بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Germany Neo-Colonial Agenda in Tanzania
News:
On November 1, 2023, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier accomplished his three-day visit in Tanzania which commenced October 30, 2023. President Steinmeier’s delegation included the Germany’s government officials and 12 large companies’ investors, aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties and promotion of trade and investments.
Comment:
Germany colonized Tanganyika (part of Tanzania) from 1885 to 1918 when it was defeated in the first World War and consequently lost its colonies mostly to Britain and France under the Versailles Treaty. From that time 1919 Tanganyika came under British colonialism with America’s trials of snatching it in vain.
Steinmeier’s visit shows that Germany is aiming to expand its horizon of influence in Tanzania during this neo-colonialism period in which international trade is used as a means to achieve colonial agenda to the poor colonized third world countries. Through what they call free trade, colonialists have made poor countries market place for their goods and a source of raw material through unbalanced trade between two sides.
Germany-Tanzania type of trade is undoubtedly exploitative, unbalanced and colonial in nature. Only Germany can invest in Tanzania and Tanzania just like other poor nations would always be the source of market and investments for Germany. During this visit, there was a delegation of 12 business companies whereby a business forum between Tanzania’s business stakeholders and Germany was conducted.
While Tanzania does not enjoy any serious investment in Germany, there is a great deal of German investments in Tanzania for many years. By August 2023, 178 projects worth $408.11 million from German investors have been registered in Tanzania mainland and 15 projects worth $300 million have been registered in Zanzibar. There are other investments too such as Twiga Cement factory in Dar es Salaam which is operated in partnership with the German company Scancem International. German has invested in various strategic sectors such as water, health, finance and tourism.
According to Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Tanzania exports $42.04 million worth of commodities to Germany, mostly being tobacco, coffee, cotton, honey, fish, wax, and gemstones. Annually, Tanzania imports $237.43 million worth of commodities from Germany, in most cases medicines, medical devices, deodorants, cars, and electrical equipment.
Developing nations such as Tanzania would always be colonized and exploited by Western colonialist countries like German under capitalism by which colonialism remained to be unchanging methodology of reaching its goal which is exploitation.
Once the global Islamic Caliphate is re-established unlike under capitalism, Africa and the world in general will enjoy fair, productive and fruitful trade as it was before colonialism before the end of 19th century.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Said Bitomwa
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Tanzania