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Avocados have been grown in Tanzania since the early 1890s. The global appetite for the creamy fruit, also known as green gold, is booming.

The industry’s market value was over $6.5 billion in 2020, reached $16.24 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $23 billion in 2029. Tanzania has seized this opportunity in the last two decades and is now Africa’s fourth-largest avocado exporter, behind Kenya, South Africa and Morocco. The top destinations for Tanzania’s avocados are Europe (40%), India (30 percent) and the Middle East (19 percent).

Tanzania’s avocado exports increased from 1,393 tons, valued at $1.9 million in 2013, to 36,520 tons, valued at $79.813 million, in 2024. For my PhD research, I followed Tanzanian avocados from the farms through to local markets and packhouses for export. The research aimed to uncover the underlying structures, relationships and systems that cause food waste in Tanzania’s avocado trade.

I knew avocados were being wasted so I set out to uncover why this was happening and who carried the heaviest cost. The farmers, farmer associations and commercial packhouses managers that I interviewed said that in Tanzania’s domestic avocado production sector, up to 40 percent of the avocados overall were wasted because of damage to the fruits and pests or diseases.

In the export avocado sector, we found 30 percent-50 percent losses for smallholders and some large-scale farmers, and 10 percent -20 percent for large commercial farms due to fruits not meeting quality standards. My research shows that the choices of consumers who buy avocados in Europe are directly connected to the real-life struggles of Tanzanian farmers.

Global food systems can harm local communities. Farmers need protection.

For example, some local governments have worked with exporters at the start of harvesting to set a minimum price. This ensures that farmers don’t have to accept rock bottom prices.

This should be adopted widely. Farmer associations and cooperatives should also receive more training in how to prevent waste.

How Tanzanian avocados are wasted We spoke with farmers, traders, middlemen, farmer associations and co-operatives, processors and exporters and observed the avocado trade. We found that avocados are damaged because brokers and transporters routinely jump on sacks to compress them for transport, or use their feet to spread them.

This is because of the misperception that unripe fruit is “as hard as stone” and cannot be damaged. Hass avocados grown specifically for export are only accepted if they’re intact, clean, a good size, green in colour with no blemishes and have short stalks.

The domestic avocado varieties are wasted because farmers often have no cold storage or access to fast transport to get them to market quickly. They ripen very fast after harvest and if they’re not sold promptly, they spoil.

Before 2016, rejected export avocados were dumped. Today some are bought by oil processing factories.

Avocado waste hurts small farmers and makes inequality worse Our research also found that there is very little support from agricultural extension officers for smallholder farmers who grow for the local market. These farmers lack training in quality standards, harvesting techniques, and how to negotiate with the brokers and traders.

Women are most affected because they dominate the domestic avocado trade, harvesting the avocados and selling them to middlemen and consumers. They have less access to capital and infrastructure than male-owned small businesses who dominate the wholesale market.

The middlemen who buy the avocados in bulk from the women often use their advantaged positions to offer lower prices, sometimes reject a consignment, or use their own standards to reject avocados. Smallholder farmers growing for the local market have another problem: they harvest first and negotiate prices afterwards.

They’re in a race against time to sell before the avocado spoils, and if brokers back out or offer lower prices, farmers are forced to sell quickly or risk spoilage. The inequalities in the industry come from exporters, brokers, and owners of avocado packhouses holding much more power than farmers.

They set prices, enforce standards and control contracts. In addition, only some farmers can attempt selling their avocados directly on the export market because they need certificates to show their produce meets all the quality standards required by the export market.

This is very difficult for smallholder farmers, our research found. To access required inputs for production, some smallholder farmers get credit from exporters that’s deducted after harvest.

If the crop fails, the smallholder farmers are left with no safety net. They cannot simply sell their avocados locally if they’re rejected.

My research found that domestic consumers prefer large, smooth-skinned avocado varieties. Export varieties like Hass are smaller and rougher, making them harder to sell locally.

What needs to happen next My research came up with several ways to end Tanzanian avocado waste: ul class=”rte–listFarmer cooperatives and associations should be supported by government and development organisations to provide training to their members on good crop management, harvesting and handling practices, how to negotiate better contracts, and to provide flexibility to farmers in choosing buyers.Local governments should work with processors, exporters and traders to set minimum prices to protect smallholder farmers from exploitation in the domestic supply chain.

ul class=”rte–listFarmers should have access to real-time market data, including export prices and processing costs. This improved market transparency will benefit farmers to negotiate better prices, but also understand the market and consumers expectation of product quality.

Exporters currently have different quality standards for the size and appearance of avocados. These must be standardised for fairness and to reduce the number of avocados being rejected.

Brokers, pickers, and traders need education on proper handling to reduce damage and waste. ul class=”rte–listThe government should continue investment in cold storage and transport.

They should also build oil processing facilities that can absorb surplus and rejected produce. In the rush to transform African agriculture for global markets, it is important to consider what is left behind or thrown away.

Food waste is not just a symptom of inefficiency; it is a mirror of deeper injustices. To build sustainable and inclusive food systems, we must ask why so much food is wasted and who pays the price.

About the author: Jonas Cromwell is a Lecturer in Food Security in the School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds .

Dar es Salaam. When an incumbent president seeks reelection, the first obligation is to outline achievements and then set out clear promises for the future.

This is precisely the approach taken by the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi. Dr Mwinyi, the CCM presidential candidate, has been presenting his fiveyear record in office to assure Zanzibaris of his credibility, stressing that pledges he makes are fulfilled.

One of his most notable achievements is in infrastructure development, particularly in roads and elevated bridges. There is little doubt that in this sector, Dr Mwinyi has reshaped Zanzibar’s landscape.

Construction of hospitals and schools is another area in which Dr Mwinyi speaks with confidence because of visible results. He asserts that everything promised during his first term, together with CCM, has been delivered.

Now he seeks another five years to accomplish even more. During his first term, Dr Mwinyi oversaw the construction of numerous multistorey schools.

Looking ahead, he pledges to “fill Zanzibar” with such structures, promising to build 29 multistorey schools if reelected. Sports infrastructure and legacy The development of sports infrastructure has been another hallmark of his administration.

The upgraded state of Amaan Stadium in Unguja and Gombani Stadium in Chakechake, Pemba, reflects his commitment to improving facilities. Both stadiums have undergone extensive renovation, giving them modern appearances that stand as tangible evidence of his achievements.

For sports enthusiasts in Zanzibar and across Tanzania, these are significant contributions. 2025: An agenda election For Zanzibar, the 2025 General Election is above all an election of agendas.

In 2020, the notion of “royal families” entered public debate, a reference to ruling dynasties. Yet Zanzibar is not a monarchy; the Sultanate was abolished by the Zanzibar Revolution on January 12, 1964. The “royal family” label arose during CCM’s nomination process, with critics suggesting certain families sought to perpetuate leadership by inheritance.

Zanzibar’s first president, Abeid Amani Karume, was succeeded by his son, Amani Abeid Karume, who became the sixth president of the islands. Another son, Ali Abeid Karume, also sought the presidency in 2020. This lineage is what critics referred to as a “royal family.

” Dr Mwinyi is the son of Zanzibar’s third president, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who also served as the second president of the United Republic of Tanzania. His bid for CCM’s nomination for Zanzibar’s presidency in 2020 triggered a similar debate.

Setting aside the “royal family” narrative, Dr Mwinyi’s record demonstrates longstanding service in government and ministerial posts, without scandal or disruption. His extended tenure as Minister of Defence raises questions, but the answer was offered by Tanzania’s fifth president, Dr John Magufuli.

When swearing in thenMinister of Home Affairs George Simbachawene on January 27, 2020, the late President Magufuli called on him to emulate Dr Mwinyi, praising Dr Mwinyi’s ability to lead the armed forces. Without naming names, President Magufuli criticised Simbachawene’s predecessor, Mr Kangi Lugola, for disregarding force commanders.

He stressed that military leadership requires a unique approach, and Dr Mwinyi had demonstrated competence, earning him a long tenure at the Defence docket before becoming President of Zanzibar. Ministerial track record Before assuming the presidency of Zanzibar, Dr Mwinyi served in three ministries under three presidencies.

From 2000 to 2005, he was Deputy Minister of Health under President Benjamin Mkapa. Under President Jakaya Kikwete (20052015), he served in three ministries: Office of the VicePresident, Defence, and Health.

President Magufuli appointed him Minister of Defence in December 2015 and retained him in that role until he sought Zanzibar’s presidency in 2020. Reports suggest soldiers respected him as a knowledgeable leader. During his Defence tenure, he navigated crises, including bomb blasts and incidents at the Gongo la Mboto weapons depot and the Kizuiani Camp in Mbagala, Dar es Salaam, events that might have undermined lesser ministers.

Yet Dr Mwinyi emerged with his reputation intact. His long service may partly reflect fortune, avoiding major upheaval.

In 2012, when Health Minister Haji Mponda and his deputy were dismissed for failing to account, Dr Mwinyi was Defence Minister. In 2013, when Defence Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha was dismissed over allegations of torture during Operation Tokomeza Ujangili, Dr Mwinyi was Minister of Health.

Each time, Dr Mwinyi moved between Defence and Health with minimal disruption, demonstrating adaptability and competence. Whether due to skill or circumstance, Dr Mwinyi’s leadership has been marked by stability, with few problems arising under his stewardship aside from incidents not directly attributable to him.

About Dr Mwinyi Born on December 23, 1966, Dr Mwinyi began his education in Dar es Salaam before continuing in Egypt. He attended Oysterbay Primary School (19741977), Minor House Junior School (19771980), Minor House Secondary School (19811982), and returned to Tanzania to complete his secondary education at Azania Secondary School and Tambaza Secondary School, graduating in 1986. He earned a degree in human medicine at Marmara University, Turkey (19861992), and a master’s in International Medicine at Hammersmith Hospital, London (19931997).

Elected MP for Mkuranga Constituency, Coast Region (CCM) in 2000, and from 2005 to 2020 MP for Kwahani, West Urban District, Unguja. He now serves as President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, seeking a second term.

A quiet leadership By nature, Dr Mwinyi is not confrontational. From his ministerial service in the Union government to his presidency of Zanzibar, he rarely engages in political quarrels.

He is quiet and focused, working without fanfare. On October 29, 2025, Zanzibaris will decide how they judge Dr Mwinyi and his leadership.

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Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) has extended the admission period for first-degree programmes, granting an extra four days to applicants who missed the initial two phases to secure places for the 2025/26 academic year.

According to TCU, the third and final round of applications will run from October 6 to October 10, 2025, focusing on programmes with available spaces. The extension follows requests from the Tanzania Higher Learning Institutions Students Organisation (TAHLISO) and several universities, citing the need to accommodate qualified applicants unable to secure admission in earlier rounds.

In a press statement issued on Friday, October 3, 2025, TCU Executive Secretary, Prof Charles Kihampa, said the extension was a final chance for those yet to apply to act quickly or risk missing this year’s intake. “We advise applicants who did not apply or were not admitted in the previous rounds to use this opportunity effectively and submit applications to institutions of their choice,” said Prof Kihampa.

The first and second admission windows opened two months ago. Universities are expected to release the list of successful applicants from the second round on October 6, 2025. Double admissions must confirm TCU has instructed applicants admitted to more than one institution in the second round, and those who did not confirm in the first round, to confirm admission with only one university between October 6 and 19, 2025. Confirmation will be completed using a special code sent via SMS or email.

For those who do not receive the code on time, Prof Kihampa urged them to contact their respective universities. “The list of applicants admitted into more than one institution will be published on the TCU website.

Confirmation must be completed through the account used when applying,” he added. The process is designed to free up unconfirmed slots, enabling other qualified students to be considered.

Final timetable Under the new timetable, universities must submit lists of students admitted in the third round between October 14 and 16, 2025, with results announced on October 20, 2025. Students with multiple admissions in this round will then confirm between October 20 and November 3, 2025. Education experts have welcomed the extension, saying it reflects TCU’s responsiveness to higher education demand. Dar es Salaam-based education policy analyst, Ms Hilda Mrema, said the move would ease pressure on applicants facing financial or logistical hurdles in earlier rounds.

“Every year, we see bright students missing deadlines due to challenges such as delays in accessing documents or lack of internet connectivity, especially in rural areas. This extension offers a lifeline,” noted Ms Mrema.

She, however, stressed that the window was short and applicants must act without delay. For many prospective students, the announcement brought relief.

A Form Six leaver from Mwanza, Ms Neema John, said she had struggled to apply earlier due to family financial constraints. “I am grateful for this chance because I thought I had lost the opportunity to join a university this year.

I will apply on the very first day,” she said. Similarly, another Morogoro-based applicant, Mr Hassan Ally, welcomed the directive on double admissions.

“Some people apply to several universities and hold multiple offers. By confirming in one institution, they give others like me a chance,” he said.

TCU reminded applicants and universities that all admission matters, including confirmations, must be handled directly through respective institutions. Universities have been instructed to assist students facing difficulties to ensure timely resolution.

With the October 10 deadline fast approaching, experts warn that time is of the essence. For thousands of Tanzanian youth aspiring to join higher education, these four days may determine their academic future.

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Dar es Salaam. CRDB Bank Plc has defended its recent core banking system upgrade, insisting that the move was not just a technical necessity but a strategic leap forward.

According to the bank’s management, the overhaul was part of a long-term strategy to strengthen its digital backbone, enhance transaction speed and security, and position CRDB to compete not only in Tanzania but also across the region. Speaking at a press conference held at the Bank’s headquarters here in the city yesterday, CRDB Bank’s director of communications, Ms Tully Esther Mwambapa, acknowledged that during the transition, some customers experienced short-term challenges, which is normal in major system upgrades.

“Today, I am pleased to inform you that our services are back to normal and these changes have laid a strong foundation for delivering services in Tanzania, Burundi, the DRC, Dubai, where we are expanding and in other new markets we are entering,” she said. She explained that this transformation is part of CRDB Bank’s Medium-Term Strategy (20232027), which places technological innovation at the core of the bank’s growth and the broader economy.

According to her, CRDB group chief executive, Mr Abdulmajid Nsekela, was recently invited to participate in the USAfrica Business Forum held alongside the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where the bank’s transformation was recognized as a model for Africa and the world. Ms Mwambapa said the transformation has opened doors for international collaborations, including agreements signed on the sidelines of UNGA with the Crop Trust organization to strengthen food security through climate-smart agriculture, and with the DIFC financial institution to support small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.

In addition, the bank signed a technological cooperation agreement with global technology firm Huawei to enhance digital transformation, system security, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). “This cooperation is strategic and will create major opportunities for smallholder farmers through climate-smart agricultural technologies, for businesses through more secure financial services, and for development sectors through digital and AI innovations,” she said.

She added that the new system has also strengthened the bank’s ability to provide world-class services to individual customers, businesses, and corporations in Tanzania, Burundi, and the DRC, while also creating a stable foundation for expansion into new markets worldwide. “As you know, we recently obtained approval to open our office in Dubai, a step that reaffirms CRDB Bank’s position as a bridge between Africa and international markets.

This is a strategic move to connect our customers with capital, technology, and new opportunities available in global markets,” Ms Mwambapa added. She said despite the international recognition, CRDB Bank acknowledges its responsibility to continue improving services, investing in innovation, and ensuring that every step taken brings positive transformation in the lives of its customers and drives economic growth.

She emphasized that the system transformation is not only a demonstration of the bank’s boldness, but also a sign of its strength and resilience in overcoming challenges and moving forward with confidence. Moreover, the Governor of the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) Emmanuel Tutuba, commended the bank’s transformation during a special meeting with the CRDB’s CEO, Mr Nsekela.

According to the bank’s statement the governor noted that the transformation of the bank’s core banking system is a strategic step that demonstrates the maturity of the banking sector in Tanzania. .

You know that song, the one where the songstress is practically screaming over the beat, “Baby, I got one question for you One question, who the $#@and^% is Amanda?” Well, today I’ve got a question too. Not for my man (that one is a blessing, thank you, Lord), but for a special breed of humans we meet every day.

They could be teammates, colleagues, supervisors, or even bosses. Here’s my question: how do you sleep at night knowing you’re the villain in so many people’s life stories? Like seriously do you set an alarm to remind yourself to ruin someone’s day, or does the evil just flow naturally like morning coffee? Let’s call a spade a spade.

You’re the very enemy God told us to love and pray for. You are the reason some poor man wakes up feeling like the office is a mini hell, complete with demons who micromanage.

You’re the reason that brilliant woman has stopped sharing her ideas because you’ve snatched her confidence faster than a boda boda thief in traffic. Whole teams no longer think outside the box because the last four projects they presented died tragically in your hands.

You’ve got blood on your keyboard. And don’t even get me started on travel approvals one poor girl would rather spend her own money than beg you for a signature.

Imagine that being so toxic you turn “official travel” into “soul-destroying odyssey”. Then at 5 PM, you clock out, go home, and eat dinner.

I just want to know, do you chew your food with satisfaction, thinking, “Ah yes, today I crushed three spirits, denied two promotions, and shut down at least one dream. Delicious.

” Or do you sigh, disappointed you didn’t get to ruin enough lives, and whisper, “Tomorrow I’ll try harder”? The funniest part? Toxic people rarely know they’re toxic. They think they’re being “firm” or “maintaining standards”.

Sweetheart, no. You’re not a standard.

You’re a nightmare in office shoes. And trust me, nobody is printing a T-shirt that says “I survived Susan from HR.

” Here’s the truth villains don’t always wear horns and carry pitchforks. Sometimes they wear designer suits, sometimes they run meetings, and sometimes they even smile at you in the hallway while stabbing you in the back by email.

But we see you. And your villainy is not as subtle as you think.

So yes, I’m asking again: how do you sleep at night? Because while the rest of us are tossing, turning, and replaying your snide remarks in our heads, you, dear villain, seem to snore like a baby. Just remember, though, stories change.

Heroes rise. And one day, when the credits roll on your little movie, you might realise that all those people you silenced, mocked, and dismissed? They were the heroes you should have rooted for.

And Amanda? Even she would’ve quit working for you. .