Tanzania: Government Advised to Allocate Resources Wisely

TANZANIA may end up depending on foreign aid, for the next ten years if no firm accountability is taken on the available natural resources. Finland’s Ambassador in Tanzania Ms Sinikka Antila advised government recently to ensure that the available resources are well allocated with the assistance of development partners.

It is possible that Tanzania will not need aid for the next ten years, if resources available are well utilised; said Ms Sinikka who suggested that government should create policies to prevent corruption in order to speed development. The Finnish Ambassador was speaking in Dar es Salaam on Friday after she held talks with the Executive Chairman of IPP Group, Mr Reginald Mengi and discussed various development issues including media freedom in Tanzania.

The Ambassador said one of Finland’s key objectives is to support the establishment of well-functioning and democratic public institutions, adding that they form the cornerstone of a democratic state; which also pays special attention to human rights violations in conflict situations.

Finland pursues its development policy goals by means of providing financing and by conducting policy dialogue bilaterally, multilaterally and via the European Union said Ms Sinikka, noting that the cooperation modalities are implemented by government actors, civil society organisations or private companies. Mr Mengi told the Ambassador that government challenges journalists to do more with social media and inform people especially those residing in rural areas on the advantages of new media in the contemporary world.

According to Mr Mengi, journalists in the country have not taken social media seriously and he urged them to inform the public of the advantages of using the social media to raise ideas and suggestions which help in setting agenda. Mr Mengi said that the government has given media houses freedom to some extent but journalists need to adhere to journalism ethics.