The Chant of Savant

Friday 30 April 2010

Uhakiki wa Riwaya ya SAA YA UKOMBOZI

UHAKIKI WA KITABU: SAA YA UKOMBOZI

1. REKODI ZA KIBIBLIOGRAFIA

Jina la Kitabu kinachohakikiwa hapa ni Saa ya Ukombozi na kimetungwa na Nkwazi Nkuzi Mhango. Mchapishaji wa kitabu hiki ni Tanzania Educational Publishers LTD na amekipatia namba ifuatayo katika sekwensia ya vitabu duniani (ISBN): 978 9987 07 039 8. Kimechapishwa mwaka jana 2009 kikiwa na kurasa 179. Na anayekihakiki sasa hivi katika safu hii ni mimi Padri Privatus Karugendo.

11. UTANGULIZI

Kitabu hiki ambacho ni Riwaya, kinachambua dhana nzima ya Uhuru. Na hasa uhuru wa nchi za Afrika. Riwaya, inauweka uwazi kwamba baada ya uhuru viongozi walijinufaisha na kuwasahau kabisa wananchi.

Riwaya inawahimiza wananchi kuamka na kudai haki zao. Kwa lugha nyingine Saa ya Ukombozi , ni mapinduzi! Kinyume na mapinduzi tuliyoyazoea ya kumwaga damu, Saa ya Ukombozi inasisitiza mapinduzi ya kutumia haki ya kupiga kura.

Tunakumbushwa wananchi, yaani watawaliwa kuhakikisha wanawawajibisha viongozi wao. Mfumo unaopendekezwa ni ule wa watawala kuwatumikia watawaliwa. Nchi zote zilizoendelea zinatumia mfumo huu; ndio maana tunasikia kwamba demokrasia ya kweli ndio inajenga Uhuru wa kweli. Bila Demokrasia, watawala wanageuka na kuwa Miungu watu.

Riwaya hii inapinga ufisi, ukuku, umbwa, ukondoo, usindano, ukijiko na tabia nyingine kama hizo; inashajihisha usimba, umizani na utambuzi, utendaji na ulinzi wa haki.

Hapo ndipo utamwona mhusika mkuu, Mzee Njema, akipambana na uongozi mbovu kuanzia kijijini mwake hadi wilaya na hatimaye, taifa. Cheche ya shujaa inawasha moto unaouamsha na kuukengeua umma kiasi cha kuangusha serikali dhalimu ya Mizengwe kupitia sanduku la kura.

Riwaya, inazo sura 27. Katika aya zifuatazo nitatoa muhtasari na tathmini yake, lakini baada ya kudokeza mazingira yanayokitangulia kitabu hiki.

III. MAZINGIRA YANAYOKIZUNGUKA KITABU.

Riwaya hii ni ya kubuni. Hata nchi inayoongelewa ni ya kubuni. Lakini kama anavyoandika Ngugi wa Thiong’o, hata kama nchi ni ya kubuni, jina lake linakuwa na maana ya kufikirisha. Ukisoma vitabu vya Ngugi, bila kufahamu lugha yake ya Kikikuyu, ni wazi unapoteza utamu na ujumbe wa riwaya zake. Kwa Mswahili anayesoma Saa ya ukombozi, anapata utamu na ujumbe wa riwaya, maana hata majina yamebeba ujumbe mzito.

Jina la nchi ni Mizengwe. Jina hili linampatia msomaji hamu ya kutaka kujua nchi hii ya mizengwe. Penye mizengwe mambo hayawezi kwenda vizuri. Kufuatana na mila za Kiafrika, majina yanatokana na matukio fulani katika jamii. Kama nchi ni Mizengwe, ni kuna mizengwe au huko nyuma kulikuwa na mizengwe iliyoendeshwa katika nchi hii ya kufikirika. Jina la kijiji kilichozaa Saa ya Ukombozi ni Githakwa, sina habari kamili ya mwandishi anatoka kabila gani, lakini kufuatana na uandishi wake ni lazima jina la kijiji linamaanisha kitu fulani kuhusiana na uhuru wa wanakijiji hicho, maana vuguvugu la mapinduzi linazaliwa hapa. Jina la Mkoa ni Chelewa! Inaonyesha jinsi mkoa ulivyokuwa umechelewa kufikia ukombozi wa kweli.

Lakini pia ukiangalia majina ya wahusika, unaona kwamba yanatoa ujumbe: Matatizo, Mafanikio, Huzuni, Njema, Kupata, Furaha nk., yanaongeza si utamu tu wa hadithi bali yanafikisha ujumbe kwa haraka na kumfanya msomaji kutafakari wakati akisoma.

Ujumbe unazama zaidi pale kikosi cha kuzuia vurugu kinapopatiwa jina la PPK ( Pinga Pata Kipigo). Msomaji atatambua haraka Mizengwe ni nchi ya namna gani na inaongozwa vipi. Inaonyesha vyombo vya usalama vipo kuhakikisha hakuna mtu mwenye kutoa mawazo huru, kutoa mawazo huru ni kupinga na ukipinga ni lazima upate kipigo.

Wataalamu wanasema kwamba fasihi ni kioo cha jamii. Mbali na majina yaliyotumika katika Riwaya hii, matatizo yanayotajwa yanafanana kabisa ya yale hapa Tanzania. Kijiji cha Githakwa, kinakataa ardhi yake kumegwa na kugawiwa kwa mwekezaji wa madini. Haya ni matatizo yanayozikumbuka sehemu nyingi za Tanzania. Loliondo, tumeshuhudia Wamasai wakifukuzwa kwenye makazi yao ili ardhi apewe mwekezaji. Lakini maeneo mengi ya madini, watu wamekuwa wakihamishwa ili kupisha miradi ya madini. Tumeshuhudia uharibifu mkubwa wa mazingira; kule Musoma maji yenye kemikali kali yameingia kwenye mkondo wa maji wanayotumia wananchi na watu wameathirika.

Wataalamu na wachambuzi wa maswala ya kidunia wanasema vita kuu ya tatu ya dunia italetwa na kugombea maji. Lakini nafikiri kabla ya hapo kutazuka vita kali ya kugombea ardhi. Serikali za nchi huru za Afrika, zimefanya uzembe au viongozi wamefumba macho na kuendeleza ufisadi wa Ardhi na kutengeneza bomu litakalowalipukia vizazi vijavyo. Kuwamilikisha wawekezaji wa nje ardhi kwa kipindi cha miaka 99, ni uwendawazimu usiokuwa na mipaka!

Ingawa mwandishi anaandika kwa kuficha sana na kutufanya tuamini kwamba anazungumzia nchi ya kufikirika ukweli unabaki kwamba Mizengwe ni Tanzania. Mwandishi huyu ni miongoni mwa watanzania wengi ambao wamekuwa wakifikiri kwamba tunahitaji mapinduzi makubwa katika nchi yetu. Na maoni ni kwamba mapinduzi haya yatalewa na watu wa chini kabisa kule vijijini au watoto wa mitaani waliojazana kwenye miji yetu. Kwa vyovyote vile Saa ya ukombozi haikwepeki!

Pamoja na kwamba mwandishi anapenda ukombozi uje kwa njia ya kura, anasahau kwamba umezuka mtindo wa kuiba kura. Yaliyotokea Kenya, si kwamba watu walitaka kuchinjana – bali wizi wa kura ulileta tatizo hilo! Mazingira yanayoizunguka riwaya hii; pamoja na nia njema ya mwandishi ya kutaka kutuaminisha kuleta mapinduzi bila kumwaga damu, utabiri wake unaweza ukawekwa pembeni na hali halisi inayotokea kwenye nchi mbali mbali za Afrika. Uganda mfano haiwezi kuleta mabadiliko au mapinduzi au ukombozi kwa sanduku la kura; sote tunafahamu jinsi Mseveni anavyotumia nguvu zote kubaki madarakani. Tanzania, pia tumeshuhudia mara nyingi ujanja na wizi wa kura. Kuna saa itafika, na bila shaka itakuwa saa ya ukombozi watu watakaposema hapana na kuamua kushika silaha za kumwaga damu. Utabiri wa Saa ya Ukombozi unakuja katika mazingira magumu!

Mwalimu Nkwazi N. Mhango, ni pacha wa Mwandishi maarufu Mpayukaji na Msemahovyo katika gazeti la Tanzania Daima. Mwalimu Nkwazi anasoma nchini Kanada. Baada ya maelezo haya sasa tuone kitabu chenyewe kwa muhtasari.

IV. MUHTASARI WA KITABU.

Riwaya inaudurusu na kuzulu uhuru na dhima nzima ya kuwa huru. Inaona shaka na uhuru wa baadhi ya nchi barani Afrika unaowanufaisha watawala waliojigeuza miungu pamwe na walamba viatu wao. Watu wa kawaida hawaruhusiwi kutia mkono kwenye deste nao wale halua!

Riwaya hii inaualika umma kushika hatamu. Inashadidisha utathimini na kuuhoji upya uhuru wanaoambiwa ni wake si wake. Katika kufanikisha hilo, tofauti waathirika waishio kwa matumaini kuupigania na kuupata uhuru wa kweli kupitia kwenye sanduku la kura.

Riwaya inahimiza watawaliwa kuhakikisha wanawajibisha watawala kama sehemu ya uwajibikaji wao. Kila mmoja awajibike kwa mwenzake. Inawataka watawala wawatumikie watawaliwa badala ya kuwatumia kama punda wa kuwabeba wao na mizigo yao.

Riwaya inapinga ufisi, ukuku, umbwa, ukondoo, usindano, ukijiko na tabia nyingine kama hizo; inashajiisha usimba, umizani na utambuzi, utendaji na ulinzi wa haki. Riwaya inaielezea nchi ya Mizengwe ambayo ina tabia kuu tatu zinazoweza kufananishwa na nchi yoyote, nazi ni matatizo, mafanikio yake na hamu ya kujikomboa kutoka mikononi mwa adha zote zinazoikabili nchi hii.

Tofauti na nchi nyingine iwayo, wananchi wa Mizengwe hasa wanakijiji, wanafanikiwa kuudekua mfumo wa kiunyonyaji na wa ukandamizaji uliokuwa ukiwadhalilisha na kuwadhulumu. Hapo ndipo utamwona mhusika mkuu Mzee Njema akipambana na uongozi mbovu kuanzia kijijini mwake hadi wilaya na, hatimaye, taifa. Cheche ya shujaa inawasha moto unaouamsha na kuukengeua umma kiasi cha kuangusha serikali dhalimu ya Mizengwe kupitia sanduku la kura.

Ukiachia mapinduzi ya wafanyakazi nchini Ufaransa, kwa Afrika wanakijiji wa Githakwa wakiongozwa na mzee Njema na wenzake, wanafungua ukurasa mpya kwa kuanzisha na kufanikisha mapambano ya ukombozi kutokea kijijini kwenda mijini na kutoka kwenye mapambano ya bunduki kwenda kwenye sanduku la kura. Pamoja na kwamba wanakijiji walikuwa na uwezo wa kutumia silaha zao kama mapanga, mikuki hata mawe, hawakufanya hivyo. Kwani siyo jibu wala njia ya kistaarabu ya kujikomboa.

Riwaya, licha ya kuwatia shime wanyonge watawaliwa, inawapa changamoto. Inalenga kuamsha ari na mori wa kujiletea ukombozi wa kweli. Wakijitambua na kuamua kwa dhati, kila kitu kinawezekana.

Wanakijiji wa Githakwa wamejikusuru ili kujinusuru na kushinda hila na njama za wezi wachache wenye madaraka kutaka kubinafsisha kijiji chao kwa tajiri wa Kizungu, Bwana Sucker.

Hata baada ya mzee Njema kuleta ukombozi kwa kuondoa serikali ya kidhalimu, hajiungi na serikali mpya; wala hataki kulipwa fadhila wala kusaliti ukombozi. Kwa sababu ukombozi ni jukumu la kila mwanajamii. Anakaa nje ili awapime na kuwapa changamoto viongozi wapya kama nao watalewa madaraka.

Hakika riwaya hii inafungua ukurasa mpya ambapo kwa mara ya kwanza, wanakijiji wanatoa somo adimu na adhimu kwa nchi ya Mizengwe.

V. TATHMINI YA KITABU

Baada ya kuona muhtasari huu sasa tufanye tathmini ya kazi hii aliyoifanya Mwalimu Nkwazi N. Mhango.

Awali ya yote lazima niseme kwamba kwa kuangalia hadhira anayoikusudia mwandishi ya Saa ya ukombozi, kitabu chake kinasisimua sana kutokana na mtindo alioutumia mwandishi.

Pili, ni wazi kwamba mwandishi amefanikiwa kutimiza lengo lake, yaani kubainisha na kisha kutoa majibu kamilifu ya Saa ya Ukombozi.

Tatu, kama nilivyosema mwanzo ni kwamba matumizi ya majina kama vile nchi ya Mizengwe, na wahusika wengine kama vile Matatizo, Mafanikio, Huzuni, Njema, Kupata, Furaha yanafanya kitabu chake kusomeka kwa mvuto na kumsaidia msomaji kusafiri na mwandishi hadi mwisho.

Nne, Mwandishi anatabiri Saa ya Ukombozi kwa kupitia sanduku la kura. Amejitahidi sana kukwepa umwagaji damu kama ule anaoutabiri Mwalimu Mkuu wa watu, katika kitabu chake. Ukiangalia kwa makini na kusoma kwa uangalifu, utagundua kwamba riwaya ya Saa ya ukombozi na Mwalimu Mkuu wa Watu, ni mtu na pacha. Nani kamwangalizia mwingine? Nani kaiba kazi ya mwingine? Au hawa ni mapacha wenye mawazo yanayofanana? Hadithi zote mbili zinahusu wawekezaji wa nje, uroho wa viongozi kuwakubali wawekezaji kwa vile wanawajaza matumbo yao bila kuangalia masilahi ya taifa zima, msimamo ya wa wananchi kukataa kuuzwa na kusimama kutetea haki zao. Tofauti ni kwamba Mwalimu Mkuu wa Watu, anamwaga damu wakati Saa ya Ukombozi, ni ukombozi bila kumwaga damu.

Ingawa mimi ninayehakiki kitabu hiki nachukia kwa nguvu zote umwagaji wa damu, ninakuwa na mashaka makubwa sana kwa pendekezo la Mwandishi wa Saa ya Ukombozi. Tungekuwa na Demokrasia ya kweli, tungekuwa na sera nzuri ya siasa ya vyama vingi, pendekezo lake lingewezekana. Lakini leo hii hakuna uchaguzi unaofanyika bila kupindishwa. Fedha zinatumika kuwanunua wapiga kura, kununua shahada zao ili wasipige kura na wakati mwingine Tume ya Uchaguzi, inatangaza mshindi si kwa wingi wa kura bali kwa maelekezo ya serikali inayokuwa madarakani.

Uchaguzi wa Kenya, ni mfano mzuri. Dunia nzima ilishuhudia jinsi Kibaki, alivyolazimisha ushindi na matokeo yake yalikuwa ni kumwaga damu. Uganda, Mseveni, hakubali kuona chama kingine au mtu mwingine anaitawala Uganda. Huko nako ni lazima mwisho wake uwe kumwaga damu. Tanzania, tumeshuhudia yale ya Mbeya, Busanda, Biharamulo na kwingineko, ushindi unatangazwa jinsi Chama tawala kinavyotaka. Katika hali kama hii ni vigumu Saa ya Ukombozi ikaja kwa amani, ni lazima ije kwa kumwaga damu.

Tano, mwandishi ameshindwa kwa kiasi kikubwa kuacha matukio kujisemea. Ameshindwa kuwaacha wahusika kujisemea na kujielezea. Kama ni unyanyasaji kama ni umaskini, ni vizuri kutovielezea, bali vijielezee vyenyewe. Riwaya ni nzuri, lakini mwandishi anamwelezea msomaji yanayokuja, badala ya msomaji kugundua mwenyewe kutokana na mwenendo wa wahusika.

Mfano Faslu ya Saa ya Ukombozi na Utangulizi vinavyotokea mwanzoni mwa riwaya, havikupaswa kuwepo. Kwa kusoma sehemu hizi msomaji anapata muhutasari wa kitabu kiasi kwamba utamu unapungua. Ni kazi ya msomaji kusoma na kugundua kwamba riwaya inalenga Saa ya Ukombozi. Ni kazi ya msomaji kusoma na kugundua kwamba watu wa Mizengwe walikuwa wakipinga ufisi, ukuku, umbwa, ukondoo, usindano,ukijiko na tabia nyingine kama hizo. Ni kazi ya mwandishi kuandika katika mtindo wa kumfanya msomaji kuyaona haya mwenyewe na kuamua mwenyewe kwamba hapa ni ufisi au ukuku.

Sita, lugha iliyotumika ni sanifu, mwanzoni mwa kitabu kuna cheti kutoka Baraza la Kiswahili la Taifa, cha ithibati, kuhakikisha kwamba lugha iliyotumika ni sanifu. Hata hivyo, kwa vile mwandishi alishindwa kuficha kwamba yeye ni mwanaharakati na mpambanaji wa Haki za binadamu na utetezi wa wanyonge, anatumia lugha nzito kuwatukana viongozi wanaopora rasilimali za taifa. Na kama nilivyodokeza, lugha hii inakuwa yake mwenye badala ya kuwa ya wahusika anaowachora yeye mwenyewe.

IV. HITIMISHO.

Kwa kuhitimisha basi, kwa upande mmoja, nawashauri watanzania na wote wanaotumia lugha ya Kiswahili kukinunua kitabu hiki na kukisoma. Lakini kwa upande mwingine napenda kumshauri mwandishi, kwa maandishi yake yanayokuja, kama ni riwaya, ajaribu awezavyo kuwaacha wahusika kujisemea na yeye kama anataka kutoa ujumbe aupitishe kwenye midomo ya hao wahusika.

Riwaya inapendeza pale ambapo inajisimamia na kutoa sauti, kuliko mwandishi kutumia riwaya kama jukwaa la kuhubiri. Ni vyema msomaji akisoma aone Njema, aone Matatizo, Mafanikio na wananchi wa Mizengwe. Kusoma riwaya na kuona sura ya mwandishi badala ya wahusika inatoa utamu wa riwaya.

Na,
Padri Privatus Karugendo.
Chanzo: Tanzania Daima April 29, 2010.

Thursday 29 April 2010

Potty ruling spenders core of Africa’s poverty

By declaring the end of third world just recently, Robert B. Zoellick (President The World Bank Group) left me baffled.

When this was declared, in all honesty, my first question was: “Is Africa included in this make-believe leap forth?” If yes, how with all the vampiric regimes made of corrupt big spenders and their cronies, armies, families especially first ladies? If no, should the west go on pumping money in the name of aid knowingly it will be frittered by our mad spenders in power?

Tantalizingly, Zoellick’s focused on the lack of inter-trading mechanism among African countries. He too pin-pointed lack of light industry in Africa and the way people, common ones, spend.

Mine is a different take. I will ponder on how big people, fat cat, fattened by the taxes of a common man, misspend. To know what I actually mean, refer to their sprees of shopping abroad where they spend more money than their government set aside for public services.

Another thing that needs to be appreciated is the fact that many of African rulers do nary think about tomorrow. Refer to the embezzlement of public funds, corruption, and lack of future and sustainable plans for their nations. Or you can refer on the fact that despite being helped for long, Africa has kept on cascading down a great deal more as her rulers become master beggars.

Today I am not going to opine with regards to this news that looks as if gods have smiled on Africa. But again, are they trustworthy? Do they live up to their promises?

Mine is to put facts together so that the reader can decide. My vector today is South African region in which, excluding South Africa and partly Mozambique, the rest of the countries are niftily poor. So too, this area has mad and big spenders amidst abject poverty.

In the list of big spenders is Fredrick Chiluba (former Zambian president), who is renowned for spending over a million bucks of taxpayers’ money on designer suits, shirts and shoes. This is the guy whose case involving corruption of $500,000 burned a cool $13,000,000. Ask a common Zambian of life. It is but miseries.

South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma follows. During his third marriage in January 2010, about 3,000 people, along with traditional leaders and VIP guests, attended the wedding. They were entertained with all luscious yum yum a person expects to get from any tycoon.

Malawi’s president Mutharika’s marriage in April 2010 to Ms Calista Chapola Chimombo (his former cabinet minister) stole thunders. The President’s first wife, Ethel, died from cancer in 2007, and his new wife is also widowed. An estimated 15,000 people witnessed the occasion at the stadium, while 5,200 guests were treated to a State House banquet. How much did they burn? Some said $1,300,000. Others said that amount was but a peanut.

To crown it all, the head of the Catholic Church in the country, Archbishop Tarcisius Ziyaye, officiated at the ceremony where he was expected of condemning such extravagance. To embellish the occasion, president arrived at the stadium in a brand new white limousine that was generously donated by Chinese government. Was it a bribe? I have no idea.

Though Malawi is famous for its generosity and poverty, on 19 December 2009, Muluzi did not want to be left abaft in this game of spending. He married his last born daughter, Duwa off to her former Zimbabwean gym instructor, Tonderai at Sanjika palace. The nuptial festival was spiffy, classy and truly glamorous. Guess what? The news for this personal matter was broken by the Ministry of Information! This is Africa.

Mind you, this was the second time for Muluzi to show the world how rich he is though his country poor. In October, he spent $333,000 of taxpayers’ money on the wedding of his wife Patricia Shanil Fukulani Muluzi. One disgruntled Malawian had this to say: “Despite tax’s payers’ money to be spend on the wedding, officials are mum, citing the President family’s desire to keep the event “private”.”

Zimbabwean despot Robert Mugabe has his way of doing things. His 86th birthday’s concert in February 2010, not the whole function, gobbled more than US$150,000 down. If anything this is obscene. Remember this is the man whose wife Grace is known as Gucci Grace thanks to her taste of spending on expensive designer ware. To pass up the anger of his suffering people, Mugabe “thanked the Chinese embassy for its painstaking preparations for the birthday celebration and hoped to further expand friendly cooperative relations in every field between the two nations.” Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi was quoted as saying. This Chinese style of inducing African corrupt dictators!

Sadly, this is the guy owning two palaces whose price tag is over $26 million a piece. Gucci Grace is known for her lavish lifestyle. The Daily Telegraph called her “notorious at home for her profligacy” in a 2003 coverage of a trip to Paris, during which she was reported as spending £75,000 (approx US$120,000) in a short shopping spree; and over the past years leading to 2004, has withdrawn over £5 million from the Central Bank of Zimbabwe.

Hold on. Feb 2005 saw King Mswati III of Swaziland, one of the world’s poorest countries, spent £450,000 on 10 new BMWs for his 11 wives and three teenage fiancees. His latest extravagance is equivalent to almost half the £1 million of British aid that Swaziland received in 2004. The cost of the BMWs is equal to 1.5 per cent of Swaziland’s health budget of £30 million.

In a word, Swaziland is kept afloat thanks to more than £14 million of international aid. Yet in 2004, the king spent almost £9 million on palaces, parties and cars. His 36th birthday party, which was celebrated in the national stadium with 10,000 guests, cost £330,000.

Mark my words. This is but a tip of an iceberg. What a telltale bump sort of news this is! For we know a little of the above spending and suchlike. What of unknown ones?

Out of the cuffs: Did you know that the president of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki, takes home more dosh than Barack Obama despite being the top of the richest nation on earth? This is why Africa has always remained poor. Pathemata mathemata namely one learns from suffering. Should we suffer anymore in the hands of these self seekers?
Source: Afro Spear- Toronto April 27, 2010.

HEPA mpya ya uchaguzi wa mahepe

Makala hii imemchukiza rais kiasi cha kuamuru gazeti liitwe kutoa maelezo. Hii ni kweli.


Hebu piga picha. Mpayukaji anachaguliwa kuwa rais wa nchi yako. Jiulize. Itakuwaje kumuona mzee mzima akila kiapo na kuanza kuitwa mheshimiwa rais. Je utamtungia kitabu cha sifa na kuuambia umma kuwa sasa tumaini limerejea au nabii yule hatimaye kafika? Piga picha bi mkubwa amejitona migold akiwa amenizunguka na vitegemezi vyetu wakipiga mahesabu jinsi ya kuanza kupunyua kodi yako na kutanua. Hayo tuyaache.

Help for Election Parsimonious Associates (Msaada kwa washirika wezi wa kura) au HEPA, ni mpango nilioubuni kuweza kushinda ukuu wa kijiwe kwenye uchaguzi ujao. Nimeamua kuchangisha pesa toka kwa washirika zangu baada ya wanakijiwe kunistukia nilipotaka kukwanyua pesa ya kahawa. Tunatarajia kuchangishana shilingi 50,000 ambazo ni sawa na bilioni 50 kama ingekuwa nchi.

Kwanza, ili kupata pesa rahisi ya kupunyua, nilikihadaa kijiwe kitoe pesa ya kusisimua uchumi wa kijiwe yaani stimulus tuliyowapa washirika wetu na nyingine kuificha kwa ajili ya uchaguzi.

Pili, nilitunga sheria ya kuwazuia wenzangu halafu nikaivunja kutokana na kuisani bila kuisoma. Unajua? Huwa sina muda wa kusoma. Nitaupata wapi wakati kuna matanuzi na makamuzi mengi yakiningoja? Soma taratibu na usimwambie mtu. Huwa muda wangu mwingi nafikiria jinsi ya kuwatoroka wanakijiwe na kujivinjari na totoz. Usimwambie mtu bi mkubwa shortie asije kustuka na kuninyotoa roho. Hayo tuyaache kama ya Babu Seya na kesi yake ya kutatanisha.

Baada ya kuona walevi wamestukia kamba na sanaa zangu kuwa sikuwatendea chochote hasa kutimiza ahadi zangu, niliamua kuanza kupiga kampeni mapemaaa. Hamkusikia mgosi Machungi wa Makambale alivyokuwa akinipiga ndogo ndogo ingawa mlisema anajikomba nisimtimue ukuu? Hata kama hana kisomo, anajua kupayuka hasa kuwapanga walevi.

Hata kama hana kisomo, mwanae Februari anacho na ananisaidia sana ofisini kwangu. Kwanza ni rafiki yake mwanangu Riz ukiachia mbali kuwa mtoto wa kigogo mwenzangu.

Kuhakikisha sikosi ushindi wa mtikisiko kama mibomu ya Mbagala, bi mkubwa hakosi sehemu sehemu kuwahonga akina mama wanipe. Riz mwenyewe anawafunga kamba vijana ili nao wanipe. Bado wale waramba viatu wanaojipendekeza ili nikishaukwaa niwape vyeo kama nilivyomfanya Silvia Rweyependekeza almaaruf shangingi wa kihaya. Wote wakinipa bila shaka nitashinda. Hapa bado polisi wangu akina Mchunguliaji hawajayapigia chenchi kota masanduku ya kula.

Sasa turejee kwenye dili na HEPA. Mshirika si siri. Baada ya kuona walevi wamewakomalia washirika zangu akina Kanji almaaruf Roasttamu, nimeona nichangishe kwa njia ya simu kwa vile hakuna awezaye kujua namba za watu wote hakuna atakayenistukia.

Nilidhani walevi wangestuka tulipowatangazia kuwa kijiwe kinatumia pesa mara mbili ya kipato chake. Maskini hawakujua. Wangejua yote hii inasababishwa na gharama fichi za uchafuzi wasingenipa kula hata ya dawa! Acha wakome. Majuha ndiyo waliwao. Kama hawakujifunza nilivyowaingiza mjini kwenye uchafuzi uliopita niwafanyeje? Hata hivyo hakuna haja ya kuwalaumu. Wanasumbuliwa na ugonjwa uitwao UKIKI au Ufisadi wa Kimfumo na Kiakili unaosababishwa na UUMI yaani Ukosefu wa Uadilifu Mioyoni. Haya magonjwa kwa mstakabali wa kijiwe nitayaongelea siku nyingine na kuwataja waathirika wakubwa yaani wafanyabiashara na wanasiasa. Ukikumbwa na ugonjwa huu hatari utauza nchi watu wako hata wewe mwenyewe. Kwani unakuwa huna uwezo wa kujitambua bali kutumbua tu usijue baadaye utatumbuliwa. Wakati ukitumbuliwa washirika zako toka ughaibuni wanakutosa na kubakia kukucheka.

Mna habari kaya yetu imeendelea sana? Inayo sifa kubwa tu ambayo imeleta heshima kubwa. Nayo ni kuongoza katika kanda kuruhusu wanyabihasara wa kigeni kutorosha mabilioni ya dolari nje huku wanakaya wakisota kwa ukapa ile mbaya!

Juzi nilipata taarifa toka kwa washirika zangu wa Marekani nilipokuwa kule wakinitonya: nisijivunge kugombea hata ukuu wa kaya. Mshiko wa dezo upo. Walihoji: inakuwaje vibaka wengine wapunyue na kuukwaa ukuu wakati hawana akili, sera wala uzalendo ilhali mimi nimejaa uzalendo busara elimu na sera? Wamenichochea kuanza kufikiria kuachana siasa za kijiwe na kujikita kwenye za kaya. Sipati picha bi mkubwa wangu atajinoma vipi siku nikiwa presida wa kaya ya Tanzia!

Tuache utani. Nikiwa rahisi Riz wangu nitamteua kuwa waziri huku mama yake nikimteua kuwa makamu wa rais na waziri wa fedha ili aachane na mambo ya kuunda NGO za uongo na ukweli kufanya biashara ya kimachinga. Hata kama zinalipa biashara chafu kama hizi zinatia aibu ingawa wanaozifanya hawakujaliwa kuona aibu kutokana na kutokuwa na roho bali uroho.

Kama nitafanikiwa kuchota pesa kama zile za EPAA, nitahakikisha nabadili jina la chama changu cha UNM yaani Ugali Myama na Maharagwe. Nitakiita CCM yaani Chama Cha Maulaji. Sera yangu itakuwa Ukwasi mpya, Hali mpya na Uwezo mpya. Nikishawabamiza mkenge naikimbia sera na kuanza majisifu kuwa nimefanya hili na lile hata kama ni kamba tupu. Kwa vile walevi ni majuha hawatanistukia. Lakini nani atanistukia iwapo kila mlevi ni mwizi kwa nafasi yake? Na jueni. Hii ndiyo siri ya mafanikio ya maulaji wetu. Tunakula kwa sana na kuwadondoshea makombo. Walatini husema: Noli prohicere maccaritas ad porcos yaani usiwatupie nguruwe vito. Nami nawatupieni mabaki si kile nilacho hata kama chaweza kuwa mabaki ya wakubwa matajiri.

Msishangae. Kwani wagiriki husema alloi kamon, alloi onanto yaani wengine hutoa jasho na wengine hufaidi.

Rais wenu Mpayukaji atawaruhusu mjihomolee mtakavyo ili kaya iwe na amani. Kila raia ataruhusiwa kwenda benki na EPA yake huku kila mfanyabiashara mzalendo akisaidiwa kutengeneza Richmonduli yake. Mpo hapo? Bila shaka hapa mtanipa zote.Tuachane na hayo.

Juzi nilikuwa zangu kwenye matanuzi kwenye jiji la Nyuyoko. Nilishangaa maghorofa si kawaida. Nilitanua na kutanua na kutanua hadi nikajisikia kama nazimika. Kama siyo bi mkubwa kuingilia kati, huenda ningenyotoka roho. Maana nilipoona yale mabarabara makubwa na majumba kama miche ya sabuni kusema ukweli roho ilinisuta. Hivyo nimerudi nimepania kujenga ma-flyovers kwenye miji yote ya Tanzia. Na hii ndiyo sera yangu mpya kuelekea uchaguzi. Nitazunguka miji mikuu yote ya ulaya kujifunza ili nikija kujenga huku nisikosee wala kuruhusu majizi kujichotea njuluku. Akina Roastamu son of Kagoda na Ewassa son of Richmonduli mlie tu.

Naona yale yanatoa mimacho na kukodoa kuwa kiama chao kisiasa kimefika. Msiogope. Mie nagombea kwenye kijiwe si kwenye kaya. Sina shida hiyo ati. Nani agombee upuuzi wa kutawala mijitu isiyo na akili? Heri ya walevi wangu. Kuna siku ulevi utawaisha na wataamka na kunipa changamoto.

Msisahau. Kama kawa sikuwataja niliondamana nao kwenye makamuzi yangu yaliyoongezewa muda na mavumbi ya volcano toka Iselandi. Mngejua idadi ya nilioandamana nao na njuluku tulizotumiwa toka kwenye kodi yenu mngenyonga bure. Mungu anipe nini?

Ha! Naota niko New York natanua! Kumbe niko Bongo! Ngoja nijikate kabla ya ndata hawajanidaka.
Chanzo: Tanzania Daima April 28, 2010.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Tuwaepushe First Ladies wetu na ukupe



Nakumbuka. Nilianzisha mjadalala juu ya utata kuhusu shughuli na maisha ya wake za marais-first ladies wa kiafrika. Ezekiel Kamwanga ameuboresha na kuudurusu kwa undani kwa kuzama kwenye historia kiasi cha kunishawishi nirejee hoja hii lau kuongeza utamu. Nitachukua mwelekeo tofauti ambapo marejeo yangu si historia bali kinachofanyika kwenye nchi ninayoishi-Canada.

Kuna , shuku, mkanganyiko hata hasira kuhusiana na maisha aghali yasiyo ya kikatiba ya wake za watawala wetu. Hivyo, leo nitaangalia maisha ya mke wa waziri mkuu wa Kanada; nchi ambayo haina rais. Hivyo hapa mke wa waziri mkuu anasimama sawa na mke wa rais yeyote wa kiafrika-First lady.

Kwanza lengo la makala si kumshambulia mtu bali kuangalia utata huu wa kikatiba unaosababisha hasara na hata umaskini wa kunuka kwa mataifa mengi maskini ya kiafrika. Kwa maana nyingine nalenga kumpunguzia mzigo mlipa kodi maskini katika nchi za kiafrika ikiwemo Tanzania.

Kutembea ni sehemu ya kujifunza. Hivyo, si vibaya kupeana uzoefu baina ya Kanada na nchi zetu maskini ziishizo kwa kuomba omba na kukopa kopa huku zikitawaliwa na watawala matajiri kupindukia hata kuzidi wale wanaozifadhili.

Ukimuuliza Mkanada wa kawaida jina la mke wa kiongozi wake ambapo kwa Kanada ni mke wa waziri mkuu, atakushangaa na kukosa jibu. Kwani kwake mke wa waziri mkuu siyo sehemu ya utawala wa nchi yake bali raia sawa na wengine.

Kama Mkanada huyu atakuwa na jibu la swali lako, atakujibu kwa swali: mke wa waziri mkuu ni nani katika nchi hii hadi akupasue kichwa au kukushughulisha? Binafsi niliwahi kupata jibu hili nilipotaka kujua maisha ya mke wa waziri mkuu wa Kanada Bi. Laureen Teskey Harper

Kusema ukweli, mke wa waziri mkuu hapa hana mamlaka yoyote kikatiba na kimaisha. Wala hajulikani eti kwa sababu mumewe ni kiongozi wa nchi. Wala hana ushufaa na misafara ya magari kama Afrika. Hana walinzi wala ukwasi na hata hatoi kauli za kisiasa wala kuonekana kwenye vyombo vya habari na sehemu mbali mbali za nchi ukiachia mara chake kuandamana na mumewe. Hana hata NGO ya kuhudumia sijui akina mama au watoto. Kama akitaka kuwa mwanasiasa, inampasa kupambana sawa na mtu yeyote kufikia kwenye ukuu na siyo kudandia mgongoni mwa mumewe.

Kama alikuwa mwalimu, daktari, mhasibu au mama wa nyumbani, ataendelea kuwa hivyo hata kama mumwe ana madaraka. Na anajisikia vizuri kuwa hivyo. Utamuona mitaani akipishana na wananchi wa kawaida kama mwananchi wa kawaida. Kuna kipindi wakosoaji wa waziri mkuu wa Kanada, Stephen Harper waliwahi kumrushia kijembe kuwa mkewe ni mpanda pikipiki. Harper aliwajibu kuwa kweli mke wake ni mpenzi wa kupanda pikipiki na hayo ni maisha yake. Hili liliwajengea heshima kubwa Harper na mkewe. Kwani walipa kodi wa Kanada wasingevumilia kumuona mke wa Harper akiwanyonya kisa eti mumewe ni waziri mkuu.

Kwa mke wa waziri mkuu cheo cha mumewe ni cha mumewe siyo chake wala hana haja ya kukidandia kuishia au kutegeneza pesa kama ilivyowahi kutokea kwenye awamu ya tatu Tanzania ambapo mke wa rais mstaafu, Benjamin Mkapa alianzisha NGO yake na kujiingizia pesa nyingi baada ya mumewe kuingia madarakani. Bahati mbaya mchezo huu ambao wengi huuona kama ufisadi umerithiwa na mke wa rais wa sasa!

Kubebwa au kudandia madaraka ya mume hapa Kanada huchukuliwa kama ufisadi, kutojiamini na ubaguzi wa kijinsia. Kama mama anataka madaraka basi afanye kama mke wa dikteta wa Uganda, Yoweri Museveni aliyeamua kugombea ubunge. Au hata mke wa rais wa Argentina, Bi. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner ambaye sasa ni rais baada ya kuchukua madaraka kwa kuchaguliwa kikatiba toka kwa mumewe, Fernández de Kirchner.

Nimelazimika kuandika makala hii baada ya kuona utata unaozunguka tabia na maisha ya wake za watawala wa kiafrika. Nchi ya jirani ya Kenya, mke wa rais, mara mbili, alifikia hatua hata ya kuwazaba makofi wananchi wa kawaida-waandishi wa habari. Ambapo mara ya kwanza alimzaba vibao mpiga picha wa The Daily Nation na mara pili MC katika sherehe fulani kwenye viwanja vya ikulu. Ilikuwa ni aibu na mshangao ambavyo vilimgharimu mumewe, Mwai Kibaki, ambaye urais wake hadi sasa unasemekana ulipatikana kutokana na wizi wa kura. Hii ni baada ya wananchi kulipizia kisasi kutokana na tabia mbaya na uvunjaji wa katiba na haki za binadamu wa mkewe.

Nchini , karibu kila kashfa inayomhusu rais mstaafu Mkapa inamhusisha mkewe pia. Wengi wanaualiza mantiki ya kutomfikisha mke huyu wa rais iwapo hana kinga kama mumewe ambaye ameponyoka kutokana na kuwa na kinga na wale waliomfuata kufanya kama alivyofanya yeye.

Kitu kingine kilichonisukuma kuandika makala hii juu ya wake za watawala wetu, ni misafara ambayo nimewahi kuishuhudia jijini Dar es salaam na kwingineko hasa wakati wa maonyesho ya saba saba ikiwa ni ya wake za marais. Hawa wanapata wapi fungu la kutumia misafara na walinzi namna hii wakati katiba yetu haina kipengele hata kimoja kinachozungumzia cheo cha first lady? Je huu siyo ufisadi na kumtwisha mzigo mlipa kodi wetu maskini? Je rais anajua kuwa hali hii inachafua madaraka yake? Je nao wake za marais wamekuwa hoi kiasi cha kudandia madaraka ya waume zao? Mbona wakati wa kuchagua na kuapa alichaguliwa mtu mmoja yaani mume?

Mke wa waziri mkuu wa Kanada hufanya shughuli zake kama mke wa mtu. Akitumia piki piki yake huenda hata kuwachukua watoto wake Benjamin na Rachel shule. Je ni mke wa mtawala gani Afrika anaendea watoto wake shule zaidi ya mashangingi ya serikali? Je huu siyo wizi wa kawaida anaofanyiwa mlipa kodi maskini?

Hata Wakanada wanampenda na kumheshimu mke wa kiongozi wao kwa vile yeye siyo mzigo kwao wala haonekani kuwanyonya kwa kutumia cheo cha mumewe. Kwanini na wake za watawala wa kiafrika wasifuate mfano huu maridhawa ambao unawaongezea heshima badala ya kuonekana kama wadandizi na wezi kupitia migogo ya waume zao?

Mke huyu wa waziri mkuu anaishi maisha yake sawa alivyokuwa akiishi kabla ya mumewe kuingia madarakani. Ahitaji makandokando ya watawala yaani misafara na walinzi kwani hamuogopi mtu na hamuiibii mtu. Je wake wa watawala kiafrika wanamuogopa nani?

Mke wa waziri mkuu wa zamani wa Uingireza Tony Blair, Bi. Cherie Blair ni mwanasheria kama alivyo kabla ya mumewe kuwa kiongozi. Aliwahi kushitakiwa na kupigwa faini kwa kutolipia tikite kwenye treni jijini London. Je ni mke wa mtawala gani anapanda treni na kujilipia nauli? Je tunawafadhili wake wa wakubwa kwa utajiri gani wakati sisi ni omba omba wa kunuka tunaotegemea wafadhili?

Kingine kilichonisukuma kuandika makala hii ni kile kilichotokea katika mji mkuu fulani wa nchi ya Ulaya. Mtawala mmoja wa kiafrika alikuwa ziarani katika nchi fulani. Alipata fursa ya kusalimiana na kuongea na raia wa nchi yake waliokuwa wakiishi nchini mle. Alipomaliza kuongea, mkewe aliyekuwa ameandamana naye kwenye ziara hiyo, alipewa fursa ya kuwasalimia wananchi. Alianza na maamkuzi ya chama chama chake. Wacha wananchi washangae na kuchukia. Maana wote hawakuwa wanachama wa chama cha mumewe. Ilibidi mumewe amkatize kwa kusema. "Unadhani wote ni wanachama wa chama cha mumeo?" Ilikuwa ni aibu ya mwaka ingawa kutokana na mazoea machafu ya watawala wetu hawakulichukulia hili kwa uzito uliostahili. Mbali na hii nimelijadili hili kwenye kitabu changu kinachotarajia kutoka cha NYUMA YA PAZIA na kuligusia kidogo kwenye kitabu kipya ambacho kipo mitaani cha SAA YA UKOMBOZI.

Kuna kitu kingine kuhusiana na mke wa waziri mkuu wa Kanada. Nacho ni haandamani na mumewe katika kila ziara azifanyazo nje ya nchi. Maana kufanya hivi ni kumtwisha mzigo mlipa kodi. Ikumbukwe. Walipa kodi wa Kanada ni matajiri kuliko wa kwetu. Lakini bado wanapinga viongozi wao kutumia madaraka waliyopewa na umma vibaya.

Matukio haya mawili yaani lile la Lucy Kibaki anayeitwa Tyson na la mke wa waziri mkuu wa Kanada, yanaweza kuonyesha ni kwa jinsi gani uwajibikaji na matumizi mazuri ya pesa ya umma lilivyo tatizo katika bara la Afrika. Wachambuzi wengi wanakubaliana kuwa tatizo la umaskini barani Afrika linachangiwa na ufisadi kama huu kuliko hata majanga ya kimaumbile au kutokuwapo mlingano katika biashara na nchi tajiri. Hapa hatujagusia serikali kubwa zisizo na ulazima za waume wa wadandizi hawa. Hatujagusa familia zao na marafiki na walamba viatu wengine waliojizungushia wanaolipwa na kodi ya makapuku wetu.

Katika hili kama siyo kichwa ngumu na uchoyo, ushamba na roho mbaya, Afrika hasa Tanzania ina pa kuanzia. Baba wa taifa hili hakuwahi kumruhusu mkewe Bi. Maria Nyerere kudandia madaraka yake wala kuanzisha NGO za uongo na ukweli ili kupata pesa haramu ya haraka. Hata leo bibi huyu anaheshimika kuliko wake wa marais wote waliwahi kuitawala nchi hii.

Hata hivyo katika nchi nyingi za kiafrika, kuna nafasi isiyo rasmi ya mke wa rais, waziri mkuu na hata makamu wa rais kuyatumia madaraka ya waume zao kuwaumiza walipa kodi. Wengine wanakwenda mbali hadi kutumia ofisi za waume zao kufanyia biashara kama tulivyoona kwenye mfano wa mke wa Mkapa.

Kuna tatizo jingine. Nalo ni watoto wa watawala kuwa watawala wadogo. Nchini Kenya wakati wa utawala imla wa Moi, watoto wa Moi walikuwa kama marais wadogo kiasi cha kujichotea mabilioni ya shilingi toka kwenye hazina ya nchi hiyo sawa na ilivyotokea hivi karibuni kwa mtoto wa rais mstaafu Mkapa aitwaye Nicholas pamoja na mkewe Foster walioanzisha kampuni ya Fosnik kwa pesa inayosemekana ilipatikana kifisadi.

Je kuna haja ya kuruhusu wake za watawala wetu kulewa madaraka kama Lucy Kibaki au kutumia ofisi zetu kutafutia mtaji kama Anna Mkapa?
kwa vile kila mwananchi ni mdau wa maendeleo ya nchi yake lengo la makala hii ni kuonyesha dira ya nchi yetu. Tumpe changamoto rais wetu na walipa kodi wetu kupiga vita wizi huu wa madaraka ambao ni kinyume kabisa na katiba. Na katiba yetu, ikibidi, itamke wazi kuwa mtu yeyote anapokuwa rais basi asitumie madaraka yake kiubia na familia yake au marafiki zake. Maana kufanya hivyo ni kuihujumu nchi na kuiongezea umaskini. Hata ziara za rais zisiwe sehemu ya mkewe kufanyia utalii wa kuijua dunia.

Katika sakata la ufisadi linalomkabili rais mstaafu Mkapa wapo wanaouliza mantiki ya mkewe, mtoto wao na mkazamwana na marafiki zao kutoshughulikiwa. Maana tunaambiwa Mkapa ana kinga. Je hawa nao wana kinga? Iko wapi katika katiba yetu? Je wake za watawala wetu hawaishi kifisadi bila ya wao hata sisi kujua?
Chanzo: MwanaHALISI April 21, 2010.

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Let’s draw the line come next elections

WE are having general elections later this year. Have we already prepared our fields? We need to arrest this. For as days go by, politicians are scheming to, once again, get away with it as we end up becoming losers once more.

Let’s draw the line in the sand. Let’s prepare the agenda among which, I would propose. Fighting graft and how it’s already been fought or not; should top the agenda as we seek sensible explanations of what is going on.

Though our nation has proved to have given in to corruption, we still have to draw the line in the sand. Otherwise, as one MP once put it, our next rulers will be decided by fisadis to save their stinking interests.

We hear CCM shouting out there that it will rule Tanzania for ever! What has been done since Mwalimu Nyerere left, to deserve such upbeat and accolades? Does CCM think Tanzanians are goons it can take for a ride day in day out?

I can’t stomach it. With all openly known proclivities to corruption, does CCM still think it can triumph without rigging? Will the people allow this once again? Suppose the hoi polloi want to know what CCM did for the whole five years, what will it show or tell them?

Where are we today? It looks like we’re in fifties in the 21st century? We still go via Kenya and Uganda to visit our relations in Lake Region!

Our economy is even outshone by those of small countries evolving from internal wars like Burundi and Rwanda! The lives of our people are becoming miserably meaningless to the extent that some of them are ready to butcher others in their dire efforts to escape poverty. Refer to indiscreet killings of people with albinism and elderly. What a bad augury!

While a great majority is in stinking poverty, a few select is in opulence! With such a carbuncular society, can one say there has been justice? Our minerals are given away as our people face dirt poverty! This makes me as mad as a wet hen so to speak. Where is rectification of bad contracts Kikwete promised in the past campaigns? Where is the rooting out of drug trafficking? Where is the war on graft if Kagoda can still laugh at us?

With all these scars, can CCM still have the grit to say it’ll rule Tanzania
for ever? What an insult!

One friend of mine said that those saying CCM will rule for ever, means it’ll ruin for ever shall we not draw the line in the sand. I like CCM. It is destroying itself, thanks to mitandao and their failure to read the signs of time. I am wary. I wish people should boot it out as a lesson.

I know CCM capitalizes on its chair, Jakaya Kikwete, who they allege is a good guy. But will he really always be if he shacks up with ferocious vampires surrounding him? No angel can live with devils and still be. So too, CCM needs to know that wananchi are interested in doing things the right way and at the right time; not in how someone looks like. This time, I suppose voters will shift gears. They’ll never go for takrimas and other banana skin.

They’ll focus on issues, especially practicable and possible ones. They will need to see not to hear of. They’ll need proof not oaths and ballyhoos.

To loan words from Fred Mpendazoe, the guy I admire greatly, if Kikwete does not kick out fisadis surrounding him, chances are, people will never differentiate when it comes to rot. How can they in such ‘bizarre situation’?

People need reports and evaluation on what has been achieved as promised. They’ll need explanations. I, for one, my concern is our houses that former thievish regime stole. When will Kagoda thieves face the music?

Another is the whole journey to a promised land of Canaan. Is it still there? When are we taking off? Does it mean the CCM government does not remember all these promises it made to the people?

The other day a little bird told me that barefaced liars and fisadis are collecting money to bribe voters. In doing so, many scams will still crop up almost everywhere. I heard of the ministry of tourism where donors’ monies have already been swindled. Sadly though, apart from political statement, nobody brings these bad guys to book!

Under good CCM‘s stewardship our country has became a banana republic. Every thief can steal as he pleases. Who will touch them if former biggie Fredrick Sumaye told them: if you want to have worthy and successful business, join CCM. After he said that, we saw EPA, Richmond, Kiwira and other vampires.

Though bad mouths are mincing words as they give stay upbeat, our people aren’t. Let’s face it. If we sift through, who’s clean, able and fit enough to deliver us if at all the already lapsed time proves otherwise? To me, the actual criminal and his conspirator are equally guilty. Instead of self-cheating hoping for the best whilst truth speaks otherwise, we should think of making changes.

CCM has proved to be a vampire despite having a convincing chair. People are afraid. If Kikwete were unable to change it, chances are, it will change him if it hasn’t. This puts Kikwete’s back against the wall. He finds himself between the rock and a hard place. I understand. He wanted to deliver but those surrounding him forced him to sag off. Can this become a defence whilst he had all powers at his disposal?

To cut a long story short, we need to draw the line in the sand as far as our future is concerned. And verily, this will be decided by how wise we’re to be in the coming elections. It is time for Kikwete and people to choose between party and development. If anything, this is the moment of truth. We need to wise up and take bold steps as we sag off from usage.
Source: Thisday April 21, 2010.

Kudos to Kenya and Uganda over Migingo


After Kenyan parliament preliminary gave a nod to the draft constitution, it must be said. Despite all wrangling, backstabbing, politicking, scheming, ‘tribalization’ by a section of sick and bankrupt politicians, schemers, tribal lords you name it, Kenyans have come of age for attaining this milestone that failed others for over two decades. This is my first reason I give them kudos shall they see to it that the new constitution is written.

The second reason for my kudos emanates from the fact that Kenya’s case has been clearly stated and judged on Migingo-island saga. Now Migingo mishap can be put to bed as the duo soldier on peacefully and friendly.

Kenya will scoop another kudos shall it allow ICC team to operate swiftly and ultimately submit Kenyan warlords behind the 2008 mayhem to The Hague.

So too, Uganda deserves kudos for not clinging to squaring the circle. When Ugandan strong man Yoweri Museveni said that Migingo was Kenyan though its waters were Ugandan, the case was over. Next was to bite the bullet and lick the wounds. Though precious time was unreasonably wasted on wrangling, braggadocios and face saving, the lesson has been learned. We need not to repeat this blunder though. Now the whole world knows. Migingo Island belongs to where it belonged- Kenya as it has always been.

Without maturity and commitment on both sides, nothing would have been achieved. Importantly though, we need to let bygone be bygone and face the future. We must avoid idiotic mistakes or dressing up some vengeance and nonsense that can spoil our future. All those that were caught in the crossfire must forgive and forge ahead. The Luos that were called mad people by Museveni must too forgive and forge ahead. Those that wanted to gain a political mileage on this should so too find another way.

I once asked. If East African countries could nary have the brains to solve a just-small –saga- over Migingo, how could they reasonably share abundant resources in the area where others have and others don’t have? This has fully answered my question.

Even this standoff between Kenya and Tanzania on selling ivories is but unnecessary. Our leaders need to sit down and sort things out for the good future of the region.

It is nice that the language of war is now over. Shame on some politicians especially in Kenya that once urged President Mwai Kibaki to dispatch army to solve the problem militarily. This has proved that EA countries can still solve their problems amicably and maturely.

Though we can celebrate achievement on Migingo, there is still another looming crisis. In Tanzania, media recently reported that Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia are moving beacons on the borders as far as one kilometre inside Tanzania’s territory. If this is not timely arrested, truly, it will destabilize the region. Land has always been the source of all conflicts. Therefore the good thing to do is to arrest this uncouth behaviour before it sired wars and misunderstandings.

This revelation was admitted by the director of land and survey Dr. Silassie Mayunga. If this is true, responsible countries need to sit down and straighten things before they get worse. I am saying this thanks to the reaction-and-verge-of-going-to war Kenya and Uganda reached. If tiny island the size of a football pitch heated the duo up to such stage, what of a chunk of land a kilometre square?

With regards to the draft constitution, many still see it as unfit for them especially religious leaders. But they must understand one thing. No constitution written by bin Adams is perfect. Even the books of authorities religions use have their shortfall if they are microscopically examined. Why don’t Kenyans write their new constitution and given that there are premises for amending it, the rest contentious issues will be tackled through constitutional amendments.

Logically and reasonably, to let this golden chance go under will in the future be regretted highly. Many African countries have worse constitutions than that of Kenya. But they are not afforded such an opportunity to re-write their documents thanks to being crewed by brutal dictators or parties. Take neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda. These countries have the most archaic constitutions and the citizenry there is not allowed to re-write the same as Kenya is trying to do. The problem a human being faces is egoism. While Tanzanians and Ugandans are fancying they could be availed such an opportunity, Kenyans are kicking it! Swahili has it that where there are trees they are no builders. But for the case of Kenya, I believe. There can still be builders and trees altogether. Importantly is to firmly seize this moment of truth in the making of a new Kenya.

Let me surmise urging Kenyans to firmly cling to important issues such as fair land distribution in lieu of moral things like abortion and the like.
Source: The African Executive Magazine April 21, 2010.

Kijiwe chajipanga kugoma, kuandamana

BAADA ya lisirikali la kifisidunia kuchezea masilahi ya wanuka jasho wafa na ngwamba, kijiwe kimeandaa mkakati wa kweli kugoma ili kuona nani ni nani katika kaya hii.

Baada ya walevi kugundua kuwa kumbe wenye maulaji wanaishi kutegemea jasho lao, wanataka sasa dunia ijue nani bonzo na nyundo.

Kutokana na walevi kukaa kimya huku mafisidunia wenye mamlaka wakijihomoloea wakidhani walevi ni majuha wasioweza kujua kuwa kupe anamhitaji ng’ombe kuliko ng’ombe asiyemhitaji kwa lolote.

Tukiwa na nyuso zilizojaa ndita, tunakutana haraka chini ya mwenyekiti Mgosi Machungi na kutoa tamko rasmi la kupinga wizi ndani ya wizi unaofanywa na wadharauliwa tunaowaita waheshimiwa. Kwanini wajipandishie mishahara wakati wanatukopa miaka nenda rudi?

Huku tukiapa kwa kila miungu kwa usongo, tunaazimia kuwa lazima lisirikali na mafisadi wake watupe chetu. Kipindi hiki hatutalamba mtu miguu. Badala yake tutalambwa sisi.

Hamjaona Chekacheka anavyoanza kutulamba miguu japo tuna shaka kutokana na kuwa bingwa wa sanaa. Ila ajue. Asije na longo longo za amani. Nani atakuwa na amani wakati mfukoni kuna moto?

Kwa vile watawala wetu hawana masikio, tunaamua kugoma na hatimaye kuandamana ili umma wa walevi ujue kuna vijogoo kwenye kaya hii ya mazumbukuku waibiwao mchana wakiaminishwa wanapelekwa Kanani.

Kwanini pesa ya kutulipa hakuna lakini ya kutanulia na kulipia ujambazi wa Tunituni Kiwila inapatakiana? Kwanini pesa yetu isipatikane yapatikane mabilioni ya uchafuzi? Mnadhani hatuna akili? Kusururu wote.

Mkiti Machungi anaanza. “Wagosi, najua. Tina taaifa. Chekacheka ana mpango wa kutifunga kamba ili tisigome. Huu ni usanii kwa kia hai tikubaliane.”

Mara mzee Kidevu anatukana: “Hana sera wala sura kusum kibaki mkubwa.”

Mpemba hangoji. Anakatua mic. “Yakhe kumbe twakosea kudhani biashara ya mihadarati ndo yalipa haraka. Hebu fikirieni. Yaani Chekacheka watumia siasa kutudhulumu. Hivi hii kaya yapelekwaapi jamani? Kwanini pesa ya Kagoda na Richmond ipatikane haki zetu zisipatikane?”

Mipawa hajivungi. Anachomekea. “Ami unashangaa nini iwapo uchafuzi umekaribia na EPA na Richmonduli mpya zinatengenezwa? Taarifa nilizo nazo toka jikoni ni kwamba wanuka jasho tutalainishwa na kitita kitakwenda kwenye uchaguzi mwakani amini ndugu zangu.

Juzi nilisikia mpambavu mmoja akisema eti tukigoma tutahatarisha masilahi ya taifa! Nani anahatarisha masilahi kati yetu tunaochapa kazi na wanaowalinda mafisadi?” Anatukazia macho kuona tunavyopokea ufunuo huu.

Tukiwa tunatafakari bomu la Mipawa, Mbwa Mwitu anakwanyua mic. “Tukubaliane. Kaya yetu sasa inaongozwa na mafisi. Heri ingeongozwa na Mbwa Mwitu kama mimi angalau wangekula na kubakiza kuliko fisi wasiobakiza kitu.”

Kabla ya kuendelea, Mchunguliaji anakwapua mic. “Je, mmepata skandali ya ujambazi kuwa mtandao wa EPA umevamia mabenki na kuiba zaidi ya trilioni moja kwa ajili ya uchafuzi? Jamaa wanaiba kana kwamba kaya haina watu wenye macho wala akili za kawaida au pipo wiz just common sense.”

Hatuna mbavu kwa jinsi Mchunguliaji alivyobukanya kiswanglish kuonyesha amepiga vitabu kama jamaa zetu wa Idodomya wafanyavyo kuficha jinsi walivyoghushi shahada zao. Mchovu ukighushi wanakufunga maisha wakati wao wanapeana ulaji maisha! Rafiki yangu Chitahira anajua nimaanishacho.

Tukiwa tumezama kwenye kicheko, Mgosi Machungi ambaye hacheki hata kidogo anakuja na mpya. Anadabua mic. “Tikubaliane jamani. Kupiga piga keee haitisaidii kitu; muhimu tihakikishe tinagoma na baadaye tiandamane hadi huko ikuu angau titupe jiwe moja kumtaifu kuwa tinajiandaa kumtia adabu.”

Kapende anandandia. “Mtalii haishi huko siku hizi. Yuko kwenye matanuzi na shotii wake kila uchao. Mkitaka kumpata mngojeeni uwanja wa ndege.”

Mzee Maneno hajivungi kuonyesha usongo wake. “Mie nitaongoza maadamano yetu. Maana nina hasira na pimbi hawa sina mfano.”

Anakatua kashata yake na kunywa kahawa kidogo ili kupandisha mdadi na kuendelea. “Nikikumbuka ngurumbili hawa walivyo vichwa maji na waongo natamani nile nyama yao. Ukisema hawana akili wakajitia kujua.

Mnakumbuka walivyokuwa akisema eti uwekezaji ndiyo njia pekee ya kutukomboa tusijue kumbe walimaanisha uchukuaji kama RITEZ uliosababisha wasitulipe haki zetu. Hapa lazima tufe na watu, yaani hawa wanaohomola na kutanulia wakati sisi tunatanuliwa na dhiki.”

Kabla hajaendelea huku akitweta, Mbwa Mwitu anachomekea. “Mnatanuliwa wapi na dhiki? Tufafanulie.”

Mzee Maneno anakatua mic tena. “Nyie hamjui! Tunatanuliwa pande zote iwe nje au ndani.”

“Du! Chunga lugha mzee mwenzangu. Mambo ya kutanuliwa yametoka wapi tena?”

Mgosi Machungi anaingilia. “Jamani nasi wabongolala timezidi. Kia neno tinaligeuza maana na kufanya utani. Hapa tinaongeea masilahi ya taifa. Hapa hakuna mambo ya kutaniana. Hawa wadudu wananajisi kaya yetu. Hivyo tiazimie kwenda kuwatia adabu sasa hivi.

Tipange mikakati ya kugoma na kuandamana si kubadii maneno jamani.”

Tom aliyekuwa akisikiliza muda wote kwa makini anaamua kutia guu. “Mgosi usemayo ni ya kweli. Mnashangaa wanuka jasho kukosa mishahara wakati kuna pesa ya uchafuzi!”

"Loo!" Mpemba anadakia. “Yakhe waona sote twatanuliwa tena kwa njia mbaya! Sie Pemba hatutanui mtu au Popobawa kama nyie Bara. Sana sana huyu anayetanua ndiye atatanuliwa siku moja.”

Baada ya Mgosi kuona tunaleta gozi gozi anaamua kutuchochea tena. “Wagosi, siungi mkono msimamo wa kunung’unika. Nataka tiandamane sasa hivi kueekea huko ikuu kutoa taiifa kuwa timechoka na ujambazi wa mchana unaofanywa na watawaa wetu ambao wamegeuka watu waa watu. Tianze kuandamana sasa hivi.”

Bila ajizi tunakubaliana na Mgosi na kuanza kutimkia nonihino tukiimba wimbo wetu mpya uliotungwa na Mfiliseni usemao:

“Mkuu wa kaya na wenzako mpo? X2
Mashujaa tumekuja, tumekuja.

Tumekuja mashujaa tumekuja.

Tumekuja kukujulisha, tumekuja,
Kuwa tunajua janja yako, tunajua.

Usichezee haki zetu, haki zetu.

Pambana na mafisadi, mafisadi
Hata kama wewe ni fisadi, fisadi.

Mara tunaingia mitaa ya Uhuru na kuelekea Posta tayari kulianzisha pale Upanga na Ikuu.

Tukiwa hatuna hili wala lile, mara vihere here wenye magwanda si walijitokeza maeneo ya ubalozi wa Ujep.

Hatukujivunga. Tuliendelea na sheshe hadi tulipofanikiwa kuwanyuka na kufikisha ujumbe kwa mkuu ambaye alikuwa kagwaya kama kuku mbele ya kicheche.
Chanzo: Tanzania Daima April 21, 2010.

Wednesday 14 April 2010

Guinea-Bissau’s Drug Saga a Replica of Africa


The US recently named two senior army officers in Guinea Bissau as drug kingpins in West Africa. This came after the army ousted Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, former head of navy who along with Ibraima Papa Camara (air force head) were named as drug kingpins in the region. Apart from naming them, their US-based properties will be frozen.

Looking at the influence of the suspects, one can ascertain why drug peddling is becoming a chronic problem in almost all African countries south of Sahara. If such top officials are the hitters, movers and shakers behind drug deals, who can touch them or their business?

Kenya and Tanzania are facing a great threat from drug peddling. Despite our rulers’ reassurance to thwart this silent killer of our young people (thanks to frustration, unemployment and illiteracy) theirs has been mere words devoid of actions.

President Jakaya Kikwete once told the media that he has the list of drug barons. Two years down the line, nobody has been apprehended in connection with crimes involving drugs! Many Tanzanians are still asking: why doesn’t the president want to apprehend these guys? Does he benefit from this crime against the poor? Is he afraid of them thanks to being ‘big fish’ in his pond?

One MP once suggested that Tanzanian authorities arrest petty pushers and users and force them to disclose the ‘big fish’ that sell drugs to them. Within a short time, the MP died under suspicious circumstances. This being the warning and the way Tanzania Mafioso settle their score; nobody’s ever stood to talk about fighting drugs in the country.

Kenya is now complaining that Mombasa has become a hub of drug dealings. The thing hither is Tanzania supplies Mombasa thanks to unmanned Indian Ocean.

More on Guinea Bissau: "Naming these two individuals as kingpins enables us to then target their facilitators, people who might be laundering money for them or assisting them in moving drugs," observed Adam Szubin, head of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Looking at the big guns mentioned in Guinea Bissau, no doubt the authorities were well aware of their deals. But who would touch such untouchables? This, therefore, is the tip of the iceberg of what is going on in Africa where top connected officials use their power to deal in drugs and solicit money that keeps them in power.

Szubin added: "We certainly have noted with concern that the narcotics trafficking and the revenues from it play a destabilizing role, not only in Guinea-Bissau, but in other countries in West Africa and throughout the world."

Ironically, drugs and corruption are solidly intertwined and are highly paying business in Africa. What’s been going on in Guinea Bissau is but a typical replica of what’s going on in Africa as a whole. Ask Kenyans how scams like Goldenberg and Anglo-Leasing were addressed. Ask Tanzanians about the EPA and Richmond scandals. Thanks to touching big guns and their masters in power, nobody will ever be brought to book. Who can cut the hand that feeds him? Without dealing with the rulers that are sheathing the culprits, drug dealing will thrive more and more.

Many politicians spend money obtained from drugs and corruption to attain their dubious political ambitions. They’re the beneficiaries of this heinous crime. To do away from these two vices, Africa must be forced to embark on productive and responsible politics.

It is only in Africa and the Middle East where a pauper can wake up a tycoon without questioning. People avert paying tax and indulge in drug dealing thanks to such laxity and lack of a system to control dirty money. This is why many criminals from the Middle East, India and Pakistan like to move to East Africa. Most movers and shakers in scandals involving billions of shillings in Kenya and Tanzania are of Asian origin. Kamlesh Pattni and Tanil Somaiya were behind Kenya’s Goldenberg scandal. Deepak Kamani was behind Anglo Leasing in Kenya. Rostam Aziz, Somaiya and Shailesh Vithrani were behind Tanzania’s EPA, Richmond and radar-cum-presidential jet scandals.

Venal rulers like these people because when things go wrong, they can easily repatriate them. Also, their number is relatively small when it comes to sharing the spoils. This method was formulated by colonial masters in Africa by selecting the minority to share with them spoils.

When foreign criminals gang up with corrupt rulers, the economy of the countries they target receive a big blow as it once happened to Kenya and Tanzania whose economy, at one time, was on the verge of collapse thanks to the above mentioned scandals among others. There are some reports that 90% of the economy of Tanzania is owned by just one percent that consists of Indians and Europeans! Methinks. The situation is the same in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and elsewhere.

A criminal infested system is difficult to burst. It needs a myth buster to take on it. These gangs of highly placed spineless creatures do not only run drugs. These bêtes noix also are involved in robbing banks and aid money, evading tax, importing substandard goods, money laundering, capital flight, grooming and supporting heartless politicians and what not. It has its corrupt presidents, ministers, judges, lawyers, policemen and women, immigration officers, you name it.

Such corrupt and rotten regimes are a time bomb. It must be appreciated that wherever there is corruption, so too, there’s drug running. It is time the drug menace in Africa was tackled head on!

Source: The African Executive Magazine April 14, 2010.

Mpendazoe ni gunia la misumari, Sitta ni nini?

WAKATI mwingine unaweza kudhani watu fulani wamepevuka na wana akili za kutosha kumbe unakosea.

Sijaelewa mantiki, kwa mfano, kwa baadhi ya asasi za Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) kinachodai ni mhimili wa demokrasia nchini kumkejeli mbunge wa zamani wa Kishapu, Fred Mpendazoe.

Wamemkejeli kuwa hakuwa na tija kwa chama zaidi ya kuwa gunia la misumari ya moto kwa vile aliamua kuhama chama hicho.

Sijui wanaomuona Mpendazoe kama gunia la misumari ya moto kama wao si kasuku wanatumia midomo kufikiri na kujipendekeza kwa wakubwa lau wasikike?

Inashangaza CCM kuwanyamazia kasuku hawa wenye madai yanayopingana na dhana ambayo CCM imekuwa ikitaka tuamini kuwa ni mhimili na muasisi wa demokrasia nchini. Ingekuwa hivyo basi wanachama wake wangejua kuwa kuhama chama si jinai bali haki ya mwananchi ya kikatiba.

Licha ya kuwa ujuha ni unafiki kwa wana CCM kumlaani Mpendazoe. Mbona tuna wanasiasa wengi tena wachumia matumbo waliohama toka upinzani na hawaandaliwi maandamano? Je, dhambi ni kuhama CCM kwenda vyama vingine na baraka na halali kuhama upinzani kuingia CCM?

Leo bila aibu mkoa mzima unaandaa maandamano kuonyesha ujuha na CCM ngazi ya taifa wanauvumilia! Tumefikia wapi?

Hivi, kwa mfano, leo upinzani ukiandaa maandamano ya kulaani baadhi ya viongozi wa upinzani walioamua kujitembeza kwa CCM kwa kuipigia kampeni CCM italaani na kuona wanatishia amani hata demokrasia!

Kwanini sasa inaruhusu uhuni huu wakati ikiwa imeishachafuliwa na ufisadi hasa tunapoelekea kwenye uchaguzi? Je, bado CCM inaendelea kuwaona Watanzania kama majuha wasioweza kufikiri bali CCM yenyewe?

Sasa jinai hii kuelekea uchaguzi ni ya nini kama si kufikiri hivyo?

Je, CCM chama kilichomezwa na ufisadi kiasi cha kushindwa kuwakomboa wananchi? Je, CCM si lege lege iliyoishiwa mikakati kuchakaa na kuganda kimawazo kama alivyosema Mpendazoe? Je, kuacha wahuni watoe majibu ya kihuni si ushahidi tosha?

Je, kwa kumchukia Mpendazoe kwa vile aliuchukia ufisadi si kuthibitisha madai kuwa CCM ni chama cha mafisadi?

Kwa chama makini chenye uongozi na sera makini, nguvu zingeelekezwa kujibu hoja za Mpendazoe badala ya kujiruhusu kuingia kwenye ulingo wa kashfa, kejeli na kukwepa maswali mazito ambayo Watanzania wangetaka kupewa majibu yake.

Bahati mbaya kwa CCM haikuwa hivyo! Ni aibu na pigo kiasi gani kwa chama kinachojiita mhimili wa demokrasia na siasa na nchi? Je, huu si mwanzo wa kuchakaa na kuishiwa?

Hebu tuangalie madai ya Mpenzoe ambayo hata hivyo si mapya ila yanaonekana mapya kutokana na kutamkwa na mtu aliyekuwamo ndani, tena jikoni.

“Nimeishi kwa matumaini ndani ya CCM kwa muda mrefu na sasa natangaza wazi kuwa nakihama chama hicho na kuhamia chama mbadala ambacho ni CCJ,” alisema.

Kama mbunge aliyekuwa akipokea mamilioni ya shilingi ameishiwa matumaini huyu mwananchi kapuku amebaki na nini kama tutaacha kudanganyana na kuwekana sawa ukiachia mbali kuchuuzana?

Je, kusema hivi ndiyo kuwa gunia la misumari ya moto? Je, kipi bora kati ya gunia la misumari ya moto (Mpendazoe) ambayo ukiipoza waweza kujengea na pakacha (hawa wanaojibu hoja kwa kejeli na maandamano ya kihuni)? Inatisha kama tumejiachia kuwa wahuni tena kama chama.

Hebu tuangalie hoja ya msingi ya Mpendazaoe kujitoa CCM: “Serikali iliyotokana na rushwa hutumwa na matajiri walioiweka madarakani... ni serikali kiziwi; haiwezi kusikia kilio cha wananchi wake; ilipewa nafasi ya kujisafisha kuanzia kikao cha NEC kilichofanyika Butiama na kamati ya Mwinyi haikufanya hivyo kwani hadi leo hakuna maamuzi yoyote.”

Hapa maswali ya kujibu ni je, serikali ya sasa haikutokana na pesa chafu za mafisadi hasa wizi wa EPA? Je, CCM haijatekwa na matajiri ambao walianza kufanya hivyo hata kabla ya mwanzilishi wake kufariki?

Mzee Joseph Butiku alisema viongozi wa sasa ni watumwa wa mafisadi akaambiwa na wehu fulani kuwa ni mwehu. Je, CCM ya sasa haiendeshwi na matajiri hawa hawa wanaoweza hata kuvunja Benki yetu Kuu na kuiba na bado wakaendelea kuitwa waheshimiwa na wanafanyabiashara maarufu wakati ni majambazi maarufu?

Mara zote ilipokabiliwa na shutuma kuwa CCM ni chaka la ufisadi imekuwa ikikanusha kwa kutoa majibu rahisi na ya kejeli kama njia ya kukwepa ukweli na kuwajibika, ukiachia mbali kuua mjadala.

Leo mfano anatokea kinyamkera aliyening’inia mgongoni mwa baba yake na kusema eti Mpendazoe ni wa kuja! Ukimwangalia anayesema hivi si chochote wala lolote, bali kupe alaye kwa mgongo wa baba au mama yake!

CCM imekuwa ikitumia vitisho vya kuwatimua wanachama wake wanaoonyesha kupingana na madudu inayofanya. Ila kadiri siku zinavyokwenda, mbinu hii haitafua dafu zaidi ya kuwa mwiba.

Kujitoa kwa mbunge wa zamani wa Kishapu-CCM Fred Mpendazoe kumefichua unyafuzi hata unyanyapaa wanaokumbana nao wabunge wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi, hasa wale wasiopenda ufisadi.

Kwa mujibu wa uzoefu wa Mpendazoe hali ni mbaya. Maana anasema aliishi kwa matumaini yasiyokuwapo hadi mambo yakamshinda akaamua kuachana na CCM angalau awe huru, ukiachia mbali kushiriki vilivyo kuwaondoa wananchi kwenye makucha ya chama hiki nyemelezi.

Ingawa wengi wanachelea kuthubutu kama alivyofanya Mpendazoe, kuhofia kupoteza ulaji mnono wa dezo, ukweli ni kwamba huu ni woga tu. Maana wanasiasa wana yanayoinyima CCM usingizi kama Dk. Willbrod Slaa, Freeman Mbowe, walitoka huko na wakafanya makubwa kwenye upinzani kiasi cha kujizolea heshima ya hali ya juu.

Kitu kingine kilichojitokeza kutokana na kuhama kwa Mpendazoe ni kuthibitika kwa madai ya muda mrefu kuwa CCM sasa ni kimbilio na chaka la wafanyabiashara mafisadi ambao wameamua kusaka ubunge ili kulinda madhambi yao.

Cha mno ni ule ujasiri wa Mpendazoe kuirushia dongo serikali ya sasa akisema ilitokana na rushwa na pesa chafu kiasi cha kuendelea kuwa mtumwa wa mafisadi walioingiza madarakani.

Tuhitimishe kwa swali. Kama Mpendazoe ni gunia la misumari ya moto, kina Sitta ni nini?
Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Aprili 14, 2010.

Mama Mpayukaji anusurika kifo

SIJUI kwanini matukio mengine hutokea pamoja, ingawa yote hayatangazwi kutokana na nani aliyeko nyuma yake? Mna habari mke wangu kipenzi Salama Mpayukaji alinusurika ajali ya barabarani sambamba na ile iliyohusisha msafara wa mke wa rais?

Ingawa ajali hii haikutangazwa kutokana nami kuwa mkuu wa kijiwe, ilitokea. Bi mkubwa alikuwa amekwenda kwenye kijiwe cha Kyabakari kule Ilala kunipigia kampeni. Siku hizi tunawatumia wake zetu kutupigia kampeni kabla ya kipenga cha kampeni kupulizwa.

Tunatumia mali za umma ili wanakijiwe kuukwaa. Kwa upande wangu, situmii pesa ya kina Kagodoka walioiba pesa ya kahawa na kashata.

Badala yake natumia NGO ya Bi mkubwa ya MAWAWA, yaani Maulaji ya Wake za Wakubwa tofauti na mke wa yule.

Alivunga kwenda kule kukagua miradi yetu ya kisiasa kutokana na uchafuzi kuwa mlangoni.

Lazima kila kamba ifungwe ili walevi waingie mkenge upya watupe kura ya kula.

Kwa sasa tutawaonyesha mapenzi ya ajabu ili wakishaukwaa mkenge walie na njia wakati sisi tukiwasanifu kwa ujuha wao.

Hii ndiyo sababu mnawaona Bi mkubwa wangu na kitegemezi changu wakizungukia vijiwe kila uchao. Ingawa hatuna magazeti, habari zetu ziko kila mahali kwani nasi tuko kila mahali tukipiga kampeni hata kabla ya kipenga kupulizwa.

Nilitaarifiwa kuwa kuna bajaj ilikuwa imebeba pombe haramu na bidhaa za magendo iliyokuwa ikiwakwepa ndata ndipo ikaugonga msafara wa baiskeli na pikipiki uliokuwa umembeba bi mkubwa.

Yeye hakuwa na mashangingi. Maana sisi kijiweni hatuna ubavu wa kutembelea mashangingi zaidi ya baiskeli na vikwata. Ingawa wengi wananilaumu kuanza kampeni kabla ya wakati, hawajui hizi ndizo siasa nasi ndio wanasiasa?

Kutokana na kutaka kuwa mkuu wa vijiwe vyote kayani, huwa namtuma bi mkubwa kuwahonga wapiga kura, sorry kuwasaidia kitu kidogo kama vigogo wenu wanavyofanya kwa kutoa saruji na upuuzi mwingine kipindi hiki kuelekea kwenye uchafuzi.

Kuna wanaosema eti bi mkubwa wangu alistahiki kwa vile alikuwa akitenda dhambi kubwa kunipigia kampeni mimi. Eti wanasema hakuna haja ya kulaumu ile bajaj ya mfanya magendo kwani wote walikuwa wakifanya magendo - huyu ya siasa na yule ya maisha!

Kumbe siku hizi waja hamna huruma kiasi hiki! Kosa lake nini? Kuwahonga na kuwatumia washirika wenu wa bedroom siyo?

Wanaongeza kuwa Godi alisikia vilio vya walevi tunaowadhulumu! Tunawadhulumu au wanajidhulumu kwa ujuha na uroho wao? Ni uvivu wa kufikiri kuhoji pesa anazotumia bi mkubwa wangu zitokako wakati kijiwe kimejaa mianya lukuki ya kutengeneza njuluku.

Hawa wahajui kutesa kwa zamu? Mie sijajitwalia hata meza moja ya kahawa. Mbona waliojitwalia migodi wanaendelea kutanua huku walevi wakiendelea kukodoa mimacho kama bundi? Mwenye wivu ajinyotoe roho na kuacha sisi tufaidi vya walevi. Hayo tuyaache.

Na kama si kuwa na msafara mrefu wa pikipiki (ambazo kwa kijiwe ni kama mashangingi) kama sabini hivi, mambo yangekuwa mabaya zaidi.

Wapo walevi kijiweni wanaosema eti asisafiri na misururu mirefu ya pikipiki na baiskeli kwa vile anakera watumiaji wa barabara!

Hivi angekuwa anatumia mashangingi hawa wangejinyotoa roho? Ebo, hawa hawanitakii mema. Nani mwenye hizo barabara zaidi ya mimi na ufalme wangu? Zitafungwa mtake mistake. Huu ndiyo ukuu ati.

Siwezi kufanya kosa kumzuia bi mkubwa kutanua kama mkuu wa kijiwe. Maana tunavyowaliza walevi, akisafiri kwa pikipiki moja si watamnyotoa roho. Kwanini hawataki kukubali ukweli kuwa mke wa mkuu wa kijiwe naye ni mkuu wa kijiwe kwa vile anajua siri nyingi za mkuu hasa za bedroom?

Mbwa wa mfalme ni mfalme wa mbwa wote. Walinena wahenga. Hawajui kuwa umbea wote ninaoupata kuhusiana na wabaya wangu hupitia kwake?

Hawajui kuwa familia yangu ni serikali ndani ya serikali kijiweni? Kwa taarifa yenu kama mnapasuka pasukeni. Hata vitegemezi vyangu vinasafiri na misururu ukiachia mbali kutumia pikipiki yangu iliyonunuliwa na kijiwe kwa bei mbaya.

Ningekuwa mkuu wa kaya naye angesafiri na dege langu huku akijinoma. Msikonde si ndege bali ungo wangu. Ingawa wakosoaji wanasema kuwa wake zetu wanapenda vya dezo kama maiti na kwanini mke wa Obama hatumii Air Force One kwenye biashara zake, wanakosea.

Ile ni Marekani iliyojaa wajuaji. Si kama kijiwe chetu ambacho kinaongozwa na mlevi na mpenda raha mimi kilichojaa walevi na majuha. Isitoshe Marekani ina jina kubwa lakini si tajiri kama kijiwe chetu. Kwani hamjui?

Angalia ninavyotanua na kina Mbwamwitu, Ewassa, Kanji na wengine wakihomola. Sisi tumejaliwa utajiri wa kahawa ambayo lazima wakubwa tuinywe na kula kashata na familia zetu na nyumba ndogo kwa amani.

Marekani hawana amani kama kijiwe chetu. Wao wanatishiwa na Al-Qaida. Kama kuna adui yetu si mwingine bali majuha na wale wenzetu ambao wameanza kutuhama na kujiunga na maadui zetu.

Wazushi wanasema eti vibaka walimtegeshea ili wamnyofoe migold yake ambayo tangu niukwae anaikoga kama maji.

Thubutu! Vibaka hawana dili kali kama akina Kagoda na Meremeta. Hivi yule jamaa waliohomola pesa ya HEPA wameishia wapi; mbona hawaunganishwi na Lumba Maumba au wakubwa wanaogopa watawaumbua? Kwanini walevi wasihangaike na hawa badala ya mke wangu chifu wa kampeni zangu za siri au hadi shehe ubwawa atabiri?

Kwa vile viherehere wamezidi, nitaamuru bunge la kijiwe litunge sheria ya kulinda ulaji wa mke wangu kwa vile naye ni mkuu kama mimi. Au wanataka nifanye kama M7 nimteua kuwa waziri kwenye kijiwe?

Mlitaka pikipiki yangu atumie Lyatongolwa kwenda Moshie kujidai kama yule waziri uchwara aitwaye
aliyekwenda kwa ndege na kuamuru shangingi lake limfuate ili awaonyeshe washamba wa kwao kwenye mibuni?

Sasa kama viroho vinawatweta kwa roho mbaya zenu kulilia mali ya umma ambayo haiumi, nitafuga mbwa naye, kama mke wangu na vitegemezi vyangu awe anafaidi kupandishwa kwenye pikipiki ya kijiwe atanue kwa vile ni mbwa wa dingi wa kijiwe.

Alijisemea Mama Yoyo. Unajua alisemaje kwa Kiswahili chake mbofu mbofu? “Misaili haina akili. Yeye nakula vitu dongo dongo kwa chaguzi lafu nachagua mizi naleta kelele! Sisi nachagua Muringe inaua yeye na kuleta Ewassa lafu nalalamika!”

Leo sitachonga sana. Kwani nina safari kwenda kumpongeza Mpende azoe kwa kuachana na ukale na ubabaishaji wa nambari wahedi.

Pia nikirejea nakwenda kumzaba makonde yule mtabiri uchwara wa kijiwe aitwaye shehena Njaa aliyetabiri kuwa hakutakuwa na uchafuzi mwaka huu. Kumbafu huyu. Anataka ninyimwe kura ya kula na walevi? Khalas kweisine.
Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Aprili 14, 2010.

Thursday 8 April 2010

Pole mama Salma Kikwete


Mpendwa mama Salma Kikwete,
Kwanza nakusalimu na kukutakia shughuli na afya nje. Pili nakupa pole kwa yaliyokukuta-yaani msafara wako kunusurika kugongwa na lori lililodhaniwa kuwa lilikuwa likiwakimbia polisi kutokana na kubeba bidhaa za magendo. Hii ilitokea kule Musoma ulipokwenda kuwapigia magoti wakurya waache kuchinjana. Ila hapa kuna kitu kimoja. Hawa watu hawachinjani kutokana na roho mbaya au imani za ushirikina bali ukapa. Bila kubadili aina ya uchumi wao watauana sana hata uwapigie magoti hadi yachubuke hawataacha.

Kusema ukweli nilipata taarifa za kunusurika kwako katika ajali hii kwa mstuko mkubwa. Nilijiuliza. “Sasa tunakwenda wapi kama hata msafara wa mke wa mwenye nchi unavamiwa na dudu kubwa kama lile?” Hata hivyo, sikushangaa. Huu ndiyo ukweli wa maisha wanayoishi watu tuliowaahidi kuwapeleka Kanani wakajikuta wakizidi kutokomea Misri. Maana wamepigika kweli kweli ingawa sisi tunaotanua hatutaki kukubaliana na hili. Maana kwao riziki ni lazima mtu avunje sheria. Huenda hii inatokana na wakubwa kujisahau na kuhomola na kutumia vibaya kama tulivyoshuhudia juzi kwenye sakata la Kagoda na Richmond ambapo wakubwa wasio na roho na wenye roho mbaya na uchu wa fisi waliamua kuua kashfa hizi ili kuwanusuru wenzao.

Sikupenda kuandika waraka huu. Nimelazimika kutokana na mapenzi yangu kwako na taifa hasa shughuli unazofanya ingawa haziwafurahishi wengine. Maana kuna wanaosema eti umeaanza kumpigia kampeni mumeo hata kabla ya kipenga cha kufanya hivyo kupulizwa jambao ambalo napinga. Watu hawa wasio na adabu wanahoji ni kwanini sasa wewe, mumeo hata mwanao muonekane mikoani mkitoa misaada na nasaha wakati miaka minne iliyopita hamkufanya hivyo? Wengine wanasema eti ni rushwa! Tangu lini wazito kama nyinyi mkatoa rushwa? Hayo ni maswali yao na roho mbaya zao. Mie huwa nawambia kuwa mbwa wa mfalme naye siku zote ni mfalme wa mbwa wote.

Wapo wanaohoji bajeti inapotoka pesa ya kulipia ziara zako wanazosema zinahusisha misururu mirefu ya mashangingi. Eti wanasema kufanya hivyo ni kuchafua mazingira na kuwaongezea mzigo walipa kodi na kujipachika madaraka usiyo kuwa nayo kikatiba. Wengine wanasema eti ni matumizi mabaya ya ofisi ya mumeo eti kwa vile walimchagua yeye na kumwapisha yeye peke yake! Hawa wanakosa hoja na hawana adabu. Hawajui wewe ni mke wa rais hivyo una chembechembe za urais? Wengine wanasema eti unatumia hata ndege ya mumeo iliyonunuliwa kwa mabilioni ya Mkapa sambamba na rada wanayosema ni feki. Mie huko siko. Wapuuzi hawa wanataka utumie lini iwapo kutesa ni kwa zamu?

Mama, kusema ukweli hawa wanaokuandama wananiudhi kiasi cha kutamani kumtoa mtu roho kama siyo kugopa kunyea debe. Maana wanahoji vitu visivyo na maana. Eti wanauliza ni kwanini ulianzisha NGO yaWAMA (Wanawake na Maendeleo) baada ya mumeo kuwa rais na si kabla? Hawajui kama ungeianzisha kabla isingepata wafadhili?

Hawa naona hawana akili. Hivi hawaoni WAMA ilivyoleta maendeleo kwa wanawake wa Tanzania? Hawajui kuwa kulala watano kwenye kitanda kimoja wakati wa kujifungua pale Amana, Mwananyamala na Temeke ni historia? Hawajui hata wizi na kubadilishiwa watoto kumepungua ukiachia mbali uhaba wa madawa kutokana na juhudi zako?

Eti wanahoji ni kwanini wafadhili wako na matumizi na mapato ya ofisi yako hayafanyiwi ukaguzi wa mahesabu na taarifa kuwekwa wazi! Wanasema eti wengi wanaoifadhili NGO yako walikuwa wafadhili wa EOTF ya mtangulizi wako Anna Mkapa ambaye baada ya mumewe kutokwa na madaraka hawataki kumuona achia mbali kumchangia. Eti wanasema wanachangia madaraka si wewe! Hivi hawa wana akili kweli? Inakuwaje hawakuamini wewe mke wa kiongozi wao? Isitoshe biashara zako zinawahusu nini kama si wivu wa kipuuzi?

Wengine eti wanauliza ni kwanini kila shughuli ya WAMA inasimamiwa nawe na si wasaidizi wako? Kwani umewambia kuwa umechoka kiasi cha kuhitaji mtu mwingine kusimamia shughuli za asasi? Isitoshe wanajua siri ya kuanzisha NGO hii. Si nao waanzishe zao ingawa hazitapata wafadhili kutokana na kutokuwa na waume wenye madaraka.

Katika utafiti na uzoefu wangu nimegundua kuwa wabongo wamefyatuka si kawaida. Wanaweza kuhoji lolote. Siyo kama wale wa zamani. Halafu wanaonekana kuwa na hasira si kawaida. Ni wanoko hakuna mfano. Una habari kuwa njaa ndiyo imewafanya wawe hivi? Kwa taarifa yako, taarifa za hivi karibuni zilizotolewa na serikali ya mumeo ni kwamba takribani nusu yao wanakula mara moja kwa siku kama komba huku serikali yao ikitanua na kutumia mara mbili ya kipato chake. Kwa vile wanaona wewe uko karibu na rais wanadhani misafara yako ni sehemu ya haya matumizi wakati si kweli.

Eti wanasema kuwa mke wa baba wa taifa Mama Maria Nyerere hakuwa na NGO. Ni kweli. Lakini wakumbuke kitu kimoja. Zama hizi si zile za Nyerere ambapo kitu hiki ilikuwa sawa na tembo kupita kwenye tundu la sindano. Inabidi tuwambie kitu kimoja. Mambo yamebadilika sana. Na kwa sasa hatujengi tena siasa ya ujamaa na kujitegemea bali soko huria la kila kitu kuanzia haki hata siasa. Na isitoshe wakati ule ufisi na ufisadi ulipigwa vita vilivyo badala ya maneno matamu na dili za nyuma ya pazia. Kwa sasa ni ufisadi ufisadi mtindo mmoja. Ndiyo maana watu wana ufisadi wa kuhoji kazi zako tukufu. Isitoshe Nyerere alikuwa akipoteza muda mwingi kwenye maadili badala ya madili kama sasa. Bila dili watu hawawezi kuendelea.

Pia wanapaswa kufahamu kuwa wakati wa Nyerere wanawake hawakuwa na matatizo mengi kama sasa kutokana na mambo kubadilika hasa mafisadi kuliibia taifa. Hivyo, kwa hali hii ambapo ulaji ni lazima, lazima kuwepo na NGO ya ikulu kuwasemea akina mama kutokana na wizara yao kushindwa kutokana na kushikiliwa na wanasiasa.

Wanaongeza kuwa watoto wa Nyerere hawakuwa makada na wakuu chamani. Jamani zama hizi zimepita. Watoto wa Nyerere hawakuwa wamesoma siasa kama wa sasa. Na isitoshe Nyerere alikuwa mkali sana. Hayo tuyaache.

Mama naomba niishie hapa. Naogopa kukuchosha kutokana na kuwa na kibarua kizima cha kuizunguka nchi na dunia. Nakutakia afya njema na mafanikio katika shughuli zako za ujenzi wa taifa lenu. Pia hawa wanaotishia misafara yenu wanapaswa kutoka usingizini. Kwanini wasiende Kanani badala ya kuishi kwa magendo na matumaini? Kama wale waheshimiwa wa Kagoda na Richmond, chonde chonde mama waombee msamaha hawa waliotaka kukugonga. Maana si kosa lao bali maisha. Kuwakamata ni kuukwepa ukweli. Ni hatari kukwepa au kushindana na ukweli. Nao wana roho na matumbo kama sisi. Naomba niishie hapa.
Chanzo: MwanaHALISI Aprili 8, 2010.

Genocide: Slow Down Mr. Kagame!


My article Kagame Must Reconcile with Rwandans in The African Executive of 17 - 24 March 2010 did not augur well with the authorities in Rwanda. It’s sad so to speak. Thanks to this article, the authorities have branded me a genocide denier, an agent or altogether.

In the Rwandan New Times’ Monday 5th April, 2010 analysis titled Genocide Deniers and their Agents by Tom Ndahiro, many salvos and fabrications were written. It wrote:
“One of the more interesting ones is to an article entitled: “Kagame must reconcile with Rwandans” by Nkwazi Mhango, purportedly a Tanzanian based in Canada.

It went on: “This article was published by The African Executive in Nairobi, on the same day as Berwouts’s piece appeared. In it, Nkwazi accuses President Paul Kagame of “banking on genocide” as a pretext to thwart people with different ideas; and of “using genocide to threaten anybody, including the international community whom he blames for not preventing it.”

Maybe. Just maybe. Rwandan authorities are baffled as to why a Tanzanian can take his time to discuss things they’d not like be discussed in the way they were discussed. But they must understand. As a Tanzanian, I am a stakeholder thanks to Rwanda currently being admitted to the East Africa Union. Thus it becomes another major player leave alone crises in Rwanda producing refugees that seek refuge in Tanzania. Tanzania has suffered a great deal more from the influx of refugees. So as a stakeholder my voice adds up.

As a citizen of the region, I have all rights to discuss any issue regarding how things are going on. I once urged three founder members of EA not to admit Rwanda before the question of who actually committed genocide is answered. I also raised the issue of probing Ugandan and Rwandan strongmen for invading DRC before giving a nod to blood-tainted Rwanda as far as massacres and theft in DRC is concerned. To raise such a question does not mean I deny the occurrence of genocide in Rwanda. Such take is but myopic and megalomaniac.

The big sin Rwandan authorities commit is to wrongly and maliciously think that whoever opposes the way democracy is felled is a genocide denier. If telling Rwanda the right thing to do is genocide denying, nobody will survive this machination-cum-purge.

Well, genocide did actually take place in Rwanda. But who committed it apart from Hutus that are wholesale convicted as a whole even without hearing them? If RPF consisted of Tutsis fighting to bring down a Hutu-led government, it means they too committed the same against their adversaries. That’s why it becomes very difficult to exclude RPF in the whole crime. They too killed Hutus thanks to forming the government they were fighting to topple as once President Paul Kagame admitted when he was quizzed by Stephen Sackur of BBC HardTalk. On why he did not want to probe who brought down the presidential jet that killed two heads of state, Kagame said: “I pay no damn that Hyarimana is dead.”

Every peace lover would want to see Rwanda stabilize. But it cannot stabilize with all this vindication and lies of branding everybody a genocide denier. No way can one turn his face away from reality. There is development and some stability in Rwanda. I mentioned this in my article. But again in the same vein, there is lack of true democracy in Rwanda. I cannot make an apology for saying this. The political atmosphere in Rwanda is not as calm as the authorities and their paid media portray it. President Kagame does not entertain any opposition or opposite ideas.

His political mileage and gravitas largely depends on how he manipulatively uses genocide. This is what his opponents say. It was openly repeated by Kayumba Nyamwasa, the recent victim of this dirty-power game. Though a celebre as genocide is, it must not be used to arrest and fell democracy in the country. Kagame must understand and accept that there also are other Rwandans that can play great role in democratization and crewing Rwanda. This is but a constitutional right of every citizen.

Despite all repression denial, manipulation and what not, Rwandans will nary keep mum when it comes to urge for a fair play in running their country and their affairs.

Without dwelling on the issues that have already been discussed, I must candidly and strongly refute allegations that I am a genocide denier. The dispute is not whether genocide was committed or otherwise. The dispute is the way it is maliciously and inanely used. Why didn't the author say it that I appreciated the fact that there is development and some hope in Rwanda?

Thirst for true democracy in Rwanda even Uganda is nothing any person -despite untamed power he may wage- can regard as passing cloud so as to sweep under the carpet. True democracy is more a reality than a wish. It is unstoppable and its delay can succeed temporally but not for good. To tamp down all these controversies, Kigali must embark on true democracy the same way it did with development. Kigali must understand that the environment for one person to cling to power for long is long gone thanks to the changing of political scenario of the world after the demise of former USSR. If there is true and conducive environment for true democracy will be seen. You cannot hide this.

Importantly, it should be appreciated that what geared me to write the said article was nothing but the fleeing of former chief of staff and ambassador to India Nyamwasa and what he had to say about the regime in Kigali.

In a nutshell, I must strongly insist that genocide took place in Rwanda in 1994 save that the true or all perpetrators of this heinous crime have nary been brought to justice thanks to dealing with an exparte case presented by another player-the current government of Rwanda.
Source: The African Executive Magazine April 7 , 2010.

Wafanyakazi watendewe haki

KWA mtu anayejali kujua ugumu na mazingira magumu wafanyakazi wetu hasa wa kada ya chini wanavyopambana navyo huku wakizalisha na kushuhudia uchumi ukifujwa na wanasiasa, ana kila sababu ya kuunga mkono mgomo uliopendekezwa na wafanyakazi nchi nzima.

Wengi walidhani serikali ingechukulia tishio hili kwa uzito unaostahiki badala ya kutoa majibu yasiyo na mashiko.

Wengi walidhani serikali ingekubali lawama zote kutokana na wanasiasa kutumia vibaya rasilimali na jasho la wafanyakazi na wakulima wa taifa hili, ukiachia mbali mipango mibovu na sera za kuazima na kubabaisha.

Kwa wanaojua madhara ya mgomo hasa kwa uchumi unaosuasua kutokana na usimamizi na matumizi mabovu ya serikali, maneno ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete hayatoi jibu zaidi ya kutapatapa na kuwekana sawa. Je, hili ni jibu linaloingia akilini?

Hivi karibuni Rais Kikwete alikaririwa akisema: “Nayasema haya kwa kuwa naamini kwa dhati kuwa huo ndio uamuzi wenye maslahi kwa taifa letu na kwa wafanyakazi pia.

Hiyo ndiyo njia bora zaidi ya kufikia kwenye malengo yenye masilahi kwao na kwa waajiri wao.” (Hapa alimaanisha majadiliano).

Kusema ukweli majadiliano yameishapitwa na wakati. Yalianza wakati wa serikali ya awamu ya pili. Lakini tabia ya serikali kukaidi ahadi zake na kukiuka taratibu imeendelea kuwapo kwa zaidi ya miaka 20.

Hatuwezi kuendelea hivi wakati wafanyakazi wakijituma huku watawala wakiongeza ukubwa wa serikali matumizi bila ulazima wala kujali wale wanaozalisha hicho wanachofuta.

Rais aliambiwa kabla ya kuingia madarakani kuwa mtangulizi wake alikuwa ameunda serikali kubwa. Yeye alipoingia kwa kiburi na kutojua madhara yake kwa uchumi aliunda kubwa kuliko iliyokuwa ikilalamikiwa.

Rais ameishaonywa na vyama vya upinzani na wataalamu wa uchumi kuwa ziara zake na matumizi yasiyo na nidhamu na ufisadi ni vikwazo kwa uchumi wetu.

Amefanya nini kuhusu haya zaidi ya kuziba masikio na kuendelea kufanya yale yale?

Nchi ndogo jirani ya Rwanda na hata Kenya wamepiga marufuku matumizi ya mashangingi. Tanzania waliahidi wangefanya hivyo. Lakini katika kipindi hicho hicho ziliripotiwa taarifa kuwa walikuwa wameagiza mashangingi!

Pamoja na wakati ule serikali ya nchi fukara kuwa na mashangingi 6,000 na ushei waliweza kuendelea kuagiza mengine kinyemela kana kwamba umma hauna macho.

Hivi ni wafanyakazi gani vichaa watakaokubali madai kuwa serikali haina fedha wakati inasamehe mabilioni ya EPA, Kagoda, Richmond, TICTS, Meremeta, CIS, Kiwira ukiachia matumizi mabaya na ufisadi na kuchanganya siasa na uchumi?

Je, wafanyakazi watasikiliza ushauri wa rais ambaye huwa hasikilizi ushauri wa Watanzania?

Je, rais anadhani wafanyakazi ni vipofu wasioweza kuona nchi, rasilimali zao vinavyofujwa? Je, rais anadhani wafanyakazi hawaoni yanayofanyika? Tutoe mfano.

Katika sakata la uzembe na uhujumu wa Kampuni ya Kihindi ya RITES, wafanyakazi wa Mamlaka ya Reli waliweza kujikusuru na kufufua baadhi ya vichwa vya treni lakini serikali ikawaangusha hadi maji yalipozidi unga.

Je, wafanyakazi kama hawa rais atawaridhisha na nini zaidi ya kutimiza madai yao? Hawa si wapumbavu kama wanasiasa wanavyowachukulia.

Wanajua wenzao waliostaafu hasa wale wa Jumuia ya Afrika Mashariki walivyodhulumiwa na kuhujumiwa na serikali hii hii inayotaka waingie kwenye mazungumzo iwazidi kete. Walimu wanajua ninachomaanisha hapa.

Serikali haina sifa ya kuaminika katika ahadi na makubaliano yake. Ni mara ngapi serikali imeingia makubaliano nao na baadaye ikawageuka?

Leo tuna wanasiasa wanaolipwa mamilioni wakati madaktari, walimu na wafanyakazi wengine wakikopwa mishahara yao ukiachia mbali kuhujumiwa haki zao.

Mara nyingi wafanyakazi wameingilia bila mafanikio kuzuia wezi wachache katika serikali kuingia mikataba inayohujumu nchi kama ile ya uwekezaji uliogeuka utumwa na hujuma kwa taifa. Nani anawasikiliza badala ya kusikiliza ten percent?

Rejea wafanyakazi wa iliyokuwa NBC walivyojaribu kunusuru benki yao bila mafanikio, ukiachia mbali wa TANESCO lilipoletwa kampuni la kikaburu lililoiacha ikiwa mkangafu kama alivyowahi kukiri mkurugenzi wa zamani wa shirika hili.

Uliza serikali inadaiwa pesa kiasi gani na mamlaka ya maji safi na taka na TANESCO? Bila serikali na wakuu wake kuwajibika hatuwezi kupata jibu la kero za wafanyakazi.

Kuondokana na kero za wafanyakazi ni kuwatendea haki kwa kulipa haki zao na kuwa na nidhamu ya matumizi.

Serikali inayotumia mara mbili ya kipato chake haiwezi kufanya hivyo zaidi ya kuleta siasa na longo longo, vitu ambavyo vimepitwa na wakati.

Kinachokera ni kwamba pamoja na uchungu wa wafanyakazi, wanasiasa wanajifanyia mambo kana kwamba wao hawaishi katika nchi hii.

Ukitaka kujua ninachomaanisha, jikumbushe ni misamaha mingapi ya kodi ilishatolewa na serikali ya awamu ya nne ukiachia mbali kipengele kinachotoa mamlaka kwa waziri husika kuendelea kutumika wakati tukijua wazi ni uchochoro wa kuhujumia uchumi na taifa letu.

Leo hatutaandika mengi. Kumsaidia Kikwete na chama chake na serikali yake ni kumgomea ili aone madhara ya kufuja rasilimali na mali za umma ili atie akilini.

Bila kugoma siasa na sanaa zitaendelea huku wafanyakazi hata wananchi wetu wakizidi kugeuzwa punda vihongwe na kikundi kidogo cha watu kilichojaa mafisadi na wafujaji. Wafanyakazi msikubali maneno, maana maneno matupu hayavunji mfupa na matendo hukidhi haja maridhawa kuliko maneno.

Kuhusu kutatua tishio la mgomo. Kikwete anapaswa kufikiri upya na kuja na matendo na si mijadala. Mbona anapata muda wa kuwakingia kifua mafisadi na waharifu wengine, tena kwa jasho la wafanyakazi lakini kwanini anashindwa kutimiza madai ya wafanyakazi?
Tanzania Daima Aprili 7, 2010.

Monday 5 April 2010

RITES iwe fundisho kwa serikali

WAZIRI wa Miundombinu, Shukuru Kawambwa, amelitangazia taifa kuwa serikali itachukua asilimia 51 ya hisa za kampuni ya Reli ya India (RITES) zilizokuwa zinaunda kampuni ya Reli ya TRL.

Alisema, “Lazima tufahamu kuwa TRL si ya RITES peke yake. Tunamiliki asilimia 49 ya hisa za kampuni hiyo. Kwa hiyo matatizo yanayotokea na sisi tunahusika. Ndiyo maana tunatoa fedha kuweka mambo sawa.”

Tunakubaliana na hoja za Kawambwa. Mwekezaji aliyekabidhiwa jukumu la kuendesha TRL amethibitika kushindwa kazi.

Serikali iliingia mkataba na kampuni isiyokuwa makini, isiyokuwa na uwezo, hadhi wala sifa ya kuendesha shirika muhimu kwa uchumi wa taifa.

Ikiwa serikali imekiri kuleta kampuni ya aina hiyo kuendesha Shirika la Reli la Taifa (TRC), basi inakiri kufanya maamuzi mabovu. Maana yake ni kwamba serikali iliyopo sasa imepoteza sifa ya uadilifu na umakini.

Watawala wamebeba mwekezaji badala ya kumfukuza; na sasa wana mkakati wa kujadiliana naye jinsi ya kununua hisa zake.

Hii ni hujuma. Katika kupamba hili, Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi, Philemon Luhanjo amekaririwa akisema, “Serikali itafanya matayarisho ya msingi; kurekebisha kasoro na kuangalia mustakabali wa TRL kabla ya kutafutiwa mbia mwingine wa kuiendesha.”

Kurekebisha kasoro ni muhimu. Lakini muhimu zaidi ni kujiuliza: Unarekebisha kasoro zipi na katika eneo gani? Hili ndilo swali ambalo mkutano wa baraza la mawaziri ulipaswa kuhoji waziri Kawambwa na katibu Luhanjo.

Kimsingi, bila kuondoa ulafi wa kimfumo, hata wawekezaji wangetoka mbinguni hatutafanikiwa kuwaendeleza watu wetu kwa kutumia raslimali zilizopo.

Kwenye uwekezaji mwingi uliofanyika na ambao umeonyesha wazi kuwa kuna harufu ya ujambazi ndani yake, serikali imekuwa ikitoa mitaji kwa makampuni ya kigeni, tena chini ya shinikizo la sheria.

Kinachokera ni ukweli kuwa mikataba hii iliingiwa baina ya serikali na wawekezaji kwa kuwakilishwa na watu waliodhaniwa kuwa wenye uelewa na ufahamu wa kulinda maslahi ya nchi yao. Kumbe sivyo ilivyo.

Lakini kibaya zaidi, hata pale ilipothibitika kwamba tumeingizwa mkenge, serikali haijawahi hata mara moja kuwajibisha wahusika. Imeendelea kuwakumbatia kana kwamba nchi hii ina uhaba wa wafanyakazi.

Kigine ambacho kinasikitisha ni kuwa hii si mara ya kwanza kwa serikali kutangaza kuwa imenunua au inajirejeshea hisa katika kampuni ilimokuwa na ubia.

Haya yalitokea katika Shirika la Ndege la Taifa (ATCL) lililokuwa limekodishwa kwa kampuni ya ndege ya Afrika Kusini, tena kwa bei ya kutupa.

Tulisikia serikali ikibeba zigo la mgodi wa makaa ya mawe wa Kiwira uliokuwa unadaiwa kumilikiwa na baadhi ya wanafamilia na marafiki wa rais mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa.

Pamoja na lundo la wataalamu iliyonao, serikali haikujua kuwa RITES haikuwa na uwezo wala mtaji wa kuendesha shirika ililolikabidhi?

Mbona wafanyakazi wa shirika hili walionya, hata kabla ya shirika lenyewe kubinafsishwa, kwamba mwekezaji aliyetafutwa hakuwa na sifa?

Je, si kweli kwamba wafanyakazi ambao kimsingi ndio walikuwa waendeshaji wakuu wa TRC, walitoa hata mbinu za kuliokoa shirika, lakini wakapuuzwa kwa madai kuwa mbinu zao zinaingiliana maslahi ya wakubwa?

Ni wafanyakazi hawa wa kizalendo waliofufua baadhi ya injini zilizotelekezwa na mwekezaji, jambo ambalo limeokoa mamilioni ya shilingi.

Lakini wakubwa serikalini hawakuona umuhimu wa uamuzi huo kwa kuwa kwao kuna faida kupeleka injini India kuliko kazi hiyo kufanywa na wazalendo kwa malipo kiduchu.

Ya RITES ndiyo yaleyale ya Net Group Solution iliyotelekeza Shirika la Umeme la Taifa (TANESCO). Ni yaleyale ya ATCL.

Ni wazi sasa kuwa serikali imeruhusu uhuru kwa kila mtu kujichomolea atakavyo kana kwamba taifa hili linaelekea kifo.
Chanzo: MwanaHALISI Machi 31, 2010.

Saturday 3 April 2010

Tumuunge mkono Mpendazoe



Mbunge wa zamani wa Kishapu Fred Mpendazoe amefungua pazia. Ameamua kukung'uta vumbi toke kwenye laana akiiacha laana mlangoni mwa CCM. Ametupa faida moja kubwa kusema kuwa alikuwa akiishi kwa matumaini yasiyokuwapo. Pia alihitimisha shutuma kuwa serikali ya sasa ni fisadi kutokana na kuwa tunda la pesa ya wizi na ufisadi na uchafu wa kila aina. Watanzania tusiwaangushe wazalendo walio tayari kujitoa mhanga kutetea maslahi ya taifa letu.
Tuchukue fursa hii kumpongeza Mpendazoe na kuwapa changamoto wale wote waliotuaminisha kuwa ni wapambanaji dhidi ya ufisadi. Wakati wa kujitoa ni sasa na pia kuonyesha matendo badala ya maneno.
Pia nawakaribisha kusoma kitabu changu cha SAA YA UKOMBOZI ili muone utabiri wangu juu ya kuporomoka kwa himaya chafu itokanayo na ujambazi wa EPA.
Pia Mpendazoe alinifurahisha aliposema CCM imevamiwa na wafanyabiashara mbwamwitu wanaoitumia kupata madaraka ili kuendelea kutuibia na kuficha uchafu wao. Hapa nadhani ndipo ilipo siri ya kuwa na watu kama Mohammed Dewji,Nazir Karamagi, Andrew Chenge na wengine waliohujumu taifa letu. Kesho msishangae kusikia Idris Rashid akigombea ubunge bila kusahau Yusuf Manji na wezi wengine.
Hakika hatua ya kishujaa ya Mpendazoe ni changamoto na suto kwa akina Samuel Sitta, Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe, Anne Kilango Malecela, John Malecela, Lucas Selelii, Eng. Manyanya, William Shelukindo na kundi lao.
Kila la heri mwana mwema na shujaa na mzalendo wa kweli FREDRICK MPENDAZOE.
Hakika CCM si mama wa yeyote aliasa MwL. Julius Nyerere.