Category: The Citizen

Acting US Ambassador to Tanzania, Andrew Lentz, explains why Washington has decided to review its ties with Tanzania, citing concerns over investment, governance and rights, and outlining a new path anchored on reciprocity. The interview was hosted by MCL Executive Editor, Mpoki Thomson.

Read on. The most recent public statement on bilateral relations between the U.

S. and Tanzania referred to a review by your government, prompted by serious concerns about restrictions on religious freedom and free speech, obstacles to U.

S. investment, and violence against civilians during the October 29, 2025 elections.

How far has this review progressed? The events before, during, and after the October 29 elections were really shocking and raised serious questions in Washington about the future of our bilateral relations, and whether Tanzania’s historic role as a stable country in the region that respected and protected religious freedom was still intact. Beyond the elections, there were also concerns related to economics and trade, and questions about our assistance relationship in the past and what it could look like in the future.

‘Why not now?’: Inside the US review of Tanzania’s relations American companies kept coming to us with complaints that they were facing non-tariff barriers and regulatory tax burdens that prevented them from doing business in Tanzania, while other competing companies seemed to be doing well. When all of this is put together, I think our December 6 statement was a necessary intervention.

We have been engaging with the government about these concerns, and we are making progress across a range of issues. Is the public statement still in place? The public statement is still in place.

The review is ongoing. I’m optimistic that we are going to be able to reset this relationship, and that it will be stronger than it was before.

Western allies are increasingly prioritising domestic development over international assistance. The U.

S. no longer treats Africa as a priority.

What does this signify for broader USAfrica ties? The U.S.

has not deprioritised Africa or our commitments to health initiatives. What we have done is start a conversation with countries around Africa and around the world about a more effective way of cooperation.

We are meeting Tanzania where it is. Tanzania, as a lower-middle-income country with aspirations of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2050, wants to move away from a donor-recipient relationship.

Tanzania doesn’t want to be waiting for handouts from the American government or any other government. Tanzania wants a relationship on an equal footing, one that is of mutual benefit and reciprocity.

Why is the review happening now under the administration of President Trump? Why not earlier? Why not now? There is no question that what we achieved together in the past was fantastic. For example, we increased Tanzania’s life expectancy over the last two decades by 15 years, reduced the HIV mortality rate by 80 percent, and came close to eliminating malaria in Zanzibar.

But now we need to ask ourselves whether the old relationship was sustainable. The U.

S. also has its own needs.

Our health system is under strain, and we have needs in other social services. With Tanzania’s growth trajectory being positive, it was time to reset the foundation of this relationship and forge something new and more dynamic.

Recent U.S.

health agreements with African countries are being challenged in courts for lack of transparency and parliamentary oversight. Why did America decide to shift its approach to health cooperation from aid-focused to bilateral agreements? What we aim to achieve is a more dynamic and stronger health partnership with Tanzania.

We want Tanzania’s health systems to be stronger and more robust by the end of a five-year cycle, through a mix of assistance, government funding, and private-sector investment. This kind of system is sustainable whether the U.

S., China, or anyone else is supporting it.

We want to see concrete steps by the Government of Tanzania based on shared values of security and prosperity. Who benefits the most from these U.

S. reviews–the two governments, or the Tanzanian people who are most impacted? Our focus should be on the people and on health outcomes.

This was not an abrupt stop. We transitioned the assistance portfolio from USAID to the Department, ensuring continuity in managing that portfolio.

We also established a bridge funding plan of roughly $165 million, which continued as we moved from the old system to the new one, and this will run until May this year. Decisions by the Trump administration on trade tariffs have affected African economies, with countries now facing minimum tariffs of around 10 percent.

How has this impacted trade between the U.S.

and Africa? Let’s look at the context of where this came from and why this policy was established. Historically, the U.

S. has had one of the most open economies in the world.

Yet, when American businesses and investors went overseas, they often faced tariffs and non-tariff barriers that limited their access to partner markets. This lack of reciprocity was unfair and posed a threat to America’s national and economic security interests.

As a result, we decided to reset and review our established relationships with our partners around shared values of prosperity and security, and on the basis of reciprocity, mutual benefit, and fairness. If the Tanzanian government enacts reforms to address our concerns and remove what is impeding investment into the country, we will start seeing growth.

So non-tariff barriers are among the reasons Tanzania is recording limited investment from American investors? Yes, they are connected, especially in the U.S.

desire to reset our trade and economic relationship based on reciprocity, fairness, and mutual benefit. For too long, American investors trying to enter the Tanzanian market have seen their investments and projects delayed.

They face obstacles such as predatory tax policies or non-tariff barriers. For example, the LNG deal has been a priority for multiple governments over 13 years, yet it has not been finalized, even though one of the biggest American companies in the world is part of the consortium trying to close the deal.

I think there is a commitment on the part of the government to finalise this deal. If the government were to close this $42 billion project, which is nearly half the size of Tanzania’s GDP, it would send an incredible signal to international investors that big deals can be done in Tanzania.

Do you think American companies are being targeted? I’m not going to argue that American companies are being targeted, but they are certainly facing obstacles. I hear concerns from many companies–not just American ones–who say that it is often too difficult to do business in Tanzania.

They want to do business here and see the potential returns. They believe that if Tanzania implements targeted reforms, it will be much easier to operate, and growth potential and returns will improve significantly.

Recent U.S.

travel restrictions affecting parts of Africa have raised concern. How should Tanzanians interpret these measures, which affect people-to-people exchange, education, tourism, and business mobility? There are real concerns driving American policy.

Over the years, many people have travelled to the U.S.

for legitimate purposes such as studying, work, tourism, and sports. However, there have been many cases where individuals overstayed their visas and decided to remain in the U.

S. illegally, overwhelming our system.

This was a real problem that needed to be addressed. Unfortunately, Tanzanians were among those overstaying their visas.

Over the past couple of months, we have been engaging with your government on how we can address these challenges. The U.

S. House of Representatives has approved a bill to renew AGOA to December 31, 2028. The bill now moves to the U.

S. Senate.

As African governments and the AU call for expedited approval, how optimistic are you that the bill will be approved soon? The fact that the House took it up should be seen by Africa and the Tanzanian government as a positive indicator that the U.S.

wants to establish a fair, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial trade relationship with Africa. Ultimately, the debate will centre on how this programme helps us reach those goals.

Tanzania should start looking at how to make better use of AGOA. When AGOA offered tariff-free access to the U.

S. market, it was underutilised.

Tanzania was not fully taking advantage of the opportunity. Tanzania has raised concerns about rules of origin and limited product diversification.

AGOA is not meant to be a back door for other countries to route their goods through Tanzania with marginal value addition before exporting to the American market. Tanzania needs to take steps now to attract investment that enables real value addition and beneficiation domestically.

How does the U.S.

ensure its security cooperation with Tanzania remains a partnership of equals that respects Tanzania’s sovereignty? America’s national security strategy places strong emphasis on respect for sovereignty, which is a core principle of U.S.

foreign policy. However, President Trump and the U.

S. will act if there is a real threat to America’s national security.

The U.S.

has robust engagement with the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces, and we share an understanding of the security challenges facing Tanzania and East Africa, as well as a shared commitment to addressing them together. Tanzania is surrounded by terrorist threats.

There is regional conflict in eastern DRC, and security concerns in the Indian Ocean, including piracy and illegal fishing. .

Dodoma. Gairo legislator Ahmed Shabiby (CCM) has told Parliament that corruption remains rampant in Tanzania, arguing that the scale of graft is far greater than many are willing to admit.

Mr Shabiby made these remarks while contributing to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s speech delivered during the inauguration of Parliament on November 14, 2025. In her address, President Samia emphasised the need for a government built on accountability and a service-oriented culture to enhance citizens’ welfare. “There are many corrupt people, and some of them are very powerful.

People are building houses every day, and others even go as far as putting their names on those houses. Don’t you see this, or do you want someone else to say it? The public can see what is happening,” Mr Shabiby told the House.

He raised questions about the effectiveness of institutions responsible for enforcing ethics and accountability, arguing that corruption often occurs openly with minimal repercussions. “Where are the ethics enforcers? They target us MPs, who do not handle government funds, while leaving ministers–those who actually manage public money–untouched.

Everyone is now vying for those positions, and I’m stating this openly,” he said. Mr Shabiby also dismissed the notion that ordinary citizens are unaware of corruption, saying many Tanzanians are educated and observant.

“Our people are not foolish. You can find a boda boda rider with a GPA of 5, while in the same subject, there’s an employee with a GPA of 3 sending that rider to buy nails for him,” he noted, prompting laughter in the House.

According to him, Tanzania has no shortage of educated citizens, ranging from degree holders to diploma and primary school graduates, who understand basic issues and can see how corruption is eroding the country. He further criticised the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) law, saying it lacks the strength needed to deal decisively with what he described as “dangerous individuals”.

“The law must be given teeth so that it becomes a real tool for dealing with corruption,” he said. Mr Shabiby also accused some MPs of failing to speak the truth in Parliament, arguing that such silence does not help the President.

He said he had chosen to be honest and would not engage in hypocrisy on matters he believes in. Calls for tougher action Other MPs echoed similar sentiments, urging the government to intensify the fight against corruption.

Ushetu MP (CCM) Emmanuel Cherehani called on the government to act decisively, referring to Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba’s earlier pledge to unleash a “fyekeo” (clean-up operation). “Honourable Prime Minister, I heard you say you will come with a slasher.

I ask that it be implemented against the lazy and those who do not wish this country well, and that there be no delays,” Mr Cherehani said. He added that, if necessary, the crackdown should begin with public servants who might obstruct the implementation of universal health insurance, warning that delays were likely if firm action was not taken.

Kigoma North MP (ACT-Wazalendo) Kiza Mayeye urged leaders entrusted with public office to prioritise national interests over personal gain. He said his party upholds a strong culture of accountability, insisting that leaders must stand firm in their positions and fulfil their responsibilities to citizens.

Mbulu Rural MP (CCM) Dr Emmanuel Nuwas, however, urged restraint, saying it was important for the public to wait for findings from a commission established by President Samia. “Once the commission releases its report, it will open the door for MPs to speak more freely, and that will be in the best interests of the country,” Dr Nuwas said.

Outside Parliament, boda boda riders echoed Mr Shabiby’s remarks. Mr Ayub Leon, secretary of Boda Boda Riders at Kisasa Station No.

6 in Dodoma, said many riders are educated and understand what is happening in the country. “What Mr Shabiby said is true.

I hold a diploma in Public Administration from the Local Government Training Institute. At our station, we also have a teacher with a degree and a planning officer.

We are aware of many things,” Mr Leon said. He urged the government to scrutinise people’s incomes against their lifestyles, arguing that such an approach would expose widespread corruption and extravagant spending.

Prime Minister’s warning Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has repeatedly warned that the government will not tolerate corruption or negligence. He first issued the warning on November 13, 2025, shortly after being endorsed by Parliament with 369 votes out of 371. “I send a message to corrupt and lazy public servants: I am coming with a slasher and a rake.

The government will not tolerate negligence, corruption or abuse of power. Those people should brace themselves,” Dr Nchemba said.

He reiterated the warning on December 11, 2025, while addressing staff of the Secretariat of Ethics for Public Leaders, directing leaders to declare their assets. “An asset declaration census is coming.

We must accept that this country needs leaders who serve with integrity and fairness,” he said. Water concerns Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Mussa Zungu urged the government to review water systems in Dar es Salaam, saying residents are often billed heavily despite frequent supply disruptions.

Responding, Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso said the government has allocated Sh1.8 billion to improve rural water projects. He said 1,575 villages have been reached through 878 projects, while more than 200 urban water projects are ongoing.

Mr Aweso acknowledged that climate change has contributed to water shortages but insisted that the government’s priority remains ensuring citizens have access to water, regardless of cost..

.

Beijing. Britain and China hailed a reset in relations on Thursday, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping pledged greater cooperation on trade, investment and technology to the mutual benefit of both countries.

With Western leaders reeling from the unpredictability of US President Donald Trump, Starmer became just the latest to head to China where he called for a “more sophisticated relationship” with greater market access, lower tariffs and investment deals. In the first visit by a British leader in eight years, Starmer agreed 30 days’ visa-free access for Britons, discussed lower Chinese tariffs on whisky, and welcomed a $15 billion investment by the UK’s AstraZeneca into China.

Starmer spent around three hours with Xi at a formal summit and a lunch, during which the pair discussed trade and security, the war in Ukraine, and soccer and Shakespeare. Starmer seeking economic growth The British premier held up a plan by AstraZeneca to pioneer new medicines by investing heavily in its Chinese operations as proof of the benefits that could flow to both countries.

But he also said the closer ties would enable Britain to engage in “frank dialogue” when there was disagreement. Starmer, whose centre-left Labour government has struggled to deliver the economic growth it promised, has made improving relations with the world’s second-largest economy a priority.

That has drawn fierce criticism from some British and U.S.

politicians who accuse China of waging industrial levels of espionage while also abusing human rights. “China is a vital player on the global stage, and it’s vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship where we can identify opportunities to collaborate, but of course, also allow a meaningful dialogue on areas where we disagree,” Starmer told Xi at the start of their meeting.

Xi said China was ready to develop a long-term partnership with Britain following “twists and turns” in the relationship that did not serve the interests of either country. “We can deliver a result that can withstand the test of history,” Xi told Starmer, flanked by his top ministers, at their summit at the Great Hall of the People.

Starmer later told reporters he had a “respectful discussion” with Xi about the case of Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen who was convicted in December of national security crimes. Western allies rattled by trump’s unpredictability Starmer’s visit comes amid Trump’s on-off threats of trade tariffs and pledges to grab control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, which have rattled long-standing U.

S. allies such as Britain.

He follows in the footsteps of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who this month signed an economic deal with Beijing to tear down trade barriers, drawing tariff threats from Trump. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to travel to China soon and Trump himself has said he will visit China in April.

Ties between Britain and China had deteriorated for years under previous Conservative governments, when London curbed some Chinese investment over national security worries and expressed concern over a crackdown on political freedoms in Hong Kong. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of Britain’s opposition Conservative Party, said on Wednesday she would not have gone to China because of the security risks the country poses.

British security services say China routinely spies on the government. China denies the claims.

Starmer hails improvement in relationship Starmer, who was accompanied by more than 50 business leaders, said the relationship with China was now in “a strong place” and said he saw Xi as someone he could do business with. He described the meeting as warm and constructive, adding that the pair chatted about English Premier League soccer, which has a massive fan base in China, as they dined on roasted cod and sweet rice dumplings.

“I made the promise 18 months ago, when we were elected into government, that I would make Britain face outwards again,” Starmer told Xi at the summit talks. He gifted Xi a ball from a recent match between Manchester United, the Chinese president’s favoured team, and the British premier’s team Arsenal.

Plan to tackle people smugglers Starmer is also seeking Beijing’s help to bolster security, announcing that the countries would jointly tackle gangs involved in trafficking illegal migrants. The deal focuses on reducing the use of Chinese-made engines for small boats that transport people across the Channel to claim asylum in Britain.

British and Chinese officials will share intelligence to identify smugglers’ supply routes and work with Chinese manufacturers to prevent legitimate businesses from being exploited by organised crime, Downing Street said. After arriving in Beijing late on Wednesday, Starmer dined at a restaurant known for its speciality mushroom dishes.

He practiced pronouncing the Chinese word for thank you – “xie xie” – with restaurant staff as he posed for photographs, a video posted on Weibo showed. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania could generate cumulative economic benefits exceeding $18 billion by 2030 if it effectively translates renewable energy policies into practice, according to new research that highlights the country’s untapped potential and persistent structural barriers.

The study shows that despite Tanzania’s abundant renewable energy resources, the sector currently contributes less than two per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP), largely due to financial, institutional and infrastructure constraints. Titled Leveraging Renewable Energy for Inclusive Economic Growth in Tanzania, the study is the brainchild of EnergyCARD and Repoa.

The year-long research indicates that with targeted interventions, renewable energy technologies could contribute between 1.5 percent and 10 percent of GDP by 2034, driving wide-ranging economic gains.

These include savings from reduced fossil fuel imports, lower public health costs linked to pollution and increased fiscal revenues. The report projects that improved adoption of renewable energy could cut fossil fuel imports by $200300 million annually, easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

Speaking during the dissemination of the research findings, Repoa acting executive director Lucus Katera said Tanzania could unlock $45 billion in private investment by 2034, create over 150,000 jobs and strengthen energy security through diversified power generation. “The progress has been slow.

Since 2008, only 14 small power producer projects–each below 50 megawatts–have been implemented, reflecting a significant gap in private sector participation. This shortfall is due to regulatory uncertainty, high financing costs, grid integration challenges and weak institutional coordination,” Dr Katera said.

The research found that inconsistent policy implementation has prevented the country from fully benefiting from its renewable energy framework, despite strong national strategies and ambitious development goals. Implementation is hindered by fragmented mandates, lack of actionable guidelines and bureaucratic delays.

The study identifies strategic opportunities to accelerate renewable energy adoption, including binding renewable energy targets, blended financing mechanisms and sustained investment in human capital. Strengthening institutional coordination and improving access to affordable finance are also highlighted as key steps to encourage private sector participation.

Commenting on the findings, Ensol Tanzania Limited managing director Hamisi Mikate said the sector offers vast opportunities that remain largely untapped due to challenges such as limited access to financing. He described the research as timely, noting that his company continues to collaborate with the government on projects to expand access to solar energy for productive and household use.

The research also highlighted technological challenges, particularly underdeveloped grid infrastructure in rural areas, which limits the integration of decentralised energy systems. Increased investment and policy focus are needed to address these gaps and accelerate renewable energy adoption .

Dar es Salaam. The iTrust East Africa Community Large Cap Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) was officially listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) on Tuesday following overwhelming investor demand, with the offer oversubscribed by 540 percent–an outcome that underscores growing confidence in Tanzania’s capital markets.

The ETF, the first regional exchange-traded fund in East Africa, attracted Sh54 billion in applications against a target of Sh10 billion when the offer closed in December 2025. A total of 4,004 investors participated, many of them first-time entrants to the capital markets. iTrust Finance Chief Executive Officer Mr Faiz Arab said the fund began investing on January 20 and had already posted a 6.

49 percent gain in net asset value, rising from Sh1,000 to Sh1,064 within its first week of operation. “This listing marks the first capital markets debut of 2026 and becomes the second ETF to be listed on the DSE,” he said.

Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange Chief Business Development Officer Mr Emmanuel Nyalali said the listing reinforces ongoing efforts to diversify investment products, deepen market liquidity and broaden investor participation. He noted that the introduction of regional products such as the iTrust ETF is in line with the exchange’s strategy to position the DSE as a competitive platform offering a wide range of investment opportunities to both local and international investors.

Capital Markets and Securities Authority (CMSA) Chief Executive Officer CPA Nicodemus Mkama described the listing as a historic milestone for Tanzania’s capital markets and the broader economy. “This ETF is the first regional large-cap fund in East Africa to be listed in Tanzania, marking a significant achievement for iTrust Finance Limited and for the development of capital markets in the region,” he said.

Mr Mkama said the fund, which is managed by iTrust Finance Limited with NBC Bank serving as custodian, is approved and supervised by the CMSA. He added that the public offer raised Sh54.03 billion against a target of Sh10 billion, with strong participation from local retail investors.

“This success reflects growing investor confidence in Tanzania’s capital markets and the enabling regulatory environment provided by CMSA,” he said. According to the regulator, the listing is expected to enhance liquidity, improve price discovery and expand investor participation, thereby contributing meaningfully to economic growth.

Mr Mkama said the CMSA remains committed to supporting innovative products that strengthen the capital markets and promote inclusive economic development. National Bank of Commerce (NBC) official Mr Elvis Ndunguru, speaking on behalf of Managing Director Mr Theobald Sabu, said the strong subscription reflects investor confidence in Tanzania’s regulatory framework and capital market institutions.

He said NBC, as the ETF’s custodian, is working alongside Absa Kenya and Absa Uganda as sub-custodians to support the fund’s regional investment structure. Market analysts said the successful listing highlights rising demand for professionally managed and transparent investment products, as Tanzania continues to position itself as a regional financial hub.

.

Dar es Salaam . Nestled in the rolling hills of Morogoro, Tanzania, Mazimbu is more than just a picturesque landscape; it is a testament to resilience, unity, and the relentless pursuit of freedom.

During South Africa’s darkest era of apartheid, Mazimbu became a sanctuary for thousands of South Africans who had fled their homeland in search of safety and the opportunity to continue the struggle for liberation. Under the visionary leadership of Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, the country opened its doors, providing land, resources, and unwavering support to the African National Congress and other liberation movements.

Mazimbu was transformed from a simple sisal estate into a thriving community, where freedom fighters lived, learned, and prepared to return to South Africa as leaders of a liberated nation. Among its most significant contributions was the establishment of the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College, named after a young hero executed by the apartheid regime.

What began as classes under trees quickly evolved into a fully functioning institution with dormitories, classrooms, vocational workshops, and farms. Education at Mazimbu was more than academic–it was a weapon against oppression, equipping young activists with the knowledge, skills, and resilience required to rebuild a free South Africa.

The community at Mazimbu thrived through collaboration between Tanzanians and exiled South Africans. Families settled, children studied, and adults trained in leadership, agriculture, medicine, mechanics, and community organisation.

The site also became a place of profound sacrifice, with cemeteries scattered across the estate, honoring those who never returned home. These graves stand as solemn reminders of the cost of freedom and the enduring courage of those who fought for it.

Mazimbu’s significance has been recognised at the highest levels. In August 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the site, walking the paths once trodden by the country’s freedom fighters and paying homage to the struggles endured on Tanzanian soil.

His visit underscored the deep historical bond between the two nations and the vital role Mazimbu played in shaping South Africa’s liberation. Former President Thabo Mbeki also visited in 2025, commemorating the sacrifices made and announcing initiatives to preserve the site’s history for future generations.

Former President Jacob Zuma, reflecting on the enduring memory of Tanzania’s support, said: “There are places in this country (Tanzania) that we can never forget — Mazimbu in Morogoro and Dakawa.” Zuma emphasized Tanzania as a “second home” to South Africa’s freedom fighters and highlighted the moral and material support that made the struggle possible.

Beyond the rolling hills of Mazimbu and the carved memorials to freedom fighters lies a much broader tapestry of TanzanianSouth African relations that few fully appreciate. The bond between the two nations was forged not just in shared diplomacy but in shared struggle.

Long before South Africa’s democratic dawn in 1994, Tanzania stood as a steadfast ally, hosting ANC programmes such as the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College on land generously donated by the Tanzanian government, with facilities that at times accommodated up to 5,000 South Africans and included hospitals, farms, workshops, and classrooms that countered apartheid’s oppressive Bantu education system. Tanzanians were not merely hosts; they were collaborators, workers, and neighbours — with Tanzanian women forming families with exiles and Swahili becoming the unexpected lingua franca of daily life in Mazimbu, symbolising a cultural unity born of struggle and shared purpose.

The handing over of Somafco and related centres back to Tanzania in the early 1990s marked the end of apartheid, but the lived connections between people of both nations — through marriage, language, and memory — have endured to this day. The powerful historical threads that tie both nations together also played out on the diplomatic stage long after apartheid’s fall.

Leaders from both countries have repeatedly used visits to Mazimbu to underscore shared history while building frameworks for future cooperation in trade, education, and cultural exchange. These moments have cemented a partnership that spans political, economic, and social dimensions, demonstrating that the bonds forged in struggle have matured into a robust, forward-looking relationship rooted in mutual respect and shared heritage.

Today’s TanzaniaSouth Africa relationship continues to evolve on foundations laid by the sacrifices witnessed at Mazimbu. In an interview with The Citizen on November 1, 2024, Tanzania’s High Commissioner to South Africa, James Bwana, highlighted how this shared history of solidarity has blossomed into dynamic people to people connections and expanding economic cooperation.

He pointed to increased bilateral engagement — including efforts to facilitate direct travel links, significantly boost trade, and deepen cultural and educational exchanges such as the promotion of the Swahili language in South African institutions — as key examples of how the legacy of liberation has shaped modern collaboration. Bwana stressed that visa facilitation and strategic partnerships under the African Continental Free Trade Area provide fresh momentum to a relationship that was once defined by refuge and now thrives on mutual opportunity and cultural respect.

In this light, Mazimbu is not only a monument to the past but a living pillar of a future where Tanzania and South Africa, bound by history, continue to write new chapters of unity and growth together. Today, Mazimbu stands as more than a historical site; it is a living legacy.

It embodies the power of solidarity, the importance of education in liberation, and the transformative impact of collective action. Mazimbu reminds the world that freedom is never given–it is built, nurtured, and defended, often far from home, on sacred soil where courage and hope converge.

.

The world has entered the second half of the 2020s amid convulsions reshaping an industrial order that has stood for over a century. The coming decade will not merely test imaginations and stretch capabilities; it will demand a fundamental reimagining of the principles that govern our global system.

As we stand at this inflection point in early 2026, the traditional frameworks of international cooperation and corporate strategy, though vital, are proving insufficient. A potent cocktail of interconnected systemic and seismic shifts–from geopolitical fragmentation to rapid technological disruption–threatens to cascade through the system, amplifying the strains on institutions everywhere.

Globalisation, for all its benefits, has compressed the world into an interdependent village, bound by the ceaseless flow of goods, capital, data, and people. Yet this village is in peril.

The collective ambition to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 now seems a monumental, if not impossible, task. The village ledger tells a grim story: as of 2026, nearly three billion of its 8.

2 billion residents live in countries where servicing national debt now costs more than investing in the health and education of their people. This is not a sustainable equation for progress.

This village confronts an array of mega-threats, each a formidable challenge in its own right, but together a perfect storm. Climate change advances relentlessly, its effects no longer a distant forecast but a present and costly reality.

Technological disruption, particularly the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, redraws the lines of economic power and social structure. Geopolitical tensions, which have moved from simmering to boiling, are leading to trade fragmentation and a retreat from multilateralism.

These are compounded by rising inequality, economic turbulence, and a sovereign debt crisis of historic proportions, all occurring at a time when traditional foreign aid and investment are shrinking. These are not separate crises; they are deeply interconnected, and their combined force far exceeds the capacity of any single sector, player, or organisation to address alone.

Yet, as the world reconfigures, new frontiers of value are emerging from the chaos. Seizing them requires more than just new business models; it demands a radical transformation in how organisations create, deliver, and capture value.

A new domain for growth is materialising from the stark recognition that the most pressing human needs–from public health to climate resilience–can no longer be met by siloed actors. The new frontier for growth lies in collaboration across sectoral divides.

Partnerships between public, private, and philanthropic actors are no longer a matter of corporate social responsibility; they are essential to forging new markets and building the social capital that underpins them. This is the dawn of collaborative value creation.

The future belongs to those who can master the art of the Public-Private-Philanthropic Partnership (PPPP). This model represents a new social contract for the 21st century, one that acknowledges the limitations of each sector and leverages their unique strengths.

The public sector can provide scale, regulatory frameworks, and democratic legitimacy. The private sector brings innovation, efficiency, and capital.

The philanthropic sector offers risk tolerance, long-term perspective, and a deep understanding of social needs. Together, they can tackle challenges that are intractable for any one sector alone.

At the heart of this new social contract lies a currency that has become both priceless and precarious: trust. The chasm between perception and reality is stark.

PwC’s 2024 Trust Survey revealed that, while an overwhelming 90% of executives believe their customers trust them, only 30% of consumers agree. This trust deficit is a critical barrier to progress.

Without trust, partnerships falter, markets fail, and social cohesion erodes. The PPPP model offers a pathway to rebuilding this trust, as the involvement of public and philanthropic actors can lend credibility and a sense of shared purpose to private-sector initiatives.

This new social contract represents a fundamental shift in how we conceive of value. No longer can organisations operate in isolation, pursuing narrow self-interest while externalising costs to society and the environment.

The interconnected nature of our global challenges demands interconnected solutions. The organisations that will thrive in this new era are those that understand that their success is inextricably linked to the well-being of the communities and ecosystems in which they operate.

They are the ones building the institutional muscle and the collaborative mindset to turn shared risks into shared value, forging a new, more resilient, and more equitable form of capitalism in the process. Prudence is an author and Chief Purpose Officer at PZG PR www.

pzg.co.

tz .

I recently travelled to Dodoma using Tanzania’s standard gauge railway for the first time. I had been looking forward to it for a while.

The SGR has been sold to us as a symbol of modern Tanzania. The experience was mixed: impressive hardware weighed down by archaic thinking.

Let me start with the good. This is the SGR–new, shiny, modern.

Three hours between Dar and Dodoma. The absurdity of spending eight hours on a treacherous 500-kilometre highway–dodging buses, potholes and fate–can finally be avoided.

The SGR delivers what modern transport should: speed, safety and relief. The system works.

Booking was smooth. Multiple and convenient payment options.

At the station, a few hostesses smiled at me. A smile.

In a government service. I could get used to that.

We left on time. The cabins are still fresh enough.

I decided to use the toilet–my acid test for a good facility. I found it clean.

No strange smells. Water running.

Toilet paper present. Soap available.

Soap in a public facility is the Tanzanian equivalent of a solar eclipse: rare and beautiful. If this is the future, sign me up.

Now to the bad. I paid Sh241,000 shillings for a return ticket on the so-called Royal Express.

I didn’t think much of it until I met another passenger who casually mentioned that Ordinary Lines charge Sh35,000 and SH50,000. That is when it became clear I was being taken for a ride. Literally.

One reason: there was nothing royal about that Royal Express. Same seats.

Same layout. No sleeping couches.

No Wi-Fi. No restaurant car.

No entertainment. No attempt to justify the price whatsoever.

The only difference is that they hand you a few snacks and shave an hour off the travel time. It looks like TRC does not understand how a premium service work.

That probably explains the ghost-cabins: 74 seats, barely 10 passengers–both trips. Do we really believe Tanzanians reject comfort? Or is TRC choosing empty seats over sensible pricing? With SGR economics already shaky, running empty trains is the fastest route to becoming another Tazara.

Then there is the temperature. It is so cold you would think we were crossing Siberia.

With windows that do not open, you are effectively trapped inside a refrigerated metal tube. “This is Tanzania,” I thought, “why set the thermostat so low?” Nearing Dar on the return trip, the train stopped in one station for possibly 15 minutes.

Then there is the temperature. It is so cold you would think we were crossing Siberia.

With windows that do not open, you are effectively trapped inside a refrigerated metal tube. “This is Tanzania,” I thought, “why set the thermostat so low?” Which brings me to the ugly.

The SGR has adopted bizarre, pseudo-airport routines. Why the excessive security for a domestic train? People travel daily by bus, by other trains, by ferries–is the threat only on SGR? In many countries, you walk onto a train with a ticket, even minutes before departure.

Yet for the SGR, passengers must arrive two hours early, line up and submit to rituals that add neither safety nor value. And then there are the food and drink restrictions.

You can carry grapes but not mangoes. Grapes require an extra fee: your fruit might affect aerodynamics.

A 15wagon locomotive that can pull 1,000 tonnes is worried about your 30kilogramme luggage limit. Instead of limiting the number of bags, they limit the weight and content.

Figure that out. On my return trip, I had two bottles of Kilimanjaro water and an unfinished soda.

I had not eaten all day. Security insisted I throw them away.

Drinks not chemicals. Why? Well, because of “regulations”.

I had some time to spare, so I decided to test whether thinking was allowed. I asked to see a manager and was taken to a desk with four officials.

I asked a simple question: Is it illegal to drink water on a train? Silence. Then came the sacred phrase: “It is the regulation.

” Fine. But regulations exist to serve a purpose.

What purpose does this one serve? Eventually, one of them hinted: station and onboard vendors must be protected. And there it was.

The real reason for banning outside food and drinks is not safety–it is revenue protection. So, the problem is not the drink; it is where you bought it.

I am forced to throw away my water so that I can buy theirs. I told them I was not comfortable throwing away perfectly good water and offered to share it with them instead.

Next time I will buy a whole carton of water for the trip. The SGR is powerful infrastructure.

For now, it works. But passengers are still treated as subjects.

So long as the philosophy stays “we set the rules, you obey,” the SGR will never fulfil its promise. Infrastructure can be imported.

Excellence cannot. And that attitude–the conviction that citizens exist to serve the system, not the reverse–is the mother of everything that will eventually go wrong with the SGR.

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

Dar es Salaam. For the first time in decades, Tanzania’s university system is inching closer to gender balance.

On paper, the progress looks impressive. The Gender Parity Index (GPI) in university enrolment has steadily improved from 0.

54 in 2016/17 to 0.84 in 2024/25, signalling a significant narrowing of the gap between male and female participation in higher education.

Total enrolment in university institutions reached 259,434 students in 2024/25, up from about 181,897 in 2018/19, according to the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) VitalStats 2024. Female enrolment has grown faster than that of males over the same period, reflecting years of deliberate policy interventions, scholarships and sustained advocacy aimed at expanding access for girls. However, beneath this encouraging headline lies a more complex and worrying reality: gender parity remains deeply uneven across fields of study, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

When enrolment is disaggregated by discipline, the gains quickly thin out. Engineering programmes record a GPI of 0.

28, Mining and Earth Sciences 0.38, ICT 0.

51, and Physical Sciences and Mathematics 0.49. In simple terms, for every ten male students in engineering, fewer than three are female.

By contrast, women dominate in Education (GPI 1.02), Law (1.00), Business (1.12), Social Sciences (1.54) and Library and Information Studies.

“This tells us that access alone is not enough,” former lecturer Dr Fumbuka Mtenzi told The Citizen. “Girls are entering universities, yes.

But they are not entering the programmes that drive industrialisation, innovation and high-value employment.” Why STEM still repels women Experts point to pipeline problems that begin long before university admission.

Weak performance in mathematics and sciences at secondary level, limited exposure to female role models in STEM careers, and persistent cultural stereotypes continue to shape subject choices. Dr Mtenzi notes that female applicants remain underrepresented in competitive STEM programmes.

“Even when spaces are available, the pool of qualified female applicants is smaller. This reflects systemic issues in earlier stages of education,” he said.

There is also an economic dimension. STEM programmes are often longer, more demanding and costlier.

For students from low-income households, especially girls, the opportunity cost can be prohibitive, particularly when family expectations still prioritise early marriage or income-generating activities over extended schooling. The imbalance carries serious implications for Tanzania’s ambitions in industrialisation, mining, health sciences, digital transformation and the energy transition.

STEM graduates sit at the heart of national priorities under Vision 2025, the newly launched Dira 2050. Yet the VitalStats data shows that women remain largely excluded from the very skills ecosystem the country needs most. “If we do not correct this, we risk building a future economy with half the talent missing,” warned gender and education specialist Dr Rose Mpemba.

“Gender parity in enrolment is not meaningful if women are clustered in low-growth disciplines.” Aware of this imbalance, the government has begun shifting from broad access policies to targeted gender-responsive interventions, with a strong focus on STEM.

At the centre of these efforts is the Samia Scholarship, launched under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership. The programme specifically supports high-performing girls to pursue degrees in engineering, medicine, ICT, natural sciences and related fields, both locally and internationally.

Education officials say the scholarship is designed not just to fund tuition, but to change perceptions about who belongs in STEM. “The Samia Scholarship sends a powerful signal that girls are needed in science and technology spaces,” said one senior official at the Ministry of Education.

“It is about visibility, confidence and long-term workforce planning.” Beyond scholarships, the government has expanded science excellence schools, invested in laboratory infrastructure, and strengthened teacher training in mathematics and sciences, particularly in underserved regions.

There is also growing collaboration with development partners and the private sector to support mentorship programmes, internships and early exposure to STEM careers for girls. Some universities have introduced bridging programmes, female-only STEM cohorts and academic support systems aimed at improving retention and completion rates for women in demanding courses.

While these initiatives mark a clear policy shift, experts caution that their impact will depend on scale, consistency and coordination across the education system. “The Samia Scholarship is a strong start, but it must be part of a wider ecosystem, from primary classrooms to postgraduate labs,” Dr Mpemba said.

“Otherwise, the numbers will improve slowly, but the structural imbalance will persist.” .

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Mainland Premier League continues today with two major fixtures involving title contenders Simba SC and Azam FC, as the race for points intensifies at both ends of the table.

Simba will host Mashujaa FC at the Major General Isamuhyo Stadium in a 4pm kickoff, while Azam FC will entertain Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) United at the Azam Complex from 7pm. The matches come at a crucial time for all four teams, with each side eager to improve its position in the standings currently dominated by defending champions Young Africans (Yanga), who sit top with 22 points from eight matches.

Simba, placed sixth with 13 points from six matches, will be desperate to return to winning ways after a difficult run that has tested both the squad and their supporters. The Msimbazi Street giants have struggled to find consistency across competitions, going through a four-match spell that has produced disappointing outcomes and increased pressure on head coach Steven Barker.

A major source of frustration for Simba fans has been the team’s recent results against Azam FC, who have beaten them twice in a short period. Simba first lost 2-0 in a league match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on December 7 last year, before suffering another setback when they were edged 1-0 in the semifinals of the Mapinduzi Cup at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.

Upon returning to league action, Simba were held to a 1-1 draw by Mtibwa Sugar at the Major General Isamuhyo Stadium on January 8, a result that left them with more questions than answers. Their struggles continued on the continental stage where they lost 1-0 to Tunisia’s Esperance in the Caf Champions League, a defeat that further highlighted the need for sharper finishing and stronger game management.

Today’s clash against Mashujaa therefore offers Simba a timely chance to bounce back, restore belief, and give their supporters something to celebrate. With their home crowd behind them, Barker’s side will be expected to push forward from the start and avoid the defensive lapses that have cost them in recent matches.

Mashujaa, currently eighth with 13 points from 10 matches, will also be fighting for a positive result as they attempt to regain momentum. Records show the team has failed to win in their last three matches, a run that began with a heavy 6-0 defeat to Yanga at the KMC Complex.

They then settled for two consecutive goalless draws against Coastal Union and Dodoma Jiji FC. Mashujaa head coach Salum Mayanga has made it clear that his side is targeting a strong performance against Simba, viewing the match as an opportunity to return to winning form and climb higher in the standings.

Later in the evening, attention will shift to the Azam Complex where Azam FC face TRA United in what is expected to be one of the most thrilling encounters of the day. Azam, placed seventh with 13 points from seven matches, will be aiming to bounce back after being held to a goalless draw by Fountain Gate FC.

The Chamazi-based side have shown they can compete at a high level, and they will be determined to secure maximum points at home as they push to close the gap on the teams above them. TRA United, sitting ninth with 12 points from eight matches, come into the match with confidence after producing impressive results in recent outings.

They claimed a convincing 3-0 win over KMC and followed it up with another strong performance in a 3-1 victory against Singida Black Stars. .