Solidarity in all its forms
In Tanzania, there is generally a strong sense of solidarity among the country's inhabitants, probably due to the peace that has reigned between ethnic groups for over 100 years. This solidarity exists not only between members of the same unequally successful family, but also between inhabitants of the same village, between members of the same ethnic group, and even between two individuals who don't know each other, whatever their respective origins. Although they can sometimes be aggressive with those who photograph them against their will, with hit-and-run drivers or thieves caught red-handed, Tanzanians are generally available people, ready to help anyone in need, and seem far removed (for the moment) from the individualism of Western societies.
The difficult life of Tanzanian women
Many professions seem to exclude women (notably that of safari driver-guide...) but the state has made efforts by hiring many women in the police, banks and all public bodies. On the other hand, Tanzania's record birth rate is a marker of women's difficult living conditions, breaking records at 4.9 children per woman. They work hard, both at home and in the fields. In some regions, they sometimes have to travel several kilometers to fetch water and wood for cooking. They also carry fruit and vegetables to market. It's not uncommon to come across young girls with infants on their backs. They are 17 or 18 years old, and already mothers... Lack of knowledge about contraception (especially in the most remote areas) and male insistence are the main reasons why these children are born. With no qualifications, these young mothers often end up selling fruit and vegetables on the sidewalk. Or worse, prostitute themselves to support themselves. Depending on their religion, the names given to their daughter or son are John, Joseph, Peter, James, Paul, Maria, Upendo, among the most common among Christians, or Ally, Mohamed, Mustapha, Ahmed, Fatima, Saida among Muslims.
Unequal schooling that decreases with age
Elementary school is supposed to be free and compulsory in Tanzania between the ages of 7 and 14. But in reality, the official primary school enrolment rate is 82%, compared with 25% in 1961 before independence. It is estimated that nearly 5 million children between the ages of 7 and 17 are deprived of an education. There are many reasons for this: the continuing cost of uniforms and school supplies, the distance of schools from the family home, low levels of public investment and, in rural areas, a lack of interest in education on the part of the parents themselves, who prefer to see their children work the land. When they're not out in the fields herding cattle, children walk miles to school every day. Gender inequality in a still traditional society is strong, and many girls suffer from the fact that the legal age for marriage is 15 (compared with 18 for boys), when it comes to whether or not to continue their studies in secondary school. All the more so since a controversial bill in 2019 would exclude from the education system any girl who became pregnant before reaching the age of majority... that's 21% of girls between the ages of 15 and 18. Against all expectations, however, the Tanzanian education system has achieved half-success overall, with a good literacy rate, leaving Tanzania behind some sixty underdeveloped countries. In future, secondary schools, which are still far too elitist with an official enrolment rate of 32%, should open their doors wider. Nevertheless, the Tanzanian government abolished school fees for primary and secondary education in 2011 and 2015. More and more Tanzanians are accessing university via a scholarship system. In many cases, the training provided is entirely theoretical. What's more, the entire education system suffers from a serious lack of resources: class sizes too large, maintenance of premises, lack of teaching materials, late payment of teachers, etc.
Swahili, the only language of instruction
In February 2015, the Tanzanian government decided that Kiswahili would henceforth be the sole language of instruction in the country. While this was already the case at primary level, Swahili is set to replace English at secondary and university levels. However, these changes are likely to take time. There are no textbooks in Kiswahili, and some English-speaking terms (of a technical nature) do not exist in Swahili... Finally, private schools, which use English, should not switch to Swahili overnight. Their reputation, and therefore their attendance, depends on it. Above all, Tanzania lacks the inspectors needed to enforce the law, given the number of schools and the new ones opening every month. The inadequacy of the education system, which enables only a small fraction of the population to speak English, is detrimental to the country's economy and the functioning of its businesses. Many leave to study in Kenya, where the universities are reputed to be better.
Young people torn between informal work and unemployment
When it comes to unemployment, there are no reliable figures, although the World Bank estimates it at around 9% of the working population. Given current underdevelopment and the importance of the informal sector, the potential for growth and job creation remains high. Many young people are unable to find work in the countryside, and live on their parents' help without knowing how to spend their days; young men in particular will have to wait a long time before they can marry. Unemployment can also be observed in the cities. Driven by the city lifestyle, the lure of certain forms of entertainment and the businesses that open up, many young people leave their parents' homes to seek employment in the city. Jobs that they generally find hard to come by, having left school at an early age, without any real professional skills. Some have the courage to roll up their sleeves and work as craftsmen or porters. Some go on to become their own bosses, with a small amount of capital. Others work in Indian-owned stores in urban centers. Some fall into delinquency, the scourge of many large African cities. Many kill time as best they can, surviving in the city thanks to the traditional solidarity of friends and family.
Very low wages for those who are declared
Salaried employees are covered by social security and pay pension contributions. Those in the informal sector, on the other hand, have no guarantees whatsoever. Generally speaking, corruption often compensates for low wages in the public sector. The social class of the nouveau riche, particularly Indian traders, is booming. But the median wage for declared employees is just US$22 a month. For driver-guides, it's US$120, but can range from US$50 to US$200. Civil servants, especially those in government ministries, enjoy fairly advantageous working conditions in terms of working hours, and are guaranteed a fixed salary. Expatriates working for foreign companies based in the country are privileged in that their salaries are higher than average, justified by their skills, levels of responsibility and sales generated.
A failing health system
Insufficient numbers of doctors and dispensaries, coupled with rising medical costs, are among the reasons for the low life expectancy of the Tanzanian population, which stands at 63 years. Coupled with a very high birth rate, the country's average age is just 18. Only 30% of Tanzanians have health insurance, and the rest have to pay medical bills that are often far too high for their meagre resources.
Uninhibited sexuality, but taboo subjects
Sexuality is no taboo. In a still traditional society, the man has a lot of power over the woman, and the woman is often unable to decline. The consequences are well known... In mainland Tanzania, there are few rules, and many women have children from different fathers who assume their paternity. In Zanzibar, the population is very Muslim and, officially, one must preserve oneself until marriage. Unofficially, the population is not so strict about sexual mores.
What's more, the country had to contend with a terrible AIDS epidemic between 1990 and 2010, when its population declined. Tanzania is now making progress in the fight against AIDS, but like all African countries, it still has a relatively high rate. In 2016, 1.5 million people were living with HIV in the country, representing a prevalence rate of 4.5% of the sexually active population aged between 15 and 49. There are almost 65,000 new cases a year, and almost 30,000 deaths due to the epidemic. However, clear progress has been made in terms of treatment, with 70% of detected cases being treated with anti-retrovirals. Women (5.8% of the population) are more affected than men (3.6%). The cause? Sometimes, it's well-to-do older men who make advances to teenage girls for sexual relations: pregnancy or transmission of AIDS are often the consequences of these ill-considered gestures by these "sugar daddies" as they're known here. The rate of infection also varies greatly from region to region, with the town of Njombe near Lake Tanganyika having the highest rate of infection at 15%. Another social taboo in Tanzania is that homosexuality is unacceptable to most people. It is even a criminal offence punishable by up to 25 years' imprisonment. Most of the time, the accused are denounced by those around them. However, even in Zanzibar, they are tolerated among women with the utmost discretion.
