Hard Pressed for Leaders

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation recently met to see if any new leaders (heads of government) fit the profile and qualifications of excellence in leadership and good governance. They decided that since there were no new candidates no prize would be awarded. To some this may seem like de ja vu, there was no prize laureate last year either. The only difference is that last year seemed more powerful and the political message was clear. This time around, there was hardly any news coverage or pomp and circumstance making people question whether this Prize will be around much longer. To be fair, the Prize Committee (the committee responsible for choosing the prize winners) are fighting an uphill battle. One is mathematical in that there will be years where no leader steps down or fulfilled his/her term limits, some term limits are 4 years, others 5, some 10 (see Tanzania). I am sure there will be a year with many potential candidates and years with none. The other problem is the lack of democratically elected leaders and visionary leaders that push for good governance and actually step down after their term without manipulating the constitution or becoming 'president forever.'

I am sure that the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is now thinking of "plan bs" and contingency plans to make sure that the money is used towards the betterment of Africa and good governance. One thing is for sure, we are still facing a deficit in effective leadership. This goes back to the importance of the youth and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is going to establish a fellowship program and I encourage all of you to watch this spot:

"The Foundation will shortly be launching the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, a selective programme designed to identify and prepare the next generation of outstanding African leaders by providing them with mentoring opportunities in key multilateral institutions. The programme will seek to attract a number of highly qualified and talented professionals each year to serve in leading institutions whose core objective to improve the prospects of the people of Africa. “The Foundation is currently working with pan-African organisations to design the fellowships. It will announce further details of them at the Foundation’s annual celebration and forum on governance to be held in Mauritius in November. Applications will open shortly afterwards and we expect the first Leadership Fellows to begin their Fellowships early next year."

This could be an opportunity for all of us to put our ideas and thoughts into action.

What are your thoughts on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Prize? Does it hurt or benefit them that they have not awarded a leader in two years? Who has the potential of receiving a Prize in the coming years?

For more information, see this PDF file.

Miaka minne iliyopita

Leo nimeamka alfajiri kabla hata jua halijachwea ili nifike mzigoni mapema; muda wa sherehe za Kombe la Dunia ukifika, niwe mbele ya runinga na glasi ya mvinyo nikiwashangilia watoto wa Bondeni wawapige bao Mariachi.

Miaka minne iliyopita nilikuwa sifuatilii vitu gani hasa vinavyotokea nyumbani, lakini nimekua na nimeanza kusoma vitu ambavyo vinanifungua macho. Na leo nimepata fursa ya kuperuzi bajeti yetu... Bahati mbaya bajeti yetu nd'o hivyo tena (bofya kwenye taswira):

Sio kama nimeshtuka saaaaana, ila kuna mambo mengi yanayoendelea ambayo yanatibua siku kama ya leo. Kama hicho kidogo tulichonacho, misaada na mikopo nchi yetu inayopata ingekuwa inatumiwa ipasavyo, sidhani kama ningekosa raha kiasi hiki.

Ni aibu kuendelea kuwapa madaraka watu ambao "labda" wanafanya mambo kwa manufaa yao. Tufanye nini? Ni kuwaondoa tu kwa nguvu ya hoja; nadhani kwa uchaguzi huu labda tume'shachelewa, kwahiyo tuanze kujipanga kwa ajili ya uchaguzi wa 2015? Ningependa kusikia mawazo yenu.

Nitaishia hapa na kuwaacha na maneno ya Jenerali Ulimwengu: Wawakilishi kama wafadhili, kosa!

Homa ya uchaguzi imepamba moto na wote wanaohusika kwa njia moja au nyingine wanachakarika. Wale wanaotarajia kujitokeza kama wagombea tayari wanapita huku na huku wakijitambulisha, na baadhi yao tayari wametangaza nia yao.

Miongoni mwa waliotangaza ni wale wale waliokuwa wabunge katika kipindi kinachomalizika hivi sasa, ambao wanatarajiwa wagombee tena, kwa sababu ni Waafrika wachache wanaokubali kujiuzulu kutoka katika nafasi za ‘uongozi’ ambazo mara nyingi ni nafasi za ulaji, ukwasi na utukufu. Nimesikia mara kwa mara watu wakishauri kwamba wabunge wasiruhusiwe kukaa bungeni kwa zaidi ya mihula miwili, lakini siamini kwamba siku moja Bunge letu litakuwa na busara ya kukubali ushauri kama huo.

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... maana hii ya ubunge imevurugwa kabisa. Mbunge wa siku hizi anaangaliwa kama mfadhili, kama mtu wa “kuwaletea maendeleo” wananchi waliomchagua. Hiyo ndiyo lugha inayotumika: “Mkinichagua nitawaletea maendeleo.”

Dhana hii ambayo inamfanya mbunge kuonekana kama ‘mfadhili’ itatuumiza kwa muda mrefu, kwa sababu sioni ishara za kweli za kuifuta. Imekuwa ni njia moja rahisi kwa watu wasio na sifa za uwakilishi kujipatia ajira, nao wataiendeleza dhana hiyo kwa sababu inawafaa. Wananchi wenye sifa na uwezo mkubwa wa kuwa wawakilishi hawatafua dafu kwa sababu hawana uwezo wa ‘ufadhili’ huo.

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Kila ninapoliangalia Bunge letu napata taswira ya mashaka. Bunge letu, kama ilivyo serikali yetu, lina taswira ya watoto wa wakulima na wafanyakazi, kama tulivyozoea kusema, hata kama leo tumeanza kusahau. Lakini kila miaka mitano inapoenguka, watoto wa wakulima na wafanyakazi wanazidi kupungua na watoto wa wafanyabiashara na wanamitaji wanaongezeka.

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Lakini ongezeko la umasikini halitokani na wabunge kushindwa kufanya kazi yao. Ni kweli kwamba wako wabunge kadhaa ambao hata hiyo kazi ya uwakilishi imewashinda. Hawa ni wale waliokwenda kuomba kura miaka mitano iliyopita, wakachaguliwa na kisha wakahamia mijini na kuponda starehe bila kujali watu wao hata kwa kuwatembelea tu. Wakirudi kwao Oktoba ijayo watakiona cha mtema kuni.

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Matokeo ya kura za mwezi Oktoba yatatupa mafundisho mengi, na hili linaweza likawa mojawapo ya mafundisho hayo. Ni matumaini yangu kwamba tutaweza kuyasoma vyema mafundisho hayo na kuyafanyia kazi kwa lengo la kuboresha miundo na michakato ya utawala wetu.

* * *

Kwanza kabisa, wananchi waelimishwe kuhusu maana halisi ya mbunge kama mwakilishi, kama mjumbe, na siyo kama mfadhili, na dhana hii ieleweke vyema kwa wananchi. Wanaposhiriki katika michakato ya uchaguzi wajue kwamba hao wanaowachagua si watu wa “kuwaletea maendeleo” kama wanavyowaangalia “wafadhili” bali ni wajumbe wao ambao jukumu lao kuu ni kuwawasilishia matatizo yao na hoja zao katika baraza la Taifa na huko ndiko upatikane ufumbuzi wa matatizo yao katika muktadha wa kutafuta utatizo wa matatizo ya nchi nzima kwa pamoja.

Tusiwaruhusu wabunge wetu kujifanya ni Papa Noeli, Father Christmas anayekuja na zawadi kwa kila mtoto, kwa sababu mbili kuu: kwanza katika dunia ya kweli hakuna Father Christmas; pili tunatakiwa tuache kuwa watoto.

Soma makala nzima hapa (bofya)...

Utaenda 'jeshini'?

Wengi wetu tumesikia simulizi za kusisimua kutoka kwa wazazi wetu pindi walipokuwa jeshini (National Service). Nyingi zinahusu shida, uvumilivu, ufanisi na uzalendo. Ingawa kuna waliochukia maisha magumu waliyoyapata walipokuwa jeshini, wengi wao wanakumbuka kipindi hicho kwa tabasamu. Binafsi mama yangu anasikitika kuwa vijana wa leo hatupitii kimbembe kama alichopitia yeye baada ya form six kwa mwaka mmoja pale JKT Ruvu.


Mpango wa National Service ulianzishwa na Mwl. Nyerere katikati ya miaka ya 60 kwa nia ya kujenga taifa lenye watu wazalendo, jasiri, werevu na wakakamavu. Mchakato huu ulikuwa wa lazima kwa wanafunzi wote wanaomaliza shule ya sekondari kwenda katika kambi za jeshi na kupitia mafunzo mbalimbali ya kijeshi na kielimu kwa mwaka mmoja. Mpango huu ulifutwa mwaka 1992, na hivyo kufanywa wa hiari.

Nchini Tanzania, kuna mjadala umejitokeza kuhusu kurudishwa kwa mpango wa National Service kwa vijana wa sasa. Je, itakuwa vibaya tukirudisha mchakato huu kwa wanaomaliza sekondari kutumikia taifa kabla ya kujiunga na chuo au sekta binafsi? Simaanishi tuwe na national service ya kijeshi, la hasha, bali tuanzishe mpango kwa ajili ya wahitimu wa sekondari utakaoweza kuwapeleka vijana wetu vijijini kufundisha masomo kama hisabati, na lugha kwa kipindi cha miezi 6-12. Au hata kuwatumia vijana hawa katika hospitali zetu - kwenye awareness campaigns za ukimwi/malaria vijijini, au kuwatumia kwenye vituo vya kilimo, vituo vya wazee/walemavu/watoto yatima na hata kwenye mabenki. Ilimradi tu mchakato huu usiwe wa kitumwa, au mateso bali uliojaa elimu mbadala wa vitendo ili kujenga taifa imara.

Tamasha la Kibera

Jumapili iliyopita lile tamasha la kuhamasisha Vijana wa Kenya (hasa wa Kibera, Nairobi) kufuatilia mabadiliko ya katiba lilifanyika. Na ifuatayo ni taarifa kutoka NTVKenya:

Napenda kuwapongeza waandaji na wasanii waliojitolea kutumbuiza kwenye tamasha. Ni mfano wa kuigwa.

Andrew Mwenda takes a new look at Africa

Quoted form the TED website: "In this provocative talk, journalist Andrew Mwenda asks us to reframe the "African question" -- to look beyond the media's stories of poverty, civil war and helplessness and see the opportunities for creating wealth and happiness throughout the continent".

About the speaker (from TED speaker description): "Andrew Mwenda is a print, radio and television journalist, and an active critic of many forms of Western aid to Africa. Too much of the aid from rich nations, he says, goes to the worst African countries to fuel war and government abuse. Such money not only never gets to its intended recipients, Africa's truly needy -- it actively plays a part in making their lives worse".

We have covered some stories on foreign aid previously. Click here to read more.

Kibera Good Governance Festival - Nairobi

A new event is being born on Madaraka Day 1st June. Kibera Good Governance Festival will be held just outside Kibera, on the DC's Ground in Makina, starting with local artists performing from 12 noon. Headlining artists include Juliani (KE), Abbi (KE), Mzungu Kichaa (TZ/DK) & VQEE (KE/DK).

For more info, contact Mzungu Kichaa (via facebook) or email: kichaamusic (at) gmail (dot) com.

TANZANIA

(C) K Bomani
Source: TEDxDar facebook page

Kimya chenye mshindo mkuu

Hatimaye kile kimya cha muda mrefu cha Nakaaya Sumari kimeisha. Baada ya da' Nakaaya kuanzisha blog yake na kutangaza kujiunga na Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo aliingia chimboni.

Wachache wetu tulisikia tetesi juu juu tu mwanzoni mwa wiki hii kuwa Nakaaya anapanga kugombea ubunge kwa tiketi ya CHADEMA. Na mchana wa leo Nakaaya amevunja ukimya kwa kutangaza nia yake ya kugombea ubunge wa viti maalumu Arusha.

Binafsi, napenda kuchukua fursa hii - kama Kijana - kumpongeza kwa kujishughulisha na Siasa na kuamua kupigania anachoamini. Wale wenzangu ambao bado wanadhani kujitosa kwenye Siasa ni kupoteza muda, labda matukio kama haya yatawafanya mfikirie upya.

Lakini, kama nilivyosema siku chache zilizopita, kwa kuwa hawa Vijana wenzetu wana mvuto kwa watu wa rika letu, ningependa kuwasikia wakitueleza mambo ya msingi. Nini kinawasukuma kujiunga na chama fulani? Sera gani hasa za vyama wanazoziangalia?

Kwahiyo mimi kama mshabiki wa baadhi ya hawa Vijana waliojiteza na kujitosa kwenye Siasa, nitaiminya kura yangu mpaka nitakapopata majibu!

Picha kwa hisani ya Nakaaya blog.

Tumesahau sakata la Mara?

As-Salaam Alaikum Vijana.

Takribani miezi mitatu iliyopita, blogs zetu zilijaa taswira za wananchi wenzetu walioathirika na uchafuzi wa mazingira - mto Tighithe. Bila shaka macho yako yalishuhudia picha ifuatayo:

Na nina uhakika wengi wetu tulitoa maoni na vilio vyetu. Pia, kuna wale ambao waliahidi kutusaidia kufikisha hili suala kwenye vyombo vya habari vyenye nguvu (Kanada na Marekani). Ni matumaini yangu kuwa zile nguvu, hasira, vilio, mayowe, machozi n.k. hazikuishia kwenye majabali.

Kwa bahati mbaya au nzuri, Vijana FM ilifanikiwa kupata nakala za mikutano na ripoti za mambo yaliyokuwa yanaendelea (kuanzia Mei 2009 hadi mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2010). Binafsi, nadhani kitu muhimu zaidi kilikuwa ni ripoti ya utafiti wa kisayansi uliofanywa na Åsgeir R. Almås, Charles Kweyunga na Mkwabwa LK Manoko.

Sina uhakika watu wangapi walisoma zile makala hapa Vijana FM (tulikuwa ndio kwanza tunaanza...). Uchambuzi wa ripoti za Wizara ya Nishati na Madini unapatikana hapa. Na utafiti uliofanywa na Åsgeir R. Almås et al unapatikana hapa.

Mara ya mwisho niliambiwa kuwa watu wa Foundation HELP waliwapeleka waathirika nane kwenye hospitali ya Muhimbili kwa lengo la kufanyiwa uchunguzi. Mimi sio mtaalamu wa baiolojia, lakini nilitegemea kuwa vitu kama nywele, kucha, n.k. za waathirika zingechukuliwa kwa ajili ya utafiti wa kina -- ambao ungechukua muda mrefu. Na huu ndio ushauri uliotolewa na Åsgeir R. Almås et al.

Lakini, kilichotokea ni hiki: Waathirika walirudishwa kwasababu wanatoka kwenye ukoo mmoja! Kwa maneno mengine, yale yote ni matokeo ya "genetic disorder". Sasa, kipindi chote hiki nilikuwa najiuliza: Hivi, mbona haya matokeo ya genetic disorder yanaonekana baada TU ya uchafuzi wa mto Tighithe?

Chonde chonde wahusika. Sio kila mtu ni mpumbavu... Na Barrick wanajulikana kwa vitendo vyao dunia nzima.

Wamechangia, wewe je?

Nimefurahi kuwa leo nimejifunza kitu kipya.

Inaonekana kuwa Vijana wenzetu wako karibu na viongozi wetu. Na cha muhimu zaidi ni kwamba wanajihusisha kwenye shughuli muhimu za siasa -- kampeni na (labda) kupiga kura muda utakapowadia.

Ni jambo jema nadhani; lakini nashindwa kujizuia kufikiria na kujiuliza: Hizi juhudi zingekuwa zinapelekwa kwenye nyanja nyingine muhimu kwenye jamii zetu, mambo si yangekuwa angalau afadhali kulinganisha na hali ilivyo sasa hivi? Mara ngapi umesikia kampeni kama hizi kwa ajili ya kununua madawati au kujenga shule? Au kununua vifaa muhimu kwa ajili ya kuokoa maisha ya watu hospitalini?

Nawaomba chonde chonde jamani Vijana wenzangu mliopata nafasi kama hizi za kuwa "karibu" na viongozi na chama tawala, endeleeni kupiga kelele tunazosikia kwenye nyimbo zenu!

Ukiacha hayo, ingekuwa jambo la busara kama hawa Vijana wenzetu wangetupa sababu za kujihusisha na siasa au chama husika. Kwa mfano: 'Mimi Mwakipesile Albas'tini, nimeamua kujihusisha na kampeni za chama fulani kwasababu zifuatavyo... (a), (b), (c) na (d).' Kuonekana kwenye mabango tu bila kusema chochote inachefua. Je, hizo hela zitatumiwa vipi?

Na mwisho ningependa kutupia jicho suala la Mh. PINDA kutawazwa kuwa kamanda wa VIJANA (CCM) mkoani Rukwa na kaimu kamanda wa VIJANA Taifa, KINGUNGE NGOMBALE MWIRU. Macho yangu yamekuwa kengeza nadhani...

Picha kwa hisani ya Michuzi Jr.

The Question of Foreign Aid: a rejoinder

Wiki chache zilizopita, tulikuwa na mjadala hapa kuhusu Dambisa Moyo na ujumbe wake kuhusu athari za misaada ya maendeleo katika ukuaji wa uchumi wa Afrika. Leo nimetazama hotuba ya mchumi mwingine mashuhuri kutoka Ufaransa, Esther Duflo, mshindi wa mwaka huu wa medali ya Clark, almaarufu kama 'the baby nobel'.

Prof. Duflo anafanya utafiti unaojaribu kufahamu ufanisi wa misaada hii katika kupambana na umaskini. Kwa kutumia field experiments ameweza kuainisha umuhimu wa baadhi ya misaada hii katika kupambana na umasikini. Baadhi ya tafiti hizo ni; umuhimu wa ugawaji bure wa neti zenye dawa ya mbu, mapambano dhidi ya minyoo mashuleni katika kusaidia upatikanaji wa elimu, umuhimu wa incentives kwenye miradi ya chanjo, n.k. Hapa mjadala sio uwepo wa misaada au la, bali ni namna gani tunaweza kutumia kwa ufanisi fedha au rasilimali za miradi ya upambanaji wa umasikini.

Hatuna Kiongozi...

...pale maji yanapotufika shingoni Vijana wa Tanzania.
Kuna mambo ambayo hujiri na yataendelea kujiri kwenye jamii yetu kila kukicha. Baadhi ya mambo huhitaji hatua muhimu kuchukuliwa; kuanzia mijadala, mipangalio hadi maamuzi ya nini kifanyike kuweka mambo sawa kufuatana na matakwa ya wengi. Mengi sana yametokea nyumbani kwenye mlongo uliopita lakini inaonekana Vijana wengi tumesahau nini Shaaban Robert alichotuasa. (Kama ulikimbia umande, naongelea suala la viongozi na wananchi kujitoa mhanga lilojadiliwa kwa kina kwenye kitabu cha "Kusadikika".) Inaonekana wengi wetu tulisoma na kukariri sentensi kadhaa tu ili tusifeli mitihani ya Kiswahili.

Ukijaribu kujikumbusha mambo kadhaa yaliyotokea - hasa rushwa na ubadhirifu - utaona kuna kama mtiririko fulani unaotabirika: Tunaanza kwa kupiga kelele, kuendelea kupiga kelele, kupiga kelele zaidi, kuwalaumu viongozi wetu, halafu mwishowe 'tunasahau' kabisa. Sasa jaribu kujiweka kwenye nafasi ya madaraka halafu upenyo wa kujilundikia mali unajitokeza. Naamini fika kuwa wengi wetu tutaishia kuwa mafisadi! Hii hutokana na kutokuwa na mkwara tosha; mafisadi wengi wanajua Watanzania ni watu wenye hulka ya upole na tusiojua kupigania haki zetu.

Ukiangalia kwenye vyombo vyetu vya habari na kufuatilia mijadala inayoendelea kwenye forums na blogs mbalimbali utaona kuwa hatuna viongozi. Hakuna watu wanaoweza kuwasihi na kuwapa motisha watu kupigania haki zao (hata zile za msingi). Na cha kusikitisha zaidi hatujadili kabisa "nini kifanyike" na kubaki kutapatapa kwenye maji ya kina kirefu! Lakini kuna dalili kuwa Vijana wanaanza kuamka, ila kwa mwendo wa kinyonga.

Wengi bado wanaendelea kumlaumu Mwalimu na Siasa ya Ujamaa. Lakini, angalau alikuwa ana ndoto zake ambazo aliamua kuzipigania. Alijitoa mhanga na juhudi zake na uwezo wa kutuunganisha zimetufikisha hapa tulipo na kutupa misingi ya Taifa letu kwa ujumla. Hata kama hukubaliani na Siasa za Ujamaa na Kujitegemea, nitashaanga sana usipoafiki kuwa alikuwa ana hulka ya kiongozi - kuwakutanisha watu na kuwapanga ili kufikia lengo fulani. Natamani sana tungekuwa na watu kadhaa kama Mwalimu waliokuwa na mitazamo tofauti.

Angalia kushoto, kisha kulia, halafu niambie ni nani ambaye anapaswa kupewa heshima na kuangaliwa kama kiongozi wa Vijana. Bila shaka majina kama Kabwe na Slaa yatakuwa kwenye vinywa vya watu. Lakini sidhani kama kuna mtu ambaye tunaweza kumchukulia kama taswira ya Vijana wa Tanzania.

Binafsi naamini kuna watu ambao wanaweza kuwa viongozi na kutusaidia Vijana pale tunapokumbana na vizingiti. Lakini labda imani yao kwa Taifa, hasa Serikali, ni ndogo kuliko punje ya mbegu ya mchicha kutokana na sababu mbalimbali.

Nakusihi Kijana kutojificha kama unadhani una uwezo wa kuwa kiongozi kwani Tanzania inakuhitaji (sio lazima iwe kwenye Siasa).

The Question of Foreign Aid

Many of you may have heard of Dambisa Moyo, who has written extensively on the consequences of foreign aid.

I came across this video today which is a brief look into her work. She discusses how foreign aid is not successful in reducing poverty and in some instances inflicts further incentives for corruption in Africa.



Dambisa brings up important questions for Tanzania and greater East Africa: How are we using regional ties to use foreign aid efficiently? Where else can money go other than the government?

Uharibifu wa mazingira Mara Kaskazini - Sehemu ya pili

Asalaam-aleikum Vijana wenzangu!

Unapoona picha za watu wanavyoathirika kutokana na uzembe, tamaa, uchoyo na ukatili wa binadamu wengine (angalia nakala iliyopita), hisia zinaweza kuchukua mkondo wake na ukabaki na fikra ambazo sio sahihi au zilizopotoka kwa namna moja au nyingine. Kwahiyo, baada ya kutulia nikaamua kuliangalia sakata la vitendo vya Barrick Gold Mine, na matokeo yake - uharibifu wa mazingira na athari zake kwa afya za watu - kwa utulivu.

Kama kijana wa Kitanzania, sitegemei au sitaki kuanzisha shari, lakini naamini kuwa wananchi wanastahili kujua kinachoendelea na kujibiwa maswali yao. Na hilo ni jukumu la uongozi wa Barrick GM, Mara na Serikali yetu. Kama kuna sehemu ambayo nimekosea kwenye uchambuzi au mtitiriko wa yanayojiri huko Mara, nitakubali kukosolewa na kuwekwa sawa (mimi sio mkemia wala mwanasheria)!

Tatizo la uchafuzi na uharibifu wa mazingira kwenye sehemu zinazozunguka mgodi wa dhahabu unaomilikiwa na Barrick GM lilianza mnamo Mei 2009. Na Wizara ya Nishati na Madini ilifanya uchunguzi.


Ripoti ya Wizara iliyotolewa tarehe 4 Juni, 2009 ilijadili uharibifu wa mazingira tu. Chanzo cha haya yote kilikuwa ni maji ya acid kutoka kwenye dampo la Barrick GM yaliyokuwa yanaingia kwenye mto Tighithe. Maji hayo yalikuwa yanaingia kwenye mto kupitia bwawa lililokuwa halina vizuizi. Cha kusikitisha na kushangaza sana ni kilichoandikwa kwenye ripoti:


Jamani, uchunguzi wa Wizara yetu, inayopaswa kuheshimika na kuaminiwa, ni kuangalia pH level tu? Yaani kwenda pale na litmus paper/solution au phenolphthalein? Kwenye karne hii? Hawajui kwamba labda kulikuwa na elements nyingine zinazoweza kuhatarisha maisha ya binadamu? Ni kama kumpima mgonjwa wa Ukimwi kwa kuangalia upele wake tu; na kumwambia akaoge maji ya chumvi.

Majadiliano kati ya 'wawakilishi' wetu na uongozi wa Barrick GM yalikuwa kama ifuatavyo:


Bila chembe ya aibu na kukataa jukumu lao, uongozi unatupia lawama uhalifu unaofanywa na wananchi. Na kuna Watanzania wanaodiriki kusema, "(Waathirika) wameyataka haya matatizo wenyewe." Tuwekane sawa kwanza: Jukumu la Barrick GM ni kuwaelimisha wananchi kuhusu mambo yote yanayoendelea na utupaji wa taka kutoka kwenye mgodi. Kama kuna takataka za sumu ilipaswa wataarifiwe na waelimishwe madhara yake. Pia, ulinzi wa kutosha unatakiwa uwepo sehemu kama hizi muda wote. Ukifuatilia mambo yanayoendelea kwenye sehemu kama hizi (mining sites na nuclear plants) kwenye nchi zao (Ulaya na Amerika), utaona jinsi mitaro ya takataka ilivyojengwa kwa zege zito ambalo kibaka hawezi hata kuchora juu yake. Doria za wanausalama ni masaa 24! Lakini kwasababu shughuli zinafanyika Tanzania...

Ripoti inamalizia kwa kusema:


Haya yalipaswa kutekelezwa kabla shughuli za uchimbaji haujaanza. Nina uhakika haya matatizo tunayoyaona na kuyasikia leo yasingetokea kama Wizara yetu na uongozi wa Barrick GM wangekuwa makini.

Cha kusikitisha zaidi kwenye matukio yote haya ni kitendo cha viongozi wetu kuwasahau kabisa watu wanaoishi kwenye vijiji vilivyoko jirani na mgodi - hasa watumiaji wa mto Tighithe. Ripoti ya Wizara haitaji wala kujadili athari zozote kwa afya za wananchi.

Athari za uchafuzi wa maji ya mto Tighithe kwa afya za watu zilianza kuonekana. Foundation HELP ya Mara ilianza zoezi la kupima afya za baadhi ya waathirika wenye dalili ambazo ni rahisi kuziona. Dalili za waathirika zinatofautiana; kuharisha, kutapika, kujikuna, maumivu ya tumbo, mapunye (madonda makubwa makubwa) na wengine wana dalili za magonjwa ya kansa ya ngozi. Makelele haya yalifika kwenye masikio ya viongozi wa Barrick GM, ambao walitupia lawama uwizi unaofanywa na wananchi (kumbuka, hili lingeweza kuepukwa).


Kwa mujibu wa Foundation HELP, eneo zima la Mara Kaskazini lipo katika mkondo ambao ni hatari. Ikumbukwe kuwa pamoja na kuwa kulikuwa na shughuli za wachimbaji wadogo hapo kabla, hakukuwahi kuwa na matukio kama hayo ambayo Barrick wanalaumu. Eneo hilo lina miamba inayotengeneza acid, na acid hii inayeyusha vitu vingine (heavy metals).

Binafsi nadhani hapa ndipo "siasa" inapoingia - kuweka facts pembeni na kujitahidi kuonesha umma kuwa hakuna kosa lililotendeka. Wakati huo huo afya za watu walioathirika zinazidi kudhoofika.

Dalili za waathirika zinaasharia madhara ya kula heavy metals. Watu wa Barrick wanadai eneo hilo lina heavy metals kupita kiasi cha kawaida. Je, kama wanalijua hilo, kwanini hawakuwa waangalifu zaidi kuhakikisha yanayotokea sasa hivi hayatokei??

Suala la fidia kwa waathirika? Barrick ni corporation kubwa na wana bima ya kufidia walioathirika kwenye hii "ajali". Mbona kimya mpaka leo? Au hawajawaona waathirika?

Serikali yetu nayo imekuwa bubu. Si ni wajibu wenu kututetea wananchi; au angalau kutujibu maswali yetu?

Kusema ukweli sakata zima linasikitisha sana na kutia hasira! Kwa wale waliokuwa na imani hata chembe na Serikali na viongozi wetu nadhani sakata hili litawafumbua macho. Na inashangaza pale vyombo vya habari vinapogoma kufanya kazi yao.

Edit:

Kwenye mtiririko wa mambo yote haya, hakuna hata sehemu moja ambayo uzalishaji na uchimbaji kwenye mgodi ulisimamishwa ili kufanya uchunguzi, ukarabati au mambo mengine ambayo yangeweza kupunguza athari kwa wananchi!

Tupeleke macho yetu Mara!

Niliambiwa kuwa fimbo ya mbali haiuwi nyoka! Lakini nakumbuka kuwa niliandika insha kadhaa kubatilisha baadhi ya methali na nahau zetu ambazo kwa namna moja au nyingine haziwezi kutusaidia kwenye baadhi ya mazingira na mazingara.

Najua unaanza kujiuliza maswali kuwa ninajaribu kusema nini haswa leo hii. Usiache kusoma...

Nimeingia 'mzigoni' leo asubuhi mapema, kama kawaida kwa kuanza kuangalia habari kutoka nilipokulia - Tanzania. Bahati mbaya siku imeanza kwa habari zinazosikitisha. Na sisiti kueneza habari zenyewe kama zilivyo; bila ya kuficha chochote kwa kutumia nahau, methali ua maneno mengine matamu.


Mei 24, 2009, Chambi Chachage alitoa taarifa kupitia blog ya Udadisi kuhusu vitendo vya Barrick Gold Mine vya kumwaga takataka za sumu kwenye mto Tighithe, Mara. Athari za takataka hizo kwa afya za watumiaji wa mto Tighithe zilianza kuonekana.

Jana, Machi 16, 2010, Chacha Benedict Wambura wa Foundation HELP alitupa picha halisi ya afya za waathirika kwa kutumia blog ya Udadisi tena. Idadi ya waathirika inazidi kuongezeka na mpaka wakati naandika hii nakala nilikuwa sijapata msamiati sahihi ambao unaweza kuelezea hali ya afya zao.

Kinachotia hasira zaidi ni ukimya wa Serikali yetu na watu wengine husika (uongozi wa Barrick Gold Mine)! Jamani, hawajui haya yanayojiri huko mto Tighithe? Au wamekuwa na roho ngumu kiasi kwamba vitu kama hivi haviwashtui? Hawajali?

Nimeshawahi kusoma visa kama hivi, ambapo urasimu na uchunguzi wa kuhakikisha kuwa takataka kutoka kwenye migodi ndio chanzo cha matatizo kama haya tunayoyaona huchukua miaka. Bahati mbaya wakati muafaka unapatikana vijiji karibu na Tarime vitakuwa vimesha'angamizwa; na hakuna fidia yoyote - kwa watoto na ndugu zao - itakayoweza kuwarudishia maisha yao!

Jamani, viongozi wetu chonde chonde, jamani! Kwenye usahili wa mgodi huu hamkuangalia vitu muhimu kama utupaji wa takataka za sumu? Au, hata hamkutaka kujua ni aina gani ya takataka zitatoka kwenye mgodi huu? Hela mnazopata ndizo zinawafumba macho?

Vijana wenzangu itabidi tufanye chochote tunachoweza kuokoa jahazi - popote tulipo! Fimbo yangu iko mbali, lakini mtandao utanisaidia kumchapa huyu nyoka.


Edit: Ripoti ya Wizara ya Nishati na Madini iliyotolewa Juni 4, 2009 inaishia hivi:

........................................................
Recommendations:
- Local village residents around the mine should be educated on the environmental impacts caused by vandalism and theft of liners...
- There should be timely reporting of various incidents by the mine to the licencing authority.
- It is proposed that liners be covered with compacted thick materials as deterrent to vandalism and theft.
- Mine management should work on ways to ensure that such environmental incidents do not occur in the future.
........................................................

Vipi, mbona suala la afya za waathirika limefumbiwa macho? Watapata fidia za aina yoyote ile?

Nitoke vipi?

Siku ya Ijumaa ina utamu wake jamani, we acha tu. Hasa ukiwa umeridhika na kazi nzito na murua ya wiki nzima. Unaweza ukajikuta unaingia kwenye mawazo ambayo sio ya kawaida. Mimi hapa nilipo nasubiri mvua ipungue ili nianze safari ya kwenda nyumbani...ghafla, nakiangalia kitasa cha mlango wa ofisini. Nakiangalia kwa makini na naanza kujiuliza, hivi nani aligundua kitasa (cha mlango)? Mtu au watu waliogundua vitasa na funguo walikuwa wanafikiria nini? Kitasa ni kitu kidogo tu lakini nadhani kina historia kubwa kuliko ukoo wangu.

Baada ya kuzoea 'msisimuko' wa mwanzo wa weekend, akili inatulia kidogo na naanza kutafakari mwelekeo wa maisha yangu - kama kijana wa kawaida. Nini kitafuata baada ya kumaliza hiki kinachokula ubongo wangu kila siku?

Napitia forum ya Wanabidii, ambayo ina mijadala mizuri, na mawazo ya kuingia kwenye Siasa naona yananinyemelea baada ya kusoma kwamba Wabunge wa Tanzania wanategemea kupata kiinua mgongo cha shilingi za Kitanzania 15.3/= bn. Sijachapia - bilioni 15.3! Sidhani kama nitaelewa kusema ukweli. Na nitashukuru sana kamati husika za Serikali zikitoa takwimu kama hizi, zitoe maelezo au sababu za viinua migongo kwa wananchi pia.

Nitoke vipi kwenye Siasa na mimi nithaminiwe zaidi kuliko kitasa cha mlango tu?

Naona mvua imepungua na safari ya kwenda nyumbani itaanza punde. Wakati huo huo ubinadamu au mawazo yangu ya kawaida yanarudi baada ya kukumbuka matokeo ya kidato cha sita yaliyopita. Labda hizi bilioni 15.3 zipelekwe kwenye sekta ya elimu?

Ngoja niache kufikiria mawazo ya Siasa ili nisitibue weekend yangu. Weekend njema Vijana!

Tanzania to host Young Global Leaders summit in May 2010

Young Global Leaders (YGL) - a branch of the World Economic Forum - will hold is seventh annual summit in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania from May 2-7, 2010.

The summit promises to engage youth in sustainable projects that directly relate to the economic and social progress of people.

An extract from the summit notice webpage:

"This event promises to be the largest gathering of YGLs where they will have an opportunity to interact with local and international organizations working in the YGL “Global Redesign” areas of activity: health, environment and sustainability, education and youth, entrepreneurship, values and governance. The YGL Annual Summit will be an occasion to connect local experiences with global issues and to understand the underlying development environment."

Read more:
World Economic Forum homepage
YGL homepage
YGL summit notice webpage

Africa Youth Trust

Africa Youth Trust (AYT) is a Kenyan-based organization focused on youth-led development initiatives.

Through its three core program models - Youth Action Against Corruption, Parliament Synergizing Youth in Law Making, and the East African Youth Human Rights and Democracy Program - AYT seeks to empower young adults to persevere through country-wide challenges and build sustainable solutions with social benefits.

AYT is current accepting applications for its training workshop on Equal Status and Human Rights of Women in East Africa.

Read more:
AYT homepage
Youth Action Against Corruption
Parliament Synergizing Youth in Law Making
East African Youth Human Rights and Democracy Program

Mo Ibrahim index ranks African nations

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation - an institution committed to promoting good governance across the African continent - has published an index that ranks African countries based on:

- Safety and Rule of Law
- Participation and Human Rights
- Sustainable Economic Opportunity
- Human Development

These rankings may be useful for both, young entrepreneurs living inside as well as outside the listed countries, in planning and targetting potential social enterprise initiatives. "Negative" governance does not necessarily equate to the impossibility of starting capacity-building projects, but may instead present an opportunity to do so.

Check out the rankings here.

Read more:
Mo Ibrahim index methodology
About the Mo Ibrahim Foundation