Monday, 30 September 2013


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NEWS ALERT
Tanzania suspends two leading newspapers
Nairobi, September 30, 2013-The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a decision by Tanzanian authorities to suspend two leading private Swahili dailies on accusations of sedition. The government issued a statement on Fridaysuspending Mwananchi and MTanzania for 14 and 90 days respectively.

Tanzanian authorities often rely on an arsenal of anti-media laws such as the 1976 Newspaper Act that allows the Information Ministry wide discretionary powers to ban publications, according to CPJ research. 

"The government could have taken their grievances against Mwananchi and MTanzania to the Media Council of Tanzania, an ombudsman, rather than summarily suspending the publications," said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes. "We call on authorities to allow the papers to resume publication and to reform the laws that allow these suspensions, which are not in line with international standards of press freedom."

The statement said that Mwananchi's suspension was in connection with a story published on July 17, called "New Government Salary Scheme 2013," which was allegedly based on a classified document. Mwananchi Managing Editor Tido Mhando said the paper had published the article to inform the public, according to news reports.

Bakari Machumu, communications executive editor for Mwananchi, the company that publishes the paper, told CPJ that the paper had received and replied to two letters from the government on August 1 and August 22. On September 5, police summoned Mhando for questioning. Five days later, police also questioned Machumu.

The statement said that the Information Ministry had also taken offense to a second story, published on August 17, called "Muslims Pray Under Heavy Security," which was accompanied by a picture of a police dog. Authorities said the photograph implied that "the police had taken dogs to Islamic places of worship. This was not true."

Tanzanian authorities also banned MTanzania, part of the New Habari Publishers company, in connection with articles that alleged police involvement in attacks against citizens and suggested government incompetency in contending with terrorist threats, the statement said. The statement pointed out three articles: "The Bloody Presidency," published on March 20; "Revolution Cannot Be Avoided," published on June 12; and "The Government Stinks of Blood," published on September 18.

The statement said the paper had been warned on multiple occasions to stop publishing "inflammatory content." The paper's managing editor, Absalom Kibanda, said in an interviewwith Cloud FM that New Habari had not been given the opportunity for a hearing to defend the paper before the closure.

New Habari Managing Director, Hussein Bashe, said on Twitter that Mtanzania'sweekly sister paper, Rai, will be published as a daily during the suspension.

Assah Mwambene, Director of Information who wrote the statement, did not immediately respond to CPJ's calls and messages for comment.

In July 2012, authorities banned the critical weekly Mwanahalisi for a series of articles that accused the government of involvement in a brutal attack against a leader of doctor's strikes in the country, Managing Editor Saed Kubenea said.

·      For more data and analysis, visit CPJ's special report on Tanzania, "The Invisible Plight of the Tanzanian Press."


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CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.
Contact:
Sue Valentine
Africa Program Coordinator
svalentine@cpj.org
Mohamed Keita
Africa Advocacy Coordinator
Tel. +1.212.465.1004 ext. 117
Email: mkeita@cpj.org
Tom Rhodes
East Africa Consultant
Email: trhodes@cpj.org
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Wednesday, 25 September 2013

NIANZE makala hii kwa kutoa salamu zangu za rambirambi na pole kwa ndugu zetu wa Kenya kutokana na shambulio la kigaidi lililotokea mwishoni mwa wiki jijini Nairobi. Kikundi cha kigaidi cha Al-Shabaab kimekiri hadharani kuwa ndicho kilichofanywa shambulio hilo la kinyama.
Hadi wakati ninaandika makala hii, idadi ya waliouwa katika shambulio hilo inakadiriwa kuwa zaidi ya watu 60, wengi wakiwa Wakenya na baadhi raia wa nchi nyingine kama Uingereza, Marekani na Ghana.
Wakati tunaungana na wenzetu wa Kenya katika kipindi hiki kigumu, ni vema kuliangalia kwa undani tishio la ugaidi duniani, na hususan huko nyumbani ambapo siku za hivi karibuni neno ‘ugaidi’ limeanza kutumika kama mtaji wa kisiasa.
Pengine kabla ya kwenda mbele pengine ni muhimu kufahamu ugaidi ni nini. Kuna kutoatifikiana kuhusu maana halisi ya ugaidi, hasa linapokuja suala la mtizamo kati ya wahusika na wahanga. Mfano mwepesi ni hali ilivyokuwa katika zama za mfumo wa ubaguzi wa rangi huko Afrika Kusini. Kwa makaburu, wanaharakati kama Nelson Mandela waliitwa magaidi, japo sote tunafahamu kuwa walikuwa wapigania uhuru.
Lakini tukiweka kando kutokuafikiana huko, kimsingi ugaidi ni matumizi ya nguvu au vitisho kwa minajili ya kushinikiza serikali au taasisi za serikali za kimataifa (kwa mfano Umoja wa Mataifa) au umma au sehemu ya jamii ili kufikia malengo ya kisiasa, kidini, kiitikadi au asili ya mtu (racial causes).
Pasi kuingia ndani kwenye mjadala kuhusu maana ya ugaidi, ukweli unabaki kuwa ugaidi ni tishio kubwa kwa usalama. Na kama ilivyo vigumu kupata maana sahihi ya ugaidi, ndivyo ambavyo ilivyo kwa kubaini  vyanzo na ufumbuzi wa ugaidi.
Kuna msemo mmoja kuwa “wakati gaidi anahitaji japo sekunde moja tu kutimiza unyama wake, taasisi za dola zinahitaji kila sekunde kumzuia gaidi asifanikiwe kutimiza malengo yake.” Kwa lugha nyingine, kupambana na ugaidi kunahitaji vyombo vya dola kuwa macho muda wote. Taasisi za dola zinahitaji kuzuwia kila fursa ya kutokea kwa ugaidi, ilhali gaidi anahitaji fursa moja kutimiza malengo yake.
Sote tunatambua kuwa si jambo jema kutumia majanga ili kupata fursa ya kunyoosheana vidole. Hata hivyo, wakati mwingine majanga hutupa fursa nzuri ya kuchukua tahadhari stahili ili, aidha yasitokee tena, au kama yametokea kwa wenzetu, kuyazuia yasitokee kwetu.
Huu ni ukweli usiopendeza lakini hauepukiki: kilichotokea nchini Kenya kimekwishawahi kutokea huko nyuma (katika shambulizi la kigaidi dhidi ya ubalozi wa Marekani jijini Dar es Salaam, Agosti 2008), kinaendelea kutokea japo si kwa kiwango cha kutisha kama ilivyotokea kwa jirani zetu (hapa narejea mashambulizi ya kutumia tindikali na risasi dhidi ya Mapadre huko Zanzibar na  shambulizi la bomu kanisani huko Arusha), na-japo naomba Mungu aepushie - kitaendelea kutokea hasa kwa vile tuliowakabidhi jukumu la kupambana na ugaidi ni kama wameshindwa kazi.
Nimekuwa nikitahadharisha mara kadhaa huko nyuma kuhusu uwezekano wa kurejewa kwa matukio mengine ya ugaidi, na kwa bahati mbaya hali imekuwa hivyo. Lakini kwa makusudi, hadi sasa hakuna japo mtu mmoja aliyewahi kuwajibishwa kwa kuzembea au kutotimiza majukumu ipasavyo kuzuwia matukio hayo ya kigaidi.
Ugaidi una tabia ‘mbaya’ kama majipu. Jipu likitokea sehemu flani kisha lisipotibiwa ipasavyo, laweza kujitokeza sehemu nyingine ya mwili. Kwa ugaidi ni hivyo hivyo, na tumeshuhudia yaliyojiri Zanzibar dhidi ya Kanisa Katoliki yakirejea tena huko Arusha.
Ninatamani nisingeandika haya, lakini kilichotokea Kenya kinaweza kuhamasisha ‘magaidi halisi’ tulionao, ambao wamekuwa ‘huru’ kufanya watakavyo (japo si kwa kiwango kikubwa kama Kenya) kunakili tukio hilo la kinyama na kulitenda huko nyumbani.
Natambua kuna watakaoniona kama ‘nabii wa kiama’ (prophet of doom) lakini kuuchukia ukweli hakuufanyi uwe uongo. Udhaifu wa taasisi zetu za usalama, sambamba na uzembe wa watawala wetu kupambana na kukua kwa tishio la ugaidi huko nyumbani kunaweza kuzua majanga makubwa zaidi huko mbeleni.
Kama ‘maana ya jumla’ (general definition) ya ugaidi ilivyoeleza hapo juu, kwa kiasi kikubwa ugaidi hulenga kupambana na serikali kwa namna ya kuifarakanisha na wananchi. Hapa nina maana kuwa pindi magaidi wakifanya shambulio, moja ya matarajio yao ni wananchi kuitupia lawama serikali na taasisi zake, hususan vyombo vya dola, aidha kwa kushindwa kuzuia shambulio husika au kwa kukaidi kusikia matakwa ya magaidi hao.
Mfano mzuri ni katika tukio hili la majuzi la ugaidi nchini Kenya. Kwa mujibu wa kikundi cha Al-Shabaab, ‘ugomvi’ wao na serikali ya Kenya ni kuhusu uwepo wa majeshi ya nchi hiyo huko Somalia. Kikundi hicho cha magaidi kinataka Kenya iondoe majeshi yake Somalia. Sasa magaidi hao wanadhani kuwa shambulio hili la majuzi linaweza kusababisha baadhi ya Wakenya kuhoji umuhimu wa majeshi yao kuwepo huko.
Lakini kwa kiasi kikubwa, Al-Shabaab hawajafanikiwa katika azma yao hiyo ya kidhalimu. Shambulio hilo la kigaidi limewaunganisha mno Wakenya kuliko kuwatenganisha, na kuna uwezekano mkubwa wananchi wataelewa kwa nini ni muhimu kwa majeshi yao kuwadhibiti Al-Shabaab huko Somalia badala ya kudai majeshi hayo yaondoke huko.
Sasa tukiangalia hali ilivyo huko nyumbani (Tanzania) vyombo vya dola kama Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa ni kama vile imeshindwa kupambana na ugaidi huko Zanzibar na Arusha, sambamba na uharamia wa biashara ya dawa za kulevya, utoroshwaji wa rasilimali zetu, na ufisadi kwa ujumla, kwa nini basi tusihofie kuwa taasisi hiyo inaweza kuwa na wakati mgumu kuzuia uwezekano wa ugaidi mkubwa kama uliotokea huko Kenya?
Ninatambua kuna watakaotafsiri tofauti ukweli huu mchungu na kuniona kama ‘nabii wa kiama’ (prophet of doom), lakini ninachoweza kuwaeleza ni kuwa kuuchukia ukweli hakuufanyi uwe uongo. Na ukweli ninaobainisha hapa ni udhaifu wa taasisi zetu za dola kupambana na uhalifu ‘wa wastani’ ulio ndani ya uwezo wao wa kuudhibiti. Sasa kama wanashindwa kudhibiti vilivyo ndani ya uwezo wao watawezaje kudhibiti majanga ya ugaidi mkubwa ambao kimsingi ni kama upo nje ya uwezo wa kawaida wa taasisi zozote zile za dola?
Badala ya kupambana na maharamia wanaojaribu kuufanya ugaidi uwe jambo la kawaida kama ufisadi (kwa mfano mashambulizi ya tindikali), taasisi zetu za dola zipo ‘bize’ na porojo za akina Mwigulu Nchemba kuutumia ugaidi kama turufu ya kisiasa dhidi ya wapinzani wao, hususan CHADEMA. Tumeshuhudia kesi zenye shaka dhidi ya akina Lwakatare na Kileo wa CHADEMA ilhali mashambulizi ya tindikali yakiendelea kutokea pasi kudhibitiwa.
Adui mkubwa dhidi ya ufanisi wa taasisi zetu za dola ni kutanguliza mbele maslahi ya itikadi za kisiasa (kukitumikia chama tawala) badala ya maslahi ya taifa. Mashushushu wetu wapo ‘bize’ kuwadhibiti wapinzani badala ya magaidi wanaochipukia ambao wakiachwa waendelee na unyama wao wanaweza kutuletea balaa kama hilo la Kenya.
Mwisho, wakati tunaendelea kuwafariji ndugu zetu wa Kenya kwa janga lililowakumba, ningependa kutoa wito kwa serikali na taasisi za dola kutambua kuwa mapungufu yao katika kupambana na matukio ya ugaidi ‘ wa wastani’ huko nyumbani yanaweza kuhamasisha magaidi wa ndani na/au nje kutumia fursa hiyo kufanya mashambulizi makubwa ya kigaidi.
Pamoja na kumwomba Mungu aepushie, na licha ya kutamani nisingeandika maneno haya, ‘hisia yangu ya sita (6th sense) inanipa hofu kuwa pasipo jitihada za makusudi, muda si mrefu tutashuhudia janga kama hilo lililotokea nchini Kenya. Kwa tunaofahamu uimara na ujasiri wa taasisi za usalama nchini Kenya, sambamba na uelewa kuwa magaidi kama wa Al-Shabaab walikuwa wanaiwinda nchi hiyo, lakini bado ikashindikana kuzuia janga hili la majuzi, jambo pekee linaloweza kutuepusha na janga hilo ni kudra za Mwenyezi Mungu (kwa sababu kelele zetu za kuwataka watawala wetu ‘waamke’ na kuakabiliana na ugaidi zimegonga mwamba). Tusipoziba ufa tutajenga ukuta.

- See more at: http://raiamwema.co.tz/magaidi-wanahitaji-sekunde-dola-inahitaji-kila-sekunde#sthash.QaGTY6nR.dpuf



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Picha kwa hisani ya MILLARD AYO


Monday, 23 September 2013

H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta,
President of the Republic of Kenya,
NAIROBI.

I have received with shock and anger the devastating news of tragic terrorist attack at the Westgate Shopping Centre in Westlands, Nairobi, on 21stSeptember, 2013 and claimed 59 innocent lives, more than 175 injured and many more in traumatic condition.

During this time of grief, I wish, on behalf of the Government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania and indeed on my own behalf, to convey our deepest condolences to you and through you to the Government and People of the Republic of Kenya as well as bereave families who have been robbed of their loved ones by this heinous attack. I also send our prayer and sympathy for the speed recovery, comfort, courage and consolation of all those affected by this horrendous attack.

This attack not only aimed at bringing fear and hatred among Kenyans, but also to deviate the Government of Kenya from fulfilling its international obligation to support peace processes on the continent. In this respect, this cowardly and senseless attack on innocent people must be condemned by all peace loving people in no an uncertain terms.

We are convinced that under your able leadership, the Government of Kenya will leave no stone unturned and bring the perpetrators to justice as it has been done before. The Government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania stand together with the people of Kenya during this trying moment. My Government pledge our unreserved support to the Kenyan Government in working together to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms.
Please accept, Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.


Jakay Mrisho Kikwete
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA




Sunday, 22 September 2013

Fleeing: A child runs to safety across the shopping mall following the deadly attack in Nairobi, Kenya

Terror: Armed police guide a woman carrying a child to safety at Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi

Nadhani utakuwa umemuona huyu jamaa (kushoto) kwenye picha za TV zinazoeleza kilichotokea na kinachoendelea katika tukio la kigaidi kwenye Mall ya Westgate , jijini Nairobi nchini Kenya. Kwa hakika ninamuona kama mmoja wa mashujaa wakubwa katika harakati za kukabiliana na magaidi na kuokoa maisha ya wahanga wa tukio hilo.Sina hakika kama ni polisi au shushushu lakini picha mbalimbali zinazomwonyesha, zinathibitisha kuwa ni mmoja wa mashujaa wanaoweza kuingia kwenye kumbukumbu za muda mrefu kuhusu tukio hili la kusikitisha. Anaglia baadhi ya picha zinazomhusu.



Kenya Westgate siege

Helping out: British High Commissioner to Kenya, Christian Turner (left) lies on a bed after donating blood, following the overwhelming numbers of casualties from the shooting

Balozi wa Uingereza nchini Kenya, Christian Turner, alikuwa miongoni mwa waliojitolea damu kuokoa maisha ya majeruhi wa tukio hilo. Huu ni mfano wa kuigwa.

BOTTOM LINE IS, tuna mengi ya kujifunza kutoka kwa wenzetu Wakenya na katika tukio hili kwa ujumla.

Saturday, 21 September 2013


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