Integration of Population Variables in Economic Development

NATIONAL POPULATION POLICY

www.tanzania.go.tz

CAN WE ERADICATE POVERTY IN TANZANIA?

The word ‘poverty has been gaining popularity since and before independence to our days in which efforts have been used and a number of programs have been employed by the name of eradicating poverty. The question here wants the answer of how a social planner can address the problem of poverty in is or community. The task of addressing poverty involves not only solution to the problem, but before providing solution to it , one must draw the concept connected to the term, identify its features and finally state the possible solution strategies for the problem. There fore, in answering this question, I will begin by conceptualizing the term poverty as used and define by different people. Then I will examine two main types of poverty that we have in Tanzania which are Absolute poverty and Relative poverty, after which I will identify the characteristics of poverty that exist in Tanzania and the measures or indicators of poverty. Then, I will trace the various initiatives which are being used to eradicate poverty in Tanzania. From there I will be in a position to give out the necessary and possible measures which may give solution to the problem in the current days. There after, I will conclude the discussion and finally give a way forward to solving the problem.

For a social planner to be in a position to addressing the issue of poverty, one must begin by tracing the concept of poverty. Poverty is accepted to be a multidimensional phenomenon and for this reason, effective measures to address it require conceptualizing it not only as a lack of income or shortfall in the expenditure required to achieve a certain minimally acceptable living standard, but also as a lack of capabilities that individuals require order to live meaning full and valued lives in their societies. (URT, 2004). Poverty is also defined as the condition of lacking full economic access to fundamental human needs such as food, shelter and safe drinking water. (School-wikipedia, 2008/9). Tanzania’s PRSP defines poverty to include ‘Income’ and Non-‘income’ human development attributes, in which Income poverty is described to be;

Largely a rural phenomenon,

A factor of substance agriculture where the poor are concentrated,

Widespread and increasing in urban communities, and,

Having different impacts between men and women; while female-headed households are no necessarily poorer than male-headed households, women are generally perceived to be poorer than men.

Non-income poverty is a function of access to livelihood enhancing factors including education, survival of infants, nutrition, clean and safe drinking water, social well-being and vulnerability to diseases. (Sizya Mwelukilwa, 2001). Pyhramani, when commenting on the topic, ‘Western perceptions on global poverty’, says; ‘Poverty is a human living condition resulting due to deprivation  of livelihood needs of the majority’. (IBSS Blog, 2008/12/01). Action Aid Tanzania views poverty as a denial of basic rights and unequal distribution of power over capacity and entitlements. (Action Aid Tanzania, 2002-05). Bradshaw defines poverty as the lack of necessities; basic food, shelter, medical care, and safety. (Ted K. Bradshaw, 2006).

However all the above definitions show that there is a lack of clarity to the word poverty and as a result of this lack of clarity, the formulation of targeted policies and recommendations become difficult, and that is why huge amounts of money are being spent but shows no success in eradicating poverty.

From the fact that the minimum level of well-being differs between one society and another and from time and time, the definition of poverty must therefore reflect the defined kind of well-being of a particular society. Therefore, probably the definition of poverty from my own perspective, would be ‘a situation in which households fail or can not be able to reach or attain a minimum level of well-being that has been defined and accepted in a particular society at a given time. However, this can be manifested in hunger, powerlessness, illiteracy, sickness and voicelessness.

In the context of Tanzania we have two categories of poverty, and these are; ‘absolute poverty’ and ‘relative poverty’. Absolute poverty refers to the section of the population whose income or expenditure is not sufficient to ensure the acquiring of the basic necessities of life. (J. A. Banturaki, 2000). It measures the number of people who are below affixed real poverty threshold. It is a level of poverty as defined in terms of the minimal requirements necessary to afford minimal standards of food, clothing, healthcare and shelter. (Wikipedia, 2007). On the other hand we have relative poverty. This includes the population whose income is lowest compared to the national income. (J. A. Banturaki, 2000). It is based on a poor standard of living or a low income relative to the rest of society. Unlike absolute poverty; it does not necessarily imply that physical human necessities of nutrition, health and shelter cannot be met; instead it suggests that the lack of access to many of the goods and services expected by the rest of the contemporary society can lead to social exclusion and damaging results for the individuals and families in relative poverty.

Poverty in Tanzania is characterized by low income and expenditure, high mortality and mobility, poor nutritional status, low educational attainment, vulnerability to shocks, and political processes. Though poverty is particularly widespread in the rural areas, there are significant regional differences in levels of poverty and in the relative importance of different aspects of poverty. Those particularly at risk are young children and youths, the very old, women, those in large households as well as those involved in subsistence agriculture, livestock production and small scale fishing. While some progress has been made in the fight against poverty since independence, poverty remains a persistent problem in Tanzania. (URT, 2004).

Here comes another confusing thing concerning the problem, and this is poverty measurement. Different people have come up with the way how poverty should be measured. In fact, the assessment and measurement of poverty levels and trend is complicated due to lack of consistent information and absence of officially recognised poverty lines.  Partly due to the absence of official poverty lines, some studies have used their own lines.  Thus, “lower lines” denote basic food needs based on specific assumptions about eating habits, nutritional requirements, and cost, and “upper lines” cover in addition to such food requirements, and other essential needs, such as clothing, housing, water, and health.  However, a poverty line of One US$ per day in real terms has been used to facilitate comparison with other countries. 

The World Bank's "Voices of the Poor," based on research with over 20,000 poor people in 23 countries, identifies a range of factors which poor people identify as part of poverty. These include: precarious livelihoods, excluded locations, physical limitations, gender relationships, problems in social relationships, lack of security, abuse by those in power, disempowering institutions, limited capabilities, and weak community organizations.(school-wikipedia)

The analysis which was conducted in 1999 by the government showed that some regions in Tanzania are very poor. For instance, Dodoma, Kagera, Lindi, Kigoma, and Pwani. Regions which were found to be at a better state were Dar es Salaam, Ruvuma, Kilimanjaro, Singida and Tabora. (Hakikazi Catalyst, May, 2001)

Also, addressing the problem of poverty requires us to identify its main causes. According to (L. Kessy & Tostensen, 2008), the main causes of poverty are; low level productivity, high level of unemployment and underemployment, and lack of comprehensive social security system to protect incomes.

Low level productivity is exacerbated by recurring drought as agriculture is mostly rain fed, post harvest losses, inadequate access to inputs and low level of technology, limited access to credit for smallholders and small-scale fishermen, low level education and skill among youths, and poor road infrastructure.

High level of unemployment and underemployment limits people’s ability to acquire an adequate income. This has been caused by low rate of growth of the national economy which does not allow generation of number of jobs required. Our economy is heavily dependent on agriculture which provides employment for almost 80% of the national labour force where as the sector predominantly of small scale farmers.

Lack of comprehensive social security system to protect incomes represents another threat of vulnerability and reduces the effectiveness of efforts to reduce poverty. In the country there is no organized social security system to take care of those working in formal sector. With various socio-economic and demographic changes in the economy, traditional systems of social protection have also been greatly weakened.

However, the government has been trying its level best to reduce or eradicate poverty through various strategies and programs such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), Poverty Monitoring System (PMS), Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA), and National Poverty Eradication Strategy (NPES). Past efforts to eradicate poverty, while inspiring, had some shortcomings mainly because there was no coherent policy to provide direction and guidance to stakeholders. A policy on poverty eradication is now under consideration. Its overall goals, objectives, and strategies are oriented towards: creating an enabling environment for effective poverty eradication; empowering the poor to participate in poverty eradication programmes; ensuring full participation of women in poverty eradication initiatives; providing coordination mechanisms for the implementation of poverty eradication initiatives; and promoting equality of opportunity for men and women to lead a decent and productive life. (un.org/esa/agenda21)

Now, here the question comes on how can we eradicate poverty? Perhaps this is the key issue which needs to be stated clearly if we really want to eradicate poverty. The following strategies are hereby suggested to help us eradicate poverty.

One: To create a national economic environment that can speed up development. This environment will enable the national economy to grow by strengthening markets for small and large trade. This will also strengthen the families which engage in agricultural activities, factories as well as industries which provide services.

Two: To develop a monitoring and evaluation system. Lots of time and fund can be lost if the system of collecting information is not fair and has some sort of corruption. Planners have to ensure that information concerning issues like education, health and water service are collected through the existing system of government like village government and that the information collected reach central government. Other information may be collected through census or inspection like information about family budget and labor-force. Information collected at village level can be useful at village level, but also can be used by comparing with the government statistics. This can enable leaders and planners to know how poor people see their situation. The main reason for collecting information is to get the real picture of how strategies of poverty reduction are implemented. (Hakikazi Catalyst, May, 2001)   

Three: The planning process which intends to eradicate poverty should be participatory. Plans such as “Mipango kata” or “Ward planning” programmes, which are community based programmes are examples of programmes which can address poverty at community level. The practice of participatory process is in line with the principles of good governance. It also guarantees effective service delivery by public agents at local level. But it is important that the “true voice of the poor” be heard at the grass root level. In order for this to work there should be adequate incentives for the local government. (URT, 2005).

Four: The use of cooperative instruments to eradicate poverty in rural areas. The main possible way to convey the most needed development assistance to reach the target poor is to channel it through local co-operatives and community organizations formed and managed by the poor themselves. A financing policy to reduce poverty should be based at the grass roots where the poor live, and should thus involve the promotion of micro enterprises initiated and managed by their local organizations. The poor are the very people who feel the common need and who work together in order to achieve their objective. (Jovin A. Banturaki, 2000).

Fifth: Supporting and strengthening the private enterprises. In order to promote development at local level, there is a need to equip the local and private enterprises by providing assistance in both skill developing and fund where there is a need. This must work hand in hand with conducting various trainings and seminars about entrepreneurship and the ways how people can raise their income. Any skill, talents and opportunity which is found within a particular area should be developed and employed into development practice. To reveal the opportunities which are there, studies and researches have to be conducted and their report be addressed to the government for development planning.

Lastly: Education should be given a priority from the fact that through education, entrepreneurial skills and knowledge can be imparted to people especially the youths. The planning for education should ensure that fund allocated to education sector is used for the desired goals and should evaluate its impact on the community. With this, the quality of education provided should meet the development targets not only by the number of schools and enrolment but also by improving and employing more teachers, providing laboratory apparatus and books in secondary schools. In addition to that, science and vocational training should be provided and teach work related studies which can enable youths to develop skills for self employment and build their spirit of entrepreneurship.

By concluding this discussion, I can say that the process of eradicating poverty is not a one day process. It needs a day to day monitoring and evaluating processes through which new and better plans develop as the situation and the concept of the issue itself changes with time and place. As it has been shown in the above discussion, addressing the problem of poverty does not skip the task of conceptualizing the issue and identifying its causes and current situation, but it incorporates all these to the processes together with suggesting possible solution for the problem.

Now, from the above discussion, I have some recommendations as explained below.

One: There is a need to make review of the previous strategies used to eradicate poverty. This is due to the fact that despite the good plans and budgets which have been allocated for solving the problem, still the problem is persisting in Tanzania. The necessity of this comes because if you compare the allocated fund and the real situation or progress, you will obviously find that there is a misuse of fund. The said beneficiaries do not seem to benefit from these plans.

Two: Planners at national and district level should involve the poor themselves when defining the term poverty in order to know how the poor see themselves and the way they understand the concept of poverty. This will also lead the planners reveal what they should plan for the poor after getting the real picture of what is considered to be poverty in a particular society.

Moreover, all poverty reduction strategies should be practical and not politics of the government. I think this is the main issue which hinders most of the plans to be implemented, because plans are always there, spoken, but when it comes to implementation, you will find a long story which has no any success. I think, it is time now for the planners to stand on their responsibility and make sure that plans are implemented accordingly. 


REFERENCES

URT, (2004);Vulnerability and Resilience to Poverty in Tanzania; Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, DSM.

Flora L. Kessy & Arne Tostensen, (2008); Out of Poverty; Comparative Poverty Reduction Strategies in Eastern & Southern Africa; Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, DSM.

URT, (2005); Learning About Livelihood; Lessons for Poverty Reduction in Tanzania; DSM University Press, DSM.

Jovin A. Banturaki, (2000);Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation; TEMA Publishers Ltd, DSM.

Action Aid Tanzania (2002-05); Country Strategy Paper.

Hakikazi Catalyst,(May, 2001); Tanzania Bila Umaskini; Colour Print Tanzania Ltd, DSM.

School Wikipedia; www.school-wikipedia.org; Poverty; 6^th, April, 2011, 01:15am

UN, www.un.org/esa/agenda21; Socio Aspects of Sustainable Development in The United Republic of Tanzania; 6^th, April, 2011,23:28pm

Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia; www.wikipedia.org/wiki/poverty; 6^th, April, 2011, 0034am.

IBSS Blog, (2008/12/01); http://ibssblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/western perception on global poverty.

Mwelukiwa Joshua Sizya, (2001);The Role co-operatives play in Poverty Reduction in Tanzania; 17^th, October, 2001

STRATEGIC GENDER INTERESTS

Most people do confuse the use of the word gender and sex. However, it should be noted that, the word sex refers to the biological difference between males and females which is naturally created by God. Oxford dictionary defines sex as the state of being male or female. (Oxford Dictionary, 2000) Contrary to this, gender is the social relationship which exists between males and females. This relation is always socially constructed, and it changes from time to time and differs across societies. In this respect, you can find that, sex does not change where as gender changes in the sense that the relationship between the two sexes do change. Gender is a social construct that refers to relations between and among the sexes, based on their relative roles. It encompasses the economic, political, and socio-cultural attributes, constraints, and opportunities associated with being male or female. As a social construct, gender varies across cultures, is dynamic and open to change over time. Because of the variation in gender across cultures and over time, gender roles should not be assumed but investigated. (USAID, 2010)

Gender attributions are often oppressive – concepts that were passed on through centuries and ensured by societies to be rigidly adhered to. The typical characteristics assigned to women and men are discriminatory that limit and even damage individual lives. Historically, it is woman who has lost in the relations of the sexes. As such, gender is at the same time a category that has to do with relations as well as politics. This situation makes it necessary for development planners to incorporate gender needs in development planning programs. The gender needs are grouped into two; “practical gender needs” and “strategic gender interests”.

Practical gender needs are needs identified by women that do not challenge their socially accepted roles. These needs relate to fulfilling their productive, reproductive and community roles and responsibilities, which include basic, practical necessities such as shelter, employment and food. Where as, strategic gender interests challenge the existing gender roles in the sense that they refer to desired changes in existing relations, roles, tasks and responsibilities at the personal and institutional level as well. The common goal of strategic gender interests is to increase the control women have in personal life and in the society, the focus being on the position that women and men hold in society. However, the main part of this paper will be based on the strategic gender interests as the question wants us to explain the environment in which these needs (SGIs) have to be considered in planning and more specifically in developing countries.

As we have already seen from the above that there is unequal relationship between men’s roles and women’s roles in societies, there is a great need to put more consideration on strategic gender interests when planning for development. The objectives of addressing strategic gender interests are to create gender equity and equality by changing gender roles and responsibilities towards the equitable sharing of resources and benefits between women and men—such things as land rights, access to education, training and technology, employment opportunity, politics and culture. These environments or areas need more consideration of strategic gender interests especially in developing countries.

Land rights

In this aspect, the government of Tanzania has been trying to enact laws concerning land rights which legally provide rights for all to have the same right of owning land resources. If you trace the land acts from the 1970s to the 1990s, you can find that there has been a good plan of ensuring that both men and women have equal access to land. However, despite all these legal provision, the reality on the ground is quite different from what is stated in the constitution. In most areas specifically the rural areas, women have no direct ownership of land. They own land through their spouses, and those who are unmarried, and the widows can own land through their relatives or parents. There fore as planners, consideration should be put on this aspect in order to change this situation which deprives women and make them to be landless thus being oprsessed and segregated. (Mzumbe University, 10th, Jan, 2009). There is a need of a continuous evaluation on and monitoring of the laws and acts to find out how they are being implemented and their impacts to societies. Proper plans should be carried out to accomplish this task.

Access to education

If everyone shared common beliefs about literacy, its purpose and its meaning, the complex problem of unequal literacy levels among genders might not exist. Unfortunately, due to prejudices and stereotypes, not all members of society have been given equal access to an education. In countries all across the world statistics show that men achieve higher levels of literacy than women. These discrepancies in literacy levels directly reflect society's stereotypical perceptions of women and their role in society. In developing countries especially, the gap between gender literacy levels is extremely large. (Meredith Knezek, 1995) However the present records show that the trend has been changing, where as now in some countries, the literacy rate of women is higher than that of men. The assessment on the progress in Africa towards the MDGs shows that in many countries, women literacy rate is now higher compared to that of men. For example, in Liberia, Namibia, Swaziland, and Botswana, it is shown that the literacy rate of females ranges from 2.0 to 7.7 percentage higher than men. (MDG,2010). This provides positive evidence on women empowerment which is a social implication. On the other turn, this gives us another alert that if efforts are only based on women empowerment, the vice versa of which is disempowering men, then it can reach a time when we again need to empower men. Now, to avoid this to happen, planners need to evaluate how far has the empowerment of women gone so as to take necessary measures to ensure that there is equilibrium to both gender as the empowerment progresses.

Training and technology

Gender equity in science and technology is important for development, as has long been recognized by the United Nations. Mainstreaming a gender perspective in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) will hence both enhance social equity and bring significant benefits across the economic structure and social fabric, and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the attainment of sustainable development. (UN, 2011). According to the UN report, it shows that more than fifteen years ago, only few girls were trained in science and technology field where as most of technological skills were imparted to men especially in developing countries. Varieties of technical jobs such as health, energy, information systems have been run by men. A number of obstacles were hindering women from accessing science education and pursuing careers in science and technology. Unfortunately, very few national policies in industry, science and technology, and information and communication technologies (ICTs) address gender equality. This gap is often caused by a lack of understanding of 1) the role of women in social and economic development, 2) the role of S&T in addressing challenges faced by women in fulfilling their roles as food producers, social educators, caregivers for their families and community managers, and 3) the real and potential contribution of women to research, development and innovation. There for the challenge here is that governments should formulate policies which will incorporate the strategic gender interests in this field in order to give opportunity to women also to pursue carriers in science fields.

Employment opportunity

In almost all regions of the world, women are disproportionately represented in labour markets. Gender inequality in labor markets is manifested in wage gaps, occupational segregation, higher relative unemployment rates and women’s disproportionate representation in informal employment, particularly in agriculture. There are also substantial differences between men and women in the type and quality of their employment activities. An extremely high number of women are confined to “female jobs” -low-productivity jobs- with low status, often insecure, unsafe, and poorly paid. Looking specifically at non-agricultural wage employment, there exist significant differences between men and women, particularly in the rural areas of developing countries. Women are more likely than men to work for family subsistence in agriculture, where it is now recognized that they make vital contributions to both agricultural production and importantly, to food security. However, these activities do not provide enough income to allow them to lift their families out of poverty let alone to fully integrate into the monetary economy. There must be policies to guide the employers to consider gender when announcing for job vacancies and should set salary ranks which are not gender segregate.

Politics

Most of socially constructed gender roles exclude women from participating in political affairs, thus leaving them aside in decision making and administrative activities. This in one way or another denies their rights of self expression and they become subordinate of men in deciding for even matters which affect them directly. The main aim of strategic gender interests is to ensure equal political opportunity where as there is a need formulate policies which will enable more women to compete for various political positions. However, the condition now shows that in many countries women are participating in political matters and they are proving their ability. Honorable Asha Rose Migilo from Tanzania, and Wangali Maathari from Kenya are examples of women who have shown their ability in various positions they hold. This shows that societies must be informed on the contribution women can provide on development matters and if so, be involved in decision making.

Culture

Cultural environment is also an important area in which strategic gender interests have to be considered due to the fact that most cultural practices discriminates women and girls in various issues such as marriage systems, genital mutilation, and the right to family planning. All these need attention so as to promote the well-being of women and the community as well. Cultural values can affect women in various areas as stated by the UN here “In many societies, cultural, religious or family norms continue to confine women to certain roles and are barriers to their participation in economic life on an equal basis with men. 1 Furthermore, women perform the reproductive functions in the family, including caring for children and the elderly; the resulting division of household labour makes it difficult for women to have a full-time job in the labour market. Even if women succeed in participating in the labour market, discrimination against them may persist, even though it is not economically efficient, because the prevailing gender order gives more authority to men in society. To preserve this authority, men tend to exclude women from their decision-making networks.2 Another explanation is related to employers’ possible lack of information regarding their women employees; employers often underestimate the productive potential of women and consequently pay them less and confine them to lower-grade occupations. Thus, occupational segregation remains strong despite progress in women’s educational attainment. Unless gender norms and perceptions are challenged, discrimination against women in the workplace will persist”.

In concluding this, we have seen different areas which need more consideration of strategic gender interests which have revealed that in most cases, women are subordinated to men. If this is the case, then strong measures need to be taken to mainstream gender issues so as to address the existing gender relation which seems to be unequal. More over, planners need to continue monitoring and evaluating the situation to see how the plans are being implemented and to trace their impact on the social relationship so as to know what can be done to improve the situation.

Perhaps, the main recommendation I would suggest is that, governments should not formulate policies and leave them in books and files without having a proper measure to ensure that they are implemented. There fore, there is a need for making regular follow up and evaluate their implementations as the planning task is no a one day job.

Another recommendation is that, education should be provided to all people especially those who live in rural areas so as to make them aware of gender issues and the way they can promote development for the community and the nation as whole.

REFFERENCE

Meredith Knezek, (May, 1995), Literacy and Women in developing nations; http://www.esever,org

http://www.afdb.org; Progress in Africa towards the MDGs, (2010)

UN,(22nd, Feb-4th, March, 2011); Status of Women

USAID, 2010

HALI YA UMEME NCHINI INATUTAABISHA.

Hali ya umeme iliyopo nchini sasa hivi si suala ambalo mtu anahitaji kusimuliwa au kuelezewa na mtu mwingine. Ni suala ambalo kila mtu analiona, analitafakari na kuumizwan nalo. Tukiacha siasa na porojo au propaganda, hali ya umeme sasa inakera

Kwanza, mgao wa umeme hauna ratiba maalumu, unaweza ukawaka kwa muda wa masaa mawili na mara tu ukakatika kwa masaa kiumi, mara ukarudi kwa muda mfupi na kukatika tena hata kwa siku nzima. Sasa hii ni kero kwa sababu wakati unawaka, unaweza ukawa uko unautumia shughuli fulani muhimu na mara tu ukakatika bila utarartibu na hivyo kusababisha hasasra katika uzalishaji kwa sababu umekatisha kazi ambayo pengine ilikuwa urgent.

Pili, umeme unapokosekana, shughuli nyingi za kiuchumi zinakwama. Hii ni kutokana na ukweli kuwa shughuli nyingi za kiuchumi hasa zile zilizo katika micro level, (yaani za mtu binafsi) kama vile saloon, viwanda vidogovidogo kwa mfano welding, randa n.k hutegemea umeme. Hii ni kwa sababu ni watu wachache wenye uwezo wa kuwa na umeme wa generator. Ukitaka kuamini hili, pita mitaani mahali ambapo unajua kuwa kuna saloon, shughuli za uchomeleaji, randa, n.k, halafu uhesabu kuwa ni wangapi wameweza kuendelea na shughuli hizo wakati umeme emekatika. Ukweli ni kuwa utakuta utashuhudia ofisi hizo zimefungwa.

Tatu, kukosekana kwa umeme kunasababisha nchi kuingia gizani na hivyo kuwezesha kuongezeka kwa matendo maovu kama vile wizi, ubakaji, na uporaji.

Nne, kukosekana kwa umeme kunasababishagharama za bidhaa na huduma nyingine kupanda kwa mfano, petroli, gesi, na hata gharama za uendeshaji kupanda pia.

Si hivyom tu, bali pia hili linasababisha kudhoofisha kiwango cha elimu. Hii ni kweli kutokana na kuwa wanafunzi wengi wanategemea umeme kwa ajili ya kujisomea, kuanzia wanafunzi wa elimu ya chini hadi wale wa elimu ya juu. Kwa mfano, wanafunzi wanaosoma vyuo huhitaji umeme kwa ajili ya matumizi ya computer na vifaa vingine katika masomo yao, hivyo umeme unapokatika, usomaji unakuwa mgumu.

Mwisho, sijawahi kuona kuwa kwa kuwa umeme haupo muda mrefu, basi bili ikawa ndogo!!. Badadala yake ndipo bili inakuwa kubwa zaidi, na sababu haijulikani. Na ikumbukwe kuwa wakati umeme haupo baadhi ya watu hulazimika kutumia gharama nyingine kwa ajili ya kupata nishati mbadala, lakini bado bili inakuja ikiwa kubwa zaidi na hivyo kusababisha gharama mara mbili, mimi sidhani kama hii inaingia akilini!!!. Can you imagine, umeme hakuna, bili inakuja kubwa, kama siyo kuchezeana akili ni nini hii? Hii inatufanya sisi wananchi tunaoumia tufike mahali tuamini kuwa ni mbinu za ama serikali au TANESCO, au wote pamoja kujifanya kutukosesha umeme ili waendeshe kampuni kwa gharama ndogo lakini kwa faida kubwa huku wakitukandamiza sisi wananchi kwa kulipia umeme ambao hatutumii.

Hitimisho na pendekezo langu ni kuwa, serikali iliangalie upya suala hili la umeme na ihakikishe inatupatia sisi wananchi majibu sahihi, sio kutuzungunguka na kutuletea propaganda zisizokuwa na muelekeo wala suluhisho la tatizo hili la umeme, kwani suala hili si jipya na wala si kwamba haliwezekani kama kweli tuna watendaji wenye uwajibikaji wa kweli. Na kama wameshindwa, si wakubali na waachie ngazi ili wengine wenye mawazo mapya nao wafanye kazi, kwa nini kung'ang'ania kazi iliyokushinda?...........

IN A NEW FIELD OF LIFE

I'm very happy to be in a new life experience. Previously I was just doing my life activities as a household, but now I have just switched to another field that is the life of studying. I thank God b'se he has allowed me to join the higher learning institution to pursue my bachelor degree course in Population and Development planning at The Institute of Rural Development Planning - Dodoma (IRDP), and so, soon I will become a planner. I wish to invite all scholars especially from the higher learning institutions to share with me their studying experience as well as to interchange some ideas so as to gain academic progress.

WATANZANIA NA SOKO LA PAMOJA LA AFRIKA MASHARIKI

Hivi karibuni tumeshuhudia Tanzania ikiiungana na nchi zingine za Afrika Mashariki kuzindua soko la pamoja la Afrika Mashariki ambalo linalenga kutoa na kupanua fursa mbalimbali za kiuchumi hasa zile za soko la bidhaa zinazotoka Afrika Mashariki ikiwa ni pamoja na kupanua soko la ajira miongoni mwa nchi wanachama. Lakini kwetu sisi watanzania, kumekuwa na maoni mbalimbali toka kwa wananchi kuhusu uanzishwaji wa soko hili. Miongoni mwa maoni hayo yameibua changamoto kadhawakadha ikiwa ni pamoja na muda wa kuanzishwa soko hili, utayari wa wananchi kuchangamkia nafasi hizo, uwezo wa wananchi kukabili ushindani katika soko na ulinzi na udhibiti wa rasilimali za watanzania. Changamoto hizi zimeelezwa kama ifuatavvyo.

Tukianza na suala la muda. Badhi ya wananchi wamekuwa wakitoa maoni kuwa muda huu haukuwa muafaka kwa uanzishwaji wa soko hili la pamoja kwa maana ya kuwa Serikali yetu haijawaandaa wananchi kiasi cha kutosha kuingia katika soko hili la pamoja. Hii ina maana kuwa, ili kuingia katika soko hili, Tanzania inapaswa kuweka misingi imara katika uchumi na elimu ili wananchi wake waweze kuwa tayari kuingia katika ushindani wakiwa wana uelewa mpana wa jinsi wanavyoweza kufaidika na soko hili badala ya kuwasindikiza wenzetu wkipanda kiuchumi huku sisi tukididimia.

Changaaamoto nyingine ni utayari wa wananchi. Katika sehemu hii, imeonekana kuwa wananchi wengi wamekuwa wakisita kuchangamkia fursa zitakazopatikana katika soko hili. Hii ni kwa sababu wananchi wengi hawajajiamini kuwa wanaweza kukabili ushindani katika soko hili na hili ni suala la kujitambua. Serikali inapaswa kuwaelimisha wananchi ili waweze kujitambua kuwa wao pia wanaweza kuingia katika ushindani huo. Kumekuwapo na hali ya kujiogopa na kusema kuwa soko hili litawapendelea sana wenzetu wa Uganda na Kenya na kuwa watanzania hatuna elimu nzuri ya kutufanya kukabiliana na ushindani. Hii imepelekea watu wengi kusema kuwa soko hili kwa sasa halitufai watanzania.

Pia uwezo wa wananchi kukabili ushindani. Hili nalo ni eneo lingine ambalo wananchi wamekuwa wakilitolea maoni wakisema kuwa watanzania hatuna uwezo wa kukabili ushindani kwa sababu kwanza, wengi wetu hawana elimu, pili, hatuna teknolojia ya kutosha kutoa bidhaa katika soko, tatu, miundombinu yetu pamoja na viwanda vyetu ni vya hali ya kimasikini. Hivyo kwa sababu hiyo, hali hii inatunyima uwezo wa kushiriki kikamilifu katika soko hili.

Mwisho, udhibiti wa rasilimali za watanzania. Rasilimali nyingi za Tanzania hazijasimsmiwa kikamilifu na hivyo udhibiti wake umekuwa ni mbovu. Inavyoonekana na kutokana na tabia ya serikali ya Tanzania ya kuruhusu watu wa nje kuchuma katika rasilimali zetu na kisha kutuachia umasikini na huku rasilimali ni zetu, inawezekana kabisa serikali hiihii ikaruhusu rasilimali zetu kutumiwa vibaya tena kwa fujo na wenzetu kutoka nchi jirani ambazo kwa hakika hazina rasilimali kama zilizopo Tanzania na kutokana na ukweli kuwa nchi hizi hadi sasa zinaitazama Tanzania ka uchu mkubwa wa kuja kutumia rasilimali zetu. Kwa hali hii, watanzania wanayo tahadhali kubwa juu ya kuanzishwa soko hili.

Hata hivyo tusihofu, bado watanzania tunayo nafasi kubwa ya kufaidi soko hili ikiwa serikali itayachukua maeneo haya kuwa tahadhali na vilevile watanzania wenyewe tukiondoa hofu na kujizatiti katika kila nyanja ili kuhakikisha kuwa tutateka maeneo yote na kusababisha kupata soko kubwa la bidhaa zetu na watu wetu katika fursa za ajira. Jambo lingine la msingi pia ni kuondoa woga uliotujaa na kuwa na moyo wa kujiamini, huu ni wakati ambao wasomi na wataalamu wetu wanapaswa kudhihirisha kuwa Tanzania inao wasomi na wataalamu wa ukweli kwa kutetea fani na taaluma walizo nazo hasa kwa kukuza uwezo wa kujieleza mara ipatikanapo fursa yoyote ya kufanya hivyo. Zaidi ya hayo, sekta za ajira Tanzania zitoe kipaumbele kwa watanzania mara wanapotangaza nafasi za ajira ili kuwawezesha kukuza taaluma zao.
Imetlewa na,
Hamenya Yohana Kasase,
hamenyas@gmail.com, 0752934943 or 0782170480.

What kind of democracy is this?

In our african countries today it seems that democracy has got a different meaning from what it means to the people of other nations. Today, it is easy for a person in power to adress the public in an insulting way while trying to even say that the is no other way the people can do to vote for another person to be their leader. In so speaking, one assures for himself of geting enogh votes in any cost. Here there is no democracy.