[:en]Independence Day and Republic Day in Tanzania falls on the 9th of December, typically a day off work with many people gathering at the National Stadium to watch parades match in front of the President. Dances are performed and a torch is carried up Mount Kilimanjaro, symbolising liberty and self-determination of the nations in Africa. However, in 2015, for the first time, the day will be celebrated in a very different way.
Recently elected, President Magufuli declared that celebrations of Independence Day and Republic Day would be a chance for all citizens of the country to clean their local environment, from offices to schools, streets to homes. With support from all Government departments & agencies, many private organisations and non-governmental organisations also participated in the efforts – including Ramani Huria! The efforts were named #HapaUsafiTu (Here is just cleaning), reflecting the slogan of the recently elected president, ‘Hapa Kazi Tu’ (Here is just work).
Ramani Huria volunteers participated in #HapaUsafiTu in several of the wards we have conducted mapping, including the wards of Ndugumbi, Tandale, Vingunguti, Manzese, Mzimini, Kigogo, Mwanayamala, Buguruni, Magomeni, Manzese.
As well as cleaning activities, including of bus stands such as Chama in Buguruni, the volunteers engaged with residents of the wards on the importance of sanitation. Recently Dar es Salaam and several areas of Tanzania has seen outbreaks of Cholera so the cleaning efforts could not come at a more important time. With many wards of Dar es Salaam being highly populated and unplanned, much of the population is it high risk for the outbreak of disease, especially in rainy season. The volunteers discussed with community members how best to maintain the cleanliness of areas, specifically clearing rubbish and keeping waterways and drains free of blockages.
After a day of intensive cleaning iit was apparent that this day of work had had a big impact on the city of Dar es Salaam. Through the discussions we had with community members, many people felt that there should be similar days in the future and had plans to request from the local administration that there be additional cleaning activities. Ramani Huria and the volunteers from Red Cross and HOT were all please to be able to continue to support the wards we have been actively mapping.[:sw]Siku ya Muungano na siku ya Jamuhuri Tanzania huadimishwa tarehe 9 Desemba, Kawiaida ni siku isiyo na kazi ambapo watu wengi hukusanyika uwanja wa Mkuu wa Taifa kushuhudia gwaride mbele ya Raisi. Ngoma huchezwa na Mwenge wa Uhuru hupelekwa had juu ya Mlima Kilimanjaro, kuonesha alama ya uhuru na Kujitawala kwa mataifa ya Bara la Africa.
Raisi aliyechaguliwa hivi karibuni Raisi Magufuli alitangaza kuwa madimisho ya siku ya uhuru Jamuhuri itakuwa ni nafasi ya raia wote kufanya usafi katika mazingira yao kuanzia ofisini had mashuleni, mtaani hadi majumbani,. Kwa usaidizi kutoka kwa idara zote za serikali na Mashirika.Mashirika mengi binafsi na mashirika yasiyo ya serikali pia yalishiriki katika juhudi hizi, ikiwa pamoja na Ramani Huria.Juhudi hizi zilipewa jina #HapaUsafiTu (hapa ni usafi tuu). Kwenda sambamba na kauli mbiu ya Raisi aliyechaguliwa hivi karibuni , “Hapa Kazi Tu.
Watu waliojitolea kutoka Ramani Huria walihusika katika #HapaUsafiTu katika baadhi ya kata walizowahi kupita kuengeneza Ramni, ikiwa ni pamoja na Ndugumbi, Tandale, Vingunguti, Manzese, Mzimuni, Kigogo, Mwananyamala, Buguruni na Magomeni
Pia kuhusu shughuli za usafi, pamoja na vituo vya daladala kama Chama ndan ya Buguruni, waliojitolea walishiriki na wakzi wa zile katakwa umuhimu wa usafi wa mazingira.Hivi karibuni Dar es Salaam na baadhi ya maeneo ya Tanzania kumekuwa na mlipuko wa ugonjwa wa Kipindupindu kwa hiyo juhudi za kufanya usafi haitokuwa mwisho.Na kata nyingi za Dar es Salaam zina ongezeko kubwa la idadi ya watu na kutopangwa.idadi kubwa ya watu ipo katika hatari ya kukubwa na mlipuko wa magonjwa, hasa msimu wa mvua. Waliojitolea walizungumza na jamii namna nzuri ya kudumisha usafi katika maeneo, hasa kuondoa takataka, kuweka mifereji ya maji na mitaro kutokuzibwa.
Baada ya siku ya Usafi, imekuwa dhahiri siku hii imekuwa na faida kubwa kwa jiji. Katika mjadala na jamii, watu wengi waliona kuwa lazima kutakuwa na siku kama hiyo siku zijazo na walikuwa na wazo la kuomba katika utawala wa mtaa kuwa kuwepo na ongezeko la shughuli za usafi. Ramani Huria na watu waliojitolea kutoka Red Cross na HOT waliomba waendelee kutoa misaada katika kata walizotengenezea Ramani.[:]
