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Nairobi. Non-tariff barriers, corruption, illicit financial flows, shrinking civic space, the widening digital divide, and fragile peace and security have been identified as among the East African Community’s (EAC) most pressing challenges.

These issues took centre stage at the 2025 East African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Summit, convened in Nairobi under the theme Harnessing EAC Citizens’ Potential and Participation in Regional Integration Processes. The three-day meeting attracted more than 200 civil society leaders, government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and academics from all eight EAC Partner States, including the recently admitted Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Opening the summit, the Executive Director of the East African Civil Society Organisations’ Forum (EACSOF), Ms Lilian Alex, said non-tariff barriers (NTBs) remain one of the main impediments to the EAC’s goal of creating a seamless regional market. She noted that such barriers increase the cost of doing business, frustrate cross-border trade, and particularly disadvantage small and informal traders who lack the capacity to navigate complex border requirements.

“Corruption and illicit financial flows continue to drain national resources, denying citizens access to quality health, education, and infrastructure,” Ms Alex said. “These challenges weaken public trust in institutions and threaten the EAC’s vision of equitable growth.

” She further decried the shrinking civic space across the region, citing increasing incidents of intimidation of journalists, harassment of human rights defenders, and restrictions on election observers. In some cases, she noted, civic actors have been subjected to cross-border surveillance and abductions, eroding confidence in the region’s human rights commitments.

On the technological front, Ms Alex warned that the digital divide remains a persistent challenge, particularly in rural and marginalised areas. She attributed this to weak telecommunications infrastructure, limited broadband access, and uncoordinated digital governance across member states.

“The inability of many citizens to participate in the digital economy is widening socio-economic disparities and limiting civic participation,” she observed. Peace and security also featured prominently in the discussions, with delegates highlighting ongoing tensions and sporadic violence in several border zones.

Participants called for the acceleration of cross-border cooperation frameworks and the operationalisation of early warning systems to prevent conflicts. The summit raised fresh concerns over the extractive sector, where affected communities continue to face displacement, environmental harm, and unmet promises regarding benefit sharing.

Delegates urged partner states to enhance transparency in resource governance and adopt regional standards to safeguard local communities. Gender and social inclusion were also central to the deliberations.

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Zanzibar. When Othman Masoud Othman (OMO) was appointed Zanzibar’s First Vice President, the moment carried deep symbolism.

He was stepping into the shoes of the late political giant Seif Sharif Hamad, a man revered as a pillar of the Isles’ opposition politics and a tireless advocate of democratic ideals. Yet with that honour came an equally heavy burden — the challenge of living up to Seif’s formidable legacy.

OMO, now the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) presidential candidate for Zanzibar, becomes only the second opposition figure to wield comparable political influence in the Isles since the reintroduction of multiparty politics on July 1, 1992. From the historic multiparty election of 1995 through every subsequent poll, Seif dominated Zanzibar’s opposition politics. He embodied the hopes of many who longed for democratic governance, often claiming victory in elections that were later marred by disputes.

His death on February 17, 2021, while serving as First Vice President, created a vacuum that ACT-Wazalendo sought to fill by naming Othman Masoud as his successor. Now, as the 2025 General Election approaches, ACT-Wazalendo has once again placed its confidence in OMO, believing he can lead the party into a new era.

OMO’s political journey began with the belief that he could shoulder the immense expectations that came with succeeding Seif. The comparison itself is both a compliment and a test.

Seif was more than a political leader — he was an institution, commanding respect even among his opponents. For many Zanzibaris, being considered capable of stepping into Seif’s role represents an extraordinary vote of confidence.

Throughout his four years as First Vice President, OMO has worked to define his own political identity. Rather than imitate Seif, he has sought to build upon his mentor’s legacy by focusing on unity, good governance, and the rule of law.

At the same time, he has never shied away from comparisons with the late leader, often expressing admiration for Seif’s moral courage and political consistency. Born on February 7, 1963, in Pandani Village, Wete District, North Pemba Region, OMO attended Pandani Primary School and later pursued secondary education at Fidel Castro Secondary School in Chake Chake, South Pemba.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Dar es Salaam, a Master’s in Law (LLM) from the University of London, and another law degree from the University of Turin, Italy, specialising in intellectual property law. OMO’s career in public service began in 1989 when he joined the Zanzibar government as a state attorney.

Over the years, he held several key positions, including Deputy Attorney General, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief Minister, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Good Governance. In 2002, he became Zanzibar’s first Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), serving in that role for nine years before being appointed Attorney General in 2011 by President Ali Mohamed Shein.

He was relieved of his duties in 2014 after publicly differing with the government on matters related to the Union structure. As he now seeks the presidency, OMO’s campaign is anchored in a message of reform, accountability, and renewed national purpose.

He pledges to restore democratic integrity in Zanzibar by ensuring free and fair elections, a new constitution, and the establishment of an independent electoral commission. Married to Zainab Shaib Kombo and a father of eight, OMO presents himself as a unifier who wants to heal political divisions and advance economic growth through prudent management of public resources.

“I want to return Zanzibar to its rightful owners — the people,” he says, promising to strengthen democracy, combat corruption, and ensure that leadership reflects the will of the electorate. If elected, OMO vows to build on his experience as a seasoned lawyer and reform-minded leader to deliver a modern, prosperous, and just Zanzibar — one that honours Maalim Seif’s enduring dream of a fair and democratic society.

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Dar es Salaam. Experts have said Tanzania is on the cusp of becoming East Africa’s industrial leader, with reliable energy supply emerging as its greatest advantage.

Backed by surplus power generation, vast natural gas reserves, and bold policy commitments, they say, the country is laying the groundwork for a manufacturing-driven economy that could outpace its regional peers. The experts were speaking to The Citizen at different occasions about Tanzania’s position to become an industrial leader in East Africa.

The debate stemmed from a recent “hot” discussion on the country’s Dira 2050 at a recent forum hosted under the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT). They said energy has long been a stumbling block in Africa’s industrialisation drive.

Across the continent, factories sit idle during blackouts, investors pull back from projects due to power insecurity, and governments struggle to maintain growth momentum without affordable electricity. Tanzania, however, the economists say is well positioned to break this cycle by turning its energy wealth into a lever for industrial expansion.

“Energy infrastructure is often referred to as the first domino in the chain of industrialisation because it sets everything else in motion,” said Head of Client Coverage, Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) at Stanbic Bank Tanzania, Mr Elias Ngunangwa. According to him, Tanzania’s emerging surplus in electricity production is changing the game.

“Once that domino falls into place, it unlocks progress in manufacturing, job creation, and inclusive growth. Tanzania is on the path to becoming East Africa’s leader in manufacturing precisely because we are solving the energy equation.

” A sector at the core of Dira 2050 The National Energy Policy of 2015 and the broader Dira 2050 blueprint place energy at the centre of Tanzania’s economic transformation. The government aims to increase power generation to at least 10,000MW by 2040, compared to today’s installed capacity of around 2,400MW, with projects such as the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) contributing 2,115MW alone.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has repeatedly emphasised that “energy is the foundation of industrialisation,” noting earlier this year that Tanzania’s surplus would not only meet domestic demand but also turn the country into “a reliable energy exporter in the region.” This vision aligns with the government’s industrialisation agenda, which pushes for more goods consumed in Tanzania to be produced locally, reducing dependency on imports while creating jobs.

While hydroelectric power remains dominant, droughts have exposed its vulnerabilities. To address this, the government is diversifying through natural gas and renewables.

“Tanzania is blessed with abundant natural gas reserves, including Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay. Gas already fuels major industries in Dar es Salaam and beyond,” noted Ngunangwa.

He described gas as “a critical bridge” that sustains industrialisation while the country scales up renewable projects such as solar and wind. Figures from the Ministry of Energy show that Tanzania has over 57 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, positioning it as one of Africa’s strongest players in energy-driven industrialisation.

Beyond resources, energy infrastructure requires heavy financing. Here, financial institutions like Stanbic Bank have been instrumental.

“It goes beyond traditional lending,” Ngunangwa explained. “We provide tailor-made solutions for energy infrastructure, including green bonds and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

These innovative models are helping to mobilise capital for critical projects like transmission lines.” His views are echoed by Executive Director of Tanzania’s Public-Private Partnership Centre (PPPC), Mr David Kafulila, who noted: “The government cannot rely solely on borrowing or taxes.

PPPs provide technical expertise and capital that accelerate the rollout of infrastructure crucial for industrialisation.” Regional competitiveness Energy ambitions are not confined to Tanzania’s borders.

The country is part of the East African Power Pool and already exports electricity and gas during shortages in neighbouring countries. “Becoming a net exporter of energy will boost Tanzania’s economic influence,” said an independent energy analyst, Ms Happiness Mshana.

“It enhances regional competitiveness by attracting industries that want to operate in a reliable and cost-effective power environment.” She added that with regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Tanzania’s energy strength could underpin broader manufacturing trade across East Africa.

For sectors like cement, steel, glass, and textiles, among the most energy-intensive, Tanzania’s surplus is more than just numbers on a grid. It is a guarantee of stability, a magnet for foreign direct investment, and a driver of local job creation.

“Manufacturing growth follows energy security,” argued an economist at Mzumbe University, Johnson Mboya. “When Tanzania completes the Julius Nyerere project and scales up renewables, it will gain an edge over regional peers like Kenya and Uganda, where energy costs remain a major barrier to industrial growth.

” For Ngunangwa, energy is Tanzania’s ace card. “With infrastructure in place, diversified sources, and regional collaboration, Tanzania is not just preparing for industrialisation, it is positioning to lead it.

” This is a vision strongly tied to Dira 2050, which paints a future where Tanzania is a middle-income country powered by strong industries, advanced infrastructure, and inclusive growth. .

Dar es Salaam. Gold has reclaimed its position as Tanzania’s leading export earner, crossing the $4 billion mark for the first time in years, driven by record-high global prices and growing investor demand for safe-haven assets.

According to the Bank of Tanzania’s (BoT) September 2025 Monthly Economic Review, gold exports jumped 35.5 percent year-on-year to $4.32 billion in the year ending August 2025 — up from $3.19 billion in the corresponding period last year. The BoT attributes the boom to soaring international prices, which climbed to $3,368 per troy ounce in August, compared with $3,340 in July.

“The price of gold bolstered by central bank acquisitions, strong safe-haven demand, and anticipations of interest rate cuts,” the central bank stated in part. The revenue from gold exports has also surpassed travel receipts, which increased to $3.84 billion in the year ending August 2025, compared to $3.77 billion previously, suggesting continued strengthening of tourism activities, as international tourist arrivals grew from 2,051,404 to 2,287,377. Despite the impressive numbers, analysts caution that not all the $4.3 billion from gold exports stays within Tanzania’s economy.

The figure reflects the gross export value, which includes earnings repatriated by foreign-owned mining companies after taxes and operating costs. A lecturer at the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA), Dr Gorah Abdallah, explained that the cost of extraction and the ownership structure of large-scale mines limit how much of the revenue remains onshore.

“Extracting gold requires enormous investments in machinery and technology — something most local companies cannot afford,” he said. “As a result, Tanzania relies heavily on foreign investors or joint ventures.

Much of the export value goes to covering operational expenses, leaving only a portion as net inflows.” Dr Abdallah added that while gold production volumes are high, the retained value in the domestic economy could be low once costs, imports, and profit repatriation are accounted for.

“We need to be cautious and look at the real balance between production costs and actual income,” he said. He added; “The long-term goal should be building local capacity — through education, technical training, and financing — so Tanzanians can play a leading role in extraction and exports.

That’s how the country can secure more value from its resources.” The renewed dominance of gold exports has revived debates about transparency and fair revenue sharing in Tanzania’s mining industry.

Economics expert at Mzumbe University, Prof Haruni Mapesa, said that while the high prices present a golden opportunity for the country, the benefits depend on how effectively the government collects and manages mining revenues. “It’s true that gold comes from both local and foreign companies, including joint ventures.

But converting that into economic growth depends on the transparency of revenue flows — how much companies declare, how much tax is collected, and whether the government gets its rightful share,” he said. Prof Mapesa said that Tanzania has made progress in reforming its mining laws over the past decade, but some contracts remain opaque.

“The government and regulators must review all existing contracts to ensure the country benefits fairly. When prices rise like this, it shouldn’t only be mining companies that gain — Tanzania as a nation should too,” he said.

The mining windfall is also having a macroeconomic impact. In its October 2nd, 2025, Monetary Policy Committee statement, BoT governor Emmanuel Tutuba reported that foreign exchange liquidity in the economy had improved significantly, supported by gold earnings, tourism inflows, and cash crop exports.

“The Shilling was stable against major currencies, appreciating by 8.4 percent against the dollar, compared with a modest appreciation of 0.

7 percent in the preceding quarter,” said Mr Tutuba. He added that reserves remained strong at $6.7 billion, enough to cover more than five months of imports — well above the country’s target and the East African Community benchmark.

“Foreign exchange liquidity is expected to continue improving, supported by seasonal tourism peaks, ongoing cash crop harvests, and high gold prices,” he said. The exports boom aligns with a broader resilience in Tanzania’s economy, which the central bank estimates expanded by 5.

4 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 5.2 percent in the same period in 2024. The key drivers to this growth were mining, agriculture, financial and insurance services, construction, and manufacturing activities.

The central bank projects a growth of more than 6 percent in the second and third quarters, with similar momentum expected in the fourth quarter, supported by strong public and private investment and robust export performance. .