Heaven to Hell in Less than 50 Years

Once upon a time, not so long ago...in fact a mere 40 years ago Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro National Park were closer than the closest bosom of friends. Closer than the mouth and nostrils, so I'm told. the stretch that now cuts across Siha and Hai Districts (that is from King'ori through KIA to Boma Ng'ombe) was inhabited by wild life.

"We could see giraffes, zebras, gazelles and even elephants when we commuted with my father in lorries from Arusha to Moshi. There were trees and the land was ever green and cool. Rains were constant at least twice a year. That was less than 50 years ago"

Part of the Arusha National Park (picture retrieved from ngomisafaris.com)

And now my generation and the ones after me may never get to experience that stretch in all that glory again. Human activities that began in the 60's have left the land barren and bare. Our predecessors made their homes in this stretch and in that span of time cut down the trees to make charcoal and get firewood. They let the animals roam free to feed and they fed on the grass to dust.

Part of the KIA stretch, Orkolili, as it can be seen now.

Since 95% of this land is naked, there are no trees to capture the clouds hence rains are scarce. When the rains finally bless the land, it turns into a beautiful place but since cattle still roam the lands, it turns to a dusty ocean soon after.

Admist Rethinking Freedom

A few days ago something happened in Tanzania that made me rethink on the term "freedom." What does it really mean to be free? Before I get ahead of myself and embark with you through my sea of confusion (that I call thinking), I'd better identify the trigger. On the 28th of September, Tanzanian government passed their judgement to punish two papers for some seditious and malicious publications, Mtanzania and Mwananchi. I have to say, I do wonder who are really being punished by this decision.

Some of the Tanzanian papers on display (photo retrieved from play.google.com)

So, what do I make of the whole issue you ask? Well, the way I see it is no different from a decision to bench all teachers, close classrooms, cease lessons in an entire school because one or two of the teachers have broken a professional code of conduct. I wonder, what do the students do in the mean time? And what of the other teachers? In short, If that is justice...protection of the greater good... I shudder to think of what the alternative could be.


Here I went wondering, or should I say eye and mind wandering,stumbling upon Freedom of the media and which gives my head quite a spin. I'll share with you three of the areas my weary thought trudged on; intention, "leashes and bars",  and consequence. 

I believe it logical  that with every choice we act upon, there is an intent we want fulfilled; even though sometimes we may not necessarily make it clear to the second and third party what the intentions of our actions are. As Newton's third law of motion states "for every action there is an equal and opposing reaction," the same applies in this stance. As actors we may intend our actions, however, receivers or audience may interpret precisely or differently. So what guides reaction? Is it intention or interpretation? Before you drown in my sea of confusion, let me bring you up for air. I wonder, what was the intention behind the said published stories that brought on so much saga? Was the interpretation that birthed the troubling punishment and equally striking appeals fair? I have also noticed, in this case, how often the intent of the "punisher" is being questioned and even doubted. Again the interpretation of the punishment has worn different faces on the receivers. If I could but put smileys I'd get smiles, frowns, angry faces, puzzled faces, snoozing-don't-disturb faces, wailing faces and such and such. Before I jump to the consequence of this, let's visit the engines that drive or hinge intention.

I call these "leashes and bars" The saying "media is the watchdog of the society" becomes my paddler here. I have found it necessary to identify and scrutinize the owner of this watchdog that blows the whistle, calls it to heel, holds the leash and holds the keys to the kennel; or if such exists. It's important to know who is considered harmful and who harmless to deserve a bark or a wag. In a world where media is considered the fourth arm of democracy, is it really free to act when it is cuffed by the other arm? When the intent of the journalist to be just to his profession is hindered by the advertiser who threatens the existence of his bread and butter, is this arm termed free? When this watchdog that wants to secure a village 5 buses-a-motorcycle-bicycle-and-a-donkey away, is leashed by a budget or deadlines; do we say it's free? When this dog is beaten, bruised and sometimes killed for barking and snarling in the wrong company, do we still term it free? Why then do we accept some leashes and cry bloody-murder at others?

The consequences of our actions is determined by the reactions of the life around us. Though I do think life is a chain of reactions, some at par and some opposing (as Newton pointed out). These reactions are what birth and ensure the continuity of change. Again what kind of reactions these are will determine the direction of change; for better or for worse. This is why I use the term consequence; the consequences of actions. To guide consequence we have rights and responsibilities, sometimes self and sometimes state imposed. How they are interpreted, is a profound question. Do laws and regulations threaten freedom? Or is the interpretation of these the real threat? Or maybe, is it the interpreter who's the threat?

My dear reader, let me drop anchor on this coast and drop you off before this sea of confusion weathers you out some more. I'll keep drifting on and maybe do a little fishing for ideas along the way.

"The Fear" Worth-sharing

 I was moved by this article written by the Tanzanian MP Zitto Zuberi Kabwe. He is a young politician, whose train of thought usually intrigue me. In one of his latest articles "The Fear" he has captured the aspect of thought, not as a fleeting wisp but as a reflection that he took time and effort in evaluating.

Zitto Zuberi Kabwe, MP Kigoma North

 Click on the link below to read the article.

The Fear by Zitto Kabwe

The Catship

Lately, I've taken to watching these two, Salem my big black cat and Croods the kitten (yes, inspired by the movie). Croods was abandoned by its mother on our roof top about two months ago and I had to save it (and the neighbors' sanity) before it cried itself to death. Since then it has been part of my gang of cats. 

I have two other female cats, interestingly and contrary to my expectations none of them let it near them. Only Salem, the male cat has accepted it and actually plays with it. Theirs is a sweet and touching relationship.

 

Salem and Croods in one of their moments

As prejudiced as most of us, Tanzanian folks, are against black cats, Salem is the sweetest and loving cat I have. He was the first and still is the only one of my cats to accept this strange, stranded and very loud kitten; spends time with it and even lets it share his food.

Even as humans, we meet such people in life who are nurturers and loving even though they may not look so on the outside or at first glance. 

Stormy Insomnia?

Again one of those nights when insomnia hit...then my mind and hand wondered. If you ask me, I can't tell you what it means except for a product of an imagination. Trying to sort out through your thoughts in the middle of the night can bring forth strange results. :)

 

BOX OR NO BOX, THINK!

The current events we keep reading, watching or listening to in the Tanzanian media have got me "thinking" and wondering. What do they all mean? What do they all add up to? Such issues include, the bomb attacks, shootings, cases of acid attacks on foreigners and locals, hate speeches (religious and political), confrontations between Tanzania and some of its neighbours, etc etc. Why are they happening now? What has led to the culmination of all these episodes and what will be the ultimatum?

With most of our media outlets reporting "who says what happens where and when"; we are short of well researched reports that look beyond that. We are left with unconfirmed whispers and rumors in the streets (physical and digital) that sometimes ridiculously make sense. Are these events a result of the problems we keep turning a blind eye to or do we turn to conspiracy theories for answers?

 I admit that to this point I have more questions than answers but I feel that there are questions we ought to ask ourselves. What I'm sure of is that as Tanzanians we are at a point we don't want to be and shouldn't be. We are now in a Tanzania where chaos and hatred have plagued us to a terrifying extent. As young as I might be, I don't recall a more divided and selfish Tanzania. We had enemies and problems, yes,but these enemies were a common one like Diseases, Ignorance and Poverty; and our fight was one. Lately however, these are used as tools to destroy each other. Religion and faith based institutions were institutions treated with respect to uphold human dignity and propagate good will. Are they still so today? Politics was a means to organize the people and find the best means to build a free and developed nation, accountably. Again, is that what we see today?

In a society that is divided and chaotic, an enemy has an easier means to conquer. For years, Tanzania has been renowned for being the harbor of peace and unity; an example to live by in Africa. Now we hold scary statistics on the state of affairs in Tanzania; a nation of more than 47 million people. Government statistics indicate that the country’s unemployment rate stood at 11.7 per cent in 2012 from 10.7 percent in 2011. (guardian; January, 26 2013). The gap between the haves and have-nots has widen despite the growth in National GDP by 6%. The trend of drug abuse and trafficking keeps rising. The state of education in Tanzania leaves much to be desired while healthcare still faces a lot of challenges. In 2007, about 87% of the nation lived under $2 per day (WB, DRG). We have more youth graduating each year compared to those getting steady employment, disregard of those finding employment in their fields of studies. In short, do we have a canister full of desperate, easily compelled, hatred-fueled-with-little-to-lose youth just waiting to go off?

On the other side we have a government flawed by corruption, bureaucracy, lack of accountability, a monstrosity of contradictions; locked in more fruitless bull fights with the opposition every now and then. The Media on the other hands plays its watchdog role, barking and snarling on commands (on whose commands, is another question). But again we have more reports of minerals, natural gases and other naturals resources sighted, ripe for the picking. And we can't deny we have a bigger influx of foreign investors (I'm not against them) and more visits from international heads of highest ranks with talks of economic and social consensual benefits (again, neutral in this aspect). However, with the current world economic state of affairs, it's hard not to be nervous. Afterall, our neighbors DRC are a living example of what happens to a country once chaos turn full throttle to never ending wars; in the middle of a world whose natural resources are severely depleted. .

It's a conundrum, that brings me back to these main questions. What is happening to our beloved Tanzania? Where are we taking our country to?

FGM Scars More Than Just the Body, It Scars Lives!!

A few days ago I took a bajaji to an interview I had to conduct away from the office. It was a mighty distance away and with the afternoon traffics in Dar, it took us about an hour to get there. On our way we decided to strike up a conversation, with him doing most of the talking and i doing the listening.

He started speaking of his past relationships and how he messed up a relationship with a good girl and lost her. Promising himself not to ever let that happen again he decided to be true to the next girl who comes into his life. As true to life he finds a young girl (in her early 20's) and dates her for a few months before noticing strange behaviors from her when they were together. For instance, she never agreed to have the lights on when they were "doing it" and never allowed him to look at her womanhood. She did not agree to do it often and agreed only when she was very happy.

At first he let it be, pinning it on shyness or inexperience. However, when she persisted curiosity got the better of him. On a night when she was deep in her sleep he grabbed a torch and decided to see for himself. At this point, even with a disapproving frown I was very curious  to hear what happened. Never in my life could I have guessed what he told me. He was shocked to see her features so different and it took him a moment to realise that she had been severely mutilated. More over, he could also see that she had engaged in anal sex. He was distraught.

 The following day, without facing her with the truth he consulted his friends at work. Some of them advised him to leave her and some told him to talk to her first and hear her side of the story. Following the latter's advice he ultimately faced her with the truth. At first she denied undergoing FGM or engaging in anal sex. However, when he insisted she opens up, she finally broke down and told him what happened.

Apparently, when she was still very young her parents passed away and she went to live with some distant relatives in the village. Claiming it was a "tribal" custom of the Sandawe women they mutilated her. When she grew up, she came to Dar es Salaam and sooner or later realised that men found her strange and "unattractive." They demanded anal sex and she found that even more tolerant than the regular one. He was even more confused when he found that she was pregnant with their child. He cared for her deeply and since she was expecting his child, he made it official with her.

As it was with any couple, they had their fair share of problems. But when he came to find out that she was cheating on him, that was his limit. He came to learn that earlier on before they met, her relatives had married her off to an older man as a third wife and they had a child together. And even after the man left her and she got married to the bajaji driver, he was one of the men she still saw.

 I was curious to learn about what happened to his daughter during all that fiasco.So he told me that he had taken his daughter to live with his mother in the village when she was two. Suzy (the daughter's name) was four when her mother came to take her, which was after the divorce. So she went back to the village with Suzy. When I asked him if he still saw his daughter, I got the shock of my life.

When Suzy went back to the village with her mother, a few months later he got a call that his daughter was seriously sick. He told them to bring her to Dar and he'd take her to the hospital. Since he was employed at a security company then he sent his mother to go to the village and see her as he processed a leave of absence. When the mother got there she found out that Suzy had passed away and they were burying her. What was worse, he came to find out too late that she had died of over bleeding. Suzy, a four year old had undergone FGM and never made it alive. I never knew or met her but I couldn't help the tears.

 NO GIRL has to undergo that hell. Even when they survive the mutilation, the torture doesn't stop there. A woman's dignity is stripped off, the scars cause both physical and mental traumas for most of their lives. I kept asking him, "what did you do after that? Did you report them?" And he said he couldn't do anything since he hadn't any evidence.He lost a daughter to FGM and he still felt powerless to do anything about it. How many more are out there undergoing this same inhuman autrocity and still feel powerless? How many more lives should be lost, in death and trauma before we realise how dangerous FGM is?