Zuma's recall: Has he reaped what he seeded?

         Disgraced former South African president Jacob Zuma’s a cat with many lives that survived far too many perils before; succumbing to the same rapier he used to dislodge former president Thabo Mbeki. Despite being a survivalist, like the albatross around his neck, Zuma’s past kept on hauntingly hunting him culminating into a heavy blow he’s dealt after, like unwanted goods, being recalled in the same manner he roguishly did to Mbeki on 28^th September 2008. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) ruling committee convened an ad hoc meeting that looked into the matter and what’s into it. Thereafter Zuma’s fate’s sealed; thereby ending long-time wrangles wherein Zuma refused to stand down; thus forcing the politburo, as its quid pro quo, to mercilessly and summarily axe him ending scandal-tainted and very controversial nine-year presidency that left South African economy in quandaries. Essentially, apart from being the baddest thing South Africa’s ever known, Zuma indeed was a political accident that cost the country dearly.

            Looking at how Zuma took advantage of his position and betrayed the ANC, Mbeki and South Africa, his recall did not confound or shock many, if any, especially given that Zuma lost legitimacy many years ago after being captured and abusively used by one Indian Gupta family not to mention unending scandals from sexual related ones to mega corruption. His departure was long overdue.  Similarly, using his power as the then newly-appointed president of the ANC, Zuma tumbled former president Mbeki down in a loutish way. When scheming and humiliating Mbeki, as the ANC, Zuma’s bootlickers and consigliore were just laughing, Zuma didn’t consider the precedent he’s setting. Now that the ANC has turned tables on Zuma, will he go home and enjoy the pickings of his venal rule or wait to pay for the tonnes and tonnes of corruption allegations and cases he and his family face? Will his successor spare him, his family and accomplices from facing the music? Surely, if you live by sword you truly will die of sword; the sage has it. Can Mbeki now laugh after evidencing justice being done and served to Zuma?

          Those who know how Zuma mustered Mbeki unceremoniously, will agree with us that Zuma has received what he deservedly courted. A few weeks before Mbeki’s toppled, under what the ANC called a recall, another victim of retributive politics, Julius Malema, the head of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) was quoted chastising Mbeki to leave so that Zuma could become president. Malema’s words were not in vain. For, after a week, Mbeki was kicked out from power. After holding a lot sway of everything, Zuma was elected president and sworn in in the Union Buildings.

          After getting what he wanted, grabbing power from Mbeki, Zuma wanted to get rid of Malema. Sooner than later, Malema was shown the door after being charged with tax evasion and other economic-related offences; thereby losing his lucrative position of the president of ANC youth wing.

             Looking at how things unfolded; and knowing who’s behind them, it didn’t take long before Malema to realise his terrible mistake as a sequel of being used.  He hit back by forming his EFF which has given Zuma hard time, especially after securing good-sized victory in past general elections.

            Zuma-Malema marriage hit rock bottom; and the duo became sworn enemies. Malema was recently quoted as saying “we are in a mess because we did not listen to the silent communication from president Mbeki that you are removing me and replacing me with nothing.” Malema’s refuting his allegations that the ANC was in quandary because of Mbeki whom he once accused saying “we are in this trouble because of Thabo Mbeki and his people. This problem was started by Mbeki.” Now, we can see that Mbeki wasn’t the cause of troubles South Africa is in while Zuma is; according to Malema. After realising his mistake of being used, Malema went as far as issuing an apology to Mbeki by meeting his late mother, Epainette Mbeki, in April 2014 shortly before her demise saying “I took an opportunity to also apologise to her about how we ill-treated her child.”

          In this live-by-sword-and-die-by-sword situation, the sword that Zuma used to finish off Mbeki has been turned against him to end up exiting power unceremoniously. However, the difference is: Mbeki left without any cloud hanging over his head as it currently is for Zuma whose corruption scandals will always haunt him soon after being fired. Has Zuma reaped what he sowed? Nkandla and hamba kahle Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma the man South Africa will remember as a scandalous president.
Source: Citizen, Feb., 17, 2018.

Can AU tackle corruption without decolonising Africa first?

            African heads of state recently congregated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and made noises about strategising how to tackle corruption in Africa. Those who know how and why corruption is blessedly endemic in Africa, the agenda raised eye brawls after hearing such a pipedream dreamt by the very culprits. In looking into how fighting corruption in Africa can be actualised or not, I'll look into the following to see what is into them:

            First, are African rulers really serious about this grand standing? If they're, what have they individually already done to address the problem in their countries? Ironically, the president who is renowned for practically fighting corruption, Dr. John Pombe Magufuli didn’t attend. He instead, sent his PM. Why? Maybe, he doesn’t see any sincerity and seriousness in this or doesn’t want to waste money on palaver. The same applies to Davos annual congregation his predecessors liked to waste money on.

            Secondly, is there anyway one can fight corruption in Africa without firstly fighting and  stamping out internal colonisation presided over by black colonisers who are legally above the law as a motivation for becoming corrupt knowingly that they'll never been brought to book? I don’t know; if the presidents who tampered with the constitutions of their countries have any moral authority left for them to fight corruption.

            What corruption are they fighting without defining it? As I know, there are many types of corruption from mega, petty, institutional and systemic revolving around the mother of corruption namely political corruption in which clientelism and other menaces such as the politics of ‘it is our time to eat’ thrive. It is under this system notably, wherein politicians took over and became the masters of everybody including other bands of elites. It is this juncture at which serious opposition; political parties and politicians are eliminated or corrupted so as to join a gravy train. Indeed, it is at this juncture corruption was legalised by the backdoor while accountability divorced.

            Thanks to political corruption resulting from internal colonisation, African rulers or black colonisers have never injected any accountability to their people. They're only accountable to their masters who seldom change guards when need be. Thanks to the demands from their masters, corruption and rent-seeking have become rampant so as to allow rulers and a few “untouchable” elites to hold their countries to ransom pointlessly. To survive, many black colonisers purposely decide to deprive their people of services. For, once people are deprived of services, apart from facing hardships, miseries and poverty, they spend much time struggling to just survive; and thereby, black colonisers thrive in power.

            Further, due to political corruption and internalised internal colonisation, officials elected in public offices after bribing voters, normally use their positions to recoup the money they spent on their election. As well, such officials are easily bribed by big corporate which use them to pass the laws that favour their businesses. To cap it all, electoral malpractices involving individuals and their political parties mainly the ruling ones seem to be systemically accepted. When Al Jazeera Television aired its program Witness depicting how political corruption has become cancer by covering the  presidential election at Majaoni Secondary school in Kilifi where students were spending money and meat to bribe other students to vote for them, Van Velzen made this conclusion “it was an eye opener for me. In Kenya, corruption appears to be a survival mechanism, the only real way to get anything done. As if there is no other way. And because this is so interwoven throughout the society as a whole, children are picking up on it from a young age; be it consciously or subconsciously. They don’t know any better and copy their parents’ behavior.” Does this need AU or Kenya to address?

            What should Africa do to root out endemic and systemic corruption? Africans need to rebel against the current institutions and systems governing Africa as ex-colonising powers passed them down; and were accepted, applied and replicated by post-colonial rulers. They are purely colonial by acts and nature.  Further, Africans must have institutional and systemic powers of auditing and controlling their governments to see to it that their expenditures and general practices are compatible with fiscal discipline and laws. For example, apart from stealing and wasting public funds, African governments have another carte blanche. They are at liberty to borrow and spend money as they wish without necessarily involving those who pay the debts resulting from their borrowing and abusive expenditures. Failure to decolonise Africa, whoever comes with proposals of tackling corruption without touching on the root causes is wasting our time not to mention making a noise. I would conclude asking African rulers to go to Dar es Salaam and meet with Magufuli instead of going to Addis Ababa to burn their poor taxpayers’ money on empty talk needlessly.

Source: Citizen, Feb., 14, 2018.

Uchafuzi wa maadili: Kwanini kila kitu kinamngoja rais?

          Baada ya rais John Magufuli kuamua kuwatolea uvivu wachafuzi wa maadili ya taifa, tunadhani ni wakati muafaka kwa waziri anayehusika na masuala haya kumsaidia rais badala ya kungoja kila mara rais ndiye aone tatizo.  Leo tunaandika makala hii maalumu kwa ajili ya waziri anayehusika na habari ambaye wizara yake inaguswa na kadhia hii ya uchafuzi wa maadili. Hii ni kutokana na ukweli kuwa baadhi ya vyombo vya habari vimekuwa mstari wa mbele katika kutangaza uchafu mwingi unaokinzana na maadili ya kitanzania.        Kwa mfano, tangu ateuliwe kuwa waziri anayeshughulikia habari, waziri Harrison Mwakyembe amekuwa mstari wa mbele kufungia magazeti hasa yale yanayoonekana kulalia upande wa upinzani au yale yanayopinga baadhi ya maamuzi ya serikali yanayoonekana kukinzana na ima matarajio ya wananchi au kuwa na ukakasi.

            Japo kufungia magazeti yanapokiuka maadili ya uandishi, kama kunafanyika kwa haki bila patilizi wala upendeleo limo kwenye mamlaka ya waziri, kumekuwapo kufumbia macho macho magazeti ya uchafu na udaku yaliyotamalaki nchini. Kimsingi, magazeti haya hayakiuki maadili ya uandishi tu bali yanakiuka maadili ya taifa kwa ujumla kosa ambalo ni kubwa kuliko ukosoaji. Inashangaza kuona ukakasi kwenye magazeti yanayozikosoa mamlaka, lakini ukakasi huu usionekane kwenye magazeti ya uchafu na udaku yaliyotamalaki yanayoikosea jamii kwa ujumla wake.

            Je wahusika wanangoja rais ang’ake ndipo walione tatizo na kuchukua hatua mujarabu? Je ni mantiki ya kupewa dhamana na mamalak husika? Je rais atafanya kila jambo wakati anawateua wasaidizi wake kumsaidia? Kwanini wahusika hawaoni uchafu unaoenezwa na magazeti haya hatarishi kwa maadili ya taifa na umma kwa ujumla ukiachia mbali kuwalisha uchafu walaji wake? Inakuwaje rais, kwa mfano, aone upungufu fulani lakini waziri ashindwe na aendelee kuwa ofisini? Anaendelea kuwa ofisini akifanya kazi gani wakati uhalisia ni kwamba kitendo cha rais kupotezewa muda kushughulikia jambo ambalo linaweza kufanywa na waziri ni ushahidi tosha kuwa mhusika ana tatizio?

            Si siri wala kupiga chuku. Kabla ya rais Magufuli kuingia madarakani, Tanzania iliegezwa dampo ya kila aina ya uchafu. Nchi iligeuzwa taifa la kidaku na kipuuzi kwa vipindi vingi vya tawala zilizopita ukiondoa ule wa marehemu baba wa taifa ambaye serikali yake haikuvumilia upuuzi huu kwa kisingizio chochote hata kama ni kutoa ajira na kulipa kodi kwa taifa. Nani anapenda kodi au ajira itokanayo na kazi chafu kama ya magazeti ya udaku?

            Kwa vile rais Magufuli ameamua kuona yale ambayo wengi huyaona na kuogopa kuchukua hatua kwa kuhofia kutopendwa au kuyashabikia kama sehemu ya kupumbaza wananchi wasiwashughulikie pale wanapowatendea maovu kama kuendeleza ufisadi na uvivu, tunamshauri waziri anayehusika na habari apeleke mswaada bungeni kuondoa vyombo vya habari vya udaku kwenye mzunguko nchini. Kwani vyombo hivi ni janga kwa taifa hasa wakati huu dunia inapokabiliwa na tishio la ukimwi, ujinga, umaskini na mabalaa mengine ambayo ni chanzo kizuri cha mapato ya magazeti ya uchafu na udaku. Mfano, ujinga unapoongezeka, wateja wa magazeti ya uchafu wanaongezeka. Umaskini kadhalika ukiachia mbali imani za kishirikina na upuuzi mwingine ambavyo ndivyo vyanzo vizuri vya habari kwa magazeti haya hatarishi kwa maadili ya taifa.

            Mwandishi wa makala hii amewahi kutembelea nchi zote jirani ukiondoa Msumbiji. Katika nchi jirani zote kuanzia Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda hadi Uganda, havina tatizo la udaku kiasi cha kuwa na magazeti ya udaku kama ilivyo kwa Tanzania.

            Ni jambo la aibu kwa taifa linalosifika kwa amani na utulivu kugeuzwa la kidaku bila sababu. Nadhani kuna haja ya kufanya utafiti ili kugundua ni kwanini watu wetu wengi wanapenda udaku. Hili ni muhimu hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa kwa baadhi ya majirani zetu kama Kenya, ukitoa tangazo linalovunja maadili, hawangoji mamlaka bali hujichukulia sheria mikononi kuondoa kadhia. Nakumbuka tukio moja lilotokea mwaka 2004 jijini Nairobi karibu na chuo kikuu cha Nairobi. Shirika moja lisilo la kiserikali lilitundika bango Kenya kuonyesha dalili za ngono. Wananchi waliokuwa wakielekea makazini asubuhi walipoliona bango lile wala hawakwenda polisi zaidi ya kuanza kuliporomosha.

            Je ni kwanini kwenye nchi jirani hakuna kabisa au hakuna utitiri wa magazeti na televisheni za udaku? Nchini Uganda najua kuna gazeti moja tu liitwalo Pepper. Nchini Burundi, Rwanda na Zambia sijui. Kama yapo yameanzishwa hivi karibuni. Kwanini Tanzania imekuwa kiwanda cha udaku kuanzia wa kimaadili, dini hata mambo mengine. Ukiangalia magazeti yanayojifanya ya tiba, dini na mambo mengine na mambo yanayoandika, licha ya kusikitika, unahoji mchango wa elimu yetu kwa taifa hasa kama wenye mamlaka waliosoma hawawezi kuona hatari na kitisho vitokanavyo na kuruhusu wajinga na waroho fulani waendelee kuharibu taifa na kuwaibia watu wetu kwa kuwalisha uchafu uitwao udaku na uongo kwa magazeti yanayoongelea mambo ya kitaaluma kama tiba.

            Tumalizie kwa kuyataka mamlaka yanayohusika na habari na maadili kuondosha kadhia ya vyombo vya habari vya uchafu na udaku nchini haraka bila kungoja rais ang’ake wakati ana mambo mengi ya kufanya.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima, Feb., 14, 2018.

Kijiwe chajadili ununga wa kisiasa kayani

          Baada ya kujikita kwenye uchafuzi wa maadili wiki iliyopita na kupata muitikio wa kuua mtu, Kijiwe leo kinarejea kujadili kadhia mojawapo ya uvunjaji maadili, yaani uvunjaji wa amri ya sita au tuseme kwa lugha rahisi unungaembe wa kisiasa ni aina fulani ya uchangudoa. Kwa wale wanaotoka etimolojia ya dhana nzima, unungaembe wa kisiasa ni kitendo cha mchovu kuwa na washikaji wengi. Simpo. Hata hivyo, leo tutaongelea uchangudoa tofauti na huu wa mwili. Tutaongelea uchangu wa kichwani aka wa kisiasa.

            Kapende anaingia akiwa na gazeti la Danganyika Daima. Anaamkua na kulibwa mezani. Mchunguliaji anajiwahi kama kawaida yake. Kapende anazoza “jamani mmeona wachovu wanavyobadili vyama kama daladala. Kunani jamani mbona mwenzenu nachanganyikiwa kiasi cha kushindwa kuelewa jinai hii ya kujitakia?”

            Mzee Meneno ambaye wiki jana hakuudhuria Ndevu anakula mic “unashangaa na kuulizia huu ununga wa kisiasa ambao unaendeshwa na njaa ya kukosa adabu na aibu! Nadhani kuna sababu nyingi nyuma ya uchangu huu wa kimaadili mojawapo ikiwa ni njaa hasa iliyopanda vichwani na kuendekezwa.”

            Kabla ya kuendelea Mpemba anamnyang’anya mic na kunena “yakhe uniosema ni ya kweli tupu.  Mie naona wengine wasukumwa na uchumia tumbo wala si njaa. Kwani wengi wanao ukwasi. Hawana njaa hata kidogo bali tamaa na kutaka vya dezo muda wote ukiachia mbali kuishiwa kulhali.”

            Msomi Mkatatamaa anaamua kutia guu “wasemaji mliotangulia mmenena vitu vya maana sana. Tangu siasa iwe dampo la kila anayetafuta ulaji bila kujali usomi wake unategemea nini? kuna wachovu ambao licha ya kuwa na elimu za kuungaunga au kughushi, hawana sifa yoyote ya kuajiriwa na kufanya chochote zaidi ya siasa ambayo kwa kaya za uswekeni ni ubingwa wa kupiga domo na usanii usiofuata kanuni yoyote. Hivyo, kwa wachovu kama hawa kubadilisha vyama kama nepi si jambo geni wala la kushangaza. Wana hasara gani iwapo wanapata tonge hata kwa kujivua nguo na kujidhalilisha kama tunavyoshuhudia? Kwangu, kinachoshangaza ni mfumo huu unaoruhusu huu uchangudoa wa kimaadili unaoanza kuzoeleka katika anga za ulaji wa dezo wa wachovu na raslimali zao.”

            Kabla ya kuendelea, Kanji anampoka mic “veve kumbusha mimi ile changu nasema eti napenda kuu balaa. Yaani baba jima napenda baba nyingine balaa? Sasa kama napenda baba nyingine balaa bibi yako tapenda wipi dugu yangu? Hata Bombei hapana sikia kufuru kama hii dugu yangu. Sasa kama baba napenda baba nyingine balaa nani tapenda mama na toto?”

            Mijjinga anampoka mic Kanji na kuzoza “hivi kama tutakuwa wakweli kwa nafsi zetu hii naayo ni sera ya kutangaza majukwaani? Kweli kuna mapenzi katika sanaa za ulaji ndugu zanguni? Ukisikia kufilisika kimaadili ndiyo huku. Jamaa mwenyewe alishasema hatafuti kupendwa bali kuwatumikia wachovu.”

            Kabla ya Mijjinga kuendelea kudana, Kapende anaamua kumtoa wasi wasi Kanji kwa kusema “Kanji wala huna cha kushangaa. Njaa inapopanda kichwani msaka tonge yoyote anaweza kufanya lolote hata kama ni kujivua nguo kama hili baba lililoropoka. Kimsingi, vyangu kama hawa wanafanya usanii ili tonge lipande kinywani. Hawana mapenzi yoyote na wale wanaowapenda zaidi ya kupenda ulaji wa dezo utokanao na usanii huu wa kisiasa. Hakuna zaidi ya hili ndugu yangu. Mimi nawajua nimeishi nao tangu nikifanya kazi ya kupiga picha. Kimsingi, kinachoendelea ni unungaembe wa kisiasa.”

            Kitendo cha kutaja unungaembe kinamuibia Da Sofia Lion aka Kanungaembe ambaye anaamua kula mic “kama ununga wa kisiasa umeruhusiwa hivi, kwanini kuwaandama dada poa wakati kaka poa wa kisiasa wakivumiliwa wakati hawamuuzi, kumtapeli wala kumuumiza mchovu yoyote? Maskini kutokana na ukapa uliotamalaki wanajiuzia miili yao sawa na hawa wasanii uchwara wanaouza roho za wenzao bila aibu wala huruma.”

            Mipawa anaamua kula mic “hapa dada Sofia umetia na kunena neno la maana.  Kimsingi, wasanii hawa njaa wanatiana aibu bila kufikiri wakidhani wachovu ni wajinga wasioweza kuambua utapeli huu Dhahiri. Itikadi ni imani na msimamo. Huwezi kudandia vyama kama dala dala ukabakia kuwa na maana.”

            “Nadhani wewe bado unaota zama za maadili za mzee Mchonga. Siku hizi siasa ni ulaji hata kama wa kula bila kunawa. Itikadi na msimamo vilikufa na mzee Mchonga kiasi cha maadili kugeuka madili. Hata hili linakushinda?” anachomekea Mbwamwitu huku akivuta kombe lake na kubwia kwa madaha.

            Mgoshi Machungi mwana wa Shikilango aliyekuwa akikamua kahawa yake anaamua kutia guu “sisi kue Ushoto huita haya mnayoshangaa mambeza yaani kufanya mambo kana kwamba anayefanya hivyo hana akii timamu kama yule kidhabu nabii Tito mjaana aiyekuwa akihimiza dini ya mashetani ya kutenda maovu. Nashukuu Mungu amekamatwa na kupigwa stop maa moja. Sijui tinapeekeshwa wapi jamani ambao kia mjaana anajifanyia atakavyo?”

            Kijiwe kikiwa kinanoga si akapita msanii aliyesema anampenda Mpayukaji balaa. Acha tumzonge lau tujue alichomaanisha ili ti-understand.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima, Feb., 14, 2018.

Breaking News!!!!!!!! At Last Zuma Reaps What He Seeded!

      Scandal-plagued South African president Jacob Zuma has been shown the door in the same manner he did to his predecessor, former president Thabo Mbeki. If you live by sword you will die by sword. Zuma pulled Mbeki down unceremoniously to end up suffering the same fate less than ten years since he machinated against Mbeki. For more info, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
       For this blog, the fall of Zuma is something South Africa deserved many years ago after Zuma lost legitimacy, mainly when he was captured, abusively used and monopolised by an Indian Gupta family. Zuma will be remembered as a political accident for which South Africans paid dearly. Will he go home and enjoy the loots or face the music? Time will actually tell. Importantly we should say

Go Zuma go
Time is up
Go to your no go
Go wait for your  karma
Go wait for the music

Go please Zuma go
Never look back but go
Time is up
Whatever befalls you is dharma
Go enjoy the music

Go say hi to the Gupta
Remember these betes noires?
You are now going under
This is what you got from the Zupta
Go Zuma go
Go pay for your sins

JPM’s bid to restore our culture must be supported

 

            After taking over from Jakaya Kikwete of whom one columnist once said had a country on out pilot, President John Magufuli changed Tanzania by piloting the plane by himself. His advent has recast Tanzania so as to send it back to the international limelight in what can be termed as the result of Magufulication. Practically, Magufuli has stridden where his predecessors feared to, principally on endemic and systemic corruption and disarming party networks within his ruling party. Whether Magufuli has transformed Tanzania or not, all depends on where one is located. For example, when Magufuli decided to take on systemic rot such as chronic and endemic corruption and lack of ethos, the world became aware of how rotten the country was. A man of his own, Magufuli decided to zero in wherever he thought had some problems. Remember academic cheaters and ghost workers? Remember those who were used to mission to town?

            Recently, Magufuli took on the monkey-see-monkey-do creatures whose minds cheat them that without adopting foreign nonsenses one is not modernised. Such deficiency-cum-dependency seems to have turned Tanzania into a cultural garbage bin wherein any dirty culture would get a fertile soil. As a result, Tanzania lost its culture and dignity in the name of art. It reached the point at which self-respecting people wouldn’t listen to some FM radios or watch TVs in the presence of their children or relatives. Now that Magufuli has decided to restore national culture, he must be supported.

            Thanks to Magufuli’s actions and spirit, I equate him with a true African parent. Every parent would like his or her children to follow his or her teachings wholesale, mainly if and when such teachings are acceptable according the mores and norms of the society. Every parent would like his or her children be good and successful. A good African parent jealously defends and teaches kids to follow instructions and intuitions so that they succeed. Do they follow and understand? Sometimes, yes, sometimes, no. Children’s behaviours and responses beg for parent’s efforts and wisdom. Sometimes, a parent needs to be strict; and sometimes, not. All depends on the issue at hand.

            As for Magufuli, he has real and unique love for his kids, Tanzanians. Do they understand his love missions and visions? The answer is yes and no.  Does he know how they arrogantly and ignorantly evaluate his mission and vision for them? A parent is like a dumpster. He or she must accept whatever comes from kids; and must accept their behaviours however bad or good they might be.  A family is like a country under polypartism. There are rebels, sycophants, patriots and letdowns. If you tell them to change for those with unbecoming behaviours. Usage is a chronic disease for both. A change is difficult to accommodate. Criminals hate the judge and the law but not their delinquency. This is natural; not new or old. To succeed in bringing up children uprightly needs maturity, patience and wisdom. It is like fishing. You don’t know if you’ll catch a fish or a gator. They all are yours.

            When it comes to Magufuli and Tanzania as to whether his move is constructive or destructive, it depends on a person to assess. Currently, common wananchi are happy, especially after reclaiming Tanzania’s lost glory which took a hit soon after Mwl Julius Nyerere retired. Nyerere’s exit ushered in lack of ethics, mega corruption, and above all, negligence and nihilism nationally. The country that used to be socialist soon saw the rise of a cabal of corrupt government officials and businesspeople who amassed wealth without any meaningful explanations as to how they made it.  Corruption and embezzlement of public funds became rife. It reached the point at which the country was given a moniker of shamba la bibi where shoddy investors could go, make a killing and leave scot-free. Tax was not effectively collected not to mention over expenditure. Leaders became globetrotters while the citizens needlessly cascaded into abject penury therefrom. Hospitals and schools were in a bad shape. Hardworking became a very expensive item to get in Tanzania. Essentially, the country was on edge.

            As a competent parent, Magufuli turned everything around. He wants to see his children working hard and earning justifiably and thrive and become self-reliant instead of begging.

            In a nutshell, if what Magufuli has been doing satisfies his children or not, it depends on who makes an assessment. Importantly however, a country needs to be placed on the right direction based on its self-consciousness and self-reliance. Time will come when Magufuli’s children will understand his mission and vision sometimes later in their lives after retiring as it is for Julius Nyerere who’s demonised when he’s in power to end up being revered posthumously.

Source: Citizen, Jan., 7, 2018.

Tanzania iondoe sheria nyingi za kikoloni na kifisadi

            Hukumu ya kesi ya watu waliokamatwa wakitaka kutorosha vipande vya dhahabu vyenye thamani ya shilingi 989.7 milioni ilinitisha na kunikumbusha jambo ambalo nilishaliona muda mrefu bila kupata fursa ya kulidurusu.  Kwa mjuibu wa vyombo vya habari ni kwamba watuhumiwa wawili waliokamatwa wazi wazi na mali hizi za taifa, walihukumiwa kwenda jela miaka mitano au kulipa faini ya shilingi milioni sita. Niliposoma hukumu hii nilishangaa. Kwa vile nafahamu sheria, nilijua lilipo tatizo. Kwa wasiojua sheria wanaweza kuanza kumtupia lawama hakimu ambaye kimsingi, hufungwa mikono na sheria. Wengi wanaweza kudhani kuna chochote kitu kimetembezwa wasijue tatizo halipo mahakamani bali bungeni na kwenye mfumo wetu mzima tuliourithi toka kwa wakoloni. Hizi ni sheria au shari?
            Kimsingi, sheria nyingi za nchi zilizokuwa makoloni bado zina makandokando mengi ya kikoloni zikiwamo sheria kiasi cha kuhitaji kuondolewa ukoloni au sumu yake au to be decolonised. Si sheria, tu, hata ukiangalia namna nchi za kiafrika zinavyotawaliwa kwa sasa miaka zaidi ya 50 ya kuwa huru, utakubaliana name kuwa uhuru zinaodai kuwa nao si chochote wala lolote bali ukoloni unaosimamiwa na waswahili wenyewe dhidi ya wenzao.  Hili ni jambo linalopaswa kupigiwa kelele na kutokomezwa ili kuzipa fursa nchi husika kujikomboa na kuendelea. Matokeo mojawapo ya ukoloni mweusi ni kuwa na watawala walioko juu ya sheria huku wakiyatumia vibaya kufilisi nchi husika ukiachia mbali baadhi yao kubadili katiba na kuendelea kuwa madarakani kinyume cha sheria ili kulinda uovu na uoza wao na magenge ya ndugu, marafiki na waramba makalio yaliyowazunguka yakiziibia na kuzifuja nchi husika. Ni bahati mbaya kuwa hata watawala wa mwanzo wa nchi za kiafrika, hawakuondoa ukoloni huu wa kimfumo na kitaasisi zaidi ya kuurithi na kuurudufu kwa manufaa yao binafsi na mabwana zao yaani wakoloni weupe. Kiongozi mwenye dhana na dhima madhubuti ya kukomboa taifa lake hawezi kukubali kuwekwa juu ya katiba. Kwani binadamu ni nini hadi awe juu ya sheria asiitumie vibaya kuwakandamiza watu wake ukiachia mbali kuwaibia? Nadhani ni Mungu pekee anayepaswa kuwa juu ya sheria ila si binadamu.
            Tukirejea kwenye hukumu husika, pamoja na kwamba mahakama imeamuru dhahabu iliyokamatwa kutaifishwa, bado hukumu hii laini itatumika kama motisha tosha kwa wahalifu ambao hawajakamatwa kujaribu kutorosha mali zetu hasa wakijua kuwa wakifanikiwa kufanya hivyo, watatajirika. Na kama wakikamatwa, watatoa faini na kurejea kwenye biashara kama kawaida.
            Kwanza inashangaza kwanini wahujumu hawa hawakushitakiwa kwa sheria ya kuhujumu uchumi? Utaaambiwa kuwa mali na fedha walizokamatwa nazo hazifikii kiwango kilichotajwa katika sheria. Nadhani hujuma ni hujuma bila kujali ni kiasi gani kinahujumiwa. Nadhani, kinachopaswa kuangaliwa hapa si thamani ya mali wala fedha bali nia ya kutenda kosa (men rea).Hapa napo kuna utata wa kisheria kulingana na thamani ya mali husika na mambo mengine ya kisheria. Nadhani kwa wanaojua maana ya kuhujumu, wangeshauri watunga sheria zetu wasiangalia kiasi cha fedha au thamani ya mali husika bali nia ya kitendo.
            Pili, kwa mazingira ya taifa letu na mifumo mibovu, bila kubadili sheria na kuipa meno zaidi, tutaendelea kuibiwa kila mara. Kwanini hatujifunzi kutokana na uzoefu kuwa sheria nyingi zinazotungwa ima zinatungwa na mafisadi walioingia kwenye vyombo vya kutunga sheria kutokana kuhonga, kununua au kuiba kura? Hapa napo kuna tatizo la kimfumo na kitaasisi ambapo chaguzi zetu si huru na za haki hasa kwenye nchi ambazo zimetekwa na vyama vikongwe au watawala maimla na wezi.
            Tatu, Tanzania inapaswa kujifunza toka Uchina ambako makosa ya uhujumu, wizi wa mali za umma na ufisadi hubeba adhabu ya kifo au vifungo virefu. Ni bahati mbaya sana kuwa taifa letu limeendelea kujitangaza kama linalopambana na ufisadi kwa dhati bila ya kuangalia namna ya kuodokana na kadhia ya kutungwa sheria za kifisadi zinazowapa motisha wahalifu kuibia taifa letu na watu wake. Huwezi kuwa na sheria legelege ukapambana na uhujumu uchumi hata kama utakuwa na vyombo madhubuti vya usalama na upelelezi vya kudhibiti kadhia hii.
            Nne, je mbali na kurekebisha sheria nini kifanyike? Nadhani kuna haja ya serikali kuleta mswaada bungeni unaomlazimisha kila mtanzania kuwa anatoa taarifa za mali yake na namna alivyozichuma.  Hili lifanyike kila mwaka ili kuepuka watu kutoa taarifa mara moja wakaendelea kuuhujumu na kuuibia umma watakavyo kama ilivyo sasa ambapo sheria za maadili zimeishia kuwa makabrasha ya sheria yasiyofanyiwa kazi. Nadhani ni Afrika tu na nchi nyingine za kijambazi ambapo mtu anaweza kulala maskini na kuamka tajiri asichukuliwe hatua. Tusipoondokana na ukale na ukoloni huu wa kimfumo tutaendelea kuwa maskini wakati nchi yetu imejaliwa raslimali zenye thamani lukuki. Tutaendelea kuishi kwa kujidhalilisha kwa kutegemea kuombaomba, mikopo na misaada bila sababu zozote za msingi.
            Tumalizie kwa kuzita mamlaka kuchukua hatua dhidi ya mfumo, taasisi na sheria za kikoloni zenye kusaidia wezi kuja nchini kutuibia na kuondoka wakituacha tukiwa maskini iwe ni kwa kupitia magendo, utoroshaji au uwekezaji kwa kisingizio cha biashara.
Chanzo: Tanzania Daima: J'tano, Jan., 7, 2018.

Kijiwe Kuwashughulikia Wanaovunja Maadili

          Baada ya mtukufu Rais John Magufuli kuwatolea uvivu malimbukeni na tabia za kilimbukeni zilizoota mizizi kayani, kijiwe kimekuja na mkakati wa kumpa tafu kuhakikisha maadili yanarudi na kuondoa madili.
          Msomi Mkata Tamaa ndiye kinara wa mjadala wa leo. Akiwa na tabu kubwa liitwalo Ethics of the Nation yaani maadili ya kitaifa, anatia timu, kuamkua na kumwaga sera “wazee, mnaongeleaje huu mkakati wa kurejesha maadili na kuondoa madili kayani kama ulivyoasisiwa na mkuu mwenyewe hivi karibuni kwa kutoa angalizo na onyo?”
          Kapende hangoji; anakwanyua mic na kuzoza “japo huwa natofautiana na mkuu kwenye masuala mengi, kwa hili ameninasa kiasi cha kunifanya nitangaze rasmi leo kuwa mie nitakuwa kamanda wake wa kupambana na ulimbukeni na uchafuzi wa maadili ya kaya yetu tukufu.”
          Kabla ya kuendelea Mgoshi Machungi anakula mi “hata mimi hapa nakubaliana na mgoshi mkuu kuwa hapa kwei ameona mbai. Hapa lazima timsaidie kuwakomesha hawa maimbukeni wavivu wa kufikii kama yue jamaa wa uvivu wa kufikii aiyeponzwa na bi nkubwa wake au siyo?”
          Mijjinga aliyekuwa akifunua kurasa la tabu la Msomi, analiweka pembeni na kula mic “nami hapa lazima ninene ukweli. Jamaa ameona mbali hasa usawa huu ambapo miwaya inafyeka wana kaya kama haina akili nzuri. Hata mimi nashangaa namna ambavyo kaya nzima imegeuka bubu na kipofu dhidi ya wajalaana wanaopenda kuigiza mambo ya hovyo lakini si ya maana. Haiwezekani tukageuzwa kaya ya jalala kimaadili tokana na kuwa na wanene wasio na maadili wala akili waliolea hali hii hatari kwa mustakabali wa kaya.”
          Kabla ya kuendelea Kanji anampoka mic na kuzoza “Jinga kwanza goja nitoe fano. Kama nataka pambana na limbukeni yoteni lazima naanza na ile kuba yao.” Anageuka upande wa kusini mwa kijiwe na kusema “kwanja tajama ile bango natangaza panua kalio. Veve nani napanua tako? Kama Mungu naumba veve nyembamba sasa nani tapanua kalio yako na kwanini na iveje?”
          Tokana na Kanji anavyojifanya kutojua Kiswahili kiasi cha kubukanya Kijiwe hakina mbavu. Mbwa Mwitu anaamua kuchomekea “inaonekana Kanji veve penda sana kalio. Mbona naangalia kalio tu siyo witu nyingine kama wile ile natembea kalio nje kwa kulegeza salawili zao?”
          Mipawa aliyekuwa akimalizia kipisi chake cha sigara kali anakula mic “japo tunaweza kuchukulia utani, hali ni mbaya.” Anamnyooshea mkono kijana mmoja aliyekuwa akipita huku suruali yake ikiwa mlegezo na kichwani akiwa na bonge la kiduku na kusema “kwanini tusianze na wakuda kama hawa wanaoonyesha chupi zao chafu utadhani kuna aliye a haja ya kuzitazama. Hivi siyo ushoga huu wavulana wazima kulegeza surualia na kutoboa masikio jamani? Nani anawahitaji wakati akina mama wamejaa tele ukiachia mbali kuleta laana yao?”
          Sofia Lion aka Kanungaembe anaamua kutia guu “mwenzenu hata mie sielewi. Maana, tulizoea rangi mbili za wanaojichubua wasijue ni upumbavu. Hii kadhia ya dada zangu kuongeza makalio, kucheza vigodoro na upuuzi mwingine mwenzenu naona kama laana. Hapa lazima tusimame kidete na kumsaidia mkuu ili atusaidie. Hakika mkuu amenikumbusha enzi za mzee Nchonga wakati ule nikiwa kinda. Hapakuwa na upuuzi huu hata kidogo.”
          Mpemba aliyekuwa kimya muda wote anaamua kula mic “yakhe mie nkubaliana nanyi. Tumepoteza maadili wallahi. Haiwezekani tuendelee na mambo kama haya hafu bado tuseme tu taifa. Taifa la nnna gani hili lisilo na maadili na utamaduni wake? Sie kule Pemba hatuna haya mambo. Kama ntu afanya hivi, twamitia popobawa antia adabu ati.”
          Msomi anarejea “nakubaliana na watoa maoni. Kaya yetu imegeuka kama nyani. Inakopi na ku-paste bila kufikiri. Wajinga na wapumbavu wengi wanapenda kupwakia kila uchafu utokao nje kwa kisingizio cha usasa. Usasa gani huu iwapo tunaowakopi hawakopi mazuri yetu? Hapa lazima nigusie jambo moja nyeti. Kuna wengi wanaosema kuwa tukipiga marufuku ukosefu wa maadili tutakosa watalii, na tuwakose. Kwani, hatuna umaskini wakati uchumi tunao lakini tunaukalia kwa uzembe na utaahira wetu. Nashauri yeyote anayethamini maadili aanze kutembea na bakora ili tuwachape waharibufu wa maadili yetu kama watu.”
          Mzee Maneno anatia neno “hili naliunga mkono mia kwa mia. Ila tutakapoanza kuwashughulikia hawa wapumbavu, tusiambiwe kuwa tunavunja haki na uhuru wa binadamu wa kujiamulia avaacho.”
          Mchunguliaji aliyekuwa akisoma gazeti anaamua kula mic japo si kawaiada yake “nakubaliana nanyi nyote. Ila napata kigugumizi namna ya kupima nani amevaa kimaadili au vinginevyo. Hivyo, nashauri tuwe na kipimo cha pamoja cha maadili kabla ya kuanza kutembezeana vichapo mchana kweupe au siyo?”
          Kijiwe kikiwa kinachangamka si kikatokea kikundi cha watalii! Mabinti wa kitasha kama wanne hivi walikuwa wamevalia vichupi tena mtepetepo mali zote zikiwa nje nje.
          Mgoshi anawangalia na kuzoza “hivi kwei huu nao ni utaii au uchafuzi wa maadii yetu? Sijui hawa nao mkuu amewaweka kundi gani. Maana tinavyoaabudia, hapa azima inshu nzima izue ukakasi na utata.
Tuonene wiki ijayo huku tukitafakari.
Chanzo Tanzania Daima: J'tano, Jan., 7, 2018.
       

An Open letter to President Museveni

Your Excellency president for life Hastings Kamuzu Banda, sorry, democratically elected president Yoweri K. Museveni,

            First of all, forgive me for a mix-up. I happen to have roots from a country whose criminal president once declared; he was president for life as if the country were his private estate.  This was long before multiparty democracy kicked in and kicked him out. This was none other than Ngwazi Hastings Kamuzu Banda of Malawi. I write this letter to invoke your experience and wisdom about good governance and the sacrosanctity of the constitution of the land. I must clearly state in the outset that the story I am going to delve on is about somebody else but not you, Your Excellency.

            Your Excellency, I was shocked when I heard and later read that you allowed the tinkering with the constitution in order to rule by overruling it. First of all, I could not believe. However, I had to after reminding myself how you're able to maintain power for over 30 years equivalent to six five-year terms. What prevented me from accepting to believe that this time the fact that same old tricks would be replicated to overrule the constitution contrary to the word of another Yoweri Museveni, who, none the less, is different from you I am writing. In 1986, at a time, he’s revolutionary and refreshing, Museveni, with razzmatazz, said that “the problem of Africa in general and Uganda in particular is not the people but leaders who want to overstay in power”. Joshing aside, as refreshing as Ugandan politicians can be, in 2015, former vice president, Prof Gilbert Bukenya said that “president Museveni has been in power for over 29 years but our hospitals are in a terrible state. He has failed to even repair the hospitals Dr. Milton Obote built. Whereas he calls him swine, Obote did better than Museveni in this area” (Daily Monitor25, October 9, 2015).

            Your Excellency, now, you can see the difference between the two Musevenis I'm talking about. I know as you know. You know what I mean. Allow me to ask you a few questions. Does a person who tinker with the constitution really believe in the sacrosanctity of the constitution of his country? If he does, does he know that tinkering with it isn't only treasonous but also a sacrilege? Why does such a criminal raise the Bible during being sworn in  promising that you'd protect, respect and uphold the constitution while in actuality you just underhold and abhor it? Do you believe in God? Do you remember the entire oath you've already recited five times since you came to power; and underscore its meaning, intentions , sacrosanctity and significance for you and the nation in general?

            Your Excellency, may I remind you of the very oath which I'm sure you know and remember? It says: “I….., swear in the name of the Almighty God/solemnly affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of Uganda and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. (So help me God). How faithful have you been to yourself forget about Uganda, especially when you remember the words you uttered when you're ascending to power?  Does a person have any allegiance to the republic of Uganda whose constitution he can tinker with not once or twice but many times? You personally, have you preserved, protected and defended the constitution of Uganda while it can be tampered with under your watch?

            The other day, I heard you saying that you tinker with the constitution in order to get more time to finish off the job you started. Is Uganda a private estate any power-hungry person can use and overspend as he deems fit? What lesson does such criminality teach others, especially those under one's watch and age?

            Your Excellency, do life presidents believe in mortality or infallibility and immortality? Why am I asking such an obvious question? It is because as the bible says “There is a time for everything,   and a season for every activity under the heavens:  a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). Why’d a mortal who came from the womb of a woman deceive him/herself with mundane things as if he/she will live forever? How do you call this in your philosophy your Excellency? If all of us would like to die in power, who will die out of it? How many years will it take for each and every of us to do so? 

            Your Excellency, the other day, I heard you lambasting foreign powers for wanting to intervene in your internal affairs by branding them colonisers. You said “Buli omu afuge enyumba ye,” meaning let everyone govern his/her own house (Observer, May 13, 2016). What happened when General Idi Amin said the same?  Do you know that since Africa gained its independence has been under black colonisers after they unseated the white ones and usurped powers from the hoi polloi? Do you know that the same black colonisers tamper with the constitutions of their countries; and are also maintained by white or external colonisers?

Time is up; maybe, next time.

Source: Citizen, Jan., 31, 2018. 

Maadili, Magufuli aungwe mkono

            Hivi karibuni, kwa mara nyingine, rais John Pombe Magufuli alifanya kilichokuwa kimewashinda wengi tangu kung’atuka baba wa taifa Mwl Julius Nyerere. Magufuli aliamua kuwaondolea uvivu wachafuzi wa maadili ya kitanzania ambao, mara nyingi, ni matokeo ya utawala mbovu, ujinga, ulimbukeni na tamaa miongoni mwa watanzania. Tunachukua fursa hii kumpongeza kipekee kwa kuona zahma hii ambayo ilikuwa ikitishia uhai wa taifa kimaadili.

            Kama taifa, bila maadili, hatuna tofauti na wanyama. Taifa lisilo na maadili, halina utambulisho wake na linaelekea pabaya. Hivyo basi, rais Magufuli aungwe mkono na watanzania wote kuhakikisha tunapambana na yeyote anayetaka kuchezea mila na utamaduni wetu kwa gharama yoyote. Katika kufanya hivi, kuna mambo kadhaa ya kuzingatia.

            Mosi, tusingoje serikali wala kulinda mila na tamaduni zetu kwa hofu ya serikali wala kulamika. Maana, kwa wenzetu, mila na tamaduni ni uchumi. Mfano mdogo ni toka taifa la Marekani ambalo linatangaza na kuuza utamaduni wake dunia nzima kama njia mojawapo ya kuzitawala nchi nyingine. Chukulia mavazi, mitindo, vinywaji na vyakula vya kimarekani vinavyouzwa ulimwenguni kweli kupitia maabala yake ya Holywood na biashara nyingine. Mwl Nyerere aliwahi kusema “utamaduni kuwa ni chombo cha maendeleo.”

            Pili, kama jamii, tuonyesha maadili yetu kama njia ya kututambulisha na kututofautisha na watu wengine. Hivyo, tusichuuze utu wetu kwa kisingizio cha kutengeneza fedha. Hakuna ubishi kuwa kwa sasa filamu na miziki mingi vinavyozalishwa nchini ni vichafu tokana na kukinzana na maadili ya kitanzania. Tumekuwa watumwa wa mila chafu toka mataifa mengine yasiyo na mwelekeo hasa katika sanaa ya muziki ambapo ima tunaigiza Marekani au DRC bila sababu zozote za msingi.

            Tatu, kwa vile serikali yetu imejitofautisha na serikali za hovyo zilizopita zilizoruhusu uoza kimaadili kutokana na kuongozwa na watu ambao hawakuwa na maadili kwa kisingizio cha usasa na kusaka fedha chafu. Tunapaswa tujionyeshe kama watanzania wenye maadili ikiwa ni sehemu ya urathi wetu kama jamii ya watu wenye akili. Mambo ya kucheza miziki au kupiga picha za uchi ni ya kishamba na kilimbukeni. Milegezo, kutoga masikio na upuuzi mwingine lazima vipigwe vita kulhali. Maana vinawekwa wazi wazi kana kwamba ni jambo la maana.

            Nne, tunapopambana na kadhia ua uchafuzi wa maadili tusiangalie sanaa tu. Twende mbali zaidi. Kwa mfano, katika hatua hii, lazima tushughulikie vyombo vya habari vinavyoeneza uchafu kama vile magazeti ya udaku.  Kwani, nayo hayana tofauti na watembea na waonyesha uchi wao ukiachia malimbukeni wa mila chafu za kigeni. Magazeti ya udaku na radio na runinga za kidaku ndivyo vyombo vikuu vya kueneza uchafu huu kwa kisingizio cha kutengeneza fedha. Ni bahati nzuri kuwa Magufuli ameelewa na kufanya mambo ambayo wengi wa waliomtangulia ukiondoa marehemu baba wa taifa Mwl Julius Nyerere yaliwashinda tokana na kutoona mbali ukiachia mbali kuwa bize kwa mambo ya kipuuzi au kuyashiriki. Ukiangalia mema mengi aliyotenda Magufuli unashangaa kugundua kuwa amepitia kwenye mfumo mchafu kama huu. Hakika huu ni ushahidi kuwa Tanzania bado ina watu wema na wenye kuthamini taifa lao.         

            Baada ya kupambana na vyombo vinavyoeneza uchafu, twende mbali na kushughulikia watu has wale wanaoeneza uongo na uchafu kama vile mahubiri ya uongo yanayowaaminisha watu kuwa wanatenda miujiza au kutibu magonjwa yasiyotibika, kuleta bahati na upuuzi mwingine ambao umesababisha taifa letu lichafuke tokana na matokeo ya mahubiri na utapeli huu kama vile mauaji ya watu wenye ulemavu wa ngozi na vikongwe kiasi cha kuliacha taifa letu halina sifa kimataifa.

            Kwa uzoefu wangu ni kwamba katika Jumuia ya Afrika Mashariki, ni Tanzania pekee yenye vyombo vya habari vya kidaku na vyenye kuvunja maadili ukiachia mbali utitiri wa waganga wa kienyeji ambao wengi ni matapeli wa kawaida. Kama ambavyo rais Magufuli amekuwa akishangaa na kujiuliza nani alituroga hadi tukageuzwa shamba la bibi. Kwani, tuna watu tena matapeli wa kawaida ambao wametokea kuwa na utajiri wa kutisha tokana na kuwaibia watu wetu ima kupitia dini za kitapeli, uuzaji na usambazaji wa habari chafu ukiachia mbali waganga wa kienyeji. Huwa napendekeza taifa letu kuanzisha sera ya zamani ya kuuliza watu binafsi wanaoibuka na utajiri usio kuwa na maelezo ili kuondoa motisha kwa wengine wenye kutaka kuuibia umma kitapeli. Nchi ilikuwa imefikia pabaya hadi machizi fulani kuanzisha madhehebu ya dini yanayohimiza watu kutenda maovu kana kwamba hakuna serikali. Kwa vile rais Magufuli ameamua kujitofautisha na malimbukeni waliopewa madaraka wakaachi nchi itopee kwenye ufunjifu wa maadili, tumuunge mkono kama wananchi na jamii ili tuondoe kadhia hii ya uchafuzi wa maadili kwa faida na heshima yetu kama jamii ya watu. Maana, ilifikia mahali watu wakaanza kuogopa hata kutazama runinga kwa hofu ya kuonyeshwa uchafu wakiwa na watoto na jamaa zao. Hongera kwa mara nyingine rais Magufuli kwa kuanza kurejesha na kutetea maadili ya kitanzania.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima, J'tano, Jan., 31, 2018.