Parents urged to embrace joint parenting for national wellbeing

MWANZA: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has called on parents across the country to embrace cooperation and tolerance in raising their children, noting that children are the cornerstone of strong families and a stable nation. Representing Vice President Dr Philip Mpango during the commemoration of the International Day of Families …

MWANZA: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has called on parents across the country to embrace cooperation and tolerance in raising their children, noting that children are the cornerstone of strong families and a stable nation.

Representing Vice President Dr Philip Mpango during the commemoration of the International Day of Families held in Mwanza on Saturday, Dr Biteko underscored the critical role of joint parenting in shaping a morally upright and resilient society. The event was marked under the theme: “A Child is Upbringing: A Foundation for a Strong Family and a Stable Nation.”

“A child is a product of two parents. I urge all parents to value children as important individuals who need proper care and guidance. If this growing trend of neglect continues, we risk building a society without a solid family foundation,” he said.

Dr Biteko reminded parents that today’s adults are a result of the dedication and sacrifice of parents who raised them in stable families. “Let us not be the generation that abandons its responsibilities. Every person must acknowledge that family is the foundation, and since no one is perfect, we must tolerate one another and commit to building strong families,” he added.

He emphasised that a strong family equals a strong nation and urged parents to spend time with their children to pass down cultural values and traditions. He warned that when parents drag their children into disputes, it fosters hatred that could affect their future well-being.

Dr Biteko further appealed to children to respect their parents and teachers, work hard in school, and follow religious teachings.

Highlighting some responsibilities of families, he noted they include meeting children’s basic needs, nurturing their moral development, and preserving and transferring cultural heritage across generations.

On strengthening early childhood development, Dr Biteko said the government, in collaboration with stakeholders, is implementing the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme (2021/22–2025/26). The initiative supports holistic care from conception to age eight, ensuring equitable access to nurturing care.

He cited key milestones of the programme, including training 12,000 pre-primary teachers from 184 local authorities on positive parenting, reaching over 360,000 children. Additionally, 4,178 daycare centres have been built, serving more than 400,000 children, while 206 community-run centres are benefiting over 11,600 children.

To support the 5–8 age group, the government has constructed 1,316 new pre-primary classrooms and supplied them with learning materials. Over 15,000 households have received integrated parenting education and community-based health services including nutrition, responsive caregiving, pre-primary education, child stimulation, and protection.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that more than 15,000 professionals—including daycare caregivers, health workers, journalists, and social welfare officers—have been trained across all 26 regions of mainland Tanzania.

On her part, Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Ms Mwanaidi Ali Khamis, stressed the importance of shared parenting from birth, urging both mothers and fathers to work together in raising children.

“Parents must collaborate in ensuring their children receive proper care, education, and other essential services,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr John Jingu, said the event had led to five resolutions aimed at strengthening child-rearing practices to enhance family well-being.

He listed the resolutions as: expanding access to childcare centres nationwide; strengthening early detection and support services for children; promoting digital parenting tools for experience sharing and child development; fostering partnerships with religious and cultural institutions; and increasing the number of competent service providers across the country.

Speaking on behalf of Non-Governmental Organisations, Ms Elizabeth Maganga reaffirmed their continued support to government efforts in improving early childhood development in Tanzania.

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“The scientifically accepted early childhood period is from birth to age eight. It is a critical window to support children’s healthy growth, and an opportunity for the nation to invest,” she noted.
UNICEF’s representative, Ms Laximi Bhawan, pledged continued support to the Tanzanian government in developing strategies to improve childcare services.

As part of the celebrations, Dr Biteko launched Guidelines on Child and Family Care Interventions, recognised the contributions of stakeholders in family welfare, and officially launched a National Parenting Campaign.