Ramadan and its virtues on humanity

Since the dawn of history, man did not find any means better than fast to ascend above yielding to his desires and worldly wishes, attain spiritual upliftment, return to spirituality, and renounce contemptible habits to which he became addicted and which led him to perdition. Divinely revealed creeds have equally been familiar with fast. Muslims, Jews and Christians observe certain types of fast. Moses, peace be upon him, observed fasting for forty days at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:8) During that period he was granted the heavy responsibilities embedded in the Ten Commandments. Jews used to (and some still do) fast during times of grief and mourning and when exposed to danger. Jesus, peace be upon him, and his disciples fasted the forty days observed by Moses before him (Mathew 4:2) This set the precedence for the pre-Easter fast and other forms of fast among some Christians.
Fasting in Islam
Islam gives so much importance to fasting that it is considered to be a pillar of faith. Man in Islam must purge those traits of character which are detrimental to his perfection and dignity so that he may foster constructive and pure habits attain the maturity necessary to be better man and gain proximity to God. Pursuant to that man must take stock of his inner self. A strong will, accompanied by correct attitude and surging enthusiasm are necessary to make and implement a resolute decision. Islam holds that self-consciousness and a strong will play an important role in self reform. In this respect Islam has extensive teachings which are related to all the aspects of human life and cover all human needs, whether material or spiritual, individual or social, cultural or economic and so on. The sum total of these teachings constitutes the programme of Islamic Fasting in the month of Ramadan.
The month of Ramadan has been aptly named the spring of the Qur'an. During this month, which is brought about by the lunar calendar of Islam, Muslims set aside more time than usual, to understand the word of Allah, to learn and ponder over its verses. The month is dubbed the season of the Quran as the desire to learn and understand the word of Allah blooms and flourishes, just as the natural world blossoms in the spring.The fasting time lasts from dawn to dusk.
To a Muslim, Ramadan fasting is not just refraining from eating and drinking but carries the added significance of worship, psychological comfort, morality and legislation. It is neither the irrational motionless 'Imsak' of pre-Islamic Arabs nor the mere abstaining from eating and drinking, but is, in fact, the building of one's character, control over desires, and an inspiration towards social and scientific creativity.
God has commanded this sanctified duty and enjoined it on the Muslims, as He had enjoined it on the believing nations before. 'Fasting is (exclusively) for Me and I will reward it.' He assigned the blessed month, the month of Ramadan, for every adult and healthy Muslim as a period of fasting. Hence, fasting is one of the pillars of Islam and a religious duty for all those who believe in monotheism.
A Muslim's abstaining from food, drink, sexual intercourse, etc., during the prescribed hours is the very manifestation of obedience to the Creator's will. This self-deprivation represents a state of self-control and of overcoming carnal pleasure, desire, and enjoyment, for the blissful love of God, His proximity, and the eagerness to desires. Traditions (hadith) of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, succinctly explain this fact: "A fasting person is in a state of worship, even when (asleep) in bed, except when he backbites another person."
The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, described the sleep of a fasting Muslim, even the very breathing, as acts of worship, because they emanate from a body regarded as being in a state of continual worship through abstaining from tasting delicious and lawful things, solely out of obedience to the Creator. He Himself extols fasting and attributes it as a special blessing for mankind.

Virtues of Fasting
The practices of Islamic fasting are designed to divert human mind towards righteousness through a process of self-denials. Fasting constitutes a process of self-purification, self-righteousness, and spiritual development of one self. The spiritual, social, economic, political and psychological benefits of fast are intertwined, each affecting the other. A combination of fast, prayers, and meditation is considered as the best dose for any and all psychological, financial, and spiritual ills from which one may be suffering.
The month of Ramadan inculcates among Muslims, the ability to curb their desires and check them against transgression, extravagance, and the yielding to lower desires, all of which generate man and bring him to the pit of self-destruction and annihilation. Fast fosters a strong will, teaches patience and self discipline, the ability to bear hardship and tolerate hunger and thirst i.e victory over illicit desires and selfish impulses. Fasting trains the body to submit to spiritual impulses and help safeguard the body's health by protecting it against extravagance.
Fasting in Islam is considered a moral education and nourishment of supreme virtues. It teaches the believer to abandon vices, to control emotions and instincts, to curb the tongue against saying what is wrong or inappropriate and the conscience against contemplating upon wrongdoing or subversion.
Fasting enhances the spirit of unity among members of the fasting community, teaches them humility and humbleness and instills in them a feeling of equality before God. The rich have to observe fast as well as the poor, the women as well as the men, the influential and powerful as well as the weak and downtrodden. Imam Ja'afar may Allah be pleased with him, is reported to have said: ‘Allah made fasting incumbent upon every Muslim to hold equity between the rich and the poor. A rich man does not feel the pains of hunger to have mercy for the poor, since he is able to obtain whatever he likes. By enjoining fasting, Allah wanted to put His creatures on an equal fooling by making the rich taste the pain of hunger, so that he may pity the weak and have mercy on the hungry...' Thus through fasting, a person acquires the virtues of empathy and sympathy for others.
Fasting promotes the spirit of charity and compassion towards the poor and the needy, and it reminds each believer of the needs of other believers. Muslims share with each other God's blessing unto them. The month of Ramadan is considered as the month of giving. It is the month of productive social inter-activity. Feeding the hungry or giving to the needy is considered an act of great reward during this month. Everyone desires to do good to everyone and passions and ill-feelings are subjugated to a certain extent. Such is the fascinating effect of the month of Ramadan on Muslims that it leaves its positive imprints on even the souls of the poorest and most oppressed people.

Elections fever grips Zambia

Elections are around the corner and time is fast running out for political parties and their candidates. Campaigns have reached fever pitch and it is a hive of activity as excitement coupled with campaigning continue to grip the nation.


Campaigning in style!. . . Bongoblast caught up with these supporters who were doing everything in their means to campaign for their party and candidates.

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A vendor passes by a poster bearing campaign messages for the incumbent president, Rupia Banda,at Lusaka's main bus terminus, in Zambia recently.

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Not to be outdone, some party officials use what ever at their disposal to make sure that their messages are put across. In this case, these party supporters were driving around, hooting and shouting while posters of their candidates were stuck on the windows of the vehicle.

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Travellers wait for buses at Lusaka's main bus terminus where campaign material has flooded the area.

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Adverts such as this one have been placed strategically in major cities and towns to encourage wananchi to campaign and vote peacefully.

Masaai and the challenges of women empowerment

Training can transform Masaai women's lives.jpg

ALOYCE NDELEIO
Dar es Salaam

WHEREAS women the world over have embraced the principles of women’s empowerment, Masaai women seem to lag behind as they continue to remain inferior to men and have little opportunity for advancement without help.

This situation has forced some philanthropists and people of goodwill to champion and put their effort in rescuing these women from such unacceptable environment bearing in mind that salvation of women from gender suppressions issues lies the hands of fellow women, specifically the educated ones.

Among them is Leila Ansell, the founder of the Karatu Masaai Women Group who says: “After having gained education in western countries I returned back to my home country Tanzania ...Here my mum has established a safari business. This indeed has meant decades of hard struggle for acceptance in the male dominated African business world.”

“At the beginning I experienced the role which gender still plays in my country. However, nowadays I’m running a very successful hotel business and have several women employed here, who I strongly encourage to climb the ladder and expand the role of women in society.

“Nevertheless, I also explored that women still do not equally gain from these changes. Those resing in remote areas are in particular still victims of suppression. The worst example for this can be found in the Masaai tribe,” she contends.

Paradoxically, whereas the Masaai men nowadays enjoy the gains from modernization, their women are still being suppressed far away from civilization just as they were hundreds of years ago.

Focusing the life of Masaai women Leila noted: “You might wonder why especially the Masaai have caught my attention. Indeed, I believe that these people are one of the smartest people in this country. No wonder I have employed several of their educated men in my business”.

The population of Masaai is about 1 million and are dispersed throughout Tanzania and Kenya. They typically live in more rural and isolated communities. As such, they are generally poorly educated (if at all) and lack access to health care.

The women are burdened by the strong traditional gender roles that give women an inferior status in Masaai culture. Women are left as the sole providers of childcare without any sort of medical care during pregnancy, birth (with the exception of a midwife), or post pregnancy care or advising.

Leila says she strongly considers the Masaai women to have capacity to become Tanzania’s leading figures of the future adding: “Nevertheless, to become our women of the future these women first have to be empowered with the help of other women, to eventually also breach the obstacle of a male dominated society”.

Thus, the Masaai women are suffering from a traditional gender comprehension which is probably incredible for all women enjoying the freedom of western countries. “Hence, it became my key concern to make a change to the Masaai women in Tanzania, by empowering them through education,” she adds..

She however points out that due to the fact that this is an enormous project she will not be able to make it up on her own only with donations from her clients. So far standing behind her is a non-governmental organization, Zara Charity which has been established by her mother that includes the project under their patronage.

Masaai Women's Group

Masaai women receive even less education than men and have little opportunity for advancement. Moreover the women are poorly lagging behind, due to their burden of a traditional inferior role within their community.

In order to rescue them from such appalling traditions, under the auspicious of Leila, Masaai Women Group was formed which focuses specifically on the plight of Masaai women in Ngorongoro area.

Nevertheless the specific goals of this group are to help women obtain education, health care, and skills they need to realize their full potential and empower them to pursue their own dreams and ideals.

Training Centre for Masaai women

In order to rescue women from such a predicament, Leila is determined to build a training centre that will be used to make change to the lives of Masaai women within their societies.

She says education represents the key to their empowerment adding: “Only if these women could contribute to the income of the villages they would be increasingly respected by men. Hence, the women strongly need some simple skills for example in accounting, health education and languages to improve their lives”.

Leila says her aim is to purchase land outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in order to build a Masaai Women’s Vocational Training Educational Centre in the highlands of Karatu. “We have already contacted an architect, who has made a budget for the project of about $ 555,000,” she further explains.

“We take this amount as a goal. This might sound a lot for African construction in the beginning. However, not only a class room but also accommodation for students and teachers as well as washing and dining houses have to be built,” she points out adding: “Moreover, running costs have to be added such as food, materials and salaries for the teachers”.

According to Leila, it is important to build the education center in that way because it is only by granting women a total living that they could concentrate away from their daily tasks solely on their education for a certain period.

Indeed, for their future the skills learned at the center shall help these women to rise above their restricted positions in society and to grant their family a better living by establishing their own businesses or getting employed. Eventually, they can realize their full potential and be empowered to pursue their own dreams and ideals..

-ends-

Mobile blackboards, lap desks: Crucial teaching aids in under resourced schools

ALOYCE NDELEIO
Dar es Salaam

Various programmes including the Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP)have been developed with the aim of achieving the Millennium Development Goal on Education for All by 2015 and making education more accessible despite facing some challenges especially when it comes to the learning environment..


A Tigo official shows Themi Primary School pupils on how to effectively use the donated lap desks in Arusha recently.

The most important of all challenges include insufficient number of classrooms, however, the solution has been to build as many primary schools in order to make sure all children who reach compulsory school going age could be admitted.

Another challenge faced in such a programme is insufficient furniture including desks even the chalkboard hence creating a difficult teaching and learning environment. Moreover, some schools lack even sufficient reference books. In such a case the situation in some schools is appalling.

However, in such a situation, the private sector has a role to play. Companies and business entities can come in handy in rescuing the future generation from an appalling environment, giving them hope and the zeal to continue pursuing their studies.

Mobile blackboard and lap desks

In a move to combat and rescuing the school children from such an appalling situation various institutions have joined force in the campaign in a move that can be commended as a public-private partnership in which 1000 lap desks were donated to two primary schools in Arusha recently by Tigo.

The donation was accompanied by a supplementary personal donation of mobile blackboards on behalf of Christina and Max Stenbeck, major shareholders of Millicom International Cellular (MIC), the holding company of Tigo Tanzania.

Eleven mobile blackboards were donated to the primary schools to assist teachers in need of the tools to improve education in their regions. As an added bonus, these teachers will be able to use the mobile blackboards in different environments, even outside the classrooms, boosting the morale of the students and introducing new and fun ways for children to learn.

The mobile blackboards make a perfect synergy with the lap desk donation done by Tigo, as they will both provide a mobile tool for the improvement of Tanzania痴 education. 的t is only proper for Tigo, a company that provides mobility to its customers, to help Tanzania痴 education in a mobile fashion Christina Stenbeck mentioned during a phone interview while she continues her visit to other countries where Tigo operates in Africa and Latin America.

By making this donation, Tigo continues to invest in Tanzania痴 education. This will also help in easing the teaching environment for teachers that experience challenges at the schools.

Tigo is continuing to support education by donating lap desks which are used as teaching aids for children, helping them to learn the alphabet, different shapes, mathematics time tables and the different colours, even in adverse conditions where they lack desks to perform their school duties. This is continuing to campaign to donate as part of an initiative to help education.

The company's representative in Arusha, Gaudens Mushi, said that he hoped that the lap desks would be seen as educational tools that would help children to learn more even when they are not at school.

“It is our obligation to contribute as much as we can to Tanzanian children痴 education and, for this reason, we decided to donate the lap desks, along with the Stenbeck痴 personal donation of mobile blackboards,he said.

The Arusha event is the second one by the private sector in education as when it started in Dar es Salaam, early this year, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam North, 1,000 lap-desks and chairs to Misewe Primary School of in Ilala Municipality in Dar es Salaam.

So long as the primary education is the most vital in a child痴 life and in Tanzania many schools, currently lacks the basic teaching aids, both institutions stated that they have decided to step in and help the country's future leaders.

A crucial teaching aids

Since lap-desk are designed ergonomically to suit the needs of the children, they can use them
sitting on the floor with their legs crossed or sitting on a chair while on the other hand it has a wing so that they can carry them easily.

As far as many schools have little or no furniture lap-desks as a substitute for a conventional desk, they gives the pupils appropriate conditions for learning such skills and accomplishments as reading and writing, arithmetic, mathematics, drawing, painting, etc.

Being the most important teaching aid lap desks have space to put a notebook and a book side by side, it helps children to learn, both in the classroom and while at home doing homework and other exercises.

Such tool represents valuable support to the school community in general and to the pupils in particular whilst creating difference spheres in learning conditions in particular suffice to say it improves the quality of education.

It is suggested by vision therapists that students using a lap desk stabilize material at the appropriate working distance from their eyes. The 20-degree tilt provided by the lap desk improves postural control of the entire body and aligns the eyes with the material more easily.

This makes focusing, eye movements and eye teaming more comfortable and efficient. The lap desk is portable and can go with the child as s/he sits on the floor or bed, or travels in the car. Having her or his own lap desk can be a good motivator for doing homework...and its fun!

On the other hand among the most important of all teaching aids used by teachers the mobile chalkboard surpasses all especially in impoverished environment where buildings' wall doesn't provides as suitable blackboard.

Ends

Libyan ambassador ordered to leave Zimbabwe

Harare

LIBYAN Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Taher Elmagrahi and his embassy staff have been ordered to leave the country immediately after they defected to the NATO-backed National Transitional Council on Wednesday.
The rebels this week claimed to have taken control of Libya after its leader Muammar Gaddafi reportedly fled and his whereabouts are still unknown.

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a lot of enquiries had been made to the ministry regarding the status of the Libyan Jamahiriya in Harare thereby making it necessary for the Ministry to clarify its status.
The ministry said the Government of Zimbabwe had relations with the government of the Libyan Jamahiriya.

"It does not have such relations with the National Transitional Council. If the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Libyan Jamahiriya in Harare and his staff defect to the National Transitional Council, they will cease to have legal status in Zimbabwe and will be requested to leave the country immediately. Flying the flag of the National Transitional Council in Harare is an illegal act under the laws of Zimbabwe," read the statement.

Ambassador Elmagrahi defected to the rebels on Wednesday and hoisted the NTC flag at the Libyan Embassy in Harare. Mr Elmagrahi wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcing his defection on Wednesday. He then ordered the pulling down of the Libyan flag, replacing it with that of the rebels. He also witnessed the destruction of President Gaddafi's portraits by Libyans resident in Zimbabwe.

Mr Elmagrahi defended his decision saying he was following the will of the people. "We have a transition. We will follow our friendship with them (Zimbabwe). We will respect all our agreements with them. I represent all Libyans. I follow what they want. When they are like this, I follow them. I follow what they choose," he said.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Magrahi yesterday bemoaned foreign direct intervention saying it had denied constructive direct dialogue between Libyans despite efforts by the African Union.

"H.E the Ambassador Taher A El Magrahi, is obliged to express his profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe for the pivotal role and spirited effort at the Africa Union Peace and Security Council, aiming at finding a peaceful settlement for the Libyans crisis without foreign interference and African initiated solutions for African problems.

"Unfortunately this did not happen and the gravity of the crisis was compounded by the foreign direct intervention that denied any form of constructive direct dialogue between Libyans," he said.
Ambassador Magrahi said his appointment was done to represent the interests of the Libyan people and to enhance bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Libya and "not representing the continuously changing political figures".

"The new flag that has been hoisted at the Embassy is the original flag of Libyan independence in 1951. This is the original Libyan flag of the independence of Libya, highly respected by all Libyans and has nothing to do with the changes that have taken place," he said.
Ambassador Magrahi said he would continue to stand by the side of the Libyan people "by representing their interests, freedom of choice and will no matter whatsoever, knowing that the volatility of the protracted Libyan crisis has created a new situation on the ground.

"Any decision taken by anyone regarding the new changes that have taken place requires a high degree of far-sightedness, judiciousness and candidly balanced approach taking into consideration the sensitivities of tormenting consequences of this horrific bloody conflict that has claimed an overwhelming number of victims and painfulness of the devastation caused and continued suffering of ordinary Libyans," Ambassador Magrahi said.

Social scenes

Stranded!






ROAD BLOCK!. . . Travellers to different destinations were recently stranded along the DAR ES Salaam-Tunduma Road after an accident occurred just near Morogoro, blocking the high way. The situation was helpless as stranded travellers, most of them cross border traders from Zambia, DRC, Zimbabwe and other surrounding countries were counting their losses as this was not only strenuous but also an inconvenience . A long queue of vehicles stretching for more than three kilometres formed and some of the passengers in those vehicles had no option but to sleep under the shade to avoid the burning sun.

Vendors at Work


An egg vendor attends to a customer in Dar es Salaam recently.



Vendors display their wares to attract potential customers in different buses at a bus terminus in Morogoro recently. With the cost of living continue to rising and life becoming difficult for many, a lot of youths have solace in vending to eke a living. It is, however , unfortunate that in most cases, they find themselves running battles with municipal police officers, who in most cases confiscate their goods. A permanent solution should there be found so that these people can operate without fear of harassment

Fuel shortages, power blackouts and traffic jams: Tanzania's dangerous combination

When my sister and her husband visited me last week, they wanted to take the opportunity of being in Dar es Salaam to sample some commodities from one of East Africa's largest markets, Kariakoo. The situation was nothing out of the ordinary as the streets were seemingly busy, congested with people of all walks of life thronging the place for various reasons.

It's not everyone who visits this place has good intentions. As we were walking along one of the busiest and crowded streets, I was surprised to find my right foot knocking against something. What surprised me is that I had scanned the road while walking, I hadn't seen any stone or boulder on the tarred road. When I looked down, I discovered that I had stepped upon someone's foot.

I quickly turned around to see the owner of that foot and apologise since I believe in making peace with everyone. I was surprised that the guy was becoming aggressive, pointing at his foot as if it had been stepped upon by a tractor or something heavy. He was strategically positioned so that I turn my heard towards a certain angle. He also made sure that he caught the attention of the other guys I was walking with. When everyone was busy trying to come to terms with this guy - whose dressing left a lot to be desired and whose skin showed that it had not been washed for a long time, the clothes were not only tattered but were dirty – another guy was busy searching my pockets.

The guy succeeded to get all the money that I had from the pocket but was very unlucky as I detected his intentions and got hold of his hand before he could successfully fish-out the money out of the pocket. In fact, I intercepted his hand while it was almost out of the pocket and had it not for the shirt that I was wearing, he could have succeeded.

When he saw that he had been discovered, and when we learnt that the whole scenario was a set up, it was our turn to turn the tables and start scolding them. As peace-loving citizens we did not resort to violence but left them walking away with their tails in between their legs like dogs. Such is life.

After that narrow escape, I became more careful and no one could play the same trick again. In fact I was now vigilant to such an extent that I did not want anyone standing closer to me for no reason. We continued with our journey and as we went into most of the shops, especially those that are located inside some buildings or in corridors and so on, business in those areas was almost zero as there was no electricity. In fact, the shops were engulfed with darkness to such an extent that shopkeepers had to use torches.

Upon trying to figure out the problem, I discovered that electricity had been cut due to load-shedding. I knew that that was common but wondered as to why the owners had failed to purchase generators them knowing very well that electricity was problematic. The shop owners told me that they had the generators but could not operate them as there was no fuel. I quickly remembered the problem of fuel that was gripping the nation and upon a closer look on the streets, I also discovered that vehicles in the area were very few.

Under normal circumstances it will be impassable in Kariakoo as vehicles, pushcarts, pedestrians and everyone will be struggling to pass through these narrow roads, but on this day, it was a different tune. Only pushcarts and pedestrians were visible due to the fuel crisis.

Since time was not on our side, we were left without a choice but to buy some clothes and other items under those conditions. We then proceeded to a certain shop where , by the use of a torch, bought a lady's suit. The suit was not only unique but good. After paying, trying out various sizes and colours, the shopkeeper packed it for us and we left there convinced and happy. We went around buying other items, but it was until we got home that we noticed that the suit we had bought was of two different colours. The skirt had a slightly darker colour as compared to the jacket. The differences could not be seen using the torch but were clearly visible under day light.

We had no option but to return the suit the following day to the shopkeeper who was equally elated that we had brought it back because she was going to run a loss since no one could have bought a similar suit that had remain in the shop. These are some of the problems that wananchi come across due to the shortage of fuel and power. Many businesses are bleeding because of the shortage of these two precious commodities, not to mention the problem of traffic jams that is making it almost impossible for someone to move from one part of the city to the other.

The government should do something to solve these problems. On the problem of fuel, the media reported last week that two major fuel suppliers in this country have remained adamant while closing shop as their service stations are still to operate. It is a shame that things have come to that level and I believe that the government should take deterrent measures when dealing with this problem.

BP Oil Company is said to have defied a government directive to resume supplying the commodity by Wednesday evening, last week. Engen is also said to be under probe. I believe that the government should never be held at ransom by such investors. I know there is need for the investors to make a profit and this means the government should not cut fuel prices for the sake of it, or for political gains. If operators cannot make profits after these fuel cuts then the government should revise the price cuts and put in place measures that makes it profitable.

Wananchi are tired of these problems and the sooner they are solved the better. Traffic jams are a nuisance in this city and only those who are escorted by the police and having the roads opened for them don't know what it is like to be in a traffic jam. With the fuel being scarce, it becomes counterproductive to stay long hours in traffic jams, consuming the little fuel that the motorists have.

It is unfortunate that wananchi are the ones to suffer. They are the ones who are left without a choice as their options are limited. Traffic jams, fuel shortages and power blackouts becomes a dangerous combination for the ordinary person on the street who does not have any option but to endure them all. The government should do something touchable to deal with these problems. God bless us allegations

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