EAC: How Tanzania is shooting herself in the foot

[Kichuguu]

Nairoberry and mwathai.

I tend to believe that you are among the new generation of Kenyans who have open minds about East Africa. However, we know that history never lie, and that Kenya has never been on the right side of East African history unless it meant something to Kenya. While Tanganyika was ready to delay her independence for the good of the region, Kenya was at the forefront of killing the then immature EAC for the benefit of Kenya: ask Njonjo, who enjoyed a drink of an expensive champagne to see EAC collapsing and all EAC planes, sea vessels and train engines remaining in Kenya. Knowing that history, I hoped Kenyans would be at the forefront in cleaning the mess they contributed in creating instead of blaming those woe were smeared by that mess.

 

[Zakumi]

Nairoberry and mwathai.

I tend to believe that you are among the new generation of Kenyans who have open minds about East Africa. However, we know that history never lie, and that Kenya has never been on the right side of East African history unless it meant something to Kenya. While Tanganyika was ready to delay her independence for the good of the region, Kenya was at the forefront of killing the then immature EAC for the benefit of Kenya: ask Njonjo, who enjoyed a drink of an expensive champagne to see EAC collapsing and all EAC planes, sea vessels and train engines remaining in Kenya. Knowing that history, I hoped Kenyans would be at the forefront in cleaning the mess they contributed in creating instead of blaming those woe were smeared by that mess.

I have scanned the article and found nothing new really. The type of integration the East African countries are seeking isn't a new one. It is the idea straight out of the big book of European Union Integration which has experienced serious issues recently. So instead of moving ahead or coping alien ideas blindly, we should discuss our own options.

Kenya wants other countries to follow her ways. But other EA countries can't build their economies around her. She can't bail out other countries financially. Politically, she still has a long way to go. So instead of ramming their ideas into other people throats, Kenyans need to resolve their problems at home.

Additionally, money follows no flag or national anthem. Investors will continue to flow to Tanzania not because Tanzania is close to Kenya politically, but because there’s money to be made. The population, the size of the country, the availability of natural resources, and geopolitical of the country make Tanzania a unique country in the region for investments.

 

[mwathai]

Nairoberry and mwathai.

I tend to believe that you are among the new generation of Kenyans who have open minds about East Africa. However, we know that history never lie, and that Kenya has never been on the right side of East African history unless it meant something to Kenya. While Tanganyika was ready to delay her independence for the good of the region, Kenya was at the forefront of killing the then immature EAC for the benefit of Kenya: ask Njonjo, who enjoyed a drink of an expensive champagne to see EAC collapsing and all EAC planes, sea vessels and train engines remaining in Kenya. Knowing that history, I hoped Kenyans would be at the forefront in cleaning the mess they contributed in creating instead of blaming those woe were smeared by that mess.

Quite a sensible argument you have here. History is a good teacher. But history can also be a stumbling bloc. You are right I am in the generation of Kenyans that want more space and bigger markets for our things including ideas.
Iam aware of the mess by that older generation which also messed up our country. But I also believe in letting go and getting on.
So let's protect our interests without being paternalistic. I doubt If I shall be comfortable with a Tanzanian buying land in my village since there isn't enough to go round. But I will be comfortable buying a product or ideas from Tanzania and the question of him owning land in my village- unless he can produce something that benefits the entire village - will not be a subject of discussion.

I doubt if there are many Kenyans interested in buying land in Tanzania -unless they can exploit it to produce something that benefits all-Tanzanians and Kenyans alike.
The issue of protecting land could be the smokescreen used by people who have other ideas. Kenya is Tanzania's largest market in Africa. This means that Kenya sustains employment in Tanzania. Tanzania is the second largest market for Kenya exports in Africa which means that Tanzanians sustains some employment in kenya. That is mutual dependence. THat is whjat we are calling for. It is therefore wrong policy to look for friends at the fourth ridge while in you ridge you have none. Your neighbours will put out the fire in your house even it catches fire in your absence.
Think about it

 

[eliakeem]

Let's talk about equals here. Chang'aa is called gongo in Tanzania. I did not talk about Gongo. I am comparing the middle class in a country. In Kenya they drink beer or spirits-but they don't mix. That is suicide

It's better to take a mxture of kilimanjaro and konyagi than taking a pure konyagi.... (refer to your volumetric analysis).

 

[Kabaridi]

Nairoberry,

There is some truth in what you are saying. However, I blame the Tanzanian business people who are afraid to venture out. Instead of the big shots of Tanzania moving forward to compete with their counterparts from the region, they are busy advising their Govt not to allow competition.

You might be blaming the TZ business people, but maybe the system is skewed not allow them operate. You cannot move forward unless the environment to do business is favorable. The hardworking businessmen in TZ might have the will but they may fear working to enrich the tax collection machinery.

 

[josephmara82]

Majirani walisaliti JUMUIYA kwa kufuata waliodhani watawafaa, na kweli walikomba kila kitu lazima wakubali. Siyo kama wao hawapendi WABONGO ila walidaganywa, angalia makampuni yao mengi na walivyoweka nchi yao hawana lao kabisa sisi tulichekwa sana ila leo kwanini wanataka hata kutumeza ili tuwe wamoja???? BONGO imebaki na utajiri wa kila kitu na inaboom kwa kila uwekezaji si katai wao waliwahi sana bila maandalizi yoyote sasa leo walewale wanapitia kwao kutaka TZ ila Mwl. alisema wakipata akili huwezi penyeza kwa zitto ona mafuta na gas hadi wanashangaa walewale wa siku zile?i!!!!! sema lingine ni kwamba shiba kwanza wekeza mfano chakula si haba tunawazidi japo bado hawapendi ONAFAOSTAT 2010 au kwa kusikia. Leo mafuta, almasi, Tnite, gasi, nk leo hakuna sana vumbi pa kupita so DART na Kigamboni afu Mkwele juu kwa kutaka tuwe kama S'pore inawezekana sasa jamani mnawachanga MAJIRANI kabisa maake watafanyaje sasa kuendelea kujenga na kushindana wakati sasa wanaona boom ni kubwa. Jamani mnakubali FASTJET 1998 wangeanzia DAR???? leo wanatangaza ujue kuna jambo......hebu waza tena LNG issues kwa nini wanaumia wakati sie ndo wala kama hatutaki coz watakuja tu, ooooh mara zamani eti TZ hakuna shule nenda SAUT jamani mjue waTZ walijiweka nyuma sana leo wanataka kujitamba kama walivyojiuza miaka iliyopita hadi kilele na sere wa ngete wakasema huko ngambo yao baada ya UEFA kusema kweli na magharibi ya mbali kuona sasa TZ ndo kitovu cha maisha hapo si muda mrefu sasa kasi kuwa TUWE WAMOJA x1000000 ujue jamani kuna jambo tu. huwezi kwepa utasema uongo baadae utakubali tu kuwa hawa watu hata kama wanatofauti ila wanapendana sijui nishukuru ujamaa???!!! nitachukiwa ila nadhani si utani wajamaa zetu wale mashariki ya mbali walitupa akili kupitia Mwl.angalia leo majirani utasikia eti Nh'unh'a kwao ni nyumbani hata hawasomi historia walivyomsaliti leo atakuja tafuta hela tu.

Mie naomba nyie waTZ muwe na mkakati kama wao wanakuja kuwekeza TZ si mbaya coz si mbaya kweli tunategemeana hasa kwa ajira na biashara wala tusichukiane katika hilo ila niwaombe wapunguze kejeri kwani TZ ni wajamaa hawapendi dharau cheza kama wao. Siri kali iwape mtaji watu wakawekeze kule wala wao si kwamba wajanja wanatumwa na umgharibi kupata miraba bongo na mengine mengi afu katika kukamata soko siri kali inawavuta sana ili wasije aibika baadae. Sijui kama kweli ila nasikia eti zamani si mbali sana 2000s walikuwa wanaambiwa eti nchi nzima hakuna ghorofa na wengi amabao walikuwa hawakufika walijua hivyo sasa mamamamamamamma walivyofika!!!!!!!!????? kushangaa napo si haba.

TUWE PAMOJA KATIKA YOTE JAMANI WOTE TUNATEGEMEANA TU ILA TUKITENGENA NA KULETA UBINAFSI TUTASHINDWA TENA MAAKE ENZI HII HAYA YOTE NI KWASABABU SHULE ZA KATA NA UDOMs VIMEJAA MAWAZO MAKUBWA

 

[chash]

You might be blaming the TZ business people, but maybe the system is skewed not allow them operate. You cannot move forward unless the environment to do business is favorable. The hardworking businessmen in TZ might have the will but they may fear working to enrich the tax collection machinery.

In my opinion the Tanzania system is better than Kenya as far as small and medium enterprise is concerned. Maybe big business will find some hindrances here and there especially since they want returns by the billions and the government has to cut them to size in order to protect the people. To give an example equity bank came to Tanzania and applied to open I think 16 branches at once if am not wrong. They were allowed three. Imagine what speed they would be moving as compared to local banks. One may criticize the Government of protectionism but on the other side look at how many banks have collapsed in Kenya with peoples deposits. More than 20. In Tanzania only 2 and the deposit protection fund refunded the money in one or both am not sure. One mistake that Kenyan firms make when coming to Tanzania is that they do not do adequate study especially on target markets.