CONTRIBUTION OF SOCIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION
1. The welfare associations mobilized the natives in their collective struggles for independence. For example. The Bukoba Bahaya Union, brought together the Coffee growers in struggling for a reasonable coffee price.
2. They also promoted natives unity and solidarity needed in the independence struggles. For example, the Kenya African Union {KAU}, Tanganyika African National Union {TAA} others.
3. Collection of funds and mobilization of other resources required for running nationalistic struggles.
4. The welfare associations also attended the problems facing the individual members. For example, the Legal assistance and others.
5. Increasing awareness of people on their rights and made them firm enough in the struggles. For example, Students Association.
6. Preparation of Petitions against colonial regimes. Example the Meru Peoples Association under Japhet Kirilo, they signed a petition which led to the return of the Meru land to natives.
7. They organized the protests against colonial oppression and exploitation. Example, the Demonstrations, riots, boycotts and others.
8. They supported other pressure groups and nationalists against colonialism though their fund raising. For example, the peasant association such as KNPA “Kilimanjaro Native Planters Association” support on TANU, Usangi sports club support on TANU etc.
9. Some of them acted as the bases {foundations} upon which strong political parties were built on top of. For example, the TTACSA of 1922, in 1929 was transformed to TAA and TAA was transformed to TANU in 1954, the SANNC “South African Native National Congress” which was transformed into ANC “African National Congress” in 1925 in South Africa.
WEAKNESSES OF SOCIAL AND WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS
1. Unskilled leaders, the social and welfare associations proved to be weak because they had little knowledge of managing offices something that created problems for the associations.
2. Illiterate members. Most of the members were not formerly educated. This brought confusion of ideas and contradictions in the struggles. Example the opposition of some women against Bibi Titi Mohammed struggles in Tanganyika.
3. Poverty (financial problems). Most of the Association had weak economic bases due to extended economic exploitation against them. Most of members were either receivers of low wages or low cash crop prices from colonial masters.
4. The social and Welfare associations created regionalism and tribalism in africa. The tribal bases associations promoted division among natives on ethnical base. Example Mwakaleli growers for the Nyakyusa, Bukoba Bahaya Union, Meru Peoples Association for the Meru people etc.
5. Opposition from the colonial government: Colonial employers forbade their employees to get involved on political than production matters. This also reduced the rate of struggles. Some members of these associations were harassed thus other members were made fearful. E.g the exile of Harry Thuku of the C.K.A made him soft and failed even to continue holding a strong stand against the colonial government.
6. Social and Welfare Associations were organized to meet the interests of just a small group of people. They were there just to serve the interests of certain group of people, certain tribe or certain region in the colony and not the whole country hence this was a weakness of the social and welfare associations.
7. Shortage of facilities. Most of them had no transport and communication facilities, offices, and other equipment’s needed in the struggles.
8. Size of membership. Some of the associations had a small number of members. This limited their strength. Example the Mombasa Dock Workers, Drivers association etc.
