Category: The Citizen

Air Tanzania has increased flights between Dar es Salaam and Mumbai, India, from four times a week to daily services, citing rising passenger demand for business, medical, education and tourism travel.

Air Tanzania Director of Marketing and Commercial Services, Dominic Louis, said the new schedule took effect this month after strong traffic growth on the route.

The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has launched a nationwide tree-planting campaign involving 3,850 trees and donated medical equipment worth Sh162 million to Mwananyamala Regional Referral Hospital as part of activities marking its 30th anniversary.

The initiatives also aim to promote voluntary tax compliance and community participation in national development.

Speaking during a tree-planting exercise at Mnazi Mmoja Primary School in Dar es Salaam on June 28, 2026, TRA Commissioner General Yusuph Mwenda said the environmental campaign is intended to raise awareness on taxation and environmental conservation among students. He said the exercise also helps learners understand the link between tax contributions and public services, while benefiting from fruit trees planted in schools.

‘Taxpayers have contributed significantly to national development. These trees remind students that their parents pay taxes and that they too will become taxpayers. Paying tax is the responsibility of every citizen,’ he said.

At Mnazi Mmoja Primary School, TRA planted 30 fruit trees. Mwenda called on the school administration to ensure the trees are properly maintained and said the authority would support their upkeep through incentives for students involved in caring for them.

The school management thanked TRA for the initiative and said the trees would be maintained. It also requested support for a water well and computers to improve learning. Mwenda said the requests would be addressed.

On the same day, TRA donated medical equipment worth Sh162 million to Mwananyamala Regional Referral Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Mwenda said the donation reflects TRA’s commitment to giving back to the public and strengthening health services funded through tax revenue.

He said government investment in expanding health facilities, including Mwananyamala Hospital, has been made possible through tax contributions from citizens.

‘We are here because TRA is marking 30 years of service. This is our way of thanking taxpayers whose contributions have supported national development,’ he said.

The donated equipment includes 100 hospital beds, 10 maternity beds, a dialysis machine, a defibrillator and a ventilator.

Mwenda also commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for continued investment in the health sector and urged public institutions to promote voluntary tax compliance.

Mwananyamala Regional Referral Hospital Medical Officer in Charge Dr Aileen Balongo said the donation would improve service delivery at the facility, which serves about 250 patients daily.

Dar es Salaam Regional Medical Officer Dr Mohammed Man’guna also thanked TRA and called on citizens to continue paying taxes to support public services.

The Zanzibar Food and Drugs Agency (ZFDA) has destroyed 82 tonnes of food products declared unfit for human consumption after inspections found them spoiled or expired.

The consignment comprised 78 tonnes of popcorn maize damaged during prolonged storage and four tonnes of assorted expired products, including rice, sweets, and other food items.

ZFDA Public Relations Officer Fatma Makame Juma said the destruction was carried out on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Kibele dumpsite in South Unguja Region.

She said the maize deteriorated after remaining at the port for an extended period because customs clearance procedures were not completed on time.

“The delay exposed the products to pest infestation, compromising their quality and rendering them unfit for human consumption,” she said.

“Once products are found to be spoiled or expired, they cannot be released onto the market because they pose a risk to public health. Whenever ZFDA receives such information, we conduct inspections and, if the products are confirmed to be unfit, we destroy them in accordance with established procedures,’ added Ms Juma.

She urged importers to complete customs clearance promptly to prevent consignments from remaining at ports for extended periods, where their quality could deteriorate.

She warned that delays in completing import procedures could result in substantial financial losses for traders, while also posing risks to food safety if affected products enter the market without proper inspection.

Ms Juma also encouraged traders to carry out routine inspections of products stored in warehouses and retail outlets to identify items approaching expiry or those already deteriorated.

She said the practice would help protect consumers’ health while strengthening public confidence in businesses.

“It is the responsibility of every trader to ensure that products offered for sale are safe for human consumption. We urge them to comply with storage requirements and closely monitor the expiry dates of all products,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Principal Assistant for Plant Quarantine in Zanzibar’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock Development, Mr Othman Khatibu Vuai, said inspections confirmed the maize had deteriorated beyond safe use for either human consumption or animal feed.

He urged traders importing agricultural products to register their consignments immediately upon arrival at the port to facilitate timely inspection and quality monitoring.

He said product registration was essential to strengthen agricultural safety standards and prevent the entry of goods carrying pests, diseases, or other risks that could threaten the agricultural sector and public health.

“Cooperation between traders and the relevant authorities will improve monitoring of imported products and minimise losses arising from delays in customs clearance procedures,’ he said.

A father and his son were pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building on Sunday, four days after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela.

The rescue provided a glimmer of hope for French and US rescue workers racing against time to find more survivors.

The pair, both visibly weak and wearing masks, were carried on improvised fabric stretchers through debris-strewn streets to a waiting ambulance as crowds gathered around emergency vehicles in La Guaira, the coastal state hardest hit by Wednesday’s earthquakes. The disaster has left at least 1,450 people dead and thousands more missing.

Their rescue followed 12 hours of painstaking efforts by teams using specialised search cameras and carefully navigating unstable rubble to reach the trapped victims.

“They are extremely weak, as any patient trapped under rubble for four days would be. We are doing everything possible to rehydrate them and administer medication during the extraction process, which is moving very slowly,” a member of the French Civil Security said.

The rescue operation involved personnel from the French Civil Security and the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue Team from Virginia in the United States, which on Saturday rescued a mother and her nine-month-old baby.

Before extracting the father and son, rescuers prepared intravenous drips and cleared debris, while other teams continued searching for signs of life.

At least 33 people were rescued over the weekend, but tens of thousands remain missing, raising fears that time is running out to find more survivors.

According to disaster specialists, the chances of finding survivors beneath rubble decline sharply after 72 hours following an earthquake.

Exim Bank Tanzania is extending its footprint beyond banking through its corporate social responsibility platform, Exim Cares, with a focus on improving livelihoods across health, education, environmental conservation and community empowerment.

In Zanzibar, the Bank’s latest interventions target two key pillars of development – security and education – following the launch of its Paje Branch.

As part of the initiative, Exim Bank has donated furniture to the newly established Paje Police Station to strengthen public service delivery in a rapidly growing tourism and business hub. The support is intended to improve working conditions at the facility and enhance its ability to serve the expanding population in Paje and surrounding areas. The Bank has also provided 80 school desks to Paje Primary School. With each desk accommodating up to three pupils, the donation is expected to benefit up to 250 learners annually, easing classroom congestion and improving learning conditions.

Exim Bank Head of Marketing and Communications, Stanley Kafu, said the initiative reflects the Bank’s commitment to sustainable development.

‘At Exim Bank, we believe that investing in communities is fundamental to sustainable development. Education and community infrastructure are essential pillars of progress, and we are committed to supporting initiatives that create meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of the people we serve,’ he said.

The Bank noted that education remains a critical driver of social and economic transformation, and improving learning environments helps equip young people with the tools needed to contribute to Zanzibar and Tanzania’s development.

It added that the opening of the Paje Branch is not only about expanding financial services, but also about building long-term partnerships with local communities.

Through Exim Cares, the Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen public institutions and expand opportunities, as part of its wider Corporate Social Responsibility agenda focused on inclusive and sustainable development across Tanzania.

Music and culture will once again take centre stage in Zanzibar as organisers of the Sauti za Busara Festival launch a fresh campaign aimed at promoting women’s leadership and combating gender-based violence.

The initiative, dubbed the Gender Transformative Action Programme: Breaking the Glass Ceiling, is being implemented by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Busara Promotions, the European Union and UN Women.

The programme will use the popular festival’s platform to take messages of gender equality and women’s empowerment directly to communities. Under the theme, ‘Inspire to Lead! Change Begins with Me’, a series of outreach activities will be held before and after the festival.

The activities will include music performances, film screenings, acrobatic shows and public discussions designed to educate and entertain audiences.

Four community events are planned across Stone Town, where women leaders and young people will engage residents on issues ranging from leadership opportunities to violence against women and girls.

Organisers say the campaign comes at a crucial time as gender-based violence continues to affect many women and girls in Tanzania.

Statistics cited by the organisers show that 27 per cent of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, while 12 per cent have faced sexual violence.

The programme will also shine a spotlight on the growing threat of online abuse and technology-facilitated violence, which increasingly targets young women and girls.

In addition to raising awareness, the outreach events will provide information on support services available in Zanzibar, including One Stop Centres and gender desks that assist survivors of violence.

The campaign will culminate in a youth-led event at Mombasa Secondary School on June 20, featuring panel discussions, performances and educational screenings.

Organisers say the partnership demonstrates how arts and culture can be used to spark important conversations and encourage communities to play a greater role in ending violence against women and girls.

There was a time when publishing information required a printing press, a broadcast licence, or a newsroom.

News organisations served as the gatekeepers of information, deciding what stories deserved public attention and how they should be presented.

Today, all of that has changed. A smartphone, an internet connection, and a social media account are enough to turn anyone into a publisher.

A witness to an accident can livestream events before journalists arrive on the scene.

The barriers to publishing have disappeared. This democratisation of information is one of the most significant transformations in modern media history.

But it has also created an important question for the media industry: If everyone is a publisher, what makes journalism different?

The answer lies not in the ability to publish, but in the responsibility that comes with it. Information and journalism are not the same thing.

Publishing information is easy. Journalism is hard work. It requires verification, context, balance, and accountability.

It involves asking difficult questions, checking facts, consulting multiple sources, and ensuring that information is accurate before it reaches the public.

A video posted on social media may show what happened. Journalism seeks to explain why it happened, whether it is true, and why it matters. That distinction has never been more important.

The digital age has created an abundance of information, but not necessarily an abundance of understanding.

Every day, social media platforms are flooded with rumours, opinions, manipulated images, and misleading narratives.

Information moves at extraordinary speed, often without any verification.

In this environment, the role of journalism becomes even more valuable. The public does not merely need more information. It needs trusted information.

Journalists operate within established ethical standards. They are expected to verify facts, correct errors, identify sources, and maintain fairness.

News organizations are accountable to their audiences, advertisers, regulators, and their own reputations.

Trust, therefore, has become journalism’s most valuable currency. Ironically, the rise of citizen publishing has made credibility more important, not less.

As audiences become overwhelmed by information, they increasingly seek sources they can trust. During moments of crisis, elections, natural disasters, or major breaking news events, people often return to established media brands for confirmation and context.

Being first matters. Being right matters more.

Granted, citizen journalism has expanded the reach of storytelling. Social media creators often identify trends and issues long before traditional media recognizes them. Eyewitness content has become an invaluable source during breaking news situations.

The challenge for news organisations is not to resist this change but to adapt to it. Successful media companies are increasingly integrating user-generated content into their reporting while applying the principles of journalism-verification, context, and editorial judgment.

The future belongs to media organisations that combine the speed and reach of digital platforms with the credibility and discipline of professional journalism.

This requires a change in mindset. Journalists are no longer the sole producers of information.

They are curators, explainers, investigators, and trusted guides helping audiences navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.

Their role is becoming less about controlling information and more about making sense of it. This shift presents an enormous opportunity for African media.

The continent has one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing digital populations. Millions of citizens are creating and consuming content every day.

Yet the demand for trusted, accurate, and contextual journalism remains as strong as ever.

Media organisations that invest in credibility, innovation, and audience engagement will continue to play an indispensable role in society.

Because in a world where everyone can publish, not everyone can practice journalism. Anyone can post a rumour. Anyone can upload a video. Anyone can share an opinion.

But journalism demands something more. It demands evidence. It demands responsibility. It demands trust.

And in an age overflowing with information, those qualities may be more valuable than they have ever been.

The future of journalism will not be determined by who has the loudest voice or the biggest following. It will be determined by who consistently earns the public’s confidence.

Because when everyone is a publisher, credibility becomes the ultimate differentiator.

Tanzania has described the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as a strategic partner in its economic transformation agenda, as the country steps up efforts to build a $1 trillion economy by 2050.

Minister for Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, said this during talks in Dar es Salaam with an Afreximbank delegation led by its East Africa Regional Director, Humphrey Nwugo, who was on a courtesy visit following his recent appointment.

Ambassador Omar welcomed Mr Nwugo and congratulated him on his new role, expressing Tanzania’s commitment to strengthening long-standing relations with the pan-African financial institution. He said Afreximbank has remained an important development partner for Africa over the years, noting Tanzania’s appreciation of its support to trade, infrastructure, industrial growth and private sector development.

The minister said Tanzania was encouraged by Afreximbank’s plan to mobilise an additional $1 billion within the next 12 months for investment in the country, particularly in manufacturing, infrastructure and small and medium enterprises.

He said implementation of the Vision 2050 development agenda and the Fifth Five-Year Development Plan aims to build a competitive, private sector-led economy, adding that achieving this goal will require strong partnerships, long-term capital and innovative financing.

Ambassador Omar said there is still room to expand cooperation in key areas, including infrastructure, industry, health and trade facilitation.

He said the meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on shared priorities and identify practical ways of strengthening collaboration.

He identified priority areas as industrial growth, private sector investment, human capital development and improving Tanzania’s competitiveness in regional and global markets.

On his part, Afreximbank East Africa Regional Director Humphrey Nwugo praised Tanzania’s economic progress and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting its long-term development ambitions, including the $1 trillion economy target under Vision 2050.

He said the bank is interested in investing in strategic projects in sectors such as oil, minerals, iron ore and soda ash, while continuing to support the private sector through credit and working capital to drive value addition and industrial growth.

Afreximbank has remained a key financier of major development projects in Tanzania, providing funding and guarantees worth billions of US dollars for infrastructure, energy and strategic investments.

In 2018, the bank issued an $800 million guarantee for the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project in the Rufiji Basin, enabling Egyptian contractors to implement the project.

It has also provided a total of $700 million for infrastructure projects, including phases one to four of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

In the financial sector, Afreximbank has approved $230 million for commercial banks in Tanzania and extended about $80 million in credit facilities to the private sector.

The government has announced plans to introduce a policy aimed at limiting expenditure on vehicles by discontinuing the purchase of luxury cars in future, while maintaining that the move should not affect service delivery to citizens.

The clarification was made on Sunday, June 28, 2026, by the government’s chief spokesperson, Mr Gerson Msigwa, during a press briefing in Dodoma.

He said the cost-cutting initiative would not involve selling vehicles already procured, contrary to speculation circulating in public discussions. Mr Msigwa was responding to questions regarding the government’s expenditure reduction measures announced by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, following remarks by Speaker of Parliament Mr Mussa Zungu, who also announced plans to abandon the use of luxury vehicles.

‘In this matter, we cannot say we will sell the vehicles already in use, but we will make adjustments to procurement laws so that we can purchase more affordable vehicles in future,’ said Mr Msigwa.

‘However, we must ensure that service delivery does not stop and that the plan does not limit our ability to reach citizens.’

Mr Msigwa, who also serves as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, said directives had already been issued to public servants following President Hassan’s announcement, noting that many government officials already use ordinary means of transport.

He also addressed concerns over rising sugar prices, saying the increase was linked to the effects of global conflicts, which have raised the cost of transporting and distributing goods.

‘Prices of many commodities are currently high due to the impact of international events,’ he said.

Mr Msigwa also criticised what he described as misinformation from individuals who focus only on the growth of the national debt while ignoring development achievements financed through borrowing.

‘I know they will not tell Tanzanians that we borrowed funds to build the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project. They will not tell them that we borrowed to construct five sections of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR),’ he said.

‘Please tell Tanzanians to ignore such people,’ he added, without mentioning specific individuals.

He said an increase in the national debt should not automatically be viewed as a problem, arguing that borrowed funds help accelerate development projects, although repayment remains necessary.

Mr Msigwa also urged Tanzanians to visit the Sabasaba International Trade Fair, which began on June 28 and will run until July 13, 2026.

Meanwhile, Tantrade Central Zone manager Mr Sudi Mtengela said 20 countries had confirmed participation in the exhibition, while 40 major companies had already started showcasing their products and services.

On another matter, the Ministry of Information said it would participate in a major Kiswahili conference in France scheduled for July 4-7, 2026, describing it as an important opportunity for Tanzanians.

Every morning, millions of children wake up, put on their uniforms and head to school without thinking about the obstacles that might stand between them and a classroom.

For Ashinilat and Siwajibu, however, the journey to education is a daily struggle marked by transport challenges, inaccessible environments and a lack of essential support equipment needed to help them learn and live independently.