Not many years ago, former Minister of industries and Trade, Idd Simba caused a flare when he used the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2004/2005 to suggest that ours is a society of people with near to the ground thinking abilities.
Apparently the survey shows that about 51 percent of children in Tanzania are mentally retarded because of malnutrition, a condition research has proved can reduce ability to think and learn.
But I have since began wondering if there is a possibility that the Man in the high office is suffering from a similar condition. He could have acquired it in his childhood, and there is enough evidence to support this seemingly bizarre suggestion.
Last year, we were told he underwent brain examination at the Muhimbili National Hospital before he was sent abroad for further scrutiny. In fact, it was him who unburdened his heart before unwary reporters upon his return from abroad at the JK International Airport, saying that “I have had my brain tested and it is fine.”For heaven’s sake, why would you have your brain tested if there are no symptoms suggesting that your brain isn’t working correctly?
But like Idd Simba suggested, the number of Tanzanians whose mental conditions may have caused them to endorse dreadful bills in Parliament or even sign agreements with donors or international organizations without necessarily thoroughly reviewing their implications to the country and the unworried and partly oblivious citizens is likely to be larger than we know.
It might be too late to save the mentally ill Man and a few other Tanzanians but it is unquestionably not late to prevent 43,000 children from dying of malnutrition every year and more people from becoming mentally retarded.
And the solution is simple!
Just get the Man to make sure his regime fortify flour and cooking oil to prevent 43,000 children from dying.
Having himself underwent brain checks, his doctors have probably told him the benefits of micro-nutrient supplementation, which are largely available in fortified food.
Nice piece. Congrats, Eric!
Made my day.
Keep them coming. Perhaps some day you can compile your musings in a book? I feel that although the internet is supposedly THE medium of information delivery, your very important observations are not reaching the majority of Tanzanians….but again, if you were to write in Kiswahili the witty humour and sarcasm will be lost
This is a nice one!! We have a mentally retarded fella at the high office, what do we expect?
This is excellently articulated, I hope watu wengi wamesoma hii jamani, including him. Congrats
That is true and we ought to remove this condition by giving children all their basic needs!