PM stresses joint efforts to reduce disaster risks

SUMBAWANGA: PRIME Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has called for collective efforts by the government, private sector and communities to strengthen disaster resilience, stressing the need for household preparedness to minimise risks and protect lives.

He made the call on Tuesday while delivering a statement to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Sumbawanga, Rukwa Region.

Dr Nchemba said the government continued strengthening disaster prevention and risk reduction systems at national and community levels, improving information delivery and raising public awareness of precautionary measures.

He said families were the foundation of society, making household safety and resilience essential in enabling communities to prepare for disasters, respond effectively and recover when they occur.

“Building resilience against disasters is a shared responsibility that requires the participation of all stakeholders, starting with preparedness at household level,” he said.

The Prime Minister urged local government authorities, research institutions, non-governmental organisations, the media, religious institutions and traditional leaders to work together to strengthen community preparedness and resilience.

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He also called on Tanzanians to take precautionary measures ahead of the October-to-December short-rains season, urging them to heed official warnings and prepare early to minimise disaster risks and impacts.

Meanwhile, Dr Nchemba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering young people and prioritising productive activities to increase their contribution to national economic growth.

He made the remarks while touring exhibition stalls during the 2026 Youth Week celebrations at Ndua Grounds in Sumbawanga Municipality, where he inspected innovations developed by young people.

He said the government was creating opportunities for young people to engage in income-generating activities and contribute meaningfully to the economy.

He cited the allocation of 200bn/- to support youth economic empowerment as evidence of the commitment.

“Immediately after the general election, President Samia set aside 200bn/- to support youth activities, and we are now seeing the results,” he said.

Dr Nchemba commended young people for embracing available economic opportunities, saying their participation in productive activities demonstrated their determination to improve their livelihoods.

He added that the government would continue increasing budgetary allocations for youth activities to expand the number of beneficiaries.