Never make a black woman angry!

Jealousy Angela she shuts em down

Mahojiano na Alex Kajumulo

JG: CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

ALEX: My name is Alex Kajumulo.  I was born in Muleba, Bukoba, Tanzania.  Currently, I live in the U.S. (Seattle, Washington) where I coach youth soccer and run my own soccer training program.  It's the only soccer program run by an African in Washington State.  When I am not coaching soccer, I am making music, writing books, and designing sports clothing and gear. 

JG: WHEN DID YOU START DOING MUSIC & WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU DO?

ALEX: I have loved music my whole life especially when I was a child.  I began making music professionally in 1998, collaborating with my good friend Kool James "Mtoto wa Dandu" and the amazing singer Mbilia Bell, from DRCongo.  My music can not be labelled by anyone, it is it's own new style.  That's why I called my first album "Never Before."  You can find this album and all of my music on I-tunes, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere digital music is sold.

JG: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BONGO FLAVA & THE KILI MUSIC AWARDS?

ALEX:  As a Tanzanian, I love Bongo Flava music.  But I don't think Bongo Flava will translate to an international market.  If Bongo Flava musicians want to get world wide appeal, they have to do something more original.  Someone like Remi Ongallo, who was a true original, his music is still being listened to in the international world music market even today.  The music is so good they listen even if they don't understand the language.

You know the Kili Music Awards started from my vision.  I wrote up a plan for the Tanzanian Music Awards and gave the plan to James Dandu in 1999.  It's not an original idea, it is just a copy of the American Music Awards.  James and I presented the first Tanzanian Music Awards.  After James died, his wife, Devota, was able to put on one more Tanzanian Music Awards but then she returned to Europe. 

The people who are running the Kili Music Awards took the event over and are continuing to this day.  They changed the name of the Awards and I do not have anything to do with it.  I don't like the way they manage the awards, the awards are only given to insiders and I don't think it is fair and open to all Tanzanian musicians.  Our original vision was to recognize original talent no matter who they were, who they knew, or how much money they had.  Especially young musicians. 

I am working to restart the Tanzanian Music Awards so that I can realize mine and my friend James's vision of making it for all people of Tanzania. 

JG: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE DOEN TO MAKE THINGS BETTER OR IS IT OK THAT WAY?

ALEX: I am happy for them to continue to hold the Kili Music Awards according to their own vision.  But it is not my vision and I would like to bring back the Tanzanian Music Awards for the people.   One of the awards I am looking forward to presenting is the JAMES DANDU ORIGINAL ARTIST AWARD for the most original Tanzanian musician each year.

JG: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER UPCOMING ARTISTS & YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE?

ALEX: You've got to be original.  These days anyone can make music and record with digital equipment so in order to stand out you must be original.

JG: WHO HAS BEEN YOUR INSPIRATION?

ALEX: My inspiration is me!  I grew with a lot of problems and no one to rely on.  I rely on myself for inspiration and I have gone far, but I always put God in front of me for everything I do, but I am not religious.

JG: WHAT DIFFICULTIES DOU YOU FACE & WHAT ARE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR?

ALEX: The most difficult part of being an independant musician is marketing your music and making enough money to eat.

JG: WHERE DO YOU PERFORM IF ONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU PERFOM LIVE?

ALEX: I only really perform for special events that involve social justice.  When I do perform, I perform with a large band, at least 8 members.  I perform mostly at College venues, Festivals, and big Theatres.

I am currently organizing a large event to promote Malaria Awareness in Kyela District, Tanzania.  The "Malaria is Dangerous" concert will be held on Saba Saba Day (July 7) 2011. This will be my second big "Malaria is Dangerous" Concert.  The first was held in November of 2010 here in the U.S.  YOu can find clips from the concert on my youtube channel.  It was also televised locally and broadcast live on the internet to an audience of over 8 million people.

JG: APART FROM MUSIC WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

ALEX: Soccer is a big part of my life.  I have written a book for children called "Soccer Monster" you can see it at www.soccermonster.org.  At that website you can also find information about my training program.  You can see my youth soccer team at www.kajumulofc.org.

You can find out more about me and my music at www.babukaju.com and www.alexkajumulo.com or become my friend on facebook, look for Alex Kajumulo.  You can also find me on myspace at www.myspace.com/alexkajumulo. I have over 85 songs on the market, you can buy them at I-tunes or anywhere else and you can see my videos on my youtube channel at www.youtube.com/user/alexkajumulo.

Mjue Mbunifu wa Mavazi wa kibongo anaekuja juu kwa kasi Sheria Ngowi

JESTINA: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF:  WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?  YOUR FAMILY BACKGROUND, WORK HISTORY, PERSONALITY?

SN: Sheria Ngowi (Born as Walter Thomas Ngowi on October 1st, 1982 the second of five children). I am a Tanzanian fashion designer and Founder of the Sheria Ngowi Brand. I was raised in a middle-class family of the Late Mr. Thomas Kishari Ngowi and Mrs. Mary Mathias Kessy. My Father was a lawyer while my mother was a Bank Accountant. I studied Law but my career has taken the path of Fashion Designing.

JESTINA: WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BECOME A FASHION DESIGNER?

SN: My interest in Fashion has been with me for as long as I can remember, My parents were also an influence especially my father who had a love for fashion and sense of style which inspired me a lot. I remember styling my parents before they left the house for any event and pretty soon I was the family stylist this made me realize I had a talent in Fashion 

JESTINA: TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO ACTUALIZING YOUR DREAM OF BECOMING A FASHION DESIGNER.

SN: My career famously began in 2008 when I debuted my designs for both women and men under Brand name Sheria Na Mavazi in Mysore, India. So Sheria Na Mavazi stands for Dressing Principles or Regulations. In 2009, I launched my first professional collection under my own name Sheria Ngowi Designs. The Collection was a dedication to my late father who was the driving force behind my love for fashion. I decided to focus on one gender at a time to ensure that I put my all into each of the collections and the women's collection is on the way.

                                                                                  

JESTINA: EVERYDAY, THERE IS A NEW FASHION LABEL SPRINGING UP, WHAT SETS SHERIA NGOWI APART?

SN: Well ,my designs are heavily influenced by the past. So I blend modern trends with the classic vintage looks and incorporate numerous colors. That is the main difference, trying to be playful with menswear which is quite rare in the fashion world as of now. 

JESTINA: WHERE HAVE YOU POSITIONED YOURSELF IN THE MARKET? HIGH END OR AFFORDABLE FOR THE EVERYDAY WOMAN? WHAT IS YOUR PRICE RANGE?

SN: I think both; but the most challenging aspect has to be the financial side of the business. I’m not sure many people realize just how expensive it is to properly run a brand. At the end of the day this is a business and as a designer not only should I know about the designing and the creative aspects of the brand but also the financial and marketing sides of the brand. 

As a designer I need to deal carefully with the production side of the business. The designs have to be made according to my vision and standards; the cost of production has to be managed so that the clothes that come out are affordable but also of the best quality. Right now I am working on making my clothes on a large scale and my price range will start from 300$ -2000$ but depends with the cost of production as i said it before.

JESTINA: WHO IS THE SHERIA NGOWI MAN?

SN: Sheria Ngowi is someone whose collection is luxurious and sophisticated yet from another time.I made my designs for men who are sophisticated,there was no lack of restraint in the shapes or in the looks,I offered a collection where every detail is accentuated,making men look good without ever giving them an affected or ridiculously disguised look.My Suits are classic and well built Daring youthful silhouettes.Uses of slim-fit check shirts,slim ties and bow ties are details that make my collection simple and unique;glasses and bags contribute to the image of a refined,relaxed man.      

JESTINA:  ANYTHING FOR THE LADIES?

SN: Women's collection is on the way.

JESTINA: WHERE HAVE YOU DRAWN INSPIRATION FROM FOR YOUR DESIGNS?

SN: So many sources but it primarily comes from my late Father who was an incredibly stylish man and cause he used to love fashion and sense of style which inspired me a lot.I get my inspiration also from a lot of things. It often evolves out of seeing a single button or fabric or trimming which triggers an idea for a design. I never spend a lot of time stressing about what sort of “theme” one of my collections is going to have. The ideas are always there and ready to flow when I start sketching. 

JESTINA: DESCRIBE YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE AND TELL US HOW IT HAS INFLUENCED  YOUR COLLECTION.

SN: Simple and Classic.

JESTINA: IF YOU COULD HAVE ANYONE IN THE WORLD MODEL YOUR COLLECTION WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

SN: I think US President Barack Obama is one of the most fashionable and fittest presidents we have seen. I think a lot of men are paying attention to how he dresses.        

JESTINA: WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BIGGEST TRENDS THIS SEASON?

SN: Women fashion trends for 2011 are maxi dresses for these summer, hot pants and shorts, jumpsuits and playsuits, sheer fabrics and lace material on tight body fitting dresses. I would also like to see ladies playing with all sorts of accessories from African beads to gold and silver bangles, oversized sunglasses are still much in fashion and the trend will live on in 2011. In 2011 the trends will continue to be bolder therefore ladies should experiment more and try things like blazers, military inspired coats and patterned and print pants. 

-Men's fashion trends differ a great deal from women’s. With men trends change at a slower pace than women. Men can therefore afford to wear pieces for many seasons without looking out of style. In 2011 men’s fashion is still  more on the classic side with Suits continuing to be slim and following the body’s silhouette. Fabrics for suits are continue to be linen, cotton and velvet. On the casual side people must focus on being minimalistic with few complications on the look, so a simple linen blazer with a v neck tee, a pair of corduroy pants with loafers / leather sandals and a pair of sunglasses will suffice to turn people’s heads. 

JESTINA: WHAT TRENDS WILL WE SEE IN YOUR COLLECTION?CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON THIS NEW ACHIEVEMENT “YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN!”

SN: Oh thank you; My collection will always be classic and well built Daring youthful silhouettes with more uses of slim-fit check shirts,slim ties and bow ties are details that always will make my collection simple and unique.

JESTINA: HOW LONG DID YOUR COLLECTION TAKE TO MAKE?

SN: It takes a lot of time. The first time when i see everything put together i finally say, 'Oh my God, it works!' Because it has been a long process, when it is finished you think, 'Finally, it is done!'

JESTINA: WHAT MATERIALS HAVE YOU USED FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

SN: Linen, Velvet, Cotton, Silk & Satin 

JESTINA: GIVE US THE DETAILED STORY BEHIND THE COLLECTION?

SN: “For me a gentleman is someone who’s polite, intelligent, talented, modest, well dressed, well groomed, and culturally aware. So I’ve taken that role into my own hands. I’m here to help, to advise, and to generally aid men in their quest to better themselves and become gentlemen. I want to save everyone else the effort I’ve been through and give them a one-stop resource for everything they need to known.

JESTINA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE  JG  READERS ON CHOOSING SUITABLE OUTFITS AND COLOURS FOR THEIR BODY TYPE?

SN: If you really like wearing something quite out there,be sure you can carry it off and that it actually looks good on you.The best way to judge is to never think that you're dressing for other people; It's not, it's for you.You make and break your image.Dont be afraid to mix and match.Nowadays not everyone wants total looks.You should always mix brands and seasons,new pieces with vintage ones.

JESTINA: HOW OFTEN WILL YOU RELEASE A COLLECTION?

SN: Soon before the end of this year.

JESTINA: WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED IN DEVELOPING YOUR BRAND SO FAR?

SN: The most challenging aspect has to be the financial side of the business. I’m not sure many people realize just how expensive it is to properly launch a brand. At the end of the day  this is a business and as a designer not only should I know about the designing and the creative aspects of the brand but also the financial and marketing sides of the brand. 

-As a designer I need a business person as my partner, someone with a solid knowledge of the industry, and extensive experience negotiating deals and handling legal and financial issues. I have people who I trust and who advise me on my business.

-Another challenge is dealing with the production side of the business. The designs have to be made according to my vision and standards; the cost of production has to be managed so that the clothes that come out are affordable but also of the best quality. Right now I am working on making my clothes on a large scale in conjunction with the opening of my flagship store in Dar- es- salaam sometime this year. 

JESTINA: HAS THE BAD ECONOMY THE WORLD IS FACING SO FAR AFFECTED YOUR WORK DIRECTLY?

SN: Going through the recession means that people are having to shape their own opinion and that has definitely been lacking recently. Instead people have been looking up to specific people that they would aspire to be like but it's not being themselves. Innovation is such an important tool. There is a change every 10 or 15 years and that is what is happening now. It's exciting to go through because people are more likely to push the boundaries and I always love taking risks. It's really interesting at the moment. It's evolving very fast. In any business at the moment you need to be sharp and have an innovative way of doing things.

JESTINA: WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED TO BASE YOUR PRODUCTION IN INDIA?

SN: Because of cheap labour and availability of raw materials.

JESTINA: POOR DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION IS A PROBLEM THAT CONTINUES TO  PLAGUE THE INDUSTRY, HOW IS SHERIA NGOWI COPING WITH THESE PROBLEMS?

SN: You have to create something that the customer feels an emotional attachment to when he/she looks at it and wears it. Individuality is such an important key to brands today and one of the reasons i need to put under big considaration.The craftsmanship and creative freedom is so important at the moment. By being innovative i believe i can keep my customers even in these  problems

JESTINA: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON HOW THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED?

SN: We need to get goverment support especially by reducing tax and revenues in all imports and exports of raw materials in the production side. The designs have to be made according to demand of the customers and in a very good standards; the cost of production has to be managed so that the clothes that come out are affordable but also of the best quality. 

JESTINA: WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR SHERIA NGOWI & WHERE DO  YOU SEE THE BRAND IN  THE  NEXT 5 YEARS?

SN: I love the history of my brand I want to bring a modern twist and I have to move on. As   the founder wouldn't still be repeating what I was doing from 2008-2011. I want to bring a fresh element to it while cultivating the true DNA of the brand. All aspects should be modern and fresh. Clothes are a communication tool and I want to create something special. 

I see my brand being eligible to apply for all the important Fashion weeks hosted around the world and i am looking forward to being a part of it. My biggest wish is to have my name in an International Fashion Platform, so that my grand kids and their friends could see that it is okay to follow a belief and for my country to be proud of me as a Tanzanian." 

JESTINA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ANYONE TRYING TO START THEIR OWN LABEL?

SN: They should go deep inside themselves and find what they really love to do. If you do things from your heart you can make things happen. You can change the world because you have the power and the power comes from within you. They say that if you work hard everything is possible.

JESTINA: ANY MESSAGE FOR JG BLOG READERS?

SN: ''Being Fashionable is one thing,and being stylish is another;but being oneself is the most important''

JESTINA: WHERE CAN WE BUY “SHERIA NGOWI” BRANDS?

SN: Soon this year I will launch my flagship store in Dar- es- salaam, followed by my official online store where customers will be able to purchase my products directly online. This will be done in conjunction with my fashion show which will be the first of its kind in Tanzania.

JESTINA: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD JUST INCASE WE FORGOT TO ASK?

SN: Don’t give up on your dreams. Be the change that you want to see.

Thank you very much Jestina George(Shukurani sana).

Ndani ya Mtu kati KAJALA akielezea undani wa maisha yake katika kipindi cha TAKE ONE!!

Mahojiano na Shamsa ford ndani ya kipindi cha Mtu Kati

Mahojiano na Bongo Movie star Hemedi

Mahojiano na iRene Uwoya kwenye Mikasi

IRENE UWOYA NA MTOTO WAKE

Hii ndio akili

Bill Gates organized an enormous session to recruit a new Chairman for Microsoft
Europe.  5000 candidates assembled in a large room. One candidate was Urio,
Tanzanian living in USA .
Bill Gates thanked all the candidates for coming and asking those who do not
know JAVA programming to leave. 2000 people left the room. Urio says to himself,
'I do not know JAVA but I have nothing to lose if I stay I'll give it a try.
Bill Gates asked the candidates who never had experience of managing more than
100 people to leave. 2000 people left the room. Urio says to himself ' I never
managed anybody by myself but I have nothing to lose if I stay. What can happen
to me?' So he stays.
Then Bill Gates asked candidates who do not have management diplomas to leave.
500 people left the room.Urio says to himself, 'I left school at 15 but what
have I got to lose?' So he stays in the room.
Lastly, Bill Gates asked the candidates who do not speak Russian to leave. 498
people left the room. Urio says to himself, ' I do not speak one word of Russian
but what do I have to lose?' So he stays and
finds himself with one other candidate.
Everyone else has gone. Bill Gates joined them and said 'Apparently you are the
only two candidates who have all the required qualifications & experience I am
looking for and speak Russian, so I'd now like to hear you have a conversation
together in that language.' and Calmly,
Urio turns to the other candidate and says `shimbony shafo bana!'
The other answers 'sicha kabsa mleu mbonyi saa kasi wana wai wecha kabsi nkwi
ukeri si ku si mleu
Urio, "nikunu ma mtoni ngikeri fo ngisengeta eleri mndu chu aicha wachaka nyi fo
ruwa"
The other candidate answers"lasma atumanye wachaka tukeri kila handu"
Bill Gates hired them immediately thinking that they were speaking Russian

Hii ndio akili!

Bill Gates organized an enormous session to recruit a new Chairman for Microsoft
Europe.  5000 candidates assembled in a large room. One candidate was Urio,
Tanzanian living in USA .
Bill Gates thanked all the candidates for coming and asking those who do not
know JAVA programming to leave. 2000 people left the room. Urio says to himself,
'I do not know JAVA but I have nothing to lose if I stay I'll give it a try.
Bill Gates asked the candidates who never had experience of managing more than
100 people to leave. 2000 people left the room. Urio says to himself ' I never
managed anybody by myself but I have nothing to lose if I stay. What can happen
to me?' So he stays.
Then Bill Gates asked candidates who do not have management diplomas to leave.
500 people left the room.Urio says to himself, 'I left school at 15 but what
have I got to lose?' So he stays in the room.
Lastly, Bill Gates asked the candidates who do not speak Russian to leave. 498
people left the room. Urio says to himself, ' I do not speak one word of Russian
but what do I have to lose?' So he stays and
finds himself with one other candidate.
Everyone else has gone. Bill Gates joined them and said 'Apparently you are the
only two candidates who have all the required qualifications & experience I am
looking for and speak Russian, so I'd now like to hear you have a conversation
together in that language.' and Calmly,
Urio turns to the other candidate and says `shimbony shafo bana!'
The other answers 'sicha kabsa mleu mbonyi saa kasi wana wai wecha kabsi nkwi
ukeri si ku si mleu
Urio, "nikunu ma mtoni ngikeri fo ngisengeta eleri mndu chu aicha wachaka nyi fo
ruwa"
The other candidate answers"lasma atumanye wachaka tukeri kila handu"
Bill Gates hired them immediately thinking that they were speaking Russian

Diaspora Council of Tanzanians in America (DICOTA)

Update on the convention in Washington DC (Sept 22-25):
Early Bird Registration Fee of $99 (value of over $250) has been extended by one week. The new deadline is next Wed, September 7th. The registration fee will be $190 starting next Thursday, September 8th.
If you haven't yet registered, please do so.
www.dicotaus.org
Your voice can contribute to the future of DICOTA.
Tupo pamoja. We hope to see you there.

Nyumbani kwa mpita njia.

Warembo wa jumapili!

Mpita njia baada ya mlo wa mchana kijiweni.

Jinsi Mponjoli alivyokamatwa!!!

His fortunes rose suddenly at the age of 34, making him one of the prominent suppliers of fancy cars in the streets of Dar es Salaam, before his dream of becoming a millionaire was shattered by the British Police a few years ago.

Nearly two years since his jail sentence was doubled, the British police this week released the details of Mponjoli Malakasuka, a 38-year-old, currently jailed in UK, after he was accused of masterminding a network that stole and exported posh cars worth Sh3.75billion to Tanzania.

The release of the details follows a request by The Guardian on Sunday filed to West Midlands Police, through our correspondent in London, in January, this year, whereby this newspaper wanted to know the case against a Tanzanian businessman who is now languishing in a UK prison.

After waiting for seven months, finally in complying with the statutory duty, under sections 1 and 11 of the UK’s Freedom of Information Act of 2000, the details of how the Tanzanian businessman was trailed, arrested and jailed have been disclosed by the police.

The request by The Guardian on Sunday follows mixed reports about how the Tanzanian was arrested, whereby some of his relatives were not satisfied with how the case was handled, while some of his close friends believed he was really what the UK police said about him before the court.

Malakasuka’s jail sentence was more than doubled on November 17, 2009, on the day he was to be released from his three and a half year sentence for his involvement in a $2.5 million scam texporting posh cars to Tanzania.

But, UK police, trying to claw back the money he made from his offences, took the case back to court for an enforcement hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

As a result, the 38-year-old from Yew Tree in Walsall was handed an additional four years in jail unless he paid up within 28 days.

Since he couldn’t pay the amount within 28 days, he is now languishing in prison.

A judge at a previous hearing made the order on the basis that Malakasuka had hidden assets in Tanzania and that he should pay out £828,000(Sh2.07billion)

Malakasuka was initially sentenced for conspiracy to steal after he hired cars for companies, before reporting them stolen. He then shipped those stolen vehicles to Tanzania, where they were sold at very cheap prices.

According to the report by the UK’s police, even if the fraudster serves the four years, the debt will remain.

How the Police trailed him

When Malakasuka entered the UK land after spending some years in the United States of America, he had a mission to fulfill - establishing a sophisticated car theft network that would be used to steal and export posh cars to Tanzania and the East African market at large.

To hide his mission, Malakasuka, then aged 32, rented a four bedroom luxury mansion in the posh suburb of Yew Tree of Walsall. He was the only black man who was living in this rich suburb, a move that raised alarm amongst his white neighbours, but since no wrongdoing was connected to him, everything was left to the time to decide.

But, his lifestyle associated with fancy cars, mainly Mercedes Benz S320 Cdi, Porsche Cayenne, BMW and many more, puzzled his neighbours.

After settling smoothly, Malakasuka established a sophisticated car theft network, and also secured a shipping company to transport the stolen vehicles to Tanzania and Kenya market. In his network there was also a department of forging documents, which were then used to export the stolen posh cars.

Posing as an executive from well respected firms in UK, Malakasuka managed to hire various posh cars for private uses, before reporting them stolen.

According to the UK police, Malakasuka had used a variety of sophisticated methods to steal prestigious vehicles which he then exported out of the UK to Tanzania and Kenya.

The cars were stolen both through car key burglaries, and through a variety of identity fraud and fraudulent hire purchase agreements.

He had more than 30 credit cards in various names, 70 bank accounts, and dozens of identity cards, in a move to hide his real identity.

In one incidence, Malakasuka acquired a Porsche Cayenne through hire purchase agreement in late 2007, exported it to Dar es Salaam and sold it at a price of $60,000, before reporting to the UK police that the vehicle had been stolen.

After a vehicles dealers, insurers and tour operators raised an alarm, the UK police decided to trail Malakasuka through a special surveillance system from his home to various places he transacted his businesses.

After few months of surveillance, Police were shocked to notice that the man was using forged identities but also was involved in exporting stolen posh cars to East Africa.

In tallying the details, it emerged that just a few days after the vehicles were shipped outside the UK, the very same person reported that some vehicles in his possession were stolen and claimed insurance after securing the Police lost report papers.

The UK police also expanded their investigation to Malakasuka’s financial transactions in a move to gather more evidence about his car theft network. Police were shocked after establishing that Malakasuka had 70 bank accounts, some operating in his names while others used his close relatives’ names.

Police in the UK were also able to show $250million passing through in excess of 70 bank accounts in the UK and Tanzania, including one account which alone had Sh700million.

Tallying his job in UK, and the amount of money that passed through his bank account plus his fancy lifestyle, the figures weren’t matching at all, leading the UK police to believe that the Tanzanian was a mastermind of a rapidly growing car theft gang.

In their investigation, UK police discovered that Malakasuka’s gang operated across the West Midlands, Staffordshire, the north and London, and he was the ringleader of the criminal group.

On the day of his arrest, Malakasuka, who had no idea that he was being watched closely, went to a Petrol station, purchased fuel using one of the credit cards belonging to one of the 70 accounts connected to him.

At the time of his arrest police discovered Malakasuka to be living a luxurious life in his four bedroom house in the Yew Tree area of Walsall. At his address were pictures of luxury houses in Tanzania into which police believed he had invested his criminal proceeds.

Various documents seized by the police proved what they have been investigating for months.

But, to his neighbours, his arrest didn’t surprise them at all because from the very beginning, they had doubted this young ambitious black man due to his fancy lifestyle.

In their investigation, UK Police were also able to establish that some Mercedes Benz S320 CDi and Porsche Cayenne cars worth $400,000 were stolen and sold in Dar es Salaam to four different buyers between 2007 and 2008.

Finally, Malakasuka was arrested, charged and sentenced for conspiracy to steal after he hired cars for companies before reporting them stolen and shipping them to Tanzania.

During the hearing, the court in UK also accepted the seven expensive houses in Tanzania were proceeds of his criminality.

This, according to details released by the West Midlands Police in UK, plus further details gathered by The Guardian on Sunday, is how the young ambitious Tanzanian ended up in jail abroad

Mbongo akamatwa kwa wizi wa magari UK!

WEST Midlands Police is driving home the message that crime does not pay after confiscating £1.4 million from criminals in the past two weeks.

In addition, nearly £100,000 in cash was seized from a car on the M6 in Birmingham, believed to have been intended for criminal use.

Det Chief Insp Simon Wallis, head of the force’s economic crime team, said: “This money has been taken from those who think crime is an easy way to make money.

“It brings West Midlands Police to a total of £15 million seized from criminals in the last 18 months.

“On many of these occasions through financial investigation and the confiscation process we are able to trace monies and give them back to victims. In cases where money is transferred abroad, it still is able to be retrieved. Crime does not pay. We will investigate those involved in criminality to ensure that they do not enjoy their ill gotten gains.”

Among the success stories for the police is the near £900,000 seized from Walsall conman Mponjoli Malakasuka, who had been stealing and exporting high powered luxury cars.

Malakasuka, aged 36, from the Yew Tree estate, was ordered to pay back the money in one month or face an additional four years in jail. He was originally sentenced to three-and-a-half years in July 2008 for conspiracy to steal.

Malakasuka had used a variety of sophisticated methods to steal prestige vehicles which he then exported out of the UK to Tanzania and Kenya. The cars were stolen both through car key burglaries and a variety of identity fraud and fake hire purchase agreements.

The cars included Mercedes Benz S320 CDi and Porsche Cayenne cars. In all over £300,000-worth of vehicles were stolen.

At the time of his arrest police discovered Malakasuka to be living a life of luxury in his four-bed house. At his address were pictures of luxury houses in Tanzania into which officers believed he had invested his fraudulent cash.

The court accepted the houses in Tanzania were proceeds of his criminality. Financial investigators were also able to show thousands of pounds passing through in excess of 70 bank accounts in the UK and Tanzania including one account which alone had £350,000. Det Sgt Jonathan Jones, who led the investigation for the Economic Crime Team, said: “This has been a great investigation, as not only have we stopped fraud and theft, but we have now recovered the profit that this man made from his criminality.”

In a separate case a money launderer from Birmingham was ordered to pay back more than £450,000 of his criminal profit.

Barrington Fulcott, aged 48, from Kingstanding, was told to pay £450,386 at the hearing in Birmingham Crown Court.

He was given six months to return the cash, or face an extra four years in prison. Fulcott was originally sentenced to 42 months in prison in February 2008 in relation to three counts of money laundering.

He had gathered considerable wealth from his criminal activity which had allowed him to purchase five properties in the West Midlands and begin the development of a large home in St Annes, Jamaica.

Wema Sepetu & Diomond (LIVE Perfomance @Fiesta Morogoro) www.teentz.com

Diamond from TZ, Mbagala Live in UK nov2010, Milton Keynes,Malaria Ambas...

Katibu wa NEC,Itikadi na Uenezi wa CCM,Nape Nnauye akiongea na WanaBlogu...

Mdau wa libeneke atolewa ushamba DC

UHURU KWA WATU WOTE NI THAMANI KUBWA SANA

Watu wetu kule Tanzania wanazungumza sana juu ya ukosefu wa bidhaa na uchaguzi finyu.Ukosefu wa umeme na maji safi ingawa wana hela za kulipia na wanamahitaji makubwa sana,ukosefu wa hospitali zenye tiba nzuri na za kutosha kusaidia wananchi wote,sheria mbovu zilizozorota kuanzia sheria za barabarani mpaka za uendeshaji wa biashara na usalama.
    Nchi zilizoendelea serikali zao zinaboresha na kuangalia tu utendaji wa wananchi wake na makampuni ya kibiashara lakini haijihusishi  kwenye shuhuli zozote za kuchagulia au kuamua watu wafanye nini.Filosofia ya nchi zilizoendelea kiviwanda ni kwamba kama tunania ya kufanya maisha ya watu wetu kuwa mazuri sana,jinsi ya kufanikisha hilo ni kuwapa kila mwananchi uhuru wake wote.Sababu ni kwamba Uhuru wenyewe kwanza kabisa ni kitu kizuri kwa binaadamu wote na pia kama kila mtu yuko huru basi ataweza kujiamulia mambo yake mwenyewe na kuchagua mambo yanayompendeza yeye mwenyewe kwa manufaa yake bila kuamuliwa na mtu yeyote.Jinsi ya kuuzidisha uhuru wa kila mtu mpaka kileleni kabisa ni kuwaongezea uchaguzi wa kila kitu chenye thamani kwenye maisha yao.Wanapokuwa na mambo mengi ya kuchagua wanakuwa na uhuru zaidi na wanapokuwa na uhuru zaidi maisha yao yanakuwa mazuri zaidi.

   Mfano mzuri nikienda dukani kununua dawa ya mswaki kuna aina 52 ambazo zote zinatangaza kwamba zinafanya kazi nzuri ya kusafisha na kung'arisha meno.Kampuni yangu ya bima ya afya wamenipa mhimili wa madaktari wa kuchagua kama dakitari wetu wa familia,mpaka sasa wako 24 bado sijachagua hata mmoja manake nimeongea na kila mmoja anasema anatoa huduma nzuri,natafuta shule za chekechea kwa mtoto wangu Makayla nae anapata shida kuchagua pia kwahiyo anabaki kusema anataka kwenda shule rafiki zake wanayoenda, bima yangu ya sheria (legal insurance) nao wamenipa mhimili wa wanasheria wa kuchagua kama nikipata tatizo la sheria bado nimeshindwa kuchagua mwanasheria,nilipokuwa nataka kununua gari nilikuwa nashindwa kuchagua,je ni honda,toyota,chevy,ford,gmc,mitsubishi na listi inaendelea zaidi na zaidi.Na kwenyewe ndani ya honda au toyota kuna aina nyingi pia.Kila aina ina manufaa na matatizo yake.Uchaguzi wa bidhaa fulani kwasababu ya manufaa kadhaa kunasababisha kukosa manufaa ya bidhaa ambazo hazimo kwenye chaguo.Wasomi wa kiuchumi wanaita ukosefu huo gharama mbadala (opportunity cost).Hii ndio shida mojawapo ya watu wanaoishi kwenye nchi zilizoendelea kiviwanda.
Kwa hivyobasi ilituweza kusonga mbele kwa pamoja ni muhimu kila mtu kuutambua uhuru wake.
Asanteni sana,
Wasalaamu David.

One Inspiring Tanzanian woman!

Ziara ya waziri Mrema kwa Queen Elizabeth uingereza.

a ziara of mrema in UK the result to BONGO

Heh...
While visiting England, Mr. Mrema The Chairman of
TLP, is invited to tea with the Queen. He asks her what
her leadership philosophy is. She says that it is to
surround herself with intelligent people. He asks how
she knows if they're intelligent.
"I do so by asking them the right questions," says
the Queen.
"Allow me to demonstrate."
She phones Tony Blair and says, "Mr. Prime Minister.
Please answer this question: Your mother has a child,
and your father has a child, and this child is not
your brother or sister. Who is it?"
Tony Blair responds, "It's me, ma'am."
"Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir," says the
Queen.
She hangs up and says, "Did you get that, Mr.
Eliatonga?"
"Yes ma'am. Thanks a lot. I'll definitely be using
that!"
Upon returning to DAR , he decides he'd better put the
minister of infrastructure Mr. mramba to the test.

He invite Mr. Mramba and says,
"Heh brother, I wonder if you can answer a question
for me."
"Why, of course. What's on your mind?"
"Uh, your mother has a child, and your father has a
child, and this child is not your brother or your
sister. Who is it?"
Mramba hems and haws and finally asks, "Can I think
about it and get back to you?" Mrema agrees, and
Mramba leaves.
He immediately calls a meeting of other senior
oposition parties and they puzzle over the question
for several hours, but nobody can come up with an
answer.
Finally, in desperation, Mramba calls Magufuli, the
former minister of his ministry, and explains his
problem.
"Now look here Magufuli, your mother has a child, and
your father has a child, and this child is not your
brother, or your sister. Who is it?"
Magufuli answers immediately, "simple, It's me, of
course.
Much relieved, Mramba rushes back to Mrema and
exclaims,
"I know the answer! I know who it is! It's Magufuli,
the former minister of my ministry!!!!!!"
And Mrema replies in disgust,

"PUMBAVU mkubwa wewe, ovyo kabisa, It's Tony Blair.

Haya wenye madigirii yenu kuna ukweli wowote hapa kwenye hii documentary?

Mohamed Dewji

Mohammed Dewji “Mo” was born on the 08 th of May, 1975 in Ipembe ward, Singida. He is the seond child of Mr and Mrs Gulam Dewji and has five other siblings. Mo received his primary education in Arusha at the Arusha Primary School and finished his secondary education from the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar Es Salam. In 1992 his parents decided to send him to America for his High School years and he was admitted to the Saddle Brooke High School in New Jersey.

It was at High School that Mo first started exhibiting signs of leadership by becoming the School President. Being a Tanzanian and holding such position in a foreign land made his family very proud. He was also voted as the Most Accomplished student at the time and it is notable to mention here that his school mate Jeniffer Capriati a very famous U.S tennis player won the same vote in the women's section.

After finishing his high school studies Mo continued with his university education in USA and joined one of the renowned university, Georgetown University in Washington D.C majoring in International Business and Finance and taking Theology as a minor subject.

Georgetown University is famous for its good education. Notable alumni of the University include 42nd U.S President Bill Clinton, Philippines president Gloria Arroyo, Jordan's King Abdullah and NBA players like Allen Iverson and Patrick Ewing.During his time at Georgetown, Mo started to analyze his life,.He was trying to balance the Western way of life with his native African way of living. He thought that much more could be done for his countrymen through some very basic changes and way of running things. He started to focus and prioritize what he wanted to gain from his education and experience in America. After Graduation in 1998 Mo headed straight back to Tanzania and joined the family business. He became Chief Financial Controller at Mohammed Enterprises Tanzanian Limited (METL).

Apart from joining Business Mo also started expanded his social activities by becoming sponsoring company of The Simba Sports club of Dar Es Salaam.

In 2000 Tanzania hosted its second multiparty elections' stood in those elections for his home constituency Singida as a member of parliament. He won the preliminary votes in CCM (ruling party) with overwhelming majority, but the joy was short lived as he was not nominated to contest for the seat by the party on grounds that he was too young. (He was just 25 on that time).

Despite the decision of the party Mo did not loose hope and he did his level best to campaign for the candidate chosen by the party and made sure the party's interest are given priority over his own ambition.

After the elections Mo continued many activities to help the people of Singida's and also spent his time and investment in various sports ventures. He increased his sponsorship deals with Dar Es Salaam outfit Simba Sports Club and spent more than 100 millions Tanzanians shillings given per year on the club.

In 2001 Mo decided to marry his childhood sweetheart Saira whom he knew since his school years at the International School of Tanganyika. Mo and Saira are blessed with two beautiful children Naila and Abbas.

Two years after marriage Mo finally took full control of his company Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (METL) and became the Managing Director.

During his tenure the company has grown eight folds and diversified in many sectors like Agriculture, Finance, Distribution and Manufacturing.

Statistics shows that companies under METL are contributing an aggregate 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Tanzania and also employing 20,000 people.

Tanzania held its third multi party elections in 2005 and Mo stood for the parliamentary seat again and this time he won a landslide victory in preliminary votes and got chosen by the CCM party to stand as a candidate. In the general election he won and overwhelming majority of 90 percent of the total votes and was sworn in as a member of parliament on the 29 th of December 2005 Mohammed Dewji

Mo and sports have gone hand in hand ever since he was a child and he always kept his passion for football alive. When President Kikwete was sworn in 2005 as the fourth phase president of United Republic of Tanzania he brought back the excitement and enthusiasm to Tanzanian football team (Taifa Stars) fans, by ordering a special committee to concentrate and improve the team's performance.

Mo was appointed as chairman of the committee by Minister of Sports and under his leadership the team performed wonders by notching important victories and also geting the draws against big teams like that of Cameroon and Senegal.

After many years in exile Taifa Stars managed to qualify the continental tournament for home grown players, capping a wonderful work done by the committee and the stakeholders in the country.

In 2007 there were party elections and Mo vied for the Membership of national Executive Committee (NEC) of CCM (ruling party) and got enough votes to secure his slot in the NEC sessions for the next five years.

This is the short history of Mohammed Dewji MP, NEC member and CEO of Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania limited) who has been in forefront for development of his constituency and country altogether.

JANUARY MAKAMBA; A former presidential aide

PART 1

With the beginning of this sentence, I have succumbed to admonitions from several quarters to “put my story out” now that I am a public figure. It has always felt presumptuous and vain to recount the story of my life in public. And there are a number of ways to do this: chronologically, anecdotally, and so forth. In any way that the story is told, my 36 years of living have been quite eventful, if not peripatetic.
I was born on 28 January 1974 to a young, polite and beautiful nursing course trainee and a very vibrant, loud and charming local government functionary (Katibu Tarafa): Josephine and Yusuf. Few months after my birth, my father was promoted to become a District Commissioner in Tanga. After three years, my mother went for further studies and my father went to join the military for Officer Cadet course in Tanzania Military Academy in Monduli. Me and my little brother were shipped to our village Mahezangulu, Lushoto, and later to our maternal grandmother who was living alone (my mother is a sole child and my grandma was widowed early) in a village around Kyaka – now Missenyi District – about 20 kilometres between the border of Uganda and Tanzania. After a year, Idi Amin invaded Tanzania and the Ugandan army occupied areas around our village: my grandma, my brother and I became refugees in displaced persons camp in areas further back from the border. Our mother made attempts to come get us but roads were closed around Biharamulo and people were not allowed to travel to the “war zone”. When the full war between Tanzania and Uganda broke out in 1978, my father, as an energetic new army lieutenant, was assigned to the frontlines – and therefore could not assist in getting us out of the refugees camp, until one day when he showed up in dirty uniforms soaked with rain commandeering an empty bus and got us permit to travel back to safe zone and reunite with our mother.
When the war ended, my father was moved to Dodoma to work for the (CCM) party. (My sister, Mwamvita, was born there and was named because of the remembrance of my father’s safe return from war). In our neighbourhood, my brother and I were the butt of the joke because as passenger planes flew in the skies above we would cry and ran to hid in the bushes – because of the trauma of bombardment of Ugandan warplanes. In 1981, we were moved to Monduli where in 1982 I started Standard I at Rasharasha Primary School. In primary school, I was nicknamed “January Makaptura” as my mother bought me oversized shorts so they could last a couple of years.

Life in the Village

In 1983, my parents decided that I should move back to the village (this time without my brother) to live with my grandmother. Life in the village, in 1983, in that era of scarcity where basic necessities such as soap, sugar, salt, etc were rationed, was quite rough. Hardship that comes with village life – no running water, no electricity, etc - tests your character. It was much more difficult for me to cope because I had lived in the cities where all amenities were available. School was about seven kilometres from my grandmother’s house, and to make it by 7am, you have to be up by 5am to get prepared. Every student arrived in school in the morning with wet shoes (or wet feet, for those many who didn’t have shoes) from collecting moisture on grass covering village footpaths. As a city kid in the village, I stood out in the village – for better and for worse. I did well in school because of the good foundation but I also slid back because of the sheer enormity of tasks a village kid has to undertake. After school at about 3pm, I used to go straight to herding goats in the nearby hills overlooking River Kagera (as you start a climb towards Karagwe). Goats are interesting creatures to manage. If you condition them that they have 90 minutes to eat, they will settle and won’t run around, and in 90 minutes they will be full. If they know they have full day, you will be frustrated because you will be running with them and by the end of the day they will still not be full. There is nothing more satisfying than herding goats back home with bloated stomachs. Every evening I would feel satisfied and extremely accomplished. And, as a kid, the wonderment of being in the bush alone with goats, the bewilderment of the immensity of nature around you, with occasional terror of a glimpse of a snake, does not leave you for your entire life. Alone in the bush, a sole shepherd of the important assets of the family, you reflect, you fear and you hope – all the while you are a nine year old.
When the goats are back, my grandmother and I would go fetch water from River Kagera. The water used to be smelly and darkish kind as we fetched it not from the river itself but its adjacent wetland. When I go to the village today, and see some 7, 8 and 9 year-olds, shoeless and in ragged clothes, balancing 10 and 20 litres containers of water from the same river, I recall my life back then – and reflect on the purpose of politics.
Life in the village happened at my grandma’s place. She used to have a little village pub selling local brew (lubisi). At 6pm, me and her open shop. Most customers were men. In the village, people knew each other and many customers will drink on credit. My grandma, who died this March, was tough as steel. She would handle drunken men who are aggressive with command and authority and cow them into leaving the pub or paying up their debts. I would watch in amazement as collect the money or measure portions to customers. Village pub conversation meandered from gossiping, to politics, to the latest developments in the village, to the retelling of the good old days.
My grandmother is from a people who are steeped in etiquette: everything has elaborate rituals, most especially eating. Eating was communal where up to 8 people would sit down, and surround and share one big plate, and, as a junior, you do not pick up a piece of meat on your own. It is handed to you by seniors. And never ever will you greet someone while walking. You have to stop and offer extended greetings. The idea was to keep order, discipline and retain predictability in social conduct and relationships. So, I learnt to recall and abide to these rituals, and this provided me with a set of values that I have kept todate.

Growing Up in Tanga

In 1985, I moved back to live with my parents in Lushoto, where I attended Kitopeni Primary School. My father was moved to Tanga city, where I completed my primary school education at Masiwani Primary School, and then he moved to Wete, Pemba, the smaller island in Zanzibar. We did not accompany our father there – instead we moved to a village called Kiomoni – 12 kilometres outside Tanga city. Commuting 24 kilometres everyday from Kiomoni to Tanga to go to school at Masiwani was hell as buses were very notorious in taking students. In most cases, you would rather walk on foot and get home at 8pm. The place was very malarial and I recall my little sister suffering from malaria almost every other week. We all suffered repeated bouts of malaria and I recall my mother moving from me to my brothers and sister all night sponging us with cold water to keep our bodies temperatures down.
Good thing Dad did not last in Pemba as we were moved to Handeni. I started my secondary education at Handeni Secondary School in 1988, the first year of its operation. It was more or less a bush school as we were the first students: literally 2 teachers, one classroom, no textbooks, no toilets, no labs, and makeshift desks. It was very rough. At the same time, the excitement that you are in secondary school – that you have somehow made it – was not diminished by these challenges. In the streets of Handeni, a typical urban centre of a very rural district, we would mumble some English words we could muster just to distinguished ourselves with – and to boast to - those who have not made it to the secondary school, back then a whopping majority (up to 80 percent) of primary school leavers.
When my father was moved (once again) to Lindi to become Regional Party Secretary, I had to move to a boarding school: So, I joined Galanos Secondary School, a more established if not reputable government school in the outskirts of the city of Tanga. I was a very good student there, almost always and effortlessly first in class. I was also very popular, outspoken and fearless. I ran for Deputy Head Prefect and won handily against a candidate favoured by the teachers (in old government boarding schools, the election of the student government body is a very serious matter). I was a very unconventional student leader as I clashed often with teachers over students’ rights, particularly poor state of food. Also, I did not quite fully use all the privileges that came of DHP position.
I was expected to do well at national secondary education exams. I chose to pursue CBA – Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture – as my “combination” for High School studies. The main reason for this choice was that it was an exclusive and a highly competitive combination. There was only one high school – Kibaha Secondary School – in the country taking only 34 students for this combination. So, I chose this because it was hard to get to high school on this. I was thrilled and moved by the challenge. So, we did our exams – and the day to go and look for the result came. And, to the shock of friends and family and teachers, my name was not there in the results sheet. I felt like collapsing. I went to another result centre thinking that there was a mistake – again, nothing. Inquiries to the reasons were not responded to immediately. Later we learnt that I was mistakenly linked to a cheating scam that one of the teachers was involved in. I was a pawn in a terrible mistake. A really long and painful story. So, what was the alternative? To resit the exams. I quickly registered as private candidate and pursued High School studies at Forest Hill High School on a tentative basis while resitting – so that when I get my results I can proceed on to Form Six. It was such a task, but I succeeded.

Reflections on War, Peace & Violence

After high school, I trekked to Kasulu, Kigoma to look for adventure and check out in real life these images from media of massive numbers of refugees crossing into Tanzania. I ended up getting myself a job there, first as a registration clerk (basically registering refugee details in the “manifest” as they come into the country). I did this work enthusiastically as I had the opportunity to live alone and earn a salary for the first time. I was then promoted to become distribution supervisor – overseeing food and non-food items distribution. I saw people making a lot of money stealing refugees stuff and I was horrified. Of the things I am most fearful about is stealing: can you really spend stolen property with comfort? I feel like everybody in the world – who will be looking at you – will know that you are a thief. I remember very well to have brought to the camp police station 8 of my staff (including the retired army captain who was our chief of security) for unexplained loss of food items. I was naive and an idealist: there was no way there was going to be “evidence” that they stole it.
So, my hardwork was rewarded with a promotion to become Assistant Camp Manager at Mtabila II refugee camp. I founded the camp myself. I recall surveying all the corners of the camp when it was just a bush handed to us by the Ministry of Home Affairs. I recall receiving new “caseload” – and giving away the first plot.
I was young – 21, 22, 23, with a lot of authority, good salary, a car, a driver and most importantly a UHF radio handset, a real symbol of status in the refugee camp. It is at this stage that I started making friends with international people i.e expatriates. I worked very well with people at Africare, with UNHCR Field Coordinators Bushra Halepota (from Pakistan) and Alice Bellah Conteh from Sierra Leone. They all loved me. When I was leaving for college, I had a farewell party at Kasulu TTC and Alice gave me as present a gold Cartier pen (back then I did not realise its value and did not even know that “Cartier” was a luxurious brand. I was a bush boy).
In the camps, I also became very reflective and philosophical. I felt deep in my heart the suffering of these refugees. And I recalled stories told by my grandfather about my own life as a refugee (in my own country). I reflected a lot on the nature of man, nature of war, violence and peace. I also fell in love with a refugee girl (now happily married in Canada) but could not date her as my position as service provider to her, with all the resources at my disposal vis-à-vis hers, as a refugee and vulnerable got me to rethink the wisdom of us getting together. Perhaps I was wrong.
Anyway, when I decided to go to college, I thought I should do peace studies – to understand the nature of war, peace and violence; to see if I can offer assistance in making the world a much more peaceful place; to see if we can prevent people having to flee from their homes to other countries. Using the savings from my job and part scholarship, I went to college in the United States, a very prestigious one in Minnesota – St. John’s University, a catholic university, with a seminary, a monastery and many Benedictine monks as professors. But I first landed in Boston and took some preliminary/required courses/credits at a cheaper rate at Quincy College before transferring them to SJU.

Coming to America

Life in the United States was quite interesting. Everything was new and big. The second day I arrived, my hosts were at work and there was a ring at the door, and when I open it, two little African-American girls were there saying some things that I could not figure out. They were frustrated and left – and I felt embarrassed and figured America is going to be really tough.
Since I was in Tanzania, and watched American movies, I had longed to eat at MacDonald’s. So, at the first opportunity, I went there but ordering was an issue. So, I looked at the pictures of burgers and just pointed to the number whose burger looked delicious, but still many questions from the cashier in rapid English came toward me (after a few months, I learnt the questions entailed “for here or to go?”, “meal or combo?”, “large or medium”, “cheese and mayo?” and so on) and I felt like saying “Maswali ya nini? Wewe nipe tu hiyo burger kama ilivyo kwenye picha” or “Just give me the burger as looks in the picture!”
But America was a great place. For summers, I took on all jobs one can imagine: I delivered pizza and magazines, I worked in nursing homes caring for the elderly, I worked with people with mental disability (this was most readily available job for immigrants and foreign students), I worked as a security guard (where I had to buy that silly heavy belt with everything on it), as an office clerk, and so on. I recall in Boston, working at a house with people with mental disability, my boss was late and I was asked to get these guys to their doctor’s appointments. I had a driver’s licence but had never driven in the United States apart from the test to get the licence. I got lost for three hours. The guys I was with started losing it as time for meds came and I was on the road. I also started losing it as I hit the wrong freeway and as you know can’t drive slowly in the freeway, so I was speeding without really knowing where I was going. I was rescued by police – who escorted me back to the house. My boss was American of Greek origin. He understood and gave me another chance.

A Pious Job

But my best job was on St. John’s University campus. I secured some 20 hours a week to work with the Benedictine monks at the monastery nursing home. This is serious stuff: working with these great men of god, who have devoted their lives to serve God – no kids, no property, no nothing – and they are placed at a house where they know, and everyone knows, that they are waiting to die. And I was a friend, a companion, caregiver and conversation partner to these men. You see the best of both worlds: strength of faith and fallibility of faith; prospect of death as inducement of fear and prospect of death as embraced opportunity for eternal rest. I attended a funeral mass for one of these men where the attendance is very small, because their work and their mark have been in missions around the world and because at that place called nursing home the banality of death can harden the heart that, when it happens, only few show up to celebrate it. In college, my favourite subject was philosophy and my mentor was Father Rene McGraw who got me to “get” Emmanuel Levinas’ “Totality and Infinity: Essays on Exteriority”. And since then, I have become a better person (I believe). I left college and took up a very competitive graduate assistanceship/internship at the Carter Center, an institute founded and led by former US President, Jimmy Carter. This took me to Sierra Leone.


PART 2;

The Sierra Leone experience was one of pressure and discovery. We went there primarily to observe the election, but also explore other opportunities for Carter Center programming. Expectations were very high as those who won the internship were considered to be “smart” people. Indeed, I was in the company of some very competent and accomplished young people and had to really up my game. Ambitious and smart young people at American workplaces are fiercely competitive, even when pursuing the same objectives. To remain relevant at Carter Center, I had to work hard and also learn both global and office politics. Our Sierra Leone project leader was a cheerful, sharp and very committed Harvard-trained Human Rights lawyer, Ashley Barr, who was a very helpful and a good mentor to me. It was indeed an awesome experience. I travelled around and saw a bit of the Sierra Leone countryside, and had to learn a lot about Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast as all these countries, together with Sierra Leone, form an interlinked conflict ecosystem. As an old refugee camp staff, my pull in Sierra Leone was in the internally displaced people (IDPs) camps in the countryside and around Freetown. The common – and very brutal – feature of the Sierra Leone war was the chopping-off of hands of innocent people by RUF rebels. I will never forget an occasion where I had a chat with a group of energetic young people in one of the IDP camps in Freetown. I chose to put on spot this beautiful young girl who had both her hands cut off right at the elbows. I asked her, rather dumbly in retrospect, what the most challenging part of her situation was. She smiled and threw back the question to me: “What do you think?” She went on to answer, rather bravely particularly with the presence of boys in the group, something along the lines that “each end of the month is traumatic, as for a couple of times a day for the entire week, I have to ask someone to help change my female sanitary pads”. At that point I was lost for words, but then I had a sense of satisfaction that the career I had chosen - to study peace and conflict so as to help end war and violence - was the right one. I ended my Carter Center gig on a high note - meeting with President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter. We took a picture, which President Carter graciously autographed a few days later and it was the first ever picture that I framed. Until today, it sits atop my bookshelf.

Meeting My Future Wife

Before I moved to Atlanta and subsequently to Sierra Leone, I had met my future wife at my university campus. She was living in Atlanta at the time, and was visiting her sister and her sister’s boyfriend (whom I both knew) in Minneapolis. They came along with their mother (who was visiting from Tanzania) and a kid brother who was touring campuses in search of a college of choice. They called me up one rainy afternoon seeking to visit St. John’s. I was very delighted to welcome them. I gave them a campus tour, and I was a very eager recruiter - but my focus was really on “The Sister from Atlanta”. They visited my dorm, and I had coincidentally cleaned my room spotless and had adopted a small pot plant. I thought I had sufficiently charmed “The Sister” but I wanted to do more. So, I held them until after 4pm to leave campus. For decades, 4pm has been a sacred hour at St. John’s University and monastery. That is when the famous and very nutritious “Johnnie bread” comes out of the oven. For us at St. John’s community, the Johnnie bread is an institution. Its Bavarian recipe and baking method have remained the same for over a century. I thought I should impress the girl with Johnnie bread. So, at 4pm I did indeed hand over to her the warm bread. Although I had emphasized that the bread was special, I later came to learn that it was just taken to be some strange bread (and indeed for the uninitiated, its shape, colour and size may look awkward). Anyway, we started communicating. I chose to apply for the Carter Center assistanceship, not just for its prestige, but because she lived in Atlanta where the Carter Center is headquartered. Long story short: The bread did not work the first time, but I eventually succeed. We courted, I came home after grad school and she followed shortly thereafter. We got married and we live happily with two beautiful children.

Going to Graduate School

After the Carter Center, I decided to go for graduate school. I applied into two graduate programs: University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace for MA in Peace Studies; and George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution for MSc in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. I was accepted into both and it was a tough choice but I decided to go to ICAR at George Mason University. But there was one small problem. I did not know how to pay for it. I had applied for scholarships here and there but I had not been successful as I was a bit late (as I was also late in deciding to go to Grad school). So, I reported to school with no school fees. The beauty of the American system (well, at least the George Mason University system) is that you can register for classes upon advise from faculty advisor, you can get your library card, your meal card without having to pay cash right there – they create an account for you and they bill you later. I had some money for rent in subsidized off-campus housing and for textbooks. So, I started attending classes while hustling to look for tuition fee and other billed items. I wrote to everybody: Oprah Winfrey, Salim Ahmed Salim, Koffi Annan, Bill Gates, President Benjamin Mkapa and many others seeking help. My attitude was that the worst thing they will do with my letters is to say No. In my letters, I packaged my transcripts and every document with good things written about me. After a fourth week in class, Student Accounts at GMU ordered that I be removed from classes and my account was frozen and the cards were disabled. But my professors who at that point had taken liking of me had difficulties kicking me out of class, so they would just say, “January, please see Student Accounts after class”. Guess what? On fifth week, I got a response from one of the multitude of letters I wrote. President Mkapa responded. My school fees will be paid for one year the letter said. And I should provide the Bank account number. Soon, with my cheque in hand, and after one hour of moving from one campus office to another, and making the case for my situation, I was reinstated. Despite the challenges, I did very well during my first year, in a very difficult program where Professors are top-notch: Kevin Avruch, Chris Mitchell, Dennis Sandole, Sara Cobb, Terrence Lyons. I got a Research Assistant job on campus which, during the second year, paid for a huge chunk of my fees. I also won a Brenda Rubenstein Scholarship for best second year student. I even published a paper in an academic journal with my two professors. I learnt that persistence pays.
George Mason University is in Fairfax, Virginia which is part of DC Metro area. The university was part of the consortium with some leading Universities in the area: Georgetown, John Hopkins, George Washington, and others, where you could take classes as well. I took advantage of that, and eventually delved into the Washington DC policy and intellectual community – attending talks, workshops and seminars, and discussions at leading DC think tanks. I enjoyed that world. It was a great time for networking and for maturity. You see familiar faces, for instance at JHU SAIS monthly talk on African issues. You are on important email circulation lists. And eventually you feel responsible and confident. And when that happens everything is possible.
For my second year internship, I chose to come back home to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was assigned at the Department of Africa and Middle East (back then one department). I worked under Ambassador Mangachi, back then the Director. I enjoyed the assignment I was given. It entailed travelling to Burundi, Congo, Rwanda and Uganda to meet all sorts of people – with consequence to Tanzania foreign policy. I learned a great deal about regional politics and power dynamics. I produced what was regarded as a useful report for consideration. Although I had always aspired to work in diplomacy, after my internship experience, I could not see myself working for government because of what I concluded as its rigid structure and culture that prized procedure above everything else. It encourages you not to make anyone uncomfortable and to abide to status quo. It requires bravery to be a maverick and retain free-thinking as a junior level civil servant.
With all those beliefs, after graduation, still, I was hired by government, and could not refuse. The principals believed that my expertise could be of use given that Tanzania was deeply involved in mediating peace particularly in Burundi. And the nature of my rescue scholarship was with the expectation that I would somehow serve the public. So, I came home and rejoined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The idea, before I came back home, was to join the Tanzania Mission at the United Nations in New York, but politics intervened, and I got back home and went to work at the Ministry headquarters.

Meeting JK

At the Ministry, I was assigned at the same desk as during the internship – Africa and the Middle East. The new department Director, Ambassador Joram Biswaro, was an academic, really a non-traditional bureaucrat, who enjoyed a vigorous policy and intellectual debate that I always was keen to have, particularly during our departmental meetings every morning. I didn’t quite feel that I should be constrained by the civil service customs so I was outspoken in airing my views and a prolific writer of Memos and analyses on current affairs and matters relevant to the work of our department.
So, even when our Minister then, Hon. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, decided to run for President I was audacious enough to write him a paper on how he should organize his campaign. By then we had interacted because I was in the Ministry teams he was working with as he was leading the mediation process for Burundi. Although I enjoyed my work at Foreign Service working on peace processes, as I was doing something I went to school for, my heart was really in the bush – with the refugees and rebels. When the inevitable frustrations of working in the bureaucracy started to set in, I seriously contemplated leaving government service altogether to join the International Crisis Group, the outfit I admired the most for its work in our field, and where I had contacts. I also did phone interview with one American NGO to go to work as Program Officer in the Afghan refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan. But then, my future wife was about to follow me back to Tanzania and I felt the need to settle down and start a family.

Campaigns 2005

On one fateful afternoon, I was asked to join the Minister in Arusha where he was attending the meeting of the East Africa (Community) Legislative Assembly. I was surprised because East Africa Community was not my desk (by then there was no Ministry of EAC Cooperation yet). So, we did the meetings at AICC and later in the evening, at his hotel, the Minister asked me to present to him my Campaign Memorandum that I wrote several weeks back and had forgotten about it. I somehow managed to wing it, but after I had presented it to him I left with the itchy feeling that I did not quite nail it – that it was not as impressive in clarity and depth as I had suggested it would be. Nevertheless, it must have been well received as in a few days later, I started working in the campaign behind the scenes putting together notes, briefings and coordinating a policy group that the candidate had put together. And further down the road, when formal campaigning started, I took a leave of absence from Foreign Service and became a full time campaign aide, participating in strategy design and execution. This was all over a sudden Bundesliga for me. I travelled to every corner of Tanzania – and learned quite a lot of local issues and challenges that the candidate had to address. There were only two aides - so I carried my own printer and laptop in a bag, functioning as a mobile office, and did all the briefings and talking notes for every constituency that the candidate visited. It was tedious but extremely rewarding. I absorbed a lot during a short period of time. I struck an intellectual partnership with the candidate through our daily end of the day meetings we used to do to assess the day and plan the day ahead.
I felt blessed to know my country in such breadth and depth, and to know key political and community personalities in all corners of the country. As you travel this vast country, you cannot fail to appreciate the sheer magnitude of the development challenge for Tanzania. But again you cannot miss the hopes for a better future that people carry with them as they tend to their farms, livestock, or market stalls, or as they tight their belts and save to the last shilling to get their children to school, or as they walk miles and miles carrying ailing kin in search of health service.

5 Years at State House

The campaign itself was one of hope. The theme was Continuity and Change - and doing things with “New Vigor, New Zeal and New Speed” to bring “Better Life to all Tanzanians”. The candidate was fresh, and articulate. The message was clear. And the final tally was a resounding 80 percent victory for our candidate. The President was sworn in, and less than a month later I was appointed one of his aides, dealing with speechwriting. My formal title was Personal Assistant to the President – Special Duties (PAP-SD). I was the youngest back then of all the aides. The position, in government civil service ranks, was quite senior. It was a high pressure, long hours, and emotionally draining post. Working at the State House is like living in a glass bowl – everyone peeking from the outside trying to figure out how you got there, how much influence you have on the President etc. You can bet that your phones are being tapped, your emails are intercepted and you are a subject of reports on your whereabouts, dealings, remarks and relationships. I survived because of the trust and confidence of the President himself – and the commitment I put into my work, as my work spoke for itself as speeches were a daily occasion.
The magnitude of the office and responsibilities required me to remind myself to remain humble everyday. As you travel with the President; as you have access to him at all times; as you can call any office and get all the information you need; and as you are driven to and from the office; and have people serving you tea and food at the office, if one is not careful, the arrogance of the office may get to your head. If you are not careful, you may regard anyone who is calling you as having a problem or a favour to ask. I forbade my secretary at State House (Mrs. Aziza Bukuku) to call me “Boss” (as is supposedly customary) as I thought it sounded awkward and demeaning to her. She insisted, and later we made it a joke.
The five years at State House were quite a journey. Presidential aides attend cabinet meetings as observers. In fact, we are sworn in during the very first cabinet meeting we attend. I recall the nervousness I had when all the Ministers were seated and looking as the President presided over my oath before proceeding with the cabinet meeting. It is a very special feeling and indeed an honour. As I attended the cabinet meetings, and communicated with people throughout the government, as I travelled with the President in almost all the regions (again) and overseas, I learnt a lot about how government is run, the nuances of high-level diplomacy, dilemmas and choices in policymaking, the difficulties in executing big government programs, and why progress can be difficult in some areas. More importantly, the office gives you the confidence to interact with the wider community with authority of knowledge and experience. You are taken seriously and you are respected. You are listened to, and therefore rest, to impress or to disappoint, is up to you. The only problem is that, once you disappoint you let down the President because it reflects on his ability to choose the right people. I made a lot of acquaintances in the diplomatic community and political circles, and friendships were forged later on beyond work relations.
As a presidential aide, I was also responsible for sitting in and taking notes when the President meets with dignitaries. As a result, I had the fortune of meeting and listening to some of the great personalities in global politics and business having conversation with my boss. I met, shook hands and sat in meetings with George W. Bush in the White House in Washington DC (after a meeting with my boss at the Oval Office, he hosted lunch for 8 members of our delegation at the White House in August 2008. I remember vividly this rainy day in the White House because it was the day when John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate (and all TV sets in White House lobbies were tuned to Fox News, and the press was not allowed to ask questions after the meeting because President Bush didn’t want to answer questions about Palin mainly because he did not even know her. He was charming throughout lunch, and afterwards, he gave us a tour of the White House); Muammar Gaddafi (met my boss on AU issues several times, and every time there was a surprise – sometimes I would skip notes just amazed by his stories and theories); Shinzo Abe (a pleasant Japanese Prime Minister); Robert Mugabe; Morgan Tsvangirai; Tendai Biti (a sharp guy); Bill Gates (came to the President’s hotel in New York City to talk about his Foundation’s work); Mwai Kibaki; Yoweri Museveni; Paul Kagame (in New York also, came to talk about the Isaka-Kigali railway with people bearing a big map); Uhuru Kenyatta (in Dar es Salaam, as leader of PNU delegation during post-election violence in Kenya); Bill Clinton (a couple of times, last time at Kirchner Museum in Davos, Switzerland in January, 2010; I consider some of his aides my friends); Raila Odinga (this one I met without the President, I had breakfast with him at his house on Christmas of 2007, two days before the election); King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (we had the honour to have dinner at his palace in Riyadh, a magnificent place); Romano Prodi (a very intelligent chap); Jacob Zuma; Jeffrey Sachs; Bono, the rockstar (in New York, another intelligent chap); Gordon Brown; Ban Ki-Moon (at the 38th floor of UN HQ, a very pleasant man); Inacio Lula Da Silva (in New York, at UNGA Hall meeting booth, a cheery and confident leader); Thabo Mbeki (a mentor and friend - emailing). In his very first visit to the United States in 2006, the President was invited for lunch at the Senate Dining Room by five Senators (Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Barack Obama, Richard Lugar and Thad Cochran, who hosted the lunch). The President was asked to bring two people for lunch. He brought me (as a note taker) and Hon. John Cheyo (MP for Bariadi, who was part of our delegation). Barack Obama, as the most junior Senator then met us at the steps outside and ushered us to the dining room. One interesting thing about the lunch meeting was that Obama was mostly quiet, just listening. And whenever he spoke, he asked questions. Feingold mostly talked about Zanzibar. Lugar asked about Chinese influence in Africa. The list is really long and impressive. I also met and interacted with a number of diplomats and business leaders in World Economic Forum meetings and other conferences and here in Dar es Salaam.
Now, these details would seem irrelevant and sort of bragging, but for me they add to the sum of what I know about the world, and therefore who I am. It is part of my story. At the end of the day, what makes a person is the sum of his values and beliefs and life experiences. When I was a kid in the village, on weekends when I did not go to school, my grandmother would leave me to attend the pub for patrons who wanted to have an early start. The regular customers on those days were former hardcore criminals who were in a rehabilitation program at a halfway prison camp in Kitengule/Mwisa village near our village, who were allowed to leave camp on weekends. So, there will be me, 9 or 10 years old, and some criminals – me serving them alcohol and them telling me stories. I would be fascinated by the stories of their exploits. Yet, this was a very dangerous exposure for a young child. But I made it. I made it to be able to share a lunch table with George W. Bush at the White House as he recounted his recent trip to the Olympics in China; as he talked about malaria in Africa; as he did a small talk with his fellow President. Sometimes, in these meetings, I would reflect on where I had come from and I get swept by the vastness of the journey I have taken. I conclude that nothing can pull me down, and that anything more than what I have now, and where I have reached, is simply a blessing and not a necessity to complete me.
At State House, I learnt a great deal beyond my field of study. I can confidently say that I self-taught graduate level Development Economics as I delved into textbooks I bought through Amazon.com and other publications on topical issues and journals that I subscribed. I continued to read about politics and philosophy, my first love. In travelling overseas, I used every occasion to learn about the history and the politics of places we visited. When we visited Cairo, Rome, Istanbul, and Jordan I stole some time to visit the remarkable monuments of three great monotheist religions – Islam, Judaism and Christianity - and learnt about the rise and fall of two great empires – Roman and Ottoman. In Rome I visited the Colosseum, The Panthenon, The Roman Forum, and learnt about statecraft. In Cairo, I took a crash course on Egyptology.
As a result of all this, I left State House enriched with deep knowledge on many issues and countless lifelong lessons. I will always be grateful to the President for this exposure and for giving me a front seat view to history.

Moving On

Any story has to be wound up. I end with a new beginning - my new career in elective politics. After five years as Assistant to the President, and with all the experiences I already mentioned, I thought it was time that I moved on, and part with the comfort and prestige of working at the State House. I would step out of the shadow and seek direct mandate from the people of Bumbuli, my ancestral land, so that I can represent and speak for them in the Parliament - and also work with them to advance the development of our region. The campaign for my election was inspirational to me, as throngs of people – young and old, men and women – trusted my word that I will serve them diligently and with all my abilities. I go on with tremendous hope and optimism – and indeed bolstered by the trust and confidence that my people have reposed in me. We are going to attempt some bold ideas for the development of Bumbuli as nothing less is required. And perhaps we can write a new history.

Final Thoughts

This is my story. I left a lot of detail because this is not an autobiography and more – particularly about my own campaign and five years at State House – is yet to be written. The story is a portrait of events and experiences that have made me who I am today. Everyone has their own story and I know that others may have more captivating stories than this one. In general, I have been successful – in raising a good family, with two beautiful children but also getting all this exposure and experience. But, I have been lucky that I was spotted and given an opportunity to prove that I am indeed worthy of big responsibilities. Other young people, perhaps more competent than I am, have not been spotted yet. I have therefore made a point of advancing young talented people in positions of public service. I won’t mention names but I am proud that there are more opportunities for young people now to serve their country and society.
I will finish by admitting that my last name has helped me because of the ready-made network of willing helpers. But also it has placed undue burden and responsibilities, including inheriting enemies who we haven’t even crossed paths. I also had to work twice as hard to prove that I am my own person, and my successes are borne out of my own efforts. I saw my family fortunes go up and go very down – one of the lowest points was when both my parents were unemployed and we lived with relatives in Korogwe while father tried-out timber business. It is rare to get an opportunity to tell my story which indicates a humble background – internal displacement, growing up with jiggers and stomach worms, raised under a leaking roof. I grew up with value of fierce independence, concern for others and being true to one’s self. I hope to bring these values into my political career.
January Makamba.
December, 2010.