Madawa ya Kulevya: Padri John Wotherspoon atembelea Tanzania

[EMT]

Padri John Wotherspoon anayechapisha barua mbalimbali za wafungwa wa Kitanzania waliofungwa katika magereza ya Hong Kong baada ya kukamatwa na dawa za kulevya anafanya ziara nchini Tanzania kutembelea familia za wafungwa hao. Padri Wotherspoon alianza ziara yake mwishoni mwa mwaka jana na anaendelea na ziara ya kutembelea familia hizo hadi hivi sasa.

Fr John Wotherspoon ambaye pia ni member wa JamiiForums anasema aliwasili nchini akiwa na fedha za wafadhili kukoka Hong Kong kwa ajili ya kusasadia familia za wafungwa walio magerezani Hong Kong. Lakini fedha hizo zimeishia kwenye familia 5 tuu huku bado akiwa na familia nyingine kama 30 za kutembelea na kuzijulia hali.

Padri huyo ambaye anaendesha kampeni yake dhidi ya madawa ya kulevya kwenye tovuti yake ya Pope Francis amekuwa akichapisha baru nyingi kutoka kwa wafungwa wa Kitanzania walioko magerezani huko Hong Kong baada ya kukamatwa na dawa za kulevya. Barua hizo zinapatikana hapa:2013).

Kwa maneno yake Padri mwenyewe akiwa ziarani Tanzania anasema:

The more I see of the poverty and hopelessness of the people here, the more I can understand why HK's Tz inmates were persuaded to become drug traffickers .....to try to get money for their families It's not convenient for me to put photos/details of some of the people I'm visiting these days.

e.g. one lady whose daughter is a HK university student. Daughter was persuaded by Drug Lord to become pregnant, and then when obviously pregnant, to consume drug capsules and go to HK ....with the aim of avoiding X-ray checks because pregnant. Baby was born in HK and spent its first year with mother in the hospital section of the prison. Baby now in a HK orphanage until mother is released in about 5 years time ...for trip back to Tanzania.

Kwa wale waliokuwa wanadhani kuwa zile barua zilikuwa feki na za kutunga sasa wana fursa ya kumwuliza mwenyewe huyo padri. Yupo Bongoland kajaa tele. For DRUG lORDS, mjumbe hauawi.

Picha za ziara yake Tanzania zinafuata hapo chini.

Jana Padri alikuwa na kikao cha dakika 90 na Kamanda Nzowa.

I am most grateful to Jamii bloggers for support of my campaign to warn Africans about the danger of drug trafficking to Hong Kong, Macau and China.

Because of Jamii posts, I've been contacted by BBC, AFP and Clouds Media. If this publicity stops even one person from going to prison in HK, it will have been worthwhile. The aim of my trip to Africa is to visit families of some of the inmates in HK prisons, and to spread the message about the danger of drug trafficking.

Today I'm in Namanga on the Kenya/Tanzania border. This morning I met three Kenyan families. Due to meet two more tonight.

This morning I had the joy of recording the three families voices for a Sunday night radio program in HK.

Inmates will be happy to hear their families voices tonight!The longer I stay in Africa and learn about the poverty and low wages here, the more I understand why vulnerable people are tempted to turn to drug trafficking to get money for school and medical fees etcThank you Jamii bloggers for suggestions re my trip.

I'll try to follow up on some of your suggestions. If any community groups/churches/mosques can help spread the message of my campaign, I'd be most grateful.

It is particularly disturbing for me to hear that many people still don't know about the death penalty in China - and Indonesia where six traffickers, including two Africans, have just been executed - see Six drug convicts executed in Indonesia, including five foreigners | World news | The GuardianPhotos of my trip can be seen at my website: www.v2catholic.com Thank you for prayers for my safety.

I pray that the drug lords will have a change of heart and stop hurting so many families.

I pray that they will put their ill-gained wealth into helping society, especially poor people.

Then they will start to know peace in their lives. p.s. Go Simba!

Thank you Sam for your timely article whose key words for me are "the region's combination of "political instability, unemployment and corruption" is proving increasingly attractive to those trafficking cocaine and heroin". And not just West Africa is affected. Same situation holds in countries like Tanzania. And the drugs are not just going to Europe and the US. China, Hong Kong and Macau are also target areas.

To try to help economically poor Africans, especially Tanzanians, from being recruited as drug mules, I started a file with letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons - warning of the danger of easy detection at HK airport and of long prison sentences in HK. As a result of this campaign, which was supported by bloggers and media in Tanzania, only one Tanzanian was arrested at HK airport in the period August 3, 2013 to April 1, 2014 - as compared with at least several arrested every week prior to August 3, 2013. (There are more than 100 Tanzanian drug mules in prison in HK).

The campaign led to a tightening up of security at Dar es Salaam airport and a heightened concern in Tanzanian about drug trafficking. But now the Drug Lords have changed their tactics. They are getting their mules to leave from other places, like Nairobi and Lagos. They are using more women. They are using the most vulnerable people who are either unaware of the dangers of drug trafficking and/or are economically desperate. With a result that since April 1, 2014, nearly 20 new Africans have been arrested at HK airport, half of them from Tanzania. ..... per Fr John Wotherspoon (Hong Kong)

See more: http://www.theguardian.com/global-d...st-africa-decriminalising-drugs-policy-report

Pichani Padri akifanya mahojiano.

Hatimaye Padri amekutana na waandishi wa habari. Kwanza amefanya interview na BBC Radio (Africa Service). Hana uhakika ni nani amewasiliana nao, lakini amepokea e-mail kutoka BBC, AFP na stesheni ya redio moja ya Kitanzania.

BBC walionana nae juzi Jumatatu mchana, AFP watakutana nae siku chache zijazo, na redio ya Kitanzania walikutana nae jana saa moja na nusu asubuhi jana ndani ya studio zao.

Padri anasema "If such publicity helps persuade even one person not to take drugs to HK/China/Macau, it is worth it".

Kutoka Clouds FM walipofanya mahojiano na Padri.

Messages za baadhi ya wafungwa wakitanzania walizowatumia ndugu zao kupitia father john. Wamefungwa jela Hong Kong baada ya kukamatwa na madawa ya kulevya. Father John kaja kuwatembelea wanafamilia hapa tz na kuwaonyesha na kuchukua majibu arudishe Hong Kong kwa Gharama zake mwenyewe. Tuwaombee warudi salama.

Baada ya kufanya interview nne na Clouds FM (moja TV na tatu radio) Padri kaenda Pemba kutembelea familia ya Mpemba aliyefungwa huko Hong Kong baada ya kukamatwa na unga.

Kasisi mmoja raia wa Australia amefichua na
kuthibitisha kuwa kuna idadi kubwa ya wafungwa wenye asili ya Afrika katika magereza ya Hong Kong , wengi wao wakiwa ni kutoka Tanzania.

Kasisi huyo John Wortherspoon ambaye kwa sasa anafanya ziara maalum Tanzania, amesema yeye
ndiye ambaye amekuwa akisambaza barua zinazodaiwa kuandikwa na wafungwa wanaoshikiliwa kwenye magereza hayo ambapo baadhi yao wametaja majina ya watu wanaodaiwa
kuwa wafanyabiashara wakubwa wa dawa za kulevya waliowatuma kusafirisha dawa hizo.

Padre Wotherspoon amefika kuonana na familia za wafungwa hao pamoja na idara za serikali zinazohusika na mapambano dhidi ya biashara hiyo hatari ya dawa za kulevya.

Mwandishi wa BBC mjini Dar es Salaam alifuatialia habari na kugundua kwambha kwa muda sasa barua zimekuwa zikichapishwa kwenye mtandao zikielezea maisha ya wafungwa walionaswa na mamlaka za Hong Kong.

Sasa Padre Wotherspoon amejitokeza hapa Tanzania na kusimulia zaidi maisha aliyowakuta nao wafungwa hao ambao amekuwa akiwatembelea
gerezani na kuwaunganisha kwa mawasiliano na ndugu zao.

'Padre anayejitolea'

Akizungumza na BBC, Padre Wotherspoon, ambaye anajitolea kazi ya kuelimisha vijana kuhusu madhara ya biashara hiyo haramu na hatari,
amesema zaidi ya Watanzania mia moja wanashikiliwa katika magereza za mamlaka ya Hong Kong kwa makosa ya kuingiza dawa za kulevya katika eneo hilo licha ya adhabu ya
kifungo cha maisha au kifo kwa watu
wanaokamatwa, lakini ni kwa nini aliamua kubeba jukumu hilo?

"Waafrika wengi walinyongwa katika kipindi cha miaka miaka mitatu iliyopita. Ni idadi kubwa ya vifo vinavyotokana na kunyongwa. Kwa hiyo niliogopa sana. Nilijaribu kuwapata wahusika wenyewe wawambie watu kwamba wasijaribu kupeleka dawa za kulevya Hong Kong, Macau, China . Lakini waliendelea kuja.Wiki moja mwezi Julai 2013, saba walikamatwa uwanja wa ndege wa Hong Kong katika wiki moja.

Katika hali hiyo nilipata ruhusa kutoka mamlaka ya magereza kuwawezesha baadhi ya wafungwa kuandika barua
katika mtandao wetu kuwaonya watu nchini Tanzania na sehemu nyingine barani Afrika kuhusu hatari ya kusafirisha dawa za Kulevya kwenda
Hong Kong, '' alisema padri huyo.

Baada ya kubaini hali hiyo Father John
aliwatembelea magerezani huko Hong Kong na kuwaonya juu ya hatari inayowakabili vijana wengi barani Afrika. Lakini huwa anawaambia nini vijana hao mara anapowatembelea.

''Ninawaambia andikeni kwa marafiki zenu, familia zenu, makanisa yenu, wanasiasa wenu vyombo vyenu vya habari waambieni watu waache kuleta
dawa za kulevya Hong Kong kwa sababu wengi walidanganywa, waliambiwa kuwa ni rahisi kuingiza dawa za kulevya Hong Kong. Lakini
ukweli ni kwamba ni vigumu sana na waliambiwa ukikamatwa utafungwa kifungo cha miaka miwili lakini ukweli ni kwamba kifungo cha chini ni miaka
saba au nane.''

'Vijana wanavyorubuniwa'

Hata hivyo Father Wotherspoon anasema alichobaini ni kwamba licha ya tamaa ya utajiri wa haraka haraka, wengi wa vijana hao au wote walirubuniwa na vigogo wa biashara hiyo kwa kuwabebesha dawa za kulevya ili tu wakidhi mahitaji yao ya lazima kama kutunza familia zao.

Amesema baada ya kuanza kampeni hiyo mwaka 2013 idadi ya vijana wanaokamatwa imepungua kwa kiasi kikubwa kutokana na baadhi ya vyombo vya habari nchini Tanzania kunasa habari kutoka tovuti ya Father John ya v2catholic.com na habari hizo kusambaa haraka, ambapo amesema badala ya kuwakamata watu watatu wanne,watano kwa wiki, kwa kuanzia miezi minane 2013, ni mtu mmoja tu alikamatwa kwa karibu miezi minane katika uwanja wa ndege wa Hong Kong.

Father John anasema vigogo wa biashara ya dawa za kulevya wamekuwa wakibuni mbinu mpya kwa
kuwatumia watu kutoka vijijini badala ya mijini kwa sababu watu wa vijijini hawajui hatari ya biashara hiyo au waliambiwa dakika za mwisho wakiwa
uwanja wa ndege kuwa ni nchi gani walitaiwa kwenda na dawa hizo.

Baada ya kuwasili Tanzania amekutana na familia mbalimbali za wafungwa magereza za Hong Kong . Saleh ni ndugu wa mmoja wa wafungwa na
anaeleza hisia walizopata kama familia mara baada ya kukutana na Father Wotherspoon.

BBC imekutana na Kamishna wa kikosi cha kudhibiti dawa za kulevya nchini Tanzania, Godfrey Nzowa ambaye amesema jitihada zinazochukuliwa na makundi mbalimbali pamoja na watu binafsi katika kuwaelimisha watu hatari ya dawa hizo ambapo mwaka jana pekee walikamata kilo mia nne za dawa za kulevya aina ya heroin na kuokoa maisha ya watumiaji karibu milioni saba ili wasiweze kuzipata na kutumia.

Na kuhusu namna wanavyokabiliana na watu wanaodaiwa kuwa vigogo wa dawa za kulevya Kamishna Nzowa anaeleza namna wanavyopambana nao pindi wanapopata majina ya watu hao.

Source: BBC SWAHILI

Padri anasema:

"Yesterday was spent in Tanzania's 2nd largest city, Mwanza - at bottom of Lake Victoria on map at left. Many photos taken, but not convenient to post them. Photos will make Tz inmates in HK prisons very happy. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I would get to Mwanza ...long way, many flights etc. But presence of Jesuit priest friend as well as families of HK inmates persuaded me to make the trip.

And how blessed was the Mwanza trip: for yesterday I had two meetings with family of Tanzania's prime minister ...and was able to do what HK inmates commissioned me to do: lobby for a prisoner transfer agreement to be signed between HK and Tanzania (like the one signed between HK and Nigeria). Thank you for a prayer for this intention!"

Padri amefanya mazungumzo ya dakika 90 na Katibu Mkuu wa Chadema Dr Willibrod Slaa jana usiku nyumbani kwake.

Kwa mujibu wa Padri, Dr Slaa amekuwa akifuatilia habari ambazo Padri amekuwa akizichapisha kwenye tovuti yake kuhusiana na wafungwa wa Kitanzania waliofungwa Hong Kong baada ya kukamatwa na madawa ya kulevya.

Kabla ya Padri kufika nyumbani kwake, Dr Slaa azisoma tena barua zilizoandikwa na wafungwa wa Kitanzania na kuchapishwa kwenye tovuti ya Padri.

Pia Dr Slaa amekuwa akifuatilia kwa karibu michango ya WanaJF kwenye hii thread kuhusiana na safari ya Padri nchini.

Aidha Dr Slaa aliskiliza mahojiano ya Padri na Clouds FM yaliyofanyika January 14 mwaka huu.

Dr Slaa alimhakikishia Padri kuwa "Getting our people back (to Tanzania) is a top priority for me".

Padri amesema hii ni habari nzuri sana siyo tuu kwa wafungwa walifungwa Hong Kongo, bali pia kwa wale waliofungwa kwenye magereza ya nchi nyingine.

Ali, Rodgers, Dr Slaa and Mwana. Kaka yake na Mwana ni mfungwa huko Hong Kong baada ya kupatikana na madawa ya kulevya.

Padri anasema ilikuwa heshima kwake kukutana na Dr Slaa; ni kama vile ilikuwa kukutana na Mandela au Nyerere.

Anadai Dr Slaa alimpokea kwenye geti la nyumba yake na alifurahishwa kwa Padri kumtembelea.

Dk Slaa: Tanzania ni dhaifu kupambana na mihadarati

Katibu Mkuu wa Chadema, Dk Wilbroad Slaa amesema Serikali imekuwa dhaifu katika kupambana na biashara ya dawa za kulevya hali inayosababisha vijana kuendelea kujiingiza katika uhalifu huo. Dk Slaa alisema hayo hivi karibuni alipomkaribisha nyumbani kwake, Padri John Wootherspon kutoka Hong Kong aliyekuja kuhimiza kampeni ya kuwazuia vijana kuacha kusafirisha dawa hizo katika majimbo ya China ya Guangzhou, Macau na Hong Kong.

Padri Wotherspon ambaye anawatembelea wafungwa katika magereza ya Hong Kong, Macau na Guangzhou alisema kwa sasa kuna wafungwa wa Kitanzania zaidi ya 130 wanaotumikia vifungo kutokana na kusafirisha dawa za kulevya. "Nitahakikisha kuwa unafanyika utaratibu wa kuwaondoa Watanzania waliofungwa Hong Kong warudishwe na kuhukumiwa nyumbani. Hilo jambo nitalipa kipaumbele kwa nafasi yangu," alisema Dk Slaa.

Kuhusu wajibu wa Serikali katika kupambana na biashara hiyo, Dk Slaa alisema bado kuna udhaifu mkubwa kwani hakuna mwamko wa dhati wa kuwahukumu kisheria wanaosafirisha dawa za kulevya.

"Ikiwa Umoja wa Mataifa umekubali na kuidhinisha kuwa wafungwa wanaokamatwa nje ya nchi wahukumiwe katika nchi zao, iweje leo hapa nchini tusifanye mchakato wa kuwarudisha nyumbani hao ndugu zetu?" alisema Dk Slaa. Katika mkutano huo, Dk Slaa aliandika ujumbe mfupi wa maneno kwa wafungwa hao akiwatakia maisha marefu na kuwaombea kumaliza salama vifungo vyao.

"Wadogo zangu, ndugu, dada na kaka zangu, kupitia Father John, nawaombea kwa Mungu awape ustahimilivu na atawaokoa kwa uwezo wake. Tupo nanyi," ulisema ujumbe wa Dk Slaa. Dk Slaa pia alisoma barua za wafungwa hao zilizoandikwa kwa mkono.

Padri Wootherspon alisema kukutana na Dk Slaa ni sawa na kukutana na kiongozi kama; Nelson Mandela au Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. "Kwa dakika 90 nilizokaa pale na Dk Slaa nilijisikia kama nipo nyumbani kwa Mandela au Nyerere. Ninachoomba ni kuwa kwa nafasi yake asaidie vijana kuacha kusafirisha dawa za kulevya," alisema.

Padri Wootherspon ambaye ameondoka jana kuelekea Hong Kong alisema ataendelea kufanya kila awezalo ili Tanzania isiwe kichochoro cha kusafirisha dawa za kulevya.

Chanzo: Mwananchi: Dk Slaa: Tanzania ni dhaifu kupambana na mihadarati - Kitaifa - mwananchi.co.tz

 

[EMT]

Hapa ni JKIA baada ya kuwasili nchini. Pichani ni mizigo yake.

 

[EMT]

Alispend muda uwanjani hapo akitafuta kadi ya simu, USB modem nk.

 

[EMT]

Baada ya kuwasili alienda Baraza la Maaskofu Tanzania kutuma email na kupiga simu kutafuta chumba cha kulala lakini akakuta ofisi zao zimefungwa kwa ajili ya Krismasi na Mwaka Mpya. Ikambidi akatafute hoteli kitaa na kuipata hii.

 

[EMT]

Akiyafurahia madhari ya Dar.

 

[EMT]

Picha imeondolewa kwa sababu inaleta tatizo kwa familia husika.

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Padri akifanya kilichomleta ambacho ni kutembelea familia za wafungwa wa Kitanzania huko Hong Kong.

Hapa akiwa na mke wa mmoja wa wafungwa hao. Kabla ya mume wake kubeba unga na kukamatwa huko Hong Kong, mama huyo alikuwa tuu mama wa nyumbani.

Ana watoto watatu ambayo sasa wako wanatunzwa na bibi/babu zao huku yeye akifanya kazi mbili kuyakabidhi maisha. Moja ya kazi hiyo ni kufangia kuanzia saa kumi na mbili asubuhi na huwa anaifanya kwa siku sita kwa wiki.

Padri alimpa baadhi ya donation ili kulipia ada ya mwaka mmoja kwa watoto wake wawili.

 

[EMT]

Akicheki mitaa ya jiji.

 

[EMT]

Picha imeondolea kwa sababu inaleta tatizo kwa familia husika.
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Daughter of lady in blue is a HK "university student". Mtoto wa huyu mama alidanganywa na drug lord mmoja apate ujauzito.

Alivyopa ujauzito akameza vidonge vya dawa za kulevya na kusafirisha kwenda Hong Kong.

Dhumuni la kupata ujauzito lilikuwa ni kukwepa kufanyiwa X-ray.

Mtoto alizaliwa Hong Kong na aliishi na mama yake kwenye sehemu ya hosipitali iliyoko generezani alikofungwa.

Sasa hivi mtoto yuko kwenye orphanage mpaka mama yake atakapomaliza kifungo chake cha miaka 5 ili kurudi nae Tanzania.

cc Gagnija, lusungo, mkachu, mkatabafeki

 

[EMT]

Picha imeondolewa kwa sababu inaleta tatizo kwa familia husika.

 

[kiwatengu]

Asante Mkuu kwa taarifa.

Pole kwa Padri, inaonekana alifanya mambo mengi kwa siku moja..

 

[EMT]

Padri akikatiza kitaa huku akiendelea kupiga picha

 

[EMT]

Padri akipiga picha uraiani. Anadai anakuta vijana wengi wasio na ajira wamejikalia tuu uraiani siku nzima.

 

[WILLAFRICA]

Mungu na ampe ujasiri zaidi!

 

[EMT]

Aliyevaa blue anaitwa Crispin (26) alizaliwa kipofu. Hapati msaada wowote kutoka serikalini.

Aliyebeba mtoto ni dada yake, pamoja na dada mwingine na kaka yake ni ombamba.

Kwa msaada wa marafiki wa Hong Kong, Padri aliweza kuwa donation kulipia ada ya shule ya mwezi mmoja watoto hao wadogo wawili.

 

[EMT]

Picha imeondolewa kwa sababu zilizoelezwa hapo juu.

Family of a HK "university student" ....and let me assure you: Tanzania ice cream is really delicious!

 

[EMT]

Picha imeondolewa kwa sababu iliyoelezwa hapo juu.

 

[Gagnija]

Daughter of lady in blue is a HK "university student".

She isn't among those in jail I hope!

 

[Ng'wanapagi]

Halafu wahusika wanakula turk tu Bongo.

 

[MTAZAMO]

EMT umefanya kazi nzuri sana humu kwenye hili swala hasa kupaza sauti ya padri huyu......kudos.........

 

[EMT]

Anashangaa kama pia kuna benki ya wanaume.