QUOTE OF THE WEEK

An empty stomach is not a good political advisor!!!

Source 'The Guardian' ( Tanzanian daily)

ZA MWIZI AROBAINI, HAPANA ZA MWONGO.....

Wanasiasa 40 walipata ajali mbaya sana porini,na baada ya ajali hiyo alitokea mkulima mmoja na alipoona hivyo alichimba shimo kubwa na kuwazika wote kwa pamoja.Baadaye polisi walikuja eneo la tukio na kumkuta huyo mkulima na kuanza kumhoji kuhusiana na ajali hiyo.

Mahojiano yalikuwa hivi:-

Polisi :-

Uliona ajali jinsi ilivyotokea?

Mkulima :-

Hapana, nilikuta imeshatokea na maiti zimezagaa..

Polisi :- Zipo wapi maiti?

Mkulima :- Nimezizika

Polisi :- Una uhakika wote walikua wamekufa?

Mkulima :- Kuna wengine walikuwa wanalalamika kwamba hawajafa lakini si unajua wanasiasa walivyo waongo!!!mi nikajua tu wanadanganya nikawazika wote....

FAITH APATA KOMUNIO YA KWANZA

Baada ya mafundisho ya mwaka mmoja, Faith Nyamwocha afurahia matunda ya somo la kikristu pamoja na familia yake. Waliopitishwa kupata sakramenti hiyo ni 6 kati ya watoto 30. Wengine 24 walishindwa kudhibitisha kuwa walishapata ubatizo. Kwa wakristu huwezi kupewa komunio ya kwanza kabla ya kubatizwa. Natamani 'discpline' hii ingekuwepo katika taasisi za serikali ya Tanzania.

KURA YA NINI? SERIKALI NI MFU!!!

Jumapili iliyopita watanzania kote nchini walitarajiwa kupiga kura kuwachagua viongozi wa serikali za mitaa katika ile hali ya kutimiza haki zetu za kimsingi za kikatiba, yaani kuchaguliwa ama kuchagua viongozi tunaotarajia watatuletea maendeleo katika vitongoji vyetu.

Kwa mujibu wa Waziri wa nchi anayeshughulikia serikali za mitaa, Mheshimiwa Celina Kombani namba ya waliojiandikisha kupiga kura nchi nzima ni sawa na 53% ya watu millioni 16.1 ambao serikali ilikadiria wangejiandikisha kupiga kura.

Uchaguzi umeisha salama na umefanyika katika vituo 66,136 vilivyoko katika vijiji 11,197 na mitaa 2,606 katika halmashauri 132 nchini, ambapo viongozi 279,925 wamechaguliwa katika ngazi ya vijiji na vitongoji, na 15,636 katika ngazi ya mitaa.

Chama Cha Mapinduzi, CCM kimeibuka na ushindi mkubwa ambapo kwa mkoa wa Dar Es Salaam wajumbe 34 walipita bila kupingwa ambapo mkoani mbeya wajumbe 4000 wa CCM kati ya 5,592 vile vile nao wamepita bila kupingwa.

Licha ya haya yote mimi mkazi wa Tegeta, Dar Es Salaam sikupiga kura, wala sikujua sehemu iliyokuwepo kituo cha kupigia kura.



Sababu ni nyingi lakini zaidi ni ule ukosefu wa mwamko wa kisiasa siyo tu kwa mimi kama mtanzania bali pia kwa watanzania wenzangu ambao niliwaona wakiendelea na maisha yao ya kila siku pale mtaani kwangu. Kuna waliokuwa kwenye maduka yao ingawa hii ilikuwa ni siku ya kumwabudu Mungu kwa walio wakristu, kuna niliowaona wakibeba ndoo za maji kichwani wakiangaika kutafuta maji, kwa wale wakulima niliwaona wakimwagilia michicha yao,na waangaikaji wengine niliwaona wakisukuma mikokoteni. Jirani yangu aliendelea kusimamia mafundi wanaomjengea nyumba yake. Kwa kifupi wengi hatukustuka na uchaguzi huu.



Waziri Kombani alipokuwa anazungumza na waandishi wa habari siku mbili kabla ya uchaguzi alikiri kuwepo na idadi ndogo ya watanzania waliojindikisha kupiga kura. Alisema kuwa wengi waliojindikisha ni wananchi wa vijijini ambapo 30% walijiandikisha ambapo maeneo ya mijini namba ilikuwa ya chini zaidi. Akaainisha kuwa sababu mojawapo ya idadi ndogo ya wapiga kura maeneo ya mijini ni uelewa mdogo ( ignorance) wa watu wanaofikiri kuwa uchaguzi hauna manufaa kwao. Vile vile Radio ya binafsi yenye makao yake makuu jijini Dar Es Salaam, Clouds Fm ilitoa takwimu ya watu 500,000 waliopiga kura katika jiji la Dar Es Salaam kati ya wakazi wa jijini.

Lakini mie naona ni ukweli kuwa uchaguzi hauna maana hasa kwa mtu wa kawaida kwani hakuna kitu anachoweza kujivunia kuwa ni kazi ya viongozi aliyewachagua katika uchaguzi uliopita. Wananchi hawategemei barabara zijengwe na viongozi wao hapa mitaani mwetu, wala hatutegemei kujengewa kituo cha polisi karibu na makazi yetu bila kuweka nguvu zetu wenyewe, wala hatuwaambii wajumbe wa mitaa yetu wakusanye takataka kwa niaba yetu. La hasha! wananchi kwenye vitongoji wanakosa viongozi wa kuwahamasisha, wanakosa viongozi wa kuwaongoza, viongozi watakaoonyesha njia ya kuelekea kwenye maendeleo ya kweli. Tunaliliona kwenye mitaa na vitongoji vyetu ni viongozi bubu, wasiotoa maelezo yenye tija; na tunapofika hapo nchi inakuwa inaingia kwenye mashaka sana. Viongozi wanadharaurika na kila mtu anachukua uamuzi kwendana na mazingira yake.

Katika nchi yenye mtazamo makini, wananchi wanatarajiwa kuilinda na kuitetea katiba yao, na upigaji kura ni njia sahihi ya kutimiza adhima hii. Mwalimu Nyerere ( Nyerere 1995) aliwahi kuandika kuwa wakati wote wananchi wanaweza kuitetea katiba kama wanajua wakati wote wawakilishi wao wanafanya nini kwa niaba yao. Kama hawaambiwi ukweli kinachotokea ndani ya nchi yao wananchi hawa watawezaje kuitetea katiba?



Hapa kwangu Tegeta na sehemu nyingi za Dar Es Salaam ni kila mtu na lwake! mtu anachoweza kufanya yeye kama mtu binafsi anakifanya bila kushirikishwa au kuhamasishwa na kiongozi wake wa mtaa. Ninapoamua kujenga ukuta kwenye nyumba yangu hii inamaana ninajiwekea kizuizi na jumuiya inayonizunguka. Ninapoweka simtank la maji ya ziada ina maana sitarajii na wala sitalalamika pale DAWASCO watakaposhindwa kunipatia huduma ya maji. Ninaponunua LandCruiser, na kulipitisha kwenye barabara mbovu iliyojaa mashimo mfano wa mahandaki ina maana sitarajii mwenyekiti wa serikali za mitaa kuitisha mkutano wa wananchi kujadili njia mbadala ya kuweka vifusi kwenye barabara za vitongoji vyetu. Wazungu wanasema 'Its a private solution for the public problem'

Fanon(1963, p. 119) analielezea tabaka la wasomi ambalo baadhi yao linajiingiza kwenye siasa kama ifuatavyo;

Inaonekana kwamba tabaka la wasomi halijajiandaa, wala halina uhusiano au ukaribu wa kimatendo ( practical) na umati wa watu, ule uvivu wa hili tabaka la wasomi, na uwoga wao katika muda muafaka wanapotarijiwa kutimiza majukumu yao ya kimapigano huleta hasara kubwa kwa jamii.

Hata baada ya miaka zaidi ya 40 tangia tupate uhuru, mapigano ya sasa siyo yale ya kumuondoa mkoloni, bali vita ya sasa ni kuuondoa ukoloni mamboleo unaokuja kwa sura ya utandawazi ( globarization). Lakini kama vile anavyoanisha Issa Shivji (2007) viongozi wanaoshika madaraka nchini kwetu wanaimba wimbo wa ukoloni mamboleo badala ya kuupinga wakiwa bega kwa bega na wapiga kura wao.

Kiongozi wa mtaa ninaemtaka mimi ni yule atakayetambua kuwa mipango ya ukoloni mamboleo ndiyo iliyosababisha bei zetu za mazao vijijini kushuka bei mno hivyo kulileta kundi kubwa la vijana mjini. Ni kiongozi atakayekuja na mipango endelevu ya kulipa ajira jeshi hili la vijana ndio atakayenifanya nipige kura ya kumchagua.

Kiongozi ninayemtaka mimi ni yule atakayetambua kuwa elimu inayotolewa na serikali ni afifu mno hivyo kuja na mipango inayowashirikisha wananchi wa mtaani ambao wote wanapenda watoto wao kusoma shule katika mipango ya kujenga maktaba, au shule ya kisasa.

Serikali yetu imekufa! a stateless society!!! No police, no healthcare, no fire brigade, no proper public schooling, no adequate water supply, infrequent power supply, and above all no effective leadership.



Mungu Ibariki Tanzania.

Fatiki ya Rwanda

Chanzo cha BBC swahili service kinatutaarifu kuwa nchini Rwanda, serikali ya Mjeshi Kagame imeamua kufanya tathmini kwa wafanyakazi wake wa serikali kila mwezi, ambapo alama kama zile za shule zitakuwa zinatolewa kwa watumishi wa Umma.

Chanzo hicho kinatutaarifu kuwa mtumishi wa umma atakayepata alama kati ya 70-100% ataendelea na kazi na ikiwezekana atapandishwa cheo. Alama 50-69% atasimamishwa kazi na kupewa nafasi ya kutuma maombi ya ajira upya, ambapo yule atakayepata chini ya alama 50% anafukuzwa kazi.

Kumekuwa na malalamiko mengi kutoka kwa watumishi wa umma kuwa wale viongozi wa vitengo vya serikali ambao ndio wanaotoa hizo alama wanaweza kuwa na visasi na waajiriwa hivyo kutoa maamuzi ya upendeleo, ( Victimization).

Wewe hii unaionaje?

Watumishi wa serikali ya Tanzania wamekuwa na tabia ya uzembe, ubadhirifu, ulaji wa rushwa na kwa ujumla kuwajibika kumekuwa kwa mashaka sana. Nakumbuka miaka ya 1990's Rais wa awamu ya pili Ali Hassan Mwinyi aliwahi kutangaza upitishwaji wa Fagio la chuma kwa watumishi wazembe. Vile vile miaka hiyo hiyo aliyekuwa Naibu Waziri Mkuu na Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani, mpiganaji Augustino Lyatunga Mrema alianzisha tabia ya kuvamia ofisi za serikali na kuondosha viti vya mtendaji aliyekuwa hayupo kazini.

Licha ya juhudi hizi za zima moto? bado watumishi wa serikali wamekuwa wakifanya kazi kimazoea, kusuasua na kivivu.

Tanzania, tufanye nini?

SIKU YA UMASKINI DUNIANI

NI UMASKINI WA MAWAZO SIYO HALISIA

Leo Dunia inatubeza siye wa nchi 'maskini' kwamba ni sikukuhuu yetu! Inaitwa siku ya umaskini Duniani. Kiukweli siye wa nchi za ulimwengu wa tatu siyo maskini bali umaskini wetu ni wa mawazo tu. Viazi vitamu vinakubaliana na hali ya joto hivyo kwa akili ya kawaida vingetakuwa viwe vinatawala kwenye meza zetu kama sehemu ya kifungua kinywa. Ila kwa sababu tunapenda sana kuiga chakula wanachokula wale waliotutawala basi tunaona vyetu ni vya kishenzi. Watawala walipokuja na mkate na siagi tukaona viazi vyetu havina mpango. Wahaya wanaita viazi vikuu, ebitakuli, maana yake ni Hivi weka pembeni. Kuna stori kwamba muhaya mmoja alipowekewa vyakula vingi mezani alichagua vyakula vingine na kuachana na viazi vikuu.

Leo hii husipokula mkate na siagi unaonekana umeishiwa na watoto wa mjini wanasema 'umefulia'. Kinachosikitisha zaidi ni kwamba baadhi ya vitafunwa vinaagizwa kutoka nje ya nchi hivyo tunapoteza pesa zetu za kigeni. Weetabix inatoka Uingereza na siku za baadaye itachukua nafasi ya mkate.

Msomi ninayependa kusoma kazi zake Ali Mazrui katika kitabu kinachoitwa 'The Africans' aliandika, ninamnukuu katika lugha ya kiswahili.


Katika kipindi cha kizazi kimoja kilichopita tumeshuhudia kasi kubwa ya waafrika kuiga mila za kigeni na ufuatiliaje wa maisha ya ughaibuni. Kama wayahudi waliokimbilia nje ya nchi yao wangediriki kubadilisha ustaarabu wao kwa haraka kama waafrika wanavyofanya ndani ya nchi zao, maajabu ya utambulisho wa kiyahudi yasingedumu katika millennia mbili au tatu walizokaa mbali na nchi yao. Hata sasa waafrika wengi wanaonekana kubadilika kwa kasi kubwa kiutamaduni katika kizazi kimoja zaidi ya wayahudi walivyobadilika ndani ya miaka 1000 nje ya nchi yao.

Mchele unaliwa dunia nzima, lakini muhogo ni wakwetu, wakwetu asilia. Zao la muhogo linaweza kuchemshwa, kuchomwa, kubanikwa, kukaangwa, na kupikwa kama chakula cha mchana. Vile vile muhogo unaweza kukobolewa na kupatikana unga mtamu wa ugali, tunaweza vile vile kunywa uji wa muhogo na hivyo kuachana na weetabix. Majani ya muhogo maarufu kama kisamvu ni chakula kinachodharauriwa na watanzania hasa wa mjini eti ni mlo wa kimasikini.

Hivi karibuni Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Kayanza Pinda alituasa watanzania tuache kuwa na kasumba ya kupenda mchele na unga na kuacha mazao yanaostahimili ukame kama mihogo. Tumekariri kuwa mchele na unga kuwa ni vyakula vikuu na hata wakati mwingine ukame unavyokamata tunaagiza nafaka hizi kutoka nje ya nchi na kutumia pesa chache za kigeni tulizonazo. Inasikitisha tunapoona wachaga hawali mihogo kwa ujinga tu kwamba zao hilo ni sumu. Ni ujinga vile vile kuwaona wahaya wanakufa njaa eti kwa kuwa ndizi zimeingiwa na wadudu. Inauma kuona wahaya wanakosa pesa ya kujikimu eti kwa kuwa kahawa imekosa soko duniani. Kwanini wahaya wasilime mihogo na kuwauzia wakazi wa mijini wanaopoteza pesa kuagiza weetabix?

Waafrika tumekuwa watu wakusaidiwa kiuchumi na hata kimawazo, tuchukulie mfano wa tajiri mkubwa mmiliki wa Microsoft, Bill Gates aliyezindua hivi karibuni mpango wake wa kilimo endelevu kinachozingatia mazao ya nyumbani ili kunusuru Bara la Afrika na janga la njaa. Mpango huo utakaogharimu dollar million 120 unalenga kutuelimisha waafrika umuhimu wa kupanda mazao kama viazi vitamu ambavyo vinasifika kutokomeza mapungufu ya Vitamin C hasa kwa watoto.

Mawazo endelevu na yenye nuru ya Gates yanaungwa mkono na Dr Hartmann, Mkurugenzi wa shirika la kitafiti linalotafuta ufumbuzi wa njaa na umaskini wa kiafrika liitwalo IITA. Kwenye mahojiano na The Guardian, 17 of October, mtafiti huyu anatoa angalizo kwamba walaji wa kiafrika inabidi wasaidiwe kujifunza kubadilisha jinsi wanavyokula ili wasiwe wanategemea mazao machache. Anaanisha kwamba nchi zilizoadhirika zaidi na njaa ni zile zinazotegemea mchele, mahindi na ngano mazao ambayo ni maarufu katika soko la dunia. Wakati mazao hayo yamekuwa yakipanda bei siku za hivi karibuni, bei za mazao kama mihogo na viazi vikuu vimekua vikiwa na bei hisiyoteteleka.

Ripoti ya hivi karibuni iliyotolewa septemba 29 na Taasisi ya kimataifa inayojihusisha na utafiti wa sera za chakula IFPRI yenye makao yake Washington, Marekani inahasa kwamba ifikapo 2050, Afrika kusini mwa jangwa la Sahara itapungukiwa na mavuno ya mchele kwa 14%, ngano 22% na mahindi 5%. Mapungufu haya yatakayotokana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yatazidisha hali ya utapiamlo hasa kwa watoto.

NI WIKI YA KUJISOMEA

Nani kasema watanzania hatupendi kusoma? hapa ni asubuhi maeneo ya Mwenge kituoni. Kama walivyo mabosi, mtanzania wa kawaida anapenda kujua nini kinaendelea katika nchi yake. Survey hii nilivyoifanya mchana nilikuta 'newstands' zikiwa hazina watu wanaopiga 'chabo' kama ilivyo asubuhi. Pale mwenge nilizubaa kwa muda hiyo asubuhi na niliweza kushuhudia wapitia njia wakisoma gazeti bila kununua. Wazungu walisema, 'do not read a book by its cover'. Viongozi wetu wanaposiliana na wananchi kupitia vyombo vya habari hususani magazeti ujumbe wao hauwafikii walengwa kwa muda husika na hali hii inafanya wananchi wasiweze kujua kinachoendelea ndani ya nchi yao wenyewe.

Sababu kubwa inayofanya 'wadanganyika' kushindwa kusoma 'morning news' ni ukosefu wa kipato kwani kwa wastani bei ya gazeti ni 500/= wakati wananchi wengi tunaishi chini ya $1 kwa siku.

Ila kuna njia mbadala ya kuhakikisha kuwa siye wananchi tunapata habari kila siku na hivyo kujua viongozi wetu wanatuambia nini au wanafanya nini. Kwanini tusiwaige wazungu mambo ya maana badala ya kuiga vitu vya kipuuzi. Mfano nchini Uingereza halmashauri za miji zinachapisha na kusambaza magazeti kwa wakazi wa miji bure huku makampuni ya miji hiyo yakigharimia magazeti hayo kwa kutangaza matangazo. Kwa kufanya hivyo wananchi wanapata habari ya kinachoendelea katika miji yao na wakati huo huo halmashauri za miji zinapata faida na kuwa na pesa za kuendesha miji.

Tunapokaribia uchaguzi wa serikali za mitaa wananchi wanatarijiwa kupiga kura huku wakiwa 'mbumbumbu' bila kujua mipango ya viongozi wao. Ama kweli wajinga ndio waliwao.

WAAFRIKA WA 'BLING BLING'

Waafrika tunapenda ufahari na inapofika siku ya mtu kuoa tunaonyesha ushamba wetu kwa asilimia 100% bila kujua tutakula nini kesho! harusi kama hii ni ya kawaida hapa kwetu.

Ni yale Maji!!!!

Vyanzo vya maji nchini kwetu Tanzania vinaeleweka vizuri tu. Wahandisi wapo! tatizo ni nini?

wakata miwa

Bado technologia yetu ni duni! hawa ni wakata miwa, ni zao linalohitajika kiwandani tayari kwa kutengeneza sukari. Kwa mwendo huu tunaweza kushindana na nchi zilizoendelea katika uzalishaji wa sukari?

TUCHANGIE KANISA KATOLIKI TEGETA

Ndugu zangu wapendwa! waumini wa hapa kitongoji changu cha Tegeta tunajenga kanisa kama linavyoonekana kwenye taswira hii. Tunaomba mtusaidie kuchangia kwa kushindania bahati nasibu lukuki ikiwemo zawadi ya Gari jipya la kijapan liitwalo Toyota Spacio. Bei ya tiketi moja ni sh. 2000/=. Tafadhali sana naomba tuwasiliane kwa namba +255 712378647 nikuuzie tiketi yako. Hima tujenge nyumba ya Bwana.

Kristu! Tumaini letu.

Meza yangu hapa Tegeta! hakuna ndizi za bukoba wala macharari ya moshi. Labda mikoa hii haipo Tanzania.Natamani matoke na mke wangu anatamani macharari.

Ubora uliotukuka! jambo moja lipo wazi, wachaga hawatumii ndizi kama zao la biashara. Wamekariri kahawa tu. Siyo mbali sana, hapa Dar tu, ndizi yenye afya kama hii

haipatikani. Shemeji zangu kaeni moshi mtulimie ndizi badala ya kubangaiza dar.

Karibu mgeni karibu sana! mdau Mbwana alikaribishwa hivi!

Is'nt it beautiful? moshi kijijini !!!!!! amazingly green!

Wachaga mliokuja mijini hamjatupatia haya!!!!!!, hapa Dar mmekuja na macharari, thupu, mbuzi, mchemsho, mtori, kisusio, nk. Mbona mboga hii hamku 'export'?

waliowahi kuishi moshi, mnaikumbuka stand ya bus? hapa nilikuwa nikitoka seminari Uru usawa ni kulitafuta bus la Ngorika au fresh ya shamba enroute to Dar. Taswira hii inanikumbusha mbali, enzi hizo.

Mji wa Moshi! Ni msafi sana

umeshawahi kufika mjini Moshi, Tanzania? Nilisoma elimu ya sekondari nje kidogo ya Moshi miaka 1980's. Hapo ni roundabout ya KNCU. Mdau Kidato Mbwana ambaye ni mwenyeji wa Moshi, aliishi uingereza kwa takribani miaka 9. Juzi alirudi kwao Moshi, na mandhari ya usafi haliyoaacha wakati huo alikuta mambo mswano kama alivyoacha.

JANA ILIKUWA SIKU YA MAKAZI DUNIANI

Jana 5th of October ilikuwa ni siku ya makazi duniani; lakini pale eneo la kimara nje ya jiji la Dar es salaam kanisa katoliki lina ugomvi wa kiwanja na shangazi yangu. Kihistoria kanisa lina jadi ya kupanuka, hulka hii ilikuwepo tangu enzi ya Mt. Paulo alieneza injili siyo tu Jerusalem bali pia nje ya mitaa yake na kuelekea Cypress, Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia, na sehemu kubwa ya Asia. Vile vile alieneza injili Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Kanisa linataka kumpatia 34m/= takribani $28,000, pesa ambayo hawezi kupata nyumba yenye dhamani ya nyumba yake. Mmh hili ni jina la Bwana hama la shetani?

Shangazi ana hati mkononi, lakini kanisa bado halijatuonyesha hiyo hati yao wanaodai wanayo.

On Enviroment; Kagera iko juu!

On recycling Kagera tuko juu! wala hatuhitaji semina na makongamano. Wahaya utumia majani ya migomba kufungia kahawa.( kahawa ni kama wine ilivyo kwa waingereza). Halafu baada ya kufungua majani hayo urudishwa tena migombani kama mbolea. Tukitoka huko vijijini na kuja mijini tunakuja na akili hiyo hiyo ya shambashamba na kutupa ovyo takataka. Matokeo yake ni aibu tupu! Uchafu wa hiyo picha ya hapo juu ni mitaa yangu ya Tegeta, Dar es Salaam.

IT WAS A WORLD'S HABITAT DAY

Yesterday; 5th of october, was a World's habitat day, yet Dar es Salaam is the City of contrast, this is my neighbourhood at Tegeta suburban. Is it good? think again.

That stinking stuff is just in-front of the beautiful mansion! the initial design of the compound

was meant to be an open space.

kyoroni

Ndizi zilipokua zinanichefua tumbo, nilikuwa natembelea hapa. Big up mdau akida kwa kujenga choo hiki kwa bibi kabarenge.

usafiri kijijini

Kwa usafiri huu, kelele za global pollution hazitakuwepo. Kwanini Dar Es Salaam usafiri wa baiskeri siyo maarufu? there's serious dent on our city plan!!!! pale uingereza mwendesha baiskeri anapewa heshima yake kama mwenye gari. hapa Tanzania? baiskeri ni ya vijijini.
Lakini kama Msomi Ali Mazrui alivyowahi kusema, 'The only thing we as africans need to change is our own changebility'; muda wote tunabadilisha mazingira yetu yaendane na mazingira ya wanaotutawala.

Leo Dar inangara kwa prado, Vx, hammer, na magari kibao ya Fwd kutoka japan, wakati hao hao wageni waliotupa baiskeli ndio wanaotupa magari. Bado barabara zetu hazikutengenezwa kwa ajili ya waendesha baiskeri. Barabara hasa za Dar ni nyembamba kuruhusu magari na baiskeri kupita kwa wakati mmoja. Na hata pale mjasiri anapoamua kuendesha baiskeri, ana hatarisha maisha yake kwa vile madereva wetu wanatumia njia hizo hizo zinazotegemewa kutumia waendesha baiskeri.

kanisa katoliki kabarenge

Big up to Fr Deusdedit Byabato, mtu mzima huyu alizaliwa na kusoma na kukulia kijijini kabarenge. Sasa anaeneza injili Illinois, USA. Mtu kwao bwana amerudisha fadhira kwa ku facilitate ujenzi wa kanisa la kisasa hapa kijijini. Dini imekubali bwana.

Miaka 17 iliyopita nilipokuwa naishi kijijini hapa, tulikuwa tunasali katika kanisa la miti na matope lilisokafiwa majani. Ingependeza kama wadau wengine waishio ughaibuni wangependelea nyumbani kwao kama Fr Deus. Tunao Madaktari, wahandisi, manesi, na kada nyingine nyingi tu walioko pembe zote za duniani. Wherever we go, home is the best!

UKRISTU UMETUKUKA KAGERA

si nilikwambia, dini imeshika sana kwetu. Hapa ni nyumba iliyojengwa na Babu ya mama yangu mzaa mama yake, Ta Marciale Mutefunya. Ninaaambiwa nyumba hiyo ilijengwa kwa mawe matupu. Hata miaka hiyo hayati mzee huyo alijua diversification. Alikuwa mwalimu, mkulima, na mshonaji. Si unaona sasa nyumba yake bado inatesa pale kijijini kanyigo!!

VITA VYA KAGERA

Haya ni mabaki ya kanisa katoliki la kyaka, bukoba vijijini. Nduli Iddi Amin alilipiga mabomu kanisa hili katika ile vita ya mwaka 1978. Ni mwaka huo Baba yangu, Hayati Robert Rweyemamu alinifuata nitoke kijijini kabarenge na nirudishwe Dar Es Salaaam. Bado ningepona kwani Nduli hakufika kijijini kwetu.

contradiction is here toooooo!

Katika majanga yaliyoikumba mkoa wa kagera, hili la UKIMWI haliepukiki, 'tikiliwaigambo'. Lakini naona hii ina contradict na jinsi dini ilivyoenea mkoani hasa vijijini kwetu.

zahanati

Natamani Hayati bibi yangu Ma Anna Maria Marciale angekuwa hai na kuiona zahanati hii. Miaka hiyo naishi kijijini kabarange, bibi yangu alikuwa ndiyo chief 'surgeon' wa kijiji. Akiwa ni nesi mstaafu kutokea hospitali ya rufaa ya muhimbili, bibi yangu alikuwa ndiyo mtaalam pekee aliyekuwa anasaidia akina mama kujifungua na kutoa huduma nyingine za kitabibu. Miaka 17 baada ya kifo chake, kijiji kina hii zahanati. Lakini bado umeme ni shida, yaani hakuna. Nilipokuwa kijijini nilipewa stori moja na mjomba yangu aliyesema kuwa at one point alileta majeruhi na wakatumia taa za gari yake ili dactari aone vizuri hali ya mgonjwa. Tuna safari ndefu.

KABARENGE

Nyumbani kwa bibi mzaa mama, kijijini kabarenge, kata kilimilire, jimbo la Nkenge. Jimbo la Mheshimiwa sana Dr. Dedatus Kamala, waziri wa Uhusiano wa Africa Mashariki. Kama nilivyoondoka kijijini hapa miaka 17 iliyopita, bado maji ni shida, ingawa distance ya kufuata maji kwa kiasi nimeambiwa imepungua.

SELEMALA

mdau yupo pale centre, Kagondo, karibu na kijijini kwangu kangantebe. Kagondo ni karibu na hospitali nilipozaliwa ya kagondo. Eneo hili lina umeme na panaonekana pana signs za mjini mjini. Mdau ana order ya kudeliver hiki kitanda kwa mteja soon. He's comfortabe when you compare to other village folks who depend on matoke and kahawa for survival. Nakurusha mdau.

kata mti, panda mti

Nishati yetu kwa ajili ya kupikia bado ni primitive, tunakata mti lakini hatupandi miti. Hapa ni nyumbani kwangu, kijijini kangantebe, wilaya ya Muleba, Mkoani Kagera. Hongera sana kwa bro. Albert huwa anapanda miti sana akija kijijini.

ujasiamali

Kijijini kangantebe, kata muhutwe, wilaya Muleba, Mkoani Kagera. Ni jirani yangu pale kijijini. Anashona masweta lakini in a very minor scale.Anatamani aongeze kipato zaidi kwa kutotegemea zao la ndizi lililoletwa na wakoloni. Tukipata umeme kijijini shughuli kama hizi zitaongezeka zaidi na hapo ndipo wanakijiji watakuwa na uwezo wa kuuziana bidhaa wenyewe kwa wenyewe na kuuza hata kwa vijiji jirani. Come on, umefika muda sasa wa kutotegemea soko la kahawa la Ulaya na Marekani.

SECONDARY KAGONDO

Tunapigana kujenga hii maabara ya shule ya secondary ya kagondo. Very optimistic indeed!

Ni shule ya secondary ya kagondo! wanafunzi wa kijiji changu cha kangantebe wanaofaulu shule ya msingi wanategemea kusoma hapa. Wazazi walishawahi kupigwa na mgambo eti wamekosa 20.000/= ya ada.

kijijini kilimilire, nyumbani kwa marehemu bibi yangu, hayati Ma Anna Maria Marcialle. Mjomba wangu Victor Akida anafanya kazi ya ziada to keep the place alive. mbuzi meheee! sikuona watu wengi wakiwa na mifugo. Ile cancer ya kupenda ndizi itachukua muda kutoweka. Nina uhakika diversification is the way forward.

Ni siku ya jumamosi! watoto hawana muda wa kufanya kazi za darasani! ni kazi mtindo mmoja. They are breadwinners.

child labour

ujasiamali

harufu ya ujasiamali haiishii mijini tu, kwani hata kwetu jamaa anatoka kagondo kuchaji betri ya gari. Pale kijijini mshikaji ana saloon hivyo anacharge betri ili awakarabati mabishoo wa kijijini kwenye saloon. Lau kama tungeweka umeme kijiji kinge diversify na kuachana na uchumi tegemezi wa ndizi na kahawa.

MAJI BADO NI TAABU

Jamani watoto! inabidi wacheze kidari pooo! na ukuti ukuti wa meme wa meme! na wa mjini sikuhizi wanacheza na computer games. Lakini hapa kangantebe watoto wanachota maji. Maji ni shida lakini kijijini kwetu kuna nafuu ukilinganisha na sehemu nyingine za Mkoani Kagera.

matoke weeeeeeeeeee!

Chakula niliagiza pale hotelini kagondo. Kagondo ni kitongoji kilichoendelea zaidi katika kata ya Muhutwe. Pana umeme na nadhani kijiji kangantebe kimelaaniwa kwani siyo mbali kutoka kagondo! kwa nini hatuvuti umeme? Its a million dollar question. Sahani ya ndizi ni 1500/=, tuliambiwa hawakuwa na sahani ya watu wawili lakini nilichoka nilipoletewa hiyo sahani ya mtu mmoja. Ni mlima uliosheheni. Tulikula watu wawili na kusaza.

ardhi inalipa

Hapa kagondo, nanasi nne (4) ni shillingi 1000/=. Kama Tanzania ingeweza kuboresha miundombinu na kuwezesha hizi nanasi kufika mijini kwa urahisi wote tungefaidi. Wakulima kijijini na walaji mjini. Lakini kwa mwendo huu wa masaa 30 ya kufika kijijini kutokea dar es salaam, mkulima hatazidi kudodewa na hayo matunda yake yasiyo na dhamani. Na siye mjini tutazidi kuona matunda ni anasa. Labda siku moja kutakuwa na viwanda vya kusindika matunda pale Bukoba mjini na kupunguza ile msukumo wa vijana kukimbilia Dar Es Salaam kuganga njaa. labda viwanda vikiwa vingi pale Bukoba Mjini kutaleta hamasa ya vijana kujishughulisha na kilimo cha matunda kijijini badala kungangania ndizi na kahawa.

hospitali nilipozaliwa

Hospitali ya kagondo,mojawapo ya hospitali kubwa mkoani kagera. Bado yavuma ingawa kizazi hiki hakikubali kutoka mjini na kwenda kujifungulia kijijini kama walivyofanya wazazi wangu miaka 39 iliyopita.

Hata kukiwa kubaya ni nyumbani tu.

Nyumbani kwetu asilia. Kijiji kangantebe, kata muhutwe wilaya ya Muleba, mkoani kagera.

KWENDA KWETU, MSAFIRI NI ZAIDI YA KAFIRI

Baada ya safari ya karibu masaa 30, nilifika kijijini kwetu kwa kupanda pikipiki iliyonipitisha na kunipandisha mabonde na milima. Lazima niseme kwamba naogopa sana kupanda chombo cha moto kinachoendeshwa bila kufuata minimum standards kama kuvaa helmet. Hapa Kagera pikipiki ni usafiri rasmi wa kuelekea migombani kusikopitisha magari. Sidhani kama dereva wangu alikuwa na leseni. Mmmh lakini nilifika salama. Hapa nyumbani maisha ni kudra ya Mwenyezi Mungu.

NARUDI KWETU MKOANI KAGERA

Safari ya masaa takribani 30 ilianza kwa kukerwa na wachuuzi waliotembeza bidhaa nisizohiitaji.Masaa 30 ni mara tatu ya safari ya kutoka Dar kwenda London, Uingereza.

NARUDI KWETU MKOANI KAGERA

Safari ya takribani masaa 30 ilianza kwa kukerwa na wachuuzi wa kila kitu nisichokihitaji.

NARUDI NYUMBANI KAGERA

Ni safari ya takribani masaa 30 inaanza kutokea Dar. Hapo ni Morogoro

10 YEARS ON! MWALIMU MEMORIES STILL ALIVE

At any given time, the job of the leader is to mobilise citizens. He's a visionary, the one who shows the way, we expect a leader to lead us into unforceable future. Without effective leader people will be mobilised by external forces whose interests most of the time won't stand on the national interests.

American philosopher Edmund Burk once said that there's a big difference between real leader and a fake one! The real leader has a vision and would do whatever possible to maintain and adhere to the laid down ethics. Fake leader wont look beyond today's life. And because fake leader is after today's life, he relies on deceit and manipulation.

The late Julius Kambarage Nyerere( The first President of Tanganyika) was a visionary leader, not a ruler! Tanzania had a political independence in 1961 after four decades of British rule. Julius Nyerere had a task of leading his people. Mwalimu ( swahili name for a Teacher) wanted to create african socialism and believed this to be good for the fragile and immature nation like Tanganyika.

Can we still see signs of his vision? Yes we can! Tanzanians are united as a nation relatively well compared to other neighbours notably Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. Citizens living in this country can not realise/ appreciate our unity unless they cross the border to other nations. I lived in United Kingdom for nine years and interacted and even lived with other africans in the same house. I resided with kenyans, Ugandans, and Zimbabweans. A Luo doesnt mingle well with Kikuyu, Shona cannot befriend Ndebele and Baganda does not speak the same language with Acholi. My friend from Kenya even wondered when I referred a Tanzanians as 'ndugu' (comrade) "Is she your sister? He asked suprisingly!

But that historically admired unity is increasingly withering away! and visionless leaders that we have now can not escape a blame!

It was not by accident that my uncle( A haya) married a nyakyusa, nor its not coincident that my auntie married a nyasa. My uncle met his future wife in Ruvu National service camp while my auntie mate her other half at The University of Dar Es Salaam. Nyerere was a man on a mission, personal mission of uniting Tanzanians, on this spirit He initiated a programme of all academicians to service their nation through a military service known as NATIONAL SERVICE (JKT). From 1971 all graduates were required cumpulsorily to attend the service. This imparted a sense of national unity among the already polished intelligencia groups of our society. I attended a national service in three camps, notably Ruvu( Pwani), Nachingwea ( Lindi) and Mgulani ( Dar Es Salaam). Todate, I have friends that we could not meet in a formal education system. Nationals service crossed all sections of peopl, it was compulsory with no classes, religious, or sex discrimination. These resulted into one identification, i.e We're all Tanzanians. I can vividly remember those revolutionary songs, kwata! work in the field, etc that echoed national spirit. While in London I met an old friend from National service, a one year stay with the army had necessitated a long lasting friendship. Children of famous leaders, businessmen,peasants forgot their different status quo and paradded to correct 'kichele' ( monthly pay) in those camps.

Politically, yes we can embrace multiparty system, and shun away old fashioned single partism, but still Nyerere insisted on effective grassroot political mobilisation that was well organised. Summon a standard seven pupil and ask him/her to name his ten-cell leader? or his councillor, or warden leader? He wont have a clue. Ironically the same lad will line up the eleven team members of Manchenster United!. I believe effective politics starts from grassroot. president Kikwete can not be at my ward at all times to mobilise locals on the importance of environment, but ten-cell leader can do. These days I dont see grassroots leaders and instead religious groups run the show. For example catholic church mobilises its followers more effectively than political leaders. Yet the church can not pioneer causes of national interests such as Kilimo Kwanza, kata mti panda mti,kilimo cha kufa na kupona, elimu ya watu wazima, etc.These were slogans with national interests that mobilised Tanzanians a great deal.

Should we be suprised that religious leaders are now introducing 'waraka' to their followers as we approach next general election? Please not! they've got their believers in custody at a time when there's a gap in genuine leadership. Tanzania has a non-religious nation is increasingly disappearing and here comes religious royality among citizens. Believers are taken in captives and waste hours praying instead of fulifilling national duties.

Culturally we are doomed as well! the other day I attended a party and there was a 15 years girl giving a key note speach to the guests. Ironically she apologised of not being able to speak swahili and instead insisted on english!!!!. Yes she studies at one of the poshy english medium schools, but will this girl interact with her colleague at Kilimilire primary school ( Kagera Region) in three years time? Are these two Tanzanians? Can we say that english medium schools are home grounds for future leaders?

Look at the state of our youth! its like a bunch of sheep with no shephard. They're all mobilised by globarization that can not remember a thing about Tanzania. We'd national motivational songs back in the days. Songs like ' Alisema, alisema, alisema Nyerere, alisema vijana wangu wote mmelegea sharti tuanze mchakamchaka'. Instead of singing these songs our youth are carried away by western media and enjoys premier league and beauty pegeant.

Economically we are losers as of now more than ever before. Again our leaders do not make any effort to preserve national treasures such as minerals and other resources. The soundbites of ufisadi enriches pages of our daily newspapers.

As it is! Tanzania is whithering and it withers for good. God forbide.

God bless this great Nation.

Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, May the Lord Bless you.

ULINZI NA USALAMA WA DAR ES SALAAM NI UOZO MTUPU!!

Nimekuwa nikiishi nchini Uingereza kwa takribani miaka tisa! ni miaka mingi ukizingatia kuwa niliondoka mwaka 1999 nikiwa na miaka 29. Maisha yamebadilika sana katika nyanja zote! Mojawapo ya sekta ya umma inayonipa mashaka makubwa na kuhatarisha usalama wangu hapa nyumbani ni chombo cha polisi!

Ndio Uingereza inaitwa nchi ya dunia ya kwanza, lakini hili siyo kisingizio kwa kwa nchi yangu Tanzania kuwa na secta ya usalama hisiwajibika kwa wananchi wake.

Utawala wa sheria ni mpangilio wa utaratibu ambapo matukio yanayotokea kila siku yanaendana na sheria. Tunapokuwa hatuna sheria kila mtu atafanya anachotaka kufanya na hapo ndipo mnyonge anapodondoshwa na mwenye nguvu. Kiujumla serikali haiwezi kuwa kamilifu kama hakuna utawala wa sheria.

Ninaishi Dar Es Salaam, mji mkuu wa Tanzania wenye wakazi takribani millioni 4, na wilaya tatu za kiutawala, i.e Temeke, Ilala, na Kinondoni. Dar Es Salaaam kama ilivyo miji mingine duniani inapaswa kutawalaliwa na utawala wa sheria.

Majuzi jirani alivamiwa na vibaka wakati alipokuwa anaelekea kazini. Cha ajabu ni kwamba ukiwa barabarani utakutana na idadi kubwa ya askari wa usalama wa barabarani wakipunga magari yapite. Idadi hii haina uwiano na idadi iliyopo kwenye vitongoji vyetu.

Kibaya zaidi, hali imekuwa tete kiasi kwamba mwananchi wa kawaida hana elimu ya uraia inayomuelimisha kutambua kuwa polisi anawajibu kwake. Leo hii nikivamiwa na majambazi nikiwa natembea mtaani siwezi kutupia lawama jeshi la polisi kwa kushindwa kusimamia amani na usalama wangu. Tunapofika kwamba mwananchi wa kawaida anakosa imani na polisi basi ni vigumu kwa mwananchi huyo huyo kuwa na imani na serikali iliyopo madarakani. Kwani Polisi ni chombo muhimu sana cha dola.

Matukio tunayoyaona kwa wananchi kujichukulia madaraka mikononi na kuwachoma moto watu wanaoshukiwa kuwa ni majambazi ni hatari kwa usalama wa Taifa. Sifahamu ni lini nitachomwa moto. Au kirahisi kirahisi mtu niliyemzidi akili kwa kitu fulani chochote tu, anaweza kutuma wahuni wakapiga kelele mwiziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii huyoooooooooooo! na nikachomwa moto kirahisi sana.

Juzi lilitokea tukio ambalo lilinisikitisha sana. Rafiki yangu ninayefanya naye kazi aligundua kuwa mke wake ananyemelewa na rafiki yake kipenzi. Kilichoendelea ni kuwa huyo rafiki yangu alipanga na mke wake waweke mtego kwamba huyo mke wake akubali kutoka na rafiki yake waende nyumba ya wageni ( Geust House). Rafiki huyo alichukua mapolisi wawili wakavamia hiyo nyumba ya wageni na kumpiga huyo mgoni wake na kumjeruhi vibaya sana. Mgoni huyo aliugulia siku tatu majeraha ya kupigwa na polisi. Je huo ulikuwa ni utawala wa sheria? Is this not the assault case? Hii ni nchi ya wastaarabu? Kibaya zaidi pale kazini hakuna mtu aliyekuwa na busara na kuona tatizo katika ule uamuzi wa polisi waliopewa dhamana ya kuhakikisha kuwa nchi inakuwa na sheria na utaratibu. Maswali ya hekima inabidi yaulizwe.
Je, ni uvunjaji wa sheria kwenda nyumba ya wageni na mwanamke zaidi ya miaka 18?
Ni sheria ipi inayompa madaraka polisi kumpiga raia kwenye nyumba ya wageni?
Je, siyo ukweli kuwa kesi hiyo ingepelekwa mahakamani yule mgoni angeshinda?

Kuna tatizo kubwa la weredi ( Professionalism) hapa Tanzania. Jeshi la Polisi lina tatizo hili kwa kiasi kikubwa. Wenye upeo mdogo wa mawazo watasema kwamba tatizo hili linatokana na kipato kidogo wanachopewa polisi wetu. Tatizo siyo kipato, kama mtu anaona kazi fulani haina maslahi kwanini hasiiache hiyo kazini na kufanya kazi nyingine?

Mungu ibariki Tanzania, Mungu ibariki Afrika.

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florianrobert

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Memoirs of my village life.

Few months after the start of the brand new year, 1970 so I'm told, the expected Mom, Ma Fraisica Rweyemamu travelled to her husband's homeland, rural Kangantebe in Muleba district for maternity reason. There in her womb a very tiny human was struggling to breath. I was born on the midnight, 29th march 1970 at the mission hospital known as Kagondo hospital.

One vital observation; My Dad was wealthy, affluent, and educated. Robert Rweyemamu, ( Bob) belonged to African emerging bourgeoisie class. By late 1960's he was among very few properly polished journalists in the country. Ben Mkapa( retired President) was his colleague at Daily News. He was residing in an up-market location, Upanga,( Seaview). With the above colorful personality, why did he send heavily pregnant wife to the rural kangantebe for delivery? Surely fransisca could have been attended prestigiously at neighbouring Aga Khan hospital. The answer paints a picture of our well being as a country by then. Tanzanian rural was far better as compared to the present one. Kagondo hospital in Kangantebe was well funded by catholic missionaries at time when medical care was at its peak. The goverment had yet to nationalize commanding heights of the economy. MyDad was really proud of his home land;Mtu kwao bwana. Would you tell florian to send his beautiful wife to kangantebe for delivery? big joke!

Life has changed a great deal for the last 40 years or so. Tanzania economy by then was at per with South Korea on GDP terms . As of now we 're at the bottom four while South Korea is among the flourishing emerging economies.

Baby florian stayed in the village up to the age of 4, playing and going to the booze with babu Ta
Joseph Kachunkwa Kambuga. The late Ta Kambuga would'nt leave me at any given time, not in the banana field nor in his own rubisi joints! I was his constant companion.

Though great enthusiasts of their haya heritage, my parents, Mr and Mrs Robert Rweyemamu could'nt resist temptation of living without their own flesh and blood, I joined them in a that sparsely populated Dar es salaam city in 1974. As a family we kept a vigil of visiting kangantebe on regular basis up to the age of 7 when it was decided that I had to stay with my grandmom for a year. This was an important time to learn haya language and its sacred culture.


Ma Anna-Maria Marcialle was a strong and a well disciplined grandma. She treated her grandchildren not softly but with an iron hand. She instituted her own law and order to be followed by all of the grandchildren in the homestead. Customs such as not to talk while eating, catholic prayers, and hard field work could not be diverted by members of the house. Together with my brother Albert we had a hard time coping with those military disciplinary standards.

Life wasn't thrown to us on a golden plate. Just as other kids in the village we're expected to get up early on every morning ready for school. Akabanga( Hill) primary school was a walking distance by village standards. We'd that advantage of having urban parents, thus our school bags were relatively good, shoes were nice and uniforms had that modern touch. Yet we thought that uniformity was necessary, it would'nt be proper to wear shoes in a class full of bare-footed pupils.That was Nyerere spirit, the ujamaa nature, we're all equal, HAKI ELIMU. One thing would definetely prove us wrong, JIGGERS. Every now and then those harsh eyes of our gran could search for jiggers in our toes, or sometimes one would be spotted squezzing his feet along the wall enjoying the feeling of a immature jigger, whips would follow without notice.

Yes, we'd a relatively upper hand when compared to other kids in the village! yes we enjoyed tea with occasional taste of sugar when mom or other urban relatives visited. Yes we enjoyed ekibuza amagezi ( rice) on chrismas times, but still village life was tough. We'd to fetch water as far as nyankele( a distance location) and we're good in positioning a bucket on the head. Of course grandma was lucky among village women, she'd a good number of grandchildren that her tasks were a bit relaxed. In most rural africa water is an issue and Kilimilire was'nt an exception. The commodity was really precious that proper bath could be enjoyed on saturdays' ready for sunday service. We're not expected to wash clothes on daily basis as a good measure of minimizing consumption of water. And mind you! my grandma was rich, she could afford to hire a shamba boy. Bukoba has classes and among the lowest rank, Burundi folks counted as our servants. They would tend farms, fetch firewoods, and brew rubisi ( local brew).

And food! no I could not enjoy banana at all! this was a typical staple food and balance diet was not in my gran vocabulary. Banana left over in the morning ( ebihoro), banana with beans in the afternoon, and again banana with beans for supper. Occassionally we would enjoy fish or meat with banana. In those days I would wonder why the field was not short of banana. She would get up every morning with a machete( panga) and definitely lunch was guaranteed. Perhaps lack of mixed culture was a reason for the malnutrition. Kagera of 70's was typical haya! unlike Dar Es Salaam that was multi-cultured with lots of tribes, haya remained sole controlling ethnic group in that part of Tanzania. In Dar Sukuma brought ugali,haya brought matoke, makonde brought chashwnuts, and pogoro came with cassava but haya culture remained intact. The result to urban kids was not very impressive, my baby sister, Devota was malnurished as she stayed in Kangantebe for some months. When my mother went to fetch her, she sobbed sadly, her daughter's chicks were disfigured, stomach blown out of proportion, and skin could be mistaken of the an old woman.

It was not that land was not fertile, it was not that other crops could not withstand the soil, the reason of a single diet was rigidity of haya. A family eating ugali was seen as impoverished! maize were grown not as staple meal but just for taste. Of course soil could not support rice cultivation, but come on haya, cassava was plenty and this could give us ugali wa muhogo. Fruits like oranges, pawpaws, apples, mangoes, avacado, pineapples and lots of others could be seen rotting in the field. There was no reason at all for my baby sister to get malnutrition. We would eat mangoes not in an organised way as a part of the dinning menu but on the field as one passes along. Again lack of external cultural infusion could be a reason for this poor dieting! a white man influenced appetite of the urban dwellers like Dar es salaamites. Visits dining tables of most urban families, and fruits will be part of the menu. Furthermore technology has a role to play here, we have lots of food processing gadgets in our urban families that make life more easier.

Tanzania is most disorganised country! yes indeed it is. While Mwanza, Shinyanga, and Tabora accomodates lots and lots of cows, other regions are left out. Kilimilire as a village is really left out. Kagera is a periphery region, a region that is not connected to other areas logistically. Kilimilire has lots of fruits rotting in the field while sukuma keep cows for prestige. My grandma had no option of selling his fruits so as to get money of buying meat, but sadly enough supply of meat is still not adequate to fill the demand, hence manultrition.

Economically Kilimilire was a single crop subsistence agricultural village. I would'nt find any other activitivity apart from banana plantation. We'd only one cooperative shop that served the whole village with the same merchandise like matchboxes, sugar ( bought on xmas time), and keresone.

And what about electricity?

As a little lad, vibatari complicated my stay in the village. Even todate, electricity availability is mainly in urban centres that its only 11% of Tanzanians enjoys this service. I remember walking in the darkness with a torch that chances of being knocked down by poisonous snake seemed to be very likely.Forget about evening studies, it was really difficult to enjoy studies in the darkness, those vibatari strained my precious eyes and again grandma would'nt allow me to waste kerosene on studies.

Amid all of the above hurdles, something along was looming, an event that would transform my life for good!

Closing months of 1977 were clouded with rumours of imminent war with our neighbouring country, Uganda. If those hearsays were true there was a danger of Ma Anna Maria village to be among the first casualties.Already Kilimilire was on alert and there were some signs that Amin would strike. I remember one day as we're saying evening prayers the sound of helicopter was heard on top of our corrugated roof. My uncle alarmed the devoted gran, "Mae lekela enshala twafaaaaa" ( Mom stop praying we're dying). Stupidly I rushed towards the compound and observed a soldier eating banana. Later on we come to realise that the helicopter belonged to Tanzanian forces.

My Dad, journalist with information on the tips of his fingers couldn't take those rumours lightly.The family life was at stake, thus one early morning while washing our feets ready for school, a big man, heavely bearded, ( My Dad) appeared in our compound,i.e eirembo!. It was unexpected visit, what brought him to kilimilire? We'd no mobile phones that he could've phoned beforehand, even letters could'nt reach us on time.In our angelic mind his visit could not be imagined, there he was looking for his two precious sons, albert ( 9) and florian (7). Of course Grandma pleaded to him that if war was the case, then why should he not take all of the children? The answer was NO. If my dad was responsible enough, so should be the other parents. We're gone in an hour.

The rest was history, the war lasted for a year, and I would only follow the battle episode from afar ( Dar Es Salaam). I felt sorry for other kids in the village, and most importantly my own extended family.


My last visit to Kagera Region was 18 years ago! Gosh 18 years, its a hell of a life time!. My nephew, Nisela who lives with me was born that year.

1991 was a year my lovely grandmom passed away, hence a visit.

kagera town was really dusty, I could only spend some hours walking around that dingy town centre! goverment buildings were old and dilapidated. Haya folks mind you, I am not publishing that ugly picture of ours worlwide with bad intention, but this is a reality.

Yes, I found old and outdated buildings, but modern construction technology is not ours! it was brought by colonialists and we are only trying to imitate other people's invention. Yes we jumped into Toyota Hilux of our Babu Ta Alfonce as if we were lose cargo! again cars were only brought into our land recently by colonialists. It was only when I arrived at Kilimilire village that our own heritage/ civilisation could be seen.

One of those assets that haya people are really proud of, is the language.We're good with our venercular, we're really proud bwana!, even in Bukoba town the language would be spoken in market place, police post, bank office, post office and more importantly in church. I attended a church service in my mom's village, kilimilire and all of us would sing angelically haya songs loudly. Priests were expected to know the language and of course one wouldn't think of having a sukuma priest in that village. Todate, haya tribe is among very few local languages published worldwide. We have our own version of bible, misale ya waumini and lots of other publications. While in UK, a good friend of mine, Raymond Mwombeki gave me a wonderful little book, enshererwa ne enshwerere lya buhaya, a very good book that transfers rituals and customs from one generation to another. Todate, its not by accident that wahaya speak their language fluently.


We had a good funeral of my grandmom! mind you I was the eldest among the grandsons and daughters, I was expected to dance for the departed Ma Anna Maria-Marcialle. Mmmh I was shy and ignorant of haya dance though now I adore those songs very much. We buried Ma Anna at her own homestead( obwaifo) with attendance of her siblings, Fr Deo Mutefunya omu bajungu ( now deceased), Ma Marcelina, Ma Kandida, Ma Matrona, Ta Alfronce, and Ta Paulo. Note that Ta and Ma represents titles, just like englishman would say Mr or Mrs! who told you that haya are not civilised, think again. Also present were her own sons and daughters, Ma Fulai ( haya version of Fransisca), this is my own late mom, Ta Deus Kaizilege( my departed uncle), Ta Fred Luiza, Ta Salvandi Rwegasira, Pelagia Blassius ( deceased), Patricia Blassius( deceased), Victor Mgodo, and Afredina Alfonso. According to haya and most of african tribes its a curse not to attend funeral of your own mother, thus a reason of that big occassion. All of her sons and daughters had travelled from as far as Dar es Salaam just to attend that last celebration of their mother. What about food & drinks! oh Lord! we'd plenty, we eat matoke bwana, and that is a thing I miss about bukoba, women as far as nyankele na akabanga gathered at my grandmom's house and prepared big dishes of matoke, fish, meat, nsanyuse, ntongo, biimba etc etc etc. Goats were slaughtered, chicken ambushed and a cow was slaughtered too. Perhaps it was supposed to be called a party, not a funeral. By then I could'nt think of that to be a wonderful thing, but now after living with white people for so many years I envy our natural richness.

Forget about GDP, forget that slaggish talk about africans surviving on less than a dollar per day, by then Haya were naturally rich! those matoke were expensive and are still expensive by global standards. Visit TESCO supermarket in London and you'll spend a fortune buying just a bunch of banana. There I was at Kilimirire village eating matoke not as a fruit but as a staple food. One would compare that staple with mashed potatoes. English man, might be having snacks in the afternoon, but a haya man enjoys a big meal consisting of matoke ( a bowl full of banana) and fish! Those bibi's and mama's who cooked at my grandma funeral did not charge a penny and yet we ate to the full. Yes, even by today's urban standards, we hire people to cook at our funerals and weddings. It is not that way in the naturally rich Kilimilire village. People junga elyalwa and cook ekitoke and then present to the family at no cost. Add up the value of that and you'll get the real GDP of kilimilire folks!!!! it's well above one dollar per day. Only today, after living in a capitalist society that I appreciate our own wealth. Think of kumoisa ( a traditional ritual of cutting the hair of the family after burial ceremony) that ritual was performed free of charge! who says that barber service is free in modern world? In calculating GDP of most of african villages a white man standard does not take into consideration lots of services rendered freely.

I stayed in the village for two more days, and then I decided to visit my father's village, Kangantebe. Very early in the morning, I boarded a bus known as Champion. Mmmh I had to wait inside a bus for one hour or so! a patient driver was waiting for some famous faces(abarangira) i.e mamwinyi to board the bus as the service was the only one on that day. While waiting, banana bunches were being packed on board ready to be transported to the town market. Around 06.30 we started the journey.

It has been 18 years since that last visit! Is kagera still the same? I will have to visit one of these days.

ciao for now!