Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on February 20, 2025.
Two Presidential Commissions Launched to Address Ngorongoro Saga
Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has officially launched two commissions to evaluate the ongoing land conflict in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and to assess the voluntary relocation of its residents.
The two commissions, launched following a promise made by the President during a meeting with Ngorongoro representatives in Arusha late last year, are set to operate for a period of three years.
The first commission, tasked with reviewing the land dispute, will be led by Judge Dr. Gerald Ndika. The second commission, focused on evaluating the voluntary relocation of residents, will be headed by Engineer Musa Iyombe.
During the launch, President Samia urged the commissioners to approach their work with confidence, integrity, and high professionalism, while prioritizing the national interest.
“We have great faith in your abilities. We believe you will help us overcome this challenge, and as is our tradition, we will find solutions to our problems through our own knowledge—that is the essence of Tanzania’s independence,” she said.
The Ngorongoro issue has been a topic of national debate for over 30 years, with human rights activists voicing concerns about the violations faced by the local residents, including a recent plan to relocate more than 110,000 people living in the Ngorongoro area.
On August 18, 2024, hundreds of Maasai people: men, women, and children gathered to protest against the denial of their basic rights, discrimination, and the loss of their ancestral land in Ngorongoro. The protests were part of ongoing opposition to the government’s relocation plan.
The government justifies the relocation as a necessary step to protect the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site. While officials insist the relocation is voluntary, there have been signs that some elements may forcefully relocate residents.
Wasira Meets Acting U.S. Ambassador, Assures Him of Free and Fair Elections
Stephen Wassira, the Vice Chairman of CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) in mainland Tanzania, met with Andrew Lentz, the Acting U.S. Ambassador, who visited CCM’s Sub-Office on Lumumba Street in Dar es Salaam for discussions.
According to a statement released by the ruling party official social media pages, the two discussed various matters, including the upcoming election. Wassira assured the Acting Ambassador that his party would ensure the election is free and fair.
Wasira mentioned that CCM is continuing preparations for the election and expects to win, citing the successful implementation of their 2020-2025 election manifesto.
The General Election in Tanzania is scheduled to take place in October this year and will include the election of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Members of Parliaments, and Councillors. In Zanzibar, the election will also involve electing the President of Zanzibar and members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives.
In addition, Wassira told the Acting Ambassador that his party is ready to engage with opposition parties, as the philosophy of CCM’s Chairman and the President of the United Republic of Tanzania is based on the 4R principles: Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Rebuilding.
This meeting comes amid claims from opposition parties, particularly CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo, who continue to demand reforms in the entire election system, citing the lack of fairness, especially after the Civil Polls in November 2024.
15 People Arrested in Connection with the LBL Pyramid Scheme Company
The Tanzania Police Force in the regions of Mbeya, Morogoro, and Mtwara has arrested individuals involved in the Leo Beneth London(LBL) Company, which is implicated in a pyramid scheme. The company was collecting money online from various people without the necessary approval from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).
Speaking to the media, the Acting Police Commander for Mbeya Region, ACP Wilbert Siwa, said that the police, in collaboration with officials from the Bank of Tanzania, tracked down the company and discovered that it was conducting financial activities illegally. This led to the arrest of five suspects.
“The suspects, through the company, have been sending special links to customers to join online, and then the customers are required to pay amounts ranging from 50,000 Tanzanian Shillings to 540,000 Tanzanian Shillings,” said ACP Siwa.
The arrested suspects include Gerald Masanya, the Company Manager; Saphina Mwamwezi; Edda William; Yohana Mkinda; and Macrine Sinkala.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that BLB Mbeya Media Limited has been collecting money from the public online without following any legal procedures,” ACP Siwa added.
Additionally, the police in Morogoro region arrested seven people associated with the company, while three suspects were arrested in Mtwara.
Pyramid schemes have been a recurring issue in Tanzania, despite several measures previously taken by the government. The most recent case involved the Kaylinda company, which swindled thousands of Tanzanians, including university students, workers, and female entrepreneurs, who sold their property to invest in these fraudulent schemes.
The Illusion of Reform: Unmasking the 4Rs and the Legacy of Mediocrity
As soon as she took the helm in 2021, following the demise of her predecessor, who had posed as a male chauvinistic messiah, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in her customary attire and with a calm tone, pronounced her ‘philosophical stance and vision’ of the 4Rs philosophy (Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Rebuilding), complemented by the slogan ‘Kazi Iendelee,’ which can be translated as ‘let the work continue’.
The hysteria was well precipitated amongst the public, academicians and politicians , including very much myself to say the least and be frank. Even though some remained skeptical, a bunch of us fell to another political theatric of CCM and CCM led government.
4Rs – what a wonderful and intriguing coinage we thought.
So exhumed by the autocratic leadership of her predecessor, in the name of democracy, a new dawn is all that we wanted and craved for. In our desperate self, we fell to the pure cheap political stunt.
The 4Rs have been amplified in every platform, style and manner imaginable and unimaginable. Just to offer “praise” where due, I would definitely say, the branding has been exquisite – take note this is sarcastic. In a rather serious note, one ought to pose, to what significance is all this branding?
As much as she may opt to engage in every kind of political delusion, Samia, in great substance, is very much kith and kin to her predecessor. She appeals to state autocracy and has no genuine concern about the principles and standards of democracy. She, just like her peer, has been intoxicated with the strong brew of power; and she now cannot hide as she walks and fumbles with a “low-key” iron fist.
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