Category: The Citizen

Geita. Vice-President Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi is expected to grace a ceremony marking five years since the death of Tanzania’s fifth-phase president, the late Dr John Magufuli, who died on March 17, 2021. In a statement issued on Sunday, March 15, 2026, Geita Regional Commissioner Martine Shigela said the family of the late Dr Magufuli, in collaboration with the government, has organised the event.

The ceremony will be preceded by a Holy Mass scheduled to begin at 9:00 am and will be led by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara, Bishop Severine Niwemugizi. Other leaders expected to attend the Mass include retired leaders, among them former Vice-President Dr Philip Mpango and former Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.

The memorial Mass will take place at the late Dr Magufuli’s home in Chato District, Geita Region. Activities related to the commemoration will begin on March 16, 2026, with several community events, including a marathon scheduled to start in the morning and end at Chato District Hospital.

Other planned activities include blood donation, assistance to inmates at Chato Prison, visits to the late leader’s grave, and an overnight vigil in his honour. Mr Shigela said Dr Nchimbi is expected to arrive on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Chato Airport.

The President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, is also expected to attend the event and is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. “The Vice-President will arrive tomorrow at 1:00 pm, while the President of Zanzibar is expected to arrive the following day at 8:00 am at Chato Airport,” he said. Mr Shigela also thanked the family of the late Dr Magufuli for cooperating with the government in organising the event.

He called on citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to attend the commemorative Mass in large numbers. “The family, in cooperation with the sixth-phase government, has organised this commemoration to be bigger than previous ones.

We also thank the Catholic Church for leading the service through the Bishop,” he said. “It is therefore important for the people of Geita Region to show their love and respect for the late Dr Magufuli.

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Dar es Salaam. Three women have been selected to receive free In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment at the Kairuki Green IVF Centre (KGIVF) in Bunju A Mianzini, Dar es Salaam.

The winners were announced at the weekend during a draw held as part of International Women’s Day celebrations organised by the Kairuki Health Education Network (KHEN). The draw was conducted by the guest of honour, Jokate Mwegelo.

The women were chosen from more than 137 applicants from across Tanzania. IVF treatment in the country typically costs between Sh18 million and Sh20 million, making it unaffordable for many families.

KGIVF Director Clementina Kairuki said the selected women will receive the service free of charge, covering all stages from initial procedures to embryo implantation. “This initiative is part of commemorating International Women’s Day and supporting women who dream of starting a family but cannot afford fertility treatment,” she said.

Dr Kairuki, a gynaecologist, said that about 30 per cent of women who seek fertility services at the centre are unable to pay for treatment. “Many couples face fertility challenges.

Some women experience stigma, family pressure, or even divorce because they cannot have children. Studies show that one in six marriages faces such issues, which is why we felt it was important to provide this opportunity,” she said.

She noted that the centre continues to raise awareness about infertility and available treatment options, including IVF. Gracing the event, Jokate Mwegelo praised KHEN for its contribution to healthcare and education in the region, highlighting its achievements, including Kairuki Hospital, Kairuki Green IVF Centre, a pharmaceutical plant in Kibaha, and Hubert Kairuki Memorial University.

“I am a supporter of Kairuki and today I officially become an ambassador of the institution. I will continue to promote its work because it sets a great example in serving the community,” she said.

Mwegelo added that Kairuki has maintained high standards and consistency over the years, making it a model institution in East and Central Africa. .

Dar es Salaam. The government and development partners have urged stronger implementation of programmes to reduce violence against women and children, while calling for gender equality to be reflected in national budgets to promote inclusive development.

The call comes as Tanzania prepares to implement the National Development Vision 2050, a long-term plan that advocates say offers an opportunity to strengthen social justice and ensure that development benefits all citizens. Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) Board Chairperson Gemma Akilimali said the Vision 2050 rollout on July 1, provides a platform to align economic growth with social inclusion and protect the rights of women, youth, and other marginalised groups.

“The launch of Vision 2050 as a transformative step towards an inclusive and self-reliant nation reflects the country’s commitment to social justice, particularly through Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB), which ensures national resources benefit everyone,” she said. Ms Akilimali noted that this year’s national theme for International Women’s Day — Rights and Equality for Women and Girls: An Inclusive Foundation for Achieving Vision 2050 — comes at a critical moment as the country prepares to implement the development agenda.

She also highlighted the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (MTAKUWWA II) as a key pillar in combating violence. Advocacy efforts, she said, have already contributed to political gains, with women now holding about 39.5 per cent of parliamentary seats, up from 37.4 per cent after the 2020 election.

“When we view women’s rights as a strategic investment, we create solutions that enable women to escape poverty. Investing in women lays the foundation for the inclusive society we aim to build,” Ms Akilimali said.

MTAKUWWA II Coordinator Alex Shayo said the programme focuses on eight strategic areas, including improving household economic capacity, strengthening parenting and family support systems, and expanding services for survivors to access legal, social, and psychological support. He added that special child protection desks have been set up in primary schools to detect and respond to cases early, though some local protection committees remain ineffective.

TGNP gender-responsive budgeting analyst Happiness Maruchu stressed the importance of monitoring how government budgets are prepared and implemented to ensure they meet the needs of all gender groups. She said sectors such as health, water, education, and social services have begun incorporating gender considerations into planning.

Pilot GRB initiatives are under way in Geita and Singida regions, and Tandahimba and Chalinze districts. Lawyer Cajetan Tumaini of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) added that cooperation between government, civil society, and communities is crucial to protect women and children’s rights and reduce inequality.

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Dar es Salaam. At least 100,000 young entrepreneurs are expected to benefit from a new sourcing and export initiative aimed at connecting youth-led businesses in Tanzania to regional and global markets by 2030. The programme, launched at the Benjamin William Mkapa Special Economic Zone, includes the establishment of a Sourcing and Export Centre alongside a training programme designed to equip young entrepreneurs with practical skills in business management, production and international trade.

Speaking during the launch on Saturday, March 14, 2026, the Minister of State in the President’s Office Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, said the initiative supports the country’s long-term development agenda by strengthening the role of the private sector in economic growth. He noted that the country’s Tanzania Development Vision 2050 and the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP IV) prioritise expanding private sector investment and boosting domestic production to enable Tanzanian goods to compete in international markets.

“The government’s strategy is to leverage the country’s geographical advantage and transform local production sectors so that Tanzanian products can compete in regional and international markets,” Prof Mkumbo said. He stressed that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those led by young people, must become part of global supply chains if Tanzania is to achieve sustainable economic transformation.

The new centre is expected to support that goal by offering integrated services that simplify sourcing of production inputs and export processes. Entrepreneurs will be able to access services such as business and investment training, assistance in accessing capital and modern production equipment, and linkages with international technology suppliers.

The facility will also provide supplier verification, coordinate logistics and shipping, simplify export procedures and offer post-investment advisory services. “These services will help reduce production costs, improve efficiency and enable local businesses to access regional and global markets,” Prof Mkumbo said.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the 2022 Population and Housing Census shows that about 76 percent of Tanzanians are under the age of 35, underscoring the importance of integrating young people into productive sectors of the economy. Under the pilot phase, between 30 and 50 young entrepreneurs will undergo an intensive eight-week training programme divided into three stages: entrepreneurship and industrial business training; production and domestic and international market strategies; and participation in shared industrial production systems through clusters.

The initial focus will be on value-added agricultural products such as dried fruits–including mangoes, pineapples and bananas–dried vegetables, spices and simple processed foods. For his part, Director General of the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (Tiseza), Gilead Teri, said the training model will be unique because it directly links participants with industrial production processes.

He explained that trainees will take part in real production activities while undergoing training to ensure the programme creates sustainable businesses and long-term employment. “The first phase will be implemented here in Mabibo.

We will begin with processing agricultural products, particularly dried and value-added products, and later expand depending on market demand,” he said. Mr Teri added that the initiative is designed not only to attract investment but also to ensure young entrepreneurs produce goods that meet international standards.

“The core principle of this programme is that training must go hand in hand with real industrial production. That is why it has been integrated with the infrastructure of the Special Economic Zones,” he said.

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Decisions do not shape public life when they are approved in the boardroom; they shape it when they are interpreted by the media. Between these two spaces lies a powerful filter–one that can clarify, distort, or inflame.

In Tanzania’s evolving public and corporate landscape, the journey from the boardroom to the media has become increasingly fragile, and the media itself must confront its own role in that breakdown. Boards exist to deliberate.

They weigh risk, governance, sustainability, and long-term impact. Their language is technical, cautious, and often constrained by legal and fiduciary responsibility.

Media, by contrast, exists to translate those decisions into public meaning. But translation requires discipline, context, and judgment qualities that are not always exercised consistently.

Too often, media coverage reduces complex decisions into simplified narratives designed for speed rather than understanding. In recent years, Tanzanian audiences have witnessed corporate restructurings framed almost exclusively as stories of failure or greed, without serious examination of market pressures, regulatory shifts, or long-term survival strategies.

Policy adjustments have been reported as abrupt betrayals of public interest, even when they emerged from months of consultation and fiscal reality. In several cases, initial headlines created public outrage that later reporting quietly corrected long after trust had already been damaged.

This is not accountability; it is imbalance. The problem begins with how media approaches the boardroom.

Many journalists encounter institutional decisions only after they are final, often through brief statements or summaries. Instead of demanding deeper explanation or context, the media sometimes fills gaps with speculation, anonymous opinion, or exaggerated framing.

Conflict becomes the story, not consequence. Emotion replaces analysis.

A pricing decision affecting a public service, for example, may be reported as evidence of elite insensitivity, with little effort to examine cost structures, supply constraints, or comparative regional data. A leadership reshuffle may be framed as crisis or scandal, without interrogating governance processes or succession planning.

In these moments, media does not merely reflect public anger it manufactures it. This conduct undermines the media’s own credibility.

Criticism of institutions is essential. Scrutiny is non-negotiable.

But scrutiny without context is not journalism; it is amplification. When media prioritises virality over verification, outrage over understanding, it becomes part of the problem it claims to expose.

This is not to absolve leadership. Many organisations contribute to this dysfunction by treating media engagement as an afterthought.

They issue vague statements, hide behind legal language, or avoid interviews altogether. In doing so, they leave journalists to interpret decisions without adequate information.

Silence, however, does not neutralise media power it invites conjecture. In Tanzania’s media environment, the pressure to publish first–especially on digital platforms–has intensified these weaknesses.

Stories break quickly, circulate widely, and solidify public opinion before verification catches up. Corrections, when they come, rarely receive the same prominence as the original claims.

The damage, reputational or social, is already done. This has real consequences.

Public trust erodes not only in institutions, but in the media itself. Audiences become cynical, unsure who to believe.

Genuine accountability efforts are dismissed as witch-hunts, while legitimate criticism is lost in the noise of exaggeration. The journey from the boardroom to the media should be one of disciplined interrogation, not distortion.

Media must resist the temptation to perform outrage on behalf of the public. Its role is to inform citizens so they can reach their own conclusions.

Equally important is the return journey from the media back to the boardroom. Public reaction, criticism, and debate should inform better decision-making.

But when media coverage is reckless or sensational, institutions retreat rather than reflect. Dialogue collapses.

Everyone loses. The strongest media institutions are those that understand their power and wield it carefully.

They contextualise decisions before condemning them. They distinguish between incompetence and complexity.

They hold leaders accountable without eroding public understanding. If the media wants to remain trusted, it must look inward as critically as it looks outward.

Because when the journey from the boardroom to the media is careless, the public pays the price. Angel Navuri is Head of Advertising, Partnerships and Events at Mwananchi Communications Limited .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s High Court on Friday dismissed a case challenging the legality of a presidential commission set up to investigate unrest surrounding the October 2025 general election.

Judge Awamu Mbagwa ruled that the commission established by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to probe incidents of violence during and after the October 29, 2025 vote was lawfully constituted under the country’s Commissions of Inquiry Act. “The applicants’ arguments have no legal basis and are largely based on sentiment,” the judge said while dismissing the petition filed by activist Rosemary Mwakitwange and lawyers Edward Heche and Deogratius Mahinyila.

The applicants had asked the court to annul the president’s decision to appoint members of the commission, arguing that its formation violated principles of natural justice and lacked independence. Speaking after the ruling, their lawyer Hekima Mwasipu said the applicants were dissatisfied with the judgment and would appeal.

“We have consulted our clients and they have authorised us to proceed with an appeal,” he told reporters. A lawyer representing the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Ferdnand Makore, said the organisation would consult its leadership before deciding whether to support the appeal.

The commission, chaired by former chief justice Mohamed Chande Othman, was appointed by President Hassan in November 2025 to investigate unrest linked to the general election. Protests in several cities and towns after the vote resulted in damage to public and private property as well as deaths and injuries, prompting the government to establish the inquiry.

Other members of the commission include former chief justice Ibrahim Juma, former chief secretary Ombeni Sefue, former inspector general of police Said Mwema and former defence minister Stergomena Tax, among others. In their petition, the applicants argued that some members had potential conflicts of interest because of previous government roles and that the commission lacked representation from independent professional bodies and civil society groups.

They also claimed the commission had not been properly gazetted or sworn in before beginning its work. Justice Mbagwa rejected such claims, ruling that the commission had been established in accordance with the law.

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Dar es Salaam. The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur, Ms Gina Romero, has commended Tanzania for establishing an independent commission of inquiry into the October incidents, describing the move as a demonstration of the country’s commitment to human rights.

Ms Romero made the remarks in Geneva on March 12 while delivering concluding observations during a discussion titled Truth and Accountability in the Events of Tanzania’s 2025 General Election. She said the commission chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande signals Tanzania’s willingness to uphold human rights and pursue an independent investigation into the incidents.

The commission had earlier been praised by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Volker Turk, during the opening of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva last week. The body has also drawn support owing to the professional record and integrity of Justice Chande, who has previously served the UN in various investigations, including inquiries into allegations of extrajudicial killings in El Fasher, Sudan.

Justice Chande also previously led an investigative panel into the plane crash that killed former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjalld. Meanwhile, a statement issued on March 12 came at a time when Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) acknowledged that their reports on the October 29 incidents last year were largely one-sided.

The Tanzanian government responded to earlier claims by the organisations that excessive force had been used in containing election-related unrest. However, during the 61st UNHRC session, the government provided clarifications on the matter, with support from other stakeholders, including representatives from Zimbabwe, who questioned the professionalism and impartiality of the two organisations in preparing their reports.

According to the discussion, the reports by the organisations appeared to have been influenced by political considerations rather than an objective effort to establish the truth by giving both sides a fair hearing. In its statement, the Tanzanian government criticised the organisations for alleged political bias, overlooking those who initiated and incited violence, failing to verify information and not acknowledging the role of security agencies in safeguarding national security, protecting citizens and upholding the rule of law against those who sought to disrupt the October 29 General Election.

The government further stated that during the election period, social media platforms were flooded with messages promoting hatred, violence and even statements deemed treasonous from some politicians, individuals and civil society organisations both inside and outside the country. Tanzania questioned why such developments were not reflected in the reports issued by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

In its submission, the government also called on the two organisations to provide clear guidance and recommendations on the appropriate level of force that should have been used to protect lives and maintain the rule of law and state authority when individuals refused to comply with lawful orders. .

Kahama. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Administration, Constitution and Legal Affairs has directed the government to place the coordination of the Buzwagi industrial park under the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) in a bid to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and attract more investors.

Currently, the industrial park is under the Kahama District Council. The committee says the move is crucial to advancing Tanzania’s industrialisation agenda, creating jobs and accelerating economic growth in line with the country’s Development Vision 2050. Committee chairperson Dr Damas Ndumbaro issued the directive on Friday, March 13, 2026, during a visit to the Buzwagi site in Kahama District.

He said the committee was satisfied with the level of preparations at the industrial park, noting that key infrastructure such as water, electricity, air transport services and road networks had already been put in place. Dr Ndumbaro also highlighted legal challenges affecting investment in the country, saying the committee had identified inconsistencies in some laws that could discourage investors.

“We have discovered contradictions between certain laws that do not align well. Our committee has taken up the matter so that it can be addressed through Parliament in order to attract more investors,” he said.

He noted that although the Investment Act provides incentives to investors, amendments made to financial legislation in 2025 had limited some of those incentives. “We are directing the government to ensure that the private sector is adequately empowered to achieve its objectives,” he added.

Deputy Minister for Investment and Planning Stephen Chaya said the government had received the committee’s directives and would work on them to advance the establishment of industrial parks in the country. “What is being done here, a partnership between Barrick and the government, reflects the government’s commitment to implementing the Development Vision 2050 as well as the current Five-Year Development Plan up to 2031,” he said.

The Director General of TISEZA, Gilead Teri, said the authority was ready to oversee the industrial park to help realise the government’s broader plan of establishing such zones across the country. He cited areas such as Mabibo in Dar es Salaam as examples where investment zones had already started showing progress.

Meanwhile, Buzwagi Industrial Park coordinator Pendo Matulanya said that by March 2026 at least 35 investors had already expressed interest in investing in the area, which is expected to boost revenue for Kahama Municipal Council. She said that when the Buzwagi gold mine was operational it created more than 5,000 jobs and contributed around $4.1 million annually to the municipality’s revenue.

“After the mine’s closure, we decided to transform the site into a special investment zone in order to restore jobs and increase government revenues,” she said. .

Shinyanga. The government has set aside Sh216 billion for the second phase of the Shinyanga Solar Power Project as the first phase nears completion.

The project is aimed at boosting electricity generation and supporting economic activities across the Lake Zone. Minister for Energy Deogratius Ndejembi said on March 13, 2026, that the initial phase of the project had reached its final stages, while preparations for implementing the second phase were already underway.

Speaking during a visit by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals to inspect the project, Mr Ndejembi said the second phase would generate 100 megawatts, bringing the total installed capacity of the project to 150 megawatts once all phases are completed. “This project will cost Sh216 billion in the second phase, and when fully completed it will generate 150 megawatts of electricity,” he said.

He added that the project would enhance electricity distribution to a substation currently under construction in Simiyu Region and support key economic activities including mining operations, cotton processing industries and the operations of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). The Managing Director of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), Lazaro Twange, said the first phase of the solar power project had reached 95.5 percent completion and had already been connected to the national grid two weeks ago.

“The first phase, which generates 50 megawatts, is now 95.5 percent complete. The second phase is about to begin implementation and the budget preparations are already underway,” he said.

The Minister of Energy Deogratius Ndejembi speaking during the visit by the Parliamentary standing committee on energy and minerals to inspect the project, which is constructed in Kishapu District in Shinyanga region. PHOTO | HELLEN MDINDA According to Mr Twange, the project will significantly improve electricity supply and help address power challenges facing several regions in the Lake Zone.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals Subira Mgalu said the committee was satisfied with the progress of the project, noting that the funds allocated for the first phase corresponded with the work completed. “We congratulate the contractor and Tanesco for implementing this major project.

We have seen that the Sh118 billion allocated for the first phase matches the progress achieved up to its connection to the national grid,” she said. Project Manager Emmanuel Anderson said the solar farm’s first phase includes more than 80,000 solar panels, designed to operate for at least 25 years once the project becomes fully operational.

“The first phase will generate 50 megawatts. The second phase, which will generate 100 megawatts, is expected to begin soon and will complete the entire solar power project,” he said.

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Arusha. Environmental experts, policymakers and private sector leaders from the eight member states of the East African Community (EAC) have convened in Arusha to explore ways of transforming waste into an economic resource through regional policies and circular economy initiatives.

The meeting comes as the region is estimated to generate 56.7 million tonnes of waste annually, yet only about 40 percent is properly processed and managed. The rest is often dumped in open spaces and along streets, posing serious environmental and public health risks.

Participants at the forum said better waste management could unlock significant economic opportunities, including investments, job creation and the development of new industries based on recycling and resource recovery. The forum, held under the theme “Driving Circular Economy and Sustainable Waste Management in East Africa,” was organised by the East African Business Council (EABC) in partnership with the Takataka ni Mali (Waste is Wealth) initiative.

The Director of Taka ni Amali, Mr Brian Kalekye, said the region must shift its perception of waste from a liability to a valuable economic asset. “For decades, waste has been viewed primarily as a health and environmental problem.

Today, we recognise that it can also be a resource capable of driving investment, creating jobs and supporting sustainable growth through circular economy principles,” he said. Mr Kalekye explained that the circular economy model promotes reducing waste generation, reusing raw materials and recycling resources to maximise value.

“This approach minimises resource loss while strengthening economic productivity, innovation and social development across communities,” he said. Chairperson of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Sectoral Committee, Gideon Gatpan Thaor, stressed the need for stronger regional legislation to address cross-border waste and plastic pollution.

“Waste knows no borders, and plastic pollution does not respect national boundaries,” he said. Mr Thaor cited Lake Kivu, which is shared by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where pollution levels differ significantly across the two sides of the lake.

“Without coordinated regional policies, such challenges cannot be effectively addressed,” he noted. He also revealed that the EAC Single-Use Plastics Bill is in its final stages and is expected to be tabled for its first reading during the next legislative session.

“The proposed law aims to guide communities and businesses in phasing out harmful plastics while promoting safe alternatives,” he said. Meanwhile, Gift Gabriel, a policy officer at EABC, said plans were underway to establish an East African Circular Economy Platform to coordinate regional initiatives and share best practices on waste management.

“The platform will help accelerate the shift from a traditional linear economy, where resources are used and discarded, to a circular economy that maximises value and reduces environmental impact,” he said. For his part, Allen Kimambo of the Taka ni Ajira Institute said improved waste management could also help tackle youth unemployment in the region.

“With modern technologies, certain waste materials can be transformed into products such as fertilisers, decorative items and artisanal goods, generating income and creating employment opportunities for young people,” he said. Experts at the forum agreed that coordinated policies, innovation and stronger private sector participation will be key to unlocking the region’s waste economy and advancing sustainable development across East Africa.

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