Opinion
Analysis
BET should extend DITF’s
exhibition period
The Board of External Trade (BET) plans to woo more foreign companies to
participate in the trade fair in the near future. This is a good strategy as it
would give more opportunities for local traders to establish business ties with
foreign companies.
However, we think that the period of ten days is not enough for local and
foreign firms to conclude business deals; in terms of orders or business
enquiries.
The Board should think of a strategy where the participation fees as well as the
entry fees are reviewed while the exhibition period is extended to say 20 days
instead of the present 10 days.
This will, definitely complement the costs incurred by the organizers as more
visitors will come to the fair and they will visit the fair for a longer period.
The importance of the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair cannot be
underestimated. The last fair hosted many local companies, particularly those
dealing with handcrafts which were able secure a number of orders from foreign
companies.
The more orders received, the more these entrepreneurial firms will develop. In
the long run the nation will earn more foreign exchange and thus alleviate
poverty.
It is therefore important that changes should be made with regard to the DITF.
As the world evolves in the sphere of economics, changes should also be made to
be compatible with the prevailing situation.
Extending the duration of the exhibition seems one of the alternatives. BET
should work on this and see what happens.
Primary school
teachers deserve better
Teaching, as is the medical profession, remains crucial and necessary for the
development of our nation and for the future of the people of this country.
To be a teacher is a calling. In developed countries great respect is bestowed
upon teachers, especially those who teach pupils at a tender age.
In Tanzania, the government has been trying hard to make the teaching
environment rather conducive. But still much remains to be done especially for
primary education teachers, who are trapped in a very difficult environment.
There has been remarkable progress in education since the third phase government
took power, particularly in employing new teachers; a total of 45,451 teachers
including 37,261 Grade A and 7,152 bearers of Diploma have been employed.
In line with the employment of teachers, the number of pupils in primary schools
has also risen considerably, to the extent that classrooms are overcrowded with
pupils.
This is a problem for many teachers in the country, who still finds it difficult
to teach comfortably. In most cases, teachers are forced to teach in a classroom
with up to 100 children. In such circumstances, how would you expect the pupils
to get a good education?
In his budget speech, the Minister for Education Joseph Mungai pointed out that
the enrolment of pupils aged between 7 and 13 years has increased from 55 per
cent in the past to 95 per cent this year. But the exponential growth of pupils’
enrolment should match the construction of new classrooms.
Basic education is essential for children; without a good basic foundation,
children can possibly end up nowhere. Some affluent families are compelled to
enrol their children in private primary schools, which they consider much better
than public schools. But is not all can afford the costs.
It is up to the next government to carry on from where the third phase
government finished; improving the environment for teachers, especially for
those teaching at primary levels.
Analysis
Continued US assistance is vital
When US President George W. Bush came to office in January 2001, he appeared to
be ignorant about Africa and its endemic problems of poverty, disease, drought,
wars, corruption and other afflictions which exacerbate the continent’s
underdevelopment. He might have heard something about the endless African civil
wars. But he, like most of his fellow Americans, might not have known where
exactly in our continent such wars were being fought, except perhaps Somalia
where in 1992 his father, then President, George Bush, had launched “OPERATION
RESTORE HOPE”.
This was the American-led “humanitarian (military) invasion” of Somalia to
ensure security so that relief agencies could distribute food and other
essential goods and services to the Somalis famine-stricken as a result of the
inter-clan war. The president’s son (who is now US President) might have
inquired from his father, what the hell was his intervention all about in a
place as remote (and “unimportant” after the collapse
of the Soviet Union) as Somalia on the Black continent!
President Bush spent more than half of his first term in office without
formulating clear policies which could have offered hope and confidence to
Africans that the US, under his leadership, would continue to care about their
social and economic predicaments, as his predecessor, Bill Clinton, did. Clinton
paid a lot of attention to Africa and was personally emotionally engaged with
some African leaders whom he regarded as the “beacon of hope” for the continent.
During his presidency, America concerned itself seriously with matters affecting
Africa. There was more American aid to, and enhanced trade with, the continent.
The US’ Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) was adopted by the Clinton
administration in 2000 with the objective of promoting African export-oriented
manufactures into the US market. Under the facility, African exports (from
eligible countries) enter the American market duty-free. Several sub-Saharan
African countries, including Tanzania, are benefiting from the facility.
President Bush, now in his second term of office, seems to have been adequately
exposed to, and involved with, the problems of African development. He is
certainly well informed about Africa, and seems to have gradually cultivated a
genuine desire to help Africa to move forward, provided the continent shows
seriousness in democratisation, good governance and respect for human rights.
In January 2003, Bush demonstrated that desire when he launched his initiative
called “Emergency Plan for Aids Relief’ to help Africa combat HIV/Aids. The plan
involves a hefty US$ 15 billion assistance, spread over a period of 15 years,
targeting 15 countries most highly affected by HIV/Aids. Twelve of these
countries are in Africa, and Tanzania is one of them. Under the initiative the
country is already a recipient of about US$ 175 million made available in the
last two years. This is no small help.
Additionally, the US has made a new commitment to a three-pronged initiative for
our continent that will address fundamental problems related to the welfare of
women and health. In this respect Washington has allocated US$ 1.2 billion
towards reducing malaria-related deaths by 50 per cent by 2010, US$ 400 to
promote the education of girls and US$ 55 million to enhance legal protection
for women against all forms of violence, and catalyse the agitation for women
empowerment.
It is against this background that the importance of the visit of the US First
Lady, Laura Bush, to Africa last week should be viewed. Her itinerary, which
included Tanzania, underlines the new policy orientation (and thrust) of the
Bush administration towards Africa and puts into focus the key areas of
“partnership” between the US and Africa, that are critical to the latter’s
socio-economic advancement.
The poverty-stricken people of the Third World (not only Africa) which the West
call The “breeding ground of terrorism” need that kind of assistance (and more)
that goes to address one of the root causes of terrorism: absolute poverty in
the midst of plenty, social injustice and alienation.