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| mashaka |
Over the past century, economists, social scientists and other scholars have realized the significance of human capital to global economic success. The buildup of talent, skill, know-how, intelligence, education, and experience embedded within individuals that helps them generate income is what Tanzania need to leap economically.
Rare metals, stones, natural gas, petroleum and other resources largely regarded as natural wealth have been for the greater part a curse, sources of injustice, hopelessness, and extreme poverty to nations devoid of human capital.
Coming from the ruins of World War II, Germans reinvented their educational system to focus more on human capital development that was direly needed for the country’s rapid reconstruction. The government made education a priority and free for all Germans, educational system was made more practical than theoretical. It was also made compulsory from age five through nineteen, with each student having an option or opportunity to learn a skill or trade depending on their abilities, at an early age.
The effort paid off and made Germany an economic miracle. The country’s economy is the strongest in Europe and the lifeline for the economically impaired nations such as Greece, Spain etc. Germany is a global leader in engineering and manufacturing, producing the world best engineering products; it exported more than $1.44 Trillion worth of industrial products in 2011 alone. A success story that can be attributed to prioritization of education, and massive investment into domestic talent development.
Countries with no way out –lacking natural resources- have in large part been extremely ingenious. Israel, a tiny desert like nation, sandwiched between lethal foes is a fountain of free enterprise can-do entrepreneurial spirit. With basically no natural resource, Israel turned into attracting Jewish experts and scientists –Diaspora-from all other the world. It became a country of innovators; it created world class universities and research facilities. Israel designed educational system that would produce thinkers -Nobel Laureates- and problem solvers, and indeed most scientific and technological breakthroughs have Israeli roots.
Singapore realized its uncertain and bleak future without natural resources. It outlawed corruption, and made it a taboo. The country launched massive industrial infrastructure projects, communications modernization, and developed the educational system that would make the country maintain its social economic order. Today; Singapore is the world fourth largest financial hub, and one of the emerging market’s economic giants. South Korea is not different from Singapore, infarct, it was much poorer than Kenya in 1960, today; it has $1.1556 trillion economy which is 47 times that of Kenya’s $33.62 billion. Thank you to their emphasis and prioritization of human capital development.
Oil rich Gulf States have realized that, despite their massive petroleum deposits, explosive global population growth in relation to the demand for energy is accelerating the depletion of their current deposits. The Gulf States have realized that, development of alternative sources of energy, and technological advancements could cripple their economies in not distant future if they keep on sleeping on their brains. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar etc. are sponsoring their citizens in thousands into American corporations, and learning institutions so they can master different trades vital to keep their economies alive beyond the present oil boom.
Rwanda could be the perfect example of Africa’s rapid growing economy reliant upon the development of its human talents. The country emerged from the ruins of war with vision to be an economic power. Besides his ZERO tolerance policy on corruption, President Kagame is recruiting thousands of Rwanda Diaspora, along with foreign experts that are now running various agencies within the Rwandan economy. Unlike resource rich DRC and Tanzania, Rwanda with virtually no natural resources, is on the verge of becoming Singapore of Africa.
Industrial revolution pushed America to become by far the most dominant and greatest social-economic success in mankind history. America exploited all it had –natural resources and human brains- for its own economic development. It became the world largest mixed economy. Its trade volume has no match; by far the largest trader and exporter of goods and services, with enormous stock of human capital that has maintained the American competitive edge. Squeeze America in a corner, to see the agility and ingenuity of its people. Americans success is rather not a coincident. They sacrificed and toiled to be where they are, just like Japanese, they are hard workers and take pride at what they do.
They have established research and learning institutions that have no match. Their immigration laws are attracting the best brains from around the world. American learning and research institutions, corporations, and tech companies, are attracting and retaining some of the most brilliant minds to further the American entrepreneurial spirit; People who can create jobs for the Americans.
In contradiction, resource rich African continent is further falling into the abyss of poverty, social chaos and disorder. Richer nations like Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, have enjoyed nothing out of their wealth apart from providing slave- like labor to foreigners extracting their wealth. The countries are devoid of human capital. DRC and Sierra-Leone know NO peace; all they know is war and endless cycles of violence perpetrated by foreign entities scrambling for their wealth.
If only Africans could stop sitting on their brains, be more patriotic, love themselves, control their greed, value their people as opposed to worshipping foreigners with phony exploitative foreign-aid, and use their resources to develop domestic talents, without a doubt, they will see a new dawn of economic prosperity!
Tanzanians should understand that foreign aid has never been free. Foreign aid is the biggest curse and an impediment to our economic progress. It comes at a steep price. It is an incentive to soften the weak minded for exploitation. Foreign Aid is breeding corruption, and making people lazy. Foreign Aid strips people of their freedom and dignity. It reduces them into caricatures, and renders into charity cases in the eyes of the world. If the world loves Africa, then it should save Somalia. It is the neediest!
Instead of letting ourselves vulnerable to economic manipulation, Tanzania must rethink its future in terms of human capital, and deal with the Immigration laxity that is killing our entrepreneurial spirits; replacing our small scale entrepreneurs with Chinese machingas. Policymakers and economic planners must design an Industrial- agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology- infrastructural revolution plan, accompanied by skilled immigration policy that will turn Tanzania and its wealth into an economic power.
Tanzania is not business friendly; it is attracting more of exploiters than innovators. The country is sleeping on its natural wealth and its brain power. Like Rwanda, Liberia, and Kenya, Tanzanian government must find a way to entice its skilled Diaspora population, declare corruption a taboo and a national enemy to see a rebirth of a new nation. Our educational system needs a 360 makeup to hasten domestic talent development. Our education must be hands-on oriented for workplace readiness. This dimension of human capital preparedness is therefore, The Tanzania’s missing economic puzzle piece.
I have repeatedly said that our natural resources have no expiration date; neither are they running away from us. We may not have the capacity to develop them at the moment; however, given the rate at which they are being extracted and exploited by foreigners, we will soon remain with both craters to fill, environmental nightmare, incompetent and unskilled workforce to deal with amid social and economic chaos.
Mungu Ibariki Tanzania
John Mashaka
Mashaka.john@yahoo.com
Mashaka.john@yahoo.com
bw. mashaka. this is some good stuff. this foreign aid, ni mali ya wajanja hapa mujini. inaizdi kutuua tu. mara waarabu wananunua serengeti. mara barrick wamechukua buzwaga, hii nchi haieleweki tena. limekuwa shamba la bibi haieleweki. watanzania tuamke tusilalie vichwa vyetu aliyoyasema mashaka ni mambo yenye busara sana.
ReplyDeleteKATIKA YOTE ULIYOYASEMA. HIYO YA WACHINA LIMENIGUSA SANA. HAO WATU WASHENZI KWELI NA HAWANA ADANBU. WAMESHAJUA KWAMBA HAPA NCHINI WANAWEZA KUFANYA CHOCHOTE BILA KUSHTAKIWA. WACHINA NOMA. Katika hali ya kuendelea kuwanyanyasa wazawa wachina watatu wa kampuni ya CHICO wamemfanyia unthinkable mfanyakazi alietaka kuwapa msaada watoto sabini baada ya kutaka kuwapa msaada wa kuvuta basi lao. Dereva yassin twaha alichofanyiwa na maelezo ya kamanda bundala yanatia kinyaa wazalendo wa nchi hii sasa tusimame tujilinde wenyewe.
ReplyDeleteVery informative and passionate article. The only way to save this country Mr. Mashaka is to reduce the investment red tapes that favors foreigners (people speaking English) instead of natives. This country is sick, and rotten. Corruption is rling everything. Watu kama papa Msofe ndio wenye nchi, wanaua kwa hiari yao. Kweli hii nchi shamba la bubu. TIC is doing its job, ila wajanja kwenye mawizara watokuua kwa kuomba rushwa. ila hilo la diaspora hatulitaki. hao diaspora wabi huko huko, wakija hapa hakuna jipya wanaloleta zaidi ya kuendeleza tabia zao chafu za madwa ya kulevya na utapeli waliozoea huko ulaya.
ReplyDeletemashaka, you can add one more canard – how the West “exploits” the natural resources of the Third World. In other words, France and Japan use the Congo’s Uranium up in nuclear reactors for electricity which powers their high speed railroads. …. and IF no “colonialists” had come to “exploit” those resources, the Congolese would have had their own nuclear reactors, high speed railoads, etc….It is also interesting to look into the history of many countries to see how well they prospered AFTER they deported their Jews / Chinese / Whites / Indians (Uganda) or other “expolitative” peoples. Robert Mugabe – you’re doing a heckofa job!
ReplyDeleteBeware of the chinese invasion in the economics and politics… already chinese farmers and miners are taking over the native´s workforce instead of providing jobs to the locals. Chinese are the masters of deception: you think they are helping you, but in fact, they are trying to make use of you. Thank God there is a man who has opened his eyes-!
ReplyDeleteMashaka is right, China is rising as Economically Evil Empire…
In fact Chinese investment around the world, and its overall increasing clout in other areas is seen by many around the world as a positive good.
ReplyDeleteFor example the Chinese in Africa are helping develop the place, building infrastructure, and actually helping many countries on that continent to grow.
“China’s presence has coincided with the continent’s strongest period of economic growth. A McKinsey report in June pointed to average real GDP growth 4.9 per cent from 2000 through to 2008.”
http://tinyurl.com/25jmf8a
I must differ with Mr. Mashaka, because Mashaka is western educated, and tends to see China from a different angles. The African people like dealing with the Chinese much more than the West. The Chinese pay for resources. The Europeans just came in and stole the resources, drove the locals off prime land and gave it to European settlers – hence the problems in Zimbabwe today.
Not only are the Chinese welcomed for their fair dealings, but China’s own model of development and political system is attracting more and more interest around the developing world as a way forward.
The Rwandan President on China:
“The Chinese bring what Africa needs: investment and money for governments and companies.China is investing in infrastructure and building roads.European and American involvement has not brought Africa forward.Western firms have to a large extent polluted Africa and they are still doing it”
The South African President on China:
“China is there ….to create a mutually beneficial kind of relationship, which is different from former Western colonialists simply taking things by force.”
The South African president also said:
“The developing world was told that if it did not Westernize and change its political systems to mirror those of the West, they could forget about achieving economic growth and development. Now we are asking what we could learn from other political systems and cultures. Is the political discipline in China a recipe for economic success, for example?”
The Botswanan President on China:
“the Chinese treat us as equals. The West treats us as former subjects.I prefer the attitude of the Chinese to that of the West.”
Ugandan President on China:
“The Western ruling groups are conceited, full of themselves, ignorant of our conditions, and they make other people’s business their business. Whereas the Chinese just deal with you, you represent your country, they represent their own interests, and you do business.”
BWANA MASHAKA. VITU UNAVYOANDIKA VINA MAANA SANA, ILA JARIBU KUVIANDIKA KW AKISWAHILI, AU KAMA HAUWEZI, BASI MUOMBE MTU AKUSAIDIE KUVITAFSIRI. KUMBUKA TUNA WABUNGE KULE DODOMA AMBAO NI VIHIYO AMBAO WANGEELEWA ULICHOANDIKA, WANGEDESA KIDOGO WAKACHANGIE BUNGENI. TANZANIA INAHITAJI RASILIMALI WATU. WATU KAMA NYINYI MLIOLELEMIKA HUKO ULAYA, MNGERUDI HAPA NYUMBANI MSAIDIE BADALA YA KUANDIKA LUGHA NGUMU AMBYO WENGI HATUZIELEWI. NINGEKUSHAURI UWEKE JITIHADA KUTAFUTA MKALIMANI ILI HAYA MAKALA YAKO YASOMWE NA WENGI. PIA KAMA UTAWEZA, UVIPELEKE KWENYE MAGAZETI YA HAPA NCHINI. AASNTE SANA
ReplyDeleteTHE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS ARE FACING OUR NATION
ReplyDelete1. CORRUPTION
2.LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
3.GREED
4.EDUCATION SYSTEM PLANNED THE 70'S
5.NO ENFORCEABILITY OF LAWS
6.RICH AND POWERFUL ARE ABOVE THE LAW
7.LACK OF PLANNING
IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT ADDRESSED, WE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD RESOURCES OR NO RESOURCES.
WHY SHOULD I WORK HARD IF I KNOW NOBODY WILL DARE TO FIRE ME? WHY SHOULD I RESPECT THE LAW IF NO POLICE OFFICER IS BOLD ENOUGH TO ARREST ME? HII NI NCHI YA WENYE NACHO BWANA MASHAKA. MASIKINI TUNASINDIKIZA TU MSAFARA. KUNA WATU HAWANA MGAO WA UMEME, HAWALALI NJAA NA HAWAELEWI MAJI YA KISIMA YANA RANGI GANI. WATOTO WAO HAWASOMI BONGO KWA HIYO MFUMO WA ELIMU HAUWAHUSU. KWA WENYE VISENTI VYAO KWENYE MABENKI YA NJE, ELIMU DUNI NI FAIDA KWAO. WASOMI WAWE WENGI HALAFU MUWATOE MADARAKANI? THUBUTUUU! ANGALIA BIASHARA ZINAVYOCHUKULIWA NA WATANZANIA WENYE ASILI FULANI.
John Mashaka and zitto for president.lol
ReplyDeletemy brother hunaye sema chines wanasaidia Africa kuijenga believe me 20 to 30 years from now you may need them back to repair everything for youre own cost or double we dont need chines stop corruption we have enginer we can build our nation without any help one example black american they were giving free housing free medicaid. not free educatin look at them 100years latel still living on project bulding still depend on medicaid that what foregn aid make you depend on free stuff not working hard on your own corruptin and many more comes with.when president JFK was going to take down all the project buildings take away free medicaid to all black amerikan white people didint like it why becouse they know black people will wake up and be educated go school try to cope with life he was assasinated that the fact MASHAKA YOUR 1000% RIGHT GOD BLESS U I HOPE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT URE TRYING TO TELL THEM NOT BE NEGATIVE TO U YOUR TRULL MEN
ReplyDeleteMdau unaesema ujumbe ungeandikwa kwa kiswahili.
ReplyDeleteElewa Mashaka hapa anakupa changamoto ya hali ya elimu duni Tanzania iliyosambaratishwa na Nyerere with his dictetorial manifesto in the guise of socialism. Tulikuwa tuna uwezo wa mtu kusema kiswahili fasaha and a descent command of english by 7th or 8th grade. Our standard of education is pathetic. People have gone through schools but gained NO EDUCATION at all. That's what Mashaka is talking about. In the absence of well educated, creative and innovative people with understandable work ethics, we have instead, a bunch of uninformed crooked, corrupt inept beurocrats who have taken it upon themselves to strip naked this lovely country's natural resources. And that which they can't they have pawned it, without our mandate, to the so called foreign investors.
Good, descent, quality education is the only way out of our quagmire. Otherwise this country will forever remain a land wenda wazimu na bibi la shamba.
Many has been said all for political reasons. Dont believe Mashaka, if he was indeed caring about this country !!! kilichomkimbiza nini ?? kaenda kula kilichopikwa na wale anaowakashifu kwa sasa hivi au kwa vile kashiba ?? kuoa Mzungu is not the end of the world.Stop the crap Mashaka, angalia historia ya dunia ilivyo and then go from there, hawa unaopata wa kukupamba ni wale bogus kama wewe. Praising even Id Amin kwa kuwafukuza wahindi , acha udikiteta na ubaguzi wa rangi. eti hii mali ghafi ingekaa mpaka hapo sisi tutakapoelimika kuitumia, na tusipoelimishwa ??? basi ikae humo humo aridhini milele. Lazima ukubali kuzidiwa, yes we can , while you can not. Keep on disturbing the shit pot. Zebedayo msema kweli
ReplyDeleteWatu weusi tulilaaniwa,hata iweje hatuwezi kubadilika.Japan ni ka nchi kadogo,kamejaa milima,ardhi mbaya,lakini maendeleo yao kila mtu anayajua.
ReplyDeleteTatizo kubwa kwa waafrika ni akili,hatuna akili banaaaaa.Inauma lakini ndo ukweli.Nchi kama Tanzania na Congo kwa utajiri ilio nao,wangekua ni wazungu wanaishi hapo leo hii visa ya Tanzania kuipata ingekua ni issue,maana nchi ingekua imeendelea sana sana sana sana .
I agree with you on some of the issues you raised here. I believe Chinese investments are good but need to be reigned in with certain laws that will bind them.
ReplyDeleteI believe our education system needs a make up of 180 degrees (360 will bring us right back to where we are right now - zero!)but I am sorry to say that people like minister Shukuru Kawambwa isn't the person to spearhead this initiative!!!!!
michuzi, tunaomba urudishe hii mada ya bwana mashaka tafadhali. huyu kijana ni dhaabu ya tanzania viongozi wetu hhataki kukubali huo ukweli kwa manufaa ya watoto wao. tunaomba urudishe ile mada tafadhali
ReplyDelete