Stars/Brazil match: A case of being so near yet so far

Simbarashe Msasanuri


Many soccer loving hearts were left bleeding last week following two high profile matches (against Brazil and Rwanda) our lovely Taifa Stars were involved in. The Rwanda match saw our boys biting the dust, a move that sent us out of the CHAN competitions with a thud. This was heartbreaking as we fell 1-0, something many soccer fans could not stomach as we had set our eyes on the finals of the competition.
Hardly 24 hours after that game, another high profile game was penciled at our giant stadium that saw us tumbling again. But, dear reader, it is not the result that was of concern to most fans, but the blunders made by those organizing the match.
It was a case of being so far yet so near for many fans, as their favourite soccer stars such as Kaka, Maicon and Robinho were playing on our soil, but we were forced to eat a humble pie, with our tails in between our legs, closed our doors and glued ourselves to our small television sets, to watch the best team playing, a stone’s throw away from our homes because of prohibitive entry fees charged by the organizers.
You saw it for yourself, the stadium was half empty and this adds insult to an injury because had the stadium been filled to capacity, and tickets running out, then most of us would not be living with this disappointment for the rest of our lives. To tell the truth, this is a lifetime opportunity and to have the number one ranked team in the world not only visiting your country but playing a match with your team is a rare opportunity in the sense that without a major tournament like the World Cup near by, it will be very difficult to bring such a team to this country.
The result of the match doesn’t matter much because we were not expecting a miracle, everyone knows Brazil are the kings when it comes to this game and hosting them was to our advantage, but unfortunately the ordinary man on the street did not benefit from this match. They failed to get the chance to see their favourite players, face to face and resorted to what they are used to- that is watching them play on television.
Still on soccer, as we speak, history has been and is still being made down south as the first ever World Cup to be hosted on African soil began last Friday. Just like a solar eclipse, this is a lifetime opportunity such that once it’s over, we do not know when such a tournament will be held on African soil again.
Maybe we will all be dead when that happens and won’t be there to witness it. I am not a pessimistic here and neither am I judgmental but the truth remains that when the tournament finally comes back, most of the people in this generation, will have rested in their small houses without windows.
But, why worry about the future. Let me reiterate what we said, sometime back, in this column that when such tournaments are held, besides the great benefits that comes with hosting such an event, the waves of the tournaments are so strong that they easily sweep across the whole globe.
As we speak, relationships and families are beginning to be strained as many soccer loving or addicts, usually husbands, prefer to watch their favourite teams rather than paying attention to their partners. It is that time again where husbands turn into strangers not only to their wives but to the whole family as they usually don’t tolerate any disturbances when their favourite teams are playing. To avoid such disturbances, some people prefer to watch the matches in clubs far away from their families where they will be sharing views with other drunken viewers.
What is interesting is that, not only family relations are strained but even work relations are soiled when it comes to this. Just imagine that Brazil is playing against Ivory Coast and it happens that you are at work. You desperately need to watch this game but the time the match starts, you will be required to attend an important meeting or to fulfill some of your duties, your manager is keeping a keen eye not only on you but on every employee so that no one will escape.
Five minutes before the game, the manager leaves your office after heaping a lot of work on you and goes to his office where there is a television set and watches the match while you work. He keeps on making constant calls to make sure that you are there and at half time, he comes physically to check the progress. Such is life.
To avoid this, some workers pretend to be ill so that they don’t report for work on that day. This will help them escape the grip of their bosses. I am not saying people don’t fall sick during this time but there are a few genuine cases where people become really sick. The problem with this is that managers can’t reprimand someone because he or she became sick on the day a big match was supposed to be staged. Even the requirement that people bring medical cards or receipts from doctors, showing that they had been checked or are ill don’t work.
It is common knowledge that it is difficult for a doctor to tell someone that he is not sick while that person is telling him otherwise. The doctor in most cases relies on what the patient is telling him for diagnosis, so even if the guy is lying to cover up for failing to report for duty, then no one will tell.
So many fake medical reports have been submitted at workplaces and nothing will stop many people to do it this winter when the WC is being played next door.
In this list are school children. Most of them, especially boys are soccer addicts to such an extent that they will play every trick in the book to watch all the matches. The good news is that most schools will be closing for holidays anytime this week, others have already closed, so the hide and seek game between students and teachers has been spared.
Though everything is now all set, with the tournament having started, we still have another problem that I feel will spoil many people’s parties, the problem of unannounced power cuts. Let me not be a prophet of doom, but believe you me, many people will definitely miss games pitting their favourite teams due to power cuts.
Though soccer drives people crazy, with some doing every trick in the book to watch it, the sport commonly known as the beautiful game has a magic bullet effect that unite people. Let’s therefore, cherish it being hosted on African soil, hoping and dreaming that one day, Bongoland will host this event. Or, if we fail to host it, then one day this country can win it. What a dream I have. God bless you
bongoblast@thisday.co.tz

Stop the blame game and end schoolgirl pregnancies madness

Simbarashe Msasanuri
Bongoblast


As the historic FIFA 2010 World Cup continues, many hearts have been left broken after some teams were defeated and some humiliated. Though many African teams were beaten during their first games last week, and judging from their performance, I feel it will be an uphill task for the trophy to remain in Africa.

I came closer to selling my TV set after two painful defeats last week. When the hosts South Africa were walloped 3-0, it was clear to me that we still have a long way as a continent in as far as soccer is concerned. But, the match between Cameroon and Japan left me frustrated because I believed the coach was at fault.

I might not be a soccer player, neither am I a coach but as a fan, I feel the Cameroonian coach should have taken the game seriously and selected his best team. What continued to boggle my mind is that, he opted for less experienced players, while resting most of his best players, some of whom he introduced as substitutes,but the harm had already been done. I feel, he underestimated Japan and for that, he paid dearly.

Now Cameroon, face a daunting task as they will have to win against the inform Netherlands and Belgium. Lets just wait and see, maybe a miracle will happen. I know most of you dear readers are supporting African teams during the world cup and I urge you to continue doing so until the cup remains on this continent.

While many soccer players continue to score goals during the WC many men in this country have also been condemned for being experts in scoring offsides. They continue scoring despite the referees having blown their whistles to signal an offside. I am talking about the problem bedevilling our country of which if drastic measures are not taken, then this social anomaly will thrive, in the end tarnishing our image.

The problem of school girls being impregnated and being forced out of schools with their hopes for pursuing their educational dreams virtually shattered, has been with us for a long time now. In fact, it has reached fever pitch and if drastic measures are not taken, then the bulk of our women will remain uneducated as their education is cut short as circumstances force them to prematurely taste the forbidden fruit.

To them it becomes forbidden because they are still too young and have plenty of time in future to enjoy it. While in the Bible, it was the snake that swayed the woman, who in turn went on to persuade her husband to eat it, it seems in this day and age, the tables have turned. It's now men who go around hunting small girls, they easily manipulate and persuade into tasting something they are not ready to.

For the past week the debate on the problem seems to have reached boiling point as the nation is trying to find a solution to this hideous issue. This even went as far as statehouse where besides the President adding his voice on the problem, a delegation of students visited him to discuss this among many other issues.

The children asked the President why students who fall pregnant were not allowed back in school. Yes this might seem as part of the solution as the educational dream of these young girls will be revived, but this leaves an indelible mark on the lives of these girls who are forced to live with the stigma and discrimination.

While the nation is still playing the blame game, blaming each other over the problem, many sectors of the society have been pointed out and these include the girls themselves as they are said to be responsible for falling pregnant , while others blame it on the government, some point fingers on men while others think that the families are not doing enough to protect these young ones.. In fact, the list is endless.

A certain preacher, addressing a congregation on parenthood, argued that the primary reason for teen pregnancies and deviance is because parents don't tell their children the truth. He was of the opinion that in most societies, many if not all parents find it very difficult to discuss matters concerning sex with their children and in the end they lie to them.

He gave an example of a mother who tells her daughter that the child should not let let men touch her body, but when the daughter asks the reason the mother is saying so, she usually lies to her and say, if a man touches your body you become pregnant.

When a man confronts the kid and tries to touch her, she will scream, at him and once the man convinces her that touching does not make her pregnant and that her mother lied to her, then it will be very easy for the girl to believe what the man will be telling her. I don't know whether its true or not dear reader but it is up to you to decide, but I know for sure that many parents lie to their children and in the end they get the information from wrong sources and by the time the parents realises it, then it will be too late.

To tell the truth, the problem of pregnancies in school is not fueled by one aspect, but a combination of causes, that should be looked at before it's too late. Yes for a long time, poverty has been blamed as the number one cause and is said to be driving these girls into sex for survival but for how long shalkl we continue hiding behind our fingers, while our children's future continue being bleak.

The other reason again is the society, I think once a society fails to respect children's rights, whereby they use children as tools for amassing wealth, by forcing their young daughters to marry men older than their fathers, then a girl child will lose self respect and will always think that they were created to be married. This is dangerous in the sense that these girls will not hesitate to engage in sex since the society would have made them to believe that they are mere sex tools.

I believe that beside all those other factors contributing to these pregnancies, society is to blame to a larger extent though the government, parents, teachers and the girls themselves are equally to blame. A holistic approach is, therefore, needed to deal with this problem once and for all.

The only solution is for us to unite and stop this madness. Let's get back to the drawing board and deal with problems affecting family units in this country as they play the most important part in shaping characters of these young ones.
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If all people could respect, educate, mold and protect the children and make sure that they value themselves then the problem will be resolved. I remember the saying that, acha tuwe ndege kwasababu mayai haana supu, this is loosely translated as let the eggs hatch for they don't have soup. In other words, this is a message directed to all men to leave these young girls until they mature because trying to catch them when they are too young is counter productive.

If we can get it into our thick heads that what we are doing to someone's child can be done on ours tomorrow then this part of the world will become a better place for our children. Together we can end this problem. God bless you

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz

Of anger madness and mob justice ruling the roost

Simbarashe Msasanuri
Bongoblast

WHEN I listened to one of Bongo Star Search 2009 finalists, Peter Msechu's song ‘Hasira Hasara’, I couldn't help but green with envy. For a moment, I regretted having failed to cast as many votes as possible for him to clinch the first spot, though something kept on reminding me that this guy is pregnant with talent.

I remember, his creativity and his stage performances and management, he always had something new to offer, and to me, he was more of a surprise package than a mere competitor. Though he was competing for honours at the annual event, Peter used this opportunity to launch his career by erecting a firm foundation that can easily catapult him to dizzy heights in the music circles.

I know Bongoland's music industry is rich and has a lot of talent to such an extent that invading it and leaving an indelible mark is only a preserve of those with raw talent, and I believe Msechu fits in that category.

His song, Hasira Hasara, despite wreaking havoc within the musical charts, gaining a lot of air play on different radio and television stations, it has a rich message. In this song, the singer warns the society that anger in most cases result in losses.

True to his message hasira ni hasara, because many people end up regretting after an uncontrollable bout of anger and having acted unreasonably due to what they term anger. I am still to get to that extent but I doubt if these people will be ignorant of what they will be doing. So many people, including children have died after being attacked by someone who after coming back to his or her senses, blames it on anger. I think these people will be looking for an escape goat, and end up blaming it on anger while in the actual sense they would have done it consciously.

Our media are awash with child abuse cases and in some instances, some children are killed in the process, but what is disturbing is that anger is always blamed for it. The story of a mother who used a razor blade to punish her son, she was accused of stealing 1 000/-, always boggles my mind. After the grievous bodily harm to the child, the mother even tried to conceal it and failed to take the child to hospital for treatment. After the cat was out of the bag, she blamed it all on anger.

I always wonder as to what kind of anger is that, that make people lose their senses and do something they always regret. Just like Msechu pointed out in his song, anger will always bring with it some losses and many people are forced to count their losses, that is if they are not jailed for their hideous acts.

With the rate of which children are abused not only in this country but the world over, it remains true that they are fast becoming an endangered species. They need protection because those who are supposed to look after and protect them have turned to be predators.

This is so despite the presence of measures taken to safeguard children's rights. Even the clamouring of activists, seeking to enforce and advocate children's rights cannot deter parents and guardians who think that children are their properties and they have the right to treat them in any manner they dim necessary.

Many people are not aware that the days when they used to say kuku kula mayai mwenyewe are over. Children have rights that should be respected. And, even anger should never be allowed to deprive these innocent children of these rights.

Still on children's rights, this week, Tanzania joins the world in marking the World Day against Child Labour to be held on 12 June 2010. This day aims to promote awareness and action to tackle child labour through out the world. I hope as a country we will be in a position to eradicate the cancer because I think this problem exists in this part of the world.

I have often came across children, of school going age, working in some dukas mostly in high density suburbs at a time they are supposed to be at school. Some people are also guilty in that they go to rural areas, get small girls who would have completed their grade seven and failed to proceed with their studies, and have them work as house maids.

This is child labour and should be looked into. In fact, it is against children's rights and most of these people do it oblivious of the law. It is everyone's duty, dear reader, to safeguard these innocent souls and above all let's contain our anger knowing very well that hasira ni hasara. Let's spare these children our frustrations. We know that the global economic crisis is biting but offloading your anger and frustrations on innocent children doesn't change your situation.

There is another growing trend in this country that whenever a thief is caught, wananchi rush in to mete instant justice. This has seen many people getting lynched and in some cases these people will be innocent. Yes the person may have done wrong, but, is killing him or her the solution?

We have had many cases of people being killed like that and upon trying to dig out the root cause of this, some people I talked to pointed out that, thieves especially bandits should be lynched to deter other would be thieves. They also argued that these people are ruthless when they invade people's houses and in most cases they don't hesitate to kill, and that is the reason, wananchi are retaliating that way.

Whenever a problem arises, wananchi are quick to take the law into their own hands and they become both police officers and courts. In other words, they arrest the person and sentence him to death buy stoning, beating or setting the poor guy ablaze.

It wasn't surprising therefore, when a group of nearly 300 villagers invaded Hedaru Police Station in Same District in an attempt to seize suspects and mete mob justice.

The incidents of angry mobs invading and burning police posts are on the increase and they present a time bomb of which if not curbed will cultivate a culture that will end up tarnishing the country's image.

What surprises is that these eight suspects could have died for nothing as the girl was letter found alive. It is a pity that people think that killing a perpetrator is a solution, not knowing that a person is innocent until proven guilt.

These villagers could not even wait for the police to do their job, neither did they give the courts of law the chance to deal with the case. Instead they destroyed property including three vehicles, that had been parked for safekeeping.

This behaviour has to be nipped in the bud before it becomes a norm that thieves and everyone believed to be on the wrong side of the law is lynched without being given the chance to prove his or her innocence.

I can't agree less with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Said Mwema, who expressed concern over the growing lawlessness in the society where mobs lynch suspects and in some cases storm police posts and set them on fire.

This is counterproductive because the same posts these people raze down are vital elements of the society and I can't over emphasize their role in places they are established. This madness has to be stopped before it's too late. We should respect the sanctity of life and make Bongoland a good place to stay for everyone. God Bless you

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz

Don't misuse free mosquito nets, Sikika urges public

Simbarashe Msasanuri
Dar es Salaam

WITH the war against malaria under the government-rolled Malaria Haikubaliki campaign intensifying, following a three-day insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) distribution exercise held recently, beneficiaries have been urged to desist from misusing the nets for the betterment of their health.

The advice was voiced by Sikika, a non governmental organisation dealing with health issues, through a press release last week.

“Sikika urges recipients of these ITNs to use them and stop compromising their health by either selling them or turning them into fishing nets. We also urge all citizens to adhere to user guidelines of the nets, a move that will provide best results,” read part of the press release, adding that the general public have the right to information when such distributions are taking place and also to monitor public resources.

The organisation hailed the brains behind the national exercise that saw mothers with children under the age of five getting free mosquito nets.

“This will go a long way in saving life, that is, if the nets are properly used. It is vital that the responsible authorities, especially those involved in the Malaria Haikubaliki programme, educate the general public on proper use of nets and make follow ups to make sure that the nets are not misused,” said Sikika.

The organisation also took the opportunity to sound a warning to those responsible for the exercise to desist from using the nets for personal gains.

“Public leaders responsible for distributing ITNs under the Malaria Haikubaliki programme should make sure that the nets reach the intended targets” Sikika said, adding that the abuse and misuse of resources and programmes aimed at benefiting the public should stop and government must leave no stone unturned in taking legal action towards those involved, for the betterment of the country.

This comes amid reports that some leaders might have misused nets meant to be distributed free of charge and benefit children under the age of five years.

“Sikika condemns such behavior as it deprives the most vulnerable groups within the society of protection from the number one killer disease that claims 291 lives, mostly children, in Tanzania every day. In other words 10 people die of malaria, in this country, every hour. Malaria is preventable and treatable but continues to kill such a large number of people especially children, while the use of ITNs has been proved as one of the most effective way of reducing malaria cases in Africa,” the organisation added.

Tanzania recently intensified the war against malaria by launching the Malaria Haikubaliki campaign, under which the nets were distributed, early this year. And if successful, the country, arguably one of the leaders in the global fight against malaria, is this year set to become one of the first African countries to achieve universal access to mosquito nets and affordable treatment for all of its citizens as it struggles to fight malaria, a disease ravaging societies worldwide.

In support of this landmark effort, President Jakaya Kikwete, who is also the head of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) which brings African leaders together on the world stage to raise global awareness and support, is leading the “Malaria Haikubaliki: Tushirikiane Kuitokomeza” (Malaria is unacceptable: Working together, we can eliminate malaria) awareness campaign.

While launching the campaign in Dar es Salaam, President Kikwete declared malaria a national disaster due to the number of lives it claims per hour in this country. He revealed that the bulk of these victims constitute children.

The president mentioned three ways of fighting and winning the war against malaria. They include use of insecticide treated mosquito nets and ensuring availability of nets; to stop the replication of mosquitoes that carry malaria and lastly using effective drugs to treat those with malaria.

On nets, the president further said that while children under five were currently getting them for free, plans were in final stages to enable every household to have at least two treated nets.

“We must ensure we annihilate these mosquitoes and their breeding sites. It is possible to ensure that we become the last generation to die of malaria.

Other countries in the world have managed, it is possible for us to make it.

“This is a campaign to save our lives. It is a campaign to prevent deaths which can be avoided,”said Kikwete.

The national campaign is anchored at the community and household level by community mobilisation activities implemented by PSI-Tanzania and District Advocacy activities led by Voices 11.

Malaria is one of the main health problems in the world with 300-500 millions cases yearly and about one million deaths. It remains sad that despite having methods to control the disease, the malaria problem in Africa has increased over the years.

The vast majority of malaria deaths occur in Africa, south of the Sahara, where malaria also presents major obstacles to social and economic development. Malaria has been estimated to cost Africa more than US$12 billion every year in lost GDP, even though it could be controlled for a fraction of that sum.

Malaria is Africa's leading cause of under-five mortality (20 percent) and constitutes 10 percent of the continent's overall disease burden. It accounts for 40 percent of public health expenditure, 30-50 percent of inpatient admissions, and up to 50 percent of outpatient visits in areas with high malaria transmission.

There are several reasons Africa bears an overwhelming proportion of the malaria burden. Most malaria infections in Africa south of the Sahara are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most severe and life-threatening form of the disease.

This region is also home to the most efficient, and therefore deadly, species of the mosquitoes which transmit the disease. Moreover, many countries in Africa lack the infrastructures and resources necessary to mount sustainable campaigns against malaria and as a result few benefited from historical efforts to eradicate malaria.

In Africa today, malaria is understood to be both a disease of poverty and a cause of poverty. Annual economic growth in countries with high malaria transmission has historically been lower than in countries without malaria.

Economists believe that malaria is responsible for a growth penalty of up to 1.3 percent per year in some African countries. When compounded over the years, this penalty leads to substantial differences in GDP between countries with and without malaria and severely restrains the economic growth of the entire region.

Malaria also has a direct impact on Africa's human resources. Not only does malaria result in lost life and lost productivity due to illness and premature death, but malaria also hampers children's schooling and social development through both absenteeism and permanent neurological and other damage associated with severe episodes of the disease.

One of the greatest challenges facing Africa in the fight against malaria is drug resistance. Resistance to chloroquine, the cheapest and most widely used antimalarial, is common throughout Africa (particularly in southern and eastern parts of the continent).

Resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), often seen as the first and least expensive alternative to chloroquine, is also increasing in east and southern Africa. As a result of these trends, many countries are having to change their treatment policies and use drugs which are more expensive, including combinations of drugs, which it is hoped will slow the development of resistance.

Preparations against El Nino floods vital to curb damages

By Simbarashe Msasanuri

THE predicted El Nino rains are here now and have started to ravage some parts of this country, destroying property, and infrastructure besides catching wananchi unawares, despite warnings that the rains were coming.

In October last year, the United Nations warned that Tanzania is among several Eastern African countries that could soon face potentially devastating floods triggered by El Nino weather patterns.

The country, already in the midst of a severe drought, will likely be hit by mudslides, crop destruction, water-borne diseases and disrupted road networks, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cautioned then.

But, despite the warnings the rains brought misery to thousands of families in Kongwa and Kilosa districts in Dodoma and Morogoro respectively.

They were forced to seek shelter elsewhere after their homes were either swept away or flooded after heavy downpours that lasted for several hours.

In Kongwa District, Dodoma Region, heavy rains were experienced since Christmas holiday last year, resulting in floods damaging houses and infrastructure.

This resulted in the Tanzania Railway Limited cancelling all upcountry passenger train trips following severe floods caused by torrential rains in Dodoma and other regions.

Over 1,000 passengers were stranded in Dodoma before being ferried by buses to their destinations.

Meanwhile, flood victims in Kongwa have been allocated alternative areas to construct new houses.

According to the Kongwa District Commissioner, Lembris Kipuyo, the victims have been allocated land on higher grounds and that they have already started to construct houses.

Besides this, the government is said to have provided 43 tonnes of food while the Red Cross also provided the victims with mosquito nets, medicines and cooking utensils.

In Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, more than 9,338 people have been left homeless after floods hit that area.

The Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Issa Machibya, said that all those who were rendered homeless have been accommodated in 15 camps established for that purpose in the region.

The Kilosa District Executive Director, Ephraim Kalimwendo, said that the district was in need of 700 tents for the victims ahead of schools this week.

“We are in need of 700 tents but we managed to get only 76. The tents are required for shifting the victims from schools and we have planned to set up new nine camps ,” he said.

In Mtwara, rains accompanied with strong winds have destroyed properties valued at 11.9m/- in four villages, leaving 64 people homeless.

The Mtwara Rural District Executive Director, Mohamed Ngwalima, said properties destroyed were in Migomabi, Maendeleo, Chiwilo and Nitekela villages.

According to him, the rains destroyed 30 houses, forests, a classroom at Chiwilo Primary School, teachers' office and a toilet.

He added that in Nitekela Village, the rains removed roofs on six houses leaving 43 people homeless, and two people were injured by falling trees.

The floods also forced the government to suspend, for three months, the Central Railway passenger and cargo services.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Omar Chambo, last week announced the suspension to pave way for repair work to be done on the damaged railway line.

“As I speak, the railway section between Munisagara Station in Kilosa District and Gulwe in Dodoma is impassible, with several bridges destroyed. The repair work will take at least three months,” he said.

The government, according to him, had already set aside 4bn/- for repair works although the actual costs had not been established.

These are some of the damages inflicted by El Nino rains and the confirmation by the Tanzania Meteorological Agency that the current rains pounding most parts of the country are El Nino rains and that they will prolong until March, means that the country has to be on high alert to avoid disasters.

The TMA Acting Director, Philbert Tibaijuka, was quoted as saying that the normal ‘Vuli’ seasonal rains had ended but the moderate El Nino forecast conditions will continue until March.

“The Sea Surface Temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean have been anomalously warm for several months and are projected to persist through March. This means that El Nino conditions are expected to continue across the tropical Pacific during this month,” he said.

The devastating effects of these rains are evident by the trail of destructions in some parts of the country and more could have been done to minimize damages and unnecessary loss of life and destruction of property. But, the responsible stakeholders were caught napping and the results were obvious.

It is against this background that the National Audit Office blasted the Disaster Management Department in the Prime Minister's Office for failure to take adequate precautions against floods, despite professional advice.

The Assistant Auditor-General (Value for Money Audit), Gregory Teu, was quoted as saying: “We are not demanding prevention of floods, but had everybody acted responsibly in execution of his or her duties, the impact could have been reduced.”

He added that thousands of Tanzanians were being subjected to untold suffering in Morogoro and Dodoma because there are some officials who ignored professional advice.

But, with TMA predicting more rains, it is vital that the disaster management department steps up preparatory efforts meant to minimize the effects of the floods. It will go a long way in lessening casualties if the public is educated and knows of what steps to take when flooding, mudslides or even disease outbreaks hit their areas.

It is vital for the disaster management team to carry out massive educational campaigns through media and other available channels as soon as possible and equip wananchi so that when flooding comes, they are not taken by surprise, hence they won’t panic and will be in a position to save their lives and property.

The government could save a lot of tax payer’s money and resources that are used for humanitarian aid or burial expenses if preparatory steps are taken to minimize destruction of property and loss of life when the floods strike.

War against filthiness: Dar at crossroads

By Simbarashe Msasanuri
THE situation is unbearable as heaps of rotting garbage continue piling uncollected. The garbage is not only an eyesore but an inconvenience to residents and passers-by who are forced to brave a pungent smell coming out of the dump. Flies breeding at the dump are a menace in the area as they invade the nearby market and houses.

A stone's throw away from the garbage are food vendors strategically positioned along the street who despite the heavy presence of flies continue selling their wares unabated. A look at a chicken pieces vendor reveals a sad story of a reckless people who seem not to care about their health as they help the vendor to ward off swarms of flies from the meat they blindly buy as if nothing is wrong about it.

On the other side of the road is a group of women armed with small charcoal stoves and pans baking chapati and maandazi. The problem is not what they are selling but where they are operating from. They are located near a pool of stagnant rainwater making the area muddy and filthy as garbage swept from other parts of the street has been collecting there producing an unpleasant smell.

They are also not spared when it comes to the problem of flies trying to feast on their uncovered delicacies. This is not a fictitious story from one of the bongo movies but describes the situation near Mwembe Yanga Bus Stand in Temeke District.

This is also commonplace in the city of Dar es Salaam where the problem of garbage carpeting the streets and inconveniencing residents and passers-by has been with us for a longtime now. In fact, a permanent solution to the problem seems to be eluding the powers that be.

In recent years, many attempts have been made to curb the problem but all efforts have been in vain. The city council, having realized that petty traders contribute significantly to pollution in the city, employed city militia to arrest those found selling their wares at prohibited areas. This, however, seems to be failing since vendors and the militia play a hide and seek game resulting in traders maintaining a heavy presence on our streets.

Though no solution seems to be in sight for the problem of garbage in Dar es Salaam, the city fathers, last year, did not watch helplessly as the problem escalated. They came up with some measures meant to curb the problem which is also blamed for the prevalence of diseases such as cholera and malaria.

Sometime towards the end of last year, they jointly formed an auxiliary police force that is now operating in Dar es Salaam Region. The auxiliary police, headed by former police commanders, enforces city by-laws including fining those that are found throwing garbage onto the streets.

Everyone found on the wrong side of the law is fined 50,000/-. Speaking during a ceremony to inaugurate the force and allocate uniforms for the different municipalities in the region, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, William Lukuvi, warned city residents that they should comply with city by-laws or leave, adding that those who fail to comply will face the wrath of the law.

At the ceremony, Temeke Municipality auxiliary police were given grey colour, Ilala Municipality auxiliary police green while Kinondoni got maroon and the Dar es Salaam City Council police got blue.

The RC said that the exercise will nab those who litter the city by haphazardly throwing food leftovers, plastic bottles and papers on the streets.

In another move that was also aimed to curb the problem of filthiness and the spread of cholera, the then acting Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Evance Balama, gave an order banning selling of food items in open and unhygienic places. This was going to go a long way in reducing not only cases of cholera in Dar es Salaam but the problem of garbage on our streets, too.

It is however, unfortunate that this order never saw the light of the day as city executives were said to be reluctant to implement it.

Though these were some of the steps towards the right direction in as far as the fight against filthiness is concerned, more still need to be done in order to put an end to the problem of litter. Fining people for throwing litter onto the streets alone will not help as there are no bins for them to use. This, therefore, means that there is need for concerted efforts by both the public and private sectors to fight this social anomaly.

The introduction of the auxiliary police is a noble idea and has its own merits, but it is not enough. There is need for city fathers, in collaboration with private players to provide garbage bins onto the streets of the city. This will help in making sure that citizens have no excuse for throwing litter onto the ground.

Reports that Tanzania could learn a number of lessons from its neighbours on management of plastic waste which is recycled to export end products and keep the environment clean could not have come at a better time than this where a solution to the problem of waste management is nowhere in sight.

Tonnes of plastic waste, including flip flops, flow down rivers and clog drainage systems. And, this is evident in this country as the water drainage systems have been clogged to an extent that the streets are flooded every time rains fall.

According to reports, the waste litters the vast East African coast stretching from Somalia to South Africa, creating an eyesore and major environmental problems.

A Kenyan businessperson, Julie Church, formed a company to deal with the problem of litter. Her company makes toys and gifts from plastic to sell in eco-fashion boutiques in the US. Tanzania like wise can utilize this technology and reduce the problem of litter.

Tanzania can benefit a lot by tapping this technique and curb the problem of litter on the streets. In fact there is need for concerted efforts by city fathers , private sector and wananchi to devise methods of making Dar es Salaam a clean city.

But, as long as there are no rubbish bins on the streets, garbage remains uncollected for months and wananchi's attitude remains unchanged then Dar es Salaam will continue being an eyesore. Urgent steps, therefore, need to be taken to rescue the situation and make Dar es Salaam a clean city.

Prostate cancer – A 'forgotten' disease, silent assassin

By Simbarashe Msasanuri

THE advent of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) about two decades ago, did not only send shocking waves within the medical sector but rendered scientists useless as they battled in vain to find a permanent solution to a problem that has crippled the society, threatening human extinction.

Though HIV/AIDS is the number one enemy, especially for poor countries and with much emphasis and effort directed on it, there are diseases such as cancer, malaria and cholera just but to mention a few that are claiming a considerable chunk of the world population.

There are other 'forgotten' diseases like prostrate cancer that are proving to be silent assassins as they continue to kill a lot of people worldwide. Statistics have it that one man dies after every 13 minutes in the world due to prostate cancer and according to the American Cancer Society – ACS 2008, it is projected that “one man in six men will get prostate cancer during his lifetime”. Of all men diagnosed with cancer each year, more than one fourth has prostate cancer.

All these deaths, however, can be avoidable if early tests and diagnosis are conducted especially in men over the age of 50. There are two tests that can be performed quickly and easily in a physician’s office which are the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, and the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). After these tests, in order to really confirm that one has prostate cancer, a physician may require other tests such as ultrasound and needle biopsy.

It is against this background that prostate cancer patients in Tanzania have requested the government to reduce the costs people are charged to undergo an SPA which ranges between 25,000/- and 50,000/-.

Addressing a two-day National Conference on Prostate Cancer in the city recently, the conference coordinator, Dr Emanuel Kandusi, said the disease had affected many men at the age of 50s and above and most of them could not afford the diagnosis cost.

He called on the government to offer free check ups to all men above 50 years to have PSA to determine whether they were affected or not. He added that diagnosis results would help them get treatment and counselling on safe living in case they are affected.

“It takes eight to ten years for the disease to show signs and it needs urgent treatment that is why we are requesting the government to offer free diagnosis so that men would understand their status early,” he said.

Dr Kandusi said the conference which was being held under the umbrella of “Tanzania 50PLUS Campaign aims at creating awareness on the effects of prostate cancer and to educate them on the preventive measures.

A survivor himself, Dr Kandusi, said the first cancer cell started to develop in his prostate at the age of about 51 (1997).

“Even though I had a habit to do medical check-ups yearly, no doctor asked or suggested to me to do a prostate cancer screening,”added Dr Kandusi who is also the Campaign Coordinator of Tanzania 50 Plus Campaign.

“And, even in 2007 when I started getting warning signs such painful and burning sensation when urinating, the doctor ordered for a routine check-up just to be cleared NAD. Of course prostate cancer cannot be detected through urine routine check-ups! It wasn’t until sometime July 2008 when things went to the worse that the doctor ordered for a PSA test which gave a score 100ng/ml (normal is 0-4 ng/ml).”

The doctor says he was alarmed and did a DRE test and later needle biopsy which confirmed “I had an advanced prostate cancer. Most of 2008 was miserable for me. I couldn’t work; I lived through hand-outs from my relatives and friends.”

“In pains and agony, hopeless and despair, I had to fly to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, India. After thorough check-ups my really PSA score was found to be 4517 ng/ml and an advanced adenocarcinoma (cancer) of the prostate Gleason’s Grade 8 (4+4).

“The team of doctors suggested two therapies - surgery or hormone therapy by injection. I opted for surgery. After surgery I am now under medication taking one Bicalutamide Tablet 50 gm daily. I wish my prostate cancer was discovered early. The Chinese proverb says, ‘To know the road ahead, ask those coming back’. I am the one coming back and so share my experience”.

“With this testimony I now urge my fellow men if you are approaching or you are over 50 years of age, please see your doctor for medical check-ups which should include prostate screening and urge medical doctor to suggest prostate screening to their 50 plus patients.

Opening the conference, the Assistant Director for Non Communicable Diseases in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Pascience Kibatala said the govt was aware of the problem and was doing all what it can to solve it.

“We know how the disease affects the society but it needs a lot of money to offer free diagnosis to our people. But it is our strategy to find a lasting solution as the number of affected people increases due to increased life expectancy which is above 50 years,” he said.

He said the ministry was providing financial support to NGOs dealing with prostate cancer control because they know the disease is preventable and treatable.

Diagnosis fees for some hospitals in Dar are as follows: Aga Khan – 38, 500/-, Regency – 33,600/-, TMJ- 30, 000/-, Mission Mikocheni – 25,000/- and Muhimbili National Hospital- 40, 000/-.

According to Wikipedia website, prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. The cancer cells may metastasize (spread) from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes.

“Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, problems during sexual intercourse, or erectile dysfunction. Other symptoms can potentially develop during later stages of the disease.

“The term 'cancer' refers to a condition in which the regulation of cell growth is lost and cells grow uncontrollably. Most cells in the body are constantly dividing, maturing and then dying in a tightly controlled process.”

Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate grow uncontrollably, creating small tumours. A prostate gland is found in male mammals only. It is the most common form of cancer amongst men who are over 50 years old; it causes the second highest number of deaths among men diagnosed with cancer (after lung cancer).

A recent survey demonstrates that men under the age of 40, the chance of getting prostate cancer is about one in 100,000. For men aged between 70 and 74 years old, the chance rises to 1,326 in 100,000.

The most common sites for prostate cancer to metastasize are the seminal vesicles, the lymph nodes, the lungs, and various bones around the hips and the pelvic region. Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells travel from one part of the body to another. The effects of these new tumours are what can cause death.

Warnings for prostate cancer are evident, the symptoms include weak or interrupted flow of urine, inability to urinate or difficulty in beginning to urinate, difficult holding back urine, frequent need to urinate, especially at night, and bed-wetting.

Also urine flow that is not easily stopped, painful or burning urination, burning sensation when urinating, difficulty in having an erection, painful ejaculation, blood in urine or semen, continuing pain in lower back, pelvic, or upper thighs and loss of appetite and weight.

The first step in diagnosing prostate cancer is usually a digital rectal examination. In a digital rectal examination, a doctor places a gloved, lubricated finger into the patient's rectum. The doctor feels for lumps in the prostate.

If the doctor detects a lump, additional tests may be necessary and the first test may be a blood test. The purpose of a blood test is to search for a particular chemical associated with prostate cancer. This chemical is called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA occurs naturally in the blood, but it occurs in much higher amounts if prostate cancer is present.

Looking at these symptoms many elders become shy, are reluctant to get tested, for fear of stigma as they associate such symptoms with that of sexual transmitted diseases (STD). Many turn to the hospital when the disease has advanced.

It is imperative for men over 50 years of age to undergo testing for prostate cancer at least once per year. And the reality is that the earlier the cancer is detected, the better the chances of making recovery.

It is good news , however, that prostate cancer is treatable though there is no 'one size fits all' treatment for it, so each man must learn as much as he can about various treatment options and, in conjunction with his physicians, make his own decision about what is best for him.

Consultation with all three types of prostate cancer specialists, a urologist, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist, will offer the most comprehensive assessment of the available treatments and expected outcomes.

The two most common forms of treatment for early prostate cancer are surgery and radiation. Surgery involves the removal of the prostate gland. In addition, a sample of the lymph nodes near the prostate is removed. This sample is then tested to see whether the cancer has spread.

Removal of the prostate also involves removal of the seminal vesicles that lie next to it. The seminal vesicles are the organs that make semen. Since they are usually removed along with the prostate, the patient usually becomes sterile as a result of the operation.

Though the campaign, 50 PLUS, was initiated by the Centre for Human Rights Promotion (CHRP) with the primary goal of reducing the sufferings and deaths caused by prostate cancer through education, awareness, dissemination of information on the disease; encourage check-up; extend support, care, treatment and capacity building, more still needs to be done.

This is a challenge to the government and other stakeholders to chip in and curb this silent assassin by encouraging and availing resources for Tanzanian men to regularly undergo prostate cancer screening.

Tanzanian women dying for white skin

By Simbarashe Msasanuri

THE zeal to look beautiful and a colonial mentality that white skin is superior is fast driving Tanzanian women into their graves as they risk their lives by using skin lightening creams that in the end turn lethal.

The problem is not only confined to Tanzania as selling of whitening creams is a lucrative business in Africa worth millions of US dollars a year. In some countries that allow the use of these lethal substances, shelves in pharmacies are stacked high with lotions, creams and soaps all promising to make women whiter and supposedly more beautiful.

But, in countries like Tanzania, where the use and importation of skin lightening creams is banned, the business is thriving as these dangerous creams are smuggled into the country while dealers on the other hand are discrete.

So many women in Tanzania are regretting the days they laid hands on these creams as instead of attracting men, they are now scaring them away as they look like monsters with a lot of scratch marks and black dots on their skin after getting burnt by the creams. Some of them have been unlucky and had to pay the price the rest of their lives as they contracted skin cancers.

This causes great losses to societies who are forced to spend a lot of money after using these smuggled products. Many Tanzanian women are paying the price of endeavouring to attain a white skin as they are forced to spend more money in seeking medical treatment and corrective surgeries

The Tanzania Food and Drugs Authorities, has for a long time and in vain been fighting the importation of counterfeits and those unsuitable for human use as they are smartly smuggled into the country. This has led the country to suffer a loss of revenue from unpaid taxes.
Apparently, a report released by the Confederation of Tanzanian Industries (CTI ), reveals that the government loses between 450m/- and 900m/- annually in tax evasion by importers of such harmful products.

Skin bleaching creams were first pushed onto the market in the United States, from Asia, for African-American women who were encouraged to keep their skins lightened in an effort to emulate the Caucasian woman, who was put on a pedestal as the ultimate measure of human beauty. Later, the market was expanded to Apartheid South Africa and then onwards to East Africa until it eventually ended up in West Africa where it has taken root, from Senegal to Cameroon.

Asia is arguably the hub and origin of these creams which boasts of a long history stemming back to ancient China and Japan, where the saying "one white covers up three ugliness" was passed through the generations.

A white complexion was seen as noble and aristocratic, especially in Southeast Asia, where the sun was always out. Only those rich enough could afford to stay indoors, while peasants baked in the rice fields.

In their early bid to lighten up, Chinese ground pearl from seashells into powder and swallowed it to whiten their skin, says Chinese university chemical pathology Professor Christopher Lam Wai-kei.

This obsession with whiteness has not faded over time. A survey by Asia Market Intelligence this year revealed that three quarters of Malaysian men thought their partners would be more attractive with lighter complexions.

Today, skin whitening products are available in the form of creams, pills, soaps or lotions. The mechanism of permanent whitening is usually by the breakdown of melanin by enzymes, such as that contained in the droppings of the Japanese bush warbler or reducing agents such as hydroquinone. Most whitening creams also contain a UV block to prevent sun damage to the skin.

The original purpose of skin whitening creams was to treat the problem of uneven pigmentation. Skin may either appear lighter or darker than normal; there may be blotchy, uneven areas, patches of brown to gray discoloration or freckling.

Skin pigmentation disorders occur because the body produces either too much or too little melanin. Melanin is the pigment produced by melanocyte cells. It is triggered by an enzyme called tyrosinase, which creates the colour of skin, eyes, and hair shades.

It is unfortunate, however, that over the years, women have been misusing these creams to enhance their beauty.

But, the sad thing about these skin bleaching creams is the highly potent and toxic chemicals they contain, which are eventually harmful to their users. Most of them contain corticosteroids and hydroquinones, which peel off the outer layers of the skin, exposing it to the harmful rays of the sun.

Bleaching can cause skin cancer and the poorest people are the most at risk, because the cheaper the product, the more dangerous it is. Furthermore, there is suspicion of an increased risk of kidney failure as a result of the mercury contained in some of the products that people use for bleaching.

In Tanzania, women have been urged against ignorant use of these chemicals to bleach their skins following a confirmed case of a woman who died after swallowing tablets to enhance her beauty.

Dr Dominista Kombe, a consultant radiotherapist at Ocean Road Cancer Institute, told a two-day workshop recently that the woman (name withheld) who had taken tablets to bleach her skin, died after her flesh turned into liquid form like ice cream and started dropping off.

This is just but a tip of an iceberg in this country where many women strive to be beautiful. But, it is surprising that despite reports and evidence of women suffering from using these creams, Tanzanian women seem to be undeterred as they continue to crave for white skin. This, therefore, means that more still need to be done to curb the practice.

The Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority has not been taking this increasing social anomaly lightly, they set-up camps at major entry points into the country such as ports to monitor the importation of the products.

“We are soon going to put an end to all this. In fact, we already have measures to stop, once and for all, the importation of these products,” said Raymond Walenga, the TFDA’s acting director for food security recently.

Though the organization is trying to put corrective measures, history has it that most of the efforts to ban either counterfeit or substandard goods in the country has been proved too difficult.

This undoubtedly casts a shadow on the fight against illegal and harmful skin bleaching creams. This shows that governmental measures alone do not necessarily stem the practice. Education, therefore, is vital in changing public opinion in as far as the use of these creams is concerned.

Though this will take time as, for many in Africa, bleaching provides an escape mechanism- the lighter you are, the more attractive and financially secure you must be - it is worth trying.

More, including educating wananchi on the effects of the creams, need to be done if inroads are to be made, in trying to address the situation.

It is high time the government criminalizes the importation and selling of the harmful products before it’s too late. In fact urgent measures need to be taken, failure to which Tanzania will forever be forced to continue paying the price of attaining white skins

Of bogus preachers and using dressing, nudity as fishing baits

Simbarashe Msasanuri


THERE is growing trend of preachers who arm themselves with bibles and preach the word of God along the streets or busy areas such as bus stands and markets. As if this is a competition, I have seen some people from other religions walking the streets with loud speakers preaching their messages.

I can't really comment when it comes to other religions, but to those who follow the Bible, Christians were commissioned to preach the word through out the world, “Go ye therefore and preach... baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”, goes one verse in the Bible.

Don't worry dear reader, I am not preaching but just highlighting the realities of life. I often come across such preachers in areas such as Posta where they know that many people use the place to get buses to their different destinations. I know so many things have been said about these people, but I am not here to judge them, whether they are genuine or fake that is their business.

I remember coming across such a preacher at Ubungo Bus Terminal last weekend. But, to my surprise, this one was different to the others. He left me wondering as to whether he was a preacher or a social commentator. He didn't have a Bible though he referred to it and to me he was more like a tout than a preacher.

“Mwanamke usivae nguo zinazoonyesha maziwa, ni dhambi,” he could be heard shouting. Many people who heard him laughed and he seemed to enjoy it. He also changed his statement a bit and admonished women over putting on trousers and miniskirts.

In a bid to drive the last nail into the coffin and make sure that his message sinks into people's heads, he composed a song where he included his messages, unfortunately I can't sing it to you on this paper dear reader, but believe you me, if you listen to this guy singing, then you will green with envy. For sure it's talent wasted, if he could utilize his talent, I think he will be a threat even to the likes of Banana Zoro, Diamond and Marlow just but to mention a few.

This guy was so good that travellers waiting for buses at the terminal got free entertainment and temporarily forgot about the long journeys awaiting them. For a moment, I think they forgot the uncertainty they were facing as travelling on our roads, especially long distances brings with it doubt due to road accidents.

People are perishing like poisoned cockroaches on our roads. Many people think twice before embarking onto the long journeys but because they have no option then they are forced to use these flying coffins. I just hope that one day we will find reason and become responsible citizens who drive to arrive alive. Enough about road accidents, and back to our story, I hope no one missed his or her bus because of this guy.

I am not here to criticize this self proclaimed preacher but the subject he was dealing with was interesting, given the manner in which our women dress on our streets. And, as if it was a coincidence, on my way home from the terminal, I got a daladala home but after travelling barely 500 metres from where I had boarded it, the driver of the bus applied emergency brakes at the same time honking.

Everyone got curious as to why that had happened, only to discover that a scantily dressed young lady who had been crossing the road lackadaisically, had to jump for dear life as she almost got herself killed. The bus missed her by some inches and were it not for the timely reaction by the driver, who managed to apply brakes on time and save this poor soul, we could have been talking of something else right now.

I don't even want to talk about the insults that came out of abiria's mouths. Even a beautiful lady seated next to me, I earlier on had thought to be a saint, shocked me when she shouted obscenities. This quickly reminded me that those people who coined the saying that, “don't judge a book by its cover'' were right. The moment of madness where people unite in, temporarily losing their senses, to shout obscenities has no status, even the most elegant are not spared.

To cut the story short, some people in the daladala shouted at the lady that she should go and get dressed as she was almost naked. This triggered a heated debate in the commuter bus as some people condemned dressing trends by some women which they described as too scanty for comfort.

The men cast the blame on women and especially mothers for failing to discipline their children in as far as dressing is concerned. But, women on the other side did not watch while they were attacked, they responded by blaming cultural invasion. To make sure that they cleared themselves from blame, one woman asked the men to answer what they could do if the children come out of their homes wrapping khangas or long dresses, while putting on mini skirts and tight trousers in side only to remove the decent clothing when they are far from home. In most cases, these children gets away with it as the chances to meet their parents or relatives are slim.

Even me, who was a silent observer in this matter found sense in what the woman was saying. She actually gave an example of a family who had such a daughter. The parents tried every trick in the book to deter the girl from doing that but it didn't work. Even multiple beatings by the father could not force her to abandon her type of clothing. They ended up surrendering and accepting her as she was. In fact, they rested their case and said it was God's will.

Now the girl, given the freedom, is now the talk of the area as she walks along the streets almost naked. I really don't know what and where our world is leading to but judging the trends and what I come across in this city, then we are headed for a disaster.

And, by the rate at which women's clothes are getting skimpier by day, then it won't be surprising if one day we come across people walking stark naked on our streets. Some people have argued that our ancestors used to use animal skins only to cover the essentials and the issue of miniskirts and other weird dresses should not be an issue as this is not new.

I don't know whether you agree with that view or not dear reader, but, what I know is that culture is dynamic and it is time as Africans that we try to preserve the Africanness (sic) we have. It is the time we preserve our norms and values.

There is nothing wrong in having our women chasing after fashion, but, they can do it without exposing their bodies. There is no justification what so ever, not even fashion trends, should force our ladies to throw away reason and put on something that leaves nothing to the imagination.

To my dear sisters, mothers and grandmothers out there, nudity is not beauty. You don't need to be nude for you to be considered beautiful and attractive. If one becomes attractive because she has exposed some parts of her body, then know for sure that you are attracting men for wrong reasons. And, if marriage will be that person's reason for doing that, then the reality is that you will actually be doing the opposite.

When nudity is used as a fishing bait, because it lures men into action, then in most cases the fishing rod will catch crabs. Only the bad elements will be attracted and the results won't be good.

To sum it up jamani, our dressing trends are shocking and they are getting worse by day. Even some parents have given up. It is important for us to know that what you put on speaks volumes about you and other people will always judge you, treat you, respect you basing on what you will be putting on. May God help us.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz

Of earthquakes, plane crashes, floods and child abuse

Simbarashe Msasanuri
(Bongoblast)

I remember finding it very difficult to fall asleep on new year’s eve last year, due to unbearable noises from people who were celebrating. As a norm, many people don't go to sleep on the last day of the year because they want to be there when it happens. They don't want to be told by others how it feels like to 'enter' into a new year.

To be frank, I used to be one of those people who would stay awake constantly checking our watches so that when it is 12 O'clock, we celebrate. But, with time, I realised that the last day of the year is not different from any other day. Someone had told us that the coming in of a new year is usually marked by some certain sounds. So these are the sounds I wanted to personally listen to but this was to no avail. Of all the days I stayed awake, the only sounds I heard were those coming from people who would have laid an ambush, waiting for the arrival of the new year.

Confusion usually reigns supreme during this time as people temporarily lose their minds in the name of celebrations. They run in groups singing, shouting and banging anything that makes noise. I don't know whether these people will be celebrating or will be doing it deliberately to disturb those enjoying their sleep.

As I said before, this year was no different as many people took it to the streets. In so doing many people were hoping that the new year was set to give them an opportunity to finish or accomplish what they failed to accomplish the previous year. Many people had and are still hopeful when it comes to 2010. Christians all over the world consider this year as that of “Restoration” where believers will recover what the devil stole from them.

I know many people had their own resolutions and above all hope of a better year after the global economic crisis had wreaked havoc in many people's lives, especially their pockets. But, the year is proving to be something else. Judging from what has happened throughout the world so far, the year will most likely to be remembered for the wrong reasons. I am not a prophet of doom here , dear reader, but I am just telling the truth.

The world has had its fair share of disaster years in the past and it is said that our ancestors used such disasters as their benchmarks to know either their ages or their children's years. I remember one granny who use to say in our local language but loosely translated as “I was born in the year of the locusts”. Because they were illiterate, they didn't know their ages but could remember these disaster years as their points of reference.

It is in the same view that this year, we have had a lot of disasters throughout the world and they are both natural and human inflicted. It's barely six months into the year but we have had a lot of earthquakes hitting different parts of the world. To be precise, we have had at least 11 major earthquakes through out the world. I am not talking about tremors here.

The most disastrous of all is the one that reduced Haiti's economic hub, Port-au-Prince, to heaps of rubbles. Just 12 days into the new year, an earthquake of a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 km west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital struck.

An estimated 230,000 people died, 300,000 were injured and 1,000,000 were made homeless and it is estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings collapsed or were severely damaged.

But this was not the only earthquake as many others were experienced through out the world. Even Bongoland had its own share of earthquakes. Tremors were recently experienced in some parts of this country although no loss of life or destruction of property was reported. On 5 May this year, an earthquake of 4.5 magnitude affected south west regions of this country.

There have been other disasters throughout the world such as plane crashes. I still remember the one that killed the Polish president, his wife and other senior government officials. We had several others such as the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft that plunged into the Mediterranean in a ball of fire, minutes after taking off from Beirut in a raging thunderstorm in January.

As if that was not enough, last week, another one had the audacity to fall on African soil, in Libya, killing 103 people. Only a 10-year-old child survived. These are some of the accidents that have occurred so far and the world is sadly continuing to count the losses.

I won't dwell much on volcanic activities that have affected some parts of the world because I am still pondering whether I should include these activities as natural disasters or not. But, one thing I am certain is that a volcanic ash cloud wreaked havoc in Europe as airspaces were closed, travellers inconvenienced and airlines incurring a lot of losses.

There are many other disasters such as floods, droughts and so on, I can't include in this column because of space but the bottom line is that, this year has had a bad start. Though this seems to be a year of disaster, I think there is a possibility for Africa experiencing another disaster as the historic World Cup competitions nears. This will be a disaster of it's own kind. Where instead of people wailing and grieving, there will be joy and celebration.

The disaster will only befall us as Africans if we fail to utilize our home advantage so that the trophy remains in Africa for the first time in history. To avert the disaster we need to shock the giants such as Brazil, France, Portugal and England so that they go back home, with tails in between their legs and empty handed after we wallop them. Hard it might be but it is achievable. I know many soccer lovers think I am day dreaming but you might never know. Enough about soccer madness.

Though disasters continue to rock the world, I also feel that we have our own disasters in this country. Today I won't be talking about floods, droughts and diseases but those such as road accidents. Many of our relatives and friends continue to lose their lives on our roads that we deliberately turned into death traps.

This seems a tired subject as it is constantly covered in media but it is a cause for concern as our roads are now dangerous to an extent that one is no longer certain to get to his /her destination after embarking on a journey. The problem is that these road accidents in most cases are caused by human error and are preventable.

Another time bomb is child abuse. Our media are awash with stories of child abuses where parents cause grievous bodily harm to their own children for silly excuses such as stealing 1000/-. It's a shame that our children are fast becoming endangered species as some parents in the name of disciplining, end up killing them.

I have just pointed out these two social ills but we all know that there are many areas we are found wanting. Let us not the ones to make disaster statistic in this year of disaster, but be a shining example.

The owners of this language say charity begins at home, so it is important for us, while we join the world in helping out wherever disasters strike, to prevent unnecessary loss of life and make this country a haven of peace we all know. God bless you.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz