In the bustling city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, it has become a common sight to see children at busy city junctions, particularly Ubungo, Mwenge, and Posta, earning a living by begging from motorists in traffic queues or hustling to wipe windscreens for loose change. This hazardous environment exposes them to serious accident risks as they dart across unsafe intersections.
According to government authorities in the Dar es Salaam Region, five street-connected children died in various accidents between 2023 and 2025, while numerous others sustained injuries treated through social welfare fee waivers. The grim reality behind these children's daily pursuits is highlighted by the story of Issa Mussa, 16, who cleans car windows daily amid traffic after relocating from Kigoma to Dar es Salaam in search of a livelihood.
Mussa admits that while the work can be lucrative, every step onto the tarmac carries the threat of tragedy. He recounts the incident of a colleague who was struck by a bajaji while stepping down to collect his money after cleaning a lorry. Mussa notes that when peers are injured, they rely on good Samaritans, as negligent drivers often flee, and that accidents can happen anywhere.
Despite these perils, many persist in washing car windows for a living. Baraka Magembe, 15, originally from Kahama, Shinyanga Region, moved to Dar es Salaam after peers promised abundant opportunities. He now lives near the Ubungo Kijazi Interchange, washing windscreens, and says that some days are lean, but a sympathetic motorist might hand him Sh10,000.
For 17-year-old Siprian John, street life began after domestic strife. After his parents separated, he moved in with a stepmother, where he was falsely accused of theft and subsequently beaten by his father. He then came to Dar es Salaam to hustle, highlighting the complexities of why children end up on the streets.
Dar es Salaam Regional Social Welfare Officer Elisha Nyamara reveals that between 2023 and 2025, five street children died in separate incidents, including one who was killed after clinging to the back of a lorry following a Simba and Yanga football match, and another who was buried under cement bags and crushed by heavy machinery.
The government faces hurdles in rescue efforts, as children grow accustomed to street life and independent earnings. Rescued minors are typically placed in Kurasini transit facilities before family reunification, technical training, or capital support, but many abscond to reclaim their street autonomy and cash flow, making conventional care systems difficult to adapt to.
Key points
- Five street-connected children died in various accidents in Dar es Salaam between 2023 and 2025.
- Many street children face difficulties adapting to conventional care systems due to prolonged exposure to street life.
- Government rescue efforts often face hurdles as children grow accustomed to street life and independent earnings.
