By Our Correspondent - Dodoma
The Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Eng. Hamad Yusuph Masauni, has called on Tanzanians to treat environmental conservation as a critical national duty, not a casual undertaking.
Speaking in Dodoma on June 25, 2025, during a high-level working session with the management of the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), Minister Masauni underscored the urgency of safeguarding the country’s natural resources amidst growing threats posed by climate change and unsustainable practices.
“This is not a matter we can afford to take lightly,” Eng. Masauni said. “Protecting the environment must be embedded in our everyday lives, our policies, and our national consciousness. It’s the only way we can guarantee a safe and sustainable future for generations to come.”
He challenged NEMC to scale up public education and service delivery, noting that a strong environmental culture cannot be built without widespread awareness and civic participation, urging the Council to invest more in outreach strategies that demystify the Environmental Management Act and turn citizens into active custodians of their natural surroundings.
“Your role as a regulator is not only to enforce but also to educate,” he said. “Let Tanzanians understand the law and their responsibilities. When people are informed, they act. And when they act, the nation benefits.”
He emphasized that achieving sustainability requires a whole-of-society approach, where institutions and individuals alike are accountable for protecting the environment. “Environmental governance begins with each one of us. NEMC cannot do it alone,” he noted.
Responding to the Minister’s remarks, NEMC Director General Dr. Immaculate Sware Semesi welcomed the engagement and praised the Minister’s commitment to institutional dialogue and sectoral reforms.
“We appreciate your leadership and your willingness to listen to our challenges and proposals,” Dr. Semesi said. “This kind of partnership between policymakers and implementers is vital in advancing the national environmental agenda.”
She added that the Council is currently reviewing its operational frameworks to align better with evolving climate realities, government priorities, and community needs.
Tanzania, like many countries across the region, continues to face mounting environmental pressure due to rapid urbanization, land degradation, pollution, and deforestation. The government, through various reforms, has increasingly made environmental stewardship a cornerstone of its development plans.
Minister Masauni’s visit to NEMC is seen as part of a broader push to galvanize state agencies, civil society, and the private sector toward a unified national response to environmental threats.
As the country marches toward its development goals, experts say mainstreaming environmental protection into all sectors will be vital—not just for health and safety—but also for long-term economic resilience.