Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) Executive Director Godfrey Simbeye
Only
a day after his nomination, CCM’s presidential flag bearer Dr John
Magufuli has been challenged to publicise his plans on prioritising
inclusive economic growth that will lift the common man from abject
poverty.
Speaking in separate interviews with The Guardian yesterday in Dar
es Salaam, development stakeholders said, should Dr Magufuli be elected
next president of Tanzania, he must ‘walk the development talk.’
In this regard, Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) Executive
Director Godfrey Simbeye urged the CCM aspirant to increase efficiency
of the Public Private Partnership Act by improving government
cooperation with the private sector.
“To fast track economic development, he (Magufuli) has to work
effectively with the private sector, the engine of the economy,”
commented the TPSF Executive Director.
“For instance, small and medium enterprises are the drivers of the
country’s economic growth and with some government support, the sector
can considerably contribute to the GDP,’ he said.
Simbeye was also of the opinion that Dr Magufuli has the ability to
take government leaders to task and curb pervasive corruption that is
incapacitating national development efforts.
“Dr Magufuli is good at setting and executing strategies but he
must find alternatives to push economic growth further, above 8 per
cent,” he urged.
As for the nation’s energy needs, Simbeye proposed expediting the
Kinyerezi energy project which according to him is so far being
implemented at a snail’s pace.
Sharing similar sentiments, Economist Prof Delphin Rwegasira was of
the opinion that; “if Dr Magufuli is elected president, he must ensure
strategic reforms in energy, education, health, industries and
infrastructure
sectors...that is how to transform the country into a middle income economy.”
“He must find a way to invest in job creation and improve rural electrification as well as food security,” he told The Guardian.
According to Prof Rwegasira, a former Mwalimu Julius Nyerere
Professorial Chair in Development, for the nation to have inclusive
growth, industrialisation is vital particularly in the value addition of
agro-produces.
“He has to expand the export capacity...it is such transformation
that would strengthen the Tanzanian Shilling against the US dollar,” he
added.
Reached for comments, Dr Shaban Ngole of the Institute of Finance
Management (IFM) urged for more focus on improving the country’s tourism
sector.
“Tanzania has numerous tourist destinations, if fully tapped, they can play a big part in economic transformation,” he said.
“Like he demonstrated his ability in the various ministries he
worked in, he should give the same weight in the tourism sector if
Tanzania is to realise its development vision 2025,” he urged.
Summing up, Dr Ngole said, whoever wins the October general
election, should put public interests at the forefront of Oil and Gas
revenue management.
On his part, Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) President Gratian Mukoba
highlighted challenges facing the education sector which according to
him have not being given the attention they deserve.
He cited the ‘ocean of a difference’ between pension given to
lawmakers (MPs) after serving only five years compared to retirement
pension offered to teachers for serving 35 years.
“The president elect should come up with a proper solution to
bridge this discrepancy...by either slashing MPs’ five year gratuity
that is over 200m/- to correspond to the 50m/- offered to a veteran
teacher then he would be welcomed,” he said.
Seizing the opportunity, Mkoba said teachers are very disappointed
by the government’s reinstating of a Teachers Service Commission to
replace the Teachers Service Department under the pretext of adopting a
‘one employer’ system.
“What the government has changed here is the last initials TS (D)
to TS (C) … remember the budget that has been allocated to TSC is the
same one allocated to TSD,” he pointed out.
Siku zote bahati yako iko mikononi mwako tu, ili kudhibitisha kuwa ni kweli bofya kwenye picha iliyopo hapa chini.
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