'Fit to Govern: The Political Intelligence of JK' vs 'JK: The Promise Deferred'

[Companero]

A few months before Thabo Mbeki was "recalled" from the South African presidency by his party, ANC, two biographers published 'Fit to Govern: The Native Intelligence of Thabo Mbeki' and 'Thabo Mbeki: The Dream Deferred' respectively. This tradition of setting the political agenda and changing the political landscape through writing political biographies is still in its infancy in Tanzania. The closest we got to it was when Prince Bagenda wrote 'Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete: Tumaini Lililorojea' just after the 2005 presidential election. We also have a glimpse of the potential this tradition has in the queries and writings of Mwanakijiji. In this thread I invite all those who are interested in spearheading this tradition to come forward and co-write a biography of JK which will move beyond the current tendency to look at him as a leader who has failed to lead.

In this political biography, which is could have a different title from the above-copied and pasted titles, the interest is to look at the political intelligence of JK. It will ask questions such as: What is the intellectual prowess of JK? What is his ideological position? What kind of political strategy brought him to ascendency and sustain him there? What contribution has he given to the political discourse? What does he think about the current political situation and why does he think that way? What political personalities and intellectual currents has, and continue to, influence his political thinking and strategy? What is his role in shaping political thinking and influencing the cause of events? What does he think of himself - as a leader, governor, manager, administrator, custodian, comprador, bourgeoisie, middleman, broker, auctioner, investor and/or businessman?

Mods kindly don't merge this thread with the other one as they are different!

 

[Companero]

Kwa kufungua mjadala huu turejee sifa ambazo Bagenda alimwagia kwenye huo wasifu uliotajwa hapo juu:

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alirejesha imani ya wafadhili. Misaada iliyokuwa imesitishwa ilirejeshwa. Agenda yake ilihusiana na kupambana na ufisadi,ndani ya Wizara ya Fedha.. Yale ambayo alikuwa ameanza kuyafanya Kikwete na yakaleta mafanikio yalimpa sifa kubwa kwa wafadhili. Rais ajaye lazima angeendelea naye katika nafasi ya uongozi na hasa kwa matakwa ya kuendelea kujenga imani ya wafadhili (Uk 99)

Tulinganisha sifa hizo za kukonga nyoyo za wafadhili na haya aliyosma aliyekuwa Katibu Mkuu wake:

Subsequent to that, as Minister for Finance in 1995 he gave crucial support to what was seen as an alien concept, that is providing payment and currency convertibility guarantees to private investors.


Alafu tulinganishe hayo yote na yale aliyoyasema JK kwenye Hotuba yake 'maarufa' ya kufungua Bunge:

Rais Mkapa alifanya kazi kubwa ya kurejesha nidhamu kwenye ukusanyaji wa mapato na matumizi ya Serikali. Alipiga vita rushwa kwa nguvu zake zote. Alirejesha mahusiano mazuri na wahisani wetu na washirika wetu kwenye maendeleo. Aliweka mazingira bora ya uwekezaji, na ukuaji wa uchumi.

[...]

Wakati wa kampeni wapo baadhi ya wapinzani waliothubutu, kwa kukosa shukrani, kusema ati Serikali ya Awamu ya Tatu ilikuwa inatekeleza sera zinazobuniwa Washington. Serikali ya Awamu ya Nne haitaogopa kubuni na kutekeleza sera na mikakati ya maslahi kwa ukuaji wa uchumi na maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania ati kwa vile zinaungwa mkono na kufadhiliwa na nchi tajiri na mashirika ya fedha ya kimataifa.

[...]

Serikali ya Awamu ya Nne nayo itaendeleza misingi hiyo pamoja na kusimamia utekelezaji wa Sera Mpya ya Mambo ya Nje ambayo inalenga zaidi kwenye diplomasia ya uchumi.

 

[Companero]

Tunaendelea na utafiti kuhusu wasifu wa Kiitikadi, Kifikra na Kimsimamo wa JK. Sasa tuchunguze asili ya Kaulimbiu yake na ya chama chake ya 'Maisha Bora kwa Kila Mtanzania'. Je, waliitunga, waliitohoa au waliiazima? Rejea:

Introduction: "A Better Life for All"
<http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-91101-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html>

Vote ANC! A Better for All!
< http://www.anc.org.za/elections/2006/index.php?id=manifesto.html >

South Africa in Gear: "Better Life for All or a Zero-Sum Game of Globalization.
< http://www.springerlink.com/content/tgr7465l5800mn60/ >

 

[Companero]

Proposed Outline (Table of Contents) of JK's Political Biography...

Chapter 1: A Tale of Two JKs
This chapter will look and contrast the two JKs that Tanzania has had as Presidents - Julius Kambarage and Jakaya Kikwete. It will particularly look at how the former JK nurtured the latter JK and to what extent the latter is following in the footstep of the former. The chapter will also explore why only one of them is a Philosopher King.

Chapter 2: A Modern Vasco Da Gama?
This chapter will look at the thinking that guides JK as he criss-cross the globe in search of investors and foreign direct investments. It will particularly contrast his role and impact with that of the Portuguese explorer whom he is nicknamed after. The chapter will also contrast this model of a 'Travelling President' with other presidential models.

To be continued ...more suggestions are welcome...

 

[Zitto]

Writing about our political leaders is a culture not in infancy, but generally not existing in Tanzania. Reasons could be many, but one big reason i get from publishers is the lack of culture of reading in our society.

After Kikwete's disucission, it will be very fruitful to try to write together, as we will do here on JK, about

SAS: The President who never became
-----------------

This discussion is very crucial and we must be objective (and subjectives sometimes to express our perceptions and myths). It is as well timely. It can be a critical review of Bagenda's Book and projecting JK's second term policies (if he will get it).

 

[Josh Michael]

We as Tanzanians are really aware with all political agenda in our country, but our leaders are not happy with all political zig zag in our country and what they done. katika Tanzania. Hakuna cha kushangaza hapa maana hawa walitumia muda mwingi sana katika kutengeneza mazingira ya watu hawa na sasa Watanzania wanajua vizuri sana kuliko wakati mwingine wowote ule, ngoja tuone mwakani ndio tuanze kusema

 

[Companero]

Chapter 3: JK as an Economist
This chapter will look at what JK learned in while undertaking a degree in Economics how he has adanced his thinking in that area. It will particularly look at the kind of economic thinking, whether Marxist, Neoliberal or Heterodox, that informs his decision-making. The chapter will also look at the way he is handling the ongoing global economic crisis.

 

[MwalimuZawadi]

Chapter 4: JK: A Clown Artist?
This chapter will investigate the link between JK inner motive and outer character as a main actor in the state house play. It will dwell on .... go on Companero

 

[Kaizer]

Chapter 3: JK as an Economist
This chapter will look at what JK learned in while undertaking a degree in Economics how he has adanced his thinking in that area. It will particularly look at the kind of economic thinking, whether Marxist, Neoliberal or Heterodox, that informs his decision-making. The chapter will also look at the way he is handling the ongoing global economic crisis.

To be a bit subjective, it will be interesting to know how he fared academically, like GPAs, whether he had to 'suppliment' etc.....anaything goes...this could shade light not only on his 'current economic thinking' but also why we, as a nation, are having such economic difficulties (relative)

 

[Josh Michael]

May be he is likely a liberal economist, and I realized that he is more an Australian economics thought. Nafikiria kuwa katika Degree ya Economics yake huwa ana vacuum kubwa sana hata katika takwimu zake maana lingalisha na critical thinking katika uchumi ndio unaweza kusema hivyo. Je anaweza kuwa na thought za Wakina Lipumba?? au Abdallah Kigoda??

 

[Ndahani]

A few months before Thabo Mbeki was "recalled" from the South African presidency by his party, ANC, two biographers published 'Fit to Govern: The Native Intelligence of Thabo Mbeki' and 'Thabo Mbeki: The Dream Deferred' respectively. This tradition of setting the political agenda and changing the political landscape through writing political biographies is still in its infancy in Tanzania. The closest we got to it was when Prince Bagenda wrote 'Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete: Tumaini Lililorojea' just after the 2005 presidential election. We also have a glimpse of the potential this tradition has in the queries and writings of Mwanakijiji. In this thread I invite all those who are interested in spearheading this tradition to come forward and co-write a biography of JK which will move beyond the current tendency to look at him as a leader who has failed to lead.

In this political biography, which is could have a different title from the above-copied and pasted titles, the interest is to look at the political intelligence of JK. It will ask questions such as: What is the intellectual prowess of JK? What is his ideological position? What kind of political strategy brought him to ascendency and sustain him there? What contribution has he given to the political discourse? What does he think about the current political situation and why does he think that way? What political personalities and intellectual currents has, and continue to, influence his political thinking and strategy? What is his role in shaping political thinking and influencing the cause of events? What does he think of himself - as a leader, governor, manager, administrator, custodian, comprador, bourgeoisie, middleman, broker, auctioner, investor and/or businessman?

Mods kindly don't merge this thread with the other one as they are different!

Sio mchezo. Mpaka broker au auctioner?

 

[Companero]

Sio mchezo. Mpaka broker au auctioner?

Ya nini kuandikia mate ilhali wino upo hapa chini:

[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]"Our local businessmen cannot reach other executive areas on their own without the President’s presence. During my visit to the US, we had a luncheon with NASDAQ officials, who later held talks with Tanzanian businesspersons. Under normal circumstances, the NASDAQ president, whose stock exchange volume stands at USD7.1 trillion, cannot meet a person of the stature of TCCIA president Elvis Musiba. But because I was there, the NASDAQ president personally attended that event...When I visited Tiffany, a big jewelers company turning out billions of dollars, its officials were in some other place and had to be summoned to meet Tanzanian [T]anzanite dealers...This is how they could meet; because I was there otherwise it would have been difficult for local Tanzanite dealers to meet their US counterparts. .. [/FONT][FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]It is after I had talks with the NASDAQ president that we now have the US Tanzania Business Association where businessmen from the two countries can meet. I visited New York Stock Exchange, whose business volume is USD22.8 trillion, where we were given the honour to open the day’s business. It is because I was there on that day that we were given that honour...Do you think Jonathan Njau [Head of Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange] can meet those guys up there on his own? (laughter). People should not just simplify these things” - President Jakaya Kikwete quoted by The Guardian in December 2006 [/FONT]

 

[Josh Michael]

Ukisoma vizuri thoughts zote za Economics na misimamo yake kuna moja ya Buchaman ambaye alikuwa kwenye chuo cha Georgmason university Halifax ndio unaweza kuona pia ni kwa kiasi gani mtu anaweza kuwa mtu mzuri katika degree yake au pia inategemea pia na watu walimfundisha wana hisia gani

 

[Companero]

Maelezo haya yanatoa mwanga kuhusu msimamo/mtazamo wa kiuchumi wa JK:

The President affirmed that he has a personal interest in seeing to it thatMKURABITA attains its objectives as soon as possible. He said that Tanzania hasmade a bold and firm decision to reform her development philosophy and pursuemarket economy. He therefore said that the pursuit of market economy entails absolute respect of and the legal-constitutional protection of property rights. He further said:

“Social scientists define property rights as a bundle of rights, entailing the controland use of property; benefit from the property; freedom of transfer or sales ofproperty; and excluding others from the property. To make this bundle of rightsrelevant. They should be enforceable by law. This will minimize disputes that arise during possession, transfer and disposal of property. So in essence, the building of a modern market economy and society entails promulgation of appropriate laws, a properly functioning and credible judiciary, and effective enforcement mechanisms.”

Hapo alikuwa na waliberali na waliberali mamboleo hivyo pengine alikuwa anajifanya anakubaliana nao.

 

[Companero]

Chapter 5: As Boys II Men
This chapter look the shared vision and mission of JK and EL that made them key political allies for over a decade especially after they boarded the same plane in 1995 to return their nomination forms at the last minute as presidential candidates. It particularly look the similarities and differences in their strategic thinking and acting. The chapter will also investigate whether the two have really fallen out or their partnership - dubbed 'Boys II Men' - is surviving a 'political accident'.

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Kwa kufungua mjadala huu turejee sifa ambazo Bagenda alimwagia kwenye huo wasifu uliotajwa hapo juu:

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alirejesha imani ya wafadhili. Misaada iliyokuwa imesitishwa ilirejeshwa. Agenda yake ilihusiana na kupambana na ufisadi,ndani ya Wizara ya Fedha.. Yale ambayo alikuwa ameanza kuyafanya Kikwete na yakaleta mafanikio yalimpa sifa kubwa kwa wafadhili. Rais ajaye lazima angeendelea naye katika nafasi ya uongozi na hasa kwa matakwa ya kuendelea kujenga imani ya wafadhili (Uk 99)

Tulinganisha sifa hizo za kukonga nyoyo za wafadhili na haya aliyosma aliyekuwa Katibu Mkuu wake:

Subsequent to that, as Minister for Finance in 1995 he gave crucial support to what was seen as an alien concept, that is providing payment and currency convertibility guarantees to private investors.


Alafu tulinganishe hayo yote na yale aliyoyasema JK kwenye Hotuba yake 'maarufa' ya kufungua Bunge:

Rais Mkapa alifanya kazi kubwa ya kurejesha nidhamu kwenye ukusanyaji wa mapato na matumizi ya Serikali. Alipiga vita rushwa kwa nguvu zake zote. Alirejesha mahusiano mazuri na wahisani wetu na washirika wetu kwenye maendeleo. Aliweka mazingira bora ya uwekezaji, na ukuaji wa uchumi.

[...]

Wakati wa kampeni wapo baadhi ya wapinzani waliothubutu, kwa kukosa shukrani, kusema ati Serikali ya Awamu ya Tatu ilikuwa inatekeleza sera zinazobuniwa Washington. Serikali ya Awamu ya Nne haitaogopa kubuni na kutekeleza sera na mikakati ya maslahi kwa ukuaji wa uchumi na maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania ati kwa vile zinaungwa mkono na kufadhiliwa na nchi tajiri na mashirika ya fedha ya kimataifa.

[...]

Serikali ya Awamu ya Nne nayo itaendeleza misingi hiyo pamoja na kusimamia utekelezaji wa Sera Mpya ya Mambo ya Nje ambayo inalenga zaidi kwenye diplomasia ya uchumi.

Companero,
Was Kikwete successful as an Economist when he was the Finance minister?

If so was his success due to Tanzania regaining its access to foreign loans and grants?

What about monetary policy, fiscal policy and fiscal spending? What economical structures and monetary policies/ideas that he came up with that we can credit to his name?

What bout our National debt, did he manage to lower our debt due to his exceptional leadership and economic brains?

Jump forward to 2008.

If Kikwete was such a great Finance Minister, how come in less than 12 months as President, he was successful to empty our surplus reserves?

How come our national debt is soaring magnificantly under the leadership of an Economist who ran Treasury succesful?

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

To have the first degree in economics doesn't make one an economist just like having a first degree in biology doesn't qualify one to be a medical doctor. Otherwise, Tanzania has quite a number of economists, doctors, lawyers, engineers etc? To call Kikwete an economist is to insult the profession and tarnish the academic achievements of many.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Chapter 3: JK as an Economist
This chapter will look at what JK learned in while undertaking a degree in Economics how he has adanced his thinking in that area. It will particularly look at the kind of economic thinking, whether Marxist, Neoliberal or Heterodox, that informs his decision-making. The chapter will also look at the way he is handling the ongoing global economic crisis.

one thing is for sure, when he was in college he didn't not distinguish himself as a critical thinker; his reasoning are flawed and logic incredibly faulted. He does not understand most of the principles of the issues he try to explain and therefore ending up making up his own untested theories and conclusions.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Ya nini kuandikia mate ilhali wino upo hapa chini:

[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]"Our local businessmen cannot reach other executive areas on their own without the President’s presence. During my visit to the US, we had a luncheon with NASDAQ officials, who later held talks with Tanzanian businesspersons. Under normal circumstances, the NASDAQ president, whose stock exchange volume stands at USD7.1 trillion, cannot meet a person of the stature of TCCIA president Elvis Musiba.

[/FONT]

what kind of reasoning is this? did he know that americans don't look at one's stature expect the value of the mighty dollar? President of Nasdaq will meet with Satan if that means more money at the stock exchange!

But because I was there, the NASDAQ president personally attended that event...When I visited Tiffany, a big jewelers company turning out billions of dollars, its officials were in some other place and had to be summoned to meet Tanzanian [T]anzanite dealers...This is how they could meet; because I was there otherwise it would have been difficult for local Tanzanite dealers to meet their US counterparts. .

Of course the could not have come to meet these people.. who the hell know the role of Tanzania and its contribution in tanzanite trading? We are irrelevant, and if meeting with the president matters what happened after this meeting?

[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]. [/FONT][FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]It is after I had talks with the NASDAQ president that we now have the US Tanzania Business Association where businessmen from the two countries can meet. [/FONT]

and drink tea?

I visited New York Stock Exchange, whose business volume is USD22.8 trillion, where we were given the honour to open the day’s business. It is because I was there on that day that we were given that honour..

Did he know that opening the stock exchange is simply an honor? Hivi anajua ni watu wa stature gani wamewahi kufungua shughuli za pale? Somebody could have checked that for him.

.Do you think Jonathan Njau [Head of Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange] can meet those guys up there on his own? (laughter). People should not just simplify these things”

[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] - President Jakaya Kikwete quoted by The Guardian in December 2006 [/FONT]
[/QUOTE]

Of course he could; there is no magic!~

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Maelezo haya yanatoa mwanga kuhusu msimamo/mtazamo wa kiuchumi wa JK:

The President affirmed that he has a personal interest in seeing to it thatMKURABITA attains its objectives as soon as possible. He said that Tanzania hasmade a bold and firm decision to reform her development philosophy and pursue market economy. He therefore said that the pursuit of market economy entails absolute respect of and the legal-constitutional protection of property rights. He further said:

What the hell is market economy? is this the same as capitalism? is it a branch of capitalism? is this just another name for capitalism? (Ubepari)? If that is the case, why just not call it by its proper name? and what about the Ujamaa in the country's constitution and CCM's constitution? is the socialism these people were charged and sworn to build the same as market economy?

“Social scientists define property rights as a bundle of rights, entailing the controland use of property; benefit from the property; freedom of transfer or sales ofproperty; and excluding others from the property. To make this bundle of rightsrelevant. They should be enforceable by law. This will minimize disputes that arise during possession, transfer and disposal of property. So in essence, the building of a modern market economy and society entails promulgation of appropriate laws, a properly functioning and credible judiciary, and effective enforcement mechanisms.”

It sounds like he said something deep; really? should we open it up for intellectual scrutiny?

- who owns the property in the market economy and why him/her?
- who make the laws in such a system?
- Is there a separation of power or an illusion of it thereof?
- Is it true that a modern society comes after the building of a market economy?
- what is the role of the "market" in people's personal development?
- This market economy, can it function flawlessly in any society without some kind of compromise, renegotiation of principles and restating of some of these principles?
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cach...kwete+albright+clep+speech&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk

Hapo alikuwa na waliberali na waliberali mamboleo hivyo pengine alikuwa anajifanya anakubaliana nao.

This is not even close to the position of neo-liberalists! it is a pure mchanyato of illusion of political and economic theories masquaraded as a new economic philosophy which we have seen to have failed in the past few months. Without a new articulation and a new synthesis of the relationship between the rulers and the ruled, property and people, capital and development we will continue to swallow the bitter pills of western political thought and embracing them as absolutes truth, unchecked by none, defended by everyone!