Interview: Rinaani Musutua Urges Government to Tackle Inequality and Strengthen Service Delivery

Rinaani Musutua of the Basic Income Grant Coalition has called for urgent action to address socio-economic challenges affecting citizens across the country. She highlighted research suggesting that women leaders often implement policies that improve living conditions, and expressed hope that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will prioritize similar measures.

Musutua emphasized that it is time to address the inhumane conditions many people still endure, particularly those living in squatter camps. “We cannot continue allowing people to live under such conditions,” she said, stressing that wealth, educational, and income inequalities must be tackled with urgency this year.

The Basic Income Grant Coalition leader warned that continued inequality will hinder progress and called for drastic measures to reduce poverty. She specifically highlighted the need to expand the basic income grant, which currently reaches only a small portion of the population, describing the limited access as discriminatory.

Musutua also criticized the slow response of government institutions in handling grant applications. Many applicants have yet to receive updates, leaving citizens in uncertainty. She proposed establishing information centers where people can inquire about their applications or learn why disbursements have been delayed, offering a practical solution to improve transparency.

In addition to poverty reduction, Musutua stressed that strengthening governance and service delivery is crucial. “Poor service delivery affects every aspect of life, from education to health,” she said. “It perpetuates poverty and inequality because policies remain unimplemented and gather dust in government offices.”

She concluded by urging civil servants to take responsibility and ensure that public services meet the needs of the people. According to Musutua, improving service delivery is not only a governance issue but a matter of human rights, as inadequate services continue to harm communities across the country.

The Basic Income Grant Coalition remains committed to monitoring progress and advocating for policies that promote equality, accountability, and improved living standards for all citizens.