Top golfers set for action as Tanzania Open tees off today

Dar es Salaam. The much-anticipated Vodacom Tanzania Open Golf Championship 2025 officially tees off today at the prestigious Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estate (Kili Golf) in Arusha, bringing together top professional golfers and elite amateurs from Tanzania and across the region.

The event, now firmly established as one of East Africa’s premier golf competitions, will be contested in stroke play format over four days of action. Local and regional stars will battle for glory on the lush 18-hole championship course, renowned for its pristine fairways and stunning backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.

Tee-offs begin at 8am, with the opening groups featuring Tanzania’s promising amateurs Zacharia Edward and Likuli Juma, alongside Onesphory Gerald and Zambia’s Aaron Musonda. They will be joined by Kenya’s Joseph Karanja and Reece Shah, setting a competitive tone for the championship’s opening day.

Among the standout names in the amateur category is Isiaka Dunia, fresh from his Lina PG Tour victory in Morogoro. Dunia will be paired with Josphat Rono and Yuvraj Singh Rajput in the morning rounds.

Another player drawing attention is Madina Hussein, who will represent Tanzania in the women’s elite category, teeing off from the first hole at 8:20 am. The professional field is equally strong, led by Tanzania’s Ramadhani Yassini, Prosper Emmanuel, and leading lady golfer Angel Eaton.

They will face a stern test against regional heavyweights including Kenya’s Greg Snow, the defending champion, alongside Michael Karanga and John Lejirna–names synonymous with success on the East African circuit. Later in the day, some of the tournament’s most anticipated matchups will unfold.

At 11:40 am, Tanzania’s Fadhyl Nkya, buoyed by his recent triumph at the Lina PG Tour in Morogoro, will go head-to-head with Kenya’s rising star Njoroge Kibugu and seasoned player James Mathenge in what promises to be a thrilling contest. The draw also features several seasoned international professionals, including George Frisby and Tanzania’s Hassan Kadio, both expected to mount strong challenges.

The diversity of the field–mixing experienced pros with ambitious amateurs–ensures a competitive edge while providing a stage to spotlight the future of golf in the region. Speaking on the eve of the championship, Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) chairman Gilman Kasiga confirmed that all preparations had been finalized and players were ready to deliver an unforgettable tournament.

“All systems are in place, and the golfers are in high spirits,” said Kasiga. “This is not just a tournament; it is a celebration of the growth of golf in Tanzania and across East Africa.

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Samia dissolves DART, UDART boards, appoints new chairs

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has dissolved the boards of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) and Usafiri Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (UDART), appointing new leadership for both agencies.

A statement issued on Thursday, October 2, 2025, by the Chief Secretary, Ambassador Dr Moses Kusiluka, and signed by the director for Presidential Communications, Ms Sharifa Nyanga, confirmed the changes. In what amounts to a major shake-up, Mr David Kafulila, who also serves as Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) unit, has been named chairman of the DART board.

Ambassador Dr Ramadhani Dau has been appointed chairman of the UDART board. On the same day, President Hassan appointed new chief executives to steer the city’s troubled Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

Mr Said Tunda is the new DART Director General, while Mr Pius Ng’ingo has been named Director General of UDART, which operates Phase One of the system. The reshuffle removes Dr Athuman Kihamia, who previously headed DART, and Mr Waziri Kindamba, the former UDART boss.

No official reasons were provided for the changes. The leadership overhaul follows mounting public frustration with Dar es Salaam’s flagship transport project.

Just a day earlier, commuters on a GerezaniKimara BRT bus broke into protest songs–an unusual but telling sign of dissatisfaction over declining services. Launched in 2016 with promises to ease congestion and improve urban mobility, the BRT system is now dogged by overcrowding, long queues, irregular schedules and deteriorating infrastructure.

Passengers have repeatedly complained, urging the government to intervene. Adding to the discontent is the delayed launch of Phase Two of the project, which was supposed to link Mbagala to Gerezani.

Despite repeated assurances, the service–originally scheduled to begin on September 1, 2025–has yet to start, deepening scepticism among residents. The government has brought in private partners to accelerate delivery, including Mofat Company, which has imported nearly 100 new buses.

However, services are still pending, with DART remaining silent on when operations will begin. Several of the new buses meant for the MbagalaGerezani route were spotted yesterday operating along Morogoro Road instead.

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Samia shakes up BRT leadership amid commuter frustrations and delays

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed new leaders to steer the city’s troubled Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, at a time when public dissatisfaction with services is mounting.

Mr Said Tunda is the new director general of the Dar Rapid Transit Agency (Dart) which regulates the BRT, while Mr Pius Ng’ingo takes over as director general of Uda Rapid Transit (Udart) that operates Phase One. Their appointments were announced on Thursday October 02, 2025, by Chief Secretary Dr Moses Kusiluka.

The reshuffle saw the removal of Dr Athuman Kihamia, who was heading Dart, and Mr Waziri Kindamba, the former Udart boss. No reasons were given for the shake-up.

However, the leadership changes come amid growing public frustration with Dar es Salaam’s flagship transport project. Just a day earlier, commuters on a GerezaniKimara BRT bus broke into protest songs — an unusual yet telling expression of anger over worsening services.

Launched in 2016 with the promise of easing congestion and improving mobility, the BRT system is now plagued by overcrowding, long queues, irregular schedules and deteriorating infrastructure maintenance. Passengers have voiced repeated complaints, urging the government to act.

Adding to the discontent is the delay in launching Phase Two of the project, linking Mbagala to Gerezani. Despite repeated government assurances, the service is yet to begin, deepening scepticism among residents.

The route was scheduled to start on September 1, 2025 but has not yet matured so far. Although the government has enlisted private partners to speed up delivery — with Mofat Company importing nearly 100 new buses — services have not yet taken off with Dart remaining mum.

Several of the buses that should operate in the Mbagala-Gerezani route were seen operating in Morogoro Road route yesterday. .

Rookie cops foil P9.5-M worth cigarette smuggling attempt in Maguindanao del Norte

Two rookie policemen are earning praise from various sectors after intercepting P9.5 million worth of undocumented imported cigarettes at an anti-smuggling checkpoint in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, before dawn on Thursday, October 2.

Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and Datu Odin Sinsuat municipal police chief Lt. Col. Esmael Madin separately told reporters on Thursday morning that the 266 boxes of Indonesian-made cigarettes are now in police custody and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.

Two policemen guarding the anti-smuggling checkpoint along a highway in the town center of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Patrolman Ruel Cañete and Patrolman Michael Laoto, together flagged down the Isuzu van-type truck carrying the contraband only for a routine inspection, but immediately detained its driver and his helper when they found out that the unit was loaded with cigarettes made in Indonesia.

‘To these two rookie policemen, we are thankful,’ said the entrepreneur-lawyer Ronald Hallid Torres, chairman of the Bangsamoro Business Council in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which is actively supporting the campaign of the Bangsamoro regional police against the circulation of smuggled cigarettes in all of BARMM’s five provinces and three cities.

De Guzman and Madin separately lauded both policemen through the radio stations in Cotabato City.

Personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police also immediately impounded the van-type truck, bearing license plates MAZ 7538, that was set to transport its illegal cargo to buyers in different towns in Maguindanao del Norte and nearby provinces.

The driver of the truck and his helper were also detained for procedural interrogation. Both assured municipal police officials that they would identify the suppliers of the seized imported cigarettes for prosecution.

Powered by GCash: CharityPhilippines.org now accepts donations via QR Ph

Through its partnership with GCash, CharityPhilippines.org (CPO)-the first charitable online crowdfunding platform in the country-proudly announces its adoption of QR Ph (QRPH), the national QR code standard of the Philippines, which is duly authorized by the Philippine Payments Management Inc. (PPMI) and operates in compliance with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular 1055.

With this upgrade, donors can now give directly using their preferred bank or e-wallet app, including GCash, Maya and more than 30 participating financial institutions across the country. This makes giving faster and simpler, enabling more people to support causes they care about. QR Ph allows donors to scan only one QR code to give through almost any major bank or e-wallet app in the Philippines-no need for multiple codes or separate accounts.

A platform built to make giving easy

‘We aim to make giving easy,’ says Dr. Marjs Lavides, executive director of CharityPhilippines.org. ‘Our mission is to connect donors with projects they care about and work with other charities to help those in need. With QR Ph, donations become hassle-free because anyone with a major bank or e-wallet app can contribute instantly and securely.’

Wide range of causes, nationwide reach

Currently, CharityPhilippines.org hosts 130 active campaigns led by 53 nonprofit organizations from across the country. The platform features a diverse array of causes, including animal welfare, children and youth, disability, disaster response, education, internet connectivity, elderly care, environmental protection, health, human rights, support for Indigenous Peoples, poverty alleviation and youth development through sports.

100% of donations go to projects

Unlike many platforms, CPO does not charge platform or transaction fees. All transaction costs are shouldered by CPO, which means that 100% of every donation goes directly to the intended project-a core commitment.

Tabuena starts strong with 65, trails by 2 in Jakarta

Determined to bounce back from a disappointing outing in Taiwan, Miguel Tabuena came out swinging with a sizzling five-under 65 in the opening round of the Jakarta International Championship at the Damai Indah Golf PIK Course on Thursday.

Displaying renewed focus and confidence, Tabuena navigated the par-70 layout with precision, stalking early clubhouse leader Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand, who surged ahead with a stunning 64.

Tabuena stood just two strokes behind in a tie for fifth, part of a tightly packed leaderboard chasing the lead heading into Friday’s second round.

Starting his round on the back nine, Tabuena made an early charge with birdies on three of his first eight holes. A bogey on the par-4 18th briefly stalled his momentum, but the two-time Philippine Open winner steadied the ship with a string of pars across the front nine.

He had a chance to move closer to the lead but dropped another shot on the par-4 eighth, settling for a 65.

Despite the missed opportunity, Tabuena’s round was marked by solid ball-striking and a sharp short game. He hit 12 fairways and 13 greens in regulation, while needing just 26 putts – including three scrambling pars – to keep him in the early hunt.

It was a promising start for Tabuena, who is looking to regain consistency after missing the cut at last week’s Taiwan Masters. That followed a strong joint fifth-place finish at the Yeangder TPC, also in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Suteepat Prateeptienchai took advantage of near-perfect scoring conditions to post the early lead with a scorching 63. The Thai golfer carded eight birdies, five of which came on the front nine, to offset a lone bogey on the par-4 15th.

He grabbed a one-stroke clubhouse lead over Roberto Lebrija, Chang Wei Lun, and Wade Ormsby, who posted identical 64s

For his part, Justin Quiban also looked poised for a hot start after opening with three birdies in his first five holes. However, inconsistency crept in on the back nine, as he surrendered three bogeys and managed only one birdie to sign for a one-under 69 – leaving him trailing the early frontrunners.

Young prospect Sean Ramos was also making waves in the afternoon wave. He birdied two of his first five holes after starting on the back nine as posting time, and looked to build momentum as the round progressed.

Baste Duterte files disbarment vs Cabinet execs over dad’s handover

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte has filed a disbarment complaint against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, and two other officials from the Department of Justice over their role in the handover of his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The complaint, prepared by lawyer Israelito Torreon, was filed at the Supreme Court on Thursday, October 2.

Torreon, who also represents detained preacher Apollo Quiboloy, said the case was prompted by the officials’ participation in serving the ICC arrest warrant against Duterte when he was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 after arriving from Hong Kong.

Also named in the complaint were Prosecutor General Anthony Fadullon and DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty, both of whom were present when the warrant was enforced.

Officials respond. Remulla dismissed the disbarment complaint as unsurprising.

‘It is expected… They can’t hide their displeasure with what we’ve done, or what we have sought to do in the furtherance of justice,’ he told reporters Thursday.

Fadullon said he has yet to receive the complaint.

‘I have not formally received a copy of the disbarment complaint for me to give any comment on the basis thereof. I have to see the allegations first before I can intelligently comment on the same,’ he told Philstar.com.

Earlier complaints. On September 15, Sebastian Duterte, through Torreon, also filed criminal and administrative charges against Remulla and other officials before the Office of the Ombudsman, again citing the former president’s arrest.

The case comes despite Remulla’s recent clearance from the Ombudsman, which allowed his inclusion in the shortlist for the position of Ombudsman.

Pope Leo extends sympathies to Cebu earthquake victims

Pope Leo XIV has expressed sympathy for the victims of the Cebu earthquake, relayed through the Apostolic Nuncio following the magnitude 6.9 tremor that claimed dozens of lives.

‘The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, called me to convey the Holy Father’s heartfelt sympathies for all the survivors of the earthquake, and his prayers for the eternal repose of the victims,’ newly-installed Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy said in a Facebook post. The magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck at 9:59 p.m. on Monday, September 30, with the epicenter located five kilometers deep and about 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu.

In response, Uy on Tuesday, October 1, ordered a structural assessment of all churches and rectories in the affected areas.

He also instructed parishes in the northern part of Cebu that were severely affected by the seismic activity to refrain from using their church buildings until safety assessments are completed.

As of writing, the death toll has risen to 72.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded at least 3,036 aftershocks following the initial tremor.

Two confirmed killed in Mendiola-Recto riots

Another man has passed away following the violent Mendiola-Recto riots on September 21, forensic authorities confirmed.

Eric Saber, 35, died of a ‘perforated gunshot wound to the neck,’ according to a death certificate issued by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun.

Fortun said Saber’s immediate cause of death was ‘probable pneumonia,’ while the antecedent cause was a ‘spinal cord injury C6.’ She told Philstar.com that no bullet was recovered from Saber’s body.

Saber was struck by a bullet during the clashes along Recto Avenue in Manila. It remains unclear where the shot came from, though human rights group Karapatan alleged he was hit during ‘violent dispersals’ by police.

But Rep. Arnie Fuentebella (Camarines Sur, 4th District), budget sponsor for the Department of the Interior and Local Government, denied that police fired their weapons, echoing the Philippine National Police’s account.

‘For the record, Madam Speaker, chineck po natin, wala pong nagpaputok sa aming mga SWAT during that incident,’ Fuentebella said in Thursday’s plenary debates. (For the record, Madam Speaker, we checked, and none of our SWAT personnel discharged a firearm during that incident.)

The Department of Health earlier confirmed one man was dead on arrival from stab wounds during the riots.

Manila Police District spokesperson Police Major Philip Ines said 216 people were arrested following the unrest, which broke out near Mendiola and Recto and coincided with larger anti-corruption protests in Luneta and EDSA.

BARMM communities mourn demise of regional speaker

The Philippine flag and the Bangsamoro banner are both raised half-mast in the Bangsamoro capitol in honor of the speaker of the 80-seat regional parliament who died from an illness early Thursday, October 2.

Members of the regional lawmaking body and the chief minister of the Bangsamoro region, Abdulrauf Macacua, told reporters on Thursday morning that the 85-year-old Pangalian Ali Balindong, a lawyer, died from an illness at St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City.

‘We are saddened by the demise of the speaker of our regional parliament,’ Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Minister Muslimin Sema, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, said.

Balindong was a scion of a large, politically influential clan whose members are scattered in Malabang and in nearby towns in the second district of Lanao del Sur, one of the five provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. His ancestors fought the Spaniards, the Americans and the Japanese during World War II.

Balindong, born on January 1, 1940, in what is now the municipality of Pualas, Lanao del Sur, earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from Manuel L. Quezon University and passed the Bar in 1967.

He was a legal counsel of the MNLF during the crafting of the Dec. 23, 1976 Tripoli Agreement between the front and the Philippine government.

The compact was supposed to be a key reference in peace negotiations between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and subsequently, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Both groups eventually signed separate peace agreements with the national government and are now jointly involved in governing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with representatives in various regional agencies and in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

‘We ought to thank him (Balindong) a lot for his contributions to the Mindanao peace process,’ BARMM’s health minister, the physician-ophthalmologist Kadil Sinolinding, Jr., who is also a member of the BARMM parliament, said.

Balindong had served, during the early 1990s, as speaker of the Regional Assembly of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which was replaced in 2019 with a more empowered BARMM, a product of 22 years of peace talks between the national government and the MILF.

He was also thrice elected as congressional representative of the 2nd district of Lanao del Sur, before his appointment as a member of the interim Bangsamoro parliament in 2019.

‘His involvement in the Mindanao peace process is one for the books,’ Macacua, the figurehead of the BARMM parliament, said, referring to Balindong.

A member of the BARMM parliament, Naguib Sinarimbo, also a lawyer, said they are saddened by the death of Balindong.

‘Speaker Balindong was a staunch supporter of the Mindanao peace process, both in his private life and as a public servant,’ said Sinarimbo, who was Bangsamoro local government minister before he was appointed as a member of the regional parliament last March by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

Balindong was also popular for being close to BARMM’s Christian and non-Moro indigenous communities.