By Charles Mkoka
Tanzania has stepped up its push for a zero-waste economy, with senior government officials calling for stronger waste law enforcement and the protection of public green spaces as part of broader urban environmental reforms.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2026 International Day of Zero Waste commemorations in Dar es Salaam, Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Engineer Hamad Yusuf Masauni, said sustainable waste management must go hand in hand with the preservation of gardens, parks, and other open public areas.
He said urban spaces such as Mnazi Mmoja grounds and other city parks should be maintained as clean, green, and accessible areas for recreation, while also serving as symbols of environmental stewardship.
Eng. Masauni said the government wanted cities and municipalities to integrate tree planting, landscaping, and waste control into long-term planning strategies, adding that public spaces should remain protected for future generations.
Earlier at the event, National Environment Management Council (NEMC) Director General Dr Immaculate Sware Semesi said Tanzania’s zero-waste ambitions would depend on the strict implementation of the Environmental Management Act (Cap 191), particularly provisions assigning waste oversight responsibilities to local government authorities.
He said the legal framework provides penalties for environmental pollution and failures in waste control, underscoring that proper waste handling is both a civic and statutory obligation.
Dr. Semesi urged households, institutions, and private businesses to adopt waste separation at source and invest in environmentally friendly technologies, saying organic waste could be converted into compost and energy while paper, plastic, and glass could be recycled into new products.
The Ilala District Commissioner, speaking on behalf of Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila, said the city had begun rolling out a pilot programme in 10 model schools to promote cleaner surroundings and establish environmentally friendly public rest areas.
The initiative forms part of a wider city strategy to expand landscaped public gardens, improve waste management practices, and unlock economic opportunities from waste, including electricity generation and fertilizer production.
Officials said better coordination among institutions responsible for energy, agriculture, and municipal services would be essential to transform waste into commercially viable resources.
Closing the event, Eng. Masauni said the annual observance should serve as a lasting foundation for environmental awareness and action, expressing hope that future editions would attract broader international participation.
He urged Tanzanians to view waste not as a burden but as an economic opportunity capable of generating jobs, cleaner cities, and long-term development.
