Germany's ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Guido Herz, speaks to The Citizen in an exclusive interview
The Citizen last week conducted an exclusive interview with the German ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Guido Herz, on various topical issues. The following are excerpts of the interview with our reporter Ray Naluyaga:
Question: What are your views on Africa attaining a permanent seat at the UN Security Council?
Answer: Germany is a proponent of reforms at the UN Security Council. Basically it is a reflection of the willing coalition of winners of the Second World War in 1945. At the time there were only two independent states in Africa, and that is why the composition of the security council reflects the situation in 1945, but now we are in 2009.
So, in our opinion the security council should adopt to the realities of the year 2009. Then it is very evident if you look at the map of Africa, as a continent and the size of its population, that it should be represented at the UN Security Council.
It can't be that this huge continent with the population of about one billion people cannot be represented at the UN Security Council.
With your intention to combat poverty in Africa, what do you say about the billions of dollars being lost due to corruption?
There has been inefficiency of all kinds over the last 60 years, and that is indeed something we should discuss. First, I think we should give aid to Africa.
I doubt whether the way we are doing it is the right way because the results are not very encouraging. I think we should give money to democratically elected African partners and tell them to make good use of it. We will watch very carefully whether they make good use of it or else we will not give them money anymore.
I think it would be better to let African countries decide what to do with the money, but we must ensure that this money is properly used and does not vanish somewhere in corruption.
That's why it is very important that Africa intensifies efforts against corruption. Single party rule is dying in Africa while opposition parties gain strength and popularity. But whenever
elections are held old parties find it difficult to relinquish power and end up in some awkward coalitions such as in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
This leads us back to the single party rule. What is your comment on it?
First, the single party rule makes some sense at this time and positive results, because the main argument in favour of the single party rule is to avoid tribalism; exactly what you see in Kenya where multi-party democracy means each tribal group
has its party.
At first you must create a party system which goes beyond religious and tribal separations, that represents political interests along tribal or religious interests.
Secondly, good governance is most important for development.
I have no description of how good governance is implemented but the important thing is that you have transparency; participation of your population, no corruption, no cronyism and an effective leadership that protects the rights of land owners, owners of businesses.
But how exactly do you execute that?
We should not commit faults and force into an African country what might have worked in Europe, which need not necessarily work in a completely different environment.
You are spending a lot of money in African countries' national budgets and other aid projects, yet you do not have a direct intervention or say on how the funds are being spent, why?
This is the major problem, I think we should have direct control of the money we give. But, of course, politically
at present it is not feasible; that is a decisive point. We should see to it that the money given to countries is properly spent, but this is so far not very successful.
What is your perception of Father of theNation President Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and the way Tanzania is ten years after his death?
It is clear that Nyerere failed in terms of economic policy. To a certain extent this is understandable because in the '70s and '60s you might have argued that socialism was the right kind of economic recipe; at least he admitted that he failed.
But he succeeded tremendously in creating an African nation of 120 tribes and two major religions and to a certain extent of two different states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
But I have an impression that this is not as successful as the other two items I mentioned. It is very clear that Nyerere has had the right concept and policy that created nationhood which I think is unique in Africa.
I cannot tell you of another African country where there is such success in amalgamating different tribes and religions into one national identity.
I read a certain poll the other day where people were asked 'what are you?'
In Kenya people said in the first place 'I am a Kikuyu, a Luo' and in the second they said 'I am a doctor or I am a farmer'.
But in Tanzania the majority said in the first place 'I am a Tanzanian'. Looking at Tanzania after Nyerere, is the country on the right track economically?
Economically, I am not quite sure because Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world although it has everything in its favour. It has, and I quote the President, every mineral
in the world.
You have big fertile land for agriculture and even the geographical location of being surrounded by a host of landlocked countries is a potential source of income.
Tanzania has inherited two major railway lines which it could use well. Tanzania has a tremendous tourism potential which is only used a little.
Tanzania does not have a lot of problems that other countries have as a nation. It is not land locked, has no war with its neighbors and has no civil war or quarrels of any kind.
It does not have a high crime rate like other countries, it has no floods, no severe droughts and although it does not have rain at present this is not drought of the magnitude of Ethiopia or Sahara desert countries.
Lots of excuses other countries usually have do not apply to Tanzania. The country has received a lot of donor assistance as well but still it is one of the poorest in the world.
So I cannot say that this is something which is very positive. Another asset in Tanzania that should work in its favor, and which other countries do not have, is its political stability.
Undoubtedly this country is stable. You might talk about vote rigging in Zanzibar, but if you look at the bigger picture, you note that you had a founding president who resigned willingly.
You have had two successors who respected the term limits, and the third successor who, no doubt, will also respect the term limit. In my opinion, observing the term limit is the ultimate proof of whether a country is democratic or not.
Term limits have civilising effects on the society as a whole and the political environment.
What was not so successful with Nyerere as regards the formation of the Union?
To me, Zanzibar is integrated into Tanzania but still you have problems between Tanzania and the mainland. I have the impression that the unification was necessarily hurried because Karume was feeling that some Arab intervention would ensue.
But I think at that time there was a plan to make a proper and solid constitution after the demise of the two countries. This has never been done and is the source of all these quarrels you still have between the mainland and Zanzibar.
I do not know exactly why in the end the constitution was not realised, but I can just say the fact that it did not, the act of unification between Tanganyika and Zanzibar is incomplete.
Is it the right move for Tanzania to have an independent Speaker of Parliament and candidates?
I think if you have one big established party in the country, like you have, it will not be good for the respective person who holds the office because in parliament it is CCM that calls the shots.
So I think it will not be very good to have a Speaker who is independent of this major party because as he must have an influence of this party.
I do not see how in a CCM parliament an independent candidate could be elected Speaker and I do not see how an independent presidential candidate could win against a CCM candidate; it's a fact of life.
What do you think about the government's effort to challenge the High Court ruling in favour of independent candidates?
I think that is absolutely not correct. If it is legally possible to run as an independent candidate it should be left to go on. I personally think that the Government has no reason to be
afraid because I do not see how an independent candidate can win against this overwhelming majority of CCM militants.
It may not be a state party anymore, but it is a party that
still has dominance over every aspect of life in Tanzania.
