By Adonis Byemelwa
Shinyanga--A recent tour of Simiyu and Shinyanga regions, top officials from Tanzania's ruling party, led by Secretary General Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi, brought to the forefront a series of urgent challenges related to infrastructure and social services.
The tour, which began on October 6, was part of a broader outreach program aimed at addressing key concerns of residents and pushing forward the implementation of the 2020-2025 election manifesto. However, while the party leadership emphasized the need for quick solutions, critics and political analysts are questioning the effectiveness and sincerity of these visits.
During the rallies, which saw significant participation from residents, ministers, regional and district commissioners were called upon to tackle various pressing issues, including the slow progress of infrastructure projects, problems in the education and health sectors, and water supply deficiencies.
One of the most notable concerns was the repeated delays in the construction of promised facilities, such as the market and bus terminal in Lamadi, as well as the sluggish improvement of local schools and roads.
The Secretary General’s entourage, which included departmental heads such as Amos Makalla, responsible for Ideology, Publicity, and Training, and Rabia Hamid Abdalla, Secretary for Politics and International Affairs, called for a more effective response to public needs.
This outreach, they insisted, was crucial for realizing the promises made during the last election cycle, with additional visits planned for Dar es Salaam, Coast, Mara, Tabora, Iringa, Morogoro, and Dodoma.
The tour also brought attention to issues such as the invasion of elephants into farms and residential areas, a problem that has placed lives and livelihoods at risk. Several MPs from Simiyu and Shinyanga highlighted the need for immediate government action to protect citizens and their properties.
Other issues that garnered attention included the poor state of electricity services in Kahama, where MPs urged the Energy Ministry to upgrade the area to a Tanesco regional service center, given its potential as a mineral hub with the Bulyanhulu gold mine. The Energy Minister, Dr. Doto Biteko, assured residents that this would be addressed within the financial year, following expert evaluations.
Agricultural concerns were also at the heart of the discussions. Residents voiced frustration over the delayed delivery of agricultural inputs and fluctuating cotton prices. The Agriculture Minister, Hussein Bashe, was pressed to ensure that farmers receive quality seeds and fertilizers on time. The party leadership reiterated the government's commitment to supporting agriculture, calling for swift solutions to these long-standing challenges.
In the education sector, Dr. Nchimbi took a personal initiative, committing 10 million Tanzanian shillings from his office to accelerate the opening of a new primary school in Meatu, scheduled to begin operations early next year. This intervention came after residents raised concerns about the long distances their children must travel to access education.
Nevertheless, despite these promises and assurances, many political analysts and residents remain skeptical about the real impact of such high-profile tours. “These trips seem to be more about political showmanship than actual progress,” commented Iverson John, a Tanzanian analyst living in the U.S. diaspora. “They arrive in grand convoys, but the reality on the ground doesn't change. People are still struggling, and projects that could change lives remain stalled.”
In Shinyanga, recent visits by several top government officials, each inspecting development projects and issuing directives, have added to this skepticism. For instance, the Minister for Land, Housing, and Human Settlements, Deogratius Ndejembi, toured the region shortly before the Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe.
Following a recent two-day visit by Fadhili Rajabu Maganya, the National Chairperson of the CCM Parents’ League, the region has seen an influx of high-profile visits, including the arrival of the party’s Secretary General and his team. However, many residents remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these visits.
Paschal Makonda from Shinyanga expressed frustration, stating, “Instead of focusing on real development, we see leaders coming one after another, each making promises, but nothing changes.” He emphasized that cases of corruption continue to rise, even with the presence of regional commissioners, district commissioners, and officials from the Prevention and Control of Corruption Bureau. Local leaders and residents alike are calling for tangible actions rather than empty promises, as the need for genuine development grows increasingly urgent.
Analysts like Masunga Dwasi from Ngokolo, Shinyanga, question whether these frequent visits achieve anything beyond unnecessary spending. He argues that since most of the visiting officials belong to the same ruling party, internal communication should suffice for updates, rather than expensive regional trips.
“Ministers can use ICT to monitor projects and get updates without making these costly trips,” he said, noting that a single ministerial visit from Dar es Salaam or Dodoma can cost up to 60 million Tanzanian shillings. "If these visits were truly productive, why are we still seeing the same corruption scandals resurface?"
CCM Deputy Secretary General John Mongella Engages Local Leaders in Bulungwa, Ushetu - September 8, 2024.Photo: Courtesy
Masunga Dwasi highlighted a case from February 2024, when Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa ordered the arrest of the Head of Finance and Accounting for the Serengeti District Council. The official, along with three other employees, was accused of embezzling over 213 million shillings in public funds. "This kind of graft is not an isolated case. It’s systemic, and these visits do little to address the root causes," he added.
Corruption remains a major obstacle to meaningful development, as evidenced by the findings of the 2022 Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which revealed that various ministries had misappropriated over 212 billion shillings from COVID-19 relief funds. Ministries, including Health, Education, Tourism, and Water, were implicated. Dr. Kahyoza noted, "Despite the oversight, we continue to see money being siphoned off, and no number of ministerial visits seems to change that."
The frustrations of ordinary citizens, particularly those in rural areas, are exacerbated by the high cost of living and rising prices for essential goods, such as medicine. Kahama MP Jumanne Kishimba called for a review of medicine prices, citing their burden on rural communities. Arbitrary arrests by police were also a concern, prompting the Secretary-General to direct the Home Affairs Ministry to review law enforcement practices.
For many residents, the repeated visits and promises seem hollow in the face of persistent corruption and project delays. Critics argue that if leaders spent less time traveling and more time addressing these systemic issues, real change might follow. “We’re still dealing with the aftermath of cases like the mismanagement of revenue from business licenses under the (PO-RALG),” said Masunga Dwasi. "It’s clear that the issue isn’t just oversight—it’s the culture of impunity."
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa Addresses Public Meeting in Kangeme Village, Ushetu District, Shinyanga - July 16, 2018.Photo: Courtesy
Tanzanians like Iverson John and Paschal Makonda are growing increasingly cynical about these tours, viewing them as little more than political theater ahead of upcoming elections. "Unless we start addressing corruption at its core, these trips will remain just that—trips. Expensive, political, and ultimately meaningless," Masunga Dwasi concluded. For now, the gap between promises and results remains wide, leaving citizens waiting for the tangible improvements they have long been promised.
While skepticism lingers in Tanzania, other African countries have demonstrated that decisive leadership, even through high-profile visits, can tackle corruption and deliver real change. In Rwanda, President Paul Kagame’s unrelenting focus on fighting graft has transformed the country into one of Africa’s least corrupt nations.
His hands-on approach, including surprise visits and regular inspections, has helped restore public confidence in government institutions. Similarly, in Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration has taken significant steps to root out corruption, with ministers and high-ranking officials losing their jobs for failing to meet anti-graft standards.
These examples show that such visits can be productive when coupled with genuine political will and accountability. Tanzania’s leadership has the opportunity to emulate these success stories by making their tours more than just ceremonial. They must ensure that promises translate into tangible results—whether it's building schools, improving healthcare, or addressing corruption. Anything less, and these tours will continue to be seen as mere distractions from the deeper issues plaguing the country.
