Salim Said
KUPOROMOKA kwa uchumi na maandalizi ya kusomwa kwa Bajeti ya serikali 2009/10 vimemchanganya Waziri wa Fedha na Uchumi, Mustapha Mkulo baada ya kusema kuwa watu ambao wanaacha kufikiria bajeti na kuelekeza hisia zao kwenye mambo mengine ni wapumbavu.
Wakati Mkulo akitoa kauli hiyo, mamilioni ya Watanzania waliopanda fedha katika taasisi ya Deci bila kuvuna, hadi sasa hawajui hatma ya mbegu zao baada ya serikali kupitia Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi kufunga shughuli hizo, kwa madai kuwa ni hatari kwa mali za wanachama.
Mkulo aliyasema hayo juzi saa 8:00 usiku takriban saa 22 kabla ya bajeti kusomwa kwa bajeti katika mahojiano yake na mwandishi wa kituo cha habari cha Wapo jijini Dar es Salaam, kuhusu hatma ya wanachama waliopanda mbegu zao katika taasisi hiyo.
Redio hiyo, kupitia mwandishi wake, ilimuuliza Waziri huyo, hatma ya wanachama wa Deci hasa baada ya wanachama hao, kutishia kuvunja jengo hilo, ili wagawane mali zilizomo.
Kutokana na hali hiyo, Polisi walitumia silaha za moto kutuliza kutawanya wanachama hao ofisini hapo, ili kutuliza amani kwa watendaji wa taasisi hiyo na mali zao.
Mkulo alipoulizwa hatma ya wanachama hao alijibu kuwa, mtazamo wa watu wengi hivi sasa uko katika suala la bajeti na kwamba hawafikirii suala la taasisi hiyo.
“Mtazamo wa watu wote sasa wenye akili wanangojea bajeti, nasema mtazamo wa watu wazima wote wenye akili timamu wanataka kusikia bajeti,” alisema Mkulo.
Alisema suala la hatma ya wanachama wa Deci ni muhimu kuzungumziwa hivi sasa katika jamii kwa kuwa wengi wao wanataka kujua hatma ya mbegu zao.
Alipoulizwa endapo ripoti ya tume iliyoundwa na serikali kuchunguza masuala ya taasisi hiyo, nayo itatoka baada ya bajeti au la, Mkulo alijibu kwa jazba na hasira huku akiangusha matusi kwa mwaandishi huyo.
“Sio siri, kama hiyo ni muhimu kwako jijibu mwenyewe,” alijibu Mkulo.
Hata hivyo juhudi za kumpata Mkulo kuzungumzia suala hilo, hazikufanikiwa baada ya simu yake ya mkononi kutopokelewa mara kadhaa.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Kilimo Kwanza ni kitendawili cha kejeli-Lipumba
Wakati huohuo, Chama cha Wananchi (CUF), kimeitaka serikali ya Muungano na ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar, kuhakikisha zinawasilisha bajeti za mwaka wa fedha 2009/10 zitakazowajali wananchi wa kawaida.
Akiwasilisha maazimio ya Baraza Kuu la uongozi la chama hicho kwa waandishi wa habari jijini Dar es Salaam jana, Mwenyekiti wa CUF Taifa, Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba alisema bajeti nzuri ni ile itakayowajali wananchi wa kawaida ili kuwapunguzia ukali wa maisha.
“Serikali lazima ijipunguzie mafungu ya matumizi ya anasa kwa lengo la kuwajali wananchi wa kawaida kwa kupeleka fedha nyingi katika miradi itakayoinua uchumi wa nchi na kuongeza ajira kwa vijana wetu,” alisema Profesa Lipumba na kuongeza:
“Baraza kuu la uongozi la CUF linawataka mawaziri wa fedha wa serikali zote mbili kuonyesha katika hotuba zao za bajeti, mwelekeo wa serikali hizo katika kukabiliana na athari za mtikisiko wa uchumi duniani na vipi nchi itaweza kujikwamua kiuchumi”.
CUF inasikitishwa na ongezeko kubwa la watanzania wanaoishi katika dimbwi la umasikini na kwamba uchauni wa kaya unaendelea kudoro badala kukua hivyo kuwasababisha umasikini kupanda kwa kasi.
“Kwa watanzania waliowengi kauli mbiu ya ‘Maisha bora kwa Kila Mtanzania’ bado ni kitendawili cha kejeli kinachoteguliwa kwa maisha ya dhiki kila kukicha,” alisema Profesa Lipumba.
Akiwasilisha maazimio ya Baraza Kuu la uongozi la chama hicho kwa waandishi wa habari jijini Dar es Salaam jana, Mwenyekiti wa CUF Taifa, Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba alisema bajeti nzuri ni ile itakayowajali wananchi wa kawaida ili kuwapunguzia ukali wa maisha.
“Serikali lazima ijipunguzie mafungu ya matumizi ya anasa kwa lengo la kuwajali wananchi wa kawaida kwa kupeleka fedha nyingi katika miradi itakayoinua uchumi wa nchi na kuongeza ajira kwa vijana wetu,” alisema Profesa Lipumba na kuongeza:
“Baraza kuu la uongozi la CUF linawataka mawaziri wa fedha wa serikali zote mbili kuonyesha katika hotuba zao za bajeti, mwelekeo wa serikali hizo katika kukabiliana na athari za mtikisiko wa uchumi duniani na vipi nchi itaweza kujikwamua kiuchumi”.
CUF inasikitishwa na ongezeko kubwa la watanzania wanaoishi katika dimbwi la umasikini na kwamba uchauni wa kaya unaendelea kudoro badala kukua hivyo kuwasababisha umasikini kupanda kwa kasi.
“Kwa watanzania waliowengi kauli mbiu ya ‘Maisha bora kwa Kila Mtanzania’ bado ni kitendawili cha kejeli kinachoteguliwa kwa maisha ya dhiki kila kukicha,” alisema Profesa Lipumba.
CUF yawatimua maafisa watatu kwa usaliti chamani
Salim Said
CHAMA Cha Wananchi (CUF), kimewatimua maafisa wake watatu wa uchaguzi kwa tuhuma za kukisaliti chama hicho katika uchaguzi mdogo wa ubunge jimbo la Busanda.
Uamuzi huo uliofikiwa katika kikao cha Baraza Kuu kilichomalizika jana jijini Dar es Salaam baada ya wajumbe kuridhika kuwa moja ya sababu za CUF kushindwa katika uchaguzi huo uliompa ubunge mgombea wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ni usaliti huo uliofanywa na maafisa wake.
Mwenyekiti wa CUF Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba aliwaambia waandishi wa habari jana kuwa, Baraza limefikia uamuzi huo kulinda maslahi ya chamasema, baraza kuu liliamua kuchukua uamuzi huo baada ya kujiridhisha na makosa ya watu hao, ili kulinda maslahi ya chama chao.
Aliwataja maafisa hao kuwa ni Husein Mmasi aliyekuwa msimamizi wa shughuli zote za kuandaa mawakala katika uchaguzi huo, Katibu wa Tume ya Uchaguzi ya CUF Maole Kuchilingulo na Juma Wandwi, aliyekuwa mjumbe wa tume ya uchaguzi wa chama hicho.
Alisema mbali na uamuzi huo wa kuwavua madaraka, Baraza limetoa onyo kali kwa maafisa hao na kuweka wazi kuwa hakitovumilia vitendo vya aina hiyo wala kusita kuwaadhibu viongozi na watendaji wa chama kwa uzembe au hujuma.
Akielezea kwa undani tukio hilo, Profesa Lipumba alisema siku tatu kabla ya uchaguzi, Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi (NEC), ilitangaza kuwafuta mawakala wa wa CUF, kwa kuwa majina yao hayakupangwa kwa mujibu wa vituo vya kupigia kura, kama sheria ya uchaguzi inavyotaka.
“Baraza kuu limeridhika kwamba kuzuiwa kwa mawakala wetu kulitokana na hujuma ya afisa wa ndani ya chama, kwa kutotekeleza kwa makusudi masharti hayo ya kisheria,” alisema profesa Lipumba.
Pia aliyekuwa Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa CUF Bara, Wilfred Lwakatare ameamua kuachia ngazi nafasi zote za uongozi ndani ya Chama hicho kwa kile kilichoelezwa kuwa, anataka kurudi Jimboni kwake Bukoba kwa ajili ya kuimarisha chama chao.
Profesa Lipumba alithibitisha kupokea barua ya maombi ya kuachia ngazi kwa Lwakatare wakati wa kikao cha Baraza hilo, kilichoanza Juni 8 hadi 9 mwaka huu, akitaka kurudi jimboni kwake kuimarisha chama.
“Chama chetu ni cha demokrasia na katika demokrasia huwezi kumkataza mtu kujiuzulu, lakini hatujamjibu barua yake. Lwakatare tulikuwa naye na kushirikiana naye kwa mambo mingi na pia tutaendelea kushirikiana, ila kwa sasa ameamua kuwa mwanachama wa kawaida tu,” alisema Profesa Lipumba.
Alisema, Lwakatare hajawahi kutuhumiwa na kashfa ya aina yoyote ndani ya chama na wala hajashinikizwa na mtu yoyote kujiuzulu, ila ameamua mwenyewe kujiuzulu na sisi kama Baraza kuu la uongozi hatuwezi kumzuiya kujiuzulu.
Aidha Profesa Lipumba alisema, CUF imeandaa operesheni maalumu kwa ajili ya uzinduzi na kuitangaza dira ya mabadiliko (vision for changes) ya chama chao ijulikanayo kwa jina la ‘Operesheni Zinduka’ itakayoanza Julai mosi mwaka huu.
“Operesheni hii itaongozwa na viongozi wa CUF na itatembea katika kanda zote saba za chama chetu, zikiwamo tano za Tanzania bara na mbili za Zanzibar kwa ajili ya kuwazindua wananchi kuelekea uchaguzi mkuu wa serikali za mitaa mwishoni mwa mwaka huu na ule wa taifa mwakani,” alisema Profesa Lipumba.
Alisema katika hatua ya awali operesheni hiyo itanzia katika kanda ya Ziwa na kanda ya Dar es Salaam Julai mosi mwaka huu.
Wakati huohuo Profesa Lipumba aliwataka waziri wa Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa Dk. Hussein Mwinyi na Mkuu wa Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ) Devis Mwamunyange, kuwajibika kwa kujiuzulu mara moja kufuatia uzembe wa mamlaka wanazoziongoza, uliosababisha milipuko ya mabomu Aprili 29 mwaka huu na kusababisha maafa makubwa kwa wananchi.
“Baraza kuu linalaani vikali ubaguzi wa dhahiri uliofanywa na unaondelea kufanywa kwa misingi ya kisiasa katika uhakiki na ugawaji wa misaada kwa waathirika wa milipuko hiyo,” alisema.
Alifafanua kuwa, baraza kuu la uongozi la CUF linalaani vikali matamshi ya dharau nay a kejeli yaliyotolewa na Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam Willim Lukuvi, ya kuwataka wananchi wa Mbagala kuzoeya milipuko ya mabomu na kuichukulia kama sehemu ya maisha kama wananchi wa Kipawa walivyozoeya sauti za ndege zinazoruka mara kwa mara katika uwanja wa ndege wa kimataifa wa Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
“Matamshi hayo yanaonesha dharau ya hali ya juu kwa wananchi walioathirika na vitendo vilivyosababishwa na uzembe na kutowajibika kwa serikali ya Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM),” alisema Profesa Lipumba.
Aliwata Waziri wa Mawasiliano na Uchukuzi wa serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar (SMZ) Machano Othman Said na Mkurugenzi wa Bandari ya Zanzibar Mustafa Aboud Jumbe, kuwajibika kwa kujiuzulu mara moja kutokana na uzembe wa mamlaka wanazoziongoza uliosababisha vifo vya wananchi na hasara ya mali baada ya Meli ya MV Fatih kuzama ikiwa bandarini.
“Baraza linasikitishwa na uzembe uliofanywa na watumishi wa bandari ya Zanzibar kiasi cha Meli kuzama ikiwa bandarini nakupoteza maisha ya wananchi ambayo yangeweza kuokolewa,” alisema Lipumba na kusisitiza.
“Baraza kuu la CUF linazitaka serikali ya Muungano na ile ya Zanzibar kuunda tume huru zikiwashirikisha wajumbe wa kambi ya upinzani Bungeni na katika baraza la wawakilishi wa Zanzibar kuchunguza chanzo cha milipuko na kuzama kwa meli ya MV Fatih na baadaye kutoa ripoti kwa wananchi.”
Kikao cha baraza kuu la uongozi la CUF kilimalizika juzi baada ya wajumbe kupitisha maazimio mbali mbali ya kiutendaji na kuhimiza uwajibikaji kwa serikali ya SMZ nay a Muungano.
CHAMA Cha Wananchi (CUF), kimewatimua maafisa wake watatu wa uchaguzi kwa tuhuma za kukisaliti chama hicho katika uchaguzi mdogo wa ubunge jimbo la Busanda.
Uamuzi huo uliofikiwa katika kikao cha Baraza Kuu kilichomalizika jana jijini Dar es Salaam baada ya wajumbe kuridhika kuwa moja ya sababu za CUF kushindwa katika uchaguzi huo uliompa ubunge mgombea wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ni usaliti huo uliofanywa na maafisa wake.
Mwenyekiti wa CUF Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba aliwaambia waandishi wa habari jana kuwa, Baraza limefikia uamuzi huo kulinda maslahi ya chamasema, baraza kuu liliamua kuchukua uamuzi huo baada ya kujiridhisha na makosa ya watu hao, ili kulinda maslahi ya chama chao.
Aliwataja maafisa hao kuwa ni Husein Mmasi aliyekuwa msimamizi wa shughuli zote za kuandaa mawakala katika uchaguzi huo, Katibu wa Tume ya Uchaguzi ya CUF Maole Kuchilingulo na Juma Wandwi, aliyekuwa mjumbe wa tume ya uchaguzi wa chama hicho.
Alisema mbali na uamuzi huo wa kuwavua madaraka, Baraza limetoa onyo kali kwa maafisa hao na kuweka wazi kuwa hakitovumilia vitendo vya aina hiyo wala kusita kuwaadhibu viongozi na watendaji wa chama kwa uzembe au hujuma.
Akielezea kwa undani tukio hilo, Profesa Lipumba alisema siku tatu kabla ya uchaguzi, Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi (NEC), ilitangaza kuwafuta mawakala wa wa CUF, kwa kuwa majina yao hayakupangwa kwa mujibu wa vituo vya kupigia kura, kama sheria ya uchaguzi inavyotaka.
“Baraza kuu limeridhika kwamba kuzuiwa kwa mawakala wetu kulitokana na hujuma ya afisa wa ndani ya chama, kwa kutotekeleza kwa makusudi masharti hayo ya kisheria,” alisema profesa Lipumba.
Pia aliyekuwa Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa CUF Bara, Wilfred Lwakatare ameamua kuachia ngazi nafasi zote za uongozi ndani ya Chama hicho kwa kile kilichoelezwa kuwa, anataka kurudi Jimboni kwake Bukoba kwa ajili ya kuimarisha chama chao.
Profesa Lipumba alithibitisha kupokea barua ya maombi ya kuachia ngazi kwa Lwakatare wakati wa kikao cha Baraza hilo, kilichoanza Juni 8 hadi 9 mwaka huu, akitaka kurudi jimboni kwake kuimarisha chama.
“Chama chetu ni cha demokrasia na katika demokrasia huwezi kumkataza mtu kujiuzulu, lakini hatujamjibu barua yake. Lwakatare tulikuwa naye na kushirikiana naye kwa mambo mingi na pia tutaendelea kushirikiana, ila kwa sasa ameamua kuwa mwanachama wa kawaida tu,” alisema Profesa Lipumba.
Alisema, Lwakatare hajawahi kutuhumiwa na kashfa ya aina yoyote ndani ya chama na wala hajashinikizwa na mtu yoyote kujiuzulu, ila ameamua mwenyewe kujiuzulu na sisi kama Baraza kuu la uongozi hatuwezi kumzuiya kujiuzulu.
Aidha Profesa Lipumba alisema, CUF imeandaa operesheni maalumu kwa ajili ya uzinduzi na kuitangaza dira ya mabadiliko (vision for changes) ya chama chao ijulikanayo kwa jina la ‘Operesheni Zinduka’ itakayoanza Julai mosi mwaka huu.
“Operesheni hii itaongozwa na viongozi wa CUF na itatembea katika kanda zote saba za chama chetu, zikiwamo tano za Tanzania bara na mbili za Zanzibar kwa ajili ya kuwazindua wananchi kuelekea uchaguzi mkuu wa serikali za mitaa mwishoni mwa mwaka huu na ule wa taifa mwakani,” alisema Profesa Lipumba.
Alisema katika hatua ya awali operesheni hiyo itanzia katika kanda ya Ziwa na kanda ya Dar es Salaam Julai mosi mwaka huu.
Wakati huohuo Profesa Lipumba aliwataka waziri wa Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa Dk. Hussein Mwinyi na Mkuu wa Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ) Devis Mwamunyange, kuwajibika kwa kujiuzulu mara moja kufuatia uzembe wa mamlaka wanazoziongoza, uliosababisha milipuko ya mabomu Aprili 29 mwaka huu na kusababisha maafa makubwa kwa wananchi.
“Baraza kuu linalaani vikali ubaguzi wa dhahiri uliofanywa na unaondelea kufanywa kwa misingi ya kisiasa katika uhakiki na ugawaji wa misaada kwa waathirika wa milipuko hiyo,” alisema.
Alifafanua kuwa, baraza kuu la uongozi la CUF linalaani vikali matamshi ya dharau nay a kejeli yaliyotolewa na Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam Willim Lukuvi, ya kuwataka wananchi wa Mbagala kuzoeya milipuko ya mabomu na kuichukulia kama sehemu ya maisha kama wananchi wa Kipawa walivyozoeya sauti za ndege zinazoruka mara kwa mara katika uwanja wa ndege wa kimataifa wa Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
“Matamshi hayo yanaonesha dharau ya hali ya juu kwa wananchi walioathirika na vitendo vilivyosababishwa na uzembe na kutowajibika kwa serikali ya Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM),” alisema Profesa Lipumba.
Aliwata Waziri wa Mawasiliano na Uchukuzi wa serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar (SMZ) Machano Othman Said na Mkurugenzi wa Bandari ya Zanzibar Mustafa Aboud Jumbe, kuwajibika kwa kujiuzulu mara moja kutokana na uzembe wa mamlaka wanazoziongoza uliosababisha vifo vya wananchi na hasara ya mali baada ya Meli ya MV Fatih kuzama ikiwa bandarini.
“Baraza linasikitishwa na uzembe uliofanywa na watumishi wa bandari ya Zanzibar kiasi cha Meli kuzama ikiwa bandarini nakupoteza maisha ya wananchi ambayo yangeweza kuokolewa,” alisema Lipumba na kusisitiza.
“Baraza kuu la CUF linazitaka serikali ya Muungano na ile ya Zanzibar kuunda tume huru zikiwashirikisha wajumbe wa kambi ya upinzani Bungeni na katika baraza la wawakilishi wa Zanzibar kuchunguza chanzo cha milipuko na kuzama kwa meli ya MV Fatih na baadaye kutoa ripoti kwa wananchi.”
Kikao cha baraza kuu la uongozi la CUF kilimalizika juzi baada ya wajumbe kupitisha maazimio mbali mbali ya kiutendaji na kuhimiza uwajibikaji kwa serikali ya SMZ nay a Muungano.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tani 3.8 za dawa zilizopita muda wa matumizi zateketezwa Dar
Salim Said
MAMLAKA ya Chakula na Dawa Tanzania (TFDA), imeteketeza tani 3.8 za dawa za Viuavijasumu (antibiotics) jamii ya ‘Pencillin’, Unga wa Sindano ya Benzathine Pencillin kutoka China, zenye thamani ya 62.6 milioni baada ya kusadikiwa kutokidhi viwango vya ubora.
Dawa hizo zilikamatwa katika maduka mbalimbali ya dawa na makazi ya mfanyabiashara mmoja wa kichina, anayefahamika kwa jina la Du Juu Zhe yaliyopo Kariakoo Jijini Dar es Salaam, kufuatia msako mkali uliofanywa na maofisa wa TFDA na Jeshi la Polisi, Machi 22 mwaka huu, baada ya kumtilia shaka.
Akizungumza kwa niaba ya Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa TFDA Magreth Ndomondo, Afisa Uhusiano wa Mamlaka hyo, Gaudensia Simwanza, alisema walimuhisi Zhe kuwa anatunza dawa katika jengo lisilo na usajili wa TFDA kwa ajili ya utunzaji wa dawa, jambo ambalo ni kinyume na Sheria Nambari 1 ya Chakula, Dawa na Vipodozi ya 2003.
“Muhusika anatambuliwa na TFDA kama muingizaji wa dawa husika nchini kutoka kiwanda kilichosajiliwa cha China, lakini katika msako huu tulikamata boksi 54 zilizoisha muda wake,” alisema Simwanza.
Alisema, dawa hizo toleo nambari 0602630 na 0602631, ambazo muda wake wa matumizi ulikwishapita tangu Febuari mwaka huu, zilikuwa zimesajiliwa na TFDA kwa nambari TAN 05,208J0H SH1, ambapo katika kila katuni ilikuwa na chupa 600.
“Kutokana na mazingira ya uhifadhi wa dawa hizo kutokidhi viwango, TFDA ilifuatilia jinsi dawa hizo zilivyosambazwa na kufanikiwa kuzuiya jumla ya boksi 173 zenye uzito wa tani 3.8 na thamani ya 62,640,000,” alisema Simwanza na kuongeza:
“Tulisitisha usambazaji na matumizi yake hadi hapo tutakapojiridhisha na ubora wa dawa hizo, lakini baada ya kufanya uchunguzi wa kimaabara kwa matoleo yote mawili, tulibaini kuwa hazikutimiza viwango na hivyo tukahikisha dawa hizo zinaondoka sokoni haraka ili ziteketezwe.”
Alisema, baada ya uamuzi huo walifanya utaratibu wa kuziteketeza dawa hizo na jana wakaamua kuziteketeza katika Dampo la Halmashauri ya Jiji la Dar es Salaam lililopo Puga Kinyamwezi.
“Leo (jana) tunateketeza dawa hizi baada ya kuhakikisha kuwa utaratibu umefuatwa ikiwa ni pamoja na vipimo na mmiliki kujiridhisha,” alisema Simwanza.
Uteketezwaji wa dawa hizo ulifanyika chini ya ulinzi mkali wa polisi wenye silaha, mgambo wa Manispaa ya Temeke, TFDA na Mamlaka ya Mapato Tanzania (TRA).
Mei 26 mwaka huu, TFDA iliteketeza tani 34 za maziwa ya unga aina ya Golden Bell-Instant Full Cream kutoka China yaliyokuwa na thamani ya sh150 milioni, ambayo yalichanganywa na Kemikali aina ya ‘Melamine’ ambayo ni hatari kwa afya ya binadamu.
Kwa mujibu wa Sheria nambari moja ya Chakula, Dawa na Vipodozi ya mwaka 2003, mmiliki anapaswa kugharamia gharama zote za uteketezaji wa bidhaa zitakazogundulika kuwa chini ya ubora.
MAMLAKA ya Chakula na Dawa Tanzania (TFDA), imeteketeza tani 3.8 za dawa za Viuavijasumu (antibiotics) jamii ya ‘Pencillin’, Unga wa Sindano ya Benzathine Pencillin kutoka China, zenye thamani ya 62.6 milioni baada ya kusadikiwa kutokidhi viwango vya ubora.
Dawa hizo zilikamatwa katika maduka mbalimbali ya dawa na makazi ya mfanyabiashara mmoja wa kichina, anayefahamika kwa jina la Du Juu Zhe yaliyopo Kariakoo Jijini Dar es Salaam, kufuatia msako mkali uliofanywa na maofisa wa TFDA na Jeshi la Polisi, Machi 22 mwaka huu, baada ya kumtilia shaka.
Akizungumza kwa niaba ya Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa TFDA Magreth Ndomondo, Afisa Uhusiano wa Mamlaka hyo, Gaudensia Simwanza, alisema walimuhisi Zhe kuwa anatunza dawa katika jengo lisilo na usajili wa TFDA kwa ajili ya utunzaji wa dawa, jambo ambalo ni kinyume na Sheria Nambari 1 ya Chakula, Dawa na Vipodozi ya 2003.
“Muhusika anatambuliwa na TFDA kama muingizaji wa dawa husika nchini kutoka kiwanda kilichosajiliwa cha China, lakini katika msako huu tulikamata boksi 54 zilizoisha muda wake,” alisema Simwanza.
Alisema, dawa hizo toleo nambari 0602630 na 0602631, ambazo muda wake wa matumizi ulikwishapita tangu Febuari mwaka huu, zilikuwa zimesajiliwa na TFDA kwa nambari TAN 05,208J0H SH1, ambapo katika kila katuni ilikuwa na chupa 600.
“Kutokana na mazingira ya uhifadhi wa dawa hizo kutokidhi viwango, TFDA ilifuatilia jinsi dawa hizo zilivyosambazwa na kufanikiwa kuzuiya jumla ya boksi 173 zenye uzito wa tani 3.8 na thamani ya 62,640,000,” alisema Simwanza na kuongeza:
“Tulisitisha usambazaji na matumizi yake hadi hapo tutakapojiridhisha na ubora wa dawa hizo, lakini baada ya kufanya uchunguzi wa kimaabara kwa matoleo yote mawili, tulibaini kuwa hazikutimiza viwango na hivyo tukahikisha dawa hizo zinaondoka sokoni haraka ili ziteketezwe.”
Alisema, baada ya uamuzi huo walifanya utaratibu wa kuziteketeza dawa hizo na jana wakaamua kuziteketeza katika Dampo la Halmashauri ya Jiji la Dar es Salaam lililopo Puga Kinyamwezi.
“Leo (jana) tunateketeza dawa hizi baada ya kuhakikisha kuwa utaratibu umefuatwa ikiwa ni pamoja na vipimo na mmiliki kujiridhisha,” alisema Simwanza.
Uteketezwaji wa dawa hizo ulifanyika chini ya ulinzi mkali wa polisi wenye silaha, mgambo wa Manispaa ya Temeke, TFDA na Mamlaka ya Mapato Tanzania (TRA).
Mei 26 mwaka huu, TFDA iliteketeza tani 34 za maziwa ya unga aina ya Golden Bell-Instant Full Cream kutoka China yaliyokuwa na thamani ya sh150 milioni, ambayo yalichanganywa na Kemikali aina ya ‘Melamine’ ambayo ni hatari kwa afya ya binadamu.
Kwa mujibu wa Sheria nambari moja ya Chakula, Dawa na Vipodozi ya mwaka 2003, mmiliki anapaswa kugharamia gharama zote za uteketezaji wa bidhaa zitakazogundulika kuwa chini ya ubora.
Ally Mzee 'bye bye' Bakwata
Salim Said
MUFTI wa Tanzania sheikh Issa Shaban Simba, amemfukuza kazi Katibu wa Baraza Kuu la Waislaam Tanzania (Bakwata) Mkoa wa Arusha sheikh Ally Juma Mzee kufuatia tuhuma mbalimbali za ubadhirifu wa mali zinazomkabili.
Sheikh Mzee alitenguliwa katika nafasi ya Ukatibu Mkuu wa Bakwata taifa Mei mwaka huu na kuteuliwa kuwa Katibu wa baraza hilo Mkoa wa Arusha kabla ya kufukuzwa kazi.
Mabadiliko hayo ya uongozi Mkoa wa Arusha yamefanyika wakati Mufti Simba akiwa nchini Uturuki kwa ajili ya uchunguzi wa kawaida wa afya yake.
Katika taarifa kwa vyombo vya habari iliyotolewa na Katibu Mkuu wa Bakwata sheikh Suleiman Lolila, aliwaarifu waislaam nchini kote kuhusu mabadiliko ya uongozi wa Bakwata Mkoa wa Arusha.
“Tunapenda kuwaarifu waislaam nchini kote mabadiliko ya uongozi wa Bakwata mkoani Arusha, ambapo Katibu wa baraza mkoa huo, sheikh Ally Juma Mzee amefukuzwa kazi na nafasi yake inachukuliwa na ustadh Abdulkarim Jonjo,” alisema sheikh Lolila na kuongeza:
“Tunawaomba waislaam nchini kote watoe ushirikiano wa hali na mali kwa Jonjo, ili tuweze kufanikisha kusogeza mbele uislaam.”
Kwa mujibu wa sheikh Lolila, sheikh Mzee kwa sasa anabakia kuwa muumini wa kawaida wa dini ya kiislaam, badala ya kushika nafasi yoyote ya uongozi wa baraza.
Aidha, sheikh Lolila alisema Mufti Simba bado yuko Ankara Uturukia katika hospitali Bingwa akiendelea na uchunguzi wa afya yake na kwamba anaendelea vizuri.
“Na hivi karibuni anakusudia kukutana na viongozi wa serikali ya nchi hiyo pamoja na viongozi mbalimbali wa taasisi za kiislaam za Uturuki, kwa ajili ya kujadili masuala mbalimbali ya maendeleo ya waislaam wa Tanzania likiwamo la elimu,” alisema sheikh Lolila.
Kabla ya sheikh Mzee kufukuzwa kazi Masheikh na waumini mkoani Arusha, walishampinga Mzee, kuendelea kuongoza baraza hilo kwa madai kuwa hana sifa.
Kaimu Sheikh wa Wilaya ya Arusha, Mahmoud Salum, alisema katika tamko lao mara baada ya kikao kilichofanyika katika Msikiti wa Ngarenaro Arusha kuwa, kwa kauli moja wanaunga mkono mapendekezo na uamuzi wa Halmashauri ya Ulamaa Mkoa wa Arusha kumfukuza ustadhi Mzee.
''Tuhuma zilizomkabili ustadhi Mzee ni nzito, hivyo haturidhishwi na utendaji wake na pia kupewa jukumu kubwa la Katibu Mkuu wa Bakwata kwani, hana sifa stahiki,'' alisema Sheikh Salum.
Aidha Mwananchi imebaini kuwa ustadhi Mzee anakabiliwa na tuhuma za kutumia mapato ya msikiti huo na kusababisha hasara kwa baraza.
MUFTI wa Tanzania sheikh Issa Shaban Simba, amemfukuza kazi Katibu wa Baraza Kuu la Waislaam Tanzania (Bakwata) Mkoa wa Arusha sheikh Ally Juma Mzee kufuatia tuhuma mbalimbali za ubadhirifu wa mali zinazomkabili.
Sheikh Mzee alitenguliwa katika nafasi ya Ukatibu Mkuu wa Bakwata taifa Mei mwaka huu na kuteuliwa kuwa Katibu wa baraza hilo Mkoa wa Arusha kabla ya kufukuzwa kazi.
Mabadiliko hayo ya uongozi Mkoa wa Arusha yamefanyika wakati Mufti Simba akiwa nchini Uturuki kwa ajili ya uchunguzi wa kawaida wa afya yake.
Katika taarifa kwa vyombo vya habari iliyotolewa na Katibu Mkuu wa Bakwata sheikh Suleiman Lolila, aliwaarifu waislaam nchini kote kuhusu mabadiliko ya uongozi wa Bakwata Mkoa wa Arusha.
“Tunapenda kuwaarifu waislaam nchini kote mabadiliko ya uongozi wa Bakwata mkoani Arusha, ambapo Katibu wa baraza mkoa huo, sheikh Ally Juma Mzee amefukuzwa kazi na nafasi yake inachukuliwa na ustadh Abdulkarim Jonjo,” alisema sheikh Lolila na kuongeza:
“Tunawaomba waislaam nchini kote watoe ushirikiano wa hali na mali kwa Jonjo, ili tuweze kufanikisha kusogeza mbele uislaam.”
Kwa mujibu wa sheikh Lolila, sheikh Mzee kwa sasa anabakia kuwa muumini wa kawaida wa dini ya kiislaam, badala ya kushika nafasi yoyote ya uongozi wa baraza.
Aidha, sheikh Lolila alisema Mufti Simba bado yuko Ankara Uturukia katika hospitali Bingwa akiendelea na uchunguzi wa afya yake na kwamba anaendelea vizuri.
“Na hivi karibuni anakusudia kukutana na viongozi wa serikali ya nchi hiyo pamoja na viongozi mbalimbali wa taasisi za kiislaam za Uturuki, kwa ajili ya kujadili masuala mbalimbali ya maendeleo ya waislaam wa Tanzania likiwamo la elimu,” alisema sheikh Lolila.
Kabla ya sheikh Mzee kufukuzwa kazi Masheikh na waumini mkoani Arusha, walishampinga Mzee, kuendelea kuongoza baraza hilo kwa madai kuwa hana sifa.
Kaimu Sheikh wa Wilaya ya Arusha, Mahmoud Salum, alisema katika tamko lao mara baada ya kikao kilichofanyika katika Msikiti wa Ngarenaro Arusha kuwa, kwa kauli moja wanaunga mkono mapendekezo na uamuzi wa Halmashauri ya Ulamaa Mkoa wa Arusha kumfukuza ustadhi Mzee.
''Tuhuma zilizomkabili ustadhi Mzee ni nzito, hivyo haturidhishwi na utendaji wake na pia kupewa jukumu kubwa la Katibu Mkuu wa Bakwata kwani, hana sifa stahiki,'' alisema Sheikh Salum.
Aidha Mwananchi imebaini kuwa ustadhi Mzee anakabiliwa na tuhuma za kutumia mapato ya msikiti huo na kusababisha hasara kwa baraza.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Mjomba Obama please translate this dramatic speech into practical
Cairo Egypt
Good afternoon. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has had stood as a beacon of Islamic learning. And for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement.
Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress.
I'm grateful for your hospitality and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. And I'm also proud to carry with me the good will of the American people and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalamu-alaikum.
(APPLAUSE)
We meet at a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world, tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate.
The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation but also conflict and religious wars.
More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims and a Cold War in which Muslim majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims.
The attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and western countries but also to human rights.
All this has bred more fear and more mistrust. So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. And this cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles, principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. I know there's been a lot of publicity about this speech, but no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust nor can I answer in the time that I have this afternoon all the complex questions that brought us to this point.
But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly to each other the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground.
As the Holy Quran tells us, Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.
(APPLAUSE)
That is what I will try to do today, to speak the truth as best I can. Humbled by the task before us and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Now, part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I'm a Christian. But my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and at the fall of dusk.
As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith. As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam.
It was Islam at places like Al-Azhar that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's renaissance and enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities...
(APPLAUSE)
It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass and tools of navigation, our mastery of pens and printing, our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires, timeless poetry and cherished music, elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
(APPLAUSE)
I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second president, John Adams, wrote,
The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims. And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States.
They have fought in our wars. They have served in our government. They have stood for civil rights. They have started businesses. They have taught at our universities. They've excelled in our sports arenas.
They've won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building and lit the Olympic torch. And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same holy Quran that one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, kept in his personal library.
(APPLAUSE)
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
(APPLAUSE)
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as...
(APPLAUSE)
Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire.
We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal. And we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words, within our borders and around the world.
We are shaped by every culture. Drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept, E pluribus unum: Out of many, one.
Now much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected president.
(APPLAUSE)
But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores. And that includes nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today who, by the way, enjoy incomes and educational levels that are higher than the American average.
Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That's why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.
So let there be no doubt...
(APPLAUSE)
... let there be no doubt, Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations: to live in peace and security, to get an education and to work with dignity, to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.
Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task."Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These nåeds will be mat only if we act boldly in the years ahead. And if we understand that the cèallenges we face are shared and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
Foò we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations.
When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience.
(APPLAUSE)
That is what it means to share this world in the 21st Century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings. This is a difficult responsibility to embrace, for human history has often been a record of nations and tribes, and<>
They have killed people of different faiths but, more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam.
The Holy Quran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as -- it is as it if has killed all mankind.
(APPLAUSE)
And the Holy Quran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind.
(APPLAUSE)
The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism; it is an important part of promoting peace.
Now, we also know that military power alone is not going solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That's why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who've been displaced.
That's why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend on.
Now, let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible.
(APPLAUSE)
Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said, I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power and teach us that the less we use our power, the greater it will be. Today America has a dual responsibility to help Iraq forge a better future and to leave Iraq to Iraqis.
I have made it clear to the Iraqi people...
(APPLAUSE)
I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no basis and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. And that's why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July and to remove all of our troops from Iraq by 2012.
(APPLAUSE)
We will help Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner and never as a patron.
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter or forget our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable. But in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals.
We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States. And I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
(APPLAUSE)
So America will defend itself, respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities, which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.
Now, the second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world. America's strong bonds with Israel are well-known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
Around the world the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries. And anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented holocaust. Tomorrow I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich.
Six million Jews were killed, more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless. It is ignorant, and it is hateful.
It's about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
Now, I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nations should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that's why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.
(APPLAUSE)
And any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the treaty. And it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
(APPLAUSE)
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years. And much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear. No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people.
Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election.
But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed, confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice, government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people, the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas. They are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, there is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear. Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments, provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they're out of power. Once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others.
(APPLAUSE)
So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who would hold power. You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion. You must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise. You must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party.
Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
(AUDIENCE MEMBER SHOUTS)
Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom. Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia where devote Christians worshipped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country.
That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind and the heart and the soul.
This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive. But it's being challenged in many different ways. Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith.
The richness of religious diversity must be upheld, whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt.
(APPLAUSE)
And if we are being honest, fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which people protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation.
That's why I'm committed to work with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat. Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit, for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear.
We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism. In fact, faith should bring us together. And that's why we're forging service projects in America to bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
That's why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations.
Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service so bridges between peoples lead to action, whether it is combating malaria in Africa or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue -- the sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.
(APPLAUSE)
I know...
(APPLAUSE)
I know, and you can tell from this audience, that there is a healthy debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal. But I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality.
(APPLAUSE)
And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well- educated are far more likely to be prosperous.
Now let me be clear, issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, we've seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead.
Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life and in countries around the world. I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons.
(APPLAUSE)
Our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity, men and women, to reach their full
Good afternoon. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has had stood as a beacon of Islamic learning. And for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement.
Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress.
I'm grateful for your hospitality and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. And I'm also proud to carry with me the good will of the American people and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalamu-alaikum.
(APPLAUSE)
We meet at a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world, tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate.
The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation but also conflict and religious wars.
More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims and a Cold War in which Muslim majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims.
The attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and western countries but also to human rights.
All this has bred more fear and more mistrust. So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. And this cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles, principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. I know there's been a lot of publicity about this speech, but no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust nor can I answer in the time that I have this afternoon all the complex questions that brought us to this point.
But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly to each other the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground.
As the Holy Quran tells us, Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.
(APPLAUSE)
That is what I will try to do today, to speak the truth as best I can. Humbled by the task before us and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Now, part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I'm a Christian. But my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and at the fall of dusk.
As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith. As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam.
It was Islam at places like Al-Azhar that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's renaissance and enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities...
(APPLAUSE)
It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass and tools of navigation, our mastery of pens and printing, our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires, timeless poetry and cherished music, elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
(APPLAUSE)
I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second president, John Adams, wrote,
The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims. And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States.
They have fought in our wars. They have served in our government. They have stood for civil rights. They have started businesses. They have taught at our universities. They've excelled in our sports arenas.
They've won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building and lit the Olympic torch. And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same holy Quran that one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, kept in his personal library.
(APPLAUSE)
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
(APPLAUSE)
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as...
(APPLAUSE)
Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire.
We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal. And we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words, within our borders and around the world.
We are shaped by every culture. Drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept, E pluribus unum: Out of many, one.
Now much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected president.
(APPLAUSE)
But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores. And that includes nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today who, by the way, enjoy incomes and educational levels that are higher than the American average.
Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That's why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.
So let there be no doubt...
(APPLAUSE)
... let there be no doubt, Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations: to live in peace and security, to get an education and to work with dignity, to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.
Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task."Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These nåeds will be mat only if we act boldly in the years ahead. And if we understand that the cèallenges we face are shared and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
Foò we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations.
When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience.
(APPLAUSE)
That is what it means to share this world in the 21st Century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings. This is a difficult responsibility to embrace, for human history has often been a record of nations and tribes, and<>
They have killed people of different faiths but, more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam.
The Holy Quran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as -- it is as it if has killed all mankind.
(APPLAUSE)
And the Holy Quran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind.
(APPLAUSE)
The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism; it is an important part of promoting peace.
Now, we also know that military power alone is not going solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That's why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who've been displaced.
That's why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend on.
Now, let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible.
(APPLAUSE)
Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said, I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power and teach us that the less we use our power, the greater it will be. Today America has a dual responsibility to help Iraq forge a better future and to leave Iraq to Iraqis.
I have made it clear to the Iraqi people...
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I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no basis and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. And that's why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July and to remove all of our troops from Iraq by 2012.
(APPLAUSE)
We will help Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner and never as a patron.
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter or forget our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable. But in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals.
We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States. And I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
(APPLAUSE)
So America will defend itself, respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities, which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.
Now, the second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world. America's strong bonds with Israel are well-known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
Around the world the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries. And anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented holocaust. Tomorrow I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich.
Six million Jews were killed, more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless. It is ignorant, and it is hateful.
It's about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
Now, I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nations should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that's why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.
(APPLAUSE)
And any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the treaty. And it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
(APPLAUSE)
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years. And much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear. No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people.
Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election.
But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed, confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice, government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people, the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas. They are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, there is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear. Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments, provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they're out of power. Once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others.
(APPLAUSE)
So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who would hold power. You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion. You must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise. You must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party.
Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
(AUDIENCE MEMBER SHOUTS)
Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom. Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia where devote Christians worshipped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country.
That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind and the heart and the soul.
This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive. But it's being challenged in many different ways. Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith.
The richness of religious diversity must be upheld, whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt.
(APPLAUSE)
And if we are being honest, fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which people protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation.
That's why I'm committed to work with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat. Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit, for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear.
We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism. In fact, faith should bring us together. And that's why we're forging service projects in America to bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
That's why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations.
Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service so bridges between peoples lead to action, whether it is combating malaria in Africa or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue -- the sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.
(APPLAUSE)
I know...
(APPLAUSE)
I know, and you can tell from this audience, that there is a healthy debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal. But I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality.
(APPLAUSE)
And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well- educated are far more likely to be prosperous.
Now let me be clear, issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, we've seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead.
Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life and in countries around the world. I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons.
(APPLAUSE)
Our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity, men and women, to reach their full
Mkulo: Mfumko wa bei haudhibitiki
Salim Said
SERIKALI haiwezi kudhibiti kushuka au kupanda kwa thamani ya Shilingi kwa kuwa thamani ya fedha, inategemea nguvu ya uchumi wa nchi.
Waziri wa Fedha na Uchumi Mustapha Mkulo, aliwaeleza wajumbe wa Kamati ya kudumu ya Bunge ya Fedha na Uchumi kuwa, tatizo hilo halizuiliki kwa sababu ni la kimfumo.
“Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti tutake tusitake, tatizo la kupanda na kushuka kwa sarafu ya Tanzania lipo na serikali haiwezi kulizuia kwa sababu ni la kimfumo,” alisema Mkulo.
Alifafanua, kinachofanya serikali kukabiliana na tatizo hilo ni kuangalia iwapo mzunguko wa Shilingi ya Tanzania unaendana na uchumi wa soko au vinginevyo.
“Kama mzunguko ni mbaya tunaweza kuingilia na kurekebisha lakini, kama unaendana na uchumi wa soko, hatuwezi kuingilia hata kidogo,” alisisitiza Mkulo.
Alisema, kupanda na kushuka kwa sarafu ya Tanzania kunategemea nguvu ya uchumi wa soko, mfumuko wa bei za bidhaa muhimu na upatikanaji wa fedha za kigeni kwa msimu.
“Upatikanaji wa fedha za kigeni nchini unategemea kuanza Juni hadi Disemba lakini pia tukiweza kudhibiti mfumko wa bei ya bidhaa muhimu tunaweza kudhibiti thamani ya Shilingi yetu, ” alieleza.
Kwa mujibu wa Mkulo, thamani ya Shilingi ya Tanzania imeshuka hadi kufikia wastani wa Sh1,280.30 kwa Dola ya Marekani Desemba mwaka jana ikilinganishwa na Sh1,132.09 Desemba 2007.
Alisema, mfumko wa bei kwa mwaka 2008, ulikua kwa asilimia 10.3 ikilinganishwa na asilimia 7.0 mwaka 2007. Kiwango cha chini cha kasi ya mfumko huo 2008, ilikuwa Januari kilipopanda kwa asilimia 8.6 na kiwango cha juu asilimia 13.5 Disemba mwaka huohuo.
“Lengo letu la mfumko lilikuwa asilimia 5.0 Juni 2008, lakini halikufikiwa kutokana na kuongezeka kwa gharama za uzalishaji hasa baada ya kupanda kwa bei ya nishati ya mafuta na umeme,” alisema Mkulo na kuongeza:
“Hadi April 2009, mfumko ulifikia asilimia 12.0 kutokana na hali hiyo, ambapo awali lengo la mfumko huo lilitarajiwa liwe chini ya asilimia 7.5 ifikapo Juni 2009, lakini sasa tunatarajia asilimia 11.0.”
SERIKALI haiwezi kudhibiti kushuka au kupanda kwa thamani ya Shilingi kwa kuwa thamani ya fedha, inategemea nguvu ya uchumi wa nchi.
Waziri wa Fedha na Uchumi Mustapha Mkulo, aliwaeleza wajumbe wa Kamati ya kudumu ya Bunge ya Fedha na Uchumi kuwa, tatizo hilo halizuiliki kwa sababu ni la kimfumo.
“Mheshimiwa Mwenyekiti tutake tusitake, tatizo la kupanda na kushuka kwa sarafu ya Tanzania lipo na serikali haiwezi kulizuia kwa sababu ni la kimfumo,” alisema Mkulo.
Alifafanua, kinachofanya serikali kukabiliana na tatizo hilo ni kuangalia iwapo mzunguko wa Shilingi ya Tanzania unaendana na uchumi wa soko au vinginevyo.
“Kama mzunguko ni mbaya tunaweza kuingilia na kurekebisha lakini, kama unaendana na uchumi wa soko, hatuwezi kuingilia hata kidogo,” alisisitiza Mkulo.
Alisema, kupanda na kushuka kwa sarafu ya Tanzania kunategemea nguvu ya uchumi wa soko, mfumuko wa bei za bidhaa muhimu na upatikanaji wa fedha za kigeni kwa msimu.
“Upatikanaji wa fedha za kigeni nchini unategemea kuanza Juni hadi Disemba lakini pia tukiweza kudhibiti mfumko wa bei ya bidhaa muhimu tunaweza kudhibiti thamani ya Shilingi yetu, ” alieleza.
Kwa mujibu wa Mkulo, thamani ya Shilingi ya Tanzania imeshuka hadi kufikia wastani wa Sh1,280.30 kwa Dola ya Marekani Desemba mwaka jana ikilinganishwa na Sh1,132.09 Desemba 2007.
Alisema, mfumko wa bei kwa mwaka 2008, ulikua kwa asilimia 10.3 ikilinganishwa na asilimia 7.0 mwaka 2007. Kiwango cha chini cha kasi ya mfumko huo 2008, ilikuwa Januari kilipopanda kwa asilimia 8.6 na kiwango cha juu asilimia 13.5 Disemba mwaka huohuo.
“Lengo letu la mfumko lilikuwa asilimia 5.0 Juni 2008, lakini halikufikiwa kutokana na kuongezeka kwa gharama za uzalishaji hasa baada ya kupanda kwa bei ya nishati ya mafuta na umeme,” alisema Mkulo na kuongeza:
“Hadi April 2009, mfumko ulifikia asilimia 12.0 kutokana na hali hiyo, ambapo awali lengo la mfumko huo lilitarajiwa liwe chini ya asilimia 7.5 ifikapo Juni 2009, lakini sasa tunatarajia asilimia 11.0.”
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