Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s agricultural exports to China are expanding, with sesame seeds, dried chillies, cotton seed cake, dried cassava, avocado, honey and marine products all finding growing demand in the Chinese market.

Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo made these remarks on Monday, September 29 during celebrations marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He thanked China for granting duty-free access for African goods, saying the move has opened new opportunities for Tanzanian farmers and traders.

“We are seeing real results, with our products finding pathways into the Chinese market. Beyond avocado and honey, sesame, cassava, cotton seed cake and chillies are now in demand,” he said.

Mr Kombo highlighted that sesame seeds are widely used in Chinese foods, including bread, sweets, and Beijing duck. He also noted that cotton seed cake is increasingly popular for mushroom cultivation.

“We need to learn from China how they use cotton seed cake for mushroom farming. It is an area we could develop locally,” he said.

He added that chillies are especially popular in Sichuan Province, while sunflower seed cake and marine products are also entering the Chinese market. Mr Kombo described the growing exports as proof that Tanzania-China relations are delivering tangible results.

“This year, our relations have focused on deepening cooperation, coordinating on bilateral and multilateral issues, and accelerating joint initiatives,” he said. Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian said China has made remarkable progress in innovation, including artificial intelligence, supercomputers, deep-sea exploration and new energy technologies, contributing nearly 30 percent annually to global economic growth.

“China has always placed its development within the broader framework of human development and solidarity with the Global South,” she said. “We have lifted 850 million people out of poverty and advanced global cooperation.

” Ambassador Chen added that China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with bilateral trade hitting almost $300 billion in 2024. Under the zero-tariff arrangement, 53 African countries now enjoy duty-free access to the Chinese market, boosting exports from the continent. “China has expanded imports of Tanzanian products, including honey, avocado and aquatic goods.

We have also invested in health projects such as the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute and medical training programmes,” she said. She further added that agricultural cooperation has advanced as well, with the use of satellite and digital technologies to boost production.

“China stands ready to work with Tanzania to deepen cooperation across all sectors, strengthen our all-weather friendship, and advance modernisation together,” she said. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania government is banking on a new documentary to showcase its tourism attractions, infrastructure development and investment opportunities in attempt to position the country at the centre of the global attention.

Called “Tanzania The African Dream,” the film, produced by Penresa in collaboration with CNBC Africa, was recently premiered before government officials, investors, tourism stakeholders, and diplomats in Dar es Salaam, with official launch expected next month. The documentary highlights Tanzania’s tourism, infrastructure, and investment landscape, telling the story of a nation translating vision into reality.

This is the second major documentary which displays Tanzania to the global stage in a period of less than five years. In 2022, Tanzania launched a documentary titled Tanzania The Royal Tour, which showcases tourist attractions such as Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti National Park on the Mainland, as well as luxury hotels including one located offshore in Pemba, in Zanzibar.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan personally guided viewers through the attractions alongside Peter Greenberg, a renowned journalist and filmmaker from the US television network CNBC. Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Mr Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, told The Citizen on the sideline of the premiering event on September 25, 2025 that the documentary sends a strong message about Tanzania’s development trajectory.

“It’s plenty of information to be shared for everyone to see what is going on in Tanzania,” he said. “The energy is amazing, and the issues highlighted are directly aligned with our national priorities,” he added.

Mr Soraga described the film as a potential turning point in shaping international perceptions of Tanzania. “It will be a game changer for the overall direction we want to take.

We want to showcase what we have,” he said, adding that the pathway through the African Dream is through Tanzania. “Bottom line is Tanzania has really set itself apart–anything is possible here.

” He also pointed to the country’s stability as a strength. “Tanzania has all the ingredients we have stability, peace and unity that make a country both safe and attractive for investors.

” Looking ahead, Mr Soraga emphasised greater youth inclusion in national development. “We are fully capitalised on youth in terms of knowledge and innovation, and I want to see more engagement in decision making,” he said.

The documentary takes viewers across Tanzania’s scenic landscapes and modern infrastructure, including the Tanzanite Bridge, standard gauge railway (SGR), highways, ports, and Zanzibar’s blue economy initiatives. It also highlights clean energy and sustainable development projects.

Government leaders featured in the film linked policies to progress. President Hussein Mwinyi spoke about Zanzibar’s ambition to become a leading tourism hub.

Minister of Minerals Anthony Mavunde underlined mining potential, while the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Pindi Chana, showcased cultural and natural assets. The Minister for Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, explained how infrastructure attracts capital, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, highlighted clean energy initiatives.

According to Penresa, the project is a celebration of vision, partnership, and storytelling, positioning Tanzania as a nation of untapped potential. The producers also announced a Forbes Africa Tanzania Special Edition to further highlight opportunities.

CNBC Africa will rebroadcast Tanzania The African Dream on Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11, giving viewers across the continent another chance to experience Tanzania’s growth story. .

Dar es Salaam. The newly released Interpol Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025, has delivered a stark warning: Cybercrime is accelerating across Africa, threatening public safety, financial systems and digital trust.

While more countries are responding, many still face serious structural challenges that limit their ability to detect, investigate and disrupt cyber threats. For East Africa, it reveals that much work remains to be done before the region can truly become a hub of the digital economy.

The development comes as the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF)’s Annual Meeting 2025 convene global decision-makers and experts in Saudi Arabia on October 1 and 2 to shape the future of Cyberspace under the theme “Scaling Cohesive Advancement in Cyberspace”. This year’s report indicates cybercrime now accounts for more than 30 percent of all reported crime in both Eastern and Western Africa.

Interpol cybercrime director Neal Jetton, notes, “These threats are not constrained by borders, they are transnational, fast-moving and increasingly sophisticated. They target the very infrastructure that underpins progress: financial systems, public services and, most importantly, the trust of citizens in the digital future.

” In East Africa, five countries; Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia are singled out as fast-emerging technological and financial hubs. SIM swap fraud has notably increased in Tanzania and Uganda, with fraudsters hijacking phone numbers to drain mobile wallets.

“It is a human problem as much as a technical one. Fraudsters don’t always need advanced tools.

Sometimes they just need someone inside a mobile shop willing to bend the rules,” a cybersecurity expert with CRDB Bank, Mr David Kway, told The Citizen. Online scams remain Africa’s most widespread cyber threat.

Interpol notes that phishing alone accounted for 34 percent of all cyber incidents detected on the continent in 2024. The report cautions that criminal use of artificial intelligence, synthetic media and mobile-enabled fraud schemes were outpacing the capacity of many agencies to respond. For young Tanzanians, the danger of digital sextortion is growing.

The report shows over 60 percent of African countries noted a rise in such cases in 2024, many targeting teenagers. Ugandan police and civil society have already flagged sextortion as a growing crisis and Tanzanian officials quietly admit similar trends are appearing.

Tanzania has set its sights on building a digital-driven economy, with mobile money, e-government and e-commerce at its core. But Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC) executive secretary Goodwill Wanga noted that in a digital economy, data is the new currency.

“If people cannot trust that their information and transactions are safe, then trade, banking, health and even agriculture will all be undermined,” he said. The consequences are already visible.

Phishing and Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams drain millions from companies, while ransomware attacks, though still less frequent in East Africa than in South Africa or Egypt, are creeping closer. In 2024, Tanzania was among Africa’s top 20 for ransomware detections, a reminder that no country is immune.

A capacity gap that could derail progress The report is blunt about the bottleneck: “A majority of countries report shortages in cybercrime investigative skills, limited access to digital forensic tools and insufficient infrastructure.” Only 30 percent of African nations have incident reporting systems and just 29 percent maintain digital evidence repositories.

Tanzania is taking steps to close the gap. The ICT Commission has recently launched training initiatives with Korea’s KISA to build digital forensic expertise.

“The cybersecurity field is broad This is only the beginning because these specialists are still very much needed,” ICT Commission director general Nkundwe Mwasaga noted at a recent graduation of forensic trainees. Telecoms and banks are also investing in security upgrades.

TTCL’s cybersecurity officer, Lilian Chambiri, said forensic training will make a difference: “Before, we had no tools to confirm the source of a leaked SMS or hacked file. Now we can trace, verify and report with confidence.

” But the numbers speak volumes. Interpol’s survey found that 95 percent of African countries lack adequate training and tools to handle modern cybercrime.

The report lays out clear recommendations. First, Tanzania and the East Africa countries must rapidly scale up forensic capacity.

Regional digital forensic labs, certified tools and secure evidence repositories are urgently needed. The report also stresses the importance of career pathways to retain talent: “Countries risk losing their most skilled investigators to the private sector unless incentives are created to keep them in public service.

” Second, telecom safeguards must be tightened. Stricter Know Your Customer (KYC) rules, regular audits of SIM card vendors and real-time fraud reporting channels are vital.

Finally, the law must keep pace. Cross-border evidence requests remain too slow.

As Interpol notes: “Formal cooperation channels such as mutual legal assistance processes remain slow and underutilised.” .

London. European rating agency Scope has said that the shutdown of the U.

S. government is another negative for the country’s downgrade-threatened credit score.

Scope, which currently rates the U.S.

‘AA’ with a ‘negative outlook’, said it showed deepening political polarisation in the world’s largest economy and also comes amid mounting worries about President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Federal Reserve. “The administration’s increasingly unconventional policy approach has placed pressure on the long-standing checks and balances of the U.

S. governance system and are seen as credit negative for the U.

S. sovereign rating,” Scope analyst Eiko Sievert said.

He added that the risk of a U.S.

default due to political disputes remained unlikely, but was continuing to increase and would have “a significant impact if it occurred”. Scope tends to face less scrutiny from the U.

S. than the so-called “big 3” rating firms – SandP Global, Fitch and Moody’s – which became the last to strip the U.

S. of its prized triple-A rating earlier this year.

Sievert said that the deeper U.S.

political divisions become, the greater the risk that key policy compromises are not reached by the relevant debt limit deadlines. Despite a $5 trillion increase in the debt ceiling agreed as part of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” this year, a further increase is likely to be needed by 2028, Sievert added, given the current “weak fiscal outlook”.

Scope sees Washington’s budget deficit staying around 6% and the U.S.

debt-to-GDP ratio rising to 127 percent in the next five years. .

Moscow. Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia was also working to strengthen its armed forces when asked about U.

S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remark that the U.

S. must prepare for war to ensure peace.

“We also prefer to strengthen our armed forces in every possible way, remaining full supporters of peace and remaining open to solving all problems, including the Ukrainian crisis, through diplomatic negotiations and political contacts,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Asked about an Axios interview, opens new tab in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv was prepared to say that it would only seek to regain its territory through diplomatic means in the future, Peskov said there was a pause in the negotiation process.

He said Kyiv, which has accused Moscow of making unreasonable demands tantamount to surrender, appeared to be in no hurry to resume talks. .

Arusha. Four bird species native to Tanzania’s grasslands are in the running for the coveted title of Tanzania Bird of the Year 2026, with voting now open to citizens, the diaspora, tourists and global bird enthusiasts.

The contenders are the Common Ostrich, Red-necked Spurfowl, Kori Bustard and Southern Ground Hornbill. They are competing to succeed the Superb Starling, which currently holds the 2025 title until December.

The campaign, coordinated by Nature Tanzania, is part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness about bird conservation. Marketing Officer Gaudensia Mariki said students from Manyara Ranch Primary, Tumaini Senior Secondary and Edward Lowassa Secondary School have already voted.

“We also conducted a community campaign at the Makuyuni marketplace to familiarise residents with the voting process and to promote appreciation of birds and environmental protection,” Ms Mariki noted. According to Programme Officer Edwin Kamugisha, the voting exercise began on September 7 and will run for four weeks.

The 2026 winner will be officially announced in December after more than 10,000 votes are tallied both online and in person. Each species brings unique ecological value.

The Kori Bustard is celebrated as a heavyweight grassland ambassador, crucial in controlling insects and dispersing seeds. The Common Ostrich, symbolic of Tanzania’s savanna, contributes to ecological balance but faces threats from habitat loss and illegal hunting.

The Red-necked Spurfowl supports both grasslands and farmlands by dispersing seeds and regulating insect populations, though it is vulnerable to overhunting and habitat destruction. The Southern Ground Hornbill, known for its booming calls and slow breeding cycles, plays an important ecological role but is highly endangered.

Outgoing titleholder, the Superb Starling, with its dazzling plumage and social traits, remains a reminder that even familiar species face growing conservation challenges. Nature Tanzania Director Emmanuel Mgimwa said the Bird of the Year campaign, launched in 2023 with the Secretary Bird as the first winner, seeks to inspire citizens to protect “everyday nature” before it is too late.

“We want Tanzanians to understand that even common species are under threat. This year, we encourage everyone to take part and make their voices count, either face to face or online,” he said.

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Some topics are too important to ignore, and money is one of them. Yet in many homes, it is often left unspoken, even though it fuels misunderstandings in families, friendships, and romantic relationships.

Simply put, money is a sensitive subject. However, it is one we must discuss.

Today, we’re looking at it through Morgan Housel’s perspective in his book The Psychology of Money. Housel centres his book on how human beings behave with money, shaped by the lives they’ve lived and the beliefs they carry.

In the opening chapter, No One is Crazy, he explains that people often make unusual choices with money, but that doesn’t make them irrational. What feels reckless to one person might feel perfectly reasonable to another.

Our lived experiences shape the way we see money. As Housel puts it, “The person who grew up in poverty thinks about risks and rewards in ways that the child of a wealthy banker cannot fathom if he tried.

” It reminded me that when I don’t understand someone’s financial choices, it may be less about logic and more about the story behind their life. Do you believe in luck? Or are you among those who think success comes only from hard work? I believe in luck.

Much because of luck, or grace, if you will. Money is no different.

Luck plays a significant role. Housel puts it beautifully: luck and risk are siblings.

Every outcome in life is guided by forces beyond our effort alone. When it comes to money, you need both the grace of luck and the courage to take risks.

Housel illustrates this through the story of Bill Gates. As a teenager, Gates attended one of the few high schools with a computer lab.

There, he met his friend and future cofounder, Paul Allen. Luck opened that door, but so did their willingness to dream big and take risks.

From that combination, Microsoft was born. Gates himself admits, “If there had been no Lakeside, there would be no Microsoft.

” One of the lessons that stood out for me is around the idea of “never enough”. Housel shows how dangerous it can be to keep chasing more without ever defining what enough looks like.

There will always be someone richer, smarter, or more successful, and if we measure our happiness against that, we will always feel lacking. For me, it comes down to contentment.

To be happy, you have to learn to appreciate what you already have. The next big thing, whether it’s a promotion, a new car, or even more money, won’t necessarily make you happier if you haven’t found peace with what’s in front of you.

Having enough means refraining from comparing yourself with others. “The point is that the ceiling of social comparison is so high that virtually no one will ever hit it.

Which means it’s a battle that can never be won, or the only way to win is to accept that you might have enough, even if it’s less than those around you.” Housel argues that the highest form of wealth is not more money but the ability to control your time.

To wake up and decide how you will spend your day, that is real richness. When I think about it, the moments I treasure most are not tied to how much I had in my account but to how free I felt with my time.

Choosing to spend a slow morning with a book, or taking a walk just because I wanted to. Housel reminds us that saving is not just about buying something in the future; it is about preparing for the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Life can change unexpectedly, and having savings gives you the freedom to face those changes without losing control of your time. For example, much of Warren Buffett’s wealth came not only from smart investments but also from the fact that he started early.

By saving and investing at a young age, time worked in his favour, allowing compounding to do its magic. “His skill is investing, but his secret is time.

And that’s how compounding works,” he writes. The Psychology of Money is a book about how to earn and keep money.

It explores behaviour and mindset around money. As you reach the last page, you will see the need to pay attention to your progress, because progress happens too slowly to notice, but setbacks happen too quickly to ignore.

As you plan for your future, remember that planning is important, but the most crucial part of every plan is preparing for it not going according to plan. This book is for anyone seeking to expand their knowledge of personal finance management.

Jane Shussa is a digital communication specialist with a love for books, coffee, nature, and travel. She can be reached at [email protected].

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By Martha Chacha Dar es Salaam. Uganda’s Common Man’s Party (CMP) presidential candidate, Mubarak Munyagwa, has pledged to abolish Kiswahili as the national language and replace it with French in schools and public institutions.

Speaking at a campaign rally, Mr Munyagwa said the proposal was aimed at deepening Uganda’s ties with Francophone countries across Africa. “We shall ban Kiswahili as a national language.

What we need instead is French,” he declared. “French has a far wider reach.

Burundi speaks French, Congo speaks French, Rwanda speaks French, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, the Central African Republic, all speak French. We do not need Kiswahili; what we need is English and French.

” His remarks come as President Yoweri Museveni’s administration actively promotes Kiswahili to strengthen integration within the East African Community (EAC). Uganda declared Kiswahili a national language in 2022, and it has since been rolled out in schools nationwide.

Kiswahili carries unique significance not only for Uganda but also for the region and the wider continent. It remains the most widely spoken African language, serving as a bridge across Kenya, Tanzania, the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda and beyond.

Recognised by the African Union as a working language, Kiswahili has become a symbol of unity, cultural exchange, trade and political cooperation. In 2017, Rwanda made a decision to designate Kiswahili as one of the official languages of the country, alongside Kinyarwanda, English and French The recognition of Kiswahili is part of the commitments entered in 2007 in the East African Community, an organization founded by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and China’s Fujian Province have taken a significant step towards strengthening cultural and heritage ties following the signing of a new partnership during a Fujian tourism promotion event held yesterday in Dar es Salaam.

The agreement, signed between the National Museum of Tanzania and the Fujian Museum of China, seeks to deepen collaboration in research, preservation and tourism promotion. National Museum of Tanzania director general Noel Lwoga described the partnership as a milestone for cultural diplomacy.

“Through joint research, preservation efforts and tourism promotion, we aim to create meaningful opportunities that benefit both our peoples and deepen our shared understanding,” Dr Lwoga said. The collaboration will cover joint scientific research on cultural heritage, exchange of museum collections to enrich exhibitions, preservation of tangible and intangible heritage and promotion of cultural tourism.

Dr Lwoga said the partnership builds on a recent visit to a cultural and tourism promotion event in Fujian by National Museum of Tanzania researcher Wilbard Lema. Chinese ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian highlighted the enduring friendship between the two nations, forged by previous generations and strengthened today.

“Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-Tanzania relations have maintained a high level of development. Political trust has deepened, economic cooperation has yielded fruitful results and cultural ties have flourished,” she said.

Ms Chen described Fujian as a province of natural beauty and cultural richness, known for landmarks such as Mount Wuyi and Gulangyu Island. “Tourism serves as an important bridge connecting our peoples,” she said, adding that improved travel opportunities would allow more Tanzanians to experience Fujian’s culture, jasmine tea and the traditional melodies of Nanyin music.

The ambassador also underscored Fujian’s economic role, noting that many enterprises from the province are “going global” and sharing development opportunities with African partners. “Within the framework of FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative, Fujian can serve as a new bridge for cultural and economic ties.

” Ms Chen expressed hope that the partnership would strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between China and Tanzania in the years ahead. .

Mwanga. A fire of unknown origin has razed a dormitory at Asharose Migiro Girls’ Secondary School in Makuyuni hamlet, Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro Region, leaving 46 students in shock.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of September 29, 2025, destroyed property including 354 beds and mattresses, 32 wardrobes, and 32 shoe racks. Kilimanjaro Regional Fire and Rescue Commander, Jeremiah Mkomagi, confirmed the incident, saying no lives were lost.

“The cause of the fire is yet to be established. A thorough investigation is under way.

There were no injuries, but 46 students experienced shock and were rushed to Mwilange Health Centre for treatment,” he said. Mr Mkomagi said that the Fire and Rescue Service continues to educate the public on fire prevention and safety measures.

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