INDUSTRY IGNORED IN POVERTY
PLANS
By The Express Reporters
Tanzania should aggressively make use of its existing natural
resources than beg for foreign aid, says a report linking industrialisation to
poverty by the country’s apex business body. Released two weeks ago, the report
also cites apathy towards the manufacturing sector as the single-most important
factor hampering poverty alleviation efforts and underlines the importance of
strong political leadership.
Entitled The industrialisation of Tanzania: Towards poverty alleviation, the
report has been prepared by the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF)
for the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI). Although recently released
for public consumption, the first draft of the report was presented nearly two
years ago on November 20, 2002, at a symposium to commemorate Africa
Industrialisation Day.
Sadly, the CTI report that outlines the major constraints affecting
industrialisation in Tanzania during the reform period 1994-2000/2001 and
proposes solutions to tackle the same, has lost some of its relevance - taking
two years as it did to be made public.
During the past two years, there has been a sea change in the national economy
and the international factors affecting it: steady depreciation of Tanzanian
currency, fluctuations in world oil market prices, changes in taxation regime,
privatisation of a number of important parastatals, rise in telecommunication
cost, expansion of credit facilities, development of road network and many more.
The Tanzania National Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) has since been placed
under private management while the Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited
(TTCL) has been partly privatised. Some positive changes have also been
effected, such as the abolition of nuisance taxes and better functioning of the
Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
President Benjamin Mkapa acknowledges in the Foreword of the report: “While the
importance of the industrial sector has been recognised, the requisite policy,
legal and administrative environment is still lacking to enhance industrial
investment and production.”
“It is not always for lack of appreciation of the importance of these things but
lack of capacity to create such an environment,” he says.
While poverty alleviation remains top on government agenda, the surprising and
sad truth is that the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) does not place
manufacturing among its priorities, says the report and adds, the industrial
sector is both a “pro-poor” and “pacemaker of growth” sector in the sense that
it has the capacity to create, stimulate and generate employment and income.
The report also states, “the key prerequisite to the effective implementation of
industrial policy and plans is a strong political leadership, a leadership which
is committed to the socio-economic development of its population and has a
development-oriented mindset.”
It observes, the dismal performance of the manufacturing firms and weak
industrial dynamics in Tanzania have been compounded by poor policies during the
pre-reform era and lack of effective implementation of sustainable industrial
policy in the post-reform era.
One of the limitation of the report is that it fails to give industrial
specifics (large scale or small scale industry?; in case of textile industry,
which segment - ginning, dyeing?) and therefore appears too vague. For instance,
it says limited access to raw material and incomplete macro economic reforms are
still major constraints without specifying the industry or sector most affected.
The major constraints to industry as outlined by the report are tedious
bureaucratic procedures, a weak legal, regulatory and judiciary framework, a
weak financial system, poor quality human resource, poor infrastructure,
deficient competition system, corruption, lack of political commitment and
capacity. However, most of these constraints are founds in various developing
countries.
Specifically, Tanzanians firms interviewed throughout the sample period faced
the problems of lack of access to credit, insufficient domestic demand and
intensified competition and poor infrastructure.
The domestic product market-demand has been complicated by problems in the
taxation system, and insufficient protection from dumping and smuggling,
according to the report.
As is generally well known, it says lack of sufficient water for industrial use
and an irregular electricity supply are among the primary causes of high
production costs.
Commenting on the CTI report, a timber trader in Chang’ombe in Dar es Salaam,
Edmund Nditi, said while report contained important information for
industrialists the validity and accuracy of the information were questionable.
“The report as important as this could have been updated,” he remarked.
Referring to the constraints posed by poor power supply, he observed that among
the new developments in the area of power supply was the Songo Songo gas
project, apart from a number of institutional and policy changes since 2002.
Requesting anonymity, an official of the Confederation of Tanzania Industries
(CTI), however, defended the timing of the report saying it was actually not as
old as some readers think.
“The report was presented on November 20, 2002 to commemorate the Africa
Industrialisation Day, but what CTI was doing since that day was look for
financial support so as to print the report for public consumption,” the
official said.
He argued such a report needed substantial amount of money to print, apart from
the funding to carry out the study. He, however, said CTI was not sure of
producing another report because of the costs involved; unless funds were made
available, there were no plans of producing another report.
Some industrialists suggest CTI itself needs to be more serious about the
presentation of its reports and their timing. Being the mouthpiece of the
industry, it needs to be professional and efficient, they point out.
The Express could not reach Dr. Haji Semboja, who contributed to the report, for
his comments.
The report indicates that nearly 90 percent of the poor in Tanzania lived in the
rural areas in 2000, even though only 80 percent of the country’s poor lived in
rural areas. Poverty is most widespread in rural areas, where investors and
industrialists need to be taken.
According to the report, income inequality increased during the period under
study while unemployment was pegged at 13 percent in 2001.
The report suggests extending generous investment packages to investors in the
manufacturing and agricultural sectors as those offered to investors in tourism
and mining.
Among the recommendations, the country has been challenged to establish a
domestic Industrial Development Bank, enhance competitive legal and regulatory
system, improve and expand existing transport and communication, support
firm-specific plans and policies.
The report says the notion of public-private partnership needs to be emphasised
and the indigenous population needs to take the driver’s seat. Also, the country
should raise the level of investment and increase domestic savings as a
precondition for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth, it adds.
There should be restriction on importing raw material from abroad and the
country should not shy from demanding any foreign-owned investment employ a
specific percentage of local Tanzanians, the report emphasises.
Marking of gender violence starts today
By Timothy Kitundu
Women in Law and Development in Africa, a regional organization of women engaged
in legal affairs with a chapter in Tanzania, will mark the 16 Days of Activism
Against Gender Violence from today until December 10.
WiLDAF Coordinator Tanzania, Chapter Judith Odunga told The Express in Dar es
Salaam Tuesday that the climax of the event is deliberately marked to coincide
with the International Human Rights Day.
“For more than 10 years, activists, individuals and organizations worldwide have
used the 16 days period to create a solidarity movement which raises awareness
around gender based violence as a human rights abuse,’ she said.
According to Odunga, the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence links
violence against women and human rights, emphasizing that all forms of violence
whether perpetrated in a public or private sphere are a violation of human
rights.
In her elaboration she said, in November, the event historically brings to
attention the brutal murder of the Mirabelle Sisters in Dominica in 1960. Adding
that now, the 16 days also highlight other significant dates such as the World
Aids Day.
“WiLDAF Tanzania chapter marks the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence
with the theme: Violence Against Women and HIV/AIDS,” she said.
Odunga said that the day will include a procession from WiLDAF offices along
Bibi Titi Street through Azikiwe Street, Ohio Street and ending at Mwalimu
Nyerere Art gallery (formerly Nyumba ya Sanaa). Other activities scheduled will
include drama, panel discussions on themes related to gender violence and
HIV/AIDS.
By Angela Mazula
The Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam North has donated 300 desks worth Tsh. nine
million to the Kijitonyama Primary school in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam.
The desks will reduce the number of children sitting on the floor while
attending classes.
Mohamed Abdulla, a Rotary International District Governor, said during the
ceremony that the children needs concentration when they study. Sitting on the
desks will make them relax and enable them to take on board what their teachers
say.
He said: “If we give them a good start this will be the chance for them to
develop their life. It will increase the number of educated children in this
country.”
Miriam Marwa, head teacher of the Kijitonyama Primary School said the school was
happy with the donation.
“Some time back we told Rotary that the school lacks toilets, and Rotary helped
us with that problem. This time, they have promised to give us desks. We are
very thankful,” said Marwa.
By Kizito Makoye
Mozambique nationals in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar on Sunday offered a warm
farewell to the outgoing Mozambique President, Joachim Chissano.
The Diamond Jubilee Hall was fully packed with enthusiastic Mozambicans, the
majority being from the Makonde tribe, who for a long time have been seeking
asylum in Tanzania after years of political unrest in Mozambique.
The farewell ceremony was very colourful with traditional dances from various
groups. Shortly after the President and his entourage arrived at the hall, the
national anthem was played.
Chissano said over the years FRELIMO has brought tremendous changes for the
country’s economy, adding that it is important for the ruling party to continue
to speed up the pace of development.
He said the government has embarked on massive economic transformation. A
contract has been entered with a Brazilian company to extract coal which would
create job opportunities.
Chissano said the agricultural sector has flourished and food production is now
in excess to the extent of giving some to the needy countries.
The President hailed Mwalimu Julius Nyerere for his active role in the
liberation of Mozambique.
“It is Nyerere who taught us the secret of success, he insisted in his
philosophies that the country need land, people and good governance,” he
stressed.
Earlier the Secretary-General of the Mozambican community living in Tanzania,
Alberto Matikita, commended the country’s decision to adopt a multi-party
system.
He said the voting exercise for the presidential elections scheduled for
December 1 and 2 was proceeding well.
Matikita commended President Chissano for his wise decision to step down, giving
chance for his successor to take over.
CUF condemns electoral disruptions
By Kizitto Joseph
The opposition party, Civic United Front (CUF) has distanced itself from
sabotage in Zanzibar in connection to next year’s general elections, arguing
that it would result in chaos and give room for terrorism.
Speaking to journalists regarding the Great Lakes meeting in Dar es Salaam last
week, Chairperson Ibrahim Lipumba said sabotage during the elections would only
favour fundamentalists.
Lipumba gave this warning following what he claimed as disruption of the 1995
and 2000 general elections in Zanzibar. CUF believes it won both elections but
that its victories were stolen by CCM.
“If our election is disrupted again next year, it may probably fuel groups of
fundamentalists (terrorists) to seek alternative means to draw attention,” he
said.
back to headlines
By Kizito Makoye
The Patron of Telefood Tanzania, Mama Anna Mkapa has pledged to support the
World Known fundraising programme aimed at raising awareness on hunger, during a
gala dinner at Royal Palm Hotel on Saturday.
Mama Mkapa donated Tsh. one million on behalf of President Benjamin Mkapa.
“My husband gave me this envelop to present to you (Telefood) but I do not know
what is inside,” she said.
The guest of honour was franked by the chairman of Telefood Tanzania, Franco
Tramontano and other high profiled guests.
Mama Mkapa said the event is significant and necessary as it is a symbol of
solidarity, adding that the level of support has been growing considerably over
the past seven years.
She said rural women in the villages, who benefit from the Fund, are doing fine
despite their frequent obstacles they encounter in the daily activities.
Mama Mkapa, who is also the chairperson of the Equal Opportunity for all Trust
Fund (EOTF), commended the national Telefood committee for the good job and
pledged close collaboration with EOTF.
During the event Standard Chartered Bank donated Tsh. 500,000; Tanzania
Breweries Limited (TBL) Tsh. 500,000; Simply Computers US$ 500; and Channel Ten
Tsh. 500,000. Vodacom Tanzania did not specify their donation.
The country has so far raised US$ 290,000 (Tsh. 290 million) locally making it
the 6th largest contributor to the Telefood Global Fund across the world.
By Heckton Chuwa, Same
Turiani and Migombani villagers in Ndungu Ward, Same District, Kilimanjaro
Region have urged the government to provide them with land which is owned by the
Tanzania Sisal Authority (TSA), situated in the district to end their long time
search for permanent residency.
They presented their plea to the Same District Council chairman, Bakari Lukuni
when he inspected development issues in the area.
The villagers claimed that their current residential areas were subject to
floods which during the rainy season causes the destruction of their crops and
damages their homes.
The floods also prevent their development efforts and they said that if the
government would provide them with the said land, which has not been utilised
for long, they would build a primary school as part of their plans.
The school would reduce the overcrowding of students in the only primary school
in the area and students walking as far as four kilometres every day to other
schools outside the area.
Lukuni, who is also the Ndungu Ward Councillor, told the villagers that the
issue is now subject for government consideration after it had been presented to
the Minister of State, president’s Office, Policy and Privatisation, Abdhalla
Kigoda.
Management explains extra charges
By Heckton Chuwa, Moshi
The secondary school management in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro
Region has clarified the matter of the extra Tsh. 5,000 some of the candidates
who sat the just ended form four national examinations were charged.
The Moshi Secondary School Headmaster, Andrew Shao said the extra charges were
subject only to private candidates who sat for their exams at the school.
The explanation by Shao follows complaints by some of the parents of the
candidates who were charged extra money. They had written a complaint letter to
the Kilimanjaro Region Educational Officer (REO), claiming the extra charges
were meant to contribute to other projects in the school.
The parents said it was unfair for the candidates to pay extra charges apart
from the Tsh. 20,000 examination fees, because apart from using the desks during
their tenure as candidates, they were not expected to use the laboratory, lab
chemicals and they would not take food at the school.
However, the school headmaster said the school received 500 private candidates
who were subject to the extra Tsh. 5,000 because of the services which were
provided by the school which he said included chairs, desks, cleanliness of the
classrooms used by the candidates, the laboratory and lab chemicals they used
during the examinations.
Street children united with their families
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Mwanza
A total of 70 street children in Mwanza City have finally been
united with their families.
The reunification was facilitated by the Upendo Daima Centre (Always in Love)
during the past year.
The Centre provides service to street children, under the Catholic Archdiocese
of Mwanza and is located in the Malimbe area.
In an interview in the City Saturday last week, the coordinator of the Centre,
Hoja Tarsisius said the children were returned to various areas of Mwanza Region
and other neighbouring regions.
Nevertheless, Hoja said ten out of the 70 children have already run away from
their homes and returned to Mwanza City to continue begging on streets.
The Centre, he said, is making the final touches to reunite another six children
with their families.
The Upendo Daima Centre has also established a camp which will be used to care
for the children it has failed to reunite with their families or where the
families have refused to accept them.
The camp which is located at Malimbe Village in the City provides services to 32
boys between nine and 17 years old.
Upendo Daima Centre was established in 1995 by the White Sisters of Africa to
provide education, health and consultancy services to street children roaming
Mwanza City streets.
College to benefit from foreign help
By Heckton Chuwa, Moshi
The Msinga College in Moshi Rural, Kilimanjaro Region will soon
benefit from the cooperation between the college and Tornedalens Folk High
School of Sweden.
The motive of the cooperation between the two is to exchange ideas in the fields
of education, tradition and other areas of development as far as education is
concerned.
Jonathan Mlimakala, Principle of the College, said recently that the relation
between the colleges date back from April, 2002 when he visited the School in
Overtonea, Sweden.
Thanks to the cooperation, the college is now in the process of getting clean
water and enough teaching equipments in the various subjects taught at the
college.
He said that four students from the college have been given scholarships to go
to Sweden to learn development issues.
The Msinga College is among 58 development colleges in the government’s
programme to improve development in the country.
By Merline Mhamaka, Morogoro
The Police Force in Morogoro Region have seized 21 illegally
operating taxis, after conducting an exercise starting on November 13 to
confiscate all illegally operating taxis, and contain acts of banditry in the
region.
The Acting Morogoro Regional Police Commander Stephen Ngowi said, the police
decided to conduct the exercise, after people had claimed that illegally
operating taxis were used in criminal activities.
Ngowi said out of the 21 taxis nabbed, five were registered but had no permits
to operate as taxis; and 16 others will have their owners arraigned in court.
Investigation by the police, he said, has proved that some of the taxis
operating in the region without licences have been used in transporting bandits,
stealing cow meat, while some had not even paid income taxes to the Tanzania
Revenue Authority (TRA) for their businesses.
For those who were operating without paying their taxes, TRA will take legal
steps against them.
The exercise will continue with the objective of containing the situation, as
the illegally operating taxis can also jeopardise the security of the passengers
hiring them.
Residents complain over ‘unfair’ fine
By Kim Aidan, Ifakara
Residents of Mchombe Ward, Kilombero District in Morogoro Region
have complained that the fine imposed on them for failing to attend government
development public meetings is unfair.
The fine was ordered by the District Commissioner (DC) Dr. Deogratius Mwita. The
residents believe the fine to be “oppressive”, and complain that the collectors
have turned the fine into an economic venture for their own benefit.
Earlier this year, through public rallies, Dr. Mwita announced that those who
will not attend public meetings in Mchombe Ward will be forced to pay Tsh.
2,000. He reminded the people of the fine again on September 16 this year, when
he addressed the public on the day of the Uhuru Torch.
But now people have started complaining saying that they are being fined Tsh.
5,000 to Tsh. 10,000. The militia who have been empowered to collect the fines
use excessive force, and sometimes even tie suspects with ropes.
On July 23 this year at Lukolongo Village, the militia allegedly invaded Ijia
Small Village to collect fines from people who had not attended the DC’s meeting
some few days before.
The militia allegedly arrested and abused people, including pregnant women,
wounding an elderly man, who was then rushed to the Divisional Dispensary and
admitted.
Francis Magamba, a victim of the exercise, said he was pounced by the militia
when he failed to attend the DC’s meeting. The militia tortured him until he
paid the fine.
Although Magamba gave a genuine reason of why he failed to attend the DC’s
meeting, he was fined Tsh. 5,000.
The villagers moreover complained that it happens that meetings do not follow
the announced schedule. At the Ijia meeting, the DC started the meeting earlier
than expected and finished the meeting before the announced time.