MTO IHANGA, MTO UNAOKATISHA KATIKA MITAA MBALIMBALI YA JIJI LA MBEYA

Kama ukiangalia kwa mbali unaweza kudhani ni kimfereji cha maji ya mvua kumbe ni Mto Ihanga, mto huu unaokatikatisha katika mitaa mbalimbali ya jiji la Mbeya. Hapa ni maeneo ya Ilomba kama unavyoonekana jioni hii. watu wanatiririsha maji machafu kwenye mto na watu wengine wanautumia mto huu kwa shughuli mbalimbali za kiuchumi kama vile kuoshea magari.

maeneo ya Ilomba mchana wa jana.

UMOJA WA MATAIFA WANAWAKE WAZINDUA KUNDI LA ‘HEFORSHE’, LENGO KUWEKA USAWA WA KIJINSIA

Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Maendeleo (UNDP), Alvaro Rodriguez akitoa hotuba katika mdahalo kuhusu wanawake na uzinduzi wa Kundi la `HeForShe`.

Umoja wa Mataifa Wanawake (UN Women) nchini umefanya uzinduzi wa kundi la mshikamano la Kimataifa linalohusisha wanaume na wavulana lililo na malengo ya kuhakikisha kunapatikana usawa wa kijinsia baina ya wanaume na wanawake ‘HeForShe’.

Akizindua kundi hilo, Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Maendeleo (UNDP), Alvaro Rodriguez alisema usawa kijinsia ni haki ya kila binadamu na kupitia kundi hilo ni wajibu wa kila mwanaume na mvulana kusaidia kupatikana kwa usawa kwa wanaume na wanawake katika maeneo yote ambayo yanaonekana kuwa na upendeleo kwa upande mmoja.

“Usawa wa kijinsia sio tu suala la wanawake pekee, ni suala la haki za binadamu ambalo hutuathiri sisi sote. Usawa wa kijinsia sio tu kuwawezesha wanawake, lakini pia huweka huru watu kutoka katika ubaguzi uliowekwa kijamii na majukumu ya kijinsia,” alisema Rodriguez.

Awali Balozi wa Sweden nchini, Katarina Rangnitt alieleza kuwa usawa wa kijinsia unahusisha pia katika kusimamia shughuli mbalimbali ikiwepo za nyumbani kwa wanaume na wanawake kushirikiana kuzifanya kwa pamoja.

Alisema ni muhimu kwa jamii kuelewa kuwa ni jambo lenye maana kuwepo kwa usawa wa kijinsia ili wanawake nao waweze kusaidia shughuli za maendeleo kwa familia na taifa kwa ujumla.

“Usawa uwepo katika sehemu zote hata kazi za nyumbani zifanyike kwa pamoja … ni muhimu kwa mama, baba na kijana kuwepo kwa usawa wa kijinsia kwa watu wote,” alisema Bi. Rangnitt.

Siku ya Wanawake kwa mwaka huu kidunia imekuwa na kauli mbiu ya kimataifa isemayo ‘Dunia 50-50 Ongeza Jitihada kwa ajili ya Usawa wa Kijinsia’ na kitaifa kaulimbiu imekuwa ni ’50-50 ifikapo 2030 Tuongeze Jitihada’.

Balozi wa Sweden nchini, Katarina Rangnitt (wa kwanza kulia), Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Maendeleo (UNDP), Alvaro Rodriguez na Mwakilishi wa Umoja wa Mataifa wa Wanawake nchini, Anna Collins-Falk

Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Maendeleo (UNDP), Alvaro Rodriguez akizindua Kundi la Mshikamano la `HeForShe`.

Mdahalo ukiendelea, (wa kwanza kulia) Katibu Mkuu wa Bazara Taifa la Uwezeshaji Wananchi Kiuchumi (NEEC), Beng`i Issa, Kiongozi wa Timu ya Umoja wa Mataifa wa Wanawake ya Uwezeshaji Kiuchumi, Mehjabeen Alarakhia na Mshauri wa Jinsia na Maendeleo, Edward Mhina.

Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Maendeleo (UNDP), Alvaro Rodriguez akitoa hotuba katika mdahalo kuhusu wanawake na uzinduzi wa Kundi la `HeForShe`.

Balozi wa Sweden nchini, Katarina Rangnitt.akitoa hotuba kuhusiana Siku ya Wanawake.

Mwakilishi wa Umoja wa Mataifa wa Wanawake nchini, Anna Collins-Falk

Mshereheshaji wa mdahalo huo, Usu Mallya

Mwakilishi wa Umoja wa Mataifa wa Wanawake nchini, Anna Collins-Falk akikata keki ya kusherekea Siku ya Wanawake Duniani, Kushoto ni Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Maendeleo (UNDP), Alvaro Rodriguez.

POLITICS: The New President of Tanzania Wins Hearts of Tanzanians and Africans

President John Pombe Magufuli Wins Hearts of Tanzanians

The 11th of February marked 100 days since John Pombe Magufuli was sworn in as the 5th President of Tanzania and so far, most Tanzanians feel satisfied with his performance.

The 11th of February marked 100 days since John Pombe Magufuli was sworn in as the 5th President of Tanzania. So far, most Tanzanians feel satisfied with his performance. A survey commissioned by Mwananchi Communications Ltd (MCL) shows that an overwhelming majority of Tanzanians have given the thumbs up to their President. About 90% of the respondents said they were satisfied with how President Magufuli is managing the government. Whichever way one looks at it, Tanzania’s new President is currently the man of the moment. His words and actions, from the day he was sworn in to succeed the former President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, have impressed many people. He has taken into office with gusto, and has lived the spirit of his campaign in a true fashion. Having emerged victorious from the bruising battle with a bolstered opposition, the President has demonstrated that he is keen to deliver on his promises. Since being sworn in as Tanzania's president on November 5, John Magufuli has been cracking down on corruption and wasteful spending, which are problems that continue to plague many African nations.

During his first days at the State House he made a surprise visit at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). The President found that key diagnostic apparati such as the CT-Scan and MRI were not working. Patients who needed to undergo testing had to pay exorbitant fees for the services at private hospitals. The President expressed concern over the laxity of the management to fix the machines, which had not been working for three months. The hospital’s acting director, Hussein Kidanto, became one of the first executives to be booted out over inefficiency by President Magufuli. The President appointed a new management led by Prof. Lawrence Museru to spearhead reforms at the country’s biggest hospital. In response, a brand new CT scan apparatus was recently installed.

PRESIDENT MAGUFULI HAS CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF REFORMS INCLUDING REDUCING THE SIZE OF HIS CABINET FROM 60 TO ONLY 34 MEMBERS.

President Magufuli has conducted a number of reforms including reducing the size of his cabinet from 60 to only 34 members. He has also instituted strict controls in financial management among public servants by banning all but important foreign trips, which should be sanctioned by his office. He has also barred fancy national parties, which used to be a source of ill-gotten money by government officials. For instance, the President scrapped last year’s Independence Day celebrations and ordered that the day be dedicated to a rare clean-up campaign in a bid to tackle the cholera outbreak that had spread in some parts of the country killing more than 200 people. Magufuli himself participated in these efforts by personally cleaning up the rubbish outside of the state house.

President John Magufuli picks up rubbish from street instead of celebrating Independence Day Image: independent.co.uk

Magufuli has focused on revenue collection with his efforts helping the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to raise monthly tax collection to more than Shillings 1.5 trillion from 900 billion. The President has adopted a no-nonsense approach as he implements reforms in public service. He has stormed public offices and institutions unannounced and warned public servants that he will not tolerate lazy and thieving civil servants.HIS EFFORTS HAVE HELPED THE TANZANIA REVENUE AUTHORITY (TRA) TO RAISE MONTHLY TAX COLLECTION TO MORE THAN SHILLINGS 1.5 TRILLION FROM 900 BILLION.

The President has acted on the towering problem of corruption and laxity. In hisinaugural address to the 11th Parliament in November 2015, he did not mince words when he spelt out his administration’s main priority in a familiar, symbolic Swahili phrase—kutumbua majipu, loosely meaning “opening boils”. The President chose a perfect symbolism to describe the ills bedeviling the country as “boils”—the painful, firm reddened skin bumps that house a collection of pus beneath the skin. Boils in Magufuli term means ills, the corrupt, unwanted, retrogressive elements that have stalled the nation’s progress. He has gone out full scale to do exactly that. To date, as I write this article, President Magufuli’s government has sacked more than 150 officials.

PRESIDENT MAGUFULI’S GOVERNMENT HAS SACKED MORE THAN 150 OFFICIALS.

Within a few days of his leadership, Magufuli cracked the whip, throwing out of office top officials of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) over a tax evasion scam at the Dar es Salaam Port. The former TRA Commissioner General Rished Bade was fired on November 27th, 2015. He was among the first to go. Bade was dismissed together with five other TRA officials to pave the way for investigations into a mega Sh. 80 billion tax evasion scam. A surprise visit had been done to the TPA by Prime Minister Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa where it was reported that about 349 containers had been released from the port without owners paying duty for the goods.349 CONTAINERS HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM THE PORT WITHOUT OWNERS PAYING DUTY FOR THE GOODS. On December 6th, 2015 the TRA Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Tiagi Masamaki was also dismissed for his alleged involvement in the same tax evasion scam. Together with other five TRA officials, he was charged with economic sabotage and causing the government a loss of unpaid taxes. The Director General of TPA, Awadhi Massawe was not spared either, on December 7, 2015 together with his top lieutenants faced the chop amid allegation of corruption and lack of accountability at the TPA.

HE EVEN FIRED THE ANTI-CORRUPTION DIRECTOR, DR. EDWARD HOSEAHThe President did not end there. He even fired the anti-corruption director, Dr. Edward Hoseah. On Wednesday 16th, 2015 Dr. Hoseah who had presided over the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) for nine years was shown the door. During his nine years tenure at the helm, PCCB was heavily criticized for not acting on grand corruption. In dismissing him, the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa noted that the President felt the PCCB boss would not move at the same pace as the new administration. President Magufuli also accused him of failing to act against massive bribery that had just been exposed at the TPA and TRA.

Other senior officials who have been sacked include, the Commissioner General of the Immigration Services Department, Mr. Sylvester Ambokile, who was suspended over corruption allegations and incompetency; the Managing Director of Reli Assets Holding (RAHCO), Mr. Benhadard Tito who was suspended to pave the way for investigations into gross procurement flaws in the awarding of a tender for the construction of the $ 7.6 billion standard gauge railway line; the Director General of Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, Charles Chacha, who was suspended by the Minister for Works to pave the way for investigations over transactions in the purchase of aircraft guiding equipment known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) valued at Euro 1.5 million, but remained out of order since installation in November 2015. Mr. Chacha was also suspended for incompetence as far as managing revenue collection and procurement procedures are concerned. Also on the list includes, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Dr. Shaaban Mwinjaka, who was kicked out after an inspection established that Shs. 13 billion had been misused at the Tanzania Railway Limited (TRL), which falls under the ministry. Another one is Mr. Dickson Maimu the former Director General of National Identification Authority (NIDA) who was dismissed on Monday, January 25, 2016 following the alleged questionable expenditure of Shs. 179.6 billion in the national identity cards project. The President has since directed the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), PCCB and the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) to investigate the case. On the same day four other senior NIDA officials were also suspended.

President Magufuli said that he had been forced to act the way he has in the few days in power to “restore sanctity in the use of public resources”PRESIDENT MAGUFULI SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN FORCED TO ACT THE WAY HE HAS IN THE FEW DAYS IN POWER TO “RESTORE SANCTITY IN THE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES”. The citizens have been excited. Erstwhile hidden rot in public services has been exposed and measures have been taken to restore people’s confidence in the government. Indeed, discipline ethics in ministries, parastatals, local administration and so forth, have been revived and cutting corner tendencies are vanishing fast for fear of sacking and even imprisonment. By and large, Dr. Magufuli has received a positive reception, by his terrific speed and evident sincerity in fulfilling 2015 election campaign promises under the ruling party banner. It can be argued that Magufuli has “demolished the soft state”.Tanzania under the previous regime had regrettably turned into what Professor Galal Amin of the American University in Cairo described as a “soft state” meaning a state that passes laws but does not enforce them. The elites and economically powerful could afford to ignore the law because their power protected them from it; while others paid bribes to work round it. In sum, corruption was encouraged and made to prosper under the arrangements of the soft state. President Magufuli is thus transforming the State and making it very difficult for corrupt officials. His statement at the Law Day on February 4, 2016 where he called upon the Chief Justice to quickly embark on establishment of a Special High Court to deal with cases of corruption is a clear manifestation of the President’s seriousness in combating this scourge.

#WHATWOULDMAGUFULIDOIn his 100 days in office President Magufuli has become an internet sensation. He has inspired social media across the region. The hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo became a Twitter obsession not only among social media users in Africa, but also globally. The hashtag took Twitter by storm in December and January. It was not based on Magufuli’s daily activity on social media but rather it was about people using the Twitter hashtag to post funny creative pictures that were inspired by the President’s war on waste and inefficiency. “What Would Magufuli Do" has become a popular trend on social media in Africa, in which people post pictures of themselves applying Magufuli's values to their daily lives by saving money in ridiculous ways. For instance, there were photos of a bride and bridegroom cutting a loaf of bread instead of a cake with words that read like “I wanted to buy a wedding cake but thought #WhatWouldMagufuliDo?” or another one eating plain rice with a picture of a chicken leg arguing, “I wanted to buy myself chicken to go with this rice for lunch, but I asked myself #WhatWouldMagufuliDo?

How successful Magufuli will be at addressing Tanzania's economic problems in a sustainable manner remains to be seen. Critics are skeptical over just how long Magufuli's reforms will last. Others have pointed out that Magufuli is far from the first East African President to promise to battle corruption and that such promises in the past have proven to be empty. Cynics also point to the fact that Magufuli is still a member of the same Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) political party which has overseen the very government corruption that Magufuli is combating. Whatever the case may be, Magufuli has already taken steps to curb corruption and waste in his nation which African leaders would do well to follow. All in all, President Magufuli deserves a big salute as he marks his first 100 Days in office. Most, humbly however, Tanzanians are earnestly requesting the President and his team to apply a rational combination of rigid enforcement of discipline and zero tolerance of corruption and other misdeeds, with cautious methods without compromising the rule of law and respect for due process.

The Desire to Extend Presidential Terms in Africa is a Worrying Trend

The Desire to Extend Presidential Terms in Africa

Why is it African leaders don't want to leave power?

In a perfect world, the constitution is the framework within which the governance of a country is anchored and is in many other ways supposed to provide protection against tyranny by guaranteeing freedoms and rights to citizens. Well, not anymore! At least not in some African countries whose leaders have found a way to manipulate the citizens into reviewing presidential terms to allow them to stay on and on even when they have become sterile.

Citizens have rebelled against and strongly opposed attempts to manipulate the law to satisfy the selfish interests of individuals. But it seems like African leaders are using a “borrowed” guidebook that has worked in oppressing citizens in neighboring countries to vandalize the law in their own states.

The establishment of Magna Carta —“The Great Charter”, — and affixing of a seal on the document by King John of England in 1215, detailed for the very first time the principle that everyone, including the king, was subject to the law. Magna Carta has influenced constitutional and legal development. Although this influence majorly was confined to England and the British Isles, over the last decades, with the growth of the British Empire, some principles of the charter have found their way into many political communities across the world.

"No freeman shall be taken, imprisoned, disseized, outlawed, banished, or in any way destroyed, nor will we proceed against or prosecute him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to no one will we deny or delay, right or justice," reads an excerpt from the Great Charter.

But many African autocrats have denied citizens their rights and freedoms despite the fact these articles are well detailed in their constitutions. Take for example the recent arrest and detainment of the chief opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, in the just concluded elections in Uganda. During the campaign period and after elections, Besigye found himself detained for several hours and was later released without charges.

The big question is exactly why African leaders feel that they have rights to bulldoze their way into power, even when citizens are against them? Why don’t they consider the suffering subjects whose power of the vote or lack of it, thereof placed them in the high-ranking position in the first place? Why are they not moved by the blood shed of these citizens as they fight for their rights and freedoms until their last breath?WHY ARE THEY NOT MOVED BY THE BLOOD SHED OF THESE CITIZENS AS THEY FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS UNTIL THEIR LAST BREATH? Why are they ignorant of the suffering they cause people by staying put in a position that is neither respected nor praised by the citizenry?

Abusing the constitution and exploiting legal loopholes

At one point, many Africans believed in the power vested by the constitution; to guide and give power to the people who in turn gives power to their rulers in order for them (citizens) to enjoy the rights and freedoms ascribed in the book of law.

That is long gone especially in countries where the rulers have selfishly used the same document to manipulate its citizens to scrap off some articles or add others that will ensure they rule for eternity.

President Yoweri Museveni set the precedent for the current errant practice by rulers. When he first came into power in 1986, Museveni wrote in his book called ‘What Is Africa's Problem?’ that "the problem of Africa in general, and Uganda in particular, is not the people but leaders who want to overstay in power." And he was right then and even now. But ironically he has become the “leader who wants to overstay in power”. In 2005, he went against his own words and secured a change to the constitution. This allowed him to run for a third term, then fourth term and most recently, he secured hisfifth term, marking 30 years in leadership.

The 71-year old Museveni’s guide to leadership has been replicated in other African states including Cameroon where the fourth longest-serving president on the continent sits. President Paul Biya came into power in 1982. The 1996 constitution which introduced term-limits would have seen the leader stepping down. Rather, he overturned the constitution in 2008, eliminating the presidential term limits. The country is set to hold elections in 2018. Will the 83-year old Biya still run?

In Congo-Brazzaville, President Denis Sassou N'Guesso last year, (April 2015), declared that he also wanted to change the constitution. The leader who has been in power for all but five of the last 36 years had a massive win for a third term. Initially, the law prohibited Presidents who were over the age of 70 to run past two terms.

Burundi is not any different. Apart from going against the Arusha Peace Agreement of 2000, Pierre Nkurunziza exploited a legal loophole arguing that he wanted to run for a third-term since his first term was not an election by the people but by the parliament. Thus, he deserved another term. And so the Constitutional Court approved Nkurunzisa’s request but seemingly under pressure. Ever since the re-election of Nkurunziza on July 21, 2015, Burundi has been in turmoil with thousands of people fleeing to neighboring countries to seek refuge. Hundreds of people have since dieddue to the political wars going on in the country. The Arusha pact was thrown out of the window, with the country slowly going into civil war.

"Despite a facade of pluralism, this is an election with only one candidate, where Burundians already know the outcome," said Thierry Vircoulon from the International Crisis Group.

Image Credit: Chimreports

MUSEVENI, MUGABE AND KAGAME LOOK GOBSMACKED AS KIKWETE CONGRATULATES MAGUFULI FOR WINNING TANZANIA'S PRESIDENCY. WHILE FOUR TANZANIAN PRESIDENTS HAVE SO FAR PEACEFULLY HANDED OVER POWER, THE SAME IS YET TO BE SEEN IN RWANDA, UGANDA AND ZIMBABWE.

Key elections to watch in 2016/17

Among the key countries to watch for elections in 2016 is the DRC. Since 1998, more than 5 million people have been killed. After the assassination of Laurent Kabila in 2001, Joseph Kabila took over his father’s legacy.

Although he won a second five-year term in the disputed elections in 2011, Mr Kabila has attempted to change the constitution to upend the term limit. This was, however, met with resistance and riots. International NGOs urged Kabila to consider stepping down in the 2016 elections.

Also expected to go into polls this year is Benin. President Thomas Boni Yayi vowed to the world he would step down when his second term comes to an end this year.

Although he has not publicly declared to run for a third term, it remains to be seen what will happen. He has been pushing for constitutional reforms including the formation of a national electoral commission and state auditor to fight corruption and guarantee democratic elections. These actions have aroused suspicions among people who wonder if the President is preparing for another term in secret.

Lately, Rwanda has been in the limelight for all the right things. President Paul Kagame has ensured the economic growth of the state since he took over in 1994. Since the genocide that saw 800,000 people massacred in just three months, Kagame has brought notable and plausible change in the Eastern African nation.

According to the World Bank, Rwanda remains the best performing country in the East African region. It ranked as the 2nd easiest destination for doing business in Africa after Mauritius.

But a change of events happened in July 2015, when parliament voted in support of a motion to alter the constitution, allowed Kagame to run for another term.

Kagame, who is in his late 50s, has already served for two seven-year terms as enshrined in the constitution. The head of state argued that he supported the group that was against the change of the constitution. “But in a democratic society, debates are allowed and they are healthy. I’m open to going or not going depending on the interest and future of this country,” he said in April 2015.

The Signing of the International Criminal Court Agreement

Many African leaders acquired their leadership positions by overthrowing other leaders. The battle for leadership and “freedom” was marred by deaths and various atrocities in the name of fighting for liberations.

In 1980, Museveni contested for the presidential seat but Milton Obote won the widely rigged elections. This forced Museveni to wage a guerilla war against Obote’s regime. After the displacements of many people and the death of many other Ugandans, the resistance finally won and on January 26, 1986, Museveni declared himself president of Uganda. The next ten year years, Museveni remained mum on the formation of political parties blaming the parties for dividing the nation along religious and ethnic lines, which Museveni said led to civil war after independence.IN 1986, MUSEVENI DECLARED HIMSELF PRESIDENT OF UGANDA.

Kagame also fought brutally to attain his leadership position in Rwanda. Having worked and supported President Museveni’s military victories in the 1980’s, Kagame learned the tactics to use in his own country. He held a senior position in Uganda as acting chief of military intelligence to the ruling party. These positions and other military training he acquired in Cuba and the U.S. further propelled him to see the possibilities of replicating the same guerrilla tactics in Rwanda.

In the late 1980’s Kagame and other expatriate Rwandan military leaders formed the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriot Front (Front Patriotique Rwandais, FPR) and plotted an invasion of their homeland. Although at first this tactic did not work and led to the death of three FPR founding members, Kagame took control of the civil war whose peace agreement that promised to end the war failed to work. In 1994, the then Rwandan President. Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu was killed when his plane was shot down over Kigali. This led to the 1994 genocide as Hutu and Tutsi fought. In early July, FPR formed another government under Pasteur Bizimungu, a Hutu. The real power, however, rested with Kagame. He assumed the role of the vice president and minister of defense. In 2000, the National Assembly elected Kagame as president of Rwanda’s transitional government.

According to Pat Robert Larubi, founder of the Northernews wire, an independent media organization based in Northern Uganda, the atrocities committed by these leaders and many others across the continent in their quest to overthrow governments in the later 80s and 90s have forced them to grip on power lest they are summoned at The Hague to answer to cases of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

“The blind signing of ICC statute is a threat to many African leaders. Such leaders seem safe only when in power. But outside the presidential box all are criminals,” said Larubi.

However, the ICC does not necessary wait until the president is out of power. A case in point is the Sudanese President Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir whose first warrant of arrestwas issued by pre-trial chamber 1, March 4, 2009. The second warrant of arrest was issued July 12, 2010. Most often than not, ruling presidents have some form of immunity and holding onto power seems like the only safe thing to do for now. Al-Bashir is wanted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

Gluttonous leaders who cannot have enough of power

Why would a 92-year old president want to hold on to power when even walking has become a problem? Greed. Some leaders are selfish to pass on the mantle to other people and instead choose to stick with it to the last end.

President Robert Mugabe, who just turned 92 is argued to have said that he will leave power when he hits a hundred years. With eight years to go, the citizens can only wait and see what happens when he hits hundred if his health allows him.

At one time while addressing supporters at Murewa Business Centre in Mashonaland East, Grace Mugabe said: “We are going to create a special wheelchair for President Mugabe until he rules to 100 years because that is what we want.”“WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A SPECIAL WHEELCHAIR FOR PRESIDENT MUGABE UNTIL HE RULES TO 100 YEARS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE WANT.”

“That is the people’s choice. We want a leader that respects us,” said Grace-the President’s wife.

When Joice Mujuru, 58, won sufficient support in provincial elections to be declared Mr Mugabe’s likely successor in case of death or early retirement- which is unlikely-, Didymus Mutasa, presidential affairs minister, told Zimbabweans and the world that the President was fit to run even for the next elections in 2018.

Ruling parties have the notion that national resources also belong to them just like the leadership.

Although the new Zimbabwean constitution limits presidents to two terms, Mugabe is eligible to run in 2018, because the adoption of the constitution in 2013, made his victory in the same year, his first under the new law.

During the February 2016, presidential debate Museveni said that “oil was discovered by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) under my leadership and direct command. I trained the scientists,” Museveni said. “The British looked for between 1920 and 1956 and wrote a report that there was no oil,” the Red Pepper reported.

The Monitor also reported a claim that the ruling NRM’s presidential candidate Museveni, while campaigning in the eastern District of Namutumba, repeated claims that oil in Uganda is his. “… You hear people say “Museveni should go”. But go and leave oil money? They want me to go so [that] they can come and spoil the oil money. These people want me to go back to the bush,” he said in a statement directed at his opponents.

Such tendencies of parties and governments claiming to own national resources also contribute to leaders desiring to hold on to power in order to control the resources.

Motivation for change – award to recognize presidents who step down from power

Mo-Ibrahim, a British-Sudanese businessman, established the award, The Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in 2007, to reward presidents who step down at the end of their leadership term.

To win the award which comes with $5 million over the first 10 years and thereafter a yearly stipend of $200,000 for life, the candidate must have been legitimately elected and served only the constitutionally mandated terms.

But even as the lucrative award which rewards African leaders who have contributed to improving the lives of their people continues to nudge leaders to step down, there are not many leaders who have won the prize nine years since it was established.

Previous winners include: Joaquim Alberto Chissano of Mozambique (2007), Festus Gontebanye Mogae of Botswana (2008), Pedro de Verona Rodrigues Pires of Cape Verde (2011), and the latest winner was Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2014. Between 2011 and 2014, the committee found no one to honor.BETWEEN 2011 AND 2014, THE COMMITTEE FOUND NO ONE TO HONOR.

“We have heroes in Africa. It is not only Mandela,” said Mohamed ElBaradei, an Egyptian diplomat, and a member of the selection committee referring to Pohamba’s win.

In future, the award might not get winners as witnessed in the past because some presidents like Museveni, Mugabe, and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema have ruled for decades. Others like Kagame, Nkurunziza, and Congo’s President N'Guesso have already made moves to extend their terms in leadership, further narrowing the number of potential winners in the coming years. Other countries like Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, and Somalia have no term limits.

Header Image Credit: The Telegraph (SOURCE: THE AFRICAN EXPONENT)

Bernie Sanders beats Hillary Clinton in stunning Michigan primary upset

Vermont senator had trailed in polls by more than 20 points but opposition to free trade and growing African American support won votes in rust-belt state

Bernie Sanders: ‘What tonight means it that the Bernie Sanders campaign, the people’s revolution that we are talking about, is strong in every part of the country.’ Photograph: Alan Diaz/AP

Dan Roberts in Miami andBen Jacobs and Lauren Gambino in Detroit

Bernie Sanders pulled off his biggest win of the Democratic presidential race on Tuesday, defeating Hillary Clinton in the Michigan primary on a night which also confirmed strong anti-establishment support for Donald Trump in the battle for the Republican nomination.

In an industrial state hit hard by the decline of manufacturing, the Vermont senator’s consistent opposition to free trade deals appears to have been a decisive factor, but he also showed signs of weakening Clinton’s dominance among African American voters.

The shock victory – by a margin of around 3 percentage points when his win was first projected by Associated Press – comes despite Sanders trailing the former secretary of state by an average of 21 points in recent opinion polling.

“What tonight means it that the Bernie Sanders campaign, the people’s revolution that we are talking about, is strong in every part of the country and frankly we believe that our strongest areas are yet to happen,” said the senator at a hastily arranged press conference in Miami.

“I want to thank the people of Michigan who repudiated the polls which had us down 20-25 points and repudiated the pundits who said Bernie Sanders wasn’t going anywhere,” he added.

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With 130 delegates, Michigan was the second-largest prize of the election so far, but the proportional system used throughout the presidential primary byDemocrats means Clinton will still end the night ahead thanks to a decisive win in Mississippi.

Her 83-16 point victory there, bolstered by overwhelming support among African American voters, was widely expected and matched similar wipe-outs for Sanders elsewhere in the south. Exit polls showed that 89% of black voters in Mississippi’s Democratic primary supported Clinton and made up 69% of the electorate.

Yet Sanders’ success in Michigan was helped by the fact he significantly improved his performance with African American voters. While Sanders had struggled in the south to get above 15% of the vote with black people, exit polls in Michigan showed the Vermont senator winning 30% of the African American vote. In an electorate that was a quarter African American, the improvement in Sanders’ margin was enough to make the race unexpectedly competitive for him.

The question now is whether Sanders can build on recent momentum to make the national race competitive again.

Before Tuesday’s elections, Clinton was ahead of Sanders by 673-477 pledged delegates and – with the vast majority of super delegates too – was nearly halfway to securing the 2,383 needed to clinch the Democratic nomination.

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But she has yet to win a state in the north by a convincing margin – squeaking wins in Iowa and Massachusetts by only a few thousand voters – and Sanders won three of the latest four states voting over the weekend.

Crucially, several big battlegrounds next week share a similar demographic profile with Michigan, including Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, which vote on Tuesday 15 March.

But first, the two candidates are expected to clash again on the economy at a televised debate in Miami on Wednesday night.

Tempers frayed at the last debate in Flint, Michigan, at the weekend, when Clinton accused Sanders of voting against the auto industry bail-out – a charge he vehemently denies and that appears not to have swayed voters at the centre of the US car industry.

As final votes were being tallied on Tuesday night, it appeared Clinton was ahead in Detroit itself, but tied in Flint, where the two also clashed over who was doing more to help the city with its recent water crisis.

At a party for Clinton supporters in Detroit, many were shocked as results began to flood in – especially as just a day earlier their candidate had effectively called on Sanders to drop out and “end the primary”.

“I’m on the edge of my seat,” said US representative Brenda Lawrence of Michigan, a Clinton supporter. “We worked so hard for this.”

Some supporters wandered out of the bar about 10pm, confident that she would pull off a victory.

“We got this,” one woman shouted back at me as she left the bar. She patted the man next to her on the shoulder. “We’re going to win this.”

But Mike Newbecker, a field engineer and business owner based in Newport, Michigan, wasn’t as confident. “You can’t take any state for granted,” he said.

In his view, a loss in Michigan wouldn’t dent Clinton’s prospects but it could energise Sanders supporters and push the Democratic primary into the summer.

“He’s a good guy. I like his message, and we’re going to need his help in the general,” he said.

TAASISI YA TWA YAANDAA KONGAMANO LA KUTOA AHADI YA UWIANO SAWA WA KIJINSIA

Mwenyekiti wa Tanzania Women of Achievement , Sadaka Gandi akiongea na washiriki wa kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi  lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili.Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) yenye kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia.

Rais wa Tanzania Women of Achievement Irene Kiwia  akitoa hotuba ya ufunguzi  katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi  lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili.Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) yenye kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia.

Mgeni Rasmi ,Naibu Waziri wa Fedha na Mipango Dk .Ashatu Kijaji akitoa hotuba yake katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi  lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) yenye kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia,

Mwongoza Mada Modesta Mbughunia   kifurahia jambo   katika mjadala wa Uwiano sawa wa kijinsia uliofanyika katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) yenye kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia.

Mhadhiri kutoka Centre of Foreign Relations and International  Affairs  Prof.Ruth Meena akifafanua jambo wakati mjadala kuhusu uwiano sawa wa kijinsia  katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia.

Mmoja wa wazungumzaji wakuu Prof Slyvia Kaaya akichangia mada katika mjadala wa uwiano sawa wa kijinsia pembeni yake ni Bi Mary Rusimbi aliyekuwa mkurungezi mtendaji wa BOT ,na kulia kwake ni Mwenyekiti wa TAWLA Aisha Bade ,anayefuatia ni Mtendaji Mkuu wa WOMEN FUND TANZANIA Mary Rusimbi     katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia

Waziri wa fedha mstaafu Mama Zakhia Meghji akichangia katika ya uwiano sawa katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia

Mwandishi wa habari Mkongwe Bi Edda Sanga akichnagia mada ya Usawa wa Kijinsia katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia

Mfanyabiashara na blogger Monica Joseph akichangia mada katika mjadala wa usawa wa kijinsia katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia

MC Taji Liundi akiongoza utaratibu katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia

Mwanafalsafa Dk Elie Waminian akitoa mada katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia

Mmoja wa wasichana waliopata usimamizi (Mentorship )  kutokaTaasisi ya  TWA Dalini Kilemba akitoa ushuhuda kwa washiriki  jinsi TWA walivyoweza kubadilisha maisha yake  katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi  yaliyofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili.Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) yenye kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia.

Mtendaji Mkuu wa WOMEN FUND TANZANIA Mary Rusimbi ambaye alikuwa mmoja wa wazungumzaji wakuu katika mazungumzo yaliyofanyika katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi akitoa neno la shukrami kwa washiriki  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) yenye kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsi

Mwanamzuki CHi akitumbuiza katika katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita  .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia

Washiriki mbalimbali wa kongamano wakiweka saini zao katika ubao maalum katika namna ya kutoa ahadi ya Uwiano sahihi wa kijinsia  katika kongamano la  shamrashamra za kuelekea  siku ya wanawake dunia Tarehe 8 Machi   lililofanyika jijini  katika hotel ya Hyatt Regency, jijini Dar es Salaam mapema jumapili iliyopita .Kongamano hilo  liliandaliwa  na  Taasisi ya Tanzania women of Achievement(TWA) kukiwa na kauli mbiu ya Kutoa uwiano sawa kijinsia