Media should endorse political candidates

S

       







 


                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Journalists during a press conference by Youth for Musalia Nairobi (YMD) where the youths declared their support to ANC Party leader Musalia Mudavadi in his bid for the presidency in 2022 at Jukwa Lounge hotel at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on July 14, 2020. 

Salaton Njau | Nation Media Group

               

                      By Makau Mutua.  Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of the KHRC.

What you need to know:

• In the US and Britain, presses routinely make endorsements up and down the ballot.
• Endorsements of candidates will give Kenya one more quiver in its democratic arsenal.

I’ve argued the Kenyan press – television, radio and paper – should endorse candidates for office, including those for president of the republic. However, my suggestion they do so was last week met with some loud howls on Twitter. Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi led those against.

        My response was like a judge’s to a lawyer’s protest – objection overruled. There’s no justification, or compelling rationale whatsoever, for the Press not to offer political endorsements. Or even anti-endorsements, such as the one issued by the Editorial Board of the New York Times in 2016 (Why Donald Trump Should Not Be President, September 25, 2016). That’s exemplary civic duty.

      First, the Press is a corporate citizen of the state in which it is domiciled. As such, the Press has civic responsibilities to the nation and the state. Those, of necessity, include reporting truthfully. This is critical because democracy can’t be implanted, or prosper and survive, without an independent free Press that’s anchored on facts.

        It’s the obligation of the Press to advance the protection of the rule of law, constitutionalism and clean government. It’s the duty of the Press to expose official corruption and rot in government, no matter high up. The media must uphold the basic rules of human decency, equity and civilisation. It must be a teacher of high morality, empathy and of empathetic living. 

         Second, at its best the Press summons our better angels and suppresses our common demons. This isn’t to say there’s no room for tawdry, indecent and even dirty Press. There has to be room for all the sewer and gutter press. Let the people decide whether to pay for such press in the marketplace of ideas.

Press endorsements

    I believe in a fully free press – without any censorship. The only caveat is that the Press must take care not to offend just and democratic defamation and incitement laws. Other than that – which is for the Judiciary and not the Executive to determine – anything goes. It’s by the same token that the Press must be free to endorse, or oppose, candidates.

        Third, the most important civic decision a citizen has to make is for which party and candidate to cast a ballot in an election. The stakes are very high, especially in the election of the president in a young democracy like Kenya’s.

        Whether we like it or not, the head of state has an outsize impact on literally the life of every citizen. That’s why voters need as much information as possible before voting. It’s why the media must report truthfully about every candidate and party to educate – not just inform – the voter on the choices on the ballot. Democracy depends on wise and educated voters. The Press is the sole largest conduit for objective wisdom and education.

        Fourth, press endorsements would help the electorate assess the party platforms, policies and personal histories of candidates. Typically, the editorial boards of the newspaper, or Press, would conduct interviews with all the major candidates before making an endorsement. Candidates, especially in the US, face tough questions from editorial boards.

Democratic practices

Here, the board acts as the eye of the people. Candidates who are evasive or untruthful usually don’t earn an endorsement. A candidate must be cool under fire and show expertise and other forms of acumen. Endorsements aren’t for sale and can’t be corruptly obtained. The editorial board, which endorses, is separate from the newsroom, which reports. This separation is critical for objective reporting. The twain should never mix.

        Fifth, in the US and Britain, presses routinely make endorsements up and down the ballot. This democratic practice is now well horned so that no one thinks that endorsements are nefariously obtained. No one can say for sure the impact of endorsements in elections. The New York Times did a Trump anti-endorsement in 2016, but he won.

        In 1897, nearly all New York’s leading papers backed a losing candidate. But from 1940 to 2016, the candidates with most endorsements for US president emerged victorious. Editorial boards in Kenya should conduct “job interviews” with candidates and then endorse, or oppose, them. In the US and Britain, the decision is usually well argued and reasoned. It’s basically a grading of the candidate.

    Finally, democratic practices aren’t given on a silver platter. They are fought for, grown and earned the old-fashioned way – through blood, sweat and tears. Endorsements of candidates – both the process and product – will give Kenya one more quiver in its democratic arsenal. It will likely force candidates to rely less on primordial ethnic math and more on policy and ideology to distinguish themselves.

        My friend SC Abdullahi thinks Kenya’s political clock is forever stuck in the swamp of ethnicity. He’s wrong to engage in a self-fulfilling prophecy. We can be better if we dared think a little bigger. Let’s do endorsements, or anti-endorsements – to reject thieves, murderers, anti-democrats, rapists and wife-beaters. 

    Makau Mutua is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor at Buffalo Law School. He’s chair of KHRC. @makaumutua

Source: Sunday Nation yesterday

Tusiruhusu Sheria za Kikoloni Kunufaisha Wachache

Sina ugomvi na hakimu aliyetoa adhabu ya kufungwa miaka nane au kulipa faini ya shilingi milioni nane kwa aliyekuwa mkurugenzi wa Shirika la Ndege Tanzania (ATCL) David Mataka. Wala sina ugomvi na hukumu husika wala maslahi binafsi–––kama mtu ambaye nimesoma sheria–––kwa vile, najua lilipo tatizo. Najua wengi watakuwa wameshangaa hata kulaumu kama siyo kukata tamaa na kukasirika. Wapo waliosema hakimu alikuwa amekatiwa kitu kidogo au kikubwa jambo ambalo ni aibu kwa vile wahusika walishindwa kujua sheria zinasemaje. Na siyo kila kesi lazima iwepo rushwa au ushawishi. Hakimu hufukia uamuzi wa kesi kwa kuzingatia sheria, ushahidi, hata utetezi mbali na mengine.

            Kwa mfano, kama mshitakiwa alitenda kosa kweli tena mbele ya jaji au hakimu, kama ushahidi utakosekana, kupungua, kukosa kurithisha mahakama au kuvurugwa, hakuna shaka ataachiwa tu hata kama jaji au hakimu alishuhudia vinginevyo hakimu au jaji aamue kuwa shahidi jambo ambalo ni gumu sana. Mfano, kama kesi husika, inabidi tujiulize. Sheria inasemaje? Je mfumo wetu ni wa kifisadi hivi kiasi cha kuendelea kuwa na sheria za hovyo zenye kutetea na kulinda ufisadi hivi? Haya ni maswali muhimu hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa hakimu huwa hatungi sheria bali kutafsiri sheria na kutenda haki kwa mujibu wa sheria na kesi.  Hivyo, kitu cha kwanza naweza kusema kuwa wale wanaodhani mahakimu wanapewa au kulishwa kitu wanawaonea. Badala ya kulaumu mahakimu ambao mikono yao imefungwa na sheria, walaumu sheria na waliozitunga bila kuangalia mazingira na wakati.

            Kwa mfano, sheria nyingi tulizo nazo zina asili yake kwenye sheria za kikoloni ambazo lengo lake ilikuwa ni kuwezesha na kulinda ukoloni. Wakati sheria hizi za kikoloni zikitungwa, watendaji wakuu wa serikali ya kikoloni walikuwa wazungu. Na lengo na ukoloni ilikuwa ni kubia makoloni yao. Hivyo, kulinda watendaji wake ambao wote walikuwa ni wazungu, wakoloni walitunga sheria zenye kutoa adhabu nyepesi kwa makosa yaliyotendwa na wazungu ambao wakati huo ndio walikuwa wakubwa. Ndiyo maana sheria zinazohusiana na ujambazi na wizi ulioweza kutendwa na watu wa kawaida au waswahili yalipata adhabu kubwa wakati yale yaliyotendwa na wazungu au wakubwa kama vile wizi wa mali ya umma zilipokea adhabu nyepesi hasa faini kama ilivyotokea hivi karibuni kwenye kesi tajwa hapo juu. Kwa spirit ya sheria za Kikoloni, Mataka ni tabaka la wakubwa. Hivyo, hapaswi kufungwa bali kutozwa faini. Hii ndiyo mantiki ya kutuhumiwa kusababisha serikali hasara ya shilingi bilioni 71 kutozwa shilingi milioni nane tu. Huu si mzaha wala utani bali matusi kwa watanzania ambao–––kwa takriban miaka 60–––wamekuwa wakitembea kifua mbele na kutangaza kuwa wako huru wakati si kweli kama wataendelea na sheria za kijambazi na kiwizi kama hizi ambazo kisheria zimepakwa sukari wakati ni sumu ili kukidhi vigezo vya utawala bora unaotambuliwa na wezi wa magharibi. Je  kwa mchezo na mzaha huu, nini kitamzuia kila mwenye fursa kuiba akijua atachomoka bila madhara bali mafedha lukuki? Je taifa zima tunaweza kuwa mataahira hivi kiasi cha kutunga sheria za kusikinisha walio wengi ili kutajirisha wezi wachache? Je ni wangapi watakaa kwenye nafasi za juu milele? Kuna haja ya kubadilika tena haraka. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum, acha haki itendeke hata kama mbingu zitaanguka. Hii maana yake ni kwamba, tusiogope kutenda haki kwa vile tunawagusa wakubwa au wateule. Tanzania ni kubwa na muhimu kuliko watu binafsi.

            Leo, sitaki kusema mengi hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa ninachoongelea siyo somo jepesi. Hakuna watu wajuaji kama waandishi wa habari na wanasheria. Japo mimi ninavyo vyote ukiachia mambo mengine, naomba nisisitize kuwa nitatumia fursa hii kuishauri serikali iache kupoteza muda kutumia sheria za kikoloni huku ikiwaaminisha wananchi kuwa wako huru. Pia ifahamu kuwa hawa watu wanaoibiwa kwa kutumia sheria za kikoloni na kijambazi, wanaweza kuamua siku moja pakachimbika bila jembe iwe ni kwa kura au fujo hasa umaskini na ukosefu wa ajira vinapozidi kushamiri huku wakishuhudia wezi wakubwa wakipigwa faini ya vijesenti wakati wamezamisha mabilioni. Nakumbuka mheshimiwa Rais aliwahi kumuonya IGP kuwa ujambazi ukiendelea hatavumilia. Je kama IGP anapewa onyo kuhusu ujambazi wa bunduki, kwanini nasi tusimkumbushe mheshimiwa Rais kuwa hata majambazi wa kalamu ni hatari tena kuliko hawa wa silaha kwa vile kumilki silaha ni kinyume cha sheria wakati kumilki kalamu ambayo nayo pia ni sheria ni halali.

            Tumalizie kwa kuwaomba watanzania wasikubali kuendelea kuwa na sheria za kijambazi wakati mwisho wa siku wao ndiyo waathirika wakuu. Kwani, kama nilivyosema hapo juu, serikali haina shamba wala mradi zaidi ya kodi za wananchi na raslimali zao ambazo sheria hizi tulizorithi toka kwa wakoloni kiasi cha kuibiwa na kunufaisha wezi wachache wenye madaraka ambao hawana cha kuogopa kwa vile sheria zinawamotisha na kuwalinda wanapouibia umma nao wakiwamo. Kwani, wengi wao wanapodondoka hujikuta pabaya. Kazi ya kubadili sheria hizi si ya bunge wala serikali tu bali wananchi pia.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema Kesho.

LESSONS FROM ZAMBIA’s PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 2021

By Pius Msekwa

At  the  conclusion  of  Zambia’s  Presidential  election  which  was held  on  Thursday,  19th  August,  2021;  Zambia’s  Electoral  Commission  Chairman,  Mr.  Justice  Esau  Chulu,  declared     Hakainde  Hichelema   to  be  the  President-elect  of  the  Republic  of  Zambia.  In  this  election,    Hichelema  was  the  Opposition  candidate  who  had  soundly  defeated   his  long  time  rival,  the  incumbent  President   Edgar  Lungu;  in  a  reportedly  “bruising  race”.                                                     
        THE  CITIZEN“  newspaper in  its  editorial  of    Wednesday,  18th  August,  2021;  expressed  the  view  that  “ Hichelema’s   election   on  the back  of  a  landslide  victory  offers  plenty  of  lessons  to  other  nascent  democracies  in  Africa”;  and  proceeded   to  make  the  following  comments:- “Zambia’s  Electoral  Commission  has  shown  that  it  is  possible,  albeit  rare,  for  electoral  commissions  appointed  by  Heads  of  state  (which  can  hardly  be  described  as  independent  in  the  first  place),    to  act  independently  by  resisting  undue  pressure  or  influence,  with  a  view  to  letting  the  people’s  voice  be  heard  loud  and  clear”.                 

        The  editor  has  clearly   shown  his   firm   conviction  that  electoral  Commissions  which  are  appointed  by  the  President,  “can  hardly  be  described  as  independent”.   

This  would  appear  to  insinuate  that  in  all  other  election   cases  where  the  Opposition fails  to  win   an  election,  the  reason  must  be   that   the  relevant  electoral  commission   acted  under  pressure, or  influence, or  even   harassment,   from  the  incumbent  President’s  government  and  its  security  organs,  in   his  favour.    But,  surely,  this  is   a   generalization  which   can  be  challenged;  and  is   a   deliberate  digression  from  the  real  and  genuine   lessons  which  ought  to  learnt  from  the  results  of   Zambia’s  Presidential  election.  We   will  return  to  this  important  point  a  little  later  in  this  presentation.                                                                  

          In   the  meantime,  we  will  reflect  on  one of  Mwalimu  Nyerere’s  lifetime   ‘teachings’;  which  has   direct    relevance   to  this  discussion.
 “Argue,  don’t  shout”.
Some  of  our  readers  will  probably  remember,  that    I  have  referred  to  Mwalimu  Nyerere’s    dictum  of  “argue,  don’t  shout”   in  this  column  before.  This  is   enshrined  in   a   directive ‘policy  document’  which  carries   the  same  title,  and  is  in  respect  of   Tanzania’s  Foreign  policy;  in  which  President  Mwalimu  Nyerere   said  the  following:- “Tanzania  has  definite  viewpoints  on  Foreign  Affairs.  When  the  need  arises  for  us  to argue  in  their  defense,  we   have  to  state  firmly  what they  are,   why  we  have  adopted  them,  and  what  they  mean  to  our  nation.  

         It  is  essential  for  us  to  do  so,  because  we  either  have  to  influence  people,  or  to  have  them  better  understand  why  we  have  adopted  a  particular  line  of  action.  And  for  either  of  these  purposes,  we  have  to  argue  our  case  convincingly,  not  to  just  shout  about  it”.  
        For  a  rather  long  time  during  the  period  of  my  service  to  our  nation,  I  was  granted    the  rare  privilege  of  working  closely  with  President  Mwalimu  Nyerere  in  a  variety  leadership  positions,  for  which  I   happened  to  be  his  preferred  choice  for  appointment.  Hence,  from  that  experience,   I  came  to  learn  a  few  things  about  Mwalimu  Nyerere,   including  that he  had a  penchant  for  telling   ‘catchy’  stories  in  order  to  buttress  his  arguments.      

        And  in  respect  of  the  “argue,  don’t  shout”  slogan,   I  can  vividly  remember  the  occasion on  which  he  told   the  story  of  one   religious  preacher,  who  was  reviewing  his  written  sermon   which  he  was  preparing  to  deliver  in  his  church  the  next  morning.  When  he  was    in   that  process,  he    reached  a  particular  paragraph  in  his  draft  sermon,  whose  theological  foundation  was  somehow  unconvincing.  So  he  made  a  marginal  note  beside  it   in  order    to  alert  himself  to  that  fact,  in  which  he  scribbled:  “theology  weak,  shout”.    The  moral  of  this  story  is,  basically,  to  warn  people  that  they  should  avoid  “shouting” in   all  cases   where  their  argument  becomes  conspicuously  weak.                          

        And   this appears  to  be  the  case in  respect  of   THE  CITIZEN’s  editorial  that  we   quoted  above;   which,  in  terms  of  our   religious  preacher’s  story,  unfortunately, amounts  to  ‘shouting, instead  of   ‘arguing’ !    And,  again  unfortunately,  this  has  also  been  the  misconceived  view  of  many  of  the  politicians  belonging  to  the  mainstream  opposition  parties  in  Tanzania,   who  have   been  repeatedly   making  unreasonable   demands  for the  enactment  of   a  “new”  Constitution  which,  in  their  misconceived  view,   will allegedly  “ make  provision  for  an  ‘independent’  electoral  commission”;   based  on  their  flawed  argument   that  “because all  the  members  of  that  commission   are  appointed  by  the  President  who  is  at  the  same  time   also  the  national  Chairman  of the  ruling  party CCM,  they  are  duty  bound  to   favour  the  CCM  Presidential  candidate” !                        

         I  wish  to  submit  that  such   argument    is   conspicuously  weak,  for  the  simple  reason  that   the  country’s  Constitution  vests  in  the  President  the  powers  to  appoint all   the  top  officials  of  all   the  three  Branches,  including  the  Judges  of  the  High  Court  and  the  Appeal  Court, the  members   of  the  Judiciary  Branch.   In  such  circumstances,  is   it  really  reasonable  for  anyone  to  claim,   that  because  these  Judges  are  appointed  by  the  President,  they  are  duty  bound  to   favour  the  government  in  all  cases  in   which   the  government   is  a  party?                               

        It  could perhaps  be,  that   the  difficulty  lies   in  their   misinterpretation  of   the  word  “independent”.  Their  interpretation  seems  to  be  only  that  of  being   fully  resistant   to  undue  pressure,  influence,  or  directives  from  any  external  sources.  But  this  kind  of  independence  is  already  guaranteed  by  articles  74 (7)  and  74 (11)  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  republic  of  Tanzania,  which  which  respectively  provide  that:“Tume  ya  Uchaguzi  itakuwa  ni  Idara  huru  inayojitegemea”;  and  that  “Katika  kutekeleza  majukumu  yake  kwa  mujibu  wa  masharti  ya  Katiba  hii, Tume  ya  Uchaguzi  haitalazimika  kufuata  amri au  maagizo  ya  mtu  yeyote  au  Idara  yoyote  ya  Serikali,  au  maoni  ya  Chama  chochote  cha  siasa”

        Thus,  the  Constitution  is  not  the  problem;  an  any  new  Constitution  cannot  provide  the   solution  that  is  desired  by  the  said   Opposition  parties.  Thus,  in  all  cases  where  the  electoral  commission  happens  to  go  astray,  the  authentic problem  will  be  none  other  than   the  lack  of   individual  leadership  ethics  on  the  part  of   the  members of  that  commission;  and  this is  a  malady  that   cannot  possibly   be  remedied  by  merely   changing  the  method  of  their  appointment.  The  correct  remedy  lies  in   the  individual   commission  members  themselves,  who  must  always  strictly   observe  the  leadership  code  of  ethics  that  legally  binds  them.  For  even  if  such  members  to  be appointed  by  any  other  method,  unless  they  genuinely   commit  themselves  to  observing  the  leadership  code  of  ethics  in  the  performance  of  their  duties;   they  still  will  commit  the  same  alleged  offences.                                     
         I  am  fully  aware,   of  course,  that  there  are   some  people in  all  human  societies,  who  are   called    “stooges”,  which  means   “persons  who  are    used  by  others   to  do  things  that  are  unpleasant  or  dishonest”.                                    

However,  in  the  instant  case  I  am  basing my  argument  solely  on   the  moral  quality  of  the  persons  who  are  generally    appointed  to  be  members  of  the  electoral  commission  in   many  of  our  countries.   In  our  own case,  for  example,  ever  since   the  reintroduction  of  the  multi-party  political  dispensation,   successive  Presidents  of  the  United  Republic  of  Tanzania  have  consistently  been  appointing  persons  of  the  rank  of  Judges  of  the  High  Court  to  man  the  electoral commission  of  Tanzania.   I  presume   there  is  no  dispute  that  Judges  are  “men  of  high  rank”,  and have  taken    solemn  oaths   to  undertake  their  responsibilities  “without  fear  or  favour”.   It  is  thus  inconceivable  that  such  persons  could   be  even   suspected  of  becoming   “stooges”  of   those who  appointed  them.                                                                       “Thou  shall  not  impute  improper  motives” .  That  is  grand  edict  I  would  have  added  to  the  ten   God’s  Commandments  had  I  been  given  a  chance  to  review  them.           Hence,   on  the  basis  of  this ‘ straight  thinking’;   it  would,  I  believe,   be  a  perfectly  reasonable   contention to  say   that  where  such  malpractices  have  occurred,   the  perpetrators  must   have  been  motivated  entirely  by  their  own   personal weaknesses   and   failings,  that   are   totally  unrelated  to  the  method  of  their  appointment.    And   further  that   such  failings   can  only  be  attributed  to  a  serious   lack   of  the  requisite  leadership  ethics  in  the  particular  individuals.  “Politicians  are  the  same  everywhere”. 
    The   Literature   books   abound   with   satire   and   innuendos  directed  at  politicians.  For  example,   the  renowned  war-time  British  Prime  Minister,  Sir  Winston  Churchill,  is  reported  to  have  made  the  following  statement:  “Politics  is  the  ability  to  foretell  what  is  going  to  happen  tomorrow,  next  week,  or  next  year;  and  the  ability  to  explain  afterwards  why  it  did  not  happen”.   

        And   George  Owen,   that  famous  British  novelist,  wrote   the  following  in  his  book  titled   “Politics  and  the  English  Language” :   “In  our  time,  political  speech  and  writing  are  largely  the  defense  of  the indefensible”.                       

While  on  his  part,  Soviet  Statesman   Nikita  Khrushchev  is  on  record  as  having  said  that  (translated  from  Russian)  :  “Politicians  are  the  same  everywhere.  They  promise  to  bring  bridges  even  where  there  are  no  rivers”.    And,  in  the  same  vein,   the  well-known  French  Army  General  and  statesman,   Charles  de  Gaulle,   is  also  quoted  as  having  said  this  (translated  from  French):  “since  a  politician  never  believes  what  he  says,  he  is  surprised  when  others  believe  him”.                                                                                       

        All  such  innuendoes  were  obviously  intended  for  humour,  but,  coincidentally,   they  appear  to  fit    perfectly   the  body  sizes  of  some  of  our  own  country’s   politicians. Take,  for  example,  some  of  the  statements  made  in  the  past  by  the  veteran  CHADEMA  national  Chairman   Freeman  Mbowe.   He  was  reported  by  the  print  media  some  time  in  2017,   to   have  said  the  following   in  a  speech  delivered  to  his  party  followers  in  Tanga, when  he  was  opening  a  new  party  Branch   there :  “You  have  taken  much  too  long  to  defeat  CCM  in  this  Region” and  warned  them   not  to  repeat  the  same  mistake  next  time.   And  then,  he  reportedly   warmed  up  and  said: “ Magufuli   will  be  an  only   ‘one-term’  President,    because  his  rule  does  not  care  about  human  rights.    We  made  a  bad  mistake  in  the  first  place  to  have  elect  him,  since   we  are  now    all  suffering  as  a  result  of    that   mistake”.  He  then  made  a  personal  commitment  in  the  following  words: “should  Magufuli  win  a  second  term in  2020,  I   will  retire  from  politics”.  

         It  is  this   wholly  unfulfilled  commitment  that  appears  to  answer  perfectly  to  those  innuendos.  But   there  are  other  bewildering  instances.   Many   of  our  readers  will  probably  remember  the   scathing  attack  which  he  launched  against  Edward  Lowassa,  when  the  latter  announced  his  intention   to  participate  in  the  Presidential  election  race  on  a  CCM  ticket   in 2015;  but  then, suddenly,  he  totally   reversed   his  view  when  Lowassa,  having    failed  to  secure  the  CCM  nomination   ticket  quickly  joined  CHADEMA,  with  the  sole  intention  of  securing  their  nomination  ticket for   the  said  election.   Many  observers  were  left  wondering  where  Chairman  Mbowe’s  earlier  expressed   convictions  had  flown  to !                                                                                  

        And  this  incident   also  appears  to  fit   perfectly   in  some  of    the  innuendos  quoted  above,  particularly  that  by  Charles  de  Gaulle,  namely   that   “a  politician  never  believes  what  he  says,  and  is  actually  surprised  when  others  believe  him” ;  or   even    that  of  Sir  Winston  Churchill,  that  “politics  means    the  ability  to  foretell  what  will  happen  in  future,  and  the  ability  (to  get  away  with  it  employing   some  fictitious  tales)  to   explain   why  it  did  not  happen

piomsekwa@gmail.com   / 0754767576.

Source: Daily News today.  

Barua kwa Rais Tuletee Waziri wa Ulinzi Mwanamke

Thandi Modise waziri wa Ulinzi wa Afrika Kusini

Baada ya kufariki aliyekuwa waziri wa Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa, Elias John Kwandikwa, wizara hii imebaki na pengo ambalo lazima lizimbwe. Kwanza tunatoa salamu za rambi rambi kwako Mheshimiwa Rais, familia na taifa kwa kuondokewa na mwenzetu na kiongozi wetu. Baada ya hapa, tunaomba kutoa ushauri wa bure kwako. Ushauri wenyewe ni juu ya kuomba kipindi hiki katika teua teua yako kuziba nafasi iliyoachwa na Kwandika, tafadhali mama Rais, tuteulie waziri mwanamke wa kwanza kuwa waziri wa ulinzi ili kuleta si usawa wa kijinsia bali heshima pia na kubadili mazoea ya mfumo dume ambao umetawala tangu tujitawale takriban  miaka 60 iliyopita. Hii maana yake ni kwamba uhuru wetu bado ni mashaka na haujakamilika. Hivyo, unahitaji kukamilishwa kwa kutenda haki kijinsia.
Tangu kupata uhuru, Tanzania haijawahi kuwa na Waziri wa Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa mwanamke hata naibu wake. Haijawahi kuwa na mkuu wa majeshi au naibu wake mwanamke wala IGP au naibu wake ukiachia mbali mwanasheria mkuu. Hatujawahi kuwa na jaji mkuu au naibu wake mwanamke. Hatujawahi kuwa na waziri wa mambo ya ndani au naibu wake mwanamke. Kwanini sasa tusifanye mabadiliko hasa kipindi hiki kinacholenga kumkomboa mtoto wa kike toka kwenye minyororo na kongwa za mfumo dume? Je ina maana tangu tupata uhuru hatujaweza kuwa na akina mama wanaofaa kuhudumu katika nafasi hizo na nyingine? Je tatizo ni wanawake au mfumo? Kwa wanaojua namna tulivyorithi mfumo wa kikoloni, hawatashangaa kuambiwa kuwa mfumo dume hata kama tulikuwa nao kabla ya kutawaliwa, ni mabaki na makandokando ya ukoloni tena mkongwe na uchwara.
Zifuatazo ni sababu zilizonisukuma kukushauri Mheshimiwa Rais–––kama itakupendeza na kufaa–––ututeulie waziri wa Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa mwanamke kama njia ya kuliandaa taifa kisaikolojia kuwaweka kwenye nafasi nyingine nyeti ambazo zimekuwa himaya ya wanaume tangu tupate uhuru:
Mosi, ni kuwatendea haki akina mama na ku-decolonise (sina Kiswahili cha hili) mfumo wetu dume usiotenda haki kijinsia. Ukiachia mbali kutenda haki, kitendo hiki kitawapa mamlaka (empower) waliyonyimwa muda mrefu, kumuinua na kumpa motisha na uzoefu wa kufanya makubwa kama binadamu na raia katika nchi  na jamii yake ukiachia mbali kujenga mazingira na mfumo wezeshi kijinsia na kwa usawa. Kama Rais mwana mama umeweza, atashindwa waziri?
Pili, ni kuwapa fursa ya kuonyesha uwezo wao ili kuondoa dhana ya ujinsia na madhara ya mfumo dume. Nchi ya jirani ya Kenya ina waziri wa Ulinzi Rachel Omamo aliyechukua ukanda toka kwa mwanamama mwingine Monica Juma na mambo yanakwenda vizuri.  Afrika ya Kusini wanaye Thandi Modise ambaye aliteuliwa wiki mbili zilizopita akichukua nafasi toka kwa mwanamama mwingine Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula. Na mambo yalikwenda vizuri. Kabla ya hawa wamama wawili alikuwapo Lindiwe Sisulu na mambo yalikwenda uzuri tu. Sudan ya Kusini wanae Angelina Teny huku Kwanini sisi tusifuatie ili kutenda haki kwa wote. Kama kweli tuna nia ya dhati kuleta usawa, kwanini wenzetu watupite hivi hivi wakati tunayo nafasi ya kuondokana na ubaguzi wa kijinsia?
Tatu, tunataka majeshi na idara zetu nyeti zianze kuzoea kusimamiwa na jinsia zote siyo kuleta usawa tu bali pia kujenga mazingira ya kutendeana kwa usawa. Kama mama atakuwa waziri wa wizara hii, hata makamanda hawataona vigumu wala kigugumizi kuwatendea haki wanajeshi walio chini yao bila kujali jinsia iwe kwa kujua au kutojua. 
Kwa vile Tanzania imesheheni wanawake wenye uwezo na vipaji vya kuweza kusimamia wizara hii nyeti, wakati wa kuwaibua na kuwapa nafasi hizo umefika ili waonyeshe na kutumia vipaji vya kwa taifa lao na watu wake. Kuwateua wanawake kushika nafasi ambazo siku zote zimekuwa za wanaume, kunawajenga watanzania kisaikolojia kujikubali kwa maumbile yao ambayo hakuna aliyeandika barua kwa Mungu amuube alivyo bali kuwa kamari ya kuzaliwa na maamuzi ya Muumbaji mwenyewe. Pia ifahamike, kwa kuwateua wanawake kwenye nafasi ambazo zimekuwa himaya ya wanaume, hakutawapa kujiamini na uzoefu wateuliwa tu bali kutatoa motisha kwa watoto wa kike hata wa kiume kujiona wako sawa na wanaweza kufanya kila kitu bila kuzuiliwa kwa kisingizio jinsia zao. Kuna kazi kubwa kama kumtengeza mtoto na kumbeba ukiachia mbali kumtunza hadi anakuwa mtu mzima? Mbona wote tumetokea kwa hao tunaowaona dhaifu?
Tumalizie kwa kukushukuru mama Rais kama utasikiliza ushauri wetu wa bure ambao tumekuwa tukitoa kupitia barua ya wazi kama njia mojawapo ya kuchangia kwenye uendeshaji wa taifa letu.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema Jnne.

Angelina Teny waziri wa Ulinzi wa Sudan Kusini

                     

  Deputy President William Ruto during a consultative meeting with Kitui County leadership at his Karen residence, Nairobi County.

   

    By  Makau Mutua

Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of the KHRC.

What you need to know:

• Rarely have I seen a public editor – anywhere in the world – complain so loudly for a presidential candidate.
• The esteemed Mr Mwaura hid behind unhinged speech by readers to direct hate and tirades at me in the pretext of hyperbole.

A couple of weeks ago, the Nation Media Group’s public editor, Peter Mwaura, wrote a doozy on me (‘Reader’s guide to judging Prof Mutua’s polemics against DP Ruto,Daily Nation, August, 6, 2021). Mr Mwaura cried that I had times without number taken Deputy President Ruto to the woodshed, and given him an undeserved shellacking in this column.

A week later, he defended himself from irate readers in the same column (‘Why columnists need to root their opinion in fact or strong evidence,’ Daily Nation, August 13, 2021). Some called him Mr Ruto’s puppet. That’s not my view, but methinks Mr Mwaura should definitely know better. Which begs the question – why would Mr Mwaura, the scribes’ ethics cop, carry so much water for the man from Sugoi?

No, Mr Mwaura, I don’t hate Mr Ruto. Let me dig deeper to peel your eyes.

First, Mr Mwaura seemed to conflate the media ecosystem inhabited by columnists with the straight-jacket that clothes reporters. The latter report on what they see, hear, or feel with as little commentary as possible. Reporters are conveyer belts for news, even when they are investigative journalists who do deep dives on subjects.

        The former are opinion writers, which means columnists interpret the news and events from their point of view, or bias. Mr Mwaura seems to think that bias is per se a bad thing. No – bias is what makes me different from the bozo next to me. As Senior Counsel Paul Muite often says, if two of us are the same, then one of us is unnecessary.

Spoon-feeding public

Second, much of the ink in any newspaper is dedicated to passive spoon-feeding of the hapless public. Which means the reader opens her mouth and news is shovelled into the cavity willy-nilly. That’s not the purpose of the opinion pages. Op-ed writers are the closest thing to the intelligentsia in a newspaper. They think, digest, and spit out – don’t laugh – wisdom. Their job is erudition. They are reductionists of sorts. Theirs is a labour of the intellect. They tell you not what, how, or the where but rather the why – and the why not. They extrapolate and elucidate. Whereas the reporter stops at the finish line of the one-hundred-metre dash, the columnist keeps running asking why.

        Third, it’s the mugumo (fig) tree that most interests the columnist. That’s because the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Columnists, unlike our sister and brother reporters, shouldn’t drill down on the mundane – unless it tells a larger story. Rapportage isn’t our forte. Our job as columnists isn’t to report history as it happened. That’s the job of reporters, who are wired differently.

        I, and my fellow columnists, are constructed from different matter. We take the road not travelled. We prick and provoke. We entertain. We bamboozle. We educate and inform. We seduce with our lingua franca. We use the secret sauce. If we leave you emotionless, then we’ve fallen flat on our faces – and shame on us. 

Fourth, Mr Mwaura committed grave errors by overlooking these pithy truisms. You’d think a grizzled journalist’s head like him would know differently. So, why did he decide to risk it all? Frankly, as they say, I don’t have the foggiest!

Incitement to violence

It’s not as though Mr Ruto has been a punching bag for marauding hordes of reporters and assorted columnists. Nyet – Mr Ruto has been receiving the most favourable press of anyone in the political arena. He’s treated with kid gloves by the press, given the many scandals that dog him. How, tell me, would a person who’s a heartbeat away from the presidency get so many passes on so many scandals? It’s mind-boggling and shocking.

        Fifth, you would think we would want Mr Ruto raked through the coals for the simple reason that he wants to rule us all. We are entitled to expose every inch of his life to get to know him. Really know him. In that quest, columnists are allowed more latitude of thought, analysis, and rhetorical licence than your average reporter. They are even permitted to speculate as to the why, or why not. Speculation, as long as it’s connected to fact, is the gravamen – the grist of the mill – of good opinion writing.

Rarely have I seen a public editor – anywhere in the world – complain so loudly for a presidential candidate. Pour quoi Monsieur Mwaura? Why, why?

        Lastly, the esteemed Mr Mwaura went overboard in his defence of Mr Ruto. He hid behind unhinged speech by readers to direct hate and tirades at me in the pretext of hyperbole. No, Mr Mwaura. To advocate I should be put in a beehive and rolled down the hills until I am dead, and if not, fed to crocodiles in Athi River, or drowned in my own Kitui Villa swimming pool, borders on incitement to violence. I am no shrinking violet, but that was beyond the pale.

Makau Mutua is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor at Buffalo Law School. He’s chair of KHRC. @makaumutua.

Source: Sunday Nation today.

Je Huu Ndiyo Mwanzo wa Mwishi wa Gwajima?

Kama kuna watu wameonyesha uzalendo na kuweka mbali maslahi binafsi, si mwingine bali Daktari wa kweli Doroth Gwajima waziri wa Afya. Tunapongeza kwa hili na kumpa shime asiyumbe bali kuendelea kuitendea haki ofisi yake na hadhi yake bila kujali mambo ya kifamilia na ya kibinafsi. Kuna clip inayozunguka kwenye mitandao ambapo Daktari Gwajima akionekana kukerwa wazi wazi na tabia ya Mbunge wa Kawe Josephat Gwajima aliyejipachika uaskofu ambaye anasema ni shemeji yake. Anaonya kuwa hana mchezo na kazi ya umma hasa viapo alivyokula. baada ya kuchoshwa na maneno ya shemeji yake. Ndipo alipoamua kumtolea uvivu. Dk Gwajima alikaririwa akisema kuwa yeye ni waziri aliyeapa kwa viapo vyote vya kuwatumikia wananchi na siyo familia. Pia, alionyesha watanzania wanavyopaswa kutambua uzushi wa huyu shemeji yake ambaye alidai mojawapo ni madai kuwa angemfufua marehemu Amina Chifupa–––ambaye, hata hivyo, hakumfufua zaidi ya kumtumia kujipatia ujiko–––mbali na kuwahi kudai kuwa ubunge na hara urais ni vyeo vidogo ambavyo mtu wa Mungu hawezi kushindani akaishia kupwakia ubunge bila aibu tena kwa kubebwa na chama chake. Pia Dk Gwajima ameeleza kigeugeu cha shemeji yake ambaye aliwahi kukimbia CCM na kujiunga na CHADEMA na kurejea CCM kinyemela.
Dk Gwajima aliongeza kuwa Gwajima aliwahi kufumwa na mrembo akadai ulikuwa mkono wa baunsa. Pia alimuonya Gwajima kuacha kumharibia kibarua. Hata hivyo, Dk Gwajima amesema hatamuachia aendelee kupotosha umma. Na badala yake atamshughulikia hadi athibitishe madai yake ambayo ameonyesha wazi kuwa ni ya kuzua na kuungaunga bila usayansi wala mantiki yoyote. Madai yasiyo na uthibitisho wa kisayansi ya Gwajima, licha ya kukera na kupotosha, yanaonekana kumkera shemeji yake huu ambaye ameweka kila kitu hadharani. Nadhani hatua hii huwa haifikiwi bila kujaribu kumaliza mambo nyuma ya pazia. Ukiona hivi, ujue kila mbinu ishajaribiwa na kushindikana ili mhusika aumbuke kama ambavyo itakuwa na siku moja waliosoma makala hii watakumbuka.
Je tunachoshuhudia ni mwanzo wa mwisho wa Gwajima? Maana, ukiona wanaojua mchezo mzima uzalendo unawashinda wanaamua kukutolea uvivu, jua arobaini yako inakaribia. Na arobaini ikifika huwa haizuiliki wala haikupi taarifa bali kuwadia.Kwa wanaojua waliotangulia kufanya biashara ya neno kama yeye, wanafahamu namna ambavyo wafanyabiashara hii na wasanii huporomoka hasa kutokana na uongo wanaokuwa wakitumia kufikia kikomo. Hii ndiyo nature ya mambo ya kibinadamu hata yavishwe uungu vipi.
Hata hivyo, wakati tukimsaidia Gwajima kuona ukweli, tufahamu. Wapo baadhi ya wenzetu wenye ugonjwa wa kutaka umaarufu hata kama ni kwa njia mbovu, kuumiza, kupotosha, kunyonya wenzao bila huruma japo nao hudondoka bila huruma. Kama si ugonjwa ni nini mtu mzima tena anayejiita msomi na mtu wa Mungu kuhadaa dunia nawe ukiwamo eti unaeweza kutenda miujiza kama kumfufua Amina Chifupa? Swali ambalo ni onyo ni lile lile alilouliza Dkt Gwajima “je Gwajima alimfufua Chifupa? Japo hii ni aina ya utapeli wa kujipatia fedha na ujiko kupitia migongoni mwa wengine, mara nyingi mwisho wake huwa si mzuri. Pia, uhitaji kiwango fulani cha ujinga, ukatili na unyama kutoa madai kama haya bila kujali yanawaumiza vipi wafiwa.  Hata tunavyorejea kadhia hii, tunaumiza ndugu zake marehemu.  Hata hivyo, hatupaswi kufanya hivyo ili kuwafungua macho wale ambao bado wanaamini katika ujinga huu. Nchini Marekani ulipoanzia mchezo anaocheza Gwajima al maaruf televangelism, mtawakumbuka wakongwe kama Jim Bakker ambaye aliporomoka baada ya kugundulika kuwa alikuwa amempa mama mmoja aliyekuwa akifanya naye mapenzi wa nguvu dola 270,000 ili kumnyamazisha. Mwingine ni Mkenya Gilbert Deya, mchungaji wa kujipachika, aliyewaaminisha wagumba kuwa alikuwa na uwezo wa kuwapatia watoto kimiujiza al maaruf miracle babies kumbe watoto wenyewe walikuwa ni kuiba mahospitalini. Wengi watakuwa wanakumbuka kilichompata Jesse Jackson aliyewahi kujizolea umaarufu kama mhubiri na mtetezi wa haki za binadamu ambaye aliwahi kutoa msaada wa ‘kiroho’ kwa Rais Bill Clinton wakati wa kashfa ya Monica Lewinsky akaishia kuzamishwa na kashfa hiyo hiyo baada ya kugundulika kuwa kumbe alikuwa amezaa na mtumishi wake.
Hao wote hapo juu hawakujua kuwa kulikuwa na arobaini yao. Hivyo, siku ilipofika, walijikuta wakidondoka kwa aibu na kutoweka kwenye ujiko waliozoea ukiachia mbali fedha walizokuwa wakiwakamua waumini na wafuasi wao. Hili halina kinga. Ni kama ajali. Wakati ukifika unafika na huanza kama masihara. Hakuna mjanja katika mambo ya uongo. Mhusika atafanya kosa dogo siku moja na kila kitu kitafunguka na ataanguka na kuumbuka. 
Tumalize kwa kumpongeza waziri Gwajima huku tukimtaka Gwajima atie akilini kuwa anachofanya kitamrudia muda si mrefu hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa wale anaowachokoza, yaani serikali, wanaujua mchezo wake mzima sema walikuwa wakimpuuzia na kumwacha tu. Kwani, hakuna kosa kubwa kama kujisahau ukaanza kuukata mkono unaokulinda au kuiteketeza silaha inayokulinda. Tumeyaona nchi ya jirani ya Kenya ambapo naibu wa Rais sasa analalamika kuanza kufichuliwa uoza wake. Wahenga walisema kama unaishi kwenye nyumba ya vioo, usiwachokoze watupa mawe. Watakusambaratisha na jumba lako la vioo. Je wakati wa kumshughulikia Gwajima ndo unapiga hodi? Je huu ndiyo mwanzo wa mwisho wa Gwajima. Ama kweli, dawa ya moto ni moto na dawa ya Gwajima ni Gwajima!

Chanzo: Raia Mwema Ijumaa.

Gwajima, Tafadhali Tuepushe na Siasa Uchwara Kwenye Chanjo

Hivi karibuni, wamejitokeza watu wenye ushawishi kupinga chanjo ya Ukovi-19. Japo ni haki yao kutochanjwa lakini si haki yao kupinga. Kwani wanapinga tu bila kutoa namna mbadala ya kupambana na janga hili. Lazima tujifunze toka kwenye makosa. Wakati wa awamu ya tano tuliaminishwa kuwa Mungu alikuwa ‘ameikinga’ Tanzania na janga hili kupitia maombi. Hata hivyo, tukiweka kujiridhisha, kujilisha pepo na woga wa wakubwa waliotuaminisha hivi, hakukuwa na kitu kama hicho. Wengi watauliza. Kwanini sikuyasema haya wakati ule. Nisingeyasema yakachapishwa na gazeti lililofanya hivyo likasalimika. Hivyo, kama tulivyounganishwa kupinga chanjo na kujiaminisha kuwa tulikuwa ‘tukilindwa na Mungu’ kwanini tusiungane kwanye kukubali chanjo?

            Leo ngoja tuseme wazi kuwa kupinga chanjo bila kuwa na namna mbadala ni ushirikina na kujilisha pepo. Tutaangamia tukijiona tokana na kutokuwa tayari kujifunza na makosa. Waswahili husema kosa si kosa bali kurudia kosa. Mfano, wenye ushawishi miongoni mwetu wanaosimama majukwaani na kwenye mimbari kupinga chanjo waambiwe fika. Hili, kwa sasa haliwezekani na halikubaliki. Hatuwezi kuwa wagumu hivi wakati tukishuhudia watu wetu wakiteketea. Kama wapo wanaoamini katika maombi kama ilivyokuwa, basi watuonyeshe yanavyofanya kazi badala ya kutupotezea muda na kupotosha watu wetu. Wameshaambiwa kuchanja au kutochanja ni chaguo la mtu. Kwanini watake kushawishi wengine kutofanya hivyo?

            Leo nitatoa mfano kwa Josephat Gwajima, Askofu na daktari wa kujipachika ambaye pia ni mwanasiasa. Hivi karibuni alikaririwa akisema “wanaotaka nifukuzwe CCM watumie akili, kwa mfano tukichanja wote halafu kufikia 2025 watu wako hoi tunapigaje kampeni, bora wengine tubaki tusaidie kutetea chama chetu.” Hii ni hoja mfu. Je hali ikiwa tofauti? Je mawazo mgando kama haya yatakuwa yamekisaidia hicho chama? Je chama kinahitaji msaada kwa mawazo mgando hivi? Je kati ya Chama na Gwajima nani anahitaji msaada wa mwingine? Nani amsaidie nani wakati Chama kilimsaidia Gwajima kuwa mbunge bila kustahiki baada ya kuwaengua waliokuwa wameshinda kura za maoni kihalali? Je tungetumia mawazo kama haya zama za Ebola na Ukimwi hali ingekuwaje? Je hapa nani anapaswa kukumbushwa kutumia akili? Je sera ya CCM kuhusiana na chanjo ni ipi? Gwajima ni nani anayepingana na mabosi wake waliochanjwa kama vile mheshimiwa Rais, Waziri Mkuu na vigogo wengine wa chama chake?

            Kimsingi, anachofanya Gwajima ni kutafuta kiki kisiasa baada ya utawala mpya kuingia madarakani bila kutarajiwa. Tukiwa wakweli, Gwajima anaongea anayoongea kwa utalaam upi? Mwenyekiti Mao Zedong aliwahi kusema kuwa kama hujafanya utafiti, huna haki ya kuhoji. Gwajima hana utafiti wowote wenye mashiko zaidi ya hisia zake. Si vizuri kumpuuzia tukidhani wafuasi wake na wenye mawazo kama yake watampuuzia. Chama chake kimpe onyo, anyamaze mwenyewe au anyamazishwe. Kama ataamua kutochanja basi afanye hivyo kibinafsi badala ya kugeuza sera na habari kwenye vyombo vya habari.

            Kuendelea kupiga kelele kwa Gwajima kuna mafunzo makuu yafuatayo:

Mosi, anapinga na serikali yake wazi wazi ukiachia mbali chama ambacho kina taratibu zako na vikao maalum vya kuweza kufutu masuala kama haya kama angeamua kuvitumia. Je Gwajima hajui utaratibu huu wa chama chake kama kweli ni mwanachama anayejua sera na taratibu za chama chake?

Pili, Gwajima anaonyesha dharau wazi wazi kwa serikali na chama chake. Hii maana yake ni kwamba chama na serikali vimekubali kuchanja kutokana na kutowajali watanzania au kutojua wanachofanya?  Anasema kuwa chanjo haijafanyiwa utafiti. Chanjo ipi kati ya zinazotumika kupambana na Ukovi-19 kwa sasa? Je maombi yamefanyiwa utafiti? Nini hoja hapa kutumia vitu visivyofanyiwa utafiti kutaka kusimamisha hoja. Kasisi, mganga wa kienyeji na wengine kama hawa, hawana utafiti wowote kuhusiana na huduma zao zaidi ya kutegemea imani jambo ambalo ni pata potea. Ndiyo, tunaweza kumuomba Mungu. Lakini Mungu anasema ukitaka akusaidie jisaidie kwanza. Mojawapo ya njia ya kujisaidia ni kutumia akili vizuri na kukubaliana na ukweli hata kama unapingana nao. Ukovi-19 ni janga la dunia.

Tatu, Gwajima anagawanya wanachama na watanzania bila sababu za msingi bali siasa za kutafuta umaarufu binafsi. Niliwahi kuonya kuchanganya dini na siasa. Sasa ndiyo kunaanza kujionyesha wazi wazi kupitia matamshi ya Gwajima. Je Gwajima ni nani katika CCM hadi ajiamini hivi? Nini msimamo wa chama dhidi ya upotoshaji huu. Tulisikia UVCCM wakimpa vipande vyake. Je baba lao CCM mko wapi au kuna namna yaani mgawanyiko ndani ya chama?

Nne, Gwajima anapaswa aelimishwe na kuulizwa nani anaowawakilisha dhidi ya serikali yenye ridhaa ya wananchi? Kama Gwajima anaona chama chake na serikali yake vinaenda kinyume, kwa mjuzi na mstaarabu, unajiondoa kwenye vyombo hivi na kusimamia kile unachokiamini badala ya kutaka kula huku na kule.

            Nimalizie. Leo sitasema mengi. Kwanza, Gwajima anapingana na sera za chama chake. Hawezi kupinga akiwa ndani ya chama. Ajiondoe au akiondolewa asilalamike. Sijui CCM wanambembeleza nini? Pili, Gwajima asilete siasa uchwara kwenye jambo gumu kama mapambano dhidi ya Ukovi-19. Asilete siasa kwenye chanjo. Umma unataka chanjo. Kama yeye ameishachanja ajuako au ana namna yake ambayo hawezi kuiweka wazi iwasaidie wengine, anachofanya ni siasa uchwara. Hivyo, asiruhusiwe kuleta siasa uchwara kwenye chanjo.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema Kesho.

 

Barua kwa Rais, ‘Uzushi’ wa Uhuru Usikuvunge Kuna Mengi

Mpendwa rais, kwanza, nikiri. Naandika waraka huu nikiwa nimevaa kofia nne. Kwanza, ni mwandishi wa habari. Pili ni mchambuzi. Tatu ni mwandishi wa vitabu zaidi ya 20. Nne ni msomi wa kiwango cha kimataifa. Hivyo, kwangu, kufungiwa kwa gazeti la Uhuru linalomilkiwa na kuendeshwa na Chama tawala baada ya kuandika ‘uongo’ kuwa huna mpango wa kugombea urais mwaka 2025, licha kuonyesha sheria inavyotumika bila upendeleo, linatoa dukuduku, funzo, maswali na onyo kwa umma ukiachia mbali wengine waliozoea kufanya mambo kwa mazoea wakijua watalindwa.

Mpendwa rais na Mwenyekiti wa CCM, pamoja na kukipongeza chama na serikali yako kutojipendelea, tunaomba tutoa machache kuhusiana na kadhia hii  tekenyeshi na pumbazika. Lengo la waraka huu wa wazi kwa Rais si kuikosoa serikali za awamu zilizopita ambazo zilijenga aina fulani ya kujipendelea huku likiwaumiza wengine. Kufungiwa kwa gazeti tajwa kunatoa masomo kadhaa kwa vyombo vya habari na watanzania kwa ujumla. Lengo la barua hii ya wazi kwako ni kuibua maswali mengi ili kuweza kutafuta majibu mengi kadhalika mbali na kuonya kuwa kunaweza kukawapo zaidi ya uongo hata ukweli katika hiki kilichosababisha 'kufungiwa' na si kufungwa kama wengine. Je Uhuru lilipaswa kufungiwa au kufungwa? Hilo nawaachia nyinyi hasa wewe bosi na kiongozi wao.

Mosi, wote tujue na kukubali kuwa hakuna aliye juu ya sheria. Japo katiba yetu iko wazi kuhusiana na hili, siku zilizopita kulikuwa na watu wachumia tumbo, wasaka tonge na makanjanja tena wasiojulikana hata walikokua wameibuka kujifanya wako juu ya sheria baada ya kujitokeza na kujipendekeza kama watetezi wa wakubwa. Nadhani wengi tunamkumbuka mmoja aliyejipachika cheo cha kumtetea rais ambaye hata hivyo, baada ya kuondoka utawala wa awamu ya tano naye ametoweka kinamna. Unawezaje kumtetea rais ambaye ana wasemaji tena wanaolipwa kwa kodi za umma? Je rais anahitaji watetezi wakati ana washauri kibao wa kisheria ukiachia mwanasheria mkuu?  Kwa wanaojua madhara ya vidhabi haya waliyowasababishia madhira watu wasio na hatia tena wengine watu na heshima zao, tungeomba sasa hivi wachunguzwe hata kufikishwa mahakamani. Wachunguzwe walipata nini kutokana na kujipendekeza kwao na kwanini walikuwa wakifanya upuuzi walioufanya na nani alikuwa akiwafadhili. Tuwachunguze na kuwashughulikia ili liwe somo kwa wengine wanaopanga kutumia njia kama hizo kuwaumiza wengine kumbe ni wachumia tumbo na wabangaizaji na matapeli wa kisiasa.

Pili, sina shaka CCM ima wamenusa namna wewe kama rais na mwenyekiti wao hutaki upuuzi–––wala hauko tayari kuwaumiza wengine kwa kuwaendekeza wanaojikomba–––wakaamua kujiwahi ili wasiumbuke wala kuwa sehemu ya wale watakaoumbuka kama taasisi. Pia hili linaweza kutafsiriwa kuwa rais hayuko tayari kufuga wala kuendekeza makundi ya kimaslahi ya kifisadi chamani hata kama wanamuimbia mapambio.  Kwa hili pia tunawapongeza kwa kusoma alama za nyakati badala ya kungoja wasomewe na wengine. Nadhani hili ni somo kuwa wameanza kubadilika badala ya kungoja kubadilishwa.

Tatu, je kuna watu wanataka kupima maji mapema ili wajiandae kugombea hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa CCM–––pamoja na kusambaratishwa mitandao yake ya kimaslahi na Hayati Dkt John Magufuli–––si kwamba ilikufa. Je siasa za makundi za CCM zinaanza kurejea na kuanza vita ya kugombea madaraka hata kufikia kukulisha maneno? Je hawa wanakupima au kukutisha kama siyo kukupeep na sasa umewapigia japo wapambe wao? Je wanapata wapi jeuri ya kufanya hivyo wakati wakijua una marungu mawili la chama na la serikali? Je kuna watu waliowatuma walioandika ‘uongo’ juu ya kutogombea au kugombea kwako ili wajihakikishie fursa ya kuanza kupanga mikakati ya kutaka hayo madaraka uliyo nayo? Je hawa ni akina nani na wafanywe nini? Je waandishi walishindwa kutafsiri maneno yako uliposema kuwa hukuwa na mpango wala ndoto za kuwa rais kabla ya kuwa rais lakini wakasahau kuwa sasa wewe ni rais na pia na mwanasiasa tena siyo wa tangu juzi wala jana ambaye umeishaonja madaraka kamili baada ya kukaa kimya ukiwa makamu tu? Je hawa waliowatuma waandishi–––kama kweli wapo–––walijiamini nini hadi wakamkosea adabu rais hivi hivi? Je waandishi na wahariri walipewa nini hadi wakaweka kazi zao hatarini? Je CCM imejifunza nini katika kadhia hii ya aibu?

Mpendwea rais, nne, nadhani wewe Samia Suluhu Hassan, kama rais na mtanzania yeyote una haki ya kugombea hata kutogombea kama uonavyo na utakavyoona. Hivyo, kusema hutagombea si kosa. Kosa ni kusema kitu ambacho hujasema. Ni kosa kubwa. Hata mumeo ambaye ni ubavu wako hawezi kukusemea kwani siyo itifaki wala stahiki kwa namba moja wa nchi.  Isitoshe, kwa namna unavyochapa kazi na ukitumia na rekodi yako iliyokupaisha hadi ukateuliwa makamu wa rais, una kila sifa na sababu za kugombea. Rejea ambavyo, kwa mara ya kwanza Tanzania imeweza kuuza bidhaa nyingi kwa Kenya kuliko inazoagiza toka huko. Badala ya kukukatisha tamaa, kukuzushia na kukulisha maneno, ningeshauri wakushauri ugombee–––kama ilivyokuwa kwa bonge la kaka, ukiokoe chama chako kudondoshwa na wapinzani. Hata hivyo, uhitaji gazeti kukusemea kana kwamba huna mdomo wala ubavu na ithibati ya kusema hivyo. Cha mno tunachojifunza hapa ni kwamba umeonyesha usivyotaka kuruhusu watu kuanza kupoteza muda na hata fedha vya umma kwa kujiingiza kwenye kampeni kabla hata ya muhula wa kwanza haujafiki hata nusu yake. Hili liko wazi. Umesema unataka kuisimamisha nchi ili kuleta maendeleo na kutimiza yale yote uliyorithi tena toka kwa awamu uliyokuwa kiongozi wake namba mbili. Nadhani hili ni onyo na tangazo kwa wanasiasa kuwa hakutakuwa na siasa hadi kwanza kazi iendelee na kufanikiwa.

Tano, wale waliokuwa wakiituhumu serikali kuwa inaminya uhuru wa vyombo vya habari, sasa wataanza kung’amua: kumbe kinachobanwa si uhuru wa habari bali kutaka uhuru huu usiwe wa kila aliye nao kujifanyia atakavyo. Na akifanya hivyo, ajue sheria ni msumeno na mwenye kuisimamia ameishaonyesha wazi yuko tayari kuiruhusu imkate yeyote atakayekuwa ameivunja awe mbele au nyuma serikalini, chamani au upinzani au nje. Nani alidhani gazeti, tena, la chama tawala lingefungiwa kwa kuandika ‘umbea’? Je kweli liliandika umbea au kuna namna?  Je hawa watakaoandika uchochezi wategemee nini hapa?

Mpendwa Rais, nimalize kwa KUKUSHAURI BURE kuwa siyo kufungia gazeti tu bali uangalie ndani zaidi hasa kwenye chama chako hata serikali yako kujua ni kwanini haya yameanza hata kabla hujatimiza hata siku 200 madarakani. Maana, wahenga walisema mwanzo wa ngoma lele; na isitoshe, akumulikaye hukuchoma. Hivyo basi, kusimamisha gazeti na watendaji wake hakutoshi. Lazima wabanwe waeleze kila wanachojua ili kuepuka kuitia nchi kwenye sintofahamu bila sababu au na kama kuna hujuma tujue ili tuchukue hatua. Maana haiwezekani gazeti la Chama kinachounda serikali likajiandikia ‘uongo’ kuhusiana na bosi wa vyote yaani mwenyekiti wake na rais nchi na mkuu wa serikali ya chama chenyewe. Ili iweje na kwanini?

Mwisho kabisa, sina haja ya kuamini kuwa waandishi walifanya kazi yao vizuri na sasa wanatolewa sadaka. Hii staili yako ya kuongoza. Hili halimo kwenye darubini yangu. Lazima kuna zaidi ya kukusingizia hata kukushinikiza au kukuchimba ili wanaokimezea kiti chako wapate namna ya kukushughulikia kulhali. Kimsingi, walichoandika Uhuru si uongo kama walivyoadhibiwa kwao bali hujuma na njama vya hali ya juu. Pia, siamini kuwa wametolewa kafara. Hata hivyo, haya ni maoni na mawazo yangu kama mchambuzi. Je Gazeti la Uhuru Wamepotoka au Kuna Mengi Tusiyojua? Nikushukuru kwa kunisoma. NIKUSHUKURU ZAIDI kama utaufanyia kazi ushauri wangu. Kila la heri.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema leo.