MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
TBY talks to Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, on the advantages of being a member of the Commonwealth, the need to celebrate diversity, and Tanzania's war against corruption.
BIOGRAPHY
The Hon. Patricia Scotland was appointed as the first female and sixth Commonwealth Secretary-General in 2015. She assumed office on April 1, 2016. Born in Dominica, she moved to the UK as a child, and later trained as a lawyer. In 1991, she was the first black woman and the youngest woman, at 35, to be appointed a Queen’s Counsel. She joined the House of Lords in 1997 as Baroness Scotland of Asthal, serving later as a minister in the Foreign Office, Home Office, and Lord Chancellor’s Department. In 2007, she was appointed Attorney General, and became the first woman to hold the post since its creation in 1315.What are the mutual benefits of Tanzania's involvement in the Commonwealth of Nations?
There are many ways the 52 member nations of the Commonwealth benefit across trade, law, the environment, and society in general. The historical ties and shared legal structures of Commonwealth members make it, on average, 19% cheaper for member countries to trade with each other. We pledged to work in closer partnership with the African Development Bank Group on areas such as climate change, natural disasters, equality and gender, rule of law, good governance, and youth unemployment. We agreed to develop and implement an outcomes-focused MoU on joint programs that will lead to real and tangible differences to the lives of Commonwealth citizens. In 2015, we deployed a Commonwealth Observer Group, headed by Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former president of Nigeria, to observe the Tanzanian electoral process, and make recommendations for continuing to implement improvements in the delivery of free and fair elections. In addition, the Commonwealth Secretariat provides technical support to member countries with the aim of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fair and equitable development for all. This includes assistance on trade, climate change, rule of law, and governance, among others.
How do you strike a balance between encouraging English for ease of doing business and championing national languages for nationwide civic inclusivity?
We celebrate diversity across the Commonwealth, and, as a key part of this, a rich variety of languages and dialects should be embraced. However, we should not forget that English is the most widely spoken language across the Commonwealth, and this is reflected in the many model laws, publications, and reports that the Secretariat publishes. A common language can only help the Commonwealth become more inclusive for the common good and enable countries to share best practices. The common language spoken across the Commonwealth also contributes to the "Commonwealth advantage," which is the benefit that results from similarities in language, law, and institutions when trade occurs between member countries.
Given that the Commonwealth of Nations is actively involved in advising its members on stable and fair trade deals, what is your assessment of the ongoing discussions regarding the EAC-EU EPA?
The Commonwealth is built on the twin pillars of democracy and development. Trade is an important area, in which we constantly work with our members to advance their development. We do this through supporting them to have the appropriate policy and legal frameworks, such as national trade policies and export strategies; supporting them on trade facilitation; and concluding trade agreements with partners. What is most important is that Tanzania and its partners in East Africa are able to come to a consensus on what is best for them as countries and as a region. The EAC is an important regional integration entity that makes advances in several areas. The region has always shown itself able to rise to challenges, and, because of this, will be able to forge consensus and come to a position that takes into account the concerns of all its members.
Compared to other member states, how do you evaluate the progress made so far by the Tanzanian government to reduce bureaucracy and crack down on corruption?
The Secretariat's public sector governance work assists in the strengthening of anti-corruption agencies of developing member countries in the Commonwealth in order to tackle the problem more effectively and help achieve SDG 16. The annual Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies' meeting acts as a focal point for peer review of country anti-corruption reports, and shared transferable experiences and lessons. In this, Tanzania is a founding member; it also has a comprehensive body of laws, regulations, and oversight agencies designed to prevent, investigate, and sanction corrupt practices. The legislation deals with corrupt activities at all levels. Since assuming office in November, President Magufuli has been rebuilding trust with Western organizations by cracking down on corruption.
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Guest Speaker
Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary General, Commonwealth of Nations
TBY talks to Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, on the advantages of being a member of the Commonwealth, the need to celebrate diversity, and Tanzania's war against corruption.
read articleGuest Speaker
Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary-General, East African Community (EAC)
TBY talks to Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary-General of the East African Community (EAC), on Tanzania's importance to the EAC, the major achievements of regional integration, and obstacles ahead of a monetary union.
read articleInterview
Raymond P. Mbilinyi, Executive Secretary , Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC)
TBY talks to Raymond P. Mbilinyi, Executive Secretary of Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), on its work to support the private sector in the country, tackling challenges in the economy, and clamping down on corruption.
read articleReview: Banking
The Quest for Depth
If Tanzania is to meet its 2025 vision of attaining middle-income status, it will need to corral its bank-centric financial and capital markets for greater depth by extending participation and rendering credit more accessible to SMEs, women, and the young to spur economic growth.
read articleInterview
Dr. Baghayo A. Saqware, Commissioner , Insurance, Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA)
TBY talks to Dr. Baghayo A. Saqware, Commissioner of Insurance, Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA), on achieving universal healthcare coverage, the brilliance of microinsurance, and how to partner with public and private entities to increase the industry's penetration.
read articleReview
Legal Thunder
With the stepping down of Minister of Energy and Minerals Sospeter Muhongo in May 2017 over transparency issues and the introduction of three new laws that give the government the right to renegotiate or revoke existing mining and oil and gas rights, private players in the country are unsure of what future lies ahead. On the other hand, project-specific developments bode well for a sector in need of a breakthrough.
read articleInterview
Kapuulya Musomba, Managing Director, Tanzania Petroleum Development Company (TPDC)
TBY talks to Kapuulya Musomba, Acting Managing Director of Tanzania Petroleum Development Company (TPDC), on the planned expansion of the Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline, entering northern industrial hubs, and empowering nascent industries.
read articleInterview
Marc Den Hartog, Managing Director, Shell/BG Tanzania
TBY talks to Marc Den Hartog, Managing Director of Shell/BG Tanzania, on the critical need for economies of scale, the importance of developing LNG for export, and why renewables must be taken into account in any long-term plan.
read articleInterview
Hon. Charles Mwijage, Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment
TBY talks to Hon. Charles Mwijage, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, on how to reach middle-income status, employing the private sector toward this end, and what sets the country apart from the rest of East Africa.
read articleFocus: Helium
Discoveries of Magna-tude
Despite being the second most common element in the universe, helium is in short supply on earth. With global reserves of the gas steadily dwindling, and demand steadily increasing, the discovery of a whopping 1.53 billion cbm of helium in underground chambers in Tanzania could not have come at a better moment.
read articleInterview
Gilliard W. Ngewe, Director General, Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Agency (SUMATRA)
TBY talks to Gilliard W. Ngewe, Director General of Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Agency (SUMATRA), on transportation budget allocation and cross-sector dialog and partnerships.
read articleInterview
Jared H. Zerbe, CEO, Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Limited (TICTS)
TBY talks to Jared H. Zerbe, CEO of Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Limited (TICTS), on regional trade flows and Tanzania's potential to take a leading role in orchestrating cargo movement.
read articleFocus: Tanzania Strategic Cities Project (TSCP)
East Africa’s “Geneva”
If Rome wasn't built in a day, it is not surprising that Tanzania's project to revamp eight of its largest cities is entering its eighth year of implementation. A release of further funds from the World Bank has given the project a new lease of life.
read articleReview
Lost in the Maize
Agriculture accounts for 30% of Tanzania's GDP, and the sector has experienced above-average output in recent years compared to the rest of the African continent. However, the sector's development is held back by poor rural farming practices and general infrastructure bottlenecks.
read articleInterview
Fred Kafeero, Tanzania Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
TBY talks to Fred Kafeero, Tanzania Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on the organization's long-term support for Tanzania's development, recent initiatives in agriculture, and financing.
read articleFocus: 2020 Irrigation Target
Reap What You Sow
In 2006, the Tanzanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation set a target for Tanzania's agriculture sector: to irrigate 1 million ha of land by 2020. More than 10 years on and moving ever closer to the deadline, this target has not yet been met, though the first seeds are being sown.
read articleFocus: Southern Circuit Tourism
Hidden Gems
Tourism is frequently described as the jewel in Tanzania's economic crown. In 2016 alone, the industry contributed over USD2 billion in revenues. However, for at least three years, the government has expressed concern that tourism is not well distributed across the country.
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