You know, I like being objective. That is mainly because I don’t like ups and downs that come with being “emotional”. That is, allowing one to be dragged into supporting an agenda or idea based on the attached emotional appeal. I must agree, there are times when being reactive is natural and human – when such a reaction is about being “real”. But please understand this, I am as compassionate as the next-door neighbor, just a little on the objective side.
This article, however, is not about me.
I remember early in 2006 when Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was ushered into the presidency. Subsequent to that he did some “remarkable” things, including swiftly acting on recommendations brought forth by a commission formed to investigate the killing of innocent people by the Police, ending the majambazi’s upper hand in the country, ending Mahita’s ineffective administration of the police force, etc. I must admit, the dude’s first 100 days in office were stellar compared to his predecessors. It appeared that the Kasi Mpya mantra was for real.
Given such a “record”, one would be tempted to just sing praises to this guy. Nonetheless, I am not one of those suckers. See, Uncle Ben duped me once. He came into power and his early days also looked promising. Remember the Uwazi slogan? We all know that he never lived up to that slogan.
We can all agree that nyota njema huonekana asubuhi. From a technical perspective, I don’t see any flashes of brilliance from JK. Honestly. I just don’t see how he can effectively take Bongoland into the Promised Land. Not yet, may be. And I can just present a few cases to back my argument.
The first case in point is the electricity saga. Lets bring some objective arguments and facts here. NO COUNTRY can ever make any economic strides without setting up good and reliable power supply and infrastructure. You don’t need a Harvard degree to know that, common sense can suffice. Power rationing has been in Bongoland as long as I can remember. Power rates in Tanzania are the highest in East Africa. So this is nothing new. Wouldn’t it be a priority, as a matter of common sense, to make power supply our priority, given its importance to productivity and economic growth? Hello, Vision 2025 anyone?
The JK’s administration can argue that they tried. But they tried in a zimamoto way. They tried in ridiculous and laughable ways. They tried like folks who have no clue or deliberate strategies in place. First, came the Prime Minister’s crazy idea of importing rainmakers from Thailand. Secondly, they engaged a non-existent and stupid company like Richmond Development Company to import power generators. The fact of the matter is that the JK’s government is another laughing stock. Even Adam Lusekelo , a columnist for the government’s own newspaper, Daily News, is poking fun at his employer. How stupid can we be? Isn’t this Richmond’s story all too familiar?
Another case is the recent recycling of ministers . Isn’t this too familiar also? Talking about some of the reshuffled ministers - Anthony Diallo, Basil Mramba, and Stephen Wasssira – didn’t I blog about lack of leadership qualities from these fellas way back? (You can review my original blog on Diallo and Mramba ). Moving ineffective ministers from one assignment to the next will not improve their performance. That is equivalent to moving a stinking fish from one container to the next to get rid of the stench. Such a move is nothing but stupid, for it will not improve or change the condition of the fish. If Dr. Msabaha couldn’t deliver in the past, why think he will deliver in the future? Deja vu anyone? I guess some things never change in the CCM's world.
In my opinion, Mr. JK is acting EXACTLY the same way JKN, Mzee Ruska, and Uncle Ben acted. He has brought nothing to the table, setting aside his appealing personality. We have seen recycling of ineffective leaders before and the results have been detrimental. It appears this guy didn’t learn from the past. And for an objective and technical guy like me, I am left with nothing but skepticism. I have not seen the light at the end of the tunnel yet. That may sound too depressing, but it is a fact.
So here I am going on record, and please mark my words – Tanzania will NEVER develop unless we find a true leadership. The type of leadership that is focused and deliberate. The type of leadership that is able to separate substance from political crap. The type of leadership that is capable of identifying suitable and appropriate personnel to carry out the articulated vision – regardless of their age or political affiliation. The type of leadership that is truly proactive as opposed to reactive.
Unfortunately, folks, Jakaya has failed to demonstrate those qualities thus far. My experience in the past four months – from the time of the Bunge budget sessions – proves that. I don’t see this guy as capable of taking Tanzania to the Promised Land. I simply don’t. Nyota njema huonekana asubuhi. In my world, this Jakaya dude ain’t shining this morning.
And that gives me a very bad feeling.
Photo credit: M. Michuzi
8 comments:
Laugh Out Loud!! that's all I can say. Someone should read Lusekelo's article before shooting arrows at you bros! may be it is not morning yet for the guys in this regime, may be it is still at night. Let's wait may be the star would shine somewhere around late morning. Pole Tanzania! pole wananchi!Is there anything that can be done? Do these guys have advisors?
Gentlemen,
Advisors? What advisors? Prof Ibrahim LiPUMBA was once an advisor. Well, he is now trying to be the Prez. Trying to make us believe that he could actually come up with brilliant ideas.
The bottom line is; JK stinks and the whole leadership rank in Tanzania stinks. The worst part is that they have put a system in place that discourages critical thinking and truth telling.
So I can onlu concur with what Anony said, the pain will continue.
Good insight.
"Tanzania will NEVER develop unless we find a true leadership" that is true for any country. I'm not in favor of recycling the minister- I think most of the ministers were supposed to be plunged from the cabinet. Don’t understand - when will the Tanzanians being told the truth? Mr. Netty- if we – Tanzanians stand up against the government, I'm very sure JK will change his attitude and put his interest behind the wills of people.
One thing that don’t fuse in my head- --- we all talk about the rotten decision made or created by this government, but there is no follow up. Yes, you put the story- then what is next???? There is no follow up what so ever! Diallo’s saga! - That was a very dim-witted comment from a minister. If we have a tag on story OR if we demand action to be taken, I think JK would have kick the sucker out.
Leadership is a problem - not only in Tanzania - all over the world! Good leaders are hard to come by. One piece of the puzzle I haven't been able to solve comes form the fact that leaders comes from the society - that is who you see is a reflection of our society. Would you agree with this? I mean do we have credible Tanzanians who can assume this responsibility? Are they accessible? And note I am not talking of those of us who are in "majuu" - I mean in Bongo! Nikitazama upinzani wapo hoi, hata sina namna ya kuanza! Do we have people who we think are better?
What are some actionable steps one can consider taking to correct this?
You see uongozi is very public - na ukweli ni kuwa one do not need to be smart to see a bad leader! Billion $$$ Q is what can we do?
Ned
Waungwana,
I know that this frustrates, if not hurts.
Hiza - you have posed a very difficult but a serious question that crosses my mind on a constant basis. I'm not such of a genius to propose a brilliant solution, but one is almost certain - boot CCM out of the way.
Why CCM? Cuz they have been in power for almost 30 years and Tazanian economic situation has been as pathetic as always.
How to boot it out? Form a new, serious, visionary political party. The opposition in Tanzania, as Ned hinted, simply stinks. I would be insane to think Mrema is much better than JK.
The $1m/- question is: who would form that party?
Ned - you also posed a difficult question - how do you get quality leaders from a society that does not know quality? My conviction is that it will happen with time. As it is now, we are talking about a country with ignorant folks as the majority. I can guarantee you that graduates in TZ don't even make 10% of the population.
That said, we need our folks to be educated first, before anything else can be achieved. Which brings us back to another difficult question - how do you provide good education to the majority with CCM still in power?
Is anyone else's head spinning like mine?
Where is the opposition party? It would make sense to form a more unified and much stronger party to take CCM out in 2010 or even 2015!
too sad i don`t see that happenning
where are the courageous and brave politicians? It is easy to talk politics, it is another thing to be a politician. We need a mix of more committed young politicians with a record of success who value the needs and wants of the majority. Can anyone come up with some names? We need a new poltical party that would be able to understand Tanzania better and respond to the urgent problems more seriously.
How to fix political and non political leadership problems in Tz?
How to fix constitutional problems to speed poverty alleviation initiatives by both public and private sectors?
What is political poverty and stupidity?
how to adapt a better system of public and private governance?
Once those issues are debated and common understanding is reached by at least 51% of the population progress will be achieved.
Why many Tz fear to be independent politicians without using the CCM umbrella?
@Anony 8:14 am
You have asked tough but interesting questions. Nonetheless, this is my conviction: it all starts with the president. A president sets a tone and draws the direction of the country.
Just look at how TZ is still suffering from the leadership culture that Nyerere helped to create. For some reason he didn't institute zero tolerance and we can clearly see that the concept of accountability is still foreign to most Tanzanians. Such is the power that rests with the Prez.
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