Whenever a person dies there is always a witch to blame

“Dust to dust” is the destiny of humanity and though it is painful it seems no one will escape from it. What makes even more mysterious is the fact that no one knows the day and time. In most cases, there are no warning signs to inform other people or the person who is about to finish his or her journey on earth of the impending departure.

This has made death more painful because today you are talking to a friend or relative then the other minute you are told that that person is no more. No matter how many deaths you come across in your family or of your friends, there is no way we can get used to it. It becomes more painful to those who would have remained.

We don't have proof yet whether the process of dying is painful, unless you have been involved in an accident but we know for sure that the death of person is very difficult to stomach for many people. Many people usually leave everything to fate, some will blame God for it while others will begin pointing fingers.

The country has been plunged into mourning after a ship capsized in the Indian Ocean recently. And, the people believed to have caused the accident seem to have been identified. Four people have been arraigned on various allegations in as far as the accident is concerned. Among them is the captain of the ship who was charged in absentia.

A question that however, remains is whether all the people concerned have been brought to book. Yes, the investigations are still going on and we are waiting for the report from a committee set but in this instance I will support anyone who believes the death was man made. It is unfortunate that people rush to blame God for the misfortune while they are the number one culprits. As long as we continue to have these flying coffins on our roads and floating coffins on our waters then we will continue crying foul.

Like I have mentioned earlier on, death remains a mystery to humanity and a lot of differing views have been held concerning the after life, but what is important to note is that life on its own is sacred and should be respected.

We have had a lot of people who try to help God by shortening other people's lives. In fact, Africans have never accepted that a person can just die without a cause. I am saying so because that they believe a person should live his or her life to the fullest and once one fails to do that then there is always a witch involved. This has seen societies coining a saying that can be loosely translated into Swahili as kunapotokea kifo lazima kuna mchawi aliyehusika.

Our image as a country has been soiled by those who took the law into their own hands and killed our brothers and sisters because they have a different skin pigment, the albinos. It's a shame that most of these killers have been fooled into believing that body parts of albinos can be used to make a fortune.

The superstitious reasons are absurd to say the least. I won't dwell much on it but it boggles one's mind when some people hunt others as if they are hunting animals for relish. To make matters worse the killing will be brutal and ruthless.

I think I am left without an option but to tow the same line with traditionalists that wherever a person dies, there has to be a witch behind it. When ever I talk of witches I am always reminded of the story of a person I used to share an apartment with.

This guy was never religious but I was shocked when he told me that he had the powers to see witches whenever they visited him at night. Some days, and this happened more often, we could wake up in the middle of the night due to noises made by this guy. Listening to the noises, I discovered that it sounded as if he was in a struggle with someone.

We could hear him telling those people to leave him alone and sometimes shouting obscenities to them while telling them to leave him alone. I personally used to wake up and go into the corridor to switch on the lights hoping to have a glimpse of these witches but I saw nothing.

Upon asking the guy, he would tell me that he had been fighting witches who would have visited him. I have never seen a witch at work though one of my friend told me that a person comes across a dozen of witches during the day. He told me not to expect to see witches from another planet as they are mere human beings most of whom we interact with almost on a daily basis.

I was, however, made to doubt the guy I talked about's story one day when he went to sleep early and left us watching television. We were surprised to hear him making the similar noises he always makes when fighting wachawi.

I rushed to his room and switched on the lights but I didn't see anything. I asked him what the problem was and he said witches had visited him. I was left wondering because in as far as I know, witches visit people in the middle of the night when everyone is asleep. It didn't make sense to me that these so called wachawi move with time. Dear reader, I am not saying the claims by this guy are genuine or false, I leave that to your conclusion.

Witches do operate during the day, but the difference is that at night, they will be in their birthday suits while during the day they will be fully dressed. And, if we take a look at how many people die through out the world, then we will discover that our fore fathers were not only wise but had seen that a person cannot just die.

If a person is beaten to death by thieves or other people for one reason or the other, then his or her death is not natural. If a person dies due to HIV/Aids, then someone would have infected him with the disease and we can’t call that natural. If you want to prove that there is always a witch behind every death then look at any death you know and try to find the causes, there is always a person involved.

It remains true that adui ya mtu ni mtu. Because of jealousy, greedy and selfishness, we continue to kill other people without looking at the repercussions of our actions. Some of them we kill in the name of making money. Some are killed in the name of making profits when vehicles, ships and even buses are overloaded. Having killed the one you consider your enemy or through making money, how will the dead people’s children and other dependents survive? We continue doing it without considering the number of broken hearts the deaths will leave.

Instead of being death angels let's strive to protect and preserve lives to make this place good for everyone. May God bless us.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz/symeniah.blogspot.com/0657651300

Taswira ya jamii

Mbwa wa polisi akiwa uwanjani peke yake baada ya kuwafukuza wachezaji.


Ndani ya Uwanja wa CCM kirumba mwanza lilitokea tukio la aina yake baada ya Mbwa wa Polisi kuingia uwanjani na kuanza kukimbiza wachezaji wakati wa mechi ya Simba na Toto Africa.

Kitendo kama hiki cha kizembe ni nani alaumiwe! na TFF imesemaje ili kisitokee tena?
Kwa uelewa wangu Mbwa wa polisi akipelekwa kwenye shughuli za Soka anatumika tu kwa ajili ya kutishia wale ambao wanataka kukiuka taratibu, lakini sio kwa kumuachia kama hivi. Kama hii mechi ingekuwa ni ya Kimataifa TFF wategemee nini kutoka FIFA! au Fideration ambayo itakua imeandaa mashindano hayo!


Madereva wa Mabasi na Matrafiki katika Stand kuu - Mbeya.

Tukio la Madereva wa Mabasi ya masafa marefu kutoka Mbeya kugoma kuendesha mabasi yao kwa kulalamikia 'TOCHI' nyingi barabarani limenishangaza sana, kwa faida ya wasioelewa, TOCHI ni Kamera za usalama barabarani zinazotumiwa na Matrafiki kuangalia magari yanayokwenda mwendo wa kasi katika eneo ambalo hawastahili kwenda mwendo huo.

KAPINGAZ Blog

Zambia: Michael Sata sworn as president

Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata has been sworn in as president after beating incumbent Rupiah Banda in a tightly contested election.

Mr Sata, who had run for the presidency four times, was declared the winner with 43% of the vote.

"The people of Zambia have spoken and we must all listen," Mr Banda told journalists, wiping away tears after finishing his speech.

His Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) had ruled Zambia for 20 years.

Mr Sata - the flagbearer of the Patriotic Front (PF) party - was sworn in by the Chief Justice Ernest Sakala and handed the ceremonial presidential flag by Mr Banda.

"Deep inside me, I feel some kind of relief that this is over and this has been done in a democratic and civilised way," he said.

He said previous Zambian presidents had accepted electoral defeat and "I did not want to be the first one to disturb our democratic process".

On Thursday, there had been riots in the country's northern mining region by opposition supporters impatient for the results of Tuesday's polls.

The results were declared with seven constituencies still outstanding, but electoral officials said Mr Banda would not be able to catch up with Mr Sata's lead.


Source:BBC

Je, tunakwenda wapi?

ASI ZAIDI!! NGUVU ZAIDI!! NA HARI ZAIDI!! TULIAHIDI NA TUMETEKELEZA!! NA NYINGINE; TUMEWEZA! TUMETHUBUTU! TUNASONGA MBEEELEEE!! YA MWISHO NAYO; PIPOOO!!! PAWAAAA!!!


Hii ni moja ya Shule ya msingi Bukoba – Kagera

'HIZO ZOTE NDIO KAULI ZA WANASIASA'
Wanasiasa watatujia kwa kauli nyingi sana, lakini mwisho wa siku watoto wetu tunaishia kuwapa elimu kwenye mazingira kama haya! ebu muangalie huyo aliye karibu na Mfuko wa plastic, yupo darasani kweli!!! nini anachowaza! Mimi na wewe tutabaki tunahisi tu: Labda hajanywa chai! au anaumwa! La hasha! mazingira hayo yanampelekea kutomsikiliza mwalimu.


Wanafunzi wa Shule ya Msingi huko Ludewa Mkoa mpya wa Njombe wanasoma kwenye Kanisa, Wizara husika zinayajua haya kweli ya watoto wetu ambao ni Taifa la Leo na kesho!

Chanzo: KAPINGAZ Blog

Sata elected Zambia President

Zambia opposition leader Michael Sata has been declared Zambia President after beating incumbent Rupiah Banda, the southern African nation's Chief Justice Ernest Sakala announced yesterday.

Mr Sata,74, polled 1,150,045 ahead of his age mate Banda's 961,796, becoming the country's fifth President since the nation's independence from Britain in 1964, according to results released by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson justice Irene Mambilima.

The 188, 249-vote margin with seven constituencies yet to announce gave Mr Sata 43 per cent of the votes cast against Mr Banda's 36.1 per cent. Some five million Zambians had registered to vote.

Chief Justice Sakala announced: “Now therefore, I, Ernest Sakala, being the returning officer for the election to the office of the President, do hereby declare that I have in accordance with the law ascertain the results of such election and I therefore declare Michael Chilufya Sata to be duly elected as President of the Republic of Zambia this 23rd Day of September, 2011.”

"The total number of registered voters in the seven constituencies yet to submit their results is 157, 710. Assuming that all these voters voted for the runner up (Banda), the leading candidate would still maintain the lead by 30, 539 (votes),” Justice Mambilima said.

"Under section 74(3)(b) of the Electoral Act No. 12 of 2006, the commission is empowered to determine and declare the result of an election without receiving the results of all polling stations if the outstanding results are not likely to materially influence the overall result of that election.”

Mr Sata's supporters went into spontaneous celebrations as all the riots that had ensued due to the delay in announcing the results ended.

At the totalling centre in Lusaka, President-elect Sata’s supporters danced and popped champagne.

Source: http://www.africareview.com/News/Michael+Sata+elected+Zambia+President/-/979180/1241428/-/wlt8loz/-/index.html

Opposition leader Sata opens slight lead in Zambia vote count

Opposition leader Michael Sata continued widening his lead Wednesday night over incumbent Rupiah Banda in Zambia’s close presidential poll with a 73, 000-vote gap between them in 33 out of 150 constituencies.

“From the 33 (constituencies) that we have so far verified, the position is as follows: Mr Michael Sata 265, 843 representing 46.59 per cent, Mr Rupiah Banda 192, 966 representing 33. 82 per cent,” said Justice Irene Mambilima, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) at a media briefing Wednesday night.

The commission hopes to receive all the results within “a reasonable” timeframe, said Ms Mambilima, a Supreme Court Judge, as Mr Sata’s party expressed displeasure at the slow flow of the electoral results.

The ECZ shut down its website’s results component after it carried a statement hinting that the commission had announced and declared summarised results from 133 constituencies for the presidential election.

"This information is not correct,” said Justice Mambilima, and warned the media from publishing unsubstantiated stories about results.

Hopeful voter
Voter Janet Phiri, a supporter of President Banda and his Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), said Mr Sata’s lead had not dampened her mood, adding that she was hopeful the incumbent would recover.

"If you remember very well even in 2006 Mr Sata was leading over our (then) president (Levy) Mwanawasa and PF members started celebrating but when we started receiving results from our strongholds in rural areas, we overturned their victory. In 2008 it happened the same way and even now it will be the same,” said Ms Phiri, a marketer at Lusaka City Market.

Mr Sata’s supporters remained upbeat that their leader will finally occupy State House after three unsuccessful attempts.

But Mr Dickson Jere, a spokesman for President Banda, dismissed reports that the final electoral results had been compiled and the head of state had been informed about it.

Source: Africa Review: http://www.africareview.com/News/Opposition+leader+Sata+opens+slight+lead+in+Zambia+vote+count/-/979180/1240834/-/blwadh/-/index.html

Cracks mar Malawi anti-government protests

Barely a day after the High Court in Blantyre, Malawi, threw a lifeline to planned civil society protests by lifting an injunction restraining them from taking it to the streets, the protests have been dealt a heavy blow after the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) withdrew from the anti-government protests scheduled for Wednesday.

CCJP’s disclosure came amid allegations of divisions in the civil society ranks whether or not to hold the protests after the collapse of the UN-mediated talks between government and the civil society organisations (CSOs).



CCJP National Coordinator Chris Chisoni said his organisation could not take part in the Wednesday protests because the Episcopal Conference of Malawi was yet to approve its participation.

“I can confirm we are not part of the process of organising the protests. I think there was need for all of us to come together and agree as to what to do after the collapse of the talks. We should have laid down the procedures because these mass protests do get the desired impact when they are very well organised,” said CCJP National Coordinator Chris Chisoni .

He went on to point out that the Episcopal Conference of Malawi had not and were still to approve CCJP's participation.

The organisers of the protests, however, were not fazed as the spokesperson, Mr Billy Mayaya, downplayed the withdraw saying preparations were going on well.

Riots rock Zambia over delayed voting

Riots have erupted in Zambia’s capital with electoral materials burnt and almost 10 vehicles damaged over delayed opening of polling stations, according to the police and eyewitnesses. Zambia’s main opposition leader Michael Sata said there can be no free and fair elections where there is injustice and late delivery of electoral materials. President Rupiah Banda, who is seeking his second but first full five-year term, said he was relieved to have voted in his homeland of Chipata in eastern Zambia.

Zambia police officers apprehend a suspected rioter in the capital Lusaka after some residents burnt vehicles and electoral materials over delays in opening polling stations on Tuesday.

Of the Zanzibar mass murder, ceremonial kings and floating coffins

“The customer is king,” and “ The customer is always right,” are some of the statements I came across in various shops and business premises, not only in this country but also in other countries in the region I have managed to set my foot in. This is a concept many successful business people adopted and has worked to their advantages.

Soldiers and good Samaritans help carry bodies of people who perished when the ill-fated MV Spice Islander capsized before sinking in Zanzibar, recently.

Customers in the business world are kings in the sense that, without them, many businesses cease to exist, they simply die natural deaths. So many businesses have closed shop for failure to observe such a simple principle. It is an unwritten law in business to such an extent that under normal circumstances, if it is not applied then businesses are doomed. Yes, it is true that customers have to be treated with respect for them to continue coming to buy commodities or seek services. If they are ill-treated, they usually shun those premises and go where they are respected.

But, I have discovered that in the transport sector especially road, rail and water transport, customers, who are known as passengers, are kings yes but remain powerless. In simpler terms they are ceremonial kings. I have observed with great concern how passengers are treated every time I travel. Even our own daladala crews treat passengers as if they were some kind of garbage. Besides hurling insults at them, they are harassed and what ever they say in most cases does not count.

The major contributing factor that has seen passengers losing their power is the shortage of transport. A quick check of our transport system in this country shows that every sector, maybe save for air, faces a critical shortage. People scramble for buses almost on a daily bases whether they are going to work or have decided to visit their relatives in rural areas.

In Zanzibar, water transport is a problem and traveling from one island to another is a headache. Besides boats and ships being few, they are in a dilapidated state that leaves a lot to be desired. Wananchi have no choice but to get into those death traps passed for boats. They are forced to pray through out the journey aboard these floating coffins that in most cases will be overloaded. So, the above situation makes it difficult for those traveling from one point to another to choose be they buses or boats they believe have not only good customer care but are also in a good and stable condition.

This makes bus and ship crews to grow thick heads simply because they know that their mode of transport is indispensable and ill-treatment of customers is just one of their daily bread. Who can fault them when the ill-treated don’t have adequate choices.

This has seen a lot of people perishing in this country in accidents that could be avoided. The current boat accident in Zanzibar could have been avoided had everyone employed to play his or her part had done it diligently. What pains most is that passengers or these powerless kings tried to raise alarm that all was not well before the ship left the port and a 20 minutes commotion is said to have occurred but it seems their complaints fell on deaf ears.
What pains again is the fact that the impending disaster was visible even through the eye of an ordinary person. The ship is said to have tilted to one side before leaving the port, prompting some passengers to disembark and save their lives. And in what could be considered the greatest murder of all time, some workers of the shipping company sentenced the passengers to death when they closed the door in the face of those who had opted to disembark. This is witchcraft at its best as many people were forced to travel against their will.

According to testimonies from survivors, the ill fated ship had signs of an accident written all over it as it wasn’t even stable when they left the port. The crew and all those responsible should be arrested and charged with first degree murder as they deliberately ignored the pleas of the people. What ever happened to the customer is king principle in the transport sector, I wonder.


FLOATING COFFIN. . . The dilapidated MV Spice Islander pictured a few days before it sunk in Zanzibar.

To show how selfish the ship’s crew members were, they took the few life jackets available and put them on before starting to scoop water out of the stationary ship. This shows that they were not even concerned about their passengers’ lives and they made sure that they saved their lives first by putting on the jackets long before the ship started sinking.

We are sick and tired of mass murders being committed on our roads and water by reckless drivers and crews who deliberately ignore the warning from the people only to disappear after an accident occurs. The transport sector workers should be more concerned about the safety of their passengers than making profit. What I have discovered is that they are not worried about the people, what they want is money and this leads to overloading, a number one cause of accidents.

The government should stop treating accidents lightly as wananchi are continuing to perish. In fact they are being murdered on our roads and that should stop. It has become a norm that every time an accident occurs, survivors sing the same song, the bus was overloaded and the driver was not only speeding but had also been warned against the speed and ignored the advice.

It is high time we take a no nonsense approach to these deliberate killings we call accidents. Those found guilty should be charged of first degree murder and face the music. We can’t continue repeating the same mistake day in and day out. The problem with us Tanzanians is that we are quick to forget. The tears we shed for those who perished in the MV Bukoba accident are still to dry but we are already wailing again.

The owners of these modes of transport are to blame as they set unrealistic targets. Their crews usually overload because they want to maximize profits and meet the targets. I think it will be better to implicate the proprietors of these killing machines every time an accident occurs. They are silent forces behind these accidents and should be brought to book. As long as that puzzle is not solved then accidents will continue claiming the lives of our loved ones, if not ours.

The fact that the crews know that the owners of buses, ships or trains, instructed them to meet targets, they know that even if they overload, the owners will not make a fuss out of it. They also know that even if the customers complain to the proprietor, no action will be taken against them.

The only solution to these problems is to restore “the customer is king” principle, then everything will be fine. Laws should be put in place that allows passengers to have a say over their lives. They should be empowered to an extent of stopping, relieving or rejecting reckless drivers and crews. We are tired of these murders. God bless us before we all perish.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz/ symeniah.blogspot.com/0657651300

Zambia general election tomorrow

The time to reap what they have been sowing during the campaigning period has come for politicians as Zambians go to the polls tomorrow to elect a president, a new parliament and new local authorities. According to Electoral Commission of Zambia director Priscilla Isaac, 5 223 316 eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots with 60 000 officials expected to oversee the ballot.



The heavily contested general election will see incumbent president Rupiah Banda (74); of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy who replaced the late president Levy Mwanawasa in October 2008 battle it out with nine other candidates.

The main contender is Patriotic Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata (74).
Other candidates include Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
There is only one female candidate, Ms Edith Nawakwi (FDD). Tomorrow's tripartite poll will be the sixth presidential election in Zambia since the introduction of multi-party democracy in 1991 when President Kenneth Kaunda's United National Independence Party (UNIP) lost power to the MMD.



Zambia is Africa's largest copper producer and is among the top 10 in the world. According to the International Monetary Fund, the rising international price of copper - together with Chinese investment - have driven the economy to 7,6 percent growth last year and 6,4 percent the year before. President Banda, who presents himself as a man of the people, was born in Zimbabwe on February 19, 1937. He studied in Zambia, Ethiopia and Sweden and holds a degree in economics.

"In addition to my political experience I am also a farmer. I am a man of the land. I know what it is like when the rains are late and when a crop fails,"he told AFP in a 2008 interview.
Before entering politics he was a career diplomat who served Zambia in Washington, Cairo and the United Nations. He also held cabinet portifolios. Banda led several parastatals under president Kaunda.

President Banda is credited with presiding over Zambia's best-performing economies, and he hopes the electorate "will reward his management of the economy with a full five-year term", according to an AFP report.



During his campaigns, he said, "Since 2008, our miners have broken all production records. Old mines were saved, new mines have been opened. Multi-million-dollar investments have been made. And many mining jobs have been created," he said during his campaign.
"We have built bridges, rehabilitated roads, driving Zambia forward. New shopping malls are going up, infrastructure is being built. And many construction jobs have been created. Our list of achievements and progress is long."



When his government refused to appeal the 2009 acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba, his critics accused him of being too soft on graft.
Last year, Zambia's high court also refused to recognise a 2007 London court ruling that found president Chiluba guilty of corruption.

Banda's critics also claim that he has not done enough to spread the wealth, with 64 percent of the population still living below the poverty datum line.
The main contender Michael Sata earned the nickname "King Cobra" for his biting political rhetoric. Sata has presented himself as a man of action and has promised to transform Zambia's fortunes within 90 days.



"Lower taxes and more money in your pocket" was a chorus among poor Zambians who attended his rallies to listen to Sata.

His symbol was a boat resembling Noah's Ark.
However, Sata's alleged poor health has been an issue with listeners on Radio Christian Voice at one time urging the 74-year presidential contender to take a break.

Uchaguzi Zambia kesho

WaZambia wanatarijia kufanya uchaguzi kesho kuchagua raisi, wabunge na madiwani. Mkuu wa tume ya uchaguzi ya nchi hiyo (Electoral Commission of Zambia) Priscilla Isaac alisema kwamba wananchi 5 223 316 wanatarajia kupiga kura wakati maafisa takribani 60 000 watasimamia uchaguzi.

Picha zinafuatazo zinaonesha wanasiasa wakiwa kwenye kampeni kwenye vituo tofauti nchini Zambia kabla ya uchaguzi.

A lighter side of life

Restaurant fines diners for leftovers


DAMMAM

A Saudi restaurant has started fining diners if they order more than they can eat.

Fahad Al Anezi, owner of the Marmar Restaurant in the city of Dammam, said he wanted to avoid wasting food.

He also wanted to encourage customers to be less extravagant with their orders, reports Gulf News.

"There are many clients who make large orders in order to impress the people around them and boost their social prestige," he said.

Diners were made to pay an extra charge which was decided depending on how much food they left, he added.

*************************************************

Defendant urinated in judge's bin


TEXAS

A teenage defendant angered a judge - by urinating into his waste paper bin in court.

Corey Webb, 17, relieving himself shortly after the jury had left the courtroom in Tyler, Texas, reports The Sun.

Local TV footage shows him smirking as he unbuckles his belt before walking over to the bin.

The clip also shows how the judge and a police officer look on in dismay.

The judge then told Webb: "I don't know how you were raised, but peeing in a trash can in a state district courtroom is inappropriate behaviour.

"This is the second conversation we have had. There won't be a third."

The youngster was standing trial for shooting a police officer during an attempted escape from a youth detention centre.

He had already been told off for mumbling loudly during the lawyers' arguments and asking the judge if he could fire his lawyer.

**************************************

The world's longest finger nails


LAS VEGAS
A woman has won the Guinness World Record for having the longest finger nails in the world.

Chris Walton, 45, hasn't clipped her finger nails in 18 years, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Her nails measure a total of 19ft 9ins - 10ft 2in on her left hand and 9ft 7in on her right.

She does her own makeup and household chores despite the challenges posed by her extremely long nails.

"I hate all the cleaning, but I do it. And the makeup, I only wear so much," said Ms Walton, who is a professional singer.

One daily activity that does prove difficult is getting change out of her pocket, she said.

But she uses her knuckles to text on a mobile phone.

Now that she has won the record she plans to get rid of the nails, but will have to do it slowly because: "I'm so used to having nails I'd be running into walls and doors."

Guinness spokesman Stuart Claxton said Ms Walton was a "unique beauty".

The previous recordholder was Lee Redmond, of Salt Lake City, whose nails measured a total of 28 feet until she lost them in a 2009 car crash

VITENDO HIVI VYA KIKATILI VYA WATU KUPIGWA NONDO VITAISHA LINI MBEYA?

Bwana Elia Daudi Mwalonde mkazi wa Uyole akiwa hospitali ya Rufaa mkoani Mbeya wodi namba 1 baada ya kupigwa nondo hivi karibuni.



Bwana Zefania Mwangwale mwenye umri wa miaka 31 mkazi wa Uyole akiwa katika hospitali ya Rufaa mkoani Mbeya baada ya kupigwa nondo pia.

Vitendo vya watu kupigwa nondo kwa Jiji la Mbeya vimekua kama ni vitendo vya kawaida, ni jambo la kusikitisha sana kwa sababu kila mwaka lazima hivi vitendo vitokee na kupelekea watu wengi wa jiji la Mbeya kuishi katika maisha ya wasi wasi sana.
CHANZO:Kapingazi.blogspot.com

Of reaping thorns, laxity and the blame game

Reaping what we sow is always the destiny of humanity, and, in most cases we either enjoy the fruits of our sweat or we suffer the consequences of our actions. Whether we like it or not, what we do everyday always have a direct bearing on what we will be tomorrow.

It is always human tendency that when ever they become successful after embarking on an adventure such as a business, they quickly acknowledge their efforts and what they would have done in the past to get where they would be. But, if it turns the other way round and become a complete failure and a disgrace, they tend to play it safe and embark on blame game. In most cases, they blame others for their failures or look for silly excuses, forgetting that it's what they either did or did not do that lead them to that miserable situation.



This rightly applies to politics where despite the presence of dirty tricks such as vote-buying and rigging, most political parties thrive on tangible results when it comes to elections. This therefore, makes the visibility of a political party in the eyes of the people vital if there is any chance of them voting for that political party. This is the reason a whistle has to be blown to signal a campaigning period which all parties are expected to sell themselves through rallies and promotional materials such as posters, stickers and anything that can send their message across.

It has been, however, a tendency by some political parties that they expect to reap where they did not sow, expecting to get the votes they did not campaign for. What is surprising is that after having adopted a lackadaisical approach to elections and having watched other political parties campaigning, they become cry babies, blaming others for their failure. They are quick to cry foul while they cannot look back on what they did or they failed to do to win the elections.



The battle grounds for Igunga Constituency by-election has been set with the campaigning window having been opened last week. The hotly contested parliamentary by-election in Tabora Region, scheduled for October 2, has been necessitated by the resignation on July 13 of CCM’s Rostam Aziz, who quit after holding the seat for 17 years.

With the campaigning not only having been bankrolled but also having reached fever pitch, a handful of political parties have nominated candidates for the race, but it is CCM, CUF and Chadema which are viewed as the main contenders. Other parties lined up for the race are Chausta, UPDP, AFP, DP and SAU. CUF was the only opposition party to have fielded a candidate in the constituency in last year’s General Election, which saw Mr Aziz easily retain his seat.

The by-election has attracted significant interest across Tanzania’s political spectrum as there is much more at stake in Igunga than just a parliamentary seat. Despite the next general election being far away, the Igunga elections will be important for political parties as they will use it to ascertain their political muscles and position within Tanzania's political landscape. Performance of political parties during this election will go a long way in showing the direction these political parties are moving and they will use the results to strategise for the forth coming general election.




But, this will not come easily as serious political parties have already bankrolled their campaigns. It is of great concern that some parties are still to launch their campaigns if ever they will. Mark my word, the same people who are taking a back seat while others are busy garnering for votes will be the same people who will be quick to complain once the results are out. What these politicians don't know is that they are not only digging their political graves but are forcing wananchi to dig theirs as well as they will be deprived of good leaders from these political parties.

The ball is in their court, it's their choice whether to kick it, head it or throw it but the fact remains that time is not on their side. What I can only say to these politicians is that ‘watakumbuka pango baada ya mvua kuwanyeshea.’

The election fever has come once again at a time where yet another group of people are expected to reap what they sowed. Standard Seven pupils last week put pen to paper on what they have been sowing for the past seven years. This is another area that has been giving us a lot of headaches as most children end up reaping thorns.

Every time their results are released we cry foul over the overwhelming failures by our children. Debates usually ensure while people will be trying to look for a solution to the problem. Blame game becomes the order of the day as teachers, government, parents and students will all be trying to heap the blame on someone.

The truth of the matter is that when teachers teach their pupils and in the process fail to deliver, then in the process they will be sowing thorns which they will reap when the results are out. The government on the other hand will also play its part in sowing the thorns by failing to provide a conducive environment for the students, including provision of learning material, classrooms and desks.

Parents on the same note will also help tender for the thorns that would have been grown by other sectors as they fail to provide and encourage their children to learn. Some even force their children to abscond lessons while herding cattle or working in family shambas.

Pupils on the other hand play their own role in sowing the thorns which they will subsequently harvest when their results are out. It is very unfortunate that this is the group that will be most hurt by harvesting these thorns as they shape their destiny, defining what they will be in life. Someone once said ‘huwezi kuchanganya elimu na mapenzi.’ This has proved to be disastrous for most pupils in this country as they ended up having their educational dreams being cut abruptly after falling pregnant at school. I feel that the reason most pupils, yes pupils in primary school, fail is that some of them engage in love affairs at the expense of their school work.

Reaping thorns is a painful act of which most people can't stomach, so they blame others for their failures. Reaping what we sow will always be part and parcel of our lives so to avoid embarrassment and crying foul, we have to be sowing the desired plants so that come harvest time, we will rejoice, look back and be proud of what we would have done.

Life is not a rehearsal but reality, time lost will never be gained, so those with dreams to make it in life should not wait until it's too late. Remember that the early bird catches the worm. God bless you.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz/symeniah.blogspot.com/0657651300

Mwalimu afanya mapenzi na mwanafunzi darasani

Mwalimu was shule yamusingi yaOthandweni, Swaziland anatuhumiwa kumbaka mwanafunzi wa miaka 15 darasani wakiwemo wanafunzi wenzake. Tukio hili la ajabu lilifanyika wakati wa somo ya hisabati mbele ya wanafunzi wengine.

Gazeti la Swazi Observer limeripoti kwamba tendo hili la ajabu lilifanyika wiki mbili kabla shule kufungwa kwa ajili ya mapumuziko ya mhula wa pili wa masomo. Shule zilifungwa wiki mbili zilizopita.

Mwalimu huyu sasa hivi anachunguzwa na polisi.

Anatuhumiwa kufanya mapenzi na mwanafunzi ambaye kisheria hakuwa na ridhaa ya kufanya hivyo kutokana na umri wake mdogo.

Mwalimu huyo anatuhumiwa kwamba aliwaambia wanafunzi wengine waendelee na masomo au wafumbe macho na wasijali kitendo kilichokuwa kinaendelea mbele yao.

Vyanzo vya habari vilisema aliendelea kukunjua sare ya msichana huyo na kufanya mapenzi naye.

Baada ya kuwaamuru wanafunzi wafumbe macho na waangalie upande wa ukuta, kelele zilizokuwa zinapigwa na mwalimu huyo zilisababisha wafumbue macho.

Walipogeuka, walishangaa, kuona mwenzao sare yake ikiwa imekunjwa akiwa amemkumbatia mwalimu wake.

“Sikuamini tendo lilikuwa likitokea. Tulipomsikia akipiga kelele, tulifumbua macho,” mmoja wa wanafunzi hao alisema.

Mkuu wa shule hiyo alisema kwamba yeye ameliona tukio hilo kuwa ni la ajabu hivyo aliwaachia polisi waendelee na uchunguzi.

Miss Angola is Miss Universe

Sao Paulo - Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, a business student from the town of Benguela in her home country, was crowned Miss Universe on Monday after dazzling a panel of judges with her beauty and impressing them with her brain.

Lopes, 25, laughed and smiled as she hugged runner-up Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko, then felt a crown placed carefully on her head at the pageant held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Earlier in the contest, Lopes had been asked what she might change about her physical characteristics if she could, but Lopes said she was satisfied with who she was.

"I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty," she told the judges and the audience. "I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family, and I plan to follow those through the rest of my life."

Lopes takes her place as the winner of the 60th annual Miss Universe pageant.

Evening gown magic

It is an annual event watched by millions of people around the world on TV who cheer for the young women competing in categories ranging from swimsuits to evening gowns. They also must answer the critical question that tells the judges a bit about them.

Lopes had worn a bright bikini, then paraded around the stage with poise in a form-fitting evening gown coloured in gold and silver sequins and feathers.

In fan voting, Lopes tallied only a 3.6 score for the swimsuit but earned a 7.2 for her evening gown. Fan voting, however, did not count in the final tallies from nine judges.

The panellists, who ranged from race car driver Helio Castroneves to actress Vivica A Fox and journalist Connie Chung, scored the women on each contest, narrowing from a group of 16 down to a final five that included women from China, the Philippines and the home country, Brazil. In all, 89 women competed for the title.

Teacher has sex with pupil during class

A senior teacher at Othandweni Primary School is alleged to have raped a pupil (15) inside a classroom with other young pupils. The alleged sex act was done during a maths class, in front of other pupils.

The Swazi Observer reports that the unbelievable incident, it is said, took place just before schools closed for the second term holidays. Schools closed two weeks ago.

The teacher is now being investigated by police over the matter.

He allegedly got intimate with the pupil - who by law cannot consent to sex due to her age - while other pupils were doing their mathematics.

If arrested, he faces possible charges of statutory rape.

The teacher allegedly instructed the pupils to focus only on their mathematics books or close their eyes and ignore what was taking place in front of them.

Sources said he then rolled up the girl's tunic and proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her.

Having been ordered to close their eyes and face the wall, the groaning of their teacher drew the pupils' attention.

When they turned around, to their shock, they found their colleague with her uniform up at waist level and clutching on the teacher.

"It was shocking to the other pupils to see their teacher getting naughty right inside class with one of their colleagues," added a source from the school.

"We could not believe what was happening. Immediately when we heard him groaning, we opened our eyes," said one of the pupils.

The school principal commented that she had resolved to let "this very sensitive matter" be handled by the relevant authorities, including the police.

Winnie Mandela amelazwa hosipitali

Aliyekuwa mke wa Raisi mstaafu wa Afrika Kusini Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, amelazwa hosipitali ya Life Brenthurst Clinic, kusini mwa jiji la Johannesburg, hospitali hiyo ilitoa taarifa hiyo jana (Jumanne).

Msemaji wa hospitali hiyo Veronica Holliday alisema , " Winnie amelazwa hapa na anaendelea vizuri. Hakuna jambo jingine"

Winnie Mandela admitted to hospital

Johannesburg - ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was admitted to the Life Brenthurst Clinic in the south of Johannesburg, the hospital said on Tuesday.

"She has been admitted to our facility and she is doing fine. No further comments," hospital spokesperson Veronica Holliday said.

She would not say when Madikizela-Mandela was admitted.

African National Congress spokespeople Jackson Mthembu and Keith Khoza were both unaware of Madikizela-Mandela's admission to hospital.

Bomba la Mafuta lalipuka Kenya, la uwa mia

Taarifa zilizotufikia hivi punde zinasema kuwa takriban watu 100 wameuawa na moto baada ya bomba la mafuta kulipuka katika eneo la viwanda Lunga Lunga jijini Nairobi, Kenya. Wazima moto wanajaribu kuzima moto huo.

Tulkio hilo lilifanyika baada ya siku mbili watu takribani mia mbili wamepoteza maisha baada ya meli ya MV Spice Islander kupinduka na kuzama baharini ikitokea Unguja ikielekea Pemba.


Rais Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi (SMZ) Mheshimiwa Dkt. Ali Mohamed Shein, Makamu wawili wa Rais wa Zanzibar, Waheshimiwa Seif Sharif Hamad na Balozi Seif Idd, Rais Mstaafu wa Zanzibar Mheshimiwa Amani Abeid Karume na uongozi karibu wote wa juu wa SMZ wakitembelea Viwanja vya Maisara mjini Zanzibar kujionea wenyewe zoezi la kutambua miili iliyoopolewa kutoka baharini kufuatia ajali ya kuzama kwa meli ya MV Spice Islander alfajiri ya Jumamosi.

Pic: Full shangwe blogspot

East Africa's darkest moment - 100 people perish in pipeline explosion in Kenya

A cigarette butt was said to have started the fire (Pic: BBC)

The cloud of death continue hanging upon East Africa as barely three days after a ship accident claimed more than 240 people in Tanzania, more than 100 are feared dead in Kenya after a petrol pipe burst into flames in Nairobi.

The blast is said to have taken place in the city's Lunga Lunga industrial area, and firefighters were battling fierce flames that were threatening a nearby shanty town.

The pipeline runs through a densely populated area between Nairobi's city centre and the airport. More than 80 casualties have been taken to hospitals, officials said.

An ambulance service spokesman said that many of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. It is not known what caused the blast.


CLINGING FOR LIFE!. . . MV Spice Islander passengers had to use anything available to save their lives. These clung to a mattress before they were rescued.

Police and troops have cordoned off the district, where residents said an earlier leak in the pipeline had prompted many people to rush and collect leaking fuel.

"Then there was a loud bang, a big explosion, and smoke and fire burst up high," resident Joseph Mwego told Agence France-Presse.

There have been other deaths involving people collecting leaking fuel: More than 100 people died in Molo, western Kenya, in 2009 after a fire on an overturned tanker.


Tanzania

Twelve divers from South Africa, arrived last night, to join hands with local divers in trying to retrieve the bodies of passengers suspected to have been trapped in the ill fated ship, MV Spice Islander that capsized and sunk, Saturday morning.


Rescue services and the general public, especially those who were rescued, believe that there might be many bodies trapped in the ship that sank. So far, the death toll has reached 240 while more than 700 people were rescued with some still receiving treatment for various injuries.



RESCUED! . . . President Jakaya Kikwete and First Lady Mama Salma visits Said Gerald who has been admitted to Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Zanzibar after he was rescued from the ill fated ship that sank on Saturday. The one holding him is an Auntie. Pic: Full shangwe blogspot.

Over 600 people rescued, about 60 dead bodies retrieved from the ill fated ship

Reports from Unguja say over 600 people have been rescued while over 60 dead bodies have been retrieved from the ill-fated ship that capsized and sunk early in the morning today, the rescue exercise continues.

The ship was carrying an unspecified number of passengers, coming from Malindi Port, Unguja on it's way to Wete Kisawani Port in Pemba, when it capsized in the Indian Ocean along Nungwi coastline in Unguja South.

The boat that was also carrying luggage Christianed MV Spice Islander, is said to have left the port in a stable condition and the causes of the accident are not known while at the same time investigations are going on.

The Minister of State in the Vice President's Office, Mohamed Aboud Mohamed, said people were rescued by rescue services team and good Samaritans and the rescued people have been transported to safety using speed boats dispatched for the rescue exercise.

The President of Zanzibar, Dr Dk Ali Mohamed Shein, has visited the scene of the accident to assess the damage and the rescuing exercise. The rescue exercise is continuing

Abiria 250 waokolewa katika ajali ya meli ya Mv Spice Islanders

Hii ndiyo meli ya My Space Islader ikionekana ubavuni mara baada kupinduka na kuzama katika Bahari ya Hindi huko Nungwi Zanzibar usiku wa kuamkia leo , meli hiyo ilikuwa na abiria 610.

Watu 250 wameokolewa wakiwa hai katika meli iliyozama ya Mv Spice Islanders iliyokuwa ikitokea Bandari ya Malindi Unguja kuelekea Bandari ya Wete Kisiwani Pemba.

Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais,Mohamed Aboud Mohamed amesema watu hao wameokolewa na Vikosi vya uokoaji na wananchi mbalimbali wanaotoa msaada wa uokozi katika tukio la kuzama kwa meli hiyo huko Nungwi Mkoa wa Kaskazini Unguja.

Waziri Aboud amesema watu hao wamesafirishwa kwa kutumia Boti zinazokwenda kwa kasi za Zanzibar ambazo ilikwenda kutoa msaada katika eneo la tukio.

Amesema watu hao baada ya kufika Bandari ya Malindi Unguja watapelekwa Viwanja vya Maisara kwa ajili ya kuungana na familia na jamaa zao.

Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi, Dk Ali Mohamed Shein yupo katika eneo la tukio huko Nungwi ili kujionea hali halisi ya tukio hilo

Source: Fullshangwe.blogspot.com

250 people rescued, more feared dead as ship capsizes and sinks in Tanzania

The capsized ship, MV Spice Islander, begins to sink as rescue efforts continue.

250 people have been rescued after a ship carrying about 610 passengers, coming from Malindi Port, Unguja on it's way to Wete Kisawani Port in Pemba capsized in the Indian Ocean along Nungwi coastline in Unguja South early in the morning, today.

The boat that was also carrying luggage Christianed MV Spice Islander, is said to have left the port in a stable condition and the causes of the accident are not known while at the same time investigations are going on.

The Minister of State in the Vice President's Office, Mohamed Aboud Mohamed, said people were rescued by rescue services and good Samaritans and the rescued people have been transported to safety using speed boats dispatched for the rescue exercise.

The President of Zanzibar, Dr Dk Ali Mohamed Shein, has visited the scene of the accident to assess the damage and the rescuing exercise. The rescue exercise is continuing

Bus driver tried to hide from cops

A bus driver has been arrested after he jumped out of his cab and hid under his vehicle when police officers tried to give him a ticket.

The man had been pulled over for driving through a red light and jumping lanes in Zhongshan, southern China's Guangdong Province.

But when officers demanded to see his driving licence, he leapt past them and slid under the chassis, refusing to come out.

Police called out the fire brigade who started to tow away the bus - but the driver crawled along underneath the vehicle.

As congestion built up in surrounding streets, police and fire officers tried to persuade the man to come out but to no avail.

Eventually they lost patience and pulled him out. The bus driver is now in police custody and his vehicle is off the road.

PF uncovers plot by president Banda to threaten voters using mobile phones

The Following statement has been issued by the Patriotic Front (PF):


MMD candidate Rupiah Banda has bullied all cellular phone companies in Zambia forcing them to surrender mobile phone numbers and confidential personal details so that he can use them to threaten voters 48 hours before the September 20 elections.

The ugly scheme is coordinated by a team of five hired voter riggers disguised as image makers, led by a retired soldier in the British Navy, Major Luke Chaveau. They are residing at an exclusive lodge on Kabulonga Road in Lusaka. The group is coordinated by a former minister in the UK government.

These people will record Rupiah’s message and make ‘robo calls’ to Zambians via this number: +12345678901, which will carry recorded message from him extolling his fictitious performance and asking for the receiver of the call a vote.

Rural voters will them be followed up with a recorded message of threats from William Banda urging them to obey the president who had just spoken to them a while earlier.

The mobile companies’ surrender of personal numbers of their clients is a violation of privacy in the absence of a court order to that effect. Given that Zambia’s mobile connectivity has reached six million people, it is shocking that a president can invade the privacy of his citizens for political expedience.

Fears abound that these numbers will be used to send threats to the less enlightened rural voters who will believe that it was possible for the president to know that one did not vote for him and since he had called, he would call again to deliver punishment.

PF lawyers will examine the effect of this violation on the privacy of citizens and ask mobile companies whey they gave away customers’ phone numbers to the MMD who now control the central database of phone numbers from the telecommunications companies.

Zambians are now not safe in their own country as they will constantly live in fear of state intrusion in their private lives on scale never seen before, not even under the oppressive surveillance of the one party dictatorship under UNIP.

Rupiah Banda was one of the gang leaders that eves-dropped on people the UNIP regime considered enemies of the state and he was often at hand to organise their beatings as he did against the revered late Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe at Luburma Market. He led thugs to attack the man simply for resigning from his post as Vice-President to lead an opposition group.

Mfumo mpya wa usambazaji wa dawa MSD bado si wa uhakika!

Taarifa kwa Umma


TATIZO la upatikanaji au uhaba wa dawa na vifaa tiba katika vituo vya huduma ya Afya vya Umma huchangia kwa kiasi kikubwa vifo kwa wagonjwa nchini Tanzania hasa wale wanaoishi vijijini.Sababu kubwa inayochangia uhaba wa madawa na vifaa tiba ni mfumo mbovu wa usambazaji.
Katika mfumo wa zamani wa usambazaji, Bohari Kuu ya Dawa (MSD) ilikuwa ikitoa vifaa na dawa kwa ngazi ya wilaya na kisha ngazi ya wilaya kusambaza katika vituo vya afya kwa kuzingatia mahitaji yao waliyoainisha. Mfumo huu ulikuwa na mapungufu ya ucheleweshaji wa kupokea vifaa tiba na dawa, kupotea au kupokelewa vikiwa vimebakiza muda mfupi wa matumizi au muda wake wa matumizi kuisha kabisa. Mfumo huo pia ulilalamikiwa na wadau mbalimbali wakiwemo watoa huduma za afya na wabunge kutokana na kusababisha upotevu mkubwa wa rasilimali na kwa kuwa umekuwa ukipuuzia malalamiko ya wananchi.
Katika mwaka wa fedha 2010/2011 MSD ilianzisha mfumo mpya wa kusambaza madawa na vifaa tiba mojakwamoja kwa lengo la kuongeza ufanisi zaidi katika vituo vya huduma za afya vya serikalini. Katika majaribio ya mfumo mpya wa usambazaji yaliyofanyika katika mkoa wa Tanga kuanzia mwezi wa pili 2010, mfumo huu mpya ulionekana kuleta ufanisi katika usambazaji. Pia iligundulika kuwa baadhi ya vituo vya afya ambavyo vilikuwa havijaanza kutoa huduma vilikuwa vinapata dawa na vifaa tiba kutoka MSD kwa kupitia waganga wakuu wilayani.
Sikika ilifurahishwa na maboresho yaliyotokana na mfumo huu mpya. Hata hivyo baada ya utekelezaji wa mfumo huu mpya wa usambazaji, bado changamoto zilezile zimejitokeza. Mfano katika wilaya ya Kilombero kulikuwa na malalamiko kwamba vituo vingi vya huduma vimechelewa kupokea dawa na vifaa tiba vilivyoagiza, pia pesa wanazotoa haziendani na idadi ya dawa na vifaa tiba vinavyopolekwa kwenye vituo. Zaidi ya hapo, hakuna mfumo wa mawasiliano rasmi kutoka MSD kwenda kwenye vituo husika pale inapokuwa kwamba vituo vimetumiwa madawa au vifaa pungufu kulingana na kiasi cha fedha waliyotengewa.
Sikika inaamini kuwa upatikanaji wa dawa na vifaa tiba kwa wakati katika vituo vya huduma ya Afya vya Umma unaweza kuokoa maisha ya wananchi wengi nchini na hivyo, hilo inabidi liwe ndiyo lengo kuu la uwepo wa MSD.
Sikika inaisisitiza MSD kuboresha mfumo wake mpya ili kuepuka changamoto zilezile za mfumo wa zamani. Mfumo mpya lazima uwe na ubora na kuhakikisha upatikanaji wa dawa na vifaa katika vituo vya afya.
Sikika pia inatoa wito kwa MSD kuboresha mfumo wa mtiririko wa mawasiliano kwenda na kutoka katika bohari ndogo za kanda na katika vituo vya afya ili kuimarisha mfumo mpya. Hii itawezekana tu kama kila muhusika katika kufunga na kusambaza dawa na vifaa atatimiza wajibu wake ipasavyo. Karatasi za kuagizia dawa na vifaa zinapaswa kuonesha kinachotoka na kinachopokelewa na ninani muhusika wa kuwasiliana naye kama kuna malalamiko katika vituo vya huduma.
Sikika inatoa wito pia kwa Bohari Kuu ya Dawa nchini katika kutekeleza azma ya kuondokana na mfumo mbovu wa usambazaji dawa unaosababisha usheleweshaji wa kupokea na upotevu wa vifaa tiba ili kunusuru maisha ya wananchi. Wizara ya Afya pia ni lazima ihakikishe kuwa MSD inaanzisha kitengo cha kushughulikia malalamiko toka kwa wateja wake ili iweze kuyafanyia kazi malalamiko yote yanayohusiana na usambazaji wa dawa na vifaa katika vituo vya afya.



Mr. Irenei Kiria
Mkurugenzi wa Sikika, P.O.Box 12183 Dar es Salaam,
Simu: +255 222 666355/57, Nukushi: 2668015, Barua pepe: info@sikika.or.tz, Tuvoti: www.sikika.or.tz

Pastor 'kills' wife to wed new bride

IS THERE anyone who can stand up and say he has never lied?

Surprisingly even pastors lie to get what they want in life.

A pastor from Voice of God Apostle church, Farai Moyo, is reported to have lied to his in-laws in Gwanda in a bid to be accepted as the family's son-in-law and in the process claimed that his wife had died.

Local tabloid said it has it on good authority that Pastor Moyo sold his car in order to go to Gwanda to pay lobola for his new lover, who is also a church member, Siza Ndlovu (18).

The person who ever said 'do as I say not as I do' might have had such pastors in mind as Moyo did not only go alone to Ndlovu's family but was in the company of one of his church elders, Jotham Mkandla.

"Pastor Moyo was in the company of elder Mkandla when they went to meet Siza's family in Gwanda and when they were questioned on what had happened to his family, the two lied saying that naBha (Moyo's wife) had passed on so they wanted someone who would help Moyo in raising his four children," said a family member who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Their first journey was a successful one and mission accomplished as Ndlovu's family believed that Moyo was a widower. He then left the family with the intention of coming back as he was just going to look for bride-price money.

Since the walls have ears, naBha heard that she was known as dead by the Ndlovu family in Gwanda since her husband had announced so.

"When naBha heard about the issue, she tried to investigate and elder Mkandla opened up and alerted her about the car which had been sold, in preparation to pay bride price for Siza," she said.

NaBha could not believe her husband's betrayal so she took all the money and kept it as a way to try and stop the two from completing their journey.

"NaBha spread the word to some members and the two found themselves in hot soup as their church members walked out of the congregation after learning about their leaders' behaviour. Voice of God Apostle Church is now at the last stroke of breaking down as most of its members have left the church," said the source.

When reporters visited naBha at her home she confirmed the issue but declined to go into much detail referring these reporters to her husband and elder Mkandla.

"You know I was really disappointed with my husband and maybe the first thing you can do is to confront him because at the moment I am known to be dead. In asking him, do not forget his go-between, elder Mkandla, as they did this thing together," said naBha.

Elder Mkandla also confirmed that Moyo did such a thing but denied that he accompanied him to Gwanda as they (Moyo and Siza) just told him over the phone what they were intending to do.

"NaBha and other women from the church came here fuming over the issue alleging that I accompanied Moyo when he went to meet Siza's family but the truth is that those two just called me on the phone saying they were in Gwanda to meet Siza's family," said Mkandla.

Pastor Moyo could neither confirm nor deny that he once pronounced his wife dead into order to marry a new lover, but was quick to blame Elder Mkandla.

"I know Mkandla is behind all this and is the one who leaked the story to you as he is jealous of my life. I do not even know what his intention was when he told my wife about Siza's issue, anyway his plan failed as we are still together with my wife," said Moyo.

He further revealed that he has since left the church, Voice of God, because of some things which he did not understand.

"I did not leave the church because of scandals but there are somethings I did not understand as a pastor."

Starving dogs eat owner

Police in Indonesia shot dead three of seven dogs suspected to have eaten their owner who had left the animals for two weeks without food, local media reported Wednesday.

A relative found dismembered parts of Andre Lumboga's body in the kitchen of his house on Batam island on Tuesday when she visited after calls went unanswered, the Riau Pos daily reported.

"The dogs were never let out," the daily quoted a neighbour identified as Dio as saying.

"Because they were confined to the house, they couldn't find food," he said.

Lumboga, 60, left the house in mid-August to spend a holiday in Manado on Sulawesi island and returned on August 30, when he was believed to have been attacked, the paper said.

His luggage was still stacked in front of the house, the report added.

Police killed three of the dogs when the animals tried to attack officers they as they arrived at the house Tuesday.

Neighbours said they had no suspicion despite the presence of an unpleasant smell emanating from the house.

"I thought it was the smell of a dead rat," Sulastri, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, was quoted as saying.

Toto discos: A case of sparing the rod, spoiling the child

Making the right decision and implementing it is something that seems to be eluding many people, especially those in positions of authority in this country. Tanzania is facing a lot of problems that could be avoided if all the people responsible could not only make the right decisions but also take the right steps. Look at the problem of electricity, the fuel confusion and the deep rooted corruption, just but to mention a few.

It had become a norm that every time a holiday comes by, such as the recent Eid el Fitr, stampedes involving children in discotheques darken them. Many innocent and promising lives have been put to waste as these pleasure joints turned killing places.

What was surprising is the fact that the powers that be helplessly watched as the situation deteriorated. There was need for a bold step, to ban such gatherings. This year, the police went an extra mile, took that bold step and banned the gatherings and for the first time in some years, we have had an incident free holiday.

But, it was not until Bongoblast blasted the powers that be when the latest stamped killed two innocent lives, injuring a dozen others in Temeke last year. Part of the blast red as follows:

What is disturbing more is the fact that it is hardly three weeks after this happened but it seems as if the dust has settled and everything is back to normal. Each and everyone is going about his or her business and the hullabaloo and the noise made by many people after the incident seemed to be more of a formality than genuine concerns.

Everybody seems to have folded his or her arms as if waiting for another tragedy to hit us again. To make matters worse, it's not the first time such a tragedy has claimed innocent lives. 19 children perished in Tabora last year almost in similar circumstances. And, recently, history repeated itself with two children dying in a stampede at a pub as about 100 children tried to force their way out of the disco hall following a sudden power failure.

Thirteen of the children aged between six and 17 were injured, six of them seriously and were admitted to Temeke District Hospital. What is irking, however, is the fact that government has reiterated that discos are here to stay. The government said it will not ban disco for kids during festivals because doing so will be denying their rights.

The Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Dr Lucy Nkya, directed relevant organs to ensure enforcement of existing safety rules and regulations to protect children. She said imposing a total ban on disco for kids was not a solution because children had the right to associate and partying.

I beg to differ with the minister's views over this issue. Firstly it is evident that ensuring effective enforcement of laws that guide the staging of such events is something that is far from being achieved. This incident is happening not for the first time but second time or so, while no preventative measures have been taken so far.

There is no evidence that deterrent action was taken against those who perpetrated the previous incident. The laxity of those who are supposed to enforce the rules and making sure that such incidents don't occur again is worrying to say the least.

It is against this background that banning the whole thing is the right choice because as it is, the blame game will be the norm every time such disasters happen. But, this won't help as our children are the ones who are sacrificed.

The minister said that banning these events is tantamount to denying children their rights. So is our learned doctor saying that if we see our children playing with fire we let them continue since barring them will be infringing their rights? Should we continue to put our children's lives in danger because we want to safeguard their rights? For sure, discos are not the only way for children to interact and entertain themselves. We have various other ways our children can socialise besides attending these discos.

Even the Bible instructs us as parents to discipline our children. It tells that if we spare the rod, we spoil the child. This then means that we need to stamp our authority when it comes to our children. I know the issue of caning children especially by teachers in schools has for many societies been a thorn in the flesh. Those advocating children's rights think that beating a child is the same as violating their rights, but what harm will a stick have if it is going to help remove deviance from a child's head.

I know there are other parents and teachers who overdo it and end up harming or even killing the children but light punishment can't be considered as violation of children's rights.

I believe children's rights are those that don’t endanger their lives. Banning this problem is the only solution to avert more disasters. History has proved that we are not in a position to regulate and monitor these moral-eroding gatherings where our children are exposed to morally corrupt acts that leave them changed for the worst.

Parents on the other hand are to blame. I always wondered how a parent with five senses, all functioning well, could let his or her children attend such events unsupervised. Children are a gift from God, that is why we don't have the power to have them. If we had the power to make babies, then we wouldn't be having the problem of sterility in the world.

As custodians of these innocent souls, it is our duty to safeguard their lives by not allowing them to attend such gatherings. The holy book also instructs us to train our children in a manner that they should go so that when they become old, they won't depart from it. I couldn't help but ponder on what we will be trying to impart into our children by sending them to these Sodom and Gomorrahs operated by unscrupulous business people who are there to maximise profits.

We have no one to blame but ourselves for the problem of the increase in deviance especially in our children, who in most cases grow to become wild beasts. Let's act responsibly and the government should help us doing so by banning these discotheques.

If the responsible authorities continue showing us(as they have done) that they cannot protect our children, then it is our duty to save ourselves from agony by not letting these young ones attend such events. Remember, it is your duty to protect your own child. If you can't protect your own child, then how will you expect someone to do it for you?

It is my hope that it is a dawn of a new era and discotheques will remain banned as a way to protect our children. The police did a good job and should be commended for making the right decision. We can't continue having these unholy gatherings claiming the lives of our inno9cent children. God bless us all.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz/symeniah.blogspot.com/0657651300