Government alarmed as shisha, betting rise among youth
What you need to know:
- The increasing popularity of shisha smoking and gambling, particularly sports betting, is being linked to a growing number of addiction cases—most notably among young people.
Dodoma. The government has raised concerns over the increasing use of shisha and betting among young people, saying it is now reviewing related laws to mitigate the growing trend.
A surge in divorce cases is another challenge which the government urged marriage officiators, parents and guardians to continue promoting moral values among couples.
The issues were revealed by the Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Dr Damas Ndumbaro, when presenting his ministry’s budget estimates for the 2025/26 financial year in Parliament, on Wednesday.
Dr Ndumbaro tabled the Sh687.69 billion budget, of which Sh162.23 billion is earmarked for development projects. This marks an increase of Sh246.43 billion from the 2024/25 budget, which stood at Sh441.26 billion. The allocation for development projects has also risen by Sh56.6 billion.
He told the National Assembly that the Law Reform Commission of Tanzania is currently reviewing the legal framework governing the use of tobacco productsin attempt to control rising use of shisha which poses serious health risks.
“The aim is to advise the government on the best ways to regulate shisha use, with a focus on protecting the health of Tanzanians, especially the youth,” said Dr Ndumbaro.
He said a discussion paper has already been prepared, with the next step being the collection of stakeholders’ views. The review report is expected to be finalised in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Shisha business has continued to thrive since its local introduction in 2016, although several government leaders have previously issued bans aimed at saving young people who are considered the country’s key workforce.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, former Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda and former Dodoma Regional Commissioner Jordan Rugimbana, banned shisha smoking in their respective jurisdictions between 2016 and 2017.
“Shisha is a drug with major consequences on human life. Effective immediately, shisha smoking is banned in this region, particularly in hotels where it is often served,” Mr Rugimbana said at the time.
On June 25, 2023, the Commissioner General of the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA), Mr Aretas Lyimo, warned that the growing popularity of shisha was fuelling drug abuse.
He said some shisha sellers were found to be mixing the substance with narcotics—thereby increasing addiction levels across the country.
Gambling on the rise
On gambling, Dr Ndumbaro told the Parliament that the Law Reform Commission had assessed the implementation of the Gaming Act (Cap. 41) to determine whether it was achieving its objectives.
“The evaluation focused on the extent to which the enforcement of the Act protects participants from addiction-related harm,” he said.
The review also aims to assess the law’s effectiveness in preventing under-18s from engaging in gambling activities and developing gambling habits.
According to Dr Ndumbaro, the final report is expected by June 2025.
Betting has become a source of concern, particularly among university students and urban youth, many of whom regularly bet on football results, slot machines and pool tables.
Critics say the youth are increasingly wasting time placing bets and following results instead of engaging in productive activities.
Others say the gambling trend was no longer limited to youth, with even retirees participating—resulting in increased mental stress.
Surge in divorce rates
Dr Ndumbaro further revealed that between July 2024 and April 2025, the Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (Rita) registered 675 divorce certificates—116 percent of the annual target of 583.
“I urge all marriage officiators, parents and guardians to continue providing moral education to married couples,” he said.
He also encouraged couples to cultivate a culture of tolerance and dialogue to resolve marital disputes and reduce divorce rates, which can negatively impact children’s upbringing and future rights.
According to the National Economic Survey 2024 by the Ministry of Finance, the number of registered marriages dropped by 10.89 percent in 2023, while divorce registrations increased by 93.7 percent compared to 2022.
Committee advises
Presenting the views of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Governance, Constitution and Legal Affairs, the committee chairperson, Dr Joseph Mhagama, advised Rita to begin educating the public on the registration of religious and customary marriages, as well as the legal procedures for divorce.
“The lack of registration for customary marriages and divorces, due to limited awareness, undermines Rita’s ability to provide accurate national data,” he said.
