Editorial
Analysis
Power-pylons vandalism spells
trouble
The high-voltage power pylons vandalism which has been going on in Mwanza
Region could result into a catastrophe. Apart from plunging several regions in
darkness the government could also lose billions.
The pylons which definitely cost the government billions of shillings to
construct are
valuable assets that need the efforts of every Tanzanian for protection; yet the
same
people are vandalizing the pylons.
According to the media reports, two pylons situated at Ilula area about 100
kilometres
from Mwanza city had their main parts removed.
The situation would have worsened according to experts. Had the two pylons
yielded,
two more pylons on the opposite side would have collapsed. It is estimated that
each
pylon costs Tsh. 100 million.
The situation becomes even more complicated as experts say that a lay person
cannot in any way remove the parts in question. It is the work of experts who
know
well the functions of the pylons.
The question which so far has not been answered either by TANESCO or the
Ministry
of Energy and Minerals is: If the vandalism is by experts, is it sabotage or
there is a
market for the parts being removed?
This is a starting point. Authorities should not only declare a campaign of
‘leaving no
stone unturned’ but should try and establish any ready market for the parts.
This is the
only way to come to terms with the problem and provide a solution.
In the meantime the authorities should keep their eyes wide open. The
consequences, we are told would have plunged the whole Lake Zone area in
darkness for at least a week. This spells trouble. The authorities and every
Tanzanian
should protect these assets.
The good company
It will no longer do for a company to go quietly about its business, telling no
lies and
breaking no laws, selling things that people want, and making money. That is so
passé. Today, all companies, but especially big ones, are enjoined from every
side to
worry less about profits and be socially responsible instead. Companies at every
opportunity now pay elaborate obeisance to the principles of corporate social
responsibility. They have CSR officers, CSR consultants, CSR departments, and
CSR
initiatives coming out of their ears. A good thing, too, you might think. About
time.
The practices that caring, progressive CEOs mention when speaking at conferences
on CSR come in all shapes and sizes. Treat your employees well; encourage
loyalty
among your customers and suppliers; avoid investing in “unethical” industries,
or in
countries where workers are paid low wages or denied decent benefits; take care
to
save energy and recycle used envelopes; and so on. Motives vary. Some CSR
advocates are cynics: they pay lip service to the idea but are chuckling
quietly. Others
are true believers, born-again champions of a kinder, gentler capitalism.
Simply put, advocates of CSR work from the premise that unadorned capitalism
fails
to serve the public interest. The search for profit, they argue, may be a
regrettable
necessity in the modern world, a sad fact of life if there is to be any private
enterprise.
But the problem is that the profits of private enterprise go exclusively to
shareholders.
What about the public good? Only if corporations recognise their obligations to
society—to “stakeholders” other than the owners of the business—will that
broader
social interest be advanced. Often, governments can force such obligations on
companies, through taxes and regulation. But that does not fully discharge the
enlightened company’s debt to society. For that, one requires CSR.
This is wrong. The goal of a well-run company may be to make profits for its
shareholders, but merely in doing that—provided it faces competition in its
markets,
behaves honestly and obeys the law—the company, without even trying, is doing
good works. Its employees willingly work for the company in exchange for wages;
the
transaction makes them better off.
Following the Indian Ocean tsunami, many companies made generous donations to
charities helping the victims. There could be no worthier cause—but keep in mind
that, in the case of public companies, the managers authorising those donations
were
giving other people’s money, not their own. Philanthropy at others’ expense,
even in
a cause as good as that one, is not quite the real thing.
All things considered, there is much to be said for leaving social and economic
policy
to governments. They, at least, are accountable to voters. Managers lack the
time for
such endeavours, or should do. Lately they have found it a struggle even to
discharge
their obligations to shareholders, the people who are paying their wages. If
they want
to make the world a better place—a commendable aim, to be sure—let them
concentrate for the time being on that.
Analysis
Alternative support needed
to fight child labour
Child labour continues to exist in Tanzania,
despite the efforts of a number of
organisations, a lot is still to be done. Timothy Kitundu explains the
obstacles ahead.
Some prefer to wait for it, some do not. Rather they devise strategies of their
own to
launch their fights. The war against child labour seems to have reached such a
phase
with the known evil still persecuting the society, which just cannot be wished
away.
Some of the agencies working on the subject now seems to have decided to blame
it
on “weather condition in London” or even more obscure reason as they continue to
wait for funds.
But there are some, who do not want this wait. Instead, they want to start
initiating
the change right now. And they show how just a little commitment and acumen can
go a long way in taking the battle to the enemy camp.
The Tanzania Home Economics Association (TAHEA), Iringa Region can be cited as a
role model. The organization has not waited for donor funding but has devised
various methods of income generating to support orphans who are most often
targeted on the child labour market.
Betty Masima, TAHEA Iringa Programmes Coordinator, solely believes that fighting
child labour should be along two lines: mobilizing funds through fund raising
activities and preventing child labour from the roots.
In Iringa Region, the majority of children who indulge themselves in child
labour are
those whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS. These children are obliged to take
the
responsibility of their late parents in taking care of any young siblings.
Masima says that TAHEA has been involved in supporting orphans through the
Orphans and Vulnerable Children Support Programme since 1992 whereby todate
about 8,000 children have been reached.
However, depending on donor support alone is not the policy of TAHEA. Over the
weekend, TAHEA organized a fund raising dinner where the Prime Minister,
Frederick
Sumaye was present. The event had an objective of raising funds to support
HIV/AIDS
orphans in Makete District.
As the root cause of child labour is poverty, TAHEA also focuses on economic
empowerment from household level. Already about 13,500 families have been
enlightened on food planning and processing and establishment of home gardens
and fruit farming.
Further still, TAHEA believes that supporting households that are headed by
widows,
women and children are crucial in fighting child labour. About 60 families have
been
reached in this aspect.
The concerned stakeholders have one problem in common. Masima reveals that
although they appreciate donor support, their projects are not fully funded by
donors.
This is because donors have their own limitation. Hence TAHEA is continuously
looking for alternative funding.
Other organizations involved in the war against child labour are for example the
Conservation, Hotels Domestic and Allied Workers Union (CHODAWU), Tanzania
Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (TPAWU), KIWOHEDE and Tanzania Mining
Workers Union (TAMICO).
Paula Mariwa, TPAWU Coordinator of Inter-Sectoral Programme on the Elimination
of
Worst Forms of Child Labour believes that an increasing number of children are
still
engaged in the worst forms of child labour, this despite that between 2001 and
2003 a
total of 994 children were reached and withdrawn from child labour.
For TPAWU, this is a great achievement compared to their target of withdrawing
900
children. But the target of withdrawing 900 children does not mean that TPAWU is
satisfied, rather what limits them is funding which has to be increased.
Vick Kanyoka the Coordinator of the Programme within CHODAWU reveals that the
work ahead of them is bigger compared to what has been done. The three centres
run by the organization each situated in each district within Dar es Salaam has
a
capacity of accommodating less than 100 children, but it has more than 100
children.
Children involved in child labour are increasing daily but the funding is
limited to the
ability of donors. This is coupled with the long period child labour has
existed.
However as a challenge to all stakeholders, she says fighting child labour is
fighting
poverty and vice versa. She urges more organizations to come in for support.
According to Kanyoka, CHODAWU so far has reached a total of 3,750 children out
of
the targeted 2,500 but she believes that as just a tip of an iceberg. More has
still to be
done especially through close collaboration with all stakeholders.
Perhaps KIWOHEDE plays the most difficult role of withdrawing and preventing
girls
from indulging themselves in commercial sex. Unlike other organizations,
KIWOHEDE
faces more challenges as the girls once in the trade, do practice other bad
hobbies
such as drug abuse.
But according to KIWOHEDE Coordinator, Justa Mwaituka the response is positive.
Girls have now been sensitized on the hazards of commercial sex and are coming
in
big numbers to seek assistance which calls for more financial support. This is a
good
gesture, according to her but more donors should come forward for support.
The cases of TAHEA, TPAWU, CHODAWU and KIWOHEDE have something in common.
What they have done so far is commendable and the dream of having a child-labour
free nation can only be realized if full support could be availed to these
organizations. Hence this is a challenge to all stakeholders.
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