Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA/SHINYANGA
It was on the morning of Saturday, January 17, 2026, when Mwanakwetu arrived at his workplace, as there was a government meeting concerning preparations for a regional magazine for Mara Region. The meeting took only a short time and then ended, leaving room for personal administrative matters.
Suddenly, Mwanakwetu received a phone call from an individual who requested that his name be kept confidential. Mwanakwetu agreed, after which the caller said the following:
“First of all, my elder, shikamoo. I am a mango trader. We harvest and buy mangoes from villages, districts, and other regions of Tanzania. I personally own more than 10 trucks, and we sell our produce here in Shinyanga to Jambo Company. These people have kept us outside for several days until our mangoes are rotting. We ask you to help us raise our voices, because what they are doing is letting our mangoes rot so that they can buy them at a very low price, causing us heavy losses.”
Mwanakwetu asked for cooperation from these traders so that he could address the matter fairly, without injustice to either side. The traders said that earlier Jambo Company had sent them the following message:
“Dear Customer, I would like to inform you that the price of mangoes has increased from 270 shillings to 300 shillings per kilogram. You are most welcome to Jambo Products Shinyanga. Thank you.”
Mwanakwetu then sought to know Jambo Company’s position on the issue. He managed to reach the Director of Jambo Food, whose phone number was partially concealed but appeared in this format 0767…11.
The director openly stated:
“It is true that there are several trucks outside, but inside we already have a large stock. Therefore, we are organizing procedures so that we can receive all the mango consignments. We are buying, and we informed our farmers in advance.”
Upon investigating the situation, Mwanakwetu estimated that if a truck carrying mangoes—say, 30 tons—begins to ripen and rot, the load’s weight may drop from 30 tons to as low as 10 tons. This is a serious commercial problem that benefits the buyer, Jambo, while causing losses to the farmers.
After gathering all this information, Mwanakwetu decided to write this article so that it could reach the relevant authorities as quickly as possible, including the leadership of Shinyanga Region, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and other stakeholders.
What does Mwanakwetu say today?
Mwanakwetu agrees with arguments from both sides, but the issue of keeping farmers and their produce sitting on trucks outside is a serious flaw. It clearly causes losses to Tanzania’s mango farmers, and this is unacceptable.
“Here, farmers have already paid council levies based on 30 tons at the source. The payment of mango levies depends on the council—for example, in Handeni they calculate by sacks of mangoes, where one sack costs 1,000 shillings, while in Kilimanjaro they calculate based on truck size, ranging between 150,000 and 250,000 shillings (TANDAMU). On top of that, there are transport costs to the factory and the costs of staying at the factory before offloading.”
The second issue Mwanakwetu highlights is this: the farmers say that 1,000 grams (one kilogram) of Mviringe mangoes are bought at 300 Tanzanian shillings at Jambo factory. Yet the MVIRINGE mango—known in English as the Apple Mango—is said to be widely sold worldwide, with prices per kilogram ranging from 1 to 3 US dollars depending on processing. One US dollar is equivalent to about 2,500 Tanzanian shillings. If you take 2,500 shillings and subtract 300 shillings, the difference is 2,200 shillings—this is unacceptable.
Regarding this pricing issue, this article directly appeals to the Ministry of Agriculture of Tanzania, to our brother Hon. Daniel Chongolo wherever he may be, to address it. It also calls upon the Ministry of Trade to consider helping these farmers by ensuring that the factory price per kilogram of mangoes increases in Tanzania.
In this article, Mwanakwetu also finds it unwise not to explain the uses of MVIRINGE mangoes. Below are some of the uses of these mangoes:
“Apple mango (MVIRINGE) is a fruit with many uses and contains various nutrients that help strengthen the immune system, improve skin health, and support digestion. It is ideal for snacks, juices, and even sauces.
Fresh & Snacks: Eaten as they are,
in fruit salads, or mixed with yogurt.
Smoothies & Juices: Blended
with other fruits (such as spinach or berries) for a nutritious drink.
Sweet Desserts: Used in pies,
ice cream, pudding, or baked products for natural sweetness.
Savory Dishes: Mixed with
chicken in salads, added to curries, or served with rice such as biryani.
Condiments: Made into chutney,
salsa, or yogurt raita.
Health and Nutritional Benefits (from Apple
Mangoes):
– Boost immunity: Rich in vitamin C, which supports the production of white
blood cells.
– Digestion: A good source of fiber, helping prevent constipation and improve
gut health.
– Skin and hair: Vitamins A and C help produce collagen and protect body cells.
– Heart health: Potassium helps regulate blood pressure, while fiber and
antioxidants help control cholesterol levels.
– Contains polyphenols and carotenoids that fight free radical damage.
– Rich in vitamins A, C, E, folate, iron, and potassium.
– Contains special compounds such as mangiferin, which may help reduce
inflammation.
– Provides natural sugars that help increase energy and vitality.”
Given all these benefits, and out of respect for the value of the MVIRINGE mango, when Jambo factory keeps our farmers and their MVIRINGE mangoes sitting outside until they rot, this is an insult to the MVIRINGE mango and a disrespect to Tanzania’s mango farmers, including Mwanakwetu himself. Likewise, the price of 300 shillings per kilogram fails to honor the value of these farmers.
This article conveys condolences to the MVIRINGE mango farmers who contacted Mwanakwetu, and he is confident that the relevant authorities will address this matter promptly.
Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember:
“JAMBO COMPANY MUST IMMEDIATELY STOP DISRESPECTING THE MVIRINGE MANGO.”
This article has been submitted directly to the Shinyanga Regional Information Officer, the Ministry of Agriculture Information Officer, and the Director of Jambo Food Production for immediate action.
I wish you a good day.
makwadeladius@gmail.com
0717649257
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