Mrema unites Tanzanians in diaspora in times of need

In March 2016, David Mrema a Tanzanian residing in Texas founded Pamoja We Can Harambee USA. The organization has connected Tanzanians across the US and serves as emergency financial support to the bereaved. In 2023 more than $480,000 was handed out.

Tanzanians living in Houston Texas have a robust and united community and Mr Mrema envisioned that solidarity should be extended to all Tanzanians residing in the US, he furthermore hopes that eventually all East Africans in the US, Canada, and Mexico can have a strong bond and 'Pamoja We Can' play a role in helping them in time of a diaspora passes away.

Before the establishment of the organization, families of the bereaved in Tanzania would agonize for months without knowing the fate of their loved one when they met their demise in the US.

They would desperately seek closure, parents would painfully wait for a long time for the body of their children, and the diaspora community would take months to fundraise and make funeral arrangements with no clear leadership in decision-making. Still, the 'Pamoja We Can' has become a solution to these challenges

“Within 24 to 72 hours, we give the family of the deceased $20,000 to cater for his final journey, the family can decide if they want to transport the body back to Tanzania, or bury their loved one here in the US” Mrema said.

With just $120 as a membership fee for Tanzanians living in the US, Canada, or Mexico, the membership is a sure way to put one’s family in Tanzania at ease in case of untimely demise.

“To join you have to be in North America, but after becoming a member, you can live anywhere in the world and your family will still get $20,000 when you pass away” he insisted.

Mrema said, on average they have 12-14 deaths in a year, As of 2024, they have 4000 members. His efforts have got him nominated for awards within the Tanzania diaspora for his distinguished services and commitment.

David Mrema moved to the US in 1999, nevertheless, he still keeps his Tanzanian traditions, like helping a neighbor in need, and with a strong Tanzanian community in Houston, they truly have each other's back. They would share rides to work and come together when one is in need.

He has never forgotten where he comes from, he calls home every week and goes for a visit now and then. There has been a notion that Tanzanians in the US are divided and there isn’t unity, something that Mr. Mrema disputes, he said it's not that Tanzanians are not united but people decide who to associate with, some would have a group of fellows they went to high school with, others will connect with alumni they graduated high school, college or university with, but all of us we come together on a course that needs us united.

“When you have a vast community, cohesion is not always guaranteed, but slowly we will achieve uniting our people in the diaspora,” he said.

Tanzanians in the United States are spread across multiple states, including Maryland, New York, Texas, and many others.

Coordinating them can be challenging; however, Mr. Mrema has made significant efforts to ensure that, during times of funerals, they come together to provide a respectful burial for their fellow Tanzanians and support the family left behind.

He has visited several states to connect with Tanzanian leaders in these communities and promote unity.

“We all face the same challenges, whether in New York or the DMV, so I emphasize the importance of coming together to address the larger issues that affect Tanzanians in America,” he remarked.

With a large presence in the US and the economic power Tanzanians possess, Mr Mrema spoke on what they are doing when it comes to investing back home, he said in 2017, a handful of members from Pamoja We Can, met in Tanzania and explored possibilities of doing just that, they went to Tanga to evaluate investing in the sisal plantations, they also went to Njombe to see the feasibility of Avocado farming, and Manyoni for the cashew nut business and as of 2024 they have cashew nut farms in Manyoni that are operational.

They met setbacks in the sisal farms, the land they accrued wasn’t conducive and adequate.

“We do not have an official group for investment in Tanzania, but unofficially members of the diaspora are investing back home at their discretion” he added.

They aim to reach 5,000 members, and they hope that the strength in numbers will be advantageous when they decide to officially introduce investment platforms for those willing to set up business in Tanzania.

There are already well-established boards like the Tanzania Investment Center that cater to foreign investment opportunities in Tanzania, they welcome all who are willing to explore a variety of industries in Tanzania from mining, tourism, or manufacturing, and many diasporans have invested in Tanzania with the guidelines from TIC and the conditions and requirements have been favorable for them to invest back home.

He said the Tanzanian government has to do more in terms of reaching out to the diaspora community and communicating with them on the opportunities available and offering more information to attract them to invest back home.

The persisting challenge for many Tanzanians in the United States who have become American citizens is the deficiency of their rights back home, having no dual citizenship or special status that limits their desire or protection of their assets in Tanzania. Mr Mrema said that many Tanzanians have American-born children who wish to inherit their investment when they pass away, but the current laws would make that impossible. “It's discouraging to know that, if you make all the investments in Tanzania, your children will not be able to inherit that,” he said. “If you ask me, it would be advantageous for the government to make that possible, it would be a win-win situation,” he added.

As a Tanzanian from the Kilimanjaro region, born in Dar es Salaam at Ocean Road Hospital, Mr Mrema said, Tanzanian natives should have their birth rights or at least some recognition, even when they have changed their nationalities.

The struggle for recognition has been an ongoing process that seems to have no clear date of solutions to their identity plight. The members of the diaspora communities have made several fronted attempts to persuade the government to reconsider dual citizenship or at least special recognition.

But at the moment, that has not stopped Mr. Mrema from giving back to the people back home, he has contributed to the education of his family members, and with his dollars he has invested in cashew nuts farming and has provided a lot of employment, with timely payments to the locals.

He sees the joy when he pays the women and men who have families to feed, and he is pleased to see the impact of his investment.