The undeciding bought Tanzania government

By Deogratias Munishi

A ten-month existing government in its second term has stood to be a failure in addressing common problems facing its citizens.

While the corruption plucked electricity crisis that has rendered the country into a serious blackout has remained unresolved, the country has been brought again in to a stand still situation by oil crisis.

Oil supplying companies have boldly come to a serious fight with the government over the commodity’s consumer price and to show their dissatisfaction on the indicative piece by Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA), the companies have decided to country-wide boycott.

To the shock of many Tanzanians, fuel business men stood up giving a twenty four (24) hours ultimatum to the government to resume to the previous higher oil prices which proved to be a burden to common citizens. The citizens’ disappointment is that their government has been silent throughout the seven days of the crisis waiting for the parliament intervention. Thanks to honourable January Makamba (MP) for bringing this to the house as an emergent matter.

Responding to the 24 hours ultimatum by these businessmen could indicate that the government is existing. Since this did not happen, therefore,  there is no harm and it is not a despise at all to say that the government is either bought by some few uncouth  figures or it does not know what is actually supposed to do whenever such crisis occur.

In December 2005 when declaring his cabinet, President Jakaya Kikwete publicly announced that he had no partnership with anybody in his presidency. This statement could be translated otherwise but what the president meant that, he was the only person elected by citizens and not with anybody else. Perhaps the president lied to the public as the situation today proves that he has partners in his presidency, and these are businessmen some of whom are his cabinet ministers

We are on this situation because our government has firmly decided to be undeciding government when it comes to serious issues for the advantage of common citizens. One is right to argue that the government is protecting its partners, the oil businessmen in this regard, as they are the very people who heavily contributed in bringing it in to power.

The CCM 2010 general election campaigns received billions of money from these unpatriotic men which of course were used to decorate open spaces with unprecedented posters, distribute t-shirts, caps and khangas and other unnecessary staffs for the said ever expensive campaigns. The campaigns’ vehicles were freely filled with petrol/ disel as contribution of these fuel business fellows to the governing party
In this shocking situation, it is very absurd to hear that even some top government officials are oil business dealers and they have a big hand in exacerbating the boycott.  They have far gone to corrupt fellow government officials to remain undecided to squarely dealing with the situation in accordance   with the land laws. The young Ubungo constituency mp, honourable John Mnyika firmly told the national house that he has clear evidences on corruption surrounding the saga, thus, calling the Prevention and Combation of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to investigate the matter.

Here we must live to remember the late father of the nation, Mwl J.K Nyerere with his Arusha Declaration. Yes, we found it to be unfit for this country given the global changed economic and diplomatic trend but its total replacement by the 1992 Zanzibar declaration was a big mistake. At least its aspect of the leadership code of ethics was and would remain advantageous to the nation given the untrustworthy nature of African leaders and in here Tanzanians when combining politics and business.

On the other ground, the spreading of the problem to upcountry unveils the weaknesses of the national intelligent security system that failed to notice the meetings and communications of fuel dealing companies to the extent of curtailing. This is a matter of the national security and by not working on this, the intelligent disqualifies for that purpose and therefore, it is insecurity system. Or else, if it did function for that purpose, then the government could not act and remained silent because it is pocketed by few guys in the country

The crisis is also a manifestation of the government to unreasonably embrace and incorporate the western economic policies in nature in the national dealings. We are now feeling the impact of unreasonable liberalization of everything in this country including the integrity and sovereignty of our government.  We did sell TIPA under the umbrella of privatization policy. Its existence would otherwise be a relief at this unpromising situation and perhaps the private businessmen could not be that much arrogant.

Yes! We have liberalized our economy to that disgraceful level but I do not think that we have also liberalized our thinking capacity to the extent of failing to emulate the free market economy giants who sometimes make special government intervention whenever similar situations occur by going into government reserves.

For a better future, we have to go back on the policy drawing board. In it, we have to outline businesses in which the government can fully engage for the betterment of the citizens. It has been on fuel today! Who knows about tomorrow?

Deogratias Munishi can be reached through munishi12 (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk or  (+255)(O)715-887712.