Category: The Citizen

Hong Kong. A fire engulfed multiple high-rise towers of a residential housing complex in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district on Wednesday, with plumes of thick grey smoke billowing out as emergency services battled to subdue the blaze.

Several people are trapped inside, public broadcaster RTHK reported, citing police, while two people have suffered severe burns, it said. Some fire services staff have also been injured, while trying to put out the massive flames.

The fire department said it received reports at 2:51 p.m. (0651 GMT) that a fire had broken out in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. It was upgraded to a No. 4 alarm, the second highest, at 3:34 p.m.

Wang Fuk Court is a housing complex made up of eight blocks, providing close to 2,000 residential units. Several towers around the blazing tower have bamboo scaffolding on their exterior.

Hong Kong’s Transport Department said that due to the fire an entire section of the Tai Po highway has been closed and buses are being diverted.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s commercial sector is experiencing a renewed surge of activity as importers draw increased value from the Africa-China trade corridor.

What began as a supply-and-demand relationship, has now matured into a crucial channel for industrial parts, motor vehicles, electronics, spare parts for cars and motorcycles, and iron, steel and metal products and an array of technological inputs that fuel local productivity.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s mining industry is closing in on a historic milestone after the total value of minerals produced in the country surged to nearly $1 billion in the third quarter of 2025, underscoring the sector’s growing contribution to the national economy amid record global gold prices and strong performance from large-scale miners.

According to official data, the total value of minerals produced increased by 23 percent from $806.2 million in March 2025 to $991.1 million by September 2025.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is advancing efforts to curb newborn deaths through a unique public-private partnership (PPP) involving the Aga Khan Hospital, the Aga Khan University Medical College and Amana Regional Referral Hospital.

The collaboration, supported by the Paediatric Association of Tanzania (PAT), focuses on strengthening frontline capacity to improve the initial stabilisation of newborns, an intervention that experts describe as the ‘missing link’ in tackling neonatal mortality.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s Prime Minister, Mwigulu Nchemba has instructed the Minister of Home Affairs, George Simbachawene, to reopen the Church of Resurrection and Life, led by Bishop Josephat Gwajima, which had previously faced operational challenges.

‘The President has granted amnesty to religious institutions that have experienced occasional disruptions.

Dar es Salaam. The Mainland Premier League resumes today with a single but highly significant fixture as Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC) host Mtibwa Sugar at the KMC Complex.

Kickoff is set for 4pm in what promises to be a defining match for both sides, particularly their head coaches, Marcio Maximo and Yusuph Chipo, who are both under pressure to deliver points.

KMC enter the match sitting at the bottom of the league table with just three points from seven matches. Their campaign has been marked by six straight defeats following their only victory of the season, a troubling trend that has raised concerns about confidence and consistency within the squad. Despite the difficult run, Brazilian tactician Marcio Maximo continues to emphasize resilience, discipline and belief.

‘We know the situation we are in, but we cannot afford to give up,’ Maximo said ahead of the match. ‘The players have been working hard and what we need now is composure, discipline and the courage to fight for every moment.

This is a match we must approach with full commitment.’ Mtibwa Sugar, meanwhile, are placed 14th with five points from five matches.

The team has won once, drawn twice and lost twice, but both of those defeats came at the KMC Complex, a ground that has never been kind to them.

Historically, Mtibwa have struggled against KMC, failing to win a single away match at the venue since the hosts were promoted in 2018.

Returning to the top flight this season, Mtibwa Sugar arrive with renewed ambition but still seeking consistency. Their most recent outing – a 2-0 loss to champions Yanga – exposed areas that head coach Yusuf Chipo believes must improve if his side is to secure a positive result today.

‘We know the history, but history does not play the match,’ Chipo said. ‘What matters is how we approach the game today. We respect KMC, especially at home, but we have prepared well and we want to show improvement.

Our focus is on staying organized and using our chances better.’ Both coaches acknowledge one shared challenge: their teams’ struggle to convert chances into goals.

While both sides have shown promising buildup play, poor finishing has cost them crucial points. Maximo and Chipo agree that clinical execution, tactical patience and full concentration throughout the match will be essential.

‘This is a match that can change our direction if we take it seriously,’ Maximo added.

Iringa. Conservation efforts in the Udzungwa and Kilombero landscapes are set to improve following the handover of two new patrol vehicles to the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS).

The Toyota Land Cruisers will allow rangers to access remote forest areas, including mountainous and flood-prone zones that are usually inaccessible during the rainy season.

The vehicles were provided under the Udzungwa Landscape Strategy (ULS), coordinated by STEP. The handover ceremony took place on 24 November 2025 at STEP offices in Wilolesi, Iringa, and was attended by officials from TFS, STEP, ULS and other conservation partners.

Speaking at the event on behalf of TFS Conservation Commissioner, Dr Zainabu Bungwa, Acting Director of Resource Management, said the vehicles will strengthen patrols and improve forest protection.

‘These vehicles will support TFS, surrounding communities and the nation by safeguarding biodiversity and reducing forest destruction,’ she said.

Dr Bungwa said that during the rainy season, many forest areas are inaccessible due to poor infrastructure, but the new vehicles will allow rangers to reach even the most difficult terrain.

TFS also requested that ULS expand conservation projects to Rungwe and Kalambo due to their ecological importance and the threat of forest encroachment.

The two vehicles, valued at Sh323.09 million, are expected to enhance monitoring, field assessments and learning in the forests.

STEP Chief Executive Officer Frank Lihwa said the organisation’s 10-year partnership with TFS has produced positive results in managing the Udzungwa forests. He noted that STEP has also provided patrol and camp equipment, as well as vehicle maintenance tools.

ULS Secretariat Coordinator Trevor Jones described TFS as a key partner in protecting Udzungwa and Kilombero. He said the landscape strategy aims to reduce community dependence on forests, improve collaboration and increase forest protection.

He added that 30 Village Game Scouts have already received specialised patrol training this year.

Udzungwa Forest Reserve Manager Michael Urio welcomed the vehicles, noting that the challenging terrain has long limited patrol capacity. He said the new vehicles will speed up patrols and make it easier to manage difficult areas.

Kilombero Forest Manager Oswald Ford said the support will improve protection of forests that are home to rare species and vital water sources.

The Udzungwa Landscape Strategy is a 20-year initiative funded by the Hempel Foundation and Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation.

It is implemented jointly by STEP, MACCO, TFS and TANAPA with local communities, ensuring conservation is inclusive and sustainable.

Environmental experts praised the strengthened patrol capacity, noting that Udzungwa and Kilombero are key to the ecological network of southern Tanzania. They encouraged other organisations to provide similar strategic support to combat forest degradation.

A few months ago my cousin and I were having one of our long chats. He had just come from a leadership workshop where they discussed how to create psychologically safe workplaces. The conversation then veered towards women, marginalised groups, and emotional safety. My cousin then revealed, ‘I get why this matters, but honestly, I’ve been told to ‘man up’, ‘Jikaze, we ni mwanaume’ my whole life, so I don’t really know what I’m allowed to feel, let alone say.’ He later added, ‘I support this stuff, but I just don’t want to say the wrong thing.’

I remember not exactly having the right words to say. I paused and remember thinking that this was very honest, and I’m sure he is not alone. In writing this article, I am discovering that perhaps workplace inclusion in its entirety isn’t just about making space for others but also about freeing people from outdated expectations. For many men, the unspoken script of masculinity at work says, ‘be tough, don’t show vulnerability, stay in control.’

That script is not only exhausting, it’s isolating. I can only imagine that when men feel like the only options are to dominate or disappear, they either overcompensate or check out, and neither response serves inclusion. So if we want to build workplaces that are truly equitable, we also need to make space for men to redefine what strength looks like. As organisations push for diversity and inclusion, many men are quietly asking: What’s my role in all of this? What if I say the wrong thing and get it wrong? The mistake is thinking inclusion is just a women’s and marginalised individuals’ issue.

The cost of exclusion is measurable; McKinsey reports that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams are 25 per cent more likely to outperform on profitability.

Yet, only 27 per cent of men in leadership see themselves as ‘strong advocates’ for inclusion, according to LeanIn.org. In East Africa, a 2024 study by the African Leadership Centre found that male-led organisations that embraced shared leadership styles saw a 40 per cent increase in team cohesion and a measurable reduction in attrition rates among women. In short? Inclusion can be strategised and modelled. Inclusive cultures are modelled by those who hold social capital, and in many workplaces, that’s still men.

Masculinity at work has long been defined by dominance, stoicism, and control, traits that reward performance over partnership, but today’s workplace problems – remote disconnection, generational divides, and psychological safety – require vulnerability, collaboration, and emotional fluency – the very traits men have been taught to suppress. Perhaps it’s time to redefine leadership? Not by abandoning masculinity, but by reclaiming it. And what if inclusion wasn’t about making space for others but with them?

Here are 4 ways men can build more inclusive workplaces

1. Shift from defender to listener. You don’t need to have all the answers, but you do need to be present. Instead of jumping to ‘not all men’ or ‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ try ‘Help me better understand how that impacted you.’

2. Practise active amplification. In meetings, use your voice to elevate others. ‘That’s a great idea; let’s go back to what Aisha said,’ or ‘I want to make sure we don’t skip over what John just shared.’

3. Redefine strength as emotional range. Empathy, tenderness, and self-awareness are strengths, not soft skills. Emotional literacy increases trust and reduces fear-based culture.

4. Measure inclusion. Notice who speaks the most in our meetings? Who gets promoted? Who gets interrupted? Ask yourself: What’s our retention rate by gender or ability? Data drives accountability.

In hindsight, here is what I wish I had said to my cousin that day: Inclusion isn’t a guilt trip, and it’s not about silencing yourself to make space for others. Nobody is perfect, and you don’t have to be either to make a meaningful impact. I know of men in the workplace who have definitely impacted me deeply; they didn’t always have the right answers, but they made space for me to belong. They taught me that some of the most respected leaders aren’t the ones who took up the most space, but the ones who made everyone feel they belonged in that space.

Dar es Salaam. Integrating clean energy into agriculture and small-scale production could significantly cut costs, increase output, and improve livelihoods across rural Tanzania, according to new research under the Sustainable Use of Renewable Energy for Production (PURE) project.

The findings were presented at the weekend by project coordinator Jensen Shuma during a stakeholders’ workshop in Dar es Salaam.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania must urgently fast-track the long-delayed Liganga and Mchuchuma projects or risk missing a narrowing window of opportunity driven by Africa’s rising steel demand and tightening global environmental rules, economists and policy analysts have warned.

Although the projects in the mineral-rich southwestern corridor have been under discussion for more than a decade, analysts say current global trends make rapid implementation essential. Africa’s industrialisation is accelerating, while the global shift toward clean energy is reshaping markets for coal, iron ore and other mineral products.