BUNGE LENYE MENO (YA PLASTIKI)

Pamoja na kuwa moja ya nchi maskini kabisa duniani, Tanzania yetu bado inaendelea kusifika kwa mambo kadhaa. Ukiachia mbali vivutio vya asili kama Mlima Kilimanjaro, utitiri wa wanyama huko Selous, Mikumi na kwingineko, na “utajiri” wa madini kama Tanzanite,dhahabu, almasi na madini mengineyo,nchi yetu pia inasifika kwa watu wenye uwezo wa kuongea.

Ndio maana jirani zetu wanapenda kututania kuwa “nyie Watanzania iko maneno mingi” wakimaanisha tunaongea sana. Na pengine mahala mwafaka pa kuthibitisha uwezo wetu wa kuongea ni katika vikao vya bunge letu tukufu. Laiti yote yanayoongewa katika vikao hivyo yangekuwa yanatafsiriwa kwa vitendo, basi kwa hakika tungekuwa mbali sana.

Lakini licha ya sifa hiyo ya kuongea sana, Watanzania tuna sifa nyingine ya usikivu na kuamini kirahisi kila tusikiacho hata kama ni “wizi mtupu”. Ndio maana basi watu wenye akili na busara zao walidanganyika kwamba miongoni mwa wabunge wa CCM kuna kundi la WAPIGANAJI DHIDI YA UFISADI.Kundi hilo lililojipatia umaarufu usiostahili linadaiwa kuwa chini ya Spika wa Bunge, Samuel Sitta.

Na kwa katika kile kinachoweza kutafsiriwa kwamba ni jitihada za kujiongezea sifa za “upambanaji” , Spika Sitta na wabunge wawili kutoka vyama vya upinzani,Dr Wilbroad Slaa (Chadema) na John Cheyo (UDP) walichapisha kitabu walichokipa jina “BUNGE LENYE MENO”. Si lengo la makala haya kurejea yaliyomo katika kitabu hicho, lakini kwa kifupi ni mwendelezo wa sifa tulizonazo Watanzania: maneno meeeengi lakini vitendo SIFURI.

Sijui Sitta wa “wapiganaji” wenzie walikuwa na mawazo gani kurefusha mjadala wa ujambazi wa Richmond kwa takriban miaka miwili lakini tukashuhudia wakilamba matapishi yao walipounga mkono kile kinachoitwa “utekelezaji wa serikali wa maazimio ya bunge kuhusu suala la Richmond”.Kwanini hawakuiunga mono serikali tangu siku ya kwanza badala ya kuwazuga Watanzania kwa muda wote huu?

Binafsi siamini kabisa kuwa Spika Sitta ni mpambanaji dhidi ya ufisadi.Ni usanii tu ambao unaelekea kuwa moja ya sifa muhimu za wanasiasa wetu.Sitta atakuwaje kamanda wa vita dhidi ya ufisadi ilhali ndiye aliyemfungia Zitto Kabwe alipohoji ufisadi wa Buzwagi?Je sio Sitta huyohuyo aliyetishia kumpeleka Dr Slaa kwenye vyombo vya sheria pale (Slaa) alipoibua ufisadi wa EPA?

Spika Sitta,akisaidiwa na vyombo vyetu vya habari vinavyosifika kwa umahiri wa kukariri kikasuku kila kinachosemwa na wanasiasa (badala ya kwenda mbali zaidi na kuchambua kauli hizo), alitambua vema kuwa Watanzania wengi wanahitaji wanasiasa watakaoungana nao kupambana na ufisadi.Kwa lugha nyingine,alifahamu fika kuwa mapambano dhidi ya ufisadi ni mtaji maridhawa kisiasa na ungeweza kuimarisha nafasi yake.

Na kwa vile anafahamu kuwa Watanzania ni wasikivu sana hata kama wanadanganywa,akawa anapita huku na kule akijigamba kwamba “kamwe hatatishwa na wanaomwandama kisiasa kutokana na msimamo wake thabiti wa kupiga vita ufisadi”. Sitta, na wasanii wenzake waliotuhadaa kuwa ni “wapiganaji dhidi ya ufisadi” walibinafsisha ajenda ya vita dhidi ya ufisadi kiasi kwamba “kila aliyeonyesha dalili ya kutamani MAJIMBO YAO alionekana anasukumwa na umahiri ya akina Sitta katika kupambana na ufisadi”.Yaani hawakubinafisha tu hoja ya ufisadi bali wamegeuza majimbo yao kuwa mali zao za urithi ambazo hazipaswi kuguswa na Mtanzani mwengine yeyote yule.

Na Sitta anadai atawania tena kiti cha Uspika katika bunge lijalo.Kuna dalili kuwa anaweza kurejea bungeni kwa vile ametumia vema nafasi yake ya uspika kujiimariusha jimboni kwake Urambo.Lakini kama bunge lijalo litakuwa na wabunge wanaowajali wapiga kura wao basi ni dhahiri Sitta atabaki kuwa historia tu.Hatastahili hata unaibu Spika,pamoja na naibu wake wa sasa Anne Makinda,viumbe wawili waliotumia vibaya sana madaraka yao na kuendesha taasisi hiyo kwa utashi wao huku wakitumia kanuni zilizopitwa na wakati kuwaokoa mawaziri wazembe walioshindwa kutoa majibu sahihi kwenye mijadala bungeni.

“Wapiganaji feki wa ufisadi” wametuchezea shere.Upande mmoja wao ni sehemu ya mfumo wa kifisadi unaoshamiri kwa kulindana,na hawana jeuri ya kujitenga nao kwa vile ni wabinafsi.Lakini kwa upande mwingine wanataka tuwaone wao ni wenzetu,wanaguswa na matatizo yetu na wana uchungu wa dhati na nchi yetu.Wasanii hawa wanatuona sie wajinga tusiojua kuwa mishahara yao minono ni ushahidi tosha kuwa wanaishi dunia nyingine kulinganisha na walimu,madaktari,manesi,wakulima na walalahoi wengine.Wanarefusha vikao vya bunge ili posho zao nonoi ziendelee kutunisha akaunti zao.

Spika Sitta na wasanii wengine waliotudanganya kuwa wao ni wapiganaji dhidi ya ufisadi hawana sababu hata moja ya kuwaacha majambazi wa Richmond wakisafishwa na pasipo kuchukuliwa hatua yoyote.Kuna baadhi yetu tulikuwa tukifahamu tangu mwanzo kuwa hakutakuwa na hatua yoyote dhidi ya Lowassa,Karamagi,Msabaha,Mwanyika ,Hoseah na wengineo waliohishwa na ufisadi huo.Tulifahamu hivyo kwa vile kimsingi,ufisadi huo-kama ilivyo kwenye ishu za EPA,Kiwira,na kwingineko-ni matokeo ya ushirika wa kijambazi uliobuniwa na kufanikishwa kwenye korido za utawala za CCM.Kuwachukulia hatua watuhumiwa hawa kungeweza kabisa kupelekea vigogo wengine kuadhiriwa hadharani.

Hiyo haimaanishi kuwa kuadhirishwa kwa vigogo hao ni kosa,bali ni muhimu kwetu kuelewa kuwa mtandao huu wa kifisadi uliundwa kwa madhumuni ambayo mpaka sasa bado yana umuhimu kwa wahusika.Kwa lugha nyepesi.mfumo wa kifisadi ni matokeo ya moja kwa moja ya kundi la WANAMTANDAO.Na kama walivyoshirikiana kuingizana madarakani,wanaendelea kulindana ili Mtandao huu uendelee kututawala.

Na Watanzania tuna sifa nyingine ya ziada:UPOLE. Ungetarajia kusikia wananchi wakiandamana kupinga majambazi wa Richmond “kuachiwa huru na Bunge” huku wakihakikishiwa kuwa “kuna siku watarejea madarakani”. Yaani tumetapeliwa,tukachezewa akili kwa zaidi ya miaka miwili na sasa tunashuhudia majambazi wakisafishwa bungeni lakini hakuna tumetulia kana kwamba Katiba inatuelekeza tufanye hivyo!Ama kweli hiyo ndio amani na utulivu-sio kwako na kwangu bali AMANI KWA WANAOTAFUNA NCHI YETU NA UTULIVU KWA AKAUNTI ZAO ZILIZESHEHENI MAMILIONI YA FEDHA ZA KIFISADI.

Habari njema kwa mafisadi ni dalili kuwa wengi wao watarejea tena madarakani baada ya uchaguzi mkuu hapo Oktoba.Na habari njema zaidi kwao,ni kuwepo kwa kila ishara kuwa chama kinacholea ufisadi,CCM,kitaunda serikali ya awamu ya tano huku kikilindwa na idadi kubwa ya wabunge.Japo baadhi yetu tungependa kuona mabadiliko lakini ni muhimu kwetu kuwa wakweli kwa nafsi zetu.Hakuna dalili ya CCM kushindwa uchaguzi mkuu ujao kwa vile mazingira yaliyopo yanakwaza mabadiliko ya aina yoyote ile.

Hata hivyo,kama wewe Mtanzania umechoshwa na ufisadi,kulindana,ahadi hewa na ubabaishaji mwingine,una nafasi ya pekee ya kutimiza hasira zako kwa kuinyima kura CCM.Vinginevyo,hali sio tu itaendelea kuwa mbaya bali tunaweza kufika mahala watu wakalazimisha mabadiliko yatakayopelekea kutuathiri sote.Ni muhimu kwako mpiga kura kujisuta kwa makosa uliyofanya 2005 na huko nyuma,lakini kufanya kosa si kosa bali kurejea kosa.Ni mwaka huu au ndio tumeumia milele.Timiza wajibu wako.

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TAMATI YA RICHMOND BUNGENI: CCM MMETUSALITI

Baada ya danadana za muda mrefu ndani na nje ya bunge,hatimaye mjadala wa ujambazi wa Richmond umefungwa rasmi.Kwa mujibu wa taarifa zilizopatikana kutoka Dodoma,bunge limeridhia taarifa ya utekelezaji wa Azimio lake kuhusu suala la Richmond.Kwa lugha nyepesi,wawakilishi wetu wameridhia ujambazi uliofanywa na wahusika wa mradi huo wa kitapeli.

Kama ilivyo ada,CCM imeendelea kutumia wingi wa wabunge wake kuhakikisha kuwa matakwa yake yanatimia hata kama ni kinyume na matarajio ya Watanzania walio wengi.Wingi wa wabunge wa CCM umeendelea kuwa nyenzo muhimu kupunguza/kuondoa umuhimu wa wabunge kutoka vyama vya upinzani

Inasemekana kwamba msimamo wa pamoja wa wabunge wa CCM ulifikiwa katika kikao chake cha "kuwekana sawa",utaratibu uliiota miziz ndani ya chama hicho kila linapojiri jambo linaloashiria upinzani kwa ajili ya maslahi ya wananchi.

Wabunge wote walioamua kuzika mjadala wa Richmond ni sawa na wasaliti kwa vile nafsini na akilini mwao wanafahamu bayana kuwa namna pekee ya kumaliza suala hilo ilikuwa kwa wahusika kuwajibishwa.Madhara ya muda mrefu ya usaliti huo ni uwezekano wa kusambaa kwa virusi vya ufisadi ambavyo vinatambua bayana kuwa vina ulinzi wa kutosha kutoka chama tawala.

Kulikuwa na ugumu gani kuagiza suala hilo lipelekwe mahakamani ili kama wahusika walionewa basi iwe hivyo,na kama waliliingiza "mkenge" taifa basi wavune walichopanda?Hizi siasa za kulindana zitaendelea mpaka lini?CCM wanasahau kwamba hiki ni kipindi cha mpito tu,watafanya maamuzi ya kulindana mpaka wachoke,lakini siku ya siku watajilaumu kwa uzembe wao katika maamuzi.

Na kama kuna wa kusutwa basi na wale waliokuwa wakipata huku na kule wakijitambulisha kuwa ni "makamanda wa vita ya ufisadi".Nimeshaandika mara kadhaa kuhusu tunavyodanganyika kirahisi kila tunapowasikia akina Sitta wakidai "wanahujumiwa kwa vile wamesimama kidete kwenye mapambano dhidi ya ufisadi".Kwanini mapambano hayo yabaki ya kihisia/kufikirika zaidi kuliko vitendo?I just hope kwamba uamuzi wa kuzika hoja ya Richmond utajumuisha pia kuzikwa kwa kundi la wanafiki wajiitao "makamanda wa vita ya ufisadi".Kama ni makamanda basi ni wa mbao (wooden soldiers).

Lakini wenye uchungu wa dhati na nchi yetu bado wana fursa kubwa tu ya kutoa hukumu yao hapo Oktoba mwaka huu.Naendelea kuamini kuwa njia pekee ya kuikomboa Tanzania kutoka kwenye lindi na umasikini na bahari ya ufisadi ni kwa kuiondoa CCM madarakani.Tusitarajie lolote jipya kutoka kwa chama hicho kilichochoka kimawazo na kilichoishiwa na uwezo wa kutawala.Kuendelea kukiweka madarakani ni kukionea tu kwa vile kimeshatuthibitishia vipaumbele vyake.

Akina Muro wakituhumiwa rushwa basi hata kichanga kilichozaliwa jioni hii kitatambua namna dola "inavyowajibika".Yakija masuala ya akina Lowassa,Chenge,Kamragi,Msabaha na watuhumiwa wengine basi zinaanza ngonjera moja baada ya nyingine.Sasa kama walikuwa wanajua hatma ya mazingaombwe haya ni hii basi kulikuwa na haja gani ya kutuzingua kila kilipojiri kikao cha bunge?Na kama kawaida ya mengi ya magazeti yetu,danganya toto kuwa "bungeni hapatakalika kwa mjadala wa Richmond,Kiwira,TICTS,nk" ziliendelea kutawala vichwa vya habari.

Sababu nyingine ya ziada ya kuinyima CCM kura yako hapo Oktoba.

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WANAUME WA "KIZUNGU" NI BORA ZAIDI YA WA "KIBONGO"?

Naomba kujadili mada ambayo imekuwa ikijirudia mara kwa mara kuhusu “wanaume wa kibongo”.Nikiri kuwa sina hakika neno “wanaume wa kibongo” linamaanisha Watanzania pekee au Waafrika kwa ujumla au Weusi (Blacks) wote.Ila kwa madhumuni ya mjadala huu,nitayumkinisha kuwa walengwa ni wanaume wa Kitanzania.

Pengine mtazamo wangu unaweza kuathiriwa na ukweli kuwa nami ni “mwanaume wa Kibongo” (Mtanzania).Hata hivyo,nitajitahidi kuepuka kujipendelea (subjectivity).

Kama nilivyopata utata kwenye neno “wanaume wa kibongo” (na hivyo kutumia dhana ya Watanzania) najikuta kwenye utata mwingine kuhusu neno “wanaume wa Kizungu”.Je linamaanisha watu weupe (Whites)?Au watu wa “dunia ya kwanza”/nchi za Magharibi ikijumuisha na weusi/non-Whites waliozaliwa huku?Je “wazungu” hao wanajumuisha pia wale wanaotoka “Ulaya iliyochoka” kwa mfano Ulaya Mashariki-ambapo baadhi yao wanalazimika kuja kutafuta maisha bora Ulaya Magharibi na kwingineko?

Tukiweka kando utata huo wa maana inayokusudiwa, kuna suala jingine ambalo ni muhimu kuliweka wazi.Nilipokuja Ulaya mara ya kwanza, nilikuwa na picha ya “wamisionari” –watu walioacha “raha” za kwao kwenda kuishi maeneo magumu kabisa kwao.Na nilikuwa na picha ya watu wenye upendo,huruma na wanaoguswa mno na shida zetu za kimwili na kiroho.

Lakini haikunichukua hata mwezi kugundua kuwa Ulaya nilokuwa naifikiria awali ina viumbe wa aina tofauti kama ilivyo huko nyumbani.Kuna wenye upendo na wenye chuki,kuna wenye busara na majuha,kuna wenye akili na machizi,nk.La kwanza nililobaini ni UBAGUZI.Sio tu wa rangi bali hata wa kipato.Wakati kimsingi jamii nyingi za kiafrika zimejengwa katika misingi ya ushirikiano,usawa na utu, kwa hawa wenzetu “ubinafsi” ( individuality, katika hisia chanya na hasi) una nafasi muhimu katika mafanikio au kufeli kwa mtu.Jitihada za mtu binafsi zina umuhimu mkubwa zaidi kuliko za ushirika/ujamaa.Hilo linaweza kuwa na uzuri wake lakini pia kuna suala la madaraja (classes) ambayo mfumo wa kibepari umeyaimarisha vizuri.

Na hili la madaraja ni muhimu sana katika kuzielewa jamii hizi.Kuna wale walioelimika na kuielewa dunia, na wengi wao-japo si wote- wanafahamu kwanini Afrika au Waafrika tuko jinsi tulivyo.Lakini kwa wale “waliokwepa umande”- japo si wote-kwao Afrika na Waafrika ni vitu vilivyopo duniani kimakosa.Ni katika kundi hili la pili ndipo kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa kukutana na “wapuuzi” wanaoamini kuwa Waafrika tunaishi maporini au kwenye miti huku tukizungukwa na nzi,tukijisaidia popote,na upuuzi mwingine kama huo.Kwa takriban mwongo mmoja niliokaa hapa Uingereza nimeshakutana na watu wa aina hiyo mara kadhaa na majibu yangu huwa “kama sie tunaishi kwenye miti je balozi wenu huko kwetu naye anamudu vipi kuishi kwenye mti?”.Ila mara nyingi huwa naishia kuwatukana tu.

Kuna suala la ubaguzi.Kwa hapa Uingereza,baadhi ya Waingereza wanakiri bayana kwamba “ubaguzi ni sehemu ya utamaduni wa baadhi yao...na ndio maana unaona Wakatoliki na Waprotestanti wanaendelea kupingana huko Ireland ya Kaskazini”.Wengine wanakwenda mbali zaidi na kueleza imani yao kuwa hisia hizo za kibaguzi zilichangia sana ukoloni wa dunia “ya watu wasiostaarabika”.Ni muhimu hapa kukumbushia angalizo kuwa wakoloni walikuwa haohao “wazungu walio bora kuliko Wabongo” japo hilo ni suala la kihistoria zaidi kuliko malavidavi.

Kwahiyo dada zangu wanaoamini kuwa “wanaume wa kizungu ni bora zaidi kuliko wa kibongo” wanapaswa kufahamu kwamba miongoni mwa “wazungu” hao kuna wanaompinga Obama, si kwa vile hajatimiza ahadi zake bali tatizo ni weusi wake,kuna wafuasi wa British National Party (BNP),kuna neo-Nazis (vijukuu vya Hitler) na wengineo wenye “chuki binafsi” wakiamini kuwa vyanzo vya matatizo ya nchi zao sio Weusi tu bali Waasia na wageni wengineo.Nasisitiza,NI BAADHI.Miongoni mwa "wazungu" hao ni MAKABURU,wanaharamu waliowabagua wasio-weupe hususan Weusi huko Afrika Kusini kwa vile tu waliamini kuwa asili yao ni bora zaidi.Miongoni mwao pia ni wenye mtazamo wa akina James Watson mwanataaluma mahiri kwa madai yake kuwa Waafrika wana akili pungufu kulinganisha wa "wazungu".

Kama ambavyo huko nyumbani kuna wacha Mungu na washirikina,ndivyo ilivyo kwa “wazungu” pia. Kuna wanaoangalia upendo,haiba,urembo na sifa nyinginezo za kibinadamu badala ya rangi ya binti,lakini pia kuna akina Nick Griffin,Jean-Marie Le Pen,nk ambao kwao rangi ya mtu ni kigezo muhimu cha utu/ “ushenzi” wake.

Labda swali naloweza kuwauliza dada zangu wanaohitimisha kuwa “wanaume wa kizungu ni bora kuliko wa kibongo” ni hili: je mama zetu waliolewa na wazungu kiasi cha kututengenezea familia bora zilizotufikisha tulipo sasa?Au je takwimu zinasemaje kuhusu idadi ya waume katika ndoa nyingi “zenye furaha” huko nyumbani?Japo nahofia kutoa takwimu pasipo utafiti lakini yayumkinika kusema takriban asilimia 90 ya waume kwenye ndoa “zilizotulia” huko nyumbani bado ni wanaume wa kibongo.Hapa simaanishi kuwa walioolewa na wasio “wabongo” hawana furaha na ndoa zao bali nasisitiza hoja kuwa kama mama zetu walikuwa kwenye furaha katika ndoa na baba zetu wabongo,sasa hoja ya “wanaume wa kibongo kutokuwa mwafaka kwenye ndoa” inatoka wapi?

Hivi wakati dada zetu wanaponyoosha vidole kuwashutumu wanaume wa kibongo wanajaribu japo kiduchu kujiangalia na wao wenyewe?Mbona hata huku kuna hadithi nyingi tu za watu kusaliti ndoa zao/mahusiano yao?Je Bill Clinton alipomsaliti Hillary kwa Monica Lewinsky alikuwa Mndengereko?Vipi kuhusu John Terry au seneta Edward Kennedy?

Katika sosholojia kuna theme inayohusu deviance (kwenye kinyume na taratibu zilizokubalika katika jamii husika).Hapo,baadhi ya wanasosholojia wanaamini kuwa umalaya ni uvumbuzi,yaani kwa mfano mwanamke mrembo anajua “anatakwa” na kuna walio tayari kutoa fedha kumpata kwa hiyo “anajipeleka sokoni,mwenye kiku kikali ale nyama”.Kuna wanaofanya hivyo kwa vile hali ya uchumi inawasukuma kufanya hivyo,na kuna wale wanaofanya hivyo kutokana na kufata mkumbo,huku wengine wakifanya hivyo kutumia uhuru wao wa kupenda chochote watakacho ikiwa ni pamoja na ngono.

Malezi,imani ya kidini na mchango wa wanaotuzunguka ni miongoni mwa mambo muhimu sana katika kutengeneza tabia ya mtu.Baadhi ya wansayansi ya jamii wanabashiri kuwa mtoto anayekulia familia ya mzazi mmoja (single parent) ana uwezekano wa kuwa single parent ukubwani kwa vile “kama baba/mama aliweza kunilea peke yake kwanini kie nishindwe?” (socialisation).Wapo pia wanaoamini kuwa mtoto anayekulia familia inayothamini umuhimu wa ndoa anaweza kuiga mfano wa wazazi wake na hivyo “kutulia” ukubwani.

Mwisho,naomba kuhitimisha kwa kusema kwamba ni mambo machache sana duniani ambayo yanatokea tu pasipo sababu. Kama kila mume/boyfriend wa kibongo “anakukimbia” pengine tatizo ni wewe na sio wao,hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa wao si mapacha.Lakini na muhimu zaidi ni la kiroho.Kwa sie tunaoamini Mungu,hakuna liwezekanalo kwa mwanadamu pasipo baraka za Mungu.Pengine kabla ya kukimbilia kulaumu “wanaume wa kibongo” ni muhimu kwa walalamikaji kutazama upya mahusiano yao na Muumba.Kuna ishu inayonong’onwa na baadhi ya wanaume (hususan walio nje ya Tanzania) kwamba dada zetu wa kibongo wanaondekeza tamaa za makaratasi na kubabaika lakini naomba nisiligusie kwa vile,again,tamaa kwa Wakatoliki ni mzizi wa dhambi.Kwa aliyemshika Mungu na kisha kupatiwa chaguo lake,chochote atachopewa kitakuwa ni mapenzi ya Mungu,hivyo masuala ya tamaa yatakuwa hayana nafasi.

Naweza kuwa siko sahihi lakini huo ndio mtazamo wangu.

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HOLD A TRUE FRIEND AND NEVER LET GO

In case you don’t know, I’m a smoker. I plan to quit though. I know it’s a bad habit, and I should have avoided it in the first place. However, it’s always better late than never.

One thing I have learnt from smoking is the kind of friendship smokers develop, at least back home in Tanzania. A smoker would always think their fellow smokers would have a cigarette to spare in times of scarcity. For a smoker, they would rather have no bus fare to go to work than have no money to buy a pack of cigs.

They say it’s normally hard to please a fellow smoker when they are broke. Thing is, when broke, a smoker always expects to be rescued by their “partners in bad habit” (i.e. fellow smokers). Unfortunately, you may buy a pack to your smoker friend today, but when they ask for another the following day, and you tell them that you don’t have any, it becomes like a proclamation of the third world war. It simply won’t get into their mind that if they are broke, you could be too!

It a similar situation with people who seek help when they have problems. You help them once, and they expect you to keep on helping them whenever they run into problems. But that shouldn’t be a problem in itself if one could afford to give help whenever they are asked to.

The worst thing about helping some people, no matter how minority they are in numbers, is a tendency to forget that at certain times they were stuck in muds, and you rescued them. It’s really painful when you see a person you once helped forgets completely what you did to them in the past. It’s even more painful when you recall how they sounded too helpless to be ignored.

And when you remind them that you did something for them when they were desperately in need for your help, they would normally tell you that you were not held at a gun point to force you to offer support. In other words, they are telling you were too stupid to help them. Others would go as far as telling you that what you gave them is almost nothing to be remembered at all. And it’s not uncommon to hear something like “you are holding me at ransom for your shilingi laki kadhaa!? Thank God it was not a million because you would have made me feel like I’m serving a life sentence...” and stuffs like that.

It’s even worse for those who have been helped so many times by different people. They tend to overlook what you did for them just because there were others who gave more than you did. What they forget is, what matters most is not how much one gives but rather the fact that they give what they could have otherwise use to fulfil their own needs. If it’s money, then we all know that there’s no money that not needed for one thing or another. For that matter, their decision to part with their money to help meant they had to overlook their own needs-regardless of how big or small the need was- in order to help you.

I have in several occasions been helped by relatives or friends. And I would never ever forget these people. They say a friend in need is a friend indeed. You would always have people around to have fun with, but it’s really hard to find ones who would be there for you when you’re in need of something. Even when these good people did something to hurt me, the best I would do is speak politely to them because I strongly believe that they loved me in the first place before hurting me. I always look at them as people with good hearts but, occasionally, they happen to have bad mouths as well. These, after all, are human beings, and they are likely to err in one way or another.

Let’s remind ourselves that the world is always in short supply of people who would think of others’ needs. Once we find them, we really have to keep them even when they occasionally hurt us. That’s not being enslaved to them but rather having a useful set of companions whose CVs prove that they had already rescued us in the past. It’s like having a life insurance, you never certainly know when it would come to rescue you.

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KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY & MUSEUM, GLASGOW

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SOPHIA: A DOWN-TO-EARTH CELEBRITY

More than a decade ago, I happened to share a flat with a Tanzanian High Court judge’s son. Knowing how publicity-shy he is, I better keep his name to myself. Call me 'old-fashioned' who’s never had  opportunity to mingle with the famous. You could be right, but I always believe in a saying that “beauty should never be imprisoned”, meaning that we should never fail to acknowledge some of  good experiences we come across in others, especially when “others” stands for the famous, celebrities and the likes.

Recently, I have had a similar experience, though not of sharing same flat with someone who’s famous. On my usual “visits” to Facebook, I met Sophia Kessy, a Clouds FM radio presenter. We had never chatted before although she had been my Facebook friend for quite a while. Chatting to her, I could not resist admiring how down to earth she was. Of course, you wouldn’t fail to notice how wise and intelligent she is if you pay close attention to her educational and motivational quotes on her Facebook wall.

“Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it”. That was her latest quote posted on her wall a few minutes ago before I decided that I should write something about her. I would definitely put my money on her had there been a competition in Facebook on who writes “most sensible stuffs” on their walls.

What Sophia proves is, being a celebrity should not necessarily mean being big-headed, pompous, unapproachable or inaccessible to the normal people. Some celebrities tend to forget that their fame is a product of the same people they avoid or ignore. The good thing about mingling with the “normal people” is not only creating a solid and true fan base but also learning from them. As we know, sometimes fame forces people to act- smiling when they are not happy or crying when they not sorry-especially when the camera is around. For that matter, being surrounded with fellow celebrities or famous people make it hard for one to sincerely know if all is what it seems.

Big up &Keep it up, Sophia. And let’s hope our ever growing army of celebrities will take a leaf from your sensible, charming and down-to-earth personality.

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KUONGEZA MAJIMBO SI KIPAUMBELE

Hivi karibuni Tume ya Uchaguzi ilieleza kwamba inaangalia uwezekano wa kuongeza idadi ya majimbo ya uchaguzi.Niende moja kwa moja kwenye hoja yangu: ni rahisi kwa Tume hiyo kuwa na wazo kama hilo kwa vile halina athari zozote kwenye mishahara au posho zao.Kinyume chake,tunaambiwa zoezi la tathmini linatarajiwa kugharimu mabilioni ya shilingi.Unadhani zinakwenda wapi hizo kama si kwa haohao wanaokuja na wazo la kuongeza majimbo?

Mzazi mwenye busara hawezi katu kufikiri kuongeza idadi ya watoto wakati hao alionao sasa "wanampelekesha" linapokuja suala la kumudu gharama za matundo/malezi.Ni katika mantiki hiyohiyo,Tume ya Uchaguzi,ilipaswa kutambua kuwa uwezo wetu kiuchumi hauwezi kumudu majimbo zaidi ya hayo tuliyonayo sasa.

Lakini jingine lililo muhimu zaidi ni kuangalia ufanisi wa wawakilishi tulionao sasa.Naamini wengi tutaafikiana kwamba idadi kubwa ya wabunge hadi sasa haijasaidia kumkomboa Mtanzania kutka kwenye lindi la umasikini wa kutupwa.Tunashuhudia jinsi Bunge na Serikali wanavyotunishiana misuli kuhusu mazingaombwe ya Richmond,Kiwira,nk.Je kuongeza idadi ya wabunge kutaongeza "misuli zaidi" kwa Bunge.Jibu la haraka ni HAPANA.

Wengi wa wabunge wetu ni wabinafsi wanaoangalia maslahi yao binafsi.Umuhimu wa wapiga kura wao na majimbo wanayowakilisha unakuja pale tu kunapojiri uchaguzi.Wabunge,hususan wa CCM,wameweka mbele maslahi ya Chama kuliko wananchi wanaowawakilisha.Hilo lisingekuwa tatizo kama CCM ingekuwa chama kinachowajali wananchi badala ya mafisadi.

Na kwanini wazo la majimbo mapya lije mwaka huu tunapotarajia uchaguzi mkuu?Kwanini sio mwaka jana,juzi au 2007?Jibu jepesi ni kwamba wazo la majimbo mapya halina uhusiano na kukuza demokrasia au kuongeza uwakilishi bali ni kuwatafutia ulaji vigogo wanaonyemelea ubunge au wale ambao ubunge wao uko hatarini kutokana na upinzani kwa wanaotaka nafasi hiyo.

Nihitimishe kwa kueleza kuwa kuongeza idadi ya majimbo si moja ya vipaumbele vyetu kwa sasa.Pengine badala ya wazo hilo la kuwatengenezea watu ulaji,Tume ingetafakari ni namna gani wapiga kura watawezeshwa kuwabana wawakilishi wasiotekeleza wajibu wao majimboni.Tume pia inapaswa kuelewa kwamba wabunge watakaoongezwa pindi wazo la majimbo mapya likikamilika watapaswa kuongoza watu "hai",na ili "uhai" wa watu hao uwe na uhakika wa kuwepo ni muhimu kuhakikisha hatua za haraka zinachukuliwa kurekebisha hali ya uchumi wetu,sambamba na kuwabana mchwa (mafisadi) wanaotafuna kila kidogo tulichonacho.

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UONEVU WA AINA HII HADI LINI?NGELEJA,YOU'RE GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION

Sadick Mtulya

HATIMAYE Pascal Mnaku, mlinzi wa kampuni ya Ultimate Security aliyepambana na Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja, kwenye mashine ya kuchukulia fedha (ATM) jijini Dar es Salaam, amefukuzwa kazi na muajiri wake huyo.

Mnaku alijikuta kwenye mpambano mkali na waziri huyo baada ya kumtaka asogee pembeni ya mashine hiyo ya Standard Chartered ili kupisha wateja wengine baada ya Ngeleja kuonekana akitumia muda mwingi kuongea na simu akiwa ndani ya chumba cha mashine hiyo.

Kwa mujibu wa habari tulizozipata kutoka Ultimate na kuthibitishwa na Mnaku, uamuzi wa kumfukuza kazi ulitolewa mara baada ya kikao cha nidhamu cha kampuni hiyo kilichofanyika jana kuanzia saa 4:00 asubuhi hadi jioni kwenye ofisi za Ultimate.

"Ni kweli nimefukuzwa kazi na hivi ninavyoongea na wewe ndio nimetoka katika kikao cha nidhamu na uamuzi uliofikiwa ndio huo,"alisema mlinzi huyo ambaye hakutetereka wakati Waziri Ngeleja alipohoji kama anamfahamu ni nani wakati akitakiwa kutoka kwenye ATM.

"Na hii ni kutokana na kitendo changu cha kumtaka Waziri Ngeleja awapishe wateja wengine kwenye ATM," alilalamika Mnaku.

Jana jioni Mnaku aliliambia Mwananchi kuwa anatakiwa aende kuchukua barua yake ya kutimuliwa kazini Januari 30.

Hata hivyo, mara baada ya gazeti hili kuripoti sakata hilo, Ngeleja alikiri kutokea kwa mtafaruku huo na kujitetea kuwa Mnaku ndiye aliyekuwa chanzo cha mtafaruku huo uliotokea kwenye mashine ya fedha iliyo kwenye jengo la Harbour View (zamani JMall).

Mwananchi iliripoti kuwa waziri huyo alikaribia kuzichapa na mlinzi huyo kwenye baada ya kuombwa asogee pembeni kupisha wateja wengine.

CHANZO: Mwananchi

OMBI LA BLOGU HII KWA WAZIRI NGELEJA NI KUTAMBUA KUWA AJIRA YA MNAKU IMEOTESHWA NYASI KWA "KOSA" LA KUWAJIBIKA KAZINI.NGELEJA ANAPASWA KUFAHAMU KWAMBA UWAZIRI HAUMPI IMMMUNITY YA ADHABU ZA MBELE YA SAFARI YA MAISHA YA KILA BINADAMU.ANAPASWA KUTAMBUA JAPO MISHAHARA YA WALINZI WA MAKAMPUNI BINAFSI NI KIJUNGUJIKO MNO,LAKINI KWA HAKIKA ILIKUWA IKIMSAIDIA MNAKU NA FAMILIA YAKE.KWA KUFUKUZWA KAZI,NI DHAHIRI MNAKU NA FAMILIA YAKE WANAINGIA KATIKA LINDI LA MAISHA YASIYO NA UHAKIKA WA KESHO ITAKUWAJE.

BLOGU HII PIA INATOA WITO KWA TAASISI ZA HAKI ZA BINADAMU PAMOJA NA WANASHERIA WENYE UCHUNGU NA UTAWALA WA SHERIA KUTOA MSAADA KWA NDUGU MNAKU.UMANGIMEZA WA AKINA NGELEJA HAUPASWI KUACHWA UDUMU AU KUHALALISHWA.SHAME ON YOU,YOUR EXCELLENCY!

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NIGERIAN SCAMMERS

WARNING AND INSTRUCTION FROM (FBI) !!

Tue, 19 January, 2010 4:38:12

From:	ROBERT S. MUELLER Add to Contacts
To:

---

THIS IS THE (F.B.I)
http://www.fbi.gov
ROBERT S. MUELLER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI
Direct Line: 206-888-4277
Email: [email protected]

Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington,
D.C. 20535-0001, USA


FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SEEKING TO WIRETAP THE INTERNET

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I) write to you in correspondence to the meeting we recently had with the Federal republic of Nigeria Government on the ERADICATION of SCAMS on the internet. Federal bureau of investigation (FBI) Washington, DC in conjunction with some other relevant Investigation Agencies like Internal Revenue Service here in the United states of America have recently been informed through our Global intelligence monitoring network that you presently have a transaction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as regards to your over-due contract payment which was fully endorsed in your favor accordingly. After the meeting held on Friday 15th of Jan 2010 at the Bank Auditorium Center, the whole conflict of SCAMS was revealed to us by the Board of Trustee of Federal Republic of Nigeria mostly by the three arms of Government.

The Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive).

These three arms of Government has made Us realize that the ramped of SCAMS over floating around the United State of America and some other part of the world was been set up by the root of some CBN Ex-Workers that have been suspended for sometimes due to their dubious characters of initiating people to impersonate the Government Workers to receive peoples hard earn money from them, mostly with the Executive Governor identity.

For these reasons, the New Central Bank Executive Governor was invited to this office to defend the allegation against Him. While he made complain that his office was not in charge of foreign transfer of funds, that the accredited office was Federal Ministry of Finance Department (FEDMINAP) in person of EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR: MR. LAMIDO AMINU SANUSI as the New appointed Accountant General in charge of all foreign transfer Payment files.


They also told us that the only problem they are facing right now is that some unscrupulous element are using this project as an avenue to scam innocent people off their hard earned money by impersonating the Executive Governor that is why the Federal Government has appoint EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR: MR. LAMIDO AMINU SANUSI as the Payment Director of the Central Bank office.

The Federal government of Nigeria has approved that all overdue outstanding payments must be paid on or before Monday 25th of Jan 2010, before the upcoming Local Government Electorates which might leads to recalling of funds back to the Bank Treasury. Meanwhile, we are also informed that a Man with an America passport number (3028882234) came to the Central Bank affiliated bank office in U.K few days ago with a letter, claiming to be your true representative.

Here are the man information below:

Name: Denis Marion
Bank Name: City Bank
Bank Address: Arizona, USA
Account Number: 6503809008.

INSTRUCTION/WARNING

FROM ROBERT S. MUELLER III.

NB: You are urgently advised to please reconfirm the below following information to the Office of the New Accountant General, as a matter of urgency if this Man is from you so that this office will not issue your fund and be held responsible, If this man isn't of your true representative, you are requested to contact for your inheritance claim valued of US$10,000,000.00M (Ten Million United State Dollars) only will be remitted into your nominated bank account or any other way you which to receive it.

1) Your full name..
2) Home, fax and mobile #.
3) Residential address.
4) Company name,
5)Company address.
6)Office position and
5) Age and marital status.
6) Working I'd / Int'l passport.

And should incase you are already dealing with anybody or office claiming to be From the Central Bank of Nigeria, you are further advised to STOP further Contact with in person from Africa in your best interest and as you already know that prof Soludo is no more the acting Gov of the (CBN) and then contact the real office of the New (GOV) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) only with the Below information's accordingly:


EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR: MR. LAMIDO AMINU SANUSI

OFFICE ADDRESS: Central Bank of Nigeria,
Central Business District,
Cadastral Zone,
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory,
Nigeria.
Direct Line: + 234 802-410-4101
Email:- [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTICE.

Note: we are on investigation and security watch over any message with Central Bank, to benefit the satisfaction of all the United States Citizen by seeking to Wiretap scams on the internet with the help of Nigeria Government and also with The assistance of all United states Citizen, by listening to the instructions we give out to avoid falling for SCAMS on INTERNET.

All modalities has already been worked out even before you were contacted and note that we will be monitoring all your dealings with them as you proceed so You don't have anything to worry about.

All we require from you henceforth is an update so as to enable us be on track with you and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Without wasting much time, will want you to contact them immediately with the above email address so as to enable them attend to your case accordingly without any further delay as there is limit of validity on this transaction and further delay might make you lose this transaction as the rightful Beneficiary.

Should in case you need any more information's in regards to this Notification, be free to get back to us so that we can brief you more as we are here to guide you during and after this project has been completely perfected And you have received your contract fund as stated.

Thank you very much for your co-operation in advance as we earnestly await your urgent response to this matter.

Regards,

Robert S. Mueller,
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington,
D.C. 20535-0001, USA
Cell :- 206-666-2275

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IF THIS IS HOW THINGS WORK IN THE STATE HOUSE.....TUTEGEMEE NINI KWINGINEKO?

DAILY NEWS Reporter, 18th January 2010 @ 12:13,

IN an interesting twist of events, President Jakaya Kikwete failed to hand over two ambulance vehicles today, after controversy ensued over the rightful identity of the targeted receivers.

The confusion ensued after a representative from Ngorongoro District in Arusha Region turned up instead of an official from Longido, whom documents indicated was supposed to receive the donation.

The twist happened at the State House grounds before officials and journalists, when the president seemed confused after he discovered it was a representative from Ngorongoro and not from the targeted Longido, who had turned up.

A representative from Mbozi District in Mbeya Region who was meant to receive the second vehicle on behalf of his district had not yet arrived, prompting the president to hand it over to someone else who was present.

When he approached the two cars recently donated by CMC Automobiles Limited, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdul Haji, President Kikwete was introduced to the receiver as the Executive Director of Ngorongoro District Council, Kayange Jacob when he suddenly stood back.

“You are….. (as he was being introduced by the State House Comptroller), ahh, you are from Loliondo, this car is not yours, I won’t hand it over to you. It’s not yours. It’s for the people of Longido and not Loliondo.

Turning to State House officials, he asked: What is this. This is scandalous. Apologise to those you invited to witness this”, said the president.

“This one car is to cater for the people of Longido, not Loliondo, who sent you here?’

The Executive Director of Ngorongoro District Council who introduced himself as Kayage, explained to the president that he had been sent by his Regional Commissioner, to come and receive the vehicle as a donation to carry sick people in Ngorongoro.

But the president explained that records show that one of the two cars was supposed to go to Engarinaibo Village in Longido District, following his promise to them when he toured Arusha last year.

“I personally promised the villagers I would give them an ambulance, when I receive a donation of vehicles after witnessing their difficulty in transporting their sick people to hospital. Now what is this? This is scandalous,” he repeated.

Efforts by the State House officials to explain to the president that he hands over the car to the Ngorongoro Director, as there was no other were in vain as he (president) walked back to his office.

After the drama that lasted for approximately 20 minutes, the Assistant Director of Communications at the State House, Premy Kibanga, told journalists that there was negligence on the part of some officials who had verified the documents, subsequently messing up issues.

“There has been a problem of communication here at State House, as all documents including the letter to presiding secretary in Arusha, show that those entitled to the donation is Engarinaiko village in Longido and not Loliondo,”said Kibanga.

Ms Kibanga attributed the anomaly to negligence on the part of the State House official, who was supposed to verify the documents of the director before the handing over, also blaming it on the late arrival of the two officials by ten minutes and that of Mbozi by 20 minutes.

She said the letter from State House to the presiding secretary in Arusha, dispatched at the end of last year, was clear that that the donation was for Engarinaiko village in Longido and had asked the official to release a municipal driver, to get a short course on how to use the facility at CMC.

However, it is not clear to this evening as to whether it was the driver of Longido or Ngorongoro who had received the short training prior to yesterday’s event.

The director of Ngorongoro told journalists that he had been sent by the Regional Commissioner to receive the donation, after a phone call came from the State House asking them to send a representative to receive it.

Efforts to reach the Arusha Regional Commissioner, Isidori Shirima, were futile as his phone went unanswered.

But information sent by the Communication Directorate of State House, said the president handed over one vehicle to the Director of Mbozi District, Levison Chilewa, to cater for citizens of Kamsamba as ambulance.

It was part of the president’s pledge to the area when he visited last year. Earlier, Mr Chilewa told journalists that it would support 26 wards in Mbozi with special target at Kamsamba, Ivuna, Chilulumo, Chitete and Msangano wards.

The two vehicles - Land Rover Defender 110 Hard Top - worth 108,000 US dollars (about 130m/-), were donated by CMC in honour of the manager’s wife, who lived in the country for 30 years before passing away.

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