Category: The Citizen

Dodoma. Tanzania is preparing for far-reaching reforms across its production sectors as President Samia Suluhu Hassan outlines an ambitious five-year agenda to modernise agriculture, expand livestock production, and scale up fisheries output.

Speaking during the inauguration of the 13th Parliament on November 14, 2025 the President affirmed that the country’s next phase of development will rest on enhanced productivity, value addition, and strengthened export capacity. “In the next five years, we are going to make major investments in the production sectors, starting with agriculture,” she told lawmakers.

She highlighted a new guiding philosophy that places farming at the forefront of national economic transformation. “We will be guided by the principle that ‘Agriculture is Business, and the Farmer is an Investor’.

” President Hassan set an ambitious target to accelerate agricultural growth from the current 4 percent to 10 percent by 2030. According to her, this shift will not only safeguard food security but also uplift millions of Tanzanians who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. “By doing so, we aim not only to ensure food self-sufficiency but also to invest in value chains to benefit the many citizens employed in this sector,” she said.

Tanzania aims to position itself among Africa’s leading producers of maize, rice, and horticultural crops. To achieve this, the government will intensify efforts to promote modern farming by expanding access to subsidised inputs such as improved seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides.

Water availability will also be boosted, with irrigated land set to rise from 3.4 million acres to 5 million acres through the completion of ongoing dams and irrigation schemes, alongside new projects including those in the Rufiji Basin.

The President further announced the establishment of farm machinery hiring centres to accelerate the adoption of technology. Investment in the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) and the Cooperative Bank will also be enhanced “to stimulate the agricultural revolution we envision.

” The government will continue strengthening post-harvest management through the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) in order to curb losses that diminish farmers’ earnings. The warehouse receipt system, which already supports several crop value chains, will be expanded.

To guarantee stable international markets, the government plans to leverage economic diplomacy. “We will ensure that these market opportunities come with implementable agreements,” she said, citing pigeon peas, green grams, and sesame as priority crops for assured export demand.

Although Tanzania currently enjoys 128 percent food self-sufficiency, the President emphasised the need to increase domestic production of sugar and edible oil. Greater focus will be placed on processing sunflower, palm, and sesame to reduce reliance on imports.

Reviving traditional cash crops Several cash crops that once underpinned the national economy–tea, coffee, avocado, and cotton–have struggled due to global price volatility and inefficiencies in processing. The President pledged more stringent supervision to revive these sub-sectors, with the goal of “expanding markets, increasing price competitiveness, and ensuring better returns for our farmers.

” The livestock sector, long constrained by land disputes and limited commercial investment, is also poised for transformation by 2030. The President announced plans to expand designated livestock areas from 3.46 million acres to six million acres.

“This measure will prevent conflicts between pastoralists and other land users, and increase the production of animal feeds as we move towards modern livestock keeping,” she said. To unlock international markets, the government will intensify livestock identification and vaccination programmes to meet global quality standards.

“We want to improve the quality of livestock products so that Tanzania is recognised in global records and markets.” President Hassan’s blueprint signals a new era for Tanzania’s production landscape–one that places farmers, pastoralists, and fishers at the heart of national prosperity.

With strategic investment, wider market access, and modern technologies, the government aims to position the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors as engines of economic growth for the decade ahead. .

Dodoma. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to transform Tanzania’s mineral sector over the next five years, pledging reforms to increase transparency, boost local value addition, uplift small-scale miners and ensure the country fully benefits from its vast mineral wealth.

Delivering her address during the official opening of the 13th Parliament in Dodoma on November 14, 2025, President Hassan reminded lawmakers that the sector holds enormous potential for national development but remains under-explored. She noted that only 16 percent of Tanzania’s mineral-rich geological area has undergone detailed survey, saying the government’s task in the coming years is to “ensure these minerals bring development to our people and lift them economically.

” President Hassan highlighted that the sector’s contribution to the economy has expanded significantly, rising from 6.8 percent in 2020 to 10.1 percent in 2024. She added that this growth means minerals are contributing more revenue for citizens, government collections and investments in social services.

But she stressed that her administration’s next chapter will focus on deeper reforms and stronger governance: “Our aim in the next five years is to expand the sector’s impact and ensure that mineral wealth directly improves people’s lives.” New strategy for critical minerals One of the centrepieces of the reform agenda is the government’s plan to finalise the ‘National Strategy for Critical Minerals’ by 2030. The strategy will identify the types, quantities and geographical locations of minerals essential to global industries, including those powering renewable energy and high-tech manufacturing.

“These minerals are among the most sought after in the world, and we will increase our vigilance in overseeing investments in them,” she said. In her bid to eliminate speculation and ensure active investment, President Hassan announced a nationwide review of all mining licences.

“We will review licences issued to identify those that have not been developed and take steps to reallocate them,” she told Parliament. The move targets dormant exploration areas held by investors who have failed to develop them, depriving the country of potential revenue and jobs.

Small-scale miners, who form the backbone of Tanzania’s mining workforce, will receive expanded support. The President said the government will set aside special mining areas for them, fast-track their licensing, and provide access to capital, drilling equipment and accurate geological data.

“They have been a dependable pillar in the sector, and we will continue to support them,” she said. She added that the Bank of Tanzania will continue buying gold from licensed small-scale and medium-scale miners to reduce smuggling and stabilise markets.

The government will also strengthen formal markets for minerals and gemstones. A key milestone will be the completion of the ‘Tanzanite Exchange Centre’ in Mirerani, a step aimed at increasing transparency and boosting the value of Tanzanian gemstones.

“We want Tanzania to become the leading trading hub for minerals in East and Central Africa by 2030,” President Hassan declared. Processing minerals at home Perhaps the most transformative commitment is the plan to end the export of raw ore and concentrates.

President Hassan said Tanzania is determined to establish a multi-purpose mineral refinery by 2030. “We will stop exporting concentrates so that we can save the jobs that we have been losing,” she said. She added that domestic processing will spur industrialisation, increase revenues and strengthen the mining value chain.

In one of the most forward-looking policy shifts, the President announced the creation of a “Minerals Sovereign Wealth Fund” to ensure mineral earnings safeguard the wellbeing of future generations. “Minerals are not like crops that can be replanted,” she said.

“We want our children to find not only empty pits but also the financial benefits of the minerals we are extracting today.” With global demand for critical minerals rising rapidly, President Hassan’s reforms seek to position Tanzania as a competitive, transparent and value-driven mining powerhouse.

She told the Parliament that, “the country’s mineral wealth must fuel shared prosperity now and for decades to come. .

Dodoma. Tanzania is set to enter a new phase of economic transformation over the next five years, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan outlining a bold plan to accelerate growth, create jobs, and strengthen both local and national industries.

Addressing Parliament on November 14, President Hassan emphasised that her government’s priority is to drive sustainable economic development while improving social services and infrastructure. “It is the responsibility of the government to advance economic growth.

Over the next five years, we will begin implementing the National Development Vision 20252050, aiming to build an inclusive nation with prosperity, justice, and self-reliance,” she said. The President highlighted key sectors that will form the backbone of this growth strategy, including agriculture, tourism, industry, construction, and mining.

“The new Vision sets criteria for selecting priority sectors and areas. Among the strategies to be implemented is investing more in sectors that employ large numbers of people,” she added.

Tanzania’s economic targets are ambitious. The President announced plans to raise the country’s economic growth from the current 5.

6 percent to over 7 percent by 2030. “This growth will enable the Government to improve social services and build enabling economic infrastructure,” she noted. Central to this approach is balancing macroeconomic development with improvements in people’s everyday lives.

“Our direction is inclusive growth, one that touches both the micro and macro economy,” she said. The role of the private sector, particularly local businesses, will be pivotal.

President Hassan pledged to enhance the business environment through initiatives such as the Business Environment Improvement Plan (MKUMBI) and tax reforms proposed by a special commission she formed. “We will continue to strengthen capital markets by encouraging domestic investment and using our resources, such as minerals, to secure investment loans rather than relying heavily on national debt,” she said.

Price stability and cost of living are also high on the agenda. The President promised to curb inflation and incentivise domestic manufacturing to produce affordable goods for both local and international markets.

“We will introduce tax and non-tax incentives to stimulate production and competitiveness of local products,” she said. Youth empowerment forms a critical pillar of the five-year economic blueprint.

The government plans to support young entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing business education and facilitating participation in the Government Electronic Procurement System (TANSIS). Technical and vocational training programmes will be expanded to link skills development with strategic projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), port development, the blue economy, mining, and gas sectors.

“Through these programmes, young people will gain experience and employability,” she said. Special initiatives will also target women in business.

The government aims to formalise and support women’s enterprises, improve market infrastructure, access to clean water and sanitation, healthcare services, and childcare facilities. “We will enhance funding coordination through Citizen Economic Empowerment Funds to help women formalise their businesses and access loans,” the President told Law makers.

In addition, the government plans to designate business zones for small and medium enterprises, enabling formal recognition and smoother operations. By leveraging the country’s natural resources and large workforce, President Hassan believes Tanzania can achieve her target of creating 8.

5 million jobs across various sectors by 2030. “This is a plan based on our people’s potential, resources, and strategic partnerships with the private sector. If we execute it effectively, Tanzania will witness inclusive growth that empowers individuals, strengthens industries, and drives the nation towards prosperity,” she concluded.

The President’s speech signaled a clear economic roadmap for Tanzania, where growth, job creation, and inclusivity form the pillars of her five-year agenda. The success of this vision will hinge on effective implementation, private sector participation, and sustained focus on empowering young people and women across the country.

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Dar es Salaam. As COP30 unfolds in the Amazon city of Belem, Brazil health experts and climate negotiators are raising an urgent alarm that the climate crisis has become one of the most severe global health emergencies of the 21st century.

Yet, financial support for countries suffering the worst impacts remains critically inadequate especially when it comes to addressing loss and damage linked to health. A new analysis of adaptation finance and health, presented during Health Day on November 13, 2025 at COP30, shows how underfunded and overwhelmed health systems are already buckling under climate pressures.

At the same time, a new Germanwatch report named ‘The Climate Risk Index released ‘on November 12, 2025 reveals the staggering human and economic cost of climate-related disasters: from 1995 to 2024, more than 832,000 people were killed by over 9,700 extreme weather events, causing $4.5 trillion (Sh11,250 trillion) in losses (inflation-adjusted). The Climate Risk Index ranks countries according to the scale of damage caused by storms, floods, heatwaves and other extreme events many of which disproportionately affect developing countries with fragile health systems.

These facts illustrate why scientists and policymakers insist that loss and damage is no longer simply an environmental or economic issue it is a public health crisis. Escalating health impacts in a warming world During the COP30 press conference hosted by Regions4, the Global Climate and Health Alliance and CarbonCopy, Dr Marina Romanello of the Lancet Countdown warned that climate-driven health risks are accelerating faster than health systems can cope.

“Each year, more than half a million lives are lost due to heat, and over 150,000 deaths are linked to wildfire smoke exposure,” she said. “Health systems, already stretched and underfunded, are struggling to cope with these growing pressures, and most are still unprepared for what is coming.

” Extreme heat, air pollution, flooding, vector-borne diseases, and food insecurity are now some of the biggest drivers of climate-related illness and death. Countries such as Nigeria report a 21 percent increase in disease burden linked directly to climate hazards.

Health as the “Blind Spot” in global climate finance Despite health being central to human survival, it remains a tiny fraction of climate finance a UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2025 shoes that, only 4 percent of multilateral adaptation funding (20192023) went to health. According to the report out of all multilateral climate finance globally, only 0.

5 percent supports health-related adaptation and Just 44 percent of countries have costed their health adaptation needs. Further, “Developing countries’ adaptation needs will reach $310365 billion (Sh774 to Sh912 trillion annually by 2035, yet current funding for adaptation sits at around $40 billion (Sh100 trillion) far below the Glasgow Pact Goal”.

The result is that vulnerable nations are left exposed, absorbing growing health costs with minimal support. In Bangladesh Director General, Ministry of Environment, Ziaul Haque explained that the health sector’s adaptation plan identifies clear needs but the available financing covers only a fraction of them.

“The gap between what we require and what we receive is enormous. We need multilateral funding entities to bring forward concrete, holistic proposals that match the scale of the challenge” he adds.

New initiatives bring hope, but are still not enough This year saw the launch of the Climate and Health Funders Coalition, which committed $300 million (Sh750 million) annually to address climate-related health impacts. Stakeholders welcomed this as a positive development, but they emphasized that it is far from what is needed.

“We know much more than that is needed to fully address adaptation needs,” said Jeni Miller the Executive Director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance. “Nevertheless, it shows the world is beginning to recognise that protecting health must be at the centre of climate adaptation.

” The Belem Health Action Plan, unveiled at COP30, provides a roadmap for strengthening global health systems to withstand climate shocks. Meanwhile, the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) now includes health and finance indicators a crucial step for accountability.

Africa’s plea, integrating the sectors African nations, among the hardest hit by climate health emergencies, used COP30 to demand a just and transparent financing mechanism. “Adaptation finance is a lifeline it saves lives, strengthens communities and protects economies,” said Nigeria’s Oden Ewa, Commissioner for Special Duties, Intergovernmental Relations, and Green Economy Lead.

“We call for a just finance plan for Africa and a Sustainable Finance Desk under the UNFCCC to highlight the gaps we face” He added, Carlos Lopes, the COP30 Presidency’s Special Envoy for Africa, added that global finance remains “a colossal deficit,” noting that most efforts are carried by national governments alone. “There are multiple layers of complexity in the relationship between climate and health, from the narratives we use to the policies we negotiate and the finance we mobilise,” said Carlos Lopes.

“Each layer is contested and unless we align them, we risk losing coherence in our global response. With regards to finance, that reality is that we have a deficit that is quite colossal”.

He said that most of the efforts that are being done are from the national authorities, so what is needed to expect from financing coming from abroad is that it needs to be complementary. President of the Climate Change Scientific Committee, Ministry of Environment of Chile Dr Sandra Cortes stressed the importance of integrating health across all climate sectors saying that siloed approaches will fail in the face of escalating climate threats.

“We must combine the efforts of health, transport, energy and food production sectors,” she said. “This integrated approach will improve public health, reduce emissions and create fairer development opportunities.

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Dar es Salaam. It was the night of October 29, 2025 in the streets of Ubungo.

While most residents were asleep and others desperately seeking safety, 14-year-old Patrick Matano was still wandering the roads in search of a place to hide. “Some people told me, ‘Boy, it’s time, find somewhere to hide.

‘ It was around 10 p.m.

,” says Matano, one of the homeless youths who sleep in makeshift kiosks around Mwenge. He recalls the distant sound of gunfire cutting through the night.

“When I heard the gunshots, I rushed into abandoned kiosks. I stayed there until it seemed calm, then came out.

When the shooting started again, I ran back inside,” he told The Citizen during an interview at Mwenge on November 11, 2025. Matano says he remained in those kiosks for six consecutive days. “People would tell me to hide every night around 10 p.

m. Sometimes I hid inside parked cars, other times inside kiosks,” he says.

Originally from Dodoma, he explains that he had nowhere else to run. The deserted business stalls became his temporary shield.

class=”article-picture” 8 class=”article-picture_caption” 1 Homeless youths, taking refuge in a forest near the streetlights along Sam Nujoma Road, hid from the violence that erupted during the protests on October 29, 2025. For Matano, who earns a living washing car windows at traffic lights in Mwenge, life on the streets was already difficult before October 29. But when the unrest erupted, roads were closed, vehicles halted and shops shut down — turning hardship into desperation. In bushes near the Sinza junction traffic lights, The Citizen spoke to a group of homeless youths who recounted what happened that night.

Though calm has since returned, about seven boys still linger in the area, listening to music and chatting. Abubakar Salum recalls the terror vividly: “When we heard gunshots and explosions, we lay flat on the ground.

Sometimes we hid behind trees.” He says that now, even the sound of the wind makes him flinch, fearing the violence may return.

For Jimmy Lioha, the night marked the beginning of further torment. “We were in Ubungo.

We had to run into the riverbank bushes. We stayed quiet there,” he explains.

But the calm did not last. “They followed us, caught us, beat us and then left,” Jimmy says.

Days later, some of them were arrested. “They forced boys to do push-ups, to carry each other.

If you failed, they beat you. If you refused to carry your friend, they beat you again.

It wasn’t right,” he recounts. He remembers fleeing the last time the officers approached their hiding place.

“I saw them take my friends away, beating them as they left. I kept silent, my heart pounding.

” Jimmy later heard the officers saying, “Take them to where the others are,” prompting him and his companions to escape deeper into the bushes until they eventually regrouped. The struggle for food Matano says he was advised to buy enough food beforehand.

He purchased two plates of rice and stored them, eating them on October 30 and 31 despite them having gone bad. He lived alone and had no idea where his companions were.

Being new to Dar es Salaam, the only area he knew was Mwenge. Omari, who moved from Tanga, says the little savings they made from washing car windows — combined with earlier help from passers-by — enabled them to buy food.

“We thank God we had a bit of money. We also ate mangoes and pawpaws we picked from these bushes,” he says.

Rain made life even more difficult, forcing them to huddle under trees. Jimmy, originally from Mbeya and living beneath the Kijazi Flyover, recalls: “To reach the shops, we had to cross the river.

Ahead, we found shops still open. We bought three kilos of maize flour and sardines or leafy vegetables.

” At times they went two days without food. They contributed whatever they had — Sh2,000 to Sh3,000 each.

Rescued by a scrap collector Unlike the others, Mohamed Selemani, who arrived from Mwanza, was helped by a scrap collector on October 29 “When movement was restricted after 6 p.m.

, I met a scrap collector. I told him I was new and looking for my friends.

He told me to follow him home,” he says. At the collector’s place — an area where scrap is sorted and weighed — food vendors were nearby.

His host gave him food and clothes, and he slept on a cardboard box outside the house. He stayed there for four days until 2 November, when he left to search for his friends at the Kijazi Flyover and was directed to a football field in Ubungo.

There, behind electricity machinery, Steven Mungi recounts how one of them, who had a national ID, was sent to buy food. It took him an hour because he had to walk all the way to Kintintale in Ubungo.

He returned with barely enough food for one day due to the number of people needing it. When it rained, they hid in bamboo thickets near the Gide River and used fish-frying stoves as makeshift shelter.

Longing for home Mungi says he phoned his parents and told them about his living conditions. They sent him money and urged him to return home.

“I told them I was eating mangoes. They insisted I go back and sent Sh15,000 so I could survive until things calmed down,” he says.

Matano, shaken by what he endured, also wishes to return to Dodoma. He is now trying to earn and save what little he can from washing windows — hoping to gather enough for the bus fare.

“My parents know I’m in Dar es Salaam but not where I live or what kind of life I lead. When I told them about the situation, they told me to come home,” he says.

Life returns to normal — slowly As in other areas where homeless youths sleep, a small group was found late at night along Uhuru Road in Kariakoo, lying beside the wall of Uhuru Girls’ Primary School. Rajabu Salum, who collects and sells cans and sleeps on cardboard, using another piece to fend off mosquitoes, says: “We used to sleep deeper in the neighbourhoods, some near markets.

When the police patrolled, we ran in different directions. If they passed on one side, we escaped through the other.

Sometimes we hid in inner streets and alleyways to avoid being seen.” “When it rained, we fled into unfinished buildings.

We stood beneath the upper concrete slabs, while others hid in bushes near the railway line,” he says. He explains that they received food from residents in Upanga.

“We went around asking for food. Sometimes we slipped into Ilala Market at night to look for discarded fruit like mangoes and bananas.

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Regional economic communities (RECs) should not exist to compete but to complement one another, Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa says. She added that RECs should put an end to duplication, compartmentalisation and institutional rivalries.

“Our regional economic communities: Eccas, Comesa, SADC and EAC, must not be competing, but complementary, and work together, building bridges of communication,” she said. Ms Suminwa said regional integration should not be an abstract concept given that regional economies are linked.

“Our destinies are linked, our peoples are linked,” she told the audience at a High-level Conference on economic integration and lasting peace in Kinshasa on Friday. The meeting, organised by the Congolese Ministry of Regional Integration and private sector partners, was held on the sidelines of the 9th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

Congo currently holds the ICGLR presidency. Ms Suminwa said that Kinshasa has sought to place economic diplomacy at the heart of its development agenda, “for we know that there can be no lasting peace without development, and that there can be no development without infrastructure, trade, employment and economic inclusion.

” The Great Lakes is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of strategic minerals, significant water resources and a vibrant young population. But, the region has suffered conflict, divisions and inequalities.

Congolese leaders have been striving to change the conflict narrative, with Ms Suminwa saying: “The history of our region must no longer be written under the sign of division, but under that of convergence and cooperation. We must commit ourselves to the path of common convergence so that our differences can be transformed into a force and a dynamic that serves our economies and our populations.

” DRC stands at the crossroads of the five RECs: ICGLR, Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas), Comesa, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC). Ms Suminwa said the aim is to make the Congo an integrative state — “a bridge between peoples, a cornerstone of African regional cooperation.

” The conference discussed three crucial infrastructure projects for regional integration: the Lobito Corridor, which connects the Atlantic coast with the mining areas of Angola, Zambia and the DRC; the TanzaniaBurundiDRC railway project, which is expected to open up a strategic route to the Indian Ocean; and the DRCUganda road project, meant to foster stability in eastern Congo. “These projects are not just infrastructure: they are the foundation of a connected, competitive and sovereign Africa.

They are tangible proof that peace can also be built through the economy, trade, mobility and mutual trust,” Ms Suminwa said. .

Johannesburg. President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday South Africa will symbolically hand over the G20 presidency to an “empty chair” in the absence of US leadership at the summit next week, while stressing the need to repair trade ties with Washington.

US President Donald Trump said last week no government official would attend the Group of 20 summit on November 22-23 in South Africa because of what he said were “human rights abuses” – citing widely debunked assertions about white South Africans being “slaughtered” and chased off their land. Trump has said that refugee admissions to the US this year will be focused largely on Afrikaners, who are mainly the descendants of Dutch settlers and make up the majority of South Africa’s white population.

“I have said in the past, I don’t want to hand over to an empty chair, but the empty chair will be there, (I will) probably symbolically hand over to that empty chair and then talk to President Trump,” Ramaphosa said, responding to questions from reporters in Soweto, where he was overseeing a clean-up for the summit. South African officials are increasingly exasperated with Trump’s claims that Afrikaners are victims of ethnic cleansing.

They deny that anyone faces discrimination based on their race in the Black-majority country. Ramaphosa said his priority was to maintain economic ties with one of its biggest trade partners.

“We export products to that country that in the end don’t end up in the White House. They end up in the hands of consumers in the United States,” he said.

“There could well be a view that we should not engage with the United States. (But) sometimes you have to talk to people who may not be very friendly to advance the interests of your own people”.

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Unguja. President Hussein Mwinyi has unveiled a new Cabinet, declaring that his final term will be marked by stricter leadership, faster delivery, and a drive to entrench the legacy of Zanzibar’s Eighth Government.

Speaking at State House, Zanzibar yesterday, Dr Mwinyi said he intends to make his remaining years in office more impactful than his first term, signalling a shift towards performance-based governance. He said the second term would be executed with greater urgency to fulfil campaign pledges and strengthen institutional discipline.

“The speed of this second term, which is my final one in leadership, must be greater. We want to leave a legacy.

If anyone thinks I am lenient, this is when I will be toughest,” he told journalists after announcing the line-up. The President has expanded the Cabinet from 18 to 20 ministries to enhance efficiency and improve coordination across government portfolios.

Of the appointees, 14 are men and seven are women. However, four ministries remain without appointed ministers–Health; Trade and Industrial Development; Tourism and Antiquities; and the Office of the First Vice President.

Dr Mwinyi said nominations for these positions are awaited from the opposition party ACT Wazalendo, which participates in Zanzibar’s Government of National Unity under the 1984 Constitution. The law provides that the opposition party has up to 90 days to propose names for ministerial positions.

Should the period lapse without nominations, the President is empowered to form a single-party government. Dr Mwinyi said gender balance, regional representation, education, and experience were key considerations in the latest appointments.

“You plan, you select, but we also consider these criteria and additional qualifications of the individual,” he said, adding that accountability and discipline will be closely monitored. In the new Cabinet, five ministers from the previous line-up were dropped.

Two were not reappointed, while three others were eliminated during the internal selection process within Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Those left out include former Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Tabia Maulid Mwita, and former Minister in the President’s Office, Ali Mrembo.

Others are Shamata Shaame Khamis, who previously headed Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock; and Shaib Hassan Kaduara, who was responsible for Water, Energy and Minerals. Juma Makungu Juma, former Deputy Minister for Finance, also failed to secure a place.

Masoud Ali Mohamed, who had initially been excluded, returns as Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries. The structure of the Office of the President has been reorganised, with its ministries reduced from four to two.

The portfolios of Labour and Investment, and Finance and Planning have been removed, leaving the President’s Office (State House) and Tamisemi under the new arrangement. Two new ministries have been introduced: the Ministry of Communication, Information Technology and Innovation, headed by Mudrick Ramadhani Soraga, and the Ministry of Youth, Employment and Empowerment, under Shaaban Ali Othman.

Dr Saada Mkuya now leads the President’s Office (State House), while Haroun Ali Suleiman returns to the Ministry of Constitution, Civil Service and Good Governance. Idrissa Kitwana has been assigned to Tamisemi.

Other key appointments include Hamza Hassan Juma, who remains in the Office of the Second Vice President; Dr Juma Ali Akil, who now heads Finance and Planning with Dr Hamad Omar Bakar as his deputy; Shariff Ali Shariff; Rahma Kassim Ali; Lela Mohamed Mussa; Riziki Pembe Juma; Masoud Suleiman Makame; Nadir Abdulatif; Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed; Anna Athanas Paul; and Masoud Ali Mohamed. The President said the reshuffle aims to strengthen coordination between ministries and speed up the implementation of development priorities.

Public reaction to the appointments was mixed. While some citizens welcomed the changes as a sign of renewed commitment to performance, others said the composition suggested continuity rather than transformation.

“If you look closely, the lineup is largely the same. Perhaps he saw their performance as effective, so he decided to keep them.

Sometimes introducing too many new faces is like starting from scratch,” said political observer Othman Said Ali. Dr Mwinyi, who is serving his final constitutional term, said his administration’s focus will be to deliver on its commitments before 2030 and ensure Zanzibar’s institutions remain strong beyond his presidency.

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Dear baby sis I remember the silly jokes my sister and I used to make about marrying a wealthy man even if he wasn’t good-looking hahahah! We’d say, “We’d rather cry in style somewhere in Dubai than cry in a broken-down house with a handsome, broke guy!” At the time, it was just wishful thinking, maybe a little foolish, but also honest. And here’s the thing, that joke carries a lesson we all need to hear.

Marrying a rich man can open doors, give comfort, and yes, bring material success, but it doesn’t automatically guarantee happiness. Chasing glitter over love can cost far more than pride , sometimes your freedom, your dignity, and your emotional sanity.

Take our Nigerian actress’s life as a cautionary example. Married young to a wealthy partner, she certainly enjoys financial stability and access to a glamorous lifestyleshe “won” in life in many ways.

But behind the Instagram posts, designer labels, and luxury cars, there’s also a weight of deep emotional pain. In a video that surfaced, the young actress was seen crying and alleging domestic violence, prompting fans to worry for her safety and well-being.

She later revealed feeling silenced, controlled, and powerless despite the wealth surrounding her. Court battles and public scrutiny followed, adding even more pressure.

Her story is a chilling reminder that luxury and wealth may provide comfort, but they’re no shield against heartbreak, abuse, or public judgement. Not all that glitters is gold, and luxury without peace is just decorated suffering So dear baby sis stop putting wealth as a non-negotiable on your husband checklist.

Forget the Lambo, the mansion, the fancy vacations. Instead, focus on love, respect, kindness, shared values, and emotional compatibility.

Then, while you’re at it, be the kind of man you wanted to marry.financially I mean.

Boss up, build your own career, your own savings, your own empire. That way, even if you marry someone wealthy, you won’t be trapped, dependent, or silent in a golden cage.

Now, don’t get me wrong a wealthy partner can make life comfortable. Yes, there will be nice cars, trips, designer bags, and a stress-free lifestyle with domestic staff doing the cooking and cleaning.

It’s tempting, no denying it. But comfort and luxury are not the same as joy, respect, or emotional fulfilment.

Money can make life easier, but it cannot make a bad marriage good, nor can it replace true happiness. Marrying rich might be a “safe” choice, but it is never a guaranteed path to peace or contentment.

All that glitters is not gold, and luxury without peace is just decorated suffering. Success isn’t measured by what’s in a husband’s wallet but by the life you build for yourself, the love you nurture, and the boundaries you fiercely protect.

So, next time you joke about marrying rich versus handsome, remember this, marry for love first, comfort second. Boss up on your own skills, your independence, your finances, and your confidence.

A rich partner can open doors, sure, but only you can choose to walk through them with joy, freedom, and dignity. Glitter may shine, but true happiness comes from a life well-built and well-loved.

And baby sis, life is too short to cry in a Lambo when you could be laughing in your own power suit laugh, thrive, and live on your own terms. .

Mbeya. The Southern Highlands regional manager of the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), Elius Lipiki, has told The Citizen that the current weather patterns are influenced by elevated sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.

According to Lipiki, one of the reasons for the expected season of average to below-average rainfall across the country is the presence of unusually warm waters in the Pacific Ocean. These rains are forecast to begin in the second and third weeks of November 2025 and continue until May 2026, potentially causing flooding in homes, rivers, canals, and streams.

Speaking today, Lipiki urged the public–particularly farmers–to monitor weather forecasts closely and take necessary precautions. “Forecasts indicate the likelihood of average to below-average rainfall.

One of the contributing factors is the warm sea surface in the Pacific Ocean,” he explained. He highlighted possible consequences, including strong winds, flooding of residential areas, and overflowing rivers, canals, and streams, stressing that citizens should stay informed and prepared.

Despite these potential impacts, Lipiki encouraged farmers to utilise the rains as an opportunity to prepare their fields for planting crops, especially beans and maize. “We advise stakeholders in the agricultural sector, farmers, and experts to continuously follow weather forecasts to take early precautions,” he said.

He further explained that higher-than-average temperatures usually indicate a season with abundant rainfall. The TMA provides public education through the media to ensure communities can respond appropriately to seasonal trends.

“We recommend that the public and agricultural stakeholders follow five- or ten-day weather forecasts to better plan their crop production calendars, particularly during the expected rainy season,” Lipiki added. He also urged authorities in agriculture and water management, alongside agricultural experts, to use weather forecasts as a key tool for adapting to climate change and extreme weather conditions.

Farmers speak out Oriva Sanga, a food and commercial crop farmer, expressed concerns over the timing of the rains, which may affect productivity. “Last year, by this time, we had prepared the fields and planted seeds, but now we are worried that delayed rains might reduce yields and lead to losses,” she said.

Similarly, Witness Kamwela noted that climate change poses a major challenge to crop production. He stressed the importance of agricultural experts working closely with farmers to provide guidance on adapting to changing conditions from the earliest stages of farming.

“Climate change has become a serious barrier for farmers, reducing productivity and driving up food prices, which disproportionately affects low-income households,” he explained. Meanwhile, rice and maize trader Rehema Noel, based at Machinjioni Market, called on the government to prioritise the agricultural sector by deploying extension officers to assist farmers in making the most of the upcoming average and below-average rainy season .