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Improve workers’ salaries to stop brain drain
2006-05-03 09:34:37
By Editor
Addressing Tanzanians on May Day marked at the national level in Shinyanga on Monday, President Jakaya Kikwete touched a number of issues affecting them – from the need to review all mining contracts to famine that was caused by drought; from the increasing crime waves to the power crisis.
Despite the fact that most of his address dwelt on the avowed commitment by his administration to improve the lives of all Tanzanians, he took some time to address the plight of workers.
He paid tribute to Tanzanian workers, describing them as the pillars and engine of economic development.
We do not have any grounds to contest that assertion.
However, it appears that the workers’s importance in the economic development of the nation has, since times immemorial, been disregarded by the powers that were — in so far as the issue of their remuneration was concerned.
That is the obtaining picture – on average,Tanzania government salaries and wages are very low.
While we hail President Kikwete’s statement on Monday that his government was determined to address workers’ remuneration to enable them to lead better lives, we still think the underlying problem of remuneration of government workers has not been fully addressed. Otherwise,there would be no brain drain.
Doctors, engineers, accountants and other professionals have been streaming to other African countries such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa in search of the so called greener pastures.
It is,therefore,quite surprising to hear frequent complaints from various people, our leaders in particular of the brain drain, whilst the reason is well known.
We may also add: In as much as we could be right to insist on patriotism, the intellectuals in particular, the government should also pore over what it offers them as a lure to stay.
Economists insist that every developing country should tailor its ambitions to its capability. However, there are some fundamentals that are inescapable.
One of them is investing in its own people, and the most judicious way is to increase their income.
After all, isn’t economic development about people’s incomes?
Many instances of government’s openhandedness in its expenditures can be cited – some of which it could certainly do without, if there is a political will and resolve.
Just as an example, annual reports of the Auditor General shows that embezzlement and other financial skullduggery by public officials is on the rise.
As President Kikwete’s has said, the government is seriously reviewing all the agreements in the mining sector t o bring them at par with the needs of the country.
It should also seriously examine the overall issue of adjusting pay for its workers, particularly the professionals who are deemed essential in the country’s economic development.
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