Category: The Citizen

Arusha. Former Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe said the nation remains in deep pain due to the political situation, noting that prisons still hold leaders who deserve to be free and unite with fellow Tanzanians in witnessing and contributing to the country’s progress.

Mr Mbowe made the remarks on Saturday, January 24, 2026, during the burial of Chadema founder, the late Edwin Mtei, held at the family cemetery at his home in Tengeru, Arusha Region. In his first public address since stepping down from Chadema leadership and retiring from politics a year ago, Mr Mbowe said the nation must re-examine itself on freedom, justice, and genuine reconciliation to promote peace and development.

He urged the government to acknowledge the truth and release political prisoners currently in jail, saying such a move would help heal the deep pain being experienced by Tanzanians. In his speech, Mr Mbowe asked Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba to convey his message to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, saying Chadema is ready to take part in nation-building if it sees genuine goodwill from the government.

“Chadema wants to build this country. We want to see all groups given their rightful space in accordance with the Constitution.

There is nothing more fundamental than the freedom of people in their own country,” said Mr Mbowe. He emphasised that the vision of the late Mzee Mtei centred on building a nation founded on justice, democracy, and equality, adding that honouring him in practice requires political courage, genuine reconciliation, and respect for constitutional principles.

Mr Mbowe’s remarks came at a time when Mzee Mtei’s burial became a platform for various leaders to offer broader reflections on the future of democracy, unity, and national reconciliation, describing the deceased as a symbol of firmness, wisdom, and a peaceful struggle for political reforms in the country. Mr Mbowe, who also served as the family’s spokesperson, said in his vote of thanks that he decided to speak out today as he marked one year and one day since he officially retired from politics and returned to business.

Throughout his speech, which drew repeated cheers from the crowd, Mr Mbowe began by saying the gathering comprised groups carrying deep pain, adding that having known and worked closely with Mzee Mtei, he was an honest man who never wavered in his principles and always fulfilled his commitments. “Prime Minister, you and other government leaders must recognise that our nation is still in deep pain.

I would be a hypocrite if I did not say this. The development you have told us the government will oversee is a good thing, and we are grateful, but nothing is more fundamental than the freedom of people in their own country,” he said.

“The best way to bring development to a country is first to restore people’s freedom, happiness, and rights, and to acknowledge the truth where the government has erred, instead of hesitating to say, ‘We were wrong here, let us correct it’,” added Mr Mbowe. He said he believes even leaders of his party would be ready to listen to seek a better future for the country.

“This party is called the Party for Democracy and Development, recognising that where there is genuine democracy, development will follow. Prime Minister, since you have said you have been entrusted with ensuring the nation stabilises, stand firm on this.

This is a major party with millions of members. “Put in place a deliberate mechanism to correct matters, and you leaders of all opposition parties should find ways to work together so that, in a structured manner, we unite this nation and it does not continue to be fragmented into political camps.

We want one nation founded on development and love, so that even those in leadership positions at various levels can perform their duties with happiness and peace,” he said. “I believe that our coming together today, in the presence of this bereavement and Mtei’s coffin, is God’s plan.

And as for these words we are saying, do not leave here thinking Chadema is unruly. Chadema is not unruly; Chadema has been wronged, and when wronged, it must stand firm, because that is what we taught in this party.

I said I would speak on this today. Since I retired, I have not spoken about politics.

Today marks one year and one day since I officially retired from politics and returned to business. “And many have asked which side Mbowe stands on, oh Mbowe, ah This is not about political parties; this is about our country.

These leaders are not unruly; they are forced to be so. Chadema members and leaders, whom I call my younger brothers and sisters, let us seek solutions to our country’s problems.

But the good intention I ask you to uphold will only be realised if the government side shows genuine commitment.” Prime Minister Earlier, before Mr Mbowe spoke, Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, representing President Hassan, said he had received the message on behalf of the government and that, fortunately, political will exists.

He said he had been sent to oversee the process and assured the public that the government would not be an obstacle to national unity. “I assure you the government will not be an obstacle to ensuring the country becomes one and moves forward.

We will overcome, and Tanzania’s long-standing dignity will be preserved,” he said. The Prime Minister said the government has received and is ready to act on calls from religious leaders and politicians urging the nation to come together, embrace truth, and engage in reconciliation talks aimed at healing wounds and strengthening unity.

Speaking about Mtei, he said he will be remembered for his principles, courage, vision, patience, and love for the country, and for making a significant contribution to the development of multiparty democracy. He said the President directed that Mzee Mtei be honoured through concrete actions, ordering supervision of the construction of the ArushaMoshi Road (TengeruUsa River section), ensuring the procurement process proceeds to leave a lasting mark in Mtei’s honour.

He added that the Usa RiverKia section (28 kilometres), whose design has reached 80 percent, should be completed quickly and that a tender be announced for the construction of the four-lane road in honour of Mtei as a champion of development. “Mzee Mtei was a proponent of development.

The President has directed me, as supervisor, to instruct the Regional Commissioner, the Mayor, and council directors to identify areas where small traders operate and improve them so the environment is business-friendly,” he said. Bishop calls for reconciliation Preaching during the burial service, retired Anglican Bishop Saimon Makundi said Mtei was a man of integrity, a fact he personally attested to.

“He was not someone who loved corruption. Even when given an opportunity, live a life like that of Mzee Mtei.

You must speak out when there are differences, whether in a nation or a family. There are people in our nation who, you know, can bring reconciliation when there is a problem,” he said.

“Even if we are stuck somewhere, and you know it, let us not remain there; let us move forward. That is what is required in our nation: to sit down, talk in justice, truth, and wisdom, and move forward regardless of what has happened, because we are human beings,” he said.

He added that even during his own leadership, there were times he became stuck, but through careful and wise dialogue, issues were resolved. “This elder lived his spiritual and physical life with integrity.

Even if you differ with your brother, you can sit together at home, stay awake, not give up, talk things through, and repent where you went wrong, because the Word of God says that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves,” he concluded. .

Dar es Salaam. The Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam, in partnership with international Rotary partners, including the Rotary Club of Vancouver, has begun handing over 640 school desks under its Gift of Education Global Grant Project.

The desks, valued at Sh192 million, are being distributed in phases, starting with Mbopo Primary School, followed by Mwananyamala B, Nakasangwe, and Mtongani primary schools. Speaking during the handover, the President of the Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam, Mr Abdulkadir Hamid, said the initiative forms part of the club’s commitment to supporting education and improving learning conditions in public primary schools.

He explained that each desk is designed to accommodate three pupils, a move aimed at easing classroom congestion and ending the practice of pupils sitting on the floor. “The project seeks to restore dignity to pupils while creating a more conducive learning environment,” said Mr Hamid.

Beyond providing desks, he noted that the Global Grant adopts a holistic approach to education, integrating classroom infrastructure, teacher capacity building, and environmental sustainability. Under the project, 80 teachers from the beneficiary schools will receive ICT training focused on practical digital skills to enhance teaching and learning.

In addition, 1,200 trees will be planted within school compounds to improve the learning environment and offset timber use in desk production. Since its launch in 2020, the Gift of Education initiative has delivered about 5,000 desks, benefiting an estimated 15,000 pupils across Dar es Salaam.

The programme has also contributed to environmental conservation, with 8,620 trees planted so far, transforming school compounds into greener, healthier learning spaces. Mr Hamid added that the desks are manufactured using treated hardwood and reinforced steel frames to ensure durability and long-term use in public schools.

Mbopo Primary School head teacher, Mr Selestin Kindole, thanked the Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam and its international partners, including the Rotary Club of Vancouver, for the support. He said the desks, combined with teacher training and tree planting, would greatly improve learning outcomes and restore pupils’ dignity.

He also pledged that the schools would take good care of the desks and nurture the planted trees to ensure sustainable benefits. The Global Grant project will be implemented between January and March 2026 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and local authorities, reaffirming Rotary’s commitment to creating learning environments where every child has an opportunity to thrive.

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Dar es Salaam. Some customers have raised concerns that prepaid electricity units are running out faster than expected, but the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) says there is no immediate solution without a professional technical assessment.

Customers told The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, on Friday, January 23, 2026, that they buy the same amount of electricity but find it depleted in a shorter period, despite no increase in usage. A resident of Tabata, Mr Halman Fred, said he uses a fridge, gas cooker, and fan at home, noting that Sh10,000 worth of electricity, which previously lasted seven days, now lasts only four.

He reported the issue via a Tanesco WhatsApp group and was advised to check for possible electricity leaks. “I told the officer I had turned everything off and left for work, leaving 13.33 units, but when I returned, I found only 12.39 units,” he said, adding that his monthly electricity budget has risen from S0,000 to Sh70,000. A resident of Sinza, Ms Malaika Tiba, said she used to spend Sh20,000 a month on a fridge, television, and cooker, which are not used frequently, but the same amount now lasts less than two weeks.

Ms Mary Rose, from Magomeni, said she requested a Tanesco technician to inspect her electricity. “The technician checked and said everything was fine, but the electricity still runs out quickly.

The 126 units I bought cannot even last a month, even though our household usage is normal,” she said. Ms Juliana Wandiba, who runs a small printing and logo office, said: “At the office, we only have a fan, lights, and a computer, yet Sh10,000 worth of electricity lasts two days.

I bought 28 units on January 16, but by January 18, the electricity was gone.” A resident of Kinyerezi, Mr Lazaro Nicholaus, said he usually buys Sh10,000 worth of electricity and gets 28 units, or 23.8 units if there are outages, disclosing that he uses it only for lights and TV, but it now lasts just two weeks.

“I bought electricity on January 9, 2026, and received 23.8 units. On January 23, I bought 28 units.

Previously, the same electricity would last 28 to 30 days, but now it only lasts 14 to 15 days,” he said. Tanesco responds Responding to citizens’ concerns, Tanesco Managing Director Lazaro Twange said there is no straightforward answer without a professional assessment of the specific area.

“The issue is often caused by internal household wiring, which is not directly under Tanesco’s management. Once electricity enters a home, the wiring is the homeowner’s responsibility,” he said.

Mr Twange said the first step for affected customers is to contact the technician or contractor who installed their system. “Once the contractor confirms the system is fine, Tanesco can send experts for further assessment,” he added.

He noted that other causes may include theft or illegal connections, where someone taps electricity without the meter owner’s knowledge. “You may leave for work and without knowing what is happening at home.

Someone may have connected to your electricity without your knowledge, affecting your usage,” he said. Furthermore, Mr Twange stressed that thorough investigations are necessary before identifying the real source of the problem, promising that Tanesco was ready to assist customers once complaints are reported directly.

“If there is one or more customers with such complaints, help us identify them so we can send a technical team to assess and provide solutions,” he said. He added that all complaints will be shared with regional and district managers to determine if the issue is recurring across multiple areas.

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Washington. U.

S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on Canadian goods if the country moves forward with a trade deal with China, warning that such a deal would endanger Canada’s economy.

Trump, in posts on Truth Social, said China would “eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life.” He added that any deal with China would trigger immediate tariffs on all Canadian products entering the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently travelled to China to reset bilateral relations and reached a trade deal with Canada’s second-largest trading partner, urged citizens to focus on buying domestic products but did not directly mention Trump’s tariff threat. “With our economy under threat from abroad, Canadians have made a choice to focus on what we can control,” Carney said.

“We can’t control what other nations do; we can be our own best customer.” The U.

S.-Canada tensions escalated after Carney criticized Trump’s interest in Greenland and called on nations at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to respect a rules-based global order.

He highlighted how “middle powers” must act together to avoid being dominated by larger countries. Trump responded, accusing Canada of attempting to use its country as a “drop-off port” for Chinese goods into the U.

S., and warned that China taking over Canada “is NOT going to happen.

” If implemented, the tariff would increase U.S.

duties on Canadian products, affecting key sectors such as metal manufacturing, autos, and machinery. Canadian officials, however, have stressed that relations between the two countries remain important, with Carney asserting that Canada thrives because of its own efforts.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce called for a swift understanding between the two governments to ease uncertainty for businesses affected by the escalating tensions. .

Kampala. Uganda’s opposition leader Bobi Wine has said his wife was taken to hospital after soldiers allegedly raided their residence, partially undressed and choked her.

Mr Wine, a pop star-turned-politician, said he was not at the property at the time and is currently in hiding after evading a previous raid on his home last week, hours before he was announced runner-up in the January 15 presidential election. In a post on X, Mr Wine said soldiers forced their way into his home in the Magere suburb, north of Kampala, breaking down doors and assaulting staff.

Ugandan military spokesperson Chris Magezi could not immediately be reached for comment. President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for four decades, was declared winner of the election with 71.6 percent of the vote against Mr Wine’s 24 percent.

Mr Wine rejected the results, alleging widespread fraud, including ballot stuffing. Mr Wine said that during the raid, soldiers held his wife, Barbara Kyagulanyi, at gunpoint and demanded that she reveal his whereabouts.

“They grabbed my wife’s phone, forced her to sit down and ordered her to unlock it. She refused.

They strangled her and insulted her,” Mr Wine said. “They forcefully removed her blouse and took pictures.

My wife was rushed to hospital, where she remains admitted,” he added. Uganda’s military chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also President Museveni’s son, has demanded that Mr Wine surrender to police, warning that he would otherwise be treated as a rebel.

He has also issued threats against him. On Friday, Gen Kainerugaba said authorities had killed 30 supporters of Mr Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party and detained about 2,000 others.

Mr Wine has not been charged with any offence. Mr Wine also alleged that money, documents and electronic devices were taken during the raid.

On Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over arrests and violence involving opposition figures and their supporters. Human rights groups and opposition critics have long accused President Museveni of using the military to maintain his grip on power.

Government officials deny the claims, saying his long rule reflects popular support among voters. .

Arusha. The family of Edwin Mtei, former Governor of the Bank of Tanzania and founder of Chadema party, has revealed that his final message to them was a call to love one another, cooperate, care for, and respect their elders.

The message was delivered on 12 July 2024 during the celebration of his 92nd birthday. Just 11 days later, he suffered a stroke and did not speak again until his passing on 19 January 2026, following a sudden decline in his health.

The information was shared on Saturday, 24 January 2026, by Mtei’s son, Mashinda Mtei, while presenting a brief history of his father, including his life, career, illness, and death. Final words to family Mashinda said that during the birthday celebration, their father strongly emphasised love and unity.

“On 12 July 2024, he urged us, and I quote: ‘Love one another, cooperate, care for, and respect your elders.’ “Eleven days later, he suffered a stroke and could not speak again.

That message remains his final word to us.” Mtei was born on 12 July 1932 in Marangu, Moshi, Kilimanjaro.

He started school at Ngaruma Lutheran Parish School before attending Native Authority Primary School (N.A Marangu) from 1945 to 1950. From 1950 to 1952, he studied at Old Moshi Secondary School and later at Tabora High School.

In 1953, he enrolled at Makerere University College, a branch of the University of London, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in 1957. Mtei’s first employment was in 1957 with East African Tobacco, seconded to the East African Common Services Organization in Nairobi.

In September 1964, he joined the Government of Tanzania as Permanent Secretary of the Treasury. He was later appointed Deputy Governor, and in 1966, became the first Governor of the Bank of Tanzania.

In April 1974, he was appointed Secretary-General of the East African Community, serving until 1977 when he became Minister for Finance and Planning. In December 1979, he resigned from his ministerial position due to differences with the President over economic policies.

The following month, he purchased Ogaden Estate and became a coffee farmer while holding various other positions. Character and values “Mtei was honest, patient, and principled qualities well known to many.

He was meticulous in planning, including documenting his own history, which we have shared with you,” Mashinda said. “He was courageous and fearless, yet gentle and loving, offering significant support to many.

He never hesitated to speak the truth and always stood by his beliefs.” Illness and passing Mashinda said his father fell ill suddenly in 1977, losing consciousness for over a month.

He was later diagnosed with prostate cancer, treated successfully, and survived (aged 65). “Afterwards, he considered it a ‘second chance’ given by God.

Fifteen years ago, he began experiencing memory loss and was later diagnosed with dementia. “In 2021, both our parents, father and mother (Johara Hassan Marealle), contracted Covid-19. Sadly, our mother passed away.

Father’s health continued to decline and in 2024 he suffered a stroke. Over time, his condition worsened until his passing.

” Mtei leaves behind five children, two sons and three daughters, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. .

Dar es Salaam. As the Presidential Commission of Inquiry continues nationwide hearings into violence that erupted during and after the October 29, 2025 General Election, victims have recounted chilling accounts of injury, loss and abandonment, stories that underscore both the human cost of unrest and the resilience of communities in its aftermath.

The Commission, established by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in November 2025, is mandated to establish facts surrounding the election-related violence, examine the conduct of security agencies, assess the scale of human and property losses, and recommend measures to prevent future unrest. Chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohammed Chande Othman, the panel is conducting public hearings across the country, receiving testimonies from victims, witnesses and other stakeholders.

One of the most harrowing accounts came from Ms Aurelia Joseph, 75, a resident of Magomeni Kota, who told the Commission she was shot inside her home and left unattended for more than five hours at Mwananyamala Hospital after being presumed dead. “I was left there for hours because they thought I was dead,” she said.

“It was only when I started coughing that they asked, ‘What about this old woman, is she still alive?'” Ms Joseph said she lay in a room crowded with more than 20 bodies, watching as other injured patients died while security officers arrived to interrogate victims. She told the Commission she was accused of inciting unrest and questioned about her political choices.

According to her testimony, patients with gunshot wounds were ordered to leave the hospital regardless of whether they had received treatment. She later sought help at Magomeni Hospital but found no doctors available and resorted to traditional remedies.

Bullet fragments remain lodged in her body, leaving her in chronic pain and with limited mobility. Following her testimony, Commission member Prof Ibrahim Juma assured her that social welfare officers would assist in covering her medical expenses.

Other witnesses recounted the loss of loved ones in incidents unrelated to protests. Ms Veronica Lyimo, 37, told the Commission that her husband, Emmanuel Joseph, was shot near their home and later confirmed dead at Mwananyamala Hospital.

Similarly, Ms Rahma Said, 49, said her son, Mohamed Salum, was shot inside their home and died the following night after failing to receive hospital treatment. Both women described scenes of chaos in which families were left helpless as armed groups moved through their neighbourhoods.

The economic toll of the violence also featured prominently. Mr Juma Matari, 25, a mobile phone trader, said his business was destroyed in Manzese Darajani after looters set fire to shops and stole goods worth more than Sh60 million.

He described groups of more than 200 youths armed with stones, machetes and metal rods ransacking the area, leaving traders without livelihoods. Perhaps the most compelling account of survival and solidarity came from Mr George Chipeta, a young car mechanic who was shot in the leg while riding a bodaboda on election day.

The injury eventually led to the amputation of his leg. Mr Chipeta told the Commission that fellow bodaboda riders pooled resources to buy him a bajaj, enabling him to earn a living again.

“These are the people who came together to help me survive,” he said. Across the testimonies, a consistent pattern emerged: citizens suffered severe physical and emotional trauma as institutions struggled to respond.

Yet, in the absence of formal support, communities stepped in, demonstrating resilience amid adversity. The Commission continues its public hearings as it seeks to document the full extent of the violence, hold institutions accountable and recommend safeguards against a recurrence.

Victims told the panel that the process is not only about recounting past suffering, but also about securing assurances that such tragedies will never happen again. .

Iringa. The Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Judge Jacobs Mwambegele, has urged election officials across the country to carry out their duties strictly in accordance with the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania and the country’s electoral laws and regulations, cautioning against complacency and routine practices that disregard Commission directives.

Justice Mwambegele made the remarks on January 24, 2026, in Iringa while officiating at the opening of a three-day training programme for regional election coordinators, returning officers, assistant returning officers at constituency and ward levels, electoral officers, procurement officers and accountants. The training runs from January 24 to 26, 2026. Addressing participants, he congratulated newly appointed Commission members and election coordinators from Songwe and Ruvuma regions, noting that their appointment process adhered to principles of professionalism, fairness and transparency, in line with the Presidential, Parliamentary and Councillors’ Elections Act.

He said the Commission expects elections to be conducted with the highest standards of integrity, urging officials to honour the oaths they have taken and to comply fully with all instructions issued by INEC. “Do not work out of habit.

Every election is unique and comes with its own context and challenges,” Justice Mwambegele emphasised. He further called on election officials to engage all fully registered political parties and other electoral stakeholders in key electoral processes.

He also underscored the importance of being familiar with areas where elections will be held, including access infrastructure to polling stations. The training programme is aimed at enhancing the capacity of election officials ahead of the upcoming by-elections for the Peramiho parliamentary seat and the Shiwinga Ward councillorship in Songwe Region.

The by-elections were necessitated by the deaths of the Member of Parliament for Peramiho, Ms Jenista Muhagama, and the Shiwinga Ward Councillor, Mr Lusekelo Mwalukomo. Meanwhile, the Ruvuma Regional Election Coordinator, Mr Athumani Kateula, urged eligible residents of Peramiho Constituency to collect nomination forms for the parliamentary race, actively participate in campaign activities and turn out on polling day to elect a capable leader.

In his remarks, the Mbozi Constituency Returning Officer, Mr Danny Tweve, said preparations for the Shiwinga Ward councillorship election were progressing well, adding that mechanisms had been put in place to ensure all stages of the electoral process, from candidate nomination and campaigns to polling day are conducted in compliance with the Constitution and national laws. Prior to the official opening of the training, election officials took an oath renouncing membership in political parties, a move aimed at reinforcing transparency, fairness and impartiality in the management of elections.

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Arusha. Defending champions from across the region have converged in Tanzania ahead of the Guru NanakMkwawa Rally, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown at the Makuyuni circuit in Monduli District on January 25, 2026. Organised by the Arusha Motorsports Club (AMC), the event marks the return of top-tier rallying to Arusha after a two-year break, the last competition having been held in 2024. The rally has drawn a strong international field, underlining its growing stature within East African motorsport.

Kenya’s Samman Vohra leads the foreign contingent, competing in the only Skoda Fabia Evo entered in the rally. The car, which won the 2025 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, will be driven by Vohra alongside British co-driver Drew Sturrock.

Standing in their path are the reigning Arusha Guru Nanak Rally champions, the Asas Racing Team. Dar es Salaam-based driver Randeep Birdi returns to defend his 2024 title, once again partnered by co-driver Manmeet Birdi in their Ford Pronto.

Competition is further intensified by the presence of two additional Kenyan crews: Jasmeet Chana and Ravi Chana in a Ford Fiesta R5, and Sameer Nanji with Suraj Pala in a Subaru Impreza GC8. The 2026 edition also carries historic significance with the participation of Monica Lyimo, the only female navigator in the rally. Lyimo, who is also Secretary of the Arusha Motorsports Club, is competing in a Mitsubishi Evo driven by Kartic Valambia of Morogoro.

A total of 17 cars will contest the rally over a competitive distance of 145 kilometres, cementing its position as one of the most prominent motorsport events in East Africa this year. AMC Chief Communications Officer Janet Lyatuu said the rally was originally scheduled for 2025 but was postponed to allow for Tanzania’s General Elections in October.

She explained that the inclusion of the Mkwawa name this year reflects the event’s title sponsorship, despite Mkwawa traditionally being associated with Iringa’s rally heritage. The event is backed by several partners, including Azam Media, NSK Hospital, the Sikh Union, A-to-Z Textiles and Milkha Singh.

The VETA campus in Makuyuni will serve as the official service park, while competing crews will assemble at the Sikh Union Club in Arusha ahead of the start. Subaru leads the field in terms of entries with six cars, mostly Impreza models, followed by Mitsubishi with three vehicles.

A single Toyota Yaris, locally known as the Vitz, will be driven by Ahmed Huwel and Rahim Suleiman under the Mkwawa Rally Team. Organisers say the Guru NanakMkwawa Rally is expected to stimulate motorsport tourism, strengthen regional sporting ties and restore Arusha’s reputation as a major destination for international rally competition.

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Arusha. Chadema National Chairman Tundu Lissu has paid tribute to the late Edwin Mtei, describing him as a principled patriot and a public servant who refused to compromise his convictions in the face of poor governance.

The tribute was delivered today, January 24, 2026 during Mtei’s funeral where Chadema Deputy Secretary-General (Mainland) Aman Golugwa said the party had received a nine-page message from Mr Lissu, written from Ukonga Prison in Dar es Salaam, where he has been held for more than 280 days. The message, he said, will be shared through social media and other media platforms.

In the message, titled Tribute to Edwin Mtei, Mr Lissu said the life of Tanzania’s first Finance Minister was defined by wisdom, courage and a deep sense of responsibility to the nation. Mr Lissu, who is facing a treason charge, recalled that Mr Mtei resigned as Minister of Finance after fundamental disagreements with first President Julius Nyerere over the direction of the country’s economic policies.

“Edwin Mtei did not remain silent when he realised that the economic policies he had helped to design and implement were no longer being followed,” Mr Lissu said. “He confronted President Nyerere and spoke the truth.

” He said Mr Mtei openly told the President that the Arusha Declaration economic policies had failed and urged him to review his position in line with changing times and global economic realities. “That constitutional and administrative system elevated the President to an almost unquestionable position and created fertile ground for mediocrity within government and Tanu, later CCM,” Mr Lissu said.

He recalled political slogans of the era that demanded unquestioning loyalty to party leadership, noting that Mr Mtei had the rare courage to respectfully tell President Nyerere that his economic ideas were not working. “With the same courage, he accepted responsibility and resigned after his advice was rejected,” Mr Lissu said.

“He had the integrity to recognise that it was not right to continue serving while holding such fundamental disagreements with the head of government.” Mr Lissu said the spread of mediocrity in both public service and the private sector today only serves to highlight the depth of Mr Mtei’s patriotism and moral strength.

He noted that proposals made by Mr Mtei, which were initially dismissed, were later adopted and implemented barely two years after his resignation, proving the soundness of his position. “The fact that his ideas were later put into action, even after he had been pushed out of office, speaks volumes about the value of his leadership,” Mr Lissu said.

“That, to me, is the true meaning of Edwin Mtei’s long life.” He added that Mr Mtei’s 94 years were devoted to service, wisdom and the pursuit of what he believed was right for Tanzania.

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