Tanzania
mainland marks 51 years since it attained independence on 9th December
2012. At the down of 1960s, many African nations were emerging as
sovereign entities in the international system. Others had undergone a
protracted struggle under colonial imperialism while others had peacefully
negotiated for their independence with their colonial masters. For the first
time in modern history, African states had gained global recognition and
impetus in world politics and economics.
The
African story has been written and authored by a myriad of scholars
predominantly Western ones. Tales are told of a ragged and frayed continent, a
wrecked continent, a continent of despair, a lost continent, and even the fate
of the African continent ravaged by war, disease, ethnicity and
underdevelopment has been told. But, despite this hopelessness and despair,
apathy and cynicism in the African continent, Africa will forever remain our
motherland.
Although
independence had come, it had come only in political terms. The most essential
element of independence is not political freedom or what we term ‘flag
independence’. The continent of Africa was deprived the most precious form of
independence; economic independence. As Tanzania mainland marks fifty one years
of independence, we should ask ourselves what type of independence we are
marking today. It is quite blatant that we are only politically independent and
not economically liberated.
Building
great nations require selfless leaders who will out of the desire and love for
their people mold a nation that will aspire for economic independence and not
those who blame their misfortunes on others. The concept of economic
independence has elicited sharp academic and political debate. I shall try and
contribute to this debate by contextualizing Tanzania. It is quite clear that
Tanzania, just like many other African nations, is not economically
independent.
As
we celebrate this 51st anniversary of our independence, we
should pose and reflect on the past, present and what lies ahead in terms of
economic liberation. As Jenerali Ulimwengu (political commentator) says in one
of his recent commentaries that ‘birthdays are a time to give thanks to
Providence for having survived the vagaries of a cruel world,’ it is also a
time to take stock and reflect.
Reflections
should be made towards propelling our nation towards economic independence. In
doing so, we should reflect on how we can achieve economic liberation. Dambisa
Moyo one of Africa’s contemporary scholars in the field of international
economics posits that economic independence can only be attained through
debunking the western models which promote economic aid.
Her
thesis describes the state of postwar development policy in Africa today and
she confronts one of the greatest myths of our time: that billions of dollars
in aid sent from wealthy countries to developing African nations has helped to
reduce poverty and increase growth. She asserts that, contrary to the opinion
that aid benefits the recipients, it actually traps developing nations in a
vicious circle of aid dependency, corruption, market distortion, and further
poverty, leaving them with nothing but the “need” for more aid. This cycle
deprives the countries their economic independence. Tanzania is still regarded
as one of the poorest nations on earth. We are still dependent on economic aid
for many developmental initiatives in our country. Our budget is still to a
large extent financed by external donors. This is not the economic independence
we aspired when we gained independence.
Towards Economic Independence
Economic
blueprints in many countries are built with the purpose of liberating countries
from poverty and stagnation. One of the best blueprints which has yielded
immense success is the Singapore story. Under the close guidance of Lee Kuan
Yew, Singapore was transformed from third world to first within a generation.
Singapore’s extraordinary achievement has transformed the country into an Asian
economic giant. Economic independence comes from doing the small things right,
with great love and vision. It comes through identifying your strengths and
working on your weaknesses. Tanzania can do just this.
Tanzania
is a land of great potential, a land of great people, a country blessed with
massive wealth and a country of great diversity. We can harness our potential
through identifying what we can do best, this way we shall be in a position to
strengthen our economy and thus becoming economically independent.
As
we mark this day, fellow Tanzanians, let’s take a moment to reflect on our path
forward. Let us rekindle the desire of progress our fore fathers envisioned,
let us pursue a better Tanzania in the next fifty years when we shall be celebrating
an anniversary of economic independence, let us aspire for greatness because
Tanzania is a nation destined for greatness. God bless Tanzania.
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