Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. PowerChina were crowned champions of the 2026 Chinese Basketball Tournament after defeating CCECC 63-30 in the final played at Don Bosco Grounds, Namanga Saturday.

The tournament, which brought together Chinese companies operating in Tanzania, was supported by Stanbic Bank Tanzania through a Sh30 million sponsorship. The bank also participated in the competition as one of the teams.

At the closing ceremony, Stanbic Bank presented the runners-up trophy to CCECC, highlighting its continued support for initiatives aimed at strengthening relations between Chinese enterprises and Tanzanian stakeholders.

Speaking at the ceremony, Stanbic Bank Tanzania Head of Client Coverage, Corporate and Investment Banking, Elias Ngunangwa, said sport was proving to be an effective way of strengthening relationships among businesses.

‘What we have seen on this court over the past weeks is sports diplomacy at work. Teams that compete against each other here are the same companies building roads, power plants and industries across Tanzania,’ he said.

Ngunangwa said the relationships developed through sport could extend beyond the basketball court and contribute to greater trust and cooperation in business.

‘Through Standard Bank Group, our partnership with ICBC and our Chinese Desk, we work every day to connect Chinese businesses to opportunities in Tanzania and across Africa,’ he said.

He said Stanbic Bank’s decision to participate in the tournament alongside its sponsorship demonstrated its commitment to the business community. ‘Being here as both sponsor and competitor is how we show that partnership is genuine,’ he said.

Chinese Enterprises Association in Tanzania (CEA) President Jiang Yuntao thanked the organisers, sponsors and participating companies for contributing to the tournament’s success.

‘This tournament brings our companies and our Tanzanian friends together in a way that no meeting can. Sport builds friendship, and friendship builds cooperation between our two peoples,’ said Jiang.

He congratulated PowerChina on winning the tournament and CCECC for finishing second, while thanking Stanbic Bank for its continued support.

The tournament has grown into a platform for interaction among Chinese enterprises and Tanzanian stakeholders, providing opportunities for business networking, cultural exchange and community engagement.

A wildfire that scorched about 550 hectares (1,360 acres) inside Indonesia’s Mount Bromo National Park in East Java has been extinguished, but authorities are battling fresh hotspots around the volcano’s caldera.

The fire began on August 3 and spread across the national park before firefighters brought the main blaze under control. Local disaster management chief Gatot Soebroto said new fires had been detected across roughly 20 hectares near the caldera, with authorities warning that the flames could spread further.

More than 120 personnel, supported by three water-bombing helicopters, drones and fire engines, have been deployed to tackle the remaining hotspots. The difficult volcanic terrain has complicated ground operations.

Mount Bromo, an active volcano and one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations, is renowned for its vast sea-of-sand caldera. The national park has been closed to visitors since Saturday evening as firefighting operations continue.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze but suspect human negligence. Officials said the first flames were detected along a route used by visitors, raising the possibility that a fire had been lit and not properly extinguished.

No casualties have been reported.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s ambition to move 80 percent of its population to clean cooking energy by 2034 is gathering momentum, but the country’s progress is exposing a deeper challenge, experts say. According to them, achieving the target will require not only more clean-energy technologies, but also a fundamental alignment of policies, institutions, markets and livelihoods.

The challenge was laid bare at the weekend, during an inter-ministerial policy dialogue that brought together clean-energy stakeholders and policymakers to examine Tanzania’s transition away from traditional cooking fuels.

Launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in May 2024, the National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024-2034) represents one of Tanzania’s most aspiring attempts to address a household energy problem. The urgency is evident in the country’s household energy mix.

Data from the 2022 Population and Housing Census shows that firewood remains the dominant cooking fuel, accounting for 56 percent of household cooking energy, followed by charcoal at 25.8 percent.

LPG accounts for 9.1 percent, electricity 4.2 percent, while other sources account for 4.9 percent. Yet the country is beginning to demonstrate that a transition is possible.

According to the Ministry of Energy’s implementation report, clean cooking access has increased sharply from just 6.9 percent in 2021 to 28.6 percent.

Under the Rural Energy Agency (REA), the government has distributed 122,776 subsidised improved cookstoves against a target of 200,000, while 359,887 subsidised six-kilogramme LPG cylinders have been distributed against a target of 452,445.

TANESCO is also scaling up its on-bill financing model for electric cooking, following a successful pilot, with a plan to reach one million customers.

‘Tanzania has continued to make great strides in increasing the use of clean cooking energy,’ said Director of Clean Cooking Energy at the Ministry of Energy, Mr Nolasco Mlay.

‘Reaching 28.6 percent access is an encouraging milestone, but to achieve our 80 percent goal, we require seamless collaboration across financial institutions, private sector investors, and regulatory bodies.’ However, the greatest obstacle is not technological.

It is policy friction. At the policy dialogue, Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA) Chairperson, Dr Prosper Magali highlighted what he described as a fundamental contradiction between two government strategies.

He noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources’ National Charcoal Strategy and Action Plan (2021-2031) recognises charcoal as an enduring source of energy and seeks to make its production more sustainable.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy’s National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024-2034) seeks to eliminate traditional charcoal and firewood use.

‘These strategies are complementary in intent, yet conflicting in execution,’ Dr Magali said.

His argument points to the economic complexity surrounding charcoal. The fuel contributes 44.2 percent to the forest sector’s GDP, generates more than $1 billion annually and supports hundreds of thousands of rural livelihoods.

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) has moved to strengthen bilateral relations with Serbia, focusing on expanding market access for local farmers and enhancing industrial cooperation.

TanTrade director general, Ephraim Balozi Mafuru, held high-level talks with the Serbian Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Jovica Topalovic, at the authority’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.

The meeting was part of a strategic initiative to connect Tanzanian businesses with lucrative international partners and explore new investment avenues.

Speaking following the discussions, Mr Mafuru highlighted that the authority is prioritising the creation of new pathways for domestic goods to enter the European market.

He emphasised that the agency is focused on its core mission of facilitating international business.

“TanTrade remains committed to its mandate in expanding market access and connecting Tanzanian businesses with international partners,” he said.

He further explained that the partnership will focus on creating business opportunities for Tanzanian farmers, manufacturers, and traders in the Serbian market, while promoting industrial cooperation to add value to products and accelerate the country’s economic growth.

The collaboration is expected to bring significant benefits to the agricultural and manufacturing sectors by introducing advanced Serbian technology to Tanzanian production lines.

On his part, Ambassador Topalovic reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to deepening economic ties, noting that his country is ready to support Tanzania’s industrialisation drive.

He said the partnership will create new opportunities in trade, manufacturing, agriculture, industrial technology, and post-harvest storage through a modern cold value chain, particularly for meat, fish, and fruit products.

The Ambassador said the development of a robust cold chain is essential for reducing waste and ensuring that Tanzanian perishables meet the high-quality standards required for export to the Serbian market and beyond.

This engagement marks a significant step in Tanzania’s efforts to diversify its trade portfolio and attract foreign investment into value-added processing.

. Thousands of Young Africans (Yanga) supporters have turned up at Uhuru Stadium for the club’s 2026 Yanga Day celebrations, as the Tanzanian giants mark their 91st anniversary and officially usher in the 2026/27 season with renewed ambitions of dominating domestic and continental football.

The annual event has brought together fans from across the country, with the stadium and its surroundings filled with the club’s traditional green and yellow colours as supporters turned out to celebrate their team and welcome new players ahead of the new campaign.

This year’s celebrations come after an active transfer window in which Yanga strengthened several areas of their squad as the club seeks to build on its achievements and compete for more major honours in the coming season. The club has adopted Mwakani Tena as its theme for the new season, a message that reflects its determination to maintain its position at the top of Tanzanian football and continue challenging for domestic and continental success.

The celebrations have combined football, entertainment and activities designed to bring supporters closer to the club. Leading Bongo Flava musicians are lined up to entertain the crowd, adding to the festive atmosphere at the venue.

However, the biggest attraction for many supporters has been the unveiling of new signing Peter Shalulile.

The arrival of the Namibia international has generated significant excitement among Yanga fans, who are keen to see the experienced striker in the club’s colours for the first time.

Shalulile is expected to bring additional firepower to a Yanga attack that will be required to deliver results on several fronts during the new campaign.

The striker’s arrival has also increased expectations among supporters, particularly as the club prepares for another demanding season that will include domestic competitions and continental assignments.

Yanga have continued to strengthen their squad as part of efforts to improve their competitiveness, with the club seeking to maintain the standards established in recent seasons.

Beyond the unveiling of players, the event has provided an opportunity for the club’s supporters to celebrate their identity and demonstrate their continued backing for the team.

The celebrations will culminate in an international friendly against Congolese side Les Aigles du Congo, providing coach Manqoba Mngqithi with an important opportunity to assess his squad before competitive football begins.

The match is expected to attract further attention as supporters get their first extended look at the revamped Yanga squad, including the club’s new signings.

Jihan Dimack, representing Mwanza, has been crowned Miss Grand Tanzania 2026 following the national pageant held on Saturday, August 8.

Jihan emerged as the winner after competing alongside contestants representing different regions across Tanzania. Her victory comes after she had been among the contestants attracting attention throughout the competition, with pageant followers identifying her as one of the leading contenders for the crown.

Taking the first runner-up position was Prisca Lyimo, Miss Grand Arusha, who was also one of the standout contestants during this year’s competition. Lyimo had gained strong support from pageant fans and won the fan-vote challenge multiple times during the competition.

With her victory, Jihan Dimack will now carry the Miss Grand Tanzania title and is expected to represent Tanzania on the international Miss Grand stage.

The 2026 edition continues Tanzania’s growing presence in the Miss Grand International competition. Last year, Beatrice Alex represented Tanzania at Miss Grand International 2025 and finished as the 5th runner-up, marking Tanzania’s strongest placement in the competition to date.

Jihan’s coronation now marks the beginning of her reign as Miss Grand Tanzania 2026, with attention turning to her preparations for the international competition which will take place in India, later this yearThe trend of keeping pythons in residential homes has taken on a new dimension across various parts of the country after the reptiles sparked panic among residents, with several complaining that the snakes were preying on their livestock.

Furthermore, the animals have been causing commotion when brought into public spaces, despite some individuals using them as props during traditional dance performances.

Recently, videos and photos have gone viral on social media showing individuals keeping pythons at home, dancing with them publicly, or using them as attractions during various events. Despite the growing trend, an investigation by The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, has revealed that keeping pythons and other wild animals cannot be done arbitrarily; it requires strict adherence to procedures and obtaining permits from relevant authorities.

However, it has emerged that many citizens remain unaware of the requirements for obtaining licences to keep these animals, the duties of the keeper, and their legally permissible uses, leading many to keep them illegally.

Python causes panic

On July 28, 2026, in the Kiponza area of Chamazi Ward, Temeke District, Dar es Salaam, a python being transported from Mipeko to the city centre for undisclosed activities escaped from a box.

It attempted to attack the motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) rider carrying the load, triggering widespread panic among residents.

An eyewitness to the incident, Ms Patricia Lyesia, said that even after rushing towards the python following the incident, it could not be located, leaving residents living in fear.

She noted that the incident has raised safety concerns since local children regularly use the open grounds to play football in the evenings.

‘We tried burning the bush where it slithered, but we found no trace or hole it might have entered, leaving us in complete anxiety,’ she said.

A motorcycle taxi driver operating in Mbande, Mr James Urio, said the young rider was handed the box to deliver to a destination without knowing its contents.

He speculated that loud radio music on the motorcycle might have agitated the python, causing it to break out.

‘We were shocked at our stage to see the rider wrestling with a snake wrapped around his motorcycle. When it released its grip on the bike, it fled into the grass, where even burning the brush proved futile,’ recounted Mr Urio.

Python keepers speak out

A python keeper from Kisarawe, Mr Nkokwe Batani, said he has been engaged in the practice for several years while abiding by the necessary legal regulations.

Mr Batani stated that he obtained approval from local authorities, adding that his decision to keep pythons stems from a lifelong passion for wildlife.

He maintained that he has never killed any of his pythons, except in a recent widely circulated video where a python invaded a goat pen and killed livestock.

‘I have kept pythons for a long time. The video that circulated showed a wild python that broke into a goat pen and killed animals, which led residents to kill it,’ he explained.

For his part, Mr Saidi Kubwakubwa from Tabora admitted to keeping pythons due to his rural environment, insisting it was not for commercial purposes.

He revealed that he has never sought formal authorisation, regarding the activity as part of his routine rural lifestyle rather than an economic enterprise.

‘I keep them purely as ornamental pets. I do not hold a specific permit, nor do I engage in any commercial trade,’ said Mr Kubwakubwa.

Arusha resident, Mr Sope John, said he keeps various snakes, including pythons, specifically to attract tourists visiting the region.

Tawa issues stern warning

Following these disclosures, The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, contacted the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (Tawa) to clarify the official procedures, safety measures, and legal penalties facing violators.

Tawa warned that anyone keeping pythons, parrots, monkeys, or any other wild animals without a valid licence is classified as a poacher under wildlife conservation laws.

Tawa senior conservation officer, Mr Proches Rongoma, emphasised that anyone wishing to keep wild animals must strictly adhere to statutory procedures.

He explained that the initial step requires submitting a formal application, registering, and securing a legal permit from the authority before acquiring any animal.

‘For anyone to keep a python or any other wild animal as an ornamental pet, they must apply, undergo registration, and be issued a licence for formal recognition,’ said Mr Rongoma.

He noted that the system enables the government to monitor the captive wildlife population, understand the rationale for keeping them, and ensure proper standards of animal care.

Mr Rongoma added that even licensed breeders authorised to rear pythons commercially must notify Tawa before harvesting or deploying the animals.

Breeders are required to specify the number of pythons intended for harvesting and their designated use to secure official clearance.

Mr Rongoma said when a python strays into human settlements and causes destruction, it is categorised as a problem or dangerous wild animal.

However, he cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands by killing such animals without notifying the relevant conservation authorities.

He highlighted that pythons are among the species permitted to be kept as ornamental wildlife, provided established legal frameworks are observed.

Other species allowed under permit include baboons, monkeys, parrots, tortoises, certain bird species, squirrels, and non-venomous snakes.

Tawa stressed that maintaining any such animals without valid authorisation constitutes a direct violation of wildlife conservation laws.

‘Possessing a wild animal without a licence legally classifies one as a poacher. Penalties are determined based on the specific species and its statutory economic value,’ warned Mr Rongoma.

Health experts warn of infection risks

Health experts have raised concerns over the health risks associated with keeping reptiles, warning that pythons and other snakes carry pathogens capable of infecting humans.

A wildlife veterinarian from the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Jemma Lulo, stated that Salmonella bacteria are commonly harboured by reptiles.

She explained that the bacteria can spread through faeces, skin contact, or contaminated enclosures, posing health hazards to humans.

‘Salmonella infection can cause severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and dehydration,’ cautioned Dr Lulo.

She advised animal keepers to practise strict hygiene, including washing hands thoroughly with soap after handling reptiles or cleaning their enclosures.

Dr Lulo also stressed that reptiles should never be allowed into kitchens or food preparation areas to prevent cross-contamination.

Echoing her concerns, veterinary doctor, Mr Noel John, emphasised that regular health checks for captive animals are vital for early detection of diseases and dangerous parasites.

He noted that animal housing must be sanitised frequently and waste disposed of safely to protect both human and animal health.

Infectious disease specialist, Dr Magoti Dotto, highlighted that zoonotic diseases, those transmissible from animals to humans, require heightened vigilance.

He advised keepers to wear protective gloves during enclosure maintenance, wash hands under running water, and strictly separate household utensils from equipment used in animal care.

‘Public health awareness is essential for animal keepers. Anyone experiencing symptoms of fever or other infections associated with contact with animals should seek immediate medical attention,’ advised Dr Dotto.

Young Africans (Yanga) have extended the contracts of four key players, Djigui Diarra, Ibrahim Bacca, Bakari Mwamnyeto and Yao Kouassi, as the club steps up preparations for the 2026/27 season.

The decision reflects Yanga’s intention to maintain continuity within the squad while strengthening a team expected to compete on multiple fronts both domestically and in continental competitions.

The club’s information officer, Ali Kamwe, announced the contract extensions while introducing the players to supporters during Yanga Day, an event held to officially unveil the squad for the new season. The four players were among the stars presented to thousands of supporters at the event, with the club demonstrating its confidence in their ability to contribute to its ambitions by securing their services for longer periods.

Goalkeeper Diarra and defender Yao had one year remaining on their previous contracts before the club added another two years to their deals.

The extensions mean the two players will now remain contracted to Yanga until the end of the 2028/29 season, giving the club greater certainty in planning its squad over the next three seasons.

For Bacca and Mwamnyeto, the situation is slightly different. Their new two year contracts begin with the 2026/27 campaign and will run until the end of the 2027/28 season.

The move comes as Yanga continue to reshape and strengthen their squad following a busy transfer window in which the club has brought in several new players while also working to retain members of last season’s team.

The Jangwani based club is preparing for another demanding campaign, with its ambitions extending beyond the domestic league to the continental stage.

Yanga have established themselves as one of Tanzania’s leading clubs in recent seasons and are seeking to maintain their dominance at home while making a stronger impact in African competitions.

Retaining experienced players is therefore viewed as an important part of the club’s strategy as it seeks to build a balanced squad capable of handling the demands of a long season.

The contract extensions also provide stability in key areas of the team and reduce the possibility of losing important players at the end of their previous deals.

The announcement was warmly received by Yanga supporters at the Yanga Day celebrations, with the crowd expressing their approval as the four players were introduced.

The reaction underlined the continued popularity of the players among the club’s fan base and the expectations surrounding them ahead of the new campaign.

With the 2026/27 season approaching, Yanga are now expected to shift their attention to fine tuning the squad and ensuring the team is ready for the challenges ahead.

The club’s decision to extend the contracts of Diarra, Bacca, Mwamnyeto and Yao signals its commitment to building a stable core while pursuing success in domestic and continental football.

. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has closed the Agricultural and Livestock Exhibition week, issuing three key directives for immediate implementation.

The directives require the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to work with the Prime Minister’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG) to effectively resolve ongoing conflicts between farmers and herders across the country.

Other instructions involve expanding exhibition zones to the Southern regions and ensuring agricultural innovations displayed to farmers are practical and suitable for adoption in daily production. Unlike last year’s exhibition, when she granted a two-day extension, President Hassan said on Saturday, August 8, 2026, that this year’s expo officially closes, ordering everyone to return to work tomorrow at their respective duty stations without delay.

“I direct these ministries, alongside the PMO-RALG, to resolve farmer-herder conflicts. Although they have declined, they persist. We cannot tolerate fighting instead of creating wealth,” said President Hassan during her speech.

She noted that agriculture has grown and gained global recognition, promising that within two years, growth will average 9.4 percent in official international performance reports.

The president also directed that farmers be assured of markets for agricultural, livestock and fisheries products to motivate production, citing Sukuma youth in the Lake Zone who entered sea cucumber trading after the lucrative market was officially opened.

She approved the Agriculture Minister’s request for annual Farmers’ Day climax celebrations to be held at John Malecela Nzuguni grounds in Dodoma, while launch events rotate among regions each year.

On peace, President Hassan urged Tanzanians to safeguard peace and deny opportunists room to undermine security, stressing that development requires stability and lasting harmony.

Agriculture Minister Daniel Chongolo said following trials under Building Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiatives, projects would be expanded to local councils.

Mr Chongolo said initial BBT projects target youth in 18 councils across different regions, following successes at Chinangali and Mlazo/Ndogowe centres in Chamwino District.

However, the Minister said that, to motivate oilseed farmers, the government had banned cooking oil imports except during periods of verified domestic supply deficits.

“Your Excellency, we launched a special strategy banning edible oil imports unless there are supply deficits,” Mr Chongolo told the President.

According to the Minister, Tanzania requires 700,000 tonnes of cooking oil, while domestic production is only 306,000 tonnes, forcing the country to spend heavily on imports.

In another proposal, Mr Chongolo asked President Hassan to approve rotating Farmers’ Day launches among regions while permanently retaining the climax celebrations at John Malecela Nzuguni grounds, Dodoma.

Livestock and Fisheries Minister, Dr Bashiru Ally, said that despite progress in the sector, illegal vigilantism and taking the law into one’s own hands remained deeply troubling.

“We allocated ample grazing land, and the manifesto targets six million hectares by 2030. This is a great achievement, but I am dismayed by people taking the law into their own hands, sparking farmer-pastoralist conflicts in several areas,” said Dr Bashiru.

The Minister highlighted gains in the livestock sector, noting that the overall value of livestock increased from Sh26.5 trillion in 2020/21 to Sh35.216 trillion in the 2024/25 financial year.

Other achievements include controlling livestock diseases, enabling Tanzania to export meat to foreign markets, notably goat and sheep meat to Saudi Arabia.

Regarding fisheries, he said increased domestic fish consumption had created a growing local market across the country.

Dr Bashiru added that 703 fish farming cages worth Sh17.68 billion had recently been distributed to citizens to boost aquaculture production.

a. What initially appeared as a normal family prayer session at home following a television broadcast turned into an altercation leading to the eventual death of Mr John Kessy.

However, the High Court has ultimately acquitted Mr Isaya Muna, who was charged with the murder, after identifying significant lingering doubts in the prosecution’s evidence.

The High Court’s Singida Sub-Registry noted that although it was firmly established that Mr Kessy died from a severe brain injury, the prosecution failed to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that Mr Muna inflicted the fatal attackAccording to evidence presented in court, the incident occurred on November 6, 2025, at Ngamu Village, Mwasanya Ward, Ilongero within Singida Region, shortly after the deceased sprinkled holy water around his property following the just concluded television programme.

The court heard that Mr Muna, who was known to the victim’s family, openly mocked the deceased, accusing him of sprinkling ‘witchcraft water’.

It was alleged that when Mr Kessy confronted him, a heated argument ensued.

Mr Muna, who was allegedly consuming alcohol, attacked him by delivering punches and striking him on the head with a beer bottle, rendering him unconscious. He sadly died two weeks and three days later.

However, the subsequent legal proceedings resulted in Mr Muna’s acquittal after the court determined that the prosecution’s evidence fell significantly short of proving beyond reasonable doubt that he directly caused Mr Kessy’s tragic death.

The judgment was delivered on Friday, August 7, 2026, by Judge Ayoub Mwenda, presiding over criminal case number 6927/2026, with a copy subsequently uploaded to the official judiciary website.

How the case unfolded

Mr Muna faced murder charges contrary to sections 196 and 197 of the Penal Code.

The first prosecution witness, the deceased’s son, Mr Jovin Kessy, testified that on the afternoon of November 6, 2025, they were watching the television broadcast, noting that afterwards, his father sprinkled holy water around the family residence.

He alleged that the accused mocked the deceased, accusing him of using superstitious water.

When Mr Kessy confronted him, the accused, who was drinking alcohol, threw a bottle, repeatedly assaulting him on the head until he lost consciousness.

He claimed that electricity was available during the incident, enabling him to clearly identify Mr Muna, whom he had known well beforehand.

Following the assault, Mr Kessy stated that he and his 11-year-old sister carried their injured father inside the house.

It was alleged that the sub-village chairperson arrived and asked Mr Kessy if he required hospitalisation, but he declined.

The following morning, he visited a dispensary, where he later died two weeks and three days afterwards.

The second witness corroborated this evidence, Dr Daniel Tarimo, who informed the court that the post-mortem examination revealed the deceased succumbed to a severe brain injury.

The fifth witness, a police officer who investigated the case, testified that he interrogated the accused, who allegedly confessed to causing Mr Kessy’s death. However, the written statement was not formally tendered in court as an exhibit.

The defence

In his defence, Mr Muna relied upon an alibi, claiming that between November 4 and 7 last year, he was working on a farm in Mrijanda Village, Hanang District, Manyara Region.

He testified that on November 7, 2025, he was arrested over allegations of assault causing actual bodily harm, granted bail, and subsequently rearrested on December 23, 2025, to face murder charges.

He told the court he neither assaulted nor killed Mr Kessy, requesting full acquittal.

Court ruling

Evaluating submissions from both parties, Judge Mwenda stated that the primary issue was whether the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Muna committed the murder.

The judge observed that while the prosecution established the deceased suffered an unnatural death from a brain injury, significant doubt remained regarding the identification of Mr Muna as the attacker.

‘After considering all the evidence, I find that although the prosecution proved the deceased met an unnatural death, it failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused caused it,’ said Judge Mwenda.

The judge stated that the first witness’s identification of Mr Muna using the electric light (Tanesco) lacked sufficient weight to rule out the possibility of mistaken identity, as the witness failed to describe the light intensity, the duration of observation, or the specific features used for identification.

The court also identified discrepancies regarding a dying declaration allegedly naming Mr Muna, alongside the failure to produce the bottle purportedly used in the fatal attack.

‘While claims by the third witness regarding recording the second exhibit raise doubt, despite claiming he recorded and wrote it by his own hand, he struggled to read it as if he had not written it himself,’ he observed.

‘Furthermore, the witness claimed the statement was recorded at the scene, yet during cross-examination admitted it was taken at Ngumo Police Station. One wonders how the victim could endorse his signature under such circumstances,’ the judge added.

The judge noted that the witness failed to demonstrate that the deceased was capable of writing, despite the document bearing a signature attributed to him.

‘There are also contradictions in the prosecution’s evidence regarding the weapon allegedly used in the attack, a beer bottle. Although prosecution witnesses claimed the bottle was recovered, it was never tendered as evidence,’ he said.

‘Failure to produce such crucial evidence creates doubt as to whether the alleged weapon existed and whether it was connected to the injuries sustained by the deceased,’ added the judge.

The judge concluded the prosecution failed to prove the charge of murder, declared Mr Muna not guilty, and ordered his immediate release.

. Halotel Tanzania’s Director of Business Services, Abdallah Salum, has said the company will continue supporting farmers across the country by providing crop price information, connecting them with buyers and offering access to various extension services through its network.

Mr Salum made the remarks on August 8, 2026, during the Nane Nane 2026 agricultural exhibitions, which were held simultaneously in seven regions across Tanzania.

‘Halotel’s technology can help farmers access crop price information, make payments through HaloPesa, connect with buyers for their produce and access various agricultural extension services online,’ Mr Salum said. He added: ‘Halotel has participated fully in the Nane Nane 2026 Agricultural Exhibitions, staging its displays in seven locations – Dodoma, Zanzibar, Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, Kagera and Tabora. The national exhibitions were held from August 1 to 8, 2026, under the theme, ‘Identify Markets, Increase Production, Implement the National Development Vision 2050.”

At the exhibitions, Halotel showcased a range of products and services, including 5G routers, Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) internet services, HaloPesa mobile financial services and various telecommunications packages.

Mr Salum said visitors to Halotel’s stands, including farmers, agricultural traders and members of the public, had the opportunity to see and learn how the company’s services could provide fast, reliable and quality connectivity for homes, shops and offices.

‘Aligned with this year’s theme, which seeks to help farmers identify markets and increase production, Halotel teams at each exhibition site are demonstrating how our technology can help farmers access crop price information and make payments through HaloPesa,’ he said.

‘Nane Nane brings together communities that can benefit greatly from better communication services. By taking our services directly to all seven exhibition grounds, we are not simply selling products; we are helping rural communities become digitally connected at a time when they are seeking markets and ways to increase their production,’ Mr Salum said.