Opinion
Analysis
UNDP report leaves question marks
Last week the Human Development Report was
published by UNDP. It makes for an interesting reading, especially as it reveals
that 20 countries have receded during the 1990s in their development efforts;
Tanzania is one of them.
Every year since 1990, UNDP has measured so-called human development in the
world’s countries following a range of social, economic and human indicators.
The main index of the report, Human Development Index, measures three important
aspects for development: health, education and economy.
By taking into account these aspects, it is believed that a more just and real
picture of different living conditions is established, which is not the case if
GDP alone was considered. The term human development expands beyond income per
capita, resources and basic needs and includes human freedom, dignity and the
individual’s ability to take action and focuses on the single person’s role in
the development process. The report argues that in the end, development is a
process, which aims at increasing people’s individual choices and is not all
about increased incomes.
The focus in this year’s report is that development cannot be sustainable if
there is not multicultural politics that acknowledge and protect identities,
i.e. human rights and cultural freedom are necessities.
Measuring human development, despite the many indexes used, is very difficult.
It is problematic to decisively determine let alone agree on certain indicators
deciding when one person is happy (i.e. has progressed) and when one has not.
The methods used are based on very loose and multifaceted indicators.
However, when Sub-Saharan countries are discussed the focus seem to shift away
from the above-mentioned determinants to more tangible facts and figures, many
of which with a connection to HIV/AIDS.
Because of HIV/AIDS, life expectancy has gone down dramatically. The disease
hits all levels in society and infects people in their most productive years.
Everything from public administration to heath care and family structures is
affected.
This and similar facts serve to explain why development has decreased in e.g.
Tanzania. If the present trend continues, the millennium goals (expected to be
reached in 2015) are under threat. Children will not receive education, child
mortality will increase, hunger, sanitation and income goals will not
materialise.
Important though these facts are, one has to realise that other factors are
equally important for development in Sub-Saharan countries, which should receive
equal focus. Just because HIV/AIDS has hit the continent hard, does not mean
that multicultural politics and cultural freedom is further down on the list.
These factors are just as imperative for people to benefit from.
Cultural freedom is defined as an expression of individual choice. Culture is
not a determined set of ideas but rather changing beliefs and habits, which have
to be respected.
The cultural aspects are not as considered in African countries by UNDP as they
should be, rather the report continues in similar vain as other reports and
media coverage as it portrays Africa as a continent without hope and future.
The report claims that it is ending myths and misconceptions, but as far as
Sub-Saharan Africa is concerned, it should do more to problematise the figures
it publishes. The statistics are not always as clear-cut and straightforward as
they might look at a first glance.
Now we’re talking!
Ever since Tanzania embraced the free economy doctrine and adopted the
liberalisation policy, sports in the country faced a tough time as the
government stopped shouldering the cost of much of the sporting events in and
outside the country.
From that new development, ‘sponsorship’ became the new mantra of all sports
associations and each had to fight hard to win effective sponsorships. After
almost a decade of fierce struggle, eventually some notable developments have
been noted.
A quality organisation, effective usage of sponsors funds and publicity are the
main things that attract sponsors to back any sporting event.
The success of the just-ended General Tyre Rally was an example of how good
organisation in running sports events pays dividends.
After the great success of the 2004 edition of Africa Rally Championship, some
sponsors emerged again to back next year’s edition.
It was the first time a sport gets booked by sponsors whereas, normally, it is
the organisers who chase the sponsors.
It is beyond doubt that lack of sponsorship will no longer be an issue to ponder
in the 2005 edition as the confirmation from Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL)
that they will sponsor it, assures Tanzanians of another exciting international
rally next year.
It is obvious that the success of the just-ended rally has already spawned
another success sure to come in the 2005 edition, in which more Group-classed
cars are going to compete, featuring as well, a bigger number of international
drivers.
The credit for all this goes to the Automobile Association of Tanzania (AAT),
the Rally Commission and the main sponsor General Tyre of Tanzania, whose timely
sponsorship saved the event from postponement if not cancellation.
Journalists must dare to pursue the truth!
By Evarist Kagaruki
The other day we mentioned, in this column, that the government and the press
are not institutional partners, but natural adversaries who can, on occasion,
cooperate for the good of society. We cited the fight against corruption as one
of the areas where the two institutions can, and indeed, should work together.
The functions of any government are well known. The government, in performing
its functions, has to be seen to be honest, responsible, transparent and
accountable in its dealings. It must also be efficient in its administration and
sensitive to the needs, aspirations and problems of its citizens, meaning, it
must deliver o its promises.
But governments are composed of human beings who are, by nature, fallible. They
commit wrongs – sometimes intentionally, sometimes unwittingly. In any case, a
government must be accountable for its commissions and omissions. And this is
where the role of the press comes in. Here I am talking about a free press which
is unfettered in its operations.
Without a free press, the wrongdoings and failures of those in power would be
difficult to expose. In a democratic society, where freedom of the press is
respected, the press can, at times, be a cause of much irritation and even
embarrassment to the government. That is the price of liberty! But, on the other
hand, in a tyrannical or quasi-democratic regime, where those in power cannot
tolerate criticism, an independent press often finds itself in trouble. It
becomes a casualty of harassment and assault. Also, that is one of the prices of
freedom!
It is an open secret that the press in this country is not yet free in the real
sense of the word. It still suffers the rigours of a political system that
continues to retain remnants of legal, administrative and bureaucratic
structures of the single-party authoritarian rule. However, we take solace in
the fact that it is not besieged by the kind of horrific harassment,
intimidation and emaseulation by the state security apparatus that we hear from
other parts of our continent; Zimbabwe, for example.
With the relative “freedom” our press enjoys, there are serious doubts whether
it is fulfilling the obligations of uncovering and publishing the malpractices
(the corruption) among our leaders. For, the role of a free and credible press
cannot be limited to informing, educating and entertaining. Otherwise, it would
not be called the “Forth Estate”, after the Executive, Legislature and
Judiciary. The press is regarded as such because one of its cardinal functions
is to serve as a watchdog against the misdeeds and excesses of those in power,
and against any other wrongdoings by members of the general public.
But for them to perform the “watchdog” function perfectly, journalists must be
conscientious, professionally credible, self-righteous and courageous. If they
themselves are corrupt, for example, they can only afford to pay lip service to
the anti-corruption crusade. Newspapers whose editors and reporters are on the
payroll of a special interest group, or who accept a free and lavish dinner or a
hefty brown envelope or any other precious gifts in exchange for a favourable
coverage or hushing up a damning story about a certain scam involving a public
official, will always find it hard - very hard indeed - to be convincing in
their criticism of the corruption or other unethical practices in government or
in society generally.
Therefore, in order for the press in this country to be on the frontline of the
war against corruption, it must observe the highest standards of ethical
conduct, be politically independent, and aggressive in pursuing the facts
(truth).
Dedicated pursuit of truth, and especially truth about corruption and other
scandals in government (which, admittedly is very risky business) is possible
only through investigative journalism. This kind of reporting, which,
unfortunately, has been lacking in this country, is “risky business” especially
when it means going after those in high places!
There is an understandable, but untenable fear on the part of Tanzanian
journalists to pursue political and economic scandals in the upper echelons of
power, because that would mean stepping on the toes of the political
heavyweights, and ending up in serious trouble. But fear to investigate and tell
the public the truth taints the image and reputation of journalists themselves
and undermines the credibility of the press in general.