Two years in Tanzania

Shirley, an information manager at Beacon Group Inc. in Scarborough, and her husband spent a year in Tanzania when her husband received a posting there with the IMF.  They liked it so much they stayed for a second year.

They lived in the Tanzanian capital -- Darr es Salaam on the Indian Ocean.

Shirley  decided that working in a local orphanage was exactly what she was looking for.  Because of the lack of medical care many mothers, particularly those bearing twins, die at childbirth.

Shirley gave us what was normally a two-hour presentation in just under 30 minutes.  It was packed with information about the history, politics and economics of the country.

Although Tanzania is the most prosperous East African country, it can't help but experience the spillover of the political chaos from some of the countries which it borders -- Uganda invaded in the past and they are still experiencing hundreds of thousands of refugees  from Rwanda , Burundi and the Congo.

The country has experienced a Who's Who of colonizers, starting with the Portuguese in the 1500s, followed by Arabs, Germans and lastly the British before achieving independence in 1963.

Tanzania boasts a 95% literacy rate.  Its economy is based on agriculture, tourism, mining.

It is hampered however by very little infrastructure -- there are few roads.  Even in the capital Hydro is turned on for only six hours per day.

The annual per capita income is only $290 US.

There is a culture of sharing -- this is a double-edged sword.  Those with good paying jobs in the capital will share with their extended familys, supporting up to 50 people each.  However ,this prevents any wealth accumulation.The result is that there are very few in the middle class, and there's a great polarization between the very rich and the very poor.

There's no Social Security.  Clean water is scarce.  Malaria is common.  All medicines must be paid for.  Many die because they can't afford the cost of the $12 to treat their malaria.   HIV/AIDS is common, with the numbers underreported as many often die by malaria when their immune system is weakened by HIV.

Dar es Salaam is a safe city by East African standards, however you have to watch for pickpockets in Arusha.

Tanzania does well receiving significant aid from the IMF.  One of the reasons for this is that the government is responsible and the aid generally goes to the people, as opposed to being siphoned off to buy arms.

Phil Cristie thanked the speaker.