Unqualified appointees hinder state-run businesses

[Alpha]

I hope JK is listening.

Unqualified appointees hinder state-run businesses

2009-02-01 11:05:43
By Staff Writer


Politically motivated appointments of individuals to manage state-run institutions were the government`s main blunder that resulted in the killing of public ventures or operating inefficiently, an expert has said.

Dr Haji Semboja said both capitalist and communist economic ventures should be well managed, and warned that appointments of unqualified managers leads to stagnation of firms irrespective of the country`s economic policy.

He gave the experience of Norway – where the state still controls a number of well run companies like Statol – which is now doing oil exploration in Tanzania.

Dr Semboja who works with the Economic Research Bureau of the University of Dar es Salaam was speaking to The Guardian on Saturday recently on whether Tanzania should review its privatisation of the economy in the face of global financial crisis.

The US, Britain, Germany and France have currently introduced measures to bail out their major banks owing to the world`s economic down turn.

``Politicians are to blame for the mismanagement of state-run companies or even those that are under public-private partnership. What was the point to authorise the selling of the then NBC [National Bank of Commerce],`` Semboja asked.

``You give it to the so-called investors at throw away price on claims that the bank is making loss. After takeover, they make profit in six months. Is that a miracle?``

Giving the example of Air Tanzania, he said the person appointed to lead the troubled airline has neither worked in aviation industry nor has he any technical know-how in that particular field.

``Does it need an economist to know who is fit for the job?” Semboja queried, adding: ``If the government wants to see good performance, it must engage a professional job search system for a particular position and stop politicking.``

He said any company – be it private or state owned – serves the interest of the state, adding that when its business closes down, it is the nationals who will face the negative impact.

``If a company like Air Tanzania or Precision Air stops flying who will be affected? Obviously, it`s the citizen. What if an oil company fails to distribute fuel to consumers? It`s precisely the consumer who will suffer,`` explained Semboja

Unqualified appointees hinder state-run businesses

 

[Mtanzania]

Hii ndio nilimwambia Jasusi juzi kuhusu Warioba na Mwananchi Gold. Poor management imetu cost Tanzania. Inatakiwa tujifunze na serikali ikitaka kuingia kwenye project yoyote basi itumie watu ambao wako qualified kwenye mambo ya biashara na wana uwezo wa kuonyesha huko nyuma wamefanya nini kwenye hiyo sector.

Wenzetu huwa wanatumia wafanyabiashara ku run hizo state controlled firms. Kwa mfano unamteua mtu kama Mengi kuwa mwenyekiti wa ATCL na sio kumweka yule balozi aliyeshindwa kazi.

Au kama unataka kuanzisha mwananchi Gold basi unaangalia mtu gani kwenye sector ya biashara au madini ambaye anaweza kutusaidia na sio kumpa jaji Warioba ambaye anachofikiria ni kutumbukiza mapesa zaidi na zaidi.

 

[Zakumi]

Hii ndio nilimwambia Jasusi juzi kuhusu Warioba na Mwananchi Gold. Poor management imetu cost Tanzania. Inatakiwa tujifunze na serikali ikitaka kuingia kwenye project yoyote basi itumie watu ambao wako qualified kwenye mambo ya biashara na wana uwezo wa kuonyesha huko nyuma wamefanya nini kwenye hiyo sector.

Wenzetu huwa wanatumia wafanyabiashara ku run hizo state controlled firms. Kwa mfano unamteua mtu kama Mengi kuwa mwenyekiti wa ATCL na sio kumweka yule balozi aliyeshindwa kazi.

Au kama unataka kuanzisha mwananchi Gold basi unaangalia mtu gani kwenye sector ya biashara au madini ambaye anaweza kutusaidia na sio kumpa jaji Warioba ambaye anachofikiria ni kutumbukiza mapesa zaidi na zaidi.

Mtanzania:

Sababu nyingine kubwa tuna watu wengi wenye digrii lakini hawana track records zozote zile za mafanikio katika uongozi.

Hata sisi tunao-bwabwaja hapa tukipewa nafasi tunazodai watu wanaboronga BIG-TIME, likehood ya sisi kuboronga ni kubwa.

Vyeti vya shule ni muhimu lakini sidhani kwamba tunaangalia exprience katika execution.

Projects nyingi za Tanzania ni one-dimension. Zinaangalia tu nia nzuri. Mtu akisikia kuwa viwanda vya kubangulia korosho vinaweza kutongezea mapato basi anatumia pesa za umma kuanzisha viwanda.

Akisikia kuwa kuna uwezekano wa kusafisha dhahabu sisi wenyewe basi wapo mbioni kuanzisha viwanda hivyo.

Hizi zote ni nia nzuri lakini je execution hipo ??

Katika miradi mingi viongozi wa kiAfrika wanakutana na scam artists wa kimataifa na wanaacha mataifa yao hoi.

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

1. Hii imekaa safi! Ila sasa mnategemea hao washkaji wake waliopiga debe jamani wale wapi? Haha ha ha! Just a joke!

2. Tatizo kuwa raisi amepewa nguvu mno kikatiba..anateua ..na hakuna evaluation..yaani quality control kuona kama wanaoteuliwa wanafaa! hata basi majina haya yapelekwe bungeni kujadiliwa...ila wapi?

 

[Hofstede]

1. Hii imekaa safi! Ila sasa mnategemea hao washkaji wake waliopiga debe jamani wale wapi? Haha ha ha! Just a joke!

2. Tatizo kuwa raisi amepewa nguvu mno kikatiba..anateua ..na hakuna evaluation..yaani quality control kuona kama wanaoteuliwa wanafaa! hata basi majina haya yapelekwe bungeni kujadiliwa...ila wapi?

Hiyo siyo Joke umesema kinachojili mawazoni mwa wateuzi wetu kwamba unapomteua mtu kushika nafasi basi umempa ulaji na huwezi kumpa ulaji "stranger" lazima awe mtu wako wa karibu.
Mpaka hapo tutakapo badili fikra hii muflisi ya kuteuana kwa malengo ya kupeleka mkono kinywani ndipo tutakapoweza kuwatumia vizuri watu wenye uwezo kwa manufaa ya Taifa si ya wateuzi na wateuliwa.

Hebu jiulize kwa nini wasomi wengi, maprofessor, maprofessional wanakimbilia siasa?, ni kwa sababu wanataka kujiweka karibu na wateuzi.

 

[Zakumi]

Hiyo siyo Joke umesema kinachojili mawazoni mwa wateuzi wetu kwamba unapomteua mtu kushika nafasi basi umempa ulaji na huwezi kumpa ulaji "stranger" lazima awe mtu wako wa karibu.
Mpaka hapo tutakapo badili fikra hii muflisi ya kuteuana kwa malengo ya kupeleka mkono kinywani ndipo tutakapoweza kuwatumia vizuri watu wenye uwezo kwa manufaa ya Taifa si ya wateuzi na wateuliwa.

Hebu jiulize kwa nini wasomi wengi, maprofessor, maprofessional wanakimbilia siasa?, ni kwa sababu wanataka kujiweka karibu na wateuzi.

Tunaokaa huku juu tunaona watu wanapeana ulaji. Kwa maoni yangu binafsi tusivalie bango sana mtu kuwapa watu anaowafahamu.

Swali linalikuja je anayepewa anaweza ku-deliver ?

Na swali jingine la nyongeza je watu wenyewe wapo ?? Hupo uwezekano mkubwa uteuzi unaofanyika un-reflect sisi wenyewe.

 

[Kuhani]

....Na swali jingine la nyongeza je watu wenyewe wapo ?? Hupo uwezekano mkubwa uteuzi unaofanyika un-reflect sisi wenyewe.

Zakumi nadhani umesema kitu chenye ukweli. Inawezekana watu wenyewe hawapo.

Tatizo ninaloliona ni kwamba sisi hatuwezi kuwa na watu makini, viongozi wazuri, kwa sababu hakuna merit system na hivyo hakuna incentive ya kuwa mfanyakazi/kiongozi mzuri.

Kuna system hii ya vimemo. Kuanzia ngazi za nchi mtu anapata kazi kwa vimemo. Sio kwa merit. Katika ngazi za juu hivyo hivyo. Wakina Nchimbi na Diallo wale hakuna siku Ikulu itakwambia qualifications zao za kupewa Wizara (notice Obama alivyokuwa anatangaza mawaziri wake majuzi, he had to give reasons, almost justification for each appointee. Kamuibua wapi na kwa nini anafaa. Kwenye mkurugenzi wa Central Intelligence akachagua mtu hana uzoefu wabunge wakamkalia kooni vibaya sana, wakidai angewafahamisha mapema). Sio unajichagulia chagulia tu maswahiba.

Lakini Kikwete usitegemee atakupa justification kwa kumuweka Mataka ATC kwa sababu yeye mwenyewe hakuchaguliwa kwa merits. Ni viongozi wa CCM walijifungia kwenye chumba Dodoma wakarusha sandakalawe zao humo wakatoka na jina. No campaigns. Kikwete alishindanishwa na kina Mwandosya?

Lingine ninaloliona ni kwamba, mfanyakazi wa Serikali, CEO wa ATC kwa mfano, nadhani sio rahisi kum-fire kama ambavyo kampuni binafsi inavyoweza kum-fire CEO kupitia board of directors. Kuna ma regulations ya haki za wafanyakazi wa serikali. Tena kuna process of appeal kwenda kwa Luhanjo, na baada ya hapo, unaweza ku appeal kwa Kikwete mwenyewe. Ndio sheria inavyosema. Lakini kazi binafsi ya mtu anaweza kukufuza kama anavyotaka kama alikufanya usaini mkataba wa "at-will employment."

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Viongozi wetu ni reflection yetu sisi wenyewe - Mzee Es aka Field Marshall Es

 

[Pundamilia07]

Hii ndio nilimwambia Jasusi juzi kuhusu Warioba na Mwananchi Gold. Poor management imetu cost Tanzania. Inatakiwa tujifunze na serikali ikitaka kuingia kwenye project yoyote basi itumie watu ambao wako qualified kwenye mambo ya biashara na wana uwezo wa kuonyesha huko nyuma wamefanya nini kwenye hiyo sector.

Wenzetu huwa wanatumia wafanyabiashara ku run hizo state controlled firms. Kwa mfano unamteua mtu kama Mengi kuwa mwenyekiti wa ATCL na sio kumweka yule balozi aliyeshindwa kazi.

Au kama unataka kuanzisha mwananchi Gold basi unaangalia mtu gani kwenye sector ya biashara au madini ambaye anaweza kutusaidia na sio kumpa jaji Warioba ambaye anachofikiria ni kutumbukiza mapesa zaidi na zaidi.

Mkuu Mtanzania,
Ahsante sana kwa mchango wako, mara nyingi ambapo nimekuwa nikisoma michango yako basi nimekuwa nikivutiwa na ujengaji wako wa hoja.

Lakini hata hivyo katika hili la kuwapa uenyekiti wafanyibiashara binafsi labda ujaribu kuliangalia tena ikibidi uangalie maeneo yake ambayo baadhi yao walipewa nafasi hizo walifanya nini.

Kwa mfano. mfanyibiashara maarufu ambaye ni Chairman na CEO wa makampuni ya Info-tech Bw. Ali Mufuruki alipewa wadhifa wa Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya ATCL tangu ilipoanza hadi akaifikisha pale ilipofika.

Rekodi yake ya uongozi pale ATCL ilikuwa ni mbovu na huenda ndiye aliyekuwa mwenyekiti 'mbovu' katika historia ya Air Tanzania. Alishindwa kurekebisha mfumo ambao ulimfanya yeye kupokea orders na decisions zingine kutoka kwa menejimenti ya ATCL. Akijua kabisa kuwa Viongozi wawili wa ATCL (CEO na Commercial Director) ndiyo ATCL Desk Officers kwa upande wa SAA katika kitengo cha Alliances, ambao ndiyo wanaotoa ushauri wa mwisho kwa SAA juu ya nini kiamuliwe, Mufuruki alikaa kimya kabisa na badala yake hawa jamaa wakampa kazi ya PR kampuni yake ya MM Communications bila ya kutangaza zabuni yeyote.

Nitakupa mfumo huu wa maamuzi ulivyofanywa na kuimaliza ATCL.
Menejimenti (CEO na Commercial Director) inaandaa papers zinazohusu jambo fulani kuhusu ATCL, sasa wanapozitayarisha kabla ya kuzipeleka kwenye board ya ATCL huzipeleka na kuzijadili na directors wa SAA wanao-sit kwenye board ya ATCL juu ya nini cha kuamuliwa (wao wakiwa kama ATCL Desk Officers pale SAA) . Baada ya hapo hurudi na kuziwakilisha katika board ya ATCL kama watendaji wakuu wa ATCL. Mnaoelewa nadhani mnaweza kuona ni jinsi gani mambo yalivyokuwa yakiendeshwa, na mwenyekiti akijua hayo 'alibanisha' just because naye anafanya 'kabiashara kake' humo ndani. Kana kwamba haitoshi, wakaamua kuwa walau kila mwezi apewe safari za kwenda nje hata ikiwa ni ya binafsi wao wako tayari kumlipia gharama zote kama ATCL.

Kwa hiyo hapa nadhani uwezo ndiyo iwe ni kigezo kikuu na wala siyo mafanikio katika biashara zao, kwani baadhi ya wafanyibiashara wakubwa wamekuwa wakiendesha biashara zao kwa njia za udanganyifu au wamekuwa waendesha biashara zao kwa madeni makubwa na kudhani ni mafanikio yao kumbe sivyo.

kinachotakiwa ni umakini katika uteuzi.

 

[Augustine Moshi]

The government has no business running businesses. It should run services and leave businesses to the Mengis of this world.

How could those that run schools, hospitals and collect the garbage run busses, planes, hotels and trains as well? They tried and failed miserably.

The government should sell all its businesses. Tanzanians can run airlines very well, provided that those airlines do not belong to the government. Look at how well Precision Air is flying. Why not sell ATCL to it? We need a Tanzanian airline, but it does not have to be owned by the government.

Sell Tanzania Railways, all of it, to Reginald Mengi. Give it to him if necessary. He will run it very well, better than any Indian financier, and we will get to keep all the money in the country.

The banking branch of the postal service ought to be sold off as well. No one should be conned into keeping their money in the government. The only part of anyone’s money that the government may see is the tax part. I suggest that the postal bank be sold to any Tanzanian who has a well functioning bank (there must be some, surely!)

I can’t think of any other businesses that are being run by our government. If there are some more, I strongly suggest that they too should be sold to Tanzanians.

 

[Mkandara]

Mtanzania,
Swala la Warioba halihusiani kabisa na mwandishi kwa sababu Warioba ni mwenyekiti wa board na pia kaajiriwa kama Mwanasheria kwa kupitia shirika lake la sheria..Nchi zote zilizotajwa hapo ju zinaweza kabisa kumwajiri mtu kama Warioba ktk ngazi aliyoishika Mwananchi Gold isipokuwa Matatizo yetu yapo ktk ngazi ya management..sasa nambie nafasi aloshika Warioba ktk management ambayo wewe unaona haimfai kabisa..

Mkuu ukitazama hata mashirika ya nje, viongozi waliopo ngazi ya Corporate Governance (BoD) mara nyingi kama sio zote hawapo ktk ngazi ya management ya shirika hilo hilo kwa sababu kuwa na hisa ktk shirika haina maana utaongoza pia ktk management...
Kwa hiyo tujaribu sana kuepuka kupotosha Umma. Alichozungumza Semboja ni Ukweli mtupu ambao tunatakiwa kuufanyia marekebisho makubwa sana tukianza na Wabunge wetu kutoteuliwa tena kuwa Mawaziri..

 

[Zakumi]

Viongozi wetu ni reflection yetu sisi wenyewe - Mzee Es aka Field Marshall Es

Watu wengi hapa hawataki kumeza majivuno kuwa viongozi wetu ni reflection yetu.

Nikiwa kwenye vijiwe vyangu, mara nyingi nawasikia vijana wakilalamika kuhusu viongozi lakini vijana haohao hawakawii kuwasifia washikaji zao waliopo TRA au BOT wanavyoliibia taifa.

 

[Zakumi]

Mtanzania,
Swala la Warioba halihusiani kabisa na mwandishi kwa sababu Warioba ni mwenyekiti wa board na pia kaajiriwa kama Mwanasheria kwa kupitia shirika lake la sheria..Nchi zote zilizotajwa hapo ju zinaweza kabisa kumwajiri mtu kama Warioba ktk ngazi aliyoishika Mwananchi Gold isipokuwa Matatizo yetu yapo ktk ngazi ya management..sasa nambie nafasi aloshika Warioba ktk management ambayo wewe unaona haimfai kabisa..

Mkuu ukitazama hata mashirika ya nje, viongozi waliopo ngazi ya Corporate Governance (BoD) mara nyingi kama sio zote hawapo ktk ngazi ya management ya shirika hilo hilo kwa sababu kuwa na hisa ktk shirika haina maana utaongoza pia ktk management...
Kwa hiyo tujaribu sana kuepuka kupotosha Umma. Alichozungumza Semboja ni Ukweli mtupu ambao tunatakiwa kuufanyia marekebisho makubwa sana tukianza na Wabunge wetu kutoteuliwa tena kuwa Mawaziri..

Mkandara:

Warioba hafai. Kitu kilichomfikisha hapo alipo ni ukweli kuwa alisoma wakati nchi imepata uhuru na kulikuwa hakuna wasomi. Na hayo naweza kusemwa kwa watu wengi.

 

[Next Level]

Watu wengi hapa hawataki kumeza majivuno kuwa viongozi wetu ni reflection yetu.

Nikiwa kwenye vijiwe vyangu, mara nyingi nawasikia vijana wakilalamika kuhusu viongozi lakini vijana haohao hawakawii kuwasifia washikaji zao waliopo TRA au BOT wanavyoliibia taifa.

Nimeipenda hiyo ya vijana vijiweni kuponda ufisadi na kusifia washikaji wao waliopo twin towers na kwa mzee Kitilya......! pia huwa tunashabikia sana ajira za vitengo fulani fulani serikalini kama pale TIC,PSRF,NEEC, FCC etc na other government agencies...kifupi huko ukiacha mianya ya rushwa...kuna roop holes nyingi sana za kupeta fedha bure bure through, safaris, vikao and various cooked allowances.........! true, kinacho endelea sahivi ni reflection ya taifa letu incl us all!

 

[Mkandara]

Zakumi,
Sijasema Warioba anafaa isipokuwa nachozungumzia ni nafasi yake kama mwanasheria wa shirika kupitia firm yao..napinga kuitwa yeye fisadi kwa sababu tu kazungumza mambo ambayo kuna watu hawakupenda...Na binafsi namwona anafaa kama mwanasheria wa shirika kwa sababu nyingi za msingi ikiwa ni pamoja elimu na influence yake..

Sasa ikiwa hafai ktk management ya shirika anaweza kuondolewa (kama yupo) lakini that is not the case hata kidogo kwani yeye ni mwenyekiti tu wa board ambayo mimi nasema mtu yeyote anaweza kuwa mwenyekiti maadam ni mwekeshaji mwenye hisa ndani ya shirika hilo na ameteuliwa na wahusika kutokana na hekima na busara zake...

Tatizo letu kubwa nchini ni pale tunapowaweka viongozi wanasiasa ktk ku manage mashirika yetu...Hili ni kosa kubwa sana na ndo maana nikasema tuanze na Wabunge Mawaziri..

 

[Gelange Vidunda]

But shouldn't the question be: What went wrong? What happened to the people running such companies? Prof. Semboja started with only two - what about companies like National Milling Corporation, SUKITA, DAFCO, GAPEX, SUDECO etc etc who were at some time doing lucrative business? OK, the emergence of companies such as Export Trading and METL and Bahkresa etc into the picture spelt doom for these companies but, damn!

What happened to people that ran these conglomerates? We know the demise of many of them but still, what happened? Why? Another big question should be:What should be done? This week's East African newspaper has that Zito Kabwe saying that these CEO of such companies should be hired on contract basis and their continued presence should be based on the performance. Granted this is possible, shouldn't these companies be public?

 

[Masanja]

Just wondering whether we have made progress on this.