WORKPLACE SPORTS AND EXERCISE: A PATHWAY TO BETTER HEALTH AND EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING

Adeladius Makwega

President’s Office, Records and Archives Management Department – Dodoma.

 

The photograph above shows some employees of the President’s Office, Records and Archives Management Departmemt, in Dodoma, participating in physical fitness exercises. On November 10, 2026, Mwanakwetu had the opportunity to attend and participate in these exercises after being invited by the employees.

 

To be honest, Mwanakwetu had not previously been enthusiastic about participating in these physical exercises, despite receiving several invitations. However, on this particular day, he decided to change his attitude, accepted the invitation, and joined his fellow employees in the exercises. At the end of the session, he also had an opportunity to take photographs of the participating employees.

 

While following up on the implementation of these exercises, Mwanakwetu was informed that:

 

“Public servants are required to participate in physical fitness exercises twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This requirement is provided for under OSHA guidelines and regulations, as well as the Occupational Health and Safety framework, which oversees workplace health and safety.

The relevant legislation includes the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2003 (Act No. 5 of 2003), which was enacted in 2003 and is also available as Chapter 297 in the revised edition of the laws.”

 

The source explained that public institutions are expected to observe and implement this directive, adding that compliance is subject to monitoring. The source further emphasized that physical exercise plays an important role in reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure and other lifestyle-related illnesses.

On that particular day, while at his workplace, Mwanakwetu witnessed the entire preparation process and implementation of the exercise programme.

Employees who were present at work continued with their duties until 3:30 p.m. After that, they went to the changing rooms, where they changed from their regular work clothes into sportswear. At exactly 4:00 p.m., dressed in their sports uniforms, they assembled at the sports ground, ready to begin the exercises.

The session was led by Mr Antony Kasili, a Records Management Officer. He guided his colleagues through a series of physical activities, beginning with light warm-up exercises, followed by moderate-intensity exercises, and finally more vigorous activities. The entire session was completed at 5:00 p.m.

In observing how the 60 minutes were allocated, Mwanakwetu noted that the exercise session was structured as follows:

“10 minutes of light warm-up exercises.10 minutes of moderate-intensity exercises.20 minutes of vigorous exercises.10 minutes of light cool-down exercises.10 minutes for discussions, announcements and rest.”

 

After completing the exercises, the employees proceeded to the shower facilities to freshen up, change out of their sportswear and put on their regular clothes before returning to their homes.

 

Through his brief investigation into workplace sports and physical fitness activities, Mwanakwetu discovered that this issue deserves greater attention from all institutions.

Just as institutions are required to ensure the availability of fire extinguishers and provide employees with training on how to respond to fire emergencies, workplace health, safety and employee well-being should also be given priority. This includes creating a supportive environment that enables employees to participate in physical exercises at work.

 

However, Mwanakwetu has observed that many institutions still lack effective arrangements for implementing these exercise programmes. Even in some institutions where exercises are conducted, several challenges remain, potentially discouraging employees from participating.

These challenges include:

“Inadequate sports infrastructure: Some institutions lack suitable facilities and equipment necessary for conducting physical exercises.Shortage of proper sports grounds: There is a lack of suitable playing fields and designated areas for various sporting and fitness activities.Inadequate shower facilities: Some workplaces do not have sufficient shower facilities to allow employees to freshen up after exercising.Shortage of first-aid equipment: Some institutions lack essential first-aid supplies to assist employees who may experience health-related difficulties during exercise sessions.Lack of professional health support: Some institutions do not have adequate arrangements to ensure access to professional medical assistance whenever it may be needed during sporting activities.”

 

These challenges are among the barriers that may limit employee participation in workplace physical fitness programmes. It is therefore important for the relevant institutions to address them by creating safe and supportive environments for their employees.

Despite these challenges, government leaders have continued to emphasise the importance of ensuring that employees participate in physical fitness and sporting activities at their workplaces.

For example, in August 2026, the Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office – Public Service Management and Good Governance, Mr Juma Mkomi, emphasised that every institution should ensure employee participation in these exercises and provide suitable working environments that support their implementation.

This emphasis highlights the importance of workplace sports and physical exercis

es in promoting good health, increasing employee energy and alertness, strengthening teamwork and solidarity among colleagues, and improving efficiency in the performance of daily responsibilities.

 

Mwanakwetu are you there?

 

The time has come for every institution to take practical steps to ensure that physical fitness exercises are conducted appropriately, while employees are provided with suitable facilities, equipment and the necessary supervision.

Every employee should also recognise that good health is an essential foundation for effective performance at work. We should not wait until health challenges arise before appreciating the importance of regular physical exercise.

REMEMBER: WORKPLACE SPORTS AND EXERCISES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH AND EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING.

Wishing you a pleasant day!

makwadeladius@gmail.com-0717649257