TANZANIA. The name evokes many different emotions in its citizens. To visitors, it is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. To its citizens there is no place like Tanzania.
Vast undulating plain lands, side by side with majestic highlands, open sea, rivers and lakes. It is also the country whose statistics are not enviable in the numbers of children who die at childbirth for every thousand.
It is similarly a country of 45million where a significant part of the population, lives below poverty line of one US dollar per day. The unemployment rate in Tanzania is staggering with a huge youth population illprepared to face the reality of changing times, environment and challenges.
Listening to Radio Talk Shows, one almost feels like Tanzania is living in a time warp. A nation living
in the dreams of a prosperous future, firmly stuck in the time-warp of the Azimio la Arusha (Arusha Declaration) that affirmed Tanzania as a socialist state in the late 1960's.
In the heady 1960's and the turbulent 1970's, Ujamaa gave Tanzania a sense of direction under the tutelage of a man who believed in the dream of an equal and equitable society -Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere (RIP).The 1st President of Tanzania retired in 1985 acknowledging that the Ujamaa experiment had failed to deliver the goods to the citizens and passed on the baton to a different leader thus making it possible to effect change.
It took an off-hand statement from a 1960's University of Dar es Salaam Law Student, leader and current Chairman of the Constituent Assembly (CA) Hon Samuel Sitta, to highlight how this great nation is caught between the spirit of Ujamaa and the reality of "man eat man ".
In reference to a seminar by the Assembly participants, Hon Sitta said the seminar was no , "seminar Njaa." This is translated to mean delegates would be remunerated for participating in the seminar.
Whether it was in jest or emphasis, it captured why the CA delegates have been on the receiving end of public wrath over the Tsh300,000 ($185) per day allowances, their demand for Tsh500,000($308) and additional allowances for extra hours work that brought those demands to Tsh800,000($493). Whether the allowances were or will be paid is not the issue here.
What is, is the irony that people whose every statement in that conference have been tinged with exhortation to nationalism, patriotism and every possible ism (reminiscent of the Mwalimu Ujamaa days) that, denotes undying love for country, are the same ones literally raiding the exchequer!.
The Nouveau riche of the Assembly have been quick to remind Tanzanians in the diaspora that dual citizenship would automatically make them disloyal to motherland and swear allegiances to enemies which would make them security risks.
The same delegates have been speaking with forked tongues about Tanzania's position in the league of Nations. When it suits themover need for the richer states to give Aid -Tanzania is a poor country.
Alternately when it suits them not to be obligated to meet the conditionality's of multi-lateral agencies, then a proud Tanzania is independent and must not be made to sing to his master's voice.
According to this duplicity of men under the guise of pseudo-patriots -When it comes to conforming to the international standards on freedom of movement and trade-Tanzania is selfsufficient, but when it comes to seeking markets abroad or across the borders-those countries need Tanzania.
According to Samuel Johnson an American thinker "A patriot is he whose public conduct is regulated by one single motive, the love of his country; who, as an agent in parliament, has, for himself, neither hope nor fear, neither kindness nor resentment, but refers everything to the common interest."
This duplicity is further exemplified when Hon Sitta uses the bait of allowances to invite delegates to attend seminars and workshops , well knowing that when delegates signed on , they know that for the duration of the conference they were duly employees serving the interest of the public at large.
To turn around and demand even more allowances knowing the state of the economy is to be as unpatriotic as can be. It denies the other crucial services in health, education and public services their crucial grants to feed this endless greed.
Do the leaders in Bunge La Katiba have the moral authority to condemn legitimate strikes over pay, demands for pay beyond ability of the exchequer? What are young people to learn on patriotism and nationalism from these events?
Can our league of delegates claim to pass the test of selflessness for common interest and accuse Tanzanians of lack of the same simply because they aim to kill two birds with the same stone-earn a living legally abroad and remain steadfast to their motherland without their loyalty being questioned?
It is also Samuel Johnson who said Patriotism is the scourge of the scoundrel. Your move Hon Samuel Sitta and Constitutional assembly delegates.
The columnist , a Media consultant & researcher , is a regular commentator on East African issues with interests in media development in the region.
Vast undulating plain lands, side by side with majestic highlands, open sea, rivers and lakes. It is also the country whose statistics are not enviable in the numbers of children who die at childbirth for every thousand.
It is similarly a country of 45million where a significant part of the population, lives below poverty line of one US dollar per day. The unemployment rate in Tanzania is staggering with a huge youth population illprepared to face the reality of changing times, environment and challenges.
Listening to Radio Talk Shows, one almost feels like Tanzania is living in a time warp. A nation living
in the dreams of a prosperous future, firmly stuck in the time-warp of the Azimio la Arusha (Arusha Declaration) that affirmed Tanzania as a socialist state in the late 1960's.
In the heady 1960's and the turbulent 1970's, Ujamaa gave Tanzania a sense of direction under the tutelage of a man who believed in the dream of an equal and equitable society -Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere (RIP).The 1st President of Tanzania retired in 1985 acknowledging that the Ujamaa experiment had failed to deliver the goods to the citizens and passed on the baton to a different leader thus making it possible to effect change.
It took an off-hand statement from a 1960's University of Dar es Salaam Law Student, leader and current Chairman of the Constituent Assembly (CA) Hon Samuel Sitta, to highlight how this great nation is caught between the spirit of Ujamaa and the reality of "man eat man ".
In reference to a seminar by the Assembly participants, Hon Sitta said the seminar was no , "seminar Njaa." This is translated to mean delegates would be remunerated for participating in the seminar.
Whether it was in jest or emphasis, it captured why the CA delegates have been on the receiving end of public wrath over the Tsh300,000 ($185) per day allowances, their demand for Tsh500,000($308) and additional allowances for extra hours work that brought those demands to Tsh800,000($493). Whether the allowances were or will be paid is not the issue here.
What is, is the irony that people whose every statement in that conference have been tinged with exhortation to nationalism, patriotism and every possible ism (reminiscent of the Mwalimu Ujamaa days) that, denotes undying love for country, are the same ones literally raiding the exchequer!.
The Nouveau riche of the Assembly have been quick to remind Tanzanians in the diaspora that dual citizenship would automatically make them disloyal to motherland and swear allegiances to enemies which would make them security risks.
The same delegates have been speaking with forked tongues about Tanzania's position in the league of Nations. When it suits themover need for the richer states to give Aid -Tanzania is a poor country.
Alternately when it suits them not to be obligated to meet the conditionality's of multi-lateral agencies, then a proud Tanzania is independent and must not be made to sing to his master's voice.
According to this duplicity of men under the guise of pseudo-patriots -When it comes to conforming to the international standards on freedom of movement and trade-Tanzania is selfsufficient, but when it comes to seeking markets abroad or across the borders-those countries need Tanzania.
According to Samuel Johnson an American thinker "A patriot is he whose public conduct is regulated by one single motive, the love of his country; who, as an agent in parliament, has, for himself, neither hope nor fear, neither kindness nor resentment, but refers everything to the common interest."
This duplicity is further exemplified when Hon Sitta uses the bait of allowances to invite delegates to attend seminars and workshops , well knowing that when delegates signed on , they know that for the duration of the conference they were duly employees serving the interest of the public at large.
To turn around and demand even more allowances knowing the state of the economy is to be as unpatriotic as can be. It denies the other crucial services in health, education and public services their crucial grants to feed this endless greed.
Do the leaders in Bunge La Katiba have the moral authority to condemn legitimate strikes over pay, demands for pay beyond ability of the exchequer? What are young people to learn on patriotism and nationalism from these events?
Can our league of delegates claim to pass the test of selflessness for common interest and accuse Tanzanians of lack of the same simply because they aim to kill two birds with the same stone-earn a living legally abroad and remain steadfast to their motherland without their loyalty being questioned?
It is also Samuel Johnson who said Patriotism is the scourge of the scoundrel. Your move Hon Samuel Sitta and Constitutional assembly delegates.
The columnist , a Media consultant & researcher , is a regular commentator on East African issues with interests in media development in the region.
- Opinion piece by K'oyoo Nick via THE DAILY NEWS Tanzania.
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