Everyone in Tanzania is complaining. Citizens are complaining; the police and military are complaining; farmers are complaining; business people are complaining. Who will help the other? Complaints are rife on the judiciary; the health system and poor delivery of services. If everyone is complaining and passing the blame, who should address the concerns raised?

Increased road accidents are killing our people like cockroaches. The police are aware that unroadworthy vehicles should not be on the road but they turn a blind eye to them. Recently, we witnessed the death of 20 people who were burnt to death in Singida Province. The bus they were using had no emergency exit. Even in the face of this calamity, the traffic police still allow vehicles that don’t meet safety standards to ply Tanzanian routes. If the traffic police as well as the ordinary road user are lamenting, is any hope for a remedy available? What curse befell the enforcing of laws in our country? If road construction is not supervised as in Shekilango and Sam Nujoma roads, will constructors do professional work?

There is massive flouting of law in Tanzania. Government officials are the first culprits. Army officers brazenly break traffic rules as traffic policemen look helplessly. If theft from the Bank of Tanzania is treated lightly and labeled a political move, employees in other sectors will not hesitate to abuse public resources. If fraudulent influential persons move scot free, citizens are bound to lose faith in the government. Woe unto the ordinary citizen who is caught on the wrong side of the law. Is the law in this country only applicable to the ordinary citizens?  In other countries, civil servants are expected to set a good example. In Tanzania, it is the opposite. High ranking civil servants, police, army, and managers of large corporations are above the law!

The extravagant use of resources by government officials is alarming. During the budget proceedings or Reading of the Prime Minister’s speech, almost the whole country converges at Dodoma. Heads of the 21 provinces meet in Dodoma alongside hundreds of administrators. Do all these people have to meet in Dodoma in their big, luxurious, expensive government vehicles? Is it not possible to have one airplane land in Mwanza, Mbeya and Arusha to pick them? Can’t the provincial heads in Lindi and Mtwala join their counterparts from Dar es alaam, Morogoro, Pwani and Tanga? On arrival at Dodoma, can’t they take buses to cut on fuel costs? 

Why do visiting heads of state move around in buses? Is it that their governments cannot afford big luxurious vehicles? Expensive fuel guzzling vehicles are deteriorating our already weak economy. Donor countries must be surprised.  For instance in an event where Tanzania is courting Japan for aid, whereas the Japanese ambassador will arrive in a Land Cruiser GX, our honorable ministers will come in a Land Cruiser VX or Nissan Patrol enhanced with special features such a double carburetor! In such a scenario, who between the two needs aid?  If the government does not exercise prudence, its citizens will not be law abiding. They will steal, lie and rob with the knowledge that leaders least care. 

The Prime Minister, Edward Lowasa, has severally times challenged  Tanzanians to desist from thinking that spending time drinking  alcohol, coffee or playing pool will improve their living standards. I strongly agree with him. Tanzanians ought to avoid laziness and embark on hard work.

Tanzania is ranked 20^th in the global consumption of alcohol. Is this encouraging? What happens when the breweries are being praised for their great contribution to our economic development? Does it imply that we should consume even greater amounts of alcohol? Cigarette manufacturers fall 2^nd place in contributing towards our economic growth. Should we puff more cigars so that this industry can lead the development pack? Will a country full of alcoholics and smokers be able to develop to China’s level?  

There will be no development if we, the citizens, continue being passive. We should know our basic rights, demand them and at the same time fulfill our obligations. We shall be deceiving ourselves to believe that our leaders are the solutions to our problems. It is time that everyone assumed responsibility to make this nation prosperous. Where are we heading if we only delight in engaging in the blame game but shun taking responsibility?