Mkapa Help This Guy

[Kamundu]

Godfrey Stalin Mwafongo: From State House to the Dog House

2008-01-06 10:04:54
By Pendo Fundisha, PST, Mbeya
It may sound fictitious but this is a true story. It is about a man who served as Assistant Press Secretary to Father of the Nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Godfrey Stalin Mwafongo.

``I am now in the dog house. Yes, from the State House to the dog house,`` the frail but once dynamic journalist says in an interview at his Tukuyu makeshift residence recently. Mwafongo represents a sore sight especially to those who knew him during his hey days.

Shocked fellow journalists simply found it too hard to take the facts, and at a glimpse of his pictures, some just said: ``I cannot believe this. We ought to do something to salvage him from further humility, agony and disgrace.``

Mwafongo has lost hope despite his long story. The almost tearful Mwafongo appeals: ``I am willing and ready to be re-absorbed in journalistic duties, especially sub-editing.

The problem is I do not have money to travel to Dar es Salaam, nor do I have a place to stay. Should I be assured of those two missing links, I am game.``

The seasoned and once dependable journalist literally lives on ripe bananas, green vegetables, fruits and water, the life of ancient age.

``The last time I took rice, ugali, meat, fish and other decent meals was in 1999 when I left Dar es Salaam for Mbeya to attend the funeral of my wife and nursing my mother who also died in the same year. Those were the meals for a human being,`` he remembers with sadness.

He collects avocados and pieces of sugarcane which he sells at very low prices to win the sympathy of customers. He uses the money he gets to buy soap and medicine when he falls sick.

The frail man was among senior journalists picked to found the defunct Tanzania News Agency (Shihata) whose first director was Benjamin Mkapa, the retired president of the third phase government. Holding the position of Assistant Editor Mwafongo was posted to Mbeya, Rukwa and Ruvuma as regional bureau chief.

Born in 1943 as the last of four children in the family of Mzee Andulile Mwafongo at Waganga Quarters in Kyela District, Mbeya, Godfrey Stalin Mwafongo started his education in 1951 in Tukuyu, Rungwe District before moving to Ilboru Secondary School where he completed Form VI in 1965.

The following year he entered the newsroom of Tanzania Information Services where he worked until he was sent for a diploma course in journalism to Canada in 1967.

After three years he returned to the country and was posted to Uhuru/Nationalist run by the ruling TANU party, precursor of Chama Cha Mapinduzi.

``It was at this newsroom that I met Benjamin Mkapa. Mkapa was my boss who had all the qualities of a leader, excelling in journalistic skills,`` recalls Mwafongo, quickly adding: \"In 1974 I was appointed Assistant Press Secretary to the President, working under Mkapa who was the Press Secretary then, before Sammy Mdee took over from Mkapa.`` From State House he was sent to Shihata in 1978 and was posted to Rukwa.

He did not mince words when he recalls how the late Mwalimu Nyerere found him in Rukwa. ``Godfrey, what are you doing here? Come with me,`` and he came back to Dar es Salaam.

In Dar, he joined the Daily News and Sunday News as a sub-editor, a job he lost in circumstances that he declined to disclose.

Mwafongo, who keeps body and soul together mainly through the help of neighbours, has three children with whom he has lost contact.

``They are Kisa Mwafongo, Bupe Mwafongo and Atherjile Mwafongo and I have no idea where and how they are,`` he laments.


Main duties of press secretary to the president

The Press Secretary is the chief public relations officer of the president, promoting and protecting his image in the public eye. He is the eye and ear of the President on current affairs.
Essentially he/she :

Ensures that the President gets news and updated facts from local and foreign media outlets

Ensures appropriate and sufficient exposure of the President to the media by way of press conferences, interviews and statements

Corrects misrepresentations and distortions of the President\'s views and feelings, with the golden rule: \"Say no more than the President tells you to say; you are not the President!\"

Processes media applications for meetings and interviews with the President.

Covers presidential events for the media in the absence of press representatives.

Facilitates timely release of the President`s speeches after seeing them well in advance of delivery in case his public relations background may be useful in spotting possible revisions, mis-statements and errors of facts.

Ensures that Protocol have organized the presidential gifts and clears them in case of official presidential visits abroad.

Organizes local media for the photo opportunities which visitors to the Presidents need and for the occasional private and family functions.

Is the spokesman on Cabinet decisions which are a result of the initiative of the President`s Office, and whose implementation is within the daily domain of the President.

Creates opportunities for heads of local media to receive off-the-record deep briefing on national and international affairs by the President, periodically and in an informal atmosphere.

(The object is more than simply shaping the President`s image; it is to mobilise and rally public opinion.)
• SOURCE: SUNDAY OBSERVER
Comment on this article

 

[Masatu]

Kama hana ulemavu na akili yake safi ashike chaki afundishe after-all tun uhaba wa walimu ktk sekondari zetu za voda fasta.

Aache ujinga Mkapa hawezi kuwa baba wa kila mtu....

 

[Mwawado]

Hivi Kwanini Mzee Mwafongo amefikia katika hali hiyo?Kweli ni ukali wa Maisha tu au alizembea mahali?Kwa wale wanaomjua vizuri wataijua sababu.Imekuwaje hata watoto wamemkimbia na kwenda Ulaya bila ya Knowledge ya Baba yao?Mama Fundisha rudi tena kwa Mzee Mwafongo habari yake ipo nusu nusu.Aseme ukweli labda workmates zake watamsaidia angalau kupata Mlo wa siku ulokamilika.

 

[Mtanzania]

Mmmmhhhh!!! yaani prof. Mwandosya kashindwa kumsaidia huyu jamaa ili aweze kujitegemea? Naamini yuko kwenye jimbo lake.

Kama kilichoandikwa ni sahihi, na bado mzima na akili timamu, basi kuna kazi nyingi sana anazoweza kufanya na kujipatia riziki yake.

Lakini pia je miaka yote aliyotumikia serikali, hakuna hata pension? Nakumbuka hata mzee Apiyo aliwahi kupata matatizo kama haya. Hata kama hawakuwa na mfuko wao wa pension, inatakiwa serikali iwasaidie maana wametumikia serikali kwa muda mrefu sana.

 

[Koba]

miaka yote hiyo ya utumishi serikalini ina maana hata pension hakuna? ndio hapo jamani kila mtu afanye kazi kwa bidii na kujiweka sawa tukijua kuna siku hatutakuwa na nguvu tena za kufanya kazi na wala hakutakuwa na mtu wa kukusaidia zaidi ya kile ulichojiwekea ukiwa kazini,jamani mfumo wa pension TZ uko kweli au upo lakini ndio yale yale ya mabomba yasiyotoa maji...pole mzee wanaomjua wamsaidie apate pension yake kama ipo

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Hivi Kwanini Mzee Mwafongo amefikia katika hali hiyo?Kweli ni ukali wa Maisha tu au alizembea mahali?Kwa wale wanaomjua vizuri wataijua sababu.Imekuwaje hata watoto wamemkimbia na kwenda Ulaya bila ya Knowledge ya Baba yao?Mama Fundisha rudi tena kwa Mzee Mwafongo habari yake ipo nusu nusu.Aseme ukweli labda workmates zake watamsaidia angalau kupata Mlo wa siku ulokamilika.

Mawado,

Hii story imenisikitisha sana! Yawezekana kuna tatizo jingine- ambalo may be hatulifahamu!

Pia alimisculculate kurudi kijijini mapema- it is easier kwa workmates kukupa masaada wa short consultancies ukiwa Dar au mjini!

Je watoto wake aliowazaa kwa nini hawamtunzi baba yao kama ilivyo desturi zetu sisi Waafrika? Kwa nini wamtelekeze? What is the problem?

Je hana pensioni- hata kama ni kidogo? Je hana ndugu wengine- au amezaliwa peke yake?

Kumsaidia siyo tu handouts- za mara moja- a sustainable solution is needed!

Kama kuna mtu ana mawazo na data za chanzo cha hali hii tafadhali tujulishe!

Yawezekana akina Mzee Mwafongo wapo wengi vijijini- no one speaks for them- we are glad huyu mwandishi wa IPP has brought this up!

The plight of old peolple Tz ni shida sana- na jamii tunawasahau!

JF Hope hakuna member wetu huku aliye na mzazi na kumtelekeza- hakuna baraka kubwa kama kuwaangalia wazee wetu wakati umri wao unaanza kuwa mkubwa!

Ni utamaduni wetu Waafrika watoto kuwaangalia na kuwatunza wazazi!

 

[Choveki]

Kama hana ulemavu na akili yake safi ashike chaki afundishe after-all tun uhaba wa walimu ktk sekondari zetu za voda fasta...Aache ujinga Mkapa hawezi kuwa baba wa kila mtu....

Masatu sina cha kuongeza, kula tano mkuu.

Nadhani unatakiwa usome between the line. Hii habari inasikitisha sana, ila kuna kitu ambacho ni kikubwa ambacho kimefichika hapa, hasa pale aliposema watoto wake wote watatu wamemtelekeza na hajui walipo. Mimi binafsi sielewi ila kama kuna wa karibu naomba atueleweshe hapa.

Mmmmhhhh!!! yaani prof. Mwandosya kashindwa kumsaidia huyu jamaa ili aweze kujitegemea? Naamini yuko kwenye jimbo lake.

Nadhani hapo ni kumwonea tu Pro Mwandosya!

"....He did not mince words when he recalls how the late Mwalimu Nyerere found him in Rukwa. ``Godfrey, what are you doing here? Come with me,`` and he came back to Dar es Salaam…..."In Dar, he joined the Daily News and Sunday News as a sub-editor, a job he lost in circumstances that he declined to disclose"…The seasoned and once dependable journalist literally lives on ripe bananas, green vegetables, fruits and water, the life of ancient age........"

I just dont get it!

 

[Mtanzania]

JF Hope hakuna member wetu huku aliye na mzazi na kumtelekeza- hakuna baraka kubwa kama kuwaangalia wazee wetu wakati umri wao unaanza kuwa mkubwa!

Ni utamaduni wetu Waafrika watoto kuwaangalia na kuwatunza wazazi!

Mzalendohalisi,

Nimependa hayo maneno yako hapo juu, tusianze kuongelea matatizo ya watu wengine kumbe hata wengine tuna matatizo kama hayo hayo.

Ni baraka kubwa sana kutunza wazee, maana hata wao walitutunza.

 

[Mtanzania]

Nadhani hapo ni kumwonea tu Pro Mwandosya!

Kama maelezo ya mwandishi ni sahihi, huyu mtu akisaidiwa anaweza kujitegemea. Naamini wajibu mmojawapo wa mbunge ni kuelewa shida zinazowakabili wanajimbo wake na kujaribu kuwasaidia kwa ushauri na contacts pale inapowezekana.

Huyu anahitaji ushauri juu ya kazi za kufanya labda na kuwasiliana na watu mbalimbali. Kwasasa kuna magazeti mengi sana, naamini haiwezi kuwa tatizo kubwa kumsaidia kutafuta kazi hata kama ni ya muda. Ndio maana nikashangaa
kama kweli prof. Mwandosya ameshindwa kumsaidia, labda kama alikuwa hajui case ya huyu jamaa.

 

[Jasusi]

Kwa wale wanaoelewa mfumo wa pension Tanzania hasa kwa wafanyikazi wa serikali waliostaafu kabla ya shillingi yetu kushuka wataelewa kuwa kuna watu wanaopata pension ya shillingi mia mbili, mia nne, mia nane kwa mwezi. Hii itakufikisha wapi?

 

[Pundit]

Kama mtu aliyefanya kazi Ikulu, with all the sensitivity of the position, anaweza kufikia hali hii najiuliza vipi hali ya wazee wanaofanyia kazi serikali katika ngazi za chini.

Tunatakiwa tutatue ugonjwa, siyo dalili, Tujiulize kwa nini mfumo wa pensheni haufanyi kazi.

Pia inaonekana kama kulikuwa na mazingira tata katika kuachishwa kwake kazi.Kuna mazingira mengine yanawafanya watu wa karibu kushindwa kumsaidia (kukiwa na kutoelewana na ikulu kwa mfano, hata watu wanaoweza kumsaidia wanaogopa kuchukua upande wake wakifikiri inaweza kuwa upande wa kupingana na Ikulu)

 

[Bowbow]

Hii inaonyesha ni kiasi gani wakati wa JKN Hakukuwa na mafisadi Ikulu kama ilivyo sasa. But this guy must be helped by the serikali.

Mkapa ni aibu kubwa umesaidia mafisadi wengi ukamsahau kijana wa zamani alikupa jina ukiwa Daily News. Ila bado unayo nafasi ya kumpatia boti aendelee kuvua samaki kwani nyavu anazo.

 

[Augustoons]

Habari yake inasikitisha sana,lakini wapo watu wengi kama yeye tena mie nina mashaka sana na hawa watu waliozaliwa kati ya 1940 hadi 50 wengi wao baada ya kustaafu maisha yao yanawapiga chenga sana,sijui ni kutokana na ile vita au ndio kutokana na kubweteka au ndio sababu waliiikuta nchi bado ni mbichi kila kitu kilikuwepo hawakuweka akiba. Manaake wengi wao ukimwacha mzee mwafongo waliopata bahati ya kudunda mzigo serikalini walikuwa katika post za juu sana na serikali iliwabeba sana,lakini wengi wameishia ulevi na maisha magumu. Sijui kwa mwafongo ila ukikutana nao wana asili ya ubishi,kujua sana,na kufikiri hakuna kesho,japo wanakata kiingereza sana na elimu imo. Labda ushauri mzuri ni huo wa kumtafutia shule za voda fasta lakini?ni utani hebu apelelezwe vizuri alishindwa kuwa hata PST?waandishi wote hao mbeya?

 

[Chuma]

ULEVI na UZINZI umewaharibu sana wazee wetu..sio siri..wengi humu JF kama kila mmoja mzazi/babu yake angeutumia vema ujana wake basi wengine tusingepata matatizo, yata wale ndugu zangu walokimbilia Ulaya na Amerika etc...
Maswali ya wenzagu muhim,,kwani kumsaidia kila individual ni ngumu..kesho Mwandishi xyz atamweka aliekuwa somebody ktk position xyz na ana HALI mbaya so tufanyeje?
Ukimlea mtoto vema 100% atakuja kukulea...ukimtupa mtoto na akajkujua kujua kuwa ulimtupa..ujue lazima atakutupa tu..ACTION and REACTION are equal but opposite. ila kwa wale wenye MISINGI ya DINI kuwaacha wazazi wake ni vigumu sana.

Nilisikia Kigamboni kuna Mahala pa kuwasaidia WAZEE wasokuwa na FAMILIA...au kama vituo vipo kama ulaya basi apelekwe na kama HAKUNA ipo HAJA kila mkoa ukaanza kufikiri nini kifanyike kwa wazee.

 

[Chuma]

naomba nieleweke...niliposema ULEVI na UZINZI...sijakusudia huyu mzee sina data zake...nimezungumzia as GENERAL case.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

tatizo nadhani hawa watu walipokuwa madarakani hawakuchangamkia tenda.. Wangekuwa wajanja wangekuwa wanajitengenezea vitripu, viwarsha, na visemina vya hapa na pale... But I have an idea.. kuna mtu ana contact zake..?

 

[Kasana]

kwa miaka ya mwalimu, ilikuwa vigumu kujilimbikizia mtaji, kwani walikuwa wanaangaliwa sana, mfano ukaonekana umejenga kajumba haraka au kuliko mshahara wako ulikuwa unapelelezwa na kuhamishwa kazi au kustaafishwa kwa manufaa ya taifa.
ndio maana wazee wale wakajikuta kwenye starehe.

Hadithi yake imejifungafunga na haijibu maswali mengi ambayo msomaji anaweza kujiuliza. Kwa mila na desturi za waafrica kama watoto wake wako hai, kwa vyovyote kunakitu alichofanya kwa hawa watoto! sababu mzazi ni mzazi, wanatakiwa kumsaidia kumkwamua kwani ni aibu yao pia!

Kuwatupia lawama BMW na Mwandosya siyo haki, yeye kama msomi wa enzi zile inamaana hakuwa na 'contact' za watu aliokuwa anafanya nao kazi? hakuwa na rafiki au jamaa ambao na yeye 'aliwavuta' enzi zake akiwa ikulu?

Umri wake umeshasogea sana na sidhani kama atakuwa anaweza purukushani za sasa! yeye aangalie altenatives nyingine ambazo zitamsaidia kusukuma maisha kwa muda mrefu uliobaki. Uandishi/uanahabari ni temoprary solutions!

Aombe kusaidiwa kuwa mkulima wa kisasa.

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

tatizo nadhani hawa watu walipokuwa madarakani hawakuchangamkia tenda.. Wangekuwa wajanja wangekuwa wanajitengenezea vitripu, viwarsha, na visemina vya hapa na pale... But I have an idea.. kuna mtu ana contact zake..?

Huyu dizaini ndio mmoja ya wale washamba...hakuchangamkia dili

 

[Tom]

Mwafongo namshukuru kama kweli alipokua serikalini hakufanya deal kama za kina Karamagi au za mafisadi wengine tuolionao sasa lakini hata hivyo namshangaa na kubweteka kwake pamoja na elimu aliyonayo na kwamba kisha ona dunia mpaka huko Canada.

Mafisadi hawatufai lakini haina maana watu kubweteka wanapostaafu, kula jasho lake ni muhimu na ni haki yake. Umri wake bado anatakiwa afanye kazi, si muda wa kushindwa hata kujilisha. Lazima watu wapunguze kuwa na mawazo ya misaada.

 

[Nurujamii]

tatizo nadhani hawa watu walipokuwa madarakani hawakuchangamkia tenda.. Wangekuwa wajanja wangekuwa wanajitengenezea vitripu, viwarsha, na visemina vya hapa na pale... But I have an idea.. kuna mtu ana contact zake..?

mkjj unadhani kwa hali yake kweli anaweza kuwa na mtandao; au ni aina gani ya mawasiliano unategemea atakuwa nayo huyu mzee?