Operation Tokomeza: Problem is not PM, but refusal to destock, modernize

Editorial Cartoon 

By Editor

21st December 2013

MPs on both sides of the divide -- from the ruling party and the opposition alike -- were yesterday calling for the government as a whole to take responsibility for what was described as gross infringements of human rights in various areas in the course of implementation of Operation Tokomeza.

The House decided to sit in a special session devoted to the report on the exercise that was conducted in the past two months, following a visit by President Jakaya Kikwete to border districts near Rwanda and Burundi, and witnessed the chaos in the area. He then ordered two operations, Kimbunga against illegal immigrants and Tokomeza against poachers, and invaders of national parks with their large herds of cattle, and it is in the latter environment where atrocities were reported.

Airing some of the first remarks in the tension packed hemicycle, embattled Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe said that the issue at hand was for the government, entirely, to take responsibility for those atrocities and resign, a position favorably viewed by many other MPs, despite not airing that position directly.

Some like Same East MP Anna Kilango considered that each MP had been pained by what happened, but the problem was that officials who were charged with implementing that operation, that they overreached themselves. Still others talked about fabricated cases set up against cattle herders, such that one of them demanded ‘where do we take these people.’

This idea that there were mishaps in implementation was aired before, since it is not the first time that Operation Tokomeza has been brought to Parliament, and does not seem to have satisfied MPs.

They were still demanding how it come that people were killed when herds of cattle were being removed from certain areas, and quite a few commentators have all along said the number of national parks should be reduced so as to accommodate the needs of cattle herders, arguing it was the mainstay of their economic activities.

What MPs did not wish to explain or did not seem to be bothered is the history of the issue, and how it came to arrive at that point, a violent resistance on cattle herds.

When MP Anna Kilango, for instance, explains how she has been consulting and talking with ‘her farmers and her herders,’ she definitely must be aware that her farmers are likely to be there all the time, farming the same land, obtaining a crop if there is rain and failing if there is too little.

The farmer is also constrained by the land that he has, and cannot stray into another person’s land, or shift to another ward or district because there was much less rain in his place, the very opposite of farmers, quite often. One cannot hold the MP in actual trust of what she says, when she airs the impression that there is equal reasonableness on problems from either side, farmers or herders.

MPs generally failed to come to the occasion by failing to clearly take note that there is a problem of large herds of livestock, which interfere with national parks and cause untold damage to water sources, such that operations akin to Tokomeza have had to be mounted from time to time to remove huge herds from Ihefu Valley in Mbeya, etc.

What is even worse is the habit, ancestral attitudes of a class character where herders take their cattle as an aspect of themselves, and their needs are higher than those of the peasants, such that when the cattle feed on a farm, impoverishing a farmer for the whole year that follows, a herder merely snorts; it is nothing to him. As such there are countless conflicts between settled farmers and migrant herders, and what is not available is dialogue.

If MPs were keen about all these aspects they would have grappled the issue by the horns, that nearly everyone is sick and tired of the phenomenon of large herds of cattle, first those who keep the water sources, followed by those in charge of national parks, but the largest and most concerned group is farmers who constantly mingle with large herds of cattle, to their detriment. It is thus not surprising that a measure of violence on those holding large herds was visible, for their forcible removal, to be placed in whatever open spaces are available, without scruples.

The issue is not to list erring implementers or getting Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda to resign, but to sort out the problem of large herds of cattle, for that is the problem, as it is a burden on the rest of society that is unresolved.
MPs were predictably unable to discuss with any level of realism what the government has been trying to do over the past eight years since it came into office, and how other levels of government have handled the problem.

When President Jakaya Kikwete and ex-Prime Minister Edward Lowassa took office early 2006 they had a singular focus on the systematic reduction of large herds, so that livestock keeping is modernized, which enables land use planning, setting out and issuing occupancy rights, obtaining free lands for interested foreign investors, etc but the ministerial bureaucracy resisted that approach.

The minister for the sector at the time, Dr Shukuru Kawambwa, was ignored by the ministerial bureaucracy, NGOs and academia, who started convening conferences and workshops on topics like ‘how to improve the quality of Tanzanian skin and hides exports,’ ‘revamping the tanneries sector in the country,’ etc, which presumed large herds of cattle, plenty of hides, and other facilities.

Since early 2006 the environmental situation in the country is even more tense, less capable of holding the large herds of cattle that culturally the livestock herders are entitled to have, by a law of heaven rather than by policy, technical preference or any effort on their part.

There are alternative ways of holding cattle, including zero grazing with improved cattle and a minimum of infrastructure like pooling capital for a machine to pump out water for spray irrigation, and tend cattle in a defined area.

That was the agenda that Dr Kawambwa was pursuing, but the ministerial bureaucracy and their countless friends among NGOs who think it is a theological imperative to preserve traditional seeds, traditional cattle and traditional customs (except female circumcision) blocked the way for the implementation of the policy. That’s how the problem was left to slide; now it is exploding in a violent way.

What MPs have demonstrated in the debate about excesses in Operation Tokomeza is less their patriotism but their studied opportunism, trying to build a picture of angelic cattle keepers and a beastly government and its security forces which implemented Operation Tokomeza.

To wit, without a mental Operation Tokomeza on the part of MPs, to remove the idea of sanctity of keeping large herds of cattle, and their equally misdirected intention to garner plenty of votes – and who knows, campaign financing – by pious concerns on those excesses, none of the efforts of the fourth phase government on the problem of large numbers of livestock migrating in groups will be recognized, and the false view, totally indefensible, that there is only a problem of implementation, will persist.  

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

More News 

Tourism contributes $1.7 billion to the national economy

Dr Aloyce Nzuki

By Aisia Rweyemamu

21st December 2013

More than one million tourists visited Tanzania this year bringing in $ 1.7 billion. This makes the sector a major contributor to the country’s economy, Managing Director of Tanzania Tourism Board (TTB) told this paper in and interview.

Dr Aloyce Nzuki, speaking after his presentation during a tourism public lecture held at the Diplomacy College in Dar es Salaam, said the amount would increase as more tourists visit the country.

The board planned to take a new tourism height of two million visitors by 2017, Nzuki said, noting that from next year tourism activities would be operated through funds earned by the sector.

Additionally, TTB has established a new source of revenue known as ‘Tourism Development Lavvy’ whereby $ 1.5 would be added to tourist charges
The money would be used to advertise the sector all over the world and help reduce advertising cost which had hitherto been $750 to for advertising the sector in CNN for a period of six months.

Meanwhile, SafariBookings.com conducted an in-depth analysis of 3,061 reviews of safari tourists and concluded Tanzania as the best safari country of Africa
The overall average rating of Tanzania in both the user and expert reviews is 4.8 out of 5 : the  other highest scores of all 8 major safari countries are Botswana 4.7,   Kenya 4.7, Uganda 4.2, Namibia 4.5,  Zambia 4.6,  South Africa 4.5, Zimbabwe 4.1.

Dr Nzunki said the number of bookings by tourist wishing to visit Tanzania has increased by 50 per cent over the year.

TTB has held talks with Qatar and Turkish airways that would bring in tourists to the country through the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).

According to TTB, the increased number of tourists in the country has huge impact because it increases employment opportunities and government revenue.

Tanzania has three safari circuits and each one of them would make Tanzania a top wildlife destination. The popular northern circuit with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater offers one of the best classical safaris in Africa, especially if timed with the annual wildebeest migration. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN 

Government to deploy mineral inspectors in northern border posts

Mr.Benjamin Mchwampaka, Assistant Commissioner for Minerals-Northern zone of Tanzania

By The guardian reporter

24th December 2013

Benjamin Mchwampaka, Assistant Commissioner for Minerals-Northern zone of Tanzania

The government on Sunday announced a plan to post mineral inspectors in all border posts located in the northern part of the country, in an effort to curb smuggling of minerals.

It is estimated that the east African nation loses 15bn/- (over USD9m) from minerals smuggled through border posts.

Apart from being the producer of different types of minerals, Tanzania is the sole producer of tanzanite. But large percentage of tanzanite is smuggled through neighbouring countries before being taken overseas.

"Starting January, 2014, every border in the northern zone will have mineral inspectors," said Benjamin Mchwampaka, the Assistant Commissioner for Minerals-Northern zone of Tanzania which covers Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara regions.

He said that to start with the inspectors will be posted to Horohoro and Namanga border posts, considered to be leading in mineral smuggling.

"This time round we're going to be very serious to recover the money that is lost through mineral smuggling," the commissioner said, calling upon mineral dealers to team up in the government campaign in arresting the ugly practice.

He called on mineral dealers to pay the government royalties on time so that the revenue can contribute to national development.

"We have more than 2,000 mineral dealers in the northern zone, but only 59 pay mineral royalties to the government. This is also a challenge that needs to be addressed through different strategies. Education is one of our strategies, so that they understand the importance of paying royalties," he said.

He however explained that despite the challenges, the sector contributes immensely to the national income "… but if efforts by the inspections at boarders will be boosted, then the sector would be able to contribute even more."

Mchwampaka called upon the public in areas which are close to the borders to provide full support to inspectors and smoothly accomplish the mission.
Apart from Namanga and Horohoro, others border posts that will also get inspectors in the northern zone include Holili and Tarakea. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Wakulima watakiwa kuondoka hifadhini

24/12/2013 | Posted by Hamida Kamchallah | Manyara

 

SERIKALI mkoani Manyara imewataka wakulima walio eneo la hifadhi ya msitu wa jamii ya Embreloy Murtangus, wilayani Kiteto kuondoka kwa hiari yao kabla ya Desemba 27 mwaka huu.

Rai hiyo ilitolewa juzi na Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Manyara Elaston Mbwilo wakati akizungumza na waandishi wa habari ofisi kwake juu ya mgogoro wa ardhi kati ya wakulima na serikali wilayani humo kugombea eneo la hifadhi ya jamii.

Alisema mgogoro huo ulianza mwaka 2006 ambapo ilionekana hao wavamizi ambao ni wakulima wana haki na ilifikia mahali walishtaki halmashauri ya wilaya na kijiji mahakama ya wilaya na Mahakama Kuu ambako walishinda kesi.

Hata hivyo, wilaya ilikata rufaa Mahakama Kuu ambayo Desemba mwaka jana iliamuru ardhi hiyo irejeshwe kwenye kijiji na halmashauri ni baada ya kuona vijiji viliamua kutoa eneo kwa ajili ya hifadhi.

“Wananchi waliamua kutoa eneo kwa ajili ya kulihifadhi kwa manufaa mbalimbali ikiwemo kuvuna wanyama ambao wapo ndani ya msitu huo, kuweka mizinga ya asali, mbao, huku wafugaji wakifaidika na malisho wakati wa msimu wa ukame,” alisema Mbwilo.

Alisema kabla ya kuzuka kwa mgogoro huo, baadhi ya wakulima kutoka nje ya Mkoa wa Manyara kama mikoa ya Iringa, Dar es Salaam na Dodoma, waliingia ndani ya msitu huo kwa kufanya uharibifu wa kufyeka msitu na kuanza kufanya shughuli za kilimo bila utaraibu huku wengi wao wakijimilikisha sehemu kubwa ya ardhi.

“Mnakumbuka mwaka jana wakulima hao waliandamana na matrekta yao zaidi ya 400 wakimweleza Waziri Mkuu kuwa matrekta hayo walikopa kwa ajili ya kulima kwenye eneo hilo sasa fedha zake watarejeshaje,” alihoji.

Alisema maamuzi ya kuondolewa kwa wakulima ndani ya hifadhi hiyo sio suala la Mkuu wa Mkoa wala Mkuu wa Wilaya bali ni la Mahakama ya Rufaa ambayo ilitoa uamuzi huo.

“Sio suala tena la kusema sisi hatutoki hapa, sisi tutatekeleza maamuzi ya mahakama,” alifafanua Mbwilo.

Maliasili na Utalii, kaa la moto kwa mawaziri

  Jumatatu,Decemba23  2013  saa 9:14 AM

Kwa ufupi

• Balozi Khamisi Kagasheki, aling’olewa na Rais Jakaya Kikwete, Ijumaa iliyopita ikiwa mwendelezo wa kutodumu kwa mawaziri kwenye wizara hiyo.

Dar es Salaam. Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii imeelezwa kuwa ni kaa la moto kwa watu walioteuliwa kuongoza wizara hiyo kwani katika kipindi cha miaka 25, imeshaongozwa na mawaziri 10.

Balozi Khamisi Kagasheki, aling’olewa na Rais Jakaya Kikwete, Ijumaa iliyopita ikiwa mwendelezo wa kutodumu kwa mawaziri kwenye wizara hiyo. 

Tangu mwaka 1988 ni waziri mmoja tu, Zakhia Meghji ambaye alidumu kwa muda mrefu akiiongoza wizara hiyo kwa miaka minane kuanzia 1997 hadi 2005.

Kumbukumbu zinaonyesha pia kuwa awamu ya nne chini ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete imetia fora kwa kubadili mawaziri wa wizara hiyo kwani tangu mwaka 2005, imeongozwa na mawaziri watano tofauti na awamu ya tatu chini ya Rais Benjamin Mkapa ilipoongozwa na mawaziri wawili.

Wafuatiliaji wa mambo ya siasa wanaamini kutodumu huko kunatokana na mapato makubwa yanayotokana na rasilimali kama za utalii na uwindaji ambavyo  vimesababisha kuwapo kwa tuhuma nyingi za rushwa na ufisadi.

Kashfa nyingi katika wizara hiyo zimeitikisa Serikali mara nyingi kama ile ya uuzaji wa pori la Loliondo, kuuzwa kwa hoteli wa kitalii zilizokuwa zinamilikiwa na Serikali kwa bei ya kutupa, uuzwaji wa vitalu vya viwanja na biashara ya pembe za ndovu na vipusa.

Mawaziri waliopita Maliasili watoa neno

Baadhi ya mawaziri waliowahi kushika wadhifa huo wameelezea changamoto walizokabiliana nazo katika kipindi cha uongozi wao. Mmoja wao ni Arcardo Ntagazwa alisema tatizo lililopo kwa viongozi wa sasa ni kufanya uamuzi bila kumuogopa Mungu...

 “Wanasiasa na viongozi wa kada mbalimbali wanatakiwa kumtanguliza Mungu kabla ya kuchukua uamuzi, lakini pia wanatakiwa kutambua kuwa wao ni watumishi wa watu.”

Alisema akiwa waziri wa wizara hiyo aliwahi kuongoza Operesheni Uhai ambayo ililenga kutokomeza vitendo vya ujangili kama ilivyokuwa Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili, na kusema hii ya sasa imekithiri matukio ya ajabu.

Kwa upande wake, Anthony Diallo ambaye pia aliwahi kuwa waziri wa wizara hiyo alisema: “Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii imezungukwa na watu ambao wana mambo yao wanayafanya. 

Sasa kama kuna waziri ambaye ni mgumu (siyo rahisi kurubuniwa), lazima atawekewa vikwazo tu.” Alisema wakati akiwa waziri kulikuwa na baadhi ya watu wakiwamo watendaji wa Serikali waliomtengenezea majungu kutokana na kuwabana katika biashara zao za uvunaji wa magogo.

“Kipindi hicho tembo waliuawa wengi, uwindaji haramu pia ulikuwa ukifanyika,” alisema Diallo, ambaye sasa ni Mwenyekiti wa CCM Mkoa wa Mwanza.

Alisema baadhi ya viongozi hivi sasa hawajiamini katika utendaji wao wa kazi kutokana na kupata madaraka hayo kwa fedha zao. 

Alimtolea mfano Waziri wa Ujenzi, Dk John Magufuli kuwa mmoja kati ya mawaziri wanaotenda kazi zao kwa kujiamini, mpaka kufikia hatua ya Serikali kuingilia uamuzi wake mara kadhaa na kuzuia utekelezaji wa jambo fulani ambalo aliliamua lifanyike.

“Mawaziri wa aina hii wamebaki wachache. 

Lakini kinachonishangaza ni kufanyika kwa Operesheni Tokomeza huku ikihusisha wizara zaidi ya moja, ilitakiwa isimamiwe na wizara moja ili kuondoa mwingiliano wa kiuamuzi, hakukuwa na utaratibu wa kupeana taarifa,” alisema.

Waziri mwingine ni Ezekiel Maige ambaye baada ya kung’olewa nafasi yake ilichukuliwa na Kagasheki alisema hawezi kuzungumzia suala hilo kwa sababu aliwahi kuwa kiongozi wa Serikali.

Ifuatayo ni orodha ya mawaziri waliowahi kuongoza wizara hiyo na tangu mwaka 1988 na misukosuko iliyowakumba.

Arcado Ntagazwa

Aliongoza wizara hiyo kuanzia mwaka 1988 hadi 1990. Hakurudishwa kwenye wizara hiyo baada ya uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 1990. Katika kipindi hicho, wizara hiyo ililaumiwa kwa hatua yake ya kubinafsisha hoteli mbalimbali za kitalii zilizokuwa zinamilikiwa na Serikali kwa bei ya kutupa. Hoteli hizo ni pamoja na Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Seronera na Lobo. Hoteli hizo zilijengwa kwa gharama kubwa kwa msaada mkubwa wa serikali ya Israel. Pia uuzaji wa Hoteli za Mount Meru kwa kampuni ya Accor ya Ufaransa  na ile ya Mikumi ilisababisha malalamiko makubwa.

Abubakar Mgumia

Mbunge huyo wa zamani wa Tabora Mjini aliongoza wizara hiyo kuanzia mwaka 1990 hadi 1993. Katika kipindi cha uongozi wake ndipo Shirika la Utalii Tanzania (TTC) lilibadilishwa na kuwa Bodi ya Utalii. Katika kipindi hicho kulitokea malalamiko ya uharibifu mkubwa wa misitu kutokana na kupamba moto kwa biashara ya mbao.

Juma Hamad Omar

Ni kati ya mawaziri, ambao hawatasahaulika kirahisi katika historia ya uongozi wa wizara hiyo. Katika kipindi cha uongozi wake ndipo ilipotokea kashfa ya Loliondo. Kutokana na hatua ya wizara yake kuuza Pori la Loliondo kwa mwana wa Mfalme wa Falme za Kiarabu.

 Kashfa hiyo ni kati ya matukio makubwa yaliyotikisa nchi kwani ilisababisha kuundwa kwa Kamati ya Bunge iliyoongozwa na Mateo Qaresi na chanzo cha kuondolewa kwa Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Wanyamapori wakati huo, Muhidin Ndolanga. Omar aliondoka katika wizara hiyo mwaka 1995 baada ya Rais Mkapa kuingia madarakani.

Juma Ngasongwa

Aliongoza wizara hiyo kuanzia mwaka 1995 hadi 1997. Alilazimika kujiuzulu baada ya kuibuka kwa kashfa ya biashara ya minofu ya samaki kuuzwa nje ya nchi bila kulipa kodi. Kamati iliyoundwa chini ya Mbunge wa zamani wa Ilala, Iddi Simba ilifichua madudu katika biashara hiyo.

Zakhia Meghji

Ndiye waziri aliyedumu kwa muda mrefu zaidi kwenye wizara hiyo kuanzia 1997 hadi 2005. Meghji anasifiwa kutokana na kutangaza utalii wa Tanzania kwa kiasi kikubwa. Hakukumbwa na kashfa yeyote pengine doa pekee lilikuwa ni kuuzwa kwa Hoteli ya Kilimanjaro.

Anthony Diallo

Aliteuliwa Rais Kikwete alipoingia madarakani mwaka 2005.

 Alidumu kwa kipindi cha miaka miwili baada ya kutokea mtikisiko mkubwa juu ya uuzwaji wa vitalu vya uwindaji. Aliingia katika mvutano mkali na watendaji wa wizara hiyo. 

Alishindwa katika vita hiyo na kujikuta akiondolewa. Ingawa aliondolewa katika kipindi ambacho Rais Kikwete alikuwa anataka viongozi kutenganisha masuala ya biashara na uongozi.

Profesa Jumanne Maghembe

Ni waziri ambaye alikaa muda mfupi zaidi kwenye wizara hiyo. Alikaa kuanzia mwaka 2007 hadi 2008. Katika kipindi chake, matatizo mbalimbali yalipamba moto na hasa juu ya uuzwaji wa vitalu na pia uvunaji wa misitu.

Shamsa Mwangunga

Aliongoza wizara hiyo kuanzia mwaka 2008 hadi 2010. Katika kipindi cha uongozi wake alitikiswa na kashfa ya uuzwaji wa vitalu.

 Alituhumiwa kuongeza muda wa umilikaji wa vitalu kinyume cha sheria. 

Aliwaongezea wamiliki hao muda wa miaka mitatu kinyume cha Azimio la Bunge la kuzuia kuongezwa kwa muda wa umiliki wa vitalu ili utaratibu mpya uandaliwe.

Ezekiel Maige

Alipandishwa kuwa Waziri kamili wa wizara hiyo aliyokuwa Naibu chini ya Mwangunga. Aliongoza kuanzia mwaka 2010 hadi 2012. Alikuwa na kibarua cha kupambana na uuzaji wa vitalu. Hata hivyo, alijikuta akiondolewa katika wadhifa huo kufuatia maagizo ya Bunge baada ya kuibuka kwa kashfa ya uuzaji wa wanyama hai.

Khamisi Kagasheki

Aliteuliwa kushika wadhifa huo mwaka 2012. Kagasheki alipata msukosuko wa kwanza wa kisiasa baada ya kutangaza eneo hilo la kilomita 1,500 la Loliondo kuwa ni pori tengefu na wananchi kuachiwa kilomita 2,500.

 Agizo lake lilitenguliwa na Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda. Hata hivyo, amejikuta akiondolewa baada ya mateso yaliyowapata wananchi wakati wa utekelezaji wa Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili iliyokuwa na lengo la kupambana na biashara haramu ya pembe za ndovu. Hatua hiyo ilifuatia uchunguzi uliofanywa na Kamati ndogo ya Bunge.

Polisi yakiri kutikiswa na Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili

  Na Raymond Kaminyoge, Mwananchi

Posted  Jumatatu,Decemba23  2013 

Kwa ufupi

• Kauli hiyo, imekuja baada ya ripoti iliyosomwa bungeni na Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Ardhi, Maliasili na Mazingira, James Lembeli ambayo imesababisha Rais Jakaya Kikwete kusitisha uteuzi wa mawaziri wanne.

Dar es Salaam.  Jeshi la Polisi, limekiri kutikiswa na ripoti ya Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili ambayo imemkumba Waziri wake wa Mambo ya Ndani ya Nchi, Dk Emmanuel Nchimbi.

Mkurugenzi wa Upelelezi wa Makosa ya Jinai, Isaya Mungulu alisema jana kwamba operesheni hiyo imelitikisa jeshi hilo kutokana na madhara yaliyojitokeza wakati wa utekelezaji wake.

“Lengo la operesheni hiyo halikuwa kuleta madhara kwa wananchi, yaliyotokea ni changamoto kwa Polisi na sasa ni kujipanga upya ili haya yasije kutokea tena,” alisema na aliongeza: “Kwa sasa tunaziachia mamlaka husika ziendelee kulishughulikia suala hili kwa sababu limehusisha idara mbalimbali za Serikali.”

Kauli hiyo, imekuja baada ya ripoti iliyosomwa bungeni na Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Ardhi, Maliasili na Mazingira, James Lembeli ambayo imesababisha Rais Jakaya Kikwete kusitisha uteuzi wa mawaziri wanne.

Kauli hiyo, imekuja baada ya ripoti iliyosomwa bungeni na Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Ardhi, Maliasili na Mazingira, James Lembeli ambayo imesababisha Rais Jakaya Kikwete kusitisha uteuzi wa mawaziri wanne.

Mapema Novemba, mwaka huu, Spika wa Bunge, Anne Makinda aliunda Kamati ya Bunge ya Maliasili, Ardhi na Mazingira kuchunguza utekelezaji wa Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili baada ya kutokea mjadala mkali bungeni kuhusu kadhia waliyopata wananchi.

Katika mjadala huo, wabunge walilalamikia watekelezaji wake wakisema ilitawaliwa na mateso kwani waliokuwa wakiiendesha walikuwa wakiwatesa wananchi na hata kusababisha vifo na majeruhi.

Taasisi zilizokuwa zikiendesha operesheni hiyo kabla ya kusitishwa ni; Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ) na Polisi.

Kuzinduliwa kwa operesheni hiyo kulikuwa na lengo la kulinda rasilimali za nchi hasa tembo ambao katika siku za hivi karibuni wamekuwa wakiuawa kwa kasi na majangili kwa ajili ya pembe za ndovu

Kikwete in tough cabinet choice

By Sylivester Ernest,The Citizen Reporter

Posted  Sunday, December 22  2013 at  10:43

In Summary

• That, some analysts, say, is apparent, in the wake of four ministers being sacked, and a looming reshuffle that could see more heads rolling, amid heightened concerns at levels ranging from the grassroots to Parliament, that the government is a let-down, in its public service mission.

Related Stories

• Kikwete calls for nominees to Constituent Assembly

Dar es Salaam.  In re-crafting the Cabinet,  the engine of  running government affairs,  President Jakaya Kikwete  faces a two-in-one challenge: filling  vacant posts, and determining whether the current governance systems are, or aren’t  good enough to enable even the best brains and dedicated individuals to operate efficiently.

That, some analysts, say, is apparent, in the wake of four ministers being sacked, and a looming reshuffle that could see more heads rolling, amid heightened concerns at levels ranging from the grassroots to Parliament, that the government is a let-down, in its public service mission.

On Friday,  the president,  as top appointing authority,  fired four ministers implicated by a parliamentary select committee with gross human rights abuse during an operation to tackle poaching, dubbed ‘Operation Tokomeza’. 

Chairman of the committee James Lembeli revealed shocking incidences of crimes, including murder, rape and torture committed by soldiers deployed to execute  the operation that triggered much alarm and criticism. He then proposed that the four minister-- Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi (Home Affairs), Mr Khamis Kagasheki (Tourism and Natural Resources), Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha (Defence and the National Service) and Dr David Mathayo (Livestock and Fisheries Development)--take responsibility by resigning.

Shedding political party affiliations often typical on issues of a relatively mild nature, MPs supported the proposal, culminating in President Kikwete endorsing the plea by blessing the sacking of the ministers.

Commentators who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday pointed out that, whereas departure from the Cabinet via resignation of,  or expulsion  by ministers deemed inefficient or irresponsible was a positive trend, it wasn’t a wholesome solutions to operational problems.

The Head must  probe  the extent to which the governance systems were a stumbling block to  the performance of  even ministers who would be exemplary performers in an ideal environment.

What’s more, they noted, restricting punitive measures to ministers was unfair and wouldn’t have long-term positive bearings if  subordinate, but nonetheless key  executives such as permanent secretaries and top political officers  implicated in the atrocities are not sent packing.

Political scientist Bashiru Ali, says the whole governance system in the government was in  such a shambles  that even potentially capable ministers wouldn’t be helpful and whose tenure could consequently be short-lived.

“The same would happen even if we bring in angels…have you asked yourself how many ministers have served in the energy and tourism ministries since Kikwete came to power?” the University of Dar es Salaam lecturer asked. The ministry  of energy has seen three ministers on the wheel since President Kikwete came to power in 2005 while that of tourism will be having its fourth head after the next reshuffle. He said President Kikwete’s administration lacked clear administrative discipline, making even new ministers vulnerable to failure.

“The system is exhausted…it is ungovernable; this parliament will be investigating one scandal after another because the system is failing…it needs a major overhaul,” said Mr Bashiru.

To show failings in the country’s governance system, the academic said the parliament itself  was suffering from similar accountability problems, making even the Lembeli’s report questionabl

He queried: “We heard of raping  and killings in Mtwara during gas-related chaos; have you seen any report on those atrocities?”
Leader of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) Prof Ibrahim Lipumba asked President Kikwete to constantly review performance of his ministers before things get out of hand.
Chadema’s Chairman Freeman Mbowe said we would be committing  serious political mistakes to pour too much blame on alleged underperforming ministers without critically reviewing how the current governance systems work.
“Contributions in parliament by mostly CCM MPs indicate that the ruling party was losing grip,” said the Hai MP. Mr Mbowe said he expected the President  to weed out more unsuitable ministers, citing the Education sector as an example.