Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Denmark-based striker Kelvin John has been recalled to the Tanzania national football team (Taifa Stars) ahead of their FIFA international friendly match against Kuwait, set for November 14 in Cairo, Egypt.

John, who plays for Aalborg BK in Denmark, has been out of the Taifa Stars setup for several years. His return marks a significant moment for the 21-year-old forward, whose once-bright international career had stalled due to inconsistency and limited playing time.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) announced the squad, which will be led by interim head coach Miguel Gamondi, who also manages Singida Black Stars, assisted by Ahmad Ali and physical trainer Mohamed Mrisho Mohamed, popularly known as Xavi. The team is scheduled to enter camp on November 10 before flying to Cairo for the friendly.

John made his senior debut for Taifa Stars in 2018 against Kenya at just 15 years old. He was once hailed as one of Tanzania’s most promising young talents after excelling in the national youth teams.

However, in the six years since, he has earned only five more caps, underlining a career that has yet to reach its full potential. Gamondi’s decision to recall him suggests a renewed belief in his abilities and an opportunity to reignite his international journey.

“Kelvin is a talented player with great potential. We believe this is the right time for him to rejoin the team and contribute,” a source within the technical bench said.

Among the notable inclusions in the squad are Yakoub Suleiman (Simba SC), Hussein Masalanga (Singida Black Stars), and Zuberi Foba (Azam FC). The defensive unit features several experienced names, including Ibrahim Abdulla “Bacca”, Dickson Job, Bakari Mwamnyeto, and Mohamed Hussein (all from Yanga SC), as well as Shomari Kapombe and Wilson Nangu (Simba SC), Haji Mnoga (Salford City, England), and Pascal Msindo (Azam FC).

This blend of local and foreign-based defenders offers balance, composure, and depth. In midfield, Gamondi has opted for a strong mix of creativity and control.

The lineup includes Mudathir Yahya (Yanga), Feisal Salum (Azam), Alphonse Mabula (Shamakhi, Azerbaijan), and Tarryn Allarakhia (Rochdale AFC, England). They are joined by Novatus Dismas (Galztepe FC, Turkey), Habibu Idd (Singida Black Stars), Morice Abraham (Simba), and Charles M’mombwa (Floriana FC, Malta).

The attacking department is spearheaded by Abdul Suleiman (Azam FC), Suleiman Mwalimu (Simba SC), Paul Peter (JKT Tanzania), and Kelvin John. John’s inclusion adds pace, flair, and finishing instinct and qualities that could prove vital against Kuwait.

Overall, the squad represents a balanced blend of experience, youth, and versatility that attributes Gamondi will rely on as Taifa Stars prepare for upcoming competitive fixtures. The inclusion of several foreign-based players reflects TFF’s intent to strengthen the team’s international exposure and tactical range.

Gamondi, appointed interim coach following the departure of Hemed “Morocco” Suleiman, is expected to use the Kuwait friendly as a testing ground to assess his team’s readiness and chemistry. Taifa Stars’ most recent international outing ended in a narrow defeat, and the side will be eager to rebuild momentum and confidence with a strong showing in Cairo.

For Kelvin John, the match offers a chance at personal redemption and an opportunity to remind Tanzanian fans of the prodigious talent he once was, and perhaps, to reclaim his place among the national team’s future stars. With a fresh sense of optimism and an exciting mix of local and international talent, Gamondi’s Taifa Stars will head to Egypt not just seeking a result, but aiming to rediscover belief, cohesion, and pride in the national jersey .

Nairobi. It is mid-morning in Mbale, Vihiga County, Kenya, the atmosphere is bustling with activity.

Women are arranging bundles of sukuma wiki and tomatoes into crates while three men inspect the beehives that buzz softly at the farm’s edge. Once a midsized solar pump is activated, it transports water via narrow tubes that wind between columns of vegetables.

This is the Vihiga Mixed Farmers’ Cooperative, composed of 24 families overseeing 12 hectares of diverse crops and bee species. They cultivate vegetables, maintain beehives, and care for passion fruit vines that ascend the hills behind their houses.

“We keep everything running by ourselves,” explains Maryanne Waswa, the cooperative chair, flipping through a small ledger covered in neat handwriting. “For example, we recently experienced a water pump breakdown and you see when that happens, the vegetables die.

Nobody else pays for such.” Every season, the team pools resources to sustain their irrigation systems, purchase drought-resistant seeds, and upgrade equipment harmed by erratic weather.

It is expensive, yet they have limited options. “When a season does poorly, we forfeit not just our harvest, it drops down to us delaying to pay school fees, others opt for short-term loans.

It becomes an additional expense that directly impacts our finances,” Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the group’s secretary general, explained. Throughout Africa, millions of farmers similar to Waswa and Wanyonyi’s group are funding their own climate resilience.

They allocate resources to water tanks, soil restoration, and innovative seed types with minimal or no outside assistance. The extent of that self-financing is now apparent in recent research by Climate Focus, created by the Family Farmers for Climate Action coalition, which represents 95 million small-scale producers throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific.

The report estimates that smallholders worldwide need about $443 billion every year to adapt to climate change. Yet, current global spending that actually reaches them covers less than one percent of that need.

Most adaptation finance is routed through big international agencies, and very little trickles down to the farms where the real work happens. In Africa alone, the financing gap is stark.

According to the report, smallholders in East Africa require $34.6 billion annually to strengthen a sector that supports over 75 percent of the region’s employment. In West Africa, US$11.1 billion is needed each year to protect the livelihoods of nearly 2 million cocoa farmers, whose output underpins Europe’s $50 billion chocolate industry.

In Southern Africa, an annual $13.2 billion is required to avert drought-driven crop failures that left 21 million children malnourished in 202324, while North Africa needs $8.9 billion to safeguard food production from climate shocks such as the 202223 drought that slashed Tunisia’s cereal harvest by 70 percent. Central Africa faces its own challenge, requiring $2.9 billion each year to restore and protect the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest, through sustainable and resilient farming.

The scale of these figures underscores the burden shouldered by farmers who receive little support but remain vital to food security across the continent. Instead, smallholders are filling the gap themselves.

According to the same analysis, they already spend about US$368 billion a year from their own income on adaptation measures. For many, this means giving up between 20 and 40 percent of what they earn to stay productive.

The numbers show a clear imbalance. In the same year that smallholders spent $368 billion on adaptation, governments around the world paid out $470 billion in farm subsidies that often harm the environment.

(Bird story agency) The contradiction is striking. “Farmers are already paying for resilience,” says Elizabeth Nsimadala, president of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation.

“What we need is not sympathy but investment.” That is the message Africa’s farmer federations are taking to COP30 in Brazil, where adaptation finance will dominate the agenda.

Led by the Pan-African Farmers’ Organisation (PAFO), which brings together regional bodies from across the continent, they are demanding a system that sends climate finance directly to those who need it. Less than two percent of global climate funds currently reach African farmers, and the federations want that to change.

According to Babafemi Oyewole, the CEO of PAFO, their proposal is to create a Farmers Resilience Fund that channels money directly to farmer organisations and cooperatives. “We also want to build in transparency, gender inclusion, and flexible risk-sharing tools Pair grants with low-interest loans so that farmers can invest without sinking into debt and make farmer groups part of the decision-making and monitoring process, not just the end beneficiaries.

” PAFO aims to have this fund initiated at COP30, commencing with $100 million in initial capital from donors, development banks, and African nations. The fund would support hands-on, farm-based initiatives such as small-scale irrigation systems, seed repositories, community insurance schemes, and soil rehabilitation projects.

The goal is to transform farmers from being borrowers into partners within the climate finance framework. Across the continent, small examples already point to what direct access could achieve.

Close to the border with western Kenya, Vihiga and Kisumu county governments are setting up community seed banks and small-scale irrigation projects meant to boost local agricultural value chains. Vihiga County was also involved in funding a seed bank and processing plant in 2024 under its new policy on agroecology, creating an official market for native seed varieties and local processors.

Today, there are certified seed sources for over 8,000 smallholder farmers in Kisumu, through the Kabudi-Agoro and Nyando seed banks, funded by county resources and research partners. In Nigeria, such programmes as the Pay-at-Harvest model of Leadway Assurance supported by AGRA and index-based livestock insurance by Africa Re provide small-scale farmers with financial security against floods, drought and crop failures.

Their combined efforts now cover less than 50,000 farmers in the country of some 35 million, which highlights the fact that coverage is still minimal despite an increasing demand for climate-risk protection. For Waswa and her cooperative in Mbale, those large global figures feel remote, yet their significance is palpable.

Each season, they document their income, their expenditures, and their losses due to unpredictable weather. Each receipt demonstrates that smallholders are investing in climate action, by fixing one broken pipe and one repaired pump at a time.

“More money for us will mean we will concentrate less on survival and more on expansion,” Waswa expressed. The bees would continue to buzz and the vines would persist in climbing.

The COP 30 (30th Conference of the Parties) will be held from 10 to 21 November 2025 in the city of Belem in the state of Para, Brazil. (Bird story agency) .

Dar es Salaam. The persistence of exam irregularities, particularly cheating and the use of abusive language on answer sheets, continues to raise serious concerns among education stakeholders in Tanzania.

The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (Necta) announced yesterday that it has nullified the results of 38 candidates, including 31 for cheating and seven for writing abusive words on their exam scripts. This announcement comes despite the overall improvement in national performance reflected in the 2025 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results.

The punishment, issued under the Necta Act and Examination Regulations, prohibits the affected pupils from using their results for any purpose and requires them to retake future examinations. Although the number of nullified results may seem small compared to the 1.

1 million pupils who sat for the PSLE, experts argue that this trend indicates deeper moral and psychological issues affecting learners and the education system as a whole. tml-embed Loading “When a pupil writes insults or irrelevant messages instead of answers, it indicates more than just indiscipline; it points to stress, frustration, and inadequate preparation,” said Dr Ruth Mwaluko, an educational psychologist.

“Such behaviour often arises from fear of failure and a lack of guidance, both at school and at home.” Dr Mwaluko added that the competitive nature of national examinations, combined with parental and societal pressure to succeed, can lead to anxiety that manifests in destructive ways.

“We must begin addressing the mental and emotional well-being of pupils as seriously as we address their academic performance,” she said. Teachers and school administrators have also expressed concern that these incidents reflect a decline in moral values among some pupils and insufficient mentorship within schools.

Mr Abdallah Mhando, a Standard Seven teacher from Mwanza, told The Citizen that although the number of cheating cases has decreased over the years due to stricter supervision, the occurrence of defiance, such as writing abusive language, has become alarming. “You would expect a child at that level to understand exam rules, but when they decide to write insults, it shows a breakdown in character-building,” he explained.

“Moral education must start early, not when pupils are about to sit for national exams.” He noted that some pupils view exams as punishment rather than an opportunity to showcase their learning, especially when they feel ill-prepared.

“Some pupils lose confidence due to inadequate support in the classroom or poor home study environments,” he added. “When they encounter difficult questions, they react emotionally, and unfortunately, that sometimes manifests as abusive language.

” This year’s cases add to a series of similar incidents in recent years. In the 2024 PSLE results, Necta canceled the results of 61 pupils for both cheating and offensive writing.

In 2023, pupils at various levels, including Standard Four, Form Two, and Form Four, were also found guilty of similar misconduct. While Necta continues to condemn these acts, its Executive Secretary, Prof.

Said Mohamed, emphasized the institution’s commitment to maintaining examination integrity. “The Council will continue to enforce strict measures against any form of cheating or misconduct,” Prof Mohamed said during the results announcement.

“Writing abusive language or engaging in dishonest acts undermines not only the credibility of examinations but also the moral foundation we are trying to nurture in our education system.” He urged schools and parents to strengthen moral guidance and discipline among learners, highlighting that academic success should be accompanied by ethical behaviour.

In terms of exam results, out of 1,146,164 candidates who sat for the exam in September 2025, a total of 937,581 pupils–representing 81.80 percent–achieved passing grades of A, B, or C. In 2024, the pass rate was 80.87 percent, indicating an increase of 0.

93 percent this year. During the results announcement in Dar es Salaam, Prof Mohamed stated that the performance reflects ongoing efforts to improve the delivery of primary education.

“The overall pass rate has increased to 81.80 percent from 80.87 percent recorded in 2024. This shows a positive trend and improvement in learning outcomes at the basic education level,” he said. Of the successful candidates, 429,104 were boys (82.51 percent) and 508,477 were girls (81.21 percent).

The girls’ pass rate increased by 1.16 percent from last year, while the boys’ rate improved by 0.

66 percent. Prof Mohamed noted that the quality of performance, measured by the proportion of candidates scoring grades A and B, also improved from 36.90 percent in 2025, an increase of 1.

07 percent compared to 2024. “The improvement in performance, especially among girls, demonstrates the effectiveness of ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing inclusive and equitable access to quality education,” he added. .

Dodoma. The Clerk of the National Assembly has officially summoned all newly elected Members of Parliament to attend the first sitting of the 13th Parliament in Dodoma, marking the formal start of a new government following Tanzania’s recently concluded general election.

A statement issued yesterday by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Baraka Leonard, registration and administrative procedures for the elected lawmakers will take place at the Parliament offices in Dodoma from November 8 to 10, ahead of the official opening session set for November 11, 2025. “The first meeting of the 13th Parliament will be held on November 11, 2025, as declared in the Presidential Proclamation,” said Mr Leonard in a public notice released through the Government Gazette, Special Supplement No. 11 of November 4, 2025. “The activities to be conducted during that meeting will include reading the Presidential Proclamation, election of the Speaker, oath-taking by all Members of Parliament, confirmation of the Prime Minister, election of the Deputy Speaker, and the formal opening of the new Parliament by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania,” reads part of the notice.

The notice comes just days after Tanzanians went to the polls to elect their leaders, setting the stage for the swearing-in of both the legislature and the new executive government. Analysts say the convening of Parliament signifies the transition into the next phase of governance, as the ruling party and opposition prepare to assume their respective roles.

The Clerk also confirmed that guidelines for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been officially released. “The election procedures to fill the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been announced in Government Notices No.

14824A and 14824B, also published in the Special Supplement of November 4, 2025,” said Mr Leonard. He further directed all elected MPs to report in formal attire for registration and official photographs.

They are also required to present key identification and personal documents, including their certificate of election or appointment, national identity card, bank details, marriage certificate (for those married), children’s birth certificates, verified academic and professional certificates, and an updated curriculum vitae. “It is emphasised that all elected Members of Parliament must report properly dressed for registration and the photo session, accompanied by the necessary documents,” the notice reads.

The convening of the 13th Parliament is expected to draw national attention as the newly elected MPs take the oath of office, elect their parliamentary leaders, and confirm the Prime Minister to be appointed by the President. The official opening by the Head of State will symbolise the beginning of the new administration’s legislative agenda.

The 13th Parliament will therefore not only mark a constitutional formality but also a political transition, setting the tone for Tanzania’s next five years of governance and policy direction. .

Global sporting events have grown beyond entertainment; they’re economic powerhouses that encapsulate national growth, tourism, and international recognition. For Tanzania, now a sporting country with passionate fans and rising stars, the economic contribution of events such as the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, or World Athletics Championships is unprecedented.

From tourism revenue to sponsorship through brands, such events rock industries. The sporting industry also intersects with gambling, as fans utilize gambling websites to stay engaged in competitions.

This growing trend circles back to regional economies in terms of sponsorship and taxation. Global bookmaker offers free bets, promotions, andMelbet first deposit bonus to lure fans who want to combine passion with prediction, creating a parallel economy with global sport linkages.

In the case of Tanzania, therefore, sport, gambling, and tourism together form part of a wide ecosystem behind short-term and long-term gain. Tourism And International Exposure One of the most obvious economic benefits of global sports tournaments is tourism.

Even when Tanzania does not host a tournament, a large event has international visitors coming to regional centers since tourists tend to visit nearby destinations. Tanzanian safari tours, beaches in Zanzibar, and cultural festivals receive more bookings during global tournaments.

The connection between tourism and sports betting also applies. Visitors to international events are usually using mobile platforms to track odds and scores, supplementing the domestic operators.

This trend is observed in East Africa, where users prefer such easy-to-use tools from app bet to track their wagers in real time while watching live games on the go. Traveling and gaming create twin streams of economic activity — spending leisure time and participation in gaming markets.

Tourism also increases Tanzania’s image in the global sphere. Exposure through press coverage of African fans and cultural stories builds the country’s brand, attracting investments and strengthening its role as a destination for sport tourism.

Sponsorships And Corporate Partnerships Sponsorship from corporations is also a crucial element through which Tanzania benefits from foreign sports. Foreign companies realize the benefit of tapping into passionate fan bases from Africa.

Sponsorship deals give more exposure to local businesses, marketing, and event promotion employment, and deepen economic ties with multinationals. Tanzanian banks, breweries, and telecommunication companies commonly sponsor events surrounding global competitions.

Besides the revenue they get in terms of advertisement, the sponsorship also raises customer engagement by connecting brands to sporting energy. The spillover benefits then spill over into the hospitality, transport, and media sectors.

For the athletes, sponsorship creates opportunities for professional and financial advancement, opening doors that spill over into communities and inspire youngsters to engage in sports. Job Creation And Infrastructure Improvement While Tanzania still is not home to the largest international games, domestic games associated with international events provide jobs and stimulate infrastructure improvement.

Stadium renovations to expanded transport systems, the push to improve facilities is benefiting sport as well as overall economic activity. Jobs are not only found in construction.

Hotels, restaurants, security teams, and media all have increased demand during international sports events. Small vendors even profit by selling wares and services to the crowds gathering in viewing areas.

Such economic spin-offs give international sports events a multiplier effect many times larger than the sporting event itself. Tanzania’s Position In The Global Sports Economy Tanzania’s international sports positioning also extends, not merely through its participants but as a fan-driven market.

Participation in sports, at athletics, football, and boxing, has made the country internationally renowned, and follower culture adds to its economic linkage to international events. This table illustrates how strongly connected the effects are, to guarantee that global sporting events optimize several industries at a time.

Why Global Events Matter For Tanzania’s Future For Tanzania, global sporting events contribute positively in the short term, but the benefits go beyond that. It’s for long-term strategic development.

Tanzania positions itself with global sporting economic activities. Investing in sporting tourist activities, the development of sporting infrastructures, and the legalization of betting markets will make Tanzania thrive economically in the global sporting tournaments.

Among the main reasons such events are important to Tanzania’s growth are: Growing Tourism Revenue: Global events attract tourists who linger longer to explore Tanzanian destinations. Creating Jobs Across Sectors: From hospitality to retail, jobs are created in sectors across the board.

Creating International Partnerships: Sponsorships and partnerships give Tanzanian brands international market access. Facilitating Upgrades in Sports Infrastructure: Stadium, training facility, and transport development leave a legacy.

Tanzania’s passionate fan support promises consistent demand, and its natural sites offer an attractive extension for foreigners visiting nearby international tournaments. Sponsorship agreements secure foreign sponsors, and improved facilities and media coverage create legacies that last far beyond the events themselves.

From Stadiums To Safari: A Winning Combination For Tanzania, global sporting competitions are not merely about rivalry — they are growth accelerators. They boost tourism, attract sponsorships, generate jobs, and expand the digital economy of betting.

By combining the thrill of stadia with the thrill of safari explorations, Tanzania presents itself as a destination where sport, culture, and economy intersect. As the nation progresses, more integration of sports into its development agenda will ensure that every whistle, every race, and every match brings not only excitement but opportunity.

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Dar es Salaam. The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) has issued permits to 150 new for commuter buses, commonly known as daladala, in a move aimed to ease passenger flow and improve public transport services in Dar es Salaam, following election-related violence that disrupted the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operations.

The October 29 unrest saw vandalism of infrastructure such as the BRT stations, damaging of its buses, prompting the government to suspend their services until further notice. The Morogoro Road corridor was mostly affected by the vandalism while some parts of the Kilwa Road corridor was also affected.

Following the destruction, the government announced to temporarily suspend the BRT services after infrastructure on phases one and two of the system was damaged. Announcing the suspension, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr Albert Chalamila, directed Latra to issue temporary permits to ensure transport services continue along the two affected routes.

“Therefore, for all those who were expecting to use the BRT, we are suspending the service to assess the extent of the damage caused. As you can see, even the gate systems have been destroyed.

For this reason, we are directing Latra to issue temporary permits to ensure transport services continue along the two affected routes,” he said. Latra’s Head of Communications and Public Relation, Mr Salum Pazzy, said the 150 buses will add to the existing 148 buses on the Morogoro Road route, bringing the total number to 298. “A technical assessment conducted by the authority showed that 150 additional buses were necessary to supplement the existing fleet.

If demand increases, we will issue more permits to allow additional daladalas,” he said. Mr Pazzy explained that each minibus will have a seating capacity of 26 passengers.

According to him, Latra has always ensured that public transport continues uninterrupted, even when BRT routes are introduced or adjusted. “Even when Mofat’s (operator of Phase Two) buses were deployed to operate along Morogoro Road, we did not withdraw the 148 daladala that were already assigned to their respective routes.

They have continued to support passenger transport and complement BRT services,” he noted. The authority says the decision is part of ongoing efforts to ensure reliable and efficient public transport, especially during peak travel periods and route adjustments.

For BRT Phase Two, Latra’s Director General, Mr Habibu Suluo, said the authority was not considering issuing additional permits for daladala along the corridor, as the extent of infrastructure vandalism there was not as severe as in Phase One. “The Mbagala route has not been heavily affected, so we do not expect to issue new daladala permits since the only station that was slightly damaged is the one at Mbagala,” he said.

Mofat’s Managing Director, Mr Mohamed Abdallah Kassim, told The Citizen that he is hopeful the damaged infrastructure will be repaired soon so that their operations can resume and the company can continue servicing its bus loan. “So far, three of our buses have been completely burnt to ashes,” he said.

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What I learnt from not having access to the Internet for six days is that we survived. It was not easy, but we did.

The experience was a stark reminder that we have become slaves to technology. Back in the paper days, life did not grind to a halt when systems failed.

We found ways to adapt, to communicate, to move forward. There were alternatives, and we used them instinctively.

During the blackout, I was thankful that voice calls, SMS, and M-Pesa were still working. Word of mouth once again became the most powerful form of communication, something advertisers have always understood.

Messages travelled by phone, by conversation, by trust. I happened to be in Kagera, where life seemed deceptively normal.

I could drive across districts, attend events both sombre and festive, and connect with people in person. The air was calm, conversations lively, and the days full of motion.

Yet beneath that surface calm, the ripple effects of Dar es Salaam’s slowdown were beginning to show. Supplies were tightening, and whispers of uncertainty began to spread across towns.

People started making their own adjustments. Some passengers changed their flight tickets back to Dar es Salaam, preferring to delay their return until things stabilised.

Those with international connections chose to reroute through Entebbe. The vast majority of Dar es Salaam landers who hail from there chose to stay put.

After all, they were at home, surrounded by family and familiarity. They made peace with the fact that things were what they were and chose to wait it out.

The anatomy of interconnection The incident underscored just how deeply interconnected our country is. Dar es Salaam may be the nerve centre, but the signals it sends or fails to send determine how every other region functions.

The flow of goods, data, and confidence is not only economic but psychological. When communication is disrupted, so is commerce.

When information is blocked, uncertainty fills the void. In a digital economy, the Internet is not a luxury.

It is the oxygen that keeps businesses breathing. From mobile money transfers to e-commerce deliveries, academic research to hospital record systems, connectivity has become the invisible infrastructure that keeps society coherent.

Its absence reveals just how fragile that coherence can be. A cash economy reborn When the Internet went dark, the entire banking system fell silent.

ATMs were not functioning, mobile banking apps froze, and online transactions vanished. In a matter of hours, we were thrust back into a cash economy.

Those who had cash in hand became unexpectedly powerful, while those who did not were stranded. Businesses that once thrived on digital payments struggled to sell.

Shops, market stalls, and even hospitals began demanding cash only. As supplies dwindled, from medicines to basic foodstuffs, prices of essential goods skyrocketed.

Was it a shutdown or a system failure? We may never know for sure. What is certain is that the experience revealed just how deeply digital systems now shape daily life.

It was an uncomfortable reminder that convenience can quickly turn into dependence, and that our economic resilience must include the ability to function when digital access is restricted or unavailable. A test of resilience The six-day blackout was, in many ways, a national stress test.

It forced us to rediscover old muscles: to speak, to walk, to write, to listen. It showed that while technology connects us, it also exposes our fragility.

Those who had backup systems, whether business owners with offline ledgers or families who kept a little cash for emergencies, coped better. But for many, it was a paralysis of progress.

And yet, within that paralysis, there was a quiet awakening. Communities began to reconnect in person.

People shared information face to face. Strangers helped each other navigate challenges, share resources, and stay informed.

It was inconvenient, yes, but also humanising. Regional ripples and policy reflections Tanzania’s six-day blackout also exposed the regional vulnerabilities that come with shared systems and interlinked economies.

East Africa’s trade corridors, from the Central Corridor through Dar es Salaam to the Northern Corridor through Mombasa, depend on digital coordination. Transporters, customs agents, clearing firms, and logistics providers all rely on Internet-based platforms to process shipments and payments.

When one link falters, the chain slows across borders. The experience also highlighted how deeply digital tools, including mobile financial services and online platforms, have become woven into everyday life and commerce.

For years, these innovations have expanded inclusion, simplified payments, and accelerated regional trade. Yet the recent disruption reminded us that even the most transformative technologies require strong contingency planning to maintain continuity when systems are under strain.

Across East Africa, border communities and regional businesses would likely have felt the ripple effects of such a slowdown, given how much cross-border trade and cooperation now depend on real-time communication and digital connectivity. It was a quiet but powerful illustration of how regional systems can be both our strength and our vulnerability.

This is not just a Tanzanian story. It is an East African wake-up call.

The region’s ambitions, from the African Continental Free Trade Area to digital tax systems, rest on the assumption of uninterrupted connectivity. Policymakers must therefore move beyond convenience to resilience: Redundancy must be built into regional networks Data sovereignty should not mean isolation but continuity Backup channels for essential services, from banking to health and logistics, must be institutionalised, not improvised Digital transformation is irreversible, but it must be made shockproof.

A single point of failure should not bring a nation, or a region, to a standstill. In the end Perhaps these six days were not only an interruption, but an invitation: To rethink our dependence To value connection beyond screens And to remember that resilience, like signal strength, comes not from one tower, but from the network we build together .

Dodoma. The race for the Speaker of the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania is heating up within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), with fierce competition between outgoing leaders, Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson and Deputy Speaker Mussa Zungu.

While the contest rages within CCM, several opposition parties are also holding meetings to nominate their candidates, although ACT Wazalendo has confirmed it will not field a nominee. The Speaker is elected by Members of Parliament during the first sitting of a new parliamentary term.

By the close of nominations yesterday, both Dr Ackson and Mr Zungu had submitted their nomination forms for the position at CCM offices in Dodoma. Other candidates who filed for the seat included former Shinyanga MP Stephen Masele and Peter Frank, popularly known as Mr Black.

Yesterday, CCM Chairperson President Samia Suluhu Hassan chaired a special Central Committee meeting that, among other matters, approved candidates for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, as well as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Zanzibar House of Representatives. One source within the party said the committee approved three names for the Speaker post: Dr Ackson, Mr Zungu and Mr Masele.

Dr Ackson is defending the seat she assumed after the resignation of Job Ndugai, when she was Deputy Speaker. Mr Zungu previously served as Chairman of Parliament before becoming Deputy Speaker.

The Speaker election comes as the final stage of the general election process for President, MPs and councillors held on October 29. President Samia has already convened the 13th Parliament to begin its sessions, which will start with the election of the Speaker. Under Article 86(1) of the Constitution and the February 2023 edition of the Standing Orders of Parliament, a political party may propose one MP to contest the Speaker position.

Non-MP candidates must have their names submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission five days before the election and the Commission will forward them to the Clerk of Parliament two days before the vote. For the Deputy Speaker post, four CCM candidates filed nominations.

Three have previously served as parliamentary chairpersons. They include Najma Giga and Daniel Sillo while the new contender is Korogwe Rural MP-elect Timotheo Mzava.

Opposition parties gearing up Outside CCM, opposition parties are also preparing to contest the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions. ADC Chairman Shabani Itutu confirmed the party has nominated officials.

National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) said it is holding meetings to finalise its candidates, with Secretary-General Hassan Almas emphasising the party’s commitment to advancing reforms in Parliament. Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) is completing internal processes and will submit its strongest candidate once finalised, while Democratic Party (DP) is preparing to forward its nominees.

ACT Wazalendo, however, will not field a candidate, with spokesperson Shangwe Ayo explaining the party lacks the numbers to influence the outcome and will instead focus on serving citizens. “No major change expected” Secretary-General of Chakamwata Meshack Kapange said little change is expected in the composition of MPs from the ruling party.

Chakamwata is the Tanzanian Teachers’ Rights and Welfare Association. committed to protecting teachers’ rights, improving working conditions, and ensuring dignity in the education sector.

Even a competent Speaker will face limitations under a Parliament dominated by one party. Pastor Egbert Lyoka of EAGT Church in Gairo warned citizens not to expect significant shifts, noting that the candidates are largely the same as those in the 12th Parliament .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has outlined a strong and uncompromising position on Loss and Damage Financing as nations prepare for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), climate negotiations in Belem, Brazil, from November 10 to 21. The country insists that the Loss and Damage Fund must deliver timely, adequate, and predictable financing to vulnerable countries, particularly in Africa, and that developed nations must shoulder their historical responsibility as the world’s largest emitters.

In its national position document, Tanzania stresses that the operationalisation of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) remains urgent due to the “irreversible climate impacts already affecting vulnerable communities.” The government says the fund must be sufficiently capitalised and structured to respond not only to immediate climate-related disasters but also to long-term recovery.

“Tanzania is ready and willing to host the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage (SNLD) Secretariat,” the position paper states, adding that hosting the facility in Dar es Salaam would provide a cost-effective operational base that supports African countries. The Santiago Network is designed to provide technical assistance to developing countries on addressing loss and damage, and Tanzania argues that locating the Secretariat in the region would support meaningful collaboration with national and regional institutions.

The government maintains that developed countries should be at the core of funding obligations. “Scaling up predictable and adequate contributions is critical, especially from developed countries, but also from other potential contributors,” the document notes.

It calls for clarity on the scale of contributions, timeliness of disbursements, and transparent reporting on financial pledges. Tanzania is also pushing for simplified and fast-tracked access to funds for the most vulnerable nations, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and African countries facing mounting climate-induced losses.

According to the national position, “Direct access modalities remain a priority demand,” reflecting concerns that complex requirements have historically delayed access to climate finance for developing nations. Moreover, Tanzania insists that the FRLD must cover both economic and non-economic losses.

These include “displacement, cultural loss, and biodiversity impacts,” areas that disproportionately affect communities whose identities and livelihoods are tied to local ecosystems. The government also underscores that support should not be limited to emergency response but should extend to long-term recovery and rehabilitation.

On insurance-based approaches, Tanzania takes a firm stance, rejecting mechanisms that shift the burden to vulnerable countries. “Insurance should not be part of the loss and damage,” the document states, arguing that such schemes benefit profit-making institutions rather than communities already suffering the impacts of climate change.

Tanzania further stresses that the Santiago Network must be efficient and free of unnecessary administrative bottlenecks. “The Santiago Network on LandD should not pose bureaucracy, and the institutions should be willing to collaborate with national institutions in the country,” emphasises the document, adding that cost-effectiveness is essential for sustainable operations.

Speaking last week, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) chair, Dr Richard Muyungi, underscored the need for systems that reduce vulnerability across the continent. “Our focus since then has been on how and what type of indicator is important, to ensure that we reduce the vulnerability of our countries,” he told journalists from across Africa.

Dr Muyungi noted that effective indicators must align with finance, technology, and capacity-building needs to strengthen resilience. He also highlighted Africa’s priority to implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which remain largely unfunded.

“We have been given resources for the preparation of this plan, but the full implementation is what we need,” he said. He stressed that the structure of climate finance must shift towards funding implementation rather than planning alone.

“We need to ensure that the NAPs are aligned with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) but what we don’t see is the importance of the implementation of this plan, and this is what we need to do,” he added. The debate on Loss and Damage financing has featured in UNFCCC negotiations for over a decade.

It began formally at COP19 in Warsaw in 2013 with the establishment of the Warsaw International Mechanism. Momentum grew through COP26 in Glasgow, COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, where the historic decision to establish a Loss and Damage Fund was reached, and COP28 in Dubai, where the fund was operationalised with the World Bank as interim host.

However, initial pledges around $700 million (Sh1.75 trillion) remain far below estimated needs. Subsequent discussions at COP29 and the SB62 sessions in Bonn raised concerns about slow accessibility and low funding levels, especially for countries with urgent recovery needs.

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Dar es Salaam. Many property owners whose assets were damaged during the recent election-related unrest may not receive compensation, as standard insurance policies do not cover losses resulting from politically motivated incidents.

Following the general election on October 29, violent protests erupted in several cities, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Mbeya. The unrest led to businesses being looted, vehicles being set ablaze, and private property being destroyed during clashes between police and protesters.

Speaking to The Citizen on Wednesday, insurance operators indicated that many affected owners would rush to their insurers seeking compensation, only to learn that their losses fell outside the scope of standard insurance contracts. Mr Khamis Suleiman, the chief executive officer of Sanlam General and former chairman of the Association of Tanzania Insurers (ATI), explained that standard fire insurance policies no longer cover political riots unless clients purchase an extended Political Violence and Terrorism (PVT) policy.

“Previously, incidents such as the September 11 attacks and political riots were included in fire policy coverage, but as such incidents increased globally, insurers decided that this coverage should only apply if a client acquired an extended policy,” Mr Suleiman said. He added that fire policies still cover malicious damage, such as arson motivated by personal grievances or strikes involving workers with common interests, but do not cover politically motivated destruction.

In Tanzania, Mr Suleiman noted, PVT insurance was offered during the 2015 elections due to the high risk of political unrest. However, by 2020 and again this year, such policies were not widely purchased because of limited demand and low political competition.

“This year, there was no significant political tension, so businesspeople did not seek PVT coverage. Brokers are advised to inform clients about such coverage, especially for supermarkets and other high-risk businesses in urban areas prone to unrest,” he added.

Mr Suleiman also emphasised the role of brokers and bancassurance, stating that insurance companies directly handle only six percent of client interactions, leaving the majority to intermediaries responsible for educating clients about extended coverage. Regarding life insurance, Mr Suleiman noted that compensation would only be paid to individuals with an active policy who were killed outside the context of the protests.

He cited the example of someone who might have been accidentally killed while in their car. “Individuals who participated in the demonstrations will not be compensated,” he said.

Dr Baghayo Saqware, Commissioner of Insurance at the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (Tira), confirmed that only those who purchased PVT policies would be compensated for election-related damages. “Insurance covers risks that are unintentional and natural.

Property damage during the elections will not be covered unless the affected individuals had PVT insurance,” Dr Saqware said. He noted that Tanzania’s long-standing peace and stability has made it challenging for insurers to convince clients to buy coverage against political violence.

The commissioner revealed that Tira will review whether complex risks, including political violence and climate-related events, should be included in standard policies in the future. “We have taken note of the situation and will analyse it carefully.

The findings will help us advise insurance companies on designing suitable products for emerging risks,” Dr Saqware said, extending sympathies to those affected. On another note, Dr Anselmi Anselmi, managing director of ACCLAVIA Insurance Brokers and Risk Consultants, urged Tanzanians to seek professional insurance advice.

“Many people overlook the importance of professional guidance. Regular brokers already advise clients about such coverage.

Protection is always better than reaction, and the cost of prevention is far lower than the losses faced without insurance,” he emphasised. .