Kikwete, play the ball

When presidents end their terms in office they leave a legacy. Some legacies last longer than others. Some are planned some coincidental. The current president of Tanzania has by far best opportunities to leave lasting legacies once he leaves office. It does not matter whether he finishes his five year term in 2015 or not. Opportunities have presented themselves for him to leave lasting marks on the Tanzania landscape, particularly in constitutional process, politics of his party, governance and equally important state of the country’s natural resources.

I discuss these potentials below:

1.   Writing a new constitution

President Kikwete has the best opportunity to put Tanzania on a more democratic course than all the past presidents of Tanzania. His options surpass Mkapa’s, Mwinyi’s and even Julius Nyerere’s. Julius Nyerere, then prime minister facilitated the initial constitution of Tanganyika and later Tanzania after the Union with Zanzibar in 1964. Subsequently, amendments were done by parliament to institute one party rule of the state.

Mwinyi and Mkapa only patched the document to suit certain purposes of their time, like introduction of multipartism and addressing issues related to the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Of all past presidents Mkapa has the least opportunity to facilitate any edit to the constitution.

Comes Kikwete and the winds in the world have changed, multipartism have been here for more than a decade. The right time has come and the condition at home favor, re –writing, not editing the constitution.

It is a good thing that, the president has agreed and boldly announced that the constitution will be re-written. Re-writing is not the same as editing it to suit certain conditions. Kikwete must be proud of the legacy he is going to leave in Tanzania.  He should not liken his role to that played by Nyerere, Mwinyi or Mkapa. His environment is different in many aspects. He is leading citizens of Tanzania; Nyerere was creating citizens of Tanzania.

Kikwete is surrounded by learned interest groups and informed population, Mwinyi  worked in the middle of a population that was just opening their eyes to look at how the world around  has changed while they slumbered. And, while Mkapa redefined Tanzania’s position in the world (having shun socialism in Mwinyi era) Kikwete has the economic and political interest of the world battling against national interest on home soil. On top of that home grown interests need more say about the destiny of their country, than did during the previous presidents. Such conditions prompted for re-writing of the constitution. What a noble cause Kikwete is leading!  Nyerere complained for lack of local expertise, Kikwete surrounded by hundreds of them. The ball is in court. What he decides will put this nation on course to good or bad eventuality.

2.   Divide or unite his fractured CCM

CCM is on the verge of remaking its own history. Kikwete, the chairman of the party knows that. The party is proud of its record as one of the oldest parties of Africa that is still in power. The slimmed victory in the 2010 general elections dented that assurance. Will his departure from state house usher in a new party in 2015?

Infighting among groups who desire to create a successor to Kikwete is growing and is public. The party claims to suffer image problem with labels like mafisadi being thrown around opposing camps. to remedy the situation, Kikwete devised kujivua gamba philosophy. He sought to uproot bad elements through popular appeals, bypassing the party’s old tradition of internal discipline.  The drive bounced back on his heels, asking for even bolder decisions from him—the chairman.

The process of choosing a successor to Kikwete has potential to break the party in at least two opposing factions. So far neither of these factions has openly declared which position they hold on Kikwete. The worst that could happen is not known yet. In 2010 as Kikwete was organizing his re-election campaign allegedly prominent politicians plotted a breakaway party from CCM. Can Kikwete hold back a similar occurrence in the coming election, when he ends his two terms and CCM will need to field a new presidential candidate?

3.   Open Governance

You may have heard it in the news. it may sound lukewarm—particularly because the international organization that Tanzania joined in order to declare it commitment to transparency and accountability in governance has the word lukewarm word—partnership--to it. (Open Government Partnership). But the devil is in the details. By joining OGP Kikwete has committed to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. That may not be very different from making a thousand promises and delivering on only a handful. The difference however, comes from social and communication infrastructures that become obligatory in the OGP package once a country joins voluntarily. Kenya has built an open data portal as part of implementation of OGP principle of transparency. Imagine if the government commissions such a project in Tanzania. As a result you will find thousands of government documents online, no need to write a letter to request for a piece of historical document and wait a couple of months to receive a response that it was classified! You get that document online, in real time. This month Tanzania presented its National Action Plan to implement principles of OGP. Huge opportunities for quick wins exist. The freedom of information law is on the drawing board, the optic fiber has been laid, so a data portal is likely to be wide and far. Last but not list the process of re-writing the constitution is a platform to adopt mechanisms to fight corruption and embrace accountability.

4.   Dissecting natural resources: Road through Serengeti, Power Dam and Uranium mining in Selous Game Reserve

Apart from lasting impressions in governance, one important decision the current presidency should make is whether Serengeti National Park will be permanently be deleted the list of World Heritage. If the proposed 480km road across the wild sanctuary will be constructed Serengeti will not only lose it respected status, but revenue from tourism will decline.

The Works minister, the prime minister and, most importantly, the president himself have repeated that the road will be built, ignoring activism against the road and playing down alternative routes suggested. Wildebeest, giraffe, elephants and the rest of wildlife in Serengeti will have to live with the intrusion of their sanctuary. But it is not too late to reverse the situation.

So far, the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW)—who opposed the project in court-- got a favorable ruling in the East African Court of Justice. That means the Government of Tanzania will have to present its arguments for the road in court against their initial challenge of the Court’s jurisdiction over the matter. But that is only round one victory.

If he resolves, Kikwete has the power to revert the decision and save the ecology for today and tomorrow. All he needs is to compare the Environmental Impact Assessments done by independent organizations and compare with similar assessments commissioned by Government. In both disadvantages outweigh advantages of the road. Opposition to this road is presented alongside alternatives—the southern route especially. If the government chooses to open a road through this alternative route, wild and human will equally breathe in relief for many years to come.

Reportedly, Selous Game Reserve is landscape is being re-drawn. Reason? A proposed dam on Stigler Gorge and Uranium mining. Like the Serengeti road project, the energy generation dam and uranium mining both have government backing. The dam project, as it has come to be revealed is based on remodeling of plans resurrected from 1960s. That is not a sin, but dependence on hydro-electric power has not proven effective for 50 years. Apart from that the effects of climate change on rainfall pattern spell disaster to economies that rely on rain fed power generation. On the contrary rising temperatures of the world could be a blessing for a tropical country like Tanzania to benefit from generation of solar power. Energy is another feasible source of power. Both effects of these projects have been well covered on Wolfganghthome's Blog. 

Leadership is about decision. President Kikwete’s decisions on these and other issues will define the future of this nation and more importantly he will be remembered for them.

Linahitajika Azimio Lingine toka Arusha

TUNACHOKIONA Arusha kwa sasa  ni zaidi ya siasa. Vyama viwili vya siasa vyenye nguvu kubwa hapa nchini vya CCM na CHADEMA  kila kimoja kinachakujivunia nguvu ambayo kingine hakina. Kwa upande wa CCM kinajivunia nguvu ya Dola huku chama cha upinzani  cha CHADEMA kinajivunia nguvu ya umma.

Na ndicho  kinachopelekea  mvutano usioisha tangu kufanyika kwa uchaguzi mkuu mwaka jana Octoba 30 mpaka leo. Arusha imekuwa ikiendelea na mivutano ya kisiasa kana kwamba   uchaguzi umnekaribia ilhali bado kuna safari ya miaka 4  mbele.

Nachelea kutoa hofu yangu kuwa iwapo vyama hivi vitaendelea kutunishia misuli yao: CCM nguvu ya dola, Chadema nguvu ya umma, vitazidi kuigawa Arusha kwa misingi ya kisiasa, na haitaishia hapo. Kumbuka wakati wa uchaguzi kulikuwa na tetesi za kidini katika siasa za Arusha. Iwapo siasa za jukwaani zitazidi kushikilia mitaji ya kila chama, bila kutafuta suluhu tusishangae siku nguvu ya umma ikipambana tena na nguvu ya dola mitaani.

Dkt Slaa, katibu Mkuu wa Chadema na Tundu Lissu, mnadhimu wa kambi rasmi ya upinzani bungeni walikamatwa  Novemba 8 majira ya asubuhi  Arusha wakiwa katika harakati za kushinikiza kuachiwa toka rumande katika gereza la Kisongo Bwana Godbless Lema, Mbunge wa Arusha Mjini. Mwenyekiti wa Chadema, Freeman Mbowe, pia anatafutwa kwa tuhuma hizo. Mbunge wa jimbo la Arusha mjini,  Godbless Lema, awali alikataa dhamana katika shtaka analokabiliwa nalo yeye na wafuasi wengine kwa kuandamana  na kufanya kusanyiko bila ya kibali kutoka Jeshi la polisi.

Huu ni mwendelezo wa siasa za Arusha, ambazo zinazidi kuvaa utambulisho wa ghasia. Kwa hiyo ninalo jibu la swali langu la kwanza. Kinachoendelea Arusha ni siasa za ghasia.

Katika mazingira kama hayo, kujikita katika shughuli za maendeleo ni nadra. Bado baraza la madiwani halijatulia. Ni baraza hili ambalo ndilo linatakiwa kukaa na kufanya maamuzi muhimu ya namna ya kufanya shughuli za maendeleo ya jiji la Arusha. Haya hayawezekani kama madiwani wa vyama vyote bado wanahaha kutafuta suluhu na nafasi za kulipa visasi vya kisiasa. Chadema wanadai uchaguzi mpya wa meya.

Mapambano ya siasa za Arusha yana sura kadhaa.  Kuna mapambano baina ya vyama na kuna mapambano baina ya makundi ndani ya vyama.

Madiwani wa Chadema walivuliwa uanachama kwa tuhuma za kuingia muafaka na chama pinzani na baadhi  yao kupata nyadhifa katika baraza la madiwani la jiji, kinyume na utaratibu wa chama chao.

Walijaribu kujiokoa kisiasa  kwa kwenda mahakamani , lakini mpango wa suluhu kwa njia ya sheria ukakwama kwa shauri lao kupigwa chini na mahakama. Pengine salama yao ni kujisalimisha kwa taratibu za chama chao.

Hayo ni ndani ya Chadema. Upande mwingine wa migogoro ni  ndani ya CCM. Viongozi wa vijana wa CCM walifika Arusha na wakaendesha mikutano ya kisiasa ya ndani ya chama. Na waliitisha mikutano ya hadhara bila kupata kibali cha walinzi wa usalama, yaani jeshi la polisi.

Kundi lingine la wanachama lilidai mikutano illiyoitishwa na hao viongozi  wenzao wa UVCCM (taifa) si halali na haikuwa na maslahi ya chama.

Ikasikika sauti nyingine ikisema ni watoto wa vigogo ndio walioamuru mikutano hiyo ifanyike, kinyume na utaratibu. Bila shaka sasa inaonesha siasa za Arusha, zinaweza kubainisha mipasuko katika chama, hata kama ingekuwa imesitirika katika siasa za Dodoma na Dar es Salaam.

Kuna sura nyingine, pengine muhimu zaidi ,ya siasa za Chadema na CCM zinapofika Arusha. Vyama vyote vinatafuta kuimiliki Arusha. Chama cha Mapinduzi kilishinda urais, hivyo kinashikilia na kuendesha dola. Chadema kilishinda kiti cha ubunge Arusha, hivyo kinajinadi kwa kuwa na idadi kubwa ya wafuasi na wapiga kura wanaokiunga mkono mjini arusha. Kwenye viti vya udiwani CCM ilipata 10 na CHADEMA ilipata 8 huku TLP ikiambioia kiti kimoja.

Kila chama kiliona kina haki na nafasi ya kuwa na udhibiti wa baraza linaloongoza jiji. Ndipo kilipo kitovu cha ugomvi  baina ya vyama hivi na mivutano ya ndani ya kila chama. 

Kwa upande mwingine kuna jeshi la polisi. Sikusikia nidhamu waliyopewa viongoziwa UVCCM pale walipofanya mikutano bila kibali jijini Arusha, lakini mbunge wa Arusha aliwekwa rumande kwa kosa la kufanya mkusanyiko wa hadhara bila kibali cha polisi. Watu wanasikia, wanafuatilia, na bila shaka na wanasiasa wa  chadema wanatumia fursa hizo kuchochea nguvu ya umma, wakijua dola inafanya kazi kwa upendeleo.

Natarajia hivi karibuni kusikia mkutano utakoitisha Azimio jipya la Arusha ili kuwepo na haki, amani na jitihada zenye tija kwenye siasa za Tanzania, kwa kuanzia Arusha.

 Tumefika ama bado?

Ukitaka kujifunza kuogelea, ingia majini

Blogu hii ni uwanja wa mapambano. Vita kati yangu na jinamizi la kutisha—uvivu wa kuandika. Kila ukiona kuna kitu kipya kimeandikwa, ujue huo ni ushindi kwangu. Pengine wakati unaangaza macho  yako hapa, unaweza kuokota kito cha thamani ama kitu chenye ladha ya kukufaaa kula—kwa macho.

Wakati nafikiria kuanzisha blogu yangu majina kadhaa yalianza kujitokeza. Yenyewe, tu bila hata kuyaita: mkama special, kila kitu, mpyampya na kadhalika. Yote niliyakataa, bila sababu. Pengine sababu ya kuyakataa ni tabia yangu ya kutafuta mbadala- kwa karibu kila kitu.
Kwa  karibu miezi sita, hii blogu iliitwa kiporobaridiujimoto(neno moja).Hiyo ilikuwa ni baada ya kutafuta mbadala wajina-kiporobaridinaujimoto-ambalo lilidumu kwa siku mbili—sababu kazi za mshahara zilizidi nikakosa muda wa kuiwaza project yangu mpya.
Nafikiri umeanza kushangaa, miezi sita ya blogu na leo ndio naweka makala ya kwanza? Tafadhali rejea kauli yangu ya mwanzo—napambana na jinamizi kubwa jeusi kama usiku usio mbalamwezi. Laitwa uvivu wa kuandika.
Majuzi tu, nilialikwa na dada mmoja kwenye mkutano wa bloggers wa Dar es Salaam. Pernille alikua anafanya kazi dawati mkabala na mimi.  Naheshimu sana staili yake ya kuandika bidii yake. Aliponialika nikajishaua kuwa ninayo blogu.
“Unablogu kuhusu nini?” aliuliza. Jibu la swali hilo sikulitoa, kwa vile halipo. Ila nakumbuka niliongeaongea maneno ambayo, naamini aliyaelewa kwa kuwa hakuniuliza tena.
Niliishia tu kumfafanulia maana ya kiporo baridi uji moto. Kiporo ni chakula cha jana. Uji umepikwa leo(sijawahi kunywa uji wa  jana). Na kwetu, kiporo cha ugali wa muhogo hakipashwi moto; anapewa mtoto vile vile cha baridi, lakini uji anapewa wa moto. Kwenye hii blogu, nitaleta habari za jana—hizo ni ladha unazokumbuka, tena zingine zinakuudhi. Lakini nitatia na ladha za leo—huo ndio uji.
Kwenye kile kikao cha bloggers mimi ndio nilikua mtu mwenye furaha zaidi. Kwa vile bloggers wengine wote hawakuhudhuria, zaidi ya Pernille (duniaduara na Biche (wa chickabout town). Hivi wangekuja na wengine wote(nasikia wangefika zaidi ya 20) ningesema mimi ni nani—sharti kubwa la kuwapo pale ni kuwa na blogu. Nakumbuka alifika dada mmoja. Alisalimia, huku akitaja jina lake na blogu yake. Yaani kama vile niseme jamani habari zenu, samahani kwa kuchelewa. Naitwa Mkama, halafu naweka pause kidogo namalizia—kiporobaridiujimoto.
Niliona uso wa Pernille na Biche unawanda kwa tabasamu kisha wanasema kama kiitikio, ‘oohh, ndio wewe, karibu sana. Karibu kiti.’ Mimi wakati huo nilikuwa nimesahau hata neno la siri la kuingilia kiporobaridiujimoto.
Baada ya kikao nikaapa kwenda kuifungua tena blogu yangu. Nilijiwekea nadhiri kuwa iwapo kweli nikikaa mbele ya kompyuta na kukuta nimesahau password ya blogu yangu basi naachana na hii biashara maisha yangu yote.
Utakuwa unajiuliza nitakua na blogu kuhusu nini? Ah kwani hapa kwenye hizi aya unasoma kuhusu nini? Jibu lako utaniandikia kwenye kiboksi cha maoni hapo chini. Lakini hivi ni nchi gani ambako raia wake wakiulizwa swali nao wanajibu kwa swali? Tanzania? Kwani we unafikiri ni wapi kwingine ambako wakiulizwa swali wanasema tena swali? Si Tanzania tu?
Kuhusu nini cha Tanzania nitablogu. Vingi tu, lakini mizania itakua moja---mbadala. Napenda kuwaza mbinu mbadala, hoja mbadala, utatuzi mbadala, kila kitu mbadala. Naamini vitu hutokea kwa jozi kinzani. Kama kuna maji basi barafu imeyeyuka, mvua imenyesha ama chemichemi inavuja. Na kama unaona maji, basi umesiama pakavu. Na kama umesimama basi hujakaa.
Hii ni rahisi eh, ndio. Lakini mara nyingine giza isi jeusi, laweza kuwa jeupe.
Basi laiti kama kungekuwa mbinu mbadala ningejaribu kujua nini ungependa kusoma halafu ningeandika hicho tu. Lakini kwa vile si rahisi kutabiri, basi karibu ukae nami upwaani kwani ilishasemwa na kuthibika kuwa, mgagaa na upwa….
Haina mbadala hiyo.
Karibu tena