Protecting Our Future: The Urgent Need to Safeguard Tanzania’s Children as Abuse Rises

By Adonis Byemelwa

The safety of children in schools has become a matter of paramount importance in today’s society, especially as incidents of child abuse are on the rise. Gone are the days when every adult treated someone else's child as their own. Now, children are growing up in a world where fear and mistrust are beginning to define their interactions, even with those closest to them.

Recently, horrifying incidents have left parents devastated. In Dar es Salaam, a tragedy unfolded when the parents of a six-year-old girl, a second grader at Mbagala Kuu Primary School, found themselves in tears after their child was reportedly raped and killed.

The perpetrators remain at large, while the family is left to grapple with an unimaginable loss. A parent’s worst nightmare is to believe their child is safe at school, only to face such a grim reality.

Parents and guardians expect their children to be looked after on their way to school, whether on public or private transport. Yet, this trust is increasingly being shattered. The journey to school, once considered safe, has become fraught with dangers that no parent could have foreseen.

Children, who should feel secure as they embark on their school day, are now escorted by adults who themselves are often untrustworthy. Upon reaching public transportation, they are frequently told there’s no room for them, or if allowed to board, they are made to stand because they pay a lower fare than adults. Groups of children traveling together are admonished to keep quiet, as adults wish to listen to the radio or engage in conversations.

Once they arrive at school, the challenges persist. Latecomers, often delayed by public transport issues, face severe punishment, with little consideration for the difficulties they encounter during their commute. But even within the supposed sanctuary of school walls, safety is not guaranteed.

Child abuse is not confined to developing nations; even in Western countries, where child safety is expected to be paramount, instances of abuse are all too common. Professor Damiani Gabagambi, who lived and worked abroad in 2003, recounted a disturbing story of an African child who was bullied by white classmates.

They rubbed the child’s hands, trying to remove his skin color, and even attempted to inspect his private parts to see if he was black all over. This traumatic experience led to a significant dispute and the eventual transfer of the child to another school. Such incidents underscore the vulnerability of children, even in environments deemed safe.

These incidents of abuse highlight the deteriorating safety of children. Children, who are the nation's most valuable asset and a symbol of the country’s future, must be fiercely protected. It’s no wonder that during major international events, children are often at the forefront, offering greetings and raising the soccer ball.

 When the President visits another country, children are given special roles in the welcome ceremony, looking on with joy and hope. Yet, behind these ceremonial roles lies a harsh reality that children in Tanzania face every day.

The grim reality of child safety in Tanzania is reflected in the statistics. According to a 2019 UNICEF report, over 60% of children in Tanzania have experienced some form of violence, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. This staggering figure demands urgent and effective action. Children living in vulnerable environments, particularly those from poor families, are at a higher risk of abuse.

 This starkly contrasts with children from wealthy families, who enjoy better security services, including private transport, security guards, and even technological devices like security cameras.

In Tanzania, the safety of children from poor families has reached a critical level. These children live in constant fear and anxiety, deprived of essential services like education and healthcare. In Dar es Salaam, for example, many children are forced to beg on the streets instead of attending school.

 This leaves them exposed to severe risks, such as crossing dangerous roads without considering their safety and sometimes being victimized by adults who see them as petty criminals. These street children are in dire need of urgent assistance. The government, along with non-governmental organizations, must establish robust programs to ensure these children return to school and receive proper healthcare.

 Society must also rethink its role in protecting these children. If livestock are given high levels of protection by being fitted with bells, then children, too, deserve to be equipped with special devices like microchips to ensure they can be easily located if lost or abused.

Police statistics from 2021 reveal an alarming increase in child abuse cases. That year alone, a total of 11,499 child abuse cases were reported, with the regions of Arusha, Tanga, Shinyanga, Mwanza, and Ilala leading in the number of incidents.

The most common offenses were rape (5,899 cases), pregnancies among students (1,677 cases), sodomy (1,114 cases), school dropouts (790 cases), and physical assault (390 cases). These numbers paint a grim picture of the state of child safety in the country.

According to the Child Act No. 21 of 2009, every child has the right to live and receive proper care, protection, and development without any form of discrimination. Children must be protected from violence and provided with a safe and peaceful learning environment.

However, the impact of child abuse on a child's health, mental well-being, and economic status is profound. These effects also extend to parents, the community, and the nation as a whole, as an affected child becomes a burden to society and the government. This burden is felt across all levels of society, from the immediate family to the broader community.

Education statistics (BEST 2020) show that a total of 1,135 primary school students and 5,340 secondary school students dropped out due to pregnancy. The regions with the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in primary schools are Mwanza (98 cases), Tanga (97 cases), Ruvuma (84 cases), Geita (78 cases), and Morogoro (71 cases).

 In secondary schools, Mwanza (491 cases), Morogoro (389 cases), Dodoma (381 cases), Mara (369 cases), and Ruvuma (327 cases) topped the list. These figures reveal a troubling trend that requires immediate attention and intervention. The effects of abuse at school and home are devastating, leading many children to drop out and engage in activities that are detrimental to society. Child abuse significantly contributes to the decline in the country's economic growth and causes a shortage of the nation's workforce.

In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups has implemented a comprehensive strategy involving sectoral ministries and stakeholders in child protection and safety.

The government must establish and strengthen systems to protect children both in and out of school, ensuring their safety at every stage. Countries like New Zealand and Canada have made significant strides in ensuring the safety of children in schools and communities.

In New Zealand, the government has implemented a child protection system that emphasizes quality healthcare, school safety, and children's rights. Schools have strict policies to prevent abuse and harassment, and teachers receive special training to identify and address problems early. As a result, New Zealand has significantly reduced child abuse incidents and improved children's well-being by 88%, according to a 2022 UNICEF study.

Similarly, in Canada, the government has focused on strengthening social systems to ensure that children receive quality education and healthcare without discrimination. Child protection programs are in place in schools and the community, providing children with a safe environment to learn and live.

These successes show that with robust, actionable plans, Tanzania can improve child safety and ensure that all children have access to their fundamental rights to education and healthcare, regardless of their family's economic status. This is a responsibility that falls on all of us as a society that cares about the future of our nation.