Arusha Times (Arusha)

Tanzania: Maintaining the Status Quo is Self Defeating

opinion

Arusha — Maintaining the status quo is counter-creativity. Now that the East African Common Market Protocol has been signed which is expected to become effective July 1, 2010, will you just "siddon look" and watch events as the borders become opened, just as it seeks to enhance integration through the elimination of restrictions on movement of EAC citizens by allowing them to freely do business across the region?

No doubt, all sorts of competing forces will unleash their creative abilities to come and grab your markets if you'll allow for it. The era of laid back attitude and easy does it might be finally over as the best and the most talented will definitely explore all the potentials in the over 120 million East African market set to become a major force in sub-Saharan Africa. I think we should rejoice more than mourn over the development.

However, let it be said again that, necessity is always the mother of invention and this is no time to maintain the status quo. It's time to put on your thinking cap, do all you can do before the winter arrives and start to invent ways and manners to etch your survival; thus averting doomsday.

Just like it happened in the European Union, we are set to see here as well free movement of persons, free movement of workers, the right of establishment, and the right of residence. Once ratifies, our landscape will start to experience an upsurge and leading to the enlargement of the Tanzanian market as goods and services will now be freely entering the country. Don't you consider that a good deal? Cheaper, abundant stuffs that consumers can readily choose from may soon adorn our streets. After all, Arusha especially has become a very expensive place in the last few years and we sure need a break.

Those issues that many businesses have to crack from now are about planned strategies, creative thinking and dynamic positioning to ensure safety from the 'hawks and whales' that are bound to swim to our shores. How should we rescue many upcoming and budding entrepreneurs from being swallowed?

What should we do with our bedevilled human capital and other assets to gear up to the besetting competition, especially from well established systems and entities from neighbouring partners? Despite all these challenges we should rather look at the brighter side with capital, investment, finance, trade, etc that will enhance the quality of life for everyone willing to take advantage.

We have to see the big picture that the South Africans are yet to see. Over a year ago and in the last few weeks as well, there have been recurrent xenophobic attacks that took place all over South Africa. Gangs of local black South Africans descended on informal settlements and shanty towns armed with clubs, machetes and torches, and attacked immigrants from Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabawe.

Locals accused these immigrants of taking jobs away from them, among other grievances. Dealing with the aftermath of the attacks has become a large problem for South Africa - prosecuting attackers, accommodating refugees, dealing with a labour shortage, political damage control, seeking to address root causes, and some soul-searching are all taking place.

Of course, there are lessons to be learned from the South Africa saga but nowhere has maintaining the status quo been very beneficial. I believe that maximum benefits ought to be derived as a result of the Common Market for all peoples in East Africa sooner rather than later. As intoned by President Kagame when he said, "We are welcoming a new East Africa of common interests and aspirations. The experiences of the last 10 years have shown us that the borders separating us are superficial. It is now upon East Africans to accelerate the pace as the vision of the full integration is now within reach."

From all indications, nations of the world have benefited immensely from allowing immigrants and other forms of movements into their domains. One of such magnanimities has led to the first ever African-American black man occupying the seat of immense power at the White House in Washington. Britain, Germany, France, Australia, Canada and many other developed economies are reaping the rewards of allowing men and women from all corners of the world into their midst. I thought we ought to strengthen the cord that binds us together as Africans at this crucial time in history.

Do not let the status quo lead you to a state of inertia or depression. All you really need is to begin evolving creative ways before the tsunami arrive. To begin with, find creative ways this season and show love to someone instead of over-concentration on yourself and your problems. Spend sometime to think of others. A loving act - your time, flowers, a card, or homemade cookies - will enrich someone else's life and make you a happier person. You can simply send emails to people to make this Christmas season unique and special for someone. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a bounteous year 2010 ahead.

GEORGE, an executive business Coach, author and speaker is based in Arusha.


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Comments 1 to 2 of 2 Post a comment

  • upliftdarace_144
    Dec 22 2009, 11:10

    HeyNow Afrikan Family !

    On Afrikans Investing In Technology , Afrikans abroad & In Afrika

    Should Invest In The Technologies around the world And Have It

    Shipped To Afrika With The Know-How To Do It Ourselves.. We

    SHOULD NOT just allow countries to come into our countries and build

    and settle on our lands. If you will allow a stranger to run your country,

    Then you will allow then to run your state. If you will allow a stranger to run your state,

    then you will allow them to run your city, your neighborhood, your home, your family,

    yourself.. We Black Afrikans will be free , when we stop selling ourselves !!!!!!!

    America (The Whore Of Babylon) Is Trying To Re-vive it'as dying

    soul via other ASIANS & CAUC - ASIANS , But Prophecy Is

    Pronounced :

    And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of

    the south(AMERICA / BABYLON ): ALSO the ROBBERS OF OUR

    PEOPLE shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; BUT

    THEY SHALL FALL ! [Daniel 11:14 ]

    ATTENTION AFRIKA , you have 300 million citizens spread

    abroad that need your help getting back to our roots. While you

    are looking to countries like America & China to uplift Afrika, Many

    of us Black Afrikans spread abroad are proficient in a lot of useful

    technologies. Here is a brief synopsis of some of the inventions

    that Black Americans have produced. So please help us to get

    home.

    BLACK AFRICAN INVENTORS AND THEIR INVENTIONS

    * Sarah Boone - IRONING BOARD - April 26, 1892

    * John A. Burr - LAWN MOWER

    * Marie V. Brittan Brown - HOME SECURITY SYSTEM - Dec 2, 1969

    * Buridge & Marshman - TYPEWRITER

    * George Carruthers - X-RAY MACHINE

    * George Washington Carver - PEANUT BUTTER - PAINTS – PAINT STAINS – ETC

    * W.A. Dietz - SHOE

    * P.B. Downing - POSTAL LETTER BOX

    * Charles R. Drew - BLOOD PLASMA STORAGE SYSTEM

    * T. Elkins - TOILET (COMMODE)

    * Robert Flemming Jr. - GUITAR

    * George F. Grant - GOLF TEE

    * J. Gregory - MOTOR

    * Michael Harney - LANTERN

    * Augustus Jackson - ICE CREAM

    * B.F. Jackson - GAS BURNER

    * H.A. Jackson - KITCHEN TABLE

    * Ruane Jeter - DIGITAL TOASTER - April 14, 1987

    * Isaac R. Johnson - BICYCLE FRAME

    * John A. Johnson - WRENCH

    * P. Johnson - EYE PROTECTOR (GOGGLES)

    * W. Johnson - EGG BEATER

    * Frederick M. Jones - DEFROSTER - REFRIGERATION CONTROLS – AIR CONDITIONER

    * Jones & Long - BOTTLE CAPS

    * John H. Jordan - CLOTHES DRESSER

    * Mary B. Kenner - SANITARY BELT (TAMPONS) - May 15, 1956

    * Mary B. Kenner - BATHROOM TISSUE HOLDER - Nov 19, 1982

    * Mary B. Kenner - BACKWASHER ( BATHTUB OR SHOWER MOUNTED) - July 29,1987

    * Lewis Latimer & Nichols - ELECTIC LAMP

    * W.A. Lavalette - PRINTING PRESS

    * Maurice W. Lee PRESSURE COOKER

    * A.L. Lewis - WINDOW CLEANER

    * John L. Love - PENCIL SHARPENER

    * Tony J. Marshall - FIRE EXTINGUISHER

    * Alexander Miles - ELEVATOR

    * Jan E. Matzeliger - SHOE LASTING MACHINE

    * W.A. Martin - LOCK

    * Garrett A. Morgan - GAS MASK - Traffic Signal

    * Lydia Newman - HAIR BRUSH - Nov 15, 1898

    * Alice H. Parker - HEATING FURNACE - Dec 23, 1919

    * J.F. Pickering - AIR SHIP (BLIMP)

    * Purdy & Sadgwar - FOLDING CHAIR

    * W.B. Purvis - FOUNTAIN PEN

    * L.P. Ray - DUST PAN

    * W.H. Richardson - BABY BUGGY

    * G.T. Sampson - CLOTHES DRYER

    * .W. Smith - LAWN SPRINKLER

    * J. Standard - REFRIGERATOR

    * T.W. Stewart - MOP

    * Paul E. Williams - HELICOPTER

    * Granville T. Woods - Roller Coaster

    * Thanks to The Black Inventors Museum *

    * Address : P.O. Box 76128 - Los Angeles , Calif. (90076)

    * Phone (310) 859-4602)

    * Director : Ghanaian Mr. Hamza Salifa

    AND

    ONE AFRICA TOURS & SPECIALTY SERVICES LTD.

    * Major Contributor of Information : SEESTAH Imahkus Nzinga Ababio Okofo

    [ http://www.oneafricaghana.com/ ]

    P. O. Box CC 1251 - Cape Coast

    Ghana - West Africa

    What can you do to help us ?

    Start with contacting Pan-Afrikanist organizations like BLACK

    STAR MEDIA (Modelled after Marcus Garvey’s Vision For Afrika) : They are at

    [ www.libradio.net ]. The CEO of BLACK STAR MEDIA is Keidi-Obi

    Awadu. He has been on the frontline fighting for our freedom for

    over 30 years.

    It's Not A Question Of Other Learned Societies.

    It's The INFERIORITY COMPLEX WE HAVE TO SHED

    St. Paul In A Letter To The Christians In Rome Said :

    " For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is

    among you, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY Than

    He Ought To Think; but to think soberly, according AS GOD HAS

    D EALT TO EVERY MAN THE MEASURE OF FAITH .

    We All Should Think Highly Of Ourselves, Keeping In Our Mind

    That God Gave Us Dominion Over The Earth

    , NOT EACH OTHER. !!!!!!!!

    So let's please help us to return to our Mama Afrika as Israel

    under Moses escaped their exile !!!!!!!

    [ Their will be an exodus of nations leaving America ; returning to their ancestral homes

    e.g. Black Africans to nations like Ghana, Sierra Leone, etc…]

    Jeremiah, chapter 50 : 16

    Cut off the sower from Babylon ;and him that handles the sickle in the time of harvest

    For fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and

    THEY SHALL FLEE EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN LAND .

    MAMA AFRIKA YOUR CHILDREN WANT TO COME HOME !!!!!!!

    [Check Out :

    WHO BROUGHT THE SLAVES TO AMERICA ?

    [ http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/42787621/Who+brought+the+slaves+to+ameri ca?tab=summary]

    for full length video

    FRITZ SPRINGMEIER A Bold Christian Truthseeker The Top 13 Illuminati Bloodlines

    [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k73Q2_f4vKU ]

    WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS !

    [ www.libradio.net ]

    [ www.gcnlive.com]

    - Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ] :

  • whites do it better
    Dec 28 2009, 09:09

    to upliftdarace_144:

    Oh my! How uninformed you are.

    None of those things were ever invented by the Africans. Never do the Africans invent things. The examples you noted above are of people who hold some patents on items that White European people have invented. Interestingly enough, none of the people you cited has an African name...that’s because the Africans cannot invent or built anything. But they are very skilled at breaking and destroying things. Look at the DRC or Zimbabwe. The Africans have an IQ 20% below of their Oriental counterparts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race,_Evolution,_and_Behavior. So give us a break and go back to your hut.