We are one

Lock down Story 4: Tumaini Mwangoge 

Tumaini Mwangoge is the owner of Tumaini General Cleaners Company that provides home care services to families in Tanzania.

My business is a mobile business, she says. We  move from one house to another and this  involves contact with different people. 

After the 1st covid case was announced in Tanzania, the number of customers started decreasing every other day, families preferred  keeping to themselves in fear of contracting the virus,  others  resorted to cleaning their own homes,  we were disposed off and so we decided to close for a while with no more cash flow and salary payment.

So many countries closed their boundaries, economic activities were put on hold,  getting supplies for our work became difficult. The present business environment was so challenging to us. 

On March 16th, Arusha received its first Covid 19,  I was terrified and afraid on how we could survive. The numbers increased more in Dares Salaam "where I live". The fear was now at it's peak.

The government was keen on taking precautions, providing emergency contact numbers, work closed and people started avoiding unnecessary movements and gatherings. Big wedding ceremonies, sport activities and clubs were banned.

However,  churches, mosques and all business in the private sector were not closed. Thanks to this, life was not that bad and now life has continued to go on normally.

"I can say , Africa, especially East Africa has been lucky enough to observe, improve and draw lessons from other countries like China on the Dos and Don't of combating the pandemic. 

This period has taught me that life is good with family, we need to make time with family no matter what, it is also possible to have me time😊to find and know ourselves better, correct our mistakes and learn new skills, God is above all things, saving for uncertain times such as this is very good and above all we are the same regardless of our culture, race or continent.

Tumaini

Tanzania