IN today’s modern world of communication, which takes in its stride ‘whatsapps’ – I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued to read an item forwarded to me by a friend; rankingTanzania as the world’s fourth “fastest growing economy”.
Apparently written by a Tanzanian resident in New York, one Nik Ngowi, the overview quotes a global institution – Centre for International Development (CID) at Harvard University as the source of this information ranking the country as much.
This great leap forward, as I would describe, is thanks to what Mr. Ngowi has offered to describe as the new social-economic philosophy of the current Tanzanian leader, President John Pombe Magufuli, which this national in New York has initiated to describe as the ‘Magufulification’.
Follow with me excerpts of this paper of this Tanzanian social economist, Mr. Ngowi resident in New York: Incredible and swift transformation in the manufacturing, communication, health and other sectors in Tanzania attest a new dawn for the continent’s readiness for serious business in my home country - the United Republic of Tanzania. Tanzania is the world’s fasted growing economy, according to a report by the Centre for International Development (CID) at Harvard University.
This is not surprising if one has to analyze trends and transformations happening there. To begin with, India tops the list of the world’s fastest growing economies for the coming decade with projected growth of 7.89 annually by 2026.
But with oil economy on its laps, Uganda comes second on the list at 7.5 percent growth annually, Egypt at 6.63 per cent and Tanzania 6.15 percent after it. However with “Magufulification” thrust, growth is expected to go above 7.0 percent; meaning Tanzania could go higher up the steps economically in a few years.
The Tanzanian leader, Dr. John Pombe Magufuli, a Mathematician and Chemist, has circumvented the insanity and described by his fellow Mathematician, Prof. Albert Einsten that doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results would land someone nowhere. He has pioneered radical reforms in his country, Tanzania - which some scholars have characterized as “Magufulification”.
‘Magufulification’ has thus far delivered results; just half his term in office. African nations still struggling to break through have a lot to learn. The speed and efficiency of delivering his 2015 election promises is incomparable, since the first Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere.
This is reflected by the current level of investment in manufacturing industries and social service growing faster than most Sub-Saharan Africa. In his two years in office, over 3,000 new factories are in place and some already in production.
He has revamped the national airline into a 21st century national airline – Air Tanzania - with six new planes and yet more others on the way. Construction of the $3.5 billion – Hoima-Tanga crude oil pipeline and over Tanzanian shillings 7.2 trillion standard gauge railways are some of the landmark projects that are taking shape.
On the social landscape, since independence Tanzania has had 77 District Hospitals. But in just two years and half years in office, the Tanzanian leader - nicknamed the “bulldozer” in admiration by his people - has constructed a record 67 new District Hospitals; raising the profile to 144 District Hospitals.
In the period under review, Dr. Magufuli who thinks economically and sociologically has also ensured surgery services are optimized. Being the most populous nation in East Africa, hitherto, Tanzania has 517 Health Centers.
Out of these, 115 were previously surgical. Again in exactly half of his term, Dr. Magufuli has increased the surgical Health Centers to almost double the previous number. He has empowered 208 additional centers to conduct surgeries.
These transformations communicate a strong message of change, spelling out the new way of doing things in Africa, thereby improving the continent’s image. Quick developments witnessed in Tanzania in road infrastructure, airline transport, efficiency, effectiveness, discipline, integrity, improved tax collection, cost cutting and thrifty, promulgate a 630-degree core transformations. Unlike most African leaders, Dr. Magufuli has another feature: effectiveness.
“If one wants to accomplish things on time, then it has to be done in time,” says President Magufuli. This President does not sleep on files. He acts immediately! The speed at which Dr. Magufuli delivers his election promises has won the admiration of people from all walks of life, including those in neighboring countries, such as Kenya. Says Kenyan Professor Lumumba: “I am not a Jewish prophet nor related to no one neither am I a member of the CCM (the Tanzanian ruling party).
“If Magufuli continues on this trajectory and has the second term, in the next 10 years, Tanzania will be one of the largest economies in this world.” This is the view of learned people as you have seen. You have your own as much as I have mine. As the father of our nation, Mwalimu Nyerere once said the great leap forward is the share of every national of this country: “It can be done, play your part.”
We seem to be higher up in terms of development as rated internationally. But let us not be complacent. We should stand up firm to take the continuous call of our President: Hapa Kazi Tu! We should carry on the hard work everyone in every role.
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