By Alfred Zacharia
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, has urged Tanzanian parents to be patient and cooperative in raising their children, saying strong families are the foundation of a strong nation.
He made the remarks in Mwanza on May 24, 2025, while representing the Vice President, Dr. Philip Mpango, during the International Day of Families celebrations themed “A Child is Nurture: The Foundation of a Strong Family for a Strong Nation.”
Dr. Biteko said that every child is a product of two parents and therefore both mother and father should share the responsibility of raising them.
He emphasized that children must be valued and nurtured because they are the future of any family and the nation.
He warned that if the practice of neglecting children continues, the country risks having a society without a solid family foundation.
He reminded parents that they themselves are the result of patience and care from their own parents, and should therefore not abandon their families.
He called on all parents to recognize that everyone has shortcomings, and to tolerate each other as they build their families.
Dr. Biteko added that a stable family leads to a stable world, urging parents to spend quality time with their children in order to pass down positive values, culture, and traditions.
He cautioned that conflicts between parents, especially when taken to court, often harm the emotional well-being of children and sow long-lasting resentment.
Dr. Biteko also encouraged children to be obedient to their parents and teachers, to study hard, and to follow religious and moral teachings.
He explained that families are responsible for meeting children’s needs, nurturing them, and passing on good traditions across generations.
He outlined that the government, in partnership with development stakeholders, is implementing the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme (2021/22–2025/26), targeting children from conception to age eight.
The programme ensures that children receive essential and inclusive care and support in a balanced way.
Achievements of the programme include training 12,000 early childhood teachers from 184 local government authorities on positive parenting, benefitting over 360,000 children.
The government has also established 4,178 day care centres that provide care and early education to more than 400,000 children. Furthermore, 206 community-based centres owned by local communities have been established, serving 11,675 children.
In strengthening services for children aged five to eight, the government has built 1,316 new pre-primary classrooms and equipped them with learning materials.
More than 15,000 households have received education on inclusive parenting and community-level health services, covering health, nutrition, emotional care, early learning, stimulation, and child protection.
The government has also trained over 15,000 professionals including child caregivers, health workers, journalists, and social welfare and development officers across all 26 regions of mainland Tanzania.
These efforts aim to equip service providers with skills to support families and improve child development nationwide.
Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Mwanaidi Ali Khamis, highlighted that the celebration was an opportunity to reflect on the role of the family in raising children.
She stressed that both mothers and fathers should work together to provide proper care, education, and essential services for their children from birth.
Permanent Secretary in the same ministry, Dr. John Jingu, announced five resolutions reached during the event.
These include expanding child care centres across the country to ensure access to inclusive services, nutrition, and safety.
He also mentioned plans to strengthen early identification services so children can get help early, and promote smart parenting through digital platforms to support parental learning and idea-sharing.
Other resolutions focus on enhancing collaboration with religious and cultural institutions to reinforce positive parenting and increasing the number of skilled caregivers nationwide.
Dr. Jingu said these actions will support the development of children and strengthen the family unit.
Representing non-governmental organizations, Elizabeth Maganga reaffirmed their continued support for the government’s child development efforts.
She noted that the scientifically proven early years for child development span from birth to age eight, a critical period for laying a strong foundation for the future.
UNICEF representative Laximi Bhawan assured that the United Nations agency will continue supporting the Tanzanian government in designing strategies to promote early childhood care and development.
During the celebration, Dr. Biteko also launched the Implementation Guidelines for Family and Child Care Interventions, recognized the contribution of partners in family welfare, and unveiled a nationwide Parenting Campaign.