Opinion
Analysis
Excess in frequency of
workshops
Tanzania, like any other developing country in Africa, is working hard towards
economy growth and fighting poverty; by doing so many Tanzanians have been
subjected to planning strategies on what should be done to implement those
goals. As a result, policy-makers are spending most of their time in meetings,
workshops and seminars.
Tanzania, unlike other countries, has become known as a country conducting many
seminars, workshops and meetings without achieving any greater success in
implementing the discussed plans.
Someone might say that workshops and seminars are important in brainstorming
ideas that lead towards modernising and improving the economy, but we should not
forget that these meetings involve some top officials. These officials sometimes
find themselves attending one workshop after another. When do they get time to
attend to the needs of the public?
Tanzanians are right in asking themselves if it might be the case that these
meetings are conducted frequently simply because of participant getting
allowances. We know that there is no single workshop that will take place
without allowances. That is fine; people have to be paid for their time spent
there, but, and this is imperative, the numbers of workshops have to be reduced
so that officials can be available in their offices when we need them.
A lot can be learnt from these meetings but it is hard to see any concrete
results materialising from them. For journalists, workshops and seminars are
sources of getting information (that is a blessing), but it is necessary to do
follow-ups and report on what is being achieved because of the meetings.
Most meetings are conducted in cities whereby most participants are academicians
or experts; sometimes discussing what is happening in rural areas in the absence
of people from rural areas. But who goes to the countryside and take note of any
implementations of what has been discussed or collect local people’s views?
Awareness and involvement of the public is needed in these meetings. The results
should be monitored to observe the outcome. Documents should not be resting in
cabinets until another workshop appears on the agenda.
FAT arrogance
While officials of various sports associations fight tooth and nail to win
sponsors to back their national and international sporting ventures, the
Football Association of Tanzania (FAT) seems to be fooling around with its
sponsorship.
Enjoying the longest sponsorship under Vodacom, FAT tends to ignore the fact
that good publicity is what the Vodacom company in return for its sponsorship.
As witnessed in last Saturday’s match between archrivals, Simba and Young
Africans, FAT forgot that it was the media which informs the public about the
match and sensationalise it in a way that it attracts big crowds.
In an extremely baffling gesture, FAT picked very few reporters from a few
selected media houses for the coverage while the remaining majority, The Express
included, were denied access to the National Stadium.
This is not the first time FAT has done that. At times, reporters have had to
fight hard for an entry.
Like other media houses, The Express too values football, since it is the most
loved sport in Tanzania. We cover it broadly and never miss any of the vital
soccer events in and outside the country.
Does FAT know that we even have huge readership outside the country through our
Internet edition?
FAT must take a look at other sports bodies to see how they make their events a
spectacular success. It must understand that while sponsors play on backing
role, the media links sports bodies and the public.
The Dar es Salaam Regional Basketball Association (DARBA) is the best example
for FAT to understand the real meaning of sponsorship.
DARBA, made up of ordinary, but committed sportsmen and women, organised and ran
the country’s most successful league ever recorded in this country.
For eight years now, the Dar es Salaam basketball league (Kili RBA League) has
produced many talents and coaches, and is still attracting more to join it.
Moreover, the league has managed to absorb hundreds of young ladies, who would
have faded from the scene when their favourite sport, netball, lost its grip in
Tanzania.
FAT must change its ways or it might face a situation similar to when the
Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) withdrew its sponsorship of the Premier League
due to inefficiency within the body.
It seems the fact that soccer is the most-loved and most popular sport in
Tanzania, has made FAT fat-headed!
Museveni, leave Constitution unchanged!
By Evarist Kagaruki
In very strict political terms, we, Tanzanians, have every reason to be proud of
our national identity. We have an enviable history of being a peaceful and
loving nation. If you forgive the country for its unfortunate, but unavoidable,
decision to go to war with fascist Iddi Amin’s Uganda in 1978 (after Amin’s
military forces invaded our territory), and the regrettable bloody incidents of
January 2001 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, by its very nature, is a land of peace and
love.
There are certain other things related to our political culture, which also make
us feel proud. One is that the transition from the single party system to a
multi party system went smoothly, when in some other parts of Africa chaos,
strife, breakdown of law and order, and violence characterised the painful
change to plural politics.
Two, again with the exception of the unfortunate political violence and
stalemate in Zanzibar in the aftermath of each of the last two multiparty
elections, Tanzania’s relatively mature electoral behaviour in those elections
of 1995 and 2000, has been exemplary. Of course there were imperfections (some
very serious) in the electoral process; this was to be expected, since after
three decades of political regimentation under the mono-party dictatorship, what
would you expect?
And, after all, no electoral system is 100% foolproof. Even the strongest
democracy in the world, America, has had its 2000 election flawed (in Florida)
to the chagrin of the fledgling “democracies” like Tanzania.
Three, this country is envied for its smooth and transparent system of handing
over the nation’s top leadership from one phase to another. In 1985, then
retiring Tanzania’s founding President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, handed over the
reigns of power smoothly to Ali Hassan Mwinyi. The latter, in turn, also passed
the “leadership baton” to the current President Benjamin Mkapa in an equally
suave manner. And so shall Mkapa to his successor when his second term of office
comes to an end next year.
Linked with the smooth transfer of power, is the important question of our
leaders’ commitment to honour the Constitution and relinquish power when their
time to serve in the highest office in the land expires.
In 1985 our Constitution was amended to allow a maximum of two presidential
terms of five years each. That is why ten years later, Mwinyi had to exist; and
which is also why Mkapa will do the same after the October 2005 polls.
The point I am trying to drive home by this simple talk is that Tanzanians have
a history to turn back to and feel proud - politically speaking, that is. We
certainly are an example from which others in the continent can, if they wish,
learn.
Now, there are disturbing reports coming out of Kampala that President Yoweri
Museveni might change the Constitution, through a referendum, so that he could
run for a third term. This indeed is regrettable. Museveni, for all the respect
the world accords him, should be the last person to do such kind of thing!
From the perspective of our continent, such a move sends a wrong signal to other
African countries where leaders may be nursing similar ambitions; and once
Museveni succeeds, them a bad precedent will have been set, and the resultant
serious repercussions on Africa’s infant democracy, peace, stability and
development are not hard to see.
When former Zambian and Malawian presidents Frederick Chiluba and Bakili Muluzi
respectively attempted, in vain, to change the Constitution so they could run
for a third term, we thought that African leaders would take note and understand
the people’s resentment. Apparently, some didn’t!
President Museveni no doubt has done a lot for Uganda in the last 18 years he
has been in power. He inherited a Uganda that was bleeding profusely from years
of misrule, tribalism, despotism and fascism, and has helped heal the Ugandans’
terrible wounds, politically and socially. His, has been a mission well
accomplished. He should take a cue from presidents Mkapa and Joaquin Chissano of
Mozambique and retire honourably.