In two years Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete will join
the ranks of former African heads of state and be eligible for a TSh8
billion ($5 million) retirement bounty that eluded his predecessor
Benjamin William Mkapa.
Considered a "dream send-off" for elected
presidents who have a positive impact on their nations, The Ibrahim
Prize for Achievement in African Leadership would be the icing on the
cake should Mr Kikwete scoop the much-watched award.
The Tanzanian President steps down in 2015 after
two five-year terms and will qualify to be considered for the prize that
also comes with an annual TSh320 million ($200,000) cheque.
Now in its seventh year, the prize, sponsored by
billionaire businessman Mo Ibrahim to promote democracy and good
governance on the continent, is the biggest financial reward on record
to an outgoing chief executive of a country.
Only three former presidents--Joaquim Chissano of
Mozambique, Festus Mogae of Botswana and Pedro Pires of Cape Verde have
so far won the prize.
Former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa missed
out in the first three years after his retirement in 2005 and is now
time barred according to prize rules.
Last week, judges for the second consecutive year
and the fourth time overall did not award the prize as the contenders
did not meet the criteria, in what is seen as an indictment of the
region's leadership.
Record fluctuated
Tanzania’s record in the Ibrahim Index of African
Governance has fluctuated over the years but appears to have taken a
sharp decline this year, slumping seven places to its worst performance
to position 17. In 2012, the country was ranked 10th while it was 13th
in 2011.
Dar dropped vital points in all criteria except
human development, dampening President Kikwete’s chances of becoming the
first leader from the East African Community to win the coveted prize.
Tanzania scored poorly in sustainable economic opportunity, safety and rule of law and participation and human rights.
Economic opportunities for Tanzanians shrunk
between 2011 and 2013, with poor infrastructure (32.7 per cent)
accounting for the biggest drop. It was followed closely by
accountability (42.1 per cent), education (47.6 per cent), human rights
(50.2 per cent) and personal safety (50.5 per cent).
It did well in national security (87.5 per cent),
health (74.5 per cent), gender (70 per cent) and participation (63.8 per
cent).
Legacy
With only two years to his retirement, the
question is: What should pre-occupy President Kikwete most to secure his
legacy? Political pundits and analysts told The Citizen on Sunday that there was still time for the President to put his act together and finish on a high note.
According to Prof Humphrey Moshi, a senior
economics lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, it is not a
matter of debate that more resources and energy should be directed to
overhauling the infrastructure.
"With many unpaved rural roads, constant power
outages, a dilapidated central railway line and the troubled Air
Tanzania, the data from the Ibrahim index is nothing but a rude reminder
to the President,” Prof Moshi said in an interview.
While much of the national highways have been
tarmacked, the university don said, the collapse of the railway system
negates those results. He was unable to tell whether President Kikwete
stands a chance of winning the Mo Ibrahim billions but believes the
constitutional review process could be a game changer.
Constitution
"If the new constitution captures national
aspirations and is promulgated before the 2015 General Election as he
has promised, I can see that giving him invaluable credit in the
competition,” said Prof Moshi.
According to the executive director of the Legal
and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Dr Helen Kijo-Bisimba, Tanzania should
strive to improve its record because, while it is ahead of many other
countries, the situation on the ground is still “demanding”.
“We have experienced a rise in mob justice,
extra-judicial killings, kidnaps and torture of civilians,” Dr Bisimba
said. “Yet little action has come from the government to deal with the
situation.”
The ban on some newspapers also did not augur well
for the President, she added. “We still have oppressive laws that deny
citizens their basic right to information but the President has been
silent on this and many other human rights abuses,” she added. “It is
such things that stand between President Kikwete and the Ibrahim prize.”
Mr Semkae Kilonzo, the coordinator at Policy Forum
Tanzania--a network of over 100 policy and advocacy NGOs--said public
participation in matters of governance is still largely “cosmetic”.
“President Kikwete should reverse the trend to
stand a good chance,” said Mr Kilonzo. “We know the competition is stiff
and standards high, but it is possible.”
--For more this story click here, or go to www.thecitizen.co.tz
SOURCE: AFRICA REVIEW
SOURCE: AFRICA REVIEW
