In the recent news, we have heard of a polling research company mentioned and when I tried to look into their work I found that in June they had released new figures in what they called the Social, Political and Economic Barometer (SPEC). In this survey, the results showed that some 8.4 million people in Tanzania skip meals daily to cope with the biting economic hardships in the country. I find this unacceptable, IMHO
In the midst of all the noise of the upcoming elections, I think that we, as a society have failed to notice the increasing number of people’s living standards slip. Maybe it is because we spend too much time in a vitual world on Facebook and Twitter and blogs like this? Maybe it is because we live in a ‘mirage’ called Dar-es-Salaam where we take for granted things that we assume to be ubiquitous like water, electricity, wireless internet, café latte, air condition etc. But we are really a tiny fraction of a poor nation called Tanzania
The Social, Political and Economic Barometer (SPEC) found that “17.2 million people have also drastically reduced expenditure on essential households items in response to spiraling prices of basic commodities” that is when I remember someone telling me some time back “how can someone survive with less than 4 million a month?” For us, the tiny group of people who happened to be privileged for one reason or another to live this kind of life, it is time to wake up and smell the café latte! If we continue to spend and live in this make-believe world while millions, (yes millions!) literarily starve around us, then we should know that we are no better than the French aristocrats during French revolution.
I am not saying that we should stop living, or that we should give away all our riches to the poor, but what I think we all have to do is to live with conscious. It is a fact that every day millions go to sleep hungry in our country, and we have to say that this cannot continue, it is unacceptable. But the task is so daunting, that it may discourage many of us. So let us now put forward ideas what can be done or let those who are out there doing something tell us what they do and how we can be of help. Because if today you could afford to eat 2 or 3 meals a day in Tanzania, then you belong to the few privileged, IMHO
( Map Copyright of Tanzania embassy home page)
( Map Copyright of Tanzania embassy home page)
Well Maria, what you say is true and there are many factors which leads to this situation one of them being lack of opportunities and also lack of marketable skills.
ReplyDeleteBecause of lack of opportunities, people have to learn marketable skills and survive as enterpreneurs. Also, there should be a network to support these enterpreneurs and help them raise above what hinders their efforts.
Our foundation www.green-waters.org is focusing on development from grassroots and our target group is marginalised women, who understand the problems and have lived through them.
Poverty alleviation is necessary and yet development work is demoralising.
Development is not a job that should be done by just a few people or foreign investors, it is a responsibility to everyone who calls themselves Tanzanian.
It amazes me when I hear of the amounts of wedding collections, funeral collections, why not collections to sponsor education? Are we blind, selfish or just plain stupid?
Mmh! We are doomed!
ReplyDelete...I like the last para of Stella's comment, and I may say the only reason behind that is that there is no enough effort to bring awareness on important issues like education..
ReplyDeleteAsk anyone around and they will tell you that the level and quality of education is deteriorating because the GOVERNMENT is not doing enough, and the answer is obvious when people are starving.
I am not saying that the government should try to shift those kind of responsibilities to the people as the Kenyan Government tried/did with the Harambee Schemes but I just believe that each one of us is trying to avoid our social responsibilities..Maybe it's just because there are no mechanisms in place to help our fellow Tanzanians who are out there starving but I believe, I for one, most of us have that intention to help, but the question remains how do we???
If I may give an example and just be open, it is a common practice for people from some parts of Kagera to help each other in education. And trust me it's no wonder a certain group of people is considered to be "more educated" than the other..it's just a matter of creating that culture to help our fellows, even those who we do not consider to be of our own origin or tribe..
I am following you Maria..
I agree with you Maria. I have the chance to visit the rural often and it is an alarming situation to see even forty kilometers away from DSM, around Mkuranga District, people living in total hardship and poverty. I often take help to the village of Kiziko, Mpilu, Uzizi where people are starving, no water, no essentials for a day to day life.
ReplyDeleteWe try to help by starting sustainable projects like women agricultural groups. At the end of the day due to lack of education, marketing skills and direct contact with the Urban areas, the middle man (dalalis) who go to buy their products, give them hardly anything for the hard labor. At the end of the day not even enough to cover their costs. Hence there is no continuation, they fail to continue. Though we have seen women who really want a CHANGE.
The District officials are responsible for their lack of commitment to go to the villages. We hear of Kilimo Kwanza. When you try to talk to the so called Agricutural officers in the Districts to go help the women, to educate them on the modern ways of farming. You are told by the officers that they do not have bus fares, and they expect the villagers to pay for their fares or people like us who are trying to help to sustain them.
I believe if Regional Commissioners and District Commissioners acted as they were supposed to there would be a change.
You know what I mean!
Network support is important for many reasons.
ReplyDelete1.First of all, although I try to raise awareness about these problems from Netherlands, I have been told many times that Tanzania is peaceful and there are no problems. I was even asked, if there are problems, how come no one hears about them? Infact, many big NGO's have removed Tanzania on their list of priorities and they keep Somali, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia as priority countries in the third world. Media networks in Tanzania have to raise awareness about these problems. I know people are saying we don't need misaada, but those who say that are not sleeping hungry.
2.Marketing support:
For instance: There are many beverage companies who would be more than happy to buy Eg. agricultural products for a reasonable price.Marketing and raising awareness about the availability of resources, is important.
3. Products trainings support:
Many women make products from organic materials eg. Baskets. These can bring a high price in many EU countries if the products made are ''on demand'' styles. I was amazed to see the normal kikapu from Kariakoo selling for 200 Tsh.selling for 85 Euros in Amsterdam simply because the handles have been modified after the basic work was done.
A while ago I suggested that it is not a bad idea to have research bureaus in Tanzania, that keeps a database of projects which need to be implemented. This is important.