Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on June 09, 2025.
President Samia Urges Police to Stay Prepared Ahead of General Elections
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has called on the Tanzania Police Force to be well-prepared to continue controlling any signs of unrest as the country approaches the general elections.
President Samia issued these directives during the graduation ceremony of 955 police officers and inspectors who completed six months of training at the Dar es Salaam Police Academy (DPA) in Kurasini, on June 9, 2025.
“We should not wait for peace to be disrupted,” said President Samia. “We must control any indicators of unrest early.”
Tanzania is expected to hold general elections in October this year for the President, Members of Parliament, and Councilors on the Mainland, as well as for the President of Zanzibar and members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Camillus Wambura, emphasized that the Tanzania Police Force is committed to jealously guarding the country’s peace and stability throughout the election period.
“Your Excellency, we assure you this country is safe. It is peaceful. This Police Force will not tolerate anyone who attempts to disrupt peace for any reason,” said IGP Wambura.
On another note, President Samia urged the newly trained inspectors and officers to uphold and practice high ethical standards in order to maintain the integrity of the institution and strengthen public trust in law enforcement agencies.
Gwajima Church Deregistration Saga: State Attorneys Queried Deregistration Letters, High Court Dismisses Objection
The High Court has dismissed the State’s objection in the case concerning the deregistration of Ufufuo na Uzima Church, allowing the matter to proceed to a full hearing.
Represented by Advocate Peter Kibatala, the Registered Trustees of Glory of Christ Tanzania Church requested emergency protection from the court while their appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs is still pending.
The State, represented by Principal State Attorney Ms. Vivian Method and assisted by Ms. Narindwa Sekimanga, Mr. Erigi Rumisha, and Ms. Kumbukeni Kondo, raised a preliminary objection. They argued that the deregistration letter was addressed to an entity called “Glory of Christ Church”, not “Registered Trustees of Glory of Christ Tanzania Church”, the official name of the applicant. Therefore, they claimed, no official decision had been made directly against the applicant, and thus, there was nothing for the court to stop or block.
The State attorneys also questioned the authenticity of the letter, saying it was obtained through social media, calling it “speculation and non-existent.”
In response, Advocate Kibatala admitted that the letter was not officially addressed to the church and had not been formally received. However, he emphasized that these issues are part of the grounds raised in the church’s appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs.
He also informed the court that despite these irregularities, police had already stopped church services and detained several members. The church argued that its constitutional right to freedom of worship was under threat and asked the court to stop the police and the Registrar of Societies from interfering with their religious activities until the appeal is resolved.
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The Illusion of Unity—Who Truly ‘Belongs’ in Tanzania?
A scene from Scandinavia with Simon Reeve, a BBC TV series, shows a mother and her daughter arguing over whether the Somalis who migrated to Sweden actually belong to the Scandinavian nation. The mother, addressing her daughter who is part of criminal activities, is categorical in her insistence that the children, though born in Sweden, must understand that they’re just “refugees and guests” there. Her daughter says no, insisting that she’s Swedish because she was born in Sweden. She says she has never been to Somalia in her whole life. Her mother calmly reminds her that it doesn’t matter, as even a child born to a refugee is considered a refugee. The daughter, frustrated, wonders, “How?” Her mother replies: “That’s how the world works. It may be hidden, but that’s the reality.”
But is it? Well, a caller told LBC’s Tom Swarbrick that he “cannot stand it when Indians [in the UK] say they’re English. It really, really, really frustrates me.” The bewildered Swarbrick responds, “Why?” And the caller continues: “I’ll say to [the Indians]: Look yourself in the mirror, get a picture of your parents and look at them. Are your parents Indian or not? Yes, they are. My friend, you’re Indian.” Then he drops this banger: “Just because you’re born in a country, it doesn’t mean you’re from that country.”
Okay, if Somalis can never be Swedes and Indians can never be English, is it possible for a black or brown person to be a Briton? Can a black, brown, or white person be Chinese? Narrowing it down to Tanzania, can a brown, white, or yellow person be Tanzanian? And, staying within Tanzania, can people not directly affiliated with the ruling party consider themselves, or be considered, Tanzanians?
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An African Journey to Ukraine – 4
Kyiv, February 2022: As Russian tanks closed in, the world held its breath. For weeks, Ukraine’s capital braced for a siege—air raid sirens wailing, missiles raining on power grids, and Western allies urging President Zelensky to flee. His now-iconic reply—“I need ammunition, not a ride”—ignited a defiance that still burns. But how does a city of three million survive an invasion? And why should Africa care?
While fighting continued on Kyiv’s outskirts, the city braced itself for a siege. Air raid sirens wailed incessantly as missile strikes targeted critical infrastructure. For a moment, it seemed that Kyiv would fall. The US called to offer President Zelensky a way out, but Zelensky responded with words which have hitherto become a rallying cry for all Ukrainians: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.”
Those words electrified Ukraine, reaffirming its resolve to resist. Buoyed by intelligence from Western allies, the Ukrainians refused to surrender. Residents fortified their neighbourhoods with makeshift barricades, while volunteers prepared Molotov cocktails in basements. Soldiers and civilians alike worked tirelessly to ensure the city’s survival.
30 kilometres northwest of Kyiv, the small village of Moschun became a major flashpoint in the defence of the capital. Strategically located, the village offered access to key roads leading directly into Kyiv. For over a month, this was a battleground as Russian forces sought to break through. The price of resistance was steep—85 per cent of the village was reduced to rubble. Yet, the defenders held their ground.
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One Response
Brilliant exposition by Khalifa. If one’s ethnicity or ethnic origin determines his/her nationality or national loyalty then Trump should be deported to Germany and King Charles as well who belongs to the German house of Hanover. Biden should be expelled to Ireland and Obama to Kenya, Rishi Sunak to Punjab and Castro should have gone back to Spain. In Tanzania Wangoni should return to South Africa and Wambulu to Iraq, Joseph Mungai to Kenya and Bashe to Somalia
In short, this kind of thinking is illogical, racist and discriminatory nonsense, rubbish