Law Professor Issa Shivji emphasized the importance of fully involving citizens in shaping the national vision. Photo: Courtesy
Tanzania’s Path to 2050: Leaders Unite to Forge a New Vision for National Development
By Adonis Byemelwa
Political scholars and leaders are sounding the alarm: the current National Development Vision 2025 is faltering, held back by neglect of good governance, oversight of critical issues, and a lack of citizen involvement. Now, they’re rallying for a bold move towards a new vision for 2050.
They suggested that to address these challenges, there should be a national dialogue to discuss a new vision that reflects the realities of citizens’ aspirations. These sentiments were expressed on June 8, 2024, during the National Development Vision 2050 conference held at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM).
Discussing the implementation of the 2025 National Development Vision, Former Chairperson of the Human Rights and Good Governance Commission, Bahame Nyanduga, emphasized the importance of good governance. He stated that while the vision mentions good governance and the rule of law, these principles are not effectively implemented.
“We tend to use sweet words that do not reflect good governance. Good governance requires transparency, accountability, respect for the law, strong institutions, and decisions based on the law,” he said.
Nyanduga highlighted a culture where the State pillar holds significant power, often disregarding other pillars such as Parliament and the Judiciary.
“There has been a culture where court judgments are ignored. For example, the Girl Child Initiative filed a case and was granted a human rights-based judgment that girls should not be involved in relationships, but to this day, it has not been implemented,” he noted.
He also mentioned instances where court rulings, such as those allowing independent candidates, were not enforced. This disregard for judicial decisions undermines the rule of law.
Furthermore, Nyanduga criticized the neglect of the constitutional amendment process, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to ensure good governance.
“In the past 30 years, there have been constitutional amendment processes proposed to address these issues. However, without revisiting and seeking recommendations that ensure good governance, we will be spinning our wheels,” he remarked.
Speaking on the same topic, Dr. Richard Mbunda, a Lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), criticized the lack of clarity in the 2025 vision regarding the meaning of development.
“They talk about good governance in a limited sense, mentioning accountability, motivating employees, and combating corruption,” he stated.
“Factors related to democracy, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press were not adequately addressed in the vision. Therefore, we had a development vision that lacked political development,” he added.
Mbunda also questioned the ownership of the National Development Vision, tracing its origin to a suggestion by the then-President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn.
“When you read that vision (2025), you don’t see what guiding philosophy it follows. Perhaps it’s an argument of liberalism and neocolonialism. Maybe our leaders lack integrity; they have been wasteful and corrupt because maybe we adopted those ideas without incorporating our own,” he speculated.
In his presentation at the conference, Law Professor Issa Shivji emphasized the importance of fully involving citizens in shaping the national vision.
“For too long, African countries have been turned into experimental laboratories for development plans by developed countries through Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs). This time, let’s not allow ourselves to be experimented on,” he urged.
Shivji highlighted the Arusha Declaration as an example of a national vision where citizens were determined to build a socialist country based on equality and devoid of class distinctions.
“We need a national debate to achieve the consensus we want for our country,” he emphasized.
Zitto Kabwe, a retired leader of ACT-Wazalendo, echoed Shivji’s sentiments, stressing the importance of reaching a national consensus among decision-makers and influencers.
“It is essential for decision-makers and influencers (government leaders, civil servants, opposition politicians, businessmen, public sector executives, farmers, herders, fishermen, workers, artists, students) to agree on a national consensus,” he stated.
Addressing the issue, Professor Samuel Wangwe emphasized the need for every citizen to be involved and confident in the planned strategies.
“We need to see every Tanzanian, from individuals to local authorities, confident that what we have planned is what we have participated in and continue to participate in to ensure implementation,” he said.
Warning against interference from donor countries, Professor Wangwe asserted that Tanzania should strive for self-reliance and not be dictated by external donors.
Gertrude Mongella, a women’s rights activist and veteran politician, stressed that the 2050 vision should bring economic liberation.
“I don’t want to see someone with a hoe in their hand, I don’t want to see a woman in the kitchen sweating until her pores open,” she emphasized.
Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, an economic expert and Chairman of CUF, criticized the current measurement of poverty, stating that it does not reflect reality.
“The poverty rate is currently 26%, but this figure is based on a measurement where an adult spending 50,000 Tanzanian Shillings per month is not considered poor,” he explained.
“To eradicate poverty in the 2050 National Development Vision, the government should set a goal of inclusive economic growth of 10% over the next 25 years,” he suggested.
In conclusion, the Vice President, Dr. Philip Mpango, highlighted five key areas, including addressing youth unemployment, stating that these issues should be incorporated into the preparation of the 2050 National Development Vision.
In summary, the discussions at the conference underscored the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to national development planning, with active participation from all sectors of society to ensure a vision that reflects the aspirations and realities of the Tanzanian people.
