Introduction

This paper sets out to examine the process of technology transformation in a developing country which is a late comer in the chronology of socioeconomic development of countries. One advantage of being a late comer in development is that one has the opportunity to learn from the development experiences of the forerunners such that in many respects one does not have to ‘reinvent the wheel’. However, this could also imply that the pace and pattern of technology transformation of the late comer countries is negatively influenced in some respects by the very existence of forerunners. The process of interaction between late comers and forerunners is itself complex. It is in this context that some late comers have experienced a more rapid pace of technology transformation than others. Those countries which have made limited progress in technological transformation may have encountered difficulties arising from their very position as late comers or from their particular position in the world economy or from conditions obtaining in their domestic economy including failure to articulate appropriate policies towards technology transformation. Tanzania is one such country which seems to have been a slow starter in the process of economic and technological transformation. This study, therefore, sets out to examine Tanzania’s experience in economic and technological transformation with a view to drawing lessons for future policy formulation.