HIGHER learners from various universities have identified shortcomings in the first draft of Vision 2050 in relation to youth economic empowerment and development affairs.

With regard to the Vision made public by the government three weeks ago, the students share their views through the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme’s (TGNP) workshop.

The workshop organized at the weekend brought a range of university students to discuss gaps in the first draft of the Vision regarding inclusive economic development, gender and social issues.

The workshop further touched ongoing preparations for the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Conference.

Flora Ndaba, TGNP's Acting Head of Programme, Activism and Movement Building, said the two-day workshop held in Dar es Salaam aimed at sensitizing and canvass opinions from the students in preparation for the second draft of the Vision that will be used for the next 25 years.

Ndaba said the workshop also aimed to discuss the achievements and challenges related to gender towards the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Conference.

According to her, the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Conference will be celebrated in March 2025 in New York for 11 days where, along with the celebration, gender stakeholders from women's right defending organizations and public institutions from approximately 189 member states will continue to discuss and enter into various agreements in favor of women’s affairs until the end of September 2025.

She said in line with the celebration, they have convened the workshop to sensitize the university students about the Generation Equality Forum which aims to realize economic justice regarding women's economic empowerment. 

She said the students who counted more than 40 have been invited to participate in the workshop from SAUT, University of Dodoma (UDOM), Mzumbe University Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) ), Tumaini University, Ardhi University, NIT, and Tengeru Institute of Community Development.

"We have gathered these students to discuss the implementation of the Actions set at the Beijing Conference for matters concerning young people;

Alongside other aspects, we are discussing the issues related to the economy, gender, rights, responsibility and technology that are not included in the first draft of Vision 2050," said Ndaba.

Julieth Msofe, Member of the Gender Club at Kigamboni Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Memorial Academy said that the Vision 2050 document should be inclusive for all groups of society.

"I would like to see Vision 2050 put more emphasis on protecting the resources of the country and the government against corruption. The country's resources should be protected so that future generations can benefit from them," said Msofe.

Dady Thomas, a student at Tengeru Institute of Community Development said that the issue of mental health was not mentioned anywhere in the first draft of Vision 2050.

"I ask that the improvements of this draft consider the mental health because it has become a problem that is taking new faces as day pass by. The government should come up with strategies for addressing the problem through Vision 2050," said Thomas.

Ruth Mkanza, a student at Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) said that the climate change is an alarming threat that has not been mentioned or identified in the first draft of the Vision.

Mkanza said that currently most of the countries in the world are linking development plans with climate change by setting mitigation, resilience and adaptation strategies.

"It is worth enough that Vision 2050 specifies how the government will be prepared against climate change crises in the next 25 years. Plans and strategies can also be initiated through various development budgets and programs," said Mkanza.