How my 2008 fared

We saw a new year drive into our lives, hang on there, and would drive on into history, leaving another year in place after 365 days. Today is the 24th of December, christmas eve. In 6 days time, this year shall make way for the other.
I look back at the occurences that stood out
The localhost and open source content management system
It's been said best things in life are free. Studying some forums and other web resources I "discovered" Xampp, Joomla and Moodle. The last time I was so excited was during compilation of my first FORTRAN codes.
Awardspace
This hosting service is without doubt the greatest whereby even with a free hosting account, the user is given lots of goodies. Frankly Awardspace drove me to acquire debit card account for making online payment where I got even better goodies.
Debit Card account
Some really good stuff is available for little payment on the Web, but is inaccessible if you don't own a means of online payment. Having acquired the powerful plastic card, I am now head and shoulder above an average crowd, and I like it. I'm able to enjoy a domain name like danielmakundi.com...
Windhoek
I attended an international conference organized by Information Society Technology for Africa, an EU-FP7 project. Held in Windhoek, Namibia for three days, I met many people, built new network of professional colleagues, and, yes, had a peek of South Africa from Joburg Airport during one day wait during transit there on way to Dar-es-Salaam.
Obama
The incredible happened. America said Yes to Barak Obama. I have an earlier post taking my hat off for Michelle Obama, and am repeating here that with the two in the White house, things can only go right, and may Gof bless them!
Albino deaths: The most deplorable
Here in Tanzania we have abject poverty mixing with ignorance and plain stupidity creating automatons of unbelievable actions. Armed with deception that organs from albinos (unfortunate brothers and sisters whose skins are without pigment that's resistant to sunshine, making them vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancers) could make them rich. Many albinos have been killed, others maimed. Thanks to public reaction, some arrests have been made by now.
Obituary
Hassan Shamsi, a workmate and one of the finest electrical artisans I've ever known.
Isaac Hayes, a voice like a rumble of thunder, a phenomenon in Shaft etc

Tanzania Higher Education Students Loans

The system of issuing loans for students to pursue higher education--who would pay back later when employed or running businesses--is nothing new, being applied in many countries.

To Tanzania it was an introduction of change that was very much unwanted: the new loanees would ask, "why us?, Why did our parents etc receive free education but not us?" The question has a convincing answer, so the loan thing came to be accepted as a way of life, an expense like foodstuff and fuel.

The problems of implementation began. After the first faltering steps, it was apparent that the numbers going for loans was overwhelming. Off the list went those pursuing postgraduate studies. Yet the applicants were more than budgeted funds. The Board morphed its criteria by limiting beneficiaries to only those who got Division One. This was not the minimum qualifications set out by the universities, by the way. It proved disastrous--aspirants of tough UG courses such as Meidicine and Engineering figured the chances of scoring Div I with good grades in those subjects, and opted to study for easier humanities subjects. Long-term effect? A nation with short supply of professionals but full of "artists"--lawyers, linguists, historians, librarians etc etc. As employment chances are dwindling compared to number of graduates, one of the alternatives to employment would be enterpreneurship, and who would be in a better position to start an enterprise than a professional?

Then came the concept that the Board would be in a position to help more students if those with well-to-do families could receive less loans (60 - 80 percent of total financial requirement for tuition, subsistence etc). Based on a set of questions on the application forms, the Board would decide who would receive 100, 80 or 60 percent. The system seems flawed, likely from the massive paperwork resulting from the applications, and actual loans are not reflecting on true student social status. Study they must, so some students have been known to pay for the tuition using their subsistence allowances and going around campuses like beggers or surviving on unrealistic rations.

The Board had also figured a trick of making money on the side off the prospective students. They would charge TZS 10,000 (a bit less than USD 10) as a processing fee for every application form submitted. The trick lies here: the applications are required to be submitted well before the high school results are out, with candidates not even sure whether they'll meet minimum qualifications to enroll. This money is not refunded. It is a cruel little scheme, because all parents think their child is a genius if there was any genius in the world, and would gladly pay for the fee. If some study were to be done, it would reveal the Board has been making a bundle this way.

Another problem that featured around blogs/forums awhile back was that of one student being listed for lone in as many as 4 different institutions. So manual is the processing system of applications that they allow such error arising from multiple applications.

It therefore came as no surprise when students from a number of universities and colleges rose as one protesting against partial loan that has lead to much anxiety, insecurity, and more. A little girl who left her upcountry home to come pursuing a degree courses might find herself unwillingly drawn into love affair and possible dire consequences included STIs and single motherhood.

The state organs rolled anti-riot gear to campuses, donned face masks and fired tear gas at the kids. Even as this was happening in one campus, the other were coming onboard. One by one the institutions closed and students sent home. This was after the Minister in the troubled Ministry of Education had issued an announcement on media, "All students should be in their classrooms tomorrow at 7 a.m." I reflected during my entire higher education stint of several years if there had ever been a timetable where one should be in class at 7 a.m., I drew a blank. And this gentleman is a professor, no less!

I am throwing my lot with the protesting students:

• the 7 a.m. ridicule stated above is part of it.
• the other reasons is the apparent unwillingness to refuse acting by logic, through negotiations between students government and the responsible ministry.
• I also am pretty convinced that the responsible ministry has not sought funds realistically to cater for bigger enrolment and hence more loans. We know how co-operating taxpayers can be towards a good cause. Road toll levy on fuel pump sales helped building kilometers of roads. similar levying could be aimed at boosting the loans pouch--several people would like to do their postgrads if loans were availed to them, and most students who met minimum qualifications to enrol would like to do just that.
• Tanzania is the last in East Africa region in tertiary institutions enrolment figures. What did other country do to achieve that, while they all have less populations compared to that of our country?

Tabora fatal recklesness

October 1 marked Idd el Fitr, a Moslem celebration of ending the month of Ramadhani where the faithful do fast for 28 moons. In Tanzania that day and following one are public holidays. These days are marked with overdressing, overeating and overdrinking in many communities. Dance hall reap, confectionery retailers alike. Fights and road accidents in the two days are commonplace.

What happened in Tabora is out of proportions, though. A dance hall was crammed with kids for afternoon boogie. It is said the capacity of that hall is 150, but on that eventful day, October 1st, it is said to have been packed with more than 1000!

Then something must have gone very wrong, but at the end of the day 19 kids were declared dead from suffocation. It would seem someone locked the dancehall entrance and drifted away for fun elsewhere when kids were having good time, then when air supply couldn't cope with close-packed kids, there may have been screams that were interpreted as fun itself. It seems after a while the place went eerily quiet--the younger ones (7 year olds were the youngest of victims, oldest were 14) slipped into unconsciousness. This may have been interpreted by their siblings as slumber before things grew worse. Meanwhile all were apparent prisoners here, the gatekeepers commonly referred as "bouncers" nowhere nearby.

I have heard how a person rescued from near-death caused by air foulness explains afterwards of having dreamed of happily floating around before being resusciated. Same stories were on papers, given by survivors who were interviewed. Three of the kids who perished were from one family, survived by recently-widowed father. I expect the bouncers who caused this have an explanation to give to Tanzanians.

It was a week. Palin blah-blahhed her way out of the VP debate (that I had hoped would see the end of her), Fosset crash site was discovererd, Tabora families grieved.

Morogoro visit

Earlier this month I attended some training in Morogoro.

The one-week event would begin on some Monday, so travelling from Dar wasn't a big deal. There are lots of buses, big and small. Particularly there are two companies which are fierce competitors--Aboud and Hood. Others include Islam and Saddiq, as well as numerous 26-seater minibuses.

I took Aboud for reason I always take Dar Express when I'm travelling northwards: If there is a breakdown, the company buses plying same route are sure to bring in support or even pick passengers that are in a hurry. The trip was uneventful.

Training would take place at Amabilis Conference Centre. This is a squeaky-clean new facility along Kilakala road that is also a Roman Catholic convent. It was so soothing staying at the facility with its nicely trimmed hedges, well attended lawns and hush-hush environment that makes one feel closer to heavens.

The little I could see of Moro town during late evenings, it's a lively little place. As in other towns, there were lots of pubs. Someone confided to me that most of those pubs belong to SUA lecturers. Internet cafes and stationery shops too. No comment there, no law broken, creating labour.

Here goes 2007

Personally I have only a dull recollection of the outgoing year: Tanzania was being run by a newly-elected phase four government that was, er, different. Early on, a star minister, Hon Migiro (Foreign Affairs) was taken on by no less than UN SG ki-Moon as his Deputy.

Petroleum price continued to climb, and is now perched at 1500 Shs per litre, too expensive for many persons. But as common say around bongo goes, if your tight shoe is pinching your toe, just grin and bear it, it's your personal problem--same here: we are still having many people full-tanking for long drives out of town just for fun. Some of these cars were fitted with music system (Bang and Olufsen? Boston Acoustics? All here) whose wattage could support a concert at a stadium.

Corruption and thieving stories by politicians and political had-beens started to be leaked into email and web forums and circulate lightning-fast around the web to reach Tanzanians far and near. With Internet being such an efficient means of communications, things shall never be the same again--not-so-good guys are exposed, caught in the act.

Wave of armed robbery (which reached crescendo just after phase 4 government entered into the scene) was largely quelled; and it was discovered, after all, that most kingpins were from neighbouring countries.

Some landscape changes observed during the year include multiplication of outdoor banners, mushrooming of open-yard car showrooms and inflow of low-key "investors".

Lopsided system of remuneration continued unchecked--two kids would graduate same day with identical results of the same subjects. When one of them would land a job (in government, no less) receiving salary of, say "x", the other would receive a salary of "4x", also a government employee. Reasons peddled by those who speak to media are interesting: The person who gets four times salary works at a place where he/she might accept bribe from customer. Sigh!

Chadema opposition party had a field day when its fireband MP was "admonished" for "lying" and received wholesome public sympathy.

Road accidents continued to claim their toll, and law enforcement officers seemed unable to do anything about it.

Obituary: our uncle Israel (brother of my mother) passed away aged about 77. He's survived by wife Lyimo (petite charming lady who seems forever young come rain or shine) and 8 kids.

Professor Mbuya's sober talk

There is a large electronic discussion group called Tanzanet comprising mostly Tanzanians who are within and outside the country. Members come in all ages and carreers, from students to professors; from enterpreneurs to CEOs.

Most discussion that takes place there arise from Tanzania news items. I have taken liberty to post this Professor's reality message here for visitors to check reflect and forward...

********Beginning of paste****************

From: ...a@comcast.net
Reply-To: ...t@tanzanet.org
To: ...@tanzanet.org
Subject: [tanzanet] LOWASSA na KILIMO
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:08:21 +0000

Mbona mahindi yanawaozea wakulima wa Songea?
Why should farmers produce if they cannot sell for a profit?

Foreign investors are NOT and will NOT be the silver bullet for the agricultural sector in Tanzania.
You heard it from me and you can quote me if you wish.

We have to address the basics of agricultural production (or any production).

1. Improve extension services
2. Secure markets (internal and external) for agricultural produce and products ...why produce if you can't sell?
3. Post-harvest processing and storage (preserve and store excess during peak (bumper) production to avoid spoilage aand waste)
4. Transportation infrastructure to reach the farmer and farms
5. Subsidy of farm inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) whenever appropriate
6. Mechanization and Irrigation

Tanzania need to encourage, support and protect small farmers from unfair competition from the "big sharks".
Would the farmers (80% or so of the population) be able to afford the food produced by the foreign investors?
And what would the small farmers do then? Go to Malawi?

Mimi nilianza kazi kama Bwana Shamba wa Tarafa kule Sikonge (Tabora) mwaka 1980.
Kwa wale wanaotoka Sikonge, nilikagua mashamba mengi sana ya tumbaku na mihogo kule Tutuo na Kiwele (karibu na Rukwa). Bila kusahau "kipigo" cha mbung'o (tse tse fly).
Baada ya kufanya kazi hiyo ya extension, vile vile nilifanya kazi kama Afisa Kilimo Utafiti katika Kituo cha Lyamungu.
Vile vile niliwahi kufundisha shule ya Sekondari kule Uru (Mwl. Mkuu alikuwa anaitwa Mr. Ndaskoi). Dada Selina unafahamu pale kwa Kisawio? Nilipita maeneo hayo sana.
Nimewahi kufanya utafiti na extension (Farming Systems Research) kule Colombia (Latin America) mwaka 1986 na mkazo ulikuwa wakulima wadogo wadogo (nilifika miji ya Cali, Medelin, Bogota, Pasto, Palmira na miji mingine midogo midogo). Wakati huo nilikuwa chini cha taasisi ya CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, i.e. Center for Tropical Agriculture).
Hapa Marekani tunashughulika na wakulima wadogo na wakubwa, at different levels of sophistication.
I have been in South Africa twice as a Consultant (Irrigation, Marketing and Post-harvest processing) on behalf on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
I have served in may agricultural panels (State, National and International).

Why am I giving you all this personal information?
Because I think it is time someone (e.g. the government, politicians) take us (myself and other Tanzanian experts) seriously. I presume, at least we have something to offer, across disciplines and continents.

Kama ni utafiti tunaufahamu na tumeshafanya mwingi. tu
Kama ni extension tumefanya vile vile (kuanzia Sikone mpaka Colombia).
Kama ni kufundisha ...kazi hiyo tunaimanya vile vile (kuanzia Uru hadi Florida).
Otherwise the Americans wouldn't keep us around.
How come we cannot be heard at home?

Bongo tumekuwa mabingwa wa biashara ya maneno isiyokuwa na wanunuzi.

Wataalam tunao, lakini kwa sababu tunazozijua wenyewe, serikali inaamua kwenda kutafuta "wataalam" wa mvua kutoka Thailand.
Ati wamekuja kufanya utafiti! Utafiti wenyewe ni utafiti wa kunyunyiza "silver iodide" kwenye mawingu. (please read the literature on this subject).
Where was the Thai research proposal submitted for review?
Who was the highest and lowest bidder?
How were the local (Tanzania) experts involved?

Give me a break!

Now, let me be accused of wanting to be serious :-)

Have a nice weekend.

Mbuya
===================

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Mwasa2" <....m@blueyonder.co.uk>

2007-09-15 08:36:15
By Lusekelo Philemon
The Prime Minister Edward Lowassa has underscored the need for collective efforts to promote the untapped opportunities in the agricultural sector.

Speaking at the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC) tenth anniversary`s climax in Dar es Salaam yesterday Lowassa said agriculture is one of the important sectors that need special attention.

`This sector still remains the important sector for the country`s socio-economic development hence more investments are highly needed for the country to register tangible success,` he said.

He said agriculture employs more than 80 per cent of the country`s total population, but there were minimal investments in the sector.

`More efforts are needed to ensure that serious investors come in the sector for vibrant returns,` he noted.

Lowassa urged TIC to collaborate with ministries, public institutions and key stakeholde rs to come up with viable strategies that would ensure there is an in crease of investors in the sector.

He said that there is no way we can get out of poverty without agriculture which is the engine for Tanzania?s economic prosperity.

The premier has also challenged TIC?s staff and management to work hard and ensure they seriously promote viable areas for the country`s economic development.

`Apart from today`s success, TIC needs to work hard to make sure that the center`s efforts contribute to the country?s economic growth,` he said.

The TIC Executive Director, Emmanuel Ole Naiko said during the ceremony that the center approved about 680 projects last year and expects to approve more in the near future.

Ole Naiko said: `Next year the centre is expected to approve about 800 projects. This is a good move to us.`

He said the centre has managed to reduce unnecessary delays for an investor to approve his/her projects.

`Currently, it takes only two weeks for the project to be approved by the centre. This is a good development for it as before that an investor spent more than three months,` he said.

He said the center is working hard to make sure that all potential investors come in the country and invest for the benefit of the entire Tanzanian population, and that friendly investment environment has made TIC to be one of the best centres in the world.

* SOURCE: Guardian


***********End of paste******************

Phew, what a week

All world media has been reporting disasters, from burst steam pipe in New York to freak aviation disaster in Brazil, to earthquake of 6+ Richter in Japan.

Closer to home, there were earthquakes in Kenya and Tanzania which is not a normal occurence. There were also a series of daring robberies in what looked like the giant that had been humbled was waking up again. It seems, though, it is crooks from neighbouring countries who regard our country as a soft target to rob.

Crime: This is one of the reasons I am very much against the East African federation: such a union ought to come gradually and not to be imposed by leaders who may have ulterior motives.

A tribute to Amina Chifupa

My tears flowed for the young martyr, Amina. I dedicate the Pink Floyd song Shine on you crazy diamond. It's describing her well, she aged unnaturally and just vanished.

Remember when you were young,
you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes,
like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire
of childhood stardom,
blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target
for faraway laughter,
come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!

You reached for the secret too soon,
you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night,
and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome
with random precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!

Nobody knows where you are,
how near or how far.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Pile on many more layers
and I'll be joining you there.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
And we'll bask in the shadow
of yesterday's triumph,
sail on the steel breeze.
Come on you boy child,
you winner and loser,
come on you miner for truth and delusion, and shine

Keywords: Amina Chifupa, heroine, dirty politics, martyr, Tanzania, Queen of Hearts

Zitto Kabwe, MP, gave a heart-rending one-on-one to the late Amina Chifupa.
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Subject: [tanzanet] Amina - Kwenye macho ya Zitto Kabwe

Zitto Kabwe

AMINA, umetangulia kwa Mola. Umetutoka tukiwa bado tunakuhitaji. Taifa lako ambalo ulianza kulitumikia ukiwa kijana mdogo linakulilia. Nchi imezizima, hakuna anayeamini. Safari hii ni yetu sote, wewe umeanza. Msalimie Bibi Titi. Unakumbuka nilikuwa nakwambia kupitia kwako namwona Bibi Titi? Wengi wanadhani wanakujua. Umeondoka bila kuwaonyesha kuwa wanakujua ndivyo sivyo. Kila mtu anasema chake kutokana na ama amesikia nini au amekuona katika nini. Unakumbuka ulipochaguliwa kuwa mbunge watu walisemaje? Eti hata Amina naye kawa mbunge? Utafanya nini bungeni. Haikukuchukua mwaka ukawaonyesha tofauti. Ukafanya yale ambayo wengi kwa kweli yalitushinda kufanya. Ukaanza vita kubwa na ngumu ambayo hujaimaliza mpaka unaingia kaburini leo. Hata hivyo si lazima umalize vita uliyoianza. Edward Mondlane wa Frelimo alituaga kabla hajaona mwisho wa vita aliyoanzisha ya kumng'oa Mreno Msumbiji. Kina Samora wakamaliza vita hiyo. Umeianza vita, tutaimaliza. Umetupa changamoto. Swali lako la mwisho bungeni lilihusu wizi wa mitihani. Hukupata bahati kuliuliza. Uliuliziwa na jirani yako, Ruth Msafiri, wa Muleba Kaskazini. Najua kama ungekuwapo ni aina gani ya swali la nyongeza ambalo ungeuliza. Nilikuangaza kule unakokaa sikukuona. Lakini nilijua utarudi muda si mrefu. Amina ulikuwa mwepesi kujifunza na wala hukuona aibu kuomba msaada, tena bila kujali itikadi ya chama ya unayemwomba msaada. Mimi nilikutana nawe kwa mara ya kwanza pale tulipoitwa na Mheshimiwa Spika kuhesabu kura za kumthibitisha waziri mkuu. Tukapeana namba za simu na kupoteana tukiwa tunasalimiana pale tunapoonana tu. Sikutegemea hata siku moja kama utakuwa karibu yangu kiasi tulichofikia. Niseme kweli, hata mimi nilikuwa najiuliza utafanya nini bungeni wewe, nikijisemea kuwa wewe ni kilaza tu. Rafiki yangu, na pia rafiki yako kipenzi, Omar Ilyasambe, kwa sasa yupo masomoni nchini Marekani, alinitahadharisha nisiwe kama watu wengine wanaokutafsiri kwa ujumla. Akaniambia nikupe muda wa maongezi na msaada kwa yale ninayoyajua. Urafiki ukaanzia hapo. Urafiki wa kujifunza na kujadiliana mambo mengi ya nchi yetu. Nakumbuka ulikuwa unanilaumu kwa kuwa mkali kwa serikali yako ya CCM na kwamba wakati mwingine nazidisha. Nilikwambia ndiyo kazi yangu katika upinzani. Ulinielewa. Tulijadiliana maswali yetu na maswali gani ya nyongeza kuuliza. Tulijadiliana kuhusu masomo yako na masomo gani ya kuchukua katika juhudi zako za kutafuta elimu. Tulibishana sana kuhusu ni wapi ukasome shahada yako ya kwanza. Wewe na Omar mkitaka uende kusoma nje, mimi nikitaka usome hapa hapa nchini ili pia ufanye kazi zako za ubunge. Niliwashinda na kweli ukaanza kusoma. Ukajitahidi kusoma kwa bidii sana. Walimu wako watakukosa. Amina, ulikuwa na malengo makubwa sana katika maisha yako. Ulianza kujiandaa kuongoza umoja wa vijana wa chama chako katika matayarisho ya kupata mafunzo thabiti ya uongozi. Mapema kabisa ulianza kupambana na vikwazo, lakini hadi unaanza kuumwa, zote uliona ni changamoto tu za maisha ya kisiasa. Siku uliyoanza kuumwa ulikuwa uende Lindi kufanya kazi za vijana, lakini pia kujiandaa na changamoto za uchaguzi mwakani. Masikini umeondoka na ndoto yako. Inauma sana kukupoteza. Wakati tunaokujua tukitafakari kuhusu kifo chako, hatuoni tumempoteza mbunge tu, tunaona tumepoteza mpiganaji mahiri. Mpiganaji wa mstari wa mbele katika vita ya kunusuru taifa kutokana na ubadhirifu wa mali za umma. Wakati mwingine tunaona tumepoteza kamanda mwema, mwenye uwezo wa kupata habari zote za adui na kushauri njia bora za kukabiliana na adui. Amina, maisha yako yana tafsiri nyingi. Umepitia mambo mengi sana. Ulitaka kuandika kijitabu kuhusu maisha yako ili watu wakujue vizuri. Wakati tunajiandaa kukusanya vya kukusanya, ukawa mgonjwa. Umeondoka kabla hujakamilisha azima yako. Bado watu hawakujui. Tutakamilisha kazi yako ili vizazi vijavyo vijue kuwa kulikuwa na kijana kiongozi mahiri mwenye msimamo thabiti. Amina niseme nini kukuelezea wakati tunakupumzisha pumziko la kudumu? Maneno hayaji, vidole vinatetemeka. Tutakukumbuka. Ucheshi wako na umahiri wako katika kuhakikisha unapata unachokitaka. Usiku wa tarehe 6, Mei ulinipigia simu kuniambia kuwa Mkwawa anakuita, na kwamba Mwalimu Nyerere ananipa salamu. Mimi naomba uwape salamu. Uwaambie nchi yao ipo inaendelea, na kwamba huna uhakika ndoto yao ya kujenga taifa imara itafikiwa karibuni. Waambie Mkwawa na Mwalimu kuwa siku hizi ili uwe kiongozi ni lazima upande mabegani mwa mwingine na kumwangusha na wala si uwezo wa mtu. Amina, nakutuma kwa Bibi Titi, mwambie kuwa juhudi zake za kutaka mwanamke, tena mwanamke wa Kiswahili kuonekana ana uwezo wa kuwa kiongozi, bado zinaendelea, na wewe umeziacha zinaendelea. Umefanya kazi yako, umewaachia kijiti wengine wafanye pia. Nenda Amina, nenda kapumzike. Umetuonyesha kuwa vijana tunaweza. Tumejifunza, hatutakuangusha. source : www.freemedia.co.tz

Comments on TanzanNet

On 6/29/07, Sir Nyamranga wrote:

Simba,

Hon. Amina alikuwa Amina na ndio maana watu walimpenda. Alikuwa ni average joe kama kijana yoyote wa Tanzania na ndio maana watu wengi waliona kama anawawakilisha. Wazungu huwa wanapenda kutumia msemo wa "Be Yourselff" na ndio Mheshimiwa Amina alivyokuwa hivyo.

Hakutaka kubadilika kwa vile ni mwanasiasa. Hakutaka kubadilika na kuwa kama kama lile group la wanasiasa tuliowazoea waonavaa kaunda suti na vitambili kwa sababu alikuwa ni Amina. Amina alikuwa ni new generation ya politician ambayo ingeweza kubadilisha mambo mengi sana nyumbani.

Pia sidhani kama Mh. Zitto anataka ku socre point yoyote. Kaandika nakala nzuri sana na inaonyesha ni jinsi gani vijana walivyokuwa wanasaidiana kutetea maslahi ya nchi bila kujali itikadi ya chama walichotoka.Uhusiano wao wa karibu umedhihirisha hilo.

Nilishawahi kupata nafasi ya kuongea na kufanya mahojiano na Mh Kabwe na naweza kusema ni mmoja wa vijana makini sana nchini Tanzania. Mheshimiwa Zitto hakuanzia CHADEMA tu bali alikuwa makini tangia enzi za National Youth Forum. Sidhani kama atataka kufanya hayo unayoyasema.

----------------
On 6/29/07, Simba Yahya wrote:

Nilichangia huko nyuma kuhusu kifo cha bibi huyu "nyota" machoni mwa sehemu kubwa ya jamii ya watanzania.

Baada ya kusoma "Mmtazamo wa Zitto Kabwe" na yale yalioendelea katika kipindi kifupi cha uongozi wa Bi Amina, sina shaka kwamba hiyo haikuwa changamoto ndogo ambayo binti yule kichanga angeweza kuimudu kwa muda mrefu.

Kwa Amina, kuwa Bungeni na kuwa na mahusiano na Wabunge wengine alikuwa anaichukulia kirahisi (business as usual) na kuacha sehemu kubwa ya political mechanics (machination?) nje ya equation za siasa sio tu hapa nyumbani, lakini kwingine kokote! Lau angebahatika kuwa kama kina VITA KAWAWA, Dr. HUSSEIN MWINYI, KIPI WARIOBA na wengine ambao wamebahatika kutoka familia za wanasiasa wakongwe, naamini angepata msaada mkubwa wa kumwongoza ndai ya safu za siasa. Yaliyomfika binti huyu wala yasingemtokea....

Ni mategemeo kwamba the likes of Kabwe hawatatumia kifo hiki ku-score political points ambazo kwao zinaweza kuwanufaisha, lakini kwa kiasi kikubwa kuongeza machungu kwa familia ya Amina Chifupa!!

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Fast-changing ICT: why I'll start an ezine

I made an effort of writing a computer hardware book some three years ago. I photographed stuff, I scanned pictures I browsed the web etc, I had quite a cache of material. When I would pause for a couple of weeks or so then get back to the writing work, I would discover some information needed to be updated. After some time I gave in--too much patching up.

My favourite indicator of the computer world gallop is a cutout from Newsweek titled Model price cuts, where they were talking about "fast 386s" and "screaming 486s". Not that far back, that was just 1992. The prices were USD 2,286 and USD 4,891 (down from USD 7,198 a year before.

I bought my Pentium in 1999 and felt really good about it. It was boasting a 3 gigabyte hard disk and 16 megabyte of RAM. A tower design clone, it didn't have sound card, no CD-rom drive and definitely no USB port. At that time 16x cd-rom drive was very good. CD writers were virtually nonexistent and DVD wasn't in the vocabulary.

I like reading the past, therefore I have with me the whole load of magazines--news, computers, aircraft, etc etc. I also browse through old catalogs that I possess, such as Sears. It's interesting that the older non-ICT catalogs don't have much difference with the currernt ones (I guess everyone has heard that humour about Microsoft and GM exchange about their respective technologies).

This yearning for reading the past led me to thinking, heck, whyn't write the current bits of ICT information and publish them somewhere or other, and when they get obsolete they become history? We all know that so many good guys are offering loads of free space on the web, such as this blog.

This therefore announces my intention of publishing an ezine. The idea is still a mere sketch--how often to update, whether it will be on a website, in a blog or mailing list, those matters are still undecided.

Taifa Stars, you done us proud men!

Yesterday evening 21 hrs East African Time, a soccer game kicked off in Oagadugu, Boukirna Faso.

This narrowish West African nation is perhaps most well known for myth: voodoo. I do remember at one time when I was chatting with a certain diplomat who'd been there on a UN mission who was thoroughly convinced that voodoo really worked there--with several stories to tell. He got really cross with me when I said that was all gogolamba (bullshit in Zamundese language). I don't believe the stuff.

Back to the ball game. It was Bukirna national side against Taifa Stars of Tanzania. It was a repeat match, first having played in Dar es Salaam awhile back where Tz team beat the visitors 2-1. Tanzanian team that played at that first encounter had been a weakling that fluked a win. The team lately has been really hard-swinging, holding Senegal National team to a draw some weeks ago in a home tussle (lost badly during the first encounter in Dakar--understandably because the Senegal cards were well-stacked, especially cheers of home crowd). In a patriotic revolution, Tanzanians led by no less than the Tanzanian President, Hon. J.Ml Kikwete, egged on the boys. And there is also this superb coach, the Brazilian Maximo.

Bukirna didn't know what hit them. Tanzanians commanded the ball all the way from the start whistle, and the hosts did their utmost not to get embarrased infront of their home crowd, therefore literally packed themselves at their goalmouth like sardines in a can.Occasional efforts by the Bukirna attackers ended in frustrating fluid motion of Evo Mapunda snatching the ball and diving with it, pausing down there for a sec, likely uttering a short prayer, "Thanks again, God".

Meanwhile the seconds arm of clock kept sweeping, and things seemed certain to end nil-nil, such a fortress the Bukirna side had built around their goal, hardly anytime did the ball even reached their custodian. The opportunity came though, some five minutes or so before full time. The goal was professional, attributed to attacker Haruna Moshi, to put it simply. It broke whatever reserves the hosts still had, kind of like throwing a stone at the nest of hornets. But nuthin' seemed to matter to the emboldened Taifa Stars. Much to the overjoyed multitude of Tanzanians watching the ball live on Television ya Taifa, The whistle went 3 extra minutes after full time putting the gallant boys of Tanzania 1 up.
Tempers flared. One player from each side got awarded a red card, maintaining things scalar balance. Smelling the kill, Maximo didn't want to leave anything to chance. His effort to urge the boys awarded him with a red card. Tanzanians like me would concur that the red card for the coach, if anything, was like a certificate of achievement.