Makala yangu katika RAIA MWEMA Toleo la Desemba 11, 2013: "Kwaheri Nelson Mandela"

KATIKA simulizi za Biblia Takatifu, mara baada ya Yesu Kristo kufariki msalabani pazia la hekalu lilipasuka vipande viwili, nchi ikatetemeka, miamba ikapasuka na makaburi yakafunguka. Askari waliokuwa wanamlinda wakakiri kuwa "kwa hakika huyu alikuwa Mwana wa Mungu." Niliyakumbuka maneno haya mara baada ya kupatikana taarifa za kifo cha Rais wa kwanza mweusi wa Afrika Kusini, shujaa wa mapambano dhidi ya ubaguzi wa rangi, Nelson Mandela.

Habari za kifo cha Mandela sio tu zilikuwa za kushtusha licha ya ukweli kwamba afya yake ilikuwa imedhoofika kitambo, lakini pia ziligusa hisia za watu wengi duniani kote. Nilikesha takriban usiku mzima baada ya taarifa hiyo na vituo vyote vikubwa vya televisheni duniani vilikatiza matangazo ya kawaida na kuonyesha 'breaking news' ya kifo cha Mandela.

Ninaomba kukiri kuwa japo nilikuwa ninampenda na kumheshimu Mandela, lakini nimetambua zaidi ukubwa wa upendo na heshima hiyo baada ya kifo chake. Pengine ni kwa vile vyombo vya habari vimekuwa vikitumia muda mwingi kumzungumzia, lakini kikubwa zaidi kwangu ni kupata wasaa kupitia busara mbalimbali za mwanasiasa huyo mahiri duniani.

Nukuu yangu kutoka katika Biblia hailengi kumlinganisha Mandela na Yesu Kristo.

Na pia maana ya nukuu ifuatayo ya kiongozi huyo haimaanishi kwa namna yoyote mie kujilinganisha na 'Madiba';  "I was made, by the law, a criminal, not because of what I had done, but because of what I stood for, because of what I thought, because of my conscience" (tafsiri isiyo rasmi, sheria iliniona mhalifu sio kwa sababu ya nilichofanya bali nilichosimamia, nilichoamini na utashi wangu). Nukuu hii ni maneno ya Mandela wakati wa kesi aliyofunguliwa na utawala dhalimu wa makaburu mwaka 1962.

Kwa nini nukuu hii inanigusa sana? Binafsi ninajiona kama mwathirika wa kutumia haki zangu za kibinadamu na kikatiba kuwa na msimamo katika masuala fulani, kuamini katika msimamo huo, na utashi unaoniongoza katika msimamo huo. Kwa bahati mbaya, kama ilivyokuwa kwa Mandela huko Afrika Kusini, msimamo pekee unaokubalika kwa tawala dhalimu ni ule unaoendana na mtizamo wao, hata kama sio sahihi.

Kwa yeyote atakayesimama kupambana na udhalimu, basi na awe tayari kukumbana na nguvu kinzani dhidi ya mapambano hayo. Mandela alidhamiria kupambana na mfumo dhalimu uliowabagua watu kwa asili ya rangi zao, na hakuishia katika kudhamiria tu bali alitafsiri dhamira hiyo katika vitendo.

Ni muhimu kutambua kuwa mapambano dhidi ya mfumo dhalimu wa kikaburu yalikuwa mithili ya tembo na sisimizi. Makaburu licha ya kuwa watawala, walikuwa na kila nyenzo dhidi ya wapigania uhuru. Lakini licha ya 'faida' hizo kwa utawala huo wa kibaguzi, moja ya nyenzo zake muhimu za kiutawala ilikuwa matumizi ya nguvu na ubabe wa hali ya juu, na maelfu ya raia wasio na hatia waliuawa au kujeruhiwa katika mapambano ya kudai haki na uhuru.

Huu ni wakati wa maombolezo ya mwana-Afrika muhimu, ambaye wakati huu ninapoandaa makala hii, anatarajiwa kuagwa na idadi ya kihistoria ya viongozi wa dunia. Kwa mfano wakati Marekani inawakilishwa na Rais Barack Obama na marais wastaafu George W Bush, Bill Clinton na Jimmy Carter, Uingereza inawakilishwa na Waziri Mkuu David Cameron na watangulizi wake Gordon Brown, Tony Blair na John Major. Viongozi hao muhimu duniani watajumuika na waombolezaji wanaotarajiwa kufikia 80, 000.

Lakini kama ambavyo mara kadhaa tumekuwa tukinyoosheana vidole kuhusu unafiki wa baadhi ya viongozi wetu katika kumwenzi Baba wa Taifa, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, ambaye alikuwa rafiki wa karibu wa Mandela, itakuwa ni unafiki mwingine kumlilia Mandela bila kuzingatia kazi yake kubwa aliyoifanya kwa Waafrika Kusini na dunia kwa ujumla.

Machozi tunayotoa kumlilia Mandela yatakuwa kazi bure kama hatutounga mkono imani yake kuwa hakuna fursa ya aina yoyote kwa mwanadamu kubaguliwa na mwanadamu mwenzake au mfumo.

Lakini pengine kubwa zaidi kutokana na kifo cha Mandela ni changamoto kwa wanasiasa na viongozi wetu katika nyanja mbalimbali, iwe kisiasa, kidini na kijamii. Hivi wakati tunashuhudia takriban dunia nzima ikimlilia Mandela, je siku ya kifo chako utakumbukwa kwa lipi, iwe ni katika ngazi ya mtaa, wilaya, mkoa, taifa au hata kimataifa? Sababu kuu ya dunia kumuenzi Mandela sio tabasamu lake la kudumu usoni mwake bali kuwa mfano hai hata katika udhalimu mkubwa kiasi gani, haki inaweza kupatikana palipo nia thabiti.

Kuna changamoto nyingine muhimu kwa Watanzania hasa baada ya maadhimisho ya miaka 52 ya uhuru wetu Jumatatu iliyopita. Je uhuru wetu unaendana na uhuru halisi aliopigania Nelson Mandela na hatimaye kufanikiwa kuuangusha utawala dhalimu wa makaburu? Je, miaka 52 ya uhuru wetu imefanikiwa kuondoa 'ukaburu' kati ya walio nacho isivyo halali na wasio nacho isivyo halali? Je, rasilimali za taifa letu hazifuati 'ukaburu wa kiuchumi' kwa kunufaisha wachache badala ya kila mmoja wetu?

Naomba nihitimishe makala hii kwa kukiri kwamba nimepata wakati mgumu sana kuiandaa. Ni vigumu kuomboleza kifo cha mtu muhimu kama Mandela, na ni kama jambo lisilowezekana kumuenzi kwa makala fupi kama hii. Kwa upande mwingine ninamuaga Mandela kwa maneno haya: "….ulikuwa mtu mwema uliyeamini katika haki na usawa wa binadamu. Dunia itakukumbuka kwa jitihada zako. Mungu ailaze roho yako mahali pema peponi, Amina"

KWAHERI NELSON MANDELA

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Kumbukumbu ya Kumuaga #NelsonMandela; Picha ya Obama na PM wa kike wa Denmark "yazua kasheshe"

Moja ya picha zinazomwonyesha Rais Barack Obama 'akiwa karibu' na Waziri Mkuu wa Denmark, Helle-Thorning Schmidt,  huku mke wa Obama, Michelle,  akionekana kama asiye na furaha

 

Obama, Waziri Mkuu wa Uingereza David Cameron na mwanamama Schmidt wakipata 'selfie' huku Michelle akionekana hana furaha

Obama na mwanamama Schmidt wakiwa wenye furaha tele, huku Michelle akionekana 'hana amani.'

'Abiria chunga mzigo wako...'

Uwanja ulilipuka kwa chereko baada ya screens za uwanjani kumwonyesha Obama na mkewe baada ya kuchelewa kuwasili

'THANK YOU FOR SHARING MADIBA': HIGHLIGHTS OF OBAMA'S HEARTFELT EULOGY FOR NELSON MANDELA

To the people of South Africa - people of every race and walk of life - the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us. His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. 

Born during World War I, far from the corridors of power, a boy raised herding cattle and tutored by elders of his Thembu tribe - Madiba would emerge as the last great liberator of the 20th century. 

He was not a bust made of marble; he was a man of flesh and blood - a son and husband, a father and a friend. 

Mandela showed us the power of action; of taking risks on behalf of our ideals. 

Mandela understood the ties that bind the human spirit. There is a word in South Africa - 'Ubuntu' - that describes his greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that can be invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us.

It took a man like Madiba to free not just the prisoner, but the gaoler as well; to show that you must trust others so that they may trust you; to teach that reconciliation is not a matter of ignoring a cruel past, but a means of confronting it with inclusion, generosity and truth. He changed laws, but also hearts.

There are too many of us who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality. There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.

We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people of Africa, and young people around the world - you can make his life’s work your own. Over thirty years ago, while still a student, I learned of Mandela and the struggles in this land. It stirred something in me. It woke me up to my responsibilities - to others, and to myself - and set me on an improbable journey that finds me here today. And while I will always fall short of Madiba’s example, he makes me want to be better.

Tukio la kihistoria: Obama akisalimiana na Rais wa Cuba, Raul Castro

Obama akim-hug Rais Jacob Zuma wa Afrika Kusini hukunKatibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa, Ban Ki Moon (kushoto) akiangalia

Licha ya mvua, Obama aliweza kuwasalimia wananchi waliokuwa na shauku nae

Obama na walinzi wake

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Waziri Mkuu wa Uingereza David Cameron (kulia) akiongea na Mawaziri Wakuu wa Australia, Tony Abbot (kushoto) na New Zealand, John Key

Waziri Mkuu wa Uingereza David Cameron, Naibu Waziri Mkuu, Nick Clegg, na Waziri Mkuu wa zamani, Sir John Major, wakiwasili

Rais wa zamani wa Marekani, George W Bush akiongea na Waziri Mkuubwa zamani wa Uingereza Gordon Brown na mkewe Sarah

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Rais Jacob Zuma akihutubia, ambapo alizomewa mara kadhaa

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Winnie na Graca wakisalimiana

Uwanjani

Waombolezaji

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Rais Jakaya Kikwete na Mama Salma walikuwa miongoni mwa washiriki

Marais wa zamani wa Marekani, George W Bush na mkewe Laura (juu), na Bill Clinton na mkewe Hillary na binti yao Chelsea

Clinton, Hillary na Chelsea

Rais wa Zimbabwe,  'Jongwe' Robert Mugabe akiwasili

Supastaa Bono wa U2 na mcheza sinema mwenyecasili ya Afrika Kusini, Charlize Theron

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Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa, Ban Ki Moon akihutubia

Rais wa zamani wa Marekani, Jimmy Carter (kushoto), Katibu Mkuu wa zamani wa Umoja wa Mataifa, Koffi Annan, na Waziri wa zamani wa Mambo ya Nje wa Marekani, Henry Kissinger

Mtoto akiwa na bango la kumbukumbu ya Mandela

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"Get well soon, Madiba," Membe wishes Mandela quick recovery, also talks about Obama's visit

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon Bernard Membe has paid tribute to the ailing South African Father of the Nation, Mr Nelson Mandela saying Africa and the world still needs a healthy Mandela and his wisdom.

Speaking in a live Radio Clouds interview in Dar es alaam yesterday the Minister said Mr Mandela is one of the statesman on record for devising a successful peace and reconciliation with people who jailed him for nearly three decades.

"The world needs Mandela and pray to God for his quick recovery" the Minister noted in the Clouds' most popular program ' power breakfast'.

The Minister also said in the next one week Tanzania is going to host three major events, starting with the Smart partnership dialogue, the historic visit of the US President, Baraka Obama and First ladies Summit to be attended by George W. Bush, the former US President and his wife Laura.

Source: Mr Assah Mwambene, Director of Tanzania Information Service (Maelezo)/ Government Spokesman

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TIFU KTK FAMILIA MANDELA,MJUKUU ASEPA NA FEDHA ZA "MAZISHI YA MANDELA"

UMASIKINI AU KUTOKUWA MAARUFU KUNA FAIDA ZAKE,HASA LINAPOKUJA SUALA LA KIFO.UKIENDA KWENYE MSIBA WA TAJIRI NA KUKUTA WATU WANALIA KWA UCHUNGU MKUBWA,USIDHANI NI MAJONZI PEKEE;KUNA WANAOLILIA FEDHA ZA MAREHEMU.PENGINE KUNA UKWELI KWENYE MSEMO KUWA UKIWA TAJIRI AU MTU MAARUFU BASI UTAANDAMWA HADI KABURINI.

HABARI KUTOKA HUKO BONDENI KWA MZEE MANDELA ZINADOKEZA KWAMBA KUNA KIMBEMBE KINAENDELEA KWENYE FAMILIA YA MWANASIASA HUYO MKONGWE BAADA YA MMOJA WA WAJUKUU WAKE KUTUHUMIWA KUUZA HAKI ZA KUTANGAZA MAZISHI YA BABU YAKE NA KUCHIKICHIA ZAIDI YA RANDI ZA KISAUZI MILIONI 3.MJUKUU HUYO MANDLA MANDELA (Pichani KUSHOTO),ANAYETARAJIWA KUWA MRITHI WA KISIASA WA MANDELA,AMEKANUSHA TUHUMA HIZO KWAMBA AMEUZA HAKI ZA MAZISHI YA MANDELA KWA SHIRIKA LA RUNINGA LA SABC.

MANDELA ANA UMRI WA MIAKA 91,LAKINI KAMA TUJUAVYO,NI UCHURO KATIKA JAMII NYINGI ZA KIAFRIKA KUANZA MAANDALIZI YA MAZISHI YA MTU ALIYE HAI HATA KAMA UMRI UMEMTUPA MKONO.WANANDUGU KATIKA FAMILIA HIYO WAMECHUKIZWA SANA NA KITENDO HICHO. LAKINI KWA VILE UMAARUFU NI BI DEAL,INATARAJIWA KUWA PINDI MZEE HUYO AKIFARIKI KILA CHOMBO KIKUBWA CHA HABARI DUNIANI KITAHITAJI KUPATA NAFASI YA KURUSHA TUKIO HILO HEWANI....NA MJUKUU AKAONA LIWALO NA LIWE.

LAKINI SI MARA YA KWANZA KWA MJUKUU HUYO KUMGEUZA BABU YAKE NI MTAJI WA NAMNA FLANI.MWEZI FERBAURI MWAKA HUU ALIRUSHIWA MAKOMBORA YA SHUTUMA PALE ALIPOFANIKIWA "KUMSOMESHA2 BABU YAKE (ALIYEDHOOFIKA KIAFYA) HADI AKAKUBALI KUPANDA JUKWAANI KATIKA KAMPENI ZA MANDLA KUGOMBEA UBUNGE.JAPO BABU MANDELA HAKUWEZA KUHUTUBIA KUTOKANA NA KUWA DHOFUL HALI,TAYARI MJUKUU WAKE ALISHANUFAIKA NA PRESENCE YA MWANASIASA HUYO MKONGWE MWENYE MVUTO

MWEZI JANA,MANDLA ALIZUSHA KIMBEMBE KINGINE BAADA YA KUFANYA NJAMA ZA KUMWONDOSHA BINAMU YAKE KUTOKA KWENYE NYUMBA ANAYOISHI (BINAMU HUYO) ILI BAADAYE AIGEUZE NYUMBA HIYO KUWA KIVUTIO CHA WATALII (KWA VILE INA UHUSIANO NA HISTORIA YA MANDELA,WHICH IN TURN NI DILI LA MAANA).

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