Tanzania: Magufuli is livin’ on a prayer

Woah, we’re halfway there

Woah-oh, livin’ on a prayer

Take my hand, we’ll make it, I swear

Woah-oh, livin’ on a prayer” – Bon Jovi – “Livin’ life on a Prayer” (1987)

As the saga continues in the United Republic of Tanzania, the President John Pombe Magufuli refuses to order a lockdown and close of vital operations. Neither close businesses, schools or anything involving society. The rise of cases of COVID-19 or Coronavirus is appearing. Surely, the pain will felt sooner or later. However, the man believes will shield him over this. As it is devils work and God can overpower that.

Nevertheless, God gave us a mind to use it and also two ears to listen. This meaning listening to science and health care experts who has advice in circumstances like this. The Tanzanian authorities who usually knows how to strike down on opposition leaders and activists. Knows how to use authority, but in this instance refuse to utilize it to safeguard its citizens. This will sooner or later backfire. The hurt will be felt and the amount of hospitalization will hurt not only the economy, but also dozens of families. Which looses their loved ones over the recklessness of the authorities.

Here is the recent news:

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has declared a three-day national prayers period to help combat the novel coronavirus as the reported cases in the country rose to 94. “Fellow Tanzanians, due to the pandemic, I urge to use these three days, from April 17 to April 19, to pray for God’s protection and healing,” the President tweeted on Thursday evening” (Beatrice Materu – ‘Tanzania: COVID-19 – Magufuli Declares Three Days of National Prayers, The East African, 17.04.2020).

President Magufuli should act wise, but don’t count on it. This is his pride now, as he has since before Easter spoken of Godly intervention and not closing churches. Like big-crowds and non social distancing is wise in the midst of global pandemic. Even if the numbers aren’t striking. Still people are dying in Zanzibar and on the main-land because of the COVID-19. That should be a warning for anyone.

The rate of spread will only grow, as long as there is no mitigation. It is only rare luck that not more are verified or more cases are official. Because, sooner or later the system will not able to handle. As the sickness can be spread up to average 4 persons and someone can walk around with it. With no signs or symptoms. The asymptomatic function of COVID-19 is the worry some bother here.

As even there is no signs, the people might have gotten infected and spreading it to others. The tally now is 94 official, but might be more who no-one know about. These might be fatigued or lack taste in their homes.

President Magufuli is living on a prayer. In that fashion, he should consider the bridge from the song:

Ooh, we’ve got to hold on, ready or not

You live for the fight when it’s all that you’ve got” – Bon Jovi – “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1987

The President should fight the COVID-19, but instead his praying. The prayers in means to the ills, but he should also apply other measures too. Especially when the world has them already. God gave the mankind wisdom, time to apply that as well. Peace.

Tanzania: Magufuli, it’s your time to act upon the COVID-19 Pandemic

Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—

a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?

The wicked band together against the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death” (Psalms 94: 20-21; New International Version).

Today, the numbers are starting to get worrying. The Tanzanian state now have 88 people whose confirmed with COVID-19 or the Coronavirus. This is up 29 in one day. There is also reported a total of 4 deaths, which is confirmed in connection with the virus. 1 of these death also happen on Zanzibar. The major hub for the disease is still in Dar-es Salaam.

However, the act of the President isn’t a sign of strength. That he trusts God and doesn’t do a lockdown. That the President doesn’t mitigate or social distancing. The blockage of transport into the United Republic isn’t enough. That is the beginning. As the numbers are starting to prove. The rapid rise is on the way. If the President and his team doesn’t act.

This will really hurt the Republic if he doesn’t act. The deaths of Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and United States should be a lesson to the Presidency. Why he should act swiftly and take a cue from them. Instead of doing the same failure and damage by running government like normal and business too.

Tanzania is still keeping churches open. Keeping ordinary trade and ensuring the daily life goes without consequence. Except, there is a rise in cases of COVID-19. The numbers of 29 doesn’t sound to bad now. However, the reason for worry is that the virus spreads between 1,5 times to 4 times from one carrier. Unless, there is a mitigation or trying to control the outbreak. Nevertheless, that is not the case in concern with Tanzania. As the President and his men doesn’t do anything substantial.

They are only praying to God, who got the antidote and got the cure. The man who prays, asks for eternal powers and helps from the Almighty. Still, the man who does that doesn’t listen to advice or to what happens elsewhere in the world. As the numbers are rising. The outbreak is worsening and its only starting. As always in these manners, not everyone is tested and there are hidden numbers. Since, it is official rising numbers should worry CCM and Magufuli.

Though, I think it has to hit harder before he reacts. There has to be sudden death in the Court of the President. If not in the mere sphere of the chambers of power. Some sort of relative to his allies or the President. Than, he might react and be reactionary.

Until then, the lie will continue. The lies of the state will be there. God gave you a mind. Use it and use the wisdom has given you. God has given you warnings and science, use it for the common good. Don’t be a fool, Mr. President. It is not worth losing these people’s lives, because of your ego and your will.

Right now is the time to act and do something. Before the pandemic hits home. It is starting, the knocking on the doors are happening. It is your turn to act like a leader and guide the public. Peace.

Joint Statement by the Ministers Responsible for Health and East African Community Affairs Issued on 25th March 2020 on COVID-19 Prepardness and Response in East African Community Region (25.03.2020)

Tanzania: President Magufuli showing up to CHURCH at this point is endangering the faithful

We are not closing places of worship. That’s where there is true healing. Corona is the devil and it cannot survive in the body of Jesus” (…) “People don’t argue, we’re too competitive. I pray to the Christian brothers and Tanzanians of all denominations, this is the best time to trust in God than ever, continue to work, continue to build our economy, we cannot surrender our corona disease and fail to trust God and fail to sustain our economy” – Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli

Mr. President these words your saying now isn’t words of wisdom. They are neither smart or wise. They are actually very stupid. As the world as we know is exercising social restraint or social distancing. That is a sport, which hopefully be a part of the next summer Olympics. However, until then, maybe it will be more respected.

To go to a service, prayer meeting or to “church”, usually means a solid amount people in a closed space. They are between closed doors and the preacher/reverent/prophet or priest in the front with a musician, choir and whatnot singing psalms, worship-songs or whatnot. This is being done to praise the lord and collectively redeem the souls and arm the body of Christ. Which in ordinary days are fine. It is golden, that people decides to do this.

However, by continuing this now is foolish. It is ragouts and dangerous. This is endangering the lives of the faithful. This is deceiving them. God gave them a mind and heart, they should use them both. God isn’t based in a building, but everywhere. Prayers can be done from wherever. Singing psalms and reading uplifting scriptures can be done from wherever. God isn’t in a box and only the clergy can reveal the facts of the scriptures. If they say so, they downplaying the Holy Ghost and the whole Trinity itself.

President Magufuli should beg for mercy. His is sending people into big gatherings in the midst of COVID-19 or Coronavirus. Endangering the faithful, the men of faith and the ones whose good Church people. The President is not stopping this or suspending these practices. Because, he believes his praising the devil by doing so. The devil is in the details and when you know something will harm the public. Than you stop it. Even when its usually unharmful. Usually going to church is causing no one harm, unless the local church is playing to high music and destroying people’s earholes while singing worships. That is a well-known phenomenon.

The President should reconsider, if he cares for these Christians and their faith. If he cares about their lives and souls. That is if he does. He should close these churches. Only temporarily. Not forever, but all public gatherings are open gates for transmitting the disease. When you know this, you should not engage it.

If your a Christian in Tanzania, you should defy your President and your clergy. Stay home and pray. Your born with a great mind, God gave it to you. Not for you to spoil it for the tithes of the Church. You are a person of faith, who deserve to live on and pass this pandemic. God can see you in your home and in your neighbourhood. You don’t need to travel to the church now. He see your heart and see your will. His the almighty for a reason and we just his servants.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is”- Ephesians 5: 15-17 (New International Version).

Still, he gave us wisdom. We got to be faithful, but not naive. We shouldn’t risk our lives to pray together. God will understand. His the biggest big-man and know our struggles. He didn’t create church to make it a gate to funerals. Peace.

Opinion: Magufuli should be consistent [and think before he speaks]

It is evident that when you have a large population you build the economy. That’s why China has the world’s fastest-growing economy” (…) Don’t mind those who tell you otherwise. Set your ovaries free and let them block theirs” – President John Magufuli on the 16th March 2020 at the inspection of Ubongo Intersection in Dar Es Salaam

There are times, where I think the message isn’t consistent with their actions. If President Magufuli would have an explosion of children and a bigger population. Than, the President shouldn’t arrest the female youths and students, who happens to get pregnant. This is public knowledge.

If he was consistent. He would put in place systems, health care and opportunities. So that there would incentive to get babies, hook-up and even get married with kids. Like if he wanted more children to world. Maybe make it more safe, as there is statistics out that 18% of all maternal deaths in the Republic is connected with woman giving birth in the age between 15 to 49 years. That is warning that everything isn’t right.

So, we have two giant issues before we start. Not only that the teenage pregnancy is fought with the authorities. Than, if they get to the hospital there is big chance they are not living. This is really something the CCM and Magufuli should fix before asking more kids to this world. I am sure the World Health Organization and UNICEF has helped for the mortality rate to fall over the last two decades, but Magufuli should facilitate and secure when they enter the gates of hospital.

What is also striking: Shouldn’t you empower ladies to more than just being a womb for future kids? Is that their only value Mr. President?

You know want a big population and being able to challenge Nigeria and China. However, than make the woman empowered and systems to give them incentives. They are reflecting human beings not walking wombs. That is really a bad view of it all. It just all paternalism and chauvinism in general. It is not a good look.

Mr. President be consistent, be reflected and think before you talk. You must think little of the people and of the other gender. When you says stuff like this. As a man, I am disappointed. I cannot imagine how a woman would feel about this. Especially, knowing that this is how he values you.

Mr. President your a bulldozer and as tits on a bull. Because, your certainly have to come with a complete program from the cradle to the grave. You better amp up a welfare state, functional hospitals and child-care units all across the Republic. That is if your sincere, if not this is just hogwash coming out of your mouth. Peace.

Statement on the situation in Tanzania: “Rule of law and the freedom of political activity in Tanzania must be guaranteed” (13.03.2020)

Tanzania: The gloves are off, as the CHADEMA 9 is sentenced

If you think it could get darker and more grim under President John Pombe Magufuli and his Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM). Well, today is dawn, the sun has stopped shining. This is ahead of elections and CHADEMA 9 is sentenced in Dar Es Salaam. Expect more Opposition leaders to be detained. For holding rallies in their constituencies.

Today, CHADEMA National Chairman Freeman Mbowe together with Halima Mdee are both sentenced together with 7 others. Mbowe was guilty in 12 out 13 charges against him. The MPs holding their meetings or rallies was not seen as valid. They had permits, but they moved, therefore, seen as unlawful assembly and civil disobedience. Meaning they are guilty too. This is a clear message from the judge and the authorities.

Earlier in the day, the people who tried to stand around and demonstrate for CHADEMA and the accused was all picked up on pickups and arrested on the spot. The Anti-Riot Police was outside securing the premises. Several of citizens was picked up and arrested by this measure. As plenty of people wanted to gather and follow the judgment in Court today.

This means today, the CHADEMA 9 is ready for conviction and serve time as political prisoners. The leaders of opposition, arrested and detained by the authorities. In measures beyond the greatness of the United Republic and its history.

The CCM is now shambolic in its affairs, as they are targeting every single opposition party and leaders with criminal cases and sentencing them. We can clearly see, there is no bound and the laws are made to criminalize the opposition. As we are never seeing the same efforts being done to the CCM’s own.

Today is a grim day. CHADEMA was targeted and now lost several high ranking leaders. God knows for how long, but this case is significant because of the stature of Freeman and Halima. Tanzania isn’t free, only CCM is free. Peace.

Tanzania: CCM Secretary General Bashiru Ally spilled the beans

The one who owns the benefits of the state use that state to remain in power. That’s the truth. ” Dr. Bashiru Ally on ITV (06.03.2020).

Today on TV the Chama Cha Mapindzi (CCM) Secretary General Bashiru Ally was a bit sincere on the broadcast today. A bit to honest. Not that its shocking nor surprising. CCM has been using the state to stop the Opposition from organizing or dissidents from speaking up against the state. So, it all make sense. As the CCM are gearing up for the up-coming elections in October 2020.

These elections will be neither free nor fair. The CCM will control it, monitor it and exercise its right to stop the ones in its way. This is what the CCM does, because it owns the state and will use the state stay in power. They don’t intend to hand over this power, the authorities nor the security agencies, who keeps them in power.

He also said this:

CCM is not an election party, it is a leadership party, so we are involved in leading the development. Political parties who want to take us out of power should know that we have a guarantee” – Dr Bashiru Ally on ITV (06.03.2020).

Therefore, this is no doubt in my mind, that CCM doesn’t plan to play fair neither let the state be independent actor in the upcoming election. This election will just be a sessions to secure and validate the mandate of CCM. Not ensure the will of the people nor the ballots either. They are just there to proclaim the sham.

The CCM will use the army, police and whatever else needed to ensure the victory. They are guaranteed to own the state and to continue to have the benefits of state. This is clearly saying the security agencies will be on their side. They will use the state and that’s because it want to stay in power.

There was no slick saying or wording shielding it. He said it straight. The Secretary General of the ruling party says they will use the state and its benefits to stay in power. It would be negligence to not do so. Therefore, the elections are indirectly just a sham and a PR stunt.

They will downplay this and when this hits the fan, but the truth is out. The cookies are out of the jar. They can now be eaten and digested. Peace.

Kabendera is free: However two articles published right before [his arrest] shows why he was detained…

Erick Kabendera, the freelance investigative journalists who was arrested on the 30th July 2019. Whose been in jail ever since. First they looked into his citizenship, which was a non-started. Than later he was charged with Money Laundering, tax-evasion and criminal racketeering. That happen later in the year. Since, then he has been detained until 24th February 2020 as he paid a bond of a hefty sum of $125k US Dollars.

Before his kidnap, arrest and detaining of him. He had written two big articles questioning the CCM and President Magufuli. Both of these articles was in The East African. Like on the 6th July 2019 ‘Electoral body now moves to seal the fate of Lissu’ writes this:

But, irrespective of the outcome of his push for his reinstatement, political pundits say Mr Lissu’s return to the country will likely currently limping from the effects of a campaign to close all political space and shut all avenues for anyone to mount a credible challenge against President Magufuli for the presidency next year” (Erick Kabendera, 06.07.2019).

Later in the month before his arrest, this was co-written with Christopher Kidanka in The East African, which is titled ‘Could Tanzania’s Magufuli second term bid face opposition?’ on the 20th July 2019. Where he states this:

Former CCM secretaries-general Abrahman Kinana and Yusuf Makamba last week issued a letter alleging a plot by powerful people in government seeking to frame former CCM and government leaders for treason. The letter has attracted counteraccusations from President Magufuli’s loyalists who stand by their claims. The president’s supporters accuse former party leaders, including the authors of the letter, of ganging up to undermine the party and go against its tradition of allowing two terms in office for the presidency.” (Kabendera & Kidanka, 20.07.2019).

Clearly, these sort of reporting is humiliating to the President Magufuli whose expected to be praised to stars, the moons and the above the skyline. The CCM is supposed to be unison and follow the President blindly. That’s why Kabendera’s articles are earth shattering. Because, this is the sort of written scoops, President Magufuli doesn’t want to have out.

He wants headlines of brilliance, greatness and be the glorified bulldozer. The man who makes changes, big-business and generate wealth for the United Republic. He doesn’t want to look foolish, ignorant or stupid. Neither does he want any dissent in the CCM party. That is why these two articles are a reminder of what Magufuli hates and had to make-up charges to get Kabendera behind bars. Peace.

World Bank working paper reveals astonishing amount of aid money to the African continent going directly into tax havens!

The World Bank working paper named ‘Elite Capture of Foreign Aid – Evidence from Offshore Bank Accounts’, which was finally released yesterday is a devastating read. Not because of the facts in it, but because of the extent of the misuse and theft of aid money. The World Bank are now proving by small samples how much of their loans, grants and funds, which is given by donors to the WB, which happens to be moved to tax havens by the regimes that needs it. That is eating of the plate of the poorest and living lavish on others people’s dime.

Just in the Annex, the truth really comes forward, where it is only a small samples, but showing the distasteful enterprise still. Like from table one. You can see that a certain amount of African countries have taken out huge funds into havens deposits and non-haven deposits.

The report explains this about the table one: “The table shows the 22 countries in our main sample and presents summary statistics for the main variables in our analysis. The sample includes all countries for which annual disbursements from the World Bank are equivalent to at least 2 percent of annual GDP on average. Sample mean is the average of the 22 countries in the sample. Annual WB aid (% of GDP) is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Annual ODA aid (% of GDP) is annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all sources as a fraction of annual GDP. Haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the 17 countries classified as havens. Non-haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the countries not classified as havens” (World Bank Feb 2020).

Nation Haven (million USD) Non-Haven (million USD)
Burkina Faso 32 88
Burundi 103 19
Eritrea 8 11
Ethiopia 64 155
Ghana 76 446
Guinea-Bissau 8 16
Madagascar 193 232
Malawi 31 82
Mali 27 133
Mauritania 32 150
Mozambique 40 161
Niger 29 79
Rwanda 149 41
Sao Tome and Principe 4 8
Sierra Leone 32 82
Tanzania 145 437
Uganda 73 188
Zambia 117 306

When you add into the A6 Table of the modestly aid-dependent countries. You see yet more African countries, where the money a flowing out of the coffers. Where surely not all aid is going where its supposed too.

The report explains table A6 like this: “The table shows the 24 countries for which annual disbursements from the World Bank are between 1% and 2% of annual GDP on average. is the average of the 24 countries in the sample. Annual WB aid (% of GDP) is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Sample mean is the average of the 22 countries in the sample. WB aid disbursements is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Annual ODA aid (% of GDP) is annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all sources as a fraction of annual GDP. Haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the 17 countries classified as havens. Non-haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the countries not classified as havens” (World Bank Feb 2020).

Nation Haven (million USD) Non-Haven (million USD)
Benin 42 96
Cape Verde 14 20
Central African Republic 18 53
Chad 11 91
Comoros 7 27
Democratic Republic of Congo 910 93
Cote d’Ivoire 387 787
Gambia 24 82
Guinea 54 114
Kenya 1277 1784
Lesotho 11 28
Senegal 253 487
Togo 82 146

Without going into deep technicalities of these operations, neither how the World Bank came through these numbers. We can see there is a staggering amount of funds that disappear and goes missing. Which was supposed to go to development or directly to support the state functions. Which happens to end up in tax-havens, surely by someone closely associated with the state or heads of state. Since, these sorts of amounts couldn’t have left the nations without the approval of the executive or head of state.

We can also clearly see, that some aid is directly feeding the rich and keeping tax-havens alive. Giving them financial stimulus and also covering the expenses of the elites in the respective places. There is certainly a mismanagement and a need for more oversight from the World Bank. But also more mechanisms to stop the misuse of aid. If it is supposed to help and not just create a very vastly elite in the nation in question. Because, with this sort of operations, they have clearly achieved that. Peace.