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 People who say Tanzania Mainland hasn’t registered any successes over the past 50 years are off the mark, as are those who think that national cohesion, peace and stability are divine gifts, and not goals that have to be attained painstakingly by a visionary leadership and patriotic, industrious wananchi.
The reality, though, is that many praiseworthy strides have been made since December 9, 1961, when Britain’s Union Jack was replaced by the flag of independent Tanganyika that would, on April 26, 1964, merge with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
A statistical sketch aptly captures that reality. Economic growth rose from 4 per cent in the 1960s to 7 per cent in 2010, in acknowledgement of which the country has been slotted into the group of 20 fastest growing economies in the world. Government revenue shot from Sh1.16 billion in 1961 to Sh500 billion in 2010, while the increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up to last year was from Sh7.2 billion to Sh32.3 billion.
Between independence and now, average income per head per annum has increased from Sh766 to Sh770, 464; and, while the country had only 9 local doctors then, they numbered 5,026 by 2010. There are now 240 public hospitals as opposed to 98 then, one of the benefits of which is the consistent reduction of maternal deaths, as well as those of children aged below five. Tarmac roads increased five-fold from 1,300km in 1961 to the current 6,500km.
Some achievements are incalculable in monetary terms, such as cohesiveness, solidarity and peace, in spite of Tanzania being composed by over 120 tribes, and people subscribing to different religious denominations and belonging to different races. So, too, are staunch support to southern African liberation movements, defeating the aggressor forces of Ugandan military dictator Idi Amin, hosting refugees fleeing persecution at home, and reconciliation initiatives in Africa’s trouble spots.
Instrumental roles
Glowing tribute should be paid to the four post-Uhuru presidents so far, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Al Haj Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Mr Benjamin Mkapa and Dr Jakaya Kikwete, for their instrumental roles in fashioning Tanzania into a highly respected country.The re-introduction of multi-partyism in 1992 was a welcome development as it has broadened democracy; and economic and media liberalisation, marching with globalisation, and active roles in forging East African regional integration are yet more pluses.
The journey along the independence road hasn’t been a smooth ride. It has been fraught with several setbacks, blunders and challenges that the government, wananchi, development partners and civil society, have been grappling with.
The ‘unholy trinity’ of poverty, ignorance and disease cited as the cardinal enemies on our first Uhuru Day, still persist as we mark the 50th Uhuru Day today. So we must soldier on, as the war against them is far from being won. Plus, we have to address corruption that has assumed cancerous proportions, and streamline the public service, agriculture, industrial, mining, health, energy, and water supply sectors. The economy, in a country whose 80 plus population is poverty-stricken, must grow by between 7 and 10 per cent to entitle Tanzania to join the middle-income league by 2025; and the search for a new constitution must be predicated on cool heads and a high sense of patriotism.
Tanzanians must adopt a mindset that anchors on homegrown ideas for spurring socioeconomic advances, de-emphasises donor dependence and rejects wholesale acceptance of foreign-sourced prescriptions for domestic problems. We must borrow a leaf from the Asian tigers, who started on a modest footing like ours.
It is a crucial assignment that should be undertaken in earnest, when the celebratory dust of today’s 50th Uhuru Day settles.
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