Pius Zachariah

You've hit upon a profound observation, one that resonates with many of us as we navigate through the different phases of adulthood. There's a certain kind of synchronization in our early twenties. We're all grappling with similar challenges - graduating, landing that first job, building relationships, trying to make sense of the world as independent adults. There's a collective uncertainty that, paradoxically, unifies us. As we cross into our late twenties and early thirties, this synchronization starts to disband. People's lives diverge along different paths, shaped by their choices, circumstances, and even a fair share of serendipity. Indeed, life begins to appear as a spectrum of varying success stories - some seemingly ahead, others lagging behind, and a good many somewhere in the middle. This divergence often triggers a psychological dynamic called social comparison, a theory first proposed by social psychologist Leon Festinger in 1954. Humans have an innate tendency to evaluate themselves in relation to others, especially those they perceive as peers. When life trajectories start to differ markedly, social comparison can foster feelings of insecurity, inadequacy, and isolation. It's important to remember, however, that such comparisons usually fail to account for the complexity and uniqueness of individual life paths. Each person's journey is shaped by a unique constellation of factors – family, culture, personal values, ambition, luck, and so much more. What appears as 'ahead' or 'behind' from an external perspective might not align with the person's own perception of their progress. Moreover, as you rightly pointed out, these diverging paths necessitate a reevaluation of our relationships. We find our circles evolving – some relationships deepen while others fade. This is a natural process as we seek connection with those who share and understand our experiences, aspirations, and challenges. In the face of these changes, it's crucial to cultivate resilience and self-compassion. Remembering that everyone is fighting their own battles, often invisible to the outside world, can help mitigate feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Celebrating our unique paths, rather than comparing them, can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and connection. It's a journey, not a race. As life unfolds and diverges, we must strive to appreciate our own narrative, acknowledging the ups and downs that make it uniquely ours. A sense of perspective, empathy, and compassion - for others and ourselves - can make this transition not just bearable, but enlightening.

Ikulu, Dar es Salaam, 16 Mei, 2026. Nimekutana na kufanya mazungumzo na Mwanzilishi na Mmiliki wa Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote pamoja na ujumbe wake. Alhaji Dangote ni mmoja wa wawekezaji wakubwa Tanzania ambapo kiwanda chake cha saruji (Dangote Cement) mkoani Mtwara kinakuza uchumi wetu kupitia biashara ya saruji, ajira kwa Watanzania na kukuza sekta fungamanishi.

Tanga Refinery: Tanzania’s Next Big Energy Diplomacy Opportunity 1. Tanzania has already won the first strategic energy battle. Tanzania has a strong chance to host the proposed East African oil refinery in Tanga, but this opportunity must now be supported by serious lobbying, economic diplomacy, and bankable project preparation. The country has already demonstrated its capacity to negotiate major regional infrastructure by securing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline route from Kabaale–Hoima in Uganda to Chongoleani near Tanga Port. This pipeline is about 1,443 km long and is expected to carry up to about 246,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making Tanga one of the most strategic energy corridors in East Africa. 2. Tanga is the most logical location for the refinery. If crude oil is already planned to move through this corridor, then Tanzania can make a strong case for refining, storage, distribution, and export facilities around the same location. A practical refinery could start with about 100,000–150,000 barrels per day in the first phase and later expand toward 200,000–250,000 barrels per day, depending on crude availability, financing, and regional fuel demand. This would position Tanzania not only as a transit country, but as a value-adding energy and industrial hub. 3. The refinery should serve a wider regional market. This project should not be viewed as a Tanzanian market project alone. It should be positioned to serve Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, eastern DRC, South Sudan, Zambia, Malawi, and other nearby markets. Tanzania’s ongoing Standard Gauge Railway project strengthens the Central Corridor toward Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC, while the proposed Tanzania–Burundi–DRC SGR connection can open wider access to the Great Lakes region. At the same time, the revitalization of the 1,860 km TAZARA railway strengthens Tanzania’s connection to Zambia and the southern corridor, while the TAZAMA pipeline gives Tanzania an existing petroleum link to Zambia through Dar es Salaam and Ndola. 4. Tanzania must move from logistics to value addition. A refinery in Tanga would not stand alone. It would connect to a wider regional logistics system made up of ports, pipelines, railways, roads, storage facilities, and inland markets. Tanzania is already a petroleum logistics route, but the next step is to move higher in the value chain. Instead of only importing, storing, and transporting refined petroleum products, Tanzania should produce refined products and distribute them across East, Central, and Southern Africa. The benefits would go beyond fuel supply: petrochemicals, fertilizer inputs, plastics, bitumen for road construction, LPG, storage terminals, steel fabrication, civil works, port expansion, railway logistics, industrial parks, and thousands of direct and indirect jobs. 5. The pipeline was the first victory; the refinery should be the next. Dangote’s experience makes this opportunity serious. The group has already developed a refinery in Nigeria with a capacity of about 650,000 barrels per day, showing strong experience in large-scale refining, petrochemicals, logistics, and integrated industrial development. Tanzania must now move quickly by preparing land in Tanga, strengthening port and storage planning, aligning refinery planning with EACOP, SGR, TAZARA and TAZAMA, offering competitive investment incentives, and engaging Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, South Sudan, Zambia, and Malawi. The crude oil pipeline was Tanzania’s first major energy diplomacy victory; the refinery should be the next. Tanzania must move from being only a crude oil transit corridor to becoming a regional refining, logistics, and industrial powerhouse.

This Safaricom result is tragic. Africans are brainwashed. No wonder we are a 3rd World. Kenyans are celebrating and congratulating Ndegwa and Safaricom. But this one of the causes of our Poverty. Look at 2nd Column on the right. This is the Company result for Kenya. Group result includes Ethiopia. So for Kenya: Gross Revenue Shs 410 Billion. Net Profit Shs 118 Billion??? This is 29% Net Margin. Most Companies return 10%! And worse this merely for Service!!! If it was Industry, them at least some benefit to the Country. Many London School Economists keep singing about Foreign Direct Investments. Do they really understand it? What have KBL, Safaricom, BAT added to Kenya in the decades they have been here?? Have their ex employees set up rival Companies?? Those companies in most Countries are Local Industries. Most of these ' Employees' and Economists who marvel at millions will be proud not knowing we are exporting Wealth and Jobs. They are trading in KShs and repatriating US$. Probably Ndegwa, David Ndii, Julians Omboko are celebrating. Deeper analysis is even more troubling. Dividend is KES 2 per share Earnings per share is KES 2.95 Net profit after tax 118b Dividends are (2 divided by 2.95 ) or 67% dividends declared of profit after tax. They retain very little in the Company !! 67% of Net profit 118b = KES 80 billion is dividends. I think Vodacom own 60% so they will get 60% x 80b = KES 48 Billion or GBP 280 million. Now take their income of KES 410 billion. Dividend to the UK - KES 48 billion That percentage is 11.7%. This percentage of income that SF earns goes as dividends to the UK Imagine you send money to someone and it costs KES 130 (assume 30 is excise, VAT etc) so SF net revenue is KES 100. Out of that KES 100 a total of 11% of this amount is going to King Charles or KES 11. We cannot be working so hard to plant Tea, etcvto generate FOREX to pay King Charles 11% Safaricom Revenues Add the Billions at least 11B outsourced services eg paying rent to American Tower Company for using Towers. Towers which were bought from Telkom Kenya for a song. Simple things that Kenyans should be doing. That is at least another Shs 20B. Then since Safaricom gets prepaid Airtime, which is like Advance Payment, they are so liquid they have never taken a Loan. This liquidity is what is lent as Fuliza etc. So Safaricom is mopping money from every village, slum etc And yet Members of Parliament and other stooges can gloat that ' SAFARICOM IS A KENYAN COMPANY and should have a KENYAN identity when they have made a misadventure to Ethiopia ( Good for them). The first column illustrates how Kenya is subsidizing that operation. From a net Profit of Shs 118B, that Operation reduces that margin to Shs 73B. Black Africans have to wake up and promote Local Industries like Mastermind Tobacco and Keroche Breweries. Africans are just illiterate thinking they are very smart. Colonialism of the Mind, Economy is still very much alive. And they have ensured it continues with dangling of bait, hook, line and sinker something called 'Democracy, Capitalism and Freedom' !!

Serikali ipunguze kodi kwenye Mafuta kwa muda wa miezi sita kuondokana na azma hii Kasumbalesa Zambia umbali wa km 1980 kutoka Dar port bei ya Mafuta iko chini Sababu kuna tozo wamepunguza. Hatuwezi endesha nchi namna hii mfumuko wa bei utakuwa Mkubwa zaidi.

Tanzania and Rwanda have agreed to link the Tanzania's Isaka–Kigali SGR route, enabling fast, electrified movement of goods and people between Dar es Salaam and Kigali.