Category: The Citizen

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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Geita. Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) celebrated its 25th anniversary by hosting a golf tournament at the Lake Victoria Golf Club, located within the Geita mine site The tournament is part of a series of activities planned this year to commemorate GGML’s quarter-century journey, highlighting the company’s growth and acknowledging the contributions of employees, the local community, and government partners in building its legacy.

The event brought together GGML employees and representatives from partner companies, emphasizing the promotion of health, collaboration, and social well-being through sports. Speaking on behalf of management, GGML’s Senior Communications Officer, Rhoda Lugazia, explained that golf was chosen as part of the celebrations because it reflects values such as unity and discipline, which are central to the company’s culture.

“Golf is more than just a game. It provides an opportunity to foster teamwork, patience, and wellness in the workplace,” Lugazia said.

Participants included staff from various departments, such as engineering, environmental management, occupational safety, and communications. Guests from government institutions and the private sector also joined the tournament, reinforcing GGML’s commitment to strong community relations.

Through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, GGML continues to support the development of sports and infrastructure in the Geita region, including improvements in schools, healthcare facilities, and recreational amenities for local communities. The anniversary golf tournament not only celebrated the company’s achievements over 25 years but also reinforced its dedication to promoting health, collaboration, and social development in the region.

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Dar es Salaam. The disappearance of former Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba, Humphrey Polepole, allegedly abducted under mysterious circumstances, has been taken to court.

On Tuesday, 7 October 2025, Mr Polepole’s lawyers, led by Advocate Peter Kibatala, filed a special petition at the Tanzania High Court, Dar es Salaam Registry, seeking urgent orders for his production before the court. The petition, filed under an emergency motion, names the respondents as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Attorney General (AG), the Head of Zonal Crime Officer (ZCO), and the Dar es Salaam Police Special Zone Commander (ZPC).

Advocate Kibatala told The Citizen sister newspaper Mwananchi that the petition follows reports that on the night of 6 October 2025, Mr Polepole was allegedly abducted by individuals suspected to be security officers who raided his home in Ununio, Kinondoni District. His whereabouts remain unknown.

“The applicant’s constitutional rights have been violated without justification,” Kibatala said, stressing that the matter requires urgent judicial intervention. “His welfare needs immediate attention, including confirmation of his condition,” he said.

The petition requests a court order compelling the respondents to produce Mr Polepole. It also seeks a one-sided hearing before all parties appear, citing the urgency of the situation.

If granted, the court would direct the respondents either to release him on bail or produce him before a competent court and charge him lawfully. Mr Polepole, a former ruling party stalwart and outspoken critic of government policies, has served in senior positions including CCM Secretary for Ideology and Publicity, Nominated MP, District Commissioner, and High Commissioner to Malawi, before his tenure in Cuba ended in July 2025. His disappearance has raised concern among civil society, human rights defenders and opposition leaders.

The court is yet to set a hearing date. Meanwhile, the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) has called on President Samia Suluhu Hassan to personally intervene and ensure Mr Polepole’s safe and immediate release.

In a statement on 7 October 2025, THRDC condemned the abduction and urged the government to use all available means to locate Mr Polepole and others who remain missing. Signed by national coordinator Onesmo Olengurumwa, the statement reiterated the coalition’s long-standing call for a National Oversight Organ to receive complaints against security agencies.

The coalition demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of Mr Polepole, urging his abductors to return him alive and in good health. It also called for a swift, independent, and transparent investigation, insisting that those responsible, regardless of rank, be held accountable under the law.

“The protection and security agencies have a constitutional duty to guarantee the safety of all citizens,” the statement said. THRDC also urged President Hassan to sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Convention against Torture, as a demonstration of Tanzania’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.

The coalition appealed to the international community, diplomatic missions, civil society, and the media to stand in solidarity against what it described as a “worrying escalation” of human rights violations. Describing Mr Polepole’s disappearance as a grave breach of human rights and an attack on freedom of expression, THRDC warned it reflects a shrinking civic space in Tanzania.

Mr Polepole was abducted on 6 October 2025 in Dar es Salaam. His whereabouts remain unknown.

THRDC said more than 100 similar cases have gone unresolved between 2024 and 2025. .

Nairobi. Kenya has completed converting three railway construction dollar-denominated loans from China into yuan in order to save on interest payments, its Finance Minister John Mbadi said on Tuesday.

The swap, which allows the floating, dollar-based interest rates across the three loans from China Exim Bank to drop into their lower, yuan-based rates, will save the country about $215 million a year, Mbadi told reporters. “It kicks off immediately and it is a saving in our fiscal space,” Mbadi told journalists at a briefing, without providing a figure for the outstanding loan amounts that were converted.

The East African nation borrowed three loans amounting to $5 billion in 2014 and 2015 for the construction of a modern railway line from the port city of Mombasa to a station near the Rift Valley town of Naivasha in the hinterland. The outstanding loans stood at a total of $3.5 billion by June last year, figures from the finance ministry showed.

China has not commented on the currency switch. Apart from the financial relief, Kenyan officials attribute the currency switch to the fact that the East African nation’s debt is concentrated in dollars, exposing the government to higher currency and interest rate risks.

About 68% of the stock of Kenya’s external debt is denominated in dollars, according to government officials. President William Ruto’s government has been trying to cut its overall debt, which stands close to 70% of gross domestic product, in order to make repayments more manageable.

The government has revamped its debt management strategy to smooth out its maturity curve and lighten the pressure on public coffers. It has also been turning to securitisation of revenue to raise funds for key projects like the extension of the railway from Naivasha to the Ugandan border, and the upgrading of its main airport in Nairobi.

A team from the International Monetary Fund is currently in Kenya for talks on a new Fund-supported programme after the expiry of the last one in April. Mbadi said the talks were going well.

“We need the IMF,” he said. “Yes, our economic conditions have improved but we must not lose sight that we need more concessional loans and they come from multilaterals like the IMF and the World Bank.

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Dar es Salaam. Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu yesterday suffered a setback in his ongoing treason case after the High Court dismissed his attempts to block part of the prosecution’s evidence.

Mr Lissu argued that he was unaware of the charges against him and insisted that certain testimony presented by the prosecution was irrelevant to the case. The case, being heard at the High Court (Subordinate Courts) in Dar es Salaam, revolves around allegations that Mr Lissu, on April 3, 2025, incited the public to disrupt the upcoming General Election and threatened the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania.

He faces a single count of treason under Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code, based on statements he allegedly made that were aimed at halting the 2025 polls. During yesterday’s proceedings, Mr Lissu raised objections twice during the testimony of the first prosecution witness, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Wilbard Bagemu.

ACP Bagemu, who serves as Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations for the Dar es Salaam Special Zone (DZCO), was testifying about a video clip showing Lissu making various statements included in the charge sheet. Mr Lissu objected to parts of the witness’s testimony, claiming that statements such as police carrying ballot boxes with alleged fake votes into polling stations were not contained in the formal charges and, therefore, should not be admitted into evidence.

However, the court rejected Mr Lissu’s objections. Representing the prosecution, Principal State Attorney Nassoro Katuga argued that it is the responsibility of the prosecution to present all relevant evidence.

He said that the witness should not be precluded from giving testimony and that the defence would still have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness on any points raised. Mr Lissu maintained that allowing such testimony could open the door for the prosecution to introduce other evidence not directly connected to the charges.

He insisted that under the law, evidence not explicitly mentioned in the charge sheet should not be included in the court record. After considering submissions from both sides, Principal Judge of the High Court Dunstan Ndunguru, leading a three-judge panel with judges James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde, ruled that the court has the ultimate authority to determine whether evidence is relevant to the charges.

He noted that the witness would continue to provide testimony and that the accused would have the opportunity to cross-examine him later. During his testimony, ACP Bagemu also cited additional statements allegedly made by Mr Lissu, claiming that judges are loyal to the president and affiliated with the ruling party, CCM and that they preferred appointments to the Court of Appeal.

Mr Lissu objected again, arguing that these remarks were not mentioned in the charge sheet and therefore irrelevant to the case. The court, however, dismissed this objection as well, reiterating that it is the court’s role to assess the relevance of all evidence presented.

Mr Lissu first appeared in court on April 10, 2025, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court in Kisutu, Dar es Salaam, for preliminary proceedings, which included pre-trial investigations and the completion of evidence collection. Following the conclusion of investigations, the case was formally transferred to the High Court on August 18, 2025, for full hearing.

The court hearings are being closely monitored by members of the public and political analysts, as the case has attracted significant attention given its implications for political discourse and the upcoming general election. Legal experts note that the case raises important questions about freedom of expression, the boundaries of political speech and the interpretation of treason laws in Tanzania.

Mr Lissu has remained defiant throughout the proceedings, insisting that he is being unfairly targeted for political reasons. His defence team, led by senior advocates John Seka, Edson Kilatu and Jasper Sabuni, has consistently challenged the prosecution’s evidence and procedures, arguing that the case lacks merit and that the charges are politically motivated.

The prosecution, represented by Principal State Attorney Nassoro Katuga and a team of four lawyers, maintains that all evidence presented is crucial to proving that Mr Lissu deliberately attempted to incite public unrest and obstruct the democratic process. As the trial continues, both sides are expected to present further evidence and the court will determine whether Mr Lissu’s statements constitute treason under Tanzanian law.

The proceedings remain a focal point of national debate as Tanzania prepares for its 2025 General Election. .

Dar es Salaam. On Thursday, October 2, 2025, shortly after performing the Asr prayer at Mjimwema Mosque in Kigamboni, I received a call from a close associate informing me that I had been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Usafiri Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit Company (Udart).

Moments later, my phone was inundated with congratulatory messages, mixed with sympathetic ones, from friends, colleagues and various groups. Many shared their grievances about Udart’s operations: poor customer service, buses departing half empty while commuters were left waiting, failure to return passengers’ change, misappropriation of company property and general inefficiency.

Let me first thank the Almighty God for granting me good health and second, express my deep gratitude to Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her trust in appointing me to this important position. Chairing the Udart board is no small task, given the company’s challenges and Dar es Salaam’s strategic role in Tanzania’s transport network.

Together with my fellow directors and management, we are committed to doing all that lies within our ability to deliver on this responsibility. This is not my first presidential appointment, but unlike the previous ones, this particular post has drawn an overwhelming number of responses.

Many friends offered congratulations, while others expressed concern. One long-time friend told me bluntly that he would reserve his congratulations until he saw tangible improvements in the city’s transport services.

He was right. Determined to understand the issues firsthand, I decided to take an unannounced trip aboard one of the buses as an ordinary commuter.

I wanted to observe operations on the ground without being recognised. Before the visit, I consulted a few trusted individuals.

One of my sisters, a senior government officer, jokingly suggested that if I truly wanted to go unnoticed, I should wear a baibui and cover my face like a ninja. When I discussed the idea with my wife, we both agreed that such a disguise was impractical–not only because ninja attire is prohibited on the rapid buses, but also because being recognised in such a get-up would be embarrassing.

I instead opted for casual clothes and a kapelo (cap), though I forgot the cap at home that morning. I began my journey on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at 11.50am, boarding a bus from Posta to Kimara.

I arrived at 12.20pm, stayed for about 15 minutes and then boarded another bus back at 12.35pm, reaching Posta by 1.10pm.

On the first leg, I had to stand all the way, but I managed to get a seat on the return trip. Both journeys happened to be aboard the newer green buses.

That was a slight disappointment, not because of their appearance, but because I had hoped to experience one of the older blue buses that passengers often complain about. I learnt a great deal from that visit.

Many of the concerns raised by commuters were visible, ranging from service gaps to minor acts of negligence. These observations will be discussed in upcoming Board and Management meetings, where we shall deliberate on solutions and keep the public informed of progress.

My plan to remain anonymous worked until the return trip. At Manzese, a young man recognised me.

When our eyes met, he greeted me and I responded politely before pretending to engage with my phone to avoid drawing attention. To my fellow board members and the management team, I emphasise that this is a major responsibility.

Public expectations are high, but with diligence, creativity and patriotism, we can build a better Udart. To all Udart employees: be ready.

The journey towards a new and improved Udart has begun. Dr Ramadhan Dau is an Ambassador and Chairman of the Udart Board .