Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. As Tanzania begins an 87-day parliamentary budget session, pressure is mounting on lawmakers to confront a long-standing legal contradiction: a law that still permits girls as young as 14 to marry.

The debate has resurfaced amid growing concern over children’s rights, with religious leaders, legal experts, and activists calling for urgent reform of the country’s Marriage Act of 1971. At the centre of the controversy are provisions allowing a girl to marry at 15, or even 14, with parental or court consent, an exception critics say continues to fuel child marriage in parts of the country. Speaking at a public dialogue organised by Msichana Initiative in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, March 28, 2026, religious leaders from both Muslim and Christian communities were united in their stance: faith does not condone child marriage.

The National Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata), National Executive Council’s chairman, Sheikh Khamis Mataka, said the law contains dangerous loopholes that undermine efforts to protect children. “While there are clear regulations for students who become pregnant, the law remains silent on students being married.

This is a serious gap,” he said. “As long as these legal provisions exist, they legitimise child marriage.

We need explicit clauses prohibiting students from marrying,” he added. Religious leaders and stakeholders emphasised that education remains the most effective tool in delaying early marriages.

Under Tanzania’s Education and Training Policy of 2014 (revised 2023), children are expected to start primary school at six and complete secondary education by 18, an age widely recognised as adulthood. “If this policy is fully implemented, most children will finish school at 18. That alone would significantly reduce child marriage,” noted Sheikh Mataka.

He stressed that Islamic teachings prioritise maturity, education, and the prevention of harm before entering marriage. “Islam recognises the importance of education and insists on preventing harm before pursuing benefits.

Children must be educated first,” he said. Drawing comparisons, he noted that countries such as Egypt set the minimum marriage age at 18, while Indonesia sets it at 21 for men and 19 for women, though challenges persist there as well.

Christian teachings echo similar principles. Speaking on behalf of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Father Longino Rutagwelera said marriage is a sacred institution meant for mature individuals capable of making informed decisions.

“God intends for people to marry when they are mature and fully understand their responsibilities,” he said. He added that marriage must be entered freely, without coercion, and with readiness to assume family obligations.

For years, child rights advocates have pushed to amend the Marriage Act to set 18 as the minimum age for both boys and girls, without exceptions. In 2016, the High Court ruled in favour of raising the minimum marriage age to 18. However, implementation has stalled, leaving the current law unchanged.

A lawyer with Msichana Initiative, Ms Lucy Gidamis, said reforming Sections 13 and 17 of the Act is critical. “We urge the government and Parliament to amend these provisions to align with international child rights standards and protect girls from the harms of early marriage,” she said.

She added that religious leaders’ involvement is key, given their influence in shaping community attitudes. “Legal reform alone is not enough.

We need a shift in societal mindset, and that requires collective action,” she said. As Parliament convenes to debate the national budget, campaigners argue the issue of child marriage must not be sidelined.

They say the contradiction between the education policy, aimed at keeping children in school until 18, and a marriage law that allows them to wed much earlier exposes a policy gap that urgently needs fixing. For many, the coming weeks present a crucial opportunity for Tanzania to align its laws with its development ambitions and decisively protect the future of its girls.

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Dar es Salaam. European partners have said they will continue to strength investment and trade ties with Tanzania.

The statement came as the business community marked ten years of collaboration under the European Business Group Tanzania (EUBG). The anniversary event in Dar es Salaam brought together representatives from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland.

Speakers highlighted the importance of closer engagement with Tanzania’s private sector as a driver of economic growth. European Union Ambassador to Tanzania, Christine Grau, said the milestone reflects a renewed focus on improving the investment climate.

She noted that European businesses are expanding in Tanzania amid global economic shifts. “The EUBG has grown from a small group into a network of over 130 members,” she said.

“It provides a structured platform for dialogue with policymakers and supports knowledge exchange.” Amb Grau added that initiatives such as Global Gateway are expected to improve connectivity.

They will also attract quality investments and deliver lasting benefits for local communities. EUBG executive director, Marloes Hamelink, said the organisation remains committed to promoting responsible and sustainable investment.

She highlighted the group’s role in providing reliable market information and professional networks to members. Ms Hamelink noted that the EUBG will continue to support private sector development.

Its aim is to strengthen investor confidence and facilitate informed business decisions. As the organisation enters its second decade, it plans to deepen partnerships.

Engagement with both public and private stakeholders will remain a priority. The group will also continue advocating for a business environment based on free trade and fair competition.

The introduction of honorary memberships was announced. They will be offered to European ambassadors and selected diplomatic stakeholders.

This initiative aims to strengthen institutional cooperation and policy dialogue. European representatives said private sector collaboration remains central to development cooperation.

They identified priority sectors including digital development, agribusiness, renewable energy, critical minerals and sustainable infrastructure. Investment in these sectors is expected to accelerate economic transformation.

It will also support Tanzania’s industrialisation agenda. Looking ahead, the group outlined three key areas of focus.

The first is expanding access to European markets. The second is promoting local value addition in processing and manufacturing.

The third is creating jobs through investments that enhance the skills and competitiveness of Tanzanian enterprises. These measures are intended to foster inclusive growth.

They will also strengthen Tanzania’s position in regional and global value chains. .

Dar es Salaam. For Pendo Bigambo, agriculture has never been only about what happens in the field.

It is about what happens after harvest-where food security is protected or lost, where incomes are secured or reduced and where women’s invisible labour finally has the chance to be recognised. For more than two decades, she has worked quietly but consistently behind national agricultural systems, helping shape policies, training programmes and standards that reduce post-harvest losses and improve food safety across Tanzania.

Yet beyond the technical achievements, her deeper contribution lies in ensuring women farmers, who carry much of the responsibility for post-harvest handling, are not left behind in the country’s agricultural transformation. She currently works as Principal Agriculture Officer at the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (Copra).

Her journey reflects the spirit of this year’s The Citizen Rising Woman Initiative theme: Give to Gain, Elevate Her Rise. Rather than focusing on personal recognition, she has spent her career strengthening systems that allow others to succeed.

“Success has never been about me alone,” she says thoughtfully. “It has always been about building structures that support other people to move forward,” she says.

Her leadership style is shaped less by visibility and more by purpose ensuring policies respond to real farmers’ needs and that women gain equal space within agricultural value chains. That mindset did not begin in boardrooms or policy meetings.

It started at home. Raised in a family where education, discipline and responsibility were strongly valued, Pendo grew up understanding that achievement carried obligations beyond the individual.

Her parents encouraged curiosity and independent thinking and their home often welcomed relatives pursuing education opportunities. “I learnt early that growth becomes meaningful when it includes others,” she recalls.

“That lesson stayed with me.” Those values continued to guide her through university and into public service.

At the Sokoine University of Agriculture, she built a strong technical foundation in horticulture. Later, her Master’s degree in International Trade at the University of Dar es Salaam expanded her understanding of markets and agricultural systems beyond production itself.

Together, the two fields strengthened her ability to connect farm-level realities with national-level planning. But she insists her journey has never been a solitary one.

“I have come this far through support from family, mentors and colleagues,” she says. “No one succeeds alone.

” Since joining the Ministry of Agriculture in 2004, Pendo has played an important role in strengthening Tanzania’s post-harvest management systems, an area that often receives less public attention than production but remains critical for food security and farmer livelihoods. Across the country, a significant share of food losses occurs after crops leave the field.

Poor storage, limited processing capacity and inadequate market preparation can reduce both food availability and farmer incomes. For women farmers especially, these losses affect daily household welfare directly.

Her work has contributed to the development of national guidelines on post-harvest handling of fruits, vegetables, cereals and pulses, as well as strategies promoting safer storage, improved processing and stronger market linkages. “When farmers reduce post-harvest losses, they protect both their income and their household food supply,” she explains.

“That change is especially important for women.” Through nationwide training programmes for extension workers and farmers, she has helped strengthen practical knowledge on post-harvest handling, cold-chain management and food safety, including aflatoxin control.

These trainings continue to reach communities across the country, ensuring technical information translates into everyday farming practice. It was during this field work that she began noticing a pattern that would shape the direction of her career.

Women were doing most of the post-harvest work–but they were rarely involved in decisions about technologies, markets or training opportunities. “I saw women working extremely hard after harvest,” she says.

“But they were not always part of the decisions that affected their work.” That realisation pushed her to look beyond technical solutions and begin integrating gender perspectives into agricultural planning processes.

Her involvement in developing national guidelines on gender mainstreaming in aflatoxin control marked a turning point. Although she was not initially trained as a gender specialist, her experience working closely with farmers helped her recognise the importance of designing policies that reflected women’s realities.

“That is when I understood inclusion must be intentional,” she explains. Working alongside gender practitioners and development partners strengthened her ability to translate this understanding into practice.

Training programmes were redesigned to ensure women participated actively and gained skills that strengthened their confidence and bargaining power within markets. “When women participate equally in training, the benefits reach entire households,” she says.

Today, her influence extends beyond training programmes into national planning systems themselves. As a departmental budget officer within the Ministry of Agriculture, she contributes to the preparation of annual plans and resource allocations that shape agricultural priorities across the country.

By working with gender-disaggregated data, she helps identify gaps affecting women farmers and advocates investments that respond directly to those needs. For her, gender-responsive budgeting is not simply a reporting exercise.

“Inclusion must begin at the planning stage,” she says. “If it does not, women remain invisible during implementation.

” Her contribution to strengthening extension systems nationwide continues to improve farmers’ access to safer storage practices, better processing techniques and market-oriented production skills. Across communities, more farmers–particularly women–are adopting improved handling methods that reduce losses and improve produce quality.

The results may appear gradual, but they are meaningful. Women who once struggled to preserve produce after harvest are now engaging more confidently in markets and making better use of available technologies.

“These changes take time,” she says. “But when they happen, they transform livelihoods.

” One of the most significant milestones in her career came through the Lishe Endelevu Project implemented with support from Save the Children. In 2019, she successfully mobilised resources that led to the preparation of eight national guidelines on Good Agricultural Practices and best post-harvest management of fruits and vegetables.

The guidelines were launched during World Food Day in October 2020 and are now supporting improved food handling and nutrition practices across several regions. “It was encouraging to see communities begin adopting improved practices,” she says.

“These changes contribute to healthier families.” In some areas, schools have started producing vegetables for feeding programmes, while households are gradually diversifying diets beyond traditional staples.

Although nutrition outcomes depend on many factors, she believes improved production and handling practices are helping shape positive change at community level. Her collaboration with organisations including Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, the Aga Khan Foundation, FAO and Sokoine University of Agriculture has further strengthened extension training systems across multiple regions.

Through these partnerships, extension workers and lead farmers have gained skills in climate-smart agriculture, maize post-harvest management, vegetable handling and rice quality improvement for better markets. Such collaboration, she believes, is essential for agricultural transformation.

“No institution can work alone,” she says. “Partnerships make progress possible.

” Beyond training systems, her influence also extends into agricultural standardisation through her role as a technical committee member at the Tanzania Bureau of Standards. There, she contributes to the formulation and revision of national, East African and continental standards for cereals, pulses and their products–work that strengthens food safety and improves market competitiveness.

Participation in regional harmonisation meetings and international platforms such as the All Africa Postharvest Management Congress and Exhibitions in Addis Ababa has further strengthened her policy engagement beyond national borders. “International platforms allow us to learn from each other,” she says.

“They help strengthen our national systems.” Despite her policy-level responsibilities, she remains closely connected to farmers themselves through training programmes and nationwide assessments of post-harvest losses across food crop value chains.

Her involvement ensures strategies remain grounded in real experiences from the field. She has also supported training programmes on fruit and vegetable processing–an area increasingly opening income opportunities for women engaged in small-scale agribusiness.

“When farmers add value to their produce, they strengthen household resilience,” she explains. Over the years, her dedication has been recognised through several honours, including the Best Worker award in the Department of National Food Security at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Best Student in Plant Protection award at Sokoine University of Agriculture.

Yet she views recognition not as a destination but as encouragement to continue serving. “These achievements reflect teamwork,” she says.

“They motivate me to keep supporting others.” Mentorship remains one of the strongest pillars of her leadership approach.

She believes experienced professionals carry responsibility to guide younger generations, particularly women entering technical careers in agriculture. “Mentorship creates confidence,” she says.

“It helps young women believe they can succeed.” Through her continued engagement with extension workers, farmers and development partners, she encourages young professionals to see agriculture not as a fallback option but as a sector of innovation, opportunity and leadership.

“Agriculture is transforming,” she says. “Young people must position themselves to benefit from that transformation.

” Looking back, Pendo identifies two influences that shaped her journey most strongly: the values she learnt growing up in a supportive family environment and her close interaction with farmers across Tanzania. Together, they strengthened her commitment to practical solutions that improve livelihoods while strengthening national systems.

Her message to women facing uncertainty in their careers reflects both experience and hope. “Growth is not always linear,” she says.

“Sometimes it is an opportunity to reflect, learn new skills and reposition yourself.” Through policy leadership, farmer training and gender-responsive planning, she continues to demonstrate that when one woman rises with purpose, she creates pathways for many others to rise with her and in doing so, strengthens the future of agriculture itself.

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Geita. Conflicting accounts have emerged following the collapse of several mining shafts at Msasa mine in Runzewe Ward, Bukombe District, with some residents reporting injuries and possible deaths despite an official denial from authorities.

The incident occurred on Sunday, March 29, 2026, with reports beginning to circulate on social media early in the morning. The claims suggested that those affected included mine workers, small-scale traders and women involved in stone crushing, locally known as wapiga ukware, who were said to have been working around more than 10 shafts.

Some residents who spoke to The Citizen’s sister publication, Mwananchi said a large number of people had gathered at the site before the incident, including water vendors, miners and stone crushers. “Some of the information being shared may not be reliable, but it is true that many people had gathered there yesterday, including water vendors, stone crushers and miners.

The ground collapsed and some people were trapped. I was passing near the area at the time,” said a miner who identified himself only as Emma.

The witness expressed doubt over a police statement indicating that there were no casualties, maintaining that some people had been injured. Another resident of Runzewe, who declined to be named, said an ambulance was seen moving repeatedly between the mine and Uyovu Health Centre, although it was unclear whether it was transporting injured people or delivering rescue equipment.

According to circulating reports, a significant number of people were believed to have been either inside or around the collapsed shafts at the time of the incident. Some claims suggested that individuals working underground may have died after being buried by debris.

There were also unverified allegations that tear gas was used to disperse miners who attempted to assist in rescue efforts, prompting calls for a thorough investigation. However, the Police Force on Sunday evening issued a statement dismissing reports of deaths and injuries.

The statement clarified that the incident involved the collapse of shafts that had already been closed after safety concerns were identified by site supervisors. Geita Regional Police Commander, Ms Safia Jongo, said the incident involved four shafts at the Msasa gold mine in Runzewe West, Bukombe District.

She said the collapse occurred at around 10am during a routine inspection, when one of the inspectors noticed that a structure near the shafts had begun to give way. “He alerted his colleagues who were in the area, and all of them managed to exit safely,” she said.

Ms Jongo emphasised that the shafts were not operational at the time, as they had already been shut down. “Immediate safety measures were taken in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Force, as well as other government departments and authorities, with the support of local residents.

Preliminary assessments indicate that no one was inside the shafts at the time of the incident, and therefore no human casualties occurred,” she said. Authorities have since tightened security at the site, with members of the public barred from accessing the area.

Despite the official statement, uncertainty remains among residents, with some calling for greater transparency and an independent assessment to establish the full extent of the incident. .

Dar es Salaam. CRDB Bank has reaffirmed that its sponsorship of the Kilimanjaro International Marathon is aimed at promoting the country’s tourist attractions, nurturing sporting talent, improving public health, and marketing Tanzania internationally.

At this year’s event, the bank sponsored the five-kilometre (5km) race, a category that mainly attracts non-competitive participants, including adults, corporate representatives, officials, and children. CRDB Bank Chief Operating Officer, Bruce Mwile, said the involvement of adults and professionals from various organisations not only supports healthy lifestyles but also enhances the country’s global visibility, as the race draws participants from international institutions, including members of the diplomatic community.

Mwile noted that for children, the 5km race offers valuable early exposure to athletics, helping them build experience and inspiring them to pursue the sport more seriously as they grow into potential competitive athletes. “Moreover, Moshi serves as a key tourism gateway, which is why CRDB saw the importance of supporting this long-standing race as part of broader efforts aligned with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s agenda to promote Tanzania’s tourism sector, while also contributing to improved health and economic wellbeing for citizens,” he said.

He added that the marathon continues to attract both local and international participants, and that CRDB has committed to a three-year sponsorship agreement, using athletics as a platform to boost tourism promotion. Meanwhile, the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, has urged organisers to introduce a dedicated children’s race ahead of the main marathon starting next year, as part of efforts to nurture future athletic talent.

Makonda emphasised that athletics remains one of the country’s most celebrated sports and plays a key role in building national pride, underscoring the importance of investing in young athletes to sustain Tanzania’s success. He directed Nurdin Babu, the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, to collaborate with organisers in incorporating children’s races, creating a supportive environment that encourages youth participation under the guidance of experienced coaches.

The minister also proposed that international athletes register through Tanzanian embassies abroad to strengthen global outreach and increase participation. He assured that the government would fully support the initiative if implemented.

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Dar es Salaam. Prof Ibrahim Lipumba has finally accepted his removal as Civic United Front (CUF) chairman, leaving five directives for the new leader, Mr Mirambo Yusuf, including leading efforts to secure a transitional government.

In addition, he emphasised the need for a new Constitution derived from citizens’ views, the establishment of an Independent Electoral Commission, and unity among members in strengthening the institution. He also urged that the party’s Secretary General, Mr Hamad Masoud, be removed for lacking the required qualifications, to restore confidence within a party long beset by leadership disputes.

Profr Lipumba, who held the position for 27 years, made the remarks 42 days (one month and 12 days) after being removed from office following directives issued by the Registrar of Political Parties (RPPs). The Registrar’s decision, issued on February 13, 2026, to nullify the party’s general election held on December 18 and 19 last year, which also resulted in the victory of Prof Lipumba and his colleagues, was based on the argument that they did not obtain more than half of the valid votes cast by delegates at the general assembly.

According to those directives, which created divisions within the party between supporters and opponents, the electoral process was supposed to be repeated to comply with procedures, regulations, and the party constitution, but that step was not taken. Consequently, on February 20 and 21 this year, an official meeting was convened to remove Prof Lipumba, which he did not attend.

His allies claimed they were heading to court to challenge the RPP’s decision because they had not been allowed to defend themselves. Throughout that entire period, Prof Lipumba remained silent until Mr Mirambo was elected and assumed responsibilities.

After 42 days, he has now appeared publicly and formally accepted his removal. Speaking to journalists at the party’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, March 29, 2026, Prof Lipumba said that despite irregularities in the process of his removal, he has no reservations about the new leadership.

“Although the process of removing me was questionable, personally, in constitutional and administrative terms, I have no doubts about the new chairman and elected leaders, nor have I said that I was treated unfairly. But I can say that if someone denies a donkey peas, you can complete the rest yourself,” Prof Lipumba, when handing over office to Mr Mirambo.

He said the procedures for convening the general meeting were not properly followed and that even in 2024, he had not intended to contest the position again; therefore, removing him has reduced his burden. However, he maintained that the process was flawed, as one cannot legitimise the December 2024 election and then nullify that of February 2026. He added that his removal followed a speech on January 27, 2026, in which the party proposed a transitional government to pave the way for another national election.

“That speech angered certain influential individuals, who then devised a strategy to remove me quickly without following proper procedures,” he said. Regarding his advice, Prof Lipumba called on the new leadership to ensure the country obtains a new Constitution derived from citizens’ views, together with the establishment of an Independent Electoral Commission.

He also stressed the need to discuss the party’s position on forming a transitional government, claiming that the 2025 General Election was neither free nor fair. He urged the new chairman to examine the legitimacy of the party’s Secretary General, Mr Masoud, claiming that he failed to perform essential duties when he was nominated to run for the Zanzibar presidency.

“He denied us the opportunity to have a presidential candidate in Zanzibar last year; we cannot tell citizens that this is the person who will lead us to success, we will destroy ourselves. I am saying this publicly so that I can be clearly understood, but that is the truth: you cannot be nominated as a presidential candidate and fail to return nomination forms; therefore, if we leave him in that position, we are finished,” he said.

However, Mr Masoud responded to Prof Lipumba’s claims, saying they were expressions of anger directed at him because he knows him thoroughly and fears that if he holds the position, he may expose many of his alleged wrongdoings. “Prof Lipumba knows that I know him thoroughly and many of his secrets; therefore, he has great fear after I was appointed to hold this position because he believes I will expose them.

I know many things–first, I found the party in an intensive care unit requiring close supervision,” he responded. For his part, the new chairman commended Prof Lipumba for his significant contribution to the party throughout the entire 27-year period.

He said the party recognises his contribution and will continue to allow him to provide advice and share his views. Mr Mirambo added that they have received all the advice provided and that it will be submitted to legitimate party meetings for discussion and decision-making.

“We will discuss them in accordance with party procedures, and decisions will depend on timing and the direction of members,” he said. He also urged members to end conflicts and unite to achieve the party’s objective of attaining state power.

On the other hand, CUF Leadership Council member Mr Daud Hassani said the appointment of the Secretary General was conducted in accordance with party procedures, whereby the chairman proposed names, and the Council approved them by a vote. He said the chairman and his team trust Mr Masoud; they consulted and presented his name to the Council, which then elected him.

Mr Hassan stressed that Prof Lipumba’s argument lacks substance, and what he expressed is merely an opinion like that of any ordinary member. Furthermore, Mr Hassani said Prof Lipumba’s claim that he has no confidence in him and accusations of wrongdoing are denied because the Council has no evidence of those allegations, while urging him to remain calm because every era has its own chapter.

Mr Mirambo selected Mr Masoud because he can work effectively with him. “Prof Lipumba is an ordinary member; what he is saying shows a failure to respect the authority of the Council that elected Mr Masoud.

He wants to reclaim his power, but we will not allow it. The Council is a major organ that must be respected once it makes decisions,” he said.

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Dar es Salaam. The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has launched investigations into 66 projects after identifying irregularities during its review of public resource utilisation.

The 66 projects form part of 913 projects found to have deficiencies out of a total of 1,864 audited by the institution in the 2024/25 financial year. According to the PCCB, the total value of the monitored projects stands at Sh14.3 trillion, an increase from the 2023/24 financial year, when 1,773 projects worth Sh11.4 trillion were reviewed.

The remarks were made on Monday, March 30, 2026, by PCCB Director General, Mr Chrispin Chalamila, while presenting the institution’s 2024/25 report to President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the Dar es Salaam State House. Among the projects reviewed are the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative and the construction of water infrastructure under 30 projects managed by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (Ruwasa), valued at Sh187.1 billion across several regions.

Others include 28 initiatives under the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (Tarura), worth S3 billion, compensation to residents affected by the expansion of Serengeti National Park in Bunda, and the construction of dormitories worth S.3 billion in Katavi and Rukwa regions, including Mpanda District.

Out of the 1,864 projects reviewed, the PCCB identified irregularities in 913, of which 66 have been subjected to formal investigation. Mr Chalamila said that in the 2023/24 financial year, 92 projects were investigated, indicating a decline in the number requiring investigation due to improved monitoring efficiency by the bureau.

He cited weak contract management as a major concern, leading to projects being implemented contrary to contractual agreements and contractors being paid for incomplete work. Other irregularities include failure to withhold taxes in some projects, non-compliance with public procurement laws, poor quality of work and materials, and overpayments beyond contractual terms.

Mr Chalamila emphasised that the issues are recurring and called on project managers to strengthen oversight to prevent persistent deficiencies. Meanwhile, the PCCB’s monitoring efforts have contributed to an increase in revenue collection by more than Sh8.6 billion annually across 40 local government authorities analysed.

Initial collections stood at Sh97.8 billion but rose to Sh106.4 billion following the bureau’s intervention. .

Dar es Salaam. For decades, Africa, Tanzania included, has been told how to conserve its own land, forests and wildlife, with policies drafted abroad, research agendas set elsewhere and solutions imported with little regard for local realities, The Citizen has learnt.

The result is a growing crisis: conservation efforts that often protect nature on paper fail people on the ground. Available testimonies show that across the continent, communities have been pushed out of ancestral lands, labelled as threats to wildlife, or excluded from decisions about resources they have managed for generations.

At the same time, Africa’s vast natural wealth continues to serve global environmental goals, sometimes at the expense of local development. It is this imbalance that has now triggered a strong response from Africa’s top brains in environment and conservation.

At the University of Dar es Salaam on Friday, some of the continent’s leading thinkers gathered for a two-day symposium, not just for discussion, but to confront what many now see as a broken conservation model. The urgency was clear: if Africa does not redefine conservation on its own terms, it risks losing both its resources and its voice.

The roots of the problem, they said, stretch back decades. Since global agreements like the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, Africa has been placed at the centre of global environmental campaigns.

Today’s targets, such as conserving 30 percent of the Earth by 2030, continue this trend. But while these initiatives promise global benefits, experts say they often ignore local needs.

This has given rise to what is commonly called “parachute science”, where researchers and organisations from outside Africa lead conservation efforts, using their own frameworks and priorities. According to participants, this approach has sidelined African knowledge, weakened local ownership and in some cases worsened conflicts between people and conservation authorities.

A scholar from the University of Cape Town, Prof Maano Ramutsindela, did not mince words. “We need to reclaim our voices and define what conservation should mean for us,” he said.

He pointed to a deeper issue, one that goes beyond external influence. “We have been self-alienated We no longer value the knowledge our forefathers used to live with nature,” he said.

Prof Maano Ramutsindela of the University of Cape Town speaks during the symposium at the University of Dar es Salaam on March 27, 2026, where he called for Africa to reclaim its voice and redefine conservation using local knowledge and priorities. PHOTO| COURTESY His message struck at the heart of the debate: Africa’s conservation problem is not only about outside control, but also about losing confidence in its own systems.

Experts warned that this has come at a high cost. When conservation ignores local knowledge and excludes communities, it often fails.

In many parts of Africa, people see conservation as something imposed on them, not something they are part of. This weakens trust, fuels resistance and undermines long-term success.

For Tanzania, the issue is especially important. The country is globally recognised for its rich wildlife and natural landscapes, which support tourism and livelihoods.

The Director of Aga Khan University’s (AKU) Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre, Prof Emmanuel Sulle, said, “We must ask whether our education and systems prepare Tanzanians to understand and manage their own environment,” he said. He stressed that real change must start with people.

“Citizens are the primary conservers- they must be at the front in deciding how conservation is done and how benefits are shared.” This idea, putting people first, was a key theme throughout the discussions.

Scholars further argued that conservation cannot succeed without the full involvement of local communities. They are not just beneficiaries, but key partners with knowledge, experience and a direct stake in protecting resources.

The Principal, College of Social Science at UDSM, Prof Christine Noe, echoed this view, calling for stronger collaboration between scholars, policymakers and communities. “We want a voice that comes from Africa to drive the conservation agenda,” she said.

But the shift being called for is not about rejecting global partnerships. Instead, it is about changing the balance.

African institutions, scholars and communities must lead, while international partners support rather than dominate. Participants also pointed to the need to combine indigenous knowledge with modern science.

Traditional practices, often dismissed as outdated, have helped communities survive droughts, floods and environmental changes for generations. “When combined with today’s technology, they can offer powerful solutions to climate and conservation challenges,” said Prof Maano.

The discussions in Dar es Salaam signal that change is underway. African scholars are no longer content to play a supporting role.

They are stepping forward to shape the agenda, define the problems and design the solutions. .

Dar es Salaam. As Tanzania begins an 87-day parliamentary budget session, pressure is mounting on lawmakers to confront a long-standing legal contradiction: a law that still permits girls as young as 14 to marry.

The debate has resurfaced amid growing concern over children’s rights, with religious leaders, legal experts, and activists calling for urgent reform of the country’s Marriage Act of 1971. At the centre of the controversy are provisions allowing a girl to marry at 15, or even 14, with parental or court consent, an exception critics say continues to fuel child marriage in parts of the country. Speaking at a public dialogue organised by Msichana Initiative in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, March 28, 2026, religious leaders from both Muslim and Christian communities were united in their stance: faith does not condone child marriage.

The National Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata), National Executive Council’s chairman, Sheikh Khamis Mataka, said the law contains dangerous loopholes that undermine efforts to protect children. “While there are clear regulations for students who become pregnant, the law remains silent on students being married.

This is a serious gap,” he said. “As long as these legal provisions exist, they legitimise child marriage.

We need explicit clauses prohibiting students from marrying,” he added. Religious leaders and stakeholders emphasised that education remains the most effective tool in delaying early marriages.

Under Tanzania’s Education and Training Policy of 2014 (revised 2023), children are expected to start primary school at six and complete secondary education by 18, an age widely recognised as adulthood. “If this policy is fully implemented, most children will finish school at 18. That alone would significantly reduce child marriage,” noted Sheikh Mataka.

He stressed that Islamic teachings prioritise maturity, education, and the prevention of harm before entering marriage. “Islam recognises the importance of education and insists on preventing harm before pursuing benefits.

Children must be educated first,” he said. Drawing comparisons, he noted that countries such as Egypt set the minimum marriage age at 18, while Indonesia sets it at 21 for men and 19 for women, though challenges persist there as well.

Christian teachings echo similar principles. Speaking on behalf of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Father Longino Rutagwelera said marriage is a sacred institution meant for mature individuals capable of making informed decisions.

“God intends for people to marry when they are mature and fully understand their responsibilities,” he said. He added that marriage must be entered freely, without coercion, and with readiness to assume family obligations.

For years, child rights advocates have pushed to amend the Marriage Act to set 18 as the minimum age for both boys and girls, without exceptions. In 2016, the High Court ruled in favour of raising the minimum marriage age to 18. However, implementation has stalled, leaving the current law unchanged.

A lawyer with Msichana Initiative, Ms Lucy Gidamis, said reforming Sections 13 and 17 of the Act is critical. “We urge the government and Parliament to amend these provisions to align with international child rights standards and protect girls from the harms of early marriage,” she said.

She added that religious leaders’ involvement is key, given their influence in shaping community attitudes. “Legal reform alone is not enough.

We need a shift in societal mindset, and that requires collective action,” she said. As Parliament convenes to debate the national budget, campaigners argue the issue of child marriage must not be sidelined.

They say the contradiction between the education policy, aimed at keeping children in school until 18, and a marriage law that allows them to wed much earlier exposes a policy gap that urgently needs fixing. For many, the coming weeks present a crucial opportunity for Tanzania to align its laws with its development ambitions and decisively protect the future of its girls.

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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s drive towards a modern, digital economy is gathering pace, with the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) emphasising that efficient and inclusive payment systems are central to economic transformation and financial inclusion.

Deputy Governor in charge of Economic and Financial Policies, Dr Yamungu Kayandabila, made the remarks while addressing Master of Business Administration (MBA) students from Stanford University during their visit to the Bank in Dar es Salaam. “Payment systems contribute to inclusive economic growth by enabling payments and settlements that support supply chains and underpin financial sector stability,” Dr Kayandabila said.

He said that well-functioning systems not only facilitate day-to-day transactions but also improve the effectiveness of monetary policy. “Efficient, secure and inclusive payment systems enhance the transmission of central bank interest rate decisions and strengthen liquidity management across the economy,” he added.

Dr Kayandabila outlined the history of Tanzania’s payment system reforms, noting that modernisation began in the mid-1990s as part of broader financial sector reforms. Prior to this, cash and paper-based processes dominated, with cheque clearing taking up to 14 days in upcountry areas and seven days in Dar es Salaam.

The turning point came in 1996 when BoT launched the National Payment Systems Reform Project, transitioning to electronic systems aligned with international standards. The central bank continues to monitor global payment innovations and collaborate with regional and international partners to adopt best practices while safeguarding financial stability and consumer interests.

Meanwhile, Director of National Payment Systems, Ms Lucy Shaidi, highlighted key achievements up to 2025, including rapid growth in instant payments, mobile financial services and interoperable platforms. “These developments are driving Tanzania towards a more inclusive, efficient and increasingly digital financial system,” she said.

Among the milestones is the Tanzania Instant Payment System (TIPS), which allows users to send and receive money instantly across different financial institutions, reducing costs and expanding access for individuals and businesses. The system represents a major step forward in Tanzania’s journey towards a fully digital and inclusive economy.

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