{UAH} What kind of leaders do Tanzanians want? - Opinion/Editorial - thecitizen.co.tz
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What kind of leaders do Tanzanians want? - Opinion/Editorial
In Summary
If there is a big fall out within the party, the opposition will have a day in the field enjoying the spoils.
We cannot run away from the fact that the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), is at the moment the strongest political outfit in the country.
The other parties, especially Chadema, CUF and NCCR-Mageuzi, are outspoken and articulate, but a minority, when we come to the seats at the National Assembly.
One of the enduring legacies of CCM will always be enforcing the five-year two terms rule for the presidency. I don't know if it was Mwalimu's genius that forced the wisdom on the party or if it was a collective will. After Mwalimu Nyerere came Ali Hassani Mwinyi, then Benjamin Mkapa and now President Jakaya Kikwete. It is unthinkable that a president would continue to hold on power after the ten years are over. This is the opposite in a number of countries including some of our neighbours. No wonder President Jakaya Kikwete is reported to have said that after he retires he will go into teaching.
Nowadays, he talks of the things that he will do in the remaining time. He also touches on matters that his successor will have to do.
Having no power hunger the topmost leader gives us, as a nation, a lot of peace. If all goes well and CCM stays together to the General Election, it is most likely going to produce the next president of Tanzania.
If there is a big fall out within the party, the opposition will have a day in the field enjoying the spoils.
At the moment, we have heard a number of candidates declaring their intention to run for the highest office on the party's ticket. The number will certainly go up in 2015. The question is, what are they offering us as a nation? What kind of leaders are they?
While each candidate always would project themselves as a man or woman of the people, the reality sometimes is the direct opposite. And even when the leader has the best intention and if the means of executing those intentions fail; it is the common mwananchi who fails.
If only every ward and every constituency could design its priorities, and then elect only the best candidates with the promise of making those priorities a reality, life would be better in Tanzania.
I think we should stop the mistake that we have been making since independence, where the power has always been from top to bottom.
When Mwalimu Nyerere came to power in his presidential inaugural address, he said if Tanganyika farmers wanted to start using tractors for cultivation, it was essential for them to start living in proper villages. He adopted improvement and transformational approach to improve agriculture…and things did not work. Majority of smallholder farmers depend on the hand hoe for farming.
When Ali Hassan Mwinyi came to power, he introduced everything lawful allowed (Ruksa) philosophy, that was in sharp contrast to Mwalimu's commanding ways. Yet, the majority of the population, despite ruksa business and politics, remained chained to poverty.
When president Benjamin Mkapa came in, we heard new terminologies like Mkukuta, Mkurabita, etc, and when the history of this nation is written, I don't think the grand plans lifted the masses out of poverty.
When President Kikwete rose to power with his mantra, "maisha bora kwa kila mtanzania" or better life for every Tanzanian, it was a period of unprecedented hope. Yet, nine years down the road, for the majority of citizens, there is no good life. When they can't get adequate food and other basic necessities, life cannot be a bed of roses.
It is not all doom and gloom – the four presidents have achieved a lot -- peace, infrastructure development, education, etc, but in eradicating mass poverty, I don't think any of them has really succeeded. What of the next president?
Saumu Jumanne is an Assistant Lecturer, Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE)
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