On the 9th December 1961, the father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere raised the national flag as a symbol of proclaiming Tanganyika’s independence from colonialism. The national flag has since been a symbol of independence and a symbol that the country is proud of. Whenever the flag appears, it signifies people’s freedom and the identity of what they believe. By honouring the flag, Tanzanians stand upright every time it is raised and every time it is brought down on various occasions. Given the importance of flags, the Nyumba ni Choo campaign used a special flag as one of the emotional demonstrations (emo demos) tactics. Others included fashion shows, handwashing and elders speaking about their past experience to symbolize modernity.
The Nyumba ni Choo flag was white in colour to symbolize cleanliness which is associated with having an improved toilet. Mrisho Mpoto, the activations ambassador during Direct Consumer Contact (DCC) events led discussions on the low sanitation coverages whereby communities and their respective leaders thereafter unanimously agreed to change and ensure every household has an improved toilet within a specified period of time. Ultimately a political leader i.e Regional commissioner, District commissioner or councillor of the given area was required to raise the Nyumba ni Choo flag to a level of the pole that was equivalent to the sanitation coverage (improved toilets) of the respective area.
The flag-raising act was a great motivation for the people as at some meetings when the flag was raised to the top, people felt happy, but when the flag was lowered they felt embarrassed and they pleaded the campaign coordinator to allow the raising of the flag to the optimal level promising to improve their toilets in a short while. For example, in Serengeti District Council, communities requested Mr Anyitike Mwakitalima, the National Sanitation Campaign Coordinator to raise their flag a bit higher because it was so low, and promised to work together to make sure each household has an improved toilet.
The flags were installed at Regional Commissioners’ Office (Regional Level); District Commissioners’ Office (LGA level); and Ward Executive Officers’ Office (Ward level) was the DCC events were conducted. A total of 138 flags were installed in the lake zone.