On November 20th 2009, leaders of the East African countries - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda- made a huge step in the EAC regional integration process by signing the East Africa Common Market Protocol. The protocol came into effect on 1st July 2010, allowing free movem ...Click here to read more

On November 20th 2009, leaders of the East African countries - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda- made a huge step in the EAC regional integration process by signing the East Africa Common Market Protocol. The protocol came into effect on 1st July 2010, allowing free movement of goods, services, capital and labour within the region. The EAC Common Market Protocol, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 76 and 104 of the Treaty, provides for the following, to be progressively implemented:

Dear TAKNET members,

We have been dialoging for the past two moths on the topic "What Benefits exist for Tanzania within East African Common Market Arrangement?  A lot of insight has been gathered from the forum on avenues for maximizing benefits as well as the stumbling blocks creating crevaces of weakness for the economy to access the bounty of opportunities available within the region’s common market.

"Kama walenga wasemavyo hakuna marefu yasiyo na ncha”. We come to a close of this topic to enable us to synthesise your thoughts in a policy brief format. When the brief is ready it will be posted on TAKNET website. We take this opportunity to invite you to read other briefs prepared from previous discussions.

On behalf of TAKNET project management and moderators, we would like to thank you for a very informative and challenging discussion. We thank you for taking time to participate in this online discussion and hope it has been as enriching to you as it has been to us.

Hi TAKNET members,

Thanks for maany constructive contributins from all over in different place in Tanzania.

My contribution on this rely on fact language is a means of communication but also language is a skill and knowledge like any other knowledge so is where one gain absolute or comparative advantages over the other or others ,excuses never work out in this world of knowldge and competition and survival of the fittest as Darwin pointed out.

We cant escape the challenge from within East Africa or Africa or somewhere else ,we must learn ,know and a have good masterly of all international languages (four skills of language-speaking,reading,writing,listening)Kiswahili is inclusive and other skills and Know -how other wise we will be slaves in our motherland.

What we need is to to enablt tanzanians to build confidence to be abke to express themselves...As for writing, you can always give the literatue for someone to edit......

jm

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Japhet Maingu Makongo

Ubunifu Associates Ltd

P.O. Box 32971

Dar es Salaam,

TANZANIA

Website: www.ubunifu.co.tz

Tel: +255 22 2762027

Mobile +255 754 571 256

I have been closely following the useful comments from contributors. The comments already given should be able to give us and the policy makers a lot of ideas for informed decisions. I concur with makongo that we should allow moderators and administrators to prepare a synthesized brief now.

Much as I accept the issue of use of Kiswahili be part and parcel of this topic, it seems to become hot and attracts many contributions to the extent that it is driving us astray. I think in future TAKNET administrators should prepare a discussion on the use of Kiswahili language and its impact to national development.

Sent from my iPhone

Tanzanians still have colonized mind set. Kiswahili being medium of intructions will bring the learning to be meaningful among the Tanzanians. The learner MUST learn on the language that understand properly but not otherwise. Kiswahili currently has many writings and guidelines that can able the learning from Pre-primary to Higher learning be meaningful and produce the competent graduates. Many textbooks especially secondary schools have been translated into our lovely Kiswahili.

Many people they think speaking Engilsh is an indicator of intellectual ability. Am questioning what kind of higher cost will occur when the Kiswahili is used in all government institutions including private ones. The University of Dar es salaam, Kiswahili department has done tremendous job to enable Kiswahili for official use.

Even those who claim to support the foreign language, English, they are not competent enough to use that language, let us change our mindset.

Daily activities of Tanzanians are conducted through Kiswahili and I can approximate that 95% of Tanzanians use Kiswahili as a medium of communication. It is surprising to think about whites whom the interaction with them is minimal.

I love Kiswahili and I encourage my children to learn it in a deeper way.

The Kiswahili language will boost our economy and increase the welfare of our citizens.

January J.J. Timanywa

Tanzania Institute of Education

686 Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road - Near to Bamaga Station Mwenge

P.O.Box 35094 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Landline: +255 2773005 (office)

Mobile: +255 787 531043

716 373118

Home: P.o.Box 76733 Dar Es Salaam

Tel: +255 784 473578

We need developement we cannot develop just because of the language. We have to work hard and address issues such as corruption. in China a corrupt person is hanged to death, In Tanzania they are praised. So these are the differences. Once it was said that when chinese officials visit other countries they take photos of the bridges and other infrastructures for possible replication in their countries but ours go to the big stores for the suits and shopping za nyumba ndogo and the like

I am still hesitant for the land issue, we really have to be carefully. The rest of the EAC member countries their eyes are actually on the land, let us do it in a manner that we wont regret in future

Let us take holistic approach to development (Systems thinking)

thanks

a) Kuzingatia viwango vya elimu itakayokidhi mahitaji na ushindani wa soko la ndani na Afrika Mashariki. Wote tunazungumzia kwa hisia kuwa mfumo uliopo unatupotezea njia.....vyema tuanze kutoa maoni ya nini kifanyike katika eneo hili katika muda mfupi, wa kati na wa muda mrefu.

b) kuzingatia uwepo na matumizi ya technolojia muafaka katika uzalishaji, utunzaji, processing, soko nk. Bidhaa zetu hazina ubora katika soko. Wiki kadhaa zilizopita BBC iliendesha mahojiano na wafanya biashara walioko London waliolalamika sana kuhusu ubora na upatikanaji wa bidhaaa zetu katika soko la Uingereza

c) Mfumo bora wa usimamizi na uwezeshaji wa upatikanaji wa mitaji na elimu ya kuendesha biashara.

d) Kutengeneza fursa za ajira kwa vijana....hususani maeneo ya uzalishaji na kuwaondoa katika ajira ya usambazaji wa bidhaa za huduma (consumer goods). Serikali iondokane na majibu ya muda mfupi kama ya "Machinga Complex". Fursa za uzalishaji ziko katika kupanua aina ya kilimo kitakachoweza kuchochea uanzishaji wa viwanda vidogovodogo vya usindikaji, vifungashi, kuhifadhi, kusambaza na kusafirisha nk.

e) kutengenza mazingira na sera za kusimamia na kuvutia wawekezaji wa nje kuleta teknolojia ya kuanzisha au kuinua uzalishaji wa bidhaa za Tanzania badala ya kuwa soko la kuuza tu, tena zile bidhaa zisizo na ubora.

f) Dhamira ya dhati ya serikali kuwekeza katika miundo mbinu inayosukumua uzalishaji na biashara katika maeneo yaliyosahaulika. Hususani kuunganisha mitandao ya usafiri na mawasiliano kwa maeneo yenye fursa za uzalishaji lakini yaliyoko pembezoni. Kuendelea kuyasahau haya maeneo kunachoche uharibifu wa mali asili na kutoa fursa za ufisadi kwa wachache.

g) Upatikanaji wa umeme wa uhakika... hasa wa kutumia teknolojia ya mionzi ya jua na nguvu ya upepo.

h) Kuimarisha sheria na usimamizi wa uendeshaji wa biashara hasa katika kutunza ubora heshima ya bidhaa za Tanzania.

Yako mengi.....lakini hatujafika

Makongo

g) ----------------------------------------------

Japhet Maingu Makongo

Ubunifu Associates Ltd

P.O. Box 32971

Dar es Salaam,

TANZANIA

Website: www.ubunifu.co.tz

Tel: +255 22 2762027

Mobile +255 754 571 256

This is interesting really but i think we should thinker deeper rather than just looking at english. I do agree entirely that english is important, that we should strive to learn it. But when I look at all the three countries, the situation basically seems to be similar ie producing people who seek white collar jobs, people who have to be employed. you all know what employment means!

How about producing skilled people who can do or produce goods and services. This crucial for the economy. We need to have skills to turn our resources. This is not english! The japanese intelligencia communicate to their population in japanese; the chinese do the same; i am not sure indians are good english speakers? what is common to these is that they have mastered the science and technology of value- addition. Ironically, it could be easier to understand issues using swahili. I mean to grasp the science and art of extraction, processing and value addition for the raw materials that Tanzania can produce.

By the way, lets get the point. Language becomes important if its backed by goods and services, if its backed by a strong economy; by an economy of knowledge and science and of course population.

I do think Tanzania does not need language to develop its resources and economy; it needs science and technology; it needs a skilled population that can produce quality goods and services.

The point I am making is that we should not only go for english; we should more importantly go for acquiring skills so that we can be job creators and grow the economy.

Kelly

Dear Members,

As noted by Monica, Swahili language debate is coming up and it has lightened up the forum. Anthony has neatly looked at it at both dimensions. Importantly we need also to ask ourselves what we can do with it given the current status of affairs. Politician often see language as important aspect of culture and identity. But this is very narrow angle of looking at a language as Anthony elucidated. If we embrace Swahili as medium of teaching the costs will be even higher than current costs or missed opportunities we are facing. What are the institutional changes the government needs do to reverse the circumstances?

Tanzania lack Development Agenda in the EAC as Monica explained and probably it’s a reason for disintegration on regional investments. For example I have heard rumors that Kenya has a plan to build international airport near Holili border which is foot of Mt. K'Njaro. What is the implication of this plan to our economy? What should Tanzania government do if such rumors are true?

Another area where Tanzania has comparative advantage for crafting a development agenda is Swahili language training and export of Swahili tutor in the region and the world. However there are no deliberate efforts. How should the government approach this? 

Looking forward to read your contributions

Hi TAKNET members,

On Kiswahili - Many people have been pressing for the two ends of the Pendullum as if it is either English or Kiswahili. Apart from the fact that language embodies more than verbal communication, it is important to understand the gravity of globalization that comes with English (and other languages including now the formidable Chinese).

Those who think it is either Kiswahili or English believe that it is the "strongest" that will survive, those who think both (and indeed many more) languages are necessary belong to the school of thought that believes in those who can "adapt quickly". I know one small EU nation whose citizens communicate in more than 4 languages competently something that has elevated them in international positions, they've been able to adapt.  

There is no tradeoff at all.

The Kiswanglish in most official meetings makes us more comfortable, we are trying to adapt! 
 

It's my pleasure to join the platform of critical thinkers. Personally I have different perceptions may be.

In my view, Tanzania is like a baby who is forced to eat hard food. The East Africa Common Market. I base my discussion in the quality of education Tanzania offers in comparison with the rest of East Africa community. I see that we are very incompetent in entering a competitive market. We are very unprepared almost in all aspects of life. Although we Tanzanians are good at criticizing the Kenyan education system believing that it is below standard at kwa sababu hawana Advanced secondary education, I don't think whether we are well informed about that.

I have been following closely one of the programs organised by Celtel and later Zain (Celtel Africa Challenge; An academic questions and answers wits game). How many times have we lost the chances of advancing even to the semi-finals? Well one might say we were not lucky. Not lucky for ten thousand years?

Well that may not seem important to some of us. My point here is our education system is spoiled right from the foundation i.e. elementary and primary education. Although many are complaining of a lack of teachers and text books in secondary schools as some of the factors for massive failure, personally I think those are just secondary causes. Can we compare the teachers we have today with those who went through the middle school? What's the problem?

The answers are in our throats, we have managed to move education higher the ladder only by examining the numbers of enrollment. Teachers a roll to play in producing a first class student. If teachers themselves are incompetent;unable to in depth analyses of issues, do we expect miracles in producing top notches? THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH OUR POLICIES.

I do not blame these teachers, I blame the system. Today my fellow university graduate can not appear comfortably before the interview panels. Oh not graduates, their partrons i.e. University lecturers are start quivering when told to prepare public presentations outside our bounders. Why? Are they incompetent? May be not? But the language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Politicians are telling us good songs about embracing Kiswahili as a medium of communication in lower and higher learning institutions. Yes, it's a good thing to embrace our culture and identify with it BUT, are we an island? Are going to study, work and eventually die here? If the giant CHINESE Mao has now changed his mind and encourage English why not Tanzania?

What make me feel are the political slogans, KISWAHILI TUKIENZI MASHULENI. Ok Nakubaliana nayo, Je where do they educate their siblings? Is it not in the so called English medium schools? Can poor people afford  to send their schools there? If they were patriots they we'd take there to Kiswahili medium schools na hapo ningeshawishika na mimi. 

If the govt can today think of transforming the systems many bright students would be attracted to study education. What do we hear to day, Yaani amekosa division four ya kwenda hata ualimu? Where are we going? Are these the kind of teachers we expect to make us comfortable? Are we building the future or destroying it?

I have only tried to explore one area of education, Hivyo nafikiri Tanzania should abstain from making farther attempts to enter a market that will bring chaos to its people. If it's a must that we should go, we've to be fast equipped with all amours.

Hata Kiingereza nilichoandika kwa makosa makosa ni kwa sababu ya mfumo wa Elimu niliopitia. I don't say English by itself is potential but I mean if you can not tell others what you know and believe in no one can ever break into your brain to extract your potential

I Love my country. Long Live Tanzania.

Anthony Gikuri
Kizumbi Campus

Moshi University College of Cooperative and Business Studies

P.O.BOX 469
SHINYANGA

Tanzania

Mobile +255713634382/+25589448244/+255768805441

Website: www.muccobs.ac.tz

Katika mada hii iliyopo mezani muda huu naomba kuchangia kwa lugha ya kiswahili japokuwa wasomi wengi siku hizi wanaibeza.

Napenda kuiangalia jumuiya ya afrika mashariki tangu ilipoanzishwa tena kwa mara ya tatu mwaka 2001 ikijumuisha nchi tatu za afrika mashariki Tanzania, Kenya na Uganda na baadaye ikawakaribisha wenzao Rwanda naBurundi katika jumuiya yao.Tukiangalia katika jumuiya hii kila kitu kimekuwa huru kwa nchi zote lakini tujiangalie Watanzania tunaweza kushindana na wenzetu katika soko huria kila mtu anaruhusiwa kuuza bidhaa bila mipaka yoyote.

Tuangalie kwenye soko la pamoja tulilolianzisha je watanzania wanaweza kupeleka bidhaa zenye viwango katka soko ilo? Viwanda vyenyewe tulivyonavyo ni duni. Je bidhaa zitakuwa na kiwango kitakachoweza shindana na bidhaa wanazozalisha wenzetu wa Kenya?

Ajira nazo Je wasomi wetu wa Tanzania wanaweza kupata ajira katika nchi yoyote iliyopo ndani ya jumuiya. Wasomi wengi wa kitanzania wanapata elimu isiyokuwa na viwango mimi naweza kuiita BORA ELIMU na sio ELIMU BORA kama watanzania wengi wanavyofikiria.

Bado WATANZANIA tupo nyuma katika ngazi zote za maisha kisiasa, kiuchumi, kijamii.Elimu imekuwa kama biiashara serikali yetu inataka kuona watoto wote wanaenda shule bila kujua wanatengeneza nchi ya wapumbavu elimu inayotolewa leo ni tofauti na elimu iliyokuwa inatolewa miaka kumi iliyopita.

maoni yangu ni kwamba ni lazima serikali iwawezeshe wananchi wake siyo kufuraia kuingia kwenye soko la pamoja, kuwa na fedha moja,kuwa na serikali moja watanzania tutarudi katika kipindi cha ukoloni tena tukitawaliwa na wenzetu wa Afrika.Serikali yetu ni lazima ijiakikishie kuwa tunapata faida tunapotaka kujiingiza katika soko la pamoja na kuifanya afrika mashariki kuwa nchi moja.Tusisukumwe na matukio na ni lazima serikali ikae na wananchi wake na kupata maoni, serikali ni lazima iwasaidie watanzania pale wanapotaka kuwekeza katika sekta mbalimbali kwa maslahi ya taifa na sio kuwapuuza ni lazima iimarishe viwanda viweze kuzalisha bidhaa zenye viwango ili zikubalike katika soko hilo la pamoja pia ni lazima iweke msisitizo katika elimu wasomi waweze kupata elimu bora ili waweze kulikomboa taifa na sio kutegemea wawekezaji kutoka Kenya kuja kuwekeza na kufanya kazi tanzania kitu ambacho kitakuwa tishio kwa wasomi wa Tanzania kwani itapelekea wasomi wengi kukosa ajira na kuweza kupelekea machafuko katika nchi.

ASANTE.

What I observe as Tanzania ,we must look things beyond the box what are comparative and absolute advantages of these for Tanzania as the country or as individuals,secondly government and people are to take further steps in creating awareness of why we go or we champion for federation/common market/monetary union and how common Tanzanians from his job/daily economic activities can leap the benefits and other

We Tanzanians need to be proactive and be ahead of others to use opporttunities and read through the documents so that we can advice the government acordingly,lets fear not but take things and drive them to our advantage.

Every country is for themselves/yourself whether are Europeans/Americans or fellow blacks, lets prepared for the task.

Currently we see brands of our fellow East Africans around us why not ours go around them ?

Lets prepare for that challenge.

now for today is enough.

Let me call a day

Andrew Punjila

I think we really need to think hard here. As I have said, there are global forces that are happening. These are strong and there is no one country that will survive them. Countries have to adapt. Some of these forces are natural. For instance population growth which is again coupled with urbanization. This implies that an increasing number of people will leave the rural areas in search of "better life" in the cities.

In here lies the challenge or changa motto. Tanzania has to develop its rural agriculture. The current model is that of small-scale agriculture. Therefore, the challenge is to find a model that works for small-scale farmers. This is the big challenge.

Let us stop and think a bit members. In Zimbabwe, there is a big population that is landless but there are some people who are Zimbabweans who hold land. In Kenya many landlords are Kenyans. Therefore its the system that has to be looked at rather than the origin of people, foreigners or not foreigners. The point I am making is that peace will come with equitable and fair share of resources and a good standard of living.

Let us ask ourselves, why is it that these rural areas where most people are landowners are also poorer that urban areas where many people are just laborers? In the cities the majority do not own assets. They rent houses, they do not have capital investments etc. Despite this, we see rural-urban migration. People think life is better in the city. This might of course be debatable.

We also need to grasp what is happening. May be its too early but the idea is that you will have one country at the end of the day, the so called "United States of Africa". The plan is to build regional units first.

In conclusion the point I am emphasizing is that its not really an issue of foreigners versus non-foreigners. Its enough to put restrictions against foreigners buying land. What is crucial is to find policies, support services and legislation that will enable the smallholders of Tanzania use land profitably and also for the consumers and industries ( local and regional) to have access to quality food and raw materials respectively. This way Tanzania will benefit from its land resource. Otherwise the current approach might be counter-productive where Tanzania fails to get the much needed agricultural investments and technology that it so badly needs.

Kelly

Dear Monica and Members,

Its very good that Monica has emphasized re-looking at the land question.  As we discuss this land issue, let us appreciate at the back of our minds what is really happening, lets us understand the global trends.  The quest for resources is growing; demand is increasing and yet these resources are diminishing.  Food is slowly becoming the new "oil".

Factors that are responsible for the rush to invest in agriculture land or land acquisition include the following:

1. demand for alternative sources of energy ie bio fuels in the face of high oil prices
2. the increasing food prices of 2007 and the first half of 2008.
3. the high cost of land in other areas compared to Africa where land is still cheap
4. the population pressures or increasing population in the rich countries that do not have enough arable land to feed this growing population.

This drive is being championed by the rich countries but also some gulf countries simply because they have the resources to carry out big investments.  However, lets be warned that this phenomenon is also happening withing countries where rich local capitalists are acquiring and in certain cases " grabbing " land for agricultural investment.

The target of course is those African countries that have large arable land that is lying idle. How therefore can Tanzania and such countries benefit from this resource?

The onus is on the host county to make sure that it puts in place policy and legislative framework that maximizes benefits and minimizes costs or losses.  It is not enough to say "No" to these investments.  The approach should be to sieze the opportunities and utilize them.  And again this is where Africa is losing out.  How?

If you talk and read the minds of investing countries/private companies you will find that they are not concerned much about the high prices but rather by the inability of the current institutions to guarantee qualify supplies.  They are worried about the failure of markets to deliver?  And these are the rural and national market systems in the production countries.

There is an irony that I do not understand here.  Our governments are aiming at reducing poverty, rural poverty and they are talking about markets; farmers are saying they need markets so as to produce. why can't these countries see these markets?  why cant these countries take the driving sit? 

Even if they do not have the capital to invest, they can strike win-win deals, they can negotiate from a point of strength since they have the land.  I have read that one of the positive things attributed to Col Ghadafi is the revolution he introduced in the oil sector.  Can the current leaders learn something here?

It is not enough for Tanzania to say land belongs to Tanzanians and make it difficult for investors to access it.  It is better if Tanzania actually leads and woes investors but then create a sort of partnership with the local producers so that they too can access these markets through big companies.

What Tanzania should do is to attract big processors who can set up big facilities assure them of some nucleus farm but then organize outgrowers to feed these factories.

Let us indeed appreciate what the govt did by not allowing outright purchase.  This was great.

There is another scenario to this.  For this to be effective there is need for the whole continent to have a common ground.  It will be bad if other countries encourage outright purchase as investors will run there.

Having said that, it is still a tricky subject.  A tremendous and "smart" effort will be needed to support cooperative organizations that can supply needed raw materials to industry. Big investors will be looking to where they can control production and be assured of a return on investment.  It has to be give and take for all parties concerned.

Kelly

While I agree that land issues need to be carefully handled. My view is that land is not only connected to the economic empowerments of of Tanzanians but is more critical in ensuring longer peace of this nation.

Remember it is a final destination of all who do not get employment in other non-farm jobs. Zimbabwians fought to get thier land back. In zimbabwe it reached a level of abusing the land as a person could hold a whole district like may be Kigoma rural and just use it a tourist site while others do not have even a one squre area for cultivation. Kenyans are crying because most of the land is in the habds of very few people who in some cases do not even exhaust the use of it.

So Tanzanians should learn from all these problems and completely avoid giving land to foreigners. A rule should be put in place such that, any foreigner can use land that is own by a Tanzanian under agreement that a contract will be revised every after five years under strict supervision of the local people with technical support from the ministry of land. That is, in the absence of a indigenous owner, the land is returned to the locals who will enter into a new agreement. The use of this type of land must be taxed and part of the tax collected should go to the local inhabitants of the village to ensure effective follow up

Yes
Kelly, this is eye opener,
should there be no right policies on the land protection and use of course in that event know the modest Tanzanians are only that will be on the loose side.
Lets protect our land and open rest of production means. we may share labour forces and capital but not our land. there should be clear land policy before it is exposed to the entire East Africa Community. Tanzania is still not yet to match footing with the rest countries in the Community. First understand that we are still having socialism hangover. our friends have experienced capitalism long years ago.
let us have critical thinking on it.
No land no life , but land without use is of course non sense

Eddy

Land is a very delicate subject indeed when it comes to be included in the EAC. Tanzania has a large area compared to other members of the EAC. Therefore there will a need for other farmers from member countries to come to Tanzania and utilise (our) land. This action will open a sort of competition between Tanzania farmers and foreign farmers.

What the government can do is to lease the land for a period of 99 years to foreign farmers who are members of EAC. This will be in the same way as we lease land for mining activities to foreign mining companies that are operating in Tanzania.

On the other hand the government and banks should help our farmers so that they can engage in large scale farming using modern technology and equipment.

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

On the other hand, Tanzania can benefit if it harnesses the necessary technologies and money needed to utilize the land and produce goods to sell to the rest of the countries at a cheaper cost.  Let us look at the rural farmer in Tanzania today. Is he/she in a position to utilize the land available efficiently?  Are these resource constrained farmers able to access global markets, regional or even national markets?

It is unfortunate that with the current increase in prices, Africa is not using one of its major resources - land - to grow and sell food to the rest of the world.  And by the way, not only does land produce food but it also can produce other "cheaper" and alternative products for non-food industry.

In short without the right policies, good planning and infrastructures land might be a curse rather than a blessing to Tanzania!

Kelly

“TRA blamed for Dar port poor service delivery, By The Guardian Reporter 17th March 2011”

This issue has been a matter of concern for at least last 3/4 years. In fact even the Pres called a special one-day off-site on this issue - 2008(?)

TRA/ SUMATRA /TICTS have taken some very good steps and the situation eased a tad.

The current crop of issues arises because TRA have taken over the ID assessement /certification functions, that were hitheerto done by COTECNA. Which is again very good. It is TRA function and is cost effectively done by TRA. 

The problem starts when TRA starts working on a "different" objective. 

After doing good work for a year now, TRA is working to "INCREASE" its revenue collection by upping valuations of consignments -leading to disputes and lengthening of queues at the Port.

we are our own enemies.

Victor D 

Dar Port, Dar Port, Dar Port !!!

Everyone is complaining about Dar es Salaam port, I think what is happening at the Port has two important causes: -

- Lack of or weak accountability system

- Limited infrastructure capacity. Everyone contends that investment in the expansion of the Port has not kept pace with economic expansion of the Region espacially backhaul operations (rail, warehouse, etc.). Too much emphasis on privatisation might have affected prioritization of resources needed to expand the Port. The Government needs to view the port and ancillalry facilities as a precursors to appended basic transport facilities. We have a 2012 Road Master Plan, how is it linked to the port expansion? One study established that a number of goods including fertiliser is expensive in Tanzania because of low offloading capacity caused by poor storage and haulage infrastructure makes ship turn around time higher than other ports, hence higher charges that are passed over to the consumers or as the case of fertilisers to the Government in form on subsidy.

Let me however talk more on the first point - weak accountability system. At one time I was forced to follow up my imported item following excessive delays at the Port. What I discovered was simply a reflection of the Tanzanians of the past trying to fit in todays operation where  speed is key. Unless something has happened, there used to be COMPLETELY no management control system at the Port that could put every worker accountable. It was been just business as usual, Jaribu Kesho, Labda Kesho, Nani hii hayupo, etc.  Go and witness how clearing and forwarding staff congest the Long Room and Port offices. Some of the operations that could be consolidated at one point are miles apart, no electronic connectivity among departments albeit to provide near realtime feedback about consignee shipment status and location. NONE. You always have to ask someone verbally where could your file be at a particular time. Many staff percieve serving clients more or less as a favour and not their contractual obligation. Unless something is done, expanding the facilities alone can not help, instead I suggest the following: -

- make detailed assessment of operations at the port

- find out how far are they from optimal/benchamarked performance of other similar Ports

- explain where are the constraints (sections/departments)

- what are the dufferences between well-performing ports and ours in those departments?

- what kind of people do we have at the Port (demographic, education, experience, etc) as comapred to well performing ports - please don't underrate this factor!

- what management control systems are in place?

- how effective have the systems been? 

Dear TAKNET participants,

I come into  this forum rather lately, but may be I have the advantage of having gone through many contributions made others on  the topic.

My conclusion is that there are many benefits to be derived by Tanzania from the EAC market, almost in everything (we  purposely were asked to mention the benefits and not the losses). It therefore befalls on the Tanzania government to do three things:

(a)   to task the EAC ministry to  come up with a strategy  on how Tanzania will reap the potential benefits of the EAC market, and to insist that these benefits will not flow to us like the biblical manna from heaven.  

(b)    to realize that there are essentially two levels of players in the EA integration  process:(i) the level of government and its institutions who coordinate, facilitate and/or finance trade and investments   and (ii) the level of the private sector, i.e. individuals citizens and foreigners ,who purvey numerous goods and services to and from the neighbouring countries, and

(c)    to make formal contacts and agreements with other states and their  institutions in the neighbouring countries that are of basic interests to our country.

In this limited space, I would rather confine my comments to the role of the Tanzania government, particularly in carrying out its duties strategically. This has to be done at two horizons, namely:  (i) when faced with short-term exigencies (e.g. plugging up government revenue gaps with tax measures or restricting food exports to neighboring countries) BUT ensuring that  strategizing also requires that  we look at  (ii) the  long-term interests of our country as well e.g. to place Tanzania products in a  vantage position for to morrow  in the EAC market, or  that if we plan to construct a new central railway line for Rwanda and Burundi , we should  not  simultaneously run down our existing TRL line as we still need it during the construction of the new railway line.

Such a strategic process requires a highly disciplined government machinery that is focused strategically on the target of EA integration in its daily activities, while walking a tight rope of balancing this focus with other vital priorities of national development..   It also requires that we have  think tanks and an NGO community that can provide the government with critical reflections on events that are taking place in the process of EAST African integration. It also requires an inquisitive citizenry to know what is happening around them here in Tanzania and in the other EAC countries.

Deo Mutalemwa

Thanks taknet its my fitst time. Though I m not a keen follower of East African Community, i do not stay innocent on the matter though. On the benefit Tanzania has on EAC i have one pivotal benefit. EAC competition will make sleepy Tanzanians wake on the question of competition. Especially labour quality competition. though i do not want to think it is true all best managers or professionals are from outside Tanzania, i do know for sure there are many potential people around. But our problem the rate at which individuals produced is too slow. and , though now the trend has reversed, many individuals some professionals in offices like to take the matter of competence too light otherwise we would not have witnessed lackaidsical attitudes from some individuals in service.

Nonetheless i believe our problem has complex roots not befitting looking at just on the surface, the fear for Tanzanians young population in the impeding EAC competition is genuine for the following is true, teachers from primary school are poorly up to secondary school are poorly paid, and no books ( academic and general reading) in libraries if no libraries at all in government schools which intake majority of students. at this rate of quality do not be surprised if our young fail to compete. of course many young one are responding well by building up competencies but our education is the one one one or two aspects feeding the failure syndrome among us young people. i would have hoped due to this threat the state would have regretted and made amends but i do not see adequate amends, though i must comment hizi shule za kata is just one way forward, but for sure if the state would heed my call should redirect all unnecessary expenditures to revolutionise education . for sure our education is not like our parents, ours (young people) is surely half baked the education we received from the state through its secondary schools which feed the university system.

“TRA blamed for Dar port poor service delivery

By The guardian reporter

17th March 2011

The Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) yesterday expressed dismay over ineffective and poor communication in revenue collection systems employed by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) at the Dar es Salaam Port, saying they largely contributed to ship congestion and poor delivery of shipping services.

Industrialists through their umbrella body (CTI) are completely upset by poor systems and pressed the TRA to install new and more effective documentation and revenue collection systems to get rid of the crowding of ships at the port.”

________________________________________________________________________
Such a report is not good for Tanzania at all. Shipping agents will avoid Dar es Salaam port and off load their goods at Mombasa, Kenya. This means the price of those goods will be very high in Tanzania. If farming equipment are going to be delivered in this way our farmers will not be able to compete in the EAC markets since their products would be expensive. On the other hand there will be unemployment problems at the Dar es Salaam port.

The economy of Tanzania as a country depends on several things. If these things (factories,mines,ports,railways,airports,roads,services,power,water, etc) do not function properly there will be always everlasting  economical problems! In that case Tanzanians cannot completely be able to compete in the EAC market!

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

What Kelly and Fungo are telling us is that we can start creating new industries in Tanzania so that we can compete in the EAC. But we must understand all these new industries will need realisable electricity in order to have a smooth operation and have profits. Therefore we can’t escape the need of fixing our power problems.

Indeed the private sector is the one that can bring changes and developments in Tanzania. Yes we can grow tomatoes throughout the year under green house using water from our rivers/lakes or drill holes. Processing plants will also require clean water. Making orange juice, apple juice, mango juice, and coconut juice is quite possible in Tanzania. Once a foreign investor wanted to build a coconut juice and orange juice processing plant in Tanga he faced a lot of problems from corrupt Tanga officials and at last he gave up the idea. This was almost five years ago! We would have been producing various juices for our internal market as well as external market.

If you are outside Tanzania you can get all the information regarding registration of a company at the website of Tanzania Embassy. The Tanzania Embassy in London has a very good website. Registration of a company is a bit complicated process and takes time and money (you have to include corruption)!I have myself tried to register a company in Tanzania!

It is a wonder that Arab countries produce petroleum and juices found in our markets although they are experiencing a desert climate. I was in Oman some years ago and I was surprised to find they have flowers and grass along their high ways. They are watering the road side frequently to keep the grass green.

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

Dear Taknet members.

This is really interesting!!!  I think we will get there.  I like Sima's practical examples of the oranges.  Actually I did work with an international organization that works in Africa to reduce consumer and produce risks, enhance crop quality and productivity and generate wealth from Agriculture.  Africa is so advantaged that it does not really need to re-invent the wheel, but only to adapt what is available.

Yes the oranges, and let us pose a question here, what does it take to set up a fruit processing factory? Really what does it take?  Go to supermarkets today and you will see a lot of juices from the Arab world which is supposed to be a desert anyway?  Why should value-added products and services flow in one direction into Africa and money and raw materials flow outward?

Look at the timber or wood sector that my brother Sima points out.  There are a lot small-scale guys making furniture etc and the quality is not too bad.  They need a little bit of support to make fantastic stuff of a good quality.

Therefore I think we should not only say Government has a big role to play.  I really do not agree with this.  We all have a big role to play, each according to his ability etc, according to his role.  The economy is driven by the private sector but the public has a big role to set the pace and balance this growth, to enable those who cannot come on board do so, to identify each talent and put in place an environment that enables it to grow.  This is the invincible hand or the "grand lever" in the Chinese economy.

Governments are not good researchers and they are not good business guys. What government should do is put in place an enabling environment.  And by the way the citizenry have a big role to play here by being pro-active and engaging government. For instance, the academia, research and businesses should conduct market research and clearly put forward a case of what needs to be in place or done.  I have not seen serious information regarding what really needs to be done by sector to make it competitive.  If one such exists for any industry please I will be glad to be advised.  I mean a complete sub-sector analysis saying what and how it should be done.  We only talk of adding value, making policies but we need to say exactly what value, where and what particular policies and what can be the impact of this policies.  I am talking about serious market research.

I earlier on referred to the cost of doing business and indeed of starting one.  Let me ask, how much does it cost to register a business in Tanzania in terms of time, money and process?  And then has there been good effort to disseminate this knowledge to the wanainchi and in a language that they understand?

I really think this think tank which would include members from all sectors can really spearhead the research to inform government.  Not only this, it can help private sector get off the ground by providing information. It can sort of be a one stop center for where Tanzania was, is and is going in terms of trends.

Kelly.

Dear All,

I would like to contribute to this educative topic with the following few ideas.

Contrarily to what many thinks, Tanzania is a Sleeping Giant which in the future it will become a supper power in this region only if some issues are addressed in the correct way. I will dwell on agriculture which is employer number 01 in Tanzania.Opportunities are many just to list a few then I will explain on few of them.

• Market_Tanzania Internal Market.
  

• Land_Virgin Land.
  

• Diverse Climatic Condition.
  

• The People_Development Thirsty Generation.
  

• Communication/Infrastructure.

Markets. We have the largest internal market which is being the target of the partner states. Being in EAC increases the possibilities of enlarging further this market. The people should see this from a positive angle, in Kenya for example Tomatoes are very expensive than the Tanzanian side. One should see how we can minimise cost of production while ensuring quality of the products. Tomatoes Paste industry in Tanzania are working under capacity. We have a lot of Tomato Ketch ups in the Stores from Kenya. Farmers and the Factories should take this opportunity to produce more for the East Africa Market.

Virgin Land. We have a virgin land almost in every region of this country which is the envy of Western Powers.Opportunity exist for producing Organic Products and feed the ever-growing Educated/Middle income population in EAC. The government/NGO should educate the community and have them equipped with relevant information.

Diverse climatic condition. Means we can produce for the EAC and Feed the region even beyond EAC. It is possible to produce almost every thing year round. It is possible the government should set the Tone. For the dreams to be realised Communication Facilities should be there: roads, telephones, and Internet and news papers. Prices of various products should for example be issued periodically, TVs should be telling us the prices of goats in Mtwara for instance. The scarcity of passion in the northern zone and the overproduction in the southern zone.

Mkonge wa Taifa should be in line with establishment of Information Centres. Internet and Mobile Service providers should keep on lowering cost to allow the people have access to the vital information concerning demand and supply.

Roads connecting regions should be completed the soonest.

This generation is Thirsty of Development, de

Dear Taknet members!

Sure indeed bwana Makango is right.  I mean let this think tank get exactly what the current situation is, what the current policy say, what the trends are so that we debate and contribute more information and come up with concrete recommendations.  In this way, we will help Goverment or force our governments.  At least they will not claim that they do not know what the stakeholders are yearning for and why?

And by the way with this ICT in place, its easier to debate? 

For instance, we are doing so now and its really broad, but imagine if it were some specific aspect of the economy.  It would be possible to exhaust it thoroughly and come up with concrete examples and a way forward.

Kelly

Dear TAKNET Members,

Thanks Bibi Marja-Liisa Swantz for your observation on the education system where the government decided to do away with practical subjects. Could this be one of the reasons why Tanzanians (less educated and highly educated) not benefiting adequately from the common market? the what should be done? what is the education system from other countries in European Union, Asia or Latin America are they implementing practical subjects from primary school?

The other point which is contagious once it comes under World Trade Organization Rules is "protection policy". This point was first brought in by Grants as he was arguing in support of small farmers and processing plant to access local market. The same point "protection policy" was again supported by Kelly. Do we advise the government to formulate protection policy in favour of small farmers and small processing plants against larger businesses in the region? if it was to be done what type of crops should be protected?, what type of processing plants should be protected? What type of protection instruments should be used for Tanzania to benefit from the common market? 

I welcome you to share more with the rest of the members!

Thanks Bibi Marja in bringing up the so called “Practical education”. I was myself partly educated during the colonial times and I remember we had Carpentry lessons both theoretical and practical. During these lessons we could make our own chairs and repair our desks. We had what was called middle school ( class V to VIII) and it was during these 4 years where carpentry was taught to all in the school.

Yes Mr.Maro, Sweden is a member of European Union and benefit from the EU common market. It’s farmers receive subsidiaries from EU as well as loans so that they can develop their farms. Shall Tanzania farmers expect to get loans from EAC so that they can expand their farms and engage on large scale irrigation farming?

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

Dear Taknet members. 

This is great!  And this is exactly why I think we need a think tank a real and sustainable all time "think tank"  As I said you will notice that what we are doing now is too broad which is okay to let people talk and brainstorm.  But I think we need to take this further so that its well concluded.  We need to tackle topic by topic with a clear agenda and from an informed point of view, to review our failures and successes so that we learn lessons and this review can extend to other countries.  From this think tank, we will even be able to generate or win grants to do research etc so that we inform the stakeholders and the public in general.

Bwana Massaga raises very intresting and hard questions.  And indeed if for instance we were looking at the inputs sector for agriculture you can imagine the amount of work and information we would need to come up with solutions.  For instance, the guys from Kibo or someone can get us this information.  We can look at how seed is produced in Tanzania or what is the problem, etc?

We have been having topics and of course closing them probably before all contributions come in.  I really think at some point, the organizers should pick out these topics, start the think tank so that we continue to find answers to our problems.  Development is a continuous thing and also research and ideas and information sharing.

Kelly

Tanzania made the big mistake of abolishing the practical subjects from primary schools. During the colonial times the students were taught to use their hands and learn practical skills. Until now the children grow up with no ordinary tools available in their homes. In schools they are nowadays sent out to the field to cultivate with hoes, but there is no teaching of use of agricultural tools other than hoes which they already know. The Study za kazi potentially would give an opportunity for teaching something practical but there are no tools for doing it.

The outcome is that people are nominally educated, but have no capability of fixing broken things. There is no culture of repairs. The schools have whoie rooms full of broken desks, which not only take space but stand there because no one knows what to do with them-.
A Parakuyo Maasai wanted to show that he was different. He built a double story mud house. He cultivated tomatoes and maize, but then figured out how to lead water from the riverlet runnig in the neighborhood. He had his Kwere neighbours  dig a deep ditch and no one believed he would have estimated the level right but he had and in this way he could fill a deep hole with water from which they lifted the water to the large area in which he planted every kind of vegetable that could be sold and used by themselves. To my knowledge no district, not even any local officer came to admire the ingenious work, as he was just a 'Mkwavi'.

The ordinary Tanzanian does not know what to do when something breaks, because he or she has not been brought up with tools and the inventiveness is in no way encouraged in any sector of schooling. Even VETA aims for skills that can be sold, not used in everyday life.

Bibi Marja Swantz

Dear all

Thanks for the educative contributions.

I woud want to narrow the benefits brought in by the common market into the individual level, me and you.  I see a number of opportunities being available to invidual Tanzanians in terms of employment and entreneurship opportunities. I provide my few comments below:

Employment opportunities

Opportunities to work in any of the EA countries will now be available to competent Tanzanians. I stress the word compentent. I know is big challenge for us to compete with our neigbours because of some weaknesses in our soft and leadership skills. Our attitude towards work is sometimes also not very positive.  But I still beleive some sharp and competent Tanzanias will now easily get opportunities to work in the other EA countries.  My understanding is that multinationals running businesses in EA are interested in competent staff without regard of nationalities.

Entrepreneurship opportunities

The opportunity offered in entrepreneurship is a large market for goods or services and a large workforce.  It will now be easy to take your business into the other EA countries with few cross border complications. The opportunity is even far better to people who are involved in modern businesses like network marketing where you don't have to hire employees but you need to build a team of business partners.  I know a few Tanzanians who are now making serious money from Burundi through this system of getting business partners in another country who you can train over the internet, phone and some few vistings  and the business keeps growing.

Those are the two areas I wanted to touch.

I will appreciate your contributions.

Kind regards

Jiduma.

Dear Taknet members!

Sure indeed bwana Makango is right.  I mean let this think tank get exactly what the current situation is, what the current policy say, what the trends are so that we debate and contribute more information and come up with concrete recommendations.  In this way, we will help Goverment or force our governments.  At least they will not claim that they do not know what the stakeholders are yearning for and why?

And by the way with this ICT in place, its easier to debate? 

For instance, we are doing so now and its really broad, but imagine if it were some specific aspect of the economy.  It would be possible to exhaust it thoroughly and come up with concrete examples and a way forward.

Kelly

Seeds...it is only the iceberg of the problem.

Priorities in agric transformation are simply not right. I was in mwanza along the lake Victoria shore few months ago. The farmers have very small pieces of land but hardly harvet anything due to unreliable rains and hence drought. They are next to the lake waters about 10 -20 meters away but cannot use it. AND yet, the agriculture officer was asking people to contribute for thee purchase of a POWER TILLER! These people could hardly raise the 20% money needed  as own contribution and were asking me if I can buy the tlller on their behalf! for what?

But do you think power tiller is the solution to these people? Why not sell  them water pumps for small scale irrigation to be na uhakika wa kuvuna kwenye sehem zao kidogo. But when we asked them (bwana kilimos)  to change these priorities they only said this was outside their mandate...they have been instructed to sell power tiller jamani!

So you see how we shall miss the East Africa marekt opportuntiy

Makongo

Dear TAKNET members

I would like to reiterate important policy issues judging from your contributions. On my previous posting I requested contributions to narrow down to the benefit of Common Market arrangement to Tanzania and challenges presented in this development. There are quit many posting that real raise issues which need critical thinking. Hebron Mwakalinga was concerned on political economy landscape of the region. he is the proposing for the harmonization of individual country’s political system for maximization of the common market benefits. Currently there are differences on constitutions and presidential tenure some five and other seven years. How can political system affect the benefits of the common market arrangement?

On the other hand Hebron raised an intriguing policy issues which in my interpretation it means leader think once there is common market then social benefits are given. Common market has bearing of both economic and social dimensions. i.e. free movement of labor and capital. Many development economists argue often the social part is taken as residual and is shadowed by economic policies. This is commonly the practice even in this common market arrangement judging from the policy discussion around the region. Important social issues which determine the whether citizen benefit from the common market or not like labor standards, minimum wages, working environment, etc are not discussed or even trying to set standards across member states. I would like to hear more from other contributors.

I support of kabuje and rest for bringing up issue of education sector where the government is struggling to balance between ” efficiency and equity”. According to your contributions education seems to be one of the challenges for enhancing participation of Tanzanians in the regional development due to poor quality. Some contributors termed postponing exclusion domestically and regionally among the poor.

There are important for improvement where the government and Tanzanians can work on to fully benefit from the common market. I would like to note Kelly’s comment on the strengthening of institutions based on our comparative and competitive factors. E.g. Developing alternative sources of power generation to lower expenses in manufacturing industries and call off power rationing (Dr. Omari Khamis and kabuje). Kelly urges increase of public spending in strategic areas e.g Un tapped agricultural potentials – irrigation, exports, processing and larger scale farming (Grant Stuart). Investment in logistic i.e. development of harbors and roads that links with land locked countries in the region. Japhet Makongo stressed on the importance of changing attitudes and behavior to become social – economic enterprising individuals.

As we keep thinking of what to write I would like to acknowledge the good contributions I have received. They form real good points for availing policy improvement and avenues for doing business. Our discussions could be enriched if we also bring experiences from other countries which fairly resemble Tanzania on how they were able to benefit from common market arrangement.

Dear TAKNET contributors,

It's always very interesting to read contributions posted on this forum. Thanks for your time and energy you dedicate in sharing ideas with the rest of EAC community members. I have gone through all the contributions from the first to the last and realized most of your ideas are food for thoughts to our Ministry development planners and also towards strengthening of the EAC cooperation. 

I am pleased to note that as the discussion progress, it also get focused on the”Benefits of Common markets offers to Tanzania”. Initially as I was reading fears sunk in thinking the discussion was derailed toward single currency and political federation of the EAC. I would like contributions to bring into surface issues of tapping the opportunities from EAC common market and how to overcome the challenges along the way.

So far the contributions are evenly spread among the key questions of the topic under discussion. I am optimistic that there will be good driving home messages to policy makers and importantly our EAC technocrats’ and bureaucrats’. This is our role as research institutions as Japhet Makongo commented and later amplified by Kelly Wanda. The challenge which was also underscored modestly by other contributors is effective dissemination to all citizens. I wish political leaders could do publicity of key issues on how to benefit from the common market in similar way as political issues. Probably we wouldn’t have problems in effective dissemination of important information’s.

I absolutely agree with Kelly Wanda suggestion on getting on board relevant ministries staff to enlighten the discussion and importantly updating forum participants. I will carry forward the suggestions forward and I will keep you posted. However for the latest informations and various key documents on EAC kindly visit www.eac.int and www.tzonline.org for Tanzania policy documents.

I completely agree with you Mr.Mwakalinga that we Tanzanians are not serious. We know these climatic changes and what is causing them. That it is nowadays difficult to depend on rain periods and the same time we should thus not depend on hydroelectric power. We don’t want admit that there modern technologies regarding power generation.

One of the causes of the climatic changes is that The African Plate (Continent) moves slowly towards north east. This means the Sahara type of climate moves southwards .This is affecting Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania. The same forces that are causing this continental   movements are causing earth quakes in our East African Rift Valley and other countries like the recent earth quake in New Zealand.

Scientifically Tanzania (and East Africa) is going to face constant climatic changes due to dry periods and rain shortages for many years. We have to be prepared for this situation. That is one of the reasons I have several times insisted on irrigation farming since we have several lakes(Tanganyika,Victoria,Nyasa) and many rivers that can be employed in facilitating irrigation.

Secondly our open pit mines could be turned to water reservoirs when mining activities have ceased. In this way we can use the mine pumps in pumping water to farms close to the mined area. This means for example the Tanga Cement Open pit could be used as water reservoir once the cement production has been completed.

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

Thanks Mr.Massaga.Your questions are very interesting and need to be answered. First of all how can a Kibo seed Co Ltd be a Kenyan company since the name Kibo originates from Tanzania. We have(or had) the Kibo Match in Moshi. If Tanzania is waiting for seeds of maize from Kenya that is the biggest mistake the Ministry of Agriculture is making.As a geologist sent by STAMICO to work at the Sekenke Gold Mines located in Kiomboi I acted also as a small farmer and I grew maize and vegetables and I could feed my field camp in Wundanyi without problems while people in Dodoma by that time were facing food problems!

If the Singida farmers can grow maize in the so called Wembere depression (that is the valleys down from the Sekenke Mountains) they could supply the whole country with seeds of maize and use the rest as food. Rice is also grown in parts of this depression. The area has one rain period

Yes I do agree completely with Kelly concerning foreign large scale farmers. If invite them into Tanzania there is a great tendency that they will kill the efforts of our small farmers. The only way to go about this problem is to organize our small farmers in a sort of cooperative large scale farming using modern technology of irrigation farming and modern equipment but not hoe. Here I can give the example of our foreign mining companies in Tanzania. They are using modern equipment and technology in mining gold and other minerals. They are making a lot of profit but this profit does not help Tanzanians in their development. We have also small scale miners who are mostly Tanzanians who are not using modern mining technology and are always being faced by mine accidents! Had we organized these small miners in the form of a big mining company with modern equipment and technology, they could mine gold, Tanzanite, nickel, copper and operate in large scale mining. Their mining profit would remain in the country and help reducing poverty.

Dr.khamis

Sweden

Seeds ......

and in Mbeya there is Highland Seed Company , there are others e.g. Pannar, etc. Why was it just Kibo? I would have expected food security to be a priority hence even resources directed to strengthening forecasting and planning capacity. Knowledge about weather uncertainity had been  clear for quite sometime. Why did we fail to factor in when planning the distribution of seeds to the gran basket zone?

Let us be serious jamani - it is the same situation that we knew that there will be serious dry spell that will decimate power supply (Refer warning from Dr. Iddris Rashid), we buried our heads in the sand, in February we wake up to plan for emergency power supply! Inashangaza sana!!

MUNGU IBARIKI TANZANIA

Hebron Mwakalinga

Dear members this is my first time to air out my contributions to this forum I remain to be corrected if I will go beyond.
There are plenty of benefit available , exist for Tanzania within the East African Common Market, BUT.
I was shocked with the answers by the former Minister for Agriculture and Live stocks Mr.Steven Wasira through media(Star TV) ,when he was responding to the questions raised to him by suthern highland maize growers(farmers) complained that there was a shortage of maize seeds supply(2009) that could not satisfy their demand.  live he announced that its was quiet true that there was a short suply of maize seeds to the farmers due to the reasons that the main supplier of the seeds is a Kenyan based company(Kibo seed Co Ltd) whereby they could not supply as per demand because there was a huge drought at their home country which necessitated to cut off big amount of tones which was supposed to be supplied to Tanzania so that to be utilized in Kenya in order to combat their problems.My questions are:- 1.where is  CARGILL TANZANIA LIMITED which was a main supplier of the seeds in Tanzania,what happened that its no longer in existence in seed supply?. 2.Geographically Tanzania is big in terms of area coverage it has surface of area coverage of (sq.km)(thousands) 947.3 compared to Kenya which has 580.4 (sq.km)(thousands) surface area.Tanzania land its all fertile while Kenyan land is half fertile and half almost a desert. how then come a contry with un fertile land,with small number of population-labour force supply seeds to Tanzania?

Again of recently I was shocked when the current minister for Agriculture and live stocks through media he announced that Tanzania is using  lot of money to finance Kenya based company Kibo seed limited  for farm implements??????

Tanzania General Tyre can benefit by supplying its highly demanded tares to the East African Common marker. my question is where is general Tyre is??? why YANA Tyre is existing who is behind ?????

Tanzania business community must now look outside of the box and understand that business is a war and not otherwise

kuna ujasusi wa kibiashara unaoweza kufanyika je watanzaina tumejiandaaje na ujasusi wa kibiashara.ili kuzuia mambo yasituharibikie??

            Best Regards,

            Alphonce D. Massaga

Indeed Mr.Kabuje our ports can play a good role in being competitive in EAC. At the moment people are avoiding Dar es Salaam and Tanga ports and instead goods that are supposed to enter Tanzania are off loaded in Mombasa and being transported by road to Tanga and Dar es Salaam. A new Tanga port is on construction and probably this will attract business men when completed.

But this is not enough we have to modernise our railway system. Had we reliable electricity and spread to different parts of our country we could aim at fast moving trains with a speed of 200km/h. These are actually electrical trains that would have revolutionised our transport system and make it cost effective. It could enable us to run several trains a day in different directions, from Dar es Salaam and Tanga. We would also be the first EAC-country to have this modern technology of fast moving train and attract more customers from EAC.

On agriculture I would like Tanzanians themselves to engage on large scale farming and using irrigation farming. Modern farming as we have in Denmark requires that a farmer (sometimes) has to generate his own electricity by using Wind Mills. As Denmark is willing to introduce this technology in Tanzania we can have some sort of co operative farming in our villages so as to operate large scale mixed farming (including cattle-goat-sheep and milk processor in a farm). In this way our villages can be self sufficient in food and have excess for export to EAC- countries.

Yes Oranges from Muheza-Tanga and various fruits from Lushoto(Tanga) could find market not only in East African countries but also in Europe.

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

Dear Kabuje,

With regards to you comments on agriculture.

I am a commercial farmer in South Africa, I milk approximately 1000 cows and have Banana and Macadamia Crops (about 100 hectares).  Farming in South Africa is not easy as we do not have the best soils and our soils and rainfall does not match the soils and rainfall of East Africa. Yet, we manage to compete globally on costs of production and our product quality can be benchmarked with the rest of the world...this means to compete is essentialy driven by innovation and information sharing.

I have recently driven 18000 kilometres basically to Uganda and Back via Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya and spent most of my time in Tanzania.

My point is this, your country is sitting on agricultural resources better than South Africa's that need to be better utilized. I was gob smacked to see all the water and Land being wasted by inneficient small scale farming.  I would sujjest the formation of Community trusts to engage with commercial agriculture and create a win win partnership. We are trying hard in South Africa to uplift communities in Similair projects. The political support has to be there or this will fail. Politicians need to create markets and to a limited extent protect markets...that is their most important function in the global agricultural village.

As mentioned Farming is not easy...there is a misperception that farming is a pleasant past time and relaxed life style....this stigma needs to be broken and strong commercial farming units need to roll up their sleeves and change the face of the East African Landscape.  East Africa should be a net exporter of food - I will defend this statement based simply on what I have seen combined with my understanding of farming.

Grant Simpson

Mwiru has a point for stressing the need of having a strong leadership of the government ministries. I think we already have the ministry responsible for this..hii ya mzee Sitta. I guess they have the strategy to enable TZ to understand, articulate and engage at varuios stages and opportunities.

What seem to be missing, in our govermment, is how to roll out these beatiful strategies to people who need it.  Perhaps this is where our think tanks--ERSF, REPOA and other Academicians comes in. Bring these stratgies down to earth and let people debate on how helpul they are.

Dear members i do agree with Kelly and just to emphasize that our universities and research insitutions should work hard to generate knowledge and innovations to give us tools for meaningfful engagement in EAC common arrangements. The tools which will be used to increase productivity in agriculture, industries and other sectors. The country should invest in small industries. Small Industries Development Organization, VETA and the like should be sufficiently funded to ensure that population at large is reached for small scale industrial production and products are of the quality which meets market requirements, increase product value.

We witness great loss from our people's harvets being because of lack of markets and some technologies to preserve harvests. We will all remember what happens to oranges in Tanga during harvest season. Machungwa yanaanguka chini, when our neighbours, Kenya buy so many oranges for a takeaway price, they bring them back boxed (the del-montes juice) we buy them in supermarkets for so much money. Ukienda Iringa huko wakenya wamejaa vijijini huko wanachukua mbao kwa wanakijiji kwa bei ndogo sana kupeleka kwao na kupata mamilioni. Sibagui wao kuja lakini ingekuwa watanzania wametengezewa mazingira mazuri wangeenda kuwauzia hawa hawa wakenya huko kwao kwa bei nzuri zaidi. Relevant authorities should act on these issues
 
Think tanks which continuosly scan and analyse the environment should be formed. There must be deliberate efforts to ensure that we bridge the gap between knowledge generated and use by both politicians, citizens  and decision makers. Proper and effective ways of dissemination of the knowedge and information collected is also important at different levels. 

The role of learning institutions and researchers is critical in this regard. It will be critical that our learning institutions are involved and are sufficiently funded, if we are to benefit from the market. The government has very big role on this.

Dear Kelly and Dr Khamis ,

Thanks for further detailed highlight on the Common market protocol. Again thank you all for detailing on other dimension on Tanzania  business environment challenges.  Kelly posed a big questions on comparative cost of electricity in the EA countries, I am working to find out but I was following television discussion the other day, it say Tanzania has relatively higher power cost compared to Other EA countries. However let me look on the reliable sources (to make sure that its not politics) Kelly came out with ‘think tank’. Yeah, I find quite ok but the way I know the think tank will certainly have advisory role in different dimension of economic and development arena. Basing on Tanzania experience, there is a problem faced by most of the previous think tanks, i.e. extremely few recommendation are taken in consideration in our plans or in the course of implementation of various development programs/process. Thus often times, since the think tank siyo watendaji, they just remain as organ with no or limited utility.

In my view, In addition to think tank, I find Tanzania need to workout the problem of ‘poor management’, from public services to natural resources. At some point, Kenya were leading in exporting Tanzanite’s while the point of production is Tanzania. Same applies in tourism sector…… I also agree with Mwiru that Tanzania need to strengthen the culture of hard working, and not business as usua!! This is one of the ingredients to competitive as would lead to quality services as well as produce.

Dr Khamis, I real agree with you wind power, biomass, biogas and the like should be encouraged because they are cost effective and efficient, which is very important in this arena of competitiveness!

Let me now talk of the agriculture,

Tanzania has relatively large land potential for agriculture, which could be used to grow food crops and feed the East African population estimated to be about 140 million. But with the smallholder farming each acraging 2 to 3 acres of land, it would be impossible for Tanzania to feed EA member states population. It would be ideal if Tanzania could dwell on large scale farmers who would not only be demonstrating good farming husbandry as well as disseminating improved technologies/extension services to outgrowers surrounding these large scale farms. I real agree with Southern growth Corridor (SACGOT) where the government is inviting investor in large scale farming…. Howerver in this case we need to take care with such contract to make sure that are of beneficial to the country!!! As well as surrounding population!! . I believe we will be able to feed the East African population.

In addition to this, Tanzania is in good strategic position if the ports such as Tanga, DSM and  mtwara be well established and effectively managed. We all know problem associated with DSM port  such as theft, cargo delays, corruption and overall  poor management . This lead to unnecessarily poor business environment and higher traction cost. The adoption of EA common market protocol means that Tanzania need to address all shortcomings in these local ports and transport logistics. For example even the current ports such as Tanga, DSM and Mtwara need huge investment in terms of technology, human capacity and good management. Most of land locked countries such as Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi and others. These ports as well as unnecessary road blocks creates bureaucracy and lead to corruption. One of the newspaper quoted several billion to be lost by truck drivers for petty bribes while they are on their way back to neighbor countries. I think the government need to work out seriously with these anomalies.

Kabuje

Dear moderators and members,

I think in the first place we need to have a country strategy led by responsible ministry for our engagement as Tanzania. To come up with the strategy we will have to analyse our comepetitive and comprative advantages and  many other issues around engagement. This is a competition and one has to be able to compete and hence necessary skills and tools is important.

An implementation plan for the same follows where we have to set some targets on how we implement the strategy and monitor progress and improve.

The way it is now, is like a mwananchi will find his/her way to these markets etc. Yes at the end of the day the entire effort lies on the hands of individual mwananchi, but an enabling environment to do that is within the government for her people.

Strategy will inform other issues such as:

How our education system.

Labour Information Systems

Structures such as info bureau on related isssues Other enabling policy related barriers which hinder our participation

There is a lot of change which need to take place at all levels.

“It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones who are most responsive to change” Charles Darwin

WANANCHI:

Change our attitudes, a culture of hardworking is also critical for our people, business as usual mentality among ourselves in the environment we are living will make us redudant in the market. We have to change our attitudes if we are to survive in the competition. Take for example, reflect one time when you went to the store here in Tanzania, The store or say shopkeepers, will just look at you sometimes kuanzia chini miguuni mpaka juu, wakijaribu kufikiria kwamba utakuwa umekosea kuingia duka hilo, kwamba huna ubavu wa kununua. you are not greeted and welcomed as a customer, they dont know that you are the one keeping them paid. In short the culture of customer care across all sectors in Tanzania, whether it is private sector or public is just at infancy. Go to Nairobi and do the same and see the difference. The shopkeeper will show you the next shop where you can find the item you are looking for! I am not sure if this has to do with motivation!! or lack of skills. If that is the  case employers should take this up and train their workers

Let us have even private companies which may help the governement to fill the gaps in terms of establishing bureau of information and services related to regional engagement.

Recently I was told among 100 applicants of one of the EAC post, only 3 applicants were Tanzanians. Many of us may not even know the EAC website. If we are not informed we will keep complaining tuuu.

Let us be real and politicians should not just say go, let them show people how? it is not enough to just say we have opened up, we are in EAC and opportunities are there to be grabbed by wananchi, give them tools, skills and necessary information.

There is no way we can go back, the changes are real and let us confront them with the right tools. haitusaidii sana kulalamika all the time!

thank you

mwiru

I actually agree with the PM who stressed the government’s wishes as follows:”

“Pinda assures investors of conducive conditions “We will continue to build and strengthen economic infrastructure, including energy and particularly electricity, water, roads, railways, harbours and airports, to utilise the opportunity of the nation’s strategic geographical location in becoming an important trade link with land-locked neighbouring countries,” said the PM.”

This should be our strategy in succeeding in the EAC.We know that if we can expand and build modern harbours like Tanga, Mtwara and Lindi we can be able to trade with Uganda,Rwanda and Burundi as we are now doing with Zambia through Tazara.

If we could modernise our railway system so that we can transports goods from Tanga to Kampla via Nairobi and from Lindi toRwanda via Mwanza then we will able to benefit economically.

The same applies for our enormous gas deposits. We could distribute gas to other EAC countries as we now distribute electricity to Mombasa (Kenya) from our Hale Power Station in Tanga (This has been going on from the Colonial era!, did you know that!)

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

Before reading this article in ippmedia.com/Guardian I have previously noted that Denmark is the world expert in generating power from Wind Mills. Actually the government could begin this imitative five years ago and avoid power problems and be competitive in EAC.I also questioned the need of that Minister to fly to China to look for Wind Mill farms since it was a wastage of time and tax payer’s money:

Denmark embarks on ambitious renewable energy programme

By The guardian reporter

2nd March 2011

The Danish government has announced a broad range of new initiatives aimed at supporting energy production in developing countries.

In a statement issued yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the Danish Embassy said the new initiatives would encourage a shift to biomass in the power plants of the major cities, increase consumption of renewable energy and promote more efficient energy use.

It noted that the initiatives include biomass and biogas – making it more financially attractive to establish biogas plants by granting biogas production subsidies, subsidies for biogas infrastructure and its use in industries.

Others are replacing coal with biomass by allowing producers and consumers of district heat freedom of contract, as “this will make it more advantageous for both sides to convert to biomass.

On wind power, it said, studies would be carried out in coastal areas that would identify locations suitable for small offshore wind turbines for use in development and demonstration”

We really have all the natural resources, coal, gas including the SUN (solar energy) etc that are required to generate power

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

I wish to clarify on the issue of language so that I am not misunderstood. Much as I tried to push for science and technology, the issue of language needs to be seriously addressed. It is in Tanzania where english was not really given a lot of attention. Well it probably made sense then where state allocation of resources was the driving force.

In todays world of privatisation and globalization, Tanzania needs to invest in this language heavily to make its citizens more competitive. Of course english is just a language but behind it there is need for skills. Its skills that really matter for the investor.

But yes english should be seriously taught as its going to be the language of business here in the region and globally.

Kelly

I am really passionate about this topic. I have been working with an international organization working to improve livelihoods in the ECA region. I really think that countries in the ECA can move into the middle income group bracket with the right approach and hard work. This takes me to the first question posed by our moderators ie what should the Tanzanian government, people and institutions do to increase gains while minimizing losses from the common market arrangement?

1. As I said education is going to be very important. The country should have a programme to address its educational needs for all the people ie those already working in the informal sector and those still at school. There is a tendency to think english or speaking good and fluent english is the answer. I think while english is certainly important and should be promoted, we should put more emphasis on science and technology. Look japanese and chinese do not speak fluent english!

The strategy should be to enhance the skills of those already working to make sure they produce high quality goods.

Yes we also need to redesign the educational carricalum to make sure those who go to school get high quality education.

The government should bring in expertise and pair it with local people to transfer skills. This might at times prove costly in the short run depending on what arrangements are made, but in the long-run the country can benefit quiet a lot.

The government should reduce the cost of doing business and their should be credit schemes that enable especially SMEs to progress. Starting a business should be very easy.

Just as I said, partnerships should be promoted and the Tanzania Investment Authority should organize an international conference that will enable the world to see what Tanzania has to offer, but also enable locals meet with the outside world and probably strike deals.

Private sector in Tanzania should invest in promoting science and technology but also management skills and should supplement the efforts of government.

Also, local people should try to form strong partnerships. Partnerships can also involve local SMEs or individuals.

Next I will try to tackle what is the comparative advantage of Tanzania and the others .

Kelly

Mwakalinga raised some interesting point ie the urgency and necessity of the political union. Now when one looks critically at the EAC in comparison, one notes the fact that we in EA have sort of moved relatively faster. While it took the EU 37 years to get to the common market, it has taken East Africa just 10 years to get to the same point.

But let me say this. We also need to note that the ingredients for our EAC common market are sort of very diluted. We have not really solved the real thorny issues and the ones that would really have an impact.

Actually I am really not certain whether what we have can be called a common market. This is because while people are freely moving, there are limitations on the movement of capital and goods. It is really a sort of preferential area. Let's put this in context. Actually there is little trade for goods that would qualify under the rules of origin. This is because all these countries still produce similar goods. Yet they have not even satisfied their internal markets. Each of the countries has not yet satisfied the internal actual and even potential demand. How can they then target cross-border trade?

On the other hand, most of the goods that the citizenry consume are imported. This is also where all these countries obtain the bulk of their internal revenue. If you allow free movement of goods, capital and services, other countries would lose over 70% of their revenues hence the need for setting up a revenue sharing mechanism. Until this is set up, we the consumers are still not benefitting from the common market the way we should be. This is where Mwakalinga has a point. Let me share an interesting practical experience I recently got. I had travelled to one EA country and I found the prices of some electronics very friendly compared with where I was coming from. I actually thought that the common market was already in force and I bought these goods off the counter. I paid all the duties in this country. To my suprise when I moved across the border to another country ( Not Tanzania), my goods were held until I paid all the duties. This meant that I had to pay double taxation. I had already paid for the value of the goods plus import duty and VAT in the country where I bought them. I again paid the same taxes in the country of destination. What is interesting is that despite this the price/cost was still cheaper than if I had bought them from this country of final destination. What this means therefore is that if free movement were to apply to all the goods irrespective of rules of origin, this country in question would lose all the revenue. All its people would travel and buy their goods from across its border. Traders would also lose business and many more. I do think this issue is going to be thorny to address due to the nature of our economies. what this means is that countries will have to rethink their fiscal policies.

On the current modalities of the common market, what Tanzania needs to do is to add value to its primary products. This is because these are the goods currently enjoying free movement. Not only should Tanzania add value to these goods but also should make them cheaper to produce and transport.

As I already pointed out above, there can be potential gains from integrating agriculture and industry. One Tanzania needs to produce cheaper raw materials for use by its industry. This way its industrial goods that satisfy the rules of origin will be competitive and enjoy preference from the 130 million EA market. In addition, its rural producers will have a ready market for their output in form of the home industries.

I think one pertinent issue that all the countries should do is to conduct a thorough analysis of their economies to design a strategy that will enable them maximize gains offered by the common market.

It is possible and it can be done with hard work.

Kelly

Thanks Mr.Mwakalinga,I don’t think our leaders are following the events and challenges that has been facing EU as a “federation” similar to EAC. Probably there is a “secret agenda” concerning the harmonisation of political systems of the EAC. However, EU countries have different political systems since some countries have Kings/Queens (UK, Sweden  , Spain and Denmark) while others have Presidents e.g France, Finland,. On the other hand there is an EU-Parliament comprising of members from all EU countries.

Yes we have a lot of our youths who are now facing unemployment and this is a “hidden bomb” that can explode at any time. This is what is happening now in the Arab world including Libya. If we open our borders for others to come and work in Tanzania we will find that most of the companies will employ people from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda due to their good qualifications. Just imagine that 80% of those were examined in the Form IV national examination have failed. Who will be willing to employ them if we have those who have passed from Kenya or Uganda?

Mr.Kabuje has an important point “The Power Shortage”. I have been challenging TANESCO and the Minister concerned that they have practically failed to solve the power problem for 5 years. There is no country in the world that can develop without having reliable electricity If we can solve this equation we can benefit a lot in attracting investors. We are now facing financial problems due to lack of electricity. A minister flies to China to look for Wind Mills instead of flying to Denmark where these Wind Mills are manufactured and Denmark is the world expert in generating power from Wind Mills.

Dr.Khamis

Sweden

Dear all,

Thank you moderators for bringing this important topic, which I believe will certainly come up with suggestion to Institution and individuals at all level to utilise full the potential of having this EA market protocol.  

In principal, the establishment of East African Common Market (EACM) provide a number of challenges as well as opportunities to Country like Tanzania. There are a number of questions as Tanzanian need to ask and work on them (including the one you asked) in the course of implantation of EACM.

May I respond to this topic by following your guiding questions;

What Tanzania can do?

I think you will agree with me that we need to create conducive business environment that will attract investments.  You have cited that Tanzania attractiveness to investors has declined, ranking 4^th in EAC. One of the factors leading to this is, the situation we are facing now like shortage of power leading to Mgao wa umeme , which is a serious matter that the government need to work on. It’s not possible to attract investment under the current situation…,. There is a saying that it doesn’t matter where you are, but where are you going!

We have been facing similar situation in the last five years and there seems to be no solution on this matter. This implies that tunazima moto tu, bila ya kupanga namna ya kuzuia moto!  The bottom line is lack of political will!!!, chuo Kikuu cha Dodoma kimewezekana kujengwa sababu ya political will, lakini kuwezesha mipango ya kutatua umeme…..mmm. Under this circumstances most of the investment/capital will move to other East African  member states and not in Tanzania,

·         My suggestion is for the government to have short, medium and long term plan to ensure that we don’t fall short of power in the country. In that case, at least business person or investor may know that it’s a temporally problem!!!.

 
·         Je Serikali inaingilia TANECSO mno!!, inahitaji kuangaliwa kama serikali inatibua mipango ya shirika hili, maana hata kama shirika lina mipango mizuri, haitaweza kufanikiwa ikiwa muingiliano ni mkubwa!!!

Dear Dr. Hamis

I m one of the skeptics of the EAC Federation process that it is not a people's agenda but rather some EAC leaders whose "real" agenda apart from the said economic benefits are not very clear. My understanding and experience is that sustainable economic vibrance usually mirrors political topology of the member countries. So far I don't know if there has been discussions on harmonising political systems - more critical when Kenya was debating its constitution and now Tanzania. Are these political processes taking place in the EAC domain or in country specific isolation?

His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had been quite open by saying his vision is to see EAC unite. Good. Are activities on the ground being changed to ensure seamless integration of political systems?. Why are our leaders avoiding this? I had expected that all countries will first have decided like Tanzania and Kenya to put time limit for presidents to build a SOLID FOUNDATION FOR CHANGE. There is none in Uganda and Rwanda as it stands. The second stage would have been to agree like with budgets, that general election dates in all countries should be  the same. Third, election rules and administration (how the electoral commissions - that have been at the epicentre of election disputes)- are the same in all countries.

Lastly, it would be practical if we let our children (after harmonisation of laws, education system, political and social harmonisation, etc.) to implement the EAC political federation instead of imposing dates based on the wishes of today. Due to what I deem as political motives our leaders are not willing to come in open to address these but instead jump to economic benefits. What lessons we have from EU financial crises - Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, etc. and the contagion effect? Are those risks being considered when we are "fast-tracking" EAC federation?. Also, lessons from the recent socio-political upheavals in Arab States demanding peoples' participation in shaping their destiny.

We are not late, but let's not be blind. Who expected that Muammar Qaddafi will be challenged that much fiercely with his people with all those economic fortunes? Again let us not be blinded to think it is all about economics. Its more than that

Hebron Mwakalinga

”It further points out: “The Community and the Partner States undertake  to negotiate arrangements with the international organisations and fora to give effect to the above provisions and to involve the EACB in the exercise of the rights of the Community or the Partner States as members of international organisations and fora, as the case may be.” In the current arrangement, EAC cannot enter into any agreement on behalf of its five partner states of Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The technocrats steering the process to establish the East African Monetary Union (EAMU) have failed to reach consensus on key issue on agenda- the roadmap towards the monetary union.

The formal negotiations on East African Community (EAC) Monetary Union protocol are set to begin in March, 2011, in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura.

Billed as a "grand debate”, the talks are expected to evolve "grand action plan" leading to the establishment of the EAC-MU in 2012. The EA-MU is the process that will see Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya converge their macro-economies, establish an East African Central Bank and eventually a single currency.”

On the monetary union and single currency I would like the Tanzania government to make a detail research why some EU countries don’t use Euro in their countries. These countries are namely UK, Denmark and Sweden they all full members of EU but use their own currencies in their countries. Probably there are disadvantages of having a single currency?

Dr.,Khamis

Sweden