Raghava KK: Five lives of an artist

Raghava KK is an artist who started by drawing cartoons in the classroom. Listening to him and see what he has done, you’ll agree with me, his pencils & paint brushes are mightier than the sword. One thing that really impressed me with Raghava is his creativity, and how his art evolves and transforms, while still maintaining its originality.

Secondly, how he collaborates with different type of artists to revolutionize his own is just so impressive. I hope young artists will learn not to limit themselves, kwani ubunifu kama huu ndio unao kosekana kwa wasanii wengi wa Bongo Hip Hop/ Bongo flava na hata aina nyingine za sanaa.

Budget 2010/2011

The size of the word reflects how often it was used in the 2010/2011 budget speech (wordle.net)

a 74 page document
79 - number of times the words "misaada" or "mikopo" appears
11,609,557 - amount in T.Shs of the budget
14% - basal income tax
20,277,100 - amount in USD set for research and development
628,591,000 - amount in USD set for Agricultural projects
2 Billion USD set for education expenditures
1 Billion USD set for health care
30% of total budget from donor sources
0% on import duty for transport buses (Fast Truck Project)..........

Hon. M. Mkullo, minister of finance (picture michuzi blog)

Click here for the full budget
How does the budget affect you?

Africa's Leaders of Tomorrow School (ALTS)

By BK

Everyday I read stories about the economic growth of China. I read about Germany's solutions, clean energy in particular, aimed at solving global challenges. I read about a student in a Tanzanian village who uses an oil lamp with a small floating wick, and that 60% of African population is living without electricity. I read that while two out of five Africans lack clean water supplies and Africa's economy is greatly reliant on international aid, the African population will double by 2030.

Some challenges are old. Some are new. I ask myself many questions. Some are: For countries to reaclh or maintain global leadership, should they focus on global solutions? Because global solutions are always also local while local solutions cannot always be global. If the correct answer is yes, then, is it the likeliest situation that an African country will never become a super power?

Obviously, we are living at a time when all agents of development, across all age ranges and professions, must work together to solve these challenges. Since life is only a choice that must have a purpose to be lived well; for Africa, I would propose a leadership school, Africa's Leaders of Tomorrow School (ALTS) that would involve young African students at the earliest time possible in solving African challenges.

ALTS would be a social business, and would place education at the service of the society. Interested mid-school students who are top in their classes, and who have demonstrated great leadership and risk taking skills in their communities would be admitted. They would be brought together and shown the greatest challenges that the continent faces in preparation for tomorrow's leadership. I am mindful that we learn best from the people who surround us. That's why guest speakers who are themselves entrepreneurs, policy makers, government leaders and infuential people would be invited to talk with the students.


The core subject, 'Africa and the World' would guide students through the history of Africa after independence, the challenges it faces and its e orts to solve them. An emphasis would be on why the continent is the poorest despite the great natural endowment it possesses. It would encourage debates and discussions, to emphasize on the development of leadership skills, entrepreneurial skills and global citizenship. It would be discussed on how leaders can play a greater role to improve the life of an African. The students will be required to write a project on a topic of their own choice but related to Africa and the World. An example of such a topic would be 'Africa, what is the missing link? a look at African governance.'

Not until we are aware of the challenges our small communities face, can we dream of solutions to national, continental or global problems. ALTS students would have to complete a minimum number of hours of community service in preparation for leading an interesting life in which serving others is the greatest character.

The major feature of ALTS curriculum would be to train young great minds to understand how every discipline has and can be used to solve the challenges humankind faces. I see this being met through talks by guest speakers and mandatory class discussions with course instructors.

I see graduates from the school become CEO's, politicians, activists, scientists, policy makers and economists of tomorrow, to mention but a few examples. ALTS students would become global citizens. They would not be fatalistics but able to embark on meaningful and unprecedented projects that would change the way Africa and the world operates. They would be able to integrate into the ever changing world in terms of technology, culture, science and politics while devising methods to integrate with solutions that aim at making Africa a bigger economy. With an emphasis on creativity, they would gain problem solving skills rather than mere knowledge accumulation. They would therefore be equipped with an ability to apply knowledge obtained in class to nd answers to the the problems of the society.

I would envision a family of such schools all over Africa under the social business concept that would prepare students to become leaders of tomorrow who would change Africa and the world at large.


BK, a guest columnist, is a senior at Jacobs University Bremen (in Germany) pursuing a B.Sc degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He hails from Mwanza, Tanzania.

Nelson R. Mandela - 46664

Picture: Nelson Mandela by Sue Dickinson

Filamu ifuatayo ni ya historia ya Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, kwa maneno yake mwenyewe -- kwa kifupi. Angalia jinsi wazee wetu walivyotaabika, wakajitoa mhanga ili mimi na wewe leo tuweze kusimama bila uwoga na kutembea mitaani na vifua vyetu mbele.

Sijui unapata hisia za aina gani unapoona na kusikia hadithi kama hizi. Binafsi, napata motisha isiyo kifani na sichoki kuwashukuru wanaharakati kwa mambo waliyofanya. Leo hii naweza kuandika chochote ninachotaka kwenye blogs na vyombo vingine vya habari; sauti yangu inasikika. Sitetereki pale mtu anapoanza kunirushia maneno ya kibaguzi. Naamini kuwa sehemu kubwa ya mafanikio kwenye maisha yangu itatokana na juhudi zangu mwenyewe.

Bahati mbaya watu wengine wanatumia uhuru huu huu kujinufaisha wenyewe na familia zao; wamesahau machozi, jasho na damu ya wanaharakati kama Madiba. Wamewahi kujiuliza: Tungekuwa wapi kama watu na viongozi kama hawa wangeamua kupigana kwa ajili yao na familia zao tu?

Iba kura, uwatishe, ukishindwa kubali

Hayo sio maneno yangu, jamani! Ni kichwa cha habari cha mtiririko wa makala za Jenerali Ulimwengu kwenye gazeti la Raia Mwema.

Nafahamu fika kuwa Vijana wengi hatupendi kufuatilia Siasa, hatuna mpango wa kupiga kura na hatufanyi mambo muhimu yanayohusiana na upatikanaji wa viongozi kwenye nchi zetu. Lakini, unadhani tutapata suluhisho la haya matatizo yetu kwa kunung'unika tu? Kupiga kelele kwenye forums?

Leo sina mengi sana kuhusu hili jambo, lakini napenda kuwaasa tufumbue macho na tujaribu kubadili fikra zetu. Tuitikie mwito pale jamii inapotuhitaji -- kuna matatizo mengi kila kona kama mnavyojua na ni jukumu letu kujitosa na kujaribu kuyatatua.

Nakusihi ufuatilie makala za Jenerali ulimwengu ambazo zinazungumzia uchaguzi ujao -- kuna mengi sana ya kujifunza.

Maneno ya Jenerali:

KATIKA makala zangu zilizopita nimekuwa nikijadili masuala yanayohusiana na uchaguzi mkuu ujao na jinsi tunavyojiandaa kukabiliana nao. Miongoni mwa mambo mengi ambayo nimejaribu kuyajadili nimekuwa nikisema kwamba sisi Waafrika bado hatujejenga uelewa wa kutosha wa kujua ni nini maana ya uchaguzi.

Bado tunaenenda, hasa tukiwa madarakani au tukiwashabikia walio madarakani, kama vile uchaguzi ni kitu kibaya ambacho hata hivyo hatuna budi kukivumilia kwa sababu, kutokana na sababu zisizozuilika, hakiepukiki. Hii ni sawa na kung’oa jino lililooza.

Ndivyo ilivyo katika nchi zote za Kiafrika. Uchaguzi ni jambo tunalokubali kuliingia shingo upande kwa sababu hivi sasa, katika dunia ya leo, hatutaeleweka duniani kote, na hasa kwa “wafadhili” ambao wanatuambia hatuna budi kuonyesha kwamba tunajali misingi fulani ya demokrasia.

Kama Waafrika, tunachoogopa hasa ni hatari ya kukosa misaada iwapo tutaonekana kama hatutaki kufanya uchaguzi. Tutanyimwa misaada, na kisha tutazomewa kila tuendako Ulimwenguni. Tutaonekana kuwa watu wa ovyo, watu wa zamani mno, watu wasio ‘poa.’

Kama isingekuwa mambo hayo mawili, naamini kwamba watawala wetu wangekuwa wamekwisha kutafuta lugha laini ya kutueleza kwamba uchaguzi ni jambo la hatari lililoletwa na wageni kwa lengo la kutuzuga na kutudumaza kwa kutufanya tuzame katika malumbano yasiyoisha ya kisiasa na tusahau mambo muhimu yanayohusu maendeleo yetu… kama kilimo.

Labda, wangeweza kuogopa kwamba wanasiasa wenzao katika upinzani wasingeikubali lugha hiyo na mantiki hiyo na wangeziingiza nchi katika migomo isiyoisha na ingewezekana hata kukatokea maasi kutokana na wananchi kuchoshwa na kundi linalong’ang’nia kuwa madarakani kwa kutumia kila hila ingawa ni dhahiri kwamba limeshindwa kufanya kazi ya kuwaletea maisha bora wananchi wao.

Endelea kusoma hapa...

Watanzania na Ujio wa Brazil

Kipyenga cha mwisho kimelia, huku Brazil wakishinda mpambano dhidi ya Taifa Stars kwa magoli matano kwa moja. Mazungumzo na mabishano juu ya mechi hii iliyokuwa ikisubiriwa kwa hamu na Watanzania wengi itabaki kuwa gumzo la jiji kama sio nchi, kwa wiki kadhaa zijazo. Watanzania tutaelekeza nguvu zetu kwenye kupiga domo juu ya mechi hii huko vijiweni kabla ya hali halisi ya maisha yetu duni kutuzindua kwenye starehe hii iliyo dumu kwa dakika 90.

Ujio wa Brazil umepokelewa kwa hisia tofauti, wengi wakishabikia kuwa hatimaye watamwona mchezaji mahiri wa Brazil, KaKa kwa macho yao wenyewe. Kuna kundi dogo la watu waliotaka Watanzania tususie mechi kwani haina manufaa yoyote katika kuendeleza uchumi wa nchi yetu. Zogo hili la ujio wa Brazil lilianza kupaa kwa kasi pale Bw Paulo Kamau wa Kenya alipobeza uamuzi huu wa Tanzania kuwalipa fedha nyingi vijana hao wa Samba.

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) wamekuwa kimya kuzungumzia kiwango halisi walichowapa Brazil, wakati mwazoni walidai kuwa Serikali iliwatengea fungu la dola za Kimarekani milioni sita. Tovuti ya BBC wamedai kuwa TFF iliwalipa dola milioni mbili na nusu. Kiasi taslimu cha fedha walicholipwa Brazil bado kinabaki kuwa tata, huku Raisi wa TFF ndugu Leodegar Tenga akidai kuwa, "It's definitely that the coming of top players in the world will be a big boost to local football as well as the tourism sector,".

TFF imejitetea kuwa, ujio wa Brazil utachochea maendeleo katika soka na kwenye sekta ya utalii. Hizi ndizo sababu kuu mbili zakutetea matumizi makubwa ya fedha ya kuwalipa Brazil kuja kucheza na Taifa Stars, sasa swali ni hili, Je Tenga na TFF wana hoja ya msingi?

Mimi binafsi sidhani kama hoja hiyo ina nguvu ya kutosha kuhalalisha matumizi ya hivyo vijisenti walivyowalipa Brazil, na hoja zangu ni kama ifuatavyo. Soka la Tanzania limekuwa kichwa cha mwendawazimu kwa miaka mingi, na mimi nina uhakika wengi tunajua ni nini kinatakiwa kufanyika ili kuinua soka la Tanzania. Tatizo la kwanza, tunapenda kukimbia kabla hatujajua kutembea, na hoja hii aliizungumzia kocha wa Taifa Stars wa sasa ndugu Marcio Maximo alipotoa ushauri wake juu ya soka la Bongo. Mimi sio mtaalamu saana wa soka wala sijawahi kuwa kwenye kamati ya ufundi wa tunguli, lakini hoja ya Maximo itaungwa mkono na wengi wenye uwerevu. Watanzania inatubidi tuanze kujenga utamaduni wa kusikiliza wataalamu na sio wanasiasa wasio jua lolote.

Sasa tukija kwenye sababu ya pili, ya kuwa ujio wa Brazil utasaidia soko la utalii, nadhani kuna mambo kadhaa ya kuangalia kwa utaratibu. Jambo la kwanza, tuna uhakika gani ujio wao utaongeza ujio wa watalii? Najua moja ya jibu la swali hili litakuwa, kwasababu mechi inaonyeshwa moja moja katika nchi zisizopungua mia 160. Hii inaweza saidia; lakini wasiwasi wangu ni kuwa, kuna utafiti mdogo umefanywa katika kuhakikisha kuwa hii ndio njia bora ya kutangaza nchi yetu. Katika mpango huo, je tuliangalia njia mbadala ambazo zingetugharimu fedha kidogo zaidi na ambazo tungekuwa na uhakika zaidi kuwa zitazaa matunda?

Waziri wa Mali asili na Utalii, Mh. Shamsa Selengai Mwangunga (MB) alipotoa makadirio ya Wizara yake Bungeni, aliongelea mipango kadhaa ya Wizara yake. Moja ya mipango hiyo ilikuwa ni kuongeza utalii wa ndani, kwa kuwapunguzia Watanzania viingilio katika mbuga za wanyama na sehemu nyingine za kitalii. Mkakati huo ni mzuri, lakini bado tunategemea zaidi watalii wa nje. Lakini kidogo kimefanyika kuhamasisha watalii wa nje kuja nchini. Tanzania bado inatajwa kama nchi yenye viwango vikubwa (fees) kwa watalii, ukilinganisha na Kenya na Uganda. Kenya na Uganda walipunguza viwango vyao baada ya uchumi wa dunia kuyumba, lakini Tanzania bado tumeacha viwango vikiwa juu. Sasa hapo ndio kuna mgongano wa mawazo -- huku tunatumia mamilioni kadhaa kutangaza nchi, lakini hatupunguzi viwango. Hao watalii wataishia kwenda Kenya na Uganda na kukwepa Tanzania, hivyo mwisho wa siku tunajaza maji kwenye pekecha.

Ripoti ya Repoa iliyokuwa inazungumzia The Role of Tourism in Poverty Alleviation in Tanzania ni ripoti inayotoa mapendekezo yakinifu. Pamoja na ripoti hiyo iliyotoka miaka saba iliyopita, lakini mapendekezo yake bado yana umuhimu, sasa sijui mapendekezo mangapi ya ripoti hiyo yalifanyiwa kazi na Serikali kupitia Wizara yake husika. Mimi nakubali sekta ya utalii inaumuhimu mkubwa, hasa katika kuchangia kupunguza umasikini. Lakini je, tumeboresha sekta hiyo kwa kiasi gani? Tanzania leo tunaweza kusema huduma zetu za utalii zinaweza kushindana na nchi nyingine za Afrika au bado huduma zetu ni duni. Miundombinu bado ni tatizo kubwa, lakini tumeng’ang’ania kutangaza nchi. Jamani, akili ya namna hii haina tofauti na akili ya mtu anayekaribisha wageni kabla ya kufagia nyumba na kuhakikisha kila kitu kiko sawa.

Timu ya Brazil nd’o hiyo imekuja na kuondoka, sasa ningependa kuona kama malengo ya mpango huo yatafikiwa; soka ya bongo kuhamasika na hao watalii kuongezeka. Mimi kwa kiasi fulani ninakubaliana na baadhi ya watu waliotaka Watanzania tususie mechi hiyo na pia ninakubaliana kwa kiasi fulani na mawazo ya Kamau. Tanzania ni nchi masikini kutumbua fedha zote hizo kwenye kitu ambacho hatuna uhakika kitalipa. Tanzania tukiwa kama nchi moja masikini sana duniani, lazima tuwekeze fedha za walalahoi kwenye mambo ya msingi zaidi, sio kwenye starehe za dakika mbili tatu. Majuzi tu, tulikuwa wenyeji wa mkutano wa uchumi wa dunia. Ukiniuliza mimi hiyo ilikuwa nafasi nzuri kutangaza nchi. Je, tulifanya hivyo ipasavyo, au tulishangalia tu wageni waliokuja?

Aliyesema ng’ombe wa masikini hazai, hakukosea. Na msemo huu ni kweli kwani, ni watu masikini ambao mara nyingi hufanya maamuzi ya papara bila kufikiria kuwa kuna kesho. Tuendelee kuzungumzia ni jinsi gani Brazil walivyopigwa chenga na Taifa Stars, lakini wao haoooo wanaelekea kwenye Kombe la Dunia, Sisi je? Kamau alivyozungumzia “character” yetu Watanzania hakukosea sana. Pamoja simuungi mkono na kejeli zake, lakini alikuwa na hoja. Hivi kweli watu wazima tunaweza kusema,” tumefungwa lakini tuliwapiga chenga”. Hilo ni jambo la kushabikia kweli? Tukiendelea na akili hizo sisi kila siku tutanyonywa na kukandamizwa kwani tumekuwa watu wa kufurahia mafanikio madogo, tena ya kijinga, badala ya kusimama na kupigania maendeleo makubwa yenye maana. Tumezidi kuwa wa ndio mzee, badala ya kuuliza maswali, kupigania haki zetu na kupigani uwajibishwaji wa viongozi wabovu wenye kunuka ufisadi. Watanzania, hivi ndio tumekubali kuwa umasikini ni utamaduni wetu?

Watanzania wenzangu waliojitutumua na kulipa viwango vikubwa kuwaona Brazil, je, ulifikiria mechi hiyo kama ina manufaa kwa nchi yetu. Hivi ni wewe huyo huyo unayelalamika kuwa barabara zimechakaa na msongamano wa magari umekithiri. Wewe ulilipa kwenda kumwangalia KaKa, je nyumbani kwako haupatagi matatizo ya kukatiwa maji na umeme mara kwa mara au unajenerata na bwana la maji nyumbani? Leo hii ukalipe fedha zote hizo kuwaona Brazil, alafu kesho unafanya kila uwezalo kukwepa kulipa kodi na kupokea rushwa. Watanzania tunazungumzia sana kuhusu tulivyo masikini, lakini hapo hapo tunataka starehe zinazotushinda uwezo. Naona tunataka kulazimisha maji yachanganyike na mafuta; kweli Tanzania tuna akili zinazotutosha sisi wenyewe.

Ushauri wangu ni huu, kama tulivyopigania tiketi za kumwona KaKa, basi moyo huo huo wa kupigana usiishie hapo. Moyo huo uendelee katika kupigania maendeleo, kupinga viongozi wabovu, tuwe na kiu ya maendeleo na ari ya kuchapa kazi kama tulivyoshangilia magoli ya Brazil kwa nguvu zetu zote. Tuache kuendeshwa na hisia bali tuendeshwe na fikra, kwani ujio wa timu ya Brazil hauwiani na msemo wa ‘mgeni njoo wenyeji tupone’, bali ni ‘mgeni njoo wenyeji tuzidi kuumia’. Mimi ninawatakia kila la kheri Brazil kwenye kombe la dunia na sisi kama kawaida yetu tutaishia kulishangalia kwenye runinga, kama utamaduni wetu, kwani sisi ni nambali moja kwa kushangalia maendeleo ya wengine na kuiga mambo yasiyo na manufaa.

Picha kwa hisani ya cartoonist Gado

Tovuti ya Wahapahapa Na Sanaa..

Leo hii sanaa bado haijapewa heshima na kipaumbele kama inavyotakiwa, pamoja na sanaa kuwa kioo cha jamii. Tovuti na blog zimeanza kumea kama uyoga, lakini chache zimekuwa zikitetea nafasi ya sanaa katika jamii na haki na umuhimu wa wasanii ndani ya jamii.

Wahapahapa ni moja ya tovuti ninazoweza kusema zimejikita katika sanaa, siyo kuishia kuzungumzia sanaa tu. Kitu kilichonifurahisha na tovuti ya wahapahapa, ni kuwa wameweka michezo ya kuigiza ya redio katika tovuti yao. Hii inawapa fursa hata walio mbali kufaidi sanaa hii kongwe iliyopewa kisogo kutokana na ukuaji wa utandawazi. Nadhani kizazi cha enzi zile tunaweza kukumbuka ile michezo ya akina marehemu Pwagu na Pwaguzi katika redio ya Taifa, RTD.

Tembelea tovuti hii ya Wahapahapa na sikiliza michezo hiyo ya kuigiza na pia kujisomea mambo mengi mengineo ya kuelimisha kupitia sanaa.

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.

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.