Commenting on last week`s Finance and Economic Affairs minister Mustafa
Mkulo report on global economic crisis and its impact to Tanzania, the
MPs said that the prevailing government statistics did not correspond
with the actual people`s lives.
“Out there the inflation is very high, but the government says that
the country`s economy remains stable,“ said Mbozi East MP, Godfrey
Zambi.
He added: “Right now the price of a mango is between 500/- and 600/-.
It is stunning to say that the country`s economy is stable…this is
too much,“ said the MP.
He further said that the prevailing global economic slump shouldn`t be
taken as an excuse, but rather the government should do something to
avert the alarming situation.
“The government and its organs should put more practical efforts to
strengthen the economy. High prices of food in the market brings a very
negative impact to the economy,“ he noted.
Magu MP Dr Festus Limbu said: “This is a worse global economic meltdown, that needs extra efforts to bring things to normal.“
He however suggested that the next fiscal budget should reflect on economic recession.
“To me I see this as the end of capitalism…how come capitalists
failed to normalise the situation, which resulted from their own
problems,“ said Njombe North legislator Jackson Makweta.
Let us change our direction and start looking at what the Chinese are
doing, the Western countries have failed to normalise the situation
facing the world, he observed.
He said its impact affected much the low-income earners, hence there
must be a proper way to ensure that Tanzania`s natural resources were
wisely tapped and used.
Vedastus Manyinyi (Msoma Urban, CCM) also suggested that the only way
for Tanzania to cut down inflation, was to practically invest seriously
in agriculture.
Echoing the idea Basil Pesambili Mramba (Rombo,CCM) said inflation was
skyrocketing, hence there was need to put in place a mechanism to
contain it.
Mramba also said that there was a need to call an emergency
consultative meeting among the stakeholders to discuss the matter and
find positive solutions.
Kinondoni legislator Azan Zungu said: “Already some local companies in
the country have started to re-trench employees because of growing
fears associated with the international economic slump.“
Other MPs who contributed to the debate included Juma Ngasongwa, Prof.
Idris Mtulia, Dr Binilith Mahenge, Bernadetta Mshashu, Hasnain
Gulamabbas Dewji.