Topic: Mr. President, your response to doctors' strike is tepid!

Rais Kikwete


Mr. President,
The failure of your government to resolve the current doctors’ strike in the country is an absolute affront to the dignity of all Tanzanians at home and abroad, sick and health, rich and poor; educated, uneducated and ill-educated! This strike was unnecessary and indeed unwarranted. It came as a sign of the failure of the people entrusted to lead the health sector in the country. It could have been prevented only if the leadership at the ministry and your government had taken seriously the concerns and demands of our health professionals which are well known to your government.

Mr. President,
While our people are dying and our health system shaken and the dignity of our people abused you haven’t said a word. You haven’t given any direction to the country. You left the country to go abroad – to a meeting that could have been attended by the VP au Prime Minister- and you wouldn’t come home to give the country your leadership at this time of national crisis. It is as if you do not care what is happening in the country. I refuse to accept that, I want to believe whatever you were doing abroad was somewhat very important compared to you coming home to help resolve this issue.

I will not be surprised that when you finally come home you will deliver another “mbayuwayu” speech against the doctors and those who support them. Like the attempt by the Prime Minister the other day you might even give us more statistics of illusion to make us believe that the doctors in Tanzania fair way better compared to any doctor in the Southern Hemisphere, they just don’t know it yet!

Mr. President,
Threats and the use of force against the doctors will not change the nature of their demands nor will change the nature of the outcome of this strike.

Only wisdom and negotiations can bring this strike to an immediate halt, negotiations that are based on mutual respect, candor and truth not based on threats or political maneuvering. But, this can only be done by a leadership that understands and appreciates the years that our doctors have tried to work through the system to resolve these problems. The strike did not happen out of thin air; there are has been attempts over the years by the doctors - collectively and individually - to have their grievances heard and addressed but over and over the standard response has been “we are are a poor nation so we can’t”, “we will work hard to improve the welfare of the health workers”. Years come, years go the only real improvement occur in the welfare of our corrupt political elite!

Mr. President,
You cannot wish the doctors’ demands to disappear like a Houdini act! The doctors and the demands will not go away just at the snap of your fingers! The problems will not disappear simply because your government doesn’t like them (the demands). It doesn’t matter if Dr. Ulimbuko is arrested or neutralized; the legitimacy of the doctors’ demands still remains. Your government needs to address them promptly, patiently and precisely.

Mr. President,
In one of the worst miscalculations of your administration the people are not turning against the doctors! The Wananchi are getting angrier with the government not with the doctors. I’ll tell you why. First, they don’t believe that the government doesn’t have money to improve doctors pay especially in the light of allowance increase by the MPs. Your government cannot make a rational argument that it doesn’t have money to improve doctors’ welfare (financial or otherwise). Wherever your government found the money to increase MPs allowances the same place it can find the money to improve the doctor’s allowances. As long as these absurd and exploitative MPs allowances -which were defended by your Prime Minister – still stand unchanged, the doctors’ demands will also be supported! Secondly, this strike was one of the stupidest strikes ever, it was not necessary and indeed it could have been avoided before it started only if the people the Ministry had the moral courage to lead!

Unfortunately, in their own miserable cacophony of the trappings of power the Minister and his Deputy, Chief Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer ignored all the signs of trouble. Abusing their powers they trio dismissed the demands by the striking doctors and harshly fired the interns. They proved that the trio is not capable of leading such a sensitive ministry. They have to resign or be fired and as long as they remain in office our people will continue to support the doctors against such a mediocre and incompetent bunch.

Mr. President,
At the end of the day this is ultimately is your choice how to end the strike; you can force the doctors to go back to work by using security apparatus of the state; you can jail some of them and indeed you can even import substitute doctors from wherever you find them. The facts on the ground will remain the same – our healthcare system is broken, unsustainable and needs extensive and comprehensive reform.

Yes sir, you can ignore the problem, you can belittle the doctors and indeed you can even dismiss all doctors. Indeed, you can force them to come back to work and they might come back to work but the damage to the reputation of your leadership has been done (some might say once again). I beseech you to consider taking a prompt intervention by talking with the doctors – not talking to the doctors! Only negotiations as I said should bring to a halt this strike. Without negotiations which end with a comprehensive deal our nation should prepare itself for a longer strike or another strike in the near future.

Mr. President,
once again your nation is waiting to see your leadership. Our people are longing to see you lead. DO NOT LET THEM DOWN.

MM-BGM

Kikwete anayasoma haya kama tungo za alfu ulelaulela, hashauriki na hayuko tayari kushaurika

He can't manufacture an appropriate response to this strike.

By OLUKUNDO

MM- this is another touching msg to any person who can use his common sense. I doubt whether our leaders may comprehend your msg.

they cant, labda angewasiliana nao kwa lugha rahisi kwao

By Lizzy

"MR PRESIDENT". . that title is too big for him.

Hata hivyo tusubirie tu kuona kama atawajibika au ataacha ubabe uendelee kutawala hili sakata.

Ahsante MM.

Mimi niliacha kumuita President, why not baba Ridhwani?

By Raia Mwema

Kutumia kiingereza kuwasiliana na watanzania wenzako unawajua kuwa Lugha hiyo iko kushoto ni kutaka kuonyesha usomi au dharau? MM anajua kiswahili kwa nini katumia kiingereza kitupu? hakika si rahisi kuomba msaada wa kamusi chote ni kiingereza

tafsiri rahisi...

Mheshimiwa Rais,
kushindwa kwa serikali yako ya kutatua mgomo wa madaktari wa sasa 'katika nchi ni kutokuheshimu kabisa na hadhi ya Watanzania wote nyumbani na nje ya nchi, wagonjwa na afya, matajiri na maskini, elimu, wasiokuwa na ajira na mgonjwa na elimu! Mgomo huu ulikuwa lazima na kwa kweli haifai. Ilikuja kama ishara ya kushindwa kwa watu waliokabidhiwa kuongoza sekta ya afya nchini. Ni inaweza kuwa kuzuiwa tu kama uongozi katika wizara na serikali yako alikuwa na kuchukuliwa kwa uzito matatizo na mahitaji ya wataalamu wetu wa afya ambayo yanajulikana kwa serikali yako.

Mheshimiwa Rais,
Wakati watu wetu wanakufa na mfumo wetu wa afya unaotikiswa na hadhi ya watu wetu vibaya kuwa si alisema neno. Wewe si kupewa mwelekeo wa nchi yoyote. Kushoto nchi kwenda nje ya nchi - kwa mkutano huo unaweza kuwa na kuhudhuriwa na Makamu wa Rais au Waziri Mkuu na bila kuja nyumbani kutoa uongozi wa nchi yako kwa wakati huu wa mgogoro wa kitaifa. Ni kama kama huna huduma ya kile kinachotokea katika nchi. Mimi kukataa kukubali kwamba, nataka kuamini chochote walikuwa kufanya nje ya nchi ni kidogo sana ikilinganishwa na wewe kuja nyumbani kusaidia kutatua suala hili.

Siwezi kushangaa kwamba wakati wewe hatimaye kuja nyumbani kutoa mwingine "mbayuwayu" hotuba dhidi ya madaktari na wale ambao msaada wao. Kama jaribio la Waziri Mkuu siku nyingine unaweza hata kutupa takwimu zaidi ya udanganyifu kutufanya kuamini kwamba madaktari katika njia bora zaidi wa haki Tanzania ikilinganishwa na daktari yoyote katika ulimwengu wa kusini, wao sijui ni bado!

Mheshimiwa Rais,
Vitisho na matumizi ya nguvu dhidi ya madaktari si mabadiliko ya hali ya madai yao wala mabadiliko ya hali ya matokeo ya mgomo huu.

Tu hekima na mazungumzo inaweza kuleta mgomo huu kwa kusitishwa mara moja, mazungumzo ambayo ni misingi ya kuheshimiana, candor na ukweli si msingi vitisho au maneuvering kisiasa. Lakini, hii inaweza kufanyika tu kwa uongozi kwamba anaelewa na kushukuru miaka madaktari wetu walijaribu kazi kupitia mfumo wa kutatua matatizo haya. mgomo halikutokea nje ya hewa nyembamba, kuna imekuwa majaribio zaidi ya miaka na madaktari - kwa pamoja na mmoja mmoja - kuwa na malalamiko yao habari na ufumbuzi lakini tena na majibu ya kiwango imekuwa "sisi ni nchi maskini hivyo hatuwezi "," sisi kazi kwa bidii ili kuboresha maslahi ya wafanyakazi wa afya ". Miaka ijayo, miaka nenda tu kuboresha halisi kutokea katika maisha ya wasomi wetu rushwa ya kisiasa!

Mheshimiwa Rais,
Huwezi wish madaktari madai ya kutoweka kama kitendo Houdini! madai ya madaktari na si kwenda mbali tu katika snap ya vidole yako! matatizo si kutoweka kwa sababu tu ya serikali yako haina kama wao (mahitaji). Haijalishi kama Ulimbuko Dr ni kukamatwa au neutralized, uhalali wa madai ya madaktari bado. Serikali yako ya mahitaji ya kushughulikia yao mara moja, kwa uvumilivu na usahihi.

Mheshimiwa Rais,
Katika moja ya miscalculations mbaya ya utawala wako watu si kugeuka dhidi ya madaktari! Wananchi ni kupata angrier na serikali na si kwa madaktari. Nitakuambia kwa nini. Kwanza, siamini kuwa serikali haina fedha za kuboresha kulipa madaktari hasa katika mwanga wa kuongeza posho na wabunge. Serikali yako haiwezi kufanya hoja mantiki kwamba hana fedha ya kuboresha maslahi ya madaktari '(fedha au vinginevyo). Popote serikali yako kupatikana fedha za kuongeza wabunge posho sehemu moja inaweza kupata fedha za kuboresha posho ya daktari. Muda mrefu kama hawa wabunge kusikitisha na unyonyaji posho ambazo walikuwa kutetewa na Waziri wako Mkuu - bado kusimama bila kubadilika, mahitaji ya madaktari pia kuwa mkono! Pili, mgomo huu ni moja ya mgomo stupidest milele, haikuwa lazima na ni kweli zingeweza kuepukwa kabla ya kuanza tu kama watu wa Wizara na ujasiri wa kimaadili kuongoza!

Kwa bahati mbaya, katika cacophony yao duni ya trappings ya Waziri nguvu na Naibu wake, Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi na Mkuu wa Mganga Mkuu wa zimepuuza wote wa taabu. Kutumia vibaya madaraka yao Trio alikanusha madai ya madaktari fora na ukali fired wafanyakazi. Wao imeonekana kuwa Trio si uwezo wa kuongoza wizara hiyo nyeti. Wao kujiuzulu au kufukuzwa kazi na kwa muda mrefu kama wao kubaki katika ofisi watu wetu itaendelea kusaidia madaktari dhidi ya rundo mediocre na vile ipasavyo.

Mheshimiwa Rais,
Wakati wa mwisho wa siku hii ni hatimaye ni uchaguzi wako jinsi ya kumaliza mgomo, unaweza nguvu madaktari kwenda nyuma kazi kwa kutumia vifaa vya usalama wa nchi, unaweza jela baadhi yao na kwa kweli unaweza hata kuagiza madaktari mbadala popote kupata yao. ukweli juu ya ardhi utabaki sawa - mfumo wetu wa huduma ya afya ni kuvunjwa, visivyokuwa endelevu na mahitaji makubwa na kina mageuzi.

Ndiyo bwana, unaweza kupuuza tatizo, unaweza belittle madaktari na kwa kweli unaweza hata kufuta madaktari wote. Hakika, unaweza kuwalazimisha kurudi kazi na wao wapate kurejea tena kufanya kazi lakini uharibifu wa sifa ya uongozi wako umefanyika (baadhi anaweza kusema kwa mara nyingine tena). Nawasihi kwa kufikiria kuchukua hatua ya haraka kwa kuzungumza na madaktari - si kuzungumza na madaktari! Mazungumzo tu kama nilivyosema lazima kuleta kusitisha mgomo huu. Bila ya mazungumzo ambayo mwisho na mpango wa kina taifa letu lazima kuandaa yenyewe kwa mgomo kwa muda mrefu au mgomo mwingine katika siku za usoni.

Mheshimiwa Rais,
mara nyingine tena taifa lako ni kusubiri kuona uongozi wako. Watu wetu ni hamu ya kuona wewe kuongoza. Si lazima wao CHINI.

MM,respect to you.
I respect ur ideas but I dont think if ur closely following this issue.

Govt Leaders have done a lot to meet doctors and listen their demands but they appear to ignore.

u as an intellectual u should be critical enough to know the effort done by both sides of the this mgomo ie govt as the mdaiwa and doctors as mdai.


U seem to blem one side with out clear ellaboration as to how and what has been done by mdaiwa so far to end this dying conflict.

NAKUOMBA USOME HOTUBA NZIMA YA WAZIRI MKUU BAADA YA MA DR KUMKIMBIA.


TANZANIA KWANZA..............

waziri mkuu amejitokeza kuwasikiliza madaktari,wakagoma kwenda kumpa matatizo yao na kumsikiliza alikuwa na nini.waswahili wanasema kataa neno usikatae wito..labda angewafuata majumbani kwao?nani ni mbabe kati ya waziri mkuu na madaktari ambao wamelalamika lakini hawataki kusikilizwa............

Hawa wanaogoma,mwisho wa mwezi watapokea mishahara au pia wataigomea ?

kupokea mshahara bila kuufanyia kazi ni ufisadi pia.

Mkuu Mwanakijiji asante kwa andiko hili. Pia naunga mkono lugha uliyoitumia ndiyo lugha watawala wanayoielewa hivyo its right.

Tangu ulipopandisha ile thread ya kuunga mkono mgomo wa madaktari nilikuunga mkono.

Tofauti na wewe na wengine wengi ni only taking sides!. Wengi mmeside na madoctaas if they have done the right thing in a right way!. Ni wachache wanaokubali kuwa the doctor demands are right but choose a wrong way!.

Nilikuambia alichokifanya Pinda kama ulidhani ni Pinda then you are wrong!. Rais Kikwete unamfahamu fika, ubabe jeuri na kiburi chake kinafahamika usitegemee otherwise this time eti kwa vile ni madakitari.

By Kitila Mkumbo

What is even more obnoxious is the fact he has approved the luxurious and lavish allowance to MPs at this very critical moment. How will they convince anybody that they don't have money to meet doctors' demands? Only on this part of the world.

Again, I ask the question, do they listen? And if they do, do they care at all?

You can judge by the desires of the entire leadership team to approve lavish expenses for members of parliament disregarding the demands of our poor doctors!!!!! It ridiculous and shame full where does the money come from to pay the MP's and yet you fail to meet the Doctors demands????

By Kitila Mkumbo

What is even more obnoxious is the fact he has approved the luxurious and lavish allowance to MPs at this very critical moment. How will they convince anybody that they don't have money to meet doctors' demands? Only on this part of the world.

Again, I ask the question, do they listen? And if they do, do they care at all?

Now, i am happy that they have planted the seed of their own destruction. Let us wait and see its germination. Vultures soon are going to get their right meals.

The problem started with the 61% vote!!
I say its never too late to reverse the situation!!
Mr. JK can still suck the following:-
1. Mr. Mtasiwa [sorry I wont call him a Doctor because he doesn't deserve it!]
2. Nyoni - I wonder why is that an accountant Managing a Medical department!
3. Mr. Mponda [I also would rather not call him a Doctor he does not have such credibilities]
4.Finally Nkya.
Removing these people will definitely clear up all the bad air emitted at the Ministry and I am sure the Doctors will go back to work!

By Raia Mwema

Kutumia kiingereza kuwasiliana na watanzania wenzako unawajua kuwa Lugha hiyo iko kushoto ni kutaka kuonyesha usomi au dharau? MM anajua kiswahili kwa nini katumia kiingereza kitupu? hakika si rahisi kuomba msaada wa kamusi chote ni kiingereza

Mbona zile act hujawahi kulalamika ziwe in Swahili mkuu!! Hizi ni lugha zote official TZ!!

All what u have written is well known. Jk is discriminatory in giving salary standards. Visit bot, tra, tanloads etc. Watu wanapiaga hela ndefu halafu wengine wafanye kujitolea1 call allowance 10,000/= haya ni matusi ya nguoni mchana. Amesema jwtz na jkt watatibu awalete tuone.

I really sympathise with the striking doctors and all the government workers in Tanzania. However I have some issues that I need to raise about civil servants in Tanzania in general and the law governing the right of employees to strike in Tanzania.

To say the truth, I am not sure whether civil servants in Tanzania deserve more than what they are currently getting given their input. I can say there is almost no government office in Tanzania wich is not tainted with ineffieciency and corruption. You must pay something to get whatever service you need. I hesitate to say this is corruption because it is now done almost openly.

Few months ago I visited a government office in Dar. Firtsly, we had to pay some money for consultant who would make sure that the file moves from point A to B to Z. A hefty one million shillings. After twelve months in waiting we thought that would be the end of our problems. It was not. The file got stuck at the very last point. We had to go there and spend about 8 hours in this office of people who were not doing much but discussing football - The Premier League. You would be amazed at how knowledgeable these guys are about all the teams and players in that league. After that we were told to go to a supposedly final point, where our photos would be taken for embossing on the certificate. The government photographer told us that the camera's battery has not been charged and there would be no service for some few days! we negotiated, pleaded and gave him something because I was supposed to Dar the following day. He asked us to go and bring enlarged photos which he could use instead of faces. Up to now nothing has moved! These are the civil servants in Tanzania. They want to be paid more.

I have been to other African countries where a performance management system has been implemented. When you get to a government office all the services offered in that office are enlisted on a big board along with the time it takes for them to complete the process. If you are not given the service within the stipulated time you are asked to complain to the supervisor. In these offices, no one goes with his/her office to tea or on leave. It is a delight to be served in such an environment.

The other issue I want to raise here is the process for going to strike. Unfortunately I am not a lawyer and I don't have any knowledge of the technical terms which are used. I have worked outside Tanzania, in an African country where employees are allowed to strike. The preparations to strike takes a long time and is governed by law. The organisers are normally very sensitive to the processes which should be followed. The employees and the employers have certain rights. Failure to observe the required process renders a strike illegal. I think this is what the Secrateary General of Workers Union has observed in today's newspapers.

Pinda does not have the guts to make decisions without the consent of mkweree. I can assure you that he has been in costant contact with him all along during this saga and decisions [ including threats to fire doctors] are directives from Kikwete himself!!

By Kitila Mkumbo

What is even more obnoxious is the fact he has approved the luxurious and lavish allowance to MPs at this very critical moment. How will they convince anybody that they don't have money to meet doctors' demands? Only on this part of the world.

Again, I ask the question, do they listen? And if they do, do they care at all?

Wameshikwa pabaya kweli haya tusubiri tuone !

By KVM

I really sympathise with the striking doctors and all the government workers in Tanzania. However I have some issues that I need to raise about civil servants in Tanzania in general and the law governing the right of employees to strike in Tanzania.

To say the truth, I am not sure whether civil servants in Tanzania deserve more than what they are currently getting given their input. I can say there is almost no government office in Tanzania wich is not tainted with ineffieciency and corruption. You must pay something to get whatever service you need. I hesitate to say this is corruption because it is now done almost openly.

Few months ago I visited a government office in Dar. Firtsly, we had to pay some money for consultant who would make sure that the file moves from point A to B to Z. A hefty one million shillings. After twelve months in waiting we thought that would be the end of our problems. It was not. The file got stuck at the very last point. We had to go there and spend about 8 hours in this office of people who were not doing much but discussing football - The Premier League. You would be amazed at how knowledgeable these guys are about all the teams and players in that league. After that we were told to go to a supposedly final point, where our photos would be taken for embossing on the certificate. The government photographer told us that the camera's battery has not been charged and there would be no service for some few days! we negotiated, pleaded and gave him something because I was supposed to Dar the following day. He asked us to go and bring enlarged photos which he could use instead of faces. Up to now nothing has moved! These are the civil servants in Tanzania. They want to be paid more.

I have been to other African countries where a performance management system has been implemented. When you get to a government office all the services offered in that office are enlisted on a big board along with the time it takes for them to complete the process. If you are not given the service within the stipulated time you are asked to complain to the supervisor. In these offices, no one goes with his/her office to tea or on leave. It is a delight to be served in such an environment.

The other issue I want to raise here is the process for going to strike. Unfortunately I am not a lawyer and I don't have any knowledge of the technical terms which are used. I have worked outside Tanzania, in an African country where employees are allowed to strike. The preparations to strike takes a long time and is governed by law. The organisers are normally very sensitive to the processes which should be followed. The employees and the employers have certain rights. Failure to observe the required process renders a strike illegal. I think this is what the Secrateary General of Workers Union has observed in today's newspapers.

I agree with you but with some reservations;

Things are not going inside this government, services are offered on "purchase" basis, and people inside the government have "privatized" government services to be their own and they charge FEES, undeclared fees though. My reservations is on throwing the blames on the poor civil servants who are only there to follows whatever rules of the game are.

The blame goes to those who set the rules of the game, those who design, plan, implement and supervise the government's code of conduct. That's why the Americans has a popular saying that the BUCK STOP AT THE VERY TOP! I believe that's why MM here has written this letter.

You can't blame the medics on this strike; or the civil servants on any other strike to happen in any other sector. You can't blame those poor servants who are serving you now that you haven't got the service you applied for last year! (In 2008 I applied for a deed for my plot, I was asked to pay a sum that I didn't have by then, to date I'm still chasing for that deed). For instance people knows that Tanzanian courts are ruled and controlled by crooks, the police force is very dirty, etc....etc. Do you blame the court's magistrates or the police officers for incompetence and advise the establishment to drop their paycheck altogether? It is the supervisory system to blame and here the Chief Supervisor bear all the blames!

By MTAZAMO

Even if he respond now directly,Its too late! To me it will be right time if he will first Suck Prime Minister and minister of health plus all responsible goverment officers.

Mkuu mbona kiingreza kibovu kama cha Kikwete tena ?