Diaspora's engagement in the nation building second to none

BY EDITOR

20th August 2015

Editorial cartoon

Tanzania’s development endeavours have won the country’s recognition. This is so because the government   has demonstrated unswerving commitment to bringing forces to the path of development. Indeed, numerous development mobilisations have brought about remarkable results.

 

President Jakaya Kikwete last week hailed contributions to the country’s development made by Tanzanians living in the Diaspora, urging closer links with Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) to facilitate the nation’s vision of becoming a middle income country by 2025.

 

He was opening a meeting of the country’s Diaspora held in Dar es Salaam. Under a special arrangement, Tanzanians living in the Diaspora will register and receive national identity cards, which in future will facilitate their participation in elections while living in their respective countries.

 

The conference’s theme is creating linkages between the Diaspora and local SMEs for development and job creation. President Kikwete    said the nation’s vision to move from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a middle-income country by 2025 targets industrial revolution, which will be achieved through joint efforts.SME’s contributes 35 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which could be increased by working together with Tanzanians living in the Diaspora for investments and access to foreign markets.

The  SMEs’ contribution to the national economy was still small and the government is implementing the Property and Business Formalisation Programme (MKURABITA), whose aim is to empower owners of formalised assets to use them to access capital and other socio-economic opportunities available in the expanded market economy.

 

Diaspora’s contribution more than 30bn/- has gone into direct and indirect investments in the real estate sector through institutions such as the National Housing Corporation (NHC).

 

It is now time that the government should improve systems that will enable the Diaspora access vital services, so that those living within the East African Community (EAC) region can now send money home through mobile financial transaction systems.

 

As the President urged Diaspora members to use their education to bring home new technologies that will enable the nation to compete in international markets.

 

It is equally important that by investing in their home country, they will not only benefit the nation, but also their families and themselves through the income that will be generated through the projects.

 

Therefore recognising that the Diaspora community is part and parcel of the Tanzanian society, the government has been expending utmost efforts to mobilise the former for nation building. In retrospect, however, mobilizing Tanzanian expatriates for development was not an easy task to accomplish mainly due to polarised political orientation among Tanzanian political elite. This has undermined the nation building efforts which otherwise could have resulted from the Diaspora.

 

Against this backdrop, it is of a paramount importance that Tanzania organised Diaspora Day. 

 

It is through the combined efforts of Tanzanians at home and overseas that can truly change the ugly faces of the country for good.

In fact, Tanzania is becoming the hub of investment. 

 

The international community is giving testimonies about the development achievements the country has made.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN