Wednesday night the electricity went out. Now, it is not uncommon for it to flicker off for a few seconds and then resume working, but Wednesday's shortage lasted for much longer, nearly half an hour, and was caused by a much deeper problem.
My family here has interests in many different aspects of life- my Mama has a deep faith life, her son is politically aware and appreciates organic food, his wife speaks only a little English but even still we manage conversations about food, dancing, and cooking since we are often in the kitchen together and listening to music, and their daughter loves all things that happens in her thirteen-year-old life: school, friends, music, dancing, celebrity gossip, the latest fashions and all things American (a consequence of having so many American volunteers stay in their home). Therefore my day-to-day conversations vary depending on whom I am with.
Every morning over my breakfast of bread, jam and chai I watch the news in Swahili with my brother while he translates and updates me on everything corrupt about the current Tanzanian government. Since Nyerere's (TZ's first president) presidency ended, things have gone downhill for the country. Recent presidents have not focused on infrastructure or justice and now Tanzania and its people are suffering. Other African countries are coming in and taking control of farms and mines, kicking people out of their homes without a fair price or a new home for them to go to. Unemployment is outrageously high and many NGO's are not actually meeting the needs of people who need their services the most. Similar to other countries, those in power sit on wealth while hundreds of thousands of others live in extreme poverty. And even many of the well-educated and respected are not being treated fairly.
Over the past few weeks a group of doctors have taken leave from work to protest for fair wages. The government has been robbing them of pay for overtime, coverage of transportation costs, and a low wage overall in proportion to the services they provide. On Wednesday the doctor leading this small movement was beaten, and the evening news was relaying the story. Coincidentally, just as the news story began the electricity flickered off. Not the least bit surprised, my brother explained this happens all the time when stories reporting the government's (or those connected) outrageous behaviors come on the news. He said that he wouldn't be surprised if the electricity was off throughout all of Arusha since the city consists mostly of people who support the opposing party.
Presidential terms last for ten years, and the next election is in 2015. According to my brother, the current president did not win the election in 2005, but a ponsy government scheme worked to place him in the position anyway. If the opposing party's candidate is not elected in 2015, my brother warned that the Tanzanian people will stand for it no longer and action will be taken.
Do other countries have anything to do with the people who are suffering? Yes. Both America and UN leaders are investing in Tanzania, believing the superficial headlines that brag about it being such a peaceful country (headlines even I believed before coming here). With a new discovery of natural gas and a plethora of valuable jewels available not far into TZ's mines, America and European countries can come up with lots of reasons to choose not to investigate the actual state of the country and continue sending blind aid in return for these precious resources to further fuel the greed that drives too many international political relationships. Too bad UN, American and European leaders don't see that this “aid” is further sagging the pockets of a few round-bellied government officials while the majority of others run around in circles, bone-thin, limited to the daily chores of gathering water, firewood and food, all the while dodging potholes, thieves, and disease that could be better controlled but instead threaten their survival every day.
Call me cynical, pessimistic, or fed-up. It impossible for me to only talk about what is good when so many injustices surround me.
Too bad news like this doesn't make it to America's headlines.
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