{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Magufuli's crackdown on NIDA rot was long overdue - Opinion/Editorial | The Citizen
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Magufuli's crackdown on NIDA rot was long overdue - Opinion/Editorial
President John Magufuli on Monday sacked top National Identification Authority (Nida) executives and ordered an investigation into how the agency spent Sh180 billion. Nida is tasked to establish a national data base for Tanzanians through issuance of identity cards (IDs).
Lack of national IDs is one of the biggest drawbacks in the quest for development. It is an issue that cuts across many areas—economic prosperity, nationhood, regional integration and security.
For many years, the government took the flak for failure to take the registration of Tanzanians seriously. Indeed, lack of national IDs has been one of those gaps that bring shame to the country and impede development. Lack of national IDs has made the voter card a treasured item.
Other than the international passport that to date remains the preserve of only a certain class of people, the voters' card is the only other document that comes close to a national ID.
It was for this reason that President Jakaya Kikwete saw it apt to establish Nida and task it with the responsibility of registering Tanzanian citizens. That is, despite the fact that this decision coming after more than 30 years of discussions and planning.
It is disappointing that despite the good intention of the project, President Magufuli's move has only served to reinforce the view that we are many a time the worst enemies of our own development. Those tasked to lead Nida have very little to show for the huge investment in public resources poured into Nida since it officially began operations in 2007.
With a whopping Sh180 billion already spent, the executive has registered a paltry 2.5 million Tanzanians. With almost a similar amount, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) last year registered some 20 million Tanzanians as voters. We applaud the President for ordering a multi-pronged investigation into Nida activities as we can only believe that corruption and brazen embezzlement is the reason that we find ourselves where we are today.
The importance of planning cannot be overemphasised. It is crucial for successful achievement of specific goals at all levels. When undertaken properly, planning enhances efficiency, reduces risks, facilitates coordination, and gives a sense of direction. It also boosts staff motivation, enhances innovation and facilitates decision making.
However, successful plan execution requires a number of conditions: implementation, monitoring and evaluation. These apply to all plans—for an individuals or a country.
Given the above, it is shocking that the government failed to make an appraisal of its own five-year development plan. The failure raises many questions like: was there transparency in the execution of the plan? Was there accountability? Was there good governance and adoption of best practices?
A plan often gives birth to the next. If no thorough evaluation of the previous five-year plan was made, how do we plan for the next one? How can we be sure that we won't repeat the mistakes that were experienced in the previous plan?
It is for this reason that the government needs to do away with the "business as usual" culture. Our economy has failed to make substantial gains because we keep doing things "the way we are used to", even if we never reaped much fruit.
We have no choice but to change, short of which, Tanzania is doomed.
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