Mkulo’s sweat and the poor man’s sweat…the big difference
By Saumu Jumanne
Unlike our Finance Minister Brother Mustapha Mkulo, who is a so well versed
in matters to do with finance and economic sector- having worked his way up
for many years, I have very limited know how on the same. And so are the
majority Tanzanians.
However, as a trained geographer, specializing in human geography and more
so as a citizen of this country, I have some bones to pick with the
minister’s recent ranting that “every man shall eat by the sweat of his
brow.’
The good second term minister said lowering taxes on oil to ease life for
the common man was not on his cards, rather Tanzanians should be prepared to
eat ‘their sweat’(my words). This way they can find their way out of the
miserable economic situation so many live in.
In human geography we study the behaviors of our kind and subsequent
interaction with the environment. Factors such as population growth,
migration and ultimately the search for human satisfaction in any community
are influenced to a great extent by availability of food. After the basic
needs are met at minimum level, the human being yearn for a better life and
here comes economics and the road blocks placed by the Mkulos of this world.
I can confidently tell the good minister that Tanzanians are hardworking
lot, sweating to make ends meet every day. Women sweat it out in rural areas
walking hundreds of kilometers for water, firewood, just to bring up
tomorrow’s generation.
In Tanga and other fruit producing regions, during the harvest season, the
produce is always more than the local populace can consume. And it goes to
waste. Yet, that is SWEAT, Mr Minister.
Farmers in Kigoma, they produce more than they can eat. And Mkulo’s
‘government’ has not created an environment where farmers can sell their
‘sweat’ and know what economic freedom means. But mind you the sweat from
this poor Tanzanians is different from Mkulo’s. I am not sure the worth of
the minister’s sweat in a day, but I can bet it can feed a whole family for
a year in some rural settings.
In Dar es Salaam, the government would want everyone including the hawkers,
called Machingas to pay taxes as well as everyone. Does the good minister
know that if you go to Tanzania Revenue Authority, they want you to pay tax
in advance? Before you have even started your business they tax you. So what
if your capital is only Tshs 200,000/-? So far so good… for people eating
their sweats.
In Tanzania today, it is very hard for the common man to become rich through
his sweat, thanks to a sordid business environment. Can the minister tell us
how many farmers become millionaires every year? Those who become rich are
the men and women called ‘wajanja wa mjini.’ They are smart and corrupt,
and within a short time amass great wealth. The poor man is left to sweat it
out all his life, up to his grave.
The good minister should first ensure the business environment is fair, only
then can people be able to eat their sweat, and pay taxes without any
problem.
If the government wants people to pay tax it must do its work of ensuring
good governance and removing roadblock that make running a business for the
common man a nightmare. Otherwise, the minister’s words, if he was telling
Britons or Americans it could have been ok. But for Tanzanians, it is like
adding salt to injury.
By the way do you remember there was another finance minister in second
phase government who told Tanzanians everyone shall carry his cross? Another
one, in the third phase government said if people are hungry they should eat
grasses. Later on he also said no matter how much the country borrowed, it
did not matter because his generation would be long dead when the debts are
being repaid! So much love for our country by our finance ministers and
politicians at large.
The author can be reached on, saumu.j@gmail.com. She is an Assistant
Lecturer, Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE).