DODOMA: THE Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Paul Makonda has ordered regional basketball association leaders who fail to send teams to the ongoing Taifa Cup tournament to step down, saying they have failed in their responsibility to develop the sport.
Opening the 2026 Taifa Cup in Dodoma on Tuesday, Minister Makonda described the tournament as a vital platform for identifying and nurturing basketball talent across the country.
He said regional officials who did not field teams had no justification for remaining in office, arguing that leadership positions should be held by individuals committed to developing young athletes.
“Any region with a basketball leadership that failed to bring a team to the Taifa Cup should consider that leadership finished. If you cannot participate in a national tournament, your leadership has come to an end,” Mr Makonda said.
The minister criticised some sports leaders for using their positions to seek financial support for personal interests instead of investing in talent development.
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“We are tired of leaders whose only job is to use their positions to seek money from sponsors while neglecting the responsibility of developing young people’s talents,” he said.
Mr Makonda added that regional and district sports officials who preside over areas where no sporting activities take place throughout the year should also vacate their positions.
“Tanzania has many talented young people with dreams, but those dreams are being destroyed by ineffective leaders who want power without delivering results. That will no longer be tolerated,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President of the Tanzania Basketball Federation announced a 10 million/- incentive for every region that successfully organises its own regional basketball league, subject to meeting agreed criteria.
He noted that although Tanzania has about 26 regions, only five have so far established active regional leagues, calling on the remaining regions to strengthen grassroots basketball development and create more opportunities for young players.