African Council of Religious Leaders: Press Release – Mistreatment of Religious Leaders by East African Community (06.11.2019)

The Face-Off from Idris Sultan hurt President Magufuli

Tanzania, the place where you have to be careful how to be an online personality. How you have to be careful what sort of words you use. When you use them or even whatever you do. Might be used against you. Especially if this concerns President John Pombe Magufuli and his CCM. They are not to be joked around with or talked about in a bad manner. Than your an criminal and meets the authorities. That we have seen all through the tenure of the President and it continues.

This time its the joke on Twitter from comedian Idris Sultan yesterday on the 30th October 2019. When that news hit the authorities, this happen: “Tanzanian actor and comedian Idris Sultan is now facing arrest after he photoshopped Tanzanian head of state’s photos. Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda ordered comedian Idris Sultan to present himself to the nearest police station terming the actor’s acts as disrespect” (Ghetto Radio Kenya, 31.10.2019).

Because of that I have to write about this. Since this is yet another case of the mind-boggling social control, the levels of lack of free speech and even just common expression of one-self in the public sphere on social media. That someone for editing of photos getting into legal jeopardy.

The law he might have breached and has to defend himself for is this one:

CYBER CRIME ACT S.15. (1) A person shall not, by using a computer system impersonate another person. (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine of not less than five million shillings or three times the value of undue advantage received by that person, whichever is greater, or to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years or to both”.

So, what this means, that face-off’s is illegal. Playing around and fooling around, editing pictures and uploading them is illegal. That means, by this definition the Face-Off movie from 1997 with Nicholas Cage and John Travolta better be illegal too. Because, that is the definition of what Idris Sultan did yesterday on Twitter.

He was doing the switch of faces from the President to himself. So, if the President would have some humour, he would have switched to one of the pictures of Idris Sultan. However, this President is to vein and bloated self-importance to do so. This President cannot stomach critics and see this a criticism, which indirectly an insult of him.

Certainly, the CCM and Magufuli should take some time of their busy scheduling finding things to pin crimes on their citizens and making people felons. Maybe, just watch Face-Off and get a deeper understanding of what impersonation means. It is not like the Comedian stole the President identity and bought all types of books possible on Amazon? Not like he used his voice and played the President fooling some foreign investor in some fraud?

Those would have been some serious impersonation. However, this was just some mere fun on Twitter. Not harming a fly, not really disrespecting the President either. He was even wishing the President a peaceful birthday. For that, he might get into legal trouble and incarcerated for years.

That is Tanzania in 2019. Face-Off is illegal and especially of the President. His the holiness, you cannot comment, talk or address without blessing his name and spirit. The President is above all men and we just have to blessed to live in the life-time. Where people cannot edit, write or even drop statistics, which the President hasn’t anointed. Peace.

SADC Solidarity in the call for the lifting of Sanctions Imposed in the Republic of Zimbabwe (24.10.2019)

Barrick: The Launch of Twiga Minerals Heralds Partnership Between Tanzanian Government and Barrick (20.10.2019)

Opinion: Sankara’s warning on the odious debt lent to the continent… is relevant today

Sometimes we need an reminder, that some powers and some states doesn’t come with the best intentions or with a real helping hand. If it is the famous white elephants or the other giant aid initiatives that doesn’t amount to anything. However, what is now at stake is for instance a lot African states and their loans to China. The Chinese has collateral in either ports, state owned enterprises or ability to directly extract the needed resources the current state with huge loans has. This is their trap and Sankara warned about this, just like the French, British and Americans has done in the past too. Nothing new under the sun, just new methods to get ahead.

What I am quoting is a speech done to the OAU in 1987, just a few months before his assassination. Therefore, the words and warnings seems more important. As in our time, the leaders of today is recycling the ills of the past. They are doing it out of greed and in the end, the people and the citizens will suffer. Not the multi-national corporations, not the state itself, but the public whose disregarded and have to reinvent money.

The wise words of Sankara:

We believe analysis of the debt should begin with its roots. The roots of the debt go back to the beginning of colonialism. Those who lent us the money were those who colonized us. They were the same people who ran our states and our economies. It was the colonizers who put Africa into debt to the financiers—their brothers and cousins. This debt has nothing to do with us. That’s why we cannot pay for it. The debt is another form of neocolonialism, one in which the colonialists have transformed themselves into technical assistants. Actually, it would be more accurate to say technical assassins. They’re the ones who advised us on sources of financing, on underwriters of loans. As if there were men whose loans are enough to create development in other people’s countries. These underwriters were recommended to us, suggested to us. They gave us enticing financial documents and presentations. We took on loans of fifty years, sixty years, and even longer. That is, we were led to commit our peoples for fifty years and more. The debt in its present form is a cleverly organized reconquest of Africa under which our growth and development are regulated by stages an norms totally alien to us. It is a reconquest that turns each of us into a financial slave—or just plain slave—of those who had the opportunity, the craftiness, the deceitfulness to invest funds in our countries that we are obliged to repay. Some tell us to pay the debt. This is not a moral question. Paying or not paying is not a question of so-called honor at all” (Thomas Sankara – Speech given at the African Unity Organisation Conference, Addis Ababa, July 29, 1987).

Let us not forgot the lessons of the past, as we in the present is continuing a cycle of recycling debt, growing debt and cycles of repayment schemes, which will only make the next generation suffer. If not, when the grace period hits and the state doesn’t have a big enough tax-base or revenue. It defaults and has to give away extraction licenses, state owned enterprises and other vital transport infrastructure like ports and airports. Because, that what is happening.

This is happening in our time. The world is looking, but nothing is getting done. Peace.

Tanzania: Statement of Kwanza Online TV Following the Decision of the Content Committee of the Tanzania Regulatory Authority regarding allegations of Violation of Regulations (28.09.2019)

The Tanganyika Law Society: Press Release – Re: TLF Governing Council Statement Powers of the Chief Justice and High Court Judges to suspend Advocates under the Advocates Act Cap 341 RF 2002 (26.09.2019)

Tanzania: Sebastian Atilio gets into trouble by revealing to much

President John Pombe Magufuli is already someone you don’t cross or question. His the almighty overlord, that you just love and cherish. His the brightest and most unique leader ever to live on planet earth. Why do I know that, because everyone who writes critical of him or has expose of his government ends behind bars(!!).

That is why Magufuli is so special. The Tanzanian bulldozer and correctional officer, who checks if people are on probation or following protocol to do their profession. If they fail a piss-test or doesn’t write the stories he want. Be sure that you’ll end behind bars.

There are several journalists who has been behind bars and are awaiting final court dates. As the state a revamp on silencing critics. It doesn’t matter if your an MP, radio DJ or freelance writer. No, if you cross the path of CCM and Magufuli, expect the full fury.

Sebastian Atilio is the latest victim, as he was arrested on the 7th September 2019 for spreading “fake news”. He wrote a story, exposing that the state was giving (relocating villagers) land to accomodate Uniliver Tea. That was clearly a story, that the CCM didn’t want in the press.

Now that they have arrested and detained Atilio, this story will be known and the questions will now arise. Since, it is more likely that the company was approved to move the villagers from their land.

Because, not so long ago, Mr. President was saying this: “We have been moving backwards due to undue bureaucracy in some of government executives, leading to delays in achieving the envisaged goals, I therefore call upon all the government executives to avoid bureaucracy in executing their duties” (Tanzania Daily News . ‘Tanzania: Unilever Tanzania Impresses Magufuli’ 11.04.2019).

So, seemingly he would make it for the company to operate in Tanzania and generate more money. Since he wanted this earlier in the year. So, anticipate that the efforts done earlier has effects now. Especially, when someone shows the real actions made to prepare and ensure that Unilever Tea get more space to grow and to facilitate their new factory. That would make sense, actually common sense.

We are just seeing another victim of the state. Another journalist into trouble for exposing the rot, the corruption and the inner-works of the Magufuli administration. Peace.

Re-Return of DCI Athumani: His either a magician or a bouncing ball!

President John Magufuli was sworn-in on the 5th November 2015 months before DCI Diwani Athumani Msuya was appointed into the position of DCI. This was a roll-over of personnel, which is natural in the civil service. That Athumani was someone that Jakaya Kikwete had vetted and ensured he was fit for the job. However, with the scandals ringing with ivory trade, the President wanted to show some finesse and re-assigned him after 1,5 years after the appointment and 11 months into the Presidency.

What is unique, is the way his name been ringing and having various of high ranking officials. What I wonder about, is how his gone from not being good enough, to get re-appointed for the same job. That is just weird, if the President thinks people forget.

A short story a re-return:

Diwani Athumani Msuya was appointed to the position of Director of Criminal Investigations in May 2015, by the previous President Jakaya Kikwete. In late October 2016, the current President John Magufuli fired him and gave him a new position. When he was three weeks later appointed Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS). A position he kept to until 6th September 2018, he got appointed the Director General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB). A position he kept of a year, as he was re-appointed today on the 12th September 2019, as the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

Clearly, Magufuli cannot make his mind up concerning this fella. Since, his a bouncing ball, who bounces everywhere as the President see fit. That is natural as the President has the powers to appoint and assess the needed personnel. Therefore, the his either a failure or a clean-up guy. Who the President sends around to various of places to fix things. If not the President is taken the public for fools.

Since, there is always speculations, when someone fires or revokes an appointment of the predecessor to a vital position in the Republic. Surely, he must have swift finger and a magical touch. That must be true, as Athumani haven’t been long in any institution since appointed DCI the first time. His been in positions for close to a year at every office. That is very short time to know protocol, know the station and the duties of this office. Therefore, his either a magician or a whipping boy of the President.

I cannot figure that out. Since, he moves so swiftly. His not in a steady place, because the President offers him new offices and new work. The instability and erratic behaviour of the President is surely mocking him. If the President honoured him and his place in the Republic. He would have given him to succeed as the DCI.

So for me there is something else. There something missing, but I cannot touch it, because I don’t have the missing piece of the puzzle. Peace.

Opinion: Magufuli should look at Acacia before he throws shade at Museveni!

President John Pombe Magufuli has advised President Museveni to sacrifice part of the 185m USD tax bill charged by the URA to conclude plans for the construction of the crude oil pipeline and begin the project forthwith in order to create jobs” (NTV Uganda, 07.09.2019).

Today, is yet another day of hypocrisy. It is not new, but just another story like that. As the Tanzanian President Magufuli is right that Uganda Revenue Authority and their winning of a Court Case, which entails a tax-dispute between Tullow Oil has suspended the development of the pipeline and the drilling in parts of the Lake Albert Basin. As the farm-down agreement between three parties, Tullow, Total and CNOOC is on-hold.

That is where the Tanzanian President is right. Period. However, he is wrong in a whole other sense. Should President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni tell his counter-part, that he should mind his own business? Yes, actually. Because, in this manner. The Tanzanian one is doing the same battle with anther extraction industry. The mining industry, the Acacia Mining tax scandal. Where the the company has to back-pay the government.

This the Tanzanian counterparts slapped on the company by in 2017. The same sort of settlement the Ugandan did with Tullow in 2015, as the Republic wanted back-taxes for the investments done in the territory. That is why Magufuli shouldn’t whine about this.

Surely, we know Magufuli wanted the man-power, the taxing rate of the movement of goods through his United Republic and secure the usage of Tanga Port. Museveni knows this, but he wants the tax for the operations done by both Heritage and Tullow. That is trying to ditch the back-pay on other companies whose buying their stake in the Lake Albert Basin.

Therefore, with the knowledge of the Acacia scandal, that is still going on to this day. Magufuli wanted back-pay for lack of taxes from the mining industry. Which is righteous, just like Museveni does at his place. The Tullow has now used years from 2015 to 2019. Acacia has now used 2017 to 2019. In 2018, the ownership of Acacia said it looked forward to negotiations with the government. This year in February, the company still have no resolution to the back-pay of taxes. That means the government of Magufuli have not fixed the same issue. 

Just like the Ugandans haven’t fixed the farm-down and back-pay of operational taxes. Because, the company trying to configure itself out of taxes. Surely, Tanzania see the same acts by their mining industry. But in this regard, Magufuli wants to earn a dime on the oil exploitation in the Lake Albert Basin.

So, before the Tanzanian get it fixed with Acacia or Barrick in their own dominion. They should give time for Ugandans to fix their own tax dispute. They have even won it in an International Court. Therefore, the Ugandan case is stronger, than the one of Acacia. Whose only internally disputed.

That is why, this isn’t the faults of Uganda Revenue Authority, but of Tullow, whose trying to deflect the payment of taxes in the Republic. Something, Magufuli wouldn’t allow anyone operating in his territory. If so, why this hustle against Acacia and still not stopping it?

Because, Magufuli want the taxes and the proper payment for doing business in the United Republic. Just like Museveni want the proper payment for doing business in the Republic.

So, please Joseph, get your own domain straight, before throwing other people under the bus. Maybe, once in the while accept criticism. That might given your argument a more flair and less selfish reasons for addressing a neighbour and an ally. Peace.