Kikwete must sack corrupt ministers to prove his credibility

JAKAYA KIKWETE’S tenure as president comes to an end next year. President Kikwete has many international admirers and has received adulation from the major Western democracies. As president, Kikwete twice hosted two US presidents – George W. Bush in 2008 and Barack Obama in July 2013. With many branding him the “darling of the West,” Kikwete in March 2013 received the Chinese president Xi Jinping, demonstrating to the world Tanzania’s non-alignment foreign policy. 

Although many interpreted the US and Chinese presidents’ visits as competition for Tanzania’s natural resources, it was a diplomatic victory for Tanzania. Kikwete scooped the Most Impactful Leader in Africa Prize in April 2013 and in July 2014 the Icon of Democracy Award.

With the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Good Governance in Africa failing to get a winner this year, many have predicted that President Kikwete will win it when he retires. Despite the international accolades, President Kikwete has faced myriad challenges at home. Major corruption scandals have engulfed his presidency.

Parliament recently passed a scathing resolution to have Kikwete’s Cabinet ministers revoked over the Independent Power Tanzania Ltd (IPTL) that has rocked his government. A government report implicated the Prime Minister in the scandal that resulted in the plunder of more than $120 million from the country’s central bank by private businessmen and government officials.

With PM Mizengo Pinda narrowly escaping the censure, President Kikwete has no choice but to take action on the ministers implicated in the scam and prove that the international accolades were given to him on merit. 

Nicodemus Minde
Arusha, Tanzania.

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/letters/Burundi--Arusha-Accord-must-be-implemented-to-avert-disaster/-/434756/2546716/-/item/1/-/fvwnkp/-/index.html

#Tanzania: A Sleeping Lion Awakes

The November issue of Guardian Report looks at Tanzania rising fortunes. As a stable country politically, Tanzania is seen by many as the next frontier in the East African region. Endowed with an array of mineral resources, excellent weather, magnificent tourist destinations among many other things, Tanzania's political stability has seen a huge attraction to foreign investors and direct investments in areas of mineral exploration, banking and finance, tourism and in many other commercial deals. The Guardian in an exclusive report looks at Tanzania-UK relations, tourism and speaks to key stakeholders to Tanzania's increasing fortunes. There is a Q&A with Tanzania's Finance Minister Saada Mkuya where she highlights among other things the government's efforts to increase capital access to SMEs, Tanzania's GDP growth and bridging the gap in people's access to credit and integration to the banking industry.

Further analysis is done in Tanzania's tourism sector. Our tourism sector has not be aggressively advertised. Doing so will help convince many tourists from Europe, Americas, Asia and indeed Africa visit the magnificent tourist destinations such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Selous, Zanzibar among many. The Commissioner General of Tanzania Revenue Authority explores the effective ways of tax collection and government financing through revenue and tax. Further insights are given by the Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe, embattled Minister for Energy Prof Sospeter Muhongo, TANESCO Managing Director among others.

Tanzania stands at a critical transition for progress and development. Sound leadership, vision and accountability remain crucial in taking Tanzania to the next level.

See links:    http://www.theguardian.com/the-report/the-report-tanzania