According to Unesco adult education is any educational process, formal
or informal, including apprenticeships, regardless of content or week. Photo:
Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
On
July 6, 2024, a significant milestone was achieved in the fight against
illiteracy in Tanzania. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT)
Karagwe Diocese proudly celebrated the graduation of 125 adults from its second
cohort of an adult literacy program.
According
to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Karagwe Diocese Bishop, Benson
Bagonza, this initiative, which specifically targets adults unable to read,
write, or perform basic arithmetic, is a beacon of hope in the Murongo district
of the Murongo-Kyerwa Division.
He
noted in his viral message that, the graduates who received certificates of
completion, are part of a broader effort to boost Tanzania's literacy rate,
which saw an impressive rise to 82.02% in 2022. This marks a pivotal moment in
the journey toward a more educated and empowered society.
Dr.
Bagonza said the project is funded through a partnership with Bread for the
World, a German organization. The collaboration between Murongo (Tanzania) and
Gutersloh (Germany) dioceses ensures the program's success. While there may be
unique statistics to highlight, it is evident to many that illiteracy is
growing in many rural areas.
Ignorance,
once seen as a burden, has become a valuable asset for many. Religious leaders
find it easier to sell salvation, false promises of wealth, and miraculous
healings to the uneducated. Dr. Bagonza emphasizes, "Ignorance allows
religious leaders to manipulate their followers with ease. They can sell the
idea of salvation and false promises without scrutiny."
Similarly, politicians exploit the ignorance
of many to manipulate and deceive without accountability. "Politicians
thrive on the ignorance of their constituents, using it to push agendas and
policies that may not be in the best interest of the public," Dr. Bagonza
notes.
Traditional
healers prey on the uninformed, selling ineffective remedies while subjecting
their clients to degrading treatments.
Dr.
Bagonza states, "The lack of knowledge among the public allows traditional
healers to offer treatments that have no scientific backing, often putting
lives at risk." In an ironic twist, some educators benefit from a cycle of
ignorance, using it as an opportunity to practice and, paradoxically, increase
it. "When education systems fail to enlighten, they perpetuate ignorance,
creating a cycle that is difficult to break," Dr. Bagonza observes.
Corrupt
government officials rely on ignorance to extort bribes and sell basic rights.
"Ignorance is a tool for corrupt officials. It makes it easier for them to
demand bribes and deny basic rights without facing backlash," says Dr.
Bagonza.
Donors
and aid organizations also find fertile ground for distributing aid that
perpetuates dependency, ensuring economic control over the uninformed.
"Aid organizations sometimes maintain a level of dependency among the
uneducated, which can be a subtle form of control," Dr. Bagonza explains.
Governments
often fear knowledgeable citizens but find it easier to control an uneducated
populace. Dr. Bagonza argues, "A knowledgeable citizenry is harder to
manipulate, which is why some governments prefer an uneducated populace."
Online
scammers thrive on the ignorance of many, amassing wealth with little effort.
"The digital age has made it easier for scammers to exploit ignorance,
leading to significant financial losses for the unsuspecting," Dr. Bagonza
notes.
Businesspeople
take advantage of those who believe in the myth of cheaper shops.
"Consumers who are unaware are more likely to fall for deceptive business practices,"
Dr. Bagonza says. Poverty and disease flourish where ignorance prevails.
"Ignorance exacerbates poverty and disease, creating environments where
these issues can thrive unchecked," Dr. Bagonza concludes.
The
battle against ignorance has yet to begin, but when it does, it's crucial to be
part of the solution. Dr. Bagonza asserts, "Every group has its share of
ignorance; if you don’t see it, you might be the ignorant one." The call
to action is clear: awareness and education are key in combating the
exploitation of ignorance across all sectors of society.
In alignment with the critical
observations of Dr. Bagonza, recent events in Tanzania highlight the pervasive
exploitation of ignorance. Last week, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed
Dr. Selemani Jafo as Minister of Industry and Trade.
This appointment coincided with revelations
from a small commission investigating a traders' strike in Kariakoo, a major
commercial hub in Dar es Salaam.
The commission uncovered that
many shop owners were unaware of why their leaders had forced them to close
shops, suggesting political motives behind the strike. President Hassan
indicated that the strike might have been orchestrated for reasons beyond the
traders' immediate grievances.
Interviews with Kariakoo traders revealed a disturbing level of ignorance, as many were oblivious to the reasons behind their actions.
A prominent issue highlighted
was the Tanzania Revenue Authority's (TRA) mandate for the use of Electronic
Fiscal Devices (EFDs). Traders expressed concerns over the high operational
costs of these devices, which significantly impacted their businesses.
The
President's Commission found that many traders did not understand that another
reason for the strike was the government's failure to address issues raised
during the first strike, such as excessive taxes, the disbandment of the tax
collection task force, and the removal of a new warehouse registration law.
The
interviewed traders were unaware that their goods had already been taxed at the
port, only to face further taxation at their shops. This situation, traders
claimed, created avenues for corruption, as they felt compelled to bribe TRA
officials to ease their business operations.
Dr.
Bagonza’s critique of ignorance extends to national matters. When President
Magufuli inaugurated the Kijazi Bridge, he assured Tanzanians that it was
funded domestically. Nevertheless, signs at the construction site, such as at
the Mfugale Bridge, indicated that the Japanese government had contributed,
demonstrating the widespread acceptance of misleading information.
Renowned
Bongo Flavor artist Joseph Mbilinyi highlighted in his song "Ndio
Mzee" how ignorance is a significant asset for politicians, illustrating
how absurd promises, like milk flowing from taps or urgent police responses
symbolized by colliding helicopters, are readily believed by some voters.
During
the 2020 presidential campaign, Hashim Rungwe, a perennial candidate from the
Chauma party, promised to relocate the Indian Ocean to Dodoma and convert its
salty water to fresh for irrigation.
This
ridiculous claim was met with applause from some voters who believed in his
miraculous capabilities akin to those of Jesus of Nazareth.
Religious
leaders have also capitalized on the ignorance Bagonza condemns, convincing
followers that anointing cakes can move mountains and bestow blessings.
Believers are told that waving their phones in the air can solve financial
problems as the Holy Spirit supposedly sends money via mobile networks,
promising a path to sudden wealth.
The
mass hysteria surrounding the Loliondo healer, Babu, is another stark example.
In 2011, an 86-year-old retired Lutheran pastor, Mwasapile, claimed a local
herb, Mugariga, could cure all ailments.
Thousands,
including the educated and politically powerful, flocked to his village, hoping
for a miracle cure. Reports indicated that approximately 52 people died while
waiting for his remedy, underscoring the desperation and widespread ignorance.
The
media reported queues stretching 26 kilometers, with people waiting for weeks
without proper shelter, clean water, or sanitation facilities. Mwasapile sold
his herbal concoction for 500 Tanzanian shillings. When visited by a journalist
in 2011, Mwasapile's home was surrounded by 6,000 people, waiting days for his
treatment without adequate living conditions.
Some
individuals even removed their loved ones from hospitals, believing in
Mwasapile’s cure. Tragically, some died before receiving the supposed remedy.
This widespread ignorance and blind faith in unproven treatments revealed a
deep-seated issue within society.
President
Kikwete, during his tenure, assured Tanzanians of better lives if elected,
hiding the fact that economic stability depends on hard work rather than
political promises. His era was marked by significant corruption scandals, from
Meremeta and Kagoda to Escrow accounts, revealing the stark contrast between
political rhetoric and reality.
Bagonza’s
observation of ignorance also reflects on Tanzanians’ political engagement.
Lawyer Fulgence Masawe from the Legal and Human Rights Centre noted that while
Kenyans actively discuss their budget and finance bills, most Tanzanians are
unaware of the implications of the recently passed budget.
He
highlighted that the budget primarily focused on recurrent expenditures rather
than development, failing to address the needs of the average citizen.
Masawe
pointed out that Tanzanians only realized the impact of the increased property
tax, deducted through electricity costs (LUKU), when it was too late. This
ignorance allows political discussions to be perceived as irrelevant, fostering
a sense of complacency that can threaten societal stability.
Kenyan
President Ruto faced challenges in addressing public protests against the
finance bill, which some believed were incited by civil society organizations.
He wanted citizens to see the bill as harmless, underscoring how political
leaders exploit ignorance to maintain control.
All
and sundry, ignorance, as highlighted by Bishop Bagonza, remains a valuable
asset for politicians. Addressing this ignorance requires a concerted effort to
educate and empower citizens, enabling them to make informed decisions and
challenge the status quo.