The ongoing debate on the new Constitution can, to a large extend, be rightly viewed as a political move aimed at serving a political agenda.
Yes, political agenda is part of it because Constitution making is a political process, much as it does not exclude other agendas.
Therefore, political issues on the Constitution are not only part of it, but a tip of the iceberg.
There are many other issues that also need equal attention so that in the end, a nation can get a good Constitution that serve the purpose for which it was made for many coming years.
The different issues and agenda to be enshrined in the Constitution include, among others, socio-cultural, economic, political, administrative, health and demographic issues.
The above issues are very important if the new document so made is to rightly assume the status of mother of all laws of the land.
However, such a status can only be attained if the new document will have succeeded in reflecting the entire vision, mission, desires and motives of the nation and its people at large.
Again, the foregoing can only be attained if Constitution making process is made participatory, that Tanzanians from all walks of life are allowed to air their views.
In a nutshell, this is not an exercise meant for legal experts as some people would like us to believe much as legal experts can participate in the process as individuals, part of the citizenry entitled to air their views.
Therefore, the Constitution making process demands nothing short of inclusiveness, the participation of all citizens regardless of their background and social status.
The core ideas on what should be included in the new Constitution must come out from the people with the legal language and other technicalities being left to legal experts.
But that should only take place after the people have spoken on what they want to be included the all-important!
For instance, some of the things that will have to be looked at critically in the present process include the question of education.
Although education is fleetingly touched in the present Constitution, however, it does not bind the government in any way when it comes to the provision of education to the populace.
Therefore, this has to change in order to make the government of the day legally responsible to the people in matters relating to education.
For it is an open secret that for a nation to forge ahead, its people must be well educated, hence the need for Tanzanians to bind their government, through the new Constitution, to make provision of education mandatory.
In fact, our neighbours to the north, Kenyans, have already done that under Article 55 (a).
Health is another thing that demands an intervention from the the planned Mother Law.
In the past, there have been numerous attempts by successive governments to improve health delivery services with varied success.
However, one of the main reasons why such efforts failed to bear any meaningful fruits lay on the fact that no one could take the government of the day to court for failing to provide health services.
However, the situation would have been different had health been embedded in the Constitution.
The government’s failure to provide health to the people would not have been an option!
Tanzania has come up with numerous legal instruments to deal with various diseases.
For instance, the country has already in place HIV/AIDs (Prevention and Control) Act of 2008, Mental Health Act of 2008 and Occupation Health and Safety Act of 2003.
But for these Acts to be effective, they have to carry not only the legal force, but should make their enforcement mandatory.
And in the say way, the question of taking care of the elderly who are 60 and above, children under five and expectant women, ought to be viewed in the new Constitution.
On the other hand, harmful traditional practices that include, among others, genital mutilation, would be outlawed in the new Constitution and those which help to enhance the wellbing of the nation such as successful traditional medicine would be given legal force in the new Constitution.
In the same vein, the different laws which have been put in place to curb bad practices such as early marriage, rape to mention just a few, will be strengthened for the benefit of the nation.
It is the hope of many Tanzanians that the present exercise will provide an opportunity to come up with a Constitution that will take care of problems relating to albino killings for whatever reason, the killing of old men and women based on superstitious beliefs and so on and so forth.
An accent on the foregoing is very important because although the country already has in place the Witchcraft Act of 1928 (Revised 2002), the government has failed to stamp out such killings!
It is extremely important for those appointed by President Jakaya Kikwete to serve in the Katiba Team and Tanzanians in general to bear in mind that the new Constitution, demands a wider perspective in its making process.
As long as both parties keep the foregoing at the back of their minds, the daunting exercise before them would be easy to deal with.
©Michael Dalali, 29th May, 2012
13 March, 2012
Before it is late!
Is there a reason of one keep on being employed to work for a monthly salary, if you can earn the same amount of salary in fact an annual salary over just a month?
This is serious!
If at all, one can do the same kind of activities or more suitable one that gives him/her peace of mind under contract basis as a consultant, or running an independent business and earns well then why keep on holding an employed job that in real sense you earn less annually?
A typical example is Mr Juma (not a real name), who is employed in an organization where he earns TShs 500,000 per month. That means, he earns TShs 6,000,000 annually.
However, Juma sometimes do get short term contract works as a consultant that through them he earns a minimum of TShs 1,600,000 in a week time.
Juma has his four clients so far who normally gives him such kinds of works within a year. Hence he is assured of having four short term contract works per each year! That amounts to TShs 6400,000. It should be noted, the whole activities under short term contracts are done over four weeks which is equivalent to one month.
Amazing thing to question, why does Juma keeps on working under the organization if he can earn almost similar amount of income within a month?
Can’t he see he can be in a good position to increase his income and clients within the remaining 11 months of the year if fully he dedicates himself to work as independent consultant?
Juma isn’t alone who is in such trap. I can call it “employment trap”!
One of the huge reasons facing kind of people can be a fear of losing an assured income that they enjoy getting month basis!
The second thing might be the notion that if somebody is not employed or not under the umbrella of organization or consultancy firm he doesn’t deserve being given such contracts as they might disappear or escape before delivering the desirables.
Thirdly, the notion from the society at large that you need to be employed to earn good reputation in the society and this is a consequence of the education and common knowledge in our society today where between “employed and self-employed”, employed are highly respected. In this sense, address or names of companies to some matters a lot.
On the other hand, they also question themselves whether they will have a constant flow of such consultancy tenders.
All in all on embarking completely new approach in life such as being independent or commonly called “self-employed” normally face fear, worries and uncertainties.
The only strong who can have guts to take a new road map and do the unusual as to many, they are the ones who eventually survive in the competitive world of self-employed.
It is the matter of cracking the nut and enjoying the endowed potentials within.
Once you sense the feeling and start thinking of being self-employed, right there it is the moment to go for it. Because, there are so many retired employees who had wished to be self-employed but they couldn’t hold to the fears and uncertainties.
There is no single formula to go for it. It is just doing a good assessment and embarking on the journey. Ups and down are constant in each and everything done by a human being.
Remember impossible is nothing!
© Michael Dalali 13th March, 2011
This is serious!
If at all, one can do the same kind of activities or more suitable one that gives him/her peace of mind under contract basis as a consultant, or running an independent business and earns well then why keep on holding an employed job that in real sense you earn less annually?
A typical example is Mr Juma (not a real name), who is employed in an organization where he earns TShs 500,000 per month. That means, he earns TShs 6,000,000 annually.
However, Juma sometimes do get short term contract works as a consultant that through them he earns a minimum of TShs 1,600,000 in a week time.
Juma has his four clients so far who normally gives him such kinds of works within a year. Hence he is assured of having four short term contract works per each year! That amounts to TShs 6400,000. It should be noted, the whole activities under short term contracts are done over four weeks which is equivalent to one month.
Amazing thing to question, why does Juma keeps on working under the organization if he can earn almost similar amount of income within a month?
Can’t he see he can be in a good position to increase his income and clients within the remaining 11 months of the year if fully he dedicates himself to work as independent consultant?
Juma isn’t alone who is in such trap. I can call it “employment trap”!
One of the huge reasons facing kind of people can be a fear of losing an assured income that they enjoy getting month basis!
The second thing might be the notion that if somebody is not employed or not under the umbrella of organization or consultancy firm he doesn’t deserve being given such contracts as they might disappear or escape before delivering the desirables.
Thirdly, the notion from the society at large that you need to be employed to earn good reputation in the society and this is a consequence of the education and common knowledge in our society today where between “employed and self-employed”, employed are highly respected. In this sense, address or names of companies to some matters a lot.
On the other hand, they also question themselves whether they will have a constant flow of such consultancy tenders.
All in all on embarking completely new approach in life such as being independent or commonly called “self-employed” normally face fear, worries and uncertainties.
The only strong who can have guts to take a new road map and do the unusual as to many, they are the ones who eventually survive in the competitive world of self-employed.
It is the matter of cracking the nut and enjoying the endowed potentials within.
Once you sense the feeling and start thinking of being self-employed, right there it is the moment to go for it. Because, there are so many retired employees who had wished to be self-employed but they couldn’t hold to the fears and uncertainties.
There is no single formula to go for it. It is just doing a good assessment and embarking on the journey. Ups and down are constant in each and everything done by a human being.
Remember impossible is nothing!
© Michael Dalali 13th March, 2011
05 October, 2011
Is e-government optional in Tanzania?
Search information in Tanzanian government websites is such a hectic exercise that one will end up in frustration.. But how is that possible with a good number of well trained ICT experts from growing number of universities and colleges the government has at its disposal? How is that possible with staffs who get paid to work on keeping the information active through the channels?
It doesn’t matter the rank or reputation of an institution, still a good number of public institutions face the problem of effective and efficient running of their channel of information through the newly innovated means of electronic systems,, the websites to mention but a few.
This is so unlucky as different governments now embark on systems that allow flow of information to the public with active usage of online ways such as website.
We saw it in the past few months when the Kenyan government launched its their “open governmenta hub to all governmental information. A unique initiative to enable citizens and any interested actor with information to easily access it without any hitches.
And we can’t forget how some of the African countries have embraced the idea of “open data” from the United States of America, even though they do little in their mother countries. I believe, they could at least do this even without an external stimulus.
Of course I understand there are some crucial information that cannot be released in the channels like online due to their sensitivity like information which has to do with national security.
Most of the people are interested in having easy accessibility of those normal information to simplify workings of different actors such as researchers, academicians and students.
I normally don’t understand why we don’t have in time information such as reports, speeches, policies, and any other government documents online if at all the were initially produced in soft copy to go for printing. Why didn’t they upload the soft copy to the respected government website after launching or having the hard copy?
You can be surprised for example; there is no any soft copy of National Youth Policy of 2007 as a more recent youth policy in the country even after four years of its production and three years of its official launching
Or you cannot find some of ministerial budget speeches in their respected ministry websites even after being presented to the parliament. Just try to search and one can tell how many ministries and government departments have uploaded their budget speeches that touch their operations, simply very few of them!
It should be noted that, not everyone can be able to access the hard copies of different government documents due to obvious reasons.
But with the era of protecting the environment and the need to minimize printed documents and opt for online usage of documents; this should also be a government practice.
I just remember one of an analytical cartoon by a popular cartoonist known as Masoud Kipanya (KP): that being in e-government doesn’t mean to open up accounts in social networks such as Facebook and Twitter (as more of our leaders have done lately)!! But something more has to be done. Really our government and its all parastatals has to do more and more.
It is high time now to see live and active governmental and parastatals websites with enough and easily accessed information. It is time to see the brains of innovations in the area.
We should not forget that with easy accessibility of all needed information to the public not only will enable us to score some marks when it comes to international indexes especially the ones to do with transparency and good governance, but it will be good for our own growth in all dimensions as it will simplify works to our researchers, journalists, academicians, students, you name it-in their day to day works.
And this shouldn’t be a call to the government and its parastatals only, but also to all institutions in the country to try as much as possible to supply necessary information to the public.
©Michael Dalali, 5th October, 2011
It doesn’t matter the rank or reputation of an institution, still a good number of public institutions face the problem of effective and efficient running of their channel of information through the newly innovated means of electronic systems,, the websites to mention but a few.
This is so unlucky as different governments now embark on systems that allow flow of information to the public with active usage of online ways such as website.
We saw it in the past few months when the Kenyan government launched its their “open governmenta hub to all governmental information. A unique initiative to enable citizens and any interested actor with information to easily access it without any hitches.
And we can’t forget how some of the African countries have embraced the idea of “open data” from the United States of America, even though they do little in their mother countries. I believe, they could at least do this even without an external stimulus.
Of course I understand there are some crucial information that cannot be released in the channels like online due to their sensitivity like information which has to do with national security.
Most of the people are interested in having easy accessibility of those normal information to simplify workings of different actors such as researchers, academicians and students.
I normally don’t understand why we don’t have in time information such as reports, speeches, policies, and any other government documents online if at all the were initially produced in soft copy to go for printing. Why didn’t they upload the soft copy to the respected government website after launching or having the hard copy?
You can be surprised for example; there is no any soft copy of National Youth Policy of 2007 as a more recent youth policy in the country even after four years of its production and three years of its official launching
Or you cannot find some of ministerial budget speeches in their respected ministry websites even after being presented to the parliament. Just try to search and one can tell how many ministries and government departments have uploaded their budget speeches that touch their operations, simply very few of them!
It should be noted that, not everyone can be able to access the hard copies of different government documents due to obvious reasons.
But with the era of protecting the environment and the need to minimize printed documents and opt for online usage of documents; this should also be a government practice.
I just remember one of an analytical cartoon by a popular cartoonist known as Masoud Kipanya (KP): that being in e-government doesn’t mean to open up accounts in social networks such as Facebook and Twitter (as more of our leaders have done lately)!! But something more has to be done. Really our government and its all parastatals has to do more and more.
It is high time now to see live and active governmental and parastatals websites with enough and easily accessed information. It is time to see the brains of innovations in the area.
We should not forget that with easy accessibility of all needed information to the public not only will enable us to score some marks when it comes to international indexes especially the ones to do with transparency and good governance, but it will be good for our own growth in all dimensions as it will simplify works to our researchers, journalists, academicians, students, you name it-in their day to day works.
And this shouldn’t be a call to the government and its parastatals only, but also to all institutions in the country to try as much as possible to supply necessary information to the public.
©Michael Dalali, 5th October, 2011
27 July, 2011
Yuda kipenzi changu, waniangusha
Na. Churchill Shakim
Alikuja kwangu mchana kweupe.
Mikono kaifumbata nyuma, kwa unyenyekevu mwingi. Mwendo wake taratibu.
Kanikuta nimechakaa, nimechakazwa na kazi za shamba. Jasho lanivuja na uchovu wenye kuudhi.
Nakumbuka, tena ni mchana wa jua kali siku ya alhamisi. Jua lingali uchi muda huo. Nani mwenye kuthubutu kutazama uchi wa jua! Hakuna, ndio maana hatulitazami tusijepata laana na upofu.
Mtu huyu mwerevu nikamkaribisha aketi kwenye kigoda changu. Nyumba yangu haina viti. Hakutamani kuketi kitini bali vumbini. Eti hapa chini patamtosha. Hajali vumbi. Haoni shida mavazi yake kuchafuka. Mbona nasi twakaa chini hata jamvini hatumudu!
Nikampa maji ya kata apoze koo, naye akapiga funda mbili za maji ya kisima. Maji adimu nyakati za kiangazi. Mtu huyu mtanashati, Mgeni wangu msaliti nikampenda. Nikapenda haiba yake. Hapo akanivuta kama sumaku.
Nikampisha aseme kilichomleta. Shauku imenikaa moyoni kama kijana anayejiandaa kwenda jandoni. Nikavuta usikivu. Jadi yangu uvumilivu. Si vema kumkatiza. Akasema zaidi, nami nikasikiliza. Sikio haliozi kwa kusikia wala halichakazwi kwa maneno. Kasema mengi na mengine nimesahau maana bashasha iliyonijaa kila baada ya kauli zake, sikutaka hata aendelee zaidi. Jakamoyo humaliza hadithi kabla mtambaji hajafika tamati.
Nikapiga mbinja majirani wafike, nao wasikie habari ya mtu mwema. Analeta tumaini katika mioyo iliyopondeka. Wanaume wakaimba kumsifu, vijana wakamwita rafiki, wakina mama wakasema ni mtanashati. Akapendwa na wote isipokuwa Chakubimbi. Watu wakamkebehi Chakubimbi, ‘ahh, tushamzowea huyu. Kila jambo kwake baya.’ Mwenye kuzomea kazomea, Chakubimbi hakujali, akasonya akaondoka. Nakumbuka moja alilosema pembeni ili mgeni wangu asisikie. ‘Wajinga ndio waliao’. Nikatahayari, ‘eti ngoma muichezayo mtakujalia kwa mdundo huohuo.’
Nikampa mgeni wangu alichotaka, naye kanipa ahadi. Ahadi ya mambo mema siku si nyingi. Tena kasema itakuwa punde kabla ya juma kupita. Atarejesha mara thenashara, anipe zaidi ya ujira. Wengine wakatamani ujira bila ajira na wengine ajira bila ujira. Nikawaza ulikuwa wapi siku zetu za masumbuko? Siku za kuhangaika? Nyakati za kufunga mkanda hasa kwa kuwa kiuno chenyewe kilishakongoroka kwa dhiki na kuacha makongoro kama mijengo ya pagale?
Shamrashamra zikapita na mgeni wangu kaondoka. Nami nikampenda. Akaniachia picha yake, kama ishara ya kumkumbuka. Akanipa na kipande cha kaniki chenye sura yake kama agano la ahadi yetu.
Ahadi ni deni ama ahadi ni duni!
Siku za matumaini zilikuwa nyingi. Nikatamani nimwone tena kama ilivyo ahadi yetu. Mara kimya kikatanda ila nikavuta subira zaidi. ‘Essabr’ muftah elfa rah’, mambo mema huwangoja wale wenye kusubiri labda tutafsiri hivyo maneno haya ya kiarabu.
Subira yavuta heri ama subira yavuta shari!
Nikasikia mgeni wangu, yule Yuda anatanga. Nimesema tanga, si matanga. Kutangatanga kwake ndiko kunakoniletea mimi matanga. Wakasema wamemwona pwani, chombo chake kilikuwa kerezani kinatengenezwa akingoja upepo. Keshapandisha tanga. Nikauliza kanunua lini jahazi? He! Sina habari, mambo yako wazi nami napitwa tu na nyakati. Ana kundi la maswahiba, wote wamo chomboni. Pepo zinawabeba kusi na kaskazi, kumwona tena mi siwezi. Siku nyingine kaonekana kasrini, akiwapokea wengi kutoka mbali. Wazito hasa.
Siku zinapita, mbona tena simwoni? Amesahau ahadi yetu? Mkopo niliompatia alisema atanilipa sawia, sasa imekuwaje tena! Tumekuwa mbali mimi na yeye kama Magharibi na Mashariki. Amenifanya iliki, mara kwenye chai mara kwenye wali, mara kwenye maandazi lakini anasifiwa mpishi na utamu wa wali. Kweli iliki haipikwi bila chenginecho kuwepo. Upuuzi mtupu.
Hapa nilipo nina hasira sana.
Namlaani, eti ‘nitamkomesha’. Si atakuja tena. ‘mchama ago hanyeli, huenda akauya papo’. Wazaramo nasi kwa misemo tu! Eti ukihama kambi usiinyee huenda ukarudi tena hapohapo. Mi na yeye tuna nasaba, wote wazaramo. Kwetu pwani.
Chakubimbi kanisikia kanicheka. ‘We bwana utakuwa mwehu bure. Tangu lini ukalificha jua kwa kipande cha kaniki? Dua la kuku hilo halimpati mwewe.’
Kaniudhi, nikamjibu kwa dharau, ‘nitafanya niwezalo. Siwezi kuchelewa safari kwa kukaza gidamu ya kiatu. Nitamshitaki barazani. Wote mnajua agano letu.’
Nilijua siwezi na sina thubutu hiyo achilia mbali kujiamini. Hivi kweli kesi ya mende nimfanye jogoo kuwa hakimu? Hata nikiweka wakili bado atakuwa tetea, naye atammaliza kabla ya kufika barazani. Lazima kuwe na njia nyingine ya kudai deni langu. Nayo ni kusamehe. Na akija tena simpokei wala kumkopesha.
Ghadhabu, ghadhabu zingekuwa zinaua kwa nilivyoghadhibika ningeshapasuka. Ila nikikumbuka siku ile ya kwanza kukutana na mgeni wangu najicheka tena. Eti, si mimi nilipita nyumba kwa nyumba nikatandaza habari zake. Nakumbuka siku nilipomshika mkono, nikashituka kama kulikuwa na nguvu ya umeme. Nikatamani nisioshe kiganja nisijefuta baraka. Sasa iweje leo nimlaumu. Kosa ni langu ama lake? Nani msaliti kati yetu? Nimejisaliti mwenyewe. Hakunishurutisha. Alinitongoza nikakubali, ila niseme kulikuwa na ghiliba ndani yake. Mtongozaji mwenye ahadi zaidi ya urefu wa kanzu yake anafaa kutiliwa shaka. Lakini mi nilikuwa mpofu kwa mapenzi. Nilisukumwa na haiba na wajihi wake na sikuwa na tafakari.
Sasa yanipasa kukata mkono ili kuunga wajihi. Hii ni ngumu sana. Najua siku itafika atakuja na nitamtolea uvivu.
Waswahili husema, ‘mwenda tezi na omo, marejeo ni ngamani’. Mara Jumatano hii hapa. Hebu kumbuka, Alhamisi ya juma lililopita mpaka leo Jumatano ni siku ngapi zimetimia? Nisaidie hesabu hii rahisi kwako, we mwenzangu umesoma shule ya kisasa ya Mtakatifu nani sijui. Mwalimu wangu mie wa hisabati alikuwa na gubu, haishi maudhi mwanamama yule hasa ikifika mwisho wa mwezi. Mshahara hajapata eti karani anasema mishahara ya walimu imeibwa. Iliwekwa kwenye sefu lakini kakuta imevunjwa. Hivi mshahara wa mtu si mpaka autie mkononi ndio uwe wake? Sasa kama umeibwa ukiwa huko maghorofani unakuwaje tena wa mwalimu?
Ujue hapo mwalimu wangu atarudi amenuna na akichanganya na yake atapiga bakora darasa zima bila kosa la maana. Kisha ndio anifundishe hisabati. Nitampenda kweli yeye na somo lake? Ukiachilia mbali zile siku nyingine ambazo hakuwepo alikuwa wilayani na kwenye semina. Ama sikuwa darasani nilikwenda kuteka maji ya mwalimu mkuu.
Basi mgeni akawa Yuda akaja siku hiyo ya Alhamisi, safari hii si kama mwanzo. Kaja na hubiri mpya. Injili yenye majigambo kuwa kafanya mengi hata kama hatuyaoni.
Kanikumbusha kuwa yeye ni mwanadamu, hana uwezo wa kiMungu eti atake jambo litokee ghafla.
Nahisi kama kuna kitu kimenikaba kooni. Sijui ni woga, ama hasira, ama ghadhabu! Natamani nimkumbushe deni langu lakini siwezi hata kumsogelea. Safari hii hanijali sana maana kuna wengine watamsikiliza. Chakubimbi kanicheka lakini sasa namwelewa.
Wengi wametoka vichwa chini. Na wengine wanasema hawaoni mwanga tena hata kama ni mchana wa jua kali. Na wengine wachache sasa wanamwelewa Chakubimbi. Lakini ulimwengu hauishi mastaajabu. Eti tena amepata alichotaka. Waliompa wanasubiri tena juma lijalo arejeshe.
Chakubimbi ananiambia turudi zetu nyumbani giza linaingia. Lakini nataka kupitia dukani ninunue kibiriti kwa shilingi hii ya mwisho iliyobaki mfukoni nikawashe taa. Namaizi kuwa sitaweza kuwasha taa bila mafuta. Hakuna mafuta kila mahali. Kijiji gani hiki jamani? Leo pia nalala gizani.
Wengine wananikebehi eti natarajia kulipwa makubwa, thenashara, kwa kipimo gani hasa?
Ila nawakumbusha kuwa, licha ya kunikebehi kwenu, bado..
Tutahitaji kupeleka watoto katika shule isiyo na walimu wala vitabu.
Hospitali isiyo na dawa wala mganga aliyefuzu vyema lakini imejaa maboksi ya kondom kuliko dawa za magonjwa mengine.
Kulipia haki sababu wapo walioinunua kabla yetu.
Kuishi gizani mpaka Mungu akipenda kuleta mvua ili tupate mwangaza.
Chanzo: http://www.facebook.com/notes/churchill-shakim/yuda-kipenzi-changu-waniangusha/10150290316899881
Alikuja kwangu mchana kweupe.
Mikono kaifumbata nyuma, kwa unyenyekevu mwingi. Mwendo wake taratibu.
Kanikuta nimechakaa, nimechakazwa na kazi za shamba. Jasho lanivuja na uchovu wenye kuudhi.
Nakumbuka, tena ni mchana wa jua kali siku ya alhamisi. Jua lingali uchi muda huo. Nani mwenye kuthubutu kutazama uchi wa jua! Hakuna, ndio maana hatulitazami tusijepata laana na upofu.
Mtu huyu mwerevu nikamkaribisha aketi kwenye kigoda changu. Nyumba yangu haina viti. Hakutamani kuketi kitini bali vumbini. Eti hapa chini patamtosha. Hajali vumbi. Haoni shida mavazi yake kuchafuka. Mbona nasi twakaa chini hata jamvini hatumudu!
Nikampa maji ya kata apoze koo, naye akapiga funda mbili za maji ya kisima. Maji adimu nyakati za kiangazi. Mtu huyu mtanashati, Mgeni wangu msaliti nikampenda. Nikapenda haiba yake. Hapo akanivuta kama sumaku.
Nikampisha aseme kilichomleta. Shauku imenikaa moyoni kama kijana anayejiandaa kwenda jandoni. Nikavuta usikivu. Jadi yangu uvumilivu. Si vema kumkatiza. Akasema zaidi, nami nikasikiliza. Sikio haliozi kwa kusikia wala halichakazwi kwa maneno. Kasema mengi na mengine nimesahau maana bashasha iliyonijaa kila baada ya kauli zake, sikutaka hata aendelee zaidi. Jakamoyo humaliza hadithi kabla mtambaji hajafika tamati.
Nikapiga mbinja majirani wafike, nao wasikie habari ya mtu mwema. Analeta tumaini katika mioyo iliyopondeka. Wanaume wakaimba kumsifu, vijana wakamwita rafiki, wakina mama wakasema ni mtanashati. Akapendwa na wote isipokuwa Chakubimbi. Watu wakamkebehi Chakubimbi, ‘ahh, tushamzowea huyu. Kila jambo kwake baya.’ Mwenye kuzomea kazomea, Chakubimbi hakujali, akasonya akaondoka. Nakumbuka moja alilosema pembeni ili mgeni wangu asisikie. ‘Wajinga ndio waliao’. Nikatahayari, ‘eti ngoma muichezayo mtakujalia kwa mdundo huohuo.’
Nikampa mgeni wangu alichotaka, naye kanipa ahadi. Ahadi ya mambo mema siku si nyingi. Tena kasema itakuwa punde kabla ya juma kupita. Atarejesha mara thenashara, anipe zaidi ya ujira. Wengine wakatamani ujira bila ajira na wengine ajira bila ujira. Nikawaza ulikuwa wapi siku zetu za masumbuko? Siku za kuhangaika? Nyakati za kufunga mkanda hasa kwa kuwa kiuno chenyewe kilishakongoroka kwa dhiki na kuacha makongoro kama mijengo ya pagale?
Shamrashamra zikapita na mgeni wangu kaondoka. Nami nikampenda. Akaniachia picha yake, kama ishara ya kumkumbuka. Akanipa na kipande cha kaniki chenye sura yake kama agano la ahadi yetu.
Ahadi ni deni ama ahadi ni duni!
Siku za matumaini zilikuwa nyingi. Nikatamani nimwone tena kama ilivyo ahadi yetu. Mara kimya kikatanda ila nikavuta subira zaidi. ‘Essabr’ muftah elfa rah’, mambo mema huwangoja wale wenye kusubiri labda tutafsiri hivyo maneno haya ya kiarabu.
Subira yavuta heri ama subira yavuta shari!
Nikasikia mgeni wangu, yule Yuda anatanga. Nimesema tanga, si matanga. Kutangatanga kwake ndiko kunakoniletea mimi matanga. Wakasema wamemwona pwani, chombo chake kilikuwa kerezani kinatengenezwa akingoja upepo. Keshapandisha tanga. Nikauliza kanunua lini jahazi? He! Sina habari, mambo yako wazi nami napitwa tu na nyakati. Ana kundi la maswahiba, wote wamo chomboni. Pepo zinawabeba kusi na kaskazi, kumwona tena mi siwezi. Siku nyingine kaonekana kasrini, akiwapokea wengi kutoka mbali. Wazito hasa.
Siku zinapita, mbona tena simwoni? Amesahau ahadi yetu? Mkopo niliompatia alisema atanilipa sawia, sasa imekuwaje tena! Tumekuwa mbali mimi na yeye kama Magharibi na Mashariki. Amenifanya iliki, mara kwenye chai mara kwenye wali, mara kwenye maandazi lakini anasifiwa mpishi na utamu wa wali. Kweli iliki haipikwi bila chenginecho kuwepo. Upuuzi mtupu.
Hapa nilipo nina hasira sana.
Namlaani, eti ‘nitamkomesha’. Si atakuja tena. ‘mchama ago hanyeli, huenda akauya papo’. Wazaramo nasi kwa misemo tu! Eti ukihama kambi usiinyee huenda ukarudi tena hapohapo. Mi na yeye tuna nasaba, wote wazaramo. Kwetu pwani.
Chakubimbi kanisikia kanicheka. ‘We bwana utakuwa mwehu bure. Tangu lini ukalificha jua kwa kipande cha kaniki? Dua la kuku hilo halimpati mwewe.’
Kaniudhi, nikamjibu kwa dharau, ‘nitafanya niwezalo. Siwezi kuchelewa safari kwa kukaza gidamu ya kiatu. Nitamshitaki barazani. Wote mnajua agano letu.’
Nilijua siwezi na sina thubutu hiyo achilia mbali kujiamini. Hivi kweli kesi ya mende nimfanye jogoo kuwa hakimu? Hata nikiweka wakili bado atakuwa tetea, naye atammaliza kabla ya kufika barazani. Lazima kuwe na njia nyingine ya kudai deni langu. Nayo ni kusamehe. Na akija tena simpokei wala kumkopesha.
Ghadhabu, ghadhabu zingekuwa zinaua kwa nilivyoghadhibika ningeshapasuka. Ila nikikumbuka siku ile ya kwanza kukutana na mgeni wangu najicheka tena. Eti, si mimi nilipita nyumba kwa nyumba nikatandaza habari zake. Nakumbuka siku nilipomshika mkono, nikashituka kama kulikuwa na nguvu ya umeme. Nikatamani nisioshe kiganja nisijefuta baraka. Sasa iweje leo nimlaumu. Kosa ni langu ama lake? Nani msaliti kati yetu? Nimejisaliti mwenyewe. Hakunishurutisha. Alinitongoza nikakubali, ila niseme kulikuwa na ghiliba ndani yake. Mtongozaji mwenye ahadi zaidi ya urefu wa kanzu yake anafaa kutiliwa shaka. Lakini mi nilikuwa mpofu kwa mapenzi. Nilisukumwa na haiba na wajihi wake na sikuwa na tafakari.
Sasa yanipasa kukata mkono ili kuunga wajihi. Hii ni ngumu sana. Najua siku itafika atakuja na nitamtolea uvivu.
Waswahili husema, ‘mwenda tezi na omo, marejeo ni ngamani’. Mara Jumatano hii hapa. Hebu kumbuka, Alhamisi ya juma lililopita mpaka leo Jumatano ni siku ngapi zimetimia? Nisaidie hesabu hii rahisi kwako, we mwenzangu umesoma shule ya kisasa ya Mtakatifu nani sijui. Mwalimu wangu mie wa hisabati alikuwa na gubu, haishi maudhi mwanamama yule hasa ikifika mwisho wa mwezi. Mshahara hajapata eti karani anasema mishahara ya walimu imeibwa. Iliwekwa kwenye sefu lakini kakuta imevunjwa. Hivi mshahara wa mtu si mpaka autie mkononi ndio uwe wake? Sasa kama umeibwa ukiwa huko maghorofani unakuwaje tena wa mwalimu?
Ujue hapo mwalimu wangu atarudi amenuna na akichanganya na yake atapiga bakora darasa zima bila kosa la maana. Kisha ndio anifundishe hisabati. Nitampenda kweli yeye na somo lake? Ukiachilia mbali zile siku nyingine ambazo hakuwepo alikuwa wilayani na kwenye semina. Ama sikuwa darasani nilikwenda kuteka maji ya mwalimu mkuu.
Basi mgeni akawa Yuda akaja siku hiyo ya Alhamisi, safari hii si kama mwanzo. Kaja na hubiri mpya. Injili yenye majigambo kuwa kafanya mengi hata kama hatuyaoni.
Kanikumbusha kuwa yeye ni mwanadamu, hana uwezo wa kiMungu eti atake jambo litokee ghafla.
Nahisi kama kuna kitu kimenikaba kooni. Sijui ni woga, ama hasira, ama ghadhabu! Natamani nimkumbushe deni langu lakini siwezi hata kumsogelea. Safari hii hanijali sana maana kuna wengine watamsikiliza. Chakubimbi kanicheka lakini sasa namwelewa.
Wengi wametoka vichwa chini. Na wengine wanasema hawaoni mwanga tena hata kama ni mchana wa jua kali. Na wengine wachache sasa wanamwelewa Chakubimbi. Lakini ulimwengu hauishi mastaajabu. Eti tena amepata alichotaka. Waliompa wanasubiri tena juma lijalo arejeshe.
Chakubimbi ananiambia turudi zetu nyumbani giza linaingia. Lakini nataka kupitia dukani ninunue kibiriti kwa shilingi hii ya mwisho iliyobaki mfukoni nikawashe taa. Namaizi kuwa sitaweza kuwasha taa bila mafuta. Hakuna mafuta kila mahali. Kijiji gani hiki jamani? Leo pia nalala gizani.
Wengine wananikebehi eti natarajia kulipwa makubwa, thenashara, kwa kipimo gani hasa?
Ila nawakumbusha kuwa, licha ya kunikebehi kwenu, bado..
Tutahitaji kupeleka watoto katika shule isiyo na walimu wala vitabu.
Hospitali isiyo na dawa wala mganga aliyefuzu vyema lakini imejaa maboksi ya kondom kuliko dawa za magonjwa mengine.
Kulipia haki sababu wapo walioinunua kabla yetu.
Kuishi gizani mpaka Mungu akipenda kuleta mvua ili tupate mwangaza.
Chanzo: http://www.facebook.com/notes/churchill-shakim/yuda-kipenzi-changu-waniangusha/10150290316899881
12 July, 2011
Wawepo wasiwepo mambo safi!
Kikao cha nne cha bunge la kumi kinachoendelea mjini Dodoma kinaibua maswali mengi hasa katika muenendo wa ushiriki finyu bungeni. Ni miezi takribani tisa toka wabunge hawa watangazwe washindi baada ya mikiki mikiki ya kipindi cha kampeni ambako walijinadi kuhitaji kutumwa kwenda kuwakilisha wananchi wengine katika chombo cha maamuzi.
Hivi karibuni, naamini wengi wa wananchi ambao wamekuwa wakifatilia vikao vya bunge ni mashahidi wa ufinyu wa ushiriki wa wawakilishi wetu katika kikao cha bunge. Hali hii inaibua maswali mengi sana miongoni mwa wananchi wapenda maslahi ya nchi.
“Hivi bunge hili linaendeleza tabia kama ya bunge lililopia (yaani bunge la tisa)?”, mwingine akahoji; “hivi kuna sababu gani hasa zinazowafanya wabunge kutomudu kushiriki kikao cha bunge wakati hiyo ni sehemu yao ya kazi” ni miongoni mwa maswali ambayo huwa nakumbana nayo toka kwa wananchi waangaliapo bunge na kuonyeshwa kupitia televisheni viti vilivyotupu.
Hakika inaibua sintofahamu ambayo nadhani ni wabunge wenyewe wanaweza kuichambua kwa kina.
Lakini haraka haraka mawazo yanayoweza kuja akilini ni pengine; Mosi, kikao cha bunge kimekuwa kirefu sana kuliko vile ambavyo wabunge wanahimili kutulia kukishiriki kikamilifu. Hii inaweza kupimwa na kulinganisha na vikao ambavyo vitatu vya vyanzo ambavyo havikuzidi mwezi kuliko kikao cha nne cha bajeti ambacho ni takribani miezi mitatu.
Kwa upande mwingine inawezekana wabunge wa bunge la kumi tayari wameshazoea muenendo na utendaji kazi wa bunge, ambako imewafanya kujua namna ya kuishi bungeni “kiujanja ujanja”. Hii inakuwa ni miongoni mwa tabia inayotokana na kuanza kuzeoa kitu na hasa mazoea yaliyopitilia yenye kumfanya mtu kujisahau.
Kufahamu huku inaendana na kujua namna gani ya kukwepa rungu la sheria na kanuni kumwangukia baada ya kuivunja mathalani; kanuni zinataka mbunge kuhakikisha hakosi mikutano mitatu mfululizo (siyo vikao). Kanuni zinamwangaza mbunge aliyepo katika kikao hasa katika kipindi cha kupitisha maamuzi ambapo suala la akidi inapaswa itimie.
Hapa ndipo tunaona baadhi ya wabunge tena wakuchaguliwa wanasaini mwanzo wa mkutano kasha wanaendelea na shughuli zao na kuacha kuhudhuria vikao vingine ambapo vinawataka wao kushiriki ipasavyo.
Kupungua kwa mwamko na hamasa ya ushiriki inaweza pia kuwa miongoni mwa sababu inayoendana na kuzoea bunge. Kwani inawezekana katika vikao vya awali wengi wa wawakilishi wetu katika kikao cha maamuzi walikuwa na upya ambao ilikuwa chachu ya ushiriki kikamilifu jukumu lao la kuwepo kikaoni kwa niaba ya wananchi wote wa jimbo wanaloliwakilisha.
Nachelea kuamini kuwa kupungua kwa mwamko na hamasa kumeanza kwa wawakilishi wetu ambako kunawafanya wasihudhurie kwani endapo ndivyo basi ile hali ya “business as usual” (mambo kama kawaida) itakuwa tayari imetamalaki ambayo inachagiza ufanywaji wa mambo bora iende kukamilisha muda na si kuzingatia ufanisi, tija na viwango kwa maslahi ya wananchi waliowatuma kuwawakilisha na Taifa zima kwa ujumla wake.
Lakini katika kujaribu kuendeleza tafakuri juu ya nini hasa ambacho kinaweza kuwa kinawasibu wawakilishi wetu, maana nafahamu spika na waratibu wa bunge hawawezi kugonganisha ratiba za bunge na kazi za kamati au majukumu mengine ya kibunge kiasi cha kufanya ukosefu wa ushiriki mkubwa kiasi kile katika vikao mathalani hiki kikao kinachoendelea cha bajeti. Inawezekana kule kuchanganya siasa na biashara kukawa pia moja ya sababu ambazo zinawafanya wabunge wetu kutokutulia bungeni kwani kwa baadhi ya wafanyabiashara ambao wao ndio wahusika wakuu katika utendaji inaweza kuathiri sana ushiriki kikamilifu wa vikao vya kibunge.
Kwani kama ni shughuli ya kijimbo, naamini wananchi wote wanafahamu na kuelewa kuwa mwakilishi wao wamemtuma bungeni katika kikao kuwawakilisha hivyo kama ni wananchi makini wenye kujua haki na misingi yao ya kiuraia wanapaswa wamhoji wanapomuona mwakilishi wao akiwa jimboni wakati shughuli za kikao cha bunge zikiendelea.
Umuhimu wa kuwepo wa makatibu wa wabunge na watendaji wengine wa ofisi za mbunge ndipo unajitokeza hususan katika vipindi vya vikao bungeni, endapo mbunge anakuwa makini kuhakikisha anakuwa na wasaidizi wataalamu na watendaji kama makatibu wa mbunge ni watumishi imara kuweza kuendelea kuwahudumia wananchi katika kipindi ambacho mbunge anakuwa katika kuhudhuria vikao vya bunge.
Hakika kama wananchi ambao tunawakilishwa na wabunge wetu, ni muhimu kuhoji nini hasa kinachowafanya wawakilishi wetu kutokuhudhuria vikao vya bunge ambayo hasa ndilo jukumu na kazi ambayo walipia kuomba tuwapatie.
Achilia mbali wale wabunge ambao tayari tumeanza kuonyeshwa kupitia vyombo vya habari kuwa licha ya kuhudhuria kwao katika vikao wanakuwa wao kama hawapo kwani wanaangukia kuuchapa usingizi au wakipiga soga wakati mijadala ikiendelea.
Na hivi tunashukuru sana wananchi kupata fursa ya kufatilia vikao vya bunge kupitia vyombo vya habari kama televisheni, je visinge kuwapo hali ingelikuwaje?
Baruapepe: michael@michaeldalali.com
© Michael Dalali, Julai 2011
Hivi karibuni, naamini wengi wa wananchi ambao wamekuwa wakifatilia vikao vya bunge ni mashahidi wa ufinyu wa ushiriki wa wawakilishi wetu katika kikao cha bunge. Hali hii inaibua maswali mengi sana miongoni mwa wananchi wapenda maslahi ya nchi.
“Hivi bunge hili linaendeleza tabia kama ya bunge lililopia (yaani bunge la tisa)?”, mwingine akahoji; “hivi kuna sababu gani hasa zinazowafanya wabunge kutomudu kushiriki kikao cha bunge wakati hiyo ni sehemu yao ya kazi” ni miongoni mwa maswali ambayo huwa nakumbana nayo toka kwa wananchi waangaliapo bunge na kuonyeshwa kupitia televisheni viti vilivyotupu.
Hakika inaibua sintofahamu ambayo nadhani ni wabunge wenyewe wanaweza kuichambua kwa kina.
Lakini haraka haraka mawazo yanayoweza kuja akilini ni pengine; Mosi, kikao cha bunge kimekuwa kirefu sana kuliko vile ambavyo wabunge wanahimili kutulia kukishiriki kikamilifu. Hii inaweza kupimwa na kulinganisha na vikao ambavyo vitatu vya vyanzo ambavyo havikuzidi mwezi kuliko kikao cha nne cha bajeti ambacho ni takribani miezi mitatu.
Kwa upande mwingine inawezekana wabunge wa bunge la kumi tayari wameshazoea muenendo na utendaji kazi wa bunge, ambako imewafanya kujua namna ya kuishi bungeni “kiujanja ujanja”. Hii inakuwa ni miongoni mwa tabia inayotokana na kuanza kuzeoa kitu na hasa mazoea yaliyopitilia yenye kumfanya mtu kujisahau.
Kufahamu huku inaendana na kujua namna gani ya kukwepa rungu la sheria na kanuni kumwangukia baada ya kuivunja mathalani; kanuni zinataka mbunge kuhakikisha hakosi mikutano mitatu mfululizo (siyo vikao). Kanuni zinamwangaza mbunge aliyepo katika kikao hasa katika kipindi cha kupitisha maamuzi ambapo suala la akidi inapaswa itimie.
Hapa ndipo tunaona baadhi ya wabunge tena wakuchaguliwa wanasaini mwanzo wa mkutano kasha wanaendelea na shughuli zao na kuacha kuhudhuria vikao vingine ambapo vinawataka wao kushiriki ipasavyo.
Kupungua kwa mwamko na hamasa ya ushiriki inaweza pia kuwa miongoni mwa sababu inayoendana na kuzoea bunge. Kwani inawezekana katika vikao vya awali wengi wa wawakilishi wetu katika kikao cha maamuzi walikuwa na upya ambao ilikuwa chachu ya ushiriki kikamilifu jukumu lao la kuwepo kikaoni kwa niaba ya wananchi wote wa jimbo wanaloliwakilisha.
Nachelea kuamini kuwa kupungua kwa mwamko na hamasa kumeanza kwa wawakilishi wetu ambako kunawafanya wasihudhurie kwani endapo ndivyo basi ile hali ya “business as usual” (mambo kama kawaida) itakuwa tayari imetamalaki ambayo inachagiza ufanywaji wa mambo bora iende kukamilisha muda na si kuzingatia ufanisi, tija na viwango kwa maslahi ya wananchi waliowatuma kuwawakilisha na Taifa zima kwa ujumla wake.
Lakini katika kujaribu kuendeleza tafakuri juu ya nini hasa ambacho kinaweza kuwa kinawasibu wawakilishi wetu, maana nafahamu spika na waratibu wa bunge hawawezi kugonganisha ratiba za bunge na kazi za kamati au majukumu mengine ya kibunge kiasi cha kufanya ukosefu wa ushiriki mkubwa kiasi kile katika vikao mathalani hiki kikao kinachoendelea cha bajeti. Inawezekana kule kuchanganya siasa na biashara kukawa pia moja ya sababu ambazo zinawafanya wabunge wetu kutokutulia bungeni kwani kwa baadhi ya wafanyabiashara ambao wao ndio wahusika wakuu katika utendaji inaweza kuathiri sana ushiriki kikamilifu wa vikao vya kibunge.
Kwani kama ni shughuli ya kijimbo, naamini wananchi wote wanafahamu na kuelewa kuwa mwakilishi wao wamemtuma bungeni katika kikao kuwawakilisha hivyo kama ni wananchi makini wenye kujua haki na misingi yao ya kiuraia wanapaswa wamhoji wanapomuona mwakilishi wao akiwa jimboni wakati shughuli za kikao cha bunge zikiendelea.
Umuhimu wa kuwepo wa makatibu wa wabunge na watendaji wengine wa ofisi za mbunge ndipo unajitokeza hususan katika vipindi vya vikao bungeni, endapo mbunge anakuwa makini kuhakikisha anakuwa na wasaidizi wataalamu na watendaji kama makatibu wa mbunge ni watumishi imara kuweza kuendelea kuwahudumia wananchi katika kipindi ambacho mbunge anakuwa katika kuhudhuria vikao vya bunge.
Hakika kama wananchi ambao tunawakilishwa na wabunge wetu, ni muhimu kuhoji nini hasa kinachowafanya wawakilishi wetu kutokuhudhuria vikao vya bunge ambayo hasa ndilo jukumu na kazi ambayo walipia kuomba tuwapatie.
Achilia mbali wale wabunge ambao tayari tumeanza kuonyeshwa kupitia vyombo vya habari kuwa licha ya kuhudhuria kwao katika vikao wanakuwa wao kama hawapo kwani wanaangukia kuuchapa usingizi au wakipiga soga wakati mijadala ikiendelea.
Na hivi tunashukuru sana wananchi kupata fursa ya kufatilia vikao vya bunge kupitia vyombo vya habari kama televisheni, je visinge kuwapo hali ingelikuwaje?
Baruapepe: michael@michaeldalali.com
© Michael Dalali, Julai 2011
17 May, 2011
How prepared is East Africa for Oppositions?
What has been going on in Uganda in the realm of politics in the past few weeks is not a new thing in East African countries.
However, the beatings and destruction of property meted out to opposition leaders by Uganda government’s state apparatus has certainly shocked other members in the region
As already noted, anti-opposition stance in the region appears to have come here to stay.
Indeed, there is no a single country in the region that has never harassed opposition parties.
The only difference is perhaps the scale of such harassment that puts such harassment in the Pearl of Africa to a level that could be compared to what is done by occupants of Mirembe or Butabika hospitals in Tanzania and Uganda respectively.
And when one critically looks at what has been going on in Uganda, one thing comes into mind, namely sharing of practices between state apparatus in the region!
For instance, is there any difference between the smashing of window screens of cars owned by members of parliament from the Chadema opposition party in Arusha on January 05th peaceful demonstration this year and on the car of Ugandan opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besisgye during his walk-to-work campaign?
Perhaps a new thing, a creation by Uganda if you like, may be the claimed art of spraying expired tear gas after smashing of window to Dr. Besigye.
Experts have it that expired tear gas is poisonous and kills its victim slowly!
Therefore those who have had expired tear gas sprayed on their lives on earth has been reduced quite considerably.
The question of expired tear gas raises question marks over the state of tear gas sprayed to demonstrators in other parts of the region.
We should not forget what transpired on January 5th this year in Arusha that left three people dead, scores injured and many cars damaged.
A serious note on the need of discussion on how best governments have to handle oppositions across the regional, a Kenyan lost his life among the three stated people in Arusha.
I hold on to speak of Kenyan oppositions, because they have faced a lot to be a good teacher of the East African mockery of democracy. But hopes still hold as a new era Kenyan politics have gone.
All the countries’ constitution admits to respect the human rights, which among many rights address the freedom of expression. I understand well on the aspect of national security which seems to be a good excuse used by the governments in power, but a million dollar question is, how far national security doesn’t breach human rights?
Forgetting the land of Kagame will be unjust on looking at how oppositions are viewed and handled across the region. What faced Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, a chairperson of the United Democratic Forces (UDF) who announced to challenge Kagame on presidency and ended up on an arrest with charges of terrorism and threaten national security has a good message.
Patrick Karegeya an émigré Rwanda colonel can add up a story on the treatments from the country’s CEO of Rwanda. As quoted in an interview with Robert Mukombozi; “even the army wasn’t sure about which charges they should prefer against me and where I should be jailed. For all the jail terms I served in Rwanda, the army, under orders of the commander-in-chief, detained me in solitary confinement, not allowing any family member or friend to visit me, which is extreme psychological torture going by the international human rights conventions”
He blamed Kagame’s hand in all that he went through as he puts; “all the orders were coming direct from Kagame. All these are political tools that Kagame uses to silence his opponents”
He even spoke of the death occurring mysteriously to protect the so called “political dominance”; “It is not only Col. Alex Rezinde and Seth Sendashonga (former Internal Security Minister) who died mysteriously around that time. Many people especially politicians, have died under mysterious circumstances I can’t say I don’t have information regarding those cases, but Kagame is the boss so he is in a better position to explain those assassinations and mysterious disappearances of people”.
All the practices against oppositions across the countries imposed a thought as if they are not part of the same societies, they don’t have any good wishes for the countries. The thoughts which are too soon to be admitted especially as they haven’t given chance to reveal their true colours.
One thing we can be sure of, is that the same opposition politicians are originating from our families. They are part of our society. They grew up on our own eyes. We too are part of them in its all sense of meaning.
Are the claims presented on oppositions demonstrations like the rise of costs of living by and large not felt by the society?
On the other hand, one should question his/her mind as to why for example the recent Chadema public rally have large mass to that extent, are they attracted to issues advocated for such as the need to address the high rise of living or a just matter of fanaticism to the party?
What is known is, every government that claims to be democratic has to respect the rights of individuals like that of allowing to vote, and to be voted too. They can be led, as too have rights to lead.
As psychologists do advices on a need of individuals to allow themselves a talk over things in their hearts which act as a medicine to stress and sometimes a useful exercise that can make one avoid to run mental. There is a need for the governments to offer more platforms to its people, whether oppositions or from the party in power to express their feelings. And important suggestions found in their thoughts, when incorporated in actions it won’t be a failure to the government in power but a respect act of collective governance.
We have seen a lot of the tortures, harassments, mistreatment to oppositions. It is high time to see also the other side of Africans, the tolerance abilities to the differences we have, and even going extra miles of offering enough platforms and also receive feedbacks which might includes criticism from all citizens including politicians, activists and journalists.
©Michael Dalali, 2011 May 16th
However, the beatings and destruction of property meted out to opposition leaders by Uganda government’s state apparatus has certainly shocked other members in the region
As already noted, anti-opposition stance in the region appears to have come here to stay.
Indeed, there is no a single country in the region that has never harassed opposition parties.
The only difference is perhaps the scale of such harassment that puts such harassment in the Pearl of Africa to a level that could be compared to what is done by occupants of Mirembe or Butabika hospitals in Tanzania and Uganda respectively.
And when one critically looks at what has been going on in Uganda, one thing comes into mind, namely sharing of practices between state apparatus in the region!
For instance, is there any difference between the smashing of window screens of cars owned by members of parliament from the Chadema opposition party in Arusha on January 05th peaceful demonstration this year and on the car of Ugandan opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besisgye during his walk-to-work campaign?
Perhaps a new thing, a creation by Uganda if you like, may be the claimed art of spraying expired tear gas after smashing of window to Dr. Besigye.
Experts have it that expired tear gas is poisonous and kills its victim slowly!
Therefore those who have had expired tear gas sprayed on their lives on earth has been reduced quite considerably.
The question of expired tear gas raises question marks over the state of tear gas sprayed to demonstrators in other parts of the region.
We should not forget what transpired on January 5th this year in Arusha that left three people dead, scores injured and many cars damaged.
A serious note on the need of discussion on how best governments have to handle oppositions across the regional, a Kenyan lost his life among the three stated people in Arusha.
I hold on to speak of Kenyan oppositions, because they have faced a lot to be a good teacher of the East African mockery of democracy. But hopes still hold as a new era Kenyan politics have gone.
All the countries’ constitution admits to respect the human rights, which among many rights address the freedom of expression. I understand well on the aspect of national security which seems to be a good excuse used by the governments in power, but a million dollar question is, how far national security doesn’t breach human rights?
Forgetting the land of Kagame will be unjust on looking at how oppositions are viewed and handled across the region. What faced Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, a chairperson of the United Democratic Forces (UDF) who announced to challenge Kagame on presidency and ended up on an arrest with charges of terrorism and threaten national security has a good message.
Patrick Karegeya an émigré Rwanda colonel can add up a story on the treatments from the country’s CEO of Rwanda. As quoted in an interview with Robert Mukombozi; “even the army wasn’t sure about which charges they should prefer against me and where I should be jailed. For all the jail terms I served in Rwanda, the army, under orders of the commander-in-chief, detained me in solitary confinement, not allowing any family member or friend to visit me, which is extreme psychological torture going by the international human rights conventions”
He blamed Kagame’s hand in all that he went through as he puts; “all the orders were coming direct from Kagame. All these are political tools that Kagame uses to silence his opponents”
He even spoke of the death occurring mysteriously to protect the so called “political dominance”; “It is not only Col. Alex Rezinde and Seth Sendashonga (former Internal Security Minister) who died mysteriously around that time. Many people especially politicians, have died under mysterious circumstances I can’t say I don’t have information regarding those cases, but Kagame is the boss so he is in a better position to explain those assassinations and mysterious disappearances of people”.
All the practices against oppositions across the countries imposed a thought as if they are not part of the same societies, they don’t have any good wishes for the countries. The thoughts which are too soon to be admitted especially as they haven’t given chance to reveal their true colours.
One thing we can be sure of, is that the same opposition politicians are originating from our families. They are part of our society. They grew up on our own eyes. We too are part of them in its all sense of meaning.
Are the claims presented on oppositions demonstrations like the rise of costs of living by and large not felt by the society?
On the other hand, one should question his/her mind as to why for example the recent Chadema public rally have large mass to that extent, are they attracted to issues advocated for such as the need to address the high rise of living or a just matter of fanaticism to the party?
What is known is, every government that claims to be democratic has to respect the rights of individuals like that of allowing to vote, and to be voted too. They can be led, as too have rights to lead.
As psychologists do advices on a need of individuals to allow themselves a talk over things in their hearts which act as a medicine to stress and sometimes a useful exercise that can make one avoid to run mental. There is a need for the governments to offer more platforms to its people, whether oppositions or from the party in power to express their feelings. And important suggestions found in their thoughts, when incorporated in actions it won’t be a failure to the government in power but a respect act of collective governance.
We have seen a lot of the tortures, harassments, mistreatment to oppositions. It is high time to see also the other side of Africans, the tolerance abilities to the differences we have, and even going extra miles of offering enough platforms and also receive feedbacks which might includes criticism from all citizens including politicians, activists and journalists.
©Michael Dalali, 2011 May 16th
07 February, 2011
Katiba Moja, Nyumba Moja!
Kadiri kila kaya inavyojitahidi kuwa na kitabu kitakatifu kwa mujibu wa imani yao yaani aidha msahafu kwa waislamu ama biblia kwa wakristu, inafungua mlango wa kuwa na kitabu cha mamlaka ya kidunia. Katiba!
Kadiri kila wakati kaya ikiketi chini na kusoma kitabu kitakatifu kwa minajili ya kujiimarisha kiimani na kupanua maarifa ya “elimu ahera”. Ndivyo hivyo pia ilipaswa kaya zikae mara kwa mara na kusoma kitabu cha mamlaka ya kidunia. Katiba!
Licha ya uwepo wa maduka ya kitabu cha katiba, bado wananchi wachache wanamudu kuwa na nakala ya kitabu hicho muhimu kwa kuhakikisha haki na maslahi ya kila mmoja yanalindwa. Kuhakikisha maslahi ya nchi kwa ujumla yanasimamiwa.
Hata kwa shule za msingi na sekondari iwe za kata ama zisizo za kata bado sehemu kubwa kitabu cha katiba ni ndoto. Hata mmoja ya mfano hakuna!
Naye mwenyekiti wa kijiji ama mtendaji wa kijiji katiba kwake ndoto. Hata ofisi ya serikali za mitaa hakuna. Mwe!
Lakini maudhui ndani ya Katiba si kwa maslahi ya kila mwananchi? Maudhui yaliyomo si yanapaswa kuhubiriwa na kujadiliwa miongoni mwa kila raia? Ziwapi jitihada za kufikisha ujumbe uliomo ndani ya kitabu hicho cha kimamlaka?
Imeshapata kusemwa, haki haiombwi! Haki haipewi katika sahani kama pishi ya ubwabwa. Kila mwananchi, kila mwalimu, kila mtendaji wa serikali za mitaa ama kijiji anapaswa aweke juhudi ya dhati kuhakikisha anakuwa na nakala ya Katiba.
Kila shule ihakikishe inakuwa na nakala za kutosha za katiba. Kila mwanafunzi ahakikishe anapata wasaa wa kusoma aidha kwa mfumo wa makundi ama mmoja mmoja.
Kila kaya nchini ihakikishe ina nakala ya Katiba na iwe inatenga muda wa kusoma aidha kama kaya nzima ama kila mwanakaya kwa nafasi yake.
Kama vile tunavyojitahidi kujifunza masuala ya kiimani ndivyo hivyo pia tujitahidi kuwekeza katika kujifunza masuala ya kidunia hususan utendaji wa tawala, katiba na mantiki yake.
Kama tunavyopeana zawadi za vitabu ndivyo pia tuanze tamaduni ya kupeana zawadi ya kitabu cha “Katiba”. Tujitahidi pia hata kupeleka zawadi za Katiba kwa ndugu na marafiki zetu jijini na vijijini.
Baruapepe: michaeldalali@yahoo.com
© Michael Dalali, 2011
13 January, 2011
Jeshi kizio cha uuaji wa demokrasia
Tusiandike tukiogopa jeshi?tusiseme tukiogopa jeshi?tusitende tukiogopa jeshi? Jeshi ni nini haswa? Jeshi latoka wapi haswa? Kwanini linakuwa na nguvu na ubabe ambao hawana? Kwanini jeshi linadumaza jitihada za kukuza demokrasia?
Natambua jeshi lina jukumu kubwa la kulinda mali za raia na raia wenyewe. Jeshi lina jukumu la kuhakikisha usalama katika nchi. Lakini jeshi halina mamlaka ya kufisha demokrasia. Jeshi halina mamlaka ya kufisha uhuru wa watu kujieleza!
Mmoja ya raia akidhibitiwa asiandamane na Jeshi la Polisi
Ni mara ngapi jeshi limefisha uhuru wa raia pasi kujulikana? Ni mara ngapi jeshi limefisha uhuru wa raia na ikajulikana hadharani? Ni mara ngapi jeshi limetumia ubabe pasi umma mzima wa watanzania kufahamu? Watu wenye kuguswa na utendaji wa jeshi la Tanzania wanayo mengi ya kueleza. Wafungwa na mahabusu magerezani wanamengi ya kueleza juu ya utendaji wa jeshi la Tanzania. Si mnaukumbuka ule usemi; “wanaokwenda jela siyo wote wana hatia?”
Ni mara ngapi baadhi ya jumuiya za kiraia zinapenda kufanya matukio ya kidemokrasia ambayo kwa namna moja yanachangia katika ukuaji na uboreshwaji wa demokrasia yetu wanakumbana na vigingi vya utendaji kwa kile kinachoitwa “taarifa za kiintelijensia”?
Kama nguvu kubwa inaweza kutumiwa kwa taasisi kubwa za kidemokrasia nchini kama vyama vya kisiasa tena vyama vikubwa vya kiupinzani hali itakuwaje kwa asasi za kiraia? Hali itakuwaje kwa mwananchi mmoja mmoja?
Ama tumeshahau yaliyotokea Januari, 2001 kule Zanzibari kwa wananchi waliotumia haki ya kibinadamu ya kujieleza kwa aina ya maandamano? Je yaliyotokea yanautofauti na ya Januari, 2011 kule Arusha?
Asasi moja ya kiraia tena ya vijana waliokuwa na utashi wa kuhamasisha wananchi hususan vijana wenzao kujitokeza kupiga kura kwani waliona historia inaonyesha ushiriki mdogo wa vijana katika michakato ya uchaguzi. Wakatumia rasilimali muda na fedha achilia mbali ari na utashi waliowekeza lakini wakaambulia siku moja kabla ya tukio kuzuiliwa kufanya tukio baada ya kutengua kibali ambacho walikiidhinisha wenyewe polisi ati nini, “taarifa za kiintelijensia”!
Hatukusikia kilio chao na namna walivyofafanua tukio zima la utumiaji wa mabavu ya kiutendaji jeshi hilo kuondosha utashi wa kukuza demokrasia?
Ni rahisi sana kwa jeshi hili kuandika barua na kuitisha mkutano na waandishi wa habari kueleza kile wakiitacho “taarifa za kiintelijensia” kusitisha tukio lililoandaliwa kwa muda mwingi pasi kulipa fidia. Ndiyo, kwanini wasiwe wanalipa fidia hasa kwa utenguaji wa vibali ambavyo wanakuwa wamekwisha vitoa?
Kama ilivyojidhihirisha kwa jeshi la polisi kuwa na uwezo wa kutumia nguvu ya ziada hata ambako hakuna hitaji hilo katika kupambana na kuzuia maandamano, wakati wangeweza kwa nguvu nusu ama ndogo zaidi ya nusu itumikayo kudhibiti maandamano kuitumia kuhakikisha usalama “crowd control” kama ambavyo wanatarajiwa wafanye. Lakini loh salale!
Nikijali afya ya nchi kidemokrasia kwa kuhakikisha vyombo vya dola vinakuwa sehemu ya kukuza demokrasia natarajia kuwaona wakiguswa na madoa ya damu ambazo wanamwaga zisizo na hatia. Uhai uliokatishwa utaendelea kuishi daima na kuwabughudhi hata katika njozi na endapo kutakuwa na ulegevu kalamu, hotuba na machozi ya wafiwa yataendelea kububujika na kuandika historia kizazi hata kizazi zikililia damu azizi iliyomwagwa.
Polisi wasisahau wanaowapoteza maisha ni kaka na dada zetu, ni baba na mama zetu, zaidi ni sehemu ya jamii yetu. Wanapaswa watambue kila hatua wanayoitenda ina athari katika jamii ambayo wao na vizazi vyao vinaishi.
Wasisahau risasi, bunduki, mavazi hata mishahara inayowapa nguvu kuamrisha watu kumwaga damu, na wale wapokea amri kutii na kutekeleza ni kutokana na kodi za wananchi hao hao wanaowaua na kumwaga damu. Hii akili kweli?
Tayari wananchi wameanza kuwa na ujasiri wa kujiuliza kama alivyoainisha Padri Privatus Karugendo; “Kwani Tanzania tuna risasi ngapi? Tunazo milioni 40? Tuna polisi wangapi? Tunao milioni 40? Watanzania sasa hivi wanakimbilia milioni 40, wakishikamana hakula la kuwafanya”! Hakika Jeshi la Polisi likiendelea kutenda litendayo litawafanya wananchi nchi nzima kutenda chochote, haya ndiyo matunda ya kujificha nyuma ya “taarifa za kiintelijensia”.
Waogope nini kama ameshuhudia askari ambaye alitegemea amlinde akimpiga risasi kaka yake? Unategemea atende nini endapo alishuhudia askari akimpiga mama mjamzito mbele ya macho yake? Unataka atende nini endapo aliona askari akitoa uhai wa baba yake aliyemtegemea kimaisha? Hiki ndicho kizazi kinachozalishwa kwa kazi ya polisi ya “taarifa za kiintelijensia”.
Mmoja wa wahanga wa nguvu ya Polisi katika maandamano umauti ukiwa umemkuta baada ya kupigwa na risasi
Tanzania imeshabarikiwa amani na utulivu, Watanzania wameshabarikiwa tunu za kutunza amani na utulivu katika mioyo yao. Watanzania mmoja mmoja ama hata katika jumuiya za kiraia kama asasi za kisiasa na za kiraia hawana jeshi wala si wengi wenye bunduki kulinganisha bunduki zilizopo katika majeshi ya usalama. Usalama wao na matumaini yao ya amani yamewekezwa kwenye majeshi ya usalama kama jeshi la polisi na kudiriki kuligharamia kwa kodi zao.
Jeshi likitaka lilinde amani kama tunavyotarajia wao kutimiza jukumu lao hilo katika jamii yetu lakini pia likitaka linaweza likaendelea kupuuza na kuenenda na vitendo vyake vya kuondosha amani na utulivu!
Mfungwa Mswahili alishasema katika hotuba yake;“Ndugu waheshimiwa jiheshimuni, waheshimuni na wengine mpate kuheshimika kihalali, jiheshimuni ndipo mdai heshima”.
© Michael Dalali, 2011
Natambua jeshi lina jukumu kubwa la kulinda mali za raia na raia wenyewe. Jeshi lina jukumu la kuhakikisha usalama katika nchi. Lakini jeshi halina mamlaka ya kufisha demokrasia. Jeshi halina mamlaka ya kufisha uhuru wa watu kujieleza!
Mmoja ya raia akidhibitiwa asiandamane na Jeshi la Polisi
Ni mara ngapi jeshi limefisha uhuru wa raia pasi kujulikana? Ni mara ngapi jeshi limefisha uhuru wa raia na ikajulikana hadharani? Ni mara ngapi jeshi limetumia ubabe pasi umma mzima wa watanzania kufahamu? Watu wenye kuguswa na utendaji wa jeshi la Tanzania wanayo mengi ya kueleza. Wafungwa na mahabusu magerezani wanamengi ya kueleza juu ya utendaji wa jeshi la Tanzania. Si mnaukumbuka ule usemi; “wanaokwenda jela siyo wote wana hatia?”
Ni mara ngapi baadhi ya jumuiya za kiraia zinapenda kufanya matukio ya kidemokrasia ambayo kwa namna moja yanachangia katika ukuaji na uboreshwaji wa demokrasia yetu wanakumbana na vigingi vya utendaji kwa kile kinachoitwa “taarifa za kiintelijensia”?
Kama nguvu kubwa inaweza kutumiwa kwa taasisi kubwa za kidemokrasia nchini kama vyama vya kisiasa tena vyama vikubwa vya kiupinzani hali itakuwaje kwa asasi za kiraia? Hali itakuwaje kwa mwananchi mmoja mmoja?
Ama tumeshahau yaliyotokea Januari, 2001 kule Zanzibari kwa wananchi waliotumia haki ya kibinadamu ya kujieleza kwa aina ya maandamano? Je yaliyotokea yanautofauti na ya Januari, 2011 kule Arusha?
Asasi moja ya kiraia tena ya vijana waliokuwa na utashi wa kuhamasisha wananchi hususan vijana wenzao kujitokeza kupiga kura kwani waliona historia inaonyesha ushiriki mdogo wa vijana katika michakato ya uchaguzi. Wakatumia rasilimali muda na fedha achilia mbali ari na utashi waliowekeza lakini wakaambulia siku moja kabla ya tukio kuzuiliwa kufanya tukio baada ya kutengua kibali ambacho walikiidhinisha wenyewe polisi ati nini, “taarifa za kiintelijensia”!
Hatukusikia kilio chao na namna walivyofafanua tukio zima la utumiaji wa mabavu ya kiutendaji jeshi hilo kuondosha utashi wa kukuza demokrasia?
Ni rahisi sana kwa jeshi hili kuandika barua na kuitisha mkutano na waandishi wa habari kueleza kile wakiitacho “taarifa za kiintelijensia” kusitisha tukio lililoandaliwa kwa muda mwingi pasi kulipa fidia. Ndiyo, kwanini wasiwe wanalipa fidia hasa kwa utenguaji wa vibali ambavyo wanakuwa wamekwisha vitoa?
Kama ilivyojidhihirisha kwa jeshi la polisi kuwa na uwezo wa kutumia nguvu ya ziada hata ambako hakuna hitaji hilo katika kupambana na kuzuia maandamano, wakati wangeweza kwa nguvu nusu ama ndogo zaidi ya nusu itumikayo kudhibiti maandamano kuitumia kuhakikisha usalama “crowd control” kama ambavyo wanatarajiwa wafanye. Lakini loh salale!
Nikijali afya ya nchi kidemokrasia kwa kuhakikisha vyombo vya dola vinakuwa sehemu ya kukuza demokrasia natarajia kuwaona wakiguswa na madoa ya damu ambazo wanamwaga zisizo na hatia. Uhai uliokatishwa utaendelea kuishi daima na kuwabughudhi hata katika njozi na endapo kutakuwa na ulegevu kalamu, hotuba na machozi ya wafiwa yataendelea kububujika na kuandika historia kizazi hata kizazi zikililia damu azizi iliyomwagwa.
Polisi wasisahau wanaowapoteza maisha ni kaka na dada zetu, ni baba na mama zetu, zaidi ni sehemu ya jamii yetu. Wanapaswa watambue kila hatua wanayoitenda ina athari katika jamii ambayo wao na vizazi vyao vinaishi.
Wasisahau risasi, bunduki, mavazi hata mishahara inayowapa nguvu kuamrisha watu kumwaga damu, na wale wapokea amri kutii na kutekeleza ni kutokana na kodi za wananchi hao hao wanaowaua na kumwaga damu. Hii akili kweli?
Tayari wananchi wameanza kuwa na ujasiri wa kujiuliza kama alivyoainisha Padri Privatus Karugendo; “Kwani Tanzania tuna risasi ngapi? Tunazo milioni 40? Tuna polisi wangapi? Tunao milioni 40? Watanzania sasa hivi wanakimbilia milioni 40, wakishikamana hakula la kuwafanya”! Hakika Jeshi la Polisi likiendelea kutenda litendayo litawafanya wananchi nchi nzima kutenda chochote, haya ndiyo matunda ya kujificha nyuma ya “taarifa za kiintelijensia”.
Waogope nini kama ameshuhudia askari ambaye alitegemea amlinde akimpiga risasi kaka yake? Unategemea atende nini endapo alishuhudia askari akimpiga mama mjamzito mbele ya macho yake? Unataka atende nini endapo aliona askari akitoa uhai wa baba yake aliyemtegemea kimaisha? Hiki ndicho kizazi kinachozalishwa kwa kazi ya polisi ya “taarifa za kiintelijensia”.
Mmoja wa wahanga wa nguvu ya Polisi katika maandamano umauti ukiwa umemkuta baada ya kupigwa na risasi
Tanzania imeshabarikiwa amani na utulivu, Watanzania wameshabarikiwa tunu za kutunza amani na utulivu katika mioyo yao. Watanzania mmoja mmoja ama hata katika jumuiya za kiraia kama asasi za kisiasa na za kiraia hawana jeshi wala si wengi wenye bunduki kulinganisha bunduki zilizopo katika majeshi ya usalama. Usalama wao na matumaini yao ya amani yamewekezwa kwenye majeshi ya usalama kama jeshi la polisi na kudiriki kuligharamia kwa kodi zao.
Jeshi likitaka lilinde amani kama tunavyotarajia wao kutimiza jukumu lao hilo katika jamii yetu lakini pia likitaka linaweza likaendelea kupuuza na kuenenda na vitendo vyake vya kuondosha amani na utulivu!
Mfungwa Mswahili alishasema katika hotuba yake;“Ndugu waheshimiwa jiheshimuni, waheshimuni na wengine mpate kuheshimika kihalali, jiheshimuni ndipo mdai heshima”.
© Michael Dalali, 2011
02 January, 2011
THE END AND THE BEGINNING
Everyday we sleep to wake up dreaming
When our minds cant stop screaming
Noises we wish to turn into singing
A song with a beautiful meaning
To go as deep as abstaining
With no abusing
Remembering basic accounting
Getting busy achieving
Where necessary acknowledging
There is no need for acting
We are not advertising
You know we are aging
In this life we are living
Its not worth relaxing
We have to be advancing
Stand up where you are sitting
Better start doing the walking
Life is so amazing
We should start discovering
In and out altering
Without announcing
No annoying
Sleeping to nothing
Waking up to something
So appetizing
and then you are appointing
The efforts approving
Everyday appreciating
People are appraising
The future you are approaching
The past you are assassinating
And they keep doing auditing
You keep authorizing
They are thinking of awarding
You keep on hustling
They are thinking of babysitting
You keep the ball rolling
When they are brainstorming
You are implementing
Happy New Year from Nancy
May the next 365 days be full of sweet fragrance
And the satellites to read your frequency
Life is full of fancy
No need for agency
Make your own currency
HAPPY 2011
By: Nancy Lazaro Mwaisaka
Copyright - 31/12/2010
27 December, 2010
16 December, 2010
Decidere: What it means to decide
By Westermack W. Batanyita
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm— neither hot nor cold— I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”— Revelation 3:15-16.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...we all make them every passing moment of everyday: be it something simple enough as either to leap out of bed or continue slumbering as the alarm goes off, or something a little more involved as deciding to enter into a committed relationship with someone or not. They are all decisions. They are a critical part of our lives as every action is preceded by one. Being the mother of all action, decisions direct our lives; who we were, who we are, and who we become rest on them. But what’s a decision really, anyways!?
Simple enough the meaning of “decision” for most people, except that the notion on what it means to decide in our societies is, well, loose! And in our loose application of the term “decision” in our daily lives, an overwhelming majority of us haven’t a clue on what it means to really make a decision.
The word itself— decision, derives from the combination of two Latin words “de”, which means “from”, and “caedere” which means “to cut”. Making a true decision is to commit yourself to achieving the result you expect from that decision, and cutting yourself off from any other possibility other than that result.
The simple fact is, in our minds at least, whenever we make a decision, we cross a bridge connecting where we currently are and where we expect that decision to take us. And, as it follows from the Latin antecedents of the word, the bridge has no other helpful purpose upon having crossed over to the other side. In fact, if anything, it can only serve to detract from the force of change that a committed decision creates, and should therefore be obliterated: effectively cutting ourselves off from any possibility of retreat via it.
Not to overly simplify things but, in essence, cheating in “committed relationships” occurs as a direct result of people “deciding” to enter into them without ever being committed to their decisions! They have in effect failed to completely cut themselves off from the possibility of other carnal retreats— no pun intended.
Etymologically speaking, therefore, decisions entail commitment, a sturdy resolution on the part of the decision maker to see it through.
It's only in the wake of such commitment that life begins to take more magical, almost mystical twists and turns toward materializing the other side of the bridge. All manner of unforeseen people, events, material assistance, circumstances...you name it, will spring forth to your aid in your lofty quest. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ably observed the mysterious ways of the force behind a committed decision: “...Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too...”
“...then Providence moves too...” Yes indeed! We are a universe governed by laws of nature, and one of them is this. Our lack of comprehension of their exact mechanics doesn't make them any less pervasive, any less eternal, or immutable, or true; like the force of gravity which even before Newton and Einstein had peered into and helped demystify, had still orchestrated the impeccable dance of celestial orbs of the cosmos since the dawn of time. Fathom them or not, they remain forever alive in the very fabric of Nature; and we may as well tune into the rhythm of their song and dance to it, only to, in the end, have them dance to the tune of ours.
Perhaps no where I know (other than in the indefatigable journey of the invention of the incandescent light bulb) is the authority of this law more evident than in the ubiquitous narrative of Caesar’s military expeditions of the 1st century BC.
His mythic charisma and leadership spirit had just inspired another one in a string of successful military campaigns under his command. Having sailed over the English Channel from Gaul, and landed with his legions on the shores of what is now England, the decision was definitive in Julius Caesar's mind: they were here to conquer, nothing less.
To reinforce his army's commitment on that decision, he did something that I'm sure would have seemed foolish and foolhardy in the eyes of any cynic standing on the sidelines of history-in-the-making; oblivious, of course, to the fact that s/he wouldn't make even the footnote of this history.
Under his command, standing with his soldiers on the chalk cliffs of Dover, looking down over the waves two hundred feet below, they witnessed red tongues of fire consume each and every ship in which they had crossed. They burned their boats— literally! In the enemy's country, with the link with the Continent destroyed, the very last means of retreat burned, there was only one thing left for these men to do: to advance, to conquer. And the rest as they say is history.
I know; what I write here isn't science. To the practical and categorize-it fanatic it's philosophy, too naive, too passive, too removed from the world of real things. To me, given my experience that has woven this nascent tapestry I call my life, it's a belief; one that has calcified into a conviction over the years.
In more recent years, I’ve had to fight a little battle of my own; a battle of wills between who I am as an individual as governed by my convictions which influence my decisions, and the person I’m expected to be by my family, friends and colleagues as governed by popular opinion.
For between my evidently inconceivable decision to drop out of uni, and my free-willed choice to quit a lucrative business that paid me thousands of dollars a month in income and royalties at a relatively tender age of 20, and my other like, rather unorthodox ways I’d amassed an appreciable number of unsolicited spokespeople and advisors, each with their own version of twisted, overinflated and below-the-belt facts.
Fearing that I wouldn't be understood even if I tried to, and just failing to see the point of defending my decisions, I found myself just smiling a wry smile and fending off all unsympathetic questions, vilification, criticism, or advice.
I can still remember what they said though.
After dropping out of school and decided to go into business, for instance, most who knew me thought I was joking. After a little while, after it’d become clear that I wasn’t, most still thought I was, well, joking! For those who somehow managed to take me a little more seriously, the “wiser” thing to do, they advised, would have been to continue my studies as I did my business, or at least fill out a standard form along with a letter to the university declaring that I was postponing my studies— all this as a precaution, just incase things didn’t work out with the business!
It was all well-meaning advice except for one problem: my decision was to go into and succeed in business. I’d cut myself off from any other possibility that would give me any result other than this. In my mind, while there might’ve been the issue of “it could take a bit of time to make it,” the just-incase argument was invalid. The precautionary, fall-back-into-cushion uni degree was immaterial.
There may be many factors that contributed to the skyrocketing success of that business, but primary among these was the sheer psychological drive and focus that stemmed from the plain and simple fact that I didn’t have the luxury of “just incase”.
All was good, the money grew better and better, the people were great; until that day I had to reluctantly reach another unpopular decision.
This time, deciding to quit the business that had influenced my terminating my studies in the first place— a successful business that took me close to two years to build, not only made me look foolish but also crazy; a confused kid who hadn’t the slightest idea of what he wanted anymore! But that’s another long story for another time I suppose. Suffice to say though, they weren’t decisions fueled by just conviction, they were also informed; and I’ve remained committed to them to date. And while I’m no better off financially— yet— as a consequence of these decisions, I believe I’m a stronger, much more integral, and better human being as a result of these.
Decisions: They are an incredible force that shape both our singular and shared destinies. Even for those who lead lives of quiet desperation of passive decision making by allowing the circumstances of their lives to control and direct them, that is in itself a decision. Decisions, I’d argue, are an integral part of our existence.
As we’ve seen, once made, they entail commitment; an unwavering faith and determination to see the results we expect from them through.
We are a species consumed by the need for certainty, like the proverbial biblical doubting Thomas, needing to see to believe; yet there will be times, with more valuable and meaningful decisions, when this commitment will mean that we burn our boats and walk by faith as opposed to the more-preferable sight. You cannot really begin to read the next chapter in a book unless you turn the very last page of the one preceding. The chapters in your life are no exception.
And when fear creeps into our only-human hearts, and we begin to feel like we’ve committed too long and the Promised Land seems to be getting even more elusive as we search and would rather turn back to Egypt into servitude of indecision and half-commitment, we should take heart in the experience of men like Thomas Edison and his 9,999 failures and one eventual success on the painstaking invention of the incandescent light bulb; and in the end we’ll know: When we are committed, we’ll either find a way or make one.
If our decisions are informed, we make them when we are level-headed enough, and we believe in them, we should stick by them no matter what, staying flexible in our approach but rigid in our commitment. As a line in a fave movie goes: There’s dignity in being loyal to something you believe in, holding on to it; and above all else, believing without question that it will carry you home.
Now decide. Gracias!
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm— neither hot nor cold— I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”— Revelation 3:15-16.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...we all make them every passing moment of everyday: be it something simple enough as either to leap out of bed or continue slumbering as the alarm goes off, or something a little more involved as deciding to enter into a committed relationship with someone or not. They are all decisions. They are a critical part of our lives as every action is preceded by one. Being the mother of all action, decisions direct our lives; who we were, who we are, and who we become rest on them. But what’s a decision really, anyways!?
Simple enough the meaning of “decision” for most people, except that the notion on what it means to decide in our societies is, well, loose! And in our loose application of the term “decision” in our daily lives, an overwhelming majority of us haven’t a clue on what it means to really make a decision.
The word itself— decision, derives from the combination of two Latin words “de”, which means “from”, and “caedere” which means “to cut”. Making a true decision is to commit yourself to achieving the result you expect from that decision, and cutting yourself off from any other possibility other than that result.
The simple fact is, in our minds at least, whenever we make a decision, we cross a bridge connecting where we currently are and where we expect that decision to take us. And, as it follows from the Latin antecedents of the word, the bridge has no other helpful purpose upon having crossed over to the other side. In fact, if anything, it can only serve to detract from the force of change that a committed decision creates, and should therefore be obliterated: effectively cutting ourselves off from any possibility of retreat via it.
Not to overly simplify things but, in essence, cheating in “committed relationships” occurs as a direct result of people “deciding” to enter into them without ever being committed to their decisions! They have in effect failed to completely cut themselves off from the possibility of other carnal retreats— no pun intended.
Etymologically speaking, therefore, decisions entail commitment, a sturdy resolution on the part of the decision maker to see it through.
It's only in the wake of such commitment that life begins to take more magical, almost mystical twists and turns toward materializing the other side of the bridge. All manner of unforeseen people, events, material assistance, circumstances...you name it, will spring forth to your aid in your lofty quest. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ably observed the mysterious ways of the force behind a committed decision: “...Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too...”
“...then Providence moves too...” Yes indeed! We are a universe governed by laws of nature, and one of them is this. Our lack of comprehension of their exact mechanics doesn't make them any less pervasive, any less eternal, or immutable, or true; like the force of gravity which even before Newton and Einstein had peered into and helped demystify, had still orchestrated the impeccable dance of celestial orbs of the cosmos since the dawn of time. Fathom them or not, they remain forever alive in the very fabric of Nature; and we may as well tune into the rhythm of their song and dance to it, only to, in the end, have them dance to the tune of ours.
Perhaps no where I know (other than in the indefatigable journey of the invention of the incandescent light bulb) is the authority of this law more evident than in the ubiquitous narrative of Caesar’s military expeditions of the 1st century BC.
His mythic charisma and leadership spirit had just inspired another one in a string of successful military campaigns under his command. Having sailed over the English Channel from Gaul, and landed with his legions on the shores of what is now England, the decision was definitive in Julius Caesar's mind: they were here to conquer, nothing less.
To reinforce his army's commitment on that decision, he did something that I'm sure would have seemed foolish and foolhardy in the eyes of any cynic standing on the sidelines of history-in-the-making; oblivious, of course, to the fact that s/he wouldn't make even the footnote of this history.
Under his command, standing with his soldiers on the chalk cliffs of Dover, looking down over the waves two hundred feet below, they witnessed red tongues of fire consume each and every ship in which they had crossed. They burned their boats— literally! In the enemy's country, with the link with the Continent destroyed, the very last means of retreat burned, there was only one thing left for these men to do: to advance, to conquer. And the rest as they say is history.
I know; what I write here isn't science. To the practical and categorize-it fanatic it's philosophy, too naive, too passive, too removed from the world of real things. To me, given my experience that has woven this nascent tapestry I call my life, it's a belief; one that has calcified into a conviction over the years.
In more recent years, I’ve had to fight a little battle of my own; a battle of wills between who I am as an individual as governed by my convictions which influence my decisions, and the person I’m expected to be by my family, friends and colleagues as governed by popular opinion.
For between my evidently inconceivable decision to drop out of uni, and my free-willed choice to quit a lucrative business that paid me thousands of dollars a month in income and royalties at a relatively tender age of 20, and my other like, rather unorthodox ways I’d amassed an appreciable number of unsolicited spokespeople and advisors, each with their own version of twisted, overinflated and below-the-belt facts.
Fearing that I wouldn't be understood even if I tried to, and just failing to see the point of defending my decisions, I found myself just smiling a wry smile and fending off all unsympathetic questions, vilification, criticism, or advice.
I can still remember what they said though.
After dropping out of school and decided to go into business, for instance, most who knew me thought I was joking. After a little while, after it’d become clear that I wasn’t, most still thought I was, well, joking! For those who somehow managed to take me a little more seriously, the “wiser” thing to do, they advised, would have been to continue my studies as I did my business, or at least fill out a standard form along with a letter to the university declaring that I was postponing my studies— all this as a precaution, just incase things didn’t work out with the business!
It was all well-meaning advice except for one problem: my decision was to go into and succeed in business. I’d cut myself off from any other possibility that would give me any result other than this. In my mind, while there might’ve been the issue of “it could take a bit of time to make it,” the just-incase argument was invalid. The precautionary, fall-back-into-cushion uni degree was immaterial.
There may be many factors that contributed to the skyrocketing success of that business, but primary among these was the sheer psychological drive and focus that stemmed from the plain and simple fact that I didn’t have the luxury of “just incase”.
All was good, the money grew better and better, the people were great; until that day I had to reluctantly reach another unpopular decision.
This time, deciding to quit the business that had influenced my terminating my studies in the first place— a successful business that took me close to two years to build, not only made me look foolish but also crazy; a confused kid who hadn’t the slightest idea of what he wanted anymore! But that’s another long story for another time I suppose. Suffice to say though, they weren’t decisions fueled by just conviction, they were also informed; and I’ve remained committed to them to date. And while I’m no better off financially— yet— as a consequence of these decisions, I believe I’m a stronger, much more integral, and better human being as a result of these.
Decisions: They are an incredible force that shape both our singular and shared destinies. Even for those who lead lives of quiet desperation of passive decision making by allowing the circumstances of their lives to control and direct them, that is in itself a decision. Decisions, I’d argue, are an integral part of our existence.
As we’ve seen, once made, they entail commitment; an unwavering faith and determination to see the results we expect from them through.
We are a species consumed by the need for certainty, like the proverbial biblical doubting Thomas, needing to see to believe; yet there will be times, with more valuable and meaningful decisions, when this commitment will mean that we burn our boats and walk by faith as opposed to the more-preferable sight. You cannot really begin to read the next chapter in a book unless you turn the very last page of the one preceding. The chapters in your life are no exception.
And when fear creeps into our only-human hearts, and we begin to feel like we’ve committed too long and the Promised Land seems to be getting even more elusive as we search and would rather turn back to Egypt into servitude of indecision and half-commitment, we should take heart in the experience of men like Thomas Edison and his 9,999 failures and one eventual success on the painstaking invention of the incandescent light bulb; and in the end we’ll know: When we are committed, we’ll either find a way or make one.
If our decisions are informed, we make them when we are level-headed enough, and we believe in them, we should stick by them no matter what, staying flexible in our approach but rigid in our commitment. As a line in a fave movie goes: There’s dignity in being loyal to something you believe in, holding on to it; and above all else, believing without question that it will carry you home.
Now decide. Gracias!
15 December, 2010
TYVA Illuminates
TYVA Illuminates the Young Minds
TYVA uncovers the true colours
TYVA cultivates the right struggles
The Young should lead the Change
Blindless blinded old minds
Powered to cover the true colours
With merciless tireless efforts
The Young should lead the Change
Hungry minds persist TYVA feed them
Feed heartedly anger cemented from bottom
Hungry minds suck wealth from earthworm
The Young should lead the Change
TYVA pours salt to heal the wound
Weightless blood show love wholehearted
This land is yours show now the command
The Young should lead the Change
A poem composed on 14th Dec 2010
© Frederick Fussi
TYVA uncovers the true colours
TYVA cultivates the right struggles
The Young should lead the Change
Blindless blinded old minds
Powered to cover the true colours
With merciless tireless efforts
The Young should lead the Change
Hungry minds persist TYVA feed them
Feed heartedly anger cemented from bottom
Hungry minds suck wealth from earthworm
The Young should lead the Change
TYVA pours salt to heal the wound
Weightless blood show love wholehearted
This land is yours show now the command
The Young should lead the Change
A poem composed on 14th Dec 2010
© Frederick Fussi
10 December, 2010
MIAKA 49 YA UHURU WA TANGANYIKA
Endapo kizazi kile cha awali kwa TANGANYIKA kilitimiza utume kwa kuhakikisha kinaletea Uhuru Taifa la Tanganyika.
Je kizazi cha sasa, hususan sisi vijana tunatambua nini hitaji la Taifa la Tanganyika na Tanzania kwa ujumla?Je tunapambana vya kutosha kuhakikisha tunatimiza utume wetu stahili kwa maslahi ya Tanganyika na Tanzania kwa ujumla?Inawezekana endapo tu kila mmoja aking'amua mchango mtakatifu anaoweza utoa kwa Taifa letu, na kuhakikisha anatoa kwa uwezo wake wote akiacha historia angavu kwa vizazi vya sasa na vijavyo.
Anza sasa!
Timiza wajibu wako kadiri ya nafasi yako
UHURU NI KAZI!
Je kizazi cha sasa, hususan sisi vijana tunatambua nini hitaji la Taifa la Tanganyika na Tanzania kwa ujumla?Je tunapambana vya kutosha kuhakikisha tunatimiza utume wetu stahili kwa maslahi ya Tanganyika na Tanzania kwa ujumla?Inawezekana endapo tu kila mmoja aking'amua mchango mtakatifu anaoweza utoa kwa Taifa letu, na kuhakikisha anatoa kwa uwezo wake wote akiacha historia angavu kwa vizazi vya sasa na vijavyo.
Anza sasa!
Timiza wajibu wako kadiri ya nafasi yako
UHURU NI KAZI!
07 December, 2010
18 November, 2010
Msimamo Wenu, Maendeleo Yetu
Ukurasa mpya umeandikwa katika vyombo vya kimaamuzi kwa ongezeko la vijana wawakilishi tofauti na chaguzi za awali. Kupata wabunge vijana wa kuchaguliwa takribani 15 (CCM (4), CHADEMA (8), NCCR-Mageuzi (3) kwa mujibu wa taarifa zilizowasilishwa kwa mwandishi wa makala hii toka wahusika wa vyama husika) tofauti na awali katika chaguzi ya mwaka 2005 ambako kulikuwa na mbunge mmoja tu wa kuchaguliwa, Mhe. Zitto Kabwe toka Kigoma Kaskazini. Ikumbukwe kijana anayezingatiwa hapa ni kwamujibu wa sera ya Taifa ya vijana inamtafsiri kijana kama mtu mwenye umri wa miaka kati ya 18-35.
Idadi kubwa hiyo ni zao la juhudi kubwa na za muda mrefu za wadau mbali mbali mathalani asasi za kiraia hususan za vijana kupiga chapuo hitaji la ongezeko la uwakilishi wa vijana katika vyama vya maamuzi.
Lakini hatuwezi kupuuza usikivu wa vyama vya kisiasa ambavyo viliweza kuona tunu ya wito wa kuwekeza katika vijana kwa kuwapa ridhaa vijana kusimama kama wagombea katika majimbo. Hakika imedhihirisha inawezekana!
Ushindi ambao vijana wengi wameweza kuupata ni taswira pana ya mabadiliko ya kimtazamo kuwa vijana si tu wasindikizaji ama wapambe wa wagombea bali wao pia wanaweza kuwa wagombea na kuwa wawakilishi wa wananchi katika ngazi za maamuzi.
Imani ambayo watanzania wamewekeza kwenu vijana wabunge kupitia kura zao mnapaswa mjitahidi kuishi kwa vitendo, mnapaswa irejeshe imani hiyo kwa utumishi uliotukuka kwa kusimamia maslahi ya wananchi.
Vijana waliofaulu kuchaguliwa kuwa wabunge wasisahau wao ni sampuli ndogo miongoni mwa vijana wengi ambao wanauwezo na utashi wa kuwatumikia wananchi hususan kwa kuwakilisha katika vyombo vya kimaamuzi, hivyo ni jukumu lao kuenenda na kuthibitisha vijana ni tunu na hazina katika mabadiliko.
Licha ya majukumu mazito ya wabunge vijana wa kuchaguliwa wanayo dhidi ya wananchi wao katika majimbo yao, kundi la vijana haliwezi kuacha kuwaangalia wao kama watetezi pekee wa ajenda na vipaumbele vya vijana.
Baadhi ya ajenda ambazo zimekuwa zikipigiwa kelele kwa zaidi ya miaka mingi sana na vijana toka makundi mbali mbali kama asasi za kiraia za vijana, taasisi za kisiasa, taasisi za kitaaluma nk tena baadhi ya vijana waliokuwa katika harakati hizo miongoni mwao sasa wamefaulu kuwa wabunge, tunatarajia wataendelea sasa kusimamiwa kidete katika ngazi ya juu na uwezo wa ushawishi wa kimaamuzi kwa bunge na serikali nzima.
Mwaka 2010 kama ilivyokuwa mnamo mwaka 2005 asasi za kiraia kadhaa zenye kujihusisha na masuala ya vijana zikiratibiwa na asasi ya TYVA zimeweza kukusanya na kutathmini vipaumbele vya vijana na Taifa zima kwa ujumla. Vipaumbele ambavyo kwa asilimia kubwa ndivyo vilio vya vijana hivyo tunapaswa kuwakumbusha tena na tena wabunge vijana ambao ni wawakilishi wa sampuli ya vijana katika vyombo vya kimaamuzi kuweza kuvitetea.
Ni kundi hili dogo la vijana wabunge ambao vijana wote wa kitanzania wanaweka matumaini yao kuwasikia wakiwa mstari wa mbele kutetea uanzishwaji wa baraza huru la vijana la Taifa na haswa kusimamia na kuhakikisha sera ya vijana ya Taifa inatekelezwa kwa mapana yake licha ya changamoto zake.
Ni vijana hawa wabunge ambao wanaujua uchungu wa ukosefu wa ajira, mazingira magumu yaliyopo katika kilimo hususan kwa wakulima wadogo wadogo, ukosefu wa ujuzi na ukomavu wa fani na ujasiri wa kupambana katika soko la ndani na kimataifa, na ni wabunge hawa vijana ambao wanajua hali na mazingira magumu ya upatikanaji wa mitaji na fursa za kuwekeza kwa vijana nchini. Tunaamini hawatatusaliti!
Ni wabunge hawa vijana ambao kwa asilimia kubwa wamepitia katika mifumo ua kielimu nchini ambayo changamoto zake hakika naamini hawajazisahau kama ilivyo kwa sekta ya afya. Naamini watapaza sauti sasa kusimamia mabadiliko yake.
Nina amini mmeshuhudia ufu wa vipaji vya vijana wenzenu na wachache ambao walisimama kidete kutetea vipaji hivyo jinsi walivyokuwa na ugumu katika kufaidika naamini mtahakikisha sera na usimamizi madhubuti wa ukuzwaji na mazingira bora ya uchocheaji vipaji nchini kama tunu ya mchango wenu kwa kundi kubwa hili.
Mazingira bora ya ukuzwaji wa vipaji mathalani michezo kwa kuhakikisha tabia ya ubinafsi ya kuuza viwanja vya wazi ambavyo baadhi ya hivyo vilikuwa vikitumiwa na vijana kucheza michezo mbalimbali. Naamini hamtakenua haya yakitendeka na hata kwa baadhi ya maeneo mtarudi nyuma na kusawazisha mabonde.
Kwa msukumo wa ujana wa chachu ya fikra mpya, ubunifu, nguvu mpya na uwezo wa uthubutu naamini mtakuwa na uthubutu wa kusukuma uwepo wa mchakato wa kufanyia mabadiliko Katiba ya Tanzania.
Uundwaji wa katiba mpya imekuwa kilio cha muda mrefu cha makundi mbali mbali katika jamii ya Tanzania mathalani vyama vya kiraia, vyama vya siasa (ambavyo ndimo mnakotoka), wasomi na hata wananchi wote kwa ujumla. Hakika tunawapa jukumu la kusimamia uwepo wa mabadiliko! Kuhakikisha uundwaji wa katiba mpya.
Ni katiba mpya inaweza kutoa fursa hata kwa kijana kushika nyadhifa ya juu ya kiuongozi nchini ya urais ambayo kwa sasa kwa mujibu wa katiba kijana hawezi kuwa rais na kuhakikisha mabadiliko ya kigezo cha umri toka miaka 40 hadi japo miaka 35 yanafanyika.
Naamini mnatambua kuna vijana wengi wamekosa fursa kusimama kuwa wagombea kutokana na baadhi ya vyama kutotoa fursa kwa vijana. Ni mabadiliko ya kikatiba mkiyasimamia mathalan kuruhusu mgombea binafsi yanaweza kuwa suluhu kwao.
Mmezunguka na kusikiliza wananchi, hakika wengi wana hali duni kiuchumi. Naamini hamtawasaliti na kuwasahau kuwa wameweka matumaini yao kwenu mtawatoa katika mfumo ambao unapelekea kuwa na hali duni ya kiuchumi na kupunguza umaskini wa mtu mmoja mmoja.
Tumaini la vijana wenye ulemavu lipo mikononi mwenu. Naamini mnatambua hali duni inayowakabili katika upatikanaji wa huduma za kijamii mathalani elimu, mazingira duni katika sekta za kiafya, na hata wenye elimu kukabiliwa na changamoto ya kunyanyapaliwa katika fursa za ajira na vyombo vya kimaamuzi. Kuweni sauti yao!
Tunaamini mtakuwa wabunge wenye chachu na mwamko mpya katika kusimamia kuleta mabadiliko katika nchi yetu. Ni matumaini ya wananchi katika ujana ambao mnao mtakuwa na nguvu na fikra mpya kuweza kuwa nuru kwa Taifa na kurejesha imani kubwa la kusimamia maslahi ya nchi hususan ya wanyonge na makundi yanayosahaulika ama kutengwa.
Kumbukeni daima maneno ya Frantz Fanon kwamba kila kizazi kinapaswa kung’amua utume wake na aidha kiutekeleze ama kiusaliti.
Hakika msimamo wenu ndiyo chachu ya maendeleo yetu. MUNGU awajaze hekima katika utumishi wenu!
©Michael Dalali, 2010
Idadi kubwa hiyo ni zao la juhudi kubwa na za muda mrefu za wadau mbali mbali mathalani asasi za kiraia hususan za vijana kupiga chapuo hitaji la ongezeko la uwakilishi wa vijana katika vyama vya maamuzi.
Lakini hatuwezi kupuuza usikivu wa vyama vya kisiasa ambavyo viliweza kuona tunu ya wito wa kuwekeza katika vijana kwa kuwapa ridhaa vijana kusimama kama wagombea katika majimbo. Hakika imedhihirisha inawezekana!
Ushindi ambao vijana wengi wameweza kuupata ni taswira pana ya mabadiliko ya kimtazamo kuwa vijana si tu wasindikizaji ama wapambe wa wagombea bali wao pia wanaweza kuwa wagombea na kuwa wawakilishi wa wananchi katika ngazi za maamuzi.
Imani ambayo watanzania wamewekeza kwenu vijana wabunge kupitia kura zao mnapaswa mjitahidi kuishi kwa vitendo, mnapaswa irejeshe imani hiyo kwa utumishi uliotukuka kwa kusimamia maslahi ya wananchi.
Vijana waliofaulu kuchaguliwa kuwa wabunge wasisahau wao ni sampuli ndogo miongoni mwa vijana wengi ambao wanauwezo na utashi wa kuwatumikia wananchi hususan kwa kuwakilisha katika vyombo vya kimaamuzi, hivyo ni jukumu lao kuenenda na kuthibitisha vijana ni tunu na hazina katika mabadiliko.
Licha ya majukumu mazito ya wabunge vijana wa kuchaguliwa wanayo dhidi ya wananchi wao katika majimbo yao, kundi la vijana haliwezi kuacha kuwaangalia wao kama watetezi pekee wa ajenda na vipaumbele vya vijana.
Baadhi ya ajenda ambazo zimekuwa zikipigiwa kelele kwa zaidi ya miaka mingi sana na vijana toka makundi mbali mbali kama asasi za kiraia za vijana, taasisi za kisiasa, taasisi za kitaaluma nk tena baadhi ya vijana waliokuwa katika harakati hizo miongoni mwao sasa wamefaulu kuwa wabunge, tunatarajia wataendelea sasa kusimamiwa kidete katika ngazi ya juu na uwezo wa ushawishi wa kimaamuzi kwa bunge na serikali nzima.
Mwaka 2010 kama ilivyokuwa mnamo mwaka 2005 asasi za kiraia kadhaa zenye kujihusisha na masuala ya vijana zikiratibiwa na asasi ya TYVA zimeweza kukusanya na kutathmini vipaumbele vya vijana na Taifa zima kwa ujumla. Vipaumbele ambavyo kwa asilimia kubwa ndivyo vilio vya vijana hivyo tunapaswa kuwakumbusha tena na tena wabunge vijana ambao ni wawakilishi wa sampuli ya vijana katika vyombo vya kimaamuzi kuweza kuvitetea.
Ni kundi hili dogo la vijana wabunge ambao vijana wote wa kitanzania wanaweka matumaini yao kuwasikia wakiwa mstari wa mbele kutetea uanzishwaji wa baraza huru la vijana la Taifa na haswa kusimamia na kuhakikisha sera ya vijana ya Taifa inatekelezwa kwa mapana yake licha ya changamoto zake.
Ni vijana hawa wabunge ambao wanaujua uchungu wa ukosefu wa ajira, mazingira magumu yaliyopo katika kilimo hususan kwa wakulima wadogo wadogo, ukosefu wa ujuzi na ukomavu wa fani na ujasiri wa kupambana katika soko la ndani na kimataifa, na ni wabunge hawa vijana ambao wanajua hali na mazingira magumu ya upatikanaji wa mitaji na fursa za kuwekeza kwa vijana nchini. Tunaamini hawatatusaliti!
Ni wabunge hawa vijana ambao kwa asilimia kubwa wamepitia katika mifumo ua kielimu nchini ambayo changamoto zake hakika naamini hawajazisahau kama ilivyo kwa sekta ya afya. Naamini watapaza sauti sasa kusimamia mabadiliko yake.
Nina amini mmeshuhudia ufu wa vipaji vya vijana wenzenu na wachache ambao walisimama kidete kutetea vipaji hivyo jinsi walivyokuwa na ugumu katika kufaidika naamini mtahakikisha sera na usimamizi madhubuti wa ukuzwaji na mazingira bora ya uchocheaji vipaji nchini kama tunu ya mchango wenu kwa kundi kubwa hili.
Mazingira bora ya ukuzwaji wa vipaji mathalani michezo kwa kuhakikisha tabia ya ubinafsi ya kuuza viwanja vya wazi ambavyo baadhi ya hivyo vilikuwa vikitumiwa na vijana kucheza michezo mbalimbali. Naamini hamtakenua haya yakitendeka na hata kwa baadhi ya maeneo mtarudi nyuma na kusawazisha mabonde.
Kwa msukumo wa ujana wa chachu ya fikra mpya, ubunifu, nguvu mpya na uwezo wa uthubutu naamini mtakuwa na uthubutu wa kusukuma uwepo wa mchakato wa kufanyia mabadiliko Katiba ya Tanzania.
Uundwaji wa katiba mpya imekuwa kilio cha muda mrefu cha makundi mbali mbali katika jamii ya Tanzania mathalani vyama vya kiraia, vyama vya siasa (ambavyo ndimo mnakotoka), wasomi na hata wananchi wote kwa ujumla. Hakika tunawapa jukumu la kusimamia uwepo wa mabadiliko! Kuhakikisha uundwaji wa katiba mpya.
Ni katiba mpya inaweza kutoa fursa hata kwa kijana kushika nyadhifa ya juu ya kiuongozi nchini ya urais ambayo kwa sasa kwa mujibu wa katiba kijana hawezi kuwa rais na kuhakikisha mabadiliko ya kigezo cha umri toka miaka 40 hadi japo miaka 35 yanafanyika.
Naamini mnatambua kuna vijana wengi wamekosa fursa kusimama kuwa wagombea kutokana na baadhi ya vyama kutotoa fursa kwa vijana. Ni mabadiliko ya kikatiba mkiyasimamia mathalan kuruhusu mgombea binafsi yanaweza kuwa suluhu kwao.
Mmezunguka na kusikiliza wananchi, hakika wengi wana hali duni kiuchumi. Naamini hamtawasaliti na kuwasahau kuwa wameweka matumaini yao kwenu mtawatoa katika mfumo ambao unapelekea kuwa na hali duni ya kiuchumi na kupunguza umaskini wa mtu mmoja mmoja.
Tumaini la vijana wenye ulemavu lipo mikononi mwenu. Naamini mnatambua hali duni inayowakabili katika upatikanaji wa huduma za kijamii mathalani elimu, mazingira duni katika sekta za kiafya, na hata wenye elimu kukabiliwa na changamoto ya kunyanyapaliwa katika fursa za ajira na vyombo vya kimaamuzi. Kuweni sauti yao!
Tunaamini mtakuwa wabunge wenye chachu na mwamko mpya katika kusimamia kuleta mabadiliko katika nchi yetu. Ni matumaini ya wananchi katika ujana ambao mnao mtakuwa na nguvu na fikra mpya kuweza kuwa nuru kwa Taifa na kurejesha imani kubwa la kusimamia maslahi ya nchi hususan ya wanyonge na makundi yanayosahaulika ama kutengwa.
Kumbukeni daima maneno ya Frantz Fanon kwamba kila kizazi kinapaswa kung’amua utume wake na aidha kiutekeleze ama kiusaliti.
Hakika msimamo wenu ndiyo chachu ya maendeleo yetu. MUNGU awajaze hekima katika utumishi wenu!
©Michael Dalali, 2010
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