Most of Tanzanians content with nation’s direction as Kenya and Uganda face protests
What you need to know:
- Twaweza's data reveals that a notable 69 percent of Tanzanians believe that their country is heading in the right direction.
Dar es Salaam. A new sense of optimism now appears to be sweeping across Tanzania, with a large-section of the population expressing satisfaction with the country’s trajectory.
This sentiment, however, sharply contrasts with the growing dissatisfaction in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda, where citizens are increasingly wary of their nations' directions.
This revelation comes from the latest Sauti za Wananchi poll conducted by Twaweza East Africa, an NGO known for its rigorous public opinion surveys across the region.
The findings, unveiled on Tuesday, August 14, 2024, shed light on a decade of citizen experiences and opinions in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
The polls, which spanned ten years and included five baseline surveys and 126 mobile phone rounds, suggest that Tanzanians are more content with their country’s handling of key issues like unemployment, inflation, and governance than their East African neighbours.
Twaweza's data reveals that a notable 69 percent of Tanzanians believe that their country is heading in the right direction.
This figure starkly contrasts with the prevailing feelings in Kenya and Uganda, where most citizens think that their countries are in the wrong direction.
The findings indicate that Tanzanians feel secure in their country's political stability, viewing it as a fertile ground for business growth and economic opportunity.
The optimism in Tanzania extends beyond the economic sphere. Seventy percent of Tanzanians take pride in their country's "peacefulness," a figure higher than 56 percent in Uganda and 26 percent in Kenya.
Additionally, a strong sense of community involvement is evident, with 75 percent of Tanzanians reporting that they attended a community meeting in the past year. This contrasts with 56 percent in Kenya and just 40 percent in Uganda.
Various experts have weighed in on why Tanzanians are more confident about their country’s direction compared to their regional neighbours.
The Director of Reforms and Advocacy at the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Mr Fulgence Massawe, suggests that Tanzanians might have adapted to their challenges to the point where they have become a normal part of life.
"Tanzanians have fallen in love with their problems; they’ve become a part of us," Mr Massawe observed.
He added that this deep-rooted acceptance might explain why Tanzanians report the higher levels of satisfaction despite facing challenges similar to those in Kenya and Uganda.
However, not all experts agree with this assessment. the Executive Director of the Creative Industries Network Tanzania (CINT), Mr Robert Mwampembwa, offers a different perspective, attributing the positive outlook to a lack of critical information among Tanzanians.
"The question of ignorance is high on Tanzanians’ minds," he remarks. "Clarity of information gives citizens more room to critique their governments. Kenyans, for instance, are more informed about governance issues, which make them become more critical."
This analysis resonates with the Executive Director of Twaweza, Mr Aidan Eyakuze, who believes that the differing levels of public engagement and awareness in Tanzania and Kenya may stem from the tax systems in each country.
"In Kenya, citizens are acutely aware of the impact of taxes on their lives, which drives them to protest against the government policies that directly affect their pockets," Mr Eyakuze explains.
"In contrast, many Tanzanians might not feel the immediate sting of tax increases because they operate outside the formal tax net, leading to less resistance," he says.
The contrasting outlooks between Tanzania and its neighbours raise important questions about the region's future.
While Tanzanians seem to be more content with their government's performance, the dissatisfaction in Kenya and Uganda could signal deeper structural issues that need to be addressed.
In Kenya, where anti-government protests have become increasingly common, the dissatisfaction appears to be rooted in the public's frustration with the government's handling of economic issues, particularly taxation.
The recent introduction of a housing levy, among other taxes, has sparked widespread opposition, with many Kenyans fearing the burden of additional costs in an already challenging economic climate.
Uganda, for its part, has seen growing unrest over some issues including inflation and access to public services. The dissatisfaction in those countries reflects a broader sense of frustration with the pace of progress and the perceived lack of responsiveness by the governments.
