A strong president or Strong institutions?

A strong president or Strong institutions?

Sumba-Wanga

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My brother and sisters, what do we need in Africa? a Strong President like Chevez, castro and others or strong and functional state institutions?

Labda hiki ni kimoja kati ya mambo ya muhimu ambayo tunatakiwa kujiuliza wakati tunajiandaa kwa 2015 elections. Mijadala mingi kwa sasa inatawaliwa na swali kubwa ambalo ni nani atakuwa rais wa awamu ya Tano, na pia kuonyesha mapungufu ya awamu zilizopita. Lakini mapungufu hayo yamesababishwa na nini na tufanye nini ili kuepukana na mambo hayo.

Rais Barack Obama alipotembelea Ghana aliwaambia viongozi wa Africa "do not build strong men, build strong state institutions". Angalizo hili ni la muhimu sana kwa sasa. Obama kama Rais, hana majukumu mengio kama Rais wa Tanzania. Obama kwa upande wake, institutions zinafanya kazi vizuri na kila kitu kipo kama inavyotakiwa. Kwa Afrika na Tanzania yetu, Rais ni "dei waka" kila kitu kinamsubiri yeye: Migomo ya madaktari, uchomaji wa makanisa, kuchelewa kwa mishahara ya wafanyakazi, maandamano ya CHADEMA na mengine mengi. Ndio maana swali ni nani atakuwa raisi anayefuata? Lakini, kwa kufuata ushauri wa Obama, bado tuna nafasi ya kurekebisha, kupata rais ambaye ataweza kujenga institutions, ziweze kufanya kazi yake inavyotakiwa, ili wananachi wapate haki zao za msingi. Bila strong institutions, haki za wananchi hazipatikani kirahisi. Malalamiko ya wananchi kuhusu rushwa na uonevu mbali mbali, ni matokeo ya kukosa strong institutions...Kwa kiasi fulani, raisi wa awamu ya 3 alijitahiji kuzijenga, yaliyotokea baada ya hapo, mimi na wewe ni mashuhuda.

WanaJF, tufungue macho, hatuhitaji strong president pekee, bali raisi ambaye pamoja na mamabo mengine, atajenga strong institutions ambazo zitasiimamia usalama, uchumi, haki za wananchi na mengine mengi.
 
The African continent has more than 50 countries, and each of this countries has its own people, problems, experience and aspiration. As such a solution that works very well in one country can't be applies in other countries with the same tenacity. So, instead of asking the question that covers the whole Africa, the appropriate question should be what do we need in Tanzania? A stronger president or strong civic institutions?

Now to answer this question, let me say this. Presidents will come, presidents will go. However, the country will remain there forever. So the president, even if he's an ideal for the country, shouldn't be bigger than the country he leads. Consequently, Tanzania need strong civic institutions which will be able to guide the country properly into the future regardless the strength of the person at the helm.

Nonetheless, one thing to take into consideration in this debate is strong institutions like strong structures such as bridges don't fall from outer space. People and their mindsets are responsible for their creation. For example, if you go to western, you will find very strong civic institutions because ordinary people demand them. So the need for strong institutions in Tanzania or for that matter in any other society should go hand in hand with the change of people's mindsets.
 
I agree with you, 100%. With strong institutions our leaders will not behave like kings: look at what is happening all over Africa!. Strong institutions will oversee interests of the state as against those of government leaders (look at what is happening and what is done by our leaders) .

Christopher Mtikilka once said: "we need mental emancipation...". This could be a starting point...

Yes we need to change our mindsets...people should be educated to understand and demand for their rights...
Demanding for people rights should not be regarded as offenses to the government
 
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