Category: The Citizen

By Katare Mbashiru Dodoma. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has offered a clear explanation of why she appointed Dr Mwigulu Nchemba as Tanzania’s new Prime Minister, citing his proven dedication to serving all citizens and his strong performance during the vetting process.

Speaking on Friday, November 14, 2025 moments after swearing him in at Chamwino State House, President Samia said the selection followed a thorough and demanding assessment. Dr Nchemba had been endorsed by Members of Parliament the previous day.

In her address, the President detailed why the Iramba West MP stood out among several considered candidates. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by senior government officials and retired national leaders.

“The competition was intense, but throughout the rigorous vetting process, you consistently demonstrated the qualities required for this position,” President Samia said, underscoring the depth of evaluation that guided her choice. She stressed that her decision was anchored in each candidate’s commitment to public service.

“You have a significant responsibility ahead as you work to deliver the promises outlined in the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) 20252030 manifesto,” she noted, calling attention to the government’s obligations to citizens. The President also reminded Dr Nchemba of the urgency of implementing the party’s commitments, which reflect the campaign pledges made to the nation.

“We must work with diligence and increased speed to ensure these commitments are fulfilled,” she emphasised. Dr Nchemba, who previously served as Minister of Finance and Planning, is expected to draw on his extensive government experience to address national priorities and ensure the government’s agenda responds effectively to the needs of Tanzanians.

.

Dar es Salaam. The country’s upcountry bus sector is experiencing a sharp slowdown following the recent election-related chaos, with dwindling passenger numbers forcing operators to scale down services and threatening the financial stability of the industry.

Shabiby Bus Company manager, Mr Edward Magawa, told The Citizen that the company has been compelled to reduce the frequency of its services due to a significant decline in passengers. “For instance, during the morning service, we used to deploy eight buses, but we now send only four.

At night, we previously deployed six buses, but we are currently down to three,” he said. He said that routes such as Dar es SalaamDodoma, Mwanza, Arusha and Songea have recorded particularly low passenger turnout.

“While the flow of passengers on these routes remains low, we have not reduced the number of buses. On many routes, we sometimes carry only 25 passengers in a bus with a capacity of over 50,” he noted.

According to Mr Magawa, maintaining bus operations under such conditions has become costly, as revenue fails to meet expenses such as fuel, terminal fees, staff allowances and maintenance. “At this point, operating feels more like providing a public service than running a business because we are not making any returns.

If the situation persists, it will be difficult to service our loans on time,” he said. He also called on the authorities to reassure the public about safety, saying many passengers appear hesitant to travel due to fear.

“It would be better if relevant institutions issued an official statement on safety for both operators and passengers, so that people can regain confidence and resume travelling,” he added. Similarly, the manager of Happy Nation Company, Mr Mfaume Mfaume, described the current situation as a “low season”, saying companies are continuing to operate even with empty seats in order to maintain customer trust and follow timetables.

The Director General of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra), Mr Habibu Suluo, said that while passenger numbers initially fell after the election, they have started to recover. “Up until Monday this week (November 10), the number of passengers travelling upcountry stood at 62,313. When operations resumed on November 5, the system recorded around 34,000 passengers, compared to an average of 85,000 per day before,” he said.

Tanzania Bus Owners Association (Taboa) secretary, Mr Joseph Priscus, said the recovery remains slow, with buses operating at around 30 to 40 percent capacity–equivalent to about 20 to 25 passengers per trip. “At this rate, many operators are struggling to cover basic costs, especially fuel,” he said, adding that there is optimism that business will gradually stabilise as the situation normalises.

.

Dodoma.President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced that her Government will establish a special commission to investigate the unrest that erupted on the day of the General Election on October 29, 2025 in order to determine the root cause of the disturbances.

The unrest, which resulted in loss of life, injuries, and damage to both public and private infrastructure, also led to the suspension of various activities. President Samia made this declaration today, November 14, 2025 while addressing the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania as part of the inauguration of the 13th Parliament.

She expressed her deep sorrow over the events of that day and called upon Members of Parliament and invited guests gathered in the House to rise for a one-minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives. “Let us pray that God receives the souls of those who died in the unrest of October 29. I was personally deeply saddened by that incident, and I extend my condolences to all families who lost their loved ones.

May God grant them rest, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured.” “For those who lost their property, we pray for strength and resilience.

The Government has taken the step of forming a commission to investigate what transpired so that we may understand the root cause of the problem. Its findings will guide our dialogue towards restoring understanding and peace,” President Samia said.

.

Dar es Salaam. The involvement of men is crucial in the journey to empower women, as women and men rely on one another.

It is impossible to achieve the goals of women’s empowerment without including men–brothers, uncles, and fathers–within the community. Mwananchi Communications Limited Managing Director, Ms Rosalynn Mndolwa-Mworia, made these remarks today while serving as the special guest at the Women Leadership Seminar themed Empowered to Lead: Women Shaping the Future, organised by Women Leadership in Insurance Africa (WLIAfrica) Tanzania.

She emphasised that women’s gatherings at such seminars are not intended to divide, but to heal, listen, and imagine. “When women gather, hope gathers too.

And when we gather with our allies–I call men our allies, because women get nowhere without men–we strengthen our journey. So when we speak about women’s collaboration, always remember the allies among men who have been part of our journey; they are our allies.

” Ms Mworia highlighted the importance of focusing on goals, explaining that every step, whether smooth or challenging, forms part of a bigger picture. “You may have ambitions burning inside you, or you may be navigating a difficult season, but nothing is wasted.

Every task, setback, and small win is preparing you for where you’re meant to be. It’s about preparation.

Sometimes the full purpose isn’t immediately visible, but progress is happening beneath the surface. When you commit to your vision and remain grounded in your purpose, the journey shapes you as much as the destination,” she said.

Country Director of WLIAfrica Tanzania, Ms Lorna Mbwette, noted that the seminar would cover topics including mental health, balancing family with a modern corporate career, overcoming gender bias, thriving as a woman leader, leveraging emotional intelligence for impactful leadership, utilising emerging technologies and AI, and mastering public speaking. She stressed that these subjects are vital to equip women with the skills to increase leadership representation.

Globally, women occupy only around 29 per cent of senior leadership roles, and 33 per cent of senior management positions. In Tanzania, while women hold 37 per cent of parliamentary seats, they occupy only 28 per cent of senior and middle management roles across the private, public, and NGO sectors.

Women account for over 50 per cent of entrepreneurs, demonstrating resilience and innovation, yet this entrepreneurial strength does not always translate into meaningful decision-making power. Ms Mbwette said that representation alone is insufficient.

“Women are increasingly present in leadership spaces, but their participation in true decision-making roles–where strategies are designed and futures shaped–remains limited. This seminar creates a space where women are not only present but empowered, equipped, and ready to influence outcomes.

Leadership is not about being in the room; it’s about having a voice, taking up space, and shaping the decisions that transform communities, industries, and nations.” Mr Omary Mjenga, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Centre for International PolicyAfrica, spoke on mastering public speaking.

He highlighted that many people struggle with addressing an audience. “You may have an important message, but if you lack confidence to speak publicly, it goes unheard.

When you have a valuable message, share it. Effective communication requires knowledge and skills,” he said.

He further emphasised the importance of understanding one’s audience to avoid confusion and delivering messages effectively, noting that reading widely and acquiring knowledge is crucial to build a strong foundation for public communication .

Dar es Salaam. The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) and the NMB Bank are at risk of losing their right to defend themselves in a lawsuit filed by shareholders of Yetu Microfinance Bank (YMB), after failing to submit their written statements of defence (WSD) within the legally required timeframe.

The civil case, number 24650 of 2025, was filed by the Youth Self Employment Foundation (Yosefo), a major shareholder in YMB, through its registered trustees, Cornelius Kasiya Kariwa and Altemius Ambros Milinga. They are challenging the central bank’s decision to take over and transfer the microfinance institution to NMB.

Failure of the two banks to submit their written statements of defence (WSD) within the legally required timeframe, puts them in danger of being denied the right to respond to the allegations. The defendants are the Bank of Tanzania (first respondent), NMB (second respondent), and the Attorney General (AG), who has been joined as a necessary party because the case involves a government institution.

The plaintiffs are challenging BoT’s decision to seize the bank, citing capital inadequacy, and hand it over to NMB. They deny that the bank faced capital shortfalls, insisting BoT’s justification was unfounded.

The shareholders accuse the central bank of breaching the law and due process by taking over their bank without consent or compensation. They are asking the court to order the return of the bank, payment of over Sh6 billion, damages, and other remedies.

The case is being heard by Judge-in-Charge of the High Court’s Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, Justice Salma Maghimbi. When the matter came up for mention on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the court was set to review whether the defendants had complied with its order to file their written defences.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mr Ibrahim Bendera, told the court that all the defendants had been duly served with the case documents — BoT and NMB on September 30 and the AG on October 2, 2025 — giving them ample time to respond. He noted, however, that only the AG had filed a defence on time.

BoT filed its statement late, while NMB had not submitted any response at all. Mr Bendera asked the court to proceed with the case ex parte (one-sided hearing) against the first and second defendants.

State Attorney Catherine Kiiza, representing both the AG and BoT, admitted that BoT had filed its defence late but requested an extension of time, arguing that the bank is a government institution. NMB’s lawyer, Mr Mrano Mlekano, also sought a one-day extension, claiming the recent election-related unrest had hindered him from completing the filing process.

He further explained that some crucial documents could not be accessed without clearance from NMB’s chief financial officer and BoT’s compliance unit. However, Mr Bendera opposed both applications, arguing they lacked merit and urging the court to proceed with the case against the two defendants who had failed to meet legal requirements.

After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Maghimbi adjourned the matter to November 18, 2025, for ruling and further directions. Under civil procedure, a defendant who fails to submit a written defence within the stipulated time loses the right to be heard unless sufficient reasons are provided for the delay.

If the court finds BoT and NMB’s explanations unsatisfactory, BoT’s late submission could be struck out, and NMB’s request for an extension denied — effectively leaving the case to proceed without their defence. According to court filings, Yetu Microfinance Bank had 12,350 shareholders and served more than 200,000 clients across eight regions in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

The bank was listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) on March 10, 2016, with a paid-up share capital of Sh6.056 billion. As of June 30, 2022, YMB’s audited financial statements showed a sound financial position, meeting all statutory liquidity and capital adequacy requirements.

However, on September 28, 2022, BoT announced that YMB lacked sufficient capital, citing a Special Audit Report — which the shareholders claim was conducted unlawfully and without their participation. In December 2022, BoT issued a preliminary takeover notice, stating that YMB’s capital position was negative Sh7.7 billion, despite acknowledging in the same report that as of June 30, 2022, the bank had a core capital of Sh6.79 billion.

Following that, YMB was placed under statutory administration and eventually handed over to NMB. The plaintiffs maintain that YMB never suffered any capital deficiency and that BoT never ordered a recapitalisation.

They insist the bank continued to meet its financial obligations, including lending to its clients, until the takeover. They allege the process was conducted in secrecy and without integrity, resulting in both covert and overt abuses that undermined shareholder interests.

They further claim the bank was sold without competitive bidding, denying shareholders fair value for their investment and any opportunity to participate in the process. The shareholders are asking the court to declare BoT’s takeover and subsequent transfer of YMB to NMB unlawful.

They are seeking Sh6.18 billion as compensation for the value of their investment, Sh2 billion in general damages, Sh3 billion in punitive damages, interest, and legal costs. .

Dar es Salaam. The National Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata), in collaboration with partner organisations, has issued a statement regarding the events that unfolded on October 29. “On that day, gangs emerged, terrorising people by looting property and destroying assets, including critical infrastructure.

As a result of these criminal acts, which necessitated intervention by our security forces, innocent lives were tragically lost and others suffered permanent injuries,” the statement explained, attempting to contextualise the killings that occurred across the country. The statement, read by Sheikh Issa Othman, a member of the Council of Ulamaa, called on the government to take action against the perpetrators of the October 29 incidents.

“At the same time, in our unity, we urge the government to conduct a thorough investigation into who exactly instigated our youth to commit this unprecedented destruction in our country, leading to the loss of lives,” it stated. Bakwata’s statement further emphasised its philosophy that peace begins with justice.

The council also firmly rejected any suggestion that it is naave or foolish. “We have always been at the forefront of promoting and safeguarding peace in our country.

Even when doing so has required enduring significant hardship, we have been prepared to act,” the statement stressed. “We wish to make it clear to our fellow religious leaders that we are not fools and cannot be considered fools simply for advocating peace.

Finally, we extend our commendation.” The statement concluded with praise for President Samia Suluhu Hassan, her deputy, and other government leaders.

.

Dodoma. The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has emphasised that the nation will continue to learn and self-correct on its democratic journey without being coerced by any individual or external body.

Speaking today, Friday, November 14, 2025 while addressing and officially opening the 13th Parliament in Dodoma, President Samia noted that Tanzania has made significant strides in the foundations of democracy, yet there remains a need to collectively reflect on areas that have posed challenges to further strengthen a governance system rooted in consensus and the public interest. “Tanzania has a long history of democracy.

The term ‘democracy’ may be interpreted in various ways, but we are mature in our democratic practice. Nevertheless, on our journey of leading a democratic Tanzania, we remain ready to learn and improve,” President Samia said.

Urging all stakeholders, particularly political parties, to engage constructively, she underscored the importance of dialogue and consensus: “I appeal to all groups of Tanzanians, especially political parties, to come together, talk, and examine where we may have gone wrong. Let us continue on our journey of building a peaceful and stable nation, guided by our traditions and customs, not by pressure.

” .

Dodoma. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to withdraw charges against all young people who were seen participating in the October 29 protests simply by following the crowd, noting that some of them did not understand what they were doing.

She explained that, upon reviewing footage of the demonstrations, it was clear that some youths joined out of excitement and peer influence, unaware of the implications of their actions. For this reason, she has asked the prosecution authorities to reconsider their cases.

President Samia made the remarks today, Friday, November 14, 2025 during her address to officially inaugurate the 13th Parliament in Dodoma. “As a mother and guardian of this Nation, I direct law-enforcement agencies, particularly the Director of Public Prosecutions, to assess the magnitude of the offences committed by our young people.

“For those who appear to have simply followed the crowd without any intention to commit a crime, their charges should be withdrawn,” she said, receiving applause from Members of Parliament. “I grant this pardon because even the words of the Almighty in the Book of Luke 23:34 state, and I quote: ‘Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

‘” Alongside this, she urged the youth to be guided by the principles of reconciliation, inclusivity, self-discipline, and unity, stressing that the nation is built on the foundations of peace and political stability. “If we, your parents, had been tempted to do what you have done today, this country would not have achieved the progress you see before you.

I strongly urge you, my Tanzanian sons and daughters: this nation belongs to you. Whatever challenges you face, never allow yourselves to be incited to destroy your own country,” she said.

She cautioned them never to “cut the branch upon which they sit,” emphasising that they must never allow the destruction of the Nation. .

Dar es Salaam. Newly appointed Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has pledged firm, ethical, and results-oriented leadership, warning that lazy, corrupt, and unethical public servants will face stern disciplinary action under his watch.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, November 13, 2025, shortly after being endorsed by lawmakers following his appointment by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Dr Nchemba vowed to restore accountability and integrity in public service. He succeeds Mr Kassim Majaliwa, who served as Prime Minister for the past decade.

Dr Nchemba said Tanzanians expect a government that delivers, noting that the sixth-phase administration under President Hassan is focused on achieving quick and tangible results. “Given the huge responsibility before us, both public servants and citizens must be ready,” he told Parliament.

“We must shift to a higher gear, one strong enough to climb hills, face ocean waves, and rise above the clouds until the vehicle reaches its destination safely with all passengers,” added Dr Nchemba. He warned against complacency among public servants, saying: “Those who are lazy, negligent, corrupt, or speak disrespectfully to Tanzanians should be ready.

I will come with a shovel and a rake.” Dr Nchemba said his administration would ensure the President’s promises and the ruling party’s manifesto are fully implemented in line with the national Vision 2050 agenda.

He stressed that these goals can only be achieved through peace, hard work, and faith in God. He acknowledged the challenges facing citizens, including unemployment among young people and frustrations in public offices.

“I assure Tanzanians, especially those from humble backgrounds, that they will be treated with respect and dignity in public offices. This country belongs to every Tanzanian, and all citizens will be heard,” he said.

He pledged that government officials would not wait for complaints to be brought to them but would go to the people to address grievances directly. Dr Nchemba shared personal reflections on poverty, saying he had lived through hardship and understood the struggles of ordinary Tanzanians.

“I have not read about poverty in books; I have lived it,” he said. “In the village, my mother used to tie a piece of cloth around her waist during the day, and at night, I used the same cloth as a blanket.

I had to wake up early so she could use it again for her daily chores,” added the former Minister of Finance. He said those experiences had strengthened his resolve to fight poverty and ensure government policies deliver real change in people’s lives.

Dr Nchemba reiterated his gratitude to President Hassan for her trust in appointing him, saying the responsibility is not personal but a national mandate to serve all Tanzanians. “I am aware of the weight of this responsibility and the expectations of our people.

I will work diligently and faithfully to meet those expectations,” he said. On Vision 2050, Dr Nchemba said its implementation begins under the current government and builds on the unfinished goals of Vision 2025. “As in a relay race, the one who begins the run must work harder for the team to win.

We have a huge responsibility to begin the new Vision properly while finalising what remains from the previous one,” he said. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling President Hassan’s pledges, including connecting the remaining 28,000 hamlets to electricity and creating eight million jobs for young people.

“This is a huge task that will be coordinated across government and in partnership with the private sector to realise the President’s vision of empowering youth,” he said .

Dodoma. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced that the Government of Tanzania intends to establish a fully fledged Ministry dedicated to Youth Affairs, as part of a broader effort to address the challenges facing young people across the country.

Addressing Parliament today, November 14, 2025 President Samia said the decision follows careful consideration by her and her Government, noting that youth issues require focused and specialised attention that cannot be effectively handled under a department with multiple competing mandates. “We in Government have reflected on the need to have a complete Ministry that will deal with Youth Affairs.

We have resolved to create a full Ministry instead of retaining a department burdened with many responsibilities,” President Samia told the august House. She further revealed plans to appoint Presidential Advisers on Youth Affairs within the Office of the President.

The advisers will provide direct counsel on matters affecting young people, including their needs, opportunities, and obstacles. President Samia emphasised that the new structure is aimed at strengthening national efforts to empower the youth, enhance participation, and ensure that their concerns receive the priority they deserve .