Category: The Citizen

Tanzania’s national women’s football team, Twiga Stars, made a flying start to their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 campaign after defeating defending champions South Africa 2-1 in a tightly contested Group B encounter on July 27, 2026.

The victory at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca will go down as one of Tanzania’s biggest results in women’s football, with Twiga Stars showing resilience, discipline, and determination to overcome one of Africa’s most established teams.

The two sides were meeting for the third time at the WAFCON finals and for the second consecutive tournament in the same group.

South Africa had won their first meeting, while the previous encounter ended in a draw, leaving Tanzania determined to secure maximum points this time around.

Twiga Stars started brightly and created the first clear opportunity in the 13th minute when captain Opa Tukumbuke almost capitalised on a loose ball inside the penalty area, but South Africa goalkeeper Andile Dlamini reacted quickly to deny her.

Two minutes later, Banyana Banyana survived another scare when Lebohang Ramalepe’s looping back header nearly caught Dlamini off guard, forcing the goalkeeper to make a desperate recovery to prevent an own goal.

South Africa responded through their experienced attackers, with Thembi Kgatlana creating problems for Tanzania’s defense. In the 17th minute, Kgatlana’s clever pass found Hildah Magaia, whose effort went narrowly over the crossbar.

The defending champions continued to dominate possession and came close to taking the lead midway through the first half when Karabo Dhlamini unleashed a powerful long-range strike that struck the woodwork.

However, against the run of play, Tanzania broke the deadlock in the 37th minute through Diana Msewa. The forward showed excellent composure after beating her marker before calmly placing the ball beyond Dlamini to give Twiga Stars a crucial advantage.

South Africa pushed forward in search of an immediate response, and Tanzania goalkeeper Najiati Idrisa produced a superb save in first-half stoppage time to deny Kgatlana from close range.

The pressure finally paid off moments later when Bambanani Mbane reacted quickest after another Idrisa save, heading the ball into the net to level the scores before halftime.

After the restart, South Africa continued to press for a second goal, with Refiloe Jane coming close within moments of the restart as Banyana Banyana looked to complete the comeback.

Tanzania, however, remained organised and waited for their opportunity. Their patience was rewarded in the 86th minute when substitute Hasnath Ubamba delivered the decisive moment.

Ubamba showed excellent skill to turn away from her marker before firing a low shot past Dlamini, sending the Tanzanian bench and supporters into celebration.

The late winner secured three important points for Twiga Stars and placed them in a strong position in Group B as they continue their pursuit of a place in the knockout stage.

Tanzania will next face Burkina Faso on Friday, while South Africa will aim to recover when they meet Côte d’Ivoire on the same day.

Residents of Ngunga village in Kishapu District will benefit from clean water and a new health dispensary as part of the second phase of a solar power project being implemented in the area.

The two services have been among the community’s biggest challenges for years.

The announcement was made yesterday, July 27, 2026, by Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) Managing Director Lazaro Twange during a contract-signing ceremony to mark the start of the project’s second phase.

The project, valued at Sh204.4 billion, will involve expansion of the solar power facility, construction of a water supply system and a dispensary.

‘The second phase of this project will be implemented over 17 months from now, followed by a 24-month defects liability period. The project will also provide Ngunga residents with clean water and a health dispensary,’ Mr Twange said.

Kishapu District Council Chairperson Josephat Limbe said about 300 residents benefited from the first phase of the solar power project, adding that the expanded project is expected to attract more investors, particularly in the industrial sector.

‘This project will encourage investors to establish industries in Kishapu because reliable electricity is available and generation capacity continues to increase. During the first phase, about 300 residents benefited from the project,’ he said.

Ngunga Village Chairperson Musa Masesa said the project had brought recognition to the village, which had long felt neglected, adding that residents were already benefiting from electricity.

However, he said access to clean water and healthcare services remained major challenges.

‘We ask the contractor to ensure that this second phase benefits us by providing clean water. Ngunga residents still face serious challenges in accessing water and healthcare services, and we have been promised that these will be delivered through the project,’ Mr Masesa said.

Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Mboni Mhita said the government had allocated more than Sh1.63 trillion for various development projects in the region since the sixth phase administration of President Samia Suluhu Hassan came to power almost five years ago.

Speaking on behalf of Shinyanga residents, she expressed gratitude for the project, saying it would increase investment opportunities and strengthen relations between the project and surrounding communities.

Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi said electricity was the foundation of development, stressing that meaningful progress could not be achieved without reliable power supply.

He said electricity previously had to travel long distances to reach the Lake Zone, affecting reliability.

‘This is a major investment, and the government has decided to take another step by increasing the country’s energy mix. This project will ensure a reliable electricity supply, and we are still on course to achieve our target of generating 8,000 megawatts by 2030,’ Mr Ndejembi said.

The minister directed Tanesco to ensure the project was completed within the agreed timeframe and that local communities benefited during construction and after completion.

‘Tanesco must ensure this project is completed on schedule and that citizens benefit throughout the implementation period and after its completion,’ he said.

When parents arrived at a paediatric medical camp in Mugumu earlier this year, many expected nothing more than routine consultations for their children.

Instead, doctors began noticing something unexpected.

Child after child showed signs of sickle cell disease. Some parents had never heard of the condition. Others already knew their children were living with it but had struggled to maintain treatment because of the high cost of specialist consultations, laboratory tests, medication and repeated journeys to distant referral hospitals.

By the end of the day, the medical team had uncovered far more than individual cases. They had identified a pressing healthcare need that had largely gone unnoticed.

The question was no longer how many children had been diagnosed.

It was what should happen next.

That question extends far beyond a single medical camp.

Every year, Tanzania attracts millions of dollars in investment into tourism, conservation and infrastructure. These investments create jobs, stimulate local economies and draw visitors from across the world. But perhaps the most meaningful measure of investment is not what it builds.

the people who call these places home.

For communities surrounding Serengeti National Park, development should not be measured solely by visitor arrivals or financial returns. It should also be measured by whether children are healthier, whether young people have greater opportunities, whether local businesses thrive and whether communities become stronger because investment has arrived.

The discovery in Mugumu became one example of what responsible investment can achieve.

Rather than organising another one-day medical outreach, Mapito Safari Camp, with support from Delaware Investment Limited and implementation by the Give a Future Foundation, chose a different path.

In April 2026, the partners launched a structured sickle cell programme designed to provide continuous care for children from Robanda and surrounding communities.

The programme offers free screening, laboratory investigations, prescribed medication, routine clinical reviews and continuous follow-up for every enrolled child.

Each patient has an individual treatment plan supported by comprehensive medical records, while a paediatric specialist travels from Dar es Salaam every three months to review patients alongside local healthcare workers.

The programme began with four children.

Four months later, it has expanded to support 34 children, with no limit on the number of beneficiaries.

Every child diagnosed and requiring treatment is enrolled, and organisers hope to reach many more families as awareness grows.

Those figures tell only part of the story.

For families living with sickle cell disease, continuity of care is just as important as diagnosis. Knowing that medicines will remain available, appointments will continue and medical professionals will regularly monitor their children’s progress gives parents the confidence to seek treatment early and remain committed to long-term care.

Healthcare built on continuity creates something that cannot easily be measured in statistics.

It builds trust.

According to Serengeti District Medical Officer Dr Lusubilo Adam, the programme addresses one of the district’s most persistent healthcare challenges.

“Mapito is one of our conservation partners operating tourism activities within the Serengeti ecosystem. As a way of giving back to the community that welcomed them in Robanda Village, the company has invested significantly in improving local healthcare services,” he said.

He said the company’s support has gone beyond the sickle cell programme to include upgrading Robanda Health Centre through the provision of medical equipment and essential medicines, including a commitment to supply enough medicines to meet the facility’s needs for an entire year.

The partnership has also strengthened the district’s healthcare workforce.

“So far, Mapito has supported the deployment of one doctor, with plans to add two more. These investments are helping us improve access to quality healthcare for communities that have historically faced significant challenges in accessing specialised medical services,” Dr Adam said.

For many residents of Robanda and neighbouring villages, specialist healthcare has often meant travelling approximately 130 kilometres to Musoma Regional Referral Hospital or nearly 270 kilometres to Bugando Zonal Referral Hospital in Mwanza.

Although treatment at referral hospitals may sometimes be subsidised, transport, accommodation and other incidental costs often prevent patients from making the journey.

“Many patients simply cannot afford the additional costs associated with travelling for specialised care,” Dr Adam explained. “By bringing treatment closer to home, this programme removes one of the biggest barriers to healthcare.”

He noted that the initiative has brought considerable relief to families because sickle cell medication remains expensive, while enrolment in health insurance schemes is still relatively low across many rural communities.

Dr Adam believes the programme has also strengthened the relationship between conservation and surrounding communities.

Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba yesterday led more than 13,000 participants at the 2026 NBC Dodoma Marathon, praising the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) for mobilising Sh1 billion to support healthcare programs aimed at saving the lives of mothers and children across Tanzania at the Jamhuri Stadium.

The seventh edition of the marathon attracted runners from Tanzania and abroad, cementing its position as one of the country’s biggest sporting and charity events that combines athletics with social impact.

The funds raised through the event will support three key healthcare initiatives: reducing maternal and newborn deaths during childbirth, financing corrective heart surgeries for children with congenital heart conditions, and expanding bone marrow transplant services for children living with sickle cell disease. Dr Nchemba joined senior government officials, leaders from public institutions and private sector organisations in the five-kilometre fun run, using the event to encourage Tanzanians to embrace physical activity and healthy lifestyles.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, the Prime Minister commended NBC for demonstrating how partnerships between the government and private sector can create meaningful social impact.

He said the growth of the marathon from 1,500 participants in 2020 to more than 13,000 registered runners in 2026 reflects Tanzania’s growing sports culture and increasing awareness of the importance of exercise. ‘The NBC Dodoma Marathon has become much more than a road race. It is now a national platform that brings together Tanzanians and international friends to support a greater cause-saving lives,’ said Dr Nchemba. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving Dodoma’s road infrastructure, saying better roads would support transportation and create safer routes for future marathon participants. Dodoma Regional Commissioner Rosemary Senyamule praised NBC for its continued investment in health, sports and community development, describing the marathon as an important economic driver for the region.

NBC Managing Director Theobald Sabi said the event represents the bank’s commitment to ensuring business growth translates into tangible benefits for communities.

He announced that Sh600 million from the funds raised would immediately be directed to three flagship health programs through leading medical institutions. During the ceremony, Dr Nchemba and Sabi presented Sh200 million cheques each to the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation for its midwives sponsorship program, the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) for children’s heart surgeries, and Benjamin Mkapa Hospital to strengthen bone marrow transplant services for children with sickle cell disease. ‘These achievements reflect our commitment to ensuring that business growth goes hand in hand with improving people’s lives,’ said Sabi.

He thanked participants, sponsors and partners, including Sanlam Allianz, GSM Group, Vodacom Tanzania and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), for supporting the event. Kenya’s Edwin Koech won the men’s 42-kilometre Full Marathon after clocking 2:05:12, ahead of compatriot Vitalis Kibiwott, who finished in 2:12:18. In the women’s Full Marathon, Agnes Ngolo of Kenya emerged victorious in 2:32:36, followed by fellow Kenyan Jacinta Chepkoech, who recorded 2:33:26.

Both Full Marathon champions received Sh11.5 million, while the top 10 finishers in the men’s and women’s categories were rewarded with cash prizes.

In the men’s 21-kilometre Half Marathon, Tanzania’s Bernard Geay claimed first place after finishing in 1:02:46, followed by Kenya’s Simon Kelenzoke in 1:02:57, while Michael Geay of Tanzania took third place in 1:02:59.

Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri won the women’s Half Marathon after crossing the finish line in 1:08:59, ahead of Kenya’s Doreen Chetzop, who clocked 1:10:36. The Half Marathon champions received Sh5.5 million each, while runners-up took home Sh2.5 million.

Stanbic Bank Tanzania and Visa have intensified efforts to expand secure cross-border digital payments, reporting a sharp increase in card usage as Tanzania accelerates its transition towards a cashless economy.

The two organisations said a recently concluded campaign targeting Stanbic’s Personal and Private Banking customers recorded a 113 percent increase in card transaction volumes and a 201 percent rise in transaction value. Card activation also surged, rising by 3,082 percent in transaction volume and 449 percent in value.

The campaign comes as Tanzania rolls out measures to promote digital payments across key sectors, supported by the National Financial Inclusion Framework (2023-2028), which seeks to expand access to affordable financial services.

Looking ahead, the two partners said they will continue working together to expand digital payment adoption through customer education, wider access to Visa’s global rewards and offers, and data-driven solutions designed to improve customer experience.

The initiative forms part of Stanbic Bank’s broader strategy to deliver innovative banking services while supporting Tanzania’s transition to a more digital, connected and financially inclusive economy.

More than 300,000 people have fled their homes in France and Spain as fast-moving wildfires, fuelled by extreme heat and strong winds, continue to spread across both countries, forcing mass evacuations and stretching emergency services.

Authorities warned of a “difficult night” as firefighters battled multiple blazes threatening communities near the French city of Bordeaux and areas surrounding the Spanish capital, Madrid.

France has evacuated about 220,000 people, with thousands leaving the Cap Ferret peninsula and surrounding areas as flames advanced towards Bordeaux, one of the country’s most important cities and the centre of its renowned wine region. Officials said the fire remained several kilometres from the city, but changing winds and soaring temperatures continued to pose a serious threat. In Spain, more than 75,000 residents have been evacuated, while another 30,000 have been ordered to remain indoors as firefighters tackled several major blazes. Three fires near Madrid merged into a massive wildfire, prompting the government to declare the country’s first-ever national wildfire emergency to mobilise additional resources.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country faced “difficult hours” ahead, warning that high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds were creating dangerous conditions for firefighters and residents alike. International assistance has been deployed from several European countries to reinforce local emergency crews.

The fires come after Europe experienced three intense heatwaves in quick succession this year. Scientists say prolonged heat and drought have left forests and vegetation exceptionally dry, increasing the likelihood of large, fast-spreading wildfires.

According to European data, wildfires have already burned more land across the continent this year than the annual average recorded over the past two decades, underscoring the growing impact of climate change on Europe’s fire seasons.

Emergency authorities in both countries urged residents to follow evacuation orders, avoid affected areas and remain alert as weather conditions were expected to remain unfavourable in the coming days.

As Tanzania embarks on implementing Dira 2050, the national conversation has understandably focused on the visible foundations of development: roads, railways, ports and power. These investments remain indispensable. Yet the country’s long-term competitiveness will depend just as much on an invisible layer of infrastructure that must be continually upgraded, secured, powered and maintained.

Every mobile payment, every online business, every digital public service, every data-enabled classroom and every farmer using digital market information depends on resilient telecommunications networks. That is why telecommunications sustainability should be treated as a national development outcome, rather than simply an industry concern. Because it is an argument about the conditions required for Tanzania’s digital economy to continue growing.

Recent results from Vodacom Tanzania PLC, for the quarter ended June 2026, provide a useful illustration of what sustained investment looks like in practice. During the quarter, the company invested Sh123.2 billion in broadband expansion and modernisation of its Radio Access Network, the mobile network layer that connects phones to digital services. Over the same period, data customers increased by 16 per cent, M-Pesa customers by 15.5 per cent, smartphone customers by 23 per cent and the overall customer base grew to 28.6 million. Those figures speak to more than commercial growth; they show substantial investment translating into greater participation in the digital economy.

Financial inclusion increasingly means more than opening an account. Digital platforms are translating into daily upliftment; enabling citizens to save collectively, giving small businesses access to working capital, helping merchants digitise payments and allowing more Tanzanians to invest and build financial resilience. As evident in the report, Vodacom’s M-Koba now serves more than 1.5 million users, while SMEs account for more than half of all the about Sh1 trillion digital loans disbursed through its lending ecosystem during the quarter. Its merchant network has grown to more than 650,000 businesses processing over Sh2 trillion in transactions each month.

These are company figures, but they reflect a broader national trend that Tanzania should be energised by. Formal financial inclusion among Tanzanian adults reached 76 percent in the 2023 FinScope survey, up from 65 per cent in 2017, illustrating how digital financial services have become an increasingly important gateway into the formal economy.

National communications data point in the same direction. Tanzania now records well over 110 million active mobile subscriptions and rapidly growing data consumption, demonstrating how deeply connectivity has become embedded in commerce, education, finance and public service delivery. At the same time, smartphone adoption remains at 42.5 percent, highlighting that expanding access to digital opportunity remains unfinished business.

A country does not become digitally competitive simply because networks exist. It succeeds because those networks continue improving as demand grows. Every additional citizen using digital financial services, every school adopting online learning, every health facility digitising patient records, every entrepreneur selling products online and every farmer accessing market information places additional demands on communications infrastructure. Capacity that appears sufficient today can become a constraint tomorrow if investment fails to keep pace.

This is where telecommunications should increasingly be viewed through the same lens as transport or energy. Governments do not judge roads by whether they were once constructed. They judge them by whether they continue to support economic activity year after year. Telecommunications deserve the same perspective.

Dira 2050 recognises that Tanzania’s future prosperity will depend on digital transformation, productivity, innovation and a competitive private sector. As implementation moves forward, the question is no longer whether digital infrastructure matters. It is whether the country’s implementation and monitoring framework gives sufficient attention to the long-term sustainability of the networks on which those ambitions depend.

That creates a practical opportunity. Alongside traditional measures of infrastructure development, Tanzania should monitor indicators that reflect the long-term health of its digital foundations, including sustained network investment, expansion of broadband access, growth in smartphone adoption and the resilience of communications infrastructure that underpins digital public services and financial inclusion. Such an approach would reinforce the shared objective of government, regulators and industry: ensuring that digital infrastructure continues to evolve alongside national development priorities.

The real test of Tanzania’s digital ambition is therefore not whether the country has networks today. It is whether it has created an economic environment that allows those networks to keep improving tomorrow. The Government should enable sustainable investment conditions that can compete on a continental and global scale, drawing in capital and transforming the digital landscape. A digitally empowered Tanzania needs an invisible grid as resilient as the citizens, farmers, SMEs, students, women, youth and rural communities it serves.

If Dira 2050 is to become the blueprint for a more productive, inclusive and competitive economy, telecommunications investment should be recognised for what it has become: one of the country’s most important forms of national infrastructure – Critical Economic Infrastructure.

Before the first commuter boards a bus in Dar es Salaam, before a trader opens a market stall in Mwanza, and before a farmer checks the latest crop prices, millions of digital interactions have already taken place.

Payments have been processed, savings groups have collected contributions, businesses have placed orders, and families have exchanged money across the country. These everyday transactions rely on infrastructure that few people ever see, but almost everyone depends on.

Educating motorcycle taxi riders on safe road use and traffic compliance will help curb the rising number of fatal accidents in Dar es Salaam and across the country, experts have said.

The remarks were made over the weekend by the Tanzania Occupational Health and Safety Professionals Association (Tohasa) President, Ms Caroline Baraza, during the launch of a road safety campaign in Kinondoni District.

Dubbed ‘Be Careful, Save Lives’, the initiative seeks to promote road safety awareness and provide protective gear to bodaboda riders to reduce fatalities.

‘The goal is to educate bodaboda riders so they remain careful and respect the law,’ said Ms Baraza.

‘Statistics show many lack proper road safety knowledge. Traffic laws do not favour anyone; they are meant for everyone,’ she added.

She urged riders to peer-regulate colleagues who violate traffic regulations and highlighted that Tohasa comprises health and safety experts dedicated to supporting emergency victims.

Partnering with Tohasa, the Kinondoni Regional Traffic Officer, Mr Adrian Kamara, reminded riders to respect pedestrian crossings and avoid pavements.

‘They are legally recognised road users and must ride appropriately,’ noted Mr Kamara, adding that helmets remain mandatory.

During the launch, Tohasa distributed reflective vests and protective eyewear to enhance night visibility and shield riders from dust.

Tohasa Vice President, Mr Gerald Mrema, stressed that the drive targets reducing permanent disabilities and deaths by ensuring riders observe traffic signs, avoid carrying excess passengers, wear safety boots, and conduct daily vehicle inspections.

Welcoming the initiative, Tangi Bovu Shule neighbourhood chairman, Mr Athuman Kitunguu, commended the police and Tohasa, stating that ongoing education has fostered better cooperation between riders and law enforcement.

One of the modern time’s greatest mystery is that the defender of human rights and leader of the ‘Free World’ does not recognise the International Criminal Court (ICC) and now wants to destroy it altogether! When US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (pictured) pledged to ‘dismantle’ the ICC, he did more than just declare war on an international institution.

He signalled a retreat from the very ideals of accountability that the United States has often championed when they serve its interests. If successful, this campaign would condemn the international community to a mediocre world where justice depends on brute force rather than principle.

The ICC was established in 2002 as a court of last resort to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression when national courts are unwilling or unable to act. On paper, the court offered the best route to justice in a world where unchecked power usually ended up in chaos.

The tribunal has never claimed perfection and it has faced legitimate criticism over its pace, selectivity and limited enforcement powers. Yet its existence represents humanity’s determination that no individual should stand above the law. That principle has produced meaningful results.

In 2012, the ICC convicted Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo for recruiting child soldiers, delivering justice for victims whose voices had long been ignored. It later convicted Bosco Ntaganda for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Uganda, ICC investigations significantly weakened the Lord’s Resistance Army by increasing pressure on its commanders. The court has also pursued sitting heads of state in Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta at different occasions. These cases demonstrated that even the most powerful individuals could face justice that could not be served in their respective countries.

The United States itself has not always viewed the ICC as an enemy. When the Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 over the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children, American leaders welcomed the move. President Joe Biden described the warrant as ‘justified’ while senior US officials argued it strengthened international efforts to hold Russia accountable. Washington openly celebrated the Court’s audacity to pursue one of the world’s most powerful leaders.

The enthusiasm disappeared when the same Court sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict. Suddenly, the ICC was portrayed as illegitimate, biased and dangerous. The institution had not changed. Only the identity of those under investigation had.

Justice cannot remain credible if its legitimacy depends on the nationality or political alliances of the accused. Either international law applies equally, or it becomes another instrument of geopolitical convenience. The Trump administration seemingly prefers the latter.

Ironically, the United States has long maintained legal mechanisms reflecting its own distrust of international accountability. The American Service-Members’ Protection Act of 2002, often nicknamed the ‘Hague Invasion Act’ authorizes the US President to use ‘all means necessary and appropriate’ to secure the release of American or allied personnel detained on behalf of the ICC. Although widely understood as symbolic, the law has become a powerful metaphor for American exceptionalism: a willingness to support international justice for others while reserving immunity for itself.

Rubio’s latest threats extend this exceptionalism even further. In his recent commentary in the Wall Street Journal, the Secretary of State urges countries to withdraw from the Rome Statute, cut financial support to the ICC, suggesting they could face possible diplomatic consequences if they refuse. This transforms disagreement with the Court into pressure against the broader international legal order.

The consequences stretch far beyond Washington. Weakening the ICC emboldens dictators, military leaders and armed groups who calculate that accountability can be negotiated away through political alliances. Victims of atrocities, from Sudan to Myanmar, Ukraine to Gaza, lose one of the few institutions capable of pursuing justice when domestic courts fail.

The post-World War II international order was built on a simple but revolutionary idea: lasting peace requires accountability. Institutions like the ICC emerged because humanity learned that impunity breeds future atrocities. Undermining these institutions does not strengthen sovereignty; it weakens the collective commitment to universal human rights.

The ICC deserves reform where reform is warranted. Greater efficiency, broader geographical balance and stronger due process would enhance its legitimacy. But dismantling it because it investigates powerful states is not reform; it is surrender.

History rarely remembers those who defended impunity. It remembers those who insisted that law must prevail over power. Rubio’s campaign risks replacing that aspiration with an international order where justice becomes selective, accountability becomes optional and global leadership settles for mediocrity where the rule of the jungle reigns!

Tanzanian mainland champions Young Africans (Yanga) have completed one of the biggest signings of the transfer window after securing the services of Namibian international striker Peter Shalulile to reinforce their attack ahead of the 2026/2027 season.

The experienced forward joins the Mainland Tanzania Premier League champions after bringing the curtain down on an illustrious six-year career with South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, where he cemented his reputation as one of Africa’s deadliest finishers.

Shalulile arrives at Jangwan Street with an outstanding record of 136 goals in all competitions for Sundowns, helping the club dominate South African football while also conquering the continent.

During his spell, he won the CAF Champions League, the African Football League and five South African Premiership titles, establishing himself as one of the most successful strikers in the club’s history.

The 33-year-old also scored 20 goals in the CAF Champions League and finished his time in South Africa just eight goals shy of reaching the milestone of 100 league goals in the Premiership, a testament to his remarkable consistency and clinical finishing.

His arrival also marks a reunion with Yanga head coach Manqoba Mngqithi, under whom he flourished at Sundowns. Mngqithi, then a key member of the club’s technical bench, played an instrumental role in Shalulile’s development into one of the continent’s most feared goalscorers.

The opportunity to work with Mngqithi again is understood to have been one of the major factors behind Shalulile’s decision to join Yanga.

The South African coach is convinced the striker’s experience, goal-scoring instinct, and understanding of his tactical philosophy will be invaluable as the club targets a fifth consecutive Mainland Tanzania Premier League title and a strong campaign in the CAF Champions League.

Shalulile’s signing further underlines Yanga’s ambition to strengthen every department as they prepare for another demanding domestic and continental season.

His pedigree and winning mentality are expected to add a new dimension to the club’s attacking options and increase competition for places.

Before unveiling the Namibian, Yanga had already signed Senegalese-born French striker Cheikh Ibrahima Touré from Saudi Arabian side Al Jabalain FC, Comoros international defender Housseine Zakouani from Al Zulfi of Saudi Arabia and Zambian attacker Albert Kangwanda from Red Arrows.

Shalulile becomes Yanga’s latest addition in an ambitious recruitment drive that has now seen the club unveil 10 new players.

The arrivals also include six Tanzanian signings: Juma Issa Abushiri from Fountain Gate, Hussein Mihambo, Abdulnasir Muhamed, Mohamed Mussa and Erick Mwijage from Mashujaa, as well as Suleiman Mbarouk from JKU.