Saturday, Day Trip tour through Dar es Salaam and guest speakers

We made it into Tanzania safely!!!

Today we were given a bus ride through Dar es Salaam and the opportunity to shop at a couple of pit stops. We went to the African Art Shopping Area and the Crafts Center. Great bargaining there! I bought some beautiful figurines and candle sticks. The bargaining in Tanzania is less stressful than it was in China. Tanzanian people aren't in your face and pushing and shoving you around. The Chinese are definitely more physical.

(below from left to right: David Robinson, Professor Bachenheimer and Ambassador Daudi Mwakawago)
In the afternoon we met with David Robinson, Jackie Robinson's son, and one of the founders of Sweet Unity Farms Coffee- a cooperative in a small village in Tanzania. David, though American, has lived in Tanzania for 25 years. When he started thinking about what he could export, he chose coffee because it was one of Tanzania's largest exports at the time and also because the U.S. is the largest coffee drinking market. They started by selling at auctions where international buyers would come to the farm and purchase except that green coffee beans are a commodity and they were receiving very little per pound.

His coffee is owned by a co-op of 650 families in the village. There is an average of 4 farmers per family. He informed us about the difficulties in the coffee industry and the low margins returned to the farmer. There is a poverty rate of 70% in the rural areas of Tanzania. Sweet Unity Farms is trying to sell it's coffee to the U.S. market but it's difficult to brand the coffee. Most of the farmers have a 7th grade education and he is having problems competing with the larger companies like Maxwell House, Folgers and Starbucks. For example, David believes that the market in America is ready for products with social merits. It's the best avenue to market the Sweet Unity Farms Coffee except that brands like Starbucks market their fair trade as well. They are much larger and can do a better job in branding.

He has a long road ahead in searching for investors, marketing talent and partners.

Former Ambassador Daudi Mwakawago is a very impressive man. He has worked 40 years in public service . His resume includes, 20 years in parliament, Minister of Industry and Trade for Tanzania, Ambassador to Rome for 3 years, Ambassador to the U. S. for 9 years, and he was the leader of the peace keeping efforts to stabilize Sierra Leone.

He posed the question: Why is Tanzania Different than the other countries in Africa?

Below are his reasons:

1. Tanzania is the only country in Africa with a former indigenous language, Swahili. It is spoken in other countries but this is the only country where every resident is taught the language. Other countries have many formal languages such as English, French and a tribal language. The ability to communicate in one unified native tongue is the key to cohesion.

2. Tanzania is fortunate to have 120 tribes. When the country became Tanzania and broke free from colonization, the leadership has come from small tribes. There is no threat that one large tribe will take over. He says the tension in most African countries begin with the people in power. Most people in Tanzania are passive.

3. Tanzanians "Count their Blessings"

The first president developed policies which were very inclusive and clear. In colonial times, there was segregation, "toilets for Europeans, toilets for Asians and toilets for the rest of the population." The British distributed ration cards. The first president removed the class system and abolished the traditional roles of chiefs such as control of the land and taxes. In other countries, chiefs are treated like kings.

4. Tanzania became the headquarters of all liberation movements of south Africa. All countries credit Tanzania for their leadership and training in regards to peacekeeping and liberation. A very big advantage is that all leaders are trained in Tanzania. The Ambassador trains senior managers of the African Union. Refugees from other countries were also allowed to go to Tanzania as a safe haven.

In regards to educational investment, the Ambassador mentioned that Tanzania has invested more in education than other African countries except that they are seeing "dividends in the international level" because most of their educated workforce have moved to other countries. In 1974 the Tanzania government brought 30 million people into 13,000 organized villages. The government provided water, health care and education. Before organization a village like Dodoma had high rates of blindness because of the lack of health care and cleanliness but after the organization of villages, the statistics were reduced rapidly. Once the children were given the basic elements to survival, they craved education and pressured the government to provide primary and secondary education.

What I've learned so far about Tanzania, has brought me great appreciation for the country. Especially because the neighboring countries are not as progressive in their thinking and as peaceful as Tanzanian's.