The Chant of Savant

Friday 3 October 2008

Mr. Luhanjo, I beg to differ





CHIEF Secretary Philemon Luhanjo left me puzzled and appalled the other day when he said that the government cannot rush into giving the verdict reminiscent to the cases involving some bigwigs in the upper echelons of power implicated in the EPA scam.

When the media wanted to hear what he was making of the same, Luhanjo was quoted as thus hereunder: ’’ This matter is being dealt with, when you deal with human life in making decision, you don’t jump onto giving dexterous decisions?..we’re dealing with it, we don’t rush.’’

Luhanjo’s assertion cannot go without being dry cleaned. I just can’t understand whose life is life between the villains and the general public of 40 million suffering from this anathema! Which human beings are human beings between the hoi polloi and looters? Sir, I beg to distantly differ.

To make sure that his message is crystal clear that the ’power that be’ won’t rush or jump into giving any verdict, Luhanjo added: ’’ Before giving any decision you must weigh first instead of rushing.. Just imagine if it were you whereby somebody sentences you to imprisonment by rushing, how much will you and your family be affected?"

To me, rushing means doing things which are unethical and being vindictive. But is this so in this case? Let’s face it. The speed involved befits a tortoise not the government of the people with all organs under its disposal. Otherwise, they must tell us that there is something fishy touching even those we’’re pressing to make decisions.

Again, going to the so-called family concerns, which family is family between those of the villains and those of the hoi polloi suffering from man- superimposed poverty like in the case in question? Where do such people get audacity to misbehave this way? If the high and mighty we’ve entrusted our offices as we pay them such fat perks can turn tables on us, then to whom should we turn?

Now this being the crop of the rulers we’ve wrongly thought will deliver us, is it wrong to aver that we are heading for purgatory as a society? Take it from me. EPA and Richmond freebooters will get away with it shall the government keep on languishing on lies and pretexts, not to mention time wasting.

Mr Luhanjo, what is wrong? Is it the system or the society that condones corruption? Looking at how corruption in Tanzania is intertwined, chances are EPA and Richmond are the same sons of bitch, so to speak.? I just can’t understand the logic of letting the alleged persons stay in public offices as they face charges of wrong doing.

In a neighbouring country, Kenya, when Amos Kimunya the then minister for finance was alleged to have been involved in foul play in privatizing Grand Regency Hotel, he stepped aside to allow a due process of looking into the scam take place. He did not complain and the State House did not back him, and the law had to take its course.

Why are our rulers turning us into zombies that we’re not?? Yeah. When dealing with chain snatchers human rights do not feature in! When sentencing primary magistrates for receiving kickbacks their families never matter! It seems for Luhanjo life is for bigwigs but not common people. Is it because the implicated guys are of his caliber?

What has never crossed my mind is the fact that peace and tranquility some quarters take for granted will never prevail without justice. Though the concern of the likes of Luhanjo is the families of those implicated, chances are, the families of hoi polloi will one day stand and put us to tax. They also deserve to be considered and respected by tackling this vice. They cannot remain onlookers whilst their resources are pilfered by a few kit and caboodle of cribbers.

May I surmise averring that all families are equal and what we need to see and hear is bring these privateers to book in lieu of hiding behind illogical human rights?


People need to see justice being done. And indeed, this is what human rights mean and entail. Failure to appreciate and work on this is nothing but cheap ballyhoos. Is this the tale of ferocious squids and humble and hapless zoo-planktons? For how long shall we sit on justice and get with it?
Source: Thisday October 3rd , 2008.

No comments: