President Samia unveils youth-centric reforms, national reconciliation drive

Dodoma. President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced a series of national reforms and initiatives aimed at empowering the youth, placing their development at the heart of her government’s mandate.

In a speech she delivered on November 14 when officially opening Tanzania’s 13th Parliament in Dodoma President Samia said she would establish a fully dedicated Ministry for Youth to replace the current department-level arrangement, noting that youth affairs have been constrained within a larger, multi-focused ministry.

Tanzanian youth make up more than 60 percent of the population.

In addition, she pledged to appoint Youth Affairs Advisors directly within her office to ensure that youth concerns receive high-level attention.

Sh200bn Youth Fund

To stimulate economic growth and entrepreneurship among young people and women, the government is allocating an initial capital fund of Sh200 billion.

“My administration will establish Youth Investment Windows to offer low-interest loans and investment capital to young entrepreneurs,” she said.

Beyond finance, Skills Development Zones will be created to equip young people with practical skills sought by private sector employers, while companies generating substantial youth employment may be offered special incentives.

In a move aimed at reconciliation following post-General Election unrest on October 29, 2025, President Samia announced a presidential pardon for young people misled into participating in violent acts and subsequently arrested on treason charges.

Calling on the youth not to be persuaded to “burn down their own country” or “cut the branch they are sitting on,” she instructed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to review charges against those who acted without criminal intent, citing the Biblical instruction to forgive.

Commission of Inquiry

“I express deep sorrow over the loss of life during the election disturbances and I announce the formation of an Enquiry Commission to investigate the causes of the violence,” she noted.

Reaffirming the spirit of her first term’s R4 philosophy of reconciliation, she underscored her commitment to extending a hand of consensus to all political stakeholders, urging them to accept it for the nation’s greater good.

She confirmed that the Constitutional Reform process would commence within the first 100 days of her new term, beginning with the establishment of a Commission for Reconciliation and Consensus.

In education, the new Education Policy will be fully implemented, emphasising skills-based training and the expansion of STEM subjects.

The Samia Scholarship Fund will be used to train specialised scientists in data science, artificial intelligence, and computer science, both domestically and abroad.

The government aims to ensure every district has a VETA college for vocational training, fully equipped for practical instruction.