Category: The Citizen

President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to officially inaugurate the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), with an installed capacity of 2,115 megawatts, on August 22, 2026, at the project site in Rufiji, Coast Region.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, August 15, 2026, Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi said the inauguration would be attended by government leaders, domestic and international guests, members of the public and development stakeholders.

He said the event would mark a historic milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to establish a reliable energy system while supporting production, investment and economic growth.

‘JNHPP is the largest electricity generation project ever implemented in the country using funds from the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, with an investment of about Sh7.452 trillion. The completion of this project demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring Tanzania has sufficient and reliable electricity to support national development and economic growth,’ Mr Ndejembi said.

He said the country’s total installed electricity generation capacity had reached about 4,646MW, with JNHPP alone contributing 2,115MW, significantly increasing Tanzania’s ability to meet electricity demand and strengthen energy security.

‘Since it began generating electricity, JNHPP has continued to increase the amount of power supplied to the national grid, helping to address generation shortages that previously contributed to power rationing. By May 31, 2026, the plant had generated about 44.9 per cent of the total electricity produced and fed into the national grid over the preceding year,’ he said.

Dar es Salaam. Kenyan runners dominated the seventh edition of the CRDB Bank International Marathon yesterday, claiming most top positions in the 42km and half-marathon races as Tanzania showcased its growing capacity to stage major sporting events ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

About 17,000 participants competed in the 42km, half-marathon and 10km races at the Posta Grounds in Kijitonyama, with Kenyan and Tanzanian athletes providing the strongest competition.

Abraham Kiptum won the men’s 42km race in 2:15:33, ahead of compatriot James Mwangi (2:16:11), while Tanzania’s Marco Sylvester was third in 2:16:33.

Kenya also swept the women’s 42km podium, with Joyce Kemuma winning in 2:35:26, followed by Jacinta Chepkoech and Jane Chelagant.

The 42km winners received Sh12 million each, runners-up Sh5 million and third-placed finishers Sh2 million.

Kenya’s Simon Kelenzyoki won the men’s half marathon in 1:15:33, with Tanzania’s Ebei Francis second and Boay Dawi third.

Rebecca Chepkwemoi claimed the women’s half marathon in 1:12:42, ahead of Tanzania’s Failuna Matanga and Kenya’s Irine Mkungu.

Half-marathon winners received Sh6 million, runners-up Sh2 million and third-placed finishers Sh1 million.

Tanzanian runners dominated the 10km races, sweeping both podiums. Jumanne Ngoya won the men’s race in 29:53, followed by Benard Geay and Shedrack Hasani.

Transfora Mussa won the women’s race in 34:00, ahead of Anna Dolomongo and Agnes Mwanghui.

CRDB Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdulmajid Nsekela said the marathon was becoming an important platform for developing competitive athletics.

‘The marathon has continued to grow in both participation and competitiveness, giving athletes an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best runners in the region,’ said Dr Nsekela.

Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, Second Vice President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar Hemed Suleiman Abdulla said the event demonstrated Tanzania’s ability to host major sporting competitions.

‘The level of competition we have witnessed shows that Tanzania can host major sporting events that attract athletes from across the region and create opportunities for our local runners to compete at a higher level,’ said Abdulla.

Tanzania will co-host AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Uganda, placing greater demands on the country’s sporting infrastructure and event-management capacity.

The Government has allocated Sh519.6 billion to the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports for the 2026/27 financial year, with sports infrastructure and AFCON preparations among its priorities.

The CRDB Marathon thus offers another platform for Tanzania to strengthen its sporting profile while giving local athletes valuable exposure against regional competitors.

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.

Following widespread complaints from road users nationwide, the Tanzanian government has enacted regulations prohibiting the unauthorised installation of sirens and beacon lights on private vehicles, introducing fines of up to Sh300,000 for offenders.

The regulations, titled the Road Traffic (Siren, Sound Signals, Whistles and Warning Flashing Lights) Regulations, 2026, were published in the Government Gazette on June 19, 2026, under the Road Traffic Act, Cap 168, and gained public attention after circulating on social media on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

Issued by the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Patrobas Katambi, the law restricts the use of sirens and specific beacon light colour combinations to emergency vehicles and seven distinct categories of top government officials.

Installing these devices without a formal permit from the minister is now a criminal offence.

The law targets a growing trend of drivers, particularly those operating luxury SUVs, long-distance passenger buses, commercial trucks, autorickshaws, and motorcycles, arbitrarily fitting VIP lights and sirens to bypass traffic congestion or evade police checks.

Security officials noted that unauthorised beacon lights have also been used as cover to smuggle illicit cargo, such as khat, through checkpoints under the pretense of carrying high-profile dignitaries.

Legal practitioners and transport stakeholders have widely welcomed the measures while urging strict, non-discriminatory enforcement.

High Court Advocate Peter Kibatala emphasised constitutional compliance, noting that under Article 26(1) of the Constitution, every citizen has a duty to respect the law and that the regulation sets clear boundaries to prevent lawlessness.

Advocate Peter Mshikilwa called for tighter controls on importers, stating that it makes little sense for suppliers to sell these devices without verifying whether the buyer holds an official usage permit.

High Court Advocate, Dr Rwezaura Kaijage, added that the practice had extended even to public transport and motorbikes, making the new regulations a timely intervention.

The 2026 regulations strictly outline the authorised colour combinations and sound signals for specific motorcades and emergency units.

For the President of Tanzania, the designated layout is red, white, and red lights accompanied by a siren, while the Vice President and the President of Zanzibar will utilise red, white, and blue lights with a siren.

The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Second Vice President of Zanzibar are assigned amber, white, and blue lights with a siren.

Blue, white, and blue lights with a siren are designated for the Speaker of the National Assembly, Chief Justices, Deputy Speakers, and heads of defence and security agencies.

Cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, and the Attorney General will use blue lights with a siren, whereas former presidents are limited to fog lights and sirens without flashing lights.

Police, military, fire brigade, and ambulance vehicles will maintain specific red, blue, or circular red configurations depending on the nature of the emergency, while protocols for visiting foreign dignitaries will be decided jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Under the provisions of the regulations, installing a siren, sound signal, whistle, or warning flashing light without prior written approval from the Minister for Home Affairs is strictly prohibited.

Any person convicted of unauthorised installation faces a statutory fine ranging between Sh50,000 and Sh300,000, a prison sentence of six months to three years, or both penalties combined.

Kilimanjaro Region Road Safety Ambassadors Chairman, Mr Khalid Shekoloa, praised the regulations for empowering security agencies to act against lawbreakers.

Moshi taxi driver Baraka Matemba added that unauthorised sirens had eroded public respect for genuine emergency vehicles, making strict enforcement vital.

Business leaders and citizens, including Dar es Salaam businessman Amani Ngowi and entrepreneur Renalda Mbore, warned that success hinges on consistent enforcement by traffic officers without fearing influential motorists who falsely claim VIP status.

Over 100 residents marched to the residence of the Mashariki Neighbourhood Chairman in Muriet Ward on Saturday, August 15, 2026, protesting a month-long water shortage following fruitless attempts to seek redress from the local Arusha Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Auwsa) sub-office.

Carrying empty buckets and basins of unwashed clothes, the residents expressed outrage over the persistent dry taps, noting that Auwsa continues to send text messages demanding payment for previous bills despite the ongoing supply disruption.

Mashariki Neighbourhood Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Sanare, voiced deep concern over the community’s plight, criticizing Auwsa officials for failing to answer phone calls or remain reachable when local leaders seek updates.

“My citizens cannot continue to suffer when a major water project costing Sh520 billion has already been completed,” said Mr Sanare. “Whenever we contact Auwsa, they cite reasons that do not solve the problem. In this area, underground water is simply not accessible,” he added.

He explained that while Auwsa frequently attributes the rationing to burst pipes, roadworks, or power outages, the shortage persists in Muriet even after power and infrastructure are restored and neighbouring areas receive water.

“We appreciate the government’s heavy investment in the water sector, but the majority of residents in Muriet Ward, particularly Mashariki Neighbourhood have suffered for too long. Water has no alternative. Most people here earn low incomes and cannot afford to buy water from vendors at Sh1,000 per bucket,” stressed Mr Sanare.

In response to the crowd, the neighbourhood chairman phoned Auwsa Managing Director, Mr Iddy Msuya, in full view of the residents.

Speaking from Dodoma where he was on official duty, Mr Msuya assured the community that immediate steps were being taken to restore supply.

“Chairman and residents, I ask for your patience. I have already instructed my team to direct water to your area immediately. The recent disruption was caused by power cuts affecting our pumping stations,” said Mr Msuya.

Local residents highlighted the severe domestic impact of the shortage.

A resident of Mapambuzuko, Ms Shamimu Iddy, said her household had been without water since August 8, forcing her to spend Sh7,000 for five jerrycans to meet basic needs.

“We are facing a very difficult situation, especially in homes with indoor toilets. You cannot tell a child not to use the toilet, and laundry continues to pile up. We urge the government to intervene and explain why Muriet Ward is singled out while other areas have water,” she said.

Similarly, a resident of Mkonoo in Terrat Ward, Ms Rehema Mbwambo, urged the water utility to scale up production capacity to match the growing population demand in the area.

She warned that without urgent intervention, the water crisis poses a severe public health risk and could trigger disease outbreaks, calling on the government to assess whether Auwsa has the capacity to manage its expanding customer base.

Two people, including a three-year-old child, have died following an accident involving a Manning Nice bus in Mandiwa Village, Masasi District Council, on Saturday night.

The accident occurred at about 8.10pm when the bus, which was travelling from Masasi to Dar es Salaam, reportedly hit a 35-year-old male resident of Mandiwa Village.

The man died at the scene after sustaining severe injuries. Preliminary information indicates that the driver attempted to avoid the pedestrian after he crossed the road while the bus was approaching, causing the vehicle to lose control and overturn.

A three-year-old child also died at the scene after sustaining multiple fractures in the accident.

Several other people were injured and rescued from the scene before being rushed by ambulance to St Benedict Ndanda Referral Hospital in Masasi District Council for medical treatment.

Masasi District Council information officer Doreen Parkshard said authorities were continuing to collect information on the accident, including updates from the hospital.

The council’s office, under District executive director Alphaxard Etanga, is also coordinating efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the accident.

Further details were expected as authorities continued with their assessment.

Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) has committed Sh1.2 billion over three years to support cardiac treatment for 300 children across Tanzania, expanding access to specialised care for families unable to afford the cost of treatment.

Under an agreement signed on August 14, 2026 at the company’s headquarters in Geita Region, GGML will provide about Sh400 million annually to facilitate treatment for 100 children, including those requiring specialised procedures, surgery, medication and follow up care.

The partnership, facilitated by Global Medicare, will involve the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) and seeks to strengthen collaboration between the Government and private sector in addressing paediatric heart conditions.

GGML Managing Director Ashraf Suryaningrat said the company decided to support the programme after assessing its track record and impact on access to specialised cardiac services.

‘We look forward to a three year partnership. It involves 100 children annually and approximately Sh400 million per year,’ he said.

JKCI Executive Director and Consultant Cardiologist Dr Peter Richard Kisenge said the contribution would directly support children requiring urgent cardiac care, noting that treatment varies depending on each patient’s condition.

‘Some children require surgery, others need specialised procedures to close heart defects, while others require medication and continued medical monitoring,’ he said.

Dr Kisenge described the partnership as an investment in saving children’s lives and supporting families affected by heart disease.

Oryx Gas Zanzibar has outlined measures taken to promote clean cooking energy, donating 250 gas cylinders at the Kizimkazi Festival alongside a strategic push to supply LPG-powered generators to hotels and industries across the archipelago.

The firm revealed that Zanzibar has made significant progress in LPG adoption, with clean energy uptake rising from six percent in 2020 to over 30 percent in 2025, a trajectory driven by private sector collaboration, government support, and key stakeholders.

Speaking during a clean energy conference at the Kizimkazi Festival, which ran from August 12 and concluded on Friday, August 14, 2026, Oryx Gas Zanzibar Managing Director, Ms Shuwekha Khamis highlighted the company’s vital role in accelerating clean cooking transition.

“We began this effort long ago, continuously assisting institutions through their energy transition. In Zanzibar, Oryx has transformed several key bodies, including 25 schools, the Economic Building Force, and Economic Building Force (JKU), which operates six camps across Unguja and Pemba,” she said.

“Through our partnership with the Mwanamke Initiative Foundation, we have also converted Kiinua Mguu prison, two police stations, 12 health centres, and numerous government offices. We are seeing substantial strides across the institutional sector,” added Ms Khamis.

Earlier at the festival, Oryx Gas distributed 250 free cooking gas cylinders to residents to boost adoption, supporting the government target of reaching 80 percent clean cooking energy usage by 2034.

The government has released over Sh11 billion for the construction of a Cancer Centre at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH), as national statistics reveal that 30,000 out of 45,000 diagnosed cancer patients die annually.

The investment aims to bring specialised oncology services closer to residents of the Southern Highlands, reducing travel costs and logistical burdens while positioning Mbeya as a regional medical hub for patients from neighbouring countries.

Speaking on Saturday, August 15, 2026, during an inspection tour by the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) board of directors, ORCI executive director, Dr Diwani Msemo, said the project forms part of the government’s strategy to decentralise specialist and super-specialist care.

“Under the government’s 10-year strategy initiated in 2012 to combat cancer, Ocean Road was tasked with decentralising specialised services nationwide,” said Dr Msemo.

“Following the Mbeya project, plans are underway to construct additional centres in Arusha, Kigoma, and Mtwara, where land has already been secured,” he added.

Dr Msemo explained that the Sh11 billion disbursed so far covers initial structural civil works, noting that total investment will exceed Sh30 billion once medical equipment and diagnostic machinery are fully installed.

He added that the Sixth Phase Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan has allocated over Sh60 billion to the Ocean Road Cancer Institute for infrastructure upgrades nationwide.

Construction on the Mbeya facility is scheduled for completion by January 2027.

The strategic location of the Mbeya centre is expected to boost medical tourism from neighbouring nations, including Zambia, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), offering patients shorter travel times compared to journeying to Dar es Salaam.

Highlighting the disease burden, Dr Msemo reported that 45,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Tanzania each year, with 30,000 losing their lives, equating to approximately one cancer-related death every hour.

Globally, 2024 statistics recorded 20 million new cancer diagnoses and 9.7 million deaths.

However, Dr Msemo emphasised that nearly 50 percent of cancer cases are preventable or treatable if detected early, underscoring the importance of expanding regional screening and early diagnostic infrastructure.

Ministry of Health director of curative services, Dr Hamad Nyembea, confirmed that the government plans to establish additional oncology facilities across the southern belt and other regions by 2030 to ensure timely and reliable care.

Representing the public, ORCI board member, Ms Aisha Kwegia, commended the initiative, noting that the new centre will significantly alleviate the emotional and financial strain on patients in the Southern Highlands who previously had no choice but to travel to Dar es Salaam for treatment.

The Court of Appeal has freed two men who had been serving life sentences for burning down a church in Bukoba after finding serious flaws in the evidence used to convict them.

Rashid Mzee and Allyu Dauda were sentenced by the High Court’s Bukoba Registry on August 13, 2020, after being convicted of conspiracy, arson and malicious damage to property.

The Court of Appeal, in a ruling delivered on August 14, 2026, found that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

The case arose from a fire on the morning of October 30, 2015, at Bujugo village in Bukoba District, where a Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG) church, built with reeds and roofed with corrugated iron sheets, was completely destroyed.

Justices Rehema Kerefu, Issa Maige and Dr Ubena Agatho heard Criminal Appeal No. 597 of 2020, which had been filed by the two men.

Justice Agatho said the court had found that the appellants were denied the right to cross-examine the third prosecution witness, making the witness’s evidence legally unreliable because his credibility could not be properly tested.

The court also rejected evidence from the first prosecution witness concerning an alleged oral confession by Mr Dauda at the scene of the fire.

Justice Agatho said the circumstances in which the alleged confession was made, in the presence of police officers and other people, raised doubts over whether it had been given voluntarily.

The court further ruled that evidence concerning an additional statement recorded from Mr Mzee could not be relied upon because the statement had already been expunged over procedural irregularities.

The judges also quashed the conspiracy conviction, holding that conspiracy could not stand where the intended offence had already been completed and proven.

‘Therefore, the charges were not proved beyond reasonable doubt. We allow the appeal, quash the convictions and sentences against the appellants and order their immediate release,’ Justice Agatho said.

How the case unfolded

The prosecution case was that the church’s pastor, Faustine Nshange, received information from an elder about the fire and reported the matter to village leaders and police.

Following investigations, Mr Mzee and Mr Dauda were arrested alongside another suspect who was not part of the appeal.

The prosecution alleged that Mr Dauda later orally confessed to setting the church on fire in the presence of the pastor at the scene.

The prosecution also relied on additional statements allegedly recorded from the two men by magistrates and tendered in court as exhibits.

The men were charged under the Penal Code with conspiracy to commit an offence, arson and malicious damage to property.

During the trial, they denied making the statements, alleging that police officers had severely tortured them and forced them to sign blank documents while in custody.

They were initially sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy, life imprisonment for arson and one year for malicious damage to property.

First appeal

The men challenged the convictions before the High Court in Bukoba.

The first appellate court expunged their extra-judicial confessions because of procedural irregularities in how they had been recorded and admitted.

However, it upheld the convictions for conspiracy and arson, finding that the alleged oral confessions made in the presence of independent witnesses remained sufficient to support the convictions.

The court also quashed the conviction for malicious damage to property.

The two men then appealed to the Court of Appeal on 11 grounds, challenging, among other things, the legality of the proceedings, the denial of their right to cross-examine a prosecution witness and the reliance on evidence that had not been properly established.

During the latest appeal hearing, the two appellants had no legal representation, while the Republic was represented by two State Attorneys.