Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on May 22,2024.
Professor Mukandala: To improve our institutions, we must start with the country’s constitution
Professor Rwekaza Mukandala has said that for the country to improve its governance institutions, there is a need to revise the country’s constitution. Mukandala made these remarks during his Professorial Inaugural Lecture at Nkrumah Hall at the University of Dar es Salaam.
He delivered this lecture, titled “Lessons from the Induced Birth, Tortured Life, and Painful Death of MV Bukoba,” on May 21, 2024. The lecture reflected on the MV Bukoba tragedy in 1996, tracing the events from the acquisition of the vessel in 1979 to the tragedy.
Mukandala highlighted that proper procurement procedures were not followed in the purchase of the ship. He explained that since the country was using a loan from the Belgian government to acquire the vessel, the terms of the agreement required the ship to be procured from Belgium.
Mukandala noted that despite pressure to sign a contract with the contractor appointed by the Belgian government, there was opposition from Tanzanian experts and other government officials. However, the president ordered the contract to be signed.
Mukandala explained that by ordering the controversial contract to be signed, the fate of MV Bukoba was sealed. He explained that research shows the vessel received had significant technical faults.
Mukandala underscored that the President was able to order the signing of the contract against the advice of his experts because the constitution grants him this power, stating that the President is not required to receive advice from anyone.
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Yes, singling out leaders’ ethnicity for support or opposition is unacceptable
In relation to last week’s article, I would like to address what I see as massive distractions that only confuse the issues and foment further division.
Of course, I am not in favour of having to carry a passport when I travel to the other side of the Union, i.e., Zanzibar. It doesn’t make sense, even within the context of Africa as a whole, when we have been arguing that Africans should be allowed to travel to any part of the continent without restriction, sembuse within one nation!
It also seems the rationale behind the suggestion doesn’t make sense either. Will a passport really prevent someone from the same country from owning land or getting a job on the other side of the Union?
And in whose interest is it to insist on a passport as some kind of hirizi, or a magic wand when huge chunks of the same land are being handed over to foreigners from different continents, euphemistically called ‘investors?’
At the same time, even on this side of the Union, i.e., Tanganyika, have we not been, under successive presidents from both sides of the Union, handing over huge chunks of land to outsiders from other continents while we jealously guard our land against our nearest neighbours?
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See how Tanzania’s journey towards digital economy is gaining momentum
The Ministry of Information, Communications, and Information Technology’s budget presentation highlighted the critical role of the communications sector in Tanzania’s socio-economic development and as an enabler in various industries.
Speaking in parliament, Mr Nape Nnauye, who heads the docket, said there has been remarkable growth in the country’s communications sector over the past year. For instance, registered SIM cards increased by 16.4 per cent, rising from 62.3 million in April 2023 to 72.5 million in April 2024.
Mobile internet subscribers also saw an 11.2 per cent surge, from 33.1 million to 36.8 million within the same period. Mobile money service users grew by 19.6 per cent, from 44.3 million to 53.0 million.
Tanzania’s government has implemented several initiatives to drive digital economic transformation, as evidenced by the approval of the National Digital Economy Strategy 2024-2034.
The revised National ICT Policy 2016 and the development of 14 new guidelines will support the management of the ICT sector, promoting international standards, digital literacy, and inclusivity.
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