Tanzania commitment to build inclusive economy earns kudos
TANZANIA: ACADEMICS have praised Tanzania’s commitment to building an inclusive economy, upholding democracy and fostering peace for the prosperity of all, as highlighted by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York, US.
Their appreciation follows Prime Minister Majaliwa’s address at UNGA79, where he emphasised Tanzania’s steadfast dedication to inclusive economic growth through strategic investments in agriculture, energy, infrastructure and digitalisation.
He noted that Tanzania’s focus on economic inclusivity aligns with the global 2030 Agenda, which aims to ensure that no one is left behind by eradicating poverty and addressing threats to human existence, including climate change.
Mr Majaliwa also mentioned the government’s significant investments in education and agriculture, particularly through initiatives like Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT), which seeks to enhance food security, create jobs and develop a workforce capable of thriving in the digital age.
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s address, Economic Diplomacy expert Professor Kitojo Wetengere from the University of Arusha yesterday commended Tanzania’s message at the international forum for highlighting its ongoing efforts to create a people-centred economy, with agriculture, energy and infrastructure at the forefront of transformation.
“By placing people at the heart of economic transformation, Tanzania is on track to achieve inclusive sustainable development, ensuring that growth in various sectors goes hand in hand with improved livelihoods,” Prof Wetengere stated.
He added, “Any economy can improve if all its citizens participate fully in production.”
He emphasised that agriculture, as the backbone of the country’s economy, can engage the entire population in production, thereby addressing alarming unemployment rates and boosting revenue generation that extends beyond GDP growth.
Furthermore, Prof Wetengere noted that various infrastructure projects under construction, including the electrified Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), Msalato International Airport and major bridges like the Kigongo-Busisi, will enable citizens in both rural and urban areas to access markets within and beyond the country’s borders.
He pointed out that Tanzania is one of the few African countries with all regions connected by tarmac roads, demonstrating its commitment to inclusivity.
On the transition to clean energy, he praised President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration for being selected by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to host the African Energy Summit in January 2025.
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This recognition, he stated, reflects Tanzania’s relentless efforts to adopt clean cooking energy and achieve nationwide electrification—an aspiration that many African countries are also pursuing.
In May, President Dr Samia launched the Clean Cooking Energy Strategy, aiming to increase access to clean cooking solutions from the current 10 per cent to 80 per cent by 2034. The upcoming African Energy Summit is expected to raise 190 billion US dollars (about 519tri/-) to provide electricity to 300 million people across the continent by 2030.
Prof Wetengere noted that Tanzania can leverage this platform to advance its energy ambitions by forming partnerships with global investors in alternative power sources, such as solar, gas and wind energy, which can diversify the country’s electricity supply and overall energy mix.
In the realm of global digitalisation, Economist and Investment Banker Dr Hildebrand Shayo praised the government’s initiatives to promote innovation and the digital economy through extensive investment in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
“ICT is becoming increasingly important for sustaining equitable growth. The digital economy will be a valuable tool in reducing poverty, inequality and unemployment,” Dr Shayo said.
He pointed out that an increase in ICT infrastructure investment could stimulate inclusive economic growth by 0.4 per cent to 0.7 per cent.
Dr Shayo emphasised that ongoing investments in ICT, agriculture, infrastructure and energy will significantly contribute to Tanzania’s GDP and foreign exchange earnings while creating jobs.
However, he stressed that to realise economic inclusivity across all sectors, the country needs to plan and assess the necessary resources, along with mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating outcomes.
“Through monitoring and evaluation, we can truly see the impact on our economy,” Dr Shayo added.
A public administration expert, Dr Adam Munyavanu from the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) praised the Prime Minister’s call for world nations to embrace peace and seek understanding amid conflicts.
He described Tanzania’s message of peace to the UN as a reminder for global leaders to uphold the principles of security and peace, as demonstrated by Tanzania since its independence over six decades ago.
Dr Munyavanu noted that peace is a key ingredient in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are often hindered by persistent geopolitical tensions, such as the Middle East crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan.
He also commended the Prime Minister for assuring the UN that Tanzania is set to hold democratic local government elections later this November, followed by a general election next year, urging all political parties to practice clean politics.
Mr Majaliwa represented President Dr Samia at UNGA79 in the United States.
