TOPIC 2: ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Sub-topic 1: Concept of Economic development
OBJECTIVES
(i) Explain the meaning of development.
(ii) Identify types and levels of development.
(iii) Explain the meaning of economic development.
Definition of concepts
Development
Refers to the improvement of living standard of the people in all aspects of life such as economical social and cultural and spiritual and materially
Or
Refers to the positive change in human life and the increase of quality, quantity and values of goods and services produced in a given society
Or
Refer to the improvement of quality of life of all people in a given nation or society
Types of development
There are two types of development known as:
1. Economic development
Economic development is the increase in economic growth and the distribution of the goods and services among the people. It also refers to an increase in production and quality.
Economic development is shown by the improvement of an agricultural production industrial production trade activities and material production activities.
2. Social development
This refers to the improvement of social welfare of the people in a given community such as improvement of education, science and technology, health service, transport and communication service and other social services provided in the society.
Levels of development
Development can be described at two levels such as
A. Individual (personal) level.
This refers to the increase of material well-being of a person like a good house, car and clothes. OR
It can also be defined as the increase of skills capacity great freedom, creativity self-discipline and material well-being.
The common indicators of individuals development includes;
1. Level of education
2. Diet and eating habits
3. Rate of income
4. Tools used in production process
B. National (community) development level
This refers to the improvement in social, economic, cultural and political affairs of a community or country.
OR
This means better living condition for all people in the country in terms of moral and spiritual improvement and material well-being.
It involves the provision of better health services and water accessibility. Political development at the national level involves aspects of good governance, rule of law and human rights.
The common indicators of national development include:
• Per capita income
• Life expectance of the people
• Literacy rate
• Energy consumption
• Daily food supply
Sub-topic 2: INDICATORS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OBJECTIVES
(i) Identify indicators of economic development.
(ii) Appraise the indicators of economic development in relation to Tanzania.
Indicators of economic development are also known as measurements or criteria for testing the degree of economic development of a country. The most frequently used indicators are;
(i) Per capita income of a country.
(ii) Birth rates.
(iii) Population growth.
(iv) Life expectancy
(v) Literacy rates.
(vi) Energy consumption.
(vii) Rural-urban migration.
(viii) Unemployment
(ix) Poverty.
The economic indicators of development of any country can be measured by the above mentioned indicators as explained below;
1. Per capita income
This is the average of income of the people of a given country in a particular year. It is obtained by dividing the total annual income of the country by the number of people of that country.
The formula of calculating the per capita income is:
NB;
GDP means gross domestic product.
GNP means gross national income
Usually per capita income varies from developed countries to the developing countries. In the developed countries their per capita income is higher than in developing countries
For example in 2000 the Tanzania’s per capita income was USD 500 while in USA per capita income was USD 2000
2. Life expectancy
Life expectancy refers to the number of years which a person is expecting to live before the life birth day usually in developed countries people live for many years compared to the life span in developing countries this is due to problems like poor diet poor health services lack of security and presence of disease
E .g 1980’s the life expectancy of Tanzanians was above 60years while in UK it was above 90years.
3. Mortality rate
This refers to the risk of possibilities of death of people in a given country. Usually in developing countries like Tanzania the mortality rate is higher compared to developing countries like Britain, Japan and USA
In developing countries the mortality rate is higher because of poor housing services and presence of diseases.
Therefore if mortality rate is low the life expectance increases and vice versa.
4. Crude death rates
This refers to the number of children who died before the age of 5yrs. In developing countries usually crude death rate is higher compared to developing countries this is due to poor reproductive health services lack of family planning education and poor mortality health services
5. Literacy rate
Is the ability of a person to be able to read, write and count. Therefore, literacy rate refers to the number of people who are able to read, write and count in the country. In developing countries literacy rate is low, while in developed countries literacy rate is higher.
E .g. Tanzania’s literacy rate is low because many children do not go to school the number of schools are not enough and many people cannot offered the expenses of education as a result the number of illiterate people is increasing.
6. Energy consumption
The amount of energy used in a country such as electricity fuel, coal and other sources of power depend on the level of development reached by the country. The consumption of energy in developed countries is higher compared to developing countries which is due to the development of the industrial sector science and technology and improvement of living standard
Other indicators of economic and social development include
1. The number of people in agriculture centre
2. The number of patient per doctors
3. The number of student per teacher
4. The rate of population growth
5. The level of science and technology
Sub-topic 3: FACTORS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
OOBJECTIVES
(i) Identify factors for economic development.
(ii) Illustrate the importance of each factor of economic development.
Economic development is the change or increase in the economic growth and the distribution of the increased goods and services among the population.
The economic development will take place if the following factors (vectors) will be available;
(i) Land.
(ii) Labour.
(iii) Capital.
(iv) Infrastructure.
(v) Entrepreneurship.
(vi) Technology.
(vii) Education
(viii) Good governance.
1. Land.
This is the basic fundamental factor for economic development in the society it is the basic factor because nearly all social and economic activities are taking place on the land surface, i.e. agriculture, pastoralist, mining, lumbering, transport and communication plus settlements.
Therefore without land or resources, the economic and social development cannot take place
2. Labour force.
This is the ability and skills which people need to have in order to be used in the production of goods and services, there are three basic sources of labour force such as
• Human labour force
Which is the basic source of labour and is divided into skilled labour, semi- skilled labour and un-skilled labour
• Animal labour
• Machine labour
Note: Human is the basic source of labour which is also used to drive other sources.
3. Capital.
This is the money or anything worth which can be invested in business, capital is very important factor for a business to start/ take place because it is used to buy equipment pay workers, and to meet other expenses of the business. There are different types of capital such as material capital, money capital and human resources capital therefore if capital is reliable it facilitates the establishment and development of different projects.
4. Raw materials
These are materials in natural form or material is unprocessed condition, examples crops, minerals animal product timber, logs and poles. Raw materials are needed in order to enable production of goods and services to take place.
Also raw materials are very important for the development of industrial sector
5. Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs are people who are ready to start production venture or an enterprise by using their money and skills in production of goods and services.
They are risk takers because the production venture cannot guarantee them to have profit, therefore more enterprises in the country means more employment opportunities and reliable source of income.
6. Tools and equipment
These are working instruments which enable the labour force and production process to take place effectively. There are several types of working instruments such as agriculture, tools, mining tools, transport facilities fishing tools and industrial equipments. The use of modern and better working tools increases the efficiency and productivity of goods and services and improving the quality of goods and services.
7. Good infrastructure
These are the means of transport, communication, storage, facilities and institution which facilitates the movement of goods and services money and people from one place to another availability of good infrastructure such as roads railways air ways water ways banks and ware housing improve the economic and social development in a country.
8. Good governance.
The government must work hand in hand with the help of the people to ensure the existence of the economic and social development in the country. Usually a good government is responsible to create a conducive environment and good policy in order to motivate local investors and to attract foreign investors in the country. Also, a good government is responsible to create political stability and security of people and their properties in the country.
9. Science and technology
This refers to the use of modern and sophisticated machines in various production process, usually the use of modern science and technology in production process simplify the working process, increase efficiency and improve productivity.
Therefore the level of science and technology which is applied in a given country determines the rate of economic and social development
Sub-topic 4: THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OBJECTIVES
(i) Analyze the role of different financial institutions in economic development.
(ii) Point out the conditions and procedures for getting services from each financial institution.
(iii) Assess the strengths and weaknesses of each of the financial institutions.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Are the public or private organizations responsible for providing financial services, advice, assistance or support to individuals, companies and the public at large.
The financial services provided include issuing money, providing loans and keeping valuable items.
There are two types of financial institutions which are known as
1. Banks
2. Non-banks such as;
(a) Insurance companies
(b) Social security institutions.
Banks
Banks are the financial institutions which perform the following functions:
• To mobilize funds from the public by encouraging them to open different accounts in the banks
• To provide loans to customers or investors
• To keep valuable items such as diamonds, gold and wills
• To transfer money from one place to another or from one person to another through travelers, cheque, telegraph transfer etc
There are various types of banks which operate in Tanzania such as
1. Central Bank or Bank of Tanzania [BOT]
2. Commercial bank
3. Saving banks
4. Merchant banks
THE BANK OF TANZANIA
The bank of Tanzania is the government financial institution established in order to control financial services with the whole country and to operate as the bank of all banks. Sometimes it is called the central bank of Tanzania.
In December 1965, the National Assembly passed the bill of the establishment of the Bank of Tanzania. The Bank was opened by the first president of Tanzania, the Late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, on 14th June, 1966.
Functions of the Central Bank of Tanzania in economic development are as follows;
(i) The Bank has the sole right to issue notes and coins in Tanzania.
(ii) The Central Bank is a banker’s bank. This function includes the acceptance of deposits to act as prudential reserves for these banks (that is the minimum reserves), the willingness to discount commercial and government paper, and the commitment to act as lender of last resort to these banks. It involves the provision of central clearance facilities for interbank transactions.
(iii) The Central Bank is the banker and the fiscal agent for the government, and may be the depository of the government.
(iv) The Central Bank may advise the government on any matter relating to its functions, powers and duties.
(v) The Central Bank is the depository of the official external assets of Tanzania, including gold and foreign currency reserves.
(vi) The Central Bank is the supervisor of banks and financial institutions. In general, this activity involves ensuring that commercial banks and other financial institutions conduct their business on a sound prudential basis and according to the various laws and regulations in force.
(vii) The Central Bank promotes financial development. This refers to the establishment of an effective financial system, with the aid of which financial transactions for the smooth functioning of the economy can be carried out with a minimum amount of cost and time involved.
The above roles of Central Bank can also be explained on the basis of the following aspects;
• Domestic monitory management.
This includes financing the government budget deficit to control money circulation to advise the government on financial matters and control money inflation.
• External monitory management
This includes controlling export and importing trade to control foreign exchange rates and to promote foreign investment in the country
• To provide loans
To the other banks and to supervise the operation of the non banks financial institutions
• To formulate and supervise
The implementation of financial policies in the country.
• To issue [make] the national currency, in form of coins and notes
The contributions of the central bank of Tanzania in the economic development
1. By controlling the import and export trade it helps to maintain the flexible balance of payment of the country
Balance of payment
Is the amount of money which a country earns through export trade. Usually the balance of payments of a country in terms of foreign currency and kept in special accounts called EPA.
EPA (External Payment Accounts)
Is a bank account which is usually provides the followings
1. It provides loans to the commercial bank such as NMB, NBC, CRDB and ACB which in turn used by the commercial bank to provide loans to their customers.
2. It provides employment to the people either directly or indirectly therefore BOT which in turn used by the commercial bank to provide loans to their customers.
3. It stabilizes the economy of the country by controlling money circulation money inflation and foreign exchange rates.
4. It provides financial assistance to the government when there is a budget deficit so that to enable the government to meet its expected expenditure.
COMMERCIAL BANKS
Commercial banks are those banks which are established to provide banking services on commercial bases [to earn profit].
OR
Commercial banks are established for the purpose of earning profit through accepting savings, and utilizing these savings of their customers to extend loans and advances on which they charge interest.
The main sources of profit in commercial banks obtain through interest rates which are charged from the loans provided to the customers. Apart from the commercial banks the rest types of banks are commercial too
The FUNCTIONS/contributions of commercial banks to the economic development include;
(i) They act as trustees, and also keep valuable documents like wills, certificates and gold or diamonds. They are used as custodian of keeping valuable items like diamonds.
(ii) They provide loans to their customers or investors of which they use to promote development of economic sector like agriculture industries mining and trade.
(iii) They provide technical advice to their customers or investors so as to enable them to operate their business in profitable means.
(iv) They accept deposits from customers and promote formation of capital because if you deposit in fixed accounts it pays a fixed interest rate for a certain period.
(v) They facilitate withdraw of money on current accounts any time by the use of a cheq
(vi) They provide foreign exchange to customers and help their customers in carrying out foreign trade.
NON BANKS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
These are financial institutions which do not provide banking services but they are responsible to mobilize saving life insurance, insurance against risks, old age insurance and offering specific credits.
The non-bank institutions mobilize savings from their customers through having special agreements between customers and their employers e.g. NSSF mobilize saving from customers which are made through reduction from their salaries
The following are the types of non-bank financial institutions which co-operate in
Tanzania
• Insurance companies.
• Social security institutions
• Co-operatives
The general roles of the non-banks financial institutions include;
• To invest in physical investments such as construction of building for business e.g. PPF House , IPS House and other buildings for renting
• Provide specific credit or loans to small scale entrepreneurs for example small scale traders and SACCOS
• Provide employment to the people
• To provide social security inform of insurances
Insurance companies
These are non-bank financial institutions which provide social security’s to the people [customers] against various risks e.g. insurance against road accidents, insurance against fire and insurance against theft.
There are many insurance companies in Tanzania most of them were established after the reproduction of privatization policy in 1991 the most famous insurance company is the National Insurance Corporation (T) Ltd [NIC] that was established in the 1960s. Other insurance companies include;
(i) Reliance Insurance Co. Ltd.
(ii) Zanzibar Insurance Corporation.
(iii) Jubilee Insurance Co. Ltd.
(iv) Tajack Insurance Co. Ltd.
(v) Prudential Insurance.
The following are the functions and importance of the insurance companies
• To provide compensation against various risks such as fire, car accidents and theft. This service can help the customers to rejuvenate their businesses when they face damage
• To invest in productive sectors such as buildings and to enhance social welfare of the people
• To provide employment to the people so as helping them to have reliable source of income
• To collect contributions from the customers or clients under special agreements
SOCIAL SECURITY INSTITUTIONS
These are non-bank institutions which mainly provide and promote welfare services to the people in the communities. They provide social welfare services under special agreement between the institutions and the customers or members.
Social security can be defined as the protection measures which society provides for its members, through a series of public measures against economic and social distress that would otherwise be caused by the stoppage or substantial reduction of earnings resulting from sickness, maternity, employment injury, unemployment, disability, old age, death and the provision of medical care subsidies for families with children.
There are two categories of social security systems in Tanzania, which are;
(a) Informal social security systems such as Village Community Banks (VICOBA), UPATU, UMASIDA and VIBINDO. These are locally formed by people in their areas or community for the aim of helping each other in socio-economic issues.
(b) Formal social security systems found in Tanzania include; the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), the Parastatal Pension Fund [PPF], National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) and Local Authorities Provident Fund [LAPF].
NB: NSSF is offering social security coverage to employees of the private sector and non-pensionable parastatal and government employees. The PSPF is providing social security protection to employees of the Central government under pensionable terms, while PPF is offering social security coverage to employees of both private and parastatal organizations. LAPF is offering social security coverage to employees of local government and the NHIF is offering health insurance coverage to pensionable employees of the Central government.
THE SOCIAL SECURITY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (SSRA)
Social Security Regulatory Authority (SSRA) is a regulatory and supervising body of the functions of all social security schemes in the country. It has been created under the Social Security Regulatory Act, 2008, which President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete assented to in June 2010 and became operational in September 2011.
Functions of the social security organizations are as follows
• To mobilize savings from companies and members and paying them to the retired workers /even before if there is a genuine reason
• To provide specific loans and other social benefits to the members
• To establish physical investment such as construction of residential houses for renting to the customers
• To provide employment to the people so as to enable them have reliable source of income
• To provide education loan to the members (e.g. PSPF)
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES
There are many co-operative societies in Tanzania which belong to the private entrepreneurs or government institutions.
Examples;
FINCA TANZANIA PRIDE TANZANIA
FUNCTIONS OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES
• To provide small scale loans to the people with low income and who do not have valuable items to act as securities of big loans
• To promote informed sectors of the economy by providing loans to small groups of people based on the members themselves that each member in a group is the security to another member
• To assist the community to reduce poverty by encouraging people to start small scale businesses i.e. food vendors
• To provide technical advice to the people on how to use small scale loans in profitable ways
Sub-topic 5: THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN DEVELOPMENT
OBJECTIVES
(i) Explain the role of government in economic development.
(ii) Assess the effectiveness of the government I economic development.
Government can be defined as institution formed by the people in a certain country in order to provide leader ship services, to promote economic and social development and to protect the interests of the people.
Therefore in any country the government performs the following roles in relation to the economic development;
(i) To make/formulate and implement different economic policies which will be used to promote economic activities such as agricultural activities, industrial activities trade, tourism and transport and communication. Therefore the government through different ministries make and implement economic policy in Oder to promote development in a given sector.
(ii) The government encourages the society to have a culture of saving and investing.
(iii) The government promotes a broad human development strategy; it encourages the society to upgrade itself and improve productivity.
(iv) To make and regulate the international policy so as to promote and improve foreign trade. Foreign trade is the main source of foreign currency also foreign trade maintains the equilibrium balance of payment of a country. Equilibrium balance of payment is the amount of foreign currency which a government earns through export trade.
(v) To make implement and protect laws of the state by using the organ of the central government and the local authorities this can help the country to maintain peace and order.
(vi) To promote, implement and protect human rights by providing freedom to the people morally, socially, economically and politically this can help all the people to participate in political social and economic activities in the country.
(vii) To control political activity throughout the country in order to maintain political stability, political tolerance and democracy in the country.
Sub-topic 6: THE ROLE OF PRIVATE SECTOR IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OBJECTIVES
(i) Identify components of the private sector.
(ii) Illustrate the importance of the formal sector in economic development.
(iii) Illustrate the importance of the informal sector in economic development.
(iv) Analyze the problems facing the informal sector.
(v) Propose ways of improving the informal sector.
A private sector is that category of the country’s production activities that are not owned and controlled by the government
There are two major components of private sector;
1. The formal sector
2. Informal sector
[1]. Formal sector
Formal sector is that section of the private sector that follows the strict rules and regulations laid down by the government in undertaking their activities.
OR
The formal sector encompasses all jobs with normal hours and regular wages, and are recognized as income sources on which income taxes must be paid.
For example people who run private schools, health centers, hotels and hostels. In Tanzania formal private sector is dominated by the following activities.
- Industries
- Large scale agriculture
- Trade
- Transport and communication
- Commercial social service and health security
IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE FORMAL SECTOR IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In private formal sector there are companies such as IPP, AGIP, Private bus services (e.g. Hood, Happy Nation, Sumry, Raha leo, Mohammed Trans), and private health and hospitals (e.g. Aga Khan, TMJ, Regency, Tumaini) contributes to the economic development as explained below;
(i). It produces goods and services that are enjoyed by the public for example transportation, hospital service etc.
(ii). It provides employment to many Tanzanians hence increasing the people’s living standards.
(iii). It provides technology among Tanzanians people
(iv). It facilitates the marketing process to our produced goods.
(v). Accumulation of government income through taxes, example the Tanzanian breweries and cigarettes companies and AZAM hence increasing the national income.
(vi). Provides support to victims of disasters example epidemic diseases, orphans etc.
[2]. Informal sector.
The informal sector or economy as defined by governments, scholars or banks as the part of an economy that is not taxed, monitored by any form of government, or included in any Gross National Product (GNP). Examples of people who engage in the informal sector are water sellers, street vendors, buckers and shoe shiners.
OR
Informal sector is that section of the private sector that is somehow free from strict rules laid down by the government for undertaking their activities. For example Petty businessmen/women, food vendors, local technician such as carpenters, masons, tailors.
The informal sector has many names; some of them are invisible sector, non-planned activities and unstructured sector. Others are informal economy, people’s economy, one-person enterprise and urban subsistence sector.
IMPORTANCE OF THE INFORMAL PRIVATE SECTOR IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
(i) It provides employment to most Tanzanians especially to non- government employees like masonry, carpentry, and cookery.
(ii) This sector helps to improve local skills and knowledge of making different furniture like table, chairs.
(iii) It also helps to rescue people’s health problems using herbalists and traditional healers.
(iv) Generates income for individuals linked to these activities.
(v) Helps to alleviate poverty.
(vi) Helps to bring commodities to the customers’ doors.
(vii) Bolsters entrepreneurial activity.
PROBLEMS FACING THE INFORMAL SECTOR IN TANZANIA
(i) Many jobs are low-paid and the job security is poor.
(ii) Absence of trade union organization.
(iii) Lack of enough capital which limits the expansion of the businesses.
(iv) There is poor infrastructure in many places.
(v) Some members of this sector lack modern tools and knowledge for production
(vi) Most of members in this informal sector are poor and ignorant on how to improve their economic activities.
(vii) Some of the businesses do not address the issue of hygiene.
(viii) Absence of proper places set for them to conduct their businesses.
- Sometimes the environment where members of this informal private sector for example Food vendors, street carwash, and repair is done anywhere in towns like Dar es Salaam
WAYS TO IMPROVE INFORMAL PRIVATE SECTOR
(i) The government should recognize the sectors by registering all the owners of these businesses.
(ii) Proper places should be located where people can operate their activities comfortably.
(iii) Provision of education with regards to skills and on relevant activities of a given group.
(iv) Good transportation networks should be created.
(v) Health officers must visit these areas to inspect and educate people on all issues relating to health.
(vi) Provision of tools and equipment to enable them to improve their economic activities.
(vii) Provision of soft loans to help them undertake their business in a reasonable manner.
Sub-topic 7: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
OBJECTIVES
(i) Explain the meaning of social development and social services.
(ii) Analyze the different social services provided in Tanzania.
As already explained under the types of development. Social development simply means the improvement in the welfare of the people that include provision of social services like education, health, transportation, water, and power supply.
Social services are those which are in a form of consumption. They include education, housing, insurance, health, pension schemes, cultural affairs, sports, games and entertainment.
Development refers to the improvement of quality of all people in a given nation.
Different social services provided in Tanzania.
- Education services
- Hospital services
- Water supply
- Energy supply
- Transport etc.
ASPECTS OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
(i). Social welfare
(ii). Cultural welfare
(iii). Political welfare
(i). Social Welfare
This is the aspect of social development which deal with the improvement of
- The rate of population growth
- Improved quality of education
- Increase of food security
- Improved health services
- Improvement of woman status
- Improvement of security against natural disasters example famine, floods, droughts, and epidemic diseases.
(ii). Cultural welfare
This is another aspect of social development which is shown by the existence of
- Respect of human rights
- Recreational activities
(iii). Political welfare
It include;
- National sovereignty
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Democratic elections
- Political freedom and tolerance
ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
(a). To train the required personnel who could assist in the provision of social services. For instance training of teachers, lawyers, doctors and nurses, and civil, water, electrical and mechanical engineers.
(b). To provide the equipment and tools to the respective social service. For example provision of teaching and learning instructional materials in schools and colleges and medical facilities in hospitals
(c). To construct new public roads and improve the old ones.
(d). To effect environmental conservation programs, so as to protect various sources of water from being destructed.
(e). To educate the public on how to make the best use of these social services.
(f) To make policies which support private and non-governmental institutions in the provision of social services.
The effectiveness of the government in the provision of social services.
Despite many problems and challenges that Tanzania is facing in the provisional of social services the government has managed to do the following,
(a). Education
The government provides free basic education to primary schools. It also does subsidize the cost of provision of education to all secondary schools, colleges, and government owned universities, through cost sharing and recovery policy. Moreover the government provides parts of teaching – learning materials to all state owned education institutions.
(b). Health services
The government provides medical facilities and personnel to its health institutions; health centers and hospitals. It finances researches in different related problems such as TB, Malaria, HIV /AIDS so as to find the right solution to it.
(c). Water supply
By using environmental expert the government explores new sources of water and protects the existing ones from destruction like Udzungwa and Kilimanjaro beautifully sources.
(d). Power supply
The government does train electrical engineers inside and outside the country and engage them in production and distribution of power to the public
(e). Transportation and communication systems
The government of Tanzania has expanded and repaired transport and communication system, in the county. It has for instance repaired the Chalinze Morogoro and the Chalinze Tanga.
In partnership with the private international companies Tanzania has a good linkage in communication network. For example it has shifted from the traditional analogy into digital technology where a great number of telephone companies like Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, Sasatel, and Zantel operate in a competitive mode.
Above of all there have companies such as AZAM TV, STAR TIMES, and DSTV
which use decoders in showing different TV programmes.
Sub-topic 8: ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
OBJECTIVES
(i) Explain the role of private sector in the provision of social services.
(ii) Analyze the challenges facing the provision of social services in Tanzania.
(iii) Recommend solutions for the challenges facing the provision of social services.
Like the government, the private sector also provides social services to the public in the following areas,
- Education; It involves in constructing and operating schools and colleges at different levels from kindergarten to the university.
- Health services; It engages in building and running dispensaries, heath centers, and hospitals allow the country in both rural and urban areas.
- Transport and Communication; Most of these services are provided by the private individuals or companies. Most of bus services, trucks for carrying cargoes, marine and air transport in Tanzania are dominated by private sector.
- Water supply; Private individuals and companies engage in drilling wells and trapping water from local water sources, and supply to the public where the government has failed to supply water.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICE
(a). Individually owned companies like the IPP have provided social services in many areas to the needy people, in education and medical services in Tanzania
(b). Religious organizations have managed to build schools and dispensaries, to render services to the people in both rural and urban areas.
(c). Community based organizations support the construction of roads , supply of teaching – learning and health services in their localities.
(d). NGOs and other related institutions also participate in the provision of social services for example the AMREF deals with the control of HIV/ AIDS
CHALLENGES FACING THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN TANZANIA
(i) Financial constraint or problem whereby both the government and private organizations lack enough fund in providing adequate social services.
(ii) Poor transportation system, such as roads and railways lines particularly in rain seasons. Also rural areas-urban immigration affects the provision of social services.
(iii) Ignorance of people in protecting various social services. Some people with bad behavior destroy public and private infrastructure.
(iv) There is a shortage of electricity in both rural and urban areas.
(v) Services are too expensive and citizens are unable to pay for the costs of the services rendered.
(vi) Corruption has become a big problem in the provision of quality social services.
(vii) People living in rural areas have the worst living conditions.
SOLUTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CHALLENGES FACING THE PROVISIONAL OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN TANZANIA
(i) The government should increase the annual budget in all sectors deal with the provision of social services in the country.
(ii) The government should create conducive, environment to increase domestic and foreign investors who engage in provision of social services so has they can help resolve various problems which face people.
(iii) To construct new roads and rehabilitate the old ones so as to enable easy transportation and communication network in the provision of social services.
(iv) Providing education to all people on how to take care of the public and private social service properties in their localities.
(v) Motivation in both public and private motivations in innovating and running their own social services in their localities. Such services may be community schools, water supply system, and village roads.
(vi) The government should impose fines and take drastic measures against people who destroy the environment.
(vii) To encourage community-based organizations to fund and run their own social services. They can construct schools, dispensaries, water supply systems and others.
