UZALENDO HAUONYESHWI KWA KUCHANGIA SHEREHE

“Enyi wakuu wa watu,mnisikilize,nanyi mtawalao kusanyiko,mnitegee masikio yenu. Usimpe mwana nguvu juu yako wala ndugu,wala rafiki,nawe ungali uhai,unavuta pumzi,wala usimtolee mwingine mali zako usije ukajuta na kuziomba tena,usijitie katika uwezo wa mtu yeyote,ni afadhali watoto wako wakuombe wewe kuliko wewe kuutazamia mkono wa wanao,katika matendo yako yote ukae unayo mamlaka wala usitie ila heshima yako”Ybs 33:19
Tarehe 9/11/2006 ni Sikukuu ya Uhuru wa Tanzania Bara Tanganyika ikiitwa wakati huo,Siku hiyo wananchi wa Tanzania bara tutakuwa Tunajivunia siku tuliyokombolewa kutoka kwa ukoloni wa Mwingeleza mnamo mwaka wa 1961.Siku hiyo tutakuwa tunajivunia uhuru wetu Kutimiza miaka 45.Maazimisho ya Sherehe za uhuru ya mwaka huu ni zakipekee;Kwanza ni maadhimisho ya kwanza tukiwa na Rais Mwenye Ari,Kasi,na Nguvu mpya Mh.Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete,Pili ni maadhimisho ya kwanza Tukiwa na Marais wastaafau wawili Ukimuondoa Baba wa taifa letu hayati Mwalimu Julius Kambalage Nyerere, na ninadhani yatakuwa ni maazimisho ya kwanza Taifa likiwa kwenye Janga la Mgao wa umeme ingawa kuna ahadi za kulimaliza tatizo hili.
Maazimisho haya ya uhuru ya mwaka huu yamenifanya niandike makala hii kwa kuanza kunukuu Biblia kutoka kwenye kitabu cha Yoshua Binsira 33;19-23. wale watu wenye Biblia za Kikatoliki watakubaliana na mimi kwamba mistari hiyo inapatika kwenye Biblia,Sina maana ya kuanza kuhubili injili au Kutofaoutisha Bilblia hila napenda iwe laisi kwa wasomaji wa makala hii.Ukisoma kwa makini mistari hiyo Utangudua kuwa inatoa mamlaka makumbwa kwa mzazi au kiongozi yule na hata Selikali na inaeleza jinsi gani ya kujitegemea bila kuwa ombaomba.Katika makala yangu ya leo Nitazungumzuia Tangazo la Sikukuu ya uhuru ya mwaka huu,Tangazo linalorushwa kwenye vyombo mbalimbali vya habari.Si nia yangu kuripinga au kuliunga mkono la hasha ila nataka nitoe mchango wangu kwa wale ambao Yoshua binsira anawaomba wamtegee sikio,Katika Tangazo hilo lenye baadhi ya maneno yafuatayo “Sherehe za kuazimisha miaka 45 ya Uhuru,Mwaka huu maadhimisho ya shere hizi selikali inawomba watu,makampuni Binafsi Kuonyesha Uzalendo katika kuchangia shelehe hizi” Tangazo hilo lina malizia kwa kusema “Onyesha uzalendo wako kwa kujivunia uhuru wa Taifa lako”
Tangazo hili si tu limenishutua hila limetengeneza maswali mengi kichwani mwangu. Swali la kwanza ambalo ndo linabeba kichwa cha makala hii ni je Watanzania tuonyesha Uzalendo kwa kuchangia sherehe? hil swali ni la msingi na naomba kila Mtanzania mwenye machungu na hii nchi ajiulize swali hili. Sipingi watu kuchangia sherehe la hasha hila nauliza swali hili nikiwa na maana ya kutaka kujua. Hivi iyo michango Itakuwa ni ya kununua Mchele au Nyama na Bear au Soda ili watu wale na kunywa au hii michango ya hali na mali itakuwa ni ya mafuta? Hapo nashindwa kupata jibu.Siku chache zilizopita Selikali ilikuwa ikipiga kelele kwa wananchi kuchangia sana sherehe (kama vile Arusi,Ubarikio,Ubatizo,sherehe za Ngoma n.k) kuliko maendeleo, Leo hii Selikali inarudi kwenye matapishi yake yenyewe kwa kuomba michango ya kuchangia sherehe.Siku moja kwenye Gazeti la Mwananchi,mwariri aliwahi kuandika kuwa huo si Uzalendo ni Ukasuku(yeye alikuwa anzungumzia wale Wakazi wa Mwanza walioadamana kupinga Filamu ya Mapanki wakati wao majumbani mwao wanakula mapanki).Na mimi nasema kuchangia sherehe kuliko Maendeleo sio Uzalendo huo ni Ukasuku.Na nimeona nikikaa kimya uku nikiwa kabisa na Dukuduku la jambo hilo sitakuwa Mzalendo hila nitakuwa na Ukasuku.
Ni mwezi mmoja umepita watanzania Tumeshuudia Vijana wetu wakirudi Nyumbani kutoka Vyuo vikuu vya umma na vya Binafsi kwa Kukosa Mikopo kutoka kwenye Bodi ya Mikopo ya Elimu ya Juu, uku wale waliopata hiyo mikopo wakipewa asilimia 60% nakuachwa njia panda bila kujua hiyo asilimia 40% wataipata wapi? uku wakiambia ni kuchangia Elimu.Ni watoto wangapi wanaishi Mitaani Bila kujua leo watakula wapi au bila kujua hatima yao ya badae itakuwaje? ni watoto wangapi wameshindwa kujiunaga na kidato cha kwanza kwa sababu wazazi wao wameshindwa kupata Ada? Ni shule ngapi za Sekondari na Msingi hazina vitabu vya Kiada na ziada? Ni vyuo vingapi vya umma hapa Tanzania hambapo wanafunzi hawalali zaidi ya wanne kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa vyumba vya kulala?.Na je ni siku gani na wakati upi Selikali kwa kupitia Taasisi zake imeomba watu,makampuni Binafsi Kuonyesha Uzalendo katika kuchangia haya matatizo niliyo yataja hapo juu au tunajidanganya kuwa mambo Fulani hayapo. lazima tuelewe kuwa matatizo yetu hayawezi kuisha kwa kujifanya na kuamini kuwa hayapo au kwa sababu tunawalaumu watu Fulani kuwa chanzo cha matatizo.
Mtanzania kama Mtanzania anaowajibu wa kuchangia Maendeleo ya nchi yake Ili haonekane mzalendo na sio kuchangia sherehe.Kama Tumeweza kuchangia MEWATA kwa nini Tusichangie mfuko wa Elimu Ili tuwe wazalendo?,na kwani kama Selikali imepata pesa za kurusha Matangazo ya kuwaomba wananchi mchangie Sherehe kwanini Pesa zisipatikane za kurusha Matangazo ya kuchangia Elimu au Afya? Tanzania ni Taifa ambalo watu wake ni wapole watulivu kuliko Taifa lolote barani afrika, Taifa ambalo watu wake wamezoea kuonyeshwa punda na kuambiwa ni ng’ombe; mbuzi na kuambiwa ni ngamia, watu ambao viongozi wao wamezoea kuwaambia kuwa ni wavivu wa kufikiria.Ni taifa ambalo watu wake walio wengi wamezaliwa na kulelewa kwenye siasa za ujamaa na kujitegemea,Watu ambao wamezoea kusema chetu na sio changu watu ambao wakiimizwa kuchangia Maendeleo na viongozi wao Watachanga kama walivyofanya kwa MEWATA na Timu ya Mpila wa miguu ya Taifa,hata ile iliyokuwa inaitwa Serengeti Boys.
Navipongeza vituo vya ITV na Redio One Pamoja na MEWATA kwa kuweza kuwamasisha Wananchi na kuweza kufanikisha Uchunguzi wa Saratani ya Matiti kwa wanawake.Huo ndo uzalendo Tunaoutaka kwa Wananchi na sio kuchangia sherehe. kwani lazimi kwenye sherehe za uhuru, watu Wale na kunywa mpaka Selikali iombe mchango wa hali na Mali? Na ni watu wangapi Watakula au kunywa? Hivi kweli Tunapopanga Bajeti ya Ofisi ya Rais na Ya Wazili Mkuu haya matumizi ya sherehe za Uhuru si yanawekwa? au ina maana uko nyuma sherehe hizi zilikuwa zinafanywaje,mbona sijawahi kusikia Selikali ikiomba Michango. au kuna Agenda nyingine.Naomba niwa kumbushe kuwa Baba wa Taifa Mwalimu Juliusi Kambarage Nyerere wakati mmoja akilihutubia Bunge mwaka 1965 aliwahi kusema hivi nanukuu “Ufahari mwiko Tanzania,Taifa changa la Tanzania ambalo linaongozwa katika msingi ya ujamaa wa kiafrika katika kupigana na maadui wa Binadamu lazima lijiepushe na anasa,Ufahari na Utumiaji mbaya wa Fedha za Taifa kwa hiyo kuanzia leo katika kila karamu yoyote ya Selikali hakutatolewa vinywaji Vikali badala yake kutatolewa kahawa,Chai na Maji ya machungwa”Mwalimu mara nyingi alisisitizia matumizi endelevu ya rasilimali za Taifa wala si michango ya Sherehe.
Mimi ningeomba kamati ya maadalizi ya mwaka huu itangaza siku hiyo iwe ni siku ya Watu na Makampuni Binafsi kuonyesha Uzalendo kwa kuchangia Mfuko wa Elimu ili Mwakani tusiwe na Wanafunzi wa vyuo vya elimu ya juu wanaorudi makwao kwa kukosa mkopo kutoka kwenye Bodi ya Mikopo ya Elimu ya juu,wakati wameishapata vyou tena vya umma.Ingekuwa ni Uzalendo kama Ushauri wangu utafuatwa ingawa haya ni maoni tu ya Mtanzania mmoja Mpenda elimu.Tukifanya hivyo tutakuwa tumekaribia Maana halisi ya uhuru.Baba Wa taifa na wenzake waliliona hili ndo maana baada ya kupata uhuru kitu cha kwanza ilikuwa ni jinsi gani ya kuwasaidia watanzania kuondokana na Umasikini,na njia ya Mkato ilikuwa ni kuwapatia Elimu Tena Bure.Mara nyingi napenda sana kumnukuu aliyekuwa Wazili Mkuu wa Uingeleza miaka 130 iliyopita Bw.Benjamini Disraeli alisema hivi “Hatima ya nchi hii (Uingeleza) Inategemea elimu ya watu wake” mwisho wa kunukuu. Hivyo hivyo na mimi nasema hatima ya Taifa changa kama la Tanzania inategemea elimu ya watu wake.Hivyo basi hatunabudi kujitahidi kadri ya uwezo wetu kuhakikisha kuwa kila mwenye bidii na ari ya kujiendeleza kielimu anapata fursa hiyo kwa kuwezeshwa aidha kifedha au kimawazo.Hivyo basi hatuna budi Kuwaomba watu na Makampuni binafsi kuchangia Elimu na sio tu kuchangia Sherehe.

Na malizia kwa kwa Mfano huu wa wawindaji kumi ambao wamekamata sungura mmoja, itakuwa ni ujinga na upotezaji wa muda kama watasitisha uwindaji. Na kuanza kugombania mgawanyo wa nyama wa sungura huyo mmoja. Lakini watakuwa wanafanya vizuri na Busara kama watatafuta mbinu na njia mpya za uwindaji ili kujiongezea wingi wa nyama, Na hii ni sawa na Viongozi wa Tanzania. Hii ni nchi Masikini, nchi isiyozaa matunda ya kumtosheleza kila Mtanzania ili aishi maisha bora ,Kama Selikali inavyojinadi kwa Msemo wa Maisha Bora kila Mtanzania. Tunafanana na wawindaji kumi wenye sungura mmoja katikati yao, hatuna njia ya kuondokana na hili.Hivyo basi hatuna budi Kubadilisha mawazo ya kuonyesha Uzalendo kwa Kuchangia sherehe badala ya Maendeleo.Kama kweli mtayazingatia haya niliyojaribu kuwaeleza nadhani huu utakuwa mwanzo mzuri wa “Taifa letu kuelekea kweye neema ya kila Mtanzania”.Mungu ibariki Africa,Mungu ibariki Tanzania.

Rescue us from HIV/AIDS-Maasai Community

Edison R,Ndyemalila

Since creation, the Maasai people have caved a niche for themselves. Be it mode of dressing or in social life, they stand out to be different. It is still not known to many the origin of the Maasai people. According to a book titled “The Last of the Maasai” written by Messer’s. Mohammed Amin, Duncan Willets and John Eames, said no one actually know where they came from. “Maasai came from either somewhere north along the Nile or maybe beyond further east”, the book said.
But the Falasha of Western Ethiopia said the Maasai are Jewish, a long tribe of Israel that speak Maa as their language. But on a different account, the Maasai people live in Southern Kenya and northern Tanzania along the Great Rift Valley on semi-arid and arid lands. They are semi-nomadic people who live under a communal system. The movement of livestock, which is the main occupation of the people, is based on seasonal rotation.
Apparently to sensitize the Maasai community a village that shares common boundary with Kenya on the dangers of HIV/AIDS disease’s, on October 2006 I and my Friends from Denmark and Uganda played host to Kimokiwa village in Monduri district, Arusha.
Mr. Brown ole-Suya, one of the board member’s of Afya Bora Mobile Service (Good Health is Long Life) and Maasai Women Development (NWEDO), a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) earlier gave an overview of the Maasai people before the visit. He explained that NWEDO was basically formed to bring attention to gender issues, especially to liberate Maasai women from unnecessary suppression.
Afya Bora Mobile Service ole-Suya said came into existence in order to look into the problems of health care and hygiene and suggesting proper ways of tackling them. The group also advocates the use of modern health facilities available in clinics and medical centers for treatment of diseases, maternal and childcare and supports the government in banning female genital mutilation and promoting HIV/AIDS awareness.
On arrival to the village, School children who apparently were observing break time, milled around closely to catch glimpse of who the visitors were.
The women, dressed in their normal traditional attire with elongated ear lobs, hung with beaded and metal ornaments, form a major focus for jewellery for both Maasai men and women. It was reliably gathered that when they are very young, modern plugs are inserted to stretch the slit lobe. The men dressed in silk apparel (Shuka) flown over their shoulder, with swords around their waist like warriors had a long slimmed stick to support their walk.
I told the village representatives the purpose of the visit. With the aid of an interpreter, the chairman of the village,expressed that the visit came at the right time when they were almost thrown on crossroads in understanding how best to handle HIV/AIDS cases that has visited the community.
“We were informed about the visit and after our discussion we can go for our business”, the chairman said, adding that it was a wrong choice of season to visit the village because most men have gone out with their cattle’s.
Dominating the discussion was the issue of HIV/AIDS and the use of condom. The HIV/AIDS committee member, Naisiriria Noah accepted the fact that the disease exist in Kimokowa, which was first reported in the village in 1998 “Some of us become sick and die and nothing has been done about it because we don’t have testing centres. We have traditional nurses who attend to our pregnant women during delivery without wearing hand gloves. We are confused”, she lamented.
To reduce the effect of HIV/AIDS, the major problem Kimokowa villagers have is on how to address the issue of young men and women, relating positively to each other without having to defile themselves in matters of illicit sex. Restricting some social gathering (Esoto) and social afternoon gathering (eloip) is a major headache Narparakwo Ormunderei, women chairperson said. Another factor that has increased the spread of HIV/AIDS in the community was hinged on the fact that most young men travel to the cities in search of white collar jobs only to come back affected with the disease.
The villagers are gradually transforming from its archaic traditions of men exchanging their wife’s with visitors of Maasai origin and age grade groups. The chairman said there is now growing pressure on some Churches to preach against social norms and give support to fighting HIV/AIDS. “Expectation on how to overcome the disease is bleak because we are helpless. Whether we will be killed by it, we do not know”, the chairman who dressed in safari wear, with a swagger stick in his hand told us
A lot of seminars on HIV/AIDS aimed at sensitizing the community have been held in various occasions. But the terms used by the organizers Nabak said were initially difficult for them to understand.
The traditional midwife leader, Norkishon Lelitonyi said that there have requested that gloves be provided them to enable practice safe delivery without contacting HIV/AIDS. The issue of condom use was also brought to the front burner during question time. Most of the village representatives did not deny the knowledge of knowing what it is, but argued that it is totally out of supply in their environment.
Questions were thrown back to some of us especial my friend from Uganda to explain how Uganda has adopted policies to control HIV/AIDS pandemic. The visitors were entertained with a special rendition from both the women and men before departure.
My am hereby requesting the Governments and an NGO’S to give support these two NGOs the Afya Bora Mobile Service (Good Health is Long Life) and Maasai Women Development (NWEDO)