Maalim Seif Sharrif Hamad Welcomes G20 Decision On Debt Relief: Now Is The Time For Accountability Mechanisms To Be Developed And Enforced

[Zitto]

MAALIM SEIF SHARIF HAMAD WELCOMES G20 DECISION ON DEBT RELIEF: NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS TO BE DEVELOPED AND ENFORCED

Statement by Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, Chairperson of ACT-Wazalendo

I welcome the decision of the G20 countries made on 15 April 2020 to suspend debt servicing by poor countries from 01 May 2020 until the end of the year.
In my Op-Ed published by African Arguments ( Tanzania: It’s time for a lockdown, debt relief and much more urgency Tanzania: It's time for a lockdown, debt relief and much more urgency - African Arguments ), I argued that a one year suspension of external debt services for developing countries would help these countries stimulate their economies and rebuild their health systems.

For Tanzania – which spends approximately $134 million a month on servicing external debt, this much needed relief will enable the government to develop a stimulus package to reignite the economy as well as ensure our health system is ready to face what is coming.

As much as this suspension of debt servicing is the right thing to do, accountability mechanisms need to be built as a matter of urgency. Such mechanisms will enable the funds saved to be used to achieve the desired objectives of economic stimulus and developing health systems. A similar process that to that followed with the HIPC should be embarked upon with each country developing a coherent plan with key milestones that will be monitored. If we don’t get this right, there is a real danger that authoritarian tendencies and the pretext of COVID-19 emergencies may result in funds being squandered.

I will write to the World Bank and IMF to formally request that HIPC like mechanism be instituted as a matter of urgency to ensure that countries such as Tanzania move with dispatch in directing saved funds to the right projects.

ACT-Wazalendo will work hard in continuing to hold the government of the United Republic of Tanzania to account, and will focus now on how these much needed funds will be employed to help our people navigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As our party leader has previously stated, we also remain ready to work with the government in any way we can to get our economy working and to protect our people.

Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad
National Chairperson
ACT Wazalendo
Vuga, Zanzibar
16/4/2020

 

[johnthebaptist]

Mara Sharad mara Sharif tushike lipi mheshimiwa?

 

[digba sowey]

English is an elephant's meat,make a reference to the third paragraph after the title of your post,there it is written "I argued that a one year before " ,you could have written, I argued that a year before or I argued that one year " please try to improve your oral and written English you as a public figure,it's shameful ,but all in all the message is good,

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[Azizi Mussa]

Mkuu Zitto kwa sababu za kiitifaki, wewe ukiwa kama kiongozi wa chama ambaye ni "suprime" hupaswi kuwaripoti surbodinates wako. Ukifanya hivyo unakuwa unafanya majukumu ya viongozi wa chini na likitokea tatizo kutakuwa hakuna checks and balances.

Nashauri habari zinazohusu viongozi wa chini yako ni vyema zikatipotiwa na msemaji wa chama kwa verified ID.

Vinginevyo itakuwa ni vigumu kutofautisha kipi ni cha taasisi na kipi ni binafsi na nani ni nani na hiyo litakuja kuwaletea shida kubwa baadae.

Ni ushauri tu mkuu.

 

[mugah di matheo]

Rais wa zanzibar katika ubora wake.

 

[wa kupuliza]

Azizi Mussa,
Hivi utofauti wa kimajukumu kati ya Supreme leader vs Chairman ni nini?

Nani ni face of the party?

 

[bagamoyo]

April 8, 2020
Tanzania: It’s time for a lockdown, debt relief and much more urgency
Zanzibar and Tanzania can beat the pandemic and emerge more united, but we don’t have time to spare. Here’s what we need to do.

People gather on a corner in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Credit: Frans Peeters.
April is shaping up to be a decisive time that will determine the success or failure of Africa’s war against COVID-19. It is imperative that we in Zanzibar and Tanzania – where we have 24 cases at the time of writing, according to the Coronavirus in Africa tracker – intensify our efforts to protect our people and their livelihoods. Our collective future depends on our response. We cannot afford to fail.

Our economy is facing significant stress and strain as a result of the pandemic. There is an immediate need to address this. We cannot afford the current trends of price inflation and protectionism of big businesses to continue. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Zanzibar Revenue Board (ZRB) cannot continue their “business-as-usual” approach, which sees no urgency in bringing about tax relief for people whose businesses and livelihoods have been devastated.

Both the Mainland and Zanzibar governments should initiate extraordinary measures to mitigate the economic impacts of the global crisis. The pandemic and its effects will not end tomorrow. The time for burying one’s head in the sand is over. I call upon every leader in the United Republic – political, business, labour and community – to stand up and honour their obligation to protect our vulnerable communities from COVID-19.

Issue a universal stay at home order
I again call upon the governments to implement a universal stay at home order. This should be accompanied by a coming together of leaders of all sectors of society to develop a plan to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the crisis and to ensure the food security of our people. A sense of urgency must pervade our efforts. We must remember that we are at the brink of incoming monsoon rains, the “Kipupwe” cool season and the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The armed forces deserve our gratitude for their efforts in addressing issues of emergency preparedness, logistics support and in enforcing the current level of community restrictions. However, it is important that they do not abuse their powers under the pretext of fighting the coronavirus. The government has yet to declare an official curfew or restrictions on general movement. Why then are some elements of our armed forces visibly threatening and antagonising law-abiding citizens going about their regular business? This does not bode well for any eventual lockdown as necessary as it may be.

Our armed forces are obligated to act with a reasonable and proportional amount of force, where necessary, and in accordance with the law. This crisis is not the time to use excessive force with impunity. This crisis is the time for our armed forces to show a maximum level of empathy, love and conviction while executing their duties and obligations.

Ask for debt relief
Tanzania and Zanzibar are not prepared for the health challenge that COVID-19 poses. Unfortunately, our national budgets have under-prioritised the health sector for many years. It is therefore inevitable that the pandemic finds us unprepared, underfunded, and with no capacity whatsoever to face it head on.

Economic factors make matters even harder. One-third of Zanzibar’s gross national product comes from the tourism industry, which also comprises 80% of its foreign exchange transactions. The coronavirus has brought the tourism industry in Zanzibar to its knees. Our youth, who make up a significant percentage of the work force, are now without jobs. This is compromising the sustainability of government revenues which could have been used to support our health sector.

The UN World Tourism Organisation suggests that even if the crisis were to end tomorrow, the global tourism industry would have suffered financial losses of up to one third of it standard revenues. This will undoubtedly result in long-term repercussions for our tourism industry. We are in for a long and arduous journey to recovery. It will take months, most probably years, for us to get back to where we were before the pandemic.

As a small island developing state such as Zanzibar, this is too heavy a burden to bear. We will need international financial corporations to support us by suspending our debt servicing for at least one year so the money saved can be used to support the revival of our economies and to save our health systems from total collapse. If the IMF and the World Bank, as well as developed countries, heed our call, we will be able to reduce our current vulnerabilities and build our resilience to get through this crisis.

Tanzania has an external debt of $23 billion, 65% of which comes from international financial corporations and donor countries. If our debt servicing is suspended for one year, Tanzania may save up to TSH 3 trillion ($1.3 billion) which can be used to immediately strengthen our over-burdened health system and alleviate economic shocks. Zanzibar could get its quota of TSH 330 billion ($143 million) which would be critical for the islands to recover from the brink of economic collapse.

We must work together
Collectively, we need to fight this pandemic with greater urgency and resolve. This starts with all our leaders working together to save lives by issuing a stay at home order and ensuring citizens adopt behaviour that avoids increased infection. This should be enabled by patriotic, empathetic and service-oriented armed forces that put citizens, their safety and their rights first. We then need to implement tax relief and make an urgent application for relief from debt servicing for one year.

As the Chairperson of ACT-Wazalendo, I wish to reiterate to the governments of both the Mainland and Zanzibar – we are here to help and do whatever is necessary to win this battle. Working together, we can beat this pandemic and emerge stronger and more united as a country

Source : Tanzania: It's time for a lockdown, debt relief and much more urgency - African Arguments

 

[Wakudadavuwa]

Zitto wewe na Seifu nani mkubwa kwa mwenzie? mbona wewe umekuwa msemaji wa Seifu? acha kujidharaulisha. Haya matangazo mpe msemaji wa chama au Seifu mwenyewe afungue akaunti humu JF awe analeta.

 

[bagamoyo]

CCM mpya na serikali yake ya awamu ya 5 sijawasikia hoja zao kuhusu madhara ya Coronavius kwa uchumi wetu na hoja zao kwa jumuiya ya kimataifa.

 

[hp4510]

English is an elephant's meat,make a reference to the third paragraph after the title of your post,there it is written "I argued that a one year before " ,you could have written, I argued that a year before or I argued that one year " please try to improve your oral and written English you as a public figure,it's shameful ,but all in all the message is good,

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Wabongo bwana, lugha sio yake kwani alikosea ni tatizo?

Ww tukikwambia ongea Kiswahili fasaha ujui wala hiyo English fasaha ujui

 

[johnthebaptist]

cha msingi ujumbe umefika.
MATAGA mna matatizo gani nyie watu?

Cha msingi Zitto ameelewa na amerekebisha.

ACT wazalendo ni chama makini!

 

[wa kupuliza]

Shame on you,

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Hahah duuh unaandika ‘the’,’a’ nyingi kama mtoto wa std 3

 

[Yudatade Edesi Shayo]

English is an elephant's meat,make a reference to the third paragraph after the title of your post,there it is written "I argued that a one year before " ,you could have written, I argued that a year before or I argued that one year " please try to improve your oral and written English you as a public figure,it's shameful ,but all in all the message is good,

Sent using Jamii Forums mobile app

Wewe umeandika nini hapo

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[M-mbabe]

Cha msingi Zitto ameelewa na amerekebisha.

ACT wazalendo ni chama makini!

of course ni chama makini kuliko hata chama changu CCM!

 

[digba sowey]

Low minded people of your type can't understand

Wewe umeandika nini hapo

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Sent using Jamii Forums mobile app

 

[Salary Slip]

Wapinzani nchi hii ndio wa kutegemea sio CCM kabisa!

 

[johnthebaptist]

of course ni chama makini kuliko hata chama changu CCM!

Inawezekana maana hata utendaji wa Prof Kitila na mama Mghwira ni wa kutukuka tofauti na yule Cha pombe aliyetokea kwa wahuni mitaa ya Ufipa!

 

[johnthebaptist]

Wapinzani nchi hii ndio wa kutegemea sio CCM kabisa!

Ni kweli ACT wazalendo na Nccr mageuzi vinatoa mchango mkubwa kwa taifa!

 

[Zitto]

Azizi Mussa,
hizo itifaki Mimi sina.

 

[M-mbabe]

Inawezekana maana hata utendaji wa Prof Kitila na mama Mghwira ni wa kutukuka tofauti na yule Cha pombe aliyetokea kwa wahuni mitaa ya Ufipa!

au dokta mihogo aliyepewa ubalozi!