By Joseph Ochieno, Mwandishi wa Gazeti la New African Magazine toleo la July 2014:
" At Last, A Regional Voice?"
Excerpts: " ...I have been trying to establish if it might be possible for a regional "elder" to emerge in East Africa."
"......In Uganda gun elected dictators would never alow this to happen, while in Kenya it may still be possible, in Rwanda the strongman "victor's" culture would tend to impede it."
"Always we lament the absence of genuine, bold and people-focused leadreshoip. Genuine in its mission, tested on deliverables.Bold in taking tough decisins on issuesthat matter to Africans at home and abroad. People focused so that power belongs to the people."
"In April......I listened to Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete tell a London meeting that East Africa has and still continues to contribute disproportionately to wars and conflicts on the continent."
"While he lamented on war and war mongersand their impediment to development, Kikwete noted at the meeting that good governance brings its own rewards."
" Listening to Kikwete reinforced my own view that it is possible for nations to develop without brutalising their own people, as incountries like Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan...and Kikwete is certain to retir in October 2015 when his maximum two terms as president expires"
The political history of Tanzania is of coursedifferent from the rest of East Africa and Chama Cha Mapinduzi remains thedominant , ruling party.
So there is no reason why even a retired Kikwete would not be a valuableaddition to Tanzanias vision.
But with his bold position on certain issuesregarding East Africa and his own track record could we at last- see apossible regional elder statesman emerging , willing to intervene, tackle and lead without personal self interest?
Swali langu: NI KWELI BWANA JAKAYA ANASTAHILI KUWA MFANO HUU WA "ELDERLY STATESMAN?"
" At Last, A Regional Voice?"
Excerpts: " ...I have been trying to establish if it might be possible for a regional "elder" to emerge in East Africa."
"......In Uganda gun elected dictators would never alow this to happen, while in Kenya it may still be possible, in Rwanda the strongman "victor's" culture would tend to impede it."
"Always we lament the absence of genuine, bold and people-focused leadreshoip. Genuine in its mission, tested on deliverables.Bold in taking tough decisins on issuesthat matter to Africans at home and abroad. People focused so that power belongs to the people."
"In April......I listened to Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete tell a London meeting that East Africa has and still continues to contribute disproportionately to wars and conflicts on the continent."
"While he lamented on war and war mongersand their impediment to development, Kikwete noted at the meeting that good governance brings its own rewards."
" Listening to Kikwete reinforced my own view that it is possible for nations to develop without brutalising their own people, as incountries like Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan...and Kikwete is certain to retir in October 2015 when his maximum two terms as president expires"
The political history of Tanzania is of coursedifferent from the rest of East Africa and Chama Cha Mapinduzi remains thedominant , ruling party.
So there is no reason why even a retired Kikwete would not be a valuableaddition to Tanzanias vision.
But with his bold position on certain issuesregarding East Africa and his own track record could we at last- see apossible regional elder statesman emerging , willing to intervene, tackle and lead without personal self interest?
Swali langu: NI KWELI BWANA JAKAYA ANASTAHILI KUWA MFANO HUU WA "ELDERLY STATESMAN?"
