Luol Deng: Southern Sudan's Most Famous Refugee Returns Home

CLICK HERE to watch BBC News clip about Luol's first visit to Southern Sudan (August 25,2010).

By Tim Franks
BBC News

Luol Deng is getting drenched. While most sports stars spend their off-season on the beach, Britain's NBA superstar is soaking up a Southern Sudanese wet-season deluge.

There is a solemn ritual to it. A United Nations Refugee Agency official hands him an umbrella. Luol accepts it, waits a few seconds, quietly walks over to a line of dripping schoolchildren and then hands it over. The children gaze up, and up and up, smile, and take shelter.

Luol ambles back to the centre of the muddy field, where the welcoming ceremony continues. Within a minute, as his XXXL t-shirt turns ever darker with rain, a further umbrella is proffered, only to end up in the hands of another teenager.

Now that southern Sudan's most celebrated refugee has at last returned home for the first time in 20 years, columns of children run through their sweetly drilled routine. "Welcome, welcome," they sing. "We are happy to see Luol Deng today". As they sing, they march in lilting step.

LUOL DENG - THE FACTS

Born: 1985

Discipline: Basketball

Career highlights: 2004-05 NBA All-rookie first team and 2007 NBA Sportsmanship award

Luol Deng does not seek the attention. Great Britain's best basketball player is on a six-year $71m minimum contract with the Chicago Bulls, is lionised by President Barack Obama and counts Michael Jordan as a friend.

But he also knows that his story - a child who, at the age of five, became a refugee - is rather ordinary here. Yes, he had to flee the civil war, which was in the process of killing two million people. But he was lucky enough to be able to escape with the rest of his family and end up in Britain, where the Dengs were granted asylum.

So Luol has been cautious, almost to the point of prickliness, about being feted for his first return to Sudan. But now he has been handed a megaphone to address the hundreds of children surrounding him in an uneven rectangle.

He thanks them for "the best welcome I ever got in my life ... and I'm so happy that I got it from home". Then he switches gear. "If you work hard, if you listen to your teachers, listen to your parents," he tells them, wheeling round to address the four sides, "you could be standing here".

"Every one of you guys is capable of being somebody special. Maybe you will be the president of this country and one day you gonna lead us. You gonna lead us, and we're going to have a great country."

The reference is lost on no-one. In January, Southern Sudan is due to hold a referendum on independence from Khartoum - perhaps the most significant single part of the "Comprehensive Peace Agreement" of 2005, which brought decades of civil war to an end.

The Lost Boys

Hundreds of thousands of refugees have already returned. Many, though, are staying away. Among them, are some of the vast group known as "The Lost Boys". They were children who ran, literally, as their villages were attacked. They hared off into the desert and the bush, often not knowing whether the rest of the families were alive or dead.

After years of aimless wandering, many of them ended up in Kakuma Refugee Camp, over the southern border, in Kenya. And many of those have stayed ever since.

The United Nations Refugee Agency, for whom Luol has worked in the past, has brought him and his older brother Ajou to Kakuma. On a hot morning, Luol meets about 20 "Lost Boys" under the shade of a broad tree, within the camp. He speaks to most of them in Dinka, painstakingly translating for us.

"They came to the village and burned the houses," Luol explains, as Angelo talks to him in a flat, quiet voice. "He just got up and ran, ran for his life. He was 12. He left with nobody. He went to the jungle. Then he went to Ethiopia. He got here in '92. He has no people back in Sudan. So he's going to stay here."

Building the future

Southern Sudan has a further problem. It still has some of the worst levels of development in the world. Information is scratchy, but recent relief agency figures have given the region the highest mortality rate in the world for women in childbirth. One in five children die before their fifth birthday.

For that reason, Luol Deng is far more than a tourist. Several hundred kilometres to the west of the capital Juba, deep in the bush, is Udici Basic School, which was laid waste during the war. Now the Luol Deng Foundation has helped to reconstruct some of the school buildings.

Another welcoming ceremony ensues, with wildly foot-stamping dances, and an elegant older woman ululating. Next to the brickwork are the small, mud huts, where some of the pupils and their families live. They make the bare walls and metal desks of the nearby classrooms appear all the more impressive.

Luol reflects quietly on the scale of the challenge: "The school still has a lot of things to be done. Hopefully we will continue to fund the school and do things slowly."

Duck and cower

A bumpy, 75-minute drive from Udici Basic School, lies another, rather more trivial sign of Sudan's lack of development. At a junction in the city of Wau stands Southern Sudan's single set of functioning traffic lights.

Luol, though, has not come to Wau for the thrill of waiting dutifully at this unique red light. Wau holds another significance on his journey.

It's like an angel coming through your house. He's gone through the same struggles we've been through. 

It is where the Dengs lived before the violence of the civil war forced them to flee. "This was my mum's bedroom," recalls Ajou, Luol's older brother, pushing open the stiff door of the room where Luol was born. "There was a hill outside, where there were fights. We used to duck under the bed. And then when you came outside you could see the bullets. That was when we were ready to move and get out of here."

'Not a fool'

Now that he has returned, albeit for only a few days, Luol is attempting to suck every last drop from his time in Southern Sudan. It is that which brought him, late on a Saturday night, into the "recording studio" of the Southern Sudanese Artists' Union.

Luol has folded his 205cm frame onto a plastic chair in the corner of the tiny, sweltering shack. Before him, six young musicians jam.

They sing first about the forthcoming referendum and then, clapping and grinning, they launch into an a cappella panegyric to their guest. "Luol Deng! Luol Deng! He plays for Chicago Bulls, and he goes by the rules. And he's not a fool. Luol Deng! Luol Deng!"

The leader of the group and the founder of the Artists' Union, Ras Korby, is also a refugee. He is moved by the presence of Luol. "It's like an angel coming through your house. He's gone through the same struggles we've been through. Now he's come back to think about other people who have suffered, and that's so sweet."

For the first time on the trip, a crack appears in Luol's understated composure. He confesses to feeling a little overwhelmed.

"I never been... I never been in a place where I walk in the street... " He draws breath and looks away. "I'm getting a little emotional... I never been in a place where I walk in the street and I actually feel home. You know I don't feel like a refugee."

Paying debts

That is not to say that he is ungrateful for the welcome extended to him in the USA and in Britain. Indeed, on his return from Africa, his unusual off-season continues with a series of games for Team GB, as they seek qualification for next year's EuroBasket tournament, but also for the 2012 Olympics.

As he explains: "England has done so much for me and my family, I always feel I want to give back in some way. The only way I can give back is through basketball."

And so, on a Saturday night, in Birmingham's National Indoor Arena, he plays all but the final nine seconds of the game against Ukraine. It's a tough match but deep in the fourth quarter, he breaks free. He jumps, rocks back in the air, and sinks a three-pointer.

GB are on the verge of qualifying for the European Championships

Ukraine hurtle down the other end of the court. One of their players holds the ball wide on the right. Luol is supposed to be marking another Ukrainian out on the left. He edges ever so slightly away from his opponent, as if uninterested, shyly casting his eyes floorward. It is enough to lull the Ukrainian with the ball into attempting a fast cross-court pass.

Luol snaps his body out of reverse gear, makes the interception, charges the full length of the court, and slams the ball through the Ukraine basket. He allows himself a luxurious swing from the rim.

Even if Team GB qualifies for the EuroBasket tournament, there is no guarantee from Fiba, the world governing body, that Britain will take part in the Olympics in 2012.

Fiba says that it wants to see further evidence that the sport is taken seriously in Britain. There is still the possibility that basketball will be the only sport in which Britain, as host Olympic nation, fails to appear.

There would be a hole, in 2012, should an athlete with this sort of story, and this sort of talent, be unable to compete.

.

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Ratiba ya Kampeni za CHADEMA Kwa Ajili ya Uchaguzi Mkuu 2010

Ratiba Ya Kampeni Chadema

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Ufisadi wa CCM: Mgombea wa Chadema Apewa Euro 1000 Kujitoa

Takukuru yakamata mgombea aliyejitoa

Adaiwa kuwa alishawishiwa kwa fedha

Awekwa chini ya ulinzi Makao Makuu Dar

Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (Takukuru) Makao Makuu jijini Dar es Salaam, imemkamata na kumhoji aliyekuwa mgombea ubunge kwa tiketi ya Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) katika Jimbo la Musoma Vijijini, Michael Makenji, kwa tuhuma za kupokea rushwa.

Makenji anadaiwa kupokea Euro 1,000 (Sh. 1,850,000) kisha kujitoa katika kinyang’anyiro hicho.

Habari zilizolifikia gazeti hili zinaeleza kuwa Makenji alihojiwa na maofisa wa Takukuru juzi jioni kuhusiana na tuhuma hizo na kwamba hadi jana alikuwa akiendelea kushikiliwa kwa ajili ya mahojiano zaidi.

Makenji ni miongoni mwa wanachama wa Chadema waliochukua fomu za kuomba kuteuliwa kugombea katika jimbo hilo, lakini hakurejesha fomu kwa msimamizi wa uchaguzi hivyo jimbo hilo kubaki na mgombea pekee wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Nimrod Mkono (pichani mwenye kibandiko).

Habari zinaeleza kuwa Makenji baada ya kutorejesha fomu kwa msimamizi wa uchaguzi Jimbo la Musoma Vijijini, alikwenda katika ofisi za Makao Makuu ya Chadema jijini Dar es Salaam, lakini baadaye baadhi ya wanaChadema walimtilia shaka kutokana na mawasiliano kati yake na baadhi ya watu.

Chanzo chetu cha uhakika kimebainisha kuwa, baada ya wanaChadema kumtilia shaka, walimuweka chini ya ulinzi na kukuta taarifa mbalimbali alizokuwa anatumiana na watu hao kupitia ujumbe mfupi wa simu.Taarifa za ndani ya Chadema zinasema kwamba baada ya mgombea huyo kuhojiwa na kupekua kwenye simu yake ya mkononi, alipatikana na ujumbe kadhaa zilizoashiria kwamba kulikuwa na mkono wa mtu katika kujitoa kwenye kinyang’anyiro cha ubunge.

Miongoni mwa jumbe hizo (sms) ambazo ziko sehemu ya zilizotumwa zilisema:

“Mzee ameshanikatia tiketi ya kwenda Dar sasa muhimize amalizie kiasi kilichobaki maana hali yangu ya kiuchumi si nzuri.”

Nyingine ilisomeka: “Tumeshamaliza kama tulivyokubaliana.” Na mwingine ukisema: “Niko Makao Makuu ya Chama niko chini ya ulinzi.” Ujumbe huo ulionekana kujibiwa hivi: “Nani kakwambia uende huko watakuua. Siwezi kuja huko kukutetea.” Simu iliyotuma ujumbe huo unadaiwa ni ya kiongozi mmoja mwandamizi wa chama hicho.

Chadema baada ya kuona hali imekuwa hivyo, waliamua kuwasiliana na Takukuru na baada ya muda mfupi, maofisa wa taasisi hiyo walifika na kumchukua Makenji.Hata hivyo, Takukuru haikuwa tayari kuthibitisha tukio hilo licha ya jitihada za NIPASHE kuwatafuta maofisa wake tangu juzi jioni.

Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Takukuru, Dk. Edward Hoseah, juzi jioni alisema alikuwa katika mkutano mjini Arusha na kuahidi kuwa angepiga simu baadaye kutoa ufafanuzi. Hata hivyo, hadi tunakwenda mitamboni hakufanya hivyo.

Ofisa Uhusiano wa Takukuru, Doreen Kapwaya, jana alisema kuwa maofisa wa Makao Makuu wangeweza kulizungumzia, lakini mwandishi wetu alipokwenda katika ofisi hizo, aliambiwa kuwa ofisa anayeshughulikia kesi hiyo alikuwa katika kikao.

Hata hivyo, ofisa huyo aliyetambulika kwa jina moja la Kassim, alipoulizwa baadaye jioni, alisema: “Sina comment (sina la kusema) katika hilo, labda kama ungefuata zile taratibu zetu za kila siku kwa kupitia kwa ofisa Uhusiano wetu hadi kwa Mkurugenzi Mkuu.”

Dk. Hoseah alizungumza na gazeti hili kwa njia ya simu majira ya saa 18:20 jana jioni, alisema: “Sina taarifa, kwa sasa nipo nje ya Dar es Salaam, nani amekuambia hayo.”

Uongozi wa Chadema ulipoulizwa kuhusiana na taarifa hizo, ulithibitisha kuwepo kwa tukio hilo na kueleza kwamba mtuhumiwa (Makenja) alikiri kupewa kiasi hicho cha pesa.

“Kimsingi ni kwamba Idara yetu ya Ulinzi na Usalama ilimhoji mgombea wetu na akakiri kupewa fedha hizo, tena kwa maandishi ndipo tukawasiliana na Takukuru kwa hatua zaidi…lakini tunawasiliana na mamlaka mbalimbali ili kuona hatua stahili za kumchukulia kwa sababu amekiuka kanuni na sheria za uchaguzi,” alisema Kaimu Katibu Mkuu wa Chadema, John Mnyika.

Kufuatia hali hiyo, Mnyika alisema chama hicho kimelazimika kuwaandikia barua wagombea wake ambao hawakurudisha fomu ili kujua tatizo lililokwamisha kufanya hivyo.Alisema chama kimeamua kuchukua hatua hiyo ili kubaini kama kinafanyiwa hujuma na kwamba watakaobainika kutorudisha fomu makusudi, kitawachukulia hatua kwa mujibu wa sheria za uchaguzi.

CHANZO: Nipashe

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Weapons of Mass Destruction in Tanzania?

Well,not really.But a quick look at the above picture showing members of the notorious Tanzania Police Field Force Unit (FFU)  in their anti-riot gear could mislead you into thinking they were bracing themselves for a chemical or biological attack of some sort!

Photo courtesy of Mzee wa Sumo

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Marekani na Unyanyasaji wa Waislamu

Tangu tukio la mashambulizi ya kigaidi ya September 11 mwaka 2001,Marekani inaelekea kupata sababu nyingine ya kuhalalisha ubabe wake.Miongoni mwa wahanga wakubwa wa aftermath ya mashambulizi hayo ni Waislamu,ndani na nje ya nchi hiyo.

Hivi karibuni kumejitokeza mzozo kuhusu ujenzi wa kituo cha utamaduni cha Kiislamu karibu na eneo yalipokuwa majengo maarufu ya Twin Towers ambayo yalishambuliwa na magaidi kwa kubamizwa na ndege.Licha ya ukweli kuwa miongoni mwa waliofariki au kujeruhiwa ni Waislam,kwa Wamarekani wengi mashambulizi hayo yalikuwa kama tangazo la vita vipya kati yao na Waislam na Uislam.

Urais wa Barack Obama,ambaye mmoja wa wazazi wake alikuwa Muislam,ni kama umeongeza mafuta kwenye moto wa chuki dhidi ya Waislam.Katika kutambua uhuru na haki ya kila Mmarekani,Rais Obama aliweka msimamo wake hadharani kuwa anaunga mkono ujenzi wa kituo hicho cha kidini,kauli iliyopelekea upinzani mkubwa dhidi yake huku wengine wakimnyooeshea kidole kudai naye ni Muislam,kana kwamba kuwa muumini wa dini hiyo ni dhambi. 

Japo taifa hilo kubwa na lenye nguvu za kutosha limeendelea kudumisha misingi ya imani ya kidini (hususan Ukristo) matendo ya Wamarekani walio wengi hayana tofauti na waumini wa shetani.Sote tunatambua kuwa dini mbalimbali zinahamasisha amani,upendo na kusamehe waliotukosea.Sasa,hata kama Wamarekani wanaamini kuwa waliofanya mashambulizi hayo walitenda hivyo kutokana na imani yao ya Uislamu haimaanishi kuwa kila muumini wa dini hiyo aendelee kunyanyaswa kwa makosa ya wengine.Kimsingi,wengi wa magaidi wana asili au dini flani lakini hatuendelei kuwanyanyasa watu wengine ambao hawakushiriki katika vitendo vya ugaidi lakini wana asili au dini moja na magaidi husika.Wanaofanya mashambulizi ya kigaidi huko Ireland ya Kaskazini ni Wakatoliki na Waanglikana,lakini hatuhitimishi kuwa kila Mkatoliki au Muanglikana na gaidi.

Hata Marekani kama nchi imeshafanya unyama mkubwa sehemu mbalimbali duniani hususan katika zama za Vita Baridi kati yake na Urusi.Nani asiyejua mchango wa Wamarekani katika kifo cha Patrice Lumumba,au sapoti yao kwa Savimbi?Na nani asiyefahamu namna Wamarekani Weupe walivyojenga taifa hilo kwa biashara ya kinyama ya utumwa dhidi ya watu Weusi?Lakini hatumhukumu kila Mmarekani kuwa ni gaidi au mtwana mwenye kumiliki watumwa.

Yanayotokea sasa dhidi ya Waislamu ni mwendelezo tu wa hisia za ubaguzi zilivyoshamiri miongoni mwa Wamarekani walio wengi.Hadi leo,miaka kadhaa baada ya kuharamisha ubaguzi wa rangi,Wamarekani wasio Weupe wameendelea kubaguliwa kwa namna moja au nyingine.Again,urais wa Mmarekani Mweusi Obama umewasha upya moto wa ubaguzi wa rangi.

Japo siungi mkono ugaidi,ni dhahiri kuwa siasa za kinafiki za nchi hiyo zimechangia sana kuzalisha magaidi.Osama bin Laden,kiongozi wa mshambulizi ya September 11ni zao la mafunzo na ufadhili wa Shirika la Kijasusi la Marekani (CIA).Yayumkinika kuhitimisha kuwa tatizo la baadhi ya sera za mambo ya nje za Marekani ni ufupi wa upeo (short-sightedness).Katika zama za Vita Baridi,nchi hiyo iliona kuwa ni jambo mwafaka kufadhili mujahidina waliokuwa wanapambana na Urusi.Guess what?Mujahidina hao ndio Osama na Taliban wa leo!

Ungedhani kuwa nchi hiyo ingejifunza kutokana na foreign policy blunders zake kama hiyo ya kusapoti Mujahidina lakini wapi!Makosa kama hayo yameendelea kurudiwa huko Irak na Afghanistan pasipo kuangalia madhara ya muda mrefu.Licha ya sapoti kwa vikundi vinavyotarajiwa kuunga mkono harakati za Wamarekani,nchi hiyo imeendelea kutoa sapoti kwa baadhi ya tawala za kidikteta alimradi uimara wa tawala hizo ni kwa maslahi ya Marekani.Miongoni mwa marafiki wakubwa wa nchi hiyo ni pamoja na utawala wa kifalme wa Saudia na utawala wa kidikteta nchini Misri.Matokeo ya muda mrefu ya uswahiba huu ni kuibuka kwa upinzani wa ndani dhidi ya tawala hizo,ambao in long run unaweza kabisa kuwa na madhara kwa Marekani yenyewe.

Kadhalika,tawala hizo dhalimu zimechangia baadhi ya wananchi wao kukimbilia kwa vikundi vyenye misimamo mikali ya kidini ambayo inaonekana kwa wananchi hao kama yenye kuleta tumaini katika kuwapatia ufumbuzi wa matatizo yao.Kwenye sosholojia ya dini tunafundisha kuwa miongoni mwa sababu za kuwepo dini ni kimbilio la wenye shida.Tawala dhalimu zinaweza kuwa chanzo cha kuibuka na kushamiri kwa vikundi vyenye misimamo mikali ya kidini kwa vile wananchi wanaviona vikundi hivyo kama sehemu ya ufumbuzi wa matatizo yao.

Siasa za jino kwa jino na jicho kwa jicho,sambamba na kuendeleza ubaguzi kwa watu wasio na hatia ni hatari zaidi kwa usalama wa Marekani kuliko ujenzi wa kituo cha utamaduni kinachopigiwa kelele sasa.Actually,uwepo wa taasisi kama kituo hicho cha utamaduni unaweza kusaidia sana katika kujenga maelewano na mshikamo miongoni mwa Wamarekani pasipo kujali tofauti zao za kiimani.

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Uhuru wa Habari Tanzania: Tatizo ni Dola,Uoga au Kujikomba?

Wakati wa kuelekea kampeni za uchaguzi mkuu wa hapa Uingereza kulijitokeza tetesi za wasiwasi kuhusu afya ya aliyekuwa Waziri Mkuu Gordon Brown.Katika kilichotafsiriwa kama kukata mzizi wa fitina,mtangazaji maarufu wa Shirika la Utangazaji la Uingereza (BBC),Andrew Marr,alimuuliza Brown katika mahojiano naye kuhusu tetesi hizo.Katika tetesi hizo ilidaiwa kuwa Brown alikuwa akitumia dawa za kutuliza mara kwa mara.

"Jambo ambalo kila mtu amekuwa akiongelea katika kijiji cha Westminster...Watu wengi katika nchi hii wamekuwa wakitumia dawa walizoelekezwa kununua na daktari (prescription drugs)...Je wewe ni mmoja wao?",aliuliza Marr."Hapana.Nadhani uulizaji swali wa aina hii umekuwa ukiingia sana kwenye ulingo wa siasa za Uingereza",alijibu Brown.Jitihada za mwanahabari huyo kutaka kudadisi zaidi zilizimwa na Brown aliyesema ameshajibu swali hilo.

Nimekumbuka tukio hilo kufuatia kuanguka kwa mara nyingine kwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete na namna vyombo vingi vya habari vilivyokwepa kuripoti tukio hilo kwa uwazi.Hata video iliyomwonyesha Kikwete akianguka iliondolewa mtandaoni kwa haraka,kwa sababu wanazojua waliyoiondoa.Na hata video yenyewe ya tukio hilo ilionyesha "kiduchu" tu kuanguka kwa JK kisha ikaelekezwa kwenye umati wa watu hapo Jangwani.Inaelezwa pia kuwa baadhi ya vituo vya runinga huko nyumbani havikuonyesha tukio hilo katika taarifa zao za habari.

Kichekesho ni kwamba kabla hajakumbwa na dhahma ya kuanguka,JK alijigamba kuwa serikali yake imeboresha uhuru wa habari.Sasa uhuru wa habari ambao tukio la kusikitisha na kuhudhunisha linalomkumba Rais wetu linabanwa ni uhuru kweli au hadithi tu?Na hapa simpingi JK kuwa amejitahidi kudumisha uhuru wa habari bali tatizo langu lipo kwa wanahabari wenyewe.

Je,kulikuwa na maagizo kwamba,kwa mfano,clip ya kuanguka kwa JK iodolewe mtandaoni?Kama jibu ni ndiyo,basi uhuru wa habari anaozungumzia JK una walakini.Lakini kama jibu ni hapana basi wanahabari walioamua kuminya habari hiyo wana maswali ya kuwajibu wasomaji wao na Watanzania kwa ujumla.

Natambua kuwa pamoja na majigambo ya JK uhuru wa habari unaodumishwa zaidi ni ule wa "habari za kawaida" na sio zinazogusa masuala ya watawala.Baadhi yetu ni wahanga wa matumizi hayohayo ya uhuru wa habari na uhuru wa kujieleza.Ukizungumzia mafisadi walio ndani ya CCM,baadhi ya "wenye nchi" wanakurupuka kudai ni utovu wa nidhamu dhidi ya serikali.Yaani kukemea maovu inakuwa nongwa!?

Tukio la kuanguka kwa JK lilikuwa haki ya kila Mtanzania kufahamishwa na wanahabari.Ikumbukwe kuwa ni Watanzania haohao ndio waliompigia kura kiongozi huyo kuwa Rais wao,na mkutano wake wa Jumamosi ulikuwa na madhumuni ya kuwaomba ridhaa ya kuwaongoza tena.Jakaya Kikwete alikuwa hapo kama mgombea wa CCM,na japo hatuwezi kutenganisha urais wake na ugombea wake huko CCM,ukweli unabaki kuwa katika harakati hizi za kampeni anapaswa kuchukuliwa kama wagombea wengine wa vyama vilivyosimamisha wagombea wao.

Japo mkono mrefu wa dola uko makini zaidi katika udhibiti wa habari "zisizopendeza",yayumkinika kusema kwamba baadhi ya wanahabari na vyombo vya habari hawawezi kukwepa lawama.Nachoshindwa kuelewa kwanini  mara nyingi "habari zisizopendeza machoni mwa watawala" zinaminywa ni kama hali hiyo inasababishwa na uoga tu wa wanahabari au/na vyombo vya habari au ni lile tatizo sugu la kujikomba kwa watawala?

Kama sababu ni uoga,basi hayo ni mapungufu ya wazi kwa mwanahabari au chombo cha habari husika.Hata hivyo,inawezekana uoga huo kuwa ni matokeo ya mfumo wa siasa za chama kimoja ambapo ilikuwa mithili ya kosa la jinai "kumsema vibaya" kiongozi (yaani kusema au kuandika kitu kisichompendeza kiongozi).Tuliaminishwa kuwa viongozi wetu ni kama miungu-watu,hawawezi kukosea,kila wanalofanya ni jema na siku zote wako sahihi.Uoga huu unapaswa kuepukwa kwa vile tupo katika  mfumo mpya wa siasa za uwingi zisizo na nafasi ya "zidumu fikra sahihi za A au B".

Kujikomba ni tatizo sugu si kwa baadhi ya Watanzania tu bali hata baadhi ya Waafrika kwa ujumla.Kwa mbali,kujikomba ni matokeo ya mfumo wa ujima na hatimaye ujamaa ambapo mhusika hujibidiisha "kufanya jambo zuri" hata kama hajaombwa.Kwa bahati mbaya,"jambo hilo zuri" linaweza kuwa lisilo na manufaa kwa jamii.Kwahiyo,mwanahabari aliyebania tukio la kuanguka kwa JK anaweza kuwa alifanya hivyo akiamini kuwa "ni vibaya kumwonyesha Rais akianguka hadharani".Lakini imani hiyo potofu ilimaanisha baadhi ya Watanzania kukoseshwa haki ya kuona kilichomsibu mgombea wa CCM ambaye pia ni Rais wao.

Simnyooshei mtu kidole bali hii ni changamoto tu kwa wanahabari na vyombo vya habari.

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Marejeo: Wawekezaji wa Kisaudia Wamendea Ardhi ya Tanzania

Riyadh,Saudia,April 16

Wafanyabiashara wa Saudi Arabia wameiomba Tanzania kama wanaweza kukodi hekta nusu milioni (500,000) za ardhi inayofaa kwa kilimo hususan cha mpunga na ngano kama sehemu ya mpango wa kujitosheleza kwa chakula kwa falme hiyo ya jangwani.

Maofisa waandamizi wa chemba ya biashara ya jiji la Riyadh walitoa ombi hilo wakati wa ziara ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete katika falme hiyo.

"Tanzania ipo tayari kufanya biashara nanyi.Kuna heka milioni 100 (hekta milioni 40.5)za ardhi nzuri yenye rutuba",Kikwete aliwaambia wafanyabiashara hao.

Samir Ali Kabbani,mkuu wa kamati ya kilimo ya chemba hiyo alisema kwamba wamepata majibu mazuri sana."Kikwete ametuambia kwamba Tanzania inaweza kutukodisha ploti ambazo kila moja ina ukubwa wa hadi hekta 10,000 kwa kipindi cha miaka 99",Kabbani alilieleza Shirika la Habari la Reuters baada ya mkutano huo na Kikwete.

Maofisa na wafanyabiashara wa Kisaudi walitrajiwa kuitembelea Tanzania wiki chache baada ya mkutano huo.

"Wanaweza kukodi ardhi kutoka serikalini",January Makamba,msaidizi wa Rais Kikwete,aliieleza Reuters."Lakini inabidi tuhakikishe kuwa hatuishii kwenye hali kama ile ya Nigeria:hifadhi kubwa ya mafuta lakini foleni kubwa kwenye vituo vya kuuzia mafuta",alisema Makamba.

Maafisa wa Saudia wanaiona Tanzania kama sehemu mwafaka kutokana na mazingira ya kijiografia,kisiasa na wingi wa maji na ardhi ya kilimo.Makampuni kadhaa ya nchi hiyo tayari yameanza kuwekeza katika miradi ya kilimo huko Indonesia na Ethiopia.

Agosti mwaka jana Indonesia ilisema kuwa mjumuiko wa makampuni ya Bin Ladin ya Saudi Arabia unatarajia kuwekeza dola bilioni 4.3 katika hekta 500,000 za kilimo cha mpunga.Mahitaji ya ngano kwa Saudia kwa mwaka yanakadiriwa kufikia tani milioni 2.5,na mwaka juzi nchi hiyo iliagiza kutoka nje karibu tani milioni 1 za mchele,kwa mujibu wa Idara ya Kilimo ya Marekani.

CHANZO: Reuters

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Your Fav Blog ANGALIA BONGO Has Now Moved to a Spanking New Home!!!

What A good NewS???

Well,your top-above-the-rest blog,ANGALIA BONGO,has officially  moved to a new world.

Lets Go to www.angalia-bongo.com

Thanxx

Admin(Angaliabongo)

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Blogu ya KULIKONI UGHAIBUNI yam-endorse Dkt Wilbroad Slaa

Blogu hii ya KULIKONI UGHAIBUNI inafungua ukurasa mpya na kuweka historia ya kipekee katika fani ya habari nchini Tanzania kwa kutangaza hadharani kuwa inam-endorse mgombea urais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kwa tiketi ya Chadema,Dokta Wilbroad Slaa.

Kuna sababu lukuki za kufanya hivyo lakini hapa nitaziorodhesha chache.Kwanza,blogu hii inataka kuachana na unafiki unaojidhihirisha katika baadhi ya vyombo vya habari vyetu ambapo wahusika wanadai hawafungamani na upande wowote lakini matendo yao yanawasuta kwa kupendelea chama tawala huku wakivibinya kwa nguvu baadhi ya vyama vya upinzani.Hapa simsimangi mtu bali nadhani ni vema kuweka msimamo wazi ili kama chombo cha habari ni wakala wa CCM na JK basi ni vema wasomaji wakafahamishwa bayana.

Pili,blogu hii inaamini kuwa kila Mtanzania mwenye uchungu wa dhati kwa nchi yetu anapaswa kumsapoti Dkt Slaa.Katika utumishi wake kwa umma,mgombea huyo wa Chadema ametuthibitishia kuwa ni mtetezi halisi wa haki za wanyonge na ustawi wa taifa letu.Ni nani asiyefahamu namna Dkt Slaa alivyohatarisha maisha yake kwa “kuwavua nguo mafisadi hadharani” alipotangaza ile “list of shame”?Walitishia kumpeleka mahakamani lakini hakuna mmoja wao aliyediriki kufanya hivyo,na sanasana baadhi yao wakaishia kuburuzwa mahakamani na serikali katika “kujikosha”.Blogu hii inaamini kuwa Dokta Slaa ni mkombozi na suluhisho mwafaka la matatizo lukuki yanayotukabili.

Tatu,binafsi naamini kuwa mgombea wa CCM,Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete,ameshindwa kabisa kutimiza matarajio ya Watanzania licha ya ahadi lukuki alizozitoa wakati wa kampeni zake mwaka 2005 na anazoendelea kuzitoa hadi leo.Ungetegemea kuwa mwezi huu wa toba Kikwete angemwogopa Mola wake na kutubu kwa Watanzania kwamba kuna maeneo mengi tu ambapo yeye na chama chake wamewaangusha Watanzania.Lakini kama ilivyo jeuri ya wanasiasa wengi wa Kiafrika,JK ameendeleza wimbo wa “mafanikio ya Awamu ya Nne”.Yani hata kushamiri kwa ufisadi na “uchakachuaji” wa kura za maoni ndani ya CCM ni mafanikio!

Sababu ya nne inashabihiana na hiyo ya tatu.Naamini kuwa afya ya mgombea wa CCM,Jakaya Kikwete,inapaswa kuwekwa kwenye darubini na wapiga kura wanapofanya maamuzi ya kumchagua rais wa awamu ya tano.JK ameshaanguka hadharani mara tatu na kila mara tunapewa excuse moja baada ya nyingine.Mwaka 2005 tuliambiwa “swaumu na uchovu wa kampeni”.Alipoanguka Mwanza tuliambiwa uchovu wa safari (kana kwamba safari hizo ni zile za Wamachinga wanaotembea juani kwa mguu!).Na jana kaanguka tena jukwaani halafu tunaambiwa sababu ni swaumu.Kwani Makamba hajafunga?Au Rais Karume naye “kobe”?Kuna tatizo zaidi ya swaumu au uchovu lakini kwa vile viongozi wetu wamezowea sifa na sio kasoro basi kuweka hadharani kinachomsibu kiongozi huyo inaonekana ni sawa na uhaini.Blogu hii imaanimi kuwa ili Tanzania ijikwamue katika lindi la umasikini wa kutupwa,sambamba na kukabiliana na janga la ufisadi,tunahitaji kiongozi mwenye afya timilifu,kimwili na kiakili.Hatujui JK ameshaanguka matra ngapi asipokuwa hadharani lakini haihitaji hata cheti cha short course ya utabibu kumaizi kuwa JK ana matatizo ya kiafya yanayofichwa,aidha kutokana na uoga wa wanaopaswa kuujulisha umma kuhusu hilo au maagizo yake mwenyewe kuwa “yuko fiti”.All in all,uzito wa matatizo yanayoikabili Tanzania unahitaji mtu aliye fiti kweli,na sio kwa anavyodhani yeye au anavyotaka umma uamini hivyo ilhali ni kinyume na hali halisi.

Kama nilivyoandika mwanzoni,kuna sababu nyingi zilizopelekea blogu hii kuamua kum-endorse Dkt Slaa lakini chache zilizotajwa hapo juu zinawakilisha hizo nyingine.Nawakaribisha ndugu zangu wa Chadema kuitumia blogu hii kufikisha habari kwa Watanzania pasipo hofu ya kuwa habari hizo zitachujwa,kuminywa au “kuchakachuliwa”.

Natambua bayana kuwa baadhi ya wasomaji wa blogu hii sio wafuasi wa Dkt Slaa au Chadema lakini napenda kuwakikishia kuwa endorsement hii haimaanishi kashfa,matusi,dharau au mambo yasiyofaa dhidi ya wagombea wa vyama vingine.Kuweka wazi msimamo wangu haimaanishi chuki dhidi ya vyama hivyo na wagombea wake bali ni imani yangu kuhusu nani anayeweza kuipatia Tanzania “uhuru wa pili” (mapambano dhidi ya Watanzania wenzetu wanaotafuna raslimali zetu zaidi ya alivyofanya mkoloni).

Mwisho,nawahamasisha bloga wenzangu na vyombo vingine vya habari kwa ujumla kuweka bayana misimamo yao ili kuepuka lawama zinazoweza kujitokeza pale habari za vyama flani zinaponyimwa fursa katika vyombo hivyo.Endorsement ya mgombea au chama ni jambo la kawaida katika nchi za Magharibi lakini hii ni mara ya kwanza kwa chombo cha habari cha Kitanzania kufanya hivyo,na kwa hakika najivunia kuweka historia hiyo.

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Breaking News: Kikwete AANGUKA TENA JUKWAANI (VIDEO RE-UPLOADED)

Video kwa hisani ya Jamii Forums

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