Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Azania Bank has launched two new financial services designed to ease the burden on university students and employees in both the public and private sectors, as part of its support for the government’s efforts to improve the education sector and enhance workers’ welfare.

The services, branded Boom Advance and Salary Advance, have been introduced with the aim of offering quick and flexible financial support to eligible customers, particularly those whose institutions have existing arrangements with the bank. Boom Advance targets students in higher learning institutions who receive loans from the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB).

Under the new facility, students will no longer need to wait for HESLB disbursements to reflect in their accounts. Instead, they will be able to obtain a short-term advance on favourable terms to meet their essential needs while awaiting their loan instalments.

The second product, Salary Advance, is tailored for employees seeking short-term financial relief ahead of payday. The service enables a worker to access up to half of their monthly salary, which is then repaid automatically once the salary is deposited.

The advance attracts a five percent interest rate and is intended to cushion employees facing urgent financial obligations. As part of its broader digital transformation push, Azania Bank said both services will be available through its mobile and online platforms.

Customers can apply by dialling 15075#, using the Azania Bank Mobile App or by accessing Internet Banking. Speaking during the launch, the bank’s Senior Marketing Officer, Ms Elizabeth Nyattega, said the introduction of the two products reflects Azania Bank’s commitment to innovating and improving customer experience.

She noted that the bank’s digital strides earned it the 2025 East Africa Digital Excellence Award at the Africa Bank 4.0 Awards, organised by the international institution BII Finance.

“For students and workers across the country, this is a major opportunity,” she said. “We have ensured that no customer is inconvenienced simply because their Boom or salary has not been credited.

Through our digital channels, customers follow a few simple steps and receive funds within a short period. These loans require no collateral–what matters is maintaining an Azania Bank account through which the Boom or salary is paid.

” Ms Nyattega added that customers are eligible to borrow up to 50 percent of their expected Boom or monthly salary, noting that the bank has already begun issuing the advances. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s growing shift towards natural gas is being credited as a key driver behind the sharp rise in earnings from the Songosongo and Mnazi Bay fields, according to the Tanzania Abstract 2024 report.

The nation’s increasing reliance on cleaner and more cost-effective energy sources has underpinned this growth. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that revenue from natural gas climbed from Sh137.013 billion in 2020 to Sh358.192 billion in 2024. The increase is largely attributed to the expanding use of natural gas in cooking, transportation, power generation, and industrial production.

Government figures indicate rapid infrastructure expansion. The Ministry of Energy’s 2025/2026 budget reveals that Tanzania’s pipeline network grew from 102.54 km in 2020/21 to 241.58 km by April 2025, connecting 1,514 households, 13 institutions, and 57 factories.

Additionally, more than 15,000 vehicles now run on compressed natural gas (CNG), reducing reliance on petrol and diesel. Gas consumption has risen alongside this growth, increasing from 59.83 billion cubic feet in 2020/21 to 82.91 billion cubic feet by April 2025. This expansion has eased financial pressure on households and transport operators by lowering operating costs and shielding consumers from volatile global petroleum prices.

Economist Pro Abel Kinyondo highlighted two major advantages of natural gas: its cleaner emissions compared with petrol, diesel, and kerosene, and its lower cost. “As infrastructure continues to develop, natural gas will become even more affordable and environmentally friendly,” he said, adding that improved accessibility will accelerate Tanzania’s efforts to achieve the targets of its Vision 2050 Development plan Independent financial analyst Oscar Mkude noted that the revenue boost is closely linked to ongoing investments by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to expand gas distribution infrastructure.

In addition to supplying the Kinyerezi power plants, TPDC now serves several industries, including the Dangote cement factory. Mkude said that as the network expands, more industries are transitioning to natural gas, and the uptake of CNG for transport has surged, particularly amid global oil price instability caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“Industrial gas usage will continue to bolster government revenue, as factories, Bajaj operators, and other transport services rely on it daily. Wider CNG adoption also helps protect Tanzania’s foreign exchange reserves by reducing dependence on imported petroleum products,” he said.

He further noted that the use of CNG is expanding from Bajaj riders to private car owners and, more recently, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. He stressed that the forthcoming Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project will be a major economic milestone, allowing Tanzania to export large volumes and earn significant foreign exchange.

Transport operator Ali Juma, who drives for Bolt, said the savings are undeniable. One kilogram of CNG costs about Sh1,550, meaning a 15-kg refill costs roughly Sh23,000. In comparison, a litre of petrol goes for around Sh2,752, depending on the location.

He added that long queues are no longer a major concern due to the growing number of CNG stations across Dar es Salaam. Resident Susan John of Malalkuwa said piped gas allows families to buy only what they need, similar to prepaid electricity, helping them avoid the financial burden of rising gas cylinder prices.

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Moscow. Russia and the U.

S. did not reach a compromise on a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine after a five-hour Kremlin meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s top envoys, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

Trump has repeatedly complained that ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two has been one of the elusive foreign policy aims of his presidency. The U.

S. president has at times scolded both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Talks in Moscow between Putin and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner went past midnight. Afterward, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said “Compromises have not yet been found.

“There is still a lot of work to be done,” Ushakov told reporters at a briefing in the Kremlin. Putin reacted negatively to some U.

S. proposals, Ushakov said.

Witkoff went to the U.S.

embassy in Moscow after the talks to brief the White House, Ushakov said. Ushakov added that a meeting between Putin and Trump was not currently planned, though he said the talks were constructive and that there were huge opportunities for U.

S.-Russian economic cooperation.

No further away from peace Ushakov said Putin had sent a series of important signals and his greetings to Trump, but that the sides had agreed not to disclose details to the media. He added that they had discussed the “territorial problem”, Kremlin shorthand for Russian claims to the whole of Donbas, though Ukraine controls at least 5,000 square km (1,900 square miles) of the area which Russia claims as its own.

Almost all countries recognise Donbas as part of Ukraine. “Some American draft proposals look more or less acceptable, but they need to be discussed,” Ushakov said.

“Some of the formulations that have been proposed to us are not suitable for us, that is – the work will continue.” Witkoff, a billionaire U.

S. real estate developer who has known Trump since the 1980s, and Kushner, the husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka, began talks in the Kremlin after a stroll across Red Square past the mausoleum of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin to the towers of the Kremlin.

They talked with Putin, Ushakov and Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev, via interpreters. “Our people are over in Russia right now to see if we can get it settled.

Not an easy situation, let me tell you. What a mess,” Trump said on Tuesday in Washington, adding that there were casualties of 25,000 to 30,000 per month in the war.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the depths of the Cold War. European powers worried by U.

S. efforts A leaked set of 28 U.

S. draft peace proposals, opens new tab emerged in November, alarming Ukrainian and European officials who said it bowed to Moscow’s main demands.

European powers then came up with a counter-proposal, and at talks in Geneva, the U.S.

and Ukraine said they had created an “updated and refined peace framework” to end the war. Zelenskiy, speaking in Dublin, said everything would depend on the talks in Moscow but that he was afraid the U.

S. could lose interest in the peace process.

“There will be no easy solutions It is important that everything is fair and open, so that there are no games behind Ukraine’s back,” he said. Just before the Kremlin meeting with Witkoff, Putin said Russia did not want war with Europe, but that if Europe started one, it would end so swiftly that there would be no one left for Russia to negotiate with.

Putin threatened to sever Ukraine’s access to the sea in response to drone attacks on tankers of Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said Putin’s remarks showed he was not ready to end the war.

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On a breezy Sunday evening, contemporary artist Elisa Zorzi opened the doors to her second solo exhibition in Dar es Salaam, Portals, at the Golden Tulip hotel. The event drew nearly 200 carefully selected guests, all eager to experience the city’s latest contribution to contemporary art.

Zorzi’s work has long been celebrated for its bold fusion of abstract and neo-expressionist brushstrokes. In Portals, she takes her artistic exploration further, experimenting with mixed media, including textiles, palm tree textures, and locally sourced materials.

The result is a collection that is both visually striking and immersive, inviting viewers to step through what she calls “portals of the subconscious.” Each painting is not merely a visual object but an experience, a space where emotion, memory, and imagination converge.

The exhibition left a strong impression on attendees, who praised both Zorzi’s technique and her creative vision. Samina Sashak shares, “The expression is very good, the colours are very good.

And yes, I definitely can take something and introduce it to my art also, as a background or something. Beautiful combination of colours.

” She adds that the paintings evoked movement and natural beauty: “It’s kind of showing the sea Zanzibar a beautiful waterfall. I like that there are other materials.

It seems that it’s moving, it’s fun and alive.” Model and designer Niler Bernard echoes the sentiment, describing the exhibition as “deeply personal, yet beautifully expressed, almost like art in motion.

The ambience was enchanting, the atmosphere so thoughtfully set, and every detail fell perfectly into place. There was a quiet charm running through it all and honestly, I loved every moment!” For Zorzi, these reactions are the essence of her work.

She explains that her goal is for viewers to reflect, meditate, and discover parts of themselves in her art. “I want the observer to enter a different world,” she says.

“They may find intuition, freedom, or confront something hidden within themselves. Abstract is like music, Mozart or Beethoven, they create symphonies, but people feel them differently.

That’s how I want my work to be experienced.” Zorzi’s journey into the world of mixed media began in Brussels, where she stumbled upon a store overflowing with materials of every colour and texture imaginable.

“I felt like a child seeing little stones full of colour. I went crazy.

I bought everything, mixed, poured, and experimented. From there, I really enjoyed it, and I said, Okay, this is part of my life now,” she recalls.

Her early exhibitions were small, intimate affairs held in unconventional venues. “I didn’t have money to go into galleries, so a lady offered her house for free.

I created the ambience, served some wine, and invited selected clients.” She further details, “The secret, I think, is creating a connection.

Only with ambience and connection do you truly reach the audience.” Despite working for the European Union delegation, a role that has taken her across multiple countries, Zorzi maintains that her professional life complements her art.

“I need serenity to produce. If I don’t have peace of mind, I cannot create.

A stable job gives me freedom, I can do what I want without anxiety about bills. That’s real freedom.

” In Portals, Zorzi continues to push boundaries. She has experimented with encaustic painting, which uses coloured wax, creating a layered effect that is tactile and visually dynamic.

She hopes to continue exploring materials and techniques that few others are working with locally. “I want to discover, experiment, and have fun with my art.

That’s how I grow.” Her work reflects a deep philosophical approach.

Abstract art, for her, is a mirror for the subconscious. It is about emotion, intuition, and personal interpretation.

“When people stop in front of a painting and feel something, I know I’ve reached them,” she says. “That’s my turning point, when the work truly moves people.

” Away from the studio, Zorzi indulges in other creative pursuits. Photography and cooking are extensions of her artistic sensibilities, while music, particularly Semba from Angola, provides rhythm and inspiration.

She keeps tuned to contemporary trends, seeking to stay current and connected with younger generations. Dar es Salaam itself, particularly the coastline at sunrise, serves as a sanctuary for her creativity.

“I need slow mornings, coffee, calmness. That’s when I paint best,” she notes.

Her son remains her anchor, keeping her grounded amidst ambition and exploration. While Zorzi’s work is gaining recognition locally, she has her sights on international audiences.

Galleries in Europe and the US have expressed interest, though logistical and financial challenges have tempered expansion. Her approach remains deliberate, “I want to reach people who can truly experience the emotional depth of my work.

One or two exhibitions alone don’t make sense; I need a platform where it resonates.” Portals ultimately offer more than visual appeal.

It is a carefully orchestrated experience, blending colour, texture, and atmosphere to create a space where the subconscious comes alive. As visitors wander the exhibition, they are invited to pause, reflect, and discover, both in the work and within themselves.

In a city increasingly alive with contemporary creativity, Elisa Zorzi’s Portals represents a bold step in Dar es Salaam’s evolving art landscape. It is at once personal, playful, and profound, a window into a world where the boundaries between the observer and the observed dissolve, leaving only reflection, emotion, and imagination.

“I want people to stop in front of a painting and feel it. When that happens, I know I’ve reached them,” she concludes.

With Portals, Zorzi has not only created a collection of paintings but also a journey, an invitation to explore the infinite possibilities of the subconscious mind. .

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan addressed the nation on December 2, 2025, explaining the government’s response to the election-related unrest that erupted on October 29. She detailed several factors that led to the security bodies’ decisive actions.

During her address to the Dar es Salaam Region Council of Elders at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC), President Hassan stated that the unrest in Tanzania following the general election was not a spontaneous expression of public frustration. class=”article-picture” 6.5 class=”article-picture_caption” 8 A section of elders clap during a meeting with President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

PHOTO | STATE HOUSE Instead, she claimed it was a planned operation aimed at destabilizing and ultimately overthrowing the government. Her remarks came as the country continued to face lingering tensions, sporadic acts of violence, and warnings from security authorities about efforts to mobilize young people ahead of December 9.

She asserted that the events of October 29 should not be viewed as protests but rather as “a manufactured event with a political agenda.” According to President Hassan, intelligence assessments indicate that the chaos was meticulously planned, funded, and coordinated by actors both within and outside the country.

“What took place was a manufactured event, and those who orchestrated it were determined to overthrow our government,” she said. “This was not an accident.

Those behind it had more significant intentions; they aimed to topple our state.” She described the violence as “a broad project of evil” with identifiable sponsors, supporters and implementers.

The President explained that the individuals involved had varying degrees of awareness: some were fully conscious participants, others were misled by political promises, and a portion, she noted, were paid to take part in the unrest. “We are accustomed to lawful demonstrations,” she added.

“However, burning government projects, police facilities, and private businesses is not a protest. Those were organized riots with a specific purpose.

” President Hassan questioned why this orchestrated violence occurred on Election Day itself. “What lesser response was expected from us?” she asked.

“Should we have simply watched as those who plotted an overthrow succeeded? Would that still result in a functioning state?” She compared Tanzania’s response to actions taken by governments globally when protests verge on insurrection. “We have seen in other countries that when demonstrations head in a dangerous direction, governments use strong measures,” she said.

Role of opposition parties The President accused unnamed opposition parties of attempting to shift blame for their electoral decisions onto the government. She said claims that opposition candidates were blocked from participating in the elections were false and aimed at “hiding their own embarrassment.

” “They knew they would not succeed because of the work we have done over the past five years and the public response to CCM’s campaigns,” she said. “No one prevented them from participating.

They refused on their own will after their internal discussions.” She said intelligence briefings showed that some opposition leaders avoided entering the polls to escape defeat.

“To conceal the embarrassment they would have faced, they triggered what happened,” she explained. “If there were rights they intended to demand, why choose Election Day?” President Hassan said the internal fractures within opposition groups, including defections to other parties and disputes between political and activist wings, were being unfairly projected onto the government.

“These are their own internal issues; they should not blame us,” she said. She expressed disappointment, recalling moments when she extended “a hand of reconciliation” during her early years in office.

She said she financially supported some returning exiles, facilitated the dropping of cases, and allowed opposition parties to resume political activities, including peaceful demonstrations. “I did all this believing I was speaking to mature Tanzanians,” she said.

“But if you give someone political space and they use it to disrupt the country, that is not politics.” The youth: Misled and mobilised A significant portion of the President’s address focused on the involvement of young people in the October unrest.

“Our young people were drawn into the streets, chanting slogans they didn’t understand,” she said. “They were told they were demanding rights–what rights? Which ones, specifically?” She questioned the claim that the youth poured into the streets due to economic hardship.

“A person genuinely struggling for survival does not march chanting songs,” she argued. “Most young people facing hardship were at work.

Those who joined had their own motives.” According to the President, the unrest revealed a deeper national challenge that young people were growing up without proper guidance and patriotic education.

“That is why I said we must establish a full Ministry of Youth, not just a unit within a larger ministry,” she explained. “Our youth had no reason to be in the streets; they were simply sent there and made to chant things that were not in their interest.

” Religious institutions: “Stay within constitutional limits” President Hassan also addressed concerns over the involvement of some religious voices in the unfolding political tensions. “In leadership, you must accept that at times you will lose popularity,” she said.

“But we must correct things and speak the truth.” She reiterated that the Constitution does not grant any religious denomination the authority to issue directives overriding others.

“No denomination has constitutional or legal authority to overrule another,” she said. “Tanzania has no single owner.

Nobody holds a certificate saying this country is theirs to run as they wish.” She urged religious leaders to avoid assuming powers beyond their spiritual mandate.

“Do not drape yourselves in robes suggesting you can overrun this nation. We will run this country by its Constitution and its laws,” she stressed.

The President said she had observed divisions within some religious groups over public statements issued in recent weeks. Despite these disagreements, she urged religious leaders to promote unity, peace and adherence to national laws.

“If you do not like Samia, there is no need to disrupt the country,” she said. “Whether the leader is a man or a woman, authority is given by God.

And we will defend this nation with all our strength.” Foreign coordinators and external pressure President Hassan warned that some of the unrest was supported by coordinators based outside Tanzania.

Some, she said, were motivated by personal economic difficulties abroad, while others were financially backed by actors seeking influence. “Some are paid by those who want these events to happen,” she said.

“They lack patriotism. And for some, Tanzania’s stability does not matter–they live abroad, unaffected.

” She also addressed what she described as attempts by foreign actors to “lecture Tanzania on how to manage its domestic affairs.” “They say Tanzania should do this and that.

Who are you?” she asked. “Is it because of the small amounts of money you give us?” Her comments came days after the European Union Parliament adopted a resolution to suspend 156 million Euros (about S00 billion) in aid earmarked for Tanzania in 2026, pending investigations into alleged human rights violations.

The suspended funds amount to roughly 0.7 percent of Tanzania’s national budget for 2025/26, which stands at Sh56.49 trillion.

Of this, S0.47 trillion is expected from domestic revenue, Sh1.07 trillion from foreign grants, and Sh14.95 trillion from domestic and external loans. In its resolution, which was adopted by 539 votes in favour, no votes against, with 27 abstentions, the EU MPs said there should be a fair investigation into suspects of killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other violations in Tanzania and insisted on the need for an African-led inquiry commission.

“The money is too little,” she President Hassan. “We are now talking about doing business where both sides benefit.

” The government, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has since confirmed ongoing negotiations with the EU, with the final decision on the cooperation resting with the EU Commission. On calls for a new constitution Responding to renewed demands for a new constitution, President Hassan said the government had never rejected constitutional reform.

“No one has refused to amend the Constitution of this country,” she said. She reminded the elders that the Criminal Justice Reform Commission she formed had travelled nationwide gathering citizens’ views, and that 90 percent of the short- and medium-term recommendations had already been implemented.

“The long-term issue remaining is the new constitution,” she said. “And I have said we will implement it.

” She added that the CCM election manifesto commits her to forming a commission within 100 days to establish national consensus before entering the constitutional process. “How do you amend national laws when you are divided into pieces?” she asked.

“We must first reconcile.” Given the recent unrest, she said she had established a new investigative commission whose findings would inform the path forward.

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Dar es Salaam. After demanding and disappointing outings in the CAF Confederation Cup, Azam FC and Singida Black Stars return to domestic duty tonight in what promises to be a tense and high stakes Mainland Tanzania Premier League encounter at the Azam Complex.

Both teams enter the fixture carrying the weight of continental setbacks. Azam FC, under Congolese tactician Florent Ibenge, endured a difficult campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup, losing both group stage matches.

They first fell 20 away to Maniema Union in Kinshasa, DR Congo, before suffering a narrow 10 home defeat to Moroccan giants Wydad Club Athletic at the New Amaan Complex. The losses not only dented their continental ambitions but also exposed weaknesses that require immediate attention if the team is to regain confidence.

Singida Black Stars also faced their share of challenges on the continental stage. The Tanzanian representatives opened with a 20 defeat to Algeria’s CR Belouizdad before steadying themselves with a 11 draw against South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC, also at the New Amaan Complex.

Although they returned with a valuable point, the team still carries a sense of unfinished business as they shift focus back to the Premier League. Tonight’s match, scheduled to start at 9 pm, is expected to be one of the most competitive fixtures of the week.

Both sides are determined to recover and reposition themselves favourably in the league standings. Azam FC currently sit in 15th place with five points from three matches, an unfamiliar position for a club of their stature.

Singida Black Stars are in 11th place with seven points from the same number of fixtures. Despite their struggles in continental competitions, Azam’s domestic form under Ibenge remains steady.

The ice cream makers have recorded one win and two draws in the league, remaining unbeaten and showing signs of resilience that could prove crucial tonight. Singida Black Stars, guided by experienced Argentine coach Miguel Gamondi, have been slightly more impressive with two wins and one draw so far.

JKT Tanzania currently lead the league with 16 points from nine matches, but both Azam and Singida know that a victory tonight could significantly close the gap and reshape their early season ambitions. Historically, the statistics heavily favour Azam FC.

The two clubs have met seven times since 2020, with Azam winning six of those encounters. Singida Black Stars have managed only one victory against the Chamazi based side, a record Gamondi is determined to challenge.

For Ibenge, maintaining his strong record against Singida is essential, not only for morale but also to steady the trajectory of Azam’s league campaign. With both coaches eager to prove a point and both squads desperate to regain momentum, tonight’s clash is more than just another fixture.

It is a test of resilience, character, tactical discipline and hunger for redemption. .

Democratic Republic of Congo’s army and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels traded accusations of ceasefire violations on Tuesday, two days before the White House is set to host the signing of an accord to end fighting in the country’s east. The United States and Qatar have been mediating talks aimed at restoring peace in North and South Kivu provinces where clashes have displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Rwanda has denied backing M23, which says it is fighting to protect Tutsi communities in eastern Congo. Both sides accused the other on Tuesday of trying to sabotage the peace deals with attacks in South Kivu.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) said its troops had come under attack in Kaziba, Katogota and Lubarika from the M23 rebel group and its allies. “These attacks clearly show the coalition’s intention to sabotage the Washington and Doha peace agreements,” army spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge said in a statement.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of a rebel alliance that includes M23, said on X that Congolese forces, together with the Burundian army and other allies, had launched attacks in the same province since morning. “Faced with this violation of the ceasefire within the framework of the Doha peace process, the [alliance] has no choice but to defend itself and protect civilian populations,” he said.

The alliance’s spokesperson and M23’s president made similar assertions in posts on X. U.

S. President Donald Trumpis scheduled to host the leaders of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday to sign a peace agreement.

M23 staged a lightning advance in eastern Congo this year, seizing the region’s two largest cities and raising fears of a wider war. .

Nyang’hwale. Small-scale miners across the country will now operate under stronger legal safeguards following a regulatory overhaul tightening controls over mining licences, foreign participation and revenue-sharing arrangements.

The reforms were outlined by the Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, during a stakeholder meeting at Kasuguya gold mine in Nyang’hwale District. Addressing miners, youth groups, traders and local leaders from the Mbogwe Mining Region, which covers Bukombe, Nyang’hwale and Mbogwe, Mr Mavunde said the new measures aim to correct long-standing abuses and ensure Tanzanians, particularly small-scale operators, benefit more fairly from the country’s mineral wealth.

He said the mining sector has contributed Sh1 trillion to Government revenue, with about 40 per cent coming from small-scale miners. Tanzania remains among Africa’s top gold producers, and since the Bank of Tanzania began buying gold directly in October 2024, it has already acquired 15 tonnes.

“These gains have been driven by miners in places like Nyang’hwale,” he said. “Our responsibility is to ensure the rules protect the people doing the hard work.

” Local leaders, including Nyang’hwale MP Hussein Nassor Amar Kasu and District Commissioner Grace Kingalame, commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for allocating mining blocks to small-scale operators and urged cancellation of dormant licences. The MP said small-scale miners in Nyang’hwale alone have contributed more than Sh20 billion to national revenue.

Regional small-scale miners’ secretary Misana Nyabange raised concern about the sharp rise in cyanide prices, which have increased from about Sh650,000 to more than Sh1 million per 50-kilogramme container. Youth representative Hamisi Mohammed said young people form the backbone of small-scale mining but remain stuck in casual work.

He called for fairer revenue-sharing and dedicated blocks for youth groups. Responding, Mr Mavunde said the issues raised were central to recent amendments to the Mining Act and the Mining (Mineral Rights) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025. A new rule requires written, approved contracts before miners can operate within a primary mining licence (PML) area.

Licence holders must keep a register of pit operators and compensate them if asked to leave. Existing miners must also be given priority in any new investment arrangement.

He stressed that “renting out” PMLs is illegal and said all dealings must be transparent and recorded with the Resident Mining Office. Nationally, the Government has cancelled licences covering 741,000 acres that were being hoarded without development and ordered a review of 191 exploration licences in the GeitaMbogwe area.

Foreigners are barred from operating directly under PMLs, with their role limited to technical support. Any group seeking such support must receive Mining Commission approval.

A new minimum revenue-sharing rule requires at least 30 per cent of proceeds to remain with the licence holder. The Minister added that 15 drilling rigs will soon be deployed to support small-scale miners, while mineral laboratories in Chunya, Dodoma and Geita will help reduce testing costs.

On the surge in cyanide prices, he said he has convened a meeting with relevant agencies to address domestic supply challenges. “Young people in Nyang’hwale rely on mining,” he said.

“Let us use these new protections wisely so the sector can transform lives.” .

Dar es Salaam. Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) Managing Director, Rosalynn Mndolwa-Mworia, has called on media organisations to take a frontline role in advancing digital literacy, elevating innovators, and fostering public understanding as Tanzania accelerates its march toward a $1 trillion innovation-led economy.

Speaking on Tuesday, December 3, at the Tanzania Start-up Week 2025, Ms Mworia stressed that the country’s ambition under Tanzania Development Vision 2050 hinges not merely on technological investment but on ensuring citizens possess the digital competence to fully engage in the emerging economy. “At the heart of this vision is not technology–it is people,” she said.

“Citizens who are digitally capable, empowered, and included.” Ms Mworia urged the media to move beyond traditional reporting and actively equip the public with the knowledge required to navigate new technologies, access digital public services, and understand evolving policy reforms.

“A nation’s digital future is built on trust, understanding, and participation,” she said. “This is where media becomes personal to me.

Stories shape confidence, shape possibility, and shape nations.” Citing MCL’s growing influence, she noted that the company’s 25 million monthly digital users demonstrate the media’s power to shape public perception of emerging technologies.

“When media explains artificial intelligence in simple terms, when it demystifies government services, when it combats misinformation–we are not merely informing; we are empowering.” Ms Mworia highlighted HabariHub, MCL’s digital journalism and innovation ecosystem, which provides young creators and entrepreneurs with mentorship and practical skills.

She also underscored the impact of MCL’s national platforms–such as the Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum, Rising Woman, and MSME Summits–which have amplified national dialogue on digital transformation. During her address, Ms Mworia unveiled several initiatives in line with Vision 2050, including a Start-up Visibility Acceleration Programme and the expansion of HabariHub to reach more young innovators.

“Every innovator deserves a spotlight,” she said, emphasising the role of visibility in unlocking Tanzania’s digital potential. In a gesture to promote access to credible information, she announced one month of free access to MwanaClick–MCL’s digital content platform–for all Start-up Week participants.

“Credible information should never be a privilege; it must be a catalyst for an empowered Tanzania,” she said, reiterating the importance of inclusion in building a digitally capable society. Ms Mworia emphasised that achieving a competitive digital economy demands collaboration across government, private sector, and civil society.

“Tanzania will reach a $1 trillion digital economy not through technology alone, but through the courage of our youth, the resilience of our entrepreneurs, and our collective belief that the Tanzanian story is worth telling.” She reaffirmed MCL’s commitment to supporting innovators and entrepreneurs, positioning the organisation as a platform for ideas and a champion of inclusion.

“As Mwananchi Communications Limited, we commit to being a partner in transformation, a platform for innovators, a champion for inclusion, and a storyteller for the Tanzania we are building together,” she concluded. .

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Who Can Join the MelBet Partners Affiliate Program? Before looking at the form itself, it helps to understand for whom the program is designed. The MelBet affiliate platform focuses on several key categories of partners, each with their own traffic sources and promotion tactics: ul class=”rte–listSEO webmasters.

Owners of niche portals, bookmaker review sites, rankings and “top lists”, analytics projects, and sports news blogs. SEO traffic remains one of the most valuable channels, because users arrive with clear betting intent and convert well into depositing players.

rbitrage teams and media buyers. Professionals who manage ad accounts, traffic networks, or DSP platforms.

They buy traffic and convert it into FTDs (first-time depositors). For them, accurate metrics, stable attribution, and fast feedback from managers are essential.

Influencers and standalone platform owners. YouTube channels, Telegram communities, themed blogs, and social media pages with an engaged sports audience.

These partners build trust through content and then direct followers to the brand via tracking links.Aggregators and publishers.

Large comparison and industry sites that review bookmakers or cover iGaming news and generate long-term, stable user flows. In practice, anyone who works with sports or casino-related traffic from a small football blog to a full-scale media holding can apply, as long as they are ready to follow program rules and provide transparent sources.

MelBet affiliate registration guide The MelBet affiliate registration covers several concrete steps that create your future partner account and connect your traffic sources to the system: ol class=”rte–listSubmit an application on the platform. Registration starts with a standard request through the official MelBet Partners interface.

At this stage, you provide basic data about yourself or your team.Describe your active traffic sources.

You must list where your audience comes from: SEO sites, ad campaigns, social media channels, messengers, influencers you manage, and so on. This helps the program evaluate quality and compliance from the beginning.

Provide contact details. You add your working email, messenger handles, and any additional communication channels.

These contacts will be used by affiliate managers for onboarding and future support.Specify communication channels with the team.

It is important to mark which channels are preferred for operational questions for example, Telegram or email.Wait for review and creation of the partner account.

After the application is submitted, the system may ask for clarifications: proof of domain ownership, confirmation that you control certain traffic sources, or additional information. This security-focused approach is standard for large iGaming affiliate programs.

Once everything is approved, your melbet partner account is created, and all further work goes through this dashboard. From that moment, you have access to referral link generators, promo materials, and full analytics on clicks, registrations, deposits, and behaviour of your users.

Working with your MelBet partner account After registration and approval, the partner dashboard becomes the main control centre of your affiliate activity. According to the official documentation, the account provides: ul class=”rte–listtools for generating referral links with different parameters,a full set of promo materials banners, landing pages, deep links, and additional creatives adapted per country,filters and analytics to slice traffic by source, GEO, device and other markers,detailed reports on clicks, registrations, deposits, and key behavioural metrics of players.

The attribution logic is also clearly defined: cookie tracking, the last-click model, a unique-user accounting system, and cross-device logic where relevant. All transitions are recorded in the dashboard, and quality metrics like conversion from click to registration, registration to FTD, and further activity are updated regularly.

An important part of the system is anti-fraud logic. It filters out multi-accounting, artificial registrations, and other schemes that violate program rules.

For a serious affiliate, this is positive: it protects honest partners and keeps payout models sustainable over time. Payout models, earnings and withdrawals Any registration guide would be incomplete without explaining how and when affiliates get paid.

MelBet Partners supports three standard payout models, fully described in the program overview: ul class=”rte–listRevenue Share. A share of net revenue generated by referred players.

The percentage depends on GEO, traffic quality, user activity, and the stability of your conversions. In the 2025 iGaming industry, rev-share is considered one of the most attractive models because it provides long-term income and motivates affiliates to focus on retention.

CPA (Cost Per Acquisition). A fixed payment for each qualified player who meets predefined quality criteria.

Hybrid. A combination of a fixed CPA payment and a percentage of revenue, balancing quick returns with long-term earning potential.

The choice between these models depends on traffic quality and stability. Affiliates with strong metrics can negotiate more flexible conditions.

For payouts, the program supports several methods: bank transfers, e-wallet systems, and cryptocurrency payments. There is a minimum withdrawal threshold to optimize financial operations, and payouts are made on a regular schedule defined in the account terms.

The MelBet affiliate withdraw process always goes through the dashboard: you create a withdrawal request, choose the payment method, and complete any required data checks. Your final earnings depend on factors such as traffic quality, source stability, player retention, funnel conversion rates, average deposit size, chargeback rate, and the chosen payout model.

All of these parameters are visible in reports, which allows you to adjust campaigns instead of guessing. Why affiliates should also register on the main MelBet platform In addition to joining the partner program, affiliates who actively work with sports betting and casino traffic need to understand the end-user product.

That is why many experienced partners first create a standard player account on the main platform and explore the interface from the customer’s perspective. To simplify this, it is recommended to use MelBet GuideBook the official site of the MelBet online casino and bookmaker that collects expert guides, product overviews, and step-by-step instructions on registration, deposits, bets, and withdrawals.

For an affiliate, this resource serves as a reference manual: you can check how specific features look to players, follow ready-made onboarding checklists, and ensure your own content does not contradict the platform’s real flows. When your registration as a partner is combined with a clear understanding of the user journey from MelBet GuideBook, your campaigns become more accurate and your audience trusts your instructions more.

Support and long-term work with MelBet Partners From the moment your partner account is active, you are not left alone with statistics. MelBet Partners emphasizes technical and consulting support: affiliate managers help choose creatives, analyse traffic, select payout models, and optimise campaigns.

All managers are described as niche specialists who actually understand traffic and focus on solving real issues rather than creating a formal “support” faaade. The program’s toolkit an analytics panel, deep-link tools, behavioural filters, and a mobile app is designed to scale campaigns and improve predictive accuracy.

In practice, this means you can better forecast the profitability of your marketing, plan budgets, and grow from a small test to a stable, long-term partnership. Whether you are a solo webmaster or a large team, the logic remains the same: clear rules, transparent tracking, flexible payments, and personal communication with managers.

If you are ready to work professionally with sports betting and casino traffic, the registration steps above are your entry point. Fill in the application honestly, describe your sources in detail, get your MelBet partner account approved and then let data, not guesswork, guide your next moves.

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