Where is Tanzania and what does it look like there?
Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa and includes the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. Situated just south of the equator, Tanzania is bordered by the Indian Ocean and eight countries – Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
This beautiful country is home to Mount Kilamanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. Three of the largest lakes on the continent are also found in Tanzania – Lake Victoria in the north, Lake Tanganyika in the west and Lake Nysa in the southwest.
About 90% of Tanzanians live in the rural areas and live off what they can grow on the land. In more recent years, however, people have started to migrate from the countryside to developing towns and cities.
A range of different religions are followed across Tanzania. Approximately one third of the population are Muslim, one third are Christians, and the remaining third follow traditional African religions.
Tanzania’s population includes around 120 different African tribal groups. The largest group is the Sukuma, who live in the north-western part of the country, south of Lake Victoria. This is where we work.
The Tanzanian villages in the North-West
Our projects take place in the Nyamatongo Ward, Sengerema District, Mwanza Region of Tanzania. A ward is a geographical area in which several small villages are located. Nyamatongo Ward covers around 100km2 and is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria in the north-western Tanzania, and has approximately 35,000 inhabitants.
There are no sealed roads, no running water and practically no electricity. Healthcare and sanitation is poor and people are continuously exposed to water-borne diseases and parasites. However, Nyamatongo Ward has the potential to grow and thrive.
Kamanga, the largest village in Nyamatongo Ward, is linked to Mwanza by regular ferry services. Travel time is around 45 minutes although irregularities and delays are the norm and most often the trip can take two hours or more. Kamanga is also linked to Sengerema by a well-used but unsealed road. Travel time is around one hour in dry seasons but much longer during the rainy seasons. Despite its proximity to Mwanza, Kamanga enjoys only basic services, and economic opportunities are limited.
What the people told us
An extensive baseline survey was conducted by Cedar Tanzania in 2014 to assess problematic issues and what the villagers wished to improve.
Findings included:
“There was a pregnant woman who died due to lack of health services. This was because of the lack of transport during the night to get her to the hospital in Mwanza City because the ferries do not operate at night time... so the health service situation in Kamanga is very bad.”
Diet
Most residents have a simple diet mainly consisting of a starchy maize porridge (ugali) and small type of freshwater sardines (dagaa). When larger fish, like Nile Perch and Tilapia, are caught they get sold to create income. According to respondents, the main staple food crops cultivated by the Kamanga community include cassava, maize, beans, sweet potatoes. The majority of households do not include fruit or vegetables often in their diets and many don’t know how to prepare vegetables well.
“We do no talk about a balanced diet over here...”
Energy
Even though Kamanga does have electricity power lines, the main sources of energy in Kamanga are firewood and charcoal.
“Electricity is reserved for a few rich people. Most residents have no electricity since the power line is along the main road and you need at least two poles to connect it to your house. It is an expensive investment. Not many Kamanga community members would afford 600,000 Tz Sh (equivalent US $355) for the connection. The further your house is from the main line, the more you have to pay.”
Drinking Water
There is no tap water in Kamanga. Sources of water include shallow wells, naturally occurring seasonal water holes, and the lake. The few shallow wells and seasonal water holes are usually only useful during the rainy seasons; in the dry season these dry out. The main water source for the Kamanga community remains the lake water, which is polluted with sewage, petroleum products and poisons used for fishing as well as containing natural dangers like parasites and crocodiles.
“In my house I just take water as it is for drinking; I don’t boil it.”
Sanitation
Sanitation in Kamanga is unsatisfactory. About 70% of the residents have use of a latrine - often a hole dug in the ground in the vicinity of a group of houses.
“About 20-30% of households have no toilets at all. They practice open defecation in the bushes or the lake. In some circumstances they use fields that are close to people’s houses.”
Education
The majority of Kamanga residents are educated to primary school level. There are two primary schools in the village, both housed on the same compound. One school runs lessons in the morning, and the other runs lessons in the afternoon in the same classrooms. The community members felt that the two-session systems failed to give adequate learning time. Respondents stated that in Kamanga, the quality of education provided to the school children is unsatisfactory. Prospects for secondary education are very remote, since there is only one secondary school in the ward jurisdiction area, and this is situated in Nyamatongo Village.
The drop-out rate for girls at primary school is reported to be as high as 40%; reasons include early marriage and teenage pregnancy. Boys also drop out frequently, mostly to take part in lake fishing.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities
There are no banks in Kamanga and villagers lack financial management skills. When asked about opportunities for entrepreneurship, respondents reported that there is a limited amount of small scale entrepreneurship in Kamanga. The existing opportunities focus mainly on fishing and selling fish products and vegetables, and other micro-businesses. The main barriers to business development are lack of capital and entrepreneurship skills. Although fishing and agriculture are the main economic activities, equipment and tools are still very basic.
“Despite the fact that we are so near to Mwanza City, no individual has ever been able to get a loan from a financial institution because of the credit conditions imposed on them.”
Gender Roles
In terms of gender equality, respondent stated that in some cases, a fair system is in place. For instance, respondents drew attention to the fact that if a man dies, his wife will continue to own the property. On the other hand, female respondents reported that within some families, men will rarely involve women in decision-making and have the final say on the distribution of income.
“Women might receive a small portion of the product of their work; however some men give nothing at all to their spouses. If you insist on receiving your share, you may end up being battered.”