Debating ‘The Morality of Capitalism’ in Tanzania
Students For Liberty Tanzania has organized ‘The Free Market Great Debate’, the first ever libertarian contest in Tanzania designed to teach college students free market principles and give them a unique opportunity to argue various issues and views around the theme: “Morality of Capitalism” in connection to the current situation in Tanzania society.
ASFL Leader Evans Nkya, said the debate is to help students understand principles of a free society, and capitalism in its social, economic, and cultural sense. The contest is also aimed at developing their critical thinking capability in finding solutions to the current problems in the society.
Evans Nkya, addressing debate participants
Since the contest kicked off in April, it has been hosted at the University of Da res Salaam, Institute of Finance Management, Tanzania, Da res Salam University College of Education, National Institute of Transport and has attracted over 300 students.
According to Evans, he noted that there is a lot to be done for the Tanzania economy, though things are said to be improved but the people’s living standards are still same, stressing the need for young people to be knowledgeable on how free markets ideas help make human flourishing possible. He explained that the contest will reach out to more institutions in the country before it ends in August.
One of the debate participants talking to the audience
Meanwhile, it has also been a plethora of activities alongside the competition. At the University of Da res Salaam, there was a discussion on the role of African intellectuals in social-economic development moderated by Dr Nelson Amar of Liberty Sparks and Mr. Gerson Janga of the Dar es Salaam Political Science Association.
The debate participants read The Morality of Capitalism, a collection of essays produced by Atlas Network and Students for Liberty, edited by Dr. Tom G. Palmer, Atlas Network’s George M. Yeager Chair for Advancing Liberty and executive vice president for international programs. Contributors to the book include economists Deirdre McCloskey, Vernon Smith, Ludwig Lachmann, and Temba Nolutshungu; Whole Foods founder John Mackey; philosophers David Kelley and Leonid Nikonov; Cato Institute Executive Vice President David Boaz; Kenyan entrepreneur and film producer June Arunga; Chinese civil rights activist and Unirule Institute of Economics founder Mao Yushi; and Nobel laureate novelist Mario Vargas Llosa.
They were also given free books on the theme and CDs from Network for a Free Society, whom alongside Atlas Network are the sponsors of the project.
Winners of the contest shall be announced at the SFL Tanzania Regional Conference in November.
SFL Tanzania has continued to target and reach out to students, young people with classical liberal ideas and resources, plugging them into the liberty movement, and empowering them to be advocates of positive change.