Learn Hardcore Swahili: Kwa sasa ninatumia simu janja yangu kusoma habari. - For now I am using my smartphone to read news.

So ninatumia = “I am using / I use.” In everyday speech/writing you can drop the initial ni- before -na-: natumia. Both are correct; nina- can feel a bit more formal or emphatic. Compare: unatumia (you), anatumia (he/she), tunatumia (we), wanatumia (they).

Is kwa sasa the same as sasa or sasa hivi?

kwa sasa = for now / currently (for the time being)
sasa = now (neutral “now”)
sasa hivi / sahivi = right now, this very moment (more immediate)
hivi sasa also occurs (formal “right now”)

Can I move kwa sasa elsewhere in the sentence?

Yes. All are natural:

Kwa sasa, ninatumia simu janja yangu kusoma habari.
Ninatumia simu janja yangu kusoma habari kwa sasa. Fronting kwa sasa adds emphasis to the time frame (“as for now…”).

What exactly is simu janja? Are there alternatives?

Simu janja literally “clever phone,” i.e., a smartphone. Alternatives you’ll hear:

simu mahiri (also “smartphone,” common in formal TZ usage)
simu ya mkononi (mobile/cell phone in general)
simu ya kisasa (modern phone) Often simu alone just means “phone,” not necessarily smart.

Why is it yangu and not wangu? How does the possessive agree with simu?

Simu is an N-class (9/10) noun, so the possessive prefix is y- in singular and z- in plural:

singular: simu yangu (my phone), simu janja yangu (my smartphone)
plural: simu zangu (my phones), simu janja zangu Wangu is for M/WA-class nouns (e.g., mtu wangu “my person/friend”).

What is the correct order with the adjective and the possessive: simu janja yangu or simu yangu janja?

Use: noun + adjective(s) + possessive. So: simu janja yangu. Putting the possessive before the adjective (simu yangu janja) is odd except in special emphatic contexts.

Why is it kusoma (to read) and not ninasoma?

Here the second verb expresses purpose: “I’m using [X] to [do Y].” In Swahili, that purpose is an infinitive with ku-: kusoma. Using ninasoma would start a second, separate clause (“I’m using… I’m reading…”).

Does habari mean “the news” or just “news”? Do I need an article?

Swahili has no articles. Habari (N-class) is often like an uncountable “news/information.” Context supplies definiteness. You can specify if needed:

habari za michezo (sports news)
baadhi ya habari (some news) Note: habari? is also a greeting (“How are things?”), but here it means news.

If I’m watching or listening to the news, which verb should I use?

Watching TV news: kuangalia habari
Listening (radio/podcast): kusikiliza habari So you can say: Kwa sasa ninatumia simu janja yangu kusikiliza/kuangalia habari.

Should I say “on my phone” explicitly, e.g., with kwenye?

Your sentence implies the phone is the instrument. To be explicit about location:

Ninatumia simu janja yangu kusoma habari kwenye (au: katika) simu janja yangu. More natural is: Ninasoma habari kwa kutumia simu janja yangu or Ninasoma habari mtandaoni kwenye simu janja yangu.

How do I negate the sentence?

Kwa sasa situmii simu janja yangu kusoma habari.

si- = 1st person singular negative
No -na- in the negative present
Final vowel changes to -i: tumia → tumii (spelled “situmii”)

Does ninatumia mean “I use” (habit) or “I am using” (right now)?

The -na- marker covers both simple present and present progressive; context decides. Kwa sasa nudges it toward “currently/for now.” For habitual specifically, you can use:

Hutumia simu janja yangu kusoma habari. (“I usually use…”) Note: hu- marks habitual and doesn’t take a subject prefix; context shows it’s “I.”
Or add an adverb: Mara nyingi ninatumia … (“I often use …”).

Do I need the pronoun mimi?

No. ni- already marks “I.” You can add mimi for emphasis or contrast:

Mimi ninatumia simu janja yangu… (“As for me, I’m using my smartphone…”)

Is there a shorter, natural everyday version of the whole sentence?

Yes:

Sasa hivi natumia simu janja yangu kusoma habari. (more immediate)
Kwa sasa natumia simu janja yangu kusoma habari. (drop the extra “ni-”)