22 Apr 2011


Makala yangu katika toleo la wiki hii la jarida mahiri la Raia Mwema inazungumzia suala lililokamata hisia za Watanzania wengi kwa sasa la CCM kujivua magamba.Makala hiyo inachambua chanzo cha magamba hayo na namna inavyomwia vigumu Mwenyekiti wa CCM,Rais Kikwete kufanikisha azma yake ya kukisafisha chama hicho (if at all ana azma hiyo).

Jarida hilo pia limesheni makala nyingine moto moto,sambamba na habari za uhakika ikiwa ni pamoja na zile zinazohusu ufisadi mpya wa "Stimulus Package".Zaidi,BONYEZA HAPA KUSOMA MAKALA HIYO na HAPA kusoma jarida zima.


Nina miaka kadhaa sijawahi kwenda kanisani.Sijisifu wala kujisikia vizuri.Kila mara ninapoongea na Baba huwa nalazimika kumdanganya kuwa siku hizi nakwenda kanisani.Ninatoka familia ya kidini hasa,na huenda leo hii ningekuwa padre kama nisingeamini kuwa sina wito.Hata hivyo,familia yetu imemtoa mmoja wetu kwa Bwana,na sasa yeye ni sista.
Mdogo wangu mpendwa,Sista Maria-Solana Chahali

Leo ni Ijumaa Kuu,siku ambayo Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo alikufa msalabani kwa ajili yetu.Nimesema sijatia mguu kanisani kwa miaka kdhaa lakini najitahidi kadri ninavyoweza kuishi kulingana na matakwa ya Bwana.Sio kwenda kanisani au kuimba mapambio kutakompatia mwanadamu uzima wa milele bali matendo.Japo ni muhimu kujumuika na waumimni wenzetu makanisani,la muhimu zaidi ni kuishi kwa mfano wa Bwana Yesu ambaye licha ya upendo wake usiomithilika alikuwa tayari kufa msalabani kwa dhambi zetu ili atuletee ukombozi.

Wakati tovuti hii inakutakia wewe msomaji mpenda Ijumaa Kuu njema,siku hii inaweza kuadhimishwa ipasavyo kwa kutafakari kuhusu upendo wa Bwana,kujitoa kwake kwa jili yetu na upeno kwa ujumla.Kama humpendi jirani yako unayemwona kila siku utakuwa mnafiki kudai unampenda Bwana mbaye hujawahi kumwona.Yesu ni upendo na amani.


Jarida la kimataifa la TIME la nchini Marekani limechapisha orodha yake ya kila mwka ya watu wenye ushawishi mkubwa zaidi duniani (the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World).

Kinarani katika orodha hiyo ni Wael Ghonim,mwanaharakati aliyahamasisha mageuzi ya kidemokrasia nchini Misri kwa kutumia vyombo vya habari vya jamii (social media) na hatimaye kupelekea kuanguka kwa utawala wa kidikteta wa aliyekuwa Rais wa nchi hiyo,Hosni Mubarak.


BONYEZA PICHA IFUATAYO kusoma orodha kamili



19 Apr 2011


Mara kwa mara nimekuwa ninasumbuliwa na watu wanaodhani jina langu la Evarist lina mahusiano na Mlima Everest.Hata hivyo,kwa upole kabisa,huwa ninawaelimisha kuwa jina hilo ni Kitatoliki na nimelirithi kutoka kwa Mtakatifu Evaristus,aliyekuwa Baba Mtakatifu (Pope) kati ya mwaka 99 hadi 108.

Lakini ukilinganisha jina langu na majina mengine,kwa mfano ya kijiji kimoja huko Wales,hapa Uningereza,basi mie sipaswi hata kunung'unika.Kijiji hicho kinaitwa Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.Kurahisisha ugumu na urefu wa jina hilo,kijiji hicho pia hujulikana kama Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, au spelled Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll.Kurahisisha zaidi,hujulikana kwa kifupi kama Llanfair PG or Llanfairpwll.

Unaweza kudhani hilo ndio jina refu zaidi duniani.Hapana.Kuna mengine kadhaa,kama ambavyo nimeorodhesha hapa:

Jina kamili:
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu (herufi 85)
Kifupisho: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu (herufi 57)
Mahali: North Island, New Zealand
Lugha: Māori
Sehemu hii inashilikia rekodi katika Guinness World Records kama jina la sehemu lililo refu zaidi kuliko yote.

Jina kamili: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (herufi 58)
Kifupi: Llanfairpwllgwyngyll (herufi 20)
Mahali: Anglesey, Wales, Uingereza
Lugha: Ki-Welshi

Jina kamili: Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (herufi 45)
Kifupi: Ziwa Chaubunagungamaug (herufi 17)
Mahali: Ziwa huko Massachusetts,Marekani.
Language: Nipmuc

Jina kamili: Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein (herufi 44)
Mahali: Afrika Kusini
Lugha: Afrikaans

Jina kamili: Äteritsiputeritsipuolilautatsijänkä (herufi 35)
Mahali: Lapland, Finland

Jina kamili: Pekwachnamaykoskwaskwaypinwanik (herufi 31)
Mahali: ziwa huko Manitoba na Nunavut,Kanada
LUGHA: Inuktitut

Jina kamili: Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta (herufi 28)
Mahali: kijiji huko Andhra Pradesh, India

Jina kamili: Mamungkukumpurangkuntjunya (herufi 26)
Mahali: Australia Kusini
Lugha: Pitjantjatjara

Jina kamili: Bullaunancheathrairaluinn (herufi 25)
Mahali: County Galway, Ireland

Jina kamili: Gasselterboerveenschemond (herufi 25)
Mahali: Drenthe, Uholanzi
Lugha: Kidachi

Jina kamili: Kuchistiniwamiskahikan (herufi 22)
Mahali: kisiwa huko Quebec, Canada

Jina kamili: Parangaricutirimicuaro (herufi 22)
Mahali: mji huko Michoacán, Mexico
Lugha: P'urhepecha

Jina kamili: Drehideenglashanatooha (herufi 22 letters)
Mahali: daraja huko County Tipperary, Ireland

Jina kamili: Siemieniakowszczyzna (herufi 20)
Mahali:kijiji huko Hajnówka County, Poland
Lugha: Kipolishi

Jina kamili: Newtownmountkennedy (herufi 19)
Mahali: kijiji huko County Wicklow, Ireland
Lugha: Kiingereza

Jina kamili: Thiruvananthapuram (herufi 18)
Mahali: mji huko Kerala, India
Lugha: Malayalam

Jina kamili: Torreblascopedro (herufi 16)
Mahali: Kijiji huko Andalucía,Hispania.

Jina kamili: Hostotipaquillo (herufi 15)
Mahali: mji huko Jalisco, Mexico
Lugha: Nahuatl

VYANZO: Wikipedia

18 Apr 2011


1. Poveglia
Where is it? The Venetian lagoon, Italy
Why can’t I visit?: Because it’s haunted! According to legend it was used to isolate plague victims during Roman times, and then as a giant Black Death grave in the Middle Ages. As if that wasn’t scary enough, it’s also home to spooky abandoned building – complete with bell tower naturally – that was apparently a mental hospital. These days it’s off-limits to visitors unless you bribe a gondolier to take you there.

2. Area 51
Where is it? Nevada, USA
Why can’t I visit?: It’s a top secret military testing base, protected by armed private security teams patrolling in jeeps who are authorised to use deadly force to deal with intruders. Whether or not you believe UFOs have crashed landed there, the ridiculously strict security around the base means you’re never going to find out for sure.

3. Le Cercle Munster
Where is it? Luxembourg
Why can’t I visit?: It’s an exclusive private members club that’s extremely selective about adding new members. Want to join? You must be backed by two sponsors and be approved by a selection committee made up of bigwigs from the finance world. Unless you’re an incredibly rich banker, businessman or equity trader, you’ll never see the sumptuous insides of the club, take part in the ‘Programme culturel’ or eat the delicious food at the in-house restaurant. Damn!

4. Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
Where is it? Axum, Ethiopia
Why can’t I visit?: Because it’s no ordinary church. According to legend it's home to one of the most important biblical artefacts ever – the Ark of the Covenant (and we thought Indiana Jones left it in a warehouse). Only a specially chosen monk is allowed to guard the ‘Ark’. No-one else is allowed to lay eyes on it or even get close, in case they melt presumably (see Indiana Jones again). Of course, some claim this secrecy means the Ethiopian church is telling porkies…

5. Most of Niihau Island
Where is it? The Hawaiian Islands, USA
Why can’t I visit?: Super-rich family the Robinsons (they’re not Swiss) bought Niihau in 1915 and closed it off to preserve its indigenous culture and wildlife. The 200-or-so natives who live there lead a blissful existence free of electricity, burger joints and, for the most part, tourists. There are very rare helicopter tours to the isle where you can wander along one of the beaches, but getting anywhere near the locals is strictly forbidden; hence its nickname, the, er, ‘Forbidden Island’.

6. Bohemian Grove
Where is it? California, USA
Why can’t I visit?: It’s an extremely secretive men-only club whose members include artists, musicians, businessmen politicians… and the odd president (Nixon was a member). Once a year they all gather for a two-week long festival where (allegedly) rituals such as the ‘Cremation of Care’ - a wicker-man-style faux-pagan rite - and the ‘Grove Play’ - a large-scale musical theatre production - are performed by members. It sounds like fun to us, but somehow I don’t think we’ll get an invite…

7. Lechiguilla Cave
Where is it? New Mexico, USA
Why can’t I visit?: It’s perhaps the most beautiful cave on the planet and frankly, the authorities don’t want you ruining it. Discovered in 1986 by miners, the sprawling underground complex is home to stunning speleothems, gypsum chandeliers and hydromagnesite balloons. We don’t know what any of these are, but they sound impressive. Sadly, unless you’re an extremely experienced caver you’ll never get a permit to see them.

8. Jiangsu National Security Education museum
Where is it? Nanjing, China
Why can’t I visit?: Anyone is allowed in… as long as they are Chinese. There’s a big sign outside the front of this very unusual museum stating that only Chinese citizens are allowed inside. The unusual entry requirements are because the museum documents the history of Chinese espionage, and the state doesn’t want us foreigners finding out their spying secrets.

9. Ilha de Queimada Grande
Where is it? Off the shore of Brazil
Why can’t I visit?: Basically, because it’s full of snakes – hence the nickname: ‘Snake Island’. Local legend states there’s between one and five snakes per square metre on the island. And not just any old snakes, most of ‘em are golden lanceheads – noted for their extremely potent venom. Because of this, understandably, the Brazilian Navy forbids tourists from stepping foot on the island.

10. The peak of Mount Kailash
Where is it? The Himalayas, Tibet
Why can’t I visit?: Because it's home to a Hindu god. Lord Shiva, to be precise, who resides at the summit in a state of perpetual meditation. Sounds like bliss to us, which is appropriate, as Buddhists also believe the peak is home to the Buddha Demchok, who represents supreme bliss. Because of this religious significance the peak was always considered off-limits by most climbers, before this Chinese government issued an official ban in 2001

SOURCE: Yahoo!Travel UK


Mkutano mwingine wa wawekezaji umeanza leo jijini Dar es Salaam.Mkutano huo ni mwendelezo wa mikutano mingine inayopigiwa debe kwa nguvu kuhusiana na umuhimu wa wawekezaji kwa uchumi wetu.

Naamini wengi wet bado tunakumbuka vuguvugu la Mkutano wa Sullivan.Baadaye ukafuatiwa na mkutano mkubwa wa mambo ya uchumi (economic forum).So far,hayo yamebaki kuwa matukio tu ambayo kwa upande mmoja yamewaachia baadhi ya wajanja utajiri wa kutosha baada ya kupewa tenda za chakula,malazi,vifaa,nk huku Watanzania wakiendelea kubaki masikini (na hapo tukiweka kando adha ya usafiri kutokana na barabara kufungwa kwa ajili ya misafara ya waheshimiwa).

Wakati viongozi wetu wakituhadaa na mikutano ya kila mwaka ya wawekezaji,kuna umuhimu wa kufanya uchambuzi wa kina kuhusu suala zima la uwekezaji.Kama uwekezaji mkubwa uliopo hadi sasa hauna manufaa kwa Mtanzania wa kawaida,ni miujiza gani itapelekea wawekezaji wapya walete mabadiliko?

Suala moja la msingi linalopuuzwa na watawala wetu ni ukweli kwamba wawekezaji sio taasisi za hiari za kutuletea maendeleo yetu.Hawa ni wafanyabiashara ambao miaka michache tu iliyopita tuliwaita kila aina ya majina-from watangulizi wa ukoloni to mabeberu.Of course dunian imebadilika,lakini mabadiliko hayo sio yawe at expense of wazawa au wenye nchi.

Tunaingia gharama kubwa kuvutia watu wa aina ya Richmond,Dowans,wezi wa madini huko migodini,na wababaishaji wengine.Wengi wa wanaoitwa wawekezaji wanakuja na briefcase tupu zikiwa na mikataba tupu lakini ikishasainiwa,na baada ya miaka michache wanaondoka wakiwa na mamilioni kwenye akaunti zao-huku wakiacha,kwa upande mmoja, mafisadi wameongeza idadi ya nyumba ndogo zao,mahekalu yao na magari yao ya kifisadi,na upande mwingine walalahoi wakikodolea ardhi yao iliyoachwa mashimo matupu baada ya raslimali yote kuibiwa.

Tunakaribishaje wawekzaji kabla ya kutengeneza sera na sheria mwafaka za kutuwezesha kunufaika na ujio wa wawekezaji hao?Na uwekezaji wa aina ya "kupangisha nyumba kisha mwenye nyumba kulala mtaani" ni uhayawani usiopaswa kuendelea.

Tunafahamishwa wizi unaofanywa na baadhi ya makampuni ya simu ambayo kila baada ya muda flani yanabadili majina ilhali huduma zao mbovu zikiendelea kuwa zile zile za kuchefua.

Tunakaribisha wawekezaji wakati baadhi ya hao waliopo wanapata hadi jeuri ya kuchoma moto wazawa (rejea tukio la Kigamboni)lakini vyombo vya dola vinachelea kuchukua hatua zinazostahili.

Viongozi wetu wanapaswa kuwa makini na kurejea yaliyotokea nchini Afrika Kusini hivi karibuni ambapo wazawa waliamua kuelekeza hasira zao kwa wageni wakiamini kuwa ndio chanzo cha matatizo yao ya kila siku japo ukweli ni kwamba chanzo cha tatizo ni uongozi mbovu wa watawala wa nchi hiyo.

Tumeshuhudia jana baadhi ya wakazi wa Kigamboni wakiamua kupambana na wawekezaji japo kama ilivyo kawaida waliishia kudhibitiwa na polis,na huenda wakafunguliwa mashtaka huku mwekezaji aliyeua akiachwa "anakula kuku kwa mrija".

Nikirejea tukio hilo la Kigamboni,nilifadhaika kusoma tweet ya Mbunge wa jimbo hilo akieleza bila aibu kuwa "maandamano yamekuwa SUPPRESSED na CULPRITS watachukuliwa hatua za kisheria".Huyu ni mwakilishi wa watu haohao waliompoteza mwenzao kwa kuchomwa moto na mwekezaji!

Anyway,ujio wa wawekezaji ni habari njema kwa mafisadi kwani unapanua fursa za kupata teni pasenti na vijizawadi vya likizo huko ughaibuni,huku the so called wawekezaji wakigeuza nchi yetu kuwa shamba la bibi.

17 Apr 2011



Chomoa, chomeka itainusuru CCM?

Ansbert Ngurumo

SAKATA la CCM kujivua gamba limezaa maswali mengi ambayo hayajajibiwa. Na limetusaidia kujua zaidi upeo wa watawala wetu, na uwezo wa kukabiliana na misukosuko ya ndani na nje ya chama tawala.

Na kwa kuwa wanapima upeo wa Watanzania kwa mizani ya upeo wao wenyewe, watawala wetu wamediriki kujitapa kwamba CCM imezaliwa upya. Wengine wanasema CCM imefufuka. Wamekosea!

Ni fursa kwa CCM ya Kikwete kujiuliza au kuulizwa. Kama CCM ya Julius Nyerere, Ali Hassan Mwinyi na Benjamin Mkapa ilionekana imara, ni nani ameidhoofika CCM ya Kikwete?

Mtu mmoja alinieleza miezi mitatu iliyopita, kwamba Rais Jakaya Kikwete alisikika akimweleza rafiki yake mmoja wa Iringa kwamba anavyoona chama kimeanza kumfia mikononi, na hilo ni jambo analoogopa sana. Je, mabadiliko haya ya kuchomoa na kuchomeka sura ndiyo yanaweza kuinusuru CCM inayokufa?

Tumesikia wanajitapa kwamba wameondoa mafisadi kwenye Kamati Kuu, na sasa wanataka waliobaki kwenye Halmashauri Kuu na vyombo vingine vya chama wajiondoe wenyewe, la sivyo watafukuzwa! Jambo jema.

Lakini CCM wameanza lini kukiri kwamba chama chao ni cha mafisadi au kina mafisadi? Si hawa hawa ndio walibeza na kulaani kauli ya wapinzani, iliyotolewa na Dk. Willibrod Slaa Septemba 2007, Mwembeyanga, Dar es Salaam, alipotaja orodha ya mafisadi na kufafanua ufisadi wa kila mmoja wao?

Si ndio hawa waliotishia, na baadaye wakaogopa kumshitaki Dk. Slaa, lakini wakaendelea kuwatumia mawaziri na makada wengine kuzunguka mikoani kushambulia wapinzani kwa kile walichoita ‘uzushi?’

Hoja ya ufisadi si ndiyo ilimfanya Rais Kikwete awabeze na kuwakejeli wapinzani akidai kelele za mlango hazitamzuia mwenye nyumba (yeye) kulala?

CCM hii si ndiyo iliwatuma Yusuph Makamba, Kingunge Ngombale-Mwiru, Jaji Joseph Warioba, Sofia Simba na makada wengine kubeza na kudhihaki wapinzani na vyombo vya habari, wakidai wanaendekeza habari za ufisadi badala ya masuala ya maendeleo?

Kama Rais Kikwete na wenzake wanasema kuwa umefika wakati chama kiondokane na mafisadi, basi wamethibitisha kwamba Dk. Slaa na wenzake walikuwa sahihi. Sasa tuwaamini CCM au akina Dk. Slaa?

Pili, dhana hii ya kujivua gamba bado ni tata hata kwa wenyewe wanaoipigia debe. Mwenyekiti mwenyewe aliyeianzisha alidhani CCM ina gamba moja tu inalopaswa kujivua; na akadhani inatosha tu kuvua gamba. Inasikitisha kwamba yeye anaishia hapo, lakini hata sisi tusio wana CCM tunajua kuwa CCM haikuhitaji kuvua gamba, bali kuwa na moyo mpya.

Lakini wale waliopenda kuendelea kuchambua hoja ya gamba wameshaorodhesha magamba ya CCM. Na wengine wamesisitiza kwamba Rais Kikwete, kwa staili yake ya uongozi, na baada ya kutathimni alikokitoa na alikokifikisha chama, naye ni gamba.

Kwa bahati mbaya, inavyoonekana, hata watawala wenyewe bado hawajajua idadi, na aina ya magamba wanayopaswa kukivua chama chao. Vile vile, hawajajua kwamba hata kama wangefanikiwa kuyatambua na kuyavua mgamba hayo, bado chama chao hakitaweza kuwa kipya.

Tatu, na hili ndilo la msingi kwangu, hivi watawala wanadhani kwamba nyoka anapojivua gamba anabadilika na kuwa mjusi au kinyonga?

Tunaona, na tunasema wazi kwamba CCM ya Kikwete, yenye gamba na isiyo na gamba, ni ile ile. Wanachofanya sasa ni kujaribu (na kufanikiwa kwa sehemu kubwa) kuwafukuza ’wabaya wao’ wa sasa na kuingiza marafiki wapya. Na bahati mbaya, ni sura zile zile tulizozizoea, tunazozifahamu, na ambazo tunapata shida kuzitenganisha na ufisadi uliowakumba kina Yusuph Makamba, Rostam Aziz, Andrew Chenge na wenzao.

Kikubwa zaidi ni mamlaka ya kimaadili yanayotumika kuwafukuza wengine na kuingiza wengine. Maana kama tunaendelea kukuza na kusisitiza hoja ya Mwembeyanga, waliotajwa kwenye orodha ya mafisadi ni hawa hapa:

1. Daudi Balali
2. Andrew Chenge
3. Basil Mramba
4. Gray Mgonja
5. Patrick Rutabanzibwa
6. Nazir Karamagi
7. Nimrod Mkono
8. Rostam Aziz
9. Edward Lowassa
10. Benjamin Mkapa
11. Jakaya Kikwete

Chama kinachojivua gamba, kwa mfano, kitajitapaje kwamba kimeondokana na mafisadi, wakati hata mwenyekiti mwenyewe yumo kwenye orodha?

Si hilo tu. Kwa misingi ya kikatiba, kihistoria na kitamadumi, CCM inaongozwa na mwenyekiti. Na hii ndiyo asili ya kaulimbiu ya siku nyingi ya CCM ya ‘zidumu fikra za mwenyekiti.’

Kwa mantiki hiyo, chama kinapofanikiwa au kinapokwama, mtu wa kwanza ambaye wana CCM wanapaswa kumhoji si katibu mkuu (maana utendaji wake unasimamiwa), bali mwenyekiti.

Sekretariti na Kamati Kuu ni zao la mwenyekiti. Ni mikono ya kazi anayotumia kuendesha chama. Ni kweli, Yusuph Makamba, kwa elimu na upeo wake, alibebeshwa mzigo mzito. Lakini ndiye huyo ambaye mwenyekiti aliridhika naye kwa miaka mitano.

Kwa hiyo, mwenyekiti ndiye aliyepaswa kubeba udhaifu wa katibu na chama kwa ujumla. Maana wana CCM walipohoji na kubeza uteuzi wa Makamba mwaka 2006 kurithi nafasi ya Philip Mangula, mwenyekiti hakujali.

Hata ilipopatikana fursa ya kubadilisha uongozi wa chama hapa katikati, Rais Kikwete aliridhika na utendaji wa Makamba. Huyu huyu hawezi kuibuka leo na kusema Makamba na sekretarieti yake hawajamsaidia kazi.

Nionavyo mimi, yaliyomkuta Makamba na Sekretarieti na Kamati Kuu yake ni sawa na yaliyomkumba Lowassa na Baraza la Mawaziri lililokuwa chini yake mwaka 2008.

Uamuzi wa kuondokana na Lowassa ilikuwa njia pekee ya kumnusuru Kikwete na anguko la kisiasa akiwa madarakani, kwa maana kashfa yenyewe iliyomsomba Lowassa iliwahusu wote.

Na hili la Makamba limeharakishwa na vuguvugu la mapinduzi ya ndani, baada ya mwenyekiti kuletewa taarifa kwamba kuna watu wananadi uenyekiti wake kwa maelezo kuwa ameshindwa kuongoza vema chama. Walitaka (na bado wanataka) abaki na urais, aachie uenyekiti.

Wanajua kuwa kwa utamaduni wao, mwenyekiti ndiye kiongozi wa chama. Anakotaka chama kiende, ndiko kinakokwenda. Na wandhani kuwa wakipata mwenyekiti mzuri watakuwa na chama kizuri.

Katika mazingira haya, njia pekee ya mwenyekiti kujinusuru ilikuwa kuwashughulikia walio chini yake ili ajipange upya, abadili hoja, na apate pa kuning’iniza propaganda za CCM mpya.

Na kwa maana hiyo, kujiuzulu kwa wajumbe wa Kamati Kuu na Sekretarieti (kwa shinikizo la mwenyekiti) ilikuwa faraja kwake binafsi si kwa CCM. Na ndiyo maana sisi wengine tunakataa kukubaliana na propaganda za akina Nape Nnauye eti chama kimezaliwa upya!

Nne, upya wa chama hauletwei na upya wa sura za wajumbe. Kama muono wa chama ni ule ule; itikadi ni ile il; sera zake ni zile zile; i wapi CCM mpya inayozungumzwa?

Bahati nzuri Katibu Mkuu mwenyewe ameshakiri kwamba hana jipya, bali anataka kurejesha na kusimamia misingi ile iliyokiasisi chama. Mwisho wa fikra!

Zaidi ya yote, kama huyu anayeteua, kupendekeza na kufukuza wajumbe wa kamati ndiye aliyesimamia waliopita, amepata wapi njozi mpya za kusimamia wapya kwa ufanisi? Au ni yale yale tuliyozoea kuona kila anapoteua baraza la mawaziri? Kama ndivyo, je, udhaifu wa uteuzi na utendaji tunaoshuhudia serikalini hautaendelezwa kwenye chama?

Kumwondoa Makamba na kumwingiza Mukama ni mabadiliko ya mwelekeo? Kumwondoa John Chiligati na kumwingiza Nape Nnauye ni kukipa chama dira mpya?

Kumwondoa Amosi Makala na kumwingiza Mwigulu Nchemba ni kukipa chama moyo mpya? Kumwondoa Bernard Membe na kumwingiza January Makamba ni kukipa chama katiba mpya? Kurejeshwa kwa Zakia Meghji kunakipa chama itikadi mpya?

Lililo wazi ni kwamba CCM ni chama kinacho kufa. Kina sura zile zile na mawazo yale yale. Na kwa sababu wameishiwa mapya, wamebaki katika siasa za kuwindana na kumalizana. Wanachomoa hawa na kuchomeka wale. Inatosha kuwanusuru?



Natambua kuwa CCM ni chama chenye sheria,taratibu na kanuni zake.Nafahamu pia kuwa kama chama huru (hata kama kumekuwa kikiwakumbatia mafisadi kukiendesha) kina mamlaka na uhuru wa kufanya mambo kipendavyo alimradi hakifunji sheria za nchi.

Hata hivyo,mengi ya maamuzi ya CCM-kama si yote-yanamgusa kila Mtanzania kwa vile chama hicho ndio tawala kwa sasa.Na kwa vile mfumo wetu wa siasa umeendelea kuwa wa chama kushika hatamu,kwa maana ya matakwa ya chama ndiyo yanayoiongoza serikali iliyopo madarakani,kila mwananchi mwenye mapenzi mema kwa Tanzania yetu anawajibika kuishauri,kuipongeza na hata kuikosoa CCM pale inapofanya mambo “ndivyo sivyo”.

Majuzi,chama hicho kimetangaza “kujivua magamba”.Nimeshaliongelea hilo kwa mapana,na makala yangu ya Jumatano ijayo kwenye jarida la Raia Mwema inajadili suala hilo kwa undani zaidi.Kwahiyo hapa sintingia kwa undani kuhusu uamuzi huo wa chama tawala uliopelekea vigogo wake kadhaa kuvuliwa madaraka (japo kwa kuwaheshimu,kilichofanyika ni kuvunja kamati kuu na kuingiza sura mpya kwenye nafasi mbalimbali).

Wasiwasi wangu mkubwa ni tendencies za kidikteta zinazoelekea kushamiri ndani ya CCM.Sijawahi kuwa shabiki wa Edward Lowasa,Rostam Aziz au Andrew Chenge,sio kwa vile siwapendi bali naamini kuwa matendo yao yanaikwaza sana Tanzania kupiga hatua kimaendeleo huku mamilioni ya wananchi wakigubikwa na umasikini wa kutupa.Hata hivyo,kutokuwa shabiki wao hakumaanishi kutoangalia namna walivyotendwa na CCM.

Haihitaji kuwa na uelewa wa uchambuzi wa siasa kumaizi kuwa by kujivua magamba CCM imemaanisha kuondokana na baadhi ya viongozi wake ambao kwa namna moja au nyingine wamekuwa wakihusishwa na ufisadi.Kwa lugha nyingine,magamba ni ufisadi,na ilichofanya CCM ni kujivua joho la ufisadi.

Wengi wetu tunafahamu kuwa uhasama mkubwa kati ya CCM na Dokta Wilbroad Slaa na Chadema kwa ujumla ni suala la ufisadi.Na kwa upande mwingine,umaarufu wa Slaa na Chadema umetokana zaidi na harakati zao katika kupambana na ufisadi.

Ndio maana katika majadiliano yangu ya kistaarabu huko Twitter na msanii wa Bongofleva mwenye mwamko mkubwa wa kisiasa,Hamisi Mwinjuma a.k.a Mwanafalsafaau MwanaFA,nimekuwa nimkumbusha mara kwa mara kuwa mie si mwanachama wa chama chochote kile cha siasa,achilia mbali Chadema.Kinachonifanya niafkiane na Chadema ni mtizamo,misimamo na harakati zao katika kupinga na kupambana na ufisadi.Kadhalika,sina chuki binafsi na Rais Jakaya Kikwete,serikali yake au CCM kwa ujumla bali “ugomvi” wangu nao ni jinsi wanavyokumbatia ufisadi na kupuuza vilio vya wanyonge wa Kitanzania kuhusu suala hilo.

Tunalazimika kuamini kuwa magamba yaliyovuliwa na CCM ni Lowassa,Rostam na Chenge kwa sababu kuu mbili.Kwanza,ni kwa vile kutoswa kwao kama vigogo wenye nguvu ndani ya chama hicho kumeendana na CCM kutangaza kuwa imejivua magamba.Ni wazi kuwa kama umevuliwa madaraka kisha aliyekuvua madaraka akitangaza kuwa ameondokana na uozo basi lazima utatafsiri kuwa uozo huo ni wewe uliyevuliwa madaraka.Pili,hata kabla ya CCM kuchukua uamuzi huo,wanasiasa hao wamekuwa wakituhumiwa kuhusika na ufisadi,japo mara kwa mara CCM iliwatetea huku ikidai kuwa tuhuma dhidi yao zinaweza tu kuthibitishwa na mahakama na si vinginevyo.

Na hilo la pili ndilo lililonisukuma kuandika makala hii.Si Kikwete,CCM au Kamati/Halmashauri Kuu yake wenye mamlaka ya kumtia mtu hatiani,hususan hatia yenyewe inapokuwa kubwa kama tuhuma za ufisadi.Hivi kwa mfano,Lowassa,Rostam na Chenge wakiamua kwenda mahakamani wakiituhumu CCM kwa kuwachafua kwenye jamii chama hicho kitasemaje?

Unaweza kudhani kuwa itakuwa rahisi kwa CCM kuweka hadharani ushahidi wa kusapoti tuhuma zake dhidi ya wanasiasa hao.Lakini hilo sio rahisi kwa vile,kwanza,tangu mwaka 2005 CCM hiyohiyo imekuwa ikipita huku na kule kudai kuwa tuhuma za ufisadi dhidi ya wanasiasa mbalimbali wa chama hicho (including Lowassa,Rostam na Chenge) ni porojo tu zisizo na ukweli wowote.Actaully,Mwenyekiti wa chama hicho,Rais Kikwete,ameshanukuliwa mara kadhaa akidai kuwa “kelele za mlango hazimnyimi usingizi mwenye nyumba”,akimaanisha kuwa tuhuma za ufisadi dhidi ya chama hicho na baadhi ya viongozi wake ni kelele tu  zisizopaswa kuendekezwa au kuamsha tafakuri ya Watanzania.

Kana kwamba hiyo haitoshi,miezi machache iliyopita,wakati wa kampeni za Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwaka jana,Rais Kikwete alisimama katika jukwaa jimboni Monduli kumpigia debe Lowassa,na akasimama kwenye jukwaa jimboni Igunga kumpigia debe Rostma,na akaenda jimboni kwa Cheyo kumpigia kampeni mwanasiasa huyo.Kadhalika,siku moja kabla ya Uchaguzi mkuu,Kikwete alizungumza na waandishi wa habari na kuwatetea tena watuhumiwa wa ufisadi na kudai kuwa ni watuhumiwa tu kwa vile hawajatiwa hatiani.

Sasa kama kilichofanyika Dodoma si udikteta ni kitu gani?Kwa sababu haiingia kabisa akilini kwamba viongozi waliosfifiwa na kutetewa mwezi Oktoba mwaka jana kuwa ni wasafi na wanaopaswa kuchaguliwa tena,waonekane hawafai miezi 6 baadaye.Of course,lolote linaweza kutokea katika kipindi cha miezi 6 lakini sote tunafahamu kuwa tuhuma za ufisadi wa Lowassa,Rostam na Change hazijatokea katika kipindi hiki cha miezi 6.

Kama maovu yao yalivumiliwa huko nyuma,na wakasafishwa hadharani na Rais Kikwete,iweje basi leo wanasiasa hao wabebeshwe tuhuma hizohizo ambazo walishasafishwa nazo?Ndio maana nimesema kuwa laiti wanasiasa hao wakiamua kufungua kesi ya kudhalilishwa mbele ya jamii,CCM itakuwa na kazi kubwa sana kujinasua.

Na sio hivyo tu bali wengi wetu tunafahamu kuwa ni vigumu mno kuwatuhumu watu kama Lowassa na Rostam kwa ufisadi pasipo kumhusisha Kikwete mwenyewe.Kama Lowassa ndiye aliyesababisha na kumwezesha utapeli wa Richmond,mwenye maamuzi ya mwisho kabisa alikuwa Kikwete mwenyewe ambaye aliidhinisha matakwa ya Lowassa kupitia vikao vya Baraza la Mawaziri ambavyo Kikwete ndio mwenyekiti wake.

Kama Rostam anahusishwa na suala la EPA,Kagoda na Dowans,again Kikwete alibariki yote hayo katika wadhifa wake kama Rais wa Tanzania.Anaweza kujiteteea kuwa hakufahamu ufisadi huo wakati unatokea.Hiyo inaweza kumfanya akaishi kwa muda wa kuazima lakini baadaye atalazimika kutueleza alichukua maamuzi gani baada ya kubaini kuwa ufisadi huo ulisababishwa na swahiba wake.

Lakini kuna suala jingine kubwa zaidi ambalo ni uhusika wa watu wasio na nyadhifa ndani ya CCM.Kwa mfano,ni watu gani ndani ya Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa waliwezesha kufanikiwa kwa wizi wa EPA na Kagoda,na ujambazi wa Richmond na Kagoda?Kwanini hawajachukuliwa hatua hadi leo?Je nao si magamba?Kam jibu ni ndiyo,je ni CCM au serikali yake itakayowapa siku 90 za kuwajibika?Na watawajibikaje?Wajipeleke wenyewe mahakamani?
Vipi kuhusu Mwanasheria Mkuu Mstaafu wa Serikali Johnston Mwanyika?Vipi kuhusuMkurugenzi Mkuu wa Takukuru Edward Hosea?Je hawa nao si magamba yanayopaswa kuvuliwa?Wangekuwa ndani ya CCM wangeweza kupewa notisi ya siku 90 lakini hawa sio wanasiasa,hivyo haitowezekana kuwawajibi9sha katika namna ya akina Lowassa na Rostam.
Vipi kuhusu Rais Mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa?Kwa wadhifa wake bado ni kiongozi wa CCM.Kwanini basi iwe Lowassa,Rostma na Chenge pekee na sio rais huyo Mstaafu,sambamba na akina Mangula,Sumaye,Malecela,Mwinyi au hata Zakia Meghji,Mkuchika na Chiligati?

Na kama kujivua magamba kuna maana yoyote,kwanini basi Waziri Membe aendelee kuwa Waziri ilhali kuondolewa kwake kwenye madaraka aliyokuwa nayo kunaweza kutafsiriwa kuwa ni hatua dhidi ya mafisadi?Vipi kuhusu akian Lawrence Marsha,Daniel Yona na Basil Mramba ambao kwa sasa hawapo madarakani?Na vipi kuhusu watu kama William Ngeleja na Naibu wake Malima ambao wizara yao,kwa namna moja au nyingine,imewezesha ujambazi wa Richmond na Dowans?Vipi kuhusu watendaji kama Dr Idris Rashid na Mgonja?

Narejea tena.Siwatetei Lowassa,Rostam au Chenge wala sipingani na hatua yoyote iliyo,inayo na itakayochukuliwa dhidi yao.Lakini kama lengo la Kikwete na CCM yake ni kupambana na ufisadi kwa vitendo basi ni lazima zoezi hilo litanuliwe kwa mapana zaidi.Lakini sote tunajua kuwa sio rahisi kwa Kikwete kwenda mbali zaidi kwa vile anatambua kuwa anakalia kuti kavu.Najua fika kuwa washirika wake wanaweza kabisa kumwaga uozo wote hadharani katika staili ya “bora tufe wote”.

Jingine,na hili lina umuhimu wa ikipekee,Kikwete anatambua kuwa vyovyote iwavyo,lazima mwakani apitishwe na kuchaguliwa kuwa Mwenyekiti wa CCM mpaka atakapomaliza muda wake.Na sio kupitishwa na kuchaguliwa tu,bali pia anapaswa kupata ushindi wa kishindo wa asilimia tisini na kitu.Sasa kwa vile anafahamu fika kuwa asipokuwa makini, “magamba” aliyoyavua yanaweza kabisa sio tu kumpunguzia kura hapo mwakani bali pia,in worst case scenario, kumuingiza kwenye vitabu vya historia kama mwenyekiti wa kwanza wa CCM kushindwa kurejea kwenye wadhifa wake huku akiwa bado madarakani,hawezi kwenda mbali zaidi ya alivyokwishafanya sasa.

Lililo wazi ni kwamba tutashuhudia mengi.Na tayari tumeshaanza kushuhudia baadhi ya vituko.Kwa mfano,mara baada ya “CCM kujivua magamba”,magazeti yanayomilikiwa na Rostam Aziz yameanza kuonekana yakiinanga CCM na serikali ya Kikwete.Tusisahau uwezo wa “magamba” hayo kifedha na influence kubwa waliyanayo ndani ya CCM na kwenye jamii.It is a bad influence lakini still ni influence.

All in all,matarajio ya Watanzania ni kuona nchi yao ikiondokana na nira ya ufisadi.Anayedhani “CCM kujivua magamba” ni sehemu ya process hiyo basi ni vema aamke kwenye lindi la usingizi aliomo.Kinachofanyika ndani ya chama hicho ni revelation ya msemo wa Kiswahili kuwa ushirika wa wachawi haudumu.Ni vita ya kimaslahi zaidi kuliko ya maslahi kwa jamii.Na ndio maana inasemekana hata maamuzi ya Kikwete kuvunja kamati kuu na kuwatosa maswahiba zake ni baada ya kutambua walikuwa wamedhamiria kwa dhati kumwondoa yeye mwenyewe kwa kuanzia na ajenda ya kutenganisha urais na uenyekiti wa CCM taifa.

Sihitaji kukwambia nani anayeweza kutuongoza kufikia ukombozi wa kweli wa Tanzania.Matendo hukidhi haja maridhwa kuliko maneno.Na kwa kila Mtanzania mwenye uzalendo na mapenzi ya kweli kwa nchi yetu anafahamu ni nani na chama kipi kinaweza kutufikisha tunakostahili kuwepo na kuwateketeza mafisadi wote.

16 Apr 2011


Kama ilivyoripotiwa na vyombo mbalimbali vya habari,Chama cha Demokrasia Na Maendeleo (Chadema) leo kimefanya mkutano wake wa hadhara mjini Tabora na kutaja orodha mpya mafisadi ikiwa ni ziada ya wale waliotajwa kwenye List Of Shame,Mwembeyanga.

Kwa mujibu wa habari zilizokwishapatikana hadi muda huu,mafisadi wapya ni pamoja na mwanasiasa mkongwe John Malecela na Waziri wa Ujenzi na Miundombinu John Pombe Magufuli.

Kwa habari kamili fuatilia HAPA

15 Apr 2011


Ndugu wa Bwana Lilah Hussein ambaye anadaiwa kuchomwa moto na walinzi na Meneja/Mmiliki wa Hotel ya South Beach wameomba wapatiwe mwanga wa kisheria jinsi ya kudai haki kwa ndugu yao aliyechomwa moto.

Akiongea nami mmoja wa jamaa wa Lilah amesema kuwa mpaka sasa wako gizani hawajui pakuanzia kutokana na kutojua mambo ya kisheria.

Labda kwa anayeweza kutoa msaada au muongozo wowote wa kisheria anaweza kuwasiliana na mmoja wa ndugu hao kupitia 0655362785

Kwa sasa Lilah bado amelazwa Hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili.

14 Apr 2011


Katika makala yangu kwenye toleo la wiki hii la jarida mahiri la Rais Mwema nazungumzia kujihusisha kwangu na uandishi wa makala magazetini,ikiwa ni pamoja na faida na hasara zake kwangu.Kadhalika nawasilisha vilio vya wanajamii ambao wametelekezwa na watawala.Pamoja na makala hiyo ( BONYEZA HAPA KUISOMA) ni habari na uchamuzi mahiri katika jarida hilo maridhawa la RAIA MWEMA



Kwa mujibu wa mtandao wa Jamii Forums

Rostam, Bashe watangaza vita na JK, wamuita naye fisadi
Katika kile kinachoonekana kuwa sasa wanatangaza vita, gazeti la Mtanzania linalomilikiwa na Rostam Aziz na kusimamiwa na Hussein Bashe limemchimba JK kwa kuandika leo kwamba Kikwete naye fisadi wakinukuu List of Shame iliyotolewa na Chadema Mwembe Yanga, huku wakinukuu tuhuma zotte ambazo zilielekezwa kwa JK na huku wakijifanya kuwarushia mpira Nape na Chiligati kuwa walisema mafisadi wote CCM wajiuzulu akiwamo JK.

JK, Mukama, Chiligati na Nape walizungumza wakirejea vikao vya CCM na si LIST of Shame na kama walitambua hilo wangesema mapema si baada ya kufukuzwa.

Katika vikao vya CCM List of Shame ya Chadema haijajadiliwa bali walijadili Richmond, Dowans, Kagoda na Rada na waliwataja kwa majina Lowassa, Rostam na Chenge. Hii ni sawa na mwizi kukamatwa na kusema "tuliiba na mwenzangu mbona hakamatwi?" Maana yake anakiri kuwa ni mwizi.





MAFISADI MPO???

13 Apr 2011


12 Apr 2011


Nimekumbana na habari ifuatayo katika gazeti la Tanzania Daima ambapo inaelezwa kuwa mwekezaji mmoja mwenye asili ya Kiasia amemchoma moto mwanamke mmoja kwa kosa la kuingia hotelini mwa mwekezaji husika bila kulipa kiingilio.

Kinachojidhihirisha katika habari husika ni dalili kwamba jeshi la pilisi linasuasua kumtendea haki mwananchi huyo.Nimewasiliana na bloga mwenzangu ambaye pia ni mwandishi mwandamizi wa gazeti moja la jamii huko nyumbani kumwomba tushirikiane kulipigia kele suala hili hadi haki ya mwananchi mwenzetu ipatikane.Kwa sie Watanzania tulio nje tunashuhudia namna raia wa nchi za wenzetu wanavyothaminiwa na sheria zao lakini kwetu ni hadithi tofauti hususan linapokuja suala la hao wanaoitwa wawekezaji.

Uwezo wa kifedha isiwe sababu ya kunyanyasa wananchi wasio na uwezo.Natoa wito kwa kila Mtanzania atakayeguswa na habari hii kuchangia kwa namna moja au nyingine kudai haki itendeke na ikiwezekan mwekezaji husika atimuliwe kabisa nchini.Hatuhitaji wababaishaji wanaoifanya nchi yetu kama pori lisilo na sheria.

Habari husika ni hii:

Mwekezaji amchoma moto raia Dar



na Hellen Ngoromera




RAIA wa Kiasia anayehusishwa kumiliki hoteli moja maarufu iliyopo Kigamboni anadaiwa kumjeruhi kwa kumchoma moto mkazi wa Mjimwema, Lila Hussein (25), baada kuingia hotelini hapo bila kulipa kiingilio.

Akizungumza na Tanzania Daima jana, ndugu wa majeruhi huyo, Abdullah Saiwaad,alisema tukio hilo lilitokea Jumamosi majira kati ya saa 5:00 na 6:00 usiku.

Alisema kabla ya kuchomwa moto, Lila ambaye amelazwa wodi namba 7 katika Hospitali ya Temeke akiwa hajitambui, alivuliwa nguo kisha kumwagiwa mafuta ya petroli na kwamba amejeruhiwa vibaya kuanzia sehemu za magotini hadi shingoni.

Alisema chanzo cha tukio hilo ni Lila kuingia kwenye muziki hotelini hapo bila kulipa kiingilio.

“Hali ni tete, Lila yupo hospitali ya Temeke akipigania maisha yake baada ya kuchomwa moto na mhindi ambaye ni mmiliki wa hoteli ya South Beach, ameungua vibaya tunamwomba Mungu anusuru maisha yake,” alisema Saiwaad.

Alisema baadaye aliokolewa na wafanyakazi wawili baada ya kuamua kupeleka taarifa kijijini Mjimwema.

Kutokana na tukio hilo wanakijiji wametishia kuchoma moto hoteli hiyo na kwamba hali hiyo imesababisha mkuu wa kituo cha Kigamboni kupeleka askari wa doria kusimamia usalama hotelini hapo.

Akizungumza na Tanzania Daima kwa njia ya simu jana, Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa wa Temeke, Davis Misime, alikiri kuwepo kwa taarifa hizo na kuahidi kuzifuatilia kwa kina.

Kwa mujibu wa Misime, usiku askari walipata taarifa kuwa kuna mtu amechomwa moto hotelini hapo ndipo walipokwenda na kumchukua majeruhi na kumpeleka katika kituo cha afya Kigamboni kisha baadaye kupelekwa Temeke.

Hata hivyo, habari zinapasha zaidi kwamba baadaye jioni ya jana, Lila alihamishiwa katika Hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili (MNH) kutokana na hali yake kuwa mbaya.

CHANZO: Tanzania Daima



Hatimaye habari za "tiba ya miujiza ya Babu wa Loliondo" zimefunikwa kidogo,at least kwa muda,baada ya chama tawala CCM kufanya mabadiliko yanayoitwa makubwa katika safu za uongozi wake.Katika mabadiliko hayo,kamati kuu ya chama hicho ililazimika kujiuzulu na kufuatiwa na uteuzi wa wajumbe wapya.

Tukio hilo linaonekana kuwagusa Watanzania wengi na tayari baadhi yao wameanza kumpongeza Mwenyekiti wa chama hicho,Rais Jakaya Kikwete,kwa kile kinachotajwa kama "maamuzi magumu na mazito".

Hebu nikuulize msomaji mpendwa.Hivi ukiamua kuanzisha urafiki na jambazi unategemea hatima yake itakuwa nini?Na pindi ukitambua kuwa urafiki huo unakupeleka kubaya,na hatimaye kuamua kuachana na jambazi huyo,unastahili sifa gani?

Mfano huo unamhusu Kikwete na CCM kwa ujumla.Wakati baadhi yetu wanapiga vigeregere vya pongezi kutokana na "ujasiri wa Kikwete" kinachopuuzwa ni ukweli kuwa ni Kikwete huyuhuyo aliyewawezesha watu kama Edward Liowassa na Rostam Aziz kufikia hapo walipo sasa.

Baada ya Mwalimu Julius Nyerere "kumzuia" kuongoza Tanzania mwaka 1995,Kikwete alijenga uswahiba na Lowassa na Rostam kwa minajili ya kuchukua urais mwaka 2005 baada ya Rais Benjamin Mkapa kumaliza miaka yake 10.Mbinu chafu zilizotumiwa na wanasiasa hao watatu zinafahamika kwa takriban kila mmoja wetu.Utatu huo usio mtakatifu uliounda genge hatari linalojulikana kama "Wanamtandao".Genge hilo lilifanya kila mbinu kuhakikisha kuwa lazima Kikwete anakamata urais mwaka 2005.Na hatimaye walifanikiwa baada ya kujipenyeza katika kila nyanja ya jamii ya Tanzania.

Baada ya kuukwaa urais,Kikwete aliwaruhusu washirika wake kufanya mambo wapendavyo kana kwamba Tanzania ni kampuni ya mtu binafsi.Sijui ni kujisahau au kuvimbiwa,haikuchukua muda kwa maswahiba hao wa Kikwete kuanza kufanya mambo "ndivyo sivyo".Kufupisha stori,skandali kama za Richmond,EPA,nk kwa kiwango kikubwa ni matokeo ya moja kwa moja ya harakati za wanasiasa hawa.

Sasa,kilichotokea Dodoma na kupachikwa jina "kujivua magamba" ni sawa kabisa na mfano niliotoa hapo awali wa mtu kujenga urafiki na jambazi.Baada ya Kikwete kumaizi kuwa asipokuwa makini anaweza kujikuta akifiwa na CCM mikononi mwake,amelazimika kujitenga na maswahiba waliomsaidia kuukwaa urais.

Kwanini basi naamini kuwa Kikwete hastahili pongezi zozote kutokana na uamuzi wa kuwatosa maswahiba zake?Kwanza,hata huko "kuwatosa" kwenyewe kumefanyika katika mazingira ya uoga.Inaelezwa kuwa matakwa ya waliohitaji mageuzi ndani ya chama hicho yalikuwa kuwatimua kabisa Lowassa,Rostam na Chenge.Lakini kinyume chake,Kikwete akaamua kuvunja kamati kuu nzima.Usisahau msemo wa Kiswahili kuwa kilio cha wengi ni harusi.

Je ni kweli kwamba kamati kuu nzima ilikuwa na mapungufu ya kulazimisha kuivunja yote?Je kamati kuu nzima ilikuwa ya kifisadi kwa vile tu miongoni mwao kulikuwa na watuhumiwa wa ufisadi?

Ukweli unabaki kwamba Kikwete hakuweza kuwa na jeuri ya kuwatosa Lowassa,Rostam na Chenge kama mtu mmoja mmoja na badala yake akaamua kuchukua kile wanachoita Waingereza "blanket decision" ambapo waliomo na wasiomo wakajikuta wanabwagwa.

Tukiweka hilo kando,kuna hoja ya pili ambayo ni nafasi ya waliotoswa kuendeleza kile kile kilichopelekea kuondolewa kwenye kamati kuu in the first place.Lowassa,Rostam na Chenge wanaendelea kubaki wabunge wa CCM,huku Lowasssa akiendelea pia kuongoza kamati influential ya Ulinzi na Usalama.Je kwa nafasi walizobaki nazo wanasiasa hao hawawezi kujitutumua kuendeleza harakati zao?Muda utatueleza.

Lakini pia tunapaswa kumwangalia Kikwete sio tu kama Mwenyekiti wa CCM bali pia Rais wa nchi.Kama tukiamini kuwa ujasiri wake ndio uliopelekea maamuzi hayo "magumu" ndani ya chama chake,kwanini basi huko serikalini inamwia vigumu kuondoa rundo la uozo linalohatarisha future ya nchi yetu?

Na ieleweke kwamba wakati chama kinaendeshwa kisiasa zaidi,serikali inaendeshwa kwa kuzingatia sheria na taratibu zilizopo,au zinazoweza kutengenezwa kwa makusudi maalum.

Kikwete huyuhuyu ndiye aliyetamka mara baada ya kupata urais mwaka 2005 kuwa anawafahamu wala rushwa kwa majina,na kwamba anawapa muda wa kujirekebisha.Sote tunafahamu kuwa wala rushwa sio tu hawajajirekebisha bali pia wamepuuza indefinite deadline hiyo ya Kikwete.

Sijui ni usahaulifu au hatupo makini,baadhi ya wenzetu wameshasahau kuwa katika kampeni za uchaguzi mkuu uliopita hivi majuzi tu Kikwete huyuhuyu alisimama majukwaani kuwapigia debe Lowassa,Rostam na Chenge huku akiwamwagia sifa lukuki.

Kama haitoshi,Kikwete alimudu kuwatetea "live" alipoongea na waandishi wa habari huku akisisitiza kuwa wanasiasa hao hawajatiwa hatiani na kinachodaiwa dhidi yao ni tuhuma tu.Sasa kama huo ndio ukweli,how come basi safari hii kawatosa ilhali hawajawahi kutiwa hatiani?

Na watatiwaje hatiani katika mazingira ya sasa ambapo sheria zipo tu kwa ajili ya kuwabana wamachinga,wezi wa kuku,walalahoi wanaoshindwa kumudu kulipa kodi kutokana na umasikini wao na Watanzania wengine wa kawaida,ilhali vigogo wakiachwa wafanye wapendavyo?

Hivi kweli tumesahau mzaha wa hukumu dhidi ya Chenge katika kesi yake ya kuua watu wawili kwa kuwagonga na gari ambalo bima yake ilikuwa imesha-expire?Kuna Watanzania wangapi wanaosota jela sio kwa vile wameshatiwa hatiani bali hawana uwezo wa kuwahonga waendesha mashtaka na mahakimu?

Don't get me wrong kuwa labda namchukia Kikwete.Hapana.Sina tatizo naye kama Jakaya Kikwete bali tatizo langu lipo kwenye udhaifu wa uongozi wake kama Rais Jakaya Kikwete.

Tusiwe wepesi wa kuamini kila jambo linapotokea hata kabla ya kupima ufanisi wake.Kadhalika,tusiwe wepesi wa kupuuza historia,kwa mfano kusahau kuwa Kikwete huyu huyu alituahidi maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania na matokeo yake imeishia kuwa maisha bora kwa kila fisadi.

Unaweza kunihoji kwanini nawasihi kuwa na subira kabla ya kukimbilia kupiga vigeregere vya furaha na pongezi kwa maamuzi ya "kijasiri" ya Kikwete,lakini wakati huohuo mie pia nakimbilia kumwaga lawama na kusambaza "sumu ya kutotarajia mema" badala ya kusubiri matokeo.

Jibu langu ni jepesi.Historia inamhukumu Kikwete.Amekuwa mahiri zaidi wa kutoa ahadi lakini mwepesi sana wa kusahau ahadi zake.Historia pia inatukumbusha kuwa hata Lowassa alipojiuzulu kwa kuhusika kwake kwenye skandali ya Richmond Kikwete alimpongeza na kudai kilichomkumba swahiba wake huyo ni ajali tu ya kisiasa.Na Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda akapigilia msumari kwa kudai kuwa sikum moja Lowassa anaweza kurejea kwenye uongozi serikalini.Kwanini basi sasa tuamini kuwa kutoswa kwa wanasiasa hao ndio mwisho wa yote wanayolifanyia taifa hili?

Mwisho,nadhani tumezowea mno kuona madudu kiasi kwamba hata kiongozi anapotimiza wajibu wake tunalazimika kumpongeza.Kwanini hatujipongezi kwa kunawa uso au kupiga mswaki kila tunapoamka?Yah,hatujipongezi kwa vile vitendo hivyo ni wajibu wetu wa kila siku.

Kwanini hatujipongezi kwa kwenda makazini au mashuleni?Alichofanya Kikwete sio ujasiri bali kimsingi ni wajibu wake kama kiongozi.Na kwa hakika hakipaswi kuishia huko CCM pekee,chama chenye wanachama pungufu ya watu milioni tano wakati nchi yetu ina watu takriban milioni 50,bali kama yupo serious kweli na anajua kwanini yupo Ikulu,basi ni lazima aanze kusafisha uozo uliopo kila kona.

Kuna tofauti kubwa kati ya jambo jema linalostahili pongezi na utekelezaji wa wajibu.Alichofanya Kikwete ni the latter:ametekeleza wajibu wake kama kiongozi.Jambo jema linaloweza kutufanya tummwagie rundo la pongezi ni pindi atakapoamka usingizini na kutambua nchi inateketea kwa ufisadi huku virusi vya udini vikizidi kuzagaa katika jamii yetu kutokana na jitihada za matapeli wa kisiasa wanaowatumia wazembe wanapoouza vipaumbele vyao (kwa mfano wanaopotosha kuwa upinzani dhidi ya mchakato wa mabadiliko ya katiba unatokana na chuki ya Wakristo kwa Muislam Kikwete.This is way too low,na tusipokuwa makini tutaanza kutetea vibaka,majambazi,makahaba,mafuska,wabakaji,nk kwa vile tu wanatoka dhehebu flani).

10 Apr 2011




Habari zilizopatikana kutoka Dodoma kwenye kikao cha CCM chini ya uenyekiti wa Rais Jakaya Kikwete zinaeleza kuwa baadhi ya viongozi waadamizi wa chama hicho wamevuliwa madaraka.Kwa mujibu wa vyanzo vya mtandaoni,waliokumbwa na panga la Kikwete ni pamoja na maswahiba wake wakuu kisiasa,Edward Lowassa na Rostam Aziz.Wengine wanaotajwa kwa mujibu wa habari hizo ni "Mzee wa Vijisenti" Andrew Chenge na "mgosi" Yusuph Makamba.

Ningependa kuichambua habari hii kwa kirefu lakini nasubiri kwanza tamko rasmi la CCM.Hata hivyo,tukiamini kuwa habari hizo ni sahihi,kuna uwezekano ya yafuatayo kutokea:

Kwanza,ni muhimu kufahamu watu kama Lowassa na Rostam wametoka wapi.Hawa walikuwa vioungo muhimu kwa ushindi wa Kikwete mwaka 2005.Wanaowajua vema wanawa-describe kwa mlolongo huu:Lowassa-mwanasiasa haswa (simaanishi kuwa ni mwanasiasa mwadilifu),Rostam-bwana fedha,na Kikwete-mtawala.Wajuzi wa siasa chafu wanaeleza kuwa ushirikiano huo wa watu hawa watatu ulitumia kila aina ya mbinu kuhakikisha Kikwete anaingia Ikulu hapo 2005.Na ikawa hivyo,baada ya viongozi hao wakuu wa "Mtandao" kufanikiwa kupenya takriban kila kundi la jamii;kutoka viongozi wa dini hadi wakuu wa taasisi za dola,kutoka wanahabari hadi wasanii.

Pasipo kuuma maneno,ushirika huu usio mtakatika wa Lowassa,Rostam na Kikwete ni mithili ya joka lenye vichwa vitatu.Sasa iwapo ni kweli kuwa Kikwete kaamua kubaki kichwa pekee kwenye joka hilo basi yayumkinika kubashiri kuwa uhai wa joka hilo nao uko matatani.

Pili,kwa kufuata mlolongo wa nilichoandika hapo juu,inaelezwa kuwa Lowassa ndiye aliyefanya kazi kubwa zaidi ya kutengeneza serikali ya Kikwete.Ikumbukwe kuwa japo wote wawili walishashika nyadhifa mbalimbali serikali kabla ya 2005,Lowassa alikuwa amejijenga zaidi kiuchumi na kisiasa ukilinganisha na Kikwete.Kadhalika-na hapa nafafanua kwanini niliandika hapo juu kuwa Lowassa ni mwanasiasa haswa(japo simaanishi ni mwanasiasa mwadilifu)-ni ukweli kuwa mwanasiasa huyo ana ushawishi wa kisiasa zaidi ya Kikwete.Japo wote wawili ni wapenda umaarufu (populists),wakati Kikwete amekuwa akitumia zaidi turufu ya "tabasamu la muda wote" na "kuwa karibu na watu",Lowassa amekwenda mbali zaidi na kujifanya anayafahamu matatizo ya wananchi na kuyatolea ufumbuzi mapema (ndio maana licha ya kulazimika kujiuzulu kutokana na ufisadi wa Richmond bado kuna wanaomwona kama mwajibikaji).Kwa kifupi,Lowassa ni mwepesi wa kuchukua maamuzi (hususan yale yatayopelekea yeye kuonekana kama "Sokoine flani hivi"),Kikwete ni mzito wa maamuzi (huku walio karibu naye wakidai tatizo sio uzito wa maamuzi bali hajui vipaumbele vyake).

Inaaminika kuwa Lowassa ana ufuasi mkubwa ndani ya CCM na serikalini kwa ujumla.Kwa mujibu wa wajuzi wa mambo,faida aliyonayo Lowassa ndani ya chama hicho ni uwezo wa kifedha,ambapo inaelezwa kwamba amewasaidia viongozi mbalimbali wa CCM kiuchumi na kuwawezesha kuwepo walipo leo.Kadhalika,akiutumia vema urafiki wake na Kikwete, na nafasi yake kama Waziri Mkuu kabla ya skandali ya Richmond,aliweza kutengeneza "mtandao ndani ya mtandao",kwa maana ya kuwaweka madarakani watu wenye utiifu kwake zaidi kuliko CCM au Kikwete.Inaelezwa wateuliwa wengi kwenye nafasi za kiserikali na kichama ngazi za mikoa na wilaya ni wafuasi wa Lowassa,kwa mfano ma-RC na ma-DC,na wenyeviti na makatibu wa CCM mikoani na wilayani.

Swali la muhimu ni je,kuondoka kwa Lowassa katika wadhifa mmoja kutazuwia nguvu na ushawishi wake kwa wafuasi wake,wengi wao wakiwa ni watu walio madarakani kutokana na fadhila za mwanasiasa huyo?

La tatu ni ukweli kuwa Lowassa anataka urais hapo 2015.Na hilo halikuanza jana au juzi bali wajuzi wa mambo wanaeleza kuwa kulikuwa na makubaliano rasmi kati ya Kikwete na Lowassa kuwa wangepokezana uongozi maara baada ya Kikwete kumaliza miaka yake 10.Japo suala la Richmond lilizua mfarakano wa aina flani kati ya wawili hao lakini ukweli unabaki kuwa "heshima" aliyotoa Kikwete kwa Lowassa kwa kutomtimua bali kusubiri ajiuzulu mwenyewe iliwaacha wawili hao wakiendelea na urafiki wao japo si kama ilivyokuwa mwanzoni.

Haifahamiki kama Kikwete bado anaheshimu "makubaliano" yake na Lowassa kuhusu "kupokezana kijiti cha urais hapo 2015" lakini hiyo haimzuwii Lowassa kuamini kuwa "piga au" lazima achukue nafasi hiyo.Of course,kuna majina kama Bernard Membe (mtu anayetajwa kuuweka uhusiano na Lowassa katika wakati mgumu kwa vile yeye na Lowassa "picha hazipandi" ilhali yeye na Kikwete ni "damu damu",na Kikwete na Lowassa ndio hivyo tena "hawakufahamiana mtaani" kama ilivyowahi kutamkwa hadharani ) lakini turufu ya Lowassa haitegemei sana baraka za Kikwete bali ushawishi na nguvu yake ndani ya CCM,sambamba na uwezo wake mkubwa wa kifedha (alizitoa wapi....waulize TAKUKURU).Na ana faida nyingine kubwa ambayo ni uswahiba wake na Rostam,mfanyabiashara mwenye asili ya kiasia anayetajwa kuwa na nguvu zaidi ya Kikwete-kutokana na utajiri wake unaoweza kumfanya kuwa mtu tajiri kuliko wote Tanzania.Kadhalika,inaelezwa kuwa Rostam ni mjuzi wa mbinu chafu hususan kwa kutumia fedha zake na "njaa" za wanaohitaji chochote kutoka kwake.

Jingine,ambalo linaweza kuwa si la msingi sana japo lina umuhimu wa aina flani ni ukweli kwamba Lowassa na Rostam wana siri muhimu kumhusu Kikwete na urais wake kwa ujumla.Njia pekee kuwadhibiti wawili hao kwa kutumia Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa.Katika siasa zetu za "ovyo ovyo" ni rahisi tu kwa rais kuiamuru taasisi hiyo imfanyie kazi zake binafsi badala ya zile za kikatiba.Hilo linawezekana zaidi kutokana na nafasi ya Rais kama consumer wa taarifa zote za kishushushu.

Nisingependa kutabiri matokeo kabla ya taarifa kamili ya CCM lakini tukiamini habari zilizopo na ikathibitika kuwa ni kweli basi nachobashiri ni mwanzo wa mwisho wa chama hicho tawala.Naomba unielewe vizuri: tatizo la msingi sio kutimuliwa kwa Lowassa na Rostam bali ukweli kuwa USHIRIKA WA WACHAWI HAUDUMU.Sambamba na hilo ni ukweli mwingine kuwa JOKA LENYE VICHWA VITATU HALIWEZI KUWA HAI MUDA MREFU PINDI VICHWA VIWILI VIKIKATWA.

Lakini la muhimu kuliko yote ni manufaa kwa Watanzania kutokana na mabadiliko hayo ndani ya CCM.Kwa kifupi,ukiacha vichwa vikubwa vya habari kwenye magazeti yetu,mabadiliko hayo hayana manufaa yoyote kwa masikini wasio na hakika ya mlo wao wa kesho,wanafunzi wanaokaa sakafuni kwa uhaba wa madawati,akina mama wanaoletewa bajaj za kuwawahisha hospitali wakiwa wajawazito japo wabunge wanapewa mashangingi ya uheshimiwa,nk nk nk.Wa kuondoka na CCM kama chama kilichopo madarakani.Wanapoondoana ndani kwa ndani haimsaidii Mtanzania wa kawaida.

9 Apr 2011

Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda akikodolea macho ambulance ya bajaji.Labda macho yangu tu lakini naona kama Pinda hana hakika kama tupo karne ya 21 au tunarejea Zama za Mawe!
Na mwenye dhamana ya afya ya Watanzania kwa sasa ni Babu wa Loliondo.

HII NDIO TANZANIA ZAIDI YA UNAVYOIJUA




Chelsea striker tells Stuart James he has more than football on his mind – his father is caught up in the Ivory Coast conflict

Salomon Kalou has a huge weight on his mind and it has nothing to do with Chelsea's Champions League defeat against Manchester United in midweek. The prospect of finishing the season at Stamford Bridge without a trophy is hard to contemplate but it pales into insignificance compared with the heartache Kalou feels when he turns his thoughts to his family and friends caught up in the conflict in the Ivory Coast.

The bitter and bloody fallout from last November's presidential elections has plunged the country where Kalou spent the first 17 years of his life back into civil war. Thousands have been killed and the harrowing images of the street battles in Abidjan, where his father, Antoine, and other members of his extended family live, together with the stories of food and water shortages in what was once West Africa's most prosperous country, plague Kalou's conscience.

"It's very hard to go on to the pitch and say I'm not thinking about people dying every day, I'm not thinking about my friends not eating, my dad not getting help," Kalou says. "To be honest, I worry every day. I am thinking more about that than anything else. Any chance I have to go on the phone or to go on the news and check I do, because that's my main priority. I need to make sure my family are safe.

"I got my mum and five sisters out four days before it started. When we played against Benin in Ghana last month with Ivory Coast [in an African Cup of Nations qualifier moved to a neutral venue because of the violence], I got them to come and watch the game and from there they went to Togo. They can stay there until the end of the situation. My dad was going to come as well but the war started on the day he was going to come."

Kalou acknowledges he is in a fortunate position to be able to afford sanctuary for his mother and sisters in Togo for as long as they need it, but he feels "helpless" in relation to his father's predicament. The problems in Abidjan mean that, at the time of this interview, which takes place at his home in Surrey on Thursday evening, Kalou has gone three days without speaking to his father. He is desperate to hear news of a peaceful resolution.

"I don't want to take any sides and I don't want to get involved in the politics of the Ivory Coast because politics is for politicians, but it hurts me to see my friends, my brothers, killing each other," he says. "Some of my best friends are from the north, I'm from the west, I have friends from the south – I have a lot of Ivorian friends. Ivorians don't have problems with Ivorians. Politics are dividing people. But is that a reason for people to kill? Why not stop that now and talk.

People from outside should help to bring peace. Bring food and water to people. That's what I call worrying about the civilians. Then I can have respect for that and say those people really care. If your priority is to say one side loses and one side wins, then you are not stopping anything. They will keep fighting and, in the end, when everyone is gone, what is left for those people? Those kids who have seen the war and people dying, how many years is it going to take for them to get over it?"

Although Kalou admits it is impossible to erase those questions from his mind, the football pitch at least provides a place to try to escape. His only wish is that he spent much more time immersing himself in playing, rather than watching from the substitutes' bench, which was again the case on Wednesday night, when Chelsea lost 1-0 to United and Kalou was forced to endure the familiar sight of the strikers picked ahead of him fluffing their lines.

It is a frustrating situation, especially as this season Kalou has by far the best goals-to-minutes ratio in the Premier League of the four Chelsea forwards and is second only to Nicolas Anelka in all competitions. "That speaks for itself," Kalou says as he runs his eyes over the figures. "I think a player can be great if you have the opportunity to play every week and show what you can do. If you take a player like [Lionel] Messi and you don't play him, you won't see how good he is.

"All along my time at Chelsea there is always a big name playing and that makes it difficult for the manager to put me in the team. And I understand that, because coming in as a young player in a big club, you have to fight your way through. But I have been here for five years, scored over 50 goals for the club and there are some big players who have been here who haven't done that. But I think the fans appreciate my record."

Kalou reels off the names of Hernán Crespo, Andriy Shevchenko, Mateja Kezman and Claudio Pizarro to illustrate his point. It is tempting to wonder whether the much-maligned Fernando Torres will be next on the list, although Kalou insists he is pleased the Spaniard signed. "The arrival of Torres is a benefit to me because now I get to play my real position, behind the striker – that's where I was playing before I joined Chelsea. I played with Torres against Manchester City and I thought it was really good. We had very good movement and created chances."

Chelsea triumphed 2-0 that day, although it was the only match Kalou has started in the last seven, raising the obvious question about what he can do to change things. "I think I can talk to the club and see what my position is because it's frustrating to not get involved knowing that you're playing better than others," the former Feyenoord striker says. "I did speak to Carlo Ancelotti. He is an understanding man. He knows what I feel as a player because he played before."

Will it get to the stage where he thinks he has to go to a club where he will be the main forward? "Of course. I think about it all the time," Kalou says. "That's what my goal is [to be the first choice]. If you look at those statistics, if I play double the games, I'm sure I can do better than that. I think people know and I think the club know – they never let me go or try to sell me. I believe that my time is coming at Chelsea, and if it's not at Chelsea it will be at another team."

Yet Kalou is such an affable, laid-back character that it is difficult to imagine him making demands or creating a scene when overlooked. "If I'm not happy I'm not playing, I don't really show my emotions," the 25-year-old admits. "Sometimes, maybe I should show more because it's good for the manager to know that the player is pissed off not to play. I'm relaxed and easy-going and people think that whatever he gets to play he will be happy. But that's not the case sometimes."

For Kalou, though, it is about "showing respect" for his team-mates when he is left out and supporting them, which helps to explain why he is so well liked at Chelsea at all levels. He smiles knowingly when it is suggested he is popular with Roman Abramovich, the club's owner, and the rest of the board.

"They know that I never complain, never make trouble and never try to bring the club's image down. They have the belief that most of the players who will complain will be doing crazy stuff in training and not training well and that's not the case with me, so I think they respect that and they also have respect for the fact that, even though I am not playing, I can have better statistics than the player who does."

One statistic Kalou would prefer not to have to his name, however, is the club record he broke last Saturday at Stoke, when he made his 94th substitute appearance for Chelsea. "It's like getting a plastic medal. It's kind of like, you've done good to be a sub. That's not what I want," he says, shaking his head. "I want to have a real impact as an important player for Chelsea because I know I have the ability to do that.

"The only thing is to be playing regularly and have the confidence and rhythm of those games. Then you can show what you can do. If you can play 20 minutes and change a game, you can change a game in 90 minutes."

The evidence of one of his more recent contributions from the bench can be found in his lounge, where the man-of-the-match champagne from the Blackpool game last month, when he replaced Didier Drogba to create two Chelsea goals in a 3-1 victory, sits next to the signed ball he took home after scoring a hat-trick against Stoke City 12 months ago. One of Usain Bolt's running shoes, a picture of Diego Maradona in his prime and a signed Muhammad Ali boxing glove complete the sporting backdrop.

Kalou gives a guided tour of the rest of the house, which is decorated with shirts from some of the world's greatest players, as an interview that lasts the length of time he would like to spend on the pitch against Wigan on Saturday draws to a close. One conversation, though, is difficult to leave behind. "We need to stop the war," he says. "What I worry about is my family to not get hurt and my country to not get destroyed. My concern is not who is going to govern. My main concern is peace."

SOURCE:The Guardian

7 Apr 2011



This panel explored the joint case on litigating reparations initiatives for the Herero Genocide in German South-West Africa (1904-08) and the Mau Mau Emergency in British Kenya (1952-1960). Both historical events can be described as two of the most atrocious chapters in the book of European colonialism in Africa and the groundbreaking scholarship of the panel's speakers has been instrumental in pursuing the respective legal actions against the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom.

David Anderson on the Mau Mau case

For many years in Kenya Mau Mau was deemed best forgotten. Reparations movements were suppressed under the Kenyatta government. However, in the 1990s a number of reparation organisations were formed. Originally these were local in focus – largely being claims for property stolen whilst suspected Mau Mau members were imprisoned. The Kenyatta government was not keen on opening up this potentially divisive subject, and so several thousand claim cases were recorded but never brought to court. In effect, the government helped suppress the national memory of Mau Mau.

In the 1990s the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) was formed, following a global shift towards such rights and entitlements. The KHRC was however initially reluctant to take on seemingly ‘unwinnable’ Mau Mau case. Difficult questions existed as to which courts would hear cases of claims against the British government and under which national jurisdiction would they occur?

The KHRC did however take up the cases, and it is important to note that the momentum towards litigation by Mau Mau claimants pre-dated the publishing of books on the subject – notably David Anderson’s Histories of the hanged and Caroline Elkins’ Britain’s Gulag – which both came out in 2005. These publications however provided the claimants (and their lawyers) with greater ammunition for their cases. The Kenyan government has been a little wary about the implications of successful claims, as it is not keen to arbitrate on who should benefit from reparations. The Mau Mau claim is also seen as being nationally divisive, as Mau Mau is not considered a national movement but rather an ethnic one. Under the present coalition government, no one in Kenya wants to tackle such potentially divisive subjects.

David Anderson’s role in the current Mau Mau case (to go to court in London on 4th April) is that of an expert witness. As such, he provided historical background from his own research.

Anderson stated that at the atrocities that took place by – or on behalf of – the British government, between 1952 and 60, were not a secret. They were widely reported on by the British press, but no one felt the need to do anything.

They Kenya National Archive has very good records from the Mau Mau period. However, Anderson made the point that things are missing. Areas in which documents are missing are easily identified by any historian, as it is obvious when certain categories of documents have been removed. For example, documents about detentions centres, screening teams (set up to conduct interrogations) and collective punishments (administered to entire villages) are missing, when it is known that records of all such actions were taken.

The case currently under preparation is focussed on 5 claimants who claim torture in a variety of different prison camps. Lawyers are charged with proving British government culpability and liability for the torture.

Whilst culpability may be proven, liability is more problematic. One argument which seeks to counter liability claim is that, upon independence, Kenya’s assumption of its national sovereignty was an implicit acceptance of liability for any outstanding claims against its national administration. This logic may mean that the British government accepts culpability for torture (from the time of its sovereignty over Kenya) but is not liable for it.

Anderson stated that he has tried to persuade the British government that an out of court settlement would be the best solution. This would ideally also include a public acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and even an apology. This is what happened with the German government and the case of the Herero. An apology and a ‘gift’ – to be used for developmental purposes – was provided. It was stated that some progress was made on this under the last government.

In his statement to the courts for the upcoming case Anderson cited the existence of missing documents. He stated that these documents may have been removed by the exiting British administration in 1963. Evidence was provided from documents Anderson has seen which detail certain files that were ‘retrieved’ to London upon independence. These removals were of a significant scale – there are references to ‘3 crates of documents’ having been ‘retrieved.’ These documents have now however been found, and were released to both defence and prosecution. An open question was asked as to whether this was a ‘cock up or conspiracy.’

Whilst the missing documents in the Kenya case have been found, Anderson questioned whether in other instances – Malaya, Cyprus, Nigeria (to name just 3 possible examples) – there might also be missing documents, ‘retrieved’ to London, with much to tell us about the actions of colonial administrations.

The Mau Mau claim is not the only claim the British government may have to worry about. Claims mau arise from, for example Malaya or Palestine, and as such there is a fear that a successful claim could set a precedent for reparations claims. However, the point was made that the ongoing Mau Mau case does affect relations between Britain and the Kenyan government. Anderson strongly advocates that it would be better for all involved to settle out of court.

Robert Murtfeld on the Herero case

Robert Murtfield is a PhD student focussed on international law – with a focus on the case of the Herero genocide in what is now Namibia. He has been working on the Herero case for 5 years.

In 2004 the Herero recognised the centenary of the genocide carried out against them by the German army in South West Africa. This centenary was also made notable by the delivering of an apology by the German Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation. Murtfield however stated that this apology never received German parliamentary approval, and was framed in a development context. In essence, it was not enough, and Murtfield now seeks to revitalise the Herero debate 10 years after the 2004 apology.

The case of the Herero exemplifies a very violent instance of colonialism. German South West Africa (modern day Namibia) was the primary German settler colony. The Herero – who were the original occupiers of this land – felt threatened by the settler presence, and started a war against the settlers, killing 120 – 130 of them. The imminent loss of control of its colony engendered a military response from the German government. The Herero were militarily encircled and given one route through which they could escape – by crossing the Kalahari desert. This was in essence an order of extermination.

As with Kenya and the Mau Mau, the actions of the colonial military/administration were not a secret. The extermination order by the commander of the German forces was communicated back to Germany where it was initially accepted. The order was later withdrawn, but concentration camps (based on the British model from the Boer War) were set up, where many Herero were worked to death.

A case brought against the Federal Republic of Germany through a US court failed due to the inability of such a court to rule upon what was a German case. The Herero could also not appeal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as the ICJ only deals with appeals made by states (the claim was made on behalf of the Herero and not Namibia as a national entity.) The Herero case had a complex national politics to it in Namibia, as Germany is the biggest aid donor to Namibia. The Namibian government did not want to endanger this aid due to the actions of one section of its population.

Both presentations demonstrated the difficulties inherent in international law, and emanating from national governments, in gaining reparations for such claims. The Mau Mau litigation - begining of April 4th - could make history as the first successful example of such a claim.

Many thanks to The Royal African Society for tweeting  to me the link to the article

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