Reaction to Lipumba's Criticism of Tanzania's Finance Minister

This is a reaction to the story on The Citizen concerning Prof. Lipumba's criticism of the appointment of Saada Mkuya as Minister for Finance.

I think Prof Ibrahim Lipumba is right to question the qualifications and experience of the Minister for Finance based on his credentials as a respected economist. Criticisms leveled on JK's appointments have come from across sectors and Lipumba's entrance further shows the flaws in the cabinet appointments. I am dismayed by the women activists who rush and claim that the positive criticism by Lipumba is premised on gender, what a shame! Lipumba is positively contributing to the national debate and am certain gender was not in his agenda. Let us not divert attention and focus on substantive issues. With Tanzania facing new debt crisis and numerous economic difficulties, there is no room for experimentation. I am glad that with a new constitution, Ministers will be vetted by parliament before assuming office. We shall get there!

Postcolonialism and the Egyptian Dilemma

Hamid Dabashi is one of my favorite authors. His writing prowess is exemplary. I love the way he brings out the rich history of Iranian poetry and literary discourses. The Iranian born guru in Iranian Studies and Comparative literature has written and published an array of academic works in subjects ranging from Iranian Studies, medieval and modern Islam, comparative literature, world cinema, and the philosophy of art (trans-aesthetics). His latest book "The Arab Spring: The End of Postcolonialim" which I read last year provides insights to the Arab Awakening which began in early 2011. The Arab Spring, as it has come to be known started from street protests in Tunisia due to the rising living costs. A young vegetable trader then set himself on fire in act of protest leading to the steamrolling of the protests to many Arab and North African states. The protests saw the ousting of long standing regimes such as that of Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen, Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and Zine El Bedine Ben Ali who was first to run to exile in Saudi Arabia. Hamid Dabashi uses the postcolonial narrative to explain the events of the Arab Spring which three years down the line continue to shape global politics. Renowned Postcolonial theorist Achille Mbembe postulates that what characterizes postcolonial thinking is entanglement and concatenation, unveiled chiefly through its critique of identity and subjectivity which Dabashi also stresses in his book. Dabashi shows how the Arab Spring has altered the geopolitics of the region so radically that we must begin re-imagining the moral map of “the Middle East” afresh.

The Egyptian Revolution of January 25, 2011 saw the end to a thirty year old dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubark, the rapid transition of the country to democracy which has by now been overshadowed by the fall of Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood President elected in a popular vote in June 2012. Continued street protests in Cairo and many other cities across Egypt saw Morsi ousted by the army. This begs the question of what the future holds for Egypt. Egyptian voters overwhelming approved the new constitution in a referendum early January, 2014 with a whooping 98.1%. The new constitution replaces the one imposed by Mohamed Morsi and sees a number of crucial reforms such as presidential term limits, equality between men and women and the ban of ethnic, religious or gender based political parties. 

It is evident that postcolonial discourse is a crucial ingredient to the metamorphism of the Egyptian state and the Arab world as a whole with the revolutions happening there. And as Mbembe observes; postcolonial thinking stresses humanity-in-the-making, the humanity that will emerge once the colonial figures of the inhuman and of racial difference have been swept away. What is happening in Egypt epitomizes Mbembe's thinking. Egypt serves as a mirror to what other African countries will face before they evolve and consolidate democracy. 

For more hindsight to the Arab Spring and Postcolonialism discourse read The Arab Spring: The End of Postcolonialism by Hamid Dabashi. 

Zanzibar Revolution: Who was John Okello and what did he announce on the radio in 1964?

Zanzibar and Tanzania mark 50 years since the bloody revolution of Zanzibar in 1964. I am currently researching on the Tanganyika- Zanzibar Union and the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964 has certainly shaped the history of Tanzania. I recently came across someone's tweet saying "Bila Mapinduzi, Muungano usingekuwepo..bila ya Muungano, Mapinduzi yasingedumu." The English translation is "Without the Revolution, the Union could not exist..without the Union, the Revolution could not have held." This is indicative enough of the crucial nature of the Zanzibar Revolution to the history of Tanzania. 

Strange as it may seem, one author aptly notes that "the Zanzibar Revolution might not have occurred, and certainly not when it did, had it not been for the presence of a foreigner from Uganda who had grandiose illusions about his revolutionary calling and who happened to be in an ideal position to organise a coup. The man was John Okello, a Christian who had come to Pemba as a youth  to make building blocks. He joined the Police Force and in 1961 became one of the leaders of the ASP party. In February 1963, he went over to Zanzibar island and began to work work for the realisation of his dream of becoming a great nationalist by overthrowing the Sultani. Okello was an eloquent young man with a deep harrowing voice. After periods of disillusionment he decided to join with the ASP Youth League. He styled himself as Field Marshal. In the early morning of 12 January 1964 sabotaged the police arsenal and together with his men defeated the Sultan's troops. At 7 a.m Okello went to the radio station and broadcast the following message to the people of Zanzibar:

I am Field Marshal Okello! Wake up, you imperialists, there's no longer an imperialist government on this Island; this is now the government of the Freedom Fighters. Wake up, you black men. Let everyone of you take a gun and ammunition and start to fight against any remnants of imperialism on this island.

Later that morning, Okello issued an ultimatum to the Sultan:You are allowed twenty minutes to kill your children and wives and then kill yourself. The Sultan escaped to Tanganyika then to England. Okello began to form a provisional government with Abeid Karume as Prime Minister. By the evening the Revolution was full circle and running. 

Maoni kuhusiana na Mgogoro ndani ya Chadema

Kufuatia mgogoro mzito ndani ya Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), nimetuma maoni yafutayo kwenye gazeti la Mwananchi. Chini ya kichwa cha habari Chadema yamtimua Dk. Kitila, Mwigamba.

Demokrasia ndani ya vyama vya siasa ni suala ngeni na gumu hususan katika nchi yetu ya Tanzania. Kwa nchi kama yetu ambayo tumekulia na kulelewa katika mfumo wa chama kimoja na kutawaliwa na chama kimoja kwa muda mzima wa uhuru wetu, utamaduni wa siasa ya vyama vingi bado hujakita mzizi licha ya mabadiliko katika katiba mwanzoni mwa miaka ya 90. Minghairi ya hayo, yanayotokea Chadema ni moja wapo ya michakato ya upevu na upanuzi wa mjadala wa demokrasia nchini. Kunao wanakubalina na kunao wanapinga yanayotokea Chadema. Tuyachukulie yanayojiri ndani ya Chadema kama hatua moja wapo katika demokrasia. Demokrasia, msingi wake ukiwa katika vyama na asasi mbali mbali inajengwa kwa muda mrefu na sio rahisi. Hatua tuliyofika ya vyombo vya habari na umma kujadili kwa hisia kubwa yanayojiri ndani ya Chadema ni hatua nzuri. Tusiyachukulie tu hivi hivi bali tuombe pia vyama vingine vipate kujadili wanachama wao, kujadili mada za kitaifa na mustakabali wa nchi yetu kwa ari kama hii. Upanuzi wa mijadala ndio msingi wa demokrasia. Mungu ibariki Tanzania.

Muungano: Let this not overshadow the Constitution Debate

I firmly believe in constitutionalism and the rule of law. I believe proper laws are the drivers of economic development. With Tanzania engaged in a constitution process, am pleased that we as a people have realized the importance of drafting a new constitution. The Constitution Review Commission of Tanzania headed by retired Judge Joseph Warioba has released a second draft in December 2013. (See my blog for other analysis regarding the first draft). 

Topical issues that are central in the constitution have been mainly the issue of the Union, the powers of the president and integrity of civil servants amongst others. I feel that we are so much ingrained in the issues of the political union of Tanzania mainland (Tanganyika) and Tanzania Zanzibar (Zanzibar) and forgetting to debate on other important articles of the proposed draft. I am not belaboring people's interests in the topic of the union debate but much emphasis should also be directed in the discussion of other issues arising from the draft law. Issues such as leadership and integrity, leadership and accountability, natural resource management, human rights and the rule of law, separation of power in the three arms of government, freedoms of press, fostering national unity among others. 

The process should also be owned and driven by people. Civil society organizations should play incisive role in making this process owned by the people and not be a political agenda or a preserve of the politician. 

Judge Augustino Ramadhani: What a career!

You've to admire Tanzania's retired Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhan. A retired Brigadier General in the army, served as Zanzibar Chief Justice, former Zanzibar Electoral Commission Chairman, served as Judge in the African Court, Deputy Chair of the Constitution Review Commission and now a Reverend in the Anglican Church of Zanzibar. What a career! Read here for more.

You've inspired me. This is what we call selfless service.  

Katiba Watch Tanzania: Rasimu ya Pili

Tume ya Katiba kuwasilisha Rasimu ya pili kwa rais leo. Mambo muhimu ni pamoja na muundo wa Muungano, jina la Tanganyika, umri wa mgombea urais, madaraka ya rais,  haki za binadamu na mengine mengi.

Yatakayojiri kwenye rasimu ya pili ya katiba ntayawasilisha kesho.