Arrested for Promotion of Homosexuality in Tanzania

   DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) - Tanzanian police say they are holding 12 men, including two South Africans, for questioning over allegations of promoting homosexuality in this East African country.

   Dar es Salaam Police Chief Lazaro Mambosasa said Thursday that authorities are gathering evidence and will arraign all the suspects in court to face criminal charges. He said the suspects include two South Africans, a Ugandan and nine Tanzanians

   The men were arrested at a hotel in the port city of Dar es Salaam.

   Homosexuality is criminalized in Tanzania under a colonial-era law banning sex acts "against order of nature."

   Tanzanian authorities have recently ramped up a crackdown on the activities of LGBT people, even ordering clinics to stop offering services to homosexuals

Kumbe Kabaka Mwanga II wa Buganda alikuwa Shoga!

Papa Francis yuko nchini Uganda kwenye ziara rasmi. Alitoa heshima kwa wakristo 45 wailouawa huko Uganda zaidi ya miaka 100 iliyopita.  Katika historia, wanasema kuwa waAnglikana 23 waliuawa na waKatoliki 22 waliuawa kwa vile walitaka kusambaza ukristo Uganda.  Kumbe waliuawa kwa vile Kabaka huyo alikuwa shoga na hao wakristo walikataa kutembea naye! Duh! Kabaka anataka uroda halafu unamnyima! Walivyomnyima ilikuwa kashfa kwake!

Sasa, tunaweza kuona sababu kuu ya waGanda kuwa na sheria kali dhidi ya usenge/ushoga.   barani Afrika wao wako wazi kabisa na chuki ya dhidi ya ushoga. Ni historia ambayo hawapendi kuongelea. (Zamani  kabla ya mamisionari ushoga/usenge ulikuwa ruksa!)

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By NICOLE WINFIELD and RODNEY MUHUMUZA
Associated Press

   NAMUGONGO, Uganda (AP) - Pope Francis on Saturday honored the Ugandan Christians who were burned alive rather than renounce their faith a century ago, urging today's Catholics to follow in their missionary zeal and spread the faith at home and abroad.

   A somber Francis prayed at shrines dedicated to the 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic martyrs who were killed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of a local king trying to thwart the influence of Christianity in his central Ugandan kingdom. According to historians, the Christians were also killed because they refused the king's sexual advances, citing the church's opposition to homosexuality.

   At Namugongo, outside the capital, Kampala, where most of the martyrs were burned alive, Francis prayed first at the gruesome sanctuary dedicated to the Anglicans, kneeling before part of the same tree where they were tortured before being executed. He then prayed at the Catholic shrine and celebrated Mass in their honor to mark the 50th anniversary of the Catholics' canonization.

   As many as 2 million people were expected to attend the Mass, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the president of South Sudan and the descendant of the king who ordered the deaths.

   Francis urged them to use the martyrs' example of faith to be missionaries at home by taking care of "the elderly, the poor, the widowed and the abandoned."

   "This legacy is not served by an occasional remembrance or by being enshrined in a museum as a precious jewel," he said. "Rather we honor them and all the saints when we carry on their witness to Christ, in our homes and neighborhoods, in our workplaces and civil society, whether we never leave our homes or we go to the farthest corner of the world."

   The Argentine pope knows of what he speaks. When he joined the Jesuit order as a young man, he longed to be a missionary in Japan. But his superior told him to stay home for health reasons, and he later developed a ministry in the slums of Buenos Aires that has formed the basis of his papacy.

   During his two days in Uganda, Francis is expected to touch on some of the same themes he emphasized during the first leg of his trip in Kenya: corruption, poverty and giving young Christians hope and encouragement. After the Mass on Saturday, Francis has a rally with young people, a visit to a charity and a meeting with local priests, seminarians and nuns on his agenda.

   Some of the pilgrims attending the Mass had been here all night to honor the martyrs and see the pope, braving rains and sleeping on mats to guard against the mud that turned the grounds into chocolate-colored muck.

   "They are so important because they sacrificed their life because of their religion," said Beneh Ssanyu, 27, who showed off the mud encrusting her sandals and pants - evidence of her arrival at 1 p.m. Friday that scored her a prime front-row seat.

   Security at the shrine was tight, with those entering the main area passing through metal detectors and police boats monitoring the moat surrounding the altar where Francis celebrated the service.

   Francis has made a point on his foreign travels to honor local martyrs in hopes of inspiring a new generation of missionaries. When he was in South Korea, for example, he beatified 124 missionaries who helped bring the faith to the Korean Peninsula. He has also spoken out frequently about today's martyrs, the Christians in the Middle East and Africa who have been slaughtered by Muslim militants.

   The history of Uganda's martyrs has helped shape the Catholic Church here, with huge numbers of pilgrims flocking to the Namugongo shrine, many of them Africans arriving from as far away as Congo and Tanzania. Most of the pilgrims walk long distances to the site to underscore their faith.

   King Mwanga II of Buganda Kingdom ordered the martyrs killed during a period of political and religious turmoil as he tried to assert his authority amid the growing influence of missionaries from Europe.

   But the history of the martyrs also shows a personal grudge Mwanga held against them: After the martyrs converted to Christianity, they began rebuffing his sexual advances since church teaching forbid homosexuality - a humiliation that was part of the reason they were ordered killed, according to the history of the killings, "African Holocaust" by J.F. Faupel.

   "It is absolutely true. It is a fact," said Bishop Giuseppe Franzelli, a longtime Italian missionary in Uganda. "When they became Christians, they saw that this was not according to the Gospel, the teaching of Christ and they said no."

   The little-known history might help explain why homosexuality remains so taboo today in Uganda, which is 47 percent Catholic and has criminalized homosexuality.

   The Vatican has refused to say whether Francis will discuss gay rights openly while here.

   On Sunday, Francis heads to his final destination, the Central African Republic.

Mashoga wakitafuta wateja katika hoteli ya kitalii

Wanapinga ukeketaji wanashabikia Ushoga na Usagaji?

Na Mdau Mobini Sarya  

 

JUMATANO wiki hii nilishtuka kusikia mtangazaji wa redio moja jijini Dar es Salaam, akitangaza kuwa siku hiyo ilikuwa siku ya kupinga ukeketaji duniani!

Kilichonishtua ni jinsi ambavyo wazungu kupitia mawakala wao wa kiafrika walivyokomalia hilo tendo la  ukeketaji au tohara kwa wasichana na kulivyolibebea bango, utadhani ni dhambi kubwa kuliko zote duniani.

Wamelikomalia, kila mwaka wanatenga bajeti kubwa kupambana na tamaduni zetu za kiafrika,wakiziita za kishenzi na  sisi tunachekelea kwasababu wanatupa peremende na shanga tunaogopa kuwahoji  vipi ushoga sio ushenzi?

Wazungu wana tamaduni nyingi za kipuuzi ambazo kama ni sisi tungekuwa tunaziendekeza pengine tungeitwa wanyama tusiostahili kuitwa binadamu. 

Wanatenga siku ya kupambana na ukeketaji lakini wao ambao wameathiriwa na vitendo vya ushoga hawataki kutenga siku ya kupinga ushoga na usagaji!

Najiuliza hivi kama vitendo vya ushoga chimbuko lake lingekuwa afrika hawa wakoloni wetu wa zamani wangetudharau vipi,wangetutukana vipi?

Tulidhani kuwa ingekuwa vema wakaja kujifunza kwetu, kufanya utafiti halisi inakuwaje baadhi ya makabila ya kiafrika wanafanya tohara kwa kisu au wembe bila kutumia ganzi na kijana anavumilia halafu anapona bila kutumia dawa ya hospitali?.

Inakuwaje kijana anatahiriwa kwa kisu halafu akitoka damu nyingi anapewa dawa za asili kukomesha damu hiyo na anapona  kabisa bila kwenda hospitalini kutumia madawa ya kizungu?

Hawataki kujiuliza hayo wanaoona tutapewa sifa waafrika wanatulazimisha tufuate kile wanachoamini,kwamba wao hutahiri wanaume wanataka tutahiri na sisi, kwamba wao hawakeketi wasichana na sisi  wanatuzuia. 

Sisi weusi tulizoea tendo la  ndoa hufanywa na jinsia mbili tofauti yaani mke na mme kama mwenyezi alivyoamuru lakini wazungu wamekuja na mapenzi yajinsia moja, yameendelea kushika chati katika miji mbalimbali hapa nchini.

Lakini cha ajaabu ni kwamba wakati utamaduni huo wa kishenzi ukizidi kushamiri katika shule za seminari na kwingineko mitaani, hakuna mkakati wowote wa kupinga vitendo hivyo zaidi ya kusikia wazungu wakitulazimisha tutambue haki za mashoga.

He! yaani hao watenda maovu yanayo mchukiza Mungu na jamii ya wanadamu mnaataka tuwatambue lakini wafrikakudumisha utamaduni wao kwa kufanya tohara mnawambia kuwa utamaduni wao  ni wa kishenzi.

Wafrika  wakioa wake wengi ili  kukidhi haja ya tamaa zao na kuepuka uzinzi wanaambiwa kuwa suala la kuoa wake wengi limepitwa na wakati,lakini kuwa na boyfriend au girl friend ruksa hata kama upo ndani ya ndoa!

 

Suala la kuoa wake wengi limeandikwa hadi kwenye biblia wafalme waliotukuka kama Suleiman walioa wake 700 na hata suala la kurithi ambalo wazungu wanalipiga vita kwa waafrika lilikuwepo tangu zamani.

Sisi tunapojaribu kufanya kile ambacho wazungu hawakipendi tunaambiwa kuwa utamaduni wetu ni wakishenzi wa kwao safi, hata kama wanalala na watoto wao wa kuwazaa.        

Kutokana na upuuzi huo wa kizungu leo katika safu hii nampongeza  kamanda wa Polisi  kanda maalum ya Tarime na Rorya,Justus Kamgisha na wengine waliofanya nzuri kama yeye  kuhakikisha utamaduni wetu unabaki.

Ni kweli na ni wazi kuwa mtu akitenda jambo jema anastahili pongezi akikosea, akosolewe,akiwajibishwa awajibike.

Kamanda wa Polisi wa Tarime/Rorya anastahili pongezi na tuzo ya heshima kwa watu wanaolinda na kutetea utamaduni wetu wa kifrika.

Kamanda huyo  amekataa kupokea mawazo ya kitumwa kutoka kwa mawakala wa kizungu eti azuie wakazi wa wilaya ya tarime kuwatakasa mabinti wao. 

Hiki ni kipindi kigumu ambacho dunia inapitia kuelekea katika utandawazi unaokuzwa na kuenezwa na mabadiliko makubwa ya teknolojia.

Anapotokea mtu kama Kamanda Kamgisha akapuuza amri ya mawakala wa Kizungu waliomtaka kukamata wananchi wa Tarime ambao wangediriki kujihusisha na vitendo vya tohara ya kiafrika, anapaswa kupongezwa.

Kamanda  huyo ameonyesha mfano kwa  makamanda wenzake kuwa unaweza ukatumia akiri kufikiri badala ya miguu au tumbo.
 kiongozi akifanya jema apewe shukrani zake akikosea akosolewe bila aibu, ndivyo leo ninavyoendelea kumpongeza  Kamanda huyo kwa jinsi alivyoshughulikia suala la tohara kwa wasichana wilayani tarime Mwezi Disemba Mwaka 2012.

Hicho ni kipindi ambacho mabinti wengi waliomaliza shule walikuwa wamejiandaa kutahiriwa ili kujiweka tayari kisaikolojia kwa ajili ya kuolewa ,kuposwa kwani tendo hilo huashiria pia ukuaji kimwili.

Kumuingiza kijana wa kiume au kike jando baada ya kumfanyia tohara kunamuepusha na vitendo hatarishi vya ushoga na usagaji, kwani anajitambua yeye ni nani anatakiwa kufanya nini baada ya hapo.

Kijana aliyetahiriwa kwa kisu ni vigumu kumkuta akiwa anajihusisha na utamaduni huo wa kizungu wa kugeuzana, watu wa jinsia moja kufanya yasiyompendeza Mwenyezi Mungu.

Hata hivyo licha ya kwamba utamaduni huo unasaidia kwa kiasi kikubwa kukomesha  vitendo hivyo lakini wenzetu hawapendi wakiona wanatenga fungu la pesa kuwagombanisha raia na serikali yao.   

Wanasema kamateni wote wanaojihusisha na mila hizo kwani zimepitwa na wakati,lakini hawatuambii zilipitwa na wakati kuanzia Mwaka gani.    

Ndipo taarifa zikamfikia Kamanda akitakiwa kuwakamata wale wote ambao wanafanya hivyo,bahati nzuri kamanda huyo ni mtani wa wakurya akitokea Bukoba ikabidi aone aibu akaamua kutumia busara kujumuika na watani zake katika sherehe hizo. 

Kamanda na kupongeza kwa kukataa mawazo  na fikra za kitumwa, umewaruhusu wakazi wa Tarime kuendelea na ustaarabu wao wa kutahiri watoto wa kike.

Hilo ni jambo la heshima kabisa analo stahili kufanyiwa kijana wa kiafrika kwa baadhi ya makabila hapa nchini hivyo,lisingefanyika kama Kamgisha angetumia miguu na tumbo kufikri, kutokana labda na ushawishi wa bahasha.

Nimefurahi nililiposikia kuwa Mkuu wa wilaya ya Tarime Dc.Frank Uhahura alipotoa amri ya kukamatwa wale wote waliokuwa wanakeketa wasichana kama wanavyoita wao, lakini  wewe kwa kushilikiana na vijana wako mkapuuza amri hiyo ili kudumisha amani tarime.

Busara zako, hekima zako zimedumisha amani Tarime kwa gharama ndogo, lakini kama Polisi wangedhubutu kuanza kuwakamata wale wote waliokuwa wanajihusisha na sherehe za jando amani ingetoweka na kuirejesha ingetumika gharama kubwa na umwagikaji wa damu.

Lakini kwa busara zako, Ewe Kamgisha umetambua kazi ya Polisi ni kulinda amani sio kushiriki kuvunja amani, wadau wa maendeleo ya tarime tunaamini kupitia busara hizo unaweza kukomesha mauwaji ya mgodi wa Nyamongo.

Unaweza kukaa na  wamiliki wa mgodi huo mkakubaliana namna ambavyo vijana wa Tarime wanavyoweza kuruhusiwa angalau mara moja kwa wiki kuzoa mawe yanayotupwa kama uchafu ili wao wakasafishe madini ya dhahabu kuliko sasa wanavyoitwa wavamizi.

Mnaweza kukaa mkakubaliana , eneo likaandaliwa ambalo mzungu atakuwa anakwenda kutupa mawe hayo kama dampo ili vijana waende wakaookote kule badala ya kuingia mgodini kama ilivyo sasa ili kuepuka maaafa zaidi.

Nimemalize kwa kuwapa ujumbe waafrika wenzangu hakuna utamaduni wa kishenzi hapa afrika,tunaweza kuungana na wamasai kudumisha utamaduni wetu.