Kawawa’s victory as MP builds fortress of law in Namtumbo

RUVUMA: IN a moment that felt more like a plot twist than standard development news, the Ruvuma Regional Police Force publicly tipped its cap to none other than Namtumbo Member of Parliament Vitta Kawawa, whose stature may be modest, but whose efforts have towered tall.

Mr Kawawa, who also chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, is now the official “architect of hope” in Namtumbo.

Why? Because thanks to his unrelenting push, Namtumbo now boasts of a modern, well-designed police station-one that finally allows law enforcement officers to serve in dignity, rather than dodging termites in a crumbling, borrowed building that was already marked for demolition.

Yes, you read that right. The old station was not just bad; it was borrowed and scheduled to be bulldozed.

The new facility, officially opened on June 20, 2025, was not whipped up overnight. It took 18 months, a lot of coordination and more than 700m/- (cue dramatic music). Construction began on May 2, 2023 and wrapped up on October 6, 2024.

And it was not just another cement box, this place was professionally designed to tackle real issues: overcrowded cells, lack of privacy, inadequate space for suspects and officers alike.

And now? It is finally a station that serves both justice and comfort. The Ruvuma Regional Police Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marco Chilya, was beaming during the grand launch.

With pride, he praised Mr Kawawa as a “behindthe-scenes fighter,” someone who did not demand the spotlight but whose work now shines brighter than the police station’s freshly painted walls.

“This man is a lion in silence,” said RPC Chilya, “roaring through his actions, not his words.”

He pointed out that thanks to Mr Kawawa’s efforts in Parliament, the Namtumbo Police also received new motorcycles, because what’s a shiny station without a few shiny rides? But it wasn’t just a love letter to Kawawa.

The police force also extended hearty thanks to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for what can only be described as a development sprint.

The Sixth Phase Government has been pumping funds into infrastructure like a builder with a caffeine addiction.

Namtumbo did not just get a building, it got a new vehicle, officer promotions and an environment that actually encourages law enforcement to stay on the job instead of plotting an early retirement.

RPC Chilya added, “We also appreciate Home Affairs Minister Innocent Bashungwa and IGP Camilius Wambura. Without this chain of support, we would still be chasing criminals from a condemned shack.”

Standing in for IGP Wambura at the event was Deputy Commissioner of Police Narcis Missama, who moonlights as the Head of Police Property Management.

Missama went full infographic mode, revealing that under President Samia’s leadership, the Police Force has received 937 vehicles, 121 motorcycles, boats for lakes like Nyasa and countless other goodies. “We are not just seeing progress, we are driving it,” he quipped.

And yes, the headquarters in Dodoma is fully aware of Mr Kawawa’s contributions. “We know what he has been doing,” Missama added with a knowing nod. “And we see the results.”

Next up was the area District Commissioner Ngollo Malenya, speaking on behalf of the Ruvuma Regional Commissioner. His voice carried the weight of gratitude and vision.

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“This station is not just brick and mortar, it is a symbol of hope, justice and dignity,” Malenya said, drawing a cheer from the crowd.

“And let me be clear-this place must run on integrity and professionalism.”

The DC also confirmed that thanks to Kawawa’s leadership, the district now has a fully functioning patrol vehicle for the OCD and regular patrols have become the norm rather than the exception.

It’s the kind of basic service that had long been missing, but is now standard thanks to strategic advocacy. And then came the man himself, the MP Vitta Kawawa.

At the opening of the new Class Bgrade police station, he addressed the crowd with modesty and a deep sense of purpose.

“This station is for the people of Namtumbo,” he said. “Please take care of it. It is here to serve you in many ways, even if you just lost your ID or need help reporting a crime.”

Mr Kawawa also emphasised that the construction of the station directly reflects the 2020–2025 CCM manifesto as a real-time example of a campaign promise turned concrete.

Naturally, the community responded in the most Tanzanian way possible and that is with a song, poetry and praise.

Local residents burst into celebratory performances, chanting: “Kawawa, congratulations for taking care of our district. In every Namtumbo village, complaints are few.

Your leadership should live on. Kawawa for MP, now and forever!” Even Said Zuberi, the CCM District Chairman, could not resist joining the chorus.

He thanked President Samia for rolling out a buffet of development projects, including the now-beloved police station.

Speaking like a proud uncle at a wedding, Zuberi said of Mr Kawawa, “Small body, big results! The bark doesn’t matter; it is the bite.

And we have seen it.” Cue the grand finale: the ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Ally Senga Gugu, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Gugu didn’t hold back.

He praised Kawawa’s committee for its consistent guidance and oversight, which has helped the Ministry implement numerous police projects nationwide.

“We see you, we recognise your work and we don’t take it for granted,” Gugu said.

He reserved special thanks for President Samia Suluhu Hassan, acknowledging her clear commitment to strengthening all organs of law and order not just with words, but with real, tangible action.

New infrastructure, better working tools, improved welfare for officers it’s all part of what Gugu called “a wave of accountability and transformation.”

Rounding off his speech, Gugu confirmed what everyone had come to celebrate: that security in Ruvuma and across Tanzania is stable.

He applauded IGP Wambura for steering the Police Force with clarity and discipline.

So yes, Namtumbo now has a police station worth bragging about. It’s not just a building; it’s a metaphor in cement.

It stands as a monument to what happens when a community’s representative truly represents them not with slogans, but with action.

And maybe, just maybe, the next time a child in Namtumbo walks past those clean white walls and hears the siren of a brand-new patrol vehicle, they will feel a little safer and a lot prouder.