Muungano wa EAC ni mkuki kwa Tanzania

[mpayukaji]

INGAWA kuna baadhi ya wenzetu waliuona msimamo wa kiongozi wa nchi, dhidi ya kuwepo kwa sarafu moja ya Afrika Mashariki kama jambo la maana, lawama zinapaswa kupelekwa kwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete mwenyewe.

Wengi tulipinga hata huu ‘Muungano' wa kuburuzana na kugeuzana majuha, lakini hakuna aliyesikiliza kilio wala ushauri wetu.
Kwa kumbukumbu, nimekuwa mpinzani nunusi wa Muungano wa Afrika Mashariki, sio kwa sababu napenda kuwa kisiwa bali kutokana na sababu zenye mashiko.

Kwa mfano, Rais Kikwete anapoanza kulalamika na kuonya kuhusu hatari ya kuwa na sarafu moja wakati haoni hatari ya kuunganisha nchi zenye ardhi kubwa na zisizo na ardhi kabisa, anamaanisha nini?

Je, kama rais, anakosa nini kuingilia kati kwa niaba ya nchi yake? Mbona kwenye kuburuzwa alitumia madaraka yake bila kuchelewa wala kulalamika?

Tulisema, na tunazidi kusema, kuwa Muungano wa Afrika Mashariki ni mkuki kwa Tanzania zaidi ya nchi nyingine.
Hebu angalia jinsi nchi karibu zote, ukiondoaTanzania, zilivyo na zigo la idadi kubwa ya watu ikilinganishwa na maneno yao.

Kenya ina idadi ya watu karibu sawa na Tanzania wakati ardhi yake ni chini ya nusu ya ukubwa wa taifa hili, Uganda kadhalika.
Ukitazama Burundi na Rwanda ndiyo unapata kichefuchefu. Fikiria nchi yenye ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 26,338 na kuwa na watu takriban milioni tisa.

Nchi ambayo ni ndogo hata kuliko Mkoa wa Tabora, ina idadi ya watu kama hiyo halafu eti mnaungana.
Tabora ina ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 76,151 - mara tatu ya Rwanda na Burundi. Mnaunganisha nini kama siyo umaskini?
Burundi yenye ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 27,834 nayo ina watu takriban milioni nane.

Uganda ina ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 93,065 na idadi ya watu takriban milioni 33, huku Kenya ikiwa na kilometa za mraba 224,080 na idadi ya watu milioni 44.

Jumlisha idadi hiyo ambapo ni watu wa nchi zote isipokuwa Tanzania, unapata milioni 80. Tanzania ina ukubwa wa eneo la kilometa za mraba 945,000 na idadi ya watu wapatao milioni 40.

Eneo la Tanzania bado ni kubwa kuliko ukiunganisha nchi zote zinazolilia kuungana nayo kwa mara zaidi ya mbili.
Ukiziunganisha nchi hizo zote, unakuta kuwa zina ardhi yenye ukubwa sawa na takriban moja ya tatu ya Tanzania.
Maana zina ukubwa wa jumla wa kilometa za mraba 371,217. Je, hapa bado kuna uhalisia au kudanganya? Kwanini akina Rais Kikwete na baadhi ya viongozi walishindwa mahesabu rahisi kama haya?

Tuliwahi kuhoji kwanini kama Muungano ni ‘big deal' tusiungane na Msumbiji na Zambia badala ya nchi hizi nyemelezi zisizo na cha kutuchangia zaidi ya kutunyonya?

Ukija kwenye rasilimali unapata swali lile lile kuwa Tanzania aihitaji kutoa rasilimali zake kwa nchi maskini wakati kuna nchi zenye ufanano kama Kongo (DRC) na Msumbiji linapokuja suala la rasilimali.

Kwanini hatukujifunza toka kwenye muungano wa mashaka na matatizo na Zanzibar jamani? Hapa tunaongelea ukubwa na rasilimali.

Hatujaongelea historia na matatizo ya kijamii nchi husika zinayokabiliwa nayo. Hatujagusia mipango ya wazi na fichi ya nchi husika.

Turejee kwa Rais Kikwete. Je, ameona mwanga au ndiyo kutaka kujiondolea lawama wakati wananchi hawakushirikishwa katika Muungano huo?

Je, Tanzania ilijifunza nini kwenye kuvunjika kwa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki mwaka 1977?
Kuna haja ya kumuuliza Rais Kikwete kwanini yeye na wenzake waliharakisha kuziingiza Burundi na Rwanda kwenye umoja huu bila hata kuwauliza wananchi?

Kumbukumbu zetu ni kwamba, wali-fast track na baadaye wakaja eti kuuliza maoni wakati kila kitu kilikuwa kimeishaamriwa.

Je, namna hii Tanzania haijengi mazingara ya migongano baina ya watu wake na wavamizi watakaozaliwa na Jumuiya?

Rais Kikwete alikaririwa hivi karibuni akisema: "Kwa uzoefu wangu itifaki ya sarafu moja inahitaji umakini kabla ya nchi wanachama kuafikiana.

"Kwa sababu hapo baadaye tutakuja na sera moja ya fedha ambayo itatoa mwanya mdogo kwa nchi mwanachama kukopa fedha nje ya jumuiya...sera hiyo itatoa ukomo wa kiasi cha fedha kinachotakiwa kukopwa na haitakubalika hata kama nchi mwanachama inashida ya kukopa zaidi kufanya hivyo."

Rais Kikwete alisahau hayo wakati akiridhia kila jambo lililopendekezwa na nchi nyingine bila kuangalia maslahi ya taifa.

Hivi nchi kama Kenya inadai vivutio vyetu viko kwao wakati wakijua ni kinyume na sheria kufanya hivyo, watashindwa nini kukopa kwa kutumia Afrika Mashariki kwa manufaa ya nchi yao huku wakitutupia mzigo?

Nchi zinazotawala kibazazi zitashindwa nini kutumia bandari yetu kuingiza silaha zitakazoishia kuhujumu nchi nyingine?

Je, Rais Kikwete amekumbuka shuka asubuhi? Kama tunahitaji somo juu ya Muungano basi tujifunze toka Marekani, ambao walihofia taifa lao kupoteza kwa nchi maskini kama Mexico, wakaamua kujenga hata ukuta huku wakiacha mpaka wao na nchi tajiri Canada ukiwa wazi.

Lazima tuangalie maslahi yetu. Maana sio busara kuunganisha mbuzi na fisi ukasema umefanya jambo jema. Kama ni muungano basi tuungane na Msumbiji na Zambia na Kongo kabla ya hizi nchi ndogo ambazo hazina cha kuchangia zaidi ya kutunyonya.

Chanzo; Tanzania Daima Desemba 5, 2012.

 

[mkush]

kuungana ni wazo jema kama walivyopata kufikiri watoto wa afrika(kwame nkurumah&co).lakini unahitajika uchunguzi na kujiridhisha juu ya tija itakayopatikana juu ya muungano huo,huu wa sasa kiukweli kabisa una lengo hasi kwa tanzania(fuatilia mikakati endelevu ya bahima empire na wakenya pia).mimi sijui watanzania tuna laana gani,tulijeruhiwa 1977 lakini bado hatujifunzi.wenzetu wanataka kuutumia muungano huu kwa maslahi yao(hili halihitaji utafiti lipo wazi kabisa)

 

[Muke Ya Muzungu]

[h=2]John Mashaka: East Africa is not ready for a common currency[/h]

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2012

Adoption of a common currency in the East African Federation seems inevitable based on the intense discussions and movements on the ground. As citizens and stake holders in the federation, we have a civic duty to advice and even challenge our governments when their actions seem to be going off-course. Catastrophic political and economic consequences underneath the monetary consolidation have particularly compelled me to trumpet my fear much louder in anticipation that our leaders will hear our voices.

I am not trying to paint a dooms day economic scenario; I am rather, trying to reiterate the reality from today's vantage point. In short, our countries are not ready for monetary integration due to the severe and serious political and economic differences that needs to be harmonized. Kenya for example is in a serious political transition following its 2007 elections chaos. Its constitutional implementation has a long way to go before the country could see political stability. Tanzania on the other hand is battling its integration (Tanganyika and Zanzibar) headache, whose fate is not known.

The countries have different economic policies and challenges. Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania are facing enormous economic difficulties of their own including varying inflation rates. Based on Tanzania Bureau of Statistics, the country's inflation rate as of October 2012 stood at 12.9%. That of Burundi is almost 18% while Rwanda's stand at around 5.8%. In other words, to have a safe and stable currency, inflation in respective countries must stay in the range of 1.5 % through 3.0%. These numbers acceptable in the economic circles, are unlikely to be attained in the current status of affairs within the region

East African member nations are immensely divided on Immigration issues. While Rwanda has opened its doors to regional immigration, In order to tame unemployment, Kenya and Tanzania have made it exceptionally difficult for foreigners to obtain resident and work authorization. Tanzania work permits are extremely costly, while Kenya permits are straight discriminative, requiring applicants to be 35 years of age, and be able to make at-least $24,000 a year. These are serious policy differences likely to hamper a smooth monetary consolidation between the member states

The initial East African Community quickly crumbled upon its creation, simply because member states lacked cohesion. Frequent feuds among member nations, aggravated by quest for hegemony status over the union, led to the sudden-collapse of the union. Half a century later, our countries are more polarized than they were a few years after their independence. Solution to the instability in the neighboring DRC, chronic corruption in Burundi, tribal and ethnic differences in Kenya both crucial and instrumental factors in establishing a stable currency; do not seem to be in sight.

Monetary integrations require essential harmony and stability in the context of economic, social and political The proposed monetary union is an imitation from the West. Despite the European Economic Community, and now the European Union's fifty-five year existence, its common currency, the Euro, only came into existence seventeen years ago. And out of the twenty-seven member countries, only seventeen member states adopted the EURO as their currency. Britain opted out and maintained its pound, and thus far remained out of the Euro-zone crisis.

It took the Europeans hundreds of years before they could form the European Economic Community in 1957, and subsequently EU in 1993. On the other hand, the East African Community was hastily formed in 1967, just to collapse ten years later in 1977 due to serious political differences, which remains unresolved. In retrospect, watching the economic tremor in the Euro-zone, one will logically question whether our political and fiscal leaders are watching the movie from the same screen and perhaps sense something so scary in their forward march into an economic dark-hole in the name of monetary union.

Greece is currently on economic hospice care, and so are Portugal and Spain; requiring the debt laden European Central Bank to bail them out. The Euro-zone crisis has proven to be a great burden and a nightmare to the single stronger German economy. The Europeans have no uniform fiscal rules. Their bond-market enforcers have not always been attentive to enforce the needed rigid fiscal codes of conduct; they have varying risk of sovereign default across the Euro zone. The EU member states have uneven recovery plans, with each central bank trying to maintain laxity in its tax system.

During the formation of the Euro, it designers assumed that, without rules, fiscal mistakes by one member state would impose cost on all. German's initial worry, that unchecked deficits would become a burden on the EU central bank to monetize public debts, and financially sound nations would be forced to bail out the spendthrift and debt-holics like Greece. A prophecy that came to be Germany's nightmare

After more than half a century of fiscal and economic study, the Europeans have no cure to their economic nightmare. The hasty East Africans, monetary union is a catastrophe in the making because its member countries have no clear fiscal policies to save their hailing, donor dependent economies. Leave alone bailing out their counterparts should the Euro-zone style fiscal crisis emerge. In short, the East African Federation is not prepared to handle the bigger problems of bailing out member states in case of financial crisis. Kenya for example will be in position to bail out Tanzania, should her southern neighbor run into a fiscal collapse. Neither will Rwanda

Need for uniform wages, relative to the cost of labor among member nations, under the same currency, is a big challenge that requires many years of study and experiment before it can be implemented. Loss of national pride and sovereignty are other serious problem that have not been fully addressed and requires national consensus or referendum. I am therefore urging President Kikwete, Hon. Samwel Sitta and our legislatures in the East African Legislative Assembly to earnestly deliberate on these facts before committing our nation into a disaster.

The list of potential problems related to the proposed single currency is long. The regional integration should however, continue only, with free movement of goods and people. Until internal political, economic, social division and mismanagement of resources within member states are resolved, until clear fiscal policies are put in place to address all possible eventualities, it will be in the best interest of our respective countries to tread cautiously into this fiscal and economic tremor or a trap called East African Common Currency.


Mungu Ibariki Tanzania
John Mashaka, (Mwanza-Tanzania)

Source: MICHUZI BLOG
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[Foum Jnr]

Nakubaliana nawe kwa hili, muungano wa integration kubwa katika EA ni tatizo kwa Tanzania, na kifo kikuu kitakuwa pindipo tutakuwa na suala la sarafu moja. Even suala la borderless katika nchi za EA pia litazusha mashaka makubwa baina yetu na majirani hasa kama hatujasoma kutoka migogoro ya congo DRC na contribution ya nchi jirani katika matatizo ya Congo DRC.

Niwe muwazi kabisa, Tanzania tumebarikiwa civilization njema uliojaa utamaduni wa amani na upendo. Tumeona namna chokochoko za kitoto zinazoendeshwa na Malawi katika suala ambalo halihitaji rocket scientist kutambua kwamba hizi kelele za malawi ni kutokana na choyo na uchochezi wa mataifa mengine bana yetu..

Hivi tuseme baada ya integration kubwa ya miaka kumi tu katika EA na policy za free border movement hatutokuja kuambiwa kwamba part ya kaskazini ni traditilional na historical ni part ya nchi nyengine katika EA? Tuseme hili haliwezekani? Zipo faida za kuwamo katika EAC lakini masuala ya integration kubwa katika union bila ya ridhaa ya wapiga kura na uangilizi mzuri wa kutathmini hasara baadae tutakuja kuikuta (god forbiden) nchi imeshameguka vipande na ikiwa unstable kama ilivyo Congo DRC.

Unaungana kwa kuangalia interest zako kwanza, sio heshima za kupigiwa makofi kama muumin mwema wa pan africanism..tuna serikali iliochaguliwa na kuendeshwa na viongozi waliopewa dhamana na wananchi, hatuna haja ya kuwa organisation itakayo limit effect ya democracy katika maamuzi yanayowagusa wananchi..

 

[kajembe]

Nakubaliana nawe kwa hili, muungano wa integration kubwa katika EA ni tatizo kwa Tanzania, na kifo kikuu kitakuwa pindipo tutakuwa na suala la sarafu moja. Even suala la borderless katika nchi za EA pia litazusha mashaka makubwa baina yetu na majirani hasa kama hatujasoma kutoka migogoro ya congo DRC na contribution ya nchi jirani katika matatizo ya Congo DRC. Niwe muwazi kabisa, Tanzania tumebarikiwa civilization njema uliojaa utamaduni wa amani na upendo.....

Aisee mawazo yenu yanamshiko sana, mimi simjuzi sana wa mambo haya ya miungano lakini naweza kuona kabisa kwamba majirani zetu wana Agenda tofauti na sisi na kwasababu ya upofu wa viongozi wetu nchi hii itakuja kusambalatika tutakua kama Congo kwanini tuungane na nchi zinazo taka kujitanua kwa kila njia hata vita? sisi tunashida gani?

Ardhi ndiyo angalau sisi watanzania maskini tumebakinayo nayo tuingize mnadani kugomabania na wakenya,waganda,warundi na wanyarwanda wapenda vita? Viongozi wetu hatuta wasemehe kwa hilo na nchi hii ni yetu sote siyo ya viongozi huo muungano hatutaki watanzania wengi,zanzibar tu inatusumbua ndiyo iwe nchi za Rwanda wapenda vita?

 

[Muke Ya Muzungu]

hii serikali yetu kwakweli siyo ya kuamini kabisa. wanaweza kuiuza nchi

 

[Father of All]

hii serikali yetu kwakweli siyo ya kuamini kabisa. wanaweza kuiuza nchi

Waiuze nchi mara ngapi wakati wachukuaji muwaitao wawekezaji na ma********* wanahomola watakavyo? Cry for Tanzania and do so heavily and persistently.

 

[Buyaka]

John Mashaka

Adoption of a common currency in the East African Federation seems inevitable based on the intense discussions and movements on the ground.
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Nilidhani kukiwa na majadiliano makali na moves nyingi ndio kitu kinakuwa hakina hakika kitaisha vipi. Utakuwaje na "inevitable adoption" wakati majadiliano ni makali? Doesn't make any sense!
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Catastrophic political and economic consequences underneath the monetary consolidation have particularly compelled me

You mean potential consequences. So far hakuna consequences kwa sababu bado hakuna sarafu ya pamoja. You are not much sense!

to trumpet my fear much louder in anticipation that our leaders will hear our voices.

Una trumpet "much louder," kwani mwanzoni uli trumpet loud wapi, kivipi?

I am not trying to paint a dooms day economic scenario;

unamaanisha "doomsday"

trying to reiterate the reality

"reiterate"? kwani mara ya kwanza ulisema nini, wapi?

the severe and serious political

"severe and serious"? Repetitive.

differences that needs

sema "differences that need"

Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania are facing

kwa hiyo ni nchi zote za EAC, hukuwa na haja ya kuzitaja tena

These numbers acceptable in the economic circles,

zinakubalika na "the economic circles" zipi, za kina nani?

at-least... sudden-collapse... Mwanza-Tanzania

ma hyphen mengi katikati ya maneno, vipi hapo?

of economic, social and political The proposed

political what? Finish your sentences.

due to serious political differences, which remains

sema "differences which remain."

formed in 1967, just to collapse ten years later in 1977 due to serious political differences,

Hukuwa na sababu ya kurudia sababu ya ku collapse EAC in 1967, umeshaisema kule juu, halafu sababu zenyewe umetoa tofauti!

In retrospect, watching the economic tremor in the Euro-zone, one will logically question whether our political and fiscal leaders are watching the movie from the same screen and perhaps sense something so scary in their forward march into an economic dark-hole in the name of monetary union.

Incoherent.

save their hailing, donor dependent economies.

you mean "ailing economies"

Leave alone bailing out their counterparts should the Euro-zone style fiscal crisis emerge. In short, the East African Federation is not prepared to handle the bigger problems of bailing out member states in case of financial crisis.

there is no connection between the two statements even though they pretend to be

Kenya for example will be in position to bail out Tanzania, should her southern neighbor run into a fiscal collapse. Neither will Rwanda

Umesema Kenya itaweza, halafu unasema "neither will Rwanda"! What is that? Makes no sense!

study and experiment

repetitive

loss of national pride and sovereignty are other serious problem

Sarafu ya pamoja itasababisha "loss of sovereignty"?

are other serious problem that

sema "are other serious problems"

requires national consensus

you mean "require." Kumbuka tunaongelea "problems." Simple present tense inakupa shida, sasa ukiunda tungo ndeeefu unasahau unachokiongelea, haishauriwi kwa tunaojifunza!

I am therefore urging President Kikwete, Hon. Samwel Sitta and our legislatures in the East African Legislative Assembly to earnestly deliberate on these facts before committing our nation into a disaster.

Unawasihi wafanye majadiliano ya dhati, kwani si umetuambia mwanzoni kabisa kwamba majadiliano makali yanaendelea? Ulipomaliza kuandika makala yako ulitakiwa uipitie juu mpaka chini uangalie ni nini umejipinga mwenyewe, ni nini umekirudiarudia, na nini uongeze ama ufute.

and our legislatures in the East African Legislative Assembly ... before committing our nation into a disaster.

there is only one EAC legislature!

Lakini kama ulitaka kusema wabunge, sema "legislators."

John Mashaka
Source: MICHUZI BLOG

Sawa Bw. Mashaka, kwa michuzi huko unaweza kuwa a one-man show lakini wakikuleta huku ujue tutarekebishana, wasije soma EAC members wengine huko wakadhani John Mashaka's of Tanzania ndio wana represent news pundits wetu, hapana.
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