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CMI REPORT DECENTRALISATION AND GENDER R 2008: 9
Photo 3. From left: A Village Executive Officer, a Ward Executive Officer, and a Village Chairman during a
community meeting in Moshi rural (by Siri Lange)
Cooperation and participation at community level
All informants underline that the Chagga are hard working and ambitious, used to interacting with
outsiders, fast to learn and willing to adapt to new customs. This creates a positive basis for
interacting with all outsiders, including donors.
Tradition of financial contributions
The Chagga have a tradition for contributing financially to their local community. If somebody does
not contribute they are sanctioned. An example was given:
"We need 15% local contribution to build schools It happens that someone does not want to
contribute, then we go and se them individually. If they say that they don't have children
who will go to that school, we tell them that your children were educated by earlier funds -
now you should contribute. If they still don't want to pay we take something from their
house and sell it, i.e. chair. Then they will learn that it is better to pay."
According to our informants, poor members of the community are not forced to pay. In some cases
the village leaders contribute on their behalf, and then the poor are asked to work for the families of
those who paid for them for a certain period of time.
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