BEYOND THE HORIZON – by Azgard Steven

Once upon a time, the world was full of only two people, the entire

planet full of two people. I try to imagine, there had been plenty
than the human needs. The only difference it makes is that, everything
was natural, provided by nature; no air conditions, sofa sets and
Toyota V8. As time went on, people multiplied and today we strive and
struggle to acquire the limited resources; the demand of almost
everything seems to be greater than its supply. The world has several
times declared food shortage, fuel shortage, clean water shortage,
clean air shortage, land shortage, to mention few. Scientists are
exploring if a room can be found outside planet to damp the excess
population. Life is becoming a struggle for the fittest, to refer
philosophers.
But the question remains, is it real true that we have shortage of
everything? Is it true that food cannot be abundantly supplied, water,
air? Is it real true that the planet is at optimum of its capacity for
even survival? This is the paradox in the midst of synonymous
questions.
Talking of Africa, specifically Tanzania, are these questions
answerable? In Dar es Salaam, it takes several millions to get a piece
of land while in Makete-Iringa it takes just several thousands to get
the same piece of land, for the same purpose. Seven major rivers pour
their water into Indian Ocean day and night, 24 hours a day, seven
days a week; but Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and some parts of Kilimanjaro,
suffers water shortage to the extent that water is becoming amongst
scarce commodities (totally against water-diamond paradox). It takes
several ten millions to build a home in Arusha, but it takes several
millions to build the same home in Lushoto-Tanga. People are sleeping
outside others’ homes and business premises in Dar es Salaam while
there is plenty land to build a hut in Lushoto.
Economics has answers to all these scenarios; I have no doubt of that
because I have studied and understood it all. But my concern is, why
should that be? Why should be existing problems in both rural and
urban? While rural suffers of power shortage but full of water supply,
the urban suffers water supply shortage but full of power supply!
While urban suffers land shortage but enjoys transport access, the
rural suffers transport access but enjoys plenty supply of arable
land! This is paradox easy to answer by economics principles but hard
to depict in reality.
Sincerely speaking, there are problems in both rural and urban. There
is luxury in both rural and urban. The only difference is, they are
differentiated in terms of levels, nature and approach. If that is so,
then there are businesses opportunities in both rural and urban; that
mean someone can invest in rural and get returns while the other
invest in urban and get returns as well.
The very shocking shortage that the country is provokingly facing
right now, and it will sooner get worse, is employments shortage,
simply put unemployment. A good number of graduates is released every
year, meanwhile there is irrelevant growth in number of employment
opportunities in formal sector. Frankly speaking, employment shortage
may be greater than food shortage, water shortage, and power shortage;
and this may have severe consequences than any shortage ever happened.
Currently, it is normal to interview 1,000 applicants for a single
post needing 10 people. So far the Post System is currently doing
business because of one post announced by one small firm.
The question should be, is it real true that there is no employments?
If the answer is yes that means there are limited or no problems in
the society hence we have a perfect society. This is not true, our
society has many problems than the good it has; that is to say there
are many potential employments than what we currently have. That is to
say, the provoking unemployment shortage about to multiply can be
solved.
I hope it is true that the available employments are the solutions to
problems we are currently experiencing. There are currently have
doctors because there are patients; we have teachers because there are
children, there are accountants because we have financial
transactions, we have auditors because there are thieves in
organizations, there are civil engineers because we have house and
infrastructure constructions, there are marketers because we have
needs to be satisfied, etc. Hence there are vast problems in the
society that need people, that is to say there are vast employment
opportunities in the society.
Is it not true that the unemployed army constitute of accountants,
teachers, marketers, medical doctors, project planners, lawyers and
psychologists? Don’t we have such shortages in the society? The truth
is, the unemployed army constitutes of such people and the society
suffers such a shortage.
The only and biggest problem remain, who is to link between the
society’s problems and problem-solvers at the expense of payments!
Because it is not true that unemployed accountant do not want to be an
accountant, unemployed lawyer do not want to be a lawyer, unemployed
teacher do not want to be a teacher, and unemployed marketer do not
want to be a marketer. It is totally not true, every unemployed
somebody wants to be an employed somebody.
The approach to solve this problem is categorized into two, the
Aggregate Approach and the Individual Approach. The Aggregate Approach
is when the government, parastatals or private organization takes a
responsibility to define society’s problems and hire the
problem-solvers at the expense of a pay. Meanwhile The Individual
Approach is when the problem-solver takes a step to define a society’s
problem and offer a solution to it at a profit/gain.
Now, the fact that unemployment will remain a problem is defined by
the fact that either or both of the two approaches have not been in
effect. At the end of the day unemployment should not add to problems
that the society already has. I admire the fact that the system itself
does not create its people to take the individual approach to solving
the society’s problems at gain, but it should not be an excuse because
there is still a room to learn on how to go about. As I have said
before, the aggregate approach is when a government, parastatals or
private sector builds a link between society’s problems and
problems-solvers at the expense of a pay. Mind you, majority of these
private sectors ever began by taking an individual approach. Hence
behind individual approach is entrepreneurship.
Following the nature of our society, some of us should take this
approach; I believe there is ability but just willingness and
confidence. Those who tried it ended up succeed, I have examples. Less
educated people are solving society’s problems, and they gain from it;
retired and old people are doing the same and enjoy their gains; I
believe a fresh graduate can take the same move and excel. Don’t ask
me about capital, just get out of such a box of thinking of million to
thinking of hundred thousand; am sure even a hundred thousand does
something and multiplies.
It is then obvious that your family will be proud to hear you are
employed at ABC Company, but I am also sure that they are not happy
that you are not currently employed. I know that you real need a
reward to what you have constantly studied in more than 17 years, you
need a fast and good pay for it. Unfortunately going to individual
approach will mean, “Hey, you need some more time for good pay”, but
off course this is the way it works in this approach, in long-run it
gives more than a good pay.
Hence, it is and it will never be an easy task to go for individual
approach, but it is the move to take for the good of the country, but
also for your own good. If you feel courageous about this, if you feel
desperate, if you feel discontented and if you feel like doing
something like building a business venture; don’t hesitate, do it. A
try was always a good attempt except to an adolescent. So give it a
try and invest in it, invest your time and strength, invest your
skills and make a smart move. You may undergo a hard way, but don’t
give up; I can allow you to change a course of action but I don’t
allow you to give up!
Just to excite you, this will determine at what side of the table you
will sit during an interview. If you real need to live a fabulous life
at early age, try this. Don’t do it to get your daily bread, do it to
build a business empire, that you can employ your fellows. Remember,
what we call employment today was ever called slavery. An employee and
a slave have the same meaning, working for someone; the only
difference they make is that one is legitimate while the other was
illegitimate. Even a slave in Kenya used to stay at his own home!

By Azgard

POOR CHIMPANZEE – by Azgard Steven

POOR CHIMPANZEE – by Azgard Steven

A chimpanzee is sitting on the tree looking downwards. Beside the
tree is a house, a good house in such. The house is made of timber and
surrounded with flowers. These flowers are watered everyday to make
them shine, and then there is a playground at the front of the house.
This chimpanzee use to sit on this tree every evening watching the
house from above.
He looks when the woman in the house goes into the kitchen and makes
fire. He looks as she cooks what he uses to eat without cooking. Later
that day the other creatures in the house, the same specie to this
woman use to sit across one big room he heard them calling it
sitting-room. They use to watch to something looking like a window but
showing other creatures and features at the other side. A chimpanzee
is wondering day after day what is happening in this house. These
creatures are covered by some things a chimpanzee never knew until he
heard they call them clothes. What are they covering, he keeps asking
himself. May be it is because of cold, he concludes.
Some mornings a male creature comes out of the house having a rope on
the chest, hanging from the neck. What is it for, chimpanzee asks
himself without specific answers. This male creature comes out of the
house in the morning and comes back in the evening in daily basis
except some few days. Where is he going every day anyway? That is
another tough question to Mr. Chimpanzee. May be he goes for food,
maybe he is the keeper of the family, he concludes. But where does he
get the food, where are his games? That is another big question to
chimpanzee and he finds no answer to that.
One morning in those days this fellow male creature is at home, a
chimpanzee saw him talking to something in his hand. At the beginning
chimpanzee wanted to assume that these creatures use to talk alone,
but later he noticed that he has something in his hand and he has to
press it on his ear before talking. He presses some things on top of
it, wait for a while and press the device on the ear and start talking
in discrete fashion. What is he exactly doing? That is another brand
new question to Mr. Chimpanzee and unfortunately he failed to figure
it out. Some days later a chimpanzee use to see a female creature in
the house using the same style with a similar device. She presses on
top of it, wait for a while, put it on one of her ear and start
talking. Something is happening here, says chimpanzee and get onto the
top branch of the tree.
The male and female creatures get off the house direct into the
playground and start playing. They are happy going after one round
thing, putting it into one hole placed on top of a post. They seem
fighting to get it, it is like everyone wants it but in a scramble
fashion. This is crazy, can’t they find another one so that they don’t
keep running at one thing and finally stop their scramble. Perhaps
that makes them happy, he thinks. Whatever happens with these
creatures is strange after all, may be that is what they are, strange
creatures. Living in a huge cage they call it house, running with a
monster they call it a car, burning their food they call it cooking,
covering themselves up they call it dressing, eating each other’s
mouth soon the male creature is back they call it kissing, you can
mention a lot strange with them.
Poor chimpanzee! A tough research, isn’t it? Human beings are doing a
lot of researches, spending a lot of taxpayers’ money in the name of
research to explore the world. They explore and come out with a lot
what seems to be strange; how ants build their tents, how bees make
honey, what makes bats both animals and birds at the same time, why
lions don’t eat grasses, you can mention them. Have you ever thought
what animals think the wonders of human beings? Have you ever thought
what they come up with, how they handle it? Have you ever thought what
human beings will do to their world?
May be they think a human being is God, or may be a human being is
Devil, who knows! May be they think one day a human being will crash
the world into pieces, may be they think the end is very near, who
knows. Or perhaps antelopes think one day human being will eliminate
their everyday threat, lions.
You may not see how wonderful a human being is unless you look from
another angle. You just see it normal a human being living in the
house, driving a car, talking to a phone and to a very specific person
amongst thousands of millions, playing cards, playing football at
business level, you mention them. You may not see the wonders of it by
looking it from a human eye; you may not see it right.
Either, you may not see new possibilities, possibilities greater than
these by wondering how impossible it is; what will be beyond a
computer, what will be beyond worldwide web, what will be beyond
information systems. After all what was beyond a typewriter in 1880s!
A new perspective needs a fresh eye, it needs a new look. There are a
lot more we didn’t do yet I believe, there are more to be done and I
pray they don’t be destructive.
By Azgard Stephen

INSECURITY THREAT IN TANZANIA By Azgard Steven

 Insecurity is the beginning of governments in the world. The reason

why people decided to put their fellows at their fronts is to give
them a duty to ensure their security. If the government does not
ensure security to its citizens, then the primary purpose is missed.
But the question is, what is the people’s priority during election?
What is the most used term in campaigns? If you use to attend
campaigns I hope you know what it is but if you don’t let me just tell
you, development!
I don’t challenge people’s focus on development, even me I need
development; but development without security is corruption. I need
people to develop, I need a leader with development mentality, but if
you visit my To-Do list, security is priority one.
There is high rate of insecurity in Africa than any other continent in
the world despite the fact that Africans is the race with high degree
of hospitality all over the world. After all, what is insecurity? If I
were to define the term I would say, insecurity is the state of
vulnerability to danger, is the situation where one is vulnerable to
danger.
Despite the fact that whites are the most hostile race in the world,
there is a highest degree of security in their countries than any
other place in the planet. This is odd, it is a paradox for real. The
continents with the most hostile races in the world are with highest
degree of security, while the continent of high hospitality is with
the highest degree of insecurity! If I have to discuss this I would
say may be the hostile race posed a threat to security and hence the
authority made it priority one. May be the race with high hospitality
never think of threat of insecurity and all over sudden these people
of high hospitality are now turning into hostile.
Forget the politics, but we have a problem here, and we have to deal
with it. Insecurity in Africa is devastating. Someone must have a
grilled door and windows, someone must be at home before it is too
late, someone must be very aware of his cell phone while in street,
someone must choose what to say before he is eliminated or threatened.
This is not Africa; this is not Tanzania we know of. The Tanzanians we
know of are relatives to one another, Tanzanians we know of are one
family. The language of Tanzanians is ‘love your neighbour as you love
yourself;’ this has been our language since then until few days ago.
Something is wrong somewhere, something is not right and someone is
doing nothing.
The fact that we are now experiencing insecurity is obvious, the fact
that our security is compromised is very clear ahead. Let me give few
examples of the matter. Cases that people are robbed, especially in
urban, have become a common phenomenon now. People’s properties are at
stake now; everyday someone’s home is attacked, someone’s car is
hijacked, someone’s phone is grabbed, someone’s money is forcefully
taken off the pocket, you can mention.
Cases that a certain business entity is hijacked are obvious now;
banks are robbed every day, gas stations are attacked every night,
retail shops are ambushed, people’s homes are hijacked, you can
mention.
Recently more shocking events have taken place in Tanzanian soil,
events we never thought they will happen here, events we only watched
in the news. We have witnessed a Medical Doctor, Dr. Ulimboka, being
crucified alive, from nowhere someone can be kidnapped in Tanzanian
soil. We never expected this to happen, but it has happened and the
history is written. Either, we have vividly experienced homicide, the
killing of a reporter, the late Mr. Mwangosi, again in Tanzanian soil.
We were shocked, we didn’t believe it because we never thought of it
to happen, especially to us. In 2007, the Newspaper editor, Said
Kubenea, was acidified and we thought it was just an accident, but it
happened. Just recently, Muslims have destroyed, attacked and burned
their fellow christians' worshiping places
Today, it is not safe out there, there is no one to trust. People are
full of fear, who will stand at their front and assure their safety,
their security. They are full of fear, they have no even a leap of
faith. They are waiting to see what is to happen next, they are
nowhere secure. They don’t trust each other, they don’t trust their
own environment, and worse enough they don’t trust their government;
they don’t trust those whom people’s security is their responsibility,
the police force. This is not good at all, this is far more ahead to
vulnerability; people are vulnerable and there is no one to ensure
their safety.
I think we have to readjust our priorities, I think we have to work on
insecurity threat. Yes we need development but I think our biggest
problem today is insecurity, we deal with that first. We have to
invest in the security of our people; we have to ensure they are safe
and that they are confident with their safety. Citizens have their
part in this, but the government is the key player here, no excuse to
this. The government must protect its people because that is the
reason number one to its existence. The reason why people are willing
to die is the lack of confidence to their government, and that is the
worst state to happen. Security cameras, street lights, police patrol,
police-citizen communication, reporting channel, emergence
infrastructure and law enforcement endowment should be priority. If
the government become serious than it is to ensure security, citizens’
confidence will top-up and we will have a secure society than it is
today. Insecurity is increasing dramatically, someone must take
decisive actions.

Says Azgard Stephen

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going - Napoleon Hill

Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself - James Allen

The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it – Michelangelo

Your life is in your hands, to make of it what you choose - John Kehoe

Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you. - Jim Rohn

I challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. I challenge you to join the ranks of those people, who live what they teach, who walk their talk. - Anthony Robbins

God's Love Letter to YOU

God's Love Letter to YOU

Scripture: "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands." Isaiah 49:16

Just How Much God Loves You

If you're anything like me (or most everyone else I know), you have no idea how much God loves you. He died for you, sacrificed His only Son, and would do it all over again. But even if you've heard it once, you need to hear it again. So if God wrote you a love letter, here's what it might sound like…

Love Letter

Dear Child of Mine,

I saw you before you were born, and I destined you for a great purpose (Jeremiah 1:5). While your mom was pregnant with you, I personally designed you with incredible detail and precision (Psalm 139:13-14). From the get-go, I planned so many amazing things for you, you could never even count them if you tried (Psalm 40:5).

But I knew in advance that you would go astray and forget me, so I asked My perfect Son Jesus to take your punishment Himself (Isaiah 53:5). He was willing to be humiliated and murdered so that you could be eternally healed (Isaiah 53:5). He loved you so much that He came down to earth to show you what I'm really like (John 14:7).

When you first believed in Me, I immediately accepted you into My own family (John 1:12). I forgave all your sins through My Son Jesus (1 John 2:12). And now Jesus is in Heaven with Me, preparing a place for you (John 14:2). In fact, I am living inside of you because You believe in My Son (I John 4:15).

I am forever committed to you; there is no circumstance under which I will leave you or take my love away from you (Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:38). Even when you go through the hardest trials, I will be with you and carry you through them (Isaiah 43:2). In fact, I will cause EVERYTHING to work together for your good, because you have loved me back and I have a great purpose for you (Romans 8:28).

Is there anything you need right now? Ask Me. I am your Good Father and I won't give you something bad in return (Matthew 7:11). Actually, I have My own Spirit readily available to you to help you in your weakest hour (Romans 8:26). I know you get tempted to lose faith, but even when you do, I will remain faithful to you (2 Timothy 2:13). I want you to ask Me for great things, because I want to answer you (John 16:23). Take a look up at the heavens; My love for you goes even higher than that (Psalm 108:4). Don't lose heart: I want you to know that I am coming back for you (Revelation 22:12).

And just remember: I AM LOVE (1 John 4:16). I am always patient, always kind. I'm never envious, proud or boastful. I'm not rude, and I only want the best for you. I don't get easily irritated with you or hold a grudge toward you. I am sad when you are hurt or wronged, but love when the truth prevails in your life. I will never stop being patient with you, never lose hope or give up on you. I WILL NEVER QUIT ON YOU (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

My love for you is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3).

RUN OR YOU WILL DIE – by Azgard Steven

A death is a death, whether you die or get killed. More than 85% of the world population die before 80, very few people reach 90 and very very few people cross 100. This makes the fact that more than 85% of human population is getting killed; whether by their fellow humans, predators, drivers, nature, germs; but they are killed. If there are killers to be sentenced in the International Court of Justice are bacteria, viruses, plasmodium and their cousins and uncles. Sorry this is just a mere argument, don't take it seriously.

Today the world has a population of more than seven billion people; more than 1.4 billion being Chinese, more than 1.2 billion being Indians, more than 300 million Americans (United States) and more than 150 million being Nigerians. Countries are having a battle on the earth resource to feed their population; no one is at sleep because there is no time for that.

Development is a song to every human being on earth, everyone wants development. People are electing their leaders in the name of development. If you are a politician and you don’t mention the word development in your campaigns, you will never get the chair, it doesn’t matter you are in United States or Somalia.

The world today have divided itself in three categories; the first world, the second world and the third world. The first world and third world are the most popular today due to the fall of communism. All these categories are the result of the level of development; meaning the developed are termed the first world and the underdeveloped categorized in the third world. Development creates the gap between the first and third world.

When the third world countries are pulling themselves to go to the first category, the first world countries are not asleep but keeping moving far and far more. The astonishing phenomenon is that the first world countries are faster than the third world in this race. As a result, majority third world countries end up saying, “we cannot run, we will never catch them”. This is bad for the third world because it erases all the hopes and as a result it creates such fades like corruption, poor control, insecurity, lack of confidence and homicide. Hence the race is becoming more and tenser for the third world.

Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you better start running!

Tanzania cannot be safe by watching Western running, it will never be safe. Tanzania should run, and run faster than the first world. Africa has a long way to go, and it must start the journey sooner because it is too late. Industrialization, globalization, civilization, urbanization, commercialization, integration and internationalization are all the tasks ahead of Tanzanian stakeholders being leaders, businessmen, citizens, officials, intellectuals, institutions, politicians and everyone in place to roll the rim. This is very important because whether we like or not, we must run or die. For us we don’t have to wait for the sun to rise, we have to run day and night. Our race is longer than theirs, our responsibilities are many than theirs.

Let everyone wherever he/she is do his/her job, let everyone do something to step somewhere along this run. We need to go somewhere, I hope we have a dream and we have a life we desire to live. We can live that life, we can realize our dream.

We can have good hospitals, good school, better roads, security cameras for security of our citizens, enough food in our stores; we can have better houses, good offices, good communication infrastructure, marine security, sustainable power supply; we can have enough water at our homes, and we can have our dream realized.

This is what we can accomplish if together we aim, mobilize, focus and act upon. We have every resource to do so. We have human resource from unskilled, semiskilled and skilled; we have land which only 39% is used and the rest unused; we have access to every technology in the world, if United Kingdom refuse to sell to us China will, if China refuse Japan will, they must sell to us and invest in our country because we are at peace with them; we have rivers to provide water to our rural and urban, Hydroelectric power and fish to our citizens; we have ocean to unite us to the world, lakes to unite us to the interior Africa; we have minerals to rise our national reserve; we have National Parks, Mountains, Valleys, Craters, forests, to attract tourists; we have colleges and universities to produce our human resources; we have everything. Hence we have every reason to join the race, we have no excuse. We make the best use of our resources, we can realize our dream. What we need is a collective effort, to mobilize our people, to employ our sons and daughters, to organize our resources, to allocate them bravely, and establish a good control system; surely we will make our dream a reality.

Ghana had a better wireless network than United States in 2007; India (partly a third world country) is good at software writing than United States, we can be better if we want to be so. Brazil was the third world country in 1990s, but she is moving to the first world with supersonic speed and no one can stop her; likewise Venezuela.

Development is a market today. A poor cannot buy a Samsung Galaxy notepad or a Dell laptop computer. Poor cannot but pizza at Shoprite, a poor cannot shop a book online. So development of a country is of interest to everyone in the world because the world is in need of market, human resource, security and integration. A poor country has limited market, limited human resource, limited or no security, and weak power to integrate. China is occupied, India is getting denser, but Africa is underdeveloped. This suggests that there is every force that pushes Africa to develop because its development is important to the international community. Everyone outside Africa wants Africa to develop, and to develop faster than a speed of light. This is an opportunity for Africa, it is an opportunity at the right time, let’s get out and start running, faster than the fastest lion. Y2K was a threat to America and Western, but it was an opportunity to India. Y2K liberated India and since then India never looked behind.

Time is up; let us get back to work. The Executive, the Legislature, the Judiciary, the local government, businesses, social communities, and citizens; let’s pull up our socks and get moving. We can do this, we can live our dream.

From: http://sirazgardsite.blogspot.com/

NCHI ZA AFRIKA NA VIWANGO VYA RUSHWA KWA MUJIBU WA TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL - Baraka Edom

Dunia ikiwa imekumbwa na tatizo la Rushwa katika kiwango cha juu baada ya blog hii kufwatilia katika shirika la kimataifa la kuhusu upambanaji wa rushwa na uwazi (Transparency International'). Baada ya kupitia orodha hiyo kwa umakini imekuja kuona nafasi za nchi mbali mbali za Afrika na kwa upande wa dunia. Upande wa Kushoto unaonyesha Nafasi ya Nchi kwa Rushwa katika Bara la Afrika na Upande wa kulia unaonyesha nafasi ya Rushwa ya Nchi katika dunia. Hizi ndizo nchi za Afrika na nafasi zao katika rushwa.

Afrika               Nchi              Dunia

1                   Somalia               1
2                   Sudan                 4
3                    Chad                  6
4                   Guinea                 8
4                 Equatorial Guinea    8
4                   Burundi                8
7                Guinea-Bissau         14
7                   DR Congo            14
7         Republic of the Congo     14
7                   Angola                14
11       Central African Republic  20
12                Ivory Coast           24
13                  Zimbabwe          28

13             Sierra Leone          28
13                     Kenya             28
13                  Cameroon          28
17                   Comoros           36
18                     Uganda          43
18                      Nigeria          43
18                Mozambique        43
18                 Mauritania          43
18                      Libya            43
23                   Tanzania          52
23                     Eritrea           52
25                    Ethiopia          56
26                       Togo           62
26     Sao Tome & Principe     62
26                       Mali            62
26                       Egypt          62
26                      Djibouti        62
26                      Algeria         62
32                      Niger           71
32                      Gambia        71
32                      Gabon         71
32                       Benin         71
36                      Zambia       76
36                    Senegal        76
36                  Madagascar    76
39                     Liberia         83
40                   Rwanda         87
40                   Morocco        87
40                    Malawi          87
40                   Lesotho          87

Just a reminder - James Nteleva

UNAPOTAZAMA NA KUSIKIA MATUKIO YA KUTISHA NA WATU KUKOSA UPENDO MIONGONI MWAO. WATAWALA KUWA WANAFIKI NA KUTUMIA PROPAGANDA KUFICHA UOVU MKUBWA WANAOUFANYA, KAMA HUU ALIOFANYIWA MWANDISHI WA HABARI NDUGU DAUDI MWANGOSI, VITA MAHALIMAHALI, MATETEMEKO YA ARDHI, NJAA, WATU KUPENDA PESA KULIKO KUMPENDA MUNGU, MAFURIKO, VIMBUNGA, KUONGEZEKA KWA JOTO, MAGONJWA, MANABII WA UONGO NA UOVU MWINGINE MWINGI, BASI UJUE ULE WAKATI TUNAOUNGOJA KWA HAMU, WA MFALME WA WAFALME ASIYEKUWA NA MFANO WA VIONGOZI WANAFIKI WA DUNIA HII, YESU KRISTO BWANA WETU, UMEFIKA, KAMA ILIVYOANDIKWA KATIKA MATHAYO 24. NDUGU, NINACHOFURAHI NI KUWA PAMOJA NA DHIKI ZOTE HIZI, KUNA TUMAINI KATIKA YESU KRISTO. YOHANA 16:33b NA KATIKA MATHAYO 25:42, ANATUASA KUKESHA. NDUGU YANGU, HEBU TUTUBU NA KUMGEUKIA MUNGU NA KUDUMU KATIKA SALA KAMA ILIVYOANDIKWA KATIKA WAKOLOSAI 4:2 MUNGU ATUSAIDE SOTE KUYATENDA YALE YAMPENDEZAYO YEYE PEKEE. AMEN

KWA ELIMU HII TUTAFIKA? - Alexander Mtweve

Kama kuna kitu ambacho kinaweza kuonesha mwelekeo wa taifa lolote duniani kimaendeleo kwa miaka kadhaa ijayo, basi ni mfumo wake wa elimu.
Nchi nyingi ambazo kwa sasa zinafurahia maendeleo ya kiuchumi na kiviwanda n

i matokeo ya uwekezaji mzuri uliofanyika hapo awali katika elimu, na suala linakuja siyo tu elimu, bali elimu bora ikiwa na mfumo unaochochea ukuzaji wa vipaji na uwezo wa wanafunzi.
Kwa upande wa nchi nyingi za kiafrika ambazo zimerithi mfumo wa elimu kutoka kwa watawala wetu wa kikoloni, suala la kuwa na mfumo mzuri wa elimu bado ni ndoto, kwani mfumo uliopo umewekezwa kwenye itikadi ileile ya kuwalisha watoto matango pori.
Ninachokimaanisha hapa ni kuwa, mwanzoni wakoloni waliwapa elimu waafrika wachache ili waweze kuwasaidia katika shughuli zao za kiutawala na kuendesha uchumi wa kikoloni, cha ajabu ni kuwa hata baada ya kupata uhuru nchi nyingi za kiafrika zimesalia kuutegemea mfumo ambao muda wake umekwisha.
Siyo kitu cha ajabu kumsikia mzazi akimwambia mwanae “soma kwa bidii mwanangu ili uje kupata ajira nzuri utusaidie sisi wazazi wako”. Jambo hili linajengeka kichwani mwa mtoto na kuona kuwa njia pekee ya kupata ajira/maisha mazuri ni kusoma kwa bidii. Sisemi kuwa kusoma kwa bidii ni kitu kibaya, ila unajua mwanao anasoma nini?
Nakumbuka wakati ninsoma shule ya msingi kulikuwa na masomo mengi ambayo mwisho wa siku huunganishwa kwenye mitihani mitatu (Hisabati, Maarifa na Lugha). Katika masomo haya kila mtu alikuwa na kiwango cha aina yake cha ufaulu, kila mmoja alikuwa na uwezo tofauti kulingana na somo.
Kwa upande wangu lugha ndilo lilikuwa somo nililoliweza zaidi, japo katika masomo mengine pia nilifaulu vizuri na kufanikiwa kujiunga sekondari. Huku sasa nikajikuta niko katika dunia nyingine tofauti kabisa!
Ile staili ya kufundishwa ya shule ya msingi ikawa ni kama imegeuzwa juu chini. Mchakamchaka wa kufundishwa ambao sikuuzoea shule ya msingi nikakutana nao sekondari na hakuna njia nyingine isipokuwa kuendana na mazingira.
Ile habari ya kupata hesabu 45 kati ya 50 haikuwepo tena! Maswali ya nchi gani inaongoza duniani kwa uzalishaji wa motokaa (enzi hizo tuliambiwa ni Ujerumani, japo kwa sasa najua ni Japani isijekuwa wanafundishwa ni Ujerumani bado!) sekondari haikuwepo tena.
Kwa kifupi mambo yalikuwa yamebadilika mno, isipokuwa kitu kimoja tu: “fundisha ya bora liende” au “ndivyo mtaala unavyosema”. Katika hili kwa kweli sina sababu ya kuwalaumu walimu, kwani wao wanafundisha kulingana na mtaala wa elimu unavyosema, japo walimu wachache wajanja walitupenyezea ujuzi wao wa ziada juu ya mambo muhimu nje ya mtaala.
Kwa jinsi mabo yalivyokuwa yakienda nikapata wasiwasi kama kile ninachokitarajia (maisha mazuri) nitakipata kweli. Ukweli ni kwamba sikuwa na malengo maalumu juu ya nini hasa ninataka kuja kukifanya maishani ili kujisikia kwamba nina maisha mazuri. Kuna wakati nilikuwa na ndoto ya kuwa rubani, raisi, mbunge, mfanyabiashara na kila aina ya ndoto.
Sikuwahi katika kipindi hicho kujua ni kwa jinsi gani ninaweza kuunganisha kusoma kwa bidii nilikoambiwa na kupata ajira na maisha mazuri. Nilisikia rafiki zangu wakilalamika (hasa wanaopenda sayansi) kuwa hawakuwa wakisoma sayansi, bali historia ya sayansi. Japo sikuelewa kiundani sana, ila nilijua matarajio yao hayakufikiwa.
Vitabu vilivyokuwa vikitumika kufundishia masomo ya sayansi ni vya zamani kiasi cha wanafunzi kuwa na wasiwasi kuwa mambo mengine wanayofundishwa huenda yamepitwa na wakati na hayatumiki tena katika ulimwengu wa kiteknolojia. Nafikiri pia ilichangia wanafunzi wengi kujikuta wakiangukia katika masomo ya sanaa hata kama walipenda kuwa wanasayansi.
Turudi kwenye mada yetu. Kwa muda mfupi tulishuhudia mabadiliko katika wizara ya elimu ambapo ilikuwa ni kama kila waziri akiamka anakuja na fikra zake na kuzifanya sera ya elimu. Nakumbuka Mungai aliwahi kuunganisha masomo (eti Fizikia na Kemia kama somo moja) akafuta somo la kilimo na masomo ya biashara ambayo angalau yalikuwa na mwelekeo wa moja kwa moja juu ya kitu mtu anataka kukifanya maishani mwake.
Kikubwa ni kwamba elimu ilikuwa haimsaidii mtu kufikia malengo yake, ila tu ilikuwa inakupeleka ngazi nyingine ya juu zaidi ya kielimu. Ukweli ni kuwa wengi tulikuwa tunasoma ili tufaulu mitihani ya mwisho na kwenda ngazi ya juu kielimu kama kidato cha tano na cha sita na hatimaye chuo kikuu.
Kwa kuwa akili za wanafunzi wengi zimewekezwa kwenye kufaulu, basi mtu akishindwa kufaulu mtihani anaona kama dunia imegeuka juu chini. Na wengi wakifeli mitihani huona kama maisha yao yamefika mwisho kwa kuwa njia pekee aliyoambiwa ya kufikia mafanikio ni kusoma kwa bidii, sasa amekata tamaa kwani pamoja na kusoma kwa bidii amefeli mitihani.
Kutokana na msukumo mkubwa kuwekwa kwenye ufaulu, wanafunzi wengi hujikuta wakiweka mkazo zaidi kutaka kufaulu mitihani. Hii hupelekea hata wazazi kuwaona watoto wao kuwa hawana akili ikiwa watashindwa kufaulu mitihani ya taifa.
Cha msingi cha kujiuliza hapa ni kuwa, kwa mfano amesoma miaka saba shule ya msingi, na mtihani anaufanya mara moja, huenda siku hiyo hali yake kisaikolojia haikuwa nzuri na akajikuta ameshindwa kufanya vizuri, je inamaanisha kuwa alikuwa hajiwezi kimasomo? Kwa nini usiwepo mfumo mbadala wa kupima uwezo wake na wa kumpeleka mbele?
Matokeo ya kuwekeza sana kwenye ufaulu badala ya uelewa hupelekea wanafunzi na wazazi wao pamoja na walimu kujihusisha na udanganyifu katika mitihani, kwani wanajua ya kuwa kufaulu mtihani wa taifa ndiyo njia pekee ya kufanikisha maisha yao. Unakuta mtoto kafaulu kwenda sekondari lakini hata jina lake hawezi!
Ni ukweli usiopingika kuwa mfumo wetu wa elimu umejiwekeza sana katika nadharia na kukariri na kumnyima mwanafunzi kujenga na kukuza uwezo wake hivyo kumlazimisha mwanafunzi kusoma vitu vingi na kupunguza uwezo wake katika masomo anayoyamudu zaidi.
Ni vema kumuendeleza mtoto kulingana na kipaji chake ili aweze kuonyesha uwezo wake zaidi na kupata matunda mengi zaidi kutoka katika kipaji chake. Huenda siku zote tunajiuliza inakuwaje tunao wasomi wengi lakini mbona hatuna maendeleo na bado tunaagiza wasomi kutoka nje kwa ajili ya shughuli mbalimbali nchini.
Sababu kubwa ni kwamba elimu yetu inaua vipaji badala ya kuvikuza na hivyo tunajikuta tukipoteza wataalamu wengi kupitia mfumo duni wa elimu unaowalazimisha wanafunzi kukariri vitu visivyo na umuhimu ili waweze kufaulu tu, huku tukisahau jambo la msingi zaidi ambalo ni kuwa na watu mahiri katika jambo fulani.
Tukitaka kwenda mbele, ni muhimu kuwekeza vizuri katika elimu yetu kama ambavyo mataifa mengine yaliyoendelea na yale yanayoendelea kwa kasi yalivyofanya. Hata katika baadhi ya nchi majirani tunaweza kujifunza.
Mfumo wetu wa elimu ukiwa vizuri, wazazi wataacha kuwakimbizia watoto wao shule za kiingereza na zile za St. Nanihii kwa kudhani kuwa ndiko kuna elimu bora zaidi (kwa upande fulani ni kweli) na kuwaacha kina Kayumba wakibaki bila kimbilio.

TUSIHARIBU SENSA KWA MITAZAMO YA DINI ZETU, TUSHIKAMANE KAMA WATANZANIA - Samora Julius

Kwanza kabisa ningependa kutoa wito wangu kwa watanzania kushiriki kwa ustadi na umakini wa hali ya juu katika zoezi zito na muhimu katika taifa letu ambalo si lingine bali ni sensa.

Ndugu watanzania, hakuna kitu muhimu kama kushiriki katika shughuli ya kupanga maendeleo yetu wenyewe, kushiriki katika sensa ni kuonyesha uzalendo wako katika taifa lako. swala la sensa si Tanzania tu ni bali ni swala la NCHI ZOTE na umuhimu wako hujikita katika mambo makuu kama matatu hivi nayo ni:

(1) kuangalia hali ya uchumi na ustawi wake wa jamii.
(2) kutayarisha mipango ya maendeleo.
(3)kuweka misingi itakayosaidia kufanya maamuzi.

Ndugu watanzania, kuna mawazo machafu yanayoenezwa na watu au kikundi cha watu kuwaada watanzania kutoshiriki katika zoezi la sensa hapa napata HOFU tena kubwa kwa mtanzania huyu anafanya hivyo kwa manufaa ya nani na kwalengo gani?

Tukianza kujitambua kwa DINI zetu katika zoezi hili la sensa basi tunapotaka kuelekea ni pabaya sana maana tukitoka kwenye kutambuana kwenye DINI tutaamia kwenye madhehebu yetu kwamba hawa ni wengi kuliko wale,tukishamaliza kwenye DINI tutahamia kwenye makabila yetu. Ndugu zangu tuwe makini JUU YA JAMBO HILI LA SENSA NA DHANA YA UDINI.

Tukumbuke sisi ni watanzania na tutabaki kuwa watanzania bila kujali makabila wala dini zetu, swala la sensa lisije likawa kama chanzo cha kuvuruga amani tulionayo maana kuna watu wachache wanaotaka kutuvuluga watanzania katika mambo muhimu katika maendeleo yetu.

Ifahamike kwamba SENSA ni kama moja wapo ya nyenzo muhimu katika kupanga na kujitasmini sisi kama watanzania wapi tumetoka na wapi tunapotaka kuelekea si kwa manufaa ya watu au kikundi cha watu wachache na bila kuangalia DINI zao au makabila au sehemu wanazotoka.

WITO WANGU KAMA MTANZANIA NISIYEJITAMBULISHA AU KUJIPAMBANUA KWA KABILA au DINI YANGU NAPENDA KUWASIHI WATANZANIA KUSHIRIKI KWA MOYO MMOJA KATIKA ZOEZI LILILOPO MBELE YETU KWA KUJITAZAMA KAMA MTANZANIA NA SI VINGINEVYO.

MUNGU IBARIKI TANZANIA,MUNGU IBARIKI AFRIKA

Crush the "I'm Not Creative" Barrier - by Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and Clayton M. Christensen

-Did you know that if you think you are creative, you're more likely to actually be creative? This surprising fact pops up again and again in our research. In our database of over 6,000 professionals who have taken the Innovator's DNA self & 360 assessments, people (entrepreneurs and managers alike) who "agree" with the survey statement "I am creative" consistently deliver disruptive solutions — by creating new businesses, products, services, and processes that no one has done before. They see themselves as creative and act that way.
But what if you don't see yourself as creative? Are you actually less creative?
This is an important question to ask because many — probably half — of you don't think that you're creative. Around the world we regularly ask groups of 100 to 1,000 managers and executives, "Are you creative?" With clockwork consistency, at best half the hands in an audience slowly rise. This is not exactly a scientific sample and methodology, but it's direct enough data to see that most managers don't define themselves as creative (and for what it's worth, asking the more socially acceptable "Are you innovative?" question delivers an equally anemic response).
The bad news is that if you don't think you're creative, our survey data say that you probably are not. But there is good news: You can actually become more creative by changing your mind-set. Anyone can innovate, if they choose to. Disruptive innovators do it by choice, not chance. Their everyday actions swap out an "I'm not creative" mind-set for an "I am creative" one. And then magical (not mystical) things unfold.
The magic materializes as people engage unique innovation skills (what we call their innovator's DNA) on an everyday basis. For example, by asking provocative questions, observing like anthropologists, networking with people who see the world in 180-degree opposites, and experimenting with intensity, innovators obliterate the "I'm not creative" brain barrier and, more often than not, break out from the pack.
Stepan Pachikov, founder of Evernote (personal software that retrieves any kind of information whenever you need it), leveraged his innovator's DNA to put together a product with one of the most loyal followings around. From start to finish, Pachikov was obsessed with a single question: "What kind of database will help me remember things?" He took this simple question and did something with it, not only for himself but for millions of others. He observed first-hand how people actually try to remember things. He talked to a host of folks taking different angles on the problem of memory (finding what you want when you want it). He rapidly prototyped the software to make it work.
The result? A product that changes lives by enabling forgetful people to remember things they never could before. Yes, it does change lives. Whenever we mention Evernote to audiences, at least 20% of the Evernote users in the group affirm with real emotion that it really has changed their lives. By leveraging his personal portfolio of innovation skills, Pachikov collaborated with colleagues at Evernote, including CEO Phil Liblin, to build a hit product that makes a powerful, positive impact.
If you think your innovation efforts might be blocked by an "I'm not creative" brain barrier, take this fast, five-question diagnostic test (pulled from our 60-item assessment, which captures the innovator's DNA skills in far more depth), or pass it along to someone who seems stuck in a creative rut. Do you agree with the following statements? A simple yes or no works fine for each one.
Associational thinking: I creatively solve challenging problems by drawing on diverse ideas or knowledge.
Questioning: I often ask questions that challenge others' fundamental assumptions.
Observing: I get innovative ideas by directly observing how people interact with products and services.
Idea Networking: I regularly talk with a diverse set of people (e.g., from different functions, industries, geographies) to find and refine new business ideas.
Experimenting: I frequently experiment to create new ways of doing things.
If you answered no to three or more questions, then you're probably bumping into the "I'm not creative" barrier.
Becoming more creative requires acting more creative — on a daily basis — to conquer the most vexing problems you face, personally or professionally. It sounds deceptively simple, but acting and thinking differently actually makes us different. You must hunt for things to change. You must spend time at it — a lot more time. The problem is if you don't think you can, you won't. Remember that old saying: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you're probably right." As we come to define ourselves as creative, we change our behaviors and we can actually become more creative. Doing this is key to keeping a creative edge, or for getting it back.