Institutions first before anything else!

Dingswayo said:

What do you propose then? Maintain the status quo? And who is to change the institutions if not people, albeit a person. Let us avoid defeatism and embark on a course that is clear. If you look for obstacles, you will definitely see them. The way to go is to look for solutions, especially when a favorable situation arises, like the one we have now. Let us grab this moment and look forward to a certain victory.

GOD BLESS TANZANIA

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It's not accepting defeat mkuu. It is the people to bring change, That is why if you have read until the end of the post I specifically say that if another party does come into power we as a people should demand reforms of the system before that party is also corrupted by the power of single party institutions. I am merely suggesting that whisking another party into power is not enough and in fact is not the challenge. The challenge is what happens after that. I know some people prefer "crossing bridges when they get there" but if people are already convinced that a new party is on its way to power then why not think of what's next? Why not make the reforms permanent? Now do you get me?

Dingswayo:

What separates developed nations from underdeveloped ones is the existence of effective institutions. So don't underestimate their importance because when many African countries were fighting for their freedom, the issue of building institutions was on the table. However, many of us thought it was a tactic used by colonial masters to delay our independencies. So we pressed for freedom and hoped for the best from our dear leaders and freedom fighters. What we got in the past 50 years is the politics of personality cult. Politicians are bigger than their own countries or national institutions. We cannot afford to continue in this path.

I agree with you that we should not maintain the status quo. However, it will be utterly irresponsible to think that if opposition win, they will change the existing system. This system gives those in power political and competitive advantage. I have not seen any political group that wants to relinquish its competitive advantage.

I don't want to sound so pessimistic; nonetheless, I think that those who really want change they should reframe their course. So far what I hear is if I am elected, I will give this or that for free. But why don't we fight to change the constitution? Apparently constitution is an institution in its own right and it is also the foundation for other democratic institutions.

Mzuvendi said:

Dingswayo:

What separates developed nations from underdeveloped ones is the existence of effective institutions. So don't underestimate their importance because when many African countries were fighting for their freedom, the issue of building institutions was on the table. However, many of us thought it was a tactic used by colonial masters to delay our independencies. So we pressed for freedom and hoped for the best from our dear leaders and freedom fighters. What we got in the past 50 years is the politics of personality cult. Politicians are bigger than their own countries or national institutions. We cannot afford to continue in this path.

I agree with you that we should not maintain the status quo. However, it will be utterly irresponsible to think that if opposition win, they will change the existing system. This system gives those in power political and competitive advantage. I have not seen any political group that wants to relinquish its competitive advantage.

I don't want to sound so pessimistic; nonetheless, I think that those who really want change they should reframe their course. So far what I hear is if I am elected, I will give this or that for free. But why don't we fight to change the constitution? Apparently constitution is an institution in its own right and it is also the foundation for other democratic institutions.

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Thank you my friend. You have captured the spirit of the thread and understood the message. I do advocate for a change in the status quo. What I simply was trying to convey is that the status quo gives an upper hand to one party and that is which ever party is in power. So my question being that if any other party came to power, with the status quo now working for them will they be willing to change it? Or will we have another CCM-like ruling party in the making.

The problem of lacking strong national institutions is that the fate of the country lies in the hands of one man. It would be no dfferent from an absolute monarchy where you hope and pray that the next king/queen will be one who petties his people and cares for their well being. Fine we can say that we have found the right man in Slaa this time but what about next time? Can we really count on having such kind of a person every time? Relying to much on one person to lead the way is what has caused as to end up with bad leaders almost every time the coin is tossed.

That is why I say that the institutions need revamping and the only way to do so is to press for a newly elected party to enact changes before they themselves taste the demons of power. We should always operate under the assumption that human nature is one where anything can cause a person to change. If proper institutions are in place it would at least ensure that no one man has all the power and no one party has full control of affairs. But today it is sad to see Tanzanians still rallying around personalities.

Dingswayo said:

It seems we are all saying the same thing but using different words. If I remember correctly, Dr. Slaa has promised that, if elected, the first thing that he will do, will be to change the existing constitution into one which takes into consideration the establishing of viable institutions beffiting the current situation of multi party democracy. I do not refute the need of strong institutions, but propose that we should not wait until opposition parties are 'mature' enough to take on the task of leading a government. When we achieved independence in 1961, the Tanganyika we inherited from the colonialists lacked a lot of the institutions that Nyerere would have liked to have. However, in time, we managed to have those institutions in place.

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Dingiswayo:

You say "We managed to have those institutions in place". For your information one of those institutions are the ruling party, CCM and the current constitution which are a pain in the a$$.

The truth of the matter is we have not managed to create effective institutions to run the country. Tanzania is one of the few countries in Africa for having a government with too many institutions; however, we do not have technocrats to run those institutions effectively.

For example, CCM is probably one of the largest political parties in Africa with penetration in every corner of the society. Nonetheless, since its inception, the party has failed in any kinds of initiatives, big or small.

while i agree with mwanafalsafa,i would like to raise a point about these institutions,they certainly were not built by dumb leaders like th sort we have now,it took extremely intelligent leaders with highest of commitments to their countries.SOmething we clearly lack.
Electing a new party in Africa,by replacing the incumbent rulling party means-CHANGE,it could be good or bad.but with our current state,any change is better than no change.
Take CHINA for example,they for 30 years have been progressing, building their institutions in the proccess.up until now chinese institutions are very weak.But china has the smartest,most commited leaders you can find today in any country,although they operate around weak institutions,they are smart and commited enough to set grand goals and execute now.There was a saying during bush administration,you can take a chinese leader and lead the US anytime but you can not take the US leader to lead China.
This meant the system in china was so chaotic for a dumb leader,and the US system was good enough for any dumb leader to do just ok.
What we need is a strong,visioned,commited leader to help us start building our institutions,a proccess that will take generations.BUT until then a DUMB leader is not an OPTION.

MwanaFalsafa1 said:

What I'm about to say will be very unpopular among JF members especially those expecting change in this years elections. We have become like a young basketball player who is excited about the prospecting of being able to dunk the ball but still a few inches short of touching the rim.

Why do I say all this? It's because I believe our problem is not a person or party but the institutions & status quo which dictates the running of our current system. This is to day that whether it is CCM in power or Chadema or CUF there won't be much difference to what we are seeing today. Now I know most of you will come down on me and say well if we get the right person or the right party in power things will change. Well your reasoning is valid but first here me out.

Today in a country like US there is no much difference whether the Democrat or Republicans are in power. One might thing there is a difference but if you really look into it has any of the parties really done anything much different from each other?

Now we all know it takes extreme cases to change the status quo and rapidly change institutions. For most countries (including Western countries) it involved revolutions for them to be able to establish their current institutions. I am by no means advocating a revolution in Tanzania, at least not one of arms and blood shed.
The best chance we had of creating rapid change and establishing necessary institutions was after gaining independence. But sadly due to the factors of the time instead of establishing a multi-party system we chose to follow one party rule. This continues to haunt as until today because we see how the institutions and status quo allows for the ruling patty to have such a strong hold on everything.

The institutions in place in Tanzania believe it or not a one which cater to one strong party and the party which holds power controls everything. That is why multipartisim has failed so far because we are trying to have multipartism in a system that allows for one strong party.
It is hardly unlikely that we are going to change anything in the space of a few weeks or a few years even in the off chance that another party does come to power. This is because which ever party will be in power come November, will enjoy all the privileges and perks of a one party system. The question to ask ourselves is this. Will whichever party that comes to power be ready to create reforms when the system finally works for them? I we to believe in human nature and trust that whoever comes into power will be willing to reduce significantly their new found power in order to create a new Tanzania and establish a new system?

Time will tell my fellow Tanzanians. But as we know power is corrupting and that's what happened to CCM and it is what is likely to happen to any new party which tastes it. Our job as as soon as another party is in power is to demand immediately for reforms before it is also currupted by our one party system. Believe you me the challenge is not changing parties, the challenge is to make sure that any new party does not change..

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Your post may remain esoteric rather than exoteric! I agree with you, I am proud that these 'secret code' of our development now may become public code.

I have been raising the very same issues regarding the fate of Tanzania, not regarding political parties and their policies. There not way whatsoever that we will experience changes in Tanzania by the current system! Never!. We may cry, talk, pray and encourage ourselves that change will come today! But history teaches us that, we have to struggle for any change that we are anticipating, is not a gambling. Real change is for real people to do real things that will accommodate change

Since 1961-1967 Tanzania was under multiparty system, Nyerere discarded this and introduced single party system. There are many consequences of single party system. Not knowing that this system was oppressive, in 1990, 80% percent of Tanzanian needed this very system to continue and only 20% welcomed multiparty system. External pressure forced CCM to allow multiparty system regardless of what many Tanzanian wishes. I could simply guess that Tanzanian were not sufficiently given enough education about multiparty system.

1992 when these so called opposition parties started, there was no enough room and preparation for our constitution to accommodate them. Multiparty system pronounced rebirth of new Tanzania, new people, new direction, new…..everything was supposed to be new! But it was not so! What happened was a simple act, just like removing Maximo and welcoming Paulsen.

We were supposed to form the government that comprises all parties. That NEC was supposed to be free institution not that one used to count votes of ‘human and shadow'.

Constitutional change could catalyst the development of political parties. Let say 1995 opposition got 33% of total votes, by this votes they would have 3 ministries out of 12 ministries .In 2005 these political parties they would have strived to get more votes.

Imagine now the resources of this nation is being wasted by so called campaigns, and after campaigns once Slaa lost, he will be forgotten and he will have no party in government!!!!!! That is not fair either,not for chadema but even for our resources, they are using our money for votes, this also is undeniable truth.

CCM is strong, even if 100% of voters will choose opposition parties, still the one who will announce result is belong to CCM, and law says if NEC will announce winner that is final! Still we are in for elections. This happened recently in Kenya! yet we are living bdlindly as if will never happen in Tanzania!!

As Mwanafalsafa depicted about reality surrounding us. We are all Tanzanian we need free Tanzania not just for few people!

If my grandchildren will ask me who colonised Tanzania, I will surely and openly say that ARAB, GERMAN,BRITISH AND CCM.

We need strong opposition leaders whom will think of reforming new Tanzania, who will build foundation of multiparty system which is not existing! Tanzania will always be a nation of great thinkers who once was lost in single party system which suppresed ability of many of them to think critically.

This is the country of Mkwawa, Mirambo, chief Mputa, Kimweri, Mangi Sina etc. we have this ability as our founding fathers. But not like now being excited for something is not there and will not come!

Real opposition are the one who will think about doing the first things first and not try to hang in the roof of no foundation, physically is not existing, yet in dream is existing!

Today Kenyan are mocking us that they are 20yrs ahead of us in issues of democracy! If we are playing game of luck lets proceed if we think constitution is not necessary then we are endorsing CCM to rule us forever.

Real opposition leaders are the one who will think about changing our constitution! I don't see one, may be Mtikila

MwanaFalsafa1 said:

Thank you my friend. You have captured the spirit of the thread and understood the message. I do advocate for a change in the status quo. What I simply was trying to convey is that the status quo gives an upper hand to one party and that is which ever party is in power. So my question being that if any other party came to power, with the status quo now working for them will they be willing to change it? Or will we have another CCM-like ruling party in the making.

The problem of lacking strong national institutions is that the fate of the country lies in the hands of one man. It would be no dfferent from an absolute monarchy where you hope and pray that the next king/queen will be one who petties his people and cares for their well being. Fine we can say that we have found the right man in Slaa this time but what about next time? Can we really count on having such kind of a person every time? Relying to much on one person to lead the way is what has caused as to end up with bad leaders almost every time the coin is tossed.

That is why I say that the institutions need revamping and the only way to do so is to press for a newly elected party to enact changes before they themselves taste the demons of power. We should always operate under the assumption that human nature is one where anything can cause a person to change. If proper institutions are in place it would at least ensure that no one man has all the power and no one party has full control of affairs. But today it is sad to see Tanzanians still rallying around personalities.

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Dingswayo said:

It seems we are all saying the same thing but using different words. If I remember correctly, Dr. Slaa has promised that, if elected, the first thing that he will do, will be to change the existing constitution into one which takes into consideration the establishing of viable institutions beffiting the current situation of multi party democracy. I do not refute the need of strong institutions, but propose that we should not wait until opposition parties are 'mature' enough to take on the task of leading a government. When we achieved independence in 1961, the Tanganyika we inherited from the colonialists lacked a lot of the institutions that Nyerere would have liked to have. However, in time, we managed to have those institutions in place.

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Kindly, count Slaa as human and like any politician. He was CCM and he changed to be Chadema, he was Padre and he changed his mind, he is human, he can change, he is not an angel. He is like you and me.

Let say after this election, may be many political parties will emerge for constitutional change. You cant promise to change constitution while without changing it you will not win elections! this is kichekesho, that left many opposition leaders to be counted as CCMB,C,D,E etc!!

For, example, today president appoints, chief judge, IGP, CAG, Director PCCB, etc. he is like a king! see how Speaker is strong because he is not accountable for president. we need these change before going to state house!!!! please again ask Kenya after they removed KANU from power, African we know ourselves how we are. See how JK did after everyone though he is God elect!!!! See how Mkapa did in Stae house and to date no one can anything about him!!! it does not take time to change these, just real opposition leaders , that we dont have now!!

constitutional change is a first thing before elections! we know this, we have said this, we will write this even if some will think we are traitors, please do not let history judge us.May be what we are saying now will be digested 60yrs to come when CCM will b still in power!