Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, has called on Tanzanians to make full use of social welfare services to address various societal challenges particularly family disputes that often drive children to live and work on the streets.
Dr. Gwajima made the remarks on April 11, 2025, during the opening of a community dialogue held in Mtwara Region ahead of the International Day for Street Children, set to be commemorated on April 12 in the same region.
She stressed that protecting and ensuring the wellbeing of children is a collective responsibility, and highlighted that the Law of the Child (Chapter 13) clearly outlines the duties of parents and guardians in the upbringing of children.
She further warned that failure to meet these responsibilities could result in a fine of up to TZS 5 million, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
“This dialogue provides parents and guardians with vital knowledge on positive parenting as part of the government’s broader efforts to promote child protection. We urge communities to shift their mindset and create a safe and supportive environment that shields children from the dangers of street life, early pregnancies, and school dropouts,” said Dr. Gwajima.
Mtwara Regional Commissioner, Colonel Patrick Sawala, said the region has adopted long-term strategies to combat the issue of street children, including educational outreach for parents and guardians through Social Welfare Officers.
These initiatives aim to strengthen family structures and safeguard children’s rights in accordance with the law.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. John Jingu, also commended the dialogue, noting its significant contribution to child welfare.
He assured participants that all feedback and recommendations from stakeholders would be carefully reviewed by a team of experts to inform the development of sustainable solutions to the problem.
