18 Mar 2010


Vigogo watajwa kujipa fedha zilizotolewa BoT
Ni Zile za Kunusuru Uchumi (Stimulus Package)

MATUMIZI ya Sh trilioni 1.7 kuhami uchumi dhidi ya mtikisiko wa kiuchumi duniani ulioathiri kampuni za ununuzi pamba mikoa ya kanda ya ziwa na hatimaye kampuni hizo kumegewa sehemu ya fedha hizo sasa yamezua utata, na sasa baadhi ya wakubwa wanatajwa kuwa sehemu ya walionufaika na fedha hizo, Raia Mwema imeelezwa.

Fedha hizo kupitia mfuko maalumu, maarufu kwa jina la ‘Stimulus Package’ , zilipitishwa na Bunge wakati wa bajeti lakini Kambi ya Upinzani Bungeni, kupitia kwa kiongozi wake Hamad Rashid Mohamed ilionya fedha hizo kuibua kile kilichoitwa kashfa ya EPA namba mbili, na kupendekeza fungu hilo liundiwe sheria ili kuwabana wahusika lakini serikali ilipuuza, ikitumia wingi wa wabunge kutoka CCM.Takriban miezi sita sasa tangu fedha hizo kuanza kutolewa, uchunguzi wa Raia Mwema katika kipindi hicho umebaini kuwa baadhi ya fedha zimekwenda katika kampuni zisizofahamika ama ambazo wahusika halisi hawajulikani na badala yake wamewatanguliza watu wengine.

Imeelezwa kwamba sehemu ya kampuni zilizochotewa mamilioni kutoka kitita hicho cha Sh bilioni 1.7 zina uhusiano na vigogo serikalini na wanasiasa na kwamba fedha hizo hazikukidhi matarajio ya serikali kwa wakulima wa pamba.

Kampuni ambazo zinaonekana katika orodha ya zilizopendekezwa ama zilizopata fedha hizo ni pamoja na S & C Ginning Co.Ltd (yenye makao yake Bulamba), Simon Agency Ltd (Mwanza), Fresho Investment Co. Ltd (Shinyanga), Gaki Investment Co. Ltd (ya Shinyanga), Bedugu Ginning Co. Ltd (ya Musoma), Intergrated Cotton Fields Ltd ( ya Mwanza), Igunga Cotton Company (makao yake yako Dar es Salaam), Robasika-Agroproducts Ltd yenye makao yake Kaliua, Tabora na Chesano Cotton Ginnery yenye makao yake Bariadi, Shinyanga.

Kampuni nyingine kwenye orodha hiyo ni Copcot Cotton Trading (Geita), Allanoe Ginneries Ltd (Mwanza), Shinyanga Region Co-op Union (Shinganya), Vsarrian Tanzania Ltd (Bunda), Birchand Oil Mill (Mwanza), Jambo Oil Mill (Shinyanga), Afrisian Ginning Company (Dar es Salaam) na S.M Holdings Ltd (Mwanza).

Nyingine ni Nida Textile Mills Ltd, Hassanal R. Waiji (Maswa), Blore Tanzania Ltd (Mwanhuzi, Shinyanga), Al-Adawi Co.Ltd (Mwanza), Olam Tanzania Ltd (Mwanza), Kahama Oil Mill (Kahama), Kahama Cotton Co. Ltd (Kahama), NGS Investment Co. Ltd (Bariadi), Roko Investment Co Ltd, Cotton Agency & Ginners Ltd na Aham Investment Co. Ltd (Dar es Salaam).

Nyingine ni New Sam Trust Co Ltd (Bariadi), Busangwa Organic Farming Association (Shinyanga), BioSustain Tanzania Ltd (Dar es Salaam), MSK Solutions (Mwanza), Mass Trading (Tabora), Sibuka Co Ltd (Maswa), Nsagali Co. Ltd (Bariadi) na Vitrecs Oil Mill ya Mwanza.

Haikuweza kufahamika mara moja kama kampuni zinazoelezwa kuwa na uhusiano na wakubwa ndizo zilizoorodheshwa ama ni zile ambazo zinatajwa kupokea fedha bila majina ya kampuni hizo kuwa hadharani, lakini Raia Mwema, limethibitishiwa kuwapo wakubwa walionufaika na mamilioni kutoka kwenye “stimulus package.”

Katika hali inayothibitisha kuwa mambo si shwari kati ya wakulima wa pamba na wanunuzi ambao wengi wamepata mgawo wa stimulus package, Bodi ya Pamba Tanzania imejikuta katika lawama kali si tu kutoka kwa wananchi bali hata baadhi ya viongozi wa CCM, akiwamo Mwenyekiti wa Mkoa wa Shinyanga, kukiibuka shinikizo kwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete kuifuta bodi hiyo kwa madai kuwa, imeacha shughuli za ununuzi pamba kufanyika holela kupitia kwa mawakala ambao wanawaumiza wakulima.

Kwa upande mwingine, taarifa zaidi zinabainisha kuwa licha ya Bunge kupitisha Sh trilioni 1.7 kwa ajili ya stimulus package, ni sh bilioni 870.8 pekee hadi sasa, ndizo zimekwishatolewa na Benki Kuu (BoT), chombo ambacho kimepewa mamlaka ya kutoa fedha hizo.

Mpango huo wa stimulus package ilitiliwa shaka na Kambi ya Upinzani Bungeni kupitia kwa kiongozi wake, Hamad Rashid Mohamed na kupendekeza utungiwe sheria maalumu ya udhibiti kwa kurejea uzoefu wa baadhi ya nchi za Asia.

Mapendekezo hayo ya kambi hiyo yalilenga kuinusuru nchi na “EPA namba mbili.” Katika hotuba yake bungeni wakati wa kujadili stimulus package mwaka jana, , mjini Dodoma , Hamad Rashid Mohamed, kwa niaba ya wabunge wenzake kutoka vyama vya CUF, CHADEMA na UDP, alihoji masuala mbalimbali kuhusu matumizi ya fedha hizo Sh. trilioni 1.7, zilizotangazwa na Rais Kikwete.

“Tunataka sheria ya Appropriation Act iwe na Schedule maalumu ya Stimulus Package na iseme waziwazi nani atapata nini, kamati ya Fedha na Uchumi ya Bunge iwe inapata taarifa kila miezi 3 ya utekelezaji wa hiyo stimulus package.

“Ni ukweli uliowazi kuwa stimulus package inazinufaisha benki tu, kwa kuzipa mwanya wa kufanya biashara nzuri na Serikali kwa kutumia fedha za Serikali yenyewe, na ndio maana katika nchi nyingine serikali imelazimika kuwa na hisa ili kuhakikisha kuwa fedha iliyotolewa ambayo inatokana na kodi za wananchi inadhibitiwa na kurudi kwa walipa kodi na wapiga kura.”

Hamadi alisema katika bajeti ya mwaka 2007/08 na ile ya 2008/09 serikali ilijizuia kukopa kwenye mabenki, kwa kigezo kikubwa kuwa mabenki yaweze kufanya biashara ya kukopesha sekta binafsi na kuwa zuio hilo liliongeza ufanisi kwa mabenki kukopesha sekta binafsi kwani mikopo kwa sekta binafsi ilipanda hadi kufikia asilimia 40.

Stimulus Package itapunguza mikopo ya benki kwenda kwenye sekta binafsi, na yale mafanikio yaliyokwishafikiwa yatayeyuka, vinginevyo mabenki yawekewe viwango vya kufikia katika kutoa mikopo nje ya stimulus package.

“Kwa mujibu wa taarifa ya Sera ya Fedha ya BoT serikali itazikopesha benki Sh bilioni 270 kwa ajili ya kuzikopesha sekta binafsi. Itatoa Sh bilioni 205 ili kukopa kwenye benki hizo.

Je, benki hizo zikishindwa kutumia fedha zile ambazo serikali imeziweka ili kukopesha sekta binafsi kutumia fedha hizo kufanya biashara na serikali kwa fedha za serikali? Hili litadhibitiwa vipi? Waziri atueleze,”, alihoji Hamad na kuongeza kuwa;

“Mwaka huu wa bajeti ni ya kuongeza matumizi na madhara yake ni mpango huo wa kuhami uchumi kuongeza mfumuko wa bei.

“Serikali imeamua kufidia vyama vya ushirika na kampuni zinazonunua mazao ya wakulima na kuyauza kwa hasara. Katika soko huria kuna kupata faida na kupata hasara. Wafanyabiashara makini wa mazao hupanga bei zao za kununulia mazao kwa kuzingatia bei walioipata katika soko la baadaye.

“Hata hivyo wengine hawapendi kuchukua tahadhari kwa kutegemea kwamba bei itapanda na kwa hiyo watapata faida kubwa. Bei imeshuka kwa hiyo wamepata hasara.” Alihoji akisema; Je, hakuna wafanyabiashara wa mazao waliolipa mikopo waliokopa kwa kujibana. Serikali ina uhakika gani kuwa mikopo hii ilitumiwa vizuri?”

Pia alipendekeza Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) kukagua kampuni zitakazopewa fedha kutoka katika mpango wa kuhami uchuni.

Alitaka CAG kwanza kuthibitisha kuwa hasara waliopata haikutokana na matumizi mabaya ya mikopo na kwamba, gharama ya ukaguzi huu ilipwe na benki zilizokopesha. Alionya kuwa, la sivyo serikali inaweza kuliingiza taifa katika EPA namba mbili.

CHANZO:Raia Mwema.

17 Mar 2010


KLABU ya soka ya Real Madrid ya nchini Hispania jana imemkabidhi Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete tuzo ya Jezi ya kiungo mshambuliaji wa timu hiyo Critiano Ronaldo. Akizungumza katika hafura hiyo iliyofanyika Ikuru jana Meya wa jiji la Dar es Salaam, Adam Kimbisa ambaye alimukabidhi Rais jezi hiyo kwa niaba ya viongozi wa klabu ya Real Madrid kutokana kutambua mchango wake katika mchezo wa soka.

"Kwa heshima hiyo Klabu hiyo imetoa tuzo Jezi namba tisa inayovaliwa na mchezaji mahiri wa timu hiyo Cristano Ronado," alisema Kimbisa.

Naye Rais Kikweta mara baada ya kupokea tuzo hiyo ameshukuru klabu hiyo ya Real Madrid kwa zawadi hiyo ambayo alisema kuwa ni hesima kubwa kwa Watanzania.

"Nashukuru sana kwa zawadi hii, Madrid ni timu kubwa duniani kutukumbuka sisi Watanzania ni faraja kubwa kwetu.

"Itabidi tutafute sababu mpya ya kuwaalika upya kuja hapa nchini kufutia ili ya awali kushindikana, ni matumani yetu pia tutapata watu ambao watatusaidia kuwaleta," alisema.

Klabu hiyo ya Real Madrid itarajia kufanya ziara yake hapa nchini kwa ajili ya uzinduzi wa Uwanja wa Taifa mwanzoni mwa mwaka juzi lakini kutokana kuchelewa kukamilika kwa ujenzi wa uwanja huo timu hiyo hakuweza kufanya hivyo.

CHANZO: Mwananchi.

16 Mar 2010


RAIS Jakaya Kikwete ameweka hadharani mambo yanayomchefua katika utendaji wake kuwa ni viongozi wa mashirika ya umma na taasisi zilizo katika hali mbaya kifedha, kumghilibu ili awaongezee mitaji wakati historia inaonyesha kuwa kufilisika kwa mashirika hayo kumetokana na utendaji mbovu.

Rais Kikwete alisema anajisikia vizuri na hata moyo wa kuongeza msukumo katika kuitaka serikali itoe fedha kwa taasisi zinazojiendesha kwa faida ili ziendelee kufanya vizuri kuliko taasisi hizo zinazofilisika.

Rais Kikwete alisema hayo jana alipokuwa akibadilishana mawazo na watendaji wakuu wa tume mpya ya mipango mara baada ya kuwaapisha Ikulu jana.

. Utakuta shirika lilikuwa na ndege tisa. Sasa lina ndege mbili. Anakuja mtu anasema, Mheshimiwa tungeweza kufanya vizuri iwapo tungeongezewa ndege saba,? alisema Rais Kikwete wakati akipata kinywaji na watendaji hao watano, akiwemo Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda.

?Ebu fikiria, walikuwa na ndege tisa sasa zimepungua hadi mbili, lakini wao wanaona sasa waongezewe nyingine. Hii inaingia akilini!

?Ingekuwa sasa wanazo 13 halafu wakaja na maelezo kwamba wangefanya vizuri zaidi iwapo wangeongezewa, hapo inaweza kuingia akilini.?

Rais Kikwete aliwaonya watendaji hao wakuu wa chombo hicho ambacho kitategemewa kufanya mapinduzi ya kiuchumi nchini kwamba viongozi wa mashirika na taasisi wa namna hiyo watafika kwao, hivyo wawe makini katika kuamua kulingana na matakwa yao.

Ingawa Rais Kikwete alionekana kueleza hilo kama mfano tu, mazingira yalionyesha kuwa ni moja ya mambo makuu aliyotaka kuwausia katika utendaji wao, kwenye majukumu waliyopewa watekeleze.

Hali hiyo alidhihirisha kutokana na kurudia mara tatu, kusisitiza juu ya ghiliba za viongozi hao wabovu aliosema kuwa licha ya kufanya vibaya kiutendaji, huishawishi serikali izidi kutoa fedha.

Ingawa Rais Kikwete hakutaja shirika lenye tabia hiyo, kauli yake inaweza kuhusishwa na kuyumba kwa Shirika la Ndege Tanzania (ATCL) ambalo hivi sasa limebakiwa na ndege mbili tu baada ya kuyumba kiutendaji.

ATCL, ambayo ilikuwa ikitamba katika miaka ya themanini kutokana na kuwa na ukiritimba katika usafiri wa anga, iliingia mkataba na Shirika la Ndege la Afrika Kusini (SAA) kwa ajili ya kuboresha huduma zake, lakini likajikuta likiporomoka zaidi hadi mkataba ulipovunjwa mwaka 2006.

Mwaka jana, shirika hilo lilizuiwa kufanya safari za anga baada ya kunyang'anywa leseni ya kupaa angani, hatua ambayo ililidhoofisha zaidi shirika hilo. Baada ya kurejeshewa leseni hiyo, bado ATCL imeshindwa kurudi katika hali yake ya kawaida licha ya serikali kutumbukiza fedha nyingi kujaribu kulinasua.

Takribani wiki mbili zilizopita, ndege ya ATCL ilipata hitilafu wakati ikitua mkoani Mwanza na kusababisha shirika hilo kusimamisha tena huduma zake kutokana na kukwama kwa ndege hiyo.

Awali kabla ya mazungumzo hayo ya chai, Rais Kikwete alimwapisha Dk Philipo Mpango kuwa katibu mtendaji wa Tume ya Mipango, akisaidiwa na manaibu katibu wanne; Maduka Kessy, Happiness Mgalula, Florence Mwandri na Cliphod Tandale.

Tume hiyo ya Mipango imeundwa ikiwa ni utekelezaji wa ahadi ya Rais Kikwete baada ya kuivunja iliyokuwa Wizara ya Mipango na Uchumi, alipokuwa anaunda baraza jipya la mawaziri mwaka 2007.

Mara baada ya kuvunja wizara hiyo, idara ya uchumi iliunganishwa na iliyokuwa Wizara ya Fedha na kuifanya iwe na jina jipya la Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi.

Akizungumza katika hafla hiyo, Dk Mpango alisema tume hiyo itakuwa chombo muhimu cha serikali katika kuweka mipango yenye tija kiuchumi kwa taifa.

Lakini alisema kwamba anakabiliwa na changamoto kubwa ya kupanga mipango mizuri ya nchi ambayo itasababisha mapinduzi ya kiuchumi, hasa ikizingatiwa kwamba kwa kipindi kirefu mikakati imekuwa ikiwekwa lakini bado Tanzania inaendelea kuorodheshwa kwenye nchi maskini.

?Kinachoniumiza ni kuona taifa linaendelea kuwa maskini hata baada ya miaka 40 ya uhuru,? alieleza Dk Mpango.

Miongoni mwa mambo ambayo yamekuwa yakikwamisha nchi kuendelea, alisema, ni taifa kuwa na vipaumbele vingi kuliko rasilimali yake ya kiuchumi.

Katika mazingira hayo, alisema mikakati mingi imekuwa haikamiliki kutokana na kile kidogo kinachopatikana.

Dk Mpango akasema pamoja na kwamba mawazo ya tume yake yatatokana na ushauri wa wataalamu wake, binafsi anaona watatilia mkazo vipaumbele vichache ili suala la maendeleo liwe la hatua kwa hatua.

Alitoa mfano wa Bandari ya Dar es Salaam kwamba inaweza kuwa kichocheo kikubwa cha maendeleo nchini iwapo itaimarishwa pamoja na miundombinu ya reli ili nchi za Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi na Jamhuri ya Demokrasia ya Congo (DRC), zitegemee kupitisha bidhaa zake Tanzania.

CHANZO:Mwananchi.


Bananas may hold the key to powerful new treatments that protect against the Aids virus.In laboratory tests, scientists found that a banana ingredient called BanLec was as potent as two existing anti-HIV drugs.

They believe cheap therapies based on BanLec have the potential to save millions of lives. The ingredient is a lectin, a naturally occurring chemical in plants which fights infection.

Researchers in the US found that the lectin found in bananas can inhibit HIV infection by blocking the virus's entry into the body. BanLec acts on the protein "envelope" that encloses HIV's genetic material.

Lead author Michael Swanson, from the University of Michigan, said: "The problem with some HIV drugs is that the virus can mutate and become resistant, but that's much harder to do in the presence of lectins.

"Lectins can bind to the sugars found on different spots of the HIV-1 envelope, and presumably it will take multiple mutations for the virus to get around them."

The research is reported in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
SOURCE: Yahoo! News

14 Mar 2010


Wana-Msimbazi mmeweka rekodi nzuri na inayostahili pongezi.Tunataraji mtatafsiri rekodi hiyo kwa kufanya vema katika michuano ya kimataifa.Penye nia pana njia.
POINTI za Simba sasa zimetosha na imeibuka bingwa wa soka Ligi Kuu Tanzania Bara kwa mwaka 2009/2010, lakini ikiwa ni mara ya 17 kwa klabu hiyo kutwaa ubingwa huo.

Hatua hiyo inatokana na ushindi wa mabao 2-0 iliyoupata jana dhidi ya Azam kwenye Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam katika mchezo wa ligi hiyo uliokuwa mkali na wa kusisimua ambao ni wa raundi ya 20.

Kutokana na matokeo hayo, Simba imefikisha pointi 56 ambazo haziwezi kufikiwa na timu yoyote katika ligi hiyo, ambapo Yanga iliyofikisha pointi 45 ikishika nafasi ya pili ikishinda michezo yake mitatu iliyosalia itafikisha pointi 54.

Chereko, nderemo na vifijo vya mashabiki wa Simba vilitawala Uwanja wa Uhuru jijini Dar es Salaam mara baada ya filimbi ya mwisho ya mwamuzi Ibrahim Kidiwa ambayo iliashiria mwisho wa mechi kati yao na Azam.

Baada ya mpira kumalizika wachezaji wa Simba walizunguka uwanja wakiwapungia mikono mashabiki wao, ambao wengi wao walikuwa wamevalia fulana zenye maneno Simba Bingwa 2009/2011, huku wakiwa wanaonekana wenye furaha isiyo kifani baada ya kutwaa ubingwa huo, huku wakiwa na rekodi safi ya kutopeza mechi yoyote kwenye ligi hiyo na ikiwa imetoka sare mara mbili tu kati ya mechi 20 ilizocheza.

Mabao mawili yaliyofungwa moja katika kila kipindi na mshambuliaji Mkenya wa timu hiyo, Mike Barasa ndio yaliyoiwezesha Simba kuwavua rasmi ubingwa watani zao wa jadi, Yanga, huku ikiwa imesaliwa na mechi mbili mkononi ikiwemo ile dhidi ya watani zao hao itakayochezwa Aprili 11 kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa, Dar es Salaam.

Bao la kwanza la Simba lilifungwa dakika ya saba kwa kichwa na Barasa ambaye aliunganisha krosi ya Mkenya mwenzie Hillary Echesa na kuwafanya mashabiki wa Simba kushangilia baada ya kuenea kwa maneno ya uzushi kuwa mnajimu mmoja alitabiri Simba ingepoteza mchezo na isingeweza kutwaa ubingwa.

Baada ya bao hilo Simba ambao walionekana kupania, walilisakama lango la Azam na dakika mbili baada ya bao hilo, Ulimboka Mwakingwe alipiga krosi ndani ya eneo la hatari lakini Musa Hassan ‘Mgosi’ akiwa katika nafasi nzuri ya kufunga alishindwa kumiliki mpira huo, hivyo kupoteza nafasi hiyo. Huku Simba wakionekana kutandaza kandanda safi na kufanya washangiliwe na mashabiki wao waliofurika uwanjani hapo kushuhudia timu yao ikitwaa ubingwa baada ya kuukosa kwa takribani miaka mitatu, walianza kupooza mashambulizi na hivyo kuanza kutoa nafasi kwa Azam ambao walionekana kutawala sehemu ya kiungo kipindi cha kwanza.

Kutokana na udhaifu huo Azam walipeleka mashambulizi kadhaa, langoni mwa Simba na katika dakika 35 washambuliaji John Bocco, Danny Wagaluka walishindwa kupachika bao kufuatia krosi ya Malika Ndeule, baada ya Bocco kuikosa na kipa Juma Kaseja kuuwahi kabla ya kumfikia Wagaluka.

Bocco alikosa bao pale shuti lake alilopiga akiwa kwenye ukingo wa eneo la hatari na kudakwa na Kaseja, dakika mbili baadaye mshambuliaji huyo alijaribu tena shuti kali ambalo lilimtoka Kaseja kabla hajaliwahi na kulidaka tena.

Kipindi cha pili kilianza kwa Azam kufanya mabadiliko ya kuwaingiza Ally Manzi na Mau Ally badala ya Said Sued na Wagaluka.

Mabadiliko ambayo yalionekana kuongeza uhai katika safu ya ushambuliaji ya Azam na kuleta sekeseke kadhaa kwenye safu ya ulinzi ya Simba ambayo ilikuwa ikiongozwa na Kelvin Yondani na Juma Nyosso, kwani Manzi alionekana kumsumbua beki wa kushoto, Juma Jabu.

Simba ilifanya mabadiliko yake ya kwanza dakika ya 55 kwa kumtoa Ulimboka Mwakingwe na nafasi yake kuchukuliwa na Uhuru Selemani na dakika ya 57 nusura Mohamed Banka apachike bao la pili baada ya kupiga shuti kali la adhabu ambalo liligonga mwamba wa juu na kurejea uwanjani huku, kipa Vladimir Niyonkuru akiwa ameshapoteza hesabu, lakini walinzi wake waliokoa.

Dakika ya 60 Azam walijibu shambulio hilo pale Manzi alipomtoka Jabu na kupiga krosi safi ambayo Bocco alichelewa kuinganisha wavuni, dakika mbili baada ya Azam kukosa bao hilo, Uhuru Seleman alitoa pasi ya kubetua kwa Barasa aliyekuwa kwenye eneo la hatari ambaye bila ajizi aliukwamisha mpira wavuni na kuipatia Simba bao la pili.

Yanga iliyokuwa ikitetea ubingwa huo, yenyewe imetwaa kombe hilo mara 21.

CHANZO: Habari Leo.


COMPUTER hackers linked to the Russian mafia robbed Royal Bank of Scotland customers of £6million in 12 hours.The crooks pulled off the massive sting by dispatching an army of thieves using cloned debit cards to blitz more than 2000 cash machines in 280 cities worldwide.

Stunned bosses at the Edinburgh bank were helpless to stop £6million of cash being plundered from the ATMs in Scotland's biggest bank heist.. But, we can reveal gang leader Viktor Pleshchuk, 28, has been snared in the Russian city of St Petersburg following a massive FBI investigation.

Acting US Attorney Sally Quillian Yates described the heist as "perhaps the most sophisticated and organised computer fraud attack ever conducted".The plot was hatched by Oleg Covelin, 28, in Moldova, who discovered a flaw in the bank's computer system.He contacted Sergei Tsurikov, 25, in Tallin, Estonia, who joined forces with Pleshchuk to orchestrate the electronic heist.

The gang hacked into the bank's system to clone 44 debit cards and discover their PIN numbers.They electronically hiked the available balances and deleted withdrawal limits on each card before distributing them to a network of foot soldiers, known as "cashers".At the stroke of midnight US time, the cashers drained ATMs using the cloned cards.

They struck at machines in Britain, the US, Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan and Canada.
During the 12-hour robbery, Pleshchuk and Tsurikov hacked back into the bank's system to see the transactions taking place on their computer screens.They obtained just under $9.5million - around £6.3million - between midnight and noon.FBI Agent Ross Rice said: "We've seen similar attempts to defraud a bank through ATM machines but not anywhere near the scale we have here."

The hackers then deactivated the cards and attempted to destroy electronic records of their crime within the bank's system.The cashers were allowed to keep 30 to 50 per cent of the cash with the rest being sent electronically back to the hackers.The three suspects have all been extradited to the US where they are to stand trial accused of the attack on the RBS WorldPay division in Atlanta.

Former hacker Kevin Mitnick, who now works as a computer security consultant, said: "It was so well co-ordinated. These guys hacked into RBS WorldPay, they took control of their servers and reverse engineered the encryption so they could get the debit card PINs.

"They then distributed the account numbers and PINs to a network of cashers - criminals who will withdraw funds from ATMs.

"They co-ordinated this attack so the cashers would cash out in a 12-hour period and stole $9.5million. That's an incredibly sophisticated attack."

The gang targeted the bank at the height of the global financial crisis in November 2008, striking just three weeks after shamed RBS chief Sir Fred Goodwin was forced to quit.

At that time, the bank was only saved from collapse by an emergency £20billion injection of public cash and is now 84 per cent owned by British taxpayers.

Angry US customers whose cards were cloned by the gang are suing RBS in a $5million class action lawsuit.
The action by Keith Irwin, of Pennsylvania, accuses the bank of negligence and breach of contract.

Michael McCoy, of the Identity Theft Institute, received a warning letter from RBS telling him that his personal details may have been stolen by the gang.

But he hit out as the bank only offered a 12-month free credit rating - while warning customers to be vigilant for 24 months.

He said: "It's an insult to me and any other consumer.

"Come on, a one-year subscription, what's that going to do?

"Any intelligent thief understands these letters are going out so why won't they use it in the 13th month?"

"On the back of this letter they encourage you to remain vigilant for 12 to 24 months but they're only going to offer me a product for 12 months. It boggles my mind."

Customers are also angry at the fact the bank "identified the breach" on November 10, 2008, but kept it secret for 43 days.

They eventually issued a press release in the US about the fraud two days before Christmas in what furious victims claim was a deliberate ruse to avoid publicity.

The press release said fraud had only been committed on 100 cards - giving no hint of the financial scale of the attack.

A fourth unnamed hacker is also facing criminal charges. He is believed to have fully co-operated with the FBI.

In the dock with the four hackers are four other Estonians. Tsurikov is accused of distributing cards and PINs to Igor Grudjev in Estonia.

Grudjev then distributed them to Ronald Tsoi, Evelin Tsoi and Mihhail Jegenvov, who withdrew £191,000 from ATMs in Tallin during the 12-hour period.

The cloned cards belonged to US workers whose wages are paid directly into their bank accounts.
The RBS WorldPay website states: "From face-to-face transactions to online and phone transactions, we provide an effective, secure service."

At the time, Ben Barone, president and CEO of RBS WorldPay, said: "We have taken important, immediate steps to mitigate risk and none of the affected cardholders will be responsible for unauthorised activity on their account resulting from this situation."

RBS declined to comment because of the ongoing legal proceedings.

Raid was planned like terror operation

Experts claim preparation for the worldwide bank scam was on a similar scale to an al-Qaeda terrorist operation.

Uri Rivner, of RSA Identity Protection & Verification, said: "The technical aspects in this case were not that impressive but the level of co-ordination was staggering.

"Managing time zone issues and co-ordinating cashers in nine nations - all required to hit as many ATMs as possible within 12 hours - makes me think of an al-Qaeda type of strategy of multiple attacks in a single day.
"A lot of planning and a very high degree of international co-operation went into this."

The four hackers in the dock are all in their 20s, from Russia and other former Soviet states. The FBI are in no doubt that they worked for the Russian mafia. Once they had identified a way into the RBS internal network, they spent months plotting on private internet forums.

They began looking for "jackpot servers" using free scanning software to locate valuable, protected data.
Experts reckon they stumbled on the details of the 44 cards before artificially hiking the balances and abolishing the daily withdrawal limits.

SOURCE:The Daily Record.


It's like you were gone yesterday.I just can't believe that you're gone.On this day,I'd be calling you and daddy to say how much I love you,mamma.But you're not there.The only comfort I have is the strong belief that you're resting in peace.And though you're not with us on this Mother's Day,you remain the best thing God could give any son.Rest in peace,mamma.You'll always be missed and remembered!Oh! My mama, happy mother’s day
You are the greatest mother I have ever had
You are my mother today
You will be my mother tomorrow
You are always my mother
You will forever be my mother

Thank you my mother for bringing me into this world
Thank you my mother for taking care of me in your womb
Thank you my mother caring for me as a toddler
Thank you my mother for feeding me since I was a baby
Thank you my mother for all the clothes you bought for me
Thank you my mother for teaching me good manners at home

Thank you my mother for sending me to school
Thank you my mother for supervising my homework
Thank you my mother for ensuring I eat before going to school
Thank you my mother for all the regular pocket money
Thank you my mother for liking my friends
Thank you my mother for all the everyday advices

My mother always remind me that fingers are not equal
As I grow up, I have seen the correlation of this analogy
To many human beings, neighbors, societies and nationalities
Oh! My mama, thank you for your words of wisdom
My mother taught me many things that I have never read in books
Thank you my mother for all your guiding philosophies

Oh! My mama, I sincerely wish everyday could be Mother’s Day
One day in a year is not enough to thank my wonderful mother
Oh! My mama, I will forever be your child
Oh! My mama, you will eternally be my mother
Thank you my mother for being my best friend
Thank you my mother for being my trusted adviser
I honestly wish you HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
.Rest in Eternal Peace,mamma!

13 Mar 2010


Wiki hii tumeadimisha siku ya wanawake duniani.Na kesho ni siku ya mama zetu.Ni kipindi mwafaka cha kungalia mchango wa jinsia ya kike katika ngazi ya familia hadi taifa.Tukubali tusikubali,dunia imeendelea kutawaliwa na mfumo dume.Na bara letu la Afrika (na pengine sehemu kubwa ya Dunia ya Tatu) haki za akinamama na mchango wa jinsia ya kike vimeendelea kupuuzwa.Kwa bahati nzuri kwangu,kabla wiki hii muhimu haijamalizika nilipata wasaa wa kuongea na bloga maarufu wa Kitanzania,Sarah Peter,mmiliki wa blogu ijulikanayo kama ANGALIA BONGO. Sihitaji kumpamba kwani ukitembelea blogu hiyo utaafikiana nami kuwa binti huyu licha ya udogo wake wa umri ana kipaji cha hali ya juu katika kuwasilisha ujumbe wake kwa wasomaji wa blog yake na jamii kwa ujumlaNimejijengea mazingira ya kutembelea takriban blogu zote za Watanzania wenzangu kila siku,au angalau mara kadhaa kwa wiki.Licha ya idadi kubwa ya blogu hizo kuwa kwenye blogroll yangu,nina orodha kubwa ya subscription kwenye Google reader,na inanisaidia sana kufahamu kinachoendelea kwenye blogsphere.



Back to Sarah.Nilianza kublog mwaka 2006 na tangu wakati huo blogging imekuwa sehemu muhimu ya maisha yangu.Lakini hadi jana nilikuwa sijakutana na bloga ambaye ndani ya dakika chache alinifumbua macho kwa kiwango kikubwa as to wapi panahitaji marekebisho bloguni mwangu na namna nyingine za kunoresha uwanja huu.Lakini ukidhani hilo ni kubwa zaidi,basi tembelea kwanza hiyo blog ya ANGALIA BONGO kisha utapata picha nzuri zaidi ya nachokieleza.



Nimekuwa nikifuatilia kwa karibu kuhusu blog hiyo hasa kiu yangu ya kumfahamu vema mmiliki wake.Awali nilidhani kuwa Sarah ni 'mtu mzima' (kiumri) kwani nyingi ya posts zake zimesheheni upeo unaoendana na utu uzima.Tofauti na dhana hiyo,kumbe Sarah ni binti aliyezaliwa miaka ya 80 hivyo ana miaka ishirini na kitu (lakini haifiki 25).Kwa kifupi,ni binti mdogo mwenye akili kubwa na kipaji cha hali ya juu.Na siandiki hivi kwa minajili ya 'kumpa ujiko' (hata ningekuwa nafanya hivyo ingekuwa kazi bure kwani tayari ana 'ujiko' wa kutosha)bali ni katika kutambua mchango wa jinsia ya kike katika fani ya habari hususan kwenye matumizi ya vipasha habari vya jamii (social media) kama blogu.



Hata hivyo,pamoja na mwonekano maridhwawa wa blogu ya ANGALIA BONGO na habari zenye kila ishara kuwa aliyeandika anajua vema anachofanya,kumwelewa vema Sarah kunahitaji uongee nae kama ilivyotokea kwangu jana.Alinipa darasa la chapchap kuhusu mambo mbalimbali ya maana.Na mie ni mwanafunzi mzuri napokutana na mwalimu mzuri.Na haikuchukua muda kwangu kabaini kwamba binti huyu ana akiba kubwa ya akili na kipaji,na hadi sasa kinachotumika ni kiasi kidogo tu cha kipaji na akili hiyo.Sasa kama kiasi kidogo ndio mambo makubwa namna hiyo,ni dhahiri kuwa bloga huyu atakuwa mbali sana akiamua kutumia uwezo wake wote(na anasema atafanya hivyo mbeleni).



Ukiangalia picha zake,unaweza kumhukumu isivyo.Ana mwonekano wa 'kisistaduu' (sina tafsiri sahihi ya neno hili) na ni rahisi kudhani ana 'pozi' (maringo).Lakini hata kama angekuwa hivyo (i.e. sistaduu mwenye pozi),which she is not,character hizo zingefunikwa na kipaji na upeo wake.Sarah anaeleza kwamba yuko into many stuffs japo amebobea zaidi kwenye mambo ya burudani (entertainment).Licha ya background yake kama journalist na radio producer,uwezo wake wa kufikiri na kuandika haraka unachangia sana kuifanya blog yake kuwa mahala pa kumridhisha kila msomaji anayepatembelea.Lakini kingine kinachopendeza katika wasifu wa binti huyu ni imani yake ya kiroho.Anasema kuwa dini ni kitu muhimu sana katika maisha yake,na kwa kuthibiths ahilo ameandika I...always believe in Jesus, Remember İm a pure Christian.Imani thabiti katika dini inasaidia sana kuimarisha vipaji na kutanua upeo,na ni ishara ya karama za Muumba.



Ni dhahiri kuwa bloga huyu ana nafasi ya kufanya mambo makubwa huko mbeleni,na ni matarajio yangu kuwa siku moja Sarah ataitangaza nchi yetu si tu kupitia blog yake bali pia katika fani flani muhimu.Nilimtania kuwa this time in 2012 or so natarajia kumuona akiwa katika delegation ya Mama Asha Rose Migiro,sio kwa vile ni Mtanzania mwenzake bali akiwajibika katika wadhifa flani.Na kama si hilo,basi sintoshangaa akija na chapisho kama Ebony au The Source ya kitanzania.

Kila la heri Sarah!


Moja ya maeneo yeynye kuhitaji mtazamo mpya katika Tanzania ni haki za raia.Ni ukweli usipingika kwamba nchi yetu ina haki za aina mbili: kwa wenye nacho/vigogo na kwa walalahoi.Kuna mifano mingi ya kuthibitisha hilo lakini hapa nitaonyesha mifano michache kuokoa muda.Mzee wa Vijisenti Andrew Chenge alipopata ajali iliyopelekea vifo vya watu wawili,jeshi la polisi lilikurupuka kuunda tume ya kuchunguza ajali hiyo.Baada ya ajali hiyo,zimetokea ajali nyingine kadhaa zilizopelekea vifo vya watu kadhaa lakini hatujasikia jeshi la polisi likiunda tume kuchunguza ajali hizo.Jibu jepesi ni kwamba waliopoteza maisha kwenye ajali hizo si vigogo hivyo 'hakukuwa na umuhimu kwa kuundwa tume za uchunguzi'.Mfano mwingine ni kauli ya Rais Mstaafu Ben Mkapa kwamba wanaoajiri mahauziboi na mahazigeli wanapaswa kuwa na mafaili ya waajiriwa wao ili pindi likitokea tatizo wapatikane kirahisi.Mkapa aliyasema hayo alipoenda kumpa pole Balozi Andrew Daraja kufuatia mauaji ya mkewe ambayou yanadaiwa kufanywa na hauziboi wa balozi huyo. Kwanza,tukio zima la kifo cha mke wa Balozi linatengeneza mazingira ya ukiukwaji haki za hauziboi husika.Ieleweke kuwa nami nimeguswa na mauaji hayo ya kinyama lakini hiyo haiwezi kuhalalisha jamii kujichukulia sheria mkononi na kumhukumu hauziboi huyo.Jeshi la polisi ndilo lenye mamlaka ya kuchunguza mauaji hayo na kisha kuiachia mahakama itoe hukumu.

Twende kwenye ushauri wa Mkapa.Kwa mawazo ya Rais huyo mstaafu,kuwa na mafaili yenye taarifa za mahauziboi na mahauzigeli kutasaidia kuwapata kirahisi pindi wakihusishwa na vitendo visivyofaa.Mkapa anaelekea kuthamini zaidi haki za vigogo wenzie wanaoajiri mahauziboi na mahazigeli huku wakilipwa mishahara kiduchu na kutumikishwa kama watumwa,ilhali anapuuza haki za waajiriwa hao ambao ni adimu kwao kuwa na mikataba ya ajira huku ajira zenyewe zikiwa mithili ya maandishi ya chaki ubaoni (blackboard).Ukijisugua tu na ubao,yanafutika.

Japo wazo la Mkapa sio baya kihivyo,lakini kwanini lije wakati huu ambapo hauziboi anahusishwa na mauaji ya mke wa mwanadiplomasia Daraja?Ni hadithi zilezile za barabara kukarabatiwa kukiwa na ziara za viongozi wakati zimesahauliwa miaka nenda miaka rudi kwa vile tu watumiaji wa barabara hizo si vigogo.Kama kulikuwa na umuhimu wa kuwepo mafaili yenye taarifa za watumishi wa ndani basi isingehitaji kusubiri hadi hauziboi atuhumiwe kumuua mke wa balozi.

Na ni kwa vile walalahoi hawana uwezo wa kumudu kuajiri wanasheria wazuri lakini kwa namna 'jamii ilivyokwishatoa hukumu dhidi ya hauziboi wa Balozi Daraja' ni dhahiri kesi yake mahakamani ingestahili kufutwa kwani 'ameshahukumiwa uraiani'.Mkapa alipaswa kutambua kuwa kauli yake kama Rais Mstaafu inaweza kabisa kutafsiriwa kuwa nae amefuata mkumbo wa kuamini kuwa 'ukiwa mlalahoi na ukatuhumiwa,basi unabaki mkosaji hadi itakapothibitika vinginevyo' (guilty until proven innocent).

Mlalahoi Jerry Muro alipotuhumiwa kupokea rushwa kutoka kwa mtuhumiwa wa rushwa (funny,isn't it?),kamanda Kova na vijana wake wakakurupuka chap chap kutujulisha kuwa jeshi lake lina teknolojia za kisasa za kufuatilia wala rushwa (sijui kwanini hawajashea ujuzi huo na TAKUKURU).Lakini wakati Kova akituaminisha mazingaombwe hayo,tunabaki na maswali kwamba kama vyombo vyetu vya dola viko makini kiasi hicho ilikuwaje basi wale majambazi wa EPA walimudu kutuibia mabilioni yetu pale Benki Kuu,mahala paliposheheni mitambo ya kisasa ya ulinzi?Au kwani teknolojia iliyotumika kumnasa Muro haikutumika kuwabaini majambazi wa Richmond?Na kwanini isitumike kumfahamu Kagoda ni mdudu wa aina gani?

Jibu rahisi ni kwamba Muro aligusa maslahi ya wakubwa (na vijana wao in the name of Jeshi la Polisi) na wakaamua kumpa 'jambajamba' (excuse my language) ili 'atulie'.Chenge ameendelea 'kutanua' licha ya tuhuma za vijisenti vyake vyenye thamani ya bilioni huko visiwani Jersey.Na bado teknolojia ya jeshi la polisi iliyomnasa Muro haijafanikiwa kuona kama Chenge anastahili kufikishwa mbele ya vyombo vya sheria.Jawabu la utata huo ni jepesi: Chenge ni kigogo,na Muro ni mlalahoi.

Magereza yetu yamesheheni wezi wa kuku na vibaka wengineo huku majambazi halisi wa uchumi wetu wanaendelea kutudhihaki mitaani wakiwa kwenye ma-vogue yao ya bei mbaya.Tanzania yetu imefika mahala ukijaribu kukemea uovu unaohusisha vigogo unaonekana kama mhaini,na utaandamwa zaidi ya Wamarekani wanavyomtafuta Osama bin Laden.Na kwa huko mtaani,ukiwa na bahati mbaya ya kuwa na mke/mpenzi mzuri anayetamaniwa na kigogo,andika umeumia.Nakumbuka hadithi ya jamaa mmoja aliyepewa kitengo nje ya nchi ili kigogo aliyekuwa anatoka na mkewe apate wasaa mzuri wa kufaidi 'haki za vigogo zilizoangukia kwa bahati mbaya kwa mlalahoi'.

Ni katika mazingira hayo ndio maana baadhi ya watu wanadiriki kuamini kwamba laiti Babu Seya na wanae 'wasingegusa haki za vigogo' angeendelea kuwa uraiani akitumbuiza na bakulutu zake.Siungi mkono ulawiti lakini wajuzi wa kona za Dar es Salaam wataafikiana nami nikisema kuwa kuna vigogo wengi tu wanaofanya michezo michafu kwa vibinti vidogodogo mitaani lakini wadhifa wao unawalinda,na wanaishia kuitwa 'viwembe' badala ya kuwa jela kama Babu Seya.Again,mwanamuziki huyo na mwanae Papii Kocha wako 'mbele ya sheria' kwa vile ni walalahoi na si uzito wa makosa yao.Nithibitishie kuwa siko sahihi (prove me wrong).

Wito wangu kwa walalahoi wenzangu ni huu: kaa ukitambua kuwa sheria na haki nchini mwetu zina sura mbili: upofu kwa makosa ya vigogo na macho makali (hata kwenye giza) kwa walalahoi.Fanya manjonjo yako ukitambua ukweli huo mchngu,ukigusa 'haki' za vigogo,andika umeumia.Tambua kwamba wanywa gongo huko Uwanja wa fisi wanapokamatwa na vyombo vya dola (mara nyingi hawanywi pombe hiyo hatari kwa vile hawajali afya zao bali uchumi mbovu) tunaambiwa kosa lao ni kutumia kinywaji hicho haramu lakini ikitokea vigogo na watoto wao wakajihusisha na kuuza na kutumia madawa ya kulevya,hawagusiw kwa vile 'ni haki yao kujistarehesha' (ndio maana ile orodha ya wauza unga ambayo ex-minister Mwapachu aliikabidhi kwa JK haijafanyiwa kazi hadi kesho).

Ni ukweli mchungu na unaoumiza lakini ubaki ukweli na hali halisi.By the way,Waingereza wanasema TRUTH HURTS!

12 Mar 2010

 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!.

10 Mar 2010

TAkukuru
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’.

8 Mar 2010


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.


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.

6 Mar 2010


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


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.

5 Mar 2010

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.

 (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

4 Mar 2010


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.

3 Mar 2010

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


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.

2 Mar 2010

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.


28 Feb 2010

bu
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

Maurice-Edu--001

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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