agro-ecology

With case study evidence from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and Pakistan, and citing global studies and surveys, this report argues that agro-ecology – or ecological agriculture – offers tools that can help the poorest communities to develop new, affordable, dynamic, lowcarbon and locally-adaptable models of agricultural development to meet these multiple challenges, and recent research shows that agro-ecology is highly productive and holds great promise for the roughly 500 million food-insecure households around the world.

http://www.actionaid.org/

sites/files/actionaid/fed_up_-
_nows_the_time_to_invest_in_agroecology.pdf 

join the voice

 

You are the voice. Join us in the fight for our right to communicate and the people’s right to know.

 

 

What could have been the reason

behind the ban of MwanaHALISI?

 

In its statement announcing the ban on MwanaHALISI, the government cited three most recent issues of the weekly which it said had carried news and feature articles which “…created and spread fear in society;” and that they were seditious and did not measure to “ethical standards.”

 

The three successive issues are No. 302 (July 11 – 17), No. 303 (July 18 – 24) and No. 304 July 25 – 31).

 

Content

(i)                             Issue No. 302: The major story was about the deputy national security chief, one Mr. Jack Zoka, allegedly being behind a plot “to eliminate critics of government.”

 

The story which links Zoka to the abduction and torture of Dr. Steven Ulimboka – leader of doctors on strike against government insensitivity in public hospitals – carries a picture of president Jakaya Kikwete in a rather tired or resigned or sorrowful mood; and well below, a picture of Dk. Ulimboka in bed at an intensive care unit (ICU) of Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

 

The paper still holds its source of story but also quotes leaders of leading opposition Chadema party as alleging the same at an august press conference in Dar es Salaam.

 

It also reports that Dr. Ulimboka still insists that a man, who arranged a meeting to where he was abducted, was working with the “state house” – office of the president under which operates the intelligence services (TISS).

 

Admittedly, this issue was really packed. It contained a two-page article on the doctors’ demands and rationale for their strike; three pages of analysis of Dk. Ulimboka’s abduction and torture; and an authoritative editorial comment on the need for an independent commission to investigate the matter.

 

(ii)                          Issue No. 303: The major story was about Dr. Ulimboka; quoted as insisting that those who abducted and tortured him were from the state house.

 

Photographs accompanying the major story included that of the president – looking inwardly and kind of perplexed; chief of police in Dar es Salaam, Suleiman Kova; and in between a picture of Dr. Ulimboka at ICU.

 

Besides a front page story, there were four other pages devoted to analysis on what befell Dr. Ulimboka.

 

(iii)                        Issue No. 304: This is the most recent issue that must have not only irritated, but also embarrassed government and forced it to flex its muscle – banning the weekly indefinitely.

 

The major story was about one Ramadhan Ighondu (alias Rama; alias Abeid); identified as an official at the intelligence unit (TISS) and one who had been communicating with Dr. Ulimboka until his abduction and torture. It details about Rama and reveals telephone numbers to which Rama called before and well after the abduction.

 

A message from a regular reader of MwanaHALISI said a day after the clampdown, “You sort of went too far. You threatened to link the revealed phone numbers reporting to authority at TISS or the executive. When you reach such point, they necessarily must be shocked and block or ban you…”

 

Pictures on the front page included that of Dr. Ulimboka at the ICU, President Jakaya Kikwete and chief of intelligence, Rashid Othman. Inside pages carrying the same story were accompanied by pictures: Minister of State (Good Governance) George Mkuchika and Deputy chief of TISS, Jack Zoka.

 

Besides the report, the issue carried among others, one analysis on Dr. Ulimboka; a report on emerging scandal at the ministry of energy; and part of a speech by opposition member of parliament – on the ministry of internal affairs –

which, the speaker had ordered not to be read in the house.

         

Since the ban of the weekly, voice has been heard from over 30 civil societies in the country, condemning government action and calling for immediate withdrawal of the order.

 

This is because there are no grounds for the clamp-down. The stories are neither seditious nor ethically questionable. They are, if you want, very revealing, true and correct – which is all about ethics. They have not been challenged by any individual or authority. To defeat them you need to apply a draconian law in the form of Newspaper Act (1976), which gives the minister responsible for information powers to ban and even deregister any outlet without prior notice and without giving any reason.

 

Some media houses, institutions and other fora, conscious of their rights and freedoms in this particular area, have held government by the neck, demanding immediate lift of the indefinite ban.

 

A good number of members of parliament, religious leaders and individual citizens, have expressed disgust at the government action. Their voices have been read in independent print media and heard on local and international radio and TV stations.

 

The voices are not without cause. To many of its readers, MwanaHALISI has been a fountain of information, education and knowledge. They are now missing the same.

 

Your voice matters. Join us in the fight for our right to communicate and the people’s right to know.

 

 

 

 

 

Ndimara Tegambwage
Information and Media Consultant
P.O. Box 71775, Dar es Salaam
Tel: 255 (0)713614872
e-mail: ndimara@yahoo.com
www.ndimara.blogspot.com

MAELEZO YA ZITTO KABWE KUHUSU TUHUMA ZA RUSHWA

MAELEZO BINAFSI YA MHE. ZITTO ZUBERI KABWE DHIDI YA TUHUMA ZA RUSHWA HUSUSAN KUELEKEA KATIKA KUPITISHA BAJETI YA WIZARA YA NISHATI NA MADINI

Ndugu Waandishi,

Nalazimika kukutana nanyi kutoa maelezo juu ya tuhuma zenye shinikizo la kisiasa zinazoelekezwa kwangu binafsi kwamba hata mimi nimeshiriki katika vitendo vya rushwa, kwa nafasi yangu kama Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Bunge ya Mashirika ya Umma. Taarifa hizo, kama kawaida ya uzushi mwingine wowote  zimesambazwa kimkakati na kwa kasi kubwa kiasi cha kuukanganya umma.

Nafahamu nabeba dhamana kubwa ya uongozi, taswira yangu ya uongozi daima imeakisi njozi na matumaini ya wananchi wa Kigoma Kaskazini, wananchi wanyonge na vijana kote nchini bila kujali itikadi zao za kisiasa, jinsia zao, makabila yao na rika zao. Hivyo, nawajibika kupitia kwenu kuwatoa hofu juu ya hisia potofu zinazopandikizwa kwao na wale wasiopenda kuona baadhi yetu tukiwaunganisha na kuwasemea watanzania wasio na sauti, dhidi ya vitendo vya hujuma na vyenye dhamira ovu kwa taifa.

Mkakati huo wa kuniunganisha na baadhi ya Waheshimiwa Wabunge wanaotuhumiwa kwa kupokea Rushwa unatekelezwa kwa njia zifuatazo:

1.   Kumekuwa na kauli za watendaji wa serikali ambao wamekuwa wakizieneza na hususan kutoa taswira kwamba baadhi ya kauli zangu zinatokana na ushawishi wa rushwa;
2.   Kuna taarifa ambazo zimeandikwa tena katika kurasa za mbele za baadhi ya vyombo vya habari  zikidai ’’Zitto kitanzini’’ ama ’’Zitto sawa na popo nundu’’  zikiashiria kwamba na mimi ni mla rushwa; na
3.   Waandishi wa habari na jamii kwa ujumla wamefikia kuaminishwa habari hizi kiasi cha wengine kuuliza kwa nini Mhe. Zitto Kabwe hakutajwa katika orodha iliyotolewa na Mnadhimu Mkuu wa Kambi ya Upinzani.

Ndugu Waandishi,

Naomba kutoa ufafanuzi wa hicho kinachoelezwa kwamba nina ushiriki katika masuala ya rushwa hususan kwenye masuala yanayohusu sekta ya Nishati na Madini:-

1. Mara baada ya bodi ya Wakurugenzi ya  Shirika la Usambazaji wa Umeme Tanzania (TANESCO) chini ya Uenyekiti wake Meja Jenerali Mstaafu Robert Mboma kutangaza kwamba imemsimamisha kazi Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Shirika hilo, Nd. William Mhando ili kupisha uchunguzi wa baadhi ya vitendo/mwenendo wake, Kamati ya Hesabu za Mashirika ya Umma (POAC) ambayo mimi ni Mwenyekiti wake ilimuandikia Mhe. Spika kumuomba aridhie ili Kamati iweze kuwaita Bodi ya TANESCO, Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Mahesabu ya Serikali  (CAG) na pia Mamlaka ya Udhibiti wa Manunuzi ya Umma (PPRA) kujiridhisha na tuhuma zote zinazotajwa zinafanyiwa uchunguzi wa kina na hatua kuchukuliwa;
2. Kamati ya POAC ninayoiongoza ilimuomba Mhe. Spika kuwaita wahusika tajwa kwa kuwa zilikuwapo tetesi kuwa kusimamishwa kazi kwa Mkurugenzi huyo siku chache kabla ya Bajeti ya Wizara ya Nishati na Madini kulikuwa na lengo la kufunika ’madudu’ makubwa zaidi kwa kulichagiza Bunge na tukio hilo dogo, mkakati ambao naona umefanikiwa sana. Isitoshe, Kamati kutaka kujiridhisha na hatua za Bodi ni sehemu ya msingi ya utekelezaji wa majukumu ya Kamati yaliyowekwa kwa mujibu wa Kanuni za Kudumu za Bunge na pia Shirika la TANESCO ni moja kati ya mashirika ambayo yanawajibika kwetu kwa hesabu zake na pia ufanisi wake kwa ujumla. Tumefanya hivyo pia katika mashirika mengine, hili la TANESCO sio tukio la kipekee;
3. Kitendo hiki cha halali na kwa mujibu wa Kanuni kilichofanywa na Kamati yangu  kimetafsiriwa kwa makusudi na baadhi ya watu kwamba ni ishara ya kuwa sisi au zaidi kwamba mimi nina maslahi binafsi na TANESCO na hususan Mkurugenzi wake Injinia Mhando, ndio maana tumetaka maelezo ya Bodi. Ukweli kwamba Kamati ya POAC tumewaita pia Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Mahesabu (CAG) na Mamlaka ya Udhibiti wa Manunuzi ya Umma (PPRA) kwa jambo hilo hilo umefichwa kwa makusudi!
4. Baada ya  tukio hilo, nikiwa hapa Dodoma, mwandishi wa habari wa gazeti moja alinifuata akiniambia kuwa wamekutana na Mhe. Waziri Mhongo na Katibu Mkuu wake, Nd. Eliachim Maswi hapa hapa Bungeni na wamewaambia kuwa mimi nimepewa rushwa. Hakutaja nimepewa rushwa na nani, kiasi gani na wala kwa lengo gani!
5. Nimejaribu kumtafuta kwa simu Mhe. Waziri Mhongo na Katibu Mkuu wake ili wanipe ufafanuzi juu ya mimi na Kamati ya POAC kuhusishwa na tuhuma hizi bila mafanikio, hali ambayo inaniondolea mashaka juu ya ushiriki wao katika kueneza au kuthibitisha uvumi huo. Najaribu sana kujizuia kutokuwa na mashaka na ushiriki wao huo ikizingatiwa uzito na taswira ya nafasi zao katika jamii, lakini wameshindwa kunidhihirishia tofauti.

Sasa naomba kutoa ufafanuzi rasmi kuhusu mlolongo wa matukio hayo tajwa ambayo yanatumiwa na baadhi ya wanasiasa kuonesha kwamba eti nimehusika na vitendo vya rushwa.

1. Binafsi sijawahi kuwa na mawasiliano ya aina yeyote na uongozi wa TANESCO kushawishiwa juu ya hatua ambazo POAC ndio imezichukua za kutaka kujiridhisha juu ya utaratibu uliotumika. Ieleweke wazi kabisa kuwa, hakuna wakati wowote, popote ambapo mimi binafsi au Kamati yetu imekataa Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa TANESCO kuchunguzwa kwa tuhuma zozote. Ambacho tumesisitiza wakati wote ni ufuatwaji wa taratibu, kanuni na sheria, hili nitalisimamia iwe masika au kiangazi;

2. Ni kwa sababu hiyo, na kwa kujiamini kabisa nimeunga mkono suala la tuhuma za rushwa zinazotajwa zichunguzwe na Kamati ya Haki, Maadili na  Madaraka  ya  Bunge kwa kina;

3. Nimekwenda mbali zaidi kukiomba chama changu CHADEMA kifanye pia uchunguzi na tathmini yake kwa kina kujiridhisha na tuhuma hizo;

4. Natumia fursa hii pia kuomba vyombo vya Dola vichunguze tuhuma hizo kwa nafasi yake ili kuweza kupata ukweli;

5. Ninaahidi kushiriki kikamilifu iwapo nitatakiwa katika uchunguzi wowote utakaofanywa na niko tayari kuwajibika iwapo nitakutwa na hatia yeyote.

Napenda niwatoe hofu wananchi wa jimbo la Kigoma Kaskazini walionituma kuja kuwawakilisha hapa Bungeni na Watanzania wote kwa ujumla kwamba:-

1. Mimi Zitto Zuberi Kabwe sina bei, sijawahi kuwa nayo na sitarajii kuwa nayo huko mbeleni. Daima nimesimamia kidete maadili ya uongozi bora katika maisha yangu yote ya siasa, na nawaahidi sitarudi nyuma katika mapambano dhidi ya rushwa katika nchi hii pamoja na mikakati ya aina hii ya kunidhoofisha na kunivunja moyo;

2. Nafarijika na salam mbali mbali zinazotolewa kunifariji na kusisitiza kuwa nisilegeze kamba katika mapambano haya, nimepokea ujumbe mwingi kwa simu, sms, tweeter na hata facebook na niko pamoja nanyi Watanzania wenzangu kamwe sitarudi nyuma hadi kieleweke. Naamini katika nchi yetu tunazo rasilimali za kutosha mahitaji/haja ya kila mmoja wetu lakini si ‘tamaa/ulafi’ wa baadhi ya watanzania wenzetu;

3. Napenda kuweka rekodi sawa kwa Watanzania kwamba nimekuwa Mbunge hiki ni kipindi cha pili, Mimi ni Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Hesabu za Mashirika ya Umma (POAC) huu ni takriban mwaka wa saba sasa, Kamati yangu inasimamia mashirika 259 ya Umma na si TANESCO peke yake. Mchango wa Kamati hii katika Bunge na kwa ustawi wa Mashirika ya Umma ni bayana na haujawahi kutiliwa shaka. Kamati yetu imeokoa upotevu mkubwa wa mali za umma na kuokoa fedha za umma kutokana na umakini wake. Tumefanya hivyo CHC hivi karibuni, Kiwira na kwenye mashirika mengine mengi. Kote huko uadilifu na uzalendo wa Kamati hii haujawahi kuhojiwa. Inatuwia vigumu kuona kuwa tunahojiwa katika suala hili la TANESCO. Hapa pana kitendawili.

4. Zipo hoja pandikizi za kutaka Kamati ya POAC ivunjwe na haswa zikinilenga mimi binafsi. Nafahamu kiu ya wasioitakia mema nchi yetu kuiona POAC ikivunjwa au sura zikibadilishwa kwa kuwa Kamati hii imekuwa mwiba kwa mikakati yao ya kifisadi. Kwa maoni yangu, Kamati ya POAC isihusishwe na tuhuma hizi kwa vyovyote vile. Niko tayari nihukumiwe mimi kama mimi na sio kuhusisha wajumbe wengine ambao hawatajwi mahala popote katika tuhuma hizi mbaya sana katika historia ya Bunge letu. Nitakuwa tayari kunusuru Kamati ya POAC na maslahi ya taifa letu kwa kujiuzulu Uenyekiti iwapo itathibitika pasipo shaka kuwa nimehongwa. Kamati ya POAC ni muhimu zaidi kuliko mimi.

5. Nafahamu pia kuwa kuna wanasiasa hasa wa Upinzani ambao wanautaka sana Uenyekiti wa POAC na wanafanya kila njia kutaka kuidhoofisha. Lakini hawajui kuwa anaepanga wajumbe wa Kamati ni Spika wa Bunge.

6. Msishangae pia kuja baadae kubaini kwamba baadhi ya wanasiasa wenye midomo mikubwa ya kutuhumu wenzao wao ndio vinara wa kupokea rushwa.

7. Ni lazima tufike mahali kama viongozi kwamba utaratibu unapokiukwa na yeyote yule, au uongo unapotolewa hadharani tuseme bila kuogopa. Hili ndio jukumu letu kama wabunge na viongozi. Kusimamia ufuatiliaji wa utaratibu ni jukumu letu kama Kamati ya POAC na ndio sababu ya msingi ya kuanzishwa kwa mamlaka kama CAG na PPRA. Haiwezekani, tuwe na set ya kanuni kwa kundi fulani na nyingine kwa makundi mengine, au kuhukumu ufuataji wa taratibu kwa kuangalia sura ya mtu usoni

Mwisho

Kumejengeka tabia hivi sasa ya kuwamaliza wanasiasa wenye kudai uwajibikaji na uzalendo. Kumeanzishwa kiwanda kwenye medani ya siasa cha kuzalisha majungu na fitna zenye lengo la kuwachonganisha wanasiasa wa aina hiyo na wananchi kwa kutumia vyombo vya habari na nguvu ya fedha. Naamini mbinu hizi chafu, kama nyingine nyingi zilizojaribiwa kwangu huko nyuma nazo zitashindwa.

Naamini katika kweli na kweli daima huniweka huru. Naamini kuwa mwale mdogo wa mwanga wa mshumaa hufukuza kiza. Kwa imani hiyo, sitasalimu amri mbele ya dhamira zao ovu hata nitakapobaki peke yangu katika mapambano hayo ya kulinda na kutetea rasilimali za taifa zinufaishe watanzania wote.

Daima nitaongozwa na busara ya Hayati Shabaan Robert isemayo, ‘Msema kweli huchukiwa na marafiki zake, nitakapofikwa na ajali hiyo, sitaona wivu juu ya wale wawezao kudumu na marafiki zao siku zote, siwezi kuikana kweli kwa kuchelea upweke wa kitambo, nikajitenga na furaha ya kweli itakayotokea pale uwongo utakapojitenga”.

Ahsanteni sana.