Makonda calls for fairness and efficiency in officiating Tanzanian football matches

ARUSHA: THE Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, has urged the Premier League Board and football stakeholders in the country to strengthen oversight of referees, emphasizing that discipline is a critical foundation for ensuring fairness and efficiency in matches.

Speaking on April 30, 2026, during a meeting with media sector stakeholders held in Arusha, Makonda expressed dissatisfaction with Tanzanians applauding a referee from Kenya. He argued that this trend signals underlying weaknesses among domestic referees.

He clarified that his ministry’s role is to nurture and regulate the sector without directly interfering in operational decisions. However, he called on the League Board to collaborate with referee management experts to ensure adherence to ethics and professionalism.

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Makonda warned that poorly managed referees could become a source of persistent complaints and damage the reputation of sports in the country. He stressed that the overarching objective is to ensure that “fair play” prevails across all football competitions in Tanzania.

Additionally, he directed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary to facilitate dialogue between the National Sports Council (NSC) and Tanzania Football Federation(TFF) to address longstanding grievances related to refereeing.

The remarks were made during the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day held at Mount Meru Hotel.