Tanzania is a beautiful and resource blessed country. It is a home to the snow caped and breath-taking Mt.Kilimanjaro- the highest in Africa, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, an extraordinary gamestone christined Tanzanite- Tanzania being the only place on earth to possess such magnificent and sparkling stones, the spice Island of Zanzibar, the strong and flag jumpers Maasai and more than 120 culturally synchronised tribes- they all speak Swahili as their national language which has to a great extent helped forge a sense of national unity!
A land blessed with natural resources ranging from minerals- gold, tanzanite, diamond, cobalt, and coal; Great lakes- lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa, Lake Manyara; Amazing National Parks- Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Mikumi, Selous, Kilimanjaro National Park, Gombe to mention but a few; Natural Ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar and Mtwara.
It has a population of about 38.7 million, enjoys peace and tranguilty, experienced four phases of peaceful political transition but has todate continued to remain one of the most poorest country in world.
Looking at the vast resources at her disposal, one wonders why the resources have not been a blessing to the people of the land. The poverty index shows that her Gross Domestic Product stands at 4.9% and that the most affected people are those living in the rural areas (80%).
According to the Economic Index data, the country has a per capita GDP of $ 210. The Tanzania economy depends on agriculture, which accounts for over 50% of its GDP. The sector provides 75% of exports and employs about 85% of the total work force. Tanzania's GDP growth rate currently at 4.9%, has averaged 3.5% for the past four decades, with population growing at an average of 3% per year, consequently registering a per capita increase of 0.7%.
The economic recovery program announced in mid 1986 has generated notable increase in economic activity through support for the program by bilateral and multilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's weak economic infrastructure. During the period 1991 - 1999 there has been a notable increase in industrial production and minerals, led by gold. Recent reforms in the financial and banking sector have resulted in the increase in private sector growth and investment.
The economic reforms which have received accolades from the development partners have, however, not helped in solving major problems facing the people- of accessing clean and safe water, education, health and developing and improving the communication infrastructure.
Talking of good governance, former Chief Secretary Marten Lumbanga said it is about the best use of resources, promoting the rule of law, being transparent and involving the private sector and civil society in matters relating to the socio-economic development of the country and in the decision making process. This is better said in the seminars and workshops, well documented and shelved. Very little is been practiced in my country Tanzania.
Thabo Mabaso in South Africa, a senior journalist and political analyst working for the Cape Agus Newspaper in Cape Town (looking at the problems from the regional perspective) attributes Africa’s woes to a constant fight for resources among the peoples. According to him, Africa’s problems could only be solved if the political establishment of the day could give room to a vibrant and strong civil society groups that will act as a bulwark against tyranny and economic rapists in Africa; build national delivery programmes that seek to empower and bring a better life to all, i.e, better run and functioning economies and also looking at the problems holistically and come up with solutions to the wide and varied problems facing the beautiful and resourceful African continent.
Asked whether African leaders are genuinely serving the interests of their people, William Gumede, a Senior Associate & Oppenheimer Fellow, St. Anthony’s College, Oxford University said he doesn’t think so. “Sadly, I think very few African politicians care really about ordinary people. I think it’s about their own pockets, their own friends and family. Perhaps, we need a younger and different breed of politicians, not dependent on the old political network. We need leaders who are accountable, responsive to the people who voted them in and leaders who are also inclusive,” he said.
With all the problems facing Tanzania- grand corruption, maladministration and mal-distribution of resources, nepotism coupled with lack of vision and a sense of direction on the part of the political leadership under the stewardship of President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, we have failed to turn around the available resources to better the lives of the majority of Tanzanians especially those living in the hard-to-reach of areas of rural Tanzania.
A glance at the health sector reveals that there is a shortage of 67% on Human Resources for Health. That in 2006, there were 5,795 health facilities and by 2017 they will increase to 13,039. Accroding to the Service Available Mapping Survey shows that the country had 1,339 Doctors including 455 in the private sector.
The ratio 1:25,000 patients/clients is far below the World Health Organisation requirement ratio of 1:10,000. Tanzania has a population of 38.7 million, annual growth rate of 2.9 %. 76% of the population is below 25 years. The burden of the disease remains a major challenge facing the health sector. Life expectancy remains 51 years. With HIV/AIDS and poverty it has been pushed to below 41 years.
As Mr. Gumede and Thabo pointed out it requires thepolitical commitment and strong leadership to reverse the situation. Sadly, with scandals now grinding President Kikwete’s government little is hoped to that effect.

The External Payment Account (EPA) scandal at the central Bank where unscrupulous business people ‘chewed’ $ 133 million, the shocking Richmond power generating scam which costs Tanzanian tax payers a cool dosh amounting to $ 128,000 daily, the Bank of Tanzania Twin Towers scandal whose costs were highly inflated, Songas, Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL), the Tanzania International Container Services (TICS) contractual scandal and the Kiwira untold stories requires a sagacious and bold leadership to bring the culprits to justice.
It is mind-boggling to see an ordinary petty-street-snatcher being mobbed to death during a day light while those who steal large amount from state coffers- mostly tax payers money go off scot-free and in most cases embraced enmenshed by those in power.
Beacuse of this, my beautiful country Tanzania (47 years after independece) remains an economic titanic with no navigational tools to steer its people to prosperity!