Tanzania is intensifying efforts to strengthen resilience against climate change, with the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) urged to deepen stakeholder engagement ahead of the October–December Vuli rains.
The call was made during the 24th stakeholders’ forum in Dodoma, where government officials, regional leaders, and sector representatives discussed how accurate and timely weather information can help communities cope with changing rainfall patterns.
TMA Board Chairperson, Justice Mshibe Ali Bakari, said climate change was already affecting lives and livelihoods, making inclusive planning essential.
“This partnership is a model to emulate and must continue, especially at a time when the world faces the realities of climate change,” he said, adding that forecasts should be released early and shared through multiple platforms.
Acting TMA Director General and Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dr. Ladislaus Chang’a, explained that engaging users from agriculture, disaster management, and other sectors has significantly improved the relevance of weather services.
Practical examples were shared at the forum. Dodoma Regional Office official, Mr. Wilfred Kavishe, said while the 2025 Masika forecast was accurate, farmers who ignored expert guidance on planting suffered poor yields.
From the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Emmanuel Lyimo noted that advance warnings helped authorities prepare contingency measures, train officials, and alert vulnerable regions.
TMA confirmed that its March–May 2025 Masika rainfall outlook was 87.5 percent accurate and announced that the official forecast for the 2025 Vuli rains will be released in Dar es Salaam on September 11.
By engaging stakeholders and enhancing public awareness, Tanzania is aiming not just to predict the weather but to protect communities from the growing risks of climate change.
