Joseph Isangura
In the quiet hills of Kalembo Ward in Ileje District, part of Tanzania’s Songwe Region, daily life is marked by resilience and frustration in equal measure.
For fruit vendor Asha Said, the struggle is not just about earning a living but also navigating poor infrastructure, limited health services, and the lack of meaningful job opportunities for young people.
“Health centres are there, but services remain poor and need urgent improvement. Young people also need employment. And the roads—especially during the rainy season—are so muddy and impassable that they make business almost impossible,” Asha said, her words echoing the concerns of many in her community.
Her story captures a wider reality across rural Tanzania, where communities often face multiple barriers at once. Health facilities may exist, but shortages of staff, medicine, and equipment mean services fall short. Youth, even those with secondary education, often find themselves unemployed or underemployed, with few local opportunities to match their ambitions. Poor infrastructure compounds the challenge: when rural roads are dusty in the dry season and waterlogged during rains, the simple act of transporting goods to market becomes an uphill battle.
Agriculture remains the lifeblood of Songwe’s economy, with farmers producing maize, beans, and coffee. But when roads are broken, harvests rot before reaching buyers. Poor connectivity also limits access to health centres and schools, keeping communities isolated when they need services most. These challenges undermine not just the economy but also social wellbeing.
Also Read; Kim Jong Un’s Beijing Visit Sparks Secrecy Concerns
Local authorities are tasked with maintaining feeder roads and improving services, yet face serious budgetary limitations. Grants from central government often arrive late, and district councils have little financial autonomy to address urgent local needs. Reports from the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) show that such delays weaken planning and service delivery, leaving districts like Ileje struggling to keep pace with demand.
There are glimmers of progress. Nationwide efforts to expand vocational training have led to the construction of new centres, aiming to equip youth with practical skills for entrepreneurship and employment. In Songwe, such initiatives are beginning to take shape, though residents say the pace must be faster to meet the scale of need.
Despite the obstacles, there is optimism that things can change. With its fertile soils, youthful population, and strategic location in the Southern Highlands, Songwe has enormous potential to drive regional development. But for that promise to be fulfilled, investment in local healthcare, jobs, and roads is not just desirable—it is essential.
