Zanzibar — A TOTAL of 50,769 candidates, equivalent to 96.94 per cent have passed the 2025 Standard Seven National Examinations, the Zanzibar Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has announced. Releasing the results at a press briefing held over the weekend at the ministry’s offices in Mazizini, the Executive Director of the Zanzibar Examinations Council (ZEC), Dr Rashid AbdulAziz Mukki, said the pass rate had increased slightly by 0.28 percentage points from last year’s 96.66 per cent. This year, 53,456 candidates were registered for the exams, comprising 27,144 girls (50.78 per cent) and 26,312 boys (49.22 per cent). Dr Mukki noted that the number of candidates rose by 6,508 (12.17 per cent) compared to 46,948 in 2024, with 87.73 per cent coming from public schools and 12.27 per cent from private schools. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Dr Mukki said that 296 candidates with special...

Nairobi — Police in Nairobi on Tuesday arrested six activists who staged a protest outside the Tanzanian High Commission in solidarity with Tanzanians accusing President Samia Suluhu’s administration of repression and human rights abuses. The group, led by activists Julius Kamau and Odhiambo Ojiro, was dispersed by officers in uniform and plain clothes before being handcuffed and taken to Central Police Station. Witnesses said the activists had marched to the embassy while chanting and holding placards, briefly addressing the press before police moved in to break up the gathering. Activist Geoffrey Mboya said the protest was intended to support Tanzanians planning Independence Day demonstrations demanding political reforms. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines “We’re here to express support for the people of Tanzania as they demonstrate against a dictatorship,” he said. “We are part of the East Africa Community, and whatever happens in Tanzania affects all...

Cape Town — Security forces patrolled major cities across Tanzania on Monday as the country marked Independence Day under heavy military and police presence, while anti-government protests have yet to materialize. Residents in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, Mwanza, and other urban centers reported an unusually slow start to the day, with many people choosing to remain indoors amid uncertainty over whether demonstrations would occur. The government cancelled traditional Independence Day celebrations as officials sought to prevent protests called in response to alleged killings and disappearances after October’s disputed presidential election. The tension stems from the October 29 presidential election, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of the vote – a result opposition parties immediately rejected as fraud after the disqualification of their key candidates. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Violent protests erupted in the following days, met with...

Nairobi — Kenyan human rights defender are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of six activists arrested on Tuesday outside the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi during a solidarity protest condemning state repression by President Samia Suluhu’s administration. The activists–Fredrick Ojiro, Kelvin Morara, Elisha Alam, Julius Kamau, Lichuma, and Shem–were detained after staging what organisers described as a peaceful petitioning exercise calling for accountability over reported killings and disappearances in Tanzania since the disputed October presidential election. Police officers in uniform and plain clothes moved in shortly after the group began chanting, marching, and holding placards outside the embassy. The activists were handcuffed and taken to Central Police Station. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid confirmed that the organisation’s Rapid Response Officer, Fredrick Ojiro, was among those arrested, sharply criticising Kenyan authorities for what he described as a violation of...

Belgium — FORMER Tanzanian President, Dr Mrisho Kikwete, who is also the Chairperson of the Board of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), speaks with the Vice Chairperson of GPE, Ms Christine Hogan, during the global education institution’s meeting held this week in the Belgian capital, Brussels. Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete participates in a panel discussion at the 23rd Doha International Conference together with Ghana’s former President John Dramani Mahama, Khalifa Jassim Al Kuwari, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, and Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Doha, Qatar, today, December 8, 2025. Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete holds talks with Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar. Also present in the negotiations is the Tanzanian envoy to Qatar, Ambassador Habib Awesi Mohamed. Source link

To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council Your Excellencies, Following the Tanzanian authorities’ brutal response to widespread protests that took place in the aftermath of the 29 October 2025 presidential and legislative elections, and in light of the ongoing crackdown on dissenting voices and of risks of further violence, we, the undersigned civil society organisations, urge Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council to enhance their engagement with the United Republic of Tanzania and take action to prevent further abuses. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines In line with the Council’s prevention mandate, as expressed in particular in Council resolution 45/31, the Council should hold a debate following a public briefing by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. If needed, stronger action could follow, including the convening of a special session of the Council...

Dodoma — THE Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has submitted a clarification report to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) following the unrest that occurred in the country on October 29, 2025. The report was presented during an emergency virtual meeting of the committee. While presenting the report, Kombo stated that the events of October 29, 2025, resulted in extensive destruction of infrastructure, government offices, and private property, as well as the burning of police stations, and led to deaths and injuries. He said that following the unrest, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, established an Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence that occurred during and after the General Elections. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines The commission has been given three months to complete its work and submit a full...

Dodoma — A total of 5,211 Trustees’ Boards, including 2,876 for community institutions and 2,161 for religious institutions, have been registered by the Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA), according to the latest data. The agency’s Administrator General, Mr Frank Kanyusi, said in Dodoma recently during the opening of a Trustees’ Boards meeting involving five regions that the agency has also registered 19 boards of trustees for political parties, 24 for sports organisations and 150 family boards. The event was attended by stakeholders from Dodoma, Morogoro, Singida, Iringa and Manyara. He noted that under the Trustees’ Incorporation Act, Chapter 318, RITA is mandated to oversee the registration and operations of these boards. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines He also highlighted challenges faced by some boards, including poor asset management, limited understanding of the law, unconstitutional leadership changes, frequent conflicts and misappropriation or misuse of institutional...

Dar es Salaam — Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has said that Tanzania Startup Week 2025 marks a major step in the country’s drive to build an innovation-led economy. He said that startups will play a central role in steering the country toward its Vision 2050 target of achieving a 1 trillion US dollar upper-middle-income economy. Speaking yesterday during the Tanzania Startup Week 2025 closing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Dr Nchemba said the annual event has become “a national platform, where the country’s brightest innovators, investors, policymakers and industry leaders converge to connect ideas with opportunities and national priorities.” According to him, the week reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the innovation ecosystem, creating new in dustries, expanding youth employment and enhancing Tanzania’s global competitiveness. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn “This platform provides national visibility to homegrown solutions transforming agriculture, health, education, finance and...

Zanzibar — ZANZIBAR has recorded significant progress in HIV treatment, with nearly all diagnosed patients now on antiretroviral therapy (ARVs). However, a recent national review shows that women and young people aged 25-34 remain the most affected, particularly by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that increase the risk of HIV infection. A total of 10,241 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Unguja and Pemba are currently receiving care, including 9,842 patients–equivalent to 96 per cent–who are on ARVs, according to a Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC) report. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines ZAC Board Chairperson, Dr Ali Salim Ali, released the figures while presenting the latest HIV situation report at Sheikh Idriss Abdul Wakil Hall in Kikwajuni, during a World AIDS Day stakeholders’ gathering. According to the report, 2,990 patients (30.4 per cent) are men, while 6,852 (69.6 per cent) are women, indicating higher access to HIV...