Opinion
Analysis
Preaching the
word of peace
Last Saturday was a big day for peace in Dar es Salaam. It was a day to
reminisce the life of Pope John Paul II. Moreover, it was a big day not only for
Roman Catholics but for people from all religions.
The gathering at Jangwani grounds attracted a large group of people. Thought to
bring together Catholics from various parishes in Dar es Salaam, the meeting
also brought together people from different faiths. It was indeed a sign of
peace and mutual understanding between people.
It was evident that most people were in one way or another touched by the death
of the late Pope.
The holy mass was read by the Assistant Archbishop of Dar es Salaam archdiocese
his eminence Methodius Kilaini.
As remarked by his eminence Kilaini, with reference to what Pope Paul said in
1990 when he toured the country, the dialogue between Christians and non
Christians, especially Muslims, is crucial because that is the only way to bring
about harmony in the country.
Religious leaders should continue to preach peace for the benefit of all
Tanzanians.
Kilaini’s statement is a good reminder to all people who are committed to foster
cooperation in society and practically implement and sustain the legacy of the
Pope whose role remains to be instrumental.
To Tanzania, peace should be the word; people should and must embrace it. Our
country is unique for we have never experienced major problems like what other
neighbouring countries have. We should not let this moment slip away.
Registration
is not a guaranteed vote
The voters’ registration exercise is drawing to a close in Dar es Salaam, and
the question is: Has anyone bothered to turn up to register?
Initial reports from the registration centres were mixed; some reported of a
huge turnout while reports also circulated of short queues and half empty
centres. Perhaps the rush will come during the last days of registration over
the weekend.
The exercise in Dar es Salaam has taken place amid debates on takrima and
presidential candidates returning their nomination forms. No one can be excused
on claims that they were unaware of the registration exercise or the forthcoming
presidential and general elections.
No, excuses for failing to register are more likely to fall on the relevance of
voting and the unwillingness of the political parties and presidential
candidates to produce substantial arguments in their favour. Most of the time,
members of political parties devote their time to dirty campaigns, where the aim
is to move focus away from what the party stands for and point out deficiencies
in the other parties.
Such tricks do nothing to inform the prospective voter or enhance her intention
to register, let alone vote.
What we need, especially once the different candidates have been selected (both
those running for the presidency, but perhaps more importantly those standing as
MPs), are dedicated and hard-working candidates who make it their mission to
attract voters through information, debates and argumentation.
Candidates need a solid party political platform from which they should receive
support but also the basics of what the party stands for. We need candidates who
can explain in a simple but convincing and information rich language what their
party intends to do in the coming term.
We need an electorate who above all is convinced that voting is of importance.
Once that feeling has been acknowledged, we need an electorate that knows when
and how to stay firm against candidates using illegal means to attract voters.
Voters need to understand the disservice they do when they support and elect
candidates on merits where corruption and bribery are favoured.
Being registered is not a guarantee that one will vote. No matter how many that
turns out to have registered, there remains a good deal for the political
parties to assure us of a high turnout in the election.
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Pensioners mistreated
By Evarist Kagaruki
On the occasion of last year’s commemoration of the International
Day of the Older Persons on the 1st of October, I devoted this column to
Tanzania’s elderly citizens. I said, and repeat today, that our government has
neglected these people – our “golden” grandfathers and mothers from whose toil,
sweat and sacrifice came the sweet fruits of freedom and socio-economic benefits
that we enjoy today.
I mentioned also that, in spite of this indisputable fact, ageing was seen as a
curse by almost everyone, except the elderly themselves. The youths, our leaders
in government and the society in general don’t treat the old people with the
respect and dignity that they deserve, but contempt!
To understand how the elderly in this country have been neglected, one needs
only to look at the case of the retired people. Generally speaking, retirement
in this country is synonymous with death. The abysmally small amounts of
retirement benefits which they get do not qualify to be called “pension”. The
money is not enough for the “pensioner”, together with his or her family, to
maintain a minimum standard of living.
Most retired people in Tanzania receive a minimum pension of Tsh. 22,000. No
matter how hard one tries, it is extremely difficult to cover basic living
expenses on this paltry income. This amount is enough only to meet the essential
family needs of one week – and even that with maximum frugality.
For that reason a majority of pensioners live below the poverty line (some call
it “traumatic poverty”). And because pensions in Tanzania fail to keep pace with
rising inflation and the high cost of living, many pensioners lack welfare
conditions which permit them to pass their retirement in dignity.
Since retired persons lack security income (due to low pensions) and can not
adapt to changes in the economic environment, they end up getting stressed which
leads to mental problems or fatal diseases like heart attack. I have been told
of cases of retired people in this country who have been forced by the harsh
realities of life to routinely visit the psychiatric departments at our
hospitals because of serious problems associated with financial difficulties.
It is against this background that one can understand the emotions, anger and
anguish with which retired (or retrenched) persons have been pursuing their
retirement benefits in recent years. At times they had to use a bit of force to
draw the attention of the powers that be. This has, more often than not, brought
them into sharp conflict and legal wrangles with their erstwhile employers, and
distressful confrontations with the law enforcing organs like the police.
The ugly incident last week, in which the former East African Community
employees were roughed up by the police when they marched to the Ministry of
Finance to ask for their benefits accrued since the break up of the Community 28
years ago, says a lot about the plight of Tanzanian pensioners. It also gives an
insight into the level of a lack of respect for older people in this country.
Granted that the pensioners had demonstrated “illegally”, as we are told, the
humiliating manner in which the heavily armed police handled them left most of
us in horror. It was a very sad scene – one which does not put our police men
and women in good repute, though there is no disputing the fact that our police
force is one of the best trained and disciplined forces in Africa. The force
used against the poor old men and women was, in my view, unnecessary, because
these were harmless people whose only mistake, perhaps, was to pursue their
rights by way of demonstration without lawful permission. Couldn’t our policemen
have handled these old people in a more humane way, and accord them some respect
as our culture and traditions demand?
The EAC pensioners who marched to the Treasury peacefully but “illegally” (even
old people are required to abide by the law) certainly were not looking for
trouble. They were looking for a definite answer as to when the government will
pay their benefits. They needed someone to talk to them and cool their tempers.
And that “someone” happens to be the Minister of Finance, Basil Mramba, whose
word to the angry and hungry pensioners could have made a difference.
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