Why Artificial Intelligence won’t replace Tanzania’s entertainment industry

Dar es Salaam. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in the entertainment industry, experts say the future will belong to those who can blend human creativity with machine intelligence.

They argue that as AI tools enter studios, editing suites and marketing offices across Tanzania, the technology, when guided by human thinking, will reshape how music, film and digital content are produced without displacing existing jobs. The trend is already gaining ground as artistes and producers seek faster and more affordable ways to create content.

Last month, this shift became more visible when singer Nandy used AI to produce the video for her song Sweety, featuring Jux. Beyond her example, several other artistes, though not publicly, have begun relying on generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, to develop cover art, craft project titles and refine creative concepts.

Nandy said incorporating AI into her video was a creative decision rather than a threat to traditional production roles. “If there is an emergency or a specific reason for using AI, it will be used.

But when you have a good concept that requires real-life shooting, that will always remain important,” she said. Her approach reflects the view that AI enhances rather than replaces the artistic process.

The shift mirrors global developments. Record labels increasingly employ AI-music supervisors, data-driven marketing strategists and content-verification teams, positions that did not exist five years ago.

Major players are adapting as well. Warner Music Group recently signed a licensing agreement with Suno, an AI-music company, signalling a move toward structured cooperation.

Locally, managers say artistes must adopt a similar mind-set. Artiste manager Godfrey Abel says AI should be treated strictly as a tool.

“AI can only shine when a human decides what direction the art should take. I tell some artists and creative minds that don’t let the machine think for you, use it to explore ideas, but let your creativity lead,” he said.

According to him, AI resembles a sports car, “without a skilled driver, it goes nowhere or crashes, because creativity is in the driver.” Filmmakers also view AI as complementary.

Film producer Jumanne Salumu said the technology can widen creative options and reduce production costs, particularly for small teams. “If you add human vision to AI tools, you get something even better,” he said.

While AI can help preview scenes or design animation, he added that “in the end it’s the human team that shapes the story,” noting, “The technology supports us, so I don’t think it’s going to replace us.” On the other hand, graphics designer Latifah Sultan said tools that generate concept art, covers and posters help younger artists manage tight budgets.

“AI speeds up the draft phase, but the final edit still requires my touch. People forget the human eye decides what looks good,” she said.

Speaking to The Citizen, tech expert Dominick Dismas said combining human intuition with AI’s computational capabilities produces exceptional results. “When you combine the analytical speed and pattern recognition of AI with the cultural intuition and emotional intelligence of humans, the results are extraordinary,” he said.

He noted that AI can manage repetitive or technical tasks, from generating beats to refining colour grading. “This partnership between human creativity and AI is the future of entertainment globally, and Tanzanian artists are just beginning to tap into its potential,” he added.

As global markets continue to evolve, industry figures say Tanzanian creatives should view AI not as a threat, but as a tool that, when guided by imagination and cultural understanding, can expand opportunities, reduce costs and strengthen the country’s creative economy. .

Organic farming touted as path to new markets

Dar es Salaam. Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) and its partners are urging farmers, traders and entrepreneurs across the country to embrace organic farming, describing it as a growing economic opportunity that offers health, market and environmental benefits.

The appeal was made recently in Dar es Salaam during the launch of the Swahili Festival Market, an open market showcasing products from organic farming. The event forms part of a four-year, Sh1.2 billion project funded by the Swiss organisation BioVision to expand awareness and strengthen the organic agriculture value chain.

SAT Chief Executive Officer, Ms Janeth Maro, said organic farming is now a strategic business opportunity rather than a niche environmental practice. She noted that consumers, both locally and internationally, increasingly demand chemical-free produce, a trend that places Tanzanian farmers in a strong position if they adapt.

“Organic farming opens doors to premium markets, and traders who understand this space are able to earn more while supplying safer, healthier food,” she said. According to SAT, producers of organic goods enjoy better prices due to higher consumer trust and rising demand.

Ms Maro said the project aims to give small and mid-level traders the skills needed to take advantage of emerging opportunities in production, packaging and export markets. She emphasised that organic farming improves public health by eliminating the use of toxic fertilisers and harmful chemicals.

“Organic produce reduces the risk of diseases linked to chemical contamination. At the same time, it protects soil, water sources and biodiversity,” she said.

The project has so far reached about 50 entrepreneurs and traders from Morogoro, Dar es Salaam, Njombe, Lindi, Iringa, Arusha and Kagera. Through training and market exposure, SAT hopes to build a generation of entrepreneurs who can supply the expanding demand for organic products.

Ms Maro added that the sector is generating new business opportunities, including small processing industries that are helping to reduce unemployment. “We are seeing more value-added products and small factories emerging from organic agriculture.

This shows the sector’s potential to support livelihoods and domestic industries,” she said. However, she also pointed out challenges such as certification costs, meeting market standards and limited productivity among small-scale farmers.

She urged relevant institutions to support farmers in overcoming these barriers to enable them to fully benefit from organic agriculture. Event organiser Ms Farida Faith Nassoro said the market, held for the first time in Oysterbay, creates space for entrepreneurs to learn about organic products and connect with buyers.

She added that organic farming promotes better health and helps prevent illnesses associated with chemical exposure. SAT believes rising demand, increased awareness and international support make this the ideal moment for Tanzanians to invest in organic farming and tap into its economic potential.

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Tanzania Start-up Week opens with strong calls for policy reform, investment readiness and innovation leadership

Dar es Salaam. The second edition of Tanzania Start-up Week opened in Dar es Salaam on December 1, 2025, bringing together leaders from government, industry, development institutions and the broader innovation ecosystem to chart a strategic course for strengthening the country’s start-up landscape.

Speaking during the opening session, Tanzania Start-up Association board member Mike Mushi said this year’s discussions are expected to provide essential guidance on how Tanzania can build a stronger entrepreneurial base and establish itself as a competitive player in the global digital economy. Mr Mushi noted that Tanzania’s youthful population, growing economy, strategic regional positioning and expanding digital infrastructure present significant opportunities for innovation.

However, he warned that several persistent challenges–including limited access to finance, regulatory hurdles and infrastructure gaps–continue to slow the growth of start-ups. He emphasised the need for strong and predictable policy, arguing that forward-looking government leadership, regulatory flexibility and national investment are crucial to enabling innovators to operate, compete and scale.

Mr Mushi also underscored the value of global and regional partnerships in embedding international standards, accelerating technology transfer and boosting the visibility of Tanzanian innovations. He further highlighted the role of human capital in enabling start-ups to design solutions with global relevance, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture, health, finance, logistics, education and the creative industries, where technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital payments are rapidly gaining ground.

Mr Mushi commended the work of the Government Start-up Agency (GSA), saying its collaborations with ministries, regulators, development partners and corporate stakeholders have broadened access to expertise, infrastructure and global networks. Tanzania Start-up Week Co-chairperson and Country Manager Anabahati Mlay said this year’s event builds on sustained momentum to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem.

She said the 2025 theme reflects both ambition and urgency as Tanzania aligns its innovation agenda with its long-term aspiration of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2050. “Start-ups play a decisive role in national development. They drive productivity, competitiveness and structural transformation by scaling technologies, attracting global capital, developing export markets and generating high-quality jobs,” Ms Mlay said.

She outlined the structure of this year’s programme, which centres on three core pillars needed to build an internationally competitive innovation ecosystem. The opening day focuses on ecosystem foundations, policy and human capital, with discussions highlighting the importance of intellectual credibility, institutional coordination and a highly skilled workforce.

Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr Blandina Kilama, called for renewed commitment to strengthening the start-up sector, describing it as a central driver of Tanzania’s DIRA 2050 long-term development vision. “When we speak of innovation, we must approach it differently.

To implement DIRA 2050, we must create an ecosystem rooted in trust, governance, performance and national purpose,” Dr Kilama said. She stressed that training, though important, is not enough on its own.

She urged support organisations to assist entrepreneurs in securing contracts and real economic opportunities. She also highlighted the importance of investment readiness, calling for stronger collaboration to ensure start-ups are adequately prepared to attract financing.

Dr Kilama urged investors and development partners to diversify their financing models. “Grants alone will not suffice.

Once we are compliant, we must design alternative financing pathways. We want to operate as businesses–with access to banks, development finance institutions and other forms of support,” she said.

She closed by urging stakeholders to work collectively to strengthen partnerships, nurture innovation and unlock the immense potential of Tanzania’s young population. Dr Kilama said she believes the country’s start-up movement will be a key pillar in Tanzania’s journey towards attaining a trillion-dollar economy.

The opening of Tanzania Start-up Week 2025 sets the stage for a week of intensive dialogue, collaboration and strategic planning as the country positions itself more firmly within Africa’s innovation landscape .

Chadema protests alleged blockade on access to chairman Lissu as Prisons Service denies claims

Dar es Salaam. Chadema has accused prison authorities of blocking its senior leaders from visiting the party’s national chairman, Tundu Lissu, who is being held on remand at Ukonga Prison in Dar es Salaam.

But when contacted for comment, Tanzania Prisons Service spokesperson Elizabeth Mbezi said she had no information regarding any directive restricting Chadema officials from visiting Lissu. She also said she was unaware of reports that party leaders had attempted to visit the chairman and been turned away.

“I have no information about any restriction, and I have no information about leaders going to see him and being blocked,” she said. Lissu has spent nearly eight months in remand custody facing treason charges following his arrest in April 2025 during a party tour in the Ruvuma Region.

In a statement issued on Sunday, November 30, 2025, the party’s Director of Communication and Publicity, Brenda Rupia, said that several Chadema leaders had recently been denied entry to the prison despite following all required procedures. “In recent days, party leaders including Central Committee Member Godbless Lema and Secretary-General John Mnyika have been blocked from entering Ukonga Prison to visit Chairman Lissu,” the statement said.

According to the party, when Mnyika arrived at the prison on Sunday, officers told him that there were orders prohibiting any Chadema leader from meeting Lissu. “This action signifies an unusual restriction that violates the fundamental rights of a remand prisoner to be visited and seen by relatives and associates,” the statement reads in part.

Chadema said the alleged blockade constitutes a violation of the basic rights of prisoners and remandees, describing it as an abuse of state institutions aimed at harassing opposition figures. It has demanded that the Prisons Service clarify why its leaders are being denied access to Lissu.

The party further called on local and international stakeholders to monitor what it termed a dangerous development for democracy and for Lissu’s personal well-being. “Chadema informs its members and citizens that it will take legal, political, and diplomatic steps to ensure Lissu’s rights, and those of party leaders, are not violated,” the statement noted.

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Why soaring informality poses threat to Dira 2050

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s new Integrated Labour Force Survey (ILFS) 2024 has painted a picture of a labour market in transition, but also exposes two stubborn structural barriers that now pose the greatest threat to the country’s march toward Dira 2050: soaring informality and widening wage disparities across gender, geography and education.

Released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in November 2025, the survey, conducted throughout 2024 across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, offers the most robust, comparable and harmonised labour market data the country has produced in recent years. With Tanzania preparing for a new era of long-term development strategic planning, the report lands at a defining moment: Labour participation improving, but inequality still a defining factor.

The ILFS shows the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) has risen from 72.1 percent in 2020/21 to 73.2 percent in 2024, signalling better engagement of the working-age population. However, this improvement conceals enduring inequalities.

While 79.6 percent of men participate in the labour market, only 67.4 percent of women do so. Participation among persons with disabilities lags significantly at 54.4 percent, compared to 75.4 percent for those without disabilities.

Youth participation remains particularly weak. Only 60.3 percent of young people aged 1524 are in the labour force, a gap that experts say undermines Tanzania’s future economic strength and its hopes of maximising the demographic dividend.

Informality nearing 95 percent Despite modest gains in employment-reflected in the rise of the Employment-to-Population Ratio from 65.8 percent to 68.7 percent, the overwhelming majority of Tanzanians remain trapped in informal and vulnerable work. According to the ILFS, informality has grown from 92.5 percent in 2020/21 to 94.6 percent in 2024. Women are slightly more affected than men, though the burden is high across all demographic groups.

The structure of employment reveals the scale of precarity Nearly three-quarters (74.8 percent) of workers are categorised as ‘dependent contractors’, and only 7.7 percent hold salaried jobs.

Contributing family workers account for 16.9 percent, with women disproportionately represented, a reflection of entrenched gender roles in unpaid domestic labour. Sectoral employment patterns, meanwhile, reveal slow but steady transformation.

Agriculture still employs 54.2 percent of the workforce, down from 60.4 percent in 2020/21. Services have grown to 35.5 percent, while industry has inched up to 10.3 percent, signalling early diversification but also the need for faster structural change. One of the most notable improvements is in literacy.

National illiteracy levels fell from 17.8 percent to 11.5 percent, with rural areas and young people experiencing the most progress. Yet women remain more affected than men, and persons with disabilities face illiteracy rates more than double the national average.

Average monthly wages increased from Sh393,861 to S77,241, a sign of improving labour incomes. Yet the ILFS reveals that wage inequality is widening, not narrowing.

Men consistently earn more than women across all education levels. Urban workers, especially those in Dar es Salaam, earn significantly more than rural workers.

Even among workers with similar education or skills, those in rural and semi-urban areas remain disadvantaged. These wage differentials, experts warn, are becoming entrenched and risk entrenching cycles of poverty and exclusion, particularly for women, youth and rural households.

Unemployment remains moderate, but underemployment–workers wanting more hours than they are able to secure remains high, especially in agriculture-heavy regions. Long-term unemployment among youth continues to weigh heavily on productivity and innovation.

These dynamics, the ILFS cautions, directly undermine Tanzania’s long-term vision of building a modern, competitive and knowledge-based economy. Ignoring informality will derail Dira 2050 A labour economist at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Lydia Magesa, describes the soaring informality rate as a national crisis.

“The data clearly shows that while participation is improving, the dominance of informality is locking millions of workers out of social protection and productivity gains. Tanzania cannot achieve Dira 2050 with a workforce that is nearly 95 percent informal,” she said.

Apolitical analyst, Mr David Msuya, argued that the survey points to deeper governance and policy coordination challenges. “Gender gaps, youth unemployment and the marginalisation of persons with disabilities point to systemic issues.

Strengthening local government capacity and accountability is key to ensuring that labour market reforms reach communities,” he said. From an international development perspective, an international relations scholar, Dr Angela Moyo, said the ILFS shows where Tanzania stands in a rapidly evolving global labour landscape.

“As global value chains shift and digital skills become essential, the ILFS shows progress, but also exposes how far we still need to go to be competitive by 2050,” she noted. The ILFS recommends targeted interventions: speeding up enterprise formalisation, deepening skills development, closing wage gaps, expanding social protection, and pushing sectoral diversification into higher-productivity industries.

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Pope pushes peace message on second day in crisis-hit Lebanon

Beirut. Pope Leo will meet leaders from Lebanon’s diverse religious sects on Monday and is expected to urge Lebanese not to abandon their country despite years of conflict, political paralysis and economic crisis that have prompted waves of migration.

Leo, the first U.S.

pope, visited Lebanon’s Catholic community before hosting a dialogue with members of the Sunni Muslim, Shi’ite and Druze communities, as well as migrant workers and other Christians. The pope, on what he has described as a mission of peace, has urged Lebanon’s leaders to persevere with peace efforts in the aftermath of last year’s devastating war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, and continued Israeli strikes.

Raising hope Leo, 70, is visiting Lebanon until Tuesday on the second leg of his first overseas trip, which started in Turkey. “Our prayer gives us the strength to continue to hope and work, even when surrounded by the sound of weapons,” he said on Monday at Harissa, a Catholic shrine perched on a mountaintop overlooking the Mediterranean just north of Beirut.

Leo has a crowded itinerary on Monday. He visited the tomb of St.

Charbel, a Catholic saint revered across the region, before heading to the shrine, known for an 8.5 metre tall (28 ft) statue of the Virgin Mary looking over Beirut.

People inside the worship space ululated as the pope arrived, pressing in to greet him with shouts of “Viva il Papa” (Long live the pope). “We have really been waiting for the pope’s visit because it is raising our hope now,” said Rev.

Toni Elias, a Maronite priest from Rmeich, a Christian town close to the Israeli border. The Maronites are an eastern-rite Catholic community and the largest Christian sect in Lebanon.

“We believe that he brings with him the message of peace, which we really need.” Before speaking at the shrine, Leo heard testimonies from people living in Lebanon.

Loren Capobres, a Filipino migrant in the country for 17 years told Leo about her experience living through war. The pope said stories like hers show the need to “take a stand to ensure that no one else will have to flee from his or her country due to senseless and cruel conflicts.

” Pope to visit port blast site Lebanon, which has the largest share of Christians in the Middle East, has been rocked by the spillover of the Gaza conflict, as Israel and the Lebanese Shi’ite Muslim militant group Hezbollah went to war, culminating in a devastating Israeli offensive. The country, which hosts 1 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees, also is struggling to emerge from a severe economic crisis following decades of profligate spending that sent the economy into a tailspin in late 2019. Leo will host a meeting with young people, where he is expected to urge them to work for peace in a country still being hit by near-daily Israeli bombardment.

Israel says its continued strikes since last year’s ceasefire agreement are to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing military capabilities and posing a renewed threat to communities in northern Israel. His schedule for Tuesday includes a prayer at the site of a 2020 chemical explosion at the Beirut port that killed 200 people and caused damage worth billions of dollars.

He will also lead an outdoor Mass on the Beirut waterfront and visit a psychiatric hospital, one of the few mental health facilities in Lebanon, where carers and residents are eagerly anticipating his arrival. .

Soft skills, collaboration and digital readiness drive Tanzania’s start-up growth

Dar es Salaam . Universities and lecturers play a critical role in equipping young Tanzanians with the creativity, collaboration and soft skills necessary to succeed in the country’s growing start-up ecosystem.

These remarks were made by Sahara Ventures CEO Jumanne Mtambalike during the opening of Tanzania Start-up Week 2025, where he addressed investors, innovators and key sector stakeholders. Mr Mtambalike emphasised that academic success alone is not enough for entrepreneurial growth.

“To some extent, many young people have very good GPAs because they attend university, but what they lack is soft skills. These are critical for building businesses,” he said.

He stressed the importance of collaboration, urging young entrepreneurs to find co-founders, view others as partners rather than competitors, and learn to accept constructive feedback. “Innovation hubs, accelerators and incubators play a key role in bridging skills gaps,” he added, noting that many start-ups still rely on mentors for basic skills such as pitching, presenting and communicating with confidence.

Mr Mtambalike also called on educational institutions to cultivate creativity and critical thinking. “We want students to brainstorm, associate ideas, reframe problems and share opinions without fear of criticism,” he said.

Founding Partner at BANKABLE (T) Limited, Ivan Tarimo, highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between institutions and start-ups. He urged public and private institutions to report annually on their engagement with innovators to scale support and formalise innovation.

On Tanzania’s roadmap to a $1 trillion economy by 2030, Tarimo emphasised investing in human capital. “If you pick three strategic priorities, one must be people and skills,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at MUHAS, Prof Bruno Sunguya, noted the transformative impact of student-led initiatives, while Coordinator at the National Digital Technology Institute, Dr Selemani Arthur, highlighted government investments in ICT infrastructure and capacity building to prepare students for the digital economy. By combining policy, infrastructure and applied training, Dr Arthur said the government aims to provide a practical platform for the next generation of innovators.

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UDSM’s smart campus push signals a new era for Tanzania’s universities

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s push to position itself as a digital economy has taken a decisive step forward, with the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) launching an ambitious digital transformation agenda that could redefine the country’s higher education landscape.

At a time when global universities distinguish themselves through digital delivery, UDSM is reclaiming its historical leadership role by setting a benchmark for smart, technology-driven learning. The initiative, supported through the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) project, includes signing 12 contracts worth Sh10.3 billion to install ICT infrastructure and smart furniture across 21 buildings within its main and constituent campuses in Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Kagera and Zanzibar.

The investment, according to Vice Chancellor Prof William Anangisye, who spoke during the signing ceremony on November 29, 2025, is central to the university’s decade-long Smart Campus Roadmap (20222032), which aims to increase efficiency in teaching, learning and service delivery. “This project supports 60 percent of our Smart Campus Roadmap.

Our goal is to strengthen ICT infrastructure so that teaching and learning can take place anywhere, anytime,” he said. Tanzania’s higher education sector has for many years struggled with overcrowded lecture halls, some holding over 1,000 students, compromising learning outcomes in key disciplines.

The shift to digital delivery, analysts say, offers the most realistic pathway to solving space shortages without incurring heavy construction costs. Higher education expert Dr Joyce Maganiko argued that UDSM’s move “marks a structural change in how universities approach access.

A single online lecture can serve thousands without diminishing quality, provided digital pedagogy is properly strengthened.” The National Digital Education Strategy (2024/252029/30), released by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, directly supports such transitions.

The strategy emphasises ICT infrastructure expansion, digital content development, capacity building for educators, and the adoption of emerging technologies to improve inclusiveness, equity and quality across all levels of education. The document outlines seven core pillars, among them, ICT infrastructure and access, digital content development, digital assessment and emerging technologies, all aimed at transforming how learning is designed, delivered and monitored.

It further identifies soft infrastructure such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), data analytics and digital libraries as critical enablers of quality teaching and administration. How UDSM aligns with the national vision UDSM’s investments mirror the strategy’s directive that every higher education institution must modernise ICT infrastructure, expand online and blended learning, upgrade digital libraries, and implement data-driven management systems.

The strategy underscores that ICT must be used to “enhance access to quality teaching, learning and administration enabling every learner to contribute significantly to national development.” Furthermore, the National ICT Policy 2016 emphasises nationwide development of reliable broadband, digital skills, and digital research capabilities.

This aligns with UDSM’s ongoing upgrades to campus-wide WiFi, expanded bandwidth, digital administrative systems and integration of platforms such as MOODLE and MOOCs. Digital education specialist Catherine Mushi said UDSM’s progress “mirrors what leading global universities have done, using technology to create flexibility, stimulate innovation and reach international learners.

Tanzania is finally entering that competitive space.” She added that universities today “do not compete by the size of their buildings but by the strength of their digital ecosystems,” emphasising that completing the Smart Campus Roadmap would place UDSM among Africa’s few institutions with fully digitised learning, research and administrative systems.

Globally, universities that digitalise their academic delivery, such as Singapore’s NUS, South Africa’s UNISA, and the UK’s Open University, attract international enrolments and score higher on rankings that assess innovation, research access and teaching quality. Political and international relations analyst Dr Petro Mutashobya noted that UDSM’s shift “has diplomatic and reputational value.

A university that offers globally accessible programmes becomes an academic bridge for international students and researchers. It increases Tanzania’s visibility and soft power.

” The National Digital Education Strategy stresses research, innovation and entrepreneurship as a core pillar, calling for universities to create digital learning environments that enhance competitiveness in regional and global education markets. If implemented at scale across all institutions, the digital shift will support government aspirations under the Tanzania Digital Economy Framework, the Education Sector Development Plan and Dira 2050, all of which emphasise modernising teaching and developing a tech-skilled population.

According to Ms Mushi, “UDSM’s transformation gives Tanzania a model. It proves that digital education is no longer a future ambition but an implementable reality.

” The strategy also emphasises inclusivity through digital access, ensuring that geography, disability or classroom shortages no longer limit learning opportunities. With improved digital infrastructure, backed by the National ICT Broadband Backbone and the National Internet Data Centre, universities can deliver content anywhere in the country.

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Diarra shines as Yanga set new Caf Champions League record

Young Africans (Yanga) first-choice goalkeeper Djigui Diarra and defender Ibrahim “Bacca” Hamad stole the spotlight in the CAF Champions League clash against JS Kabylie, guiding the Tanzanian giants to a historic 00 draw on Algerian soil. The result marked Yanga’s first-ever unbeaten outing in Algeria in the competition, turning a challenging away fixture into a showcase of growth and maturity.

Diarra was the backbone of Yanga’s resilience, earning a match-high rating of 7.9 points.

The Malian goalkeeper delivered several crucial stops, commanded his area with authority, and made impeccable decisions throughout the 90 minutes. Each save boosted the team’s confidence and silenced the home crowd, reaffirming his status as one of the finest goalkeepers in the Caf Champions League.

Just ahead of him, Ibrahim “Bacca” Hamad orchestrated an equally remarkable performance, earning a rating of 7.8 points.

The midfielder served as Yanga’s engine, keeping the team structured and composed under relentless pressure. acca’s ability to break up play, recycle possession intelligently, and carry the ball out of danger ensured Yanga maintained balance in key moments.

Together, Diarra and Bacca formed the spine of a performance that highlighted Yanga’s growing continental pedigree. The draw ended Yanga’s run of two consecutive defeats in Algeria and delivered a crucial psychological boost.

It also earned a valuable away point that could prove decisive in the race for the knockout stages. With four points from their opening two Group B matches, Yanga sit joint-top alongside defending champions Al Ahly, while AS FAR Rabat and JS Kabylie follow with one point each.

Yanga also became the first team to earn a point from JS Kabylie at home since April 22, 2023. Kabylie had entered the match on a formidable home streak, beating Monastir of Tunisia 20 and crushing Ghana’s Bibiani Gold Stars 50. That streak was halted by a disciplined Yanga side anchored by two standout individual performances. Kabylie’s Belaid Zineddine and Himid Mohammed were their best performers, both rated 7.

5, but their efforts were insufficient to breach Yanga’s defensive wall. By the final whistle, Yanga left Algeria with more than just a point.

They departed with a new record, renewed confidence, and undeniable proof that their defensive core, led by Diarra and Bacca, can withstand Africa’s toughest challenges. The result may well mark a turning point in their Caf Champions League campaign, setting the stage for a bold and determined Group B journey.

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PM urges Tanzanians to protect peace, reject violence and safeguard public infrastructure

Arumeru. Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has urged Tanzanians to safeguard national peace and reject individuals who incite violence, sow division and destroy public infrastructure, including facilities built through citizens’ own contributions.

Speaking on Sunday, November 30, 2025, during an address to residents of Kikatiti Ward, Dr Nchemba warned that choosing unrest is equivalent to choosing deeper poverty. He had earlier inspected the Kikatiti Police Station, one of the facilities vandalised during the October 29 unrest that also targeted police posts, fuel stations and a primary court.

He said Tanzania’s progress depends on peace, stressing that no development is possible in an unstable environment. “If we choose to chase away peace, we must know we are choosing to chase away development,” he said.

“Some people think development belongs to the Government, but development belongs to individuals. By choosing violence, we are choosing to increase poverty in our country.

” Dr Nchemba noted that although Tanzania has made significant strides in reducing poverty since independence, violent unrest could quickly undo these gains. “When the country gained independence, over 80 percent of the population lived in extreme poverty.

Today that figure is eight percent, while 26 percent remain income-poor. If we choose violence, because destruction is very easy, soon half the country will sink into extreme poverty,” he said.

He called on young people and citizens to refuse manipulation by those who profit from chaos. “We were incited and turned against each other, yet those who incited us were nowhere near danger.

They did not lose a single friend or relative,” he said. “Activists and some political figures call for protests, but they are paid for it.

We kill each other; they get the money.” Dr Nchemba alleged that during the October unrest, a young man received two million US dollars, about Sh5 billion, after working for certain activists.

He said foreign interests ultimately benefit when Tanzanians are divided. “Those paying for chaos want to take our minerals, including uranium and gas.

They know they cannot get these resources if Tanzanians remain united,” he said. He urged communities to reject actions that leave lasting wounds and undermine unity.

“This country does not belong to the Government or political parties. It belongs to you, Tanzanians,” he stressed.

Citing the vandalised police station, which residents built using their own funds and which was inaugurated during the 2003 Uhuru Torch race, he said those who destroy community property undermine their own development. “The money that will repair this damage could have funded other services,” he noted.

Arusha Regional Commissioner, Mr Amos Makalla said Arumeru and Arusha districts were among the hardest hit by the October 29 unrest. During his tour, Dr Nchemba also visited a damaged fuel station and the Maji ya Chai Primary Court.

Makalla added that security committees worked around the clock on the day of the unrest to safeguard the tourism sector, ensuring no tourist was harmed, allowing the flow of visitors to Arusha to continue uninterrupted. .