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Dar es Salaam. With the October 29 General Election fast approaching, advocacy groups have raised concerns that while elections are meant to strengthen national unity, they too often put the country’s youngest citizens at grave risk, prompting an urgent call for their protection.

In a joint press statement issued on Friday, October 2, 2025, the groups said children must not be left as silent victims of politics. My Legacy Programme Coordinator, Ms Amina Ally, who read the statement on behalf of the National Safe School Coalition (NSSC), a network of 20 civil society organisations, said children’s safety, dignity, and best interests must remain a non-negotiable priority before, during, and after the polls.

The appeal, signed by groups including HakiElimu, Save the Children, TAMWA, and TEN/MET, underscores a pressing reality. Children in Tanzania, defined under the Law of the Child Act 2009 and the Children’s Act No.

6 of 2011 (Zanzibar) as all persons under 18, are among the most vulnerable during politically charged times. The caution comes with a dark historical backdrop.

Previous election cycles have been marred by violence, and in the mid-2000s, children with albinism were killed in brutal attacks linked to witchcraft beliefs that escalated during campaigns. Although Tanzania has since made progress in combating such atrocities, the memory remains raw.

“We cannot afford to repeat history. Every child lost to superstition or violence is a national failure,” warned Ms Ally.

Human rights data highlights the scale of risk. According to the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, at least 76 children with albinism were killed between 2006 and 2015, with dozens more surviving mutilation.

While security measures have curbed the attacks in recent years, election periods remain “red zones” for potential resurgence. During polls, parents and guardians are often preoccupied with campaigns and voting, leaving children unattended.

Large gatherings and rallies can quickly turn volatile, exposing minors to danger. Some children are exploited by being mobilised for political activities, in direct violation of the Child Act.

Others suffer psychological trauma after witnessing unrest. Commenting on the development, veteran gender and child rights advocate Dr Ruth Kuhenga said the risk is real.

“The heightened political tension can create unsafe environments where children are either neglected or deliberately targeted. Communities, media, and political actors must be vigilant,” she said.

A call for action As Tanzania prepares for the October 29 General Election, a coalition of civil society groups has urged all sectors of society to safeguard children. The coalition calls on civil society to integrate child rights into voter education, document violations, and offer psychosocial support.

Media must amplify children’s voices while avoiding harmful reporting that could incite violence. Political parties and candidates should keep children away from campaign activities and adopt manifestos addressing education, health, and protection, said Ms Ally, adding that parents and communities must remain vigilant at polling stations and rallies.

Government authorities, the coalition reminded, are legally bound by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to protect children. “Elections should embed child safeguarding measures,” said a child rights expert, Mr Edwin Sungura.

UNICEF Tanzania emphasises that the move was vital for the future of the country’s democracy. .

Dar es Salaam. When President Samia Suluhu Hassan pledged to “remove the water bucket from the woman’s head,” her words signalled a shift in Tanzania’s water policy.

That vision is now materialising, with the government investing heavily in water supply through more than 100 projects nationwide. Among them are 25 strategic schemes worth S.

15 trillion, designed to permanently address water scarcity in both urban and rural communities, according to data from the Ministry of Water. From Arusha to Mtwara, Tabora to Kigoma, Dodoma to Dar es Salaam, the projects are easing the burden of water collection, long carried by women and children.

The Arusha Water Supply Project, costing Sh520 billion, benefits about 850,000 residents by producing 200 million litres daily. Completion will see urban water access rise to 91.6 percent, while rural coverage reaches 83 percent.

The government aims for 95 percent urban and 85 percent rural access by 2030. In Kilimanjaro and Tanga, the SameMwangaKorogwe Project worth S06 billion serves 300,000 residents with 51.65 million litres daily. The Kidunda Dam in Morogoro (Sh335 billion) will serve 6.

77 million people by storing 190 billion litres and stabilising Ruvu River flows, reinforcing supply to Dar es Salaam and Coast Region. The TaboraNzegaIgungaSingida Project (Sh602 billion) will benefit 1.

2 million people with 54.1 million litres daily. Other schemes include the Bunda Project (Sh29.5 billion), supplying 15 million litres daily to 320,000 residents, and the KintinkuLusilile Project (Sh13 billion), supplying 6.

5 million litres daily to 55,000 people in Singida. Phase I of the Lake VictoriaDodomaSingida Project (Sh326 billion) targets 1.

5 million residents with 200 million litres daily. In Mara, the MgangoKiabakariButiama Project (Sh70.9 billion) covers 13 villages, producing 2 million litres daily.

The Chalinze Phase III Project, funded by India at Sh96 billion, is 96 percent complete. “It serves over 200,000 residents in Chalinze, Handeni and parts of Morogoro, expanding daily output from 500,000 litres to 2 million litres,” reads the statement from the Ministry.

In southern Tanzania, Mtwara projects (Sh87 billion) will supply 40 million litres daily to 600,000 residents, while the RuangwaNachingwea Project in Lindi (Sh119 billion) will serve 200,000 residents with 15 million litres daily, addressing saline water challenges. Urban demand is also being prioritised.

The Kigamboni Phase II Project (Sh65 billion) will serve 250,000 residents with 20 million litres daily through seven deep wells, a 15-million-litre storage tank and a 20-km distribution network. The Butimba Project in Mwanza, valued at Sh71 billion, will supply 48 million litres daily to 450,000 residents by 2025, supported by AFD, the EIB and the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund.

Other urban schemes include Chamwino (Sh13.5 billion), Nanyumbu (Sh80 billion), Kigoma (S2 billion), Chato (Sh65 billion), Makambako (S2 billion) and Singida (S5 billion), with production ranging from 3 to 15 million litres daily. Some projects incorporate climate-resilient designs.

The Simiyu Resilience Project (Sh500 billion) will serve 495,000 residents plus 2.5 million dependents, producing 30 million litres daily.

In Morogoro, a Sh185 billion project upgrades Mindu Dam and builds a new treatment plant at Mafiga, boosting production to 89 million litres daily. .

Manyara. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) presidential candidate, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has declared an ambitious target for Hanang’ District to produce one million tonnes of wheat annually by 2030, aiming to position the area as Tanzania’s agricultural powerhouse in grain production.

Addressing a rally in Katesh, Hanang’, on Friday, October 3, 2025, President Hassan asserted that the region’s vast and fertile land must no longer be underutilised. Instead, it should be transformed into a wheat production hub capable of feeding the nation and significantly contributing to export markets.

“Our vision is crystal clear: by 2030, Hanang’ alone should be producing one million tonnes of wheat every year. You possess the land, the knowledge, and now, with government support, you will have the necessary tools.

This is absolutely possible,” said the CCM candidate as she intensified her election campaign. Her remarks generated excitement among the crowd, especially since Hanang’ has long been associated with large-scale wheat farming but has faced setbacks in recent years due to underutilised land and limited investment.

She assured farmers that the government would continue providing subsidised fertilisers and inputs to raise productivity and revive the district’s agricultural dominance. Significantly, President Hassan issued a stern warning to absentee landholders and private investors who have acquired vast farming blocks in the district but consistently failed to develop them.

“We shall follow up on these idle lands. If you possess land and are not using it, we will reclaim it and return it to the people of Hanang’ who are ready to farm,” she boldly said.

Hanang’, a district still recovering from the trauma of recent devastating mudslides that claimed numerous lives and displaced families, was described by President Hassan as a symbol of strength and resilience. She publicly thanked the community for standing strong and undertaking rapid rebuilding efforts.

“In life, we are invariably struck by tragedy, but we pick ourselves up and move forward. That is precisely what you have achieved here,” she said.

President Hassan also highlighted various other development milestones in the district, including vital infrastructure projects, health, education, and business opportunities. She mentioned the newly constructed modern bus terminal in Katesh, urging residents to view it not merely as a place to board vehicles but as a dynamic commercial hub.

“That bus stand is also a business centre. Use it to trade, earn income, and effectively grow your local economy,” she counselled.

She further announced that the government had committed to upgrading key road networks in the area, including the 39-kilometre NangwaIsambalaKondoa road and the 38-kilometre MogituHaidom road, both of which are slated to be constructed to all-weather, sealed standards. “Whether in the dry season or the rains, these roads will be fully usable all year round,” she assured the residents of the area.

In the health sector, President Hassan noted that over Sh7 billion had been successfully injected into constructing and upgrading health centres in Maskarada, Edesapi, Nangwa, Basutu, and Kisambala. For education, she cited projects worth over Sh16 billion, including the newly built Dr Samia Secondary School and the Chifu Satya School.

Livestock keepers were also prioritised, with the ruling party’s candidate confirming that Tanzania had secured markets for both live animals and meat products, but warned that these opportunities required strict compliance with international health standards. She said subsidised vaccination and livestock identification were now in place to ensure traceability and secure access to foreign markets.

“We have provided these essential services at a subsidy so that, at any moment an opportunity arises, our herders are ready, every animal known, documented, and fully vaccinated,” she said. In support of the local meat trade, livestock markets in Katesh, Basodesh, and Endagao have been thoroughly renovated, and buyers are now able to access animals in hygienic and proper conditions.

“Now, if someone wishes to buy a live cow, they can do so comfortably and hygienically,” she noted. CCM’s parliamentary candidate for Hanang’, Ms Asia Halamga, praised the party’s presidential candidate and publicly thanked her government for investing substantially in the district’s comprehensive development.

She detailed numerous crucial projects undertaken under President Hassan’s administration, including rapid classroom construction, electricity expansion, and new water projects. “Dr Samia, you have given us more than Sh20 billion for electricity alone.

We now genuinely see the light. And you have built health centres, roads, and schools.

Even our new court building is rising, thanks entirely to your direct support,” said Ms Halamga. In closing, President Hassan appealed to all citizens to reflect deeply on what had been achieved so far, and to place their trust once again in the ruling CCM.

“We came here today to ask for your crucial votes. We served you diligently for the last five years.

And if you grant us five more, we shall go even further,” she affirmed. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanians and development partners have been urged to support community policing initiatives aimed at preventing crime and safeguarding national security, particularly as the country prepares for the October 29 General Election.

The appeal was made yesterday by the Ilala District Commissioner’s representative during a ceremony to hand over equipment to the Kivukoni Street community policing unit in Dar es Salaam. The event, organised by Be Forward Tanzania, saw the company donate uniforms to young volunteers serving in the unit.

Be Forward Tanzania is engaged in sourcing and shipping vehicles from Japan, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Its donation seeks to enhance the visibility and coordination of community policing groups.

Kivukoni Street, which borders the Magogoni State House, is one of the city’s most sensitive security zones, where vigilance is vital. Speaking at the event, Ilala District Administrative Officer Mr Adrian Kishe, representing the District Commissioner, said security should not be viewed as the government’s responsibility alone.

He called on residents and corporate stakeholders to take an active role in addressing challenges facing community policing. “Young people serving in these units will now be easily recognised through their uniforms, unlike before.

I urge the community and stakeholders to support their efforts to safeguard people and property,” he said. He added that the initiative should inspire other organisations to undertake similar efforts in their respective areas to strengthen peace and security nationwide.

Be Forward Tanzania Sales Officer Ms Sarafina John said the company’s decision to provide uniforms was a gesture of appreciation for the contribution of youth involved in maintaining order and protecting neighbourhoods. “We operate temporary storage yards for imported vehicles, including one at Kamata and another near the Ocean Road Cancer Institute.

With the support of community policing, our vehicles have remained safe until customers collect them,” she said. She noted that the donation reflects the company’s commitment to community partnership and encouraged other businesses to support government efforts that promote public safety and improve livelihoods.

Kivukoni Street Chairperson Mr Ahmed Nyang’anyi said the area had in the past experienced threats from criminal gangs, but close cooperation between residents and security organs had drastically reduced such incidents. .

Avocados have been grown in Tanzania since the early 1890s. The global appetite for the creamy fruit, also known as green gold, is booming.

The industry’s market value was over $6.5 billion in 2020, reached $16.24 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $23 billion in 2029. Tanzania has seized this opportunity in the last two decades and is now Africa’s fourth-largest avocado exporter, behind Kenya, South Africa and Morocco. The top destinations for Tanzania’s avocados are Europe (40%), India (30 percent) and the Middle East (19 percent).

Tanzania’s avocado exports increased from 1,393 tons, valued at $1.9 million in 2013, to 36,520 tons, valued at $79.813 million, in 2024. For my PhD research, I followed Tanzanian avocados from the farms through to local markets and packhouses for export. The research aimed to uncover the underlying structures, relationships and systems that cause food waste in Tanzania’s avocado trade.

I knew avocados were being wasted so I set out to uncover why this was happening and who carried the heaviest cost. The farmers, farmer associations and commercial packhouses managers that I interviewed said that in Tanzania’s domestic avocado production sector, up to 40 percent of the avocados overall were wasted because of damage to the fruits and pests or diseases.

In the export avocado sector, we found 30 percent-50 percent losses for smallholders and some large-scale farmers, and 10 percent -20 percent for large commercial farms due to fruits not meeting quality standards. My research shows that the choices of consumers who buy avocados in Europe are directly connected to the real-life struggles of Tanzanian farmers.

Global food systems can harm local communities. Farmers need protection.

For example, some local governments have worked with exporters at the start of harvesting to set a minimum price. This ensures that farmers don’t have to accept rock bottom prices.

This should be adopted widely. Farmer associations and cooperatives should also receive more training in how to prevent waste.

How Tanzanian avocados are wasted We spoke with farmers, traders, middlemen, farmer associations and co-operatives, processors and exporters and observed the avocado trade. We found that avocados are damaged because brokers and transporters routinely jump on sacks to compress them for transport, or use their feet to spread them.

This is because of the misperception that unripe fruit is “as hard as stone” and cannot be damaged. Hass avocados grown specifically for export are only accepted if they’re intact, clean, a good size, green in colour with no blemishes and have short stalks.

The domestic avocado varieties are wasted because farmers often have no cold storage or access to fast transport to get them to market quickly. They ripen very fast after harvest and if they’re not sold promptly, they spoil.

Before 2016, rejected export avocados were dumped. Today some are bought by oil processing factories.

Avocado waste hurts small farmers and makes inequality worse Our research also found that there is very little support from agricultural extension officers for smallholder farmers who grow for the local market. These farmers lack training in quality standards, harvesting techniques, and how to negotiate with the brokers and traders.

Women are most affected because they dominate the domestic avocado trade, harvesting the avocados and selling them to middlemen and consumers. They have less access to capital and infrastructure than male-owned small businesses who dominate the wholesale market.

The middlemen who buy the avocados in bulk from the women often use their advantaged positions to offer lower prices, sometimes reject a consignment, or use their own standards to reject avocados. Smallholder farmers growing for the local market have another problem: they harvest first and negotiate prices afterwards.

They’re in a race against time to sell before the avocado spoils, and if brokers back out or offer lower prices, farmers are forced to sell quickly or risk spoilage. The inequalities in the industry come from exporters, brokers, and owners of avocado packhouses holding much more power than farmers.

They set prices, enforce standards and control contracts. In addition, only some farmers can attempt selling their avocados directly on the export market because they need certificates to show their produce meets all the quality standards required by the export market.

This is very difficult for smallholder farmers, our research found. To access required inputs for production, some smallholder farmers get credit from exporters that’s deducted after harvest.

If the crop fails, the smallholder farmers are left with no safety net. They cannot simply sell their avocados locally if they’re rejected.

My research found that domestic consumers prefer large, smooth-skinned avocado varieties. Export varieties like Hass are smaller and rougher, making them harder to sell locally.

What needs to happen next My research came up with several ways to end Tanzanian avocado waste: ul class=”rte–listFarmer cooperatives and associations should be supported by government and development organisations to provide training to their members on good crop management, harvesting and handling practices, how to negotiate better contracts, and to provide flexibility to farmers in choosing buyers.Local governments should work with processors, exporters and traders to set minimum prices to protect smallholder farmers from exploitation in the domestic supply chain.

ul class=”rte–listFarmers should have access to real-time market data, including export prices and processing costs. This improved market transparency will benefit farmers to negotiate better prices, but also understand the market and consumers expectation of product quality.

Exporters currently have different quality standards for the size and appearance of avocados. These must be standardised for fairness and to reduce the number of avocados being rejected.

Brokers, pickers, and traders need education on proper handling to reduce damage and waste. ul class=”rte–listThe government should continue investment in cold storage and transport.

They should also build oil processing facilities that can absorb surplus and rejected produce. In the rush to transform African agriculture for global markets, it is important to consider what is left behind or thrown away.

Food waste is not just a symptom of inefficiency; it is a mirror of deeper injustices. To build sustainable and inclusive food systems, we must ask why so much food is wasted and who pays the price.

About the author: Jonas Cromwell is a Lecturer in Food Security in the School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds .