Ulimwengu: Heaven knows where we are going, but Magufuli knows he can walk on water

[BAK]

Heaven knows where we are going, but Magufuli knows he can walk on water​

​

By Jenerali Ulimwengu
THE EAST AFRICAN

Posted Saturday, June 25 2016 at 21:25


In the increasingly constipated political atmosphere ushered in by the excessive populism of President John Pombe Magufuli, Tanzanians are learning to swim with the tide and to roll with the punches, without necessarily knowing where they are headed.

It kind of reminds one of the old songs by the Osibisa group, “We are going/Heaven knows where we are going.” With all the good deeds the new president has enacted, and with all the great declarations he has uttered, Magufuli has earned so many plaudits that there is a real and present danger he may have started to believe he can walk on water.

It’s alright to force people who should be paying taxes to pay them, and to punish those who are found to be criminally culpable, and to get rid of the corrupt, lax and inept, and to plug holes through which the national exchequer is haemorrhaging.

Still, one would like the action taken to be taken in a manner that is legal, transparent, universally applicable and predictable. It will be a sad day indeed when we sacrifice legality and transparency to the expediency of achieving short-term gains that may not be sustainable going forward.

We all know something about the MBWA style of government, Management by Walking About, which people in this country practised many years ago, but whose measures -- though hailed by a gullible populace at the time -- have left no positive legacy.

There is no substitute for robust systems and tested implementation strategies and processes, all anchored in a philosophical outlook that mobilises popular support and voluntary adherence. But that, I admit, may look like a tall order, involving hours and hours of reflection and consensus building.

The easier way is for whoever happens to be at the top of the food chain to get up in the morning and, depending on what their dreams were last night, give orders for this or that to be done, this one or that other one to be hired or fired. That is easy but costly in the long run, not least because it lends itself to perennial fresh starts.

Politics is king in all matters pertaining to governance, and all who aspire to governing others must be versed in the art of politics, which -- when practiced by those who understand what it means –boils down to the ability to marshal ideas against other ideas, to pit arguments against other arguments, and by a process of distillation, to extract the best for a given society for the given moment.

For the moment, I say, because today’s heresay may become tomorrow’s dogma in the ever-dynamic interface between ideas and philosophies.

Otherwise, after killing Corpenicus, the Catholic Church would have gone on to kill Galileo as well. Much earlier, after Socrates had been made to drink the hemlock, the Athenians should have gone on to wipe out the whole tribe of troublemaking questioners. And, much closer to us, Madiba should have died a terrorist.

Tied to what I’m saying is an idea I’ve heard so many times before but which has made a new appearance with advent of Magufuli. University students are being told that they went to college to study and not to engage in politics, which to me, is, honestly, hogwash. If you do not do politics at university, then maybe you should be barred from entering politics forever.

University is that space when you are coming of age, and your mind is going through the pressure cooker of new and exciting learning that may have been denied to you in lower learning institutions. Even in those schools, progressive teachers introduce their boys and girls to elementary critical thinking, guiding them in techniques of argumentation and disputation.

That’s where true politicians are born. To me, anyone who discovers politics after they left university is either a fake looking for a job in the political industry, or he is the champion of late bloomers.

To the students who may be confused by what our rulers are telling them, I say, do politics if politics is your thing, and don’t listen to all the statements designed to turn you into unquestioning zombies doing their bidding. Do politics as if your life depended on it, because it actually does.

Jenerali Ulimwengu Jenerali Ulimwengu is chairman of the board of the Raia Mwema newspaper and an advocate of the High Court in Dar es Salaam. E-mail: ulimwengu@jenerali.com

 

[DuppyConqueror]

In the last 30 years, Tanzanians have been taken/'tested' through different types of leadership ranging from autocracy to liberal democracy....its fair to conclude that Tanzanians still need democracy spiced-up with "good intentioned" dictatorship just like the way Tanzanian drivers need tarmac roads spiced-up with "good intentioned" speed-bumps instead of road signs.

 

[YEHODAYA]

We all know something about the MBWA style of government

Hili gazeti la wakenya la the EAST african LIMEANZA tena kutuchokonoa watanzania.Nape Uko wapi? Lipige ban Tanzania WAKALIUZE huko huko kwao

 

[Mingoi]

Hili gazeti la wakenya la the EAST african LIMEANZA tena kutuchokonoa watanzania.Nape Uko wapi? Lipige ban Tanzania WAKALIUZE huko huko kwao

Unamuita aje kutanslate kimombo au aje alifungie gazeti?

 

[YEHODAYA]

Unamuita aje kutanslate kimombo au aje alifungie gazeti?

ALIFUNGIE

 

[Mkereketwa_Huyu]

Jenerali Ulimwengu has missed the point herein. For good 30 years, we ruled ourselves as there was no leader who truly wanted to lead this country sincerely although we had Presidents.

As a result, wajanja (inept individuals) were planted in every government sector.

In those sectors, subordinates did whatever they wanted and nobody was held accountable for this silliness, Jenerali should know this.

Because of that, watanzania created a lazy mentality where people want money but don't want to work for it.

Failures used other people's names to get jobs of which they couldn't handle in other government sectors.

In short, the country was in a mess and we needed someone like Magufuli to clean it and change people's mentality. There is a reason why other Africans and countries are applauding Magufuli.

We need true leaders in this country and Magufuli is taking us there, let him lead us to the promised land. Big up Magufuli.

 

[Sophist]

Ulimwengu, a camouflaged hypocrite, is as has always been, conceptually and by deed wrong. For those of us who know him well right from Nyakato Secondary School to the University of Dar es Salaam, Ulimwengu is nothing but an accomplished exhibitionist opportunist whom no normal-minded person can trust - so his opium-orchestrated opinion.
During Ali Hassan Mwinyi's reign that was seen by many as being so flabby that it was merely driven by religious whims, Jenerali Ulimwengu abandoned his revolutionary credo to seek Muslim recognition – Twaha Khalifan. We all know he ended up with the Ilala District Commissioners' (DC) post, which he served with grumbling but left prematurely. Twaha Khalifan sneaked into Mkapa's reign as advisor to the president but his pomp, contempt and demean to President Mkapa earned him premature retirement and a persona non grata status.

Actually when Twaha Khalifan recounts, "...anyone who discovers politics after they left university is either a fake looking for a job in the political industry...." he speaks of himself. He sneered TANU Youth League (TYL) movement while at the University of Dar es Salaam, but thereafter graduation, he vigorously lobbied to join TYL only to seize opportunity for nomination as youth representative in Algeria.

It is true that academics should be left to engage in political forum debates but what is the statement of affairs of our current 'politics' faculty for debate at the Universities? Is discussing to join or not to join these ramshackle political parties at the universities the political debate worth university calibre debate?

Come on Jenerali Ulimwengu, Twaha Khalifan. You may have a point worth contributing to our bogged down governance software and hardware but not opposing the direction President Magufuli's maiden Government has taken. The man has correctly started and Tanzania is about to be on the right direction.

 

[msafiri.razaro]

Ulimwengu, a camouflaged hypocrite, is as has always been, conceptually and by deed wrong. For those of us who know him well right from Nyakato Secondary School to the University of Dar es Salaam, Ulimwengu is nothing but an accomplished exhibitionist opportunist whom no normal-minded person can trust - so his opium-orchestrated opinion.
During Ali Hassan Mwinyi's reign that was seen by many being so flabby that it was merely driven by religious whims, Jenerali Ulimwengu abandoned his revolutionary credo to seek Muslim recognition – Twaha Khalifan. We all know he ended up with the Ilala District Commissioners' (DC) post, which he served with grumbling but left prematurely. Twaha Khalifan sneaked into Mkapa's reign as advisor to the president but his pomp, contempt and demean to President Mkapa earned him premature retirement and a persona non grata status.
Actually when Twaha Khalifan recounts, "...anyone who discovers politics after they left university is either a fake looking for a job in the political industry...." he speaks of himself. He sneered TANU Youth League (TYL) movement while at the University of Dar es Salaam, but thereafter graduation, he vigorously lobbied to join TYL only to seize opportunity for nomination as youth representative in Algeria.

It is true that academics should be left to engage in political forum debates but what is the statement of affairs of our current 'politics' faculty for debate at the Universities? Is discussing to join or not to join these ramshackle political parties at the universities the political debate worth university calibre debate?

Come on Jenerali Ulimwengu, Twaha Khalifan. You may have a point worth contributing to our bogged down governance software and hardware but not opposing the direction of President Magufuli's maiden Government. The man has correctly started and Tanzania is about to be on the right direction.

So now is about character assassination? What about the issue?

 

[HEKIMA KWANZA]

Wanaomjua vizuri Jerenali Ulimwengu wala hawashangai kuona ameanza 'smear campaign' dhidi ya Magufuli kwa kasi. Baada ya kutoswa akaamua kupambana na Tanzania, lakini akumbuke usitukane wakunga uzazi ungalipo.

 

[Toxic Concotion]

In the last 30 years, Tanzanians have been taken/'tested' through different types of leadership ranging from autocracy to liberal democracy....its fair to conclude that Tanzanians still need democracy spiced-up with "good intentioned" dictatorship just like the way Tanzanian drivers need tarmac roads spiced-up with "good intentioned" speed-bumps instead of road signs.

I beg to differ, it is highly incorrect saying there has been variations in leadership in Tanzania. The only changes we have at most gone through have been leaders as persons; Nyerere to Magufuli today.

And political terminologies i.e, One Party state to multi parties alias 'democracy'. But in the actual sense the mode of leadership has been constant and similar all through.

The fair conclusion is that Tanzania needs true democracy and multi partism in every essence of it and not to remain as mere terminologies. It is high time those in the helm of leadership (CCM) get to accept and realize that they have exhausted all their abilities to steer the country into an upgraded version of today's world.

Not to sound biased or politically motivated but the truth is the current president would have been what we always needed to get the true change required but that would only be possible if he wasn't on the rein of CCM. Be as it may, CCM hold the final say in the course of the presidency.

What we truly need is the voice of the masses to be heard, the acceptance of those in leadership that their time is up and realization that true democracy is the acknowledgment and respect of other people's opinions even if they differ from your own.

 

[thatha]

Kati ya watu watakaopata shida awamu hii ya tano ni pamoja na Ulimwengu. Naona ameanza kutapatapa mapema sana.

 

[KVM]

Hili gazeti la wakenya la the EAST african LIMEANZA tena kutuchokonoa watanzania.Nape Uko wapi? Lipige ban Tanzania WAKALIUZE huko huko kwao

Sioni kilichochokonolewa hapo

 

[The Boss]

Wanaomjua vizuri Jerenali Ulimwengu wala hawashangai kuona ameanza 'smear campaign' dhidi ya Magufuli kwa kasi. Baada ya kutoswa akaamua kupambana na Tanzania, lakini akumbuke usitukane wakunga uzazi ungalipo.

Sasa tunamjadili Ulimwengu na sio alichokisema?
kweli?

 

[MANI]

"Still, one would like the action taken to be taken in a manner that is legal, transparent, universally applicable and predictable. It will be a sad day indeed when we sacrifice legality and transparency to the expediency of achieving short-term gains that may not be sustainable going forward."

What's the problem with above words from Jenerali?

 

[Sophist]

So now is about character assassination? What about the issue?

read the post again, and between lines. The issues Twaha has raised are covered with a caution due to credibility concerns.

 

[mzalendo15]

Umeongea point maana serikali hii inataka kusifiwa tu na kuimbwiwa mapambio ya utukufu.

Ukweli ni kwamba bajeti haiakisi uwezo wa vyanzo vya mapato tulivyo.
Hivyo wanafikiri kukusanya kodi kwenye kila kitu ndio suluhisho la kutekeleza bajeti bila kuzingatia hali ya vyanzo vya mapato vya wananchi kama vitaleta ufanisi.

Matokeo yake atakae umia ni mwanananchi maskini wa mwisho kwa kuwa yeye ndio mlaji wa mwisho.

Swali la kujiuliza ni kwamba hizi kodi zilikuwepo huko nyuma lakini kwa kuona inakuwa mzigo kwa mwananchi wa chini ilibildi waziondoe ili kuleta unafuu kwa mwananchi wa chini kwanini sasa hivi zinarudishwa?

 

[KVM]

Reading this article one gets the impression that Tanzania and indeed most African countries lack good systems of governance. That is far from the truth. African governments through UN organisations, other international organisations such as the IMF, and donor countries have put in place many systems of governance which seem to be water-tight. But impunity is still continuing. These systems are, like the cobwebs designed to trap the weak but are completely torn apart by the powerful.

I do not agree with everything that Magufuli does, but at last we have a president who can deal with those who all along have seen themselves as the most powerful and untouchable in our society. What he is doing is implement the existing systems of governance which were being ignored by the bureaucrats in our country. Hopefully, after seeing how it can be done the bureaucrats will take note.

 

[Hoshea]

I beg to differ, it is highly incorrect saying there has been variations in leadership in Tanzania. The only changes we have at most gone through have been leaders as persons; Nyerere to Magufuli today. And political terminologies i.e, One Party state to multi parties alias 'democracy'. But in the actual sense the mode of leadership has been constant and similar all through. The fair conclusion is that Tanzania needs true democracy and multi partism in every essence of it and not to remain as mere terminologies. It is high time those in the helm of leadership (CCM) get to accept and realize that they have exhausted all their abilities to steer the country into an upgraded version of the today's world.
Not to sound biased or politically motivated but the truth is the current president would have been what we always needed to get the true change required but that would only be possible if he wasn't on the rein of CCM. Be as it may, CCM hold the final say in the course of the presidency.
What we truly need is the voice of the masses to be heard, the acceptance of those in leadership that their time is up and realization that true democracy is the acknowledgment and respect of other people's opinions even if they differ from your own.

"but that would only be possible if he wasn't on the rein of CCM"
This phrase right here, depicted your colors, so u thnk it would be possible if he was in UKAWA, ndivo unamaanisha. Chini ya hawa wabunge na mwenyekiti wao na mgombea wenyu. Come on man. That is too much nonsense in your good english donchu think

 

[Sophist]

"Still, one would like the action taken to be taken in a manner that is legal, transparent, universally applicable and predictable. It will be a sad day indeed when we sacrifice legality and transparency to the expediency of achieving short-term gains that may not be sustainable going forward."

What's the problem with above words from Jenerali?

A statement is indeed correct but its motive is questioned due to Twaha Khalifan's credibility test. The Tanzania government hadn't started merely 8 months ago of Magufuli's rein. Magufulu has started with annulling the anomaly of the past and he seems to succeed. Then why accusing him unduly?

 

[Denis denny]

Kati ya watu watakaopata shida awamu hii ya tano ni pamoja na Ulimwengu. Naona ameanza kutapatapa mapema sana.

Umemwelewa alichokiongea ama lugha ni janga pia kwako