In BBC interview, Tanzanian foreign minister says journalist Azory Gwanda is dead (11.07.2019)

Kabudi said that Gwanda had “disappeared and died” in the country’s eastern Rufiji region.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 11, 2019 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Tanzanian government to provide a detailed public account of the fate of freelance journalist Azory Gwanda after the country’s foreign minister, Palamagamba Kabudi, said in an interview that the journalist is dead.

In an interview with the BBC’s “Focus on Africa” program today, Kabudi said that Gwanda had “disappeared and died” in the country’s eastern Rufiji region, and said that the government has since “been able to contain that kind of extremism” in the region. Gwanda went missing on November 21, 2017, after investigating mysterious killings and disappearances in his community, and the Tanzanian government has never delivered a promised investigation into his case, according to CPJ research.

“For a year and a half, Azory Gwanda’s family and the Tanzanian media have pleaded with the government to explain what happened to their loved one and colleague,” said CPJ Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney from New York. “Then suddenly the foreign minister mentions, almost in passing, that the journalist is apparently dead. This is wholly inadequate and distressing. The government must immediately share publicly all information it has about Gwanda’s fate.”

Kabudi told the BBC that the Tanzanian government is not “proud” of the disappearances and killings in Rufiji, which he said also took the lives of police officers and ruling party officials, and said that the government was taking measures to make sure that citizens and journalists are safe. However, CPJ research shows that impunity in journalists’ deaths or disappearances contributes to an environment that fosters violence against journalists.

CPJ’s phone calls today to Kabudi and Tanzanian government spokesperson Hassan Abbassi went unanswered.

Opinion: The CCM must be weak since it targets Tindu Lissu!

All cruelty springs from weakness.”Seneca

In the United Republic of Tanzania, the grand state of Julius Nyerere and CCM. The opposition in a position, where their every move is monitored, where their every act has to be approved and nearly all utterings in public has to verified before published.

So in this world, the bulldozer, the dozing off and afraid individual President Joseph Magufuli exists. Where he has ushered in several of rules making it harder for the opposition to run their parties and even try to compete with the CCM. The state has a stranglehold on them and is chocking them by all means. To say otherwise is to be naive by all the codes, legislation and by the measures put in place by His Excellency and his brigade of loyal subjects.

That is why there are certain individuals who are getting a joint effort to undermine and silence them. One being Zitto Kabwe, the other giant in the opposition is Tindu Lissu, whose survived an assassination attempt and since then gotten treatment in Europe. For two whole years he has fought and doing what he can heal, by also giving words and telling where he is to the Parliament. Still, the same Parliament this June, called for By-Election for his Singida East Seat. Because, the Speaker claimed they didn’t know about his whereabouts. They take his healing from an assassination as a joke or what?

That is a friendly reminder, that the CCM doesn’t take kindly to opposition nor to opposition figures like Lissu. They are afraid of what he represents and what his messages is. That is why the quick call by the National Election Commission for by-election by 31st July, a short month after the Speaker called his seat up for elections on the 28th June 2019. This while knowing Lissu was receiving treatment in Belgium. Really, shows how fragile and mediocre the ego of the CCM is at the moment.

They cannot even keep it at a fair fight, but has to knock people while they are down and fighting to regain normal strength. The MP will fight for it, even from a far, but this is foolish. That he has too, when everyone knows the reason. Only the CCM and the President that takes people for fools and hope people are as ignorant as him. Because, clearly this is an ego thing and trying to mastermind him out of a seat in the Parliament.

I hope Lissu wins this again. That he conquer this obstacle and shows the CCM a little finger, as they have misjudged the public and their resilience against stupid ideas like this. This is not a show strength of the CCM, but a utter sign of weakness. That they have to aim for a guy, that is battling with scars of plot to kill him. They are so brutal and insincere, that they hope people doesn’t understand this.

That is who the CCM and Mugufuli is these days. He can only win, when he knows the other people is in a disadvantage, the CCM and Magufuli couldn’t have won this in a fair fight. They know that and we does too. Peace.

Tanzania: The Miscellaneous Amendments No. 3 is to monitor and control more parts of society!

In Tanzania, the Written Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Amendments No. 3) Act 2019, gazetted on the 30th May 2019 was put into law. There are several striking here, which has been reported about before, but is now legislation and not just proposed legislation. This really says a lot about the current leadership, the ruling party and its President. Who are all afraid of dissidents and all written content, all sorts of content, as the state has changed laws in the recent years to totally oversee and check what is printed, written, spoken, public meetings, gatherings, press conference, teachings and so on.

The CCM and President Joseph Magufuli is some afraid human beings, they are so afraid of opposition, that they are even suspending one MP for not attending, who wasn’t unlawfully away from the Parliament, he was healing from an assassination plot, which he survived, but has been eye-soar for the Presidency, apparently. In the same regard is the laws I will publish today, as the state will limit even more movement and content. They have already restricted bloggers, publications and political parties. Now, they are taking it further.

We already know how weak, pale and soft Magufuli is, because all he needs is blind praise and followers with no other opinions, than similar to his own. That is why the laws are revised, so the state can control all parts of society and silence the ones who think otherwise. That is the strength of CCM and Magufuli at this point. This law is no different.

“6A.-(1) Any foreign production company or individual using Tanzania scene, content and location for filming the whole or any part of a film, advertisement, documentary or program, shall-

(a) submit to Tanzania Film Board raw footage;

(b) acknowledge all physical locations used for filming;

(c) submit a copy of a finished film, advertisement, documentary or program;

(d) sign a prescribed clearance form before exiting Tanzania and submit the same to the Tanzania Film Board or any other authority appointed by the Board;

(e) grant rights to the government of Tanzania to use content for the purposes of promoting Tanzania and its potential resources, tourism, photographic location and cultural attraction which are distributed through public broadcasts, cable programs, sound or visual recordings or any other digital platform used by public broadcaster:

Provided that, such use is compatible with fair practice and that the source and the name of the executive producer and production company are mentioned in the film, documentary or advertisement” (PART IV AMENDMENT OF THE FILMS AND STAGE PLAYS ACT, (CAP. 230).

This one specifically controls and verify all footage done by foreign film crews and their mission, even the usage of the raw footage, all videos, clips and movies will all be considered by the state, before the release of it. This means some travel-blogger who does a V-Log on Youtube, have to have a permit, show it to the governing body, all his raw-footage before his allowed to drop it on his platform. If something will kill of an industry and make it harder to promote Tanzania, this will, because who will jump hoops and ensure the vision of the state, than the ones of his own. This is to silence the critics and the ones taping documentaries, which the CCM and the President doesn’t want to see or hear about.

The state is also limiting what an NGO can be like: ““Non-Governmental Organization” also known by its acronym “NGO” and which includes Community Based Organisation (CBO) means a voluntary grouping of individuals or organizations which is, non-partisan or non-profit sharing established and operates for the benefit or welfare of the community or public organized at the local, national or international levels for the purpose of enhancing or promoting economic, environmental, social or cultural development or protecting environment, lobbying or advocating on such issues;” (PART V AMENDMENT OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ACT, (CAP. 56).

Which really limits the spectrum of NGOs and how they can operate, as the law will stipulate further, but by being non-partisan and non-profit, as well as not religious and such. Will all stop the NGOs from certain affiliations, as well as the NGO board extended power to investigate with the help of law-enforcement. Will in the end closure a lot of NGOs and also ensure, that they all comply. Any NGO should comply with national and international laws, but they should also have freedom and liberty to operate, as they see fit. Here, they are bound by law and can do less and less with more possible set-backs. Just like the laws has been in other part of civil society in Tanzania of late.

As in the Society Act: “Any society declared by order of the Minister to be a society dangerous to the good governance of Tanzania, shall be declared to be unlawful under the provisions of this section and every such order made under the provisions of this section shall continue in force until revoked under this Act” (PART VI AMENDMENT OF THE SOCIETIES ACT, (CAP. 337).

This change of law, gives the minister very much power as he deems dangerous to society and against good governance, as it isn’t an specific measure or even something that can be graded that easy. The platform for the Minister could be to please the President or the CCM against Societies or International Societies, which are based in Tanzania to get de-registered because they have programs or policies, which enrage or even questions the powers to be. Therefore, they have to be de-registered by declaration of the Minister. If this happens in the near future, don’t be surprised, this provision was made for that to happen.

Now the Statistic Act: “24B.-(1) A person shall not publish non-official statistics without consultation with the Statistician General. (2) The consultation referred to under subsection (1) shall involve discussion on data sources, methodology used, data sources, analysis, data interpretation and results to be published” (…)“(4) Any person who publishes non-official statistics contrary to the provisions of this Act, commits an offence and shall, upon conviction by a competent court, be liable – (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not less than one million shillings but not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term of not less than six months but not exceeding twelve months or to both; and “ (…)(b) in the case of an institution, to a fine of not less than ten million shillings but not exceeding fifty million shillings.”  (PART VII AMENDMENT OF STATISTICS ACT, (CAP. 351).

We can see how fearful the state of the wrong numbers, the wrong content and the wrong published material, as anything that the state haven’t verified must be deemed unfit for consumption, mentally and physically. The CCM and the President wants to ensure everyone, that they have secured the research, the methods done to collect these results and not some manufactured numbers to deceive as if it is done elsewhere. The CCM and President are so afraid of the free world, that they are even banning publishing of statistics, if their hired board and Statistician General isn’t allowing it.

As we can see, the CCM and the President are very frightened people ,who has guide everyone and sometimes, I suppose, themselves in the middle of the wilderness called life. Because, this law and amendments are strikingly after the same game. To control, to monitor and to de-register the ones the state doesn’t seem fit. Just like they do with anyone who challenge the CCM and their hegemony at the top. No one should do that in the United Republic, United for One and his vision, Magufuli. Peace.

 

Opinion: Jaguar MP bite over more than he can chew!

“The other day we saw Matiang’i claiming he had only deported six Chinese nationals yet we have hundreds in here. We are giving the government 24-hour ultimatum to deport them failure to which I will lead the locals in storming their shops and ejecting them. We are not talking about six Chinese nationals. We are talking of hundreds of foreigners who work here (Kenya). I give the government 24 hours to evict these foreigners lest I, being a representative of this area, go into their shops, beat them and send them all the way to the airport” (Charles Njagua Kanyi MP in a viral video on the 25.06.2019)

The singer turned MP, Charles Njagua Kanyi MP aka Jaguar stated these words yesterday. Not as a clever wordsmith nor a brilliant politician, this is just cheap gimmicks to win the hopeful of the Republic. The sort of populist approach that will gain in the short term, but hurt in the long run.

If Jaguar MP thought this was wise, well, it wasn’t, first the Tanzanian representatives and ambassadors reacted, the government had to dismiss it in a statement and government spokesman Cyrus Oguna had to come out denouncing the whole thing. There are no victor here, except for the ones who gets hope out of these utterings.

There is nothing good coming out of this, neither for Kenya, for Jaguar MP or for the East African Community. The MP is only putting more fire into dry grass and hoping it doesn’t burn the whole savannah. Certainly, the aftermath is not going according to schedule. I don’t know if the Jaguar MP thought this was winning formula. How to get new comrades and get new followers in the midst of turmoil and lack of positive legislations. However, his shown ignorance and lack of courtesy.

The MP could have found other ways to address unemployment, as the state is the ones that opens the borders, wants free-trade and wants to expand. It is the result of years of trade and transfer of goods, that leads to this. The troubles he was addressing.

That Jaguar MP got arrested today on the steps of Parliament. Shows more the disgression of the state, that they are trying to cover the issues and also show loyalty to foreign partners like the Chinese. However, that might not win them many favours by the unemployed in Nairobi, but the elite of Nairobi. That is who they represent anyway.

Alas, here is the real dilemma, the way Jaguar MP addressed this wasn’t right, he uses a narrative, very common all-over the world. Nevertheless, it doesn’t make it right. The state isn’t right with arresting him either, it just amplifies what he says to some parts of society. What is needed to address the lack of safety-net and work for several parts of society, while the foreign importers makes jobs for themselves and their kin. This is a common a practice, but becomes more hostile, when the locals cannot eat of the spoils. That is what Jaguar MP is casting his net and hoping to gain popularity from, by the bias and by that crowd of people.

This is nothing new, it is ancient on the political scene. Its been used and steadily being used by politicians all-over the globe. That doesn’t make it right, but they do and they get voters by doing so. We could laugh or condemn it, but then we give him power. We give resonance to his ideas and his belief, that deportations and xenophobia is the way to go. Instead of showing the true reality. That if there is no movement of goods, people and trade, there will be no development too. Than, the ones you wish to get hired and get these jobs in the shops will not exists, because there are no products to trade. That is the irony in it. Isn’t it?

Jaguar MP might not get it or understand it, he has most likely never considered it. Just like the one of the biggest trade is because of movement in Kenya. Tourism is key to many and hires a lot of people in various sectors of society. I wonder if these foreigners are a problem to Jaguar MP or if they are dandy?

Well, that is a discussion for another day. Jaguar MP and his fellow men better think straight. They not making the Republic nor Kenya greater by this, only making it for the one-track minded. This will not make it better for him, unless there is a lot undying support for this. Which would seem strange, as it is not a sign of strength deporting people. That is a sign of weakness and also of lack of tolerance. Something that no one wins anything by doing. Peace.

Communique Conjoint entre la Republique Unie de Tanzanie et la Republique Democratique du Congo ibbu de la visite d’etate Son Excellence Felix Antonie Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President de la Republique Democratique du Congo en Republique Unie de Tanzanie du 13 au 14 Juin 2019 (14.06.2019)

Meeting of the Chief of Intelligence and Security Services of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania – Communique (06.06.2019)

Tanzania: Notice to Travelers Planning to Visit Tanzania (16.05.2019)

Mdude’s shadow will haunt you Mr. President!

Again and again, the ones who dares to insult, insinuate or even insist on criticising His Excellency, they are all getting into trouble. That is why Union Day are more looking like a Military Parade, than a day of joy and happiness. President Joseph Pombe Magufuli has again ensured that someone is taken away or dispatched somewhere.

This time its his critic Mdude Nyagali or Mdude Chadema, whose been abducted by four gun-wielding men. Though we don’t know why his gotten kidnapped, but surely it is in connection with his outspoken and open criticism of the President. This seems like a targeted hit and at someone who has no trouble filling in the blanks.

Mdude has been missing now for over two days. He went first missing after the kidnapping on the 4th May 2019. Therefore, his location and his possible place of capture would be vital. As we don’t know what agency, whose behind it or who wants to be responsible for this assault on his liberty, freedom and even justice to a critical citizen.

We already know that Magufuli doesn’t have the ability or the character to grasp his role as a President. That Magufuli doesn’t have the capacity or knowledge to rule, he is a man who needs all the glory and all the praise, but never-ever, never-ever be questioned or criticised. The mighty, the Executive and the Head of State who only accepts worship, but not anything negative. That is why dudes, like Mdude gets into trouble.

We have seen this before and his the latest casualty of the fragile ego of the President. A hypocrite and a bastard of a man. Whose belittling mind cannot understand or hold the level of intelligence to fit the paradigm of society or civil society for that matter.

Mdude’s shadow will now hunt the Presidency, because the President is a shallow-minded individual. Who clearly needs to seek guidance, needs a lesson or two, maybe even some education. As it seems he never had any, if he did, he never got any in manners or as a leader. Since, he as a leader, never understood how to lead or guide the public. How the public discourse get discussed or how people tend to articulate their difference with a President. Alas, he just wants love and not hate.

Even if the actions of the President only shows hate and contempt of the human race, as he wants blind submission and not thinking individuals. Because, he wants the public in the image of himself. A non-thinking man with boundless powers. But if we followed a man like that, we would all run out of a cliff and never return back again alive.

That is why the shadow of Mdude will follow him. On every corner, at every parliamentary session, every time he touches a pen or even thinks. Mdude will shine back in the mirror and even scare him shitless when he whizz. That is the reality of Magufuli. Until the man is released and produced in a Court of Law. If the State can prove his guilt of a crime or even pin a criminal act on him. Because, right now his kidnapped and no-one knows where he is for the last 48 hours. Peace.

Tanzania: Blocked IMF Report, because of negative projections!

President Joseph Pombe Magufuli isn’t the sort of guy, that handles critics or opposition well. He is the sort of guy that needs all praise and benefits of a doubt. Therefore, the latest move is in a long line of questionable behaviour from his party, his apparatus and his administration to stifle voices of another opinion.

The Tanzanian government under Magufuli is a paranoid and wavy state. Where everything hangs by a thread, if your in the good graces of the President or not. If your not or if you questions him. He will take your license, suspend your newspaper or even detain you for a various reasons. That is the state of affairs. So, that the President and his people have blocked an unfavourable report from the International Monetary Fund isn’t surprising, it is more of the same.

This is from the same man, that has arrested MPs for speaking ill of him. This is from the same man, that didn’t like articles written the The Citizen to later suspend that too. Therefore, when someone dares to question his ways and orders, he will strike with fury. That is the man, the governs and leads the Republic.

Here is some pieces of information, that might be the reason why the Article IV Report of the IMF was blocked from publishing. With the Press Release of the block from IMF, before a Stratfor explanation and projections of the World Bank.

IMF Press Release:

On March 18, 2019, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund concluded the consideration of the 2019 Article IV Consultation with the United Republic of Tanzania” (…) “The authorities have not consented to publication of the staff report or the related press release” (IMF – ‘Statement on the 2019 Article IV Consultation with the United Republic of Tanzania Staff Report’ 17.04.2019).

Stratfor explanation:

What Happened: An apparently leaked report by the International Monetary Fund contains criticism of the Tanzanian government’s interventionist economic policies and noted that they are hurting the country’s investment climate, Bloomberg reported April 18. The Tanzanian government subsequently decided to block the report’s release. Why It Matters: The report will likely serve as an alarming sign for international investors who already have been concerned that the Tanzanian government is targeting foreign multinational companies” (Stratfor – ‘Tanzania: IMF Report Criticizes Government Measures’ 19.04.2019).

World Bank Context:

Economic performance in 2018 was mixed, while inflation remains low and stable. The National Bureau of Statistics did not release any quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) data for 2018, pending completion of a rebasing exercise. However, available data suggest signs of softening of the growth momentum” (World Bank in Tanzania – Context, 01.04.2019).

We can clearly see why the President didn’t want this to get released, also that his administration would further hit their goals, when concerning their economic forecast. This is damaging the image and also the confidence in the financial system. The IMF would have told a story that the administration didn’t want to hear or listen too.

That is why it hasn’t been released, because the President who wants all positive and praise. Cannot manage an independent entity from the outside coming with a message or projection, which isn’t fitting the narrative of the CCM. At this point, that is the message I get out of it.

Magufuli and the Tanzanian Administration could have turned the projections and the forecast. They have the ability to create stability and trust in the financial system. However, they are instead stonewalling and continuing on this path. They are not creating confidence of the acts of the government from the outside. It is backfiring instead, but this is from the administration that has to verify and give a stamp of approval to release statistics.

Therefore, we know how far this administration goes. Now, they are even stopping Article IV Report from being released. That is a sign of weakness in the economy. Peace.

Opinion: Why isn’t the NRM and Museveni celebrating 11th April 1979?

It is special that the National Resistance Movement are celebrating the Independence Day on the 9th October and the NRM on the 26th January every year. The President is busy celebrating the end of the Obote II and the Independence from the British Empire, but something weird is up. Especially, considering how the President the National Resistance Army/Movement are so proud of being part of what toppled the Presidency of Idi Amin. They are still never celebrating an important day.

The NRM and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni haven’t in years been celebrating the 11th April of 1979. It is like a day from the calender, that has vanished in thin air. The Independence of 9th October 1962 is relevant. The victory over Obote II and the bush-war, the 26th January 1986 is carved in stone. They got to celebrate it in lavish and nothing is speared in this manner.

However, the 11th April is forgotten or is done on purpose. Because Milton Obote remembers Museveni’s way of liberating Uganda on that day: “ On 11 April, 1979 when Kampala fell to the Kikosi Maalum and TPDF, Museveni was in Fort Portal staying with Princess Elizabeth Bagaya in the Omukama’s Palace which the TPDF who had captured the Town never damaged at all. On that same day, the President of the UNLF and all his ministers who attended the Conference at which the UNLF was formed except Museveni were, like me, in Dar es Salaam” (…) “When the mobilisers and others left, Paulo Muwanga gave me what he and President Nyerere had discussed. Paulo reported that in the long meeting with President Nyerere, the President kept repeating and emphasising three points. The first was that 11 April, 1979 was a glorious day for him, the President and Milton Obote who had overthrown a most brutal dictator. The second was that he, the President, was very much pained that his “comrade” Milton Obote was not happy and the third was that he, the President, could not understand why his comrade Milton Obote was regarding Lule and the UNLF as anything other than flies falling on a carcass. Paulo reported that President Nyerere used the word comrade and the expression “flies falling on a carcass” repeatedly” (Milton Obote – ‘THE UPC ROLE IN THE REMOVAL OF AMIN – PAPER BY A. MILTON OBOTE)

Because, certainly if Amin’s rule was bad and Museveni was proud of taking part of the overthrow of him. The President of today would have celebrated this, but alas, it seems more to be part of his history, that he wants to erase and not speak so loud about. Since, his role in the overthrow of Amin wasn’t as successful nor as big as the President wants it to be. That is why, he cannot celebrate a military victory, where he was hanging out in Fort Portal, when someone else invaded Kampala. That is why the President celebrates the 26th January and not 11th April. Since, in January it was him entering Kampala, while in April it was someone else who did it.

That is maybe why it isn’t an important date to Museveni. His vanity and his lack of courage, that he has to rewrite history and make people forget of his mediocre role. Is the reason, why he doesn’t celebrate the victory over the Amin years. The brutality of Amin and the killings of Amin. As him as President didn’t get rid of him, but got rid of Obote II and others.

Certainly as a part of the newly transitional council, Museveni should take some credit and his participation from exile meant something. However, there are also evidence of his lacking resources and soldiers for the combat. But, the others saw the need for their and gave him a space in the National Consultative Council, interim government post-Amin.

That is why its weird for me, that he celebrates two other dates, which was ending of other people’s reign, but the President who usually credits himself as the saviour from dictatorships. Are not celebrating the one said to be the worst in time or his conscious playing tricks on him? As he feels guilty that he is acting as Amin and ordering killings in the same manner as he did?

Because, there got to be a reason, as this was a jubilant day and with celebrations in the streets of Kampala on the 11th April 1979. Surely, the ones celebrating on the streets might not be living anymore. But the legacy and the history of that day is out there.

Darton reported on the 30th April 1979: “ KAMPALA, Uganda — When Tanzanian soldiers and Ugandan exiles marched into Kampala on April 11, they found the carnage left by the institution.’ alized brutality of a state gone insane” (John Darton – ‘Idi Amin: A Savior Who Became The Creator of 8 Years of Horror’ 30.04.1979, New York Times).

With this in mind, the state should celebrate this. A ending of one tyrant, however the current one is maybe not so jolly about remembering his end. Since, that even remind him, that his day will come too? Peace.

FYI: If you calculate this year, 2019 is actually 40 years since it happen. A fourth decade since the Tanzanian army went in and invaded Uganda to free them from Amin’s rule. Still, it doesn’t seem to matter to Museveni. Just a footnote in the scheme of things.