Tanzanians welcome plan with blend of optimism

DODOMA: TANZANIANS from all walks of life have welcomed the officially launched Vision 2050 blueprint with a blend of optimism, cautious hope and critical reflection, as the government charts a course to transform the country into a high-income, industrialised and inclusive nation within the next 25 years.

The blueprint, approved by National Assembly on June 27th, this year and officially unveiled yesterday in Dodoma, sets ambitious and wide-ranging goals, including achieving a GDP of 1 trillion US dollars and an annual per capita income of 7,000 US dollars (18.2m/-).

It also seeks to ensuring universal access to electricity and internet, driving strong industrial growth and promoting comprehensive social inclusion. These are ambitious goals, but they are grounded in possibility.

Now that Vision 2050 has been officially launched, citizens are beginning to reflect on what it means for their daily lives and their hopes for a more inclusive and prosperous future.

For Mama Abasi, a 46-yearold food vendor (Mama Lishe) who traveled all the way from Dar es Salaam to explore opportunities in Dodoma said the vision’s emphasis on creating an enabling business environment gives her reason to hope.

“Indeed, for us entrepreneurs, the previous vision was good because it provided a friendly environment for small businesses like mama lishe and offered opportunities to access capital through loans from women’s groups. Therefore, I believe the new vision will bring even greater benefits to us,” she said.

A student at Dodoma University Afua Hamis, expressed appreciation for the inclusive nature of the planning process.

“We are grateful that the preparation of this vision was inclusive. Even we students, who are the primary targets of the National Development Vision 2050, were involved. Therefore, we are proud to be part of this history,” she said proudly.

But not everyone is fully convinced. Joseph Mwakalinga, a 31-year-old bodaboda rider in Tambukareli in Dodoma, said while the vision is promising, lessons must be learned from the past.

“Vision 2025 promised jobs, especially for youth, but many of us are still struggling without clear employment opportunities. We believe this new vision will correct those mistakes and create job opportunities for young people,” he said.

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Young entrepreneurs in the digital space also see opportunity in the vision, which places strong emphasis on digital transformation and innovation. A 27-year-old IT graduate and mobile app developer, Hamisi Mapunda believes the vision could be a game-changer for youth if implementation is followed through.