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Dar es Salaam. Growing demand for construction materials, driven by investment in housing, commercial properties and hospitality facilities, is attracting foreign businesses to Tanzania, with Kenya-based company entering the Tanzanian market to tap into the expanding opportunities.

The company, which deals in tiles, sanitaryware, taps, kitchen fittings and other home-finishing products, already opened a showroom in Dar es Salaam, where it plans to sell products sourced locally and internationally.

Its entry comes amid increased construction activity in residential, commercial and hospitality properties, creating opportunities for suppliers and domestic manufacturers seeking access to a growing market. Speaking yesterday during the opening of the Tile and Carpet Living in Style showroom, Tanzania Building Agency (TBA) Architectural Section manager Mr Godfrey Mwakabole said rising demand for accommodation, including hotels, guest houses and short-term rentals such as Airbnb, was creating investment opportunities in the construction industry.

He said the relocation of government operations to Dodoma and preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) had also contributed to investment interest in accommodation facilities and related infrastructure.

Mr Mwakabole said more people were investing in property development, converting residential houses into Airbnb accommodation and building hotels to capitalise on opportunities arising from tourism and international conferences.

He said the growing demand for construction materials was exceeding local production capacity, creating room for additional suppliers while offering local manufacturers opportunities to expand their market reach.

‘Currently, demand for construction materials exceeds local production capacity. Therefore, the entry of the Kenyan company will help complement the efforts of existing suppliers and manufacturers in meeting market demand,’ he said.

‘We are pleased to see many companies gaining confidence in the country and investing in this sector, given the growing demand for housing, residential properties and commercial buildings,’ he said.

Tile and Carpet Living in Style director Mr Chirag Sanghrajka said the company intended to work with Tanzanian manufacturers by giving them an opportunity to sell their products through its showroom.

The arrangement could give local producers access to customers through an established retail outlet, while expanding the range of products available to buyers.

Mr Sanghrajka said the company already worked with manufacturers in other markets, including businesses producing goods under its brand, and was interested in exploring similar partnerships in Tanzania.

He said the company first wanted to understand the local market and customer requirements before considering further investment in production.

‘We need to learn the ropes; we need to crawl before we can start walking,’ he said, adding that establishing manufacturing operations in Tanzania could be considered as the business develops.

‘Once we learn the Tanzanian market and its requirements, we will definitely look into manufacturing,’ he said.

The company has operated for more than 100 years and has a presence in Kenya, Rwanda, Dubai and Zanzibar.

For his part, Tile and Carpet Living in Style director Mr Chirag Sanghrajka said the company intended to work with Tanzanian manufacturers by giving them an opportunity to sell their products through its showroom.

The arrangement could give local producers access to customers through an established retail outlet, while expanding the range of products available to buyers.

Mr Sanghrajka said the company already worked with manufacturers in other markets, including businesses producing goods under its brand, and was interested in exploring similar partnerships in Tanzania.

He said the company first wanted to understand the local market and customer requirements before considering further investment in production.

‘We need to learn the ropes; we need to crawl before we can start walking,’ he said, adding that establishing manufacturing operations in Tanzania could be considered as the business develops.

‘Once we learn the Tanzanian market and its requirements, we will definitely look into manufacturing,’ he said.

The company has operated for more than 100 years and has a presence in Kenya, Rwanda, Dubai and Zanzibar.

However, Mr Sanghrajka raised concerns about the quality of building materials in African markets, arguing that consumers could be exposed to substandard products when purchasing goods based mainly on price.

Geneva. Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to strengthen cooperation within multilateral institutions in Geneva, including the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Tanzania’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ambassador Dr Hoyce Temu, and her UAE counterpart, Ms Shahad Matar.

The meeting, held at the UAE Mission in Geneva, focused on cooperation and mutual support within international organisations and mechanisms, including humanitarian and development bodies.

Ambassador Temu briefed Ms Matar on Tanzania’s preparations for its upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and national efforts to promote and protect human rights.

The UPR is a Human Rights Council mechanism through which the human rights record of each UN member state is reviewed every four and a half years.

Ms Matar reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to constructive engagement and expressed her country’s support for Tanzania during the review.

The two diplomats also discussed cooperation on water and sustainable development, including preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the UAE will co-host in Abu Dhabi in early December.

Ambassador Temu commended the UAE for hosting the conference and confirmed Tanzania’s participation in a high-level meeting.

She said water and sanitation remained priorities for Tanzania as it accelerated implementation of its national development plans.

The 2026 conference will follow the 2023 UN Water Conference and aims to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation, as well as other water-related goals.

Both sides agreed to maintain close communication ahead of the UPR session and the Water Conference, with a view to securing successful outcomes for their countries and the wider multilateral system.

The meeting reaffirmed Tanzania and the UAE’s commitment to multilateralism, international solidarity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Unguja. More than 100 medical professionals from Zanzibar and India are expected to provide free healthcare services to residents during a five-day medical camp in Kinduni, North Unguja, as the Afya Bora Maisha Bora (Good Health, Better Life) campaign enters its second phase.

The campaign, led by the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF), has reached more than 30,000 people across all five regions of Zanzibar since its launch in 2023.

The sixth medical camp will run from November 3 to 7, 2026, and is being organised by ZMBF in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Speaking at a press conference at the North Regional Commissioner’s Office on Monday, November 2, 2026, ZMBF Chief Executive Officer Rehema Tukai said the Kinduni camp marked the beginning of the initiative’s second phase, which aims to establish at least two medical camps annually through to 2029.

She said that following the success of previous camps, the foundation was targeting 50,000 beneficiaries during the new phase.

Ms Tukai said residents would access specialised services in ophthalmology, dentistry, dermatology, cardiology, orthopaedics, maternal and child healthcare, ear, nose and throat (ENT), and urology.

‘The camp will also provide screening for non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes, as well as cervical and breast cancer screening for women,’ she said.

‘Other services will include routine immunisation, antenatal care, youth-friendly reproductive health services, mental health support, life-skills education and counselling,’ she added.

Furthermore, she said the initiative will further provide diagnostic services and psychological support for survivors of gender-based violence, nutritional education, including the use of seaweed as a sustainable food source, and blood donation services to support local hospitals.

Chairperson of the organising committee and ZMBF board member, Mr Makame Machano Haji, said the camp would bring together more than 100 healthcare professionals certified by the Ministry of Health, including specialists from India.

He said services would be available daily from 8 am to 4 pm, free of charge.

Mr Haji added that the foundation would use the Ministry of Health’s electronic medical records system, Zan-EMR, to collect and store patients’ information while safeguarding their privacy and confidentiality.

‘Patients diagnosed with conditions requiring specialised treatment would receive fully funded referrals arranged by ZMBF to major hospitals within the country or abroad, depending on their medical needs,’ he said.

North Unguja Regional Commissioner Galos Nyimbo urged residents of North B District, the wider North Unguja Region and neighbouring regions, including South and Urban West, to turn out for the camp.

He encouraged residents to take advantage of the opportunity for early screening, noting that diagnostic services, medicines and prescription glasses would be provided free of charge.

‘The camp was open to all Zanzibar residents, regardless of where they lived,’ he insisted.

Yas Manager-the campaign’s main sponsor, Mr Mohamed Wakid Mohamed, said the company’s participation was driven by its commitment to promoting positive social change and giving back to the community.

Zanzibar’s Minister for Health, Mr Ahmed Nassor Mazrui, will officially open the camp on November 3.

It will conclude on November 7 with a five-kilometre walk starting at 6 am at Kitope Grounds, led by First Lady Mama Mariam Mwinyi and Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla.

Mbeya. Motorists and other road users along the Tanzania-Zambia (Tanzam) Highway are beginning to experience relief from prolonged traffic congestion following the opening of 106 upgraded access points under the ongoing road expansion project.

The development coincides with the commencement of tarmac laying along a 1.3-kilometre stretch from Uyole towards Kabwe, forming part of the 29-kilometre Nsalaga-Songwe dual-carriageway project being implemented by the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads).

Road users say the changes have significantly reduced travel time, enabling them to reach their destinations more quickly.

They expect the completed project to improve transport infrastructure and stimulate economic activities.

Speaking to The Citizen’s sister newspaper Mwananchi, several drivers said opening the access routes had eased long-standing congestion, particularly along steep sections of the highway.

Commuter bus driver, Mr Bajani Issa, said the government’s directive requiring Tanroads to open alternative access routes in heavily congested areas had brought considerable relief to motorists.

He said opening the routes in high-traffic sections, including the steep Simike slope, had also created opportunities for economic activities by reducing travel time.

‘Before the intervention, traffic jams could leave vehicles stranded for hours, increasing the risk of accidents involving heavy lorries experiencing brake failures,’ he said.

He expressed optimism that the ongoing construction would further address challenges facing road users.

Similarly, a minibus driver operating between Soko Matola, Kabwe and Uyole, Mr Emily Emily, said opening the alternative routes and commencing tarmac laying marked a positive development for Mbeya’s transport infrastructure.

He commended Tanroads management for supervising the contractor around the clock, saying the 106 access points had significantly reduced traffic queues.

Traders are also beginning to benefit from the improved traffic flow, saying time previously wasted in congestion can now be devoted to their businesses.

A household goods trader, Ms Salome Aloyce, said travelling between Soko Matola and Igawilo to purchase supplies used to take her between three and four hours by public transport because of traffic congestion.

However, she said the situation had improved over the past three days following the opening of the alternative routes, enabling her to complete the journey much faster and concentrate on other business activities.

‘Completion of the project will bring further benefits to traders, transport operators and other members of the public who depend on the highway for their livelihoods,’ he said.

Other residents have urged the government to ensure timely disbursement of funds to enable Tanroads to sustain construction activities until the project is completed.

They noted that Mbeya is an important commercial and transport hub linking different parts of Tanzania with countries in Southern Africa.

Explaining the progress, Tanroads Mbeya Regional Manager, Mr Seleman Bishanga, said construction had accelerated following directives issued by Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi during his inspection tour of the region.

He said the Vice President had expressed concern over the slow pace of implementation and directed the immediate opening of alternative access points in congested areas to improve traffic flow while construction of the main highway continued.

Mr Bishanga confirmed that 106 access points had been opened and made available to road users.

He added that the Vice President had also directed the contractor to accelerate construction.

‘Although some sections had yet to receive tarmac, the first phase of asphalt laying had now covered 1.3 kilometres,’ said Mr Bishanga.

Following the directives, the Tanroads Chief Executive Officer and the Ministry of Works instructed the contractor to increase construction activities and operate around the clock.

Mr Bishanga said three kilometres of road remained to be completed within Mbeya Town, with construction progressing through various stages to ensure timely delivery.

He explained that laying tarmac would help control dust, improve travelling conditions and ease traffic congestion during construction.

He further said the Vice President was closely monitoring implementation and receiving daily progress updates.

Mr Bishanga assured him that construction teams were working day and night to complete the remaining three-kilometre section within Mbeya Town as scheduled.

He added that Tanroads had established mechanisms to monitor all 106 opened access points and promptly address emerging challenges to ensure the safety of road users as work on the main highway continued.

According to Mr Bishanga, the 29-kilometre project, stretching from Nsalaga to Ifisi in Songwe, worth over Sh138 billion, is expected to improve transport, reduce congestion and boost economic productivity across the region.

The contract was signed on February 14, 2023, with a 24-month implementation period awarded to China Henan International Cooperation Group Co Ltd (CHICO), under Tanroads’ supervision.

Dodoma. The Mzangwa family of Chinangali II Village in Chamwino District here has recounted the horrifying moment their father was killed by his own son in front of family members, in a tragedy that has left the community in shock.

“Our father said, ‘Saimoni, if you say you are unwell, what is this hengo [a traditional machete-like tool] for at night? Put the hengo down and tell me properly what is troubling you, my son, even if it means asking us to take care of your children,” recounts the deceased son, Mr Ndolei Mzangwa

His 57-year-old son, Mr Saimoni Ndalu, killed the 81-year-old Ndalu Mzangwa in the early hours of Saturday, October 31, 2026, by striking him at the back of the neck with a traditional cutting tool locally known as a hengo.

After the attack, Saimoni fled as his children pursued him but escaped in the darkness.

He later went to the outskirts of the village, near a hill, where he hanged himself from a tree using a piece of cloth.

Recounting the incident, Ndolei said the deceased was attacked while seated with six family members.

“When the decision to carry the traditional cutting tool was questioned, his wife referred him to the who has lost his mind,’ said Mr Ndolei.

‘However, Mr Saimoni said he had not lost his mind, rather he carried the tool only because it was nighttime, adding that since they had a livestock enclosure, the weapon was need for self defence. Little did we know he had already identified his target,” he added.

Events leading up to the tragedy

Mr Ndolei said that before the incident, his late elder brother had been complaining of severe stomach pains.

Around the same time, his son, Samweli, was also unwell, prompting their elderly father to sell a cow and give Saimoni Sh1 million to seek medical treatment for himself and his child.

“My brother went to hospital with his son for medical tests, carrying enough money. When he returned, our father asked how much he had spent. He replied that he had used about Sh400,000 on tests and medication for both of them. Father advised him to keep the remaining money so that he could return to hospital whenever their condition persisted,” recounts Ndolei.

On the night of the incident, Mr Ndolei was sleeping in the same room as his father, who was experiencing abdominal discomfort.

They planned to pursue further medical tests the following morning.

However, at around 2 am, Emmy, Saimon’s wife who asked them to go and speak to her husband, awakened them.

She said her husband had been asking the family to look after his children because he believed he was nearing the end of his life.

According to Ndolei, before they could reach him, Mr Saimoni arrived and repeated his concerns, saying he was unwell, his body ached, and his life was ending.

He pleaded with them to take care of his children.

During the discussion, Mr Saimoni’s wife suggested that he appeared to have lost his mind, but their eldest son, Samweli, defended his father, insisting that he was mentally sound.

“While we were discussing this, I heard a heavy thud. When I turned around, I saw father had already collapsed, and my brother was running away. His children tried to pursue him, but because it was dark, they became afraid and instead rushed to help the old man, who unfortunately died at the scene,” added Mr Ndolei.

Mother recounts son’s history

Mr Ndalu’s wife and Saimoni’s biological mother, Ms Agnes Mboto, said she was still struggling to understand what had driven her son, whom she described as his father’s favourite, to commit the killing.

She said Mr Saimoni had been particularly close to his father since childhood and was trusted to manage family money whenever livestock was sold.

This was among the reasons he had built his house next to his parents’ home.

“The one who hanged himself was my son. He loved his father deeply. He never drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes. I had never seen him involved in anything unusual until the day he hanged himself. He left behind seven children and two grandchildren, and we depended on and trusted him greatly,” said Ms Mboto.

However, she recalled that Mr Saimoni had experienced a brief episode of unusual behaviour during childhood, although the family did not consider it serious because it lasted only two days.

“I remember that when he was about 10 years old, he came to me crying, saying that many sheep were following him and that he did not want them. Whenever I looked, I could see nothing. He complained of a severe headache, so we gave him ordinary medication, and he recovered. That was when [Julius] Nyerere was fighting Idi Amin [the Kagera War of 1978-1979],” she said.

Ms Mboto, who witnessed her husband being struck, said the family had been questioning Mr Saimoni about his remarks concerning his children and why he was making such statements in the middle of the night.

She said both her husband and Mr Saimoni’s wife had been asking him questions when the attack occurred.

“He stood up as if he was stretching, and without any warning, I heard a heavy thud. Since we were sitting down, my husband fell onto my back. Suddenly, we saw Saimoni running away. I am not sure whether they pursued him at that moment, but in the morning, I heard that he too had been found hanged,” she said.

District Commissioner calls for dialogue

Chamwino District Commissioner Janeth Mayanja said the incident had left the community deeply shocked, particularly because of the family’s account of Mr Saimoni’s previously peaceful conduct.

She said the motive had not yet been established.

“It is true that this incident occurred, and tomorrow they will be buried in that village. The precise reason has not yet been established, but we indeed have this tragedy on our hands. It is deeply painful that children would choose to take the law into their own hands by killing their fathers. These are extraordinary and troubling circumstances, especially considering that he was a grown man,” said Ms Mayanja.

She condemned the killing of a parent, saying family disagreements should be addressed through forgiveness and reconciliation rather than violence.

As the District Defence and Security Committee chairperson, she urged families to strengthen communication with their children and encouraged religious leaders to continue promoting love, peace and reconciliation within communities.

Mr Saimon’s cousin, Mr Daud Mboto, shared similar sentiments, saying he had never witnessed his relative engage in wrongdoing throughout their years together until he received the shocking news that he had killed his father.

He said Mr Saimoni had always been responsible for taking care of his father’s livestock.

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Dodoma. The government has pledged to recruit more teachers in the 2026/27 financial year, prioritising schools with the greatest shortages and graduates who have waited longest for formal employment.

The pledge comes amid a persistent teacher shortage, particularly in science subjects, with the national deficit exceeding 33 percent.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Dr Festo Dugange, told Parliament on Monday, November 2, 2026, that recruitment would continue to address the growing demand, although applicants would have to undergo interviews.

‘Taking into account the country’s demand for teachers, the government has continued recruiting teachers every year to address the shortage,’ he said.

Dr Dugange was responding to Bukoba Rural MP Jasson Rweikiza (CCM), who sought to know when the government would address shortages in primary and secondary schools.

He attributed the growing demand partly to increased enrolment following the introduction of fee-free education and construction of new schools nationwide.

He said the government had recruited 64,772 teachers between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 financial years, including 15,054 in the last financial year.

‘The recruits had been deployed to areas with the greatest demand, particularly rural schools,’ he said.

Despite the recruitment, the country continued to face a shortage of science teachers, partly because most unemployed graduates seeking teaching jobs were not specialised in science subjects.

Dr Dugange said applicants, including those who had volunteered in schools while awaiting formal employment, would still be required to sit interviews.

‘Those seeking employment as teachers must undergo interviews,’ he said, adding that successful candidates would be considered based on their waiting period after graduation and age.

The clarification means voluntary teaching experience does not guarantee employment, although the government will consider how long graduates have waited for jobs.

He said recruitment would continue annually, alongside the filling of vacancies arising from retirement and other departures from the public service.

The government also plans to engage volunteer teachers under the 2026 guidelines on volunteering in the public service.

Meanwhile, preparations are under way to meet growing demand for teachers and school facilities as more pupils are expected to join Form One in 2028.

Arusha. Climate scientists worldwide have been urged to strengthen international cooperation and translate research findings into policies and practical solutions to minimise the effects of climate change on key economic sectors.

The call comes as developing countries, particularly in Africa, continue to face climate-related threats to agriculture, livestock, fisheries, water supplies and infrastructure, undermining sustainable development efforts.

Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba at the opening of the Third Meeting of the Coordinating Lead Authors of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa said scientific collaboration was essential in generating evidence to guide government decisions.

He urged scientists to strengthen knowledge-sharing networks and ensure governments had reliable information to address climate challenges and improve preparedness.

Prof Mbarawa said science should underpin policymaking, which should, in turn, guide investment and drive economic development.

‘Science should guide policies, and policies should guide investment. When we have sound policies based on scientific evidence, investors will come and contribute to the development of our country,’ he said on Monday, November 2, 2026.

He said climate change was no longer a future threat, as its effects were already being felt worldwide, with developing countries and small island states bearing a disproportionate burden despite having limited capacity to respond.

In Tanzania, prolonged droughts, floods and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns were affecting agricultural production, livestock, water availability and livelihoods.

He said the situation demonstrated that climate change was not merely an environmental concern but an issue that needed to be integrated into national development planning.

The government, he added, was strengthening institutions responsible for climate-related matters, particularly the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), while incorporating climate response measures into development plans.

These include promoting climate-smart agriculture, adopting clean technologies and energy sources, and expanding electric-powered railway transport.

Prof Mbarawa also stressed the need to deliver weather information promptly and in accessible language to help farmers, fishermen and livestock keepers make informed decisions, protect investments and minimise losses.

He cited fishermen who sometimes spent considerable time and resources searching for fish without success, saying reliable forecasts could help them plan activities and avoid unnecessary losses.

He said scientific research should produce practical, implementable solutions to challenges facing communities, adding that protecting the environment meant safeguarding lives, the economy and future generations.

The meeting, taking place in Arusha from November 2 to 6, has brought together about 300 scientists from 75 countries.

IPCC Chairperson Jim Skea said the meeting marked an important milestone in preparations for the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), as lead authors worked towards the second draft following thousands of comments on the first.

He said the assessment was becoming increasingly complex due to the expanding scope of climate science, including global warming, potential climate-system tipping points and future climate projections.

IPCC Vice-Chairperson and TMA Director General Ladislaus Changa said the meeting was jointly organised by the IPCC, its Working Group I Bureau and TMA.

He said discussions focused on rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, with findings expected to inform policies and strategies worldwide.

The passing of Prof Geoffrey Raphael Vehaeli Mmari has deprived Tanzania of a distinguished educationist and a public servant of uncommon integrity.

I worked under him when he was Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) from 1988 to 1991. Many will remember the institutions he led.

I remember, above all, the courage he showed when confronted with injustice-and the protection he afforded those who spoke against it.

My most vivid memory concerns the death of a female student, Revina Mukasa, in February 1990, following a period of harassment associated with the notorious clandestine organisation known as ‘Punch’.

To younger readers, Punch may sound like an innocent student publication. It was nothing of the kind. Operating anonymously, it terrorised students, especially women, by posting sexually degrading cartoons, malicious allegations and humiliating drawings on campus walls, often overnight.

Women who resisted unwanted advances or asserted their independence could find themselves publicly ridiculed. Male students who defended them risked being targeted too. Fear spread well beyond the immediate victims: friends and colleagues sometimes kept their distance lest they become the next target.

I understood this cruelty personally. During my own student years at the Faculty of Agriculture in Morogoro, a similar group, the ‘Rovers’, harassed female students, including me. Such intimidation was no harmless undergraduate prank. It attacked women’s dignity and their right to pursue education without fear.

Revina’s death shocked the university community. I prepared and circulated a protest statement demanding action against Punch and accountability for the harassment.

I then went to Prof Mmari’s office and demanded the immediate suspension of the male students suspected of involvement.

I can still see him sitting behind his desk, looking at me with sympathy. He told me that a copy of my statement had already reached him through government channels and that he now had to go to Dodoma to account for it as well.

Those words conveyed the pressures under which he worked. I was a lecturer publicly challenging an entrenched and feared practice.

He was a Vice Chancellor answerable to authorities who did not always welcome outspoken criticism. Another administrator might have rebuked me, disowned my protest or sacrificed me to protect himself. Pro Mmari did not.

He listened, understood why I was angry and did not throw me under the bus. I have never forgotten that moment. For me, it remains the clearest demonstration of his integrity: not simply personal honesty, but the willingness to stand by a colleague, especially a subordinate, when doing so could be uncomfortable.

The tragedy prompted protests and demands for accountability. Disciplinary measures followed, and Punch’s grip on campus life gradually weakened.

Its disappearance cannot be credited to one individual; women students, fellow academics and others fought to end its abuses. But it was Prof Mmari’s leadership that helped lay the foundation for dismantling that culture of intimidation. Revina’s life, and the injustice surrounding her death, must not disappear from our institutional memory.

This was also an exceptionally difficult period for UDSM. President Ali Hassan Mwinyi’s structural adjustment reforms were reshaping Tanzania’s economy. Students faced declining purchasing power and inadequate services, while questions of political accountability and academic freedom generated fierce debate. The major student protests of 1990 culminated in the university’s closure on 12 May.

Prof Mmari preferred dialogue to coercion. I believe that approach was sometimes mistaken for weakness by those who wanted the university brought firmly into political line. When he was replaced in 1991, I regarded his departure as a loss to the university and a warning about the fragility of independent institutional leadership. The government’s private motives cannot be known with certainty; the costs of discouraging dialogue, however, deserve reflection.

Under his leadership, I felt free and encouraged to research the social consequences of structural adjustment, including poverty, food security, gender inequality and social service delivery including health insurance. That work contributed to the Second UDSM Convocation Seminar of April 3-4, 1991, which I organised with his support. President Mwinyi attended and opened the discussions. We were able to bring research and government into direct, serious dialogue.

I trace part of the intellectual foundations of Tanzania’s later social-action programmes, including present-day Tanzania Social Action Fund (Tasaf), to those discussions and the policy work that followed. Ideas often take years to become institutions. A university leader’s contribution is not measured only by papers published during his tenure, but by the freedom he gives researchers to begin difficult work.

Prof Mmari’s resilience was equally remarkable. Having been founding Vice-Chancellor of Sokoine University of Agriculture before coming to UDSM, he later built the Open University of Tanzania into an important avenue of access to higher education. He continued to serve at Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College. When he invited me from my United Nations posting in Nairobi to be guest of honour at a graduation ceremony at Karimjee Grounds, I was touched by the warmth of our reunion.

Tanzania should remember him not only for the universities he helped build, but for the kind of leadership he practised: principled, patient and prepared to listen. My memory will always return to that office in 1990, when defending a young woman’s dignity was politically uncomfortable, and my Vice-Chancellor did not abandon me or condemn my activism for justice to women.

Rest in eternal peace, Prof Mmari. You taught me that integrity is proved most clearly when it carries a cost.

#URLhttps://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/oped/prof-geoffrey-mmari-integrity-when-it-mattered-most-5655002

Dar es Salaam. A $1.2 million investment by a commercial farm in Kilimanjaro has cut water losses and reduced irrigation-related greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 75 percent, offering a model for balancing agricultural production with conservation of shared water resources.

African Plantations Kilimanjaro (APK) has replaced its traditional open-furrow irrigation system with a piped network that uses gravity to transport water from the Weruweru River to its 450-hectare Lambo Estate in Machame.

The upgrade has improved water delivery efficiency while reducing reliance on diesel-powered pumps through the adoption of sprinkler and linear irrigation systems.

According to a report by the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme II (NatuReS II), the changes have reduced irrigation-related greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 75 percent.

The investment is particularly significant for communities and smallholder farmers who depend on the Weruweru River for agriculture, household consumption and other livelihood activities.

APK Project Manager Gabriel Kagume said the decision was driven by the need to maintain commercial production while improving water and energy efficiency and strengthening resilience to climate change.

‘For us, this was not simply about changing an irrigation system. We were looking at how we could continue producing commercially while reducing our dependence on diesel, using water more efficiently and becoming more resilient to the climate change pressures facing the catchment,’ he said.

The investment was undertaken through APK’s participation in the Sustainable Water Management Partnership for the Weruweru sub-catchment (SUWAMA Weruweru).

The association brings together businesses, public institutions, schools, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to address competing demands on water resources.

The partnership includes 14 participating institutions and stakeholders, among them the Pangani Basin Water Board, APK and Dekker Chrysanten.

It provides a platform for discussions on water planning, governance, agricultural requirements, domestic consumption and environmental protection.

Jacob Mallya, chairman of the Weruweru River and a local resident, said improved water conveyance had helped build confidence among users, particularly during dry periods when demand for the resource increases.

‘When a lot of water was lost before reaching the farms, we could feel the pressure, especially during the dry season.

Today, when water is conveyed more efficiently, there is greater confidence that the resource can be shared more fairly,’ he said.

He said the river supported not only commercial farming but also communities whose livelihoods depended on its water.

‘When we use water more efficiently, the wider community can benefit,’ he said, calling for collective responsibility in protecting the resource.

Beyond improving irrigation efficiency, the partnership also supports community-led environmental restoration.

One beneficiary is Violeth Rabson, a 49-year-old farmer from Machame who has planted and maintained approximately 2,100 trees along the Weruweru River to help restore riverbanks and protect the water source.

She participated in the Green Recovery: Launching the Pay to Grow Model project, implemented by Kijani Pamoja through SUWAMA Weruweru with support from GIZ NatuReS II.

The initiative links financial incentives to tree survival, with participants receiving payments based on the number of trees that remain alive.

Under the performance-based arrangement, Ms Rabson receives Sh400 for every surviving tree every three months.

According to the programme report, the additional income has enabled her to invest in farming, purchase livestock and support her son’s education, illustrating how environmental conservation can also improve household livelihoods.

The irrigation upgrade has also delivered measurable climate benefits. The NatuReS II report estimates that the farm avoids approximately 12.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per hectare annually, translating into about 5,760 tonnes across its 450 hectares.

NatuReS II, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by the German development agency GIZ, supported partnerships in the Weruweru area of Kilimanjaro and Usa River in Arusha.

The programme ran in Tanzania from September 2023 to October 2026, addressing shared environmental challenges, including water scarcity, pollution, competing demands for water and catchment degradation.