Tuesday, July 24, 2012
CATHOLIC CLERGY SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR COVERING UP SEXUAL ABUSES BY PRIESTS
By JON HURDLE and ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: July 24, 2012 402 Comments
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
E-mail
Share
Print
Reprints
PHILADELPHIA — Msgr. William J. Lynn, the first Roman Catholic Church official in the United States to be convicted of covering up sexual abuses by priests under his supervision, was sentenced Tuesday to three to six years in prison.
Matt Rourke/Associated Press
Monsignor William J. Lynn.
National Twitter Logo.
Connect With Us on Twitter
Follow @NYTNational for breaking news and headlines.
Twitter List: Reporters and Editors
Readers’ Comments
"Cover-ups of serious crimes by church officials, universities and corporations will never stop until the consequences outweigh the benefits."
alansky, Marin County, CA
Read Full Comment »
Post a Comment »
“You knew full well what was right, Monsignor Lynn, but you chose wrong,” Judge M. Teresa Sarmina of Common Pleas Court said as she imposed the sentence, which was just short of the maximum of three and a half to seven years. Monsignor Lynn must serve at least three years before he is eligible for parole.
Monsignor Lynn, 61, was found guilty on June 22 of child endangerment after a three-month trial that revealed efforts over decades by the Philadelphia archdiocese to play down accusations of child sexual abuse and avoid scandal. He was acquitted of conspiracy and a second child endangerment charge.
Monsignor Lynn served as secretary for clergy for the 1.5 million-member archdiocese from 1992 to 2004, recommending priest assignments and investigating abuse complaints. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that he had shielded predatory priests, sometimes transferring them to unwary parishes, and lied to the public to avoid bad publicity and lawsuits.
The conviction of a senior official, followed by a prison sentence, has reverberated among Catholic officials around the country, church experts said.
“I think this is going to send a very strong signal to every bishop and everybody who worked for a bishop that if they don’t do the right thing, they may go to jail,” said the Rev. Thomas J. Reese, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. “They can’t just say ‘the bishop made me do it.’ That’s not going to be an excuse that holds up in court.”
In a three-minute statement before sentencing, Monsignor Lynn, dressed in a black clerical shirt and white collar, said: “I have been a priest for 36 years, and I have done the best I can. I have always tried to help people.”
Turning toward relatives of an abuse victim in the courtroom, he said, “I hope someday that you will accept my apology.”
But he did not comment on the broader accusations that he put children at risk by repeatedly protecting “monsters in clerical garb,” as Judge Sarmina described it at the hearing.
The sentence was a victory for the Philadelphia district attorney, R. Seth Williams, who said outside the courtroom, “Many people say that the maximum still would not have been enough.”
Monsignor Lynn’s lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the sentence “unbalanced.” Last week, the defense argued that a long prison sentence would be “merely cruel and unusual.”
Prosecutors argued that the gravity of Monsignor Lynn’s crime — giving known sexual predators continued access to children, causing lifelong anguish and damage to some — was “off the charts.”
Monsignor Lynn’s lawyers said they would appeal the conviction, saying that the child endangerment law at the time did not apply to supervisors and that the judge erred in allowing testimony about accusations that were beyond the statute of limitations.
In a statement Tuesday, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said that its procedures for protecting children had improved significantly since “the events some 10 years ago that were at the center of this trial.”
It acknowledged “legitimate anger in the broad community toward any incident or enabling of sexual abuse.” But it also described the sentence as overly harsh, saying “fair-minded people will question the severity.”
“We hope that when this punishment is objectively reviewed, it will be adjusted,” it said.
After the sentencing, Ann Casey, a friend of Monsignor Lynn for 36 years, said she believed he was a scapegoat and a victim of his intense faith in the archdiocese’s leaders. “It was his vow of obedience to the church that landed him this morning in jail,” she said.
During the trial, Monsignor Lynn’s lawyers argued that he had followed the instructions of Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, who was the archbishop of Philadelphia from 1988 to 2003 and who died in January.
Monsignor Lynn’s conviction was for lax oversight of one former priest, Edward V. Avery, who spent six months in a church psychiatric center in 1993 after an abuse episode. Doctors said he should be kept away from children. But Monsignor Lynn sent him to live in a rectory and did not warn parish officials.
In 1999, Mr. Avery engaged in oral sex with a 10-year-old altar boy. He pleaded guilty to the assault just before Monsignor Lynn’s trial and was sentenced to two and a half to five years in prison.
Jon Hurdle reported from Philadelphia, and Erik Eckholm from New York.
ROBERT GEORGE AND SHAYKH HAMZA YUSUF ON PORNOGRAPHY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY: A LETTER TO THE HOTEL INDUSTRY
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AT ITS BEST !!!!
Pornography, Respect, and Responsibility: A Letter to the Hotel Industry
Posted: 10 Jul 2012 09:42 PM PDT
by Robert P. George and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
Cross-posted from: http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/07/5815
A letter on pornography and business ethics written by two prominent public intellectuals—one a Christian, one a Muslim—sent to hotel industry executives last week.
We write to ask you to stop offering pornographic movies in your company's hotels. We make no proposal here to limit your legal freedom, nor do we threaten protests, boycotts, or anything of the sort. We simply ask you to do what is right as a matter of conscience.
We are, respectively, a Christian and a Muslim, but we appeal to you not on the basis of truths revealed in our scriptures but on the basis of a commitment that should be shared by all people of reason and goodwill: a commitment to human dignity and the common good. As teachers and as parents, we seek a society in which young people are encouraged to respect others and themselves—treating no one as an impersonal object or thing. We hope that you share our desire to build such a society.
Pornography is degrading, dehumanizing, and corrupting. It undermines self-respect and respect for others. It reduces persons—creatures bearing profound, inherent, and equal dignity—to the status of objects. It robs a central aspect of our humanity—our sexuality—of its dignity and beauty. It ensnares some in addiction. It deprives others of their sense of self-worth. It teaches our young people to settle for the cheap satisfactions of lust, rather than to do the hard, yet ultimately liberating and fulfilling, work of love.
We recognize that we are asking you to abandon a profitable aspect of your business, but we hope that you will muster the conviction and strength of will to make that sacrifice and to explain it to your stockholders. We urge you to do away with pornography in your hotels because it is morally wrong to seek to profit from the suffering, degradation, or corruption of others. Some might say that you are simply honoring the free choices of your customers. However, you are doing much more than that. You are placing temptation in their path—temptation for the sake of profit. That is unjust. Moreover, the fact that something is chosen freely does not make it right; nor does it ensure that the choice will not be damaging to those who make it or to the larger community where degrading practices and materials flourish.
We beg you to consider the young woman who is depicted as a sexual object in these movies, as nothing but a bundle of raw animal appetites whose sex organs are displayed to the voyeurs of the world and whose body is used in loveless and utterly depersonalized sex acts. Surely we should regard that young woman as we would regard a sister, daughter, or mother. She is a precious member of the human family. You may say that she freely chooses to compromise her dignity in this way, and in some cases that would be true, but that gives you no right to avail yourself of her self-degradation for the sake of financial gain. Would you be willing to profit from her self-degradation if she were your sister? Would you be willing to profit from her self-degradation if she were your own beloved daughter?
Furthermore, we trust that you need no reminding of the fact that something's being legal does not make it right. For example, denying black men and women and their families access to hotel rooms—and tables in restaurants, as well as other amenities and opportunities—was, for countless shameful years, perfectly legal. In some circumstances, it even made financial sense for hotel owners and operators in racist cultures to engage in segregationist practices even when not compelled by law to do so. However, this was deeply morally wrong. Shame on those who denied their brothers and sisters of color the equal treatment to which they were morally entitled. Shame on you if you hide behind legality to peddle immorality in the pursuit of money.
Our purpose is not to condemn you and your company but to call you to your highest and best self. We have no desire to hurt your business. On the contrary, we want you and your business to succeed financially—for your sake; for the sake of your stockholders, employees, and contract partners; and for the sake of the communities that your hotels serve. We believe that the properly regulated market economy serves the good of all by providing products and services at reasonable prices and by generating prosperity and social mobility. But the market itself cannot provide the moral values that make it a truly humane and just institution. We—owners, managers, employees, customers—must bring those values to the market. There are some things—inhuman things, unjust things, de-humanizing things—that should not be sold. There must be some things that, for the sake of human dignity and the common good, we must refuse to sell—even it if means forgoing profit.
Robert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is co-founder and a member of the faculty of Zaytuna College. Affiliations are provided for identification purposes and do not imply institutional endorsements.
FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE SALLY RIDE (1983) DIES AT 61
First American Woman In Space Dies At 61
Sky News – 24/7/2012.
Sally Ride, the first US woman to fly in space, has died after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Dr Ride, 61, was first launched into space in 1983 aboard Challenger, on the seventh mission of the US space shuttle programme.
US President Barack Obama called her a "national hero and a powerful role model", and a woman who "inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars".
"Sally's life showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve and I have no doubt that her legacy will endure for years to come," Mr Obama said, offering condolences to Dr Ride's family and friends.
Nasa administrator Charles Bolden said Dr Ride "literally changed the face of America's space program" and that "the nation has lost one of its finest leaders, teachers, and explorers".
In an interview marking the 25th anniversary of the mission, Dr Ride said she was so dazzled that she only later "came to appreciate what an honour it was to be selected to be the first (US woman) to get a chance to go into space".
Dr Ride , born on May 26, 1951, in Encino, southern California, earned degrees in physics and English from Stanford University.
She applied to be an astronaut at Nasa in 1977, after seeing an advert in her university's student newspaper.
It was the first time the space agency was allowing applications from civilians - or from women.
Dr Ride was one of 35 people, including just six women, chosen from a pool of 8,000 applicants.
She flew in two space missions, logging nearly 350 hours in space.
However, her third planned mission was grounded in 1986, after the tragic Challenger explosion that killed all seven crew members.
Dr Ride served on the commission to investigate the accident, and later was assigned to Nasa headquarters. She retired from Nasa in 1987.
On her foundation's website, Ride said of her historic foray into space: "The thing I'll remember most about the flight is that it was fun."
THE HIGH COURT OF TANZANIA [LABOUR DIVISION] CAUSE-LIST 23/7/2012 TO 27/7/2012
1
MAHAKAMA KUU YA TANZANIA DIVISHENI YA MAHAKAMA YA KAZI DAR ES SALAAM RATIBA YA MASHAURI YATAKAYOSIKILIZWA KUANZIA TAREHE 23/7/2012 HADI TAREHE 27/7/2012
JUMATATU – TAREHE 23/7/2012
MHE. R.M. RWEYEMAMU, JAJI MFAWIDHI - HAKUNA
MHE. S. WAMBURA, JAJI - HAKUNA
MHE. S.C. MOSHI, JAJI
1
Saa 3:00 Asubuhi
“
Kutajwa
Misc. Appl. No. 21/2011
Paul Sallutari VS Director Bugando Medical
MHE. M.R. GWAE, MSAJILI
1.
Saa 3:00 Asubuhi
“
Kutajwa
Ex. No. 63/2012
Athumani Awadhi Vs Musoma Diary
2.
Saa 3:00 Asubuhi
“
Kutajwa
Ex. No. 203/2011
Stephen Malashi VS Young Africa Football Club
3.
Saa 3:00 Asubuhi
“
Kutajwa
Ex No. 507/2009
Alpheus J. Bwire VS Afritel
4.
Saa 3:00 Asubuhi
“
Kutajwa
Ex No. 145/2012
Shukuru Rashidi VS African Trouphy Huntiny
TANZANIAN CHIEF JUSTICE MOHAMED CHANDE OTHMAN'S SPEECH ON 20 JULY, 2012
OPENING REMARKS BY HON. MOHAMED CHANDE OTHMAN CHIEF
JUSTICE OF TANZANIA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 4TH
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF THE COMMERCIAL DIVISION OF
THE HIGH COURT OF TANZANIA 20TH JULY 2012, DAR ES SALAAM
Your Lordship Justices of Appeal,
Your Lordship Judges of the High Court,
Representative of the Royal Danish Embassy,
Representative of the World Bank Tanzania,
Distinguished Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry
of Constitutional Affairs and Justice or their representatives,
The Chief Executive officer of the Investment Climate Facility for Africa or
his representative,
The President of Confederation of Tanzania Industries or his
representative,
Dean Faculty of Law from Respective Universities Present,
The Chief Executive Officer, Better Regulation Unit,
Coordinator of the BEST PROGRAMME,
Honorable members of the Commercial Court Users' Committee,
Hon. Registrars,
Members of the Media present,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen
I feel greatly honoured to welcome you, the distinguished
participants, learned brothers and sisters to the 4th Roundtable of the
Commercial Division of The High Court of Tanzania. Last year, when
ope'ning a similar occasion I commended Honourable Judge Robert Vincent
Makaramba and his team for organizing a roundtable whose theme was
"Contract Enforcement through the Judicial System in Tanzania'~
Let me once again take this opportunity to recognize their initiative in
selecting a well-chosen theme for this year's Roundtable, that is, "Curbing
Delays in Commercial Dispute Resolution; Arbitration as a
Mechanism to Speed up Delivery of Justice"
Honorable participants, case delay is a sign of an inefficient
judicial system. If not properly managed, case delays may lead to
unmanageable case backlogs which in turn clog the courts. Excessive case
delays may amount to a denial of justice. Learning from the past, it was
the inordinate case delays in the 1990's, which necessitated the
establishment of the High Court of Tanzania, Commercial Division. Thus
the objective of establishing the court was to fast-track the resolution of
commercial disputes so as to attract investment and strengthen the
business environment. That objective is still real. To attain those
objectives, the Division is duty bound to determine commercial cases
timely, effectively and efficiently. Tanzania, like many other countries, is
confronted with the challenge of case delays, the difference only being its
extent, magnitude and reach. The central theme of today's Roundtable
discussions, "Curbing Delays in Commercial Dispute Resolution;
Arbitration as a Mechanism to Speed up Delivery of Justice" is
thus opportune and most welcomed.
Honorable participants, according to the Doing Business Report
2012, Tanzania has dropped in its ranking in the area of enforcing
contracts from 33 (2011) to 36, out of 183 economies around the world.
The fact Tanzania has dropped in the ranking is not good news. However,
that new ranking i.e. 36 out of 183 economies is something that we must
appreciate and strive to elevate. The report has it that it takes 462 days
involving 38 procedural steps to determine commercial cases. The fastest
country in the world is Singapore where it takes 150 days involving 21
procedural steps to determine a suit and the slowest is Slovenia where it
takes 1290 days to hear and determine a case. I am informed that the
Commercial Division's target is to determine a case within 365 days and to
gradually reduce the period to 270 days, by 2017. Once that target is
achieved not only will the ranking be improved but case delays will also be
drastically reduced. That is the preferred direction in the resolution by the
court of commercial disputes in Tanzania.
Honorable participants, efforts in curbing delays need be holistic
and participatory. The court should be proactive in providing leadership,
control, direction, management and monitoring of the litigation process. All
the court's stakeholders, i.e. state attorneys, advocates, parties and court
brokers should offer full cooperation. This ought to be the case in each and
every measure taken by the court and aimed at eliminating or reducing
delays.
What then is the role of the court in curbing delays? In R. v.
Chaaban, [2003] EWCACrim 1012, the Court sufficiently, and i~
my view correctly explained:
'~..No one should assume that trials can continue to take as
long or use up as much time as either or both sides may wish,
or think, or assert, they need. The entitlement to a fair trial is
not inconsistent with proper judicial control over the use of
time. At the risk of stating the obvious, every trial which takes
longer than it reasonably should is wasteful of limited
resources. It also results in delays to justice in cases still
waiting to be tried, adding to the tension and distress of
victims, defendants, particularly those in custody awaiting
trial, and witnesses.....•
In principle, the trial judge should exercise firm control over
the timetable, where necessary, making clear in advance and
throughout the trial that the timetable will be subject to
appropriate constraints. With such necessary evenhandedness
and flexibility as the interests of justice require as the case
unfolds, the judge is entitled to direct that the trial is expected
to conclude bv a specific date and to exercise his powers to
see that it does'~( Emphasis is mine)
Honorable participants, I expect that during today's discussions
you will identify specific causes of delays and suggest appropriate
solutions, including recourse to arbitration as an alternative dispute
resolution mechanism to litigation. In all, measures to be adopted in
addressing delays, timeliness and foresight are crucial. The duration of
the litigation process must be constantly monitored. Pending cases that
have been in the process or system for an excessive period must be
expeditiously and specifically dealt with.
The Division's monthly case return as of May 2012 shows that 69% of
cases, that is, 159 are aging zero months to 12 months. The Division has
to keep a close look at these cases to ensure that they do not lie in court,
longer than their agreed and scheduled periods. Appropriate measures
must also be taken for the remaining 31% of cases, that is, 74 cases,
which have been in court more than a year. The Division and indeed every
court should always prioritize and allocate sufficient resources to deal with
cases that have exceeded the agreed time frame.
Honorable participants, one way to curb case delays is for the
Commercial Division to adopt standard operating procedures. These could
incorporate agreed time schedules for the disposal of individual cases, an
active role for Judges with respect to case management, limitations in the
adjournment of court hearings expedited disclosure by the parties and
recourse to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Last but not least,
courts should also evaluate their performance. The purpose of an
evaluation should not be to lay blame for the problems encountered.
Rather, the goal should be to identify and correct any shortcomings in
commercial dispute resolution. Courts around the world are increasingly
using benchmarks and performance indicators to measure judicial
performance. The Judiciary Administration Act, 2011 implicitly directs us to
exactly that. There is no need to re-invent the wheel in this arena. Rather,
we must apply the internationally acceptable norms. The time is ripe for
the Division, if it has not started, to set benchmarks and performance
indicators agreed by all stakeholders.
Honorable participants, one of the recommendations that came
out of the last Round-table discussion was for the Division to have a set of
rules of procedure to empower the court to be proactive in the
management of cases; to govern the control of adjournments and denial of
those based on flimsy grounds, the non-stop hearing of witnesses in a case
and the enlargement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of subordinate courts in
terms of the quantum of monetary claims.
I am pleased to inform you that I have already signed the High Court
(Commercial Division) Procedure Rules, 2012. They are about to be
published and should come into operation soon. The objectives of the rules
are to enhance the efficiency of the Division by eliminating unnecessary
procedural steps, enhancing the application of Information Communication
Technologies in the administration of justice and increasing the Court's
accountability, transparency and delivery. In designing the rules, account
was taken to tailor them to promoting the business environment. My
singular request is for all stakeholders to inform themselves on the new
rules of procedure and with good faith to apply them so as to meet their
intended purposes.
Honorable participants, allow me to provide an update on the
performance of the sub-registries of the Division. The Commercial Division
of the High Court has two sub-registries at Mwanza and Arusha. A total of
44 cases were filed at the Arusha sub-registry as from Jan 2009 - June
2012, out of which 35 cases have been decided. The sub-registry has
recorded a clearance rate (that is the rate of dealing with the case load) of
800/0. Whereas at the Mwanza sub-registry, during the same period, i.e
from Jan 2009 - June 2012 a total of 37 cases were filed, out of which 29
cases have been decided. This sub-registry recorded a clearance rate of
780/0. This was attained without there being a resident judge of the
Division stationed at any of the sub-registries. That performance is, in my
view, satisfactory. However, we must strive for excellence.
Honorable participants, in commercial transactions, time is a
valuable asset. If courts and especially the Commercial Division are to
meet the expectations and needs of the business community and
meaningfully contribute to private sector growth, it must be able to
determine disputes without resorting to byzantine, time consuming,
complex or costly procedures. Moreover, the use of alternative dispute
resolution mechanisms through mediation and arbitration provides an
attractive alternative to litigation. In Tanzania, they are extremely
successful in the enforcement of labour disputes. Why not in contract
enforcement? As colorfully observed by Joseph Grynbaum: "An ounce of
mediation is worth a pound of arbitration and a ton of litigation"!
T
he Judiciary is exploring new ways of strengthening the application of
court annexed mediation. To start with, additional judges and magistrates
have undergone a Training of Trainers (TOT) program in mediation. More
and more judges, Advocates and other legal professionals will be trained in
mediation. We are reviewing the powers of Registrars so that as judicial
officers they may also serve mediators. Once this is done, the rate of
settlement of cases through mediation by the Division will most likely be
raised from where it stood in 2011 - 10.3% of 156 decided cases. This too
should result in more settlement through mediation by other courts.
Honorable participants, it has been affirmatively tested that
arbitration is yet another viable method of commercial dispute resolution
that can provide a reliable, flexible, and quick resolution of commercial
disputes. Apart from the Commercial Division which has powers to
arbitrate, which power it has never exercised, in the arbitration of
commercial disputes, courts have at least two-fold roles to play. One, they
have a responsibility to support the process before and after arbitration.
Two, after the process has been completed, courts have an important
function: the enforcement of arbitral awards. This judicial oversight role
has to be discharged effectively, fairly and timely. The emerging trend
observed in Tanzania, in the growth of protracted litigation surrounding the
enforcement of arbitral awards in our Courts is a red alarm! Let me
emphasize: Commercial disputes may be resolved by litigation or
alternatively by binding arbitration, not by litigation and litigation in
arbitration!
I am aware that the Division has set for itself as target, a six months time
frame from the date of filling of an arbitral award, as the maximum period
it should take the Court to enforce it to its finality. This objective is
overdue. No doubt, it goes to providing the optimal legal environment and
the promotion of a sound investment and business climate. In turn, the
Court of Appeal of Tanzania ought to embrace a similar approach to
support this initiative by the Commercial Court so that it too can speedy up
appeals originating there from.
That apart, I also see a dire need to review the process involved in the
execution of court decrees, including by court brokers so as to hasten and
manage it in a more proficient and just manner. Collecting the fruits of a
judgment or an arbitral award has at times been problematic for the
successful parties. Collectively, we would have failed if we allow a decree
to turn into a worthless paper or for that matter, a paper tiger! The whole
chain of contract enforcement must be strengthened and rendered reliable.
It is a basic precondition for business and economic growth.
Honorable participants, my final word of advice is that, we must
keep at heart the purpose of establishing the Commercial Division of the
High Court which is, to provide commercial justice by adjudicating
commercial disputes efficiently, effectively and timely. We should at all
times strive to attain that goal.
Having shared those remarks, it is my honor to declare this 4rd Round
Table Discussion on the Curbing Delays in Commercial Dispute
Resolution; Arbitration as a Mechanism to Speed up Delivery of
Justice open. I invite you to participate fully in the discussions and to
come up with recommendations which will enable the Commercial Division
of the High Court address effectively commercial dispute resolution to our
mutual and full satisfaction.
I thank you
TANZANIA NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS EXCERCISE MARRED BY HITCHES !!!!
National IDs registration marred by hitches in DAR ES SALAAM.
By Devota Mwachang`a, The Guardian, Tanzania
23rd July 2012
NIDA
A cross-section of people taking part in the registration for national identity cards have complained about hitches surrounding the process, including lack of public education about the process.
A survey conducted in various local government offices in Ilala and Kinondoni municipalities in Dar es Salaam at the weekend, showed that many people could not follow even minor instructions such as how to complete forms and differentiate this particular activity from registration for the population census.
Pius Wakuja of Ilala Mafuriko appealed to the government to do more in educating the public on what was required of them “instead of relying on a few radio and television announced”.
He said many people were not aware of the conditions and requirements for registration when one going to apply for an ID, as a result many people were embarrassed when they reached the offices, only to be informed that they could have done this or bring that.
“This exercise is not clearly understood to the public…television advert shows that an applicant should have a birth certificate or a voter ID, but when you go there, they also ask for other credentials like baptism certificates,” Wakuja complained.
He said the process was cumbersome causing people to spend much time at the offices and some of them fail to register even after reaching the offices and waiting for hours.
Kimara resident Erica Haule said that the exercise was complicated because people who go for application often were told to back home to collect some documents which were missing.
“This exercise is complicated…we spend a lot of time waiting to fill in the application forms…due to lack of knowledge and awareness people tend to spend much time in filling in the forms,” she said.
Chairman of Mafuriko Street in Ilala municipality Idrissa Mintanga said in an interview that among the biggest challenges the local governments were facing was that people going to the offices to register declined to give some information, claiming that the exercise was intended to take information for next month’s census, and they were not ready for that.
Despite the hitches, he said at least 700 have already registered for the IDs in his street. “We know our people, we have the duty of to helping them to register for the identity cards,” he said.
Mintanga said another challenge they faced dealing with those who looked like Somalis, but said they were Tanzanians. “They claim to be Tanzanians while they don’t speak Kiswahili and they don’t have birth certificates,” he explained.
For his part, a registrar at Mafuriko Street in Ilala municipality, Ally Mshauri claimed that lack of awareness amongst some people was making the exercise tough because they appeared at the local government offices without proper documents.
“For a person to be registered, he or she must have personal documents which should be attached with the registration form, such as a birth certificate, certificate of primary education, a clinic card or certificate of baptism among the other. Our goal is to get the details which identify a person, to know if he or she is a Tanzanian or a foreigner,” he explained.
Katembo Kitwana, a registration clerk at Mchangani Street in Makumbusho ward in Kinondoni Municipality, concurred that lack of awareness was making the registration process “too slow for comfort”.
“It took us some time to give them preliminary education instead of start the registration process straight away….most adults have no sufficient documents, so we direct them to go and obtain introduction letters from their streets’ leaders, in events of suspicious documents, we immediately contact the National Identification Authority (NIDA) office for clarification,” he explained.
But NIDA public relations officer Rose Mdami said in an interview that despite the challenges, the exercise was continuing properly.
“We couldn’t educate all people by 100 per cent; after all it is impossible to analyse each of the sufficient information found in the application form on TV and radio advertisements,” she noted.
She called upon people not to be afraid of asking questions because those are normal and primary questions that anybody must be aware of them, for instance parents’ names and the year of their birth.
However, she said for those who were not present at their home when the housing registration took place and are not listed in the settlements permanent registration book, they should obtain letters of introduction from their local leaders when going to register.
Recently, before NIDA started to register Dar es Salaam residents for national identification cards at the end of June, the authority called on the public to expose people they suspect to be foreigners in the respective areas.
NIDA Head of Information Thomas William said the exercise would be preceded by preliminary education of people, civil society groups and human rights activists on the importance of the exercise.
National IDs were originally due to have been to be issued on April 26 this year in a pilot project starting with security forces and civil servants living in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and residents of Kilombero, Morogoro Region. But challenges related to forged school certificates and other shortcomings forced the authority to postpone the exercise.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
TANZANIA NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS EXCERCISE MARRED BY HITCHES !!!!
National IDs registration marred by hitches in Dar
By Devota Mwachang`a, The Guardian, Tanzania
23rd July 2012
NIDA
A cross-section of people taking part in the registration for national identity cards have complained about hitches surrounding the process, including lack of public education about the process.
A survey conducted in various local government offices in Ilala and Kinondoni municipalities in Dar es Salaam at the weekend, showed that many people could not follow even minor instructions such as how to complete forms and differentiate this particular activity from registration for the population census.
Pius Wakuja of Ilala Mafuriko appealed to the government to do more in educating the public on what was required of them “instead of relying on a few radio and television announced”.
He said many people were not aware of the conditions and requirements for registration when one going to apply for an ID, as a result many people were embarrassed when they reached the offices, only to be informed that they could have done this or bring that.
“This exercise is not clearly understood to the public…television advert shows that an applicant should have a birth certificate or a voter ID, but when you go there, they also ask for other credentials like baptism certificates,” Wakuja complained.
He said the process was cumbersome causing people to spend much time at the offices and some of them fail to register even after reaching the offices and waiting for hours.
Kimara resident Erica Haule said that the exercise was complicated because people who go for application often were told to back home to collect some documents which were missing.
“This exercise is complicated…we spend a lot of time waiting to fill in the application forms…due to lack of knowledge and awareness people tend to spend much time in filling in the forms,” she said.
Chairman of Mafuriko Street in Ilala municipality Idrissa Mintanga said in an interview that among the biggest challenges the local governments were facing was that people going to the offices to register declined to give some information, claiming that the exercise was intended to take information for next month’s census, and they were not ready for that.
Despite the hitches, he said at least 700 have already registered for the IDs in his street. “We know our people, we have the duty of to helping them to register for the identity cards,” he said.
Mintanga said another challenge they faced dealing with those who looked like Somalis, but said they were Tanzanians. “They claim to be Tanzanians while they don’t speak Kiswahili and they don’t have birth certificates,” he explained.
For his part, a registrar at Mafuriko Street in Ilala municipality, Ally Mshauri claimed that lack of awareness amongst some people was making the exercise tough because they appeared at the local government offices without proper documents.
“For a person to be registered, he or she must have personal documents which should be attached with the registration form, such as a birth certificate, certificate of primary education, a clinic card or certificate of baptism among the other. Our goal is to get the details which identify a person, to know if he or she is a Tanzanian or a foreigner,” he explained.
Katembo Kitwana, a registration clerk at Mchangani Street in Makumbusho ward in Kinondoni Municipality, concurred that lack of awareness was making the registration process “too slow for comfort”.
“It took us some time to give them preliminary education instead of start the registration process straight away….most adults have no sufficient documents, so we direct them to go and obtain introduction letters from their streets’ leaders, in events of suspicious documents, we immediately contact the National Identification Authority (NIDA) office for clarification,” he explained.
But NIDA public relations officer Rose Mdami said in an interview that despite the challenges, the exercise was continuing properly.
“We couldn’t educate all people by 100 per cent; after all it is impossible to analyse each of the sufficient information found in the application form on TV and radio advertisements,” she noted.
She called upon people not to be afraid of asking questions because those are normal and primary questions that anybody must be aware of them, for instance parents’ names and the year of their birth.
However, she said for those who were not present at their home when the housing registration took place and are not listed in the settlements permanent registration book, they should obtain letters of introduction from their local leaders when going to register.
Recently, before NIDA started to register Dar es Salaam residents for national identification cards at the end of June, the authority called on the public to expose people they suspect to be foreigners in the respective areas.
NIDA Head of Information Thomas William said the exercise would be preceded by preliminary education of people, civil society groups and human rights activists on the importance of the exercise.
National IDs were originally due to have been to be issued on April 26 this year in a pilot project starting with security forces and civil servants living in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and residents of Kilombero, Morogoro Region. But challenges related to forged school certificates and other shortcomings forced the authority to postpone the exercise.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
BARUA KWA MUFTI WA BAKWATA KUHUSU MAHAKAMA YA KADHI TANZANIA
1
سم لله الرØمن الرØيم ô€‹‰
WAJUMBE WA JOPO LA MASHEIKH
MCHAKATO WA MAHAKAMAA YA KADHI
Kumb. Na WJM/BKT/01/2012 29 Shaaban, 1433
17 Julai, 2012
Kwa: Mufti Sheikh Issa bin Shaaban,
MUFTI WA BAKWATA,
S.L.P
DAR ES SALAAM.
لیكم Ùˆ رØمة لله, ô€ŒŠ السلام
YAH: KWENDA KINYUME NA JOPO LA MASHEIKH
Tafadhali rejea kichwa cha habari hapo juu.
Sisi masheikh tulioorodhesha majina yetu hapa chini, ambao ni wajumbe
katika Jopo la Msheikh 25 wa taasisi na jumuiya mbali mbali zilizosajiliwa
kisheria ambalo tangu liundwe limekuwa katika mazungumzo na serikali
kuhusu suala la urejeshwaji wa Mahakama ya Kadhi nchini, tumepokea
habari kwamba umeteua Kadhi Mkuu, manaibu wake wawili na makadhi wa
mikoa kwa mshangao mkubwa na tungependa ufahamu kwamba.
Mosi, maamuzi yako ya kuteua makadhi wakati suala hili lilikuwa bado
halijafikia hitimisho, ni maamuzi batili kwa mujibu wa mafundisho ya
Uislamu, hadidu rejea za Jopo, sheria za nchi na pia hata uhalisia wa mambo
tu ulivyo kuhusu suala hili.
Pili, maamuzi yako yamemfanya Waziri Mkuu wa Serikali ya Jamhuri ya
Muungano wa Tanzania aonekane si mkweli kwa sababu kwa muda wote wa
miaka miwili amekuwa akimfamhamisha Mhe. Rais, wabunge, waislamu na
watanzania kwa ujumla kwamba kuna mazungumzo kati ya kamati ya
masheikh na serikali na mara ya mwisho kikao cha kamati hiyo na Waziri
Mkuu kilifikia hatua ambazo utekelezaji wake ndio ungetoa picha waislamu
wanaanzishaje Mahakama ya Kadhi nchini.
2
Tatu, Kadhi Mkuu na Makadhi uliowateua si makadhi wa Mahakama ya Kadhi
tunayoipigania muda wote huu kwa sababu bado Mahakama ya Kadhi
haijaundwa kwa mujibu wa makubaliano ya kikao chetu cha mwisho na
Waziri Mkuu na pia ki-Shariah na ki-Sheria hauna mamlaka ya kuwateulia
waislamu wote nchini makadhi.
Kutokana na mas’ala hayo matatu tuliyoyataja hapo juu, tunataka ufanye
yafuatayo kwa maslahi ya Uislamu;-
i) Utangaze kwamba umekosea kwa kukiuka mojawapo ya hadidu rejea
za jopo na kwamba Makadhi uliowateua si makadhi wa Mahakama ya
Kadhi ambayo waislamu tunaipigania kwa muda wa miaka kadhaa
sasa na ambayo Jopo la Masheikh tulikubaliana tangu mwanzo wa
mchakato huu wa Mahakama ya Kadhi baina ya waislamu na serikali
na uainishe kwamba hao ni makadhi wa Bakwata na si makadhi wa
waislamu wote.
ii) Uwauzulu mara moja makadhi wote uliowatangaza kwa maamuzi
yako binafsi pasina kuwashirikisha masheikh wote wa Jopo la
Masheikh 25 ambalo ndilo linalotambulika na serikali kuwakilisha
waislamu wote nchini. Kwa mujibu wa hadidu rejea, tulikubaliana
kwamba “mtu yeyote katika jopo la Masheikh 25 hapaswi kusema
lolote lile ambalo halina maamuzi ya pamoja ya wajumbe wa Jopo”.
iii) Uitishe kikao cha haraka cha Jopo la Masheikh 25 ndani ya siku saba
kuanzia tarehe ya kupokea barua hii vinginevyo tutautangazia
ummah kwamba hatuna imani na wewe kuongoza mchakato huu na
tutachukua hatua stahiki kukabiliana na udikteta huu.
iv) Kwa kuwa umeonesha kutoa maamuzi ya kidikteta, katika kikao cha
kwanza tu cha Jopo la masheikh 25 kitakachoitishwa ndani ya wiki
moja tuliyoitaja hapo juu, kitachagua Makamu M/Kiti, Naibu Katiba
na kuhakikisha kwamba ummah wa waislamu nchini unahusishwa
ikiwa ni pamoja na kupanua wigo wa taasisi zitakazoshiriki katika
kadhia hii ya Mahakama ya Kadhi.
3
Wabillahi Tawfiiq,
Signed
M/Kiti wa Kamati Ndogo ya Jopo la Masheikh
WAJUMBE WAFUATAO WAMESAINI KUUNGA MKONO MSIMAMO HUU
Names and signatures omitted on purpose
Nakala kwa:
1. Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
Ikulu,
Dar es Salaam.
2. Waziri Mkuu,
Ofisi ya waziri Mkuu,
Ikulu,
Dar es Salaam.
3. Spika wa Bunge,
Ofisi ya Bunge,
Dar es Salaam.
4. Waziri wa Katiba na Sheria
Wizara ya Katiba na Sheria
Dar es Salaam.
5. Mwanasheria Mkuun wa Serikali,
Ofisi ya Mwanasheria Mkuu,
Dar es Salaam.
6. Mhe Jaji Mkuu,
4
Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania.
7. Mkurugenzi wa Usalama wa Taifa,
Dar es Salaam.
8. Jumuiya na Taasisi zote za Kiislamu Tanzania
Sunday, July 22, 2012
DEFENCE MECHNISM ON SINKING MARINE VESSELS
22/7/2012
THE TOUTERS SAID "THE TITANIC" WAS UNSINKABLE. BUT TANZANIA'S MV BUKOBA, THE SPICE ISLANDER AND THE LATEST TRAGEDY WHICH IS STILL COUNTING FATALITIES CAME UP WITH THE FERRY CHECK-IN AND ALERT SYSTEM! HEKO TEKINOLOJIA MPYA! HAYA NI MAENDELEO SI HABA.
http://pernille.typepad.com/duniaduara/2012/07/when-i-gave-a-brief-presentation-at-the-african-news-innovation-challenge-in-early-june-at-tanzict-i-pointed-out-that-there.html
The recent tragedy of the sinking ferry of the coast of Zanzibar has enraged many people- both on the mainland and the Island. Out of this, something very positive has happened. Several people reached out to their networks and came together over the weekend at KINU (www.kinu.co.tz) and channeled their grief and anger. They are developing Usizame- a free SMS-based ferry check-in and alert system (using the Ushahidi platform) designed to help prevent marine accidents in Tanzania.
Read more about this initiative at:
FB http://www.facebook.com/Uzisame
website http://www.usizame.org/
SERIKALI YAPIGA "STOP" UJENZI WA SEKONDARI ZA KATA !!!
Viwango duni vya elimu: Serikali kusitisha ujenzi wa Shule za Sekondari za Kata: NYAMBURETI SHULE YA SEKONDARI HAIKO PEKE YAKE. ZIKO ZA MATOKEO MABAYA KIBAAAAOOO!
17/07/2012
Serikali imesitisha ujenzi wa shule za sekondari za kata, kutokana na kutoridhishwa na kiwango cha elimu kinachotolewa katika shule hizo.
Tamko hilo lilitolewa na Waziri wa Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi, Dk. Shukuru Kawambwa, katika mkutano wa Taasisi ya Hassan Majaar Trust, iliyokuwa ikikabidhiwa Sh. milioni 26 zilizotokana na michango ya watumiaji wa simu za mikononi, Dar es Salaam jana. Dk. Kawambwa alisema Serikali imesitisha mpango huo ili iweze kupata nafasi ya kurekebisha upungufu uliopo katika shule za sekondari za kata zilizopo.
Dk. Kawambwa alitaja upungufu huo kuwa ni pamoja na kuziwekea shule hizo maabara, madawati ya kutosha, walimu mahiri na kuboresha mazingira ya kazi, zikiwamo nyumba za walimu.
“Tanzania bado haijafikia kiwango cha utoaji elimu bora katika shule zetu tulizozijenga kila kata, kutokana na changamoto nyingi zinazotukabili sasa.
“Tayari Serikali ya awamu ya nne imeliona tatizo hili na imeanza mikakati ya kukabiliana nazo kuanzia sasa katika bajeti ya mwaka 2012/2013 na hata utawala ujao.
“Tunakiri walimu wanafanya kazi katika mazingira magumu ambayo yanawafanya kushindwa kutoa elimu kama inavyostahili na ndiyo maana tumeamua kushughulikia matatizo yao, pia katika kupata walimu mahiri tumeongeza usajili katika vyuo vyetu wanafunzi walio na uwezo mzuri.
“Tunaomba taasisi, mashirika na wadau wengine kufanya mawasiliano ya karibu na Serikali ili kuendelea kuchangia katika sekta ya elimu na ndiyo ya sera ya Serikali.
“Hizi Sh milioni 26 zilizotolewa leo zitakwenda kutengeneza madawati 748 kwa ajili ya shule za Wilaya ya Makete na Njombe na zitawaondoa wanafunzi 2,255 wanaokaa sakafuni na kukalia madawati na isitoshe shule zetu bado zipo nchini ya halmashauri ili kurahisisha uendeshaji,” alisema.
Hata hivyo, alisema katika bajeti yake ya mwaka 2012/2013, imejikita katika kufanya uboreshaji wa shule zote nchini, kufanya ukaguzi na kuboresha mazingira ya walimu.
Source: http://www.wavuti.com/4/post/2012/07/viwango-duni-vya-elimu-serikali-kusitisha-ujenzi-wa-shule-za-sekondari-za-kata.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wavuti+%28Wavuti+%29#ixzz20zWyUdMK
GREEN FOREST COBRA AGED 209 YEARS IN TANZANIA !!!!!
20 July 2012 - MAJIRA, TANZANIA.
Serikali kumsaka nyoka mwenye miaka 209
Na Theonestina Juma, Bukoba
SERIKALI imedhamiria kumsaka nyoka mwenye umri wa miaka 209 aliyepo katika Msitu wa Akiba Minziro, uliopo Wilaya ya Misenyi, mkoani Kagera.
Lengo la kumsaka nyoka huyo ni kutokana na ukongwe wake hivyo kuwa kivutio kikubwa duniani hasa katika sekta ya utalii.
Mkurugenzi wa Misitu na Nyuki nchini, Dkt. Felician Kilahama, aliyasema hayo juzi wakati akizungumza na waandishi wa habari.
Alisema nyoka huyo mwenye futi 47, atapatikana baada ya mapito yake katika msitu huo kuonekana ila ni vigumu kuonekana hadharani kwa sababu hupendelea kuishi mapangoni.
“Huyu nyoka lazima tumfanyie mahesabu ya kumkamata kirahisi, umri wa miaka 209 sio mchezo, ameweza kutambulika Baada ya kupima urefu wa mapito yake, pia kuna chatu na nyoka wenye mapembe,” alisema Dkt. Kilahama.
Aliongeza kuwa, licha ya nyoka kuhatarisha maisha ya watafiti lazima kufanyike uharaka wa kuupandisha hadhi msitu huo uwe hifadhi ya Taifa ili kuboresha usimamizi wake.
“Kikao cha Kamati ya Ushauri cha Mkoa Kagera (RCC), kilipitisha msitu huu upandishwe hadhi, nyoka huyu ambaye ni aina ya Giant Forest Cobra, kichwa chake kina rangi nyekundu na sehemu ya kiwiliwili rangi ya kijani.
“Alianza kufanyiwa utafiti mwaka 2000 baada ya kupatikana kwa taarifa kutoka kwa wenyeji wa maeneo hayo juu ya kuwepo kwa aina ya nyoka huyo katika msitu huu,” alisema.
Kutokana na hali hiyo, uongozi wa Halmashauri ya Missenyi, kupitia Maofisa wa Misitu, mwaka 2010 walianza kuweka mitego ya sindano katika mapito anayotumia ili kuchukua damu yake na kwenda kuipima vina saba ndipo ilibainika kuwa hadi kufikia mwaka huo, alikuwa na miaka zaidi ya 207.
Dkt. Kilahama alisema nyoka huyo atakuwa kivutio muhimu mkoani hapa kama atapatikana licha ya kukabiliwa na tatizo la ukumbwa wa msitu ambao hekta 25,000 kwani nyoka huyo amekuwa akihama mara kwa mara kwa ajili ya mawindo.
Ofisa Misitu wilayani hapa, Bw. Wilbard Bayona, alisema nyoka huyo ana uwezo wa kuishi siku 68 bila kula chochote zaidi ya maji baada ya kumeza mnyama yeyote ambaye atamkamata mawindoni.
--
http://majira-hall.blogspot.com/2012/07/serikali-kumsaka-nyoka-mwenye-miaka-209.html
FRUITS OF ZIMBABWEAN'S SELF DETERMINATION
In Zimbabwe Land Takeover, a Golden Lining - 21/7/2012
By LYDIA POLGREEN
HARARE, Zimbabwe — When Roger Boka started his auction business in the 1990s, this city’s tobacco trading floors were hushed places, save the mellifluous patter of the auctioneer. A handful of white farmers, each selling hundreds of bales of tobacco, arrived in sport utility vehicles, checking into the city’s best hotels while waiting for their big checks to be cut.
During this year’s auction season, a very different scene unfolded underneath the cavernous roof of the Bock Tobacco Auction Floors. Each day, hundreds of farmers arrived in minibuses and on the backs of pickup trucks, many with wives and children in tow. They camped in open fields nearby and swarmed to the cacophonous floor to sell their crop. The place was lively and crowded; two women gave birth on the auction floor. The most obvious difference, though, was the color of their faces: every single one of them was black.
“You used to only see white faces here,” said Rudo Boka, Mr. Boka’s daughter, who now runs the family business. “Now it is for everybody. It is a beautiful sight.”
Before Zimbabwe’s government began the violent and chaotic seizure of white-owned farms in 2000, fewer than 2,000 farmers were growing tobacco, the country’s most lucrative crop, and most were white. Today, 60,000 farmers grow tobacco here, the vast majority of them black and many of them working small plots that were allotted to them in the land upheavals. Most had no tobacco farming experience yet managed to produce a hefty crop, rebounding from a low of 105 million pounds in 2008 to more than 330 million pounds this year.
The success of these small-scale farmers has led some experts to reassess the legacy of Zimbabwe’s forced land redistribution, even as they condemn its violence and destruction.
The takeover of white commercial farms was a disaster for Zimbabwe on many levels. It undermined one of Africa’s sturdiest economies, and as growth contracted and its currency became worthless because of hyperinflation, joblessness and hunger grew. Large chunks of land were handed to cronies of President Robert Mugabe, many of whom did not farm them. It spurred a political crisis and violent reprisals by the security forces that have killed hundreds of people. Yields on food and cash crops plummeted.
But amid that pain, tens of thousands of people got small farm plots under land reform, and in recent years many of these new farmers overcame early struggles to fare pretty well. With little choice but to work the land, the small-scale farmers have made a go of it, producing yields that do not match those of the white farmers whose land they were given, but are far from the disaster many anticipated, some analysts and scholars say.
“We cannot make excuses for the way it was carried out,” said Ian Scoones, an expert on farming at the University of Sussex who has been intensively studying land reform in Zimbabwe for the past decade. “But there are many myths that have taken hold — that land reform has been an unmitigated disaster, that all the land has been taken over by cronies in the ruling party, that the whole thing has been a huge mess. It has not. Nor has it been a roaring success.”
The result has been a broad, if painful, shift of wealth in agriculture from white commercial growers on huge farms to black farmers on much smaller plots of land. Last year, these farmers shared $400 million worth of tobacco, according to the African Institute for Agrarian Studies, earning on average $6,000 each, a vast sum to most Zimbabweans.
“The money that was shared between 1,500 large-scale growers is now shared with 58,000 growers, most of them small scale,” said Andrew Matibiri, the director of Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. “That is a major change in the country.”
The new farmers are receiving virtually no assistance from the government, which for years poured money into larger farms given to politically connected elites.
Instead, farmers are getting help from the tobacco industry, in the form of loans, advances and training. It is in Ms. Boka’s interest to revive the industry, so the company has invested heavily in helping farmers improve the yields and quality.
Tobacco is a tricky crop, requiring precise application of fertilizer and careful reaping. It must then be cured and graded properly to fetch a top price.
Recently, Alex Vokoto, head of public relations at the auction house, spotted several bales of desirable tobacco leaves cured to a honey color on the floor, and hustled the man who grew them, Stuart Mhavei, into the V.I.P. lounge for a cup of coffee and a chat.
“This man is growing top-quality tobacco, and he has only been at it for three years,” Mr. Vokoto said.
Mr. Mhavei, a 40-year-old tile layer, got a small piece of a tobacco farm several years ago in the town of Centenary in central Mashonaland, about 80 miles from Harare.
“All the big guys who got land, they are doing nothing,” Mr. Vokoto said. “But these small guys are working hard and really producing.”
Mr. Mhavei has steadily increased his yield, quality and income. So far this season, he has earned more than $10,000 on part of a vast farm that once belonged to a white family, investing the profits in a truck to transport his tobacco, as well as renting the truck to other farmers.
Mr. Mhavei said that like many of the other people who got land, he supports Mr. Mugabe and his party, ZANU-PF.
“Why should one white man have all this?” he asked, sweeping an arm across the lush, rolling farmland around his fields. “This is Zimbabwe. Black people must come first.”
Charles Taffs, president of the Commercial Farmers Union, said that the industry could have been transformed to include more black farmers in a much less destructive way.
“The tragedy with tobacco is that expansion, if they had the right policies, could have been done in the 1990s in conjunction with the commercial sector,” Mr. Taffs said. Instead, hundreds of thousands of workers have lost their jobs and the country has suffered huge economic losses as a result.
The personal cost for white commercial farmers has been immense. One white tobacco farmer in northern Zimbabwe whose family purchased its land after independence described the slow, painful erosion of his family’s livelihood.
“Now that we are down to less than 200 hectares, there isn’t enough income to support everyone,” said the farmer, who asked not to be identified because he feared seizure of even more land if he spoke out. A plot of 200 hectares is less than 500 acres.
His brother had to leave the farm to find work elsewhere, and his own future was deeply uncertain. The farm employs far fewer workers. Yields are down since critical investments in irrigation and other infrastructure have been put off, he said.
“We are Zimbabweans,” the farmer said. “We employ people, and take care of our workers. It is really painful to see this happening to our country.”
The tobacco yield is still below its peak in 2000, when the crop hit 522 million pounds. But Tendai Murisa, a researcher who has studied tobacco farming since land reform, said that judging the success of land reform by looking at production figures misses a crucial point.
“No one ever argued that this is a more productive form of farming,” Mr. Murisa said. “But does it share wealth more equitably? Does it give people a sense of dignity and ownership? Those things have value, too.”
UAMSHO ZANZIBAR WAJIBU MAPIGO
IMEINGIZWA HUMU TAREHE 22/7/2012
Majibu ya Uamsho Zanzibar kuhusu kauli ya kwamba wamo serikalini.
http://uamshozanzibar.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/zanzibar.jpg?
Jana tulisikia kauli zenu na mukasema Uamsho wapo Serikali. Sisi tunayakubali maneno yenu na tunakiri kuwa ni kweli Uamsho wapo Serikalini. Ila nyinyi mumeshindwa kuwataja kwa majina sisi tutawataja kwa majina na vyeo vyao.
Muamsho wa kwanza ni Rais Jakaya Kikwete. Yeye ametuamsha kwa kutwambia wazi Wazanzibari kuwa Tume ya Kuratibu Maoni ya Katiba haitoratibu Muungano. Hivyo ametuamsha na kutuwekea bayana Wazanzibari kuwa Tume hiyo haituhusu, sisi Wazanzibar kinachotuhusu kwenye Katiba ni Muungano. Katuamsha kuwa Tume hii ya Katiba si ya Muungano.
Kikwete huyo huyo ametwambia kuwa Muungano ushavunjwa na CCM NEC, na alisema NEC imeshaamuwa kuwa Rais wa Zanzibar asiwe Makamu wa Rais wa Muungano. Hivyo ametuamsha kuwa NEC imeenda kivyume na Hati ya Muungano na kwenda kivyume na makubaliano ni kuyavunja makubaliano, hivyo NEC imeuvunja Muungano.
Muamsho mkubwa zaidi ni Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda. Yeye alituamsha pakubwa tena akatutowa kwenye usingizi mzito pale alipotwambia kuwa Zanzibar si Nchi. Hata alipoambiwa ni nchi amekosea, akasema: “Sijakosea wala sijalewa. Zanzibar si nchi.” Kwa hakika, Pinda ametuamsha pakubwa.
Muamsho mwengine ni Mwalimu Julius Nyerere alipotwambia amechoka na sisi Wazanzibari; na hapa namnukuu: “Tumechoshwa na Wazanzibar i na Uislaam.” Kama si Muamsho, huyu ni nani?
Rais wa Kwanza wa Jamhuri ya Watu wa Zanzibar, Marehemu Mzee wetu Abeid Amani Karume, alituachia uswiya kwamba “Muungano ni kama koti, likitubana tutalivuwa!” Naye pia ni Muamsho.
Muamsho mwengine ni Mansour Yussuf Himid. Naye katuamsha si haba pale aliposema ndani ya Baraza la Wawakilishi kuwa serikali moja hataki kuisikia, mbili ni butu, anataka serikali tatu au vyenginevyo.
Rais Mstaafu wa Awamu ya Sita, Shujaa Amani Karume ndiye aliyezidi sio tu kutuamsha, bali pia akatuletea Umoja wa Kitaifa na Mabadiliko ya 10 ya Katiba ya mwaka 2010 tena akaifanya iwe shoka la kuvunja Muungano. Isomeni vizuri Katiba ya Zanzibar na hapo mutajuwa kuwa Karume ni Muamsho au si Muamsho.
Kwa hiyo, Stephen Wassira na UVCCM hamjakosea kusema Muamsho wapo Serikalini. Ni kweli. Tena wapo serikali ya Chama chenu. Wala msimtafute mchawi. Wachawi wenyewe.
----
http://uamshozanzibar.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/ni-kweli-uamsho-wamo-serikalini-jibu-la-vjana-wa-uamsho-kwa-wassira-na-uvccm/
Thursday, July 19, 2012
WAZIRI BERNARD MEMBE NA URAIS 2015
Urais 2015 wazidi kuwatesa wanasiasa
Tuesday, 17 July 2012 21:33
Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bernard Membe
MEMBE ASEMA HAJAOTESHWA KUGOMBEA, ATANGAZA ORODHA YA MAADUI 11, CUF
YAONYA MAKUNDI CCM NI HATARI
MBIO za kuwania urais wa mwaka 2015 zimezidi kuwatesa wanasiasa, baada ya Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bernard Membe kueleza kuwa hajaoteshwa kuwania kiti hicho, huku Mwenyekiti wa CUF Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba akionya kuwa makundi tofauti yanayowania nafasi hiyo ndani ya CCM ni hatari.Membe mbali na kusema hajaoteshwa kugombea urais, ameeleza kuwa ana orodha ya watu kumi na moja wanaomhujumu na kuonya kuwa ipo siku atawataja kwa majina hadharani.
Waziri Membe alitoa kauli hiyo juzi usiku (15/7/2012) katika Kipindi cha Dakika 45, kinachorushwa na Televisheni ya ITV kila Jumatatu.
Membe alihusisha hujuma hizo na mbio za Uchaguzi Mkuu wa 2015, baada ya kuulizwa ikiwa watu hao wanamfuatafuata kutokana na suala la Uchaguzi Mkuu ujao wa urais.
“Wanajua mambo yote haya, wanaogopa nisiwaguse na wangekuwa na uwezo wangeanza kampeni, labda nioteshwe (urais) na ole wao nikioteshwa ndoto hiyo…” alisema. Waziri Membe na kuongeza:
“Mtu aliye mbaya wako anakuwa na macho matatu. Kwa hiyo kutokana na uwezo wa jicho la tatu anaanza kuzuia lile analoliona lisitokee. Mimi nina macho sita. Nitawataja. Hebu wewe fikiria, kila baada ya miezi miwili naletewa mitego, vituko. Lakini nawaambia Watanzania, waache waseme na mimi ipo siku itakuwa zamu yangu nitawaweka wazi ili kila mtu aelewe.”
“Wasije wakadhani wakijificha kwa wahariri, majumbani kwao ambako ndiyo kuna ofisi zao kwenye ma-godown (maghala) yao ndiyo watakwepa, nitawalipua ili wajue. Ukikaa juu ya nyoka, akigeuka atakuuma tu.”
“Ipo siku nitawaanika hao watu na wapo kumi na moja. Kuna waandishi wa habari mle ndani wawili. Nitawatwanga peupe. Ninyi subirini hata ndani ya Bunge, nitazipangua tuhuma hizo moja baada ya nyingine. Nikimaliza bungeni wajiandae, nitawaanika majina yao, picha zao na mambo yote waliyoandika kwenye magazeti kwa kipindi cha miaka miwili ya uongozi wangu kwenye wizara.”
“Nilikwenda Brazil nikazungumza na Waziri wao wa Mambo ya Nje changamoto anazokumbana nazo akasema ni uongo. Nikamwuliza anapambana nazo vipi akanipa dawa ambayo ni kuwaanika. Nawaambia nitawaanika hapatakalika hapa.”
“Unajua nchi hii kisiasa ina watu ambao wana nguvu nje ya mamlaka ambayo wanayatumia kuvuruga. Wanapenda tuwe na watu wanaovurugika, wasingependa kuona watu wametulia. Ikiwa utaamka na kusema leo nitajivua gamba, leo nitafanya hivi utaandamwa.
Wapinzani na wabunge
Akizungumzia siasa za vyama vingi, Membe alivikosoa vyama hivyo akivitaka viwe makini.
“Naona bado hatujakaa sawa kwa siasa za vyama vingi. Ni kweli, tuna vyama vya upinzani lakini inabidi viwe makini. Kitu ambacho wapinzani hawajui ni kwamba nguvu ya wananchi inaweza kubadilika saa 24, nguvu ya wananchi iko kama bahari ina mawimbi ya kupanda na kushuka,” alisema.
Alisema vipo baadhi ya vyama vya upinzani barani Afrika, vilivyoingia madarakani na kuanguka akisema vilishindwa kutambua nguvu ya wananchi.
Aliwataka wabunge wa upinzani kutumia muda wao mwingi kuangalia majimbo yao badala ya kusema tu bungeni. “Wapinzani ‘reference’ yao iko majimboni siyo bungeni. kipimo chako cha kazi ni jimboni, siyo ukasuku wa kuzungumza bungeni na waandishi wa habari. Nendeni jimboni kwake mkaone uchungu alionao. Lakini siyo anatumia asilimia 100 kuisemea dunia na nchi nzima huku amelisahau jimbo lake,” alisema.
Aliwakosoa pia wapinzani kwa kukosoa bajeti halafu baadaye wanawafuata mawaziri kuwaomba fedha zilizotengwa.
“Nakwambia naomba tupitishe hizo pesa, unakataa, halafu kesho unakuja na kusema katika hizo pesa ulizopitishiwa naomba kwa ajili ya miradi ya maji,…”
Uendeshaji Bunge
Kuhusu uendeshaji wa Bunge, Membe alisema hakuna tatizo ingawa aligusia kuwepo kwa ushabiki ulioibuka ambao alisema unalipeleka pabaya.
“Viongozi wa Bunge wanafanya kazi nzuri ila huu ushabiki unaofanywa na ubabe usipodhibitiwa tutaliharibu. Nawaambia Watanzania ukiona mbunge anatumia muda mwingi bungeni kuliko jimboni, jibu ni moja tu, kumwondoa.”
CUF nayo yanena
Wakati Membe akisema hayo, Baraza Kuu la Chama cha Wananchi (CUF), limetoa tamko na kuonya kwamba mpasuko wa kisiasa ndani ya Serikali ya CCM, unaathiri na kuyumbisha nchi kikisema umesababisha makundi ambayo yanapambana kuwania nafasi ya kugombea urais ifikapo 2015.
Mwenyekiti wa CUF, Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba alisema hayo Dar es Salaam jana alipokuwa akieleza maazimio ya kikao cha Baraza Kuu la Uongozi wa Taifa la chama hicho ambayo yaliitaka Serikali ya CCM kuacha kuyumbisha nchi kwa kuangalia suala la urais 2015.
Profesa Lipumba alisema jukumu la msingi la chama kinachounda Serikali ni kufahamu kwamba nchi inahitaji mabadiliko ambayo yatawaletea maendeleo wananchi na huu si wakati wa kujadili nani anatakiwa kuwa Rais mwaka 2015, kwani hiyo ni njia ambayo inaweza kuwagawa Watanzania.
Bajeti bado tatizo
Kuhusu Bajeti ya Serikali, Profesa Lipumba alisema kikao cha Baraza Kuu kimebaini kuwa malengo ya Bajeti ya 2011/2012 hayakufikiwa kwani mfumuko wa bei umezidi kuongezeka tofauti na Serikali inavyoeleza kwamba umepungua.
“Takwimu zinaonyesha kwamba wakati Waziri wa Fedha anasoma hotuba ya Bajeti Juni, 2011 mfumuko wa bei ulikuwa asilimia 10.9 na uliongezeka hadi kufikia asilimia 20 na kwamba mwishoni mwa mwaka 2011, ulipungua kidogo hadi kufikia asilimia 18.2 lakini bado ni tatizo kwa wananchi kwani wanaendelea kuteseka na hali ngumu ya maisha kutokana na bei za bidhaa kuendelea kuwa juu,” alisema.
Alisema katika kukabiliana na upungufu wa umeme, Serikali iliahidi kukamilisha mradi wa kuzalisha umeme wa megawati 100 Dar es Salaam pamoja na megawati 60 Mwanza lakini mpaka sasa hakuna dalili yoyote ya kukamilika kwa miradi hiyo.
“Serikali ilisaini mkataba wa kupewa mkopo wa Euro 61 milioni na benki ya HSBC. Mkopo huo ulielekezwa kugharimia ujenzi wa mtambo wa kufua umeme wa megawati 60 Nyakato, Mwanza lakini cha kushangaza bajeti tano mfululizo zimekuwa zikitoa ahadi kama hizi bila utekelezaji,” alisema na kuongeza:
“Serikali ya CCM imeshindwa kutatua matatizo ya umeme na kuisababishia nchi kupata hasara na kudhoofisha uchumi.”
Akizungumzia ushiriki wa chama hicho katika uchaguzi wa marudio ya Ubunge katika Jimbo la Bububu, Zanzibar alisema CUF kimeridhia kushiriki kwani hiyo ni ngome yake kubwa na kimejipanga kushinda.
Imeandikwa na Elias Msuya, Aidan Mhando na Vicky Kimaro
AINA MPYA YA WIZI DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA
From: Shufaa Alwiy
To: shaibumatessa@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 11:37 PM
Subject: Fw: Wizi mpya Dar-es-salaam
STYLE YA KWANZA
Hi Everyone,
I hope you are well.
I am writing this email because of an incident that happened to my dear friend on 6th July 2012 at Mlimani City, Dar-es-salaam.TZ.
Mtu asiemjua alimsimamisha kwa kumuita kwa jina lake Mlimani city wakati amemaliza shopping (muda wa saa mbili kasoro usiku baada ya kutoka kazini). Yule kaka akajaribu kumkumbusha matukio mbalimbali ya huko nyuma (kama mtu anayemfahamu). Anasema alisogea restaurant kununua maji na hilo ndio tukio la mwisho analolikumbuka. Saa saba usiku amerudishwa nyumbani kwake na gari yake akiwa bado hana fahamu. Wamemchukulia simu, hela na baadhi ya hela zimetolewa kwenye ATM machines. Thank God hawakudhuru kabisa. Ila kinachoogopesha ni kwamba huyu mtu alikuwa anajua historia yake (ndugu zake na marafiki zake) na anajua anapoishi. It is very disturbing.
Naomba mufahamishe ndugu na marafiki zenu kuhusu tukio hili. Ubinaadamu haupo tena kwahivyo tuwe makini tukiwa tunatembea huko mitaani...I hope this email will help others to avoid such tragedies!!
Please forward this email to your friends and families!
Shufaa
STYLE YA PILI
From Andrew Peter Kato
Kuna utapeli wa aina nyingi sana hasa parking ya Mlimani City! Wenye magari kuweni makini sana! Juzi naingia kwa gari naondoka jamaa akanifuata ati anataka msaada nikamwona mapema kabisa anavyobadilisha sura ili aoenekana mhitaji msaada! Nikamuwahi nikafunga vioo! Nikashusha kidogo nikamhoji akadai ati anaomba japo nauli arudi gerezani! (Just imagine the way he confused himself kwani nilimchenjia ni balaa) Sasa gerezani umetorokaje, kwanza huna uniform, then umefanikiwa kutoroka bado unataka urudi, LOL! Nilipotafakari na kumsimulia jamaa yangu akadai ndiyo janja yao, anakuomba msaada na ukishampatia anakushukuru kwa kukupa mkono, hapo ndipo inakuwa imekula kwako kwani wana kitu cha nja kali kama kisindano kidogo wanakuchoma nacho mnapopeana mkono then from there unapoteza fahamu, na ndipo wenzake wanatokea. Unapakiwa kwa gari wakidai ndugu yao kazidiwa, unapelekwa kusikojulikana, wazee wanasepa na gari! BEWARE tupunguze ukarimu waTZ, wema usizidi uwezo!
HII NI LAANA YA UKOSEFU WA MAADILI YA UDAKTARI
Saturday, March 12, 2011
HII NI LAANA YA UKOSEFU WA MAADILI
Imeandikwa na Neema Kidumba, MIJO, Mbeya; Tarehe: 10th March 2011 Habari Leo
TANZANIA.
MTU anayetarajiwa kuepusha madhila kwa mwingine kutokana na taaluma yake kumbe anaweza akafanya kinyume chake na kuwa chanzo cha madhila hayo.
Taswira hiyo ndiyo imejitokeza mkoani Mbeya ambapo daktari ambaye alitarajiwa kuwa mwadilifu na kuhakikisha hasababishi matatizo kwa si tu mgonjwa lakini hata mtu mzima, ameshindwa kufanya hivyo.
Daktari Mfawidhi wa Hospitali ya Wazazi Meta mkoani hapa, Moses Achiula (57) ndiye aliyefanya hayo na hatimaye kujikuta akianza kutumikia kifungo cha miaka 30 jela baada ya kukiuka maadili yake.
Dk Achiula amepatikana na hatia ya kumnajisi mtoto wa kike mwenye umri wa miaka 11 na kumwambukiza virusi vya Ukimwi(VVU).
Hukumu hiyo ilitolewa jana na Hakimu Mkazi wa Mahakama ya Mkoa, Michael Mteite ambaye alisema Mahakama pia imemwamuru daktari huyo kulipa faini ya Sh. milioni mbili.
Awali ilidaiwa mahakamani hapo na waendesha mashitaka, mawakili wa Serikali Giriffini Mwakapeje na Francis Rojas, kuwa mshitakiwa alibainika kufanya kitendo hicho Januari 21 mwaka jana.
Kwa mujibu wa madai ya waendesha mashitaka hao, Dk. Achiula alikuwa akimfanyia msichana huyo kitendo hicho mara kwa mara na siku aliyothibitika, ilikuwa ni mara ya tatu.
Ilielezwa kuwa mshitakiwa alikuwa akimwita msichana huyo anayesoma darasa la nne nyumbani kwake eneo la Forest jijini hapa na kumwomba amfanyie usafi katika nyumba aliyokuwa akiishi peke yake.
Lakini inadaiwa kuwa baada ya mtoto huyo kumaliza shughuli aliyoombwa kuifanya, daktari huyo alikuwa akimlazimisha kufanya naye ngono.
Waendesha mashitaka hao walidai kuwa daktari huyo pia alikuwa akimwambia mtoto huyo akiona wazazi wake wakiondoka, aende nyumbani hapo na kumtisha kuwa asipokwenda, atamwua.
Wakati akitenda unyama huo kwa msichana huyo mdogo ambaye kiumri ni sawa na mjukuu wake, inadaiwa daktari huyo alikuwa akimtishia kumpiga iwapo angelia au kupiga yowe kuomba msaada.
Waendesha mashitaka walidai kuwa baada ya kumaliza kumfanyia unyama huo, daktari huyo alikuwa akimpa fedha kidogo, ili asieleze kilichokuwa kikiendelea kwa mtu yeyote.
Ilidaiwa kuwa siku ya kwanza, daktari huyo alimpa Sh. 1,000, siku ya pili Sh. 500 na siku ya tatu Sh. 200 na ndipo msichana huyo alipoamua kutoa siri kwa wazazi wake waliochukua hatua za kisheria.
Walisema baada ya wazazi kulifikishwa suala hilo panapostahili, msichana huyo alipelekwa katika Hospitali Teule ya Ifisi kwa ajili ya uchunguzi na kukutwa ameambukizwa magonjwa ya zinaa vikiwamo virusi vya Ukimwi.
Hakimu Mteite alisema ametoa adhabu kali kwa mshitakiwa ili iwe fundisho kwa watu wengine wenye tabia kama ya daktari huyo.
Posted by Zainab Mrisho Mwatawala at 11:41 PM No comments:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)