Avoid the bankruptcy of hope, thought and diplomacy

Let me start by recalling the proverb that ‘those who live in glass houses should not throw stones’ – lest they break their own houses.

I read the letter (on Tanzania) by four US senators to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo which contained factual errors. First of all, there are no forced pregnancy tests being done in Tanzania and secondly, female students in public schools who become pregnant are not allowed to return to school. However, they are not restricted from joining private schools.

I suggest that the four senators should create a special fund to sponsor post-pregnancy students instead of merely complaining. Maybe 3 or 4 years from now, data will show that the school pregnancy rate would have decreased significantly because of such intervention.

The senators also wrote about closing the political space; war on democratic freedoms and civil societies – and no funding for policies that are intolerant, unfair and/or inequitable.

Furthermore, they made mention of a deeply troubling political trajectory.

I have looked at all these accusations with a cool head. One can also write volumes on these very same points regarding the US – self-styled ‘land of the free and home of the brave’. So, why would they throw stones at us, while we are both equally vulnerable, pray?

There are a gazillion actions by the US – past and present – about which the world can shout against from the treetops. Among these are the US invasion of Afghanistan (on October 7, 2001) and Iraq (on March 20, 2003) – as well as currently making Saudi Arabia a sleeping partner despite all evidence to the contrary.

But Tanzanians do not, will not, interfere in US affairs – and US politicians should likewise refrain from interfering in Tanzania’s affairs.

Another questionable matter is the resolution by the European Union parliament, which is more or less similar to the US senators’ letter in terms of profanity.

The document mentions the current Dar es Salaam regional commissioner for stigmatizing LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex) groups. But there was an official statement about this a little later...

Anyway, I will refrain from responding in detail here because the EU is on the brink of collapsing on the back of Brexit – and, as such, there’s no sense in whipping a dying horse.

Let me shed some light on official development assistance (ODA). In the past fifty years, more than $1 trillion in development aid has flowed from the developed world to Africa. Has this improved the lives of Africans?

The answer is ‘NO!’ Clearly, aid recipient countries are not better off; in fact, things are worse, as aid has fueled grand corruption and abject poverty.

In the short-term, Tanzanians will have to tighten their belts to accommodate the loss of aid from the so-called development partners.

But, in the long-term, we would be better off by being independent of foreign aid. This is the lesson we should heed from the two documents: the US senators’ letter and the EU Resolution.

The magic wand here is really to work hard, surmount corruption, pay taxes as due – and we should be fine.

They can delay our development but they cannot stop our development, and we would definitely develop.

What they don’t seem to understand is that giving us aid is an opportunity for them – an opportunity they will soon lose.

On the other hand, we cannot – we should not – thrive on isolation; aid or no aid, it is time to be more thoughtful. Times have changed, and we also need to change. We need to be more pluralistic and tolerant to others. There is no need to rock the boat; our focus should be on development – and we must learn to avoid or ignore polemics.

Tanzanians in this day and age will cast their vote only for development. There is no need to constrict political space or freedom. If the population sees development – as I am sure there has been tangible development in the last three years – then we need not worry unduly about the next elections.

Tanzania has built a strong reputation for long-standing peace and stability, in marked contrast to some neighbouring countries. We are rich in natural resources, have huge potential in tourism and agriculture.

This is a golden opportunity for prospective investors, and all we need do is create a friendly environment. Let’s not lose our focus, nor get distracted.

If the EU and the US would just step back and think about it, they would realise that the best course of action is to concentrate on positive dialogue and enhance diplomatic relations for the good of mankind.

In these turbulent times, it is in the interests of one and all to avoid the bankruptcy of hope, thought and diplomacy.