Category: The Citizen

London. Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar has urged international investors to seize investment opportunities in Tanzania as the country prepares to list its inaugural Tanzanian shilling-denominated offshore bond on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The minister, who is on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom, is due to officiate the landmark listing while also promoting Tanzania Development Vision 2050 and the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan to global investors.

Addressing the Tanzania Strategic Investment and Partnership Forum in London on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Mr Omar highlighted opportunities in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, tourism, renewable energy, critical minerals and financial services.

The forum, organised by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with Standard Bank, brought together senior executives from leading global financial institutions, insurers and risk management firms.

Mr Omar said the government had created a favourable investment climate, including tax incentives, to attract private capital needed to implement Development Vision 2050, which targets a $1 trillion economy by 2050. He noted that about 70 percent of the required financing is expected to come from the private sector.

Presenting Tanzania’s economic outlook, he said the economy expanded by 5.9 percent in 2025, up from 5.5 percent in 2024, while inflation remained below five percent. He added that the fiscal deficit had narrowed to 3.1 percent of GDP, domestic revenue now finances 74.2 percent of the national budget, and the country’s public debt remains sustainable, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Standard Bank Europe deputy chief executive Ian Carson and Stanbic Bank Tanzania chief executive Manzi Rwegasira reaffirmed their institutions’ commitment to linking Africa with international capital markets. They described Tanzania as one of Africa’s most attractive long-term investment destinations, noting that investor turnout exceeded expectations.

Tanzania’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Mbelwa Kairuki, said the government remained committed to maintaining regular dialogue with international investors. “Tanzania is pursuing an ambitious programme of economic transformation anchored on sound macroeconomic management, structural reforms and private sector participation. We welcome continued engagement with international investors as partners in delivering sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” he said.

Investors sought updates on the proposed $42 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, with Mr Omar saying negotiations had advanced significantly and that the remaining issues largely involved the commercial partners’ internal processes.

Discussions also focused on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara, regional trade corridors, foreign exchange availability, energy security, the digital economy and value addition in agriculture, including the Cotton-to-Cloth initiative.

Mr Omar said that by 2030/31, nearly the entire 2,000-kilometre SGR network would be completed, strengthening Tanzania’s position as East Africa’s principal trade gateway.

A new Tanzanian market has promised to simplify the sourcing of Chinese products by allowing traders to place orders through the Dar es Salaam-based East Africa Commerce and Logistics Centre (EACLC) instead of travelling to China.

The partnership between the EACLC and Yiwu International Trade City also establishes modern business premises, large-scale warehouses and dedicated cross-border logistics facilities, creating what stakeholders describe as a one-stop platform for China-Africa trade.

Yiwu International Trade City is among the world’s largest wholesale markets, with more than 75,000 shops offering products ranging from clothing and footwear to electronics, household goods, jewellery and other consumer items. Speaking during the launch of the market, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade Aristides Mbwasi, representing Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Denis Londo, said the partnership would strengthen trade between Tanzania and China while making imported goods more accessible to local businesses.

“Instead of travelling to China to source goods from the Yiwu market, traders will now be able to access the same products here in Tanzania, reducing the cost of doing business,” he said.

Mr Mbwasi said all products imported through the arrangement would undergo verification by relevant authorities to ensure they meet the required quality standards.

He also urged the centre to facilitate exports by connecting Tanzanian farmers, manufacturers and small businesses with buyers in China.

“This platform should not only support imports but also create opportunities for Tanzanian agro-processed products, textiles, minerals and other locally produced goods to access the Chinese market,” he said.

Mr Mbwasi added that Tanzania’s strategic location, supported by continued investment in ports, railways and road infrastructure, positions the country as a regional trade gateway for East, Central and Southern Africa.

EACLC Director Lisa Wang said the agreement builds on the centre’s efforts to improve access to Chinese goods for businesses in Tanzania and neighbouring countries.

“We expect this partnership to make sourcing goods from China easier and more affordable. Traders will be able to place their orders through the centre without the need to travel overseas,” she said.

Chairman of traders operating at the centre, Ayoub Katuga, said the arrangement would lower import costs by reducing dependence on intermediaries while giving traders direct access to products from one of China’s largest wholesale markets.

I’ve come to the conclusion that our education system owes us an explanation.

There are simply too many things they insisted we memorise that have contributed absolutely nothing to my adult survival.

For example, why did I spend precious classroom hours learning the body parts of a grasshopper? I knew the thorax before I knew how taxes worked. I could identify a panzi’s antennae with confidence, but nobody prepared me for the emotional gymnastics of politely asking someone to release money that already belongs to me.

Priorities, surely.

If you ask me, there should have been an examinable subject called Advanced Kubembeleza Studies. Not the romantic kind of kubembeleza. Please. I’m talking about the professional version. The one where your rent, electricity, internet bundle and peace of mind all depend on how well you can follow up without sounding like you’re accusing someone of stealing your inheritance.

This subject would have covered important topics like How to Remind Someone for the Fourth Time Without Looking Annoying.

Or The Difference Between Following Up and Harassment.

There would definitely be a whole chapter dedicated to decoding corporate language.

‘We’ll revert.’

‘When time allows.’

‘It’s being processed.’

My personal favourite? ‘Noted.’

Noted where? In your diary? Your dreams? Your ancestors’ meeting minutes?

And don’t even get me started on ‘By end of day.’

Nobody tells you whose day they’re talking about. Yours? Theirs? End of which day? Because some people’s ‘end of day’ clearly arrives three Thursdays from now.

Then comes the masterpiece.

‘We’re working on it.’

Fantastic. I’d also like to work on my landlord’s rent. Unfortunately, he has this outdated belief that ‘working on it’ should eventually become actual money.

Now, before the finance and accounts people start drafting a strongly worded email, hear me out.

This isn’t Finance versus the rest of us.

Finance is one of the most important departments in any organisation. Without them, salaries wouldn’t be paid, suppliers would revolt, and the lights might literally go off.

But here’s the thing: without everyone else, there wouldn’t be any money to process in the first place.

Someone had to win the client.

Someone had to write the story, close the sale, organise the event, design the campaign, shoot the video, answer the customer, or spend sleepless nights delivering the project.

The invoice that lands on your desk isn’t a favour waiting to happen. It’s the final chapter of work that has already been done.

So sometimes I wish payment processing came with the same urgency as the deadline everyone else had to meet.

Because when the editorial team misses a deadline, everyone notices.

When sales misses a target, everyone notices.

When operations drop the ball, everyone notices.

But when payments take weeks longer than they should, suddenly we’re all expected to become motivational speakers.

‘Please bear with us.’

My landlord has never once asked me to bear with him.

Neither has TANESCO.

Nor the internet provider.

Nor the supermarket cashier.

The people I’m talking about aren’t villains, by the way. Most of them are lovely human beings. They smile. They greet you warmly. They even ask how your family is doing.

Then they proceed to ignore your invoice with Olympic-level consistency.

These are the same people who can approve your payment, sign off your invoice, or press whatever mysterious button releases that glorious muamala notification we’ve all been refreshing our banking apps for.

And somehow you’re expected to chase them with grace.

Too many reminders and you’re labelled impatient.

Too few reminders and everyone assumes you don’t really need the money.

One exclamation mark? Aggressive.

Too many smiley emojis? Desperate.

Call them? Bold.

Don’t call? Forgotten.

It’s a delicate performance worthy of an Oscar.

At this point, I genuinely believe diplomacy should be a compulsory life skill. Forget quadratic equations. Teach us how to write a follow-up message that says, ‘Hello, just checking in,’ while secretly screaming, ‘Please… my bills have started holding family meetings.’

Because adulthood isn’t about using Pythagoras’ theorem.

It’s about mastering the fine art of professionally asking for what you’ve already earned… and somehow ending every message with, ‘Kind regards.’

Character development, they said.

It has been three years since the Recording Academy introduced the Best African Music Performance category at the Grammy Awards, creating what many believed would be a historic opportunity for African genres including Tanzania’s Bongo Flava, to compete on music’s biggest stage.

Yet despite growing international recognition for Tanzanian music, no Bongo Flava artiste has secured a Grammy nomination in the category since its launch in 2023.

Instead, the nominations have largely been dominated by artists from Nigeria and South Africa, raising questions about what Bongo Flava needs to do to break through at the world’s most prestigious music awards.

In June 2023, the Recording Academy announced the introduction of the Best African Music Performance award, expanding Grammy recognition for the continent’s diverse musical styles.

The category celebrates a broad range of African genres, including Bongo Flava, Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, Afro-pop, Amapiano, Genge, Kizomba, Highlife, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Afro-house, Ethio Jazz, Ghanaian Drill and many others.

The move was widely welcomed across Africa, with many seeing it as long-overdue recognition of the continent’s growing influence on global music.

No Bongo Flava breakthrough

Despite the new platform, Bongo Flava has yet to make its mark.

For the 68th Grammy Awards in 2026, several Tanzanian artists submitted entries hoping to earn nominations in Best African Music Performance.

Among the works that advanced through the initial submission stage were Marioo’s Nairobi, AY’s Wanganeka and Simuoni, Fid Q’s Glory 2, Diamond Platnumz and Ciara’s Low, Abigail Chams’ Me Too, while Harmonize submitted four songs for consideration.

However, none of the entries ultimately received a nomination after the Recording Academy’s voting process.

The Academy’s voting members-made up of artists, songwriters, producers, engineers and other music professionals-review submissions before selecting the official nominees.

Familiar faces continue to dominate

The 2026 Best African Music Performance nominees once again featured artists who have become Grammy regulars.

The nominees were Burna Boy – Love, Davido – With You, Eddy Kenzo – Hope and Love, Ayra Starr – Gimme Dat and Tyla – Push 2 Start (Winner).

Tyla’s victory marked her second Grammy win in the category, further cementing South Africa’s growing influence at the awards.

A category led by women

Since its introduction, only female artists have won the Best African Music Performance Grammy.

South African singer Tyla became the inaugural winner at the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024 with her global hit Water, defeating nominees including Asake and Olamide, Burna Boy, Davido featuring Musa Keys and Ayra Starr.

Her victory sparked heated debate online, particularly among Nigerian fans who believed Davido deserved the award.

The following year, Nigerian star Tems claimed the trophy with Love Me Jeje, overcoming competition from Asake and Wizkid, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade and Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay.

The win marked Tems’ first Grammy for her own music and her second overall, following her earlier Grammy success through Wait For U, her collaboration with Future and Drake.

She also became the first Nigerian woman to win a Grammy for her own work, joining Burna Boy as one of Nigeria’s artists to achieve the feat through solo releases.

Lessons from Africa’s Grammy winners

While Bongo Flava continues its search for a breakthrough, several African artists have built successful Grammy careers through years of persistence.

Among them is Angélique Kidjo of Benin, who holds the record as Africa’s most decorated Grammy-winning artist with five awards.

Kidjo’s journey illustrates that international recognition often comes after decades of work.

After leaving Benin in 1983 because of political unrest, she relocated to Paris, where she studied music at the CIM music school. There, she met French musician and producer Jean Hébrail, who later became her husband and long-time collaborator.

Years later, the couple returned to Benin to record traditional sounds that influenced Kidjo’s acclaimed work.

It took roughly 25 years from the beginning of her professional career before she won her first Grammy for Djin Djin, which earned Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 2008 Grammy Awards.

Today, Kidjo has collaborated with Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz on the 2026 song Kakua, highlighting the growing connections between African music scenes.

The road ahead for Bongo Flava

The absence of Bongo Flava nominations does not necessarily reflect a lack of talent or commercial success. Tanzanian artists continue to enjoy strong streaming numbers, international collaborations and sold-out performances across Africa and beyond.

However, Grammy recognition often depends on more than popularity. Campaign strategy, international industry networks, visibility among Recording Academy voters and sustained global promotion all play significant roles in securing nominations.

Three years after Africa gained its dedicated Grammy category, Bongo Flava is still waiting for its breakthrough moment.

With the genre continuing to expand beyond East Africa and Tanzanian artists increasingly collaborating with international stars, many in the industry believe it is only a matter of time before Bongo Flava finally earns its place among the Grammy nominees.

For years, East African musicians have created sounds that have travelled across borders, filled dance floors and attracted audiences beyond the region.

From Bongo Flava and Singeli in Tanzania to other sounds from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, the region’s music has proven its ability to compete on a global stage.

Yet, behind the growing popularity of East African music lies a challenge that has followed the industry for years, while the talent has always existed, many of the systems needed to discover, develop and commercialise that talent have often been located outside the region. That situation could be entering a new phase as some of the world’s biggest record companies begin turning their attention to East Africa, recognising the region not only as a source of creative talent but also as a growing music market. The latest indication of this shift came from Kenya, where President William Ruto announced that three global recorded music giants, Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group are set to establish offices in Nairobi.

The announcement followed President Ruto’s meeting with Victoria Oakley, Chief Executive Officer of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), where discussions focused on strengthening Kenya’s creative economy and positioning Nairobi as a major hub for the recorded music business.

For Kenya, the move represents a major step towards building a stronger music ecosystem. But for the wider East African region, it signals growing international interest in a market that has spent years producing influential artistes and unique musical identities.

The timing comes as East African music continues to benefit from the power of digital platforms.

Streaming services, social media and online collaborations have allowed artistes to reach listeners around the world without depending entirely on traditional music industry structures.

This digital growth has helped genres such as Bongo Flava, Singeli, Afrobeats and Amapiano gain international attention, proving that African sounds can create commercial value beyond their home markets. As the audience for East African music grows, the arrival of major record labels could provide artistes with access to resources that have traditionally been difficult to secure, including international distribution, professional marketing, publishing support, artist development and global collaborations.

For many upcoming musicians, breaking into international markets has often required personal connections with executives and companies based outside the region.

Without strong networks and financial support, many talented artistes have struggled to move from creating popular songs to building sustainable careers.

With global music companies establishing operations closer to East African markets, there is potential for decisions about talent discovery and development to be made with a better understanding of local cultures, sounds and audiences. However, industry experts warn that the future of East Africa’s music industry cannot depend only on signing successful artistes.

A stronger creative economy requires investment in the entire music ecosystem, including producers, songwriters, sound engineers, managers, publishers and other professionals who work behind the scenes.

For Tanzania, the development offers both opportunities and a reminder of the need to strengthen its own creative infrastructure.

The country remains one of East Africa’s biggest music markets, with Bongo Flava and Singeli producing artistes who have built strong regional and international audiences.

Tanzanian musicians have increasingly crossed borders through collaborations, streaming platforms and international performances.

The increased presence of global record companies in Nairobi could create opportunities for more regional partnerships and help connect East African artistes with larger global markets.

The growing attention from global music companies also reflects a wider change in how the world views East African music. What was once considered mainly a form of cultural expression is increasingly being recognised as an industry capable of creating jobs, generating revenue and supporting entrepreneurship.

As Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group prepare to establish a presence in Nairobi, East Africa finds itself at a defining moment.

The question now is whether this investment will create opportunities for a wider generation of creatives or only benefit established names.

The answer could determine whether East Africa’s music industry moves from producing popular songs to building a sustainable global business.

Mainland Premier League champions Young Africans (Yanga) have strengthened their attacking options ahead of the 2026/2027 season after completing the signing of Zambia international left winger Albert Kangwanda, who arrives at the club following an outstanding campaign with Red Arrows.

The 27-year-old winger was among the standout performers in the Zambian top-flight last season, producing an impressive return of 17 goals and nine assists for Red Arrows, a contribution that underlined his quality as one of the league’s most dangerous attacking players.

Kangwanda’s arrival is expected to provide coach Manqoba Mngqithi with more creativity, pace, and attacking depth as Yanga prepare to defend their domestic titles and compete in the CAF Champions League. The Zambian joins the Jangwani Street giants after building a career that has taken him across Zambia, Croatia, Sudan, and Moldova, gaining valuable experience from different football environments.

Kanganda began his football journey at Young Nkwazi before making his breakthrough into senior football with Red Arrows, one of Zambia’s established clubs, where he featured in the country’s top division during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

His performances at Red Arrows earned him recognition, and he later moved to Kafue Celtic, where he continued developing his reputation as a talented attacking player.

In 2022, Kangwanda secured a move to Europe after signing for Croatian top-flight side HNK Gorica. However, his spell in Croatia proved challenging, and he was later loaned to second-tier club NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac, where he made four appearances.

After his European experience, Kangwanda returned to Zambia in early 2023 and rejoined Red Arrows, a decision that helped revive his career and won him MVP awards in the ended league season.

Back at Red Arrows, the winger rediscovered his confidence and became one of the club’s most influential attacking players. Operating mainly from the left flank, Kangwanda impressed with his pace, direct running, ability to beat defenders, and his eye for creating scoring opportunities for teammates.

His consistent performances earned him a move to Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman later in 2023. During his time with the club, he also returned to Red Arrows on loan in 2024 before rejoining Al Hilal.

The 2025/2026 season was one of Kangwanda’s most productive campaigns, as he played a key role for Red Arrows by contributing 17 goals and nine assists.

His performances placed him among Zambia’s leading attacking talents and attracted interest from clubs outside the country.

Most recently, Kangwanda spent the 2025/2026 season on loan at Moldovan Super Liga side Spartanii Sportul from Al Hilal, continuing his international club experience before completing his move to Yanga.

At the international level, Kangwanda has represented Zambia from youth to senior level. He featured for the Zambia Under-20 team at the 2018 COSAFA Under-20 Championship and in the qualifiers for the 2019 Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations before progressing to the senior national team.

He was part of Zambia’s squad that won the 2022 COSAFA Cup, scoring the decisive goal in the final against Namibia to help the Chipolopolo secure the regional title.

At the 2023 COSAFA Cup, Kangwanda continued his impressive form by scoring three goals to finish among the tournament’s joint top scorers alongside South Africa’s Tshegofatso Mabasa.

Yanga believe Kangwanda’s international experience, attacking versatility, and ability to operate on the left side of the frontline will add a new dimension to their squad.

The winger is expected to provide competition for places in the attacking department while giving Mngqithi another option capable of stretching opposition defenses with his speed and movement.

The signing reflects Yanga’s ambition to maintain their dominance in Tanzanian football while building a squad capable of competing strongly in continental competitions.

With the new season approaching, supporters will be eager to see whether Kangwanda can reproduce the form that made him one of Red Arrows’ key players and establish himself as another influential foreign signing at Yanga.

South African actor S’dumo Mtshali has revealed that his role as Jonasi Gomora in the drama series The Polygamist has made him one of the most talked-about actors, with some viewers even developing dislike for him in real life because of his character’s actions.

Speaking in an interview with TimesLIVE, Mtshali said many viewers have struggled to separate him from the character he portrays, creating challenges beyond the screen.

‘I have realised that many people talk about Jonasi more than they talk about S’dumo. Some people show anger when they see me because of Jonasi’s actions, and that tells me I played the role well,’ he said.

In The Polygamist, Jonasi is portrayed as a successful businessman who appears to be an ideal husband and father on the outside.

However, behind the scenes, he lives a secret life filled with deception, betrayal and hidden relationships that create serious conflicts within his family.

Mtshali said the purpose of the series was not only to entertain audiences but also to encourage conversations about challenges affecting families and relationships in society.

He said Jonasi’s behaviour reflects situations that exist in real life, where similar experiences can happen among relatives, friends or people within communities, which is one of the reasons the series has received strong reactions from viewers.

The actor said bringing Jonasi to life was not an easy task, as he had to deeply understand the character’s mindset and behaviour to make the portrayal believable.

Due to the intensity of the role, Mtshali revealed that even his parents continued praying for him throughout the filming process.

He added that during preparation, he studied people and situations that reflected some of Jonasi’s characteristics, helping him develop a more convincing performance.

Mtshali also revealed that the novel on which The Polygamist is based contains even more intense scenes than those shown in the television adaptation.

However, producers chose to reduce some parts to ensure the story delivered its message without becoming overly extreme.

Meanwhile, author Sue Nyathi said she was pleased that the adaptation had sparked widespread discussions on social media.

She said her goal in writing the novel was to create conversations about marriage, relationships and the role of men within families.

Since its debut on Netflix, The Polygamist has continued gaining popularity across several African countries, with Jonasi Gomora emerging as one of the most discussed characters because of his controversial actions in the series.

Music icon Stevie Wonder is set to make a long-awaited return with his first studio album in more than two decades.

The legendary singer-songwriter has announced ‘Through The Eyes Of Wonder’, a new album scheduled for release in 2027. The project will be his first full-length studio release since ‘A Time to Love’, which arrived in 2005.

One of the biggest highlights of the announcement is the inclusion of four previously unreleased songs recorded during the sessions for Wonder’s landmark 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest albums ever made, Songs in the Key of Life produced timeless classics including ‘Sir Duke,’ ‘I Wish,’ ‘Isn’t She Lovely,’ ‘As,’ and ‘Another Star.’ The prospect of hearing music that was created during the same era has sparked excitement among fans and music historians alike.

Although Stevie Wonder has not yet revealed the album’s full tracklist or an exact release date, news of the project has quickly spread across the entertainment world, with many describing it as one of the most anticipated releases of 2027.

The announcement also marks a significant milestone in Wonder’s remarkable career. Over six decades, the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has become one of the most influential artistes in modern music, earning 25 Grammy Awards and inspiring generations of musicians across genres ranging from R and B and soul to pop, jazz and gospel.

For longtime fans, ‘Through The Eyes Of Wonder’ promises more than just new music. The inclusion of songs from the Songs in the Key of Life sessions offers a rare opportunity to revisit one of the most celebrated creative periods in popular music history.

As anticipation continues to build, the album is expected to be one of the defining music events of 2027, reminding audiences that Stevie Wonder’s musical legacy continues to evolve more than 60 years after he first stepped into the spotlight.

Oryx Gas Tanzania has distributed 600 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders worth Sh48 million to local entrepreneurs in Bagamoyo District, Coast Region, boosting ongoing national efforts to accelerate the transition to clean cooking energy.

The distribution targeted various entrepreneurial groups, including female and male food vendors (baba and mama lishe), as well as fish traders at the Bagamoyo Fish Market.

The exercise took place on Friday, July 24, 2026, during the Bagamoyo Fish Festival, an event leveraged to champion clean energy adoption and provide practical safety training on LPG usage.

Speaking at the event, Bagamoyo Constituency Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, Ms Subira Mgalu, commended Oryx Gas for its proactive support of government initiatives.

She noted that the initiative will significantly mitigate the grave health risks linked to dirty cooking fuels such as firewood and charcoal.

‘Oryx Gas has remained a key partner in driving the clean cooking agenda through concrete action. By distributing these cylinders today, they are directly supporting the government’s vision,’ said Ms Mgalu.

She stressed that before the clean cooking campaign, spearheaded by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Africa’s champion for clean cooking energy, widespread reliance on biomass fuels severely compromised public health.

‘A significant number of Tanzanians have been losing their lives annually due to health complications caused by inhaling toxic fumes from firewood and charcoal,’ said Ms Mgalu.

Oryx Energies Tanzania Managing Director, Mr Imani Mtafya, reiterated the firm’s commitment to supporting the government’s target of ensuring 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking energy by 2034, up from 29 percent recorded at the commencement of the clean cooking energy campaign.

Mr Mtafya revealed that between 2021 and 2026, the company distributed over 72,000 LPG cylinders valued at Sh5.7 billion across the country to drive adoption and phase out environmentally destructive fuels.

‘To meet rising national demand and match government policy, the company is also expanding its supply chain footprint,’ he said.

‘We are currently investing Sh40 billion in the construction of a new gas storage depot. This infrastructure expansion will ensure seamless nationwide LPG distribution,’ added Mr Mtafya.

Officiating the festival, Bagamoyo District Commissioner, Mr Shaibu Ndemanga, outlined the district’s strategic roadmap for energy transition.

He praised Oryx Gas’s contribution, noting that equipping fish fryers at the Bagamoyo market with gas cylinders marks a decisive step away from charcoal and firewood dependency.

‘The government continues to collaborate with private sector stakeholders to make LPG appliances accessible and affordable, safeguarding both public health and Tanzania’s forests,’ he said.

Airtel Africa has reported a strong start to its 2026/27 financial year, with first-quarter revenue rising by thirty-one percent as growing demand for mobile data and digital financial services continued to drive growth across its operations.

The telecommunications company, which operates in 14 African countries, including Tanzania, said revenue for the quarter ended June 30 increased to $1.853 billion, up from $1.415 billion recorded during the same period last year.

Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Mr. Sunil Taldar, said profit after tax rose 27 percent to $198 million, while revenue in constant currency grew by 21.1percent, reflecting sustained growth across voice, data and mobile money services.

Regional performance remained strong, with revenue in Nigeria increasing 29.8 percent, while East Africa and Francophone Africa recorded growth of 17.8 percent and 18 percent, respectively.

The company also expanded its customer base by 11.6 percent to 189 million subscribers. Data customers increased by 15.5 percent to 87.3 million, while mobile money customers grew by 23.3 percent to 56.5 million, supported by rising smartphone adoption and greater use of digital services.

Smartphone penetration reached 51 percent, while average monthly data usage per customer increased from 7.8 gigabytes to 10.6 gigabytes over the past year. The rise in data consumption helped drive a 56.3 percent increase in overall data traffic.

Airtel Africa said the annualised transaction value processed through Airtel Money exceeded $245 billion, representing a 51.5 percent increase compared with the previous year. Mobile money revenue rose by 38.9 percent to $404 million, highlighting the growing importance of digital financial services to the company’s business.

“We have started this year with another pleasing performance,” Mr. Taldar said.

He attributed the results to higher smartphone adoption, stronger customer engagement with digital services and continued investment in network infrastructure across the company’s markets.

To meet growing demand, Airtel Africa increased capital expenditure during the quarter, investing $389 million to strengthen its network. The company deployed more than 920 new sites, the highest first-quarter rollout in its history, while extending its fibre network to 82,100 kilometres to improve coverage, capacity and service quality.

Tanzania boxers begin Commonwealth Games medal hunt todayDespite the increased investment, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 36.6 percent to $928 million, with the EBITDA margin improving to 50.1 percent.

Net cash generated from operating activities increased by 38.3 percent to $786 million, reflecting resilient underlying operations despite higher energy costs.

Looking ahead, Mr. Taldar said Airtel Africa remains on track to pursue a London listing for its Airtel Money business, subject to regulatory approvals, as the company seeks to unlock long-term value and broaden access to international investors.