As part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, more than 500 volunteers from the Commonwealth Games Association Tanzania, Kinondoni Municipal, Msasani A Primary School and the Msasani Ward gathered for a six-hour clean-up.
Volunteers collected over 2,300 plastic bottles, more than 2,120 kg of discarded nylon fishing nets, and 840 kg of mixed waste. The plastic bottles were sent to a recycling plant, mixed waste to a manure and fertiliser facility, and the fishing nets to an incineration plant. The effort highlighted the strength of local partnerships and the determination to protect the nation’s coastline.
On 4 August, the Relay was officially launched at JMK Youth Park in Dar es Salaam, led by Hon. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, and Deputy British High Commissioner Sally Hedley. The Baton’s journey that day included a visit to the National Museum before arriving at State House, where Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango received the Tanzanian baton.
This year’s Relay gives every nation its own baton, and Tanzania’s was locally inscribed by artist Frank Hala to reflect national heritage. Its design features Mount Kilimanjaro, the Big Five animals, the sea and spices such as cloves, and a dhow symbolising the union of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The Relay continued on 6 August to the OlympAfrica Centre at Filbert Bayi Schools in Mkuza, Kibaha. Cultural dances, essays and student performances created a vibrant celebration before the Baton was passed from hand to hand in a joyful chain of young athletes.
Among them was Filbert Bayi himself, the man whose fearless front-running in the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games 1,500 m final broke the world record and redefined middle-distance racing. His victory inspired athletes around the world and his legacy has only grown since.
Holding the Baton once more, Bayi spoke with students, shared his Commonwealth Games memories and encouraged them to pursue their ambitions both in sport and in life.
From the shores of Msasani to the classrooms of Kibaha, the Relay in Tanzania celebrated environmental action, national pride and the uniting power of sport.
