Category: The Citizen

Babati. Police in Manyara Region are holding a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Boay Parish in Babati District, for allegedly engaging in acts of incitement.

Regional Police Commander Ahmed Makarani confirmed to The Citizen’s sister publication, Mwananchi, on Saturday, October 25, 2025, that Pastor Eleth Mtaita was arrested on Friday, October 24, 2025. According to Mr Makarani, the pastor is being questioned over claims that he incited his congregation not to participate in the forthcoming general election. “The pastor has not been abducted; he is in police custody for questioning after being accused of inciting church members not to go out and vote,” Mr Makarani said.

He further revealed that the police are also searching for Sheikh Juma Silima from a mosque in the same Boay area, who is similarly accused of urging people not to vote on October 29, 2025. Mr Makarani cautioned religious leaders against engaging in politics, emphasising that churches and mosques should remain places of worship. “Religious leaders should focus on matters of faith, not politics.

Places of worship are not platforms for political mobilisation,” he said. Meanwhile, confusion erupted on social media late Friday night and early Saturday after reports surfaced claiming that Pastor Mtaita had been abducted from his home by armed, unidentified individuals.

It was alleged that the men, armed with guns, stormed the pastor’s residence, threatened his family, and forced him into a Toyota Land Cruiser with no registration plates before speeding away. Manyara Regional Commissioner Queen Sendiga recently warned that the government would take stern measures against anyone inciting citizens to boycott voting in the general election.

“Anyone who discourages the public from turning out to vote will be violating the law and will face strict legal action,” Ms Sendiga said. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Mainland champions Young Africans SC (Yanga) have booked their place in the CAF Champions’ League group stage after a convincing 20 victory over Malawi’s Silver Strikers at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

The result saw Yanga overturn a 10 deficit from the first leg in Lilongwe, advancing 21 on aggregate to the delight of thousands of home supporters. Early goal sets the tone Yanga began the match with intensity and purpose, immediately pressing their opponents in search of an early breakthrough.

Their efforts paid off in the 6th minute when defender Dickson Job rose highest to meet a corner from Mohamed Doumbia, nodding home to send the crowd into jubilation. The goal not only gave Yanga belief but also forced Silver Strikers to come out of their defensive shell.

Pacome doubles the lead The Jangwani giants continued to dominate possession, showing composure and creativity in midfield through Doumbia and Maxi Nzengeli. Their dominance was rewarded in the 34th minute when Nzengeli delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Pacome Zouzoua, who calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper George Chikooka to make it 20. The Ivorian attacker’s goal proved to be the decider in the two-legged tie, putting Yanga firmly in control.

Missed chances but total control Despite their comfortable lead, Yanga could have won by a wider margin. Striker Prince Dube squandered a golden opportunity in the 82nd minute after a superb setup from Zouzoua, while substitute Edmund John saw his close-range effort brilliantly saved by Chikooka moments later.

The hosts’ attacking play was fluid and relentless, but poor finishing kept the scoreline respectable for the visitors. Silver Strikers show resilience Silver Strikers, who had impressed in the first leg, struggled to replicate their performance in Dar es Salaam.

Even so, players such as Maxwell Paipi, Daniel Sandukira, Uchizi Vunga, and Andulu Yosefe occasionally threatened with quick counterattacks. However, Yanga’s backline, marshalled by captain Bakari Nondo and the dependable Job, stood firm to repel every dangerous move.

Redemption and new beginnings The win marked a crucial turnaround for Yanga, whose supporters were left frustrated after the first-leg loss in Malawi. That defeat had led to the dismissal of head coach Romain Folz, with assistant coach Patrick Mabedi stepping in to guide the team through the decisive return leg.

Under Mabedi’s leadership, Yanga displayed renewed energy, tactical discipline, and a collective fighting spirit that earned them a place among Africa’s elite. Fans celebrate historic progress At the final whistle, the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium erupted in celebration.

Fans waved flags, sang club anthems, and hailed the players for restoring pride to Jangwani Street. The qualification marks another milestone in Yanga’s continental journey, as the club looks to emulate or even surpass last season’s run in the CAF Confederation Cup.

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Dar es Salaam. On the evening of Friday, October 24, 2025the Bahati Female Band demonstrated that when the entertainment industry provides space for people with disabilities, true artistry and magic emerge.

During the listening party for their five-track “Nithamini EP,” a product of the Nithamini Project, the all-female band used their music to deliver a powerful message on disability inclusion and equality. From the opening track, Sote ni Sawa (We Are All Equal), to the closing Mazingira (Environment), each song conveyed a profound narrative about society’s perceptions and treatment of people with disabilities.

The live performance transcended mere entertainment; it was a poignant and emotional experience. The audience was visibly moved, with some shedding tears, as blind singers and dancers performed with passion, while an artist with albinism took to the stage to highlight how society often overlooks or marginalises the talents of people with disabilities.

According to Pili Maguzo, director of Bahati Female Band, the Nithamini Project stemmed from personal experiences and a desire to confront discrimination against women with disabilities in the arts and beyond. “The idea came from the pain of what we’ve endured–how people react when you arrive late for a show with someone who has a disability.

They immediately assume you’ve come to beg. These perceptions hurt deeply,” Maguzo explained.

She added that the project extends beyond music, aiming to reaffirm the presence and value of people with disabilities within their families and communities. “If we don’t raise our voices now, then when will we? Music is our voice, and tonight, people are hearing what we’ve created,” she said.

The Bagamoyo Arts and Cultural Institute (Taasisi ya Sanaa na Utamaduni Bagamoyo, TaSUBa) and the National Arts Council (Basata) praised the initiative, noting significant progress compared to previous years, with more artists with disabilities actively participating in the creative sector. Dr Herbert Makoye, Principal of TaSUBa, highlighted the vital role that artists with disabilities play in society.

“People with disabilities hold an important place in our community, just like everyone else,” he said. “Through initiatives like this, we see how the arts can amplify inclusion.

At our institution, we have artists with disabilities and facilities designed to support them.” The event also hosted a panel discussion that shed light on the longstanding neglect of artists with disabilities, from major music festivals and studio sessions to collaborations with non-disabled peers.

Band member Irene Malekela shared her experiences: “Many people assume that a person with a disability can’t be an artist. But when they see us perform like this, it changes their mindset,” she said, emphasising that accessibility remains a significant challenge in most performance venues.

Determined to break barriers, the Bahati Female Band has made it their mission to prove that disability does not equal inability, and that talent knows no physical limitation. Founded out of pure love and compassion with just five members, the band has grown to over thirty women.

Since its official registration in 2000, Bahati Female Band has expanded its work beyond music, launching social campaigns such as efforts against teenage pregnancies and the Shika Ndoto (Hold on to Your Dream) initiative. Now, through Nithamini, they are amplifying messages of equality and inclusion.

Looking ahead, Bahati Female Band plans to transform into a fully-fledged NGO, continuing to harness the power of art not only as entertainment but as a tool for empowerment and social change. .

Washington/Monrovia. Donald Trump’s administration said on Friday it has reached an agreement with Liberia to accept Kilmar Abrego, the migrant whose wrongful deportation to El Salvador in March became a flashpoint in the Republican president’s immigration crackdown.

The Justice Department said in a court filing that Abrego could be deported to the African country as soon as October 31. Maryland-based US District Judge Paula Xinis has temporarily blocked the US government from deporting Abrego while she considers his bid to be released from immigration detention. It is unclear how the administration’s agreement with Liberia will influence the judge’s decision.

Abrego also could seek to challenge his removal by claiming fear of torture or persecution. Liberia said it agreed to take Abrego “on a strictly humanitarian and temporary basis” following a request from the United States.

Liberia’s information ministry said in a statement that it would ensure that Abrego is not removed to “any country where he may face substantial risk of persecution, torture or other serious harm.” Liberia is the first country in Africa to agree to accept Abrego after the administration unsuccessfully floated Uganda, Eswatini and Ghana as options for a potential second deportation.

Abrego, a sheet metal worker who entered the United States illegally, had been living in Maryland with his wife, their child and two of her children – all of whom are American citizens – when he was arrested and sent to his native El Salvador. He was deported to El Salvador, where he spent time in a mega-prison known for its harsh conditions, in violation of a prior US court order.

Abrego was sent back to the United States in June, and Trump’s Justice Department brought criminal charges accusing him of smuggling migrants. He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have accused the administration of vindictive prosecution.

The administration also has said Abrego was a member of the MS-13 gang, an accusation his lawyers deny. A lawyer for Abrego, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said Abrego has no personal connection to Liberia, and added that the country is far from his wife and children in Maryland.

“The government has chosen yet another path that feels designed to inflict maximum hardship,” Sandoval-Moshenberg said in a statement. “Their actions are punitive, cruel and unconstitutional.

” His lawyers in the past have accused the administration of violating Abrego’s rights to due process under the US Constitution. A deportation in the coming days could also impact a court hearing in his criminal case scheduled for November 4 and 5 in Nashville, Tennessee, that will examine whether Abrego was improperly charged in retaliation for his decision to bring a legal challenge to his March deportation.

Abrego’s lawyers have sought testimony from several Justice Department officials. The administration vowed to remove Abrego again from the United States after he was in August.

Abrego’s lawyers have indicated a preference for Costa Rica, a Spanish-speaking country in Central America that has said it would take in Abrego, but the administration has so far not agreed to send him there. The Justice Department highlighted Liberia’s historic ties to the United States, its “humane treatment of refugees” and its “robust” human rights protections.

A 2024 US State Department report flagged significant rights issues in the West African country, including extrajudicial killings. Liberia was one of five African countries the Trump administration pressed in July to accept migrants being deported to countries other than their own.

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Kigali, Rwanda. In a landmark collaboration aimed at bridging the digital divide, the Airtel Africa Foundation on October 25, 2025 partnered with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), and Cisco to launch a transformative initiative under the Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) programme.

The partnership seeks to advance digital inclusion across Rwanda by providing free Internet connectivity and digital skills training to underserved communities, supporting the country’s journey towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Under the initiative, ITU will deliver digital skills training content to the DTCs, alongside other regional capacity-building activities.

It will also facilitate networking opportunities to promote digital literacy, granting participants access to expertise and global best practices. Speaking to the press, Airtel Rwanda Managing Director, Mr Sujay Chakrabarti, said: “Today’s partnership between the Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, RISA, and Cisco marks a significant step forward in bridging the digital divide and empowering Rwandan youth with digital skills.

This partnership is a powerful example of what happens when government, private sector, and international organisations come together to empower communities.” The Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Rwanda, will equip DTC locations with routers, Wi-Fi, and data packages at no cost, ensuring that digital training and educational platforms are fully accessible to learners.

The initiative complements Rwanda’s ambition to become a knowledge-based economy and aligns with national programmes such as ‘Connect Rwanda’, which seek to broaden access to smartphones and digital services for marginalised communities. Ms Esi Asare Prah, Head of Programmes at Airtel Africa Foundation, on behalf of Dr Segun Ogunsaya, Chair of the Foundation, said: “This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting national development goals and closing the digital divide through meaningful collaboration.

We are honoured to partner with ITU to bring this vision to life and contribute to Rwanda’s journey towards becoming a digitally empowered society.” Dr Emmanuel Mannaseh, Regional Director for ITU, added: “Our partnership with Airtel Africa Foundation begins in Rwanda, where we are joining forces to strengthen digital skills in underserved communities and advance connectivity.

This initiative lays the groundwork for broader regional collaboration, as we aim to expand this work to other Digital Transformation Centres across Africa.” RISA CEO Mr Antoine Sebera emphasised the transformative potential of the programme, stating: “What we are seeing here today is partnership in action.

With 900 million people in Africa still unconnected, extra effort must be made to ensure that no one is left behind. These centres will play a vital role in educating the youth to leverage AI.

Digital transformation is driving the world, and Africa, particularly Rwanda, cannot be left behind.” .

Dar es Salaam. Youth innovation in Tanzania is beginning to take a commercial path following the official handover of two university technology projects from the College of Information and Communication Technologies (CoICT) to the Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi) entrepreneurship programme.

The two projects — an Internet of Things (IoT) system for detecting tomato spoilage and a modern road transport safety system — highlight how technology can be used to improve safety, resilience, and food security. The transfer is designed to help young innovators from universities turn their technological ideas into market-ready products and services with real economic value.

The handover ceremony, held at CoICT in Kijitonyama on October 23, 2025 marked a new beginning for the innovators, who will now receive business training, technical support, and mentorship to transform their projects into viable enterprises. DTBi Executive Director Patience Karua said innovation needs more than just ideas — it requires an environment that allows it to grow and create impact.

“Innovation needs more than a good idea. It needs a system that nurtures it, provides business direction, and creates room for growth,” said Ms Karua.

“Through our partnership with CoICT and the Youth TeamUp Project, we are not just transferring innovations; we are investing in the future of Tanzania’s digital economy.” The Youth TeamUp Project, which connects young people from Africa and Europe through innovations that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030), continues to empower Tanzanian youth with skills, networks, and international exposure.

CoICT Project Coordinator Dr Eva Shayo said innovations developed within universities must go beyond classrooms and research labs to solve real-life challenges. “At CoICT, we believe in learning by doing.

Seeing these innovations move into DTBi’s entrepreneurship programme shows that creativity and research can bring practical solutions to society,” said Dr Shayo. DTBi Project Coordinator Makange Mramba said the handover signals the start of a promising journey for the innovators.

“This handover is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey. The young innovators will continue to receive business mentorship, training, and technical support to ensure their products are ready for the market,” said Mr Mramba.

The collaboration between CoICT, DTBi, and Youth TeamUp marks a growing shift in Tanzania’s innovation landscape — one where youthful creativity is increasingly finding space in the business world. .

Arusha. The East African Community (EAC) has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Tanzania in advance of the country’s General Elections scheduled for October 29, 2025. The deployment follows an official directive from the EAC Council of Ministers, instructing the Secretariat to monitor elections across all Partner States.

The move highlights the regional bloc’s commitment to promoting democracy, peace, and stability in East Africa. The Mission is led by former Vice President of Uganda and a distinguished advocate for public health and gender equality, Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe.

class=”article-picture” 7 class=”article-picture_caption” 9 Former Vice President of Uganda and a distinguished advocate for public health and gender equality, Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe Dr Kazibwe is the first woman in Africa to serve as Vice President of a sovereign state and previously held the role of UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. “As a Community founded on the principles of good governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, the EAC regards credible elections as the cornerstone of democracy and regional integration,” Dr Kazibwe said during the flag-off ceremony at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha on October 24, 2025. The EAC Election Observation Mission comprises 67 experts drawn from all Partner States, including Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), officials from National Electoral Commissions, Human Rights Commissions, Civil Society Organisations, and the EAC Secretariat.

Observers have been deployed across Tanzania to assess the electoral process in line with national laws, the EAC Principles for Election Observation and Evaluation, and other international standards. EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva said that the Mission will issue a preliminary report shortly after the polls, followed by a comprehensive final report with recommendations to strengthen future electoral processes in the region.

“Our observers will engage with key stakeholders, monitor campaign activities, and oversee polling, counting, and the transmission of results to ensure transparency and credibility,” she said. The Deputy Head of Mission, Maina Karobia, a Member of EALA, emphasised that the Mission’s role is strictly impartial.

“We are here in solidarity with the people of Tanzania, not to interfere, but to observe and report objectively,” he said, urging all electoral actors to uphold peace and integrity during the polls. The EAC’s deployment complements similar initiatives by other regional and international bodies, including the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Commonwealth, all of which have dispatched observer missions to Tanzania.

Grounded in Article 6(d) of the EAC Treaty, the Mission reinforces Partner States’ commitment to democratic governance, accountability, gender equality, and human rights — key values enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. .

Washington. When President Donald Trump met with donors for his new ballroom at the White House earlier this month, he relayed a story that thrilled his real estate mogul heart.

“I said, ‘How long will it take me?’ ‘Sir, you can start tonight, you have no approvals,'” Trump said on October 15, describing a conversation he’d had about the project. “I said, ‘You gotta be kidding.

‘ They said, ‘Sir, this is the White House, you’re the president of the United States, you can do anything you want.'” Days later, demolition crews bulldozed the East Wing of the White House, reducing decades of history at one of the country’s most famous landmarks to a pile of rubble and drawing outrage from historians, preservationists, Democrats and the public.

Trump had gotten what he wanted: a clean slate for his new $300 million ballroom. It was an action that seemed to symbolize, in physical form, a presidency that has taken a wrecking ball to national norms, international institutions and the world order itself.

Historians, largely aghast at the move, saw the thinking of a developer at work rather than the keeper of a sacred trust. “I think this is the developer’s mentality again of building something big that has your name on it and that everyone remembers you for.

A Trump Tower,” said Jeremi Suri, a University of Texas historian. “He’s building a tower for himself.

This is a ballroom tower.” Indeed, Trump himself, at the dinner with executives from Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin and Meta Platforms, all of whom the White House says have pledged to help fund the ballroom, marveled at the opportunity the project presented.

“It’s exciting as a person in real estate, ’cause you’ll never get a location like this again,” he said. As a businessman, Trump put his name on buildings, steaks and ties.

Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday the ballroom would be named, too, but declined to say what it would be. Trump told reporters late Friday that he didn’t plan to name it after himself.

But the 90,000-square-foot structure will be forever associated with him. “Everybody’s going to look at it and they’re going to see now an edifice that overshadows the executive mansion, and that edifice has one man’s name on it,” said Edward Lengel, a former chief historian at the White House Historical Association.

“I believe that’s intentional.” Well before the ballroom project became a reality, Trump had made his mark on the White House with gold decorations in the Oval Office, a paved-over Rose Garden reminiscent of his Florida Mar-a-Lago club, portraits of himself throughout the property and giant American flags on new flagpoles on the north and south lawns.

The Republican president has also sought to remake Washington, D.C.

, taking over control of the Kennedy Center and planning an Arc de Triomphe-style monument to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. Taylor Budowich, a former senior adviser to the president, said Trump was the nation’s “greatest builder” with a vision for the White House and beyond. “The president is a visionary, whether it be in politics, business or life.

He is able to see things not just for what they are, but for what they could be,” he said. “This is just another wonderful example of Trump being Trump.

” ‘Little public disclosure, consultation’ Trump’s team and allies have dismissed criticism of the ballroom project as manufactured outrage. “All of his properties are first class.

And he doesn’t spare expenses, and he has an eye for it. This will be a wonderful addition,” said Armand Grossman, a Florida-based real estate investor who worked for Trump for four years, about the ballroom.

“It will be around for a long time for many generations to enjoy.” The president followed his own unique style and belief in expansive executive power in making the ballroom project happen.

While previous renovations were funded and approved by Congress, this one will be paid for by private donors, reducing oversight restrictions. And while the White House says it plans to submit designs for the ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission, it says that body only oversees construction, not demolition.

“I think it’s very clear that the administration studied those weaknesses and, with much greater care than they’re letting on, that they then very ruthlessly exploited those weaknesses,” Lengel said. White House officials and Trump himself have said that they were transparent about the work, showing pictures of the proposed ballroom and talking openly about his intentions.

But officials have not been able to identify any oversight body with authority over demolition, in what became an apt metaphor for Trump’s broader stamp both on governing and federally owned and operated real estate. Said historian Ellen Fitzpatrick: “It certainly is in keeping with President Trump’s very expansive view of executive power that requires little public disclosure, consultation or explanation prior to such a dramatic event.

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Washington/Bogota/Mexico city. The US on Friday imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, as President Donald Trump sharply escalated a feud with Washington’s longtime Latin American ally over accusations that Petro has refused to stop the flow of cocaine into the United States.

Tensions between Washington and many countries in the region have been mounting for weeks. The US military has ratcheted up activity in the southern Caribbean, striking vessels in international waters that it has alleged without evidence are carrying drugs.

Trump this week called Petro an “illegal drug leader” after the leftist president accused the US of committing “murder” with the strikes. Petro, whose term will end in 10 months, has always opposed the strikes.

He has attempted to end Colombia’s six-decade conflict through peace and surrender deals with rebels and crime gangs, but those efforts have borne little fruit. “Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

“President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation.

” Petro disputes the basis for the US allegations, saying his government has seized cocaine at unprecedented rates and that expansion of coca crops – the base ingredient for cocaine – has slowed every year since 2021. “What the US Treasury says is a lie,” Petro said on X on Friday afternoon. “My government did not increase cocaine, it did the opposite, my government has seized more cocaine than in the whole history of the world.

” Petro, who first rose to prominence as a senator by exposing links between some of his fellow lawmakers and paramilitary groups involved in cocaine trafficking, earlier called the sanction “a complete paradox”. He said he had hired a US lawyer to defend him and spoke to thousands of supporters in central Bogota on Friday evening, saying he has no money in the United States.

While rare, the imposition of sanctions on a head of state is not unprecedented. The move adds Petro to a short list that includes the leaders of Russia, Venezuela and North Korea.

Petro’s wife and son as well as Armando Benedetti, Colombia’s interior minister, were also hit with sanctions on Friday under the authority that allows Washington to target those it accuses of being involved in the global illicit drug trade. On X, Benedetti said he had been penalized for merely stating that Petro was not a drug trafficker and that the sanctions proved the US anti-drug fight was a “sham.

” Former lawmaker Nicolas Petro, who is already facing corruption charges in Colombia, said on X he was targeted for being his father’s son and that his pending case has nothing to do with drug trafficking. Friday’s action freezes any US assets of those targeted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.

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Bukoba. The Kagera Regional Police Commander, Mr Brasius Chatanda, has confirmed the detention of several Chadema opposition leaders, following the circulation of a letter on social media alleging that five senior party officials had been arrested.

Speaking on Saturday, October 25, 2025 Commander Chatanda clarified that police were currently holding four party leaders and three members on allegations of inciting and mobilising illegal demonstrations. “It is true that we are holding these leaders along with three other party members.

They are accused of inciting public unrest by organising protests. They are among 17 individuals we have detained during this entire election campaign period,” said Commander Chatanda.

He added that, so far, his office had not received any court directive ordering the suspects to be produced before a magistrate, noting that the matter was still under police jurisdiction. “Our role as the police is to make arrests, conduct investigations, and prepare case files.

Court proceedings follow once the process is complete,” he explained. According to the letter circulating online, those arrested on October 16, 2025 include Mr Chief Kalumuna, the Chadema Municipal Chairman for Bukoba and member of the Victoria Zone Committee; Mr Paulo Musisi, a National Congress delegate; Mr Daniel Lwebugisa, the Kagera Regional Secretary; Mr Egbert Kikulega; Mr Ramadhan Fadhili; Mr Revocatus Willison; and Mr Baziri Waziri, the Kyerwa Constituency Secretary.

The police statement comes a day after the High Court issued an order directing that the detained individuals either be released from custody or, if necessary, brought before a court of law to face the charges levelled against them. .