TUNAHITAJI WABUNGE WALO NA UCHUNGU NA NCHI YAO KAMA ZITO KABWE, HAKIKA ZITO NI MWAKILISHI WA WATU MASKINI

Zitto ajitoa kupokea posho za Bunge

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Thursday, 09 June 2011 23:25

Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe Exuper Kachenje MBUNGE wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe, ameiandikia barua Ofisi ya Bunge kuiomba isimamishe kumlipa posho zake zinazotokana na vikao vya Bunge kuanzia juzi.Zitto ametoa ombi hilo kwa barua rasmi aliyoiwakilisha kwa Katibu wa Bunge, Dk Thomas Kashililah Juni 7 mwaka huu.Katika barua hiyo, ambayo gazeti hili limefanikiwa kuiona, Zitto alisema anaamini kuwa watumishi wa Serikali na wabunge, hawastahili kulipwa posho wanapohudhuria vikao rasmi vya uwajibikaji wao wa kawaida. Zitto alisema kuwa posho hiyo haistahili kulipwa kwake, wabunge wengine wala watumishi wa umma kwa kuwa kuhudhuria vikao ni sehemu ya kazi zao. "Kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya Utawala wa Bunge (National Assembly Act of 2008) na kwa mujibu wa Masharti ya Kazi za Mbunge niliyokabidhiwa, ninastahili kupata posho za vikao, (sitting allowances) kila ninapohudhuria vikao vya Bunge na Kamati zake,"alisema Zitto na kuongeza: "Ni imani yangu kuwa posho ya kikao haistahili kulipwa kwa mbunge na mtumishi mwingine yeyote wa Serikali kwani kuhudhuria kikao ni sehemu ya kazi yangu,". Kupitia barua hiyo, Zitto ambaye pia ni Waziri Kivuli wa Fedha, alieleza kwamba amekuwa akipendekeza posho za vikao hivyo ifutwe, jambo ambalo pia limo katika mapendekezo ya chama chake (Chadema) katika Bajeti ya 2011/2012. "Nimekuwa nikipendekeza kuwa posho hii ifutwe. Chama changu cha Chadema pia kimependekeza jambo hili katika mapendekezo yake ya Bajeti 2011/2012," alisema Zitto na kuendelea: "Mpaka hapo mfumo wa kulipana posho za vikao utakapofutwa, ninaelekeza kwamba stahili zangu zote za posho zielekezwe katika Taasisi ya Kigoma Development Initiative (KDI).., utaratibu huu uanze kuanzia tarehe 8/6/2011." Katibu wa Bunge agoma kuizungumzia Katibu wa Bunge, Dk Thomas Kashililah alipoulizwa jana kama amepokea barua hiyo ya Zitto, alisema kuwa, yeye kama mtendaji wa mhimili huo wa Dola, anapokea barua nyingi, hivyo si rahisi kukumbuka kama barua hiyo imefika ofisini kwake. Lakini akasema, hata kama barua hiyo itakuwa imemfikia ofisini, kanuni na taratibu haziruhusu Bunge kutangaza habari za mtu binafsi.Alisema ofisi yake hairuhusiwi kuandika masuala binafsi ya wabunge yanayofikishwa ofisini na kwamba hilo linawezekana ikiwa mhusika (Zitto), ameruhusu lifanyike kwa maandishi. "...Haturuhusiwi kuandika habari  za mtu. Nikiwa Katibu wa Bunge, napokea barua nyingi 'personal' (binafsi), lakini kama yeye mwenyewe amewaambieni kuwa kaleta barua hiyo, basi mwambieni pia atuandikie barua kuturuhusu na sisi ili tulitangaze hilo," alisema Dk Kashililah. Bajeti ya posho kulipa walimu laki moja Uamuzi huo wa Zitto ambaye pia ni Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Chadema, umekuja huku taarifa za utafiti wa taasisi ya Policy Forum inayojihusisha na tafiti mbalimbali za sera zikionyesha kuwa, katika mwaka 2008/2009, Serikali katika bajeti yake ilitenga Sh506 bilioni kwa ajili ya malipo ya posho. Kwa mujibu wa utafiti huo, ambao taarifa yake ilitolewa mwaka uliopita, fedha hizo ni sawa na mishahara ya mwaka mzima kwa walimu 109,000 ambao ni robo tatu ya walimu wote nchini. Kwa mujibu wa utafiti huo mwaka 2009/10 kiasi cha fedha zilizotengwa kwa ajili ya posho za watumishi wa umma kilikuwa sawa na asilimia 59 ya malipo ya wafanyakazi wa ngazi ya chini .   Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

 

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0 #85 @y2k 2011-06-10 13:40

Quoting Japhary Lyimo:

That is political KIINI MACHO,HOW IS HE SURVIVING??????? Kwa hela zake binafsi? Hela za Chama? Or kunamfadhili anamlipa kichini chini ili siku akitoka aanze kulipa fadhila? Tumeona Dr. SLAA alivyoingia kwenye mkataba na CHADEMA ili ajitoe muhanga kuachia Jimbo na kugombea Urais aliojua hata pata, na leo CHADEMA wanalazimika kumlipa posho na malupulupu kama mbunge. The same to ZITTO, "WE CALL IT A POLITICAL MOVE"

we mzee naona bado akili yako ijakomaa hata kama umezeeka basi umezeeka vibaya kama wazee wenzio wa CCM kama huna cha kusema bora kukaa kimya m-s.n.g.e

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0 #84 Godson Galasi 2011-06-10 13:37

kwa kweli ztto anatambua nini anakifanya na ni kwa nini yyeye yuko bungeni,zitto ametambua wajibu wake kwa uwepo wake bungeni,ametamb ua thamani ya wapiga kura wake pamoja na watanzania wote waanaoishi maisha magumu kwa sababu ya u-mimi/ubinafsi wa wachache na kutotambua wajibu wao kwa watu waliowapatia kazi.kimsingi malipo ya posho ni wizi mtupu kwa mtu anayetekeleza wajibu wake kama sehemu ya kazi yake,na mimi nashangaa waziri mkuu kuto yaanglia haya kwa u-makini mkubwa!!?halafu pia nafikiri kupitia bajeti hii,kama waziri mkuu anauchungu na maisha ya watanzania tulitarajia kusikia ununuzi wa magari ya kifahri kwa kila mtu sasa basi ili kuokoa fedha za watanzania kupotea na badala yake kufanya kazi nyingine za maendeleo kam alivyofanya zitto kwa maana ya yeye kuonyesha mfano kwa wengine

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0 #83 zabronsimon 2011-06-10 13:33

Fara John, tatizo wewe huna hoja , usiangalie mtu ametokea chama gani au kabila gani angalia amesema nini, na alichosema kinamaslahi kwa taifa zima na sio kwa wachache? John vip rafiki yangu mbona ishu ya Zitto ipo wazi kabisa haihitaji kuumiza kichwa? badilikeni jaman,achana na uchadema, uccm, u-cuf, lamsingi tujenge nchi yetu.

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0 #82 JOHN 2011-06-10 13:25

we zanbron iringa mnadanganyika tu wachAGA WAPO TANZANIA NZIMA NYIE MNAFUATA UPEPO TU KWANI HUJUI CUF cha wapemba UDP cha bariadi na DP pekee ndo cha watanganyika. ULIZA WALID KABURU WA kigma mjini ambaye ndo alikuaga mbunge pekee wa chadema yupo wapi baada yan kuingia anga za wachaga. we wa liniiii mbona kama mjanja lakini huelewi mambo

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0 #81 maskini wa kipato. 2011-06-10 13:16

Kabwe hongera sana,heri yako ukumbukae wenye shida,jaman hebu fikiria mwalimu na kamshahara kake ni sawa na posho ya wabunge ya kikao ya siku moja na nusu,kabwe ameliona hilo.Aisee zitto anaona mbali,huyu ndie yupo kwa maslah ya wananchi,wengin e ni kwa maslahi yao.wananch tunataka vitendo kama zito s maneno tu majukwaani.

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0 #80 zabronsimon 2011-06-10 13:13

Wewe John htofautiani na John Chiligati(CCM) mbona majina ya akina John wanaakili nyie vipi? Zitto amefanya uamuzi mzuri. Halafu hiyo tabia ya kusema chadema ni cha wachaga ife mbona sisi tupo Iringa sio wachaga? Toweni hoja za msingi msimuige JK maana ni yeye alianzisha kwamba cdm ni cha wachaga baada ya kuishiwa sela wakati wa uchaguz.

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-1 #79 JOHN 2011-06-10 13:02

CHADEMA WWOTE KUTOKA UCHAGANI LAZIMA WAITISHE KIKAO KUKUJADILI, WE HAYA SHAURI YAKO YALIYOKUKUTA MARA BAADA YA UCHAGUZI BADO HUJAKOMA. NAKUONEA HURUMA SANA NDUGU. HAO WACHAGA HAWATAKUSAMWE KWA HILI UNAACHA PESAA MEKU AISE

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+2 #78 Lucas Haule 2011-06-10 12:54

Zitto Kabwe, natamani kuzaa mtoto nimwite, Zitto Kabwe. Hizi ndiyo akili, huu ndiyo ufahamu, haya ndiyo majukumu ya kiongozi. watawla hawawezi kufanya hivyo. BABA MUNGU, NAAMINI UNANISIKIA, MWONGOZE KIJANA HUYU ILI AFIKIE KILE AMBACHO WENYE FIKRA HABA HAWATAKI AFIKE, MWEKE AWE KIONGOZI WETU KWA AJILI YA UTUKUFU WA JINA LAKO, AMINAA!

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+2 #77 Hellen Gupta 2011-06-10 12:54

Hakika Zitto una upendo wa dhati kwa nchi yetu na wananchi wetu. Wachache wako tayari kuachia pesa zao binafsi ili wengine wanufaike. Hongera sana. Tunakuombea Mungu akulinde, uzidi kufanya maajabu kama haya. Naye atakubariki sana.
Ciao.

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+1 #76 zabronsimon 2011-06-10 12:53

hongera!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! Zitto. John chiligati (CCM)ziiiiiiiii iiiiiiii umeleta kichefuchefu.

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+2 #75 Rasvin 2011-06-10 12:44

Mh Zitto Safi sana uliona mifano ya bunge la Germany. Sasa kama kweli wabunge wetu wanataka maendeleo basi huo ni mfano tosha wa kukubalina na mahamuzi aliyofanya Zitto. Sio kupenda posho tu, kwani masaa ya kazi ni wajibu wako kufanya kazi si unalipwa mshaara wako wa kila mwezi. Ndio wenzetu uku wanavyo fanya, na shangaa Nnchi kama Tanzania ina malipo mengi sana ya posho za vikao sio Bunge tu, ata kwenye ofisi za serikali. Bless Up Zitto kwa uamuzi wako.
Ras Vin. Medical Instute Heidelberg.

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+1 #74 macso 2011-06-10 12:33

Zitto anakubalika. Initiative kama hizi ndio tunataka Tanzania. Hongera Zitto. Hata kwenye tathmini watu wengi wanamkubali sana. Ukurasa wake umejaa sifa tofauti na za mafisadi tathmini.com/.../...

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+2 #73 pechi 2011-06-10 12:32

kweli zito umenenea

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+2 #72 zabronsimon 2011-06-10 12:26

hayo ni mawazo yako hafifu, haiwezekani mtu upo ofisini kwako eti ulipwe posho, Hongera Zitto, okoeni hizo bilion 280 za posho.

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+2 #71 zabronsimon 2011-06-10 12:19

BIG UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! ZITTO, JOHN CHILIGATI(CCM), NI FISADI, MNYONYAJI, HANA HURUMA, ETI POSHO WAANZE KUTOLIPWA UPINZANI, HALAFU CCM WATAANZA KUTOLIPWA MIAKA IJAYO, HUYO KIONGOZI NI FARA

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WHAT IS SO SPECIAL WITH TODAY'S MARRIAGES?

Photo: Thinkstock

Thanks to Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Edwards, and now Anthony Weiner, infidelity has been making headlines—and people are reexamining their own relationships.

The Pew Research Center recently found that 40 percent of Americans think marriage is becoming obsolete. Another recent Pew study found that Millennials (people age 18 to 29) say they think being a good parent is way more than having a good marriage.

Once considered an imperative of sorts, traditional marriage is getting a second look—and research suggests that it may be coming up short. Instead of considering themselves to be happily married, some people are discovering that they're only "semi-happy," and their quest for fulfillment can lead them to extramarital affairs and divorce.

A semi-happy marriage is one of low conflict, low passion, and low satisfaction. "One minute, you love the stability and contentment. The next minute, you think it’s not the right marriage, and there are flaws in the marriage that are serious, even though there are also great things about the marriage," says historian Pamela Haag, author of "Marriage Confidential: The Post-Romantic Age of Workhorse Wives, Royal Children, Undersexed Spouses, and Rebel Couples Who Are Rewriting the Rules." In other words, "one minute you can't imagine staying, the next you can't imagine leaving," Haag says. "It’s these kinds of marriages that are 'low-conflict' but not all that satisfying that contribute the lion’s share to divorce court each year."

Her own 13-year-long marriage almost fit the bill. "Often, in my own case, I really can't tell if my marriage is woeful or sublime," she writes in her book. "Maybe I'm just so profoundly content that it feels like unhappiness, because nirvana is dull in this way, it lacks frisson." (She adds that she thinks her husband is "an amazing sport, and brave, to let me write about this topic of mixed feelings at all, even though a good number of husbands and wives have mixed feelings.")

Boredom can also cause major marital problems. A national survey of 3,341 people by advice website Good in Bed and Kristen Mark of The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction found that 25 percent of people are are bored in their current monogamous relationship, and another 25 percent admit to being "on the brink" of boredom.

“Boredom is basically like an attack on a relationship’s immunity system," says Ian Kerner, PhD, founder of Good in Bed and author of "Love in the time of Colic: A New Parents' Guide to Getting It On Again." "It’s not a coincidence that a fifth of respondents admitted to being unfaithful to their partner as a result of being bored."

While most of the women Haag interviewed said they felt lonely in their semi-happy marriages, men told her that they felt "trapped" or "penned in." It didn't seem to matter if they married "too young" or waited until they were older; what mattered was what people expected from their marriages. And for many, the traditional blueprint that their parents followed is simply no longer a good fit.

"It’s sometimes said that marriage is on the decline because our expectations are too high," says Haag. "I think it’s that our expectations for marriage may be too low—such that single people feel, perhaps rightly, that there isn’t much that marriage would add to their lives."

"My generation—people in their 30s, and 40s, and early 50s—are perhaps caught betwixt and between the old romantic ideals and the new post-romantic expectations," she adds.

Haag emphasizes the fact that she's a historian and not a marriage therapist, and says that she does not "endorse a particular marital style." In her book, she explores several suggestions for "forging a third way between melancholy persistence and divorce," ranging from slightly outside-the-box (rewriting your vows to more accurately reflect your life as it is now, for instance, or sleeping in separate bedrooms) to the extreme (redefining marriage as a temporary parenting agreement or giving the green-light to discreet extramarital affairs, among other things.)

Even so, people can still end up feeling only semi-happy. "There's a part of your soul that isn't nourished in marriage, and it's too big a part to live without," Haag writes. "You've tried, but you fear that you're in the wrong marriage, however wonderful your spouse may be."

JAMANI HIVI KUBORESHA MASLAHI YA WAFANYA KAZI NI DHAMIRA YA KWELI?

Wednesday, 08 June 2011 

Mtumishi wa lililokuwa Shirika la Reli la Afrika Mashariki, Kituo cha Kigoma, Said Luziga (88) akifuatilia kupitia radio hotuba ya Bajeti ya mwaka wa fedha 2011/12, Dar es Salaam jana. Picha na Said Powa

Patricia Kimelemeta   SERIKALI  imeahidi kuboresha maslahi ya wafanyakazi wa sekta binafsi na watumishi wa umma ili waweze kuondokana na hali ngumu ya maisha.  Hayo yalisemwa na Waziri wa Fedha, Mustafa Mkulo wakati wa akiwasilisha bajeti ya mwaka 2011/12 kwenye kikao cha Bunge  kilichofanyika mjini Dodoma jana.

Mkulo alisema kuboreshwa  kwa maslahi ya watumishi wa umma kutatokana na uwezo wa mapato yake, jambo ambalo litawasaidia kumudu gharama za maisha.  “Serikali imeahidi kuboresha maslahi ya watumishi ikiwa ni pamoja na kuongeza mishahara kwa watumishi hao, lengo ni kuhakikisha kuwa wanamudu gharama zilizopo za maisha,"alisema Mkulo.  Alisema maeneo ambayo yatatiliwa mkazo ni pamoja na malipo ya mishahara na likizo kwa wakati, na kwamba watahakikisha watumishi hao wanalipwa mafao yao mara baada ya kustaafu, pamoja na pensheni zao za kila mwezi.

 Alisema sambamba na hilo,serikali itatoa mafunzo kwa maofisa wa Hazina ndogo na mahakama zote zinazoshughulikia mirathi, na kuweka mikakati ya pamoja kuwaondolea kero wasimamizi na warithi wa mali za marehemu ambao walikuwa watumishi wa serikali enzi za uhai wao.

 Mwaka jana, serikali ilitumia zaidi ya Sh2.332 trilioni kwa ajili ya kugharimia malipo ya mishahara,ajira mpya, upandishwaji vyeo na kulipia madai ya malimbikizo na mapunjo ya mishahara kwa watumishi wa Serikali Kuu na Serikali za Mitaa.  Katika bajeti hiyo ya mwaka jana, Mkulo alitangaza punguzo la asilimia moja kwa kodi ya mishahara kutoka asilimia 15 hadi 14 ya mishahara hiyo.

Nalo Shirikisho la Vyama vya Wafanyakazi(Tucta), liliwahi kuwasilisha mapendekezo ya mishahara ya watumishi wa umma na sekta binafsi ambapo kiwango cha chini lilitaka kiwe  Sh315,000 kwa mwezii, lakini serikali ilishindwa kuongeza kiasi hicho badala yake iliongeza  hadi Sh135,000  mwaka jana

Uchumi wa Tanzania unakua kwa kasi

RAIS Jakaya Kikwete amewasilisha taarifa ya Mpango wa Kwanza wa Maendeleo wa Miaka Mitano wa utekelezaji wa Dira ya Maendeleo ya Tanzania kwa umma.

Wakati akiwasilisha taarifa hiyo alisema, Tanzania ni miongoni mwa nchi 20 duniani ambazo uchumi wake unakua kwa kasi kubwa.

Rais Kikwete alisema kwa hali ya uchumi, kwa maana ya viashiria vya uchumi jumla, Tanzania iko mahali pazuri licha ya nchi kukumbwa na athari za msukosuko wa uchumi duniani katika mwaka wa 2008/2009, ukuaji wa uchumi ni mzuri.

“Kwa wastani wa asilimia saba tangu mwaka 2001 hadi 2010, Tanzania inakuwa miongoni mwa nchi 20 duniani ambazo uchumi wake unakua kwa kasi.

Katika kipindi hicho, pia mfumuko wa bei umekuwa wastani wa chini wa kiwango cha asilimia 10 licha ya kuyumba mwaka 2009 kutokana na matatizo ya bei za mafuta na chakula duniani kwa ujumla,” alisema Rais Kikwete.

Rais Kikwete aliwasilisha taarifa ya mpango huo wa miaka mitano wa kuanzia 2011/2012 – 2015/2016, wakati akizungumza na Taifa kutoka kwenye Ukumbi wa St Gaspar mjini hapa, akishuhudiwa na viongozi mbalimbali wa Kitaifa, wabunge, mabalozi na wananchi kupitia televisheni.

Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar, Balozi Seif Ali Iddi; Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda; Spika wa Bunge, Anne Makinda, wakuu wa vyombo vya Dola, wabunge, mabalozi kadhaa, ni miongoni mwa walioshiriki katika hafla hiyo iliyoandaliwa na Tume ya Mipango katika Ofisi ya Rais.

Rais Kikwete alisema makusanyo ya mapato ya ndani yameongezeka sana kwa wastani wa Sh bilioni 84.7 kwa mwezi kwa mwaka 2001/2002 hadi Sh bilioni 430 kwa mwezi katika kipindi cha Julai mwaka 2010 hadi Aprili mwaka huu.

“Makusanyo mazuri ya mapato ya ndani yametuwezesha kuongeza uwezo wa bajeti ya Serikali kutoka Sh 1.76 trilioni mwaka 2001/2002 hadi Sh trilioni 11.6 mwaka 2010/2011.

Mauzo yetu ya nje yamefikia dola za Marekani milioni 5,876.5 mwaka 2010 na akiba yetu ya fedha za kigeni ni dola za Kimarekani milioni 3.948.0 sawa na mahitaji ya kuagiza bidhaa na huduma kwa miezi sita mwaka 2010,” alieleza Rais Kikwete na kushangiliwa na waliohudhuria hafla hiyo.

Rais Kikwete alisema makusudio makuu ya Serikali katika mpango huo ni kuona kwamba, kwanza; vikwazo vya ukuaji wa uchumi vilivyopo vinatanzuliwa; pili; kujenga uwezo wa nchi wa kukuza uchumi wake na kuondoa umasikini haraka; tatu; kujizatiti katika kutumia kwa ufanisi na kimkakati fursa mbalimbali zilizoibuka nchini na katika mahusiano ya kiuchumi kikanda na kimataifa.

Pia alisema kusudio la nne, ajira ziongezeke kwa wingi zaidi ili kupunguza tatizo kubwa la ajira linalowakabili vijana na kuongeza kuwa dhana kubwa iliyobebwa na Mpango wa Kwanza wa Maendeleo wa Miaka Mitano wa kutekeleza Dira ya Maendeleo ya Taifa ni “Kufungulia Fursa Tulizonazo za Kukuza Uchumi wa Taifa.”

Alisema Mpango huo umejengeka juu ya nguzo kuu nne za kimkakati ambazo ni kuendeleza uchumi wa jumla na kuimarisha mafanikio yaliyopatikana hadi sasa na kutumia rasilimali zetu kama fursa ya kukuza uchumi; huku kipaumbele maalumu kitawekwa katika kuleta mapinduzi ya kilimo, ufugaji na uvuvi na uendelezaji wa viwanda kwa kutumia malighafi na rasilimali zetu.

Aidha, Rais Kikwete aliyataja maeneo ya vipaumbele vya mpango kuwa ni kilimo, miundombinu, viwanda, utalii, rasilimaliwatu na kuendeleza matumizi ya Sayansi na Teknolojia ya Habari na Mawasiliano.

Alisema Mpango huo una malengo kwa kila kipengele, ikiwamo uchumi wa Taifa unatakiwa kukua kwa asilimia 8 hadi 10 kwa mwaka; mfumuko wa bei udhibitiwe chini ya kiwango cha asilimia 5; thamani ya mauzo ya nje ikue kufikia asilimia 23 ya Pato la Taifa; ukusanyaji wa mapato ya ndani ufikie asilimia 19 ya Pato la Taifa na kipato cha mwananchi kiongezeke hadi kufikia wastani wa dola za Marekani 650.

Kuhusu gharama za utekelezaji wa mpango huo, Rais Kikwete alisema utagharimu jumla ya Sh trilioni 42.5 kwa kipindi cha miaka mitano ikiwa ni wastani wa Sh trilioni 8.5 kwa kila mwaka .

BAJETI YA TANZANIA NI LEO: WANANCHI WATAKA IPUNGUZE UKALI WA MAISHA

Tuesday, 07 June 2011 21:09

Waandishi Wetu, Dar na Dodoma
MACHO na masikio ya mamilioni ya Watanzania na wadau wa nje, leo yanaelekezwa Dodoma ambako Bajeti ya Serikali kwa mwaka wa fedha 2011/12 itasomwa.Wananchi wengi wamekuwa na shauku ya kujua mwelekeo wa bajeti hiyo hasa katika kipindi hiki ambacho wanakabiliwa na hali ngumu ya maisha iliyotokana na kupanda kwa bei vyakula na bidhaa za mafuta.

Kwa takriban wiki nzima iliyopita, baadhi ya wananchi wamekuwa wakituma ujumbe mfupi wa maandishi kwa simu katika vyombo vya habari, wakiisihi serikali kuhakikisha kuwa bajeti ya mwaka huu inawaondoa katika hali ngumu ya maisha.

Bajeti hiyo itakayosomwa bungeni na Waziri wa Fedha na Uchumi, Mustafa Mkulo itatangazwa kwa wakati mmoja na bajeti za serikali za nchi zote za Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki (EAC), katika mtazamo wa kuimarisha mshimakano na umoja wa nchi hizo.

Kwa kawaida na mazoea ya muda mrefu, bajeti ya serikali imekuwa ikisomwa siku za Alhamisi ya wiki ya kwanza ya Juni, lakini mwaka huu imebadilika ikielezwa kwamba hiyo ni kutokana na siku hiyo kuangukia siku ya Uhuru wa Uganda.

Akizungumza bungeni jana asubuhi, Spika wa Bunge, Anne Makinda alisema bajeti hiyo itatanguliwa na hotuba ya hali ya uchumi itakayosomwa pia na Waziri Mkulo.Alisema hotuba hiyo itasomwa asubuhi, wakati ile ya bajeti itasomwa jioni.

Baadhi ya mawaziri akiwamo Mkulo wameifagilia bajeti hiyo huku Shirikisho la Wenye Viwanda Tanzania (CTI) likitoa mapendekezo na matumaini yake.

CTI: Tunataka bajeti ya uchumi wa viwanda

Shirikisho hilo limesema kuwa linaisubiri kwa hamu bajeti hiyo likitaka iwe ya kukuza uchumi na kuweka mazingira mazuri ya uwekezaji.Kauli ya CTI huku likilalamikia kupanda kwa gharama za uzalishaji zilizotokana na mgawo wa umeme wa Tanesco.

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa CTI, Christine Kilindu alisema jana kwamba serikali inapaswa kutoa bajeti ambayo pia itaondoa kodi zinazoumiza uzalishaji mkubwa.Alisema kodi kubwa zisizo za msingi zinachangia kupanda kwa gharama za uzalishaji ambao mwishowe husababisha kupanda kwa gharama za maisha kwa mwananchi wa kawaida. 

"Tunataka bajeti ambayo itaondoa kodi zinazokwamisha uzalishaji mkubwa na ukuaji uchumi, tunataka bajeti itakayopunguza makali ya maisha kwa mwananchi kwa kumwezesha kupata bidhaa kwa urahisi," alisema Kilindu.

Alisema bajeti hiyo inapaswa pia kuweka mazingira mazuri na yanavyovutia kibiashara ili kuifanya Tanzania kuwa kituo muhimu cha uwekezaji.Alisema kwamba anategemea kuona umeme ukiwekewa mazingira ya kukuza uchumi na uwekezaji nchini, akisema bila kufanya hivyo hakuna kitu kitakachofanyika.

"Bila umeme hakuna kitu chochote, serikali inapaswa kuongeza nguvu na msukumo kuona umeme siyo tu unamulika maisha ya watu kwa kutoa mwanga, bali iwe ni nguvu ya kusukuma ukuaji wa uchumi wa nchi."

Mawaziri wapigia debe bajeti

Katika kujiwekea mazingira mazuri na kuzuia kubanwa na wabunge, baadhi ya mawaziri wamepigia debe bajeti za wizara zao huku Mkulo, akiahidi kuwa malimbikizo ya vyombo vya usalama yatalipwa mwezi huu.

Mara kwa mara baadhi ya wabunge wamekuwa wakitishia kukwamisha baadhi ya bajeti za wizara, kutokana na kukosa majibu ya msingi kwa mambo mbalimbali ya msingi.Jana asubuhi baadhi ya mawaziri walipokuwa wakijibu maswali bungeni walisisitiza kuwa mambo mengi waliyokuwa wakiulizwa yamezingatiwa katika bajeti.

Naibu Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani, Balozi Hamis Kagasheki, akijibu swali kuhusu malipo ya malimbikizo ya posho za polisi ikiwamo za wakati wa uhamisho, alisema wizara yake imeandaa mwongozo wa kisera wa namna ya kulipatia ufumbuzi tatizo hilo.Alisema katika mwongozo huo ambao tayari ulikubaliwa na Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, wizara yake imejipangia utaratibu wa kutatua kero hiyo kuanzia kwenye bajeti ya mwaka huu.

Balozi Kagasheki alikuwa akijibu swali la Mbunge wa Mji Mkongwe (CUF), Mohammed Sanya, ambaye alitaka kujua mkakati huo ukoje kutokana na tatizo hilo kuwa ni la muda mrefu. Baada ya majibu hayo, Waziri Mkulo alisimama na kukuongeza kuwa siyo malimbikizo ya polisi pekee, bali ya vyombo vyote vya usalama na kwamba serikali imejipanga kuhakikisha yanalipwa kabla ya mwezi huu kumalizika.

Naibu Waziri wa Ujenzi, Dk Harrison Mwakyembe naye alipigia debe bajeti ya wizara yake ambayo tayari ilisifiwa na Kamati ya Bunge ya Miundombinu, kutokana na kugusa kila eneo huku ikitajwa kuandaliwa kwa weledi wa hali ya juu.

Akijibu maswali likiwamo lililohusu ujenzi wa Barabara ya Babati, Dareda hadi Minjingu na kuhusu kero za barabara katika Jimbo la Ludewa linaloongozwa na Profesa Raphael Mwalyosi, Naibu Waziri huyo alisisitiza kuwa wizara yake ni sikivu na mambo mengi yatazingatiwa ndani ya bajeti.

Alisema wizara iko makini na Bajeti ya Ujenzi imezingatia mambo mengi ya msingi huku akitupa kete ya kuomba uungwaji mkono kwa wabunge ili waipitishe.

Imeandaliwa na Ally Mkoreha, Dodoma; Ramadhan Semtawa na Patricia Kimelemeta, Dar es salaam

JE UNAJUA LINAH WA THT AMBAYE SASA AMEWAFUNIKA WAIMBAJI NGULI WA KIKE NCHINI TANZANIA, AMETOKEA WAPI?

Linah Sanga 'Linah'

Thursday, 12 May 2011 04:41

*Clouds Radio kupitia 'Nyuki live' ndiyo iliyomtoa *Ataka kuwa wa kimataifa kama AY, Alikiba Na Laurent Samatta KAMA ni msikilizaji wa kituo cha radio cha 'Clouds', basi utakumbuka mwaka 2009, waliwahi kutangaza nafasi za bure kwa kijana yeyote mwenye uwezo wa kuimba, apige simu kwa namba walizotaja ili uweze kuimba na wao walikuwa wanarekodi ulichokiimba. Programu hiyo ilipewa jina la 'Nyuki live', ambayo ilikuwa na lengo la kutafuta vijana wenye uwezo wa kuimba, hivyo vijana wengi walipiga simu na waliimba lakini mwisho wa siku walikuja kupatikana vijana watatu ambao walionekana kufanya vizuri. Vijana hao hivi sasa wanafanya vizuri katika muziki wa kizazi kipya kitu ambacho hata wale wengine ambao hawakupata nafasi ya kutoka wanatamani programu hiyo irudi tena ili waweze kujaribu. "Siku hiyo nilikuwa nasikiliza muziki kupitia kituo cha radio 'Clouds', hapo nilikiwa mkoani Mbeya nikasikia tangazo likisema kuwa kijana yeyote ambae anajiona anaweza kuimba vizuri na akakubalika basi apige namba hiyo ili aweze kutuimbia na akionekana amefanya vizuri atapigiwa simu. "Mimi kweli sikusita kupiga simu lakini kwa mara ya kwanza ilikuwa ngumu lakini nikajaribu kama mara tatu hapo ndipo nilipoonekana nimefanya vizuri, basi pale nikasubili majibu na mwisho wa siku nikapigiwa simu kuwa ni mmoja kati ya washindi watatu wa 'Nyuki live'. "Sikuamini kama nimeshinda maana Tanzania kuna vijana wengi lakini bahati ikaja kwangu, hivyo nilipofika katika ofisi za Clouds kuna vitu pia wao walitaka kuviona kwangu kama sauti hivyo wakanipeleka Nyumba ya Vipaji Tanzania 'THT', kwa ajili ya kufundishwa namna ya kuimba na mtiririko wa sauti. Lakini namshukuru mungu pale sikukaa sana kwa sababu nilikuwa na juhudi katika kuimba na uwezo wangu ukawa mkubwa hivyo nilikaa darasani miezi miwili baada ya hapo nikaingizwa moja kwa moja kwenye bendi ya THT, inayojulikana kama 'Odama Band'. Lakini mwaka huo huo wa 2009, kwa bahati nikachanguliwa katika Fiesta nikiwa kama msanii chipukizi lakini nilichokuwa nakifanya nilikuwa naimba kama msanii wa kusindikiza wale wengine ambao tayari walikuwa na nyimbo zao," anasema Linah. Jina kamali la nyota huyo hatari ni Linah Sanga lakini wapenzi wengi wa muziki wa kizazi kipya wanamfahamu kama 'Linah', kwa sababau ndilo jina analotumia katika kazi zake za sanaa. Nyota huyo ni mmoja kati ya wasanii wachache ambao muziki wao unafanya vizuri hapa nchini na Afrika Mashariki kwa ujumla, kutokana na ubora wa kazi zake pamoja na sauti njinsi anavyoibana na kuifanya iwe ya kuvutia zaidi. Akifanya mahojiano na maalumu na mwandishi wa makala haya hivi karibuni Linah, anasema kwa upande wake imekuwa tofauti na nyota wengine ambao wamekuwa wakifanya muziki kwa sababu ya kaka anaimba au baba anafanya muziki. Anasema muziki kwake upo kwenye damu na tayari alishakuwa muimbaji wa kwanya katika kanisa ambalo walikuwa wanasali yeye na wazazi wake ambalo ni 'Ufufuo wa Uzima', huku akiwa katika Kwanya ya 'Grolia kwanya'. Anasema baada ya kuitumikia kwanya hiyo kwa muda mrefu mwaka 2006, akapewa nafasi ya kuwa  mwalimu wa 'Grolia kwanya' ambapo alikuwa akifundisha namna ya kuimba na mtiririko wa sauti. Anasema viongozi wa Kwanya hiyo walikubali uwezo wake hivyo wakaamua kumtumia katika Band yao inayoitwa 'Grolia Band', ambayo ilikuwa inatoa nyimbo zake kwenye vituo vya radio hapa nchini. Linah anasema kipaji chake kilizidi kung'ara hasa pale alipochukuliwa na marehemu Docta Remmy Ongala na kumweka katika bendi yake iliyojulikana kwa jina la 'Remmy Ongala Band', ambayo ilikuwa inaimba nyimbo za kumfifu mungu kipindi hicho. marehemu huyo wa kibao cha 'Kifo hakina huruma' kabla ya kuingia katika nyimbo hizo alikuwa akiimba nyimbo za kidunia lakini baada hapo aliamua kuokoka na kufanya kazi katika kanisa hilo ambalo nyota huyo alikuwa akisali. "Remmy alikuwa akisali kanisa moja na sisi na baada ya kuniona naimba vizuri katika Kwanya yetu aliamua kunichukua na kunipeleka katika bendi yake, kwa kweri aliniamini kwa sababu sauti yangu ilikuwa ni nzuri ingawa kipindi hicho haikuwa nzuri kama ilivyo sasa," anasema. Anasema baada ya miaka hiyo kupita alikuwa hajui kama anaweza kuja kuimba nyimbo za kidunia kwa sababu tayari alikuwa akiimba nyimbo za dini ambazo hadi anakuja kuchukuliwa na 'Nyuki live' kutoka 'Clouds' tayari maisha yake yalikuwa yamezoea kuimba nyimbo hizo. Anasema tangu mwaka huo 2009 alikuwa tayari amesha achana na nyimbo za dini kwa sababu tayari aliingia katika ukurasa mpya wa kuimba nyimbo za kidunia, ambapo mwaka 2010 ndipo alipoamua kutoa wimbo wake wa kwanza ulikwenda kwa jina 'Atatamani'. 'Wimbo huo ndiyo ulikuwa wa kwanza kutoa tangu nilipochukuliwa na 'Clouds' na kuingia 'THT' lakini niliutoa nikiwa chini ya THT, na ndiyo maana watu wengi ambao hawanijui wanasema nimekulia hapo 'THT'," anasema. Anasema wimbo huo uliweza kufanya vizuri na kumtambulisha katika muziki wa kizazi kipya, na kuanza kufanya shoo mbalimbali katika matamasha, ambapo wimbo wake wa pili 'Bora nikimbie' nao umeweza kufanya vizuri na kuzidi kumtagaza Afrika mashariki akiwa kama msanii chupukizi. "Nashukuru mungu kwa sababu baada ya nyimbo hizo mbili nimeweza kufanya kazi nyingine za kushirikishwa na wasanii wengi kama Mrisho Mpoto wimbo wake 'Adela', Barnaba wimbo 'Wrong number', Sajna wimbo 'Sitaki kuumizwa' na wengine wengi. Anasema baada ya nyimbo hizo mbili kufanya vizuri hivi sasa anatamba na albamu yake ya kwanza yeye nyimbo 10, ambayo imebeba jina la 'Atatamani' ikiwa na nyimbo kama Atatamani, Bora nikimbie, Chozi langu na nyingine nyingi zenye ubora wa kimataifa. Linah anasema kwa upande wake hana fani ya kutunga nyimbo hivyo nyimbo zote alizotoa ametungiwa na rafiki yake ambae pia ni msanii 'Amini' pamoja na 'Barnaba Boy', ambao wamekuwa wakifanya kazi zao pamoja. Kwa upande wa malengo Linah anasema amejiwekea mikakati ya kufanya kazi ambazo zitamtagaza kimataifa, ili aweza kuwa kama Ambwene Yessaya 'AY' au Ally Kiba 'Alikiba', ambao hivi sasa wanafanya muziki wao kimataifa. Anasema hata hivyo katika suala la mafanikio, katika kipindi cha mwaka mmoja alichodumu katika muziki wake tayari amesha fanya mambo kama, kununua viwanja viwili kwa ajili nyumba pamoja na kuangiza gari nje aina ya Toyata VX, ikiwa pamoja na kuishi kwa kujitengemea. Anasema kwa upande wa wazazi wake ambao wapo katika dini hawakuweza kumruhusu kwa mara ya kwanza kwa sababu walitaka aendelee na dini kwa vile waliamini muziki huo unaimbwa na watu ambao wamemtupa mungu kutokana na baadhi ya wasanii njinsi wanavyojiweka mbele ya jamii. "Wazazi wangu ni watu wanaoamini dini hata mimi pia, lakini kwa mara ya kwanza ilikuwa ngumu sana kunikubalia lakini nikawaeleza sitakuwa na tabia kama baadhi ya wasanii wanavyofanya na kweri wakanipa ruhsa," anasema. Anasema wazazi wake hadi sasa wanamuelewa kwa sababu hana tabia ambayo inaweza kuwakera kitu ambacho kila siku anaomba mungu asije akabadilika na kuwa na tabia kama baadhi ya wasanii. Linah anasema hana elimu kubwa zaidi ya kidato cha nne, lakini anaamini atarudi shule ili aweze kumaliza elimu ya juu ambayo inawe kumsaidia hapo baadae ikiwa pomoja na kuchukua masomo ya sanaa katika chuo kikuu chochote Duniani. Linah anatoa ushauri kwa wasanii pamoja chipukizi ambao wanaingia katika fani hiyo kuacha tabia ambayo inawapelekea wazazi kuhisi sanaa ni fani ambayo inavuja maadali hasa mbele za mungu

WCHUNGAJI VIPI TENA MNABAKA KONDOO WENU?

Mchungaji KKKT jela kwa rushwa ya ngono

Na Eliasa Ally, Iringa

MAHAKAMA ya Hakimu Mkazi Mkoa wa Iringa, imemhukumu kifugo cha miaka mitano Mchungaji wa Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Tanzania (KKKT), Michael Ngilangwa, baada ya
kupatikana na hatia ya kuomba rushwa ya ngono kwa  mwanafunzi ili amsaidia masomo.

Mchungaji Ngilangwa alikuwa mwalimu wa sekondari ya Pomerini iliyopo wilaya ya Kilolo.

Akitoa hukumu hiyo mjini hapa jana, Hakimu wa Mkazi wa Mahakama Iringa, Bi, Martha Mpaze, alisema mshitakiwa wakati wote wa  kesi hakuwa na shahidi, ambapo alijitetea mwenyewe.

Upande wa mashitaka ulikuwa na mashahidi watano. Alisema mshitakiwa katika utetezi wake, alisema kesi hiyo ni ya kubambikizwa kosa hilo kutokana na wivu uliokuwepo kati yake na baadhi ya walimu wa sekondari ya Pomerini kumfanyia.

Alidai walimu hao walifanyia fitina baada ya kuteuliwa kuwa Makamu wa Mkuu wa Shule Pomerini, hatua iliyomwongezea maadui ambao walikuwawakimfanyia fitina na kuandaa mazingira ya mtego ili ili akamatwe na mwanafunzi.

Alisema katika utetezi wake, Mchungaji Ngilangwa alidai baada ya kushika wadhifa huo  wazazi wengi walikuwa wakimpelekea matatizo ya watoto wao, akiwemo mzazi wa mwanafuzni aliyemshitaki kwa madai ya kumuomba  rushwa ya ngono.

Alisema siku ya tukio mshtakiwa aliyokamatwa na Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (TAKUKURU) alipigiwa simu na mama wa mwanafunzi huyo kuwa wanatoka Dar es Salaam hivyo aliomba awatafutie vyumba katika nyumba za kulala wageni.

Katika utetezi wake alidai kwamba alikwenda nyumba ya  wageni na kuchukua vyumba viwili kimoja cha kulala watu wawili.

Alidai kwa kuwa ulikuwa ni usiku, alichukua chumba namba 4 kwa ajili yake.

Bi. Mpaze alisema mshtakiwa anaonekana kuwa na makosa kwa kuwa katika kitabu cha wageni alijaza kuwa anatoka Njombe kwenda Iringa wakati siyo kweli.

Alisema ukweli ni kuwa mshtakiwa alikuwa anatoka Pomerini kwenda Iringa mjini.

Alisema kuwa ushihidi mwingine ambao unamtia hatiani Mchungaji Ngilangwa ni ule wa TAKUKURU kumkuta na vidonge vya kuzuia mimba, ambavyo alimpatia mwanafunzi wake ameze kwa kuwa wangefanya ngono bila kutumia kondomu.

Hakimu huyo alisema ushahidi mwingine ni ule wa ujumbe ambao TAKUKURU ilinasa sauti walipokuwa wakiongea na mwanafunzi wake.

Hakimu huyo alikuwa akimwambia mwanafunzi huyo aende chumba namba nne ndiko wangelala.

"Mshtakiwa anatiwa hatiani kwa ushahidi mwingine ambapo TAKUKURU ilimkuta akiwa na mwanafunzi wake huyo saa 5:00 usiku wakati sheria ya nyumba hiyo ya kulala wageni walipokutwa inakataza watu wasio wanandoa kulala chumba kimoja.

Hakimu huyo alisema kama TAKUKURU wasingewahi mwanafunzi huyo angebakwa na azma yake ya kuomba rushwa ya ngono ingetimia.

Mshtakiwa huyo alipotakiwa kujitetea aliomba mahakama imfikirie kwa kuwa ana watoto wanne wanaomtegemea, wawili wanasoma sekondari na wengine shule ya msingi.

Mchungaji Ngilangwa aliongeza kuwa mzazi wake ni mzee wa miaka 82, hivyo hana mtu wa kumtunza.

Akitoa hukumu Hakimu Bi. Mpaze, alisema mahakama imezingatia kuwa mkosaji wa mara ya kwanza lakini akahukumiwa adhabu wa miaka mitano jela.

Katika kesi ya pili ya kuomba rushwa ya ngono mshtakiwa atatakiwa kulipa faini ya sh. 500,000 au endapo atashindwa atatumikia kifungo cha mwaka mmoja jela.

2 Maoni:

Anonymous said...

Mahakimu mara nyingi hawachunguzi sana kiini cha kosa (Natural causes) huwa hazipo kwenye makosa. Kwa mfano, mfadhaiko wa akili huchukuliwa kama something done deliberately. Hata mtu kubaka, huwa kuna mfadhaiko wake ambao hata wao mahakimu huwa nao na huenda kwa ajili ya kuwa Mheshimiwa yanafichwa lakini wanayo makosa makubwa (deep) na grave kwani wengine hulala na housemaids, ambayo ni kama kubaka, lakini kwa vile ni mheshimiwa, hai-surface. Rushwa ya pesa na ngono ni kitu kiko kwa hawa mnao waita waheshimiwa. Vile vile yabidi Mahakimu wasomee psychology kwa kina kikubwa. Kwa kesi hii husika, this was a trap, and nothing but a delibrate trap ambayo huyu mwalimu kwa kuishi kwake kijijini, hakujua kuwa anategewa. Kuna kitu kikubwa ndani ya hii kesi. Huyu mwalimu inaonekana anao maadaui wamemzingira, msichana alitumwa, wazazi walioomba kutafutiwa vyumba walikuwa na lengo baya na pana toka kwa walio watuma na si hao tu kuna pia wengine ambao wako involved. Lakini mlipaji ni Mungu. Adhabu yao itafuata. Acha mtu wa watu akatumikie kifungo lakini walio sababisha, upanga ni juu yao milele.Na huyu Hakimu hana uelewa mpana, akasome tena kwa kina.

June 7, 2011 1:02 AM

Anonymous said...

Pambaf! Unasumbuliwa na siasa kali, nani alimtuma aende gesti usiku? nani alimwambia adanganye anakotoka na anakoenda kama alikuwa hana nia mbaya? Mwache akachunge kondoo midume jela! Mzinzi tu huyo hana cha uchungaji! Hivi kweli huyo unaweza kumpa binto yako amlee kiroho? Wee, utaambulia mjukuu!

June 7, 2011 8:07 AM

MAASKOFU WAKERWA NA KUTUHUMIWA KWAMBA WAO NI DRUG DEALERS, WAJA JUU

Kauli ya Rais Kikwete yawakera maaskofu

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Monday, 06 June 2011 21:08

0diggsdigg Boniface Meena JUMUIYA ya Kikristo Tanzania (CCT), imempa Rais Jakaya Kikwete saa 48 ikimtaka awataje hadharani viongozi wa madhehebu ya dini aliosema wanahusika na biashara ya kuuza dawa za kulevya na kwamba asipofanya hivyo itakuwa ni aibu kiongozi huyo wa taifa. Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCT, Askofu Dk Valentino Mokiwa alisema hayo jana wakati jumuiya hiyo ilipokuwa ikitoa maazimio ya Mkutano wa 45 wa Halmashauri Kuu ya jumuiya hiyo.Askofu Mokiwa alisema kauli ya Rais Kikwete imewasikitisha kwa kuwa amewahusisha viongozi wote wa dini jambo ambalo si zuri mbele ya jamii. " Rais ataje majina ni kina nani wanahusika na ndani ya saa 48 awe ameyataja la sivyo itakuwa ni aibu zaidi kwake na serikali," alisema Mokiwa.Alisema wanategemea Rais Kikwete atafanya hivyo na kinyume chake atakuwa hajawatendea haki wananchi. Akihutubia waumini wa Kanisa Katoliki Jimbo la Mbinga, juzi kwenye ibada maalumu ya kupewa daraja la Uaskofu na kusimikwa Mhashamu Askofu John Ndimbo wa jimbo hilo, Rais Kikwete aliwaonya viongozi wa madhehebu mbalimbali ya dini nchini akiwataka kuacha tabia ya kushiriki biashara ya kuuza dawa za kulevya, badala yake washirikiane na viongozi wa serikali katika kudhibiti biashara hiyo haramu. Alisema kuwa baadhi ya viongozi hao wa dini wamekuwa wakishiriki kufanya biashara ya dawa za kulevya kwa kuwafanyia mipango vijana kuwatafutia hati za kusafiria kwenda nchi za nje kwa ajili hiyo. “Inasikitisha sana na kutisha. Biashara hii haramu sasa inawavutia hata watumishi wa Mungu, taifa letu litaharibika tusipokuwa makini katika hili, baadhi yenu tumewakamata,” alisema. Msimamo juu ya Katiba Mpya Akisoma tamko lao baada ya mkutano wa Halmashauri Kuu wa 45, Mwenyekiti wa CCT, Askofu Peter Kitula alisema jumuiya hiyo imeitaka serikali kusimamia kwa umakini suala la Katiba Mpya hasa katika ukusanyaji wa maoni. Alisema kuwa ukusanywaji huo wa maoni kwa wananchi na makundi yote ya kijamii ni muhimu ukafanywa na chombo huru. "Kazi hii isiharakishwe na wala isicheleweshwe. Yafaa iwe imekamilika mapema ndani ya muda wa kadri kabla ya kuanza kwa mchakato wa Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwaka 2015," alisema. Askofu Kitula alisema kuwa serikali inapaswa kuangalia ufa uliopo kati wananchi wa kawaida na wale wenye nacho kwani unazidi kupanuka na kuibua matabaka."Hali hii inasababisha malalamiko miongoni mwa wananchi dhidi ya serikali yetu. Malalamiko na ukweli huu umechukuliwa na wadau wa vyama vya siasa kufanya maandamano ambayo yamekuwa yakiwavutia wananchi wengi." Alisema hali hiyo inachangia hali ya kisiasa kuwa tete hasa ikilinganishwa na baadhi ya nchi jirani ambako bei ya mafuta iko chini zaidi ya Tanzania na nchi hizo zinapitisha mafata hayo hapa."Serikali isahihishe jambo hili pasipo kuchelewa. Vyama vyote vya siasa vihamasishe wananchi kuleta maendeleo bila kujadi itikadi za vyama vyao." Askofu Kitula alionya kuhusu siku za ibada na kutaka ziheshimiwe na watu wote na mamlaka zote. Alisema ni vyema serikali isipange matukio muhimu ya kitaifa kama  uchaguzi mkuu na uchaguzi wa serikali za mitaa siku za ibada. "Kadhalika, wahadhiri na wakufunzi wa vyuo vikuu, vya elimu ya juu na taasisi zake wasiwapangie wanafunzi mitihani au mazoezi ya vitendo siku za ibada," alisema Askofu Kitula. CCT yazungumzia tiba asilia Kuhusu tiba asilia, CCT imetoa wito kwa serikali kusaidia katika utafiti na matokeo yake yawekwe bayana ili kuwaondolea wananchi hofu ikiwa ni pamoja na huduma zitakazothibitishwa kupatikana mahali pengine nchini. "Kadhalika, serikali isimamie utunzaji wa mazingira ili miti na mimea mingine yenye vyanzo vya tiba asili istawi na kupatikana muda wote," alisema Askofu Kitula.Aidha, CCT imesisitiza msimamo wake kutaka mambo ya kuendesha shughuli za dini yatenganishwe na mamlaka ya kuendesha nch

USHINDI WA PEOPLES POWER-Mbowe huru, polisi watumia ndege ya JWTZ

Mbowe huru, polisi watumia ndege ya JWTZ

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Monday, 06 June 2011 21:17

0diggsdigg Mwenyekiti wa Chadema, Freeman Mbowe akiwa amebebwa na wafuasi wa chama hicho, baada ya Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Arusha, kukubali dhamana ya kesi yake, muda mfupi baada ya kufikishwa Arusha akiwa chini ya ulinzi mkali wa Polisi. Picha na Mussa Juma Waandishi Wetu.MWENYEKITI wa Chadema, Freeman Mbowe jana aliachiwa kwa dhamana na Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Arusha, baada ya kusomewa mashtaka ya kutotii amri halali ya kuhudhuria mahakamani katika kesi inayomkabili ya kufanya mkusanyiko wa watu bila ya kibali na vitendo vya uchochezi. Aidha, mahakama hiyo imemkataa mdhamini wake wa awali, Julius Margwe baada ya kuwa na shaka na mwenendo wake. Diwani wa Kata ya Elerai (Chadema), John Bayo alijitokeza na kuwa mdhamini mpya wa Mbowe. Hakimu Mkazi wa Mahakama hiyo, Charles Magesa alisema mdhamini huyo amekataliwa kutokana na kukiuka masharti ya kuhudhuria mahakamani hapo pamoja na kukabiliwa na kesi katika Mahakama ya Mwanzo Maromboso hivyo, kuamua kutoa nafasi kwa mdhamini mwingine.  Juzi, Mbowe alisafirishwa chini ya ulinzi hadi Arusha akitokea Dar es Salaam baada ya kukamatwa na polisi. Akizungumzia safari hiyo, Mbowe alidai kuwa alipelekwa kwa ndege ya Jeshi la Wananchi Tanzania (JWTZ) usiku wa manane huku akisindikizwa kwa magari manne ya askari wa kutuliza ghasia, kuanzia Uwanja wa  Ndege wa Kimataifa wa Kilimanjaro (Kia) hadi mahakamani hapo huku akilalamikia hali hiyo na kusema ni matumizi makubwa ya fedha na rasilimali za umma. "Wamenisafirisha kuja Arusha kwa ndege ya JWTZ kama mtuhumiwa wa ujambazi. Haya ni matumizi makubwa ya fedha na rasilimali za umma. Ile ndege ina uwezo wa kubeba zaidi ya watu 100, wametuleta watu watatu, mimi kama mtuhumiwa, Kamishna mmoja wa polisi Wilaya ya Ilala na Kamishna wa Kikosi cha Kutuliza Ghasia (FFU)," alidai Mbowe. Hata hivyo, JWTZ limekanusha likisema halikuwajibika na tukio hilo la kumsafirisha huku polisi nayo ikimtaka Mbowe asijitafutie umaarufu wa kisiasa kwa mgongo wa suala hilo. Mbowe alifikishwa mahakamani mjini Arusha jana saa moja asubuhi akiwa chini ya ulinzi mkali. Alikuwa katika gari la polisi aina ya Toyota Land Cruiser VX, lililokuwa likisindikizwa na magari mengine manne ya FFU. Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari baada ya kuachiwa kwa dhamana, Mbowe alisema hajutii kuwekwa mahabusu na kusafirishwa hadi Arusha.Pia alisema kukamatwa kwake na kuwekwa mahabusu kamwe hakutasitisha harakati za Chadema kudai haki na demokrasia ya kweli ndani na nje ya Bunge.Alisema alipokuwa katika mahabusu katika Kituo Kikuu cha Polisi, Dar es Salaam, hakuteswa na polisi wala kupigwa lakini alikuwa chini ya ulinzi hadi alipofikishwa Arusha jana alfajiri. Kukamatwa kwake mwishoni mwa wiki kulichafua hali ya hewa ya kisiasa baada ya juzi, mamia ya mashabiki wa Chadema kupiga kambi Kituo Kikuu cha Polisi Dar es Salaam, wakishinikiza mwenyekiti wao aachiwe huru kabla ya kupelekwa mahakamani Arusha. Baadaye, juzi saa 7:00 usiku vyanzo huru vilidokeza kwamba Mbowe alisafirishwa kwa ndege hiyo ya JWTZ akiwa na maofisa waandamizi wa polisi kutoka Dar es Salaam na wanajeshi watatu. Kauli ya JWTZ Msemaji wa JWTZ, Kanali Kapambala Mgawe alisema hadi jana mchana hakuwa na taarifa zozote kuhusu jeshi kuwajibika katika suala hilo. Alisema hilo lilikuwa suala la polisi na mahakama huku akisisitiza kuwa hajaona nafasi ya JWTZ katika mchakato huo. "Ndiyo kwanza unaniambia wewe (mwandishi) kuhusu JWTZ kutumia ndege yake kumsafifirisha huyo mtu. Ninachoweza kukwambia hakuna kitu kama hicho na jeshi halikuwajibika kwa lolote," alisisitiza Mgawe na kuongeza: "Tukio hilo linawahusu polisi na mahakama wao ndiyo wanaojua na ndiyo waliopaswa kuwajibika siyo jeshi. Kwa hiyo kama una vyanzo vyako vingine sijui sisi tunasema hakuna kitu kama hicho.'' Mahakamani Arusha Baada ya kufikishwa mahakamani na kusomewa mashtaka na kisha kuchiwa kwa dhamana, wafuasi wake waliokuwa wamefurika mahakamani hapo, walishangilia na kumbeba juu kwa furaha. Kabla ya kuachiwa kwa dhamana Hakimu Magesa alisema mdhamini wa awali wa Mbunge huyo wa Hai, Margwe amekataliwa kwa sababu mbali na kuieleza uongo mahakama kuwa alikuwa akifika mahakamani hapo, haina sababu ya kuendelea naye kwani tayari ana kesi ya jinai ambayo hatima yake haifahamiki.Kuhusu Mbowe hakimu huyo alikiri kwamba mahakama iliruhusu washtakiwa wabunge kuhudhuria kikao cha Bunge la Bajeti , lakini kutokana na kukosekana kwa mdhamini wake, ndiyo sababu walitoa amri kwamba akamatwe. “Ila sasa mkaendelee na vikao vyenu vya Bunge kama tulivyosema awali, lakini wadhamini wenu lazima waje mahakamani kila kesi itakapotajwa na tunaondoa amri ya kukamatwa na sasa utaendelea na dhamana yako ya awali,” alisema Magesa. Kabla ya hakimu huyo kutoa uamuzi huo, alimpa nafasi Margwe ya kueleza sababu za kutofika mahakamani. Margwe alisema Mei 27, mwaka huu hakufika kwa sababu alikuwa na kesi Mahakama ya Mwanzo Maromboso na Mei 30 alifika mahakamani lakini kwa sababu hakupewa nafasi ya kusema lolote, hakujitokeza. Wakili upande wa utetezi, Method Kimomogoro aliiomba mahakama hiyo, kuondoa amri ya kukamatwa kwa mteja wake na kutaka apewe dhamana yake ya awali ili aweze kuhudhuria vikao vya Bunge la Bajeti ambalo yeye ni Kiongozi wa Kambi ya Upinzani. Alimtetea mdhamini huyo kwa kutofika mahakamani na kusema kuwa hiyo ipo kwa kila mtu hata kwa mawakili akisema huwa wanasahau tarehe za mahakama na ndiyo sababu huziandika, hivyo kwa mwananchi wa kawaida ni lazima atasahahu tarehe hizo. Wakili wa Serikali, Juma Ramadhani aliiomba mahakama hiyo itoe onyo kali kwa mshtakiwa kwa kutofika mahakamani hapo mara anapohitajika na pia kumtaka yeye na wenzake wawe na mawasiliano ya karibu na wadhamini wao ili wasikose kufika mahakamani hapo. “Mnajua hii ni kesi ya jinai, lazima muwepo mahakamani na mkikosa lazima wadhamini wawepo ili kuondoa utata, ila hofu tuliyo nayo ni pale tutakaposubiri kikao cha Bunge kiishe ndipo washtakiwa waje mahakamani ni muda mrefu sana, hivyo naomba wakili wa utetezi awasiliane na washtakiwa kupata siku ya nafasi ili kuanza kutoa maelezo ya awali,” alisema Juma.Alisema hana shaka juu ya dhamana ya Mbowe isipokuwa mdhamini wake akisema hajui anachokifanya na kusema hafai kuwa mdhamini. Aliiomba mahakama kutoa uamuzi juu ya mdhamini huyo. Hata hivyo, Wakili Kimomogoro alipinga hoja ya kutaka mahakama impe onyo Mbowe kwa sababu kosa lililojitokeza halikuwa ka kwake na kwamba Mahakama ilimpa udhuru Aprili 29, mwaka huu kesi hiyo ilipotajwa na kutoa sababu kwamba watakuwa katika vikao vya Bunge la Bajeti hivyo kuiomba mahakama imrejeshee dhamana yake ya awali. Baadaye Hakimu Magesa alitoa uamuzi wa kumwachia Mbowe kwa dhamana ili aendelee na vikao vya Bunge la Bajeti hadi hapo Juni 24 mwaka huu, kesi hiyo itakapotajwa tena. Hata hivyo, Mbowe na wabunge wenzake wanaohusika na kesi hiyo, hawatakuwapo mahakamani katika tarehe hiyo. Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari na wafuasi waliofurika mahakamani hapo mara baada ya kuachiwa, Mbowe alisema hakuwa na kosa la kukamatwa na ndiyo sababu mahakama haikumhoji hata swali moja. “Ila mimi naheshimu mahakama, lakini sitakosa kusema pale wanapokosea kama vile baadhi ya watumishi wa mahakama wanakubali kupewa amri na viongozi wa serikalini ili mradi tu kutimiza matakwa yao,” alisema Mbowe. Alisema hakukuwa na sababu za msingi za kutumia rasilimali za Serikali ambayo ni mali za umma na kumsindikiza kama mhalifu ilihali hakuwa hata na silaha moja.Alisema anashukuru kwamba polisi hawakumfanyia vitendo vyovyote vibaya isipokuwa walimnyima haki yake ya msingi ya kuwa na uhuru wa kuwasiliana na watu. Wafuasi Chadema wasitisha shughuli za mahakama Mamia ya wafuasi wa Chadema waliokuwa wamefurika katika Viwanja vya Mahakama hiyo walisababisha kusitishwa kwa muda kesi nyingine kutokana na eneo hilo kutawaliwa na kelele. Kesi nyingine ziliendelea kusikilizwa saa 5:00. Wafuasi hao wa Chadema bila kujali eneo hilo la mahakama, walikuwa wakipiga kelele za 'peoples power' na baada ya Mbowe kuachiwa walianza kuimba: “Wamebana wameachia, wamebana wameachia,” huku wakimbeba kiongozi huyo juu juu. Mamia ya watu walizuiwa kuingia ndani ya Mahakama hiyo huku polisi wakiwa wametanda kudhibiti uvunjifu wa amani.Mbunge wa Arusha Mjini (Chadema), Godbless Lema mara kadhaa alikuwa akitoka nje ya Ukumbi wa Mahakama kuwaeleza wafuasi wa chama hicho kilichokuwa kikiendelea ndani huku akiwahimiza kutokatishwa tamaa katika kudai haki yao. Lema alisema kukamatwa kwa Mbowe ni ishara ya ushindi wa chama hicho kuchukua dola miaka ijayo. "Msihofu hata kina Mandela waliteseka hivi hivi, lakini baadaye walikamata dola na chama. Tutaongoza nchi hii miaka michache ijayo, hawa polisi watakuwa wakitulinda sisi badala ya kutukamata kamata," alisema Lema. Maoni ya wananchi Baadhi ya wakazi wa Arusha wameelezea kushangazwa kwao na matumizi makubwa ya fedha za umma katika kumkamata Mbowe na kumfikisha Arusha kisha kuachiwa kwa dhamana. Mmoja wa wakazi hao, George Kavishe alisema kitendo cha kujisalimisha Dar es Salaam na kisha kusafirishwa kwa ndege ya jeshi na kusindikizwa kwa magari ya Serikali ni matumizi mabaya ya fedha za umma. "Sasa kama walijua akifika hapa atapewa dhamana tu kwa nini wasingemalizia Dar es Salaam suala hili? Ni jambo la ajabu," alisema Kavishe ambaye ni mfanyabiashara. Mkazi mwingine Lucas Kaaya, alisema hatua ya polisi kumfikisha Mbowe mahakamani akiwa chini ya ulinzi imedhihirisha kuwa hakuna mtu aliye juu ya sheria. "Ingekuwa sisi watu wa chini, leo hapa dhamana isingetoka tena tungepewa siku 14 za kukaa magereza sasa hili ni funzo tuheshimu vyombo vya sheria kwani hakuna amani bila haki," alisema Kaaya. Polisi wadhibiti maandamano kwa amani Polisi jana, walifanikiwa kuzima maandamano ya wafuasi wa Chadema ambao walikuwa wamejiandaa kufanya hivyo wakiwa wamebeba majani wakiashiria amani. Viongozi wa jeshi hilo walifanya mazungumzo na Mbowe na viongozi wa Chadema mkoani Arusha na kuwasihi waondoke mahakamani kwa magari yao, ili kuzuia maandamano yasiyo na kibali. Baada ya kukubaliana, Lema aliamua kuondoka mahakamani hapo kwa pikipiki aina ya Toyo na wafuasi wachache, hasa vijana walianza kumfuata nyuma lakini walipofika makutano ya Barabara ya Nyerere walitawanywa na polisi. Polisi:Mbowe hakuonewa Akizungumzia kitendo cha Jeshi hilo kumkamata Mbowe, Kamishna wa Operesheni wa Polisi, Paul Chagonja   alisema kuwa kiongozi huyo alikamatwa kama ilivyo kwa watu wengine na hakuonewa inavyodhaniwa na baadhi ya watu. Aliwataka Watanzania kutokubali kutumiwa na wanasiasa wanaotaka umaarufu kwa nguvu kwa kulazimisha kufanya maandamano kinyume na sheria. Chagonja aliwaambia waandishi wa habari Dar es Salaam jana kuwa, kiongozi anayetaka kuingia madarakani kwa mtindo wa kushawishi wananchi kufanya maandamano si mzuri. “Wapo viongozi wa kisiasa wanaotumia wananchi kujipatia umaarufu. Nawaonya wananchi wakumbuke kwamba yatakayowapata ni hasara kwa familia zao, kwa nini ukubali kushinikizwa na mtu mwenye lengo la umaarufu na wewe unakubali?” “Alikamatwa baada ya kushindwa kutii amri ya mahakama ni utovu wake wa nidhamu na  sheria iko wazi kwamba kama mtu hajafika mahakamani bila sababu za msingi hati ya kukamatwa inatolewa. Kama kuna ugomvi, Chadema ingeilalamikia mahakama si Jeshi la Polisi.” “Nchi hii ni ya amani, mtu yeyote atakayeleta uchokozi hatutamuonea aibu, hatuwezi kukubali kumnyamazia mtu wa namna hii, kama anachimba shimo basi atumbukie mwenyewe,” alisema Changonja na kuongeza:“Mbunge akitoka nje ya Ukumbi wa Bunge atapigwa pingu tu, maneno yanayosemwa kuwa mbunge ana kinga ni ya kutapatapa tu.” Kaimu Mkurugenzi wa Makosa ya Jinai (DCI), Peter Kivuyo alisema katika mafunzo ya jeshi hilo kuna aina moja tu ya kumkamata raia: “Ili kumkamata Rais wa nchi kuna taratibu zake, lakini watu wengine wanakamatwa kwa mujibu wa sheria zilizopo.” Katika hatua nyingine, Jeshi hilo Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam, linawashikilia  watu watatu wakiwamo wanafunzi wawili  wa vyuo kwa tuhuma za kufanya fujo na maandamao, huku wakiwa na mabango yenye ujumbe unaochochea nchi kuingia katika machafuko ya umwagaji wa damu. Kamanda wa Polisi Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam, Suleiman Kova alisema waliokamatwa ni pamoja na mwanafunzi mmoja wa Chuo cha Usimamizi wa Fedha (IFM) ambaye ni mkazi wa Kijitonyama na mwanafunzi wa Chuo Kikuu Dar es Salaam (UDSM) anayeishi katika Hosteli za Mabibo pamoja na mkazi mwingine wa Tegeta. Kova alisema kukamatwa kwa watu hao kunatokana na vurugu zilizojitokeza baada ya Mbowe kukamatwa na jeshi hilo kwa kukaidi agizo la mahakama. Kova alisema kumejitokeza tabia ya baadhi ya viongozi wa vyama vya siasa kuwachochea vijana kuingia mitaani kufanya fujo kwa madai ya kuwa wanadai haki yao kikatiba. “Jeshi la polisi haliko tayari kuvumilia tabia hii na tutatoa adhabu kali kwa yeyote atakayehusika kuwahamasisha au kuwachochea vijana kuleta machafuko. Kama fujo za jana (juzi) zilizochochewa na viongozi wa ngazi za juu wa vyama vya siasa kuhamasisha vijana kuingia mitani wakiwa wamevaa fulana pamoja na kubeba mabango yenye ujumbe unaochochea nchini kuingia katika machafuko ya umwagaji damu,” alisema. Habari hii imeandaliwa na Mussa Juma na Moses Mashalla, (Arusha); Ramadhan Semtawa, Fidelis Butahe, Hadija Jumanne na Aziza Masoud (Dar)

SAKATA LA JAJI MKUU WA KENYA KUTUHUMIWA KULA KIBOGA LINAENDELEA

Dk Willy Mutunga

Jaji mkuu mteule nchini Kenya Dk Willy Mutuga amekanusha kama anashiriki mapenzi ya jinsia moja.

Mutunga aliyasema hayo alipokuwa anahojiwa na kamati maalum ya bunge.
Kamati hiyo ya bunge ilifanya vikao vyake vya siku mbili kusikia shutuma zilizotolewa dhidi ya walioteuliwa kuchukua nyadhifa za jaji mkuu,naibu jaji mkuu na mwendesha mashtaka mkuu.

Anashiriki

Hatua hii ilichukuliwa baada ya baadhi ya watu na hasa makanisa yakidai walioteuliwa si watu wanaozingatia maadili ya kifamilia kukiwemo na shutuma kuvaa hereni kwenye sikio la kushoto kwa Dk Mutunga ni ishara kwamba anashiriki mapenzi ya jinsia moja.
"Sishiriki mapenzi na wanaume,ila siwezi kuwabagua wanaume au wanawake wanaoshiriki mapenzi hayo,mimi mwenyewe mpwa wangu ni wa jamii hio",alisema Dk Mutunga.

Mchakato

Naibu jaji mkuu mteule Nancy Baraza pia alikuwa na muda wake wa kujitetea,alipoulizwa kwa nini alikita utafiti wake wa shahada ya uzamifu katika suala la haki za wapenzi wa jinsia moja.
Baraza alisema anafanya hivyo kwa kuwa alitaka kuwa mbunifu na kufanya utafiti wa kipekee ambao haujawahi kufanywa nchini Kenya.
Baada ya vikao hivyo kwa uma ambavyo vimetumika kuwatathmini tena wateule,majina hayo yatawasilishwa bungeni kwa ajili ya kupigiwa kura,ikiwa wataidhinishwa basi watachukuwa nyadhifa na iwapo watakataliwa bai mchakato wa usaili

SLAVE TRADE: A ROOT OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN CRISIS

Mr. leonard C.K 


"The past is what makes the present coherent," said Afro-American writer James Baldwin, and the past "will remain horrible for exactly as long as we refuse to assess it honestly."
Why go back five centuries to start an explanation of Africa's crisis in the late 1990s? Must every story of Africa's political and economic under-development begin with the contact with Europe? The intention is not to produce another nationalist tract on how whites, driven by lust for material possession and armed with firearms, gin and a bag full of tricks, subjugated innocent Africans who were living blissfully close to nature. The reason for looking back is that the root of the crisis facing African societies is their failure to come to terms with the consequences of that contact.
Portuguese seamen first landed in Africa in the fourth decade of the fifteenth century. From the outset they seized Africans and shipped them to Europe. In 1441 ten Africans were kidnapped from the Guinea coast and taken to Portugal as gifts to Prince Henry the Navigator. In subsequent expeditions to the West African coast, inhabitants were taken and shipped to Portugal to be sold as servants and objects of curiosity to households. In the Portuguese port of Lagos, where the first African slaves landed in 1442, the old slave market now serves as an art gallery.
Portuguese adventurers who sailed southeast along the Gulf of Guinea in 1472 landed on the coast of what became Nigeria. Others followed. They found people of varying cultures. Some lived in towns ruled by kings with nobility and courtiers, very much like the medieval societies they left behind them. A Dutch visitor to Benin City wrote in around 1600: "As you enter it, the town appears very great. You go into a great broad street, not paved, which seems to be seven or eight times broader than the Warmoes Street in Amsterdam...The houses in this town stand in good order, one close and even with the other, as the houses in Holland stand..." More than a century earlier Benin exchanged ambassadors with Portugal. But not all African societies were as developed. Some enjoyed village existence in primeval forests remote from outside influences.
Economics was the driving force
From the outset, relations between Europe and Africa were economic. Portuguese merchants traded with Africans from trading posts they set up along the coast. They exchanged items like brass and copper bracelets for such products as pepper, cloth, beads and slaves - all part of an existing internal African trade. Domestic slavery was common in Africa and well before European slave buyers arrived, there was trading in humans. Black slaves were captured or bought by Arabs and exported across the Saharan desert to the Mediterranean and Near East.
In 1492, the Spaniard Christopher Columbus discovered for Europe a 'New World'. The find proved disastrous not only for the 'discovered' people but also for Africans. It marked the beginning of a triangular trade between Africa, Europe and the New World. European slave ships, mainly British and French, took people from Africa to the New World. They were initially taken to the West Indies to supplement local Indians decimated by the Spanish Conquistadors. The slave trade grew from a trickle to a flood, particularly from the seventeenth century onwards.
Portugal's monopoly in the obnoxious trade was broken in the sixteenth century when England followed by France and other European nations entered the trade. The English led in the business of transporting young Africans from their homeland to work in mines and till lands in the Americas.
Most slaves sold by Africans
Estimates of the total human loss to Africa over the four centuries of the transatlantic slave trade range from 30 million to 200 million. At the initial stage of the trade parties of Europeans captured Africans in raids on communities in the coastal areas. But this soon gave way to buying slaves from African rulers and traders. The vast majority of slaves taken out of Africa were sold by African rulers, traders and a military aristocracy who all grew wealthy from the business. Most slaves were acquired through wars or by kidnapping. The Portuguese Duatre Pacheco Pereire wrote in the early sixteenth century after a visit to Benin that the kingdom "is usually at war with its neighbours and takes many captives, whom we buy at twelve or fifteen brass bracelets each, or for copper bracelets, which they prize more." Olaudah Equiano, an ex-slave, described in his memoirs published in 1789 how African rulers carried out raids to capture slaves. "When a trader wants slaves, he applies to a chief for them, and tempts him with his wares. It is not extraordinary, if on this occasion he yields to the temptation with as little firmness, and accepts the price of his fellow creature's liberty with as little reluctance, as the enlightened merchant. Accordingly, he falls upon his neighbours, and a desperate battle ensues...if he prevails, and takes prisoners, he gratifies his avarice by selling them." Equiano was born in 1745 in an area under the kingdom of Benin. At the age of ten he was kidnapped by slave hunters who also took his sister. He was more fortunate than most other slaves. After serving in America, the West Indies and England he was able to save for and buy his freedom in 1756 at the age of twenty-one.
Ottobah Cugoano, who was about 13 years old when he was kidnapped in 1770 in Ajumako in today's Ghana, had no doubt the shared responsibility of Africans for the horrid business. Referring to his own capture Cugoano wrote after he regained his freedom "I must own, to the shame of my own countrymen, that I was first kidnapped and betrayed by some of my own complexion, who were the first cause of my exile and slavery." But he added, "If there were no buyers there would be no sellers." By the same token, if there were no sellers there would be no buyers.
A profitable trade
European slave buyers made the greater profit from the despicable trade, but their African partners also prospered. Many grew strong and fat on profits made from selling their brethren. Tinubu square, commercial centre of today's Lagos and home to Nigeria's Central Bank, is named after a major nineteenth century slave trader. Madam Tinubu was born in Egbaland and rose from rags to riches by trading in slaves , salt and tobacco in Badagry. She later became one of Nigeria's pioneering nationalists.
Africa's rulers, traders and military aristocracy protected their interest in the slave trade. They discouraged Europeans from leaving the coastal areas to venture into the interior of the continent. European trading companies realised the benefit of dealing with African suppliers and not unnecessarily antagonising them. The companies could not have mustered the resources it would have taken to directly capture the tens of millions of people shipped out of Africa. It was far more sensible and safer to give Africans guns to fight the many wars that yielded captives for the trade. The slave trading network stretched deep into the Africa's interior. Slave trading firms were aware of their dependency on African suppliers. The Royal African Company, for instance, instructed its agents on the West coast "if any differences happen, to endeavour an amicable accommodation rather than use force." They were "to endeavour to live in all friendship with them" and "to hold frequent palavers with the Kings and the Great Men of the Country, and keep up a good correspondent with them, ingratiating yourself by such prudent methods" as may be deemed appropriate.
Africans faced with a new world
Contact with Europe opened new images of the world for the African elite and presented them with products of a civilisation which as the centuries passed became more technologically differentiated from their own. The slave trade whetted their appetite for the products of a changing world. Sadly it was not only tinpot rulers who were mesmerised by the glitters of western artefacts. An African slave in Cuba in the nineteenth century recalled how his people were captivated by the bright colour of European manufacturers. "It was the scarlet which did for the Africans: both the kings and the rest surrendered without a struggle. When the kings saw that the whites were taking out these scarlet handkerchiefs as if they were waving, they told the blacks, "Go on then, go get a scarlet handkerchief" and the blacks were so excited by the scarlet they ran down to the ships, like sheep and there were captured."
European traders saw the advantages of helping African kings and chiefs realise their desire to acquire western culture, if not for themselves then for their children. Hugh Crow, who commanded the last British slave ship to leave a British port, wrote "It has always been the practice of merchants and commanders of ships to Africa, to encourage the natives to send their children to England as it not only conciliates their friendship, and softens their manner, but adds greatly to the security of the traders." With their children in Europe, African chiefs were likely to be more accommodating, knowing full well their offspring could be held as ransom.
European powers also hoped that by entertaining African princes in Europe to win the friendship of their fathers. By far the most important reason why African rulers and traders participated in the slave trade was their desire for its material rewards and the power it brought. They were obsessed with the variety of goods available through the trade. Locally produced equivalents of some merchandise, like cloth and jewellery, existed but greater satisfaction and prestige was got from having imported varieties. The man with a warehouse full with goods from abroad was a powerful figure in the community, able to buy favours and influence with his ill-gotten wealth.
African traders resist abolition of obnoxious trade
When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807 it not only had to contend with opposition from white slavers but also from African rulers who had become accustomed to wealth gained from selling slaves or from taxes collected on slaves passed through their domain. African slave-trading classes were greatly distressed by the news that legislators sitting in parliament in London had decided to end their source of livelihood. But for as long as there was demand from the Americas for slaves, the lucrative business continued.
English missionary and abolitionist Thomas Buxton wrote in 1840 that the best way to suppress the slave trade was to offer Africa's slaving elites legitimate business that would give them means to satisfy their hunger for Western goods. "The African has acquired a taste for the civilised world. They have become essential to his. To say that the African, under present circumstances, shall not deal in man, is to say he shall long in vain for his accustomed gratification." This was the crux of the African condition.
The slave trade business continued in many parts of Africa for many decades after the British abolished it. For as long as there was demand for slave labour in the Americas, the supply was available. The British set up a naval blockade to stop ships carrying slaves from West Africa, but it was not very effective in suppressing the trade. Thousands of slave ships were detained during the decades the blockade was in operation. One Lieutenant Patrick Forbes, a British naval officer, estimated in 1849 that during a period of 26 years 103,000 slaves were emancipated by the warships of the naval blockade while ships carrying 1,795,000 slaves managed to slip past the blockage and land their cargo in the Americas.
British efforts to suppress the trade made it even more profitable because the price of slaves rose in the Americas. The numerous wars that plagued Yorubaland for half a century following the fall of the Oyo empire was largely driven by demand for slaves. Reverend Samuel Johnson wrote of the subjugation of neighbouring Yoruba kingdoms by Ibadan war-chiefs in the 1850s: "Slave-raiding now became a trade to many who would get rich speedily." It took the intervention of British colonialism to impose peace in Yorubaland in 1893. Slave trading for export ended in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa after slavery ended in the Spanish colonies of Brazil and Cuba in 1880. A consequence of the ending of the slave trade was the expansion of domestic slavery as African businessmen replaced trade in human chattel with increased export of primary commodities. Labour was needed to cultivate the new source of wealth for the African elites.
What if the West not abolish slavery?
Had Europe not decided to end the slave trade and the New World ceased demanding chattel labour, the transatlantic trade might still be rolling today. The ending of the obnoxious business had nothing to do with events in Africa. Rulers and traders there would have happily continued to sell humans for as long as there was demand for them. One can only imagine how more determinedly African merchants would have clung on to the business as goods offered by European buyers became more attractive with changes in Western technology. How many souls would African chiefs have been prepared to trade for a television or a car? It is a disturbing thought.
To highlight the role of the African elites in the slave trade is not to argue the obvious that they were morally depraved like the Europeans who bought slaves from them. It is to show that the corrupt leadership that undermines democracy and economic development in African countries today has a long history. The selfishness and disregard for the welfare of fellow humans manifest in the sacking of national resources by modern African leaders also motivated the pillaging of the human resources of the continent in times past.
A long history of corrupt African rulng classes
Some African writers, seeking to maximise the culpability of Europe in the slave trade, minimise the part played by African rulers and traders or explain it as the result of white trickery. Such distortion of history may make the moral case against European imperialism seem sharper, but it does nothing to aid the understanding by Africans of a critical period of their history. African slavers acted out of their own volition and for their self interest. They took advantage of the opportunity provided by Europe to consume the products of its civilisation. The triangular slave trade was a major part in the early stages of the emergence of the international market. The role of slave-trading African ruling classes in this market is not radically different from the position of the African elite in today's global economy. They both traded the resources of their people for their own gratification and prosperity. In the process they helped to weaken their nations and dim their prospects for economic and social development.
The slave trade had a profound economic, social, cultural and psychological impact on African societies and peoples. It did more to undermine African development than the colonialism that followed it. Through the trade the continent lost a large proportion of its young and able bodied population. Guyanese historian Walter Rodney cites in his book 'How Europe Underdeveloped Africa' one estimate showing that while Europe's population more than quadruped between 1650 and 1900, Africa's population rose only by 20 per cent during the same period. The loss of work-force was not more serious than the damage to the social and economic fabric of the society and the undermining of the confidence of Africans in their historical evolution.
The transatlantic slave trade and slavery were major elements in the emergence of capitalism in the West. As Karl Marx noted, they were as pivotal to western industrialisation as the new machinery and financial systems. Slavery gave value to the colonies in the New World which were crucial in the development of international trade. Trinidadian historian Eric Williams showed in his well-researched book Capitalism and Slavery, that the slave trade and slavery helped to make England the workshop of the world. Profit from slave-worked colonies and the slave trade were major sources of capital accumulation which helped finance the industrial revolution. The transportation of slave transformed British seaport areas into booming centres. One Englishman calling himself 'A Genuine "Dicky Sam", had no doubt about the link between the slave trade and prosperity of seaport city of Liverpool. "Like the magical wand, the traffic worked wonders; once poor, now rich; once ignoble, now great. Churches have been built and grand legacies bequeathed to all sorts of charities."
Europeans built empires, Africans drunk gin
While Europe invested profits from the trade in laying the foundation of a powerful economic empire, African kings and traders were content with wearing used caps and admiring themselves in worthless mirrors while swigging adulterated brandy bought with the freedom of their kinsmen. Virtually all the items imported during the nefarious business were for consumption or weapons for waging wars. A slave ship's manifest published in 1665 listed items carried for sale to Africans as old hats, caps, salt, swords, knives, axe-heads, hammers, belts, sheepskin gloves, bracelets, iron jugs and even "cats to catch their mice." One African trader calling himself Grandy King George was quite specific in his demand. He wrote to a slave captain: "send me one lucking-glass, six foot long by six foot wide." He also asked for an armchair, a gold mounted cane and a stool." The more common imports were alcohol, guns and gunpowder , salt and textiles. The quality of the items shipped to Africa was inferior - the spirits were adulterated and the guns designed for the African market.
Africa's contemporary history may have been different had its rulers and traders demanded capital goods for use in building the economy rather than trinkets and booze. As it was, the slave trade arrested economic development in Africa. The loss in human resources had dire consequences for labour dependent agricultural economies. Any possibility that the internal dynamics of African society could have led to the development of capitalism and industrialisation was blocked by the slave trade. The few existing manufacturing activities were either destroyed or denied conditions for growth. Cheap European textiles, for instance, undermined local cloth production. Samuel Johnson wrote in the late nineteenth century about Yorubaland: "Before the period of intercourse with Europeans, all articles made of iron and steel, from weapons of war to pins and needles, were of home manufacture; but the cheaper and more finished articles of European make, especially cutlery, though less durable are fast displacing home-made wares." The predominance of the slave trade prevented the emergence of business classes that could have spearheaded the internal exploitation of the resources of their societies. The slave trade drew African societies into the international economy but as fodder for western economic development.
Africa devastated by slave trade wars
Inter-communal wars waged to procure slaves were intensely destructive of human lives. Tens of thousands of people were slaughtered in a single skirmish. The wars and rampant kidnappings fuelled hostility and suspicion between communities. Distrust was a basic requirement for individual and communal survival. The slave trade arrested and distorted the cultural development of African societies. It affected the meaning people gave to the world and their place within it. Increased uncertainty of life gave added force to superstitious beliefs and customs. People sought salvation and protection from the spiritual world. They paid homage to gods to safeguard themselves and their families from misfortune. The psychological impact of the dehumanising trade was crippling. There was constant anxiety caused by perpetual fear of being captured and herded away like common animals to a place of no return. Some Africans believed that whites took slaves to eat them.
Whites assert racial superiority
It was during the slave trade and slavery that white people affirmed their superiority over blacks. It is not difficult to understand why white traders who bought black people for price of adulterated brandy and packed them onto slave ships like cattle could consider themselves to be superior. Though most were illiterate, crude and drunken, white slave traders were free men herding flocks of human cattle. As the centuries passed Europeans became more and more scornful of black people. By the nineteenth century various theories of black inferiority were developed and used to justify the colonisation of Africa. During the slave trade Africans came to believe themselves to be inferior. They lost confidence in themselves, their culture and their ability to development. The late Afro-American civil rights leader Martin Luther King's comment that few people realise the extent that slavery had "scarred the soul and wounded the spirit of the black man," holds true not only with respect to the descendants of the Africans who arrived in the New World but also the descendants of those left behind. "The backwardness of black Africa," said the late Senegalese president Leopold Senghor, "...has been caused less by colonialism than by the Slave Trade."
Would the history of Africa have been turned out differently had it's leaders taken the advice of eighteenth century French thinker Jean Jacques Rousseau. He said: "If I were chief of one of the African peoples, I declare that I would have a gallows set up at the frontier, on which I would hang, without mercy, the first European who dared enter the country, and the first citizen who tried to leave it." Perhaps if more African rulers had militarily resisted the design of the better armed Europeans their peoples might have paid a bloody price, as did the Indians in the Americas who fought to keep their lands and expel the white intruders. Before Columbus arrived in Hispanoila in 1492, the native population of North America was perhaps 40 million. By 1900, in the U.S. less than quarter of a million remained, scattered among 1,500 remote reservations.
Africa's underdevelopment was not inevitable
Would Africans have suffered the same genocide had they tried to end the slave trade? Unlikely. It is doubtful that the human cost of resistance would have been greater than the many millions of Africans killed in slave producing wars as well as those eaten by sharks after being jettisoned during the Atlantic crossings. We cannot know for certain. It seems more likely that Europe would have had to look elsewhere for cheap labour. It was one thing for European nations to use military might to protect their coastal trading posts and subdue disgruntled local chiefs, it would have been an entirely different matter for them to penetrate the interior of the continent and fight the hundreds of war that fed the slave trade.
The cost of such ventures would have made the price of slaves unattractive to the plantation owners in the Americas. As the historian Philip Curtin noted " If the prices of African-born slaves had not been competitive with those of labour from other sources - native born or European - the slave trade could never have come into existence, no matter what the epidemiological consequences of movement across the Atlantic."
Had cheap Africans not been available to work the land and mines of the 'New World', white planters and landowners would have sought other sources of cheap labour. They would have made more use of the native population and also turned more to Europe for labour. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries large numbers of poor whites were shipped to the 'New World', most involuntarily, to work on plantations, mines and as servants. Some poor whites kidnapped on European streets were sold in the West Indies much in the same way as Africans were. Indentured servants, convicts and deportees from Europe were often treated not much better than black slaves. But as the transatlantic slave trade boomed, the number of whites in forced labour decreased. It was because of the relative cheapness of African slave labour, and therefore the plantation owners' preference for them, that the trade in white labour ended. This gave rise to what Afro-American writer William DuBois described as the replacement of "a caste of condition by a caste of race." Had the costs of black slaves been much dearer, Europe might have become a major source of unfree labour