Kitchen Party Boston

Wadau, wikiendi iliyopita tulimfanyia 'Kitchen Party' mwali, Musau, mtoto wa Dada Margaret Kabula wa Boston. Anaolewa mwezi ujao hapa Boston.

Kwa vile watu waliomba nyuso zao zisitoke kwenye blog nabandika zilizokuwa blurred.

Hapa tuko kwenye Mdundiko Mwali yuko kwenye stool

Hapo nakatika kidogo

Mwali akifundwa

Hapo mambo nyeti

Mdundiko unakolea



Mwali akipewa somo kiboko



Inspector General wa Polisi Said Mwema Apata Ajali ya Gari Dar!

Kutoka Haki Ngowi Blog:

Gari ya IGP Said Mwema



IGP Said Mwema ((Pichani aliyenyoosha mkono) amenusurika katika ajali ya gari iliyotokea jana (Pichani)  (Septemba 26, 2011) iliyotokea barabara ya Kivukoni Front mbele ya ofisi za takwimu na Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa majira ya saa 8 mchana. Gari ya IGP ilikuwa inatokea magogoni iligongana na gari dogo (Saloon) T 960 AYK gari ya IGP iliumia sana upande wa mbele kushoto.Picha na: Deusdedit Moshi-DM Photo Solutions(TZ)

Usitoe Password Yako! - Utapeli Huo! ONYO!

Wadau, watu wengi wanashangaa wakikuta kuwa hawawezi kuingia kwenye akaunti zao za email au kufungiwa akaunti. Au wanaambiwa kuwa wametumiwa ujumbe za ajabu na mtu ambaye anadai hakutuma. Kumbe wametapeliwa!  Matapeli mengine  inajifanya wewe na kuomba watu kwenye contact list yako pesa kupita Western Union, eti wamekwama nchi fulani.  Yalimpata Kaka Michuzi mwaka 2007.

Au wanakuambia kama hujibu maswali yao akaunti yako itafungwa. Waongo!

Yahoo, Google, hawawezi kukuomba password yako hata siku moja! Msikubali kutapeliwa!

Mfano wa utapeli ni huo chini.

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MSIKUBALI KUTAPELIWA!

Tanzia - Mama Wangari Maathai (Mama Miti)

Mama Wangari Maathai (1940-2011)

Mama  Prof. Wangari  Muta Maathai, raia wa Kenya aliyepata Tuzo ya Amani ya Nobel, na Tuzo kibao kwa kazi na jitihada zake za kuhifadhi ardhi na miti amefariki nchini Kenya. Habari zinasema kuwa alifariki mjini Nairobi siku ya jumapili kutokana na ugonjwa wa kansa.  Chama chake cha Green Belt Movement kitendeleza kazi aliyoanza.

Mama Maathai alipigania haki za akina mama na maskini nchini Kenya. Alitunga vitabu kadhaa. Alikuwa mwanamke wa kwanza Afrika Mashariki kupata Ph.D katika sayansi za biolojia. Alipoona jangwa inazidi kukuwa nchini Kenya alianzisha mradi wa kupanda miti ili kuepuka janga hilo na hasa kuanzishwa kwa Green Belt Movement. Aliwahi kuwa Mbunge Kenya na pia alifungwa mara kadhaa kutokana na msimamo wake mkaliw wa kutunza ardhi ambayo mara nyingi ilipingana na serikali ya Kenya.

Mungu ailaze roho yake mahala pema mbinguni. Amen.     

Kwa habari zaidi BOFYA HAPA:  

Vyakula Vya Bongo - Usiangalie Kama Una Njaa!

Nimeona hii YouTube. Jamani mate yamenitoka. Leo, naingia jikoni kukaangiza!

Tamasha la Kumuenzi Hayati Remmy Ongala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huNcBwH9_UQ

Aziza Machozi Ongala na mumewe Miael McGeachy, mzawa wa Jamaika, wakiongea na Urban Pulse na Freddy Macha kuhusu shughuli zao kuimarisha kumbukumbu na kazi za mwanamuziki Remmy Ongala aliyefariki Desemba 2010, mjini Dar es Salaam.

Mahojiano yalifanywa  katika Ubalozi wa Tanzania, London.

Habari zaidi bofya : http://www.thedkremmyongalafoundation.com/

Asanteni,

URBAN PULSE CREATIVE Wakishirikiana na Freddy Macha

Kiswahili Bila Mipaka - Swahili Without Borders

SWAHILI WITHOUT BORDERS



(Kiswahili bila Mipaka)

Aurelia Ferrari

By Josiah Kibira – Fall 2011

How many of you from East Africa would believe me if I told you that there are people in Ghana who are learning to speak Swahili? You would probably say, it could happen. But then what if I said the Swahili teacher is a French woman. You have to admit, that would pique your curiosity.

It’s like in the movies. A French woman teaching Swahili in West Africa. Well, it is not a movie it is real. Her name is Aurelia Ferrari. For her it started as a teenager when she traveled to Senegal on a reforestation camp. As a child, her father traveled a lot and brought gifts and stories from all over the world. This increased her curiosity of the world. After she completed her high school she decided to volunteer in a youth exchange program in her native Paris. Before long she was sent to work as a volunteer in Kenya.

While in Kenya she worked with youth programs and later she would concentrate on working with street children.

She is the first one to admit that clearly Africans do not need guidance from Europeans and that in fact, Africans have tougher survival aptitude than their counterparts in Europe or America considering the hard life they face on a daily basis. Africa was her calling. She had to go there.

It was during her encounter with street children in Kenya that she started to learn Swahili. Her interest grew when she returned to Paris. She enrolled in a Swahili teaching institute and later pursued a PhD in “Sheng”, a slang based Swahili originating in Kenya . And, of course, with a PhD, she could now teach anyone how to speak Swahili. She is fluent in Swahili, English, French and a little bit of Arabic.

She was asked, “Of all languages that you know, why Swahili?”

She said, “ This was to show Africa in a positive light”. She admits that it would have been easy for her to teach French, but feels that the colonial and imperialistic past associated with the French in Africa would not encourage people’s intercultural understanding and commitment to peace and justice. I think she has a good point. She is also very quick to point out the importance of Swahili as a language in the world noting that not only do over 100 million people in the world speak it, but it is taught in over 100 universities in the world. Her mission to teach Swahili to the world has landed her assignments including a two-year stint in Paris and over three years in Ghana.

What is impressive about Aurelia’s immersion in the Swahili culture is her commitment not to use Africa as a place to acquire another entry on her already impressive resume, but to make Africa her home. It was refreshing to find a European who lives in Africa and goes to Europe for a summer vacation.

I was also curious why Ghanaians were interested in Swahili. She said some students take the course as a ploy to get into a second year of the Bachelor’s program, but those who decide to pursue Swahili end up at the University of Dar-Es-Salaam in Tanzania, where they pursue higher levels of Swahili language. Ghana has 70 other native languages and English remains the official language.

In her linguistic studies, she has written a book about the “sheng” Swahili dialect from Kenya and is now working on a book about Swahili in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But it was her Swahili/French instructional book called “Swahili Bila Mipaka” – or “Swahili Without Borders” that caught our attention.

It is a manual that uses the communicative approach, which is a modern method in language teaching and learning, where the communication and the culture take an important part in the learning process.

The emphasis is on the meaning. The communicative approach gives great importance to the diversity: diversity of types of interaction, diversity of exercises and diversity of subjects.

The data used is authentic data like advertisings, spontaneous conversations and written material. For each lesson, there is a transcription of a conversation.

The manual caught our attention because Aurelia expressed interest in using our film Bongoland 2 as part of conversation transcripts in the manual. After students listen to these conversations, they then go through a series of exercises for comprehension.

Naturally, we were curious why she chose Bongoland 2 to be included in her instructional book. She said, “Other films in Swahili languages concentrated more about the story itself but Bongoland 2gives so many aspects of Swahili culture – the relation between men and women, social organization and the daily life.”

She adds “For instance, we always see on the news that Africans try to run away from Africa, but this film shows us something different and more realistic. There are so many interesting initiatives going on in Africa

We learn so much in this film, to watch this film is like a linguistic and cultural immersion in Tanzania!”

As a French/African woman, Aurelia stands out as a woman on a mission to do good in the world. Her early exposure to the world influenced her not only to see other people as equals, she even took steps to becoming one of them. We can all learn from this great teacher. To see people for who they are, their culture, their feelings and know how they communicate. Isn’t this a simple formula for world peace and understanding? We think so.

Misiba Haiishi Kwa Familia ya Kennedy - Kara Kennedy Afariki Dunia

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the Medal of Freedom to Kara Kennedy on behalf of her father, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House August 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States, to 16 recipients during the ceremony.

Kara Kennedy (51), binti wa aliyekuwa Senator wetu mpendwa hapa Massachusetts, Hayati, Edward Kennedy amefariki dunia leo asubuhi.   Habari zinasema kuwa amefariki kutokana na heart attack.

Familia ya Kennedy imekuwa na orodha ndefu ya misiba, si vijana, si wazee wakiwemo Rais John F. Kenndey na Mwanae John Jr..  Unaweza kusoma Orodha HAPA:  

Mungu ailaze roho yake mahala pema mbinguni.  Rest in Eternal Peace. AMEN.  

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Kara Kennedy, oldest child of Senator Edward Kennedy is said to have died of a heart attack sources tell Irish Central.

KUTOKA IRISH CENTRAL

She had previously survived a near fatal bout with lung cancer and had been in remission from the disease.

She was just 51.

Kara Kennedy Allen was born February 27, 1960 to Teddy and Joan Kennedy, she has two siblings, Teddy Junior and Patrick, the former Congressman.

Kara was a graduate of Tufts University in Massachusetts and was a producer for VSA arts, a non profit organization founded by her aunt Jean Kennedy Smith.


She was on the National Advisory Board of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. and a director emerita and a national trustee of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation/

Previously she was a producer for the television program Evening Magazine in Boston.

She was married to Michael Allen a professional sailor in 1990 and they had two children, Grace and Max.

In 2002, at age 42, she was diagnosed with lung cancer that was first deemed inoperable but working with her father they identified a treatment that helped save her life at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

On August 12, 2009, she accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on behalf of her father who was terminally ill at the time.

Kondomu za KiChina ni Ndogo kwa Wanaume wa Afrika Kusini

Duh, yaani kumbe ni kweli kuwa waChina wanazo ndogo na fupi? Hebu someni hii habari ya mkataba wa kununua kondomu kutoka China kuvunjwa. Eti wanavunja mktaba inagwa zimetengenezwa kubwa zaidi ya zile wanazouzia waChina.   Lakini nakumbuka mwaka juzi walisema kwenye taarifa ya habari kuwa kondomu za kawaida ni kubwa kwa wanaume wa Asia. Wanaume wa Afrika wamebarikwa!

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Chinese condoms too small for South Africans: report

 A South African court has blocked the government from buying 11 million Chinese condoms, saying they are too small, a newspaper reported Friday.

The finance ministry had awarded a contract to a firm called Siqamba Medical, which planned to buy the Phoenurse condoms from China, the Beeld newspaper said.

A rival firm, Sekunjalo Investments Corporation, turned to the High Court in Pretoria after losing the bid, arguing that their condoms were 20 percent larger than the Chinese ones.

Judge Sulet Potterill blocked the deal with Siqamba, ruling that the condoms were too small, made from the wrong material, and were not approved by the World Health Organisation, the paper said.

South Africa has more HIV infections than any country in the world, with 5.38 million of its 50 million people carrying the virus.

Wanne Washitakiwa! Ajali ya meli MV Spice Islanders

Haya wadau, watu wanne wameshitakiwa mahakamani. Naona kama hao ni watu wadogo. Nahodha wa hiyo meli yuko wapi?  Kwa nini alikubali kuondoka na meli ambayo kila mtu aliona imejaa kupindukia. Pia, kwa nini meli iliruhusirwa kuondoka bandarini.  Huko Dar walilazimishwa kushusha mizigo kabla ya kuruhusiwa kuondoka bandarini na kuelekea Zanzibar. Au Nahaodha alikufa katika ajali. Kuna ule usemi Nahodha anakufa na meli yake! (The Captain always goes down with his ship). Au anakataa mitaa ya Dar?

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STONE TOWN, Tanzania (AP) - Tanzanian authorities have charged four men with negligence over a ferry sinking that cost more than 240 lives a week ago.
 It's unclear how many passengers were aboard, but more than 800 people survived by clinging onto pieces of wood or crowding onto lifeboats.

 "It is a relief to us to hear that a handful of people were charged, but we believe the real culprits remain untouched," said survivor Suleiman Malik. "We wish to see some big fish fished out and face the long arms of the law."

The ferry owner Yusuf Suleiman Jussa, 47, first officer Abdallah Mohamed Ali, 30, and Zanzibar Ports Authority employee Silima Nyange Silima, 27, all were charged with contravening the Maritime Act by allowing the heavily overloaded M.V. Spice Islander to leave port.

Captain Said Abdullah Kinyanyite, who remains missing, was charged in absentia.

Ramadhan Nassib from the Directorate of Public Prosecution said the four were responsible for the deaths after the ferry sank at night in an area of deep seas and strong currents.

The suspects were not allowed to enter a plea after the charges were read out to a packed courtroom late on Friday.

MV Spice Islander bandarini Zanzibar photo by Photo by Nipun Srivastava

Kuna Nini Igunga? Chadema Wakamata Mkuu wa Wilaya Igunga!

Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Igunga Fatma Kimario Akishikiliwa na WanaCHADEMA

 9/15/11

Kutoka  Gazeti la Mwananchi

Na Boniface Meena na Daniel Mjema, Igunga

VURUGU zimezuka jana katika Kata ya Isakamaliwa, wilayani Igunga zikiwahusisha viongozi wa Chadema na Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Igunga, Fatma Kimario.Katika sakata hilo, wanachama wa Chadema walimkamata Mkuu huyo wa Wilaya kwa tuhuma za kuendesha mkutano wa ndani na watendaji wa serikali za vijiji, wakati akijua kuwa kulikuwa na mkutano wa kampeni za chama hicho karibu na eneo hilo.

Msafara wa Chadema ulifika katika eneo la kampeni saa 8.00 mchana na kabla mkutano haujaanza, Meneja Kampeni wa chama hicho, Sylivester Kasulumbai, aliwaambia waandishi wa habari kuwa mkuu wa wilaya ya igunga alikuwa akifanya kikao cha ndani katika eneo hilo kinyume na taratibu, hivyo wanakwenda kumshughulikia.

Kasulumbai ambaye ni Mbunge wa Maswa Mashariki akiwa na Mbunge wa Viti Maalum, Susan Kiwanga, baadhi ya wananchi na vijana wao, walifika katika ofisi ya Mtendaji wa Kata kulikokuwa kunafanyika mkutano huo na kuanza kuhoji aliko Mkuu huyo wa Wilaya.

Mmoja wa wananchi alimnyooshea kidole mama ambaye alikuwa amekaa mbele na kusema; “..yule ndiye Mkuu wa Wilaya”.Kundi hilo la vijana na viongozi wa Chadema, waliingia katika ukumbi huo na kumtoa nje mama huyo huku wakimtaka aeleze kwa nini anafanya vikao vya ndani katika Kata hiyo wakati anajua kuwa chama hicho kilikuwa na mkutano katika eneo hilo.

Kitendo hicho kilizua purukushani na kutokuelewana kati ya waliokuwa kwenye mkutano wa ndani na viongozi wa Chadema, jambo lililovuta umati mkubwa wa watu.

Maelezo ya DC
Baadhi ya vijana wa Chadema walikuwa wamewashikilia watu waliokuwa wakishiriki mkutano huo huku mama huyo akitolewa nje na kuketishwa kwenye kiti alitakiwa atoe maelezo kuhusu mkutano wake.

Baada ya kukaa kwenye kiti huku akionekana kuchanganyikiwa, alisema yeye ni Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Igunga, jina lake ni Fatma Kimario na kwamba, hakuwa na taarifa za mkutano wa kampeni za Chadema.

“Sina ratiba, iko katika ofisi za halmashauri, hivyo sikujua kama kuna mkutano hapa, hata hivyo watu walikuwepo niliwaruhusu waende mkutanoni na mimi nilikuwa naondoka sasa hivi,” alisema na kuongeza:

“Nilichokuwa nafanya ni mkutano wa viongozi wa serikali kwa ajili ya kuangalia hali ya mifugo inayoibwa sana, elimu kwa wote hasa watoto na ujenzi wa nyumba bora na masuala ya amani”.

Kimario aliwasihi wafuasi wa Chadema kusoma karatasi ya ajenda ili wafahamu kilichokuwa kikijadiliwa kwenye kikao hicho.

Karatasi aliyokuwa akiizungumzia Mkuu huyo wa Wilaya ilikuwa na ajenda tano za kikao hicho ambazo ni; Uhamishaji wa mifugo; Kuwa na choo chenye ubora na nyumba bora; Elimu;  Mipaka ya shule na ajenda ya mwisho ilikuwa Uchaguzi mdogo wa ubunge Jimbo la Igunga.

Hata hivyo mbunge Kiwanga alimtaka mkuu huyo wa wilaya aeleze tangu lini kikao cha viongozi wa serikali kikahudhuriwa na wazee maarufu na mabalozi wa nyumba kumi, swali ambalo lilionekana kumchanganya mkuu huyo wa wilaya kwa kutoa majibu tata.

Mkutano wa Chadema

Wakati hayo yakiendelea, mkutano wa kampeni ulikuwa nao ukiendelea, hivyo viongozi hao wa Chadema walimtaka DC huyo afike kwenye mkutano huo ili aweze kuonana na Katibu Mkuu wa Chadema, Dk Willibrod Slaa.

Kimario alikubali, lakini akataka dereva wake atangulize gari na kwamba yeye angefuata. “Nitakwenda kwani napaswa kuwepo pale kama msimamizi wa usalama, sijahudhuria mkutano wowote hivyo nitakwenda,” alisema.

Akizungumzia tukio hilo kwenye mkutano wa kampeni, Dk Slaa alisema wakuu wa wilaya na mikoa kufanya mikutano wakati wa kampeni ni kinyume cha sheria, hivyo Kimario alienda kuanzisha vurugu.

“Hapaswi kufanya mkutano wowote hapa hasa akijua kuwa sisi tuna mkutano wa kampeni na yeye ni Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Usalama wa Wilaya,” alisema Dk Slaa na kuongeza:

“DC anafanya nini huku wakati hiki ni kipindi cha uchaguzi au ndiyo wanapanga mikakati ya uchakachuaji halafu wanadai sisi ndiyo tunaofanya vurugu?”

Mkutano wa kwanza na wa pili wa Chadema, hakukuwa na ulinzi wa polisi kama ilivyokuwa kwenye mikutano mingine.

Askari wamwagwa
Wakati gari la waandishi wa habari likirejea mjini Igunga, lilipisha na magari mawili ya polisi yakiwa yamejaa askari wa Kikosi cha Kutuliza Ghasia (FFU), ambayo yalikuwa katika mwendo kasi yakielekea eneo la tukio.

Magari hayo yalifuatiwa kwa nyuma na gari aina ya Toyota Landcruiser ambalo lilikuwa na vioo vyeusi yote yakiwa yamewasha taa kuashiria hali ya hatari.

Hata hivyo polisi wilayani Igunga kupitia kwa Mkuu wake (OCD), Issa Maguha, waliliambia Mwananchi kuwa hawakuwa na taarifa ya tukio hilo na kwamba magari hayo yalikuwa katika doria za kawaida.


CCM yawaangukia wananchi

Katika hatua nyingine CCM kimewaangukia wananchi wa Igunga kikiwataka kuacha jazba na hasira kwani madhara ya kuchagua mbunge kwa chuki yataligharimu jimbo hilo kwa miaka minne ijayo.

Kauli hiyo ilitolewa jana na Katibu wa NEC ya CCM Uchumi na Fedha, Mwigulu Nchemba wakati akihutubia mkutano wa kampeni katika kijiji cha Usongo kata ya Nyandekwa kinachoaminika kuwa ngome ya Chadema.

Habari zilizopatikana kijijini hapo kabla ya kuanza kwa mkutano huo zilidokeza kuwa Chadema walitangulia kufanya mkutano wa kampeni kijijini hapo na kumwaga ‘sumu’ ili wananchi waichukie na wasiichague CCM.

Akihutubia mkutano huo, Nchemba alirudia mara kadhaa kusema, “shusheni jazba” na “punguzeni hasira” ambayo ilitafsiriwa na wengi kuwa ni kujaribu kung’oa mizizi ya Chadema.

Katibu huyo alisema Chadema kimekuwa kikipandikiza chuki kwa wananchi kwamba Serikali ya CCM haijafanya lolote katika kipindi cha miaka 50 ya Uhuru. Alisisitiza kuwa huo ni uongo wa karne unaopaswa kupuuzwa.

“Kuwa na vuguvugu la kifikra inaruhusiwa na pia kuwa na mtizamo tofauti inaruhusiwa lakini si katika kipindi hiki ambacho wananchi wa Igunga wanahitaji mgombea wa CCM kuliko kipindi kingine chochote,” alisema.

Nchemba aliendelea kusema: ”kwenye uchaguzi mdogo nawaombeni mshushe jazba.…hata kama ulikuwa tayari na mlengo fulani, basi badilika kwa manufaa ya wana Igunga…, tusishabikie vyama bali tujadili hoja”.

Katibu huyo ambaye pia ni Mbunge wa Iramba Mashariki, aliwasihi wananchi wa kijiji hicho na Jimbo la Igunga kuacha kushabikia mambo ya maendeleo kama wanavyoshabikia timu za soka hata ambazo hawazijui.

Kwa upande wake, mgombea Ubunge wa CCM, Dk Dalaly Kafumu aliahidi kusimamia mradi wa kuvuta maji kutoka Ziwa Victoria hadi Igunga kupitia majimbo ya Kahama na Nzega.

Dk Kafumu aliahidi kutumia utaalamu wake wa madini kuhakikisha kuwa wachimbaji wadogo wanatengewa maeneo yenye madini katika jimbo hilo na kutatua tatizo na kero ya muda mrefu ya daraja la Mbutu.

Tutambue kuwa Rais Obama Amefanya Mengi Mazuri!

President Barack Obama

 Wadau, ubaguzi bado upo Marekani. Sasa hivi wazungu wanaomchukia Rais Obama kwa sababu ni mweusi wamenza kampeni mpya...kufanya weusi waliomsapoti Rais Obama kumchukia.  Hao wazungu wamekuwa na mafanikio utasikia weusi wakisema, "bora tungekuwa na rais mzungu".  Oh, Rais Obama hajali weusi!

Rais Obama amefanya mengi mazuri sana katika kipindi kifupi.  Amerithi uchumi mbaya na matatizo mengi yaliyosababishwa na Bush Jr.. tuombe watu waamke na waone ukweli kusudi Rais Obama ashinde Uchaguzi wa 2012. Soma barua chini:

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RECEIVED VIA E:MAIL:

Here you go, folks....This is a copy of a letter to Rep. Barbara Lee, of Oakland, Ca, from one of her constituents, a Black small business owner from Oakland...it is a extraordinary letter and it should go viral and be read and heeded by every Black person in this country...and every other ethnic group, for that matter, because it applies to them too...

"You can pray until you faint...But, unless you get up and try to do something, God is not going to put it in your lap...Stop saying I ain't in this mess, if you're born in America with a black face, you're already in this mess." -Fannie Lou Hamer....

Rep. Barbara Lee, Chairman of The Congressional Black Congress: This LetterIs For YOU!

Dear Rep. Barbara Lee, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Can We Talk?

By Joan Ruaiz, on August 18th, 2011

As a constituent who resides in your district, I just want to weigh in on the hatred and political divisiveness that I hear and read about on the news and on the Internet. There are forces working very hard at making sure that President Obama is defeated in 2012. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they took an oath or signed a pledge to that effect.

The newest political strategy is to turn the African-American community against the first black president. The idea is to get black folks to scream at the President and to threaten to withhold our support come November 2012. Due to the very high unemployment rate in the black community, this could be an easy sell. The well-paid professional propagandists don't ask African-Americans to lay the blame for the lack of employment at the feet of the business world (which is hoarding up a couple of trillions in their rainy-day fund), or to consider the fact that governors everywhere are cutting down on the pu blic sector workforce (comprised of large numbers of black Americans per capita), or to holler at the Republican-dominated House, which has blocked most of the job-creating programs introduced by Democrats. Instead, they want us to aim our fire solely at our President and to blame him for 30 years of white men's policies.

Now, I have already informed myself on what this President has done to help the American population in general, and African-Americans in particular.

Considering 2.7 years as the current timetable of his accomplishments, I would note that President Obama has reformed the health care system, which will provide subsidies for lower-income individuals who may not currently be covered (many who are AA), and also provides funding for badly needed community clinics, while doing away with pre-existing condition restrictions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease, all ailments suffered in alarming rates by members of the black community.

In addition, women will soon get birth control free of charge if insured, which means that women who were previously going to Planned Parenthood  because, even with insurance, they couldn�t afford the price of contraceptives won't need to anymore. This leaves women who are uninsured more resources to get birth control v ia Planned Parenthood. Plus, the stimulus saved the biggest health care provider to the black community, the various state Medicaid programs. As well, the President closed the Medicare donut hole in prescription drugs, reduced seniors prescription prices by 50% through the use of generic drugs, and sent $250 payments to seniors to make up to the lack of a COLA increase for two years now.

Further, the President literally, by his lonesome, saved the auto industry (while being criticized for it all the while), and in so doing saved many jobs held by African-Americans in the Midwest. No less, the Cash for Clunkers program provided needed cash to those with clunkers permanently parked or about to stop r unning.

Benefiting young people who are attempting to afford rising college tuition, President Obama increased Pell grants, supported funding community colleges at unprecedented levels, and reformed the private student loan programs to eliminate the middleman, thereby reducing loan interest rates. He also revamped the actual repayment of loan programs, reducing them to not more than 10% of income, while providing incentives to those who would choose community service careers. His credit card reform bill stopped the predatory practice of credit card companies gifting young people with the ability to ruin their credit at an early age (something that hits our community harder than most). He is also cracking down on for-profit educational enterprises, some of which charge outrageous fees for inferior post-secondary education. These same young people are now able to stay insured under their parents health insurance until the age of 26, whether they are enrolled in school part-time, full-time or not at all.

For the younger children, President Obama is responsible for signing a bill insuring healthier meals are served in our nation's public schools, thereby addressing the issue of childhood obesity, a subject that affects more children in the African-American community than in others. Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign is also addressing this serious issue. And we shouldn't forget that early in his term, President Obama provided healthcare to 11 million additional children via the CHIP program previously vetoed by President Bush.

As states cut funding for public education, President Obama recently allowed waivers to states to do away with strict requirements set by No Child Left Behind, requirements which would have marked many of the public schools in low-income neighborhoods for closure. He has also invested in the development and replication of successful charter sch ool programs, again focusing on low-income communities, while rewarding teachers who plan to teach in such areas.

President Obama has assisted all Americans, which includes African-American workers, by providing a payroll tax reduction (beneficial to workers who may or may not pay income tax), extended unemployment benefits, kept income tax low for the working class, and signed financial reform into law (which benefits our community largely because minorities were especially hard hit by the subprime mortgage crisis). There is also the up and coming Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which promises to be on the side of consumers, and we as black people are certainly that!

I cannot forget that the first black president increased military pay and improved veterans health care, is drawing down troops in Iraq, and has set a timeline for our departure from Afghanistan.

Lastly, President Obama instituted reform of crack cocaine sentencing, and the deadly killer, the tobacco industry. And lo and behold black farmers were recently finally awarded their long awaited settlement!

I may have forgotten a few other accomplishments that have been of assistance to the black community, but this letter is getting rather lengthy.

Now, that is not to say there is not much more to do, because of course there certainly is, and another four years would be a good start. But no president has ever been perfect, and this one should not be exempted from that rule. But I'm puzzled as to why some would want to believe that the majority of a particular minority group, who stood by FDR even as FDR basically cut them out of the new Social Security program as a compromise.

MV Spice Islander Ilikuwa na Abiria 3,000 Ilipozama!

Wadau, kuna madai kuwa hiyo meli MV Spice Islander ilikuwa na abiria 3,000 wakati ilipozama! Maiti za waliokufa maji zinaanza kuonekana Mombasa.

MV Spice Islander Ikipakia Mizigo Zanzibar

Kutoka Gazeti la Mwananchi:

Elias Msuya na Jackson Odoyo, Zanzibar


MELI ya MV Spice Islanders iliyopata ajali mwishoni mwa wiki iliyopita na kusababisha vifo vya takriban watu 200 na majeruhi 619 ambao waliokopolewa, ilibeba abiria 3,000 wakati uwezo wake ni kubeba abiria 600 tu.Habari zilizolifikia gazeti hili jana zimeeleza kuwa idadi hiyo kubwa ya abiria, haijumuishi mizigo ambayo kiasi chake bado hakijajulikana.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Kaskazini Pemba, Dadi Fakhi Dadi alisema jana kuwa mkoa huo umepoteza watu 1,600 katika ajali hiyo, huku Wilaya ya Wete pekee ikiwa imepoteza watu 1,141.Dadi alisema hayo alipokuwa akizungumza mbele ya Makamu wa Kwanza wa Rais wa Zanzibar, Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad.

“Wilaya ya Micheweni imepoteza watu 367, huku Wilaya ya Mkoani, Mkoa wa Kusini Pemba ikipoteza watu 27 na Wilaya ya Chakechake imepoteza watu 148,” alisema Dadi na kuongeza:

“Kwa idadi hiyo ikijumlishwa na idadi ya watu 619 waliosalimika katika ajali hiyo na wengine 204 waliotambuliwa na kuzikwa na wengine watano waliookotwa Mombasa, huenda meli ile ilikuwa na watu 3, 000,” alisema Dadi.

Kutokana na takwimu zinazoendelea kukusanywa, hadi sasa zaidi ya watu 2,000 hawajulikani walipo, mbali ya wale 198 walioopolewa na kuzikwa na wengine 619 walionusurika.

Wabunge wa CUF wajiandaa kuishtaki Serikali

Wakati Serikali ikiendelea kukusanya takwimu za waliokufa au kupotea kwenye ajali hiyo, baadhi ya wabunge wa Chama cha Wananchi (CUF), wamekuwa wakizunguka majimboni mwao kufanya tathmini kwa lengo la kuishtaki Serikali.

Mbunge wa Jimbo la Ziwani, Ahmed Juma Ngwali alisema anatafuta idadi kamili ya wananchi wake walioathirika kwa ajali hiyo ili afanye utaratibu wa kuishtaki Serikali kutokana na uzembe uliosababisha ajali hiyo.

“Tukishapata orodha kamili ya wananchi, nakwenda kutafuta orodha ya abiria waliokuwa kwenye meli, nalinganisha. Kwa wale waliokuwa na tiketi, nitasimamia walipwe bima zao na mmiliki wa meli. Wale waliozidi nitaishtaki Serikali kwa kuzembea,” alisema Ngwali.

Ngwali aliyekuwa akizunguka nyumba hadi nyumba kuorodhesha watu hao, alisema kwa kiasi kikubwa, Serikali ndiyo iliyofanya uzembe katika tukio hilo.

“Huu ni uzembe na ni lazima twende mahakamani. Ikiwa samaki wa Magufuli (Waziri wa Ujenzi), hadi leo wanasotesha watu mahakamani, itakuja kuwa watu?” alisema.

Mbunge wa Ole, Rajab Mbarouk alisema anakusudia kupeleka hoja binafsi bungeni ili kumwajibisha Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda kwa tukio hilo.

"Inaonyesha Serikali haina takwimu sahihi, ndiyo maana sisi tumeamua kufanya tathmini ya kina,” alisema na kuongeza kuwa tathmini hiyo itamsaidia kuratibu misaada anayopata kutoka kwa mashirika mbalimbali kwa ajili ya watu walioathirika katika tukio hilo.

“Kwa mfano sasa Benki ya Watu wa Kenya (KCB) imetoa ahadi ya kusomesha watoto yatima waliofiwa na wazazi katika ajali hiyo. Lazima niwe na takwimu sahihi za kuwapa benki hiyo,” alisema Mbarouk.

Akizungumzia suala la Waziri Mkuu mbunge huyo alisema: “Sisi ni wasemaji wa wananchi siyo Serikali. Nina mpango wa kupeleka hoja binafsi Bungeni ili Waziri Mkuu awajibike.”

Alieleza sababu za kutaka Waziri Mkuu awajibike kuwa ni pamoja na Serikali kupuuza swali lake alilouliza bungeni kuhusu usalama wa vyombo vya majini hadi sasa.

Kazi ya kuwaokoa walizama bado nguvu

Kazi ya uokoaji wa miili ya watu wanaosadikiwa kunasa ndani ya meli hiyo inaonekana kuwa ngumu baada ya wataalamu wa uokoaji kutoka Afrika Kusini kushindwa kuendelea na kazi kutokana na kina kirefu cha maji katika eneo hilo.

Tetesi za kushindikana kwa kazi hiyo zilianza kusikika jana kutoka kwa wavuvi ambao wamekuwa wakifanya kazi zao katika eneo hilo kwa kipindi kirefu huku. Wavuvi hao wanasema eneo hilo lina urefu wa zaidi ya mita 300 kutoka usawa wa bahari.

Mzamiaji kutoka eneo la Nungwi, Karim Abdallah alisema: “Hili eneo tunalifahamu lina kina kirefu sana unaweza kubeba kamba zinazojaza boti na ukifika eneo hilo na kutupa nanga haifiki chini, tulifahamu kwamba wataalamu hao hawawezi kufanya lolote katika eneo hilo.”

Kauli ya wavuvi hao ilionekana kuthibitishwa na Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar (SMZ) ambayo iliamua kuondoa mahema yaliyokuwa yamewekwa katika fukwe za Nungwi kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi miili ilinayopatikana.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Kaskazini Unguja, Pembe Juma alisema wameamua kuanua mahema hayo kwa sababu uwezekano wa kupata miili iliyobaki ni mdogo.

“Tumelazimika kuondoa mahema hayo kwa sababu hali inavyoonekana ni wazi kuwa wataalamu hao wanaweza wakashindwa kupata miili ya watu wanaokisiwa kubaki katika eneo hilo” alisema Juma.

Hata hivyo, alipoulizwa juu ya hali ya waokoaji hao ambao bado wako katika eneo la tukio wakiongozwa na Kikosi cha Maji cha Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ) alisema: “Sina mamlaka ya kuzungumzia mazingira ya wataalamu hao isipokuwa taarifa nilizonazo kwa sasa ndizo hizo nilizowapa.”

Wataalamu hao walitakiwa kuanza kazi hiyo juzi lakini wakashindwa kuendelea na kazi hiyo kwa sababu ya hali ya bahari kuwa mbaya. Hata hivyo, walianza tena kazi hiyo leo ingawa si kwa kuingia baharini kutafuta waliokwama chini ya maji, bali kutafuta maiti zinazoelea katika maeneo mbalimbali ya Tanga, Mombasa, Unguja na Pemba.

Katika hatua nyingine mtu mmoja alinusurika jana baada ya kuwadhihaki hadharani watu waliokumbwa na mkasa huo wa ajali ya meli kwa kudai kwamba walistahili.

Mashuhuda waliokuwapo katika eneo hilo walidai kuwa sekunde chache baada ya kutamka maneno hayo, alivamiwa na watu waliokuwa eneo hilo lakini akafanikiwa kukimbilia katika duka la vitabu la Masomo na hatimaye kuokolewa na Polisi wa Kikosi cha Kutuliza Ghasia (FFU) wakiongozwa na Mkuu wa Polisi Kituo cha Malindi, Haji Mgoro.

Mkurugenzi wa duka hilo, Farouk Karim Karim alisema hatua ya mtu huyo kukimbilia dukani kwake ilihatarisha maisha yake baada ya umati watu kufunga mitaa yote inayozunguka Soko Kuu la Darajani ukimlazimisha kumtoa mtu huyo vinginevyo waingie kumtoa wenyewe.

“Kwa kweli mimi sikufahamu hata walipoanzia. Nilikuwa hapa dukani ghafla nikashtuka mtu anaingia ndani huku akisema nakufa, kabla hata sijamuuliza kilichomsibu umati watu ukawa umeshajazana dukani kwangu ndipo nilipolazimika kufunga mlango na kuwaita polisi,” alisema Karim.

Seif atoa mkono wa pole

Maalim Seif, jana aliongoza ujumbe wa viongozi wa Serikali kutoa pole kwa wafiwa waliopoteza ndugu na jamaa zao. Katika ziara hiyo, alifuatana Mawaziri wasiokuwa na Wizara Maalumu; Haji Faki Shaali na Machano Othman Said, Waziri wa Ustawi wa Jamii na Maendeleo ya Vijana, Wanawake na Watoto, Zainab Omar na Waziri wa Mifugo na Uvuvi, Said Ali Mbarouk.

Akizungumza na ndugu na jamaa wa marehemu hao katika Ukumbi wa Umoja ni Nguvu, Mkoani na baadaye Uwanja wa Gombani katika Mkoa wa Kusini Pemba, Maalim Seif aliwataka wakazi wa Zanzibar, kuvuta subira kwa kuwa msiba huo ni wa taifa zima na ni mipango ya Mungu.

Alisema Serikali inaamini kuwa kulikuwa na uzembe katika tukio hilo ndiyo maana imeamua kuunda tume huru ambayo itafanya uchunguzi wa kina kuhusu suala hilo.Alisema Serikali haitasita kumchukulia hatua mtendaji yeyote atakayebainika kuhusika katika uzembe uliosababisha ajali hiyo.Akiwa Mkoa wa kusini Pemba, Maalim Seif ametoa mkono wa pole na ubani kwa familia zaidi ya 112.

SA Divers Unable to Reach Sunken MV Spice Islander

Yaani samahani, lakini hao divers wanaonekana kama watalii wakiogelea beach! Vifaa vyao vya diving viko wapi! Na eti Submarine haiwezi kuja mpaka mwezi wa 6 mwakani mpaka tume iundwe, KHAA?  Ina maana hata kama kuna maiti huko, zitakuwa zimekwisha liwa  na samaki na kubakia nguo zao tu!

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South African divers spotted on Tumbatu Island yesterday preparing to begin searching for bodies of Zanzibar marine tragedy victims still unaccounted for. (Photo: Khalfan Said)

Kutoka IPPMEDIA.com

SA divers fail to reach sunk MV Spice Islander


By The guardian reporter

15th September 2011
South African divers spotted on Tumbatu Island yesterday preparing to begin searching for bodies of Zanzibar marine tragedy victims still unaccounted for. (Photo: Khalfan Said)Efforts to reach the sunken MV Spice Islander lying 360 metres deep in the water at Nungwi proved futile yesterday after divers discovered that the equipment they had could only go down 54metres.

The information dashed any hopes of the divers from South Africa reaching the boat to see if there were any more bodies trapped inside.

The Head of the Operation Colonel Joachim Zakaria said the divers informed them of the technical hitch, adding: “We have been informed by the head of divers from South Africa that he had communicated with his colleague on the possibility of bringing in a submarine and a special vessel for scanning the area of the accident but the process will be pending until June next year,” he said.

The scanning vessel has the capability to locate the area where the boat has sunk, making it easier to reach it by a submarine.

He was speaking to The Guardian yesterday aboard the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces Kasa boat which has docked between Tumbatu and Mwana Mwana Islands, to coordinate the diving operation which started on Tuesday, involving a group 22 divers from South Africa, TPDF and KMKM.

He said what they were doing currently was to go through the coastal areas of Tanga to Mombassa to establish if there were any more bodies and property which have been left out.

“Where the boat capsized is the route for marine vessels, thus it is the responsibility of the divers to clear it to avoid other accidents,” Colonel Zakaria said.

“What our colleagues are doing now in collaboration with Tanzanian divers is not to reach the sunken boat, but to ensure that the area is cleared,” said the Operations Assistant Colonel Joel Makunde.
A Commander of the South Africa Divers brigade Wyne Combrick said TPDF has asked them to remain for two weeks, to clear the area.

“The exercise is going on well although we have not managed to reach the capsized boat. We are proceeding with the work of ensuring the area surrounding the scene is cleared.

The MV Spice Islander capsized and sunk on Saturday on its way to Pemba from Dar es Salaam via Zanzibar.

According to the government report 202 people have so far been confirmed dead, while over 600 survived. Hundreds of people are still looking for missing relatives who were on the boat.

The death toll has risen slightly from 197 to 202 after five bodies were found along the shores of Mombasa in Kenya on Tuesday.

Meli Sea Bus ya Azam Imekwama Baharini Nungwi!

UPDATE:  Meli ya Sea Bus ilikuwa inatoka Pemba kwenda Zanzibar wakati ilikwama. Imerudi salama bandarini Pemba.

Hata wiki haijapita tangu ajali ya MV Spice Islander, leo kuna habari kuwa Meli iendayo kasi Sea Bus ya Azam Ferry imekwama zaidi ya masaa manane nahari Nungwi pwani ya Zanzibar! Habari zinasema imekwama pale karibu na ilipozama MV Spice Islander.

Nitawapa updates nikipata.

Kaka Michuzi naya ametoa taarifa:  BOFYA HAPA:

Mgonjwa Muhimbili Anatafuta Ndugu Zake

PRESS RELEASE FROM MUHIMBILI NATIONAL HOSPITAL - DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

(Unidentified Patient in ICU at Muhimbili Hospital in  Dar es Salaam)

Hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili ilipokea mgonjwa toka Hospitali ya Mwananyamala tarehe 18/08/2011 akiwa mahututi na hajitambui. Inasemekana kuwa mgonjwa huyu aliokotwa na wasamaria wema barabarani akiwa amegonjwa na gari usiku wa kuamkia tarehe 18/08/2011 ambao walimpeleka Hospitali ya Mwananyamala. Kwakuwa alikuwa ameumia sana Hospitali ya Mwananyalama iliamua kumleta Hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili ili aweze kupata huduma na uchunguzi mkubwa zaidi.


Mgonjwa huyu hajulikani jina lake kwani hawezi kuongea toka alipoletwa kutokea Mwananyamala. Mgonjwa huyu alifanikiwa kuonwa na madaktari bingwa siku hiyohiyo ya tarehe 18/08/2011 na kufanyiwa uchuguzi wa vipimo mbalimbali ikiwemo X-Ray ya tumbo, kichwa, kifua na kiuno. Matokeo ya vipimo hivyo yalionekana kuwa kichwani kulikuwa na damu kidogo iliyoganda kutokana na kuvujia kwa ndani, picha za kifua na kiuno zilionyesha kuwa hakuna tatizo.

Picha ya tumbo ilionyesha kuwa bandama lilipasuka hali iliyopelekea kufanyia upasuaji siku hiyohiyo ya tarehe 18/08/2011 ili kuondoa bandama. Baada ya upasuaji mgonjwa alipelekwa moja kwa moja chumba cha wagonjwa mahututi (ICU) siku hiyo hiyo ya tarehe 18/08/2011.

HALI YAKE:

Tangu apelekwe ICU hali yake bado ni mbaya, hajitambui. Aidha tangu tarehe 18/08/2011 hakuna ndugu au jamaa aliyejitokeza kuulizia hali ya mgonjwa huyu.

Uongozi wa Hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili unaomba yeyote anayemfahamu mgonjwa huyu atoe taarifa kwa ndugu na jamaa zake ili waweze kuja kumtambua ndugu yao. Tunaendelea

Imetolewa na:


Aminiel Aligaesha,
Afisa Uhusiano,
Hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili,
Septemba 2, 2011.

Magodoro, Milango ilisaidia Kuokoa maisha katika Ajali ya MV Spice Islander

Wadau, kwenye miaka ya 1980's kulikuwa na jali ya mashua Zanzibar. Magodoro yalisaidia kuokoa maisha ya watu katika ajali hiyo.

Lakini sheriza za bahari zinasema kuwa meli lazima iwe na Lifejackets na boti za kutosha abiria kwenye meli! Kwa vilie meli MV Spice Islander ilikuwa na watu wengi kuliko kiasi chake cha kubeba watu 600,  hazikutosha!  SERIKALI MKO WAPI HAPO?
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Kutoka IPPMEDIA.com
 Survivor: Mattresses, Doors Saved Our Lives

By Judica Tarimo

12th September 2011As the nation enters the second day of mourning the MV Spice Islanders tragedy, one of the survivors, Kassim Abdalah said yesterday that most passengers used mattresses and wooden doors to keep afloat.

According to the survivor, they started the journey at Zanzibar Port around 10.00 pm on Friday heading to Pemba.

“But even before we started the journey, most of us (passengers) were not comfortable with the condition of the ship…the vessel was tilting, something that worried many passengers, including me,” narrated Abdallah, a resident of Kisiwani Kojani.

He said a short distance from Nungwi Bay some passengers started sensing abnormal movements of the ship.

“It seemed as if the ship was sinking… fear and tension gripped most passengers on board,” he explained, adding: “The situation worsened when we arrived at Nungwi Bay after one of the ship’s engines stalled.”

Fearing for their lives, some passengers, especially women, started crying, with others asking the ship’s captain to assure them of their safety, after the engine ceased.

This forced the captain to make an announcement…urging passengers not to panic, saying the ship could still travel on one engine. “According to the captain we would arrive safely despite of the problem. Since we (passengers) are not experts, we believed him, and the journey continued,” he said.

They proceeded with the safari, but when they were some five kilometres from Nungwi Bay, the second engine ceased, shocking everybody and triggering more panic and outcries amongst passengers, as sea water started entering the ship.

“The ship had started to sink, slowly! Every passenger prayed to God for some miracles to save our lives. There was nothing we could do except to pray,” he explained.

“It reached a point when almost half of the ship was covered with water…it is at this point when many children and infants died, as adults, like me, struggled to save our lives,” said Abdallah.

The ship’s captain, assisted by five sailors, threw life buoys into the Ocean, and all of them jumped onto them and started helping other passengers out of the sinking ship onto the rescue facility.

“Unfortunately the rescue facility could not accommodate all passengers, because the carrier capacity of that facility was low compared to the number of people needing help,” the survivor explained.

“Fortunately as we desperately sought ways to save ourselves, we realized that, there were mattresses and wooden doors on top of the ship…they belonged to businesspeople plying between Pemba and Unguja.”

“So, one of us (passengers) threw the mattresses and the doors to the ocean which we used as rafters to rescue passengers. Honestly speaking, these mattresses and doors, saved lives of many more passengers,” he added.

Abdallah said while the rescue continue, a group of 40 passengers, including him had clung to the ship, in anticipation of assistance from relevant authorities and anybody else who might happen.

“No rescue came and the whole ship sunk, taking with it 25 passengers who probably died. I and 14 other passengers used mattresses and doors which were floating on the surface to remain afloat. We held onto the mattresses and doors, for hours---from around 1.00 am until morning,” he said.

While on the Ocean, waiting for help, he said: “We saw an airplane, afar. We raised our hands and water pipes—hoping it would spot us. Apparently noticing us, the plane circled above for a while…before flying away.”

“Not long after a boat come to our rescue. Before helping us out of the water, people on the boat spent sometime, taking our photos,” said Abdallah.

“After this the boat came close to where we were, picked us up and put all of us onto it…in short the mattresses and doors, saved my life and those of many other passengers, in the tragedy,” he concluded.

Serikali Haijui Nani Mmiliki wa MV Spice Islander

Makaburi yaliyochimbwa Zanzibar kwa ajali ya maiti ya waliofariki katika ajali ya meli MV Spice Islander. Picha imepigwa na Khalfan Said

Wadau, ni aibu kuwa serikali ya Zanzibar eti haijui nani mmiliki wa meli iliyozama pwani ya Zanzibar MV Spice Islander. Ina maana kuwa walikuwa hawalipi kodi? Nani alikuwa anawalipa wafanyakazi wa meli? Hela ya tiketi na mizigo ilikuwa inaenda wapi? Nani alilipa hiyo hongo ya 3M/- T.shs. ili meli iondoke bandari ya Zanzibar ikiwa imejaza kupindukia?

Kuna watu pale mamlaka ya bandari na serikalini wanaostahili kujiiuluzu! Miili yao imepakwa damu ya marehemu waliokufa katika ajali ya MV Spice Islander!

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Maritime Tragedy in East Africa


Zanzibar government denies knowledge of owners of sunken ferry


By Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN Uganda
Sep 12, 2011

(eTN) - In an extraordinary, though not unprecedented turn of events, the government of Zanzibar has reportedly denied having any knowledge of the registered owners of the MV Spice Islander. The Spice Islander is the ferry between Unguja - commonly referred to as Zanzibar - and Pemba, that capsized and sunk on September 10, 2011 with over 600 or 800 people on board - the number has yet to be determined - leaving scores of passengers dead in the water and others struggling to survive by clinging on to debris until they could be pulled out of the water by rescuers.

Registration and licensing of ocean going vessels, however, has been confirmed to be a function of government by tourism stakeholders, one of whom said this in an email overnight:

"This is not just unreal but almost mocking those seeking answers, those who lost relatives on the islands. How can a government claim not to be aware of the owners and it is the same government giving them a license.

"We are also disturbed about conflicting figures, some of which put the total passengers to over 800 and then government mouthpieces try to shrink these figures to within the licensed number. What is going on here?

"The tragedy was avoidable if only rules were enforced. There is notorious corruption across all outlets of public services, and they are now just trying to whitewash the whole thing.

"It is high time that government brings us new safe ferries, which can be used to travel from one island to the other without risking our lives every time one sets foot on board."

The central government in Dar es Salaam did, according to media reports, release 300 million Tanzania Ssillings to assist bereaved families with funeral expenses.

The official number of casualties was given by a Zanzibar government spokesperson as just under 200 with nearly 600 survivors, which would put the overall number of passengers on board well over the licensed figure permitted. There is also no certainty over the number of bodies not yet recovered, as apparently no complete passenger manifest was produced prior to the ferry leaving for its last ill-fated journey to Pemba.

Reconciling survivors and casualties is, therefore, literally impossible for the authorities in Zanzibar. It is understood that Kenyan authorities are now also keeping a watch along the shores from across the Pemba Channel, in case any bodies would be spotted across the international border.

A legal aid organization is planning to sue Zanzibar's government and others involved for negligence.



MV Spice Islander at the Zanzibar Port in 2009



Meli MV. Spice Islander Ulikuwa Mkweche/TakaTaka!

MV Spice Islander ikiwa Honduras kabla ya kufika Tanzania

MV Spice Islander ikijazwa mizigo katika bandari ya Dar au Zanzibar?

MV Spice Islander bandarini Zanzibar mwaka jana

Wadau, habari ya kuzama kwa meli MV Spice Islande imekuwa habari ya kimataifa. Inaelekea kuwa hiyo meli MV Spice Islander ilikuwa meli ambayo isingeruhusiwa kufanya kazi katika nchi za magharibi kutokana na ubovu wake. Meli iliundwa mwaka 1967 huko Ugiriki. Imefanya kazi katika nchi kadhaa na kuhribika mara kadhaa kabla ya kufika Tanzania. Ilikuwa na majina, Mariana, na Apostolos P kabla ya kuitwa Spice Islander I nchini Honduras. Hapa Tanzania, uchu wa pesa  na kujaza hiyo meli nzee kupindukia imesabisha meli iseme, mie basi tena, bora nizame kuliko niendelee!   Halafu cha kuchekesha zaidi eti serikali ya Zanzibar inasema kuwa hawajui nani anamiliki hiyo meli!   Kwa hiyo hela ya nauli, mizigo ilikuwa inaenda kwa nani? Mwenye meli alikuwa halipi kodi? Soma habari zifuatazo.

Mungu alaze roho za waliokufa mahala pema mbinguni. AMEN.

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"We have regularly featured disasters such as this, usually in the poorer regions of the world when vessels, often rejected by Western countries for reasons of safety, unreliability or age, are snapped up for use in areas unsuited to them. In this case it seems clear that safety measures regarding maintenance and load levels were simply ignored, presumably in the name of profit, leading to yet another avoidable tragedy. "

MV Spice Islander Debris Field off the coast of Zanzibar

Awful Tanzanian Vessel Death Toll Could Have Been Worse

TANZANIA – Once again we are witness to tragedy when the MV Spice Islander, a freight and passenger RoRo (roll on/roll off) ferry travelling between the offshore islands of Unguja and Pemba in the Zanzibar archipelago lost power whilst traversing the dangerous waters off the coast of Zanzibar. The strong currents in the area apparently caused the overloaded vessel to capsize and the current death toll stands at around 200.

The disaster however could have been much worse as reports state that the ferry was carrying a complement of in excess of 800 souls plus a quantity of cargo, her official capacity is reported as 645 plus 45 crew. The bodies, recovered from the water are being taken to a local football stadium, include many children. Some reports state that the vessel was listing before she embarked causing some passengers to leave her prior to departure from Unguja. There are no reported tourist deaths as yet, most prefer local speedboats to the slower ferry service.

We have regularly featured disasters such as this, usually in the poorer regions of the world when vessels, often rejected by Western countries for reasons of safety, unreliability or age, are snapped up for use in areas unsuited to them. In this case it seems clear that safety measures regarding maintenance and load levels were simply ignored, presumably in the name of profit, leading to yet another avoidable tragedy.

Spice Islander is a Ro-Ro ferry of 836 gross tonnes was built in Greece in 1967 as Marianna. She was renamed Apostolos P following a sale in 1988 before being sold to a Honduran company in 2007 and renamed. She had been in trouble before when, in 2007, she broke down off the Somali coast reportedly due to fuel contamination. On that occasion she was aided by a patrolling US naval vessel which resupplied her with fuel. Speaking earlier today, the UK’s Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham said:

“I was deeply saddened by news of the ferry disaster off Tanzania earlier today which claimed the lives of so many people. On behalf of the British Government, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to those affected and their families.

“When I visited Tanzania in May I was struck by how close the relationship is between our countries and the warmth and friendship of the Tanzanian people. At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the people of Tanzania as they come to terms with this terrible tragedy.”

SOURCE: http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/another-major-freight-and-passenger-roro-ferry-disaster_3063

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Kutoka IPPMedia.com

Death toll reaches 240, search continues


By Mwinyi Sadallah

12th September 2011
Zanzibar residents bury the body of one of the passenger who died after MV Spice Islanders capsized on Saturday. The burial ceremony took place in Kama area in the Isles, yesterday. (Photo: Khalfan Said)The death toll in the Zanzibar marine accident which involved MV Spice Islander boat yesterday rose to 240 people, as more bodies were pulled from the ocean.

The Zanzibar Police Commissioner Mussa Ali Mussa gave the figure here yesterday when briefing the Inspector General of Police Said Mwema on the accident who was accompanied by Tanzania People’s Defence Forces Chief General Davis Mwamunyange.

IGP Mwema said the government has decided to bring in rescuers from abroad to assist in the search for any more bodies trapped in the boat.

Zanzibar government said MV Spice Islander was overloaded before it capsized at Nungwi area in Zanzibar.

Speaking to journalists here yesterday Minister of State, Second Vice President Office Mohammed Aboud Mohammed said that the boat had the capacity of carrying 600 passengers and 500 tonnes of cargoes.

But according to the passenger’s manifest 610 passengers boarded the boat at Zanzibar port while 166 boarded at Dar es Salaam port including 65 children.

He said government has also decided to bury 39 people who were not identified.They were buried at Kama area in Unguja –West district.

He added that the government has also prepared 134 graves at Kama area which will be used to bury people who will not have been identified by their relatives.

He further explained that Maisara Disaster Centre which was established for relatives to identify bodies has been closed and other bodies which will be recovered will be buried immediately, noting that records will be kept for searching relatives.

The government will today hold a special prayer at Maisara grounds for the people who died in the accident and the victims. The prayers will be led by Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein.

He however said that the captain of the ill-fated ship Said Kinyenyeta was yet to be found, but a technician with the vessel Injima Mkune was being questioned by police.

Meanwhile, the National Social Security Fund (NSSSF) has donated 13m/- to help in the rescue mission—out of which, 10m/- would go to the government and 3m/- to support burial activities.

The financial assistance was presented by NSSF Senior Public Relations Officer, Juma Kintu, who said the social security scheme was touched by the impact of the incident on people’s lives.

Zanzibar social security fund has contributed 10m/- which was presented by fund’s public relations officers, Raya Hamdani, while the mobile phone company, TIGO donated food worth 5m/- to the victims.

Minister Aboud said the Union government gave 300million/- to support activities and operations related to the tragic marine accident.

Meanwhile the Director of Zanzibar Port Authority, Mustafa Aboud Jumbe distanced himself from blame, saying the authority was not responsible in overseeing marine transport services (passengers and cargo).

Speaking to our sister newspaper, Nipashe yesterday, Jumbe said “This is the duty of the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA), which was established by the law to oversee marine and surface transport sectors.”
Sumatra stopped operations in Zanzibar after Members of the House of Representatives claimed that the authority was operating illegally, as marine transport services was not on the list of Union matters.

Efforts to get director of Zanzibar marine transport, Vuai Haji, did not bear fruit, as his mobile phone was not answered.

In July, this year, Minister of Communications and Transport, Hamad Masoud presented a special report in the House of Representatives, defending marine transport facilities in Zanzibar, saying they did not pose any threat to the lives of travellers.

The minister was responding to the growing public concerns, after seven ships plying Zanzibar developed technical faults.

Safari Yangu World Trade Center 1991 na Kumbukumbu Zangu za 9/11

Wadau, mwaka 1991 nikiwa Alfred Friendly Press Fellow, nilibahatika kutembelea World Trade Center, New York. Watalii walikuwa wanapenda sana kwenda juu ya WTC kuaangalia view ya New York City. Duh! Hizo Towers ziliangushwa September 11, 2001.


Me on Top of the World Trade Center in August 1991



Me checking out the view of New York City from the top of the World Trade Center

Tanzania Flag on Display in the Lobby of the World Trade Center

My fellow AFPF Fellows (Sameh From Egypt  standing andAbdul on his back from Pakistan)

View of New York City

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MARUDIO - KUMBUKUBU ZANGU ZA SEPTEMBER, 11, 2011

Nikikumbuka siku ya Septemba 11, mwaka 2001, naweza kusema ni siku nchi ya Marekani ilibadilika. Maana waMarekani hawakutegemea kuwa kitendo cha kigaidi hivyo kingeweza kutokea hapa japo mwaka 1995, mzungu Timothy McVey alilipua jengo la serikali huko Oklahoma.


Siku enyewe kwangu ilikuwa hivi. Nilienda kazini kama kawaida. Ajabu hali ya hewa ilikuwa ni nzuri sana, jua na si joto sana. Wazungu wanasema ilikuwa ni "perfect day". Nilivyofika kazini mume wangu alinipigia simu na kuniambia anaangalia TV na wanaripoti kuwa ndege imegonga World Trade Center. Wala sikutilia manani sana, nilidhani labda ndege ndogo.

Haijapita muda, mume wangu kanipigia simu tena. Alisema kuwa akiwa anangalia taarifa ya ile ndege ya kwanza, aliona ndege nyingine ikigonga jengo la pili huko World Trade Center na sasa wana hofia kuwa ni terrorism!

Sasa mimi niliingia kwenye internet, lakini ilikuwa haifanyi kazi vizuri. Pages hazifunguki. Hatukuwa na TV ofisini. Dada moja ofisini alifungua redio. Mume wangu alinipigia simu nyingine na kusema kuwa ndege imeanguka Pennsyvania na nyingine imeangusha Sears Tower Chicago. (Kweli ilitokea uzushi kuwa Sears Towers imeanguka). Kukaa kidogo kanipigia simu na kusema kuwa ndege imeguka huko Washington D. C. na Pentagon inaugua moto. DUH! nilivyowaambia watu hivyo kuna mzungu moja alisema," Ah, huwezi kuamini kila kitu unachosikia, hata siku moja Pentagon haivamiwi!" Yule dada aliyekuwa anasikiliza aliwaambia watu kuwa nilichosema ni kweli naye alisikia kwenye redio.

Basi wazungu ofisini walianza kuingiwa na kiwewe na kuanza kulia. Wengine walisali, maana ofisi yetu nayo ni ghorofani na tulikuwa financial district kama World Trade Center. Wengine walisem ni mwisho wa dunia! Watu walisema huenda wakavamia Boston. Nilienda dirishani na kutazama nje. DOH! Sijawahi kuona! Wazungu walikuwa wanatembea haraka haraka, wengine walikuwa wanakimbia na suti zao na ma briefcase kuelekea South Station kupanda matreni!

Na mimi nilirudi kwenye deski yangu na kuanza kumpigia simu mdogo wangu ambaye alikuwa anafanya kazi karibu na World Trade Center. Simu zilikuwa haziendi! Wakati huu walianza kutangaza kuwa Tower imeanguka na watu 20,000 wamekufa!



Huko nami nasali namtafuta mdogo wangu. Wake wa watu waliosafiri kutoka ofisini nao walianza kupiga simu kujua hali za waume zao maana walitangaza kuwa ndege ziliondoka Boston, Logan Airport na wengine walikuwa wanasafiri siku hiyo. Bahati hakuna aliyekuwa kwenye ndege iliyoangushwa. Ila huyo shujaa Amy Sweeney, aliyekuwa Flight Attendant na ndiye alitoa habari za nani kateka ndege alikuwa ni jirani wa bosi wangu. Kukaa kidogo walitangaza kuwa jengo letu linafungwa na kila mtu aondoke kwenda makwao.

Basi tuliondoka. Njiani kwenda subway ungeona macho ya watu walivyokuwa wanazubaa na kushangaa. Ajabu watu wasiofahamiana walikuwa wanaongea habari hizo mitaani. Na kama unajua maisha Marekani hiyo siyo kawaida. Nikiwa kwenye treni ndo nilisikia kuwa Tower ya pili imeanguka!

Nilianza kumtafuta mdogo wangu wa New York. Ubaya simu landline na cell phones zilikuwa hazifanyi kazi kwa long distance ilikuwa ukipata ni bahati. Wanasema simu zilikuwa overloaded siku hiyo ndo maana hazikufanya kazi. Ajabu nilishindwa kupiga simu New York, na sehemu zingine Marekani, lakini niliweza kupata simu ya Tanzania mara moja. Nilipiga simu nyumbani kwa wazazi wangu na kuongea na baba. Alikuwa na wasiwasi kweli na alisema mama analia hajiwezi na hawezi kuongea, maana aliambiwa kuwa watu laki mbili wamekufa na alijua mdogo wangu anafanya kazi karibu na pale.



Doh, ilikuwa kwenye saa kumi na moja jioni tukapigiwa simu na mdogo wangu mwingine. Alisema kuwa aliongea na rafiki wa mdogo wangu wa New York na yuko salama. Mbona tulipumua. Nilipiga simu Tanzania kutoa taarifa. Mbona ilikuwa shangwe kule nyumbani.

Jioni ile niliongea na mdogo wangu, aliniambia kuwa alienda kazini kama kawaida. Alivyotoka kwenye subway aliona makaratasi mengi hewani naoshi, na alishangaa imetokea nini. Aliendelea mpaka ofisini kwake. Kufika huko ofisini, waliwaambia watu waondoke ana walikuwa wanatoa chupa za maji ya kunywa na matunda mlangoni. Anasema watu walikuwa na wasiwasi kweli, huko mbele kuna nini.

Alisema kuwa kulikuwa hakuna usafiri wa treni, basi wala teksi, hivyo ilibidi atembee mpaka Brooklyn alipokuwa anakaa. Na alisema hata hivyo hayuko kwake bali kwa rafiki yake anakaa karibu zaidi na New York City. Pia alisema watu madukani walipandisha bei ya vinywaji na chakula.

Kuna rafiki yangu mwingine wa New York, aliniambia kuwa alikuwa karibu na World Trade Center alijaa mavumbui, hakujua nini inatendeka, lakini alijikuta yuko kwenye ferry kwenda New Jersey. Anasema hajui hata alifikaje kwenye hiyo ferry, lakini alishukuru Mungu kuwa alikuwa hai.

Sasa nikirudi hapa Boston, macho yetu kwenye TV. Walikuwa wanaomba wenye utaalamu wa medical waende New York kusaidia. Misafara ya magari ilienda New York na watu wa kusaidia jitihada za kuokoa watu huko New York.

Kesho yake, Septemba 12, kwenda ofisini ilikuwa kama vile unaenda kumtembelea mtu gerezani! Kuna geti na lazima uonyeshe kitambulisho, wakati jana yake unaingia tu hadi kwenye floor yako, ndo unaingiza kadi kwenye security scanner.

Asante bin Laden, mtu aliyefanana na mwarabu alipata shida kweli. Kusimamishwa na polisi mara kwa mara. Kupanda kwenye ndege ndo ilikuwa usiombe, hiyo security na warabu na wahindi walivyokuwa wananyanyaswa na kupekuliwa. Kuna jirani yangu MPalestina, alikamatwa na uhamiaji siku hiyo ya 9/11 na hatujamwona hadi leo. Watu walijitolea kwa wingi kujinga na majeshi ya Marekani.

Jambo cha kusikitisha, watu walikuwa wanavaa hijab, au nguo za kiislamu na hata wahindi singasinga walikuwa wanapigwa ovyo na wengine walipoteza maisha. Nakumbumuka msingasinga jirani yangu alivua kilemba chake na kuvaa baseball cap kwa muda.

Pia ilikuwa kila sehemu kuna bendera za Marekani, watu wakionyesha uzalendo wao. Na biashara za waarabu na wahindi walijaza hizo bendera na hata kuweka bendera kwenya ma Pizza box.
Cha kusikitisha zaidi ni kuwa kabla ya 9/11 ilikuwa rahisi kuja Marekani na kupata Visa. Sasa hivi ulie tu, ni kama bahati nasibu. Watu wanachunguzwa na inabidi watoe na fingerprints ndo wapte hiyo visa!

Na waarabu waliokuwa wanapendwa kwa pesa zao za mafuta sasa ni maadui! Na nukuu usemi wa kizungu, "HOW THINGS CHANGE!"

Ubaya huyo Rais Bush alienda kuvamia Iraq na vita iko mpaka leo, lakini hiyo ni hadithi nyingine. Juzi kuna Mbunge wa Marekani alisema kuwa, "Bush kuvamia Iraq ni sawa na Marekani kuvamia Mexico baada ya Pearl Harbor kuvamiwa na Wajapani"