The Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Ambassador Dr. Bashiru Ally Kakurwa, has vowed to protect the interests of pastoralists, fight fraud, and lift them out of poverty.
Speaking during a meeting on February 18, 2026, in Tanga City to assess and revive the Tanga Fresh dairy processing plant, Dr. Bashiru was firm in his commitment.
“My ministry means nothing if pastoralists’ milk is wasted. It means nothing if pastoralists remain poor. It means nothing if fraudsters exploit them,” he said.
Dr. Bashiru emphasized that his oath of office obliges him to ensure the livestock sector is efficient, commercially viable, and benefits both pastoralists and the nation.
As part of the meeting’s resolutions, he ordered a comprehensive audit of the factory over two months starting March 1, 2026, to examine how its funds have been managed.
Earlier, the Tanga Fresh Board Chairman, Ambassador Adadi Rajab, explained that the factory’s decline resulted from the withdrawal of a private investor after failing to earn expected profits.
“The investor pulled out because the previous management overspent, paying salaries higher than the revenue from the factory’s products,” he said.
Prof. George Msalya, Registrar of the Tanzania Dairy Board, stressed that the factory is a critical economic lifeline for pastoralists in Tanga and neighboring regions. Any disruption could impact the entire livestock value chain.
Tanga Fresh is a government and Tanga District Cooperative Union (TDCU) partnership. The union collects milk from member groups and delivers it to the factory, with payments based on reference prices distributed mid-month.
Dr. Bashiru’s actions show a clear commitment to ensuring that pastoralists’ hard work translates into better livelihoods, stronger local economies, and a thriving livestock sector.