FORMER PRESIDENT MWINYI’s AUTOBIOGRAPHY : A BRILLIANT, MASTER PIECE PRESENTATION.

Verba  volant,  scripta  manent”  These  Latin  words   mean  that  ‘what  is  spoken  may  be  forgotten  and  lost,  but  what  is  written lasts  permanently. Former  Presdient  Ali  Hassan  Mwinyi’s  autography  book  titled: “Mzee  Rukhusa :Safari  ya  Maisha  yangu”  (Mkuki  and  Nyota  Publishers,  Dar es  Salaam,  2020);  is  a  permanent  record  of  a  brilliant  and   master piece   presentation  of  the  words  and  actions,   of   a  national  leader  who  was  an   ‘original  thinker’.    President  Mwinyi  is   widely  credited  for  having  successfully  ‘ferried’  our  nation  through  the  most  turbulent  times,  when  the  country’s  economy  was  at  its  worst  downswing.
        I  was  among  those  invited  to  attend   the  inauguration  by  President  Samia  Suluhu  Hassan,  of  former  President  Ali  Hassan  Mwinyi’s   book.   The  event  took  place  inside  Julius  Nyerere  Convention  Center,  Dar es Salaam,  and  I  was  ushered  to  a  reserved  seat between  the  of   former  President  Mwinyi’s  ministers,  Anne  Semamba  Makinda  and  Cleopa  David  Msuya.    Next  to   Msuya  was  former  President  Mwinyi’s  Prime  Minister,  Joseph   Sinde   Warioba.    I  myself  was,  at  the  material  time,   Permanent  Secretary  in   the  Prime  Minister’s  Office (PMO).                                                                 We  had  all  been  asked  to  be  seated  before  15.00  hours,  but  the  formal  proceedings  did  not  commence  until  when  President  Samia  arrived  at  16.00  hours. Thus,  the  four  of  us  had  plenty  of  time  to  make  reflections  (or to  refresh  our   memories)  on  some  of  the  matters  pertaining  to  former  President  Mwinyi’s  ‘original  thinker’  style  of    leadership.  
        I   was   particularly  interested  in  the  rather   unusual  event,  when  President  Mwinyi  suddenly  dismissed  all  his  Ministers  by  dissolving  the  Cabinet,  only  to  re-appoint  all  of  them  the  next  day,  with  no  explanation  given  for  this  extraordinary   action!   I  was  of  the  view  that  this  was  such  an  extraordinary  event,  that  it  would  merit  inclusion  in  his  book.                                                                              

         I  therefore   asked  Joseph Warioba,  whether  he  thinks  that  this  peculiar  incident  would  have  been  included  in  the  book  that  was  being  inaugurated  on  that  day,  as  none  of  us  had  seen  the  book  yet.   He  wasn’t  sure.  That  is  when  the  other  two  former   President  Mwinyi’s  Ministers,  (Makinda  and  Msuya),  joined  the  conversation;  each  narrating  how,  on  that  day,    they  were  first   asked  to  write  letters  of  resignation,  and  a  short  while  later  being  told  that  such  letters  were  not  necessary,  as  the  President  had  actually  dissolved  the  cabinet.   
       But  former  Premier  Joseph  Warioba  then  came  back  with  more   details.  He  explained  that  the  President’s  decision  to  dissolve   the  Cabinet,  was  based  on  his  desire to  demonstrate  that  he  was  taking  the  matter  of  the “ fight  against  corruption”,  extremely seriously. And   that  quickly reminded  me  that  around  that  time,  there  had  indeed been  some  strong  criticism  raised  at  a  CCM  National  Executive  Committee  meeting,  regarding  the  large  increase  in  corruption deeds  committed   by  government  officials,  and  other  public  officials.                         

         There  had  also  been numerous   complaints  regarding  the  apparent  lack  of  action  taken  by  the  Government  against  the  offenders.   So,   I  had   thought  that  this  was  probably  President  Mwinyi’s  response  to  that  criticism  and  those  complaints.     The  mere  surprise  and  disbelief that  was  created  by  this   unprecedented  action  of  dissolving  the  entire  Cabinet   had,  in  fact,  partly    achieved  the  purpose  of  demonstrating  the  President’s  absolute  seriousness  about  fighting   that  evil.  And   there   was   widespread  public  expectation  that   further  action   would  soon  be taken  by  the  President,  following  his  initial  action  of  dissolving  the  Cabinet.                                               

        However,   no  such  action  was  taken.   Instead,  on  the  next  day,  the  President  reconstituted  the   Cabinet  in  exactly  the  same  format  in  which  it  had  been   just  before  dissolution. We   were  all  puzzled.   What   then,   was  the  purpose  of  dissolving   it? I   was  therefore  expecting  that  former  President  Mwinyi’s   book  might  provide  the  answer  to  that  question,  because  ‘dissolving  the  Cabinet’  was  a  very  grave  matter.   But  when   I  subsequently  read  the  book,   I  noticed   that  this  particular  story  is  not  included.           Hence,   that   question   remains   unanswered   in  my  mind. But  the  question  of  fighting  corruption  is   of  great  importance,   and  it  may  thus  be  useful  for    our  readers,   to  have  a  brief  narrative  of  the  different  methods  which  have  been  adopted  by  our  respective   Presidents  in  this  ‘war  against  corruption’.   

The  war  against  corruption.
    The  available  records  show  some  of  the   supreme efforts  which  were   invested  by  different  national  leaders   over  the  years,   in  this  “ war   against   corruption”  project. It  started   with   Mwalimu  Nyerere’s    characterization  of  ‘corruption’  as  an  “enemy  of the  people”,  in  his  speech  delivered   in  the  Tanganyika  Legislative  Council,   on  17th  May,  1960;  when  he  said  the  following:-“ Mr.  Speaker,  I  think  we  must  add  another  enemy  to  the  three  enemies  of  poverty,  ignorance,  and  disease,  namely  corruption .  .  .  I  think  corruption  is  a  greater   enemy  to  the  welfare  of  the  people  in  peace  time,  than  war  is  during   war  time.     Corruption  in  a  country  should  be  treated  in   almost  the  same  way  as  treason”.

        That  was  Mwalimu  Nyerere’s  clarion  call  to  action  in  the  ‘fight  against  corruption’,  which  was  thus  declared  to  be  “an   enemy  of  the  people”.  Subsequently  when  Mwalimu  Nyerere   became  Head  of  State  and  Government;   he  quickly  caused  the  enactment  of  a  severe  anti-corruption  law,  which  introduced  a  minimum  sentence  of  two  years  imprisonment  without  the  alternative  of  a  fine;  plus  twenty-four  strokes  of  the  cane,  twelve  to  be  administered  upon  entry  into  prison,  and  another  twelve  on  the  prisoner’s  completion  of  sentence.                                                       

        Sadly   however,  despite  these  tough  legal  measures  being  introduced,  ,   corruption  still    continued  to  rear  its  ugly  head  everywhere   within  our  community.
President  Kikwete’s  input.
        When  President  Kikwete   came  to  power,  he  too  produced  his  own  input  into  the  legal  regime,  specifically  in  respect  of  electoral  corruption.  He  caused  the  enactment  of  a  new  law  titled  “The  Election  Offences  Act”  (no.  6  of  2010);  which  made  provision  for   ‘controlling  the  use  of  funds  by  candidates’   during  all   the   stages  of  the  electoral  process,  namely  the  nomination  stage,   the  campaign  stage,  and  the  actual  election  stage.   
        The  said  controls  included  the  disclosure  of,  and  accountability  for,   all  such  funds;  plus  the  imposition  of  an  upper  limit  to  the  expenses  that  may  be  incurred  by  the  candidate;  and  also  prescribes  the   stiff  penalties  that  may  be  imposed  upon  a  candidate  who  is  proved  to  have  breached  its  provisions.
President  Magufuli’s  contribution.
When   he  came  to  power,  the  late   President  John  Pombe  Magufuli  also  made  his  own  contribution.   In  May,  2016;  the  Minister  of  State  in  the  President’s  office  responsible  for  Public  Service  Management  Angela  Kairuki,  issued  the  following  announcement:- “Following  the  public outrage over light punishments given to grand corruption culprits, the Government is preparing a specific Bill for amendment of the existing Combating and Prevention of Corruption Act, so that  those convicted  of this offence may get stricter punishments. Tougher   punishments   will  help reduce this problem”  she  confidently  declared.  
        In  my  humble  opinion,   stiffer  punishments  alone  will  not  provide  a  solution  to  the  intricate  problem  of  corruption,  particularly  electoral  corruption;  because  of  corruption’s    intricate  nature.                                            

The  intricate  nature  of  corruption. 
In  particular,  ‘electoral  corruption’   is  a  most  intricate  problem  for  the  Government  Authorities  to  deal  with.  And   Its   intricate  nature is  what   creates  some  insurmountable   obstacles  in  fighting against  this  evil  through  the  courts  of  law.                                                                                                              And  yet,  the  courts  are  the  only   places  wherein corruption  can  be  effectively   managed.  This   is  so  because,  in   our   country’s  legal  regime, “corruption”   is categorized  as  a criminal offence,  whose handling must therefore comply with the  basic  principles of   natural  justice,  which  are:-    

(a)  that  any  offence  of  a  criminal nature,  must  be  handled  only  through  the  courts  of  law;  and                                          (b)  that  an  accused  person  is  presumed  to  be  innocent  until  he  if  found   guilty  by  a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction.

        These  are,  of  course,  perfectly    fair  principles  which  govern  the  administration  of  justice  in  the  majority  of  countries  around  the  world.    But   they   are   certainly   not   the   problem.                                                                               
        In  the  matter  of  corruption,  the  real   problems   are  the  following:-                                 

 (i) the presence  of   factors  which  can   cause  immense  difficulties in achieving a successful prosecution of persons accused of corruption offences;  primarily  those  relating  to  ‘procedural technicalities’.  These  provisions    which  can  be,  and  hare  often   been   successfully   relied upon      by the defense counsel,  to save their clients from conviction.      

         But even the  courts  themselves  can  rely  on such technical  procedural  provisions, and  have  indeed  done  so  quite  often,   to set free an accused person.   This  actually  happened in the story  that  was  once  told  by  Mwalimu Nyerere,  in  which  he  revealed  the following  information:-
“Tulipata habari kwamba Waziri wetu wa sheria,  amehongwa.   Hatukuwa na utani hata kidogo;  tukampata   yule  aliyemhonga,  naye akakiri  mahakamani  kwamba   amemhonga  Waziri. Kwa  hiyo  akaswekwa   rumande,   na   akapata vile viboko  vyake  ishirini  na  vinne.  Lakini  kumbe  Mahakimu wetu wa wakati ule,   walikuwa  hawaipendi sheria ile hata kidogo;  Hawakuipenda  kwa  sababu:   kwanza, ni  kwamba  iliwatamkia adhabu itakayotolewa.  Kwa  kufanya  hivyo,  sheria  hiyo   iliwanyima Mahakimu  na  Majaji  uhuru wa  wao  wenyewe   kuamua  watoe adhabu  ya  kiwango   gani. Lakini  pili,   pia   hawakupenda dhana  yenyewe  ya  mtu kutandikwa viboko. 
        Basi,  katika  kesi  yetu  hii,   wakatafuta  tafuta  njia ya kumwachia huru waziri huyo,  na   wakaipata.    wakaamua  kwamba eti  Waziri   “hakuwa na kosa”,   pamoja na kwamba waliamua  kumfunga yule mtu  aliyekuwa  amemhonga.     Kumbe sheria, na  haki,   ni  vitu viwili mbali mbali!    

 (ii)  The  second   factor,  which  is  clearly  the main  one  contributing to the difficulty of fighting corruption through the courts,  is the  legal  requirement to  produce evidence which will satisfy  the court “beyond any reasonable doubt”,  that  the accused person has, in  fact, committed the offence with which he is charged.                                                                              

        The  difficulty  which  arises   here,   is  caused  not  by  that  provision  of  the  law,  not  at  all.                   It    is   caused   basically   by   the great   secrecy   which  normally  surrounds  such  corrupt  transactions.  It  is  this  secrecy  which  makes  it  difficult  to  obtain  credible  evidence  of  such  transactions. And,  in  addition, because  the law  generally  holds  that  “both  the  parties”  in a corrupt transaction  stand accused of that offence;   obviously   neither the giver, nor  the receiver, will be willing to give evidence regarding their secret transaction.  The  accused  ‘briber’   (who  readily  pleaded  guilty)  in  Mwalimu  Nyerere’s  story   was,   obviously,  a  rare,  isolated  case.                                                                     

        Thus,  in  such  circumstances, how  will  the prosecution  be  able  to   obtain sufficient credible evidence which  will   convict the accused person or persons?    He   will,   obviously,  find  no  assistance  in   the  provisions  for   stricter  penalties.  
Imposition  of  ‘stricter  penalties’  is  not  the  answer.
In  my  humble  opinion,  the problem of prosecuting some  of  the  corruption  cases,  especially  those  relating  to    electoral  corruption,  is   not  caused  by inadequate penalties.  It  is   solely  caused  by  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  evidence  which  will  satisfy  the  courts  “beyond  reasonable  doubt”.          

        For  example,   section 108 of the National Elections   Act   provides  that  the  corruption  offence   must have been committed  “by the candidate, or on his behalf and with his  knowledge and consent”.   These are,  obviously,  pretty stiff  conditions for the prosecution to be able to obtain a conviction for   electoral  corruption  offences,  simply   because  the  candidate  will   deny  any  knowledge of,  or  consent  to,  any  such  transaction;   just  in  order  to  save  himself  valuable  time,  plus  the   personal  trouble and  inconvenience   of  having  to  appear repeatedly  in court  for  a  lengthy  period.
 piomsekwa@gmail.com/0754767576.

Source: Daily News and Cde Msekwa.

Japo Si Daktari, Rais Daktari Mmepata

Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan akimfariji mjamzito kwenye hospitali ya Mwananyamala. Kama mzazi anayejua uchungu wa kujifungua, SSH aliwake pembeni cheo kumchua, kumfariji na kumsaidia mwanamke mwenzake.

This Is Canada the World Doesn’t Know

When the name Canada’s mentioned, many wrongly think’s a very advanced and non-discriminatory country. What a deceivingly wrong take! Currently, Canada’s in the news for all wrong reasons. There’s recently discovered the remnants of 215 children thought to be the First Nations who died during the infamous residential school era. According to the BBC (May 29th , 2021), “the children were students at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia that closed in 1978.” These schools–––ran by the Roman Catholic church on behalf of the government of Canada–––gravely abused Aboriginal children physically, sexually, culturally, mentally and morally. They’re not even allowed to speak their languages, keep their traditional ponytails as per their culture, learn about their cultures, society and, above all, their land’s grabbed by white settlers who make modern Canada. To be precise, what happened in Canada’s purely apartheid despite the fact that Canada kept it under the rag for a long time. Interestingly, now Canada wants to sue the Roman Catholic Church as its way saving face since when the crimes were committed, the duo were in the same bed running the same project. Thus, they're all equally criminally liable.

Furthermore, the BBC notes that residential schools took over 150,000 children from their families between 1863 to 1998.
            Apart from Kamloops’ massacres, many Aboriginal children are still being taken from their families and placed under white foster care, which denies them parental care from their parents. So, too, this systemic apartheid has added more pains to the Aboriginal people who make 30% of inmates in Canada despite being just 5% of Canada’s population (Guardian, January 22nd, 2021) of 37,067,011 as of April 1st, 2018 (June 14th, 2018).
        For those who don’t know what residential schools are, they’re government schools aimed at ‘civilising’ Indigenous Canadians  to western modernity. Further, this apartheid system aimed at making Aboriginal Canadians Europeans by assimilating them in a ‘civilised’ European colonisation as a form of culture. The first question every reasonable person can ask is: was colonialism a type of civilisation or just a crime against humanity? Residential school system started under the Indian Act in 1876. When this sickening discovery’s made, the UN independent experts, as usual, didn’t reprimand the blue-eyed boy/girl. Instead, it said “large scale human rights violations have been committed against children belonging to Indigenous communities, it is inconceivable that Canada and the Holy See would leave such heinous crimes unaccounted for and without full redress.” That’s that. What sort of experts are these?  Just imagine if Canada were an African country. What does this say about globally enshrined racism? How can UN ‘experts’ speak softly about such a genocide? In Rwanda, we’re told blacks turned against each other. Up until now, the West still views blacks as heartless and uncivilized creatures who can commit genocide against others while the West’s the harbinger of this crime.
        Like China, India, Israel, US and other Middle East countries, among others, Canada’s a stinkingly racist country though its racism’s concealed under the wisdom of the monkey, namely hear nothing, see nothing and say nothing. Ostensibly, Canadians are equal people. Deeply, wow! It is exactly the opposite. Practically, they’re covertly and hazily segregated.
Regarding the discovery of the remains of 215 Aboriginal children has shone light on what Canada’s dark and dirty secret. Those in the know still believe that what’s been discovered is but the tip of the iceberg as far as this genocide is concerned. Canada’s PM, Justin Trudeau concurs saying that “today, some of the children found in Kamloops, and who have yet to be found in other places across the country, would have been grandparents or great-grandparents. They would have been elders, knowledge keepers and community leaders” (CTV News, June 1st, 2021).
         Nonetheless, not many know that Canada committed genocide against the First Nations, which’s perpetually gone up until now when such stunning discoveries are made. Up until now, Aboriginal Canadians live in reserves away from other Canadians. They live in abject poverty even sometimes, worse than that found in the purported the third world. Despite this Canada still prides itself to be a developed country that honour human rights.  Can such a society be equal and fair?
            In sum, those who tend to believe that Western country are the citadel of advancement, civilisation and human rights should think twice. Who’d think that Canada would butcher its own people simply because they are not white? Who’d think that Canada would conserve apartheid for generations not to mention committing genocide against the First Nations and other Aboriginal people of Canada. That’s Canada the outside world doesn’t know.

Wabunge kama Taletale Wasitumie Bunge Kupotosha Umma

Hivi karibuni Mbunge wa  Morogoro Mashariki Hamis Taletale, aliwaacha wengi hoi pale alipokuwa akichangia bungeni. Ikiwa ni mara yake ya kwanza kuchangia bungeni, alianza kwa mguu mbaya. Sijui ni kutokana na uhaba wa elimu. Hata sijui kwanini aliamua kujiaibisha kwa kuja na hoja na utetezi hafifu akitetea jambo la hovyo hata kama linamwingizia fedha na kumfikisha hapo alipo. Badala ya kutetea jimbo lililomuamini na kumchagua mbunge wake ili aliwakilishe, alirejea kwenye biashara yake ya muziki hata usioendana na utamaduni wa kitanzannia. Bila aibu wala kuchelea namna umma unavyoweza kuchukulia mchango wake, Taletale alianza kwa kutetea wimbo wa Alleluia wa Diamond ulikataliwa na COSOTA. Badala ya kueleza ni kwanini wimbo husika ulipigwa marufuku, alianza ngojera za ajabu ajabu ambazo siyo saizi ya mbunge.                        Anashangaa kwanini wimbo tajwa ulikataliwa na COSOTA lakini ukakubaliwa na wamarekani kwenye filamu ya Coming to America waliouchagua kama wimbo bora. Sijui ni kwanini hakujiuliza au kutajaza vigezo walivyotumia wamarekani lau tukalinganisha na vile vilivyotumiwa na COSOTA kuupiga marufuku. Natamani mbunge angekuwa mmojawapo wa wanafunzi wangu nikamfundisha maana na mchango wa pop culture kwa Marekani na namna ilivyotumika kama nyenzo ya ukoloni wa kiuchumi. Pia afahamu kuwa wengi wanaopitisha hizo nyimbo wanaweza kuwa vihiyo wa kawaida kama yeye au wataalam wa saikolojia wanaoajiliwa kueneza utamaduni nyemelezi na koloni wa kimagharibi ili kuharibu tamaduni nyingine kuwa tegemezi kwao. Na hivyo, kutumika kwa faida kiuchumi.
        Kitu kingine ambacho Mbunge alishindwa kufahamu ni rahisi. Utamaduni wa Marekani na Tanzania si sawa tu bali kinyume. Mfano, wakati Tanzania haturuhusu usagaji na ushoga, Marekani unaruhusiwa. Inashangaza kwa mtu anayesikika akisema bungeni “I am from Africa” ili lau aonekane anajua kimombo kama alama ya usomi hajui vitu rahisi kama hivi. Hivi kweli wabunge wa namna hii wanaweza kumsaidia mwananchi kwa mambo magumu wakati wanashindwa mambo rahisi kama haya?
        Mbunge ameshindwa kutoa sababu za kukataliwa kwa wimbo akakimbilia na stori za Coming to America. Badala yake alitoa shutuma zisizo na mashiko wala ushahidi kuwa COSOTA inaendeshwa na watu wasiojua sheria bila kueleza vipi na sheria zipi. Mao Tsetung aliwahi kusema kuwa kama hujafanya utafiti, huna haki ya kuhoji. Hii inamgusa mbunge huyu. Je Amerika wametumia vigezo gani kuchagua huo wimbo wake na kwa sababu gani? Je vigezo vyake ni vipi? Je vinafanana na vile vinavyotakiwa na utamaduni wetu? Wabunge wanapaswa kuwa makini kujua wanachotaka kusema au kufundisha badala ya kuangalia faida ndogo kama fedha wakasahau madhara yatokanayo na fedha hizo.
        Mbunge anakuja na madai ya ajabu kama kuwa na utaalamu wa kuzui mvua isinyeshe bila kutoa ushahidi au kueleza namna anaweza kufanya hivyo. Je huyu ana tofauti gani na waganga njaa wa kienyeji wanaowapa masharti wajinga wengi waliotamalaki nchini hadi wakafikia kuua wenzao kwa imani mbovu za kishirikina ambazo ni chanzo kikubwa cha aibu na lawama kwa taifa? Inakuwaje anajua kufunga lakini si kutengeneza mvua ili kusaidia kuitengeneza kwenye  maeneo yenye uhaba wa mvua? Je huyu ana tofauti gani na matapeli wanaotangaza kuwa wanaweza kufanya miujiza kama vile kufufua na kuponya wafu na wagonjwa wakati ni ujuha, ujinga na upumbavu na utapeli wa kawaida ambao serikali zetu zimeshindwa kuutolea uvuvi na kugeuza nchi zetu kuwa za kishirikina.
        Jambo jingine lililoonyesha uhaba wa ujuzi wa mhusika ni pale anapodai kuwa rais ni mmoja nchini bila kujua chanzo na maana ya neno rais ni kapteni wa meli wa kiislam au kiongozi wa kiislam. Kama ni hivyo basi hata mheshimiwa nchini awe mmoja yaani rais. Baada ya hapo tutaambiwa hata mwenyekiti awe mmoja kwa vile rais ni mwenyekiti wa Chama tawala. Huu ni ujinga wa kupitiliza tena wa kiwango cha lami. Je mawazo kama haya yanawasaidia nini wakazi wa jimbo la Morogoro Mashariki? Je haya ndiyo waliyomtuma kuzungumzia kwa niaba yao bungeni au ni kupoteza fursa kwao na muda wa bunge bure?
Hakuna sehemu ambapo mtajwa aliniacha hoi kama kushauri kuwa BASATA na COSOTA wasiingilie kiki za wasanii bila hata kueleza maana ya kiki ni nini. Anataka tuchukue mfano wa msaini wa marekani aitwaye ‘Six’ ambaye alisema eti  ni kichaa lakini anatengeneza fedha. Yeye anataka fedha hata kama ni za fedheha. Kwa wamarekeni hata kuuza mwili ni biashara inayotolewa kodi. Hivyo, inaabudiwa. Lakini kwa waswahili hili ni tusi na aibu kwa jamii nzima. Hatuwezi kuwa watumwa wa fedha kiasi hiki. Nashauri kuwa wanamuziki na wasanii wasiofuata maadili wafungiwe bila kujali wanaingiza mabilioni kiasi gani. Kwa mawazo ya namna hii, tutafikia hata kuhalalisha ujambazi kwa sababu tu unaingiza fedha.
        Tumalizie kwa kuonya kuwa hata kama kila mtu ana haki ya kuelezea mawazo yake, kama mbunge, hana au akionesha kutokuwa na la kusema, asipoteze muda wa bunge kwa kutetea mambo ya ajabu ajabu kama ilivyo kwenye kadhia iliyojadiliwa kwenye makala hii. Taletale akipata muda ajielimishe na kuomba ushauri kabla ya kutoa upupu unaoweza kumvunjia heshima. Bungeni si mahali pa kutetea mambo ya ajabu. Ni mahali pa kutetea mambo yenye maslahi mapana ya taifa badala ya maslahi finyu binafsi kama ilivyojitokeza kwenye kadhia husika hapa.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema Leo.

Tuwanyonge au Kuwafunga Maisha Wanaohujumu Nchi Yetu

China, wizi, uhujumu uchumi na makosa mengine kama haya hupewa adhabu ya kifo ili ima kutoa onyo, kutenda haki au kukomesha kadhia hizi ambazo ni madonda ndugu yaliyofanya Afrika iwe shamba la bibi na maskini wakati imejaliwa mali na raslimali nyingi kuliko mabara yote duniani. Tukio la hivi karibuni ambapo raia wawili wa China walikamatwa wakishirikiana na mtanzania kutorosha dhahabu yenye thamani ya mamilioni ya fedha lingetokea China, wahusika wangekuwa wanajiandaa kuonja mauti. Kwani, China huwa haina mchezo wala mswalie Mtume linapokuja suala la kulinda mali na raslimali za umma. Japo kuna kampeni nyingi za kimataifa kuondosha adhabu ya kifo kwenye mataifa mengi, hili lisihusiane na wanaohujumu nchi. Hata hizo nchi za magharibi zinazotuhadaa na kutushawishi tuondoshe adhabu ya kifo hutumia adhabu hii hii kuwaondoa wale yasiyowataka kama ilivyokuwa kwenye sakata la kumuondosha madarakani rais wa zamani wa Iraq Saddam Hussein. Pia, kinara wa haki za binadamu duniani, Marekani, ina majimbo ambayo haytaondoa adhabu ya kifo ili kutumika kuwaua wale wasiotakiwa kama vile wanaoishambulia nchi hiyo kigaidi na wengine wa aina hii. Isitoshe, wanufaika wengi wa kuhujumu, kuibia nchi za kiafrika na kutorosha mali na mitaji wengi wao ni wageni toka mabara mengine.
        Katika kupendekeza kutolewa adhabu ya kifo au kifungo cha maisha kwa wanaoibia au kuhujumu taifa ili wasipata fursa ya kufaidi chumo la wizi na hujuma, napendekeza tujifunze toka China nchi ambayo hutoa adhabu ya kifo kwa makosa haya. Je kwanini China waliamua kuwanyonga wanaohujumu au kuibia taifa hili? Mantiki ni rahisi kuwa anayehujumu au kuibia China, anakuwa ameibia watu zaidi bilioni moja wa China. Anakuwa ameibia wachina wote akiwamo yeye mwenyewe. Kwa kufanya hivyo, uhai wa mtu mmoja au wachache ukilinganishwa na uhai wa taifa zima, inakuwa rahisi kujua mzani wa haki utalalia wapi. Inaingia akilini hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa kuna wananchi kama askari, polisi na wengine wanaojitolea maisha ya wananchi na mali zao. Inapotokea watu wachache wakazihujumu, wanawakatisha tamaa watu kama hawa. Tusiruhusu hili kamwe.
         Hivyo, kwa mantiki inayotumiwa na China, anayeibia au kuhujumu Tanzania, anaibia watanzania wote. Hivyo, hapaswi kuonewa huruma au kufaidi haki za binadamu. China walikuwa wajamaa kama sisi. Tulianza nalo kiuchumi. Ajabu ya maajabu, tokana na kuwa makini kwenye usimamizi wa mali na raslimali zao, sasa ni taifa la pili kwa utajiri duniani ambalo linaiendesha mbio dunia kwa namna lilivyofanikiwa. Pamoja na mengine, mojawapo ya sababu za kufanikiwa kwa taifa hili ni ithibati na kutokuwa na simile na wezi na wahujumu. Pamoja na kutokuwa na raslimali nyingi kama Afrika, China bado inatoa misaada kwa Afrika bara ambalo limeibiwa na kuendeshwa kihasara pamoja na kuwa na raslimali lukuki. Tokana na uzembe na ukosefu wa uzalendo kwa watu wetu, tumeendelea kuwa shamba la bibi ambapo raia toka mataifa yote huja kujiibia wakitudanganya kuwa wanawekeza wakati wanachukua. Wawekezaji wote wenye kuonyesha tabia za wizi ni wachukuaji si wawekezaji kitu. Watanzania wanaosaidiana nao kadhalika ni wachukuaji na si wazalendo.
        Kwa Tanzania, nchi iliyojaliwa raslimali lukuki kusonga mbele, lazima iwe na sheria kali mojawapo ikiwa ni kuwanyonga wahujumu na wezi wa mabilioni ya umma. Tumekuwa tukitumia sheria na fikra za kikoloni za kuwanyonga au kuwafunga maisha vibaka wakati mijizi mikubwa ikifungwa miezi michache au kupewa faini. Huu ni muendelezo wa ukoloni ambapo wakoloni walitunga sheria kali dhidi ya makapuku ili wasiwaibie wakati wao wakijitungia sheria rahimu kwa ajili ya kufanikisha wizi. Ni bahati mbaya. Baada ya kupata uhuru uliozaa utegemezi, watawala wetu ima waliliona hili wakaliacha kwa vile walikuwa wamewafukuza wakoloni weupe na wao wakachukua nafasi yao kama wakoloni Weusi au kwa vile walikuwa na lengo na kuwaibia wananchi waliowahadaa wakawaamini madaraka.
Je nini kifanyike kupambana na uhujumu na wizi wa mali za umma?
        Kwanza, kila mtanzania awe macho na watu wote anaohisi wanahujumu au kuibia taifa letu wawe ni watanzania au wageni. Hapa kuna haja ya kuwafundisha na kuwamotisha watanzania kuwa wazalendo. Ili kufanikisha haya, wale watakaofichua uovu kama huu wazawadiwe angalau asilimia kumi ya mali walizosaidia kuokoa.
        Pili, kama taifa, tuwe na mfumo na utaratibu wa kuhoji na kutoa maelezo namna ya watu walivyopata utajiri wao. Kila mtanzania ajaze fomu na kueleza alivyopata mali zake. Kama kuna mali zitakazotiliwa shaka, zitaifishwe kama mhusika atashindwa kutoa ushahidi wa uhalali.
        Tatu, wawekezaji watakaobainika kujiingiza kwenye jinai ya kuhujumu na kuibia umma tuwashughulikie kisheria ikiwemo kufuta leseni na kutaifisha zao kabla ya kuwafikisha mahakamani.
        Nne, mamlaka husika zinapaswa kujibu maswali muhimu kuhusiana na kadhia kama hizi. Je huu mchezo ulianza lini na ni wangapi wanaufanya na taifa limepoteza fedha kiasi gani? Je tunao mfumo wa kupashana habari, kuchunguza, kupeleleza vitendo kama hivi? Je tunazo sheria za kushughulikia jinai kwa uzito unaostahiki kama vile kutunga sheria ambazo adhabu zake zitakuwa mbili tu ima kifo au kufungwa maisha?
        Tano, kujibu maswali hayo hapo juu, mamlaka na taasisi husika zinapaswa kufanya uchunguzi wa kuna kubaini ukubwa wa tatizo ili kuweza kulishughulikia kisayansi, haraka na vilivyo.
Tumalize kwa kuihimiza serikali na watanzania kwa ujumla kuwa makini na mali na raslimali zao. Ili kuwapa motisha kufanya hivi, tupitishe sheria za kuwanyonga au kuwafunga maisha wanaojihusisha na jinai hii huku, kama jamii, tukipanga kuwalinda na kuwazawadia wanaofichua uovu huu.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema Leo.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

 

Please Gen. Museveni Stop ‘Pigs’ from Destroying Uganda

People  Identified by the Great Ssebo (Pigs) or President Indicted Group of Slayers (Pigs) who don’t value life recently launched an assassination attempt on the life of Gen. Katumba Wamala, former Chief of the Defense Force of Uganda (2013-2017), IGP (2001-2005) and the outgoing Works and  Transport minister. In this attack, his daughter Brenda Nantongo and driver Haruna Kayondo (RIP) were killed on the spot. Such criminality can’t go without being denounced and reconnoitred. Whoever is/are behind this heinous act is not a small creature(s) and the criminals assigned to do such a dirty job are not pigs as they’re referred to by Gen. Yoweri Museveni who was the first to expound the theory of pigs. Why pigs not humans, hyenas even other soldiers or criminals for hire? Is Uganda a ripe farm for pigs to pig themselves on by creating a chaos that they can use as an opportunity to devour it? Is there anything that Gen Museveni and the likes know that we don’t know?  Why Gen Wamala? Why now not before or after? The theory of pigs is very bony, nebulous and can be treated as mere demagoguery in the first place. It needs to be expounded more shall HE President delve into it for everybody to know why he referred to such criminals as gluttons who don’t value life? Is Wamala in their way in any way? What do they want to achieve?
            An attempt on the life of such a prominent figure can’t simply be blamed on ‘pigs’ whoever they’re and whatever they’re up to or into. For the country that avowals itself of having great intelligence to behave that way shows that there’s more to this than meets the eye vis-a-vis this criminality. There are some cursors to this assumption. First of all, as the Daily Monitor (June 3rd, 2021) reported, the investigation into the matter will be overseen by Gen. Museveni who advanced the theory of pigs. Does it mean that boss doesn’t trust his organs responsible for combating or investigating such criminality? This is going to be the first event wherein the president of the country’s become a chief investigator. What does this speak to? Does it mean that other security organs such as police, the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and other kit and caboodles of  intelligence and security moles either are unable or failed to investigate this pigs’ thing? What’s the matter? Who are these pigs and why they decided to attack Wamala and killed his daughter and driver?  Why forming a bunch of  such top brass whilst such killings aren’t new-fangled in Uganda? Do the members of this eminent group have what it takes to get to the bottom of the problem? Is it a political ploy aimed at calming the general public and moving on?
        Those who remember what happened to the late Former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) and Uganda Police Force spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi still recall how his death became mysteriously normalised so as to vanish into oblivion. Kaweesi was killed on 17th March, 2017 as he was driving from his home. He died along with his bodyguard and driver.  Despite being one of the top moles, his death didn’t attract the attention of the ‘bigs’ as is in the case of pigs. One wonders, whereas the top cheese and his two helpers died, the bigs didn’t decide to look into the case. But the same look into the survivability of the other. What does this say?  
        Another prominent person who was killed mysteriously, maybe pigs’ style though a wee bit differently, was James Kazini, former commander of UDF (2001- 2003) is the prominent military man that was killed in the ‘pigs’’ like style. The difference is that, in lieu of using bullets or piggies, the pigs used a woman. For, as it was later reported, Kazini was found warily killed in his girlfriend’s house in Namuwongo, Kampala. Up until now, many still marvel how a woman could easily kill a general. Were there pigs that were hired to kill the man and frame the lady? Who knows?
         What Museveni’s ‘pigs’ seem to be doing can be likened with what used to happen under Idi Amin’s regime where the likes of Lt Col Michael Ondoga, then Amin’s  brother-in-law and minister for Foreign Affairs was abducted in the broad daylight and later his bullet riddled body found. That’s under Amin.
Furthermore, if you microscopically and critically look at the capacities in which the two deceased soldiers, namely Kaweesi and Kazini, you find that are close to or almost the same as those in which Wamala once served. Is this a coincidence or there’s something that needs to help us connect the dots as far as this mysterious attack by pigs are concerned? Why when the two were killed no team made of top brass as overseen by president was formed? Why? What’s different from the two cases?
        In sum, whatever or whoever the pigs–––in Gen Wamala’s attacks, are–––need more rationalization. The questions evolving about the whole thing are provocative and need to be correctly and quickly answered in order to avoid what happened to Kaweesi and Kazini. So, too, those behind this attack mustn’t be given what they want to use to destabilise Uganda through creating controversies and fears. Gen Museveni must say more on his conclusive theory that the Wamala’s attacks are just pigs. Where are they and why are they doing so?  All in all, please stop ‘pigs’ from destroying Uganda. Uganda is bigger than pigs and their handlers or hirers.

Source: Sunday Monitor, today.

ELECTORAL DEMOCRACY : A CONTRIBUTIN TO POLITICAL EDUCATION.

Just  about  two  weeks  ago,  on  Sunday  16th  May,  2021,  Parliamentary  bye-elections  were  held  in  the  two  constituencies  of   Muhambwe  and  Buhigwe,  both  located   in  Kigoma  Region. Bye-lections  were  also  held  in  a  number  of  Local  Government  wards  in different  Regions  of  the  country.
Bye–elections   are,   of   course,   perfectly   normal  occurrences;  they  are  actually  dictated  by  the  relevant  national  electoral  laws,  which  provide  that  whenever  a  vacancy  in  any  of  the stipulated  elective  positions,  it  must  be  filled  “as soon  as  may   be  practicable”  through  the  process  of  bye-elections.   Bye-elections  should  not  therefore  generate  any  active  discussions;  expect,  perhaps,  concerning  the  fairness  in  the  conduct  of  their   respective implementation  processes,  where  this  becomes  challenged.

        Thus,  the  purpose  of  basing  today’s presentation on  bye-elections  is  not  to  challenge  any  aspect  of   the  said  bye-elections.  I  have  only  taken  the  opportunity  offered  by   the  political   awareness  that  was  generated  by  these  political  events,  to  make  a  little  contribution  to  the  general   civic  education,  by  making  an  analysis  of  certain  crucial   aspects  of  our  multiparty  electoral  democracy;  primarily  for  the  benefit  of  our  civics  teachers  and  students.     
But  it  may  also  be  important  to  draw  attention  to   the  seemingly  little  attention  that  is  normally  given  by  voters  to   at  such  bye-elections,  as  was  once  again  evidenced  by  said  bye-elections  whereby,  in  the  Muhambwe  constituency,  where  the  total  number  of  registered  voters  is  given  as  127, 766,  but  only  35,335  of  these  actually  turned  out  at  their  respective  polling  stations  on  election  day.    Similarly,  in  the  Buhigwe  constituency, where   out  of  the  112,333  registered  voters,  only  30,713   presented  themselves  at  their  respective  polling  stations  on  election  day.          
        However,  it  should  be  noted  that  there  other  cogent  reasons  for  this voter ‘absenteeism’.   The  main  one  is  that  whereas  general  elections  normally   determine  which  of  the  participating  political  will  form  the  ensuing  government  of  the  day;  bye-elections  have  no  such  role,  except,   perhaps,  in  very   rare  cases  were  the  ruling  party  has  a  dangerously  thin  majority  in  Parliament  which  could  be  wiped  out  at  election.  But  that  is  currently  not  the  case  here   in  Tanzania,  where  the  ruling  party  has  a  huge,  unassailable,  majority  in  Parliament.                                                                               Hence,  in  our  circumstances,  bye-elections  are  held  just  because  the  law  requires  them  to  be  held;  without  any  hope  of  substantially  altering  the  representational  structure  of  political  parties  inside  Parliament.  Thus,  they  cannot  be  expected  to  generate  the  same  enthusiasm  as  the   general  elections.                                        

        But   that  notwithstanding,  the  wide  public political  mobilization  and  attention  generated  by  these  bye-election  events,  gives  me  the  opportunity  to   make  an  analysis  of   the  following  crucial    aspects  of  the   wider  issue  of   multi-party  electoral  democracy :-                                        

 (i)  The  negative  aspects  of  candidates  being  elected  unopposed.                                                                                   

 (ii)  The  harmful  effects  of  election   boycotts.;  and         

(iii) The  problems  created  by  the  “no-show”   parties on  election  day. 
 (iv)  The  negative  aspects   of  candidates  being  elected  unopposed. 
        There  was  no  candidate  who  was  “elected  unopposed”  in  the  two  parliamentary bye-elections  mentioned  above;  but  there  was  a  large  number  of   such  CCM  candidates  in  the  general  election  of  last  year,  2020.  Thus,  comments   on  this  matter  of  candidates “being elected unopposed”  are  still   valid.  Hence,  in  respect  thereto,  I  wish  to  draw  attention   a   hidden ‘ingenuous’ paradox to  which  is  related. The  word ‘paradox’,  is  defined  as :   “a situation that has two opposite features, and therefore seems strange”.  In   this  context,  the  paradox  arises   because:   on  one hand, the  matter  of  candidates  being  elected  unopposed   is  definitely  a  good  thing,  because  it  satisfies  the  requirements  of  the  law,  as  well  as    saving   a  lot  of  time  and  money  which  would  have  otherwise  been  spent  in  carrying  out  the  election  process.

    But on the other hand   it  is  a   bad  thing;   because  it  has   the negative effect of  disenfranchising the electorate in the relevant constituencies,  thus   creating  a serious ‘democracy deficiency’  in our multi-party  electoral democracy landscape.

        Further  elaboration  of  this  ‘hidden’  paradox  is  provided  in  the  examples   which  are  given    here  below,  in  relation  to  the  pre-independence  general  elections.
        In  my book  titled   “Uongozi  na  Utawala  wa  Mwalimu  Nyerere”  (Nyambari  Nyangwine  Publishers,  Dar es Salaam,  2012);   I presented the full   story of  the  paradox  created  by  candidates  being  elected  unopposed;   in relation to the TANU candidates who  participated   in the pre-independence elections;   and  explained  how this paradox  greatly  troubled  the  mind of  Mwalimu Nyerere, and subsequently led to his making  of  a  major decision to change the country’s  Constitution, just because he  personally  felt very strongly,  that such occurrences were bad for democracy.  
        However,  it appears that in the present-generation   political  environment, no  one seems to look  at it that way,  because  the  relevant discussion  which  I  have  heard  taking  place among  interested  political  pundits  regarding   the matter of by-elections;  is  simply  that   “they  are  too costly  to  the nation”;   with some of them suggesting that MPs who defect to  other political parties  should be allowed to retain their seats in Parliament, in order to avoid such costs.   And   such  views being  countered by those others who maintain that “democracy is expensive, and  therefore,  whenever vacancies occur in Parliament for whatsoever reason, the voters should not be deprived of their right to elect their representative therein, for  the  reason alone of avoiding costs. 
        It   would  appear   that  the  latter  views  happen  also  to  be  the position of the relevant election laws, which provide that whenever a  vacancy  occurs,   it must be filled “as soon as may be practicable”.                                                    

        Indeed,  looking at  this matter  only  from the ‘cost saving’  point of view,  whenever  election candidates  are  elected  unopposed,  all  the  parties  involved  become  relieved  of  that  burden  of  the  costs  of managing the relevant by-election.    But beyond that, no one seems to pay any attention to the negative   ‘democracy    deficiency’  outcomes   resulting  there from,  or  associated   there with;  namely,   disenfranchising the voters.
The  pre-independence  general  elections.
        When this phenomenon dominated the pre-independence elections of 1957/58, as well as those of 1960;   the  matter   was  bad enough  that  it   moved  Mwalimu Nyerere to initiate a major   change in the then  multiparty  Constitution, in order to remove this  (unintended) outcome of disenfranchising the electorate.                                                                                   

        It  should  be  noted  that  this  was  a  result  of   the massive support for TANU  among  the  people  of  Tanganyika  at  the  material  time  which created this situation.  However,  in the present circumstances, is   it  still a valid  proposition,  to assume that whenever  CCM  candidates  happen  to  be  elected  unopposed,  this  is  a  reflection  of  the  massive  voter  confidence  in  the  ruling  party?    
This  is  a  valid  question  because  there  other  factors  which  could  account  for  such  state  of  affairs,  including:-  (a)  the  evils  of   corruption;  (b)  election  boycotts by some of the Opposition parties;  and  (c)  the non-participation by   other  political  parties.  Non-participation  by  other  political  parties   could   perhaps  be  a  calculated  ‘sabotage  conspiracy’ by such parties, deliberately  designed  in order to create a visible ‘democracy deficit’ in our electoral democracy landscape “creating  a  democracy  deficit”  is  a  subject  which  merits  more  intensive  discussion.  The  analysis  which  follows  below,   is  intended  to  contribute  to  such  discussion,  by   generating  some interest in,  and  hopefully  responses,  to  this   important  subject.
The   ‘democratic deficit’  in  our electoral democracy.
((i)  Non-participation  in  elections.
It may perhaps be helpful to remind our readers  of  the true purpose of elections as was envisaged  originally  by the relevant law, (Act no. 5 of 1992);  which  provides  the  following  definition  of  a  political  party:-    “Political party” means “any organized group of people for the purpose of participating in elections by putting up, or supporting,  candidates for such elections”.                                                                           
        Participating in elections is therefore the raison de etre   of any political party. This means that any other group which is formed NOT for the purpose of participating in elections,   does  not qualify to be called a ‘political party’.  Such a group could perhaps be called a “pressure group”, or “interest group”; but certainly not a political party. Hence, the fact of non-participating in elections constitutes a defiance of that law.
(ii)  The  harmful  effects  of  election  boycotts. 
Election  boycotts  by  aggrieved  political  parties,  are   quite understandable; because ‘boycotts’   are generally  regarded  as  essential protest ‘weapons’ in the fight against genuine injustice.

        Nonetheless that positive factor notwithstanding;  it must also be realized that election boycotts have their own ‘downside’ effects   on the boycotting parties themselves, in the sense that they normally become the losers in the game;   because they end up being ‘left out in the cold’,  so to speak, with no chance at all   of influencing decisions which will be made in Parliament in their absence, and even of enjoying the substantial material benefits  which will accrue to their successful  participating colleagues.
        On   the  other  hand  though,  election boycotts could also be  based on the    ‘fear of losing’  the relevant election. This  could  indeed  be  so,   because we have repeatedly witnessed  on a number of occasions,   this ‘fear of losing’  being clothed in the fabrics of election boycotts;  which they then attempt to justify by using the familiar, borrowed  rhetoric,  that  they  “have  no confidence in the National Electoral Commission”;   or by advancing unsubstantiated claims that “the elections will not be free and fair”, and so on;   in futile attempts to justify their said boycotts.                                                                         

        However, considering the fact that such arguments are the kind of  presumptions which, if they have any merit at  all,   could  be  successfully  argued in the courts of competent jurisdiction, with a view to seeking nullification the relevant election;  it still remains a puzzle why such arguments should be used to justify the deliberate creation of this ‘democracy deficit’ in our electoral democracy landscape;  when  there is this reliable  court  option for obtaining relief from any election malpractices..
        Mr. Justice Barnabas Samatta (as he was then), made this point absolutely clear in one of his judgments, when he said the following: “the doors to the temple of justice are always wide open and welcoming to anyone who is aggrieved by a contravention of the law”.                                           

        Therefore, in my humble opinion, complete disregard of these consequential negative election boycott effects, is basically unwise and indefensible; unless, of course, it is deliberate sabotage!
(iii)  The problems  created  by   the  ‘no-show’  parties.
 And then there are those other Opposition  parties  who  just  do  not show up at all.   Surely, the ‘fear of defeat’ which  we  referred to above, cannot be claimed to deter participation by these (usually small-size)  political  parties.  Considering that the formula for winning an election is absolutely clear and undisputed,  just   because  it is based solely on numbers;   i.e.  whoever  receives the greatest number of votes, becomes the winner.  Hence,  any party which has a very small number of members or followers  knows,  or  should  know,   that  it   has no chance whatsoever  of winning an election,  particularly   in the face of  stiff   competition from  the well-established parties such as CCM,  which enjoys the support of   thousands   of followers in every Village!                                                           

         Their  “no-show”  action  becomes  a  problem  because  their participation is important,   primarily for the sake of maintaining our cherished electoral democracy.   Indeed,  their  full  participation  in  the  whole  election  process   is  what  provides a  guaranteed  remedy for  the  hidden malady   of disenfranchising the electorate. 
Pi0msekwa@gmail.com /0754767576.

Source: Daily News and Cde Msekwa Last Thursday.

Why JSC Is a Rogue Institution

      

Judicial Service Commission chairperson Prof Olive Mugenda, flanked by commissioners, announces their nomination of Justice Martha Koome’s nomination as the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court buildings in Nairobi on April 27. File | Nation Media Group       

By Makau Mutua
Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of the KHRC.
What you need to know:
Despite several efforts by civil society groups, the JSC refused to make public the grading scheme and scores for the 2016 CJ interviews. I believed by the failure to abide by the predicates of transparency – which the Constitution unequivocally commands – the JSC was engaged in an illegality. 
        In September 2016, I was interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission for the office of the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kenya. I wasn’t offered the job. That’s the only substantive official position I’ve sought in Kenya since I became a lawyer decades ago.
        I don’t count my short tenure as the chair of the truth commission task force in 2003 as a real job. I’ve been blessed with an immensely successful career as a legal academic in the United States. The CJ job would’ve given me a chance to serve Kenya. I didn’t think the JSC was transparent in choosing the CJ nominee in 2016. That’s why I am revisiting the matter. 
I need to clear the air on several issues.

        First, I wasn’t seeking the CJ job as a capstone in my legal career. I am fundamentally an academic, but the job would’ve been a great professional detour to give back to the country of my birth. I would’ve returned to the academy at the conclusion of my tour of duty. 
        Second, the job would’ve been personally constraining and financially unattractive. I didn’t seek it for the money or perks. I don’t make this point to be pompous, but to complete the record. 
I would’ve done it for love of country. I thought CJ Willy Mutunga had laid a historic foundation on which we would’ve done irreversible judicial transformation.
        For years, folks questioned why I didn’t go back to Kenya and participate in the challenges, opportunities, joys and sorrows that my compatriots there live with every day. 
My answer was always the same – I have been deeply involved in the country’s life, in spite of the distance. So, geography hasn’t been a big barrier to me. I am a global citizen who contributes from anywhere, any time. I believe my record speaks for itself. 
Grading scheme
        However, I thought being on the ground and working directly with the judiciary was a calling. As it turned out, the rogue JSC didn’t see it that way. What was supposed be an interview to recruit me turned into an ugly and nasty inquisition. 
        Initially, as is well known, the JSC threw up artificial barriers to lock me out of the shortlist. It was only pursuant to a Katiba Institute suit that Judge George Odunga ordered the JSC to drop its petty frivolities and interview me. Once on stage, former AG Githu Muigai did everything to discredit me. He was joined in that ignoble charade by several commissioners. The public was aghast. 
        Particularly appalling were three lines of questioning. Was I a Christian? Clearly an unconstitutional question. Did I have the right qualifications? An ignoramus’s absurdity. Finally, did I recognise Uhuru Kenyatta as President? This last one took the cup. I was OK and took all of it in my stride.
Be that as it may, the interviews concluded and Justice David Maraga was announced the CJ nominee. Mr Maraga is a good and honourable man. I paid him a courtesy call later and we had an enjoyable working visit. 
        Despite several efforts by civil society groups, the JSC refused to make public the grading scheme and scores for the 2016 CJ interviews. What was the JSC hiding? I believed by the failure to abide by the predicates of transparency – which the Constitution unequivocally commands – the JSC was engaged in an illegality. 
        This piggish opacity by the JSC would damage the credibility of the nominees, including the CJ. It also absolutely makes a mockery of the publicly televised interviews.
Candidate scores
        That’s why I decided to demand that the JSC release all the 2016 interview scores for every candidate by every single JSC commissioner. 
        In a strange response, the JSC argued that doing so would “prejudice the applicants”. So, the public is supposed to just take the word of the JSC commissioners as honourable? 
By submitting to publicly conducted interviews, both the applicants and the commissioners give up any expectation of the right of privacy as to the outcome of the interviews. In fact, the only way to hold the JSC and its individual commissioners accountable – and to make sure there’s no corruption or rigging of the scoring – is to make the marks public. This would ensure full transparency.
        That’s why I and Katiba Institute have sued the JSC demanding the public release all candidate scores from the 2016 and 2021 CJ and judge interviews by every JSC commissioner. 
We wanted the JSC restrained from nominating the CJ and Supreme Court judge candidates until it released all the scores. But they rushed to nominate them to defeat our suit. However, our suit will continue until the JSC makes public what it’s hiding. 
        This isn’t about CJ Martha Koome. My suit preceded her nomination by the JSC. We are sunk as a country if the courts and the JSC – the guardians of legality – can’t uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.
Makau Mutua is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor at Buffalo Law School. He’s chair of KHRC. @makaumutua

Source: Sunday Nation Tomorrow.

Spika Ndugai Tamatisha Mbeleko kwa Wabunge 19

Hii si mara ya kwanza wala ya mwisho kugusia sakata la wabunge 19 waliotimuliwa toka Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) al maaruf kama Covid-19. Nasema hivi tokana na mkanganyiko, utata na uzito wa sakata hili ambalo––––kadri siku zinavyozidi kwenda––––linaweza kuwa kashfa ya kitaasisi kama siyo ya kitaifa. Pia, niseme wazi. Sina ugomvi binafsi na Spika wa bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano Mheshimiwa Job Ndugai ambaye amejitokeza kuwa mtetezi mkubwa wa wabunge tajwa hata kwa kukiuka kanuni na kuonyesha kupendelea wazi wazi huku akiumiza upande mwingine katika mgogoro uliosababisha wabunge husika kufukuzwa kwenye chama chao, na hivyo, kupoteza sifa ya kuwa wabunge. Pia, sina ugomvi dhidi ya wala maslahi binafsi toka kwa wabunge husika. Ugomvi wangu ni kutaka haki itendeke kwa pande zote hasa walipa kodi ambao fedha zao zinatumika kuwalipa watu ambao wako bungeni kinyume cha sheria.
        Kwanza, napendekeza spika achunguzwe hata kama itabidi akae pembeni kama wengine kupisha uchunguzi huu ili kuondoa ubaguzi katika kuwahudumia watanzania bila kujali nyadhifa zao kama Katiba inavyoweka wazi kwenye ibara za 1(2); 13(1& 2); 23 (1) kuwa watanzania wote ni sawa na wasibaguliwe kwa hali yoyote. Kitendo kilichofanywa na Spika kuendelea kuwapendelea kwa kuwakingia kifua kama kiongozi wa mhimili wa dola na umma ni kinyume cha katiba. Ni kitendo cha kibaguzi ambapo haki haijatendwa kwa usawa. Hata pesa inayotumika kuwalipa wabunge husika hata kama ingekuwa ni shilingi kumi tu, kwa vile ni pesa ya umma, lazima tuchunguze kujua uhalali wa wahusika kulipwa.
        Pili, napendekeza Spika apewe karipio na mamlaka husika kwa kuingilia uhuru wa chama kingine huku akionekana wazi kupendelea chama chake jambo pia linakinzana na kiapo chake cha kushika ofisi ya umma. Vyama havishindani kwa kuadhibiana kitaasisi bali kupitia uchaguzi na si vinginevyo. Katiba iko wazi. Kwani, ibara ya 9 (h) inakataza ubaguzi na upendeleo na mambo mengine ya aina hii.
        Tatu, Spika achunguzwe kwa sababu ameamua kwa makusudi matupu akijua ni kinyume cha kiapo na wadhifa wake kujigeuza mahakama. Badala ya kutoa uamuzi usiopendelea, Spika amekaririwa na vyombo vya habari mara nyingi akiwatetea wahusika kana kwamba kuna anayemlipa kwa kazi hii badala ya Uspika. Hata kama yupo anayemlipa kwa hilo, hili ni kinyume na Katiba Ibara ya 
        Nne, Spika anapaswa achunguzwe kutokana na kuidhinisha na kushiki matumizi mabaya ya fedha za umma. Je hawa wabunge waliofukuzwa na chama chao wanamwakilisha nani na wanalipwa kama nani na kwa nini wakati hawatimizi masharti ya kuwa wabunge? Je ni wabunge wa chama gani? Nani anapenda kuendelea kuona fedha yake wakilipwa wabunge popo ambao hawajulikana wamo bungeni kwa kudhaminiwa na chama gani?
        Tano, hakuna jambo ambalo linamuweka pabaya Spika kama kuonyesha upendeleo wa wazi wazi wa kiongozi anayepaswa kutokuwa na upande kwenye mhimili anaoungoza. Je Spika angekuwa jaji–––kwa namna alivyoonyesha upeleo wa wazi–––je haki ingetendeka? Je mtu wa namna hii bado ana sifa na  udhu wa kuendelea kuwa kiongozi wa mhimili mtukufu wa dola kama Bunge tukufu? Je mhusika anajua na kuheshimu kiapo chake ambacho sehemu yake inasema kuwa ‘nitatimiza majukumu yangu bila upendeleo wala huba”? Sidhani kama Spika wetu ambaye licha ya kuwa msomi ni mwanasheria hajui hatari ya anachokifanya. Hata hivyo, inategemea na faida anayopata tokana na kuhatarisha cheo chake. Je hiki anachokifanya ndiyo msimamo wa serikali? Je spika ana maslahi gani binafsi katika kashfa hii? Je hii ndiyo sifa ya kiongozi kuwa kioo cha jamii?
        Sita Spika abanwe aeleze ni nini maslahi yake binafsi au chama chake ili watanzania wajue kinachoendelea hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa chama kinachoonekana kuhujumiwa–––licha ya kuwepo kisheria–––kina wanachama ambao ni watanzania waliojiunga nacho kwa mujibu wa katiba kama haki yao ya kujinga na chama watakacho. Hawa pia ni walipa kodi kama mtanzania yeyote anayepaswa na kutegemea kutendewa haki kisheria. Hata ukiangalia ufanisi wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) tangu tupate uhuru, sijui kama kinahitaji kushirikishwa kwenye hujuma tena dhidi ya chama kidogo kisicho na tishio lolote kwake. Hivyo, kama wahusika wanadhani wanakisaidia chama chao, wajue fika wanakiumiza na kukidhalilisha. CCM aihitaji wabunge wasio na uhalali wa kuwa bungeni. Je kama ni hivyo, huyu Spika anachofanya kinamsaidia nani zaidi ya yeye binafsi?  Pia sidhani kama Spika alimwelewa rais Samia Suluhu Hassan aliyesema wazi kuwa atateua watu bila kujali vyama vyao. Badala yake atajali sifa na michango yao. Je hawa wanaopendelewa kuendelea kuwa Bungeni wana sifa kweli? Kama wanazo, kwanini wakubali kupendelewa badala ya kwenda na kumalizana na chama chao kwanza?
        Naomba kuhitimisha nikiwataka wahusike wajipime kabla ya kupimwa, wajichunguze kabla ya kuchunguzwa na wajiwajibishe kabla ya kuwajishwa. Jambo jingine wanaloweza kufanya ni kuachana na huu mradi mchafu kabla ya kulazimishwa kuachana nao kwa aibu. Naomba kuwasilisha hoja na kutoa ushauri wa bure kwa wahusika. Muhimu wahusika wajue kisicho riziki hakiliwi na kufuata Katiba yetu siyo suala la chama, cheo, hiari wala nini bali shurti ya kisheria. Na sheria ni msumeno hukata mbele na nyuma bila kujali anayekatwa kama ni chama tawala au chama pinzani, mdogo au mkubwa Spika au Mbunge na kadhalika.
Chanzo: Raia Mwema Leo.

Israel Needs To Rid of Itself of Apartheid Tab

Some people called Israel an apartheid country. The HRW (April27, 2021) notes that “Israel’s policies and practices towards Palestinians continued along the same trajectory, the situation, at least in the West Bank, would become tantamount to apartheid.” Further, the Washington Post (May 20, 2021) concludes that “the Israeli occupation of the West Bank is, by every definition, apartheid. Linking apartheid South Africa and Israel is easy. They both exercise discrimination and segregation. 

        Again, if Israel keeps behaving like South African apartheid, it unintentionally buys into the truth that the territory it seeks to own and protect is Palestinian as was the case of blacks vs whites in South Africa. Like Israel, apartheid South Africa used the bible to justify its claims over South Africa. Because of world geopolitics and unfairness of the world system as the west created it for its benefits, recent Israel incursion on Palestine went without being reprimanded globally. The west–––that’s always vocal when such criminality of this magnitude and nature is committed–––has maintained double standard and silence on the conflict in the Middle East. The west that’s been vocal against China for maltreating the Uighurs not to mention Rohingya in Burma proved to side with the perpetrators and ignored the victims. 

        One wonders why the same kept mum about Palestinians.  Two parts to this conflict, Israel and Palestine, faced off in the recent carnage wherein the latter mercilessly humiliated the former. Although we can say the duo faced off, practically, it was a David-goliath tussle. Whereas Israel used American bombs and its military might to kill Palestinians, demolish building and suffocate the general Palestine population, the victims used homemade bombs to defend themselves. The TVs showed the fight between the trigger-happy Israel soldiers and rock waging Palestinian youth and children. The world saw September eleven like scenes in Gaza where tall buildings were attacked and razed to the ground in a terrorist like style by Israel military. The world didn’t come forth to tell the goliath to stop degrading and bulling David.
         In this conflict, many innocent people, notably children, elderly and women were on the receiving end as the world just silently watch as it turned blind ear and eye as if those victims were not humans who deserve to enjoy their human rights among which are the right to life and security. Once again, the world displayed its stinking indifference that shows how its if openly unfair and brutal is by ignoring the rights of some and standing by criminality by the nation of holier than thou against defenceless people. 
        As indicated above, Israel is now viewed as an apartheid regime. The difference though is that the Boers in South Africa––––who introduced and executed apartheid––––are the citizens of the country they now own with the victims––––apartheid Israel seeks to keep on grabbing and occupying Palestine as another country they don’t belong to. This is the state whose land they grabbed and owned at the expense and suffering of the rightful owner of the land. 
        Whereas the apartheid South Africa was partly supported by the west, apartheid Israel is totally supported and is a creature of the west for the purpose of creating fear among oil-rich Middle East. Whereas apartheid South Africa didn’t enjoy the ‘sacredness’ of its existence, apartheid Israel–––thanks to the coloniality of the international superstructure––––enjoys fake sacredness created by the west in order to use it for the reasons it knows and protects even at the expense of its image. When apartheid Israel attacked Palestine, the world was divided right in the middle whereby the west and some other who view themselves as Christians on the one side and Arabs and their co-religionists Muslims opposingly stood by the duo. 

        In Africa, this divide is obvious. Many Muslims support Palestine under the mantra that all Muslims are brethren despite the fact that when Africa is on a receiving end, this fake brotherhood evaporates. Who’s siding with or talking about sectarian conflict in Central African Republic (CAR) where Christian and Muslim Africans are butchering each other because of their ideological differences? Arabs who use Islam as the pretext of seeking sympathy demonstrated when Africa is on the receiving end. Neither do they bother to treat many African workers in the Middle East decently. 

        Again, why do Africans superimpose themselves in Arab matters? Refer to many massive demonstrations in some African capitals condemning Israeli, which is their right while the same have kept mum about the death of their colleagues in Middle East?  Who cares about black people butchering each other because of foreign dogma if they too don’t care about themselves?  Who’s talking about the plight of Africans sold in slavery in the Maghreb now despite the fact that they’re Muslims and Christians in this criminality? 
        When Israel butchered innocent children and women in Palestine–––the criminality that’s repeated when needs be–––the so-called civilised international community got cold feet. As for dependent and ever-begging African countries were afraid of coming forth and lose their leverage and support from the rich west. When the UN sought to deliberate on the conflict, the US, the world’s self-appointed police, stifled the process in order to save its ally in the Middle East. President Joe Biden–––who’s expected to embattled Israel PM, Benyamin Netanyahu who invented this conflict to save his neck from corruption related criminal cases––––shocked many for his docility and indifference despite the fact that Netanyahu openly dissed him and Obama since he’s not white enough to become the president of the US, the sentiment many Middle East rulers share on him. 
        When Africa stooges chipped in, they just advising that the two parts to conflict to observe truce without going deep into the root causes of the conflict.  Because of this double standard, Israel has reached the stage of attacking the International Criminal Court (ICC) when it registered it concerns and the aim of probing the conflict in the Middle East in order to bring the suspects to justice. Israel shamelessly ranted at the ICC, and nobody reprimanded it the same way the world did when some African leaders registered their dissatisfaction against the ICC.
Because of this holier than thou mentality, Israel regards itself as a blue-eyed boy/girl of the world. Because of this preferential treatment by the west even African countries don’t want to be at loggerheads with the injustices Israel has perpetually committed against Palestinians since the west precast in in 1948.
        As a peace maker and scholar, methinks, Israel needs to come to the reality of the moment by embarking on a two-states solution to the conflict in the Middle East instead of flexing its muscles with the aim of keeping on grabbing Palestinian lands with the belief that it will succeed to delete it from the face of the earth.
        The conflict in the Middle East displayed four important things namely, the world superstructure’s double standard, injustices, shamelessness and unfairness. So, too, this conflict speaks to the need to overhaul the world system in order to address such anomalies as displayed in this conflict. More importantly, the conflict shows the insignificance of Africa and its people. 

        Lastly, when it comes to terrorism, one can say that its definitions are sham if they cannot include what the world evidenced in Gaza recently. The terror that Gaza was subjected to is unimaginable. Despite doing all this, Israel still enjoys aid financially, military and politically from the west. For what? To exercise apartheid.

Source: African Executive Tomorrow.

Tunamtaka Mchwa Anayetafuna Fedha Serikalini

Japo sina uhakika kama kuna pattern katika upigaji ulioibuliwa na waziri mkuu Mheshimiwa Majaliwa K. Majaliwa hivi karibuni, kuna uwezekano kukawa na mchezo huu katika wizara nyingine kama siyo zote. Kwanza, kabla ya kuzama kwenye kadhia hii, niipongeze serikali kwa kuwa macho hasa baada ya kuondoka simba wa vita dhidi ya ufisadi. Nasema hivi kwa kuzingatia kuwa wizi ulioibuliwa hivi karibuni kwenye hazina, ulifanyika nchi ikiwa kwenye maombolezo ya kifo cha Dk John Pombe Magufuli (RIP). Hii licha ya kuonyesha roho mbaya na ubinafsi vya kutisha, wahusika ni kama wanasherehekea kuondoka kwa mwamba huu. Hili halina shaka. Kwani, tangu kilipotangazwa kifo cha gwiji huyu–––tumeona kwenye mitandao ya kijamii–––namna mafisadi au vibaraka wao walivyoshangilia wasijue kuwa kuondoka kwa shujaa mmoja ni ujio wa mwingine. Nani alijua kuwa hili lingeibuka na kufichuliwa haraka na kisayansi hivi? Hata hivyo, kwa namna serikali ya awamu ya sita inavyopambana na kuendeleza vita ya ufisadi kwa makini na weledi mkubwa, wale walioamini kuwa kila kitu kilitegemea juhudi na nguvu binafsi vya Hayati Magufuli wamezodolewa na wanakosea kuendelea kudhani hivyo. 

Wanaodhani kuwa kifo cha Magufuli ni mwisho wa vita ya ufisadi wanakosea sana. Wanashindwa kuelewa kuwa Magufuli hakuwa akipiga vita uoza kwa ajili yake binafsi bali kwa ajili ya taifa. Wanashindwa kuelewa kuwa serikali ni taasisi na siyo mtu mmoja yaani rais. Wanashindwa kuelewa kuwa somo ambalo ameliacha Magufuli litawafanya watanzania kuwa wakali kama pilipili wanapogundua uoza kama huu. 
Kama nilivyosema hapo juu kwenye kichwa cha makala, kuna haja ya kufanya uchunguzi kwenye idara, wizara hata mikoa, wilaya na halmashauri zote nchini ili kujiridhisha kuwa huu mchezo haukufanywa tokana na timming na ukubwa wa tukio lililohangaisha taifa zima tokana na kazi ya Hayati Magufuli ilivyotukuka kiasi cha kumgusa kila mtanzania mwenye mapenzi mema na nchi yake. Kwa wanaojua  namna Hayati Magufuli alivyokuwa amewabana na kuwatetemesha waovu nchini, hawatashangaa kuwa kifo chake kiliwadanganya wengi na kudhani wakati wa kurejea mazoea ya kuuibia na kuhujumu umma yalikuwa yamerejea.  Hata hivyo, matukio kama haya, licha ya kuizindua serikali, yaihimize kuongeza bidii katika kupambana nayo. Hapa lazima kazi ya kutumbua na kuibua waovu iendelee kama ilivyokuwa kwa hapa kazi tu na lazima kuendelea kutumua iwe ni hapa kazi tu.
Pia, itoshe kusema kuwa wale wote waliokuwa wanadhani kuwa kifo cha Magufuli ni kifo cha vita dhidi ya ufisadi wajue kifo chake kinaweza kuwa mwanzo wa vita kubwa kuliko hata aliyowahi kupigana dhidi ya janga hili. Maana, Hayati Magufuli alipoingia madarakani, alikuta nchi yetu imegeuzwa shamba la bibi ambako nyani hujifanyia watakavyo lakini akakomesha mchezo huu tena kwa muda mfupi na kwa kiwango kikubwa. Hii licha ya kuwa urathi wake, ni changamoto kwa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) na serikali yake kwa ujumla kuwa awamu ya sita, pamoja na mambo mengine, itapimwa kwa namna itakavyoendelea kuzuia taifa kuwa shamba la bibi.
Tunashauri uchunguzi wa kina ufanyike tena kwa utuo ili kubaini walioko nyuma ya kadhai nzima na mbinu walizotumia na kujua lini walianza mchezo huu ili kujua kama ni endelevu au ndiyo umeanza. Hii itasaidia kupambana na kadhia nyingine kama hizi hata kujua viashiria vya uwepo wa uchafu kama huu kwenye wizara ya fedha na wizara nyingine hata idara za umma.
Pia ifahamike kuwa kilichofanyika siyo ubadhirifu wala wizi wa kawaida bali uhujumu uchumi ambao kesi zake zinafahamika zisivyo na dhamana. Hii itasaidia kuwapa onyo wengine wanaodhani serikali ya awamu ya sita siyo makini kutia akilini kuwa kasi ni ile ile na saa nyingine ikawa zaidi hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa kurudi kwake kwenye uchaguzi ujao kutategemea na namna ilivyofanya kazi za kuuletea maendeleo umma wa watanzania. Hizi zinaoibiwa ni kodi za wananchi maskini ambao wakisikia mabilioni haya licha ya kusikitishwa ni kama wanatiwa madole machoni. Huu ni uchokozi kwao. Na unapaswa kukomeshwa mara moja ili kuweza, si kuwaletea maendeleo ya pamoja tu bali hata kupunguza ugumu wa maisha kwa watu na kaya binafsi.
        Tuhitimishe kwa kushauri Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (TAKUKURU) kushikia kashfa husika kama mwewe ashukiavyo vifaranga ili kuwapa ukweli watanzania wawajue hawa walioshindwa kubadilika wakataka kuendekeza mazoea ya wizi. Wakati wa kifanya hivyo, wahakikishe wanashirikiana na polisi ili kuhakikisha zinapelekwa mahakamani kesi ambazo hazijabemendwa ili kuepuka kutoa mwanya wa wahusika kuchomoka kwenye kesi ya wazi wazi ya uhujumu uchumi. Tunawatakieni kila heri katika kuhakikisha ukweli unajulikana na pia haki inatendeka kwa pande zote.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema Kesho.

Malipo ya Wabunge Hawa Ni Ufisadi Mwingine

Hivi karibuni rais Samia Suluhu Hassan aliwahakikisha na kuwaaminisha watanzania kuwa mapambano dhidi ya matumizi mabaya ya fedha na raslimali za umma yaliyoanzishwa na Hayati Dkt John Pombe Magufuli yanaendelea. Bila hiyo, hata chini ya kauli mbiu yake Kazi Iendelee, wengi waliamini kuwa watanzania na taasisi zote walimwelewa. Mbali na rais kutoa hakikisho, kumekuwapo na sauti za kutaka iwepo kodi ya uzalendo ambayo haitalenga kuwaumiza maskini bali vigogo katika ngazi za juu serikalini. 
        Leo tutaongelea kadhia ambayo–––licha kuwagombanisha Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)–––inaonekana kuikichafua Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) na serikali yake kama hawatabadili msimamo wao juu ya wabunge hawa. Tunajiuliza maswali mengi kuhusiana na kadhia hii. CHADEMA kilisema wazi kuwa wahusika walifukuzwa uanachama tokana na kwenda kinyume na maagizo ya vyombo husika kwenye chama. Kimsingi, chanzo cha mgogoro mzima ni pale CCM iliposhinda viti vyote vilivyokuwa vimeshikiliwa na CHADEMA hadi kwenye uchaguzi wa mwaka jana. Baada ya pigo hili, wanawake waliobwagwa, wakiongozwa na Halima Mdee, waliamua kupindisha kanuni–––kwa mujibu wa CHADEMA–––na kuendesha uchaguzi wa viti maalum na kujipatia ulaji. Hapa kimsingi, wahusika walionyesha namna walivyokuwa wakisaka madaraka bila kujali kama walikuwa wakifuata au kuvunja taratibu za chama chao hadi wakafukuzwa. Baada ya kufukuzwa, wahusika walikimbilia bungeni ambako waliapishwa bila hata kusikiliza malalamiko toka kwenye chama chao. Hii si haki na wala haiisaidii CCM, serikali yake wala nchi hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa fedha na marupurupu wanavyolipwa si mali ya CCM, serikali wala bunge bali ni kodi ya mwananchi. Bila kufuata utaratibu na kujulikana sababu za msingi za wabunge hawa wasiomwakilisha yeyote wala chama chochote kuendelea kuwa bungeni na kulipa ni matumizi mabaya ya fedha za umma. Kimsingi, ni ufisadi wa kimfumo ambapo faida za kisiasa za kundi moja zinawekwa mbele hata kwa maumivu ya wananchi maskini ambao fedha yao inatumika kuwatunza watu hawa wasio na chama wala uhalali wa kuwa bungeni ukiachia mbali kutomwakilisha yeyote bali matumbo yao.
        Baada ya mgogoro kunyunyuta, spika wa bunge Mheshimiwa Job Ndugai alisikika akiwatetea tena ka kuita barua ya CHADEMA ya kumtaka awawajibishe kipeperushi jambo ambalo lilifanya wengi wakune vichwa na kujiuliza kunani? Kama haitoshi, Ndugai aligeuka wakili wa wabunge hawa 19 ambao wamepewa jina la Covid-19 bila kueleza alianza lini kufanya jukumu hili na ili iwe nini. Japo ni haki yake kumtetea au kumshabikia hata kumkingia kifua amtakaye, si haki ya spika kutoa maamuzi ambayo yanayonyesha wazi yanavyowatwisha mzigo walipa kodi kama ilivyo kwenye kadhia hii.  Je ni fedha kiasi gani taifa linapoteza kwa kuwalipa wabunge waliokwisha kufukuzwa na chama chao? 

        Siju mshahara na marupurupu ya mbunge. Hata hivyo, tuchukulie kuwa kila mbunge analipwa shilingi 10,000,000 kwa mwezi. Hii maana yake tunapoteza karibu shilingi milioni 200,000,000 bila kuhusisha matumizi mengine kama vile posho ya kila siku, pesa ya mafuta, nyumba na mengine mengi. Kama wabunge hawa bandia wataendelea kuwa bungeni, ina maana kwa mwaka watakuwa wanakula si chini ya shilingi bilioni 2.4 kwa nwaka. Na kama wahusika wataendela kuwang’ang’ania hadi uchaguzi ujao, taifa litakuwa limepoteza jumla ya shilingi bilioni 12. Je pesa hii–––kama ingetumika kwa busara–––ingeweza kufanya mambo mangapi ya maana kwa watu wetu maskini. Kama sikosei hesabu, pesa hii inaweza kujenga si chini ya kilomita 60 za reli ya kisasa ya Standard Gauge. Niruhusu nitoke nje kidogo ya mada. Kama tukifutilia mbali ubunge wa viti maalum, tunaweza kwa miaka mitano, tuna uwezo wa kujenga barabara ya lami toka Dar es Salaam hadi Tabora hata Mwanza bila kukopa.  Je tunafanya hivi kwa faida gani na kwa utajiri au ulazima upi? Je, kama tutaachana tabia ya kuhudumiana, wanabariki jinai hii kweli hawaoni kuwa wanawaumiza wananchi na wanachofanya si haki? Je hata hawa wanufaikaji hawaonyeshi walivyo wabinafsi ambao wako tayari kupinda na kuvunja sheria ilmradi wapate wao? Je mamlaka za juu hazioni ufisadi huu wa kimfumo? Je kwa kuendelea kunyamazia jinai si ushahidi kuwa ima viongozi wetu si makini au wana sura mbili?
        Juzi rais SSH alimtumbua aliyekuwa mkurugenzi wa TPA, Deusdedit Kakoko ambaye niliandika barua ya kuunga mkono kadhia hii kabla ya kufanya utafiti wa kina, jambo ambalo nalijutia kwa kusikiliza upande mmoja, kwa upotevu wa shilingi bilioni tatu na ushei pale Bandarini. Je rais ambaye alionyesha ukali kwa fedha ndogo kama hii ikilinganishwa na wabunge hawa watakayofuja, yuko wapi aone haya mabilioni?
        Tumalize kwa kuwaomba wakubwa wetu wanaowang’ang’ania wabunge tajwa au kuwafumbia macho na madhara wanayosababisha kwa fedha za walipa kodi waachane nao wamalizane kwenye chama chao. Kama wanawaona ni mali sana basi wawashawishi wahamie CCM kama wengine ambao walishafanya hivyo. Na kama ni vyeo, wawape vyeo vingine badala ya kutujazia mkanganyiko kwenye bunge tukufu la wananchi ambalo linapaswa kuwa na wawakilishi wa umma na siyo wa matumbo yao. Pia hawa wanaowakingia kifua wajue kuwa pesa wanayolipwa watu wao si pesa toka mifukoni mwao. Kuna kesho pale wahusika watakapokuwa nje ya mamlaka waliyo nayo wakilipa kodi au kuulizwa walifanya nini wakati walipokuwa na mamlaka. Pia na wabunge husika wajitathmni wakijua kuna kesho.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema kesho.

Mkoa Mpya wa Chato Mtendeeni Haki Hayati Magufuli

Hivi karibuni nimesoma kwenye vyombo vya habari juu ya mapendekezo ya kuunda mkoa mpya wa Chato mahali alipozaliwa shujaa wetu Hayati John Pombe Magufuli rais wa awamu ya tano aliyetutoka ghafla mwezi Machi mwaka huu. Gazeti la Mwananchi Mei 29, 2021 linaandika “Mkoa mpya wa Chato umependekezwa kuwa na wilaya ya Chato, Bukombe zilizopo mkoa wa Geita kwa sasa na wilaya mbili za mkoa wa Kagera ambazo ni Biharamulo na Ngara, huku ikimega kata tatu kutoka wilaya ya Muleba pamoja na baadhi ya maeneo kutoka wilaya ya Kakonko iliyopo mkoani Kigoma.” Kwa wanaomjua Hayati Magufuli, hiki ni kituko cha aina yake ambacho kwake kingekuwa machukizo yasiyo na msamaha. Katika kuunda mkoa husika kwa kumuenzi Magufuli, kuna mambo ambayo wahusika wanapaswa kuyatilia maanani ili wasionekane kama wanamkejeli. Kwa mfano, inakuwaje wanaondoa sehemu kama wilaya ya Karagwe ambako inasemekana alikuwa na makazi ukiachia mbali michango mingine kwa mkoa wa sasa wa Geita kama vile Mbuga ya Burigi-Chato na mambo mengine muhimu?
        Kwanza, tuseme wazi si haki kwa Hayati Magufuli ambaye kimsingi, ndiye aliyeipaisha wilaya ya Chato ukiachia mbali kuanzisha mkoa wa Geita na sasa kuwa kwenye harakati za kuanzisha mkoa mpya wa Chato kama namna ya kumuenzi Hayati Magufuli. Pamoja na uzuri wa wazo hili, hata hivyo, ukiangalia mapendekezo hayo hapo juu, kwanza unashangaa na kusikitika hasa kwa waliomjua Hayati Magufuli na mipango yake ya baadaye kama angeishi hadi kustaafu urais.                             Wanaopendekeza wilaya na kata tajwa hapo juu, hawajaeleza sababu za kuziteua. Hawajatoa sababu na vigezo vya kisayansi na vinavyoingia akilini vya kupendekeza wilaya na kata husika. Sijui kama hawa wamezingatia mambo muhimu katika kufikia hitimisho hili hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa kuna sehemu nyingine ambazo zinafaa kuwa sehemu ya mkoa husika kuliko hizo tajwa kama tutakavyoeleza hapa baadaye. 
        Pili, hata kama hawa wanaoendesha mchakato tajwa wana sababu, haziwezi kuwa na nguvu kama sababu nitakazotoa hapa chini ni kwanini Mkoa mpya wa Chato usiache wilaya ya Karagwe na Ngara na badala yake uache zile za mkoa wa Mwanza wenye ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 9, 467 ambao tayari ni mdogo ikilinganishwa na mkoa wa Kagera wenye ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 35,686 yaani karibu mara nne ya mkoa wa Mwanza. Namba huwa hazidanganyi hata kama hatuzipendi. Ukitoa ukubwa wa wilaya ya Karagwe ambao ni kilometa za mraba 7,716 na ule wa wilaya ya Ngara yenye 3,744 bado mkoa wa Kagera utabakia kuwa mkubwa kuliko Mwanza ukiwa na ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 24, 226 mbali na ukweli kuwa wilaya mbili tajwa ni kubwa kuliko mkoa wa Mwanza wenyewe. Tuseme wazi kuwa–––kama lengo ni kuanzisha mkoa wa Chato ili kupeleka huduma kwa wananchi, basi wilaya tajwa za Karagwe na Ngara zinafaa kuwa sehemu ya mkoa huu mpya. Kama sababu ni za kisiasa tu na nyingine, basi wilaya husika hazifai.
Tatu, ukweli ni kwamba Hayati Magufuli mwenyewe alikuwa amekwisha kuanzia makazi yake kwenye wilaya ya Karagwe (Sauti Kubwa, Januari 20, 2021) kiasi cha kupafanya nyumbani namba mbili. Japo si wengi wanalijua hili tokana na Hayati Magufuli kutofanya maisha yake binafsi habari, alikuwa na makazi mengine wilayani Karagwe ambako inasemekana alikupenda sana kiasi cha kuanzisha shamba la mifugo. Je hawa wanaotaka kuiweka kando wilaya hii ambayo Sauti kubwa inasema “…. Rais John Pombe Magufuli (JPM) yuko Mkoani Kagera. Alianzia Bukoba na sasa yuko mapumzikoni “nyumbani” kwake kwingine, Karagwe” wanamuenzi kweli au wanamtumia kutimiza matakwa yao binafsi? Je familia ya Magufuli imeombwa mawazo katika mchakato huu?
Tatu, mbali na Hayati Magufuli kuipenda na kuweka makao wilayani Karagwe, pia wilaya hii pamoja na Ngara huchangia sehemu kubwa ya mbuga maarufu ya Burigi Chato. Katika pita pita zangu na kuuliza huku na huku, niliambiwa kuwa hata jina Burigi asili yake ni Karagwe ikitokana na jina la ziwa Burigi lililoko wilayani Karagwe. Hivyo, kwa vigezo hivi na vingine, mkoa mpya wa Chato hauwezi kuiacha nje wilaya ya Karagwe.
Sababu ya nne, ni kwamba––––kwa wanaojua historia ya Ufalme wa Karagwe ambao ulikuwa ni moja ya himaya kubwa kabla ya ukoloni ikishindana na kushirikiana na himaya nyingine kubwa za wakati huo za Bunyoro-Kitara, Buganda na Busoga–––atakubaliana nami kuwa eneo la Chato hadi Sumbawanga liliwahi kuwa chini ya himaya hii kubwa ambayo ilisifika nchini Tanzania ikishindana na Zanzibar kwa umaarufu na kufanyiwa utafiti na wazungu kabla ya kuitawala Afrika. Hata hivyo, himaya hii iliyokuwa na nguvu na maendeleo ya hali ya juu, ilififishwa na hatimaye kufishwa baada ya wakoloni kuanzisha kabila la wahaya ambalo halikuwapo kabla ya kuja ukoloni na kuchukua nafasi yake kiasi cha mkoa wa Kagera kuonekana kama umekaliwa na wahaya wakati una makabila mengine mengi.
Tumalizie kwa kuwataka wanaohusika na mchakato wa kuunda mkoa mpya wa Chato watoe vigezo watakavyotumia kuunda. Pia waeleze kila kigezo kwa ufasaha ili kuepuka kuingiza siasa katika maisha ya watu mbali na kutokumuenzi Hayati Magufuli au kumtumia kufikia malengo yao ya kisiasa. Hivyo, chonde chonde. Mtendeeni haki Hayati Magufuli na kumuenzi kiukweli badala ya kutaka kumtumia kisiasa kwa faida binafsi au tokana na kutojua ukweli wa mambo.

Chanzo: Raia Mwema kesho.