Poverty in East Africa

East Africa consists of three countries: Tanzania to the south, Kenya to the east and Uganda to the west. Like an umbilicus, Lake Victoria is the fresh-water lifeline that joins the three at the centre. Although endowed with great natural and human resources, this region is characterised by poverty, which may be defined as the state of being poor or lack of the means of providing material needs or comforts.

Poverty in East Africa is largely due to human error rather than an act of God. East African countries whose economies are mainly agricultural are either poorly managed or mainly subsistence. The agricultural export market and agro-based processing industries are at the mercy of volatile world markets and aggressive competitors with modern technology and huge capital outlay.

Though large tracts of land in eastern and northern parts of Kenya are arid due to scarce rainfall, only 8% of arable land is in use and a mere 0.98% under crops. A similar fate befalls parts of Tanzania which receive inadequate rainfall and others whose terrain is difficult to cultivate due to poor topography. However, a large chunk of Tanzania's arable land is under-utilized with only 4.2% in use.

It is only Uganda with a smaller area, which has put 21.5% of its arable land in use. However, with high population density and environmental issues like deforestation, wetland drainage and uncontrolled overgrazing, it is only a matter of time before the land loses its productivity.

It is unthinkable that East African countries cannot adequately feed its population, yet they export tea, coffee, pyrethrum, vegetables and fruits. There is need to formulate a food policy that takes into account the needs of the citizens of these countries first before the export market is looked into.

Another cause of poverty in this region due to human mismanagement is in the health sector. Though some aspects of health issues may be blamed on ignorance and lack of education, food and waterborne diseases (which causes 60-70% of most bacterial infections) can be preventable if the government supplied clean water and improved sanitary conditions in urban dwellings. Bacterial diarrhoea, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and malaria are major killers in East Africa. East Africa is endowed with the largest fresh-water lake in Africa- Lake Victoria- yet large cities like Kisumu constantly lack clean water, exposing its inhabitants to deadly diseases.

The importance of a healthy nation cannot be over-emphasized. Disease and poverty has ensured that life-expectancy remains 48, 52.3 and 51.4 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania respectively. This is due to high mortality rates at birth and also due to high HIV/AIDS prevalence among adults. As a result, no meaningful productivity can be expected from an ailing population, particularly when the authorities are either caught up in corruption or wrong priorities.

There is need for re-definition of an economic plan if poverty is to be eradicated in East Africa. This requires political will and selflessness on the part of the leaders. For nearly a decade, Tanzania lagged behind in underdevelopment when its first president experimented with Ujamaa (a form of socialism). In Kenya it was corruption in high places and political mismanagement which killed a potentially vibrant economy, while in Uganda it was ethnic turmoil that nipped in the bud the emergence of what was referred to as the pearl of Africa.

East Africa like many countries in Africa is naturally endowed, but lack useful ideas on how resources can be put into great benefit for its citizens. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with their exquisite fauna and flaura, attract hundreds of thousands of tourists each year to its parks. These visitors bring foreign exchange in billions of dollars, yet the inhabitants living next to the parks (and who occasionally suffer the wrath of wild animals) hardly enjoy any trickle of the bounty. If some of the benefits can be ploughed back on clean water, schools and health, perhaps it would go some way in addressing the immediate pressing needs of the suffering populace. This way, a medium term solution to poverty would be put in place.

East African countries are somehow stuck in this agro-based economy which is at the mercy of a competitive and continuously changing world market. This economy is also at odds with needs and skills of their populace. For instance Tanzania's Agricultural sector which is 40% of its GDP employs 80% of its labour force, yet industry and the service sector which comprises 18% and 38% respectively is hardly growing and could be the cause of economic stagnation.

Though Kenya's service sector is highly developed (60% of GDP) there is great potential in agriculture and industry which could help in diversification of the economy and creation of jobs away from the so-called white collar job sector.

Only in Uganda do you find a semblance of balance in GDP by composition in the areas of industry, agriculture and service sector: 24.7%, 30.1% and 45.1 %( 2007 estimates) respectively. However, there is more that could be done. Thus, with commitment and good ideas poverty may be a thing of the past in East Africa.

Finally, an important factor to poverty eradication is the development of infrastructure. East Africa is endowed not only with minerals such as copper, cobalt, limestone, gold and iron-ore, but also with hydro-electric water resources. Currently each country produces its own electricity with Uganda exporting a huge percentage of this source of energy to neighbouring countries.

A large capital outlay in roads, electricity, telephone lines and waterways forms not only a significant element of economic development but also helps to create jobs. All these with an education system aimed at the various sectors of the economy can help consign poverty to oblivion.