Peace remains cornerstone of national progress

DAR ES SALAAM: THE country’s long-term ambition of building a one trillion-US dollar- economy by 2050 rests on a foundation that extends beyond infrastructure, industrialisation and investment to include peace, security, national unity and stability.

Under the Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (Dira 2050), peace and good governance are not merely social and political ideals but essential conditions for attracting investment, sustaining economic growth and ensuring that development gains benefit the wider population.

Dira 2050 identifies good governance, peace, security and stability as the foundation of its three major development pillars, including the creation of a strong, inclusive and competitive economy.

The Vision emphasises that a peaceful and stable environment gives businesses the confidence to operate, enables investors to make long-term decisions and allows the government to implement development programmes without disruption.

This is particularly important as Tanzania seeks to transform itself into an industrialised, knowledge-based, upper-middle-income economy, with a target of a one trillion US dollar- economy and a per capita income of 7,000 US dollars by 2050.

Under Dira 2050, the private sector is expected to contribute about 70 per cent of the economy, while the public sector will account for the remaining 30 per cent, placing businesses at the centre of the country’s long-term economic transformation.

Against this backdrop, the government has intensified efforts to address the proliferation of illegal firearms, viewing the initiative as an important component of maintaining peace, security and stability.

Speaking recently in Dodoma during the launch of a campaign for the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms, Minister for Home Affairs Mr Patrobas Katambi said the initiative was rooted in Tanzania’s commitment to regional and international efforts to build a peaceful Africa.

He traced the initiative to the 29th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July 2017. The session adopted a resolution declaring September a month for the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms, initially through 2020.

A review meeting held in December 2020 subsequently extended the programme to 2030 as part of the broader continental initiative known as “Silencing the Guns in Africa.”

“The implementation of this programme will help strengthen peace and stability in our country, Africa and the world at large,” Mr Katambi said.

He said Tanzania’s participation in the campaign demonstrated the country’s continued commitment to supporting regional and international initiatives aimed at curbing the proliferation of illegal firearms.

Mr Katambi stressed that the campaign was not simply about collecting firearms but also about protecting Tanzanians and creating an environment in which citizens could live, work and invest peacefully.

“The government wants to ensure that Tanzanians live and carry out their various activities in peace and stability, with the aim of improving their livelihoods and ultimately strengthening the national economy,” he said.

As part of the campaign, the government has granted an amnesty to people who voluntarily surrender firearms they possess illegally.

Under the amnesty, individuals who surrender illegally possessed firearms during the specified period will not face prosecution, subject to the conditions set by the government.

The exercise runs from September 1 to October 31, this year, with firearms to be surrendered at police stations, local government offices and ward executive offices.

Mr Katambi said the campaign would also be conducted at regional, district, ward, village and street levels to ensure that its message reached communities across the country.

He urged people possessing illegal firearms to take advantage of the amnesty rather than wait until the weapons were used in criminal activities or discovered during police operations.

“Do not wait for the firearm to be used in a criminal incident. Do not wait to be arrested with it. Do not wait for it to be seized during an operation,” Mr Katambi said.

Illegal firearms can turn ordinary disputes into deadly confrontations, facilitate armed crime and undermine the sense of security communities need to engage in productive economic activities.

In a related development, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Camillus Wambura said Tanzania had continued to fulfil its obligations under various regional and international agreements by strengthening legal and institutional mechanisms to control firearm ownership, use and distribution.

He described the voluntary surrender programme as a deliberate government intervention rather than an ordinary administrative exercise.

“The voluntary surrender of illegal firearms is not an ordinary event. It is a specific government measure aimed at giving citizens who possess firearms unlawfully an opportunity to surrender them without facing legal action, subject to the conditions set,” IGP Wambura said.

He said the initiative was supported by the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act of 2023, which provides the legal basis for granting an amnesty to individuals who voluntarily surrender illegal firearms.

IGP Wambura said the government provides a twomonth opportunity every year for citizens to surrender illegal firearms.

He added that police had seized 990 illegal firearms through various operations between 2023 and 2026, as part of efforts to prevent crime and identify criminals.

The campaign comes as Tanzania positions peace and stability as critical ingredients for achieving the ambitions outlined in Dira 2050.

The Vision places good governance, peace, security and stability at the centre of national development, supported by a governance framework anchored in constitutionalism, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

It also emphasises the importance of building public trust in government, strengthening national unity and social cohesion, promoting inclusive participation and fostering patriotism.

For investors, political and social stability reduces uncertainty and makes it easier to plan projects whose returns may take years or even decades to materialise.

Tanzania’s approach reflects the broader understanding that peace means more than the absence of war or armed conflict. It also encompasses social cohesion, national unity, respect for the law, accountable institutions and the ability of citizens to pursue their economic activities without fear.

The voluntary surrender campaign is part of a wider national effort to strengthen the relationship between security and development.

By encouraging citizens to surrender illegal firearms before they are used in crime, the government seeks to prevent violence rather than merely respond to its consequences.

Moreover, following the violence and breaches of peace surrounding the October 29, 2025, General Election, the government has embarked on a broader programme of national reconciliation and accountability aimed at restoring public trust, strengthening peace and preventing a recurrence of election-related unrest.

The first Presidential Commission of Inquiry, chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, investigated incidents of violence and breaches of peace during and after the election. It submitted its report to President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan in April 2026.

Based on the recommendations, President Dr Samia subsequently established a new panel chaired by Justice Shabani Ally Lila to establish accountability for the unrest and alleged violations of the law. Its mandate includes examining individuals suspected of planning, financing, coordinating or participating in the violence.

The panel began collecting evidence in August 2026 and was given 150 days to complete its work.

Together with proposed reconciliation and governance reforms, the process is intended to address grievances, promote accountability, rebuild public confidence and strengthen Tanzania’s tradition of peace, unity and national cohesion.

Peace and conflict expert, Cecylia Malamsha, based at Mtwara University College, emphasised the importance of promoting the responsible use of technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), as a tool for fostering peace rather than fuelling divisions through disinformation in an increasingly digital world.

“Global political changes are increasingly intertwined with advances in science and technology, including artificial intelligence. As Tanzanians, we must embrace these changes and promote the responsible use of technology to strengthen national unity and cohesion,” Ms Malamsha told the Daily News.

She added that strategies were needed to educate and empower people on the appropriate use of technology, depending on the time and context.

Furthermore, she urged religious institutions to preach love, tolerance and unity among people regardless of their religious affiliations, while avoiding political involvement to promote peaceful coexistence.

Ms Malamsha said people in all regions had a responsibility to promote and safeguard peace, emphasising that building and strengthening national cohesion was a collective undertaking.

She also urged young people to avoid making political decisions driven by emotion and to refrain from hate speech and other forms of communication that could fuel divisions and undermine peaceful coexistence.

Additionally, she called on young people to prioritise education as a foundation for making informed decisions and developing the wisdom needed by present and future leaders.

As implementation of Dira 2050 gathers momentum, political analyst Professor Kitojo Wetengere, based at the University of Arusha, urged current and incoming leaders to reject tribalism, religious intolerance and corruption, warning that such practices could undermine national unity and peace.

“We should continue to refrain from actions that could undermine peace. We need transparency, dialogue and reconciliation to address emerging challenges that are threats to peace and national unity,” he said.

Beyond peace and security, achieving the ambitions of Dira 2050 will also depend on the effective implementation of key economic and technological drivers, including integrated logistics, science and technology, research and development (R&D), digital transformation and energy.

Integrated logistics can improve the movement of goods and people, strengthen supply chains and reduce the cost of doing business, while science and technology can foster innovation, boost productivity and enhance competitiveness.

Research and development are essential for generating new knowledge and evidence-based solutions to local challenges, thereby supporting socioeconomic growth.

Digital transformation can improve efficiency, expand access to services and create opportunities for innovation across different sectors of the economy.

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Energy, meanwhile, is vital for industrialisation, innovation and economic expansion, helping to raise living standards and empower communities.

Together, these drivers can accelerate socioeconomic transformation, enhance productivity and improve the quality of life for citizens, ultimately contributing to the realisation of Dira 2050.