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$550m lost in raw cashew nut sales

11th February 2013

Agriculture Non Sector Actors Forum (ANSAF)

 At least US$ 550m was lost by the country between 2008 and last year, equivalent to US$ 110m annually, due to low levels of value addition for the cashew nut crop.

Agriculture Non Sector Actors Forum (ANSAF) said this during a meeting with Members of the Parliamentary Committee on agriculture, livestock and water in Dodoma last Friday.

According to the research report commissioned by ANSAF, the country’s cashew nut sector has over the years failed to perform to its potential, which if harnessed can help create over 45,000 jobs in the country and make a significant contribution to the economy.

Through the single marketing approach and opaque auctioning system, the sales prices and analysis is also opaque. Ultimately, the payment farmers receive is diluted, due to the high level of costs at the cooperative union and warehouse level. 

Audax Rukonge, the ANSAF Executive Secretary said the research revealed that the cashew sector is the most regulated in the world, and yet Tanzania remains largely a producer of raw cashew nuts for processing in Asia.

According to Rukonge the constraints in processing cashew nuts in Tanzania largely arise from the economic environment, structure and regulation of the sector in Tanzania. 

“We cannot transform agriculture when the farmer is receiving between 57% and 65% of the sale price and approximately 15% less than the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT). This does not motivate farmers to tend their crop,” says Rukonge.

CBT was urged to ensure the sector is well coordinated, principles of cooperatives adhered to and all the decisions regarding marketing to be based on clear information that is widely shared.

Although MPs were advising the government to recover the privatised processing industries, ownershave not renovated them, Rukonge said, adding: “You do not have to encourage people to take loans and reinvest in a very old technology. That cost will never be recovered,” he said, adding that the private sector should be encouraged to invest in new processing plants.

Possible incentives could include working with financial institutions to lower interest rates for purchase of plants; extend repayment periods as well as reduction of taxes on importation of new processing plants.

The committee chairman Prof David Mwakyusa urged ANSAF to work together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to solve the problems of cashew farmers. 

He said the committee will make sure the findings are forwarded to the government.

Farmers from Mkuranga, Mtwara, Masasi and Lindi said the cashew nut crop is being used for political ends, adding that it is viewed by some as a way of extracting money from the system with farmers as pawns in the game. 

Makaburi Babtista who is a farmer from Mtwara who attended the meeting faulted the cooperatives for serving the interests of a few and that although the warehouse receipt system is good, it is highly politicised.

The institutions charged with management of the sector were not listening to the market, but to short term political factors, especially from local politicians, he said.

“Without a coordinated execution, the sector might continue to be weak and open to overcharging and profiteering. For example, compared to other countries growing cashew nuts in Africa, the crop’s inputs in Tanzania are very expensive,” he said.

Hon Mansoor Sharif, Kwimba MP said farmers have not been benefiting much from the cashew nut farming as the traders buy according to grades 1, 2 and 3, but in India the nuts are all sold as grade one.

“The farmer sells to the trader according to grades, but when they are taken to India they are all accounted for as grade one. I think farmers should be given information concerning the international market to help them set the local price,” he explained  

Last week in parliament the government threatened to revoke permits of all cashew nut buyers, who have been moving around in southern regions buying the produce at 500/- contrary to agreed price of 1,200/- per kilo of grade one cashew nuts, while the grade two sells for 960/-

Chadema calls for pressure to force out Speaker, deputy.

Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) has appealed to lawmakers and the public at large to put pressure on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Anne Makinda, and her deputy, Job Ndugai to resign.

The party has also directed its MPs to no longer walk out of the debating chamber when they felt they unfairly treated on an issue and instead they should seek justice from inside as they did during the last session.

Chadema National Chairman Freeman Mbowe, speaking during the Party’s rally at Mwembeyanga ground in Temeke District, Dar es Salaam yesterday, asked the rally participants, who he said constituted a People’s Court, to rule on whether the party’s MPs should walk out of the debating chamber or stay and fight from inside, when they disagreed with a particular decision. The people advised the lawmakers to stay put in the House.

The rally followed a march from Ubungo to Mwembeyanga by hundreds of supporters and the party’s officials led by the Chadema Secretary General Dr Wilbroad Slaa, as a sign to support the opposition legislators.

The various MPs who spoke at the rally said Speaker Makinda and her Deputy Ndugai must go as they have failed to efficiently and fairly guide Parliamentary proceedings.

They said in order to remove them, the Opposition should submit a private motion of no confidence in Parliament while the second method is for the general public to send text messages demanding their resignation.

Mapigano makubwa yazuka Moro, Mtwara

• Polisi, wananchi watwangana

MAPIGANO makubwa yamezuka katika mikoa ya Morogoro na Mtwara kiasi cha kusababisha kifo cha mtu mmoja, Mohamed Msigala (60), na kuharibiwa kwa magari na mali nyingine ikiwemo kuchomwa moto kwa mahakama ya mwanzo.

Mapigano yaliyozuka mkoani Morogoro yamehusisha wakulima wa vijiji vya Msolu, Mbigili, Mambengwa na Mabwegere vilivyoko kata ya Dumila, wilaya ya Kilosa, mkoa wa Morogoro, yakiwaacha mamia ya wanawake na watoto wakiyakimbia makazi yao kwa hofu ya kuuawa.

Mapigano hayo yametokea kati ya wakulima na wafugaji wa vijiji hivyo wanaogombea ardhi, inayodaiwa kuuzwa kinyemele kwa baadhi ya mawaziri waandamizi na wafugaji, huku kukiwa na tishio la kufutwa kwa baadhi ya vijiji.

Mali kadhaa yakiwemo magari yameharibiwa vibaya, ambapo nyumba tano za kulala wageni katika eneo la Dumila zimeshambuliwa, wananchi kupora mali mbalimbali zinazodaiwa kumilikiwa na wafanyabiashara wa jamii ya Kimasai.

Mapema majira ya saa 2:30 asubuhi, mamia ya wananchi hao walifanya maandamano kutoka mwanzo hadi mwisho wa mji huo na kutanda kwenye barabara, kabla ya kuiziba kwa mawe na magogo makubwa na kuchoma matairi.

Kikosi cha polisi cha kutuliza ghasia kililazimika kuingilia kati na kupambana na waandamanaji hao kwa mabomu ya machozi na virungu na kufanikiwa kuwakamata idadi kubwa ya wananchi hao.

Pamoja na barabara hiyo ya Morogoro – Dodoma lakini pia wananchi hao walifunga barabara ya Dumila- Kilosa na hivyo kuyafanya magari yaliyokuwa yakitumia barabara hiyo kusimama kwa muda mrefu.

Habari zinasema kuwa vurugu hizo zimechochewa zaidi baada ya wafugaji wa jamii ya Kimasai kuingiza mifugo kwenye mashamba yenye mazao, lakini hakuna hatua zozote zilizochukuliwa licha ya uongozi wa kijiji hadi mkoa kufikishiwa malalamiko hayo.

Mashamba yanayolalamikiwa yako katika eneo la Mabwegere ambalo linadaiwa kuuzwa kwa baadhi ya mawaziri, na hivi karibuni Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Kilosa Elias Tarimo alitangaza kuwa ni mali ya wafugaji jambo ambalo lilipingwa na wakulima.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Morogoro Joel Bendera alilazimika kukatisha shughuli zake za Kibunge huko Dodoma na kurejea mkoani Morogoro kuangalia hali ilivyo.

Hata hivyo, akihojiwa kwa njia ya simu, Bendera alionekana kufura akidai kwamba kulikuwa na upotoshaji mwingi uliochangia kutoeleweka vema kwa suala hilo.

Kamanda wa Polisi wa Mkoa wa Morogoro, Faustine Shilogile, amethibitisha kukamatwa kwa watu kadhaa katika vurugu hizo na kwamba ulinzi umeimarishwa.

Tuhuma za kuhusika kwa baadhi ya mawaziri katika serikali ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete, huku mmojawao akidaiwa kununua hekari 400, zilianikwa mapema mwezi jana, huku mamlaka zikiwa zinataka kufuta hati miliki ya kijiji cha Mabwegere.

Ilielezwa kuwa watu wasiojulikana waliingia kijijini hapo na kuingilia mipaka na kung’oa alama zilizowekwa na serikali licha ya kuamriwa kuwa mahakama itekeleze zoezi hilo baada ya wanakijiji hao kushinda kesi.

Mbali na kung’olewa kwa mipaka hiyo, watu kutoka maeneo mbalimbali waliendelea kuingia katika kijiji Mabwegere kinyume cha utaratibu na kufungua mashamba ambayo yanadaiwa kumaliza maeneo ya malisho ya mifugo iliyomo kijijini humo. Kijiji cha Mabwegere ni cha wafugaji ambacho ndicho kilichoathiriwa zaidi na machafuko.

Kwa mujibu wa barua yao ya malalamiko, wananchi hao walisema kuwa kwa sasa wamepoteza imani na mkuu wa wilaya na mkurugenzi wao kwani walitegemea kuwa migogoro ya ardhi iliyosababishwa na wakulima kujichukulia eneo la wafugaji ingetatuliwa kwa kuzingatia sheria na utawala bora.

Ofisa mtendaji mstaafu wa kijiji hicho, Sadiki Mwibela, alisema kuwa migogoro mikubwa imekuwa ikitokea kati ya wakulima na wafugaji.

“Kwa sasa msimu wa mvua umeanza, machafuko yanaweza kutokea, lakini mimi kwa kuwa nilikuwa nafuatilia haki za wafugaji waliokuwa wanaporwa mifugo yao kwa kuwa tulikataa kuuza eneo letu, nilifukuzwa kazi, nikakamatwa nikapelekwa jela, nilipotoka nikakuta wameweka mtendaji mwingine,” alisema.

Viongozi wengine ambao waliomba wasitajwe gazetini walisema kuwa walilazimishwa na mkuu wa wilaya kwenda ofisini na kuandika muhtasari ili waziri huyo apewe eneo.

Mtwara hakukaliki

Mkoani Mtwara wananchi wamechoma moto mahakama ya mwanzo na kuharibu gari la polisi, kufuatia kuzuka kwa mapigano kati yao jana.

Mapigano hayo yalianza baada ya askari polisi kuwavamia wananchi katika eneo la Sabasaba waliokuwa wamefurika kushuhudia watu wanaoaminika kuwa wachawi walionaswa usiku wakifanya vitendo vya kishirikina.

Mmoja wa wananchi walioshuhudia tukio hilo, amesema kuwa polisi waliokuwa ndani ya gari wakiwa na bunduki, walifika eneo hilo baada ya kupewa taarifa na msamaria mwema kuwa kulikuwa na vurugu za wananchi waliotaka kuwaua watu hao wawili waliokutwa wakifanya vitendo hivyo vya kishirikina.

Hatua hiyo ya polisi, iliwakasirisha wananchi walioamua kujibu mapigo kwa kuwashambulia kwa mawe na kisha kuharibu gari lao na kulazimika kukimbia kusalimisha maisha yao.

Habari zinasema kuwa askari polisi walirudi wakiwa katika magari matatu na ndipo walianza kuwashambulia wananchi popote walipowakuta katika eneo la soko kuu la Mtwara na kuharibu mali.

Wananchi nao waliamua kujikusanya kwa wingi na ndipo yakazuka mapambano mengine makubwa yaliyosababisha kuchomwa moto kwa mahakama hiyo.

Kamanda wa polisi wa mkoa hakuweza kupatikana, kwa vile simu yake ya mkononi ilikuwa haipatikani kwa muda mrefu.

Polisi waonya

Jeshi la polisi nchini, limewataka wananchi kutii sheria bila shuruti, na wasitumie mwanya wa makosa yanayofanywa na baadhi ya askari au wananchi wengine waliovunja sheria kuhalalisha uvunjaji mwingine wa sheria, kwani makosa mawili hayafanyi haki moja.

Msemaji wa Jeshi la Polisi, Advera Senso, aliiambia Tanzania Daima Jumamosi kuwa ni jambo baya na la hatari ikiwa sasa wananchi wataamua kuchukua sheria mikononi kuvamia vituo vya polisi na kuua askari, au kuvamia mali za watu.

Senzo amelalamikia vitendo vinavyozidi kushamiri nchini kwa wananchi kuvamia vituo vya polisi, kuchoma moto vituo, au wananchi kuacha kabisa kutii amri halali za jeshi la polisi pindi askari wanapofika katika maeneo yenye fujo.

Alikiri kuwa ndani ya jeshi hilo kuna askari wachache wakorofi ambao sio waadilifu, lakini huo sio mwanya kwa wananchi kuhalalisha, kujeruhi au kuvamia vituo vya polisi.

“Tunakataza uvunjaji wa sheria iwe ni kwa askari au raia, ndio maana inapothibitika kuwa polisi amekosea, anachukuliwa hatua kwa mujibu wa sheria za jeshi,” alisema.

Makachero wavamia vyuo

Katika hatua nyingine watu wanaoaminika kuwa makachero wa serikali, wameingia mkoani Mtwara na sasa inadaiwa wanaendesha uchunguzi wa siri wenye lengo la kuwabaini watu wanaotuhumiwa kuwa vinara wa kupinga ujenzi wa bomba la gesi.

Habari za kuaminika zimesema kuwa makachero hao walianza kuwasili mjini hapa, siku sita zilizopita na wamejizatiti katika baadhi ya taasisi nyeti vikiwemo vyuo vya elimu ya juu, kunakoaminika kuwa moto wa hamasa wa kupinga ujenzi huo umeshika kasi.

Mbali na vyuoni, makachero hao wamekuwa wakiendesha uchunguzi katika ofisi za serikali, kujua ni wafanyakazi gani wanaoshabikia jambo hilo na kwamba watakaobainika watakamatwa na kufunguliwa mashtaka mbalimbali yakiwemo ya uchochezi.

Mangula acheza rafu CHADEMA

MPANGO mchafu wa kukichafua Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) mkoani Iringa umefichuka, huku Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCM bara, Philipo Mangula akituhumiwa kuratibu harakati hizo.

Habari za kuaminika kutoka ndani ya CCM, zimebainisha kuwa, chama hicho kimechapisha mamia ya kadi za CHADEMA ambazo zimesambazwa kwa watu maalumu walioandaliwa ambao wameambiwa wazirejeshe leo wakati wa mkutano wa hadhara na kumkabidhi Mangula, wakidai wameihama CHADEMA.

Imebainika kuwa, zaidi ya wanafunzi 200 wa Chuo Kikuu kishiriki cha Mkwawa tayari wamekabidhiwa kadi hizo, na fedha za kujikimu ambapo watajitangaza kama wana-CHADEMA waliohamia CCM baada ya kuchoshwa na upinzani katika viwanja vya Mwembetogwa Manispaa ya Iringa.

Mbali na kadi, CCM pia imetengeza fulana za CHADEMA walizopewa wanafunzi hao, na kwamba chama hicho kimemwaga maelfu ya fedha kwa wasomi hao kama njia ya kufanikisha mpango huo.

Rais wa serikali ya wanafunzi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Mkwawa, Mtama Joseph amekiri kusikia taarifa hizo, lakini akadai kuwa kama ni kweli basi, utakuwa ni mpango unaotumika na watu waliopoteza mwelekeo.

“Ni kweli kuna taarifa hizo zimezagaa hapa chuoni kwamba kuna wanafunzi 200 ambao wamepewa sh 5,000 kila mmoja, na kadi zenye nembo ya CHADEMA ili warudishe kwenye mkutano wa CCM utakaofanyika kesho (leo) katika viwanja vya Mwembetogwa,” alisema.

Mtama alisema kama habari hizo ni za kweli, litakuwa jambo la kusikitisha na linaloonesha kuwa watu walioshindwa kufikiri na kuwajibika hutumia mbinu chafu kwa kuwa hawana fikra zingine zaidi ya rushwa.

Mmoja wa vijana wanaodaiwa kutumiwa katika mpango huo (jina limehifadhiwa) amekiri kuwa miongoni mwa viongozi wanaoratibu mpango huo na kwamba yeye na wenzake wameahidiwa sh 500,000 kila mtu pindi watakapofanikisha hujuma hiyo.

Kijana huyo aliyeomba jina lake lisitajwe kwa kuhofia usalama wake, alisema tayari kuna vijana 17 ambao wameandaliwa pamoja na kuratibu, lakini pia kufanya kazi ya kuichafua CHADEMA kwa namna watakavyoelekezwa pindi wakifika mkoani hapa kwa ajili ya mikutano ama shughuli nyingine.

Mbali na hilo, kijana huyo alisema CCM pia imeandaa magari kusomba wanachama wake kutoka vijijini kuletwa katika mkutano wa leo kwa madai ya kutaka ionekane ina wanachama wengi, hivyo kuondokana na aibu ya kukosa watu katika mkutano wake.

Katibu wa CHADEMA Manispaa ya Iringa, Suzan Mgonukulima alisema kuna mbinu chafu zilizobainika kutumika kuhujumu CHADEMA ambazo wananchi wanatakiwa kuwa nazo makini.

Alisema kufichuka kwa siri hizo, ni ishara wazi kuwa watu wanaojitangaza kurudi CCM sio wanachama halisi, bali waigizaji na kuonya kuwa mchezo huo ni ishara ya wazi kuwa sasa serikali inatishiwa na CHADEMA.

Diwani wa Kata ya Mivinjeni, Frank Nyalusi (CHADEMA) ambaye pia ni mjumbe wa kamati tendaji ya wilaya, alisema propaganda za CCM zimepitwa na wakati na kwamba ni dalili za kutapatapa kwa sababu wanajua kuwa mwaka 2015 wanaachia ngazi.

Wabunge CHADEMA waishukia serikali

Jijini Dar es Salaam, wabunge wawili wa CHADEMA, Mchungaji Peter Msigwa (Iringa Mjini) na Joseph Mbilinyi ‘Sugu’ (Mbeya Mjini) wameufananisha uongozi wa Serikali ya CCM na ule wa kifalme uliofitinika kutokana na mawaziri wake kutofautiana katika maamuzi mbalimbali ya kitaifa.

Wakizungumza katika mkutano wa hadhara uliofanyika juzi Mombasa jijini Dar es Salaam, wabunge hao walisema mawaziri wa Serikali ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete, hawaelewani hali inayoweza kuifanya nchi kuwa katika hatari ya kushindwa kufanya mambo ya maendeleo kwa wakati.

Mchungaji Msigwa, alisema hivi karibuni Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Rais (Uratibu na Mahusiano), Stephen Wasira aliwaamuru wananchi waendelee kufanya shughuli za kibinadamu ndani ya Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Serengeti wakati akijua kufanya hivyo ni kosa kisheria.

Alisema katika hifadhi ya Serengeti kuna mlango unaotumiwa na wanyama na kwamba Wasira akijua sheria hairuhusu kufanya shughuli za kibinadamu katika eneo lolote la uhifadhi aliwahimiza wananchi wajenge nyumba na shughuli za kilimo hadi alipoonywa na Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii, Balozi Khamis Kagasheki.

“Wanasema CHADEMA itakufa wakati wao ndio wanaelekea kuzimu kama huyu Wasira aliyeonywa na Kagasheki juu ya kuhamasisha uvunjifu wa amani katika eneo hilo la Serengeti, lakini ameendelea kupuuza na kusema ni heri afe kuliko kufuata taratibu,” alisema Msigwa.

Akizungumzia ujangili katika mkutano huo, Msigwa alisema serikali inapaswa kupanga mipango madhubuti kukabiliana na hali hiyo badala ya mawaziri wake kutumia muda mwingi kutaka kuihujumu CHADEMA.

Alisema kutokana na udhaifu huo wa Baraza la Mawaziri na hofu ya kuondolewa madarakani ifikapo 2015, wameshindwa kuunganisha nguvu ya pamoja za idara ya ulinzi na usalama hata kufikia baadhi ya watendaji kujiingiza katika matukio ya ujangili kama ilivyotokea hivi karibuni kwa askari wa Jeshi la Wananchi kukutwa akisafirisha pembe za ndovu.

Kwa upande wake, Sugu aliitaka serikali iache kuwahadaa wananchi kwa kutumia nguvu kubwa kuonesha mafanikio ya serikali katika vituo vya runinga wakati wananchi wana hali ngumu ya kimaisha.

“Kama utaangalia mafanikio ya nchi yetu kwenye runinga unaweza kusema tumepiga hatua kubwa katika kilimo, lakini niwaambieni hali ni mbaya kwa wakulima na nilifikiri serikali inaweza kuwa ya kiungwana na kuelezea matatizo halisi yanayowakabili,” alisema Sugu.

Aliongeza kuwa serikali imetumia gharama kubwa kuelezea mafanikio yasiyokuwepo, na haijulikani fedha zinazotumika kulipia matangazo hayo zinatoka katika mfuko gani.

Sugu alisema hali ilivyo sasa ni wazi CCM wanaomba Mungu 2015 isifike kwa kuwa wanajua mwaka huo ndiyo mwisho wa safari ya muda mrefu waliotumia kuwanyima maendeleo Watanzania

Kigoda urges developing countries to examine environmental standards

Dr Abdallah Kigoda

Developing Countries have been urged to observe deteriorating world environmental standards by minimising the undesired effect resulting from human activities.
The Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, made the remarks recently when opening a three-day workshop on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and ISO/TC207/Chair Advisory Group (CAG) meeting in Arusha.

A statement issued by Tanzania Bureau of Standard (TBS) quoted Dr Kigoda as saying that for developing countries, environmental standards pose daunting challenges especially when they seek to export products to international markets, adding that the issue of standards comes in as a strong competitive tool.

“Developing countries’ economies are dominated by SMEs which have to grapple with a whole range of rules and regulations for the export market in order to succeed and they have to compete equally with foreign products in which again the issue of standards is vital,” he insisted.

The minister further said the issue of standards, both their formulation and implementation is always important since at the end it touches every single person on earth be it in the developed or developing countries.

He said Tanzania like many other countries in Eastern and Southern Africa is also a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which considers international standards as a fair criteria for trade facilitation and for this reason countries should strive to comply with international standards.

For his part TBS acting Director General Leandri Kinabo said a workshop on LCA is a testimony of stakeholders’ commitment and support on the initiative to promote environmental standardisation activities worldwide.

He said the workshop on LCA and the ISO/TC 207 CAG meeting will be a milestone towards sustainable development in the region as well as at the global scale.

LCA is a technique of assessing environmental impacts associated with all the stages of product life, from resource extraction to disposal phase. It is one of the subcommittees under the ISO/TC 207 which deals with environment management matters.

TBS in collaboration with International Organisation for Standardisation through ISO/DEVCO organised the workshop which drew participants from Malawi, Botswana, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Eritrea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Burundi, Seychelles, Swaziland, Uganda and the host Tanzania.

The CAG meeting which encompasses all leaders of the different subcommittees was established by Technical Committee (TC) 207 of ISO in 1993. It identifies issues, holds preliminary discussions on how to address them, and makes recommendations through the chair of ISO/ TC 207.

The scope of committee is to promote standardisation in the field of environmental management standards and tools in support of sustainable development.

Why our informal sector needs more recognition

The recently published report on Dar es Salaam’s environment, which was initiated by the Environment Division of the Vice President’s office, had more other findings apart from the revelation that the city is seriously polluted. For example what is also unearthed about the informal sector is too important to be taken lightly.

The data in the report show that about 46% of Dar residents are unemployed, while 95% of those working are in the informal sector. A mere 5% of those working are in formal employment.

Given the fact that much is being said about informal employment, most of us today understand what kind of people belong to this category. They include tailors, welders, small traders, food vendors, cobblers, freelance photographers, brick makers, saloon operators and musicians.

The list of informal sector activities which most urban dwellers engage in for the sake of survival is as long as it is interesting.

Informal employment is not just an urban practice. There are all sorts of self employed workers in rural areas, including primary and secondary school leavers who prefer petty trading to farming, and other informal sector undertakings. The rural informal sector seems to grow significantly year after year, as is the case in the urban environment.

What does this kind of scenario imply? To put it simply, all signs indicate that the sector has a unique role to play in the development of underdeveloped countries like ours. Research has established that the contribution of the informal sector to the total national wealth produced and services provided is substantial.

We are told that in Tanzania the sector contributes above 32% to the country’s GDP. The rising youth unemployment is still somehow manageable today, thanks to the informal sector window.

What would be happening in a city like Dar es Salaam or Mwanza today if thousands of youths who are earning a living by offering motorcycle passenger services, running kiosks, selling ‘mitumba’ in open markets etc., were completely idle?

Your guess on the above question is probably as good as mine, but chances are that the rate of urban crime in our midst would have been worse in the absence of the informal sector safety valve.

One would argue that this is another major reason why informal sector activities must be taken seriously, for the good of those who earn an income from it, those who benefit from the services provided, as well as the wider public which enjoy more security as an indirect benefit.

Yet more questions on the informal sector still arise, and beg urgent answers. Is the informal sector really recognised and appreciated? If it is, are adequate efforts being made to improve it in the interest of those engaged in it and society as a whole?

Admittedly, some research on its magnitude and impact to our society has been conducted by several institutions, including the Research on Poverty Alleviation Programme (REPOA), as well as academicians in other local universities. These deserve a pat on the back for taking time to study this vital area involving people determined to employ their energy and determination in order to survive or get out of poverty - if conditions allow.

Recommendations have been given on how to improve the sector but, unfortunately, there are no visible signs to show that it is improving appreciably. Most of those engaged in it are not making much progress and its potential to country’s development is not fully harnessed.

The informal sector continues to experience the same problems they have had for decades. Lack of capital continues to haunt small entrepreneurs, despite the fact that they are not normally asking for a big amount to promote their small businesses. It is due to this poor funding that the International Labour Organization (ILO) consider most informal sector activities as survival one with no future

Some face licensing setbacks when they decide to be more formal in their business approach. Being unnecessarily harassed is part of life for some citizens who depend on informal sector activities for their livelihood. The list is long.

You have those who suggest that may be there is need to have a full ministry to handle and promote the informal sector. Probably they have a point