Category: The Citizen

It was a viral clip that amused netizens. Ugandan Member of Parliament for Bukonzo West, Mr Atkins Katusabe returned from the West with a strong American accent.

During his speech at parliament, it was as if his Ugandan accent had taken a leave. Most of his fellow parliamentarians couldn’t hide their puzzled reaction to the phonetic-style English.

One raised a concern to the speaker; she complained they can hardly understand him. Some laughed, and the internet went insane with comments, as they always do.

But what is now known as code-switching has long been part of life for the African diaspora, and Tanzanians are no exception. Code switching, defined as changing dialects, accents, and the way one speaks based on situation and audience, has long been practised.

Tanzanians in the diaspora, like many immigrants. This has been a key to survival, a bragging right, and sometimes it is a genuine adaptation to the new life and reality.

At the immigration point at the Mwalimu Nyerere airport, when one stamps the passports as they head to their departure gate. Your ears capture the last few Kiswahili sentences you will hear for a long time while you are abroad.

For many Tanzanians in the diaspora, mostly those who moved to the West, they would tell you that landing in a foreign country and standing at the immigration point is when they truly notice how far they have strayed from home. As a natural human instinct, one would do everything to fit in.

From acting like the train routes and ordering meals at the driveway are normal to them. But the contrast of life is vast, and one would do it all to accustom oneself to the western life.

Some go as far as completely changing their accent to the newly mastered American English. It has always been a topic of heavy debates, amusement, loathing and admiration, depending on who you ask.

Unbeknownst to those who haven’t had the opportunity to live in a foreign country, they might not know the length of time a Tanzanian has to change his or her way of life just to get by. “I was walking in New York one winter morning, and a group of African American guys walked up to me asking where I was from.

I had to use my best New York accent to tell them I’m from here,” one Tanzanian diaspora residing in New York, who wished to remain anonymous, said. In some places, ‘Neighbourhoods’, your accent could save you or get you in trouble; the question of ‘Where are you from?’ is not as polite as it may appear.

One could be asking you what you are doing on their ‘turf’ or if you represent a rival gang, which means they will view you as a threat. Tanzanians across the United States, mostly the youth, have learnt that standing out is not ideal, so most try as much as possible to sound and look American.

It is just one of the camouflage tops that blends in, and you go about your life. Natives can quickly tell when a person next to them is not local, and the language and accent are the easiest giveaways.

Dar es Salaam city, a metropolis with a blend of people from all cultures and nationalities. People from the Democratic Republic of Congo, popularly known as Congolese, have always been welcomed with open arms and hence have made efforts to conceal their true identity.

Tanzania might be a safe, accommodating country, but that is not true for many countries around the world. Saudi Arabia is a notable example, having recently ramped up efforts to deport thousands of individuals residing in the country without legal residence status.

Affecting migrant workers from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Similarly, the Trump administration, which came into office with strong immigration laws, has deported thousands of illegal aliens in the one year since they took over the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Still, many immigrants with questionable legal statuses remain in the country, which has more than 300 million people. A recent social media clip showed an older Caucasian man calling the police on a delivery guy who spoke Spanish, insinuating that he is an illegal and should be arrested.

Such incidents are exactly why some people feel more comfortable assimilating and code-switching just for the peace of mind. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as ICE, has infamous videos on social media making arrests when random people speak a foreign language or look ‘different’.

Some Tanzanians in the United States simply chose to stay indoors to avoid any confrontation with the law, but for those who couldn’t afford to, they chose code-switching as a cover, and they have mastered it so well that it is believable. A fellow Tanzanian would speak to you in an American accent, and you would never know you are both from Dar es Salaam.

Being mocked abroad for being African and being mocked at home for sounding foreign. That is a Tanzanian diaspora life, between the motherland and the adopted home.

In a time like the festival season. Those Tanzanians who find their way back home to family and friends face a new reality.

‘Speak like us, or we will shun you,’ and many have stories of hiked prices after the shopkeeper had them speak with an American accent to relatives, thinking their new accent is a way of showing family members that they are better than them. A true dilemma for the Diaspora community “I remember taking my kids to a gathering, and they kept forcing them to speak Kiswahili with a Tanzanian accent.

My kids can hardly speak Kiswahili. I will never go to the next gathering,” one said.

After more than three decades in the US, he has understandably lost his Tanzanian accent. His children are American-born, but he still has to be cautious of how he speaks when he is with Americans and, similarly, around Tanzanians.

He has to observe his accent and switch it accordingly. A work environment where communication is vital One Tanzanian who works at a bakery in downtown New York understands this too well.

He is frequented by everyday American buyers; his American accent is excellent. It needs to be to do a good job and get tips.

But when he gets back to his apartment, he gets to his phone and video calls back home, speaking all the Kiswahili he wasn’t able to speak during his work shift. His ability to switch between the two languages and accents is what immigrants have mastered to navigate foreign countries while preserving their identity.

Though back in Tanzania their accents may raise eyebrows, and they are sometimes accused of sounding different, the reasons behind it are rarely discussed. .

Angola and Namibia have agreed to accept the return of illegal migrants and convicted criminals after the British government threatened visa penalties against countries that refuse to cooperate, the UK Home Office said late on Saturday. In contrast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been stripped of fast-track visa services and preferential treatment for senior officials after failing to meet Britain’s requirements on cooperation, according to the Home Office.

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that London could escalate the measures to a complete suspension of visas for the DRC unless “co-operation rapidly improves”. “We expect countries to play by the rules.

If one of their citizens has no right to be here, they must take them back,” Ms Mahmood said. The agreements mark the first major shift under reforms announced last month aimed at making refugee status temporary and accelerating the removal of people who enter Britain illegally.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK has removed more than 50,000 people with no legal right to remain since July last year, representing a 23 percent increase compared with the previous period. She added that British diplomats have been instructed to prioritise return agreements with countries whose nationals are found to be living illegally in the UK.

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Dar es Salaam. Passengers using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) were left waiting for hours at Magufuli Station in Dar es Salaam today Sunday December 28, 2025, after services were delayed due to technical challenges caused by heavy rains.

Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) director general Machibya Masanja confirmed that no SGR departures had taken place from morning until mid-day, leaving ticket-holding passengers stranded at the station. Mr Masanja said the persistent rains had triggered technical faults, prompting engineers to halt operations temporarily to allow for inspections and repairs.

“Due to the ongoing rains, technical challenges have emerged and our engineers are working to resolve them. The trips will resume shortly.

This situation is beyond our control as the rains have affected our systems,” he said. He noted that the most severe impact of the rains had been on the old metre gauge railway (MGR), where infrastructure damage had been recorded, including to bridges in Gulwe, Dodoma Region, and Kilosa, Morogoro Region.

With regard to the SGR, Mr Masanja said the impact was minimal but stressed that safety considerations had necessitated the suspension of services until thorough inspections were completed. “We cannot allow trains to operate without first confirming that the tracks are safe.

Detailed inspections are under way, and services will only resume once we are fully satisfied,” he said. He urged passengers to remain patient and to continue trusting the corporation, emphasising that safety remained the top priority.

“Our goal is to provide reliable, safe and high-quality transport. Once inspections are completed, SGR services will continue as usual,” he said, adding that efforts were also ongoing to restore operations on the old railway affected by the rains.

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Dar es Salaam. Stakeholders have called for wider public participation in planned reforms of the Police Force, saying inclusive consultations will be critical to restoring trust and ensuring lasting change.

The calls come after the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr George Simbachawene, announced that the government intends to introduce reforms in the Police Force after the New Year, drawing on recommendations made by the Criminal Justice Commission. In separate interviews with Mwananchi newspaper, stakeholders said the reform process should actively involve a broad range of actors and revisit earlier findings and recommendations to address long-standing concerns.

Speaking on December 26, 2025, in Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region, Mr Simbachawene said the government would review proposals made by the commission, which was appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. “Our colleagues in the Criminal Justice Commission came up with good ideas, and the President directed that they be implemented.

As we enter the New Year, we want to sit down and review those ideas and see what we can work on,” he said. He said one of the key recommendations was to transform the Police Force into a community-oriented service that protects citizens and their property, using force only when necessary.

“The law is clear on how arrests should be conducted. There are minor and serious cases, and while force may be used, the destiny of this country lies in the hands of Tanzanians,” he said.

Mr Simbachawene added that the reforms aim to rebuild relations between the police and the public, so that officers are viewed as part of the community rather than as adversaries. “We must make major changes, starting with systems and mindset.

Police training must be reviewed so that we are not preparing officers to confront citizens, but to protect them,” he said. Lawyer Dominic Ndunguru said the proposed reforms are timely, noting that various studies point to a deteriorating relationship between the police and the public.

“There are reports highlighting weaknesses within the Police Force, including people being charged before investigations are completed, suspects being detained for years before cases begin, and cases being mentioned repeatedly without progress. These issues generate public outcry,” he said.

Mr Ndunguru said rebuilding trust requires reviewing previously documented complaints and engaging external actors such as religious leaders and civil society organisations. “This will help gather views from all sides and enable the development of a comprehensive and sustainable strategy,” he said, adding that short-term measures alone would not resolve deep-rooted challenges.

He also called for the revival of community policing, saying it previously strengthened cooperation and information-sharing between citizens and the police. Another lawyer, John Seka, said allegations of police brutality and poor service delivery at police stations underline the need for reforms guided by stakeholder input.

He said such changes would help reposition the police as a public service institution. “There should be an independent body to assess police performance and build public trust.

Currently, someone abused by police is required to report the police to the police, which encourages a culture of mutual protection due to lack of independent oversight,” he said. Former Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) president Dr Rugemeleza Nshala said meaningful reforms must involve all citizens and political parties and address constitutional issues.

“The changes required are far-reaching and must begin with the Constitution. You cannot start with the branches while leaving the trunk untouched,” he said.

Acting executive director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Mr Fulgence Massawe, said public trust has been eroded by unprofessional conduct, including unlawful arrests and torture. “The key is to reconnect the Police Force with the community and transform it into a service-oriented institution.

This requires reviewing training curricula and ensuring that human rights education is properly understood,” he said. Mr Massawe also supported calls for an independent body to investigate police misconduct.

“Even during the Judge Chande Commission, we submitted these recommendations so that citizens would have somewhere to lodge complaints. An independent body would command respect and promote professionalism,” he said.

President Samia appointed the Criminal Justice Commission on January 31, 2023, to review and improve the country’s criminal justice institutions. The commission was chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, with former Chief Secretary Ambassador Ombeni Sefue as vice-chairperson.

In its summary report released in July 2023, the commission cited persistent public complaints against the Police Force, including failure to prevent crime, excessive use of force, corruption, framing of suspects, loss of property at police stations and delayed response to incidents. It said the challenges had undermined public trust and cooperation, recommending comprehensive reforms, including changes to police training, strengthened complaint-handling mechanisms, enhanced community policing and the establishment of stronger accountability and oversight systems.

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Rome. Italian prosecutors said on Saturday they had arrested nine people on suspicion of financing Hamas through charities based in Italy, in an operation coordinated by anti-mafia and anti-terrorism units.

The suspects are accused of “belonging to and having financed” the Palestinian group, which the European Union designates as a terrorist organisation, prosecutors in the northern Italian city of Genoa said in a statement. Those arrested allegedly diverted to Hamas-linked entities around 7 million euros ($8.24 million) raised over the last two years for ostensibly humanitarian purposes, prosecutors said.

Police seized assets worth more than 8 million euros. The investigation began after suspicious financial transactions were flagged and expanded through cooperation with Dutch authorities and other EU countries, coordinated through the EU judicial agency Eurojust.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked the authorities for “a particularly complex and important operation” which had uncovered financing for Hamas through “so-called charity organisations.” The Israeli prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meloni’s support for Israel during its war with Hamas in Gaza has triggered large and repeated street protests in Italy. Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 people, according to the enclave’s health ministry.

It was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. .

Dar es Salaam. The government’s decision to order a probe into service delivery failures at Temeke Regional Referral Hospital has reignited a wider debate about the state of public healthcare facilities and whether the problems cited are isolated or symptomatic of deeper, systemic weaknesses.

The probe follows mounting complaints from patients and members of the public, aired largely on social media, over what they described as poor services at the hospital, including allegations that X-ray machines had been switched off, forcing patients to seek diagnostic services elsewhere. While the Ministry of Health has moved swiftly to intervene at Temeke, stakeholders say the complaints point to broader challenges across the public health system, calling for comprehensive reforms rather than piecemeal responses.

In a statement issued on December 26, 2025, Minister for Health Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa directed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Seif Shekalaghe, to conduct a thorough investigation into the situation at Temeke Hospital and take action against those found culpable, in line with the law and public service regulations. “In recent days, unsatisfactory performance has been observed at Temeke Hospital, including the switching off of X-ray machines,” Mr Mchengerwa said.

The statement said a covert follow-up by the minister uncovered cases of corruption involving some staff, untrustworthy security guards and service providers who deal directly with patients. It also cited incidents of verbal abuse and humiliation of patients, actions said to be contrary to professional ethics.

The minister warned health workers against negligence and unethical conduct, saying the government would not hesitate to take disciplinary action where necessary. Before the government’s statement, several patients had shared their experiences online.

One patient wrote that upon visiting Temeke Hospital they were informed that all three X-ray machines were out of service. “The doctor told me to go to another hospital for an X-ray and return with the results so that I could be diagnosed,” the post read.

Another social media user wrote on Instagram that many regional referral hospitals are “riddled with open corruption”, while others compared Temeke unfavourably with lower-level health facilities. The complaints prompted calls for the government to look beyond Temeke and assess service delivery standards across regional, district and specialised hospitals.

Broader concerns Earlier this month, during a meeting with health workers at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Mr Mchengerwa raised similar concerns about service delivery at major health institutions. He criticised delays in treatment and cited the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), where three critical machines–the Angio-Suite, CT scan and MRI–had reportedly been out of service for two months.

“MOI collects revenue, yet leaders fail to approve funds for machine repairs,” the minister said, directing Dr Shekalaghe to follow up and submit an investigation report within two weeks. He also ordered the immediate use of a PET CT scan machine at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute, saying patients should not be denied services while facilities wait for official launches.

Health expert Dr Katanta Simwanza welcomed the decision to investigate Temeke but said the findings should help determine whether similar challenges exist elsewhere. “Tanzanians deserve to know why machines are shut down and whether this is happening in other facilities.

Professional conduct, including how patients are treated, must also be examined,” he said. However, ACT-Wazalendo shadow minister for Health Dr Elizabeth Sanga said the government risks downplaying systemic problems by focusing on a single hospital.

“These are not problems of Temeke alone. Equipment breakdowns, corruption, poor services and fear among health workers are widespread,” she said, adding that the government had not clarified who would conduct the probe or whether its findings would be made public.

President of the Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT), Dr Mugisha Nkoronko, said investigations are necessary but must be followed by structural solutions. “Medical equipment breakdown is a nationwide challenge.

There are no alternatives, no dedicated maintenance funds and a shortage of skilled technicians,” he said. Dr Mugisha noted that many machines rely on foreign experts for repairs and that procurement contracts often prevent local technicians from intervening promptly.

For many observers, the Temeke probe is a test case of whether government action will extend beyond disciplinary measures to address underlying issues such as health financing, maintenance systems, accountability and staff welfare. .

Florida. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.

S. President Donald Trump will meet in Florida on Sunday to hammer out a plan to end the war in Ukraine, but face major differences on crucial issues and provocations from Russian air attacks.

Russia struck Kyiv and other parts of war-torn Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday, knocking out power and heat in parts of the capital. Zelenskiy called it Russia’s response to the ongoing U.

S.-brokered peace efforts.

Zelenskiy has told journalists that he plans to discuss the fate of eastern Ukraine’s contested Donbas region during the meeting at Trump’s Florida residence, as well as the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and other topics. The Ukrainian president and his delegation arrived in Florida late on Saturday, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya said on X.

“Good evening, Florida!” Kyslytsya wrote, accompanying the post with a photo of an aircraft bearing the U.S.

president’s surname on the fuselage. Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine yield all of the Donbas, even areas still under Kyiv’s control, and Russian officials have objected to other parts of the latest proposal, sparking doubts about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept whatever Sunday’s talks might produce.

The Ukrainian president told Axios on Friday he still hopes to soften a U.S.

proposal for Ukrainian forces to withdraw completely from the Donbas. Failing that, Zelenskiy said the entire 20-point plan, the result of weeks of negotiations, should be put to a referendum vote.

Axios said U.S.

officials viewed Zelenskiy’s willingness to hold a referendum as a major step forward and a sign that he was no longer ruling out territorial concessions, although he said Russia would need to agree to a 60-day ceasefire to allow Ukraine to prepare for and hold such a vote. A recent poll suggests that Ukrainian voters may also reject the plan.

Zelenskiy’s in-person meeting with Trump, scheduled for 1 p.m.

(1800 GMT), follows weeks of diplomatic efforts. European allies, while at times cut out of the loop, have stepped up efforts to sketch out the contours of a post-war security guarantee for Kyiv that would be supported by the United States.

In an audio message Zelenskiy sent to reporters while traveling to Florida, he called the attacks a ‘clear’ Russian response to peace efforts. Sticking points over territory Kyiv and Washington have agreed on many issues, and Zelenskiy said on Friday that the 20-point plan was 90 percent finished.

But the issue of what territory, if any, will be ceded to Russia remains unresolved. While Moscow insists on getting all of the Donbas, Kyiv wants the map frozen at current battle lines.

The United States, seeking a compromise, has proposed a free economic zone if Ukraine leaves the area, although it remains unclear how that zone would function in practical terms. Zelenskiy, whose past meetings with Trump have not always gone smoothly, worries along with his European allies that Trump could sell out Ukraine and leave European powers to foot the bill for supporting a devastated nation, after Russian forces took 12 to 17 square km (4.6-6.6 square miles) of its territory per day in 2025. Russia controls all of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and since its invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago has taken control of about 12 percent of its territory, including about 90 percent of Donbas, 75 percent of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and slivers of the Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, according to Russian estimates.

Putin said on December 19 that he thought a peace deal should be based on conditions he set out in 2024: Ukraine withdrawing from all of the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and Kyiv officially renouncing its aim to join NATO. Ukrainian officials and European leaders view the war as an imperial-style land grab by Moscow and have warned that if Russia gets its way with Ukraine, it will one day attack NATO members.

The 20-point plan was spun off from a Russian-led 28-point plan, which emerged from talks between U.S.

special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, and which became public in November. Subsequent talks between Ukrainian officials and U.

S. negotiators have produced the more Kyiv-friendly 20-point plan.

Canada, European allies rally behind Kyiv Saturday’s air attacks show that Putin does not want peace, Zelenskiy said to reporters after arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In a brief statement with Zelenskiy by his side, Carney said peace “requires a willing Russia.

” “The barbarism that we saw overnight — the attack on Kyiv — shows just how important it is that we stand with Ukraine in this difficult time,” Carney said, pledging C$2.5 billion (US$1.83 billion) in additional economic aid to Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who spoke with Zelenskiy along with other European leaders on Saturday, said on X that their shared objective remained “a just and lasting peace” that preserved Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while strengthening the country’s security and defense capabilities.

Zelenskiy said he would speak with European leaders again after his meeting with Trump. .

Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine was in no hurry for peace and if it did not want to resolve their conflict peacefully, Moscow would accomplish all its goals by force.

Putin’s remarks on Saturday, carried by state news agency TASS, followed a vast Russian drone and missile attack that prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to say Russia was demonstrating its wish to continue the war while Kyiv wanted peace. Zelenskiy is to meet U.

S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to seek a resolution to the war Putin launched nearly four years ago with a full-scale invasion of Russia’s smaller neighbour.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Putin’s remarks. Russian commanders told Putin during an inspection visit that Moscow’s forces had captured the towns of Myrnohrad, Rodynske and Artemivka in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk, as well as Huliaipole and Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region, the Kremlin said on the Telegram messaging app.

Ukraine’s military rejected Russia’s assertions about Huliaipole and Myrnohrad as false statements. The situation in both places remains “difficult” but “defensive operations” by Ukrainian troops are ongoing, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in a statement on social media.

The Southern Command of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said on Telegram “fierce fighting” continued in Huliaipole. “However, a substantial part of Huliaipole continues to be held by the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

” Verifying battlefield claims is difficult as access on both sides is restricted, information is tightly controlled and front lines shift quickly, with media relying on satellite and geolocated footage that can be partial or delayed. .

Dar es Salaam. Despite the government spending over Sh50 billion to construct the Magufuli Central Bus Terminal, many buses continue to pick up and drop off passengers outside the facility, depriving it of revenue.

In response, the government has formed a special team of experts to conduct a comprehensive 90-day assessment of the terminal’s operations. The terminal, which officially opened on February 24, 2021, was built to improve intercity bus transport, reduce congestion on the roads, and establish a modern system for public transport services.

However, more than four years after its inauguration, challenges persist as buses continue to avoid using the terminal for passenger services. Local residents and entrepreneurs say this practice negatively affects business and undermines the objectives of the project.

Past interventions On May 30, 2022, then-Minister of State in the President’s Office, Local Government and Regional Administration (PO-RALG), Innocent Bashungwa, gave the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner seven days to meet stakeholders and ensure buses drop and pick up passengers inside the terminal. The directive required coordination with the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra), the Tanzania Bus Owners Association (Taboa), and other stakeholders.

Bashungwa emphasized that the government would not tolerate non-compliance, given the substantial funds invested in the terminal. He also called for a review of rent fees for terminal tenants, removal of over 40 abandoned vehicles, and strengthened management of terminal operations.

Following this, then-Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla lifted restrictions that allowed buses to operate from private pickup points, permitting the practice only if buses entered the Magufuli Terminal. Makalla approved five private terminals that met Latra’s requirements, which included toilets, passenger resting areas, food services, and parking spaces, and encouraged other interested private operators to collaborate with Latra.

He also directed the Ubungo Municipal Council to meet with private terminal owners to review revenue collection methods. Despite these measures, many buses continue to pick up and drop off passengers outside the terminal.

Ongoing complaints Entrepreneur John Joseph, operating at the terminal, said buses still park outside instead of entering as required. “It has been a long time since we moved here, but the challenge persists.

Many buses remain outside. We ask the government to help enforce proper management,” he said.

Henry Madenge, chairperson of Mtaa wa Mshikamano, added that the terminal would be far more effective if all buses were required to use it. “The terminal exists, the infrastructure is there, but its usage is still low,” he said.

Bus owners speak out Taboa spokesperson Mustapha Mwalongo said more buses are avoiding the Magufuli Terminal, parking along roadsides contrary to regulations. He identified Shekilango and Manzese as areas commonly used by buses to pick up and drop off passengers without entering the terminal.

“Some buses begin trips and pass through Bagamoyo without stopping here. They evade taxes, and many unauthorized permits are issued for buses operating outside the terminal,” he said.

Mwalongo stressed that the terminal was built at great expense, and all buses not meeting the requirements for private terminals should use the Magufuli facility. Government response Following the complaints, Deputy Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Reuben Kwagilwa, instructed Secretary-General Adolf Ndunguru to form a special team to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the terminal.

During a visit to the terminal on December 23, 2025, Kwagilwa said the team would include transport experts, terminal users, and relevant government agencies, and would work with the Dar es Salaam Regional Office. “Let the assessment consider the original objectives, efficiency, existing infrastructure, services provided, and revenue collected and lost,” he said.

The team has 90 days to complete the assessment and provide recommendations to ensure the terminal is used appropriately and effectively. “Every challenge you have raised has been noted on behalf of the Minister.

Let us give this team a chance to work so we can chart the right way forward,” he added. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s leading sports equipment manufacturer and retailer, JustFit Sports Gear, has officially announced its sponsorship of the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup, which is scheduled to kick off on December 28 at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.

The prestigious annual tournament will open with a double-header in Group A, beginning at 4:15 pm, where defending champions Mlandege will face Singida Black Stars. Later in the evening, at 8:15 pm, Tanzania Mainland giants Azam FC will take on Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

Speaking on December 25, 2025, during the sponsorship announcement, JustFit Sports Gear Chief Executive Officer Hadji Degigo revealed that the company will sponsor all individual and team awards to be presented throughout the tournament, which also features traditional powerhouses Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba SC. Degigo said the decision to support the Mapinduzi Cup aligns with JustFit’s long-term vision of contributing to the development of sports in Tanzania by empowering athletes, officials and competitions at various levels.

“We have decided to sponsor the Mapinduzi Cup as part of our broader initiative to support and promote sports development in the country,” said Degigo. He explained that JustFit will provide awards for several key categories, including Best Player of the Tournament, Top Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, Best Young Player, Man of the Match awards, as well as the winner’s trophy and medals.

In addition to the awards, Degigo confirmed that JustFit will supply official match balls, referees’ kits, and equipment for ball boys, further strengthening the professional standards of the tournament. “We are very proud to support this competition for the first time.

We consider ourselves true stakeholders in Tanzania’s sports sector, and we believe that our involvement will motivate players to give their very best as they compete for the JustFit awards,” he added. Beyond football, Degigo highlighted that JustFit is actively involved in sponsoring other sports disciplines, including swimming, and currently supplies official match balls for the Tanzania Mainland Premier League, underlining the company’s growing footprint in national sports development.

Meanwhile, Mapinduzi Cup Committee General Secretary Rashid Said Suleiman expressed appreciation to JustFit Sports Gear and other sponsors for their support, noting that such partnerships are crucial for the success and growth of the tournament. “JustFit has demonstrated strong commitment to sports development.

Their sponsorship will inspire players to perform at a higher level as they compete not only for team success but also for prestigious individual awards,” said Suleiman. The Mapinduzi Cup remains one of the region’s most anticipated football tournaments, bringing together top clubs from Tanzania and neighboring countries while celebrating talent, competition and unity through sport.

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