Epiphania Ngowi

As the rainy seasons return, communities across Tanzania find themselves caught between hope and anxiety. Rain sustains livelihoods, agriculture, and ecosystems; yet, for many urban and peri-urban residents, it also signals fear – fear of flooding caused not only by natural events, but also by blocked waterways, poor settlement planning, and weak enforcement of land-use regulations. Arusha offers a sobering example of how seasonal rains become disasters when water has nowhere to go.

In the aftermath of Tanzania’s recent election cycle, calls for reconciliation have echoed across the nation. Political leaders, civil society groups, religious institutions, and many ordinary citizens have urged Tanzanians to “come together” and “move forward.” Yet beneath these heartfelt appeals lies an uncomfortable and essential question: Can reconciliation truly succeed if it is not rooted in empathy?

JamiiForums, an organisation advocating for digital rights and democracy, has launched phase three of the Stories of Change Competition to encourage citizens to participate in shaping their government, institutions, and leaders.