Tanzania Kwanza: KAZI YA SIASA KWANZA, YA CHAMA BAADAYE.

Tanzania Kwanza: KAZI YA SIASA KWANZA, YA CHAMA BAADAYE.: "Ni ukweli usiopingika kuwa katika kundi, jamii, na hata nchi yoyote ile ni lazima kuwe na chombo, taasisi au mamlaka ambayo itakuwa na juk..."

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! 

KAZI YA SIASA KWANZA, YA CHAMA BAADAYE.

Ni ukweli usiopingika kuwa katika kundi, jamii, na hata nchi yoyote ile ni lazima kuwe na chombo, taasisi au mamlaka ambayo itakuwa na jukumu la kuongoza jamii hiyo kwa niaba ya wanajamii wote. Hii ni kutokana na kwamba si rahisi wananchi au raia wote kuwa na nafasi na uwezo sawia wa kuongoza au kuamua, na hata wakipewa nafasi hiyo matokeo yake ni kujiamulia mambo au utaratibu wa maisha bila kuzingatia misingi fulani fulani ya muhimu kwa kuwa kila mmoja atataka kujinufaisha kwa nafasi hiyo ya kujiamulia mambo. Na hasa kama tujuavyo, binadamu tumeumbwa na asli ya ubinafsi na tukiachiwa kila mmoja wetu ajiamulie na kufuata utaratibu autakao, matokeo yake huwa ni athari na mmomonyoko kwa jamii hiyo husika. Na ndipo kukaonekana umuhimu wa kuwa na chombo chenye kuundwa na baadhi ya wananchi (wawakilishi) wachache kwa niaba ya jamii husika na kwa maslahi ya wanajamii hao kwa ujumla.

Chombo hiki huwa na mamlaka ya kusimamia ustawi wa jamii au nchi hiyo katika Nyanja mbalimbali kama vile Nyanja ya uchumi, elimu, utamaduni, afya, na kadha wa kadha. Chombo hiki huitwa serikali na aghalabu katika dunia ya sasa hupatikana kwa njia ya uchaguzi ambapo wananchi huchagua viongozi wao kutokana na uwezo, haiba na hata itikadi walizonazo na chama kinachoshinda ndicho huunda serikali.

Si lengo langu hasa katika makala haya kuelezea kwa undani kuhusu umuhimu au ufanyaji kazi wa serikali, bali nataka kunasibisha uhusiano na ulinganifu wa kazi zifanywazo na serikali, na hasa kupitia vyama vya siasa. Kila chama cha siasa popote pale kianzishwapo huwa na lengo la kukamata dola, ikiwa ndiyo kubwa zaidi kwa kuwa kushika dola ina maana ndio kuongoza nchi na kuamua mambo kwa kufuata sera na ilani inayokiongoza chama hicho husika. Uhai wa chama chochote cha siasa, pamoja na mambo mengine, ni wanachama na vikao. Chama cha siasa kikiweza kuwa na wanachama wengi kwa idadi na kwa ufanisi, na kikifanya vikao vya mara kwa mara kujadili changamoto na mipango mikakati basi nguvu na uimara wa chama hicho huongezeka na kuwa mtaji wakati wote na hasa katika kipindi cha chaguzi mbalimbali.

Katika Tanzania yetu ya leo baada ya kuruhusu mfumo wa vyama vingi mwaka 1992 na kufuatiwa na uchaguzi mkuu wa kwanza wa vyama vingi mwaka 1995, vyama vya siasa vimezidi kuongezeka na hivyo kwa namna moja au nyingine kuimarisha na wakati mwingine kudhoofisha mfumo huu wa vyama vingi. Hapo awali na hata sasa tarajio kuu la mfumo wa vyama vingi ni kusaidia si tu kuleta ushindani kwa chama tawala na kuisimamia au kuikosoa serikali bali pia kuwasaidia wananchi kwa kuwapa majibu na njia za kukabiliana kutatua changamoto mbalimbali kwa pamoja kuanzia ngazi za chini mpaka za juu kwa kubuni njia mbalimbali hata kama vyama hivyo haviundi dola.

Kazi za chama chochote cha siasa kwa kawaida zipo mbili kuu, kazi za chama na kazi za siasa. Kazi za chama wakati wote ni zile zenye maslahi tu kwa chama husika na wanachama wake, na mara nyingi kazi hizi hutakiwa kufanywa na kufanikishwa kwa hali na njia yoyote ile hata kama itakuwa na athari kwa wengine. Kazi hizi za chama hufanywa na makada, watu ambao wamebobea, wanakielewa chama hicho nje ndani na wapo tayari kwa lolote na hata chama kikiporomoka watu hawa huwa wapo tayari kubaki ndani ya chama hicho cha siasa. Na mara nyingi kazi hizi huwa hazifanywi na watu ambao hawaelewi vyema itikadi, msimamo na hata utaratibu wa vyama hivyo. Kazi za Chama hujumuisha kuongoza, kuhakikisha kinaendelea kuwepo, na uamsho.

Kazi hizi hufanywa kupitia maandamano na uelimishaji wa wananchi kuhusu ubaya wa sera za wapinzani, kuhakikisha mikutano inajaa watu wa kutosha. Kazi hizi hutokana na itikadi ya chama na huusisha makada ambao huwa wamejengewa utaalamu ndani na nje ya chama hicho, kwa kifupi kazi hizi ni kwa ajili ya kujenga chama.

Kazi ya siasa kwa upande wake pia hujumuisha kuongoza, yani kwa ufanisi na kufikia malengo tarajiwa na yenye tija si tu kwa chama hicho chenye kuunda serikali bali pia kwa wananchi wote kwa ujumla na kwa usawa. Kazi hii ya siasa hukitaka chama cha siasa na hata serikali kuhakikisha kinatekeleza sera zake vyema katika kuwaletea watu maendeleo na hasa kutokana na vipaumbele vya Taifa vilivyopo.

Nchi yetu ya Tanzania na hasa wananchi wake ambao wanachangamoto nyingi na za muda mrefu hawahitaji sana kuona kazi hizi za chama zikifanyika zaidi ya zile za siasa, yani hawafarijiki kuona viongozi wao wakitumia muda mwingi kutatua matatizo ya vyama vyao au kuwatumia wananchi hawa kuviongezea umaarufu vyama hivyo kuliko kutumia muda zaidi kuwahudumia wananchi hawa. Ni dhahiri shahiri kwamba gharama za maisha zimepanda tena sana na wananchi wengi hawajapata fursa kamili na hii kusababisha wengi wao kuzidi kukata tamaa zaidi ya maisha kuliko kutafuta njia mbadala ya kujikwamua na hali ngumu hii.

Mzigo huu wa maisha magumu umeachwa kwa Mh. Rais Jakaya Kikwete pekee na kwa baadhi ya mawaziri wachache ambao kimsingi kwa uchache wao huu wanashindwa kuyatimiza yale mema wanayoyafanya au kutaraji yafanywe nao kwa niaba ya serikali na kwetu sisi wananchi kwa ujumla. Rais Kikwete kila wakati amekuwa na dhamira ya dhati kuwasaidia Watanzania kwa mipango madhubuti, lakini tukumbuke mipango madhubuti bila utekelezaji ni sawa na ndoto tena za mchana zisizotimia. Mipango hii iwekwayo katu haiwezi kutimia kama hakuna ushirikiano wa pamoja tena wa dhati na hasa itokeapo Watanzania wenzetu tena wenye ubinafsi wanapoamua kufanya hila na mbinu zisotija ili kukwamisha juhudi hizi na hasa inapotokea watendaji wetu wa serikali walioaminiwa na kupewa dhamana na Taifa wanaposhindwa kumshauri vizuri, kiuhalisia na hata kumsaidia Mh. Rais katika kutekeleza mipango na mikakati. Watendaji hawa wamemuacha Rais Kikwete akiwa mpweke na mkiwa zaidi ya yatima akihangaika peke yake kila kukicha, kutatua matatizo ya nchi na hata katika chama chake, na wamesahau msemo ule wa umoja ni nguvu na utengano ni udhaifu.

Tatizo la Tanzania si CCM kama inavyoaminishwa, tuachane na propaganda zisizo za msingi na sasa tuutumie vyema  mfumo huu wa vyama vingi tulioukubali na kuubariki tutambue kuwa Watanzania wanakabiliwa na matatizo ya msingi kuliko vyama hivi vya siasa. Kazi hizi za chama leo zinatuaminisha kuwa maandamano na matamko ndio suluhisho la matatizo yetu, hivi ni kweli Watanzania tutakula na kuishi kwa maandamano haya yafanywayo na vyama vya siasa? Tena yasiyo na lengo zuri wala tija kwa Taifa? Tumemaliza uchaguzi wa 2010 na bado tungali tukitarajia kutimiziwa ahadi na maendeleo kutoka kwa wawakilishi wetu tuliowachagua na kuwaamini. Tatizo kubwa zaidi na ambalo kila siku linazidi kukua ni hili la Viongozi wetu hawa wa kisiasa na vyama vyao wanaposhindwa kutofautisha kazi hizi mbili, ya chama na ya siasa. Kinachotuunganisha sisi wananchi wa kawaida na viongozi wetu wa kisiasa ni kazi ya siasa na si ya chama. Tena nieleweke wazi kuwa matatizo haya ya Watanzania siye yanasababishwa kwa kiwango kikubwa na viongozi wetu hawa tunaowaamini ambao hawatumii muda wao vizuri.

Eti imekuwa ni mtindo sasa kila chama kikitoa tamko hata kama halina mashiko, ukweli na tija kwa taifa, basi Mh. Kikwete atatakiwa ajibu na akikaa kimya basi itaonekana si mchapakazi na hana uchungu na nchi. Ni kweli ili kujiimarisha vyama hivi vya siasa hutumia njia za maandamano wakati mwingine ili kuzungumza na wananchi na kuwaeleza namna ya kutatua matatizo yao, na si kuwapa watu siasa za chuki zenye lengo la kuwafanya watu wachukie serikali yao. Hawa CHADEMA wamekua wakiwatumia wawakilishi wetu (wabunge) kuzunguka nao sehemu mbalimbali na kutupotezea wasaa sisi wananchi kupanga mipango na wabunge wetu hawa. Hata kama ni wanachama wao lakini wajue sisi wananchi hatukuwachagua kwa itikadi zao bali kwa uwezo tulioona wanao.

Wanasiasa hawa hawakuja kwetu kusema kuwa watahakikisha nchi haitawaliki na kwamba watatumia maandamano kutatua kero zetu, kwa mtindo huu wanatupa shaka kila kukicha hakika. Mpaka tunajiuliza au ndio mbinu za kutukimbia huku majimboni? Wananchi tumewachagua  kwa kuwa tumewaamini hasa walipoonesha nia kwa kutuambia kuwa “wana uwezo, na wako tayari kututumikia.” Sasa ifike mahala watambue kwamba huu ni wakati wao wa kututumikia na kufanya kazi ya siasa kutuletea maendeleo na kazi za kuimarisha vyama vyao waachiwe watendaji wengine wa vyama, na kwa wale wawakilishi wetu wenye nyadhifa pia kwenye chama basi wajue tunahitaji watumie muda wao mwingi kutatua matatizo ya wananchi ambao kwa pamoja kuna washabiki wa vyama na tusiokuwa na itikadi yoyote ya chama na hatuna mpango wa kujiunga na chama chochote katika siku za usoni.

Wawakilishi hawa wanaozunguka na chama chao kila kukicha wakielezea matatizo yaleyale yanayofahamika bila kutoa majibu ya ufumbuzi wake na kutupandikizia chuki dhidi ya serikali yetu, hawana tija kwa Taifa letu hili na ni dalili ya kutukimbia wapiga kura wao. Nadhani wanaweza kukisaidia chama chao cha CHADEMA kwa kuleta maendeleo zaidi majimboni (kwa kuwa wao si serikali) kwa kuchukua changamoto zetu na kuwa daraja kati yetu na serikali kwa kuzifikisha changamoto zetu na kuzifuatilia. Watambue pia wamechaguliwa na watu wa itikadi tofauti na ni wajibu wao kututumikia sote bila kufanya mambo kwa dhana eti wamepigiwa kura na wanachama wao tu, kuthibitisha hili wafuatilie majimbo kama ya Iringa Mjini,  Kawe, Nyamagana, Ilemela, Arusha Mjini na mengineyo na watasadiki haya niyasemayo. Hebu tuchukue mfano wa Rais Obama wa Marekani, yeye ni Rais wa nchi na kiongozi wa serikali, si kiongozi wa chama chake cha Democrats lakini kama mwanachama anafanya kazi kubwa ya kisiasa kwa ajili ya chama chake na kama ataongeza uchumi wa Marekani atakuwa amefanya kazi nzuri ya kisiasa kwa chama chake. Na hasa ataweza kuwavutia hata wanachama wa Republican wazidi kuvutiwa na sera za Democrats na kukisaidia chama chake pia kujiimarisha zaidi kwa kazi hiyo ya kisiasa aliyoifanya ambayo itazaa mambo mawili kwa pamoja yani kuwawezesha wananchi na chama chake pia.

Waswahili waliobobobea walishasema kuwa “Siasa si hasa bali ni kisa na mkasa”, na haya tunayaona sasa yanatimia, na siku zinavyozidi kwenda ndivyo wananchi wengi zaidi wanavyozidi kupoteza imani na mvuto kwenye siasa kwa kuwa hawasaidiwi vyema na ndio maana wananasibisha siasa kama “kisa na mkasa” kutokana na watu kuitumia siasa vibaya kutafuta umaarufu na kueneza chuki kwa upande mwingine. Mfano wa hili umesadifu kwa idadi ndogo ya wananchi waliojitokeza kupiga kura katika uchaguzi mkuu uliopita, ambapo sababu kubwa ni hii ya wananchi kupotewa shauku na mvuto katika siasa japo wana uchungu na nchi yao.

Huu si wakati wa kampeni kama CHADEMA wanavyofanya sasa, serikali na vyombo vyake hasa msajili wa vyama vya siasa asiwaonee haya wanasiasa hawa. Wananchi wanateseka sana na wanawategemea wao kuwanusuru, na kama wana sera au ilani yao basi wasubiri mwaka 2015 kama watajaaliwa ili wakipata nafasi ndio wafanya haya wanayoyafanya (kutangaza ilani katika kipindi kisicho cha kampeni). Na kama kuna wanaofadhili au hata kuwatuma (maana si bure) kufanya nchi isitawalike wafuatiliwe na wananchi tujulishwe ili tuwe tukivinyima kura zetu vyama vya kutumika na wachache kama hivi.

Nchi hii ya Tanzania ni yetu sote na kila mmoja ana haki na stahili zake hivyo wananchi wote kwa ujumla, watendaji wa serikali, pamoja na wawakilishi wetu hawa wanasiasa, imefika mahala tumsaidie Rais wetu Kikwete amalize kipindi chake kwa ufanisi kwa kumshauri vyema na kuwajibika kwa kila mmoja wetu katika nafasi au uwezo alionao. Nchi ikiyumba hatutasema kashindwa Kikwete bali itakua ni kushindwa kwetu sote, Kikwete pekee si Tanzania, Tanzania ni sisi Watanzania pamoja na Rais Kikwete na CCM yake, CHADEMA, CUF, TLP na wengineo na washabiki wao. Hatukuumbwa kuwa Watanzania bila sababu, tusiwe watu wa propaganda zaidi na kuacha kazi hizi za chama zituondoe katika hoja zetu za msingi na changamoto zetu za asili eti tu kwa kuwa wachache kati yetu wana ajenda zao binafsi ziso tija kwa Taifa. Nchi kwanza, Vyama baadaye na hakika tuipiganie na kuilinda nchi yetu kwa kutimiza wajibu wetu kama wazalendo.

Email: sellyserera@gmail.com

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GIVE THEM THE TIME THEY DESERVE!

After 17 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, 'I love you, but I know this other woman loves you too and would love to spend some time with you.'

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been alone for 20 years, but the demands of my work and my two boys had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

'What's wrong, aren't you well,' she asked? My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

'I thought it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,' I responded. 'Just the two of us.'

                                   
She thought about it for a moment, and then said, 'I would like that very much..'

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last birthday on November 19th.

She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. 'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,' she said, as she got into that new white van. 'They can't wait to hear about our date'.

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips.  

'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,' she said.  

'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor,' I responded.

During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation - nothing extraordinary but catching up
on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.

As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me
invite you.' I agreed.

'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when I got home. 

'Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,' I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.

Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son....’

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU' and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till 'some other time.'

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby..... Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct ... somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring.... somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. 

Somebody said if you're a 'good' mother, your child will 'turn out good'.... somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother.... somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first.... somebody doesn't have two children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery.... somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten ... or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heart-strings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home ...... somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her.... somebody isn't a mother.