OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, MH. JAKAYA KIKWETE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA.

Your excellency, Mr. President, I am writing this open letter to you and your government as a Tanzanian with major concerns about my beloved country. From outset I would like to acknowledge that I may not truly understand all the hardships and day to day lives of regular hard working Tanzanians as I have been living outside the country for over last decade here in America, where a true freedom of speech is realized and respected. Also I would like to say that what I am writing about in no way should be interpreted as a supporter of one party versus another, however the fact is you are the head of CCM party, and your government was elected legitimately to lead the government, and therefore the issue I am raising here will indirectly or directly reflect your leadership and that of CCM referendum.

H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, President of Republic of Tanzania
Tanzania is known for her peace embracing people all over the world emanating from the foundation of the country set before and after independence and thanks to the vision of our late father of nation Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who never had a single bone of selfishness in his body, God rest him in peace. Mwalimu always put the country first ahead of anything and since he passed away he will always be remembered as a true leader who tried his best not to abuse his position of power or use his position to enrich himself or his family and no one will deny that, and the facts are there for everyone to see.

Tanzania of today despite celebrating 50 years of independence still sees our God given natural resources being sold out or only benefits the few where the country’s benefit are overlooked. There are number of things that I could fill the book today should I write about, but today I would like to focus only key basic areas that truly in my opinion your government has failed to help the poor of our country, In no way were you Mr. President the solely responsible of this outcome, but truly speaking “the buck stops at your desk” Mr. President.

Today the gap between those who have and have not is beyond imagination from a person like me who is looking Tanzania from outside. I am not against anyone who legally earned his wealth through legitimate means, but this is not my focus of this letter today.

Tanzania of 50 years that we just celebrated, under the leadership of CCM since independence (TANU and ASP, resulted to CCM) we have seen and there are leaders who uses their positions to make sure that only few people will benefit on the shoulders of the poor majority and hard working class Tanzanians. I acknowledge though there are many good leaders in CCM including you Mr. President but in many ways every effort is being made by other leaders with their main goal of putting their interest first and country next. These so called leaders have made every effort to enrich themselves on the shoulder of the rest of the country.

The cost of living currently in Tanzania is beyond imagination from someone like me looking from outside, just recently the price of electricity (unpredictable supply) and price of gas has been raised, funny enough the ministry responsible for regulation, claims that it should not affect the lower poor Tanzanians. There a number of things that disturbs me greatly and I believe other Tanzanians as well.

I would start by a simple question; can someone please tell me how the price of Kerosene would be higher than that of the gasoline and diesel? The cost of producing and refining kerosene is much lower than that of diesel and gasoline; as a result one would expect the cost of kerosene to be lower than that of gasoline and diesel. However, beyond my imaging your government under ministry of energy decided to raise price of kerosene so as to counter the profiteers who mix kerosene and gasoline/diesel to increase profits (kuchakachua). When I look around all over the world and most if not all our neighbors that’s the case where kerosene is cheaper than Gasoline except in Tanzania. So one would ask who benefit with a lower cost of kerosene. Clear mind thinking will say without question cheaper cost of kerosene will benefit those poor Tanzanians who cannot afford electricity, majority of whom uses. So when the price of kerosene is raised who is affected the most? I would say 80% of Tanzanians, does this sound logical? The government failed to control those “wachakachuaji” or enforce laws against them, instead made a case that raising kerosene prices will detract them? Is it because those poor Tanzanians do not have voices, and I have never heard a single so called people’s representative raise this as an issue, while it affects 90% of their constituents. I would urge you Mr. President to please review and enforce the laws and reduce the price of kerosene to help these Tanzanians who are faced with economical challenges on a daily basis.

Additionally recently Ewura also announced that the price of electricity has been raised for at least 40%, but on the statement it says should not affect people using 50 units of electricity, are you kidding me? Who uses electricity on a daily basis? The majority of the upcoming Tanzanian small entrepreneurs depend on the electricity; raising electricity prices will have an impact on all levels of daily lives. For any company, local entrepreneurs, increase on the cost of running business (electricity is one of them) will also affect the price of the goods they produce, and therefore everything from nyanya to bus fares will increase. Was this a logical decision, since your government took over the leadership has the production of electricity increased to 40% yet? Although this was a promise you made on your first term, I would agree that some progress have been made but not enough.

Tanzania is one of the richest African nations in terms of Natural resources, environment, but really how these natural resources are benefiting a common Tanzanian? Our leaders including you, Your Excellency, traverse the country and the world telling Tanzanians abroad and other Nations, we have made a lot of progress. What specific progress we have made towards empowering a local Tanzanian? I agree Tanzania of today is not the same of that of decade ago when I left, is this something enough to be proud off?
Everyday Your Excellency we hear all kinds of corruptions, accusations of corrupt individuals(leaders included) by which others call them (vijichenji), yet no one or a few small fries are apprehended because of “kulindana and kuogopana”. Members of parliament have been trying very hard to get their allowances increased, claiming cost of living has gone up, a justification endorsed by our Speaker, I wonder the increase cost of living only affects members of Parliament and other Tanzanians are not impacted by them?

Today we have not heard Government stand publicly on the matter. All we have are the conflicting claims between the Hon. Speaker and the Clerk of the Assembly over the increase on their allowances. Some members claimed that they use the money to help their constituents, really? I know some do but majority of them would not give a single shilling to help a farmer who needs to take his/her child to hospital, the access to them is on who you know basis, what about those poor Tanzanians who use kerosene as fuel for cooking, lighting; when the price was increased where were they to argue a case against increasing the price? We have heard people talking about their stance against this allowance increase including our former Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye (I commend you Sir), most of the opposition party members and even some CCM members, but then it either resulted in personal attacks like what happened to both Hon. Sumaye and Chadema leadership, is this truly political fight as is being made to be?

Your excellency I commend your government that intends to keep peace at any cost. What I find strange is that the CCM government uses its police force to enforce so called laws on public demonstrations and public gatherings which are given birth right to every single Tanzanian. However, the same Government fails to enforce the laws that touch big shots, corruption or the laws that would guarantee natural resources are not abused or stolen (including stealing our own unique wild animals and no one is held accountable?) .

Simple example is the recent floods in Dar es Salaam and disconnect or short memory some leaders do have. I recall time after time laws, bylaws have been passed prohibiting settling in lower areas such as Jangwani, mining kokoto along Bagamoyo road, yet the government has failed to enforce those laws it has passed. Some people who live in lower areas like Jangwani and many places I believe were ordered to move long time ago including some being even compensated and given other areas to relocate; instead people took the money and either sold their houses or plots, and no one ever moved. Then a national disaster strikes like the recent floods, the government acted quickly enough to save the lives of the victims, and provided those people affected with shelters. However, when a long term solution was quickly sought and decisions were made, which included that these people should be relocated to Mabwepande, they never asked or thought of those who at the time were living at Mabwepande, instead decided to destroy their homes and livelihood, demolishing houses, etc to allow house owners victims of the floods to relocate there. In my personal view this was done to merely paint a picture of serious concern for the flood victims to show to the world, how Tanzania government cares about its people since this disaster attracted national and International media. What about those people at Mabwepande whose lives and property government destroyed, living them and their families without help of any kind in total disregard to humanity; this not to speak of those tenants who equally fell victims of the same floods but segregated from the house owners/landlords.

Finally I would like to touch on the government operational costs, if I am not mistaken the union budget of the Government of United Republic of Tanzania heavily leans on International/donor aid to fund, finding it strange, that despite the rich national resources we have, we cannot fund our own union budget (understandable). At the same time the contracts that are reached for these national resources focus seemingly more on personal gains and not for the national interest. We see those responsible for those contracts day and night travelling and living beyond imagination (we see them all the time). What happens if these governments/donors providing us aid to fund our budget stop providing crucial aid to Tanzania (don’t look far look what happens in Malawi). The size of your Government and the top leadership is mind boggling when a country depends on donor aid to fund its budget; every ministry has a minister, two deputy ministers, Permanent secretaries, two to three deputy permanent secretaries. With my understanding of our constitution this is not in the constitution it comes down to the president’s choice and taste. Having 25 ministries does it mean efficiency; do we see efficiency is some of these ministries?

Why stop thinking that there are some in positions only to enrich themselves unethically (yes I said it) and have money and resources to be scared of nothing (maybe God only, that is questionable too). To them they know and believe they rule and own Tanzania and Tanzanians living in it. I recall during Mwalimu’s time, there were those ethical standards (were not perfect, but were being followed). Are those ethical standards are things of the past that Father of Nation set and live by? I commended former president Ali Hassan Mwinyi when he resigned and stepped down as a Minister of Home Affairs during Mwalimu’s leadership, not because of anything he directly was involved in, but he lived by the standards the “the buck stopped at his desk”. Do we no longer have those ethical standards, and sense of Country first? I am asking your excellency to take a step back and reflect what a truly poor Tanzanian affected by all the instituted policies and action by your trusted appointed leaders. When you came to power every Tanzanian I know and talked to had a lot of hope from you, and I know your intentions were and are still noble, however you are being let down by the people you have elected and appointed to represent you. Let go of those who are not serving with National interest in mind, this is your last term you have nothing to lose but most to gain as respected leader who brought change in Tanzania, please leave us with a legacy that you will be always remembered by.

I am seeing that where we are heading has a very bleak and scary picture, Tanzanians are peace loving people, however we need to remember any human being can take so much, recall what transpired in mid east (what actually started), were people set themselves on fire to send a message of their displeasure of the corruption and performance of their governments. Leaders who thought themselves as chosen ones are no longer in power and met their demise.

Tanzanians are always patients and at times are afraid of authority, but one cannot tell when people get tired and desperate at the unchecked abuse of power by some selfish leaders. People are slowly starting to take to the street to enforce people’s power movement (Arusha is an example). Should this spread country wide and people “let the genie out of the bottle” it will be too late. So I am begging you Mr. President to please listen to people’s cries and address them now. We all know it will be a hard, unpleasant and tough challenge, but should you act on them now and let me comfort you that the entire country will be behind you just as when you were elected by the majority of Tanzanians on your first term. Every Tanzanian including poor Tanzanians (not leaders only) deserve respect and ability to express themselves when they are looking for their demands to be met, we need to stop name calling others who are critical of our government and asking questions. A good government listens to its people and addresses their needs. God Bless you Mr. President and our beloved Country Tanzania.

Sincerely,
Arthur Soni
Nebraska, United States of America
arthursoni2010@gmail.com SOURCE:TANZAGIZA