Tanzania: Clear purpose and education is the panacea for life challenges

By Apollo Temu

Last week we evaluated the importance of having a purpose in life, the need to have a sense of civic duty and the place of education in the life of an individual and the nation as a whole.

Education, I must point out, is mainly geared towards eradicating ignorance, and enabling one to use the newly acquired skills for the benefit of the mass.

In this case, education is a means to an end; the growth of man. Success is set for self and collaboration with others for mutual benefit is a must.

But in this quest, we must realize that every meaningful change starts with personal responsibility and ownership. It has to be a self-choice and not something imposed on somebody by another person.

The nation needs all what we talk about such as infrastructure, roads, schools etc. But with inappropriate mind-set, these investments become adulterated.

In Tanzania, we like politicizing everything. But I long for a day when what is discussed by individuals will be connected to their clear purpose and great sense of civic duty and service to others.

I believe that individuals must be able to realize self-worth so that they can understand how best to serve others. Those that can be helped must be able to identify those they want to learn from, and be eager to do so.

A stronger person can only help the weaker if the weaker is willing to accept the assistance.

This is mutually beneficial and ensures the loop is broken otherwise it remains like a rat race that can never stop; the weaker becomes dependent of the stronger endlessly.

If you constrain the individual, their imagination, visualization, and freedom are equally diminished.

Similarly, this constraint removes responsibility and accountability; reducing an individual’s potential to survival status. This is recipe for corruption.

This is contrary to Ujamaa aim which is people caring for each other’s welfare, freedom and prosperity. 

Not the wrong notion of it which saw rural Tanzanians being forcefully moved en masse into collective villages, big farms and factories becoming nationalised and multinational companies denounced.

Therefore, the first step is having a clear purpose in one’s life and being able to relate that to fellow citizens, and ensuring that the purpose does indeed provide a service in some capacity to address certain problems. This is achievable through ability to visualize and imagine.

In the competitive world we have today, with the same amount of time we all have, we should not go for the sub standards and then try to reinvent the wheel. We should opt for the best and learn from the best.

But here in Tanzania, we tend to go for the best and learn from the mediocre. If one is ill, and given choices to go for a best doctor or a trainee, what would be the preferred option?

When I talk with some of my friends, I get the feeling that everybody understands there’s a better way of doing things, yet there is always a justification as to why the mediocre way has to remain in place, even when it’s clear it is not working. 

For instance one wonders why can’t TRA have a web portal where all importers can key in their information?

You will get many excuses, clearly designed to protect and maintain the status quo. Many will say it can’t work in this country.

No wonder you see people buying MercedesBenz made in Germany. However, if you asked them to do things like those who live in Germany, UK, Japan, Malaysia or USA, they quickly respond that it won’t work here.

This is Tanzania or this is Dar is what they will tell you. Unfortunately, this is the attitude you will see at all levels of society; from graduates of University of LIFE, to Graduates of University of Dar Es Salaam. There has to be better ways to make the education useful for self and for others, en mass. The mind-set is the foundation, and technology is the enabler