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Economic growth should be felt- Kikwete
2006-01-31 09:13:59
By Judica Tarimo
President Jakaya Kikwete urged the Ministry for Planning, Economy and Empowerment yesterday to ensure that the impact of the revamped economy trickles down to the grassroots.
’We have to translate the gains of microeconomic fundamentals into realities on the ground.
People must see the connection between what we say on economic growth and their lives,’ said President Kikwete, during his tour of the ministry in Dar es Salaam.
The President’s call follows statistics that show Tanzanian economy to be on the roll, averaging 6.7 per annum over the past 10 years.
’You cannot say the economy is growing at 6.5 per cent and inflation rate has been reduced while there are some Tanzanians who live on less than one dollar per day,’ he said, and added: ’People will never believe us.’
As a strategic think tank, he said, the Ministry must take deliberate measures to translate the economic gains into improved living standards.
’So, our biggest challenge is to improve individual wealth. Microeconomic fundamentals are already in place. It’s now your duty to help our people benefit from these achievements,’ Kikwete said.
He added: ’The economic growth must be seen from individuals’ wealth and not as statistics.’
He told the ministry to develop strategic plans to empower Tanzanians economically and enable them to participate in the country’s economic growth.
The President also reminded the ministry to maintain microeconomic stability, economic growth, roll back inflation and build on economic achievements recorded by the third-phase government.
’Make sure that there are no slip-ups. We have to move forward if we want to realise our development goals,’ he said.
The President challenged the ministry to come up with development and poverty reduction strategies that would be implemented by other ministries, departments, institutions and stakeholders.
As directors, Kikwete tasked the ministry headed by Dr Juma Ngasongwa with preparing a comprehensive strategy to push the country from the least or low-income to one of the middle developed countries.
’Take time to study the Vision 2025 and translate the document into deeds. You should ensure that activities of all the ministries are reflected in Vision 2025. But our key focus remains shifting from low to middle income country in the next few years,’ he said.
The President pledged to provide technical support to the ministry in preparing a plan that would ensure that the activities of all ministries and country’s development partners were in line with the Vision 2025.
He challenged the ministry to chart strategies to assist Tanzanians benefit from the East African Community, South African Development Co-operation and other regional blocs.
’You should help us to think about what should be done and what should be sold in the EAC market. Use your brains to assist our country benefit from such markets,’ he said.
’You just have to sit down and think through these issues. What needs to be done in agriculture, mining, industries etc, before we enter into a fully fledged EA Federation,’ said Kikwete.
’There are opportunities for us to benefit. We have resources; we are the largest in terms of size compared to our region’s partners—Uganda and Kenya,’ said the President.
He also directed the Presidential Parastatal Reform Commission to speed up the privatisation of state-owned firms in a transparent and fair manner.
’Take into account the interests of employees in the firms lined up for privatisation and other complaints,’ said Kikwete.
He warned that the Tanzania Railway Corporation was in a financial crisis as a result of haphazard privatisation.
He said privatisation should be undertaken with utmost care.
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