Well done Sumaye though

 

          Former premier Fredrick Sumaye’s the guy, against all odds, who’s reinvented himself lately. Whether he’s seen the light or not is subject to discussion. Whether he’ll succeed, also, depends on how you look at him and what he says. Moreover, the sage’s it that the strongest man one earth’s the one who stands most alone. But when does he?  Sumaye speaks his mind openly and without any fear. He touches on national very sensitive matters save that his timing betrays him. For instance, he recently said that government top officials are behind drugs and all sorts of mega corruption we evidence today. This is true. Again, why didn't Sumaye name names or offer a solution to these hard-headed problems he knows too well?

He happens to have become an anti-graft fighter especially when he decided to take on systemic rot. Again, despite his good intents, a few pays much attention to what he said given that he’s somewhat regarded as one of those he’s currently accusing and taking on. He, recently, for instance, said that all those white elephant and bogus mega project we evidence sinking the country economically have biggies behind them.  He called them biggies’ ten percent projects. Again, many ask: Why now not then when he’s in power? Many’d want to hear what he’s to say regarding his boss, Benjamin Mkapa especially doing illegal business in the state house, particularly, mega scams-cum-crimes such as the giving away of defunct National Bank of Commerce (NBC) which he offered to South African Boers pointlessly after two things happened. First, after connected con men, women and who’s who took many loans so as to fell the bank. Secondly, vending NBC at a throwaway price after some biggies got their cut. Thirdly, allowing his brothers-in-law to bring Net Group Solution which felled TANESCO. Many’ll like to know the measures Sumaye took to stop this simian biz that enabled big thieves to sell the bank and get rid all of evidence that’d link them with the sabotaging of the said bank. Major question that Sumaye needs to answer without mincing words is: Why now not then he’d the truncheon to bludgeon these swindlers.

Can Sumaye talk a little bit about Kiwira Coal Mine that decadently ended up in Mkapa, family and friends’ hands? I understand. Tanzania is in these crises thanks to Mkapa and Sumaye’s policy of investment that ended up becoming another historical calamity to the nation. I still remember how they wanted to sell Urafiki before the father of nation Mwl Julius Nyerere decided to reign and zero in to save the utility. It boggles mind to find that the guy who’s chief officer of the regime that robbed us our parastatals to shamelessly stand and point the fingers at others. Isn't this better than thou if not the ploy to make victims trust him and accord him another chance to dupe them? Why now not them Sumaye? This question’ll surface time and again due to the fact that Sumaye can’t successfully distance himself from the sin of robbing our nation.

Sumaye might spit embers and fire to reach his goals. Again, there are many bumps and grinds in his way given that he’s Mkapa’s chief adviser-cum- consigliore. Does it mean that Sumaye decided to become a wise monkey during his tenure in office to see to it that he got away with power and its goodies? Now he’s out and about pretending to hate and fight graft. Wow! Can Mr. Sumaye say something about how his son Filbert landed a highly-paying job at Bank of Tanzania (BoT) where the children of the high and the mighty are suspiciously employed? Can he talk about his wife’s connection with Equal Opportunity Trust Fund (EOTF) that’s manned by Mkapa’s wife, Anna which gave birth to unscrupulous means of first ladies to rob the hoi polloi under the pretext of helping them? Such and other questions are the ones Sumaye needs to address if at all he wants us to take him seriously.

Sumaye’s dead right. Save that he might be seen as labouring under the mentality of do as I tell you but not as I do. This, if anything, might be taken as insincerity. Why now not when you’re toothless but not then when you had teeth?

I embolden Sumaye to keep on taking on graft save that he’s do so as an old fogy but not a politician looking for political office. His is over now. He needs to retire and envision answering tough question as to why he kept mum when he’s in power. Bravo Sumaye save that it is too late too little. Again, I like your courage of the mad to take on the princes and other money maker who want to become our president through age discrimination and other nonsensical stuff.

Source: ThisDay July 21, 2014.