Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan has said the government is building strong foundations to empower young people, describing them as the country’s largest population group.
Speaking in Zanzibar during the 62nd anniversary of the Tanzanian Union, Samia said the future of the nation depends on how well the youth are prepared to lead.
“Youth, according to the 2022 census, make up a large part of this nation. The future of this country is in your hands,” she said.
She said the government is focusing on strengthening economic opportunities, social unity, and a political environment that allows young people to take part in leadership and national decision-making.
Samia also urged young people to reflect on their role in protecting the country’s unity, warning that signs of weakening cohesion are beginning to show.
She made the remarks on April 26, 2026, during a youth forum organized by UVCCM as part of the Union anniversary events.
“The unity of Tanzania is slowly weakening,” she said. “You, the youth, need to ask yourselves at what level this is happening.”
She warned against emerging social divisions among young people, pointing to new expressions and trends that she said encourage separation instead of togetherness.
“Even religious teachings remind us we were brought together to unite, not divide. But today, there are new terms and tendencies that separate people. I strongly condemn this,” she said.
Samia called on young people to return to a culture of unity, saying national strength depends on how well citizens stand together.
“When you are united, the enemy has no space. But when you allow division, you create that space yourselves,” she said.
Tanzania marked 62 years of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 2026, with leaders using the occasion to reflect on national identity, governance, and the role of youth in the country’s future.
