Friday, March 16, 2012

Letter to My Fathers

Letter to My Fathers
(read at PEN & MIC event on 6 February 2011)

Because you have not been listening to me, I have decided to write to you – so that my children’s grandchildren may know that you are I were made of different cloths.

I have a lot of bones to pick with you. But the bottom line is this: you have failed to realize the mission of your generation, you have failed to inspire my peers to greatness, and now you want to drag me into the schizophrenia, the insecurities, and the dwarfed ambition of your generation.

I do not understand why you have not managed to be as selfless as your father, who continues to inspire me even though I haven’t met him.

I am disappointed not because you have not set the conditions for my kids to be astronauts, but because your greed, your narcissism, your hypocrisy are setting the conditions for me to be cynical – and therefore underachieve.

I do not expect you to build a Space program. But the least you can do is hand the country over to us in one piece. We will take it from there.

But for that to happen, I am going to have to say ENOUGH. So, I write today to tell you ENOUGH.

ENOUGH with your obsession with being vindicated at all cost – you embarrass us by insulting each other in newspapers each morning.

ENOUGH with extreme verbal rhetoric and fire and brimstone in explaining your differences with your peers – you remove the possibility of compromise; you corrode the hearts of those of us obsessed with reason.
ENOUGH with licking the boots of those owning the media – you bestow legitimacy to shadowy figures of questionable moral rectitude.

ENOUGH with your daily proclamations that you are clean, you are for justice – while we know that what you own and what you have could not have come from your income, that you took a concubine, that on a trip to China, you flew first class and drank whisky more expensive than mathematical sets of the entire school.

ENOUGH with your habit of theatrically and hypocritically hugging and laughing with a person we all know you detest. We don’t understand it.

ENOUGH with your reliance on the false crutches of witchcraft to ostensibly brighten your face, sweeten your tongue, and neuter your adversaries.

ENOUGH with pleading and waiting for Santa Claus to come and fill your coffers so that you can pay my teachers and buy my textbooks.

Of course, we see some things that you have done: more roads, more clinics, more skyscrapers, bigger budget, bigger parliament, free and frenzied media. But then these are managerial stuff. What about the stuff of leadership: Community. Society. Arts. Culture. Truth.

ENOUGH with everything: with your love for ambiguity; with your distaste with clarity.

Before I go, I want you to help me with few things:

Why did you get Tanzania to be called an experiment?

• Your embraced multipartism at one point, you dropped it, and adopted it again.

• You embraced capitalism at one point, you dropped it, and adopted it again.

• You change curriculum everyday – at one point you dropped history and geography – the essence of self-knowledge and knowledge about the world. You even dropped chemistry and physics – the essence of conquering the frontiers of the unknown universe. Then, you reinstated them.

• You started the East African Community – at great cost. Then you killed it – at greater cost. Then you restarted it – even without really being sure that you want to be in it.

• You waited until 2004 to build secondary schools in all corners of Tanzania. Seriously, where were you all these years? A generation of my peers BEFORE these new schools could not earn a living with their secondary education. A generation of my peers AFTER these schools can’t earn a living with this education.

Perhaps it is not your fault. I know you have had to contend with the harsh realities of your era – in which you were denied of as simple pleasures as a television broadcast. Perhaps the shoes you have had to fill were too big for you – and the might and the sacrifices of the pre-independence generation dwarfed you, and made sterile your art of possibility.

So, time is now for us to run the show. In fact, we already run stuff. Back in the days, you were the most high-tech person in the house – when the cassette player was the most high tech gadget in the house. Today, when gadgets are more complicated, you call on us to “configure”. This means we are wired for this complex world than you can appreciate. We run a lot of stuff around town. We make stuff work – at the banks, at the malls, in server rooms. We design, we create, we execute: from banners to ringtones. We tweet - and I may need to explain this: that is, with our fingertips, we talk to the world. Surely, we can steer our country forward.

Of course, we are not perfect. Just as you, we are prone to intellectual laziness. Some of us are tempted to live beyond our means. And, for some of us, something that is not “fasta” – including a university degree – is not good enough. But, despite this, we are good enough to create the future we want. And time is now.

I have to go. In the meantime, if you ask me what exactly do I want, I will tell you this: I want stuff to work. Full stop. We care less about your tantrums that you were right yesterday and your certain peer was wrong; that you are for truth and justice and your certain colleague is not; that you killed the lion with your bare hands – and there are no more heroes these days; and that, me and my peers, are impatient and undisciplined, and that we are embodiment of moral decay. Maybe. And, if so, we learnt from the best. Still, hand over the country to us in one piece. It is not too much to ask.

Thank you,

January

February 6th, 2011

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Engaging Bumbuli Constituents....

So, when I ran for MP I decided that I should engage my constituents as much and as often as possible. One of the ways I decided to use was SMS as lots of people, even in rural areas, have mobile phones. But I figured that most of my people will be constrained - and the excercise will not be effective - if they have to pay to send SMS to me. So, I decided to make it a free service. That people in Bumbuli send free messages when they want to contact me. But, somebody has to pay for it. And that is me. I applied for a short-code with TCRA for these 1500... numbers. Then negotiated with mobile phone companies for at-cost SMS rate. I then distributed the number - through posters and in public meetings - for my people to send messages if they have ANY matter - advice, complaint, etc - that they want to bring to my attention. The messages go into a web platform, and every morning and afternoon, my Assistant Alex and I log-in to see what Bumbuli people are saying. When I'm travelling Alex emails me the day's messages. We respond to some, take action on others, and also forward others to responsible authorities in the District, example DC, DED, OCD, etc. The program has been running for almost a year now and has been wildly successful. I know more about issues on the ground - even when I'm in New York - than officials on the ground. In terms of cost, it is actually cheaper than one would think. Initially, it was expensive as we were getting a lot of messages, most of them saying things like "Mheshimiwa, kumekucha, umeamkaje?". With public education, we cut down on those.

In the system, we can segment messages on issues, areas (kata), etc. On March 6th, I was in Vuga, and Alex, from my office in Dar, emailed me Vuga SMSes so that I can address the issues while there. Here I provide some. And this is just Vuga, we have so many messages from many different places.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, alex manonga <....@bumbuli.org> wrote:
> Nimeambiwa leo utakuwa Vuga, hizi ni baadhi ya kero ambazo zimekuwa zikijirudia na huenda zikajitokeza. Nimekutumia ili uwe na picha halisi kabla ya kuzungumza na wananchi, mipira tayari Hozza alimkabidhi Diwani kwa baadhi ya teams. Nitakuwa nafoward kwa viongozi zile message ambazo hazihitaji privacy protection kama hiyo ya mwisho inayomtaja Diwani. Baga nitakutumia baadaye.

> 2.56E+11 Nashukuru sana mbunge kwa sms yako kwasasa nipo kilimanjaro kwa wazaz mwl wa vuga.
> 2.56E+11 Haruna shemhina kijiji cha kidundai  kata vuga maoni ni kuhusu baraba yetu  ya kutoka bangala kidundai kila mwaka tunapewa ahadi lakini hakuna kinachofanyika nakuomba  ndugu m h mbunge hili swala liingilie kati
> 2.56E+11 Ruzuku mpaka mwezi gani katika kij chetu kiungo chakuunga bomba maji yawafikie watu pesa tungeitumia sasa m kiti kishewa vuga
> 2.56E+11 SISI NIVIJANA WAKIJIJI CHA BAGHAI KATA YA VUGA KELO YETU NI KWAMBA UWANJA TUNAO LAKINI VIFAA VYA MICHEZO HATUNA KAMA MIPIRA NA JEZI MIMI NI RAMADHANI MDOE
> 2.56E+11 JANUAR .MAKAMBA .MBONA .HATUJAPATA .MAJIBU .MAZURI .KUHUSU .UMEME .IDD .BAKARI .VUGA .LUSHOTO
> 2.56E+11 Bashiru Ally .katib u wa c.c.m tawi la Kidundai kata xa  vuga jimbo la Bum buli Mhe mbunge  ni lini kero mama ya Barabara kidu ndai itatuishia?
> 2.56E+11 MH.me ni mwl wa s/m vuga napenda sana mazingira ya vuga lushoto lakn fedha yng haitosh pamoja na kulipia kodi TUNAOMBA UJENZ WA NYUMBA ZA WALIMU ahsante
> 2.56E+11 MHESHIMIWA .JANUARY .MAKAMBA .PIGANIA .VUGA .TUPATE .UMEME .NAMAJI .UKIZINTIA .VUGA .UMEPITABILAKUPINGWAJ .MIMI .IDD .BAKAR
> 2.56E+11 ROBERT KARATA,VUGA KIHITU MAULWI. KELOYETU MAJI SAFI NA SALAMA YA BOMBA WAMAMA WANAPATA SHIDA YAMAJI
> 2.56E+11 Kero yangu kwako Mh.Mbunge ni tatizo la maji katika eneo lako la Kata ya Vuga maji ya kisima yanapatikana kwa siku ya Ijumaa tu .Na ina kuwa tatizo kubwa kwa sisi wafanyakazi kufanya kazi katika mazingila magumu kiasi hiki.Itafika mahali ukose wafany
> 2.56E+11 Tunakupongeza kwa juhudi zako ktk Jimbo letu la Bumbuli.Tunaomba swala la umeme kata ya vuga,uliwekee kipaombele kwani tumeona Tanesco wamekuja kupima,tunaomba wasiishie kupima tu.mungu akupe maisha marefu na afya njema Mbunge wetu.Ni mimi mwl.MAHONG
> 2.56E+11 Mimi mwl wa shule ya msingi kata ya vuga MH.MBUNGE KAZ YANG NAIPENDA SANA LAKIN KUTOKANA NA KUKOSA UMEME,NYUMBA ZA WALIMU,PAMOJA NA BARABARA KUNANIFANYA NICHUKIE KAZI YANGU TUSAIDIE MBUNGE
> 2.56E+11 MH.MBUNGE mimi ni mwl wa shule ya msing vuga tunaomba tujengewe nyumba za walimu kwan kulipa kodi hatuwez kwan mshahara nimdogo na majukum ni mengi
> 2.56E+11 SHULE ZA KATA YA VUGA NI NNE  UMEME HAKUNA NA TUNAHITAJI MAABARA SASA UNATUAHIDI NINI.MIMI BAKARY.H.KIBANGA.KATA VUGA.KIJIJI BAGHAI.
> 2.56E+11 Asalamu Akeykum Ndugu mbunge napenda kukupa pore sana. Tatizo letu vijana kataya vuga kijiji cha Baghai ni michezo .Mipira kwetu ni haba pamoja na jezi
> 2.56E+11 Tunakushukuru,MH.MBUNGE kwa juhudi zako katika Jimbo letu,Bado kilio chetu cha umeme kata ya Vuga tunakusubiri utukamilishie.ni sisi wapiga kura wako kata ya Vuga.
>
> 2.56E+11 Kwakua Maji Niuhai Uharibifuunaofanyika Katikachanzo Chamaji Kihitu Katayavuga Inahitaji Kushughulikiwa Bilakuchelewa.
>
> 2.56E+11 Vuga Eneola Kihitu Limevamiwa Nawachimba Madini Katikachanzo Chamaji Yanayotumi Kwawananchi Tunaomba Msaada .
>
> 2.56E+11 Je utatusaidiaje ss tunaosoma sayansi ktk shule yetu wakati hatuna maabala na walimu wa sayansi?.Nimimi Hemedy toka Vuga Bazo sec school.
>
> 2.56E+11 Maji niuhai kwa binadamu ila sasa ktk kijiji chetu vyanzo vya maji vimeharibiwa na wachimba madini na inasemekana wana kojoa na hajakubwa pia.utatusaidiaje kunusuru afya zetu.Ni mimi Herasy toka Vuga Bazo.
> 2.56E+11 SAMA HANI MHSHIMIWA NAOMBA MSADA WAPESA YA BIASHALA ASHILNA HUSENI
>  VUGAKISHEWA,
> 2.56E+11 Mh salam alaykum wananchi wako wakitongoji cha mtimule bado ile kero yao ya maji imekua ina wasumbua sana  wanaijadili kila siku hawajapata ufumbuzi ni mimi M .A.Shembilu kijiji cha Baghai kata ya Vuga
>
> 2.56E+11 Mh,mbona vuga mikopo kwetu tabu sana tatizo nini tunaiyona kwa wenzetu.
>
> 2.56E+11 Mh.mbunge lijue tatito la shule ya Sekondari Vuga-Bazo.Kuna upungufu mkubwa wa walimu wazazi wa Vuga wanakuomba wewe mtetezi wao uwatatulie tatizo hilo kubwa.SALIMINA MAGOGO WA VUGA-KISHEWA.
>
> 2.56E+11 JINA KIBWANA H MBARUKU KIJIJI CHA KILUWAI KATA YA  VUGA KERO NI UKOSEFU WA MAJI  YA B6BA KATIKA KIJIJI HIKI CHA KILUWAI
> 2.56E+11 Je utatusaidiaje ss tunaosoma sayansi ktk shule yetu wakati hatuna maabala na walimu wa sayansi?.Nimimi Hemedy toka Vuga Bazo sec school.
>
> 2.56E+11 Mbona hatuoni ahadi ulizotuahidi vuga hata ofisi ulioahi kwa ajili kukuona tabu.
>
> 2.56E+11 Ahsantesana  MH.JANUARY MAKAMBA kwakutupatiamipiraborakabisa vijanawavuga kwakwelitumefurahi kwakuona MBUNGE wetu unajalimichezo nakutakiakazinjema nauzidikutukumbuka nimimi HASSANI ISSA timu yaKIHITU
> 2.56E+11
> MIMI NAITWA JUMAA DHAHABU NATOKA KATA YA VUGA.. USHAURI WANGU KWA MH MBUNGE WA BUMBULI. UWE NA OFISI YA MBUNGE KILA KATA KWA AJILI YA KUSHUGHULIKIA MAMBO YA WANANCHI KUPITIA OFI YA MBUNGE. 2. UWE NA MFUKO WA MBUNGE UTAKAO SAIDIA KATIKA ELIMU KWA VIJA
>
> 2.56E+11 Kamua baba hivyo hivo Afled vuga
>
> 2.56E+11 Sasa BABA UMEME VUGA VIPI ALFLED
>
> 2.56E+11 Tunahitaji vifaa vyamichezo kama vile viatu&mipira ilikuendeleza vipaji vuga.Heras toka vuga bazo.
>
> 2.56E+11 MIMI MWL S.MHAGAMA WA KATA YA VUGA.MH.VUGA NIGIZA TUPU WEKAHISTORIA KWAKUTULETEA UMEME NAKUAMINI KWASABABU UNAUCHUNGU NAJIMBO. AHASANTE
> 2.56E+11 HAKUNA WALIMU WA SAYANSI SEKONDARI VUGA  BAZO  . SAMWEL  KATA  VUGA  VUGA
>
> 2.56E+11 Naitwa  Daudi  Taratibu nipo katika kijiji cha kiluwai kata  ya vuga kero yetu ni maji ya bomba ambaYO TULIAHIDIWA KUYAPATA  NA MIMEA YETU ILIKATWA BILA MALIPO TUKARIDHIKA TUKAAHIDIWA KUWA TANGI LA MAJI  LITAJENGWA KATIKA  KITONGOJI CHA MANKOLE KITON
>
> 2.56E+11 Naitwa  Daudi  Taratibu nipo katika kijiji cha kiluwai kata  ya vuga kero yetu ni maji ya bomba ambaYO TULIAHIDIWA KUYAPATA  NA MIMEA YETU ILIKATWA BILA MALIPO TUKARIDHIKA TUKAAHIDIWA KUWA TANGI LA MAJI  LITAJENGWA KATIKA  KITONGOJI CHA MANKOLE KITON
>
> 2.56E+11 NAKUSHURU MI BINAFSI PAMOJA NA JOPO LANGU LA WALIMU KATA VUGA KWA JITIHADA ZAKO ZA KUTUBADILISHA KIMAISHA NA KUTUPA MAENDELEO  YA UHAKIKA KWA KUTULETEA UMEME, BARABARA YA BANGALA KIDUNDAI,NAAMINI MENGINE KAMA HOSTEL BAZO SEK.ZAHANATI VUGA NA KUINUA K
> 2.56E+11 MIMI NAITWA JUMAA DHAHABU. KATA YA VUGA. KERO MHESHIMIWA DIWANI WETU AMEKUWA MPIGA VITA WA MAENDELEO AMEKUWA ANAPINGA ASASI ZA KIRAIA NAKUDAI KUWA MBUNGE ANAZIKATAA HAINGII AKILINI KWANI TUNATAMBUA KUWA HUU NI UZUSHI WA DIWAANI
>
>
>
>