Category: The Citizen

Since seizing power in a coup four years ago, Mamady Doumbouya has overhauled Guinea’s minerals sector and launched a huge iron ore project, achievements he hopes will secure him victory in a presidential election meant to cap a return to civilian rule. The December 28 vote, which Doumbouya once pledged not to contest, is expected to cement his grip on power in the West African country after key challengers were sidelined.

A former special forces commander believed to be in his early 40s, Doumbouya gained broad support after he led the September 2021 coup against then-president Alpha Conde, who had sparked protests by seeking a controversial third term. Unlike neighbouring Sahel states plagued by coups and jihadist insurgencies, Guinea has enjoyed relative stability under his leadership, alongside economic reforms and new mining sector investments, according to consultancy Signal Risk.

Bauxite and iron ore The country holds the world’s largest bauxite reserves and richest untapped iron ore deposit at Simandou, where a massive mining project was launched in November. Under Doumbouya, Guinea has of its military-led neighbours , and to exert more control over mining in order to boost state revenues.

His transitional government EGA subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation’s license in July after a refinery dispute, transferring its assets to a state-owned firm. Western powers face a dilemma: denouncing democratic backsliding could push Doumbouya closer to China and other rivals, said Benedict Manzin, lead Middle East and Africa analyst at risk consultancy Sibylline.

But a successful transition from coup leader to civilian president could embolden other militaries in the region, he said. “Doumbouya seized power, largely ignored (West African bloc) ECOWAS and domestic demands to rapidly transition back to civilian rule (then) secured his own election while the international community largely overlooked how he got to power in the first place,” Manzin said.

“A near Cinderella story for an aspiring military despot.” Path to power An ethnic Malinke from Kankan in Guinea’s east, Doumbouya trained in Israel, Senegal, Gabon and France, where he served in the French Foreign Legion and met his wife, French gendarme Lauriane Doumbouya.

He had 15 years of military experience when he took power, including missions in Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Djibouti and Central African Republic. The decision to run in the election marks a reversal.

The original post-coup charter barred junta members from running but a constitution dropping those restrictions was passed in a September referendum. Doumbouya has campaigned on his infrastructure achievements and pledged to fight against poverty and corruption.

“The mere fact that the transitional president is a candidateclearly demonstrates that the objective is to retain power,” said Gilles Yabi, founder of West African think tank WATHI. “Nothing will prevent General Doumbouya and the military around him from holding on to power,” he said.

In 2022, his government proposed a two-year transition to elections, but missed that deadline. Doumbouya has since taken steps to shore up support, Manzin said.

Civil society critics accuse his government of banning protests, curbing press freedom and restricting opposition activity. He has also pardoned former coup leader Moussa Dadis Camara, who was convicted over a 2009 stadium massacre and retains support in the populous Guinee Forestiere region.

Under Doumbouya, the Supreme Court faced pressure to bar opposition candidates, Manzin said. Guinea’s most prominent opposition figure, Cellou Dalein Diallo, lives in exile after facing a corruption case.

Ex-President Conde is also in exile and, at 87, was disqualified under a new age limit of 85. .

Arusha. The government has directed all higher learning institutions to regularly review and update their curricula to ensure graduates acquire skills that are aligned with labour market demands.

Universities have also been urged to strengthen modern teaching infrastructure and expand practical, hands-on training to equip students with competencies that match the rapid advancement of science and technology. The directive was issued yesterday by the deputy minister for Finance, Mr Mshamu Munde, during the 27th graduation ceremony of the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA), where 4,821 students graduated at certificate, diploma, advanced diploma and degree levels.

Mr Munde said the labour market was changing at an unprecedented pace due to technological transformation, modern management practices and the widespread adoption of digital systems. He warned that failure by higher learning institutions to align their curricula with these changes would continue to produce graduates who are ill-prepared for employment.

His remarks come against the backdrop of worrying regional statistics indicating that more than 50 percent of university graduates in East Africa are unemployed, largely due to skills gaps in critical sectors such as services, communication, technology and vocational trades. According to a study by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), unemployment linked to skills mismatches affects 51 percent of graduates in Kenya, 55 percent in Burundi, 52 percent in Rwanda, 61 percent in Tanzania and 63 percent in Uganda.

“I am pleased to see that IAA has been at the forefront of implementing this vision,” said Mr Munde. “The Institute has invested significantly in infrastructure, quality teaching, research, technology and responsive curricula that address societal challenges and needs.

” He called on other higher learning institutions to adopt curricula that emphasise practical-oriented teaching and job readiness, particularly in fields such as accounting, finance, procurement, ICT, marketing, auditing, public relations, economics, taxation, banking, insurance, tourism and business administration. Addressing the graduates, the deputy minister urged them to apply their knowledge responsibly to bring positive change to society.

“You have been well prepared. Go and make a difference in the sectors you will serve.

The true value of your education will be demonstrated through integrity, creativity, patriotism and commitment in both the public and private sectors,” he said. He also encouraged them to use the education they had acquired at IAA to drive personal and technological advancement, improve their families’ livelihoods and contribute to national development.

Earlier, IAA rector Prof Eliamani Sedoyeka said the 4,821 graduates comprised 2,810 men and 2,011 women, an increase of 308 compared to last year’s total of 4,513. Meanwhile, IAA Governing Council chairperson Dr Mwamini Tulli said the Institute continued to strengthen the quality of teaching and learning in line with national higher education regulatory guidelines, a move that has enhanced academic performance and graduates’ competitiveness in the job market. One of the graduates, ICT specialist Evalight Mboya, said she intended to use her skills to create employment opportunities rather than add to the number of unemployed youth.

“The value of our education will be proven by how we use it to advance ourselves, our families and the nation at large,” she said. .

Dar es Salaam. Following the civil unrest that erupted after Tanzania’s General Election on October 29, 2025, a concerning trend has emerged in the nation’s digital spaces: a decline in empathy.

Traditionally, Tanzanians would respond to the death of a prominent figure with a widespread chorus of “Rest in Peace” messages and communal mourning. However, this customary reaction is increasingly being replaced by a harsher reality.

Social media platforms have become spaces for mockery, where news of a high-profile death is met not with prayers, but with vitriol and cold indifference. Social behaviour experts and religious leaders have noted that this trend reflects deep frustration within society, driven largely by the social and economic pressures that intensified during the October unrest.

The civil unrest has created significant tension, leaving many citizens feeling unheard and aggrieved. A bodaboda rider from Dar es Salaam, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed that the hostile reactions stem from a belief that leaders show little concern when ordinary people pass away.

“When ordinary citizens die, nobody in power seems to care, so why should the community be expected to show sympathy?” he questioned. “We have gone through challenging times over the past month.

The hateful comments online reveal just how hurt people feel, especially after losing relatives during the civil unrest.” Pentecostal pastor Lucas Stephano suggested that the surge in negative comments should not be seen as a loss of humanity, but rather as a manifestation of unresolved anger in society.

According to him, these reactions highlight issues that require urgent attention. “When people respond with hostility to death announcements, it shows they are angry about something that remains unaddressed,” said Pastor Stephano.

“This is another way for people to express disagreement with what leaders are doing, especially when they feel they have no other avenues to be heard.” He cautioned that failing to address these underlying community challenges could exacerbate divisions between leaders and citizens.

“If these issues are not managed carefully, we risk fostering a society that gradually loses empathy,” he warned. Dr Said Kuganda, a psychiatrist at Muhimbili National Hospital, noted that traditionally, the death of a senior official or political figure in Tanzania has been marked by solemn mourning, unity, and heartfelt tributes.

However, he observed that online discussions now often tell a different story, dominated by accusations of failed leadership, corruption, and perceived indifference to citizens’ suffering. “Many Tanzanians genuinely mourn the deaths of their leaders, but their grief is rarely visible in the media,” said Dr Kuganda.

“These individuals do not dominate online conversations or seek attention through digital platforms; they grieve quietly and privately.” He emphasised that the October unrest highlighted a significant disconnect between online narratives and the realities faced on the ground.

Social media created an impression that activists enjoyed overwhelming public support, but subsequent events revealed that the situation is more complex, with online voices not necessarily representing the majority. This discrepancy raises concerns that media platforms, particularly social media, do not always reflect the true sentiments of the population.

Instead, they amplify personal emotions and opinions that gain visibility through algorithms and large online followings. Minority views can easily appear dominant, shaping public perception in misleading ways.

In addressing how families should cope with online hostility during mourning periods, Dr Kuganda advised relatives to stay united in love and support while distancing themselves from negative online narratives. He noted that such hostile voices represent only a tiny fraction of society–approximately 0.

001 percent–and do not reflect the feelings of the majority. “Families should continue comforting and supporting one another while refusing to absorb the hatred directed at them, as this often occurs during times of mourning,” he said.

“Rumours and negative narratives are common during periods of loss. Families should remain calm, allow the mourning period to pass peacefully, and focus on healing,” Dr Kuganda added.

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Sometimes, you walk into something with hope because that is what you were promised from the beginning. So you give it a chance.

I went into Restore Me by J. L.

Seegars with that same excitement. I wanted an escape.

I got some of it, but it also left me wanting. They say do not judge a book by its cover or its title, but I did.

Let me walk through it. We follow Sloane and Dominic, two characters who are meant to be enemies.

But it feels more like one-sided resentment, since Sloane keeps trying to be friendly with him, without success. Sloane is a widow who has decided to stay that way because she believes she already had her chance at love, and it ended tragically.

In many ways, she blames herself for her husband Eric’s death. Staying single feels like a punishment she has accepted.

And that is the thing with marriage. There are so many layers to it that sometimes you fail to see the other person’s point of view.

“I’m not crazy enough to believe it will happen to me twice, and I certainly don’t deserve it, not after the way I hurt Eric, letting the poison bubbling inside me spill out into our lives, eating through all of our happiness and joy until there was nothing left. Not even him.

” Sloane and Dominic have been tied to each other ever since Eric, Dominic’s best friend, married Sloane. They have lived as enemies from the beginning.

The entire family knew nothing could make them civil with each other. “And nothing, not even losing Eric four years ago at the hands of a drunk driver, has changed the way he views me.

” Sloane is a successful interior designer who runs a company with her sister-in-law, Mal, who is also her closest friend. Dominic owns a construction company, which he once co-owned with Eric.

Now the two are forced to work together for a client who is nothing but a pain. This is where the past begins to creep in, the way it always does when there is an opening.

The past never disappears entirely, not for Dominic and Sloane. They share one thing: parents who cared more about themselves than about their children.

For Sloane, her mother knew nothing about raising a kind person. She cared more about appearing kind to the world than being kind to her own family.

She judged Sloane for every choice she made, including marrying Eric. She never liked him because he did not belong to her social class.

Sloane promised herself she would never be like her. “And she said I embarrassed myself at Eric’s funeral when I cried.

Like I should have been concerned about what other people were thinking about me when I was burying my husband.” Dominic grew up with an abusive, angry, selfish father who drank heavily and had no care for him or his mother.

He would beat them whenever he had the chance. Dominic also promised himself he would never be like his father.

But life tests you in ways you cannot always understand. Sometimes the only thing that saves you is remembering why you made that promise in the first place.

“Admitting to reckless and selfish like my father is one thing, but developing an alcohol addiction is something completely different.” This shared understanding of how consuming it is to fight becoming the worst parts of their parents makes them see each other differently.

It softens the enemy narrative they have carried for years. A friendship begins to form.

They start trusting each other with their deepest pains and secrets. They begin to comfort each other.

Through this shift, the author explores the complexity of human emotion. Feelings coexist.

Life holds dual realities, and both can be true at the same time. “Being happy doesn’t mean you have forgotten what you have lost.

Grief doesn’t work that way, Sloane. Human emotion is more complex than feeling one thing at a time, and happiness doesn’t erase grief; it enhances it.

It makes the knowledge of what you have lost more acute, but it also makes it possible to open yourself up again, to make room for what you have lost to come back to you in a different way.” Restore Me is about carrying grief while choosing life again.

It shows how old wounds shape the people we become and how connection can make healing feel possible, even when we do not expect it. The book may run longer than necessary, but its exploration of loss, love and emotional inheritance is thoughtful and sincere.

People are rarely just one thing. We are shaped by what we have survived, and by the choices we make when we are ready to begin again.

Jane Shussa is a digital communication specialist with a love for books, coffee, nature, and travel. She can be reached at [email protected].

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Dar es Salaam. The government has announced plans to establish a national water supply grid, a significant policy shift aimed at addressing the ongoing water shortages that have been worsened by climate change.

The Prime Minister, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, made this announcement yesterday while laying the foundation stone for the Sh119 billion LindiRuangwaNachingwea water supply project. This project will draw water from the Nyangao River and is expected to benefit 57 villages across three districts, significantly improving access to clean and safe water in parts of southern Tanzania that have long faced unreliable supply issues.

During the official visit, Dr Nchemba emphasised that the government’s renewed focus on water infrastructure stems from the growing impact of climate change, which has reduced water availability even in regions previously considered secure. “Climate change has already affected many parts of the country, including areas with relatively good infrastructure,” he stated.

“This is not a matter of negligence; it is a global challenge, and as Tanzanians, we must respond to it decisively.” The Prime Minister highlighted that the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has committed in its election manifesto to developing a national water grid, akin to the national electricity grid.

This system will facilitate coordinated planning and interconnection of large-scale and small-scale water projects, allowing water to be redistributed to areas facing shortages during periods of scarcity. “Our commitment is to establish a national water grid and implement projects in an integrated manner so that no community is left behind,” he affirmed.

This announcement comes in light of recurring water shortages throughout the country, with both urban and rural areas experiencing intermittent supply due to prolonged dry spells, declining river flows, and diminishing water sources. In recent months, several regions have reported water rationing, while some rural communities continue to rely on unsafe water sources.

Ruangwa, which will benefit the most from the project with 34 villages connected, was the constituency of former Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who chose not to contest the 2025 elections. Dr Nchemba noted that Majaliwa strongly advocated for this project during his tenure to ensure funding was secured.

“I am satisfied with the progress made so far. This is a project that the former Prime Minister championed to ensure the people of this area receive reliable water,” he said.

Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso stated that the project is progressing well, with some villages expected to start receiving water before February 2026. “This project is designed to provide long-term solutions, not temporary relief,” Mr Aweso added, noting that the government is prioritising climate-resilient infrastructure to safeguard water access in the future. As climate pressures increase, the government asserts that large-scale projects like the LindiRuangwaNachingwea scheme, combined with the national water grid, will be crucial in ensuring water security for households, agriculture, and industry.

As water shortages increasingly impact livelihoods and economic activity nationwide, the success of the proposed national water grid could represent a pivotal moment in how Tanzania manages one of its most critical resources. .

Rabat. The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) burst into life on Sunday night at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, as hosts Morocco marked the occasion with a glittering opening ceremony followed by a commanding 20 victory over Comoros.

Before a sold-out crowd and millions of viewers across the continent, the opening night set the tone for a month-long celebration of African football, culture, and unity, blending on-pitch authority with off-field spectacle. Morocco made a confident start to their AFCON 2025 campaign, asserting control despite a goalless first half played under heavy rain.

The breakthrough arrived in the 55th minute when Brahim Diaz calmly converted after sustained pressure, scoring the tournament’s opening goal and sending the home fans into raptures. The Atlas Lions sealed the win in emphatic fashion in the 74th minute as substitute Ayoub El Kaabi produced a moment of brilliance, executing a stunning bicycle kick just minutes after coming on.

His strike made him the first substitute to score in an AFCON opening match since Seydou Keita and Mustapha Yatabare did so for Mali against Angola in 2010. Earlier, Morocco had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot when Brahim Diaz was fouled in the box. However, Soufiane Rahimi’s spot-kick was superbly saved by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor, keeping the island nation in contention during the first half.

The match was not without its setbacks for the hosts. Veteran defender and captain Romain Saass was forced off in tears after just 18 minutes with a suspected muscle injury, casting doubt over his participation for the remainder of what could be his final major tournament with Morocco.

The victory extended several remarkable records. Morocco have now won their last four Afcon opening matches, after managing only three wins in their previous 16 openers.

Additionally, no host nation has lost its Afcon opening game in the last 16 tournaments, a streak that dates back to Burkina Faso’s defeat by Cameroon in 1998. At home, Morocco remain a fortress, extending their unbeaten run in official competitions to 34 matches (30 wins, four draws) since losing to Cameroon in 2009. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou also etched his name into history by keeping his seventh Afcon clean sheet, surpassing the long-standing record held by Moroccan legend Badou Zaki. Brahim Diaz was deservedly named Man of the Match, becoming the seventh Moroccan player to receive the honour across seven consecutive Afcon editions.

For Comoros, the search for defensive solidity continues, as they are yet to register a clean sheet in five Afcon appearances. Beyond the football, the opening ceremony delivered a breathtaking celebration of African identity and Moroccan heritage.

The spectacle featured vibrant musical performances blending African rhythms with traditional Moroccan sounds, including a cultural tribute by legendary band Nass El Ghiwane, who performed their iconic song Allah Ya Moulana. International stars French Montana, Davido, L’Artiste and Jaylann lit up the stage, while stunning visual projections showcased Morocco’s famed zellige patterns and daily life in historic cities such as Fez, Casablanca and Marrakech.

A symbolic football-shaped map of Africa highlighted themes of unity and solidarity across the continent. High-profile dignitaries in attendance included CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Comoros President Azali Assoumani and Morocco’s Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan.

The 22-year-old prince performed the ceremonial kick-off on behalf of King Mohammed VI, who was absent due to sarcoidosis, a chronic condition affecting his immune system and heart. A large portrait of the King was prominently displayed in the presidential box.

With a dominant opening victory and an unforgettable ceremony, Morocco have sent a powerful message at the start of Afcon 2025. As the tournament unfolds, fans across Africa can look forward to thrilling football, historic moments and a continued celebration of continental pride through the beautiful game. .

Nigeria .A final group of 130 kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren freed by the government on Sunday are expected to be reunited with their families in the central Niger state on Monday, ending a month-long ordeal that drew global concern.

The children were among more than 300 pupils and 12 staff seized from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, a hamlet seven hours’ drive from the Niger capital Minna, on November 21 in one of the country’s worst school kidnappings in recent years.

They are due to be taken to Minna later on Monday to meet their relatives in time for Christmas celebrations, President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson said. One hundred students were released on December 8, while 50 pupils escaped in the immediate hours after they were kidnapped.

The abduction caused outrage over worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria, where armed gangs frequently target schools for ransom. School kidnappings surged after Boko Haram militants abducted 276 girls from Chibok in 2014. Presidency spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said in a post on X on Sunday that the latest release followed “a military-intelligence-driven operation,” but did not provide details.

It was unclear whether the children were freed through negotiations with their captors – or payments to them – or in a security raid. Details about the kidnapped staff were also not provided.

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora thanked federal and state authorities, security agencies, and humanitarian partners for their role in securing the children’s freedom. “We are profoundly grateful for their efforts and interventions,” Rev.

Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph said in a statement.

Mass kidnappings for ransom have become a grim feature of life in northern and central Nigeria, where armed gangs, known locally as bandits, exploit weak security and vast ungoverned rural terrain. US President Donald Trump has threatened military action in Nigeria, accusing it of mistreating Christians.

The Nigerian government says armed groups target both Muslims and Christians. It has repeatedly vowed to end the scourge, but attacks persist despite military operations and negotiations.

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Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam Port handled nearly 14 million tonnes in just five months, a jump that has pushed clearance, evacuation and predictability to the centre of its performance test as volumes rise faster than the logistics chain can absorb errors.

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) data show the port processed 13.97 million tonnes between July and November 2025, up from 10.40 million tonnes over the same period in 2024. The 2024/25 financial year closed at a record 27.7 million tonnes, compared with 23.7 million tonnes a year earlier, a 15 percent increase and the highest annual throughput ever recorded at the port. The surge reflects stronger vessel calls and higher discharge volumes, but it also intensifies pressure on yards, gates and clearance systems.

Each additional tonne tests whether gains at berth can be matched inland. When the system holds, traders benefit from smoother flows and lower costs; when it strains, delays quickly multiply.

Capacity upgrades have reshaped vessel operations. Under the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project, the entrance channel and berths have been deepened to 14.5 metres, enabling larger vessels to dock with heavier loads.

TPA says average container vessel time in port has fallen from about 10 days to around three, a reduction that helps shipping lines protect schedules and limits time-related costs for cargo owners. Bulk cargo handling has also shifted scale.

Some grain vessels are now discharging up to 65,000 tonnes per call, compared with about 15,000 tonnes previously. While this improves national supply resilience, it pushes far larger volumes into the clearance and evacuation system in a shorter time.

TPA director general Plasduce Mbossa said the port’s performance is judged beyond the waterfront. “A port succeeds when the whole chain moves,” he said.

“Fast vessel handling matters, but customers experience the port through clearance and evacuation. The focus is on removing time across the entire chain.

” Operationally, Dar runs a split terminal model. DP World manages berths 0 to 7 under a performance-based arrangement, while Tanzania East Africa Gateway Terminal Limited operates the container terminal at berths 8 to 11. Public investment in cranes and ICT systems underpins the terminals, while performance contracts set expectations on productivity and consistency.

For shipping lines, the introduction of Fixed Berthing Windows has added discipline. The system provides pre-defined berthing slots, improving schedule reliability for carriers and allowing terminals to plan yard and equipment use more effectively.

The gains flow downstream to transporters, forwarders and warehouses through more predictable cargo release timelines. Despite faster vessel turnaround, post-discharge delays remain the main risk.

Containers dwell when customs processes slow or when evacuation capacity cannot keep pace with arrivals. To counter this, TPA is pushing capacity inland through the Kwala Inland Container Depot, linked by rail to the port.

Kwala covers 502 hectares and is designed to handle about 3,500 containers a day, or more than 300,000 containers a year, roughly 30 per cent of Dar’s container traffic. The depot is intended to ease quay congestion, keep the port fluid during seasonal peaks and shift storage away from the waterfront.

“When cargo exits quickly, everyone benefits,”Mr Mbossa said. “Ships are served, yards remain manageable, lorries turn faster and importers receive goods sooner.

” Inland evacuation is what determines the quality of the port experience.” Looking ahead, TPA is targeting throughput of around 30 million tonnes by 2030, supported by plans to add 10 new berths and expand automation.

The authority is also working with customs and transport stakeholders to reduce clearance times and hinterland bottlenecks, with rail evacuation seen as central to sustaining growth.For the market, the message is clear.

Dar has delivered a sharp volume surge in five months. Whether that growth translates into lower costs and greater confidence will depend on how well clearance and evacuation keep pace as throughput continues to rise.

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Dar es Salaam. The governments of Tanzania and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop, promote and protect traditional medicine within legal and digital frameworks, a move welcomed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Tanzania has also invited investors from across the globe to invest in the pharmaceutical sector, assuring them of a conducive business environment. Speaking in India following the signing, which was witnessed by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Tanzanian minister for Health, Mohammed Mchengerwa, said the agreement would provide legal protection for traditional medicine.

“We believe that traditional medicine, when legally safeguarded, strengthened by science, enabled by technology, and managed with a commercial outlook, can be a key pillar in building healthier societies globally,” he said. The minister noted that traditional medicine remains a critical component of primary healthcare in Tanzania, with approximately 60 percent of citizens using traditional healers, either alongside or prior to modern hospital care.

“This reality shows that scientific evidence is not optional but essential,” he emphasised. On safety and quality, Mr Mchengerwa expressed full support for WHO’s 20252034 Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine, particularly in building evidence on safety, efficacy, and quality.

Priority will be given to community-based, cost-effective research in collaboration with government research institutions, laboratories and universities. He highlighted Tanzania’s strong legal foundation for traditional medicine under the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act No.

23 of 2002, enforced by the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Council, and ongoing strengthening of institutions such as the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA), and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR). “The aim is to professionalise traditional medicine while aligning it with international standards of quality and safety,” he said, adding that the next step is integration into formal healthcare systems.

“Tanzania is committed to incorporating traditional medicine into primary healthcare to support universal health coverage. Services are already being provided in official hospitals, with 27 verified traditional medicine products used to treat both communicable and non-communicable diseases,” he said.

The government strategy also includes a national curriculum on traditional medicine, training for modern and traditional healthcare practitioners, and fostering collaboration between traditional healers and modern healthcare providers. Mr Mchengerwa said traditional medicine also serves as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth.

To date, 141 traditional medicine products are registered in Tanzania, over 90 per cent of which are produced by local small-scale entrepreneurs under the Health Sector Strategic Plan. He noted that Tanzania is promoting public-private partnerships to strengthen cultivation, processing, manufacturing, quality, market access, and exports of medicinal plants.

“Investment in technology transfer and innovation is welcome to ensure Tanzanian traditional medicine products meet international market standards,” he added, stressing that ethical practices, knowledge preservation, and fair benefit-sharing remain essential. During the meeting, Mr Mchengerwa held discussions with pharmaceutical investors to attract wide-ranging investment to Tanzania.

At the closing session, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of protecting intellectual property and traditional knowledge, while leveraging artificial intelligence and digital technologies to safeguard, validate, and preserve traditional medicine. He emphasised that technology should complement, not replace, traditional healers, enhancing and protecting their expertise.

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Arusha. The case file involving allegations against Anna Melami, accused of injuring her husband by severing his genitals, has been referred to the National Prosecutions Service (NPS) for further action.

Ms Melami is alleged to have attacked her husband, Mr Baraka Melami (40), on the night of November 19, 2025, while they were asleep at their home in Olevolosi Village, Kimnyaki Ward, Arumeru District. Mr Melami claims that at around 12:45 a.

m., while asleep with his wife, she began caressing him and touching his private parts before taking a knife, severing his genitals, and throwing them under the bed.

The NPS is responsible for determining whether a suspect should be charged and, if so, under which offence. Speaking to The Citizen’s sister newspaper Mwananchi on Monday, December 22, 2025, the Arusha Regional Police Commander, Mr Justine Masejo, said the case file had been submitted to the NPS for further steps, adding that the woman remains in police custody.

“At the moment, the information I have is that the case file has been taken to the NPS offices for further action,” said RPC Masejo. How the incident unfolded Mr Melami was initially admitted and treated at Selian Hospital in Arumeru District.

Recounting the incident, he said his wife began caressing him and touching his private parts before taking a knife, severing them, and throwing them under the bed. “She started caressing me at night and, when it became erect, she took a knife and cut it off completely.

She then covered me with a large blanket and began strangling me. I struggled with her until I managed to get outside while screaming.

People came to help and took me to the hospital,” he said. “There was no quarrel at all.

We run a small shop. We went to bed peacefully, and neither of us had any problem with the other.

I have only one child, and since we have one bed here and another at the shop, my wife often sleeps with the child there. When she wanted conjugal relations, she would come, and we would sleep here,” he added.

Furthermore, Mr Melami said that earlier on the day of the incident, they had dug a pit latrine at their home, continued with their shop business until evening, closed the shop, and then went to bed. “I had not removed my clothes because it was cold and I was tired, so I slept fully clothed.

When she came, she covered me with a blanket, opened the zip, and slightly pulled down my trousers. After the incident, as I was bleeding heavily, even when I tried to go outside, she continued to follow me and strangled me,” he said.

He further alleged that after the incident, his wife pretended to lose consciousness. After relatives and neighbours arrived, both were taken to the hospital.

He said that as she tried to strangle him, she told him she wanted to kill him and then kill herself by taking poison. “We had not quarrelled for almost three months.

After arriving at the hospital, doctors asked where the severed organ was. My relatives went back home to look for it, and when they brought it, the doctors said it had already gone cold and could not be reattached,” he said.

He also claimed that on that day, his wife had turned on the radio at a very loud volume, unlike on other days, and that after the incident, even when he tried to shout for help outside, his voice could not be heard. .