Tanzania: Random Educational Observation

Some of my random observations/thoughts while traveling Tanzania in July 2022. I travelled far and wide mostly by public transportation, meeting people, talking to them, observing them and seeing the vast possibilities of Tanzania.

I have not followed any order intentionally to keep it as it is since it was part of my communication with a Tanzanian friend who wanted to hear my experience. I may be wrong in certain observation but it is completely educational without any wrong motive.

Given an opportunity I will return to Tanzania again to complete my tour of Mbeya in South and Mwanza on Lake Victoria which I was not able to do this time. I entered Tanzania from Rwanda through Rusumo border and travelled up to Dar es salaam then Zanzibar and back to Dar. And in return to Moshi, Arusha, Engaruka, Karatu, Ngorongoro conservation area and entered Kenya through Namanga border.
I found Tanzania friendly and receptive. There was openness in talk.
My entry to Rusumo, Tanzania was smooth. The immigration officer at desk was good and fast.
Some more signage at border will be helpful for tourist.
I saw few signage on road. Road from Rusumo to Dar (1300 KMs) was good and passed through many picturesque settings and some national parks area.
On the downside, there was lot of checkpoints on road. By police, transport department and also too many weighing stations to check overload status of vehicles.
These points in fact promotes corruption. Too many points of check mean too much corruption and control. We witnessed this in India also. But slowly auto toll barriers/digitalization are improving the situation and minimising human contact in India at similar points and it is helping in reducing corruption.
As per Tanzania health authority order, no test of covid should be done at border from 1st July 22 but still Rusumo border doing test and giving certificate. Nobody asks for this certificate while entering.
At Namanga border there was no such test.
At several places even single police personnel stopping several buses and checking documents. Sometime 4 or 5 times in 100 kms.
I found BRT very effective mode of public transportation in Dar es salaam. It needs to be extended to new bus station on priority.
I saw very high poverty and lack of infrastructure in Engaruka (Arusha region). I suspect some bodily disorder (might be having some genetic link) among children which needs to be tested for corrective action.
I wonder why international organisations and UN particularly UNICEF not present in this area. It requires immediate attention. The reason of poverty is natural also since this part is dry and on the other side of Ngorongoro area. But the situation is alarming for children. Poor infrastructure roads, dwellings, health centres, schools, water is so scarce. Dust clouds rules the area in place of rain clouds. Small children are the worst sufferer, walking miles and miles in the dusty road on foot to reach schools with several having no slippers, torn clothes, torn school bags, some severely mal-nourished and full of dusty faces. And on the other side BIG 5 (Lion, Buffalo, Leopards, Elephants, Rhino) having visitors from around the world who spend an average hundreds of US dollar per day for a glance of BIG 5. Extreme contrast and high inequality. Some 500 years ago there was an ingenious irrigation system in Engaruka developed by local community and farmers but it is no more. It is ruins now. Similar system of irrigation for channelising water needs to be developed to support local community in enhancing their farming yields and fight poverty.
In Karatu region power is an issue. Farmers needs support for power and tube well to fetch water.
Large scale solar farm with support from govt. will improve situation in this area. Alternative is to bring piped water from nearby lakes and rivers.
When I was working in China, people only demand better infrastructure like roads for better access to market.
The road to Engaruka from Ambu was knee deep in dust. Only one bus runs from Arusha to Engaruka. Pathetic situation.
I also saw very high charges for foreign tourist in national parks. There should be one more classification for tourists from developing countries. Charges are same for European, American, Indian and Bangladeshi.
Development still to reach to interiors and far-flung areas.
Mechanised farming, good seeds, water efficient crops to be promoted on large scale.
Railway for transportation of goods and people is economical so it should be improved and frequency of running of trains to be increased.
Digital revolution in all mode of life should be increased. Kenya doing much better in this area.
Tanzania has a scale and means to grow faster.
Domestic air travel to tourist destination is quite developed in Tanzania.
Govt should actively promote investment in Zanzibar.
I witnessed that Tanzanian people are quite peaceful and Dar is really a nice city and aptly means in local language as "Heaven of Peace".
I found police culture everywhere in Tanzania like India, more particularly on highways.
Agriculture is back bone of Tanzania so it requires very focussed approach.
50 % Lake Victoria, lake Tangy and Nyanza and still water issues in certain area requires fresh thinking to carry water.
The focus needs to be shifted from Big 5 animals and game reserve to people and community.
Country of game reserves needs fresh ideas to be known as Country for people.
I also see investment in sky train at Dar es salaam. Don't know who is funding! But a sustainability check is needed for such big infra projects. It should not become a bad investment. The Nairobi to Mombasa new rail is not generating expected returns.
Focus should be right now on skill building of local people to improve their livelihood. The high number of boda boda (motor cycle taxi) on roads, one can gauge the growing population of young people and also unemployment among them.
Population control measures at this stage would be beneficial for entire country. It is not advisable to take India route in population control by natural stabilization.
Tanzania is much safer and secure. It was a bad publicity, image and perception outside Africa about Tanzania. That's why I never believed in that information. I travelled solo on public transport day and night and found no issues. Walking in Kahama, Dodoma, Dar es salaam, Arusha, Karatu, Engaruka in late night/early morning. Never felt insecure for a minute. This bad image and perception requires fresh new image of Tanzania.
I wondered many times that with so much of policing, buses, matatus, mini taxi stills run overloaded. No seat belts etc.
Buses in certain sectors are so crowded that not even a person can change its position while standing.
Time has come for Tanzania to draw its own development plans rather than following blindly of others countries presented by international and UN organizations. There models succeed but on a huge price. Tanzania needs local solutions.
Safe drinking water supply is another area to focus in rural areas.
Saw too many Japanese four wheelers on road. I think Indian/Chinese four wheelers would be economical than Japanese.
In three wheelers, Bajaj and TVS King are seen everywhere on road.
In 80s few Tanzanians were studying with us at engineering college in India. Tried locating them but failed.
More educational tie up in electronic, computer is needed for country like Tanzania. Even inviting Indian public or private institutions to open their centres in Tanzania.
Tanzania needs to invent new methods, processes and resolve to channelise the energy and enthusiasm of its young growing population.

Thanks and wishing Tanzanian people a Healthy and improved well being particularly the young and children.