The Arusha News, which celebrated its first anniversary on March 7, 2025, has been challenged to write more on tourism and the country’s cultural heritage, traditions, and customs.
The remarks were made by senior academic and diplomat, Ambassador Daniel ole Njoolay, in his overview of the paper’s progress as it marked its one year of independent and objective reporting of news and informing the public.
“National parks, cultural heritage sites, and highly rich traditions have been around for a long time, but they must be promoted more effectively to draw in more tourists and generate greater interest,” he said.
He also encouraged Tanzanians to build hotels dedicated to serving tourists with local dishes and cuisine such as the Maasai’s ‘nyamachoma’, ‘mtori’ of the Wachagga, and ‘makande’, a kind of maize and beans ‘puree’, which is a staple with the Wapare.
“The Arusha News is our regional newspaper, and not every region has a dedicated publication like this. We must support it through advertisements,” said Mr. Njoolay, who also once served as Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC).
Mr. Walter Maeda, the Managing Director of one of Arusha’s oldest hotels, the Golden Rose Hotel, also congratulated the newspaper but suggested expanding its coverage to better represent the entire Arusha region.
“I believe the paper should include more coverage from the other six districts in Arusha region,” he advised. Besides Arusha, the other districts are Arumeru, Longido, Monduli, Karatu, Mbulu, and Ngorongoro.
The Founder of Trust St. Patrick Schools, Mr. Patrick Khanya, congratulated The Arusha News for reliable, timely, and informative news coverage and for promoting businesses locally and internationally. The paper has an online edition that reaches all corners of the world.
He noted that the paper is fostering community solidarity through its insightful coverage on health, tourism, and education, among others.
The Head of Arusha Library, Ms. Rafiki Mvamba, praised The Arusha News for its commitment to covering important local stories. “After the rehabilitation of Arusha Library, The Arusha News published a story that not only highlighted our reopening but also encouraged the community to revisit and reconnect with us,” Ms. Mwamba shared.
In celebrating the anniversary, Mr. Noel Thomas, a veteran retired journalist from Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) in Arusha, remarked on the significance of the milestone. “Marking the first anniversary of a weekly newspaper is no small feat, especially in an era dominated by digital media,” he noted.
“The Arusha News has carved out a niche for itself, becoming a vital source of news for both local and international visitors, offering a rich mix of local and international events coverage,” he added.
