Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanians will be looking to Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, as President Samia Suluhu Hassan makes her second address to the city’s elders.

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila said on Monday that the President will meet with and engage the region’s elders at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre, starting at 11 a.m.

“President Hassan will use this gathering with the elders to address the nation,” Mr Chalamila told journalists at his office. He said that the President would be accompanied by government and non-government leaders, whose contributions are expected to be significant in discussions on the country’s future.

“It is a timely meeting. One that restores hope and continues to heal the wounds where Tanzanians have suffered,” Chalamila said, in an apparent reference to the unrest that erupted during and after the October 29, 2025, elections.

President Hassan has previously stated that lives were lost and both public and private properties were damaged during the chaos. Terming the events as economic sabotage, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba recently told editors in Dar es Salaam that the violence was not spontaneous, but a carefully orchestrated attempt to cripple vital national infrastructure.

Dr Nchemba said the pattern, timing and scale of destruction pointed to a coordinated effort to fracture national unity and derail economic progress. “What happened, and the way it was organised, was totally an act of economic sabotage,” he said.

“Even an ordinary farmer would not plant a field and then set it on fire. These are your roads, Tanzanians.

” He cited data illustrating the calculated nature of the violence: 756 government service offices were burnt or destroyed, 27 Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) stations vandalised, over 976 government vehicles, including ambulances, destroyed, along with 1,642 private vehicles, 2,268 motorbikes, 272 houses, and 159 police stations or posts. The unrest has dented Tanzania’s long-standing reputation as a haven of peace.

Speaking during a swearing-in ceremony for ministers and deputy ministers on November 18, President Hassan warned that the October 29 chaos could undermine confidence among development partners, potentially shifting the country towards increased domestic resource mobilisation. “Previously, financing was readily available because there was trust.

What happened in our country has tainted our image, and this is likely to reduce our resource base. We must therefore use the resources we have to attract more funding so that promised projects are delivered quickly,” she said.

On November 27, 2025, the European Union adopted a resolution to suspend 156 million million (around S00 billion) in aid funds intended for Tanzania in 2026. The government, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has since confirmed ongoing negotiations with the EU, with the final decision on the funds resting with the EU Commission. This will be President Hassan’s second address to Dar es Salaam elders, the first having been in 2021, within two months of her ascendancy to power.

Her decision to address the nation through the city’s elders signals the gravity with which the government views the election-related unrest. Historical perspective Historically, presidents have often used addresses to Dar es Salaam elders to deliver major statements defining their administrations.

Founding President Julius Nyerere, for example, declared war on Uganda on November 2, 1978, and mobilised the Tanzania People’s Defence Force to counter Idi Amin’s invasion in the presence of a similar audience. Successive presidents, including Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa, Jakaya Kikwete and John Magufuli, continued this practice.

Mr Kikwete notably addressed Dar es Salaam elders on several occasions to calm political and social tensions. In April 2010, ahead of the general elections, he intervened to defuse a planned workers’ strike following wage and working conditions disputes, famously remarking in Kiswahili, “Akili za Mgaya changanya na zao”–literally, “Don’t regard Mgaya’s assertion as gospel truth.

” That was the time when Nicholaus Mgaya was the Secretary General for the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania and was on the forefront of the struggle for better wages and working conditions. In December 2014, Mr Kikwete used the same platform to announce the dismissal of then Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development Minister Prof Anna Tibaijuka over the Tegeta Escrow Account scandal, which led to other resignations, including former Attorney General Frederick Werema.

Similarly, Mr Magufuli spoke to Dodoma elders hours before the October 2020 elections, urging peaceful voting. Dr Paul Loisulie, a political science lecturer at the University of Dodoma, noted that it is common for presidents to communicate through elders or media editors, who are viewed as wise intermediaries.

“Elders are perceived as less argumentative and, if a matter is explained to them, they can convey it to the public effectively. In tense situations, the president must continue to find ways to deliver messages to the nation through such groups,” he said.

Thus, President Hassan’s address is a strategic move to reach citizens through a respected audience likely to facilitate understanding and acceptance of the government’s message. Additional reporting by Gadiosa Lamtey .

Dar es Salaam. A delegation from the Central Bank of Liberia is in Tanzania to learn how the government has invested in, structured and successfully overseen the operations of the agricultural development bank which has emerged as one of Africa’s strongest development finance institutions.

Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) director of Planning, Advisory and Corporate Affairs, Mr Waziri Mkani, said in a statement that Liberia currently has no agricultural development bank, and the rapid progress achieved by TADB in a relatively short period has drawn significant interest from the West African nation. “The delegation believes that TADB offers a practical and proven model from which they can draw lessons as they look to establish a similar financial institution to support agricultural growth in their home country,” he said.

According to Mr Mkani, the visit focuses on understanding how TADB has fulfilled its core mandate of providing large-scale agricultural loans to thousands of farmers while maintaining strong financial stability. “Today, TADB is not only positioning itself as a leader in agricultural development within Tanzania but also as a reference point for the African continent and beyond,” he said.

Mr Mkani added that the growing international collaboration demonstrates the bank’s role in advancing sustainable agriculture, sharing knowledge and strengthening development finance systems across the region. With its expanding impact and strategic influence, TADB continues to stand as a pillar of agricultural transformation, both domestically and in other African countries seeking to learn from Tanzania’s experience.

In recent years, the bank has hosted delegations from institutions such as the Zambia Credit Guarantee Scheme Limited, the National Savings and Credit Bank of Zambia, Colombia’s state-owned agricultural financing institution FINAGRO, and Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture–further cementing its position as a learning hub for regional and international development institutions. In June 2024, TADB was ranked the second-best development finance institution among Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states following an assessment by the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI).

The evaluation was based on the Prudential Standards, Guidelines and Rating System (PSGRS), developed by AADFI in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB). Under this system, TADB scored an impressive 91 percent, performing strongly in governance, financial prudence and operational efficiency.

.

Dar es Salaam. Exim Bank Tanzania has signed a partnership agreement with housing builder Simba Developers Limited to expand access to residential mortgage financing and make home ownership more accessible for more Tanzanians.

The collaboration introduces flexible home-loan options under the bank’s Nyumba Yangu mortgage product, specifically tailored for customers seeking to purchase modern residential units developed by Simba Developers Ltd, the two companies said in a statement. The initiative comes amid rising demand for affordable housing finance in Tanzania’s urban and peri-urban areas, where many prospective homeowners struggle with high costs and limited access to long-term financing.

Under the weekend arrangement, Exim Bank customers can obtain mortgage facilities of up to Sh1 billion through the bank’s Personal and Preferred Banking categories, and up to Sh1.5 billion under its Elite Banking segment. The loans come with competitive and negotiable interest rates, the bank stated.

“Owning a home is one of the most significant milestones for many Tanzanians,” said Exim Bank Tanzania’s head of retail banking, Mr Andrew Lymo. “Through our partnership with Simba Developers, we are simplifying the home-buying journey by offering flexible financing options and making it easier for more Tanzanians to achieve their home-ownership dreams,” he said.

Simba Developers Ltd director Yusuf Hatimali Ezzi said the company’s residential projects were designed to provide modern, safe and comfortable living environments. “Partnering with Exim Bank ensures our buyers can access financing quickly and seamlessly, helping families move into their ideal homes with confidence,” he said.

By streamlining loan approvals and offering adaptable financing limits, the two institutions aim to set new benchmarks for accessible, high-quality residential housing in the country. It also reflects the bank’s broader commitment to supporting national development by widening access to mortgage financing and promoting the expansion of quality housing stock.

For customers, this collaboration offers quicker mortgage processing, increased loan options, and easy access to modern homes that accommodate various budgets and lifestyle preferences. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is experiencing unusually high temperatures this month, with several parts of the country recording heat levels up to four degrees above the long-term average, according to new data from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA).

The spike has been most severe in Moshi, Kilimanjaro, where temperatures reached 35.7C on November 21, the highest reported so far and 4.2C above the normal November average.

Morogoro, Shinyanga, and Dar es Salaam have also recorded temperatures significantly above seasonal norms. TMA attributes the heatwave to a combination of the Sun’s Zenith position, a period where the sun passes directly overhead, and below-normal rainfall in the affected regions.

The Zenith Sun phenomenon peaks in Tanzania at the end of November as the sun moves south toward the Tropic of Capricorn and returns in February as it shifts north. “This period is naturally associated with high temperatures because the Earth’s surface is closer to the sun than at other times of the year,” TMA said in the advisory issued Thursday.

Morogoro reached 35.5C on November 20, which was 2.7C above normal.

Dar es Salaam recorded 33.2C on November 19 and 21, which was 1.6C above normal, with humidity making the conditions feel hotter than the measured temperature.

Coastal humidity, fuelled by warm ocean moisture, has pushed “feels-like” temperatures several degrees higher. In Shinyanga, the Ibadakuli station logged 33.6C on November 14, which was 2.

2C above normal, continuing a trend of abnormal heat across the Lake Zone and central regions. When asked by The Citizen, Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA)’s Manager of Forecasting Services, Dr Kantamla Mafuru, about the cause, he responded that the rainfall deficit this season is due to the presence of La Niaa conditions, which we predicted before the start of the season and which are expected to weaken towards January.

“This is compounded by sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the western Indian Ocean (along our coast) being average to below-average, compared to slightly above-average SSTs in the eastern Indian Ocean,” he said. Dr Mafuru added, “This configuration significantly reduces the amount of moist air moving from the sea inland to many parts of the country, thereby suppressing rainfall across a large number of areas nationwide, as was previously forecasted.

” Climate scientists warn that while the Zenith Sun is a natural phenomenon, the intensity and duration of heat spikes appear to be increasing, aligning with broader warming trends observed across East Africa. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) had also predicted that during November to December 2025, the entire East African region would experience warmer-than-usual conditions, expected over most parts of the region.

IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre provides climate services to East African countries, including seasonal forecasts, climate monitoring, and early warning systems. However, according to the TMA notice, relief may be coming soon.

The statement read, rainfall is expected to spread across most parts of the country in December, which should help moderate temperatures .

Arusha. The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has pushed the 8th Secretary General’s Forum to early 2026, from the originally planned dates of December 17 to 18 in Dar es Salaam, to allow for full regional preparedness.

In a notice to stakeholders, the Secretariat said “unavoidable circumstances” had forced the change. “Due to unavoidable circumstances, the 8th Secretary General’s Forum has been rescheduled to early 2026, with the new dates to be communicated in due course,” the letter reads in part.

Officials said the postponement is linked to ongoing preparations for the Ordinary Council of Ministers’ Meeting, the Infrastructure Retreat and the forthcoming Summit of EAC Heads of State. The forum, convened under the EAC’s Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF), is one of the bloc’s key platforms for structured engagement between Partner States, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the private sector.

The CDF provides space for continuous dialogue across political, economic, social, health, cultural, legal and security sectors. Stakeholders have expressed understanding, saying the additional time could help strengthen coordination and enhance the quality of regional deliberations.

The last forum, held in Nairobi in December 2024, brought together a wide range of actors who discussed issues of trade, governance, social development and regional peace and security. Ahead of the now-postponed 2025 forum, civil society organisations had already conducted national consultations across all eight Partner States.

Executive Director of the East Africa Civil Society Forum (EACSOF), Ms Lilian Alex, said she remains confident the rescheduled forum will be more impactful. “We remain hopeful that the forum will take place in January 2026, especially considering the possibility of a transition in the office of the EAC Secretary General,” she said.

Her views were echoed by CEO of the East Africa Law Society and Chair of the Regional Dialogue Committee, Mr David Sigano. “The technical groundwork is complete.

The postponement simply gives us more time to refine our engagements,” he noted. Private-sector actors have also signalled their readiness.

Acting Executive Director of the East African Business Council (EABC), Mr Adrian Njau, said the Council stands prepared once new dates are announced. The SG’s Forum draws its mandate from Articles 127(4) and 129(2) of the EAC Treaty, which require institutionalised participation of private sector bodies, CSOs and professional associations in shaping Community policies.

These provisions are operationalised through the CDF. .

Dar es Salaam. A fierce contest will unfold today to determine who advances in the race for mayoral positions in five Tanzanian cities which are under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), as party delegates prepare to cast their votes.

Apart from mayoral positions, delegates will also vote to select chairpersons for various district councils across the country, making it a crucial day in CCM’s internal electoral calendar. The announcement follows the CCM Central Committee’s completion of candidate vetting, releasing the official list of names eligible for member voting.

Some incumbent mayors have cleared the vetting process, while others were dropped from the list, reflecting the competitive nature of this year’s primaries. The party’s national chairperson, President Samia Suluhu Hassan chaired the meeting.

This year’s contest has revealed intense competition, pitting sitting officeholders against challengers, with incumbents assessed on their past performance and ability to deliver development. Speaking to the media in Kisiwandui, Zanzibar, CCM Secretary for Ideology, Publicity and Training, Kenani Kihongosi, confirmed the final list after vetting 1,067 applicants.

“This large number demonstrates CCM’s size and internal democracy. Among the applicants, 76 vied for city mayoral positions and 137 for municipal mayor posts,” he said.

Kihongosi added that 83 candidates applied for town council chairmanships, and 729 for district council chairmanships across mainland Tanzania. In Zanzibar, one candidate applied for city mayor, 34 for municipal mayors, and seven for town council chairmanships.

Key city contests In Dar es Salaam, three candidates cleared the vetting: Omar Kumbilamoto, defending his post, will face Nurdin Juma (Shetta), Saad Kimji and Robert Banangwa. Kumbilamoto is seeking a third term; he previously served as Ilala Mayor before Ilala was turned into the Dar es Salaam City Council.

Shetta, a popular musician, is a seasoned CCM figure. In Mbeya, former City Mayor Dormohamed Issa returns to defend his seat against Itiji Ward Councillor, Godwine Mwakyusa and Benjamin Mwandete of Uyole.

Issa served five years previously and is expected to leverage his economic clout, experience and track record. Godwine Mwakyusa, a lawyer by profession, is serving his second term as a councillor and is considered one of the politically influential CCM cadres in Mbeya.

Benjamin Mwandete of Uyole Ward is contesting the position for the first time, and his economic and political standing may give him the confidence he needs to seek the support of councillors. Dodoma’s contest may be less intense, with former Mayor Prof David Mwamfupe facing Hamza Makamba and newcomer Almon Chaula from Makutupora.

However, local campaigning dynamics could still produce unexpected outcomes. In Mwanza, Sima Constantine Sima and Happynes Steven Ibasa will vie for the mayoral seat.

Arusha will see three candidates, Maxmilliam Iranghe, Matuyani Laizer, and Credo Kifukwe, compete. In Zanzibar, Kamal Abdulsatar Haji was nominated after former mayor Mahmoud Mohammed Mussa failed to qualify.

CCM delegates will cast their votes across the country, determining not only the mayoral candidates but also who will lead district councils, setting the stage for the next phase of local government elections. .

Johannesburg. South African police said they arrested four men en route to Russia who are suspected of having been recruited to fight in the military there.

The men were stopped at the boarding gate in Johannesburg on Friday, police said, weeks after reports another 17 South African men were stuck in Ukraine after being lured into joining mercenary forces with the promise of lucrative contracts. It is illegal under South African law for citizens to provide military assistance to foreign governments or participate in foreign armies without authorisation.

“The arrests followed a tip-off from (Johannesburg airport police) regarding four males who were en route to Russia via the United Arab Emirates,” the elite Hawks police unit said in a statement on Saturday. “A preliminary investigation revealed that a South African female had allegedly been facilitating the travel and recruitment of these individuals into the Russian Federation military,” it added.

The Hawks said the four suspects are expected to appear in court on Monday on suspicion of contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into how the 17 men ended up fighting in Ukraine, amid ongoing efforts to bring them home.

Police have also said they will investigate Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, who was accused by her half-sister of being involved in luring those men to Russia under false pretences. Zuma-Sambudla resigned as a member of parliament on Friday, but has not publicly responded to the allegations.

.

Arusha. Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, has urged Tanzanians to document their own life stories, saying that biographies of the nation’s founders could have provided invaluable guidance during times of national turbulence.

Prof Kabudi made the remarks at the weekend in Arusha during the launch of a 146-page biography of former Regional Commissioner, Ambassador Daniel Ole Njolai. The book details his public service career and personal history, including his upbringing in a Maasai pastoralist family and how he overcame challenges to obtain an education at a time when schooling for Maasai children was largely imposed by the government.

“The Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, left us a great loss by not writing his own biography. Many have written about him, but I wish he had done it himself,” Prof Kabudi said.

He said that Nyerere’s personal account would have served as a compass for the nation, particularly during challenging periods, offering lessons on how to navigate crises. “Many assume Mwalimu led without turbulence, but he faced challenges.

Had he documented them, it would have guided us through the storms we face today,” he said. Prof Kabudi encouraged Tanzanians to cultivate a culture of writing their own biographies to leave lessons for future generations.

“Everyone here should write their own story. No life experience is without value for the generations to come.

Let us leave a legacy, just as our brother Ambassador Ole Njolai has done,” he said. He added that biographies provide insights into overcoming challenges and navigating national transitions, praising Ambassador Ole Njolai for his courage in documenting his life and public service.

“Those who will become regional commissioners or ambassadors in 20 to 30 years will have a valuable reference. Your biography will guide them,” he said.

The minister also noted that the book will be acquired by the National Library and distributed widely for public reading. In the biography, Ambassador Ole Njolai recounts spending three years writing it, reflecting on his public service career, personal history, and the challenges of accessing education as a Maasai child.

Despite these obstacles, he persevered and successfully completed his studies. He described his rise to leadership roles as almost miraculous, emphasising that he never relied on a ‘godfather’ but was recognised and entrusted based on his own merit.

“I won the NEC (Youth) election at 29, despite being a newcomer in the party. That victory started my journey, eventually leading to a 16-year tenure as Regional Commissioner, which I consider a miracle in my life,” he said.

Ole Njolai added that the greatest satisfaction in his service was seeing citizens appreciate his work, motivating him to write the book so young leaders can learn from the experiences of those who have served in public office. .

Moscow. Kazakhstan told Ukraine on Sunday to stop attacking the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which handles more than 1% of global oil, after a major drone attack halted exports and seriously damaged loading infrastructure.

The CPC, which includes Russian, Kazakh and U.S.

shareholders, said it had halted operations after a mooring at its Russian terminal on the Black Sea was significantly damaged by a Ukrainian naval drone attack. Ukraine this year mounted wave after wave of attacks on Russia’s oil refineries and crude oil terminals in an attempt to undermine one of the most important sources of income for the Russian war economy.

Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry said the drone attacks were the third such attack on what it called “an exclusively civilian facility whose operation is safeguarded by norms of international law.” Kazakhstan “expresses its protest over yet another deliberate attack on the critical infrastructure of the international Caspian Pipeline Consortium in the waters of the Port of Novorossiysk,” the ministry said.

“We view what has occurred as an action harming the bilateral relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ukraine, and we expect the Ukrainian side to take effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.” There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

CPC accounts for about 80% of oil exports from OPEC+ member Kazakhstan, which exported about 68.6 million tons of oil last year. It brings crude from the Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan fields of Kazakhstan to the Yuzhnaya Ozereevka terminal at Novorossiysk.

CPC’s main suppliers are fields in Kazakhstan but it also collects crude from Russian producers. The CPC’s 1,500 km (930 mile) pipeline includes Russian, Kazakhstan’s state-owned KazMunayGas, and units of Chevron (CVX.

N), opens new tab, Russia’s Lukoil (LKOH.MM), opens new tab and ExxonMobil as shareholders.

‘I feel so sad then I came here in solidarity with the victims as well as we want to show the Hong Kong community that we are one in this situation.’ CPC said on Saturday that a November 29 naval drone attack on its terminal had “significantly damaged” Single-Point Mooring (SPM) 2 – essentially a floating buoy which connects to tankers to load oil.

“Further operation of Single Point Mooring 2 is not possible,” CPC said. “Loading operations and other operations were stopped (and) tankers were withdrawn from the CPC water area.

” “We believe that the attack on the CPC is an attack on the interests of the CPC member countries,” CPC said. Ukraine says its attacks on infrastructure deep inside Russia are justified as it is fighting for its existence in what it casts as an imperial-style war launched by Russia which has targeted Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of winter.

Russian officials say the Ukrainian attacks amount to terrorism and that European powers are now engaged in a hybrid war against Russia, which includes using Western intelligence agencies to help Kyiv target infrastructure deep inside Russia. .

Moshi. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMC) plans to establish a DNA bank to strengthen research and innovation across health disciplines, keeping pace with global advances in science and technology.

The announcement was made by the college council chairman, Prof Lughano Kusiluka, during the first graduation ceremony since KCMC was officially recognised as a university. The ceremony, held on the college grounds, saw 559 graduates awarded qualifications across various health fields.

“As a university, our goal is to improve research standards, foster innovation, and enhance advisory and community services in our areas of expertise. We also aim to establish a DNA bank, following practices already implemented in other parts of the world,” said Prof Kusiluka.

He said that the college will continue to ensure that its education is respected both in Tanzania and abroad. “We will ensure our graduates are not only credentialed but highly skilled, recognised for their expertise rather than just certificates.

Certificates may come later, but first, we focus on the skills and how they shape their professions,” he said. Addressing the graduates, Prof Kusiluka urged them to uphold professional ethics and demonstrate competence in delivering healthcare services.

“We congratulate all graduates. The journey was not easy, but you have arrived ready to serve.

Carry the KCMC flag high, respect professional ethics, and demonstrate excellence so that many people recover and enjoy good health for that is our pride,” he said. He also reminded graduates that the nation has invested in them and relies on them to deliver quality healthcare services.

KCMC Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ephata Kaaya, said the graduates completed programmes across 22 health disciplines, with 559 students qualifying. “Of these, 14 earned diplomas, 402 first degrees, 135 master’s degrees and eight doctoral degrees,” said Prof Kaaya.

He noted that in the 2024/2025 academic year, 246 male graduates (44 percent) and 300 female graduates (56 percent) graduated, compared with last year when female graduates were 52 percent and male 48 percent. Prof Kaaya said that KCMC had successfully published seven articles in high-impact international journals during the academic year, highlighting the college’s significant academic progress.

.