Category: The Citizen

Russia is preparing for an upcoming summit with African leaders with a pledge to defend the continent’s sovereignty against what it describes as Western exploitation. Last week, Russian and African foreign ministers met in Cairo for a “partnership forum”, a precursor to the third RussiaAfrica Summit.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the meeting clarified the direction of ties between the two sides. “We have every reason to state that the conference has laid solid groundwork for high-quality preparations for the Third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for 2026,” Lavrov told reporters in Cairo on December 21. “We will make every effort to ensure its successful holding.

” The next RussiaAfrica Summit is expected to take place in July in Saint Petersburg. Officials from Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Botswana, The Gambia, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, Togo and Malawi attended the meeting, alongside representatives from Mauritania, Rwanda, Seychelles, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, South Sudan and the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).

In a joint statement, participants said they would promote a just and stable world based on sovereign equality, non-interference, respect for territorial integrity and the right of peoples to self-determination. “We reaffirm our strong commitment to consistent contribution to the strengthening of the sovereignty of the Russian Federation and African States, and to development of multilateral formats based on the norms of international law, national legislations and other key strategic documents,” the declaration said.

The statement stressed the protection of international law as the foundation of global relations. “We note the inadmissibility of any attempts to substitute, revise or arbitrarily interpret it,” the officials said.

UN reforms Without naming countries, the remarks appeared to target Western states, particularly the United States, which Russia has accused of selectively interpreting international law, including the use of sanctions, trade restrictions and international courts. Russia itself has faced similar accusations following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. President Vladimir Putin was later indicted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes, although Russia is not a member of the court.

Both Russia and the United States reject the ICC’s jurisdiction, even as Washington supported the court’s decision to indict Putin. Moscow said it would back Africa’s push for reforms at the United Nations Security Council, where Russia holds veto power.

“We stand ready to further engage constructively in the well-considered reforming of the UN Security Council in order to ensure that the Council reflects current geopolitical realities, including a including a world characterised by multipolarity, and in accordance with the Common African Position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration,” the statement said, referring to the African Union’s push for expanded representation. “We reaffirm our commitment to contribute to the improvement of the mechanism for applying international sanctions, based on the exclusive competence of the UN Security Council to impose such measures and on the need to ensure their effectiveness in maintaining international peace and security and preventing the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

” Russia and several African countries have been subject to Western sanctions in recent years. The statement said Moscow would coordinate with African partners to seek the lifting of sanctions imposed on countries such as Zimbabwe.

“We reaffirm our firm opposition to the use of Unilateral Coercive Measures as a tool for political and economic compulsion,” the officials said. “We advocate for cooperative, rather than confrontational, relations.

” Tax matters Russia also highlighted the role of multilateral platforms such as BRICS in promoting a more inclusive global governance system. Moscow said it was open to expanding cooperation with Africa in mineral exploration and energy, while calling for economic engagement free from political conditions, particularly in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and supporting sovereign development.

“We reaffirm our determination to reduce dependence on foreign aid and enhance domestic resource mobilisation. We underline the importance of elaborating a UN framework convention on international cooperation in tax matters.

“We urge developed countries to scale up and fulfil their respective official development assistance commitments.” .

Arusha. The High Court, Small Claims Division in Dar es Salaam, has ordered M/S Climate Consult (T) Limited to pay more than Sh146.6 million after failing to implement a contract to supply Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to institutions under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

According to the court, the company won a tender in 2020 to distribute ICT equipment, including computers and printers, to institutions under the ministry. The tender was valued at over Sh708.2 million.

The case, Civil Claims No. 32619/2024, was filed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Attorney General (AG) against the company.

The judgment was delivered on December 19, 2025, by Judge Awamu Mbagwa and a copy has been published on the court’s website. Court findings After hearing submissions from both parties, the judge noted that Sh141.6 million had been paid to the company by the ministry as advance payment for implementing the contract.

An additional Sh5 million was awarded as compensation for failing to fulfil the agreement. The court ordered the company to pay interest at a reduced rate of 7% from the date of judgment until full payment, and to cover all legal costs.

Background of the case The dispute arose from alleged breach of contract signed on November 30, 2023, after the company failed to return the Sh141.6 million advance. It was stated in court that in 2020, the company won a Sh708.2 million tender to supply ICT equipment under the Teacher Education Support Project (TESP).

A contract was signed on April 20, 2020, and the company received an advance payment of Sh141.6 million to prepare and distribute the equipment. Despite receiving the funds, the company failed to deliver the ICT equipment.

The ministry granted several extensions, but the company did not fulfil its obligations. Negotiations through the AG’s office eventually led to a settlement agreement on November 30, 2023, in which the company agreed to return the funds within 75 days.

The company failed to honour the agreement, ignoring several reminder notices from the ministry, prompting the ministry to file the case in the High Court. Defence and court reasoning The company argued that it was forced to sign the settlement, a claim the court rejected, noting that no evidence was presented to support coercion.

Judge Mbagwa said that contracts signed voluntarily are binding and the court has no authority to alter agreed terms. The company’s failure to return the funds was therefore a clear breach of the agreement.

The court also cited Section 73 of the Contract Act, stating that a party that breaches a contract is liable to compensate the other party for losses caused. .

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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Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday — a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia’s longstanding opposition to secession. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy.

In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel. Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.

” The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalising diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later. Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, the Israeli statement said.

Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace. He said Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.

But Somalia’s government condemned Israel’s move as an “unlawful step” and a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty, rejecting any recognition of Somaliland, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. “The federal government affirms its determination to pursue all necessary diplomatic, political, and legal measures, in accordance with international law, to defend its sovereignty, unity, and internationally recognized borders,” the statement said.

Egypt said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Friday with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel’s announcement. The ministers condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognising breakaway regions posed a threat to international peace and security, Egypt’s foreign ministry said.

The African Union also rejected any recognition of Somaliland, reaffirming its “unwavering commitment” to Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity and warning that such moves risked undermining peace and stability across the continent, the AU Commission chair said. Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy – and relative peace and stability – since 1991 when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region has failed to receive recognition from any other country.

Over the years, Somalia has rallied international actors against any country recognising Somaliland. The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.

In March, Somalia and Somaliland denied receiving any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, with Mogadishu saying it categorically rejected any such move. .

The United States’ strike against Islamic State militants in Nigeria at the request of the country’s government has put the spotlight on the group, amid concerns that it is making a comeback after it was defeated by a U.S.

-led coalition in the Middle East. President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, claimed the group had been targeting primarily Christians in Nigeria “at levels not seen for many years”.

What is Islamic State? The Sunni Muslim group emerged in Iraq and Syria and quickly created a “caliphate”, declaring its rule over all Muslims and largely displacing al Qaeda. At the height of its power from 2014-2017 it held swathes of the two countries, ruling over millions of people.

It had a base only a 30-minute drive from Baghdad, and also held the city of Sirte on Libya’s Mediterranean coast. On its territory, IS sought to rule like a centralised government, imposing its interpretation of Islamic Sharia law strictly and deploying shocking brutality including public executions and torture.

Its fighters also carried out or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world. The caliphate eventually collapsed in Iraq and in Syria after a sustained military campaign by a U.

S.-led coalition.

Where does it now operate? After being ousted from its bases in the Syrian city of Raqqa and the Iraqi city of Mosul, the group took refuge in the hinterlands of the two fractured countries. It retains a significant presence in Syria and Iraq, parts of Africa including the Sahel region, and in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Fighters are scattered in autonomous cells, IS leadership is clandestine and its overall size is hard to quantify. The U.

N. estimates a membership of 10,000 in IS heartlands.

Many foreign fighters have joined Islamic State’s Khorasan branch (ISIS-K), named after an old term for the region that included parts of Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. In the Philippines, Islamic State affiliates remain active in southern areas, especially Mindanao, where pro-Islamic State militants controlled the city of Marawi in 2017. What are its goals and tactics? IS has always wanted to spread its extreme form of Islam, but has adopted new tactics since the collapse of its forces and a string of other setbacks in the Middle East.

It is now a disparate group often operating through affiliates and sympathisers. But it has retained the ability to carry out high-profile attacks, which it claims on its Telegram channels, often posting images as part of its plan to spread terror.

While IS militants operating across several regions share an ideology, there are no signs that they exchange weapons or financing. The U.

S. military believes the group’s current leader is Abdulqadir Mumin, who heads the Somalia branch.

Where has it carried out recent attacks? The shooting attack at a Jewish Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach has raised questions over whether the group is inspiring lone wolf attacks once again. The police said IS appeared to inspire the gunmen, who killed 15 people.

The men accused of carrying out Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years had spent time in the Philippines, where IS-linked networks are known to operate. IS continues to strike and plot in Syria, where the government has signed a cooperation agreement with the U.

S.-led coalition combatting the group.

This month, two U.S.

soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in Syria by a member of the Syrian security forces suspected of sympathising with IS. The U.

S. military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of IS targets in Syria, after Trump vowed to hit back in the wake of a suspected IS attack on U.

S. personnel in the country.

IS has expressed hatred for Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, calling him “Trump’s boy” and accusing him of “establishing the worst and darkest chapter of treason in Islamic modern history”, two days before the U.S.

soldiers and interpreter were killed in Syria. IS has also carried out attacks in Africa, showing it still has a global reach.

In October, it claimed responsibility for an attack that a U.N.

mission said had killed at least 43 worshippers during a night mass at a church in eastern Congo. In February, a military official said IS had attacked military bases in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland state with suicide car and motorbike bombs, triggering airstrikes that killed 70 militants.

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Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) has issued a warning of heavy rains for parts of 20 regions across the country.

According to a statement released by TMA on Saturday, December 27, 2025, the affected regions are Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Kigoma, Katavi, Singida, Dodoma, Rukwa, Songwe, Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe, Morogoro, Ruvuma, Tanga, Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Mtwara and Pwani, including Mafia Island. TMA said the rains are expected on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and may cause floods, landslides, and disruption of economic and social activities.

Residents in the affected areas, particularly those living in low-lying and vulnerable locations, are urged to take precautionary measures to avoid possible risks posed by the heavy rainfall. The authority also urged citizens to follow weather updates regularly to get timely and accurate information.

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Rombo. Telecommunications company Yas has reaffirmed its commitment to community development, sports tourism, and environmental conservation after taking part as one of the key sponsors of the 2025 Rombo Marathon, an event that attracted runners from across Tanzania and other countries.

The annual race, staged in the scenic Rombo District on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, continues to grow in stature, positioning itself as more than a sporting competition but a platform for promoting healthy lifestyles, tourism, and environmental awareness. Speaking at the marathon’s closing ceremony, the guest of honour and Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Nurdin Babu, commended sponsors, including Yas, for supporting an event that contributes meaningfully to social and economic development in the region.

“The Rombo Marathon clearly shows that sport is not just about entertainment. It is a catalyst for development, social cohesion, and tourism,” said Babu.

“We have welcomed participants from different countries, and I urge all stakeholders to work together to further improve these races so that next year’s event becomes even better.” The Member of Parliament for Rombo and Patron of the marathon, Prof Adolf Mkenda, praised Yas for joining the list of sponsors, describing the partnership as timely and promising.

“Participating in the Rombo Marathon benefits everyone involved. These races promote good health, strengthen community unity, and help showcase Rombo and the entire Kilimanjaro region both nationally and internationally,” said Prof Mkenda, expressing optimism for a bigger and more competitive event next year.

Speaking on behalf of Yas, Northern Zone Zonal Director Henry Kinabo said the company views sports as a powerful tool for bringing people together while stimulating local economies. “Yas believes sports play a vital role in enhancing public health, strengthening social bonds, and driving local economic growth.

The Rombo Marathon is a unique platform that brings together athletes, residents, and visitors while showcasing Rombo, the Kilimanjaro region, and Tanzania at large,” said Kinabo. He further noted that the marathon also carries a strong environmental message, as the race routes pass through areas that form part of Rombo’s natural heritage.

“This event reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect our land, water sources, and natural vegetation for future generations,” he added. Kinabo also highlighted Yas’ continued investment in communication infrastructure, noting that 4G coverage has been expanded across key areas in the Northern Zone, while 5G services are now fully available in major urban centres, supporting improved connectivity for business, education, and communication.

Yas has pledged to continue working closely with Rombo Marathon organisers to enhance the quality of the event, attract more participants, and further position it as a flagship sports tourism attraction in Tanzania. .

Dar es Salaam. Social and child welfare specialists have explained the reasons for growing acceptance of foster care and adoption in Tanzania, saying the trend reflects a gradual but significant shift in how society understands collective responsibility for vulnerable children.

The comments come as the government revealed figures showing that the number of children receiving alternative family care services–including foster care and adoption–has risen six-fold in the past three years, from just 85 children in 2022 to 562 in 2025. Of the 562 children who had benefited from alternative care arrangements by 2025, 279 were boys and 283 girls, according to the Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima. Authorities say the children include orphans whose parents or guardians died, as well as those abandoned by their biological families.

“This increase shows that communities are beginning to understand the importance of foster care and adoption as viable ways of ensuring children enjoy their fundamental right to grow up in a loving, protective and morally grounded family environment,” Dr Gwajima said. She added that for many years, children without parental care relied heavily on institutional homes which, while necessary in certain circumstances, cannot fully replace the emotional and psychological benefits of family-based care.

While the government views the rising numbers as encouraging, social analysts argue that the trend also reflects deeper social transformations driven by urbanisation, education, religious engagement and increased exposure to global child rights norms. A sociologist at Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Dr Zabibu Idrisa, said the increase signals a gradual departure from the long-held belief that vulnerable children should remain exclusively within extended family networks, even when those networks are overstretched.

“In the past, the assumption was that the clan or extended family would always absorb orphaned or abandoned children. But economic pressures, migration and changing family structures have weakened those traditional safety nets,” she said.

“What we are now seeing is society redefining kinship and responsibility beyond blood relations.” She added that awareness campaigns led by the government, faith-based organisations and civil society groups have helped demystify foster care and adoption, which were previously misunderstood or viewed with suspicion.

Her colleague at SAUT, Mr Alfani Mduge, said the figures also point to growing public trust in formal child welfare systems, noting that many families were previously reluctant to engage with government processes due to fears of bureaucracy or social stigma. “When people begin to follow legal channels for adoption and foster care, it means they trust the system to safeguard both the child and the caregiver.

This is sociologically significant because trust in institutions is a key indicator of social development,” Mr Mduge said. He cautioned, however, that rising numbers alone should not be used as the sole measure of success, emphasising the need for quality monitoring, follow-up and post-placement support to protect children from neglect or abuse.

A sociologist at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Margaret Rugambwa, described the trend as evidence of a slow but meaningful cultural transformation. “Adoption and foster care challenge long-held ideas about lineage, inheritance and identity.

The fact that more Tanzanians are embracing these arrangements suggests growing acceptance that care, love and social belonging can be constructed, not only inherited,” she said. She noted that the near-equal number of boys and girls benefiting from alternative care also points to improving gender sensitivity, as boys have historically been prioritised in some family settings.

Psychologists, meanwhile, emphasise that family-based care has far-reaching implications for children’s mental and emotional development. A Catholic priest and trained psychologist from the Archdiocese of Tabora, Fr Leons Maziku, said children raised in stable family environments tend to develop stronger emotional security and social skills than those raised in institutions.

“A child needs more than food and shelter. They need attachment, consistency and a sense of belonging.

Foster care and adoption, when done properly, can restore dignity and hope to children who have experienced loss or abandonment,” he said. Another psychologist, Mr Isaac Lema from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Muhas), said placing vulnerable children in nurturing family environments early could reduce long-term mental health challenges, provided caregivers receive adequate preparation and support.

“Children who experience early neglect or loss are at higher risk of anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties. Early placement in nurturing family environments can significantly reduce these risks,” Mr Lema said, warning that foster and adoptive parents must be trained in trauma-informed care.

From a practical child-rearing perspective, a Mwanza-based child care trainer, Ms Aneth Christopher, said the increase should prompt greater investment in parenting education and community-level support systems. “Many people want to help, but they may not fully understand the developmental needs of children from difficult backgrounds.

Training in positive parenting, communication and discipline is essential,” she said, noting that social welfare officers are often overstretched. From a rights-based perspective, the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) said the trend reflects growing alignment between public attitudes and Tanzania’s child protection laws.

LHRC’s director of advocacy and reforms, Advocate Fulgence Massawe, said Tanzanian law prioritises family-based care for children who cannot remain with their biological parents, but warned against informal arrangements that bypass legal safeguards. “The State must ensure strict enforcement of the law to prevent exploitation, trafficking or abuse under the guise of care,” he said.

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