Category: The Citizen

Oslo. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, recognised for her “tireless efforts to restore democracy through peaceful means and her courage in the face of authoritarian repression.

” The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Machado for “her unwavering commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law,” describing her as a symbol of peaceful resistance in Latin America’s ongoing struggle for freedom. Machado, a longtime critic of President Nicolas Maduro’s government, has faced arrests, harassment, and political bans over her activism.

Despite these challenges, she has continued to mobilise Venezuelans through civic campaigns and international advocacy, calling for free and fair elections and an end to political persecution. In a brief statement following the announcement, Machado dedicated the award to “the Venezuelan people who have suffered, resisted, and dreamed of a free nation.

” She added, “This honour belongs to every citizen who has chosen courage over silence.” During her remarks, Machado also mentioned that she had spoken with U.

S President Donald Trump, to whom she expressed gratitude for his support and said she accepted the prize “in his honour,” acknowledging what she called his “decisive backing of Venezuela’s democratic cause.” The decision to award Machado the Peace Prize has been widely applauded by global human rights organisations and democracy advocates.

Leaders from across Latin America and Europe hailed the recognition as a powerful message of solidarity with the Venezuelan opposition movement. However, reactions from Caracas were sharply critical.

Government officials dismissed the award as “politically motivated interference,” accusing the Nobel Committee of siding with foreign interests. Machado’s win marks the first time in over a decade that the Nobel Peace Prize has gone to a Latin American figure.

Analysts say the choice underscores the committee’s growing focus on democracy and civic freedoms amid rising global authoritarianism. In Washington, President Trump — who has long touted his administration’s foreign policy achievements — later responded warmly to Machado’s gesture, saying he was “deeply honoured” by her dedication.

“This is a great day for freedom and for the people of Venezuela,” Trump told reporters. “Maria Corina Machado has shown tremendous courage, and I’m proud to have supported her cause.

” The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize will be formally presented at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, 2025 coinciding with the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. .

It was a sad weekend for us. That is, the week that ended on September 28, when a mzee of ours departed to join his Maker in the afterworld.

Mzee Josiah was a master storyteller who cleverly fused fact and fiction to enthral us whenever we shared his company, either formally or informally. Even as he went through his last week on earth at a Dar hospital, he never tired of regaling his visitors with his incredible stories.

It was on October 3 when we laid to rest our jovial old man at the church cemetery in an emotional ceremony attended by family and friends from various parts of Bongo and beyond. After we’re done with the various sombre activities and bidding kwa heri to those who have to travel immediately to their different destinations, it’s time to relax and explore.

Yeah, time to head to our side of Mount Kamwala’s shopping centre to see what’s on offer at Kwa Dada Anna, Kwa Temu and Kwa Sammy drinking joints. A younger bro, Dullah, had stayed close to me most of the day, impressing me with what has been going on within the Muyanza family and the village in general.

Who has married whom, and who has divorced whom? You note with interest that the incidence of divorce in the villages is much less than what we’re witnessing in the urban areas, where some marriages break up within a couple of months, if not weeks. And nobody raises eyebrows! Dullah leads you to Kwa Sammy, where we find the place full to the brim.

Some drinkers are having their booze while standing. There are two vacant tables without chairs, but your kid bro says no to the suggestion that we take our beer standing as a handyman goes out to look for chairs.

“We’ll just remain standing idly as we wait for chairs; my bro is an important man from Dar (ha!), and won’t have his beer standing up like a villager!” asserts Dullah. It only takes a few minutes before chairs arrive and we settle down for our beer.

Dullah is a young and strong man, which explains why he orders a Safari. I ask for my usual, a warm Castro Laiti, which Dullah dismisses as maji matupu, sheer plain water! I’m literally dying of thirst, because it’s been more than 24 hours since I took my last sip of beer.

I get hold of a bottle, ready to lead it to my waiting mouth, but I return it to the table and shout, “Hey, mhudumu, I had ordered a warm beerthis one is chilling cold!” “But that’s warm beer, mzee,” responds the mhudumu. “actually, we don’t even have a fridge here nobody owns a fridge in Usangi!” I dislike cold beer, but there’s nothing I can do other than take the beer the way it is.

Climate change has done us in because, in the not-so-distant past, having wintry weather beyond August was something unheard of. Rest in peace, dear Mzee Josiah Gerson Marisa WM.

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Dar es Salaam. The High Court, Small Claims Division in Dar es Salaam yesterday approved a request by lawyers representing former Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba Humphrey Polepole to submit an additional affidavit in a case concerning claims of his alleged abduction.

The petition, case number 24514/2025, filed under an urgent Habeas Corpus motion, seeks a court order to produce Mr Polepole before the court. It was filed on Tuesday against the Inspector General of Police and other respondents, including the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Attorney General (AG), the Special Zone Commander in Dar es Salaam (ZCO), and the Dar es Salaam Police Commander (ZPC).

Judge Salma Maghimbi, who is presiding over the case, granted the application to submit an additional affidavit, following a request from Mr Polepole’s legal team led by Mr Peter Kibatala. The court also set deadlines for submission and scheduled the full hearing for all parties on October 15 at 9.

30 am. Mr Polepole’s lawyers argued that new information had emerged since the first witness testimony, making it necessary to submit further evidence.

They requested that the matter continue ex parte, allowing proceedings without respondents who failed to appear despite receiving court summons. The court ordered Mr Polepole’s legal team to submit his additional affidavit by today, while the second respondent must file a counter affidavit by Tuesday, October 14. Respondents who fail to appear will need court permission to submit any further affidavits.

Advocate Kibatala told the court that Mr Polepole, a Tanzanian citizen who has served in various government positions, including District Commissioner for Ubungo and ambassador to Malawi, Cuba, and other Latin American countries, voluntarily resigned from his diplomatic post earlier this year. His resignation letter, dated July 13, 2025, was addressed to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

He alleged that in the early hours of October 6 unidentified individuals forcibly entered Mr Polepole’s Ununio residence in Dar es Salaam and took him to an unknown location. The claim has been corroborated by Polepole’s brothers, Godfrey and Agustino Polepole, and was widely reported in local media.

Mr Kibatala emphasised that as of the filing of the affidavit, Mr Polepole’s whereabouts remain unknown. None of the respondents has provided information on his welfare or legal status, raising concerns over his safety and constitutional rights.

The petition seeks to have Mr Polepole produced before the court pending the hearing of the full case. If successful, it could compel authorities to provide clarity on his detention or release him, while ensuring that due legal processes are respected.

The court’s approval of the additional affidavit is seen as a critical step in expediting the matter, especially given the urgency surrounding allegations of unlawful detention. Lawyers representing Mr Polepole argued that immediate court intervention is necessary to safeguard his fundamental rights.

“This case highlights the importance of legal safeguards for all citizens,” Mr Kibatala said. “We are acting swiftly to ensure that Polepole’s constitutional rights are respected, and that the matter is addressed transparently and urgently.

” Mr Polepole’s legal team also includes Faraji Mangula, Alphonce Nachipiangu, Deogratius Mahinyila, and Grolia Ulomi, who are coordinating efforts to ensure the petition proceeds without delay. .

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) defensive midfielder Aziz Andabwile was absent from the national football team, Taifa Stars, during their crucial World Cup qualifier match against Zambia due to citizenship clarification issues.

The decision came as a surprise to many fans who had anticipated seeing the talented midfielder feature in the game. Andabwile joined the national team camp when it opened at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Ground before the squad relocated to Zanzibar in preparation for the match.

Despite his presence in camp, his name was notably absent from the matchday lineup, raising questions among supporters and media alike. Prior to the game, there had been no official indication that Andabwile was unavailable due to injury, unlike central defender Dickson Job, who was sidelined because of a fitness issue.

This fueled speculation and curiosity among fans eager to see the midfielder in action. In response to inquiries, Taifa Stars head coach Hemed “Morocco” Suleiman explained that Andabwile’s omission was linked to a complex citizenship matter.

Suleiman stated that the coaching team had received information that Andabwile, despite being Tanzanian, had represented Malawi’s U-20 national team during the 2019 COSAFA tournament in Zambia. “After receiving this information, and to protect the integrity of the team, we were advised to remove him from the matchday squad while awaiting formal clarification from the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) regarding his eligibility,” said Suleiman.

Suleiman further explained that TFF had officially written to FIFA seeking guidance on whether Andabwile could legally play for Tanzania at the senior level. Unfortunately, a response had not been received by match time, compelling the coaching staff to err on the side of caution and leave him out of the line-up.

Clifford Ndimbo, TFF’s Media and Communications Officer, confirmed the matter, stating that the federation is awaiting a response from FIFA. “As far as I know, the matter is currently with FIFA following our letter,” Ndimbo said.

Andabwile himself addressed the situation, stressing that he is a Tanzanian citizen with a valid passport and other official documents. He explained that his previous stint with Malawi’s U-20 team did not affect his eligibility.

“I am Tanzanian, and there is no issue with my citizenship. I went to Malawi to play club football and was registered with Big Bullets FC after leaving Mbeya City.

The clarification has already been provided by the CEO of Yanga,” he said in a phone interview. .

Mahenge. Tanzania is set to reap significant economic and social gains from the newly launched $300 million graphite mining project, which is expected to boost the country’s position as a major global supplier of critical minerals.

The project, led by Faru Graphite Corporation in partnership with Australia’s Black Rock Mining, will operate for more than 26 years. It is expected to create around 900 direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs, while also stimulating infrastructure development in the host communities.

Speaking during the official launch here on Thursday, October 9, 2025, Minister for Minerals Antony Mavunde said the Mahenge project is a joint venture between the Tanzanian government, which holds a 16 percent non-dilutable stake, and private investors, who hold the remaining 84 percent. “This structure protects national interests while benefiting from private sector expertise,” he said.

Until recently, Tanzania contributed just 0.6 percent of the global graphite supply, lagging behind regional producers such as Madagascar and Mozambique.

“The Mahenge project is set to change that dynamic. With large-scale mining licences granted in 2022, full-scale operations have begun, positioning Tanzania as a rising graphite producer,” he added.

Graphite is crucial for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. The high quality of Mahenge’s graphite, combined with Tanzania’s access to hydropower and deep-water ports, makes the project especially valuable globally.

The government has ensured that residents displaced by mining operations have received new homes, part of Faru Graphite’s social responsibility programme. Chief Finance Officer Paul Sims said the mine will generate over 900 full-time jobs across four development phases, with 400 positions already filled in Phase 1.

The project also stimulates the local economy through procurement from Tanzanian suppliers, supporting SMEs in accommodation, catering, logistics, and retail. Infrastructure development is a key component.

Faru is funding a 70-kilometre electricity transmission line from Ifakara to Mahenge to power the mine and surrounding communities. Roads and bridges, including the Farujon Access Road, will also be improved in partnership with Tanroads, enhancing transport safety and local economic opportunities.

The $300 million project is financed through a blended model, with $150 million in debt provided by CRDB Bank, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation. The remainder is being raised through equity markets in Australia.

Faru CEO John de Vries said construction has already started, with Phase 1 expected to produce 90,000 tonnes of graphite per year. Treasurer Nehemiah Mchechu noted that revenue from taxes, royalties and social contributions will support education, healthcare and infrastructure nationwide.

The Ambassador of South Korea, Eun Ju, praised the project as a strategic collaboration that reflects shared goals under Tanzania’s development aspirations as outlined in the Dira 2050, aimed at using mining to drive GDP growth and industrial transformation. .

Dar es Salaam. African governments have been urged to invest in digital infrastructure and policy frameworks that will allow artificial intelligence (AI) to meaningfully drive climate action across the continent.

The call was made yesterday during a panel discussion on “Powering AI for Climate Action: The Infrastructure Imperative” at the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee’s AI for Climate Action Forum 2025, taking place in Dar es Salaam. The experts said the continent’s AI potential would remain underutilized without coordinated data systems, inclusive funding mechanisms, and deliberate efforts to localize technology.

World Bank senior digital development specialist Sara Ballan said many African governments are sitting on valuable climate and agricultural data that could spark local innovation if made accessible. “Across ministries, the data sits in silos,” she said.

“In Kenya, it took a year and a half just to curate and organize it in a way innovators could use.” She said the World Bank has supported such initiatives by helping governments build shared digital infrastructure and cross-sector data systems that allow collaboration between ministries, researchers, and startups.

“The digital transformation has become a foundation for development planning. Governments are now realizing that investing in data centers, connectivity, and interoperability is not optional–it’s essential,” she said.

From Malawi, Mechro’ chief executive Mr Alinafe Kaliwo said enabling policies and access to capital remain major hurdles for AI-driven climate solutions in Africa. “Governments must create policies that are enabling enough for innovators to innovate, but also inject opportunities for funding,” he said.

He added that while donor funding remains limited, resources should be directed to areas with direct community impact. “The starting point should be the innovators themselves.

We must look at the challenges our communities face and turn them into opportunities,” he said. Enterprise Neurosystem Chairman Mr Bill Wright said the next frontier for Africa lies in developing its own digital backbone — from cloud systems to sensor networks.

“When we went to Uganda, they made it clear they didn’t want to use Western cloud providers,” he said.He added, “They wanted to build their own infrastructure, and we partnered with startups like AfroCloud to make that happen.

” He said such models not only enhance data sovereignty but also preserve cultural and social values embedded in AI models. “It’s more than just technology– it’s about ensuring that what we build reflects the essence of the societies it serves,” he said.

Wright added that Africa’s innovation ecosystem is gaining global recognition. “You could camp out at universities and be amazed at what’s happening,” he said.

“The intellectual engine is already running; what’s needed is structured collaboration.” Mr Kaliwo said AI innovation should be guided by practical needs,especially in agriculture.

“As technology evolves, we must evolve our solutions,” he said. “We are developing the Munda Platform, which connects IoT, cloud computing, and AI analytics–all powered by green energy for field-based use.

” He stressed that food systems must be at the heart of AI infrastructure. “If it doesn’t touch the farmer, we risk building systems that do not feed people,” he warned.

The panelists agreed that Africa’s climate innovation agenda depends on how well governments, international partners, and local entrepreneurs can align their efforts. The AI for Climate Action Forum 2025, which continues today, has drawn global participants exploring how AI can accelerate climate solutions while addressing Africa’s unique infrastructural and policy gaps.

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Nairobi. The International Monetary Fund said on Friday that a staff visit to Kenya took stock of the latest macroeconomic developments and discussed reforms that could pave the way for a new programme.

The IMF said in a statement that policy priorities included “measures to enhance fiscal policy credibility, ensure sustainability of public finances and debt, and minimize fiscal, financial, and external sector risks”. Discussions with Kenyan authorities would continue during the upcoming IMF Annual Meetings, it added.

The East African nation’s $3.6 billion programme with the IMF expired earlier this year, and some officials have expressed interest in getting a new one that will include a lending component. Some financial analysts have said that Kenya needs a new loan deal from the Washington-based Fund to anchor its external debt repayments.

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Washington. With the Gaza war entering its third year, U.

S. President Donald Trump has achieved something no other world leader has been able to do: strong-arm Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into the first step of a broader peace deal while persuading other Middle Eastern countries to pressure Hamas.

But despite its potentially historic nature, Trump’s rushed deal signed in Egypt on Thursday leaves a host of unresolved issues that could still trip up implementation of the initial phase and impede progress toward the next, analysts say. While crediting Trump with the most promising breakthrough yet to end the war, experts say the immediate challenge will be to iron out practical details for what has been agreed to on paper: silencing the guns, exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a partial Israeli withdrawal inside the devastated enclave.

After that, negotiators must tackle other parts of Trump’s 20-point plan over which the two sides remain bitterly at odds, including the disarmament of Hamas, which the militant group rejects, a formal end to the conflict and Gaza’s post-war governance. None of this was dealt with in three days of indirect negotiations in Egyptian beach resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where Trump had sent his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to help mediate.

But a quick resolution appears unlikely. “There is an enormous number of potential sticking points that are going to really determine whether this ceasefire ends up being the beginning of peace or just another twist in the cycle of violence,” said Jonathan Panikoff, a former deputy U.

S. national intelligence officer on the Middle East.

Preventing the ceasefire deal from unraveling, as others have under Trump and his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, will require a sustained, detailed effort by the president and his national security team, said Panikoff, now at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington. But with Trump’s foreign policy team stripped of some of its policy expertise due to job cuts and now hampered by the federal government shutdown, that won’t be easy.

For now, though, Trump – who has touted the deal as another reason why he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize – has through force of will seemingly gained momentum for Gaza peace beyond what many experts thought was possible. Successful completion of the deal would mark a significant foreign policy achievement for the Republican president, who had campaigned on bringing peace to major world conflicts but has struggled to swiftly deliver, both in Gaza and on Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Trump’s strategy Just weeks ago, peace in Gaza seemed more distant than ever after Israel launched a strike on Hamas’ leadership in Qatar, a U.S.

ally. But Trump’s aides decided to turn his anger at Netanyahu into pressure on the Israeli leader to accept a framework for ending the war, which they presented to Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the U.

N. General Assembly last month, according to people familiar with the matter.

Whereas Netanyahu readily defied Biden over Israel’s assault on Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack, he found it harder to buck Trump, despite Israeli misgivings over the Gaza plan, including cracking open the door to eventual Palestinian statehood.

Trump had joined Israel in striking Iran’s nuclear sites in June and stood by Netanyahu amid increasing international isolation. Opinion polls have consistently shown Trump more popular with the Israeli public than their prime minister.

“Without the leverage, there was no deal. Bibi cannot say no to Trump,” said Dennis Ross, a former Middle East adviser to Republican and Democratic administrations, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

But the Israeli leader still faces big risks at home, including the chance that some far-right members of his governing coalition could quit his government over the concessions he has agreed. In addition, Trump was able to marshal support from key Middle East states, especially Qatar and Turkey, to pressure Hamas to drop its opposition to certain issues, such as releasing Israeli hostages, dead and alive, at the start of the process rather than using them as bargaining chips further down the line.

Qatar, home to the largest U.S.

military base in the Middle East, has warmed to Trump over upgraded security and business ties since he took office in January. During a White House visit in late September, Trump put Netanyahu on the phone with the Qatari prime minister to apologize for the strike in Doha.

Trump has also deepened his relationship with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking advanced U.S.

weaponry, and asked him to help push Hamas to accept the deal. Known for his love of pomp and ceremony, Trump appeared ready to head to Israel this weekend around the time the hostages are due to come home.

Netanyahu has invited him to address Israel’s parliament. Even so, some of the details of the first phase of Trump’s plan remain unsettled, such as the final lists of Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel in exchange for the 20 living hostages and estimated 28 dead.

Also unresolved are longer-term questions about Gaza’s future. Those include whether Hamas would be allowed to have any part in governing Gaza, something Trump and Netanyahu have steadfastly rejected, as well as how to rebuild the territory from its ruins and who will pay for it.

The elusive quest for Middle East peace has been the bane of American presidents from Jimmy Carter to Biden. But some analysts see hope for at least a halt to the latest wave of destruction.

“There seems to be momentum behind it,” said Jonathan Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. “But it’s a mistake to think that this is all resolved.

We will have some white-knuckle moments in the coming weeks.” .

Growing up, I used to roll my eyes at certain aunties and quietly label them as bitter or grumpy. They always seemed annoyed, short-tempered, or just done with everyone.

But years (and a few hormonal cycles) later, I’ve come to realise it wasn’t attitude. It was biology.

So here’s a little public service announcement for the gentlemen: women are not always moody, dramatic, or unpredictable, sometimes, we’re just biological. Every month, our hormones go through a mini revolution that we didn’t vote for.

Oestrogen rises, progesterone drops, moods shift, and before you know it, we’re crying because we can’t find the TV remote. Meanwhile, the man next to us is quietly panicking, trying to figure out what he did wrong, when in reality, he did absolutely nothing.

Sir, it’s not you. It’s biology.

When PMS hits, patience disappears, energy levels nosedive, and emotions decide to go on a roller coaster ride. One minute we’re laughing, the next we’re ready to throw hands because you chewed too loudly.

It’s not attitude, it’s chemistry. But most men don’t know that.

They just see the transformation and think, “Ah, here we go again.” And then comes menopause, the grand hormonal finale.

Imagine hot flashes, mood swings, and sleepless nights all rolled into one. Now imagine being asked, “Why are you always moody these days?” That’s when biology meets bravery, because it takes a strong woman not to throw the question and the man out the window.

The truth is, many men simply don’t realise how deeply hormones affect women’s behaviour. They take emotional shifts as personal attacks, assuming we’re being cold, rude, or distant.

In reality, it’s just our bodies doing science experiments we never signed up for. That doesn’t mean we get a free pass for bad behaviour, biology explains it, it doesn’t excuse it.

Snapping at your partner because your cramps feel like a boxing match isn’t fair, but it’s understandable. The real problem isn’t the mood, it’s the misunderstanding.

If men were taught how biology affects women, half the arguments in relationships would vanish overnight. Imagine this: She says, “I’m not in the mood, I’m just hormonal.

” He says, “Cool. Chocolate or space?” Peace restored.

Because let’s face it empathy is the best relationship hack ever invented. Understanding that hormones can hijack emotions doesn’t make you weak; it makes you emotionally intelligent.

So, gentlemen, next time your lady seems off, don’t jump to “she’s dramatic” or “she’s giving me attitude.” Think biology.

Sometimes the storm isn’t in her mood, it’s in her hormones. And honestly, ladies, biology may be wild, but we handle it like queens.

Just remember to warn the men in your life When we say “it’s not you”, this time, we really mean it. .

Dar es Salaam. Preparations are heating up for another thrilling international rugby fixture this Saturday at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Rugby Grounds, where Clyde and Co.

‘s Dar Leopards will take on Kenya’s Mombasa Sports Club from 3:30 pm. The action-packed afternoon will kick off with a women’s curtain-raiser match at 3:00 pm, followed by the men’s 15s fixture.

The event promises fans a full day of competitive rugby, vibrant social interaction, and community celebration. This Saturday’s encounter marks yet another milestone in the Dar Leopards’ expanding calendar of regional matches, further strengthening sporting ties between Tanzanian and Kenyan clubs while promoting rugby development across East Africa.

Clyde and Co., an international law firm with seven integrated offices across Africa, continues to partner with Dar Leopards Rugby Club to organize the event, demonstrating its commitment to community engagement and sports development in Tanzania.

The event will be hosted by Peter Kasanda, Clyde and Co. Africa Chair, a former Dar Leopards player and club chair, who will welcome players, guests, and supporters to what promises to be an exciting afternoon.

Spectators attending the UDSM Grounds can expect an electrifying atmosphere, complete with refreshments, competitive matches, and celebrations of rugby culture. The program opens with a showcase match featuring the Dar Cheetahs, the women’s contact rugby team of the Dar Leopards.

Founded in 2024, the Cheetahs have quickly made their mark through teamwork and dedication, and are already preparing for an expanded 2026 season. Their curtain-raiser performance will set the stage for the main event against Mombasa Sports Club.

The Dar Leopards, one of Tanzania’s oldest and most prestigious rugby clubs, continue to nurture local talent while promoting the sport nationwide. With active men’s, women’s, and touch rugby teams, the club plays a central role in the growth of Tanzanian rugby at both grassroots and competitive levels.

Saturday’s fixture also signals the Leopards’ efforts to revive the traditional “Mamba Cup,” a regional tournament historically featuring clubs from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mombasa. .