From snack seller to Permanent Secretary

DAR ES SALAAM: IN many parts of the world, success stories are often told through moments of triumph. Yet the most powerful journeys are often built quietly through years of sacrifice, hardship and persistence. For Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Engineer Mwajuma Waziri, success did not come easily. Her rise from a young girl selling homemade snacks in Tabora Region to one of Tanzania’s most senior public servants is a story of resilience, determination and an unwavering commitment to service. Born in 1984 in Tabora, Mwajuma was raised primarily by her grandmother, while her mother remained a constant source of support and encouragement. Life was far from easy. Farming and small-scale trading sustained the family, and from an early age she learned that survival required hard work. Unlike many children her age, Mwajuma’s school days involved more than attending classes. Every morning she carried a basket of homemade snacks to school. During breaks, while other children played, she sold the snacks to teachers to earn money that helped support her education. By the end of the day, the basket would be empty, but the lessons she was learning would stay with her for life. “As a child, I learned early that nothing comes free, you have to work for everything. While other children were playing during break time, I was selling snacks to teachers. That money helped me stay in school. By the time I returned home, my basket was empty, but I had contributed to my own education,” she recalls. Her childhood was marked not only by hard work but also by absence. She grew up without knowing her father and only met him for the first time during her first year at university. Despite these challenges, she remained focused on her studies, drawing strength from her mother’s determination to see her succeed. One of the most defining moments of her childhood came after she completed primary school. Although she had secured admission to secondary school, paying for the necessary school requirements seemed impossible. Determined not to let her daughter’s education end there, her mother made a remarkable sacrifice. She sold seven pairs of kangas and four pairs of vitenge to buy a school uniform, exercise books and other essential supplies. For Mwajuma, that act of sacrifice became a lifelong source of motivation. “It showed me that my mother believed in my future, even when life was difficult. I knew I had to work hard and make her sacrifices worthwhile,” she says. Driven by that belief, she pursued higher education and eventually earned a degree in Civil and Water Resources Engineering, a field closely connected to the challenges she had witnessed growing up. However, graduation did not immediately lead to success. Like many young professionals, Mwajuma faced repeated disappointment while trying to enter public service. She attended six job interviews without success. Each rejection was painful, but she refused to give up. Instead, she chose to improve herself. She left her job and enrolled for a Master’s degree, believing that greater knowledge would create new opportunities. That decision proved transformative. When new government vacancies were advertised, she applied once again. This time, her persistence paid off. “When I finally joined the Ministry of Water, I knew I was not there just to work, I was there to serve,” she says. Beginning with rural water projects, she gained valuable experience working closely with communities facing water challenges. Her dedication and expertise later saw her take on larger responsibilities, contributing to major water infrastructure projects across the country. Among her notable achievements was her involvement in the Simiyu Climate Resilience Project, a major initiative aimed at improving water access for thousands of residents. The project required extensive consultations with financiers, consultants and international partners, many of which involved difficult negotiations. “Those meetings were not easy. We had intense discussions with consultants, financiers and international partners,” she recalls. “Sometimes we left meetings with very heated disagreements, but I never backed down from what I believed was right for the people.” Her determination helped shape solutions designed to meet both current and future water needs, reinforcing her reputation as a leader willing to stand firm when advocating for the public interest. Over the years, she contributed to numerous water projects in Mwanga, Same, Korogwe, Babati and Kyaka-Bunazi, steadily rising through the ranks from Assistant Director of Water Supply and Sanitation to Deputy Permanent Secretary and eventually Permanent Secretary. Yet for all her professional achievements, Mwajuma says one of her most important responsibilities remains her role as a wife and mother. Married for more than 20 years, she has learned that success is