Tumegeuka taifa la vipofu

[Mzalendo]

Tumegeuka taifa la vipofu

Freeman Mbowe




KWA wengi, nimekuwa kimya. Kimya kina tafsiri nyingi. Kila mtu kwa uelewa wake na pengine matamanio yake.


Leo nimeamua kuandika tena. Na nitaendelea kuandika “mpaka kieleweke.” Nakiri ni muda mrefu sijaandika. Sababu ni nyingi. Naamini katika subira.


Naandika kwa mara ya kwanza kupitia vyombo vya habari - baada ya Uchaguzi Mkuu wa rais, wabunge na madiwani wa mwaka 2005. Nilishiriki kama mgombea urais. Nilipigana, niliumia lakini jumla ya kura haikuniwezesha kuongoza nchi.


Sijutii ushiriki wangu. Naushangilia na kuuona kama mchango wangu wa ‘damu’ kwa Watanzania wenzangu wa leo na kesho. Nimekomazwa na kuimarishwa katika dira, dhamira na hata mbinu za harakati.


Kwa wenye dhamira safi, uchaguzi una malengo mawili ya msingi. Yote ni sehemu ya mchakato wa harakati. La kwanza ni nia ya kupewa ridhaa ya kuongoza na la pili ni fursa ya kufikisha mawazo na fikra mbadala kwa wale wanaoombwa ridhaa husika. Naamini ujumbe ulifika japo haujatosha.


Namshukuru Mungu kwa kuniwezesha kushiriki uchaguzi ule. Nawashukuru wale wa chama changu walioniamini na kunitwisha msalaba ule. Watanzania wengi walinisikiliza – kwenye mikutano na kwenye vyombo vya habari – nawashukuru kwa subira yao!


Wako walioniombea usiku na mchana! Wako walionisaidia kwa hali na mali zao! Wako walionipa kura zao (zilizohesabiwa na zilizoyeyuka). Nawapa asante sana na nawaombea sana kwa Mwenyezi Mungu kwani sina uwezo wa kulipa fadhila na upendo wao kwangu.


Wako niliowakwaza ama kwa kauli au kwa vitendo katika mchakato ule! Nawaomba wanielewe! Naam, wako walioninyima kwa sababu mbalimbali za haki na zisizo. Hawa nao nawatakia heri! Wako walioniibia kura zangu! Hawa …..!


Nilishiriki kupokea matokeo yaliyomtangaza Jakaya Kikwete kuwa mshindi. Nilimpongeza Kikwete kwa kumkumbatia.


Niliwachanganya wengi, hasa wale wengi jasiri walioumia na walioshuhudia uhuni wa kutisha kutoka kwa mamlaka zilizopewa wajibu wa kusimamia haki, amani na usalama kwenye chaguzi na hata maisha yetu ya kawaida. Ni kweli rafu ilichezwa sana – hata Kikwete na timu yake wanajua uchaguzi haukuwa huru na wa haki. Si Kikwete wala wenzake wenye ujasiri wa kulikiri hili.


Nilipata moyo huo kwa sababu moja tu: Naipenda nchi yangu! Naamini katika mabadiliko ya mbinu na mazoea. Naamini katika subira. Utamaduni wa kukubali matokeo ni mojawapo ya mbinu za mapambano.


Kuna msemo wa Kiingereza unaosema “to retreat is not to surrender but rather, a war strategy”, yaani “kurudisha majeshi nyuma si ishara ya kujisalimisha bali ni mkakati wa kivita.”


Niliamini kuwa mabadiliko ni mchakato, na mchakato ni tunda la muda!


Sawa, tuliibiwa, lakini tuna sababu ya kukiri pia kuwa tulikuwa na udhaifu wetu uliosababisha tukaibiwa! Hili nitalijadili siku za usoni!


Siku ya kupokea matokeo pale Diamond Jubilee, kundi kubwa la wanahabari lilinivaa na kunihoji: “Mheshimiwa Mbowe, kwa matokeo haya huoni kuwa wapinzani mmeshindwa sana?” Nilifadhaishwa na swali hili na nakumbuka kujibu: “Kwanza mimi si mheshimiwa ila ni kamanda…. Wa kujuta kwa matokeo haya siyo wagombea na viongozi wa vyama vya upinzani pekee, bali ni Watanzania wote…… Wana CCM wengine wanashangilia bila kujua msiba huu unawahusu ….. pengine wenye sababu ya kushangilia ni kundi dogo la viongozi wa CCM, serikali yake iliyopita na inayokuja na washirika wao ambao wana hakika ya hifadhi ya uchafu wao na mwendelezo wa ufisadi wao wakitumia mgongo wa mfumo wa vyama vingi.”


Baada ya kauli ile, wanahabari wengi walitawanyika kwani wengi wao nao walikuwa katika mkumbo wa ulevi wa ushindi wa Kikwete na CCM.


Wengi hawakujua kuwa, baadhi yao wameibaka taaluma na hivyo nchi. Walikuwa wamemaliza kazi ‘waliyotumwa’ na hivyo wana sababu ya kukaa mkao wa kula! Wengi walijiona na wengine bado wanajiona sehemu ya utawala!


Leo zaidi ya mwaka umepita baada ya uchaguzi – wengine wanasema haukuwa uchaguzi bali ‘mnada wa kura.’ Hukumu ya kama neema imeonekana nawaachia Watanzania. Mengi yanasemwa lakini moja linaendelea kunisononesha.


Watanzania wengi wanauliza “Wapinzani wako wapi? Mbona kina Mbowe na wenzake hatuwasikii?


Maovu mengi yanafanyika mbona wao wamekaa kimya?”


Ukweli ni kuwa hawajakaa kimya. Wapinzani wamesema na wanasema sana, ila watawala, na baya zaidi Watanzania walio wengi bado wanawasaliti!


Watanzania wenzangu! Hata wapinzani ni binadamu wenye kupata maumivu na mfadhaiko. Kuna makundi mengi ya wanaharakati yanayopigania haki na ustawi katika nchi yetu.


Najipa ujasiri kusema katika makundi yote haya, kundi la vyama vya upinzani (pamoja na kuwapo ‘waganga njaa’ miongoni mwao) limejitoa mhanga kuliko makundi mengine yote!


Wengine wanadai kufanya siasa za upinzani Tanzania ni lazima uwe na ‘uendawazimu’ kidogo.


Hii ni kutokana na mazingira magumu ya maisha ya kiuchumi na kijamii kwa wengi yanayoambatana na harakati hizi.


Pamoja na upungufu wake, viongozi wa upinzani ni watu wenye kuhitaji kuungwa mkono na kusaidiwa mzigo huu na jamii.


Jamii ina wajibu wa kututia moyo na siyo kubeza! Maisha yetu na familia zetu tumeyaweka rehani na kila siku kukicha salama tunamshukuru Mungu!


Kosa letu nini? Kutetea haki na ustawi katika nchi yetu na watu wake wakiwamo hao waliogeuzwa mawakala wa kutudhalilisha!


Ninawaheshimu wote wenye mamlaka ya uongozi wa taifa letu. Kamwe sitasita kuwapongeza wafanyapo mema.


Hata hivyo, nakataa kufanywa kondoo. Nakataa kuwa mnafiki. Nakataa kubariki dhuluma, wizi, ufisadi na unafiki unaofanywa na wengi tuliowapa dhamana ya kuongoza maisha yetu ya leo na hata vizazi vijavyo.


Mbali na wajibu tuliopeana kikatiba, kwa kuwa katika nchi moja, yaani jamii moja tuna mkataba wa asili ambao wanafalsafa wanauita ‘social contract.’ Kwa social contract hii, sisi kama Watanzania tumekubali kuachia baadhi ya uhuru wetu asilia na kukubali kutii mamlaka (na hivyo sheria) tukitegemea kuwa kwa kufanya hivyo, mamlaka itatuwezesha kupata uhuru zaidi unaoambatana na haki na ustawi.


Uchaguzi leo umekwisha lakini maisha yetu hayajakoma. Lazima tuendelee kujiuliza kama wale tuliowapa dhamana ya kutuongoza wanatekeleza wajibu wao kama sehemu ya ‘social contract’ hii.


Mimi kama Mtanzania na zaidi kama kiongozi ninayeongoza kundi kubwa la Watanzania ni wajibu wangu kuendelea kuhoji utekelezaji wa ‘social contract’ baina ya wananchi na viongozi.


Naelewa hautakuwa ujumbe mzuri kwa wale wenye madaraka! Harakati ni zoezi la kudumu hasa pale haki inapokuwa inahubiriwa kinafiki kwa maneno lakini inabezwa kwa matendo na watawala.


Najua wengi wataingiwa hofu na maneno haya! Lakini sihitaji kujikomba kwa yeyote. Ndiyo, mimi si malaika au mtakatifu.


Kama binadamu wengine, nami nina udhaifu wangu, lakini hauondoi ukweli na umuhimu wa kuhoji utendaji na dhamira ya wale wanaotuongoza. Kufanya hivyo ndiyo kuendeleza unafiki uliotufikisha Watanzania tulipo! Najua wengine watasema Mbowe anafanya kazi ya uchochezi! Ni kweli, sina sababu ya kukataa ukweli huu.


Sioni sababu ya kutochochea Watanzania waamke, wajijengee ujasiri kudai haki badala ya kuendelea kuiomba na kuona kuwa ni fadhila! Tuna sababu gani ya kutii mamlaka kama haitelelezi sehemu yake ya mkataba?


Utawala uliopatikana kwa njia chafu utatawala hivyo hivyo. Waliojitwalia madaraka kwa kutumia vibaya sheria (safi na chafu); vyombo vya dola yakiwamo majeshi ya ulinzi na usalama na hata usalama wa taifa; tume isiyo huru na isiyo ya haki; fedha za ufisadi; utajitakasa vipi kutenda yaliyo mema bila kukiri uharamia uliotumika kwenye uchaguzi?


Hivi kweli kiongozi mwadilifu anaweza kujisifu kwenye ushindi mchafu? Nina hakika viongozi wetu nao wanapenda kusifiwa. Sina hakika ni wangapi wanaambiwa ukweli kavu kavu kama huu! Mimi nitawaambia na maisha yangu nayakabidhi kwa Mungu!


Nchi inafadhaisha. Viongozi wanashangilia umaskini wetu na ujinga unaotujengea woga na hofu! Watanzania tunajengwa kuwa tegemezi kwa serikali kifikra na kiuchumi.


Tumefungwa mnyororo wa fikra! Bado tuna usingizi wa kudhani Kikwete na Lowassa ndio wana ufunguo wa suluhisho la matatizo yetu! Ndiyo sababu kila kukicha utasikia “serikali itusaidie lile, Kikwete tukomboe, Lowassa tupia jicho lile!’ Eti wanaombwa wakati ni wajibu wao kujua.


Tabia ya kutukuza viongozi na serikali imeendelezwa hata bungeni. Utasikia wabunge “tunaiomba serikali…., tunamwomba waziri n.k.’’


Tumejikabidhi jumla kama makinda! Kikwete anapeta Ulaya sisi tunamngojea! Siku akirejea, mawaziri kazi hawafanyi – wote wakiongozwa na Makamu wa Rais na Waziri Mkuu, mawaziri, mkuu wa mkoa, wakuu wa wilaya, meya na wengine kibao lazima waache kazi, wachome mafuta ya misafara ya magari wakajipange uwanja wa ndege kumpokea ‘messiah’ mwenye muarobaini wa matatizo ya Watanzania!


Huu ndiyo unafiki na ukondoo na si itifaki wala nidhamu! Ni udhaifu unaoukuta nchi za Afrika tu! Leo kuna watu wazima tena wasomi wanaamini bila CCM hawawezi kuishi! Nani kasema bila CCM hakuna maisha? CCM ya nini kama imeshindwa kutekeleza wajibu wake katika ‘social contract?’


Tupende tusipende, katika jamii yoyote kuna matabaka ya watu. Daraja la juu, la kati na la chini. Mara nyingi Tanzania tunajidanganya, hatuna matabaka haya! Pengine liliwezekana kidogo enzi za Baba wa Taifa, Mwalimu Nyerere.


Daraja la juu leo lina viongozi wa juu serikalini, washirika wao ambao ni wafanyabiashara wakubwa na hasa wawekezaji wa nje.


Katika nchi yetu, kundi hili ni dogo sana na nina diriki kusema halifiki watu 250! Katika nchi yoyote, kundi hili ndilo hufaidi nchi na lenye neema. Halipendi mabadiliko kwani tayari uzuri au ubora uliopo kwao ni neema!


Daraja la kati (working class) ndiyo mara nyingi huleta mabadiliko katika nchi. Kundi hili hujumuisha viongozi wa dini, wasomi – yaani wanataaluma mbalimbali, watumishi wa serikali (civil servants), viongozi wa kijamii wakiwamo waandishi wa habari - (civil society), viongozi wa kisiasa (political leaders) na wafanyabiashara wa kati.


Hili ndilo kundi linalotoa viongozi na lenye uwezo wa kuitayarisha jamii kuleta mabadiliko! Kwa nchi yetu kundi hili ni la wastani, pengine linaweza kufikia Watanzania laki mbili.


Kundi hili lina uhakika wa mlo. Lina uelewa wa kutosha. Kwa idadi ya nchi yetu, ni kundi lililostahili kuwa kubwa zaidi. Lingestahili kufikia Watanzania milioni 10. Hii ni sehemu ya umaskini wetu wa kujitakia ambao wengi wa kundi hili hawaelekei kuujutia.


Kundi la mwisho ndilo la Watanzania walio wengi. Hawa ndio sehemu kubwa ya Watanzania wenzetu, wengi wao wakiishi vijijini (wakulima na wafugaji) na wengine wao sasa wamekimbilia mijini wakitafuta ‘hifadhi’ ya maisha. Maisha yao ni ya mlo hadi mlo! Ukweli hawa ni wote waliobakia. Hawa ‘wamepigika’ kweli kweli na ni wa kuonea huruma na ndio wanaostahili kupiganiwa!


Kundi hili halina fedha, lina nguvu ya kutisha. Nguvu ya uasi au ya kura! Leo linatumiwa vibaya, iko siku litatumiwa vizuri ……!


Changamoto yetu kubwa leo ni kujiuliza kundi hili la kati liko upande gani katika kudai ustawi wa taifa letu?


Tatizo la Tanzania ni kuwa kundi hili mara nyingi limejivika hisia ya kuwa sehemu ya kundi la juu, ama kwa rushwa ndogo tu ya kujuana na viongozi, kupelekwa ng’ambo kwa kufuatana na Rais na kuitwa ‘wafanyabiashara’, ahadi za ajira na vyeo vya hapa na pale.


Hili ndilo kundi ambalo kwenye nchi za wenzetu, hutoa dira ya mwelekeo wa taifa na huwashikisha adabu viongozi mafisadi. Hawa huongoza harakati na kamwe hutegemei kundi hili liwe ndilo la upambe kwa watawala.


Kwa Tanzania kundi hili ndilo limesaliti vizazi vilivyopigania uhuru wa taifa hili na linaviponza vizazi vijavyo. Naomba nieleweke, wapo Watanzania katika kundi ili wanaotekeleza matarajio yao! Lakini ni wangapi?


Mara nyingi lawama zimetupwa upande wa ‘vyama vya upinzani.’


Jamii yetu yote leo inalalamika. Hata makada wa CCM – ambao awali walijiona washindi leo wanalalamika!!


Viongozi wetu na washirika wao sasa wana haki ya kulewa sifa na fedha! Watanzania tumewalemaza! Sasa hawana hofu tena. Wana uhakika wa ‘amani na utulivu.’


Wamefanikiwa (japo kwa muda) kujijengea uhalali wa kuipeleka nchi kama wanavyotaka wao na washirika wao. Kilio cha wananchi sasa ni upepo wa kupita. Wanajiona salama kwa kuwa madarakani. Wapambe wao nao wanajisikia sehemu ya utawala!


Tumegeuka taifa la vipofu. Tumekuwa taifa lisilojua haki zake!

[Mariam]

This guy! He should act like a former presidential contender in both his acts and language. He needs to build quality in the opposition. I like the challenge they bring to the table and I understand the physical and economic danger they subject themselves in, however, look at him, first he likes to cheer the audience which makes his important points be overshadowed and secondly, people have moved on from past elections, he concentrated too much on it, which indicates grudges that he never let it go, he should save those comments for when he runs again, currently he should be focusing on issues affecting our society as he did sparingly on the letter and his conclusion...but there is a subtance in his letter that I applaud, which reminded me to remind you of Mwalimu's words I posted as a separate post....

[ajmushi]

This is a well covered point to point narration of the obstacles and struggles that an opposition leader/party to the dominating CCM faces in TZ.
Mariam, how much more of a quality did you want this guy to present this matter?? Is it the context or the language…was there any sugar quoting required on this matter? ? If you carefully re-read his entire explanation I am sure you will come out with a different outlook. This guy had to go back to the election history to reference some facts that were a problem then and are still ongoing problems now under the dominating party. It is by doing so one will understand the facts and hopefully rectify their stand from being puppets of the wind flow to become partisans of truth. Referring back to Freeman’s random quotes on his article e.g. “rafu imechezwa”, “tumefungwa mnyororo wa fikra”, “Tumejikabidhi jumla kama makinda!”, “Huu ndiyo unafiki na ukondoo na si itifaki wala nidhamu!”………..these are the facts and cannot be said better.
Sad enough majority of the flag waivers do not question the foundation they are standing on and instead keep on perpetuating the very same system that is sinking them down to the drain.
All I can say is that I give allot a respect to opposition leaders such as Freeman who vision to change the system to benefit the working class citizens and NOT the few dignitaries with a handful of their entourage.

 

_________________
AjM

[Mariam]

[ajmushi]

Quite interesting Mariam……I was really convinced that you would have comeback with a different outlook however I guess human perceptions always differ from one to another. Anyways just for your records I’m not tied up with partisanship politics neither however I am open minded on giving credits to the ones who fight to make changes for the right cause.

Despite of your good narrative defense I still beg to differ in several critiques that you suggested about this letter. First of all we have to understand this guy was not trying to address a group of scholars but reach out to the general public including NON-informed Joes. For that fact, addressing and critiquing the current system dubious scams is not creating hatred as you put it but could be shed of light to others. Remember not everyone has a check and balance conscious of questioning the current leadership till you stunt them with plain facts.
The other point you have to understand is that this guy is addressing these facts from a political arena and it’s quite common for politicians to address their matters in such e.g. questionable titles/subjects in drawing attention to the public. We see this everyday even in the US politics where only 2 parties have the strong hold but they still re-battle their points across with harshness but yet relayed. Take an example for the Democrats who lost 6yrs ago through questionable circumstances…..they surely stumped their feet to voice out for re-counts and court hearings for a whole year. Now for our case its TZ where CCM is the ruling party and ALSO the Government…..you could stump your feet till you dig yourself a grave and nothing will happen. Mind you I am not trying to contrast these 2 political systems as they are on total different worlds, but I am trying mark the differentiator of effective approach/response to this particular challenging situation.

Some of the approaches that you mentioned as a solution might not be effective to TZ for now while the voters are not well informed. Talking about cooperative approach amongst the opposition parties and with the government ….…this approach could be very good on paper but impractical in the TZ arena. Bare in mind it’s NOT that some of the opposition parties including Chadema have not tried that approach, it’s just they have been destructed by other external variables to block their strategies. They are being hindered with all sorts of challenges including funds which play a big part as a vehicle of a party stability. How many times have we seen various opposition leaders switching back and forth…..do you really believe they are going through change of heart? Think again, but I assure its all because of background scenes which involve allot of dirty politics. Just imagine “mwenyekiti wa kata” can easily switch parties and carry allot of followers with him by simply providing a bicycle which he did not have before…..this is the same trend carrying all the way up to higher posts as well . This kind of scenario creates a bigger challenge to the opposition parties to penetrate to the working class citizens and express what they really stand for.

My 2 cents to all this equation it that Tanzania political system is still in infant stage not by age, but by the level of penetration to the dominating party. It is merely impossible to have a breakthrough on this equation if the dominating party (CCM) is also the government at the same time. Keep in mind all the government resources including the police force, JWTZ not to mention the media which is the main source of information outreach to the public are all behind CCM. Under these conditions, it’s a NO-Brainer to know until we have a separation of Party and Government political fare-ness will NOT be attained. I wish I could have a constructive or definite solution to the equation but all I can say is that a well informed public could be a very effective tool on bringing changes.

 

_________________
AjM

[Mariam]

Before it skips my mind my intentions to use University of Dar-es-salaam and Mzumbe is to show that there are things we do not need international intervention, we could initiate at home, could be very cost efficient while acquiring a desirable result for the country.

Ajmushi, sorry I disappointed you , oh well, you asked “me” directly about the quality required, I guess that’s what I could come up with! Here is where we should embrace our differences, don’t you think? can you imagine if we were both 100% busy patting Mbowe’s back for the letter he wrote?! We would be contributing in the elimination of the multiparty system in TZ altogether! Leader should be "family friendly" if they want to be effective. You don't have to sound too offensive to be heard, how are youngsters going to discuss with their elders and peers about speeches like these? How are you going to feed in your mom or dad who didn't have an opportunity to read for example this letter in that matter?

Man are you implying that Mh. Freeman Mbowe and the opposition are clueless of what Leadership is? No wonder most if not all are turning themselves to a laughing stock. Why lashing out to CCM’s leadership then? Is it because they have extra “power” to fattening their pockets? Am telling you, in the eyes of citizens they all look alike. I thought Mramba was in the world of his own seeking help from abroad to investigate what hinders employment in Tanzania. I guess we need to outsource opposition parties as well if they haven’t realized yet why their efforts are somehow fruitless. But I would like to believe Mbowe and others are smarter than we think and all they need is to shape up with different strategies.

I am surprised why requesting a leader to sanitize his speeches; reminding him to encourage/emphasis on unity among different parties and people; finding better ways to inform people and bring social changes; and bringing quality to what he’s standing up for sounded scholarly and ineffective to you for Africans, people who need it the most. Unless I am missing something, but these are the very basic things that will help opposition to win hearts and minds of people, because it is in the interest of everyone.

Ask a regular TZ about opposition parties they will tell you “hawa hawana kitu bwana, wanagombana wenyewe kwa wenyewe usiku na mchana, hawana ushirikiano wowote wala hawajui wanachokitaka wala wanachokifanya zaidi ya porojo nyingi na makelele tuu, wamekuwa kama pwagu na pwaguzi”, and am telling you, that letter will be considered by many kama porojo…Let’s see how far the opposition will go by whining, lashing out to CCM, dwelling in the past elections, and cursing the very people they will need their votes when the time comes. How do you expect them to function if they can’t cooperate? With all those individual parties, like mom-n-pop businesses, honestly, what will they ever accomplish? Let them join forces and stop scrambling for power, as hard as cooperation may sound, we should all work hard to make it possible.

Let them be critical of government while bolstering their credibility…You don't have to sound forceful and assertive for your message to get through, it’s not an effective approach/response, even in the U.S. where freedom of speech is like nobody’s business, they watch their mouths, look at John Kerry, a lousy joke he made to critique the admin/pres now he can’t even dare to try the race for presidency anymore. Let Mbowe’s present his criticisms with whatever evidence to the public in a good way and people will listen. And remember changes do not come overnight, which is the reason opposition parties need to come up with a sustainable solution, and in my suggestion, that will be changing the roots of the problem, - tackling issues affecting people the most. And I agree with you, “a well informed public could be a very effective tool on bringing changes”, not a mentally abused and intimidated public. Even our forefathers fought for our independence for decades and centuries in some areas, with no penny in their pockets or to loan, just determination and sacrifice.

[olasiti]

Mariam: You said:: "Unless I am missing something, but these are the very basic things that will help opposition to win hearts and minds of people, because it is in the interest of everyone.

Ask a regular TZ about opposition parties they will tell you “hawa hawana kitu bwana, wanagombana wenyewe kwa wenyewe usiku na mchana, hawana ushirikiano wowote wala hawajui wanachokitaka wala wanachokifanya zaidi ya porojo nyingi na makelele tuu, wamekuwa kama pwagu na pwaguzi”, and am telling you, that letter will be considered by many kama porojo…"

Well well, this article, first off, i would say, this article is aimed at the top two classes that Mbowe mentioned, middle and upper. The other class is too busy trying to figure out where the next meal will come from, to even start digesting such issues.
Besides, as mentioned in the article, it is these two classes that make the difference as far as affecting policy and directional change in a country.
That said, this class does not need to be pampered.....thus he decided to call a spade a spade. There is no need to "sanitize" as you put it. Painting a rosy picture while the truth on the ground is not there, wont help.

Now, to the last class he described, that is the class that would need the kind of cheering and sanitizing you are looking for. Because, at least that would feed their hopes, and do nothing else. That is where the ruling party has a monolopy right now.....painting rosy picture (Nguvu Mpya, Kasi Mpya) and promising 2Mil jobs in 5years. If that is what you expected to hear from Mbowe....he choose a different crowd. Please re-read the article with a special audience in mind.

[Mariam]

[Mariam]

oops! my 10 keys slippery blunder! wrong key...

Daraja la kati (working class) ndiyo mara nyingi huleta mabadiliko katika nchi. Kwa nchi yetu kundi hili ni la wastani, pengine linaweza kufikia Watanzania laki mbili".

Targeted audience per Olasiti:
Number of headcounts = 250 + 200,000 =
= 200,250

Population in Tanzania: 34,443,603
source: http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/

[olasiti]

You are still missing the facts....not sure which group you belong too , basically, "mwenye macho na aone" but how many of your 34 million people can actually read (literacy, infancy) and how many have that luxury, and how many have that access to either web resource or print resource?
Kumbuka bei ya gazeti Tanzania? Do you know the level of penetration of print media in Tanzania? It is less than 200,000/day (if not just 100,000, dont have the right numbers right now) for the largest paper, highly subsidized by the rulers, spreading their propaganda.
Besides, a newspaper costs much more than what the majority (the other class) earn in a day or week, or sometimes month, or others who are out of cash/money economy altogether.
That leaves you with the audience being middle and upper, who at least, have the means but not neccessarily the choice to read.
Got me about the audience?

[olasiti]

I have located an interesting document that backs my views on media penetration....and also provides lots of insight into reasons of poor journalism in Tanzania.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/pdf/AMDI/TAN_AMDI_Report.pdf

State of the Media –
Literature Review
4.1 MISA (2005)
The most comprehensive report on the state of the media that could be sourced was the Tanzania country report produced in 2005 by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in its SADC regional overview volume called So this is democracy? State of Media Freedom in Southern Africa 2005.
It is clear from the report that there has been an increase in the number of media companies in Tanzania since the introduction of the multi-party democratic system in 1992. The report notes that the increase in the media has not seen a corresponding improvement in the training of journalists, with hundreds of formerly unemployed youths entering the profession without formal training. The report also states that the private sector lacks sufficient resources to support professional and editorial independence. This is a result of lack of investment in trained human resource. The private media often become government mouthpieces, thus impairing freedom of information.
The report also notes that, as a result of economic constraints, communication problems and transportation problems, the media are largely city-based, thus denying the rural population access to a free and immediate flow of information. This is a significant shortcoming given
that around 77% of the population lives in the rural areas (NBS, 2003).

At national level, there is one state station (RTD) and four private commercial stations, as well as some international services. Due to Tanzania’s large geographical size, only stations with sufficient financial muscle have been able to expand their reach. Radio Free Africa (RFA),
Radio One, Radio Tanzania Dar es Salaam (RTD) and Clouds FM are the stations that have been able to expand. RTD’s expansion has been facilitated by funding from the government whilst the other radio stations’ expansion has been commercially driven.

[Mariam]

Olasit wrote: You are still missing the facts....not sure which group you belong too , basically, "mwenye macho na aone" but how many of your 34 million people can actually read (literacy, infancy) and how many have that luxury, and how many have that access to either web resource or print resource? ….That leaves you with the audience being middle and upper, who at least, have the means but not neccessarily the choice to read….Got me about the audience?

well, let's finish our Math:

200,250 / 34,443,603 = 0.005813 = 1%

Well, that your number. So really, not only CCM is the problem but this guy is also the weakest link!

To answer your question, I belong to the “third” group mentioned here, kundi la waliopigika! However, it really doesn’t matter which class one belongs to because huu ni msiba wa nchi nzima… “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” ( Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963).

By the way, do you really believe there are three classes in Tanzania??? What is evidently seen is a yawning gap between the Haves and Have-nots….we do not have the middle class which is the reason there are no any significant development in the country. The middle class is the group “WE” as a country should fight hard to establish, it will be a solution for many of our problems, it currently doesn’t exist, this is the task WE should ALL focus on. So let’s work together as a team, “The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.” (Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love”). “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” (MLK).

[olasiti]

I respect someone who stands up to speak/write as Mbowe did, for,
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. " Martin Luther King Jr.


"I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live". Martin Luther King Jr., Speech in Detroit, June 23, 1963
and, this guy has really discovered something he will die for....
read the second article posted on this forum from his writing, for "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy".
Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963

[Mariam]

WELCOME HOME OLASIT!

What an excellent conclusion, let's all fight now like Martin Luther King, Jr. THE WORLD'S NON-VIOLENT PIONEER!!

Now I can leave this post in peace!!! THANK LORD, I AM FREE AT LAST!!!!

[fillar munuo]

Very interesting to read.I like constructive critics but also applaud Mbowe to some of his points.
"Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together" We already have some people in this forum that is a good start.