Tanzanian leaders urge citizens to stop whining

Tanzanians must shape up to benefit from the fruits of the common market, analysts say. The southern neighbours have been most unenthusiastic about regional integration.

During negotiations for the agreement, for instance, East Africa’s second largest economy fought hard to ensure that land was omitted from the protocol. This was due to fears that landless people in partner States would invade Tanzania and grab its land.

During negotiations

Indeed, during the 18 months of negotiations, the matter boiled to a point where Dar’s commitment to regional integration was questioned by partner States as the talks rotated from one capital to another. With the land issue finally settled, Tanzania came on board paving the way for the signing of the document by the five heads of State in Arusha last November.

But Tanzanians’ fear of regional unity is fuelled by more than just the land factor. The main concern of the people of Tanzania, arguably the richest in land and natural resources, is the fear that they will lose out to more qualified workers, including professionals, from sister countries especially Kenya and more enterprising traders from her neighbours.

This fear has been fuelled by a campaign by leaders and politicians, often fanned by a section of the media to the extent of causing some xenophobia-like situations against entrepreneurs from outside the country. Given the circumstances on the ground, analysts have been quick to point out that for some Tanzanians the Common Market may have come at a time they are least prepared for it.

But Mr Isidore Shirima, the regional commissioner for Arusha, an area with a big share of professionals and traders from the EAC sister states, says Tanzanians must be ready for competition or they will lose out. He says it is true that Kenyans and nationals from other EAC States have secured lucrative jobs and set up thriving businesses in Arusha, which also serves as the Community headquarters.

Under-the-table

However, he adds that such jobs or businesses did not go to non-Tanzanians through “under-the-table” deals. Those who got them had the required skills. Instead of Tanzanians complaining of being outsmarted by Kenyans, he argues, they should work hard and exploit the vast natural resources the country is endowed with.

He said it was unfortunate that Tanzanians, especially in the northern regions bordering Kenya, continued to attribute their economic woes to Kenyans. These include the tourism and hotel sectors, whose hub is Arusha. The operations of most hotels and lodges in the area have been in the hands of Kenyans for years — from managers to chefs.

Ms Jacquiline Mkindi, the executive director of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (Taha) insists that Tanzanians must grasp the necessary business skills to enable them compete effectively with their neighbours. She feels that compared to their counterparts in, say Kenya or Rwanda, the private sector people in Tanzania have not been aggressive enough.

Due to this, there was a likelihood of Tanzania or rather its business people being outsmarted by Kenyans, Rwandans and Ugandans in trade and business deals, she added. The Taha boss’ fears have been attributed to a number of factors, chief among them little exposure of Tanzanian entrepreneurs to the outside world in the past.

And this is not by coincidence. For many years before the economic liberalisation that saw the country embracing market economy, many Tanzanians were dependent on government support for their day to day undertakings. This dependency syndrome is still evident in most parts of the country.

Tanzanians changed

“It is now high time Tanzanians changed their mindsets and stopped thinking the government can do everything for them,” she said when addressing a gathering of youth leaders in Arusha. Ms Mkindi said at times Tanzanian produced goods could not compete with those of other countries for failure to comply with the set international standards.

However, she noted that not all woes facing the country’s private sector could be blamed on the business people. The government was also to blame. These include lack of credit facilities. For many years, the business community has pressed for the setting up land and agricultural banks to extend credit to the sector.

A leading advocate, Ms Joaquine de Mello, who recently served as the president of Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), shared the same view. “It is too late for Tanzanians to start arguing about the benefits and dangers of EA integration now that the deal has been ratified by all countries,” she told reporters in Arusha recently.

She urged Tanzanians to stop such worries because they were operating in an increasingly competitive and globalised world. Dr Flora Musonda, EAC director of trade, implored Tanzanian professionals and entrepreneurs to wake up and compete for jobs or markets available in the five partner states.