Musoma, Mara — A deep and pervasive distrust of government has taken root amongst the youth of Musoma, driven by inaccessible empowerment funds, unresponsive local leaders, and a political system that they say only engages with citizens during election campaigns.
During a recent youth dialogue in Majita Road, Kaminyonge ward, participants voiced intense frustration with local government authorities.
The session, recorded on May 1, 2026, and published on May 22, was the seventh episode of the Dira Mtaani: Vijana Wanasemaje programme, organised by The Chanzo in partnership with Twaweza East Africa.
The most contentious issue raised was the government’s 10 per cent loan fund, which is legally mandated to be distributed by Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to women, youth, and people with disabilities. The youth in Musoma claim the funds are effectively inaccessible to ordinary citizens.
“The government provided loans for youth so we could reach our goals, but we don’t see these loans,” explained one participant. “If you follow up on these loans, it is said that the leaders loan the money amongst themselves.”
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Participants who had attempted to access the funds described a labyrinthine process designed to exhaust applicants. One young man recounted his group’s experience applying for a loan the previous year.
“We did all the processes they wanted, we went to the municipality, we opened an account, but up to today we haven’t seen anything,” he said. “We were told to wait for the first window, but it passed. The second window passed. If you follow up at the municipality, you are just sent round and round until you give up.”
Their experiences reflect broader national challenges with the fund that The Chanzo has repeatedly encountered during Dira Mtaani sessions with other youths across the country, including Dar es Salaam and Pwani.
Also, according to a 2024 report, there was a 57 per cent decline in youth loan recipients in 2023 compared to 2022, largely due to a shift from direct LGA lending to bank-managed processes that created new barriers for applicants.
The youth noted that the application process itself is costly, requiring them to spend their own scarce resources on bank fees and constitution drafting, only to receive nothing in return.
“It hurts me a lot because the money we spent is a lot, and the money they told us to put in the bank account is also a lot, and it’s just sitting there,” one participant lamented.
Silent leaders
The frustration over loans is compounded by a complete breakdown in communication between citizens and their elected representatives. When asked when the last public meeting was held to discuss community challenges, the youth laughed.
“If it’s not here in Majita Road, perhaps before this chairman got his second term,” one youth estimated, placing the last meeting about five years ago.
“The meetings that exist are only campaign meetings,” another participant clarified. “Other meetings about the development of the street or ward have never happened. It’s only campaigns, just during the election season.”
This lack of accountability aligns with the existing evidence on the grounds, which shows that public servants and politicians are rarely held accountable, largely due to weak oversight mechanisms.
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When the moderator suggested that the youth should demand their rights, perhaps through peaceful protests, the participants immediately rejected the idea, citing the severe consequences of political dissent in Tanzania.
“If you say we should protest, our region will suffer,” one youth warned. “If you just say ‘protest,’ they will say ‘Ah, Majita Road, there is a problem there.’”
Instead of protesting, the youth described a system where complaints are met with endless deflection.
“If you tell the chairman, he tells you to go to the executive officer. The executive officer says go to the municipality. At the municipality, you will be spun around until there is nothing,” a participant explained.
This environment of unresponsiveness and fear has led to profound political apathy. As Tanzania is busy implementing measures purported to address this situation, the youth of Musoma appear to have largely checked out of the political process.
“I have no faith,” concluded one young man, summarising the mood of the room. “My biggest thing is just to live.”
