The Chant of Savant

Wednesday 31 December 2008

Bob Mugabe; You’re Dead Right



Robert Gabriel Mugabe has never run out of controversy. After Botswana’s minister for foreign affairs, Phandu Skelemani; Kenyan PM, Raila Odinga and retired archbishop, Desmond Tutu suggested that African countries send an army to bring down his regime; Mugabe ridiculed the African Union and all African potentates. He knows them too well so as to sing kumbaya!

“How could African leaders ever topple Robert Mugabe, organise an army to come? It is not easy," Mugabe said. “I do not know of any African country that is brave enough to do that," he continued.

Mubabe is very right. Name one African ruler that has guts and bravery to take on Mugabe and I’ll stop writing and find another job. We, in Africa, have, but charlatans and hypocrites that are in power to steal from the paupers.

Look at them with their long motorcades and aimless foreign trips. They are more notorious than the former British Governors. They steal more money than colonial masters. During colonial times, people were able to eat and dress themselves at least. Currently, in Kenya, food has become another tool for revolution. Whilst Kenyans are spending a day chasing sembe (maize meal), the MPs do not want to pay tax! In Tanzania, whilst the common man has nothing to eat, the rulers are buying oil guzzlers and stealing billions of shillings from the central bank. Refer to EPA and Richmond scandals to mention a few. How can such people accuse Mugabe if they deserve to be toppled by the wananchi they’re terrorizing?

I know Mugabe. Though he is weak, he knows: African rulers are weaker than him. If he is a killer, most of them have killed many more than he is currently killing thanks to mega embezzlement and king-size style of living. These Pharisees are loading heavy burdens on the citizenry whilst they walk free.

True, our rulers know too well that shall they squeeze Mugabe, he’ll challenge them to put their houses in order.

Many people thought, though wrongly, that the ouster of Thabo Mbeki (Mugabe’s godfather) would usher in a new force that would topple Mugabe. But they are dead wrong. The current power struggles going on in South Africa will not enable anybody that becomes president to take on Mugabe.The minefields are out in the open in South Africa where the ANC is battling with a newly found pro-Mbeki COPE. Comrade Jacob Zuma whom we thought would use his country’s economic muscle to force Mugabe out is taking the way of other African parasites.

Botswana has what it takes when it comes to booting Mugabe but as a small country, it will never risk this. Other impostors that condemn Mugabe openly and apologize to him behind the scene will bloat whatever move Botswana will take.

MDC should go back to the drawing board and enlighten the mass to turn against the vampire. Morgan Tsvangirai’s oft-meetings with AU chairman Jakaya Kikwete are but waste of time and delivering himself to the trap. If Kikwete and his AU were serious, they’d first respond to Mugabe’s assertion and make sure they set conditions for him to vacate presidency. The African parasites have never asked him if MDC is the party of white fellas.

Botswana's Festus Mogae has called for fresh elections. Will this make sense if Mugabe will rig it as he has always done? Kenya's PM,Raila Odinga wants African governments to oust Mugabe. Will his boss, President Mwai Kibaki, who is in power (thanks to rigging) consent to this radical take? Senegal's president, Abdoulaye Wade says Mugabe should give up power. Does he think we have forgotten how he recently tampered with the constitution to elongate his tenure in office from five to seven years? How can Mugabe give up power easily whilst he himself is tying his grip on it?

Zambia's late president Levy Mwanawasa called the region's silence over election violence "scandalous."Zambia and Botswana have a good record save that they are alone.

The chairman of AU, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania openly opposed the idea of toppling Mugabe from the outset. Southern African Development Community (SADC) maintains that power-sharing is the only solution knowing that this is impossible. South Africa, the regional powerhouse, backs SADC. Due to what is going on in South Africa, nobody can blame Kgalema Mothlante.

The African Union says that a unity cabinet is the only way forward. Is this possible under the current stalemate? Nigeria's foreign minister says he shares "moral outrage" about Zimbabwe, but backs dialogue. Which dialogue if Mugabe has sealed all ears?

In a nutshell, this is but a desperate and rotten Africa the international community wrongly thinks can solve Zimbabwe’s problems. African rulers are part of Zimbabwe’s problem. Refer to kings in Uganda, Libya, Gabon, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. They have been in power over ten years just like Mugabe.

Source: The African Executive Magazine December 31, 2008.





Tunapofunga mwaka kwa sanaa na longolongo

WAINGEREZA, mabingwa wa fitina, husema money talks, bullshit walks; kwa tafasiri yangu na Kiingereza changu cha kukopa, nisome hapa; mwenye pesa si mwenzio na upuuzi husambaa.

Juzi tulishangilia vigogo walipogonga lupango na kuchomoka kama hawana akili nzuri. Tulihoji. Hayo mahekalu waliyojidhaminia si matokeo ya utumiaji madaraka vibaya na ufisadi ukiachia mbali uhujumu? Leo Kijiwe kina kikao maalumu cha kutoa shinikizo na kubaini usanii na mazingaombwe.

Mgosi Machungi analianzisha. “Wagoshi mmesikia vigogo waivojizamini kwa mihekau ya wizi? Hatielewi mantiki ya kufungua kesi haafu mtu akajizamini kwa mai ya wizi jamani.”

Kapende anatia timu. “Hivi hamjui! Hii geresha kuepusha Kagodam kwa kisingizio cha matumizi mabaya ya madaraka. Kama ni matumizi mabaya, wangeanza na Tunituni na si washikaji zake.”

Kabla Kapende hajamaliza mzee Maneno anakwapua mic. “Hivi mwaishi nchi gani au mmeishiwa? Hapa yule mwarabu aliyetajwa na Bangusilo Ibra M7ha anafanya vitu vyake. Hamkusikia wakati wa Richmonduli Bangusilo alivyozoza hadi Eddie Ewassa akatimuliwa. Mi naona Richmonduli na EPA ni dugu moja.”

Anakohoa na kuendelea. “Kagodamn ni CCM na CCM ni Kagodamn. Hivi huyu mwarabu wa Ewasasa Rosti Tamu L’Aziz ni nani Kayani mwetu hadi awatie wakubwa msambweni?

Yawezekana halindwi. Wakubwa waliomtuma wanamlinda ili naye awalinde. Wakimtosa anawatosa na siri inafichuka. Na mtawakuta ambao hamkuwategemea.”

Mara Mbwa Mwitu anadakia. “Danganyika hii sina hamu. Mmesikia mkuu alivyopewa udaktari na Manyang’au baada ya kuwakataliwa kuja kuiba ardhi yetu. Ama kweli wajinga ndiyo waliowao.”

Kabla ya kuendelea, Makengeza anampoka mic na kuzoza. “We fisadi Mbwa Mwitu unayeshirikiana na Mpa. Sorry unayeiba kashata na kahawa usivuruge mada yetu kwa habari uchwara za Chekacheka na shahada za upogo na uongo.”

Alivyotaja Mpa akakatiza nilimkata jicho nusu limtoboe. Nilichukia kama Chekacheka anavyonichukia.

Mzee Mzima naingilia kwa kasi mpya na ari ya hasira. “We Makengeza, koma na ukomae. Usipende kuniingiza kwenye utani uso kichwa wala mguu. Nani anaiba kahawa na kashata zetu kama si upumbavu wenu? Kwani mlinichagua bure? Mbona mlizipwakia hata tangawizi? Mlidhani kuna cha bure duniani. Uliza takrima ilikuwa ya nini, alikula nani na anapata nini sasa? Vitu vingine haviliwi.”

Kabla sijaendelea, Mzee Kidevu alitoa tahadhali. “Mzee hotuba baba hotuba”-akimaanisha nachonga sana. Namjibu kwa hasira. “Acheni uvivu wa kufikiri. Mbona Kaya inapoliwa nanyi kufanyiwa ma-EPA na mahepe hamlalamiki mnalalamikia vikashata na kahawa tunavyokula na kunywa wote?

Mbona tumewaona wezi tena wakubwa wakijidhamini kwa mali za wizi na hamuandamani? Mbona mkuu ametajwa na genge lake kuwa nyuma ya wizi wote huu hamshinikizi akitoe badala yake mnamwamini naye anawachezea ma-EPA mchana?”

Nakohoa na kufuta kijasho chembamba na kuendelea. “Hivi mwataka kusema madafu bilioni 12 ni dili kuliko madafu bilioni zaidi ya 500? Mbona tunageuzwa majuha na tukisema mnakuja na taarifa hotuba hotuba baba.”

Kabla ya kuendelea kunema, Kapende anapiga pini nyingine. ‘Ingawa mzee siridhiki na yako, umenena. Kuna mafisadi wengi tena wakubwa tu hawajagushwa. Yuko wapi Mengjii, Anna Mgando, Rost Tamu l’Aziz, Endelea Chenga, Eddie Ewassa, Malengesi, na wengine wanaojulikana kutu-EPA na kutulichimonduli?

Mkiambiwa hii kaya ni pepo ya Mabwege mwasema mwatukanwa wakati ni kweli. Mbona hamuibani Nambari wahedi ielezee ilipopata takrima? Ajabu mlionywa na mzee Mchonga kuwa awanunuaye naye kanunuliwa hamkutia akilini. Alimzuia Chekacheka akisema hajakomaa kiakili mkamuona mzee wa watu mzushi wakati ni ukweli mtupu. Jamaa ni mweupe hafai hata kuwa katibu kata.”

Kicheko na mibeuo kwa sana.

Mara Mpemba anaingilia. “Yakhe mie nkubaliana nawe. Huyu bwaana hana maana. Enda fungua kesi ziso kichwa wala nkia akiacha zile muhimu! Mie naona akina Ngonjwa, Rambaramba na Jona waonewa tu. Hawa nao Bangusilo ili Kagodam ipite kama alivosema mzee mzima ambaye kama shahada wanizopewa zingekuwa na maana basi angepewa yeye. Hapa twaingizwa nkenge tuu. Tushaonya Kaya yaliwa na watu wake.”

Kabla ya kuendelea, Machungi anamkatiza. “Ami tiheshimiane. Haya mambo ya kuiwa yaishie kwenu siyo hapa.”

“Acha nseme mgosi twaliwa. Kama hatuliwi mbona hatufurukuti?” Anajitetea Mpemba.

“Loo! Matushi mengine. Tifuukute ii iweje? Kwanini tisiwapige mawe kama Mbea?” Anachomekea Mgosi.

Mara Kapende anaepusha zari. “Mkane mkubali kweli tunaliwa sana . Hivi tusingekuwa tunaliwa, Kaya yetu ingekuwa hovyo hivi? Angalia pale Chuo Kikuu cha Manzese vijana wanavyohujumiwa. Je haya siyo matumizi mabaya ya madaraka? Pale Pemba kuna nini na miafaka uchwara?”

“Yakhe wasema ukweli. Sie twaliwa tena kote kote si bara wala pwani. Karafuu Pemba yakwama ukitafuta soko waambiwa wahujumu uchumi! Dhahabu kule Musoma, Shinyanga na kwingineko yajaa watu wafa na umaskini. Kama si kuliwa huku nini shehe? Angalia hata hao viranja wenu. Nao waliwa kweli kweli. Wakesha kula kutwa ughaibuni kuomba ilhali mali wankalia!”

Mbwa mwitu anaingilia tena. “Acha Ami nikukosoe. Hatuliwi tu. Tumekeketwa akili wakubwa kwa wadogo. Hatujitambui japo twajiona wajanja wakati tu mafala. Bila kulianzisha hapa tukaachana na ufisadi mdogo mdogo kama ninaosingiziwa, tutaendelea kuliwa sisi wake zetu watoto wetu na hata ma.”

“Mbwa mwitu inatosha. Subutu hayo unayosema hatikubai. Titakufa na mtu. Mtu atile na watoto zetu hata wake zetu. Ohoo titapiga mtu zongo.”

Makengeza anaingilia naye. “Hapa hakuna cha zongo, dongo wala gongo. Ni kuingia mitaani na kuhakikisha kinaeleweka. Vinginevyo tukubali tuliwe si na watoto wala wake zetu hata mama zetu. Msiogope kusema. Tunaliwa, tutaliwa sisi na mama zetu.”

Kabla ya kumaliza Mgosi anajitetea. “Utaliwa wewe Kapende na Mpemba siyo mgosi.” Titamkabii Chekacheka na genge ake atiambie yeye yuko wapi, Kagodam ni nani na ana husiano gani naye na kwa nini amfiche na kutizuga na matumizi mabaya ya madaaka. Ajue. Kiichomkuta kibwendo na ungo kitampata.Tiamue. Kwani mbwai mbwai?”

Anakohoa na kutema bonge la mate na kuendelea. “Kwanini hationi oodha ya list of shame ambayo ndiyo mama wa kufichuka kwa ufisadi wote? Nani anandanganya nani hapa?”

“Hee! Utadhani pilato akiwasulubu akina Rambaramba na Mgonjwa!” Anadakia Mzee Ndomo. Tumeanza kwa kimombo. Tunamaliza kwacho. A camel is a horse designed by committee. Hii sitafsiri.

He kumbe kesho ni mwaka mpya? Kila la heri mlio safi na kila la shari mlio wevi na mafisadi.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Desemba 31, 2008.

Wednesday 24 December 2008

Is it feasible to husk president's immunity?

TANZANIA’S president - just like other African potentates- is but a god on earth when it comes to powers he commands. He is constitutionally infallible and above the law. This, if anything, has created a very big problem to the president and the citizenry. This does not augur well for the wananchi.

Time for Roma locuta causa finita est -. (What is decided by Roma (presidency) is finished) is over, thanks to abuses of power we are witnessing. By being above the law, one becomes myopic so as to become irresponsible, and sometimes totally blind, not to mention many offences one commits and errors one makes.

This gives him a loophole to toy wananchi not to mention how con men and power brokers (he does not reckon with) deceive him so as to think, he is a god while he actually is not. For a criminal minded person, being above the law enables him to commit many crimes knowing that he is above the law and on top of enjoying immunity.

So, being above the law becomes a tool for destruction for those under the law. Our constitution becomes a ruse instead of tool for emancipation and democracy not to mention a hugger-mugger chief executive it creates.

Before coming to power, former President Benjamin Mkapa was known as 'Mr Clean'. And indeed he truly was. This attracted doyens like the Father of the Nation, the late Mwl. Julius Nyerere, to back and support him.


Even Tanzanians were convinced and attracted by that. But after being wheeled to power, Mkapa’s probity decreased significantly. And later, it was completely gone. He came in as Mr Clean and left as Mr Besmirched. Where is he now when he forces us to re-open his files? Ut sementem feceris, ita metes - As you sow, so shall you reap. (Cicero).

Mkapa cannot blame anybody but himself. Even Basil Mramba currently embattled thanks to allegations that he abused power; under Nyerere, was among clean persons. Where is he now?

So the above episodes can clearly show you how the suitability to lead diminishes when a bin-Adam is put above the law. We're mortal creatures subject to many weaknesses. We tend to be good when we are put under the law. We’re more likely to become evil when we are above the law and vice versa.

Law was invented to curb human weakness that forces him to seek more power and glory even at the expenses of others. Naturally, a human being is egoistic. We love and care for others just because circumstances, rules and laws surrounding us force us to do so. You can see this in people facing insecurity. They come together and act as one for the sake of survival.

To the contrary, people with financial muscles do go solo in many cases. Refer to houses with guards and those that have none.

Going to the need for husking immunity off our presidents, let’s look at how it is or can be abused within the parameters of the constitution. The late Mwl. Nyerere once warned us when he said: as per the current carbuncular constitution, he'd become King had he liked. He went further saying that our constitution accommodates all types of madness and the doer will do so within the premises of the constitution.


Nyerere was right and upright; neither was he a charlatan nor a yo-yo. For immunity was invented by colonial masters to help them get away with it after ruining the colonies. If we're absolutely free, we don’t need immunity. If we're responsible and accountable, we don’t need immunity. And if we seek power to serve people (not ourselves), we indeed, don't need or deserve immunity.


Even terminal benefits for retired presidents must be conditional. If he commits crimes related to sabotage or embezzlement, his entitlement should cease. This will enable us to get a responsible and accountable president in lieu of the current demigod.

Looking at allegations Mkapa, his family and friends face, one sees how weak a human being is especially when he commands immense and unchecked powers. Thank the Lord, Kikwete is not power hungry (as he outwardly seems).
But not all that glitters.. He thus has what it takes to commence now to see to it that this is done quickly so that in 2010 whoever comes to power should serve under these terms.

And this, indeed, will enable him to steal the thunder if he cares. Shall we become cliffhangers leaving things as they are, beware. Days of teeth-gnashing will follow thereof. Brag is a good dog, but Hold-fast is a better. We urge our MPs to see to it that they strike Mkapa off his immunity just as it happened in Zambia where former President Fredrick Chiluba was put on the agora for every eye to see.


Now the mine fields are out in the open, will Mkapa stand and mount his defence and that of his family, especially his wife who is alleged to have amassed suspicious wealth? Will he shed light on Kiwira Coal?Mine, the mansion in Mkuzi Lushoto and the others in Dar, among many others?
Will he evaluate and assess his blind privatization that saw our country being taken by dubious investors like Net Group Solution, South African Airways and others? Will he divulge what ANBEN, Tanpower and Fosnik are? Will he re-declare his wealth and the way he amassed it without forgetting the tax he pays?


Though Mkapa may be lampooned as an individual, when we examine the provisions of our pothole-packed constitution, it is the good source that-if not amended-will leave Kikwete with his neoteny in the same cul de sac.

In principle Nyerere backed a clean person that was corrupted by our constitution and rotten system. It is high time Kikwete changed the constitution before it negatively changes him. And by doing this, Kikwete will prove beyond doubts that he does not intend to repeat Mkapa’s mess.

Given that our president is a bin-Adam like you and I, there are all reasons to embark on amending our constitution or rewrite it so as to have responsible and accountable presidents.

Failure to this, we're inviting yet another calamity. We should append some conditions to presidential terminal benefits.

Let’s do Mkapa justice. We must hull him off his immunity so as to let wananchi judge themselves through their representatives. Though some of his covert sympathizers are discouraging this saying it is a long process, we must ignore them. It's time for our country to change itself before violence changes it thanks to rampant corruption by a kit and caboodle of bigwigs. This will remove our country from the den of Daniel it is currently in.

Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit - He is doubly destroyed who perishes by his own armS.
Source:Thisday December 24, 2008.

Walevi wamekula majani hadi kutia akili

JUZI nilikwenda Mahakama ya Kisutu kuona waishiwa wanavyohenya na kuhaha. Sikujua kuwa nao ni waoga. Wanaogopa hata kamera! Kwetu uswekeni ni dili. Ukimuona mpiga picha tena wa magazeti makubwa au runinga unakenua ili akupate vizuri, kesho yake ujinome kwenye kioo na meza za wauza magazeti. Ajabu mibaba mizima tena inayotushawishi tuiite waheshimiwa wakati ni waishiwa eti inaogopa kamera!

Uswazi hatuogopi kamera, EPA, IPTL, Richmond wala CIS. Sisi mashujaa. Tumegharimia mazimwi, kunguni na minyoo miaka nenda rudi. Sisi wajanja japo mafala wanaojiona wajanja yanatuona mafala.

Yupo fala afananaye na mdudu aitwaye Gonimbrasia belina au kiwavi. Alitwambia; hata tungekula majani tule, Mfalme ajinome angani kama mwewe. Mwe! Kaya hii ina mambo tena makubwa tu. Madogo yana wenyewe!

Hatukujivunga. Kama mbuzi, tena wachizi, tulifakamia majani hadi kutia akili kiasi cha kujikuta tukijinoma na waishiwa hata kama kujinoma kwenyewe ni Keko.

Hatuogopi Keko. Nini Keko? Tulishazoea kifungo kwa mama mzaramizi, ambapo licha ya kuombwa bia, mboga na zawadi, unatukanwa mtindo mmoja!

Keko unalala huku ukilindwa bila kulipia. Ukiamka kwenda kwa pilato unapewa basi na walinzi kwa sana huku kamera zikikungojea na wachora umbea.. Mungu akupe nini?

Watulishao majani, wajue wanatufanya tutie akili kweli kweli. Kwa akili hii tunataka Ewassa wa Richmonduli, Kagodam, Kadamage, Vijisenti Endelea Chenga mzee wa Jersey , Roast Tamu L’Aziz nao wamfuate Grey Mgonjwa lupango wakasherehekee Noel huko.

Bado hatuiishi hapa. Kwa akili za mbuzi na kula majani. Tunamtaka Tunituni na Bi Annae Tamaa, Annae Mugando Ballaa, Yosefu Manji, hata Joe Makamba wakanyee mitondoo.

Ohoo! Nilimsahau bingwa wa kughushi Sammy Ubwabwa Chitaahira wa Buchosha. Lazima tumsurubu. Hawezi kutugeuza mafala na sirikali, akafoji nyaraka na kulipwa njuluku zetu kwa kutubamizi mkenge.

Pia tunawataka walioshirikiana na majambizi wa AIPTIELO kutulangua nishati wakidhani tuna akili kama za mbuzi, waipate fresh.

Niwape stori. J’pili tatu ziliyopita, nilijinoma St. Josefu kushuhudia vitegemezi wa majambizi vinavyooana. Nilipewa kadi na rafiki yangu Shilingi Mbili wa Kuramba. Ehee! Nafika, bonge la butwaa! Nilimuangaza nisimdeku kumbe alikuwa Keko akitanua! Nilidhani chenga zake za Kisutu na kupewa usafiri wake vilikuwa vimemsaidia asinyee debe.

Ila mambo hayakuwa mabaya. Mshikajie na mume mwenzi Tunituni angekuwapo. Alishtuka. Aliogopa kamera na wambea wa vyombo vya habari wasimuulize siri ya mafanikio yake kutopelekwa lupango. Nasikia waheshimiwa wanataka avuliwe kinga ili tumpe disipilini.

Unajua wabongo siku hizi wana akili kama za mbuzi? Mbuzi huwezi kumficha hata kama kuna hatari utamsikia meee meee. Mtie kwenye gunia atalia mee mee. Mfanyie MaEPA na mahepe, au Mrichmonduli, bado atazoza tu. Heri kuishi kwa kula majani kuliko kulewa madaraka na kuishia kuadhirika mchana kweupe.

Ningekuwa yule fala ningewambia walevi wale mawe ili yawang’oe meno ili wakitaka kutamka maneno yasieleweke kuliko kuwalisha majani wakawa na ndimi mchongoko kama mbuzi. Hamkusikia hata Yesu hakupenda mbuzi? Aliitwa mwana kondoo na alikuja kuwatafuta kondoo waliopotea na siyo mbuzi.

Hivyo hata Mkuu asihangaike na mbuzi wawalishao majani wanadamu, tena kondoo wa Mchonga. Wawaache mbuzi watamalizana na Pilato na maaskari wa kirumi.

Achana na kina Yuda Iskarioti uokoe kondoo wa Bwana. Imeandikwa, atakayenisaliti ni yule akaaye meza moja nami. Kuwa nao meza moja siyo dili mkuu. Muhimu ni kuwaokoa kondoo wa Bwana utalipwa mbinguni na duniani. Wafunge Dellilla, Samson, na mke wa Loti. walioamua kujigeuza chumvi iliyovia. Wapiganie wana wa Mungu wasijegeuzwa mbuzi na mbuzi tena kiasi cha kuishia kulishwa majani.

Ee mkuu msifika na mpendeka, nakusihi warejeshee mbuzi uhayawani wao na kuwarejesha wana wa baba utu wao. Utawezaje hili? Peleka kila mbuzi lupango hata awe mkubwa na mzuri kiasi gani. Peleka mbuzi wote si bangusilo au mbuzi wa shughuli.

Juzi kuna mbuzi alijisifu: anakufahamu vizuri; u swahiba yake. Tangu lini ukawa uswahiba na mbuzi usiwe mbuzi? Mbuzi chake kisu na kamba mguuni. Haya ni mantiki ya kuwapeleka lupango siyo wawekwe bali wakatiwe ngwe na kufungwa kamba kwa sababu ni yao. Wembe uwe ule uliomnyoa Richmonduli akatimka na Chenga Chenga na Kadamage. Uwe ule ule uliowakomesha akina Ramba Ramba na Mgonjwa waliodhani ulaji ni urithi wao. Ule ule uliowanyoa akina Jitu na Migabacholi na vicheche.

Muhimu ujue. Kama mbuzi watatingishwa ili kutufanya tusahau, kwa akili ile ile ya mbuzi hatutaacha kudai na kudai, hata kuacha kula majani tukaanza kula nyama yao. Kama hii itakuwa tisha toto na changa la machoni amini mkuu, kondoo wategeuka chui simba na mbwa mwitu na kuwararueni.

Mkuu inabidi uelewe. Hata hufikia mahali kondoo akamuua ng’ombe hasa yanapomzidi. Hata kihongwe bingwa wa kubeba mizigo anapofikia kusema basi madhara yake huwa makubwa. Huibwaga mizigo na kumchapa mateke bwana wake. Mimba yaweza kudharauliwa kuwa ni kichanga kisicho na mabavu wala akili, lakini ikifika wakati wake wa kutoka, hutoka hata kama ni kwa kumuua mama au kumlazimisha kufanyiwa operesheni, lazima izaliwe.

Hali hii mkuu ni mimba. Heri tumalizane nayo kwa operesheni ya kuwarejesha mbuzi kwao lupango kuliko kuiacha ituue kwa kuwatetea mbuzi watu.

Ngoja jamani nisiwachoshe. Kwa vile ni juzi nimerejea kula chakula baada ya kulishwa majani na mbuzi-watu, natimkia kwa mama Ng’ani lau nikajipongeze kwa ubwabwa baada ya kuona mbuzi wanaingizwa mwao.

Mwisho kabisa, nawe mkuu usiwaigize wale mbuzi kutuamrisha tule majini. Maana majani mengine hasa yale makubwa huchetua akili na kufanya watu wawe machizi. Muhimu kama tutarudia kula majani basi halalisha vurugu hata utusweke lupango. Hatutavumilia kuona mbuzi wakindelea kula vinono kama watu.

Swali la leo. Je wanaojidhamini kwa mabilioni, siyo yale yatokanayo na matumizi mabaya ya madaraka? Ama kweli huku ni kumkaanga samaki kwa mafuta yake kiasi cha yote kuonekana kama usanii! Kwa nini tuwe na uchungu na bilioni 12 za matumizi mabaya tujisahaulishe bilioni 133 za EPA? Au ni changa la machoni. Tuambizane.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Desemba 24, 2008.

Monday 22 December 2008

WHILST others are taking to the sky, Air Tanzania is taking a deep dip! Though President Jakaya Kikwete reprimanded the board of the late Air Tanzania for irresponsibility, much remains to be seen as far as taxing and bringing those responsible to book.

Saying that those who caused the death of Air Tanzania and being stripped off the legality to fly in and out of the country were irresponsible is not enough. If I were the president, I would arraign those guys. For it has become a norm now.

People are messing hither and be dispatched to thither. This is corruption itself, so to speak. Now that it is an open secret that our planes were not airworthy, not to mention the company that died many years ago, I think we need to know what is next as far as bringing the culprits to book is concerned.

Why should tiny countries in terms of natural resources and land mass fly their flag carriers with success as we fail and be grounded Tanzania must feel the hit that this is injurious to our reputation. All the time flying out of Tanzania has depended on Nairobi. Soon Kigali will add up. There is yet another shame for those living in Lake regions.

You can not go there without going through Nairobi and those going to Kagera through Nairobi and Kampala. What a shame in the 21st century! Something must be terribly wrong in the upper echelons of power that have become like a sitting duck. Methinks, our security is likely to be compromised thanks to not having our own flag carrier.

I am told; the presidential jet (we purchased at a super-inflated price) does not fit for presidential entourage. Others are saying it is oft-broken on top of being expensive to run. This means most of the time our president has to use commercial flights whenever he embarks on foreign trips. Again, this means, just like others, he depends on Nairobi.

What a shame! In this Nairobi dependence, suppose Kenya denies entry or maltreat our president Suppose we, at one time, find ourselves at loggerhead as it was with Idd Amin in the late seventies.

I recently read a report Tanzania accusing Kenya of arrogance. This was after Kenyan media accused Tanzania of sabotaging East African integration. The minister for East African Community, Diodorus Kamala, was quoted as saying that arrogance (by some members of the East African unity) will wreck the ship so as to be abandoned. He cited an example whereby beef from Shinyanga was refused entry in Kenya. He went further as reprimanding Kenya for buying more rice from Pakistan instead of Tanzania, a partner state in the EAC.

This, in essence, is what the minister referred to as arrogance and egoism. And of course the minister is right. Many countries are taking Tanzania for a ride, thanks to having heartless and thoughtless officials like those that felled Air Tanzania. Thanks to the minister for openly addressing this problem that has caused many members to force Tanzania into ratifying whatever nonsense put forth before her.

Going back to Air Tanzania cadaverous saga, it is an open secret that it died the day it was stupidly privatized to South Africa. Air Tanzania, just like the late NBC, and TANESCO, were among firms that were doing fine before being sold out at a throw away price by former President Benjamin Mkapa. People opposed this crime.

But under Mkapa’s irony fist who would heed any call Now that we know Air Tanzania was sabotaged thanks to greed and myopia by our rulers, it’s high time all perpetrators, ushers and usherettes of this shame were brought to book. To me saying that those behind this demise are irresponsible is not enough. Yeah. They were irresponsible, so what

We're told: Air Tanzania has already posted a loss of $ 30m. This is not peanuts as Andrew Chenge would put it. Who swindled this money? These, among others, are things that the president has to address and arrest. One thing is obviously eminent in this sell out. Whilst the company is going under, one will find that the members of the board and other biggies are becoming richer and richer. And this has always been the case with almost all government firms in Tanzania. Instead of reprimanding culprits we must bring them to book. Instead of shedding crocodile tears we must act.


Reprimanding thieves does not bring back Air Tanzania. Why don’t such people be brought to book instead of letting them flex their muscles on our property as if it is theirs? When it comes to where Air Tanzania currently is, I fail to declare mayday or pan-pan!

Importantly, we must get out of the cocoon of blaming and reprimanding. While we’re doing this, our neighbours are flying as we head for economic purgatory.
O tempora, O mores! - Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! (Cicero).
Source: Thisday December22, 2008.

mail:nkwazigatsha@yahoo.com

Thursday 11 December 2008

Makamba, EPA is not over yet

CCM Secretary General Yusuf Makamba has been quoted urging Tanzanians to stop discussing (even asking many questions) about the EPA scam. He said they should shy away from discussing this vampiric scam just because, as per his views, all suspects have already been brought to book!

Whom does Makamba think he can easily toy saying that all EPA suspects have already been indicted? Where are Kagoda thieves, who, in essence, are the architects of the whole scam? Why is Makamba putting himself on the line if he did not benefit from the loot? Is it because his party has oft-been alleged to be behind the scam so he wants to divert our attention?

Mzee Makamba, watch out. Methinks. Makamba is not doing us justice. He neither does the same to his party and his boss, President Jakaya Kikwete, who, through his PM, Mizengo Pinda- said this is but the beginning.

I understand CCM is the ruling party. Thus the ruling government is made by CCM. Why are our rulers coming with conflicting and misleading statements? Who is sabotaging another hither. For looking at actions President Kikwete has been promising and reiterating, something must be wrong to aver that EPA saga is over.

True, if Makamba wants to do CCM justice and us, he must mount his defence to prove that his party did not benefit from EPA profligacy. Does it mean Makamba has nary heard what is said pertaining to CCM’s victory in the 2005 elections? Where does Makamba live if he does not get it?

To do Makamba justice, let me quote his words as thus:’’Brethren, discussion about EPA and corruption is over, President Kikwete has already taken actions against the suspects, and they’re before the court, now why should this issue continue. I wonder.’’

Makamba may be right. Given that corruption and its dangers do not affect his bread nor that of his wife or kids, he thinks (albeit?wrongly) everything is spiffy so as to declare the conclusion of the same. He says President Kikwete has already taken actions against the perpetrators of corruption.

Makamba should know. Taking actions against a few criminal does not lull us into believing that it is over as he wrongly thinks. And this is not the matter of Kikwete's discretion but the right thing to do.


Makamba, I respect you beyond imagination. If you’re not quoted wrongly, please help me. Where are star witnesses such as Malegesi? Where is Deep Green Finance? Where is the minister for finance that illegally and blindly authorized Kagoda to rip us off? What did you intend to gain by misleading people that way if you’re not wrongly quoted?


More questions: Makamba, where are other suspects who are still at large? What did you mean to say that President Kikwete has already taken actions against all fisadis? Don’t you know? One may think you are one of them. For English people have a saying that he who pulls with us is among us.

Makamba, where is the permanent secretary that used to write memos for con men to swindle our money?

Makamba, do you think Tanzanians are goons you can easily take for a ride? You're wrong my dear if indeed you’re quoted right. If not, shame on those who quoted you wrongly.

If my memory serves me right, I once wrote an article in this same paper urging President Kikwete, the chairman of CCM, to show you the door-sorry- to rethink about re-assigning you a new role. For since you took over from Philip Mangula, you’ve proved to be another controversial figure. Don’t take me wrong. I’m saying so just because you’ve always been quoted saying things that leave a person in stitches. I know you’re a fun and fine guy. But when it comes to saying EPA is over, mmh!

The other day when Edward Lowassa and Emanuel Nchimbi were alleged by Nape Nnauye that they’re behind a bogus project of the UVCCM building, you summoned the boy and gave him a heck. Up to this day, nobody knows why you decided to take sides. By the way, Makamba, how far have you gone with regards to stamping out fisadis in the party, especially those behind macabre contracts of the? UVCCM?

Going back to EPA, Tanzanians understand and believe EPA’s big fish have not been caught yet. They’d urge and like to see them before the agora. Otherwise any lie is but wastage of time, a danger and self degradation.

Let me wind up by urging Mzee Makamba to watch his steps and tongue. For whoever ridicules us saying EPA is over, must be dealt with as soon as possible.
Source:Thisday December 11, 2008.

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Chimurenga II: Zimbabwe's Better Option?

Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe still thinks he deserves to rule Zimbabwe till death. His has always been, “I fought for this country, and therefore I shall die in power.” He is still living in Chimurenga time. Little does he know that things have changed dramatically and quickly!

True, Mugabe waged Chimurenga wars against Ian Smith. But this does not qualify him to plunder and ruin Zimbabwe, and make it his private estate. This is not the way thinkers and academicians think and behave. Can't Mugabe’s many degrees show him that Zimbabwe is heading for purgatory?

The International Community wrongly thought that African countries would put sense into Mugabe’s head. This has proved to be deceitful and chimera. How can African corrupt and myopic mumbo-jumbos ouster their replica? Look at how SADC countries lost such a golden chance! We know Mugabe's survival is attributed to former South African president Thabo Mbeki's support.

Koffi Annan should take over the resolution process to the Zimbabwe crisis and preside over talks within a stipulated period of reaching the conclusion. But will Annan, who has already been slapped in the face, consent to taking this new role?
Botswana’s minister for foreign affairs, Phandu Skelemani, without mincing words said that SADC must confront Mugabe. I concur with Skelemani’s who urged Zimbabwe’s neighbour to “squeeze” Mugabe so as to force him out of power. Diplomacy is a seating duck when it comes to dealing with goons and vagabonds.Had Laurent Kabila invested in round table talks, former DRC’s Joseph Desire Mobutu would have died in power. If the government is in power illegally, toppling or unleashing a chimurenga on it is not an offence.

How many more Zimbabweans should die for the country's neighbours and international community to take action? When Slobodan Milosevic in the former Yugoslavia turned against his people, NATO chipped in and got rid of him. He was weakened militarily, making the opposition to bring him down.
Zimbabwe’s neighbours are not too poor to intervene in the Zimbabwe crisis. When Tanzania spearheaded Idi Amin’s ouster, she was poor. She’s still poor as every one knows but she recently tranquilized The Comoros by sending units that neutralized Mohamad Baccar. SADC’s members have what it takes to solve the Zimbabwe impasse.

Although many African rulers are afraid of Mugabe because he will expose their own rot, Botswana has decided to take the bull by the horns. Will Malawi and Zambia, other countries with sound and democratic leadership follow suit?

Desmond Tutu is on record saying: "I think now that the world must say: 'You have been responsible with your cohorts for gross violations, and you are going to face indictment in the Hague unless you step down.'
Source:The African Executive Magazine December 10, 2008.

Monday 8 December 2008

Aren’t these title deeds illegal

BY Tanzanian standards, to own a billion-or-two houses (castles) one must be a mega billionaire even a ’trillionaire’. Have we ever asked ourselves how people who present title deeds worth billions made their wealth whilst our hoi polloi are cascading to penury?

Recently, there occurred an incident that left me shocked.
Some elders in one tribe were renowned for their folly and empty headiness. Animal rustlers came and stole their cattle in which case some people were felled defending their cattle. When the thieves were caught and presented to the elders’ court, they asked for bail by presenting the same cows they stole as their security, and the elders blindly accepted this abuse!

Given that the said elders were goons, nobody wondered why this happened.

Legally, I’ve no right to discuss what is before the court. Nonetheless I can discuss related matters. In this regard, I shall nary divulge the names of the characters in this discussion. We recently witnessed some ’sharks’ being hauled to court for abusing their powers (though sadly, not for obtaining money illegally)!

No one knows why the authorities did not prefer to bring charges related to obtaining wealth illegally. Anyway, we shall know one day.

Legally, whatever is obtained illegally, is illegally abnitio. Therefore, a person facing charges of theft cannot be given bail by t means of presenting stolen item or items even if the said items were not stolen from the complainant. In a simple parlance you cannot steal a car and use it to obtain bail in the same case or another in which case the said is supposed to be an exhibit. This is illegal even if it is committed by the high and mighty.

True, the item or items presented to court for the purpose of obtaining bail must be legal and obtained legally. Though the court is not an ambulance chaser, shall doubts be raised, the court shall disregard using the property for the purpose intended until proved otherwise.

Now that being the legal and logic position, how ignorant are the authorities to overlook such kind of technicalities?

Going back to our ’sharks’ facing charges with regards to defecating on their offices and oaths, is it legal for them to be granted bail by means of suspicious property even if they are influential? Circumstantially, those title deeds in point stand for properties obtained by means of abusing power and other corrupt means so to speak.

Well, why didn’t the authorities (if indeed were sincere and serious) attach (or consider to) properties owned by the culprits.
Is this why some people believe that what is going on is abracadabra or stage shows aiming at cheap popularity? Are we fighting corruption?corruptly Why are we turning a blind eye to such important questions such as, are properties in question legal, culprits’ or public’s?

Aren’t such properties exhibits supposed to be detained by the court in lieu of being used to secure bail? Does it mean our courts and government do not know this? What should we do to make sure that those responsible to look at things the way they are, instead of what they are, are made to do look like?

Once again, are these side shows? Many people are celebrating the victory over fisadis prematurely! Why don’t we demand explanation and assurance that justice is to be seen being done first? Is this the right way things are supposed to be done? Why shouldn’t one doubt if the history says: No minister has ever been charged and convicted? Instead, they win and end up being redressed for being harassed and their reputation injured! Ulaji ndani ya ulaji! Just why are we not attacking suspicious wealth and add more counts related with economic sabotage.

The Father of the Nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, served for over three decades. But he died unworthy of a billion shillings. He did not even own a house of a half value of these tendered in court recently.

Well, how did those that we saw recently become such overnight billionaires? Why don’t we probe them and use their houses as 'exhibits'?

Why don’t we take these properties until proved otherwise, if indeed we mean business as far as fighting corruption is concerned? Are we frying a fish using its own fat’?

We need to ask many questions. How did these guys make such wealth without breaking or bending any law or rule? How much wealth, on top of the one we saw, do they have? Where is this wealth and for how long did they make it?

Do they legally pay tax? Did they declare their wealth as per the requirements of public service code? How much money do they have in their accounts?

When we answer these questions, no doubt, our war against corruption will become meaningful and worthwhile.

We need the whole history pertaining to the business or jobs these guys did and the time spent to amass such wealth. What is their expenditure and so on?

I was shocked when I heard that some people live in houses worth billions in this begging nation. I went as far as doubting even their so-called well-wishers who bailed them out. Are they clean really? Who wants to know this? Aren’t they agents for big cheeses? Aren’t they drug-barons or thugs? We need to ask many questions so as to erase doubts. By answering these questions, among others, we’ll be able to convince our hoi polloi that indeed this war is theirs and real. Failure to do this is but abracadabra and changa la macho.

Can I surmise averring that we be given the answers to the above questions.? Also, we should stop trusting each other at this trying time. This is not the time for trusting each other blindly. We need to ask time and again. How these guys printed billions without breaking the law?
Let's think twice and deeply.
Source:Thisday December 9, 2008.

Thursday 4 December 2008

EAC without equity will be implausible

KENYA’S media lately unleashed accusations and curses against Tanzania thanks to the sin of not complying with their demands.

One of the articles fired salvos, ire and tantrums, not to mention dirty language. It reprimanded and accused Tanzania of not consenting to free movement and land acquisition by citizens of other member countries of the East African Community.

’’Tanzania is proving to be a liability in EA integration’’, read the article.

We’d rather shrug this straitjacket off than enter a forceful marriage of convenience if need be.

Interestingly, the myopic author shamelessly said, "Tanzania greatly likes to be recognized for her ’internationalist’ policies, with her leaders spending more time strutting the world than they do in their own country, though the facts show they are quite parochial."

By the way, who’s parochial in reality? We may be. But we’ve nary butchered one another simply because we’re from different tribes. Kenya’s allegations may be right to some degree.

Under our internationalism we’re accused of made it possible for erstwhile foes President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to sit together and resolve their differences.

And Kenyans, thanks to that breakthrough, are relatively enjoying peace after butchering one another.

Again, when one sees how our leaders ’waste time globe-trotting’, one should as well have seen how his own legislators do not want to pay tax on top of amassing big chunks of land while the majority of their people suffer for lack of the same.

Also, Tanzania is blamed for not consenting to the so-called free movement. Other EAC members would like their nations to use identity cards for travel in the region in lieu of passports. They would like to abolish work permits in the region, not to mention free land acquisition.

Another thing, however weak, is that we’re afraid of Kenyan vibrant economy. Blindly and shamelessly they say: ’Tanzania is dirt poor, its economy a fraction of Kenya’s. Further, it lacks the dynamism and skills to drive its economy forward at the pace of its neighbours. Even tiny Rwanda has a better capacity than [what] can be said of Tanzania.’

What nonsense! If this is the case, then why are Kenyans hollering for not joining them? Shall integration be an in-thing, we still can join Mozambique or even Zambia.

They erroneously aver that we are giving the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) too much. So be it, if it protects and safeguards our interests. ’Tanzania’s generally confused posture comes out in its obsession to belong to the SADC,’’ they add.

Let me tell our integration tutors one thing. They’re the ones who introduced the East African passport. This consumed a lot of money in printing and designing not to mention purchasing them.

We challenge Kenyan authorities to harmonize their land policies and equally re-distribute land to the landless majority -- our landless brethren and sisters in Kenya.

It is an open secret that almost all fertile land is in the hands of a few foreigners or rulers who grabbed it from the wananchi.

Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda would like to see ’East Africans’ acquire land in any state they deem fit. But again, apart from Tanzania, which country still has land for such purpose?

We know, in Kenya much of fertile land is owned by a few select in power or that used to be in power. In a word, Kenya has a very nasty land policy that for long has left the ordinary people landless and sidelined.

For instance, the family of the country's first president, Jomo Kenyatta, owns a chunk of land the size of Nyanza Province.

Similarly, that of his successor, Daniel arap Moi and Kibaki’s also own big parcels of land not to mention former British settlers. In May 2006 Cholmondeley, grandson of Lord Delamere, shot dead an innocent Kenyan for trespass on his Soysambu farm.

In other words, Kenyan rulers, even Rwandans, are looking for free land to offer to their man-made landless majority. Before we do so, let greedy rulers re-distribute the parcels they are holding without even putting them to use.

Another point is, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have big populations compared to the size of their land. So, instead of planning and controlling their population, they’d like to dump that burden to Tanzania!

True, if Tanzania consented to this ploy, the future of its coming generations would be doomed. Look at this reality in numbers. Burundi is 27,830 sq km with a population of 8,691,005 or
315 people concentrated in a square kilometre.

Rwanda is 26,338 sq km with a population of 8.3 million that is set to double to 16 million by 2020. Its population density is the highest in Africa and has risen from 183 per sq km in 1981 to 345 per sq km in 2000.

Rwanda’s rural population per square kilometre of arable land was around 901 in 1999 -- one of the highest in Africa.

Kenya is 582,650 sq km with a population of over 30 million. Density is 2 settlers per sq. km, while in the rich and fertile western region, population density goes up to 120 settlers per sq. km.

Uganda is 241,139 sq km with a population of at least 27.7 million and a density of 241 per sq km in 1999. Its population is projected to explode to approximately 66,305,000 by 2050.

Tanzania is 945,100 sq km and, according to the United Nations, had an estimated population of 36,977,000 in 2003. The population density was then 39 per sq km.

Demographic realities are not something to ignore. Even the superpower and richest country of the world, the US, is currently erecting a 3,200 kilometre fence on its border with Mexico to curb illegal immigrants. But Mexico like Kenya does not see this.

Another killer point, Tanzania still remembers the loss suffered from the 1977 debacle of the first East African Community as a result of megalomaniac rule in Kenya and Uganda.

History is a good judge. Shortly before attaining independence in 1961, Tanzania wanted to delay its autonomy until all colonies in East Africa were ready for the same status. What exemplary pan-African love and spirit!

We better go or remain solo than being shuffled and bussed in a bandwagon for our peril.
Thisday December 3, 2008.
Also was reproduced in The African Executive Magazine-Kenya and The Monitor-Uganda.

Wednesday 3 December 2008

Terror in India: What should East Africa Do?




On 26 November 2008, India witnessed yet another surge of terrorist activities. Many attractions in Mumbai, India’s commercial city, were attacked. The Oberoi-Trident Hotel, Café Leopold, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Nariman House and Railway station, among others bore the brunt of the attacks. Preliminary information said over 140 people were killed while over 200 others were injured.

The well coordinated and sophisticated attacks were allegedly carried out by a little known group, Deccan Mujaheddin. This proves that there are many unknown terrorist organisations out there. The fact that no intelligence agency warned of this carnage shows how advanced and stronger terrorist groups are becoming.

Victims Rushed to Hospital
East Africa (especially Kenya and Tanzania ) is not new to terrorist attacks. On August 7, 1998, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi found themselves in the epicenter of terrorist attacks. What transpired still haunts these two cities. In Dar es Salaam 11 people were killed whilst 85 were injured. Nairobi lost over 200 people while over 3000 others were injured.

Ten years down the line, the victims have never been thoroughly redressed, let alone the problem being scientifically addressed. The resurfacing of terrorists in India forces us to go back to the drawing board to check if our house is in order. Looking at the connections existing between India and East Africa, we need to do our homework well.

Shall the terrorists aim at us once again; we are likely to suffer a lot more. What with our weak systems and leaders who will fall for anything in pursuit of self aggrandizement! Indian fraudsters led by Jayantkumar Patel alias Jeetu Patel, stole billions of Shillings from the Central Bank of Tanzania (BoT). This gang of thugs is said to have strong ties with ruling politicos among them former BoT governor, the late Daudi Ballali.

Last November saw two senior ministers in former president Benjamin Mkapa’s government, Basil Mramba and Daniel Yona arraigned in court for abuse of power and obtaining wealth illegally. Earlier on, President Kikwete’s government had denied that there was corruption in its ranks.

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is implicated almost in every scam unearthed mainly by opposition. Mramba was a Minister for Finance and other ministries under Mkapa and Minister for industries Trade and Markets under current president Jakaya Kikwete. Like Mramba, Yona served under Mkapa in various ministries. He is said to own embattled Kiwira Coal Mine in Mbeya that is said to have been taken by Mkapa and himself illegally. These two former ministers are among main cogs in the wheel of corruption in Tanzania.

The rampant corruption in the upper echelons of power in East Africa speaks volume shall foreigners be used by terrorists. In Kenya, the marriage of convenience (Goldenberg) between former president Daniel arap Moi, his vice president George Saitoti and Kamlesh Pattni left the country in penury. The trio have never been brought to justice thanks to the currently inept and corrupt regime with its burden (Anglo-Leasing). Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni geared by family business tried to offer Mabira forest to an Indian had not Ugandans blockaded it. This proves how vulnerable our countries are. Our corrupt and myopic rulers can easily be used by gangs of criminals. Somalia is said to be the bed of roses for Al-Qaeda and Islamic fundamentalists trying a hand on power. The ongoing piracy in the Indian Ocean tells it all. Given that criminals in Somalia need money by all means, shall al-Qaeda cash in, these criminals will give their service doggedly.

Tanzania is the only country in the world where foreigners (especially from India and Pakistan) enter and leave as they deem fit and wield immense power due to their connectivity with the corrupt cabal of rulers. The rulers use them to steal from the public, bribe voters and get to power. This has made it difficult to stop drug trafficking and money laundering.

Our borders are broken thanks to having corrupt officials there supervised by corrupt government. Look at the substandard items on East African shelves. Look at tax evasion and stupid privatization like that of National Bank of Commerce in Tanzania and recent privatization of Grand Regency in Kenya. They tell you how desperate the situation is.

Apart from corruption, Islamic fundamentalism is growing exponentially in East Africa. Currently in Tanzania; Muslims are agitating that Tanzania should join the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The same are still pressurizing the government to introduce Kadhi courts, something Christians do not want to hear. This is the same in Kenya. Refer to how Christians boycotted the draft constitution thanks to its embedding the Kadhi Courts. Given that many anti-American groups have always hidden behind Islamic agenda, this suffices to give them what they are looking for. Our people may wrongly sympathize with them believing they are serving their religion just like it happened in other countries like India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Our people are becoming poorer and poorer. This provides an opportunity for terrorists to easily recruit shall they decide. Without improving our economy and bettering the lives of our people, we are doomed. Without ruling and acting responsibly we are a good source of future homegrown terrorists. Poor people do not regard themselves as part of their country especially when they see foreigners accumulate wealth just because they can be illegally trusted by the rulers.The time to change strategies is now.

Source: The African Excutive Magazine December 3, 2008.

Kikwete jiepushe na Kagoda kama Richmond

KATIKA mambo ambayo aliwahi kufanya rais Jakaya Kikwete kiasi cha kuonyesha ushujaa tangu aingie madarakani, hakuna lililovutia kama kuacha tume teule ya Bunge kumkaanga rafiki yake na mshirika wake mkuu, Edward Lowassa, waziri mkuu wa zamani, baada ya kupatikana na kuguswa na kashfa ya kampuni ya Richmond.

Kwanza tungemshauri rais achukue msimamo kama aliochukua wakati wa kushughulikia kashfa iliyomtoa madarakani Lowassa pamoja na kuwa mshirika na rafiki yake wa siku nyingi. Arejee alivyoshindwa pale alipotaka kuitumia TAKUKURU kumsafisha Lowassa na wenzake bila mafanikio.

Pia asiogope kuwa nchi itayumba. Haiwezi kuyumbishwa na mafisadi kama serikali si fisadi. Ila kama atashikilia msimamo kuwa nchi itayumba kwa hofu ya mafisadi, itayumba kweli kutokana na nguvu ya umma.

Pia Kikwete asichelee kuvunja baraza la mawaziri. Kufanya hivyo kutamuongezea heshima iliyotoweka. Kwani kutathibitisha kuwa yeye si mmoja wao. Ila haya hayatakuwa na maana kama Kikwete mwenyewe hatakuwa msafi kuanzia nyumbani kwake.

Kwa mfano NGO ya mke wake ya WAMA inatia shaka hata kama ina nia nzuri. Arejee yanayomkuta rais mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa kutokana na matendo ya mkewe.

Ingawa yaliyomtokea Lowassa ni historia, yana somo tena kubwa tu. Hivi karibuni kuliripotiwa taarifa kuwa wamiliki wa kampuni jingine la kijambazi la Kagoda lililoiba zaidi ya asilimia 40 ya pesa ya mfuko wa madeni ya nje (EPA), linaonekana kutoshikika. Sababu, Msajili wa Makampuni, BRELA, hana taarifa zake! Uongo ulioje?

“Mafaili yote 22 yalichukuliwa na Timu ya EPA, sisi hapa hatuna rekodi yoyote inayoweza kutuonyesha ni nani wamiliki, lakini ukienda huko kwa kuwa wana mafaili yote watakueleza kila kitu.”

Hayo ni maneno ya ofisa mwandaminzi mmoja wa BRELA ambaye hakutaka kutajwa jina. Hapa kuna mashaka na maswali. Je kamati ya rais inakaa na mafaili haya ili iweje iwapo rais ameishautangazia umma kuwa ameiacha ofisi ya mwendesha mashitaka wa serikali (DPP) kushughulikia kashfa ya EPA baada ya kamati kumaliza kazi yake?

Rais ana maslahi gani katika kampuni hii? Rais anaingiaje hapa? Ni kupitia watu wake yaani wajumbe wa kamati aliyoiteua ambao wanawajibika kwake moja kwa moja. Je kuna kazi nyingine ya siri aliyowapa zaidi ya kuchunguza na kutoa taarifa ambazo kwa sasa ziko mikononi mwa DPP?

Ukiachia mbali hili la kukalia mafaili ya makampuni nyemelezi kubwa likiwa la Kagoda, kitendo hiki kinahitimisha shauku ya umma juu ya uadilifu wa wana kamati.

Edward Hosea Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Taasisi ya Kupambana na Kuzuia Rushwa (TAKUKURU) na Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali, Johnson Mwanyika, walilalamikiwa walivyokuwa na maslahi ya kifisadi kwenye kashfa ya Richmond kwa nyadhifa zao walijaribu bila mafaniko kumsafisha Waziri Mkuu aliyelazimika kujiuzulu, Lowassa.

Kuonyesha ithibati ya shaka hii, rais bado aliwateua kwenye kuchunguza ufisadi wakati nao wakikabiliwa na tuhuma zile zile! Je rais hakujua madhara ya kufanya hivi? Je kama hana maslahi, alilazimishwa na nini kuchagua watu wenye kutia shaka?

Kuonyesha kuna mchezo mchafu unaendelea, msemaji wa Wizara ya Katiba na Sheria, Omega Ngolle, alipoulizwa na vyombo vya habari kuhusiana na hili alisema kamwe ofisi hiyo haitaeleza undani wa kampuni hiyo na kwamba haioni sababu ya kufanya hivyo.

Kwanini kuunyima umma taarifa ambazo ni mali yake na si ya watendaji wa serikali binafsi? Wapi utawala bora na wa sheria hapa?

Je mparaganyiko huu na ukosekanaji wa taarifa za Kagoda ni hitimisho la madai kuwa serikali kupitia chama chake cha Mapinduzi (CCM) vilinufaika na wizi huu kiasi cha kuufumbia macho hadi upinzani uliposhupaa?

Kutokana na unyeti wa suala la EPA na madai yaliyokwishatolewa dhidi ya serikali na watendaji wake, ni dhahiri: kuaminiana kumetoweka na hakuhitajiki.

Nani wataiamini serikali au watendaji ambao kwa muda mrefu wamekuwa hawawajibiki kwa misingi ya nafasi zao bali kulazimishwa na upinzani?

Hapa ndipo rais na kamati yake wanapaswa kujiweka mbali na uchunguzi na ushughulikiaji wa sakata hili kama kweli ni wasafi na hawana maslahi yoyote. Na kama watang’ang’ania basi umma uwatake waache kuingilia mambo.

Huwezi kuwa mtuhumiwa, hakimu, shahidi na mwendesha mashitaka. Rais mwenyewe aliwahi kuonya kuhusu hili. Ni vizuri yeye na watendaji wake wakalitekeleza.

Kitu kingine ambacho ni kama kimesahaulika ni ukweli kuwa wataalamu wengi wa benki kuu walitumika katika wizi huu. Mamlaka hazijaonyesha ni kwa vipi zimeziba mianya hii ambapo watu tena wataalamu wa ndani hushirikiana na matapeli na wezi kuiba mali waliyopewa kutunza.

Kwa mfano katika kuwafikisha mahakamani watuhumiwa wa EPA hatujasikia majina ya washirika wa marehemu Daudi Ballali hata warithi wa mali zake.

Maana kisheria linapokuja suala la mali, mhusika akifa, anayemrithi hurithi pesa na madai mengine yahusianayo na marehemu. Hivyo wanasheria wangetafuta jinsi ya kuhakikisha warithi wa Ballali wanafikishwa mahakamani ili pesa yetu isipotee.

Ingawa serikali imekuwa ikijifanya kutosikia hili, kuna haja ya bunge kuunda tume ya kuchunguza kifo cha Ballali na jinsi alivyohusika kama msimamizi wa benki kuu na mtuhumiwa katika wizi wa EPA ili kuepusha hili kufanyika tena.

Jumuia ya wahalifu ni kama ya mitindo. Wakiona aina fulani ya wizi imefanikiwa sehemu fulani basi jua watairudia tu.

Kitu kingine anachopaswa kufanya Kikwete licha ya kujisafisha ni kuhakikisha anakuwa mkali bila kuonea wala kumpendelea mtu. Kwa mfano amkamate Mkapa na familia yake waeleze walivyopata utajiri wakati wakiwa madarakani.

Hii itafanya wa chini ya Mkapa kuogopa na kuachana na ndoto za kukomoana wala kulalamika kuwa wameonewa.

Kila la heri rais Kikwete. Kaza uzi na wembe uwe ule ule.

Source: Tanzania Daima Desemba 3, 2008

Kikwete please turn more stones

This year Canadian PM Stephen Harper pulled a plug by convening early
elections. Many wondered. It needed the courage of mad. Harper did so after being sickened by the opposition. It used to dare him. He triumphed. Things went to normalcy.

True, President Jakaya Kikwete used to face the same. Many used to take him of a lame duck thanks to the rampancy of corruption.

Swahili people are sometimes disgusting. Somebody abuses you. Ignore him. He thinks you're afraid of him. Descend on him. He says you are vexing him! All in all, it is better to teach him a lesson so that he can say what he wants to.

It reached a point. Some unreasonable criminals dared Kikwete to bring them to books. I still remember Dan of Jonah. When he was pressed to divulge how he acquired a certain public property. " he confidently said. He who thinks has guts let him go before the court. We'll meet there".

In another bulimia, my friend Bassie Two-penny son of Rambaramba told the nation that it should chew grasses instead of spending money on food so that an bird for the biggie of the biggies is purchased.Thinkers queried his tenacity little knowing there was something-mshiko.

The two winos above thought we're a bunch of goons little knowing tables would one day be turned against them!

Baron Edward Dalberg Acton (1834-1902) said. "Power tends to corrupt,and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." It corrupts to the bone especially when it is in the hands of a gawk and myopic person.

Currently the knuckle hop torturing many heads even myth busters is to rightly predict the goings-on in high echelons of powers. Those that thought Kikwete were a lame duck are likely to be tested to the limit if not proved wrong.

Many would like to see all sanctimonious hoopoes have their quills broken. In other words, all allegedly implicated top dogs- in dirty acts- be left in the lurch and hit the road either to the court or oblivion altogether.

The velocity manner and speed with which things took shape in recent weeks may speak volume. Kikwete is not a lame duck anymore. He aims at proving this. Though it is premature to reach the conclusion, looking at the nature of the things, shall he halt anywhere; the results will be remarkably tremendous suttee. He can bite and chew altogether. And mark my words. Before him there are no sacred but scared cows

Many have strongly urged Kikwete to do the right thing by defrocking and interdicting all current and former bigwigs implicated in various cancerous scams. They speak openly.Why should Kikwete face headache whilst everything is open? Angers are felt the country over and beyond.


Methinks. Kikwete's .all reasons to do away from political outlandish hobnob and put forth national interests. Is there any reason for Kikwete to suffer cold feet? Methinks. Nope.


Let's face it point blank. The country's going to dogs. Could Kikwete keep mum? How could he whilst creepy parasites were robbing our central bank and get away with it? How would he if at all our economy is always in the ICU despite having what it take to become an economic power house in the region? How would he whilst some gawks took him of punching bag as far as plundering the hoi polloi that voted for him is concerned? How would he if all he witnesses is meaningless
lives for the destitute citizenry thanks to corrupt privatization?


How would he with all these demonstrations and boycotts by students in higher learning institutions not to mention forgotten and exploited teachers? To ignore this entire calamity requires the courage of the mad.


A friend in Dar confided it to me that currently the butterflies are felt almost in every big man's stomach that knows. He abused his power.


I'm told bank accounts are ruined and money being wired abroad. Too those falling sick so as to be rushed abroad are increasing thanks to the fear of being booked in Keko, Ukonga and Segerea. Well done comrade Jakaya.

My friends of Buzwagi, Richmond, EPA, CIS, TICTS and other scams I'm told, are even consulting some witch doctors in Bagamoyo. We need to take on them timely and scientifically. Otherwise they will need more spare parts from albinos.





We're told: the mother of all scandals, IPTL,is still causing a heck.
Money stolen from CIS is bigger than even EPA and Richmond put together. Likewise bogus hiked radar, presidential jet, and even the demise of the late National Bank of Commerce still eat his brain up.


We still need to see justice being done. We need the former minister that called one million bucks vijisenti behind bars. We need all lawyers that enhanced all scams be brought to books under the rule of complicity and conspiracy.

Another pal of mine told me that those that wrongly thought their sins would be forgiven simply because they're Kikwete's best friends should forget. When it comes to matters of interests to the nation, friendship does nary work. Shall you doubt this go ask Eddie who was regarded as his altar ego-cum-consigliore He's crucified despite being the best.

If you're not satisfied with this remember the plight of Jesus. Who knew that Judas Iscariot would commit the sacrilege he committed? Kikulacho bwana.

Importantly one must note. In politics everything is possible. Your best friend may become your erstwhile foe and vice verse. As Jesus put it, the first will be the last and the last the first. So all those expecting mercy from Jakaya should go and flash themselves to the toilet.

I know. Some people will blame Kikwete and accuse him of everything real and imaginary. But is he the first to embark on such bold measures for the good of the nation? Nope. The late Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia was revered simply because he decided to do the right thing-to side by the people in lieu of standing on their way.
Mwanawasa was handpicked by Fredrick Chiluba. But this did not intoxicate him so as to betray the people.

Malawi's Bingu wa Mutharika's a man and a half thanks to his rebellion against his mentor who handpicked him-Bakili Muluzi. Kikwete has what it takes more than the duo above. He was not handpicked by anybody.

Mutharika went a mile ahead. When he found that his party was becoming
an obstacle and source of corruption, he ditched it. He found a new one
and he is still in power. Kikwete has a wider choice in this symmetrical situation. Coming to power on CCM's tickets should not make him a party slave or an enemy of the people. People voted for him first and the party later. He thus has to serve the people first.

Kikwete never employ mea culpa. For it'll be Armageddon for the nation.
The easy way out of this drama whereby the man has his back on the wall, is to let the guys go in order to deliver. Sir, remember the oath of office. "I shall diligently and "judiciously" serve my country and her people. Help me God", not I shall protect and save my friends against the people.


Though human beings dishonor their vows and oaths just because the God they invoked is unseen, the experience of those who fell from grace shows that God does punish oath violators. Who wants his president to face the wrath of God and wananchi? Will Kikwete keep on crossing swords with wananchi who in a way have some blemishes Kikwete let go all of maculae friends in order to salvage the already tarnished and standoffish office. Will he save the best for last? Who knows? May be we'll soon see more light. Failure to this, it'll be cantankerous
for all of us.

Source: Thisday December 3, 2008.