Category: The Citizen

Tanzania has formally received the hosting flag for the 74th Miss World Festival, marking the official handover of responsibilities from Vietnam ahead of next year’s global beauty contest.

Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma, received the flag on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in Vietnam during the Miss World 2026 finale.

The handover comes as Tanzania prepares to welcome contestants from around the world for the May 2027 edition, which will make the country the first in East and Central Africa to host the prestigious competition.

The Miss World Organisation confirmed earlier this year that Tanzania had secured the rights to stage the 74th edition.

The hosting agreement was signed in Dar es Salaam on April 20 between the Tanzanian Government and Miss World Limited, led by chairwoman and chief executive Julia Morley.

The organisation said Tanzania will become the fourth African country to host Miss World, after South Africa, Seychelles and Nigeria. South Africa was previously the only country in the region to stage the competition.

The flag handover therefore carries significance beyond the pageant itself. It symbolises the transition from Vietnam’s 75th anniversary edition to Tanzania’s historic chapter and places the country under greater international attention.

Vietnam concluded its hosting duties on Saturday with the crowning of Dominican Republic’s Joheirry Mola, who won the 2026 title in Nha Trang. Tanzania’s representative, Latricia Ian Sawe, reached the Top 40 among 111 contestants, providing a strong performance as the country prepares to host the next edition.

For Tanzania, the opportunity presents a major tourism and destination-marketing platform. The Miss World Organisation has highlighted the country’s Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and cultural heritage as attractions that can be showcased to the international audience.

The event is also expected to benefit the hospitality, creative and tourism sectors. Previous analysis of Tanzania’s hosting bid suggested the month-long festival could attract thousands of international visitors while exposing the country to a global television and digital audience.

However, the opportunity comes with considerable responsibility. Tanzania will need to ensure high standards in accommodation, transport, venues, security, event management and international broadcasting.

A successful festival could strengthen the country’s reputation as a destination capable of hosting major international events

For girls living far from schools, support programmes and reliable internet, geography and household income can determine how much they learn and the opportunities they can access.

Msichana Initiative is now turning to technology to help close that gap through the One Girl Plus Digital Platform, launched in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, September 5, 2026, to give girls continued access to life-skills education beyond traditional face-to-face sessions.

The platform builds on a programme that has reached more than 10,000 girls aged 10 to 25 over the past four years, helping them develop self-awareness, confidence and goal-setting skills through games, storytelling, discussions and learning from female role models. Msichana Initiative executive director, Ms Consolata Chikoti, said the move into the digital space was driven by what girls themselves had told the organisation.

‘We listened to girls. They taught us that their desire to learn does not end when our session ends,’ she said.

‘Through One Girl Plus Digital Platform, we want to build a bridge that enables them to continue learning, asking questions and building confidence wherever they are. Technology gives us an opportunity to take this experience to many more girls.’

The platform is built around the programme’s three key pillars, known as K3 – Kujitambua, Kujiamini and Kujiwekea Malengo – which focus on self-awareness, confidence and goal-setting.

Girls can access interactive digital games, life-skills content and age-appropriate information in Kiswahili.

The system also includes an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot designed to provide a friendly space where girls can ask questions and access information to support their learning and personal development.

Ms Chikoti said the technology was not intended to replace the safe relationships created through face-to-face programmes, but to extend them.

‘One Girl Plus gives us a great opportunity to use technology to ensure that life skills do not remain in a one-day training or meeting, but can follow a girl into her everyday life,’ she said.

She said physical programmes often involved transport and other costs, particularly when reaching girls in remote communities.

‘Technology breaks those boundaries and reduces those costs. It means this education reaches the girl directly,’ she said.

However, she acknowledged that digital access itself remains a challenge.

‘Not every girl has a smartphone, a computer or reliable internet, or the ability to afford the cost of data,’ she said, warning that girls from low-income households and rural areas could otherwise be left behind.

The platform therefore also considers offline access, while the organisation says digital safety, privacy, cyberbullying and gender-based violence online must remain central as more girls move into digital spaces.

Government backs digital skills

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology representative, Ms Felister Mapunda, said digital skills were increasingly essential to girls’ education and future participation in society.

‘Digital skills are not a luxury; they are a basic need,’ she said.

Ms Mapunda said the government was strengthening the use of science, technology, innovation and practical learning through the Education and Training Policy, the improved curriculum and related guidelines.

She said technology could take knowledge to places where opportunities had previously been limited, adding that a girl’s location should not determine her ability to learn, lead or pursue her ambitions.

‘When we empower a girl today, we are building the Tanzania of tomorrow,’ she said.

The digital transition has been supported by Karimjee Foundation, which has also worked with Msichana Initiative on initiatives aimed at removing barriers facing girls.

The partnership includes One Girl One Bike, which provides bicycles to help address the challenge of distance between girls’ homes and schools.

Representing Karimjee Foundation, Ms Caren Rowland, said the organisation believed girls should be able to pursue their potential regardless of where they lived.

‘We believe that every girl should have an opportunity to learn and reach her potential without being held back by distance or the environment she comes from,’ she said.

She said the partnership, from bicycles to digital learning, reflected an effort to invest in solutions that reach girls where they are.

The launch brought together government representatives, civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector and technology stakeholders.

Tanzania’s representative at Miss World 2026, Latricia Ian Sawe, has made the Top 40 at the global beauty pageant in Vietnam, marking a notable achievement for the country at the 75th-anniversary edition of the competition.

Ian, 24, was among 111 contestants competing for the coveted Miss World crown at the grand finale held in Vietnam on Saturday.

The Dar es Salaam beauty queen advanced to the Top 40 but did not progress to the next stage, ending Tanzania’s hopes of taking home the global title this year. Although she fell short of the Top 20, Ian’s performance gives Tanzania a reason to celebrate, particularly as the country prepares to host the Miss World Festival in 2027.

Ian made history in April when she was crowned the inaugural Miss World Tanzania after emerging victorious among 20 contestants at The Super Dome in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. She also won the Talent Award and People’s Choice Award during the national competition.

In Vietnam, Ian represented Tanzania beyond the traditional beauty pageant spotlight, using the international platform to champion inclusive education and autism awareness.

Her Beauty With a Purpose project, Nuru ya Elimu, focuses on empowering young people through education beyond the classroom. Her advocacy has also sought to raise awareness of autism and promote support for children with special needs and their families.

Before heading to Vietnam, Ian made her mark on the international fashion scene, representing Tanzania at South Africa Fashion Week shortly after winning the national crown.

Her Top 40 finish comes at a significant time for Tanzania, which is set to host the 74th Miss World Festival in 2027, bringing the global pageant to the country for the first time.

Ian’s achievement also adds to Tanzania’s history at Miss World. The country’s best performance remains Nancy Sumari’s Top 6 finish in 2006, when she was also crowned Miss World Africa.

While Ian’s campaign for the 2026 crown has come to an end, her Top 40 finish has added a new chapter to Tanzania’s pageant story, with the spotlight now turning to the country as it prepares to welcome Miss World in 2027.

Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL) has won the President’s Manufacturer of the Year Award at the 19th President’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards (PMAYA), reinforcing its position as a key player in Tanzania’s manufacturing sector.

SBL emerged the winner in the Alcoholic Beverages – Large Scale category at the awards held on September 3, 2026.

The recognition highlights the company’s efforts to promote sustainable manufacturing, strengthen local value chains and create economic and social value through its operations. Organised by the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI), the PMAYA awards recognise manufacturers making significant contributions to the country’s industrial development.

This year’s 19th edition was held under the theme ‘Green Elegance – Celebrating Sustainable Manufacturing Practices’, placing emphasis on the importance of sustainable production in shaping the future of Tanzania’s manufacturing sector.

For SBL, the award reflects an approach to manufacturing that links its operations with the wider Tanzanian economy, particularly through its support for local agricultural value chains.

The company sources locally grown raw materials, including sorghum, barley and maize, creating demand for agricultural produce while helping strengthen markets for farmers and build a more resilient domestic supply chain.

SBL said the approach forms part of its broader ambition to increase the value created within Tanzania by connecting local agriculture with manufacturing and consumers.

Sustainable business practices are also central to the company’s operations and investments. SBL continues to pursue ways of improving resource efficiency, reducing environmental impact and making its production processes more sustainable.

Through investments in technology, operational improvements and resource management, the brewer is working to improve the efficiency of energy, water and other production inputs while reducing waste across its operations.

The company said sustainability is increasingly embedded in manufacturing decisions, from sourcing raw materials to production and distribution.

Beyond production, SBL places emphasis on creating a safe, inclusive and responsible workplace. It promotes health and safety across its operations while supporting employees to develop their skills and advance professionally.

Its commitment to inclusion also includes efforts to create opportunities for women and young people across its workforce and wider value chain.

The company’s manufacturing operations are complemented by long-term community investments, particularly in water access, skills development and livelihoods.

Through programmes supporting access to clean and safe water, vocational and hospitality skills development, and agricultural livelihoods, SBL works with partners and communities to address challenges beyond its core manufacturing operations.

Commenting on the recognition, SBL Managing Director Obinna Anyalebechi said the award reflected the commitment of the company’s employees and partners.

‘This recognition is a testament to the commitment of our people and partners who continue to support us to manufacture responsibly and create lasting value,’ he said.

‘For us, sustainable manufacturing is not simply about producing efficiently; it is about strengthening local value chains, investing in our people, protecting our environment and contributing meaningfully to the communities where we live, work, source and sell.’

The PMAYA recognition adds to SBL’s efforts to pursue responsible and sustainable growth, while reinforcing its contribution to Tanzania’s manufacturing and industrialisation agenda.

As Tanzania advances its manufacturing ambitions, the company said it would continue investing in innovation, strengthening local partnerships and embedding sustainability across its operations.

The goal, it said, is to support economic progress while advancing environmental responsibility and building stronger and more resilient communities.

The issue featured prominently during the Built Here: From Experimentation to Scale – Tanzania’s Fintech Journey, 2020-2026 session, which brought together founders, and investors to examine what Tanzania must get right to build a leading fintech market.

Tembo co-founder Mr Reuben Mwatosya said banks often make the mistake of judging fintechs based on their current size rather than their potential.

‘Banks evaluate early-stage fintechs through a static lens, dismissing them as too small, overly risky or inexperienced. While those labels might hold true at the beginning, they are not permanent,’ he said.

Mr Mwatosya, a former banker, said banks often become interested in fintechs only after they have established a track record and demonstrated commercial value.

He said the problem is also one of communication, with fintechs and banks often speaking different languages.

Fintech founders may focus on technology and innovation, while banks are more concerned with conventional measures such as deposits, margins, customer acquisition and transaction volumes.

‘If you are a fintech pitching to a bank, you cannot speak purely in tech jargon because it won’t resonate-you must speak banking,’ he said.

However, Selcom founder and chief executive Mr Sameer Hirji cautioned fintechs against viewing corporate partnerships as an automatic route to success.

‘There is a common assumption in the market that securing a corporate partnership is an automatic golden ticket to success. In reality, modern partnerships can be somewhat overrated,’ he said.

Mr Hirji said the role of partnerships has changed as banks and other large institutions have developed stronger internal technology capabilities.

When Selcom entered the market, banks and telecom operators lacked systems that could seamlessly connect mobile money with traditional bank accounts.

Selcom built the necessary middleware and offered banks integrations without upfront software licensing fees, instead operating through a revenue-sharing model.

But as financial institutions increasingly build technology in-house, fintechs whose businesses depend on acting as intermediaries face greater pressure.

‘Technology has commoditised the core processing layer,’ Mr Hirji said.

He argued that fintechs need to move beyond simply processing transactions between institutions and instead own customer relationships, distribution and more of the end-to-end value chain.

For fintechs, institutional partners should provide critical infrastructure such as liquidity, transaction processing or regulatory access, rather than becoming the entire business model.

UNCDF’s Innovation, Research and Policy Specialist Kandyl Kotta said integration with banks and mobile network operators remains a major operational challenge for startups.

Other constraints include limited access to patient capital, shortages of technical talent, regulatory and tax uncertainties and the high cost of acquiring customers and building digital trust.

Yet the market presents significant opportunities.

More than 70 percent of Tanzanian adults have a mobile money account, while digital payment volumes reached 6.4 billion transactions in 2024.

The growth of local fintechs is also beginning to change Tanzania’s position in the regional market.

Companies such as NALA and Tembo are expanding beyond Tanzania, while Selcom has established operations in other African markets.

Mr Mwatosya said access to larger markets is increasingly driving Tanzanian fintechs to look beyond their home market.

The challenge now, industry leaders said, is to ensure partnerships evolve alongside the sector.

For banks, that means recognising the potential of emerging fintechs before they become established players. For fintechs, it means understanding the commercial, regulatory and operational priorities of institutional partners while building businesses that retain strategic value.

As Tanzania seeks to become one of Africa’s leading fintech markets by 2031, the next phase may depend less on how many partnerships are signed and more on whether those partnerships can actually help both sides scale.

‘Despite the energy transition that is taking place, energy security remains a puzzle for Africa,’ he said, stressing the need for countries to work together to determine how best to advance the energy agenda.

He said African countries should remain open to investment, promote competition in their markets and allow oil and gas exploration to continue as part of efforts to strengthen energy security.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Tanzania’s Chief Geologist in the Ministry of Energy, Mussa Mussa, said the government’s 2015 Energy Policy provides a framework for local investors to participate in the sector, including through partnerships with companies with the financial capacity to undertake major projects.

He said such partnerships could enable Tanzanian investors to participate in projects requiring substantial financial resources.

On transparency in oil and gas contracts, Mr Mussa said Parliament provides an avenue for scrutinising agreements to determine whether they meet the required standards.

He said that Tanzania also participates in platforms promoting transparency in contracts, providing another avenue for accountability in the sector.

Africa Oil Week, being held in Accra for the second time, has brought together energy ministers, oil companies, regulators, industry stakeholders and oil and gas academics to discuss issues shaping Africa’s energy future.

According to Mr Khan, the participating companies are holding business-to-business discussions with potential buyers and distributors as they explore opportunities to establish supply networks, expand market access and develop long-term commercial partnerships in Tanzania and the region.

He also highlighted Tanzania’s strategic position as a gateway to the wider East African market.

The exhibition has brought together companies from Pakistan, Trkiye, India and Egypt, giving manufacturers an opportunity to showcase pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and medical technologies while engaging potential customers and business partners.

The participation comes amid growing private-sector interest in strengthening economic ties between Pakistan and Tanzania, with healthcare offering opportunities to increase competition, improve access to medical technologies and attract investment into pharmaceutical and medical equipment supply chains.

The exhibition is also providing manufacturers with an opportunity to understand market needs and identify potential partners as they seek to expand their presence in Tanzania and East Africa.

Motorists and industries using petroleum products are set to benefit from lower fuel prices after the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) reduced the prices of petrol and diesel by an average of Sh100 per litre for September.

Ewura has cut the price of petrol by Sh102 per litre and diesel by Sh101, reflecting movements in global oil prices at the time the fuel was ordered, although international prices remain volatile amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

In Dar es Salaam, a litre of petrol will now retail at Sh3,796, diesel at Sh3,877 and kerosene at Sh3,713, down from Sh3,898, Sh3,978 and Sh4,003, respectively, in AugustFor fuel supplied through the Port of Tanga, petrol will sell at Sh3,872 per litre, diesel at Sh3,953 and kerosene at Sh3,789, compared with Sh3,959, Sh4,039 and Sh4,065, respectively, in August.

At the Port of Mtwara, petrol will retail at Sh3,909 per litre, diesel at Sh3,990 and kerosene at Sh3,825, down from Sh3,990, Sh4,070 and Sh4,096, respectively.

The latest price cuts come amid fluctuations in global oil prices between May and August, according to data from CountryEconomy based on the Europe Brent Spot Price FOB.

The average price of a barrel of Brent crude rose to $107.14 in May before falling to $85.40 in June and $83.76 in July, representing a decline of about 22 percent between May and July.

However, prices rebounded in August to an average of $91.15 per barrel, an 8.8 percent increase from July, although they remained about 15 percent below the May level.

Ewura said oil companies were free to sell petroleum products at competitive prices, provided they did not exceed the prescribed cap or fall below the applicable minimum price.

The prices were calculated in accordance with the Ewura Petroleum Products Pricing Regulations, 2022, published in Government Notice No. 57 on January 28, 2022, and subsequent amendments published in Government Notice No. 761A on October 30, 2023, as well as the 2024 Bulk Procurement System Regulations.

The regulator urged all fuel stations to clearly display current prices, discounts and other commercial incentives offered to customers.

‘Where there is a choice, customers are advised to buy petroleum products from stations offering lower prices to promote competition,’ Ewura said.

The authority warned that selling fuel without clearly displaying prices was an offence and that stations failing to comply with legal requirements would face penalties.

Ewura also directed fuel retailers to issue receipts generated through Electronic Fiscal Pump Printers (EFPP), while customers were advised to ensure they received receipts showing the station’s name, date, type of fuel purchased and price per litre.

The receipts can be used as evidence in the event of complaints over fuel being sold above the prescribed price or concerns over the quality of petroleum products.

They will also help facilitate the collection of government taxes generated from petroleum product sales, Ewura said.

Kigali. Private-sector players in Africa’s agriculture sector have called for increased investment, better fertiliser use and policies to promote sustainable soil management as soil degradation threatens agricultural productivity.

The concerns were raised at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali during a discussion on the private sector’s role in improving soil health and strengthening food systems.

Africa Fertiliser Industry Development Association (AFIDA) Director General and CEO Dr Innocent Okuku said about 60 percent of Africa’s cropland is estimated to have degraded soils, largely because of poor soil management.

‘Fertiliser is neither good nor bad. You can make it good if you use it correctly, and you can make it bad if you don’t use it correctly,’ Dr Okuku said during the discussion. He said improving soil health requires more than increasing fertiliser use, with farmers needing access to mineral and organic fertilisers and soil amendments such as lime for acidic soils.

AFIDA is also investing in farmer education on appropriate fertiliser use and plans to launch a youth programme in early 2027 to train young people to support smallholder farmers in improving soil health and agricultural production.

The private sector also called for reforms to fertiliser subsidy programmes, saying delayed government payments can undermine suppliers’ businesses and discourage investment. Dr Okuku said some suppliers had waited one or two years for payment after participating in subsidy programmes.

World Bank Group Global Director for Farming and Agribusiness Anup Jagwani said governments should reconsider their role in purchasing, storing and distributing fertiliser.

‘We don’t think that government should be in the business of buying fertiliser, storing fertiliser or distributing fertiliser,’ he said, arguing that private companies were better placed to manage input supply chains.

Participants discussed electronic vouchers as one option that could enable farmers to access subsidised inputs while allowing private companies to participate in their distribution.

Yara International Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs for Africa Dr Winnie Ng’ang’a said the company uses soil testing to identify nutrient deficiencies and develop fertiliser solutions suited to specific soils and crops. She said mineral fertilisers should complement rather than replace organic fertilisers.

AFIDA is also working with regional bodies, including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), to harmonise fertiliser registration and quality standards.

Dr Okuku said fragmented regulations make it difficult for companies to operate across borders and can delay farmers’ access to suitable inputs.

AFIDA, established about a year ago, currently operates in around 12 African countries and plans to expand across the continent.

Dr Okuku said the association was formed to give private-sector players a stronger voice in policy discussions and promote investment in agriculture as governments face limited resources.

and development financing declines.

Betting company Sokabet paid out a total of Sh44, 658,787,637 to different winners during August, the company has said.

Sokabet Tanzania Assistant Customer Service Manager, Lazaro Mduma, said this during a ceremony to hand over winnings to one of the successful players, R. Likwawa, who won Sh143.1 million through the Shining Crown game.

Mduma said Likwawa was among the players who won large amounts of money through various games during the month, finishing second on the list of the biggest winners, while A. Mwakalinga topped the list after winning Sh180 million.