Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.

With all that has been going on around me for the last few weeks it was only yesterday that I realised that back in the UK there is an election looming large. An Australian lady reminded me it is in fact illegal not to vote in her homeland and was surprised by my total apathy when it comes to voting in this UK general election.

Sadly the current state of British politics leaves me cold but the political situation over here in East Africa is a lot more exciting. The general election is also just around the corner for the people of Tanzania who, on the face of it at least, are one of the very few unified countries in Africa.

The problems this country faces could be drastically eased with good governance and there is certainly evidence of progress out here. However, just like in any good political fight there are always sly tactics employed to grab the voters attention. The current government has just embarked on massive and very visible road restructuring programme. A lot of the mud roads are all-but washed away during the rainy season. Right around the town centre these roads are now being rebuilt. The whisper among the locals is that this is a prime example of the aforementioned vote winning tactics.

Be that as it may there is a noticeable improvement in the roads and whether it's a vote winning tactic or not everybody here is benefiting. On this basis my solution for a better Tanzania would be to hold an election every six months and then maybe even the railways would work by the end of next year....


Yesterday I was having a drink with a fellow volunteer who had been sent an email from a young girl, who is coming to Arusha to do voluntary work, asking him if he had any tips on what to pack.
When I asked him what he had advised her he replied without missing a beat;

"A rape alarm". I wonder if she's still coming?

In other news; On Sunday a colleague was accidently hit in the face by a bottle wielding maniac who was fighting off the police in Ngaramtoni where I am working. Obviously everybody was stunned to learn that there are in fact Police in Ngaramtoni! Also it looks like I will have to spend some time in the remand centre out here. Should be fun....