Community, police join forces to safeguard children

DAR ES SALAAM: POLICE gender desks and community policing officers across several regions have launched an intensive safety campaign to protect students from violence, drug abuse, and exploitation.

From the busy streets of Dar es Salaam to the wards of Singida and Tabora, the message from the Police Force is clear, safeguarding the nation’s children is a responsibility that must be shared by parents, teachers, and the police alike.

Gender Desk at Mbagala Police District took its outreach program to the grounds of Mbagala Rangi Tatu Primary School.

Addressing a gathering of students and staff, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Blandina Ndunguru emphasized the critical role teachers play as the first line of defence. ASP Ndunguru urged educators to look beyond academic performance and pay close attention to children’s emotional well-being.

“Closely monitor children’s behaviours to notice early signs of distress or unusual changes,” she said, noting that early detection is key to stopping abuse before it escalates.

The ASP also issued a direct warning to students regarding stranger danger, advising them never to accept money, gifts, or transportation from individuals they do not know.

She stressed that reporting suspicious incidents immediately is the only way the Police Force can take timely action to ensure children grow up in a safe environment. In Singida Municipality, the focus shifted to the role of the community in policing school surroundings.

The Ward Inspector for Misuna, Inspector Siyachitema Kawinga, called for a high level of alertness among guardians.

Speaking during a meeting with parents and students at Kimpungua Secondary School, he encouraged parents to question the presence of unfamiliar people loitering near schools and to be wary of youths who appear to have no clear purpose in the area.

According to Kawinga, this community vigilance is essential to shielding students from harmful influences, particularly the rising threat of drug use.

“Children are the nation’s future,” he reminded the assembly. “Their well-being depends on a calm and safe environment.”

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In Kawe District, community policing initiatives reached Bunju A Secondary School, Inspector Mwanamosi educated approximately 450 Form One students on the link between discipline and safety. A major highlight of the session was the danger of truancy.

Inspector Mwanamosi warned that skipping school often leads to a moral decline, as unsupervised students are more likely to fall into criminal behaviours or become victims of abuse.

Students were reminded of their duty to report any experience of violence or sexual abuse immediately to authorities. Similar efforts were mirrored in the Tabora Region.

At Ndono Secondary School in Uyui District, a coordinated team of police and ward officials including Inspector Stanislaus Kazabi and Ward Executive Officer Iman Msauge delivered training session focused on the long-term impact of drug abuse, gambling, and age-inappropriate romantic relationships.

These coordinated sessions across Tanzania have been warmly received by school administrations. Educators and parents alike view the direct involvement of the Police Force as a vital step in building trust between citizens and law enforcement.

By prioritizing education on violence and sexual abuse at the school level, the Police Force aims to nurture a generation of responsible, law-abiding citizens who are equipped to protect themselves and their peers.

The message across all regions remains the same, when families, schools, and the police work as one, the path to a child’s bright future is secured.