Category: The Citizen

African countries are turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and digital security systems to combat increasingly sophisticated examination malpractice.

This development follows calls from education authorities, who warn that traditional measures are no longer sufficient to keep pace with tech-driven forms of cheating.

Furthermore, examination bodies across the continent have been urged to invest in AI-powered tools capable of detecting suspicious patterns and vulnerabilities throughout the assessment cycle, from question setting to results publication.

The call was made on Monday, August 17, 2026, during the opening of the 42nd Annual Conference of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA).

The event takes place in Arusha from August 17 to 21 under the theme: Strengthening educational assessment in an era of rapid technological change.

The four-day conference has brought together over 350 delegates from 28 African nations and across the globe, including ministry officials, examination councils, and assessment experts.

Hosted by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA), the meeting is evaluating how African assessment systems can adapt to emerging technologies, particularly the rapid growth of AI.

Opening the conference on behalf of Education, Science and Technology Minister Prof Adolf Mkenda, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Prof Carolyne Nombo, said conventional methods used to safeguard examinations were no longer adequate.

She cited smartphones, social media, and AI-powered technologies as key tools that have transformed examination cheating.

Prof Nombo stated that malpractice is no longer limited to candidates bringing unauthorised materials into halls, but occurs across different stages via digital platforms.

‘Examination security should not end with preventing a candidate from entering an examination room with prohibited materials. It must begin from question preparation and continue through to the release of results,’ she said.

She added that security must encompass printing, transportation, storage, administration, marking, data processing, and publication of results.

‘As technology advances, examination malpractice is also becoming more sophisticated, with smartphones, social media, and AI emerging among the challenges requiring new security systems,’ she noted.

However, rather than viewing technology solely as a threat, Prof Nombo said African nations should leverage it to enhance security.

She urged assessment bodies to invest in robust digital security systems, data analytics, and AI tools that can identify unusual patterns and potential indicators of cheating.

‘I therefore urge examination bodies across Africa to invest in robust digital security systems, data analytics, and AI-powered tools capable of detecting indicators of malpractice and weaknesses in the examination process,’ she urged.

AEAA President, Dr Eshetu Kebede Gichoro, noted that investing in technology alone is insufficient without clear policies and guidelines governing AI use in educational assessment.

He said frameworks must address ethics, transparency, data protection, equality, and fairness for all learners.

Dr Gichoro highlighted that AI offers major opportunities, including adaptive examinations that respond to individual learner abilities, predictive analytics, and personalised learning pathways.

However, he warned that the technology raises concerns regarding data ownership, equity, and ethics, particularly as many African countries rely on external systems.

‘If Africa does not build independent assessment systems that integrate technology, we risk becoming users of systems imported from elsewhere, which may not reflect our realities or serve our aspirations,’ he cautioned.

He called on African nations to build home-grown assessment technologies whilst establishing policies to guarantee responsible deployment.

Technology must not widen education gap

For his part, National Examination Council of Tanzania (Necta) executive secretary, Prof Said Ally Mohamed, said the conference is evaluating how assessment systems can adapt to AI and other emerging technologies.

He noted that the meeting provides a platform for global experts to share research, experiences, and innovations aimed at improving educational assessment.

‘Beyond examination security, the conference will also examine how data generated through assessment can be used to improve the quality of education,’ said Prof Mohamed.

He added that discussions will focus on ensuring technological advancements do not marginalise learners in economically disadvantaged communities, rural areas, or vulnerable groups.

The conference is expected to yield practical solutions for African education stakeholders, making assessment systems secure, technology-driven, and inclusive, whilst ensuring AI integration upholds fairness and integrity in education.

Research and development, science, technology and innovation, digital technologies, energy, and transport and connectivity have been identified as five critical pillars through which Tanzania can accelerate the achievement of its long-term development ambitions.

The pillars put education at the centre of the country’s next 25-year journey.

The five areas will form part of the discussions during this year’s National Education, Skills and Innovation Week, which seeks to bring together government, researchers, scientists, innovators, the private sector, industry and other stakeholders to examine how education and knowledge can drive development.

The exhibitions started on Saturday at Usagara Secondary School in Tanga, while the official opening will take place on August 18, with activities continuing until August 24.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology says the gathering provides an opportunity to bring together sectors that are often discussed separately but are closely connected when it comes to national development.

Giving an update on preparations yesterday, the ministry’s Director of Science and Technology, Prof Ladislous Mnyone, said the five pillars were particularly important in the implementation of Tanzania’s long-term development agenda. ‘There are five tools. The first is research and development. The second is science, technology and innovation. The third is digital technologies. Another is energy, and the last is transport and connectivity,’ Prof Mnyone said.

He said most of the areas were supported by research, science, technology and digital technologies, giving the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology an important role in ensuring that they contribute to the country’s development. ‘If you look at all these, to a large extent they are carried by research and development, they are carried by science and technology, and they are carried by digital technologies,’ he said. This is where the significance of the week comes in. Rather than discussing education, research, innovation, industry and technology as separate subjects, the week creates a common platform where stakeholders can examine how the five pillars interact and how they can collectively contribute to Vision 2050.

Prof Mnyone said the main objective was ‘to bring stakeholders from different sectors and different groups together so that they can have discussions and reach common resolutions and joint strategies on issues of education, skills and innovation.’ He said the three areas affected every sector and every citizen.

‘This is because if you look at all these three issues, they touch every sector, they touch every group and they touch every citizen,’ he said.

For education expert Dr Thomas Jabir, this broad approach is important as Tanzania enters what could be one of the most consequential 25-year periods in its development history.

‘You cannot build the Tanzania of the next 25 years by allowing education, industry, research and government to work in isolation. The solutions we need must come from collaboration,’ Dr Jabir said. He said the week creates an opportunity for different sectors to understand what others are doing, identify gaps and explore ways of taking promising innovations from research institutions and classrooms into the economy.

That connection will be visible through the technology exhibitions, where innovations are expected to demonstrate solutions addressing challenges in education, health, water, mining and other sectors.

Industry and private-sector players have also been invited to witness solutions being developed by young people through technology and innovation, potentially creating opportunities for partnerships, commercialisation, employment and further skills development.

Education as the connector

The inclusion of all levels of education this year-from basic education and skills development to higher education-is another important component of the week.

Education expert Dr Mwajuma Ally said this was significant because Tanzania needed to see education as one connected system rather than separate levels operating independently.

‘We need to look at education as one ecosystem. What a child learns at school, the skills developed through vocational education and training, and the knowledge generated at universities must ultimately connect with the needs of society and the economy,’ Dr Ally said.

The skills component will also feature competitions involving vocational and technical training institutions. Prof Mnyone said the competitions would help prepare young Tanzanians for regional and international skills competitions while giving them opportunities to meet potential employers.

‘This will give our young people an opportunity to meet different stakeholders who can perhaps help them in terms of employment. They will also get opportunities to go to places that can help them improve their skills,’ he said.

Artificial intelligence tools are giving cybercriminals skills they never had, and several recent reports show how fast the danger is growing.

Bad guys are using modified AI tools like ‘GhostGPT’ to write code, build fake websites, and craft perfect scam messages without any technical background.

The typos and bad grammar that used to give scammers away are gone. They use deepfake video software to trick bank security systems and run massive fake accounts.

These tools scrape social media profiles to steal photos and voice clips, creating fake identities that can bypass standard identity checks.

Kenya, as usual, sits right in the middle of this digital storm. Deepfake videos of well-known politicians have been circulating online, luring unsuspecting citizens into crypto scams. At the same time, hackers broke into President William Ruto’s official website and demanded a Bitcoin payment.

Next door in Tanzania, fraudsters fabricated a deepfake of a government official issuing a false disaster warning during the Dar es Salaam floods, and the panic that followed was real enough.

In Uganda, criminals are pairing AI tools with stolen national ID details to hijack SIM lines and empty mobile money accounts before the owner even notices.

It all reads like a horror story, yet there is a stubborn pattern in how societies mature. Crime, terrorism and full-blown crises have a peculiar way of forcing nations to grow up faster than most 10-year development plans ever could.

Consider what followed the 1998 US Embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. That single, horrific morning dragged East Africa’s entire border security apparatus into the modern age almost overnight.

Paper ledgers gave way to digital fingerprint scanners, scattered records were pulled into computerised intelligence databases, and border officers who had spent whole careers writing visitor names by hand were suddenly being retrained on new technology.

Roughly a decade later, the 2007 post-election violence closed major highways, torched shops and shut down bank branches across the country. Families needed a way to reach relatives trapped behind roadblocks, and hand-delivered cash was no longer an option.

That desperation is what pushed a fledgling two-year-old M-Pesa from a modest experiment in sharing airtime between friends into the global mobile money backbone it is today. Once branches were burning and roads were cut by ethnic militias, moving money by text stopped being a novelty and became survival.

The Westgate Mall and Garissa University attacks forced a similar reckoning. Kenya built a central cyber intelligence unit, assembled digital threat-response teams, and deployed thousands of smart cameras with facial and number-plate recognition across Nairobi and Mombasa.

Now a stranger threat is emerging. Boko Haram in Nigeria and various jihadist outfits scattered across the Sahel have discovered Elon Musk’s Starlink, running entire operations from deep inside forests and deserts that no cell tower ever reached.

They stream propaganda, coordinate ambushes and run networks beyond the reach of any telecom operator a government could pressure.

In Sudan, armed factions kept Starlink dishes running despite the country’s phone networks going dark. Fighters now carry small satellite terminals into remote hideouts, making encrypted calls, tracking troop movements, and broadcasting straight to the internet without ever touching the local networks that police would normally monitor.

That is forcing governments and banks to catch up quickly. Militaries are creating satellite-tracking units, and African banks are racing to deploy AI systems to catch fraud in real time. Security forces across West Africa and the Horn are forming spectrum-monitoring teams to spot unauthorised satellite signals.

At the same time, it’s been reported that major banks across Kenya and East Africa are rolling out machine-learning models that watch customer behaviour, flag takeovers within milliseconds, and freeze stolen funds before they can be cashed out.

Left to their own devices, without these threats breathing down their necks, the state and the private sector would probably have stayed comfortable, clinging to old systems and endlessly postponing the hard investments.

But that is how it works here: every time criminals get cleverer, the rest of society is dragged, kicking and complaining, into getting cleverer too.

Each fresh nightmare, however unwelcome, quietly becomes the engine for the next leap forward.

Golfers from across East Africa will converge at the Kilimanjaro Worldlife and Golf Estate from September 4 to 6 for the Sterling Invitational, a three-day tournament expected to bring together some of the region’s leading amateur and senior players.

The competition, sponsored by Sterling Surfactant Limited and organised by Madina Idd, will feature 80 golfers from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, providing a platform for players to compete at a high level while strengthening regional ties through sport.

The tournament will be played under the stroke-play format, with competitors completing 18 holes each day. It will feature Championship/Silver and Division B categories, as well as senior men’s and ladies’ competitions.

Players in the Championship/Silver category will have a handicap index of five and below, while Division B will comprise golfers with a handicap index of 5.1 and above. About 50 golfers will compete in the two main categories over the three days.

Senior men and ladies will also take part on September 5 and 6, with 30 players expected to compete in the two categories. Madina said the tournament was designed to provide an inclusive but competitive environment for golfers of different levels while creating opportunities for players to gain valuable exposure.

‘We are delighted to welcome golfers from across East Africa to participate in the Sterling Invitational. Our aim is to provide a competitive yet friendly environment where players can showcase their talent, improve their game and build lasting relationships,’ she said. The tournament will also attract defending champion Ashley Awuor, who is expected to return to the Kilimanjaro course determined to retain the title she won last year.

Her participation adds another layer of excitement to a competition that organisers hope will attract attention beyond Tanzania, particularly because of its international ranking status.

The Sterling Invitational is recognised under the R and A and has been registered with the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), meaning eligible players will have an opportunity to earn valuable world ranking points through their performances.

For the ladies, the competition will cover 54 holes, while senior golfers will play 36 holes. The format is expected to test players’ consistency, course management, concentration and ability to handle pressure over multiple rounds.

Madina said the tournament’s regional character was important in promoting the growth of golf and creating stronger connections among players from East African countries.

‘Golf is not only about competition. It is also about sportsmanship, friendship and sharing experience. Bringing players from different countries together allows them to learn from one another and helps raise the standard of the sport across the region,’ she said.

The choice of the Kilimanjaro Worldlife and Golf Estate is also expected to add to the appeal of the event. The course provides a demanding setting in which players must combine accuracy, tactical thinking and consistency to post competitive scores.

Organisers said spectators and golf enthusiasts will have an opportunity to watch established players alongside emerging talent as they battle for honours in the different categories.

The tournament is also expected to serve as a networking platform, allowing participants to exchange ideas, discuss techniques and build relationships that could contribute to the continued development of golf in East Africa.

With 80 golfers representing Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, the Sterling Invitational promises three days of competitive golf, regional camaraderie and an opportunity for players to make their mark on the international amateur rankings.

For the defending champion Awuor, however, the immediate challenge will be even more direct: maintaining her title against a field determined to take it away.

A man’s bid to claim Sh40 million in compensation from his ex-wife for allegedly concealing a pregnancy by another man before their 1997 wedding has failed after the High Court dismissed his appeal.

Mr Omary Mgana sought Sh10 million for pregnancy and delivery expenses, alongside Sh30 million spent raising and educating the child over 24 years.

He also requested an order to remove his surname from the child’s official documents, claiming he only discovered he was not the biological father in 2021.

However, the High Court’s Singida Sub-Registry upheld a decision by the Singida District Court rejecting his claims.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, August 14, 2026, and published on the Judiciary website on August 17, 2026, Judge Ayoub Mwenda ruled that Mr Mgana failed to prove the pregnancy was hidden from him.

Judge Mwenda noted that claims for financial reimbursement would only hold merit had Ms Hadija Willa concealed her status before their union, whereas evidence demonstrated Mr Mgana was fully aware of the pregnancy.

“As correctly observed by the lower court, the respondent could only be held liable for concealing a pregnancy if she had been asked about her state on the wedding day and lied, which was not the case,” stated Judge Mwenda.

Court records revealed that during the marriage solemnisation, Ms Willa was only asked if she agreed to marry Mr Mgana.

“There is no law compelling a woman to voluntarily declare a pregnancy during marriage preparations unless explicitly asked,” added the judge, noting that Ms Willa had openly disclosed her pregnancy during courtship.

In her defence, Ms Willa testified that when Mr Mgana courted her, she informed him that another man had impregnated her.

She stated that Mr Mgana insisted on marrying her regardless, maintaining that no child born in wedlock is considered illegitimate.

At the time of their wedding in 1997, Ms Willa was four to five months pregnant and subsequently gave birth on October 10, 1997.

Although the child was initially named Mohamed Joseph, Ms Willa testified that Mr Mgana insisted on changing the name to Juma Omary Mgana.

In his suit, Mr Mgana maintained he raised the child under the belief that he was his biological father.

However, court records from a 2024 divorce case (Divorce Cause No. 14 of 2024) showed he had previously been ordered to support the child’s education and healthcare using rental income from a joint property.

While Mr Mgana claimed Ms Willa first revealed the child was not his in 2006, leading to the child being sent to live with relatives, the child, testifying as a defence witness, denied receiving educational support from Mr Mgana, noting he attended a free government school.

Judge Mwenda further rejected Mr Mgana’s claim for Sh1.5 million in medical expenses, citing a complete lack of supporting receipts or financial proof.

Addressing the rental income, the judge highlighted that the property in question had been split 50-50 in the divorce settlement, and Mr Mgana failed to prove Ms Willa collected the alleged Sh225,000 monthly rent.

Concluding that mental stress alone without concrete proof of loss does not warrant general damages, Judge Mwenda upheld the District Court’s ruling.

However, he declined to award legal costs against Mr Mgana, observing that imposing financial penalties would undermine harmony between the former couple as they continue co-parenting their other children.

The Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) has begun providing free medical care to venomous snakebite victims to ensure prompt treatment and curb preventable deaths.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Arusha-based Meserani Snake Park Clinic, aims to eliminate financial barriers to life-saving care.

Receiving a donation of antivenom doses on Sunday, August 16, 2026, the head of KCMC’s Accident and Emergency Department, Dr Francis Sakita, noted that the medication will significantly accelerate emergency response times.

“Patients exhibiting clinical signs requiring antivenom will receive it free of charge. Our medical staff has also undergone specialised training in antivenom administration and comprehensive snakebite management,” said Dr Sakita.

Although KCMC receives only about 34 snakebite cases annually, Dr Sakita emphasised that immediate access to treatment remains critical.

Envenomation can severely compromise the circulatory and nervous systems, as well as cause extensive local tissue necrosis.

“Certain toxins induce systemic haemorrhage, whilst neurotoxic venom causes rapid paralysis affecting mobility and respiration, which can quickly prove fatal. In other cases, severe localised tissue decay spreads to adjacent areas,” he explained.

He added that patients suffering from neurotoxic envenomation rarely reach hospital in time due to the rapid onset of paralysis, highlighting the critical importance of receiving specialised intervention within minutes of a strike.

“Most admissions present with severe coagulopathy or advancing tissue necrosis,” noted Dr Sakita, adding that the broad-spectrum intravenous antivenom is specifically formulated against venomous species native to the Northern Zone.

Many cases originate from Arusha’s Meserani area, where pastoralist and agricultural activities increase human-snake encounters.

Meserani Snake Park Clinic representative, Dr Jonas Nickel, stated that the partnership ensures vital therapeutics are decentralized to referral facilities, reducing mortality caused by delayed referral times across the region.

The way societies consume information has changed dramatically. For decades, journalists and media organisations were the primary gatekeepers of public information. Newspapers, radio and television stations shaped national conversations by deciding which issues deserved attention and how those issues were presented. Today, however, a new group of voices has emerged as powerful players in shaping public opinion: social media influencers.

With millions of followers across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and X, influencers have become trusted voices for many audiences, particularly younger generations. This shift raises an important question: who controls public opinion today: professional journalists or digital influencers?

The answer is more complex than simply choosing one over the other. Both influencers and journalists have influence, but they operate with different responsibilities, methods and objectives.

Journalists traditionally build influence through credibility, investigation and public service. Their role is not only to report what happens but to verify facts, provide context and hold powerful individuals and institutions accountable. Professional journalism follows ethical standards that require accuracy, fairness and responsibility. A journalist’s work is expected to serve the public interest, even when the information may be uncomfortable or unpopular.

Influencers, on the other hand, build their influence through personality, connection and direct engagement with audiences. Their strength comes from authenticity and relatability. Many followers feel they know influencers personally because of the everyday content they share. This emotional connection can make influencers extremely effective in shaping opinions, especially among younger audiences who may consume less traditional media.

The rise of influencers does not necessarily mean the decline of journalism. Instead, it reflects a transformation in how people discover and discuss information. Many audiences no longer wait for the evening news or tomorrow’s newspaper. They receive updates through their phones, often from individuals who explain issues in a more conversational and accessible way.

However, this new information environment comes with significant challenges. Unlike professional journalists, many influencers do not operate under formal editorial standards. A person with a large following can share opinions, rumours or unverified information that may reach millions before corrections are made. The speed and emotional nature of social media can sometimes reward sensational content over accurate information.

This is where journalism remains essential. In a world where anyone can publish content, the ability to verify information becomes more valuable than ever. Journalists provide the investigation and analysis needed to separate facts from speculation. While an influencer may start a conversation, journalism often provides the evidence and deeper understanding behind that conversation.

At the same time, traditional media organisations must recognise that influence is no longer determined only by ownership of television stations, newspapers or radio frequencies. The modern audience expects engagement, speed and accessibility. Media houses that ignore digital platforms risk losing relevance, while those that embrace innovation can expand their reach and strengthen their relationship with audiences.

The future may not be a competition between journalists and influencers, but rather a collaboration between different forms of communication. Some influencers are developing stronger research practices, while many journalists are becoming successful digital creators. The distinction between traditional media and social media is becoming increasingly blurred.

The greatest challenge for society is ensuring that influence is matched with responsibility. Having millions of followers does not automatically mean having accurate information. Likewise, having a professional title does not guarantee credibility.

For audiences, the responsibility is equally important. People must become more critical consumers of information by questioning sources, checking facts and understanding the difference between opinion and verified reporting. The future of public opinion will not be controlled by one group alone; it will be shaped by those who can combine reach with trust.

Influencers have changed the way conversations begin, but journalists remain critical in explaining why those conversations matter. In the battle for public opinion, the winners will not simply be those with the largest audience, but those who provide the most reliable, meaningful and responsible information.

The future belongs to voices that can achieve both influence and integrity.

The Tosamaganga Secondary School Alumni Association has launched a campaign to raise Sh250 million to buy a new bus for the school as part of preparations to mark its centenary.

The school, which was established in 1926, will celebrate its 100th anniversary from October 8 to 10, 2026, at the school grounds.

Speaking during the launch of the campaign, chairman of the bus purchase committee Iddy Mwerangi said the initiative aimed to bring former students together to provide the school with a modern bus for transporting students and staff.

He said the bus would support academic trips, educational tours, sports activities and emergencies, while reducing the school’s reliance on hired transport.

‘Currently, among other needs, the school requires a bus to transport students and teachers to various activities. As alumni, we have decided to take up this responsibility and make it a lasting legacy as the school approaches its centenary,’ Mr Mwerangi said.

He said any funds raised above the Sh250 million target would be directed towards other projects aimed at improving the school.

To ensure transparency, Mr Mwerangi said all contributions would be channelled through the association’s official bank accounts rather than personal accounts belonging to its leaders.

He added that contribution records would be shared regularly and the procurement process would follow value-for-money principles.

Once the fundraising and procurement processes are completed, the bus will be handed over to the relevant council for official delivery to the school.

The association’s secretary, Greyson Nyamoga, said alumni had maintained an annual tradition of supporting their former school.

He said the association had so far renovated the school’s toilets, provided medical equipment to Tosamaganga-Ipamba Hospital and continued supporting members and the wider community through various social initiatives.

Another alumnus, Samweli Chubwa, encouraged former students to join alumni groups, saying they strengthened unity and cooperation while also providing support in various aspects of life.

The government plans to deepen collaboration with private colleges and universities to strengthen science education and increase the number of engineers and other professionals needed to support Tanzania’s economic transformation, according to Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment) Kitila Mkumbo.

Prof Mkumbo said private higher learning institutions should give greater priority to science, technology and engineering programmes to help address the country’s skills needs.

He made the remarks at the weekend in Dar es Salaam while speaking at Research and Innovation Week organised by St Joseph University.

The minister said institutions such as St Joseph University had an important role to play in developing the scientific and technological expertise required to drive national development.

‘Among the colleges offering science courses, St Joseph leads the way, having pioneered engineering courses before others. Therefore, I urge you to ensure you maintain your position as a leader in science education,’ he said.

Prof Mkumbo also challenged universities to move student innovations beyond exhibitions and academic projects by linking them with industries and commercialising viable ideas.

‘I have witnessed remarkable innovations from your students, but it is disappointing that these innovations often remain mere ideas without reaching the end.

I challenge you to ensure that your students’ innovations are linked to industries and transformed into tangible realities,’ he said.

He said innovation should produce measurable results, with students graduating not only with academic qualifications but also practical skills and products capable of addressing real-world challenges.

‘It would be meaningless if you innovate but your creations never bear fruits. There must be a system to ensure these innovations are put into production,’ Prof Mkumbo said.

Focus on practical solutions

The minister urged students pursuing science-related programmes to focus on developing affordable technologies that address challenges facing communities, including access to clean household energy.

He commended students who had developed clean-cooking innovations, saying their work complemented Government efforts to expand the use of cleaner household energy sources.

‘President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been making significant efforts to ensure citizens use clean cooking energy. Therefore, seeing that you too have innovated in the use of clean energy brings me great joy and I commend you highly,’ he said.

Prof Mkumbo also commended the university’s management for establishing five centres of excellence offering science-related programmes in different parts of the country.

He said the institution’s focus on robotics and artificial intelligence was in line with global technological developments and Tanzania’s preparations to implement Vision 2050.

‘By focusing on robotics and artificial intelligence, you are aligning yourselves with the global trajectory. The Government is preparing to implement Vision 2050 and the use of technology is a key consideration; thus, you are actively implementing the Government’s vision,’ he said.

Prof Mkumbo also praised the university’s founder for establishing the institution at a time when private-sector participation in higher education was less widely accepted.

He urged the university to maintain its position in science and engineering education while strengthening links between academia, industry and the Government.

Such collaboration, he said, would help ensure research and innovation translate into practical solutions, employment opportunities and broader national development.

Nancy Josephat Mwakalinga is 22 years old; she is younger than the first Harry Potter film in the franchise was when it was released.

She was an infant when Facebook was launched.

Nancy is from a generation that has been stereotyped as politically progressive, addicted to TikTok, impatient and somewhat socially anxious, but Nancy said they are more than meets the eye.

She enrolled to become a tour guide at the College of African Wildlife Management in Mweka, Kilimanjaro Region.

Tanzania is ushering in a new generation of professionals in its ever-growing tourism industry.

The country is about to co-host one of footballs biggest tournaments, Afcon.

And these young men and women will be vital in the tourism, service and hospitality industry.

A defining moment for any host country.

Nancy grew up in Kimara, Dar es Salaam. She says that, contrary to the misconception, that her generation played outside.

She remembers riding her bicycle with her friends and playing hide-and-seek just like the generation before her.

Nancy refutes the notion that Gen Zers are indoors, always dancing on TikTok or chasing online trends.

“Gen Z is a very complicated generation, but its a very bright generation because we dont just take things as they are; we search for facts and proof. We are a curious generation,” she laughed.

Across the globe, this is a generation that has relied on digital platforms to advance change in todays world.

From political mobilisation to challenging the status quo, they have distinctively shaped the world in all spheres.

Can they do the same in tourism?

“You know, Afcon will be coming to Arusha and we have several tourist attractions and resources. We do have national parks, waterfalls and a vibrant culture,” Nancy adds.

As an avid football fan, Nancy is excited about the upcoming tournament.

She has been preparing for a potential role to welcome tourists in Arusha.

Taking visitors to different places in the northern circuit.

“AFCON matches dont take the whole day, from morning to evening, so during their leisure time, we will be leading tourists to different spots and showing them around Arusha and Moshi,” Nancy says.

She points out different locations, like Lake Duluti, Meru Camp, Napuru waterfalls near the foothills of Mount Meru and other must-see places around Arusha.

Arusha has growing biking, hiking and ziplining activities; its cool weather is conducive to outdoor activities and that will prove crucial in 2027 as tourists and football fans start pouring in.

“Archery and shooting games are popular here and people also love campsites at Meru Camps,” she points out.

Nancy understands the role they will be playing in tourism even beyond the Afcon tournament.

She acknowledges that tourism is one of the leading foreign exchange earners for Tanzania and they are in the realm of the service industry.

Nancy has had an interest in being a ranger, a physically demanding job, so she has been taking some paramilitary training: fieldcraft, survival, navigation, tracking and anti-poaching operations.

All these require extensive fitness training and her young age has helped her keep up with the adrenaline-fuelled workouts.

Their training has taken them to all leading national parks like Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire and Manyara, sometimes with no GPS assistance, to learn how to guide tourists in the absence of technology.

Guiding them and keeping them safe throughout the day.

Here is where Nancys tracking training is really sharpened.

In a few years, she will be in charge of a whole team of tour guides in the wilderness and it will be upon her to make sure tourists enjoy their safari in Tanzanias national parks, keep wild animals at bay, but close enough for tourists to see them and savour their safari experience.

Nancy chose to work in tourism because she loves learning about people and cultures and tourism provides both.

She knows in tourism most visitors that she will interact with will be older than her, but she said.

They dont use that term “older”. Nancy has been trained to treat all tourists as guests and show the utmost respect.

She has gone through training on how to remain calm, cool and collected under pressure, a skill she will need under the hot sun with flying insects buzzing around as their safari vehicle rumbles across the rugged terrain.

When tourists become frustrated or irritable.

She has been trained on how she can handle that scenario and more.

Nancy feels ready to start working in this industry that she has always dreamed of.

“Gen Zs can be very professional and I am the proof of that, so are my peers.”

Nancy is from a generation that has been affected by unemployment, not only in Tanzania, but across the world.

But she insists that, unlike other sectors, tourism has flourished over the years and there are so many opportunities for young people, but most people are not privy to that information.

She is hoping this interview will attract her age-mates, who have only had their eyes on being teachers, lawyers, doctors and other jobs, to contemplate studying tourism.

“There are hundreds of tour companies in Tanzania and most of them are hiring,” she says.

Aside from the tour companies, Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority and National Park authorities will naturally be seeking younger and new recruits, who will have to take on the physical work as the current staff gets older and moves to more administrative roles.

“I just hope my age-mates catch on quickly,” she adds.

She is also thinking of opening up her own tour company down the line.

“If Im wealthy and capable,” she quips, adding that the future of Gen Z in tourism is “very bright”.

This is a generation connected through social media and most of them are digital natives; content creation and social media marketing come naturally to them and she is using that as an advantage to establish herself and connect with potential tourists from across the world.

She has been posting all her visits to the national parks, waterfalls and the wild animals she encounters, building her online profile and positioning herself as a tourism expert.

And indeed, some foreigners have reached out to her asking about Tanzania and she has been more than happy to give them in detail what to expect when they come to visit Tanzania.

“I give them my email; when we connect on social media, they get motivated to come and experience Tanzania when they see the pictures I post,” Nancy says.

She has helped others with hotel reservations, booking flights and getting to the national parks.

Nancy hopes the government will open up more opportunities for Gen Z, but, most importantly, it has to believe in this young generation, which is tech-savvy and full of potential to make a significant contribution to the improvement of the tourism sector.

“Gen Z is just a generation. But look at me as a professional, how professional I am. And judge me based on my work, not my age,” she says.