Category: The Citizen

Education experts have urged parents to verify the accreditation of foreign universities before sending their children abroad, as hundreds of Tanzanian students prepare to begin higher education studies overseas for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The advice was issued during a pre-departure orientation organised by Global Education Link in Dar es Salaam, bringing together students, parents and guardians for final checks on documents and travel arrangements.

The session focused on ensuring that students have the correct paperwork and adequate preparation before departure, including visa documents, admission letters, accommodation confirmations, and guidance on adapting to life abroad.

Global Education Link Managing Director, Abdulmalik Mollel, said the exercise was aimed at finalising key documents, responding to parents’ concerns and addressing any issues that could delay students’ travel.

He stressed that beyond securing admission, parents must independently verify that universities are legally recognised by relevant authorities.

‘Even if the college was recommended by Global Education Link, as a parent, you must satisfy yourself regarding its recognition. The proper approach is to obtain official confirmation from the government authority that oversees universities,’ he said.

Mr Mollel added that confirmation from the Tanzania Commission for Universities helps ensure that qualifications obtained abroad are recognised locally.

He cautioned parents against relying on social media or unofficial sources when making decisions about higher education institutions.

He further noted that studying abroad requires broader preparation, including understanding visa requirements, accommodation, transport, safety, and cultural adaptation.

According to him, Global Education Link has established a structured process to support students from university selection and applications through to visa processing, accommodation arrangements and final departure preparations.

Tanzania is set to host one of its biggest entertainment and charity weekends yet as the inaugural IMBEJU Sauti Moja Concert joins the seventh edition of the CRDB Bank International Marathon 2026, bringing together global music stars, thousands of fans and a shared mission of transforming lives.

The concert, headlined by American R and B sensation Trey Songz, will feature a lineup of celebrated African and Tanzanian artists. Scheduled for August 14, 2026, at the TTCL Grounds in Kijitonyama, the event will officially kick off a weekend that culminates with the CRDB Bank International Marathon on August 16.

Speaking during the launch of the marathon in Dar es Salaam, CRDB Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abdulmajid Nsekela, described the introduction of IMBEJU Sauti Moja as a strategic step in transforming the marathon into a broader lifestyle and social-impact platform.

‘The concert gives the marathon a new identity beyond charity running. It creates an entire weekend where entertainment and giving back come together, attracting wider participation while strengthening our investment in communities, especially young people,’ said Dr Nsekela.

He noted that the initiative aligns with CRDB Group’s EVOLVE 2023-2027 Strategy, which prioritizes youth empowerment, financial inclusion and sustainable community development.

According to Dr Nsekela, Tanzania’s youthful population possesses enormous creativity and entrepreneurial potential, and platforms such as IMBEJU Sauti Moja are designed to connect talent with opportunities, knowledge, markets and networks that can accelerate economic participation.

‘This is more than a concert. It is a long-term investment in the next generation that will shape Tanzania’s future economy,’ he said.

Meanwhile, CRDB Bank Foundation Managing Director, Tully Esther Mwambapa, said the concert represents a bold new chapter in the Foundation’s efforts to improve lives through innovative and inclusive platforms.

‘For six seasons, the CRDB Bank Marathon has united people through sport to spread smiles and hope. This year, we are expanding that mission by harnessing the unifying power of music. IMBEJU Sauti Moja is not a separate event; it is an extension of the same purpose of bringing people together to create opportunities and improve lives,’ she said.

Mwambapa explained that IMBEJU reflects the Foundation’s flagship empowerment programme, which plants seeds of opportunity for young people, women, innovators and entrepreneurs, while Sauti Moja symbolizes a collective voice united for a common cause.

‘Every concert ticket purchased will be more than admission to an unforgettable night of entertainment. It will be an investment in hope, empowerment and a better future for Tanzanians,’ she added.

The introduction of IMBEJU Sauti Moja marks another milestone in the marathon’s ambition to become one of Africa’s leading sporting and lifestyle events, combining athletics, tourism, entertainment and community development under a single internationally recognized platform.

The CRDB Bank Marathon has steadily expanded its footprint beyond Tanzania into Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, reflecting its growing regional influence.

Organizers expect thousands of participants from across Tanzania and beyond to attend the concert before joining runners, families, fitness enthusiasts and corporate teams at the marathon two days later.

Registration for the marathon and tickets for the IMBEJU Sauti Moja Concert are now available through the official CRDB Bank Foundation platform.

The public is encouraged to register early and become part of a movement where every ticket purchased and every kilometre run contributes directly to supporting children in need of life-saving heart treatment, mothers facing high-risk pregnancies and youth empowerment initiatives through the IMBEJU programme.

As anticipation builds towards August, IMBEJU Sauti Moja promises to deliver a memorable celebration where world-class entertainment meets a meaningful cause-demonstrating how music, sport and generosity can come together to inspire lasting change.

When the World Bank officially reclassified Tanzania from a low-income country to a lower-middle-income economy on July 1, 2020, few may have reflected on how far the country had travelled since 2000, when GDP per capita stood at just $306.

It was during that period that Tanzania Development Vision 2025 was conceived, with the aim of transforming the country into a middle-income nation with a semi-industrialised economy by 2025.

Dar es Salaam’s industrial landscape entered a new chapter on June 26, 2026, as Hanlink Mobility Tanzania officially launched its operations, bringing one of East Africa’s fastest-growing mobility and heavy equipment companies into the country’s commercial capital.

The launch marked far more than the opening of a new showroom. It signaled Hanlink Mobility’s long-term commitment to Tanzania’s industrial growth, positioning the country as a strategic hub in the company’s expanding regional footprint.

Speaking during the inauguration, Hanlink Mobility Group Managing Director Mr. Lin Yu described Tanzania as a natural next step in Hanlink’s East African growth strategy.

‘Our expansion reflects our confidence in East Africa and our commitment to supporting its development,’ he said. The journey began in Uganda under Double Q Company Limited before expanding successfully into Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

With the launch of its Tanzanian operations, Hanlink is now strengthening its regional network while laying the groundwork for future investments, including the possibility of establishing local vehicle assembly facilities.

Such an investment, Mr. Yu noted, would not only strengthen Tanzania’s industrial capacity but also create employment opportunities and facilitate the transfer of technical skills to young Tanzanians.

‘Our vision extends beyond sellingpart of Tanzania’s industrial development journey.’ That broader vision was echoed by Assistant General Manager Ms Zainab Ngoda, who emphasized that Hanlink Mobility is much more than a commercial truck dealership.

She described the company as a comprehensive mobility and equipment solutions provider, offering an extensive portfolio that serves the transport, construction, mining and infrastructure sectors.

Alongside its partnership with Sinotruk, Hanlink also represents internationally recognised brands including XCMG Road and Mining Machinery, captured attention, the spotlight soon shifted to the machinery itself. Heli Forklifts and Kinglong Buses, enabling customers to source a wide range of industrial equipment from a single provider.

‘Our goal is to provide complete mobility solutions that support economic growth across multiple industries,’ she explained. In one of the ceremony’s most memorable moments, Ms. Zainab Ngoda invited the entire Hanlink Tanzania team to stand before the audience, reminding guests that behind every globally recognised brand is a dedicated local workforce committed to serving customers across the country.

While the company’s regional vision Sales Director Mr. Peter Li unveiled a range of heavy-duty vehicles specifically selected to meet the demands of Tanzania’s rapidly expanding construction, logistics and mining industries.

The lineup includes the rugged HOWO H3 and TX Tippers, the flagship HOWO NX and MAX Tractor Heads, and a versatile range of light-duty trucks with carrying capacities ranging from three to ten tonnes.

According to Mr Li, the vehicles have been engineered to deliver maximum productivity under demanding operating conditions while maintaining reliability and efficiency. However, he stressed that Hanlink’s commitment does not end with vehicle delivery.

Customers will benefit from manufacturer-backed warranties, genuine spare parts, professionally trained technicians and comprehensive aftersales support designed to maximise fleet uptime and reduce operating costs. ‘Our relationship with customers begins after the sale,’ he said. ‘Reliable service is just as important as reliable equipment.’

Completing the company’s message was Group Head of Marketing Mr. Musani Richard, who introduced Hanlink Tanzania’s guiding promise: ‘From Dar to Every Mile.’

More than a marketing slogan, he described the phrase as a commitment to supporting customers wherever they operate-whether managing transport fleets in Dar es Salaam, delivering goods across the country or operating heavy equipment at remote mining and construction sites.

‘This occasion is more than the opening of a showroom,’ he said. ‘It represents another important milestone in Hanlink Mobility’s regional growth journey.’

To strengthen customer engagement, Mr. Richard announced the launch of Hanlink Tanzania’s new digital platforms, including its official website and social media channels, providing customers with easier access to product information, service support and company updates.

Recognising that access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers to business expansion, he also unveiled strategic financing partnerships with CRDB Bank, NBC Bank, NMB Bank and NCBA Bank.

The partnerships are designed to provide flexible financing solutions that will enable transport operators, contractors, logistics companies and entrepreneurs to acquire heavy equipment without the burden of significant upfront capital investment.

By combining world-class equipment with accessible financing, Hanlink aims to accelerate business growth while supporting Tanzania’s broader industrialisation agenda. As the ceremony concluded, one message stood out clearly: Hanlink Mobility Tanzania is not positioning itself simply as another equipment distributor.

Instead, the company is building an integrated ecosystem that combines internationally recognised brands, reliable after-sales service, digital customer engagement and strategic financial partnerships under one roof.

With a regional presence spanning six East African countries and ambitions to invest further in local manufacturing, Hanlink arrives in Tanzania at a time when demand for transport, logistics and industrial equipment is rising rapidly.

Its launch sends a clear signal that Tanzania has become an increasingly attractive destination for industrial investment. And as the company embarks on its next phase of regional expansion, Hanlink Mobility Tanzania intends to be more than a supplier of trucks and machinery-it aims to become a long-term partner in powering the country’s economic transformation, from the first mile in Dar es Salaam to every mile that drives Tanzania’s future.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have been crowned the 2025/26 Mainland Tanzania Premier League champions after defeating JKT Tanzania 3-0 in their final league match at Major General Isamuhyo Stadium today, June 30, 2026, sealing a record-equaling fifth consecutive league title.

Goals from Prince Dube, Maxi Nzengeli and Clement “Depu” Mzize secured a comfortable victory that saw the Jangwani Street giants finish the season with 75 points from 30 matches.

Their closest rivals, Simba SC, ended the campaign in second place with 73 points, while Azam FC finished third with 64 points. Singida Black Stars completed the top four with 50 points.

The victory also saw Yanga midfielder Maxi Nzengeli named the Man of the Match after an influential display in midfield, capping another impressive season for the Congolese star.

The triumph marks Yanga’s 32nd Mainland Premier League title and their fifth consecutive championship, having also won the league in the 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.

In doing so, Yanga have written another memorable chapter in Tanzanian football history by becoming only the second club to win five successive league titles in the Premier League era.

Since the league’s establishment in 1965, only Yanga and Simba have achieved such a feat.

Yanga were the first club to dominate the competition with five straight championships between 1968 and 1972. Simba later matched the achievement by winning five consecutive titles from 1976 to 1980.

The latest triumph sees Yanga equal that historic milestone once again while reaffirming their dominance of domestic football.

As league champions, Yanga will represent Tanzania in next season’s Caf Champions League alongside runners-up Simba.

Azam FC and Singida Black Stars have secured the country’s two Caf Confederation Cup slots after finishing third and fourth respectively.

The race for the Golden Boot was won by Singida Black Stars striker Mossi Nduwumwe who finished the campaign with 17 goals.

He edged Azam FC playmaker Feisal “Fei Toto” Salum, who scored 15 goals, while Yanga midfielder Allan Okello finished third on the scoring charts with 14 goals.

Yanga goalkeeper Djigui Diarra claimed the Golden Glove award after keeping a league-best 18 clean sheets during the season.

The Mali international was once again instrumental in Yanga’s title-winning campaign, producing several crucial saves while anchoring one of the strongest defensive units in the competition.

At the other end of the table, Mtibwa Sugar’s stay in the top flight lasted just one season as they suffered immediate relegation alongside KMC, with both clubs dropping directly to the Championship.

Meanwhile, Tanzania Prisons and Mbeya City, who finished 13th and 14th respectively, will battle in the relegation play-off.

The winner of that encounter will retain their Premier League status, while the loser will face the winner of the Championship play-off between Polisi Tanzania and Mbeya Kwanza for the final place in next season’s Mainland Premier League.

With another league title secured and a place in continental competition confirmed, Yanga will now shift their focus to building on their domestic dominance as they seek greater success on the African stage next season.

Seventy-nine young agribusiness practitioners from five regions have completed a two-week financial literacy training programme aimed at equipping them with skills to serve as community trainers in financial management, investment and entrepreneurship, in a move expected to strengthen agricultural productivity and improve food security.

The training was delivered under the Vijana Kilimo Biashara (VKB) programme, implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and in collaboration with the Bank of Tanzania Academy (BoT Academy).

Upon completion, the participants were certified as financial educators (CFEs), enabling them to train farmers, livestock keepers and small-scale entrepreneurs within their communities. Speaking in Arusha, BoT Academy Principal Dr Nicas Yabu said the trainees, drawn from Arusha, Dodoma, Singida, Morogoro and Manyara regions, had been equipped with financial knowledge and the responsibility to cascade it at grassroots level.

He said the programme seeks to shift financial awareness from formal institutions to rural communities where most agricultural activity takes place but where financial literacy remains limited.

‘We have trained them on how to earn, save and invest. The aim is for them to return and empower communities to use financial resources effectively and build stronger livelihoods through agriculture and enterprise,’ he said.

The training covered financial services, savings culture, investment opportunities, credit access and responsible borrowing, with inputs from the Bank of Tanzania, UTT AMIS, insurers and commercial banks.

The World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Country Director for Tanzania, Christine Mendes, said the initiative is part of the VKB programme, which aims to equip young people with skills for employment and agribusiness development while strengthening financial management.

Since 2023, more than 77,000 young people across eight regions have been reached, while the latest cohort brings the number of certified financial educators to 150.

One participant, Shedrack Minja from Manyara, said the training had shifted his mindset, adding that agriculture should be treated as a business requiring planning, saving and reinvestment.

The BoT Academy and WFP signed an MoU on July 31, 2025, to strengthen financial literacy among youth through the VKB initiative.

The United Nations has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could cost the continent up to $3.6 billion and lead to the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, raising fears of a wider economic and development crisis if containment efforts fail.

The warning comes as health authorities struggle to contain the rapidly spreading outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda, with international agencies calling for urgent financial and logistical support.

Speaking on Tuesday, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in the DRC, Damien Mama, said the outbreak posed a threat not only to public health but also to economic growth, livelihoods and long-term development across Africa. “If we have the resources and we step up, we can contain this outbreak and prevent further losses,” Mr Mama said.

“If we do not, this health emergency risks becoming a much deeper and prolonged development crisis across the region and potentially the continent.”

According to recent estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the current outbreak has become the largest ever recorded involving the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The outbreak, declared in May, has infected more than 1,100 people in the DRC and Uganda and caused hundreds of deaths, with health officials warning that the actual number of infections could be significantly higher due to underreporting and difficulties in tracing contacts in conflict-affected areas.

The WHO has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern and warned that the spread of the virus is currently outpacing containment efforts.

Health workers have faced major challenges, including armed conflict, population displacement, attacks on treatment centres and widespread mistrust of health authorities in affected communities.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya recently said the funding required to combat the outbreak had risen sharply from an initial estimate of $518 million to about $1.4 billion, reflecting the growing scale of the emergency and the humanitarian response needed.

Although international partners have pledged approximately $910 million to support response efforts, only a small portion of the funds has been disbursed, raising concerns about the ability of health authorities to contain the disease before it spreads further.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also elevated its Ebola response to its highest emergency level, warning that without stronger interventions the outbreak could eventually exceed 20,000 cases.

The United Nations has stressed that rapid investment in surveillance, treatment facilities, border screening, laboratory testing and community engagement remains critical to preventing the health crisis from evolving into a broader economic and social emergency affecting the continent.

Tanzania’s banking sector has recorded a major regional milestone, with leading lenders ranking ahead of some of their East African peers in the latest East and Central Africa corporate performance survey – a development officials say reflects the impact of ongoing economic reforms.

Speaking during the National Dividend Day (Gawio Day) ceremony held at State House in Dar es Salaam, Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, said the results demonstrate the widening impact of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s economic transformation agenda and her 4Rs philosophy – Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding.

He said the reforms have strengthened public institutions while also boosting the competitiveness of the private sector, particularly in banking and key productive industries. ‘Through the economic reform agenda and the opening up of the country under the 4Rs philosophy, the results are not only visible in public institutions. We are also seeing them in the private sector, where our companies are beginning to gain international recognition,’ he said.

Prof Mkumbo referred to the May 12, 2026 edition of African Business magazine, which published its annual ranking of top-performing companies in East and Central Africa based on market value and corporate performance, covering firms valued at over $1 billion.

According to the report, Tanzania’s leading banks – CRDB Bank and NMB Bank – ranked third and fourth respectively, placing them ahead of several major regional competitors.

Other Tanzanian firms also featured in the top 20, including Tanzania Breweries Limited (14th), Tanzania Portland Cement Company (16th), Vodacom Tanzania (17th) and Tanzania Cigarette Company (20th).

Prof Mkumbo said the performance marks a sharp shift compared to 2020, when Tanzanian firms were largely absent from regional top-tier rankings.

‘These achievements are not a matter of geography. They are the result of deliberate policies and strategic planning,’ he said.

He said that continued reforms are expected to further strengthen the position of Tanzanian firms across the East African region and beyond, with more public institutions and state-owned enterprises likely to join the list of top performers.

Treasury Registrar Nehemiah Mchechu said the banking sector has also recorded strong financial growth alongside improved stability.

He said banking sector profits have risen from about Sh666 billion to Sh2.5 trillion, representing nearly a fourfold increase, while the sector continues to grow at more than 20 per cent.

Mr Mchechu added that non-performing loans have dropped significantly from about 8-9 per cent in the early phase of President Hassan’s administration to around 2.8 per cent, reflecting improved credit discipline and stronger regulation.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned against negligence and misuse of public funds, saying the government will not hesitate to take action wherever such practices are identified.

Speaking on June 30, 2026 during the Dividend Day ceremony held at State House in Dar es Salaam, President Hassan said accountability remains a top priority, stressing that institutions which fail to manage public resources properly will face corrective measures aimed at strengthening performance and discipline in the public sector.

She said the ultimate goal of public spending is to deliver tangible benefits to citizens, urging institutions to ensure that development plans translate into visible improvements in people’s lives. The Head of State noted that performance should not only be measured through statistics, but through real outcomes reflecting progress in service delivery and economic impact.

‘We have a habit of producing reports filled with heavy statistics that are not well interpreted, but when you analyse them, you find that nothing significant has happened, or if something exists, it has no major impact on the economy or institutional development,’ she said.

President Hassan added that while the government will continue to commend well-performing institutions, it will also strengthen oversight and take action where weaknesses are identified to improve efficiency and accountability.

‘We will commend ourselves when we perform well, and equally correct or strengthen ourselves where there are weaknesses. We will not hesitate to take action wherever we identify negligence and misuse of public funds,’ she said.

In its variety, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the moment leading as the fastest-pacing technological marvel. In such a short time, it has evolved into a functional tool in most human affairs and activities: education, health, art, sports and games, information technology, security, research, manufacturing industries, etc.

In some areas, efficiency and speed brought about by AI are appreciated, while in many others, a downside is noticed. First, the diminishing quality of human skills, which were in the past more diversely productive, given the natural flow of human capacities after engaging in a certain area of specialty over a long time. This is now referred to as skills atrophy.

Secondly, users tend to create a dependence on AI even for simple tasks that they previously managed without any difficulty. The temptation to prompt AI chatbots is overwhelming given the ease of getting suggestions, and in some cases, final results upon a prompt.

Think of letters, academic papers, images, videos, reports, social media write-ups, made completely or mostly by AI, which are sometimes not even edited. There is something missing in these; the human agency, which adds value in making solutions to be ‘human solutions.’

Going deeper, today’s discussion is on the incorporation of AI into personal chat apps, where a user gets unsolicited prompts asking if AI can summarise messages, or reply, or if the user wants to search for something in an embedded AI portal right there in the chat app. This comes at a moment when many people are already feeling overwhelmed by the AI slop all over the internet, especially social media, where not only that the content is AI generated, but there are also endless AI prompts underneath posts that anticipate random questions about the posts. There are now also AI bots replying to messages and comments, and doing a kind of customer service work.

As young people especially get more and more attached to AI, building dependence on it, having it integrated into regular personal chat apps is adding salt to a wound, especially as many have a struggle in building relationships and have clear personal communication.

Today, according to research, most young people who are exposed to communication technology are said to have been cognitively affected by the use of the internet, gadgets, and now AI, to the extent that some researchers suggest that the current generation of young adults (Gen Z) is the first generation ever to be cognitively outperformed by the previous generation, that is millennials; especially in areas of memory, literacy, numeracy, executive function, and general IQ. This foretells a disaster for the generations after Gen Z, given the rapid changes and the effects already evident on the ground.

Beginning from millennials, the generations ordo successivus, due to early exposure to digital technology, are referred to as ‘digital natives,’ using the words of Marc Prensky, an educational technologist. We are ‘natives’ because the digital world is the only communication world we know; we have been exposed so early to the gadgets, internet, and now AI.

The waning of the quality of communication entails, first, less engagement in the communication process and the message being communicated. Where one only reads a summary of messages, there are chances of missing out on emotional depth, empathy, fundamental personal voice, nuances, and contexts, and where one responds with AI, there are chances of communicating what is not genuinely from the person, even though it may sound ‘smart.’

As most young people (Gen Z)spend about nine hours in front of a screen daily, they are affected by that exposure in terms of attention span, human formation, general character formation, and capacities for communication and adaptability in the real world. Relationships are not built through faster communication, but through deeper ones stemming from real personal experiences, however imperfect they may be. Research suggests that around 40 percent of educated Gen Zers across the world struggle with handwriting, a basic functional skill.

This means they cannot express their thoughts effectively on paper, as clear handwritten expression depends on writing fluency. In the US, about 50 percent of high school graduates are ‘not prepared’ for college-level writing. It is worth noting that the decline in writing skills goes hand in hand with a decline in reading and comprehension skills.

While most technological updates are difficult to shut down in the devices, it is important to be aware of the dangers of over-indulging the AI embedded technology, such that we delegate to it even the very basic function of personal communication, and the very private content thereof.

Moreover, in most cases, data processed through AI servers is also used to train AI frameworks. It is therefore worth reconsidering the practice of giving away one’s real-time personal information and experiences for that purpose. We must look at AI as a reality that is both functional and dangerous so that we can use it with care and prudence.