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African Development Bank committed to helping Tanzania
2008-05-01 10:35:53
By Deodatus Mfugale
Last month the African Development Bank (AfDB) hosted the First African Water Week (AWW-1) in Tunis, Tunisia. During the event the Bank pledged to place water at the centre of Africa`s socio-economic development and its continued support to African governments in making water security a reality at national and regional level. Staff Reporter Deodatus Mfugale who attended the summit had an exclusive interview with AfDB President, Dr Donald Kaberuka, during which he highlighted the bank\'s activities in Tanzania. Excerpts…..
QUESTION: The African Development Bank has been supporting various sectors in Tanzania since 1971. One of the sectors is agriculture which has a component of training in its package. Who are the beneficiaries of these training programmes?
ANSWER: It is true that our support to the agricultural sector in Tanzania involves training but it is upon the Tanzania government to decide who should be trained and I believe that their decision has always been guided by their needs. The Bank cannot decide that for them.
Q: After AfDB`s interventions in the agricultural sector which have been going on for close to four decades would you say that you have made a positive impact on the sector?
A: Yes, I think we have; otherwise we wouldn`t be supporting the sector to-date. But again when it comes to how much impact we have made, it is the Tanzania government which should know the positive impact our support has made in the sector and I think they acknowledge that we have done a lot.
Q: Looking at the country portfolio, I can see that you are investing heavily in agriculture, water, electricity and social services sectors, among others. How does the Bank ensure that funds are not misallocated or mismanaged?
A: Before we extend support to any country we usually look at the issue of good financial governance. You should know that ours is a development Bank and we have to get results where we direct our financial support. Otherwise the whole agenda of development would be defeated if the funds are mismanaged because the expected results would not be realized. But we have no problems in financial governance with the government of Tanzania as they managing the projects well.
Q: I am sure you have heard about the scandal surrounding the Bank of Tanzania.
A: Yes, but that is an isolated case.
Q: And Richmond?
A: That too is not a big deal. Look here; these incidents have happened for the first time in the history of the country, after more than 40 years of independence. They should, in all fairness, not be taken as measure of the government\'s bad handling of funds. There are other African countries which have done worse in that area.
Q: So this has not weakened the Bank`s confidence in the Tanzania government?
A: Absolutely not! In fact it has strengthened our confidence in the government particularly in the way it has handled the issues. Our support to Tanzania is unwavering.
Q: One of the major problems facing the water sector in Tanzania and indeed in many developing countries is dilapidated infrastructure and this is mainly because of lack of middle level technicians who would undertake the repair and maintenance of the same. Do AfDB`s interventions in this sector include training of such staff?
A: First let me say that the problem is not only confined to the water sector but it is also experienced in other sectors like health and agriculture. You have engineers at the top who cannot take routine maintenance work and the least qualified fitters at the bottom who cannot also do the job.
There is a big gap here which has a bearing on the quality of the services provided and that is why we have the component of capacity building, including training, in our water sector package.
However, it is upon the Tanzania government to determine its training needs; that is, which personnel category in the water sector should be trained. We only provide funds for the purpose.
Q: Talking about infrastructure, does your Bank finance any road construction projects in Tanzania.
A: Yes, the transport sector is one area where the Bank has made significant interventions in the belief that the sector will open up the country and fast-track economic growth as well as enhance regional integration.
We have also recently approved the Singida-Babati-Minjingu road project.
The Arusha-Namanga-Athi River road, a joint venture between Tanzania and Kenya and a multinational funded project, will link Central Tanzania to Kenya thereby promoting regional integration and trade.
The process to award the contract has reached an advanced stage and construction will start sometime in July or August this year.
Further a field, fulfillment of loan conditions for the East African Transport and Trade Facilitation project covering Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda has reached an advanced stage while the feasibility study for the Isaka-Kigali railway will be completed this year.
Other road construction projects for the Southern part of Tanzania funded by the Bank are also in the pipeline.
But the good news is that we have approved funding for the Iringa-Dodoma road project.
This means that within the next few years Tanzania will have a defined road network and the Great North Road will be revived, thanks to AfDB`s support.
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