Poverty in Tanzania
- Thread starter MaxShimba
- Start date
BAK
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 11, 2007
- 124,790
- 288,007
Nchi iliyojaliwa utajiri mkubwa lakini baada ya miaka 50 ya uhuru bado kuna Watanzania wanaishi katika maisha ya ufukara wa kutisha kiasi hiki....Sijui usanii wa msanii DHAIFU wa "Maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania yanawezekana" umeishia wapi.
Kisarawe
Cha ajabu waishio kwa nyumba hizo huwaambia kitu kwa kuwapa KULA CcmMagamba yaani mie sielewi kabisa mijitu inakuwaje mie nilishuhudia watu wanaishi kwenye vijumba vya aina hiyo halafu wakati wa kampein wakapewa mabango wakabandika kwenye vijumba kama hivyo na wakapewa fulana na kilo moja moja ya chumvi na Mbunge aliyekuwa anagombea wa kutoka chama cha Magamba wazee wengine kwa hicho kijiji kilichochoka wakawa wanapewa kila mmoja Tsh 700 ss mie baada ya muda niliwasogelea nikawaambia wazee sasa hapa mpango ndio nini wako aaah mwanagu ni CCM tu nikawapa somo eee bana eeeh walitaka hata kunitoa baru kitaa kile so watu kama wale tuwaache,Jesus akirudi yeye ndio ataweza kuwabadilisha
Herbalist Dr MziziMkavu
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 3, 2009
- 42,315
- 33,111
Poverty in Tanzania
The level of poverty in Tanzania is high. The definition of poverty is a contentious point, which differs from one country to another. There are also varying degrees of poverty. From a broader perspective, poverty is defined as "the state of being extremely poor"[1][2] and is understood by many to mean the lack of basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, healthcare, and primary education.
Unicef argues that, whilst Tanzania has made great efforts in meeting its domestic and international targets in the alleviation of child poverty especially in the areas of education and healthcare, child poverty is still an important issue for the country.[3]
Child poverty
Slow economic growth is a contributory factor for child poverty in Tanzania.[3] Based on 2007 estimates, more than a third of households "live below the basic needs poverty line" earning less than $1 a day, while 20% of the total population "live below the food poverty line".[3] However, it is the rural communities of Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar who are mostly affected.[3] This disparity in wealth between urban and rural is a key factor for child poverty in the rural areas, with 48% lacking basic needs compared to 10% of their peers in the urban areas.[3]
Leadership systems at the community-level
The leadership system in Tanzania starts from ten cells level[4], meaning that, at least in every ten households, there is one democratically elected leader. The hamlet which is led by democratically elected chairperson is composed of 100 households and the village which is led by democratically elected chairperson and employed village executive officer is composed of 3 to 4 hamlets with population ranging from 300 to 500 households. The term for all elected leaders lasts for five years. Accountability is the problem in all these leadership levels as it is also pinpointed by Tim Kelsall, Siri Lange, Simeon Mesaki and Max Mmuya (June, 2005) .
Good Leadership and governance as prerequisite for development
Since Tanzania's independence from the British Empire in early 1960s,[5][6] Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere was saying that if we need to develop, we need the following: land, people, good leadership, and good politics.
Many leaders kept on repeating the same slogan and also incorporated into civics books that are used for teaching in the schools but in practice, very little is being practiced on the ground. Land and people are given resources, and also it is easier to have good politics but to have a good leadership is a great challenge at all
levels,[4] i.e. hamlet, village,, division, district, region, and nation . A leader is guided by laid down regulations, principles, policies to allocate and distribute resources accordingly, but most of them are selfish and incapable to deliver as a result there are many complaints from community members in many places against their
leaders from grass-roots to the national levels over their irresponsibility on the resource management. Tanzania like other poor countries such as Uganda, Burundi and Malawi have corrupt systems. According to Anwar Shah and Mark Schacter (2004) , the service delivery survey suggests that "bribes paid to officials in the
police, courts, tax services, and land offices amounted to 62 percent of official public expenditures in these areas". Anwar Shah and Mark Schacter (2004) further mentioned the key corruption drivers, that include: The legitimacy of the state as the guardian of the public interest is contested whereby public office holders focus on serving particular client groups linked to them by ethnic, geographic, or other ties; The rule of law is
weakly embedded - public sector corruption thrives where laws apply to some but not to others, and where enforcement of the law is often used as a device for furthering private interests rather than protecting the public interest; Institutions of accountability are ineffective - there are glaring weaknesses in institutions of accountability in highly corrupt countries; The commitment of national leaders to combating corruption is weak - widespread corruption endures in the public sector when national authorities are either unwilling or unable to address it forcefully.
Endowed resources
About 90% of Tanzania's population dwells in impoverished rural areas.[7] Resources such as arable land, seasonal rainfall, and people are common to all villages; apart from these, many other villages are endowed with resources, such as minerals,[8] natural forests, rivers, lakes, ocean et cetera. As of 2007 65.7% of people live off of $1.25 or less a day. [9]
Stable peace in Tanzania
Stable peace in the country could be an opportunity to utilize the endowed resources for sustainable development. Tanzania has been enjoying stable peace even before independence due to the fact that there
are more than 120 ethnic tribes;[10] Kiswahili as national language that was reinforced during Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere administration; and abolishment of chiefdoms in the country immediately after independence which existed in every tribe. Despite this precious opportunity of stable peace, the economic condition failed to improve as compared to Rwanda, Mozambique, and Angola which have passed through civil wars for many years, but their economies are picking up.
Political system in Tanzania
From 1967 when Arusha Declaration was launched, Tanzania started following Eastern Block political system. Though Tanzania was Non-Aligned country, it was practicing socialism. The country has been operating under
single-party system since 1965 when opposition parties were abolished. Following the perestroika and fall of communism in USSR during late 1980s, many countries including Tanzania changed not only economic systems but also political systems. Tanzania resumed use of a multi-party system in 1992 and to-date has 20 registered
political parties. In 1990s, Globalization led many African countries, including Tanzania to change their political systems from single-party system to multiparty system. For twenty years since Tanzania changed to multiparty system, very little or no positive changes in the government accountability has been noticed that would have helped to alleviate poverty at household level.
Human resource
During independence in 1961 in Tanzania (the then Tanganyika), there was not even a single university; the country had less than twenty university graduates who schooled from universities in the different countries -
but now it has more than 20 universities (public and private) pumping more than 15,000 graduates in the labor market annually, leave alone other levels like diploma, certificates and others. The labor market is saturated,
such that many unemployed elites with their degrees, diplomas and certificates are wandering in the streets. Apart from the fact that some resources are mismanaged and misallocated, there are many untapped
resources that could absorb the growing number of unemployed people. During Julius K. Nyerere administration, he hesitated to welcome foreign investors to invest in our resources such as mines, but rather
reserved them for future generation in which he was keen to educate. After Nyereres administration, we have been observing many resources (minerals, public industries, arable lands, and others) which could be managed by natives, being cheaply privatized to the foreign investors. Now, those educated people are observers of the foreign investors in the resources which were initially reserved for them by the founder of this nation.
Financial and technical support from international organizations
Developed countries together with International Financial Institutions have spent billions of US dollars in capacitating the government systems to bring development for many decades, but instead of poverty being decreased, it is increasing. There have been many internationally funded programs aiming at improving national
economy since 1980s, such as National Economic Survival Program (NESP), Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), and Economic Recovery Program (ERP), Economic and Social Action Program (ESAP), Rolling Plan and Forward Budget (RPFB). To-date there is a 25 years Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRSP 2001 2025) parallel
with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs 2000 to 2015); now there is Kilimo Kwanza initiative. Despite the observed initiatives, the economy is still insufficient to provide the impetus for the poverty eradication. The mentality of donor-led project is widespread from national to village level there are several projects that
could be accomplished by using locally available resources, for example potable water wells, small irrigation schemes, health structures, school building et cetera, but they have remained unimplemented awaiting for external donor assistance. The well known economic indicators such as GNP and GDP always show that the
economy is growing, but in actual sense they do not show how wealth is distributed to the majority. Tanzania economy is recorded to improve every year, but more that 80% of its population mostly living in the rural areas are living below poverty line. During early 1990s, International Financial Institutions (including International
Monetary Fund advised Tanzania to do retrenchment and stop employment even in the key sectors, such as education, health and agriculture as a precondition for financial assistance; as a result the economy paralyzed, and now it has a long walk towards achieving socio-economic improvement.
General elections
Political crises in many developing countries, including Tanzania, occur immediately after general election. The worst examples of crises occurred in Kenya after 2008 General Election, and Ivory Coast after 2011 General Election. In Tanzania, after 2010 General Election there aroused conflicts which fortunately did not turn into
crisis. The conflicts occurred between the ruling party and potential opposition parties, following the complaints from opposition and some activists that the Tanzania National Electoral Commission is allegedly favored the ruling political party. Serious conflicts were observed in Zanzibar (which is part of Tanzania), after after 1995,
2000, and 2005 general elections in which Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) defeated Civic United Front (CUF). There is a tendency of politicians to spend billions of money (mostly for bribing poor people in exchange for
votes) during general election period in order to either get or maintain their leadership positions; but on the other hand, very little efforts are put on the poverty alleviation initiatives in the communities. Poverty in Tanzania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The level of poverty in Tanzania is high. The definition of poverty is a contentious point, which differs from one country to another. There are also varying degrees of poverty. From a broader perspective, poverty is defined as "the state of being extremely poor"[1][2] and is understood by many to mean the lack of basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, healthcare, and primary education.
Unicef argues that, whilst Tanzania has made great efforts in meeting its domestic and international targets in the alleviation of child poverty especially in the areas of education and healthcare, child poverty is still an important issue for the country.[3]
Child poverty
Slow economic growth is a contributory factor for child poverty in Tanzania.[3] Based on 2007 estimates, more than a third of households "live below the basic needs poverty line" earning less than $1 a day, while 20% of the total population "live below the food poverty line".[3] However, it is the rural communities of Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar who are mostly affected.[3] This disparity in wealth between urban and rural is a key factor for child poverty in the rural areas, with 48% lacking basic needs compared to 10% of their peers in the urban areas.[3]
Leadership systems at the community-level
The leadership system in Tanzania starts from ten cells level[4], meaning that, at least in every ten households, there is one democratically elected leader. The hamlet which is led by democratically elected chairperson is composed of 100 households and the village which is led by democratically elected chairperson and employed village executive officer is composed of 3 to 4 hamlets with population ranging from 300 to 500 households. The term for all elected leaders lasts for five years. Accountability is the problem in all these leadership levels as it is also pinpointed by Tim Kelsall, Siri Lange, Simeon Mesaki and Max Mmuya (June, 2005) .
Good Leadership and governance as prerequisite for development
Since Tanzania's independence from the British Empire in early 1960s,[5][6] Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere was saying that if we need to develop, we need the following: land, people, good leadership, and good politics.
Many leaders kept on repeating the same slogan and also incorporated into civics books that are used for teaching in the schools but in practice, very little is being practiced on the ground. Land and people are given resources, and also it is easier to have good politics but to have a good leadership is a great challenge at all
levels,[4] i.e. hamlet, village,, division, district, region, and nation . A leader is guided by laid down regulations, principles, policies to allocate and distribute resources accordingly, but most of them are selfish and incapable to deliver as a result there are many complaints from community members in many places against their
leaders from grass-roots to the national levels over their irresponsibility on the resource management. Tanzania like other poor countries such as Uganda, Burundi and Malawi have corrupt systems. According to Anwar Shah and Mark Schacter (2004) , the service delivery survey suggests that "bribes paid to officials in the
police, courts, tax services, and land offices amounted to 62 percent of official public expenditures in these areas". Anwar Shah and Mark Schacter (2004) further mentioned the key corruption drivers, that include: The legitimacy of the state as the guardian of the public interest is contested whereby public office holders focus on serving particular client groups linked to them by ethnic, geographic, or other ties; The rule of law is
weakly embedded - public sector corruption thrives where laws apply to some but not to others, and where enforcement of the law is often used as a device for furthering private interests rather than protecting the public interest; Institutions of accountability are ineffective - there are glaring weaknesses in institutions of accountability in highly corrupt countries; The commitment of national leaders to combating corruption is weak - widespread corruption endures in the public sector when national authorities are either unwilling or unable to address it forcefully.
Endowed resources
About 90% of Tanzania's population dwells in impoverished rural areas.[7] Resources such as arable land, seasonal rainfall, and people are common to all villages; apart from these, many other villages are endowed with resources, such as minerals,[8] natural forests, rivers, lakes, ocean et cetera. As of 2007 65.7% of people live off of $1.25 or less a day. [9]
Stable peace in Tanzania
Stable peace in the country could be an opportunity to utilize the endowed resources for sustainable development. Tanzania has been enjoying stable peace even before independence due to the fact that there
are more than 120 ethnic tribes;[10] Kiswahili as national language that was reinforced during Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere administration; and abolishment of chiefdoms in the country immediately after independence which existed in every tribe. Despite this precious opportunity of stable peace, the economic condition failed to improve as compared to Rwanda, Mozambique, and Angola which have passed through civil wars for many years, but their economies are picking up.
Political system in Tanzania
From 1967 when Arusha Declaration was launched, Tanzania started following Eastern Block political system. Though Tanzania was Non-Aligned country, it was practicing socialism. The country has been operating under
single-party system since 1965 when opposition parties were abolished. Following the perestroika and fall of communism in USSR during late 1980s, many countries including Tanzania changed not only economic systems but also political systems. Tanzania resumed use of a multi-party system in 1992 and to-date has 20 registered
political parties. In 1990s, Globalization led many African countries, including Tanzania to change their political systems from single-party system to multiparty system. For twenty years since Tanzania changed to multiparty system, very little or no positive changes in the government accountability has been noticed that would have helped to alleviate poverty at household level.
Human resource
During independence in 1961 in Tanzania (the then Tanganyika), there was not even a single university; the country had less than twenty university graduates who schooled from universities in the different countries -
but now it has more than 20 universities (public and private) pumping more than 15,000 graduates in the labor market annually, leave alone other levels like diploma, certificates and others. The labor market is saturated,
such that many unemployed elites with their degrees, diplomas and certificates are wandering in the streets. Apart from the fact that some resources are mismanaged and misallocated, there are many untapped
resources that could absorb the growing number of unemployed people. During Julius K. Nyerere administration, he hesitated to welcome foreign investors to invest in our resources such as mines, but rather
reserved them for future generation in which he was keen to educate. After Nyereres administration, we have been observing many resources (minerals, public industries, arable lands, and others) which could be managed by natives, being cheaply privatized to the foreign investors. Now, those educated people are observers of the foreign investors in the resources which were initially reserved for them by the founder of this nation.
Financial and technical support from international organizations
Developed countries together with International Financial Institutions have spent billions of US dollars in capacitating the government systems to bring development for many decades, but instead of poverty being decreased, it is increasing. There have been many internationally funded programs aiming at improving national
economy since 1980s, such as National Economic Survival Program (NESP), Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), and Economic Recovery Program (ERP), Economic and Social Action Program (ESAP), Rolling Plan and Forward Budget (RPFB). To-date there is a 25 years Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRSP 2001 2025) parallel
with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs 2000 to 2015); now there is Kilimo Kwanza initiative. Despite the observed initiatives, the economy is still insufficient to provide the impetus for the poverty eradication. The mentality of donor-led project is widespread from national to village level there are several projects that
could be accomplished by using locally available resources, for example potable water wells, small irrigation schemes, health structures, school building et cetera, but they have remained unimplemented awaiting for external donor assistance. The well known economic indicators such as GNP and GDP always show that the
economy is growing, but in actual sense they do not show how wealth is distributed to the majority. Tanzania economy is recorded to improve every year, but more that 80% of its population mostly living in the rural areas are living below poverty line. During early 1990s, International Financial Institutions (including International
Monetary Fund advised Tanzania to do retrenchment and stop employment even in the key sectors, such as education, health and agriculture as a precondition for financial assistance; as a result the economy paralyzed, and now it has a long walk towards achieving socio-economic improvement.
General elections
Political crises in many developing countries, including Tanzania, occur immediately after general election. The worst examples of crises occurred in Kenya after 2008 General Election, and Ivory Coast after 2011 General Election. In Tanzania, after 2010 General Election there aroused conflicts which fortunately did not turn into
crisis. The conflicts occurred between the ruling party and potential opposition parties, following the complaints from opposition and some activists that the Tanzania National Electoral Commission is allegedly favored the ruling political party. Serious conflicts were observed in Zanzibar (which is part of Tanzania), after after 1995,
2000, and 2005 general elections in which Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) defeated Civic United Front (CUF). There is a tendency of politicians to spend billions of money (mostly for bribing poor people in exchange for
votes) during general election period in order to either get or maintain their leadership positions; but on the other hand, very little efforts are put on the poverty alleviation initiatives in the communities. Poverty in Tanzania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Herbalist Dr MziziMkavu
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 3, 2009
- 42,315
- 33,111
Mkereketwa_Huyu
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 19, 2011
- 9,217
- 6,348
Tatizo la hii nchi ni BAD GOVERNANCE. Kikwete kwa kweli hastahili kuwa rais kwa sababu zifuatazo: (i) he is NOT a leader, because leaders lead by examples and if he is then he is a bad leader as almost everybody in the country is lazy to the point of no return. People instead of working for the country, are scattered in the streets during work hours looking for bribes for their benefits. (ii) He has no clue of running a country like ours. (iii) He has bad advisors based on undugunization (iv) He simply closed his eyes on the poor whom he promised a better future for every tanzanian some six years a go. With all of these qualifications, tutafika kweli?
Philipo Kidwanga
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 2,042
- 599
labda kwa sababu haina sura lakini ingekuwa na sura ccm kingekuwa kitu cha kutisha sana wallah.
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