Mramba-It didn't have to come to this

Yesterday, a bombshell of political news shook the country: Basil Mramba, an iconic respected MP and former minister of various portfolios appeared in court (along with another former minister called Yona) charged with several counts of abusing office.
Now, Mramba earned much respect as a leader who delivered. Perhaps his most outstanding performance was that of being the first executive of the Small Industries Development Organization, an institution that grew and achieved a lot.

How did it happen? How would a man of Mramba's moral standing be caught in such a quangmire, have his systematically built reputation undone?

The likely explanation is, there seemed such confidence of untouchables who were much aware that they were not doing the right, moral thing - we all do have conscience, don't we? Here, then, we had my hero, Mramba, loyally supporting the boss man, Mkapa, who was termed, albeit wrongly by Father of Nation "Mr Clean". And getting reassured that nothing would go wrong.
It didn't have to come to the scenes above, that Kisutu court scenario, the big man himself sitting on a hard bench, not very different from the ones they sit willingly once per week every Sunday morning), and the cheering masses ("rubbering crowd" as O Henry would put it).

Did Mramba benefit financially from this abuse of office activities he is being charged with? Maybe, maybe not, but definitely he knew he was abusing power. What he was (wrongly) sure of was, he might be prosecuted for his actions.

The Alex Stewart Assayers scenario that was central to the accusations against Mramba as Financial Minister during Mkapa (at-CHOOOO!) era was largely unknown to the public. But the cheering crowds in the picture above most likely are those who remember Mramba reacting to protestations about Tz, a poor country, spending lots of foreign exchange to procure a totally unnecessary new presidential jet, publicly announcing a new jet for President would be bought no-matter what, even if it would lead to people eating grass. The jet deal, it would be found out later, was badly weighted, likely corrupt--that one and air traffic control radar.

Mramba-It didn't have to come to this.

Wao! I'll be damned! Fraud dividends pay off!

I glimpsed the last portion of the presentation of the "Richmond" Probe Committee by Dr Harrison Mwakyembe on National TV. Hair at the back of my neck kind of ruffled out of excitement. Was I dreaming? Naah. It was real.

The following day, Thursday 7th, I totted my little transistor radio so as to catch a word when the parliament would open next day. When I turned it a few minutes after nine, there was PM's voice alright. He spoke long and hard about all politicians being media fodder, only this time they decided to go for PM head, "a wish I'll grant", he said. Then rang out what people had wanted to hear--"I've given the President the letter to request my resignation". The parliament hall went wild with applaud. That may have been the loneliest hour for the whitehead tycoon who had a degree in theatre arts--something I got to discover a few hours after that short speech: I googled 'Edward Lowassa' on my cellphone, the first page was Wikipedia entry. Lo and behold, just some four hours after the heavy statement, some bonafide Tanzanian had already updated the Wiki entry appropriately about rise and fall of EL as Tz PM.

The parliament was then adjourned until 5 pm because of the gravity of what had just taken place. Two other ministers--Karamagi and Msabaha--would also announce their intentions to resign that evening.

Thursday 7th Feb 08 night a milestone was entered in the Tanzania history when President Jakaya Kikwete accepted the resignation letter submitted by Edward Lowassa and, as per Tanzanian Constitution, dissolved the Cabinet.

On Friday 8th during the 5 pm parliament session, a new name proposed to parliament for PM was announced--Mizengo Pinda. He had been a deputy Minister responsible for Local Government but also a seasoned civil servant having served under Father of Nation J.K. Nyerere and all other presidents that followed. According to him, he left civil service only when the constituents at his home district requested him to run for parliament, which he did and won, and was now in second term as MP.

As I'm writing this post we are without Cabinet (until tomorrow Monday 11 Feb anyways, but many a Tanzanian are welcoming the trend of things lately in the Phase Four government of Jakaya Kikwete. Pray, we, Tanzania, are the only country in the neighbourhood left with peace and tranquility--Kenya having discarded that status in the botched presidential elections at the end of last year.

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...

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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
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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


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