Kinana: Tanzania cannot be allowed to be the new front for terrorists

[Manjagata]

Kiingereza kibovu sijapata kuona! Huyu Msomali yeye ni nani mpaka atuamulie ya kufanya? Hivi anafikri hao anaowaandikia hawajui kama yeye ni jangili aliyekubuhu? Arudishe kwanza meno ya tembo wetu ndo tumwelewe!!

 

[Triplets]

Wasiyemtaka wamarekani ndio raisi bora, hata wamarekani wanajua akiingia lowasa mirija ya kufyonzea maliasili zetu inakatwa! Wanamsifia JK na kumtunukia mashahada kwa sababu anawasaidia kuleta maisha bora kwa kila mmarekani!

 

[Ozzie]

Mnatapatapa tu baada ya mgombea wenu kudhihirisha hana uwezo katika kukabiliana na changamoto za kazi ya urais.

Hana moral authority ya kupambana na ufisadi kwa sababu na yeye ni fisadi.

Hana uwezo kiafya.

Hana uwezo kifikra kutokana na madhara yatokanayo na ugonjwa unaomsumbua.

Serikali ya Marekani haihitaji kuambiwa na mtu wa nje kuhusu wasifu wa wagombea Urais wa Tanzania

Hivi kwa akili zako unadhani serikali ya Marekani hawafahamu wasifu wa Lowassa?

Hujasoma kwenye wikileaks kuhusu angalizo la serikali ya Marekani linalomuhusu Lowassa.

Pitia hapa ili usome wanachokisema Wamarekani

Kumbe waiamini wikileaks ati, basi angalia hapa waliposema Kikwete alihongwa suit. Usikimbie

1. (C) President Kikwete has accepted gifts (bribes) from the owner of the Kempinski Hotel chain,s Tanzanian properties, a citizen of the United Arab Emirates.

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/06DARESSALAAM277_a.html

 

[KILIVITE]

Mimi mwana CCM Kindakindaki naapa kuwa nitampigia kura Edward Ngoyai Lowassa anayeiwakilisha CHADEMA kupitia mwamvuli wa Muungano wa vyama vya UKAWA. Kama kunawakati ambapo CCM inahitaji kujipanga vyema na kurekebisha mapungufu yaliyopo wakati huo ndio sasa.Kwa yeyote anayeipenda CCM kama mimi,naomba kwa Moyo Mkunjufu tuiweke CCM pembeni ili ikajikague,ikajitafakari na kisha ijipange kwa ajili ya 2020 - 2025.Gari ama mashine yeyote ile hata iwe tingatinga ikiharibika sharti iwekwe pembeni ili ifanyiwe marekebisho.Ukiilazimisha iendelee na kazi ama iendelee na safari madhara yake ni makubwa sana kwa abiria,mazingira na hata watu waliokaribu na mashine hiyo!!Kataa vitisho,kataa kununuliwa kama bidhaa,kataa uchochezi,kataa michezo michafu ya Kisiasa...Jiandae kupiga kura yako kwa Diwani,Mbunge na Rais wa UKAWA.....MUNGU ibariki TANZANIA na watu wake wote!!

 

[mizambwa]

Tuliza kipago wewe dawa ikuingie, kama ukawa ndo kulia tu ndo zenu.... Bora mpite hivi >>>>>>>>>>
#hapakazitu.

View attachment 286724​

 

[mizambwa]

Hii ni Episode number ngapi ile !!!!!!!!


Nakumbuka namba moja ilikuwa kujificha kwa Dr. Slaa na kususia mkutano wa kumpokea Lowasa.

Namba mbili ilikuwa ni kujiuzulu kwa Pro. Lipumba.

Namba tatu ni uimbaji wa Taarabu alioufanya Mh. Mkapa pale Jangwani.

Namba nne ni kuropoka ovyo kwa Dr. Slaa na hatimaye kujiengue masuala ya Siasa.

Sasa hii makala ya KINANA sijui ni Episode ya ngapi !!!!!!!!




MIZAMBWA
INANIUMA SANA!!!

 

[husseinmkumba]

kwanini ashtaki marekani kwani wao ni akina nani kwetu watz

 

[m-colour]

Ata kibaka akidakwa na wenyew hua anaomba police watokee

 

[JET SALLI]

CCM Kushnei.

 

[minyoo]

Mnatapatapa tu baada ya mgombea wenu kudhihirisha hana uwezo katika kukabiliana na changamoto za kazi ya urais.

Hana moral authority ya kupambana na ufisadi kwa sababu na yeye ni fisadi.

Hana uwezo kiafya.

Hana uwezo kifikra kutokana na madhara yatokanayo na ugonjwa unaomsumbua.

Serikali ya Marekani haihitaji kuambiwa na mtu wa nje kuhusu wasifu wa wagombea Urais wa Tanzania

Hivi kwa akili zako unadhani serikali ya Marekani hawafahamu wasifu wa Lowassa?

Hujasoma kwenye wikileaks kuhusu angalizo la serikali ya Marekani linalomuhusu Lowassa.

Pitia hapa ili usome wanachokisema Wamarekani

Escrow, epa, mabehewa mabovu uuzaji nyumba za serikali na madhambi kibao wanajua?

 

[minyoo]

Marekani wanawezaje kumzuia mgombea uraisi wa nchi nyingine ambayo haiko chini yake?

Mbona kinana anauza meno ya tembo hawamzungumzii?

 

[minyoo]

Hao Marekani mbona walishindwa Kenya... Mnakumbuka ule msemo "some choices have consequences?..... Umma ukiamua umeamua

Wakitaka waanze na Membe juu ya Mali na pesa za marehemu Gadafi

 

[JT2014]

Kinana alishasema serikali yake ina mawaziri mizigo.
sasa anaomba kura kwa kuchafua wapinzani atapata wapi mawaziri wa kuendesha serikali?
au wataleta watu kutoka Marekani na China kama wanavyoomba vyandarua ili kupambana na mbu?

 

[mpasuajipu99]

Marekani wanawezaje kumzuia mgombea uraisi wa nchi nyingine ambayo haiko chini yake?

KROBA plus UGORO Unategeea nini mkuu

 

[nzalendo]

Marekani wanawezaje kumzuia mgombea uraisi wa nchi nyingine ambayo haiko chini yake?

Huyu msomali ni SHIDA
hivi uhamiaji zitto kakamatwa issue uraia
mbona huyu Kinana msomali pure hakamatwi?

 

[Mohamed Said]

In 2013 two British volunteer teachers, Katie Gee and Kirstie Trup – both at the time teenagers – suffered a horrific attack while in Zanzibar, part of Tanzania in East Africa, when two men on motorbikes threw sulphuric acid in their faces. Flown back to London, surgeons removed from Katie Gee, the worst affected of the two, burnt skin from 30 per cent of her body. One year later, she was still required to wear a plastic mask to reduce the scarring covering her face.

Assisted by investigators from the British police at New Scotland Yard and Interpol, the Tanzanian authorities later arrested for the crime members of Uamsho or "Awakening", an Islamic terrorist group with known links to Boko Haram. They have now been charged in court. Uamsho has a history of targeting foreigners and even Muslim and Christian religious leaders who do not support their aim of tearing apart the union of Tanzania through terrorism and converting Zanzibar into an extremist state.

Even after the attacks on Gee and Trup, who were only in Zanzibar to help and others who have meant no harm to anyone, as we learnt in the first few weeks of election campaigns in Tanzania, Edward Lowassa, an opposition candidate, has clear sympathies to the aims of these extremists.

For some years the status of Zanzibar within the United Republic of Tanzania has been an important question for the people of that island. A tiny minority advocates separation from the mainland with which it was united in the same year it overthrew the Arab regime. There is nothing wrong in holding perfectly legitimate political debates so long as they are pursued through peaceful, democratic means.

But the question is, how long it would be possible for such discussion to remain peaceful if the opposition were to succeed in the upcoming Tanzanian General Election? Lowassa, who, after only 18 months as Prime Minister, was forced by the Parliament to resign from the post after a corruption scandal has promised the release of those who committed the acid attack. Allowing the suspected terrorists to walk free and, without doubt, resume their violent campaign would threaten the safety of ordinary Zanzibarians, mainland Tanzanians – most of whom are moderate whether they follow Islam or Christianity – and foreign visitors, many of whom hail from the UK.

Lowassa is proposing this purely as part of his breathtakingly cynical bid for the presidency. Rejected by voters in his attempt to win the nomination to be the candidate for the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party he immediately decamped to the opposition to become theirs.

Moderate opposition leaders, including Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, the chairman of the predominantly Zanzibarian Civic United Front have resigned, in protest, to support the government. We can only assume that Lowassa's outreach to these extremists was a desperate response to the fact the majority of Zanzibarians in that long-standing stronghold for the opposition have been refusing to support his presidential bid.

It is hardly surprising they do not. This move has angered many Christian bishops who had called for government to swiftly prosecute extremists who are widely believed to have burnt churches and targeted Christians with violence, including acid attacks. It is clear that Lowassa's interests do not lie with helping the people of Tanzania, but by helping himself to power, and the spoils he believes await him there. After all, the character of Lowassa is well known not just to Tanzanians but also to the West. Wikileaks revealed through one of many U.S. diplomatic cables that concern Lowassa exactly what the Americans think about him, when then U.S. Ambassador Mark Green stated: "Lowassa's corrupt activities have been an open secret throughout Tanzania for many years."

Neither Tanzania nor the West can afford to have Tanzania as the new frontier of terrorism in Africa through Lowassa's actions. Despite the terrifying attacks they have conducted over the years, they have not yet demonstrated they have the strength of other jihadist groups such as Al-Shabaab or Boko Haram. Indeed, by comparison, Tanzania has been mercifully peaceful and safe from the violence committed against our neighbours such as Kenya.

While who governs Tanzania is only a question the citizens of my country have the right to answer, it is right that Britain and its allies in the struggle against Islamic terrorism should be extremely concerned were Lowassa to win and action his promise to the extremists.

When Al-Shabaab attacked Westgate Mall in Nairobi in 2013, the UK and US government issued travel advisories to its citizens against visiting many parts of Kenya. This has seriously affected their crucial tourism industry: it is without doubt that a revival of terror in Zanzibar would devastate the tourism industry of Tanzania and, in particular, that of Zanzibar on which the island is heavily dependent.

So the choice facing Tanzania at this coming election has ramifications both at home but also far beyond our own borders. If Lowassa and his opposition supporters win, a slim possibility as things stand today, then the country stands to become a new front for terrorists, just at the very time when they are facing defeat in other countries across Africa.

Kinana has served as the first Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, and Deputy Defence and Deputy Foreign Minister of Tanzania. He now serves as Secretary-General for the governing CCM party.

Source: thehill.com

The Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002




After 9/11 the United States passed the Patriot Act of 2001. Soon after it had sailed through the Congress in record time the United States pressurised other governments to pass similar anti-terror legislation and join in its campaign against terrorism. Through diplomatic manoeuvres and veiled threats many African governments passed what came to be known as Anti -Terror Legislation. Tanzania passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002, which in all intent and purpose replicated the United States Patriot Act of 2001. Due to under representation of Muslims in parliament the Act sailed through without any difficulties notwithstanding Muslim opposition outside the parliament. What concerned Muslims more was the fact that the law was not only draconian but also targeted Muslims. Muslims realised that with the Act in force any conflict between them and the government could be tried under that legislation and this would have very dire consequences. The Prevention of Terrorism Act was a piece of legislation, which was imposed on Tanzania with the intention to open up the country for covert operations against enemies of the United States. Although the act does not say so in so many words but it is clear the legislation is meant to protect United States and provide it with political and legal powers to expand its military hegemony in countries, which it did not enjoy, such freedom before.



On 17[SUP]th[/SUP] May 2003 with the anti terror legislation in place the police in collaboration with the FBI (who were already in the country waiting for the president to assent the bill) arrested Muslims suspected to be ‘terrorists.' But those arrested had nothing to do with terrorism; they were Muslims leaders who the government arrested for being ‘opponents' of the government and ruling party the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Among those arrested were leaders of various Muslim charitable organisations - foreign oriented and local, who have distinguished themselves in providing social services to Muslims like building mosques, schools, orphanages etc. These were targeted for being ‘terrorist sympathisers' or for being directly involved in ‘terrorist activities' or for ‘providing logistic support to terrorists;' and bank account of one prominent Muslim school – Al Furqan was frozen for suspicion of being a conduit of funds from abroad to support terrorism.



In response to these arrests Muslims staged a mass demonstration against the government and the United States opposing the mass arrests of the Muslim leadership, harassment by the local police, the FBI and against the Anti – Terrorist Legislation. The demonstration was the first of its kind, as never before had Muslims shown such solidarity against a foreign power. Ignoring the feeling of Muslims the then United States Ambassador to Tanzania Robert Royall addressed the Tanzanian Parliament expressing his government's satisfaction in Tanzania's support in its war against terrorists and pledged USD 100m in aid to East African governments to help combat terrorism. Investigations revealed that none of the arrested Muslims had any kind of military training whatsoever or had in anyway engaged in terrorist activities and they were quietly released without being charged. Investigations also failed to prove that the account of Al Furqan had at any one time used to transfer funds from abroad for illegal use. All this notwithstanding there was no apology from the government, the FBI or the police.



Probably unknown to the United States, the government in Tanzania had other reasons for passing the legislation completely unconnected with terrorism. The government was under pressure from Muslims to review the status quo. The government was and still is functioning as a Christian establishment completely marginalising Muslims.[5]The Church particularly the Catholic Church is in control of the government by proxy. It controls 75% of the seats in the parliament. Among these seats Catholics hold 70% and the rest are divided among Muslims and Christian of other denominations. Muslims controls mere 6% of the total seats in parliament. Since independence in 1961 the Church was able to manipulate the political system in such a way that, its influence permeates the state machinery, mass media, higher institutions of learning, employment, promotion to political office etc. etc. It also has influence in the Executive, the Judiciary and most important it controls the Parliament the highest law making body in the country.[6]



The government was engaged in its own silent war against Muslims who were opposing Christian hegemony over the country and several times the government had to use force, harassment and arrest of the Muslim leadership in trying to contain the agitation.[7]Corresponding to this awakening, Islam has gradually been gaining ground over Christianity in Tanzania. There is a noticeable number of Christians reverting back to Islam.[8]The Church is facing opposition on two fronts. It is facing Muslims on the political front agitating against the status quo and on the second front there is Islam as a doctrinaire attacking the very foundations of Christianity. The Catholic Church is the most affected and naturally it is showing concern. The government saw in the Act an opportunity it could manipulate in its war against Muslims and roll back the tide of Islam in Tanzania.



The United States government in supporting the Tanzanian government in its war against terrorism was in actual sense supporting the Christian lobby in the government in its anti Islam stand. In so doing was creating out of Muslims an unwilling adversary who had never threatened American interests. This state of affairs forced Muslims in Tanzania to open up yet another line of defence against the United States fanning an already volatile state of affairs. Muslims had now two powerful adversaries to watch out. Muslims had to confront local adversaries as well as the United States. The Christian lobby in the government had found an unexpected ally. Muslims had to organise a line of defence against the United States' interference into what was previously purely an internal power struggle between Muslims and Christians vying for dominance in the local political arena. The entry of the United States in the conflict on the side of the government gave the conflict religious undertones, which were translated by Muslims as an impending American crusade hidden behind the façade of war against terrorism. What was worse is the fact that in the last ten years there had been a large influx of Pentecost churches into the country from the United States and these churches were not openly hostile towards Islam but were also very aggressive towards other Christian sects. However with the passing of the anti-terrorist legislation it seemed all Christian churches in Tanzania where united in combating Islam under the banner of terrorism.



The Act was therefore seen by Muslims as yet another strategy by the government to keep Muslims under perpetual bondage. The government of Tanzania had succeeded to manipulate the Prevention of Terrorism Act for its own selfish ends. The government had shifted from its long standing progressive policy of commitment to freedom, justice and equality overtime transforming itself into an ‘ally' of the United States whose oppressive policies it once lead other African nations to oppose. This change of policy and ideological stand unsettled the established political equilibrium. It is now out of tune for Tanzania to identify itself with the people of Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kashmir. The government was able to kill three birds with one stone. First by passing the anti terrorism legislation it had found a partner in its efforts to weaken Islam and its influence in Tanzania. Second it managed to alienate Tanzanian Muslims from the rest of the Muslim world where Islam was under siege; and lastly the government managed to position itself correctly as an ‘ally' of the United States and hence be considered legible for aid,[9] the aid which will eventually strengthen the status quo.



The Prevention of Terrorism Act is fraught with legal defects.[10] It is beyond the scope of this paper to go into all the shortcomings. Suffice to say that the act curbs democracy, free association, exchange of information, the right to own property, etc. There are also sections, which give the Minister of Home Affairs undue powers to declare any person a ‘terrorist' on mere suspicion. In a country where the Church controls the government, one can only imagine the dangers facing Islam. The law empowers the Minister to freeze bank accounts of any suspected ‘terrorist organisation' or individual. Nowhere is the law frightening than in part V 28 (6). This section deserves special mention. It stipulates that:



A police officer who uses such force as may be necessary for any purpose, in accordance with this Act, shall not be liable, in any criminal or civil proceedings, for having, by the use of force, caused injury or death to any person or damage to or loss of any property.



Muslims were concerned because the parliament was being manipulated by a foreign power in partnership with the Christian lobby to legitimise oppression against them. It was now legitimate to kill ‘Muslim fundamentalists' or suspected ‘terrorists' on mere suspicion. There were many good reasons for Muslims to register concern. There had been incidences in the past where state organs have used excessive force against Muslims resulting into deaths of Muslims. The act in a multi racial society like Tanzania incites racial and religious hatred against Muslims particularly those not of black African origin. The Act managed to fan fear and hatred against Muslims whipping up a frenzy of Islamophobia in the country. The smoke bombing of mosques and mass arrests of sheikhs over the years, were one of the means of intimidating Muslims and rescuing the Church from its predicament.[11]What was there to prevent state organs from applying the Act in subverting Islam?



(From:Mohamed Said ''Islam, Terrorism and African Development,'' Paper presented at University of Ibadan, Nigeria 2006).

 

[Mohamed Said]

In 2013 two British volunteer teachers, Katie Gee and Kirstie Trup – both at the time teenagers – suffered a horrific attack while in Zanzibar, part of Tanzania in East Africa, when two men on motorbikes threw sulphuric acid in their faces. Flown back to London, surgeons removed from Katie Gee, the worst affected of the two, burnt skin from 30 per cent of her body. One year later, she was still required to wear a plastic mask to reduce the scarring covering her face.

Assisted by investigators from the British police at New Scotland Yard and Interpol, the Tanzanian authorities later arrested for the crime members of Uamsho or "Awakening", an Islamic terrorist group with known links to Boko Haram. They have now been charged in court. Uamsho has a history of targeting foreigners and even Muslim and Christian religious leaders who do not support their aim of tearing apart the union of Tanzania through terrorism and converting Zanzibar into an extremist state.

Even after the attacks on Gee and Trup, who were only in Zanzibar to help and others who have meant no harm to anyone, as we learnt in the first few weeks of election campaigns in Tanzania, Edward Lowassa, an opposition candidate, has clear sympathies to the aims of these extremists.

For some years the status of Zanzibar within the United Republic of Tanzania has been an important question for the people of that island. A tiny minority advocates separation from the mainland with which it was united in the same year it overthrew the Arab regime. There is nothing wrong in holding perfectly legitimate political debates so long as they are pursued through peaceful, democratic means.

But the question is, how long it would be possible for such discussion to remain peaceful if the opposition were to succeed in the upcoming Tanzanian General Election? Lowassa, who, after only 18 months as Prime Minister, was forced by the Parliament to resign from the post after a corruption scandal has promised the release of those who committed the acid attack. Allowing the suspected terrorists to walk free and, without doubt, resume their violent campaign would threaten the safety of ordinary Zanzibarians, mainland Tanzanians – most of whom are moderate whether they follow Islam or Christianity – and foreign visitors, many of whom hail from the UK.

Lowassa is proposing this purely as part of his breathtakingly cynical bid for the presidency. Rejected by voters in his attempt to win the nomination to be the candidate for the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party he immediately decamped to the opposition to become theirs.

Moderate opposition leaders, including Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, the chairman of the predominantly Zanzibarian Civic United Front have resigned, in protest, to support the government. We can only assume that Lowassa's outreach to these extremists was a desperate response to the fact the majority of Zanzibarians in that long-standing stronghold for the opposition have been refusing to support his presidential bid.

It is hardly surprising they do not. This move has angered many Christian bishops who had called for government to swiftly prosecute extremists who are widely believed to have burnt churches and targeted Christians with violence, including acid attacks. It is clear that Lowassa's interests do not lie with helping the people of Tanzania, but by helping himself to power, and the spoils he believes await him there. After all, the character of Lowassa is well known not just to Tanzanians but also to the West. Wikileaks revealed through one of many U.S. diplomatic cables that concern Lowassa exactly what the Americans think about him, when then U.S. Ambassador Mark Green stated: "Lowassa's corrupt activities have been an open secret throughout Tanzania for many years."

Neither Tanzania nor the West can afford to have Tanzania as the new frontier of terrorism in Africa through Lowassa's actions. Despite the terrifying attacks they have conducted over the years, they have not yet demonstrated they have the strength of other jihadist groups such as Al-Shabaab or Boko Haram. Indeed, by comparison, Tanzania has been mercifully peaceful and safe from the violence committed against our neighbours such as Kenya.

While who governs Tanzania is only a question the citizens of my country have the right to answer, it is right that Britain and its allies in the struggle against Islamic terrorism should be extremely concerned were Lowassa to win and action his promise to the extremists.

When Al-Shabaab attacked Westgate Mall in Nairobi in 2013, the UK and US government issued travel advisories to its citizens against visiting many parts of Kenya. This has seriously affected their crucial tourism industry: it is without doubt that a revival of terror in Zanzibar would devastate the tourism industry of Tanzania and, in particular, that of Zanzibar on which the island is heavily dependent.

So the choice facing Tanzania at this coming election has ramifications both at home but also far beyond our own borders. If Lowassa and his opposition supporters win, a slim possibility as things stand today, then the country stands to become a new front for terrorists, just at the very time when they are facing defeat in other countries across Africa.

Kinana has served as the first Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, and Deputy Defence and Deputy Foreign Minister of Tanzania. He now serves as Secretary-General for the governing CCM party.

Source: thehill.com

The Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002
After 9/11 the United States passed the Patriot Act of 2001. Soon after it had sailed through the Congress in record time the United States pressurised other governments to pass similar anti-terror legislation and join in its campaign against terrorism. Through diplomatic manoeuvres and veiled threats many African governments passed what came to be known as Anti -Terror Legislation. Tanzania passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002, which in all intent and purpose replicated the United States Patriot Act of 2001. Due to under representation of Muslims in parliament the Act sailed through without any difficulties notwithstanding Muslim opposition outside the parliament. What concerned Muslims more was the fact that the law was not only draconian but also targeted Muslims. Muslims realised that with the Act in force any conflict between them and the government could be tried under that legislation and this would have very dire consequences. The Prevention of Terrorism Act was a piece of legislation, which was imposed on Tanzania with the intention to open up the country for covert operations against enemies of the United States. Although the act does not say so in so many words but it is clear the legislation is meant to protect United States and provide it with political and legal powers to expand its military hegemony in countries, which it did not enjoy, such freedom before.

On 17[SUP]th[/SUP] May 2003 with the anti terror legislation in place the police in collaboration with the FBI (who were already in the country waiting for the president to assent the bill) arrested Muslims suspected to be ‘terrorists.' But those arrested had nothing to do with terrorism; they were Muslims leaders who the government arrested for being ‘opponents' of the government and ruling party the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Among those arrested were leaders of various Muslim charitable organisations - foreign oriented and local, who have distinguished themselves in providing social services to Muslims like building mosques, schools, orphanages etc. These were targeted for being ‘terrorist sympathisers' or for being directly involved in ‘terrorist activities' or for ‘providing logistic support to terrorists;' and bank account of one prominent Muslim school – Al Furqan was frozen for suspicion of being a conduit of funds from abroad to support terrorism.

In response to these arrests Muslims staged a mass demonstration against the government and the United States opposing the mass arrests of the Muslim leadership, harassment by the local police, the FBI and against the Anti – Terrorist Legislation. The demonstration was the first of its kind, as never before had Muslims shown such solidarity against a foreign power. Ignoring the feeling of Muslims the then United States Ambassador to Tanzania Robert Royall addressed the Tanzanian Parliament expressing his government's satisfaction in Tanzania's support in its war against terrorists and pledged USD 100m in aid to East African governments to help combat terrorism. Investigations revealed that none of the arrested Muslims had any kind of military training whatsoever or had in anyway engaged in terrorist activities and they were quietly released without being charged. Investigations also failed to prove that the account of Al Furqan had at any one time used to transfer funds from abroad for illegal use. All this notwithstanding there was no apology from the government, the FBI or the police.

Probably unknown to the United States, the government in Tanzania had other reasons for passing the legislation completely unconnected with terrorism. The government was under pressure from Muslims to review the status quo. The government was and still is functioning as a Christian establishment completely marginalising Muslims.[5]The Church particularly the Catholic Church is in control of the government by proxy. It controls 75% of the seats in the parliament. Among these seats Catholics hold 70% and the rest are divided among Muslims and Christian of other denominations. Muslims controls mere 6% of the total seats in parliament. Since independence in 1961 the Church was able to manipulate the political system in such a way that, its influence permeates the state machinery, mass media, higher institutions of learning, employment, promotion to political office etc. etc. It also has influence in the Executive, the Judiciary and most important it controls the Parliament the highest law making body in the country.[6]

The government was engaged in its own silent war against Muslims who were opposing Christian hegemony over the country and several times the government had to use force, harassment and arrest of the Muslim leadership in trying to contain the agitation.[7]Corresponding to this awakening, Islam has gradually been gaining ground over Christianity in Tanzania. There is a noticeable number of Christians reverting back to Islam.[8]The Church is facing opposition on two fronts. It is facing Muslims on the political front agitating against the status quo and on the second front there is Islam as a doctrinaire attacking the very foundations of Christianity. The Catholic Church is the most affected and naturally it is showing concern. The government saw in the Act an opportunity it could manipulate in its war against Muslims and roll back the tide of Islam in Tanzania.

The United States government in supporting the Tanzanian government in its war against terrorism was in actual sense supporting the Christian lobby in the government in its anti Islam stand. In so doing was creating out of Muslims an unwilling adversary who had never threatened American interests. This state of affairs forced Muslims in Tanzania to open up yet another line of defence against the United States fanning an already volatile state of affairs. Muslims had now two powerful adversaries to watch out. Muslims had to confront local adversaries as well as the United States. The Christian lobby in the government had found an unexpected ally. Muslims had to organise a line of defence against the United States' interference into what was previously purely an internal power struggle between Muslims and Christians vying for dominance in the local political arena. The entry of the United States in the conflict on the side of the government gave the conflict religious undertones, which were translated by Muslims as an impending American crusade hidden behind the façade of war against terrorism. What was worse is the fact that in the last ten years there had been a large influx of Pentecost churches into the country from the United States and these churches were not openly hostile towards Islam but were also very aggressive towards other Christian sects. However with the passing of the anti-terrorist legislation it seemed all Christian churches in Tanzania where united in combating Islam under the banner of terrorism.

The Act was therefore seen by Muslims as yet another strategy by the government to keep Muslims under perpetual bondage. The government of Tanzania had succeeded to manipulate the Prevention of Terrorism Act for its own selfish ends. The government had shifted from its long standing progressive policy of commitment to freedom, justice and equality overtime transforming itself into an ‘ally' of the United States whose oppressive policies it once lead other African nations to oppose. This change of policy and ideological stand unsettled the established political equilibrium. It is now out of tune for Tanzania to identify itself with the people of Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kashmir. The government was able to kill three birds with one stone. First by passing the anti terrorism legislation it had found a partner in its efforts to weaken Islam and its influence in Tanzania. Second it managed to alienate Tanzanian Muslims from the rest of the Muslim world where Islam was under siege; and lastly the government managed to position itself correctly as an ‘ally' of the United States and hence be considered legible for aid,[9] the aid which will eventually strengthen the status quo.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act is fraught with legal defects.[10] It is beyond the scope of this paper to go into all the shortcomings. Suffice to say that the act curbs democracy, free association, exchange of information, the right to own property, etc. There are also sections, which give the Minister of Home Affairs undue powers to declare any person a ‘terrorist' on mere suspicion. In a country where the Church controls the government, one can only imagine the dangers facing Islam. The law empowers the Minister to freeze bank accounts of any suspected ‘terrorist organisation' or individual. Nowhere is the law frightening than in part V 28 (6). This section deserves special mention. It stipulates that:

A police officer who uses such force as may be necessary for any purpose, in accordance with this Act, shall not be liable, in any criminal or civil proceedings, for having, by the use of force, caused injury or death to any person or damage to or loss of any property.

Muslims were concerned because the parliament was being manipulated by a foreign power in partnership with the Christian lobby to legitimise oppression against them. It was now legitimate to kill ‘Muslim fundamentalists' or suspected ‘terrorists' on mere suspicion. There were many good reasons for Muslims to register concern. There had been incidences in the past where state organs have used excessive force against Muslims resulting into deaths of Muslims. The act in a multi racial society like Tanzania incites racial and religious hatred against Muslims particularly those not of black African origin. The Act managed to fan fear and hatred against Muslims whipping up a frenzy of Islamophobia in the country. The smoke bombing of mosques and mass arrests of sheikhs over the years, were one of the means of intimidating Muslims and rescuing the Church from its predicament.[11]What was there to prevent state organs from applying the Act in subverting Islam?

(Mohamed Said Excerpts from: ''Islam, Terrorism and African Development,'' Paper presented at University of Ibadan, Nigeria 2006).

Full paper:http://www.mohammedsaid.com/2013/12/islam-terrorism-and-african-development.html

 

[Mohamed Said]

Katika hali inayoashiria kuishiwa kwa hoja na sera, sasa CCM imeonesha hali halisi baada ya Katibu Mkuu wa CCM kuandika makala iliyojaa uongo na uchochezi dhidi ya Lowassa, ambayo imesambazwa nchini Uingereza na Marekani.

Wadau wametupa taarifa, tumeisoma, tunaifanyia kazi.




Aluta Continua!

#Mabadiliko2015

MwanaHaki,
Sheria ya Ugaidi ina matatizo makubwa yatakayowaathir sana Waislam.

Ingia hapa usome:
Mohamed Said: IS TERRORISM A PAWN FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN TANZANIA?

 

[Lusungo]

MwanaHaki,
Sheria ya Ugaidi ina matatizo makubwa yatakayowaathir sana Waislam.

Ingia hapa usome:
Mohamed Said: IS TERRORISM A PAWN FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN TANZANIA?

Hivi kinana amekosa mbinu nyingine mpaka kudhalilisha uislamu wake kwa kujiingiza kwa hao wapiganaji feki wa ugaidi Marekani kisa tu ushindi wa CCM??

 

[helu]

Na Ahmed Rajab, Raia Mwema.

NIMEKUWA nikiyasoma, tena na tena, makala ya Abdulrahman Kinana, Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), yaliyochapishwa Septemba 10 kwenye blogi la gazeti la The Hill la huko Washington, Marekani.
Gazeti hilo si la kuchezewa wala kudharauliwa. Tangu liasisiwe 1994 limekuwa ni muhimu na lina uzito katika siasa za Marekani na, kwa kiwango fulani, za ulimwengu kwa jumla. Ni gazeti ambalo wanasiasa wa Marekani na wote wenye kuhusika na siasa lazima walisome. Wakati wa msimu wa Bunge la Marekani (Congress) linapokuwa linakutana gazeti hilo huchapishwa kila siku.
Huchapishwa kwa karatasi na katika mtandao. Ni gazeti linalosomwa na wabunge wa Marekani na linaloandika mambo mengi kuyahusu mabaraza yote mawili ya Bunge la nchi hiyo, yaani Baraza la Wawakilishi (House of Representatives) na Baraza la Senate (Senate). Taarifa nyingi za habari kuhusu Ikulu ya Marekani (White House), Bunge la Marekani na taasisi za kisiasa za Marekani huchapishwa kwanza katika jarida hilo pamoja na habari kutoka ofisi zenye kazi za kuwashawishi wabunge zilizo katika Barabara ya K, jijini Washington.
Hakuna popote duniani penye barabara yenye uzito wa kisiasa kama Barabara ya K ya Jiji la Washington. Huko ndiko kwenye ofisi nyingi zinazoajiriwa kuwapigia debe wanasiasa, sera fulani na hata nchi fulani au viongozi wao kwa lengo la kuwashawishi wabunge wa Marekani.
The Hill linajigamba kwamba ni la aina ya pekee na hakuna anayeweza kulishinda katika kuchapisha habari madhubuti zisizopendelea upande wowote kuhusu namna Bunge la Marekani linavyofanya kazi. Linajigamba pia kwamba habari zote kuu kuhusu siasa za Marekani na biashara za nchi hiyo huanzia gazetini humo.
Gazeti hilo na jukwaa lake la mtandaoni huwaunganisha wanasiasa, wachambuzi wa siasa na taasisi za siasa. Kadhalika gazeti hilo ndilo linaloongoza ajenda ya kisiasa nchini Marekani. Ndilo lenye kuamua nini cha kujadiliwa na lina ushawishi mkubwa juu ya maoni ya wabunge kuhusu masuala mbalimbali.
Kwa hivyo, Kinana alipoamua kuandika makala yake katika gazeti hilo alikuwa anawalenga wabunge wa Marekani na Rais wa Marekani akitambua wazi kwamba makala yake yatamfikia Rais Barack Obama mwenyewe moja kwa moja ayasome au yatamfikia kupitia wasaidizi wake na washauri wake kuhusu mambo ya Afrika.
Makala hayo ya Kinana yanatisha. Tena yanakirihisha na yanaweza hata kukutapisha. Pia ni yenye kusikitisha. Ninasema hivi kwa sababu Kinana amejisahau na amesahau kwamba anaowalenga ni watu wenye uwezo wa kutofautisha baina ya ukweli na uzandiki.
Baada ya kuyasoma makala ya Kinana nilijiuliza: Dhamira yake ilikuwa nini kwa kuandika makala hayo yenye maudhui ya kutisha? Hitimisho langu ni kwamba Kinana hakuwa na nia njema kwa Tanzania, na hasa kwa Zanzibar. Huenda akawa anadhamiria kuuchimba mchakato wa demokrasia nchini Tanzania.
Makala yake yalinikumbusha hotuba aliyoitoa mwaka jana huko Gombani ya Kale, kisiwani Pemba. Hotuba hiyo ilinichochea kuandika makala katika gazeti hili (“Hiki kiburi cha Kinana kina nini?”,Raia Mwema, Toleo la 351).
Niliandika kwamba hotuba yake ya Gombani ya Kale, ilikuwa ya kusikitisha na ilikuwa na matamshi ya namna mbili: “ya uzushi mtupu” na “yaliyoubiruwa ukweli”. Vivyo hivyo, makala yake ya majuzi kwenye blogi ya The Hill.
Mna mengi katika makala hayo yasiyo ya kweli. Kwa ufupi, yanashutumu kwamba wale wasichana wawili wa Kiingereza, Katie Gee na Kirstie Trup, walioshambuliwa kwa kumiminiwa tindikali huko Zanzibar 2013 walishambuliwa na wafuasi wa Jumuiya ya Uamsho na Mihadhara ya Kiislamu (Jumiki), maarufu kwa jina la “Uamsho”; kwamba Uamsho ni “kundi la kigaidi lenye funganisho zinazojulikana na Boko Haram” na kwamba kwa msaada wa polisi wa Uingereza na Shirika la Polisi la Kimataifa, Interpol, “wanachama” wa Uamsho walikamatwa kwa kosa hilo la jinai na hivi sasa wameshtakiwa mahakamani. Kama huo si uzandiki basi ni nini?
Tunaofuatilia siasa za Tanzania tunajuwa kwamba viongozi wa Uamsho wamekamatwa kwa sababu za kisiasa. Wametiwa ndani ili wasiweze kuendelea na kampeni dhidi ya muundo wa sasa wa Muungano na kwamba uchaguzi utapomalizika wataachiwa.
Hii ni mara ya mwanzo ulimwengu kusikia kwamba Jumuiya ya Uamsho ina uhusiano na Boko Haram, kundi la kigaidi lenye chimbuko lake Nigeria. Hii ni shutuma ya kitoto na ni ya uchochezi. Inastahiki kulaaniwa na wote wale wenye kufanya jitihada za kijitu uzima za kupambana na ugaidi wa kimataifa. Vita dhidi ya ugaidi ni mapambano yasiyo na utani, yanayohitaji busara, ukweli na moyo wa dhati kupambana nao.
Hii pia ni mara ya mwanzo ulimwengu kusikia kwamba masheikh wa Uamsho waliokamatwa Zanzibar na kupelekwa Dar es Salaam wanashtakiwa kwa kosa la jinai la mashambulizi dhidi ya wale wasichana wawili wa Kiingereza. Kinana amesahau kusema kwamba masheikh hao, wenye kuheshimiwa na waumini wa dini yao, wameyaambia mahakama jinsi walivyoteswa na hata baadhi yao kulawitiwa wakiwa kizuizini.
Mark Trup, baba wa mmoja wa wasichana hao, ameliambia gazeti la Evening Standard la London wiki iliyopita kwamba maneno ya Kinana ni “upuuzi mtupu” au ameyasema kwa sababu za kisiasa. Salum Msangi, kaimu mkurugenzi wa upelelezi wa makosa ya jinai huko Zanzibar, amekanusha kwamba kuna watu waliokamatwa kwa shambulio hilo.
Hii ni aibu kubwa kwa kiongozi kama Kinana kuambiwa kwamba anasema uongo hasa kwa jambo nyeti kama hili. Na ikiwa anathubutu kudanganya kwa jambo kama hili tunawezaje kumuamini kwa mengine?
Kinana ameendelea kuandika kwamba Jumuiya ya Uamsho ina historia ndefu ya kuwalenga wageni na hata viongozi wa kidini wa Kikristo na wa Kiislamu “wasiounga mkono lengo lao la kuuvunja Muungano wa Tanzania kwa ugaidi na kuigeuza Zanzibar iwe ni dola yenye itikadi kali”.
Kinana ameshutumu kwamba Edward Lowassa, anawaunga mkono magaidi na kwamba ameahidi kuwa akichaguliwa Rais atawaachia huru wale waliokamatwa kwa kufanya shambulio la tindikali. Huku ni kuupindua ukweli kwani Kinana hakueleza yote aliyoyasema Lowassa kwamba watuhumiwa hao, waliopelekwa Tanzania Bara kinyume cha sheria, wataachiwa huru huku kesi yao ikiendelea mahakamani.
Kinana amesahau kwamba katika mfumo wa utawala wa kisheria mtu huwa hana hatia mpaka atapohukumiwa na mahakama kwamba ana hatia. Na huo tujuavyo ndio msimamo wa Lowassa.
Anapolijadili suala hili Kinana anajikanganya. Mara anasema kwamba viongozi wa Uamsho ndio waliofanya shambulio la tindikali, mara anasema kuwa wao “wanashukiwa” kwa shambulio hilo, ilimradi inavyoonyesha ni kwamba hajui anasema nini. Lakini sisi tunajuwa anachotaka kusema.
Anachotaka kusema ni kuutahadharisha ulimwengu, hasa wa nchi za Magharibi na hususan Marekani, usiuvumilie ushindi wa Lowassa, kwamba Lowassa akishinda Tanzania itakuwa medani ya magaidi. Labda anayataka madola hayo yaingilie kati iwapo Lowassa na Ukawa watashinda uchaguzi au labda chama chake cha CCM kinajiandaa kuchukua hatua ovu za kuupindua ushindi huo endapo ukitokea. Labda anayataka madola hayo yakionee huruma chama chake kikichukuwa hatua hiyo.
Baada ya kushindwa kuwatisha wananchi wa Tanzania, Kinana ameona bora awageukie wageni na aanze kuwatisha wao. Na kwa nini basi akaona haja ya kuwatisha? Kwa sababu, na haya ameyaandika yeye mwenyewe, “kuna uwezekano ingawa kwa sasa ni mdogo wa Lowassa na wafuasi wake wa upinzani kushinda” katika uchaguzi na hivyo Tanzania kuwa medani mpya ya magaidi. Hii ni mantiki isiyoingia akilini.
Sitoshangaa nikisikia kwamba makala ya Kinana, yasiyo na kichwa wala miguu, yalipachikwa kwenye gazeti la The Hill kwa msaada wa ofisi ya wapigadebe iliyo Barabara ya K na yenye lengo la kuwashawishi wabunge wa Marekani wauone upinzani wa Tanzania kwa macho mengine na waione Zanzibar kuwa ni nchi yenye kuwafuga magaidi na kwamba magaidi hao watajititimua pale upinzani utapokishinda CCM katika uchaguzi ujao.
Jengine analolisema Kinana ni kwamba Lowassa alikataliwa na wapiga kura alipojaribu kutaka ateuliwe na CCM awe mgombea wake katika uchaguzi wa urais. Ukweli ni kwamba bado hatujui iwapo Lowassa atakubaliwa au atakataliwa na wapiga kura. Tujuavyo ni kwamba alikataliwa na vigogo wa CCM, au hasa na “the system”, lile niliitalo “dubwasha” lenye kuiongoza serikali na CCM. Wapigaji kura, wananchi wa kawaida, bado hawakutoa uamuzi wao. Utakuwa bayana Oktoba 25.
Kinana ametaja shutuma za ufisadi zinazomuandama Lowassa na kwamba alilazimika kujiuzulu uwaziri mkuu kwa sababu ya ufisadi. Kinana amesahau kwamba hadi leo Serikali ya CCM haikumfikisha mahakamani Lowassa na kwa hivyo, mbele ya macho ya sheria Lowassa hana hatia.
Yeye mwenyewe Lowassa amekwishajitetea kwa kusema ya kwamba alijiuzulu uwaziri mkuu kwa sababu ilibidi awajibike kisiasa na alifanya hivyo kuilinda Serikali ya CCM. Zaidi ya mara moja amesema ya kwamba alihusika na sakata la Richmond “kwa maagizo kutoka juu”.
Angekuwa mkweli Kinana angeutaja ufisadi uliozagaa katika ngazi za juu kabisa za Serikali ya Tanzania, pamoja na ule unaohusika na biashara ya kusafirisha kwa magendo pembe za ndovu nje ya nchi. Ni ufisadi huo uliolifanya Shirika la Serikali ya Marekani la Changamoto za Milenia (MCC) likatae Alhamisi iliyopita kuipa Tanzania shilingi zaidi ya trilioni moja (sawa na dola za Marekani milioni 472.8). Fedha hizo zingetumika kugharimia miradi kadhaa katika sekta ya nishati.
Kwa makala yake katika The Hill Kinana hajajitendea haki yeye mwenyewe wala chama chake wala wapigakura wa Tanzania ambao kura zao chama chake kinazisaka. Inanibidi niulize tena swali nililoliuliza katika makala ya toleo la 351 la Raia Mwema: “Kwa nini kiongozi wa hadhi kama ya Kinana akawa haoni taabu usiku kuuita mchana na mchana kuuita usiku?” Uongo mchana kweupe!
Hatutochoka kuuliza: Kinana, kwa nini? Kwani kunani? Chambilecho mshairi wa Kenya Abdilatif Abdalla:
“Kana na kuku kunena, kunenwa k’akutakiwi
Kuna wanakokuona, kunena kwamba si kuwi
Kunena wakikuona, kukuita k’awakawi
Kunena kana kwanuk’a, nikukome kukunena?