LGA leaders stress resident ID safety
DAR ES SALAAM: LOCAL Government Authority (LGA) leaders have underscored the importance of community mapping through proper identification and registration of residents at village and street levels, saying it is essential for strengthening security and improving access to social services.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ‘Daily News’, the Chairman of Mwongozo Street in Makuburi Ward, Ubungo District, Mr Peppino Sudi, said community mapping is critical because it enables authorities to know who genuinely resides in an area and who does not.
“The world we live in today, is increasingly complex, with different groups of people and varied behaviours, including some young people engaging in acts that may threaten security. This makes it important for communities to be visibly identified in their respective neighbourhoods,” said Mr Sudi.
Mr Sudi, who also serves as the Ubungo District LGA Secretary, noted that resident identification was previously conducted through ten-cell leaders, but the practice has weakened over time.
As communities become more diverse, comprising both law-abiding residents and those with ill intentions, he said robust identification systems are more necessary than ever.
He urged the central government to enact a law requiring all residents to register their information with their ten-cell leader, with the data then submitted to the local government offices to enable closer monitoring of people living in or moving into the area.
Commenting on security matters, Mr Sudi said maintaining safety is essential under the community policing framework, though challenges persist, including reluctance among some residents to contribute to operational costs.
He said community security groups play a key role as they are often the first to detect and report criminal activity, being part of the communities, they protect.
Mr Sudi said that security begins with local leaders knowing every resident, their household and their circumstances, making it easier for people to report problems or seek administrative support.
He urged the government to review the status of LGA leaders to provide them with proper recognition, identification cards, improved working tools, allowances, benefits and regular training.
“There is no job in the world that does not require training. Councillors receive it, MPs receive it, ministers and permanent secretaries receive it, so why not LGA chairpersons? Training allows us to share experiences and learn what other regions have done to progress,” he said.
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The LGA Chairman for Laswiray Street in Moshono Ward, Arusha, stressed that identifying residents is essential in determining who lives where, making it easier to deliver basic services.
He added that proper identification also strengthens security because streets are the foundation of peace or conflict; through local security committees, early signs of disorder or even outbreaks of disease can be addressed.
Similarly, the LGA Chairman for Mpakani Street in Mkuza Ward, Kibaha District, Azizi Mohamed, said identification helps differentiate legitimate residents from strangers or intruders, especially those with harmful intentions.
He added that local leaders can easily recognise newcomers through cultural cues and accents.
Social and political analyst Kenneth Baga, from Dar es Salaam, said that identifying people in their places of residence is extremely important, noting that even developed countries maintain accurate residential address systems.
He explained that proper identification enables the government to manage key services such as water supply, waste management, electricity and broader social welfare.
He urged the government to strengthen resident identification systems through digital solutions and develop a central database to support service delivery and crime prevention.
A community policing volunteer from Mlalakuwa Street in Makongo Ward, Kinondoni District, Julius Chavala, said some areas in Dar es Salaam face security challenges due to high activity levels, making community policing and resident identification essential.
He noted, however, that security teams still have too few volunteers and receive low allowances, calling on the government to address the issues.
A resident of Mabibo in Dar es Salaam, Rosemary Mgaya, said proper resident identification at the local government level is important because without it, accessing essential services becomes difficult.
She added that identification systems help prevent conflicts and reduce crime, as authorities can respond more effectively when they know the people they serve.
