Tanzania: Development Debate Learning from Singapore’s Success Despite Critiques of Complacency

By Adonis Byemelwa

Tanzania’s Works Minister Innocent Bashungwa recently stirred widespread debate after suggesting that the United States’ level of development is largely due to its long history since attaining independence in 1776.

Addressing residents in Kibiti District, Coast Region, Bashungwa urged Tanzanians to recognize and appreciate the country’s progress, particularly in infrastructure, crediting President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration for keeping the nation on a positive path.

Nevertheless, his comments sparked immediate critique, particularly from Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema's) political analyst Martin Maranja, who argued that comparing Tanzania to the United States overlooks crucial elements of development—strategic planning, visionary governance, and responsive economic policies—that could drive Tanzania forward if properly applied.

Bashungwa stated, "The United States has had over 200 years to develop since its independence. Tanzania, on the other hand, has only had 62 years. This is a reason to appreciate the growth we’ve achieved rather than focusing on distant benchmarks."

For Maranja and others, this perspective appeared overly simplistic, as it set aside relevant and realistic comparisons with countries like Singapore, which gained independence five years after Tanzania in 1965 and has since achieved remarkable success.

Maranja pointed out that Singapore’s achievements are not a product of time alone but rather the result of well-executed governance, efficient economic policies, and an unrelenting focus on industrial growth.

When Singapore attained independence, it had minimal natural resources and limited economic leverage. However, within a few decades, it transformed itself into a global financial hub, emphasizing precision in planning and industrial growth.

By the 1970s, Singapore had adopted a comprehensive industrial policy focusing on electronics manufacturing, which eventually became a cornerstone of its economy. Data from Singapore’s Economic Development Board reveals that by the late 1980s, the country had over 3,600 factories employing more than 350,000 people. Today, Singapore’s per capita income has reached $84,734, a staggering leap from the $428 it recorded in 1965.

Tanzania, meanwhile, has seen slower progress, with its per capita income only rising to $1,210 by 2023, a marginal gain from $880 over 64 years. Maranja noted that while Singapore's leadership focused on transformative economic policies, Tanzania remains predominantly agricultural, with much of its industrial sector privatized and stagnating.

Bashungwa’s celebration of Tanzania’s road construction efforts was also met with skepticism, as Maranja highlighted broader infrastructure gaps that continue to hold Tanzania back. For instance, electricity access, a key driver of industrialization, reached only 45.8% of the Tanzanian population in 2022, compared to near-universal coverage in Singapore.

Tanzania's power generation capacity stands at around 3,000 megawatts, whereas Singapore, despite its small size and lack of resources, generates 8 gigawatts. "Infrastructure is key, but it cannot be limited to roads alone," Maranja argued. He emphasized that robust infrastructure—power, clean water, and reliable internet—is foundational to a thriving economy and improved quality of life.

Singapore's attention to comprehensive infrastructure has enabled it to attract over 37,000 international companies, which employ its citizens and contribute significantly to its economy. Without similar commitments to comprehensive infrastructure, Maranja warned, Tanzania may remain underdeveloped, unable to attract the scale of investment that has transformed Singapore and other rapidly developing nations.

Another stark difference between Tanzania and Singapore lies in education and workforce development. While Tanzania struggles with limited access to quality education, Singapore invested heavily in creating a skilled workforce to support its burgeoning high-tech industries.

By the 1980s, Singapore had reformed its education system to prioritize engineering, technology, and precision industries, effectively building a pipeline of talent that could sustain its economic growth. Today, Singapore employs 85.6% of its workforce in the services sector, compared to Tanzania’s 26.02%.

Maranja remarked that "a skilled and adaptable workforce is what sustains a modern economy. Tanzania must prioritize education reform to equip its youth with skills that meet contemporary market demands." He argued that Singapore’s approach to education and workforce development is a model that Tanzania could adopt, providing a growth path that goes beyond incremental infrastructure projects.

In praising Tanzania’s recent achievements in tourism, which brought in nearly $3 billion in revenue from 1.6 million visitors in 2023, Bashungwa pointed to a sector that has indeed seen growth. Yet, Maranja highlighted the disparity between Tanzania and Singapore in this area as well.

Despite Singapore’s lack of natural tourist attractions, the country earned $66 billion from tourism in 2014 alone. This success in urban tourism is fueled by iconic architecture, shopping destinations, and a carefully crafted urban landscape that draws millions.

“Singapore’s lack of natural resources forced it to innovate,” Maranja noted, suggesting that Tanzania could learn from this and diversify its approach to tourism beyond its natural landscapes

Relying solely on nature-based tourism, without serious investment in infrastructure and industry, leaves Tanzania exposed to economic stagnation, depending on resources that are vulnerable to shifts in global travel patterns or environmental concerns.

Maranja’s criticism of Bashungwa’s comments was stark. He viewed the minister’s comparison of Tanzanian development to that of the United States as a mindset that promotes complacency, suggesting a resignation to developmental limits due to the nation’s shorter independence history.

“A minister must look beyond the past and focus on present opportunities,” Maranja emphasized, urging Tanzanian leaders to reject outdated narratives. A political analyst who requested anonymity pointed to Ethiopia as a relevant example—a country that was never colonized but continues to grapple with high poverty rates and complex socio-economic issues.

Even with a GDP of around $156 billion, Ethiopia faces extensive illegal migration, with citizens leaving to seek better opportunities abroad. He argued that this shows how independence alone does not ensure progress; economic growth requires policies that stimulate internal development and create prosperity at home.

Maranja cited the rapid advancement of countries like Singapore and South Korea to emphasize the impact of forward-thinking policies. Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, once remarked that “the future is to the swift and the determined,” a philosophy that catalyzed Singapore’s transformation from a struggling port city into an economic leader. Singapore’s journey reflects the power of strategic leadership, visionary goals, and accountability—all factors Maranja stressed are essential for Tanzania to overcome cycles of poverty.

The achievements of nations like Singapore and South Korea, Maranja argued, highlight what is possible when leaders commit to significant, transformative change. Singapore’s emphasis on industrialization, especially in electronics, precision engineering, and biomedical industries, reshaped its economy within decades.

Today, Singapore stands as a global hub, having attracted over 37,000 international companies, proving that lack of natural resources is not a barrier to success if strategic, disciplined governance drives development.

He warned that if Tanzanian leaders like Bashungwa continue to take an unambitious view, the country will struggle to break out of its development challenges. “Development is not about the time elapsed since independence; it’s about clear, results-oriented policies and an unwavering commitment to national growth,” Maranja stated.

He urged Tanzanian policymakers to study successful models like Singapore’s and build a blueprint tailored to Tanzania’s strengths and resources.

In closing, Maranja issued a powerful call to action: Tanzania’s economic potential is vast, but it needs leaders who will push forward into the future with an innovative mindset, rather than look back for justifications. He pressed the nation’s leaders to craft a plan that fully utilizes Tanzania’s abundant resources and positions it as a leader in East Africa. Only then, he argued, can Tanzania transcend its challenges and establish a legacy of enduring progress.