TIME puts it this ways: One poll showed that 60% were in favor of Obama speaking at the Brandenburg Gate. And if Germans had a say in the U.S. election, 74% would choose Obama.
Read its FULL ARTICLE here.
20080719
Tanzania government borrows leaf from Mugabe
Editors and publishers in Tanzania are no longer free. The government is doing all it can to muzzle media freedom, especially when it comes to reporting grand corruption involving big shots in the East African country. In one of the latest events, police in Dar es Salaam pounced on a weekly tabloid that has been on the forefront in reporting corrupt practices in the government. Like Mugabe used to do, the Kikwete government used police to storm in the paper's office. They harrassed editors and carried away some computers, on the grounds that they suspected some secret information had been leaked to the newspaper. Read on here.
20080709
20080628
Clinton unites with Obama
UNITY was a name of the place and a central theme of a rally that united former rivals Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, as they prepare the party for the Genaral Election against Republican Presumptive Nominee, Senator John McCain.
20080624
Michelle Obama on The View
It looks like the Obama couple is equally charming and charismatic. Just have a look at what Michelle Obama makes out of this show.
20080327
Are Kenya's hopes crumbling?
The power-sharing deal in Kenya is yet to bear fruits. President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga are yet to agree on the formation of the new cabinet that would execute the accord. And their camps are now trading accusations agaimst each other. Could this be another stumbling block for Kenya's hopes?
20080129
Track Latest News on Kenya
No Election yet in Kenya
Kenya held her General Elections on December 27, 2007. Obviously, the incumbent (Mwai Kibaki, pictured) lost to opposition giant Raila Odinga, but through political manouevres and manipulations the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) declared Kibaki the winner, hence public protests and violence that has since marred Kenya. As for me, Kenya elections are yet to take place.
Tanzania Editors attacked
First, there were threats from government; now it is this brutal, uncivilised attack. And then the president rushes to hospital to console the attacked editors. Inquisitive and curious minds nannot stop from smelling a rat. We must condemn these threats. Even as we discuss its implications to press freedom in Tanzania and while we comfort victims, we may not be necessarily mistaken to relate it to previous events and threats. But further information is being unveiled, as documented in this related story, a development of the other story below.
20070929
Tanzania government targets critical media
Hali Halisi Publishers Limited
PRESS RELEASE
27TH September 2007
MwanaHALISI under fire of political missile
MwanaHALISI, a weekly tabloid published by Hali Halisi Publishers Limited (HHP) of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has information about a conspiracy, by individuals and groups, to suffocate and kill the citizens’ freedom to seek and receive information.
There is an underground movement by individuals and groups, currently sowing fear among media outlets, especially MwanaHALISI, its publishers, printers, editors, reporters, correspondents and individual private contributors.
Such machinations against MwanaHALISI, are not new. For nearly a year now, there have been threats through a number of ways, including attack letters from either the government or individual citizens, threatening to arraign us in court for our style of reporting and analysis. We have managed to arrest their desires by our continued reporting of truth and by categorically stating that we unwaveringly stand by our style and reports.
But since last week, especially after a loose-cooperation of opposition political parties released a list of eleven alleged corrupt individuals in public office, conspiracies to wipe out the people’s outlet have been more distinct.
The alleged corrupt persons in public office include the current president Jakaya Kikwete and former president Benjamin Mkapa. Others are Premier Edward Lowassa, Governor of the Central Bank Daudi Balali, ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s national treasurer Rostam Aziz, government ministers Andrew Chenge, Basil Mramba and Nazir Karamagi. Also alleged are principal secretaries Gray Mgonja and Patrick Rutabanzibwa and lawyer-m businessman cum member of parliament, Nimrod Mkono.
Simply because our newspaper did its professional duty; that of making public all names of alleged corrupt leaders and their position in the malfeasance, just as they were read out at a public rally at a Dar es Salaam suburb, now everyone who wants to discount the allegations does it in widely publicized manner and concludes by promising to sue, among others, MwanaHALISI, and our printers, Printech.
A series of vows, real or empty threats, to sue the outlet and its printers – for alleged defamation – is a new, calculated move to sow fear among publishers, printers and journalists. The move is intended to mar interest and initiative in continued exposure as more information on the alleged malfeasance unfolds and spill faster.
It is very unfortunate that the detractors fail to appreciate the fact that it is this very vehicle – MwanaHALISI – which is poised to report correctly, fairly and truthfully on findings about the allegations. To have this outlet smashed is, indeed a calamitous grieve to them and society as a whole.
It’s a relief that advocate Nimrod Mkono has said he would not sue MwanaHALISI because the outlet has no money to pay him. Here, he has put himself on the side of the winner of the case well before he goes to court. But the truth is that we indeed do not have money to give to the opulent. The only money we have is already planned for promotion of people’s freedoms and right to information.
The fastest way to deprive life to an information medium, and here I am referring to MwanaHALISI, is to build blocks along its way to a printing press.
Already the management at Printech has been threatened in two ways: First, by being told blatantly that the press will be “ordered” to close because of their insistence on printing MwanaHALISI. Secondly, it is through threats to sue them in court for defamation. MwanaHALISI is also under the same threats.
There are two important points to observe as regards to this issue: First, Printech is not a government printing press nor does it belong to those facing allegation of corruption. This is an independent private company. It uses printing machines donated for one major purpose: To promote media development in Tanzania and Africa.
Second, it is not secret that such printing presses have been donated to, and are in operation in, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Plans are underway to have the same machines installed in Mozambique for the same purpose.
This important project for the development of media aims to give capacity to up-coming publishers with the clear view of promoting democratic values and freedom of the press. The project is under SAMDEF – Southern Africa Media Development Fund with its headquarters in Botswana.
To this effect, this is not a project whose management can very easily be twisted and threatened by anybody who wants to do so. We print with Printech because we value the assistance of those who value freedom and quality of information and media as a whole.
Donors to Printech, who include George Soros, founder of Open Society Institute (OSI), with branches all over the world, will be struck with astonishment to see this country wants to ditch this grand assistance through Printech; the assistance whose main objective is to bring about development for the entire citizenry.
At MwanaHALISI we try hard to report and strictly record what society and its people say, how they say what they say, how they are addressed and how the communicators were heard and even interpreted by audiences. And in this, we don’t find any unpleasantness, fault or criminality. Indeed, herein we find pride and pleasure.
It is our ardent hope that management at Printech will not shift its stand and that it will perform its duty without fear or favour.
We have a contract with Printech. We are guided by the principle that views expressed in the outlet are not necessarily those of the printer. If that principle is adhered to, and at the same time MwanaHALISI adheres to professionalism, truth and faithfulness, none will derail us from our objectives.
I have been heartened by a statement by the General Manager of Printech which was communicated to MwanaHALISI on 26/09/2007 pertaining to threats resulting from the continued printing of our newspaper. He has said he will never back down on threats in the execution of his responsibility.
However, this remains a big war between the two parties: Those who want to suppress information about them, more especially when they are and remain in public offices, on one hand; and those sworn recorders of all that is said so that wananchi get to read, understand, analyze and decide on information given, on the other. In this, when supported by communities, we shall definitely win the war. Our message to everyone is that, we don’t want your communication vehicle smashed to debris.
Saed Kubenea
Managing Director
Distribution list:
- General Manager, Printech
- Executive Officer, SAMDEF – Botswana
- Director, MAELEZO
- Media Council of Tanzania
- MISA-Tanzania
- Media institutions
- Diplomatic Missions
- NGOs, CSOs, CBOs
PRESS RELEASE
27TH September 2007
MwanaHALISI under fire of political missile
MwanaHALISI, a weekly tabloid published by Hali Halisi Publishers Limited (HHP) of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has information about a conspiracy, by individuals and groups, to suffocate and kill the citizens’ freedom to seek and receive information.
There is an underground movement by individuals and groups, currently sowing fear among media outlets, especially MwanaHALISI, its publishers, printers, editors, reporters, correspondents and individual private contributors.
Such machinations against MwanaHALISI, are not new. For nearly a year now, there have been threats through a number of ways, including attack letters from either the government or individual citizens, threatening to arraign us in court for our style of reporting and analysis. We have managed to arrest their desires by our continued reporting of truth and by categorically stating that we unwaveringly stand by our style and reports.
But since last week, especially after a loose-cooperation of opposition political parties released a list of eleven alleged corrupt individuals in public office, conspiracies to wipe out the people’s outlet have been more distinct.
The alleged corrupt persons in public office include the current president Jakaya Kikwete and former president Benjamin Mkapa. Others are Premier Edward Lowassa, Governor of the Central Bank Daudi Balali, ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s national treasurer Rostam Aziz, government ministers Andrew Chenge, Basil Mramba and Nazir Karamagi. Also alleged are principal secretaries Gray Mgonja and Patrick Rutabanzibwa and lawyer-m businessman cum member of parliament, Nimrod Mkono.
Simply because our newspaper did its professional duty; that of making public all names of alleged corrupt leaders and their position in the malfeasance, just as they were read out at a public rally at a Dar es Salaam suburb, now everyone who wants to discount the allegations does it in widely publicized manner and concludes by promising to sue, among others, MwanaHALISI, and our printers, Printech.
A series of vows, real or empty threats, to sue the outlet and its printers – for alleged defamation – is a new, calculated move to sow fear among publishers, printers and journalists. The move is intended to mar interest and initiative in continued exposure as more information on the alleged malfeasance unfolds and spill faster.
It is very unfortunate that the detractors fail to appreciate the fact that it is this very vehicle – MwanaHALISI – which is poised to report correctly, fairly and truthfully on findings about the allegations. To have this outlet smashed is, indeed a calamitous grieve to them and society as a whole.
It’s a relief that advocate Nimrod Mkono has said he would not sue MwanaHALISI because the outlet has no money to pay him. Here, he has put himself on the side of the winner of the case well before he goes to court. But the truth is that we indeed do not have money to give to the opulent. The only money we have is already planned for promotion of people’s freedoms and right to information.
The fastest way to deprive life to an information medium, and here I am referring to MwanaHALISI, is to build blocks along its way to a printing press.
Already the management at Printech has been threatened in two ways: First, by being told blatantly that the press will be “ordered” to close because of their insistence on printing MwanaHALISI. Secondly, it is through threats to sue them in court for defamation. MwanaHALISI is also under the same threats.
There are two important points to observe as regards to this issue: First, Printech is not a government printing press nor does it belong to those facing allegation of corruption. This is an independent private company. It uses printing machines donated for one major purpose: To promote media development in Tanzania and Africa.
Second, it is not secret that such printing presses have been donated to, and are in operation in, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Plans are underway to have the same machines installed in Mozambique for the same purpose.
This important project for the development of media aims to give capacity to up-coming publishers with the clear view of promoting democratic values and freedom of the press. The project is under SAMDEF – Southern Africa Media Development Fund with its headquarters in Botswana.
To this effect, this is not a project whose management can very easily be twisted and threatened by anybody who wants to do so. We print with Printech because we value the assistance of those who value freedom and quality of information and media as a whole.
Donors to Printech, who include George Soros, founder of Open Society Institute (OSI), with branches all over the world, will be struck with astonishment to see this country wants to ditch this grand assistance through Printech; the assistance whose main objective is to bring about development for the entire citizenry.
At MwanaHALISI we try hard to report and strictly record what society and its people say, how they say what they say, how they are addressed and how the communicators were heard and even interpreted by audiences. And in this, we don’t find any unpleasantness, fault or criminality. Indeed, herein we find pride and pleasure.
It is our ardent hope that management at Printech will not shift its stand and that it will perform its duty without fear or favour.
We have a contract with Printech. We are guided by the principle that views expressed in the outlet are not necessarily those of the printer. If that principle is adhered to, and at the same time MwanaHALISI adheres to professionalism, truth and faithfulness, none will derail us from our objectives.
I have been heartened by a statement by the General Manager of Printech which was communicated to MwanaHALISI on 26/09/2007 pertaining to threats resulting from the continued printing of our newspaper. He has said he will never back down on threats in the execution of his responsibility.
However, this remains a big war between the two parties: Those who want to suppress information about them, more especially when they are and remain in public offices, on one hand; and those sworn recorders of all that is said so that wananchi get to read, understand, analyze and decide on information given, on the other. In this, when supported by communities, we shall definitely win the war. Our message to everyone is that, we don’t want your communication vehicle smashed to debris.
Saed Kubenea
Managing Director
Distribution list:
- General Manager, Printech
- Executive Officer, SAMDEF – Botswana
- Director, MAELEZO
- Media Council of Tanzania
- MISA-Tanzania
- Media institutions
- Diplomatic Missions
- NGOs, CSOs, CBOs
20070909
Presentation at Digital Citizen Indaba
I have been making a presentation at the Digital Citizen Indaba in South Africa, taking place at Rhodes University in Grahamsatown as part of the Highway Africa Conference. My presentation was on Language and Blogosphere: Fractured identities and Blogging in Kiswahili. More reports to come.
20070722
AIDS conference kicks off in Australia
I am in Sydney, Australia, to attend the IAS 2007 conference, which starts today. I will be uploading some relevant stories. Meanwhile, you may wish to follow up what is going on at the conference, from the IAS website. Just click here.
20070721
Blog for AIDS Conference in Sydney
This blog: for a very useful reading on AIDS Conference in Sydney, Australia.
20070708
Celebrating Mass in Dead Language
Forty years after the Vatican II, the Catholic Church can still celebrate Mass in Latin albeit few priests fluent in and conversant with the dead language.
20070530
20070529
Nigeria's new president sworn in
The new president of Nigeria Umaru Yar'Adua has been sworn. His first pledge is putting an end to oil conflicts in the West African country.
Zambia's Chiluba in hospital
Former President of Zambia Frederick Chiluba is unwell with heart problems. Chiluba's health is feared to have been seriously affected by corruption charges against him. Find stories about him HERE.
20070518
Brown to beat Blair charisma?
Is this a joke? Gordon Brown, the British PM in waiting, says he will revitalise the unpopular Labour Party. Should we believe he is deterimined to beat the Blair charisma? Can he? READ HIM HERE.
20070515
Someone has abducted this child
I think abduction is a mortal sin, for I cannot fancy why on earth someone should 'steal' somebody's child! Recent case in point: Madeleine.
20070513
Your Views on The Pontifical Visit of Brazil
Pope Benedict XVI is on a major tour of Brazil. Find other stories on this Link. What are your views on this pontifical tour?
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