How dare you Idris Rashidi?

"THE mistake a lot of politicians make is forgetting they’ve been appointed and thinking they’ve been anointed," remarked US Senator Claude Pepper (1900-1989) Democrat.

Pepper reached this conclusion after finding that many people with appointive positions erroneously turned them into personal estate.

I heard Dr. Idris Rashidi, TANESCO Managing Director, saying: "If we refuse to buy hand-me-down Dowans' generators, our country would sink into darkness".

I thought it’s a joke or just tantrums and anger of being refused some ’ulaji’. What an abhorring idea! True, Rashidi’s threat is real, what, as a nation, shall we do?
Rashidi thundered after their goofy deal went awry thanks to people’s opposition to the idea. He went gaga after the whole saga in which he, together with Energy and Minerals Minister William Ngeleja and his deputy, Adam Malima, tried to hoodwink the nation.

Now that we know: Why our country is in darkness thanks to Rashid-made power rationing? Isn’t this a pure plot aimed at punishing us for refusing to be in bed with ’fisadis’? For how long shall the nation subscribe to this buffoonery? Isn’t it right time to tell Rashidi and his cabal to pack and hit the road? The offices they’re using to hoodwink and threaten us belong to us. This has no discussion.

The first step to take is telling them what they’ve done is nothing but suttee. They’ll end up becoming losers not the nation. And mark my words. Nobody’s ever defeated the nation. If they’re protected today, tomorrow during the elections they’ll never even trace those protecting them.

Another thing to mark is: They’re not smarter than others. Thus, we’d strongly urge Kikwete to boot them down before the damage is done a great deal more. The damage they’ve already caused, thanks to deals like the radar and IPTL, is enough.

Though Kikwete already has his plate full with scam, complaints and what not, this dark the nation is experiencing is his bone. It’s sad and abhorring to note that all this is caused by those he trusted.

Geared by greed, mania, myopia and self-seeking, they’ve turned his tenure a heck on earth. Will JK allow himself to lose just because his confidants want to get away with it come next elections?

It’s important for the likes of Rashidi to know: This country is no longer the one they used to take for a ride. People, for long, have tried to be as civilized as possible so as to offer the opportunity to the biggies to rethink their take of the same to no avail. Believe me. This time around they’ll never stomach this sabotage.

How come the person so appointed (not anointed) to the public office can sabotage the people and think he’ll be left alone to mess even more? Nay! This must come to an end as soon as possible. We’re tired of power hike aimed at covering the mess by the top dogs who fulminate at us as if we’re small kids!

Kikwete has time and again assured us: His mission is to deliver better life for all. But with such self-seekers with backward looking ideas, this is but a daydream so to speak. Shall he ignore or defend them? 2010 is not far. He must underscore this.

How can a public servant issue such threats and go ahead to fulfill them without a hammer falling on his head? Where does he get guts and audacity in the first place? Does this imply: There is someone bigger he is leaning on? If there is any, isn’t this a conspirator in sabotaging our country? Who is this criminal?

Now that we know what is behind the curtains, Idris, now you’ve crossed the line and you’re over your head. One thing to think about as you’re committing this crime is: Don’t you know that power rationing itself is the evidence of failure for those responsible like you?

It’s time to tell the power that be: Whoever day-dreams thinking he’s smarter than the true owners of his office must be shown the door. This is why I strongly urge Kikwete to sack the above officials. They’ve proved him wrong for appointing wrong persons to the wrong job. So, to kick-start the matter as I make it much easier for him, let the president fire them even today.

If I were Dr Rashidi, I’d mount my defence reminiscent to being touched by radar scam especially in bad light. I’d not add another insult knowing what would follow.

The other day I heard, if it is true anyway, that what we recently witnessed on this saga had nothing to do with national interests but personal ones. It was alleged that all those you saw raising embers, as they stole the thunders, were doing so thanks to their vested interests -- greed and selfishness. The informers did not dance around.

They openly said: What was causing all this was nothing but the tug-of-war between Dowans-Richmond and IPTL. Whether it is right or otherwise, this must act as an eye-opener for us not to succumb before the wolves.

We may wrongly think that some people are for us whilst they are for their stomachs!
One question will always surface as far as purchasing power generators are concerned. Why should we always buy second hand loss-making things?

Even if we purchase brand new ones, if the situation remains as it is, some jet-set-smoothies will still print money. Hither is wither the need to put our house in order comes. Under Rashidi, Tanesco has already been as dented as the ministry responsible under Ngeleja and Malima. So, the right thing to do is show all folks behind these macabre acts the door. Other competent and humble servants will come and serve us diligently. If any thing, this is but Kikwete's big challenge, among others.

When it comes to going dark, Idris, tell it to the birds. And our people should never make do with this sabotage. Never shall it happen.

Folks, what are you waiting for after all these blunders? Kikwete, time to act is now, just now and only now.
Source: Thisday March 29, 2009.