DR SLAA: I'LL GO PUBLIC IF BUNGE BLOCKS DISCUSSION ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL INTEREST

Slaa up in arms on 'silencing' in House
By Faraja Jube Dodoma

Karatu MP Willibrod Slaa has threatened to "go public" with what he said were issues of national interest the Parliament blocked him from tabling in the august House on Monday.

Some MPs heckled the firebrand opposition leader as he stood up in parliament on Monday to give a speech on the Prime Minister's Office 2009/10 Budget.

Dr Slaa had reportedly prepared a vitriolic attack on former President Benjamin Mkapa and the Government over alleged mismanagement of funds.

Before giving his speech, the Chadema leader was reminded to respect the Parliamentary Standing Orders and warned not to breach the law in his presentation.

But in an interview with The Citizen yesterday, Dr Slaa said the National Assembly Speaker, Mr Samwel Sitta, had no right to block debate on sensitive public issues.

He said: "I have written to the Speaker asking him why unnecessary restrictions are being imposed on MPs who want to discuss matters of public interest in parliament."

He threatened to go public with the same issues he was barred from presenting in parliament saying he had the right to let people know about matters that affected them.

"If they don't want us to speak in parliament, it will reach a point where the only reasonable thing to do is table the agenda to the people," said Dr Slaa.

CCM MPs accused the opposition legislator of attempting to use the platform to launch a verbal attack against Mr Mkapa.

Mr Mudhihir Mudhihir (Mchinga-CCM) defended the former president saying he had done "a lot of good things but people want to see the negative only".

"It was under his leadership that this country recorded significant increases in Government revenue," the MP said, praising Mr Mkapa's administration for containing inflation and opening a number of trade opportunities.

Another CCM legislator, Dr Chrisant Mzindakaya (Kwela), tried to have Dr Slaa blocked from presenting his speech at all.

But even when he finally gave his speech, the opposition leader was forced to skip tabling his prepared questions on controversial deals the Mkapa administration allegedly signed.

And in an apparent reference to Dr Slaa, Dr Mzindakaya lashed out at "jealousy hypocrites and good-for-nothing crusaders against corruption".

"Those who criticise Mr Mkapa are agents of the Devil and loafers who have done nothing in life, but are motivated by jealousy and hatred. They are themselves corrupt people," he said.

But Dr Slaa insisted he would not relent on the issues he was barred from talking about saying the Constitution and Parliamentary Immunities and Privileges Act guarantee MPs the freedom to challenge the Government in the parliament.

"I will not accept such moves by anyone any more. This is all compromising principles. But I will stand up for my principles and for justice. We all have the right voice our concerns," he said.

Dr Slaa, who had prepared his disputed speech as a shadow minister, said the Government was obliged to respond to all queries raised by MPs in parliament.

"Even if the issues are sensitive, this is the whole purpose of raising them so that people can know and be informed about what is going on," he said.

"But there has been a tendency to block all sensitive issues from being discussed in parliament," he added.

Before he gave his controversial speech, Mr Sitta told the opposition MP he had read the speech and warned him against making statements that breached parliamentary regulations.

The Speaker had also ordered Dr Slaa not to use abusive language against a former president or discuss issues that had been lined for debate during the session.

Earlier, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice, Constitutional Affairs and Governance, Mr George Lubeleje, a CCM MP, had tabled the committee's position against Dr Slaa's speech.

However, the opposition leader retorted: "Why must I have any confidence in the committee or Speaker's office if they insist on imposing on us?"

He questioned the Speaker's application of the Parliamentary Standing Orders to the contentious issues of Meremeta, Tangold, Mwananchi and Deep Green Finance companies.

Last Friday, Dr Slaa asked the Government to respond to allegations of funds mismanagement involving the four companies that have become subjects of public debate.

"I was just questioning the Government over the embezzlement of Sh155 billion in Meremeta and not about the issues pertaining to national security," he said.

Mr Sitta postponed the debate to this Monday saying the Government should be given time to prepare its response.

But Dr Slaa also questioned the Parliament barred debate on the CAG report. "Where does the Speaker obtain the directive to block the debate?"

On the PMO's 2009/10 Budget estimates, the Chadema leader queried the allocation of billions of shillings to entertainment and hospitality, which he said had nothing to do the welfare of people.

He had to put up with sporadic interventions, mainly from Mr Philip Marmo, the minister of State in the President's Office (Good Governance), who also serves as coordinator of parliamentary activities.

Mr Marmo wanted, among other things, the Speaker to reprimand Dr Slaa for his reference to the amount of funds set aside for particular votes in the Government's Budget.

However, Mr Sitta said there was nothing wrong with the MP debating the Government's budget priorities.

SOURCE: The Citizen

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BUNGE LENYE MENO.....WELL,YA PLASTIKI

Hivi karibuni watunga sheria (wabunge) wetu watatu "waliungana" kuandika kitabu walichokipa jina "BUNGE LENYE MENO".Ukiangalia sehemu ndogo tu ya wasifu wa wabunge hao utamaizi kuwa "muungano huo wa uandishi" ulikuwa ni mithili ya "ndoa za makaratasi" (marriages of inconvenience).

Dkt Wilbroad Slaa,Spika Samuel Sitta na John Momose Cheyo!Nadhani kitu pekee kinachoweza kuwafanya wafanane ni "wote ni wabunge",and the similarity stops there.Wakati Dkt Slaa amejijengea jina kubwa kama kinara wa mapambano ya ufisadi,ni vigumu kum-define Spika Sitta linapokuja suala la mapambano dhidi ya ufisadi.Lakini si vigumu kukumbuka kuwa ni Sitta huyuhuyu aliyempa kadi nyekundu Zitto Kabwe alipombana ex-waziri Nazir Karamagi kuhusu sakata la Buzwagi.Na ni Sitta huyuhuyu aliyetishia kumshtaki Dkt Slaa alipoibua tuhuma ufisadi ndani ya Benki Kuu akidai kuwa ni ushahidi wa kufoji!Eti leo tunaambiwa Spika huyuhuyu nae ni kinara wa mapambano ya ufisadi!

Tukija kwa John Cheyo,nadhani amebaki kuwa UDP,kwa maana ya one-man party.Sera yake ya mapesa ilijaa utani ambao ungekuwa na maana zaidi kwenye sanaa za maigizo kuliko katika siasa makini.Amebaki kuwa jina tu.Sidhani kama kunamfano wowote hai unaoweza kutumika kumtambulisha Cheyo kama mwanaharakati wa mapambano dhidi ya ufisadi.

Sasa hao ndio waandishi wa kitabu BUNGE LENYE MENO.Lakini kwa vile nafahamu kwamba uchambuzi makini unahitaji kwenda mbali zaidi ya kuangalia personalities,naomba kugeukia hoja yangu ya kupingana na ya akina Sitta kuwa bunge la sasa lina meno.Binafsi nasema kama ni meno basi ni ya plastiki.Nadhani unafahamu mtoto mchanga anapoanza kuota meno huwa yanaota meno ambayo yanaitwa meno kwa vile tu yamekaa sehemu yalipo meno.Ukimnywesha uji wa moto basi kilio chake hapo ni balaa!Ni meno machanga yasiyomudu kutafuna vitu vigumu.

Na ndio bunge letu lilivyo.Utasikia kelele,vitisho,na vitu kama hivyo kila waheshimiwa wanapokutana hapo Dodoma ambapo mwisho wa siku akaunti zao zinaingiza kipato cha zaidi ya mwezi mzima kwa Mtanzania wa kawaida,huku kila mwisho wa mwezi wakiondoka na mamilioni lukuki.Basi angalau kipato chao kingeendana na hali halisi ya uchumi wa nchi yetu.

Wabunge wa CCM,ambao wanatengeneza zaidi ya robo tatu ya bunge letu,ndio vichekesho zaidi.Utamsikia huyu akisema hili kabla ya mwenzie kumkalia kooni akitaka mwongozo wa Spika kwa madai ya "kukiuka kanuni za bunge".Lakini ukifuatilia kwa makini,mara nyingi mwongozo huo huombwa pale anapojitokeza mbunge mmoja kuelezea yale yanayozungumzwa na Watanzania wengi mitaani,kwa mfano ishu ya ufisadi.Sasa kwa vile kuna wabunge wenye deni kubwa zaidi kwa CCM na vigogo wake,njia pekee ya kulipa deni hilo ni kuomba mwongozo wa Spika ili kuwaziba midomo wale wanaoongea yasiyopendeza masikioni mwa watawala.

Majuzi,Mbunge wa Nzega Lukas Selelii amemwomba Mungu awalaani mawaziri kwa madai kwamba wamekuwa sehemu muhimu ya maendeleo ya ufisadi nchini.Mbunge wa Pangani Mohammed Rished akaomba mwongozo....sijui kuonyesha anafahamu zaidi sheria za Bunge au kwa vile yaliyoongelewa na Selelii hayakumpendeza mbunge Rished.Kwani si kweli kwamba maamuzi mengi yaliyopelekea skandali za ufisadi yalipitishwa na Baraza la Mawaziri?Kabineti ingetimiza wajibu wake tungekuwa na Richmond?au Kiwira?Au TICTS?au Buzwagi?Au IPTL?Orodha ni ndefu.Sasa Rished alihitaji mwongozo kwa vile Selelii kumuomba Mungu awalaani watu waliofanya maamuzi yaliyopelekea ufisadi ni kosa la jinai au?Halafu tunaambiwa tuna "bunge lenye meno"!In this case,haya wala si meno ya plastiki bali ni mapengo kabisa.

Fuatilia kwa karibu mjadala wa Bajeti unavyoendelea huko Dodoma.Kuna kauli za uchungu kutoka kwa baadhi ya wabunge kama Selelii,Mwambalaswa,Mpendazoe na,kama kawaida,wabunge wa upinzani kama vile Dkt Slaa.Lakini kauli pekee hazimsaidii Mtanzania masikini asiyejua hatma ya maisha yake.Kelele hizi zimekuwepo tangu bunge hili linaanza.Ndio,zimesaidia kuundwa kwa kamati mbalimbali kama ile ya Mwakyembe.Lakini kuunda kamati kisha kutofanyia kazi mapendekezo yake ni sawa na ufisadi tu.Ikumbukwe kuwa kamati hizo hutumia mamilioni ya fedha za walipa kodi.Ukubwa wa gaharama za kuendesha kamati za aina hiyo ungeweza kupunguziwa maumivu laiti mapendekezo yanayotolewa yangekuwa yanafanyiwa kazi.Hadi leo wahusika wa Richmond (achana na yule decoy mwenye kesi mahakamani) wanaendelea "kupeta".

Laiti Bunge lingekuwa na meno,isingetosha kwa Lowassa,Msabaha na Karamagi kujiuzulu tu.Walipaswa wakabidhiwe kwa vyombo vya dola.Kadhalika,watendaji wa serikali waliotajwa kuhusika walipaswa kuwajibishwa mara moja.Badala yake,hadithi zimeendelea kila kinapojiri kikao kingine cha bunge,huko waandishi wetu mahiri wa kunukuu wakija na vichwa vya habari kama "Moto kuwaka Bungeni","Ishu ya EPA kuibuliwa tena Bungeni"...Huwezi kuwalaumu sana kwa vile vyombo vya habari vinaendeshwa kibiashara na kichwa cha habari chenye mvuto kinauza gazeti!

Bunge lenye meno lisingekuwa linapigwa danadana na Waziri Ngeleja kuhusu ishu ya Kiwira.Bunge lenye meno lisingekubali mkataba wa TICTS uendelee kuwa hoja ya moto kila kikao lakini inayoishia kuwa ya moto pasipo mabadiliko,only for it kuwa ya moto tena kwenye kikao kingine.Yayumkinika kusema kuwa kama ni moto wa hoja,basi ni wa njiti ya kiberiti kwenye upepo mkali;hudumu kwa sekunde tu.

Sintajadili zaidi kwa vile itakuwa sawa na kupre-empty muswada wa chapisho naloandaa kama mapitio (majibu?) ya kitabu hicho cha wabunge hao.Ila kwa kifupi,si rahisi kuwa na bunge lenye meno wakati wabunge wenyewe wanaishi maisha tofauti na hao wanaopaswa kuwawakilisha bungeni (nikimaanisha maslahi yao).Tusidanganyane,mtu anayelipwa milioni 6 na ushee kwa mwezi hawezi hata chembe kuwa mwakilishi mzuri wa mtu asiye na uhakika wa kukamata angalau shs 10,000 kwa mwezi.Haya ni matabaka mawili tofauti,na japo kinadharia wabunge wanapaswa kuwa sehemu ya tabaka tawaliwa kwa maana ya uwakilishi wa wananchi,maslahi yao makubwa yanawaingiza kwenye tabaka tawala na hivyo kuwaweka kwenye mgongano wa moja kwa moja direct confrontation) na tabaka tawaliwa la wananchi wa kawaida.Katika hali hiyo,serikali kwa maana ya the executive branch of the government,inapata free pass kwani wanaopaswa kuihoji nao wanajikuta wakihojiwa na wanaowawakilisha.Kiuhalisia,mpiga kura is hardly represented bungeni.

Lakini tukiweka kando suala la kipato na matabaka,tatizo la msingi zaidi kwenye bunge hili ni kutanguliza mbele maslahi ya chama badala ya maslahi ya nchi.Umoja na mshikamano ndani ya CCM unatafsiriwa kuwa ni muhimu zaidi kuliko umoja na mshikamano wa kitaifa.Wengi wa wabunge wa CCM wanahofia kuzungumzia baadhi ya masuala yanayolihusu taifa ambayo kwa namna moja au nyingine yanaifanya CCM inyooshewe kidole.Hakuna mbunge wa CCM anayeweza kuzuia bajeti ya wizara flani,hata kama ni mbovu namna gani,kwa vile akifanya hivyo atatafsiriwa kuwa anavunja mshikamano wa chama.Mbunge katika bunge lenye meno hawezi kuogopa tafsiri ya chama chake,bali wapigakura wake.

Kwa anayehitaji nakala ya bure ya kitabu hicho cha BUNGE LENYE MENO (as an ebook),tuwasiliane.

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DR SLAA ADAI KUWEKEWA BUGGING DEVICE CHUMBANI

MBUNGE wa Karatu kwa tiketi ya Chadema, Dk. Willbroad Slaa amedai kuwa amegundua vifaa maalum vya kunasa sauti vilivyotegwa kwenye chumba chake, ambavyo anahisi viliwekwa ili kupata taarifa ya mazungumzo yake.

Katika hali isiyo ya kawaida, mbunge huyo, ambaye amekuwa akipasua mabomu mbalimbali dhidi ya serikali na viongozi wake, aliitisha mkutano na waandishi wa habari majira ya saa 6:00 usiku kueleza mkasa huo.

Dk. Slaa alidai kuwa vifaa hivyo alivikuta vikiwa vimetegeshwa kwenye chaga za vitanda katika chumba chake kilicho Hotel Fifty Six mjini hapa ambako anahudhuria Mkutano wa 14 wa Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano.

“Nilikuwa nimeambatana na watoto wangu wawili na nilipoingia chumbani niliwaeleza kuhusu suala hilo la bugging (uchunguzi wa kikachero)... naona hawakunielewa lakini kwa kuwa nilishasoma novel (vitabu vya hadithi) nyingi zinazohusiana na mambo hayo, nilijua nini cha kufanya,” alisema Dk Slaa alipokuwa akieleza waandishi kuhusu tukio hilo.

“Tulipofika tu chumbani kwanza tulichunguza kwenye sehemu za umeme za kuchomeka charger za simu, sikuona kitu. Tukajaribu kufunua makochi nako hatukuona kitu. Tukaanza kuchunguza sehemu zote zenye matobo hadi bafuni sikuona kitu. Tulipofunua godoro ndipo tukashuhudia lidude hilo kwenye chaga za kitanda.”

Alisema baada ya kuona hivyo, aliwaita baadhi ya wabunge wenzake na katika kujihami wakaanza tena kuchunguza kwenye vyumba vya wabunge wengine watatu ambao wote ni wa kambi ya upinzani, wanaolala kwenye hoteli hiyo.

Katika kupekua kwenye vitanda ndipo wakagundua pia kwa Dk. Ali Tarab Ali, mbunge wa Konde ambaye anaishi chumba kinachofuatia, pia kulikuwa na kifaa cha namna hiyo lakini kwenye vyumba vya wabunge wengine- Charles Mwera (Tarime-Chadema) na Mwajuma Hassan Khamis (Magogoni-CUF)- hakuona kitu kama hicho.

Alisema baadaye walipiga simu polisi mkoani hapa pamoja na katibu wa Bunge, Dk. Thomas Kashililah. Inadaiwa kuwa vinasa sauti hivyo viligundulika juzi saa 4:00 usiku wakati wabunge hao waliporejea kulala kwenye hoteli hiyo ambayo ipo katika jengo la ghorofa mbili na ambalo bado ujenzi wake haujakamilika.

Taarifa za tukio hilo zilisambaa kwenye vyombo vya habari kupitia vyanzo tofauti na Mwananchi ilipowasili kwenye hoteli hiyo saa 5:00 usiku huo, tayari kulikuwa na umati wa watu waliofika kushuhudia mkasa huo, wakiwemo wabunge wa Chadema na CUF waliopo mjini hapa, wafanyakazi wa hoteli hiyo na ofisa mmoja wa polisi.

Kifaa hicho ni kidogo sawa na kidole gumba cha mkono ama kifaa cha kuwekea mafaili ya kompyuta maarufu kama ‘USB Flash’ ambacho kila baada ya sekunde 10, kilikuwa kinatoa mwanga mwekundu kama ilivyo baadhi ya simu za mikononi ambazo hutoa mwanga kuashiria kuwa ipo kwenye eneo ambalo mfumo wa mawasiliano ya kampuni husika unapatikana. Kifaa hicho kilikuwa na tobo kwa juu katika sehemu ya chaga ambayo kilikuwa kimebandikwa kimshazari kwa kutumia gundi maalum.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa zilizopo katika mtandao wa internet kifaa hicho ambacho hutumiwa na wataalam wa ukachero, kina uwezo mkubwa wa kunasa sauti kwa muda mrefu kulingana na aina ya kifaa hicho. Muda wa kunasa sauti huweza kuanzia saa 18 hadi 300 huku kikitumia kiasi kidogo sana cha umeme au betri. Kina kalenda ambayo mtumiaji huweza kuiseti kwa jinsi anavyotaka.

Kwa mujibu wa mtandao wa kampuni ya Ts- Market ya Russia inayotengeneza vifaa vya kunasia sauti katika mfumo wa video na sauti, kifaa hicho kina uwezo mkubwa wa kufanya kazi katika mazingira ya kila aina ikiwa ni pamoja na vumbi na joto kali.

Pamoja na hayo, mtumiaji anaweza kuweka neno la siri kuhakikisha hakuna mtu mwingine anayeweza kutumia ikiwa ni njia salama ya kuhakikisha alichorekodi kinabaki salama. Pia kina chaguzi mbalimbali za lugha ambazo zinaweza kutumika.

Kwenye chaga la kitanda cha Dk. Slaa ilionekana alama nyeupe ambayo iliwafanya baadhi ya wabunge waliofika kwenye tukio hilo kueleza kuwa inaashiria sehemu hiyo ilibandikwa kifaa kingine na pengine baada ya taarifa kujaa, kikachukuliwa na kuwekwa kingine.

Akihadithia jinsi alivyogundua kuwepo kwa kifaa hicho chumbani mwaka, Dk. Slaa alisema kuwa juzi saa 5:00 wakati akiwa anahudhuria vikao bungeni, aliarifiwa na mmoja wa marafiki zake ambaye hakumtaja kwamba kwenye chumba chake kuna kinasa sauti cha kikachero. “Mimi sikushtuka sana, nikawa naendelea na vikao bungeni. Kama unavyojua jana jioni nilikuwa nahudhuria kikao cha Kamati ya Mambo ya Nje, Ulinzi na Usalama,” alisema Dk Slaa.

Kwenye kikao hicho, ilikuwa inajadiliwa hoja binafsi ambayo alitarajia kuiwasilisha bungeni akimtuhumu Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani, Lawrence Masha kuingilia mchakato wa zabuni ya vitambulisho vya taifa kwa kutaka kampuni ambao iliondolewa hatua za wali, irejeshwe.

Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda alisema bungeni wiki iliyopita kuwa hoja ya Dk. Slaa inatokana na taarifa iliyonyofolewa kutoka kwenye faili Wizara ya Mambo ya Ndani na mtu ambaye hajulikani. Uchunguzi wa aliyeiba nyaraka hizo bado unafanyika.

Dk. Slaa aliendelea kusema kuwa baada ya kutoka kwenye kikao hicho saa 11:00 jioni alienda kula chakula cha jioni na saa 4:00 usiku alirejea kwenye hoteli aliyokuwa anaishi na alipokuwa akipanda ngazi, ndipo akakumbuka juu ya onyo alilopewa na msiri wake kuhusu kinasa sauti kilicho chumbani kwake.

Mkuu wa Upelelezi wa Mkoa (RCO), Salum Msangi alifika eneo hilo kabla ya hali kutulia akiwa na maofisa kadhaa wa polisi ambao walianza kwa kupata maelezo ya Dk. Slaa na baadaye Dk. Ali na walichomoa vifaa hivyo na kuondoka navyo kwa ajili ya uchunguzi zaidi.

Msangi aliwaambia waandishi wa habari waliokuwa eneo hilo kuwa ni mapema kueleza chochote kuhusu kifaa hicho, lakini akaahidi kuwa baada ya uchunguzi kukamilika, ataweka hadharani mambo yote. Wabunge wote wawili walisema kuwa wapo tayari kuendelea kulala kwenye hoteli hiyo usiku ule lakini taarifa zilizopatikana mjini hapa jana zilieleza kuwa tayari wamehama na haijulikani wanakoishi kwa sasa.

“Kwa vile nimesoma hadithi kwenye vitabu vingi kuhusu mambo haya ya ‘Bugging’ siogopi nitaendelea kulala,” alisema Dk. Slaa baada ya polisi kuondoka na kifaa hicho, lakini awali alikuwa akisema kuwa hajui kama kifaa hicho kinatoa miale ya kumdhuru.

Dk. Slaa alisema kutokana na tabia yake ya kuwa mkweli na hata kuthubutu kufumua madhambi wanayoyafanya vigogo serikalini kwa maslahi ya wananchi wote wa Tanzania, amekuwa akiishi kwa tahadhari akitambua kuwa anaweza kuwekewa kudhuriwa kwa namna yoyote ile kama vile kuwekea sumu kwenye vyakula.

Kwa sababu hiyo alisema kuwa amekuwa akichukua tahadhari kubwa katika vyakula anavyokula kwa kuhakikisha wale wanaompatia chakula anawafahamu. “Hata hapa hotelini wanajua, chakula changu huletwa kwa utaratibu maalumu,” alisema Dk. Slaa bila kutaka kufafanua.

Alitoa mfano kuwa katika siku za karibuni alipewa zawadi ya mvinyo kwenye chupa yenye ujazo wa lita moja na mtu ambaye hakumfahamu, lakini alitaka maelezo juu ya mtu aliyempatia.
“Niliirudisha kule reception (mapokezi) nikitaka maelezo juu ya mtu aliyeileta lakini baadaye walisema ni mwalimu wa CBE (Chuo cha Biashara) hapa Dodoma. Kwa kuwa sikumfahamu, sikuitumia,” alisema Dk. Slaa.

Aliongeza kuwa baada ya kuichunguza kwa juu aliona matobo matatu kuashiria kuwa kuna kitu chenye ncha kama sindano kilitoboa, hivyo akaitilia shaka hasa ikizingatia kuwa mtoa zawadi hakuwa anamfahamu. Divai hiyo ambayo Mwananchi ililishuhudia inaitwa Altar Wine.

Hata hivyo, Dk. Slaa alisema kuwa ni mapema kuhitimisha kuwa aliyemzawadia mvinyo hiyo alikuwa na lengo baya la kumdhuru kwa sababu haijafanyiwa uchunguzi wowote wa kitaalamu.
Baadhi ya wafanyakazi wa hoteli hiyo walithibitisha kuwa mwalimu wa CBE aliyempelekea Dk. Slaa divai hiyo wanamfahamu kwa sura kwa kuwa amekuwa akifika mara kwa mara hotelini hapo.

Katibu wa bunge alisema kuwa si rahisi kuweza kuelezea kifaa hicho kilikuwa ni kinasa sauti cha kikachero kwa sababu uchunguzi wa kina unahitajika.

CHANZO: Mwananchi

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