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0 JICHO LA ULEDI
George Michael Uledi.
Kyela,Mbeya.
November 28,2021.
Hambantota Port story might be a good lesson for Tanzania before getting into contract talks with Chinese and Oman firms over the contraction of Bagamoyo Project which was once negleted by JPM saying,I quote.
“..only a madman and drunkard would have accepted them…”,The terms include the 99 years lease,tax free status,33 years gurantee of not expanding any Port in Tanzania!
China Belt and Road Initiative which is a Chinese international mission brought a dark fate to Sri Lanka government leased to Chinese firm for 99 years over the ownership of Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka!
Western media have used the Hambantota Port project to justify that China is using the Road and Belt Initiative for creating debt trap for countries and thereafter conficating the strategic infrastructure.A New York Times carried one article alleged that China lured Sri Lanka into a debt trap under BRI.
A Port grab had been a China’s objective from days.Chinese military submarines have been docking at Hambantota being a Chinese strategy to encircle India somehow.After the lease to China the Hambantota Port by the former Sri Lanka regime for 99 years,now the Sri Lanka new government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wants to undo the previous regime move to lease the Port to Chinese venture ,citing National interests.
China is dismissing worries over any military dimension to it’s investment in Hambantota Port and Tanzania especially Bagamoyo project should be Keen on the matter.Bagamoyo project if is not given a keen eye “security,economic,politic”may fall into the same trap not only to the story of China -Hambantota project but also the China -Djibouti who where the Horn of Africa can country believe that it has potential to became the “Singapore of Africa” with the help of Chinese investments.
Tanzania’s location through Indian Ocean makes the country one of the critical locales for projecting power across Africa and Asia!”…they have a grand and strategic plan,we don’t have”,David Shinn ,former US Ambassodor to Ethipia had said,about
Chine’s presence in Indian Ocean shore.
Another story of Djibouti China marriage supported by majority share of Djibouti’s debt account for over 70% of it’s GDP. The strategy behind Djibouti accumulating large sums of debts was to promote it’s logistic hub between Africa and Asia!Why China want to invest almost the whole of Indian ocean shore through Ports economy?”Bagamoyo,Lamu,Djibouti,Sudan”.
In March this year,the Commander of Djibouti support base Liang Yang got promotion the rank of Major General to unknown Chinese base after successfully handled BRI in Djibouti.
THE MUST KNOW WHILE TANZANIA IS INTERING INTO BAGAMOYO PROJECT RENEGOTIATION!
1.Tanzania expert should know that now China has became more willing to renegotiate debts and therefore investments terms too,because it doesn’t want to look like a “bad boy” after the Hombantota experience in Sri lanka,therefore this provide a room for us to came up with win-win situation deal over Bagamoyo Project!
2.While we are for this project ,Tanzania should know that similar projects operated by China along Indian ocean therefore it is not a big deal no more.
3.Is the BRI purely economic Corperation to enhance international tie as China claims?,or is it a geopolitical tools enhance global strategic influence?
4.In June 2015,Tanzania shipping Agents Association warns the government against the contraction of a new Port citing low business.
- We must know that china’s Belt and Road Initiative forges intertwining economic,political and security ties between Africa and China advancing Beijing’s geopolitical interests.
I conclude and advice that the idea of Bagamoyo project implementation should be grounded through research based decision to reveal the potential of the Bagamoyo Project.
Writer is a Chama Cha Mapinduzi member,,former Assistant lecturer at Saut & Tumaini University Iringa,former Officer at Tanzania Information Services Habari- Maelezo,former Officer Cadet at Tanzania Military Academy & former contender at Kyela Costituency for CCM 2020.
+255784159968.
