This is the only Tanzania so far who has written sense. I need only tell him this about the beer issue. he is describing a marketing problem. Most manufacturers in Tanzania have difficulties, some of them self imposed, at venturing out.
In fact a manager in a South Africa supermarket once told me that Tanzanian Manufacturers do not understand the Concept of a super market. When they deliver their supplies, they want to be paid upfront. Supermarkets are mainly outlets where manufacturers are only paid what is sold. Merchandisers only rent space in the super market to sell and pay a commission. So if you walk to uchumi and you do not find Serengeti Beer, call the plant ans ask them to rent a fridge in Uchumi so that you buy from the. But Tanzania Breweries may want to sale to bars that COD. That is a old and outdated system.
Many Kenyan manufacturers set up shop in Tanzania in the 1990s and 2000s because of frustration with the Moi regime. Since Moi was replaced, the country's economy has been on a growth trajectory. in Kenya the market for manufacturers is within a 400KM radius. So with good roads and a growing economy, most lost the incentive to invest in Tanzania.
The other reason for those that remain was; they gunned for the SADC market, which has proven elusive hence the incentive to stay longer in Tanzania is removed.
Now my worry is in 2017, SADC, EACM and COMESA will form a bigger FTA. F or every country that joins the FTA with EAC, Tanzania is pushed down the ranks in terms of importance ans economic partner.
That is our worry because we cannot afford to live with a poor neighbour next door. projection indicate that even though grows at lower pace than Tanzania, by 2016, its GDP will be twice that of Tanzania. of course these projection excluded LNG and OIl as economic factors in both countries. Therefore the difference could be narrowed down or even widened.
I must admit that some Kenyans, including some that write on this forum have a bad attitude just like some Tanzanians are. Bad sweeping our weaknesses under the carpet will not help any one. Neither does bragging over our achievements, real or imagined. The most important thing is to take a step back frfom our attitudes and do some soul searching. Then act Accordingly.
I have demanded that you remove this copy and stop plagiarising my work for a long time. Why have you chosen to turn a deaf hear? You action is hurting my interest band this is the last time I will caution you on your illegal action
EAERs Management.
i have removed the post if you are talking about mine,sorry i had not read this thread since i posted. pole sana. i have just left the linkI have demanded that you remove this copy and stop plagiarising my work for a long time. Why have you chosen to turn a deaf hear? You action is hurting my interest band this is the last time I will caution you on your illegal action
EAERs Management.
The first time I visited Tanzania, I thought i was dropped right bang in the middle of beggars- always begging for this or that even begging Shopkeepers to sale to you. In Kenyan parlance there is a world of difference between asking for help( Naomba) and demanding for action.
I think that is why a shopkeeper in Tanzania can rudely tell an impatient customer to go away and shop elsewhere and still be in business tomorrow.
May be a short story would do. I have a few Tanzanian friends with whom we exchange visits. The last time my friend visited me, he had time to walk around sampling Kenyan culture, especially the business culture.
One day he accompanies to a local branch of Uchumi Super Markets. As I walked In stumbled on the group CEO of the chain. I shook his hand congratulating for turning the supermarket round.
We exchanged pleasantries before he asked me what was wrong spraying pump I was carrying in the store. I explained that i bought it in that branch and since it did not function properly, I returned to establish whether it was working or I assembled it in the wrong way.
The man immediately took the pump, inspected it and immediately pointed the trouble. He even re-assembled it for me. It worked. Meanwhile my friend asked a staffer to show a particular counter. The staffer, immediately stopped what he was doing and led my friend to the counter.
later as we discussed the experiences of the day, My friend's wife, commented about the efficiency of the Kenyan Business Community. "in Kenya, the customer is King. In Tanzania the shop owner is King."
I believe that tells something
Kenyans may not be arrogant it is just that their language seems very rude. It is not their fault they were born that way. Kenyans have a problem with communication which makes them sound rude. It will take a visitor sometime to get used to this.
The first time I visited Tanzania, I thought i was dropped right bang in the middle of beggars- always begging for this or that even begging Shopkeepers to sale to you. In Kenyan parlance there is a world of difference between asking for help( Naomba) and demanding for action.
I think that is why a shopkeeper in Tanzania can rudely tell an impatient customer to go away and shop elsewhere and still be in business tomorrow.
May be a short story would do. I have a few Tanzanian friends with whom we exchange visits. The last time my friend visited me, he had time to walk around sampling Kenyan culture, especially the business culture.
One day he accompanies to a local branch of Uchumi Super Markets. As I walked In stumbled on the group CEO of the chain. I shook his hand congratulating for turning the supermarket round.
We exchanged pleasantries before he asked me what was wrong spraying pump I was carrying in the store. I explained that i bought it in that branch and since it did not function properly, I returned to establish whether it was working or I assembled it in the wrong way.
The man immediately took the pump, inspected it and immediately pointed the trouble. He even re-assembled it for me. It worked. Meanwhile my friend asked a staffer to show a particular counter. The staffer, immediately stopped what he was doing and led my friend to the counter.
later as we discussed the experiences of the day, My friend's wife, commented about the efficiency of the Kenyan Business Community. "in Kenya, the customer is King. In Tanzania the shop owner is King."
I believe that tells something
My response was to people who have a problem with the Kenyan way of communicating. They did not time to ask themselves; Is our way of communicating pleasant to every one?Mwathai,
..in my opinion when u travel to a new place u have to familiarize urself with the culture of that place. For example what is a good customers service and what is bad. how could u tell that business negotiations r going well or bad?
..Let me give u an example: at my work place I have had a subordinate who often times would respond in ENGLISH "I don't care." I would call him and his team and give a task to them, and if I wanted to know weather he is OK or not, he would respond "I don't care."
..at first i was getting very frustrated with him, but i just kept it to myself, because whatever task i gave him he would perform it to my satisfaction. it is only after a while that i realized that he was saying "I don't care" bcuz that is a direct translation from his NATIVE language to ENGLISH meaning he was OK/READY/GOOD TO GO.
..EAC is a multicultural society, and each one of us need to appreciate and embrace it. I would not try to fit Kenyans/Ugandans/Rwandese into my Tanzanian culture. I believe if I am in Kenya/Rwanda/Uganda I have to understand how ppl in those societies communicate, and how I have to relate to them.
NB:
..frm ur visit to Tanzania, what is one thing that the PEOPLE of our country really impressed u with??
mwathai,
..kuna gazeti kama The East African ambalo liko very NEGATIVE about TANZANIA and her ppl.
..I am very interested kusoma gazeti la Kenya which portrays Tanzania in a positive light.
..Quite frankly, hiyo ni trend mpya and we would hope it continues.
..kama wa-Mtanzania napenda positive and constructive criticism toka kwa ndugu zetu wa-Kenya, the problem ni kwamba, and this is very unfortunate, most of the Kenyans ambao wako hapa JF wana dharau nyingi sana.
..We need to ACT and SPEAK as ONE. If we keep on clinging to our nationalism, and continue to malign and sobatage one another, then the EAC will have no future.
..Lastly, I found ur previous post to be positive and civil, however it is unfortunate that u concluded on a negative note when u remarked that "Tanzania is a country of drunkards."
My response was to people who have a problem with the Kenyan way of communicating. They did not time to ask themselves; Is our way of communicating pleasant to every one?
What I am calling for is cultural tolerance. I find it hypocritical that when I write about Tanzania building more roads to open up the country. No Tanzanian comments, when we point out -in good faith-areas that need to be improved. We are accused of looking down on them.
Today in our copy, we have pointed out that Tanzania is among the African country that Economists project will post fast growth rates in Africa. No one has responded. We are looking at improving our economies through integration so that we create a large market. Tanzania needs Kenya as much as Kenya needs Tanzania. Kenya is the leading market in Africa for Tanzanian agricultural and manufactured goods. In a word, the growth of Tanzanian manufacturing sector- and the jobs it creates- is driven by Kenya consumers. Therefore this insolent attitude like this madman Wacha1 who says we first used toilets in Tanzania is annoying.
One thing that Impressed me about Tanzania-it is a country of drunkards. It is the only Country I know where People "dilute "a 7.5 alcohol content beer(Safari and kilimanjaro) with a 40% proof gin( Konyagi).
Teh Teh heheheeee...... So what about chang'aa drinkers..... who say unazima taa unafikiri ndiyo nitaondoka napo siondoki ng'o... kumbe the eyes are gone....
By the way the alcohol content of Safari is 5.5% v/v (Tanzania Breweries Ltd. Safari Lager Beer Labels .com). and if you add 5.5% v/v to 40% v/v it doesn't make 45.5% v/v but rather dilute to almost 50% of its concentration (refer to quantitative analysis)......
Having gone this far, I believe I have a pretty good idea what ails Tanzanians. I think -whether they know it or not- Tanzanians feel swamped by Kenyans who own a robust media and robust economy. To some extend, Tanzanians feel that their information never gets out in a positive way.
There are large project development projects in Tanzania that do not get the right exposure. That is true. I for one, have to look elsewhere to get info about Tanzania developments because I do not know where to start in Tanzania (the media there is unreliable). Now let me offer Tanzanians an opportunity to have their say. I have the forum and am willing to open it up to them and anyone else in East Africa who feels the same. These are the conditions of entry.
i.The report must be factual, it must be backed by verifiable references
ii. It must be in English-
iii. It must be devoid of propaganda
Send the info to the e-mail on the blog, also include your real name, address and telephone number.
Then you shall be by lined as a guest writer
mwathai,
..kuna gazeti kama The East African ambalo liko very NEGATIVE about TANZANIA and her ppl.
..I am very interested kusoma gazeti la Kenya which portrays Tanzania in a positive light.
..Quite frankly, hiyo ni trend mpya and we would hope it continues.
..kama wa-Mtanzania napenda positive and constructive criticism toka kwa ndugu zetu wa-Kenya, the problem ni kwamba, and this is very unfortunate, most of the Kenyans ambao wako hapa JF wana dharau nyingi sana.
..We need to ACT and SPEAK as ONE. If we keep on clinging to our nationalism, and continue to malign and sobatage one another, then the EAC will have no future.
..Lastly, I found ur previous post to be positive and civil, however it is unfortunate that u concluded on a negative note when u remarked that "Tanzania is a country of drunkards."