What will shape Tanzania politically, economically in 2024

Dar es Salaam. Power rationing, education reforms and local government elections are some of the key issues that will shape the country’s political and economic landscape in 2024.

Others are the implementation of the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) and the start of operations of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which is eagerly awaited by citizens to spur development and transform economic activities.

The efficient and effective implementation of these issues in the next 363 days, will place the country and government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in a better place socially, economically and politically.

Reliable electricity

The country has experienced power rationing in the last four months due water level decrease in key electricity generating stations.

The Tanzania Electric Supply Company Ltd (Tanesco) said the water level decrease at Mtera, Kidatu and Kihansi stations has led to a power deficit of 300 megawatts.

The decrease triggered serious concerns from citizens, who directly affected by power rationing because their economic activities are wholly dependent on electricity.

However, during the swearing-in of newly appointed officials in Dar es Salaam, President Hassan tasked the new Tanzania Electric Supply Company Ltd (Tanesco) boss, Mr Gissima Nyamo-Hanga, who was picked to replace Mr Maharage Chande who had been assigned another job, to end power woes within six months.

“We have a power crisis as a nation and I trust that you are able to sort it out. Some people might think this was the reason for replacing Mr Chande, but it isn’t,” said President Hassan.

During the President’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards (PMAYA) held in Dar es Salaam, President Hassan said in the government’s efforts to address the power challenge, the first power generator would be switched on at the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station next month, with the second scheduled for April.

“Once the two power generators are up and running, we will have sufficient electricity on the national grid. When power from the other sources, including natural gas and solar, is included, the country will have enough electricity to address your (manufacturers) concerns,” she said.

Addressing the public on the eve of New Year 2024, President Hassan said the two generators will now start operating in February and March this year. “The two generators will add 470 MW in the national grid therefore replacing the current 300MW deficit.

The move will go in line with the switching of the power generator at Rusumo Hydroelectric Power Station that will add another 27MW,” she said during a live broadcast event.

For their part, economists opined that access to reliable electricity should be accelerated because rationing adversely affects the country’s economy by increasing production costs.

Repoa executive director, Dr Donald Mmari, said the government should seriously address power woes in 2024 in order to strengthen the country’s economy.

“Manufacturers have been facing unbearable increases in costs of production, leading to staggering increases in the costs of commodities, therefore hurting the economy. Sustaining reliable power should be the government’s priority in 2024,” he said.  Dr Mmari was seconded by an economist from the University of Iringa (UoI), Prof Enock Wiketye, who said regarding reliable supply of electricity, the government’s action should speak louder than words.

For instance, he said the national power utility (Tanesco) has stationed an engineer to oversee power issues in every region, challenging that efficiency in implementation of their duties remain questionable.

“Most of the time, it takes a long time to fix notable malfunctions in their respective areas of jurisdiction. My concern is therefore that the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) will require intensive care for the project to be sustainable,” he said.

SGR

After multiple delays, the minister of Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa Mnyaa recently announced that services on the Dar es Salaam-Morogoro of the SGR would now begin at the end of January, this year.

Prof Mbarawa made the announcement after being satisfied with the efficiency of SGR engines.

He was speaking after concluding the test of one of the 17 engines purchased by the government from South Korea at a total cost of Sh254 billion.

He said SGR operations will start after the second trial that will involve the testing of an engine which has been connected with a passenger coach.

On December 30, 2023, the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) received another three locomotives and 27 new coaches, bringing to a total of four engines and 56 passenger coaches that have arrived in the country.

However, like other ordinary civilians who have been eagerly waiting for commencement of the project, President Hassan issued an ultimatum, directing that the operation should start not later than the end of July.

“I have been hearing changes in the start dates of the SGR train journeys, and really, the people are tired of excuses, they want to see the railway working,” she said, during her New Year speech.

“Now, I direct, by the end of July 2024, the journey between Dar es Salaam to Dodoma should commence,” directed President Hassan.

Speaking on the issue, Prof Wiketye said there was no doubt that SGR will transform the country’s economy, adding that commencement of operation should be accelerated to meet people’s expectations.

Civic polls

Three election bills were tabled in Parliament for the first reading including the National Electoral Commission (NEC) Bill, the President, Parliamentarians and Councillors Bill, as well as the Political Parties Affairs Bill.

The three bills will be deliberated after the second reading before being assented into laws in the government’s move to reshape the country’s political and electoral landscape.

The Head of State said her administration increased the pace of implementing the (4R’s) philosophy on Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Rebuilding.

She highlighted reforms done by the government including the formation of Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO); splitting the ministry of Works and Transport; establishing the ministry of Investment and Planning and increasing deputy permanent secretaries responsible for East African Community (EAC).

“We reinstated the Planning Commission to coordinate implementation of the country’s plans and preparation of the country’s Development Vision 2025-2050,” she said during a New Year speech.

According to her, the formation of the Criminal Justice Commission as well as evaluation commission for the efficiency and performance of the Foreign Affairs and East African ministry and implementation of recommendations were part of the execution of the 4R endeavours.

However, a political science and public administration lecturer at the University Dodoma (Udom), Dr Paul Loisulie said things will be tough this year due to upcoming local polls.

“The year will be a political trial for the president because this is going to be her first time to organise elections as the head of state,” he said.

He said although the ruling party is still adamant on the reforms particularly those related to elections, the tone of the President seems to show some light ahead of this eagerly awaited political event.

“However, it’s important to note that politics is a very dynamic game; they change anytime depending on the interests of the day,” he said.

UHI

In 2023, President Hassan assented into law the UHI Bill shortly after being endorsed by the parliament.

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The endorsement came shortly after the government unveiled its potential sources of funds to finance health insurance to poor Tanzanians. The UHI Act was expected to become operational this year, bringing relief to the poor Tanzanians who are grappling with treatment costs.

Commenting on the matter, an assistant lecturer from Udom, Mr Justine Kajerero, said though the official date for commencing implementation was unknown, the matter was important for the majority. “This area will help the country’s economy to move forward,” he said.

Education reforms

Both Mr Kajerero and Prof Wiketye said undertaking reforms in the sector was a brilliant idea, cautioning that preparation of teachers for reforms implementation was a matter of paramount importance.

“There should be two different streams preparing students to acquire technical skills and that will specialise in research issues, law, and other fields. This will help in achieving the country’s goals,” said Prof Wiketye.

Mr Kajerero said teachers should be prepared to meet the country’s expectations and that of the public in general.

He expressed his worries that the country could have many students in 2030, but teachers would be insufficient if no appropriate measures would be put in place.