Suala la MNF lawama hapaswi kutupiwa JK. Utete wa MNF unatokana na siasa za ndani za humo. Na tukitaka kuzijua tuangalie historia ya kilichowaondoa watu muhimu katika taasisi hiyo hasa baada ya Mwalimu JK kufariki. Pia turejee makala hii ya wazi iliyoandikwa gazetini mwaka 2008:
Salvage foundation to uphold Nyerere legacy
By Alfred Ngotezi
To most of us, the establishment of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation (MNF) in 1996, represented a deliberate effort to pass on the ideals of founding President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
The project stood as tall as its initiator, whose integrity, honesty, foresight and intelligence remain awe-inspiring today, about 10 years since he died.
However, it has had its share of ups and downs.
Its executive secretary, Joseph Butiku, recently said it is currently in the financial doldrums.
He said:
''The foundation is facing hard times and relies on external donations for day-to-day operations. Because of this handicap, we have failed to start construction of our new 10-storey building.''
The stalled $10.3 million (Tsh12.3b) building was meant to be a self-financing project for the foundation, with a memorial library for one of Africa's most revered politicians.
The building would also have a spacious commercial hall, a business car park, and rental offices. But, so far, all this remains a pipe dream.
Explaining the scenario, Butiku said the story goes back to 2003, when the foundation sought to raise Sh800 million through donations from corporate organisations and individuals, but only realised half of that.
''To raise the remaining sum, we decided to extend the request to every Tanzanian, an idea which got us into trouble,'' he said.
He explained that the Prime Minister of the time, Frederick Sumaye, was not amused by the idea and instantly blocked it.
Sumaye, who ran for the top job and lost at the CCM nomination stage in 2005, reportedly bunged the MNF initiative allegedly to thwart former African Union secretary general Salim Ahmed Salim's presidential bid.
Whether this is true or not, only time will tell. But Butiku insists it is an opportunity that went begging.
''If we had gone ahead with the plan, we would have raised Sh20 billion, apart from promised assistance from the US, not to mention the project's $200,000 (Tsh240m) expected annual income,'' he is quoted as saying.
Unless proved otherwise, these are shocking revelations. However, journalism is a game of balancing.
One-sided allegations are not necessarily true until they are weighed in the light of the response of the accused.
In view of this, it would be fair to look at the other side of the coin. Butiku's critics accuse him of mismanagement of the Foundation, citing alleged withdrawal of funds for unplanned purposes.
The Foundation chairman, Dr Salim, it is alleged, has on several occasions had to pay the workers' salaries from his own pocket.
An impeccable source, who sought anonymity, claimed that Butiku has personalised the institution and runs it with an iron-fist.
Others accuse him of turning the organisation into an opinionated platform, drawing incessant criticism from the establishment. Butiku has all along denied these charges.
As the two sides trade more and more accusations, those of us on the periphery may never know the exact nature of this rigmarole.
Perhaps yet another investigating committee could help us here. But even before we come to the river to cross the bridge, as it were, the fact of the matter is that without smooth financing, the MNF will die sooner than later.
I personally do not see why we should kill such an enviable foundation.
For, letting it die would amount to doing a disservice to all the people who hold Mwalimu Nyerere and what he stood for in high esteem, and it's millions in Africa and throughout the world.
For our leaders, such action could be construed as putting the last nail in the coffin of Mwalimu's good governance and rule of law beliefs and practices.
I, therefore, urge the leadership of the MNF, especially its board, to put their heads together, with a view to coming up with a viable survival plan.
Rather than rely on a few donors like Dr Salim to sustain the fund, they should devise ways of reaching out to more people both locally and internationally.
Clearly, any feasible plan to turn the MNF into a self-financing project would attract donations from all over the world.
I would be surprised if Nyerere admirers like former South African President Nelson Mandela, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, to name but a few, would not wish to chip in.
That is apart from many Tanzanians, who still believe that Mwalimu deserves their support in life and death because he never stole their money.
Yet as earlier seen, the MNF's woes may be right in the ship not in the sea. Therefore, the best way forward is to identify its prevailing weaknesses, with a view to charting a prosperous future for the institution.
This suggestion may sound vitriolic to some of the interested parties, but unfortunately, that is the way forward, given that Mwalimu belonged, nay, belongs to us all.
The most important issue is to ensure that Nyerere's impressive human qualities do not die with him.
One of the ways to sustain his virtues is to support his Foundation.
The ball lies squarely in the court of the institution's board of directors.
Source: http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=4879