Zephania Musendo atoka Gerezani

Zephania Musendo akilakiwa na kupewa kumbato kutoka kwa mkewe kipenzi Pascalia mara baada ya kutoka kifungoni jana

Kwa kweli nimefurahi sana kusikia kuwa Zephania Musendo, "Mzee Zeph" ametoka gerezani. Nilifanya naye kazi miaka mingi Daily News na nilisikitika sana nilivyosikia kuwa amehukumiwa kifungo cha gerezani eti kwa kuomba rushwa. Jamani, huko Bongo watu wangapi wanaomba rushwa na kupokea??? Na hao mafisadi wa mabilioni na mabilioni mbona hawaendi gerezani?

Mzee Zeph anasema ataandika kitabu kuhusu maisha yake ya gerezani. Kwa kweli mambo aliyodokoza yalitokea huko ni 'wake-up call' kwa serikali.

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Zephania Musendo, mara baada ya kutoka gerezani jana.

Kutoka Michuzi Blog:

MWANDISHI wa Habari Mwandamizi Mpiganaji Zephania Musendo, aliyekuwa akitumikia kifungo cha miaka mitano jela ametoka gerezani jana.Musendo aliyeanza kutumikia kifungo chake Mei 17, mwaka 2005 katika gereza la Keko kwa kupatikana na hatia ya kuomba na kupokea rushwa aliachiwa saa 9:54 na kupokelewa na wanafamilia yake waliofika kumpokea katika gereza la Mahabusu Mkuza mkoani Pwani.

Musendo aliyelakiwa na watoto wake Richard na Victor,mke wake Pascalia pamoja na shemeji yake Elizabeth N’gabo aliiteua siku yake ya kutoka gerezani na kuwa siku yake ya kuzaliwa baada ya yeye kutokuifahamu rasmi tarehe yake ya kuzaliwa.

“Leo ni siku yangu ya kuzaliwa maana ninafurahi sana kuwa hutru na kutoka katika matatizo haya ambayo yamenikabili kwa kipindi kirefu,baba yangu hakujua nilizaliwa lini zaidi ya mwaka kuwa ni 1947,”Wanafafamilia hao wanasema wanafurahi sana babayao kuwa huru na wanamshukuru Mungu kwa kutoka jela akiwa hai na mwenye afya njema tofauti na walivyodhania.

Akisimulia maisha yake ya miaka mitatu na miezi mitano aliyoishi katika magereza mawili ya Keko na Mkuza anasema ni maisha hatari yasiyozoeleka na mwanadamu wa kawaida.“Jela hakufai maana kitendo cha kutengwa na jamii,familia yako,nyumba ndugu jamaa na marafiki na kufanya mambo yako kwa uhutru ni hatari sana,” alisema.

Anasema alipokaa katika gereza la Keko kwa muda wa mwezi mmoja mambo hayakuwa mazuri sana kutokana na afya yake kutokuwa nzuri na yeye kulazimika kutumikia kifungo sambamba na kazi ngumu.Licha ya kuwa hakupata usumbufu wa mateso kutoka kwa wafungwa wenzakwe lakini alipata tabu mwanzoni kutoka kwa Askari Magereza kwa kutekeleza adhabu yake kwa upande wa kazi ngumu.

“Nilipata shida kutoka kwa askari maana walikuwa hawanielewi kuwa ninaumwa , wao walishikilia midhali nimehukumiwa kazi ngumu lazima nizifanye tu,”alisema.Alisema wakati akiwa katika gereza la Mkuza mkoani Pwani wakifabnya kazi ya kubeba kifusi katika jingo la Mkuu wa Mkoa alianguka katika ngazi na kushindwa kuendelea na kazi lakini hakupelekwa Hospitali siku hiyo kupatiwa matibabu.

Alianza kupatiwa matibabu ya Kisukari pamoja na Presha katika Hospitali ya Tumbi na kuandikiwa na daktari awe anakula mayai,maziwa na mboga za majani lakini aliporudi gerezani hakupata vitu hivyo hadi pale familia yake ilipoamua kumuwekea bili ya maziwa kutoka katika Ng’ombe gerezani hapo.

Aliendelea na kazi nyepesi gerezani hadi pale alipochaguliwa kuwa Nyapara mkuu Aprili 2007 nafasi ambayo aliitumikia hadi alipotoka gerezani humo.Baadhi ya Askari Jela walisema watamkumbuka Musendo kwa nidhamu,Busara na Uongozi mzuri alipokuwa Nyapara mkuu katika gereza hilo ambalo linawafungwa 78 na mahabusu 129.

Aidha Musendo anasema maisha yake yalibadilika pale alipochaguliwa kuwa Nyapara mkuu na wenzake kumkubali na kumheshimu kutokana na umri wake.“Kazi zangu kubwa zilikuwa kusimamia chakula,magenge ya kazi,usafi wa gereza na uandaaji wa risala kwa wageni zihusuzo wafungwakuna wakati niliandika hata risala za mkuu wa Gereza”.

Akizungumzia juu ya tuhuma zilizo mtia hatiani Musendo anasema yeye kwa sasa anafurahi na kushukuru Mungu kuwa yupo huru lakini Kubwa zaidi anafurahia kuwa habarizilizokuwa zikiandikwa katika gazeti zilikuwa ni zakweli.

Juu ya kurejea katiika ulingo wa habari Musendo anasema hatoacha kuandika na kampuni yeyote atakayopata ataanza kazi yake ya uandishi na kulitumikia taifa.Gazeti la HabariLeo ndio gazeti pekee lililopata picha za tukio hili pamoja na Habari.
Usikose Makala yake toleo la Septemba 18 2008 katika HabariLeo.

http://www.habarileo.co.tz/

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Kutoka ippmedia.com

Human rights violation in prisons rife - ex-editor

2008-09-18 10:18:14
By Rose Mwalongo


Former `Family Mirror` editor Zephania Musendo, who was released from jail on Tuesday, said yesterday that human rights violations are rampant in the country`s prisons.

Musendo, who was serving a five-year jail term, cited congestion of inmates, mistreatment of prisoners, mixing juveniles and adults in prison cells and inadequate social needs as some of the violations.

Narrating his ordeal, Musendo said one of his worst recollections was on his first day when the prison warden ordered him and other convicts to strip naked as part of an inspection exercise.

``The inspection involves complete stripping of one\'s clothes. Some of the inmates before whom you have to strip naked are the age of your own children.

I consider this as one of the most degrading acts to humankind,`` lamented Musendo.

He mentioned bedding as another problem, as most of the mattresses used by the inmates are in a pathetic state.

According to Musendo, a prisoner has to rearrange a couple of rags of old mattresses to find comfort while sleeping in a certain formation that can accommodate as many prisoners as possible.

Receiving medical attention in prison is also another hurdle which, according to Musendo, needs to be looked into.

``Most medical officers are prison officers who tend to put first and foremost their role as prison officer rather than doctor. In most cases they tend to ignore a prisoner who complains of feeling unwell,`` said Musendo.

He cited a case where, despite telling a doctor that he had heart problems, the latter ignored him and assigned him heavy duties, causing him to collapse before he was taken back to his cell.

``I call on the government to employ civilian medical officers to ensure that prisoners are accorded proper medical services,`` said Musendo.

Musendo said he held no grudge against anyone, but said the only thing he looked forward to was being able to feed his family.

He said he planned to write a book to narrate his experience in prison.

``I call upon the society to understand that jail is hell and everyone should ensure that they do whatever they can to avoid going there,`` he said.

Musendo was sentenced to five years` imprsionment by the Kisutu Resident Magistrate`s Court in 2005 after he was convicted of soliciting and receiving a bribe.

He spent most of his jail term at Mkuza prison in Kibaha, Coast Region.

SOURCE: Guardian