The Minister for Youth Development, Joel Nanauka, has called on Regional, District, Council, and Ward leaders to abandon the tendency of remaining in offices and instead go down to the grassroots to engage directly with young people and inform them about various government development opportunities aimed at improving their economic well-being.
Speaking to youths from Same East Constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, Minister Nanauka said leaders have a responsibility to reach young people in their communities and provide them with accurate information on available opportunities, including loans, training, employment, and various government-supported economic projects.
He noted that during his tours since being appointed to the ministry, he has observed that a large number of youths lack information about development opportunities provided by the government.
This situation, he said, has resulted in such opportunities benefiting only a small group of youths, while many others are left behind due to lack of information.
“I have discovered that information on youth opportunities often remains within a few groups. The Sixth Phase Government wants every young person, regardless of their political affiliation or location, to access information and benefit from these opportunities,” said Minister Nanauka.
He added that the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has directed that all youth-related opportunities be provided transparently and equitably.
Leaders at all levels, he emphasized, are encouraged to ensure that young people are educated on how to utilize these opportunities for their personal development and for national progress as a whole.
On her part, the Member of Parliament for Same East Constituency, Anne Kilango, said that youths form a large segment of the population at global, national, and constituency levels.
She explained that approximately 64 percent of the constituency’s residents are youths, highlighting the need for strong strategies to economically empower them.
Kilango noted that major development projects being implemented in the constituency have increased youths’ confidence in the government.
Among them is the construction of the 101-kilometer Mkomazi–Kisiwani Same road, which is being built to tarmac standards and has opened up economic and social opportunities for young people in the area.
Meanwhile, Minister Nanauka pledged to address the challenges raised by youths, particularly those related to irrigation infrastructure.
He said the government continues to allocate resources to improve irrigation farming for strategic crops cultivated by youths, with the aim of increasing productivity and income.
In their presentation to the Minister, youths who attended the meeting said they are facing challenges related to irrigation infrastructure, especially in ginger farming in the highland wards and rice farming in the lowland wards.
They called on the government to fast-track the implementation of water projects to support agricultural production.