What East African youth ought to do for their benefit

The famous political and social philosopher of 19th century, Karl Marx, years ago said that economy is the base of all social relations. Being in the 21st century, and that no any other
scholar has raised valid criticism to make what Marx said ineffective, the youths of Tanzania need to assess their economic DESTINY in the so called integration of East African countries and the world at large.

 

When one attempts to investigate Africa and the so called the western world regarding the technological and social advancements, one will notice a high scale disparity. We Africans are technology users while the Europeans are technology developers. 

 

Here we see who is the seller and who is the buyer. Again in the western world titles like the professor of public policy are heard but in Africa especially in the very country of us Tanzania these titles are not heard. There is connection between education and socio-economic development in Europe something which is not clear for Tanzanians. The selection of these two aspects of comparison justifies the difference between Africa and the western world. 

 

I was lucky to attend an event which took the name of, “Youth to cooperate world forum” which was conducted at Tumaini University Makumira in Arusha,  May this year. The event was organised by Aiesec Makumira University. The forum was aimed at bringing together the students and the company owners so as to promote accessibility of employment opportunities by youths who graduate.

 

 The event was graced by officials from CRDBBANK, Airtel Tanzania, East African community representatives, Trinity East Africa and some innovators such as Cornelio Mahanga.  

 

The speech by Dr Faustin Mahali  of  Tumaini University, Makumira  who was the guest of honour  underlined the need to struggle in life. He stressed, “nothing is given freely in life”. 

 

 “There are people in the streets who are jobless and if the graduates go back to the streets claiming of having no employment, those in the streets who lack education will not understand them,” he intoned. 

 

The guest of honour  made a point of reflection  that instead of waiting politicians to promise people, let people promise themselves of what they can do and succeed. Assistant Communication Officer EAC, Tanzanian division Alice Maro gave a genesis of the East African Community, its goals and mission as WELL as challenges. 

  

She said among the challenges of the union is the ideological differences. At the attainment of independence Tanzania adopted socialism, Kenya adopted capitalism and Uganda adopted mixed kind of economy. Another challenge is the different level of economy which hinders some agreements as member countries fail to see the possibility for them doing well.

 

The first EAC youth ambassador in Tanzania,  Raymond Maro tookCHANCE to talk on the role and position of youths especially in universities in the integration progress. He said that youths from Tanzania can champion the move of integration .The EAC trains youths who will function in peace keeping and governance. 

 

He said that the EAC is about to launch the essay writing competition on the integration process. The best essayists will be the front liners in the championing of the move of integration of the EAC. He said that, the EAC uses media especially the social networks to bring youths of the region together and hence catalysing the process of integration.

 

On the question of the disparity in the quality of education across the region mainly due to language difference in the teaching and learning process, Maro said that language does not matter but skills acquired which are necessary for the socio-economic development. 

 

“We don’t aim at harmonising the entire education system across the region because we want competition to exist,” he added.  

 

In economic pursuits the stage was given to Austin Makani who is the director of Trinity East Africa company. Makani put clear that in order to succeed one must struggle. He put forward five things which count in success. 

 

These include; the 24 hour accuracy, the rule of five, not underestimating the power of brain, the power of positive thinking and lastly faith.

 

“Entrepreneurship is featured by creativity and innovation, it does not mean only a business,” he stressed.

 

 Makani challenged the youths who attended the forum to assess their position regarding the opportunities emerging from the East African integration. When asked by the audience on how to raise capital for a business, Makani said that capital should be raised slowly with determination to do something promising.

 

The “Youth to cooperate forum” was also furnished by presentation from CRDB through their representative Hery Malila. He explained that CRDBBANK offers different services such as accounts, credits for business, and credits for women. He said that CRDB also provides services like Sim-Banking and Fahari Huduma. When asked by youths on how they can benefit from the life of CRDB, 

 

Malila said that the youths can grab opportunities like being Fahari Huduma agents. The presentations by Makani of Trinity East Africa and Malila from CRDB Usa-River branch  reminded the youths to play their economic role in the East Africa and the world at large.

 

“It is certain that the youths of Tanzania are energetic and mentally active to the capacity of doingWELL the political and economic roles, but the government still stands as a supreme facilitator in the move. It is something pleasing that the government of Tanzania supports the youths so that they defend their position in the East African community,” he noted.

 

The infrastructural and orientation differences in social, political and economic contexts determine differential levels of achievements by member states in the East African community. It is without objection that the government should see a way of reducing the disparity in economic and social settings so that we defend the youth’s position in this regional economic integration. 

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN