Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Telecommunications Company Yas has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the Kilimanjaro International Marathon, announcing its continued sponsorship of the 2026 edition to be held in Moshi next year.

According to Yas Corporate Communications and Public Relations Manager, Christina Murimi, the company is proud to remain the official sponsor of the half marathon (21km race) for the 11th consecutive year. Murimi said the company’s consistent support demonstrates Yas’s deep commitment to promoting sports, tourism, and community development in Tanzania.

“On behalf of Yas and Mixx, we are honoured to remain part of this iconic event, which has become a powerful platform for promoting health, tourism, and sustainable community growth,” said Murimi. “Our partnership with the marathon organizers continues to yield a positive impact — nurturing new talent, supporting the sports and tourism sectors, and encouraging healthy lifestyles among Tanzanians.

” She further explained that through advanced 4G and 5G technologies, Yas provides reliable and high-speed communication services for all marathon participants, while Mixx facilitates seamless digital payment solutions for runners, sponsors, and event partners. “By harnessing the power of technology, we ensure that every step taken in this marathon truly counts.

This is how we drive positive transformation in sports and the community at large,” Murimi added. Murimi also extended appreciation to the organizing committee, co-sponsors, and partners who continue to contribute to the ongoing success of the Kilimanjaro International Marathon year after year.

According to the organizers, registration for the Kilimanjaro International Marathon 2026 will open soon, inviting both local and international runners to register for one of Africa’s most celebrated races. The event is expected to attract thousands of participants from Tanzania and abroad.

For more than a decade, the Kilimanjaro International Marathon has grown beyond a sporting event — it has become a national symbol of unity, health, and pride, promoting tourism and stimulating economic growth in the Kilimanjaro region and across Tanzania. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is rapidly expanding its horticultural footprint across regional and global markets, driven by major upgrades in cooling infrastructure at the Dar es Salaam Port.

Tanzania exports horticultural produce such as avocado, seaweed, cocoa beans, flower seeds, vegetable seeds, cut flowers, eggplant, bitter gourd, cinnamon and cloves among others. The improvements have bolstered the country’s access to international markets, increased export volumes, and strengthened its competitive position in East Africa and beyond.

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General, Mr Plasduce Mbosa, told The Citizen that the Port of Dar es Salaam has been undergoing a “refrigeration revolution” in recent years–one that is transforming Tanzania’s role in global trade. “We have invested heavily in advanced cooling infrastructure.

The port currently boasts more than 400 reefer plugs, dedicated to powering refrigerated containers (reefers) that transport temperature-sensitive goods such as fruits, vegetables, and seafood,” he said. Mr Mbosa added that this was only the beginning, as the port plans to more than double its reefer handling capacity to over 1,000 plug points within the next three years–a strategic move aimed at tapping into Tanzania’s growing potential as a major exporter of perishable goods.

He noted that uninterrupted cooling is crucial in the perishable logistics industry. To ensure reliability, the port has installed a redundant power system, with diesel generators on standby to provide emergency backup during grid failures.

Even in the event of power outages, reefer cargo receives priority power allocation to maintain an unbroken cold chain. To further preserve quality and reduce spoilage, all terminal operators at the port offer 24-hour temperature monitoring services for reefer containers.

“These constant checks ensure that perishable goods remain at optimal temperatures throughout their stay at the port, preserving freshness and preventing costly losses,” he explained. Mr Mbosa said the upgraded cooling infrastructure is already paying off, enabling exporters of Tanzanian-grown avocados, mangoes, seafood, and other fresh produce to ship larger quantities with improved quality.

The products now reach overseas markets fresher and with extended shelf life–reducing waste and increasing profitability. Meanwhile, Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) Chief Executive Officer, Ms Jacqueline Mkindi, said the horticulture sector has achieved remarkable performance in 2024, driven by strong export growth across key international and regional markets.

She said this reflects Tanzania’s rising status as one of Africa’s leading horticultural producers. According to TAHA data, Tanzania’s horticultural exports to the East African Community (EAC) recorded explosive growth of 225 percent in volume and 470.45 percent in value–from 22,400 tonnes worth $1.32 million in 2023 to 72,800 tonnes valued at $7.53 million in 2024. Kenya emerged as the top destination, absorbing 91 percent of Tanzania’s regional horticultural exports, with oranges leading the list of exported crops.

In Asian markets, exports to China and India rose by 30.25 percent in volume–from 95,200 tonnes in 2023 to 124,000 tonnes in 2024–although the total export value fell sharply by 43.53 percent, from $56 million to $31.6 million. Exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also surged, with a 131.54 percent increase in volume and a 43.52 percent rise in value, reaching 60,200 tonnes worth $13.9 million in 2024. “Avocados dominated, accounting for 89 percent of the export volume, reinforcing Tanzania’s growing reputation as a leading avocado exporter in global markets,” Ms Mkindi said.

She added that exports to South Africa grew impressively, with volumes increasing by 110.73 percent and values soaring by 579.21 percent–from 0.9965 tonnes worth $1.8 million in 2023 to 2.

1 tonnes valued at $12 million in 2024. Exports to the European Union (EU) also recorded modest gains, rising by 27.45 percent in volume and 3.7 percent in value–from 24 tonnes worth $253.8 million in 2023 to 31.85 tonnes worth $263.3 million in 2024. The Netherlands led the EU market, receiving 47 percent of Tanzanian horticultural exports.

Avocados accounted for 46 percent of the export volume, while vegetable seeds represented 28 percent of export value. “This shift toward high-value horticultural products reflects a strategic positioning in premium European markets,” Ms Mkindi added.

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Dar es Salaam. Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Parliamentary candidate for Kibamba Constituency, Angellah Kairuki, has unveiled an ambitious sports development plan that includes the establishment of a football academy, the launch of the “Kairuki Cup”, and the renovation of local football grounds to nurture young talent across the constituency.

Speaking during a campaign rally held over the weekend in Mbezi and Msigani wards, Kairuki said her initiative aims to identify, train, and promote talented boys and girls who could go on to represent Kibamba at national and international levels. “If elected in the upcoming general election, I will establish a football academy and introduce the Kairuki Cup to help uncover and develop the immense sporting talent that exists in our communities,” said Kairuki.

She emphasized that Kibamba is blessed with several open fields suitable for football, but many of them are in poor condition and require urgent rehabilitation. “We have good grounds, but most are uneven or lack proper infrastructure.

I intend to ensure they are renovated, levelled, and made safe for both training and competition. A well-maintained sports environment encourages participation and pride in our youth,” Kairuki added.

The proposed Kairuki Cup will be an annual tournament designed to provide regular competitive opportunities for young players, serving as a stepping stone toward higher levels of the game. The event will also promote community unity and active participation among youth, parents, and local leaders.

Residents have welcomed Kairuki’s proposal, describing it as a timely investment in the social and physical development of young people. Johansen Johnson, a resident of Mbezi Ward, said structured sports academies could transform youth development in the area.

“This is not just about producing future champions — it’s about empowerment, discipline, and confidence-building,” he said. “When young people engage in organized sports, they learn teamwork, leadership, and resilience, which benefit them beyond the field.

” Johnson also emphasized the importance of including girls in the program, noting that early investment in women’s sports remains crucial for closing the gender gap in athletics. “Many girls in our schools show great potential in football, netball, and athletics, but they lack proper facilities and coaching.

An academy would give them a real platform to train, compete, and believe in their abilities,” he added. Local schools such as Kibamba Secondary School and Mbezi Primary School are expected to play a key role in supporting the academy’s development.

With structured coaching and community engagement, these schools could become vibrant hubs for nurturing the next generation of Tanzanian sports stars. Kairuki’s plan reflects her broader vision to use sports as a tool for youth empowerment, community cohesion, and health promotion.

By combining talent identification with infrastructure improvement, her initiative could position Kibamba as a model for grassroots sports development in Tanzania. “My goal is to ensure that every child in Kibamba with passion and talent for sports gets the opportunity to grow and succeed,” Kairuki concluded .

Arusha. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has handed over a K9 Unit Management Facility to the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) to bolster the country’s efforts in combating illegal wildlife trafficking.

The facility, valued at over Sh87 million, will serve as the operational base for two sniffer dogs donated by AWF to TAWA in 2015, worth about $10,000 (over Sh25 million). Speaking during the handover ceremony, AWF country coordinator Pastor Kagingi said the new infrastructure would enhance Tanzania’s ability to curb the illegal wildlife trade.

The facility, which includes a conference hall, offices, staff quarters, storage rooms, and kennels, was built at a cost of more than Sh84 million. The event also saw the signing of a three-year cooperation agreement between TAWA and AWF to support wildlife protection and anti-poaching operations.

Kagingi said AWF decided to fund the project after identifying operational challenges faced by the Northern Zone Canine Unit. “Illegal wildlife trade remains one of the most lucrative transnational crimes globally, generating up to $20 billion annually.

According to CITES, East Africa–particularly Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda–has long been identified as a major source and transit hub for the trade in ivory, pangolin scales, and other high-value wildlife products,” he said. He noted that in 2015, AWF, in collaboration with TAWA, launched the Canines for Conservation Programme to strengthen law enforcement capacity through specially trained dogs capable of detecting concealed wildlife products such as ivory, pangolin scales, and rhino horns.

Kagingi added that since its establishment, the canine teams have successfully carried out 117 wildlife contraband detections, leading to several arrests and prosecutions. TAWA conservation commissioner Yussuf Kabange said the sniffer dogs are currently deployed at key checkpoints, including Namanga, Holili, Tarakea, and Horohoro border posts, as well as Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport, and the Port of Tanga.

“Before this facility was built, the Northern Zone Office had no dedicated space for the canine team, which made operations difficult,” he said. “Through our partnership with AWF, we now have offices, staff accommodation, and kennels, enabling handlers and dogs to train and operate more efficiently.

” Masuhi Mgendi, head of TAWA’s Canine Unit, said the unit was established in 2015 as a specialised force to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking. Since then, its patrols have led to 99 arrests and the seizure of 258 pieces of ivory weighing 754 kilogrammes, along with pangolin scales, bushmeat, and lion teeth.

Launching the facility, TAWA board chairperson, Retired Major General Hamis Semfuko, commended AWF for its commitment, describing the building as a milestone in improving efficiency in wildlife protection. “Criminals are constantly changing tactics.

Using sniffer dogs remains a modern and vital tool in combating the illegal trafficking of wildlife products,” he said .

Dodoma. The High Court of Tanzania, Dodoma Registry, has upheld the life imprisonment sentence handed to four security officers convicted of gang rape but set aside their conviction for group sodomy, ruling that such an offence does not exist under Tanzanian law.

The appellants, Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) officer Private Clinton Damas, popularly known as Nyundo; Amin Lema (Kindamba); Nickson Jackson (Machuche); and Prison Officer Praygod Mushi, had appealed against their conviction and life sentence imposed by the Dodoma Resident Magistrate’s Court. Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Judge Amir Mruma said that while individual acts of sodomy are punishable under Tanzanian law, there is no provision recognising “group sodomy” as a criminal offence.

However, he affirmed that the law clearly provides that gang rape carries a mandatory life sentence, which has no alternative penalty. The four will therefore continue serving their sentences for the gang rape conviction.

Judge Mruma criticised the legal framework for lacking an alternative punishment for gang rape, saying it conflicts with the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, which grants the judiciary final authority in dispensing justice. “The law has tied the hands of the court because there is no alternative punishment to life imprisonment,” he said.

“This places the statute above the Constitution, which states that the courts have the final say in the administration of justice. This provision ought to be reviewed.

” He observed that punishment should ideally promote reform and rehabilitation, but life imprisonment and the death penalty deprive offenders of that opportunity, especially when the convicts are young. The judge noted that the four men, aged between 23 and 27, were relatively young at the time of the offence and may not have fully grasped the gravity of their actions.

According to court records, the victim had initially consented to sexual intercourse with one man, but the others forced their way into the room and raped her. Judge Mruma called for a comprehensive review of the country’s penal laws to align them with present-day realities, particularly those relating to group sodomy and gang rape, which currently do not grant courts discretion to impose alternative sentences.

He said the conviction was supported by video evidence and the victim’s testimony, which clearly identified each of the accused committing the offences. None of the appellants disputed appearing in the footage.

“If they had denied being the ones in the video, further forensic analysis could have been conducted, perhaps even to determine whether it was artificial intelligence, but since no one disputed it, there was no need for further examination,” he said. The appellants were represented by advocates Godfrey Wasonga, Robert Owino, and Meshack Ngamando, while the state was represented by Principal State Attorney Lucy Uisso, and prosecutors Ahmed Mtenga and Aziza Mhina.

Judge Mruma upheld only one ground of appeal, the unlawfulness of the group sodomy charge, saying no such offence exists under Tanzanian law. Outside the courtroom, Principal State Attorney Uisso said the judgment exposed gaps in current sexual offence laws, particularly those concerning gang rape and sodomy, and called for urgent legislative review.

“When the sodomy law was enacted, lawmakers did not anticipate the possibility of group involvement, which is why no specific punishment was prescribed,” she said. Defence lawyer Wasonga said his team intends to appeal further to ensure their clients receive full justice.

The four were convicted on September 30, 2024, by the Dodoma Resident Magistrate’s Court for gang rape and unnatural offences against a young woman from Yombo Dovya in Dar es Salaam. They were sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay the victim Sh1 million each in compensation .

Paris. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began a five-year sentence on Tuesday for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya, arriving at La Sante prison in Paris in a stunning downfall for a man who led the country between 2007 and 2012. The former conservative president, 70, left his home for the car journey to the prison, walking hand in hand with his wife Carla Bruni and cheered by a crowd of supporters chanting “Nicolas, Nicolas” and singing La Marseillaise national anthem.

Sarkozy, who was convicted and sentenced last month, is the first former French leader to be jailed since Nazi collaborator Marshal Philippe Petain after World War Two. Sarkozy says he is innocent Shortly after he headed for La Sante, Sarkozy published a long message on X in which he claimed to be a victim of revenge and hatred.

“I want to tell (French people), with the unshakable strength that is mine, that it is not a former president of the Republic who is being imprisoned this morning — it is an innocent man,” he said. Sarkozy’s conviction capped years of legal battles over allegations that his 2007 campaign took millions in cash from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was later overthrown and killed during the Arab Spring uprisings.

While Sarkozy was found guilty of conspiring with close aides to orchestrate the scheme, he was acquitted of personally receiving or using the funds. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and has called the case politically motivated.

His lawyers said they had filed a request for early release, pending his appeals trial, and that they expected this request to be reviewed in about a month. They said they hoped they could get Sarkozy freed on early release by Christmas.

Sarkozy to be held in isolation unit Sarkozy will likely be held in La Sante’s isolation unit, where inmates are housed in single cells and kept apart during outdoor activities for security reasons. Conditions are similar to the rest of the prison: cells measure 9 to 12 square meters (100 to 130 square feet) and, following renovations, now include private showers.

Sarkozy will have access to a television – for a monthly fee of 14 euros ($16) – and a landline telephone. Sarkozy told Le Figaro he would take three books for his first week behind bars, including Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo” – the story of a man who is unjustly imprisoned and who plots his revenge against those who betrayed him.

The decision to jail a former president has sparked outrage among Sarkozy’s political allies and the far right. “Nicolas Sarkozy is not a criminal,” said Sarkozy supporter Jacqueline Fraboulet, who was among the crowd cheering him on Tuesday.

“We actually feel like the justice system is taking the power, and that’s not good for France.” Sarkozy’s children and brothers also attended the gathering.

Sarkozy, looking sombre, waved at his supporters before heading into his car for the journey to La Sante. France gets tougher on white-collar crime The sentencing reflected a shift in France’s approach to white-collar crime.

In the 1990s and 2000s, many convicted politicians avoided prison altogether. Despite his legal troubles, Sarkozy’s political influence has proved resilient as French society has shifted to the right.

President Emmanuel Macron, who had warm relations with Sarkozy and Bruni, said on Monday he had met Sarkozy ahead of his incarceration. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said he would visit him in prison.

That angered left-wing politicians who said Macron and Darmanin were breaching judicial independence. The son of a Hungarian immigrant, Sarkozy became president in 2007, pledging to shake things up with pro-business reforms that would reinvigorate France’s stagnant economy and elevate the country to the top table of global players.

Those efforts were quickly upended by the 2008-2009 economic crisis, and voters gave him little credit for raising the retirement age to 62 from 60 and loosening rules requiring a maximum 35-hour work week. Reporting by Manuel Ausloos Clotaire Achi, Sudip Kar-Gupta, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Jean-Stephane Brosse; Writing by Ingrid Melander and Michel Rose; Editing by Alison Williams, Benoit Van Overstraeten and Frances Kerry .

Dar es Salaam. The long-running dispute over ownership of a prime plot in the city took a new turn yesterday after authorities handed back the title deed to widow Alice Haule following a government investigation.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development submitted its report on Plot No. 189, Msasani Beach, to the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner (RC), Albert Chalamila, who directed that the property be returned to the widow.

The dispute involved Mrs Haule and businessman Mohamed Yusufali, and led to her eviction from the house on September 23, 2025, by unidentified individuals. Mrs Haule maintained that she and her late husband, Justice Rugaibula, had owned the house since 2008 and not Mr Yusufali.

However, Mr Yusufali’s lawyer, Mpwaga Bernard, said the matter was still before the court. “The case is scheduled for hearing on October 28, 2025. Both parties were directed to file their defences,” he said.

Mrs Haule’s lawyer, however, said they plan to withdraw the case, having achieved the desired outcome through the administrative process. Speaking on behalf of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, the Assistant Land Commissioner for Dar es Salaam, Shukurani Kyando, said the investigation followed directives issued by the RC two weeks earlier.

He said the team reviewed documents, interviewed witnesses and analysed the entire ownership process of the property. “The team followed up on ministry records, court files, and statements from more than eight witnesses involved since 2011,” Kyando said.

According to the report, the ownership trail began in 1999, when Bariki Elisante Keenja owned the plot. It was later sold to Quality Real Estate Ltd in 2007 and transferred to Justice Rugaibula in 2008. Records show that in 2011, Justice Rugaibula transferred ownership to Yusufali in a Sh262.5 million sale agreement.

However, tribunal records revealed that Mrs Haule had filed a caveat in October 2012, objecting to the sale on grounds that her husband had attempted to sell their matrimonial home without her consent. “The committee found that despite the caveat, the title had already been transferred to Yusufali in 2011,” Kyando said.

The probe also established that two agreements existed, a Sh150 million loan contract and a Sh262.5 million sale agreement, both involving the same property. The committee found that none of the loan-related transactions had been reported to the ministry.

A lawyer who drafted the documents told investigators he never saw Mrs Haule sign them. “He said he only handed the papers to her husband, who later returned them signed in her name,” Kyando said.

The investigation further revealed inconsistencies in the spousal consent document, which bore both a handwritten signature and a thumbprint, contradicting the lawyer’s stamped version. On the eviction, the report noted that no court or official order authorised the action.

It urged the government to act against individuals and firms that violate property laws and warned citizens to avoid informal property transactions. Based on its findings, the committee recommended that ownership of the house be restored to Mrs Haule as the legal administrator of her late husband’s estate.

Expressing gratitude, Mrs Haule said: “I thank the committee and the Regional Commissioner for following this matter step by step until justice was served for me and my four children.” Mr Chalamila ordered Yusufali to appear before his office within five days, saying he had ignored several summonses.

“On the day bouncers evicted this woman, he was present. Now that things have become difficult, he is no longer in the country,” the RC said.

He urged citizens to handle inheritance matters legally to prevent family conflicts, noting that emotional decisions often hurt future generations. .

In what authorities have described as one of the most daring art thefts in recent history, a group of highly organised thieves carried out a meticulously planned heist at the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris during the early hours of Tuesday morning. According to French police, the suspects infiltrated the museum shortly after midnight, bypassing several layers of advanced security systems.

Investigators believe the culprits possessed intimate knowledge of the Louvre’s internal layout and alarm protocols. By the time guards discovered the breach, the thieves had vanished–taking with them several invaluable masterpieces estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of euros.

Among the stolen works is believed to be a rare 16th-century painting by Leonardo da Vinci’s pupil, though officials have not yet released the full inventory of missing items. The French Ministry of Culture has confirmed that the museum will remain closed to the public until further notice as forensic teams comb the site for clues.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called the operation “an assault on France’s cultural soul,” vowing to bring those responsible to justice. “These criminals knew exactly what they were doing.

We will not rest until every piece of art is recovered and those behind this act are apprehended,” he told reporters outside the museum. Interpol has joined the investigation, coordinating with art crime units across Europe amid fears that the stolen pieces could already be on their way to the black market.

Experts warn that such works are nearly impossible to sell openly, suggesting the theft may have been commissioned by a private collector. Meanwhile, Parisians have expressed both outrage and disbelief that the Louvre–home to the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo–could fall victim to such a sophisticated crime.

As one visitor standing outside the cordoned-off museum remarked, “It feels as though part of our heritage has been taken from us.” Authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious activity or attempts to sell rare artworks.

For now, the world’s eyes remain fixed on Paris, awaiting answers to how one of the most secure museums on Earth could be breached–and whether its stolen treasures will ever return home .

Dar es Salaam. A total of 1,582,140 Standard Four pupils from 20,517 schools across Tanzania are set to sit for the Standard Four National Assessment (SFNA) on October 22 and 23, 2025, according to the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA).

Of the registered candidates, 764,290 (48.31 percent) are boys, while 817,850 (51.69 percent) are girls. Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, NECTA Executive Secretary Prof Said Mohamed provided key updates on the upcoming assessment.

“Out of all registered pupils, 1,475,637 (93.27 percent) will take the exam in Kiswahili, while 106,503 (6.73 percent) will sit for the exam in English, the language of instruction in their respective schools,” said Prof Mohamed. He said NECTA has made special arrangements for 5,750 pupils with disabilities, including 1,164 with low vision, 111 who are blind, 1,161 with hearing impairment, 1,641 with intellectual disabilities, and 1,673 with physical disabilities.

“Pupils with special needs will be granted an extra 20 minutes per hour for the Mathematics paper and 10 additional minutes per hour for other subjects,” he added. This year’s assessment, he noted, marks the first implementation of the revised curriculum, which is aligned with the 2023 edition of the 2014 Education and Training Policy.

Pupils will be examined in six core subjects–science, mathematics, geography and environment, arts and sports, Kiswahili, English language, and history and civics. Additionally, they will have the option to choose one of three elective subjects: French, Arabic, or Chinese.

Prof Mohamed said all logistical preparations have been finalised, including the distribution of exam papers and materials to councils and municipalities across the country. He added that invigilators have undergone comprehensive training, and security measures have been reinforced to safeguard the integrity of the assessment.

“We urge invigilators to conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the set regulations. School owners are also cautioned against interfering with the process.

NECTA will not hesitate to disqualify any examination centre that compromises the security or credibility of the assessment,” he warned. Prof Mohamed further advised pupils to follow exam rules strictly and avoid any form of malpractice during the two-day exercise.

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Dodoma. The push for accelerating the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS) into Tanzania’s development and investment frameworks received fresh impetus after leading organisations convened a key meeting to discuss the agenda.

The CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt), in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (AGCOT), convened a high-level workshop in Dodoma to discuss ways to address climate change solutions in agriculture. The NbS Mainstreaming Workshop brought together leaders from agribusiness, finance, and policy institutions to explore how nature-driven approaches can help businesses respond to climate risks while unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth.

The event was officiated by Deputy Director of Environment at the Vice President’s Office, Mr Thomas Chali, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to scaling up nature-based solutions as a key tool in achieving Tanzania’s climate goals. “As the country advances towards its emission reduction targets, nature-based solutions present a practical, scalable way to link environmental protection with socio-economic growth,” said Mr Chali.

Participants examined how ecosystem-based approaches such as agroforestry, soil and water restoration, and circular bio-economy models can strengthen supply chains, reduce operational risks, and align with global sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. The CEOrt is positioning the private sector as a key driver of climate adaptation and green transformation.

Its work under the NBS-RESOLVE Project–funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and implemented in partnership with IUCN–seeks to equip businesses with the tools to integrate NbS into corporate sustainability strategies, financial planning, and reporting processes. The session was facilitated by Country Co-director and Associate Partner at Auxim, and the organisation’s lead on nature-based solutions, Mr Syakaa William.

CEOrt Project Manager, Ms Hawa Urungu, said that by 2050, Tanzania aspires to rank among Africa’s top three investment destinations, anchored on green, inclusive, and competitive growth. “To get there, we must see sustainability not as a compliance exercise but as a strategic opportunity–and NbS sits right at the intersection of the climate, ESG, and investment agenda,” she said.

Adding a voice from the agricultural sector, Cluster and Partnerships Manager at AGCOT, Mr John Nakei, highlighted the sector’s readiness to scale up action. “Agriculture sits at the centre of both climate vulnerability and opportunity.

By adopting nature-based solutions, agribusinesses can restore soil health, improve water efficiency, and unlock green investment,” he said. “This approach is not just good for the environment; it’s smart economics that ensures long-term competitiveness for Tanzanian farmers and agribusinesses,” he added.

The workshop emphasised that integrating NbS can address several of Tanzania’s most pressing challenges–from soil degradation, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss to the need for climate-smart investments that deliver both financial and environmental returns. .