The unrest, demanding government action, has ignited a wildfire of protests across Tanzania’s key commercial hubs. Photo: Courtesy
TZ Nationwide Strike Shakes Major Markets: Families Suffer as Traders Protest Heavy Taxes
By Adonis Byemelwa
A nationwide strike by shop owners has entered its third day, shaking major markets in Mwanza, Morogoro, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Arusha, Songea, and Mbozi.
The strike, which began in Dar es Salaam on June 24, 2024, to protest heavy taxes, has left truck drivers, porters, food vendors, and market workers fearing for their families’ survival amid worsening economic conditions.
In a bold move, some traders in Songwe have even crossed borders to conduct business freely in Zambia. The unrest, demanding government action, has ignited a wildfire of protests across Tanzania’s key commercial hubs.
Osama Mkude, a small cargo truck driver in Liberty Street, revealed that he used to earn up to Sh 50,000 per day before the strike. Now, he struggles to make even Sh 5,000 daily.
“My family is suffering; for three days, I haven’t been intimated with my wife, and she’s threatening to leave. My children are starving every day,” Kamata lamented.
Zebedayo Joseph, Secretary of the Mwanza Tricycle Operators Association, expressed grave concerns over the strike’s impact on families. “Families expect you to bring home the bacon, but when you return empty-handed, it’s hard to be understood at home,” Joseph stated.
Handcart pusher Rutta Nkuba shared his distress, saying that for three days, he hasn’t made even TZS 1,000, leaving him worried about where he will find the money to buy notebooks for his three children who are set to start school on Monday, July 1, 2024.
“My family is suffering. Normally, I can make up to Sh 20,000 a day, but now I can’t even provide for my family,” Nkuba said. Food vendor Siwema Kikoi mentioned that she has been forced to reduce her cooking portions due to a lack of customers.
Initially, she used four kilos of flour to make chapati, but now she cooks only two kilos, which are still unsold. She also stopped preparing six kilos of rice and ten kilos of maize flour for ugali due to the absence of lunchtime customers.
Meanwhile, some traders have secretly reopened their shops. John Bigangoma, an electronics seller, said the strike has severely impacted his business as customers who had placed orders did not receive their goods on time, leading to canceled agreements.
In Songea Municipality, the situation is equally dire. Residents and traders from neighboring countries have called for a swift resolution to the strike. Agness Joseph, a resident of Songea, mentioned her struggle to buy construction materials.
Dorcas Banda, a Malawian, said the strike has greatly affected citizens of neighboring countries who come to Ruvuma for various supplies.
In Morogoro Municipality, food vendor Lucia Kunambi said the strike has resulted in a significant drop in her daily earnings. “I used to make Sh 40,000 a day, but now I can hardly make Sh 20,000.
I have three employees who help me distribute food to wholesale shop traders,” Lucia explained. Anitha Shayo, a parking fee collector, mentioned that revenue from vehicle parking fees has also decreased due to the strike. “I used to collect Sh 100,000 to Sh 120,000 daily, but now I doubt I’ll reach that target,” Anita noted.
Porter Hussein Juma, who relies on transporting goods from Nunge to vehicles bound for rural areas, urged the government and traders to negotiate to resolve the issue. “I appeal to the government and traders to come to the table so that life can go on. This strike benefits no one,” Juma said.
Reports from a credible source among the traders, who requested anonymity, reveal that the arrest of prominent Kariakoo businessman Erasto Rweimamu and the Chairman of the “RAHA SQUARE” business hub in Kariakoo, has intensified the strike.
On Sunday, June 22, 2024, Kariakoo business leaders asked Rweimamu to accompany them to a meeting in Dodoma called by the Ministers of Finance, Industry, and Trade and Planning on Monday, June 23, 2024.
However, while en route to Dodoma with the leaders of the Kariakoo Traders Association, Rweimamu was arrested. The leaders, witnessing the arrest, remained silent, not informing fellow traders in Dar es Salaam or Rweimamu’s family.
Following yesterday’s meeting between the government and the traders’ leaders, and despite the government’s announcement to halt operations against non-EFD machine users in Kariakoo, Kariakoo traders awaited Rweimamu’s comments on the agreement, believing he had attended the meeting as planned.
When Rweimamu’s phones became unreachable and leaders provided no clear answers about his whereabouts, Kariakoo traders grew suspicious. Consequently, last night they resolved to continue the strike, doubting the government’s sincerity in resolving their issues.
Today, June 27, 2024, it has been confirmed that Rweimamu has been held at the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Station since Sunday. His arrest, while attempting to resolve the conflict with traders, has been perceived as a severe misstep by the government, exacerbating the strike that has now spread to Mwanza and Mbeya.
