tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28061765.post115506857000128381..comments2023-10-26T04:40:48.561-04:00Comments on Metty'z RefleXions - Tanzania in Focus: Ours is a Snoozing Government, Seriously. (2)Jaduong Mettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03845759887672890549noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28061765.post-1155313507924658902006-08-11T12:25:00.000-04:002006-08-11T12:25:00.000-04:00Gentleman,While I agree,in most terms,with both of...Gentleman,<BR/>While I agree,in most terms,with both of you,I think both,the government and citizens have a good portion of blame as far as our country's economies are concerned.<BR/>A little reflection convinces me that once upon a time (During Nyerere's regime) the government was committed in making sure that Tanzania develops.The economic strategies were okay as far as I know and believe.However,two things happened, attitudes and lack of empowerment.Attitudes from wananchi and lack of empowerment from the so called viongozi of that time.Tanzania saw itself under only one man-Nyerere.Everyone else wanted to just feed their bellies.For gods sake he couldn't do everything himself.May be his haambiliki philosophy also contributed,may be his fellow's tamaa ya kuwa new colonialists was the issue.But what I know is that he needed leaders who understood what he meant and wananchi who were eager to achieve.That never happened and it has been like a curse since then.<BR/><BR/>Today we have leaders who are just wakora and still have wananchi who cares less about the direction the country is heading towards.The psychological effects of being constantly told they are poor seems to have done mass damage like Katrina.People are now just waiting for miracles,waiting for mzungu to bring misaada.<BR/><BR/>We therefore need to change both the attitudes as well as be receptive to empowerment from all other sources as it is open secret that "we don't have leaders yet".The so called leaders of today are still suffering from the curse.No wonder they steal even from projects that could benefit even their own kids.<BR/><BR/>To conclude I should say,gentlemen,you are all right.Both sides gotta something to work on,got assignments waiting.Jeff Msangihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721472155262805502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28061765.post-1155142615300012972006-08-09T12:56:00.000-04:002006-08-09T12:56:00.000-04:00Ned,I think we're on the same page, just not agree...Ned,<BR/><BR/>I think we're on the same page, just not agreeing on what should come first. I strongly believe that the government should build the foundation first, and then let us talk about the people next.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that our attitudes have not been "endelevu", and that's why I even blogged on that. You and I can even talk about these things because we have been enlightened. I can tell you that even my own siblings do not understand me at times, because they think my ideas are not achievable in a Tanzanian environment. That is a wide ignorance problem that can only be eradicated systematically, through education and other empowerment tools. <BR/><BR/>I know you think the issue is attitude, but I am convinced that the issue is ignorance. I believe that Tanzanians want to very much to succeed, but they don't know how. Unless someone gets enlightened, they will always do what they know - which in most cases not that good. <BR/><BR/>You can't take the alternative route if you don't know that such an alternative exists. That's where "education" or information helps. <BR/><BR/>I can seriously tell you that had it not been for an American "education", I would have been as ignorant as my brothers and sisters in Bongoland. I can tell you that I now see opportunities in Bongo that I could have not otherwise seen if I had just "grown" there. <BR/><BR/>And that is the difference.Jaduong Mettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03845759887672890549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28061765.post-1155106127406153752006-08-09T02:48:00.000-04:002006-08-09T02:48:00.000-04:00Well Metty,This is good... discussions in a civili...Well Metty,<BR/>This is good... discussions in a civilized manner. IT is 2:20am here, and will have to make it short and sweet.<BR/>1. No get out of jail free card for the government yet! - It still has a role to play. My whole argument was based on the fact that, it is not exactly fare to hand the government the entire bill on who is to blame. The government has its share of blames… but so are we.<BR/><BR/>2. Has the government done everything that could be done to create the environment that will support and encourage wazawas’ entrepreneurship... absolutely no. But I believe it has done something. There has to be something for those wazungu to be able to perform. If nothing is there... even those wazungu would have no way of reaping what they are reaping right now. <BR/>You want some supporting info to this argument: http://allafrica.com/stories/200608071447.html <BR/><BR/>3. Education? If by education you meet the class thingy..., you will agree with me to the fact that there are countries that their people are far less educated than us (according to the world fact book) and yet they are better off economically.<BR/>On the other hand if by education you mean experiences and exposure + the "I can do it" attitude - then yes we are way behind. Here in America…we do have lots of high school drop outs who ends up making it big… primarily because of their attitude, but also because of their deep conviction to the fact that, “I am responsible to prepare my own bed” That, no one (and that includes the government) will come set up a comfy mattress for me.<BR/>Even the SBA you mentioned...(which I agree was set and relies on government $$), But believe me, they are not in a business to dish out $$ to any small timer who feels like starting a business… I tried and their conditions are pretty much like getting a loan form the bank. As a mater of fact, there is a research that showed the fact that the proportion of small business owners helped by SBA to start is so small… there is an out cry for SBA to focus mainly in finding markets for those businesses. Majority of startups here are privately funded… not bank or SBA.<BR/>By the way in Tanzania we do have organs similar to the US’s SBA, we do have chambers, we do have CRDB which the expectations was to help farmers. Kitu ambacho wabongo inaelekea hatukipendi, ni ile kulazimishwa kuwa na mipango inayoeleweka kabla sijakupa $$ zangu. Watu wanatoka wapewe mbegu za bure, mbolea bure nk.. na kwamba huko ndipo kusaidiwa na serikali. My opinion is, that kills our inherent desire to produce and maximize profit.<BR/><BR/>Metty... real goal of trying to present a different opinion, is to allow for people to see the alternatives. You see, provided one has s'one to blame - he/she has no reason to seek ways to change his/her current situation. Now I am not saying this kind of a person will not change.. just that it is relatively difficult to find motivation to change.<BR/>Got to go.... will write more later:)<BR/>Nednedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15497729460899372946noreply@blogger.com