These were the surroundings of a beef butcher’s shop in one region of Mainland Tanzania—formerly Tanganyika, an East African nation—in the year 2026. A young girl entered carrying a thermos of tea and some snacks, which she placed in a special basket, saying,
“I’ve brought your tea.”
The butcher, a light-skinned man with dreadlocks, remained silent and did not reply, continuing to weigh meat for his customer. The girl carrying the tea stepped fully into the butcher’s shop, placed her basket on the floor, and greeted the people she found there with the respectful greeting
“Shikamoni.”
The butcher replied
“Marahaba”
Then said these words:
“My child, whenever you arrive somewhere and people are already present, you greet first before explaining your business. Now put the tea down there, go and come back to collect it later.”
The short, dark-skinned girl bade farewell and left, laughing. This showed that there was neighborly familiarity between the butcher and the tea seller, but the butcher did not want his customer to be aware of it.
In the shop remained only two people: the butcher and his customer, as the butcher now cut the meat into pieces.
The buyer then asked,
“Is there any sign that the price of beef might go down?”
The butcher replied:
“No. Once a wealthy person raises prices, do you think he can lower them? Unless you have a government like Magufuli’s—one that is out among the people, sniffing out everything happening to its citizens. Before October 29, 2025, prices were affordable. After the events of those days, meat prices went up, increasing by 2,000 shillings. For example, one kilogram of bone-in meat used to cost 10,000 Tanzanian shillings; now it’s 12,000. Steak used to be 12,000 shillings, now it’s 14,000. Only offal has gone up by 1,000—previously 7,000, now 8,000 shillings…”
The buyer’s meat was wrapped properly; he paid 15,000 shillings and received 1,000 Tanzanian shillings in change—very worn out—after which the butcher began drinking his tea as the buyer returned to where he had come from.
What does Mwanakwetu say today?
When Mwanakwetu came across this true account, he wanted to know: what is the price of one kilogram of meat in Kenya?
“Bone-in meat sells for between 750 and 850 Kenyan shillings, while steak sells for about 1,300 Kenyan shillings.”
Those are prices in Kenya, another East African country like Mainland Tanzania, where the earlier account was found. Then the question arose: what about the price of beef in Zanzibar? The answer was between 13,000 and 14,000 Tanzanian shillings.
“From an economic standpoint, beef prices in Zanzibar should be higher, because cattle are regularly transported from the Mainland to the islands. Conversely, prices on the Mainland should be lower, since in several areas of the former Tanganyika cattle are kept in enclosures. Economically, it makes no sense for prices on the Mainland and the Islands to be the same.”
When you compare beef prices in Kenya and Mainland Tanzania, they appear similar. Yet the price per kilogram in Mainland Tanzania should be lower, based on one major argument: Tanzania has about 38 million—nearly 40 million—head of livestock, owned by about three-quarters of the population, whereas Kenya has only about 24 million.
Finally, I ask my reader to understand that the meat most commonly bought in large quantities is bone-in meat, and this is the meat bought by poor people. Therefore, increasing the price of beef from 10,000 to 12,000 shillings specifically targets poor people—because we are the ones who eat bone-in meat, we are the majority, and we are the customers for beef. Who told you that the poor eat steak?
Out of respect for beef consumers in Tanzania, Mwanakwetu asks to briefly explain the health benefits of eating beef for humans, as once explained by Dr. John Somi, a specialist in women’s and children’s diseases in Lushoto District, in 2017.
“Beef can be an important source of essential nutrients that provide various health benefits. These include being an excellent source of complete protein, as it contains all nine essential amino acids required for body growth, maintenance, and repair of tissues, muscles, and bones. It is a major source of iron that is easily and efficiently absorbed by the body.
This helps prevent anemia, which causes fatigue and weakness. Beef contains many B vitamins, especially B12, B6, niacin, and riboflavin. Vitamin B12 is essential for nerve function, brain health, and the production of red blood cells. Beef also provides significant amounts of zinc, which is important for immune function and wound healing.
Health organizations recommend consuming unprocessed, lean red meat in moderation (for example, less than 350–455 grams of cooked weight per week) to reduce potential health risks associated with high intake, such as increased risk of heart disease and certain cancers. It is advised to choose lean cuts and use healthy cooking methods such as baking or grilling.”
These are the words of Dr. John Somi of Lushoto, Tanga, offered as a gift to consumers of bone-in beef.
Mwanakwetu believes that there is a responsibility on the relevant authorities to address this issue urgently. If cattle are kept nearby, why should prices be so high? Fair pricing would help poor Tanzanians eat beef and obtain sufficient protein in their bodies—especially since, according to health experts, an adult is advised to eat at least 500 grams of meat per week.
Are you there? Remember:
“Even the Poor Need Protein.”
I wish you a good day.
makwadeladius@gmail.com
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