Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on July 8, 2025.
Muslim Cleric Clarifies His ‘Beheading for Peace’ Remarks, Says He Was Not Targeting Tanzanian Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu
Over the weekend, a Muslim cleric, Sheikh Mohamed Abdallah Mawinda, sparked debate among Tanzanian netizens with remarks he made on July 5, 2025, stating that it is better for a person to be beheaded than to lose a nation’s peace.
Sheikh Mawinda was among the guests at the launch of a new building for the Arise and Shine Church, led by popular Christian preacher Boniface Mwamposa. The event was officiated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Speaking in his capacity as Vice Chairperson of the Dar es Salaam Reconciliation and Peace Committee, Mawinda made controversial comments that continue to stir public discussion long after the event.
“Don’t get to a point where you think peace is just nonsense,” Mawinda said, referring to CHADEMA national chairperson Tundu Lissu’s phrase Tukinukishe. “Someone said [Tukinukishe]. We should stir things up— fine, but once things go wrong here, where will you go?”
Tukinukishe is a Swahili word that means to “make it smell,” which can be used figuratively to mean to stir things up. It is one of the popular remarks from Lissu before his arrest and being tried for treason.
Read the full article here
Media Stakeholders Call for Legal Protection of Vision 2050
Stakeholders in the media sector have called on the government to enact a law safeguarding the implementation of Vision 2050, which is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2025.
The call was made during a meeting between the Minister of the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Kitila Mkumbo, and Tanzanian editors, held on July 8, 2025, at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
“We still have one year for preparation before the commencement of the implementation of Vision 2050. The government will take your input for having a specific law for the vision into consideration,” said Kitila Mkumbo.
Mkumbo was responding to concerns raised by editors, who warned of a recurring tendency to deviate from national visions. He emphasized that, unlike Vision 2025, which was only adopted by the Cabinet, Vision 2050 has been endorsed through a special resolution by Parliament.
Vision 2050 is set to be officially launched by the President of Tanzania on July 17, 2025.
To Cece Mlay, Co-Director of The Empty Grave: Thank You for Pioneering Public Dialogue on German Colonialism in Tanzania
In African cultures, we first acknowledge and appreciate hard work. We say, Pole na kazi in Kiswahili. In Kihaya Wagira mahyo! In our Ugandan English, we say Well done! And then, if time allows, we talk about the toil itself. Cecy, let me tell you why your hard work counts.
This documentary, The Empty Grave, lays the groundwork we need to open public discussion about German colonialism in Tanzania. The documentary format gives access to a wider audience to the subject of colonialism beyond the dreaded history national examinations.
I understand why restitution is the form of struggle that this documentary takes. As if it were not enough that these Kings were killed, their heads had to be chopped off and shipped to Germany.
Read the full article here.
Balile Unhappy with Cartoon Depicting Media as Toilet Paper
The Chairperson of the Tanzania Editors Forum, Deodatus Balile, has criticized a cartoon by renowned artist Masoud Kipanya, which depicts the media being used as toilet paper.
Balile made these remarks during the closing of a meeting between the Ministry of Planning and editors concerning the National Vision 2050.
“Those who despise us and portray us as toilet paper, perhaps that brings them joy. But let us not be thin-skinned. If you are compared to toilet paper, society will still judge you based on your actions,” Balile said.
While Balile did not mention Kipanya by name, the cartoon in question, originally published in 2023 and recently reposted by Kipanya on July 1, 2025, has been widely circulated on social media.
“It’s a disgraceful habit for some people to think that insulting others earns them honor and respect in society and perhaps sends to donors presenting that they are doing things well while putting in rainbow colors,” Balile explained.
He added: “As for those engaging in this behavior, we will establish procedures to investigate whether they are genuinely practicing journalism or simply acting as agents serving others who later file to get paid.”
Kipanya is best known for his political cartoons, which he has produced for over 25 years. He is also a co-host of Power Breakfast, one of the most popular morning radio shows on Clouds FM. He is considered one of the driving forces behind the program. Kipanya has been off-air since the ultimatum issued by the Tanzania Journalists Accreditation Board came into effect.
