Category: The Citizen

Arusha. The government has reiterated its call for citizens to acquire formal land titles as a means of safeguarding their rights and minimizing ownership disputes.

Speaking yesterday while handing over land title deeds to members of the Police Force through the Usalama wa Raia Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (Ura Saccos), Mr Frank Mlinzikutwe, the Assistant Land Commissioner for the Arusha Region, stated that proper documentation provides legal protection for landowners in the event of conflicts. “When you possess a title deed and a dispute arises, you have a document that proves ownership, rather than just claiming the land as yours.

A title also enables you to access loans and undertake development projects,” he explained. Mr Mlinzikutwe added that title deeds create opportunities for citizens, including access to financing from financial institutions, while reducing common disputes that arise from inadequate documentation.

He encouraged the public to purchase land in planned and surveyed areas to ensure that they can be issued title deeds, which promote legal security and orderly development. “We do not want police officers to abandon their core duty of protecting the country to spend time resolving land ownership paperwork.

With proper titles, they can focus on their work and avoid being defrauded on the streets,” Mr Mlinzikutwe said. He revealed that the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Human Settlements Development has digitized the title application process, allowing citizens to apply online and, once all documents are in order, receive their title deed on the same day.

Corporal Chiunda David, the regional manager for Ura Saccos in Arusha, mentioned that the cooperative, which has over 47,000 members nationwide, signed an agreement in April with Tanzanite Crater City to assist members in purchasing surveyed plots at discounted prices. “More than 30 members have already acquired plots, and we are pleased to hand over the first batch of title deeds today,” he said.

Mr Chiunda explained that since its establishment in 2006, Ura Saccos has focused on improving the economic well-being of police officers and their families, enabling them to own properly surveyed and titled plots. Senior Superintendent of Police Alphonce Bandya, representing the Arusha Regional Police Commander and other members, expressed gratitude for the initiative.

“I am pleased to receive these title deeds on behalf of my fellow officers. In the past, it was difficult for many police officers to own property like this.

We are happy to have the opportunity to secure land and build homes,” he said. He added that members are looking forward to benefiting from future projects and pledged to encourage others to participate once more details become available.

Mr Deogratias Michael, Director of Tanzanite Crater City, noted that the project, located in Oljoro Ward of the Arusha District Council, covers more than 1,000 acres and includes plots for residential, mixed-use, commercial, and social services such as schools. He emphasized that the prices were established at affordable rates in consultation with the local authorities.

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Across the continent, a new generation is stepping into rooms their granrents couldn’t enter, but even in these spaces, many are battling an internal ceiling built long before they arrived. Despite their qualifications, creativity, and resilience, they hesitate.

They play small. They over-explain.

They undercharge. Why? Because systems taught them to associate confidence with arrogance and assertiveness with disrespect.

From colonial education models that punished questioning to gender norms that reward silence over strength, African professionals were never just underdeveloped economically; we were underestimated psychologically. In this article I aim to challenge the internalised beliefs and systemic conditioning that make us, especially the younger generation, hesitate to show up fully in professional spaces despite being qualified, creative, and more capable than ever.

I’m not just writing to motivate you; my hope is that this serves as a psychological and cultural intervention designed to spark a mindset shift, validating the lived experience of professionals navigating legacy systems of oppression and limitation. A Unesco study revealed that in many African education systems, rote learning and obedience are prioritised over critical thinking and self-expression, conditioning that stifles confidence from a young age.

According to the African Development Bank, only 23 per cent of African professionals feel empowered to make bold suggestions at work, citing fear of hierarchy and hierarchical respect norms as primary barriers. And gender plays a compounding role.

In a 2022 report by McKinsey Africa, women in African corporate settings are 30 per cent less likely to apply for stretch roles, even when qualified, due to what researchers term “internalised competence doubt.” In other words, our talent isn’t lacking; our permission to believe in it is.

Confidence is not a personality trait. It’s a skill, one that’s been systemically stripped and now must be deliberately rebuilt.

And the confidence I’m referring to doesn’t just mean being the loudest in the room. I mean trusting that your insight has value before it’s validated, especially in systems designed to keep you quiet.

If you’re ready to unlearn the hesitation and step into your boldness, here are four strategies: 1. Audit the source of your self-doubtAsk: Where did I learn to shrink? Self-doubt often comes from somewhere.

A past experience. A critical teacher.

A culture of silence. Ask yourself, where did I learn to hold back? When you identify the origin, you can begin to separate your current reality from old conditioning.

2. Practice visibility without apologySharing your ideas is not self-promotion; it’s participation.

Post your work. Speak up in meetings.

Accept compliments without deflecting them. Visibility is not about ego.

It is a signal that you take your contribution seriously. 3.

Surround yourself with expansive peopleConfidence is social. Spend time with people who see your potential and challenge you to grow.

The more you engage with bold thinkers, the more you start to believe you belong among them. 4.

Redefine boldness as a contribution, not a disruptionEvery time you speak up with insight, you’re not interrupting the system; you’re upgrading it. When you offer a new idea or challenge the status quo, you are not causing trouble.

You are creating progress. Systems don’t improve when everyone agrees.

Remember, when you reclaim boldness, you don’t just change your career; you rewrite what leadership looks like on this continent. .

Kibaha. Out of 30 participants, 10 coaches have successfully passed an internationally recognised Taekwondo coaching course.

The course, held at the Olympafrica Centre in Kibaha, Coast Region, was conducted by Jun Cheol Yoon from the World Taekwondo Federation. Dr Yoon, who also serves as the Chairman of World Taekwondo referees, said he was impressed by the steady improvement in technical skills and tactics among the coaches during the training.

“Passing or failing depends on performance, but I must commend all the coaches for their effort. Each one of them fought hard from day one, even after I warned them about the toughness of the training.

Right now, every graduate is in pain, but it is productive pain. You are not leaving here the same as you came–your technical and tactical levels have improved,” said Dr Yoon.

He added that in the first week he observed that each trainee had unique strengths that could contribute to the development of Taekwondo. Of the participants, 10 coaches managed to pass the entry-level stage of the program, which was organized by the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC), sponsored by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity (OS) and coordinated by the Tanzania Taekwondo Federation (TTF).

TTF President Ramoudh Ally described the achievement as a major boost for the sport’s growth in the country. “If these 10 qualified coaches each establish a Taekwondo club in their areas and recruit 30 players, we will gain 300 new athletes.

That’s a promising start for the development of our sport,” said Ally. He encouraged the coaches to reach out to the Federation for support with training equipment if needed.

Ally said that the ultimate goal is to prepare the next generation of Taekwondo athletes capable of qualifying for the 2032 Olympic Games, through short-, medium- and long-term plans. For those who did not meet the passing grade, Ally assured that arrangements would be made for them to access additional international courses through the World Taekwondo Federation.

“We will issue an update soon, as the goal is to increase the number of certified coaches. Those who passed will be issued national coaching licenses while awaiting approval of licenses from the World Taekwondo Federation,” he said.

Closing the program, TOC Vice Chairman Henry Tandau urged the graduates to apply their knowledge for the betterment of the sport. “We must ask ourselves, where will Taekwondo be 10 years from now? If you have a vision and work towards it, such as preparing for the 2032 Olympics, you can achieve it,” he said.

Tandau, however, cautioned that the success of only 10 coaches is not enough. He urged them to pursue higher levels of qualification.

“You must be ambitious. Whenever I attend major tournaments, I don’t see many Tanzanian coaches or referees.

We must organize ourselves. Without proper planning, you cannot progress,” he stressed.

One of the graduates, Janeth Oscar from Dar es Salaam, expressed appreciation for the training program, which was delivered by Grandmaster Yoon alongside Master David Samson. “The program was transformative.

We will put the skills we have gained into practice, although Taekwondo still faces challenges such as a shortage of equipment and lack of modern training halls,” she said. During the course, Dr.

Yoon highlighted Rashid Yahaya Rashid as a coach who displayed exceptional performance. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s creative economy is undergoing a major transformation, with barbers, hairdressers, photographers, graphic designers, painters and other creative professionals now required to register with the National Arts Council (Basata) in order to operate legally.

The new directive follows revised Basata regulations published in the Government Gazette on June 30, 2025. The move marks a historic step in formally recognising and regulating sectors that have long operated informally, signalling a shift towards a more structured and inclusive creative industry. As part of the reforms, Basata has halved its entry fees, reducing the registration cost from S0,000 to Sh20,000, with an annual renewal fee set at Sh10,000. The council said the changes are designed to bring creatives closer to government support systems and enable them to access opportunities such as funding from the national arts fund.

“Our aim is not to be their dream killers,” the council said in a statement that responded to questions from The Citizen. “Our goal is to bring them closer to government so they can access opportunities such as funding from the national arts fund,” it added.

The council’s mandate now covers three broad categories: music, performing arts, and creative arts. Creative arts now formally include barbering, hairdressing, photography, painting, and graphic design — with Basata describing even salon services as a form of fashion innovation.

“Today if you go to a salon and get a new hairstyle, the barber has used creativity. Or if you go bald and they fix artificial hair on your head, that is also creativity at work,” Basata explained.

Officials said formalising the sector would not only ensure recognition but also strengthen its contribution to the economy through job creation. “Many successful artists have been able to provide employment to others, where you find an artist with a lawyer, an accountant, and other people managing their work.

If all these people depend on one artist, it means jobs are being created,” the council said. Industry reaction The reforms have sparked mixed reactions among practitioners.

While many see the changes as a sign of progress, they also warn that low awareness could hinder compliance. Avila Chaula, widely known as Allie Stylist and a member of the Tanzania Hairdressers’ Association, welcomed the reforms and said they provide new opportunities.

“Hairdressing is now officially under Basata’s oversight, and they have become mentors for us. However, many stylists still don’t know about these requirements,” she said.

Ms Chaula stressed that registration is required for every stylist, not just salon owners, and added that being registered opens doors internationally. “Once registered, it’s much easier to get visas and permits for international work.

If I want to travel to China or the U.S.

for a job, being formally recognised by Basata makes the process smoother,” she explained. For barbers, the regulations are entirely new but are seen as a potential avenue for financial empowerment.

“I have been a barber for several years now, and I have never come across such a requirement. But if the government has created a good system to recognise us and enable us to access loans, then I think this will be a good move that will help lift us up when we face difficulties,” said Mr Dulla Hamadi, a barber from Sinza.

Hairdresser Habiba Mohammed of Kijitonyama echoed similar views, saying that registration will be meaningful only if it leads to tangible benefits. “If the Council recognises me and I can access loans, then that will be a very positive step,” she said.

Wider implications Basata clarified that even media houses must register if they engage in organising artistic events such as shows or festivals, except for film-related activities which remain under the Tanzania Film Board. The council acknowledged complaints from salon owners whose businesses have been closed in the past, explaining that such enforcement actions usually result from joint operations with agencies such as the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (Brela).

Industry observers say the reforms have the potential to activate a largely informal sector, broaden its tax contribution, and give it a stronger voice in national economic planning — but only if awareness campaigns reach practitioners countrywide. “With these reforms, we have made some inactive artists active again, so that they too can empower themselves.

This is part of ensuring that these sectors are respected just like music and other arts,” the council said. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Mainland champions Young Africans (Yanga) continued their strong start to the season with a 2-0 home victory over Angola’s Wiliete Benguela, securing progression to the next round of the CAF Champions League with a commanding 5-0 aggregate score.

Yanga head coach Romain Folz praised the consistency and reliability of his core squad, noting that their performance across competitions has been crucial to the team’s success. “We have a strong and reliable squad.

These players have delivered results match after match, and their consistency gives us a solid foundation to compete at the highest level,” said Folz. He also addressed the challenge of balancing squad rotation with maintaining performance.

“We rotate where necessary, but keeping a rhythm is important. Our core players have proven their quality, and the rest are developing alongside them,” he added.

In the second-leg clash at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Pacome Zouzoua once again stole the spotlight, opening the scoring with a brilliant display of skill. Aziz Andabwile added the second goal, cementing Yanga’s dominance over the Angolan side.

Folz singled out Pacome for his tactical intelligence and ability to unsettle defenders. “Players like him give us a real advantage, both domestically and in continental competitions,” he said.

This season, across four competitive matches–including the Community Shield win over Simba (1-0), the CAF Champions League first-leg victory in Angola (3-0), the Mainland Tanzania Premier League opener against Pamba Jiji (3-0), and the recent second-leg win over Wiliete (2-0)–Folz has relied heavily on a core group of players. Overall, Yanga’s scoring form have been impressive.

The team opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Bandari FC of Kenya during Mwananchi Day, followed by the Community Shield triumph over Simba. They went on to defeat Pamba Jiji 3-0 in the Mainland Tanzania Premier League and later eliminated Wiliete Benguela with a 5-0 goal aggregate.

Folz’s focus remains on leveraging squad consistency and tactical intelligence to maintain momentum across both domestic and continental competitions. “Every match teaches us something.

Our discipline, depth, and the quality of our players are what will help Yanga continue to grow,” he said. .