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Saba Saba Day in Tanzania: What do Tanzanians celebrate on this crucial anniversary?

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Saba Saba Day is a significant national event in Tanzania on July 7 every year. Although the date has come to the forefront of political discussion over the past few years, its history is very solidly rooted in Tanzania’s economic and political trajectory since independence.

“Saba Saba” is the Swahili word for “seven seven”, which designates July 7. It is a day to mark the establishment of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) on 7th July 1954.

The movement was successful in bringing the country independence on December 9, 1961, before Tanzania merged with Zanzibar in 1964.

Saba Saba was mainly observed as TANU Day for many years after independence, celebrating the party that established the foundation of the country’s liberation.

TANU joined the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) of Zanzibar to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), the ruling party of Tanzania, in 1977. July 7 was an important national day even after the merger.

Milestone to economic celebration

The definition of ‘Saba Saba’ changed over time from political to other aspects. Today is mostly remembered for the launch of the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, known as the Saba Saba Trade Fair.

The exhibition is held in Dar es Salaam every year, with thousands of local and international businesses, investors, manufacturers, farmers, innovators and government agencies participating, showing products, services and new and emerging technologies.

The fair has grown to be one of the biggest trade exhibitions in East Africa and is a platform for marketing industrialisation, investment, entrepreneurship and regional trade.

In the minds of many Tanzanians, this is because Saba Saba is also a name for business opportunities and economic development, as well as the country’s liberation history.

Journey of Tanzania’s development

The leaders of the government usually take the opportunity to discuss the economic development of the country and to promote investment and policies for strengthening local industries.

The education institutions, companies and public institutions also carry out exhibitions and public awareness programmes that are in line with the trade fair.

The events highlight the core values of self-reliance, industrialisation, and economic transformation that have been central themes of Tanzania’s development since the era of Julius Nyerere and are still embodied in the nation’s development policies.

Political importance in recent years

Saba Saba is traditionally a national celebration, but in recent years the date has taken on political importance too. July 7 has been an occasion for opposition groups and civil society organisations to call for democratic reforms, constitutional changes, accountability and better governance.

Political activities have sometimes resulted in increased security deployments, limitations on public assemblies, and the detention of members of opposition groups, which have created a backdrop of debate on political freedoms and civic space in Tanzania.

Despite this, however, the prime agenda of the day is the celebration of Tanzania’s liberating history as well as trade and economic development in the annual Saba Saba Trade Fair.

An event of permanent national significance

Today, Saba Saba still has its own special place in Tanzania’s national calendar, over 70 years since the founding of TANU. It is a reminder of the nation’s struggle for independence and a celebration of its economic aspirations.

The anniversary is celebrated annually, as thousands of visitors attend the trade fair, and it signifies the transformation of Tanzania from a liberation movement to a country that is geared towards industrial development, regional trade and economic development without forgetting the history that laid the foundations for the country’s liberation-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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