Category: The Citizen

Watu Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to improving healthcare in the country by donating two syringe pump machines and baby care products to the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), as part of its efforts to strengthen the institute’s capacity to provide specialised care for children living with critical heart conditions.

The donation was made during a charity visit to JKCI on Wednesday last week as part of Watu Tanzania’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which is dedicated to creating meaningful and lasting impact within the communities it serves.

The donation followed a needs assessment conducted by JKCI, which identified the equipment as essential for supporting critically ill cardiac patients. In addition to the two syringe pump machines, Watu Tanzania also donated baby care products to help improve the wellbeing and comfort of children receiving treatment at the institute. The syringe pump machines play a vital role in delivering medication and fluids with high precision, making them essential for children receiving specialised cardiac care.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Watu Tanzania Customer Care Manger, Patricia Sempinge, said the company believes that access to quality healthcare is fundamental to building healthier and more resilient communities.

“Every child deserves access to quality healthcare and the opportunity to live a healthy life. We are honoured to partner with the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute by providing equipment that will help save lives and improve the quality of care for children requiring specialised treatment,” said Kauko.

Receiving the donation, JKCI’s Executive Director Dr. Peter Kisenge expressed his appreciation to Watu Tanzania, noting that partnerships between the private sector and healthcare institutions play a significant role in strengthening Tanzania’s healthcare system and expanding access to specialised cardiac care for children and other vulnerable patients.

“At JKCI, we remain committed to providing world-class cardiac care, particularly for children with complex heart conditions. This generous support from Watu Tanzania comes at an important time and will strengthen our capacity to deliver quality, life-saving care. We commend Watu Tanzania for recognising the importance of investing in children’s health, and we encourage more organisations to partner with us in ensuring every child has access to the specialised treatment they deserve,” he said.

He added that the syringe pump machines will enhance the delivery of critical care by ensuring medications are administered accurately and safely during treatment.

The donation forms part of Watu Tanzania’s commitment to supporting practical, lasting improvements in healthcare and community wellbeing, particularly where targeted support can strengthen the quality of care available to patients.

Watu Tanzania is proud to support the important work of JKCI and the medical teams caring for children and families every day, and will continue to seek opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the communities it serves.

Digital financial services provider Mixx has scooped three awards at the TEHAMA Awards 2026, including first place in the Mobile Financial Services Innovation category, in recognition of its use of technology to expand access to financial services.

Mixx Chief Executive Officer Angelica Pesha also won the Female ICT Leadership Award, while the company secured second place in the Digital Business Innovation category.

The awards were presented on August 9, 2026, at Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam during a ceremony that brought together stakeholders from Tanzania’s ICT and digital services sectors.

The Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Angellah Kairuki, was the guest of honour.

Mixx’s first-place finish in the Mobile Financial Services Innovation category recognised the company’s use of technology to simplify financial services and make them accessible to more Tanzanians.

Beyond sending and receiving money, the platform enables customers to save, access credit and explore investment opportunities through their mobile phones.

The services are used by different groups, including small to large business owners, institutions and farmers, giving them more convenient ways to manage their money and carry out day-to-day financial transactions.

Mixx also secured second place in the Digital Business Innovation category, which recognises the use of digital technology and innovation to improve business operations and customer services.

Ms Pesha’s Female ICT Leadership Award recognised her contribution to leadership, innovation and the development of Tanzania’s ICT and digital financial services sector.

Speaking after receiving the awards, Ms Pesha said the recognition would encourage Mixx to continue investing in technology-driven services that widen access to financial opportunities.

‘This recognition is a great honour for us and reflects our commitment to developing services that respond to the needs of our customers,’ she said.

‘We want technology to continue making everyday life and business easier for Tanzanians, whether through payments, savings, access to credit or investment opportunities.’

Ms Pesha said Mixx would continue using technology to bring financial services closer to Tanzanians and develop solutions that enable customers to manage their finances more conveniently and participate more fully in the digital economy.

The TEHAMA Awards 2026 were organised by the ICT Commission (ICTC) in collaboration with industry stakeholders to recognise companies, institutions and individuals contributing to innovation, technology adoption and the development of Tanzania’s ICT sector.

New Yanga striker Selemani Mwalimu ‘Gomes’ has arrived in Zanzibar to begin a new chapter with the club, but was immediately placed under a media blackout after completing his controversial move from Simba.

Mwalimu, who officially joined Yanga on loan from Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic, arrived in Unguja this afternoon wearing the club’s official outfit and was received by Yanga vice-president Arafat Haji.

The striker travelled with Yanga’s head of communications, Ally Kamwe, who had accompanied him in Dar es Salaam after he signed his contract with the defending Mainland champions.

However, neither Mwalimu nor the Yanga officials accompanying him was prepared to speak to the media upon arrival, with the striker only briefly saying that he had been instructed not to make any comments.

The development came shortly after Mwalimu posted a farewell message to Simba supporters on social media, thanking the club’s players, coaches, officials and fans for their support during what he described as a season that made history.

‘It was a season in which we made a lot of history, as an individual and as a team. I sincerely thank my teammates, coaches and everyone on the technical bench for the support they gave me throughout my time at Simba SC,’ Mwalimu wrote.

He also singled out Simba supporters, thanking them for standing by him throughout his time at the club.

‘Most importantly, I sincerely thank all the fans of this club who always stood by me every minute I was on the pitch. Thank you so much and may God bless you,’ he added.

The message came after a dramatic transfer switch that saw Mwalimu move from Simba to their fiercest rivals within hours.

The striker had been part of Simba’s camp in Zanzibar as the club prepared for August 12 Community Shield clash against Yanga at Amaan Stadium.

But his stay with the Msimbazi giants came to an abrupt end last night when he was flown back to Dar es Salaam on a special flight to complete his move to Yanga.

Mwalimu then signed his contract in the presence of Yanga president Engineer Hersi Said before returning to Zanzibar, this time as a Yanga player.

The striker had been close to extending his loan spell with Simba, but the club failed to complete the required payment process with Wydad on time.

Yanga moved quickly to conclude the deal with the Moroccan club, completing the necessary arrangements and securing the signature of the forward.

Mwalimu will now link up directly with the Yanga squad, which is scheduled to hold its final training session this evening ahead of tomorrow’s Community Shield showdown against Simba.

His arrival adds another intriguing subplot to an already highly anticipated derby, with the striker moving from one camp to the other just hours before the two giants meet for the first trophy of the new season.

For now, however, Mwalimu has been told to keep his thoughts to himself.

The Court of Appeal has quashed proceedings and set aside the death sentence imposed on Respicius Rudovick, who was convicted of murdering his biological father, following the discovery of a jurisdictional flaw during the trial.

Mr Rudovick was sentenced to hang after being found guilty of killing his father, Mr Rudovick Alkard, on July 23, 2018, at Bugangaza Village in Muleba District, Kagera Region.

The deceased’s body was found beside his toilet, located adjacent to a coffee and banana farm.

The decision was delivered on Monday, August 10, 2026, by a three-judge panel comprising Justices Rehema Kerefu, Issa Maige, and Prof Ubena Agatho, with a copy published on the judiciary website.

The justices reached the ruling after reviewing court proceedings and agreeing with submissions from both parties that the trial court erred in law by convicting the appellant without following statutory procedures governing case transfers from the High Court to the Resident Magistrate’s Court for a magistrate with extended jurisdiction.

Justice Kerefu stated they agreed with counsel from both sides that the transfer order under section 45(2) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act (MCA) did not confer jurisdiction upon the resident magistrate with extended jurisdiction to try a murder case.

Following the flaw, the court quashed proceedings and the judgment delivered by the Bukoba Resident Magistrate’s Court, ordering the file be remitted to the High Court for a retrial in accordance with the law.

However, the court directed that the case be heard afresh at the High Court, with Mr Rudovick remaining in custody.

The main case

In the original trial, the appellant was charged with murder contrary to section 196 of the Penal Code for allegedly killing his biological father.

The prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered two exhibits, including a post-mortem examination report and a crime scene sketch map.

Court records indicated a long-standing family dispute between the appellant and his father over cattle ownership.

It was alleged that on the day of the incident, Mr Rudovick visited the home of the second prosecution witness, Ms Evelijist Revelian, to inquire about his sick child.

While there, the appellant arrived intoxicated, carrying a machete.

He allegedly demanded that his father hand over the disputed cattle, sparking a heated argument before the witness intervened, disarmed Mr Respicius, and asked him to leave.

She told the court that moments later, Mr Respicius also departed towards his home, and shortly afterwards, she received news that the old man had been killed.

She testified going to Rudovick’s homestead and finding his body lying near the toilet, close to the banana and coffee farm, bearing a severe neck cut.

The third witness, a relative, Elipidius Rudovick, told the court that at different times, both their father and the appellant informed him they were going to the second witness’s residence.

He claimed he later saw his father and the appellant walking home, with the appellant carrying a hand hoe, before hearing screams and stepping outside to find his father dead.

Defence

In his defence, the appellant acknowledged the deceased was his father but denied killing him, claiming he was arrested while mourning his father’s death.

He claimed he had no dispute with his father and that while asleep, his daughter woke him and informed him that his father had been killed.

After evaluating the evidence and defence submissions, the Resident Magistrate’s Court convicted him and sentenced him to death by hanging.

The appeal

In his appeal through counsel, he filed five grounds of appeal, which the court deemed unnecessary to list or analyse after identifying the core issue regarding the trial court’s jurisdiction.

The central issue concerned the procedure used to transfer the case from the High Court to the Resident Magistrate’s Court for a magistrate with extended jurisdiction.

During the appeal hearing, the State Attorney supported the appeal, arguing the Bukoba Resident Magistrate’s Court lacked jurisdiction because the transfer from the High Court relied on section 45(2) of the MCA instead of section 256A(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA).

He submitted that the transfer failed to follow legal procedure, rendering the entire trial before the Resident Magistrate’s Court null and void, requesting the court to quash the judgment and order a retrial at the High Court, whereas the appellant’s counsel sought quashing without ordering a retrial.

Court ruling

After examining the record of appeal, the justices concurred with submissions from both counsel that proceedings against Respicius violated section 256A (1) of the CPA.

According to the court, this was the appropriate provision to apply as it sets out the procedure for the High Court to transfer a case filed before it to a resident magistrate with extended jurisdiction.

‘Since the magistrate lacked requisite jurisdiction to try the appellant’s case due to non-compliance with section 256A (1) of the CPA, the omission rendered the entire lower court proceedings a nullity,’ the court ruled.

Exercising its revisional jurisdiction under section 6(2) of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act (AJA), the court quashed all proceedings of the Bukoba Resident Magistrate’s Court and set aside the conviction and sentence against the appellant.

However, the court noted that considering the gravity of the offence charged and the circumstances of the case, the interests of justice required a retrial, ordering the file be remitted to the High Court for a fresh trial according to law, while the appellant remains remanded in custody.

A declaration first: I count Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, as a friend. Readers should weigh what follows with that knowledge. Friendship can cloud political judgment. But it can also provide a close view of character, of how a leader behaves when the cameras have gone, the speeches have ended and the available choices are all difficult.

In 2021, in the pages of Tanzania’s leading English daily, The Citizen, I argued that a change of leadership in Zambia could benefit both Tanzania and Zambia. Five years later, as Zambians prepare to vote on August 13, that proposition deserves to be revisited, not on the evidence of hope, but of experience.

Zambia’s election belongs to Zambians. Its consequences, however, will not stop at the border.

The country sits at the meeting point of eastern, central and southern Africa. It borders eight nations, produces one of the world’s most strategically important minerals and depends on corridors through its neighbours to reach global markets. Zambia’s success or failure therefore travels through copper prices, power lines, railway wagons, fuel pipelines and the trucks that cross Tunduma and Nakonde.

Over the past five years, Tanzania and Zambia have moved beyond the language of historical friendship towards the harder business of economic partnership.

Consider the Port of Dar es Salaam, perhaps Zambia’s most consequential piece of infrastructure that Zambia does not own. Cargo moving between Zambia and the port has risen by 130% from 1.5 million metric tonnes to 3.5 million since 2021, restoring Zambia’s place among the two largest users of Tanzania’s gateway to the Indian Ocean. For a copper-producing country without a coastline, access to an efficient port is not a diplomatic convenience. It is a condition of competitiveness.

The same logic applies to energy. Tanzania and Zambia are building the interconnector that will eventually link the Eastern and Southern African power pools. Tanzania has completed the short cross-border section between Tunduma and Nakonde; the much larger Zambian network is being built towards full operation. Once complete, the system will allow Zambia to import electricity when drought weakens its hydroelectric generation and export power when it has a surplus. Tanzanian Cabinet of Ministers has already approved 500MW power exports to Zambia.

This matters after the devastating drought of 2024 exposed the danger of depending too heavily on one source of electricity. A mine cannot expand on promises of power. A factory cannot employ people during prolonged load-shedding. Regional interconnection turns national vulnerability into shared resilience.

The two governments are also pursuing a new multiproduct petroleum pipeline alongside the ageing TAZAMA system, which has carried fuel from Dar es Salaam to Ndola since 1968. Combined with the planned rehabilitation of TAZARA, these projects could rebuild the physical spine connecting the Copperbelt to the Indian Ocean.

These are not glamorous undertakings. Pipelines, substations, ports and railway concessions rarely stir crowds at political rallies. But nations are transformed by precisely such patient work.

Zambia wants to raise annual copper production to 3mn tonnes by 2031. That ambition will require investment in mines, but also reliable electricity, efficient railways, predictable border procedures and competitive access to the sea. The corridor through Tanzania is therefore not separate from Zambia’s development strategy. It is part of it. The rebound of two countries reminiscence of Kaunda-Nyerere eras of brotherhood during liberation is a strong vote of confidence to President Hichilema.

Yet the more important question in this election is what has happened inside Zambia.

Hichilema inherited Africa’s first pandemic-era sovereign defaulter. The country had stopped servicing parts of its external debt, investor confidence had collapsed and the government’s room to finance development had narrowed severely. Debt restructuring was long, frustrating and politically unrewarding work. It required persuading official lenders, bondholders and commercial creditors, each with different interests, to accept a common settlement.

The process is not entirely finished, but agreements now cover about 94 per cent of the external debt included in the restructuring perimeter. The World Bank estimates that public debt fell from 133 per cent of gross domestic product in 2023 to about 93 per cent in 2025. Zambia remains at high risk of debt distress, and it would be dishonest to suggest otherwise. But it is no longer standing where it stood in 2021.

The wider economy is also recovering. Annual inflation, which had risen painfully during the drought, fell to 6.5 per cent in July. The economy expanded by 7.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier. Such figures do not erase hardship. They do, however, suggest that the foundations of stability are being restored.

I also saw Hichilema’s governing character during the drought and the maize shortage that followed during 2022/2023.

As trading houses on both sides of the border positioned themselves to sell maize into Zambia at crisis prices, I became a go-between, carrying messages between the presidencies in Lusaka and Dar es Salaam. Hichilema did not leave the matter entirely to his cabinet or to the market. He took a direct interest and pressed for a government-to-government arrangement with Tanzania, rather than leave Zambian consumers exposed to the prices commercial suppliers were quoting.

The maize eventually entered Zambia at little more than half those indicative commercial prices.

He then insisted that emergency imports could not become permanent dependence. Zambia had to return to producing its own food. Maize production subsequently recovered from about 1.5mn tonnes in the drought-hit 2023/24 season to more than 3.6mn tonnes the following season, producing a national surplus. A further bumper harvest is expected this year.

I did not hear this story afterwards from an official seeking to polish the President’s image. I carried some of the messages myself. I watched a president choose to fight for cheaper food when it would have been easier to let the crisis take its commercial course.

The relationship between our countries has also become more human. During an address to Zambia’s National Assembly, President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced that Zambians could remain in Tanzania without a visa for as long as 180 days, twice the period provided under the ordinary SADC arrangement. It may appear a small administrative gesture. It is not small to the traders, students, tourists and families who move between Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

None of this is an argument for complacency.

Many Zambians remain bruised by the cost of living. Youth unemployment is still intolerably high. Load-shedding has punished households and businesses. There is also legitimate debate about whether the government has always balanced economic reform, political tolerance and the protection of civil liberties as carefully as it should.

External achievements do not put mealie meal on the table. Debt restructuring does not, by itself, give a graduate a job. A new power line matters only when it keeps a workshop open, allows a child to study and enables a factory to add another shift.

These frustrations should not be dismissed as impatience. They are the substance of democratic accountability. A government asking for another mandate must explain not merely what it has repaired, but how the repair will now change ordinary lives.

The question before Zambia is therefore not whether the past five years have been perfect. They plainly have not been. Nor is it whether every promise made in 2021 has been fulfilled. It has not.

The real question is one of direction.

A country can change course before the road has produced its full rewards. It can also continue along that road while demanding that its leaders move faster, listen more carefully and distribute the gains more fairly. Democracy allows citizens to insist on both continuity and correction.

The projects now taking shape remain unfinished: the power interconnector is still being built; the new pipeline remains a proposal to be financed and constructed; TAZARA’s revival must move from agreements to functioning trains; and the ambition to treble copper production is still some distance away.

Their incompleteness is not proof that nothing has been achieved. It is the reason the choice matters.

Zambia has also been designated the incoming chair of SADC at a moment when southern Africa badly needs practical economic integration. The region speaks often of integration but still trades too little with itself, moves cargo too slowly and generates electricity as though geography stopped at national borders. Hichilema’s experience of building corridors, opening markets and linking power systems would be relevant to that regional task.

For too long, African countries have described themselves by what they lack: landlocked, power-deficient, debt-distressed. Good leadership asks a different question: what can geography, neighbours and disciplined policy make possible?

Zambia is not merely landlocked. President Hichilema is transforming it to a land-linked, a junction connecting the Copperbelt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic corridors. That transformation requires more than concrete and steel. It requires consistency of policy and confidence between governments, investors and citizens.

This is not Tanzania’s election to influence, and Tanzania should not attempt to do so. But neighbours may properly observe what cooperation has produced.

As a Tanzanian who has watched our two economies rediscover one another, and who saw a leader choose his people’s stomachs over the easier arithmetic of a crisis, I offer this judgment: Zambia has spent five difficult years repairing foundations that had cracked. The house is not complete. Some rooms remain uncomfortable. Too many people are still waiting outside.

But before pulling down the scaffolding, Zambians should look carefully at what has already been rebuilt, what remains unfinished and which direction offers the stronger possibility of completing the work.

On August 13, they will vote not only on the record of one man. They will vote on whether the future Zambia began building in 2021 deserves the chance, under the uncompromising supervision of its citizens, to be completed.

More than 3,000 pupils across councils in Njombe Region, from Standard One to Standard Three, cannot read, write, or perform arithmetic, prompting Regional Commissioner Anthony Mtaka to order special boot camps to teach the children and address the challenge.

Mr Mtaka made the statements on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, when opening a working session preparing for the implementation of the “Jifunze Kijiji Changu” (Learn My Village) project funded by Uwezo Tanzania, held in Njombe Region.

He said council leaders in their respective areas have a duty to ensure they establish special evening classes, as is done for examination classes, to help these pupils acquire reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.

He said according to reports, 3,001 pupils from Standard One to Standard Three in Njombe Region can neither read, write, nor compute, which poses a grave danger to the future of those children.

“Therefore, Regional Education Officer, if it will not inconvenience you, for these children whom I have seen on paper, where 3,001 children in the region cannot read, write, or count, with 1,450 being boys and 1,551 girls, one school should be selected in each council to teach them the 3Rs,” said Mr Mtaka.

He said during school holidays, instead of going home to rest, the time should be used in collaboration with parents and guardians to teach these pupils so they gain knowledge and learn to read and write.

He added that parents play a major role in enabling these pupils to master reading and writing by partnering with teachers and the child, making joint efforts imperative to prevent the nation from raising a generation lacking 3R skills.

He requested the Uwezo Tanzania organisation to assist with costs that will enable the Njombe regional administration to organise special classes to support pupils who cannot read, write, or count.

Njombe Regional Education Officer, Mr Nelas Mulungu said the learning project expects to reach not only Standard One to Three pupils, but also out-of-school children residing in respective villages who need to acquire reading, writing, and numeracy skills.

He said the project also aims to reach illiterate adults in Njombe Region, although arithmetic instruction will not apply to them.

He noted that the 3Rs is a national initiative launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to ensure all Tanzanians are literate, serving as part of the ruling CCM election manifesto.

“Our colleagues from Uwezo have come to support our regional plans so we can execute this scheme collaboratively,” said Mr Mulungu.

An official from Uwezo Tanzania, Ms Judith Kimambo, said they arrived in the region to launch the “Kijiji Changu” project as part of efforts supporting President Hassan’s initiative to ensure all Tanzanians master reading, writing, and arithmetic.

She said this is the fourth phase of the project, implemented in Njombe Region due to data presented by Regional Commissioner Anthony Mtaka showing local pupils struggle with basic 3R skills.

“Given the importance of literacy, we deemed it fit to bring this project, which will conduct assessments to identify children struggling with reading, writing, and counting so they can be placed in boot camps for training,” said Ms Kimambo.

For his part, Mlangali Primary School early childhood teacher, Mr James Kalembwe, based in Ludewa District, said the “Kijiji Changu” project has yielded significant results compared to the past, as non-literacy levels among pupils have dropped.

“Ludewa is currently performing well academically, and many children know how to read and write compared to before this project was implemented,” said Mr Kalembwe.

He thanked the government and Uwezo for delivering such projects, which have largely helped many pupils in Ludewa District learn to read, write, and calculate.

Hundreds of runners and supporters took to the streets of Bujumbura on Sunday as CRDB Bank Burundi turned its annual marathon into a campaign for access to clean and safe water.

Held under the theme ‘Un pas, de l’eau pour tous’ (One Step, Water for All), the third edition of the CRDB Marathon brought together runners, customers, employees, partners and members of the public in a collective effort to support communities facing challenges in accessing clean water.

The event was graced by the First Lady of Burundi, Angeline Ndayishimiye, who commended CRDB Bank Burundi for linking sport with social responsibility and efforts to support communities in need.

‘I welcome initiatives that bring citizens together around causes aimed at improving people’s lives. We must continue working together to support communities across Burundi.’

She encouraged continued cooperation among stakeholders to address challenges affecting communities and improve people’s livelihoods.

The event also highlighted the potential of collective action, with the bank saying contributions came in different forms, including financial support, sponsorships, partnerships and participation.

Regardless of size, represented another step towards improving access to clean and safe water. The marathon also reinforced the bank’s wider efforts to promote healthy living, community participation and social responsibility.

The marathon was designed to demonstrate how sport can be harnessed to create meaningful social impact. It is now third edition in Burundi, was created to bring people together around causes that matter while contributing to improved livelihoods.

The theme gave every participant an opportunity to contribute to a broader social cause, with every step taken symbolising support for communities without adequate access to clean water.

CRDB Bank Burundi also expressed appreciation to participants, sponsors, partners, customers, employees, institutions and individuals whose contributions helped turn the marathon into a platform for community impact.

Apart from the First Lady, the event was attended by the Minister of Energy and Mines, the Secretary General of the ruling party, the Governor of Bujumbura, members of the CRDB Bank Burundi Board of Directors, representatives of public institutions, sponsors, partners and other distinguished guests.

The event has evolved beyond a sporting competition into a platform for social responsibility and community engagement.

As the third edition concluded, CRDB Bank Burundi reaffirmed its commitment to creating shared value and supporting initiatives that contribute to sustainable development and improved livelihoods in Burundi.

Vice-President, Dr Emanuel Nchimbi, said major reforms made in the education sector in Zanzibar and Tanzania as a whole have produced many positive results, including a substantial rise in student enrolment across various learning levels.

He made the statement on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, when opening a girls’ dormitory at Hasnuu Makame Secondary School in Kibuteni, South Unguja Region, as part of the Kizimkazi Festival celebrations.

“Significant investment in the education sector and modern infrastructure across both governments is expanding educational and employment opportunities,” he said.

Other positive outcomes include improved teaching and learning infrastructure, which has contributed to higher pass rates in national examinations.

Despite major achievements recorded in improving the education sector, Dr Nchimbi noted that challenges have emerged due to the large number of students enrolling at various levels, particularly shortages of classrooms, desks, and dormitories.

“In that sense, the opening of this dormitory will address the challenge faced by students who walk long distances and spend considerable time commuting to and from school,” said Dr Nchimbi.

He said students have saved time and will now have opportunities to attend classes, study independently, and get adequate rest.

Furthermore, Dr Nchimbi said the presence of this dormitory environment will boost focus, discipline, and close collaboration among students while offering teachers a solid opportunity to supervise, nurture, and assist them fully in performance.

He noted that performance derived through the dormitory will significantly boost student pass rates and academic standards at the school.

He said government efforts to bolster educational infrastructure are continuous and encompass providing various supplies, including teaching materials, furniture, and numerous qualified teachers.

Thus, according to Dr Nchimbi, the government will continue allocating sufficient resources to ensure all schools have modern infrastructure, qualified teachers, and appropriate learning and teaching equipment.

He said the goal is to prepare knowledgeable, innovative, skilled, and self-reliant youth who contribute fully to national development.

He urged them to safeguard the infrastructure constructed by the government so it serves users for a long period.

“Parents and the community should continue supporting government efforts by encouraging children to study hard and protecting all infrastructure, as sustainable development requires genuine cooperation between government and society,” said Dr Nchimbi.

Zanzibar Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Ms Lela Mohamed Mussa, said the increase in such dormitories reflects how education is expanding.

The minister said when the eighth-phase government assumed office, the education budget stood at Sh256 billion, but to date, the budget has reached Sh1.1 trillion, representing massive investment in the sector.

“The government intends to eliminate double-session schooling, as experts have advised that it adversely impacts learning and deprives children of time to attend madrasa,” she said.

Providing technical details, the director of secondary education, Ms Asya Iddi Issa, said the hostel has a capacity to accommodate 280 students at a time across 12 rooms.

She said construction of the girls’ dormitory began in April 2025 and was completed in June 2026 at Sh1.58 billion under contractor Simba Developer Ltd and consultant AQ Consultant.

“This dormitory will feature a matron’s room, 14 toilets, laundry areas, and two rooms dedicated to persons with special needs,” she said.

South Unguja Regional Commissioner, Ms Hamida Mussa Khamis, said when the school was established, student numbers were insufficient, forcing them to source pupils from other regions to fill capacity, but currently, infrastructure and education standards have improved to self-sufficiency levels.

“We have transformed; students in the South are now self-aware, education standards are rising, and results continue to improve every year, so we no longer require students from other regions,” she said.

For her part, Makunduchi MP and Deputy Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Ms Wanu Hafidh Ameir, said they prioritise the school to ensure pass rates increase annually.

“Looking at this school’s results, there is visible change, and we give high priority to this school,” Ms Hafidh said.

The Nanenane 2026 Exhibition at the Mwalimu Nyerere grounds in Morogoro is in full swing. Amid the hum of machinery and the buzz of agricultural stakeholders, the Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) pavilion has emerged as a focal point, showcasing a modernized sector poised to end decades of import dependency.

The pavilion’s prominence was further highlighted by the Prime Minister’s visit, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, who inspected cutting-edge agricultural technologies, including the DJI AGRAS T50 drone used for precision irrigation and fertilizer application.

The PM also reviewed the entire sugar value chain from modern seed development and field preparation to advanced storage and processing techniques.

‘The adoption of drone technology must be prioritized to scale up sugarcane production and ensure national sugar security. This technology simplifies farming and is a key driver in attracting the youth to the sector,’ Dr Nchemba noted.

He commended the SBT for its role in the sector’s growth and directed the board to sustain its strategic momentum to achieve total sugar self-sufficiency by 2030.

The SBT as a catalyst for reform

As the primary regulatory body, the SBT is tasked with supervising, developing, and coordinating the country’s sugar industry. It serves as a crucial intermediary between outgrowers and millers, particularly in managing farming contracts and price negotiations.

Under this regulatory framework, the sector has seen significant gains.By April 2026, domestic production reached 410,979 tonnes, against a domestic demand of 550,000 tonnes.

Current factory capacity stands at 800,000 tonnes per annum. The SBT Director of Planning, Ms Vaileta Mwayela, representing the Director General, stated that the board aims to begin exporting surplus sugar as early as the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons.

‘The growth we see is a direct result of massive investment in factory expansions and the strengthening of extension services for smallholder farmers,’ Ms Mwayela said.

A landmark achievement highlighted was the Mkulazi Holding Company’s commencement of white industrial sugar production, making it the first facility in Tanzania to produce the specialized commodity.

Previously, Tanzania spent significant foreign exchange on importing approximately 300,000 tonnes of industrial sugar annually.

She mentions other key developments including the Kilombero Sugar Company’s K4 project, which seeks to boost production from 123,000 to 226,000 tonnes per year.

Furthermore, the SBT has integrated 12,000 smallholder farmers into the value chain at Kilombero alone; outgrowers now contribute 40 percent of the total sugarcane processed nationally.

To secure the 2030 goal and tap into the 12-million-tonne African sugar market, the SBT is implementing several strategies.

Also, the SBT has succeeded in registering and coordinating smallholder farmers (outgrowers) who contribute approximately 40 percent of the sugarcane processed in factories.

For example, Kilombero alone involves 12,000 smallholder farmers. She says the SBT has put in place firm strategies to ensure that by the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons, Tanzania starts selling surplus sugar to the African market, which has a demand of more than 12 million tons per year.

New investment zones: Over 146,000 hectares in the Pangani Valley and 15,000 hectares in the Wembere Valley have been earmarked for new factories.

Regional expansion: New factories are planned for Pwani, Kigoma (Kasulu), and Tanga, including a dedicated industrial sugar plant in Tanga.

Research and training: Collaboration with TARI-Kibaha has yielded the Tariska 1 and 2 seed varieties, which are drought and disease-resistant.

Meanwhile, the National Sugar Institute (NSI) in Kidatu continues to supply the industry with skilled technicians

Protection of the domestic market: The SBT has a strategy to protect the domestic market against arbitrary sugar imports to encourage investors and farmers to continue increasing production.

Professional training: Through the National Sugar Institute (NSI), the board will ensure the availability of a workforce skilled in sugar technology and sugarcane production to operate factories with high efficiency.

Stakeholder confidence

The Chairperson of the Board of Mkulazi Sugar Factory, Dr. Hilderitha Msita, points out that the factory is an example of cooperation between the Government through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), the Prisons Service, and the main supervisor of the sugar sector in Tanzania, which is the SBT.

‘Mkulazi is not just a factory; it is economic liberation. We have already conducted trials and produced the first tonnes of industrial sugar, and we expect to produce between 50,000 and 75,000 tonnes per year,’ says Dr. Msita.

The SBT and the Mkulazi Sugar Factory have had a strategic partnership aimed at increasing productivity and reaching the national goal of sugar self-sufficiency. The SBT acts as the main sector supervisor, while Mkulazi serves as a model project in the production of industrial sugar.

Speaking about this cooperation, Dr. Msita said the SBT had registered and supervised the Mkulazi factory along with its 185 outgrowers who cultivate approximately 1,199 hectares.

The Board also creates a link between this factory and its farmers to ensure a continuous supply of raw materials.

‘During the harvest season, the SBT provides guidelines and acts as a referee in sugarcane price negotiations between the Mkulazi factory and its farmers to ensure all parties are treated fairly.

Also, the SBT supervises farming contracts that ensure the farmer has a guaranteed market and the factory gets enough sugarcane,’ points out Dr. Msita.

Efficient production cannot be achieved without research. The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI-Kibaha) has been at the forefront of producing improved seeds. A researcher from TARI-Kibaha, Robert Mlimi, explains the importance of Tariska 1 and Tariska 2 seeds, which are disease-resistant and drought-tolerant.

‘Our job is to supervise the farmer on the correct use of seeds. Many farmers depend on rain, so we provide them with friendly seeds. Right now, we are building a ‘crossing shade’ there in Kibaha so that we can produce our own seeds here inTanzania instead of relying solely on imported seeds,’ explains Mlimi. He says the cooperation between the SBT and TARI-Kibaha is a vital pillar in protecting the sugar industry against pests.

The SBT, as the sector supervisor, and TARI, as the research institution, work side by side. These tasks include; training and awareness for farmers, preparation and distribution of educational materials, field monitoring and evaluation, availability of inputs and control equipment, identifying key farmers, as well as research on seeds that are resilient to environmental challenges.

In terms of training, the National Sugar Institute (NSI) located in Kidatu has continued to produce diploma-level professionals in sugarcane production and sugar technology, ensuring the availability of a skilled workforce in factories.

Farmer perspectives and the road ahead

Sugarcane farmers have begun to see the fruits of SBT’s management. Clemens Mjami, a farmer from Kilombero who is a representative of sugarcane farmers, says sugarcane farming gives them pride because of the guaranteed market.

‘We have a guaranteed market because we practice contract farming. Before we harvest, we know to whom we will sell and at what price. The SBT has been a good referee when we negotiate prices with factories. Also, operating costs are low; once you plant sugarcane once, you harvest for six to seven years,’ says Mjami.

However, Mjami issues a call to the Government: ‘We still have a sugar gap. To close it, we need more investors. We, as farmers. Are ready, we have the land; we are just waiting for factories to be brought closer to our areas.’

Despite these successes, statistics show the presence of troublesome pests like Eldana and the Yellow Sugarcane Aphid (YSA). TARI, in collaboration with the SBT, has been providing education and establishing demonstration nurseries (Nursery B) to ensure farmers get clean seeds.

The sugar sector in the country is predicted to provide 28,500 direct jobs and 95,000 indirect jobs. Through the efforts of the SBT, factory investments like Mkulazi and Kilombero, and diligent research from TARI-Kibaha, Tanzania’s dream of being self-sufficient and becoming a major sugar producer in Africa by 2030 is heading toward becoming a reality.

As the Prime Minister said, technology and innovation are what will take Tanzania to that high stage of economic development through the sugarcane crop.

A total of 387 Tanzanian students have received travel documents to enable them to pursue higher education in China and India.

The students, who are preparing to travel for their studies, received the documents at a function in Dar es Salaam attended by their parents and guardians.

The documents were handed over by Global Education Link (GEL), with 198 students set to travel to China and 189 to India to begin studies at various higher learning institutions.

The packages included passports, visas, flight tickets, No Objection Certificates (NOCs), Yellow Fever vaccination certificates, and other documents required by relevant authorities, depending on the destination country, institution, and individual travel requirements.

The meeting also provided students, parents, and guardians with final briefings on travel arrangements, immigration procedures, accommodation, health insurance, safety, financial management, conduct, and adapting to life in the destination countries.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, GEL executive director, Mr Abdulmalik Mollel, who was joined by representatives from colleges in China and India, urged students to make full use of learning opportunities abroad.

The college representatives provided information on academic programmes, campus services, and the international student experience.

“I urge you to use your time abroad to gain knowledge and skills beyond academic qualifications,” said Mr Mollel.

He encouraged them not to travel to China and India simply to obtain certificates or degrees, but to take advantage of the technology, laboratories, workshops, innovation centres, and international networks available to them.

Mr Mollel challenged the students to go beyond classroom learning by visiting laboratories, workshops, and innovation centres to understand how technologies and products are developed and used to address societal challenges.

Using a Business Administration student as an example, he said learning management theories alone was insufficient, urging students to also understand products, technology, production processes, and industrial systems.

Such knowledge, he noted, helps students identify opportunities to establish businesses or contribute to transforming existing enterprises after graduation.

GEL has more than 19 years of experience assisting Tanzanian students, parents, and guardians with overseas education.