The Tanzania Paralympic Committee (TPC) has officially completed its leadership structure following a by-election held on June 14, 2026, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium Conference Hall in Dar es Salaam, marking a significant milestone in strengthening governance and accelerating preparations for future international competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
The election was conducted to fill vacant positions left after the previous general elections and was supervised by the National Sports Council of Tanzania (Baraza la Michezo la Taifa (BMT)), through Senior Sports Officer Ingrid Kimario, who oversaw the entire voting process.
In the results announced, Dr. (CPA) Zelia Njeza was elected as TPC Treasurer after securing 11 votes. Ramadhan Namkoveka was elected Secretary General after receiving nine votes in favour, one vote against, and one abstention. A total of 11 delegates drawn from various disability sports associations and members of the TPC Executive Committee took part in the exercise.
The participating bodies included the Tanzania Para Swimming Association, Tanzania Goalball Association, Tanzania Para Volleyball Association, Tanzania Para Powerlifting Association, Tanzania Para Athletics Association, and the Iringa Regional Paralympic Committee, reflecting broad representation across the country’s para-sports ecosystem.
Following the election, TPC President Tuma Dandi congratulated the newly elected leaders and urged them to immediately assume their responsibilities with urgency, discipline, and professionalism in order to accelerate the growth of para-sports in Tanzania.
He said the completion of the leadership structure places TPC in a stronger position to intensify preparations for major international competitions, with particular focus on the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
“TPC is now fully constituted. We must move with speed and purpose to ensure meaningful progress for athletes with disabilities. Our goal is clear to increase the number of Tanzanian athletes and expand participation across multiple disciplines at the next Paralympic Games, unlike the previous edition in France where we competed in only one event, wheelchair racing,” said Dandi.
He added that the new leadership must prioritize talent identification, structured training programmes, improved athlete welfare, and stronger collaboration with stakeholders to enhance competitiveness on the global stage.
TPC also expressed gratitude to sports stakeholders, member associations, and the National Sports Council for their cooperation in ensuring a transparent and democratic electoral process, describing it as a foundation for a new chapter in the development of para-sports in Tanzania.
