Mbuli was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg in 1959. Later, when blacks were forcibly removed by the then government from Sophiatown (to create the white Triomf ["Triumph"]), he went to live with his seven brothers and sisters in Soweto.
During the Soweto uprisings in 1976, Mbuli, still at school, started writing poems on the oppression of blacks. He quickly gained recognition and was asked to perform at trade union meetings, cultural events and marriages.
For many people Mbuli became "their" poet - the People's Poet.
But now Mbuli had to continue writing "underground" because his work was banned by the Apartheid government.
Mbuli was taken into custody by the police because of comments against the government, but this only helped to build the struggle legend of the tall man who stood up time and again to shout out his poetry on freedom.
After 1990 Mbuli was able to start with a professional career and has since then released seven albums, with Change in Pain and Unbroken Spirit two of the best known. In April 1999 EMI released Mzwakhe Mbuli greatest hits: Born free but always in chains.
Golden moment
Mbuli's golden moment was probably when he was asked to read his poetry at the inauguration of Mandela as president in April 1994. He wrote Izigi (footsteps) especially for Mandela: "Comrade Mandela, you are like an Oak tree/ You have learnt to withstand any weather."
It was a serene time, for the first time Mbuli was able to freely say or what he wanted to say and sing what he wanted to sing. He had freedom.
Until 1996. "People's Poet survives assassination attempt," read the headlines.
Mbuli was at a friend's house in Leondale on the East Rand when nine shots were fired on his car. He survived, but said "no thanks" to police protection. "If I die, it won't be in shame."
Then, in 1997, came the news of his arrest on charges of bank robbery.
He and two other men allegedly robbed First National Bank in Waverley with two pistols and a hand grenade. They took money from the safe and drove away.
According to police they forced "a suspect vehicle" off the road in the suburb a little later and found all the money, three pistols and the grenade. The car belonged to Mbuli.
The court case, full of intrigue, followed.
At one point, Mbuli's attorneys asked for a black magistrate to hear the case so he could not be accused of racism.
Every time Mbuli appeared, he was supported by people like singer Brenda Fassie and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Two more charges - relating to an armed robbery at a bank in Randburg and at a liquor store in Tzaneen - could not be proved.
The blue bag
Some of the important evidence included:
The police did not find Mbuli and his co-accused's finger prints in the bank nor on the weapons
Shikwambane and Masiso's finger prints were found in Mbuli's car
The only person able to identify Mbuli during an identity parade had seen a picture of him in a newspaper before the parade
A stack of R200 notes and a R50 note was found in Mbuli's trouser pockets when police searched him
A man testified that he saw how a blue bag was thrown across the wall behind the bank a day before the incident. Two men jumped the wall afterwards
A cashier at the bank was too shocked to activate the video recorder in the bank to take pictures of the robbery
Mbuli told former Gauteng MEC for safety and security Jessie Duarte a month before his arrest that some "South African leaders" are involved with drug smuggling. He apparently got the information from Swazi police during an anti-drug concert in the country
Shikwambane testified that they stopped at a garage in Waverley to get a bag containing information on the attempt on Mbuli's life. He took the bag, that contained the money, through the window thinking that it's content was pictures and documents. However, on April 23, 1999 magistrate FJ Poolman found that there was enough evidence to sentence Mbuli to 13 years in prison.
Shikwambane and Masiso were sentenced to 15 and 14 years imprisonment.
source: www.news24.com
Tuesday 28 April 2009
Friday 24 April 2009
Reginald: call a spade a spade!!
IPP Limited Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi yesterday named five people he described as ``notoriously corrupt sharks``.
``I would like to conclude by saying that all corrupt people and especially those who are being accused of notorious corruption must be dealt with conclusively, otherwise they will rock the stability of our nation. We must realise that we have now reached the stage when we must say enough is enough.``
SOURCE: Guardian, 2009-04-24 12:52:23
By Patrick Kisembo
``I would like to conclude by saying that all corrupt people and especially those who are being accused of notorious corruption must be dealt with conclusively, otherwise they will rock the stability of our nation. We must realise that we have now reached the stage when we must say enough is enough.``
SOURCE: Guardian, 2009-04-24 12:52:23
By Patrick Kisembo
Thursday 16 April 2009
Waziri Mkuu azungumzia kero za wananchi
TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI
WAZIRI Mkuu Mizengo Pinda amesema shughuli za Kampuni ya DECI (Development Enterprenueurship Community Initiative) za wanachama kuweka fedha kupata faida marudufu ni sawa na upatu na ni kinyume cha sheria za nchi.
Akizungumza na wahariri wa vyombo vya habari ofisini kwake jijini Dar es Salaam leo (Jumanne Apr. 14, 2009) alisema ndiyo maana Serikali imeunda timu ya kuingalia DECI na kuchukua hatua bila kuwaathiri wanachama wa DECI.
“Hakuna cha maono wala ufunuo, DECI ni upatu tu. DECI siyo mkombozi ni ujanja ujanja ambao ambao lazima utaleta matatizo hatimaye,” alisema.
Shughuli za upatu ni kinyume cha sheria Na. 8 ya mwaka 2006, iliyoidhinishwa na Rais Januari 5, mwaka 2007, kuwa ni kosa kuendesha shughuli za upatu ambao hauna usalama wa fedha watu wazochanga, aliongeza.
Alisema kuwa timu iliyoundwa na serikali kuangalia shughuli za DECI ina wataalamu kutoka Benki Kuu, Wakala wa Soko la Mitaji na Dhamana (Capital Markets Authority) na Idara ya Polisi.
DECI ilianza shughuli zake nchini mwaka 2007 na iliandikishwa kwa Wakala wa Usajili wa Makampuni (BRELA).
Waziri Mkuu alisema DECI ilianzishwa kama chama cha kuweka na kukopa, lakini baadaye ikawa inaendesha upatu na kwamba ina wanachama zaidi ya 430,000 na ina ofisi 46 katika mikoa 18 kati ya 26 nchini, kwa mujibu wa taarifa alizopata.
Benki ina akiba ya Sh. bilioni 1, lakini fedha ambazo zimezungushwa kupitia DECI ni Sh. bilioni 13 ambazo zilitolewa na kuchukuliwa na wanachama kama faida.
Kuhusu suala la ardhi katika Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki, Waziri Mkuu alisema kuwa suala la ardhi linatawaliwa na sheria za kila nchi na siyo la ushirikiano katika jumuiya.
Alisema suala ardhi, kama vile la hoja ya mtu akiikaa katika nchi moja kwa mfululizo kwa miaka mitano apate uraia wa nchi hiyo, ni masuala ambayo hayawezi yakachukuliwa kwa pupa na Tanzania lazima iyaangalie kwa makini.
Kuhusu udahili wa wanafunzi wa vyuo vikuu vya umma ambavyo baadhi yao vilifungwa kwa muda kutokana na suala la uchangiaji, Waziri Mkuu alisema udahili umekwenda vizuri na kunavigezo vipya vya kujua uwezo wa mwanafunzo kucjangia kiasi gani.
Waziri Mkuu pia alisema Tanzania isisite kuhusu kuwaruhusu wakulima wakubwa binafsi kuwekeza katika kilimo cha kisasa cha kibiashara kwani bado kuna ardhi kubwa yenye rutuba lakini haijaguswa.
Alisema kinachotakiwa ni kuwa na Benki ya Ardhi ili muwekezaji akitaka kuwekeza katika kilimo anapewa ardhi ambayo kwa mfumo wa Tanzania ni ya Serikali na inatolewa kwa kukodishwa kwa masharti maalum.
Kuhusu uvunjifu wa amani huko Tarime na maeneo mengine katika mkoa wa Mara, Waziri Mkuu alisema Serikali imepanga kuwa na mkoa wa kipolisi wilayani Tarime ili kuimarisha ulinzi.
Vilevile, inafaa kutenga eneo la amani la watu kuweza kukimbilia kama vile kuwa na kambi ya Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT) katika maeneo yenye magomvi.
Kuhusu maagizo ya Waziri Mkuu kwa Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) kuangalia hesabu za Kituo cha Mabasi cha Ubungo na Soko la Kariakoo, Waziri Mkuu alisema kazi hiyo imekwishaanza na kwamba amepewa muda wa kutosha kuikamilisha.
(mwisho)
Imetolewa na:
Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu
S.L.P. 3021
DAR ES SALAAM
source: lukwangule blog (Beda Msimbe)
WAZIRI Mkuu Mizengo Pinda amesema shughuli za Kampuni ya DECI (Development Enterprenueurship Community Initiative) za wanachama kuweka fedha kupata faida marudufu ni sawa na upatu na ni kinyume cha sheria za nchi.
Akizungumza na wahariri wa vyombo vya habari ofisini kwake jijini Dar es Salaam leo (Jumanne Apr. 14, 2009) alisema ndiyo maana Serikali imeunda timu ya kuingalia DECI na kuchukua hatua bila kuwaathiri wanachama wa DECI.
“Hakuna cha maono wala ufunuo, DECI ni upatu tu. DECI siyo mkombozi ni ujanja ujanja ambao ambao lazima utaleta matatizo hatimaye,” alisema.
Shughuli za upatu ni kinyume cha sheria Na. 8 ya mwaka 2006, iliyoidhinishwa na Rais Januari 5, mwaka 2007, kuwa ni kosa kuendesha shughuli za upatu ambao hauna usalama wa fedha watu wazochanga, aliongeza.
Alisema kuwa timu iliyoundwa na serikali kuangalia shughuli za DECI ina wataalamu kutoka Benki Kuu, Wakala wa Soko la Mitaji na Dhamana (Capital Markets Authority) na Idara ya Polisi.
DECI ilianza shughuli zake nchini mwaka 2007 na iliandikishwa kwa Wakala wa Usajili wa Makampuni (BRELA).
Waziri Mkuu alisema DECI ilianzishwa kama chama cha kuweka na kukopa, lakini baadaye ikawa inaendesha upatu na kwamba ina wanachama zaidi ya 430,000 na ina ofisi 46 katika mikoa 18 kati ya 26 nchini, kwa mujibu wa taarifa alizopata.
Benki ina akiba ya Sh. bilioni 1, lakini fedha ambazo zimezungushwa kupitia DECI ni Sh. bilioni 13 ambazo zilitolewa na kuchukuliwa na wanachama kama faida.
Kuhusu suala la ardhi katika Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki, Waziri Mkuu alisema kuwa suala la ardhi linatawaliwa na sheria za kila nchi na siyo la ushirikiano katika jumuiya.
Alisema suala ardhi, kama vile la hoja ya mtu akiikaa katika nchi moja kwa mfululizo kwa miaka mitano apate uraia wa nchi hiyo, ni masuala ambayo hayawezi yakachukuliwa kwa pupa na Tanzania lazima iyaangalie kwa makini.
Kuhusu udahili wa wanafunzi wa vyuo vikuu vya umma ambavyo baadhi yao vilifungwa kwa muda kutokana na suala la uchangiaji, Waziri Mkuu alisema udahili umekwenda vizuri na kunavigezo vipya vya kujua uwezo wa mwanafunzo kucjangia kiasi gani.
Waziri Mkuu pia alisema Tanzania isisite kuhusu kuwaruhusu wakulima wakubwa binafsi kuwekeza katika kilimo cha kisasa cha kibiashara kwani bado kuna ardhi kubwa yenye rutuba lakini haijaguswa.
Alisema kinachotakiwa ni kuwa na Benki ya Ardhi ili muwekezaji akitaka kuwekeza katika kilimo anapewa ardhi ambayo kwa mfumo wa Tanzania ni ya Serikali na inatolewa kwa kukodishwa kwa masharti maalum.
Kuhusu uvunjifu wa amani huko Tarime na maeneo mengine katika mkoa wa Mara, Waziri Mkuu alisema Serikali imepanga kuwa na mkoa wa kipolisi wilayani Tarime ili kuimarisha ulinzi.
Vilevile, inafaa kutenga eneo la amani la watu kuweza kukimbilia kama vile kuwa na kambi ya Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT) katika maeneo yenye magomvi.
Kuhusu maagizo ya Waziri Mkuu kwa Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) kuangalia hesabu za Kituo cha Mabasi cha Ubungo na Soko la Kariakoo, Waziri Mkuu alisema kazi hiyo imekwishaanza na kwamba amepewa muda wa kutosha kuikamilisha.
(mwisho)
Imetolewa na:
Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu
S.L.P. 3021
DAR ES SALAAM
source: lukwangule blog (Beda Msimbe)
Saturday 4 April 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.
In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.
In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
source: www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.
In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.
In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
source: www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
Friday 3 April 2009
Madonna adoption: Latest
Madonna has lost her court battle to adopt a second child in Malawi. Malawi's High Court ruled that she could not be granted an interim adoption of a four-year-old girl, Mercy James.
Court registrar Ken Manda said her bid had been rejected because the singer was not a resident of Malawi.
It is not clear whether Madonna will try to appeal against the latest ruling. Her lawyer was not immediately available for comment.
Malawian civil society groups opposed the adoption attempt and a local human rights activist said it would amount to child trafficking.
Malawi's government, which came under fire after Madonna adopted a 13-month-old Malawian child, David Banda, in 2006, had said it would support a second adoption.
Rights groups had accused Malawian authorities of giving the pop star special treatment.
Earlier, Malawian information minister Patricia Kaliati said Madonna had helped in the country and was a worthy mother.
She said: "Madonna has been good to us, she is supporting over 25,000 orphans in this country and she has proved that she can take care of David.
"Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children - we support her adoption process."
Madonna, accompanied by David, arrived in Malawi on Sunday ahead of the court examination of her application.
The star, who was divorced last year from British film director Guy Ritchie, is one of the most successful singers of all time, with album sales of more than 200 million.
source: uk.yahoo.news website
Court registrar Ken Manda said her bid had been rejected because the singer was not a resident of Malawi.
It is not clear whether Madonna will try to appeal against the latest ruling. Her lawyer was not immediately available for comment.
Malawian civil society groups opposed the adoption attempt and a local human rights activist said it would amount to child trafficking.
Malawi's government, which came under fire after Madonna adopted a 13-month-old Malawian child, David Banda, in 2006, had said it would support a second adoption.
Rights groups had accused Malawian authorities of giving the pop star special treatment.
Earlier, Malawian information minister Patricia Kaliati said Madonna had helped in the country and was a worthy mother.
She said: "Madonna has been good to us, she is supporting over 25,000 orphans in this country and she has proved that she can take care of David.
"Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children - we support her adoption process."
Madonna, accompanied by David, arrived in Malawi on Sunday ahead of the court examination of her application.
The star, who was divorced last year from British film director Guy Ritchie, is one of the most successful singers of all time, with album sales of more than 200 million.
source: uk.yahoo.news website
Thursday 2 April 2009
Hotuba ya Rais (March)
Alhamis, April 02, 2009
HOTUBA YA MHE. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, RAIS WA JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA, KWA WANANCHI, 31 MACHI, 2009
Ndugu wananchi,
Kwa mara nyingine tumshukuru Mwenyezi Mungu kwa kupata nafasi ya kuzungumza na taifa katika utaratibu wetu wa kila mwezi.
Naomba radhi kuzungumza nanyi leo badala ya jana kwa sababu ya shughuli za ugeni wa Gavana-Jenerali wa Nchi rafiki ya Australia, Mama Quentin Bryce aliyetutembelea kuanzia tarehe 30 Machi na kuondoka leo asubuhi.
Leo napenda kuzungumzia mambo matatu. Jambo la kwanza ni mwenendo wa mvua na hali ya chakula nchini. Jambo la pili ni hali ya upatikanaji na uzalishaji umeme nchini. Na, la tatu ni mkutano wa Kundi la Nchi Ishirini Tajiri Duniani au maarufu kwa jina la G-20 kwa lugha ya Kiingereza. Mkutano unaoanza kesho mjini London, Uingereza.
Mwenendo wa Mvua
Ndugu Wananchi, Kwa kawaida hii ingekuwa wiki ya pili katika msimu wa mvua za masika kwa maeneo yanayopata mvua hizo. Mvua ambazo hunyesha kwa wingi na kwa saa nyingi mfululizo. Wakati mwingine hunyesha kwa siku mbili au hata tatu mfululizo. Lakini, ninyi na mimi ni mashahidi kuwa mpaka sasa mvua bado hazijaenea maeneo yote na unyeshaji wake siyo kama ule tuliouzoea.
Ingawaje ni mapema mno kuoneakana tuna mashaka, lakini hali ilivyo inatupa kila sababu ya kuwa na wasiwasi kuwa huenda mvua za masika zitanyesha chini ya wastani. Hata wenzetu wa Idara ya Utabiri wa hali ya Hewa wanaonyesha hofu kuwa huenda mvua za masika zisiwe nzuri kama tunavyotarajia.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Bahati mbaya sana Mikoa inayopata mvua za masika hivi sasa hazikupata mvua nzuri wakati wa msimu wa mvua za vuli mwaka wa jana. Kwa sababu hiyo kilimo katika mikoa hiyo kimeathirika, mavuno yamekuwa chini ya wastani na wako baadhi ya wakulima ambao hawakujaaliwa kupata chochote kabisa. Katika hali hiyo basi, kama katika msimu wa masika hali itakuwa chini ya wastani, ni dhahiri kwamba kutajitokeza tatizo kubwa kwa upande wa upatikanaji wa chakula na mapato ya wakulima kwa jumla.
Napenda kuwahakikishia kuwa Serikali inafuatilia kwa karibu hali hii na tumekuwa tunajiandaa kuchukua hatua zipasazo. Tathmini tuliyoifanya baada ya kumalizika kwa msimu wa mvua za vuli katika mikoa 9 ya Pwani, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Manyara, Mara, Shinyanga na Kagera zinaonesha kuwa watu wapatao 279,607 katika wilaya 20 watakabiliwa na upungufu wa chakula katika kipindi cha miezi ya Aprili na Mei 2009. Mipango ya usambazaji wa chakula katika wilaya hizo zenye upungufu inaendelea vizuri.
Serikali inaendelea na itaendelea, kukusanya taarifa za hali ya chakula kutoka wilaya zote nchini na kuzifanyia uchambuzi na kutazama namna ya kuboresha hali ya upatikanaji wa chakula. Tutaendelea kutumia akiba yetu ya chakula kuwahudumia wananchi wenzetu watakaokabiliwa na upungufu wa chakula. Napenda kuwahakikishia Watanzania wote kwamba tutafanya kila tuwezalo kuhakikisha hakuna mtu atakayekufa kwa njaa. Aidha, napenda kuzihimiza Halmashauri za wilaya zote nchini kuendelea kutuma Wizara ya Kilimo na Chakula taarifa za hali ya mazao na chakula za wilaya zao kila wiki ili kuwezesha Serikali kujua hali ya chakula nchini. Nawataka Wakuu wa Wilaya kulisimamia ipasavyo zoezi hilo. Na, Wakuu wa Mikoa wahakikishe linafanyika.Wizara ya Kilimo na Chakula itafanya tathmini ya awali ya hali ya mavuno na chakula kuanzia mwezi ujao. Wanategemea kukamilisha ripoti hiyo mwezi Juni, 2009. Hii pia itaiwezesha Serikali kujipanga kukabiliana na hali ya chakula na mavuno itakayojitokeza.
Wito kwa Wananchi
Ndugu Wananchi;
Napenda kuchukua fursa hii kurudia kusisitiza mambo matano yafuatayo:-
Kwanza, kwamba kwa wenzetu wa mikoa ya Rukwa, Ruvuma, Iringa, Mtwara, Kigoma na Kagera ambako mvua imekuwa nzuri, tuitumie vizuri fursa hii kuhakikisha kuwa mavuno yamekuwa mazuri.
Pili, kwamba katika mikoa yenye matatizo ya upungufu wa mvua naomba wananchi watumie mvua zinazonyesha hivi sasa kupanda mbegu zinazokomaa kwa muda mfupi hasa wapande mazao yanayohimili ukame. Kwa ajili hii, tutilie maanani mazao ya viazi, muhogo, mtama na uwele. Hii itatusaidia kupunguza tatizo la uhaba wa chakula nchini iwapo litatokea.
Tatu, tutumie kwa tahadhari kubwa chakula tulichonacho nchini. Uhaba wa mvua ukiendelea, hali ya upatikanaji wa chakula nchini haitakuwa nzuri mwaka huu. Na ukizingatia kwamba hali ya chakula duniani kwa ujumla pia siyo nzuri ni muhimu wananchi wenzangu tukawa waangalifu katika kutumia chakula tulichonacho. Ni muhimu kufanya hivyo kwani inawezekana kabisa mtu ukawa na fedha za kununulia chakula nje ya nchi, lakini ukakosa chakula cha kununua.
Nne, kwa kuwa mazao ya nafaka ndiyo yatakayoathirika zaidi na mwenendo wa mvua, napenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwahimiza na kuwahamasisha watanzania wenzangu kwamba sasa tuongeze matumizi ya vyakula visivyo vya nafaka, kama vile, ndizi, muhogo na viazi.
Na, Tano, tuongeze bidii na tija kwenye uzalishaji wa mazao ya chakula ili tujitosheleze kwa chakula na kuuza akiba nje ya nchi. Tuzingatie kanuni za kilimo bora na tutumie pembejeo za kisasa.
Aidha, nawaomba tuendelee kuomba dua Mwenyezi Mungu atujalie mvua itakayonusuru mazao mashambani na kutuepusha na tatizo la upungufu wa chakula mwaka huu.
Hali ya Upatikanaji wa Umeme Nchini
Ndugu Wananchi,Kwa takriban miezi mwili sasa umeme umekuwa gumzo kubwa hapa nchini. Mjadala umekuwa wa namna mbili. Kwanza umehusu nia ya Shirika la Umeme Nchini (TANESCO) kununua mitambo ya Kampuni ya Dowans pale Ubungo. Na, pili, umehusu mgao wa umeme unaoendelea tangu tarehe 26 Machi, 2009 mpaka sasa hasa hapa Dar es Salaam na wilaya jirani.
Mgao wa Umeme
Ndugu Wananchi,Kiini cha kuwepo kwa mgao wa umeme ni kuharibika kwa mitambo miwili ya kuzalisha MW 53 za umeme katika kituo cha kuzalisha umeme cha SONGAS. Jumamosi tarehe 28 Machi, 2009 mtambo mmoja wenye uwezo wa kuzalisha MW 20 ulitengemaa hivyo upungufu umebaki MW 33 kutoka kwenye mashine ya pili.
Taarifa niliyopewa leo ni kuwa hitilafu yake ni kubwa hivyo huenda ikachukua mpaka wiki mbili au tatu au zaidi kutengemaa. Maana yake ni kwamba mgao utaendelea kuwepo kwa kipindi hicho. Hivyo, Ndugu zangu, mgao huu hauna uhusiano na ile hadhari aliyoitoa Dkt. Idris Rashid, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa TANESCO alipokuwa akizungumzia suala la Dowans kuwa nchi inaweza kuingia kwenye giza siku za usoni.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Kwa mujibu wa wataalamu wa TANESCO, mfumo wetu wa umeme nchini, kwa sasa, hauna ziada ya umeme unaosubiri kutumika kama akiba. Kutokana na hali hiyo, kunapotokea upungufu wowote wa uzalishaji wa umeme kwa sababu yoyote ile, kama huu uliotokea tarehe 26 Machi, 2009, husababisha kuwepo kwa mgao wa umeme kwa watumiaji.
Umeme wote unaozalishwa hapa nchini hutumika na wala mahitaji halisi hayajatoshelezwa. Kimsingi umeme unaopatikana na kutumika ni chini ya mahitaji (supressed demand). Ni asilimia 14 tu ya Watanzania ndiyo wanaopata na kutumia umeme wakati watu wengi sana wanaohitaji umeme bado hawajapata.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Wakati wote Serikali kwa kushirikiana na TANESCO imekuwa na mipango ya kuongeza uzalishaji na usambazaji wa umeme nchini. Kwa upande wa uzalishaji kumekuwepo hata na ratiba ya lini, kituo kipi na cha ukubwa gani kinaratajiwa kuwepo. Utekelezaji wa mipango hiyo ndiyo iliyotufikisha hapa tulipo sasa. Mwaka 2007, kufuatia matatizo makubwa ya umeme unaozalishwa kwa nguvu ya maji, mpango huo ukaboreshwa na kuongezwa ujenzi wa vituo vya kutumia gesi asilia na makaa ya mawe. Utekelezaji wa mpango wa uzalishaji wa umeme kwa mujibu wa uboreshaji uliofanywa mwaka 2007 uko nyuma ya wakati. Mradi wa kuzalisha umeme wa megawati 200 kwa kutumia makaa ya mawe Kiwira umechelewa kwa sababu ya ugumu wa kupata mikopo kutoka kwenye vyombo vya fedha. Kiini cha tatizo ni hofu inayotokana na taarifa hasi kuhusu mradi huo. Mradi wa kuzalisha megawati 300 kutokana na gesi asilimia ya Mnazi Bay unacheleweshwa na matatizo ya sasa ya kudorora kwa uchumi wa dunia ambapo nimeambiwa kwamba wabia muhimu wamejitoa kwa sasa.
Ndugu Wananchi,
Kuchelewa kutekelezwa kwa miradi hiyo ni dalili kuwa baada ya muda si mrefu hali ya upatikanaji wa umeme itakuwa mbaya hata kama mitambo yote ya sasa itakuwa inafanya kazi kwa ukamilifu. Kwa sasa mahitaji yanaongezeka kwa asilimia 10 – 15 kwa mwaka. Hili ni ongezeko kubwa sana ambalo linahitaji kusiwepo kukwama kokote. Kwa nia ya kutaka kupunguza makali ya tatizo hilo, ndipo uongozi wa TANESCO ukaona waombe kununua mitambo ya Dowans ambayo wakati huo ilikuwa inatangazwa kuuzwa. Uamuzi huo ukazua mtafaruku mkubwa ambao sina haja ya kuelezea kwa kirefu kwani wengi wetu tunaufahamu vizuri. Baada ya kuona ugumu wa kuendelea na nia hiyo, uongozi wa TANESCO umechukua uamuzi wa kuachana na nia yao hiyo.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Katika taarifa yake ya kutamka uamuzi wa kuachana na nia ya kununua mitambo ya Dowans, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa TANESCO alielezea hofu yake kwamba uamuzi huo unaweza kusababisha nchi kuwa gizani hapo baadaye. Taarifa hiyo imeleta hofu kubwa katika jamii. Nataka kuwatoa hofu na kuwahakikishia Watanzania wenzangu wote kuwa Serikali itafanya kila iwezalo kuhakikisha kuwa nchi yetu haifikii hatua hiyo. Tutahakikisha kuwa nchi haiwi gizani na kwamba umeme wa ziada unaotakiwa utapatikana na shughuli za uzalishaji mali na utoaji huduma zitaendelea kama kawaida.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Tayari Wizara ya Nishati na Madini imeshaanza kuchukua hatua ambazo zinaonesha kuwa na mwelekeo wa kutia matumaini. Naamini tutafanikiwa. Tukiwa tayari, taarifa itatolewa. Penye nia pana njia.
Napenda kutumia nafasi hii kusema mambo mawili. Kwanza, kwamba, nawapongeza viongozi wa TANESCO kwa uamuzi wao wa busara wa kuachana na nia yao ya kununua mitambo ya Dowans. Wameyasoma vizuri mazingira na nyakati na kufanya uamuzi muafaka. Pili, niwaombe wanasiasa wenzangu kuwa, maadam waliokuwa na nia ya kununua mitambo hiyo hawanayo tena, suala hili limemalizika.
Sioni sababu ya kuendelea kulumbana, kutiana vidole machoni na kutoleana maneno makali na mengine hata hayastahili kusemwa. Tumekuwa tunawatia hofu wananchi kwa jambo lisilokuwepo tena. Nawaomba muzihifadhi nguvu zenu na bongo zenu ili muwafanyie wananchi mambo yenye tija kwao. Wanalo jukumu kubwa la kujiletea maendeleo kwa lengo la kujiondoa kwenye umaskini na kuwa na hali bora ya maisha yao.
Uongozi wetu wanasiasa unahitajika sana katika juhudi zao hizo. Tuelekeze nguvu zetu na maarifa yetu huko. Wapeni pumzi wananchi kutokana na malumbano haya.
Mkutano wa G-20
Ndugu Wananchi;
Jambo la mwisho ambalo ningependa kuliongelea leo hii ni kuhusu msukusuko wa uchumi wa dunia na hasa mkutano wa Kundi la Nchi Ishirini Tajiri Duniani (G-20) ambao unategemewa kufanyika kesho tarehe 2 Aprili na kumazika tarehe 3 Aprili, 2009 mjini London, Uingereza. Mkutano huu umeitishwa kutafuta njia za pamoja za kukabili kudorora kwa uchumi duniani.
Mataifa haya tajiri ishirini, ambayo yanamiliki asilimia 85 ya uchumi wa dunia ni pamoja na Marekani, Uingereza, China, Japan, Ujerumani, Ufaransa, Afrika ya Kusini, Australia, Uturuki, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Indonesia, India, Italy, Urusi, Korea Kusini, Umoja wa Nchi za Ulaya na Saudi Arabia.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Uchumi wa dunia sasa hivi unapita kwenye kipindi kigumu kuliko wakati wowote katika historia ya dunia. Hali hii isipodhibitiwa kwa haraka na kwa umakini itakuwa na athari kubwa ya kushusha viwango vya hali ya maisha ya watu katika nchi zote duniani tajiri na maskini. Matajiri watakuwa maskini na maskini watakuwa fukara zaidi.
Kama nilivyosema katika hotuba zangu zilizopita, kiini cha kudorora huku kwa uchumi wa dunia ni machafuko na kuanguka kwa mfumo wa fedha wa kimataifa. Tatizo lilianzia nchini Marekani na kuenea katika mataifa tajiri ya Ulaya na Asia. Mabenki makubwa na madogo yameanguka na kufilisika.
Viwanda vikubwa na vidogo pamoja makampuni makubwa na madogo yamefilisika na kufungwa. Mamilioni ya watu wamepoteza ajira na wanaendelea kupoteza ajira. Maelfu kwa maelfu ya watu wamepoteza nyumba zao za kuishi. Kwa ujumla, mamilioni ya watu katika mataifa tajiri wanaishi maisha ya mashaka. Wengi maisha yao yameanza kuporomoka.
Nchi zetu hazihusiki na kuzuka mwa matatizo haya lakini, athari za kudorora kwa uchumi wa dunia zinatukumba sote. Tayari tunashuhudia kupungua kwa bei na mahitaji ya bidhaa za nchi zetu kwenye soko la dunia, kupungua kwa idadi ya watalii na kupungua kwa uwekezaji na vitega uchumi kutoka nje.
Aidha, mapato ya fedha za kigeni na mapato ya Serikali nayo yanapungua. Mambo haya hatimaye yatasababisha kushuka kwa uchumi wa nchi zetu, watu kupoteza ajira na kipato na hali za maisha za watu katika nchi zetu kuporomoka. Kunahitajika hatua thabiti zichukuliwe na hatua hizo ziwahusishe na kunufaisha wadau wote. Nchi tajiri duniani zinao wajibu mkubwa zaidi. Kwanza, zina wajibu wa kuhakikisha kuwa wanadhibiti hali ili uchumi wa nchi zao usiendelee kudorora. Pia zinao wajibu wa kuzisaidia nchi kama zetu ziweze kukabiliana na athari za kudorora kwa uchumi wa dunia.
Nchi tajiri zimekuwa zinachukua hatua za kunusuru uchumi wa nchi zao na bado wanaendelea. Bahati mbaya nchi zetu maskini ambazo hazina uwezo wa kuwa na mipango kama hiyo, pamoja na ukweli kwamba nazo pia zinaihitaji sana, bado hazijasaidiwa.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Mkutano wa kesho wa Mataifa 20 Tajiri Duniani umeitishwa kujadili hatua zaidi za kuchukua kuzuia mambo yasiwe mabaya zaidi na kufanya uchumi ukue. Pia wanakusudia kuzungumzia njia za kuepuka maatizo kama haya yasitokee tena duniani. Katika mkutano wa kesho pia watazungumzia namna ya kuzisaidia nchi maskini za Afrika na zile zinazoendelea ziweze kujihami na kukabiliana na athari za matatizo ya uchumi wa dunia.
Katika mkutano wao wa kwanza, uliofanyika Washington, Marekani, jambo hili halikufanyika. Wakati ule nikiwa Mwenyekiti wa Umoja wa Afrika (AU), nilimwandikia Rais George Bush wa Marekani, ambaye alikuwa Mwenyekiti wa mkutano ule, kumuomba wayaangalie maslahi ya Afrika, lakini hatukufanikiwa. Tulipata ahadi kuwa katika mkutano utakaofuata jambo hilo litazingatiwa. Tunamshukuru Waziri Mkuu wa Uingereza, Bw. Gordon Brown kwa kutimiza ahadi yake aliyonipatia kuhusu kujali maslahi ya Afrika pamoja na kutoa fursa ya ushiriki na sauti ya Afrika kuwepo katika mkutano huu wa pili. Kwa nia ya kupata maoni ya Waafrika hasa kuhusu matakwa na matarajio ya Afrika katika mkutano wa G-20, Waziri Mkuu wa Uingereza, tarehe 16 Machi, 2009 aliitisha mkutano maalum baina yake na viongozi kadhaa wa Afrika mjini London, Uingereza. Mkutano huo uliohusisha viongozi wa nchi za Tanzania, Liberia, Afrika Kusini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana, Misri, na Cape Verde ulikuwa na manufaa makubwa.
Ndugu Wananchi,
Nilitumia nafasi hiyo kuwasilisha maoni na mapendekezo ya mkutano wa pamoja wa Mawaziri wa Fedha, Magavana wa Benki Kuu za Afrika na Shirika la Fedha Duniani (IMF) uliofanyika hapa Dar es Salaam kuanzia tarehe 10 hadi 11 Machi, 2009. Mapendekezo hayo yalikuwa msingi wa mazungumzo yetu katika mkutano wetu na Bw. Gordon Brown.
Kwa muhtasari, matarajio ya Afrika katika mkutano wa G-20 ni kwa Afrika kusaidiwa kujikinga na kukabili madhara ya kudorora kwa uchumi wa dunia. Miongoni mwa mambo ambayo tuliyasisitiza ni haja ya kuanzishwa mfuko maalum ambapo fedha zake zitatumika kuzisaidia nchi za Afrika kuchukua hatua za kunusuru uchumi wao kama wafanyavyo mataifa tajiri.Kwa maneno mengine tuliunga mkono pendekezo la Benki ya Dunia na kutaka Mkutano wa G-20 ukubali kwamba asilimia 0.7 ya fedha walizotumia kugharamia mipango yao ya kuchochea uchumi wao (stimulus packages) zitengwe kwa ajili ya kusaidia kuchochea kukua kwa uchumi kwa nchi za Afrika.
Pili, tulisitiza kuwa nchi tajiri zisipunguze misaada ya maendeleo kwa nchi maskini. Badala yake misaada hiyo iongezwe kama walivyoahidi kwenye mikutano ya Monterrey, Gleneagles na kwingineko.
Tatu, tulisema kwamba tunatarajia pia misaada kwa Afrika, na uwekezaji kutoka nje vitaelekezwa katika kujenga na kuboresha miundombinu, kuleta mapinduzi katika kilimo, kukuza biashara miongoni mwa nchi za Kiafrika na baina yake na nchi nyingine za dunia na kusaidia zaidi makundi katika jamii ambayo yanahitaji msaada zaidi (vulnerable groups). Nne, kwamba nchi tajiri duniani pamoja na Taasisi za Kimataifa za Fedha Duniani zilegeze masharti na kupunguza urasimu wa kupata fedha za misaada na mikopo kwa kutambua kwamba hiki ni kipindi kugumu na cha dharura.
Aidha, masharti ya kukopa kutoka vyombo vingine vya fedha yalegezwe pia. Tano, kwamba nchi tajiri zisaidie nchi za Afrika kujenga mitaji ya vyombo vya fedha vya kikanda kama vile Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika.
Na, la sita, kwamba, nchi tajiri zitakubaliana kuruhusu uwazi katika mabenki yao na taasisi zao za fedha ili kuwezesha nchi za Kiafrika kufuatilia na kurudishiwa fedha, majumba na rasilimali zilizoporwa kutoka katika bara letu na kuhifadhiwa kisirisiri katika mabenki ya nchi tajiri.Ndugu Wananchi, Tunamshukuru Mheshimiwa Waziri Mkuu Gordon Brown kwa kuyapokea mapendekezo haya ya Afrika kwa moyo mkunjufu na kuahidi kuyafikisha na kusaidia kuyatetea katika kikao hicho. Pia tunamshukuru amepokea rai ya Afrika ya kuwakilishwa kwenye mkutano huo kwa kumwalika Waziri Mkuu wa Ethiopia, Mhe. Meles Zenawi, ambaye atatuwakilisha kwa kofia yake ya Uenyekiti wa NEPAD.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Mkutano huu wa G-20 ni muhimu sana kwani unalo jukumu la kihistoria la kuuokoa uchumi wa dunia. Kwa msemo wa Kiswahili tungeweza kusema kuwa kazi ya mkutano huu ni ya kufa na kupona. Mkutano ukifanikiwa, sote tumenusurika. Ukishindwa sote tutakuwa mashakani na tunaweza kuangamia. Tuwatakie viongozi wa G-20 heri na fanaka tele katika mazungumzo yao. Hatima ya maisha na ustawi wa dunia na watu wake uko mikononi mwao.
Mwisho
Ndugu Wananchi;
Mwisho kabisa napenda kuelezea masikitiko yangu kwa ajali tatu zilizotokea hivi majuzi. Ya kwanza, ni ile ajali ya magari iliyotokea mkoani Mbeya. Ya pili, ni ile ya treni mbili zilizogongana mkoani Dodoma. Na ya tatu ni ajali ya mgodi kufukia wachimbaji, wilayani Geita. Kwa ajali zote hizo tatu, moyo wangu uko pamoja na familia za wafiwa na waliojeruhiwa. Majonzi yao ndio majonzi yangu. Na machungu yao ndio machungu yangu. Tuzidi kumuomba Mwenyezi Mungu aziweke roho za marehemu wetu hao mahali pema peponi. Amin!
Aidha, tunawaombea majeruhi waweze kupona haraka na kuendelea na juhudi zao za ujenzi wa Taifa.
Kuhusu ajali ya treni, tutachukua hatua za kisheria kwa wote waliosababisha ajali hiyo. Tayari wahusika, wakiwemo dereva wa treni ya mizigo, Mastesheni Masta na askari wawili waliokuwa kwenye treni ya mizigo wamefikishwa mahakamani kwa tuhuma za uzembe na kusababisha mauaji.
Aidha, Serikali imeunda Tume ya kuchunguza chanzo cha ajali hiyo. Kwa upande wa ajali ya mgodi, napenda kuwahakikishia kuwa Serikali itafanya kila tuwezalo kusaidia juhudi za uokoaji. Ni kwa nia hiyo, nimeagiza Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania kusaidia juhudi hizo, na Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Mhe. William Ngeleja, yupo Geita kwa ajili hiyo.
Naomba nimalize kwa kuwashukuru na kuwapongeza wananchi na viongozi wote walioshiriki, na wanaoendelea kushiriki, kwa hali na mali katika juhudi za uokoaji.
Mungu Ibariki Afrika
Mungu Ibariki Tanzania
Asanteni sana kwa kunisikiliza!
kutoka: lukwangule.blogspot.com
HOTUBA YA MHE. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, RAIS WA JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA, KWA WANANCHI, 31 MACHI, 2009
Ndugu wananchi,
Kwa mara nyingine tumshukuru Mwenyezi Mungu kwa kupata nafasi ya kuzungumza na taifa katika utaratibu wetu wa kila mwezi.
Naomba radhi kuzungumza nanyi leo badala ya jana kwa sababu ya shughuli za ugeni wa Gavana-Jenerali wa Nchi rafiki ya Australia, Mama Quentin Bryce aliyetutembelea kuanzia tarehe 30 Machi na kuondoka leo asubuhi.
Leo napenda kuzungumzia mambo matatu. Jambo la kwanza ni mwenendo wa mvua na hali ya chakula nchini. Jambo la pili ni hali ya upatikanaji na uzalishaji umeme nchini. Na, la tatu ni mkutano wa Kundi la Nchi Ishirini Tajiri Duniani au maarufu kwa jina la G-20 kwa lugha ya Kiingereza. Mkutano unaoanza kesho mjini London, Uingereza.
Mwenendo wa Mvua
Ndugu Wananchi, Kwa kawaida hii ingekuwa wiki ya pili katika msimu wa mvua za masika kwa maeneo yanayopata mvua hizo. Mvua ambazo hunyesha kwa wingi na kwa saa nyingi mfululizo. Wakati mwingine hunyesha kwa siku mbili au hata tatu mfululizo. Lakini, ninyi na mimi ni mashahidi kuwa mpaka sasa mvua bado hazijaenea maeneo yote na unyeshaji wake siyo kama ule tuliouzoea.
Ingawaje ni mapema mno kuoneakana tuna mashaka, lakini hali ilivyo inatupa kila sababu ya kuwa na wasiwasi kuwa huenda mvua za masika zitanyesha chini ya wastani. Hata wenzetu wa Idara ya Utabiri wa hali ya Hewa wanaonyesha hofu kuwa huenda mvua za masika zisiwe nzuri kama tunavyotarajia.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Bahati mbaya sana Mikoa inayopata mvua za masika hivi sasa hazikupata mvua nzuri wakati wa msimu wa mvua za vuli mwaka wa jana. Kwa sababu hiyo kilimo katika mikoa hiyo kimeathirika, mavuno yamekuwa chini ya wastani na wako baadhi ya wakulima ambao hawakujaaliwa kupata chochote kabisa. Katika hali hiyo basi, kama katika msimu wa masika hali itakuwa chini ya wastani, ni dhahiri kwamba kutajitokeza tatizo kubwa kwa upande wa upatikanaji wa chakula na mapato ya wakulima kwa jumla.
Napenda kuwahakikishia kuwa Serikali inafuatilia kwa karibu hali hii na tumekuwa tunajiandaa kuchukua hatua zipasazo. Tathmini tuliyoifanya baada ya kumalizika kwa msimu wa mvua za vuli katika mikoa 9 ya Pwani, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Manyara, Mara, Shinyanga na Kagera zinaonesha kuwa watu wapatao 279,607 katika wilaya 20 watakabiliwa na upungufu wa chakula katika kipindi cha miezi ya Aprili na Mei 2009. Mipango ya usambazaji wa chakula katika wilaya hizo zenye upungufu inaendelea vizuri.
Serikali inaendelea na itaendelea, kukusanya taarifa za hali ya chakula kutoka wilaya zote nchini na kuzifanyia uchambuzi na kutazama namna ya kuboresha hali ya upatikanaji wa chakula. Tutaendelea kutumia akiba yetu ya chakula kuwahudumia wananchi wenzetu watakaokabiliwa na upungufu wa chakula. Napenda kuwahakikishia Watanzania wote kwamba tutafanya kila tuwezalo kuhakikisha hakuna mtu atakayekufa kwa njaa. Aidha, napenda kuzihimiza Halmashauri za wilaya zote nchini kuendelea kutuma Wizara ya Kilimo na Chakula taarifa za hali ya mazao na chakula za wilaya zao kila wiki ili kuwezesha Serikali kujua hali ya chakula nchini. Nawataka Wakuu wa Wilaya kulisimamia ipasavyo zoezi hilo. Na, Wakuu wa Mikoa wahakikishe linafanyika.Wizara ya Kilimo na Chakula itafanya tathmini ya awali ya hali ya mavuno na chakula kuanzia mwezi ujao. Wanategemea kukamilisha ripoti hiyo mwezi Juni, 2009. Hii pia itaiwezesha Serikali kujipanga kukabiliana na hali ya chakula na mavuno itakayojitokeza.
Wito kwa Wananchi
Ndugu Wananchi;
Napenda kuchukua fursa hii kurudia kusisitiza mambo matano yafuatayo:-
Kwanza, kwamba kwa wenzetu wa mikoa ya Rukwa, Ruvuma, Iringa, Mtwara, Kigoma na Kagera ambako mvua imekuwa nzuri, tuitumie vizuri fursa hii kuhakikisha kuwa mavuno yamekuwa mazuri.
Pili, kwamba katika mikoa yenye matatizo ya upungufu wa mvua naomba wananchi watumie mvua zinazonyesha hivi sasa kupanda mbegu zinazokomaa kwa muda mfupi hasa wapande mazao yanayohimili ukame. Kwa ajili hii, tutilie maanani mazao ya viazi, muhogo, mtama na uwele. Hii itatusaidia kupunguza tatizo la uhaba wa chakula nchini iwapo litatokea.
Tatu, tutumie kwa tahadhari kubwa chakula tulichonacho nchini. Uhaba wa mvua ukiendelea, hali ya upatikanaji wa chakula nchini haitakuwa nzuri mwaka huu. Na ukizingatia kwamba hali ya chakula duniani kwa ujumla pia siyo nzuri ni muhimu wananchi wenzangu tukawa waangalifu katika kutumia chakula tulichonacho. Ni muhimu kufanya hivyo kwani inawezekana kabisa mtu ukawa na fedha za kununulia chakula nje ya nchi, lakini ukakosa chakula cha kununua.
Nne, kwa kuwa mazao ya nafaka ndiyo yatakayoathirika zaidi na mwenendo wa mvua, napenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwahimiza na kuwahamasisha watanzania wenzangu kwamba sasa tuongeze matumizi ya vyakula visivyo vya nafaka, kama vile, ndizi, muhogo na viazi.
Na, Tano, tuongeze bidii na tija kwenye uzalishaji wa mazao ya chakula ili tujitosheleze kwa chakula na kuuza akiba nje ya nchi. Tuzingatie kanuni za kilimo bora na tutumie pembejeo za kisasa.
Aidha, nawaomba tuendelee kuomba dua Mwenyezi Mungu atujalie mvua itakayonusuru mazao mashambani na kutuepusha na tatizo la upungufu wa chakula mwaka huu.
Hali ya Upatikanaji wa Umeme Nchini
Ndugu Wananchi,Kwa takriban miezi mwili sasa umeme umekuwa gumzo kubwa hapa nchini. Mjadala umekuwa wa namna mbili. Kwanza umehusu nia ya Shirika la Umeme Nchini (TANESCO) kununua mitambo ya Kampuni ya Dowans pale Ubungo. Na, pili, umehusu mgao wa umeme unaoendelea tangu tarehe 26 Machi, 2009 mpaka sasa hasa hapa Dar es Salaam na wilaya jirani.
Mgao wa Umeme
Ndugu Wananchi,Kiini cha kuwepo kwa mgao wa umeme ni kuharibika kwa mitambo miwili ya kuzalisha MW 53 za umeme katika kituo cha kuzalisha umeme cha SONGAS. Jumamosi tarehe 28 Machi, 2009 mtambo mmoja wenye uwezo wa kuzalisha MW 20 ulitengemaa hivyo upungufu umebaki MW 33 kutoka kwenye mashine ya pili.
Taarifa niliyopewa leo ni kuwa hitilafu yake ni kubwa hivyo huenda ikachukua mpaka wiki mbili au tatu au zaidi kutengemaa. Maana yake ni kwamba mgao utaendelea kuwepo kwa kipindi hicho. Hivyo, Ndugu zangu, mgao huu hauna uhusiano na ile hadhari aliyoitoa Dkt. Idris Rashid, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa TANESCO alipokuwa akizungumzia suala la Dowans kuwa nchi inaweza kuingia kwenye giza siku za usoni.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Kwa mujibu wa wataalamu wa TANESCO, mfumo wetu wa umeme nchini, kwa sasa, hauna ziada ya umeme unaosubiri kutumika kama akiba. Kutokana na hali hiyo, kunapotokea upungufu wowote wa uzalishaji wa umeme kwa sababu yoyote ile, kama huu uliotokea tarehe 26 Machi, 2009, husababisha kuwepo kwa mgao wa umeme kwa watumiaji.
Umeme wote unaozalishwa hapa nchini hutumika na wala mahitaji halisi hayajatoshelezwa. Kimsingi umeme unaopatikana na kutumika ni chini ya mahitaji (supressed demand). Ni asilimia 14 tu ya Watanzania ndiyo wanaopata na kutumia umeme wakati watu wengi sana wanaohitaji umeme bado hawajapata.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Wakati wote Serikali kwa kushirikiana na TANESCO imekuwa na mipango ya kuongeza uzalishaji na usambazaji wa umeme nchini. Kwa upande wa uzalishaji kumekuwepo hata na ratiba ya lini, kituo kipi na cha ukubwa gani kinaratajiwa kuwepo. Utekelezaji wa mipango hiyo ndiyo iliyotufikisha hapa tulipo sasa. Mwaka 2007, kufuatia matatizo makubwa ya umeme unaozalishwa kwa nguvu ya maji, mpango huo ukaboreshwa na kuongezwa ujenzi wa vituo vya kutumia gesi asilia na makaa ya mawe. Utekelezaji wa mpango wa uzalishaji wa umeme kwa mujibu wa uboreshaji uliofanywa mwaka 2007 uko nyuma ya wakati. Mradi wa kuzalisha umeme wa megawati 200 kwa kutumia makaa ya mawe Kiwira umechelewa kwa sababu ya ugumu wa kupata mikopo kutoka kwenye vyombo vya fedha. Kiini cha tatizo ni hofu inayotokana na taarifa hasi kuhusu mradi huo. Mradi wa kuzalisha megawati 300 kutokana na gesi asilimia ya Mnazi Bay unacheleweshwa na matatizo ya sasa ya kudorora kwa uchumi wa dunia ambapo nimeambiwa kwamba wabia muhimu wamejitoa kwa sasa.
Ndugu Wananchi,
Kuchelewa kutekelezwa kwa miradi hiyo ni dalili kuwa baada ya muda si mrefu hali ya upatikanaji wa umeme itakuwa mbaya hata kama mitambo yote ya sasa itakuwa inafanya kazi kwa ukamilifu. Kwa sasa mahitaji yanaongezeka kwa asilimia 10 – 15 kwa mwaka. Hili ni ongezeko kubwa sana ambalo linahitaji kusiwepo kukwama kokote. Kwa nia ya kutaka kupunguza makali ya tatizo hilo, ndipo uongozi wa TANESCO ukaona waombe kununua mitambo ya Dowans ambayo wakati huo ilikuwa inatangazwa kuuzwa. Uamuzi huo ukazua mtafaruku mkubwa ambao sina haja ya kuelezea kwa kirefu kwani wengi wetu tunaufahamu vizuri. Baada ya kuona ugumu wa kuendelea na nia hiyo, uongozi wa TANESCO umechukua uamuzi wa kuachana na nia yao hiyo.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Katika taarifa yake ya kutamka uamuzi wa kuachana na nia ya kununua mitambo ya Dowans, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa TANESCO alielezea hofu yake kwamba uamuzi huo unaweza kusababisha nchi kuwa gizani hapo baadaye. Taarifa hiyo imeleta hofu kubwa katika jamii. Nataka kuwatoa hofu na kuwahakikishia Watanzania wenzangu wote kuwa Serikali itafanya kila iwezalo kuhakikisha kuwa nchi yetu haifikii hatua hiyo. Tutahakikisha kuwa nchi haiwi gizani na kwamba umeme wa ziada unaotakiwa utapatikana na shughuli za uzalishaji mali na utoaji huduma zitaendelea kama kawaida.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Tayari Wizara ya Nishati na Madini imeshaanza kuchukua hatua ambazo zinaonesha kuwa na mwelekeo wa kutia matumaini. Naamini tutafanikiwa. Tukiwa tayari, taarifa itatolewa. Penye nia pana njia.
Napenda kutumia nafasi hii kusema mambo mawili. Kwanza, kwamba, nawapongeza viongozi wa TANESCO kwa uamuzi wao wa busara wa kuachana na nia yao ya kununua mitambo ya Dowans. Wameyasoma vizuri mazingira na nyakati na kufanya uamuzi muafaka. Pili, niwaombe wanasiasa wenzangu kuwa, maadam waliokuwa na nia ya kununua mitambo hiyo hawanayo tena, suala hili limemalizika.
Sioni sababu ya kuendelea kulumbana, kutiana vidole machoni na kutoleana maneno makali na mengine hata hayastahili kusemwa. Tumekuwa tunawatia hofu wananchi kwa jambo lisilokuwepo tena. Nawaomba muzihifadhi nguvu zenu na bongo zenu ili muwafanyie wananchi mambo yenye tija kwao. Wanalo jukumu kubwa la kujiletea maendeleo kwa lengo la kujiondoa kwenye umaskini na kuwa na hali bora ya maisha yao.
Uongozi wetu wanasiasa unahitajika sana katika juhudi zao hizo. Tuelekeze nguvu zetu na maarifa yetu huko. Wapeni pumzi wananchi kutokana na malumbano haya.
Mkutano wa G-20
Ndugu Wananchi;
Jambo la mwisho ambalo ningependa kuliongelea leo hii ni kuhusu msukusuko wa uchumi wa dunia na hasa mkutano wa Kundi la Nchi Ishirini Tajiri Duniani (G-20) ambao unategemewa kufanyika kesho tarehe 2 Aprili na kumazika tarehe 3 Aprili, 2009 mjini London, Uingereza. Mkutano huu umeitishwa kutafuta njia za pamoja za kukabili kudorora kwa uchumi duniani.
Mataifa haya tajiri ishirini, ambayo yanamiliki asilimia 85 ya uchumi wa dunia ni pamoja na Marekani, Uingereza, China, Japan, Ujerumani, Ufaransa, Afrika ya Kusini, Australia, Uturuki, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Indonesia, India, Italy, Urusi, Korea Kusini, Umoja wa Nchi za Ulaya na Saudi Arabia.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Uchumi wa dunia sasa hivi unapita kwenye kipindi kigumu kuliko wakati wowote katika historia ya dunia. Hali hii isipodhibitiwa kwa haraka na kwa umakini itakuwa na athari kubwa ya kushusha viwango vya hali ya maisha ya watu katika nchi zote duniani tajiri na maskini. Matajiri watakuwa maskini na maskini watakuwa fukara zaidi.
Kama nilivyosema katika hotuba zangu zilizopita, kiini cha kudorora huku kwa uchumi wa dunia ni machafuko na kuanguka kwa mfumo wa fedha wa kimataifa. Tatizo lilianzia nchini Marekani na kuenea katika mataifa tajiri ya Ulaya na Asia. Mabenki makubwa na madogo yameanguka na kufilisika.
Viwanda vikubwa na vidogo pamoja makampuni makubwa na madogo yamefilisika na kufungwa. Mamilioni ya watu wamepoteza ajira na wanaendelea kupoteza ajira. Maelfu kwa maelfu ya watu wamepoteza nyumba zao za kuishi. Kwa ujumla, mamilioni ya watu katika mataifa tajiri wanaishi maisha ya mashaka. Wengi maisha yao yameanza kuporomoka.
Nchi zetu hazihusiki na kuzuka mwa matatizo haya lakini, athari za kudorora kwa uchumi wa dunia zinatukumba sote. Tayari tunashuhudia kupungua kwa bei na mahitaji ya bidhaa za nchi zetu kwenye soko la dunia, kupungua kwa idadi ya watalii na kupungua kwa uwekezaji na vitega uchumi kutoka nje.
Aidha, mapato ya fedha za kigeni na mapato ya Serikali nayo yanapungua. Mambo haya hatimaye yatasababisha kushuka kwa uchumi wa nchi zetu, watu kupoteza ajira na kipato na hali za maisha za watu katika nchi zetu kuporomoka. Kunahitajika hatua thabiti zichukuliwe na hatua hizo ziwahusishe na kunufaisha wadau wote. Nchi tajiri duniani zinao wajibu mkubwa zaidi. Kwanza, zina wajibu wa kuhakikisha kuwa wanadhibiti hali ili uchumi wa nchi zao usiendelee kudorora. Pia zinao wajibu wa kuzisaidia nchi kama zetu ziweze kukabiliana na athari za kudorora kwa uchumi wa dunia.
Nchi tajiri zimekuwa zinachukua hatua za kunusuru uchumi wa nchi zao na bado wanaendelea. Bahati mbaya nchi zetu maskini ambazo hazina uwezo wa kuwa na mipango kama hiyo, pamoja na ukweli kwamba nazo pia zinaihitaji sana, bado hazijasaidiwa.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Mkutano wa kesho wa Mataifa 20 Tajiri Duniani umeitishwa kujadili hatua zaidi za kuchukua kuzuia mambo yasiwe mabaya zaidi na kufanya uchumi ukue. Pia wanakusudia kuzungumzia njia za kuepuka maatizo kama haya yasitokee tena duniani. Katika mkutano wa kesho pia watazungumzia namna ya kuzisaidia nchi maskini za Afrika na zile zinazoendelea ziweze kujihami na kukabiliana na athari za matatizo ya uchumi wa dunia.
Katika mkutano wao wa kwanza, uliofanyika Washington, Marekani, jambo hili halikufanyika. Wakati ule nikiwa Mwenyekiti wa Umoja wa Afrika (AU), nilimwandikia Rais George Bush wa Marekani, ambaye alikuwa Mwenyekiti wa mkutano ule, kumuomba wayaangalie maslahi ya Afrika, lakini hatukufanikiwa. Tulipata ahadi kuwa katika mkutano utakaofuata jambo hilo litazingatiwa. Tunamshukuru Waziri Mkuu wa Uingereza, Bw. Gordon Brown kwa kutimiza ahadi yake aliyonipatia kuhusu kujali maslahi ya Afrika pamoja na kutoa fursa ya ushiriki na sauti ya Afrika kuwepo katika mkutano huu wa pili. Kwa nia ya kupata maoni ya Waafrika hasa kuhusu matakwa na matarajio ya Afrika katika mkutano wa G-20, Waziri Mkuu wa Uingereza, tarehe 16 Machi, 2009 aliitisha mkutano maalum baina yake na viongozi kadhaa wa Afrika mjini London, Uingereza. Mkutano huo uliohusisha viongozi wa nchi za Tanzania, Liberia, Afrika Kusini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana, Misri, na Cape Verde ulikuwa na manufaa makubwa.
Ndugu Wananchi,
Nilitumia nafasi hiyo kuwasilisha maoni na mapendekezo ya mkutano wa pamoja wa Mawaziri wa Fedha, Magavana wa Benki Kuu za Afrika na Shirika la Fedha Duniani (IMF) uliofanyika hapa Dar es Salaam kuanzia tarehe 10 hadi 11 Machi, 2009. Mapendekezo hayo yalikuwa msingi wa mazungumzo yetu katika mkutano wetu na Bw. Gordon Brown.
Kwa muhtasari, matarajio ya Afrika katika mkutano wa G-20 ni kwa Afrika kusaidiwa kujikinga na kukabili madhara ya kudorora kwa uchumi wa dunia. Miongoni mwa mambo ambayo tuliyasisitiza ni haja ya kuanzishwa mfuko maalum ambapo fedha zake zitatumika kuzisaidia nchi za Afrika kuchukua hatua za kunusuru uchumi wao kama wafanyavyo mataifa tajiri.Kwa maneno mengine tuliunga mkono pendekezo la Benki ya Dunia na kutaka Mkutano wa G-20 ukubali kwamba asilimia 0.7 ya fedha walizotumia kugharamia mipango yao ya kuchochea uchumi wao (stimulus packages) zitengwe kwa ajili ya kusaidia kuchochea kukua kwa uchumi kwa nchi za Afrika.
Pili, tulisitiza kuwa nchi tajiri zisipunguze misaada ya maendeleo kwa nchi maskini. Badala yake misaada hiyo iongezwe kama walivyoahidi kwenye mikutano ya Monterrey, Gleneagles na kwingineko.
Tatu, tulisema kwamba tunatarajia pia misaada kwa Afrika, na uwekezaji kutoka nje vitaelekezwa katika kujenga na kuboresha miundombinu, kuleta mapinduzi katika kilimo, kukuza biashara miongoni mwa nchi za Kiafrika na baina yake na nchi nyingine za dunia na kusaidia zaidi makundi katika jamii ambayo yanahitaji msaada zaidi (vulnerable groups). Nne, kwamba nchi tajiri duniani pamoja na Taasisi za Kimataifa za Fedha Duniani zilegeze masharti na kupunguza urasimu wa kupata fedha za misaada na mikopo kwa kutambua kwamba hiki ni kipindi kugumu na cha dharura.
Aidha, masharti ya kukopa kutoka vyombo vingine vya fedha yalegezwe pia. Tano, kwamba nchi tajiri zisaidie nchi za Afrika kujenga mitaji ya vyombo vya fedha vya kikanda kama vile Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika.
Na, la sita, kwamba, nchi tajiri zitakubaliana kuruhusu uwazi katika mabenki yao na taasisi zao za fedha ili kuwezesha nchi za Kiafrika kufuatilia na kurudishiwa fedha, majumba na rasilimali zilizoporwa kutoka katika bara letu na kuhifadhiwa kisirisiri katika mabenki ya nchi tajiri.Ndugu Wananchi, Tunamshukuru Mheshimiwa Waziri Mkuu Gordon Brown kwa kuyapokea mapendekezo haya ya Afrika kwa moyo mkunjufu na kuahidi kuyafikisha na kusaidia kuyatetea katika kikao hicho. Pia tunamshukuru amepokea rai ya Afrika ya kuwakilishwa kwenye mkutano huo kwa kumwalika Waziri Mkuu wa Ethiopia, Mhe. Meles Zenawi, ambaye atatuwakilisha kwa kofia yake ya Uenyekiti wa NEPAD.
Ndugu Wananchi;
Mkutano huu wa G-20 ni muhimu sana kwani unalo jukumu la kihistoria la kuuokoa uchumi wa dunia. Kwa msemo wa Kiswahili tungeweza kusema kuwa kazi ya mkutano huu ni ya kufa na kupona. Mkutano ukifanikiwa, sote tumenusurika. Ukishindwa sote tutakuwa mashakani na tunaweza kuangamia. Tuwatakie viongozi wa G-20 heri na fanaka tele katika mazungumzo yao. Hatima ya maisha na ustawi wa dunia na watu wake uko mikononi mwao.
Mwisho
Ndugu Wananchi;
Mwisho kabisa napenda kuelezea masikitiko yangu kwa ajali tatu zilizotokea hivi majuzi. Ya kwanza, ni ile ajali ya magari iliyotokea mkoani Mbeya. Ya pili, ni ile ya treni mbili zilizogongana mkoani Dodoma. Na ya tatu ni ajali ya mgodi kufukia wachimbaji, wilayani Geita. Kwa ajali zote hizo tatu, moyo wangu uko pamoja na familia za wafiwa na waliojeruhiwa. Majonzi yao ndio majonzi yangu. Na machungu yao ndio machungu yangu. Tuzidi kumuomba Mwenyezi Mungu aziweke roho za marehemu wetu hao mahali pema peponi. Amin!
Aidha, tunawaombea majeruhi waweze kupona haraka na kuendelea na juhudi zao za ujenzi wa Taifa.
Kuhusu ajali ya treni, tutachukua hatua za kisheria kwa wote waliosababisha ajali hiyo. Tayari wahusika, wakiwemo dereva wa treni ya mizigo, Mastesheni Masta na askari wawili waliokuwa kwenye treni ya mizigo wamefikishwa mahakamani kwa tuhuma za uzembe na kusababisha mauaji.
Aidha, Serikali imeunda Tume ya kuchunguza chanzo cha ajali hiyo. Kwa upande wa ajali ya mgodi, napenda kuwahakikishia kuwa Serikali itafanya kila tuwezalo kusaidia juhudi za uokoaji. Ni kwa nia hiyo, nimeagiza Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania kusaidia juhudi hizo, na Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Mhe. William Ngeleja, yupo Geita kwa ajili hiyo.
Naomba nimalize kwa kuwashukuru na kuwapongeza wananchi na viongozi wote walioshiriki, na wanaoendelea kushiriki, kwa hali na mali katika juhudi za uokoaji.
Mungu Ibariki Afrika
Mungu Ibariki Tanzania
Asanteni sana kwa kunisikiliza!
kutoka: lukwangule.blogspot.com
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