Category: The Citizen

When Burna Boy stepped onto the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre stage in mid-November, the night was expected to mark a triumphant opening to his No Sign of Weakness North American tour. Instead, a brief but tense moment during the performance would ignite a global conversation, reshaping the early narrative of the tour and raising questions about the delicate balance between artistes, audiences and online scrutiny.

Midway through the set, Burna Boy paused, pointed toward a couple in the front section, and instructed security to remove them. “Please take her the fck home.

Fast, fast. Take her home.

I’m not doing no more songs until you take her home,” he said. The woman appeared to be asleep, and Burna Boy interpreted it as disrespect.

As security approached, sections of the audience booed, while others looked on in confusion. Within hours, video clips circulated widely across TikTok, X and Instagram, garnering millions of views.

What could have remained an isolated stage moment instead became the centre of a global debate. Among the earliest responses were emotional posts from fans who felt the ejection was unnecessarily harsh.

One user commented under a viral clip: “B calmly down, always be friendly to your customers. You’re nothing without us.

That’s my advice.” Another viewer wrote, “Poor woman kicked her out for sleeping, not knowing she was grieving, hurting and exhausted.

” Others argued that the situation could have been handled more gently: “All he had to say was, ‘Bro, your girl is sleeping. Wake her up, we’re about to party.

‘ That’s all.” The woman at the centre of the incident did not immediately make a public appearance, but screenshots shared online suggested she had recently experienced personal loss.

Many fans said this context made the moment feel more uncomfortable. Still, a minority defended Burna Boy’s reaction, noting that performers rely heavily on crowd energy.

“It’s his show, his vibe,” wrote one supporter. “Artistes need engagement.

Sleeping in the front row sends the wrong message.” Compounding the backlash was a resurfaced clip from a separate livestream, circulated with the caption: “Did I ask you all to be my fans? I’m only looking for fans with money these days.

” The context of the remark remains debated, but its timing deepened the criticism. Commentators such as DJ Akademiks and Joe Budden amplified the conversation, framing the episode within Burna Boy’s broader history of tense interactions with audiences.

Online users revisited older controversies, from his late arrival at a 2022 Lagos concert to previous sharp exchanges with fans, reinforcing a narrative of unpredictability. Soon after the Denver incident, updates appeared on ticketing platforms announcing the cancellation of Burna Boy’s scheduled shows in Minneapolis (November 28) and Chicago (December 1).

Promoters did not publicly attribute the decision to the Red Rocks controversy, and Burna Boy’s camp did not offer a detailed explanation. However, online trackers noted softening demand for certain US dates, while videos from later shows suggested smaller crowds than expected.

Even a slight dip in attendance can affect promoter confidence, tour logistics, and venue scheduling. A music promoter familiar with US touring economics, speaking anonymously, suggested that controversies can have rapid commercial consequences.

“When an artiste is trending for the wrong reasons,” he says, “people hesitate. Even fans who love the music may decide to wait and see.

” In the days following the backlash, Burna Boy addresses the situation through several posts. Initially defending his reaction, he compared the role of a performer to that of a pilot, “If you make the pilot uncomfortable in a plane you bought a ticket for, you will be deboarded or arrested once you land.

” The analogy was criticised as dismissive, but his tone shifted soon afterward. In a later post, he writes, “I sincerely apologise if I’m wrong.

I’m not always right, but I felt right about this. Anyway, I’m just human.

” During an Instagram livestream, Burna Boy elaborated further, acknowledging that the controversy had influenced public perception and possibly ticket sales. He also referenced personal challenges, saying the pressure of being a global figure sometimes intersects with mental strain.

Fan responses to the apology were mixed. Some accepted the explanation as a moment of vulnerability.

Others felt the apology was hedged and failed to fully acknowledge the emotional impact on the ejected fan. The incident also reignites discussion about the evolving economics of Afrobeats.

Given his repeated seven-figure grosses at arenas in the US and Europe, it appears that international markets now represent a major source of touring income, though precise revenue breakdowns by region are not publicly disclosed. Burna Boy’s international concerts have regularly smashed records.

For instance, in March 2024, his show at Capital One Arena in Washington DC grossed roughly USD 1.72 million, among the highest single-show revenues by any African artiste in the US.

Across eight major international concerts between 2022 and 2023, industry tracking data reports earnings totalling around USD12.3 million. What is clear is that his global touring success underscores how international markets, fuelled by overseas fans, have become key to the financial engine of top Afrobeats artistes.

While Nigerian fans remain core to his identity, their purchasing power is not as decisive in determining tour viability. As of publicly available tour listings, there is no record of a paid concert by Burna Boy in Nigeria since 2022, reflecting a shift toward global stages.

This means that when American and European fans voice displeasure, the financial effects can be immediate. Ticket cancellations, even in the hundreds, can influence promoter decisions, and online sentiment increasingly informs venue expectations.

Music journalist Joey Akan noted that trust is essential to the touring business. “The artistfan relationship is financial as well as emotional,” he writes.

“When fans feel disrespected, even momentarily, their response affects real-world outcomes.” A larger conversation about African artists abroad As Afrobeats continues its expansion, African artistes navigating global stages face heightened expectations.

Performers carry not only their personal brand but also, at times, the symbolic weight of a continent’s rising influence in global pop culture. In this context, a moment of misjudgment can quickly magnify.

Critics argue this creates unfair pressure; others say it comes with global visibility. In Burna Boy’s case, the Denver moment has become more than an isolated incident, it sits at the intersection of cultural expectation, artist responsibility and the realities of global touring economics.

For now, Burna Boy continues the North American leg of his tour while working to restore momentum. Industry insiders say the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the controversy fades or becomes a defining feature of this tour cycle.

What is clear is that the incident underscores how quickly narratives shift in the age of viral media and how deeply fans’ voices now shape an artist’s trajectory. As one Denver concertgoer put it after the show: “I still love his music.

But this was a moment where he misread the room. Artists have power, but so do fans.

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Manyara. A wildfire has swept across Mount Hanang’ near Katesh in Manyara Region, raising concern among residents who initially questioned whether the blaze signalled volcanic activity at the summit.

Mount Hanang’, located in Hanang’ District, is Tanzania’s fifth-highest peak after Kilimanjaro, Meru, Loolmalasin and Oldonyo L’engai. The mountain rises 3,420 metres above sea level and forms the core of the 5,871-hectare Mount Hanang Forest Reserve neighbouring Katesh town.

The Manyara Regional Commissioner, Queen Sendiga, said the fire was likely caused by human activity, including illegal entry into the forest by people cutting trees for firewood and charcoal production. “Efforts to contain the fire are in progress, but strong winds at times spread the flames,” she said.

She added that beekeeping inside the reserve also increases the risk of fires. The Regional Commissioner dismissed claims of volcanic activity, stating that the blaze was a bushfire that had destroyed large areas of vegetation.

She confirmed that experts had been deployed to conduct a detailed assessment. A Hanang’ resident, Petro Joseph Akko, said the fire had burned for more than three days and had not been extinguished by the rainfall received in parts of the district.

The incident has revived memories of the December 3, 2023 disaster, when a landslide from Mount Hanang’ destroyed homes downhill and killed more than 100 villagers. The Conservation Officer for the Mount Hanang’ Reserve at the Tanzania Forestry Service, Abubakar Mpapa, acknowledged the destruction of both plant and animal life caused by the fire.

“We are using every available measure to suppress the fire,” he said. The Acting Regional Commander of the Manyara Fire and Rescue Brigade, Emmanuel Kibona, said boy scouts had been mobilised to assist in containing the blaze.

Preliminary assessments by the fire department show that more than 170 hectares have already been burned. Authorities reported that response efforts were difficult because the fire ignited in the middle of the night on December 3, 2025. .

Arusha. Tanzanians in the diaspora, in partnership with the National Museum of Tanzania, have launched a coordinated effort to recover the remains of traditional chiefs and priests, along with priceless cultural artefacts seized during the colonial era and transported to Europe.

The Senior Curator and Head of the Collection Department at the National Museum of Tanzania, Achiles Mafure, said the initiative follows extensive studies conducted in more than ten communities across the country.”We consulted tribes that resisted colonial rule, including those involved in the Abushiri uprising and the Majimaji war,” he said.

“They unanimously demanded the return of their heroes and leaders so they can finally be accorded proper customary burials.” He added that many community members want the remains of their ancestors–some of which were taken abroad and preserved as mummies–brought home so that “their spirits may rest in peace”.

Mr Mafure was addressing delegates at the 7th Annual Pan-African Diaspora Conference 2025, held in Arusha under the theme Reclaiming Our African Future: Unity, Repatriation, and Restitution in the Spirit of Bandung. The event was organised by the Bandung Conference Africa Institute, based in Kenya, in collaboration with the 6th Region African Diaspora Alliance Tanzania, and attracted participants from across the global African diaspora.

According to Mr Mafure, the Tanzanian government has already established a special committee to guide the repatriation mission. The Director of the Diaspora, Engagement and Opportunities Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Salvator Marcus Mbilinyi, said members of the diaspora are strategically positioned to amplify Tanzania’s demands in the countries where the items currently reside.

“As diasporans, we are championing this mission abroad to ensure that Africa’s icons, artefacts, and invaluable treasures–looted and taken overseas–are returned intact,” he said. He cited examples including dinosaur fossils taken from Tanzania and now earning revenue for a German museum, from which Tanzania gains no benefit.

Other significant items include the Queen’s throne of the Kingu people in Singida, Zaramo artefacts transported to Germany, heritage belonging to Chagga chiefs such as Chief Marealle, the skull of Mangi Meli, Wahehe battle relics, and artefacts seized from the Ngoni and Ngindo communities following the Majimaji war. The Chairperson of the 6th Region African Diaspora Alliance, Nana Abena James, said the conference is intended to strengthen regional civil society initiatives by uniting voices from across Africa and its diaspora–including human rights advocates, climate activists, and conservationists–to support ongoing efforts on the continent.

She also noted the important role of the African diaspora in development, highlighting that in 2024 they remitted 94 billion US dollars to the continent–far exceeding the 64 billion dollars provided through official development assistance. Recognised by the African Union as its Sixth Region, the diaspora holds significant economic, social, and cultural influence.

Delegates therefore emphasised the need for stronger frameworks to boost cooperation and accelerate Africa’s development. .

The story of Idi Amin and his women is bizarre, peculiar, comical and brutal. He had five wives, 30 mistresses and 34 children.

Before rising to Uganda’s presidency, Amin worked as a bellboy at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala and later as an assistant cook at Magamaga in Jinja Barracks. He became a law enforcement corporal and was promoted to sergeant in 1954. Because of his thirst for blood and penchant for violence, he was described as a “brilliant chap” by his British superiors and rose to the rank of warrant officer and platoon commander in 1958. He was awarded the Sword of Honour in 1959 after military service in Gilgil and Nakuru.

As a result of his brutality, he was appointed a lieutenant after a stint that led to the infamous Turkana massacre, although he barely passed his written examination. At 28, in November 1961, he crossed paths with Sarah Mutesi Kibedi, a 22-year-old seamstress working as an apprentice at the Singer Sewing Machine Company in Jinja.

He was familiar with her background. Her brother was Wanume Kibedi, the former Ugandan Foreign Minister, attorney and diplomat, and her father, Elkanah Kibedi, was a renowned head teacher at Busoga College in Mwiri.

Amin courted and proposed to her. She began a course in Islamic instruction and changed her name to Malyamu.

Despite her parents’ fierce opposition, the couple married in March 1962, just eight months before Uganda’s independence on October 9. During their courtship, Amin was cohabiting with Kay Androa.

She was a striking Makerere University medical student, celebrated for her flawless dark skin and dignified, introspective demeanour. She belonged to the Lugbara community of the West Nile region, the same Sudanic ethnic group Amin descended from, and she was the first woman to study medicine at Makerere.

Malyamu learnt of her husband’s infidelity and plotted to expose him. She told Amin she was travelling to visit her parents in Busoga.

He even encouraged her to extend her stay. After nightfall, Malyamu quietly returned home in a taxi.

She entered the house and found Amin in the living room chatting with a senior air force officer. She headed straight to the bedroom and found a naked Kay lying on her marital bed.

Enraged, she grabbed her by the hair and punched her repeatedly. Amin was expected to marry a woman from his own ethnic group.

He and Kay were distant cousins on his mother’s side. Kay’s father, a clergyman, disapproved of their relationship, partly because of the stark educational gap between them.

While Kay excelled academically, Amin had completed only four years of primary school and was a semi-literate Kakwa with a fearsome reputation. In May 1966, less than four months after Malyamu found Kay in her matrimonial bed, Amin married Kay as his second wife.

After Amin’s rise to national prominence, President Milton Obote grew suspicious of his intentions. To allay these suspicions, Amin decided to marry Nora, a Langi from Obote’s ethnic group, signalling unity and diffusing ethnic tensions.

In 1967, Nora joined the household and later had his children. By the late 1960s, Amin had fathered more than 15 children.

In September 1972, after orchestrating a coup d’etat, Amin announced his marriage to a fourth wife, Medina, a dancer from Buganda with the Heartbeat of Africa Troupe. She was among the performers he used to entertain dignitaries at state functions.

On March 26, 1974, without warning, Amin divorced Malyamu, Kay and Nora. Following Muslim custom, he accomplished this by simply declaring, “I divorce thee” three times.

The book A State of Blood: The Inside Story of Idi Amin, written by Amin’s former Health Minister Henry Kyemba, recounts how Amin’s womanising never left him. For two years, the women lived in near isolation in his two presidential lodges, lonely and increasingly frustrated.

Eventually, they all took lovers. Kay’s was Dr Peter Mbalu-Mukasa, a senior medic at Mulago Hospital, who had several children with his wife before Kay became pregnant by him.

The book A State of Blood: The Inside Story of Idi Amin by Amin’s former Health Minister Henry Kyemba. “article-picture_creditPhoto credit: Photo I Pool Kay’s father, Reverend Adroa, hoping to preserve the family’s reputation, intervened on her behalf, pleading with Amin to reinstate her as his wife.

Amin, unaware that Kay was pregnant with Mbalu-Mukasa’s child, agreed to build her a house in her hometown of Arua. He frequently drove past her home in an attempt to discover her lover.

In early August 1974, Kay was arrested, allegedly for possessing a pistol and ammunition–the same firearm Amin had given her. Shortly afterwards, on August 13, Kay’s dismembered body was delivered to the Mulago Hospital mortuary.

The circumstances surrounding her death were both unclear and horrific. On the morning of August 14, Mulago Hospital telephoned Kyemba at his ministry office in Entebbe to inform him that Kay’s secret lover, Dr Mbalu-Mukasa, had mysteriously died of an overdose.

Amin continued using state agents to victimise his former wives. On April 11, 1975, Malyamu was arrested near Tororo at the Kenyan border on a false accusation of smuggling a bolt of fabric into Kenya.

Amin blocked her from obtaining bail and ordered that she be kept in police custody. Fearing she would meet the same fate as Kay, Malyamu fled Uganda for London in November 1975, leaving her six children in the care of Amin’s other lovers.

She never returned. align–justifyThe authoris a novelist, Big Brother Africa 2 Kenyan representative and founder of Jeff’s Fitness Centre (@jeffbigbrother).

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Dar es Salaam. The Dar es Salaam Water and Sanitation Authority (Dawasa) has announced significant water shortages across large parts of the city following a sharp drop in production at the Lower Ruvu treatment plant.

The shortfall has been attributed to reduced water levels in the Ruvu River, caused by delayed rainfall. The affected areas include Bagamoyo, Tegeta, Boko, Mbezi Beach, Mwenge, Kinondoni, Mwananyamala, Masaki and sections of Ilala, where many customers have reported inconsistent or severely reduced water supply.

In contrast, Dawasa confirmed that production at the Upper Ruvu plant — supplying Kibaha, Kibamba, Kimara, Tabata, Kinyerezi, Pugu and Kisarawe — remains stable, with normal distribution continuing. To mitigate the crisis, the authority, in coordination with the Ministry of Water, has directed water tankers previously allocated to agricultural and fishing operations in the Ruvu basin to prioritise domestic supply.

Dawasa is also increasing the use of boreholes to ease the strain on production. The authority pledged to continue issuing frequent updates to help residents plan for essential activities and urged the public to conserve the water currently available.

It also apologised for the disruption caused by the ongoing shortage. .

Everyone has that one birthday story they wish they could forget. But in ‘Oh Sht, It’s My Birthday’, the chaos is so loud, so messy, and so personal that forgetting isn’t an option.

The film plunges headfirst into a wild celebration where everything unravels in hilariously relatable ways. It’s a story that reminds viewers that life rarely goes as planned, especially when ego, pride, and youthful recklessness collide.

As director Mathew Valerian puts it, it’s a birthday where “everything that could go wrong does, and the real mess isn’t the party, but the people in it.” Mathew explains that this world of ‘too much freedom,’ or as students call it, ‘chuo bata,’ often hides pressure, heartbreak, and secrets beneath the fun.

When consequences finally catch up, that instant of regret, when you whisper, “Oh Sht how did I get here?”, is exactly what the title captures. The film’s universe didn’t appear out of thin air.

It began inside a classroom at the University of Dar es Salaam, where Mathew was teaching film after completing his degree. Seeing how eager his students were for hands-on experience, he created three short films with them: OH SHT, NEW HOPE and OH SHT IT’S CHRISTMAS.

What started as a small training experiment quickly grew into a creative family. “We started with just 10 people.

Now we’re more than 70,” he says with a smile. “It’s become bigger than I ever imagined.

” This latest chapter zooms in on Catherine, a campus beauty queen whose glamorous lifestyle is secretly funded by a sponsor. Her birthday party is meant to be her big moment–the perfect image for followers and rivals alike.

But the celebration spirals out of control, forcing her to confront truths she’s long avoided. “This is her breaking point,” Mathew explains.

“She begins to rethink her life, her identity, and the decisions that led her here. By this point, though, it’s already too late.

” And the chaos isn’t coming from nowhere. You can’t throw a massive campus party, make enemies along the way, and expect to dance peacefully until morning.

“Birthdays are meant for celebration,” Mathew says, “until you have three or four people angry enough to seek revenge.” What should have been Catherine’s happiest day becomes a disaster–funny for everyone else, nightmarish for her.

Beneath the humour, the film tackles real issues. Peer pressure sits at the heart of the story, alongside love, betrayal, ego, fear, and even drug abuse.

“The comedy comes naturally from the characters’ flaws and decisions, not from forced jokes,” he adds. The humour arises from very human mistakes, misunderstandings, and poor choices that audiences instantly recognise.

Mathew connects deeply with some of those messy moments. One scene, where Viola confronts Derrick, hits especially close to home.

“It’s special to me because of how beautifully it was performed,” he laughs. “But also because I’ve been in that situation myself.

” Getting the film made was an adventure in itself. After finishing the script in 2023, the team had no funds to shoot.

Mathew introduced ‘Marafiki Funds’, a community-style contribution system inspired by wedding collections, offering supporters premiere tickets and special thanks. The initiative helped, but challenges on set persisted.

During a planned 24-hour shoot, the team worked 17 hours before being attacked by thieves. Crew members were injured, equipment was stolen, and production had to stop immediately.

But the setback didn’t kill the dream. Mathew raised additional funds, returned two weeks later, and completed the film with the same cast and crew, who refused to give up.

That determination shines through in the performances, especially from Caren Justine, who plays Viola. “If I had to pick a team, I’d be Team Viola,” Mathew jokes.

Now, the cast and crew are counting down to the film’s one-time premiere on December 12. .

Dar es Salaam. The government has issued a stern warning to underperforming public entities, cautioning that they risk being merged or dissolved should they fail to take urgent steps to improve their performance.

The warning was delivered on Friday, December 5, 2025, by the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Prof Kitila Mkumbo, during his visit to the Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR) in Dar es Salaam. Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting with OTR management, led by Treasury Registrar Nehemiah Mchechu, Prof Mkumbo said it was unacceptable that several public enterprises continued to deliver minimal dividends despite substantial government investment.

He said the institutions identified as lagging would be given a specific timeframe to improve, after which the government would decide whether to merge or dissolve them. “It is better to have fewer commercial entities that generate meaningful dividends for the government,” Prof Mkumbo stressed.

He was accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Planning and Investment, Dr Pius Chaya, and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Tausi Kida. According to OTR, the government holds shares in 308 institutions and companies.

Out of the number, 91 operate commercially, while 217 are non-commercial. Prof Mkumbo reiterated that Tanzanians must benefit from the government’s Sh92.3 trillion investment in public enterprises.

In the 2024/25 financial year, OTR collected Sh1.028 trillion in dividends from public institutions and minority-owned companies. This was the highest amount since the office was established in 1959. However, the government maintains that the sector still holds significant untapped potential.

As part of ongoing reforms, the government has set a dividend collection target of Sh1.7 trillion for the 2025/26 financial year, while OTR has internally set a more ambitious target of Sh2 trillion. Prof Mkumbo also pledged to enhance efficiency by ensuring that appointments of executives and board members of public entities are conducted transparently and through competitive processes.

“My task is to ensure that we establish a robust Public Investment Act that will drive efficiency in public enterprises,” he said. He said that the government aims to transform the performance, image, and service delivery of public enterprises so they can provide quality services and stimulate investment.

Earlier, Mr Mchechu said OTR remained committed to strengthening the performance of public enterprises to boost efficiency in service delivery and investment. Effective supervision of public institutions and enterprises is key to reforming this sector,” Mr Mchechu noted.

He said that stronger oversight would increase productivity, strengthen the economy, and boost both tax and non-tax revenues–critical resources for the government to deliver essential public services. .

Dar es Salaam. In the bustling streets of Dar es Salaam, amid the noise of traders and the rush of shoppers, a silent financial system has taken hold–one that operates outside the law yet thrives openly on every street corner.

A trend that has taken root far from the polished halls of Tanzania’s Central Bank or the neat ledgers of licensed financial institutions. It is fast, ruthless, convenient, and increasingly indispensable for thousands of Tanzanians who can no longer access credit from formal banks.

In recent years, informal lenders–commonly known as shylocks–have spread across Tanzania’s urban and rural landscapes, offering fast loans with little bureaucracy. Interest rates in this unregulated market range from 20 percent per month to as high as 50 percent with some hitting 100 percent.

These figures dwarf the Central Bank of Tanzania’s (BoT) legal limits and expose borrowers to cycles of unmanageable debt. A system fueled by desperation For small business owners like food vendors, boda-boda drivers, and market traders, emergencies rarely wait for bank processes.

Many have no collateral, no formal employment, and no bankable history. With commercial lenders demanding documentation and guarantees they cannot provide, borrowers turn to the only option available: the informal lenders who offer money “now, even yesterday,” as one trader puts it.

“It’s not that these guys hide,” says Fred Sanga, a trader in Kariakoo. “They are very clear about their terms from day one.

They tell you what you qualify for, what you don’t, and how fast you must pay. Apart from the fact that they are outside the law, I don’t see why they should be considered a problem.

” Mr Sanga insists that the real issue is the absence of a friendly credit environment for small businesses. “If banks were accessible, affordable, and responsive, these people wouldn’t exist,” he says.

His view is echoed–almost unexpectedly–by economists. Prof Abel Kinyondo, an economist and lecturer, says the shylock phenomenon is less a sign of criminality and more evidence of a financial system that has failed to serve the majority.

“Rather than calling it a danger, we should ask: why are they here in the first place?” he says. “If the formal system was adequate, affordable, and quick, people would run away from informal lenders.

But banks are slow, risk-averse, and often inaccessible. These guys simply fill a gap.

” Prof Kinyondo argues that lenders exist because the demand for emergency, flexible credit far outweighs what banks can offer. “People want money now, not next week.

No bank can do that. Informal lenders can,” he says.

Even those who qualify for formal loans sometimes opt for informal borrowing because of its convenience–no paperwork, no collateral, no bureaucracy. “They take trust as collateral.

Sometimes just someone to reference you. That convenience is missing in the formal system,” Prof Kinyondo adds.

Debt that follows you home But convenience comes at a punishing price. Borrowers who default often lose household items, tools of trade, or even business stock.

Ms Amina Makanza, a food vendor in Buguruni, knows this reality too well. Desperate after her son fell ill, she borrowed Sh 500,000 and agreed to repay Sh 750,000 in 30 days.

When she failed, the lender confiscated her cooking utensils and ingredients–leaving her not just indebted, but jobless. Her story is one of thousands.

Tanzania’s laws require all lenders to be registered and licensed, with interest rates capped by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT). But enforcement remains another issue.

Many shylocks operate openly, advertising loans on posters, WhatsApp groups, and even through employers. Borrowers often fear retaliation, and some lenders allegedly enjoy informal protection from local authorities.

Prof Kinyondo is cautious with the word “danger,” but agrees the system is harmful–especially when borrowers lack financial literacy. “Yes, interest rates go to 50 percent or even 100 percent,” he says.

“But borrowing beyond your ability to repay also fuels the problem. It takes two to tangle.

” But the wider economic consequences are hard to ignore Unchecked, the shylock economy poses a series of deep and far-reaching risks. As more households become trapped in cycles of costly debt, a growing share of their income is diverted away from productive activities, ultimately depressing productivity and limiting economic mobility.

Experts say that with increasing volumes of money circulating outside regulatory oversight, the effectiveness of national monetary policy is also compromised. And as more borrowers lose property, businesses, and even their sense of dignity through harsh recovery practices, the system risks fuelling social unrest–turning private financial distress into a wider public crisis.

Why people still choose them In many cases, borrowers don’t see shylocks as criminals–they see them as reliable and convinient. “They are sincere,” Sanga says.

“They tell you their terms clearly. Banks don’t.

” Borrowers also speak of speed, convenience, and proximity. The shylock is your neighbour, your colleague, or the man at the electronics shop whose phone is always reachable.

Many operate discreetly but efficiently, collecting payments through mobile money or sending agents to workplaces. To dismantle the shylock economy, experts say Tanzania must fix its formal financial system rather than simply criminalize borrowers and lenders.

Prof Kinyondo believes the responsibility lies heavily with the Bank of Tanzania. “My real issue goes back to government–and the BoT in particular,” he says.

“Commercial banks must be supported to provide accessible, affordable, and timely credit. As long as that doesn’t happen, people will keep going to informal lenders.

” Tanzania now stands between two possible futures: One where the shylock economy becomes the dominant source of credit, deepening poverty and inequality; or another where financial reform extends dignity and stability to the millions locked out of the banking system. A survey by The Citizen shows that the shylocks are not a mystery.

They are a response. And unless the formal system evolves to meet the needs of ordinary Tanzanians, the informal one will continue to flourish–at an unbearable cost.

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Dar es Salaam. Health colleges across the country have been urged to increase admissions for medical students to help bridge the significant shortage of healthcare professionals in many regions.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam during Kairuki University’s graduation ceremony at its Boko campus, the Chairperson of the University’s Governing Council, Dr Donald Mmari, emphasised the need for higher intake in medical programmes. This year, 426 graduates were conferred certificates, diplomas, degrees and master’s degrees including 270 medical doctors.

Dr Mmari noted that since its establishment in 1997, Kairuki University has played a crucial role in producing healthcare workers, including specialists in gynecology, pediatrics and surgery. However, he stressed that the demand for personnel remains far higher than supply.

He explained that Tanzania continues to fall short of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended ratio of doctors per 100,000 citizens, urging all medical training institutions to scale up enrollment. “University colleges like Kairuki and others must increase enrollment to produce more graduates who can fill the gaps evident in many parts of the country.

Even Ministry of Health statistics show we still lack sufficient personnel,” he said. The Chairperson of the Kairuki Health Education Network (KHEN), Kokushubira Kairuki, expressed gratitude to the government for its continued guidance since the university was founded.

He revealed that since 1997, the university has produced 4,110 graduates, and with this year’s cohort, the total rises to 4,144, including 2,000 doctors, 424 nurses, and 135 specialist doctors. “We see these graduates as a major contribution to our nation,” he said, adding that despite challenges, the university remains committed to providing high-quality medical education aligned with both national and international needs.

He congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to uphold professionalism and serve as role models. “You saw your colleagues who once studied here now holding key positions across the country.

Follow in their footsteps and make us proud,” he added. The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Yohana Mashalla, highlighted that out of the 426 graduates, 275 were women and 151 were men, humorously urging men to reflect on why they were outnumbered.

Prof Mashalla underscored the central role of technology in modern education, noting that Kairuki University delivers much of its teaching through ICT, allowing lecturers to interact with students remotely and efficiently. He emphasized that reliable internet access is essential to learning, pointing out that the university currently operates with a bandwidth capacity of 400 megabytes, alongside a global academic network that allows students and staff to access information from anywhere.

He added that technological advancements have transformed medical practice as well highlighting that Kairuki Hospital has digitized patient records and adopted robotic assistance for surgeries, eliminating the need for doctors to rely solely on manual procedures. .

Dar es Salaam. A coalition of foreign missions and delegations, including the British and Canadian High Commissions, the Embassies of Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the European Union Delegation, have issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the recent post-election violence in Tanzania.

The statement recalled previous remarks by the EU High Representative on November 1, 2025 and a joint statement from the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom on October 31, 2025 regarding the Tanzanian elections. It expressed profound regret over the tragic loss of lives and injuries resulting from the unrest, emphasising the need for security forces to exercise maximum restraint.

Highlighting credible reports of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and the concealment of bodies, the statement urged authorities to release all deceased individuals to their families and ensure political prisoners have access to legal and medical support. The international community also called on the Tanzanian government to address shortcomings identified in preliminary election reports by the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Welcoming the government’s acknowledgment of the need to understand the root causes of the violence, the statement stressed that any inquiry must be independent, transparent, and inclusive, involving civil society, faith-based groups, and all political actors to achieve justice and reconciliation. .