from Abdalah Hamis
date Sep 30, 2009 7:33 AM
subject What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
SIR: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem? This is the question my son
asked me on a beautiful morning, September 27 , 2009 after breakfast
in Springfield, PA. He promptly followed this question with another,
even before I answered the first. “Well dad, if you were the Tanzanian
president what would you do?”
This line of questioning, discussion, debates, a huge arguments on
politics, race, history, education, religion – you name it, we battle
over it – is commonplace in our home. But for whatever reason, instead
of launching into the usual diatribe of possible flawed but well
meaning reasoning, I actually paused for thought. My mind wandered, as
I recollected the many discussions I had with countless Tanzanians at
home in Tanzania and in far away places in divergent circumstances
and settings about what ails Tanzania.
In the opinions of most Tanzanians I have encountered, the issues the
country faces are those of Minerals , corruption, religion, ethnicity,
infrastructure, poverty, hunger, disease, brain drain, civil
liberties, etc. so with very broad strokes I pigeonholed all the
people I have had discussions with into three groups. Group one the
naysayers. They’ve lost faith and believe the problems are so
entrenched in the national psyche that the country is without hope.
Group two – the optimists. This set of folks believe the country is on
the upswing. They quickly point out their successful family members
and friends. The proliferation of cell phones. the Dar es salaam stock
exchange, expensive cars on the streets, expensive foreign imports, or
sprawling mansions owned by the few. And the final group – the
opportunists. This is the set that doesn’t really care whether the
country moves forward or backwards, but is more interested in gaining
a piece of the giant pie of ill gotten wealth.
The reality is that most of the problems that Tanzania and other
African nations experience plague other developing nations too. We can
look at history and point to colonialism tyrannical rule by
dictatorships, mass exploitation, and corruption. But the original
question that got me reminiscing is Tanzania’s biggest problem.
In my opinion Tanzania’s biggest problem is the mind-set of the
average Tanzanian. For there to be real change, people have to want
change and a re-education of sorts. Expectations have to be realistic.
Tanzania is a country of 40 million people plus people with 80 per
cent reliance on less than $100 billion in oil revenue. Tanzania’s
yearly income is less than that of two major cities in the U.S. with
20 per cent of Tanzania’s population, yet most cry foul for not
receiving their piece of the black gold.
As Tanzanians, we all need an attitude readjustment. Although,
materialism is deeply interwoven in the national fabric. It is indeed
possible to break away from the various cycle of trying to acquire
wealth at all costs. As a youngster, I marveled at people, who would
borrow money to have block parties to celebrate one event or another.
I also shook my head in disbelief at people who drove expensive cars
but lived in a single room with 10 people. It is actually funny to see
owners of fancy cars navigate their way through endless potholes and
bad roads. I was even more amazed to see people vie for government
contracts, receive payments and not perform any part of the contract.
There is no doubt in my mind that Tanzanians are a hardworking,
industrious people, so given the right mind-set and focus they can
overcome their economic, political and social issues. With the right
attitude the naysayers can again have faith, the optimists can be even
more optimistic and the opportunists will have the occasion to work
hard.
Mabula Sabula
date Sep 30, 2009 8:12 AM
subject Re: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
TANZANIA’S BIGGEST PROBLEM…IS INADEQUATE LEADERSHIP…LACK OF VISION..AT MANY LEVELS…BOTH IN PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND POLITICAL SECTORS…IN ANY CASE…IT ULTIMATELTY COMES DOWN TO EVERY CITIZEN BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT NATION BUILDING…WHAT WE HAD FROM AROUND 1960’s – 1970’s!!! …BACK TO THE BASICS OF WHAT WE USED TO SING ALL THE TIME… UHURU NA UMOJA!!!…PRESIDENT NYERERE USED TO RIDE A BICYCLE…JUST TO REMIND US THAT DEVELOPMENT IS ALL ABOUT BASIC NEEDS FOR ALL WANANCHI AND MEANT CO-OPERATION… RIDING A SIMPLE BICYCLE PROVIDES BASIC TRANSPORTAION NEEDS, HOWEVER, TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE YOU MUST CO-OPERATE WITH YOUR BICYCLE AND KEEP MOVING…LET US FOCUS ON POSITIVE THINGS THE NATION HAS TO OFFER, LET US NOT HANG ON THE OLD WOUNDS OF MAFISADI AND THE GREED OF THE FEW…THE WABENZI AND MAHEKALU…THEY WILL DIE AND LEAVE THEM…LET US LEARN FROM IT…AND BUILD A GREAT NATION OUT OF OUR MANY RESOURCES, GREAT PEOPLE AND WONDERFUL LAND…THROUGH PATIENCE, HARD WORK AND HONESTY…BONGOLAND IN THE ORIGINAL MEANING!
Juma Mzuri
date Sep 30, 2009 8:21 AM
subject Re: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
i lay no claim to knowing
the core…
but i sure know taking everybody
for the core is rudimentary in my little
wisdom…
i presume we need to explore the more
fundamental indices to the failing system
of this country…
a little exercise: can we look back at a time
when things were working in the country…
can we do some rough projections of a time-lag
when the rot of a nation began?
what factors were practically responsible then?
what further fundamental circumstances plunged
the nation deeper into the abyss of failure?
John Wanyancha
date Sep 30, 2009 9:15 AM
subject Re: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
Folks,
The discussion below reminds me of an obscene signage that I came across this morning as I was heading to work. Placed at a construction site in Masaki on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, the screaming communication read as follows;
“Usikojoe Hapa”
You can guess what my first reaction was. I felt low and embarrassed to seeing that we now have to be educated with what I thought was knowledge meant for toddlers and nursery school going children. Yet, having reflected the statement the whole day today, I find myself nearly convinced that this, is perhaps the perfect measure of the level of decay in our society. We have all the understanding of what’s bad and good, what’s holy and sin, what’s ethical and non ethical, yet we have chosen to perpetuate the vices with impunity.
To me, the problem with Tanzania and Tanzanians is not the question of whether we can or cannot make a change, it is not the lack of capital or resources (that we are so abundantly blessed with), it is the mindset change that we need. And to start with, can we get to a point where we need not be reminded “Usikojoe Hapa”
John
Hildegarda Kiwasila
date Sep 30, 2009 9:27 AM
subject Re: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
Chunguza Wanyancha unapokuwa ndani ya daladala DSM, utaona utingo yupo nyuma ya gari hiyo, kachukua chupa ya maji aliyomaliza kunywa, anatia mkojo yaani anakojolea huko nyuma ya kiti, anaifunga anaitupa nje kama kuna msingi wa maji ya mvua (open drain) anaitumbukiza humo. Siku hizi kuna vyoo vya jiji na binafsi ila hataki kulipa 50-100?=. Nidhamu ya usafi tu. Barabara mpya ya Mwenge ubungo usiku nyumba zile zinatupa viroba vya taka katikati au pembeni ya barabara. Malundo kibao. Mchango wa kulipia uzoa taka kwa watu binafsi wanaobeba inategemea na aina na ujazo wa takataka zako. Kiroba kinaweza kuwa senti 20 hadi shs mia moja (100/=) au unamlipa kwa mwezi mnakubaliana. Nyumba nzuri, takataka barabarani hatakai kumlipa mziaji 100 ambao wanapeleka katika malundo ya kukusanya mahala palipo kubalika.
‘USITUPE TAKA HAPA’.
Tracy John Kimambo
date Sep 30, 2009 9:40 AM
subject Re: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
I have said it before and I will say it again, The solution to
Tanzania’s problem is for Tanzanians to find a way to withdraw all the
past and present politicians/administrators/rulers out of power and
start with a new/fresh/maybe younger people to start with a new
administration. I don’t know how this will be or happen but the
solution is not from our same politicians still being in power.
This as being the way 90% of the developed countries got better, Tony
Blair in UK was condemned by citizens until he withdrew, All European
country’s citizens fight/riot/strike/debate and make a public
awareness of what they want, This also helped Obama to win the US
election and presently this is what the Indians are doing and they are
getting better little by little at least they are in the list of G-20
member countries (G-20 means 20 most developed/developing/financially
and economically stable countries in the world). The countries on
the G-20 list that should maybe be better than Tanzania is UK and USA
and maybe China but Tanzania is so terrible we are on the list of pre-
developing nation in the world, one of the most corrupted country in
the world, almost 50% live below $100 per month and e. t. c. Tanzania
is the only country I know that has all its resources to live and
stand alone without importing anything except cars and technological
stuffs (computer) which we can even make latter on.
The solution seems like a hard/tough/terrible way but we all know the
solution to Tanzania wont and cant be easy. . . the more
damage . . the harder the solution becomes. All European
countries faced communist and we all know abt hitler stuff/ wars btw
US and Russia/ wars btw US and Japan thats detroyed 90% of Japan/ wars
btw UK and Germany and e. t. c.
We just have to do something my brothers. . .
Rehema Kikwete
date Sep 30, 2009 9:54 AM
subject Re: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
The people who call themselves Tanzanians are the biggest problem with
Tanzania. One of the major reasons why Tanzania is not functioning as
a country is as a result of the kind of people that are allowed to
rule, speak or act on behalf of the nation.
We have over stretched the combo of greed and corruption as the bane
of our progress but it is about time we also highlighted that we are
not yet prepared to make real progress. It is impossible to eradicate
corruption completely from any geographical landscape inhabited by
humans. Still, the magnitude of corruption in Tanzania remains large
on the scale. The addition of insincerity of the people to the problem
brings more blurriness into the already shattered image.
I have read a number of opinions where critics, writers or sponsored
agents try to defend some of the terrible things or evils that have
been unleashed on the common people of Tanzania. Under those
circumstances, I really sympathized with those who expressed sane
opinions and tried to drive home their points against an opposing camp
that is hell bent on ensuring that evil persists and endures in our
lives.
For every prominent evil man in Tanzania, there are thousands or
possibly millions of die-hard followers. For every corrupt politician
or pillager, there are thousands or millions of fervent followers or
worshippers. We (the ordinary citizens) are in serious trouble!
There are people in Tanzania who will put pen to paper or hit their
keyboards very hard just to defend their heroic looting-politicians
under the past and present dispensations. They will tell you reasons
why these men and women should be allowed to come back or remain in
our lives. They will tell you to come forward if you have any evidence
on the atrocities or crimes that they have committed. They will tell
you to shut up if you cannot prove your allegations.
What they will not tell you is that approximately 90% of Tanzanians
live in abject poverty. They will not tell you that more than five
children have died in the last 5 minutes due to preventable diseases.
They will not tell you that, according to Prof Maghembe , more than
60% of Tanzanian graduates cannot compete at the global level because
of the rot pervading our educational citadels. They will not tell you
that for more than 40 years, no one had made any serious plan for the
youth of today and the generation of internet rats that have emerged
along the line of inactions. They will not tell you that in Tanzania,
the future is already stolen!
They will not give you the gory details of what it means to live on
less than 2 dollars a day and how hopelessness has taken over the
minds of ordinary Tanzanians in urban and rural areas. They will not
tell you how widespread unemployment is and how it has contributed to
the increase in violent robberies and assassinations. They seek
evidence that more than 50 000 Tanzanian women die annually from
maternity related problems! What a bunch of evidence-seeking
lunatics!
These defenders of evil will not tell you that ordinary Tanzanians
like me are frustrated with the complete absence of social amenities
and infrastructure that are supposed to add quality to human
existence. They will not be able to explain why billions of naira had
been spent on the roads that still ranked among the worst in the
world.
No one among these dangerous liars will tell you what fate had
befallen all the monies allegedly invested or pumped into the economy.
Can they tell us something on all the environmental hazards that are
created in Tanzania or the near absence of the role of nature and
environment to our well-being and existence?
Tanzania has a long way to go. For several years, we have been going
round and round in the same cycle of deceit, exhibiting idiocy and
extremely shameful vices. Tanzanian newsprints (and lately internet
news sites) are adding to the pile of existing problems. There are
opinions and essays written daily that reveal the cold war going on
between certain interest groups within Tanzania. It is very obvious to
see.
Many of the so called Tanzanian critics are now using their talents to
serve the interests of their respective pay masters who have violently
destroyed Tanzania. If Reginald Mengi pays my salary, I am forbidden
to write about how he looted money from NBC Treasury. On the other
hand, I don’t care about Selelii in Nzega and I must use all my
literary skills to bring him down for not fulfilling his electoral
promises to the people of Nzega. Lowassa nephew on the other hand runs
a website where everything is done to give Lowassa a good name and a
perfect image.
In general, many of these critics have confirmed that money is still
the root of all evil. Everyone has a right to earn a living but when
people throw away their moral obligations while pretending to serve
the good of all, then we must begin to weigh the consequences on the
endless wait for the anticipated progress in Tanzania. I am so sorry
to say that Tanzania is not ready to make progress yet. Many other
people are afraid of the truth that Tanzania will not work if this
type of nonsense is still what we can offer or accept in the 21st
century.
Not only have our politicians gone mad, our critics and paid agents
have messed up the whole scenario such that Tanzania is now like the
biblical Babel. We have been speaking with many tongues and from all
sides of our mouths and it doesn’t seem like we are going to
understand one another. This manifestation of our collective insanity
tilts favorably towards those clamoring for independent nations
emerging from Tanzania. I am not convinced that such an approach will
not create more problems. It is also obvious why a Rawlings’ Solution
or people-oriented revolution will not happen in Tanzania. Tanzania is
a peculiar mess!
So, while we continue to seek good governance, legitimate leadership,
accountability, probity, stability, sanity, re-structuring, re-
ordering, discipline, pride resuscitation, economy rejuvenation and
the paths to other lost tracks of our lives, it now appears that we
must also take the time to seek intelligent and right thinking minds
so that we are not fed any longer with some stinking regurgitated mess
coming from some thoughtless nonentities.
Mabula Sabula
date Sep 30, 2009 12:23 PM
subject Re: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
Many Tanzanias have…travelled and seen the world…change is inevitable…the old guard is dying out…the new generation will take over…whether we like it or not…lakini mtoto umuleavyo ndiyo akuavyo…therefore…the new generation can also be as bad as the old one…may be even worse…therefore as a …nation…the biggest mistake we can make…is to allow the many problems being discussed by THE WANABIDII…to go on without correcting them…therefore…WE MUST USE THE POWER OF THE BALLOT BOX…TO KICK OUT BAD LEADERS…IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY PARTY AFFLIATION OR AGE…IMMEDIATELY WE MUST AMMEND OUR CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES AND INDEPENDENT “TUME YA UCHAGUZI” AND REMOVE ALL OTHER MAJOR SHORTCOMINGS….AND MOVE ON…ALWAYS REMEMBERING OUR PAST…DEALING WITH THE PRESENT…AND BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR NATION!!!
Hilda Ndaja
date Sep 30, 2009 2:01 PM
subject Re: What is Tanzania’s biggest problem?
Deception is another issue we are facing in this country. Lack of
companionship, people only care for what they can get out of you and
not what they can do for you. and the ultimate problem in Tanzania
is the people, I strongly believe society and the people are driving
out leaders to failure. Think of it this way no one cares for you
before you get up there but as soon as you get there everyone wants
contracts from you, and in order to compensate for the mistakes people
are dipping their hands in the jar of honey