Magufuli’s Dazzling Infrastructure Critical for Socio-Economic Growth, International Competitiveness

By Nyambaliro Masinde, Nairobi

10-August, 2020: The UNITED States Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr. Donald J. Wright, admitted that Tanzania is a country of unbeatable potential and clearly advised on the need to address critical infrastructure demands.

“Tanzania can address critical infrastructure demands such as affordable energy for all and public transportation networks,” he said in a statement that he personally wrote and was released by the Embassy to the public.  

The new Envoy, who had tendered his credentials to the Tanzanian President John Magufuli, was right on point. The American Ambassador promised the President a strong and renewed partnership.

This was a blow to some opposition party leaders in Tanzania who, erroneously, contended the development of infrastructure was insignificant but human development.

Unfortunately they seem locked in darkness. They do not realize that hard or physical infrastructure goes in tandem or strategically with soft infrastructure and human development. The opposition needs to look for credible and persuasive issues, not this one.

The Julius Nyerere Hydro Power Plant will need Tanzanians to operate it. They will have to learn and replicate the technology to other countries like it did after liberating other African countries from the colonial occupation.

“If faculties of members of the opposition in Tanzania are not paralytic, they may quickly realize that their criticism on Dr. Magufuli on massive public infrastructure will not earn them acceptance. They should re-think if it is not late,” says Gerald Kembo of Machakos. 

Why Infrastructure

There is evidence on infrastructure’s vital role for sustained, broadly shared economic growth and international competitiveness.

Infrastructure industries (network utilities) provide crucial services for manufacturing and commerce, significantly influence growth of national production and are thus vital to the public interest.

Improved access to infrastructure in Tanzania and in the rest of the developing countries, serves to increase factor productivity and reduce production costs. They also promote private capital formation and improve education and health outcomes.

The infrastructure also fosters innovation, empower women by alleviating the constraint imposed on their time allocation.

President Magufuli is on record in implementing massive post-Nyerere reforms which transformed the country with new world-class infrastructure.

 

Worldwide Focus on Infrastructure

 

The infrastructure is critical for employment, innovation, personal development, wealth creation hence critical to human development. The Ugandan leader, Yoweri Museveni, is quoted saying the biggest challenge for African is infrastructure development. 

 

Imagine a country without adequate power infrastructure, road, air and rail network or communications generally, how do you successfully produce and reach global markets? Those criticizing Magufuli on investing in large scale public infrastructure are completely blinkered. 

 

India is developed than most African nations. However, the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, once made it clear that the economy is bleak without Infrastructure. 

 

He went on saying, “Hence the prime focus of my government is infrastructure.”

Former American President Barack Obama, “one of the fastest and best ways to create good jobs is by rebuilding America’s infrastructure.”

 

Story of Magical Infrastructure Development in Five Years

Installing strategic infrastructure was President John Magufuli top priority since he assumed the presidency in November 2015.

Thus far President Magufuli has constructed 3,500 kilometers of tarmac roads; the record that I am not sure has ever been broken by an African President in just five years. Tanzania has a total length of tarmac roads of 12,964 kilometers.

He is constructing a mega Hydro Power Plant (2,115MW), the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), Air and marine transport and transportation. 

Once the hydro power is completed, Tanzania will have a surplus power to export, cost per unit will go down hence encouraging the explosion of industries in the country. 

Tanzania, for the first time, is greeted by the state-of-the-art Ubungo interchange, Tazara flyover and the new SelanderBridge to mention a few.

Dr. Magufuli is setting a record in Africa on the spirit of building internal capacity. Most of the infrastructural projects are internally funded by the Tanzania taxpayers.

He ensured efficient collection and wise distribution of the taxes. It is because of this new culture of efficiency in the civil service, Tanzania finances own infrastructures.

In decongesting Tanzania’s commercial city, Dar es Salaam, Magufuli constructs a hanging bridge across the Indian Ocean. This project costs 256bn/-.

Impact of Infrastructure on Human Development

The opposition in Tanzania is totally lost in ignorance. In pursuit of achieving and maintaining high human development, infrastructure is pivotal. Studies are in record. Places with good tarmac roads, electricity and telecom infrastructure, rail, water, health and educational infrastructures, attract investmentsand businesses on which people develop.

Before Dr. Magufuli, practically moved the capital to Dodoma, more than 45 years since the decision, University of Dodoma (educational infrastructure) played a key role in transforming the city. This is a candid example from which members of the opposition parties in Tanzania could learn and appreciate. They need to look for a different agenda. This one is unbeatable.

The studies done in other countries similar to Tanzania establishclose linkage between infrastructure and human development. Telecommunication, postal services, village electricity, banking, school and drinking water facilities play significant roles in the process of attaining high level of human development. 

Therefore, these infrastructural projects are connected to human development. They encourage other investments, businesses, create jobs, transfer technology, and send youths to Universities, Colleges, Schools, thereby becoming sources of economic growth and human development. 

The studies indicate that in order to achieve high and sustained human development, the country or a region like Simiyu, Kilimanjaro or Kinondoni, needs to prioritize infrastructure as a source for human development. Dr. Donald J. Wright, the US Ambassador accredited to Tanzania was very right on the need for critical infrastructure.

Nyambarilo Masinde is a social scientist working and living in Nairobi, Kenya.