WHY TANZANIA IS THE FUTURE? IN RESPONSE TO AFRICA INSIGHT: MAGUFULI IS AFRICA'S ICON OF TRANSFORMATION, TRANSPARENCY

By Dr. Gilliard Sheaffur

Transformation and transparency are one of the fundamental principles of good governance and social development. The two are inseparable. 

Africa, having missed for decades the type of aggressive and patriotic leadership in bringing about social,political and economic development, the continent can now boast about for having people like Dr. John Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania or Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia.

Dr. Magufuli

Mr. Abiy

For Magufuli, since his inauguration as Fifth  President of Tanzania in November 2015, he has implemented many initiatives to ensure that people know and see the impact of what their government is doing.

Magufuli is a type of a leader who seems to understand well that the government has an obligation to provide socioeconomic development for its people including providing the public with adequate information.

I will firstly argue on how  his government has improved transparency which is a cornerstone of good governance in various sectors. In ensuring that proactive disclosure is maintained, the Fifth Phase President signed the Access to Information Act no. 6 of 2016, which along other benefits to the citizens, require information holders to pro actively disclose information that they hold. 

The law also guarantees the ability of citizens to request government information. I have used the law in my area of research in Northern parts of the country to get various needed information. 

The government has Information officers across the Ministries and institutions down to the local government level. Tanzania is the future because, this is a unique structure for a low income economy to have; demonstrating and strong commitment to transparency.

On the other front, President Magufuli is globally respected for his non-donor-dependency aspirations. Not a bad dream as donors too want to get the burden off, aren't they?

Thus far, he has made Tanzania as the only East African Community economy that plans to keep its budget deficit below 3 percent in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Tanzania is truly the future. 

Obviously, this is the biggest disaster to the imperialists who according to the Research gate, tend to give loans with toughest conditionality leading to a modern times exploitation of man by man.

                                               Infrastructure Spending

Tanzania implements mega infrastructure development projects worth trillions of shillings. In its implementation, the government has been ensuring that transparency is maintained to ensure that taxpayers get the value for money in order to avoid corruption. 

Contrary to some perception, according to the assessment made by CoST- the International Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, one of the country's very able Roads Agencies, Tanroads, is doing well in transparency and project delivery and is the best rated agencies. 

The report shows that, Tanroads does have disclosure policy and protocols for information management that allows public disclosure of different information.

In the TANROADS website there is the list of 47 ongoing and 110 completed projects, apart from building roads, there are also projects on Airports. The amount of money and kilometers of roads are listed.  

Furthermore, the website has also a place where there is information on procurement. Tanzania is arguably the future.  

Apart from TANROADS, President Magufuli through himself is an eloquent speaker of his agenda. He  has been providing information on the different stages of implementation of ongoing projects, accomplished projects as well as failure to meet deadline in those projects. 

That’s why most Tanzanians understand about every step reached in different issues including projects like Julius Nyerere Hydro power Plant (Africa's fourth largest power dam), Ubungo interchange, Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), Sealander bridge, Tanga-Pangani bridge, and many others. 

Recently, the video showing President Magufuli angrily speaking openly about the delayed construction of Vingunguti modern abattoir, went viral in public and social media.

It takes for a witch-doctor to provide medicine to lure you into believing what the western media is trying to say about this beautiful country. Any sensible individual will doubt the propaganda frame that has thus far failed. The administration is open to media scrutiny and the media is everywhere in the country. In one district we found more than two radio stations playing 24 hours without any scrutiny. 

This is the proof that the government is entirely transparent and the President would openly tell the truth on where and when things are not doing well. 

He does so whenever he fires his appointed senior officials and he will continue to be so, I bet. Then how can just a broadway based newsletter, without sense of presence on the ground just publish a falsehood about any African economy? I tell you Tanzania and Africa are the future.

                                            Financial Sector Regulation

I have seen some critics on money laundering case procedures in Tanzania and same in other neighbours; the impact of money laundering is the global phenomena.

According to the Palermo Convention (United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime), money laundering is a serious crime. It transfers economic power from the market, government, and citizens to criminals. 

Money laundering causes various economic, security, and social consequences. It provides the fuel for drug dealers, terrorists, illegal arms dealers, corrupt public officials, and others to operate and expand their criminal enterprises. Palermo Convention wants all nations to take different measures to combat the problem. 

For example, its Article 7 (1) (a) says, “Shall institute a comprehensive domestic regulatory and supervisory regime for banks and non-bank financial institutions and, where appropriate, other bodies particularly susceptible to money-laundering, within its competence..."

"....in order to deter and detect all forms of money-laundering, which regime shall emphasize requirements for customer identification, record-keeping and the reporting of suspicious transactions.”

It is weird to find an analyis that blames a country for taking measures against money laundering on the pretext that those who will be netted include the media, civil society organizations and banks! Can these be infallible entities?

Tanzania as amongst the nations who signed the convention, has adhered to the convention by enacting laws like Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2006, to join the global battle against the problem. 

The closure of any bank and other financial institutions is legal according to this international approach if it has committed associated offences.

                                          Development of Mining Sector

One of the achievements of fifth term government is adjustments made to the Mining Act, 2010 that point to the establishment of mineral trading centers includes mineral auction centers, the minerals exchange centers, and the minerals clearing house. These centers accommodate buyers, miners, government offices, banks and dealers at one-stop-center. 

The mineral trading centers help to boost the sector’s contribution to individual income and national economy because they simplify the process of obtaining accurate mining data, assisting small-scale miners in securing a reliable market and securing suitable prices for mining products.

From March 17, 2019, the ministry has been launching mineral trading centers in various regions. Up to August 2019, 28 minerals center and 11 minerals buying stations have been established and the revenue of more than 12 billion Shillings has been collected and cases of smuggling minerals out of the country decrease.

It is surprising to note some international media complaining on the implementation of the mining laws. Tanzanians today, for the first time can enjoy the value of their minerals as revenue and production are increasing  and the government is able to meet its social transformation.

I think if Tanzania and Africa ought to really transform their people, their leaders should learn to reject this "cow dung" type of western media analysis. Reforms in the mining sector shows the government has abolished 18 percent VAT and five percent withholding tax to small scale miners, and it is ensuring that minerals indicative price is considered during buying and selling the product in the market, to help them get the fruits of their work easily.

Ministry of minerals has spent 1.6 billion shillings to build a model processing center at Katente ward, and modern equipment has been installed to help small-scale miners avoid primitive technology. The project will bring employment to various professionals including geologists.

Small-scale miners continue to benefit from the increase the number of mining blocks for small-scale miners as well as improvement of social services in their working areas as well as knowledge they receive from trainings provided to them by the Ministry’s experts.

In the Mining sector the Transparency mechanism-TEIT, is applicable to ensure transparency. Now the country is able to fund its mega projects through own funds. This is real transformation and a freedom from the manacles and tentacles of aid syndrome. 

Reading the Western media portrait of the country one would be surprised to come to Tanzania and find a different view of social and economic development. I say and I can testify that Tanzania is the future. Welcome one, come all.  

*Dr. Gilliard Sheaffur is a social activist of German origin who is currently undertaking social researches in Manyara region, Tanzania and Kisumu areas in Kenya*