Let's do more to address street children problem

Despite high public awareness and concerted efforts by the government and civil society, the number of street children has over the years continued to rise steadily in Dar es Salaam and other major urban centres such as Mwanza, Arusha and Mbeya.

A wide and complicated range of factors behind the phenomenon has made this a particularly tough problem to deal with. The number of young children living rough in the streets increased sharply with the advent of HIV/Aids in the early 1980s.

Minors were losing their parents and guardians to Aids in alarming numbers in the early years of the scourge and, in the absence of specific caregivers, they made the streets their home. Also, civil society back then was not as developed and widespread as is currently the case.

We have reason, however, to be optimistic that the number of minors who find themselves in the streets as a result of Aids will fall substantially in the next few years, courtesy of the life-prolonging anti-retroviral drugs that are provided free of charge to those who need them.

Parents can also ensure that they take care of their children to maturity by avoiding risky behaviour that could consign them to an early grave. Indeed, parents have to avoid contracting HIV not only for their own sake but also that of their children.

But HIV/Aids is not solely to blame for the street children problem. There are also factors such as broken families and children being abandoned by one or both parents. Children in such circumstances are more likely to find themselves in the streets than those being cared for by both parents who are living together.

This is a problem we can eventually overcome if we have the determination and right strategies.

MOVE ON FERTILISER LAUDABLE

Policy change by the government that will see a new system of importing fertiliser being put in place is welcome. It is welcome because the bulk procurement system will cut the cost of fertiliser by between 15 and 40 per cent, according to Fertiliser Regulatory Authority acting director Lazaro Kitandu.

Market reports for Lindi Region, for example, show that the price of a 50-kilo bag of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) has dropped from an average of Sh100,000 to Sh60,000.

It is evident from the above figures that the new system will bring huge relief to farmers, most of whom are cash-strapped. This will also have a multiplier effect on the agricultural production chain. The move will see increased production, which is good for food security and industrialiation.

However, instead of relying on imported agro-inputs, it is time the government put in place favourable conditions for investors to start producing fertiliser locally. This will further bring down prices.

Agriculture, which currently comprises about 23 per cent of the country’s GDP, remains the number one employer and a key component of development of Tanzania. Now that Tanzania has shifted its focus to industrialisation, increased agro-production will be an important catalyst in this initiative.

In addition to the new system, the authorities must also ensure there is proper enforcement of regulations.