Tahadharini Kwenda Mashariki ya Kati ni Mateso Matupu

Grace Mugabe must be a lesson to African presidents and first ladies

Grace Ntombizodwa Marufu Mugabe is a controversial person who burst onto the scene out of the blue. A typist in the office of the then Zimbabwe’s prime minister, Robert Mugabe, was cut for big things. Who knew she’d catch the eye of the PM; and start an affair while the two were still married? Grace graced herself for yet many more wonders. When Mugabe’s first wife Sarah died, Grace disgracefully divorced her husband, air force pilot Stanley Goreraza and married president Mugabe henceforth starting to eat life with a big spoon as the first lady.

 Thanks to her extravagance, Grace secured a moniker Gucci. Evidence? After falling from grace, Grace recently admitted to have spent $500,000 annually renting a house in Dubai for her son Robert Mugabe Jr. who’s studying there. If she were considerate of other and frugal, this amount would get her a normal house in the outskirt of Dubai. Further, the Mugabes spent HK$40 million in 2009 to purchase an apartment for their daughter Bona who’s then studying in Hong Kong.   Ironically, while the Mugabes were spending such a humongous amount of money junior doctors were paid just less than $329 per month before allowances. The money the Mugabes spent on the rent of their kids is huge by all standards. Even people in rich countries will tell you this is not joke money. For poor Zimbabweans–who were going to bed with empty stomachs–such money is a fortune. The story of the Mugabes does not end up here.  It was reported that when Mugabe’s daughter got married she received a cool $100,000 and 55 heads of cattle from her father, $35,000 from her mother, $50,000 from her mother’s partner in diamond deals Ihmad Ahmed whereas the total sum the couple got as presents from Mugabe dynasty and its partners on that day was $225, 000 and 65 heads of cattle. While Mrs. Mugabe was spending big bucks on her children, she did not forget herself.  In 2009, for example, she said to have spent £55,000 (S$98,600) buying worth of marble statues in Vietnam and a £8,700 handbag in Singapore. Nonetheless, nobody knows the actual amount of money Mrs. Mugabe stole or squandered in the entire her husband was in power.

Grace wasn’t only extravagant but also politically ambitious. Exploiting her husband’s advanced age, she tried to succeed him had anything undesirable happen.  However, this project evaporated after her husband was toppled last year.

Furthermore, Grace didn’t only rob public coffers but she also plundered other resources. It recently came to light after the new authorities started to investigate Grace that she used her Chinese associates to run an ivory smuggling ring. Further, sources from the authorities admitted that Grace’s facing a forensic audit by the ruling ZANU–PF’s women’s league over “hundreds of millions” of party funds not to mention involvement in setting up parallel money markets as well as illegal export of precious minerals. Other Grace’s foreign accomplices are the Dubai-based businessmen Imad Ahmad and his nephew Ramzi Mali who specifically used to deal in diamonds stolen from and smuggled out of Zimbabwe under the directions of the first lady. The Daily News (21 March, 2018) in its interview with Grace’s former right hand woman Environment, Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, reports that former First Lady occasionally raided the country’s ivory stockpile kept at the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and on the basis that they’re her donations to unnamed fellow first ladies in the Far East. The big blow for Grace came after an Australian wildlife photographer, Andrew Steirn, confronted Zimbabwean authorities with evidence implicating her. Further, the Daily News quotes Steirn as saying that “ivory was being sourced either from the national park’s vault, being thieved or pilfered, or from live elephants being killed by poaching syndicates. The syndicate would then sell to Grace Mugabe’s clientele.” Neither Grace nor her lawyers recanted this expose which the authorities in Zimbabwe admitted to have been investigating.

Under bedroom politics, Grace’s able to use her sharing bed with president to live large and think about becoming the president herself. What a disgrace by Grace!

Now that Grace’s dirt linens are on the agora. Will she face what Madame Mao Zedong faced after the death of her husband? Will Grace’s future be like that of Simone Gbagbo former Ivorian first lady who was jailed after her husband was toppled? Will Grace be as lucky as Philippines’ former first lady Imelda Gucci Marcos who survived despite the toppling of her stinking corrupt husband?

Indeed, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Who knew an illiterate first lady like Grace would mislead and bring down a hyper academic like Mugabe? Truly, Grace Mugabe’s a truly African first lady.

Arguably, Grace’s aloofness, corruption, greed, myopia and treachery show how African presidents are manipulated by their spouses so as to sabotage them hugely while they receive salaries and live on taxpayers’ money. This means; African presidency needs to be decolonised, detoxified and sanitised to see to it that nobody uses as a family business as it is Mugabe’s legacy among others.

Source: Citizen, today April, 4, 2018.

Waraka wa Profesa Emeritus Mpayukaji kwa masadukayo

Baada ya kuona kila masadukayo wanakuja na nyaraka kwa wachovu kila wakijisikia na wakidhani mambo yanakwenda ndivyo sivyo, nami profesa emeritus mtumishi wa Mungu aliye juu ya miungu yote ya kigeni nakuja na waraka wangu kwa masadukayo. Kama ilivyo haki kwa masadukayo kuja na nyaraka zao kwa umma, naona ni haki kwangu pia kufanya hivyo. Tofauti na nyaraka za masadukayo, huu waraka ni tofauti na nyaraka nyingine ambazo wachovu wamezoea. Kwani, waraka huyu si wangu bali ni maneno ya mwenye dunia mwenyewe ambaye wengi humtumia kujipatia ulaji na ujiko kirahisi tofauti na mimi ambaye ndiye kinywa chake pekee kilichobakia. Hivyo, wewe unayeusoma, ujue unaongea na Mungu moja kwa moja. Hii ni bahati yako na utapata baraka tele kwa kusoma na kutafakari waraka huu mtakatifu usio na uroho mtakakitu bali roho mtakatifu na mtukufu. Kama utaupuuzia waraka huu, laana zake mwenyewe mwenye kutisha zitakuandama hadi utakapokuja kwangu kutubu kabla mengine mengi na zahama havijakukuta. Mimi si askopo wala mtume wa kujipachika. Wala si mchunaji wala mchungaji bali msemahovyo lakini kweli tupu unabii niliorithi toka kwa mzee Waambie mwana wa Wapasha bila woga wala kutafuna maneno.

Kwanza, nitamke wazi wazi. Kaya hii si mali ya mja yoyote isipokuwa wachovu wote kwa umoja wao. Hivyo, hakuna mwenye stahiki ya kumburuza wala kumTunduLissu mwenzake.

Kabla ya kumwaga ujumbe wa mwenyewe, naanza kwa maswali: Je wao wanafanya yale wanayotaka lisirikali lifanye kama vile kuwa na demokrasia kwa kondoo wao wanaoburuza na kuwachuna kila uchao huku wao wakiishi maisha ya kutanua wakati wanayedai kumhuribiri alikuwa kapuku wa kunuka hadi akashindwa hata ndururu ya kumpa Kaisari hadi samaki alipompa taafu?

Je wako tayari lisirikali kuingilia anga zao na kuwataka wafanye kama lionavyo? Je muda wote walikuwa wapi hasa wakati ule kaya yetu ilipogeuzwa shamba la bibi na akina Mzee Ruxa, Njaa Kaya na Denjamani Makapi?

Aliyejuu anaonya kuwa, ukimuelekezea mwenzako kidole jua vitatu vinakuelekea wewe. Kwa kulijua hili, nachelea kuhukumu wala kushinikiza ili nisijegeuziwa kibao siku moja.  Kwanini inakuwa rahisi kuona maovu ya wenzao wakati yao wakiyalimbika kana kwamba wachovu hawaoni wala kujua wanavyotanua kwa zaka na mapato ya makapuku?  Je kwanini leo si zama zile za utwahuti wa wazi kimfumo na kitaasisi hadi kaya inapata jembe la kuikomboa hata kama ni kwa kuminya baadhi ya haki jambo ambalo halikubaliki? Wakati wachovu wakiuzwa na kubinafsishwa kishenzi mbona hawakutoa waraka? Je ni kwanini hawakutoa waraka baada ya kuibuka tuhuma dhidi ya wenzao wanaotuhumiwa kubaka na kulawiti ukiachia mbali waliojipatia ukwasi kwa kuwahadaa na kuwaibia wajinga wetu maskini kwa kuwaahidi miuya wakati miuya yenyewe ni kuwaibia? Nangoja majibu si majipu tena yanayoingia kichwani.

Tokana na wengi kukwazwa na kuudhiwa na mambo ambavyo yanakwenda ndiyo siyo, nawashauri, ili waeleke wako upande gani, basi waanzishe chama cha siasa lau tuwajue kuwa ni wanasiasa. Usawa huu ni wa uwazi wa kweli na ukweli wa ukweli unaomtaka kila mmoja wetu asimame hadharani na kuonyesha upande anaolalia. Kwani, haiwezekani kutumikia mabwana wawili yaani aliyeko juu na hawa walioko chini. Lazima mhusika aamue kufanya maamuzi magumu. Kwani si vizuri kutumia majukwaa ya kiroho kufanya mambo ya kisiasa wala kutumia majukwaa ya kisiasa kufanya mambo ya kiroho. Huu ni uroho tena uliopindukia. Kwani Bwana mkubwa mwana wa Maria alisema kuwa kabla hujatoa boriti jichoni mwangu, ni vizuri kutoa kibanzi kilichoko jichoni mwako au siyo?

Nilimsikia mmoja akisema kuwa wao kufanya siasa kumekuwapo tangu yapata miaka 2,000. Je siasa hazikuwapo pia? Kama anataka kujua ni namna gani zilikuwepo siasa kabla ya hata roho mtakakitu, ajiulize akina Farao kule Masri walikuwa wakifanya nini? Si walikuwapo kabla ya hao wanaojifanya wana kila sababu ya kupiga kelele?

Nikigeuka upande wa pili, jamani, tufike mahali tuache kuburuzana, kutishana wala kunyotoana roho ukiachia mbali kusakiziana kesi feki.  Huku nako ni kughshi haki sawa na wale wanaoghushi sifa za kitaaluma na kiroho kama masadukayo wa kujipachika hadi wengine wanapayuka kuwa wana mchele kuliko lisirikali. Anayedhani amesimama achunge asianguke. Mamlaka na ulaji ni kama maua kwenye shamba. Huwa na msimu wake na ukiisha hunyauka. Nani mara hii kamsahau Tunituni Makapi aliyefanya kila makufuru na kuwaita wachovu kuwa wana uvivu wa kufikiri wakati yeye alikuwa ndiye mwalimu na kiongozi wao katika uvivu huu uliogeuza kaya shamba la bibi huku bibi mkubwa akimtumia bwana mkubwa kupiga njuluku. Wako wapi kwa sasa zaidi ya kutegemea hisani tena ya vijana wadogo?

Ndugu zanguni, nimalizie kwa kuwaasa muwe na busara katika mapito yenu. Kwani kila lenye mwanzo huwa na mwisho. Na wote tuliopo chini ya jua si chochote wala lolote bali wasafiri waendako wasikokujua. Mamlaka, nguvu na utajiri vina thamani gani iwapo tufapo kila mtu huondoka na shuka moja? Mwenye akili na azingatie unabii huu kwa wote.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima leo Jumatano, April4, 2018.

Good News!!!!! Our Three New Children's Books are Out Now

African needs political union but Free Trade Area

            The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) that 44 African countries signed recently in Kigali is welcome. It was termed as being historical. Is it really? Is it supposed to be Africa’s first priority? Arguably, Africa needs to batten down the hatchets and pragmatically take on them instead of gerrymandering or beating around the bush. Despite its good intentions, this moneymaking union won’t reach anywhere or significantly solve Africa’s endemic problems shall Africa remain divided politically. Africa needs a single political entity that can adeptly manage its humongous and wide resources that have never helped it.

The division of Africa is a colonial strategy ex-colonisers envisage to keep exploiting Africa effortlessly and perpetually. Maintaining it is not only a colonial legacy but black colonialism itself. Our people would like to have a single united country of Africa like Canada or the US even tomorrow. To the contrary, African rulers don’t want to hear such a thing. Their demigod presidency, easy and free eating are more important than the future of Africa. If this is a lie, I challenge them to tell Africa why are they able to unite commercially but not politically while political division is the root cause of Africa’s miseries?

To put this into perspective, let’s look at how Africa was divided and partitioned in 1884-85 at the infamous Berlin Conference that endorsed full invasion and thereby colonisation of Africa. Essentially, the Berlin Conference created current objectionable and puny African countries. Practically, such countries are artificial if not colonial creatures which is an exception to the general rule in that almost other the countries in the world were created by the history, needs and will of their citizens.

John Campbell, a senior fellow and Africa expert at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York concurs noting that African national boundaries are seen as artificial and a colonial imposition. Yes, all nationalities African boast of are the creatures of colonialism. They are but bastardised version of the concept. Africans are Cameroonians, Kenyans, Tanzanians, Ugandans and whatnot not just because they decided to call themselves as thus.  Ironically, many such artificial and fake nations have gone to wars with each other fighting over such colonial and toxic sovereignty.

When Germany, the host of this criminal conference was divided, it became feeble economically as well as politically. Therefore, it saw to it that it was reunited so as to become an economic power house of Europe. Apart from Germany, Europe is now coming closer to the total unification. Other affected countries are the North and South Korea which are now coming closer for the purpose of reunion. Despite being feeble, Yemen once suffered the same scrape. It is only Africa that’s become so blind that it failed to see the dangers its division and partition have caused since colonial times. A fool is the one bitten twice in the same hole. Why has Africa allowed itself to be bitten twice in the same hole? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Can now Africa blame its former white colonisers while it is in bed with black and homegrown ones? Aren’t our rulers the willing agents of colonialism simply because they are geared by their greed and myopia? If commercial unification of Africa is a deal, why is it not political one? Who is fooling whom here?

It is sad to note that our rulers are encouraging us to think as Tanzanians, Ugandans, Kenyans, Cameroonians, South Africans and whatnot so that they can keep their foible presidencies while we actually lose a lot. They verbally say they’re for the reunification while their actions say they are for division and the status quo as enacted by colonial monsters. They preach water and drink wine. To add salt to injury, the same rulers are ruining our countries by blessing and embracing corruption and other vices. Although it may seem as being too bellicose to say that our rulers are acting like colonial monsters to us simply because they’re using our borders to foster their private interests, if our people need to be reunited, why should our rulers refuse them to do so by clinging unto power which belongs to the people?

Seriously speaking, if indeed our rulers have any futuristic and good intention to Africa, they must reunite Africa as soon as possible so as to have a single country as it Africa was before 1884. The AfCFTA and the like are wasting our time as our potentates buy more time to keep on dividing us for their personal and myopic interests. All those clinging to power through such half-backed shenanigans are but mere johns if not stage-door Johnnies and agents of colonialism that have betrayed Africa.

Source: Citizen, Saturday, March 31, 2018.

Pata Elimu ya Utalii Toka kwa Gwiji la Utalii Mwenyewe

For How Long Will Africans Be Discriminated Against even in Africa?

One stupid and stinking racist South African female Vicki Momberg aka Momdog has paid dearly for her mental diseases. Look at her sacrilegious insults on all Africans. If such people were smart, they would even discriminate against African food, soil, weather and everything. What are they waiting for in Africa if Africans are such useless and nonhuman? The law seems to be so lenient in SA. Otherwise such a bitch was supposed to be jailed for a lengthy jail term.

Kenyatta-Odinga marriage will orphan many

The recent closing of ranks between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his political arch nemesis, Raila Odinga, has deafening, different and knock-on corollaries. For, it’ll reconfigure and redefine Kenya’s political map with everlasting-domino effects. This milestone has, if anything, tremendous negative and positive effects to some wannabes, power brokers and the country in general. The Kenyatta-Odinga nuptial didn’t augur well with some players. For, it isn’t a secret; there were some intriguers who exploited Kenya’s longtime bog to create political niches for personal reasons. All who sought to use Odinga to prop and imbed themselves in Kenyan political landscape, under Kenyatta-Odinga wings, are outright losers. This is because many lack political gravitas.

Being a political juggernaut, Odinga breast-fed and sheltered many. Therefore, Odinga’s impromptu move; will orphan many. They’ll become first casualties. You can hear their howling pouting with the loss almost everywhere after it bleakly dawned on them in this game that needs flexibilities and scheming.

If anything, among hard-hit are: Joshua Miguna Miguna who’d love to be a Luo kingmaker, if not the king, and possibly, a president of Kenya. Again, his strategies and style are rudimentarily combative and garish. He lacks political charisma.miguna doesn’t impress many in anything national or political. He is but a newbie and provocateur that can’t assure the voters anything but chaos and convulution. Buccaneering and precipitateness are the suitable attributes of the man.

Furthermore, Miguna’s neither toehold nor knack in his Luo politics. Refer to how Miguna started to take on perceived foes in the NASA. His casualties who turned out to be heroes strategists David Ndii and Norman Magaya who were vindicated by Miguna’s abrasive behaviour.  

Apart from being an outsider, Miguna’s a neophyte in Luo and Kenyans politics altogether. His political resume isn’t only long-winded but also scraggy and buoyant. He got his gravitas under Odinga’s wings. This is why when he deserted him; he found he’d not make it alone. Like a divorcee, he unashamedly returned himself to the hubby to face whatever infamy. Lucky him; he’s gawkily accepted.

Kalonzo Musyoka aka wiper’s been in the game for long. Conversely though, he’s no foothold on big things despite serving in big loci. Had he been a cagey schemer, he’d have used Moi to reach wherever he wanted to. Sad, so sad, he didn’t. He’s used. Shakiness and wackiness his attributes. Even his base in Ukambani, shall we rely on ethnic calculations is wacky and shaky so to speak.

Moses Wetangula is still branding himself not only in Kenya’s politics but also Luhya’s. Despite having big ambitions, he still has a very long and jagged way to go ethnically and nationally.

Another also-ran is Musalia Mudavadi. Just like Kenyatta and Odinga, he’s been in the game for long after taking the baton from his father Moses as Luhya Kingmaker. However, his chances of making it to the top office are as slim as those of his co-principals are.

Another casualty is DP William Ruto whose marriage with Kenyatta was necessitated by the International Criminal Court. Arguably, Ruto’s future success depends on Kenyatta due to the farfetched assumption that Ruto helped Kenyatta to ascend to the throne while in actuality Mwai Kibaki is the one who did the magic, rigging as per Odinga. Ruto will be making a grave mistake to believe that Kenyatta will endorse him per se. who knew that Kibaki who benefited from the phrase “Kibaki Tosha’ would stab Odinga in the back by refusing to say ‘Raila Tosha’? His was ‘Raila Toka’. Now that the ICC is no longer hovering over UhuRuto, what’s left of the marriage of convenience? Politics is a very dirty and dizzy game. He who thinks he’s standing must watch he mustn’t fall.

When it comes to winners, they are Kenyatta who seeks to leave a shining legacy and Odinga whose hope for 2022 is still raw.  Some make a goof assuming Odinga is too old to run. Wrong. Ask Nelson Mandela (South Africa), Abdulaye Wade (Senegal), Ronald Reagan (US) Jose Mujica (Uruguay) Michael Sata (Zambia), Bingu wa Mutharika (Malawi), Muhammad Buhari (Nigeria-incumbent) Peter Mutharika (Malawi-incumbent), Hage Gottfried Geingob (Namibia-incumbent) and Beji Caid Essebsi (Tunisia-incumbent) among others, who became presidents in their 70s. There is no retirement in politics, especially in Africa.

In a nutshell, Kenyatta-Odinga newly-found love, if is not felled, is likely to change Kenya’s political landscape for good. In other words, this move has redefined Kenya’s politics by creating new environment for different forms of politics wherein victory for the state house does no longer depend on the UhuRuto calibration.

Source: Citizen today March 28, 2018.

Kijiwe chalaani masupastaa uchwara wanaojiona wako juu ya sheria

            Baada ya mamlaka kuwaijia juu waharibifu wa maadili yetu, kama Kijiwe tumekaa kuzipongezana kuwaonya hata kuwalaani wale wanaojiona wao ni masupastaa japo ni masupastaa uchwara waliolewa sifa kiasi cha kuanza kujiona wao wako juu ya sheria.

Mgoshi Machungi mwana wa Mashindei analianzisha ‘hivi jamani juzi muimsikia msanii fuani akidai eti wazii amemhujumu kwa kupiga maufuku upuuzi wao unaokiuka maadii ya kaya?’

Kabla ya kuendelea, Mbwamwitu anamkwanyua mic “unaongelea hawa malimbukeni wetu ambao wamelewa sifa zitokanazo na usupastaa uchwara siyo?  Nafurahi kuwa mamlaka zimeanza kula nao sahani moja kuhakikisha wanafuata maadili ya kaya. Maana, chini ya tawala za kilimbukeni zilizopituka, kaya ilikuwa imegeuka dampo la kila aina ya uchafu wa kiutamaduni wa kigeni.”

Mijjinga aliyekuwa anamalizia kikombe chake cha kwanza cha kahawa anaamua kutia guu “ni kweli, kaya yetu iligeuzwa dodoki la kunasa kila uchafu wa kigeni kiasi cha kuanza kuonekana kama ni jamii ya mataahira au wendawazimu wasiojitambua. Hivyo, kama wanakijiwe, nashauri tuwalaani wajalaana hawa huku tukiziimiza mamlaka kuwapa kibano hadi wakome na kukomaa. Haiwezekani tukaendelea kuendekeza njaa huku tukichekwa na kaya za jirani kwa ujuha na upuuzi huu utokanao na ujinga na ulimbukeni.”

Msomi Mkatatamaa anaamua kula mic “japo mada hii inaweza kuonekana si muhimu, tukiangalia tulipo, tulipotoka na tunakokwenda, kuna haja ya kutafakari kwa kina. Juzi nilimsikia Denjamani Makapi akilalamikia ilmu kuwa imeendelea kudorora wakati naye alichangia kuiua. Siku hizi usanii uliojaa ulimbukeni na ukosefu wa maadili umegeuka chanzo kimojawapo cha matokeo ya kifo cha ilmu yetu kama kaya. Vijana siku hizi hawataki kusoma. Badala yake wanatumia muda mwingi kuimba upuuzi ili wapate njuluku na kuukata kirahisi. Zamani haikuwa hivi. Je tutageuka kaya ya wasanii? Nni wataendesha kaya huko tuendako iwapo hatutakuwa na wataalamu wa kutosha tena wanaojitambua? Hii ukiiangalia inatisha sana. Hata hivyo, nashukuru kuwa dingi ameliona hili na kuamua kulishikia bango japo sijui kama wasaidizi wake wataendelea na msimamo huu. Maana wengi wanafanya kazi kwa mazoea na kutafuta kiki ili wasitumbuliwe au kutimliwa.”

Kabla ya kuendelea, Kapende anamchomekea “unaongelea njomba Makapi siyo? Japo anachosema kina mashiko, amekumbuka blanketi asubuhi hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa naye ni sehemu ya tatizo. Waliua ilmu kwa kuendekeza ulaji kiasi cha sasa kuanza kulalamika. Mlikuwa wapi wajalaana nyie ambao mlipeleka vitegemezi vyenu kwenye skuli za binafsi na ughaibuni huku mkiua elimu na mfumo mwetu? “

Kanji naye anaamua kula mic “hii leo iko naongelea ilm. Kesho tasikia nalalamikia afia. Yeye nasomesha toto yake ghaibuni natibiwa Bombey kama naugua. Kwani kama taua ilm au afia takosa nini vakati vanalipiwa vitu yote ugaibuni?”

Kapende aliyekuwa ametoka kuongea na mshirika wake wa bedroom anaamua kula mic “kimsingi, kumekuwa na kuendekezana chini ya usupastaa uchwara. Hamsikia limbukeni mmoja akimlalamikia waziri kuwa amemtilia mtima nyongo kwa kupiga marufuku nyimbo zake za kipashkuna akidai kuwa kufanya hivyo kunafanya vitegemezi vyake vikose riziki kana kwamba lazima riziki itokane na sanaa chafu? Hata hivyo, ana bahati vinginevyo ilibidi afungiwe maisha ili akauze maandazi. Si aliwahi kujiweka kwenye mtandao akijifanya kuongea slang ya kiJoji Bush kuwa ana njuluku kama hana akili nzuri. Basi, kama anazo aendeke akatumie hizo asituletee wendawazimu na ulimbukeni hapa.”

Da Sofia Lion aka Kanungaembe anamkonyeza shoga yake Gau Ngumi Linungaembe na kula mic “mwenzenu hakuna kinachoniudhi kama kuwadhalilisha akina mama kwenye miziki yao ya mitusi. Kwanini wanawavua nguo na kuonyesha laana zao utadhani kuna anayezitaka? Akina mama nasi tumezidi. Tunapewe vijisenti kumi halafu tunauza na kudhalilisha utu wetu na wanawake wote tokana na ujinga, umaskini na ushankupe.”

Mpemba aliyekuwa akisikiliza kwa makini anaamua kuchumpa na kula mic “wallahi japo akina mama mpaswa kulaumiwa, mie nadhani wa kulaumiwa zaidi ni jamii yetu iliyojirahisi na kuwa ya kidaku na kitwahuti bila sababu. Kwanini ntu acheze nziki uchi halafu ategemee kuungwa nkono? Yakhe hii yauma na kuumiza haswa jamii nzima inapogeuzwa dodoki la kubeba kila uchafu na upuuzi eti nayo waita sanaa. Sanaa gani hii zaidi ya laana?”

Mzee Maneno kama kawaida yake anaamua kuingia kivinginevyo. Anaramba mic “wenzenu wanajihadaa kuwa huu ndio usasa wakati ni ushamba na ulimbukeni wa kutupwa. Wengine wanasema huu ndiyo ujana. Kwani nani hakuwa kijana? Mbona hatukufanya upuuzi kama huu? Nashauri uwepo mkakati wa kulazimisha vijana wasome kwanza ndiyo wavamie hiyo sanaa baadaye.”

Msomi anamchomekea “mzee Maneno umetoa pwenti ya msingi. Kama vijana wetu waliogeuzwa watumwa kimaadili kwa kutaka kuukata wakati unawakata wangekuwa na elimu safi na ya kutosha, wala wasingekubali kugeuzwa watumwa wa kimaadili. Wangeweza kuwa na nyenzo ya kupima kila jambo na kufanya mambo ya maana. Kimsingi, sanaa siyo mbaya bali wasanii uchwara wanaozuzuliwa na ulimbukeni wakisukumwa na njaa na ujinga. Finish.”

Kijiwe kikiwa kinanoga si kakapita kanungaembe kakiwa uchi wa mnyama! Gues what. tuliamua kukatia bakora kakawaambie wapuuzi wenzake.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima Leo Machi 28, 2018.

True Pharaohs of Egypt and Sudan

Zuma should apply for Bongolalalandian citizenship

March 2018 goes down as a very thorny month for corrupt presidents. For, it is in this month one sitting president Ameenah Gurib-Fakim of Mauritius and two former presidents Jacob Zuma (South Africa) and Nicholas Sarkozy (France) were brought to justice because of corruption. No doubt at all. Others may survive the charges. However, of all, Zuma’s in hot soup. South African authorities decided to say enow’s enow to impunity and holier than thou. A few months after being recalled, Zuma is now facing criminal charges resulting from his long political gerrymandering and manipulations of the system. The man of dance and ‘ awuleth’umshini wami’  or bring my gun is now facing legal battles alleging that he was not only corrupt but also chowed some moola from dirty and toxic deals not to mention abusing the high office of the land. His story has been editorialised almost by every media globally. It is therefore no longer a secret that Zuma’s infallibility will soon come to an end.

South African National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, was quoted as saying: “I am of the view that a trial court would be the most appropriate forum for these matters to be ventilated.” Despite this being long overdue, congrats President Matamela Ramaphosa on doing what many African potentates fear the most. Africa’s what it is because of being manned by criminals and their accomplices.  They scratch each other’s backs for fear of their successors due to the fact that they all do the same thing, plundering their lands. Again, things seem different and chances for Zuma’s case to pan out are high. Abrahams is optimistic that Zuma may end up behind bars. He added that there are “reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution of Mr Zuma.” I salute Ramaphosa and South Africa in general for refusing to condone criminality. If he wanted he’d keep mum and syphon peacefully. In Bongolalaland it is totally different. Here the rule is: What’s good for the goose is good for the gender.

Many are overwhelmed and a few of his sympathisers are of course underwhelmed to see their hero face the music. When Zuma was recalled, he thought he’d goof off for a while. Before even cooling off down from the loss or cool down from the anger of being denied his yum-yum, now Zuma is in trouble once again. It is so lewd and tawdry that Zuma was allowed to defecate the high of in the land not to mention vending it to whoever came betting.

Zuma’s fate is nothing but a lesson for the many untouchable African rulers, mainly the politicos and potentates that cling to power for the fear of their past. Now, South Africa can say ‘gotcha’ and betcha; you’re in for it. Shall this experiment succeed; it is likely to put South Africa in a tiptop condition vis-à-vis good governance and the rule of law. South African takes is new to Africa where the high and mighty are always above the law; and whatever they do is illegal even if it is illegal. Their family members and friends, too, become saints so as to also be above the law. Now Zuma is facing the moment of truth. Will his beloved son, Duduzile survive like Riz survived in Danganyika or face the same music like his dad? Will the first ladies survive the dangers their beloved hubby is facing or go scot-free like those of ours; whose NGOs are now becoming bankrupt and defunct? Are they going to be appointed Members of the House?

Looking at the very peaceful land of Danganyika aka Bongolalaland, and the way it let its former biggies to go scot-free after leaving office, I welcome Zuma and his Zupta, Duduriz and others to apply for Danganyikan citizenship so that they can enjoy what other Zuma-like criminals enjoy. In this Bongolalaland land, you can abuse, corrupt, mess, misuse and plunder and easily get away with murder. Remember Dowans, EPA and Richmond? Where are their architects? Remember the NBC scam and many more? Where are the top dogs who enunciated and benefited from them? When some fyatus wanted these big criminal crucified, the king admonished them to leave them alone so that they can enjoy the spoils peacefully. This is Bongolalaland I am talking of. The Terra Nullius for criminals of all sorts.

In sum, if Zuma, his family member or advisor or friend comes across this piece, should tell him to hurry up; and apply for Danganyikan citizenship. Doing so will enable him all rights of being defended by our republic. So, too, being a former biggie, he’ll surely receive preferential treatment to enable him to get away with it simply because of his station in the corrupt society like ours. He’d consult our former corrupt biggies and learn how they got away with murder. Zuma’s plight hangs in balance waiting what’ll come out of his charges. What’ll happen to his beau, Duduzile and his co-offenders the Gupta family aka Zupta?

Source; Citizen, March 27, 2018.

Musician Elephants and music lovers

Kenyans must seize Kenyatta-Odinga moment

When the Post-Electoral Conflict reappeared in Kenya, there were so many appeals for the main protagonists to talk in order to reconcile Kenya. However, these calls were not heeded in the beginning. It reached the point at which the acrimony was termed as the 'dialogue of the deaf.' Thank Lord; recent awake from the slumber that ushered in the gesture of reconciliation between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his arch nemeses Odinga occurred. Once again, doomsayers won't stop letting their tongues wag. This development is remarkably recommendable and welcome. This is because, at least, the duo has realised that Kenya is greater and more important than individuals, their ambitions, outfits and their cohorts. By coming forth to be counted, the duo has committed themselves to the noblest cause they cannot manipulate or ditch.

By coming forth to be counted, the duo didn’t only invite more scrutiny on their seriousness but also has set a new stage for the nation to move forward after being held to ransom for a long time.  Despite this bold move-cum-stance, detractors are out there daggers drawn to sabotage it for their personal and infinitesimal interests. Swahili sage has it that one that hides private parts won’t get a child. Kenyatta and Odinga aren’t neophytes in the politics of Kenya. So, too, they are not chicken hearted that can recoil or chicken out of the move they've willingly started towards healing Kenya. For, whoever does so will face more of the wrath of the people than the one electoral difference and injustices have caused to Kenya and its people. Therefore, knowing what they initiated, the duo will strongly pooh pooh whatever forces that seek to dissuade or try to force them from soldiering on.

Since the news broke that the two nemeses have decided to bury the hatchet, forces opposed to their bold stance have already surfaced from both sides of the divide. For example, the National Super Alliance co-principals have already registered their dissatisfaction which is their right. As well, some of their fanatics such as Miguna Miguna surfaced. Miguna, for one, attacked Kenyatta and Odinga after binding them together. He was quoted as saying that he will “continue the struggle for electoral justice and the culture of impunity that both Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta now represent.”  This is but too late, too little. Ironically, when Miguna abandoned Odinga in the hour of need, he was not referred to as a traitor! Swahili sage has it that the simian doesn’t see its butts. If any move to heal Kenya is a betrayal, it is a good one compared to the politics of violence many bankrupt and skinny politicians cash in to survive. If Miguna and the like think that Kenyatta and Odinga have betrayed the Kenyans, they should wait for 2022 when they will state their case before the Kenyan voters. Some of the prophets of doom are terming Kenyatta-Odinga awakening ‘a Kikuyu-Luo merger’. I wonder; why did the same make do with Kikuyu-Kalenjin merger. Methinks; it is time for Kenya to bury and forgo toxic ethnic politics. This is because; for over five decades it has not worked for the majority Kenyans. Therefore, national politics needs to kick in to see to it that Kenya is taken to the bright future revolving around national strength instead of ethnic madness.

The politics of tummy aside, what Kenyatta and Odinga did, shall they stand their ground, is nothing but the rebirth of the nation that has suffered from toxic ethnic politics since independence. Kenyans must ignore quacks, self-seekers and provocateurs so that they can reclaim their countries. So, too, Kenyans must tell them to their face–and shall they cling on their backward-looking strategies–that they are tired of divisive, ethnic and toxic politics. Importantly, Kenyans must see to it that the duo does not recoil or go off-course or recant their commitment.

I know–thanks to the politics of ‘it is our time to eat’–both camps have detractors that are likely to lose or miss out in the action come 2022. These will never tire in contemning the stance Kenyatta and Odinga have taken. Again, the sage has it that the man is the one who stands alone. Therefore, Kenyatta and Odinga must not listen to opportunists in their camps. Instead, they must listen to the majority Kenyans who, in the main, are the major sufferers of bankrupt and divisive politics.

In sum, Kenyans–that have suffered from the impasse the rife between Kenyatta and Odinga caused–have all reasons to seize the Kenyatta–Odinga cooperation in the building of their country. 

Source: Citizen, March 21, 2018.

Je Magufuli atashughulikia lini kashfa za Lugumi na UDA?

          

Rais John Magufuli aliwavutia na kuwafurahisha wengi pindi tu alipoingia madarakani. Pamoja na mambo mengine, siku chache baada ya kukabishiwa usukani, Magufuli alianza kwa kishindo cha hali ya juu kwa kupambana na kashfa kubwa kubwa zilizokuwa zimeshindikana ukiachia mbali uoza uliokuwa umeanza kuzoelezeka. Mazoea ya kulea lea ufisadi na uoza kwa ujumla yalianza kutoweka tena ghafla.  Aliwakamata watuhumiwa wa kashfa ya IPTL na kuwasweka ndani bila kuwasaza wengine wazito wazito. Kama haitoshi, aliingia kwenye taasisi mbali mbali zilizokuwa zimekithiri kwa upigaji na kuwaondoa au kuwabadili wakubwa zake. Mfano, alifumua Mfuko wa Hifadhi ya Jamii (NSSF), Bandari, Magereza, Uhamiaji, Mamlaka ya Mapato (TRA) na nyingine nyingi ambazo ima wakubwa zake waliachishwa na kushitakiwa au kuhamishiwa idara nyingine.  Kwa ujasiri na kasi kubwa, Magufuli alipambana vilivyo na walioghushi vyeti vya kitaaluma pamoja na wafanyakazi hewa waliokuwa wakiliingizia taifa hasara kwa mabilioni.

Tokana na kasi na staili ya Magufuli, watanzania walijenga imani kuwa sasa nchi ilikuwa imepata kiongozi iliyomkosa kwa muda mrefu baada ya kung’atuka kwa marehemu baba wa taifa Mwl Julius Nyerere hapo mwaka 1985. Kusema ukweli, Magufuli hakuwafurahisha watanzania tu bali dunia nzima kiasi cha kuanza kusikia misamiati mipya kama vile Magufulification na kutumbua majipu. Hata hivyo, wapo waliodhani kuwa nguvu ya Magufuli ilikuwa nguvu ya soda kama siyo ya zima moto.

Hata hivyo, sijui ni kutokana na uchovu au kuzidiwa kazi, kasi ya Magufuli imeanza kupungua kiasi cha kutosikia tena majipu yakitumbuliwa kama ilivyokuwa mwanzo. Je majipu yameisha au kushindikana? Leo tutaangalia kashfa kuu mbili kati ya nyingi ambazo watanzania wanazijua fika. Hizi si nyingine bali kashfa za Lugumi na UDa. Kashfa tajwa, sawa na zile ambazo watuhumiwa wake wameishatiwa korokoroni, zililisababishia taifa hasara kubwa. Tokana na ukubwa wa kashfa hizi, wengi walidhani kuwa rais asingetoa fursa ya watuhumiwa kupumua na wengine kuendelea kufaidi fedha za umma wanazotuhumiwa kuziiba.

Kashfa ya Lugumi ilitokea baada ya Wizara ya Mambo ya Ndani kutaka kufunga vifaa vya kielektroniki vya kutambua alama za vidole katika vituo vyote vya polisi nchini. Zaidi ya shilingi bilioni 30 zililipwa kwa Said Lugumi bila kanuni za utoaji tenda kufuatwa. Wapo wanaodai kuwa Lugumi, mtu ambaye anatia shaka kulhali, aliweza kupata tenda husika tokana na kuwa na mahusiano na baadhi ya wakubwa wa zama zile ima wa wizara au idara ya polisi.  Kwa hiyo, wapo wanaoona kama Lugumi alitumika kama kuwadi wa wakubwa hao kupata tenda hiyo na kuishia kula fedha husika bila kutelekeza mradi husika. Sasa ni miaka zaidi ya miwili tangu Magufuli aingie madarakani. Je ni kweli kuwa ameshindwa kumshughulikia Lugumi na waliomtumia? Je kunani hapa? Je Lugumi ni Bashit mwingine ambaye haguswi hata angetenda makufuru kiasi gani tokana na sababu anazojua mshitiri wake na mhusika mwenyewe? Hakuna haja ya kuandikia mate wakati wino mpya. La kufanya hapa ni kumkumbusha Magufuli kuwa watanzania bado wanamwamini na kumetegemea ashughulikie kashfa ya Lugumi. Maana, inavyoonekana, Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (TAKUKURU), polisi hata Bunge vimeshindwa kushughulikia kadhia hii.

Ushahidi uliopo ni kwamba kashfa hii ilikuwa ifikishwe mbele ya Bunge. Mwaka 2016, vyombo vya habari vilimkariri spika wa Bunge Job Ndugai akisema kuwa Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) alikuwa akikagua vifaa husika ili kuandaa ripoti yake. Je uchunguzi huu umefikia wapi na umegundua nini?

Mbali na kashfa ya Lugumi, ipo kashfa nyingine ya mabilioni ya uuzaji na utwaliwaji wa lililokuwa Shirika na Usafiri Dar Es Salaam (UDA). Pamoja na bunge na taasisi mbali mbali kushughulikia kashfa hii, inavyoonekana, walioko nyuma ya kashfa hii wana vifua visivyo vya kawaida. Mpaka sasa, hakuna anayeongelea kashfa hii kubwa inayoweza kuwa ilisababisha hasara kwa taifa kuliko kashfa nyingine tajwa. Kwani, tunapoandika, bado kampuni iliyouziwa na kutwaa UDA kifisadi imekabidhiwa mradi mwingine mkubwa wa Usafri wa Kasi jijini Dar Es Salaam jambo ambalo licha ya kutia shaka, linatia doa serikali ya Magufuli kuwa haikulifanyia kazi vilivyo sakata la utwaliwaji na uuzaji wa UDA kinyemela na kinyume cha sheria.

Kukondoa sintafahamu na utata ulioghubika kashfa mbili tajwa, kuna haja ya serikali kuja na maelezo yanaoingia kichwani lau watanzania wajue mbivu na mbichi. Hili litawasaidia kujua kama wamepigwa au fedha na mali zao zitaokolewa toka mikononi mwa wezi wachache wanaoonekana kutoguswa. Je ni kweli kuwa wahusika hawagusiki wakati ushahidi uko wazi? Je hapa tatizo ni utashi au ukosefu wa ushahidi wa kushughulikia kashfa husika? Je hili linatoa picha gani kwa serikali ambayo imejijingea umaarufu wa kupambana vilivyo na uoza nchini na duniani, ukiachia kasoro ndogo ndogo kama ya Bashite?

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima leo Machi 21, 2018.

Kijiwe chaipongeza Sauzi kwa kumshitaki Xuma

          Baada ya Mpayukaji kurejea kayani akitokea Sauzi alipokwenda kutetea na swahiba yake mkuu rais mpya Matamela Rama, alitoa taarifa kwa kijiwe kilichoamua kutia neno kwenye kile kinachoendelea kule Sauzi. Hii ni baada ya Mpayukaji kukitonya kijiwe kuwa dingi wa zamani wa Sauzi Jack Xuma angefunguliwa mashtaka ya ufisadi na utumizi mbaya wa mamlaka ya kaya. Kijiwe kimeipongeza Sauzi kwa kufanya maamuzi magumu usawa huu.

Baada ya kumaliza kutoa taarifa, Mpemba anakula mic “Yakhe kwanza nkupongeze kwa uchambuli ulo wa kina na kisayansi kuhusiana na sakata la uoza kule Bondeni. Nakushukuru sana. Kwani, ninapoongea, ndo vyombo vya habari vya Bondeni vyatanza Xuma atafungliwa mashtaka wakati kijiwe kilishazinyaka tokana na uswahiba wako na rais Rama.”

Kapende anakatua mic “mie sishangilii hasa nikizingatia Wasauzi wanavyochukia wageni tena tuliowapa tafu kwenye kudai uhuru wao. Sishangilii kwa vile mie siyo Msauzi. Nitashangilia siku Xuma wetu wakifanyiwa kama kile alichofanyiwa Xuma mwenyewe ingawa mechi yenyewe ndiyo inaanza. Tutajuaje kama hataachiwa?”

Kabla ya kuendelea, Msomi Mkatatamaa anampoka mic na kuronga “hapa kwetu usitegemee kitokee hiki hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa ulaji wetu ni wa kurithishana tofauti na Bondeni ambako rahis Rama alimpiga mweleka mshirika wa bedroom wa Xuma Nkosizile aliyetaka kurithishwa na mumewe. Hivyo, hizi ni cases mbili tofauti ndugu yangu. Hata hivyo, kitendo hiki cha kumfungulia mashtaka Xuma, kitatoa somo kwa wezi wetu wenye mamlaka kuwa mambo huwa yanabadilika na aliyesimama aangalie asianguke. Hawa wetu we wape time. Kuna siku watalipa; na kama si wao wake zao, watoto wao wa wajukuu zao. Kulipa ni lazima. Wasipolipa wao angalau Mungu ataingilia kati na kuwatia magonjwa na kashkash nyingine wasiishi kufaidi njuluku zetu.”

Kabla ya Msomi kuendelea, Mipawa anapora mic na kuzoza “nakubaliana nawe ingawa si kwa kila wazo hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa mambo huenda yanabadilika. Kuna siku iso jina itatimu makaburi aliyokataa kuyafukua dingi yatafukuriwa tu na mifupa na uozo wao vitajulikana. Hata hivyo, kuna siri gani kuwa Xuma wetu walipiga njuluku zetu? Nani hajui? Dingi anajua na hata ndege na wadudu wanajua achia mbali waja kuwa wajalaana hawa walipiga. Kuna siku nao watapigwa tu hata kama si chini ya zama hizi za ukondakonda na ugufu..ugufu.. We koma!” Msomi anajionya na kuachia mic.

Mgoshi Machungi wa Shekiango mwana wa Mashindei anaamua kula mic “Msomi hapa umeniacha hoi uiposema ugufu gufu bia kumaiza. Kwa ukonda konda na nakubaina nawe kuwa waiozoea kupiga sasa wamekonda kama Xuma ambaye bia shaka atakuwa ameishaanza kukonda kama siyo kuonja joto ya uRamaphosa. Kama aivvyosema Kapende, natamani Xuma wetu nao wabatizwe kwa moto na siyo kuendekezwa wakati wachovu wetu wakiendeea kutesaka tokana na wizo na upumbavu wao.”

Kanji ambaye ametokea kuwa msemaji siku hizi anakwanyua mic. Anasema “kama Juma nakula juluku ya Sauzi sasa sirkali fanye kila naweza kutoa juluku kwa fuko hata tumboni yake. Mimi iko chukia sana hii Juma namna nadhalilisha vanavake. Nakumbuka kasfa ambapo Juma natembea na toto ya rafiki yake na kuambukiza yeye kimwi.”  Kabla ya kuendelea Mbwamwitu anamkosoa Kanji “Kanji ni Xuma siyo Juma dugu yangu.”

Kanji anaendelea “mimi hapana ona tofauti kwa jina ya Swahili. Juma na Zuma yote dugu moja sawa na Mahindra na Mahondra kule Bombei. Yote ni gabacholi.”  Kijiwe hakina mbavu namna Kanji anavyoanza kukubali jina la gabacholi.

Gau Ngumi aka Linungaembe ambaye ni mwanakijiwe mpya na shoga na swahiba yake Da Sofia Lion aka Kanungaemba anakula mic “hata mimi simpendi huyu baba hasa tokana na ukware na ufisadi wake. Jamaa ana tamaa. Kila mwaka lazima aongeze mke. Sijui Wasauzi walikuwa wamekunywa kanywaji gani hadi kuruhusu mharifu kama huyu kuwa dingi wao!”

Kabla ya kuendelea, Mijjinga anamkumbusha “unashangaa Wasauzi badala ya kujishangaa. Mbona nyinyi mlibambikwa bonge la Msanii Njaa Kaya na kinyago cha mpapure Denjaman Wasauzi wasiswashangae? Umesahau kuwa siasa za uswazi zinakwenda kiswaziswazi na waswahili wote bara zima wote ni sawa inapokuja kwenye kubambikizwa au kubambikana mikenge?”

Kabla ya kuendelea Mpemba anakula mic “yakhe kubaliana nawe wallahi. Kwani huyu Zuma ana makosa gani makubwa tofauti na yale walotenda akina Xuma wetu? Kama kuchezea na kunajisi patakatifu pa patakatifu na wetu walifanya hivo. Kama ni kuuza kaya kwa akina Gupta nasi wetu waliuza kwa mabwana zao hata kama si magabacholi kama hawa wa Xuma. Kwa taarifa yako, kambale wote eti wana sharubu.”

Kijiwe kikiwa ndiyo kinaanza kuchanganya si ukapita msafara wa Xuma wetu ukielekea kwenye maonesho ya KumiKumi. Acha tuutoe mkuku huku tikimwagia mashangingi maji machafu yakisindikizwa na mawe. Kama si ndata kutuzidi nguvu tungenkamata na kumfanyia kitu mbaya huyu mjalaana.

Chanzo:  Tanzania Daima leo Machi 21, 2018.

For flying lovers only

Land expropriation: South Africa must take leaf from Tanzania

South African president Matamela C. Ramaphosa recently announced that his government will expropriate land and redistribute. After taking over from scandal-plagued former president, Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa took a bold step aimed at decolonising land distribution and ownership in South Africa. If anything, Ramaphosa’s move differentiates him from his precursors. For, taking on land issues, Ramaphosa has decided to plod where many hate to. His move, however being long overdue, is welcome to many landless South Africans.

Talking about land expropriation is one thing and doing it rightly is another. Considering Tanzania’s same move in 1967–under the Arusha Declaration when the late Mwl Julius Nyerere decided to nationalise all means of production including land–South Africa has somewhere to turn to and learn. When Nyerere nationalised all means of production, he did it even-handedly. For example, Nyerere didn’t allocate any parcel or mammon to himself, his bootlickers, courtiers or the members of his family and friends. Underscoring the sensitivity of the matter, president Ramaphosa was quoted as saying that “the ANC has always taken care to seek to manage the economy of our country in a way that will advance the interest of our people.”

By looking at the steps and the manner Tanzania took, Ramaphosa needs to be cagey to make sure that his move is not coming a cropper as it was in the neighbouring Zimbabwe where land was used to reward loyalty. Land is a God-given wherewithal for everybody; and is very critical for human existence and identification among others. For Africans especially, land has inimitable spiritual connotation. It belongs to the living and the dead. Hence, the redistribution of land needs to underscore many things such as its centrality to human life.

Many indigenous South Africans lost their land after the Boers and British invaded and colonised South Africa.  For many years, the invaders have owned and used the grabbed land to produce whereas rightful owners became squatters the very invaders used as cheap labours. Considering this, expropriating land without redress makes sense. What for shall the invaders be reimbursed if they grabbed the very land, owned and used the very land for tens of years? If justice were to be applied as raw as it is, they’re supposed to be forced to pay interests for the entire time they illegally owned and used the land. Though, there’s no need of embarking on punitive justice. Equally, white South Africans must accept a give-and-take setting by willingly relinquishing the land they grabbed, owned and used illegally.

Essentially, land expropriation without recompense in South Africa is one of the ways of bringing the closure to the injustices millions of indigenous South Africans have suffered for many years. Natural and social justice attests to this. Knowing how justice has to guide the process, Ramaphosa added that “if there is a matter that has caused a great deal of pain and hardship, and a result of poverty that we see in our nation today, it is the issue of land and education...” Despite the suffering white invaders caused, white farm owners seem to be unmindful of the reality on the ground based on historical evidence that their invasion caused much suffering for the majority South Africans for many years. For, they are now complaining thinking that they are targeted and discriminated against simply because they are white.  Ernst Roets, deputy chief executive of the civil rights group Afriforum issued a statement noting that “the term ‘expropriation without compensation’ is a form of semantic fraud. It is nothing more than racist theft.” This is hypocritical. Ironically, when whites grabbed land from indigenous, on top of subjecting them under apartheid, racist rule, they didn’t morally appreciate the fact that they were discriminating against and robbing indigenous South Africans.  Thanks to white supremacist and myopia, they thought that it was right for them to grab land from its natural owners.

Methinks; in expropriating land, South Africa must see to it that the colour of the person should not become a determinant. Like landless indigenous, landless white South Africans must be given land.  Indigenous South Africans who grabbed land after getting in power, so, too, must relinquish the parcels of land they acquired. This basically is what Mwl Nyerere avoided when he nationalised all means of production. He made sure there were clearly and transparent criteria in addressing the issue equitably and justly.

Shall Ramaphosa expropriate and redistribute land decently and fairly, South Africa will become a point of reference for other countries facing the same crime such as Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe and others whose rulers betrayed the people after gaining independence so as legalise and internalise landlessness. I think; true independence is the one that encompasses all aspect of human life. Political independence without economic independence is not only incomplete but fake.

In a nutshell, South Africa needs to learn how to justifiably expropriate and equally redistribute land from Tanzania that fully supported in the struggle against apartheid.

Source: The Citizen today March 14, 2018.

Kuna haja ya kuidurusu na kuifafanua dhana ya amani

          Hakuna ubishi. Kila binadamu anahitaji amani katika maisha na ustawi wake kama mtu binafsi na jamii. Amani ni mtaji mkubwa wa maendeleo hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa pasipo na amani hakuna uzalishaji wala fursa za kutumia akili vizuri kwa jamii kujiletea maendeleo. Tokana na umuhimu wa amani, kila mwanasiasa anayetaka kujipatia umaarufu lazima ahimize amani. Wapo wanaotenda vitendo vya wazi wazi vya kuvunja amani kwa kisingizio cha kudumisha au kulinda amani. Huwezi kulinda amani na kuidumisha kwa fujo au ujanja ujanja.

Hata hivyo, kuna utata linapokuja suala la namna ya kuwa na amani. Mfano mzuri rais John Magufuli–akiwa mjini Chato–aliahidi kuhakikisha amani ya Tanzania haichezewi na yeyote awe adui wa ndani au nje au wa kweli au wa kufikirika. Hili ni jambo jema sana kama litafanyika bila kuingilia uhuru wa raia au kutumika vibaya. Tunajua rais Magufuli ni msikivu na ana nia nzuri na Tanzania. Hata hivyo, bila kuangalia upande wa pili, nia yake nzuri inaweza kuishia kuwa mbaya kama baadhi ya mambo ya msingi hayatazingatiwa kwa umakini mkubwa.

 Magufuli aliahidi kuilinda amani ya Tanzania kulhali. Kwani, aliwaonya wale wanaotaka kuandamana kuwa watamuona. Alisema kuwa hatajali baba zao wanaowatuma. Hii kidogo, inatisha. Je hao ni akina nani na baba zao ni akina nani? Je kuandamana ni jinai chini ya sheria za Tanzania? Kwanini rais asibadili katiba na kuondoa haki ya kikatiba ya kuandamana?  Kuna haja ya kumshauri na kumtahadharisha rais asiingie kwenye mtego wa maadui zake wa kisiasa kirahisi. Kwani, akiendelea kuzuia maandamano, atakuwa anavunja katiba kwa kuwanyima wananchi haki zao za msingi za kuandamana na kueleza hisia na mawazo yao bila kikwazo wala woga. Je kulinda amani kulhali kunaweza kuleta tafsiri gani? Je kunaweza kuwapo amani bila kuwapo haki? Je amani inaweza kulindwa kwa maguvu au maelewano? Je amani ya nchi ni mali ya nani kama si watanzania wote watawala na wapinzani na watawaliwa? Je amani inaweza kudumishwa na vitisho na ukosefu wa uhuru na usawa kwa kila mwananchi kufaidi haki zake za kikatiba? Je amani inaweza kudumishwa na kupiga marufuku siasa au kuminya uhuru wa baadhi ya asasi na watu? Je amani inaweza kulindwa na kudumishwa kwa mtutu wa bunduki? Maswali yana jibu moja kuwa amani haiwezi kudumishwa wala kulindwa na chochote wala lolote bali haki. Kila penye haki kuna amani; na penye dhuluma kuna vurugu au chuki kama si mazingira mazuri ya ghasia baadaye.

Kimsingi, hakuna mtanzania yeyote mwenye akili timamu anachukia amani. Nadhani kinachochukiwa na kupaswa kupigwa vita ni dhuluma. Kuzuia maandamano ni aina mojawapo ya dhuluma. Watanzania hawapaswi kuomba hisani au ruhusa kufaidi haki yao ya kuandamana kama njia ya kuelezea hisia zao. Hii ni haki yao ya kimsingi na kikatiba ambayo haipaswi kuingiliwa wala kukandamizwa bila kubadili katiba na kuiondoa kwenye katiba.

Kwa mujibu wa katiba ya Tanzania, Tanzania si mali ya mtu mmoja au chama kimoja; ni mali ya watanzania wote kwa usawa. Tanzania ni zaidi ya serikali, vyama na watawala. Jukumu la kulinda na kudumisha amani si la rais wala wanasiasa pekee yao. Ni jukumu la watanzania wote wake kwa waume, watoto kwa wakubwa, wanasiasa na wasio wanasiasa.

Ili kuondoa utata, tunashauri udumishaji na ulinzi wa amani ya Tanzania ufuate katiba na sheria tulizojiwekea wenyewe. Mfano, kuna madai ya wazi kuwa kuna uminywaji wa demokrasia nchini. Rejea tamko la hivi karibu la maaskofu ambao hawakumung’unya wala kupindisha maneno. Walisema wazi kuwa kuzuia maandamano na mikutano ya vyama vya siasa vinavyokidhi vigezo si chochote wala lolote bali “uvunjifu wa katiba na sheria za nchi.” uvunjaji wa katiba na sheria za nchi ni jinai kisheria bila kujali nani anafanya hivyo. Pia ni kinyume cha utawala bora na wa sheria. Na anayetenda jinai hii anapaswa kuchukuliwa hatua za kisheria. Je watanzania kweli wanahitaji amani inayowapa baadhi amani wakati ikiwanyima wengine haki zao? Nani anapenda amani hii ambayo kismingi ni feki na ya muda?  Je rais na washauri wake wanaliona na kulijua hili na kulikubali? Amani ya Tanzania italetwa na watanzania na si yoyote wala chochote zaidi yao. Amani ya Tanzania lazima ichimbuke na kuchipuka toka kwenye utendaji wa haki bila vitisho, ubaguzi wala upendeleo.

Sitaki niamini kuwa rais Magufuli ana haja ya kuminya uhuru wa wananchi wa kikatiba ili kuwapo amani bandia. Siamini kuwa rais Magufuli anahitaji amani hii bandia na hatia. Hivyo, kuondoa shaka kama hizi, lazima rais Magufuli ajadiliane na wapinzani ambao nao–kama yeye na chama chake–wanawakilisha wananchi.

Tumalizie kwa kuwasihi watanzania waidurusu na na kuitolea ufafunizi dhana nzima ya amani faida na madhara ya kuidumisha na kuilinda bila kujali sheria na katiba na haki za watanzania ambao ni wadau wakuu.

Chanzo: Tanzania Daima leo Machi 14, 2018.