I am a retired public servant living here in Mwanza. My career began back in 1982, when I started as a records clerk in a government office right after finishing secondary school. My salary was small in those early days, but I made it a point to save a portion of my income whenever I could, and I invested in small-scale farming in my village.
Over the years, I raised five children and built a modest house for my family. I also contributed regularly to the national pension scheme, and because of that, I've been receiving approximately TZS 450,000 a month since I retired in 2019.
My pension helps me cover the basics—food, electricity and medical expenses—but honestly, it's often not enough because the cost of living keeps rising. To make up the difference, I rely on my small-scale farming and support from my adult children.
If there's one thing I want younger workers to understand, it's this: saving and planning for retirement are lessons you cannot afford to learn too late.