Working people

This page shows working people in Masasi District and the differences I saw between 1992 and 2013 were encouraging because the average wealth has increased. However many people suffer from serious poverty just as before

shaping a candlestick on a simple lathe

all sawing was done by hand in this Mpowora workshop

using a simple electric powered lathe

a night-watchman demonstrating weapon at the ready

blacksmith near Mwena Camp

making a spear on an anvil in the ground

simple iron work as taught by father and grandfather

cattle penned in for the night by proud owners

This man in Mkalapa specialised in making chess sets and did it well.

intricate carving with simple tools

Hairdressers create a wonderful variety of patterns .

most bikes are made in China but assembled here

kambaa maker with family and friends

collected leaves have various uses

returning home with palm leaves

nimble fingers making tidy rope

making a cooking pot from termite-heap mud

digging out building sand

Bajaj, made in India and not very robust. Owners can only get an income from these vehicles when they are in good repair.if

workers in a small fabricating workshop

singer-zeze player with rhythm accompaniment

young drummers at a wedding feast

young goatherds

Interesting traditional crafts exist alongside modern transport, satellite TV’s and the ubiquitous mobile phone.  Transport is well organised and benefits tremendously from the ongoing road improvements. The better road to Dar es Salaam has encouraged several bus companies  to run services to Lindi and Mtwara. Competition has kept prices low while bus services are more reliable and of course quicker these days.

Daladalas are still habitually overfilled and sometimes kept running despite being in a bad state. New to Mtwara and Masasi the two-passenger tricycle taxis known as Bajaji are good for short journeys and cost less than normal taxis. These are made in India by Bajaj and drivers can buy their vehicles from their income if they are successful enough. I notice they drive very carefully over bumpy ground to keep their Bajajis in good condition.

Farming has continued to change. For example, a bank manager who came from far away to work at Ndanda started cultivating rice in damp ground near the Lukuledi River, hiring local people to work for him in the field. The rice grew well and he profited but now he can’t find the same cheap labour. It seems that his success with rice was noticed and many farmers grow rice now. More land is now cultivated but it’s not obvious whether the increase in food supply has kept pace with increasing demand There’s still a need for animals to be  accompanied by herders when they are taken out for grazing. This may be done by children who therefore miss the chance to learn in school.