A PORTION OF THE ARMY DISCIPLINE CAN CONTROL ROAD CARNAGE

In African culture, the deceased is always right; no matter what! And talking bravely about what the dead person might have ommited to do before his/her death is blasphemy. We divert the reality to the expense of another multitude of deaths. As a result, we never learn from the deceased mistakes. Last two weeks the road carnage on Tanzanian roads claimed the life of another Member of parliament,Hon Regina Mtema(Special seats) prompting angry reactions from his colleagues in Parliament and Chadema Party ( the main opposition party) with North Kigoma legislator Zitto Kabwe saying her untimely death was a blow to the younger generation in politics. According to the regional police chief, the accident occured at Ruvu area in the coast Region. He said that the one legged ( disabled) MP with no right foot lost control of her car, when trying to overtake another speeding car. As a result her car overturned, killing her on the spot. The death of the CHADEMA special seats brings to two the number of MPs who have so far died in road accidents in recent years. In July 2008, CHADEMA MP Chacha Wangwe died on road accident. His driver had no valid driving licence. Both deaths were caused by gross negligence on the part of the deceased that we dont want to say publicly. Regina was amputated with no right foot. Drivers know that a right foot controls the pedals,i.e cruch, breaks, then how on earth was she controlling the vehicle with the left foot? Again another lawmaker on the wrong side of the law was Chacha Wangwe. In a perfect world we're not expecting a lawmaker to be driven a long distance safari with unlicenced driver. But this is Africa, and we do our stuff in an african way. Among the imported culture that we copied so competitely was an army discipline.Originating from colonial Kings African Rifles, our soldiers are still doing their things in an extremely ordely manner, i.e booty cleannes, observing smart areas, saluting the seniors without fail, and following all rules dutifully. If only our road users, especially drivers could borrow a fraction of the army discipline, unnecessarily deaths caused by irresponsible behaviours in our roads could not be happening. Oh AFRICA, THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTH.

IN TANZANIA, THIS MONTH OF THE YEAR, SMARTER PARENTS SEND KIDS TO THE BEST SCHOOLS

My favourite fm Radio presenter, Ephraim Kibonde once said, 'Mjini tunaishi kibiashara zaidi'. That quote sums life of urbanites in my lovely country, Tanzania.

Economists say it simply, The price is determined by the demand'.

We are in the month of January, when all parents are squeezing their pockets ready to pay children school fees. In some private schools the price is astronomical, and it keep rising haphazadly. Alas, some are even charging in hard currency.

Guess what? A parent has to be smart if he/she cares for his/her childrens future. The lousy thinkers will always send their kids to ward govermental schools with nothing to offer. My sister calls these schools, 'Msondo ngoma', ( this is the old music group, not much favoured by newly dot com generation).

January is not the time to solicit wedding or kitchen party contributions, as every parent eye is on school books and uniforms. At this season of the year banks are characterised by long queues of eager parents holding heavy bundles of 10000/= notes( A.K.A mwekundu wa msimbazi)

Come February when our kids are in classrooms, wedding contributions, kitchen parties and send off resumes. This is the prime time for the smarter local enterprenuers to gain enormous amount of cash from the proletariats. Vikao after vikao are colorfully organised in bars such as Dar es Salaam famous joints going by the name of Riverside, Kijiji cha makumbusho, Rose Garden etc etc. Local enterprenuers are gaining by using their petty ventures such Master of ceremony, catering, wedding card designs, digital animation, hosting wedding halls and a number of other businesses.

It is the interesting that after the above mentioned primitive accumulation of capital ranging from february to December, the same so called 'wajasiamali' affords to spend a good part of their fortunes to the 'not realistic' pricely private schools.

In Dar Es Salaam the top of the range primary private schools charges fee to the tune of $5000 per annum. In camparison, Indian Universities charges $5200 per annum. The difference is that one gets three years Indian University degree and he graduates while the other only accomplish just one year of primary school education!!!

So, A million dollar question is, why Indian education is cheaper than Tanzanian? My primitive answer is that our fee structure is not real only inflated by ourselves.

Who has the duty to end this circle? Tanzanians.