Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. With the October 29 General Election fast approaching, advocacy groups have raised concerns that while elections are meant to strengthen national unity, they too often put the country’s youngest citizens at grave risk, prompting an urgent call for their protection.

In a joint press statement issued on Friday, October 2, 2025, the groups said children must not be left as silent victims of politics. My Legacy Programme Coordinator, Ms Amina Ally, who read the statement on behalf of the National Safe School Coalition (NSSC), a network of 20 civil society organisations, said children’s safety, dignity, and best interests must remain a non-negotiable priority before, during, and after the polls.

The appeal, signed by groups including HakiElimu, Save the Children, TAMWA, and TEN/MET, underscores a pressing reality. Children in Tanzania, defined under the Law of the Child Act 2009 and the Children’s Act No.

6 of 2011 (Zanzibar) as all persons under 18, are among the most vulnerable during politically charged times. The caution comes with a dark historical backdrop.

Previous election cycles have been marred by violence, and in the mid-2000s, children with albinism were killed in brutal attacks linked to witchcraft beliefs that escalated during campaigns. Although Tanzania has since made progress in combating such atrocities, the memory remains raw.

“We cannot afford to repeat history. Every child lost to superstition or violence is a national failure,” warned Ms Ally.

Human rights data highlights the scale of risk. According to the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, at least 76 children with albinism were killed between 2006 and 2015, with dozens more surviving mutilation.

While security measures have curbed the attacks in recent years, election periods remain “red zones” for potential resurgence. During polls, parents and guardians are often preoccupied with campaigns and voting, leaving children unattended.

Large gatherings and rallies can quickly turn volatile, exposing minors to danger. Some children are exploited by being mobilised for political activities, in direct violation of the Child Act.

Others suffer psychological trauma after witnessing unrest. Commenting on the development, veteran gender and child rights advocate Dr Ruth Kuhenga said the risk is real.

“The heightened political tension can create unsafe environments where children are either neglected or deliberately targeted. Communities, media, and political actors must be vigilant,” she said.

A call for action As Tanzania prepares for the October 29 General Election, a coalition of civil society groups has urged all sectors of society to safeguard children. The coalition calls on civil society to integrate child rights into voter education, document violations, and offer psychosocial support.

Media must amplify children’s voices while avoiding harmful reporting that could incite violence. Political parties and candidates should keep children away from campaign activities and adopt manifestos addressing education, health, and protection, said Ms Ally, adding that parents and communities must remain vigilant at polling stations and rallies.

Government authorities, the coalition reminded, are legally bound by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to protect children. “Elections should embed child safeguarding measures,” said a child rights expert, Mr Edwin Sungura.

UNICEF Tanzania emphasises that the move was vital for the future of the country’s democracy. .

This is the second and last part of a conversation we suspended on the September 19 edition of ‘The Pub’. My long-time drinking mate, Mjumbe, and I invited Mwalimu Peterson, aka Mwalimu Peter, to our table for a chat.

Peter, traditionally a very moderate drinker, is presently a massive boozer. We wanted Peter to sit down with us and tell us what has been happening to him and why he has become such a supreme drinker.

The kind of guy who’d drink until his wallet went dry and there’s no mshikaji to tell him, “Get one from me before you leave, bro.” When we asked what had befallen him, his eyes popped out of their sockets, and, trying his best to conceal his anger over our intrusiveness, he had claimed, “Mbona sina shida yoyote?” (There’s absolutely no problem with me!) Ignoring his denial, which psychologists would tell you is a typical reaction of addicts, we offered him more beers and pressed him to open up, and he did.

“I stay for as long as possible in bars to escape from my mama watoto,” he says. “She isn’t a very good woman.

” “But our Shemeji, as we know her, is a sociable person,” reacted Mjumbe and continued, “In any case, she’s a teacher, and teachers, especially female teachers as we all know them, are nice, disciplined individuals.” I nodded in agreement.

Peter says we’re entitled to our opinion, adding, however, that we’re totally wrong about our shemeji. He informs us that his wife, who’s actually someone’s ex, came along with three children from two different fathers, and he accommodated them all.

“She doesn’t appreciate my foolishness and bullies me instead!” laments Peter. “Do you have any children with her?” I ask him, and he says no, adding that he’s blessed with two children who, however, left with his former wife, now living in Canada.

“Duh!” That’s all I’m able to say. He claims his new wife, who he describes as a bully, was fired from her teaching job after she became overly involved with a religious outfit that preaches about miracle wealth, demons, djinns, zombies and witchcraft, all the time! “She relates everything she doesn’t like with witchcraft She even claims that I’ve been bewitched by my brothers to take alcohol and remain poor She suggests I should join her in her worshipping outfit so that their “prophet” can exorcise the demons out of me.

” I say, “Pole sana, bro, but generally, how are you relating as wife and husbandyou know what I mean” Peter’s answer, “Not well, quite often she wakes up in the middle of the night to chase away non-existent things she calls mapepo!” What’s more, says Peter, his wife is consistently and falsely accusing him of being a philanderer and insists on checking his phone, charging that every female contact he has is his concubine! That’s utter nonsense, of course, he says. “The other day, she poured down the handwashing sink all the contents of a wine bottle I received from my friends as a birthday present, claiming the wine is the devil’s urine,” says Peter.

By the end of our conversation with Mwalimu Peter, I’m convinced our friend, and his wife, could do with serious, professional counselling from where, I can’t guess for now. .

Dar es Salaam. CRDB Bank has raised $200 million in its latest syndicated loan facility after international lenders committed a record $567 million, more than double the targeted amount.

The strong demand underscores growing global confidence in one of Tanzania’s largest s and the East African economy. The loan CRDB’s fourth since 2022 was co-arranged by Investec Bank and Intesa Sanpaolo.

Initially structured as a two-year $100 million facility, it was upsized to $200 million following overwhelming interest from investors. “As a sign of continued market confidence in CRDB Bank and the future potential of the East African economy, the syndicated term loan facility was again oversubscribed,” said Marc Kohne, Head of Africa Leveraged Finance at Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking.

According to the arrangers, commitments reached $416.5 million for the one-year tranche and $151 million for the two-year tranche, marking the highest uptake since the syndication programme began. Investor appetite has grown steadily over four years: commitments rose from $130 million in 2022, to $202 million in 2023, and $247 million in 2024, culminating in this year’s record figure.

“The lender pool has expanded from 13 institutions in 2022 to 30 in 2025, including new entrants from South Africa and Nigeria’s Africa Finance Corporation,” noted Rowan King, Investec’s Head of Africa Business Development. Boost for regional growth CRDB Bank Group CEO Abdulmajid Nsekela said the oversubscription highlights confidence in both the bank and Africa’s long-term growth prospects.

“The consistent oversubscription of our funding rounds reflects the world’s growing confidence in Africa’s economic future. The record $567 million bid highlights Africa’s rising status as a destination for sustainable growth and opportunity, with CRDB Bank proud to play its part in unlocking this potential,” he said.

The $200 million loan will provide working capital for CRDB’s corporate and SME lending portfolios in Tanzania and Burundi, including project and infrastructure finance linked to the commodities sector. Nsekela added that Moody’s recent B1 rating with a stable outlook reinforced lender confidence and strengthened CRDB’s position among Africa’s top financial institutions.

Intesa Sanpaolo’s Gustaaf Eerenstein praised the facility as “a positive reflection on Tanzania” and a testament to CRDB’s strong track record. Since its first syndication in 2022, CRDB has steadily grown facility sizes from $130 million to $200 million, representing a compound annual growth rate of 15.44 percent.

Founded in 1996 and listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange in 2009, CRDB Bank today holds assets worth over $5 billion. It operates in Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also runs CRDB Insurance and the CRDB Bank Foundation .

New York. Sean “Diddy” Combs is due to be sentenced on Friday for prostitution-related charges, with prosecutors pushing for the hip-hop mogul to spend more than a decade in prison and the defense urging his swift release.

A jury on July 2 convicted Combs, 55, on two counts of arranging for paid male escorts to travel across state lines to take part in drug-fueled sexual performances – sometimes known as “Freak Offs” – with Combs’ girlfriends while he recorded video and masturbated. Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter.

Sign up here. The jury acquitted him on the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, which could have earned him a life sentence.

Combs pleaded not guilty and is expected to appeal his conviction after sentencing. The founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs is credited with elevating hip-hop’s stature in American culture.

The New York-born entrepreneur is one of the most prominent men in the entertainment industry to have faced trial on sex crimes charges. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian is due to sentence Combs at a hearing in Manhattan starting at 10 a.

m. EDT (1400 GMT).

Combs faces up to 20 years in prison, though the judge has a wide degree of discretion in crafting a punishment. Combs, who has been behind bars at a Brooklyn jail since his conviction, is expected to address the court.

In a four-page letter to Subramanian, filed with the court on Thursday, Combs apologized “for all the hurt and pain that I caused others by my conduct,” and asked the judge for mercy, saying, “I lost my way.” “Lost in the drugs and excess.

My downfall was rooted in my selfishness,” he wrote, adding that the ordeal of incarceration had left him “humbled and broken to my core.” He also said he was now sober for the first time in 25 years.

A former personal assistant to Combs, known in court by the pseudonym Mia, is also expected to speak. Mia testified at his trial that he raped her multiple times.

Over the course of a two-month trial earlier this year, prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S.

Attorney’s office argued Combs coerced two of his former girlfriends – the rhythm-and-blues singer Casandra Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane – into partaking in the performances through violence and threats to withhold financial support. Nate Rae always felt secure living openly as a transgender man since coming out in his late 20s.

Jurors saw surveillance footage of Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016, an incident she testified took place after a Freak Off. Jane testified that Combs last year attacked her and told her to perform oral sex on a male escort after she said she did not want to.

Combs’ lawyers acknowledged he had physically abused his girlfriends, but argued they willingly took part in the sexual performances. Both Ventura and Jane testified that they at times took part consensually because they loved Combs and wanted to please him.

Prosecutors are pushing for Combs to spend 11-1/4 years in prison. Defense lawyers say the appropriate sentence is 14 months, which would mean Combs would be released by the end of the year after receiving credit for time served.

In pushing for leniency, Combs’ lawyers said he helped his fellow inmates at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center by teaching a six-week course on business management and personal development called “Free Game with Diddy.” As part of the class, inmates were required to write an essay about “lessons learned from Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ journey,” court filings show.

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Arusha. President Samia Suluhu Hassan Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday pledged accelerated devel-opment for Arusha Region, revealing that her administration had already channelled Sh3.097 trillion into the region over the past fourand- a-half years.

Addressing a rally in Arusha,President Hassan, who is also the CCM Union presidential candidate, said the government had invested in infrastructure, health, education, water, agriculture, trade and mining and promised to continue expanding opportu-nities if re-elected. On roads, she announced that construction of the 23-kilometre Mto wa MbuSelela road in Monduli was in the pipeline, while feasibility studies for the 27-kilometre SelelaEngaruka stretch had been completed.

Plans for the 24-kilometre EngarukaNgarenaro road were also under way, alongside a 10-kilometre access road to hotels in Karatu. She pledged the modernisation of the Namanga One Stop Border Post to ease cross-border trade.

Within Arusha City, she said 10.2 kilo-metres of tarmac roads would be built in Oljoro, Engosheraton and Olasiti under the Safe Cities pro-ject. On health, President Hassan said referral and district hospitals had been upgraded with modern diagnostic and treatment facilities.

Mount Meru Hospital now had advanced equipment, while Kiliman-jaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) was being strengthened to handle cancer and heart conditions, reducing referrals to Dar es Salaam. On education, she said Sh1.267 billion had been invested through Parliament’s approval to support free education, classroom construction and vocational centres.

The government planned to establish colleges and training institutions in every district and universities in each region. “We want our young people to gain skills to participate in projects such as the standard gauge railway and energy development,” she said.

Turning to economic empowerment, she cited the construction of Mnadani Market in Arusha and other markets in Morogoro, Kilombero and Dodoma. In Arusha alone, 1,823 groups had benefited from Sh10.8 million in municipal loans for youth, women and people with disabilities.

She pledged a new Sh200 million fund to support small traders. On mining, the CCM candidate noted that the sector’s contribution to GDP had risen from 4.

8 to 10 percent last year, with a target of 25 percent by 2025. She said only 16 percent of Tanzania’s mineral resources had been surveyed, but this was expected to rise to 20 percent in the next five years, benefiting small-scale miners and rural youth. She also touched on the floriculture industry, naming farms such as Kiliflora, Usa River, Arusha Blooms and Ngorongoro and said experts had been tasked with safeguarding the sector’s growth.

Land had also been set aside for housing development to match the city’s expansion. “We have already invested Sh3.097 trillion in Arusha.

These projects show what we can achieve. If you give us your votes, we will be able to do even more,” she told cheering supporters.

CCM Arusha Urban parliamentary candidate Paul Makonda told the rally that residents were living testimony to President Hassan’s achievements. “From improved Nroads and hospitals to better schools and thriving business-es, Arusha has seen transformation under her leadership,” he said.

Mr Makonda, who previously served as Arusha Regional Commissioner, said he had directly implemented the President’s vision and assured voters that her current pledges would also be delivered. CCM retired Vice-Chairman and for-mer Arusha Urban MP Abdulrahman Kinana praised President Hassan’s leadership, saying she had suc-cessfully implemented three sets of commitments those of the party, of the late President John Magufuli and her own.

“She has done it with wisdom and calm leadership. Results are visible in every district and constituency.

The CCM manifesto is 98 percent implemented and her campaign promises fulfilled in full,” he said. Mr Kinana urged Tanzanians to back President Hassan and CCM in the polls.

“She has served with dedication and put the interests of Tanzanians first. That is why I ask you to vote for her and to support CCM parliamentary and councillorship candidates,” he said.

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Washington. The U.S. Senate will vote again on Friday on dueling Democratic and Republican plans to end a government shutdown now entering its third day, though there is no sign that either plan will win passage.

Lawmakers do not appear to have made any headway toward a deal that would allow them to resume government funding, and Democrats and Republicans have spent the past several days blaming each other for their failure to keep the government funded beyond October 1, the start of the fiscal year. Democrats say any funding package must also expand pandemic-era healthcare subsidies due to expire at the end of December, while Republicans say that issue should be dealt with separately.

U.S.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has frozen billions of dollars earmarked for Democratic-leaning states and threatened to fire more federal workers, on top of the 300,000 he will have forced out by the end of the year. His budget chief, Russ Vought, has asked federal agencies to draw up plans to lay off those whose work is not aligned with the administration’s priorities.

The shutdown, the 15th since 1981, has suspended scientific research, economic data reports, financial regulation, and a wide range of other activities. Pay has been suspended for roughly 2 million federal workers, though troops, airport security screeners, and others deemed “essential” must still report to work.

A prolonged shutdown could disrupt air travel, food aid for millions of Americans, and force federal courts to close. Federal workers would miss their first paycheck in mid-October if the standoff is not resolved by then.

The longest shutdown lasted 35 days in 2018-2019, during Trump’s first term in office. The Senate has three times already rejected a Republican plan, which would fund the government through November 21, and a Democratic alternative that would also bolster the expiring health subsidies.

The chamber will vote on both of those plans again on Friday. Republicans control both chambers of Congress, but they need at least seven Democratic votes to advance spending legislation in the Senate.

A group of senators from both parties say they have been exploring a compromise. But some Democrats say they do not trust Republicans to honor any agreement that would first reopen the government and then tackle the healthcare subsidies, which were passed as part of a 2021 Democratic COVID relief package and now help 24 million Americans pay for coverage.

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Dar es Salaam. The new leadership at Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (Dart) and Usafiri Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (Udart) faces one of the toughest assignments in public service: restoring confidence in the city’s long-troubled bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday dissolved the boards of both Dart and Udart, ushering in new leadership to address growing dissatisfaction with a project once hailed as a model for Africa. A statement issued by Chief Secretary Moses Kusiluka confirmed the appointments.

Mr David Kafulila, who also serves as Executive Director of the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) Unit, has been named chairman of the Dart board, while Dr Ramadhan Dau will chair the Udart board. In parallel, the President appointed new chief executives to steer the agencies.

Mr Said Tunda is the new Dart Director General, while Mr Pius Ng’ingo has been named Director General of Udart, which operates Phase One of the system. They replace Dr Athuman Kihamia and Mr Waziri Kindamba, respectively.

No official reasons were given for their removal. The shake-up comes amid mounting public frustration.

Just a day earlier, passengers travelling from Gerezani to Kimara broke into protest songs on board a BRT bus, highlighting widespread anger over worsening services. Launched in 2016 with high expectations, the BRT was supposed to reduce congestion and transform commuting in Dar es Salaam.

Instead, the system is now plagued by long queues, overcrowding, irregular timetables and poorly maintained infrastructure. Residents have repeatedly urged the government to act, especially as Phase Two–intended to connect Mbagala to Gerezani–remains stalled.

Although the service was due to start on September 1, operations have yet to commence. This has fuelled scepticism, with commuters openly questioning whether the project can ever deliver on its promises.

To address the delays, the government enlisted private partners. Mofat Company, for instance, has imported nearly 100 buses intended for the new corridor.

Yet, the buses are not in use on the MbagalaGerezani route. Instead, some were spotted on the Morogoro Road corridor, raising fresh concerns about misallocation of resources and further confusion among commuters.

The deeper challenge lies in systemic inefficiencies. Since its inception, the BRT has struggled with leadership instability, shifting timelines and a lack of operational discipline.

Each leadership change has been billed as the solution, but the core issues–such as fleet shortages, financial sustainability and accountability for past investments–remain unresolved. Unanswered questions continue to hover over the project.

For instance, what became of the nearly 200 buses originally introduced by UDA Rapid Transit nearly a decade ago? Did they generate the projected financial returns? If so, why has it been difficult to replace them? These issues point to deeper operational and governance shortcomings that the new leaders must urgently confront. Adding to their burden is the need to balance public expectations with political and commercial interests.

Those recently dismissed had themselves been appointed only months earlier, a sign of the revolving-door leadership that has stifled continuity. The constant reshuffling has also fuelled speculation about competing agendas within the transport sector.

For Mr Tunda and Mr Ng’ingo, the immediate task will be to instil discipline in operations and rebuild commuter trust. Phase Two must be launched without further delay, while Phase One urgently requires improvements to service quality, fleet capacity and maintenance.

They must also manage complex stakeholder interests. Dart, as the regulator and Udart, as the operator, have often been accused of working at cross-purposes rather than complementing each other.

Aligning their roles will be critical if the BRT is to function effectively and sustainably. Meanwhile, commuters–who endure the long queues and overcrowded buses daily–will be watching closely.

The public mood is increasingly impatient, with many feeling that the BRT has fallen far short of its original vision. The leadership overhaul signals the government’s recognition that business as usual cannot continue.

Whether the new bosses can finally turn around Dar es Salaam’s flagship transport project remains to be seen. What is certain is that they inherit not just institutions, but also the weight of public expectation and the political urgency of delivering visible results.

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Mbeya. Tension has gripped the Katumba-based Rungwe Tea Growers’ Factory in Mbeya Region after 216 workers staged a placard protest to oppose their dismissal.

They are demanding dues worth Sh2.1 billion and have appealed for government intervention. The factory has remained closed since May 9, 2025, disrupting the livelihoods of more than 15,000 tea farmers.

Some growers have abandoned their plantations, while others have shifted to alternative crops, dealing a blow to the district’s economy. Addressing the protest on Thursday, October 2, 2025, the workers vowed to remain at their jobs until their employers, Tatepa and Maris Africa, the factory’s investors, settle claims totalling more than Sh2.17 billion.

Workers’ claims committee chairman, Mr Robert Shayo, said the dismissal letters issued by the employers came as a shock. He explained that 216 workers had been instructed to vacate their jobs by September 30, 2025, in violation of contractual terms.

“Our stand is to remain at work. We are demanding national social security funds (NSSF) contributions, leave allowances, and other statutory benefits outlined in our contracts.

The decision caught us completely off guard,” said Mr Shayo. Explaining their defiance, Mr Shayo stressed that costs would rise legally as the proper termination procedures had not been observed.

Factory manager, Mr Stanslaus Benela, said the workers’ defiance highlighted the economic burden caused by the closure. He noted that the shutdown had hit tea farmers, reduced household incomes in Rungwe District, and slashed national revenue.

“Some farmers have abandoned their tea fields, while others are uprooting the crop for alternatives. We urge the government to intervene and secure a new investor,” said Mr Benela.

He added that more than 15,000 farmers had been affected, while the wider economy had suffered as unpaid water and electricity bills mounted, leaving surrounding communities in difficulty. “Financial institutions that once processed salaries and farmers’ payments are no longer operating.

Even social security funds are missing contributions,” he said. Tanzania Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (TPAWU) secretary in Mbeya Region, Ms Jacline Novat, said the union had proposed that the employer pay workers their basic salaries, leave allowances, service certificates, and long-service awards.

She added that the employer was urged to provide Sh500,000 to each worker in recognition of their service, three months’ housing allowance, and transport costs for employees from outside Tukuyu. “We are awaiting the employer’s response by Monday to determine our fate.

In the meantime, we urge patience as their representative has assured us of feedback,” said Ms Novat. The factory’s board of directors’ representative, Mr Essau Sengo, acknowledged the protest and pledged to forward the workers’ concerns to the employer before giving a response on Monday.

He urged the workers to remain calm, stressing that the priority was to adhere to laws and procedures to ensure they receive their entitlements. “On behalf of the board, I assure all workers that your message has been received.

I will act on it and provide feedback by Monday. Rest assured, we are committed to protecting your rights through lawful means,” said Mr Sengo.

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Dar es Salaam. If there is one issue that continues to trouble city residents, it is the overwhelming daily demand for reliable public transport.

Yet what surprises many even more is the state of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, once touted as the ultimate answer to chronic congestion. Launched in 2016 as a cure for the city’s transport challenges, the BRT has instead evolved into a business with a huge customer base but fragile operations.

Rather than realising the vision of transforming public transport, it has become one of the most criticised projects, leaving citizens with more questions than answers. A shortage of buses has led to endless queues at stations, forcing passengers to crowd into overloaded buses, sometimes even clinging dangerously to windows.

Viral videos and images have shown commuters perched precariously on window frames after failing to find space inside, a stark symbol of the crisis. Frustrations have spilled into unrest.

On October 1, 2025, residents hurled stones at two buses and several stations, smashing windows. Police confirmed three suspects were arrested in connection with the incidents.

For both analysts and ordinary citizens, the situation raises tough questions: Has this multibillion-shilling project failed to meet its purpose? What is the real solution to Dar es Salaam’s transport crisis? Even the ticketing system remains unresolved. The promise at launch When it was launched in 2016, then-Director of the Dar Rapid Transit Agency (Dart), Mr Ronald Rwakatare, said services began with 104 buses, far short of the 305 initially planned.

Dart explained that the decision to start despite the shortfall was to protect the dedicated lanes, already encroached upon by motorcycle taxis (bodaboda). Although the project started on shaky ground, at least the buses filled the lanes and raised hopes of a transformed system.

But today, the situation is different. Residents wonder how many buses remain operational and why the fleet is shrinking instead of growing.

The irony is clear: passenger numbers keep rising while bus numbers dwindle, with no solution in sight. The unresolved e-ticketing saga Initially, MaxMalipo introduced electronic ticketing.

Later, the system was withdrawn, then reinstated in another form, still riddled with glitches. Sometimes it crashes, sometimes tickets fail to scan, and at other times passengers pay cash and get paper slips.

This raises further questions: Is the issue technological, managerial, or linked to vested interests? From Simon Group’s Udart to state control At first, Udart was run by businessman Robert Kisena, who imported the initial fleet. But disputes erupted, drawing in criminal justice agencies.

Mr Kisena was jailed, and the government assumed control. What exactly triggered the transition? Was it failings in private management, or did the state feel compelled to intervene? Tangible achievements, or unmet promises? Another central question is what results the project has actually delivered.

Has the fleet expanded with passenger growth, or have pledges outweighed action? If commuters must wait hours for buses out of hundreds once promised, can the project be judged a success? Frequent leadership changes Over nine years, the project has seen a revolving door of leaders, including Mr Rwakatare, Dr Edwin Mhede, Dr Athuman Kihamia, and now Mr Said Tunda. Udart, too, has cycled through bosses.

This turnover prompts a tough question: is the problem rooted in individuals, or in the system itself? Endless promises of new buses Repeated pledges of new fleets have often gone unfulfilled. For example, 72 units were left idle at the port for years, while other promised buses never materialised.

Were these failures due to weak planning or conflicting interests? Borrowing Mofart buses, solution or stopgap? On October 2, 2025, buses from the second phase, owned by Mofart Company, were diverted to Morogoro Road. The move sought to ease public anger ahead of the delayed launch of Kilwa Road services.

But is this a lasting solution, or just temporary relief? What experts say? Economist Oscar Mkude told The Citizen’s sister newspaper Mwananchi that shifting buses between routes is not a genuine solution but only a short-term fix. “We must return to the core vision: securing an investor with the capacity to supply enough buses.

The crisis exists because no new buses have been added since inception,” said Mr Mkude over the phone. He questioned how long the borrowed buses would serve Kimara and what fleet would be provided for Mbagala.

Mr Mkude recalled that Udart was meant to manage the project temporarily, pending an investor, but later continued without adding buses, relying on government purchases, marking the beginning of the decline. Another analyst, Dr Paul Loisulie of the University of Dodoma (UDOM), argued that politics must be separated from technical management.

“If politicians have a hand in this project, they must step aside. We must identify whether barriers are contractual or structural and remove them to ensure accountability,” he said.

Dr Loisulie added it was absurd to mismanage a project with such high demand, stressing that accountability was key to sustainability. Former Lands Minister Prof Anna Tibaijuka also weighed in on X, questioning how a once promising project had become a burden.

“BRT, the Dar Rapid Transit project? How did it become a nuisance instead of liberation? Public transport is not profit-making but a service,” she wrote. The urban planning expert added: “In Europe, governments subsidise such projects, while in Asia, operators recoup costs through real estate near stations.

Leaving it to survive on an ‘investor’ basis is unrealistic. We must revisit its foundations.

” Prime Minister steps in Amid growing concerns, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa toured the project and issued directives. He ordered that the number of buses must never be reduced on any route at any time, regardless of passenger numbers.

“Even with only four passengers, the bus must depart. No suspending services during off-peak hours.

Buses must operate continuously,” Majaliwa said while inspecting new buses on the KivukoniKimara route. Speaking to commuters, he announced the government had added 60 new buses from October 2, 2025. “This brings the fleet to 90, which will end the challenges we have faced,” he said.

He noted that as of that morning, only 30 old buses were operational. “Initially, this corridor had 140 buses, but today only 30 (blue ones) remain,” explained Mr Majaliwa.

Earlier, outgoing Udart director Waziri Kindamba, before his dismissal, had said many buses were grounded after their service lifespan expired. The fleet required major overhauls or replacement, neither of which had happened.

He added that between 60 and 70 buses had also been damaged by floods, with poor repairs compounding the problem. Low fares compared with market rates further deepened the company’s woes.

Samia reshuffles leadership A statement issued on Thursday, October 2, 2025, by Chief Secretary Dr Moses Kusiluka said President Samia Suluhu Hassan had appointed Mr Said Tunda as Chief Executive Officer of Dart, replacing Dr Athuman Kihamia. She also named Mr Pius Ng’ingo as Managing Director of Udart, replacing Mr Waziri Kindamba, whose appointment was revoked.

In addition, she appointed Mr David Kafulila as chairman of Dart’s Advisory Board and Dr Ramadhan Dau as chairman of Udart’s Board. Prime Minister Majaliwa welcomed the changes, saying he expected the new leadership to implement reforms, including full adoption of electronic fare collection to curb revenue leakages by dishonest staff.

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Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) has appointed Mr Deogratious Aloyce Massawe as acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Friday, October 3, 2025, following the temporary suspension of Mr Raphael Maganga.

The appointment was announced by the TPSF Governing Council and formally communicated by Interim President of the federation, Ms Angelina Ngalula, in a statement signed on behalf of the Council. According to the notice, Mr Massawe assumes the role immediately while the circumstances of Mr Maganga’s suspension are addressed.

Who is Deogratious Massawe? Mr Massawe is a seasoned financial economist and policy specialist with a strong academic and professional profile. He holds an MBA in Accountancy, a Bachelor’s degree in Customs and Tax Management, and a Professional Diploma in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Financial Educator (CFE). In his previous role at TPSF, Mr Massawe served as Director of Finance and Operations, where he oversaw financial management, budgeting, internal controls, and institutional development.

His LinkedIn profile states he has experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, and implementing reforms in both private and public-sector settings. He has also represented TPSF externally; for example, as Finance Manager, he promoted Tanzanian private sector participation at international expos.

In 2024, Mr Massawe was linked with Rwanda’s Bank of Kigali for a tech division leadership role (BK Techouse), where he held interim senior responsibilities, reflecting his broader regional experience. His appointment as acting CEO is seen as a stabilising move given his familiarity with TPSF’s internal workings and mandate.

What led to this change? The TPSF announcement cites the suspension of Mr Raphael Maganga, the outgoing CEO, as the reason for the shift. Details of the suspension have not been publicly disclosed, and the statement suggests it is temporary.

Ms Ngalula, in her capacity as Interim President, emphasised, Mr Massawe’s appointment is to ensure continuity. Mr Maganga had served as CEO since February 1, 2024, succeeding Mr John Ulanga, who left for a diplomatic and trade post in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in late 2023. It remains unclear whether Mr Maganga will be reinstated, permanently replaced, or face further internal inquiry.

What does this mean for TPSF and private-sector leadership? The Federation of Private Sector in Tanzania plays a pivotal role as an interlocutor between business and government, advocating reforms, supporting SMEs, and promoting conducive policy frameworks. A smooth leadership transition is critical for its credibility and ability to execute projects and dialogues.

Key stakeholders will watch how Mr Massawe handles issues such as taxation, regulatory burdens, foreign investment promotion, and policy advocacy. His finance background and familiarity with TPSF may help ensure less disruption in ongoing programmes.

Observers note that stability and transparency in the transition will bolster confidence among businesses and international partners, especially as economic reforms face scrutiny. Meanwhile, Mr Massawe, in his acting capacity, will assume full executive responsibilities, including oversight of operations, advocacy, and government engagement.

For the private sector, leadership continuity is expected to ensure the federation remains effective and assertive at a critical juncture for Tanzania’s economic trajectory. .