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Tunapopanga harakati za usafi, tunazingatia mahitaji ya kila kaya.

Tunapopanga harakati za usafi, tunazingatia mahitaji ya kila kaya.
When we plan cleaning activities, we consider the needs of each household.
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Questions & Answers about Tunapopanga harakati za usafi, tunazingatia mahitaji ya kila kaya.

What is the meaning and formation of tunapopanga, and how is it different from tunapanga?

tunapopanga breaks down into the subject prefix tuna- (we), the temporal marker -po- (when/as), and the verb root panga (plan). Thus it literally means “when we plan/organize.”
By contrast, tunapanga (we plan/are planning) omits -po-, so it simply states the action without highlighting the “when” aspect.

Why do both verbs tunapopanga and tunazingatia carry the tuna- prefix?

In Swahili, every verb must show who is doing the action. The prefix tuna- marks “we” as the subject for each verb. Even though the subject is the same, you repeat the subject prefix on every verb:

  • tunapopanga (“when we plan”)
  • tunazingatia (“we consider”)
What does harakati za usafi mean, and why do we use za between them?

harakati means “efforts,” “campaigns,” or “movements.” usafi is “cleanliness” or “sanitation.”
The particle za links harakati to usafi in a “of” or “for” relationship:
harakati za usafi = “sanitation campaigns” or “efforts for cleanliness.”
In Swahili you choose ya/wa/la/za based on the noun class of the first noun; harakati takes za.

What is usafi, and how is this noun formed?

usafi means “cleanliness,” “hygiene,” or “sanitation.” It’s formed by adding the nominal prefix u- and the noun-forming suffix -i to the adjective root safi (clean).
So: safi (clean) → u-safi (the state/quality of being clean).

How does mahitaji ya kila kaya work grammatically? Why use ya, and what does mahitaji mean?

mahitaji is the plural of hitaji (“need”), so it means “needs.” To show possession or “of,” Swahili uses genitive particles that agree with the noun class.

  • mahitaji belongs to noun class 6, which takes ya for “of.”
  • kila kaya means “each household.”
    Together: mahitaji ya kila kaya = “the needs of each household.”
What does kaya mean here, and how is it different from nyumba or familia?
  • kaya = “household” (the people who live together and share resources).
  • nyumba = “house” (the physical building).
  • familia = “family” (relatives by blood or marriage).
    Using kaya focuses on the unit of people living together under one roof, which is why it’s the best choice for a community-cleanliness context.
Why is there a comma after harakati za usafi, and how is the sentence structured?

The comma separates a time/subordinate clause from the main clause.

  • Subordinate clause: “Tunapopanga harakati za usafi,” (When we organize sanitation campaigns,)
  • Main clause: “tunazingatia mahitaji ya kila kaya.” (we consider the needs of each household.)
    It’s a standard way in Swahili—just like in English—to link a “when/as” clause to the main statement.
How can we express the same idea in the future or past tense?

Swap the tense prefix on both verbs while keeping -po-:

  • Future:
    “Tutakapopanga harakati za usafi, tutazingatia mahitaji ya kila kaya.”
    (When we will organize …, we will consider …)
  • Past:
    “Tulipopanga harakati za usafi, tulizingatia mahitaji ya kila kaya.”
    (When we organized …, we considered …)
    In each case tuna- becomes tuta- for future or tuli- for past.