How community security structures transform local peace efforts

COAST REGION: COMMUNITY policing and local reconciliation efforts are fundamentally transforming security at the grassroots level across Tanzania, with local government leaders confirming significant drops in crime rates and sustained neighbourhood harmony.

Speaking in exclusive interviews with the Daily News, the leaders said crime rates have dropped in areas where community policing is active, enabling residents to live in safer and more peaceful environments.

Chairperson of Mpakani Street in Mkuza Ward, Coastal Region, Mr Azizi Mbamba said the right to self-protection begins with individuals, adding that local governments have a central mandate to safeguard residents and their property.

“Through community policing, residents are able to protect themselves and their property, while local governments ensure that everyone lives in a safe and peaceful environment,” Mr Mbamba said.

He explained that, through collaboration with the police, community policing volunteers receive training from the Ward Police Unit, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to protect people and their property.

According to him, criminal incidents have decreased significantly due to strengthened patrols and increased community involvement.

Volunteers, he added, are compensated by residents through contributions approved during neighbourhood general meetings.

Mr Mbamba further noted that local governments have also taken on the responsibility of resolving minor disputes among residents through reconciliation, reducing the workload of legal authorities by handling cases that can be settled locally.

Chairperson of Loswiray Street in Moshono Ward, Arusha, Mr Felix Mollel, echoed these observations, saying community policing has played a critical role in improving the safety of residents and their belongings.

He said that during the neighbourhood meetings, residents agreed to establish a community policing structure as a strategy to maintain peace and committed to contributing funds to support the volunteers through elected coordinators.

In Dar es Salaam, Ally Mgaya, Chairperson of Sinza “A” Street in Sinza Ward, said community policing has led to a noticeable reduction in criminal activity in his area, allowing residents to go about their daily activities with greater peace of mind.

As a neighbourhood leader, he said that ensuring the safety of residents is his foremost responsibility.

He added that during a neighbourhood meeting, residents agreed that motorcycle ‘bodaboda’ riders operating in the area should also be selected to support community policing efforts, offering round-the-clock security while continuing to provide transport services to the public.

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Chairperson of Yombo Street in Temeke Ward, Dar es Salaam, Muslim Dada, said his neighbourhood operates a well-organised community policing system in which volunteers are formally registered and paid electronically through a control-number system.

He noted that the approach has improved transparency and increased community participation in maintaining peace and order.

Baraka Jumanne, a community policing volunteer in Bunju B, Dar es Salaam, said, “Community policing is the foundation of peace. It makes everyone responsible instead of relying on the police alone. People feel involved, cooperation grows and crime incidents reduce.”

Jestina Mgaya, a resident of Dar es Salaam, added that patrols, planning meetings, and training programmes have made residents more aware and proactive in protecting their neighbourhoods.

In Morogoro, Ibrahim Mustafa, a community policing volunteer in Mji Meya Street, said the initiative has strengthened trust among residents.

“People feel confident that the information they share is safe and acted upon. This encourages women, youth and older people to participate because they know their voices matter,” he said.

Commenting on the impact of community policing during an interview with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), political analyst Lutege Mussa Lutege urged residents to actively support community policing initiatives and local reconciliation efforts to maintain peace in their neighbourhoods.

He emphasised that everyone, especially young people, has a role to play in safeguarding their communities and promoting unity.

“As Tanzanians, we must work together with local governments and community policing volunteers to ensure our neighbourhoods are safe. Through community policing and local reconciliation, we can restore and sustain the peace and cohesion that form the foundation of our communities,” Mr Lutege said.

Peace advocate and preacher Ombeni Luka also called on citizens to embrace the spirit of cooperation and mutual care that has historically defined Tanzanian communities.

“Neighbourhoods were built on trust, cooperation and mutual respect. By participating in community policing and local reconciliation, residents can return to that spirit of unity and harmony,” he said.