This archive report was first published on 24 September 2019.
Published on September 24, 2019, by Jenerali Ulimwengu, chairman of the board of the Raia Mwema newspaper and an advocate of the High Court in Dar es Salaam.
Our leaders' obsession with quick fixes has become a hallmark of Tanzanian politics, with officials often resorting to lies and exaggerations to achieve their goals. This phenomenon was recently exemplified by two stories in a local government mouthpiece, which highlighted the dangers of prioritizing short-term gains over long-term solutions.
One story reported that the Minister of Health had declared a 95% drop in heart-condition referrals to India and elsewhere since President John Pombe Magufuli took office in 2015. While this claim may have been intended to showcase the government's achievements, it is unlikely to be true, given the complexity of healthcare systems and the time it takes to implement meaningful reforms.
Another story featured a 'development director' who advocated for the arrest and prosecution of schoolgirls who drop out of school due to teen pregnancies. This proposal is not only misguided but also reflects a broader culture of quick fixes and lack of understanding of the underlying issues.
The problem with this approach is that it ignores the need for sustained effort and intelligent planning to achieve meaningful results. Success is not something that can be willed into existence, but rather it must be earned through hard work and dedication.
As Ulimwengu notes, the government's decision to re-integrate pregnant schoolgirls into the education system is a sound policy that has been in place for some time. However, the implementation of this policy has been hindered by the lack of resources and the need for foreign funding to support it.
Ulimwengu concludes by emphasizing the need for leaders to adopt a more nuanced and evidence-based approach to governance, rather than relying on quick fixes and lies to achieve their goals.
