Wafadhili Wetu Wanapambana na Ufisadi,Sie Wafadhiliwa Tuko Usingizini

 Habari zilizotawala vyombo vya habari vya hapa Uingereza ni kufikishwa mahakamani kwa wabunge watatu wa chama tawala (Labour) na mbunge wa bunge la mabwanyenye kutoka chama cha Conservatives.Kwa pamoja wabunge hao wanatuhumiwa kufuja fedha .Wabunge hao, Elliot Morley, David Chaytor na Jim Devine wa Labour na Lord Hanningfield wa Conservatives wanashtakiwa kwa ubadhirifu wa jumla ya takriban pauni 60,000 za mafao ya wabunge.Wakati hayo yakitokea hapa katika nchi ambayo ni wafadhili wetu wakubwa,hadi muda huu sie tumeendelea kuwekwa kizani kuhusu mdudu aitwaye Kagoda,huku mtuhumiwa wa ufisadi wa rada na wale wa ujambazi wa Richmond wakiendelea "kupeta". Ni dhahiri kwamba watawala wetu hawako serious na mapambano dhidi ya uhalifu wa vigogo.Hebu angalia mfano mwepesi wa ishu ya mtangazaji wa TBC,Jerry Muro.Japo blogu hii si mahakama ya kuamua kama mtangazaji huyo hana hatia au,kasi ya vyombo vya dola katika kushughulikia 'tuhuma' dhidi yake zilikuwa kubwa sana tofauti na namna vyombo vya dola vinavyojiumauma hadi leo kuhusu majambazi wa kampuni ya Kagoda waliokwiba shilingi bilioni 40 katika utapeli wa EPA.Watawala wetu wameendelea kuweka pamba masikioni na kupuuza kilio cha umma kuhusu haja ya angalau kutajiwa wamiliki wa kampuni hiyo ya kijambazi.

Ndio maana blogu hii imeendelea kuiona sheria mpya ya kudhibiti rushwa katika chaguzi kuwa ni mwendelezo wa ahadi lukuki za kunoresha ustawi wa taifa letu lakini ahadi hizo zimeendelea kuwa viinimacho visivyotekelezeka.Sheria hii inaweza kupelekea waheshimiwa wawili watatu kutiwa nguvuni (kama TAKUKURU watashikiwa silaha kuwezesha hilo), vichwa vya habari vitasomeka kwa herufi kubwa kwamba sheria imeanza kufanya kazi.Lakini kana kwamba wana ugonjwa wa kusahau historia,baadhi ya wanahabari wetu watazembea kurejea matukio ya nyuma ambapo kesi kama za akini Profesa Mahalu,na hizi za karibuni za Mramba na Yona zinaendelea kusuasua mahakamani pasipo dalili za haki kutendeka-kwa watuhumiwa na walipakodi wa Tanzania.

Watakaonaswa baada ya sheria hiyo 'kuanza kutumika' watakuwa mithili ya 'muzi wa kafara',na 'changa la macho' kuonyesha umma kuwa sheria inafanya kazi lakini mwisho wa siku itaishia kuwa 'flani kafikishwa mahakamani',and that's it.Suala sio kumfikisha mtuhumiwa mahakamani bali haki itendeke,na sio itendeke tu bali ionekane imetendeka.

Yayumkinika kusema kuwa kesi za EPA zinazoendelea kwa mwendo wa kinyonga hazikidhi haja ya umma hasa kwa vile japo wote ni watuhumiwa lakini wale wa Kagoda waliiba fedha nyingi zaidi.Cha kushangaza ni kwamba hadi leo wameendelea kuhifadhiwa.Sasa tukisema ufisadi ni sera ya CCM tutaambiwa tumekosa nidhamu?

Tukio la kufikishwa mahakamani kwa wabunge hawa wa Uingereza kunapaswa kutufumbua macho kwa vile kama nchi inayotufadhili iko hailei wabadhirifu iweje sie tunaotegemea misaada tunakuwa na 'sintofahamu' katika kuwachukulia hatua mafisadi?Hivi kuna sababu za msingi kwanini hadi leo Mzee wa Vijisenti Andrew Chenge hajafikishwa mahakamani kuhusu vijibilioni vyake huko visiwani Jersey?Basi hata kama wanamwonea aibu,yaani CCM wanashindwa hata kuona haya kwa mtuhumiwa huyo kuwa mwenyekiti wa kamati yake ya maadili?Au ufisadi ni sehemu ya maadili katika chama hicho?

Wakati tukiendelea kuaminishwa kuwa sheria hiyo ya kudhibiti rushwa kwenye chaguzi itakuwa 'kiboko' ya rushwa,toleo la wiki hii la gazeti la Raia Mwema lina habari kuwa rushwa inamwagwa katika majimbo kadhaa kama wahusika hawana akili nzuri.Sijui huko ni kumkejeli Rais Kikwete aliyetamka bayana kuwa atasaini sheria hiyo kwa mbwembwe au ni kuujulisha umma kuwa CCM na rushwa ni damu damu!Kilicho wazi ni kuwa hakuna mgombea wa CCM atakayefanikiwa kupitishwa na chama hicho pasipo kutoa rushwa.Hilo halihitaji mjadala.Na kama Rais Kikwete anaamini kuwa sheria anayoipigia jaramba itakomesha rushwa kwenye chaguzi,basi ni vema naye akatafakari upya kama kuna umuhimu wa kuendelea kuwa kiongozi wa watu wasioafikiana na mtizamo wake.

Kinachosikitisha zaidi ni namna jamii isivyoonekana kukoseshwa usingizi na namna nchi yetu inavyozidi kutafunwa na mafisadi.Angalia mwitikio wa wananchi kuhusu 'makamanda wa vijana' wa CCM.Hivi watu hawajiulizi hawa makamanda walikuwa wapi siku zote kiasi cha kukurupuka ghafla kufishana makoti na joto lote hilo kwa kifuniko cha 'ukamanda wa vijana'?Na huo ukamanda unawasaidiaje vijana husika?Kwanini makamanda hao wasielekeze nguvu zao katika kupambana na ufisadi? Kwa asiyefahamu 'siri ya ukamanda wa vijana' basi aelewe kuwa kila anayevikwa wadhifa huo ni 'mgombea mtarajiwa'.Ni namna ya kujiweka karibu na wapiga kura.

Lakini sina tatizo sana na makamanda hao bali hao wanaoaminishwa kuwa ili waendelee wanahitaji makamanda wa vijana.Mie ni muumini mkubwa wa wazo kwamba UFISADI ni kikwazo nambari wani cha maendeleo yetu,au sababu kubwa ya kwanini tumeendelea kuwa masikini wa kutupwa licha ya utajiri lukuki wa maliasili tulionao.Logic yangu ni simple.Huwezi kujaza maji kwenye ndoo yenye matobo au kujaza upepo kwenye mpira uliotoboka.Paipo kudhibiti ufisadi na mafisadi,maendeleo yataendelea kuwa ndoto inayogeuka ukweli mchungu kila kukicha.

Na tukitegemea kwamba wanufaika wa ufisadi watajumuika nasi katika kukomesha kilekile kinachowawezesha 'kutanua' na ma-vogue,mahekalu ya bei mbaya na nyumba ndogo zisizohesabika basi tutaendelea kusubiri milele,au kwa lugha nyingine,TUANDIKE TUMEUMIA.

FUNGUKA MACHO,WAKATI NI SASA!.

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Mzaha wa Sheria Mpya ya Uchaguzi

Katika toleo jana la gazeti la Mwananchi kuna habari kwamba Mbunge wa Nyang’hwale,James Musalika, alilazimika ‘kuingia mitini’ kuwakwepa makachero wa Taasisi ya Kupambana na Kuzuia Rushwa (TAKUKURU) waliokwenda katika ‘hafla’ kati ya mbunge huyo na wapiga kura.Kwa mujibu wa Mwananchi,hatua hiyo ya wanadola wa TAKUKURU ni katika utekelezaji wa ‘ruhusa’ waliyopewa hivi karibuni na Rais Jakaya Kikwete ‘kudhibiti wanasiasa wanaotoa rushwa kwenye chaguzi’.

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Mahojiano na 'Wanaowakilisha' Tanzania

Blogu yako inaendelea kuja na mabadiliko ya hapa na pale lengo likiwa kukupatia wewe msomaji mpendwa 'ile kitu roho inapenda'.Katika kutekeleza azma hiyo,blogu hii inatarajia kuwaleta mahojiano na watu mbalimbali ambao kwa namna moja au nyingine wana mchango katika kulitangaza jina la nchi yetu. Kadri mambo yatakavyokwenda sawa,walengwa wa mahojiano hayo ni pamoja na wasanii wetu,wanasiasa (hasa katika kipindi hiki cha kuelekea uchaguzi mkuu),wanamichezo,pamoja na makundi mengine ya kijamii

Kwa vile blogu hii ni yako wewe msomaji mpendwa,na mimi ni mtumishi wako tu,basi nakaribisha maoni ya nani ungependa kuona anafanyiwa mahojiano.Mimi nitajaribu kutuma maombi ya mahojiano hayo,na nikifanikiwa,nitayatundika hapa bloguni.Ili kutoweka ubaguzi wa aina yoyote,blogu hii inakaribisha pia Mtanzania yeyote anayeona kuwa kwa nafasi yake na popote pale alipo anaiwakilisha Tanzania yetu kwa namna moja au nyingine.

Mahojiano hayo yatakuwa katika mfumo wa maandishi japokuwa mipango ya muda mrefu ni kuwa na mahojiano ya sauti pia,na ikiwezekana,mahojiano ya video.Kwa watakaotumiwa maombi ya mahojiano,au kwa wanaotaka kuhojiwa,hii inaweza kuwa fursa nzuri kwao kutangaza vipaji vyao au shughuli zao hususan nje ya Tanzania.Kadhalika,mahojiano hayo yatakuwa aidha kwa Kiswahili au Kiingereza kutegemea maafikiano na mhojiwa.Baadhi ya mahojiano hayo yatafanyika kwa Kiswahili na kutafsiriwa kwa Kiingereza ili kutoa fursa sawa kwa wasomaji wa blogu hii ambao hawafahamu Kiswahili.

Stay tuned, more to come in 2010.

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Has the Opposition Endorsed JK?

It's nearly less than seven months before Tanzanians go to poll to elect,among others, the 5th phase president,should all go well.However,none of the major opposition parties have so far come up with any names of their potential presidential candidates.Does this imply that they have indirectly endorsed a potential CCM candidate,the incumbent president Jakaya Kikwete?The Swahili word for it is 'kusuasua'.Arguably,that's how one could describe opposition politics in Tanzania.Nearly two decades after Tanzania embarked into multiparty politics,most,if not all,of the country's opposition parties have been a hughe disappointment.It could well be concluded that Tanzanians are yet to benefit from the considerably huge number of opposition parties.They are more popular for their seemingly incessant internal skirmishes than their polices or service to the society.Although the ruling party CCM has frequently been accused of meddling into the Opposition's affairs,the truth remains that they are either too weak or too disorganised to pose any serious challenge to the ruling party.

The first multiparty elections saw the perceived might of NCCR Mageuzi,a party that was seen as a serious contender for the ruling of the country.However,sooner after the party lost miserably to CCM,it embarked into a bitter power struggle that eventually led to its chairman,and one of the four 1995 presidential candidates,Augustine Mrema,to switch sides to join TLP.

The next two elections in 2000 and 2005 continued to be the same sad story as CUF and Chadema succeeded in pulling huge crowds during their campaign rallies but only for them to receive meagre number of votes.

Although Chadema emerged fairly stronger in the elections after winning a substantial number of seats in local elections,and has so far gained considerable support in its outspoken stance against economic sabotage (ufisadi) it has so far failed to project any personality that voters could take as a serious contender against Kikwete.And with election looming,the party seems more concerned with increasing their share of parliamentary votes than winning the presidential seat.

The opposition is well aware of how strong CCM remains despite its poor record in delivering its election promises.While opposition parties have an uphill task of convincing potential members and supporters to join them,the ruling party has a distinct advantage from the pre-political reform era where membership to the party was compulsory.That's on top of the current de-facto single-party political environment in which all the characteristics of a one party state prevail except for the legal and constitutional provisions making it official.

One would have expected that by now the opposition parties should have started the process of nominating their presidential candidates process if their participation in the coming election is to make any difference. Faced with acute financial and logical constraints,and with such limited time left before the election,it's fair to conclude that the opposition parties have 'informally' endorsed a CCM candidate even without making such a stance public.

While this blog has nothing personal against such an 'endorsement',it is disaapointed to see how 18 years of opposition politics have produced so little hope to Tanzanians and therefore leaving them with no other choice than continuing to vote for CCM,a party that is so out of touch with voters.Once they lose the election,which is becoming most likely,they (opposition parties) would certainly repeat same old excuses such as calling for an independent electoral commission and constitutional reforms,all of which would brand CCM as a culprit in sabotaging democratic development in Tanzania.However,unless the opposition parties clean up their act,they are doomed to continue to perform dismally in every election.

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Utafiti UDSM/TAKUKURU: CCM Kinara wa Rushwa.

CCM kinara wa rushwa

Yahya Charahani

WAKATI vita dhidi ya ufisadi ikionekana kupoteza mwelekeo, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ndicho kinachoongoza kwa rushwa nchini, kwa mujibu wa utafiti uliofanywa na Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam na Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (Takukuru).

Matokeo ya utafiti huo, unaojulikana kama 'Mapambano ya Rushwa kwenye Serikali za Mitaa' ambazo unalenga ngazi za vitongoji, vijiji, mitaa na kata', yalitangazwa jana jijini Dar es Salaam na mtafiti kiongozi wa jopo la utafiti, Profesa Suleyman Ngware wa Taasisi ya Taaluma na Maendeleo ya Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (IDS).

Watafiti wengine waliokuwapo katika jopo hilo ni pamoja na Peter Tumaini-Mungu, Mhadhiri wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (IDS), Anthony Kiberiti wa Takukuru na Stephen Ndaki wa Takukuru.Kwa mujibu wa utafiti huo, CCM inaongoza katika kujihusisha na vitendo vya rushwa kwenye uchaguzi kwa kuzoa asilimia 49.5, ikifuatiwa na Chadema 7.0, CUF 2.7, NCCR 0.5 na TLP iliyoambulia asilimia 0.5.

Hata hivyo, utafiti huo umeonyesha kuwa CCM, ambayo ilitingishwa na vita dhidi ya ufisadi iliyoendeshwa kijasiri na kikundi cha wabunge kabla ya jitihada hizo kupunguzwa kasi, imetambulika kama chama kilichoamka zaidi katika mapambano na rushwa baada ya kujinyakulia asilimia 45.1, ikifuatiwa na Chadema kilicho na asilimia 16.0 na CUF yenye asilimia 6.8.

Ngware aliwaambia wadau mbalimbali kutoka Tamisemi, baadhi ya wakurugenzi wa miji, manispaa na jiji, mameya, wenyeviti wa halmashauri, Tume ya Uchaguzi ya Taifa, wanaharakati, wanasiasa na wanahabari jana kuwa utafiti huo uliofanyika kwa miezi sita, kati ya Mei na Novemba 2009, ulihusisha katika 41 zilizo kwenye wilaya 11 zilizo ndani ya mikoa saba.

Alisema kuwa jumla ya watu 380 walihojiwa (233 wakiwa wanaume na 167 wanawake) kutoka kada mbalimbali za jamii, wakiwamo wakuu wa mikoa, makatibu tawala wa mikoa, maafisa wa Tamisemi, makamanda wa Takukuru, mameya na wenyeviti wa halmashauri za wilaya.

Wengine ni wakurugenzi wa halmashauri, viongozi wa dini, wanasheria, madiwani, viongozi wa vyama, wabunge, wanaharakati, wakuu wa shule na wananchi wa kawaida.

Alitaja mikoa hiyo kuwa ni Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Morogoro, Dodoma, na Tanga.

"Utafiti huu tumeufanya katika ngazi ya chini kabisa, ambayo ni pamoja na kata, vijiji na wilaya. Umewajumuisha watu wa rika zote ambao tulikuwa tukiwauliza maswali mbalimbali kuhusu rushwa," alisema Profesa Ngware.

"Lengo la utafiti huu ni kuweka msingi wa majadiliano baina ya wananchi na serikali kwa sababu njia hii pekee ndio inaweza kuleta majadiliano na siku zote majadiliano ni mwanzo wa kutatua matatizo."

Kwa mujibu wa Profesa Ngware, wananchi wanatambua uwapo wa Takukuru na mapambano yake dhidi ya rushwa kwa asilimia 79.5, ikifuatiwa na polisi asilimia 31.1, Tume ya Uchaguzi asilimia 18.6, Mamlaka za mikoa na manispaa asilimia 12.4 na waangalizi wa uchaguzi asilimia 7.5, lakini hawaridhiki na ufanisi wao katika mapambano na rushwa.

Alifafanua kuwa lengo kuu la utafiti huo lilikuwa kujifunza hali ya rushwa katika uchaguzi wa serikali za mitaa 2009. Kiwango cha tatizo hilo, mbinu zitumiwazo kutenda kosa hilo, wahusika wakuu, mitazamo ya wananchi kuhusu suala la uongozi na rushwa na mbinu na mikakati inayofaa kutekelezwa kupambana na janga hilo.

Kuhusu swali lililouliza kama uchaguzi wa serikali za mitaa wa mwaka 2004 ulikuwa huru na wa haki, asilimia ya jumla ilionyesha 63 kuwa ulikuwa huru na wa haki huku asilimia nyingine 24.7 zilizosalia zikionyesha kuwa haukuwa huru wala wa hali na asilimia nyingine 11.8 hazikujibiwa.

Hata hivyo kwa mkoa mmoja mmoja, Tanga imeongoza kwa asilimia za kukubali kuwa ulikuwa huru na wa haki kwa asilimia 79.2, Manyara (74.3), Morogoro (73.1), Kilimanjaro (72.4), Dodoma (56.0), Arusha (51.4) na Dar es Salaam ikishika nafasi ya mwisho kwa kupata sifuri.

Kwenye utekelezaji wa ahadi zilizotolewa na viongozi wa serikali za mitaa katika uchaguzi wa mwaka 2004 maoni ya wananchi kutoka ngazi mbalimbali yalionyesha kuwa asilimia 67.5 hazikutekelezwa na asilimia 32.5 ndiyo waliokubali kuwa ahadi hizo zilitekelezeka.

"Utafiti huu unaonyesha wazi kuwa rushwa bado ipo na imeanzia katika ngazi za chini kabisa. Kutokana na ukweli huo moja ya mapendekezo yetu ni kuitaka serikali kuanzisha kitengo maalumu cha kupambana na rushwa wakati wa uchaguzi," alisema.

Pia alipendekeza kuongezwa nguvu zaidi kwa mapambano ya rushwa na si kutegemea Takukuru peke yao kwani utafiti umeonyesha kuwa uwapo wa sheria pekee siyo suluhisho la mapambano dhidi ya rushwa.

Pia alitaka kuwapo kwa kamati maalumu za vijiji kwa ajili ya kupambana na rushwa na kwamba watu wengi walioulizwa walisema kuwa chanzo cha rushwa ni kutotekelezwa kwa sheria zilizopo.

Alisema kuwa asilimia kubwa ya watu waliokuwa wakiulizwa chanzo cha rushwa katika maeneo yao walieleza kuwa inachangiwa zaidi na ubinafsi na ulafi.

Alisisitiza kuwa moja ya umuhimu wa utafiti huo ni kuwafanya wadau mbalimbali nchini na nje ya nchi kujua nini kinafanyika mara baada ya kutoa misaada kwa ajili ya maendeleo ya sekta mbalimbali.

Alieleza kuwa asilimia 37.6 ya watu waliohojiwa walionyesha kujua maana ya rushwa wakiihusisha na fedha, ngono au chochote kinachowanywa kwa malengo binafsi huku asilimia 24.8 wakiitambua kama utoaji wa vitu vyovyote visivyokuwa halali.

Akizungumza wakati akifungua warsha ya utangazaji wa matokeo ya uchaguzi huo, Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Takukuru, Dk Edward Hosea alisema wamefanya utafiti huo ili kubaini nini vyanzo vya rushwa na mbinu zitumiwazo kutenda kosa hilo ili iweze kuwasaidia wadau mbalimbali wakiwamo serikali, vyama vya siasa na hata Takukuru kukabiliana nayo.

Pia alisema utafiti huo umefanyika kwa lengo la kuondokana na kufanya kazi kwa hisia na kuondokana na utamaduni wa kulaumu bila ya kuwapo taarifa sahihi ambazo mara nyingi hutokana na utafiti.

CHANZO: Mwananchi

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Shame on You,ZANTEL!Yes I said it!

Despite the ever increasing dominance of mobile communication,a fixed line service remains as important as one's home address.In the UK,for instance,and probably in some other countries as well,a landline bill is still accepted as a form of ID.And the cost of calling an international land line is far cheaper than a call to a mobile.

It was therefore great news to hear that ZANTEL,one of the major mobile phone companies in Tanzania,was introducing GUMZO, a new and affordable (so they say)  fixed line service in the country.I came across the news when doing my daily "ritual" of going through countless Tanzanian blogs including those which appear on my blogroll.However,my excitement was short-lived after visiting ZANTEL's website.The first thing you would notice when visiting the company's website is its "amateur" looks.One would have expected a big name such as ZANTEL to have something better than what looks like a personal blog.Arguably,My KULIKONI UGHAIBUNI,especially after the "pimping", looks way cuter than ZANTEL's site.

If the impression of their website isn't something to bother you about,then you certainly would end up being as frustrated as I was when you try to search for more information.It really doesn't make sense for ZANTEL to create such a buzz about their GUMZO service only for them to "forget" to mention anything about it on their website.I suspect that the site has not been updated for sometime.All I wanted was to get more information on how I could subscribe to their fixed line service on behalf of someone in TZ but I left the site with none,zilch,nada!

Perhaps the company is so confident in its local advertisement campaigns that it completely ignores potential foreign-based customers.Or could it be the case of not having competent IT personnels?Or not having an IT department at all?Or just business as usual as bongo ilivyo tambarare?

I completely useless when it comes to such stuffs as marketing or sales.However,one does not need to hold even a short-course certificate is such areas to understand how ZANTEL could attract a pretty good number of foreign based customers who could subscribe to their GUMZO service to slash  the costs of making international calls to mobile numbers in Tanzania.

I am not expecting any apology from ZANTEL, not only because such a culture "is still foreign" among majority of service providers in Tanzania,both public and private,but also because the best they could do is making sure that their website lives up to their reputation.

Generally, for majority of service providers in our beloved country,both public and private, do not seem to care about the likes of Evarist who largely relies on the internet when lit comes to looking for local information about services in Tanzania.Ironically,even our media has a very disappointing presence on the internet.For instance,one of the oldest newspaper in the country,Uhuru,has long disappeared into thin air after months of having a website that had been updated at the mercy of their webmaster.Online versions of most of our newspapers have remained more of a privilege than a necessity.My fellow patriot Said Kubenea must have got tired of my frequent emails to his weekly paper reminding them to update their site on time.

I am sorry but I have to say it.Shame on you ZANTEL and all those who follow your suit when it comes to updating their websites.Your website really sucks.

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Kipato Chetu Shilingi Moja Matumizi Yetu Shilingi Mbili

Msafara wa Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda ukiwa umesheheni "mashangingi".Picha kwa hisani ya Mjengwa

Serikali yakiri kutumia zaidi ya kipato

na Sauli Giliard na Marietha Mkoka

MATUMIZI mabaya ya serikali na kuendelea kupanda kwa mfumuko wa bei za bidhaa kwa zaidi ya mara mbili katika kipindi cha kati ya mwaka 2005 na sasa ni chanzo cha maisha magumu ya wananchi, Tanzania Daima limebaini.

Katika wakati ambapo wananchi wapatao milioni nane wanalala au kushinda njaa kwa sababu ya ugumu wa maisha, serikali jana ilikiri kupitia kwa Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, Ramadhan Kijjah, imekuwa inatumbua shilingi mbili, wakati ina uwezo wa kukusanya shilingi moja.

Akitoa tathmini ya serikali kuhusu hali ya uchumi kwa kipindi cha miaka minne iliyopita, Kijjah alisema mapato ya serikali kwa mwaka ni sh trilioni tano, lakini matumizi ya serikali ni Sh trilioni 10.

Akijadili tathmini hiyo, mchumi na mwanasiasa, Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba, alisema matumizi hayo makubwa ya serikali yanaathiri vibaya Watanzania wa kawaida, kwani yanachochea mfumuko wa bei unaosababisha gharama za maisha kuwa za juu.

Wakati Kijjah akikiri kwamba kimsingi, mapato ya serikali yamepanda kutoka Sh trilioni 2.167.6 mwaka 2005/06 hadi Sh trilioni 5.096 mwaka 2009/10, Profesa Lipumba alisema kama serikali ingekuwa makini, kulingana na ulaji mkubwa inaoonyesha, makusanyo ya sasa yangekuwa makubwa zaidi na yangekusanya kwa nidhamu.

Alisema serikali inawaachia watu fulani fulani (hakuwataja) na makampuni makubwa yasilipe kodi.

Kwa sababu hiyo, Profesa Lipumba alisema uchumi wa nchi unayumba na kufanya maisha ya Mtanzania yazidi kudorora.

“Hakuna ukusanyaji mzuri wa kodi; watu wanaachiwa, makampuni yanayochimba madini hayalipi kodi ya kutosha….hilo lina athari,” alisema Profesa Lipumba.

Kumbukumbu zinaonyesha kuwa mwaka 2004/05 wakati utawala wa Rais Benjamin Mkapa ukielekea ukingoni matumizi ya serikali yalipanda kutoka Sh trilioni 2.1 hadi Sh. trilioni 2.7 mwaka 2005/06 wakati Rais Jakaya Kikwete anaingia madaraka.

Mbali ya hilo taarifa hiyo ya Kijjah ilionyesha kwamba mfumuko wa bei umepanda kwa zaidi ya mara mbili katika kipindi cha kati ya mwaka 2005 ulipokuwa ni asilimia 5 hadi kufikia asilimia 12.2 Desemba mwaka jana kabla ya kushuka kidogo na kuwa asilimia 10.9 Januari mwaka huu.

Hata hivyo Kijjah, alisema serikali imechukua hatua ili kukabiliana na matumizi hayo makubwa. Alisema imeongeza idadi ya wahasibu na wakaguzi wa ndani katika ngazi zote kuanzia wizara hadi serikali za mitaa.

“Kuanzishwa kwa kitengo cha ufuatiliaji wa matumizi ya umma (bajeti) katika miradi iliyoidhinishwa: Ofisi ya Mkaguzi Mkuu (CAG) imeongezewa nguvu za kisheria kuweza kufanya kazi zake bila kuingiliwa na taasisi yoyote.”

Katibu mkuu huyo ambaye alikuwa amefuatana na naibu wake, John Haule, aliongeza ili kupunguza matumizi makubwa ya serikali, yanahitajika marekebisho katika Sheria ya Manunuzi ya Umma ya mwaka 2004 ikiwa ni pamoja na kutoa elimu kwa watendaji wake.

“Sera ya mapato ya mwaka 2009/10 inalenga kukusanya mapato ya ndani yasiyopungua sh milioni 5,096,016 sawa na asilimia 16.4 ya pato la taifa,” alisema.

Kuhusu thamani ya fedha, Kijjah alisema, shilingi iliendelea kuporomoka kutoka wastani wa shilingi 1,195.75 kwa dola ya Kimarekani mwaka 2008 hadi kufikia shilingi 1,318.71 mwaka jana.

CHANZO: Tanzania Daima

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Kipato Shilingi Moja Matumizi Yetu Shilingi Mbili!

 (Picha kwa hisani ya Mjengwa.)

MATUMIZI mabaya ya serikali na kuendelea kupanda kwa mfumuko wa bei za bidhaa kwa zaidi ya mara mbili katika kipindi cha kati ya mwaka 2005 na sasa ni chanzo cha maisha magumu ya wananchi, Tanzania Daima limebaini.

Katika wakati ambapo wananchi wapatao milioni nane wanalala au kushinda njaa kwa sababu ya ugumu wa maisha, serikali jana ilikiri kupitia kwa Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, Ramadhan Kijjah, imekuwa inatumbua shilingi mbili, wakati ina uwezo wa kukusanya shilingi moja

Akitoa tathmini ya serikali kuhusu hali ya uchumi kwa kipindi cha miaka minne iliyopita, Kijjah alisema mapato ya serikali kwa mwaka ni sh trilioni tano, lakini matumizi ya serikali ni Sh trilioni 10.

Akijadili tathmini hiyo, mchumi na mwanasiasa, Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba, alisema matumizi hayo makubwa ya serikali yanaathiri vibaya Watanzania wa kawaida, kwani yanachochea mfumuko wa bei unaosababisha gharama za maisha kuwa za juu.

Wakati Kijjah akikiri kwamba kimsingi, mapato ya serikali yamepanda kutoka Sh trilioni 2.167.6 mwaka 2005/06 hadi Sh trilioni 5.096 mwaka 2009/10, Profesa Lipumba alisema kama serikali ingekuwa makini, kulingana na ulaji mkubwa inaoonyesha, makusanyo ya sasa yangekuwa makubwa zaidi na yangekusanya kwa nidhamu.

Alisema serikali inawaachia watu fulani fulani (hakuwataja) na makampuni makubwa yasilipe kodi.

Kwa sababu hiyo, Profesa Lipumba alisema uchumi wa nchi unayumba na kufanya maisha ya Mtanzania yazidi kudorora.

“Hakuna ukusanyaji mzuri wa kodi; watu wanaachiwa, makampuni yanayochimba madini hayalipi kodi ya kutosha….hilo lina athari,” alisema Profesa Lipumba.

Kumbukumbu zinaonyesha kuwa mwaka 2004/05 wakati utawala wa Rais Benjamin Mkapa ukielekea ukingoni matumizi ya serikali yalipanda kutoka Sh trilioni 2.1 hadi Sh. trilioni 2.7 mwaka 2005/06 wakati Rais Jakaya Kikwete anaingia madaraka.

Mbali ya hilo taarifa hiyo ya Kijjah ilionyesha kwamba mfumuko wa bei umepanda kwa zaidi ya mara mbili katika kipindi cha kati ya mwaka 2005 ulipokuwa ni asilimia 5 hadi kufikia asilimia 12.2 Desemba mwaka jana kabla ya kushuka kidogo na kuwa asilimia 10.9 Januari mwaka huu.

Hata hivyo Kijjah, alisema serikali imechukua hatua ili kukabiliana na matumizi hayo makubwa. Alisema imeongeza idadi ya wahasibu na wakaguzi wa ndani katika ngazi zote kuanzia wizara hadi serikali za mitaa.

“Kuanzishwa kwa kitengo cha ufuatiliaji wa matumizi ya umma (bajeti) katika miradi iliyoidhinishwa: Ofisi ya Mkaguzi Mkuu (CAG) imeongezewa nguvu za kisheria kuweza kufanya kazi zake bila kuingiliwa na taasisi yoyote.”

Katibu mkuu huyo ambaye alikuwa amefuatana na naibu wake, John Haule, aliongeza ili kupunguza matumizi makubwa ya serikali, yanahitajika marekebisho katika Sheria ya Manunuzi ya Umma ya mwaka 2004 ikiwa ni pamoja na kutoa elimu kwa watendaji wake.

“Sera ya mapato ya mwaka 2009/10 inalenga kukusanya mapato ya ndani yasiyopungua sh milioni 5,096,016 sawa na asilimia 16.4 ya pato la taifa,” alisema.

Kuhusu thamani ya fedha, Kijjah alisema, shilingi iliendelea kuporomoka kutoka wastani wa shilingi 1,195.75 kwa dola ya Kimarekani mwaka 2008 hadi kufikia shilingi 1,318.71 mwaka jana.

CHANZO: Tanzania Daima

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Udhaifu wa Sheria Mpya ya Uchaguzi

Katika hotuba yake ya mwisho wa mwezi,Rais Jakaya Kikwete alieleza kwa undani matarajio yake kuhusu ufanisi wa Sheria mpya ya Uchaguzi.Pamoja na mambo mengine,sheria hiyo inatarajiwa kuziba mianya ya rushwa kwa wanasiasa wanaowania uwakilishi wa wananchi katika Bunge.Hata hivyo,pamoja na nia njema na umuhimu wa kuwa na sheria hiyo,ushahidi wa kimazingira unaashiria kuwa itabaki kuwa sheria tu kama zilivyo nyingine nyingi pasipo kuzaa matunda yanayokusudiwa

Tatizo la nchi yetu halijawahi kuwa ukosefu wa sheria bali usimamizi na utekelezaji wake.Mifano ni mingi,lakini kwa vile sheria hii ya Uchaguzi inalenga kudhibiti mianya ya rushwa,ni vema tukaangalia kwanza ufanisi wa sheria nyinginezo zilizopo ambazo kwa hakika zingeaidia sana kupunguza tatizo la rushwa laiti zingetumika ipasavyo.

Kinachokwaza zaidi usimamizi na utekelezaji wa sheria zetu nyingi ni ukosefu wa uzalendo miongoni mwa waliokabidhiwa dhamana ya kuzisimamia na kuzitekeleza.Ni kichekesho kusikia miongoni mwa taasisi zinazotarajiwa kuwa na dhamana ya hali ya juu katika usimamizi na utekelezaji wa sheria hiyo ni TAKUKURU,chombo ambacho wengi wetu tunaamini kuwa kimeshindwa kazi yake.Hivi TAKUKURU iliyoshindwa sio tu kuchukua hatua dhidi ya wezi wa Richmond bali pia kutengeneza ripoti feki ya kuwasafisha watuhumiwa itawezaje kusimamia na kutekeleza sheria hiyo mpya ya uchaguzi?

Ikumbukwe pia kuwa kwa kiasi kikubwa vyombo vyetu vya dola bado vina fikra ya zama za chama kimoja ambapo "madhambi" ya wana-CCM yanachukuliwa kama "ubinadamu" na hivyo vyombo hivyo kusuasua kuchukua hatua zinazostahili.Kwa baadhi ya taasisi za dola,hata kukemea maovu yanayotendwa na baadhi ya vigogo wa CCM ni kama na kuvunja sheria za nchi!

Kwa mwenendo huu,ni dhahiri basi sheria hiyo inaweza kutumika kuvibana vyama vya upinzani huku wana-CCM wakiendeleza libeneke la takrima kana kwamba imehalalishwa.Sheria hii imeletwa na serikali ya CCM ambayo rekodi yake katika mapambano dhid ya rushwa ina walakini mkubwa.Iweje chama kilichounda serikali kiendelee kuwa na mwenyekiti wa kamati yake ya maadili (Andrew Chenge) ambaye ana tuhuma katika suala la rada?

Pengine badala ya kupoteza muda kwa kuja na sheria mpya,ungefanyika mchakato wa kupitia sheria zilizopo na kuhakikisha zinasimamiwa na kutekelzwa ipasavyo.Vinginevyo,itakuwa ni hadithi ileile ya kuja na sheria mpya zenye kuleta matumaini mithili ya kauli-mbiu "mAisha Bora kwa Kila Mtanzania" huku matokeo yake yakibaki sifuri.

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Watanzania Milioni 8 Washinda Njaa Kila Siku

NI IDADI INAYOKARIBIA WALIOPIGA KURA MWAKA 2005

na Mwandishi Wetu

WATANZANIA wapatao milioni 8.4 wanashinda na njaa au kulala njaa ili kukabiliana na ukali wa maisha, utafiti umeonyesha.

Kwa mujibu wa utafiti wa Synovate uliofanyika kati ya Septemba na Desemba 2009, wananchi wanaahirisha milo kwa sababu hali ya kiuchumi ya Watanzania milioni 20 imezidi kuwa mbaya.

Mbali na wale waliopunguza bajeti zao (asilimia 43), na wale walioamua kuacha kula baadhi ya milo kwa siku (asilimia 21), watu milioni 11.2 (wanaowakilishwa na asilimia 28 ya wahojiwa), walisema hawajachukua hatua zozote dhidi ya kuongezeka huko kwa gharama za chakula wakati watu milioni 1.6 (asilimia 4) walisema wamekopa kutoka kwenye benki za biashara na hawajui jinsi ya kurejesha mikopo hiyo.

“Idadi ya wale waliosema kuwa hali zao za kiuchumi zimebakia vile vile ilikuwa ni watu milioni 16.8, ambao ni asilimia 42 ya wahojiwa.

“Ni watu milioni 1.4 sawa na asilimia 4 tu ya waliohojiwa, ndio waliosema maisha yao yameboreka, huku watu wengine milioni 2 sawa na asilimia 5 ya waliohojiwa wakisema hawajui,” alisema meneja huduma wa Taasisi ya Synovate, Jane Meela.

Kwa mujibu wa utafiti huo, idadi ya waliosema hali zao za kiuchumi zimekuwa mbaya zaidi ilikuwa kubwa zaidi kwa upande wa wanawake kuliko wanaume, wakati wanaume kidogo walisema hali zao za kiuchumi zilibakia vile vile.

Kwa kuzingatia kipimo cha maendeleo ya jamii, kisiasa na kiuchumi (SPEC), wananchi milioni 17.2 pia wamelazimika kupunguza matumizi yao ya vitu vya nyumbani kutokana na kupanda kwa gharama za mahitaji ya msingi.

Matokeo hayo yalitolewa na meneja utafiti na mawasiliano wa taasisi hiyo, Abdallah Gunda na meneja huduma, Meela, katika mkutano wao na wanahabari uliofanyika juzi jijini Dar es Salaam.

“Makali ya maisha nchini yamefikia hatua mbaya zaidi tangu utafiti wetu uliopita, na mwenendo wa sasa unatisha,” alisema Meela.

Alisema kinachoonekana ni kuwa watu maskini wameendelea kutokomea kwenye umaskini, huku kukiwa na watu wachache tu wanaoona kuwa hali za maisha yao zimekuwa bora.

Meela alisema serikali inahitaji sera na mikakati iliyojengwa na matokeo ya tafiti kama hizo kufanya gharama za maisha ziwe nafuu kwa kila mtu.

Utafiti huo ulihusisha sampuli nasibu za idadi ya watu 2,000 waliopatikana katika mikoa yote 21 ya Tanzania Bara, na visiwa vya Unguja na Pemba.

Alisema matokeo ya sampuli hizo yalipangwa katika jedwali na kufanyiwa upembuzi uliozingatia makadirio ya idadi ya watu milioni 40 nchi nzima ili kupata takwimu zilizokaririwa katika ripoti hiyo.

Matokeo hayo yanaonekana kuakisi hali halisi yakilinganishwa na mwenendo wa hivi karibuni wa mfumuko wa bei za vyakula.

Takwimu za Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT) zinaonyesha kuwa mfumuko wa bei nchini umebaki katika tarakimu mbili.

Rais Kikwete aliingia madarakani kukiwa na nafuu ya mfumuko wa bei, kwani ulikuwa asilimia 5.8.

Hali ilikuwa mbaya zaidi mwaka jana mwezi Agosti, ambapo ulifikia asilimia 18.9, mwezi mmoja tu kabla ya kufanyika kwa utafiti huo wa Synovate.

Kiwango hicho kilishuka hadi kufikia asilimia 17.3 Septemba na kupanda hadi asilimia 18.1 Oktoba, na tangu wakati huo kimekuwa kikishuka na kupanda kati ya asilimia 14.5 na 17 kwa miezi iliyofuatia.

Wachumi wamekuwa wakitumia kigezo hiki kuthibitisha jinsi serikali ya awamu ya nne ilivyoshindwa kuboresha maisha ya mwananchi.

Na wanaharakati wametumia kigezo hiki, na kukithiri kwa ufisadi miongoni mwa vigogo serikalini, kama kielelezo cha Serikali ya Rais Kikwete kushindwa kutimiza ndoto zake za ‘maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania.’

Naye Gunda alisema tatizo la rushwa na hongo ndilo lililotajwa kuwa sugu kwani linaathiri wengi nchini na lilipewa asilimia 53, likifuatiwa na tatizo la umaskini lililopewa asilimia 42, gharama za vyakula, asilimia 39, uhaba wa chakula na njaa, asilimia 38.

Tatizo la ajira, ukimwi na VVU, maji, kupanda kwa gharama za maisha, afya, umeme, ukame, barabara, elimu, kilimo, kutokuwepo kwa usalama na matumizi ya dawa za kulevya pia vilitajwa kama miongoni mwa matatizo makubwa nchini.

Utafiti huo umebainisha kuwa rushwa na umaskini ni matatizo yanayowaathiri zaidi wanaume kuliko wanawake.

CHANZO: Tanzania Daima

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When You Resemble a Racist

Not every one is blessed with good looks. I for sure wouldn't dare to compare myself to the likes of Brad Pitt or Denzel Washington.However,I'm quite happy and comfortable with my "plain" (or ugly as others would say) looks.When you finish reading the following story, you certainly are going to join me in cherishing whatever looks we have.

A Conservative Party delegate,Lynden Stowe,had to confirm his identity when he was on his way to hear his party Leader David Cameron speak in Manchester.Stowe,who bears stark resemblance to a racist Nick Griffin,leader of a far-right BNP,has had similar experience in the past.In the Manchester incident,he had to show his ID to the police who thought he was the BNP leader.

This episode reminds me of a number of incidents that have been reported by the media about people with huge beards who have were mistaken for Osama bin Laden.Whether or not such incidents had anti-Islam sentiments is for me to judge but being a lookalike to a high profile racist or terrorist is a million times worse than just being plainly ugly.

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Kipigo cha Yanga na Hadithi ya Makocha wa Kigeni

Japokuwa kutolewa kwa Yanga katika michuano ya kimataifa kunaweza kupokelewa kama habari njema kwa watani wao wa jadi Simba, lakini ukweli unabaki kuwa hiyo ni habari mbaya kwa medani ya soka la kimataifa kwa nchi yetu. Lakini kipigo hicho kinaweza pia kuwa fundisho zuri kwa vilabu vyetu vya soka,hususan Simba na Yanga,vilivyokumbwa na “ugonjwa” wa makocha wa kigeni.

Nimesoma utetezi wa kocha wa Yanga, Kosta Papic, kwenye gazeti la Mwananchi kwamba sababu kuu za kutolewa kwa timu hiyo ni uwanja mbovu, hali ya hewa na matokeo mabaya katika pambano la awali. Kwa ujumla sababu zote hizo si za kitaalamu kwani hata shabiki ambaye hajawahi kucheza chandimu anaweza kukurupuka na sababu kama hizo. Papic anatoa visingizio hivyo huku akielewa fika kuwa havitoi majibu ya kwanini timu yake ilipata matokeo kama hayo (kufungwa) katika mchezo wa kwanza uliofanyika Dar es Salaam.

Je hali ya hewa ya Dar nayo ilichangia Yanga kupoteza mchezo wa awali? Vipi kuhusu uwanja wetu mpya na wa kisasa? Ni dhahiri kuwa alichofanya kocha huyo ni kuamua “kusema chochote” badala ya kukaa kimya. Kufungwa, na hatimaye kutolewa kwa Yanga hakuwezi kutohusishwa na mapungufu ya kocha huyo wa kigeni, na Papic analijua hilo ndio maana akakimbilia kuja na visingizio visivyo na uzito.

Lakini kwa namna flani, kuwalaumu makocha wa kigeni kwa asilimia 100 ni kama kutowatendea haki kwa vile hawakujiajiri wenyewe.Vilabu vyetu, licha ya kuwa ombaomba na kutegemea hisani za wafadhili, ziko tayari kujikakamua na umasikini wao wa kujitakia ili ziwe na “ujiko” wa kocha wa kigeni. La muhimu sio kocha anatoka wapi bali umuhimu wake kwa maendeleo ya timu husika.

Na kwa upande flani angalau makocha wazawa, au wa kutoka nchi jirani, wanaweza kuvumilia “mbinde” zinazotawala kila kukicha katika vilabu vyetu vya soka. Sasa kwa makocha wanaotoka sehemu zenye “tamaduni tofauti” kama Papic,kwa hakika kumudu soka letu inakuwa shughuli pevu.Sote twajua,kwa mfano,jinsi vilabu vyetu vinavyoendekeza “kamati za ufundi” kuliko ushauri wa wataalam wa soka. Sasa kwa kocha “mzungu” mwenye “roho nyepesi”, mambo kama hayo yanaweza kumkimbiza mapema tu.

Ni muhimu sasa kwa Yanga na timu zetu nyingine za soka kutafakari upya “ugonjwa” huu wa makocha wa kigeni. Ikumbukwe kuwa wakati kocha ni sehemu muhimu ya mafanikio ya klabu, wachezaji na mazingira ya soka katika mahala husika ni muhimu pia katika kupata mafanikio. Kwa mfumo wa kibabaishaji unaotawala medani ya soka letu, hata akija kocha mahiri kama Sir Alex Ferguson au Jose Maurinho bado hadithi inaweza kuendelea kuwa kama hiyo ya Yanga huko DRC.

Vilabu vyetu vinapaswa kutengeneza mazingira mazuri hususan kwenye ngazi ya uongozi na kujijengea uwezo wa kujiendesha pasipo kutegemea ridhaa za wafadhili.Ni katika mazingira hayo ndipo vitamudu kufanya usajili wa kutengeneza vikosi vya ushindi visivyo hitaji kusajili na kuacha wachezaji mara kwa mara.Kadhalika,ili kuunda timu ya ushindi ni muhimu kwa vilabu hivyo sio tu kuwa na vikosi visivyobadilika kila msimu bali pia kuwa na walimu (makocha) wanaookaa na wachezaji kwa muda mrefu ili kujenga mshikamano na kuelewana.Vingenevyo,tutaendelea kuwa wasindikizaji tu katika michuano ya kimataifa.

Technorati Tags: YANGA,TANZANIAN FOOTBALL,PAPIC,KULIKONI

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Vituko vya Uchaguzi: Mbunge aamkia watoto

MBUNGE wa Sikonge, Said Nkumba (CCM) juzi jioni alimuacha hoi Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda, pale alipowapa salamu ya shikamoo watoto ili pamoja na wazazi wao wamchague tena kuendelea kuwa mbunge wa jimbo hilo katika uchaguzi mkuu ujao.

Tukio hilo lilitokea wakati Waziri Mkuu alipokuwa akiwahutubia wananchi wa Sikonge katika mfululizo wa ziara yake ya kuutembelea Mkoa wa Tabora.Kabla ya Waziri Mkuu kuanza kutoa hotuba yake, Nkumba alipewa nafasi ya kuwasalimia wapiga kura wake, ndipo alipoitumia nafasi hiyo kutangaza nia ya kugombea tena ubunge katika uchaguzi mkuu utakaofanyika baadaye mwaka huu.
“Mheshimiwa Waziri Mkuu, wakati ulipokuwa ukiahirisha kikao cha Bunge kilichopita ulisema sasa ni wakati muafaka kwetu kurudi kwa wapiga kura wetu ili kuwapa shikamoo.

“Leo ni siku ya bahati kwani watu wengi wamejitokeza katika mkutano wako huu na mimi naomba kuitumia nafasi hii kutoa shikamoo. “Kwa heshima na taadhima shikamoooni watoto wote mliopo hapa kuanzia mnaonyonya, watoto wa halaiki, watoto mliopo shuleni na shikamooni vijana na wazee wote mliopo hapa,” alisema Nkumba.

“Napenda sasa kutumia nafasi hii kutangaza nia kwamba nitagombea tena ubunge katika Jimbo la Sikonge na naomba wote mniunge mkono,” alisema Nkumba.
Tukio hilo lilimfanya Waziri Mkuu aliyekuwa amekaa jukwaani na viongozi wengine wa kitaifa, mkoa na wilaya, kuvunjika mbavu kwa kicheko.

CHANZO: Habari Leo

Technorati Tags: TANZANIA,KULIKONI,THE ROAD TO 2010,POLITICS IN TANZANIA

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Rangers 1 Celtic 0

Technorati Tags: CELTIC,RANGERS,GLASGOW,SCOTTISH FOOTBALL,MAURICE EDU,SPL,HENRIK LARRSON

Rangers have extended their Scottish Premier League (SPL) lead to 10 points after beating their Glasgow arch-rivals Celtic, thanks to a Maurice Edu’s goal seconds from the end of the Old Firm derby.

Well,I still like football though it’s not as much as I used to be back in the days.Although I have never been to a football stadium for ages,but I could describe myself as a Celtic fan if you were to ask me which team I support in Scotland.That has got nothing to do with me being a Catholic but rather it’s largely due to Henrik Larsson,a former Celtic star who was at his peak when I first arrived in Scotland nearly a decade ago.

So am I hurt by today’s results?Not at all.Actually,I’m somehow happy that a scorer of the Rangers’ goal is a Black person.Nothing to do with race but what would you expect in a nation where football colours could inflame a fight.Yes,Edu is an African-American who emerged victorious today after scoring the goal that could as well help Rangers retain their SPL title.

I have always wished I could attend an Old Firm derby but a few people I know in Glasgow have always warned me about potential of violence when the two big guns in Scottish football meet.

Just like like back home where victory for Simba against Yanga,or vice versa,is more important than qualifying for regional competitions,so is to Celtic and Rangers.The two teams’ records in European competitions have generally been dismal.I’m of the opinion that local football success should also translate into performing well in international tournaments.Both Celtic and Rangers are said to be in to difficult financial position,and qualifying for the Champions League would really make a huge difference.But for Rangers fans today,all that matters is their victory against their arch enemies.

Well,although I wish Celtic could have emerge victorious today,I’m a bit consoled by the fact a Black person-Edu-is entered in the Scottish footbal history books.

Big up,Edu!

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Baada ya Rostam,Pinda sasa amsifia Sitta

na Mwandishi Wetu, Urambo

WAZIRI Mkuu Mizengo Pinda, amemmwagia sifa kemkem Spika wa Bunge, Samuel Sitta akisema amejenga Bunge lenye sifa na umakini.

Pinda ambaye majuzi alimmwagia sifa Mbunge wa Igunga, Rostam Azziz (CCM) akiwataka wananchi wake wampime kwa kazi yake ni si kwa maneno ya bungeni, alisema Sitta amekuwa anaongoza Bunge kwa nia nzuri, na kwamba wanaolalamikia kazi yake ni wapotoshaji.

Alikuwa akihutubia wananchi katika Uwanja wa Jamhuri mjini hapa juzi, akasema Sitta ambaye ni Mbunge wa Urambo, amelifanya Bunge lisifiwe hata nje ya nchi.

Katika kusisitiza hili, Pinda alisema: “Hata watu wa nje wanalisifu Bunge letu…wanasema naam, hili ndilo Bunge…Bunge likicharuka kuhusu ufisadi wanasema hata si bure, nani asiyejua ufisadi? Ufisadi si rushwa? Bunge linachofanya ni watu wawe waadilifu.”

Aliwataka Watanzania waungane katika vita dhidi ya rushwa, kwani imesemwa tangu zamani kwamba rushwa ni adui wa haki.

Kwa takribani miaka miwili, Sitta amekuwa na uhusiano mbaya na baadhi ya vigogo wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), wengi wakiwa wabunge wenzake, kuhusu anavyoliendesha Bunge.

Miongoni mwa walioathirika kwa “kazi nzuri ya Sitta” ni Rostam ambaye pamoja na rafiki yake Edward Lowassa (Monduli – CCM) walihusishwa kinamna na kashfa ya Richmond, ambayo ilisababisha Lowassa kujiuzulu wadhifa wake wa Waziri Mkuu.

Kutokana na msimamo wa Sitta na athari za Kamati ya Mwakyembe, CCM iligawanyika makundi mawili, moja upande wa Sitta jingine likiwa upande wa Lowassa na Rostam.

Uhasama wa makundi hayo uliongezeka na kujikita katika vikao vingine vikuu vya maamuzi vya CCM, kiasi kwamba mwaka jana, wajumbe wa Halmashauri Kuu ya CCM (NEC) walimbana Sitta katika moja ya vikao vyao, wakapendekeza avuliwe uanachama na afukuzwe ubunge, kwa maelezo kuwa anatumia vibaya nafasi yake kwa kuiaibisha CCM.

Sitta aliponea chupuchupu baada ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete kuunda Kamati ya Mwinyi, ambayo kwa muda sasa imekuwa ikihaha kuwapatanisha mahasimu hao; na sasa imefanikiwa kupunguza uhasama wa wazi miongoni mwao.

Katika kikao cha 18 cha Bunge kilichomalizika siku chache zilizopita, Sitta aliwashangaza wananchi alipofunga mjadala wa Richmond, huku akitarajiwa atumie fursa hiyo kuibana serikali itekeleze maagizo 23 ya Bunge kuhusu watu waliojihusisha na kashfa hiyo.

Sitta pamoja na wabunge waliokuwa wamejipambanua kuwa ni wapiganaji vita dhidi ya ufisadi wamelazimika kunywea, licha ya kutambua kuwa maazimio muhimu yaliyomtaka Rais Kikwete kuwajibisha waliokumbwa na kashfa hiyo hayakutekelezwa.

Katika kikao cha NEC kilichoisha hivi karibuni, Sitta aligoma kusuluhishwa na Lowassa na kundi lake, akidai kwamba hana ugomvi binafsi, bali anapambana na ufisadi. Kamati ya Mwinyi imeongezewa muda ili iwapatanishe mahasimu hao.

Mara baada ya kikao cha NEC, Pinda alianza ziara ya wiki sita mkoani Tabora; na alipofika Igunga, alitoa kauli ya kumtetea na kumsafisha Rostam kwa kauli ambayo baadhi ya wachambuzi walidai inalidhalilisha Bunge, kwani ilionekana kana kwamba “maneno ya bungeni” si maneno ya maana kwa wananchi kuyatumia kumpima mbunge wao.

Aliwataka wananchi wa Igunga wampime Rostam kwa kazi zake jimboni, si kwa “maneno ya bungeni;” Bunge lile lile linaloongozwa na Sitta.

Jana Waziri Mkuu alitembelea Wilaya ya Sikonge. Ziara yake mkoani Tabora inatarajiwa kuhitimishwa leo.

CHANZO: Tanzania Daima

Technorati Tags: SAUMUEL SITTA,MIZENGO PINDA,UFISADI,KULIKONI

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Utashi Unahitajika Ili Tuushinde Ufisadi

Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Taasisi ya Kuzuia Rushwa TAKUKURU Dr. Edward Hosea akimkaribisha Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete kufungua mkutano mkuu wa Mwaka wa taasisi hiyo.Picha kwa hisani ya MJENGWA

Hivi karibuni,uongozi wa kampuni ya magari ya Toyota ya Japan ulifanya jambo moja la kiungwana kwa kuwaomba radhi wateja wake kutokana na hitilafu za kiufundi katika modeli moja ya magari yake.Japo sakata hilo bado ni bichi hasa kwa vile inaelekea hitilafu hiyo bado haijapatiwa ufumbuzi,na tayari kuna habari za kushuka kwa hisa za kampuni hiyo katika masoko mbalimbali ya mitaji duniani,ni dhahiri hatua ya kuomba radhi imeonyesha kwamba kwa namna flani kampuni hiyo inatambua wajibu wake na inawajali wateja wake.

Majuzi,Rais Jakaya Kikwete alimwaga sifa kwa Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (TAKUKURU) huku akijigamba kwamba serikali ya awamu ya nne imekuwa mstari wa mbele katika mapambano dhidi ya rushwa.Binafsi sidhani kama kauli hiyo ya JK inaendana na hali halisi ya utendaji na ufanisi wa TAKUKURU.

Kimsingi,tatizo haliko kwenye taasisi hiyo pekee bali kwenye medani nzima ya utawala bora.Angalia,kwa mfano,kauli za Waziri mwenye dhamana ya Utawala Bora,Mheshimiwa Sophia Simba,wakati wa sakata lililowahusisha wafanyabiashara wawili mashuhuri Bwana Reginald Mengi na Bwana Rostam Aziz.Badala ya kuhamasisha wananchi wanaojitokeza kuwaumbua hadharani mafisadi,Waziri Simba aliamua kuelemea upande mmoja ambapo bila aibu alimkemea Bwana Mengi huku akimlinda Bwana Rostam.

TAKUKURU hiyohiyo inayopongezwa na JK haijafanikiwa kujisafisha na tuhuma za namna ilivyouhadaa umma kuhusu suala la utapeli wa kampuni ya Richmond.Kamati ya Bunge iliyoundwa kuchunguza sakata hilo ilipendekeza Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa TAKUKURU Dr Edward Hosea,uamuzi ambao uko mikononi wa aliyemteua Hosea,yaani JK mwenyewe.Kwa hali ilivyo,na ukitilia maanani pongezi alozotoa JK kuhusu ufanisi katika mapambano dhidi ya ufisadi,ni dhahiri kuwa Rais hana mpango wa kumwajibisha Dr Hosea.

Nimesema tatizo liko kwenye utawala bora kwa vile hata chama tulichokipa dhamana ya kutuongoza-CCM-kimeendelea kufanya dhihaka linapokuja suala la utawala bora.Hivi inaingia akilini kweli kusikia kuwa Mbunge wa Bariadi,Bwana Andrea Chenge,bado ni mwenyekiti wa kamati ya maadili ya chama hicho tawala licha ya kuhusishwa kwake na tuhuma za ufisadi wa ununuzi wa rada!?Tusisahau kuwa pamoja na mageuzi ya kisiasa ya miaka ya tisini,bado chama tawala kimeendelea kuwa na nguvu pengine zaidi ya serikali,hoja kubwa ikiwa serikali hiyo imeundwa kutokana na ushindi wa chama husika.Kinachopuuzwa ni ukweli kuwa chama hicho hakikuomba ridhaa ya wanachama wake pekee bali Watanzania kwa ujumla.

Ni dhahiri kwamba kunakosekana utashi na udhati wa kupambana na ufisadi.Na kikwazo kikubwa kimeendelea kuwa kuweka mbele maslahi binafsi na ya chama badala ya maslahi ya umma/taifa.Pengine,na kwa hakika,badala ya kutetea mapungufu,ni muhimu kwa CCM na serikali yake kuiga mfano wa kampuni ya Toyota.Imetuangusha sana sio tu kwa kulegea katika mapambano dhidi ya ufisadi bali pia kwa ushiriki wake kwa kuwalinda watuhumiwa wa ufisadi.Laiti chama hicho kingekuwa na dhamira na utashi wa kukabiliana na ufisadi basi ni dhahiri Kamati ya Mwinyi inayoshughulikia mpasuko ndani ya chama hicho (wengine wanadai hakuna mpasuko) ingekuwa na kazi nyepesi tu ya kupendekeza wahusika wafikishwe kwenye vyombo vya sheria ili wasafishwe au waadhibiwe huko.Ikumbukwe kuwa tuhuma zinazowakabili watuhumiwa hao hazijaiathiri CCM pekee bali Watanzania wote kwa ujumla.

Nimalizie kwa kukumbushia usemi wa Kiingereza kwamba To err is human but to rectify is greatness,yaani (kwa tafsiri isiyo rasmi) kukosea ni ubinadamu lakini kujirekebisha ni uungwana.

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SPIKA SITTA,ACHA KUROPOKA

Angalia "mchemsho" huu  wa Spika wa Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano Samuel SITTA.Anarusha tuhuma nzito dhidi ya wanaharakati wanaokusudia kuandamana kupinga "mahitimisho ya mjadala wa Richmond bungeni" ilhali katika habari husika ameshindwa kuthibitisha tuhuma hizo.Kibaya zaidi,yeye mwenyewe aliporushiwa tuhuma kama hizo aligeuka mbongo.Hebu soma kwanza habari husika (hasa maneno ya rangi nyekundu)

Salim Said

SPIKA wa Bunge Samuel Sitta amewashukia wana-mtandao wa asasi za kiraia zinazotetea usawa wa jinsia, haki za binadamu na maendeleo ya ukombozi wa Wanawake, akisema wanatia mashaka na kwamba wanaendeshwa na utashi binafsi wa wajanja wachache, huku wenyewe wakisema maandamano yapo palepale.

Wanaharakati hao, walitangaza maandamano makubwa ya amani yatakayoendeshwa nchi nzima kupinga kuvungwavungwa kwa hoja za mikataba ya Richmond, TICTS, TRL, taarifa ya uchafuzi wa mazingira kwa kemikali za sumu katika mgodi wa North Mara na ukiukwaji wa haki za binadamu, Loliondo.

Akizungumza na Mwananchi jana Spika Samuel Sitta alipingana vikali na madai ya wanaharakati hao, kuhusu Bunge na kueleza kwamba mtu yeyote akitaka kupima uwezo na uzuri wa bunge katika maamuzi na kusimamia serikali aangalie rekodi ya kazi za bunge kuanzi mwaka 2005 hadi sasa.

'Mimi sikubaliani na wanaharakati hawa hata kidogo. Maandamano ni haki yao na waandamane, lakini hawawezi kupima kazi za bunge kwa kuangalia kipindi cha mitafaruku ," alisema Spika Sitta.

Spika Sitta alisema kuimarisha Bunge si kazi ya lele mama, bali ni mapambano yanayohitaji ujasiri wa hali ya juu.

"Mimi naamini kwamba bunge letu limeimarika katika kuisimamia serikali ukilinganisha na lilikotoka, wanaharakati wanapaswa kujua pia kuimarisha bunge ni mapambano," alisema Spika.

Kuhusu suala la bunge la mfumo shirikishi wa demokrasia, Spika Sitta alisema hilo ni kinyume na katiba, lakini aliwataka wanaharakati hao wajaribu kujenga hoja.

"Mimi naona mfumo wa demokrasia ya uwakilishi bungeni ni mzuri tu, kwa sababu unapatikana kupitia uchaguzi ambayo ni ridhaa ya wananchi, lakini mfumo shirikishi utapatikana wapi.

"Huwezi kushirikisha mashirika au taasisi hizo katika bunge, kwanza zinamwakilisha nani, kwanza haziwawakilishi wanawake ni utashi tu wa baadhi ya wajanja," alihoji Spika Sitta.

Alisema mitandao hiyo inatia mashaka kwa wahisani kwani baadhi ya taasisi zinakula fedha bila ya kupeleka mrejesho kwa wahusika.

"Mambo yote ya bunge yanajadiliwa hadharani na kila mtanzania anayetaka anasikia, lakini je mambo ya hawa wanaharakati na mitandao yao yanajadiliwa na nani," alihoji Spika Sitta.

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Mtandao wa Concern for Development Initiatives in Africa (ForDIA), Bubelwa Kaiza alisema ujumbe wao mkubwa katika maandamano hayo, ni kwamba hoja hizo zimevungwavungwa na bunge halitambui nguvu na mamlaka liliyopewa kikatiba, badala yake linafanya kazi kwa maslahi ya vyama vya siaasa na sio wananchi.

"Wapo wanaotaka tusiandamane, lakini huo ni woga wao tu, maandamano yapo palepale nchi nzima, tuna sababu za msingi za kuandamana kwani bunge halikuwajibika katika kushughulikia hoja mbalimbali katika kikao cha 18, badala yake limezivungavunga hoja hizo kwa maslahi ya vyama vyao vya siasa.

"Sisi pamoja na wananchi hatukuridhika kuhusu hoja zile zilivyohitimishwa, hakuna pia aliyewajibishwa, kwa hiyo tunaitaka serikali iachane na mfumo wa demokrasia wakilishi na ianzishe mfumo wa demokrasia shirikishi wa bunge ili wabunge waweze kuwajibika moja kwa moja kwa wananchi," alisema Kaiza.

CHANZO: Mwananchi

Tatizo kubwa linalomkabili Spika wetu Samuel Sitta ni uropokaji,yaani kuongea bila ktafakari athari zinazoweza kusababishwa na matamshi yake.Kama kiongozi mkuu wa chombo chenye dhima ya kutunga sheria za nchi,Sitta alipaswa kutambua kuwa baadhi ya kauli na tuhuma alizotoa dhidi ya wanaharakati ni za kihuni.Na bahati yake ni kwamba wanaharakati hao hawana muda wa kumburuza mahakamani kuthibitisha kashfa alizotoa dhidi yao.

Hivi Spika Sitta anaweza kuuthibitishia umma kuwa mitandao inatia mashaka kwa vile baadhi ya taasisi zinakula pesa bila kurejesha fedha kwa wahusika?Ameyajuaje hayo?Hivi hao wanaotoa fedha zao (wanaofadhili mashirika hayo) wamekuwa wajinga kiasi gani cha kutohitaji taarifa za matumizi ya fedha wanazotoa?

Sitta ni mropokaji kwa vile yeye alipotuhumiwa kukumbatia ufisadi katika ofisi ya Bunge aliwaka kama nini akidai ni njama za mafisadi dhidi yake.Iweje leo akurupuke kuwatuhumu wanamtandao kwa vile tu wameonyesha nia ya kuandamana kupingana na ubabaishaji wa Bunge linaloongozwa na Sitta?

Sitta asijione Mungu-mtu.Kila Mtanzania ana haki kama yeye Sitta kutoa mawazo yake hadharani alimradi havunji sheria za nchi.Kama Sitta anaona Bunge analoongoza limefanya vizuri katika utendaji kazi wake,si lazima kwa kila Mtanzania kuona hivyo au kukubaliana na mtizamo wa aina hiyo.Na ni vigezo vipi anavyoweza kutuonyesha Mheshimiwa Sitta kuwa Bunge lake limewajibika ipasavyo?Huko kutuzuga kwa zaidi ya miaka miwili kuwa yeye na wenzake ni wapambanaji dhidi ya mafisadi kisha kusalimu amri kama kondoo walionyeshewa mvua?

Na hata kama Bunge analoongoza Sitta linawajibika akama anavyotaka tuamini,si ndio kazi yake?Na si kazi ya kawaida kwani kwa mshahara wa mamilioni na kiinua mgongo cha mamilioni mengine kwanini waheshimiwa hawa wasiwajibikie kwa kiwango cha juu?

Sitta anakasirika kwa vile alitangaza kuwa "mjadala umefungwa",na kwa jinsi anavyojihisi ni Mungu-mtu anaona kitendo cha wanaharakati "kuendeleza mjadala" ni kama "wanavunja amri ya Mungu".Katika habari husika hapo juu,Sitta anathibitisha ubinafsi wake kwa kurudiarudia kutumia neno "MIMI".Anaweza kuwa sahihi katika mtazamo wake binafsi,lakini jamii hailazimiki kuafikiana nae wala kushurutishwa kutenda atakayo yeye.

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Pinda Ambeba Rostam

WAZIRI Mkuu Mizengo Pinda amewashauri wananchi wa Jimbo la Igunga mkoani Tabora wasimkatae Mbunge wao Rostam Aziz wakati wa uchaguzi mkuu ujao kwa kusikia maneno yanayosemwa bungeni, badala yake wazingatie kile alichowafanyia.

Wakati Pinda anampigia debe Mbunge huyo jana kwenye mkutano wa hadhara katika uwanja wa Kumbukumbu ya Sokoine, baadhi ya wananchi wa jimbo hilo walimwomba Waziri Mkuu amshinikize Mbunge wao abaki jimboni humo, kwa madai kuwa haonekani.

Wananchi hao walitoa ombi hilo ili waweze kupata fursa ya kumweleza kero zao na awaeleze yanayosemwa bungeni kuhusu yeye (Rostam)...ENDELEA

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Aids: is the end in sight?

Testing everyone at risk of HIV and treating them with anti-retroviral drugs could eradicate the global epidemic within 40 years, according to the scientist at the centre of a radical new approach to fighting Aids.

An aggressive programme of prescribing anti-retroviral treatment (ART) to every person infected with HIV could stop all new infections in five years and eventually wipe out the epidemic, said Brian Williams of the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis.

Dr Williams is part of a growing body of experts who believe that anti-HIV drugs are probably the best hope of preventing and even eliminating the spread of Aids, rather than waiting for the development of an effective vaccine or relying solely on people changing their sexual lifestyle...READ MORE

SOURCE: The Independent

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THE POWERFUL, SHADOWY MOSSAD CHIEF MEIR DAGAN

The brazen assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh has thrown the spotlight on one of Israel’s most powerful but shadowy figures, Meir Dagan, the current Mossad chief, who yesterday faced calls for his resignation.

There is a piece of folklore often repeated about him: when he was appointed in 2002, Ariel Sharon, then the Prime Minister, ordered him to run the Israeli spy agency “with a knife between its teeth”. Eight years on, Mr Dagan appears to have followed his orders to the letter. The killing in Dubai of one of the top men in Hamas is only the most recent in a string of assassinations that have been traced to Mr Dagan.

His popular support in Israel has never been higher, as most Israelis approach the allegations that Mossad is behind the Dubai death with a wink and a smile. While senior officials in the Israeli Foreign Ministry fume over the diplomatic mess, caused by the implications of the Dubai assassinations, those who know Mr Dagan say that he is nonplussed by the row. “He is a determined street fighter,” said Amir Oren, a military correspondent for the Israeli daily Haaretz.

The thickset, soft-spoken Mr Dagan was twice wounded in more than 30 years of service in the Israel Defence Forces, but he avoids walking with a cane. He has served as head of Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau, and became a close confident of Mr Sharon during their years together in the IDF.

Mr Dagan’s predecessor, British-born Ephraim Halevy, was known for a more conservative approach to the Mossad, Mr Oren said. Mr Halevy focused instead on strengthening Mossad’s relationship with similar agencies in other countries.

“When Dagan took over he said the Mossad had become too risk-averse, and took its sweet time organising itself for operations,” said Mr Oren. “Dagan, meanwhile, is not trying to come across as diplomatically elegant.”

Maintaining good relations with other nations was dropped to the bottom of the list, said “B” a former Mossad agent who worked under Mr Dagan. “Mossad is facing a lot of anger right now over the use of British and European passports. I don’t know if Mossad was actually involved or how they got those passports though I can say that Dagan isn’t the kind of man to care about angering a few people to get the job done.”

“B” said that Mr Dagan had a no-nonsense approach and did not like to be questioned or second-guessed. “He is what you would call a one-man show,” he said.

Talk of Dagan’s unwillingness to share power with others surfaced early in his tenure, when the Jerusalem Post reported that more than 200 Mossad agents had quit their posts over Mr Dagan’s style. In June 2009, when his term as Mossad chief was extended by one year by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, one of his seconds in command promptly quit.

While some Israelis, including Mr Oren, have argued that Mr Dagan should resign his position over the loud public furore surrounding the Dubai assassinations - though Israel has not admitted its involvement in this, or any other mission - most are pleased with Mr Dagan’s tenure.

“Mossad have renewed the aura that the name Mossad used to generate in the region,” Alon Ben David , an Israeli intelligence analyst, told Israeli radio, a statement that was promptly echoed by the presenter.

Mr Dagan’s popularity was first strengthened by the Mossad’s rumoured involvement in the assassination of Hezbollah security chief Imad Mughniyah in February 2008. Talk of other killings of senior Hezbollah and Hamas officials began to spread. An alleged strike by Israeli planes on Syrian targets in September 2007 was also credited to him, part of his focus on nuclear weapons programmes in the Middle East.

SOURCE: The Times

Mr Netanyahu’s insistence that Mr Dagan stay on for an additional year was said to stem from his unparalleled knowledge of Iran’s nuclear facilities. While Israel’s military leaders traditionally serve for four years, with a one-year extension, Mr Dagan’s tenure has been extended twice. His budgetary allowance is also one of the largest, said a member of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee - leading to a near doubling of the Mossad’s Tel Aviv offices since 2002.

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