In Kiswahili there is a saying that goes like this: ' Penye miti hapana wajenzi.' smiply translated it means where there are trees there are no builders of houses.
The saying goes very far in depicting a situation whereby God has offered free of charge an opportunity for Tanzanians to benefit from medicare and health toursim but their government and bureucracy is lagging behind by more than a century.
If something of this sort had happened in a country like Portugal, Spain or Greece it would have taken only weeks for their governments to set up (not even with their own resources, but other people's resourcs) ways and means that the place in question would have become a tourist attraction centre number one in their country by this time.
But, alas, we have very good talkers and planners but very few doers around except when those in power are threatened by demonstrations and meetings of the opposition.
By this time Loliondo should have a double murram road with vehicles moving unhindered in both direction; a number of clean water wells would have been operational; a number of hotels and guest houses mushroomed; diesel generator operating 24/7 and a small airport built nearby.
The road from Arusha to Samunge would have been like a gigantic picnic with the 'wagonjwa' accessing hotels and guest houses made from prefabricated materials with all the desirable services avaiable including hot baths and hot showers if and when needed.
Since the 'wagonjwa na wasindikizaji wao' shall be paying for these services a portion of it will go to build more services and maintain existing ones and the surplus to the treasury to boost our GDP for a number of years. Very few tourist coming to Kenya will not visit then Samunge and get their awaiting cup!
I don't want to believe that our leaders besides being selfish they are not ready to see also other people getting out of poverty and that's why they are not bothering enough with the harzardous and life threatening conditions existing on the way from Arusha, Kahama and Tabora/Kigoma to Samunge. For I think they are only human. Perhaps they could not see as far as this, and the moment they read this article they will not sleep untill the necessary is done.
It is better to have brains and be creative rather than having all the money in the world but an ignoramus!
You can tell the difference between those who sing about economics but don't know how to make it make a difference in people's lives and those who can with a stroke of a pen tell you the opportunity brought by changing economics in a country.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Starting Point: Mats and Dinner Tables
The starting point of building a people based economy is the eating mat or the dinner table. For economics is a conversation that started time immemorial and is unlikely to end as long as resources continue to be scarce and there is price, loss and profits.
We in Tanzania need to entrust the economy into our people hands and end the arrogant culture of the educated usurping the common man leadership in changing his an environment and destiny for his own good and that of his neighbours.
In this time and age we need to seriously ask ourselves if there is such a holy government that can develop the people. For the truth after 50 years of independence is that there is no government trustworthy and honesty enough to put money into where its words and rhetorics are. The belief among many Africans that their government is their father and mother has been the biggest one single factor for Africans misfortunes than any other factor.
Should foreing donors and local well-wishers give money to the government so it can be put in use of developing the people ? Or should the money go directly to individuals and communities ? Is the ratio of money given to our governments so far and the development efforts exerted in tandem as of today ?
How can money be spent well when the authorities don't even know how best to solve this or that social or economic problem?
What should the people or community itself do ? And what should the government and others do in bringing about real and meaningful development in today's globalized world ?
Let us educate the communicators of our times how to initiate the kind of talk on economics that can start the ball of economic and social development rolling still in the big players, that is, the people's turf. It must not start elsewhere for such a journey will be short and predictable.
We in Tanzania need to entrust the economy into our people hands and end the arrogant culture of the educated usurping the common man leadership in changing his an environment and destiny for his own good and that of his neighbours.
In this time and age we need to seriously ask ourselves if there is such a holy government that can develop the people. For the truth after 50 years of independence is that there is no government trustworthy and honesty enough to put money into where its words and rhetorics are. The belief among many Africans that their government is their father and mother has been the biggest one single factor for Africans misfortunes than any other factor.
Should foreing donors and local well-wishers give money to the government so it can be put in use of developing the people ? Or should the money go directly to individuals and communities ? Is the ratio of money given to our governments so far and the development efforts exerted in tandem as of today ?
How can money be spent well when the authorities don't even know how best to solve this or that social or economic problem?
What should the people or community itself do ? And what should the government and others do in bringing about real and meaningful development in today's globalized world ?
Let us educate the communicators of our times how to initiate the kind of talk on economics that can start the ball of economic and social development rolling still in the big players, that is, the people's turf. It must not start elsewhere for such a journey will be short and predictable.
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