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
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