Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on May 5, 2025.
Journalists Win Big at the Samia Kalamu Awards. President Samia Urges Patriotism in Reporting
Tanzanian journalists celebrated a memorable night on May 5, 2025, as they received prestigious honors and substantial prizes at the Samia Kalamu Awards, organized by the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA) in collaboration with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).
The event began with the presentation of sectoral awards, where various government ministries awarded journalists for outstanding stories in specific sectors. Winners received several prizes, including plots of land, motorcycles, smartphones, overseas trips, and a standard cash prize of TSH 5 million, along with a certificate. In total, 20 sectoral awards were presented.
“I expected they would just receive certificates and leave, but what I saw were significant rewards,” President Samia Suluhu Hassan said.
“I must congratulate my ministers — it was as if you were competing among yourselves in awarding prizes. This will motivate journalists to write better, knowing that there’s a competition where they can win awards,” the President added.
Veteran journalists Absalomu Kibanda, Deodatus Balile, Mbaraka Islam, and Hawra Shamte received special recognition from the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports for writing political stories that foster unity rather than division. Each was awarded a cash prize of Tsh 10 million.
President Samia personally presented awards in several categories, including one on clean energy, won by Julius Maricha of The Citizen. The overall excellence in journalism award went to Alfred Mushi of BBC Africa. Special recognition was also given to veteran journalists Tido Mhando and Maryam Hamdan, with each receiving TSh 20 million.
Continue reading here
Tanzania’s Authorities Under Scrutiny as LHRC Questions Silence on Disappearances
The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) on Monday expressed concern over the authorities’ prolonged silence regarding the fate of several missing Tanzanians—some of whom have been disappeared for over eight years, urging law enforcement agencies to provide updates to the families of the missing and to end the practice of enforced disappearances.
LHRC, a Tanzanian non-governmental organisation advocating for human rights and good governance, made the call in its 23rd human rights report, released today, May 5, which assesses Tanzania’s human rights situation in 2024. The police have claimed to be investigating the incidents, promising to share their findings once the investigations are complete.
According to the LHRC, among the missing Tanzanians whose fate remains unknown is journalist Azory Gwanda, who disappeared in 2017. In 2024 alone, the organisation documented 63 disappearances across the country. These include the case of 41-year-old Enock Chambala, a Tanga-based businessperson who reportedly went missing in July 2024.
Other documented cases include Lenga Masunga, a 38-year-old health worker at KCMC Hospital in Kilimanjaro; Shadrack Chaula, a 24-year-old from Mbeya; and CHADEMA leaders Dioniz Kipanya and Deusdedith Soka, who disappeared along with Jacob Godwin Mlay and Frank Mbise. None of these individuals have been accounted for.
In its report, the LHRC warns that these mysterious disappearances pose a grave threat to the right to life and demands an immediate, thorough police investigation. The organisation calls for urgent government action to prevent further occurrences.
Continue reading here
Tanzania and UAE Deepen Ties with Key Cooperation Agreements
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, May 5, 2025, at the State House in Dar es Salaam.
During the meeting, on behalf of the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Abdullah who is on official visit to Tanzania presented President Samia with the “Mother of the Nation Order.” The award recognizes her outstanding achievements and notable efforts in promoting sustainable development and fostering social cohesion.
In addition to discussing the strong friendship and future cooperation between the two countries, the leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral relations.
The first cooperation agreement, signed between Tanzania’s Ministry of Health and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focuses on supporting the construction of the Emirates Hospital in Tanzania’s Kagera Region.
The second cooperation agreement was signed between the Tanzania Ministry of Mining and the UAE government on promoting investment in the mining sector.
Continue reading here
This is it for today, and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter (see left), following us on X (Twitter) (here), or you can support us (here). And if you have any questions or comments, please drop a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com .
