Is Tanzania Failed , failing or fragile state?
We had a late night weekend whatsapp conversations with friends in a
group called TanzaniaNjema 'moderated' by ndg. Omar Ilyas. Some friends
argued that Tanzania is a failed state due to a constant failure to
address chronic issues facing the country, especially corruption.
Freeman Mbowe, leader of the opposition in parliament asserted the same
when he made an intervention during #TegetaEscrow debate. Some opposition lawmakers
echoed those remarks, I am sure some without even understanding the
meaning of the term. My own definition would be, a failed state refers
to a country whereby the government has totally collapsed.
Fransic Fukuyama wrote in his latest book - Political order and political decay - that " the first and most important institution that fragile or failing states lack is administratively capable government". This reference may help us position our country into terms above using one challenge: corruption.
My friends in the group kept referring to the now famous IPTL #Tegetaescrow scandal as a sign of increasing corruption in the country. As a chairman of parliamentary Public Accounts Commitee ( PAC), I describe that scandal as a pure rent seeking scheme; that is, gaming the political system for private gain. There was a reciprocal exchange of favors amongst players building a strong patronage relationship that led to siphoning of cash from the central bank. As PAC remarked, there was a system collapse, but not government collapse as other government agencies still performed their duties to correct the mistakes.
A study by world bank in 2011 concluded that "there is a strong correlation between government effectiveness and control of corruption". That, highly corrupt governments have big problems in delivering services, enforcing laws and representing public interests.
Corruption scandals like IPTL has strengthened wananchi's perception that the government is becoming incapable of enforcing laws and ensuring democratic accountability. Scandals expose government and even if Tanzania is not failing state, the administrative incapability of the government will move a country from a fragile to a failed state.
Writings on the wall.
We better start build strong institutions as Fukuyama argues "institutions are rules that organize behaviors" SOURCE TC
Fransic Fukuyama wrote in his latest book - Political order and political decay - that " the first and most important institution that fragile or failing states lack is administratively capable government". This reference may help us position our country into terms above using one challenge: corruption.
My friends in the group kept referring to the now famous IPTL #Tegetaescrow scandal as a sign of increasing corruption in the country. As a chairman of parliamentary Public Accounts Commitee ( PAC), I describe that scandal as a pure rent seeking scheme; that is, gaming the political system for private gain. There was a reciprocal exchange of favors amongst players building a strong patronage relationship that led to siphoning of cash from the central bank. As PAC remarked, there was a system collapse, but not government collapse as other government agencies still performed their duties to correct the mistakes.
A study by world bank in 2011 concluded that "there is a strong correlation between government effectiveness and control of corruption". That, highly corrupt governments have big problems in delivering services, enforcing laws and representing public interests.
Corruption scandals like IPTL has strengthened wananchi's perception that the government is becoming incapable of enforcing laws and ensuring democratic accountability. Scandals expose government and even if Tanzania is not failing state, the administrative incapability of the government will move a country from a fragile to a failed state.
Writings on the wall.
We better start build strong institutions as Fukuyama argues "institutions are rules that organize behaviors" SOURCE TC
Filed Under:
SIASA
on Monday, 8 December 2014
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