Kiswahili blogoshere this week

Mawazo na Mawaidha writes about the new Bob Marley CD. He specifically likes the song, Slogan, one of seven songs found in Marley’s working room. The song, which features Eric Clapton on guitar, was produced by Bob Marley’s children, Stephen and Ziggy.

Dira Yangu, writing from Uganda, asks his readers not to be suprised if it happens that he is arrested for writing about Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s court case. Besigye is facing charges of treason and rape before the High Court and charges of terrorism and illegal possession of firearms before the military court. Recently, the government of Uganda banned the local media from discussing anything related to Kiiza Besigye.

Gaphiz
does a wonderful translation of Karl Marx's theory of class struggle. He considers the Arusha Declaration an example of what Karl Marx was working for.

Bakanja, a catholic monk, does not understand the logic behind urban “development” in Tanzania. Most places in Tanzanian towns and cities, he laments, do not have street names, the sewage system has not been improved since Tanganyika got independence in 1961, and the urban population is growing very fast.

Harakati announces his new English blog, Proud African. He joins a small group of Tanzanian English bloggers. Harakati has been blogging in Kiswahili from Toronto, Canada since August this year.

Michuzi
posts photos from presidential campaigns in Tanzania. Christopher Mtikila is the controversial chairman the United Democratic Party. He has been to court and in jail more than any other politician in Tanzania. He made a name for himself in early 90’s after refusing to recognize the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The two countries united in 1964 to form Tanzania. Freeman Mbowe is the leader of one of few stable opposition parties in Tanzania, Chadema. He has become very popular because of using a helicopter in his campaigns.

1 comment

  • Uganda cannot afford the rise of yet another despot! The recent and still ongoing arbitrary process in the country is the clearest indication of why Museveni and his administration should not be allowed to overextend their stay in power. The 2006 multi-party presidential election in Uganda, is going to be a watershed moment for the country’s political process.
    Ugandans will for the first time have to decide whether to keep the status quo of one man rule in Uganda or vote for the long overdue change in leadership for the first time in twenty years since Museveni came to power!
    There is only two ways Museveni can win: one is if the majority of Ugandans who know better acquiesce and remain subservient to his erratic and autocratic rule; the other is by bribing and cajoling gullible voters!
    Museveni’s shameless decision to run again in 2006 has more to do with his personal quest for power and control rather than a sincere desire to establish a peaceful transfer of power in Uganda.
    If Museveni had Uganda’s interest at heart he would have lived up to his manifesto promise not to run for office at the end of his current term!
    If Museveni had the country’s interest at heart, he would not have bribed members of parliament (with tax payer money!) to amend the constitutional two term limit rule for president.
    If Museveni had Uganda’s interest at heart, he would have magnanimously stepped down after twenty years in office and oversaw the foundation for a peaceful transfer of power for the first time in our country’s history.
    Wherever you have leaders that stay too long in power, abuse of power is more likely than not! Arbitrary rule and corruption is more likely than not!

    The best campaign strategy for defeating Museveni at the polls is to present consistent and straightforward reasons why he should not be reelected president.
    The most obvious and recent reason for defeating Museveni is clearly the governments heavy handed and arbitrary detention of an opposition leader that had voluntarily returned to challenge the president at the polls.
    Where is the reconciliation spirit he expressed at Dr. Obote’s funeral?
    This was an ironic and desperate act of oppression by a government that is clearly afraid of loosing power to a popular opposition leader.
    Even if Dr. Besigye is kept behind bars through the elections, his supporters can still cast a clear and overwhelming protest vote in favor of a change in leadership for our country!
    Voters should be reminded that Museveni came to power by overturning a legally established government by use of force of arms.
    Should the country now also look into charging Museveni and his conspirators with treason?
    Museveni is also a leader that came to power fiercely critical of African leaders that stayed too long in power. Museveni is now among Africa’s longest serving leaders!
    The longer Museveni is allowed to stay in power the more autocratic and arbitrary his rule is going to be.
    Its, therefore, absolutely necessary that the people of Uganda including members of his movement, gather the courage to vote for a new leader for our country.
    Let Uganda have a peaceful transfer of power for the first time in our history!
    ” The leadership of any nation cannot be the work of one man or one party. It must be the effort of all capable citizens getting an equal and fair chance at leadership, through a transparent democratic process.”

Cancel this reply

Join the conversation -> mpagijk

Authors, please log in »

Guidelines

  • All comments are reviewed by a moderator. Do not submit your comment more than once or it may be identified as spam.
  • Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will not be approved.