The end of the year is both a time of celebration and reflection. I have been deliberating on the loss that Tanzania has experienced with the passing of three prominent thought leaders; Ruge Mutahaba, Dr. Reginald Mengi and Ali Mufuruki who championed inclusive economic development for Tanzanians through the creative industry, entrepreneurship, and building sustainable businesses. Moreover, they challenged us to dare greatly through the pursuit of our dreams and inspired us to be agents of change in uplifting the disadvantaged.
An article from 2011 in Harvard Business Review highlights that ‘Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.’ Without a doubt, the lives of these visionary leaders did just that, they empowered us to visualize possibilities in spite of existing challenges. And in order to activate the inspiration, effort is required. So how do we apply the ingenuity left by these leaders?
Reflecting on their contribution at a pivotal time in the history of our country, I have five take outs on what we can learn from their lives as individuals and for the advancement of our nation:
i. Every individual should pursue mastery in their respective field. Mastery is a process of continuous learning — it requires daily practice to enhance performance and grit. The book Tanzania’s Industrialisation Journey, 2016–2056 highlights the importance of developing capacities among Tanzanians to allow them to contribute to meaningful development of the nation.
ii. Having a purpose ignites the fire within us and propels one forward. The quest for something larger and more important than oneself sets the flame ablaze in our bellies. Do not be limited by challenges or constraints — train yourself to focus on solutions. Initiatives such as ‘Fursa’ engage youth to think differently about their circumstances and challenged them to pursue opportunities for a way out.
iii. Be a person of good character by having a high moral and ethical compass. The six pillars of character include: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. To briefly expound, one should be honest and dependable, show respect for self and others, be accountable and self-disciplined, don’t bend the rules or take advantage of people in your dealings, express compassion for others through charity and be a good citizen by getting involved in your community.
iv. Now is the time to seize opportunities locally, in the region and on the continent. For over a decade, Africa has been conceptualized as the new (and possibly last) frontier for growth, innovation and social progress. We have to employ a collaborative spirit in order to harness the potential in our country and beyond. For example, Tanzania has one of the largest youth population in Africa, with the right investments in place to utilize the demographic dividend, the country can make significant economic gains.
“Africa as a continent is not poor, it’s the people who are poor. We should open our eyes. Africa as a continent is very rich.’ — Dr. Reginald Mengi
v. Have a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for your life — aim high. During an interview, Ruge admitted that none of his projects were without challenges citing the establishment of a radio station with Joseph Kusaga having no prior knowledge of the industry as well as starting a non-profit organization for grooming local talent from humble backgrounds with limited cash flow.
As we close the year and decade, I hold the optimism that comes with entering a new year, this time with greater intention to personal improvement and making a positive contribution to society. Will you join me? Let’s talk — please email on Majengo.sarah@gmail.com.
‘On the one hand you hear glowing stories of growth and prosperity, shiny new buildings being built, big cars, nice homes, and lots of consumption. But Africa is producing bigger and bigger numbers of poor people, so poor so desperate.’ — Ali Mufuruki.
