Category: The Citizen

Arusha. The Tanzania High Court at the Songea Registry has sentenced three people to death by hanging after finding them guilty of murdering a bodaboda rider, Mr Fanyeni Adam.

Those convicted are Faraji Liyugana, Said Ponera, and Rashid Fussi, charged with the murder of the deceased, contrary to sections 196 and 197 of the Penal Code. Judge James Karayemaha delivered the verdict on September 29, 2025, a copy of which was later uploaded to the court’s website.

According to the judgment, the killing occurred on January 12, 2023, with the body abandoned in bushland near the Tanesco area in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region. After examining evidence from both prosecution and defence, Judge Karayemaha ruled all three were guilty of murder and sentenced them to death by hanging.

Evidence presented Key evidence included confessions by the second and third accused persons, who admitted involvement in the killing in collusion with the first accused. Court testimony revealed the deceased had been riding a motorcycle with registration MC 162 DPT, owned by Abbasy Gangisa, who entrusted it to witness number 12, Faraji Ngonyani, to operate for business and share profits.

Witness number 12 testified that he had given the motorcycle to Mr Fanyeni Adam (the deceased) for business in exchange for Sh10,000 daily payments. Witness number six said on January 12, 2023, the deceased visited his home with a friend, Mr Yasin Lika, saying they were going to a farm in the Tanesco area to collect a hoe, but did not return that night.

Searches began the next day. Efforts to locate him through witness number 12 proved fruitless until January 14, when witness number nine, Mr Mariju Mwenyeheri, found his body in bushland near his farm.

Police recovered the body with injuries. The motorcycle was missing, except for a mobile phone found at the scene.

Witness number two, SP Cathbet Mnogi, said police were informed of the accused’s identities, friends of Yasin, and the deceased. They later recovered the motorcycle at the home of the first accused, who lived with his fiancee, Ms Ziaba Saidi (witness number three).

Witness number three testified that the first accused told her the motorcycle belonged to a friend who owed him Sh300,000. The friend failed to repay, and the motorcycle was taken to recover the debt. Witness number two said the first accused admitted involvement and named the second and third accused as accomplices, adding they gave him the motorcycle after the killing to sell and share proceeds.

The first accused said his friend, Mr Yasin, asked him to keep the motorcycle on January 24, 2023, but he failed to return it before the police confiscated. He denied naming his coaccused and denied knowing them.

The second accused said he was arrested on January 15, informed of the murder charge, denied writing a confession, and denied knowing the others. The third accused said he was arrested on January 15 at home, informed of the charge, and denied knowing the other accused or writing a confession.

Judge’s ruling Judge Karayemaha said two issues remained: whether the death was unnatural and whether the accused committed it with malice. Evidence, including a medical examination showing a severe head injury, confirmed the death was unnatural.

Although no witness directly saw the accused kill the deceased, possession of the motorcycle after his death linked them to the crime. The judge noted confessions by the second accused, who said they planned to seize the motorcycle with Mr Yasin, Mr Rashid, and Mr Faraji, promising Sh1 million afterward.

They lured the rider to Tanesco, attacked him with a machete and sticks until he died, while Mr Yasin was watching. The third accused admitted waiting along the road to ambush the rider and later attacking him with a stick.

The judge said the confessions by the second and third accused, given voluntarily, were crucial. Weighing all the evidence, the court found all three guilty of murder and sentenced them to death by hanging.

.

Arusha. Tanzania has lost the hosting rights for the 50th International Apicultural Congress (Apimondia 2027), which will now take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The global beekeeping event, originally scheduled for September 2025, 2027 in Arusha, was expected to draw over 7,000 delegates, boosting Tanzania’s apiculture industry and economy. The decision to relocate the congress has sparked widespread disappointment across Africa.

Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, is a non-governmental organisation that promotes scientific, technical, social and economic progress in the beekeeping sector. Its biennial congresses bring together beekeepers, scientists, honey traders and policymakers from around the world.

Tanzania had secured hosting rights at the 2023 Congress in Chile, beating the UAE in the final bidding round. This would have been only the second time the event was held in Africa, after South Africa in 2001. However, in a statement shared on its social media platforms, Apimondia said the decision followed an inspection visit by its Executive Council to Tanzania, which found that the proposed facilities were inadequate for the expected number of participants.

“The congress will now be organized by the UAE Beekeepers’ Foundation,” Apimondia confirmed. Apimondia president Jeff Pettis said the 2023 Letter of Agreement with Tanzania required on-site verification by July 2025 to confirm that the venue would be completed and operational.

“After a thorough evaluation, it was concluded that Tanzania could not meet the objectives and the 2027 congress will be hosted by the UAE Beekeepers’ Foundation, the runner-up in the 2023 election,” Dr Pettis said. Apimondia Africa Regional Committee president David Mukomana lamented the outcome.

“It was a rare chance for Africa to host this major global event. Observers are questioning how the congress could shift from a lush, forested region in East Africa to the arid environment of the UAE,” he said.

The loss is particularly painful for Arusha, which successfully hosted Apimondia 2025 and had already prepared over two million beehives distributed to 120,000 youths in anticipation of the 2027 congress. The initiative, supported by the former Arusha mayor, Maximilian Iraghe and the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), was designed to serve as training hubs and demonstration sites for visiting delegates.

Tanzania had hoped to use the congress to launch a youth-centred apiculture agenda and position itself as a global leader in sustainable beekeeping. With nearly 10 million honeybee colonies in its forests, the country is among Africa’s top producers.

It currently ranks 14th globally in beekeeping and second in Africa after Ethiopia. Official data show Tanzania produces about 35,000 tonnes of honey annually.

TFS manages over 20 protected bee reserves covering 39,444 hectares. TFS commissioner Dos Santos Silayo recently noted that Tanzania has around 9.

2 million bee colonies. If fully harnessed, he said, these could yield an estimated 135,000 tonnes of honey annually.

Each colony consists of a queen, hundreds of drones and up to 70,000 worker bees, along with eggs, larvae and pupae. “This relocation is a blow to our apiculture sector,” said a stakeholder in Arusha’s beekeeping industry, Mr Emmanuel Mgimwa.

“Hosting Apimondia 2027 would have underlined Tanzania’s prominence in the global beekeeping community and promoted the country as a prime investment destination. The government must follow up closely on such opportunities to protect our future prospects.

” Despite the setback, industry experts say Tanzania’s apiculture remains a vital economic frontier, particularly for rural youth. The sector not only supports livelihoods but also contributes to biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

.

The war in Gaza has been a catastrophe with few precedents in history. Sixty-five thousand lives lost.

Whole strip reduced to rubble. Israel spending over $60 billion while unleashing devastation that will scar its reputation for years.

For Palestinians, the lesson is brutal but clear: violence is not the answer here. For Israelis, the cost of total victory has been staggering.

Into this wreckage steps Donald Trump with a 20-point peace plan — bold, controversial, and, if implemented, transformative. Here are five takeaways that matter most: 1.

End of the war The plan’s sequencing is designed to stop the carnage immediately: “the war will immediately end” (Point 3), “all hostages will be returned” (4), and 250 Palestinian prisoners released (5). This is not just a ceasefire; it is an answer to the ‘day-after’ question of this war.

Life is better than death, and this plan offers both sides a chance to stop the bleeding and return to normality — whatever that means after such destruction. 2.

Deradicalisation of Gaza The plan envisions Gaza as a “deradicalised terror-free zone” (1). Hamas members who disarm are offered amnesty (6), while militant infrastructure is dismantled (13).

Crucially, point 18 calls for “an interfaith dialogue process, based on values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence.” This isn’t cosmetic.

Pew Research (2013) found 89 percent of Palestinians wanted Sharia as the law of the land, with 84 percent (of those who wanted Sharia) supporting stoning for adultery and 66 percent supporting death for apostasy. These numbers show the scale of the ideological challenge.

Deradicalisation means dismantling the culture of martyrdom and replacing it with civic education that promotes pluralism and tolerance. 3.

Governance reset The plan calls for Gaza to be run by a “temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” (9), overseen by an international Board of Peace chaired by Trump and including figures such as Tony Blair. With Hamas dismantled (13) and the Palestinian Authority reforming (19), the alternative is a dangerous vacuum that would invite chaos.

To prevent this, Trump’s plan proposes an international stabilisation force (ISF), with Indonesia already offering to contribute 20,000 troops to secure Gaza during the transition. Blair may be disliked, but his deep regional ties and ability to mobilise Gulf capital and Western donors make him ideal for this role.

This governance reset is the bridge between the collapse of Hamas and the emergence of a reformed Palestinian Authority. Without it, the rest of the plan will collapse.

4. A new prosperous Gaza The plan promises Gaza will be “redeveloped for the benefit of the people” (2), with immediate humanitarian aid (7) and a Trump-led economic development program (10).

A special economic zone with preferential trade access (11) and guarantees of free movement (Point 12) are designed to turn Gaza into a hub of opportunity. The vision is bold: turning Gaza into the Dubai on the Mediterranean.

Billions are already lined up the 2020 Trump Peace to Prosperity Plan had promised $50 billion over 10 years. The idea was ridiculed I think we will get it now.

5. Pathway to statehood The plan explicitly states “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza” (16), and that “conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” (19).

It also commits the U.S.

to “establish a dialogue to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence” (20). I have long argued that the two-state solution is impractical.

Yet if implemented, this plan ticks enough boxes — demilitarisation, governance reform, economic viability — to reimagine a two-state framework. And paradoxically, that may be a better path toward a durable one-state solution: a single polity where coexistence is not imposed by force but chosen through shared prosperity and mutual security.

Regional buy-in Critics of this plan abound. They question Israel’s intentions, the plan’s clarity, Tony Blair’s involvement, and the demand for Hamas to disarm.

But these are voices that find fault with every solution. What matters is that the plan has received broad international endorsement.

The joint statement from Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt signals that key Arab and Muslim states are ready to underwrite the framework. Their role is pivotal: ensuring compliance (14), deploying stabilisation forces (15), and financing reconstruction (10).

For Israel, this is an opening to normalise ties with the Arab world that is, the expansion of the Abraham Accords. For Palestinians, it’s a chance to rebuild on new foundations.

For the region, it’s an opportunity to transform Gaza from a symbol of perpetual war into a model of prosperity. Hamas’ final role But for this vision to take root, Hamas must now confront reality.

Their October 7 escapade into Israel has proven to be a total disaster. Now they face a final chance to act responsibly: accept the plan and dissolve.

History may yet remember them not only for the destruction it caused, but for the moment they chose to step aside–thus allowing a new Gaza to emerge.Anchored in life, not death.

Charles Makakala is a Technology and Management Consultant based in Dar es Salaam .

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU) has officially named the national team that will represent the country at the prestigious East and Central All Africa Challenge Trophy (EACAACT), set for October 20 to 25 at the Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort in Kenya.

The team will depart Dar es Salaam for Kenya on October 19. TLGU president Queen Siraki expressed pride in the squad, describing it as a blend of seasoned experience and rising talent. “We are very proud to present this team that will carry Tanzania’s flag at the EACAACT in Kenya,” said Siraki.

“These players have shown tremendous commitment, discipline, and improvement in their game. We believe they have what it takes to compete strongly against some of the best golfers from the region.

” The EACAACT, held every two years, is one of the premier events on the regional golfing calendar. It attracts top female golfers from across East and Central Africa and provides a platform to showcase talent, build confidence, and strengthen ties among participating nations.

The team captain Neema Olomi, a regular feature in international competitions, is expected to anchor the squad with her leadership and experience. Vicky Elias and Khadija Suleiman will be looking to stamp their authority in regional play, while rising star Shufaa Twalib brings youthful energy and determination to the team.

Siraki said d that the team’s participation reflects Tanzania’s growing investment in women’s golf. “Golf is one of the fastest-growing sports among women in Tanzania, and events like the EACAACT give our players exposure, confidence, and international experience.

We are optimistic that this team will make the nation proud,” she added. The tournament will feature multiple rounds of competitive play, with golfers battling for both individual and team honours.

For Tanzania, it is more than just a competition, it is a chance to showcase the country’s progress in women’s golf and inspire the next generation of female players. .

Dar es Salaam. Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has announced at least 173 job vacancies in a major hiring drive that reflects its endeavour to cement a stronger presence both in Africa and beyond.

The airline, which is fully owned by the government of Tanzania, is seeking to recruit new pilots, cabin crew and ground staff as part of its ongoing five-year Corporate Strategic Plan (2022/232026/27). The plan focuses on expanding routes and sustaining the operational gains recorded over the past decade.

According to the job announcement, the openings include 23 captain posts, 45 first officers, 100 cabin crew (including 20 with French and Chinese language proficiency), one accountant and four ramp assistants. Successful candidates will be engaged on a 10-year contract, with terms described as “attractive and competitive”.

The hiring spree comes at a time when ATCL is growing its international footprint. Already, the airline operates routes to Guangzhou in China, Mumbai in India and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, alongside a network of regional and domestic destinations.

The recent addition of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A220-300s to its fleet has positioned the carrier to compete on long-haul routes while boosting passenger comfort. Aviation expert and former pilot Hassan Rweyemamu told The Citizen yesterday that the expansion strategy requires “a new generation of skilled workers” to sustain operations.

“When you buy aircraft and open new routes, the next logical step is building a workforce that can keep the airline competitive. This recruitment shows ATCL is serious about growth, not just at home but in connecting Tanzania with key global markets,” he said.

Why French and Chinese-speaking crew? Among the notable vacancies are positions for French- and Chinese-speaking cabin crew. Analysts say this reflects ATCL’s growing focus on linguistic and cultural diversity in customer service.

“French is vital for routes to West and Central Africa, where it is widely spoken, while Chinese is indispensable for Guangzhou, which has become a lifeline for Tanzanian traders and exporters,” explained Ms Aneth Luhanga, an aviation studies expert at the National Institute of Transport (NIT). “Passengers feel at ease when airlines communicate in their languages.

It’s not just a courtesy, it’s a business strategy that builds trust and loyalty,” she said. With over 170 opportunities, the recruitment drive also highlights ATCL’s role as a key employer in the aviation industry, which has historically struggled with limited absorption of graduates from local institutions.

A transport economist based in Mwanza, Mr Julius Katabale, said the announcement is a morale booster for young Tanzanians pursuing careers in aviation. “Many of our students graduate with world-class skills but face difficulties finding placements.

ATCL’s expansion creates room for them and ensures that institutes like NIT are not just training for export, but also for domestic growth,” he said. Mr Katabale added that the integration of accountants and ground staff in the recruitment shows that “aviation is not just about flying; it’s an ecosystem that provides opportunities across multiple disciplines.

” ATCL’s revival in recent years has been closely tied to the government’s investments in fleet acquisition and infrastructure, including the upgrading of airports across the country. Industry observers argue that beyond transport, the airline is also a flagbearer for Tanzania’s visibility abroad.

“As the national carrier grows, it markets Tanzania to the world,” said Mr Kabale. “Every ATCL plane that lands in a foreign capital is not just carrying passengers; it’s flying the national identity.

Expansion means more tourists, more investors and more recognition of Tanzania as a serious aviation player,” he said. With new jobs on the horizon and more routes expected to be announced, stakeholders see ATCL’s recruitment as a milestone in consolidating its place in the highly competitive airline industry.

For many aspiring aviators, the announcement signals the start of fresh opportunities in a sector often viewed as elite and out of reach. “Employment in aviation has a ripple effect,” Ms Luhanga of NIT noted.

“It uplifts not only individuals but also families and the wider economy.” As ATCL continues to spread its wings, the new hires are expected to be at the heart of the journey ensuring that Tanzania’s skies remain open, competitive and increasingly visible to the rest of the world.

.

The U.S.

Supreme Court said on Wednesday it will hear arguments in January over Donald Trump’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, leaving her in the post for now and teeing up a major legal battle over the first-ever bid by a president to fire a Fed official as he challenges the central bank’s independence. The justices declined to immediately decide a Justice Department request to put on hold a judge’s order that temporarily blocked the Republican president from removing Cook, an appointee of Democratic former President Joe Biden.

The court deferred a resolution on that request until the justices have heard the arguments. In creating the Fed in 1913, Congress passed a law called the Federal Reserve Act that included provisions to shield the central bank from political interference, requiring governors to be removed by a president only “for cause,” though the law does not define the term nor establish procedures for removal.

The law has never been tested in court. Washington-based U.

S. District Judge Jia Cobb on September 9 ruled that Trump’s claims that Cook committed mortgage fraud before taking office, which Cook denies, likely were not sufficient grounds for removal under the Federal Reserve Act.

Cook, the first Black woman to serve as a Fed governor, sued Trump in August after the president announced he would remove her. Cook has said the claims made by Trump against her did not give the president the legal authority to remove her and were a pretext to fire her for her monetary policy stance.

The Supreme Court’s action on Wednesday “rightly allows Governor Cook to continue in her role on the Federal Reserve Board, and we look forward to further proceedings consistent with the court’s order,” Cook’s lawyers Abbe Lowell and Norm Eisen said in a statement. “President Trump lawfully removed Lisa Cook for cause from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

We look forward to ultimate victory after presenting our oral arguments before the Supreme Court in January,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said. The U.

S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 ruling on September 15 denied the administration’s request to put Cobb’s order on hold.

The Supreme Court has in a series of decisions in recent months allowed Trump to remove members of various federal agencies that Congress had established as independent from direct presidential control despite similar job protections for those posts. Those decisions suggest that the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, may be ready to jettison a key 1935 precedent that preserved these protections in a case that involved the U.

S. Federal Trade Commission.

But in Cook’s case, the court opted to hear arguments first before deciding the Justice Department’s request to similarly remove Cook on a preliminary basis. The court already signaled that it could treat the Fed as distinct from other executive branch agencies, noting in May in a case involving Trump’s dismissal of two Democratic members of federal labor boards that the Fed “is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity” with a singular historical tradition.

Based on the arguments in January, the court will decide whether Cook can stay in her post or must go while her legal challenge to her firing proceeds in lower courts. As it stands at this early stage of the case, the justices are not deciding the merits of her challenge.

The court did not set a specific date for the case, but it has arguments sessions on the books for two weeks in mid-January. Personnel Reshuffling Regardless of the outcome of Cook’s case, the January timing of the arguments is significant to the personnel reshuffling Trump appears to be pursuing at the Fed.

January is when regional Fed presidents are reappointed to new five-year terms by the Fed’s Board of Governors. If Trump wanted to push to oust some or even all of the regional bank presidents, he would need a willing majority on the Board of Governors in place to do it.

The timing also may make it more likely that new Governor Stephen Miran, a Trump appointee, returns to his job as chair of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers when his Fed term expires in January. With Cook still on the board, Miran’s seat would be needed for appointment of a new Fed chair to replace Jerome Powell when his term as Fed chief expires in May.

Powell’s appointment to the board extends to 2028, and as it stands there is no open seat for Trump to name a new Fed leader though he could name a sitting governor, including Governor Christopher Waller, Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, or Miran himself, to the post. The Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments appears to leave Cook in place for the next two Fed policy meetings – in October and December – when it is widely expected to deliver another two quarter-point interest rate cuts.

Depending on the timing of the Supreme Court’s eventual action, Cook also could participate in the Fed’s January 27-28 policy meeting. Presidential powers Trump’s bid to fire Cook reflects the expansive view of presidential power he has asserted since returning to office in January.

So long as the president identifies a cause for removal, that is within his “unreviewable discretion,” the Justice Department said in its September 18 filing to the Supreme Court. “Put simply, the President may reasonably determine that interest rates paid by the American people should not be set by a Governor who appears to have lied about facts material to the interest rates she secured for herself – and refuses to explain the apparent misrepresentations,” the filing stated.

Granting Trump’s request, Cook’s lawyers told the Supreme Court on September 25, “would eviscerate the Federal Reserve’s longstanding independence, upend financial markets and create a blueprint for future presidents to direct monetary policy based on their political agendas and election calendars.” Cook took part in the Fed’s highly anticipated two-day meeting in Washington in September in which it decided to cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, as policymakers responded to concerns about weakness in the job market.

Cook was among those voting in favor of the cut. Ripple effect Concerns about the Fed’s independence from the White House in setting monetary policy could have a ripple effect throughout the global economy.

The case has ramifications for the Fed’s ability to set interest rates without regard to the wishes of politicians, widely seen as critical to any central bank’s ability to function independently to carry out tasks such as keeping inflation under control. Since Trump returned to office, the Supreme Court has sided with his administration in almost every case it has been called upon to review, allowing his policies to proceed after they were impeded by lower courts, while litigation over them continues.

Trump on August 25 said he was removing Cook from the Fed’s Board of Governors, citing allegations that, prior to joining the central bank in 2022, she falsified records to obtain favorable terms on a mortgage. Her term was set to expire in 2038. The judge found that Trump’s attempt to remove Cook likely violated the Federal Reserve Act, which allows a Fed governor to be removed only for misconduct while in office, as well as Cook’s due process rights under the U.

S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment.

The mortgage fraud claims against Cook relate to actions prior to her Senate confirmation in 2022. .

Dar es Salaam. East African music is turning heads on the global stage.

Tanzanian stars AY, Harmonize, and Fid Q have reached a major milestone as their songs have been approved for consideration for the 68th GRAMMY Awards, marking a historic moment for Bongo Flava and Swahililanguage music worldwide. Announcing the news on social media with excitement on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Ambwene Yesaya, famously known as AY, posted: “OFFICIALLY! Grammy has approved two of my entries for nomination consideration.

This is huge, not just for me and Harmonize, but for Bongo Flava and the entire industry. These projects have no global producers or artistes, pure Bongo and neighbouring countries.

” He thanked key collaborators and industry supporters, urging fans to continue showing support as the songs move towards official nominations. “For now, a win is a win.

Now it’s up to your prayers and support, it’s a victory for all of us!” he added. The two AY tracks under consideration are Simuoni featuring Harmonize and Wanganeka featuring Kanjiba.

Similarly, Fid Q expressed his excitement about his song Glory 2, featuring Damian Soul and Jose Chameleone. He wrote: “I’m proud to share that our song ‘GLORY 2’ featuring @damiansoulmusic and @jchameleon has officially been approved and considered for the 68th GRAMMY Awards @recordingacademy.

This isn’t just my win, it’s OURS. From TZ to UG to the world, we’re making history together!” Farid Kubanda, alias Fid Q, also thanked collaborators and God, emphasising the collective effort behind the achievement.

This milestone highlights the global reach of East African music and the growing influence of Bongo Flava beyond the continent. It shows that music produced locally, in Swahili and neighbouring languages, can compete internationally while staying authentic to its roots.

Fans and industry peers alike are celebrating, viewing these approvals as a sign that the region’s voices, rhythms, and stories are finally gaining recognition worldwide .

Simiyu. The Simiyu Regional Police Force has launched an investigation following reports of the abduction of a member of the opposition Chadema executive committee in Busega District, Mr Lobelia Kulilo Masanyiwa.

A statement issued by Chadema’s Director of Communications and Publicity, Ms Brenda Rupia, says Mr Masanyiwa was abducted on the evening of Wednesday, October 1, 2025, while at his office in Nyamikoma village, Busega District. Eyewitnesses allege that they saw him being forced into a car by individuals in plain clothes, their faces covered with masks, one of whom carried a firearm.

The vehicle was reportedly seen circulating the village from morning, with its registration plates changed several times, raising questions about the operation’s legality and possible involvement of authorities. The party strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a cruel act that violates human rights and undermines democracy, citizens’ security, and the rule of law.

Chadema reminded the police of their duty to protect citizens without bias and warned that threats or attacks against its leaders would not weaken their resolve to demand change in the country. Police confirm investigation Simiyu Regional Police Commander, Ms Edith Swebe, confirmed receiving a report of the incident and said thorough investigations are underway to establish the facts.

“We have indeed received a report from Chadema, and we have begun investigations to ascertain the truth of this matter,” said RPC Swebe. Residents of Nyamikoma expressed growing security concerns, particularly as the country approaches the election period.

Some questioned the safety of ordinary citizens if political leaders can be abducted in broad daylight. Citizens stressed that if someone is suspected of committing an offence, the proper approach is to arrest them according to the law, not forcibly abduct them.

.

Moshi. CCM presidential candidate and incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan has unveiled plans for major infrastructure and industrial revitalisation in Kilimanjaro Region as part of her 20252030 campaign agenda.

Addressing a massive crowd at Mashujaa Grounds in Moshi, President Hassan promised to unlock the region’s economic potential and improve access to essential services. She highlighted the role of road networks in the region’s development, pledging new construction and upgrades to tarmac to ensure year-round accessibility.

“Kilimanjaro needs better roads. We will construct and upgrade roads to ease transport and open up economic activities.

This region cannot remain isolated,” she said to loud cheers. Key projects include a 31-kilometre bypass from Kahe to the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), 17 kilometres of tarmacked roads within Moshi Municipality and the completion of five ongoing road projects in Moshi Rural.

Similar works are planned for Vunjo constituency, while mountainous roads in Same District and the Holili-Tarakea Road in Rombo will also be upgraded to ease trade with Kenya and reduce congestion along the Mwika route. On industry, Ms Hassan pledged to revive collapsed factories, many of which failed after privatisation in the 1990s.

She cited Kilimanjaro Machine Tools, which has resumed spare parts production after two decades, and promised government support through reliable raw material supply. In agriculture, she committed to subsidised fertilisers and modern farming centres for coffee farmers, as well as expanding pastoral grazing areas from 3.

6 million to six million acres, with training in modern livestock techniques. Healthcare improvements were also promised, including upgrades to hospitals in Moshi, Mwanga, and Rombo, and expanded services at Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital.

In the water sector, Hassan pledged to expand clean water access alongside the second phase of the SameMwangaKorogwe scheme. The campaign rally featured endorsements from senior CCM figures, including Nape Nnauye and Prof Kitila Mkumbo, who praised Hassan’s leadership and the “R4” development philosophy that has opened northern Tanzania to trade and investment.

Moshi Urban CCM parliamentary candidate Ibrahim Shayo echoed Hassan’s message, highlighting local progress and pledging to ensure underserved wards benefit from ongoing government projects. He also noted reforms easing fees and licensing for bajaji and boda boda operators.

The event, marked by songs, dances and local endorsements, set the tone for CCM’s bid for a second term under President Hassan. .

Dar es Salaam. Few would imagine that polygamy could emerge as a central plank in a presidential campaign.

Yet in the unpredictable world of politics, bizarre promises often surface. National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) presidential candidate Khamis Faki Mgau has placed polygamy at the heart of his campaign, vowing that if elected as President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, men with only one wife will be jailed.

“Young men, get ready. If I become President, it will be illegal in Zanzibar for any man to have only one wife.

We will start with two wives and move forward. Any man who refuses to marry at least two wives will face six years in prison,” Mr Mgau told supporters on the campaign trail.

In addition to his controversial polygamy pledge, Mr Mgau has promised sweeping economic reforms, including a monthly salary for every Zanzibari aged five and above, with a minimum of Sh900,000. Campaign promises and vision Mr Mgau insists that life under his rule would be marked by prosperity, wealth creation, and a strengthened economy. Such growth, he argues, would eliminate any excuse for Zanzibari men to limit themselves to one wife when they can provide for more.

To reinforce his position, he repeatedly declares that clinging to monogamy will not be tolerated. He portrays polygamy not only as a cultural practice but also as a tool for social and economic expansion.

The NRA candidate has also pledged allowances for every child, including newborns, signalling what he calls “a government of inclusive prosperity.” He argues that his leadership would guarantee a higher standard of living for all islanders, promising better salaries for civil servants, improved infrastructure, and enhanced social services.

Not his first attempt This is not Mr Mgau’s first bid for Zanzibar’s highest office. He previously contested the 2020 General Election on the NRA ticket.

At the time, his campaign centred on Pemba, where he sought to challenge the late ACT-Wazalendo chairman, Seif Sharif Hamad, long regarded as the island’s political strongman. In his 2020 campaign, he declared, “For many years, that man (Seif) has considered Pemba his own.

I have decided this year to camp in Pemba to liberate the people from his politics.” Mr Hamad died on February 17, 2021, marking the end of an era in Zanzibar politics.

With Hamad gone, Mr Mgau has shifted focus, this time rallying voters around the banner of polygamy. He urges Zanzibaris to embrace multiple marriages and “multiply for the good of society.

” Eye on 2025 General Election Ahead of the 2025 polls, Mr Mgau expresses confidence in his chances, claiming that Zanzibaris understand his language and identify with his agenda. He urges citizens to vote peacefully and return home without incident.

The NRA candidate envisions Zanzibar’s development benchmarked against Dar es Salaam. He cites the Mfugale flyover, Chang’ombe flyover, and the Kijazi Interchange at Ubungo as symbols of modern infrastructure, vowing to deliver even bigger projects.

Zanzibar, under President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has already embarked on similar projects, such as the construction of flyovers at Mwanakwerekwe and Aman. Yet Mr Mgau insists that traffic congestion remains a serious problem in the islands’ small cities due to rising vehicle numbers.

His solution is ambitious: building as many flyovers as necessary to ease movement. “Infrastructure will be my top priority once elected,” he stresses.

From Pemba to Unguja Mr Mgau, who currently serves as NRA Vice-Chairman for Zanzibar, hails from Kangagani village in Wete District, Pemba, but now lives in Unguja. His campaign narrative highlights his deep understanding of both islands, positioning himself as a leader who can unify Zanzibar.

Beyond infrastructure, he promises to strengthen the aviation sector, including acquiring modern aircraft capable of carrying at least 250 passengers. He says this would expand Zanzibar’s tourism potential and stimulate economic growth.

Early life and education Mr Khamis Faki Mgau was born on June 12, 1978, in Kangagani, Pemba. He is the fourth of nine children of Mr Faki Mgau Haji and Ms Kame Hamis Saleh, both natives of the island.

He began primary education at Kangagani Primary School in 1989 and completed secondary education there in 2000. After finishing Form Four, he did not pursue higher studies; instead, he turned his attention to politics. Political journey Mr Mgau’s political career began in 2000 when he joined the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), inspired by the then-chairman, Augustino Lyatonga Mrema.

From 2000 to 2004, he served as a member and later became the TLP chairman for Wete District. In the 2005 General Election, dissatisfied with TLP’s performance, he defected to Chadema, convinced the party could perform better.

But after disappointing results, he abandoned the opposition outfit and joined the NRA in 2006. That same year, he was elected NRA Secretary for North Pemba. His organisational skills and political energy impressed fellow members, leading to his promotion in 2007 as NRA Coordinator for Pemba.

By the 2010 General Election, he was nominated as the NRA’s parliamentary candidate for Kojani Constituency in Wete District. Although he finished third behind CUF and CCM, he was credited with raising NRA’s profile in the area.

He contested again in 2015 but came third once more. Two years later, during NRA’s internal elections, he successfully vied for the post of Vice-Chairman for Zanzibar, winning by a landslide.

Leadership style and pledges Mr Mgau insists that his leadership would surpass that of his predecessors. His promises extend beyond polygamy and flyovers, touching on several sectors such as civil service, where he pledges to raise salaries and improve welfare for government employees.

In the tourism and aviation sectors, Mr Mgau promises to expand the aviation sector with larger aircraft to boost arrivals, while citizens aged five and above would be given monthly salaries alongside child allowances to strengthen the Isles’ social welfare. Regarding infrastructure, peace and security, he pledged to prioritise flyovers and road networks to ease traffic congestion, and to safeguard harmony before, during and after the elections.

He says peace will remain the cornerstone of his presidency. “I understand the many challenges Zanzibar faces.

If elected, I will ensure citizens live comfortably in their homeland,” he affirms. Personal life Mr Mgau is married to Ms Hazala Hassan Khamis.

He portrays himself as a family man deeply committed to the values of Zanzibari society. His polygamy stance, he argues, is not merely a political gimmick but a reflection of cultural norms he wishes to strengthen under his leadership.

A candidate who courts controversy With his radical pledges, Mr Mgau stands out as one of the more unconventional figures in Zanzibar’s political landscape. His ideas, ranging from criminalising monogamy to paying salaries to children, have drawn both criticism and intrigue.

Observers say his campaign resonates with some sections of the electorate who view him as a bold, unapologetic politician ready to challenge conventional politics. Critics, however, dismiss his promises as unrealistic and populist.

Yet for Mr Mgau, winning is not only about promises but about connecting with voters. He believes his background, grassroots political experience, and outspoken nature set him apart.

As the 2025 General Election approaches, Mr Mgau is banking on his high-profile pledges to galvanise support. Whether his radical proposals will translate into votes remains to be seen.

For now, he continues to traverse Zanzibar’s towns and villages, urging citizens to embrace his vision of prosperity, multiple marriages, and bold infrastructure. His message is clear: trust me with leadership, and Zanzibar will not only prosper but also chart a new political path.

.