Is lack of democracy root of all evil? Mlala hoi wondering

In a country were there is “democracy”, what would jeopardize its existence? I wonder.

How do we determine democracy? How do we measure it? Is it by the number of newspapers in the country? Or is it by the number of political parties and independent radio and television stations?

Lets look at Tanzania were probably 60% of the elite in the country have gone to school together, worked together or maybe even do business together. How does one constructively criticize each other without always thinking “this is a friend” or “someone I know”: You probably have attended his parties, you are intermarried and call each others “shemeji”, so kwa hivyo mnaheshimiana (criticisms could be regarded as kuvunjiana heshima if there is a difference of age (wazee na vijana), socio-political status, education and probably vyeo) and most probably differences have been solved without any major incidents.
Usually decisions are reached before the majority has had a chance to express their opinion.

In a democratic process if the participation of a few elitist is the only thing that counts, then what measure of democracy is there? Are the ideas of majority really represented or is it what the elite wants and in turn feed it to the journalists and pr-consultants? Why worry, the person that would write about you is sitting right beside you eating your food and taking your money how could he remain objective in his or her view of any given problem involving the elite’s issues?

It is said the intellectual and the intelligentsia often move in flocks and it is important for them to belong to the leading flock so as to have their status confirmed. They meet in special clubs, restaurants, create forums and journals, and feed each others with free food, and “posho”. When do these creative, intellectual, economical independent or professional elites directly communicate with wananchi?

How is the opinion of wananchi (majority) brought into the open by the few who have control or have easy access to most opinion creating outlet? I once wrote praising the founders of Tanzanet “…. for the creation and enhancement of another democratic paraphernalia and for its advancement and enrichment of Tanzanians"I meant every word that I wrote. Many issues have been discussed on this forum and contributions have been stupendous unfortunately access to this forum has been of those that easily can access a computer and come on line and are in a mailing list. Contributions that have come into view are those of the intellectual elite, and one or two walala hoi but what of others that have thoughts but aren’t heard or can’t be seen? Has anyone considered what they want? Or have those that meet and discuss have only represented their issues and their sense of the world? There are certain ethical questions that should be asked.

Are the professional, cultural , political, religious, intellectual elite a danger to democracy?

watanzania tuelimishane: ndio njia moja ya maendeleo!

Kama kweli tunataka maendeleo ya nchi na wananchi basi lazima tuipe serikali fulsa ya kufanya kazi yake. Tujaribu kutoa ushauri au mapendekezo ya jinsi maswala ya maendelo yata sululishwa. Kazi hii sio rahisi kwa serkali yeyote leo ni CCM kesho labda ni CHADEMA au chama kingine chochote na yvama vyote hivi vitakutana na matatizo tofauti megine mapya na magine ya kurithi.

Sasa ni mfumo gani upinzania utachukua? Matatizo ya Tanzania sio ni kwa sababu tu ya viongozi fulani fulani kuto kuangali nyuma au kwenye kio cha kuangalia nyuma wakati wanaendesha, au kula bila ya kuona haya, ni pia yanasababisha na hali ya kiuchumi duniani (bei za mafuta nk, garama za usafirishaji etc), ukosefu wa washauri ambao wanaweza kuona mbali, kwa upeo na upana au picha halisi.

Matatizo pia ni kwamba Tanzania inashindwa kushinda katika soko la dunia kwa sababu infrastructure yetu bado hafifu na pia bado tunatumia teknoligia ya zamani na bado ni wachanga katika kuweza kujiuza na kijupromote nje, elimu, umme, korruption, ujuzi wa masoko ya nje na jinsi wenzetu wanavyo fanya biashara, etc etc.

Maswala ni mengi na yote haya yanachangia katika kutokutesheleza haja za watu hasa wenzetu wa hali ambayo sio nzuri. Kuto kuweza kuwa na msimamo na plani au strategia katika maswala kwenye bodi kama WTO. Haya yote yanachangia. Sasa kama kunaupinzani unaopenda maendeleo ni kuanza kuangalia maswala kama haya na kuweka wazi pamoja ya kupiga darubini serkali inafanya nini. Badala ya kuweka vikwazo ni vizuri kushirikiana katika matatizo kwani kila siku inayo pita Tanzania tunaptoteza fedha na umasikini kuzidi na wenje uwezo wa kujisaidia kwamanufaa yao wenyewe serikalini kuendelea.

Tusisahau kwamba kuna success stories nyingi Tanzania hizi lazima zipewe mwanga zaidi. Watanzania lazima tuelimishane kwamba maendeleo yanaletwa pia nakujitegemea wewe binafsi lakini kuwepo na njia ya kuweka hivyo vyombo vya umma ambavyo vitamsaidia mtu wa kawaida kujiwezesha kujitegemea.

Mie kwa kusema ukweli naona serikali inajitahidi sana, na uongozo unajitahidi. Sie tukiwa tunakosoa tu kwajili ya kukosoa bila ya kuleta majibu ya jinsi ya kutatua matatizo basi hatufiki mbali. Ni rahisi kua mpinzani. Tafuteni solution mlio soma, wakilisheni Tanzania katika mabodi tofauti na pia badilisheni picha ya nchi huko mlipo. Tusaidieni sie walalahoi.

www.tanzanet.org “. for the creation and enhancement of another democratic paraphernalia and for its advancement and enrichment of Tanzanians"

The founders of Tanzanet.org have provided us with a base that could be used in a very constructive manner. We need to award such initiative. Here is a place where Tanzanians from all walks of life can meet and discuss and probably resolve most common issues.

This is not a unique platform but it has a unique function and that is to be more resourceful to decision making and implementation. To act as a ball plank and a place where free discussion and free speech (with respect to others), free indiscriminately intellectual discussion and democratic principals rule.

My belief in democracy and free exchange of positive ideas, and free mind has been rekindled. There is great hope for Tanzania and it is people like you (founders) who have provided us with this solid foundation that will contribute greatly to “ …….the economic, scientific and educational advancement of The United Republic of Tanzania and its people.".

You deserve recognition “…. for the creation and enhancement of another democratic paraphernalia and for its advancement and enrichment of Tanzanians and all those seeking for certainty and enlightenment” My brothers: you and your peers that are now working tirelessly deserve a national award.

Hongera, Dr. Primus Mtenga na Dr. Mohamed Kaseko, and of course not forgetting Marion Kessy, Conrad Shayo, Jules Damji, Mohamed Makame, William Mbwambo, Mrawira Massawe, Selina Mushi, Dr A. M'Koma and many more who have contributed like members of the “Diwani ya Tanzanet” or “Advisory board/Council of Tanzanet” : Mwamedi Semboja (Mhariri), Leonce Rushubirwa (Mhariri), Yusuf Kalala (mhariri), Hassan Adam (Mhariri), Joel Felix (Ufundi), Mwamoyo Hamza (Mhariri) Aziz P. Mlima, Edwin Elineema (Ufundi), Primus Nkwera (Mshauri), Thabit Tambwe (Mhariri), Richard Madete (Mhariri-Ufundi), Balla Maselle ( Mhariri)

Not forgeting those that keep the flame burning and flag flying..Mr. Salim A. Khatri, Pendo Mwaiteleke, Mr. Michael J. Mwasekaga, Mr. Razack Bakary Msuya Lokina, Mr. Ken Mazara, Mr. Mervyn Lobo, George Lugomela, Uli Kyusa, Mr. Mohammed Jabry
And all previous and current leaders !!
And last but not least the list managers!!
Chris Mwasambili, Henry Mgaya, Richard Madete & Edwin Elineema
Hongera my friends you are our past, present and future!

Is this fair?

Is this fair? I know you might say that this really is not our problem and that one can not solve all the problems of the world. I say b-s-t because where there’s a will there’s a way.

This woman with her lovely child crushes stones for a living, a society imposed punishment, why because somewhere someone along the line has messed up, some somewhere along the food chain are gratifying themselves at the cost of this young woman with here child.

This is the result of what happeneds when you forget to look behind your rear-view mirror. What is their sin? They have never had a voice, no one has been out there for them, they never complain they trust and believe that in time things will be ok, in time her son will go to school, get a good education and help. She does not know that that chance has been taken away from her child because someone somewhere has diverge her lot to their own personal gains. What legacy are we leaving behind? What are we saying to this family, do onto others what is done to you and not do onto others what you want others to do onto you!

Who is responsible? We all are, you and I. So long as we stand by the sidelines and do nothing we are part and parcel of this dehumanisation process. It is painstakingly obvious that we create the future we deserve.

I read the Tanzanets mission statement which says:

"TANZANET is an organization of regionally and globally separated people, organized through electronic media. The TANZANET organization shall act as a platform for communication, discussion, social, advertising and other undertakings for the economic, scientific and educational advancement of The United Republic of Tanzania and its people."

We are on the right track, let us live up to this mission, let us support all initiatives taken to this end, let us be the guiding light and the beacon to outstanding morality, ethics, reliability, trustworthiness, honesty and compassion lets us be there for this woman and her child.

I say again I applaud the initiative by our government to eradicate corruption and fight ineffectiveness.


Warm Regards
Tengo


Text to the picture "Little Mary Pazi sits near her mother Lilian Pazi at Mbweni Mianzini quarry in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Lilian Pazi crushes stones at the quarry for a living. (Photo: Tryphone Mweji) "

Declaration of Love " You gave me life, you fed and nutured me asking nothing in return"

It is about time we understood that this lady really loves us, she has sacrificed a lot to give us existence. It is distressing to see that some us cannot perceive the magnitude of that gift.

Self-interest is rampart among some of the fortunate failing to remember the source of their welfare. The tendency of turning ones back on the less fortunate: who have given support throughout, is so apparent that one accepts it as a way of life.

The less fortunates worth rest in as much as they can give, once that has been exploited and there is nothing more but an empty shell they become expendable. There is no fairness because there has never been a need to speak up during the naturing process, the people that should have spoken up have become egoistic.

I can´t be happy as long as my nearest and closest live in poverty, how can I take pleasure in the life I have aquired when 50 meters away or those that gave me life are living in misery and dejection brought about by poverty?

I applause the initiativ our government has taken in fighting corruption and ineffectiveness in Tanzania because this takes the sap out of the honest efforts of some who could and would have made a difference.

There are many working tirelessly, selflessly trying to make a difference but their efforts are overshadowed by those who have put into system a process of self-gratification at the costs of those less fortunate. They settle for substandards so long as they move up, they tear down institutions so long as they personally benefit from it.

How can we lift standards if the core is rotten? How can we justify decisions if they are based on inequality and how can we become role models if what we do isn´t what we preach and vice versa.

You gave me life and love, you nurtured me, you made it possible for me to go to school. There is so much good you gave. I want to return the favour. I also want to tell you that I love you, I always have. My Tanzania.

My Tanzanite! "for the love of Tanzania"

I see Tanzania as a Tanzanite and its people as Tanzanitians living in Bongoland. A country of beautiful people found no where else except Tanzania. This is how Tanzanite is described in a glossary

"A variety of zoisite named after its country of origin, Tanzania, where it was first discovered in 1967 and is still the only place where it can be found. Tanzanite is popular for its brilliance and is known for its varying shades of violet; from deep rich purple to lilac. The gem can be heated to achieve the most sought after shade, a vibrant blue violet....."

Another source illustrate Tanzanite as "....a very special and unique gemstone. World-wide it occurs only in one specific location. Its blue colour which shimmers in a slightly purplish hue is magnificent indeed. Because of its unusually attractive flair it was easy for New York Jeweller Tiffany’s to make it one of the most sought-after and popular gemstones in the world....." That is how I vision my Tanzania and Tanzanians a mosaic of colour, natural beauty and warmth.

Once you land in Tanzania you just love it. The source goes on to describe Tanzanite's physical atributes " ... Spectacular and magnificent is the deep blue of Tanzanite, ranging from ultramarine to a light purplish blue. The most coveted colour is a blue which shows a purplish hue shimmering around it, which is extremely spectacular in sizes above ten carats. Typical for Tanzanite is the appearance of several colours in one and the same stone: depending on the perspective, the stone appears blue, purple, or dun yellow. Most rough crystals, however, show a disturbingly large proportion of brownish-yellow,..."

Thats how I view Tanzania's spiritual qualities. You experience a wonderful multiple sense of well being that you have never felt before.

bongozite "lets promote Tanzania"

“Lets promote Tanzania” is the theme. I want to use every opportunity, all my strength, with every breath and with all the senses of my body to promote Tanzania. I believe all Tanzanians that live outside their beloved country are goodwill ambassadors. There is no place like home and what a home we have.

Tanzania needs us, and we need it too. I realize this the older I get.
Despite the fact that I have spent almost all of my teenage and adult life outside Tanzania but there is something about her that pulls me. I am drawn to it like a moth to a candlelight (hopefully without getting burned).

We are lucky that we have a language that unifies us in a very special way. Every Tanzanian speaks Swahili and there we have a platform to resolve all our conflicts. With a singel language we build common institution and interface that benefits us all.

Culture differences are amplified not as a means to separate us but as a way of appreciating and loving the difference and the beauty of it all. We understand these differences because they are seen and accepted on a common platform. Music in swahili but sung from the different cultural approaches and what a mosaic interweaving of magic and colour. That is Tanzania for you.

Let us cherish what we have. Lets us continue building on this loving home and care for our neighbours, lets not pay back kindess with malice or spite let us be the beacon of how people could live in peace and harmony. Let us lessen the load of those that have much less by contributing to the growth and welfare of fellow Tanzanians by promoting our country and investing in it. Let development and wealth creation be by us together.