Public policy challenges in Tanzania as portrayed in Swahili written literature

Abstract

Tanzania has experienced significant policy changes in more than 50 years since independence. In the 1960s, after independence, Tanzania adopted Ujamaa, which aimed at uniting her citizens by eradicating exploitation among people. However, the policy eventually proved economically unsuccessful. Reasons for the downfall of Ujamaa include mismanagement of the public institutions and public funds embezzlements by state officials. This policy was followed by liberalisation policies which led the government to entrust public means of production to individuals. Like historical sources, the literary world has its own ways of discussing such matters. This paper seeks to discuss how such policies surface in Swahili written literature by expounding views for each policy.