Elderly caregivers across Tanzania are increasingly taking on the responsibility of raising grandchildren as biological parents neglect their duties, creating significant social, economic, and emotional challenges.

In Geita, 67-year-old widow Asteria Buseng’wa cares for four grandchildren after her daughters left for work, highlighting a growing trend where grandparents replace parental roles.Experts warn that this shift, driven by migration, economic hardship, and neglect, risks long-term societal impacts.

Social psychologist Deo Sukambi notes that many young adults lack emotional readiness for parenting, while Irene Nambuo of Child Dignity Forum warns of consequences like school dropout and criminal involvement among children raised without adequate parental care.

The government’s 'Familia Bora, Taifa Imara' campaign aims to educate 200,000 caregivers by 2030, but challenges like low awareness and economic pressures persist.Addressing this crisis requires stronger support systems and policies to ensure parents actively participate in child-rearing.