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'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
Signs of a looser who can't argue constructively and resorts into posting some stuffs from Wanabidii! There are plenty of such posts on Kenya including the one that says Kenya is a failed state! Go and sleep boy!