'Policy reforms catalyst for progress in health, education sectors

African Community Development Network (Afrocod) has said that Tanzania requires good governance and policy reforms as a catalyst for sustainable development in various sectors including education and health.

Speaking to journalists over the weekend in Dar es Salaam, Afrocod Chief Executive Officer, Vincent Mughwai said quality education relies on good governance and workable policies.

“People are eager to witness good governance which will help them accelerate development endeavours for more than 50 years,” he said.

He added that if Tanzania continues to provide incompetent education, its people will not be able to succeed in the employment market against other East African countries, “in that case, it is high time for the country to work on policy reforms.” 

He also urged the government to change its education system in order to have regulations which will guide owners of private schools on how to run their business including having a uniform school fees.

“However, the shortage of medicines in public hospitals is among the indicators of lacking good governance and practical policies…it has reached a point where the well off can afford decent treatment from private hospitals but the ordinary people continue to suffer in public hospitals,” he said.

For his part, Afrocod’s Director of Policy and Research, Peter Mkufya said the country needs quick and vast reforms in education, “the entire organisation structure in education sector is unsatisfactory.”

In a related move, Mughwai said solution to all the shortcomings is a new constitution, “Tanzania needs a constitution which will reflect the current situation, one that will be practical enough to address political and economic challenges facing the country in the 21st century.”

Afrocod Tanzania is a non-profit, civil society organisation with no political affiliation, dedicated to empower the population and promote grassroots socio-economic development in Tanzania and beyond, focusing on quality education, better healthcare, clean environment, good governance and adherence to the rule of law.