Nyerere: The Man, The Myth and the Legend

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Mnaotaka kujadiliana jinsi gani mlikosa TV na mafuta ya kimbo wakati wa Nyerere this is it.. naomba mada ya fikra ibakie kwenye fikra na kuindeleza systematically kudisect where as a nation we went wrong.

Thank you for understanding.

 

[Rev.Kishoka]

To some people he was a hero, a nationalist, an African pioneer, a teacher and a philosopher-ruler. To these people Nyerere was and still is one of the greatest African intellectuals who ever ascended to power to lead a nation post independence Africa.

To others however, Nyerere was nothing else but a failure, a dictator camouflaged like a patriot, he was to them a leader in failure, a man of so many words but very few actions; he was a man of great ideas but very limited success in turning those ideas into reality. To these harsh critics of Nyerere there are those who hold him in contempt for the lack of nice cars, TVs, many schools, universities etc during his rule. To them, Nyerere was the single person who delayed the material development of Tanzania.

To the first group, Nyerere was a nation-builder, a leader committed to the welfare of his people and his nation; they remember his farewell words that "tell my Tanzanians that I love them" with fondness and emotions. To them Nyerere was and still is the greatest leader that came from Tanzania.

Was Nyerere a failure or a success? Where did he fail and where did he succeed?

Je kushindwa kwake kunaziba kabisa mafanikio yake to the point that his name should now be written with an asterik on the side? What were his failures and accomplishments? which one outweighed the other?

Focus:

Mwanakijiji,

I will be the first one out of the bag!

Even though I admire Nyerere for his Intellect, he was miserable in following up on his policies and visions to make sure that they worked on our environment and the time.

Sometimes I think Mwalimu philosophical approach on issues was to complicated and way advanced to our environment then and I wish he would have focus on simple terms to bring about steady development.

I also believe he was too aggressive to ensure that his beliefs of Usawa and Ujamaa na Kujitegemea were in place without allowing natural absorbtion of his policies and visions to Wananchi.

He was stubborn due to his natural philosophical stance. He pushed and challenged those who oppose him and most of them feared him and percieved that if you were against Mwalimu, then wewe mbaya.

One last thing I hate about his leadership, was his silence on those used abuse power or used his name to enforce their intepretetion of Mwalimu and Tanu's vision and policy. THis made him and TANU appear to be dictators. However this is a common character of most leaders allowing their surbodinates pushing agenda to the mass even though it is clear that the directives are being skewed!

Mnakumbuka Vijiji vya Ujamaa na Maduka ya Ushirika? Those were the 2 policies that were done inappropriately and Mwalimu sort of kept silent.

I recognize that he was a human being just like you and I, so it is easy for me to admire his positive side and be embarrased and angered by his negative image.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

very good Reverend; Kwa hiyo kwenye failures column umeweka:

= Ujamaa Village (should we dismantle all those villages and let people live in traditional setting?
= Maduka ya Ushirika (tusingekuwa nayo? au hatukuwa na utaratibu mzuri wa kuwa nayo?)


=

Kwenye success zake

 

[Rev.Kishoka]

very good Reverend; Kwa hiyo kwenye failures column umeweka:

= Ujamaa Village (should we dismantle all those villages and let people live in traditional setting?
= Maduka ya Ushirika (tusingekuwa nayo? au hatukuwa na utaratibu mzuri wa kuwa nayo?)


=

Kwenye success zake

Mwanakijiji,

Success zake ziko kwenye vile "visivyoonekana" au tunavifumbia macho na kuona havina maana. Utaifa wetu na Uafrika, Lugha yetu, Umoja wetu (makabila na dini pamoja na tofauti zao), Uzalendo, Utu na vitu vingine ambavyo ni vya lazima katika hatua za kujenga Taifa.

Failure zake ziko katika implementation ya Economic and Development policies. Kufa kwa mashirika, ubovu wa mipango bora kwa Sera kama Ujamaa vijijini, UPE, Maduka ya Ushirika, mfumo wa uongozi chapakazi na adilifu, kulea hisia za woga kwa wale wenye mawazo tofauti.

Katika hizi failure zake, kila kimoja kinaweza kurekebishwa. Alijenga msingi, ambao kumetokea nyufa, swali linakuwa ni kubomoa kabisa na kuanza upya au kuziba nyufa na kuendelea na ujenzi? Kama ni kubomoa msingi, je kasoro tumezitambua na tunahakika hatutajenga nyumba mchangani tena?

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Mwanakijiji,

Success zake ziko kwenye vile "visivyoonekana" au tunavifumbia macho na kuona havina maana. Utaifa wetu na Uafrika, Lugha yetu, Umoja wetu (makabila na dini pamoja na tofauti zao), Uzalendo, Utu na vitu vingine ambavyo ni vya lazima katika hatua za kujenga Taifa.

Failure zake ziko katika implementation ya Economic and Development policies. Kufa kwa mashirika, ubovu wa mipango bora kwa Sera kama Ujamaa vijijini, UPE, Maduka ya Ushirika, mfumo wa uongozi chapakazi na adilifu, kulea hisia za woga kwa wale wenye mawazo tofauti.

Katika hizi failure zake, kila kimoja kinaweza kurekebishwa. Alijenga msingi, ambao kumetokea nyufa, swali linakuwa ni kubomoa kabisa na kuanza upya au kuziba nyufa na kuendelea na ujenzi? Kama ni kubomoa msingi, je kasoro tumezitambua na tunahakika hatutajenga nyumba mchangani tena?

Kwenye lugha yetu nadhani unamaanisha Kiswahili (nisahihishe kama nimekosea). Je unadhani mkazo uliotiliwa kujifunza Kiswahili ulitufanya tusijifunze Kiingereza vizuri? Nauliza kwa sababu kuna watu wanaosema eti sisi Watanzania hatuzungmzi Kiingereza vizuri kama Waganda au Wakenya (kitu ambacho sikiamini) na wakiona viongozi wetu hawazungumzi Kiingereza kwa ufasaha wanahoji uelewa wao wa mambo na mengine mengi kama vile ni lazima kuzungumza Kiingereza fasaha ingawa si lugha yako ya kwanza.

Wewe unasema msisitizo wa matumizi ya lugha moja ilikuwa ni moja ya mafanikio yake. Nini maoni yako kuhusu Kiingereza? Alitulostisha au?

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

mzee, mnapozungumzia failure zake ni lazima muweke wazi kuwa zilikuwa ni failure ZAKE.

Kwa mfano, leo hii mortgage and credit industry is suffering in US and Britain and other parts of the world, je ni kwa sababu ya Bush?

Hapa Michigan, unemployment ni 15 percent the highest in US, watu wanatimuliwa kwenye nyumba zao, wanapanga foleni kwenye soup kitchen (of course they won't show that in International TV) je yote ni makosa ya Bush.

Mwaka 1970 kulitokea ongezeko la bei ya mafuta kutokana na OPEC kudindisha at the same time (early 70s) tukawa na drought due to the cycle of El Nino, ni kwa kiasi gani Nyerere alikuwa na control ya hilo?

Kabla hatujaenda mbali Kagera ikavamiwa na Amin na baada ya kutafuta njia zote za kidiplomasia ikabidi tuamue sisi wenyewe kumuondoa kwenye ardhi yetu (miaka chini ya ishirini baada ya uhuru na miaka 15 baada ya army mutiny)tukatumia fedha na resources nyingi (nakumbuka michango ya chakula tuliyokuwa tunakusanya kupeleka mstari wa mbele - sisi tuliambiwa tuko mstari wa nyuma), mapigano karibu ya mwaka mzima hatimaye kuingia hadi Jinja! Bila msaada wa maana toka kwa wakubwa.

Mwaka unaofuatia tulitakiwa tuwe na TV, magari bwelewe, shule bora kabisa n.k AHilo limewezekana wapi katika nchi iliyotoka Vitani? Hatukupewa msaada wa kujijenga upya (reconstruction) kama walivyofanyiwa Ulaya na Japan baada ya vita ya pili ya dunia.

Marekani imetoka kwenye vita ya kwanza ya dunia kilichofuatia ni the great depression. Wakapanga foleni n.k unadhani waliilaumu Katiba ya Marekani kwa sababu ya great depression au Lincoln kwa sababu mawazo yake kuhusu usawa hayakuwa sahihi?

Sisi hatujatulia kutoka vitani, tunapata drought ya 1984 (another cycle ya el nino) tukajimobolize watu wetu wasife, tukaishia kuja na mfumo wa kutusaidia kila mtu apate hata aliye maskini zaidi. Hatukufa kwa mamilioni kama Ethiopia wakati huo huo. "Tukashindia" yanga, dona, mafuta toka USA n.k

Sasa wakati huo huo wote, kuna nini "vita baridi", ulimwengu umegawanyika pande mbili, tukaamua kuwa neutral kuhakikisha utaifa wetu unabakia; wenzetu waliofanya uchaguzi tunawakumbuka, Congo, Kenya, n.k

Sasa mnaposema kuwa alifeli kwenye hili na lile, you better be very sure that it was within his powers to arrest the situation.

Mwaka 1970: Nyerere angefanya nini kuhusu Bei ya mafuta kwenye soko la dunia?
Mwaka 1970s: Nyerere angefanya nini kuhusu chakula; tuweke mkazo watu wapate chakula au angeamua kujenga shule na vyuo vingi zaidi ili baadaye asijekulaumiwa kwa kucha nchi ikiwa na "chuo kikuu" kimoja?
Mwaka 77-79: Mgogoro wa Uganda; tumejaribu kuishawishi Jumuiya ya Kimataifa na kuwataka wapitishe resolution ya kumtaka Amin akane madai yake kuhusu Tanzania, tukaenda hadi OAU, ikashindikana, Jumuiya ya AM inaanguka Amina anatuma vikosi vyake Kagera: Nyerere angefanya nini kumuita Amin Ngurdoto au kuamua kumuachia Kagera kwa sababu tukienda vitani ni gharama ya kiuchumi.

Kwamba tungemuachia Amin Kagera na sisi tuendelee kujenga Barabara zaidi, shule, hospitali, n.k Na akiamua kusogea hadi Mwanza? sisi tujaze maluninga, magari, n.k ili tuendelee.. vipi Amin angesogea hadi Shinyanga?

Inakuja njaa ya 1984: Njaa nyingi inaligusa eneo letu, mabadiliko ya kisiasa yaanza kuingia, Nyerere angefanya nini kwamba kila mtu ajitafutie chakula chake; hata sisi masikini tulikula tukawa na afya. Hayo maduka ya ushirika na yale ya kaya yakawa ni kimbilio kwa wengi wetu; tukapangiwa kupata mche wa mbuni, debe la yanga, debe la mafuta na watanzania tukasalimika. Lakini hilo lilikuwa kosa la Mwalimu kwanini wananchi walikula Yanga.. Jamani, Wakati wa Depression Marekani ilifanya nini kunusu wananchi wake? What did Eisenhower alichofanya? Vipi kuhusu Roosevelt? Kuna watu hawakupenda maamuzi yao at the time lakini leo ukiwauliza watu watakuambia aliwaokoa.. lakini hawa vijana waliozaliwa miaka hii ya themanini wanakuja kueneza sumu ya uongo ati Nyerere aliwanyima wazazi wetu luninga!

Miye mniambie ni kipi hasa Nyerere angekifanya tofauti taking into account all factors? Ungekuwa wewe Nyerere, una kataifa kachanga, wasomi wachache, pressure za world politics, nguvu za asilii za ulimwengu na majirani vichaa ungefanya nini?

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Man listen...blame, criticism, successes, failures, and more come with the territory. When you are at the helm if things go right you'll take the credit for and when they go wrong you'll take the blame whether you deserve it or not. Reagan is credited with defeating the cold war...did he really defeat it? No! A lot of factors played into the so called defeat.
So what do you mean when you say " lazima muweke wazi kuwa zilikuwa ni failure ZAKE"? What exactly do you mean by "ZAKE"? Can you give an example?

 

[Madela Wa- Madilu]

Lee Kuna Yew waziri mkuu wa zamani wa Songapore amepata kuitwa Dictator na Viongozi pamoja na vyombo vya habari vya nchi za Magaharibi.

Hatahivyo baada ya kuiondoa Singapore kwenye umasikini mkubwa kuliko Umasikini liyo kuwa nao Tanzania baada ya Uhuru. Kuen Lee Yew anaonekana ni mfano wa kuigwa.

Yeye pamoja na Kiongozi wa Dubai wanaonekana kama Viongozi wa mtindo wa very Smart CEOs.

Nyerere siwezi kumdiscredit completely katika mtazamo wake.

Lakini kuna mambo mengi sana ambayo sikubaliani naye hata kidogo.
Ujamaa na Azimio la Arusha yakiwemo.

Jambo jingine ni kukimbilia ndoto ya pili ya ukombozi wa Afrika na kusahau kabisa kuanisha ndoto zake katika mfumo unaotekelezeka na kurekebisha mengi yasiyotekelezeka.

Kwa sababu Nyerere katika siasa yake ya Ujamaa na kujitegemea alishindwa, tuna haki ya kurudi nyuma na kuangalia migongano mingi ya utawala wake, uzembe wa kulinda wahalifu na wezi na kuwapa adhabu kali wale wote waliopinga Ujamaa na Azimio la Arusha
Pia suala la kuwajaza Wajomba zake Wazanaki usalama wa taifa na Ikulu na kujifanya Tanzania ni moja kati ya nchi kiboko katika shughuli za usalama wa taifa, kumbe ni kundi la watu wachache wanao mlinda mjomba wao kama akina Butiku na wenzake.

 

[Rev.Kishoka]

Wewe unasema msisitizo wa matumizi ya lugha moja ilikuwa ni moja ya mafanikio yake. Nini maoni yako kuhusu Kiingereza? Alitulostisha au?

Nyani,

Mimi nitamuomba BIn Maryam anisaidie kukujibu kuhusiana na hili la Kiswahili kukupa maoni mengine ambayo yatatofautiana na majibu yangu hapa.

Kasumba za kikoloni (soma Things fall apart, no longer at ease, river between) zimetufanya Waafrika kukimbilia kufuata na kumuiga mkoloni na kukiri udhalilishaji wake wa Utamaduni na Lugha zetu kuwa ni za Kishenzi!

Najiuliza kwa nini BBC, VOA, DeutscheWelle, Radio Moscow na hata enzi zile Radio Uchina walikuwa na idara maalum kwa lugha za Kiswahili?

Najiuliza kwa nini Japan, Sweden, Ujerumani, Malaysia, China, Brazil, Kuwait, India na Korea wamepata Maendeleo ya Kisayansi, Teknolojia, Kilimo na Biashara kutumia lugha zao mama au kuu ambazo si Kiingereza?

Kumumunya Kimombo, tuliona kuwa ni maendeleo wakati tunatawaliwa na mkoloni. TUlipopata uhuru mpaka miaka ya karibuni, tulijenga dharau na kuona ubora wa Mtanzania ni kuongea na kufanana na mkoloni wake Mwingereza. Waliosomea Uchina, Urusi, Ujerumani watakwambia jinsi wanavyo dharauliwa na wenzao wa UDASA au waliosomea vyuo vya Muingereza.

Nyerere alitaka tufundishe elimu kwa lugha Mama ili iwe ni rahisi kwa MWanafunzi na Mwalimu kuwa na mawasiliano hivyo kujenga jamii inayoelewa inachoelimishwa na si jamii inayokariri maneno bila kuelewa. Ama kwa kutumia kiswahili, basi ilikuwa ni fursa muhimu kuijenga lugha yetu changa ambayo takriban jamii (kabila) 150 za Afrika Mashariki na Kati zilikuwa zinaweza kuitumia hii lugha kwa ufasihi mzuri kuliko Kiingereza au Kifaransa.

Maoni yangu ni kuwa ningefpewa nafasi ya kufundishwa kwa kiswahili masomo yote (ukiondoa Kiingereza kama lugha) kwa kiswahili, basi nafasi yangu ya kuelewa mambo na kuyatumia ingeanza mapema sana na si kuchelewa kusubiri nipevuke kwa kuelewa Kimombo.

Mimi sioni aibu kuchapia Kiingereza, maana si lugha yangu asili, kwa nini nione aibu? matamshi pekee si kujua lugha! Tumejinyima fursa maalum ya kuendelea kama jamii kwa kukataa kutumia lugha tunayoifahamu na kuizoea na ambayo tuna uwezo kuielewa kutumia kufundishia (kutoa elimu) mashuleni.

Mfano mdogo sana wa kuonyesha utata huu wa elimu, jiulize ukiwa form 1 unaambiwa mambo ya numerator na denominator au prime factorization, unapoteza muda kupekenyua Webster kutafuta maana ya factorization kwa kiingereza, kisha utafsiri kwa kiswahili ndipo uelewe concept nzima. Je kwa nini kazi hii isingefanywa na Wizara na Idara ya Mitaala na wewe kazi yako iwe kufundishwa hesabu uelewe mnyumbulisho na si kuanza kujifunza lugha tena? imagine cost involved to this student to try to understand mathematical concept by finding meaning and translation of the words used!

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Man listen...blame, criticism, successes, failures, and more come with the territory. When you are at the helm if things go right you'll take the credit for and when they go wrong you'll take the blame whether you deserve it or not. Reagan is credited with defeating the cold war...did he really defeat it? No! A lot of factors played into the so called defeat.
So what do you mean when you say " lazima muweke wazi kuwa zilikuwa ni failure ZAKE"? What exactly do you mean by "ZAKE"? Can you give an example?

Nyani, mtu ambaya hajapitia elimu au kwenda shule na ambayo hajui uhusiano wa factors mbalimbali katika jamii au uchumi ni rahisi kwake kulaumu kiongozi fulani and rightly so. Kwa mtu ambaye ana uwezo wa kufikiri na ambaye ameenda shule anapolaumu anakuwa na msingi wa kufanya hivyo na analaumu kwa haki.

Akija mtu hapa na kusema Nyerere alifeli kwa sababu babu yangu alinyang'anywa nyumba kwa mtu huyo lawama hizo ni sawa. Lakini tunapoangalia vitu objectively ni lazima tuwe wa kweli kwa historia. Hakuna mtu mwenye akili timamu na anayejua historia ambaye anaweza kusema Reagan au Pope JPII ndio walihusika kuuangusha ukomonisti kule Urusi lakini nafasi yao haiwezi kupingwa.

Mtu aliyeenda shule na ambaye ana data za historia mkononi mwake au anayeweza kuzipata data hizo kiurahisi basi badala ya kuchukua popular beliefs na kuzipokea kama imani tunatakiwa kuquestion them and challenge them through an intellectual scrutiny. Unajua watu wanaeneza imani fulani lakini zikiangaliwa kwa ukaribu ukweli unajulikana na imani zinabakia imani tu.

Nimeambatanisha hapa nakala ya hoja ya Marehemu Prof. Chachage ili kusaidia kuelewa jambo hili linapoangaliwa kisomi linakosa msingi wa ukweli kuwa Nyerere alifeli kwa sabau tu alifeli.

 

[Steve Dii]

I like this thread! Soo deep, ahsanteni wakuu 🙂 !!

 

[William J. Malecela]

1. Lakini kuna mambo mengi sana ambayo sikubaliani naye hata kidogo.
Ujamaa na Azimio la Arusha yakiwemo.

2. Jambo jingine ni kukimbilia ndoto ya pili ya ukombozi wa Afrika na kusahau kabisa kuanisha ndoto zake katika mfumo unaotekelezeka na kurekebisha mengi yasiyotekelezeka.

3. Kwa sababu Nyerere katika siasa yake ya Ujamaa na kujitegemea alishindwa, tuna haki ya kurudi nyuma na kuangalia migongano mingi ya utawala wake, uzembe wa kulinda wahalifu na wezi na kuwapa adhabu kali wale wote waliopinga Ujamaa na Azimio la Arusha

4. Pia suala la kuwajaza Wajomba zake Wazanaki usalama wa taifa na Ikulu na kujifanya Tanzania ni moja kati ya nchi kiboko katika shughuli za usalama wa taifa, kumbe ni kundi la watu wachache wanao mlinda mjomba wao kama akina Butiku na wenzake.

Ubarikiwe mkuu.

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Nyani,

Mimi nitamuomba BIn Maryam anisaidie kukujibu kuhusiana na hili la Kiswahili kukupa maoni mengine ambayo yatatofautiana na majibu yangu hapa.

Kasumba za kikoloni (soma Things fall apart, no longer at ease, river between) zimetufanya Waafrika kukimbilia kufuata na kumuiga mkoloni na kukiri udhalilishaji wake wa Utamaduni na Lugha zetu kuwa ni za Kishenzi!

Najiuliza kwa nini BBC, VOA, DeutscheWelle, Radio Moscow na hata enzi zile Radio Uchina walikuwa na idara maalum kwa lugha za Kiswahili?

Najiuliza kwa nini Japan, Sweden, Ujerumani, Malaysia, China, Brazil, Kuwait, India na Korea wamepata Maendeleo ya Kisayansi, Teknolojia, Kilimo na Biashara kutumia lugha zao mama au kuu ambazo si Kiingereza?

Kumumunya Kimombo, tuliona kuwa ni maendeleo wakati tunatawaliwa na mkoloni. TUlipopata uhuru mpaka miaka ya karibuni, tulijenga dharau na kuona ubora wa Mtanzania ni kuongea na kufanana na mkoloni wake Mwingereza. Waliosomea Uchina, Urusi, Ujerumani watakwambia jinsi wanavyo dharauliwa na wenzao wa UDASA au waliosomea vyuo vya Muingereza.

Nyerere alitaka tufundishe elimu kwa lugha Mama ili iwe ni rahisi kwa MWanafunzi na Mwalimu kuwa na mawasiliano hivyo kujenga jamii inayoelewa inachoelimishwa na si jamii inayokariri maneno bila kuelewa. Ama kwa kutumia kiswahili, basi ilikuwa ni fursa muhimu kuijenga lugha yetu changa ambayo takriban jamii (kabila) 150 za Afrika Mashariki na Kati zilikuwa zinaweza kuitumia hii lugha kwa ufasihi mzuri kuliko Kiingereza au Kifaransa.

Maoni yangu ni kuwa ningefpewa nafasi ya kufundishwa kwa kiswahili masomo yote (ukiondoa Kiingereza kama lugha) kwa kiswahili, basi nafasi yangu ya kuelewa mambo na kuyatumia ingeanza mapema sana na si kuchelewa kusubiri nipevuke kwa kuelewa Kimombo.

Mimi sioni aibu kuchapia Kiingereza, maana si lugha yangu asili, kwa nini nione aibu? matamshi pekee si kujua lugha! Tumejinyima fursa maalum ya kuendelea kama jamii kwa kukataa kutumia lugha tunayoifahamu na kuizoea na ambayo tuna uwezo kuielewa kutumia kufundishia (kutoa elimu) mashuleni.

Mfano mdogo sana wa kuonyesha utata huu wa elimu, jiulize ukiwa form 1 unaambiwa mambo ya numerator na denominator au prime factorization, unapoteza muda kupekenyua Webster kutafuta maana ya factorization kwa kiingereza, kisha utafsiri kwa kiswahili ndipo uelewe concept nzima. Je kwa nini kazi hii isingefanywa na Wizara na Idara ya Mitaala na wewe kazi yako iwe kufundishwa hesabu uelewe mnyumbulisho na si kuanza kujifunza lugha tena? imagine cost involved to this student to try to understand mathematical concept by finding meaning and translation of the words used!

That's why I like you Rev.! You make beau-coup sense!!

 

[Rev.Kishoka]

Sasa mnaposema kuwa alifeli kwenye hili na lile, you better be very sure that it was within his powers to arrest the situation.

Mwaka 1970: Nyerere angefanya nini kuhusu Bei ya mafuta kwenye soko la dunia?
Mwaka 1970s: Nyerere angefanya nini kuhusu chakula; tuweke mkazo watu wapate chakula au angeamua kujenga shule na vyuo vingi zaidi ili baadaye asijekulaumiwa kwa kucha nchi ikiwa na "chuo kikuu" kimoja?
Mwaka 77-79: Mgogoro wa Uganda; tumejaribu kuishawishi Jumuiya ya Kimataifa na kuwataka wapitishe resolution ya kumtaka Amin akane madai yake kuhusu Tanzania, tukaenda hadi OAU, ikashindikana, Jumuiya ya AM inaanguka Amina anatuma vikosi vyake Kagera: Nyerere angefanya nini kumuita Amin Ngurdoto au kuamua kumuachia Kagera kwa sababu tukienda vitani ni gharama ya kiuchumi.

Kwamba tungemuachia Amin Kagera na sisi tuendelee kujenga Barabara zaidi, shule, hospitali, n.k Na akiamua kusogea hadi Mwanza? sisi tujaze maluninga, magari, n.k ili tuendelee.. vipi Amin angesogea hadi Shinyanga?

Inakuja njaa ya 1984: Njaa nyingi inaligusa eneo letu, mabadiliko ya kisiasa yaanza kuingia, Nyerere angefanya nini kwamba kila mtu ajitafutie chakula chake; hata sisi masikini tulikula tukawa na afya. Hayo maduka ya ushirika na yale ya kaya yakawa ni kimbilio kwa wengi wetu; tukapangiwa kupata mche wa mbuni, debe la yanga, debe la mafuta na watanzania tukasalimika. Lakini hilo lilikuwa kosa la Mwalimu kwanini wananchi walikula Yanga.. Jamani, Wakati wa Depression Marekani ilifanya nini kunusu wananchi wake? What did Eisenhower alichofanya? Vipi kuhusu Roosevelt? Kuna watu hawakupenda maamuzi yao at the time lakini leo ukiwauliza watu watakuambia aliwaokoa.. lakini hawa vijana waliozaliwa miaka hii ya themanini wanakuja kueneza sumu ya uongo ati Nyerere aliwanyima wazazi wetu luninga!

Miye mniambie ni kipi hasa Nyerere angekifanya tofauti taking into account all factors? Ungekuwa wewe Nyerere, una kataifa kachanga, wasomi wachache, pressure za world politics, nguvu za asilii za ulimwengu na majirani vichaa ungefanya nini?

Mwanakijiji,

Ukubwa ni jaa, unapokuwa mkubwa au kiongozi, matatizo na kero hata kama hukuzizalisha wewe, utatupiwa lawama. Swali ni je pamoja na vigezo vyote hivyo vilivyo vya wazi kabisa kuwa Mwalimu alikuwa si mwenye makosa, je alifanya nini cha msingi kutuondoa kwenye mabalaa haya?

Je ni kwa nini kumbukumbu zetu ni za mateso ya kipindi hiki na si umahiri na ujemedari wa Kiongozi wetu kutuvusha kwenye dhoruba?

Hapa ndipo yanakuja makosa tactical ya Mwalimu. Je ali overstretch the resources badala ya kuwa na focus katika vitu vichache vya msingi?

Kwa nini tulikimbilia kuanzisha vijiji vya ujamaa na kutumia pesa kuhamisha watu wakati bado tunachechemea kutokana na kupanda kwa bei za mafuta na njaa ya 1974? kulikuwa na haraka gani kuhamisha watu vijijini hata kama nia ilikuwa ni kuleta maendeleo zaidi na karibu na watu?

Tukirudi nyuma kabla ya Azimio ni lazima tukubali uchanga wetu ulituponza. Je majivuno ya Uafrika, Utanganyika na Uhuru wa kujiamulia ulitufanya tukafumbia macho kutegemea misaada ya ufundi na utendaji kutoka kwa Mkoloni kwakuwa tunajitawala tangu ile siku ya Madaraka Day?

Wakati Musa anawaaga WanaIsraeli jangwani pale Sinai, walikuwa bado wako safarini wakiwa na taabu. Nia ya Musa kuwarudisha Waisraeli Kaanani ilikuwa safi pamoja na mafupi na majaribu mengi. Aruni alishindwa, ni Joshua ndiye aliyeongoza kurudi nyumbani baada ya kutangatanga nyikani ambako walijifunza mengi hata yale ambayo waliyakataa ya Musa.

MWalimu hawezi kukwepa lawama au shutuma, maana ni jukumu la kazi yake. Tegemeo letu lilikuwa angetuachia japo njia bora za kujijenga upya. Lakini alipoondoka madarakani, hali ya hewa ilikuwa ni chafu sana kisiasa na kiuchumi, hivyo at last minute of his presidency he did not seize the moment or opportunity to solidify his legacy as strong president. He stepped down willingly, but the image left was of weak leader who had great ideas but had no resources or means to deliver the dreams.

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Nyani, mtu ambaya hajapitia elimu au kwenda shule na ambayo hajui uhusiano wa factors mbalimbali katika jamii au uchumi ni rahisi kwake kulaumu kiongozi fulani and rightly so. Kwa mtu ambaye ana uwezo wa kufikiri na ambaye ameenda shule anapolaumu anakuwa na msingi wa kufanya hivyo na analaumu kwa haki.

Akija mtu hapa na kusema Nyerere alifeli kwa sababu babu yangu alinyang'anywa nyumba kwa mtu huyo lawama hizo ni sawa. Lakini tunapoangalia vitu objectively ni lazima tuwe wa kweli kwa historia. Hakuna mtu mwenye akili timamu na anayejua historia ambaye anaweza kusema Reagan au Pope JPII ndio walihusika kuuangusha ukomonisti kule Urusi lakini nafasi yao haiwezi kupingwa.

Mtu aliyeenda shule na ambaye ana data za historia mkononi mwake au anayeweza kuzipata data hizo kiurahisi basi badala ya kuchukua popular beliefs na kuzipokea kama imani tunatakiwa kuquestion them and challenge them through an intellectual scrutiny. Unajua watu wanaeneza imani fulani lakini zikiangaliwa kwa ukaribu ukweli unajulikana na imani zinabakia imani tu.

Nimeambatanisha hapa nakala ya hoja ya Marehemu Prof. Chachage ili kusaidia kuelewa jambo hili linapoangaliwa kisomi linakosa msingi wa ukweli kuwa Nyerere alifeli kwa sabau tu alifeli.

"mnapozungumzia failure zake ni lazima muweke wazi kuwa zilikuwa ni failure ZAKE".....this just muddies the waters....shooory

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Mwanakijiji,

Ukubwa ni jaa, unapokuwa mkubwa au kiongozi, matatizo na kero hata kama hukuzizalisha wewe, utatupiwa lawama.

Hili lina ukweli, kuna level ya responsibility ambayo kiongozi anaibeba na Mwalimu is no exception. Kwa hiyo kuna baadhi ya lawama ambazo zinamsingi wa ukweli kwamba kwa sababu yeye ndiye kiongozi basi ndiye anayebebeshwa lawama the same way tunavyombebesha lawama JK leo hii.

Swali ni je pamoja na vigezo vyote hivyo vilivyo vya wazi kabisa kuwa Mwalimu alikuwa si mwenye makosa, je alifanya nini cha msingi kutuondoa kwenye mabalaa haya?

Swali zuri kabisa; Je hakufanya kitu? Kwanini Watanzania hawakufa kwa njaa kwa mamilioni wakati wote wa ukame? Mzee tunazo zinaitwa Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) ambazo zimetandazwa karibu mikoa yote ambayo ni mfano wa US's Strategic Oil Reserve. Ni maoni ya Mwalimu hayo; Tunayo akiba ya mafuta pia n.k Nyerere hakuiacha nchi ijifanyie mambo yake yenyewe. Hivi Nyerere asingeanzisha maduka ya kaya n.k maskini wangepata wapi chakula kwa haki; hivi mnafikiri roho ya ubepari ingewafanya mabepari wetu kuwa na huruma na kuamua kugawa chakula bure?

Je ni kwa nini kumbukumbu zetu ni za mateso ya kipindi hiki na si umahiri na ujemedari wa Kiongozi wetu kutuvusha kwenye dhoruba?

umesema vizuri "kumbukumbu" zetu. Watoto wana vitu ambavyo wanakumbuka vibaya sana na wakati mwingine havina msingi katika historia. Ndio maana kati ya vitu ambavyo nimekuwa nikijengea hoja ni kuwasikia wale wote waliokuwepo wakati wa uongozi wa Mwalimu wajibu haya maswali why Nyerere failed. Kawawa yupo, Msuya yupo, Kingune yupo, Malecela yupo n.k .. kwanini hawaulizwi kuhusu hii legacy ya Mwalimu? Yawezekana kumbukumbu zetu haziko sawa.

Mimi kumbukumbu yangu haiko katika mateso iko katika ulazima. Kwamba hali ya nchi ilikuwa ngumu na maamuzi yalitakiwa kuchukuliwa na kujinyima tulilazimika. Wazee walinielekeza vizuri kabisa haja ya kusaidiana kwani tuko vitani na hatujui vita itaisha lini; waliniambia kuhusu njaa ya 74 na kwanini tu"hemee"; wakatufunza kuhifadhi chakula ghalani au kwa njia za jadi (kukausha matembele n.k)

Nadhani kumbukumbu zetu zinaendana na jinsi gani watu wa karibu walituelekeza wakati ule wa shida; kama walipandikiza mbegu za kuwa tunaonewa sitashangaa baadhi ya watu wanajihisi kuonewa.

Hapa ndipo yanakuja makosa tactical ya Mwalimu. Je ali overstretch the resources badala ya kuwa na focus katika vitu vichache vya msingi?

Utaona kuwa hakuoverstretch kitu chochote bali alifanya kile ambacho kinatokana na "mgongano wa kanuni". Njaa imekuja na watu wako wametawanyika.. what do you do? Unaweza ukawaacha na kuwapelekea chakula kwenye nyumba moja moja za jadi au unatafuta njia ya kuwaweka karibu ili kuwaokoa.. what do you do?

Kwa wengine ni waache kwenye nyumba zao za jadi! Hilo lingewezekana kwenye baadhi ya mikoa lakini lingewezekana Songea, Mtwara, Lindi na Kigoma? I doubt it.. so as a leader you are damned if you do something and damned if you don't ... Nyerere ni kiongozi akaamua kuchukua uamuzi, controversial yes, usumbufu kwa wananchi? absolutely.. necessary? You betcha!

Kwa nini tulikimbilia kuanzisha vijiji vya ujamaa na kutumia pesa kuhamisha watu wakati bado tunachechemea kutokana na kupanda kwa bei za mafuta na njaa ya 1974? kulikuwa na haraka gani kuhamisha watu vijijini hata kama nia ilikuwa ni kuleta maendeleo zaidi na karibu na watu?

how do you defend a people living in scattered villages? na mengine nimeyatolea mfano hapo juu.

Tukirudi nyuma kabla ya Azimio ni lazima tukubali uchanga wetu ulituponza. Je majivuno ya Uafrika, Utanganyika na Uhuru wa kujiamulia ulitufanya tukafumbia macho kutegemea misaada ya ufundi na utendaji kutoka kwa Mkoloni kwakuwa tunajitawala tangu ile siku ya Madaraka Day?

Madaraka dei imekuja baadaye sana baada ya uhuru; lakini unajenga vipi taifa jipya bila kufanya maamuzi magumu? NI vipi kiongozi anaweza kujenga TAifa na kuwafurahisha watu wote bila kuwaudhi baadhi yao.. sijaona bado!

Wakati Musa anawaaga WanaIsraeli jangwani pale Sinai, walikuwa bado wako safarini wakiwa na taabu. Nia ya Musa kuwarudisha Waisraeli Kaanani ilikuwa safi pamoja na mafupi na majaribu mengi. Aruni alishindwa, ni Joshua ndiye aliyeongoza kurudi nyumbani baada ya kutangatanga nyikani ambako walijifunza mengi hata yale ambayo waliyakataa ya Musa.

Si unakumbuka waisraeli walivyolilia "vitunguu saumu, masufuria ya nyama na matikiti maji" waliyoyaacha Misri? Musa si kuna mahali hadi nusura alaaniwe kwa sababu walikuwa wanamgusa kwenye nerve yako ya mwisho!!

MWalimu hawezi kukwepa lawama au shutuma, maana ni jukumu la kazi yake. Tegemeo letu lilikuwa angetuachia japo njia bora za kujijenga upya. Lakini alipoondoka madarakani, hali ya hewa ilikuwa ni chafu sana kisiasa na kiuchumi, hivyo at last minute of his presidency he did not seize the moment or opportunity to solidify his legacy as strong president. He stepped down willingly, but the image left was of weak leader who had great ideas but had no resources or means to deliver the dreams.

guess what.. a leader knows his limitations.. he did, he stepped down. Kama angekuwa anaamini anaweza kufanya zaidi ya vile ambavyo amefanya angeng'ang'ania madaraka.. Ndio maana nategemea Kikwete atang'atuka 2010 na hatopata nafasi ya miaka mingine mitano..

Kiongozi unajua limitations zako haya ya kusema "ange" na "inge" ni maoni ya 20/20 Alifanya alivyoweza, he laid very strong foundations.. he laid down very strong principles... but at the end.. ni jukumu la sisi wa baadaye kufanya kile alichoshindwa badala ya kulalamika "why Nyerere failed" na sasa tuko hapa.

Our challenge today is to pick up the mantle and press on; kushikilia mambo ya msingi ya muasisi wa Taifa letu (kama tunaweza kuyatambua), kuyaacha mambo mabovu, na kubuni mapya na yaliyobora zaidi.. That is our call..

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Hahahahaaa...Mwanakijiji unanikumbusha mmoja wa walimu wangu (H.D. Nyirenda) kwa jinsi unavyomtetea Nyerere. Marehemu Nyirenda ulikuwa humwambii kti kuhusu Nyerere.

 

[Rev.Kishoka]

lakini unajenga vipi taifa jipya bila kufanya maamuzi magumu? NI vipi kiongozi anaweza kujenga TAifa na kuwafurahisha watu wote bila kuwaudhi baadhi yao.. sijaona bado!

Je alishirikisha Taifa katika kutafakari mambo haya magumu hata kupata msimamo wa Taifa? Ikiwa anasema jambo lijadiliwe na sauti zote zisikilizwe, kwa nini basi suala la Vijiji vya Ujamaa havikuhusisha misingi ya Demokrasia na kuhusisha wananchi?

Tulikuwa na uchaguzi 1975, kwa nini basi hakupima upepo na kutumia kura ya maoni? Bado narudia ilikuwa ni ulazima gani kukimbilia kuhamisha watu wakati tumetoka katika sekeseke la mafuta na njaa? Don't you think his vision was impared and costed Taifa more expenses and psychological withdrawal kutoka kwa Wananchi ndio maana zoezi zima likaonekana ni bovu?

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

very good point Reverend... na in 20/20 ni kweli angeweza na ninaamini angepaswa kufanya hivyo. Lakini tunaangalia in 20/20.. je alikuwa na uwezo wa kuitisha kura ya maoni kwa watu waliotawanyika? hakuna IDs, hakuna barabara, magari ya shida.. how could he have done this kura ya maoni au kuwauliza wananchi? Angeweza kutumia kura ya maoni wakati wa uchaguzi.. kuna yeyote aliyetoa wazo hilo akakataliwa... ndio maana watu kama kina Malecela, Kawawa, na kina Salim tungepata nafasi ya kuwauliza.. what happened...

 

[Rev.Kishoka]

Mwanakijiji,

Wakati tunashindana nani zaidi wa myopicism in Tanzania, naomba niambatanishe hii habari niliyoikuta mtandaoni kwa bahati!

http://www.raceandhistory.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1560

Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere is Kicking Himself in His Grave!
by Navaya ole Ndaskoi
Paper presented to the Peace Group Seminar,
Arusha, November 14, 2004
I prepared this paper as a memorial of Julius Nyerere the first President of the Republic of Tanzania. It should have been published on 14 October. It was inevitable to delay it to November 14, after all the saying goes ‘better late than never.' Another event, the kind you do not mix with Nyerere Memorial, took place in October 2004. It was performed by no other than the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania - in broad daylight.
Fidel Castro came to power through a Revolution in 1959. He nationalised everything including his immediate family farm. He had, or so it is said, the interest of people in mind. Castro is not alone in this regard. Given his asthmatic health the doctor advised Ernesto Che Guevara, the Revolutionary icon, to move into a luxurious house situated out of town when his recovery required. Che, reportedly, dismissed the advice on the ground that there are better uses to which the house could be put.
The modest Mwalimu, which means teacher, Nyerere used his arguments and intellectualism to organise Tanganyika and it gain independence in 1961. On 26 1964 Tanganyika was ‘united' with Zanzibar to form today's Tanzania. Nobody would have thought that the British would have left in peace without being molested. In nearby Kenya British predators were ironed out, read Mau Mau War.
In February 1965 Mwalimu Julius Nyerere went to China on the state visit. Then, a few weeks later, on April 26, 1965 he addressed Tanzanians on frugality. He said:
I learned one very important thing. China is a huge country, with a population of more than six hundred million people. And the Chinese Government is one of those which is making money and technicians available to Tanzania to help us with our addressed the nation in the Development Plan. But they are able to do this only because they are a frugal people; they husband their resources very carefully indeed, and only spend money on things which are absolutely essential. This is true both of individuals and of the Government. There are hardly any private cars in China; people go to work by bus or on bicycles. The Government officials too, use cars only when it is really necessary for their job-and then the cars are small and cheap ones.
Mwalimu, the giant who rose from little unknown Tanzania to global politics, was also extremely selfless and fast to learn and listen. In some of his speeches he said that ‘in a truly democratic state the power of the people is supreme.' Sometimes when Nyerere was the President, students of the University of Dar es Salaam demonstrated demanding reduction of MPs salaries. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere saw the point. He courageously reduced his own salary as a prime example. Of course, MPs followed him on the same.
Precisely that was how the giant built the present day Tanzania. He received nothing from German and then British colonial cheats who looted the country clean. Nyerere brought University of Dar es Salaam into being. He built various industries. It is hard to locate a single University or industry built in Tanzania since he left office in 1985.
Principles and Development
It must be remembered too that Mwalimu Nyerere was also supporting Armed Liberation Struggle in Southern Africa. Otherwise the likes of Nelson Mandela, Sam Nujoma, Robert Mugabe and others would have been eaten up by Boers, British and Americans. Mwalimu Nyerere reached a point were he had to explain to the press and a few extremely dedicated patriots, why Tanzania is so concerned with principles. He wrote a short paper titled, Principles and Development, published in 1966 in which he said this:
The boycott of South African goods and the threat to leave the Commonwealth if South Africa remains a member has cost Tanzania a certain amount of annual income from the remittances of workers who used to go to that country under previous Government contracts or who made their way to South Africa. The boycott has also meant the loss of certain markets for our exports, and has necessitated the importation of certain goods from more expensive sources. The total amount of income loss is difficult to estimated and will be partly offset by the value of the goods which Tanzania workers have produced at home now that they no longer go to this racially dominated country. The amount of trade with south Africa was, in any case, never very great, and until the boycott received official backing in 1961, showed an annual adverse trade balance for Tanzania...
It must be accepted, however, that as South Africa is the most advanced industrial nation in Africa, and as transport costs from that country to Tanzania are less than those of other industrial nations, co-operation with South Africa could have brought considerable economic development that we have made sacrifices by our policy towards South Africa. Had the situation arisen where Tanganyika had to refuse to join the Commonwealth however the economic loss would have been very great, involving loss of trade preferences and a reduction on the chances of receiving British and possibly Canadian development loans and grants...Fortunately this situation did not arise since South Africa was excluded from the Commonwealth.
Nyerere refused categorically to see the English Queen, Elizabeth. Reason? British support of Africa's rabid dictators, Ian Smith & Co in Zimbabweans. This is illustrated in the book by J.K. Nyerere, Crusade for Liberation. Tanzania's action in adhering to the O.A.U. decision on Zimbabwe has meant that the £7.5 million interest-free loan which had been agreed between the two Governments but not actually signed, was frozen. The money was therefore not available to pay for development work within the first two years of the 5-year Plan. So Tanzania broke diplomatic relations with Britain. Nyerere wrote:
We have quarreled with the British Government on a number if issues e.g., when we refused to associate ourselves with the Commonwealth communiqué on Rhodesia in June, 1965; when we refused to support proposed Commonwealth Peace Mission to Vietnam on the grounds that it was neither practical nor genuine; and when we received a Chinese offer to help with the building of the railway to Zambia while still discussing the possibility of British and American help on the same project. The British failed to understand our desire to compare the advantages of different offers before turning any of them down. Almost at the same time Tanzania, which by then was a hardly 5-years old country, differed too with Big Brother, the United States of America. Nyerere explains again: We have twice quarreled with United States of America Government, once when we believed it to be involved in a plot against us, and. again when two of its officials misbehaved and were asked to leave Tanzania [immediately]. Both matters have since been cleared up by agreement and in neither case was any existing aid agreement affected. But the disagreements certainly induced an unco-operative coldness between us, thus suspending and then greatly slowing down further aid discussion.
Little Tanzania under Mwalimu Nyerere quarrelled with the then West Germany. Why? East Germany wanted Tanzania to give diplomatic recognition to her, and West Germany wanted Tanzania to ignore the existence of the German Democratic Republic and pretend there is no such administration over the eastern part of Germany. As a result of Tanzanians decision West Germany withdrew some types of aid and announced that other aid was under threat if Tanzania did not change her policies. Tanzania refused to do this and told the West Germans to withdraw all their federal Government aid!
That was one of the most difficult times in the contemporary history of Africa. On 16 October 1997 Nyerere addressed the South African Parliament in Cape Town. He reminded the parliamentarians: 'When we were struggling here, South Africa still under apartheid, and you being a destabiliser of your neighbours instead of working together with them to develop our continent, of course that was a different thing. It was a terrible thing. Here was a powerful South Africa, and this power was a curse to us. It was not a blessing for us. We wished it away, because it was not a blessing at all. It destroyed Angola with a combination of apartheid; it was a menace to Mozambique and a menace to its neighbours...When we had the Cold War, boy, I tell you, we couldn't breathe.'
Saints and Presidents
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, it is said, told his wife to keep herself out, far away from politics. One can look in vain without a single point in his life where anybody accused Nyerere of corruption. His children studied in Tanzania. I do not like to be misunderstood. Nyerere had his own weakness. But he is the giant of the 20th century! If President Mkapa died today, I do not think I would feel anything let alone write.
Nyerere was a living Saint. I am just making a comparison. He was quick to accept criticism and laugh at his mistakes. He had one rare characteristic that must be remembered by mankind. No Government official would remain in office when the public raised an accusing finger at him. Nyerere would smuggle him out through the back door or force him to resign to prevent him from soiling his Government. Ali Hassan Mwinyi had a very little political post and did something that angered President Nyerere. It was ‘too little.' I do not even remember what the scandal was all about. Nyerere forced him to resign? Perhaps Mwinyi repented and pledged never to sin again. Apparently Nyerere forgave him completely. In fact he left him as the President of Tanzania in 1985.
One Obanda commented on press release by Mwalimu Nyerere: 'Nyerere will go down in history as a man who worked so hard to build a nation and then voluntarily handed it over to a bunch of self-seeking, ideologically bankrupt nincompoops. He then watched quietly for 15 years as these people demolished every work he had done...When retiring, Nyerere personally went around Tanzania campaigning for Mwinyi, introducing him to bewildered peasants as "Raisi wangu". Since they trusted him, they went along with it...Mwinyi and the bunch who took over immediately started to unravel Nyerere's work. Nairobi was their London. They envied their counterpart political thieves in Nairobi. Mansions I have not seen in any Western city (maybe in California etc) shot up in the beach area of Dar es Salaam. Corruption was the order of the day. Government workers stopped working as each became a little entrepreneur.' Obanda concluded his comments:
To end, I must add that my respect for Mwalimu will never wane mainly because of his convictions and actions. He never used office for selfish reasons and he tried what was humanly possible to liberate and empower the masses. He is thus a source of inspiration. Above all, he proved that it is possible to forge a nation whereby the vicissitudes of ethnic affiliation are banished from social and public life. He created and promoted a powerful African lingua-franca, [ki]Swahili.
Nyerere was always an example. He taught others by examples. But the poor Mwalimu was watering dead rocks! Thieves stated looting the country left-centre and right! Donors left. Nyerere was provoked to justifiable anger. He addressed the press conference at Kilimanjaro Hotel Dar es Salaam on March 14, 1995. He accused, according to AFP, the Government of President Mwinyi of corruption and violating the constitution. Nyerere told journalists, ‘Corruption in Tanzania has no bounds. Every country I visit they talk about corruption in Tanzania. Tanzania is stinking with corruption.'
In an apparent reference to President Mwinyi himself, Nyerere told the journalists that Tanzanians needed a leader who will defend and promote the national constitution. 'It can't be a person that gets advice from his wife, and tomorrow we see some decision has been made. You can't have such a guy. You won't know what his wife will advise him,' Nyerere said amid applause from more than 100 journalists attending the gathering. His boldness speaks volumes. He made sure that Tanzanians got rid Mwinyi.
Looking on the way he has built the country Mwalimu wanted perhaps to leave it in the hands of responsible persons. In 1995 Mwalimu Julius Nyerere turned to his own student, Benjamin William Mkapa. Nyerere, unfortunately, landed on a huge burden.
The Government of Mkapa formed the Commission of Inquiry Into Corruption in Tanzania sometimes in 1996. It was chaired by Justice Joseph Sinde Warioba. The Commission accused senior Government officials including President Ali Hassan Mwinyi himself. But then the Commission recommendations were rubbished. Mwinyi and his gang have never been made to face the full force of law.
In no time the wife of the President, Mrs Anna Mkapa, established an NGO or rather a begging bowl. At least the press accesses her for suffering from kleptomania; an uncontrollable desire to steal. In English Laws these are just allegations. However President Mkapa has never convincingly denied them. The vividly angry President, according to Adam Lusekelo The EastAfrican Correspondent, says this:
…You people are only jealous of people who have made it. If someone turns in his motorbike and buys a car, you say he is corrupt. If someone builds a house through hard work, you say he is corrupt...If someone is corrupt, then tell us about it and you are going to see. But you must have proof. Even the press- you must have both sides of the story. I was a journalist. I know. You don't just accuse people for corruption without proof!
Way back in 1996 Nyerere told Stanley Meisler, 'There can only be one missionary in this country, and I am the missionary. But I can not tell them how to carry out my ideas. If I put in examples...the Ministry of Education will follow those and do nothing else.'
During the days of Mwalimu Nyerere Tanzania hosted freedom fighters. Now Americans dogs are all over the country. They are building an FBI(?) college in Tanzania, according to Professor Issa Shivji of the University of Dar es Salaam. American military bases are almost all over the continent. All this surely makes Mwalimu kick himself in his grave.
A Cosy Conspiracy
The western Governments and all sorts of 'donors' are forcing dangerous policies down the throat of poor Tanzanians. Consider the following example. Despite opposition in Tanzania the Government planned to buy unnecessary presidential jet (it has one aircraft less than 10 years old to fly the President) costing £15 million. Where will the Government borrow the money from is surely anybody's guess. The aircraft, Gulfstream G550 No.5H-ONE was manufactured by Gulfstream Aerospace of USA.
Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye, a political leper of no clear academic background, in a wasteful inauguration ceremony of the said jet was quoted as saying: ‘This is a working tool, like a motor-vehicle and such other machines. It is not a luxurious property as some people believe.' Hardly the last word came out of him before he was shot down in nearly unprintable language by no other than Transport and Communications Minister, Mark Mwandosya, who boasted that ‘This is a unique aircraft, modern and the first of its kind across Africa South of Sahara. I urge Tanzanians to be proud of it.'
It is exceedingly unlikely that anybody who is not refusing to think will comply with his denigration! In a bitter comment Mr Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat Deputy International Development Spokesman, United Kingdom, spoke his mind. Perhaps on behalf of Tanzanians Lamb refused to listen to Mwandosya, 'I am extremely concerned about this...purchase. Coming so soon after £28 million being wasted on a military air traffic control system, this rubs salt into the wound for the people of Tanzania.'
The air traffic control system Mr Lamb is referring to is the one forced on the shoulders of Tanzanians by the Labour Party British Government led by Tony Blair. It gave a license to British Aerospace Systems to sell Tanzania a radar system costing £28 million. The money was borrowed from Barclays Bank, of United Kingdom. The World Bank condemned the radar system ‘as outdated technology.' The deal split the Cabinet, with Tony Blair, Patricia Hewitt, the trade secretary supporting the order.
Blair backed the deal to safeguard 280 British jobs at the Isle of Wight. In contrast the presidential jet, the radar system, and a host of unnoticed others will put millions of already ‘highly indebted poor' Tanzanians deeper into the sea of debt. This is a problem in its extreme form. Crudely one of the chief engineers of corruption and poverty in Tanzania, Tony Blair, almost at the same time is ‘setting up a Commission for Africa to take a fresh look at the challenges facing the continent,' according to New African.
Today we have in Tanzania the notorious club made up of the World Bank, IMF, DfID, USAID, CIDA, DANIDA, FINNIDA(?), SIDA, EU and the UN family (UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, UNEP, UNESCO and all). All eating on the same table with the Public Enemy. All spreading poverty. As said above almost all 'donors' left Tanzania by 1994 because of Government sponsored corruption and lawlessness.
Government sponsored corruption is still with us, perhaps, in a more pronounced way. It follows that all 'donors' are ought to have fled northward by now. But all are still spreading poverty. All are aiding free-spending tyrants. All are in the conspiracy robbing us of our humanity! However, all this have an end. In one of his speeches Mwalimu Nyerere argued against oppression of the weak by the strong saying that:
When only the law of the jungle reigns, the struggle for existence must naturally end up with the survival of the fittest. This may be all right for the beasts; as a method of contact between human beings it is intolerable...if I am humiliated merely for existing, then I have no alternative but to fight, with whatever weapons are available [including stones, knives and Weapons of Mass Destruction].
Arise, Julius Nyerere! Some of us will always do all in our power to ensure that your spirit will live longer. In this century we need neither spears nor guns. Baby Bush has a lot of B52s and countless assault missiles. But he is learning some hard lessons in Iraq.
Fear NOT
We simply need to appeal, appeal honestly to the people of the world, to help us prevent Tanzania from sinking in the troubled waters of western supported thieves. If you are American or British organise a strike in your country until the radar system and jet are returned to the UK Aerospace Systems and USA Aerospace Systems respectively. If your country is giving 'aid' to Tanzania demand that your money, taxes you pay, should not be send to a corrupt country. The Government is corrupt and your money keep it arrogant.
I am told Norway is a rich country. Norway is 'aiding' Tanzania. But the King of Norway has no personal jet. He and all people at his palace travel by public planes, trains and buses! This is true to all other Scandinavian countries. So why should Tanzania, a 'highly indebted poor country,' buy expensive jets at the expense of the poor majority?
Demand diplomatic sanctions against Tanzania. The Government of Zimbabwe has economic sanction while it is not more corrupt than that of the United Republic of Tanzania. You can also write to Nelson Mandela Foundation. Ask Mandela, the voice of the oppressed amongst us, to urge the Tanzanian Government to stop abusing resources.
If you have a newsletter, newspaper, magazine, journal, radio, TV or website publish this article; but please do not censor it. I do not underestimate the power of the mass media in shaping public opinion but censorship is definitely evil.
If you are a lawyer, graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam worth his or her salt, please help us drag Frederick Sumaye and Mark Mwandosya to court as soon as possible for they are demolishing the country built by Mwalimu Nyerere. Fear NOT. The saying goes, ‘A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.'
Navaya ole Ndaskoi is the citizen of the United Republic of Tanzania