#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

    

#Poem: What Truth?

What truth?

The idea of justice. Truly utopian

Masses concerned, quizzing and reflecting

Colloquialism

Engaging, calling, texting, many vibrant..

Soliloquy

In the end they will prevail

You're left groaning - they laugh

All the way into the bank and the ballot

Triumphantly they dance, ironically you join in

And life goes on

The truth  

Lessons for Tanzanians? The Day Burkinabe People Recovered Their Voice

Here is an interesting article I came across this morning. As a keen follower of African politics, I was pleased to see the dethroning of an autocrat in Burkina Faso. The people of Burkina Faso without Western persuasion said enough is enough. The longtime dictator Blaise Compaore was forced out. Compaore had overthrown Thomas Sankara in a military coup in October 15, 1987. Compaore was trying to change the constitution and extending his reign. The article by Amy Niang examines how the people of Burkina Faso recovered their voices. 

http://forums.ssrc.org/kujenga-amani/2014/11/07/the-day-the-burkinabe-people-recovered-their-voice/

Peace and Tranquility as Zanzibar marks four years of the GNU

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the historic Maridhiano agreement signed by President Karume and the opposition leader Maalim Seif Shariff Hamad in Zanzibar which later formed the government of national unity after the general elections in 2010. This extraordinary act between the two leaders heralded a new beginning in Zanzibar. I assess the the GNU vis-a-vis democracy in an article submitted to the Kujenga Amani forum. Regardless, the GNU has brought remarkable trnsformation in the sociopolitical setting in Zanzibar. Zanzibar remains at peace and the two primordial nemesis in CCM and CUF now somehow coexist. For more details on the GNU in Zanzibar see link below.

President Karume and Maalim Seif shake hands to seal the historic Maridhiano agreement in November 5 2010. Besides them in Ismail Jussa

http://forums.ssrc.org/kujenga-amani/2014/08/04/democracy-versus-stability-political-reconciliation-and-the-government-of-national-unity-in-zanzibar/

    

#Poem: #ThanksGiving

I stop and wonder,

Think and ponder,

The great blessings and splendor,

Life in abundance, smiling no wonder

I raise my eyes and thank him above for grace and grandeur

The good health, radiance, my troubles I surrender

My cries and tribulations, He is my fender

A thanksgiving prayer to my God my redeemer

#NyerereDay: A Time for Reflection

Happy Nyerere Day to all Tanzanians and to everyone who espouses the ideals of a great man. Nyerere is the embodiment of our nation. Though he had his weaknesses as a person, Nyerere stood for equality, progress and self-reliance. He believed in a unique form of African socialism which he termed as 'Ujamaa'. I grew up idolizing the man. His picture still hangs in my bedroom wall. I read his books, listened to his speeches and promised myself to be as selfless like him. Mwalimu Nyerere was a man of vision. He envisioned a Tanzania that is self-reliant and free from external aid. He succeeded in uniting Tanzanians. We are one people with one language thanks to Mwalimu Nyerere. 

Today, Tanzania risks being divided by partisan politics. The current constitutional conundrum risks dividing Tanzanians. Nyerere would have loved to see a consensual approach to the constitution process. The process has been hijacked by politicians who only look for their personal interests. The process has lacked nationwide consensus which any constitution process should have. The process has been about which side is stronger instead on building consensus (maridhiano). The process has been hurried by the powers that be. The powers that be want to gain political mileage instead of nationwide consensus. People's views have been ignored by the powers that be. Cynicism and antipathy is now rife among many Tanzanians. As we mark this day, it is important that we take time to reflect. Let us do a self-reexamination and see where we went wrong. We should mark this day by reflecting on the ideals Mwalimu championed. HAPPY NYERERE DAY!   

#Katiba Watch: Chenge stealing the show!

The Chairman of the drafting Committee, former Attorney General Andrew Chenge has been stealing the Katiba show. On 24 September, he unveiled a constitution draft that is now termed as the Dodoma Draft or what many are now referring to as the CCM draft. Mr. Chenge was at one time accused of massive corruption. He made further headlines when he retorted by saying the money he was accused of stealing was mere 'vijisenti'. He was later re-branded as 'Mzee wa Vijisenti'. He later resigned from his post as Infrastructure Minister and kept a low profile.

When the Constituent Assembly was set up in February this year, Chenge's name was mentioned for the position of the Chairman of the CA. The position however went to Mr. Samuel Sitta, who according to political commentators was a deliberate ploy to position himself for the post of the presidency come next year. Mr. Chenge, however, took up the post as Chairman of the Drafting Committee in the CA. Mr. Chenge, who many claim has a sharp legal mind has repositioned and re-branded his image. Mr. Chenge read with admirable articulation the proposed new constitution draft. The draft is now even known in some quarters as the Chenge Draft. Maybe he has more up his sleeves.