Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Athletics Tanzania (AT) has named the Coastal Region (Pwani) as the host of this year’s National Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place from May 29 to 31 in Kibaha District.

The three-day championships will bring together athletes from all regions of Tanzania to compete in various track and field disciplines. Organisers say the event will not only showcase the country’s top athletic talent but also contribute to the development of grassroots athletics in the host region.

AT President Rogath John Stephen said the federation’s Executive Committee selected the Coastal Region after evaluating its growing potential and leadership in athletics administration. He noted that the decision reflects AT’s confidence in the region’s ability to organise a successful national event.

“The federation has great confidence in the athletics leadership of the Coastal Region. Working closely with the regional sports committee and other stakeholders, we believe this year’s national championships will be staged successfully and to the required standards,” said Stephen.

This will be the second time the Coastal Region has been entrusted with hosting the National Athletics Championships. The region last hosted the event in 2015, also in Kibaha.

Officials say the return of the championships underscores the progress made over the past decade in sports organisation and infrastructure within the region. Speaking on preparations, Coastal Region Athletics Secretary Elias Hotay said planning is already underway, beginning with early consultations involving regional government leaders and key stakeholders to ensure smooth organisation.

“We have started early preparations as the host region, working closely with senior government leaders and stakeholders. Our goal is to revive the success of ten years ago, when the Coastal Region hosted the championships and delivered an event of high quality,” said Hotay.

He confirmed that the championships are expected to be held at the Filbert Bayi Grounds in Kibaha, a venue closely associated with athletics development in Tanzania. More than 300 athletes from across the country are anticipated to participate, making the championships one of the major national sporting events of the year.

Beyond hosting responsibilities, Hotay said the region is also prioritising the preparation of a competitive team. Plans include organising regional trials to select athletes capable of challenging for top honours.

“As hosts, we are preparing our regional team seriously. We are conducting selection trials to build a competitive squad that can perform well and aim for championship success, not just participation,” he added.

On the financial side, Hotay revealed that the Coastal Region requires a budget of Sh64.5 million to successfully stage the championships. He expressed optimism that support from stakeholders and partners would help meet the financial requirements.

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Dar es Salaam. The stock of private sector credit in Tanzania rose to an estimated S3.42 trillion by the end of December 2025, accounting for more than 21 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), marking a deeper phase of financial expansion, analysts say.

According to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) monetary policy report released in January 2026, private sector credit had stood at 17.4 per cent of GDP a year earlier. The central bank noted that the expansion broadly mirrors trends across East and Southern Africa, although the pace and composition of growth differ depending on domestic conditions.

“Credit to the private sector expanded robustly by 20.3 per cent. Personal loans, largely representing credit extended to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), continued to account for the lion’s share of private sector lending and remained the principal driver of overall credit growth, followed by trade and agriculture,” the report stated.

Finance and investment expert at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Tobias Swai, said the pace of growth indicates that Tanzania’s credit market still has considerable room for expansion. “With growth above 20 per cent and total credit exceeding S3 trillion, this level of expansion suggests the market could potentially double in the coming years,” Dr Swai said.

“Our economy is largely driven by the private sector, and most businesses are privately owned. Growth in private credit is therefore a positive signal for economic activity.

” He added that personal loans should not be viewed purely as consumer spending. “Not all personal loans are used for individual consumption.

A significant portion is channeled into business activities, which benefits the economy,” Dr Swai said. Assistant lecturer and business consultant at the University of Dar es Salaam Business School, Mr Godsaviour Christopher, said the current credit-to-GDP ratio reflects a financial system that is expanding but remains within a manageable range.

“With private sector credit at about 21 per cent of GDP, Tanzania is experiencing financial deepening while staying within a relatively moderate and sustainable range,” he said. He noted that the significant share of personal loans has helped translate credit growth into higher household consumption, supporting aggregate demand, trade, and service-sector activity.

However, Mr Christopher warned that the structure of lending carries longer-term risks. “The combination of a low-to-moderate credit-to-GDP ratio and a high concentration of personal loans indicates that much of the available credit is directed toward consumption rather than productive investment,” he said.

“Over time, such a credit structure could weaken the growth impact of financial deepening and pose financial stability risks if income or employment conditions deteriorate. This constrains long-term growth, industrialisation, and employment creation, while increasing household indebtedness and potential inflationary pressures if consumption outpaces domestic production,” he added.

Sector-by-sector data show uneven but strong expansion. Credit to mining and quarrying posted the fastest growth at 30.1 per cent, reflecting increased investment in extractive activity, while lending to agriculture rose by 29.8 per cent.

The central bank noted that agricultural lending was partly supported by financing through its Sh1 trillion special loan facility and the SMR relief window, policy tools designed to ease access to credit and support productive sectors. Interest rates on loans and deposits remained broadly unchanged in 2025. Overall lending rates hovered between 15 and 16 per cent, while deposit rates were around 8 per cent.

Negotiated lending rates for prime customers stood at around 12 per cent, and negotiated deposit rates averaged 11 per cent, levels still relatively lower than most East African Community countries. Recent reforms, including broadening the scope of eligible collateral and introducing a price comparator system to increase transparency in financial services, are expected to promote competition in credit pricing.

These initiatives complement ongoing efforts to improve financial literacy across the country. .

Dar es Salaam. As regional markets open up under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Tanzanian entrepreneurs stand at a defining moment, experts say.

With a strategic location, improving infrastructure and a growing pool of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the country has a real chance to expand its footprint beyond borders. But they say success will depend not only on business ambition, but also on how well research, policy and enterprise are connected.

This message stood out strongly during the 20th International Conference on African Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (ICAESB), hosted by the University of Dar es Salaam Business School (UDBS) on Wednesday. While the conference focused on business, technology and sustainability, it also exposed a deeper issue: many Tanzanian SMEs still struggle to translate knowledge into market advantage.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, SMEs contribute more than 35 percent of Tanzania’s GDP and employ over five million people. Yet only a small fraction of these businesses export or participate meaningfully in regional value chains.

Most remain informal, under-capitalised and disconnected from research institutions that could help them scale. Speaking at the conference, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Nelson Boniface, stressed that universities must move beyond academic publishing.

“For the past two decades, ICAESB has served as a critical bridge between research, policy and practice,” he said, adding that research must deliver “real impact” for SMEs if Tanzania is to compete regionally. One of the biggest opportunities lies in AfCFTA, which offers a market of over 1.

3 billion people. However, experts caution that market access alone is not enough.

Tanzanian products must meet quality standards, branding requirements and sustainability expectations in regional markets such as Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Nigeria. Tanzania Ports Authority deputy director general Baraka Mdima challenged entrepreneurs to rethink their business models.

“Digital transformation is now central to growth, competitiveness and regional integration,” he said. Efficient logistics, ports and transport systems, he noted, are critical enablers for cross-border trade, especially for agro-processing and light manufacturing SMEs.

Beyond infrastructure, branding has emerged as a key national priority. Tanzania is in the process of developing a national branding and country-of-origin strategy, including a unified logo aimed at promoting Tanzanian products abroad.

The initiative seeks to replicate successes seen in countries like “Made in Rwanda” and “Proudly South African”, where national branding has helped SMEs gain visibility and trust in external markets. An official from the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), who spoke on the sidelines of the conference, said a national brand would help SMEs overcome fragmented marketing efforts.

“Many Tanzanian products are competitive, but they lack a common identity. A national logo will help tell a single story about quality, reliability and origin,” the official explained.

Scholars argue that this is where researchers must play a more active role. The UDBS Dean, Prof Omari Mbura, said universities should support SMEs with market research, product development and export readiness.

“This conference is not just about ideas; it is about solutions,” he said. “Research should help businesses adopt technology, respond to climate change and meet regional standards.

” Independent economist Mussa Tabu agrees. He said Tanzanian SMEs often fail not because of poor products, but because of weak market intelligence.

“Researchers can help SMEs understand consumer behaviour in regional markets, pricing strategies and regulatory environments. Without this knowledge, cross-border expansion becomes guesswork,” he noted.

Sustainability is another emerging requirement. Regional buyers increasingly demand environmentally responsible production, especially in agriculture, textiles and manufacturing.

Dr Mdima warned that businesses ignoring sustainability risk being locked out of future markets. “Building sustainable enterprises is no longer a choice; it is a necessity,” he said.

Policy analysts also point to government-backed financing and incubation programmes as crucial enablers. Initiatives under the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) and various innovation hubs are slowly improving SME readiness.

However, coordination remains weak. Regional trade specialist Rehema Mushi said closer collaboration is needed.

“We need structured partnerships where scholars, entrepreneurs and policymakers work together from idea to export. Conferences like ICAESB should result in pilot projects, not just papers,” she argued.

As Tanzania positions itself as a regional trade hub, the opportunity for entrepreneurs is clear. But winning regional markets will require more than individual effort.

It will demand strong research support, smarter branding, digital adoption and policies that turn knowledge into action. .

I saw this video online of a mom casually saying she goes to work to relax, and I almost fell out of my chair laughing and crying at the same time. Because if you’ve ever juggled work, motherhood, and life, you get it.

That tiny, sacred slice of silence at work? Pure magic. I’m guilty too.

There are days I finish work early and don’t rush home. I linger.

I sip my coffee like it’s the elixir of life. I scroll my phone while pretending I’m not just staring into the void.

Not because I don’t love my family , God knows I do but because I need a few minutes of being just me, before I transform into the human Swiss army knife at home. And don’t get me wrong I love being a mom.

One of my love languages is acts of service, so running around, making sure everything is fine, and doing those little things that make life smoother for everyone? Yes, please. But sometimes, even the most devoted mom needs a tiny timeout, or she’ll start handing out side-eyes instead of hugs.

Motherhood is not just about raising children It’s about being a full-time manager of life. You remember appointments, meals, moods, school assignments, finances, family politics, emotional check-ins and still somehow show up at work like you’re not secretly running a five-star chaos hotel at home.

The invisible labour is real. Mental notes that never end, emotional availability that doesn’t clock out, guilt that comes with taking a shower alone.

Honestly, can we get medals yet? And then comes the guilt. Oh, the guilt.

Guilt for wanting quiet. Guilt for enjoying work.

Guilt for finding the office printer more peaceful than the living room at 5 PM. Society loves strong women just as long as we look like we’re breezing through life while secretly juggling three screaming toddlers, a partner who “forgets” things, a boss who emails at midnight, and a WhatsApp group that never sleeps.

Work, strangely enough, offers structure. There’s a start, there’s an end.

You complete a task, you close your laptop, and nobody asks why your socks don’t match. Silence exists.

Boundaries exist. At home? Ha! The work sneaks up behind you like a ninja in pyjamas.

So yes, sometimes sanity looks like lingering in your car after work. Or finishing your coffee while it’s still hot.

Or staring at your phone like it’s a lifeline while the house waits for you to return like a Netflix show without a skip intro button. These little pockets of “me time” are not selfish.

They are survival. Motherhood and the hustle do not come with a pause button.

Balance is a myth. Survival is real.

And letting yourself breathe doesn’t make you a bad mom; it makes you human. So here’s a little secret the next time you see a mom sitting at her desk, sipping coffee, scrolling aimlessly, or humming to herself don’t judge.

She’s not slacking. She’s recharging.

Because loving your family doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love yourself too. And sometimes, the best thing you can do for your children is to be a mom who hasn’t lost her mind yet.

Stay sane, sisters. Stay sassy.

And pass the coffee. .

Dar es Salaam. The ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has concluded its primaries for the Peramiho parliamentary by-election in Ruvuma Region amid allegations of bribery, insults, smear campaigns and the use of abusive language, developments that have exposed deep internal rifts within the constituency.

A total of 27 aspirants sought the party’s nomination for the by-election scheduled for February 26, 2026. Among them was Mr Victor Mhagama, son of the late former Peramiho Member of Parliament, Ms Jenista Mhagama. The by-election is being held to fill the vacancy left by Ms Mhagama, who died on December 11, 2025, at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma after suffering heart complications.

She represented Peramiho constituency for nearly two decades, from 2005. CCM opinion polls conducted on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, saw Mr Victor Mhagama emerge victorious ahead of 26 contenders, including senior party officials, former Members of Parliament and retired public servants. The process now proceeds to deliberations at district, regional and national party levels, which will submit recommendations before the CCM leadership makes a final decision on its candidate.

However, shortly after the results were announced, allegations of bribery, vote manipulation and procedural irregularities surfaced, prompting claims that the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) had intervened and questioned several district-level CCM leaders. Following the announcement of results on Wednesday night by the Songea Rural District CCM election supervisor, Mr Juma Nambaila, heated exchanges erupted across multiple WhatsApp groups, with party members disputing the credibility of the outcome and alleging the use of fake ballots.

According to official results, Mr Victor Mhagama secured 3,040 votes out of 8,577 valid votes, from a total of 9,167 votes cast, with 590 ballots rejected. His closest rival, Ms Getrude Haule, garnered 2,913 votes, followed by Dr Joseph Mhagama with 943. Other candidates included Mr Frank Matola (215), Dr Lazaro Kiomba (213), Dr Damas Mapunda (200) and Ms Isabellah Mwampamba (131).

The remaining candidates received fewer votes, ranging from 126 to six, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the contest. Several party members participating in online discussions alleged that the process was neither free nor fair, claiming that vote tallies from certain wards had been altered to the detriment of Mr Victor Mhagama in favour of the runner-up.

They described the alleged actions as fraudulent and called on Takukuru to investigate. No official clarification was issued within the forums, as exchanges intensified and accusations were traded among members.

CCM response When contacted, Mr Nambaila dismissed the allegations, stating that the only valid results were those officially announced by the election supervisor. “I have seen the complaints circulating on social media and received calls from members.

There are no fake ballots that have been seized. Anyone with evidence should present it.

I cannot announce incorrect results,” he said. He urged party members to remain calm and allow district and regional organs to submit their reports to the CCM Central Committee, which will make the final determination.

Takukuru clarification Ruvuma Regional PCCB Commander, Mr Hamza Mwenda, said complaints were expected in a contest involving 27 aspirants. “Where there are many contenders, complaints are inevitable.

Some have merit, others do not. Our responsibility is to receive and assess all complaints.

Those with substance are handled through legal procedures, while those without merit are dismissed,” he said. Mr Mwenda confirmed that the bureau has conducted interviews with several individuals to establish the facts, dismissing claims circulating on social media that arrests had been made.

“We have not arrested Mr Victor Mhagama. He was invited for discussions regarding the complaints and left afterwards.

We have also interviewed many others, while some requested additional time to appear,” he said. He also denied reports that Songea Rural CCM chairperson, Mr Thomas Msolwa, had been arrested, describing the claims as misinformation driven by rivalry among aspirants.

INEC invites applications Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has invited institutions and civil society organisations interested in providing voter education during the Peramiho parliamentary by-election and the Shiwinga ward councillorship by-election in Mbozi to apply. In a statement, the Director of Elections, Mr Ramadhan Kailima, said applications opened on January 20 and will close on January 29, 2026. Applicants must be legally registered, have operated in Tanzania for at least six months, have no history of incitement or disruption of peace, and demonstrate experience in voter education.

INEC has also invited domestic election observers to submit applications between January 20 and January 26, 2026. .

We’ve before us a January 10 copy of Bongo’s senior-most broadsheet, whose Page 2 is carrying a story entitled, ‘Kairuki issues ultimatum on personal data registration.’ Reporting on an order by Minister for Communication and Information Technology Angellah Kairuki, our scribbling colleague writes: “In a STRONG directive, Kairuki instructed the Personal Data Protection Commission to begin preparations immediately for compliance audits across the country.

” A strong directive? How do we measure the strength of a directive? At the expense of being accused of fussiness, we aver to say that using the adjective “strong” to define a directive is least appropriate–rather incredulous! When a minister issues an order, we don’t need to excessively qualify it. Calling it, simply, a directive, would be good enough! However, if you consider it necessary to add weight to the Honourable Minister’s order, we’d suggest his sentence to read thus: “In a STRONGLY WORDED directive, Kairuki instructed the Personal Data Protection Commission to” Page 5 of the broadsheet is filled with an assortment of pictures, one of which has a caption written thus: Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation James Millya receives A QUR’AN from the Amir and Chief Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Tanzania, Sheikh Khawaja Muzaffar Ahmad, in Dar es Salaam recently” A Qur’an? Oh, no! Why, because there’s only one Qur’an–THE QUR’AN–which is the book comprising messages from Allah Himself as revealed to His Prophet, Muhammad (peace be unto him–PHUH).

Which is to say, what the Amir presented to Minister Millya is A COPY of the Qur’an. Yes, just like one could be gifted with, not a Bible, but A COPY of the Bible.

And now, a look at Bongo’s huge and colourful broadsheet of Friday, January 16, whose Page 2 has a story whose headline reads, ‘Kilimanjaro due to welcome some 30,000 Form One students this year.’ In Para 2, the scribbler writes: “The Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Nurdin Babu, said he conducted inspections across the region from January 5 to 10, 2026 to personally verify” January 5 to 10, 2026? Telling the dates 5 to 10 are those of 2026 suggests that the scribbler doesn’t want his readers to imagine he’s talking of an inspection that took place in January 2025! It’s sheer waste of print paper space–or, an underestimation of our readers’ intelligence! In Para 5, the scribbler reports further on what RC Babu said in regard to this year’s Form One in Kilimanjaro schools: “He also directed ward education coordinators to hold preparatory meetings for school openings and to plan the RECEPTION of new students.

” Reception of new students? Well, wellwe aver our colleague set out to say: “ADMISSION of new students.” In the last para-but three, the scribbler writes: “In Moshi municipality, parents were OBSERVED accompanying children to school with FULL school SUPPLIES, signaling strong community engagement” Duh! Let’s not fuss and simply provide a rewrite: “In Moshi municipality, parents were SEEN accompanying children to school with ALL THEIR school REQUIREMENTS” Finally, a gem from the huge Nairobi tabloid that commands a sizeable readership in Bongo.

Deep inside its LifeStyle pullout, there’s a story entitled, ‘We took what the thieves left behind and changed our lives.’ In the first paragraph of the last column of the interesting human-interest story, the scribbler reports: “As time went by, a homeless person noticed there were people living within the church compound and decided to BORROW food.

” Borrow food? A-a! Things you borrow are only those belonging to someone else which you take and use with the intention of returning them. Food can’t be one of such things.

We BEG FOR food when we’re starving and have no money to buy the same. You borrow someone’s car when yours has broken down.

Ah, this treacherous language called English! Send your photos and linguistic gems to email [email protected] or WhatsApp on Tel No 0688315580 .

London/Washington. The United States’ recent control over Venezuela’s oil exports has complicated the country’s debt payments to China, raising the prospect of a major showdown between the two global powers and further challenging Venezuela’s path out of default.

About a tenth of Venezuela’s $150 billion foreign debt is owed to China, which had been repaid partly through oil shipments. That arrangement has been disrupted after U.

S. authorities took control of the country’s oil revenue earlier this month.

Debt experts warn that any dispute between Washington and Beijing over the payments could make it harder for Venezuela to restructure its debt following its 2017 default, and may affect China’s willingness to cooperate in other debt restructuring deals in developing countries. “Even under the best circumstances, disentangling creditors in Venezuela has always been messy,” said Christopher Hodge, chief economist at Natixis and former U.

S. Treasury official.

“Now with the U.S.

controlling the finances flowing into and out of the country, the situation is unprecedented.” Currently, the U.

S. only controls proceeds from oil sales, but those revenues remain Venezuela’s main source of income.

State-run oil company PDVSA documents show that, over the past five years, oil shipments to China helped service interest payments under a temporary 2019 agreement. The Trump administration has redirected these proceeds to a Qatar-based account controlled by Washington, giving the U.

S. potential leverage over which creditors are paid and when.

The U.S.

says China can still buy Venezuelan oil, but not at the discounted rates Caracas previously offered. China has condemned the redirection of Venezuela’s oil, insisting that the “legitimate rights and interests” of China and other countries in Venezuela be respected.

A White House spokeswoman said the deal would benefit both the American and Venezuelan people. Debt specialists warn that U.

S. control over oil revenues could disrupt the normal hierarchy of creditors, complicating any debt restructuring.

Venezuela needs an agreement with creditors to resume borrowing and attract investment after its bonds defaulted in 2017. “If the U.S.

pushes China to accept major write-downs and Beijing resists, restructuring could be delayed and Venezuela’s economic recovery further jeopardized,” said Jean-Charles Sambor, head of emerging market debt at TT International. China, the world’s largest bilateral lender to developing nations, could respond by withholding cooperation in future international debt restructuring programs until it feels fairly treated in Venezuela.

Experts say such a move would have significant global implications. .

Geneva. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called on the Trump administration to ensure that its migration policies uphold individual rights and adhere to international law, warning against arbitrary arrests and detentions.

In a statement, Turk highlighted that individuals are being monitored and detained, sometimes violently, in places ranging from hospitals, churches, mosques, courthouses, and markets to schools and even their own homes, often solely on suspicion of being undocumented migrants. He raised concerns over US immigration enforcement operations, noting that some measures appear disproportionate and should only be used when an individual poses an immediate threat to life.

The deployment of around 3,000 heavily armed federal officers in Minneapolis, aimed at targeting criminal immigration violators, has at times also affected law-abiding citizens and immigrants. The city remains tense following the shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old US citizen and mother of three, by an immigration officer on 7 January.

Vice President JD Vance defended the federal operation, attributing the unrest to “far-left agitators” and uncooperative local officials. Turk also urged that all individuals in custody be granted timely access to legal advice and called for an independent investigation into deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, citing 30 fatalities in 2025 and six so far this year.

He further condemned the routine portrayal of migrants and refugees as criminals or societal burdens, which he warned fuels xenophobic hostility and abuse. .

London. The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), ending its membership after months of warnings from global health experts that the move could weaken public health systems in the U.

S. and worldwide.

U.S.

President Donald Trump issued notice of withdrawal on the first day of his presidency in 2025 through an executive order, citing what his administration described as failures by the UN health agency in its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a statement issued by the U.

S. Departments of Health and State, Washington said it would only engage with the WHO in a limited manner as the withdrawal takes effect and has no intention of rejoining or participating even as an observer.

Instead, the U.S.

said it plans to work directly with individual countries on disease surveillance and public health cooperation, rather than through multilateral institutions. Dispute over unpaid fees Under U.

S. law, Washington is required to give a one-year notice and settle outstanding membership contributions, estimated at about, $260 million, before exiting.

However, U.S.

officials dispute that payment is a legal condition for withdrawal. The Department of Health and Human Services said it has already ended all funding contributions to the WHO, arguing that the agency had cost the U.

S. trillions of dollars through ineffective pandemic management.

Witnesses in Geneva reported that the U.S.

flag had been removed from outside WHO headquarters on Thursday. The U.

S. has also signalled plans to exit several other United Nations agencies, raising concerns among analysts that the move could weaken multilateral cooperation.

WHO officials say the U.S.

has not yet paid its outstanding contributions for 2024 and 2025. Member states are expected to discuss the implications of the U.S.

exit at the WHO executive board meeting in February. Legal experts have questioned the legality of the withdrawal without settling outstanding dues.

Financial impact on WHO The U.S.

has traditionally been the WHO’s largest financial contributor, providing about 18 percent of the agency’s total funding. Its departure has already triggered a financial crisis within the organisation, forcing the WHO to cut its senior management team by half, scale back programmes and reduce budgets.

The agency is also expected to lay off about a quarter of its staff by mid-year. Global health leaders warn that reduced funding could affect disease surveillance, vaccination programmes, emergency response capacity and technical support to developing countries, including those in Africa.

Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation and a major funder of global health programmes, said he does not expect the U.S.

to reverse its decision in the near future, but stressed that the world still needs a strong WHO. Public health experts caution that the U.

S. exit could weaken global coordination in detecting and responding to future disease outbreaks, potentially increasing risks for all countries.

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Dar es Salaam. The High Court for Economic Crimes and Corruption Offences Division has sentenced a Nigerian national, Mr David Kanayo Chukwu, to 28 years’ imprisonment after he admitted to participating in the trafficking of 268.50 kilogrammes of heroin.

Mr Chukwu, 28, was the first accused among three suspects in the case. The verdict was delivered on January 22, 2026, by Magistrate Otaru Joachimu.

In passing sentence, the court took into account the five years and nine months the convict had already spent in remand since his arrest in 2020. Consequently, he will serve the remaining 22 years and three months to complete his sentence. Meanwhile, the court acquitted the third accused, Mr Alistair Amon Mbele, after the prosecution failed to prove its case against him.

The ruling was made in Case Number DCEA/IR/06/2020 ECO 36/2020, involving Mr David Kanayo Chukwu (Nigerian), Mr Isso Lomward Lupembe (Tanzanian) and Mr Alistair Amon Mbele (Tanzanian). The second accused, Mr Lupembe, is still facing trial after denying the charges against him.

His case remains pending before the same court. The court further directed that asset forfeiture proceedings related to the suspects’ properties be concluded within one year from the date of the judgement.

According to the prosecution, the three suspects were arrested in 2020 by officers from the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) in the Mbezi “Kibanda cha Mkaa” area. They were accused of trafficking 268.50 kilogrammes of heroin.

The case has been adjourned to February 23, 2026, for further hearing. .