Sunday, September 30, 2012

CUSTOMAR LAW FORMULATION IN TANZANIA AND ELSEWHERE


Posted here on 1st October, 2012.

Comments from Professor Khan on the question of changing, repealing and/or amending customary laws anywhere in the world

 
CUSTOMARY  LAW   FILE

(Advice from Prof Abdul  Rayees  Khan on changing/modifying customary laws)

Basing on MANEKA GANDHI v UNION OF INDIA (1978) 2 SCR  621  compared toTanzania’s  ELIZABETH STEPHEN  & ANOR. v A.G., HCT (DSM) 2005 (Unreported).

1.       Is the court right in refusing to enforce the Customary Laws of Tanzania because of a few human rights conventions (judgments of foreign courts?)

2.       Who is the proper person/authority to change a customary law (the people themselves/community in a certain area).

3.       Juristic idea of a custom is a practice of usage/habit of the people and assumes the force of law when recognized and enforced by the courts. As was the case with the common law of England.

4.       At the international level, customary law is one of the components of international law and is evidence of the rules of law.  It emanates from habits of the states.

5.       In certain jurisdictions, customary laws are recognized in respect of various sections of the society e.g. the courts have customary laws known as Conventions of the Judiciary.  Merchants have their own customary laws (The Law Merchant).  The various societies, associations, organizations have customary laws which regulate their discipline of various sections.

6.       As far as the question of amending or repealing a customary law is concerned, it all depends upon the legal character of the society, e.g. in Britain there is Rule of Parliamentary Supremacy because of which it is possible for the British Parliament to do away with any custom, a habit of any section of the society.

7.       Of course Customary Law is at the mercy of a sovereign legislature.

8.       At the time there is a dispute whether to apply the existing customary law or not, it is not proper for the court to refuse to enforce it and suggest that the local authority has to make a law like the customary law because no customary law is made by a local authority.  It is made by the people/the inhabitants themselves, the users.

9.       Any local authority is a statutory body; therefore a political body.  It gets elected to power and can be removed by the electorate. 






Friday, September 28, 2012

BOY SURVIVES MOST VENOMOUS SNAKE BITE !

Posted here on 29/9/2012.

Boy Survives 'Most Venomous Snake' Bite

An Australian teenager had a lucky escape after being bitten by the world's most venomous snake.
The 17-year-old walked into a hospital in the small town of Kurri Kurri, north of Sydney, on Wednesday afternoon with a bite to his left hand.
According to reports, his friend was carrying a plastic tub containing the snake responsible, which was later identified as the toxic inland taipan.
Also known as the fierce snake due to the strength of its venom - one drop of which is enough to kill 100 adult men - the inland taipan typically lives in central Australia's arid deserts and is not normally seen on the coast.
Detectives are investigating how he came into contact with the desert reptile amid speculation it could have been an illegal pet.
"The youth ... is reported to be in a stable condition," police said in a statement.
"Police are now attempting to establish how the youth came to be bitten, and hope to speak to the young man once he is considered well enough."
According to doctors, the boy's rapid treatment with anti-venom had been crucial to his survival, as inland taipan venom can kill someone in as little as 45 minutes.
"We had antivenom in stock, we keep what's called polyvalent antivenom and that covers all of our snakes," said toxicologist Geoff Isbister, who is treating the teen at the Mater hospital in the city of Newcastle.
"We had access to it immediately, and he was treated very early."
The snake's poison is neurotoxic and can cause gradual paralysis and compromise breathing if not treated.
Myotoxins in the bite also dissolve muscle and other tissues, meaning the wound site can cause significant kidney damage.
Inland taipans can grow up to 2.5m (8ft) in length and have 12mm fangs.

Monday, September 24, 2012

JAJI MKUU WA TANZANIA AWAAAPISHA MAHAKIMU 372

 Imeingizwa humu leo hii tarehe 24/9/2012, kutoka Mtandao wa www.judiciary.go.tz. 

 




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thursday, 20th September, 2012.          Thursday, 20 September 2012 12:36
JAJI Mkuu wa Tanzania, Mhe. Mohamed Chande Othman amewaapisha na kuwaasa juu ya utendaji kazi Mahakimu Wakazi wa Mahakama za Mwanzo walioajiriwa hivi karibuni.
Akizungumza mara baada ya kuwaapisha Mahakimu hao katika hafla iliyofanyika katika Chuo cha Uongozi wa Mahakama (IJA) wilayani Lushoto hivi karibu, Mhe. Chande alisema kuwa Mahakimu hao watumie fursa waliyoipata katika kutoa haki sawa na kwa wakati stahiki.

“Mahakama imejiwekea mkakati wa kuajiri Mahakimu wenye shahada ya Sheria, na kwa mara ya kwanza tumefanikiwa kuajiri jumla ya Mahakimu 300 wenye shahada ya sheria, hivyo, Mahakama na jamii kwa ujumla ina matumaini makubwa juu ya ujio wenu katika suala zima la utoaji haki,” alibainisha Jaji Mkuu.
Alisema kuwa asilimia 70 ya mashauri yapo katika Mahakama za Mwanzo jambo ambalo linapelekea wingi la mashauri na hivyo kuwataka Mahakimu kusikiliza na kuzitolea maamuzi kwa wakati kesi ambazo ushahidi tayari wake umekamilika.
Aliongeza kwa kutaja sifa za Hakimu bora na kuainisha kuwa anatakiwa kuwa anayetoa maamuzi kwa kuzingatia haki, sheria, kanuni na taratibu zilizowekwa.
“Hakimu bora anatakiwa pia kulinda heshima ya Mahakama na taaluma  yake na ya Mahakimu wenzake, pamoja na kuheshimu wajibu wake kwenye jamii husika na vilevile kufuata maadili ya kazi katika suala la utoaji haki,” alisisitiza.
Katika hatua nyingine, Jaji Kiongozi, Mhe. Fakih Jundu aliwaasa pia Mahakimu hao kuzingatia haki za washitakiwa ikiwemo upatikanaji wa dhamana endapo mshitakiwa husika anastahili.
“Ni muhimu kwenu kuzingatia haki za washitakiwa na kuepuka matumizi mabaya ya vifungu vya sheria, mkifanya hivyo mtajiweka katika nafasi  nzuri ya kufanya maamuzi ambayo hayakiuki misingi ya haki,” alisema Jaji Kiongozi.
Sambasamba ya shughuli ya kuwaapisha Mahakimu hao, pia wamepata mafunzo ya wiki moja kutoka kwa viongozi mbalimbali wa Mahakama juu ya utendaji kazi wa kila siku hususani suala zima la utoaji haki nchini.
Jumla ya Mahakimu 372 wameapishwa na Mhe. Jaji Mkuu, kuwa Mahakimu Wakazi wa Mahakama za Mwanzo zilizoko katika vituo mbalimbali nchini, Mahakimu 72 ambao walikuwa tayari kazini wameapishwa pia kuwa Mahakimu Wakazi baada ya kupata Shahada ya Sheria.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

MORGAN TSVANGIRAI'S WEDDING POSTPONED FOR GOOD !!!

From Zimbawe dated 14/9/2012

Harusi ya Tsvangirai yasitishwa:

- So he is being accused of an inchoate crime of bigamy?? Or what?


Tsvangirai na mpenzi wake
Mahakama nchini Zimbabwe imesitisha harusi ya Waziri Mkuu wa Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai iliyotarajiwa kufanyika hapo kesho kama ilivyokuwa imepangwa.
Mahakama imesema kuwa Tsvangirai tayari ana mke.
Mapema wiki hii mahakama kuu nchini humo ilitupilia mbali madai ya Locadia Tembo aliyesema kuwa yeye ni mke wa kitamaduni wa Bwana Tsvangirai na kusema kuwa ndoa za kitamaduni hazitambuliki kisheria.

Lakini sasa Hakimu amekubaliana na Locadia na kuamuru harusi iliyopangwa kufanyika siku ya Jumamosi haitafanyika tena.
Hii ni licha ya baadhi ya viongozi wa nchi mbali mbali walioalikwa kwa harusi kuwasili nchini humo.
Mawakili wa Tsvangirai wanataka mahakama kutoa amri ya dharura na kuruhusu harusi hiyo kuendelea kama ilivyopangwa.
Kesi nyingine ambayo mahakama ilisikiza leo dhidi ya Tsvangirai ni ya mwanamke mmoja kwa jina Nozipho Shilubane aliyesema kuwa Waziri Mkuu huyo aliahidi kumuoa.
Baadhi ya wadadisi wanasema kuwa kesi hiyo ni dalili ya njama za kisiasa kumpaka tope waziri mkuu kabla ya uchaguzi mkuu utakaofanyika mwaka ujao. Tsvangirai atatoana jasho na rais Robert Mugabe katika uchaguzi huo.
Lakini wengine wanasema kuwa Tsvangirai hana wa kulaumu ila yeye mwenyewe kwani amejihusisha na wanawake wengi baada ya mke wake kufariki katika ajali ya barabarani mwaka 2009 baada ya waziri mkuu kuchukua wadhifa wake.
Mwandishi wa BBC Brian Hungwe mjini, Harare, anasema kuwa harusi hiyo ilipangwa kufanyika katika mtaa mmoja wa kifahari mjini Harare.
Rais Mugabe anatarajiwa kuandaa dhifa maalum kwa viongozi wa nchi za kiafrika walioalikwa kuhudhuria.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 WORLD TRADE CENTRE BOMBING WAS AN INSIDE JOB !!!

    POSTED HERE ON  23/9/2012.
  SOURCE:   www.911truthbristol.com
  1. The World Trade Center buildings collapsed at almost free fall rate with barely any resistance. The official collapse theory does not explain how hundreds of tonnes of concrete and other materials were pulverised into dust to allow the collapse to occur with no resistance. Official explanations for the collapse are based on inaccurate models that do not account for the core steel structure, the concrete and the near free fall rate of collapse.
  1. Hundreds of experts agree it is scientifically impossible that fire alone could have brought down the WTC towers 1 and 2 or building 7. The temperature of the fire would not have been hot enough to melt the steel, however it is possible the steel structure became weak, but if this was the case then there would have been a gradual collapse.
  1. The WTC buildings were designed to withstand the impact of two large passenger aircraft. No high rise steel skyscraper has ever collapsed due to fire and minor structural damage. The Empire State building was once hit by a large aircraft and did not collapse.
  1. There was no forensic analysis of the rubble and the debris was quickly removed before evidence could be gathered. The recovered steel beams were cut at an angle that replicates the damage caused when bringing a building down using controlled demolition.
  1. Many credible eyewitnesses including many emergency service workers are on record reporting what they perceived to be multiple explosions in the buildings. Indeed seismic data and audio analysis has revealed impacts and sounds synonymous with explosive charges.
  1. WTC staff witnessed explosions in the basement before the first plane hit. The suppressed testimony of former janitor and decorated 9/11 hero William Rodriguez provides evidence of pre-impact explosions.
  1. Video footage appears to show explosions as the buildings (1, 2 & 7) collapse.
  1. Scientists who managed to analyse fragments of the wreckage found traces of chemicals such as Thermite, that are used in explosives. Other evidence such as the thermal hot spots seen from space for weeks after the collapse, the levels of Tritium found, the micronized dust, the size of the 3 craters produced and the radius of the blast damage all point to the use of a nuclear device. A mini or micro nuke would create the vacuum effect and literal vaporisation of the buildings that can clearly be seen. It should also be noted that a high number of the rescue workers are already dead from cancer and many of the clean up workers are dying.
  1. Building 7 collapsed at free fall speed, there was no resistance. The official explanation of fire and structural damage does not stand up to scrutiny and hundreds of architects and engineers from around the world agree that a controlled demolition is the only possible explanation for the way the building collapsed.
  1. The corrupt proprietor of WTC7 Larry Silverstein used a demolition term when he later talked of building 7 - "we made that decision to pull the building".
  1. NORAD did not respond with standard operating procedures and immediately scramble jets to intercept the supposedly hijacked planes. 10 minutes from any sign of trouble is the normal scramble time, but on 9/11 the airliners strayed off course for almost an hour and they were not responding to air traffic controllers, but the USAF jets arrived too late. No official report has any satisfactory explanation for this stand down. Dick Cheney was responsible for the shoot down order on 911 and testimony suggests that he ordered the stand down and delayed any interception. Several uncannily similar military drills coinciding that day also contributed to the confusion.
  1. Substantial insider financial trading around 911 has never been properly investigated.
  1. Several of the apparent hijackers have been found to be alive by mainstream journalists. There has been no evidence to show the accused were even on the flights. CCTV footage has only been released showing connecting flights.
  1. Research into the supposed hijackers has revealed how some of them had connections with the military and that members of the CIA were protecting them. Some of the men including the apparent ringleader Mohammed Atta did not fit the character of Islamic fundamentalists - they were heavy drinkers and drug takers, they also frequented strip clubs. Evidence such as the bag with the flight manual and the passport that apparently floated down from the towers have been deemed by many experts to be planted evidence.
  1. Coleen Rowley and a number of other FBI agents claimed that they had been blocked from investigating, and were pulled off the trail from some of the men that were supposedly involved in the planning of the 9/11 attacks.
  1. Members of the Bin Laden family were flown out of America hours after the attacks.
  1. Al Qaeda was originally the name for a CIA database of terrorists employed against the Russians in the eighties. Osama Bin Laden was a known CIA asset and although he was blamed for the attacks, he is not wanted by the FBI in connection with the 9/11 attacks because according to them there is no evidence to link him. Videos that have been released of OBL since 9/11 have been deemed as fakes by a number of experts. Credible media reports state that OBL met with the CIA shortly before the attacks.
  1. There are some who maintain that the somewhat mythical 9/11 hijackers, although proven to be too incompetent to fly a little Cessna 172, had acquired the impressive skills that enabled them to fly airliners by training in flight simulators. The manoeuvres Hani Hanjour had to go through to reach the Pentagon are virtually impossible for the aircraft and pilot. Hundreds of ex-military and commercial pilots have questioned this manoeuvre and the only flight box data to be released does not corroborate the official story. Only 3 frames of video have been released from the hundreds of CCTV tapes confiscated by the authorities on the day. There were no air crash investigations and radar operators and witnesses have stated that it looked like a missile flew into the Pentagon.
  1. Wars which would likely not have been justified without 911 as a trump card have killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Many more will suffer and die in coming years due to depleted uranium shells and the use of other NBC weapons - this includes our soldiers. Prior to 9/11 the elitist neo-cons had spoken of their desire for a Pearl Harbour type event so that they could take advantage and fulfil their ambitions of creating wars in the Middle East in order to gain control of oil, gas, mineral and opium resources. Since 9/11 they have continued to use the attacks as an excuse to further their imperialist agenda.
  1. There are many more points, but I suggest you go and verify what you have read here before you dig any deeper.

 

FEROCIOUS ATTACK ON NATO BASE BY TALIBAN FIGHTERS


 Posted here on 23/9/2012.
September 16, 2012

Audacious Raid on NATO Base Shows Taliban’s Reach

By ALISSA J. RUBIN
KABUL, Afghanistan — An audacious Taliban attack on a heavily fortified base in southern Afghanistan did far more damage than initially reported, destroying or severely damaging eight attack jets in the most destructive single strike on Western matériel in the 11-year war, military officials said Sunday.
While other attacks have caused greater loss of life, the assault late Friday at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, one of the largest and best-defended posts in Afghanistan, was troubling to NATO because the attackers were able to penetrate the base, killing two Marines and causing more than $200 million in damage. “We’re saying it’s a very sophisticated attack,” said a military official here. “We’ve lost aircraft in battle, but nothing like this.”
The complex attack, which NATO officials said was conducted by three tightly choreographed teams of militants wearing American Army uniforms, was a reminder that the Taliban remain capable of serious assaults despite the “surge” offensive against them. Now the offensive is over, and nearly 10,000 American Marines have left Helmand Province, a critical stronghold for the Taliban, over the past several months.
Together with a rash of attacks by Afghan security forces against NATO troops — including two over the weekend that left at least six coalition service members dead — the Taliban have put new pressure on the American withdrawal plan, which calls for accelerated troop pullouts through 2014 while training Afghan forces to take over.
At the same time, tensions with the government flared Sunday as President Hamid Karzai condemned the deaths of Afghan women in airstrikes and criticized the continued American custody of hundreds of Afghan prisoners.
The military investigation into the attack at Bastion is now trying to uncover whether the insurgents had help from inside the camp and whether they were trained or aided by neighboring countries, such as Pakistan or Iran, which have allowed the Taliban to take refuge on their territory. But military officials and Afghan analysts said that the insurgents may well have prepared for their mission in significant measure by studying easily available satellite images on the Internet. “We don’t underestimate the enemy,” the military official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation. “We know the enemy has limited capability to do these, but they are not a whole bunch of yokels running around the country.”
The 15 insurgents conducting the attack lost no time from the moment they blew a hole in the perimeter at one of the closest points to the airfield, military officials said. They then raced toward their targets, shooting and setting fire to parked Navy AV-8B Harrier jets and destroying three refueling stations, even as a quick reaction force was mustering to fight them off, a military official said. “It was a running gun battle for a while, two and a half hours, nonetheless they were able to get to the aircraft before we could intercept them,” a military official said, noting that because it happened at night it was difficult until daylight to be sure that all the insurgents had been killed or captured. All but one was killed; the remaining insurgent is in custody, the military said.
Two American Marines were killed in the attack, and nine coalition personnel, including a civilian contractor, were wounded, the military said in a statement. Prince Harry, the third in line to the British throne, is doing a tour of duty as a helicopter pilot and was stationed at Camp Bastion at the time of the attack, but was not hurt. Camp Bastion is home mostly to British soldiers, while the neighboring camp, known as Leatherneck, has American Marines and other service members.
Six of the jets, which each cost between $23 million and $30 million when they were first acquired by the United States Navy, according to a General Accounting Office report, were completely destroyed and two more were so severely damaged it was unlikely they could be repaired. Also badly damaged were three refueling stations and three soft-skinned aircraft hangars, the military said in a news release.
Determining how it was possible for the insurgents to penetrate and severely damage such a well-defended base, particularly one with clear lines of sight across miles of mostly flat plain, will be important in determining whether this was a unique attack or one that could be replicated either in targeting Western bases or Afghan ones, military experts said.
“The Taliban retain the command and military planning infrastructure to put together complex and sophisticated attacks,” said Stephen Biddle, a professor at George Washington University with expertise in defense studies.
“If this is a clever surprise, it can’t work twice; it tells you the people are clever and can do elaborate planning, using subterfuge and possibly captured uniforms,” Mr. Biddle said. “It would be a different matter if they managed to blow a hole in a heavily defended perimeter — then the Afghan National Security Forces are looking at a big, big problem.”
Wahid Mujda, an Afghan analyst who tracks the Taliban, said that despite the Taliban’s statement that the attack was retaliation for an anti-Muslim video, the video almost certainly had nothing to do with it.
“I do not think that the Camp Bastion attack had anything to do with the anti-Prophet movie,” Mr. Mujda said. “Given the sophistication of the attack one can say with a lot of confidence that the Taliban had been training, rehearsing and preparing for weeks and even months. Everything was not planned and decided overnight.”
He predicted that the Afghan government and the international military forces here would see similar attacks in the future.
“They have experts, strategists, planners and designers, they have a great knowledge of the modern technology,” Mr. Mujda said.
“My sources in the Taliban tell me that every time they want to attack an important target they use Google Maps and other available means for studying and understanding their targets.”
This year’s toll from what are known as insider or green-on-blue attacks — green being American military parlance for indigenous forces, blue for its own — has become one of the most visible signs of the challenges faced by the NATO-led coalition as it nears the end of its role in Afghanistan’s war.
The second attack of the weekend, which was Sunday in Zabul Province, was the deadlier of the two latest incidents, with four coalition service members killed. The coalition said in a terse statement that the attack was “suspected to involve members of the Afghan police” and was under investigation.
Michael Cole, a coalition spokesman, said officials suspected the Afghan police in the attack because a police officer was killed in the firefight that ensued. But Mr. Cole said investigators were not yet certain whether the dead officer was one of the attackers or was caught in the cross-fire.
Afghan officials said they, too, were investigating.
The six deaths brought to 51 the number of coalition service members killed this year in insider attacks. The toll has already well exceeded last year’s total of 35 killed in such violence.
The increase in attacks has prompted coalition and Afghan officials to step up their vetting of Afghan recruits, and coalition officials say the attacks are mostly driven by personal animosity. Still, at least a quarter are believed to be the result of Taliban infiltration or influence over soldiers and the police.

Matthew Rosenberg and Habib Zahori contributed reporting from Kabul, and Taimoor Shah from Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

LINDI YAWEZA KUWA SRI LANKA [CEILON] YA TANZANIA

Imeingizwa humu tarehe 23/9/2012.
 
Lindi yaweza kuwa Sri Lanka ya Tanzania


 


 
 
 


 


Toleo la 259
19 Sep 2012

WATANZANIA wengi tukisikia jina Sri Lanka jambo kubwa linalotujia kwa haraka ni ama chai au Vita ya Tamil Tigers. Nakumbuka tulipokuwa darasa la sita Shule ya Msingi tulisoma ‘Chai Sri Lanka’ na kusoma miji kama Kolombo, Batikaloa na Trinkomalee (Colombo, Batticaloa, Trincomalee). Lakini tulipashwa sana habari kuhusu vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe vilivyodumu kwa miaka takribani 30. Juzi nilikuwa Sri Lanka. Vita imekwisha mwaka 2009. Chai ipo nyingi sana. Mwaka 2010, Sri Lanka iliuza nje jumla ya tani 314,000 za chai yenye thamani ya dola za Marekani bilioni 1.37 na hivyo kuongoza duniani kimapato ingawa Kenya ilisafirisha chai nyingi zaidi, tani 441,000.
Hata hivyo, kutokana na ubora wa zao hilo kuwa chini kidogo Kenya ilipata dola za Marekani milioni 800 tu. Mwaka huo Tanzania, yenye eneo kubwa zaidi la kulima kuliko nchi zote hizo, iliuza nje tani 34,000 tu na kupata dola za Marekani milioni 61 hivi. Licha ya kwamba Tanzania ni nchi ya nne kwa kuzalisha chai Afrika baada ya Malawi, Uganda na Kenya, bado inaweza kuwa katika nafasi ya juu duniani iwapo tukiamua kuwa makini katika mambo tunayofanya na kupenda kufanya mambo makubwa.
Siku hizi napenda kujua historia za nchi katika kupambana na umasikini wa watu wao. Lengo ni kuelewa juhudi za nchi mbalimbali katika kuleta maendeleo ya watu na kujifunza pale ambapo nchi zimefanikiwa. Ukitembea mitaa ya Jiji la Colombo unaona mji mzuri msafi uliopangwa vema na kila mtu anaonekana kushughulika. Njia nzuri ya kujua ukweli wa maisha ya watu ni kuzungumza nao.
Mara nyingi hutumia madereva wa teksi au bajaji kwa jiji kama la Colombo. Katika mazungumzo na baadhi ya madereva wa bajaji nilizokuwa natumia pale Colombo niliona mwelekeo mmoja, kwamba katika kipindi cha miaka 10 iliyopita maisha yao yamebadilika sana. Wakisifia kuisha kwa vita dhidi ya Tamil Tigers na kuongezeka kwa mapato yao kwa watu kutumia zaidi usafiri. Dereva wa bajaji wa Jiji la Colombo anaingiza wastani wa rupia 4000 (shilingi 45,000) kwa siku. Nilitaka kujua nini chanzo cha mabadiliko haya ya kipato ambacho hadi wenye bajaji wanafaidika nayo. Takwimu zao zinaeleza mengi sana. Serikali iliamua kupambana na umasikini na hasa umasikini wa vijijini.
Mwaka 2002 asilimia 22.7 ya wananchi wote wa Sri Lanka walikuwa wanaishi chini ya mstari wa umasikini. Ilipofika mwaka 2011, kiwango cha umasikini kilikuwa asilimia sita tu. Umasikini ulishuka kwa kiwango kikubwa katika maeneo ya vijijini. Katika kipindi cha miaka mitatu kati ya mwaka 2007 mpaka 2010 umasikini wa wananchi wa Sri Lanka walio kwenye sekta ya chai (estate sector) ulishuka kutoka asilimia 32 ya waliokuwa wanaishi chini ya mstari wa umasikini mpaka asilimia 11.4 na wale wa vijijini nje ya sekta ya chai umasikini ulishuka kutoka asilimia 24.7 mpaka asilimia 9.4 katika kipindi hicho. Nilipouliza zaidi kwa wanasiasa na viongozi wa serikali nikaambiwa kuwa mabadiliko makubwa yaliyotokea miaka ya karibuni yalitokana na serikali kufanya uamuzi mahususi wa kuelekeza fedha nyingi zilizokuwa zinakwenda vitani kwenye uwekezaji vijijini. Wanasema walitumia fedha nyingi kwenye ruzuku ya mbolea kwa wakulima, kusambaza umeme vijijini na kujenga barabara za vijijini. Siku niliyofika niliona kwenye moja ya magazeti yao ya kila siku, rais wao akizindua mtambo wa kuzalisha umeme katika Mji wa Trincomalee uliopo mashariki mwa nchi hiyo.
Nikajiuliza mbona na sisi tunatekeleza MKUKUTA na tunasema kwamba tunawekeza fedha nyingi sana vijijini? Mbona na sisi tunatoa ruzuku ya mbolea yenye thamani ya zaidi ya shilingi bilioni 60 kwa mwaka? Inakuwaje wenzetu wafanikiwe sisi tusifanikiwe? Tanzania imeanza kutoa mbolea ya ruzuku katika msimu wa mwaka 2006/2007 kama ilivyo kwa Sri Lanka. Wenzetu katika miaka mitatu, kiwango cha umasikini kimepungua kwa asilimia 15 kwa wananchi walio katika sekta hiyo ya kilimo na wanaoishi vijijini. Sisi katika kipindi cha muongo mmoja, 2001 mpaka 2011, umasikini umepungua kwa asilimia mbili tu. Moja ya sababu ya sisi kushindwa ni kwamba mfumo wa mbolea ya ruzuku umegubikwa na ufisadi wa hali ya juu sana. Mfumo huu umedhihirisha namna ambavyo kazi ya kupambana na ufisadi ni ya kimfumo zaidi maana kwa namna viongozi wa vijiji wanavyoiba mbolea ya ruzuku, unaweza kiurahisi kabisa kusema rushwa ni sehemu ya utamaduni wa Mtanzania. Siamini hivyo. Ninaamini kwamba mfumo wetu unazalisha wala rushwa, walafi na watawala wenye tamaa na wasiotosheka kama nilivyoeleza katika makala zangu zilizotangulia. Je, tukiondoa ufisadi wa mbolea ya ruzuku tunaweza kupata mafanikio ambayo wenzetu wameyapata? Sina jibu wala jawabu la swali hili. Hata hivyo, ninaamini kwamba kutofanikiwa kwetu ni zaidi ya ufisadi. Ni kutofanya kazi kwa bidii? Ni kukosa umakini? Ni kutofurahia mafanikio? Ni kukosa uongozi thabiti unaoweza kusimamia mchakato wa maendeleo kuanzia ngazi ya kijiji mpaka Taifa?
Hebu tutazame pamoja takwimu hizi. Sri Lanka ina ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 65,000. Mkoa wa Lindi una ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 66,000. Sri Lanka ina Pato la Taifa la Dola za Marekani bilioni 60 mwaka 2011, Tanzania Pato lake la Taifa ni dola za Marekani bilioni 24. Sri Lanka ina jumla ya watu milioni 20, Tanzania ina jumla ya watu milioni 45, Mkoa wa Lindi una jumla ya watu 750,000 hivi. Sri Lanka na Tanzania zote zina bajeti ya dola za Marekani bilioni tisa hivi. Uchumi wa Sri Lanka unategemea sana zao la chai na utalii kwa fedha za kigeni. Mkoa wa Lindi una eneo kubwa zaidi la Kilimo kuliko Sri Lanka nzima hasa ukizingatia katika hekta milioni 5.2 zinazofaa kwa kilimo ni hekta 500,000 tu ndio zinalimwa. Zao la korosho laweza kuwa chai ya Lindi. Kilometa za mraba 18,000 za Mkoa wa Lindi ni Selous Game Reserve, Kilwa ni kivutio kikubwa cha utalii wa kila namna na Mkoa wa Lindi una fukwe ambazo hazijawahi kuguswa tangu dunia iundwe na Mola.
Sri Lanka hawana gesi asilia. Lindi na hasa Wilaya ya Kilwa ndio mzalishaji mkubwa wa gesi asilia hapa nchini. Pia sehemu kubwa ya gesi iliyogunduliwa hapa nchini ipo katika Mkoa wa Lindi ingawa wengi wetu hudhani kwamba ipo Mkoa wa Mtwara. Lakini Lindi na Mtwara sawa tu. Mtwara ina kilometa za mraba 16,000 (chini ya eneo la Lindi lililopo Selous). Tufanye Lindi na Mtwara kwa pamoja ndiyo Sri Lanka ya Tanzania. Tunaweza kujenga uchumi wa dola za Marekani bilioni 60 kwa Lindi na Mtwara? Tunaweza kufanya mikoa hii iwe na kiwango cha umasikini chini ya asilimia tatu ya wananchi wake? Tunaweza kuingiza watalii 800,000 kwa mwaka kwa mikoa hii tu? Tunaweza kuuza nje korosho yenye thamani ya dola za Marekani angalau milioni 600? Tunaweza kutumia sehemu ya mapato yatokanayo na gesi asili kujenga miundombinu ya barabara, umeme, reli na maji kwenye wilaya zote za hii Sri Lanka yetu? Tunaweza kuwekeza kwenye elimu kuhakikisha kila mtoto anapata elimu bora? Tunaweza kuhakikisha kuwa asilimia 97 ya wakazi hii Sri Lanka yetu wanapata huduma za afya?
Majibu ya maswali yote haya ni NDIO. Utashi. Utayari. Uthubutu. Hebu tuthubutu kuiweka Sri Lanka Tanzania. Lindi na Mtwara ni zaidi ya Sri Lanka. Nikipata fursa ya kuandika tena nitaandika kuhusu uwekezaji kwenye elimu nchini Sri Lanka na kwamba haki ya kupata elimu mpaka Chuo Kikuu ni haki ya kikatiba yenye kuweza kudaiwa mahakamani.
Mwandishi wa makala haya Kabwe Zitto ni Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Mashirika ya Umma, Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa CHADEMA na Naibu Kiongozi wa Kambi ya Upinzani Bungeni.

THE PRESIDENT OF TANZANIA AND KIGAMBONI LAND

 Posted here on 23/9/2012

Tanzania President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Denies Selling Kigamboni to Bush
2012-09-21 10:20:10.800 GMT


    Sep. 21, 2012 (All Africa Global Media) -- PRESIDENT Jakaya
Kikwete has dismissed rumours that the Kigamboni has been sold
to the United States former president George W Bush.
 
    Laying the foundation stone for construction of the
Kigamboni Bridge in Dar es Salaam , Mr Kikwete called upon the
public to be wary of politicians whose agenda is to spread lies.

 
    He assured Tanzanians that all promises he made during his
campaign and those under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) manifesto
were put in place for particular reasons by experts and that he
will ensure they are fulfilled before he leaves office."I know
there are many lies circulating in the streets, that I have sold
Kigamboni to former US president Bush. The funny thing is --
what will Bush come and do in Kigamboni?" queried President
Kikwete.
 
    Mr Kikwete said a section of opposition party politicians
were not happy with government efforts to turn Kigamboni into a
modern satellite city and had decided to spread lies about the
project. He said the government decided to build a modern
satellite city in Kigamboni as a strategy to build independent
cities outside the city centre complete with all social and
economic infrastructures to reduce congestion at the Dar es
Salaam city centre.

    He said the Kigamboni Satellite city will have the
necessary infrastructure including schools, health centres,
banks and offices, adding that Mabwepande is another area that
the plan will be implemented for now. On fulfilling his
promises, President Kikwete noted that everything in the CCM
manifesto will be implemented, citing construction of ward
secondary schools, the University of Dodoma and construction of
the Kigamboni Bridge as examples.
    "I know this does not please our colleagues. They probably
do not want this bridge to be constructed. In fact, there are
more projects that we promised to do and we are going to deliver
on the promises," he explained. The Minister for Works, Dr John
Magufuli, commended the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for
being in the frontline to contribute towards developmental
projects in the country.
    Dr Magufuli appealed to the president to award NSSF
director Ramadhan Dau for his good work. "It's unfortunate that
you only give awards to those serving in the military, but
ministers and directors doing a good job deserve such awards.
Dau has shown a good example. It would be appropriate to find
something for him," he explained.
    On his part, Mr Dau said the Kigamboni Bridge will cost
214.6bn/-.  It's a suspension bridge with a length of 680
metres. He added that NSSF will cough up 60 per cent of the
total construction costs and the government will contribute the
remaining 40 per cent including compensation for those relocated
to pave way.
    The Director for Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads), Eng.
Patrick Mfugale, said the bridge will have six lanes, three on
each side, and on the Kurasini side, it will be linked to
Mandela expressway through a flyover at Tazara. Eng. Mfugale
said vehicles that will cross the bridge -- expected to be
completed in 2015 -- will be charged a fee. However pedestrians
and cyclists will use it for free.
    The Minister for Labour and Employment, Ms Gaudentia
Kabaka, said that 3,000 direct jobs for youths, will result from
construction of the Kigamboni Bridge.

Copyright Tanzania Daily News. Distributed by AllAfrica Global
Media (allAfrica.com).

-0- Sep/21/2012 10:20 GMT

Thursday, September 20, 2012

TANZANIAN HIGH COURT REJECTS CUSTOMARY INHERITANCE LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL

 Posted here on 21 September, 2012.

Tanzania: Court throws out petition...

Source: By Judica Tarimo, Guardian, 9 September, 2006.
The Guardian - Tanzania
On 8th September 2006, The High Court of Tanzania rejected a petition by human rights activists to declare the customary inheritance law unconstitutional.
A panel of high court judges comprising justices Salum Masati, Augustine Shangwa and Thomas Mihayo, said the court had declined to grant a request by the petitioners, Elizabeth Stephen and Salome Charles, both residents of Shinyanga Region.
The two are widows who claimed to have been denied their rights to inheritance.

Reading the verdict, Justice Thomas Mihayo said, the court admits that the customary inheritance law was flawed and actually discriminates against widows and female children. However, it could no be declared unconstitutional.

”The court declines to grant orders as proposed by the petitioners,” said Justice Thomas Mihayo.

The petitioners had wanted the court to direct the Attorney General to make some necessary amendments on the customary law, pay the cost of denying them their basic and constitutional rights, and finally declare the Customary Law (Declaration Order) N0. 4 of 1963 unconstitutional.

The case was filed by Women Legal Aid Centre (WLAC) on behalf of the petitioners.

On the list of petitioners’ counsel included, Geneviene Kato (lead counsel), Nakazael Lukio Tenga, Julius Ndyanabo, Eugence Mniwasa, Bahame Nyanduga, Alphonce Katemi and Mohamed Tibanyendera. Others are Athanasia Soka, Alex Mgongolwa, Magdalena Rwebangira, Jessie Mngoto, and Maria Kashonda.

The Attonery General was represented by the State Attorney, Mixon Ntimbwa.

Counsel representing the petitioners challenged the constitutionality of the customary laws, saying it denied widows their rights to inherit properties of their deceased husbands, contrary to the country’s Constitution and international human rights conventions.

According to the evidence tendered in court, Sukuma customary laws allowed relatives of the deceased husbands to chase them out of their estates.

The counsel wanted the court to declare the customary laws null and void on the grounds that it discriminated against widows and female children, during the distribution of inheritance property.

The law also offered lions’ shares to boys compared to daughters,in the course of inheritance distribution process .

But justice Mihayo, said there were other remedies through which the affected widows could access their rights, instead of declaring the law unconstitutional.

The court said nullification of the law would create confusion amongst members of different societies because Tanzania has many tribes.

”If the court accepts these proposals, other people from different tribes would file similar cases, challenging their customs,” noted Mihayo.

The court provided options to the petitioners to pursue their cases - submit their proposals to the district councils, which will recommend to the responsible minister to modify a certain customary law.

”If the minister accepts the proposals, he may publish them in the government gazette or make some amendments on the laws to suit public interests,” said Justice Mihayo.

But the petitioners’ counsel said the would appeal. ”We are not satisfied with the ruling; we are going to the Court of Appeal very soon,” said Alex Mgongolwa.

MTOTO APOTEA MIKONONI MWA BALOZI WA TANZANIA

 Imetoka  "NIPASHE"  TANZANIA.

Mtoto apotelea Marekani akiwa mikononi mwa Balozi


17 September 2012

Binti Anneth Joseph Mangawo (25), wa ukoo wa Owenya anayedaiwa kuchukuliwa na Balozi wa sasa wa Tanzania nchini Zambia, Grace Mujuma, amepotea katika mazingira tatanishi wakati balozi huyo akifanya kazi ubalozi wa Tanzania jijini New York, Marekani.

Balozi huyo anadaiwa kumchukua binti huyo kama msichana wa ndani na kwenda naye nchini Marekani mwaka 2004, ambapo kabla alichukuliwa kutoka kata ya Old Moshi Magharibi, ambako alikaa Dar es Salaam, na baadaye nchini Marekani.

Baba mdogo wa binti huyo, Robinson Owenya, akizungumza na NIPASHE Jumapili, anasema kwa kipindi chote waliwahi kuwasiliana na binti huyo mara moja, hadi Balozi huyo alipomaliza muda wake wa kukaa nchini humo wa miaka minne na kurejea Tanzania mwaka 2008, bila binti huyo. 

Taarifa zinadai kuwa, mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2012, Balozi Grace akiwa ameshateuliwa na Rais kuwa Balozi wa Zambia, alikuja kwenye msiba wa baba yake mzazi eneo la Old Moshi, mkoani Kilimanjaro.

“Tulimfuata kumuuliza juu ya mtoto wetu, majibu aliyotupa ni kuwa alikuwa ananyanyasa watoto wake na mama wa Anneth akamuuliza kwa nini hakumpakia kwenye ndege arudi, alidai kuwa alimpeleka shule akajifunze Kiigereza na ndipo akaiba pasi ya kusafiria na vitambulisho na akaondoka,” alisema Owenya.

Alisema walikwenda kwa baba yake mdogo, anayemtaja kwa jina la Fredy Maro, ambapo waliondoka pamoja na kwenda kwa kaka yake, Dk. Prosper Maro, ambaye alimtetea dada yake na kueleza kwamba wakifuatilia kisheria, binti yao atakamatwa nchini humo na kupelekwa gerezani na hatarudi hadi baada ya kifungo.
“Nilimweleza ninachotaka ni binti yetu apatikane akiwa hai, kama ambavyo alichukuliwa, hatuna mkataba na Mungu,” alisema.

Aliongeza, “alinipa namba za simu za Balozi Grace, ili mama wa Anneth aweze kupata fedha kidogo, nilikataa na kumueleza shida si fedha bali mtoto wetu, akasema hana la kunisaidia.”

Alisema haiingii akilini kuwa mhusika (Grace Fanuel Maro ambaye kwa sasa anaitwa Grace Mujuma), anajenga hoja ya kumhusisha binti huyo na unyanyasaji wa watoto kwenye nchi ya kigeni.

Alisema alitoa taarifa polisi mkoani Kilimanjaro, na kufungua kesi namba KR/CID/PE/03/2012 Januari 16, mwaka huu, ambapo walimtuma kwenda kuichunguza nyumba ambayo inaelezwa Balozi Grace alikuwepo, eneo la Shanty Town, na kuwapa taarifa polisi.

Alisema polisi waliambatana naye hadi eneo hilo, lakini hawakufanikiwa kumkuta kwani muda mfupi alikuwa ameshaondoka kurudi Dar es Salaam.

Alisema waliacha maagizo kwa mama yake (Grace) afike kituo cha polisi na kuandika maelezo ambapo alifanya hivyo na kuweka namba za simu za mwanaye.
“Nilikaa kwa muda, askari mmoja akatumwa Dar es Salaam kufuatilia, ambapo alikuta Grace ameshaapishwa kuwa Balozi wa Tanzania nchini Zambia na wakati anamchukua binti yetu alikuwa Afisa wa Ubalozi,” alisema.

Hivyo, alisema askari polisi hawana uwezo wa kumkamata kwa kuwa anakinga ya kibalozi na
kibali cha kumkamata kinatoka kwa Rais,” alisema.

Alisema alikwenda kwenye kituo cha msaada wa sheria na haki za binadamu jijini Dar es Salaam, ambao waliahidi kumsaidia ikiwa ni pamoja na kutoa kwenye vyombo vya habari lakini hatua hiyo haijafanyika.

“Nimeamua kuyasema haya nikijua kwamba hakuna mwenye mkataba na Mungu, nimefanya hivi ili ifahamike,” alisema.

“Ninamuomba Rais Jakaya Kikwete kuingilia kati suala hili, kwani aliyechukua binti yetu ni Balozi wake na kumekuwa na ubabaishaji mkubwa, familia yetu ni Maskini…”
“Mama yake hajiwezi lakini tunachangishana kupata fedha za kufuatilia suala hili, hatujui tulie msiba au tufanye nini, kama alikufa tungeona hata mwili wake au kujulishwa,” alisema.

Mama mzazi wa Anneth, Judica Owenya, alisema dada yake, Edora Maro, (ambaye ameolewa na baba mkubwa wa Grace), alikwenda
nyumbani kwake na kumuomba binti huyo kwa ajili ya kwenda kufanya kazi.

Akizungumza huku akilia, alisema mwanaye huyo ni uzao wake wa saba, na kwamba anajisikia vibaya kwani hajui kama yupo hai au la,
Hivyo kuiomba serikali kumsaidia kumtafuta mwanaye ambaye hata kwenye msiba wa baba yake mzazi hakufika.

Aidha, kwa mujibu wa barua ya Machi 16, mwaka huu, kutoka kwa kampuni ya uwakili ya Rex Attorneys, yenye kumbukumbu namba REX/GMM/171/12 ambao ni mawakili wa Balozi Grace, akijibu barua ya Kituo cha Sheria na Haki za Binadamu (LHRC).
Barua ya LHRC yenye kumbukumbu LHRC/LAC.VOL.XVII/9 ya Februari 27, mwaka huu, ambapo Grace alithibitisha kumchukua binti huyo na kwenda naye Marekani kwa ajili ya kufanya kazi za ndani nyumbani kwake.

Alisema baada ya kufika alifanya kazi kwa mwaka mmoja, ambapo mnamo Desemba 2, 2005, alitoroka baada ya kuchukua hati yake ya kusafiria na vitambulisho vyake vingine, ambapo alitoa taarifakwa polisi wa nchini Marekani (New York Police Department), ambao walisema kwa mujibu wa sheria za Marekani kwa kuwa binti huyo ana umri wa mtu mzima hawana la kufanya bali wanahisi kuwa amepata mpenzi na kwenda kukaa naye.

Alisema pia alitoa taarifa za tukio hilo kwa mjomba wake, ambaye kwa sasa ni marehemu, ambapo baada ya miezi nane kupita tangu kupotea kwake alitoa taarifa kwa vyombo husika kufuta visa yake, ambapo Januari, mwaka 2012 kwa barua ya kumbukumbu namba CID/HQ/PE/16/ 2012 alitoa taarifa kwa Kitengo cha Polisi wa Kimataifa (Interpol) na mnamo Januari 13, mwaka huu, aliieleza familia ya Anneth.

Hata hivyo, Owenya alisema mnamo Julai 14, mwaka huu, aliitwa jijini Dar es Salaam na kukutanishwa na Grace akiwa na mawakili wake wawili, ambapo baada ya mazungumzo ambayo mengine yalikuwa na utata kutokana na muda mwingi walitumia lugha ya kiingireza asiyoifahamu.

Alisema walimshinikiza kuandika barua Interpol kuomba wamsaidie kumtafuta binti yake, lakini alikataa na kueleza kuwa anayemdai ni Grace kwa kuwa ndiye aliyemchukua kijijini na hata walipomuuliza aliwajibu jeuri mara baada ya kukutana kwenye msiba wa baba yake na endapo wasingeuliza asingewajulisha.

Alisema Agosti 15, mwaka huu, alitumiwa kwa njia ya mtandao makubaliano yenye maelezo ya malalamiko yake na sahihi ya Grace na wakili wake, ikiwa na makubaliano yaliyosomeka na kutakiwa kuyasoma na
kuridhika nayo na kisha kuweka sahihi.

“Grace Mujuma ambaye alikwishatoa taarifa Interpol aendelee kufuatilia kupata taarifa zitakazowezesha kupatikana kwa Anneth na ashirikiane na kitengo hicho kumtafuta na kumrudisha kwa wazazi wake mapema iwezekanavyo mara baada ya kupatikana kwake,”alisema.

Alisema anaiomba serikali kulifanyia kazi suala hilo kwani linatia utata na hakuna hatua zinazochukuliwa ili hali muhusika ni mtu mwenye kinga ya kushtakiwa na wenye mtoto ni watu wanyonge wasio na uwezo wa kifedha.

Jitihada za kuwasiliana na Grace kupitia simu za ofisi ya ubalozi wa Tanzania nchini Zambia, hazikufanikiwa kutokana na kuita mara kadhaa pasipo kupokewa.

Chanzo: Gazeti la Nipashe