FLY ON THE WALL: Building the Tanzania we need under Magufuli’s stewardship

In a Tanzania that’s arguably becoming more and more polarised, the question that comes to mind is whether or not there’s a threat to Tanzanians’ ability to air their views on matters pertaining to the nation’s welfare.

Two Tanzanias

There seems to be two Tanzanias these days: one in which the freedoms of speech and assembly are being trampled underfoot by “unknown people”.

One Tanzania where citizens are restricted from the right to think and express for themselves what they believe and believe in.

On the other hand, there is a Tanzania of those who are convinced that the time to publicly picket, demonstrate and hold political rallies is over.

This belief is fostered by the might and voice of the Head of State who hasn’t left any doubt that, in his book, the time to take to centre stage and rally crowds ended with the October 2015 General Election that brought him and his ruling party CCM to power.

Indeed, this position has been supported by various public servants.

In this, journalists stand the chance of being branded pro-one side or the other. So, I prefer to take the middle ground on this dilemma.

The politics of opposition, confrontation and bloodshed is, indeed, tired and tattered – and, to be honest, Tanzania’s worst enemies cannot be members of a particular political party, especially only because they were losers (arguably) in an election.

The Tanzania of today – and, indeed, a Tanzania that aspires to become a semi-industrialised, middle-income economy by 2025 – needs all the brains it can muster and bring to the table to thrash out the challenges that plague the nation.

Yes I know there are some enthusiastic, “shoot-first-ask-questions later” sort of leaders who have drank from the cup of “magic governance power aphrodisiac”, but these are in the minority.

In our Tanzania that is working hard to become the economic hub of the East African region, all Tanzanians have no choice but to take up the challenges head-on and surmount them to forge ahead from success to success.

A regime of good governance must be at the forefront of whatever we do as a united republic, always indulging in constructive engagement with each other, rulers and the ruled, governors and the governed, losers and winners at elections…

The stakes may be rather high, as some nerves may have been frayed in otherwise unnecessary, avoidable confrontations here and there.

But Tanzania has always been home to people of great ideas and magnanimity who are invariably amenable to positive changes.

This most difficult journey to Vision 2025 needs more than mere dreamers.

Today more than ever, Tanzania needs citizens who will take the initiative to re-direct the country away from the precipice; citizens who don’t indulge in confrontations on the social media; citizens who build bridges and strenuously work at reconciliation rather than at cross-purposes regarding the country’s welfare and best interests.

Uphill task

This has always been an uphill task. But Mwalimu Nyerere did it during his presidency from 1962 to 1985.

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, showed the world that it could be done.

Tanzania’s current President, Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, can do it…

The time to act judiciously is now. Time and tide wait for no man!