Free Thinking

Pamoja na kupiga tubangi na kanywaji bado mzee mzima najua mipaka yangu. Najua kuwa ninapotaka kuongea lazima kuhakikisha kuwa kichwa na mdomo vinafanya mawasiliano. Huwa nahakikisha sijambi au kunonihino kwa mdomo tena usawa huu wa umri huu hata kama kufanya hivyo kunawavutia na kuwafurahisha inzi. Ninapoongea huwa nahakikisha sipayuki, situsi, sikebehi, wala kusingizia bali kutongoa ukweli.

Mfano, hata ninapoandika kuhusu hawa wababu waropokaji na watukanaji kama Beni Tunituni wa Kiwila bado siwezi kuwaita wakumbafu hata kama ni malofa wa kimawazo na heshima bado siwezi kuwaita malofa japo kweli ni malofa. Nikiwaita malofa, wenye akili watashindwa kutofautisha kati ya lofa na tajiri wa fikra. Kwa wanaojua sayansi ya tabia na mikakati ni kwamba dalili ya kwanza ya ulofa wa kimawazo na ukumbafu ni kutumia mitusi tena ya nguoni kama silaha au namna ya kupata ulaji.

Pamoja na kupayuka kwake, nakubaliana na Beni kuwa wapingaji ni malofa kweli kweli. Kwani kwa ulofa wao wameweza kuvua papa wawili toka chama Cha Maulaji (cCM). Si hilo tu, ukilinganisha utajiri utokanao na ufisadi na ujambazi mwingine, uwezekano wa wapingaji kuwa malofa ni mkubwa japo hakuna kipengele hata kimoja kinachowaonyesha kuwa wakumbafu. Nadhani wangekuwa wapumbavu wasingeweza kuvuna vigogo na mibuyu toka cCM.

Sometimes, nyani haoni kundule. Sijui kama tutaanza kutafutana uchawi kati ya wapingaji na wale waliowabinafsisha wenzao nao wakajibinafsisha nani atakuwa lofa kimawazo na mkumbafu wa kweli? Sijui hawa wanaowaita wenzao wakumbafu wanamaanisha nini iwapo wao wamekaa kwenye ulaji na kuruhusu kila aina ya kibaka toka nje na ndani kuwaibia walevi? Je huu si ukumbafu wa kupindukia? Kama siyo, inakuwaje wale walioko ndani wanakosa la kusema na kuwaonyesha walevi badala yake wanakimbilia mitusi, kutumia ndata kuwatisha na kuwazuia kufanya kampani zao? Inakuwaje kama si ukumbafu wa kukaa kwenye mjengo na jumba lenyewe wakashindwa kutimiza walichoahidi hadi sasa wanaanza kutegemea mitusi, vitisho na uchakachuaji?

Laiti hawa wanaowaita wakumbafu wenzao wangewauliza mafisadi kama akina Rugemalayer na Singasinga na wengine waliowatumia huko nyuma wangejua ni wapumbavu kiasi gani. Hivi majambazi kama wale wa RITES waliopewa reli zetu wakajiibie watakao wanadhani wanawaona washitiri wao kama wajanja au wakumbafu tu wa kawaida?

Kawaulize wahalifu wote waliokingiwa kifua kuanzia wale walioghushi, waliofilisi mashirika ya walevi na wengine wanaouza pasi zetu na kutumia mipaka yetu kama vitega uchumi wao wanawaonaje hawa wanowaachia wakafanya uhalifu kama huu wa kuhujumu kaya. Before all benefeciaries of crimes against boozers those who allowed them to rob boozers are but goons and halfwits. Loo! Naona mibangi kanywaji na usongo vinapanda hadi naanza kuongea kikameruni bure.

Tena kabla ya kusahau, lazima niseme wazi na kwa herufi na sauti kubwa: WALAANIWE MABINGWA WA MITUSI. Walaaniwe wakumbafu wote wanaoleta upumbavu wa kuita wenzao wapumbavu wakati wao ndiyo. Tatizo na fyatu wengine ni kwamba wakiharibikiwa wanadhani kila mlevi ameharibikiwa. Kama wewe ni mvuta bangi au mlevi basi si wote waliokuzunguka ni walevi. Kama wewe ni kibaka usidhani wote ni vibaka. Kama wewe ni lofa usidhani kila mlevi ni lofa. Kama wewe ni mkumbafu, usidhani kila mlevi ni mkumbafu.

Kwa vile nina usongo na wakumbafu na ukumbafu, naona leo niishie hapa kwa kuwataka wakumbafu wasituletee ukumbafu na mitusi yao. Wasitujazie mbu. Watuache na amani yetu vinginevyo kuna wakumbafu watajikuta The Hague wakila ugali na wakumbafu wengine kama akina Gbagbo na Taylor.

Maneno magumu

Ukumbafu-kufanya ndiyo siyo au bila kutumia bongo zote

Mkumbafu-yule anayefanya ukumbafu

Chanzo: Nipashe Sept., 5, 2015.

Kusema ule ukweli, miaka kama mitatu kabla ya uchaguzi nilimwambia mwanafunzi wangu aishie Toronto kuwa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) kilikuwa na mgombea mmoja wa maana na anayeuzika, Dk John Pombe Magufuli. Tarehe 26 Agosti 2015 majira ya saa kumi hivi za huku alinipigia simu akitaka nimwambie nilijuaje siri hii. Sitaki kujifanya mtabiri au waganga njaa wanosema walioteshwa. Sikuoteshwa zaidi ya kusoma uoza wa CCM. Hivyo, nilimjibu mwanafunzi wangu kuwa kama ningekuwa mbunge au waziri, basi ingekuwa mimi au Magufuli. Mwanafunzi wangu wa zamani alicheka sana na tukaachia hapo.

Japo sishabikii siasa za Tanzania kutokana kuwa mbali, hakuna mtu niliykuwa namwanimi kama Magufuli. Hata siku chache kabla ya CCM kuteua na kupitisha mgombea wake, niliandika makala kwenye gazeti la Dira yenye kichwa cha “Wapinzani wamuangalie sana Magufuli” Nakumbuka nilituma makala hiyo Julai 11. Nataka kuonyesha ni jinsi gani Magufuli alikuwa amejijengea umaarufu kutokana na uchapakazi wake na kutokwa na makundi wala kutumia fedha kutafuta madaraka. Kwangu huu ulikuwa ni ushahidi kuwa Magufuli si mwenye tamaa ya madaraka na anaweza kuwafaa wananchi.

Pamoja na kusema yote hapo juu, matamshi ya Magufuli –kama alivyokaririwa na vyombo vya habari siku moja baada ya kuongea na mwanafunzi wangu –yameanza kufanya nibadili mwelekeo. Je baada ya kuaminiwa na CCM Magufuli ameanza kubadilishwa na mfumo hata kabla ya kuingia madarakani ambapo tulitegemea angeubadili huu mfumo? Sitaki niulize maswali mengi. Ninachotaka kusema hapa ni kumshauri Magufuli aangalie aendako na kufahamu kuwa safari ya kisiasa inaweza kuwa ndefu hata kama inagharimu masaa kama ilivyotokea kwa mpinzani wake mkuu Edward Lowassa ambaye aliingia kwenye ukumbi wa kuteua na kupitisha mgombea wa CCM akiamini kuwa hakuwapo mwingi isipokuwa yeye akaishia kutimkia upinzani.

Nitatoa nukuu mbili za Magufuli ambazo zinaweza kumuonyesha kama rais asiyefaa hivyo kuwashawishi wananchi wasimchague. Akiwa mkoani Katavi alikaririwa mara mbili akisema, “Naowaombeni jamani, hatuchagui malaika, kila mtu ana Tatizo Lake. Inawezekana wengine tumechoka hata kumwangalia, lakini mkitaka nifanye kazi vizuri nileteeni bwana huyu,”

Magufuli alikuwa akimtetea Joseph Kandege aliyeonekana kuchokwa na kuchukiwa na wananchi wa jimbo la Kalambo mkoani Katavi. Je hapa tunajifunza nini? Je inakuwaje Magufuli akatetea watu wabovu kama kweli naye si mbovu?

Hebu angalia nukuu nyingine, “Wewe nenda hata kama humpendi fumba macho lakini umpigie nani?” Wananchi walijibu, “Malochaa.” Magufuli aliyasema hayo kwenye Kijiji cha Laela. Magufuli alikaririwa akimtetea Ignas Malocha, mbunge mwingine aliyeonekana wazi kuchukiwa na wale waliomchagua akaishia kuwasaliti na kuwaangusha. Kwanini Magufuli anawashauri wapiga kura vitu visivyoingia akilini? Akiwa Mkoani Sumbawanga alimtetea mbunge mwingine ambaye amebanwa Hilary Aeshi.

Kwanini anawashauri watu wawachague watu wanaowachukia kutokana na uoza wao kama siyo kuwahujumu? Cha msingi hapa ni wahusika kujua kuwa huo mzigo na gamba anavyotetea Magufuli vitakapoanza kuwaumiza, watakaoumia ni wao na si Magufuli. Kimsingi anachobainisha Magufuli ni kwamba hata hiyo mizigo itakapoanza kuvuruga na kuvurunda atailinda kwa kutumia rungu lake la urais. Je wananchi wapewe ishara gani kuwa wanahujumiwa na wale waliowategemea; hivyo wachukue hatua? Anachobainisha Magufuli ni kufuata nyayo za Jakaya Kikwete ambaye aliwakingia kifua watu kama Benjamin Mkapa, familia yake na marafiki zake hata walipobainika kujitwalia na kuiba mali za umma kama vile Mgodi wa Makaa ya Mawe wa Kiwira na wale wote walioghushi. Mtu wa namna hii ni kwa kuogopwa kama ukimwi kama siyo ukoma.

Tunapenda kuhitimisha makala hii tukimshauri Magufuli asichafue rekodi yake kwenye majukwaa. Oktoba siyo mbali na wananchi watakuwa bado wanakumbuka maneno yake. Hata hivyo, ashukuru Mungu kuwa wapinzani hawachambui vilivyo kauli zake na za wana CCM wenzake kama upupu wa juzi aliomwanga rais mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa ambaye alijivua nguo hadharani huku akitoa matusi yanayoweza kumharibia Magufuli. Kweli binadamu si malaika. Makosa aliyotenda Katavi asiyarudie vinginevyo ataanza kujionyesha tofauti na tulivyomdhania. Mchapakazi wa kweli anapaswa awatake wananchi wampe wachapakazi hata kama wanatoka kwenye upinzani. Hii itamuonyesha kama mtu anayetaka maendeleo na si siasa za kipuuzi za kulindana kama tulivyozishuhudia.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Septemba 6, 2015.

The other day former big Minister Eddie Luwasa who packed after implicated in Richmonduli left me in stitches. I heard telling the Twambombos of Mbeya that if he wins in the coming chakachuazation he’ll turn the ever-begging Bongolalaland into another Switzerland that our half-baked reporters called it Swaziland.

Given that this is the season of promising anything any politicos thinks will dupe voters, I wonder if Bongolalalanders subscribe to such hoo-ha in the first place. After musing on what Luwasa said I remembered the other political artistic who answered to the name Mzee wa Mapesa or Money Bags aka Joni Cheiyo. Where is he now after his dirty linens were put on the agora? Many still wonder how Luwasa can turn Bongo into Switzerland while when he’s in power he blessed public rip off in Richmonduli not to mention how he spent billions in seeking his former party’s nomination. I am not making this up. Nay, Nipe Mapepe Ninaye is the one who revealed this when he faced the media on a certain TV when he was responding to queries as to why Luwasa was left out even in five best.

Luwasa was quoted by Mwanakaya as saying, “I want development. I want Mbeya City to become an international one under my government and I want it to be like Swaziland,” [Sic]. When I heard this statement I remembered Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat and the way of doing things such as seeking something by the way of elimination. In the same line, I see Luwasa enriching boozers through fleecing. I don’t know if boozers will suck this up and buy into such a hoax in the so to speak. Again, if you look at the double-edged sword boozers are facing this time around, you feel sorry for them. Will they choose from the other party that’s been in power for ten years after promising them Better Life for All (BLA) that ended up being Bitter Life for All Boozers but Better for Bigwigs (BLABBB)? Under BLA boozers were fleeced through EPA just as it seems that Richmonduli and other scams made a capital for those spending dosh on political campaigns.

Luwasa knows this game too well. He’s behind the terrible BLA. Now he’s behind Making Bongo Switzerland (MBS) hoax. Will he succeed? When he said he’d like to become as richer as Switzerland without explaining how, one boozer said maybe he loved Switzerland because it helps bigwigs like him to stash their loots there.

Luwasa took a swipe at his best friend and partner, Jake Kiquette accusing him of destroying the economy while the same guy showered him with praise short time close to mchakato saying Jake built many roads. Again, when you consider Luwasa statements, you sometimes don’t get it. If my memory serves me well, I remember how Luwasa told those who wanted him axed in presidential races within Chama Cha Maualaji (CCM) that he’d not abandon CCM. Instead he told those who didn’t want him to leave the party. Before long, news broke that Luwasa has crossed over to CHAdEMA and later was cleared to become UKAUA’s presidential flag bearer. Now you can tell which a lie is and which is a truth as far as Luwasa is concerned. Will boozers trust such a person who says this today and say a contrary that tomorrow? Remember this? “We agreed that whoever wins the race should support the other. In 2005, I supported Kikwete for presidency and was the chairman of the campaign team,” (The Citizen May 31, 2015). Luwasa was talking about the agreement between him and Kiquette. Is it true? If it is why didn’t Kiquette support him then?

Another truth, Luwasa was quoted as saying, “ It is just recently Chinese president Xi Jinping, president Obama and former US president George Bush were in Tanzania, this shows how Tanzania is prominent in international affairs,” Sunday Shomari (July, 18, 2013 in Washington). Hearing all such praises you wonder how Luwasa can turn against himself accusing Jake to have destroyed the economy of Bongolalaland. Again, be he Jake or Luwasa are all politicians whose words, promises, truth and whatnot should be dealt with cautiously.

Source: Guardian Sept., 6, 2015.

Hivi karibuni Jeshi la Polisi lilitoa matangazo kuonya baadhi ya wagombea kutokwenda baadhi ya maeneo. Mmojawapo aliyekumbwa na katazo hili na ambaye ameishaathirika nalo si mwingine bali mgombea wa Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (UKAWA) Edward Lowassa. Wengi wamehuzunishwa na kushangazwa na woga na ubabaishaji huu. Tunasema ubabaishaji kutokana na sababu zisizoingia akilini zilizotolewa na polisi. Mojawapo ya vyombo vya habari vilikariri jeshi la polisi likisema eti ziara aliyofanya Lowassa imesababisha mikusanyiko isiyo na lazima. Mikusanyiko isiyo ya lazima maana yake nini kwenye nchi ya kidemokrasia ambapo kila mwananchi anaruhusiwa kwenda atakako na kukutana na amtakaye mradi asivunje sheria?

Mbona polisi wanaongea vitu ambavyo hata njiwa pamoja na upole wake hawezi kuvumilia wala kushindwa kuvibaini kuwa ni visingizio na sababu za kitoto? Hivi kweli unaweza kuzuia mikusanyiko Dar Es Salaam wakati mikusanyiko ndiyo staili ya maisha? Hebu jiulize saa za jioni hasa wakati wa mvua pale Feri, Kariakoo na Posta Mpya kunakuwa na mikusanyiko ya maelfu mangapi ya wananchi wanaongojea usafiri kwenda makwao?

Kwa mujibu wa katiba yetu mtanzania yoyote anayo haki ya kufanya jambo lolote atakalo ilmradi asivunje sheria. Je kupiga kampeni kwa Lowassa kumegeuka kosa kisheria? Kinachogomba hapa hadi wengi wakaona kama ni woga wa serikali na uvunjaji haki za binadamu wa polisi ni ile hali ya kumzuia Lowassa wakawaruhusu wagombea wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) kufanya yale yale wanayokataza. Mfano wa hivi karibuni kitendo cha kumzuia Lowassa kutembelea hospitali wakati mgombea mwenza wa CCM Samia Suluhu Hassan alikuwa akitembelea hospitali.

Polisi wanapaswa kutoa ulinzi sio vitisho na vizuizi kwa wanasiasa. Wawaache wanasiasa wafanye siasa zao ili umma wa wapiga kura uwasikilize na kuwapima vizuri na kuamua nani anafaa kuwaongoza. Kitendo cha polisi kinaonyesha ni namna gani CCM imeingiwa na kihoro ukiachia mbali kuwaonyesha polisi kama wanaojikomba kwa chama kilichokuwa tawala.

Pili, CCM haina sababu za msingi kuwaingiza polisi kwenye siasa zake za majitaka. Kufanya hivyo kunaweza kuleta fujo na maafa baadaye hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa wananchi wanaweza kukaidi amri haramu na kuzua vurugu kiasi cha damu kumwagika tokana na uchokozi na uvunjaji sheria huu wa polisi na serikali. Polisi na wale wanaowatumia wanapaswa kufahamu kuwa siku hizi kuna The Hague. Wanaweza kuanzisha vurugu zikaishia kwenye maafa na wanaohusika wakaishia The Hague na hayo madaraka wanayogombea wasiyapate wala kuyafaidi. Wako wapi akina Laurent Gbagbo waliojaribu uhuni huu unaoanza kufanywa na jeshi la polisi ambalo kikatiba halipaswi kufungamana na upande wowote?

Kimsingi, wanachofanya jeshi la polisi na serikali ni kuvunja katiba jambo ambalo ni kosa la uhaini kama tutaangalia sheria vilivyo bila kujali nani yuko nyuma ya jinai husika. Hivi inakuwaje mgombea wa CCM akienda hospitalini au sokoni mkusanyiko wake unakuwa wa lazima lakini wa wapinzani unakuwa si wa lazima. Hapa nani anataka kumgeuza nani juha? Tunadhani hakuna haja wala sababu ya kuwafanya watanzania mataahira wasiojua nani anawafaa au hawafai.

Polisi wawaache wanasiasa washindane kwa hoja badala ya kupendelea upando mmoja na kuhujumu mwingine jambo ambalo linaweza kusababisha hasira kiasi cha umma kusema sasa imetosha. Tumeyaona haya kwenye nchi nyingi ambazo mwisho wake yamekuwa ni machafuko. Kwanini polisi na wale wanaoitumia vibaya wameshindwa kujifunza tokana na ushenzi wa juzi nchi ya jirani ya Burundi ambako Tanzania ilijitia kwenda kusuluhisha wakati inafanya mambo yale yale.

Kama CCM wamefanya kazi yao barabara kama wanavyojigamba majukwaani, wana hofu gani na wapinzani hadi wahangaike kuingiza polisi kwenye siasa za kihalifu zinazokinzana na katiba ya nchi? Tufikie mahali tufanye mambo kama watu wazima tena wenye akili badala ya ukale na usio na faida.

Polisi nao wanapaswa kuelewa wanalipwa kwa kodi za wananchi wote bila kujali itikadi zao za kisiasa ukiachia mbali kuwa wapo hapo walipo tokana na utashi wa wananchi na siyo hao wanaotuma ambao nao ni tegemezi kwa wananchi.

Serikali inapaswa kuacha woga na unafiki wa kutangaza uchaguzi wakati huku nyuma ikiandaa hujuma kwa wapinzani. Hii nayo ni aina ya uchakachuaji inayoishushia serikali na jeshi la polisi hadhi.

Tumalizie kwa kuitaka CCM, jeshi la polisi, na serikali kucheza rafu. Kama hawataki ushindani watangaze serikali ya chama kimoja kama alivyofanya marehemu baba wa taifa Mwl Julius Nyerere na wawe tayari kupambana na athari za utwahuti huu. Pia waelewe dunia ya sasa imebadilika na watanzania kadhalika. Hatakubali kuonewa wala kuibiwa wala kuminywa haki zao za kikatiba. Ikizidi ikapungua basi polisi waunde chama cha siasa.

Chanzo: Dira Sept., 7, 2015.

Baada ya Daktari Willy Silaha kufanya maamuzi magumu na kujivua gamba akiachana na siasa chafu za vyama, Kijiwe kina mkakati wa kumvuta ili aje kuongeza nguvu na kufichua uchafu mwingine unaofanywa na mafia wa kisiasa wawe tawala au tegemewa.

Mijjinga ndiye anaanzisha mada hii, “Waheshimiwa, baada ya daktari Silaha kumwaga mtama na upupu kiasi cha kuwaacha hoi wapingaji, mnaonaje? Si tumchukue aje hapa kuongeza timu lau tukiunda chama cha kisiasa tuwe ndiyo warithi wa UKAUA?”

Mgosi Machungi anadakia, “Hii azima tiunge mkono. Tina kia sababu ya kumtaka daktai huyu mkwei sawa na poofwesa Pumba ambaye naye ameachana na siasa za majitaka. Sijui wengine mnaiongeeaje hii?”

Kapende anakwanyua mic, “Msemayo nayaunga mkono, lazima tumnyakue njomba Silaha kabla ya manyang’au kumuiba. Huyu bwana amenikuna kweli kweli. Maana aliponitajia akina Roast Tamu la Aziz wanavyovuta kamba nyuma ya pazia ili kuweka fisadi mwenzao, nimenkubali.”

Msomi Mkatatamaa anaamua kutia guu, “Japo nakubaliana na kuvuta huyu daktari mwenzangu, kitendo chake cha kutufunga kamba kuwa ameachana na siasa za vyama kinanitia shaka. Je anataka kufanya siasa za vijiwe au atawezaje kufanya siasa bila vyama? Je anataka kuwa mwangalizi na mchambuzi kama mzee Mpayukaji au mshangiliaji asiye na timu ili mradi yake ni timu inayoshinda?”

Mipawa aliyekuwa akinong’ona jambo na da Sofia Lion aka Kanungaembe anakwanyua mic, “Kimsingi lazima hapa kuwa na mgawanyiko. Lazima wawepo wanaomuona daktari mwenzetu Silaha kama shujaa na wengine watakaomuona kama michosho. Cha msingi hapa ni kukubaliana kuwa baadhi ya hoja zake zina mashiko sana. Mfano alipodai kuwa Luwasa alikwepa kujisafisha na kutoa utetezi, hapa alimaanisha uwajibikaji uwazi na ukweli.”

Kabla ya Mipawa kuendelea, Sofia anakula mic, “Nawaonea huruma wapingaji. Sasa ona wanavyoumbuana. Wakishaadhirika wanaanza kuna mkono wa mtu wakati mchawi wao ni wao wenyewe na tamaa zao.”

Anakohoa na kubwia kahawa yake na kuendelea, “Sisi tulishawambia kuwa huyu jamaa tuliyemkataa hakubaliki na kama akikubalika si kwenye urahis jamani. Hivi kweli mtu anayeogopa hata historia yake anaweza kuifanyia nini kaya kama siyo kuiuza?”

Mheshimiwa Bwege anaamua kumchomekea da Sofi. Anakula mic, “Da Sofi acha nikuchomekee kwanza. Nadhani hapa suala la kuuzwa na kununuliwa liko wazi. Awe Luwasa au Makomeo wote watatuuza tu. Mimi kimsingi sioni tofauti ya wawili hawa. Sana sana kinachonivutia ni majukwaa wanayotumia. Luwasa anatumia jukwaa safi la mageuzi na Makomeo anatumia jukwaa chafu la ukale.”

Mbwa Mwitu aliyekuwa akitaniana na Kanji anaamua kula mic, “Mheshimiwa Bwege unataka kutwambia kuwa kwenye uchakachuaji huu tumeliwa tena? Maana ukichagua Luwasa unaambiwa ni mchafu. Ukichagua Makomeo unaambiwa ni msafi lakini chata lake chafu usipime. Sasa tumchague nani wajameni?”

Kanji anaamua kula mic huku akitabasamu, “Veve hapa jua mambo? Kwanza kula iko siri ya mtu. Kama naona Luvasa au Komeo faa chagua yeye. Veve kama naona Komeo faa basi chagua yeye. Nyingine tajua bele ya safari bwana.”

Msomi anaamua kurejea tena, “Hapa si suala la kuangalia nani anafaa tu. Tuangalie na sera. Tuhoji sera na ahadi lukuki wanazotoa wagombea ambapo kila mmoja anaonekana kuahidi mema mengi kuliko uwezo wake. Laiti yanayoahidiwa kwenye kipindi hiki cha kulana, kuuzana, kuchuuzana na kuliwa yangetimilika, mbona tungekuwa kaya ya peponi na si motoni kama ambayo imekuwa. Maana kila muongo huja na uongo wake na ahadi zake hewa na kupata kura ya kula huku akiwaacha wachovu wakizidi kuwa wachovu. Hivyo, mimi sidhani kama kuna kitu cha muhimu kuangalia kama sera na matamko ya wahusika.”

Mzee Maneno anatia guu, “Msomi usemayo ni kweli tupu. Ukisiliza ahadi zinazomwagwa, unaweza kuzani umaskini kayani ndiyo bai wakati ndiyo unaanza. Nilimsikia mmojawapo akisema kuwa atatoe elimu bure. Hivi kweli hili linawezekana usawa huu? Je hiyo njuluku ataipata wapi?

Inaonekana maswali ya mzee Maneno magumu kweli. Kwani hakuna anayekula mic.

Msomi anaamua kurejea kutoa majibu, “Uko sahihi kuhoji na kustukia ahadi ya kutoa elimu ya bure kwa wote. Nadhani hii ni maisha bora kwa wote iliyofinywa kwenye elimu. Kwa sera za sasa za kiliberali mamboleo zinazodhaminiwa na vyombo vya fedha vya kimataifa kama shirika la mshiko la dunia au Benki ya Dunia, si rahisi kaya kapuku kama hii kutoa elimu bure wakati lisirikali lenyewe linaendeshwa kwa kukopa na kubomu. Hivyo, huu ni uongo wa wazi wazi.”

“Mie sasa mwanchanganya wallahi. Kumbe hawa waweza jisemea lolote kama wale ma MC wa harusini wasijue watu wana akili tena ziniochemka? Mie nshagaa sana watu kujadili mipango hewa wakati hiyo fedha wala hawana. Je kwanini watutenza hivi na tuwafanyeni?

Kapende anakwanyua mic, “Nadhani ndiyo maana tunataka daktari Silaha ajiunge nasi tutoe mwelekeo mbadala. Maana wote wameshindwa.”

Kijiwe kikiwa kinanoga tulipokea simu ya mchunaji na askopo, Jose Gwaijimia akitaka tusimpake mtu wake.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Sept., 8,2015.

Kwa wanaokumbuka maneno makali ya waziri mkuu wa zamani Fredrick Sumaye aliyejiungua toka Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) na kujiunga na Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (UKAWA) kuelekea kilele cha kumpata mgombea wa urais wa CCM, watakubaliana nami kuwa mchango wake kwenye upinzani unaweza kuwa mdogo kuliko inavyodhaniwa.

Katika kuelekea kupitisha wagombea watano (tano bora) Sumaye alitishia CCM kuwa kama wangemchagua fisadi (Edward Lowassa) angehama chama. Baada ya CCM kutomteua Lowassa kupeperusha bendera yake, wengi walidhani Sumaye angeendelea kukaa CCM lakini wapi.

Kwa kauli hii ambayo aliipinga mwenyewe kwa kumfuata yule aliyetahadharisha chama chake kisimpitishe tokana na rekodi yake (mbaya) inamfanya Sumaye aonekane kigeugeu na muongo (kama baadhi ya makada wa CCM walivyosema kwenye ufunguzi wa kampeni za CCM). Kwa kumbukumbu, mgombea aliyeshindwa kupenya Charles Makongoro Nyerere akisikika akimnanga Sumaye kwa kuwa mnafiki na muongo aliposema kuwa anashangaa alitahadharisha chama kisimkumbatie fisadi lakini yeye akaishia kumkumbatia fisadi huyo huyo!

Kwa wataalamu wa mikakati, maneno ya Sumaye yanamfanya awe soft target kwa wapinzani wake na upande wake. Hivyo, uwezekano wa Sumaye kuleta matunda na faida vilivyotegemewa ni mdogo sana kiasi cha kumfanya awe mzigo (liability) badala ya faida (asset). Ifahamike kuwa lengo la makala hii siyo kumshambulia Sumaye wala kupigia debe CCM. Tunajaribu kudurusu udhaifu na ubora wa Sumaye ili kuona kama atausaidia upinzani.

Kwanza, Sumaye ni mmojawapo wa waliowezesha mfumo wa rushwa anaopambana nao kwa sasa tena akiwa kiongozi wa juu kwa miaka kumi. Rejea ukweli kuwa Sumaye alikuwa waziri mkuu aliyehudumu kwenye ngazi hiyo kwa muda mrefu kuliko wengine wote.

Pili, chini ya uwaziri mkuu wa Sumaye–japo yeye hajahusishwa na uchafu wowote–ulifanyika uwekezaji wa hovyo na wa kifisadi ulioingiza taifa kwenye matatizo makubwa kiuchumi. Rejea kugawiwa kwa iliyokuwa Benki ya Biashara (NBC) kwa makaburu hadi marehemu baba wa taifa kupinga ufisadi huu wa mchana. Rejea kuuzwa kwa nyumba za umma kwa mafisadi. Rejea kuasisiwa na kutekelezwa kwa kashfa ya EPA iliyogharimu taifa mabilioni ya shilingi bila kusahau kashfa nyingine kama vile Meremeta, Mwananchi Gold, SUKITA na nyingine nyingi.

Tatu, Sumaye anajitahidi kuukosoa mfumo uliomfinyanga na kumlea hadi akafikia hapo alipo sawa na swahiba yake mpya Lowassa. Japo haiwezekani kupata kiongozi yoyote nje ya CCM kutokana na kuwa Tanzania ilikuwa chini ya mfumo wa chama kimoja ambapo kila mtanzania alilazimika kuwa mwanachama tawala, Sumaye alipaswa kuwa wa mwisho kutupa madogo kwa wenzake. Naona kama CCM ni wenzake Sumaye zaidi ya upinzani ambao amejiung anao kutaka kulipiza kisasi kwa kunyimwa kuingia hata kwenye tano bora jambo ambalo licha ya kumshusha, limemuudhi na kumfedhehesha ukiachia mbali kumchanganya.

Nne, kwa kujiunga na upinzani ili kulipiza kisasi, Sumaye anaonekana kama mtu anayetafuta maslahi binafsi na si ya taifa.

Tano, CCM watatumia maneno ya Sumaye kuukaanga upinzani. Tuseme watawakaanga samaki wawili mapapa yaani Sumaye na Lowassa kwa mafuta yao yaani maneno na matendo yao.

Hakuna ubishi kuwa Sumaye ni mmoja wa viongozi safi na wachapakazi. Rejea kutohusishwa kwenye ufisadi wowote hata alipokuwa chini ya serikali fisadi kwa miaka kumi. Hii ni tofauti na bosi wake Benjamin Mkapa aliyeingizwa madarakani na marehemu baba wa taifa Mwl Nyerere akiwa Mr. Clean akaondoka akiwa Mr. Filth baada ya yeye, familia yake na marafiki zake kujitwalia mgodi wa Makaa ya Mawe wa Kiwira kinyume cha sharia.

Pili, Sumaye ana uwezo mkubwa wa kujenga na kubomoa hoja kiasi cha kuwa kivutio kwa wasikilizaji kama ilivyotokea hivi karibuni kule Mbeya. Pamoja na hayo, wenye akili wakichambua maneno yake ya sasa na yale aliyotoa kuelekea kumalizika mchakato ndani ya CCM wanashindwa kumuelewa. Na kama wanamuelewa, wanamuona kama mtu asiyeweza kuaminika tena.

Ukiachia hili, Sumaye amesema wazi kuwa anapambana na mfumo mbovu jambo ambalo ni kweli na la dhati ingawa hata uko aliko anauunga mkono mfumo mzuri wenye kupendekeza mtu mbovu. Hapa ngoma ni droo. CCM ina mfumo mbaya wenye mgombea safi tofauti na UKAWA yenye mfumo bora lakini yenye mgombea mbovu.

Tumalizie kwa kuuliza: Je ujio wa Sumaye kwenye upinzani utaleta faida au kuishia kuwa soft target kwa CCM kuubomolea upinzani? Je wapiga kura watasikiliza yapi kati ya yale aliyosema Sumaye kabla ya kujiunga na upinzani na haya anayosema kwa sasa?

Chanzo: Dira Sept., 10, 2015.

Hivi karibuni mgombea ubunge wa jimbo la Singida Kaskazini kwa tiketi ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Lazaro Nyalandu aliwaacha wengi hoi. Aliingia kwenye eneo mojawapo la jimbo lake kwa helkopta jambo lililovuta umati wa watu wengi si kuja kumsikiliza bali kuishangaa helkopta. Ilifikia pagumu hadi mgombea akalazimika kuwaita watu waache kushangaa helkopta waje kumsikiliza. Huu ni ushahdi kuwa jimbo hili lina watu wengi maskini ambao hawajawahi kujaliwa kuiona ndege wala helkopta.

Kwa wanaokumbuka kilichowaponza mgombea wa sasa wa UKAWA Edward Lowassa na swahiba wake wa zamani Jakaya Kikwete mwaka 1995 hakikuwa kingine bali kukodisha ndege tena toka Dar kwenda na kurudi Dodoma kuchukua fomu za urais. Marehemu baba wa taifa Mwl Julius Nyerere alitaka kujua walikokuwa wamepata fedha za kukodisha ndege.

Siku hizi helkopta zimeanza kugeuka kama magari ambapo –kama tulivyobainisha hapo juu –hata wagombea wa ubunge ima wanazimilki au kuzikodisha na kuzitumia kwenye majimbo ambayo wameyaongoza lakini wakashindwa kuyapa miundo mbinu muhimu kama barabara.

Je hawa wanaozikodisha au kuzimilki helkopta wamechumaje kwenye nchi iliyokuwa jana na ya kijamaa? Ni vizuri wakaeleza walivyochuma huo ukwasi lau tujue kama ni halali au haramu.

Wamechumaje haraka bila kushukiwa kwenye nchi inayosifika kuwa njia na kichaka kikuu cha mihadarati?

Wamechumaje wasistukiwe kwenye nchi ambayo ufisadi umegeuka namna ya wakubwa kutajirika?

Nyalandu ambaye hivi karibuni alitinga na helkopta akajikuta pekee kwenye sehemu aliyopanga kufanya mkutano baada ya wananchi wake kuizunguka helkopta wakiishangaa anatia shaka hasa ikilinganishwa muda aliohudumu kwenye ngazi kubwa serikalini na uwezo wa kifedha anaoonyesha kwa sasa. Ni kituko hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa Nyalandu mwenyewe anaongoza moja ya majimbo maskini nchini. Hii inaweza kujenga dhana–iwe ya kweli au potofu–kuwa mtu kama huyu pesa ya kukodisha helkopta anaipata wapi kama siyo kutumia cheo alichokuwa nacho serikali kujipatia pesa kinyume cha sheria na maadili?

Kama nchi yetu ingekuwa ina nia ya dhati ya kupambana na ufisadi watu kama hawa walipaswa wabanwe watoe maelezo walivyopata utajiri huu wa haraka wanaouvuja na kujidai nao kila siku.

Kwa malipo halali ya mbunge wa Tanzania sitegemei kama mshahara na marupurupu yake yanatosha kumpa mtu uwezo wa kifedha kukodisha helkopta. Huyu atarudishaje fedha hii? Hatuna nia ya kumhukumu Nyalandu japo ushahidi wa mazingira unaonyesha kuwa anazo. Na kama kiongozi wa umma ambao umechoshwa na ufisadi na uroho wa watu wachache wenye madaraka ingekuwa vizuri akaeleza alivyochuma huu utajiri anaoonyesha kwenye uchaguzi tena wa ubunge tu. Je angeteuliwa kugombea urais angemwaga fedha kiasi gani?

Kwa rais ajaye anapaswa kuwaepuka watu kama hawa kuwapa nafasi za uwaziri kwani watataka wautumie kurudisha mabilioni wanayofuja kwenye kukodisha ndege vinginevyo watoe maelezo juu ya utajiri wao na utetezi wao uwekwe wazi kwa umma ndipo uwaamini.

Kwa mtu kama Nyalandu aliyekuwa waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii kuonyesha jeuri ya kupiga kampeni kwa kutumia helkopta akiwa anasimamia wizara ambayo inasifika kwa kuuza nyara za taifa nje kunaweza kutoa ushahidi wa kimazingira kuwa kuna namna alifanya. Wapo wanaoweza kumuona kama mnufaika wa jinai hii ambaye anapaswa kuwekwa chini ya uchunguzi.

Tumalizie kwa kuwataka wananchi wasikimbilie kushangaa helkopta bali wawaulize wanaozitumia jinsi walivyopata ukwasi wa kuweza kukodisha zana hii aghali. Badala ya kushabikia manjonjo ya wakwazi, wajiulize wao–kama jamii inayowapo kijiko cha kuchumia ukwasi–wamenufaika kwa kiasi gani chini ya uongozi wa watu kama hao ambao wanaonyesha dhahiri kuneemeka binafsi huku umma ukiendelea kuteketea kwenye umaskini wa kutengenezwa na kundi dogo la watu wanaotumia dhamana vibaya na binafsi huku wakiutelekeza umma.

Chanzo: Dira Sept., 10, 2015.

Baada ya msimu wa kutafunana, kugeuzana majuha, kuuzana, kutalikiana, kusalitiana hata kumalizana kufunguliwa, kila msanii amejiandaa na sanaa zake kuhakikisha anachuma. Hapa walevi ndiyo walengwa wakubwa wakiwamo mafisi na mafisadi na wanasiasa wenye mshiko waliouchapa kwa walevi. Kila msanii anataka apige aondoke na chake.

Juzi mzee mwenyewe ilibidi nipige bangi na kanywaji kama sina akili nzuri baada ya kumuona msanii mmoja akitangaza eti ana mpango wa kuendesha sala na matamasha ya kuombea uchakachuaji!

Kwa vile ni rahisi kuwaliza wadanganyika, napanga kuandaa tamasha na mikesha ya kuombea hotuba ya mgombea mpendwa ipendwe na nambari wahedi waendelee kuwa kwenye ulaji hata kama hawafai. Ili kuwaingiza kisawa sawa nina mpango wa kuombea hata magari na microphone hoteli na viwanja watakavyotumia wa wagombea wapendwa wa chama pendwa viwe salama. Nitaandaa mkesha na matamasha mengine ya kuomba wapingaji washindwe na kunyong’onyea.

Funga kazi nitaandaa mikesha na matamasha ya kuhamasisha wazazi wawalazimishe watoto wao kupigia kura chama pendwa. Wasipofanya hivyo wawaachie laana. Pia katika mikesha hii nitaombea ndata wafanikiwe kutoa vitisho kwa wapingaji wasiseme baadhi ya mambo wakashtakiwa.

Unajifanya unaombea uchakachuaji, amani maendeleo na mengine wakati ukishuhudia siasa za shari, ujambazi, ufisadi na jinai. Kama tutakuwa wakweli, hapa amani itapatikana wapi bila haki? Maendeleo yatapatinaje bila uwajibikaji na uchapakazi? Hata tungeomba miaka milioni na kudhukuru uchi, Mungu si bwege. Hatatoa hizo baraka na vyote tunavyoongopa kuwa tunaombea. Jisaidie nikusaidie. Ukipanda mbigiri usitegemee kuvuna maua aina ya rose au jasmin. Ukichagua ufisadi utegemee ufisadi. Ukichagua mabadiliko utegemee mabadiliko. Simple.

Hebu tuwe serious kidogo. Hivi lipi la maana, kumwambia mwanao akapige kura au akadai haki? Hawa wachovu wa kiakili wanaokuja na usanii kama huu kwa vile usanii umewashinda sasa wanataka siasa kweli ni wabunifu au wana ndoto za kubuni? Tusiombee uchakachuaji. Badala yake tupiganie haki. Tulaani ufisadi, uzembe, usanii, ushenzi na upuuzi wa kila aina kama kila mtu kujifanya anaipenda kaya wakati anaihujumu. Hivi hawa wavivu wa kufikiri wanaowekeza katika kuomba badala ya kuamba ukweli wana maana kweli? Tumekuwa kaya ya wasanii watupu!

Nilimuona yule binti aitwaye Ubaya (the opposite) Koleo aliyekataa kuleleka akijinadi kuwa anawahamasisha akina mama wawambie watoto wao wakapige kura. Well, mbona ameanzisha ubaguzi? Kwanini asiwaombe wazazi wote wawili badala yake awaombe wanawake? Shame on you! Usitake kutubagua na mamisahib wetu.

Ngoja niongee kama kidhabu huyu wa kike apendaye kuchanganya kikameruni ka kiswa akitaka aonekane amebukua wakati hovyo. By the way, why are you openly discriminating againt the opposition? My understanding is that you are supposed to be neutral as an artist. Njaa nyingine bwana!

Sitashangaa kusikia kesho wajalaana fulani wenye njaa kama fisi wakiandaa kila aina ya upuuzi kuunga mkono upuuzi na jinai nyingine. Kaya yetu ahitaji kuombewa bali kuambiwa ukweli kuwa inanuka ufisadi na kutawaliwa na wasanii, wachovu na mafisadi wanaopaswa kufungashiwe virago wakaenda kumalizi maisha lupango. Kama mnaipenda kaya na si kuiponda kwanini msiwaombee walevi wazinduke na kuwatimua watesi wao? Haya masuala ya kuomba washitiri wenu wasifumaniwe au kutimuliwa kwenye ulaji yanaboa kuchosa na kukera only God knows. Shame on you! May you perish with them this time around! Wahenga walijisemea: Wajinga ndiyo waliwao. Acha nipanue: Wadaganyika ndiyo wadanganyikao.

Chanzo: Nipashe Sept., 12, 2015.

Baada ya Katibu mkuu wa zamani wa CHADEMA Dk Wilbrod Slaa kujing’atua toka kwenye kile alichokiita siasa za vyama, wamejitokeza watu wengi kujibumapigo japo bila mafanikio.

Alianza mwenyekiti wa NCCR-Mageuzi James Mbatia aliyekaririwa akisema kuwa matamshi ya Dk Slaa yalilenga kuligawanya taifa kwa vile aliwataja maaskofu ambao Mbatia hakuwataja majina. Hata hivyo, wakati akielezea mtafaruko juu ya namna mgombea wa UKAWA Edward Lowassa alivyojiunga nao, Dk Slaa alisema baada ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) kutompitisha Lowassa kwenye tano bora, askofu Josephat Gwajima alimpigia simu Dk Slaa akitaka wampokee Lowassa.

Sijui kama kueleza namna Gwajima ambaye ni askofu wa kujipachika alitumika kama mshenga wa Lowassa ni kuligawa taifa. Ni bahati mbaya kuwa Mbatia hakueleza namna ambavyo Slaa anataka kuligawanya taifa, kwa namna gani na ili iweje na apate nini. Kwanini Mbatia ameamua kutoa vitisho na uongo mwingine kwa mlango wa nyuma? Je anayeligawa taifa ni yule anayesema kuwa fulani alitumika au aliyetumika au kutumiwa? Kwanini baadhi ya viongozi wa kisiasa wanaongea na watanzania kama vile ni watu wasio na akili? Je hapa kugawa taifa kunaingiaje iwapo baadhi ya wanasiasa na baadhi ya wanaojiita viongozi wa kidini wamefunga ndoa haramu?

Kimsingi, wote wanaomshutumu na kumlaumu Slaa licha ya kumkosea adabu, kubabaisha na kuongopea umma, wanazidi kuanika uhovyo wao. Wanapaswa kujibu madai aliyotoa kwa hoja zinazoingia akilini. Wakanushe kama aliyosema si kweli na waeleze ukweli ni upi zaidi ya aliosema Slaa. Hakuna haja ya kutoa visingizio kuwa Slaa analigawanya taifa. Kama wahusika hawana la kusema heri wanyamaze kuliko kuendelea kujivua nguo. Je si kweli kuwa Lowassa aliingia UKAWA bila kujisafisha kama alivyotakiwa? Je Lowassa na wapambe zake wako tayari kujibu tuhuma? Kama hapakuwa na tatizo, ilikuwaje wahusika wakapinda kanuni na kujiweka rehani kwa Lowassa na marafiki na wafadhili zake walioko nyuma ya pazia?

Wapo waliosikika wakihoji kama Lowassa ni fisadi na wa hovyo ilikuwaje akateuliwa na rais Jakaya Kikwete kuwa waziri mkuu wake. Nadhani CCM na Kikwete wanaweza kutoa jibu rahisi kuwa baada ya kugundua kutofaa kwa Lowassa walimlazimisha kuachia nafasi hiyo kama alivyofanya hapo tarehe 7 Februari 2008 baada ya kutokuwa tayari kujieleza wala kujitetea kama alivyofanya hata wakati akijiunga na UKAWA. Na hii si mara ya kwanza Lowassa kutokujieleza au kujitetea. Hata mwaka 1995 marehemu baba wa taifa Mwl Julius Nyerere alipomtuhumu kuwa fisadi mwenye ukwasi wa kutisha asioweza kuutolea maelezo, Lowassa aliamua kujikalia kimya. Sijui alitumia ile falsafa ya kuwa kama kusema ni dhahabu kunyamaza ni almas au vinginevyo. Mara ya pili ni mwaka 2008 alipolazimika kuutema uwaziri mkuu. Mara nyingine ni sasa ambapo wengi wa wapinzani na wabaya zake wangetaka aeleze anachojua kuhusiana na Richmond, ile kashfa ya mabilioni iliyomtupa nje ya madaraka asifanye hivyo, badala yake Lowassa anasikika akitoa ahadi lukuki kama kutoa elimu bure kutajirisha watanzania na mengine mengi bila kugusia ufisadi ambao ndilo tatizo kubwa kwa taifa kwa sasa.

Wapo wanaoona kama anakwepa kugusia upinzani ingawa na hao wanaomkosoa hasa CCM hawazungumzii huo ufisadi kwa kinagaubaga. Wapo wanaodhani kuwa kama Lowassa ni fisadi na mchafu basi alikotoka CCM ndiyo usiseme kama alivyosema Mwenyekiti wa CHADEMA Freeman Mbowe wakati akimkaribisha Lowassa kuwa hata Malaika akiingia CCM ndani ya mwezi mmoja atakuwa shetani.

Tumalizie kwa kushauri viongozi wa UKAWA kuheshimiana na kuthaminiana. Ingawa Dk Slaa amejing’atua, si vizuri kupuuzia wala kusahau mchango wake katika kuifikisha CHADEMA na UKAWA hapo walipo. Kufanya hivyo ni ukosefu wa fadhila na ni tishio hata kwa akina Lowassa hasa pale watakaposhindwa kupata kile wanachopigania. Uchaguzi ni kamari. Hakuna anayejua wanachotaka watanzania hapo Oktoba. Hivyo, badala ya kupoteza muda kuzushiana na kushutumiana, viongozi wa UKAWA wanapaswa kujikita kwenye kuzijua shida za watanzania na kuwapa majibu ya matatizo yao kama yalivyotengenezwa na CCM. Hivyo, Slaa asigeuke sera wala punching bag wala kuondoka kwake kusiwe chanzo cha kuvuana nguo hadharani. Kwani ametimiza haki yake kama ambavyo viongozi wa UKAWA walifanya kwa kumkaribisha na kumpokea Lowassa.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Sept., 13, 2015.

Chama cha ACT-Wazalendo kina vituko. Kwenye bango hili hapa badala ya kuweka picha ya mgombea urais inawekwa picha ya kiongozi wake mkuu. Je hii ni aina ya demokrasia au uimla wa kidemokrasia au kutafuta umaarufu.

By Abdulrahman Kinana

In 2013 two British volunteer teachers, Katie Gee and Kirstie Trup – both at the time teenagers – suffered a horrific attack while in Zanzibar, part of Tanzania in East Africa, when two men on motorbikes threw sulphuric acid in their faces. Flown back to London, surgeons removed from Katie Gee, the worst affected of the two, burnt skin from 30 per cent of her body. One year later, she was still required to wear a plastic mask to reduce the scarring covering her face.

Assisted by investigators from the British police at New Scotland Yard and Interpol, the Tanzanian authorities later arrested for the crime members of Uamsho or “Awakening”, an Islamic terrorist group with known links to Boko Haram. They have now been charged in court. Uamsho has a history of targeting foreigners and even Muslim and Christian religious leaders who do not support their aim of tearing apart the union of Tanzania through terrorism and converting Zanzibar into an extremist state.

Even after the attacks on Gee and Trup, who were only in Zanzibar to help and others who have meant no harm to anyone, as we learnt in the first few weeks of election campaigns in Tanzania, Edward Lowassa, an opposition candidate, has clear sympathies to the aims of these extremists. For some years the status of Zanzibar within the United Republic of Tanzania has been an important question for the people of that island. A tiny minority advocates separation from the mainland with which it was united in the same year it overthrew the Arab regime. There is nothing wrong in holding perfectly legitimate political debates so long as they are pursued through peaceful, democratic means.
But the question is, how long it would be possible for such discussion to remain peaceful if the opposition were to succeed in the upcoming Tanzanian General Election? Lowassa, who, after only 18 months as Prime Minister, was forced by the Parliament to resign from the post after a corruption scandal has promised the release of those who committed the acid attack. Allowing the suspected terrorists to walk free and, without doubt, resume their violent campaign would threaten the safety of ordinary Zanzibarians, mainland Tanzanians – most of whom are moderate whether they follow Islam or Christianity – and foreign visitors, many of whom hail from the UK.

Lowassa is proposing this purely as part of his breathtakingly cynical bid for the presidency. Rejected by voters in his attempt to win the nomination to be the candidate for the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party he immediately decamped to the opposition to become theirs. Moderate opposition leaders, including Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, the chairman of the predominantly Zanzibarian Civic United Front have resigned, in protest, to support the government. We can only assume that Lowassa’s outreach to these extremists was a desperate response to the fact the majority of Zanzibarians in that long-standing stronghold for the opposition have been refusing to support his presidential bid.

It is hardly surprising they do not. This move has angered many Christian bishops who had called for government to swiftly prosecute extremists who are widely believed to have burnt churches and targeted Christians with violence, including acid attacks. It is clear that Lowassa’s interests do not lie with helping the people of Tanzania, but by helping himself to power, and the spoils he believes await him there. After all, the character of Lowassa is well known not just to Tanzanians but also to the West. Wikileaks revealed through one of many U.S. diplomatic cables that concern Lowassa exactly what the Americans think about him, when then U.S. Ambassador Mark Green stated: “Lowassa's corrupt activities have been an open secret throughout Tanzania for many years.”

Neither Tanzania nor the West can afford to have Tanzania as the new frontier of terrorism in Africa through Lowassa’s actions. Despite the terrifying attacks they have conducted over the years, they have not yet demonstrated they have the strength of other jihadist groups such as Al-Shabaab or Boko Haram. Indeed, by comparison, Tanzania has been mercifully peaceful and safe from the violence committed against our neighbours such as Kenya.

While who governs Tanzania is only a question the citizens of my country have the right to answer, it is right that Britain and its allies in the struggle against Islamic terrorism should be extremely concerned were Lowassa to win and action his promise to the extremists. When Al-Shabaab attacked Westgate Mall in Nairobi in 2013, the UK and US government issued travel advisories to its citizens against visiting many parts of Kenya. This has seriously affected their crucial tourism industry: it is without doubt that a revival of terror in Zanzibar would devastate the tourism industry of Tanzania and, in particular, that of Zanzibar on which the island is heavily dependent.

So the choice facing Tanzania at this coming election has ramifications both at home but also far beyond our own borders. If Lowassa and his opposition supporters win, a slim possibility as things stand today, then the country stands to become a new front for terrorists, just at the very time when they are facing defeat in other countries across Africa.
Source: http://www.thenomadiks.com/index.php/en/kunena/tourism-tanzania/1339-tanzania-cannot-be-allowed-to-be-the-new-front-for-terrorists#1404
Kinana has served as the first Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, and Deputy Defence and Deputy Foreign Minister of Tanzania. He now serves as Secretary-General for the governing CCM party.

I found myself remembering the elections of 1995 with dismay and anguish and angst. Especially remembering how boozers committed a sacrilege big time and the way policies were hopelessly and wantonly assassinated for the favour of smiles, flamboyance, and other nonsense instead of credentials. I still vividly remember how one bootlicker told me that his candidate had an infectious smile. Can a smile bring food to the table really? Utter nonsense. Anyways, there’s no need of making a big deal out of nothing. For ten years, boozers have paid dearly for their misconception and forgetfulness. They now need to make up their difference so that they can get an earnest and competent leader instead of a swindler in chief who’ll invite his cronies and suckers to join the frenzy of eating with both hands and legs.

Let’s become amenable by having a united front on getting a competent leader who’ll cleanse the mess we are in. Now that the wounds are still fresh, we’d make sure that we don’t repeat the same mistakes of 1995 and 2005 respectively. Shall we do, it’ll render us insane which means doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results which. Didn’t mzee Mchonga tell you that –at the time – we’re not looking for a bride? What did we earn from this goof? Don’t answer. Instead, remind yourselves of all scams and criminal laissez-faire sort of things you’ve braved for ten years. Remind of yourselves all those fools you see today acting like bon vivant who were just paupers and illiterates that are commanding billions. You know what I mean.

Indian crows will be hunting for political leftovers to back and finance expecting to reap a hundred times after they install their choice. Some will even run themselves after finding that politics does pay hugely. Those who err thinking that the Chavdas and Rostams are dead should think twice. I know many have their spirits dampen. Use that as a catalyst for change. I know. Those already bought by fisi and fisadis will come with their dosh to bribe you. Take their dosh but don’t give them your vote. Let’s let this year be the year of the new dawn for the new beginning that we lost in 1985 when Mzee Mchonga called it a day which marked our beginning of cascading into the mess we’re in today. Although everybody is allowed to make mistake, s/he should not be allowed to repeat the mistake. The fool is always the one bitten twice in the same hole.

When I look at how unemployment and, corruption are on the rise, I think all voters will react to them by voting wisely despite what. Kick them out and show them the door come next general elections. So, too, shall they chakachua, don’t buy into it. Stay put and boycott whatever results you think were doctored. To make sure that mistakes are not repeated, boozers must be prepared for whatever shall anybody tamper with or rig their votes. This is the message I’ve been given to announce loudly and clearly. Hear Danganyika. I want you to weep in joy but not in despair as it is currently. I want all of Danganyikans to enjoy the cake of the hunk equally. And this is only through voting a responsible and accountable govt in power. You are the movers and shakers now. Don’t miss this golden opportunity. I want accountability and creativity but not criminality and imbecility as it seems to be currently. Ghanaians have a proverb: When a bird stays too long on the tree it invites a stone. Those who have stayed long should know what is store for them. From the look of things, anything can happen shall boozers keep their vengeance, anger and angst due to how they’ve suffered and continue to suffer. As Ken Kaunda would say Tiende pamodzi ndi mtima umo. Let’s walk together with one heart or anything if anything.

I know our hunk is bedeviled with corruption, nepotism, nihilism and all types of negative isms. Self-centredness and selfishness have eaten our hunk up. We need to reclaim it this year through a peaceful means, ballot box. Let those who took you for a ride freak out after the elections. Deny them your vote. Let those who presided over national robbery and thuggery pay for their evil deeds. Let those who allowed the sacrilege of robbing the hunk, killing people with albinism, poaching, embezzlement and above all nonessential use and misuse of our resources and dosh pay dearly this time around. This time you must for the person who’ll spend much time in the office of the head instead of the one who’ll spend much of your time and dosh globetrotting with his gang of swindlers as it’s been for ten years.

Given that you’ve a lot to ponder on, I must doff hither asking you to please make sure that you hunk’s not going to the dogs once again. Vote accountability. Vote fiscal discipline. Vote development. Vote change. Don’t vote Corruption, Crap and Machinations.

Source: Guardian Sept., 13, 2015.

Baada ya waziri mkuu wa zamani aliyeondolewa madarakani na kashfa ya Richmond, Edward Lowassa kujiondoa kwenye Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) mengi yamesemwa na kuandikwa. Wapo waliomuona kama Lowassa anahangaika kupata urais kwa gharama yoyote. Wapo waliompongeza kwa kuachana na utumwa wa chama. Pia wapo waliomuona kama mkombozi. Wengine walimuona kama salata wa kawaida anayetafuta ulaji. Pia wapo waliomuona kama mwanasiasa komavu aliyeamua kutimiza haki yake kufanya anachoamini.

Mawazo haya kinzani yametukumbusha kisa cha watu maarufu katika dini mbili kuu duniani yaani Ukristo na Uislamu. Katika kudurusu sintofahamu hii tumeonelea tutumie wahanga wa dini waliokuwa wasaliti wa dini husika lakini baadaye wakaishia kuwa mashujaa wa dini hizi.

Kwanza, tumdurusu mtume Paulo ambaye kwenye Ukristo anaweza kuchukua namba mbili kwenye umaarufu baada ya Yesu Kristo tokana na maandiko na mawazo yake. Mwanzoni, Paulo alisifika kwa kuwakamata na kuwasulubu wanafunzi wa Yesu. Vitabu vinatuambia kuwa kipindi fulani Paulo–bingwa wa kuua na kusulubu wanafunzi wa Yesu–aliona mwanga na kujiunga na Yesu na kuwa mtu muhimu katika kueneza injili aliyohubiri Yesu.

Pili ni Yuda ambaye naye alikuwa mmoja wa wanafunzi wa Yesu. Huyu–tofauti na Paulo–kwa tamaa zake, aliamua kumsaliti Yesu hasa pale alipowaonyesha watesi na wauaji wake nani ni Yesu.

Mwingine ni sayyidna Umar Ibn al-Khattab al Faruq. Umar–kama Paulo–alisifika kwa kuwatesa na kuwaua wafuasi wa Mtume Muhammad (SAW). Baada ya kuingiwa na ujumbe, Umar aliamua kuachana na kuwatesa na kuwaua wafuasi wa Mtume Muhammad na kujiunga naye katika kueneza Uislam.

Tukirejea kwa Lowassa, si siri kuwa alikulia na kufikia mafanikio yake kwenye CCM. Kama Paulo na Umar, aliona mwanga; na kuamua kujiunga na upinzani baada ya kutoswa na CCM. Tofauti na watajwa hapo juu, Lowassa alifikia hatua ya kuachana na CCM baada ya kubwagwa kwenye kinyang’anyiro cha urais. Hivyo, anaonekana kama Yuda Iskarioti, mwanafunzi wa Yesu, aliyekisaliti chama kilichomtengeneza na kumlea kutokana na tamaa zake binafsi. Je mtu wa namna hii–sisi walioko nje ya ulingo wa siasa–tumhukumu vipi kwa kulinganisha na wahusika tajwa hapo juu? Je Lowassa ni msaliti, askari aliyeuona mwanga au muumini aliyeingiwa na ujumbe? Swali hili ni muhimu hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa wapo wanaotaka CCM iangushwe baada ya kuwaangusha kwa muda mrefu. Kwa hawa, yeyote anayeweza kufanikisha kuanguka kwa CCM anafaa bila kujali historia yake kama ilivyokuwa kwa Paulo na Umar. Kwa wana CCM, kosa alilotenda Lowassa–kama Yuda–halisameheki. Je tunaotetea maslahi ya taifa tushike na kuacha lipi? Jibu la swali hili–mara nyingi–linategemea uko upande upi.

Ukisiliza wapenzi wa kambi husika katika kipindi cha baada ya Lowassa kuondoka CCM na kujiunga na Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) na Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (UKAWA) unaweza kushawishika na misimamo na hoja za wahusika. Inahitaji kuwa makini kuamua ni kipi uchukue na kipi uache katika kuamua ni wapi uegemee hasa kipindi hiki tunachoelekea kwenye uchaguzi mkuu. Lowassa amewachanganya wengi. Wapo waliompenda kwa vile alikuwa CCM na wapo walioanza kumpenda baada ya kuingia upinzani. Je kinachofuatwa hapa ni mtu au sera? Je Lowassa ameleta sera gani au jipya gani kwenye upinzani ukiachana nafsi yake? Je Lowassa ni msaliti, aliyeona mwanga au mchumia tumbo anayetafuta mkate wake popote pale bila kujali kama aliyeyashikilia ni shetani au mtakatifu? Wapo wanaoamini kuwa kama Yuda Iskarioti asingemsaliti Yesu basi ukombozi kwa njia ya kumwaga damu usingefanyika. Ukiangalia visa vya Paulo na Umar–kadhalika–navyo vilifanikisha kuenea kwa dini husika. Kuepuka kula hasara, wahusika tunapaswa kuchagua kati ya mtu na maslahi ya taifa, maslahi binafsi na ya taifa na pia kuangalia dhana nzima ya ukombozi (mabadiliko) tokana na nguvu au mtafaruko alivyoleta Lowassa kwenye siasa za Tanzania.

Dira Sept., 14, 2015.

Hivi karibuni mradi wa mabasi yaendayo kasi umezinduliwa japo nyuma ya pazia bado kuna maswali mengi. Kwa wanaokumbuka sakata la kutwaliwa kinyemela na kifisadi kwa lilokuwa Shirika la Usafiri Dar Es Salaam (UDA) watakumbuka fika kuwa serikali pamoja na Halmashauri ya Jiji la Dar Es Salaam walishindwa kutoa maelezo ya kina na yanayoingia akilini juu ya uuzwaji wa shirika hili.

Hata kabla ya vumbi kutua, tunaletewa zengwe jingine ambapo UDA hii–ilioyouzwa na kutwaliwa kinyemela na kifisadi–eti imeungana na Dar Es Salaam Rapid Transit (DRT) kuunda UDART. Hakika ndoa hii ni ya mashaka sana na ni hasara kwa umma. Inashangaza na kutia shaka ambapo makampuni haya mawili yanavyoweza kuungana huku mojawapo likiwa halieleweki uhalali wa upatikanaji wake. Je kuna wazito nyuma ya hujuma hii? Kwani wakati wa uzinduzi wa mradi husika, mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dar Es Salaam, Mecky Said Mecky alisikika akisema kuwa kitendo cha kuwakasimisha mradi wazawa ni ushahidi kuwa serikali inawajali watu wake. Je ni ya kweli haya au kuna maslahi binafsi yanayolindwa hapa? Kama ni kujali wazawa tulidhani basi hata viwanda na migodi vingechukua hatua hiyo. Ukiachia hili, Tanzania–kwa sasa–haina sera ya uzawa bali uwekezji wa kichukuaji na uchuuzi. Hivyo, madai kama haya yanakinzana na hali hali na ukweli halisi.

Swali linalosumbua vichwa vya watu wengi ni kwanini serikali imeharakisha ukasimishaji wa mradi kwa mojawapo ya kampuni yenye kutia shaka bila kutoa maelezo ya uuzwaji wa UDA kwanza? Je dili hili lina maslahi kwa taifa au kundi dogo la watu fulani wanaotumia mamlaka yao kuwahujumu wananchi kwa kisingizio cha kuwajali? Sijui Mecky alimaanisha nini kusema kuwa Tanzania inawajali wazawa kinyume na sera husika? Je ni kwanini serikali imeingia ubaguzi huu kama hakuna namna?

Kwa hali ilivyo–kama wananchi watakuwa makini–kuna harufu ya rushwa, ufisadi na hujuma kwenye mradi huu wa UDART. Kinachoshangaza zaidi ni ile hali ya serikali ile ile ambaye waziri wake aliwahi kukanusha kuwa hisa zake katika UDA ziliuzwa kutumia jumla ya shilingi 39.6bn ambazo zililipwa kwa kampuni ya kichina Beijing International Engineering Group (BCEG), kujenga miundombinu ya kutumiwa na UDART bila maslahi wala kumaliza mgogoro wa kwanza juu ya uuzwaji wa UDA. Bila shaka hii ni pesa ya umma ambayo inapaswa kutolewa maelezo ya kina juu ya ni vipi itarejeshwa, kulipwa na umma utanufaika vipi na fedha yake. Je kwanini serikali imewajengea uwezo watu binafsi chini ya kisingizio cha uzawa? Wengi walitarajia mwekezaji kwenye mradi huu awe na uwezo wa kujijengea miundo mbinu na kuendesha mradi husika bila kutegemea fedha ya umma. Hii ndiyo biashara. Sidhani kama inaingia akilini eti tu aje kuchimba madini–kwa mfano–apewe mtaji na nyenzo toka kwa serikali. Kama mtu wa namna hii ni muhimu, kwanini serikali isijiendeshee mradi wake au kuuza kwa njia ya tenda au mnada? Je hapa serikali zaidi ya kujichanganya na kubabaisha inatoa ishara gani? Je kuna serikali ndani ya serikali hadi serikali kuu inaendelea kuingia mkenge hivi? Tunashauri rais ajaye afumue ndoa hii na kujua kilichoko nyuma ya pazia kabla ya umma kupigwa tena kama ilivyozoeleka.

Ukiangalia hata hiki kinachoitwa UDART na nani ni nani katika mradi huu, unagundua mazingaombwe ambapo mkurugenzi mtendaji mwenye kutia shaka wa UDA Robert Kisena eti ndiye mkurugenzi mkuu wa UDART. Hatuambiwi wala kupewa mchanganuo wa ugawanaji madaraka baina ya UDA na DRT. Hili nalo linaleta shaka jingine juu ya mradi mzima na wahusika wake. Je nani anasimamia hisa za serikali ambazo UDA ilichukua kifisadi na kinyume cha serikali? Je serikali imeamua kutoa sadaka hisa zake kwa Kisena na ili iweje na Kisena kama nani? Wananchi wa Dar Es Salaam wanapaswa kuacha kupewa matumaini na maneno mazuri. Badala yake wahoji utawaliwaji wa shirika zao na uchezeaji wa fedha za serikali katika kuendesha biashara binafsi. Ndiyo, watanzania wanahitaji usafiri wa haraka. Hata hivyo, hawahitaji haraka inayosababisha fedha na mali zao kuibiwa na watu wachache wenye madaraka. Nadhani mradi wa UDART kama utafukunyuliwa na wapinzani wakajenga hoja imara, unaweza kuizamisha CCM. Tunashauri wananchi watake majibu sahihi kabla ya uchaguzi mkuu ili waamue nani wamuamini nchi yao. Je UDART si hujuma ndani ya Hujuma?

Chanzo: Dira Sept., 14, 2015.

Baada ya mchunaji, sorry, mchungaji wa kujipachia uaskofu aitwaye Jose Gwaijumaa kuwafunika wanasiasa kwenye siasa, kijiwe kinahoji anafanya hivyo kama nani wakati kayani kwetu kuna utaratibu wa kutenganisha siasa na dini au anahubiri duni?

Mpemba anaingia akiwa anavuta tasbih yake na kusema, “Wallahi mie nshangaa sana hawa UKAUA. Yaani pamoja na kumuua Pumba na Silaha bado waendelea kujiua kwa kuhubiri udini?”

Mgosi Machungi anamchomekea Mpemba, “Hebu Ami tieeze vizui tikikueewe. Unamaanisha nini unaposema eti UKAUA wanahubii udini?”

Mpemba anajibu, “Ami hujamsikia huyu nchunaji Jose Gwaijumaa aiyejipachia uaskofu na upupu anaomwaga ukiachia mbali madai ya ajabu aniyotoa?"

“Ahaa unaongelea huyu msanii na mshenga wa Luwasa siyo! Nadhani anafaa sana kuvaa gwanda na si joho. Sioni tofauti yake na yule kidhabu wa nambari wani aitwaje Livingjiwe Lushindo. Hata hivyo, sishangai, msimu wa kutafunana, kuhadaana, kuuzana, kuchuuzana na kutapeliana ndiyo huu. Kimsingi, huyu Gwaijumaa alipaswa achunguzwe ukwasi wake kabla ya kujitiatia anajua siasa wakati si cha dini wala siasa ajuacho.” Anajibu Msomi Mkatatamaa.

“Nadhani huyu msakatonge mnamuonea bure. Mshaambiwa ni mshenga. Sasa mnataka afanye kazi gani zaidi ya upambe. Je mnajua analipwa au ameahidiwa kiasi gani?” anajibu Mijjinga huku akibusu kikombe chake cha kahawa.

Kapende anaamua kutia timu, “Nyie hamumjui huyu. Huyu ni wale wanaotumia majoho kujitajirisha. Yuko tayari kuingia kitandani na yeyote ilmradi mkono uende kinywani. Hata hivyo, siwalaumu hawa wasanii kutokana na kaya yetu kugeuzwa ya wasanii. Huoni anavyomlaumu Dk Silaha kuwa anatumiwa wakati yeye alianza zamani kutumiwa siyo kutumika?”

Mipawa hataki aachwe nyuma. Anakwanyua mic, “Dokta Kapende nakuunga mkono na mguu. Usemayo yana maana sana. Tokana na mfumo wa kisanii, sasa hivi tuna hata wauza bwibwi wanaojiita wachungaji hata maaskofu. Ama kweli kaya imeingiliwa na mdudu huyu wa ufisadi na ulafi. Gwaijumaa akitumika basi kila mmoja anaona anatumika kama yeye!”

Sofia Lion aka Kanungaembe anakwanyua mic, “Japo kaka zangu huwa natofautiana nanyi mara nyingi. Kwa hili mmenipata kweli kweli.”

Kabla ya kuendelea, Mbwamwitu anamchokea Sofi na kusema, “Hebu tueleze vizuri nasi tukupate. Wamekupataje?”

Huku akiwa anatabasamu Sofi anajibu, “Usipate tabu hata nawe utanipata tu. Kusema ukweli huyu kidhabu anatia kinyaa kiasi cha hata kuamsha hisia za udini. Tuliwaonya siku nyingi kuwatahadhari hawa wapingaji wa kila kitu. Sasa nadhani mnaanza kutuelewa hatimaye. Hawa ni waharibifu wala hawana lolote.”

“Da Sofi mie nimekupata japo sivyo unavyotegemea. Yapo mambo nakubaliana nawe na yapo mengine sikubaliani nawe katu. Nadhani kama alivyosema Dk Silaha, kinyesi ni kinyesi hata kiwe chooni au chumbani. Hivyo, kwangu huyu mchunaji wala hanishangazi anachofanya. Hivi kweli kiongozi wa kiroho anaweza kuwa yule? Mmewahi kusikia lugha ya wapiga debe anayotumia? Sijui kwanini asingejiendea shule lau kujipatia elimu kuliko kuendekeza njaa! Hata hivyo, tuwalaumu hawa waliotawala kaya miaka yote kwa kulea uoza kama huu ambapo kila tapeli anawatapeli wachovu. Huyu ametumia vyote siasa na dini.”

Kanji naye anaamua kula mic, “Mimi sangaa sana ona hii chunaji nasema ongo mingi. Mimi ona kwa TV. Eti sema bibi ya Silaa nakataza yeye siasa. Sasa veve mambo ya tandani ya Silaa sisi nahusu nini dugu yangu Jimaa?”

Msomi anarejea, “Kuna jambo mnapaswa muelewe. Nadhani jamaa wanamng’ang’ania Dk Silaha ili waepushwe kung’ang’aniwa wao. Ukitaka kuwakwepa mbwa watupia mifupa. Kwa watu wasomi na ambao wako serious kutaka kuchukua kaya, wangejikita kuichapa nambari wani. Pia kwa watu waliopiga shule na kujua mikakati ya kisiasa wasingeruhusu wahuni na majuha kusimama majukwaani na kujadili mambo mazito wasiyo nayo ujuzi. Huyu Gwajumaa ana madhambi mengi ambayo yakiwekwa wazi kama si kukimbia kaya anaweza kuishia lupango kama si kujinyonga. Nadhani wanaojenga hisia za udini hawakosei.”

Mzee Maneno anakula mic, “Nasikia hata hii chopa wanayoita ya Gwaijumaa kumbe si yake bali ya Luwasa anayemtumia huyu mchunaji. Hata hivyo, nawalaumi nambari wani kwa kutengeneza mazingira ya baadhi ya matapeli kuwaibia wachovu kutumia dini wakitangaza kufanya miujiza wakati miujiza yenyewe ni kuwatoa mshiko na si zaidi. Huyu Gwajumaa anapaswa achunguzwe kama kweli ni askofu, ukwasi wake na kama ana sifa anazodai anazo.”

“Mzee Maneno maneno yako mazito sana. Nimependa pendekezo lako la kuchunguzwa akili na ukwasi wa mhusika. Kwa mtu kama yeye angefanya kama akina Rugemalayer na Singasinga wa escrow, kunyamaza akiomba Mungu itokee miujiza asinyee debe ingawa hili hawataliepuka siku moja iwe ni hapa duniani au mbinguni,” Kapende anazoza.

“Yakhe mie nshawaambia tuunde chama vinginevyo twaweza kuwa kitu cha kupokezana baina ya matapeli wa kisiasa.” Mpemba anaonya.

Mgosi hangoji Ami amalize. Anachomekea, “Nadhani hapa wa kuanzisha chama siyo si bai Gwaijumaa ili ahubii vizui siasa badaaa ya dini.”

Kijiwe kikiwa kinanoga si likapita shangingi la Gwajumaa. Tulilikimbiza likatuacha. Vinginevyo tulitaka tunkamate na kutia adabu halafu tumvue majoho na kumvisha magwanda.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Sept., 16, 2015.

Born with Voice examines the psyche and scrape of the victims of various crimes, especially sexual discrimination-cum-exploitation, rape, and the killing of people with albinism. The author digs deeper into the hearts and minds, and plights of victims to inspire the society to stand with, and support them. The book offers some nuggets such as, understanding the phenomenon, confronting it and stopping wars that cause sufferings such as rape and death. It champions the urgency of voice for all and sundry. It challenges the industries of technologies of crime and violence to rise above selfish self-interest in the interest of human rights and voicing the voiceless victims of their greed.

Baada ya mchunaji, sorry, mchungaji mwenye cheo cha kujipa cha askofu Jose Gwajumaa kutawala majukwaa ya siasa, Mlevi ameamua kumtolea uvivu.

Kila mchovu, mdanganyika na mbongolalalander ana haki ya kujiunga na chama chochote cha siasa ingawa si wote. Ndata, wasoja na viongozi wa kiroho wasio na uroho wanaweza kuwa na vyama wanavyopenda japo hawapaswi kuonyesha hadharani. Hii ni kutokana na kuepusha kuwagawa na kuwakwaza waumini. Hata hivyo, siku hizi mambo yamebadilika. Wapo viongozi wa kiroho wanaotia shaka wanaounga mkono vyama fulani tena hadhani. Wengine wamegeuka wasemaji wasio rasmi wa vyama husika. Waambiwe wachague moja joho au gwanda.

Pamoja na bangi na ulevi wangu, huwa nashangaa mantiki ya ngurumbili hawa kufanya wanayofanya wasijue ni kinyume cha sheria na maadili. Inakuwa noma pale anayejiita kiongozi wa kiroho kujiingiza kwenye siasa za majitaka kama vile kuwa “mshenga” wa mgombea fulani kiasi kujiingiza kwenye vita vya kisiasa. Je huyu tumueleweje usawa huu?

Hivi karibuni, Gwajumaa alisikika “akimvua nguo” Dk Willy Silaha, katibu wa zamani wa Chakudema aliyeachia ngazi baada ya kutokubaliana na chata lake kuweka mfukoni na wale anaowaita mafisadi mapapa tena wa kunuka. Alisikika akitoboa siri za ndani za Dk Silaha kinyume cha sheria na maadili. Je huyu ana mke; na kama anaye atafurahi kusikia mambo ya chumbani kwake kwenye mikutano ya waandishi wa umbea? Ama kweli mkuki kwa nguruwe kwa binadamu mchungu!

Gwajumaa aliyetajwa na Dk Silaha kuwa mshenga wa Eddy Luwasa, alipagawa pale Dk Silaha alipoanika siri zake na undumilakuwili wake. Kujibu mapigo, alinyofoa tuhuma kiduchu kwenye nyingi alizofyatua Dk Silaha. Gwajumaa alidandia lile dai kuwa alimwambia Dk Silaha kuwa Luwasa angechomoka toka Nambari Wani akiwa na waishiwa kibao huku akiungwa nkono na mabishop kama 30 waliokatiwa uchache. Gwajumaa anasema kitendo cha Dk Silaha kuwatuhumu watu wa God ni chakulaaniwa. Tumuulize swali dogo. Je watu wa God hawahongwi? Mbona Yuda Iskarioti alihongwa vipande 30 akamsaliti mwana wa Adamu sawa na viongozi wa kiroho wanavyomsaliti kwa kujiingiza kwenye mambo ya madili na kiuroho badala ya maadili na ya kiroho?

Swali la nyongeza: Mbona hivi karibuni askofu mmoja wa kweli alikiri kuwekewa njuluku zipatazo milioni 40 kwenye akaunti yake na fisadi wa Escrow Jimmy Rugemalayer? Je Gwajumaa anawaongelea maaskofu wapi wakati siku hizi wapo wengi wa kweli na wa kujipachika? Anayejipachika cheo kikubwa kama hiki atashindwa nini kuhongwa ukiachia mbali kuwa na maaskofu ni binadamu? Nani angeamini kuwa watu wa God wangewatafuna kondoo wao kama ilivyotokea kwa kanisa moja kubwa ulimwenguni ambapo makasisi wake walipatikana na hatia za kulawiti na kunajisi watoto na waumini wao tena kwa miongo kibao?

Pamoja na bangi zangu, nakumbuka kuwa Yesu alisema kuwa mbinguni ni kwa maskini na si kwa matajiri. Rejea mfano wa Zakayo. Leo hii kuna wachunaji sorry, wachungaji ni matajiri wa kutisha hadi kununua vyopa au helkopta kwa kimakonde. Namshauri Dk Kanywaji Makomeo awashughulikie wakwasi hawa waeleze walivyoupata. Pia nawashauri wakwasi hawa wanaowaibia waumini wajinga na wenye matatizo lukuki wasome Matayo 19:24 isemayo, “Heri ngamia kupita kwenye tundu la sindano kuliko wakwasi kuingia kwenye ufalme wa Mungu.”

Kama Gwajumaa na wengine kama yeye wanapenda siasa si wa waunde vyama badala ya kuwa mguu mmoja kwenye dini na mwingine kwenye siasa? Hata hivyo, hawatafanikiwa. Maana ukiwa kiongozi wa kiroho mwenye uroho ukataka kufanya siasa nje ya chama twawala hufiki popote.

Zumbe atogolwe sana na mbarikiweni sana wasomaji wa pumba hizi za mlevi bingwa wa bangi na ulabu. Wachanganya siasa na dini walaaniwe kama wale wachuuzi waliokuwa wamegeuza sinagogi kuwa genge la biashara.

Chanzo: Nipashe Sept., 19, 2015.

Sina haja ya kumtetea Dk Wilbrod Slaa katibu wa zamani wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo. Ila maneno ya hovyo, kuudhi na yaliyovuka mipaka yaliyotolewa na anayejiita askofu Josephat Gwajima yamenilazimisha kuandika haya ninayoandika.

Gwajima alikaririwa kwenye mitandao akisema kuwa aliyesababisha Dk Slaa kuachana na Slaa ni mkewe na siyo mapenzi yake. Japo madai kama haya licha ya kuwa ya kizushi na kitoto, yanavuka mipaka. Hapa Kanada wananchi wana usemi mmoja kuwa the government has no right to know what is done in our bedroom yaani serikali haina mamlaka ya kuingia kwenye vyumba vyetu vya kulala. Wakanada walitoa kauli hii baada ya baadhi ya wanajamii kutaka kujua kila kitu kuhusiana maisha ya raia na wakazi wa hapa.

Kinachoshangaza ni ile hali ya mtu anayejiita askofu tena mwanandoa kushindwa kujua mipaka yake kama binadamu, kiongozi wa kiroho hata kama anatia shaka na kama mwanandoa. Hapa ndipo najiuliza: Je Gwajima akipigwa na mkewe atatangaza au atapenda mtu yeyote atangaze? Je kufokewa kwa Dk Slaa –kama alivyokutengeneza na kukuzusha Gwajima –kunamsaidia nini mtanzania wa kawaida?

Je Gwajima anamshambulia na kumdhalilisha Dk Slaa kama nani? Kwanini hakujibu madai yaliyotolewa na Dk Slaa kuwa Gwajima ni mshenga wa Edward Lowassa mgombea wa Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (UKAWA). Je hii mikakati ya kijinga na kizamani anayotumia Gwajima imebarikiwa na Lowassa au tuseme amemtuma? Je kwa alivyovuka mipaka, anadhani anawasaidia UKAWA?

Tangu Gwajima ajitokeze baada ya kumkosea adabu askofu mkuu wa Jimbo kuu la Dar Es Salaam mhashamu Polycarp Kardinali Pengo, wengi wanashinda kumwelewa kama ni mwanasiasa au mchungaji. Kwa wanaojua sifa na hadhi ya uaskofu, wanaona kama anachofanya Gwajima ni kutukanisha hicho cheo. Hata hivyo, ana hasara gani kama amejipachika chake?

Kitendo cha Gwajima nadhani kimemshushia yeye heshima kuliko mhanga wake ukiachia mbali kuzidi kuivua nguo UKAWA. Inashangaza viongozi wa UKAWA ambao wengi wao wamekwenda shule kuruhusu siasa za matusi na kashfa kama hizi.

Tunashauri Gwajima –hata kama ni mshenga wa mgombea wa UKAWA–ajitahidi kujua na kukubali kuwa uchaguzi ni suala la muda. Kuna maisha baada ya uchaguzi. Hakuna haja ya kutukana wakunga na uzazi ungalipo au kumtukana mamba kabla hujavuka mpya. Hakuna madai ya kushangaza kama Gwajima kudai kuwa Dk Slaa anatumika. Hii inaweza kujenga dhana kuwa kwa vile Gwajima ameshindwa kukanusha au kukiri kutumiwa na Lowassa, hivyo basi anadhani kila mtu anatumiwa kama anavyotumiwa.

Kuna vitu vingine hata ukiwaambia ndege watakucheka. Inashangaza mtu kama Gwajima kusimama hadharani akatoa madai kuwa amemwekea walinzi Dk Slaa. Kama nani? Kimsingi, Gwajima anapaswa ajitahidi kuachana na maigizo anayofanya kwenye biashara yake ambapo huwaaminisha watu kuwa ana uwezo wa kufufua. Atofautishe suala la Dk Slaa na madai kama yale aliyotoea kuwa angeweza kumfufua marehemu Amina Chifupa.

Hata hivyo, kuna haja ya kuilaumu serikali ambayo imeruhusu kila msanii na msakatonge kusema na kufanya atakavyo hata kama anachofanya hakiwezekani au utapeli. Nani anaweza kumfufua hata inzi leo kama tutakuwa wakweli?

Japo Gwajima anaweza kujiridhisha kuwa amefanya kazi ya wale wanaomtumia waliyomtuma kuifanya, kama Dk Slaa ataamua kushitaki –kama ilivyotokea kwa mhashamu Pengo –anaweza kujikuta pakanga. Kuna haja ya serikali kuanza kuchunguza madai hasa kuhusiana na nyadhifa fulani kujiridhisha kuwa wanaodai kuwa nazo wamezipata kihalali na kwa kufuata tararatibu ukiachia mbali kuchunguza kama wanazimudu. Sikutegemea askofu–kama kweli mhusika ni askofu wa kweli aliyetimiza vigezo–kusema aliyosema tena mbele ya vyombo vya habari.

Pia tuchukue fursa hii kuwashauri UKAWA kuachana na siasa za kihuni zinazoweza kujenga hata dhana za udini ukiachia mbali kuumizana kuzishiana na kukashifiana. Pia UKAWA wachunguze washenga wao. Sijui inajenga picha gani kwa wapiga kura wanapomuona askofu au shehe akipigia debe chama fulani wakati hapaswi kuwa shabiki wa chama chochote? Je wanakwazwa vipi kusikia kuwa askofu anayepaswa kuwa mshenga wa Yesu anakuwa mshenga wa mwanasiasa tena mwenye kutia shaka?

Tumalizie kwa kuwashauri wapiga kura kuwaepuka watu wasiojua mipaka ya uhuru wao. Si hao tu, hata hao wanaowatuma wanapaswa kuogopwa kama ukoma hivyo kutopewa kura. Maana wakipata madaraka hawa wataumiza wengi kutokana na upogo na uroho na ubinafsi wao. Je Gwajima, kama mkeo akikupiga utatangaza au kupenda mtu mwingine atangaze? Inadhalilisha sana hasa mambo kama haya ambao licha ya kuwa dhambi na jinai yanapotendwa na mtu anayejiita askofu au kiongozi wa kiroho.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Sept., 20, 2015.

It is obvious that time is up for President Jake Kiquette. I think he’s currently packing up ready to hit the road to oblivion. We indeed will miss his shows which were but a tragicomedy of some sort so to speak. Many will miss him especially the kit and caboodle that benefited under his lasssez-faire watch. Boozers will miss his promises that he seriously wanted to fulfill. I still remember his super promise of Better Life for All (BLA) which benefited All around him especially members of his family, partners, friends and partners. Chaps like Eddie Luwasa, Jimmy Rugemalayer, Singasiga Roat Tamu Aziz, Nizero Kadamage and many more will badly miss his generosity that enabled them to become billionaire in the hunk of dirty paupers. Again, as Jake exits the scene who knows what Dr. Kanywaji will do after taking over?

I wonder now when I hear chaps like Eddie make rumpus accusing Jake of all messes such as laxity, doing nothing and whatnot. Why don’t they appreciate that Jake was a good globetrotter that brought fame to the hunk? Had he not been lax–I think–such fellas would have been wailing in Segerea after robbing the hunk. Do they think we’ve forgotten Richmonduli? Hell no! They must remember Dr. Harry Mwakiembe’s warning that they can have a date with a judge anytime shall the powers that be decide to.

Another promise I remember vividly despite being sozzled is about creating jobs. Indeed, the son of man created a lot of jobs for all such as Salmia, riz-wani, Willy maschillings, Amie Makara, Silvia and Mihigie Rweyependekeza who’ll miss his reign dearly. Again, when Jake promised better life for all (BLA) boozers didn’t get it. They didn’t know he meant Better Life for All around him especially courtiers, bootlickers and praise singers. How many ambassadors DCs judges, RCs and whatnot he offered such posh jobs? Had he not been the head do you think kids like Riz-one would have landed parliamentary jobs? What of the first woman who ended up creating a company through which she raked a lot of dosh not to mention being welcomed and treated like president simply because he shares bed with the big man?

Indeed, Jake created jobs under the doctrine of expanding the size of the govt to create political jobs he awarded to friends and partners. Sometimes, absolute power corrupts absolutely especially when on is an imperial president. You can gage this under Jake whereby all those alleged to have participated in graft weren’t charged, jailed even interrogated. What a legacy! Jake’s legacy surpasses even mzee Ruxa’s who initiated all this theatre we enjoy today in the upper echelons of power.

Being a guy who’s hyped as kipenzi cha walevi, Jake made sure that everybody did whatever he or she deemed fit. Drug barons will miss him immensely not to forget our animals that ended up boarding planes as they flew to the Gulf. For the love of his earthlings, Jake made sure that nobody suffers under his watch. Fakers were not put in trouble due to the fact that they gained more diplomas. How many doctors were made under Jake’s watch? Had it not been for Jake –do you think–literati like Marry Nyagu, Dolorous Kamala, Emmy Nchimvi, Makorongo Mahanga, Didier Makalio, Billy Lukuvie and others would become ones? Remember the founder of this science Cyril Chitalilo? Why then say that he didn’t provide and improve education while people landed PhDs easily and faster? Don’t ask if such degrees are genuine or not. Dr. School Kawa-dog will too miss the man dearly.

Our shilling that’s always been in the ICU will dearly miss the guy who allowed to it to enjoy a free fall as our external debt swelled astronomically.

What should I say vis-à-vis guys like, thugs EPA, Escrow and Kagoda who made a killing easily and got away with murder? Guess what. If it Jake weren’t a loving person, such people would have rotted behind bars given that he still has the lists of almost every criminal in the hunk.

So, too, school girls who were impregnated will remember him for giving them the best advice ever saying they must stop kiherehere in order to avoid being poked.

Another thing that boozers will miss is oft-seeing Jake boarding pipa as he globetrotted to see to it he gets dosh for their upkeep. So, too, as his handlers and spin doctors used to tell us, his many trips abroad brought a lot of dosh however our external debt kept on opposing his efforts to make our hunk richer. Those who used to enjoy a ride whenever the man toured the world will miss him dearly too.

Jake did a lot of things. His legacy is second to none. He loved his paupers dearly. He enjoyed them. Though, I don’t know if they enjoyed him the same way.

Go Jake go. Go never turn back. Go. Many eaters and joyriders who used to accompany him will miss you though in different styles and manners. All in all, we’ll miss Jake's courage of the mad to see to it that the hunk was on autopilot for ten years of your stewardship.

Source: Guardian Sept., 20, 2015.

Mlevi alaani wakumbafu na waropokaji

Magufuli anapoanza kutetea uoza kabla ya kuingia ikulu

Luwasa: Enrichment by rip off

Polisi wajitenge na siasa na upendeleo

Kijiwe chamkaribisha Dk Silaha

Je Sumaye ataeleweka kwa anayosema?

Wanaokodisha helkopta wamepataje huo ukwasi?

Msimu wa kula kuliwa na kulana

UKAWA jibuni hoja za Slaa kwa hoja

Mgombea urais yuko wapi hapa?

On Lowassa, Kinana left me in stitches here

This is electioneering and double-dealing season

Lowassa, Paulo, Yuda na Umar

UDART hujuma ndani ya hujuma

Kijiwe chamshauri Gwaijumaa aanzishe chama

My New Book Born with Voice is out!

Wiki hii niliburudika na muziki toka Zim kwa Da Mai Charamba

Gwajumaa: Si uunde chama cha kisiasa?

Gwajima: mkeo akikupiga utatangaza?

JK’s send-off dirge