1.0 Introduction
The concept of Social exclusion has been dominant in western world due to their social economic development. Gaullist Politicians in France coined it in 1960s after being puzzled by the problems of postindustrial society. (Tibaijuka, kaijage: 1996). In developing countries, Tanzania being one of them, Social exclusion has descriptive significance meaning that it has attributes that are based on poverty, deprivation, unemployment and denial of certain rights including political rights. This paper is aimed to discuss the subject matter. It is basically divided into two main parts. Part one will be devoted in discussing the meaning of social exclusion as put forward by various authors; also it will shed light on some examples of social exclusion at Global level. Part two of this paper will be on the case study from Tanzania intended to discuss Social exclusion in Tanzanian Context, by expressing social exclusion amongst Hadzabe Ethnic Minority Group of Northern Tanzania, in Yaeda chini in Mbulu District. These are considered as the only remaining hunters and gathers in Tanzania depending solely on the mercy of Nature. Finally, it will wind up by concluding remarks.
2.0 The meaning of Social exclusion:
Many academicians and authors have dealt with a task of defining social exclusion, which is one of the prevailing elements in our society. “Social exclusion relates to the alienation and disenfranchisement of certain people within a society.” .
Social exclusion is more than income poverty. It is a short–hand term for what can happen when people or areas has a combination of linked problems. . Usually, this combination of linked problems may range from: unemployment, deprivation, lack of basic social services such as health, education, infrastructure, poor skills and even the issue of required skills that can support their livelihood.
3.0 Social exclusion at Global level:
As said above, this concept emerged from early 1960s in Western Europe, and in that context it was focusing attention to the problem of unemployment. However, the social exclusion at global level is disheartening. The following are some examples to validate the statement.
For example in Britain, women from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Caribbean descent, besides being well in schools are penalized in work place. . Another case is that in Britain 43% of adults have paid work, also, more than one in twenty people are disconnected from water, electricity, gas or phone. . This shows that this phenomenon is even prevailing in developed world such as Britain.
In the case of Latin America, formerly, social exclusion was identified on the base of race, ethnicity or gender . But due to transformation in socio-economic activities in the last 25 years, it has changed to be related to urban life, who is not outsiders. Those who cannot afford decent paying jobs to care families. Others are whose who sleep on streets and abandoned buildings.
Moreover, for the Case of Africa, Tanzania is picked as representative country. Here, the common social exclusion is women failure to access land. In most Tanzania societies, women don’t have the right to own land. The situation is intensified by many tribal customs, as women are regarded as third degree. Single out is Bahaya people of Bukoba, Muleba and Karagwe.(Tibaijuka, Kaijage: 1996), Also, there is issues of pastoralist eviction from best pasture lands. Case noted is Barbaig of Northern Tanzania, who’s Land, was taken by NAFCO, (Tanzania Food Corporation) in 1970s. Despite the fact that it was under their village jurisdiction: To date they are marginalized and become victims of collective social exclusion in the Country (Shivji, I: 1995). Their case has been pushed from one court to another over years. Possibly one day they will get their overdue compensation.
5.0 Social Exclusion experience from Tanzania:
The Hadzabe of Yaeda Chini in Mbulu District as a case study.
The Hadzabe are one of the Ethnic group in Tanzania who are found in Manyara, Singida and Shinyanga regions. They are normadic people. They are hunters and gathers. That means going out in the morning and afternoon in search of Game. But in this part I will disccuss Social exclusion as experienced by the Hadzabe who are living in Manyara Region, Mbulu District and Yaeda chini in particular.
Yaeda Chini Village is one of the villages that compose Yaeda chini ward. It is 58 km south west of Mbulu town center. The population of The Hadzabe in Tanzania is estimated about 3000, but in Yaeda Chini, they are about 936. Their major economic activities include: hunting, collecting wild honey, roots and fruits. They are engaged in neither farming nor livestock keeping. Despite the fact that they are living within the same ecological zone with the pastoralist in this case the Barbaig. They believe that wildlife is enough to sustain their livelihood.
The Hadzabe is the ethnic group that is on the verge of extinction and unfortunately, it is socially excluded. This argument is based on these grounds: First, they are not provided with the basic educational facilities as one of the social services. For example, there are only two schools in the catchments area of about 1000 km, the old school was built in 1967, when the Hadzabe started to settle in Yaeda Chini and its within Hadzabe settlement, the other school was built in 2002, that serves both Barbaig and Iraqw who are both involved in pastoralism. (Field Report by Protas M: 2007) . This old school was converted to boarding school, however; the Hadzabe were not comfortable with it, definitely due to their life style of moving from point to point. Their argument is that a child of 7 years old is too young to be in boarding school. So, many don’t send their children to school. The other reason is that the school is poorly staffed and lacks teaching materials. The new school is about 26 km from their village. It is near Haydom.
On the other hand, the Hadzabe are lacking basic health care. There is a dispensary which is headed by an attendant.( who is a sweeper). Formerly, the dispensary was under Rural Medical Aid (RMA), he went for training and whe he had graduated in Clinical Officer Course he decline to go back, and so is in town area. They get outreach services from Haydom Lutheran Hospital. But he health care of women and children is at great risk, since one day is not enough for attending people who had no care for one month. Mbulu District Council has failed to delivery outreach program on the pretext that there is a problem of transport. They are supposed to improve the road to Yaeda Chini as they are part of their citizens.
Third, they lack water Supply, which is the basic need. There is only one borehole for such population. So, they get a lot of walking to fetch water for their need. So, this indicates deprivation as a group, collective social exclusion, that the service is not available. In areas where Barbaig ad Iraqw the pastoralist live there are 5 boreholes.
The lack of these basic services makes the civil servants decline going to Yaeda Chini. That means, the Government was supposed to provide the infrastructures.
Fourth, their area was encroached by the pastoralist, though Yaeda Chini is still the reserve area. This situation has put their livelihood in great risk. It is definite that, the pastoralism as a life style greatly interferes the ecosystem. The number one effect is that, wild animal are disturbed by the pastoralist and run away. To Hadzabe who depend on wild animal it is a big loss. Second, the tress they used for wild fruits are either cut or destroyed by cattle and this make them starve when wild animal are away, especially during dry season. On top of that cattle eat plant whose roots and tubers are usually complementing their diet. This means, their food security has been at risk following pastoralist settlement in the area. However, the Barbaig is another group who has victims of Government implementations of 1970s; they were forced to leave their prime pasture land of about 100,000 acres, to NAFCO (National Food Cooperation) with Assistance from CIDA. Out of which 10,000 acres of the land were at jurisdiction of Mulbadaw Village Coucil. This incidence has led the pastoralist to move searching for pastures; Yaeda Chini was their immediate solution thus brought havoc to the only remaining minority groups of hunters and gathers- the Hadzabe.
Furthermore, to make things worse, the district officials are trying to Lobby and advocate for the Hadzabe to accept hunting company from UAE. They have resisted accepting hunting company using all their voices. But those who were on the front line were arrested and the key leaders put in big trouble, for example Ward Community Development Officer who is Hadzabe too was dismissed from the Job (Field Report by Protas M: 2007) .
Presently, there is only one NGO called NDOROBO TAZAMA that is support them understand their right including the right to live in the area. The other organization is Called Cuso (Canadian University Student Organization) it is engaged in research on the ethnic group.
However, there is need also the Hadzabe o see other ways of supporting their livelihood apart from hunting and gathering. It is a truth that human being is a dynamic being, she or he has do adopt changing circumstances in order to survive.
6.0 Conclusion:
Social exclusion is state which can be corrected, provided that there is both political and administrative will from the decision makers. For the case of Hadzabe ethnic minority group which may get extinct if it is subjected towards natural or human made disaster. There is need to make them access the land, in case limit the interference from other groups such as the Barbaig and Iraqw whose basic activities interfere the ecosystem that with support these remaining last hunters and gathers of Tanzania. It is also ideal to keep away the hunting companies whose activities will endanger the Games around Yaeda Chini Game reserve. As human beings, they have basic right to basic social services. As a country, there has to be deliberate efforts to make them get these services even if it cost a fortune. Those civil servants who agree to work in remote areas have to be highly remunerated as those who are working in some sectors as in TRA, (Tanzania Revenue Authority) then they will stay and this minority ethnic group will prosper as any other group in Tanzania. It is possible to get rid of social exclusion.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_inclusion, accessed on 18th Dec 2007
http://www.swyddfa -cabinet.gov.uk social_exclusion_task_force/context
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_inclusion, accessed on 18 th Dec 2007
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/poverty/pse/sum_find.htm, accessed 4th Jan 08
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Kaijage,F& Tibaijuka, A( 1996) Poverty and Social Exclusion in Tanzania,
International Labour Organization,Geneva, Switzerland.
Protas, M (2007) Field report on Hadzabe of Yaeda Chini, Mbulu District
Shvji, I, (1995) Mapambano ya Umma na Maendeleo ya Jamii
Masimulizi ya Wazalishaji, Wawekezaji, Wafadhili, Wasomi na
Wana NGOS, Kurasini Dar-Es-salaam, Tanzania
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