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THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN TANZANIA

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In 1984 it was difficult to resist a feeling that the decline in the Tanzanian economy was flattening out, thanks in part to the Government’s Structural Adjustment Programme of 1982-85 and to the impact of successive budgets. Today this trend appears to be confirmed by a number of indicators. An overall growth of 2.5% was the first increase in production since 1980 and a major contribution to this result was made by agriculture, Tanzania’s most important industry. While there was a continuing decline in the volume of most export crops purchased by the crop authorities in 1983-84 (crop of 1983), in the following year (crop of 1984) all the main export crops showed an increase, in some cases very substantial, and the prospect for 1985 is encouraging.

Among food crops, marketed maize suffered a decline to an all-time low level in 1983, but by January 1985 purchases of the 1984 crop had already reached 14% above the 1983 figure and there seemed to be a reasonable chance of reaching the target figure nearly 50% higher than in the previous year.

The volume of food crops marketed through official channels, of course, provides only a very rough indication of the total product, as it omits the amount consumed or stored by the producers and takes no account of sales in local markets, which have recently been encouraged. However, another indication of the improving supply situation is given by the favourable trend in food imports. In 1983-84 326,330 tonnes were imported, including 228,500 tonnes of maize, but in 1984-85 these figures are estimated to have fallen to 184,500 and 105,000 respectively. Peasant production in certain maize surplus areas, particularly Ruvuma and Rukwa Regions, is understood to be increasing steadily, though still hampered by serious shortages of diesel oil and vehicles for the movement of farm inputs and crops. In the case of Ruvuma Region the completion in December 1985 of the Songea to Makambako road should be a great advantage in opening up the fertile and well-watered Songea and Mbinga Districts to national markets.

The 1984 overall growth did not, of course, overcome further impairment to the standard of living on account of the high rate of growth of the population, which has been estimated to be in the region of 3.3% per annum. This figure is taken from the preliminary report of the 1978 Population Census, but in the absence of a full demographic analysis it must be treated with some reserve. What is clear from other information is that the population grew faster than the economy as a whole. The cost of living in 1984 as measured by the National Consumer Price Index rose by 38%, as compared with 27% in 1983, a burden only partially relieved by a rise in the minimum wage in July.

This trend mainly affected urban populations, who have very limited chances to supplement their resources by cultivation and apart from the suffering imposed it carries serious dangers of civil disturbance, of which the Government is acutely conscious.

The sharply increased rise in the cost of living in 1984 was mainly caused by a substantial rise in the prices paid to farmers, but the abolition of the sembe subsidy was a contributing influence. A large additional budget deficit resulting from the increase in producer prices was avoided by a devaluation of the shilling by 26% in dollar terms.

Already the impoverishment of the urban population has had the unpleasant side-effect of encouraging irregular and corrupt practices of various kinds in an effort to maintain living standards, or even to stave off destitution. The black market prices on offer for foreign currencies are an indication of the intensity of personal desire to acquire items no longer available in the shops. Corruption increases confusion and inefficiency and it will not be easy, until conditions improve considerably, to restore the reputation for integrity for which Tanzania was deservedly well known.

The dominant and formidable problem facing Tanzania’s economy, from which most other difficulties derive, is the desperate shortage of foreign exchange. In view of this problem, Hon A H Jamal MP was appointed chairman of a Presidential Commission to investigate ways of increasing export earnings; the Commission reported to the President in September. Put in general terms, the country’s minimum foreign exchange requirement has been estimated to be in the region of 1,200 million dollars per annum.

It is not surprising that current foreign exchange earnings of 400 million dollars leave industry starved of raw materials, machinery, industrial spares and diesel fuel, late or inadequate deliveries of fertilisers to farmers and serious delays in the movement of export crops to the ports. Nor is it surprising that between 1983 and 1984 industrial production in constant 1976 prices fell by a further 13% to a level only 37% of the 1978 peak year.

In spite of these grave difficulties, however, it has been possible to make progress in certain key industries, notably those catering for the agricultural industry and consumables such as soap, cooking oil and textiles. The production of hoes and ox ploughs approached the estimated national demand. Soft drinks were also on the increase and production at Fahari Bottlers in Dar es Salaam this year is expected to be converted to the exclusive use of local citrus fruits and other ingredients. The production of gunny bags, a vital requirement in the campaign against the Greater Borer Beetle, rose by 15% to 5.5 million bags in 1984 and is expected to reach 9 million bags this year following the recent rehabilitation of the Moshi factory. The production of cement and corrugated iron sheets increased between 40 and 50%. It is clear that, although the shortage of foreign exchange still weighs with exceptional severity on industry, the Government’s preferential policy has permitted valuable progress to be made in certain vital fields. These results, which flow directly from the Structural Adjustment Programme of 1982-85, have contributed to the favourable trend that is now plainly evident.

A major underlying cause of the present high level of inflation is the size of the deficit in Government expenditure that has to be financed out of bank borrowings. In the year ending 30 June, Government expenditure exceeded revenue by 15%, or 5% less than originally estimated, and there is some hope that this figure will continue to decline. Taking recurrent and development expenditure together, the shortfall financed from bank borrowing has already fallen from shs.4,699 million in 1983-84 to about shs.4,000 million in 1984-85 and further reductions are regarded as an important objective of fiscal policy. This is to be achieved by reducing costs, improving efficiency and the concentration of resources on essential services. It is recognised that Government activities have expanded faster than the resources necessary to finance them satisfactorily and that much Government expenditure has been devoted to consumption rather than to production and investment. The budgetary deficit is also likely to be narrowed by increased revenue, of which signs are already apparent, resulting from gradual economic recovery.

As has already been noticed, the agricultural sector is likely in the short term to be the principal generator of foreign exchange. Diversification of exports into other sectors is highly desirable and remains an object of Government policy, but it is unlikely that non-agricultural items will become significant earners of foreign exchange in the near future. Recognising the vital importance of the agricultural sector, therefore, the Government has increased considerably the allocation to agriculture in the development budget to 30.7% of the total. This contrasts strikingly with an allocation of around 11% in 1978-79 and 1979-80, rising to 20.9% in 1983-84 and 20.6% in 1984-85. The intention now is to give priority in the allocation of capital resources to those regions with the most favourable climatic conditions for crop production, to the promotion of cash crops, to irrigation and to research and extension services. It is hoped that recent reforms in the marketing arrangements, the establishment of Regional Co-operative Unions and the improvements in producer incentives will also contribute to progress in this sector.

The modest upturn in the economy has not been without its psychological benefits. Increased producer prices alone cannot guarantee greater production without a greater flow into the shops of consumer items on which money can be spent. The reappearance in the shops of certain consumer items long missing from the shop shelves, albeit at a price, seems to have its beneficial effect on morale, but the Government is fully aware of the importance of rehabilitation in those sections of industry catering for the consumer market to bring down prices and create an atmosphere favourable to greater productive effort. It must also be remembered that the effects of an upturn tend to be cumulative. Greater production increases tax revenue and provides the basis for smaller budget deficits, which in turn help to bring inflation under control. The rehabilitation of industry and transport open up the possibility of a return to the export crop production of the mid-seventies and growing export diversification, leading to a gradual mastery of the foreign exchange problem. Notwithstanding the formidable difficulties ahead in all these areas, there is ground for modest optimum in the present trend.

J Roger Carter

CURRENT DEBATES ON CO-OPERATION IN TANZANIA

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

At the time of independence, well established Co-operatives were marketing export crops in the richer parts of the country. In 1963, the National Agricultural Products Board was created to handle food crops for domestic consumption and Co-operatives were made sole agents for buying at village level. The result was mushroom growth of Co-operatives in areas where they had never previously flourished. They were used to distribute government services to farmers. Growth outstripped the ability of the members to control their leaders and, in 1966, a Presidential Special Commission of Enquiry reported widespread dissatisfaction with Co-operatives.

The Government’s reaction was to tighten their control of Co-operatives. Measures included the 1968 Co-operative Societies Act, which strengthened the power of the Registrar, and the creation of a United Co-operative Service, from which managers were seconded to the Secondary Co-operatives. At the same time, there was continued development of innovative, multimedia field education for members and staff of
Co-operatives.

The results were mixed. Many of the Co-operatives which had started in the ’60s remained dependent on the government. The gap between them and the longer established Co-operatives widened. Then, in 1975, the Villages and Ujamaa Villages Act made each village into a single corporation responsible for both the administrative functions of local government and the commercial functions hitherto carried out by Co-operatives. The rural Primary Co-operatives ceased to exist and, in 1976, the District and Regional Co-operative Unions were also abolished.

In the years which followed, villages were supposed to sell direct to statutory Crop Authorities. Unfortunately, most Crop Authorities performed badly in marketing the farmers’ output and even worse in selling inputs to the farmers. There was popular pressure to bring back the District and Regional Unions.

In 1982, a new Co-operative Societies Act was passed. At village level, local government functions were partially separated from commercial functions and a Co-operative Development Committee was given responsibility for the latter. The creation of District and Regional Co-operative Unions was again authorised.

At the time of writing, the revived Co-operative Unions are starting to operate. Generally, they have been able to regain possession of immovable capital assets such as buildings. Often, they are having problems recovering movable assets, and accounting records, from the liquidators, who fortunately never completed their liquidation proceedings. If Co-operatives recover money, it is likely to be at face value with no allowance for inflation.

The one asset they are recovering at enhanced value is the goodwill of their members. It seems that the failures of the years before 1976 have been partly forgotten. The dominant memory is of the successes. The restoration of the unions is greeted as the return of a golden age.

CURRENT DEBATES
Voluntary membership
The most important of the current debates is concerned with the principle of voluntary membership. Under the 1975 Act, everybody resident in a village was automatically a member. The Act passed in 1982 continued this departure from the generally accepted principles of Co-operation by retaining automatic membership.

In March 1985, the words “shall be a member” were amended so that now every resident “may be a member” out, as yet, the amendment has not been widely publicised and nor have the consequent amendments to other clauses been made.

If Co-operatives are the only channel for marketing a crop, membership is not fully voluntary for those who depend for their living on growing it. In recent times, there has been a “parallel market” in some commodities and there is some move towards legalising some private enterprise in marketing. To the extent that there are alternative marketing channels, voluntary membership of Co-operatives could become real.

Some oppose these developments on the grounds that they will create wasteful competition and widen the gap between those who can exploit the free market and those who cannot. Others welcome them on the grounds that members are more likely to behave responsibly towards a Co-operative they freely chose to join. The knowledge that unless members receive good service they will take their business elsewhere can encourage Co-operatives to be efficient.

Single-village Co-operatives
As the Law now stands, several villages are allowed to join together in a single Co-operative and Societies have been organised on this basis. However, there are powerful voices in favour of going back to the 1975 rule that each village should have its own Co-operative. It is obviously true that many villages are at present unable to generate enough business to pay the salary of a competent manager. In these cases, a single-village Co-operative can be said not to be viable. However, some oppose calling a village in which people have to make the only living available to them “unviable”.

There is a regrettable tendency to treat this as a question which must be settled uniformly for the whole country. Co-operatives usually work best if the members of each one decide on the structure that suits their particular circumstances. However, in Tanzania as elsewhere, Co-operative diversity makes some politicians and bureaucrats uneasy. It is generally accepted that the decision to abolish ALL Co-operative Unions in 1976 was a mistake. It is not so generally accepted that such top-down blanket decisions would conflict with Co-operative democracy, even if they were economically justified.

Status of Co-operative Union of Tanzania (CUT)
During the period 1976 to 1982, the national-level body representing the Co­operatives was the Union of Co-operative Societies (UCS). This was a “mass organisation” allied to the party in the same way as the women’s organisation (UWT) and the youth league.

The 1982 Act revives the Co-operative Union of Tanzania (CUT) as the apex body for all Co-operatives. It provides for the government appointed Commissioner for Co-operatives to hand over important powers to the CUT and obliges him to consult with its Secretary General on some other matters. The fact that the local Co-operative Unions are once again available as a link between the village level Primaries and the centre could make it easier for CUT to be a democratic federal body controlled by member Co-operatives. On the other hand, it could be controlled by the party as was the UCS.

Compromises are possible between these two extremes. It is already decided that the Government is going to hand some powers to CUT. The discussion is about the balance between party control and Co-operative control of CUT.

Co-operative Groups
No Co-operative Society other than a Rural Co-operative Society is allowed to operate within a village but people with special skills resident in the village may form themselves into “Co-operative Groups” within the main Co-operative. Groups of women who have been running shops under the auspices of UWT are being encouraged to put themselves under the umbrella of their village Co-operative. So are church based handicraft groups.

Such affiliation has advantages for the groups. If any have an income, they could benefit from sharing the favoured tax status of the Co-operative. The Co-operative has an obligation to guarantee loans for them. Though the groups must accept the “general guidance” of the village Co-operative Development Committee, they are entitled to representation on the committee.

Affiliation may also have its disadvantages. In some parts of the country, women are not in practice allowed to be members of the Co-operative in which they are being asked to merge their group. Also, UWT, which represents the special interests of women, would lose income if the groups it initiated stopped paying UWT subscriptions when they became part of the Co-operative. In the case of church groups, the
Co-operatives may not be able to match the helpful supervision, and the effective communication with the towns, which some churches have been providing for their groups.

The Co-operative Societies Rules require each group to maintain its own funds ’ but there must be a danger that the assets built up by a small group will be frittered away by the losses of the larger Co-operative. Even if money is not lost in this way, member loyalty may be lost. People may not feel so committed to a large Co-operative as they were to their small group. The way in which groups are being encouraged to merge IN ORDER TO GET A LOAN fosters dependence rather than self-reliance.

The balance of opinion seems to be in favour of merging the groups in the Co-operatives but this may be because the case against has not been adequately considered.

THE FUTURE
There is no easy future for the revived Co-operatives. The problems that defeated the Crop Authorities have not all vanished. Any marketing organisation would find life difficult in the squeeze between final prices dictated by world markets and producer prices which must cover costs of production. Nobody can market without spare parts and fuel for vehicles. The Co-operatives are sometimes expected to market quantities which are too small to be economic. Socially useful pricing policies, designed to help poorer regions, sometimes make it impossible to cover the costs of marketing.

As Co-operatives meet these problems, the attitude of the members will be crucial and here, there are grounds for optimism. The Co-operative Unions have been revived as a response to popular pressure. This is more healthy than imposition from above. The vigorous and well-informed debate in the Rural Societies I visited was very encouraging. People spoke openly in criticism of past and present government policies but the discussion was constructive and good tempered. Crop Authorities were criticised for not listening to the farmers and the members mean to make their voice heard in the new Co-operatives. Nobody should undervalue the strength which
this type of political awareness gives the Tanzanian Co-operatives.

Peter Yeo

LETTER TO THE EDITOR – THE AFRICAN VIOLET (Saint Paulia lonantha)

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Dear Sir
Thank you for your Bulletin Issue No 21 of July 1985. At page 11 you discuss an interesting topic “African Violet Threatened with Extinction”. Our Dean of Forestry has studied the article and comments as follows:
“… The plant is available in Mazumbai Forest which is fully protected. However, there is no direct effort to propagate it there or elsewhere. I take note of the article and will follow up on my next visit to Mazumbai”.

The Mazumbai Forest belongs to this University (by decision of the two University Councils – in Dar es Salaam and at Sokoine) and is preserved for scientific research.
TWICO or any other parastatal will not be allowed to establish a saw mill there.

A short description of the University owned Mazumbai Forest is attached.
Prof G R V Mmari
Vice-Chancellor, Sokoine University of Agriculture

Extracts from the description of the Mazumbai Forest by Dr A B Temu Acting Dean of the Faculty of Forestry:

The Mazumbai Forest Reserve was initially property of one Mr John Tanner, a Swiss farmer who settled in the Usambara Mountains. In 1968, he decided to give this well preserved forest of about 320 ha to the University of Dar es Salaam, for conservation and for scientific studies. An informal committee was formed to coordinate research in the forest. Most of the work was done by individuals who were all expatriate staff (Dr B Harris, Professor P Temple, Dr I Jackson and Dr I Walker). Following their departure from the country in the early seventies, interest in Mazumbai Forest Reserve was considerably reduced.

In July 1973, professional forestry education was introduced at Morogoro, and following this, interest in the forest was revived. In a letter of 3/5/74 a request was made that the then Division of Forestry at Morogoro be made responsible for the administration and coordination of all aspects of the forest. On 12/5/74, Mr J Tanner endorsed the idea. On 16/5/74 the University of Dar es Salaam formally endorsed the proposal. Since 16/5/74, the Mazumbai Research Committee has held meetings under the Chairmanship of the Head of the Division of Forestry, to discuss the condition of the forest, propose management action and consider and approve research projects in the forest.

The forest is managed as a conservation and research unit. The Division of Forestry has maintained one permanent worker plus five temporary employees there. These workers survey the forest every day to ward off encroachers in order to maintain the flora and fauna of the reserve. At the moment, there is an agreement between the leadership of the Mngwashi ward and the Division of Forestry in which the villages involved take the joint responsibility of ensuring that any of their inhabitants gets heavy penalty if found encroaching on the property. This arrangement has worked very well.

The Forest has attracted scientists, interested in forestry, nature, and soil and water conservation. International organisations have taken interest in sponsoring research projects there, and the house has always served as a solid base for researchers. Currently, the biggest research project is sponsored by SAREC (SIDA) and it involves all the forest reserves in the Usambara Mountains. The theme is to map the hydrology of the mountain rain forests. There are other botanical and zoological research projects, also very important for the overall documentation of the nature of the nature of the reserve.

THE CROCODILE ’INVASION’

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Straddling the Great Rift Valley, in the southern western regions of Rukwa and Mbeya, is a small lake called Rukwa.

Some twenty years ago, the lake was famous for fish which not only reached the southern regions of Tanzania but also found their way as far as Zambia and the then Southern Rhodesia where individual businessmen used to send thousands of tonnes of smoked fish harvested from the lake.

During those days, fleets of lorries from different corners of the country and Zambia frequented the small lake which covers some 3,000 sq kilometres. The trucks carried bundles of dried and smoked tilapia, locally known as “nsasara” to the indigenous people living around the Lake.

Today, however, the once famous source of nutritious food to hundreds of mouths in the two regions and the neighbouring countries, has turned into a dreadful asylum of over-bred crocodiles.

A report of the Directorate of Fishing, covering ten years (1972 to 1982) points an accusing finger on the estimated 10,000 crocodiles in the Lake as a major cause behind a sharp decline of fish in the lake.

The report says that every crocodile in the lake is consuming an average of ten kilos of fish a day. This has led to a decline in fish catches from 6,613 tonnes of fish in 1972 to merely 22 tonnes in 1979.

Although the Tanzanian Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) has not yet conducted any research on the small lake for lack of personnel, equipment and funds, recently a group of students from the Serengeti Wildlife Institute made an initial survey of the lake after receiving financial support from the Directorate of Wildlife. A spokesman for the Tanzania Wildlife Corporation (TAWICO) is convinced that Lake Rukwa has abundant reptiles because out of 10,000 crocodiles last cropped by his corporation in 1977, half of them were killed from Lake Rukwa. For the past three years the government has been declaring its intention to decrease the number of crocodiles in the country.

The Director for Wildlife in the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Tourism, Fred Lwezaula was quoted two years ago as saying Tanzania was intending to request the secretariat of the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of fauna and flora (CITES) for their permission to crop the reptiles.

Tanzania as signatory to CITES is not allowed to kill the reptiles and other endangered species until a permission to that effect is granted by CITES. Crocodiles, leopards, rhino and cheetahs are considered by CITES as animals on the verge of extinction and hence are protected under the CITES convention.

CITES says Western taste for crocodile hides which are needed for the manufacture of such things like suitcases and watch bands has put 18 out of the world’s 21 species of crocodiles under the first group of endangered species. Paradoxically fishermen along Lake Rukwa have become among the casualties of CITES.

Although TAWICO is eager to crop the reptiles and sell their hides to its traditional markets of Japan and Western Europe CITES is not happy about the whole idea.

The Director of Wildlife, however, maintains that crocodiles are not on the list of endangered species in Tanzania and sees no point why CITES should continue to deny the country the opportunity to trade in crocodile hides – a lucrative business in countries like Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea, both CITES signatories.

However, if eventually, Tanzania gets a CITES permit to reduce the number of crocodiles in Lake Rukwa and other places, the country is likely to get millions of money in foreign currency since the country’s traditional markets in Western Europe are still wide open for more hides from the reptiles.

Joseph Kithama, Shihata

PRIVATE LEGAL PRACTICE TO CONTINUE

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In a debate on his Ministry’s estimates in the last session of the National Assembly the Minister of Justice, Ndugu Joseph Warioba (who has now become Prime Minister) stated that the Government does not intend to abolish private legal practice but will look into better ways of providing the service to the majority of the people. Ndugu Warioba, said that the Government had always considered defence counselling a service that should be made available to everybody. However, private legal service was now a “business” and it was only the rich and urban people who could get the service; the poor and rural people did not get it.

The Minister who was answering points raised by MPs during the debate in which the law-makers opposed Government plans to abolish private practice, recalled that the Msekwa Commission on Defence Counselling formed some years back had also upheld the need to maintain private legal practice. He said the Government had agreed with the proposal but had rejected one which had suggested the establishment of some kind of institution to assist people in legal defence as this would have looked like a Government department.

He said that a new defence counselling system that would extend its services to people in the rural areas was essential.

On the congestion in prisons the Minister said his ministry would strive to clear pile ups of cases and strengthen procedures for investigating and prosecuting. He suggested, however, that one way of easing the problem was to grant bail to people facing petty cases. He said, for example, that it served no purpose to remand people charged for not
paying development levy.

THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN TANZANIA TOWARDS THE YEAR 2000

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A Review of the Presidential Commission on Education
(Government Printer, Dar es Salaam)

This review is about the recommendations of the 1982 Presidential Commission on education as approved by the ruling Party and the Government. The recommendations are presented in five chapters where each one summarises the main themes of the report namely: the educational structure and plan for expansion; the curriculum and educational resources; teacher training, employment and recommendation; educational management and administration. The commission was appointed in November 1980 by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mwalimu J K Nyerere to evaluate all the programmes of education in the country after having gone through twenty years of political independence. Views were gathered from a variety of workers in all sectors of the economy. The views and suggestions gathered were then presented to the government and the party for scrutiny, and those approved now form the basis of educational activities in the country up to the year 2000.

Basically the aims and objectives of education in Tanzania remain the same as those identified in the Education for Self-Reliance policy paper, presented by President Nyerere in March 1967, whose emphasis was on providing Tanzanians with a proper and sufficient education to be able to develop their own society along the principles of socialism and self-reliance.

The educational structure also remains the same as before, ie 7 – 4 – 2 – 3+; having seven years of primary education followed by four years of lower secondary education, two years of higher secondary education and three or more years of tertiary education and training.

Expansion of education will be effected in all levels to meet various needs and especially at the secondary and university levels. In the past secondary and higher education was determined by a “Manpower Needs Approach” but will now be determined by both “Social Demand” and a “Manpower Needs” approach. Primary education will continue to be the right of every citizen, and emphasis will be on its consolidation as it forms the foundation of all later stages of education. Parents and local government authorities will bear part of the costs of their children’s education at primary and secondary levels, while in higher institutions of learning, the educational costs will continue to be the responsibility of the government, but these institutions will be expected to run economically productive projects in order to lessen the government’s burden.

The kind of educational curriculum used in schools will be the responsibility of the Institute of Curriculum Development, which will be empowered to develop, test and revise curricula for Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools and colleges below diploma level. The curriculum used in institutions of higher learning will continue to be determined in the same way it has always been done but in addition a legally constituted Education Council of Tanzania will be established to coordinate training in the various institutions with the exception of universities. Kiswahili will be the medium of instruction at nursery and primary levels, while English will be the medium of instruction at post-primary levels. Because of shortages of books, equipment and other teaching materials in the schools which have hampered the quality of education in the country, the government will endeavour to provide the Ministry of Education with more funds to meet the requisite needs. In addition the government will strive to offer opportunities for people to advance themselves educationally by improving and expanding the already established distance learning facilities, and by establishing television stations and services in the country. The Ministry of Education is further instructed to co-operate with other ministries and institutions to prepare a national policy on science and technology, which will guide the further improvement and development of science and technology in the country.

It is widely acknowledged that no educational innovation can succeed without a corresponding improvement and involvement of the manpower expected to implement the changes. Because of this, the Ministry of Education will improve the quality of teachers in schools through better training, better remuneration and through improvements in the employment terms and conditions. The government will also introduce certain changes in the structure of the Ministry of Education, aimed at strengthening its management and administration to effect efficient implementation of the educational activities planned.

Some Reactions
Being a Tanzanian myself, I feel very pleased and impressed that the government exercised democracy in soliciting views and opinions from the people about the future of the country’s education to the year 2000. The accepted recommendations of the educational commission appear to cover all the aspects of education in the country and are undoubtedly the considered opinions of the government and the party. Planning an educational system can be a very difficult task and often bound to inaccuracy but at least it forms a sensible basis for resource allocation and a good basis for evaluation of how efficiently the set targets are being realised.

The plans of education up to the year 2000 have tremendous financial capital implications, which are worrying given the country’s financial capabilities and limitations. Already the existing institutions are all without exception so under-resourced, that something close to a miracle will have to happen if the economy is to be able to meet all the envisaged plans from its own sources. Even if the government is able to solicit aid and loans from outside the country it is also worrying how these loans will be serviced given that they are for a service sector of the economy, which does not produce tangible goods which can be exchanged for foreign money.

The recommendations in my opinion should have spelled out why the present institutions have not operated as efficiently as they could have done, and therefore point out what is new that is going to be done to correct this problem. It is one thing to promise that the government will give more funding to improve the situation, but it is another to be able to fulfil the promise. It certainly would have been more satisfying if the recommendations had indicated how the money for the new projects was going to be raised and the plan of implementation of the intended activities. Some of the intended projections sound so ambitious that it is doubtful that they can be realised in the stated period. For example, in the expansion of secondary education it is stated that, “Places will be increased in Form 1 from 8,913 (1981/82) to 16,195 (1985/86) and those in Form V from 2,064 to 3,672 in the same period.” This is an increase of 55% and 56% respectively within a period of five years. This suggests that what has been achieved over all time, should, more than half of it, be achieved over a period of just five years and in fact should by now, 1985, have been more or less achieved. This is clearly not true. It is such kind of projections which make some areas in the plan rather unrealistic, especially when the productive activities in the economy have been bedevilled by shortages and foreign exchange problems.

I would have been happier with a more modest plan based on a realistic situation and in keeping with the country’s capability. However, in the light of the educational recommendations, it appears to be the right time to set up an economic commission to evaluate the productive sector of the economy, to assess its weaknesses and it potentialities and to suggest the way forward, if really the economy is to attain a sustained growth to meet the country’s needs.

Peter Chonjo

DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS AGAIN

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The Government presented a bill to the National Assembly recently to amend the Area Commissioners Act. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ndugu K Ngombale-Mwiru (who has now become Minister for Local Government and Co-operation) said that it was intended to change the title Area Commissioner to District Commissioner under the Bill. He explained that the district leaders were titled Area Commissioners after independence to avoid the term district commissioner, which was used by the colonial government, and was, therefore, held with contempt by the people because of its colonial connotation.

Ndugu Ngombale-Mwiru explained that 70 per cent of present day Tanzanians had no vivid memories of the colonial district commissioner (DC). The title could, therefore, be reintroduced without any political repercussions, he said.

Debating the Bill, MPs urged the Government to train district and regional commissioners to make them better administrators.

Ndugu Lawi Sijaona (Nominated) urged the government to change other titles which were altered after independence. For example, he said, principal secretaries should be called permanent secretaries and district executive directors should become district executive officers.

Judge Mwesiumo Kilombero told the House that the appointment of some constituent MPs to become district commissioners was contrary to the Union constitution, which provided for separation of the executive and legislature.

The MP said the appointments made the candidates ineffective representatives in the House because they had to toe the government line.
He suggested that if the government must continue to appoint MPs district commissioners, by-elections should be held to replace the appointees. The Bill was passed unanimously.

TANZANIAN HIJACKERS TO STAY IN BRITAIN

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Mr Peter Bruinvels, Conservative Member of Parliament for Leicester East recently raised the matter of the future status of two of the Tanzanian hijackers still in Britain. The hijack of a Tanzanian Boeing 737 took place on an internal flight to Dar es Salaam on February 26 1982.

The plane eventually landed at Stansted, where the hijack ended without bloodshed. Five Tanzanians were later sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison.

Mr Bruinvels addressed Mrs Thatcher as “the Prime Minister of a country which abhors terrorism and all it stands for.” He asked “why have the Tanzanian terrorists who came to Stansted been given an amnesty and allowed to stay here for a year after serving term of imprisonment?”

Mrs Thatcher replied that those who carried out the Tanzanian hijack in 1982, and had been caught, had been sentenced to considerable prison sentences; some were now out of prison. Because of an undertaking given at the time which has been interpreted as saying they would not be returned to Tanzania, they have been refused asylum here but allowed to stay for another 12 months.

THE NEW CABINET OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC

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President Mwinyi has appointed the following persons to his cabinet. Amongst the very few changes is the return to Agriculture of Ndugu Paul Bomani, who takes the place of Ndugu Professor John Machunda. Ndugu Amir Jamal goes to Geneva as Tanzania’s representative at the European office of the United Nations.

Prime Minister and First Vice President – Ndugu Joseph Sinde Warioba
Second Vice President – Ndugu Idrisa Abdul Wakil
Minister Without Portfolio – Ndugu Rashid Kawawa
Minister for Defence and Deputy Prime Minister – Ndugu Salim Ahmed Salim
Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs & Planning – Ndugu Cleopa Msuya
Minister for Communications and Works – Ndugu Mustafa Nyang’anyi
Minister for Local Government and Cooperatives – Ndugu Kingunge Ngombale Mwiru
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development – Ndugu Paul Bomani
Minister for Foreign Affairs – Ndugu Benjamin Mkapa
Minister for Labour and Manpower Development – Ndugu Daudi Mwakawago
Minister for Home Affairs – Ndugu Muhidin Kimario
Minister for Education – Ndugu Jackson Makweta
Minister for Energy and Minerals – Ndugu Al Noor Kassum
Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism – Ndugu Gertrude Mongela (Mrs)
Minister for Trade A Industries – Ndugu Basil Mramba
Minister for Health and Social Welfare – Dr Aaron Chiduo
Minister for Lands, Water, Housing & Urban Development – Ndugu Pius Ng’wandu
Minister for Community Development, Culture, Youth and Sports – Ndugu Fatma Said Ali (Mrs)
Minister of State, President’s Office, Responsible for Capital Development (Dodoma) – Ndugu Samuel John Sitta
Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office – Ndugu Anna Makinda (Miss)
Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Responsible for Regional Administration – Ndugu Charles Kileo
Minister of State, 2nd Vice President’s Office – Ndugu Ali Salim Ahmed
Minister of State for Finance Economic Affairs & Planning – Ndugu Damas Mbogoro

Deputy Ministers

Ministry of Defence and National Service – Ndugu Stephen Kibona Lt Col. Abdu Kinana
Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs & Planning – Ndugu Amina Salum Ali
Ministry of Home Affairs – Ndugu Hamad Rashid Mohamed
Ministry of Trade & Industries – Ndugu N G Mahinda
Ministry of Education – Ndugu Nalaila Kiula
Ministry of Communication and Works – Ndugu Arcado Ntagazwa
Ministry of Lands, Water, Housing & Urban Development – Ndugu Everest Mwanansao

REVIEWS

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REVIEW: “NUTCRACKER” AT THE COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE, 21.11.85 – 1.12.85

“Welfare State International and National Performing Arts Company of Tanzania invite you to Nutcracker, A Village Party”: Thus the advance notices of “Nutcracker” were headed.

We were intrigued and readily accepted an invitation to attend. On reading the programme we found that “Welfare State International” was not such an awesome body as might be imagined but “a highly innovative celebratory theatre company from Northern England”. The National Performing Arts Company of Tanzania were from the Bagamoyo College of Arts, whose musical ability we had already experienced in the record “Tanzania Yetu”.

These two companies had collaborated to produce “Nutcracker” based upon the themes of “The Human Story” exhibition at the Commonwealth Institute until 23 February 1986. “This collaboration” states Prakash Deswani, Acting Arts Director, “has appropriately ended up as a party. It is deliberately small-scale, an intimate celebration of fundamental forms of human expression and communal enjoyment – music, storytelling, dancing, laughter, the sharing of food and drink.” However, we found that the theme was so basic to human life that its importance was far from “small-scale”.

As we entered the theatre the impression was of a brightly lit village hall. We were welcomed by Sue Gill and shown to one of the small tables set round the floor. Long lanterns hung from the ceiling, gaily painted with contrasting emblems on the natural African scene and the highly developed Western scene, such as giraffes and skyscrapers, palm trees and jet planes. The stage was filled with an incongruous assembly of instruments: saxophone, trumpets, trombone, fiddle, guitar, double bass, melodeon, accordion, marimbas, cowbells, a large African xylophone and various drums and percussion instruments. We wondered if we would suffer musical indigestion!

When we were seated with drinks, strolling musicians began to play and a very large white chicken ran in and industriously began pecking everywhere at imaginary crumbs. This certainly reminded us of the peripatetic chicken in the villages of Tanzania.

The performance consisted of a series of British and Tanzanian dances in which the audience participated at will; some purely musical items by the performers, and, in between, pantomime-like “moral dance tales”.

The first tale began with the entry of Olduvai Gorge, a ten-foot high dignified lady in brown and black, wearing a boat cradle on her head (the Cradle of Mankind). Seated on a birth stool and attended by comic medical people, she gives birth to Nutcracker. Thousands of years are danced through as Nutcracker-child develops. The ancestors give him a toy skeleton wearing a clown’s hat. He is delighted to find points of resemblance with himself in it and dances movingly. The audience is made to realise that life and death are confronting each other, albeit light-heartedly.

Nutcracker’s evolution involves the discovery of fire, tools and the wheel which he plays with joyfully. Then a death culture figure, a gross old man draped in black with an ugly white head, pushes on a Heath Robinson contraption of wires and lights to music of jarring Western harmonies. He produces attractive but dangerous implements and weapons which he introduces to Nutcracker, who now has a companion. Only then do their expressions alter and they no longer look like happy children. At the end of the scene three young women appear, seize the weapons, throw them away and chase the corrupt old man off. This reminded us that women are often peace-makers.

In the next tale there is a lot of chaotic fun as the crazy wheel of fortune turns but in spite of the presence of death, it terminates for Nutcracker in a joyful, hardly serious wedding ceremony.

There follows a more serious tale emphasising the destructive effect of some technology today on the natural world, in particular life in the sea. This has been experienced in both Tanzania and Cumbria where Welfare State are based. In Tanzania some fishermen are dynamiting the reefs indiscriminately, destroying the natural harbours and causing
sharks to enter. In Cumbria, people do not eat local fish because they fear nuclear pollution in the sea. The dance of the four fisher women was beautiful. Wearing blue tie-dye dresses they swing white fishing nets to the music of marimbas and their own ululation, while a swishing sound like the sound of the sea is made by percussion instruments. Then a sinister “Michelin Man”, about 12 feet tall on stilts, strides in and flings a poisonous fish into their nets. The women repulse this and cleanse the area with large lanterns made from Tanzanian fish traps while a sparkling wholesome fish darts around.

In the last tale Nutcracker and his wife, wearing their skull heads, are sleeping in the Olduvai Gorge. A nightmare brass band from civilisation enters followed by two men wearing tank-like contraptions, who steal their skull heads but then fight each other and die. (Are they the Superpowers?) Soon a skeleton baby is born to Nutcracker and his wife. They joyfully show the baby to the audience as proof of the continuing cycle of life and death. Finally Olduvai Gorge re-enters and stoops to receive the baby in the cradle on her head. This last gesture emphasises the importance of our ties with Mother Earth.

Looking back at the music as a whole, we found that we had not had musical indigestion! The fusion of Tanzanian and British traditional music, with jazz and rock and pure drumming, was amazingly successful, often magical and heartwarming. Between the tales our charming hosts persuaded most of us to join in the dance. The Tanzanian Tango with cowbells and drums was a great success, and the Tanzanians joined in our dances with ease.

We were most impressed by the talented versatility of all the performers. Sue Gill, dance caller, also played the saxophone and demonstrated a talent for understanding Tanzanian dance movements. John Mponda who played Nutcracker, was totally convincing, using his skill as an acrobat, a dancer of distinction, and a mime artist, to draw us close to the ancestors and so much that we have in common.

Shirin Spencer and Christine Lawrence