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Dar es Salaam. The government is confident that four Tanzanian football clubs, Yanga, Simba, Azam FC, and Singida Black Stars–are poised to make history by reaching the group stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

Gerson Msigwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, and government spokesperson, made the remarks while commenting on the outcomes of the first-leg matches in the CAF group stage qualifiers. According to Msigwa, Simba, representing Tanzania in the Champions League, and Azam FC, competing in the Confederation Cup, have already taken a major step toward qualification following strong away victories.

Simba thrashed Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini 3-0, while Azam FC secured a 2-0 triumph over KMKM of Zanzibar. Both teams now need only a draw in their return legs to confirm their spots in the next stage.

Singida Black Stars, who drew 1-1 against Flambeau du Centre of Burundi, require just a goalless draw in the second leg to advance to the group stage of the Confederation Cup. Regarding Yanga, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Malawi’s Silver Strikers in the Champions League first leg, Msigwa expressed strong confidence in their ability to overturn the deficit.

Yanga need at least a 2-0 win over Malawi’s Silver Strikers FC to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage. “Despite the loss, Yanga played well and created several scoring opportunities.

With careful preparation ahead of the return leg, I am confident they can win and secure a place in the group stage,” said Msigwa. He added that the government has been closely monitoring all matches and believes this is a historic moment for Tanzanian football.

“I have watched all the games, and I am certain that having four Tanzanian teams reach the group stages will be a landmark achievement for our country,” he said. In a morale-boosting initiative, Msigwa revealed plans to visit all four teams’ camps to encourage players and personally deliver the ‘Mama’s Goal’ funds, provided by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The incentives are set at: Simba Sh15 million, Azam FC Sh10 million, and Singida Black Stars Sh5 million. With strong performances in the first-leg fixtures, Tanzanian football fans are hopeful the country will celebrate an unprecedented achievement in CAF competitions.

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Dodoma. The A large-scale training initiative bringing together more than 1,000 farmers and small-scale processors from Dodoma, Singida, Iringa, and Mbeya has commenced, marking a major step in government efforts to empower rural producers and transform agriculture into a modern, profitable sector.

The programme, launched yesterday, seeks to equip farmers, particularly youth and women, with advanced skills in agribusiness, value addition, and entrepreneurship. It also aims to enhance access to modern technology, infrastructure, and markets as part of broader strategies to industrialise the sector and promote inclusive economic growth.

Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities), Ms Zuhura Yunus, said the government remains steadfast in supporting farmers to move from subsistence production to sustainable, commercial agriculture. She urged participants to stay committed despite the challenges they face, noting that agriculture demands patience, endurance, and long-term vision.

“The government recognises the gaps in the value chain, and that is why we have brought you together to gain the knowledge needed to address them,” she said. Ms Yunus underscored the critical role agriculture continues to play in Tanzania’s economy, contributing 26.5 percent of GDP, employing about 65 percent of the workforce, and accounting for nearly 30 percent of export earnings.

She added that the sector holds vast potential for wealth creation and job opportunities through the sale and processing of agricultural produce. She further explained that the training aligns with the country’s long-term development goals, as outlined in the Dira 2050, which aspires to build a competitive, diversified economy underpinned by industrialisation and a skilled labour force.

Dodoma Regional Administrative Secretary, Aziza Mumba, observed that the processing industry still faces hurdles, particularly due to a shortage of technical expertise and limited capital. “Some processors struggle even to design quality packaging and often import simple materials such as label paper,” she said.

The Director General of the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Dr Thomas Bwana, said his institution would oversee the training to ensure that participants benefit fully. He noted that the programme is part of wider efforts to strengthen resilience and uplift farmers from low-income levels by boosting productivity and confidence in their work.

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Dar es Salaam. The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has stepped up efforts to bridge the long-standing gap between academia and the labour market through a modern teaching methodology framework and enhanced collaboration with the private sector under the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) project.

The initiative, launched in 2021, aims to equip graduates with practical skills, provide lecturers with industrial exposure and strengthen ties with employers to improve job prospects for young professionals. As part of this effort, UDSM has established Industry Advisory Committees (IACs) to advise the university on curriculum development, research, innovation and community engagement.

Speaking yesterday during a meeting between the university’s Vice Chancellor and editors from various media outlets, HEETUDSM Deputy Project Coordinator Prof Liberato Haule said the initiative is helping address graduate unemployment by ensuring university programmes are aligned with labour market needs. “We developed guidelines for modern teaching methodologies that guided curriculum developers in designing relevant programmes.

The goal was to ensure young people are equipped with practical and up-to-date skills matching industry demands,” he said. Prof Haule added that the project has also strengthened partnerships with the private sector and employers through the development of collaboration guidelines that help integrate employment-oriented components into university curricula.

He noted that the framework allows lecturers to gain practical experience in workplaces to enhance their teaching effectiveness. “It was discovered that some lecturers were teaching business-related subjects without having any actual business experience.

The project now enables them to undertake industrial attachments to bridge that gap,” he explained. So far, through HEET, UDSM has facilitated internships for more than 100 graduates and 1,800 field practical, provided hands-on work experience, while 38 lecturers have benefited from industrial placements to enhance their professional competence.

To deepen the link between academia and industry, the university has also introduced Adjunct Staff, professionals with practical field expertise who teach and mentor students. Prof Haule revealed that about 250 curricula have been approved by the University Senate, including 94 in HEET’s priority disciplines, exceeding the original target of 60. “A total of 32 programmes have been accredited by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), 19 of which are in priority disciplines, while two programmes will be offered fully online,” he said.

UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof William Anangisye said the $49.5 million (about Sh121 billion) project has created a unique opportunity to enhance infrastructure, build academic capacity, modernise curricula and expand the university’s contribution to national development. “This includes constructing modern classrooms, laboratories, workshops and digital learning centres.

Through HEET, UDSM is also developing new campuses in Lindi and Kagera regions and the expansion of its Institute of Marine Sciences in Zanzibar. Prof Anangisye noted that UDSM has achieved about 80 percent implementation progress since the project began, noting that the new Ngongo and Ruangwa campuses in Lindi, comprises of nine buildings and three buildings in Kagera at advanced stages of completion.

Additionally, the university is finalising 11 new teaching and office buildings, which have reached 75 percent completion, alongside student hostels accommodating 51 postgraduate and 386 undergraduate students. “The project has also improved UDSM’s ICT infrastructure, increasing internet capacity from 1.

5 Mbps to 10 Mbps, ensuring faster and more reliable connectivity,” he said. Modern teaching equipment has been installed in lecture halls with a combined capacity of 8,000 students, enhancing both digital and in-person learning experiences.

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Dar es Salaam. With only seven days left before the General Election, CCM presidential candidate and Head of State, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has assured Tanzanians that the nation remains peaceful and secure, urging citizens to turn out in large numbers to cast their votes.

Speaking during a campaign rally at Kuche grounds in Kinyerezi, Ilala District, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, President Hassan said security and defence forces across the country were well-prepared and fully equipped to ensure safety throughout the election period. “On the safety of our citizens, I said it yesterday, but let me repeat it again today.

Our security and defence organs are well-prepared, and we have strengthened their capacity. The nation is safe at all times,” she said.

“Whether during the election or not, we are safe. These minor threats people are spreading around, if you hear them, just ask those behind them.

I want to assure all Tanzanians: go out and vote; we are secure,” she added. On Tuesday, during a campaign rally at Leaders Club in Kinondoni, President Samia told supporters that the only processions expected on election day, October 29, would be Tanzanians walking to polling stations to vote.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, she reiterated that there was no cause for alarm and that the country remained stable. “I took an oath to serve Tanzania, and that is exactly what I am doing.

I swore to protect the nation, to uphold the dignity of Tanzanians. When I ensure people have clean water, children access education, and citizens enjoy health services and security, that is honouring human dignity,” she said.

President Hassan also downplayed personal attacks directed at her during the campaign period, saying she was ready to bear them for the sake of unity and national service. “My brothers and sisters, leave the insults to me.

I will carry them on your behalf. Even our prophets suffered for the sake of others: Jesus was crucified to redeem humanity, and Prophet Muhammad endured pain in fulfilling God’s command to save his people,” she said.

The CCM presidential candidate further called on residents of Ubungo and Kinondoni to vote massively for the ruling party. “I have no pain in carrying these insults because I am doing this job wholeheartedly.

I have no regrets. Therefore, I ask all of you in Ubungo and Kinondoni to vote for us.

Not even a soda bottle cap will be lost,” she said. .

Zanzibar. The ACT-Wazalendo party says its campaign to win the Zanzibar presidency relies on two key strategies of mobilising enough votes and safeguarding the outcome through well-trained polling agents.

According to the party, which has fielded Othman Masoud Othman as its presidential candidate, the task of securing votes has been entrusted to special campaign teams known as OMO Teams. ACT-Wazalendo’s Zanzibar Vice Chairperson, Ismail Jussa, said the teams began operations before the official campaign period and have been working continuously as campaigns enter their final phase.

Speaking in an interview, Jussa–who also chairs the party’s Zanzibar Victory Committee–said the OMO Teams were driving the effort to ensure Mr Othman, popularly known as “OMO”, secures the presidency. He explained that the party had restructured its regional, constituency and branch leadership committees into victory teams, empowering them to mobilise support within their localities.

“We transformed our leadership committees into victory teams and strengthened them by bringing in new members who can help at the grassroots. Their role is to lead and supervise campaign efforts,” he said.

He added that the OMO Teams comprise groups of youths, women and elders tasked with seeking votes for Othman in both Pemba and Unguja. “These are what we call ‘barefoot soldiers’ — the ones moving house to house, each targeting their own demographic.

Youths engage with young people, women with women, and elders with their peers,” Jussa said. He noted that 32 of the teams are in Unguja and 18 in Pemba, covering all 50 constituencies.

Jussa expressed confidence that Othman would emerge victorious in the October 29 polls, saying ACT-Wazalendo had followed the campaign schedule set by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) without interruption. “We have held nearly all our rallies except one that was cancelled following the death of CCM’s Fuoni parliamentary candidate, Abbas Mwinyi.

We have reached almost every constituency to promote OMO’s candidacy,” he said. At a rally held at Ole Kianga Laurent grounds in South Pemba, ACT-Wazalendo Deputy Secretary General for Zanzibar, Omar Ali Shehe, said the party had covered 33 out of its 36 planned constituency rallies.

“Our campaign is nearing completion, and we are very encouraged by the support we’ve received. My message to the other side is simple–prepare to work with Othman because this wave is unstoppable,” he said.

Jussa said beyond the rallies, Othman has been meeting with different social and economic groups daily, including farmers, fishers, traders, entrepreneurs, and religious leaders. “He also visits markets and interacts with communities affected by challenges such as land disputes.

This has brought him closer to the people and strengthened our connection with voters,” Jussa said. On safeguarding votes, Jussa said the party has deployed agents to all polling stations to monitor the voting and counting process.

“We know that’s where the biggest challenges arise, but ACT-Wazalendo is well prepared to protect our victory and ensure all our candidates, from councillors to the presidency, are declared winners,” he said. “We have no doubt about our victory because the numbers don’t lie.

Our campaign has been scientific, data-driven, and we are already ahead. The task now is to ensure high voter turnout,” he added.

At a rally in Ole, Othman urged voters to turn out in large numbers on election day. “Zanzibaris and ACT supporters, go out and vote peacefully with confidence.

We are the winners, and we must protect that victory. No one should stay at home,” he told the crowd.

Jussa said their confidence stemmed from the calibre of their candidate. “Othman commands broad respect due to his history and principles.

He understands Zanzibar’s quest for full autonomy better than anyone,” he said. He recalled that Othman’s decision to walk out of the 2014 Constituent Assembly, where he served as Attorney General, after disagreeing with CCM on parts of the proposed constitution, demonstrated his integrity and commitment to Zanzibar’s interests.

Although that move cost him his position under then-President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, it earned him lasting respect among Zanzibaris. “Othman knows Zanzibar’s political and historical landscape inside out.

He has maintained strong networks and goodwill across the political spectrum,” Jussa said. He added that the party’s decision to field candidates who won internal primaries and its firm stance against corruption had boosted its credibility.

“ACT-Wazalendo has demonstrated unity and discipline. Ninety-five percent of our candidates were approved by the Central Committee.

And our open opposition to corruption gives us moral strength heading into this election,” Jussa said. .

Dar es Salaam. When Lucy John (not her real name) urgently needed financial assistance, she turned to a microfinance institution (name withheld) for help.

The institution swiftly approved her request for Sh20 million, a relief she accepted without thoroughly reviewing the loan terms. The only detail she recalled was that the interest rate stood at 20 percent.

Three months later, she learnt the hard way what failing to read the fine print meant. After delaying repayment for three months, Lucy deposited Sh15 million, only to be told she still owed Sh5 million in principal, Sh12 million in penalties and another Sh12 million in interest.

“I was shocked. Even though the interest was S million, I didn’t expect the penalties to be so high.

I tried to negotiate with the loan officer to reduce them, since I planned to settle the debt in December, but she insisted on the same amount,” she said. Her experience highlights a crucial lesson: borrowers must read and fully understand their loan agreements before signing.

Many Tanzanians find themselves trapped in costly contracts because they overlook key details such as interest rates, repayment schedules, and penalties. The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has repeatedly warned the public against borrowing from unlicensed microfinance institutions, citing exploitation through excessive interest rates, hidden charges, and punitive penalties.

Some lenders, BoT says, have charged borrowers up to 20 percent interest per month. To protect consumers, BoT introduced the Guidelines on Fees and Charges for Microfinance Service Providers, 2024, which require licensed lenders to clearly display their rates, fees, and penalties in both Kiswahili and English.

They must also seek BoT’s approval before introducing or increasing charges. The guidelines prohibit operational fees such as administrative or inquiry costs to prevent unfair burdens on borrowers.

Non-compliant institutions risk penalties of up to Sh20 million and possible licence suspension or revocation. BoT has also urged borrowers to verify whether a lender is licensed, noting that operating a microfinance business without a licence is a criminal offence under the Microfinance Act, 2018. BoT Governor Emmanuel Tutuba stressed the importance of understanding loan contracts before borrowing.

“Borrowers must assess their financial capacity and ensure they can meet repayment obligations. A loan agreement is a legally binding document–ignorance of its terms is not a defence,” he said.

Tanzania Association of Microfinance Institutions (TAMFI) Executive Secretary, Winnie Terry, said members under the association’s umbrella are not allowed to charge more than 3.5 percent interest monthly.

“We only regulate institutions affiliated with us. Those operating outside remain unmonitored, which is why BoT required all microfinance providers to register,” she said, adding that penalties vary by institution, making it vital for borrowers to read every clause carefully.

Independent analyst Christopher Makombe said some microfinance institutions continue to impose illegal interest rates of up to 20 percent monthly–equivalent to an annual rate exceeding 790 percent–leaving borrowers trapped in debt. “Such rates are exploitative,” he said.

“They prevent households and small businesses from growing and destabilise families financially.” Mr Makombe urged BoT and the Fair Competition Commission to strengthen oversight, enforce interest caps, and ensure transparency in loan contracts.

He also called for stronger financial literacy efforts. “Many borrowers sign contracts without understanding compound interest, penalties, or the impact of delayed payments,” he said.

“Always read the fine print, ask questions, and ensure the loan matches your repayment capacity. What you don’t know can cost you your peace of mind, your business, and your future.

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Dar es Salaam. Mobile money subscriptions in Tanzania have nearly doubled over the past four years, signalling a major shift in how citizens interact with financial services, agriculture, education and even politics.

In 2020, the country recorded just over 32 million active mobile money subscriptions. By 2024, that figure had almost doubled to 63 million.

The momentum has continued into this year, with active subscriptions rising by 5.3 percent between June and September alone–from 68.1 million to 71.7 million.

According to the FinScope Tanzania 2023 survey, mobile money adoption increased from 60 percent in 2017 to 72 percent in 2023, making it the primary means of financial transactions for many Tanzanians, particularly those in rural areas. Financial and economic analysts say the digital economy is rapidly becoming a reality as more people gain access to fast and convenient financial services.

However, they stressed the need for continued investment in public education, as incidents of fraud remain a concern. Statistics released by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for July to September 2024 show that the mobile money market is dominated by three major players–M-Pesa, Airtel Money and Mixx by Yas–which together control about 89 percent of all subscriptions.

M-Pesa leads with a 40.9 percent market share, reflecting its strong presence in both urban and rural areas. While the number of accounts has grown significantly, the number of transactions has increased more modestly–from 3.

4 trillion over the past four years to 3.7 trillion in the most recent reporting period.

Commenting on the findings, a senior economics lecturer at the University of Dodoma (Udom), Dr Lutengano Mwinuka, attributed the surge to the integration of government systems, which now allow people to send and receive money between banks and mobile wallets, as well as withdraw cash at mobile agents. “In previous years, this was difficult due to the nature of the systems in place.

But technologies have since advanced and as a result, the digital economy is becoming a reality. Many sectors are now using digital systems for payments,” said Dr Mwinuka.

However, he cautioned that telecom companies and authorities still have a duty to educate users, as many continue to fall victim to scams. “Some people still send money to unknown individuals.

System security must also be improved,” he added. A senior lecturer in Finance and Banking at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Tobias Swai, said several sectors–including schools, hospitals and colleges–have increasingly embraced mobile money for transactions.

He welcomed the positive trend but raised concerns about high transaction fees, which he said could discourage users from fully embracing digital financial services. “There’s a need to review these charges,” said Dr Swai.

“We have seen systems being integrated, such as TIPPS, which links mobile money with banks. This growth reflects people’s increasing adoption of such systems.

Authorities and telecoms have also made great strides in educating the public on the importance of mobile money.” In general, TCRA Director General Jabiri Bakari said the communications sector continued to record notable growth during the quarter ending September 2025, underscoring its vital role in advancing Tanzania’s digital transformation and socio-economic development.

“The sector remained resilient and adaptive, reflecting increased investment, innovation and consumer uptake across telecommunications, broadcasting and postal and courier services,” the report noted. .