Category: The Citizen

The Council of Presidents and Ministers of the East African Community (EAC) has lifted the recruitment freeze across all organs and institutions of the bloc and approved a phased staffing plan starting in the 2026/27 financial year.

The decisions were reached in Mombasa, Kenya, from August 18 to 21, 2026, during an Extraordinary Meeting convened to address urgent personnel matters.

Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC Affairs, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, who is the current chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, chaired the meeting, according to an EAC media statement released on Monday, August 24, 2026. Ministers, permanent secretaries, and delegates attended the meeting from partner states, EAC Secretary-General Ambassador Patrick Mbundi, and staff members from various institutions of the bloc.

‘To ensure effective operations, the Council directed the Secretariat to advertise, as soon as possible, 69 priority positions across all partner states and begin the recruitment process immediately,’ reads part of the statement.

‘The Council also approved an electronic recruitment system (e-recruitment) for the entire hiring process, a move aimed at improving transparency and efficiency,’ reads another part.

It also adopted job descriptions that had been reviewed and verified by experts from partner states.

During the meeting, the Council appointed Pascaline Balisanga Nyiramutuzo from Rwanda as the new East African Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) Executive Director for a three-year term.

The decisions are expected to streamline recruitment and strengthen the workforce and operational capacity of EAC organs, helping to effectively implement the Community’s Seventh Development Strategy, launched by EAC Heads of State in March this year.

The bloc faces staff shortages after positions left vacant when employees’ contracts ended remained unfilled for long periods, while the EAC continues to face financial challenges because some partner states have failed to contribute funds needed to run the community.

As Tanzania moves towards an education system placing greater emphasis on skills, competence and technology, education experts are calling for a fundamental rethink of how teachers are prepared for the classroom.

The argument is that producing more teachers alone will not be enough.

Teachers must also be equipped to help learners think critically, solve problems, communicate, create and apply knowledge in a world increasingly shaped by digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

The issue was among those discussed during the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, East Africa (IED, EA) regional learning exchange in Dar es Salaam held on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The forum brought together teacher educators, policymakers, researchers, school leaders, student teachers and practising teachers from East Africa and beyond.

In her remarks, IED, EA Interim Dean, Prof Jane Rarieya, said changes must begin with teacher preparation.

‘The future of education in East Africa depends not only on having enough teachers, but on how well we prepare, support and empower them throughout their careers,’ she said.

The concern comes as Tanzania implements the Education and Training Policy 2014, 2023 Edition, and improved curricula that place greater emphasis on competency-based learning.

The policy and curricula require a shift from teaching mainly for knowledge acquisition to developing learners who can apply what they learn to real-life situations.

Tanzania is also putting digital technology at the centre of education reform.

The National Digital Education Strategy 2024/25-2029/30 and related guidelines for schools and teacher colleges seek to strengthen the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning.

The government has also introduced national guidelines on AI in education, while new ICT competency standards for teachers were published in 2026.

This means today’s teacher is expected to do more than deliver lessons from textbooks.

The national AI guidelines, for example, call for AI literacy in curricula and professional development for educators so teachers can understand and use AI in teaching and learning.

They also recognise AI’s potential to support personalised learning and assessment while warning about risks such as bias, privacy concerns and lack of transparency.

Prof Rarieya said teacher preparation therefore needs to become more closely connected to the realities teachers face in schools.

‘As education systems increasingly embrace competency-based approaches, teachers need to be equipped to understand learners’ needs, make informed professional decisions, assess learning, adapt their teaching and collaborate effectively with the communities they serve,’ she said.

An IED lecturer, Dr Nipael Mrutu, said the focus should be on defining the type of teacher needed in a rapidly changing world.

He said teachers need opportunities to exchange experiences, examine which teaching approaches work and which do not, and develop better ways of responding to changing learner needs.

For practising teachers, this means moving away from a culture where learners are blamed when they fail to understand a concept.

Jangwani Secondary School teacher and Tanzania English Language Teachers Association leader Ayub Msuya said teachers should instead ask whether their teaching methods are responding to learners’ needs.

‘Teachers should not blame students when they fail to understand. They should look for new approaches that match their learners’ needs,’ he said.

He also stressed the importance of learning from teachers in other countries and using technology appropriately.

The proposed response is therefore not simply to add technology to existing teacher training.

Experts argue for stronger practical preparation, mentoring and continuous professional learning.

Student teachers need meaningful classroom experience before entering the profession, while newly employed teachers need professional learning communities and mentoring.

Experienced teachers, meanwhile, can be given greater roles as mentors, researchers and leaders of classroom innovation.

‘This approach would also give teachers greater professional agency-the ability to make informed decisions about how best to help their learners rather than simply following instructions,’ Prof Rarieya noted.

For Tanzania, that could be critical as the country seeks to produce graduates equipped for an economy demanding higher levels of technical, digital and problem-solving skills.

The Ministry of Education’s current framework already recognises that digital skills are becoming essential for learners to participate effectively in social and economic life.

The challenge now is ensuring that the teacher standing in front of those learners is equally prepared.

Innovators have been urged to keep their creations confidential and secure legal protection before going public to avoid losing ownership rights and commercial opportunities.

The call was made on Sunday, August 23, 2026, by Tanga Regional Commissioner, Dr Batilda Burian, when officially launching the InnoIP Tanzania Programme at the ongoing National Education, Skills and Innovation Week in Tanga.

Dr Burian stressed that innovators must grasp ownership, confidentiality, and record-keeping principles, alongside various intellectual property (IP) safeguards, before exposing their work to the public, potential investors, or commercial partners.

‘Innovators must understand issues of ownership, confidentiality, record-keeping, and various protection methods before making public exhibitions, presenting to investors, or entering commercial negotiations,’ she noted.

She observed that valuable creations are frequently exposed prematurely, leading to lost proprietary rights, forfeited business prospects, and missed financial returns.

Speaking at the event, Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (Brela) acting chief executive officer, Ms Loy Muhando, stated that the InnoIP Programme addresses core vulnerabilities, including premature disclosure, poor record-keeping, and delayed IP protection.

She warned that such lapses expose start-ups to ownership disputes and cause investors to hesitate due to asset uncertainty.

‘Do not wait until an ownership dispute arises, your idea is copied, or an investor conducts due diligence. Keep accurate records and understand the available protection options,’ stated Ms Muhando.

Commission for Science and Technology (Costech) director-general, Dr Amos Nungu, explained that InnoIP integrates multi-institutional capacity into a single system, guiding innovators from conceptualisation through IP protection to market entry.

In its first year, the initiative aims to train at least 5,000 participants, assess IP needs for 120 innovators, and secure protection for 20 assets.

‘Today’s launch is not merely celebratory. It marks the start of coordinated national efforts to help Tanzanian innovators transform ideas into protected assets, and those assets into socio-economic value,’ stated Dr Nungu.

Participating innovators welcomed the initiative, noting it fills crucial knowledge gaps regarding protection and commercialisation.

Mr Juma Ramadhan noted that training, innovation clinics, expert advisory services, and investor connections would help clear the backlog of creations stuck at the prototype stage.

‘The challenge is not just coming up with an idea, but knowing how to protect and commercialise it. This programme offers clarity right from the start,’ he said.

Similarly, Mr Salim Shebila highlighted InnoIP as a vital bridge between creators, regulators, investors, and markets.

‘Without protection and expert guidance, great innovations remain dormant. InnoIP provides a clear path from concept to commercial enterprise,’ he added.

Themed ‘From Idea to Intellectual Property Opportunities: Protecting Innovation, Building Value, and Accelerating Commercialisation,’ the project is jointly executed by Brela and Costech through the Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi) and Buni Innovation Hub.

More than 9,500 people received free medical services during a three-day health and eye screening camp in Dar es Salaam, with doctors identifying hundreds of cases requiring further treatment.

The outreach held at Mnazi Mmoja Grounds, organised by the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat (KSIJ), Dar es Salaam, provided eye examinations, cancer screening, medical consultations, medicines and referrals for specialised care.

The camp was held as part of commemorations marking the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussein, at Karbala in present-day Iraq more than 1,400 years ago.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, KSIJ Dar es Salaam chairman Mohammedraza Dewji said the turnout exceeded expectations, with the programme attracting more beneficiaries than in previous years.

‘The camp had two main components: educating the public about the life and legacy of Imam Hussein (AS), and providing free health screening, medication and eye surgery services,’ he said.

Eye care was among the most sought-after services, with 3,970 people undergoing examinations.

Of those screened, 244 were identified as requiring further treatment, including patients with cataracts.

Mr Dewji said 127 patients had already undergone free eye surgery at Medwell Hospital in Kibaha, Coast Region.

Patients unable to travel to Kibaha because of distance will be given appointments for treatment at Temeke Charitable Hospital, which is operated by KSIJ Dar es Salaam, he said.

The camp also distributed 2,267 reading glasses and 1,813 prescription lenses, while about 3,500 people received medication and treatment for various eye conditions.

Possible cancer cases

The outreach also provided screening for cervical, breast and prostate cancers, alongside education on non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

A total of 427 women underwent cervical cancer screening, with 181 advised to undergo further tests.

Twelve women received treatment at the camp, while another 12 were identified as requiring further assessment for possible breast cancer-related conditions.

Among men who underwent prostate cancer screening, six were identified as requiring further medical assessment because of possible prostate-related conditions.

Mental health and social wellbeing education was also provided, reaching about 4,800 people.

In addition, the organisers worked with the national blood donation programme to collect 195 units of blood for hospitals facing shortages.

Doctors flag need for follow-up care

The camp’s chief medical officer, Dr Naushad Bandali, said eye problems and chronic non-communicable diseases were among the most common conditions identified during the outreach.

Medical teams conducted ultrasound examinations on 236 people, with 88 found to require long-term medical follow-up or major surgical intervention.

Dr Bandali said patients found to have masses or other conditions requiring further investigation would be referred to appropriate health facilities, including the Ebrahim Haji KSIJ Charitable Eye Centre.

He urged members of the public to undergo regular health checks and make use of screening opportunities provided through community outreach programmes.

‘We urge members of the public to undergo regular health check-ups whenever opportunities such as this arise,’ he said.

KSIJ camp coordinator Janmeel Kasam said the initiative was inspired by the teachings of Imam Hussein, which emphasise service to humanity.

‘The three-day camp was a demonstration of compassion and service to the entire community, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender or social status,’ he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Magomeni resident Mathayo Akida, said the eye screening helped identify an incorrect prescription in his previous glasses.

Mr Akida said he had been experiencing frequent headaches and watery eyes before the screening revealed that his glasses had been prescribed using incorrect measurements.

He was subsequently provided with glasses with the correct prescription for both reading and distance vision.

The government has finalised a comprehensive voluntary repatriation programme to bring back its citizens currently living in South Africa.

The initiative follows directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to enable individuals to return home and reunite with their families after having lived in South Africa for a long time.

Executing this large-scale repatriation exercise requires close co-operation between the Tanzanian High Commission and South African authorities.

According to a notice issued by the Tanzanian High Commission in Pretoria the programme will be executed in phases across different provinces.

The primary objective is to ensure that all returning citizens complete the necessary legal and logistical procedures to arrive safely in Tanzania, where they can continue participating in various social and economic activities, as well as nation-building.

The first phase of the repatriation will focus on 241 Tanzanians currently residing in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

This group is scheduled to return to Tanzania on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, aboard an Air Tanzania Company Limited aircraft departing from King Shaka International Airport in Durban.

Before embarking on the journey, the returnees will undergo a verification process on Tuesday, August 26, and Wednesday, August 26.

‘This processing will take place at the City View Mall, located at 10 Mathews Meyiwa Road in Greyville, Durban, with the centre opening from six o’clock in the morning,’ reads the statement.

The High Commission has laid out specific guidelines for Durban applicants, noting that the exercise will cover individuals without passports, those whose passports have expired or been lost, and children born in South Africa to Tanzanian parents.

To facilitate their return, those completing the process without passports will be issued Emergency Travel Documents.

Furthermore, the High Commission has urged registered Tanzanians to remain patient as arrangements are completed, specifically requesting those holding Asylum Seeker Certificates to remain at the designated processing centre until their Voluntary Repatriation Permits are processed.

Following the departure of the first group from Durban, the second phase of the programme will focus on approximately 300 Tanzanians residing in Cape Town, who are expected to return during the first week of September.

High Commissioner, Mr James Bwana said early this week that the official date for this second journey will be announced by the Embassy as soon as preparations are finalised.

‘The remaining citizens, who will complete the overall total of 669 repatriated Tanzanians, will form the final group departing from Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, on a date to be announced in due course,’ said Mr Bwana when outlining the plan.

This national assistance program was mobilised after the citizens themselves formally requested government support to return to their homeland.

Reflecting on the President’s commitment, Mr Bwana emphasised that the government received the request with the intention of enabling its citizens to return to their country.

“The Honourable President has welcomed them back home and has directed me, as her Ambassador here in South Africa, to ensure that Tanzanians who are ready to return voluntarily are enabled to do so,” said Mr Bwana.

He added that the government had arranged all transport logistics to make the transition as smooth as possible for the returning citizens.

“We welcome them home to reunite with their relatives, families, and friends, and to continue with nation-building activities,” he said.

Unguja. The National Chairman of ACT-Wazalendo, Mr Othman Masoud Othman, has emphasized that building a strong nation must be rooted in freedom, peace, and access to justice for all citizens, rather than coercion or force.

Speaking on Saturday, August 22, 2026, during a special gathering to congratulate leaders of the Zanzibar Imams Association (Jumaza) in Pemba, Mr Othman stressed that sustainable national development relies on upholding fundamental rights.

“We cannot build a strong nation without respecting freedom, peace, and access to justice,” said Mr Othman.

Elaborating on his party’s stance, Mr Othman, who served as the party’s Zanzibar presidential candidate, explained that ACT-Wazalendo made a deliberate choice to safeguard peace and public tranquility rather than foster division.

He noted that the decision was aimed at protecting citizens’ lives, dignity, and property, adding that political leadership should serve the public rather than create conflict.

Jumaza’s role in peacebuilding

Mr Othman commended Jumaza leaders for their continuous counsel and prayers, describing them as true guardians of faith who have played a vital role in guiding society towards political reconciliation.

However, he urged religious leaders to remain steadfast in praying for the ongoing dialogue process, noting that resistance to peacebuilding efforts persists among certain political actors.

Addressing public inquiries regarding why ACT-Wazalendo has not immediately joined the government, Mr Othman explained that key legal and operational steps must be finalized first.

He revealed that following a joint agreement, a joint committee will be established to oversee its execution, ensuring leaders enter government driven by national interest rather than personal gain.

Call for reconciliation

Jumaza executive secretary, Sheikh Ali Abdallah Amour, praised ACT-Wazalendo for prioritizing peace and justice.

Similarly, ACT-Wazalendo deputy secretary-general (Zanzibar), Mr Omar Ali Shehe, noted that the gathering reflected the unity and solidarity of Zanzibaris striving for a better future.

The event was attended by various religious and political figures, including Jumaza deputy chief Amiri, Sheikh Ghazal Abdallah Ali, along with ACT-Wazalendo regional leaders from Pemba Island.

The engagement follows the Joint Declaration of Political Reconciliation signed between the ruling CCM and ACT-Wazalendo on July 9, 2026, at the State House grounds in Zanzibar.

Signed in the presence of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zanzibar President, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi alongside Mr Othman, the accord aims to foster political tolerance, permanent reconciliation, and key institutional reforms.

The agreement framework prioritises constitutional, electoral, and judicial reforms, public service accountability, and the establishment of a statutory body to monitor implementation.

Long before the followers, TikTok challenges, mini-series and business opportunities, Ester Mwalwisi, popularly known as Mama Chanja, was simply a young girl discovering that she could make people laugh.

Today, that talent has taken her from school stages to some of Tanzania’s biggest entertainment platforms, while also helping her build a business and create new streams of income.

For Mama Chanja, social media has not been just about going viral. It has become a place where entertainment meets business, and where an audience can become more than numbers on a screen.

Her journey is also a reminder of how Tanzania’s growing creator economy is changing the way entertainers build careers.

Where it all began

Her confidence in entertainment can be traced back to her school days, when acting during graduation ceremonies gave her an early glimpse of what she could do.

She says the reactions from fellow students made her realise that there was something special about her ability to perform.

‘I started believing in myself because of the comments from my fellow students when we used to perform at school graduations,’ she says.

Those moments may have appeared insignificant at the time, but they became the first applause in what would eventually become a much bigger journey.

When TikTok began attracting audiences across Tanzania, Mama Chanja found another stage.

‘I started on TikTok by taking part in different challenges, which helped grow my account and made more people know me,’ she explains.

The challenges helped put her name in front of more people, but maintaining their attention required more than simply following trends.

Her personality, humour and consistency gradually helped her create a recognisable identity.

Her growing audience eventually opened the door to collaborations and new creative relationships, including one that has become central to her mini-series.

The Remy connection

Among the faces that audiences have come to associate with Mama Chanja’s content is Remy, whose humour has become an important ingredient in the mini-series they produce together.

Mama Chanja met Remy in Geita during one of her trips for her auction business. What caught her attention was his natural ability to make people laugh.

‘During my travels for my auction business, I met Remy. What attracted me most was his sense of humour, which was also well received by the fans,’ she recalls.

What started as a creative connection has since grown into a relationship that extends beyond making videos.

‘His biggest contribution is that he has become more than just a stranger to me. At this point, he has become part of my family,’ she says.

Together, they have helped make the mini-series one of the notable elements of her social media content.

But there is more to the series than entertainment.

When followers become customers

Behind the jokes and entertaining scenes is a business strategy.

Mama Chanja says she deliberately connected her content to her auction business, recognising that the audience she was building online could also become a potential customer base.

‘The idea behind starting the mini-series was to attract more customers to my auction business, especially those who follow me,’ she says.

The strategy has created an interesting relationship between her digital and physical worlds.

A person might first discover Mama Chanja while scrolling through TikTok, follow her because of a funny video and eventually decide to attend one of her auctions.

‘They become curious and want to see us live. So, they come to the auctions, and you get the love from the fans while making money at the same time,’ she explains.

For her, this is where the real power of influence lies.

More than followers

Mama Chanja’s story also challenges the idea that social media success should be measured only by the number of followers or views a creator receives.

For her, influence has become a tool for building a livelihood.

‘When you look at where I came from and where I am now, it gives a real picture of a hustler who never gets tired of pursuing her dreams,’ she says.

The financial rewards have followed. Her work in entertainment has helped her generate significant income, contributing to milestones such as buying a car.

But behind those achievements is a much simpler lesson: she was willing to start.

The fear factor

Mama Chanja believes many people have talent but never get the chance to discover what they can achieve because they are too afraid of being judged.

For someone who began performing in front of schoolmates and later put herself in front of thousands of strangers online, overcoming that fear has been part of her growth.

‘If you remove fear and embarrassment, success becomes much easier, even if you do not have a high level of education,’ she says.

Her journey has followed a simple but powerful progression – from school performances, to TikTok challenges, to comedy content, mini-series and eventually using her influence to strengthen her business.

The laughter brought people to her page. Consistency kept them there. But courage, she believes, is what allowed her to turn attention into opportunity.

And that may be the most interesting part of Mama Chanja’s story.

Tanga. For individuals who rely on sign language, a classroom, workplace, public meeting, or family gathering can quickly become a place of isolation when those around them cannot communicate effectively.

To address this everyday barrier, a group of young innovators from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Muhas) has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) solution, Bridging Silence that translates sign language into Kiswahili text and speech in real time.

Showcased during the National Education, Skills, and Innovation Week in Tanga, the technology eases communication for people with hearing and speech disabilities, particularly students facing learning environments unequipped for their needs.

At the core of the system is SautiBox, a device equipped with a camera, speaker, and microprocessor.

It captures user gestures, processes them, and outputs spoken Kiswahili for hearing individuals.

The team is also developing a supporting mobile application and web portal.

Core Software Developer Sabri Salumu explained that the project grew out of witnessing the persistent social exclusion experienced by sign language users.

‘In Tanzania, individuals who rely on sign language face constant barriers because spoken language is routinely assumed to be the default,’ he said.

‘The lack of localised digital sign-language infrastructure, limited awareness among hearing populations, and the absence of scalable translation tools created an urgent need for action,’ added Mr Salumu.

The team, which includes Project Manager, Ms Radhia Omary, Signal Processing Developer, Mr Ezekiel Paul, and Community Liaison Coordinator, Ms Joycelyne Joshua, began by engaging with specialized institutions in Mbeya and Dar es Salaam.

Their observations revealed that communication challenges affect children long before they reach the classroom.

Concerns over societal integration lead some families to delay schooling.

Those who do enrol often struggle when teachers, peer groups, and learning materials are ill-prepared for inclusive communication.

Innovators emphasize that the core issue is not learning capability.

Rather, the communication gap prevents these students from participating fully in lessons, asking questions, socializing, and accessing information on equal terms.

Bridging Silence aims to close that gap. The team has already built a baseline system translating letter-based hand gestures into speech.

Their next objective is to build a two-way model converting spoken Kiswahili back into sign language using 3D animation and motion-sensing technology.

Scaling from a prototype to a commercial product will require dedicated funding, computing capacity, data, and institutional partnerships.

This is where Tanzania’s expanding innovation ecosystem becomes vital.

Through the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (Costech), the government provides technical and financial assistance via initiatives such as MAKISATU to help commercialize emerging solutions.

Marking Costech’s 40th anniversary, the director general, Dr Amos Nungu, reiterated the national imperative to translate research into practical solutions for local challenges, urging academic institutions to focus on high-impact development outcomes.

The effort aligns with wider national priorities. Under the National Digital Education Strategy 2024/25-2029/30, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is scaling up digital infrastructure and inclusive education frameworks.

Innovations like Bridging Silence offer practical technological tools to reinforce these policy objectives on the ground.

Dodoma. Unintegrated systems have been cited as one of the reasons forest resources are lost without accurate information, depriving the government of much-needed revenue.

The remarks were made on Saturday, August 22, 2026, by the Assistant Director of Forest Development in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Seleboni John, during a workshop organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to develop a strategy for integrating and harmonising existing systems.

The workshop brought together officials from forestry departments, councils, the Ministry of Finance and information technology experts, who agreed on the need to build an integrated system after identifying gaps in the existing arrangements.

Mr John said substantial revenue had been lost from forests because information systems were not integrated, adding that the matter could no longer be ignored.

‘We want to reach a joint decision that all forestry systems must be connected, from the central government through TFS, district councils and village governments to private operators. The goal is to ensure we control revenue,’ he said.

The forestry expert said the system being developed would bring significant benefits by helping authorities identify where problems exist and where government revenue has been leaking.

He said linking government systems would increase the rate of revenue collection and forests’ contribution to national revenue, while significantly reducing the destruction of forest products compared with the current situation.

The FAO project coordinator, Mr Diomedes Kalisa, said the meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) was organised to discuss the integration and harmonisation of revenue management systems derived from forest products, which have been affected by widespread leakages.

‘I am pleased to welcome you to this important meeting of the Technical Working Group regarding the integration and harmonisation of revenue management systems derived from forest products. For a long time, we have been losing revenue, but we decided to rethink our approach,’ he said.

Mr Kalisa said the strategy was being developed in collaboration with the European Union (EU), which provided funds to implement the plan.

He said FAO and its stakeholders were supporting efforts to strengthen forest governance, promote the sustainable management of forest resources and advance sustainable clean cooking energy solutions.

He said the meeting followed technical discussions held in Morogoro in July, during which stakeholders explored ways to strengthen and harmonise revenue management systems derived from forest products and value chains related to clean cooking energy.

According to Mr Kalisa, one key resolution of the meeting was that there was no need to develop a new standalone system.

Instead, stakeholders agreed that it was more important to strengthen, harmonise and connect existing government systems.

Mimi Mars is set to bring music, star power and a touch of celebrity glamour to Zanzibar this weekend as she takes centre stage at the fourth edition of Rangi za Mora, the growing fashion and creative platform hosted at The Mora Zanzibar.

The singer will serve as the event’s Guest of Honour and performer when Rangi za Mora returns on Saturday, August 22, under the theme ‘Woven. Worn. Reimagined.’

Set to begin at 8pm, the fashion showcase will bring together a curated mix of designers and models from Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, placing African creativity, fashion and culture against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.

This year’s designer lineup includes Mnazi, Maridadi Collection, M2MOKO, Asili by Naliaka, Ully and Nyuzi, offering audiences a mix of creative voices and design perspectives from Tanzania’s evolving fashion scene.

But while the runway will remain at the heart of the evening, Mimi Mars’ involvement adds another entertainment dimension to the event, continuing Rangi za Mora’s approach of blending fashion with music, performance and lifestyle.

The fourth edition is also expected to attract figures from across the entertainment, fashion and creative industries, including Seven Mosha, Head of Sony Entertainment East Africa; George Beke of GeoBek Entertainment; Zulfa Yazid, Miss Grand Morogoro and Miss Africa Golden Tanzania 2026; and Chi Temu, who will bring her experience as an MC and vocalist to the evening.

The event has steadily grown beyond the idea of a conventional hotel fashion show.

Earlier this year, the third edition brought together designers, performers, models and guests in a celebration of Zanzibar’s cultural identity, using contemporary fashion as a way of reinterpreting the island’s African, Arab, Indian and Swahili influences. The edition also opened the experience to a wider audience, signalling a new chapter for what began as a more intimate resort showcase.

The fourth edition continues that trajectory

According to The Mora, Rangi za Mora is now in its fourth edition and brings together designers and models for an evening designed around fashion and festivity, with the wider experience extending beyond the runway to include dinner and an afterparty.

That broader format reflects the event’s growing identity as a lifestyle and cultural platform rather than simply a catwalk.

At its core, ‘Woven. Worn. Reimagined” speaks to the relationship between heritage and contemporary expression. Previous editions have explored how traditional materials, craftsmanship and cultural influences can be translated into modern silhouettes and fashion narratives.

The Mora has described the initiative as an evolving platform created to give emerging and established creatives space to be seen, supported and celebrated, while encouraging collaboration between designers, artisans, performers and the wider creative community.

For Zanzibar, a destination already globally associated with tourism, heritage and hospitality, Rangi za Mora also adds another layer to the island’s growing creative identity.

The event places fashion directly within the visitor experience, giving local and Tanzanian designers a stage that reaches both residents and international guests. A previous edition demonstrated how the runway can become a meeting point between fashion, performance and destination storytelling, with designers using fabric, texture and silhouette to reflect contemporary East African identity.

This weekend, that conversation will continue with a new lineup of designers and a new entertainment element led by Mimi Mars.

With Flightlink and Sun Tours and Travel among the sponsors, the event also brings together fashion, hospitality, travel and entertainment under one programme.

And as Mimi Mars prepares to step into her dual role as guest of honour and performer, Rangi za Mora’s fourth edition is shaping up to be more than an evening of clothes and catwalks.

It is another statement about where Zanzibar’s creative scene is heading, a space where local talent, contemporary African fashion, music and culture can share the same stage.