It opens wide in cloudless sun,Prepared for rain that never comes.But when the storm arrives with force,It folds itself without remorse. The wind flips ribs like elastic tricks,One wire pokes, another sticks.I wrestle rain with broken pride,While passersby enjoy the ride. It leaks politely on my shoe,Pretends that’s what umbrellas do.The handle squeaks like tired…

Q: Is eating healthy only for the rich?A: No. Some of the healthiest foods—beans, maize, green vegetables, fruits, and groundnuts—are local, affordable, and widely available. Q: Do cooking oils give strength and energy?A: A small amount is enough. Too much oil damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart disease. Q: Do children need…

The United States House of Representatives has recently approved a three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until December 31, 2028, following its expiry on September 30, 2025. Having passed the House, the bill now moves to the US Senate for approval and, thereafter, requires President Trump’s assent to become law. This…

A very important meeting on mining in Africa will take place from February 9 to 12, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. Dubbed, “Investing in African Mining Indaba,” the meeting shall, according to the organisers, dss+, bring together key stakeholders from around the world in order “to drive innovation, promote transparency and collaborate to create…

There are moments as an author you are “forced” to write something you do not really want to. Sometimes the subject is of no personal interest. Or you have other topics. And in my case it was the finals of this year’s AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) in Morocco. Forget the results. We all enjoyed…

Early in the morning, they gather around the fire to keep warm. There is neither tea nor coffee; instead, we share wild fruits believed to help kick-start the metabolism. No one knows their age, or even what day or date it is. Without a word or signal, they rise to their feet, sleep still in…

I often worry that the phrase “Tanzanians are not stupid anymore” risks fostering overconfidence, encouraging the belief that we have answers to every question and solutions to every challenge. Undoubtedly, Tanzanians are far more educated and knowledgeable than at independence in 1961. Yet it is unwise to assume we now know enough. Too often, confidence…

It was mid-afternoon in 2015 when I landed at Kanombe International Airport in Kigali, Rwanda. This was my second visit to the city in the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, as Rwanda is fondly known. My first visit, in 1998 — four years after the tragic 1994 genocide — had been very brief, lasting only…