Why Tanzania needs a critical mass of vocational skills - and a strong pipeline of skilled managers: In the tone of Tim Cook, Apple CEO
By Bakari S. Machumu, Founder & CEO, BSM Washauri (TZ) Ltd.
A Fortune video featuring Apple CEO Tim Cook caught my attention recently. In it, he explained why Apple continues to manufacture in China. There is a moment that really stuck with me.
In the interview, he discusses a common misconception about China: “Let me at least give my opinion,” he says. “The popular conception is that companies come to China because of low labor costs. I am not sure which part of China they go to. But the truth is, China stopped being a low labor cost country many years ago. That is not the reason to come to China from a supply point of view. The reason is the skills, and the volume of those skills in one location.
“The types of products we make require advanced tooling and extreme precision. The materials and tooling we use are state of the art. The tooling skills is very deep here. In the U.S. you can have a meeting of tooling engineers. I am not sure we could fill a room. In China you could fill multiple football fields. It is that, vocational expertise is very very deep here.” End of quote!
That insight is powerful.
Meanwhile, we have all seen the tariffs and tensions flare up after President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. One move after another threatened to disrupt U.S. tech giants - and the ripple effects were set to hit consumers hard.
While things may have calmed for now, the long-term lesson remains: U.S. manufacturers will need to rebuild this kind of skill and capacity at home - quickly, within two to three years.
So where are we in Tanzania on that map?
In a world that is becoming more self-centered - “make my country great again” kind of thinking - it is all about your value. What do you bring to the table? If you have no card to play, you are not even in the game.
But let us flip the script - may be this global tension is actually good. Just like the Russia-Ukraine war taught us about supply chain fragility, this is another wake-up call. Time to take control of our fate. Afrika, Tanzania tujitegemee. Period
Tim Cook’s words got me thinking: what is our national response? What is our equivalent move to China’s vocational revolution? The solution requires intention - from both the public and private sectors.
I remembered the recent debate around the suggestion that Tanzanian university graduates go through the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA). It went viral - and not for the right reasons. Many mocked it, but others saw it for what it really was: a necessary attempt to fix a deep-rooted problem. A quick fix!
Years ago, we dismantled our focus on middle-level vocational institutions in favor of tertiary education. By the 2000s, we had more graduates, sure - but mostly with theoretical knowledge. Meanwhile, industries were (and still are) crying out for technical and practical skills.
What is encouraging though, are the education system reforms led by Education Minister Prof. Adolph Mkenda, which focus on promoting skill-intensive vocational training for the future. However, since the impact of these reforms will take time to materialize, we must address the needs of both the current and future generations.”
That is why I fully understand and support Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa’s thinking. It may seem like a “quick fix,” but asking graduates to go through VETA could be the first step toward building the workforce we desperately need.
These graduates already have theories. All they need is practice. What is stopping them? It is not ability - it is ego. That “theoretical arrogance” of thinking VETA is beneath them.
But truth be told: you are irrelevant as you are right now. The job market does not owe you anything. Gaining hands-on skills could be the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. It is a mindset shift. Humble yourself, get the skill - and watch how doors open.
If not? Stay arrogant. Stay irrelevant. It is
your choice - and like all choices, it comes with consequences.
That covers the technical side. But there is another critical area: management and leadership.
As Tanzania’s economy evolves, more investments are flowing in. This growth demands a new type of leaders - especially at the middle management level. We need people who can translate vision and strategy into action.
Harvard Professor Robert Kaplan, in his book The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action, found that 90 per cent of organizations fail to execute their strategies.
Why? Among others, it is because strategy does not trickle down. You need alignment from the CEO to the intern. Every team member must know how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Without that, you end up with busy teams working hard - but not smart.
That is why strategy cascading is non-negotiable today. And it demands essential soft skills - especially communication.
Communication is not just about language. It is about clarity. Without clarity, there is no understanding. Without understanding, there is no action - or worse, the wrong action. Without action, there is no progress.
So just because you speak good English, Swahili, or Jita, does not mean you have communicated. If you keep saying “hawaelewi kabisa,” may be the problem is speaking. You are the problem. Communication is the art of delivering meaning. Once you understand that, you will unlock massive potential within your team.
Just like China invested in building a deep bench of vocational talent, Tanzania must invest - intentionally - in both vocational and managerial skills.
The good news? These skills can be learned.
At BSM Washauri (TZ) Ltd., we are here to help you build that muscle and ignite action. Think of it as a personal investment - one that will make you stand out and contribute meaningfully to Tanzania’e development.
Here is how we can support you:
1. Consulting & Coaching (Company-Level)
We help teams and organizations with:
a. Effective Communication
b. Strategic Communication
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d. Communication Strategy
e. Executive Media Management
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g. Public Speaking (Individuals)
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Available for short-term projects or long-term partnerships. (Contact us directly.)
3. Workshops, Masterclasses & Group Mentoring- Subscribe at bsmwashauri.co.tz for updates on upcoming programs.
4. “Brand Me” Program
A one-on-one mentoring session with our Founder, helping you position yourself as a leader beyond your current job title. (Book your session.)
Bakari S. Machumu is the Founder & CEO of BSM Washauri (TZ) Ltd., a knowledge-based firm specializing in Business & Leadership Advisory, Strategy, and Media & Communication Solutions.