Defining progress 

The general way of measuring a country's success is to judge it by its main economic indicators like its GDP, Balance of payments position, inflation level etc. While industrial and economic values are important to any country, such material values, when not supported by spiritual ethics, often lead a society to disaster because moral bankruptcy leads to delinquent behaviour which in turn undermines development.

The proper yardstick to judge progress is to consider a blending of both, material and moral values because these are complimentary to each other. Industrial development by itself is not real progress if it fails to crystallise the moral and ethical aspects of human societies.

Likewise, real religion or spirituality is not something abstract which restricts itself to individual supplications to God. Rather, religious teachings extend to all the deeds of human beings and in addition to guiding individuals to virtuous living such teachings, in their correct context, also direct and provide encouragement for the orderly progress of industry and technology in harmony with human nature and the environment.

In any country, the factor that weakens the religious and moral aspect of the population is the freedom availed to the people at large in the form of permissiveness. It is not only important that people show an interest in religion; the significant point is whether morality prevails in the undertaking of political, economic, educational as well as social objectives. 

The enlightenment and wisdom of what is morally right and wrong begins at home where parents are obliged to teach their children on the importance of honesty and hard work at all times in life. Children who grow up believing that the only objective in life is money, are bound to fall prey to their selfish desire and in the process they are tempted to break laws to earn wealth by hook or by crook. Children should be brought up in a religious atmosphere and be provided with religious teachings while school teachers should always be mindful that they remind children of God. 

Economists mistakenly consider wealth as anything that satisfies human needs directly or indirectly. For example the present free market economy in Tanzania permits the production or vending of anything that realises material gains. By advocating a free market whereby acquiring wealth is the primary objective, we have encouraged sectors like the cigarette and beer industries despite the fact that their output leaves much of our society vulnerable to health risks, accidents, family brawls and the like. By doing so, a few extra millions are generated by the Government but can one define this as real wealth or real progress?