohamed, over a financial disagreement while drinking at a local grocery and liquor shop.

During the altercation, Mr Ntuyehabi allegedly stabbed Mr Mohamed in the abdomen, causing his intestines to protrude. Mr Mohamed is currently receiving treatment.

Following the attack, eight individuals have been arrested for taking the law into their own hands and assaulting the candidate, resulting in his death. Those in custody include Hamadi Mohamed, Alphonce Kinyaha, Rizik Amedeus, Frank Lutindi, Shedrack Emanuel, Jeremia Mnkondo, Zainab Elisha, and Issah Mohamed.

Commander Maigwa emphasised that police have escalated investigations into the killing and its circumstances. “The incident occurred around 7:30 a.

m. on October 7, 2025, in Kilingi Sanya Juu Village after the deceased stabbed Mr Abdul Issah Mohamed in the abdomen,” he said.

He explained the alleged stabbing followed an attempt by Mr Mohamed to mediate a disagreement between Mr Ntuyehabi and another man while they were drinking, during which a dispute over money arose. Furthermore, Commander Maigwa condemned the practice of taking the law into one’s own hands, warning that such acts often bring serious consequences for communities.

“The Kilimanjaro Regional Police Force calls on the public to refrain from vigilante actions, as they often cause grave harm, as in this case,” he said. Police are urging anyone with further information about the incident to come forward to assist investigations .

Unguja. The debate over early voting has taken centre stage in Zanzibar’s political landscape as the October 29, 2025 General Election draws closer, with political parties divided on whether the process strengthens or undermines electoral integrity.

This year’s polls will see voters elect the President of Zanzibar, Members of the House of Representatives, Members of Parliament, and councillors. According to the Zanzibar Election Act of 2018, the Isles will hold voting over two days on October 28 and 29, with the first day set aside for early voting.

The law stipulates that the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) will conduct early voting a day before the main election to enable those directly involved in managing the polls, including election officials and security officers, to cast their votes before undertaking official duties. However, while ZEC maintains that early voting is clearly defined in law, the arrangement has divided opinion among political parties, with some hailing it as a practical solution and others denouncing it as a potential avenue for electoral malpractice.

ACTWazalendo opposes early voting The opposition ACTWazalendo party has been one of the most vocal critics of early voting, arguing that the arrangement could be used to manipulate results. Before the campaign season began, ACTWazalendo leaders had strongly objected to the idea and called for amendments to the electoral regulations to abolish the provision.

The party had warned ZEC against proceeding with early voting, insisting it could compromise transparency. However, as ZEC stood firm that it was simply implementing existing law, the party later softened its position, saying it would not boycott the election but would continue to express its dissatisfaction.

Party chairman and presidential candidate, Othman Masoud, has frequently criticised the concept during his campaign rallies, insisting that Zanzibar’s small size does not warrant the need for early voting. “Early voting makes little sense in a small island like ours,” Mr Masoud told supporters at one of his rallies.

“But if the government insists on going ahead, we will be there to accompany those participating and ensure fairness.” He emphasised that the party’s goal was not confrontation, but vigilance to ensure that the process was free from irregularities.

CCM defends legality of early voting The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has dismissed ACTWazalendo’s claims, maintaining that early voting is legally sanctioned and clearly outlined in the Election Act passed by the Zanzibar House of Representatives. The party has cautioned against any efforts by unauthorised individuals to interfere with the process on October 28, warning that such actions could be seen as an attempt to disrupt peace and order.

Speaking during a rally at Kidimni Bumbwini in North Unguja, CCM presidential candidate and Zanzibar President, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, reiterated the party’s position that early voting is lawful and should be respected. “I have begun hearing that some people are planning to escort early voters on that day,” said Dr Mwinyi.

“That is a sign of provocation and a threat to peace. The law is clear about who is entitled to vote early.

If anyone asks you to leave your homes that day, let them go alone.” He urged political parties to focus on peaceful campaigning and to respect the electoral laws enacted by the country’s institutions.

ZEC clarifies legal basis ZEC’s Director of Elections, Thabit Idarous Faina, reaffirmed that the Commission was acting strictly within the law and had already issued regulations governing early voting. “The Zanzibar Electoral Commission Act clearly provides for early voting to be held a day before the general election.

The Commission has issued the necessary regulations to ensure the process is conducted transparently and smoothly,” he said. Mr Faina added that ZEC’s preparations were progressing well and that stakeholders had been fully briefed on how the early voting exercise would be conducted.

Other parties weigh in The debate over early voting is not new. In previous election cycles, Agricultural Alliance for Farmers Party (AAFP) chairman, Said Soud Said, had even taken the matter to court, challenging the legality of a two-day voting process.

However, he has since changed his stance, saying the law is clear and that ZEC is merely implementing it. “I have since dropped that position after realising that there is no need for confrontation.

The law provides for early voting, and we must respect it. Those opposing it should understand that they are effectively defying the law,” Mr Soud said.

He added that any effort to remove early voting would require a formal legislative amendment through the House of Representatives, not political pressure. Similarly, National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) presidential candidate, Khamis Faki Mgau, has backed the process, saying that early voting is legitimate and helps facilitate participation among election workers and security officials.

“There is nothing wrong with early voting because it is conducted according to the law. Those who vote early are simply fulfilling their duty,” he said.

ADATADEA presidential candidate, Juma Ali Khatib, echoed similar sentiments, noting that early voting contributes to orderly election management and that opposing it could be driven by “hidden political motives.” He said: “The law allows it, so we should focus on ensuring that it is done fairly and transparently instead of politicising it.

” As the election approaches, the issue continues to dominate political discussions in Zanzibar. Analysts believe the debate reflects broader tensions over electoral trust and governance on the Isles — themes that have shaped Zanzibar’s political history for decades.

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Independent Tanzanian-Ethiopian-Kenyan artiste Turunesh is celebrating a major milestone after her project “Nesha’s Cypher” made it onto the Grammy ballot, marking a rare recognition for an alternative and experimental musician from East Africa. Sharing the news on Instagram, the Canada-based artiste expressed deep gratitude for being part of this year’s Recording Academy consideration, highlighting the importance of representation for the region’s underground and alternative music scene.

“It’s not every day that an independent, experimental artiste from Tanzania/Ethiopia/Kenya is on the Grammy ballot,” Turunesh wrote. “Grateful to be representing the alt and underground scene in East Africa and Canada.

” Nesha’s Cypher is described as a “sonic and visual labour of love,” blending genres, cultures, and sounds to create a project rooted in collaboration and community. “So many hands and hearts came together to push boundaries in the studio and on set to create something truly unique.

For them I’m so grateful,” she added, thanking Recording Academy voting members “for making this consideration happen and for championing the new wave of music rising from the East.” The record, executive produced and written by Turunesh, features a global team of collaborators including producers Chrybuu, Timlyre, Zaiah Zoundz, Erostayo and Txpski, alongside live instrumentation from Aanderson guitarist, Pacohamusic and others.

Turunesh, who continues to blur genre lines between RandB, Afro-fusion, and experimental soul, credited her creative team, from producers to stylists for bringing Nesha’s Cypher to life, describing it as “a record that pushes boundaries both musically and visually.” The recognition underscores the growing influence of East African alternative artistes on the global stage and highlights Turunesh’s commitment to telling authentic stories through sound, visuals, and collaboration.

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