Awali ya yote naomba kuchukua nafasi kumshukuru Mwenyezi Mungu kutujalia zawadi ya uzima tulio nao.
Bila kupoteza muda, napenda kusema kuwa nimemsikia Ndg Kafulila kupitia (voice note) akithibitisha kuwa ndiye aliyetoa tamko la kujiengua toka Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema). Kimsingi sina tatizo na yeye kutoka kwani ni HAKI yake kikatiba kufanya maamuzi aliyoyafanya na hivyo sina PINGAMIZI lolote katika hilo.
Ndg Kafulila anasema kupitia tamko lake kuwa ataujulisha umma ni chama gani atajiunga nacho hivi karibuni, kitu ambacho binafsi naona hakina haja kwani tayari maudhui ya andiko lake yanabainisha ni chama gani atajiunga nacho.
Sasa kama sina tatizo na Ndg Kafulila ku-exercise haki yake kikatiba, kwanini natoa maoni yangu kuhusiana na suala lake la yeye kuondoka Chadema?
Nimeamua kutoa maoni yangu kutokana na ukweli kuwa SIKUBALIANI na hoja kuu ya Ndg kafulila kuwa UPINZANI SIO TENA JUKWAA SALAMA LA KUENDESHA VITA DHIDI YA UFISADI. Adai hii imetokana na vyama vya upinzani kupigwa ganzi (japo hajasema nani kavipiga ganzi na kwanini avipige ganzi) na hivyo UFISADI SIO TENA AJENDA KUU YA UPINZANI.
Labda nisema tu kuwa Ndg Kafulila ni ama kaamua kupotosha umma kwa makusudi au hajui ni nini maana ya VYAMA VYA UPINZANI, lakini pia hajui AJENDA KUU ya vyama hivyo nchini! Kifupi tu ni kwamba, UFISADI haujawahi kuwa na kamwe hauta kuwa AJENDA KUU ya vyama vya upinzani si tu kwa Tanzania, bali duniani pote. Hii inatokana na tafsri ya upinzani lakini pia wajibu wake katika Demokrasia ya mfumo wa vyama vingi duniani.
Naomba nitumie maandiko kadhaa kulithibitisha hili nisemalo, nitaanza na mmoja wa wanasiasa wakongwe na machachari nchini New Zealand, na huyu sio mwingine ila ni Dakta Donald Thomas Don Brash. Dakta Brash alipata kuwa Gavana wa Benki Kuu ya New Zealand, Kiongozi wa Kambi Rasmi Bungeni, Kiongozi wa vyama vya National Party na ACT Party kwa nyakati tofauti. Yeye aliwahi kusema, naomba nimnukuu;
“The Opposition’s main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public…. Opposition represents an alternative government, and is responsible for challenging the policies of the government and producing different policies where appropriate.”
Naomba nitoe tafsiri (sio rasmi) Kazi kuu ya upinzani ni KUHOJI serikali iliyoko madarakani na kuifanya iwajibike kwa umma….Upinzani unawakilisha serikali MBADALA na unawajibika kutoa changamoto kwenye sera za serikali na hivyo kutoa sera tofauti/mbadala pale inapowezekana.
Dakta Brash anaongeza kusema, namnukuu; “…one of the most important jobs of the Opposition is to constantly question the Government. Any Government has to remain answerable to the public at all times, and a good Opposition can put the spotlight on serious issues and have them resolved quickly”.
Tafsiri (sio rasmi) Moja ya kazi muhimu za upinzani ni kuendelea kuhoji serikali bila kuchoka, Serikali yeyote inapashwa kuendelea kuwajibika kwa umma muda wote, na upinzani mzuri unaweza kumulika/kuibua mambo na hivyo kurekebishwa kwa haraka.
Lakini pia kwa mujibu wa Taasisi ya Kidemokrasi ya Afrika (Africa Democratic Institute) inasema wajibu wa upinzani katika Demokrasia ni mkubwa sana. Taasisi hii inabainisha baadhi ya kazi/wajibu wa upinzania kuwa ni pamoja na:-
To hold governments accountable (Kuiwajibisha Serikali);
To serve as a credible alternative to the ruling government (Kuwa mbadala wenye kuaminika/thabiti dhidi ya serikali inayotawala);
To promote and stimulate debates in parliament (Kukuza na kuchochea mijadala bungeni);
To be a training ground for future leaders (Kuwa eneo la mafunzo kwa viongozi wa baadaye);
Kwa upande mwingine, mwandishi Sheetal Kumari wa India, anaandika kama ifuatavyo:-
The Opposition parties play a very significant role in a democracy as representatives of the people…to safeguard their interests….The opposition act as watch dog’ of a the system.
Tafsiri (sio rasmi) Vyama vya upinzani vina jukumu muhimu sana katika Demokrasia kwa kuwa wawakilishi wa watu/umma ili kulinda maslahi yao….Upinzani ni mlinzi katika mfumo.
Sio hao tu, pia msomi Julius Kiiza, PhD; kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Makerere, katika ‘pepa’ yake ya Wajibu wa Upinzani katika Demokrasia, Kiiza (kama anavyopenda kuitwa) pamoja na mambo mengine anaandika.
“…opposition parties perform several important functions. These include; promoting responsible and reasoned debate. Opposition parties hold the government to account for its commissions or omissions. Parties present a viable alternative to the incumbent government by designing alternative ideas, principles and policies for governing society. Should the party in power let the voters down, the ‘government-in-waiting’ takes over the reign of power – through free and fair elections.”
Kiza anendelea kuandika; “Parties act as a training ground for future leaders, parties strengthen the culture of democracy within the party and the political community in general (by, for example, promoting open debate during delegates’ conferences, promoting intra-party democratic elections and ensuring accountable use of party finances). Parties work with the Electoral Commission, the mass media and civil society organizations to monitor and improve the quality of voter registration, civic education and electoral transparency.
Tasfri (sio rasmi) ya maneno ya Kiiza
...vyama vya upinzani vinafanya kazi kadhaa muhimu. Hizi ni pamoja na; kukuza mijadala na hoja zenye kuleta uwajibikaji. Vyama vya upinzani vinaiwajibisha serikali katika maelekezo na makosa yake. Vyama vinajinadi kama mbadala unayofaa na fanisi dhidi ya serikali iliyoko madarakani katika kubuni mawazo, kanuni na sera mbadala zenye kuongoza umma. Kama itatokea chama tawala kikawaangusha wapiga kura, 'serikali inayosubiri' huchukua madaraka kupitia chaguzi huru na za haki.
Sasa nikirejea kwenye hoja yangu, ukisoma hayo maandiko na mengine mengi tu, hakuna hata moja linalosema kuwa AJENDA KUU YA UPINZANI NI UFISADI. Hivyo kwa wanaotumia maneno kama hayo ya Ndg Kafulila pale wanapoamua kuondoka upinzania, ama wanaamua kudanganya ama hawajui wajibu/agenda kuu ya upinzani ni nini.
Ni vema watoe sababu zengine lakini sio sababu zisizo na mashiko na tena ni MFU kama hizo za aina ya Ndg Kafulila. Lakini pia ukisoma maandiko hayo, na mengine mengi ambayo sikuyanukuu, hakuna mahali panasema njia ya upinzani kuiunga mkono serikali iliyoko madarakani ni kuondoka upinzani na kujiunga chama tawala, kama ingelikuwa ni hivyo. Basi upinzani na wajibu wake utakuwa hauna maana.
Mimi nadhani ni sahihi sana kwa wewe unaona vyuma vimekaza na unaona njia rahisi ni kukimbilia chama tawala, basi ondoka tu, USIUPOTOSHE UMMA. Au kama umeshindwana na wenzio ndani ya chama na ukaona njia sahihi ni wewe kuachana nao, basi ondoka tu, ukipenda kimya kimya au kwa kelele lakini USIUPOTOSHE UMMA. Na kama umeahidiwa CHEO, PESA nk basi we nenda tu kachukue lakini USIUPOTOSHE UMMA.
NAOMBA KUWASILISHA
Dickson Ng’hily
European Zone Coordinator – ACT Wazalendo
22/11/2027
