aluta kontinyuaaaaa

Tanzania As a Slumber economy…

a response to J. Mashaka

Praises to John Mashaka for his wonderful article/s on Tanzania, mostly his uncompromising love of his country…the fact that has validated itself in the tone and emotions of his messages. However, there’re several issues we can both agree to disagree, not for the purpose of flaunting our self-conceits, but for the mere education of the umma, The Tanzanians.

There are several issues that Mashaka have postulated which shows just how much the U.S. has shaped him, [hopefully for good]. But with regard to Tanzania’s history of nonalignment and of being unmoved by the U.S. influence and its policies of “protecting our interests,” such a shape is dangerous. It translates to a simple definition of puppetry.

Maybe because U.S. is the only country that Mr. John Mashaka has lived outside of Africa, hence his incessant draw of comparisons and contrasts between our country(Tanzania) and the U.S. For that we can forgive him. But if he’s lived in any other country, for example England or China, then his oft-reference of U.S. is again, dangerous. It’s because of that reason, I will also use the U.S. as an example in my response.

Tanzania is not the poorest country in the world. I actually still have a doubt with the definition of the word “poor” itself. The standards of measuring poverty or richness varies from country to country; judged on cultural contexts. What is regarded as rich in one, can be a matter of ridicule to others. This is how it should have been. Unfortunately it is not. That‘s why some if not most people accepts this word .

The very same people who brands us poor, uses the U.S. currency (Dollar) as a yardstick. Oftentimes you will hear them say “We’re living on less than a dollar per day.” One dollar can buy nothing in the West, specifically in the U.S. Everything is above $1. In Tanzania, one dollar converts to a thousand shillings.

Even though I have been away from Tanzania for years now, I still believe that one thousand shillings can guarantee a lunch and/or dinner to a family, on a simple meal, because goods and products are still cheaper compared to U.S. It’s true that money is everything. Money means richness, but not happiness. I have seen loads of people who possesses millions of money yet their lives are desperate, broken marriages and families.

A maasai [for example], despite his poverty, is probably the most happiest person on earth.I do agree with you on the part of sacrifice, only if it means being extroverts as opposed to introverts…meaning we have to think of others before we think of ourselves, only.

This message has a lot of weight to our leaders, that they should remember the people(Wananchi) who elected them through their constituencies. Instead of fattening their pockets and swag bellies, they should remember the litany of promises and ideas that propelled their victories and present careers. But your usage of the word “sacrifice” has appeared paradoxical.

Let me quote, “ We must understand that country’s leadership is a small percentage of the almost 40 million Tanzanians. We must be realistic. We must bear responsibilities for voting in , time after time those who have driven our country into the current situation and abused our trust.

The fisadis do not operate in the vacuum, they are elected by us. You and I have the voice and the power to strip them of their positions and even jail them, and the lacking tool is courage, cohesion and unity. We must be united and shun all elements that divides us while embracing the forces that unites us. We must embark on the wagon that promotes unity for us to make progress. We’re lacking what is called self-sacrifice; we must be sacrificial, and be ready to place the interests of the country ahead of our own, in order to pull away from the list of poorest nations.”

Well, very few of us had any idea that those we elect will end up becoming corrupt officials. We come to know the behaviours and qualities of our leaders once we elect them.Doesn’t the president do what was expected…arresting the fisadis and even jailing some for the corruptions?

Exactly what kind of sacrifice do you talk about…presenting to the neighbour every evening a bowl of rice? Stopping the pursuance of our wants and needs for the sake of others? Who is really ready for that? That sense of commonness is long gone, with the wind of change that saw socio-capitalism replacing socialism.

The communal regard and care were elements of socialism during Nyerere‘s epoch. Isn’t this semantics that today we talk of what failed our economy in the past? Don’t get me wrong, the killings of Albinos are the most barbaric of acts in our society.

But such a wave has a trendy start and eventual end. With rising condemnation and shame associated with it, the killings will end and those witchdoctors will find other requirements. What surprises me from these witchdoctors and the overall witchcraft, is the failure to enrich themselves, while promising to help enrich others.

In Burundi, and Haiti, the killings of albinos are common also. It’s true that our leaders fail us, even though we’re the ones who elected them. But history has shown with repeated constancy just how much easy it is to see things when one is outside of it. When you’re inside, you will not see them. In other words, we see the evils committed by our leaders because we’re outside as Wananchi, but when one of us Wananchis gets elected and sit among other leaders, he/she will commit the same evils. Sacrifice is not a concrete solution to our problems; of getting out of so-called “poorest nations” list.

There will be a solution to our problems that involves 3Dimensional analysis of economic, social and political approaches, that will go in hand with time and patience. With time, our leaders will come to understand that some of Africa’s problems could actually be tackled without the West. Africa itself as a continent is huge enough to cater for its own peoples.

The free and international trade proposals could be done within the continent with mutual regard and love that will divert all the attention from the oft-unfair and unequal balances of the West to other corners of Africa.The U.S. got independence from Britain in 1776, enjoyed over 300 years of free labour during the slave period before it arrived to where it is today. Compared to Tanzania, we have only been free from the colonists for 40 years now.

The comparison that you draw between the two countries is totally unfair. Who had thought that we would today be having a modern standard football field that rival others in the West? You can see that with time, patience and resilience, we are making progress. Israel is not Israel if it’s not for the U.S. There is not magic in the way the Israelis have transformed the arid lands of Middle East into arable. It only takes technology and money.

This is the country that receives over $3 billions every year from the U.S. It is the first and the largest annual recipient of U.S. financial assistance. Total U.S. aid to Israel is approximately one-third of the overall American foreign-aid budget, even though Israel comprises just .001 percent (7 million) of the world's population and already has one of the world's higher per capita incomes.

The present form of Israel in its strength of military and economy comes under the behest of the U.S.; in a father and son relationship. In the article to come, I will offer my thoughts for the solution to our problems; a 3Dimensional analysis that touches both internal and external factors of economy, politics and society-for our present state of affairs.

For now, I rest my case.

Thanks.

mokes O. gama

swahilian@hotmail.com