Leaders and the Arrogance of Power in Tanzania

[n00b]

Since the departure of Mwalimu Nyerere from power in 1985, it has become customary for Tanzanians to denounce their political leaders as being ‘arrogant' and ‘corrupt'. Strangely enough though, this has coincided with the increased role of the international financial institutions – the World Bank and IMF in particular, in the country's development agenda, especially through the various economic reforms that are being instituted and implemented in the country under the supervision of these two sister institutions.

Since the inception of economic reforms in the country in the mid 1980s, it seems to a section of Tanzanians that the country has lost ownership of its development agenda as all matters pertaining to development policies are no longer dictated by the Tanzanian government, and instead they are prescribed and closely monitored by the World Bank and the IMF. This is clearly demonstrated in the AID industry whereby Foreign AID has become a major tool that ensures that rich countries have a ‘net gain' when it comes to flows of resources between Tanzanians and citizens in the donor countries. In this context, the country's leadership is left with two options: to either implement the economic reforms that come with strict conditions or to receive no Aid. Throughout most of the post – independence period, the option has been the former, and a large portion of the country's budget has continued to rely heavily on AID funds.

​

There is no evidence that donors systematically apportion AID to governments that are less corrupt (see a study by Sevensson, 2000). Instead, some studies (see Alesina and Weder, 1999), indicate that there is a tendency for "more corrupt governments" to receive "more foreign Aid". Tanzania appears to fit in well with this formula. From having being the continent's ‘darling' of integrity under Nyerere's leadership, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, Tanzania is slowly evolving into becoming a criminalized state. Her legal system is in shambles and court rulings are for the most eminent bidders; the country has become heaven for money laundering and a drugs fortress for international drug lords; and has also become a major transit centre for drugs, whereby allegedly, some senior officials from the ruling party and the government are largely involved.

Regardless, donors' support to Tanzania highly correlates with an increased criminalization by the state. It was only recently when the World Bank released its infamous policy brief entitled "Tanzania Economic Update: Stairways to Heaven". This is disturbing especially since what donors appear to do is to reward what they perceive as good performance with or without knowledge that, they encourage corruption and arrogant leadership that continues for instance to take the electorate at ransom, by capturing the state as if it is a property for the elected.

Given such appalling assessments by the World Bank, it appears as though donors and the majority of Tanzanians see the country in two contrary perspectives. The verdict about corruption and development in Tanzania seems to be divided between these two camps as follows: On the one hand is the donor community. It is common practice for donors to cite Tanzania as a major success story and use its performance to justify increased AID to the continent, based on the notion that policy and institutional reforms spearheaded by the International Financial Institutions have sparked rapid development in Tanzania. Over the last twelve years, on average, the country's GDP growth rate has been impressive, over 6%. Given such statistics, economists from the International Financial Institutions have consistently praised Tanzania as a living example for Sub – Saharan African economies throughout the period.

But on the other hand, it is the majority of Tanzanians who, so far, the declared success by the international financial institutions (which is also admired by the ruling elite), have hardly brought them some tangible results. For example, rising unemployment, especially among the youths, and extreme levels of poverty are giving rise to adverse social effects such as hiking crime levels. Average Tanzanians have yet to witness any real changes in their livelihoods despite the International Financial Institutions' affirmation. Although the economy is supposedly growing speedily, the concentration of growth is only in the capital (Dar-es-salaam) and mineral – energy dominions, and it doesn't trickle down to the common man.

It is in this context that arrogant leaders arise and there has been an amazing exhibit of arrogance of power among them. It is as if Foreign Aid has produced a predatory elite class in Tanzania because AID has made the ruling elite become extremely powerful, wealthy and more distant from the ruled class. The predatory elite are very skillful at providing the donor community with what they want and need – "the implementation of market friendly economic policies and reforms", at the expense of a weakening democracy and underdevelopment. The elites are fully aware that as long they spend AID funds transparently and don't breach the spending limits, even if it means scaling down funds set aside for poverty alleviation projects, they can rob tax payers money and kill with impunity. Why would they care especially if in the end the donor community that provides the country with development funds is already praising them as good leaders in the verge of taking their citizens to the Promised Land?

No wonder most comments made in public by the ruling elite about the state of affairs in the country leave many agape and in dismay, wondering whether these leaders are ‘heaven sent', or ‘electorate sent'. It is common for the ruling elite to indulge in politics of mudslinging, accusing and labeling all those questioning or challenging the current state of affairs in the country as ‘enemies of the state'. However, the real intention behind such behavior by these predatory elite has been to deflect the public's focus from larger and important societal issues that have real and immediate effects in their daily livelihoods. Otherwise, it is only the ‘corrupt', not the ‘democrats', who would feel imperiled by the ongoing social movements that demand change. The ruling elite fail to understand that democracy is People, not the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania. At most, the latter is the product of the former, hence its servant, not the master.

There is a consistent display of insensitive arrogance from the ruling elite. For example, it is common to hear them lecturing the opposition that they are still too immature to lead the country and instead, they should first learn from the best, implying the ruling party – CCM, especially on matters pertaining to economic and political leadership. To the ruling elite, the pace of the country's economic progress is satisfactory, and it is not the duty of Tanzanians to challenge or question such pace, but instead to conform to it. This argument becomes more justified when donors come up with positive assessments of the country's state of affairs which literally is an approval of the leadership conduct of the elite in power. However, this self-assessment style of leadership among the elites (shared by the donor community) bears little similarity to what is happening on the ground, especially in the socio – economic and political contexts. Also the attitude among the elite that CCM is here to stay negates the very notion of democracy that is being promoted by the donor community, particularly on the importance of electoral cycles whereby election results are not pre-determined by self-fulfilling elections but instead, are determined by the choice made by the people at the polls.

Many Tanzanians continue to wonder – when will the donor community wake up and smell the coffee? The state continues to kill people with impunity and the elites continue to enrich themselves via tax payers' money while majority of Tanzanians continue to live in hopelessness and despair in a country which is blessed with almost all kinds of natural wealth. Glooming rankings of Tanzania practically in every Human Development Index prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), should have been a clear denunciation of the position of the ruling elite by the donor community about the state of affairs in the country. Otherwise, as long as the donor community continues to sideline with the ruling elite about the state of affairs in the country, the ruling elite (not the people) will continue to be both the judge and the jurors in all counts concerning their performance in office.

It is a bitter truth to swallow that the ruling elite and donor community are satisfied with the pace and levels of progress in the country, and this hardly leaves Tanzanians with much options when it comes to changing the current order of affairs for their betterment. Unless Tanzanians decided to pursue an extreme option that is left before them and that is – taking a revolutionary stance to root out the predatory elite before it sucks them and the future generations to their bones. God Bless Tanzania, God Bless Africa.


Source: Leaders and the Arrogance of Power in Tanzania | Fikra Pevu | Author: Mtanzania Mzalendo

 

[AshaDii]

It is a bitter truth to swallow that the ruling elite and donor community are satisfied with the pace and levels of progress in the country, and this hardly leaves Tanzanians with much options when it comes to changing the current order of affairs for their betterment. Unless Tanzanians decided to pursue an extreme option that is left before them and that is – taking a revolutionary stance to root out the predatory elite before it sucks them and the future generations to their bones. God Bless Tanzania, God Bless Africa.

I would like to hold on to the last paragraph... So much the trouble of arrogance and abuse of power in our nation (Tanzania) is a result of its people (us) as it is the result of the leaders in the government. We complain various word and utter based means but rarely through actions (though it is being kind of spiked in some parts of the nation; for instance the Gas issue of Mtwara). We are responsible somehow in accelerating our leader's arrogance and abuse of power.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

It is in this context that arrogant leaders arise and there has been an amazing exhibit of arrogance of power among them. It is as if Foreign Aid has produced a predatory elite class in Tanzania because AID has made the ruling elite become extremely powerful, wealthy and more distant from the ruled class.

n00b I totally share these views........................behind our very venal government lies an invisible hand of donor community.......it seems the hypocrisy of donation needs a a very corrupt government for its sustenance........

nobody wants us out of poverty but each of these two groups..............an axis of evil and a coalition of the willing is to sustain us in an abyss of poverty

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

By n00b

It is a bitter truth to swallow that the ruling elite and donor community are satisfied with the pace and levels of progress in the country, and this hardly leaves Tanzanians with much options when it comes to changing the current order of affairs for their betterment. Unless Tanzanians decided to pursue an extreme option that is left before them and that is – taking a revolutionary stance to root out the predatory elite before it sucks them and the future generations to their bones. God Bless Tanzania, God Bless Africa.

The problem in this kind of "revolutionary" in African context has been replacement of one class of thieves with even more avaricious looters: It has never worked anywhere in Africa..........we need to agitate for softer means in a line of socio-economic reforms...................which will improve on issues of accountability.......at the moment the system yields very little in that aspect.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

I would like to hold on to the last paragraph... So much the trouble of arrogance and abuse of power in our nation (Tanzania) is a result of its people (us) as it is the result of the leaders in the government. We complain various word and utter based means but rarely through actions (though it is being kind of spiked in some parts of the nation; for instance the Gas issue of Mtwara). We are responsible somehow in accelerating our leader's arrogance and abuse of power.

AshaDii the problem with this kind of argument is that we strengthen the hand of the traumatizer.........In a metaphoric instance one can laud a rapist by simply blaming the victim.........that it is your fault that he raped you!

 

[AshaDii]

AshaDii the problem with this kind of argument is that we strengthen the hand of the traumatizer.........In a metaphoric instance one can laud a rapist by simply blaming the victim.........that it is your fault that he raped you!

That is where you have to look at the circumstances of the victim Rutashubanyuma.... Kuna circumstances ambazo mbakwaji anakuwa ni wakulaumiwa in the same equivalence na mbakajii. Kubaka ni kosa, anae kuwa na nguvu ya kubaka ni mbakaji, ila unaweza kuta kuwa mbakwaji amecheza nafasi kubwa sana katika kumpelekea mbakaji kumbaka... Silisemi kwa vibaya, na sisemi kuwa I condone ubakaji; I am just uttering the facts as I see them.

 

[Taz]

Kabla ya kuchangia ningependa niwasilishe hii analysis ya correlation kati ya misaada na uongozi. (Source: Raia Mwema - Misaada na madini: Laana au baraka kwetu?)
Misaada na madini: Laana au baraka kwetu?

Zitto Kabwe

Toleo la 27426 Dec 2012

Tanzania imekuwa moja ya nchi kipenzi kwa mataifa ya nje yaliyoendelea. Mapenzi haya yameonyeshwa kwa sura nyingi, ikiwamo kumiminiwa misaada ya kifedha na hata uwekezaji mkubwa kupitia kampuni za kutoka nchi hizo. Takwimu za misaada ambayo Tanzania imekuwa ikipata zimekuwa za kukanganya na wakati mwingine zinazotiwa chumvi kulingana na malengo ya mtoa takwimu.
Kuna kijitabu kinachoeleza kuhusu misaada hii na mambo mengine, kinaitwa Pocket World in Figures huchapishwa na jarida la The Economist. Tangu mwaka 2006 nimekuwa msomaji asiyekosa kusoma kijitabu hiki.

Mwaka huu pia kijitabu hiki, 2012 Edition, kimetoa takwimu za ‘wapokea misaada' na ‘watoa misaada' duniani. Tanzania nchi ya kwanza Afrika Mashariki, ya tatu Afrika na ya sita duniani kwa kupokea misaada.Mwaka 2010 Tanzania ilipokea misaada ya jumla ya dola za Marekani bilioni 2.9. Misaada hii ilikuwa chini ya nchi kama Afghanistan (dola bilioni 6.3), Ethiopia (dola bilioni 3.5), Congo – Kinshasa (dola 3.4bn), Haiti (dola 3bn) na Pakistan (dola 3bn). Hivyo katika nchi za Afrika, Tanzania ni taifa la tatu kwa kupokea misaada mingi zaidi na ni la kwanza kwa nchi za Afrika Mashariki.

Hata hivyo, inabidi kusoma takwimu hizi kwa mapana yake kidogo kwa kuangalia, kwa mfano, katika mwaka huo kila Mtanzania alipata msaada wa dola ngapi. Kijitabu hicho kinatoa takwimu hizo pia na msaada kwa kila kichwa (aid per head) kwa kila Mtanzania ilikuwa ni dola 64. Hapa Tanzania ilizidiwa na nchi kadhaa za Afrika ikiwamo Congo – Brazzavile (dola 325), Namibia (dola 113.5), Msumbiji (dola 84), Mauritius (dola 98), Botswana (dola 78) na Burundi (dola75). Hata kwenye kipimo hiki bado Tanzania imeshika nafasi ya pili katika nchi za Afrika Mashariki katika kupokea misaada kulingana na idadi ya watu kwa kuishinda Burundi tu.

Ufisadi na misaada

Ni vema kuongeza kuwa nchi za Afrika Mashariki zinazoongoza kwa misaada, Tanzania na Uganda, ndizo pia zinaoongoza kwa ufisadi. Kwa mujibu wa taasisi ya Transparency International, Uganda inaongoza kwa ufisadi ikifuatiwa kwa karibu na Tanzania katika nchi za Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki. Je, kuna uhusiano wa kisayansi kati ya ufisadi na misaada kutoka nje? Inawezekana inahitajika utafiti kuonyesha uhusiano huo. Nchi zenye kupokea misaada mingi hufanya serikali zao kuwajibika kwa watoa misaada zaidi kuliko wananchi wake na hivyo kupuuza vita dhidi ya ufisadi inayoendeshwa na raia wa nchi husika.

[...]
Laana ya misaada?
Nchi ambayo takribani theluthi ya bajeti yake inategemea misaada kutoka nje lakini ikiwa na ufisadi na umasikini mkubwa inakuwa imeathirika kwa laana ya misaada (aid curse). Ingawa watafiti wengi wameandika kuhusu ‘laana ya rasilimali', kuna haja ya kufanya tafiti kuona kama kuna uhusiano kati ya wingi wa misaada kwa nchi na kushindwa kuendelea kwa nchi husika. Licha ya misaada ambayo Tanzania imekuwa ikipokea bado ni miongoni mwa nchi 18 duniani zenye pato dogo zaidi kwa mtu (GDP per head).
Hata hivyo kwa kipimo cha maendeleo ya watu (human development index), Tanzania imejichomoa kutoka kwenye nchi 25 masikini zaidi duniani. Asilimia 35 ya Watanzania wanaishi kwenye umasikini wa kutupwa kwa mujibu wa taarifa za serikali (PHDR 2011).
Uzoefu wa Tanzania unaonyesha kuwa misaada mingi kutoka nje sio suluhisho la maendeleo ya watu.

Tanzania bila misaada

Tanzania iache kupokea misaada ili kujikita kwenye kuongeza mapato ya ndani na kujitegemea? Tanzania bila misaada inawezekana? Jawabu ni uwajibikaji tu. Tukijenga misingi ya uwajibikaji na kuwajibishana tutaweza kuendesha nchi yetu bila kutegemea misaada, kwa kuondoa matumizi ya hovyo kama posho, magari na safari za nje, kukuza mapato ya ndani kwa kupanua wigo wa kodi na kukusanya zaidi kama tunavyostahili kutoka sekta ya madini na kisha mafuta na gesi asilia na kuwekeza vya kutosha kwenye kilimo na kuongeza thamani ya mazao ya kilimo.

Nchi tajiri ziache kutoa misaada kwa Tanzania kuanzia bajeti ijayo ya mwaka 2013/14. Hatutakufa. Tutajitegemea!

 

[Mchambuzi]

The problem in this kind of "revolutionary" in African context has been replacement of one class of thieves with even more avaricious looters: It has never worked anywhere in Africa..........we need to agitate for softer means in a line of socio-economic reforms...................which will improve on issues of accountability.......at the moment the system yields very little in that aspect.

For 27 years (1985 - 2013), our country has been pursuing reforms of various kind and majority of Tanzanians have been living in fear and despair; For 18 years (1967 - 1985) we pursued development policies under a 'developmental state' approach and majority of Tanzanians were hopeful, fearless and courageous; Many remain to wonder whether these reforms were meant to destabilize the country at least in the short run before picking up; 27 years is a long time, it took countries like South Korea about 30 years to become middle income countries, and by middle income, its not just the GDP growth statistics, but real change in daily lives for the majority; You may have a point about the importance of pursuing these reforms, but either exogenously or endogenously, something is not right; the reforms need to be reformed before it is too late, otherwise ultimate outcome would be a revolution per author's assertion;

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

For 27 years (1985 - 2013), our country has been pursuing reforms of various kind and majority of Tanzanians have been living in fear and despair; For 18 years (1967 - 1985) we pursued development policies under a 'developmental state' approach and majority of Tanzanians were hopeful, fearless and courageous; Many remain to wonder whether these reforms were meant to destabilize the country at least in the short run before picking up; 27 years is a long time, it took countries like South Korea about 30 years to become middle income countries, and by middle income, its not just the GDP growth statistics, but real change in daily lives for the majority; You may have a point about the importance of pursuing these reforms, but either exogenously or endogenously, something is not right; the reforms need to be reformed before it is too late, otherwise ultimate outcome would be a revolution per author's assertion;

Mchambuzi revolutitonary simply means those who are powerless in the current power setup are the ones instigating new social order...................but if they fail to convince us that they can do it in an orderly manner why should we trust them once they have grabbed power? There are no easy solutions anywhere. Let us be patient and see where this constitutional re-engineering by the leaders lead us to be4 we advocate total chaos....................

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

That is where you have to look at the circumstances of the victim Rutashubanyuma.... Kuna circumstances ambazo mbakwaji anakuwa ni wakulaumiwa in the same equivalence na mbakajii. Kubaka ni kosa, anae kuwa na nguvu ya kubaka ni mbakaji, ila unaweza kuta kuwa mbakwaji amecheza nafasi kubwa sana katika kumpelekea mbakaji kumbaka... Silisemi kwa vibaya, na sisemi kuwa I condone ubakaji; I am just uttering the facts as I see them.

AshaDii between you and me anayetaka kubakwa huyo hajabakwa.....................aliyebakwa ni yule ambaye hataki kubakwa..............wengi wetu hatutaki wenye madaraka watubake kwahiyo sisi ni wahanga wa ubakaji....wako wachache ambao kwao ni rukhsa hao hawajabakwa...................kama kura tunazipiga watu waliopo madarakani wanaziiba....................do we really condone thieving of national resources? No we don't.........and never will.....

 

[n00b]

The problem in this kind of "revolutionary" in African context has been replacement of one class of thieves with even more avaricious looters: It has never worked anywhere in Africa..........we need to agitate for softer means in a line of socio-economic reforms...................which will improve on issues of accountability.......at the moment the system yields very little in that aspect.

Rutashubanyuma do you have suggestions of softer means in the line of socio-economic reforms to be agitated?

 

[n00b]

For 27 years (1985 - 2013), our country has been pursuing reforms of various kind and majority of Tanzanians have been living in fear and despair; For 18 years (1967 - 1985) we pursued development policies under a 'developmental state' approach and majority of Tanzanians were hopeful, fearless and courageous; Many remain to wonder whether these reforms were meant to destabilize the country at least in the short run before picking up; 27 years is a long time, it took countries like South Korea about 30 years to become middle income countries, and by middle income, its not just the GDP growth statistics, but real change in daily lives for the majority; You may have a point about the importance of pursuing these reforms, but either exogenously or endogenously, something is not right; the reforms need to be reformed before it is too late, otherwise ultimate outcome would be a revolution per author's assertion;

This gives hint that socio-economic reform seem not to be the answer. You think there is no hope? I personally think if those reforms were observed as intended things would have been better than they are. The reforms are there for decoration but not the intended results.

 

[Geza Ulole]

Wasiwasi wangu upo kwenye jinsi serikali ya Kikwete (same ruling elites) inavyozidi kuwa intolerant towards peaceful demonstrations na ku-lean towards authoritarianism refer to the way demonstrators are clamped upon by state organs "Iranian style"! It is simply no room for opponents to raise their grievances...soon demonstrations will turn into riots!

 

[Mchambuzi]

Twenty six years ago, Mwalimu warned the nation and I quote (Source, Haroub Othman, 2000):


[“It is not that peace has come by itself. The source of peace in Tanzania is not that the Arusha Declaration has done away with poverty even a little bit. Isn’t there this poverty we are still living with? This poverty is right here with us. It is not the same economy we are grappling with? The fact is not that the Arusha Declaration has banished poverty even by an iota – nor did it promise to do so. The Arusha Declaration offered hope. A promise of Justice, hopes to the many, indeed the majority of Tanzanians continue to live this hope. So long as there is this hope, you will continue to have peace.

Here in Tanzania we have poverty but no ‘social cancer’. It is possible it has just begun. But otherwise we don’t have a social cancer. There isn’t a Volcano in the making, that one day it is bound to erupt. We have not yet reached that stage because the people still have hopes based on the stand taken by the Arusha Declaration. It did not do away with poverty but it has given you all in this hall, capitalists and socialists alike, an opportunity to build a country which holds out a future of hopes to the many.

To be sure, you few Waswahili, do you really expect to rule Tanzanians through coercion, When there is no hope, and then expect that they will sit quiet in peace? Peace is born of hope, when hope is gone, there will be social upheavals. I’d be surprised if these Tanzanians refuse to Rebel, why?

When the majority don’t have any hope you are building a volcano. It is bound to erupt one day. Unless these people are fools. Many in these countries are fools, to accept being ruled just like that. To be oppressed just like that when they have the force in numbers, they are fools. So Tanzanians would be fools, ******, if they continued to accept to be oppressed by minority in their own country. Why?

Therefore we cannot say that we have now reached a stage when we can forget the Arusha Declaration. Don’t fool yourselves. This would be like that fool who uses a ladder to climb and when he is up there kicks it away. Alright, you are up there, you have kicked away the ladder, right, so stay there because we will cut the branch. You are up there, we are down here and you have kicked away the ladder. This branch is high up, we will cut it. Your fall will be no ordinary fall either.

Let me say no more. It is sufficient to say we should accept our principles, we should continue with our principles of building peace and peace itself. Tanzanians should continue to have faith in the party, in the government and in you in positions. Tanzanians should see you as part of them not their enemies. They should trust the party, the government and you who have opportunities for there is no country where everyone is equal. These fingers of mine are not equal, and in that sense there is no such equality anywhere.”]


This was 26 years ago and things haven’t gotten better but worse…; in your estimation, suppose Mwalimu Nyerere wakes up from the dead, only for a day and finds the nation that he founded then is now foundered, how would he react - Would he advice Tanzanians to be patient and continue to strongly believe in reforms?

And what about on M4C, how would he react once he learns of it? Mind you, before becoming a political party, TANU/CCM (formerly TAA) was a political movement; In my approximation, the environment that made TAA/TANU flourish as a political movement still exist today (hence the emergency of M4C); just as it was in the 1940s and 1950s – for most people in Tanganyika/Tanzania, once again, their main enemy is increasingly becoming THE STATE – the only difference between the state then and the state now being - there is an indigenous elite in power running the state but basically it is on behalf of the former state leeches; just like then, the indigenous elite is still serving the west as a priority, while Tanzanians are given a posteriority;

 

[Chamoto]

This would be like that fool who uses a ladder to climb and when he is up there kicks it away. Alright, you are up there, you have kicked away the ladder, right, so stay there because we will cut the branch. You are up there, we are down here and you have kicked away the ladder. This branch is high up, we will cut it. Your fall will be no ordinary fall either.

I like this analogy.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Rutashubanyuma do you have suggestions of softer means in the line of socio-economic reforms to be agitated?

n00b re-engineering the constitution in a manner that will improve on accountability of our leaders versus the led. At the moment there is very little you can honestly term as accountability as evidenced by thieving politicians who are so bold even to vie for the highest office on the land..........this is due to lack of enforceable accountability.

Thieves belong to jail not to the state house .......................depending on how the constitutional exercise turns out to be we may have a reason to hope for a better national building effort that is impartial to all of us....................

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

This was 26 years ago and things haven't gotten better but worse…; in your estimation, suppose Mwalimu Nyerere wakes up from the dead, only for a day and finds the nation that he founded then is now foundered, how would he react - Would he advice Tanzanians to be patient and continue to strongly believe in reforms?

And what about on M4C, how would he react once he learns of it? Mind you, before becoming a political party, TANU/CCM (formerly TAA) was a political movement; In my approximation, the environment that made TAA/TANU flourish as a political movement still exist today (hence the emergency of M4C); just as it was in the 1940s and 1950s – for most people in Tanganyika/Tanzania, once again, their main enemy is increasingly becoming THE STATE – the only difference between the state then and the state now being - there is an indigenous elite in power running the state but basically it is on behalf of the former state leeches; just like then, the indigenous elite is still serving the west as a priority, while Tanzanians are given a posteriority;

Mchambuzi what you do not know Nyerere was part of a problem not solution. If he comes today we will blame him for not granmting this nation with systems of accountability where underperforming leaders are hastily removed from office in democratic maner. Nyerre though he was god when he interfered with democratic process and imposed his own preferences like Mkapa and Mwinyi..................he has nothing to show of as he spent most of his public life consolidating power in his own hands and he had no time with trusting voters to lead from the ballot box............


Mchambuzi in 21st century reforms are internationally an outcast if you do it is a violent reform and other nations of the world will impose sanctions on you and if you will still not hear a voice of reason bombs will fall on your head and there shall be no place to hide until you are caught and brought before the ICC................or a local tribunal

At the end of the day you will be a horror to look at...................and a pariah even to the very people you wanted to free.........

 

[n00b]

This was 26 years ago and things haven't gotten better but worse…; in your estimation, suppose Mwalimu Nyerere wakes up from the dead, only for a day and finds the nation that he founded then is now foundered, how would he react - Would he advice Tanzanians to be patient and continue to strongly believe in reforms?

Mkuu Mchambuzi, patience even if an option it will soon erupt like a volcano like stated by Mwalimu. We have reached a point when there is no more hope on a hopeful future. A quote from your article "To be sure, you few Waswahili, do you really expect to rule Tanzanians through coercion, When there is no hope, and then expect that they will sit quiet in peace? Peace is born of hope, when hope is gone, there will be social upheavals. I'd be surprised if these Tanzanians refuse to Rebel, why?..."


I look at the following words even Mwalimu would support any reaction the Tanzanian's citezen would take. For the words in blue from the article says it all. It is time for positive change!

When the majority don't have any hope you are building a volcano. It is bound to erupt one day. Unless these people are fools. Many in these countries are fools, to accept being ruled just like that. To be oppressed just like that when they have the force in numbers, they are fools. So Tanzanians would be fools, ******, if they continued to accept to be oppressed by minority in their own country. Why?

 

[Mchambuzi]

Mchambuzi what you do not know Nyerere was part of a problem not solution. If he comes today we will blame him for not granmting this nation with systems of accountability where underperforming leaders are hastily removed from office in democratic maner. Nyerre though he was god when he interfered with democratic process and imposed his own preferences like Mkapa and Mwinyi..................he has nothing to show of as he spent most of his public life consolidating power in his own hands and he had no time with trusting voters to lead from the ballot box............

Before i answer you on this one - if you don't mind, please briefly discuss the following statement for me:

"Power in the right hands is good and indeed necessary for a new state."

Mchambuzi in 21st century reforms are internationally an outcast if you do it is a violent reform and other nations of the world will impose sanctions on you and if you will still not hear a voice of reason bombs will fall on your head and there shall be no place to hide until you are caught and brought before the ICC................or a local tribunal

At the end of the day you will be a horror to look at...................and a pariah even to the very people you wanted to free.........

What happened in Egypt, a country that was darling of the West (and Israel) - not only in Africa but worldwide; Mubarak was their guy but eventually they all gave in to the power of the people, so your argument here falls a little short...

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

By Rutashubanyuma

Mchambuzi what you do not know Nyerere was part of a problem not solution. If he comes today we will blame him for not granmting this nation with systems of accountability where underperforming leaders are hastily removed from office in democratic maner. Nyerre though he was god when he interfered with democratic process and imposed his own preferences like Mkapa and Mwinyi..................he has nothing to show of as he spent most of his public life consolidating power in his own hands and he had no time with trusting voters to lead from the ballot box............

Before i answer you on this one - if you don't mind, please briefly discuss the following statement for me:

"Power in the right hands is good and indeed necessary for a new state."

Mchambuzi in 21st century reforms are internationally an outcast if you do it is a violent reform and other nations of the world will impose sanctions on you and if you will still not hear a voice of reason bombs will fall on your head and there shall be no place to hide until you are caught and brought before the ICC................or a local tribunal

At the end of the day you will be a horror to look at...................and a pariah even to the very people you wanted to free.........

What happened in Egypt, a country that was darling of the West (and Israel) - not only in Africa but worldwide; Mubarak was their guy but eventually they all gave in to the power of the people, so your argument here falls a little short...

Mchambuzi how do you determine good leadership unless has the electorate mandate? Mubarak was never democratically elected......all the time like ccm was stealing the vote and ultimately his iniquity found him