TEAM TANZANIA YASHIRIKI RACE OF CURE

Nancy G. Brinker mwanzilishi wa matembezi Susan G. Komen akiongea jambo kabla matembezi hayajaanza. Susan G. Komen ni dada yake aliyefariki na Saratani ya matiti. 

 

Mabango yaliyoandikwa kiswahili na Bendera ya Tanzania zikipepea kwenye matembezi hayo ya Susan G. Komen yaliyofanyikia Washington, DC, Nchini Marekani Jumamosi June 2, 2012 saa 2. asubuhi.

Team Tanzania ikiongozwa na mnusurika wa Saratani ya matiti Aunty Rehema (wapili toka kushoto)

 

Watanzania waliojumuka pamoja kwenye matembezi ya Susan G. Komen wakipata picha ya pamoja kwenye picha toka kushoto ni Aunty Asha, Afisa Ubalozi wa Tanzania Nchini Marekani Asia Dachi na Salma Londa.

 Team Tanzania wakiwa kwenye picha ya pamoja kabla ya kuanza matembezi hayo.

Dada Mariam akiwa na mwanae Monica ambao hushiriki kila mwaka matembezi haya  wakitokea Durham, North Carolina.

 

Kikundi cha matarumbeka kikiwa njiani yanakopita matembezi hayo kikiendelea kuto burudani kwenye matembezi ya Susan G. Komen.

Watanzania wakiwa wenye furaha wakati wa matembezi hayo yaliyofanyikia Washington, DC Juamamosi June 2, 2012

 

Wahudumu wakujitolea wakisaidia kugawa maji ya kunywa kwa wanaohitaji.

 Timu Tanzania ikipata picha ya pamoja.

Juu na chini ni Ulinzi kila kona pamoja na magari ya kubebea wagonjwa kwa ajili ya tahadhali kama litatokea lolote.

Kikundi cha sarakasi kikitoa burudani kwa watembeaji hao.

 

Umati wa watu waliojitokeza kutoka kila pembe ya Marekani wakitembeamatembezi hayo ya Susan G. Komen yaliyofanyikia Washington, DC Jumamosi June 2, 2012.

Team Tanzania ikiwa imemaliza maili 3 kwenye matembezi hayo.

Team Tanzania ikiwa inakaribia kwenye Finish Line kumaliza matembezi ya maili 3.2 sawa na kilomita 5 yalyofanyikia Washington, DC Jumamosi June 2, 2012.

 

Team Tanzania ikipata picha ya pamoja baada ya kumaliza matembezi hayo.

HOTUBA YA MHE. DKT. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE,RAIS WA JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA,KWA WANANCHI

HOTUBA YA MHE. DKT. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE,

RAIS WA JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA,

KWA WANANCHI, TAREHE 01 Juni, 2012

Ndugu Wananchi,

Kama ilivyo ada, namshukuru Mwenyezi Mungu mwingi wa Rehma, kwa kutujaalia uhai na kutuwezesha kumaliza mwezi Mei salama.  Kwa kutumia utaratibu wetu wa kuzungumza kwa njia hii kila mwisho wa mwezi, leo nitazungumzia mambo matatu. 

Mkutano wa G-8

Jambo la kwanza, ni suala la usalama wa chakula na lishe.  Duniani, inakadiriwa kuwa kuna watu milioni 925 wanaokabiliwa na njaa na lishe duni.  Kati ya hao Afrika ina watu milioni 239 ambao ni karibu theluthi moja ya watu wote wenye tatizo la njaa na lishe duni kote duniani.  Nchi za Afrika zenye tatizo la njaa kiasi cha kuhitaji msaada wa chakula kutoka nje ni 27.  Kati ya hizo 11 zina matatizo makubwa zaidi. Tanzania siyo miongoni mwa nchi hizo, hata hivyo bado hatujafikia kiwango cha kujitosheleza kabisa.  Hivi sasa tumefikia asilimia 95 na kila mwaka yapo maeneo nchini yanayopata msaada wa chakula kutoka Serikalini.  

    

Mwaka 2009, katika mkutano wao wa L’Aquila, Italia, viongozi wa nchi nane tajiri kuliko zote duniani waliamua kuchukua hatua ya kuzisaidia nchi zinazoendelea duniani  kukabiliana na tatizo la njaa na lishe duni.  Katika mkutano ule waliahidi kutoa dola za Marekani  bilioni 22 kwa ajili hiyo.  Tanzania tunategemea kupata dola milioni 22.9.

    

Katika mkutano wa nchi hizo maarufu kwa jina la G-8 uliofanyika Camp David, Marekani tarehe 19 Mei, 2012, pamoja na mambo mengine walizungumzia suala la usalama wa chakula na lishe barani Afrika.  Nia yao ni kuchangia katika juhudi zinazofanywa na mataifa ya Afrika zenye shabaha ya kutokomeza matatizo hayo.  Tofauti na walivyofanya L’Aquila, safari hii waliamua kuchangia katika utekelezaji wa mipango na progamu za kuendeleza kilimo katika nchi za Afrika hasa zile zinazolenga kujenga usalama wa chakula na lishe. 

    

Aidha, waliamua kuwa wataanza na nchi tatu na kuendelea kuziongeza kila baada ya muda fulani, badala ya kuanza na nchi zote mara moja.  Hoja yao kubwa ni kwamba, wanataka kukusanya nguvu zao kwa nchi hizo chache ili kufanya kazi ambayo itakuwa na matokeo yanayoonekana katika kutokomeza njaa na kuboresha lishe.  Hawakupenda kusambaza nguvu zao kwa nchi nyingi na kuishia kutokufanya kazi ya maana. 

Ndugu wananchi;

Bahati nzuri katika programu na mipango ya nchi iliyokubaliwa kwa awamu ya kwanza ni Tanzania, Ethiopia na Ghana.  Na, jambo la kufurahisha zaidi ni kwamba mpango wetu wa kuendeleza kilimo katika ukanda wa Kusini mwa Tanzania ulichukuliwa kuwa ni wa mfano.  Maoni hayo ya nchi za G-8 ndiyo maoni ya WEF, Sekretariat ya NEPAD na Umoja wa Afrika, wote wameona kuwa mpango wetu unafaa kuenezwa barani Afrika kama mkakati sahihi wa kuendeleza kilimo, kujitosheleza kwa chakula na kupunguza umaskini.

    

Katika Bara la Afrika mkakati huo sasa unaitwa Grow Africa Partnership na tayari nchi saba zimeshajiunga nao.  Nchi hizo ni Tanzania, Msumbiji, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana na Burkina Faso.

Katika mkutano wa Camp David, nchi za Marekani, Japani, Uingereza, Ujerumani, Ufaransa na Urusi zimeahidi kuchangia nchi yetu katika juhudi zetu za kuendeleza kilimo na hasa zile zenye lengo la kujitosheleza kwa chakula na kuboresha lishe nchini.  Ukichanganya na ahadi iliyotolewa na Umoja wa Ulaya katika mkutano huo, kiasi cha dola za Marekani milioni 897 zimeahidiwa kutolewa kwa nchi yetu kati ya sasa na mwaka 2015. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mwaka 2006 tulizindua Programu Kabambe ya Kuendeleza Kilimo nchini maarufu kwa kifupi kama ASDP.  Kwa kirefu kwa lugha ya Kiingereza ni the Agricultural Sector Development Programme.  Programu hii ndiyo mwanzo wa safari yetu ya uhakika ya kuleta mapinduzi ya kilimo nchini Tanzania.  Jambo la kwanza lililofanyika katika utayarishaji wa Programu hii ni kutambua vikwazo vinavyozuia maendeleo ya kilimo nchini na kupendekeza hatua za kuchukua za kuondosha vikwazo hivyo.

    

Mwaka 2008, katika tathmini iliyofanywa kwa ushirikiano wa Serikali na Sekta Binafsi kwa uamuzi wa Baraza la Biashara Tanzania, ilidhihirika kwamba sekta binafsi ambayo ni wadau muhimu, haijahusishwa vya kutosha katika mikakati, mipango na programu za kuendeleza kilimo nchini.  Kwa pamoja ilikubaliwa kuwa kasoro hiyo iondolewe ili wadau wote washirikishwe, yaani Serikali, wakulima wadogo, wakulima wakubwa na sekta binafsi.  Vilevile, sote tulikubaliana kutoa kipaumbele cha juu kwa maendeleo ya kilimo.  Kwa pamoja tuliafikiana kuwa mambo mengine yanaweza kusubiri isipokuwa kilimo.  Matokeo ya maelewano hayo ndiyo yaliyozaa mkakati na kauli mbiu ya “Kilimo Kwanza”.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Tangu wakati huo, sekta binafsi nchini imekuwa inahusishwa na kushirikishwa kwa karibu katika utekelezajiwa ASDP na kuendeleza kilimo kwa jumla.  Kwa upande mmoja sekta binafsi imekuwa inahusishwa katika upatikanaji wa zana na pembejeo za kisasa za kilimo kwa wakulima.  Kwa ajili hiyo, wenzetu wa sekta binafsi wamekuwa wanategemewa kuleta  na kuuza matrekta, mitambo na vifaa mbalimbali vya kilimo pamoja na mbegu, mbolea, dawa za kuua wadudu waharibifu wa mazao na za kukinga na kutibu maradhi ya mimea na mifugo.  Hali kadhalika, wamekuwa wanajihusisha na ununuzi na usindikaji wa mazao ya mkulima na kuongeza thamani.  Tunataka tuachane na kuendelea kuuza nje mazao ya kilimo kama malighafi na kununua bidhaa zilizotengenezwa na mazao hayo. 

    

Upande mwingine tuliwategemea wenzetu wa sekta binafsi washiriki kulima mashamba makubwa.  Wasiache kazi ya kilimo kufanywa na wakulima wadogo peke yao ambao uwezo wao si mkubwa wa kukabili matatizo ya kuongeza tija.  Nafurahi kwamba wito wangu huo waliupokea vizuri na baadhi yao wameshaanza kufanya hivyo.

    

    

Ndugu Wananchi;

Swali kubwa walilouliza ndugu zetu hao siku ile ya tarehe 2 – 3 Juni, 2009 pale Kunduchi Beach Hotel ni kuhusu upatikanaji wa ardhi.  Niliwaeleza kuwa upo utaratibu mzuri wa kuwapatia wakulima wakubwa ardhi ya kilimo na ufugaji.  Utaratibu wenyewe ni kwamba kila wilaya imetakiwa kutenga ardhi kwa ajili ya wakulima wakubwa.  Hilo likishafanyika, taarifa hutolewa kwa Kituo cha Uwekezaji na kuingizwa katika kitu kinachoitwa Benki ya Ardhi.  Mwekezaji anapojitokeza, kulingana na aina ya kilimo anachotaka kujihusisha nacho, hugawiwa ardhi hiyo.  Ardhi hiyo ni ile ambayo siyo inayotumiwa na wakulima wadogo.  Katu hawanyang’anywi ardhi wakulima wadogo ili kuwapa wakulima wakubwa.  Hiyo  siyo sera wala madhumuni na malengo ya ASDP au Kilimo Kwanza.

Nalifafanua hili kuondoa hofu iliyokuwepo na upotoshaji uliokuwa unafanywa makusudi wa kuhusisha wakulima wakubwa na uporaji wa ardhi.  Siyo makusudio yake hata kidogo. 

    

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mwaka 2010 tukapanua wigo wa ushiriki wa sekta binafsi kwa kuihusisha sekta binafsi ya kutoka nje ya nchi.  Mwaka huo pia, tukaamua kuipa sekta binafsi lengo maalum la kutekeleza nalo ni kushiriki katika kilimo cha kuhakikisha kuwa nchi yetu inajitosheleza kwa chakula na kupata ziada kubwa ya kuuza nje, kwa majirani zetu na kwingineko.  Shabaha yetu hasa ilikuwa ni kujitosheleza kwa vyakula vikuu vya mahindi, mchele na sukari.

    

Aidha, tuliamua pia kuwa, kwa kuanzia tuelekeze nguvu zetu kwenye mikoa ya Rukwa, Mbeya, Ruvuma, Iringa na Morogoro kwa vile  mikoa hiyo ndiyo ghala la chakula la nchi yetu. Kwa vile mikoa hiyo ipo ukanda wa kusini ndio maana ikaja kuitwa Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania au SAGCOT.   Tumeamua tukusanye nguvu za Serikali, wakulima, sekta binafsi na washirika wetu wa maendeleo kuwekeza katika kuendeleza kilimo katika mikoa hiyo. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Utekelezaji wa mpango wa kuendeleza kilimo katika ukanda wa SAGCOT una shabaha kuu mbili: Kwanza kabisa mpango unalenga kuboresha kilimo cha wakulima wadogo ili kitoke kuwa duni na cha kujikimu na kuwa cha kisasa na kibiashara.  Chini ya mpango huu wakulima wadogo watasaidiwa na kuwezeshwa kupata na kutumia zana na pembejeo za kisasa za kilimo.  Pia watawezeshwa kupata mikopo kwa ajili ya kilimo na masoko ya uhakika na yenye bei nzuri kwa mazao yao.  Vile vile, huduma muhimu zitaimarishwa.  Hapa tunazungumzia maafisa ugani na miundombinu ya umwagiliaji, barabara, umeme, maji safi na teknolojia ya habari na mawasiliano.

Pili, kwa pale inapowezekana kwa maana ya upatikanaji wa ardhi na aina ya mazao, kuihusisha sekta binafsi katika kilimo.  Tayari utekelezaji wa mpango wa SAGCOT umeanza.  Kamati ya Utendaji imeshaundwa na Sekretariati yake imeshateuliwa.  Aidha, Mfuko wa Kuchochea Uwekezaji umeshaanzishwa na unaendelea kuchangiwa fedha.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Utekelezaji wa malengo ya SAGCOT kwa kilimo cha mpunga na kuongeza uzalishaji wa sukari yameanza kutekelezwa.  Matayarisho yanaendelea kwa kilimo cha mahindi na mazao mengine.

Mpango huu utakapofanikiwa utakuwa na manufaa makubwa.  Nchi yetu itajitosheleza kwa chakula na kuwa na ziada kubwa ya kuuza nje.  Inakadiriwa kuwa mapato yatokanayo na kilimo katika ukanda huu yatafikia dola bilioni 1.2 kwa mwaka, watu 420,000 watapata ajira na watu 2,000,000 wataondokana na umaskini uliokithiri. 

Uwekezaji wake ni mkubwa na kwamba kiasi cha dola bilioni 3.4 kinahitajika kwa kipindi cha miaka 20.  Kwa ushirikiano uliopo baina ya Serikali, sekta binafsi na wabia wetu wa maendeleo wakiwemo wa nchi za G-8, hayo yote yanawezekana.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Tukijitosheleza kwa chakula na kwa maana pana ya chakula chenye lishe bora tutakuwa tumefanikiwa kupata ufumbuzi wa tatizo kubwa la ukosefu wa lishe bora miongoni mwa wananchi wa Tanzania.  Wanaoathirika sana na tatizo hili ni kina mama wajawazito na watoto wenye umri wa chini ya miaka mitano.  Ukosefu wa lishe bora huchangia asilimia 20 ya vifo vya kinamama wajawazito nchini na theluthi moja ya watoto wa umri wa chini ya miaka mitano.  Aidha, asilimia 42 ya watoto wa umri wa chini ya miaka mitano wamedumaa na asilimia 16 wana uzito mdogo kulingana na umri wao na asilimia 59 wana upungufu wa damu.  Kwa kina mama wajawazito asilimia 41 wana matatizo ya upungufu wa damu.  Hali hii sio nzuri hata kidogo lazima tuibadili na tunaweza kufanya hivyo. Tunao mkakati wa kitaifa wa kuboresha lishe ambao kwa sehemu kubwa utanufaika sana na kufanikiwa kwa mkakati wa  kujitosheleza kwa chakula.

Mkutano wa Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika

Ndugu Wananchi;

Jana tarehe 31 Mei, 2012 nilishiriki katika sherehe za ufunguzi wa Mkutano wa 47 wa Bodi ya Magavana wa Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika na Mkutano wa 38 wa Mfuko wa Maendeleo wa Afrika.  Hii ni mara ya kwanza katika historia ya Benki hii tangu ianzishwe mwaka 1964 kwa nchi yetu kuwa mwenyeji wa mikutano hii inayofanyika kila mwaka.  Ni heshima kubwa sana kwa nchi yetu, nami kwa niaba ya Watanzania wenzangu wote, nimemshukuru sana Rais wa Benki hiyo, Dkt. Donald Kaberuka kwa ihsani kubwa aliyoifanyia nchi yetu.

    

Kuwa mwenyeji wa mkutano mkubwa kama huu ni jambo lenye manufaa mengi kwetu.  Kwanza husaidia kuitangaza nchi yetu Barani Afrika na kwingineko duniani.  Pili, ni fursa nzuri ya kuzungumza na viongozi wa Benki kuhusu mipango na miradi yetu ya maendeleo tunayohitaji msaada kutoka Benki hiyo. 

Na, tatu, ni fursa nzuri ya watu wetu kufanya biashara.  Mkutano huu umeshirikisha watu 2,500 ambao wametoka nje ya Tanzania na wanajitegemea kwa kila kitu.  Wenye hoteli, migahawa, vyombo vya usafiri, huduma ya simu, internet na nyinginezo watakuwa wamefanya biashara nzuri katika wiki nzima kabla ya tarehe 28 Mei mkutano ulipoanza hadi 2 Juni, mkutano utakapofungwa. Ni kutokana na manufaa kama haya, ndio maana huwa tunahangaika kuvutia mikutano mikubwa kuja kufanyikia hapa nchini.

    

Ndugu Wananchi;

Napenda kutumia nafasi hii kutoa pongezi na shukrani nyingi kwa ndugu zetu wa Arusha kwa kuwapokea vizuri na kuwakarimu vyema wageni wetu hao.  Nawaomba waendelee na moyo huo mpaka watakapoondoka wote.  Naomba kuwepo kwa mkutano huu kuwakumbushe umuhimu wa mji wenu kuwa tulivu.  Miaka miwili iliyopita isingekuwa rahisi kwa watu au shirika kubwa la kimataifa kama Benki hii kuamua kufanya mkutano wake Arusha.  Isitoshe hata sisi wenyewe tusingeshawishika kuomba au kukubali maombi ya namna hiyo.  Lakini sasa imewezekana.  Naomba kila mmoja wetu aweke azimio moyoni mwake la kuhakikisha kuwa hali ile haijirudii tena.  Nyota ya Geneva ya Afrika lazima iendelee kuangaza. Yaliyopita si ndwele tugange yajayo.

Watanzania Wenzangu;

Niruhusuni tena niwashukuru wenzetu wa Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika kwa mchango mkubwa waliotoa na wanaoendelea kutoa kuchangia maendeleo ya nchi yetu.  Kwa miaka mingi Benki hii imekuwa inatupatia mikopo na misaada muhimu kwa maendeleo ya sekta mbalimbali nchini pamoja na zile za elimu, afya, maji na miundombinu ya barabara, reli, umeme n.k.

Kwa msaada wa Benki hii tunajenga barabara ya Namanga – Arusha, Minjingu – Singida, Namtumbo – Tunduru, Iringa – Dodoma, Mayamaya – Babati, na Tunduru – Mangaka – Mtambaswala.    Miaka ya nyuma pia walituwezesha kujenga barabara ya Mutukula – Muhutwe.  Aidha, hivi sasa wanagharamia upembuzi yakinifu na usanifu wa reli mpya tunayotaka kuijenga kutoka Dar es Salaam hadi Rwanda na Burundi.

   

Matukio ya Uvunjifu wa Amani Zanzibar

Ndugu Wananchi;

Jambo la tatu ninalotaka kuzungumza nanyi leo ni matukio ya wiki iliyopita huko kwenye Jiji la Zanzibar katika mkoa wa Mjini Magharibi, Unguja.  Kama tujuavyo sote kulitokea ghasia zilizochochewa na viongozi wa Jumuiya ya Uamsho na Mihadhara ya Kiislamu maarufu kwa jina la Uamsho.  Taasisi hii imeanzishwa kwa madhumuni ya kidini, lakini hivi sasa viongozi wake wameamua kuyaacha madhumuni hayo na kubeba ajenda za siasa.

Siku za nyuma, ndugu zetu hawa walikuwa wakitumia muda mwingi kuilaumu Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar.  Baada ya kuundwa kwa Serikali ya Umoja wa Kitaifa lawama hizo sasa hazisikiki.  Lakini, mara tulipoanzisha mchakato wa kutengeneza Katiba mpya ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, mihadhara yao imeelekezwa kupinga Muungano na kuwakashifu viongozi  waasisi wa Muungano na hata waliopo sasa.  Isitoshe wamekuwa wakipandikiza chuki dhidi ya ndugu zao wa kutoka Tanzania Bara na wale wafuasi wa dini ya Kikristo.

Baya zaidi, katika uchochezi huo majengo na mali za Makanisa mawili  zilichomwa moto, maduka ya watu kuvunjwa na mali zao kuibiwa.  Kwa kweli vitendo hivi ni uhalifu ambao haukubaliki na wala hauvumiliki.  Naungana na Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi, Mheshimiwa Dkt. Ali Mohamed Shein kwa kauli yake aliyoitoa jana katika mkutano wake na waandishi wa habari ya kukemea vikali na kulaani uhalifu huo. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Ni jambo la kusikitisha na kushangaza kwamba, wenzetu hawa wamefanya uhalifu huo kwa hoja ya kupinga Muungano.  Haiwezekani mtu anayepinga Muungano, akaitetea hoja yake kwa kuchoma moto makanisa au kuvunja maduka ya watu na kupora mali zao.   Ukristo haukuingizwa Zanzibar na Muungano, bali ulikuwepo karne kadhaa kabla ya Muungano na wala haukutokea Tanzania Bara. Na kama alivyoeleza Mheshimiwa Rais Ali Mohamed Shein jana, ukweli ni kwamba, dini ya Kikristo kama ilivyo ya Kiislamu imeenezwa Bara kutokea Zanzibar.  Kanisa kuu la Anglikan Zanzibar lilijengwa kuanzia mwaka 1873 na lile la Katoliki kuanzia 1893 ni miongoni mwa Makanisa makongwe kuliko mengi kama siyo yote kwa upande wa Zanzibar na Bara. 

Katika hotuba yake ya jana, Mheshimiwa Rais, Dkt. Ali Mohamed Shein,pamoja na kueleza kwa ufasaha ukweli huu,  pia alisisitiza suala la haki na uhuru wa Kikatiba wa mtu kuchagua au kubadilisha dini au imani yake.  Katika kutumia uhuru huo, mtu hastahili kuingiliwa au kulazimishwa na mtu yo yote. Hayo pia ndiyo matakwa ya Katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania.  Kwa kweli yanayofanywa na ndugu zetu wa Uamsho ya kuchoma moto makanisa siyo sawa hata kidogo.  Na, wanapoyafanya kwa kisingizio cha Muungano ni jambo lisiloeleweka kabisa na wala halina mantiki.  Labda wenzetu wana lao jambo. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Jambo lingine la kushangaza zaidi ni kule kutokea vurugu na ghasia hizi dhidi ya Muungano wakati ambapo Serikali imetoa fursa sasa kwa watu kutoa maoni yao kwenye mjadala wa Katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano.  Kama tujuavyo sote, Tume ya Katiba imekwishaundwa na inajiandaa kupita kote nchini kukusanya maoni ya wananchi juu ya Katiba mpya waitakayo.  Kama mtu ana maoni yake kuhusu Muungano, hiyo ndiyo fursa ya kufanya hivyo.  Utaratibu mzuri umewekwa kwa ajili yetu sote, vurugu za nini? 

Ndugu Zangu, Watanzania Wenzangu; 

Mimi sioni sababu ya msingi ya kusababisha kuvurugika kwa  amani kwa jambo ambalo limewekewa utaratibu muafaka wa kulishughulikia. Nawaomba tutumie utaratibu mzuri uliowekwa badala ya kufanya mambo yanayoleta mifarakano katika jamii na  yanayosababisha uvunjifu wa amani na yanaharibu sifa na sura ya Wazanzibari na Watanzania isivyostahili.   

Ndugu zangu,

Haipendezi wala haifurahishi kwa Serikali kuchukua hatua kali dhidi ya raia wake.  Lakini, kama hapana budi, Serikali lazima ifanye na haitasita kufanya hivyo.  Narudia kuwasihi viongozi na wafuasi wa Jumuiya ya Uamsho kurejea kwenye madhumuni ya msingi ya jumuiya yao.  Wajiepushe na ajenda za kisiasa na kupandikiza chuki zitakazosababisha mifarakano baina ya wananchi wa pande zetu mbili za Muungano na baina ya Wakristo na Waislamu. Watanzania ni ndugu na wamekuwa wanaishi pamoja kwa upendo na furaha licha ya tofauti zao za rangi, makabila, dini na maeneo watokako. Kimeharibika kipi hata leo yatokee haya? Aidha nawaomba wenye maoni kuhusu Muungano wetu, muundo wake na uendeshaji wake watumie fursa ya mjadala wa Katiba kutoa maoni yao.  Huhitaji kufanya ghasia kutoa maoni yako!

Ndugu Wananchi;

Napenda kutumia fursa hii pia kuwapa pole wale wote walioathirika na vurugu zilizotokea.  Nawaomba wawe wastahamilivu, hiyo ndiyo mitihani ya maisha. Serikali zetu mbili zitafanya kila lililo kwenye mamlaka yake kuwahakikishia wananchi wote usalama wa maisha yao na wa mali zao. 

Nawapongeza vijana wetu wa Jeshi la Polisi kwa juhudi kubwa waliyoifanya ya kudhibiti hali ambayo mwelekeo wake haukuwa mwema.  Nawaomba waendelee kuwa macho ili watu wasioitakia mema nchi yetu na watu wake wasipate nafasi ya kutuvurugia amani na utulivu wetu.  Naamini tukidumisha utamaduni wetu wa kuheshimiana, kuvumiliana na kuzungumza pale tunapotofautiana hakuna litakaloharibika.  Haya shime tufanye hayo.

Mungu Ibariki Afrika!

Mungu Ibariki Tanzania!

Asanteni kwa Kunisikiliza.

Mnuso wa afDB wafana Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge usiku wa kuamkia leo

 Wadau katika mnuso huo ulioandaliwa na Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Magavana wa Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika kwa wajumbe wa mkutano wa benki hiyo katika hoteli ya Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge jijini Arusha usiku wa kuamkia leo.

 Baadhi ya waalikwa

 Wageni toka nchi mbalimbali mnusoni

 Mandhari ya mnuso huo

 Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiwasili kwenye hafla hiyo, akipokewa na  Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Magavana wa Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika na Waziri wa Fedha wa Tanzania, Dkt William Mgina, Rais wa afDB Dkt Donald Kaberuka, Rais Mstaafu wa Botswana Mh Festus  Moghae na Rais mstaafu wa benki hio

 Rais Jakaya Kikwete akikaribisha wageni kwenye hafla hiyo

 Wanne Star akitoa burudani

 Kundi la THT linaungana na Wanne Star kutoa burudani

 THT wakiburudisha

 Rais Jakaya Kikwete akiongea na ujumbe wa Zanzibar  waliohudhueria Mkutano Mkuu wa  Bodi ya Magavana wa Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika

 Rais Jakaya Kikwete akisalimiana na Waziri wa Fedha wa Msumbiji

 Wadau wakiwa mnusoni

 Rais Jakaya Kikwete akitambulishwa Gavana wa Benki ya Msumbiji na Da' Vicky Msina wa Benki Kuu

 Rais Kikwete akisalimiana na waalikwa

 Rais Kikwete akipozi na mtoto wa mmoja wa waalikwa

 Rais Kikwete akisalimiana kwa furaha na vijana wa Arusha 

 Rais Kikwete akisalimiana na wadau

 Rais Kikwete akisalimiana na mweka hazina wa Tourism Federation of Tanzania  (TFT) Bi Zamzam Mtanda

 Vijana wa Arusha wakifurahi na JK

 Rais Kikwete na baadhi ya maafisa wa taasisi mbalimbali

 Babu Njenje na Nyota Waziri  wa The Kilimanjaro Band 'Wana Njenje' wakitumbuiza 

 wadau kwenye mnuso

 Njenje wakitoa burudani

 Ankal Waziri Ally akifanya vitu vyake

 Wana Njenje jukwaani

 Wadau wakiduarika na Njenje

 Wageni wakicheza midundo ya Njenje

 Ankal akila konozzzzz na wadau

 Meza ya wadau 

 Njenje

 Kepy wa Njenje (kulia) na Charles Baina Kamkuru wa Clouds FM Arusha wakiwa na Kemmy

 Mnuso umekolea

 Njenje ndani ya nyumba

Wadau wakifurahia mnuso

NGO ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

EMBASSY OF TANZANIA IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

NGO ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

Speech by Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, Ambassador of Tanzania in the United States of America and Mexico

THE ROLE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND THE EMBASSY OF TANZANIA IN WASHINGTON DC IN FACILITATING NGOS ACTIVITIES IN TANZANIA

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Introduction

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends of Tanzania.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to this very important Round Table discussion. KARIBUNI SANA.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation through its embassies abroad has the responsibility of delivering our foreign policy. Engaging host countries, multilateral institutions and other non-state actors is part of that responsibility. This is the essence of this meeting.

On behalf of the Government of Tanzania and on behalf of all my colleagues at Tanzania House, I would like to thank you very much for accepting our invitation and joining us today. And thank you for your interest in our country and in our people. We know you are all very busy people and most of you have travelled a long distance to be with us today. This is testimony to your commitment to what you do in Tanzania and elsewhere. We value your work. And we are grateful.

I would like to take the opportunity to recognize our speakers and the representatives of the US Government and its agencies present in this room. They are Ellen Peterson, Desk Officer for Tanzania, US Department of State; Kelly Daly, Peace Corps Desk Officer, US Department of State; Trina USAID Desk Office, US Department of State and Joanie Brooks-Lindsay, Consular Chief, US Department of State.

Speakers from Tanzania are Mr. Marcel Katemba, Director and Registrar of NGOs, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Children; Mr. Tiagi Masamaki Kabisi, Deputy Commissioner –Trade Facilitation and Procedures, Tanzania Revenue Authority; Mr. Ikomba Mathew, Immigration Officer, Immigration Division, Ministry of Home Affairs; Dr. Edward Mung’ng’o, Ministry of Health and Social Services and Mr. Paul Mwafongo, the Trade Attaché who will be presenting on behalf of the Planning Commission, a synopsis of the Five Year Development Plan launched by His Excellency President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in July, 2011;

I would also ask my colleagues in this room to introduce themselves so that participants would know us as your hosts and who to contact in the course of the day.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends of Tanzania,

We were elated when Ellen told us that she and her colleagues will be addressing participants. It is indeed evidence of the US Government’s recognition of the role of NGOs as a strong partner in building on the bilateral relations that so happily exist between our two countries.

In the changing landscape of global relations, foreign policy is no longer confined to state actors. Rather, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations continue to play a major role in our global relations in all spheres, including in the socio-political and even economic interactions on the international stage.

Only the other week, President Obama invited to the G8 summit international NGOs along with the private sector asking them to commit to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition Security for Africa. This is in recognition of the potent power of the NGO community in the development of mankind. Need I say more?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends of Tanzania,

This meeting is about NGO participation in our Government’s efforts to better the lives of the people of Tanzania. It is about building relations between US based NGOs and our Government. It is about strengthening US Tanzania relations through non-state actors. It is about continuing to build bridges.

Recognizing the contribution of NGOs to our national development, our Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation wanted to engage you and interact with you. We wanted to work very closely with you and to help facilitate your work in Tanzania. We wanted to let you know that we are here for you and we look upon you as our partners. The work you do, working with our communities complements the work of the Government of President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in delivering social services in education, health and general social needs. We are pleased of your positive response.

The Government of Tanzania regards international NGOs as important non-state actors in the delivery of its foreign policy. In the same way, American NGOs working in Tanzania are helping Tanzania to reach out to the people of America and to cultivate an interest in Tanzania and its people.

In essence the American NGOs are also complementing the work of our Mission in Washington DC by raising the profile of Tanzania in the United States through the stories they bring back to America. America is a vast area of representation and our embassy in DC cannot reach a large part of the people of America but NGOs can, as they come from the community. NGOs are socially and geographically far reaching and they have closer relations to the people, sometimes more than the state agencies. This is why I am very happy to see so many of you. I know we have in each one of you an ambassador for Tanzania in the United States.

The role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in facilitating the activities of NGOs in our development agenda is therefore critical and I am pleased to have the opportunity to explain that role to you today. The Ministry and the Embassy would like to assure you that we will facilitate your work in Tanzania as part of our annualstrategic plan.

1.      The facilitation starts with the issuance of Visa in our embassy. We are ensuring that visa requirements continue to be clearly set out in the embassy website. We will ensure that visa processing is done swiftly and without undue delays and we will continue to improve our visa payment systems to make it more users friendly.

2.      We are working with Government Departments to address some of the issues raised by NGOs and this is the main reason we convened this meeting. We noticed that we were not talking to each other. Each of us worked on our corner. Some NGOs raised issues with us concerning import duties on donated imports, visa and work permits, visa fees, volunteer health workers license fees, import duties of items donated by NGOs, dispute resolution between US and local partners, etc. Although the Treasury will normally try to streamline fees for visa, residence permit, health workers’ license fees, etc, we did not previously look into how much in total would for example, a health volunteer end up paying from his or her visa, license and if need be residence permit. These issues will now be addressed and recommendations submitted to Government.

3.      We will engage the NGOs constantly. We will organize meetings and events that will offer the opportunity for networking and we will create a page on our website for NGOs to allow them to network and where possible to form alliances. NGOs are encouraged to visit our website and to follow on the important links so that they learn more about Tanzania and the areas they are working. If the information on the website is not adequate NGOs are encouraged to contact us for further details.

4.      Our Embassy Strategic Plan each year, and we have already started this year, will have NGO related activity and NGOs will be considered an important ally in the delivery of our foreign policy in the United Sates. As I already said, we will consider US NGOs working in Tanzania as our Honorary Consuls in their respective areas in the United States.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends of Tanzania,

As we continue this engagement, we encourage NGOs working in Tanzania and if they have not yet done so, to do the following:-

1.      Please contact the embassy by email or telephone or even visiting before you travel to Tanzania and raise any issues that you need clarified. If you need a reference letter, we will be pleased to issue one.

2.      Work with relevant government authorities in districts, the office of the District Commissioner, in the Regions the office of the Regional Commissioner as well as the relevant Ministries. When you make contacts, with authorities, a reference letter is always useful.

3.      Please report at a local government office near your place of operation. This creates good working relationship and at least you would know where to go should you need government intervention for whatever reason.

4.      You are advised to engage a reputable law firm and an accounting firm. This helps you to overcome legal pitfalls and taxation issues. Do not enter into land acquisition agreement without the benefit of legal advice. Your partnership agreements in particular should be drawn by a lawyer, local or international. You should be able to get discounted rates from law firms and accounting firms. I know some do not charge commercial rates for charities.

5.      Before entering into binding partnerships with local partners, NGO are encouraged to undertake a vetting process of the partners through the embassy and verification with local authorities as to the character and authenticity of activities claimed to be undertaken by local NGOs or individuals. Such vetting should include references from local authorities where the local partner claims to be operating. Such vetting process is crucial to minimize incidences of individual acting in bad faith or who pretending to be doing charitable work but in the event they set out to enrich themselves. I am saying this because we have seen such cases increase in the last year, where local partners are in dispute with foreign partners to the detriment of those intended to benefit from the activities of the NGO.

6.      Any successful Partnership needs to have one person in charge. So, the decision of who is responsible for day-to-day activities of the NGO needs to be made early on, and everyone in the partnership needs to be 100 percent clear of their roles, duties, and responsibilities. We are for example, aware of local partners charged with the responsibility of securing work permits for volunteers but abdicating the responsibility and blaming it on the US partner.

7.      A partnership, like marriage, requires a pre-nup. NGOS entering into partnership with local NGOs or individuals seem to have very loose arrangement. Sometimes there is only a gentlemen’s agreement. Sometimes there is a very insufficient document not detailing the responsibilities of each party or what happens in the event of a dispute or if they decide to part company and to go their separate ways. Having legal counsel will address such issues and minimize disputes.

8.      And finally, I would propose that you may consult among yourselves and look into possibility of establishing some form of a networking vehicle here, in the US, which will have the mandate to speak for you as a group, on issues that you would like the Government to attend to. Speaking in one voice should offer you good leverage on issues that affect you and the way you deliver your services in Tanzania.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends of Tanzania,

It is challenging to cover all important areas in one day. But as you can see from our program we have targeted NGO registration process, immigration, Tanzania Revenue Authority, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and our Embassy. There is a presentation on the Five Year Development Plan to offer an insight where NGOs may choose to focus. You will hear from the presenter that the Government did anticipate NGO and private sector participation in executing the Development Plan. You will also hear from representatives of the US Department of State, the Peace Corps and the USAID.

After each presentation there will be an opportunity for questions and after the morning session and the afternoon session there is time allotted for general discussion.

And finally, I would like to invite all participants to a cocktail reception at Tanzania House after concluding the discussions. It is a small act of appreciation for your commitment to Tanzania. KARIBUNI SANA.

Once again I thank you for your attention. AHASNTENI SANA.