Burundi yafaa kuahirisha uchaguzi

Viongozi wa Afrika Mashariki wametoa wito kuwa uchaguzi wa Burundi uakhirishwe kwa angalau wiki sita na ghasia zimalizike. Taarifa hiyo inafuatia mkutano wa viongozi wa Jumuia ya Afrika Mashariki mjini Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Uamuzi wa Rais wa Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza kuania muhula wa tatu wa uongozi katika uchaguzi wa mwezi ujao, umesababisha maandamano kwa majuma kadha sasa. Kiongozi wa Burundi hajakuwako kwenye mkutano huo. Mara ya mwisho alipohudhuria mkutano kama huo awali mwezi May, maafisa wa jeshi walijaribu kumpindua.

Nkurunziza:Sitahudhuria mkutano Tanzania

Msemaji wa rais wa Burundi amesema kuwa rais wa nchi hiyo Pierre Nkurunziza hatahudhuria mkutano wa viongozi wa kikanda ambao utaangazia mzozo ulio nchini mwake. Msemaji huyo aliliambia shirika moja la habari la Ufaransa kuwa rais Pierre Nkurunziza atakuwa akifanya kampeni ya uchaguzi wa urais na kwamba waziri wa mashauri ya kigeni ndiye atahudhuria mkutano ambao utawajumuisha marais wa Rwanda, Uganda , Tanzania na Kenya mjini Dar es Salaam. Wakati Nkurunziza alihudhuria mkutano kama huo mpema mwezi huu baadhi ya maafisa wa kijeshi walijaribu kumpindua. Burundi imekumbwa na ghasia tangu Nkurunziza atangaze kuwa atawania urais kwa muhula wa tatu. Hapo jana Nia ya rais wa Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza kuwania muhula wa tatu ilipata pigo baada Afisa mmoja tume hiyo ya uchaguzi kuiambia redio moja ya Ufaransa kuwa Spes Caritas Ndironkeye aliabiri ndege ijumaa na haijulikani kama alijiuzulu au la. Tume hiyo ya uchaguzi ina maafisa wakuu watano na inaweza kuendelea kuhudumu hata baada ya kuondoka kwa mmoja wao. Hata hivyo duru zinaelezea kuwa huenda afisa wa pili wa tume hiyo akajiondoa na hivyo kulemaza shughuli za tume hiyo. Juma lililopita kanisa katoliki nchini Burundi lilijiondoa kutoka kwa harakati zozote za uchaguzi mkuu uliokumbwa na utata siku moja tu kabla ya umoja wa Ulaya kuondoa maafisa wake katika shughuli hizo za uchaguzi. Umoja wa ulaya ulikuwa umetuma maafisa wa kucimamia na kuhakikisha kuwa uchaguzi huo ni wa huru na haki. Taarifa hiyo imetokea wakati ikisalia wiki moja tu uchaguzi wa wabunge na madiwani ufanyike nchini humo. Kanisa katoliki ni kiungo muhimu katika suala la amani na demokrasia nchini Burundi tokea kuanzishwa mazungumzo ya amani ya Arusha mnamo miaka ya tisini. Haya yamearifiwa wakati maandamano dhidi muhula wa tatu wa rais wa Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza yanaendelea kufanyika katika mitaa kadhaa ya mji mkuu Bujumbura kwa zaidi ya mwezi mmoja sasa. Makundi ya kutetea haki za binadamu, yanasema kuwa zaidi ya watu 20 wamefariki wakati wa ghasia za maandamano, Tangu rais Pierre Nkurunziza alipotangaza mwezi uliopita kuwa anapania kuwania tena kiti cha urais kwa muhula wa tatu, kinyume na katiba ya Burundi. Uchaguzi wa urais umepangiwa kufanyika Juni tarehe tano, huku ule wa urais ukiwa mwishoni mwa mwezi huo wa Juni.

FIFA scandal: Sepp Blatter wins another term as president

(CNN)—Meet Sepp Blatter. Still the most powerful man in the world's most popular game, scandal be damned. You could also call the 79-year-old Swiss national a survivor, after he clung to his job as FIFA's president Friday. He won a fifth term despite a week marked by arrests, investigations in the United States and Switzerland and questions about whether he was the right man to rebuild the reputation of soccer's governing body. It wasn't a slam dunk, and Blatter failed to get the required 140 votes in the first round of voting to prevail. (He got 133, compared to 73 for Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.) But with the writing on the wall -- since Blatter would only need a simple majority of votes in the next round to win -- Prince Ali conceded. "I take the responsibility to bring back FIFA," Blatter said, promising he would leave after his four-year term ends. "And I am convinced we can do it." Just how did Blatter survive?  He is a masterful political operator and his knack for getting off clean amid scandal -- or at least without being directly tied to wrongdoing in the soccer world -- is uncanny. Then there's the matter of the voters and their loyalties to Blatter. Part of it is the system itself: There are 209 member associations within FIFA, and each of their votes counts the same. That means a vote from China, with about 1.4 billion citizens, carries the same weight as a vote from the Cook Islands, with about 11,000 citizens. And, corruption or not, the FIFA gravy train provides quite a bit of gravy. The organization's executive committee members get $300,000 a year plus $500 per day for expenses. If you're on official FIFA business, you can expect flying first class and staying in five-star hotels. The member associations benefit big-time, including $500,000 payouts linked to World Cup profits. That's a sizable chunk of change that goes a lot further in places where there are fewer people to share it. No surprise, then, that many of these organizations -- especially in Africa, Asia and the Americas -- have been loyal to Blatter, given his commitment to divvying up the largesse of FIFA, which has $1.5 billion in the bank.

Blatter said 'evolution,' not 'revolution' needed

Blatter didn't mention such (perfectly legal) perks in the run-up to Friday's election, though he did reference the recent investigations, asserting that alleged corruption at FIFA was a result of "a few" individuals, not the whole organization. "I'm willing to accept that the president of FIFA is responsible for everything, but I would like to share that responsibility with you," he told voters at the 65th FIFA World Congress. "We cannot possibly supervise everybody that's in football." The soccer world, more than ever, needs "needs a strong (and) experienced leader" like himself to restore trust, Blatter argued. He urged voters to give him a chance to do that, but didn't promise any sweeping reforms. "We don't need a revolution," he said. "But we still need, and always need, evolution." Entering this week, there'd been little doubt Blatter would extend his 17 years on the job. Yes, FIFA and soccer officials generally had been tied to plenty of sketchy antics. But none of it seemed to stick to the top dog. But the announcement Wednesday that U.S. authorities had indicted nine FIFA officials as well as five sports media and marketing executives over alleged kickbacks of more than $150 million dating back more than 20 years changed the narrative. So, too, did Swiss authorities announcement the same day that they were conducting their own investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process. Complete coverage on the FIFA case Suddenly, it seemed, Jordan's Prince Ali had a chance. Granted some groups -- like the Asian Football Confederation and Confederation of African Football, with 100 votes between them -- stood by Blatter. But many others stepped away from him. In his own speech Friday to voters, Prince Ali referenced criticism that FIFA is "morally bankrupt" and an "avaricious body that feeds off the game the world loves." Big change -- including at the top -- is needed, he said. "I will not hide among your ranks when things are bad, stepping forward when things are good," he said. "If you give me the honor of your vote, I will take full responsibility and hold myself accountable to all of you and to the world." Putin accuses U.S. of 'illegally persecuting people' European football chief had vowed action if Blatter wins Prince Ali's pitch wasn't enough. One thing that definitely won't change on Sepp Blatter's watch, he insisted Friday, is the location of next two World Cups. That is 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar, an Arab nation with little soccer history, scorching summer temperatures (which have spurred the event's start date to be moved) and, according to many observers, questionable labor practices -- hundreds of workers, mostly foreign, have died in the rush to build stadiums there. But even with Blatter living to see another day, how hurt will FIFA be by this whole ordeal? There's talk that big companies like Visa and Coca-Cola could abandon their sponsorships of events such as the World Cup because of the corruption cloud. Political leaders, especially in Europe, don't seem likely to embrace Blatter after his win. British Prime Minister David Cameron went so far Friday as to say Blatter "should go." "You can't have accusations of corruption at this level and on this scale in this organization and pretend the person currently leading it is the right person to take it forward," Cameron said. Michel Platini -- president of UEFA, European soccer's governing body -- said after a meeting Thursday that he'd asked Blatter to leave, only to be told it was "too late." The former French national player said that, if Blatter was re-elected, European nations could take action of their own. Some have even advocated for Europe and its sporting allies to pull out of FIFA entirely. So what do they do now? The ball may be in Europe's possession, but -- for now, at least -- it still belongs to Sepp Blatter.

New Humanitarian Pledge to Ban Nuclear Weapons Advances as Troubled Treaty Stall

By Emily Welty and Jonathan Frerichs Four weeks of negotiations on nuclear weapons came to a close on Friday 22 May 2015, as the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended without a formal agreement. Despite the outcome, a bright new prospect towards a world without nuclear weapons has emerged in the form of a Humanitarian Pledge, now endorsed by 107 states, which promises “to fill the legal gap for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons”. As the few states with nuclear weapons worked to complicate, and many critics say weaken, the NPT review process, more and more governments without nuclear weapons endorsed the new pledge. Members of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), including the World Council of Churches and some of its member churches, are promoting the pledge in every region of the world. The divide between nuclear and non-nuclear nations was apparent throughout the NPT conference at United Nations headquarters in New York. A large group of reform-minded countries told the final session there was “a reality gap, a credibility gap, a confidence gap and a moral gap”. The “reality” gap refers to compelling new evidence about the catastrophic humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. The “credibility” gap refers to the perceived chronic failure of nuclear-armed states to fulfil their treaty obligation to negotiate nuclear disarmament. The “confidence” gap stems from the same states espousing the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world while modernizing their nuclear arsenals at the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars. The “moral” gap is especially wide and of particular concern to representatives of the churches. “The nuclear powers at the conference are claiming that their security is worth whatever these horrible weapons risk doing to others,” the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary said in a statement issued during the meeting. “That is not acceptable. What nuclear weapons do to people and the planet – to God’s wonderful creation – is immoral, unethical and contrary to the will of God,” he said. WCC representatives met with diplomats from countries where member churches had contacted their government prior to the meeting. Some WCC member churches sent pre-conference letters to governments stressing the need for a legal ban applying to all nuclear weapons, promoting the new pledge as a step in that direction, and lauding recent joint statements in which 159 countries declare “Nuclear weapons must never be used again under any circumstances”. The churches said the new humanitarian approach to nuclear disarmament “has done what the NPT has failed to do—empower the majority in their commitment to eliminate nuclear arms”. The failure of the NPT to produce a consensus document frustrated the many countries that have fulfilled their commitments to refrain from developing nuclear weapons and who expect the nuclear-armed states to fulfil their legal obligation to disarm. In open sessions and behind closed doors, nuclear powers attempted to block or weaken disarmament measures. France, the United Kingdom and the United States argued that nuclear weapons provide security and that disarmament must proceed slowly. However, a growing number of states and civil society organizations challenge this rationale and highlight the unacceptable risks that nuclear weapons pose to humanity. South Africa, which abandoned its own nuclear weapons in the early 1990s, told the conference that states refusing to give up their nuclear arsenals “makes nonsense…of the historic [1970 NPT] bargain that nuclear-weapon states will disarm, whilst others will not proliferate”. South African Ambassador Abdul Minty said, “How long will it take to reach the destination? Do they need some fuel from us to make them go faster, or are they taking rest-stops along the way, or are they simply lost?” Churches and related organizations in the WCC-led Ecumenical Peace Advocacy Network reminded their governments that this year’s 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan makes 2015 “a propitious year for real progress on nuclear disarmament.” Arguing in favour of a ban, the churches said, “To ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again, they must be eliminated. To eliminate them, they must be banned.” “The World Council of Churches and member churches are looking to governments to take decisive action in this memorial year,” the WCC general secretary stated. The Humanitarian Pledge is a refreshing change amid the habitual misuse of the NPT by a few nuclear-armed states to perpetuate their privileges. It is widely believed the proposed outcome document from the 2015 NPT Review Conference was already weak and did not reflect the broad majority calls for urgent and effective measures for nuclear disarmament. Then the US, the UK and Canada – two of the nuclear powers and one of their allies involved in weakening the document – announced that they would not be able to support it at all. They were acting on behalf of Israel, another nuclear-armed state that is not even a member of the NPT. For decades Israel has refused to enter into negotiations to make the Middle East a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, a critical provision of the treaty that is of great importance in the region. Several governments decried the current situation as “nuclear colonialism” or “nuclear apartheid” because a small minority of nuclear-armed states control both the NPT process and the nuclear weapons that should be eliminated. However, new hope has emerged in the form of the Humanitarian Pledge which supports a process, open to all and block-able by none, “to stigmatize, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons in light of their unacceptable humanitarian consequences and associated risks”. During the NPT conference, WCC representatives delivered a multi-religious statement, “Faith Communities Concerned about the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons”, and served as panellists to discuss the NPT’s disarmament obligation, Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and the advocacy role of religious organizations in disarmament processes. Dr Emily Welty, vice-moderator of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, is a university professor in New York City. Jonathan Frerichs is a WCC staff member.

Burundi:Afisa wa tume ya uchaguzi atoroka

Nia ya rais wa Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza kuwania muhula wa tatu imepata pigo baada ya ripoti kutoka nchini humo kudai kuwa mwenyekiti msaidizi wa tume ya uchaguzi ametoroka. Afisa mmoja tume hiyo ya uchaguzi ameiambia redio moja ya Ufaransa kuwa Spes Caritas Ndironkeye aliabiri ndege ijumaa na haijulikani kama alijiuzulu au la. Tume hiyo ya uchaguzi ina maafisa wakuu watano na inaweza kuendelea kuhudumu hata baada ya kuondoka kwa mmoja wao. Hata hivyo duru zinaelezea kuwa huenda afisa wa pili wa tume hiyo akajiondoa na hivyo kulemaza shughuli za tume hiyo. Juma lililopita kanisa katoliki nchini Burundi lilijiondoa kutoka kwa harakati zozote za uchaguzi mkuu uliokumbwa na utata siku moja tu kabla ya umoja wa Ulaya kuondoa maafisa wake katika shughuli hizo za uchaguzi. Umoja wa ulaya ulikuwa umetuma maafisa wa kucimamia na kuhakikisha kuwa uchaguzi huo ni wa huru na haki. Taarifa hiyo imetokea wakati ikisalia wiki moja tu uchaguzi wa wabunge na madiwani ufanyike nchini humo. Kanisa katoliki ni kiungo muhimu katika suala la amani na demokrasia nchini Burundi tokea kuanzishwa mazungumzo ya amani ya Arusha mnamo miaka ya tisini. Haya yamearifiwa wakati maandamano dhidi muhula wa tatu wa rais wa Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza yanaendelea kufanyika katika mitaa kadhaa ya mji mkuu Bujumbura kwa zaidi ya mwezi mmoja sasa. Makundi ya kutetea haki za binadamu, yanasema kuwa zaidi ya watu 20 wamefariki wakati wa ghasia za maandamano, Tangu rais Pierre Nkurunziza alipotangaza mwezi uliopita kuwa anapania kuwania tena kiti cha urais kwa muhula wa tatu, kinyume na katiba ya Burundi. Uchaguzi wa urais umepangiwa kufanyika Juni tarehe tano, huku ule wa urais ukiwa mwishoni mwa mwezi huo wa Juni.

FIFA:Blatter ailaumu UEFA na Marekani

Rais wa shirikisho la soka duniani FIFA Sepp Blatter ameikashifu shirikisho la soka barani ulaya UEFA na Marekani kwa kuendesha kampeini ya kuipaka tope jina zuri la FIFA. Blatter ambaye ameanza muhula wake wa tano kama rais wa shirikisho hilo amesema kuwa alipigwa na mshangao alipopata habari za ufisadi ulaji na rushwa ndani ya FIFA. Akizungumza na runinga moja ya Uswisi Blatter alimtaja mkuu wa sheria wa Marekani Loretta Lynch na rais wa UEFA Michel Platini kwa kuichukia FIFA. ''Kwa kweli chuki inayosikika katika tuhuma za ufisadi na ulaji rushwa dhidi ya FIFA kwa hakika sio kitu cha kudhaniwa na mtu mmoja hiyo ni chuki ya shirikisho lote la UEFA. ''Lakini mimi nitawasamehe tu '' alisema Blatter. Blatter alilaumu vyombo vya habari kwa kujaribu kuchochea njama ya kuiharibia FIFA jina. Blatter alitawazwa rais wa FIFA baada ya kujiondoa kwa mpinzani wake Ali Bin al Hussein mwanamfale wa Jordan baada ya kushindwa katika mkondo wa kwanza wa uchaguzi kwa kura 133 kwa 73. Blatter, ambaye ameongoza shirikisho hilo kwa miaka 17 amewataka wajumbe wa FIFA kushirikiana na kuwa imara. . Akifungua mkutano mkuu wa FIFA mjini Zurich, Bwana Mr Blatter alibainisha kuwa shirikisho hilo linakabiliwa na matatizo - lakini akatoa wito kwa wajumbe kushughulikia matatizo hayo kwa pamoja. Lakini kabla upigaji kura , mpinzani mkuu wa bwana Blatter , Ali Bin al Hussein mwanamfale wa Jordan, aliwaomba wajumbe wa mkutano huo kumuunga mkono -- kwa ajili ya kuboresha mchezo wa soka Ali Bin al Hussein mwanamfale wa Jordan alijiondoa kabla ya kupigwa kura ya mkondo wa pili. Blatter alikuwa akiungwa mkono na mashirikisho ya soka ya afrika Asia na Marekani Kusini huku Ali Bin al Hussein mwanamfale wa Jordanakiungwa mkono na UEFA. Wakati huohuo,wafadhili wakuu wa shiriko la kandanda duniani FIFA wanasema kuwa wanatarajia raisi wake aliyechaguliwa kwa mara nyingine Sepp Blatter kuchukua hatua madhubuti ili kurejesha hadhi ya shirikisho hilo iliyochafuka. Kampuni za Coca-Cola na McDonalds zimeitaka FIFA kuchukua hatua za haraka kwa munufaa ya mchezo wa soka na mashabiki kote duniani. Bwana Blatter alichaguliwa tena kwa muhula wa tano siku ya ijumaa licha ya kuwepo uchunguzi unaofanywa na Marekani na Uswisi kuhusu kashfa zinazolikumba shirikisho hilo za ufisadi na ulaji rushwa dhidi ya maafisa wake wakuu.

Historia fupi ya Rais mpya wa Nigeria

Mshindi wa uchaguzi mkuu nchini Nigeria Muhamadu Buhari anaapishwa leo kama rais mpya wa nchi hiyo. Bwana Buhari ambaye ni kiongozi wa zamani wa kijeshi anachukua uongozi kutoka kwa rais wa zamani Goodluck Jonathan ambaye amemtaka kuiunganisha nchi hiyo wakati inapokabiliana na tisho kutoka kundi la Boko Haram. Buhari anasema kuwa lengo lake ni kupambana ufisadi ambao umekita mizizi katika taifa hilo lenye watu wengie zaidi barani afrika. Lakini je Buhari ni nani ? Muhammadu Buhari, ni Muisilamu, mzaliwa wa Jimbo la Katsina, Nigeria kaskazini. Alizaliwa mwaka 1942, Buhari alikuwa kiongozi wa saba wa taifa la Nigeria, baina ya mwaka 1983-1985. Ni jenerali mstaafu aliyepata mafunzo ya kijeshi katika Nigeria, Uingereza, India, na Marekani. Na aliwahi pia kushika nyadhifa za ugavana, kamishna wa raslimali ya mafuta, mwenyekiti wa shirika la umma la mafuta, na pia mwenyekiti wa Mfuko wa Amana ya Mafuta. Anasemekana kuwa si m-kaishi, hakubali kushindwa. Licha ya kushindwa mara katika chaguzi tatu, amerejea kushindania tena urais, dhidi ya rais alo-madarakani Goodluck Jonathan, Mkristo, anaye toka eneo la Niger Delta, kusini Nigeria, kwa mara ya pili, katika uchaguzi wa Machi. Unaonesha kuwa mchuano mkali. Kuambatana na mandhari ya kisiasa, Buhari si limbukeni. Kushindwa mwaka 2003 na tena 2007, alitambia matokeo ya chaguzi hizo mahakamani bila mafanikio. Ingawaje, Buhari anazingatiwa kuwa kiongozi mwenye ufuasi mkubwa na heshima nyumbani, hususan katika rubaa za kaskazini Nigeria. Na hii inatokana na sera zake za kupambana na ufisadi na ukosefu wa nidhamu, wakati alipokuwa mtawala wa kijeshi. Yajulikana kwamba ni yeye na marehemu Nelson Mandela tu ndio Wafrika binafsi waloalikwa na Ikulu ya White House, Marekani, kuhudhuria sherehe za kutawazwa Barack Obama. Kampeni ya Jenerali Buhari, ilitilia mkazo mambo kadha, miongoni mwake utawala bora, kufufua uchumi, maendeleo ya miundombinu, umeme na nishati, kilimo, elimu, afya, ardhi na usafiri, kuwezeshwa wanawake, usalama, na ajira. Ingawaje, uwili wa nafsi yake bado unazusha masuala, je ni wa kijeshi au kidemomkrasi?

Ireland yahalalisha ndoa za jinsia moja

Waziri mkuu nchini Ireland Enda Kenny amesema kuwa Ireland ni nchi ndogo iliyo na ujumbe mkubwa baada ya kupiga kura kwa wingi kuhalalisha ndoa za wapenzi wa jinsia moja. Mabadiliko hayo ya katiba yaliungwa mkono na zaidi ya asilimia 60 ya wapiga kura kwenye kura ya maoni ya siku ya Jumamosi. Kanisa katoliki lilifanya kampeni ya kupinga kura hiyo Askofu mkuu wa mji wa Dublin Diarmuid Martin alikubali kushindwa na kusema kuwa matokeo hayo ni ishara ya mabadiliko ya kijamii nchini Ireland. Wale waliokuwa wakiunga mkono ndoa za wapenzi wa jinsia moja waliitaja siku ya jana kuwa ya kihistoria nchini Ireland.

Climbing to Kilimanjaro’s mountain top as stewards of God’s creation.

An opportunity to raise awareness about environmental destruction (LWI) – Experienced mountain climbers begin a four-day trek to the highest peak of Mt Kilimanjaro today as part of 60th anniversary celebrations of the Lutheran communion in Africa. “We’ll make sure we get to the top of the mountain to represent the Lutheran church in Africa,” said 26-year-old Harold Minja at a send-off blessing service on 19 May at the Marangu Teachers’ Training College in Moshi. The college grounds was the venue of the first All-Africa Lutheran Conference in 1955. The climb starts as over 200 delegates from The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Africa and global Lutheran leaders gather, 20-24 May, in Moshi to celebrate 60 years since the first Marangu gathering. Hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), participants will also prepare for the 500th Reformation anniversary and the LWF Twelfth Assembly under the theme “Liberated by God’s Grace.” ELCT district pastor Rev. Winford Mosha presided at the service for the Marangu-Kilimanjaro climb by ELCT members Minja and 32-year-old Dawson Chonjo. They will climb under the theme, “We are called to be stewards of God’s creation,” highlighting the need for urgent attention to environmental destruction that has contributed to the reduction of Mt Kilimanjaro’s ice cap. Representing the African Lutheran church as witnesses of the gospel, the two climbers will carry the “stewards of God’s creation” banner to Uhuru peak, the highest point of Mt Kilimanjaro at 5,892.8 meters. The climbers’ theme resonates with the Marangu jubilee and Reformation discussions. Focus on the 2017 Reformation and LWF Assembly sub-themes will articulate that creation, salvation and human beings are “not for sale.” Minja and Chonjo will be received back on 24 May by Lutheran church leaders in the context of the Pentecost Sunday celebratory eucharistic service at the Marangu college grounds. - See more at: https://www.lutheranworld.org/news/climbing-kilimanjaro-mountain-top-stewards-god-creation#sthash.zppEykjE.dpuf

Tribute to Dr Tawfiq Nasser

“Long and faithful service” to the Augusta Victoria Hospital (LWI) - With great sadness The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has learned of the death of Dr Tawfiq A. Nasser, the Chief Executive Officer of the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem. Dr Nasser passed away on the morning of 16 May 2015. He had been the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer since 2001 and was instrumental in shaping its medical orientation. “Dr Nasser was a man of compassion and service who cared deeply about others,” LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge wrote in a condolence letter to Dr Nasser’s family. “In the LWF, we are particularly grateful for the long and faithful service Dr Nasser gave in the development of the Augusta Victoria Hospital.” “He cherished and loved AVH” Dr Nasser, who was born in the AVH in 1964 when the hospital still had a maternity ward, had been the hospital’s administrative director since 1997. He took over as Chief Executive Officer in 2001, at the age of 36. Dr Nasser shaped the hospital into the leading center for nephrology and oncology in the Palestinian territories. He graduated in biomedicine and hospital administration at the Old Dominion University in Virginia, USA. Before taking a position at the AVH, Dr Nasser worked at Sentara Health System, USA, as well as at Bir Zeit University and with Arab Care Medical Services, both in Ramallah. Colleagues and friends praised Dr Nasser’s commitment to the AVH and its patients. “Tawfiq worked at AVH on the Mount of Olives for 18 years,” Bishop Munib A Younan, Chairperson of the board of the AVH and President of the LWF, said. “He cherished and loved AVH. Tawfiq did not want it to be just a hospital. He wanted it to be a community of healing on the Mount of Olives.” LWF General Secretary Junge said of Dr Nasser: “As a medical doctor, he learned the healing arts and applied them to relieve human suffering. As a gifted administrator, he organized the staff, the resources and the supporters to bring the Augusta Victoria Hospital to even higher levels of service. As a Palestinian, through his words and actions as a consummate professional, he was a powerful witness for justice, peace and an end to the occupation.” Continue delivering services Dr Nasser continued working until early May. He had been gradually handing over responsibilities to his deputy, Walid Nammour, who will continue to ensure professional delivery of services. Located on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, the AVH serves thousands of patients annually. It provides specialized medical services that are either unavailable elsewhere or not readily accessible to Palestinians, including facilities for dialysis, cancer and surgery, as well as special clinics, laboratories and medical equipment. One of Dr Nasser’s achievements was to have the hospital awarded the prestigious Joint Commission International accreditation for health care quality, patient care and organizational management in 2013. He also took the decision to send volunteer medical teams into Gaza to treat the wounded during the conflict of August 2014. “We stand by his wife and his family,” Rev. Mark Brown, Country Representative of the LWF program in Jerusalem, said. “Please keep them in your prayers. Wholly in keeping with Tawfiq’s commitment to AVH, the family requested that friends wishing to honor Tawfiq send contributions to Augusta Victoria Hospital in support of its cancer work, in lieu of flowers.” - See more at: https://www.lutheranworld.org/news/tribute-dr-tawfiq-nasser#sthash.w600ZhYl.dpuf

Burundi:Nkurunziza ahairisha uchaguzi

Rais wa Burundia Pierre Nkurunziza amehairisha uchaguzi wa ubunge kwa siku kumi . Msemaji wa rais Willy Nyamitwe ameiambia shirika la habari la AFP kuwa kufuatia jaribio la mapinduzi juma lililopita na vurugu zilizofuatia ni bora kuahirisha uchaguzi huo kwa muda. ''Uchaguzi huo wa ubunge ulikuwa umeratibiwa kufanyika tarehe 26 mwezi Mei lakini sasa inatubidi kuihairisha ili kuwasikiza washirika wetu wa kimataifa pamoja na tume ya uchaguzi ambayo pia inatumia muda huo kutatua maswali yaliyoulizwa na vyama vya upinzani.'' alisema Nyamitwe. Hadi kufikia sasa tarehe rasmi ya uchaguzi wa urais uliopangwa kufanywa Juni tarehe 26 haijabadilika. ''Subiri tu'' Nyamitwe aliwaambia waandishi wa habari. Mwandishi wa BBC aliyeko huko Ruth Nesoba amesema kuwa tayari rais Nkurunziza ametia sahihi amri hiyo ya kuhairishwa kwa uchaguzi. Umoja wa mataifa ya bara Ulaya EU, na Umoja wa mataifa ya Afrika AU, yametoa wito kwa uchaguzi huo uliokumbwa na utata mkubwa uhairishwe ilikutoa fursa kwa mazungumzo ya upatanishi kuendelea . Hapo jana Rais wa Afrika Kusini alitilia pondo hoja hiyo ya kuahirisha uchaguzi akisema ni bora uchaguzi huo uliopangwa ''uhairishwe''. Takriban watu 20 wameuawa kufuatia makabiliano baina ya polisi na waandamani katika mji mkuu wa Bujumbura kilele ikiwa ni juma lililopita makamanda waasi walipotangaza jaribio la mapinduzi rais Nkurunziza akiwa mjini Dar es Salaam kuhudhuria mkutano wa viongozi wa kanda uliolenga kutatua mzozo wa kisiasa nchini mwake. Wapinzani wa rais Nkurunziza wanasema kuwa kutangazwa kwake nia ya kuwania muhula wa tatu unakiuka sheria na makubaliano ya amani ya mwaka wa 2006 yaliyomaliza vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe vilivyodumu kwa miaka 13. Nkurunzizakwa upande wake anashikilia kukutu kuwa ana haki ya kuwania muhula mwengine kwani muhula wa kwanza hakuchaguliwa na wanainchi bali wabunge. Takriban watu laki moja wamekimbilia mataifa jirani wakihofia kutibuka upya kwa mapigano ya wenyewe kwa wenyewe.

US PRESIDENT NAMES YOUNG ECUMENICAL LEADER TO WHITE HOUSE PANEL

US President Barack Obama has named Dr Ulysses Burley III to a presidential advisory panel on HIV and AIDS. One of a new generation of World Council of Churches (WCC) leaders, Burley is one of the youngest appointees to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) in the United States. Aged 32, he is a medical doctor, a Clinical Research Associate at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a lay preacher in the WCC member church the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), advising on HIV and AIDS and a regular blogger on the site called the Salt Collective. “We celebrate with him and also remember to lift him up in prayer for his new ministry”, said WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who met Burley in Washington, D.C., last week. PACHA provides advice, information, and recommendations regarding programmes and policies intended to promote effective prevention of HIV and to advance research on HIV and AIDS. The White House asks PACHA to provide recommendations on how to effectively implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, as well as monitor the strategy's implementation. Burley serves on the WCC gender advisory group and is a member of the WCC’s executive committee and its central committee, the main governing body of the council. Burley was elected as a central committee member at the WCC's 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea, in November 2013. During his training as a medical doctor, Burley completed some of his studies in South America. Burley began working with HIV and AIDS patients, and says that his work strengthened his ties to his own faith tradition and to ecumenical work.

ECUMENICAL EFFORTS IN UKRAINIAN PEACE PROCESS TO KEEP MOVING AHEAD

Ecumenical efforts led by the World Council of Churches (WCC) continue to encourage peace in Ukraine, where a fragile cease-fire is daily tested by violence in the eastern part of the country. Since the Ukrainian revolution of February 2014, the Russian Federation annexed the Crimean peninsula, and a war has raged with separatist pro-Russian fighters in the east of the country. The conflict began after the post-revolutionary government showed an interest in fostering greater ties with Western Europe and has also pitted Western countries and Russia against each other, rendering the conflict national, regional and global. Political leaders in February hammered out the Minsk II agreement that seeks to halt the fighting, while church and religious leaders work behind the scenes to promote its implementation, with both sides in the conflict making frequent accusations about the breaking of the accord. Process initiated by recent ecumenical visit A delegation led by the WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, visited Ukraine from 17 to 20 March 2015. Later, in April, he met Patriarch Kirill, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, where they discussed Ukraine and other matters. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on 15 February in its latest report, “The impact of the conflict on the human rights of those living in areas affected by the fighting in the eastern regions is dramatic and frequently life threatening in areas where fighting and indiscriminate shelling take place.” From his observations, Church of Sweden Emeritus Archbishop Wejryd, the WCC’s Europe President, confirmed the gravity of the humanitarian situation in the east. “The level of destruction in places like Lisichansk is almost total, and the area has been substantially depopulated,” said Wejryd. He heard reports of many people having starved to death in their cellars, unable to seek supplies because of the intensity and duration of the fighting. “Those who remain are heavily reliant on outside aid, significant amounts of which is provided through churches and related organizations. But it is not enough to meet the extent of the need,” he said. The delegation went to Ukraine to hear the perspectives of the churches and other partners there. In addition to hearing from church leaders, the delegation also met with politicians and government representatives, community members, church leaders and members of the faith community. It sought to find ways in which the WCC and the ecumenical fellowship might aid efforts by Ukrainian churches and faith communities to promote an end to conflict and a just peace and reconciliation there. Most Ukrainians belong to a faith community, mainly to churches. Faith plays an important role in their lives, said delegation members. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) is the largest church in Ukraine, with congregations in all parts of the country and on both sides of the line of conflict, a long history of encompassing both Ukrainian and Russian identities. It therefore has great potential for promoting peace and national reconciliation. “As the majority church in Ukraine...and having officially declared and reiterated its commitment to the territorial integrity and unity of Ukraine, the UOC has a special capacity and leadership responsibility in this regard," said the WCC delegation in a statement after the visit. “We were also positively surprised by the good ecumenical spirit in the All Ukraine Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, (AUCCRO),” said Wejryd. AUCCRO comprises representatives of essentially every religious tradition represented in Ukraine, including the Jewish and Muslim communities. “We discovered how in the AUCCRO different visions are held and are brought into discussion," said Rev. Karin van den Broeke, moderator of the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands and part of the ecumenical team to Ukraine. “We considered this as an important contribution to the peace process. Those in AUCCRO strongly expressed their wish to have direct contact to the international ecumenical movement.” Along with destruction by the war in the east, the conflict has had economic impact in both Ukraine and Russia that have adversely affected ordinary people in both countries. The World Bank has said the economy of Ukraine contracted by 8 percent during the year 2014 as a result of the crisis. Economic sanctions At the same time, economic sanctions imposed on Russia by Western nations have contributed to the plunge in the value of the Russian rouble. News organizations have reported a resulting Russian financial crisis following the Ukraine conflict, while East-West relations have soured on the international stage. Van den Broeke said the WCC expressed in a careful way the opportunities Ukrainian faith communities have in a process of reconciliation. “Some people expected the WCC to come with strong statements on the political situation in Ukraine,” said Van den Broeke, noting that she thought the careful approach was fitting for a fellowship of churches. She explained that the global ecumenical body needs to stay in contact with different parties and “to encourage all those faithful people who share their hope for a peaceful Ukraine.” Delegation members underlined that AUCCRO offers a unified voice for peace and reconciliation in the context of the current conflict. “This is only a first step in a process that might be successful,” said Wejryd in his interview. War-hit east Archbishop Wejryd travelled to the war-hit eastern part of Ukraine to witness relief work done by a church organization closely affiliated to the UOC-MP. “I was impressed with the entrepreneurship and pragmatism shown by the group, which had been shipping close to 100 truckloads of necessities, mainly given by people in western Ukraine to people in eastern Ukraine,” said Wejryd. “It was greatly appreciated by local communities there.” Ahead of talks in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in April called on Russia and Ukraine to set in motion the next phase of the shaky Minsk peace accords aimed at stopping the fighting in east Ukraine. News agency reports said French, German, Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers expressed “grave concern” after the talks about violations of a the ceasefire in separatist-held east Ukraine, but have undertaken to continue dialogue since then. In the western part of Ukraine, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate (which broke away from UOC-MP in 1992), Patriarch Filaret, has spoken in support of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, while having issued strong words about President Putin of Russia. There is a difficult history and relationship between the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate and the Kiev Patriarchate. Representatives of both churches, however, cooperate in the context of the country’s multi-faith ecumenical council, AUCCRO. The Kiev Patriarchate has a sizeable following in the western part of the country but has not been recognized by any other Orthodox churches since its schism from the UOC-MP. The Dutch Protestant leader noted, “The position of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate is perhaps the most difficult in Ukraine.” “Different opinions on the situation in Ukraine are held within this church. In the meantime, and that’s the good thing the WCC wants to underline, it has an enormous potential on the way of justice and peace,” said Van den Broeke. Archbishop Wejryd expressed his hope that Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church will continue and strengthen his efforts for peace and stability in the region. Wejryd added, “I think that the possibilities rest very much with Ukraine Orthodox Church, linked to the Moscow Patriarchate.” The statement issued at the end of the delegation’s visit to Ukraine, it declared, “The WCC will seek to find the means and the methods by which it can accompany the churches and people of Ukraine in a pilgrimage of justice and peace. “The delegation calls on WCC member churches throughout the world to pray and act for peace with justice in Ukraine.”

Obama ajiunga na Twitter

Rais wa Marekani Barack Obama amejiunga na mtandao wa twitter, ikulu ya White House imethibitisha. Akitumia anuani @POTUS (President Of The United States) Obama tayari amewavutia wafuasi 1.7 milioni moja nukta saba. "Hamjambo, Twitter!Ni Barack. Kwa hakika baada ya miaka 6 hatimaye wameniruhusu kujiunga na mtandao wa Twitter''Obama alisema kwenye ujumbe wake wa kwanza. Obama alikuwa na anuani tofauti inayomilikiwa na wahudumu wa ikulu yake .Anuani hiyo inawafuasi Milioni 59.3m. Anuani hiyo @BarackObama ilizinduliwa mwaka wa 2007, na kila akituma ujumbe anaanza na BO. " Anuani ya @POTUS itamruhusu Obama kuwasiliana moja kwa moja na mamilioni ya wafuasi wake'' ilisema taarifa ya White House . "Rais Obama angependa serikali yake iwe ya wazi @POTUS na hii ndio jukwaa mwafaka ya mazungumzo." Kwa sasa rais Obama amewafuata watu 65 wakiwemo rais wa zamani wa Marekani ,Bill Clinton, George Bush na mkewe mwenye anuani ya kipekee @FLOTUS. Hata hivyo hajamfuata Hillary Clinton wala waziri mkuu wa Uingereza David Cameron. Tayari mawasiliano yake na Bill Clinton yamezua mjadala Clinton akimtania kwa kumuuliza iwapo ataondoka na anuani hiyo atakapo achia ngazi naye akam

Zuma ataka uchaguzi kuahirishwa Burundi

Rais wa Afrika ya kusini Jacob Zuma amekuwa kiongozi wa hivi karibuni anayetaka uchaguzi wa urais nchini Burundi kuahirishwa. Akizungumza baada ya mkutano wa kieneo nchini Angola,Bwana Zuma alisema kuwa uchaguzi huo haupaswi kufanyika hadi hali ya amani itakaporudi nchini humo. Maandamano yanaendelea katika mji wa Bujumbura kufuatia jaribio la mapinduzi la wiki iliopita. Rais wa taifa hilo amekana madai ya kutaka kulipiza kisasi dhidi ya watekelezaji wa shambulio hilo. Wafanyikazi wa mahospitali nchini Burundi awali walielezea kuwa kumekuwa na mshambulizi ya kulipiza kisasi ambapo polisi wamekuwa wakiwajeruhi wanajeshi waliodaiwa kuhusika na jaribio hilo.

Polisi wakabiliana na waandamanaji Burundi

Polisi leo wamefyatua hewani risasi za moto katika kukabiliana na maandamano mapya ambayo yameanza maeneo kadhaa ya mji mkuu wa Burundi, Bunjumbura. Makundi ya vijana yaliweka vizuizi barabarani huku wakiimba nyimbo za kumtaka Rais Pierre Nkurunziza abadili msimamo wake wa kutaka kugombea awamu nyingine ya Urais nchini humo. Maandamano hayo yameanza siku chache baada ya mapinduzi ya kijeshi ambayo hayakufaulu. Waandishi wa BBC walishuhudia wanajeshi wakifyatua risasi za moto kwa waandamanaji walioonekana wakikimbia kote barabarani. Biashara kadhaa zilifungwa na shughuli za kawaida kukwama katika maeneo ya Nyakabiga, Musaga na Mutakura. Hadi kufikia sasa hakuna habari zo zote zilitolewa kuhusiana na waliouawa au kujeruhiwa. Hata hivyo maeneo anakoungwa mkono Rais na katikati mwa mji shughuli ziliendelea kama kawaida. Waandamanaji waliambia BBC kuwa wanapinga uamuzi wa Rais Nkurunziza kukugombea awamu ya tatu uongozini. Jana kiongozi huyo wa Burundi alijitokeza hadharani kwa mara ya kwanza mbele ya vyombo vya habari vya kimataifa lakini hakusema lo lote kuhusiana na hali ya wasiwasi inayokumba taifa lake. Rais aliyerudi nchini Alhamisi jioni aliwambia waandishi wa habari kuwa Burundi inakabiliwa na vitisho kutoka kwa kundi la magaidi walioko nchini Somalia la Al Shaabab. Wakati huo huo ubalozi wa Marekani ulitoa taarifa na kuwaomba wafanyakazi wake ambao hawashughulikii maswala ya dharura na familia zao waondoke nchini kwa sababu ya kuendelea kuzorota kwa uchumi.

9 wauawa katika shambulio Marekani

Polisi nchini Marekani wamesema kuwa watu tisa wameuawa katika shambulio lililotekelezwa na watu wenye silaha waliokuwa kwenye pikipiki katika mkahawa mmoja katika mji wa Waco. Hata hivyo watu wengine 18 walipelekwa hospitali kupatiwa matibabu kutokana shambulio hilo. Maofisa katika mji huo wanasema kuwa walibaini mkusanyiko kati ya watu watano walioonekana kupanga jambo lisilo la kawaida. Watu waliokuwa katika mkahawa huo walijificha katika chumba cha majokofu katika harakati za kujiokoa kabla ya kusaidiwa na Polisi kutoka katika eneo hilo.

Rais Mutharika amlilia mwandishi wa BBC

Rais Peter Mutharika wa Malawi ametoa salaam za rambirambi kufuatia kifo cha mwandishi wa habari wa BBC nchini humo Raphael Tenthani, ambaye amekufa katika ajali ya gari. Bwana Mutharika amesema, Tenthani atakumbukwa kama mtu mwenye kipaji cha hali ya juu, mcheshi na mchangamfu. Raphael Tenthani ambaye alikuwa na umri wa miaka 43 alifahamika nchini kote Malawi na amekuwa akiripotia Idhaa ya Kiingereza ya BBC kwa zaidi ya miaka kumi. Pia alifanya kazi na shirika la habari la Marekani la Associated Press. Mwaka 2010 alishinda tuzo ya Umoja wa Mataifa ya Vyombo vya Habari kwa kazi yake kuhusu Malengo ya Maendeleo ya Milenia.

Waandamana Togo kupinga matokeo ya uchaguzi

Maelfu ya watu wameandamana kwenye mji mkuu wa Togo, Lome kupinga matokeo ya uchaguzi wa mwezi uliopita ambao ulimpa rais Faure Gnassingbe fursa ya kuendeleza utawala wa familia Gnassingbe kutimiza miaka 50 uongozini . Waangalizi walisema kuwa uchaguzi huo ulikuwa wa huru na haki lakini upinzani unasema kuwa ulikumbwa na udanganyifu. Rais Faure Gnassingbe alitangazwa kuwa alipata asilimia 59% ya kura huku kiongozi wa upinzani Jean-Pierre Fabre akipata asilimia 35% ya kura . Kumekuwa na madai ya wizi wa kura tangu wakati huo. Adele Wavisso, 32 ambaye ni mchuuzi mjini Lome alinukuliwa akisema ''Wale wanaoshikilia madaraka hapa nchini wanafahamu fika kuwa sisi wananchi wa Togo hatukumpigia kura Faure . ''Sisi tunamtambua rais wetu ni fabre'',hatutalegeza kamba, wala hatutakubali'' Makundi ya upinzani yamekataa kuwasilisha kesi ya kupinga matokeo Mahakamani wakidai kuwa mahakama inapendelea rais. Babake Gnassingbe, Gnassingbe Eyadema aliongoza kwa karibu miaka 40 hadi alipoaga dunia mwaka 2005. Utawala wa jeshi ulimteua mwanawe Faure kuwa rais na akashinda uchaguzi mwaka uliofuata licha ya madai ya wizi wa kura na maandamano makubwa yaliyosababisha vifo vya watu 500. Wengine wengi walijeruhiwa katika maandamano hayo. Gnassingbe alishinda tena uchaguzi uliofanywa mwaka wa 2010 ijapokuwa makundi huru ya wachunguzi walisema ulikuwa wa huru na haki.

Afrika Kusini yawatimua wageni 400

Afrika Kusini imeanzisha operesheni ya kuwafurusha raia wa mataifa mengine ya Afrika kufuatia vurumai za kibaguzi zilizoibuka dhidi ya wageni katika taifa hilo hivi majuzi. Zaidi ya wageni 400 kutoka Msumbiji walikuwa katika kundi la kwanza kufukuzwa. Afrika Kusini imechukua hatua hiyo baada ya vurumai ya kibaguzi dhidi ya wageni iliyopelekea watu saba raia wa kigeni kuuawa na wenyeji waliokuwa wakilalama kuwa wamechukua nafasi zao za kazi. Mapigano hayo ya kibaguzi yalitibuka katika miji ya Durban na Johannesburg wenyeji walipoanza kuwavamia wageni pamoja na kuwapora mali yao. Serikali ya Msumbiji imeshangazwa na hatua hiyo ya kuwaondoa raia wake kwa nguvu huku waziri wake wa maswala ya kigeni Oldemiro Baloi akisema alikuwa anatarajia kufanya mazungumzo na mwenzake wa Afrika Kusini. Waziri huyo alisema haelewi kwa nini raia wa Msumbiji wanakamatwa na kuondolewa nchini humo kwa nguvu ilhali swala hilo lilikuwa linashughulikiwa baina ya serikali hizo mbili. Mwandishi wa BBC Nomsa Maseko aliyeko huko anasema hatua hii ya serikali imewashangaza wengi hususan baada ya serikali kupewa ilani ya mahakama dhidi ya kuwakamata na kuwafukuza wageni. Operesheni hiyo ya kuwakamata wageni imekuwa ikiendeshwa majira ya alfajiri hasa katika mitaa duni ya miji ya Durban na Johannesburg. ''Operesheni Fiela'' kama inavyofahamika ilipelekea watu zaidi ya 889 kukamatwa. Wanaharakati wa haki za kibinadamu walikwenda mahakamani kupinga operesheni Fiela wakisema inahalalisha vita vya kibaguzi vilivyo sababisha vifo vya watu saba wengi wao wakiwa raia wa mataifa ya Afrika.

Papa Francis amewatawaza Wapalestina 2

Kiongozi wa kanisa Katoliki duniani Papa Francis amewatawaza watawa wawili wa Kipalestina walioishi katika karne ya 19 wakati wa utawala wa Ottoman kuwa watakatifu. Watawa hao wawili walioishi miongoni mwa jamii ya wapalestina waarabu ,bi Marie Alphonsine Ghattas na Mariam Bawardy watakuwa miongoni mwa watakatifu watakao tawazwa hii leo katika ukumbi wa kanisa kubwa la papa Francis la St Peter's Square iliyoko Rome. Rais wa Palestina Mahmoud Abbas ni miongoni mwa mahujaji 2,000 wakristo waliofika katika makao makuu ya kanisa katoliki huko Vatican. Hatua hii inatazamwa na wengi kama chambo cha kuwavutia wakristu katika maeneo ya mashariki ya kati ambapo wakristu wanahujumiwa na jamii. Aidha wengi wanashuku kuwa Vatican imetamausha na idadi ndogo ya wakristu katika eneo iliyochipukia miaka elfu mbili iliyopita. Hapo jana Papa Francis alifanya mazungumzo na rais wa wapalestina Mahmoud Abbas katika makao makuu ya Vatican. Kiongozi huyo wa kanisa katoliki alimtunuku Abbas medali ya Amani huku akimtaja kuwa ''malaika wa amani'' Ziara ya Bwana Abbas imewadia siku chache tu tangu makao makuu ya kanisa katoliki duniani kutambua rasmi taifa la Kipalestina. Watawa hao Marie Alphonsine Ghattas - aliyezaliwa katika familia ya kipalestina mjini Jerusalem alianzisha huduma ya watawa ya - Rosary Sisters, ambayo hadi wa leo inaendesha shule za chekechea na zile za msingi. Kwa upande wa wake bi Mariam Bawardy alizaliwa Galilaya katika familia moja yenye asili ya Syria na Lebanon japo alikuwa akihudumu katika kanisa katoliki la Ugiriki . Bi Mariam anasemekana kuwa alitenda miujiza miongoni mwa jamii yake huku akitambuliwa kwa kuonekana na alama za ishara ya kusulubishwa kwa Yesu Kristo msalabani. Wawili hao waliishi katika enzi ya Ottoman ambapo wanawake hawakuwa na semi katika hali halisi ya maisha lakini waliibuka kuwa mifano ya kuigwa licha ya kuishi maisha ya uchochole na magonjwa mengi. Wawili hao vilevile wanadaiwa kuwa na mawasiliano na mamake Yesu Kristo Maria Mtakatifu. Kutawazwa kwao kunatarajiwa kuweka msingi yao kutambuliwa kama watakatifu kutoka kwenye chimbuko la ukristu. takwimu zinaonesha kuwa idadi ya wakristo imedidimia kwa asili mia 2% katika eneo la Palestina na Israili. Hii inatokana na umaarufu mkubwa wa Waislamu na Wayahudi ambao kwa kiasi kikubwa wamekuwa wapigana na kuwalazimu wakristu kutorokea mataifa salama kuepuka vita.

Nkurunziza aonya kuhusu Al Shaabab

Rais Pierre Nkurunziza wa Burundi amejitokeza kwa mara ya kwanza tangu jaribio la mapinduzi la jumatano iliyopita. Rais Nkurunziza akihutubia waandishi wa habari katika ikulu ya Bujumbura alionya kuwa kuna tishio la shambulizi la kigaidi kutoka kwa kundi la waislamu kutoka Somalia wenye uhusiano na Al-Qaeda , Al Shabaab. Aliwaambia wandishi wa habari wa kimataifa kuwa tishio hilo la mashambulizi sio tu kwa taifa lake bali pia kwa Kenya na Uganda . Hata hivyo mwaandishi wa BBC aliyeko Bujumbura anasema kuwa Nkurunziza hakuzungumzia lolote kuhusu hali ilivyo nchini Burundi wala tishio la mapinduzi dhidi yake. Aliondoka ghafla akiwa mongoni mwa msafara uliolindwa kikamilifu. Wapinzani wake hata hivyo wanasema huenda hiyo ni njama ya rais Nkurunziza kuidhinisha makabiliano makali dhidi ya wapinzani wake ambao tayari wameagiza wafuasi wao kujitokeza kwa wingi hapo kesho kuendelea na maandamano ya kumtaka asiwanie kipindi cha tatu katika kura za urais zitakazofanyika mwezi ujao. Duru kutoka kwa afisi za maswala ya usalama wanje katika serikali ya Marekani na vile vile maswala ya ndani ya serikali ya Uingereza zimekariri tishio hilo la Al Shaabab dhidi ya Burundi kufuatia mchango wake katika jeshi la umoja wa Afrika Amisom huko Somalia. Marekani tayari imeagiza raia wake kuondoka nchini humo kufuatia tishio la shambulizi la kigaidi mbali na kuzorota kwa hali ya usalama.

Tanzanian church hosts historic Reformation preparation event

(LWI) – “This is an opportunity to celebrate growing Lutheran solidarity, unity and courage.” This is how Presiding Bishop Dr Alex G. Malasusa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) describes the forthcoming 60th anniversary of the first meeting of all Lutherans in Africa, in Marangu, northern Tanzania. From 20-25 May 2015, over 200 delegates from The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Africa, LWF global leaders and ecumenical guests will gather at the Marangu Teachers’ College in northern Tanzania, the venue of the first such gathering in 1955. “Marangu to Wittenberg: Being a Reforming church in a changing African context,” is the theme of this year’s jubilee, which will also map the churches’ contribution to the global Reformation anniversary in 2017. Delegates will reflect on the churches’ journey together since the first all-Africa Lutheran leaders’ conference 60 years ago, and address theological, socio-economic and political issues. At the Marangu founding conference, only the Malagasy Lutheran Church was a full LWF member church. Other delegates at the time came from so-called “non-LWF member churches” in Northern Tanganyika, South Africa and Ethiopia, and from mission societies. Today, the Lutheran communion in Africa includes 31 LWF member churches in 23 countries, representing more than 21 million Christians, with several emerging Lutheran bodies across the region. This year’s jubilee will be hosted by the ELCT and the Lutheran Communion in Central and Eastern Africa. Malasusa, LWF Vice-President for Africa, will officiate at the 20 May opening ceremony. “It all began in Marangu. Inspired by the Lutheran communion spirit of our forefathers and foremothers, we come back to this very place with thanksgiving to God for giving us the strength to nurture the seed of African solidarity and unity that they planted,” Malasusa told Lutheran World Information (LWI). Participants at Marangu will include heads of churches, women and youth leaders, academics from theological institutions, representatives from churches in other LWF regions and related agencies, as well as officials from the Tanzanian government. LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge will deliver the keynote address on 20 May. He will provide orientation for the Reformation anniversary and the LWF Twelfth Assembly to be held in May 2017 in Windhoek, Namibia. LWF President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan will preach at the eucharistic service on Pentecost Sunday, at which 1,500 worshippers are expected. “Celebrating the Marangu jubilee especially with our brothers and sisters from the global Lutheran communion is an opportunity to also affirm the relevance of the LWF for its member churches,” Malasusa emphasized. “Belonging to the global communion of Lutheran churches strengthens our vision for holistic mission, mutual accompaniment in joyful and difficult times, and spirituality which is reflected in worship and theological formation,” he added. - See more at: https://www.lutheranworld.org/news/marangu-60-celebrating-growing-lutheran-solidarity-africa#sthash.8P7AnQAy.dpuf

MAPINDUZI YAFELI BURUNDI.

Mnamo 13 mwezi May jenerali mmoja wa jeshi alitangaza katika redio ya taifa kwamba rais wa Burundi amepinduliwa na kwamba serikali ya mpito itabuniwa.Lakini msemaji wa rais alikana habari hizo akidai kuwa kulikuwa na usaidizi mdogo katika jeshi kwa mapinduzi kutendeka. Kuna mazingira ya hofu na switofahamu katika mji wa Bujumbura kufuatia kufeli kwa jaribo la mapinduzi kulingana na mkaazi mmoja wa mji huo.Serge Ntabikiyoboka anasema kuwa hadhani kwamba taifa hilo literejea katika hali yake ya kawaida hivi karibuni. Tume ya haki za binaadamu katika umoja wa mataifa imeonya kuhusu ulipizaji kisasi kufuatia jaribio la mapinduzi nchini Burundi.Msemaji wake Rupert Coleville amesema kuwa tume hiyo ina wasiwasi kuhusu matukio ya taifa hilo katika kipindi cha siku mbili zilizopita. Mashahidi wameiambia BBC kwamba rais Pierre Nkurunziza amerudi kwao huko Ngozi nchini Burundi na amekuwa akiendeshwa katika gari lilo wazi upande wa juu na kwamba raia wamemlaki kwa shangwe na vigelegele Shirika la habari la AFP limeripoti kwamba rais wa Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza amerudi nyumbano kwao huko Ngozi yapata kilomita 140 kazkazini mwa mji mkuu wa Bujumbura kulingana na duru ambazo hazikutaka kujulikana zilizo karibu na kiongozi huyo.''Aliwasili katika eneo la Ngozi siku ya Alhamisi.Ni hapa ambapo anatarajiwa kulihutubia taifa kuhusu jaribio la mapinduzi lililofeli'',.AFP lilimnukuu aliyetoa habari hizo. Kiongozi wa kundi la kiraia linalopinga hatua ya rais Nkurunziza kuwania muhula wa tatu amewataka raia nchini humo kuendelea na maandamano kulingana na shirika la habari la AFP. Vital Nshimiriman amesema kuwa licha ya kundi hilo kupinga jaribio hilo la mapinduzi,vile raia walivyowashangilia wanajeshi wa jaribio hilo kulionyesha kwamba kuna hamu kubwa ya mabadiliko. Nukuu muhimu kutoka kwa Gervais Abayeho,msemaji wa rais Pierre Nkurunziza akizungumza na kipindi cha BBC cha Newsday.''Mapinduzi hushirikisha watu wengi Kuna wanajeshi wa nyadhfa za chini ambao wamesalimu amri na ambao wanawasaidia maafisa wa poisi na uchunguzi wao,lakini ninaamini watu waliopanga mapinduzi hayo ,wale viongozi hilo ni swala jingine ni lazima washtakiwe.hakuna mgawanyiko katika jeshi.Iwapo unaweza kuwaangalia wale waliokuwa wakipanga kutekeleza mapinduzi ni wachache ...kundi dogo la jeshi'',alisema.. Majenerali wawili waliotekeleza jaribio la mapinduzi nchini Burundi dhidi ya rais Pierre Nkurunziza wamekamatwa. Hatahivyo kiongozi wa mapinduzi hayo jenerali Godefroid Niyombare ametoroka na anasakwa kulingana na msemaji wa rais. Awali Jenerali Niyombare alikiambia chombo cha habari cha AFP kwamba yeye na wafuasi wake watajisalimisha akiongezea kuwa ''natumai hawatatuua''. Rais wa Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza amesema kuwa amerudi nchini Burund na kwamba anatarajiwa kulihutubia taifa.

Barcelona yatinga fainali

Miamba ya soka ya Hispania Barcelona, wamefanikiwa kutinga fainali baada ya kuibwaga Bayern Munich kwa jumla ya mabao 5-3 yaliyopatikana katika mikondo yote miwili waliyokutana kwenye hatua ya nusu fainali. Katika mchezo wa usiku wa kuamkia leo ambao ulipigwa ndani ya dimba la Allinza Arena, Bayern walipaswa kushinda goli nne bila ili kupata tiketi ya kusonga mbele. Lakini mpaka kipyenga cha mwisho kinapulizwa the Bavarian 3, Barcelona ikipata mabao 2. Na baadae leo usiku kutakuwa na mchezo kati ya Real Madrid dhidi ya Juventus kwenye dimba la Benabeu.

Mwanamke mweusi ndio malkia wa urembo Japan

Ariana Miyamoto aliingia katika shindano la malkia wa urembo nchini Japan baada ya rafikiye mwenye mchanganyiko wa rangi kujiua. Na alivumilia unyanyasaji baada ya kushinda taji hilo kwa sababu ya rangi yake. Licha ya kuzuiwa na rangi yake,Miyamoto aliweza kutumia umaarufu wake kusaidia kupigana dhidi ya ubaguzi kama vile mwanamitindo Naomi Campbell alivyovunja tamaduni katika sekta ya mitindo miaka kadhaa iliopita. ''Nina sumbua sana'', alisema Miyamoto mwenye umri wa miaka 21 aliyezaliwa na mama wa Kijapan na baba mweusi kutoka Marekani.Nilijiandaa kukosolewa''. ''Nitadanganya iwapo nitasema haikuniumiza.Mimi ni raia wa Japan,mimi husimama na kuinamisha kichwa wakati ninapojibu simu.Lakini ukosoaji umenipatia motisha zaidi aliambia AFP katika mahojiano. ''Sikujali shinikizo zozote kwa sababu niliingia katika shindano hilo kutokana na kifo cha rafiki yangu.Lengo langu ilikuwa ni kuwahamasisha watu kuhusu ubaguzi wa rangi'',aliongeza Miyamoto ambaye aliteswa shuleni katika eneo la bandari ya Sasebo karibu na Nagasaki. Mitandao ya kijamii ilitangaza ushindi wa Miyamoto ,huku wengi wakilalamika kwamba ushindi huo ungemwendea raia mwenye mizizi ya Japan na wala sio mtu mwenye rangi.

Marekani na Urusi wateta juu ya Ukraine

Waziri wa mambo ya nchi za nje wa Marekani John Kerry,amesema kwamba amekuwa na mazungumzo ya kirafiki kuhusiana na mzozo wa Ukraine pamoja na mambo mengine na mwenyeji wake rais wa Urusi , Vladimir Putin, katika ghuba ya bahari ya shamu pwani ya Sochi. Lakini pia Kerry alikutana na waziri wa masuala ya mambo ya kigeni wa Urusi, Sergei Lavrov, katika ziara yake ya kwanza tangu mgogoro wa Ukraine ulipoanza mwaka wa jana. Kerry pia hakusita kuzungumzia masuala ya ziada ambayo yalijiri katika mazungumzo yao kwamba ni juu ya yanaoendelea baina ya Iran na Syria. Amesema kwamba ni muhimu kuzingatia makubaliano waliyofikia baina ya Marekani na Urusi wakati wakiangazia masuala mengine yanayo ikabili dunia. Mapema kabla ya kuanza mazungumzo hayo, waziri huyo ma mambo ya nchi za nje wa Marekani, alipata fursa ya kuweka shada la maua katika makaburi ya askari waliopigana vita vikuu vya pili vya dunia mjini Sochi. Uhusiano baina ya Urusi na Marekani umeshuka kwa kasi baada ya Urusi kujihusisha harakati za krimea na kuwaunga mkono wapiganaji wa waasi walioko upande wa Mashariki mwa Ukraine.

Tamko la Kamati Kuu ya CHADEMA - Mei 5, 2015

MAAZIMIO YA KIKAO CHA KAMATI KUU YA CHADEMA ILIYOKUTANA DAR ES SALAAM, MEI 3-4, 2015. Ndugu waandishi wa habari Kamati Kuu ya Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), imekutana katika kikao chake cha kawaida kwa mujibu wa Katiba ya Chama kuanzia tarehe 03-04/05/2015 pamoja na masuala mengine imejadili na kufanyia maazimio mambo yafuatayo; Uteuzi wa wagombea ndani ya chama Kamati Kuu imeazimia mchakato wa uchukuaji na urejeshaji fomu kwa ajili ya uteuzi wa ndani ya chama uanze ili watia nia katika maeneo mbalimbali wachukue fomu za udiwani, uwakilishi na ubunge na imetoa ratiba rasmi ya kuanza kwa zoezi hilo (Ratiba imeambatanishwa). UKAWA Kamati Kuu imepokea na kujadili mwenendo wa majadiliano na makubaliano ambayo hadi sasa yameshafikiwa na vyama vinavyounda UKAWA (NLD, NCCR- Mageuzi, CUF na CHADEMA), ambapo imewapongeza viongozi wakuu wa vyama vyote kwa hatua ambayo wameshafikia na imewataka wamalize masuala machache yaliyobakia ndani ya wakati ili waweze kuwatangazia Watanzania wanaoendelea kuunga mkono umoja huo wa dhati. B. V.R, Kura ya Maoni na Uchaguzi Mkuu Kamati Kuu imepokea taarifa ya kina kuhusu mwenendo wa shughuli ya uandikishaji wapiga kura kwa mfumo wa BVR unaonedelea katika maeneo mbalimbali ambapo baada ya mjadala, imejiridhisha kuwa hadi sasa hakuna dhamira ya dhati ya kisiasa wala maandalizi ya kutosha yakiwemo matakwa ya kisheria, kitaalam na kibajeti ili kuhakikisha kuwa zoezi hilo linafanyika kwa mujibu wa Katiba .. Kutokana na taarifa hizo, Kamati Kuu imeridhika kuwa iwapo Watanzania hawatahamasishwa na kuamuka kudai haki yao ya kikatiba ya kuandikishwa na kupiga kura, zipo dalili za wazi kuwa Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi (NEC) chini ya Jaji Damian Lubuva inaweza kusababisha majanga makubwa kama ambavyo Tume ya Uchaguzi ya Kenya chini ya Bwana Kivuitu ilisababisha nchini humo mwaka 2008, Jaji Lubuva anajiandalia mazingira ya kuwa ‘Kivuitu wa Tanzania’. Mbali na kukubaliana na hatua ambazo zimeshachukuliwa na UKAWA katika jambo hili hadi sasa, katika hali inayoendelea kwenye mikoa ambako sasa uandikishaji unafanyika baada ya Mkoa wa Njombe, imeazimia ifuatavyo; Watanzania wote wenye sifa ya kuwa wapiga kura wanaandikishwa kwenye Daftari la Kudumu la Wapiga Kura kama inavyotakiwa kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya Uchaguzi. 1.3 Kuhusu Kura ya Maoni Kamati Kuu pia imejadili kwa kina namna ambavyo mazingira ya kisheria na uhalisia wa mwenendo wa kisiasa na kiuchumi nchini kwa sasa hauruhusu Kura ya Maoni ya Katiba Inayopendekezwa, isipokuwa hadi baada ya Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwezi Octoba 2015 kwa mujibu wa Katiba. Hivyo kikao kimeazimia kuwa chama kiendelee kusimamia msimamo wa UKAWA uliotolewa hivi karibuni kuwa Kura ya Maoni isifanyike pamoja na Uchaguzi Mkuu lakini pia kwa vyovyote vile kura ya maoni iwe mara baada ya Uchaguzi Mkuu wa Octoba 2015. 1.4 Kuhusu hatma ya Uchaguzi Mkuu mwaka 2015 Kamati Kuu ilipokea taarifa ya kina namna ambavyo hadi sasa maandalizi ya msingi yanayotakiwa kisheria kwa ajili ya kufanikisha Uchaguzi Mkuu hayajafanyika kama vile maandalizi ya vifaa, fedha , kutangaza Majimbo na Kata Mpya , kutangaza vituo na kusuasua kwa zoezi la Uandikishaji wapiga kura . Katika jambo hili Kamati Kuu imeazimia kuwa Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwaka huu LAZIMA ufanyike mwezi Octoba kwa Mujibu wa Katiba na Serikali ya CCM isijiandae kutumia kisingizio chochote kuahirisha kwa sababu uchaguzi sio jambo la dharura, bali lilijulikana miaka 5 iliyopita. Aidha imeitaka Serikali ya CCM chini ya Rais Kikwete kuacha hila zozote za kutaka kujiongezea muda wa kukaa madarakani, ikiwemo kutaka kupeleka ‘Muswada wa Marekebisho ya Katiba Bungeni’ ili kujihalalishia kuongeza uhai wa Serikali ya Kikwete. Kamati Kuu imeitaka serikali kuchukua hatua za dharura kunusuru shilingi kwani athari zake ni kubwa sana kiuchumi na kijamii na zitasababisha mfumko wa bei . Kamati Kuu imeazimia na kulaani tabia ya Rais wa nchi kusafiri ovyo nje ya nchi wakati ipo katika kipindi kigumu ikiwa na matatizo makubwa ambayo yanahitaji uongozi thabiti wa Mkuu wa nchi. Sekta ya usafirishaji Nchini Kamati kuu ilipokea ,kujadili na kutafakari hali halisi ya sekta ya usafirishaji nchini na kubaini udhaifu mkubwa ambao upo ndani ya sekta hiyo kutokana na usimamizi dhaifu wa watu ambao walipewa dhamana ya kusimamia sekta hiyo kuanzia waziri wa uchukuzi ambaye ameshindwa kabisa kuisimamia sekta hiyo , hali hiyo imepelekea sekta hiyo kukosa mwelekeo na kusababisha madhara mengi kwa wananchi kutokana na ajali za kila siku kuanzia vyombo vya Majini na Barabarani. Kamati kuu imebaini athari ambazo zimewakumba watanzania kutokana na Mgomo wa Madereva kama vile wagonjwa kushindwa kufika hospitalini, maiti kushindwa kusafirishwa na kuzikwa , wanafunzi ambao wanafanya mitihani ya kidato cha sita kushindwa kufika kwenye vituo vyao hali iliyopelekea kushindwa kufanya mitihani yao , kuathirika kwa uchumi na wananchi kuathirika kisaikolojia. Baada ya tafakuri ya kina, Kamati Kuu imeazimia kuunga Mkono madai ya Madereva kwani ni halali na hivyo ni lazima serikali iyatekeleze madai yao yote ya muda mrefu , kuendelea kuyapuuza madai hayo ni kukubali kuendelea kuhatarisha maisha ya Abiria ambao wanasafiri kutokana na ajali za kila mara, hivyo ili kuokoa maisha ya wasafiri, Madereva wasikilizwe na wapatiwe ufumbuzi wa madai yao yote kuanzia mikataba ya ajira, maslahi yao na kulipwa ujira unaolingana na kazi zao. Imetolewa leo Freeman Mbowe …………………………… Mwenyekiti wa CHADEMA (T)

Khan wa Bollywood kwenda jela miaka 5.

Mwigizaji maarufu wa filamu za Bollywood nchini India Salman Khan amekuhumiwa kifungo cha miaka mitano jela baada ya kupatikana na hatia ya kumuua mtu mmoja asiye na makazi alipokuwa akiendesha gari huku akiwa amelewa mjini Mumbai. Khan alikuwa ameshtakiwa kwa kuua bila kukusudia baada ya kuelekeza gari lake kwenye kundi la watu waliokuwa wamelala kwenye njia kando ya barabara mwaka 2002. Mmoja kati ya watu hao Noor Ullah Khan alikufa katika ajali hiyo. Khan amedai kuwa dereva wake ndiye anayepaswa kulaumiwa lakini mashuhuda wanasema mwigizaji huo ndiye aliyekuwa kwenye usukani na alikimbia baada ya kutokea kwa ajali hiyo. Kwa mujibu wa jaji wa mahakama hiyo mwigizaji huyo anaweza kukata rufaa dhidi ya hukumu hiyo.

Milipuko yatokea jeshini Sudan.

Kumetokea milipuko katika maeno ya jeshi nje ya mji mkuu wa Sudan, Khartoum. Wakazi katika wa eneo la Omdurman la ukanda wa magharibi wa mto Nile wamesema mapema usiku wa manane walisikia mlipuko wa kwanza na baadae makombora ya kutungulia ndege kutoka upande wa majeshi ya serikali. Msemaji wa serikali ya Sudan amethibitisha askari wake walifanya mashambulizi na kulenga kundi wasilolifahamu lakini akakanusha kikosi chake na vifaa vyao vya kijeshi kushambuliwa. Miaka mitatu iliyopita Sudan iilituhumu Israeli kwa kufanya mashambulizi ya anga kwenye kiwanda cha silaha mjini Khartoum ambapo pia kuna taarifa kuwa ndege za Israel pia zilifanya mashambulizi kwenye misafara ya silaha zilizokuwa zikisafirishwa kwenda Gaza. Israel haijatoa taarifa zozote rasmi kujibu shutuma hizo.

Aliyetoa siri ya ngono CAR kurudi kazini.

Mahakama ya Nidhamu ya Umoja wa Mataifa imetoa hukumu ya kwamba adhabu ya kusimamishwa kazi kwa Afisa wa ngazi ya juu wa Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa la Haki za Binadamu kwa kosa la kutoa taarifa iondolowe mara moja. Afisa huyo Anders Kompass, alitoa taarifa kwa mamlaka za Ufaransa kwamba majeshi ya Ufaransa ya kulinda ya amani huko Jamuhuri ya Afrika ya Kati walihusika kuwanajisi watoto. Ataruhusiwa kurudi kazini mara baada ya shauri lake kupitiwa na maafisa wa ndani ya shirika hilo. Umoja wa mataifa umekanusha kutaka kufunika tuhuma hizo.

Watu 3 wauawa katika maandamano Burundi

Takriban watu wawili wameuawa wakati wa ghasia kati ya polisi na waandamanaji kwenye mji mkuu wa Burundi Bujumbura . Polisi walifyatua risasi huku waandamanaji wakirusha mawe na guruneti. Polisi wawili na waandamanaji sita nao walijeruhiwa. Waandamanaji hao wanalalamikia hatua ya rais Pierre Nkurunziza ya kuwania urais kwa muhula wa tatu. Chanzo: BBC

Somalia:Alshabaab lapewa jina jipya

Utawala nchini Somalia umeviamrisha vyombo vya habari nchini humo kulipa kundi la wanamgambo wa Al Shaabab jina jipya. Serikali ya Somalia inataka Al Shaabab kupewa jina la kundi linalowaua watu wa Somalia. Mkuu wa kitengo cha kitaifa cha ujasusi nchini Somalia (Abdirahman Mohamud Tur-yare) anasema kuwa jina Al Shabaab ambalo humaanisha vijana, haliwezi kuhusishwa na wanamgambo. Alisema kuwa kundi hilo linastahili jina hilo kwa kuwa linaendelea kuwaua watu zaidi. Nalo likijibu amri hiyo,Alshabaab limesema kuwa raia wa Somalia wanafaa kuiita serikali ya Somalia kama inayowafedhehesha raia wake. 0717 751456

Niqab yapigwa marufuku Congo Brazaville

Jamuhuri ya Congo- Brazaville imepiga marufuku vazi la Niqab katika maeneo ya umma. Aidha mamlaka hiyo imewaonya raia wa kigeni ambao ni waislamu kusalia misikitini nyakati za usiku. Serikali imetetea hatua yake na kusema inanuia kukabiliana na ugaidi. Maelfu ya wakimbizi wa Kiislamu kutoka nchi jirani ya jamhuri ya Afrika ya Kati wamekimbilia Congo- Brazzaville na wamekua wakipata hifadhi misikitini. Nchi hiyo ina chini ya asilimia tano ya raia waumini wa kiisilamu. Hii ndio nchi ya kwanza Afrika kuchukua hatua hii.

Polisi wafunguliwa mashtaka Baltimore

Meya wa mji wa Baltimore nchini Marekani Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, anasema kuwa amehusunishwa na kuvunjwa moyo baada ya polisi sita kushtakiwa, kufuatia kifo cha mwananamme mweusi Freddie Gray. Polisi mmoja anakabiliwa na mashtaka ya mauaji huku wengine watano wakikabiliwa na mashtaka ya kuua bila kukusudia na kukamata kuliko kinyume cha sheria. Tangazo hilo lilisababisha watu kusherehekea kwenye mji wa Baltimore lakini wengine hata hivyo waliiendelea kuandamana. Wakili anayewakilisha chama cha polisi katika mji huo, alilaani kile alichokitaja kuwa kuharakisha katika kuwafungulia mashtaka polisi hao. Rais wa Marekani Barack Obama anasema kuwa, ni muhimu uchunguzi kubainisha ukweli kuhusu kile kilichosababisha kifo cha bwana Gray.

Waandalizi wa maandamano waonywa Burundi

Rais wa Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza ameonya kuwaadhibu vikali wote wanaopanga maandamano ya raia dhidi yake. Kwenye hotuba aliyowasilisha kupitia kituo cha radio ya serikali, siku ya Leba Dei, Kiongozi huyo amesema serikali itaweka vikwazo vikali dhidi ya wale aliowataja kama waasi. Aidha amesema jopo maalum la mahakama limeundwa kuchunguza maandamano ambayo yameingia siku ya sita sasa. Waandamanaji wanapinga hatua ya Rais huyo kuwania muhula wa tatu.

Ukawa wakuna vichwa saa 48

Dar es Salaam. Saa 48 zilizotumika kikaoni kutafuta muafaka wa majimbo yenye utata ndani ya umoja wa vyama vya upinzani vilivyo chini ya Ukawa, zimekatika bila mafanikio na mvutano unaonekana kubakia kwenye majimbo 12 kati ya 239 waliyopanga kugawana. Vyama hivyo vinavyounda Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi vimekubaliana kusimamisha mgombea mmoja kuanzia kiti cha urais hadi udiwani, lakini kazi ya kugawana majimbo imekuwa ikivisumbua na ilitarajiwa kuwa ingemalizika juzi baada ya viongozi kukutana kwa siku mbili kuanzia Jumanne. Lakini habari kutoka ndani ya kikao hicho kilichofanyika jijini Dar es Salaam zinaeleza kuwa wajumbe walishindwa kufikia muafaka kwenye majimbo 12. Hata hivyo, viongozi hao wa vyama hivyo walikataa kutaja majimbo hayo yaliyosalia. Na Joyce Mmasi na Kelvin Matandiko, Mwananchi Wakizungumza na waandishi wa habari kwenye ofisi za makao makuu ya CUF, viongozi wa vyama vinne vinavyounda Ukawa, James Mbatia (NCCR-Mageuzi), Freeman Mbowe (Chadema), Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba (CUF) na Emmanuel Makaidi (NLD) walisema tayari wamefikia muafaka katika majimbo 227 kati ya majimbo 239 yaliyopo nchini. “Tangu juzi tupo hapa tukijadili namna ya kuwapata wagombea wa Ukawa wa ngazi zote za udiwani, ubunge na urais. Kwa kiasi kikubwa tumekamilisha kazi ya kupata wagombea ubunge kwa zaidi ya asilimia 95 ya majimbo yote ya uchaguzi, majimbo 12 yaliyobaki tunaendelea kuyashughulikia na tutayapatia ufumbuzi muda si mrefu,” alisema Mbatia aliyezungumza kwa niaba ya wenyeviti wenzake. Viongozi hao, kila mmoja kwa nyakati tofauti, walijigamba kuwa umoja wao huo upo imara na kwamba wale wanaopiga ramli kuwa utavunjika, wataendelea kusubiri lakini kamwe jambo hilo halitatokea. Mbowe Mwenyekiti mwenza wa umoja huo, Mbowe alisema hatua iliyofikiwa kwa sasa inatia matumaini ya kufanikiwa kwa mpango wa kusimamisha mgombea mmoja wa ubunge, udiwani na urais. “Kwa wale wanaopiga ramli ya kuvunjika kwa Ukawa hawatafanikiwa. Tutasimamisha mwakilishi mmoja kuanzia udiwani, ubunge mpaka urais. Tunajua hitaji la Watanzania kwa sasa ni kuwaondoa kwenye kifungo cha CCM,” alisema Mbowe. Alipoulizwa kuhusu mvutano wa majimbo hayo 12, Mbowe alisema siyo jambo la kushangaza kwa vyama vinne kutovutana katika mgawanyo wa majimbo hayo kwani kila chama kinajiamini na kinahitaji kupata mwakilishi. “Tuko vyama vinne, itakuwa ajabu kama mvutano utakosekana, lakini tumepata asilimia 95. CCM wenye chama kimoja hawajatangaza mgombea hata mmoja.” Mbowe alisema madai ya kuchelewa kutangaza wagombea wa Ukawa katika ngazi za ubunge, udiwani na hata ile kubwa ya urais ni mkakati wa kisiasa na kwamba watayataja muda muafaka utakapowadiwa. “Sisi hatutegeani na CCM, muda utakapofika tutawaambia Watanzania,” alisema Mbowe. Mbowe pia alisema maandalizi hafifu yanayofanywa katika uboreshaji Daftari la Wapigakura ni mipango wa makusudi unaofanywa na Serikali na Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi (NEC) ili kumwongezea Rais Jakaya Kikwete na serikali ya CCM muda wa kukaa Ikulu. “Miezi mitatu tu imebakia kabla ya kampeni za uchaguzi, lakini mpaka sasa hatujui ratiba, majimbo yaliyogawanywa, watumishi watakaotumika, vituo vitakuwaje vya uchaguzi na hata daftari la kupigia kura ndiyo bado halijamaliza hata mikoa miwili, hiyo ni hatari sana kwa Taifa. Tunaionya NEC isijaribu kufanya mbinu zitakazosababisha kuahirishwa kwa Uchaguzi Mkuu Oktoba mwaka huu,” alisema Mbowe. Mbatia Kwa upande wake, Mbatia, ambaye pia ni mwenyekiti wa NCCR-Mageuzi, alisema ahadi na kauli za NEC zimekuwa na utata hali inayowafanya waondoe uaminifu kwa Tume hiyo. Mbatia alisema mpaka sasa kuna mashine 1,100 tu za BVR kati ya mashine 8,000 zinazotakiwa kuingia nchini kwa ajili ya kufanyia kazi. Alisema tathmini waliyofanya inaonyesha kwamba, endapo kila kituo kitatumia siku 14 za uandikishaji wa wapigakura, yaani vituo 40,000, zoezi hilo litatumia siku 353, sawa na mwaka mmoja. “Kwa sasa kati ya Watanzania milioni 24 wanaotakiwa kuandikishwa kwenye daftari hilo, ni Watanzania chini ya 200,000 tu ndiyo walishaandikishwa huku miezi iliyobakia ikiwa ni mitatu tu,” alisema Mbatia. Kuhusu mpango wa kufanyika Uchaguzi Mkuu na Kura ya Maoni kwa wakati mmoja, Mbatia alisema jambo hilo haliwezekani kwa mujibu wa Katiba, na kuwa kura ya maoni inayo sheria yake na mpaka sasa sheria hiyo tayari imevunjwa na NEC. “Kwa hivyo tunaitaka NEC itamke kusitisha mpango wake wa kuunganisha matukio hayo mawili, lakini pia itoe tamko la kufanyika Uchaguzi Mkuu kama ilivyo kawaida kikatiba,” alisema. Hata hivyo, tayari NEC imeshaeleza kuwa itakuwa vigumu sana kufanya mambo hayo mawili kwa wakati mmoja kwa kuwa kila tukio lina mahitaji yake tofauti. Profesa Lipumba Mwenyekiti wa CUF, Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba alisema NEC, haijaanza maandalizi yoyote licha ya kubakia miezi sita tu kabla ya Uchaguzi Mkuu na kuongeza kuwa wamebaini zipo njama za kuuahirisha ili kumuongezea muda Rais Kikwete na CCM. Profesa Lipumba alisema kwa Sheria ya Kura ya Maoni, hakuna uwezekano wa jambo hilo kufanyika tena bila kwanza kufanya marekebisho ya sheria hiyo. Alisema Kura ya Maoni ilitakiwa ifanyike ndani ya siku 124 kutoka tarehe Rais Kikwete alipotoa tangazo la kura ya maoni pale alipotamka kuwa kura hiyo itafanyika 30 Aprili 2015. “Kila hatua inayotakiwa kuchukuliwa chini ya sheria hiyo imewekewa muda wake na muda huo hautakiwi kubadilika... tangazo la Kura ya Maoni likishatolewa na tarehe kutangazwa, haibadilishwi kwa sababu yoyote ile. Hivyo hakuna namna yoyote ya kuahirisha Kra ya Maoni na kuifanya tarehe nyingine yoyote” alisema Lipumba. Dk Makaidi Mwenyekiti wa NLD, Dk Makaidi alisema zipo dalili na ushahidi kuwa uchaguzi ukifanyika mwaka huu CCM itang’olewa madarakani na kwa kulijua hilo, Serikali inafanya kila njia ili kuahirisha uchaguzi usifanyike mwaka huu. “Kubadili Katiba ya sasa kwa lengo la kuahirisha uchaguzi mkuu wa Oktoba mwaka huu sio tu kutaathiri misingi muhimu ya Katiba ya sasa, bali pia kutaathiri amani ya nchi yetu. Tumeona kinachoendelea Burundi baada ya Rais Pierre Nkurunzinza na chama chake kuamua kujiongezea muda wa kutawala nchi hiyo,” alisema. “Tumeona yanayoendelea Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Conga (DRC) baada ya Joseph Kabila kutaka kufanya hivyo, Kikwete na wana-CCM wenzake wasitake kuiingiza nchi yetu katika majanga yasiyokuwa na sababu,” alisema.

Garissa:Vyombo vya usalama vilizembea?

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Maandamano mapya Baltimore Marekani

Kumetokea maandamano mapya nchini Marekani katika mji wa Baltimore kufuatia kifo cha kijana mweusi Freddie Gray aliyekufa kutokana na majeraha akiwa mikononi mwa polisi. Mamia ya watu wameandamana katika mitaa, wakionyesha ujasiri licha ya hali mbaya ya hewa iliyokuwepo. Matokeo ya mwanzo ya uchunguzi wa polisi wa jinsi kijana wa miaka ishirini na mitano mwenye asili ya weusi alivyouawa bado hayajawekwa hadharani. Mtetezi wa haki za binadamu, Mchungaji Al Sharpton, ameitisha mkutano mjini Baltimore ili kuimarisha uhusiano baina ya polisi na wanajamii.