SWY16 - Reflections on Tanzania

We felt like rich people passing through Tanzania.

The Ship for World Youth programme let us visit wonderful cities and towns. One of the ports of call was Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, a picturesque town in many ways. However, it is the capital of a third world country in Africa, and this should make us stop and think for a while. The poverty was real, and the gap between rich and poor appear was too visible.

It is strange how the major contrast of first seeing a shack and then a mansion in the same area did not arise more emotions, or at least a questioning of the gap between the 'fortunate' and the less so.

We came, visited, and left Dar-es-Salaam as "rich" people. Escorted by police men closing the streets for us, we were shown around, met with the vice president, and went to see the arts and crafts of Tanzanians. Everything was fine, except for the feeling of being shut off from most of the population. The police escortes and high walls and wires around rich people's houses, made me think about what it must feel like to live everyday in a society where the small rich elite confines to itself, 'above' the others.

We keep surfing this wave, as we say in Norwegian, when we naturally continue this extreme divide between rich and poor, visiting the country like the friendship elite. The majority of the population in Tanzania, as with the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, are being kept separate from the, mostly, foreign elite in their own country. The embassy community in these countries holds such a strong culture of prevailing the society; their cars, houses and strong confinement to their peers is very visible. This is not to say that a "diplomatic" life in such a country is not good, but the elitist picture painted more represents an extreme point of the respective nations politics.

And we too, when we go on holiday, or what it might be, take the fact that we act like rich folks for granted. We continue on the stream of making the poor feel poor. We were there only a few moments, but this gap was constant. What does it feel like, being set aside on your own land?

The answer to the division I noticed in Tanzania runs deep, of course. It is related to governmental policies, but what about us? I think we, as first citizens, do not want to give up our wonderful world of privileges. Would I trade my comfort of buying a cloth with turtles for something less, nothing? Having been able to experience all the pleasant sides of Dar-es-Salaam; the soft breeze that must have given the city its name, the peaceful and nice-looking fishing boats, the shapes and colours exploding in a Tingatinga painting, because I have the freedom to buy whatever I want of it, and to enjoy every moment. Because I am privileged, I come from the rich world.

One can argue whether this should be in terms of economic development or, like in my dream scenario, my weakness and strength as a youth to wish for a non-capitalistic educational society. Africa is in many ways untouched, and we should keep it away from that consumerism, so that we keep the precious atmosphere, existing only there. But that is an entirely different discussion.

The legacy of colonial rulers has resulted in the segregation that exists today. Rich people are enjoying their sun, always aware of the poverty. But some of them will not even tip a poor waiter. Where is the sense?

In Norwegian we say 'the only joy to be had is to make others happy'. It is a very pretty saying; at the same time we are hypocrites of our own language. We do it for our neighbours, and ourselves but when the continent changes, and when it comes to the action of us physically acting, we rest. We are all at risk and long lost due to Christmases with starving children flashing the screens, and not much constructive to follow it up in our education. The youth is jaded, following the adults.

I think it is important to question the tendencies of today. Everyone can think differently and act alternatively. When we travel or live abroad, a few moments of discussing with a native can drastically change our views and opinions. Moreover, people I know and myself feel that so-called charitable grass-root level actions end up being what makes the most sense.

On hands experience creates the awareness that one-day is the precursor of action. Of course it is great if you donate money... you all benefit, if you did something different!

Some Economic Words to Follow…
According to economic theory, trade can benefit all participating countries. However, today there are few such cases of a developing nation. Since poverty exists that must mean First World countries take advantage of the Third World. The cycle runs from multinational companies, then finally to us, the consumers. Does the First world have to give up on its comforts in order to develop the Third, and do the respective governments know this? Why have not the amounts and amounts of aid given to African countries over the last decades produced more sustainability, more production, more growth?

In Zambia, the senior part of the population has more literacy capabilities than the younger part. The Zambian education system has deteriorated in a couple of decades. How is this possible? Education is the best long-term tool to development, so aid should have been able to at least keep the standards as they were. I guess nothing is easy to implement in a developing country, but I do believe that if there had been more political will this could be improved. Are developing nations that indifferent?

In answering whether the West will have to give up their privileges, economic theory will tell you no (Although my sense tells me if Africa develops and becomes competitive, the West has to lower their prices, hence incomes, perhaps privileges…). As was shown in China, Africa can theoretically develop without the West giving up a cent of its own. But the thinking in Africa is different. The governments are so corrupt (hence slow moving) that they are in no condition to bring about this development.

Historically, we have to remember that certain Europeans robbed a privilege or two when they stole gold, copper and diamonds away from the warm continent. Consequently, and economically speaking, the public (free) benefit of enjoying beautiful monuments in old colonising nations of Europe reek of blood money. I do not find the West guilty in having higher incomes, as I do not cheer for economic equality, but how was poverty, and hunger ever created? And with the immense waste and consumption going on in the First world, how can we clear our consciences so to this extent?

Therese Øijord Rustad