Rest in Peace Charles Mwandobo

The advertising and marketing fraternity in Dar es Salaam will sadly miss a good man, Charles Mwandobo who passed on suddenly on Friday 22nd August at his Boko Basibaya residence in Dar es Salaam. Charles was the CEO of Dunia Inc Promotions, a leading outdoor promotions company in Tanzania

May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace.

Radovan Karadzic refuses to enter plea!!!

THE BUTCHER'S DEFIANCE

Defiant Radovan Karadzic just makes me happy! Before a judge on Friday for the second time since his arrest the Serbian butcher refused to enter pleas to all 11 charges against him accusing the Hague Tribunal of 'being an NATO court."

But, acting as his own defense lawyer, he has already fired off lengthy motions, letters and requests in recent days. He wants copies of warrants to search his former home, copies of orders to freeze his assets and answers to his challenge of the court’s jurisdiction. He has demanded to know whether NATO or the United States intended to kill him.

The hearing on Friday was one of a series of steps leading up to his trial on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during the Bosnian war between 1992 and 1995.
Prosecutors will seek to prove that as political leader and commander in chief of a Bosnian Serb mini-state, he bears the legal responsibility for some of the greatest atrocities of the Balkan wars, including the massacre in Srebrenica, where close to 8,000 unarmed Muslim men and boys were executed in 1995, and the three-year siege of Sarajevo, which left 10,000 civilians dead.

Iain Bonomy, the Scottish judge in charge of the proceedings, kept a brisk pace, giving Mr. Karadzic little chance to stray from the agenda. He told Mr. Karadzic he had the right to have his indictment read out to him. Judge Bonomy urged Mr. Karadzic to take on professional defense lawyers because of the huge workload awaiting him.

He also chided the prosecution, which has said it is revising the indictment against Mr. Karadzic and will present a new version in late September.

The unknown Sarah Palin

Ati Sarah who?

Republicans just lost an election!!!!!

Even revered CNN journalists like Wolfe Blitzer didn't know her. Obama didn't know her and I bet Governor Sarah Palin, McCains hot looking sexy smiling veep wasn't on George Walker Bush's radar either!!!

The story goes that John McCain had met the former Miss Alaska and mother of five only once, six months ago and one more time, secretly, a few hours before nominating her his veep! I can bet a million dollars that as Barack Obama was white washing the Republicans on that mighty Denver podium on Thursday night, John McCain didn't have a clue whom he would nominate as his running mate. His choice reeks of desperation and poor judgement to cool Obama's racing heels.

My take is that Governor Palin's nomination has raised the Democrats thirst for the White House a notch higher for the following reasons:

1. There's no way that Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton will be overtaken to the White House by any other woman in America, let alone some small time Governor from the shags of America. And after shoring up a sterling performance during her speech at the convention, not forgetting her ally and hubby Bill's speech, and safely securing a political future post Obama Presidency , Hillary will go flat out at vanquishing Mrs Palin at all costs.

2. If the McCain camp thought that his choice would eat into disillusioned Hillary supporters, they best be aware that the 18,000,000 votes that hit the glass ceiling, will view this choice as offensive and ridiculous and Hillary has all the ammunition to go for the jugular!

3. The most important anti Obama campaign issue of IN-EXPERIENCE that the Republicans had successfully used and really succeeded in keeping Obama in check has been killed in a minute upon Palin's appointment, however solid they think her credentials might be. Now the Democrats will eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, of course with the help of the Media, and laugh all the way to 'The White House Bank'

4. McCain has by default begun a hot succession debate outside the White House. Democrats are going to want to convince the voters that were John McCain to drop dead today, seeing his age and state of health, would America be willing to be led by a woman who has been un tested, even locally? This indeed is a tall order.

5. And with President Bill Clinton calling the shots from behind the scenes, after an authoritative witty Obama stamp of approval, will not allow McCain to romp to the White House that easily. He is likely to, even with the permission of his wife, use his woman charms on the women voters and secure Hillary's political historical future. Bill Clinton's Obama approval was in fact political expediency for conceding defeat to a battle but preparing the ground to win a war! (read Hillary's war.)

Hillary Clinton is out to make history in America and she will steam roll anyone in her way. She was the first ever Woman Presidential candidate from a major political party to take a stab at the White House. She was the first woman to openly vote to seek the nomination by acclamation of the first ever Black man to the White House. She was the first woman to be First Lady and then Senator. And hell no will she allow to be passed over again in her quest for the White House. Obama passed her over. Over her dead body will some former Miss Alaska pass her over. And with 18 million sharpened arrows in her quaver, even Robin Hood was duck the woods she hunts!

Watch that space!

Republican VP Choice

Sarah Who, for US Veep????

Meet Former Miss Alaska and current Republican Governor Sarah Palin, 44 whose stolen the heart of one John McCain whose got ambitions of occupying the 'White' House in the land of Katrina and 9.11. The Democrats will indeed eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!!

Sarah, mother of five who latest reports say is currently being investigated for ordering the firing, over the telephone of some Alaskan Trooper who happens to be her ex - brother in law!

John McCain's VP

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JUDGE HISTORY....

One of my avid reader's posted this comments in one of my posts and I thought I should post it on its own merit.

Anonymous said... Hi Alen, Just came across a interesting article about NBO in Kenyatta days. It is by Dominic Odipo.

By: Dominic Odipo

Anyone who was in Nairobi in the mid-1970s has probably heard the story, perhaps apocryphal, of the young man, the nyama choma (barbecue) and the urine.

A young man, who was very close to the Kenyatta family, is said to have driven to an up-market, roast-meat joint in the city in the company of several female friends. Upon arrival, he spied a large, succulent piece just about ready for consumption. Without much ado, he ordered the meat roaster to carve up that piece for them and roast another one for whoever had ordered that piece. At this point, however, the owners of the prize piece arrived on the scene and flatly declared that nobody would take their meat, no matter what. "Do you know who I am?" the young man coolly inquired? "We don't know and we don't care," came the reply. "Order your meat and wait for it to be roasted like everybody else." "Then none of us is going to eat this meat," the young man snapped. In one quick movement, he grabbed the chunk of meat, marched through the door with it and dumped it on the lawn. Then he casually undid his zip, urinated methodically on it and then drove off in a huff with his entourage. More than 30 years after this story began circulating in Nairobi, its impact has stubbornly failed to fade from my mind. Every time I hear the words 'impunity' and 'arrogance', it is this story which first leaps to the mind. But that is not our story today.

Mau Mau How will history judge Mzee Jomo Kenyatta? Let us try and preempt it: Was he a member of the Mau Mau movement, which did so much to destroy Britain's political will to continue colonising Kenya? When this question was put to him at the infamous Kapenguria trial of 1953, Kenyatta denied that he had ever been a member of the Mau Mau. He appeared to reinforce this position when, after he assumed supreme power, he methodically pushed former Mau Mau warriors and their kinsmen to the political and economic periphery and, instead, embraced the home-guards and their fellow-travellers who had done so much to destroy all that the Mau Mau had fought and died for.

Did Kenyatta's vision for Kenya include a harmonious, de-tribalised and truly democratic country? The answer, almost certainly, is NO. His vision appears to have included a benign dictatorship governed by his own whims and inclinations and those of his cronies.If his appointments to high office were any guide, the Old Man appeared to believe that Kenya was, first and foremost, a country of the chosen few and that those chosen few were the men and women who surrounded him and could speak in his native tongue.

To Kenyatta, his Kikuyu community, especially the Kiambu extraction of it, was at the centre of the national universe and the rest of the country's indigenous communities were necessarily peripheral and inconsequential.

Did Kenyatta believe in the basic democratic principles of freedom of expression and the rule of law? If he did, then this must have been before he became President. Afterwards, there is hardly any evidence that he did. Under Kenyatta, the Press could write whatever it liked as long as it did not rub the President or any of his close cronies the wrong way.

Three of the most obnoxious political assassinations in this country all occurred under Kenyatta's watch. The first was that of Pio Gama Pinto; the second was that of Tom Mboya and the third was that of Josiah Mwangi Kariuki. All of these doomed men were first rate political operators and there is little doubt that all their deaths were political.

Did Kenyatta know in advance that these men were going to be killed? The simple answer is that we don't know. But, circumstantially and procedurally, given the political-cum-security environment of those years, it is extremely unlikely that such sensitive and high-profile killings could have been undertaken without his knowledge.If Kenyatta knew in advance that those men were going to be killed, that would be a very fundamental statement about his stewardship. If he did not know, that would be a statement only a little less earth-shaking because it would mean that, for 13 years, he had probably been 'sleeping on the job'.When our historians come to assess Kenyatta 100 years hence, these are the kind of questions they will be asking. We don't yet know for sure what sort of answers they will get but, given the facts already on the ground, we can boldly begin to anticipate them.At this point it appears that history will judge Kenyatta very harshly. But let us all wait for the verdict itself.

The writer is a lecturer and consultant in Nairobi.

Told you Hillary was securing her political future!!!

HILLARY DOES IT AGAIN...

BARACK OBAMA NOMINATED BY ACCLAMATION .... courtesy of Hillary Clinton

Ladies and Gentlemen, Hillary Clinton has today made history and stepped into the annuls of American historical corridors. For a thousand years to come, America's former First lady and Senator of New York will be remembered for moving a monumental and course changing motion on Wednesday 27th August 2008, that accentuated an entire Democratic National Convention into Nominating by Acclamation America's first ever Black Contender for the Office of President of the United States of America. And with that piece of history sealed, Hillary Clinton will stomp any and every political podium and shout from every roof top, that she personally initiated the move to make Barack Obama President of the United States. And when Obama gets into the White House, he will forever thank Hillary for smoothing the way for him.

While watching the whole political machinery go into play during the Democratic presidential roll call, I was shocked to see Hillary step up as New York was called state how they wanted to vote. And with the spotlight on her, she went on to ask the Convention secretary to disband the ongoing roll call and nominate Barack Obama by acclamation as the Democratic Presidential Candidate.

The Clinton's are back and here to stay. I saw this yesterday and now I know that the Clinton's are now defining their political direction which, I will bet will be a most powerful Political Family in the United States for Centuries to come.

Yesterday I saw a Clinton political game plan formulating before my very eyes. It wasn't a mistake that Hillary was introduced to the convention by her daughter Chelsea yesterday, and by this Chelsea was literally thrown and showcased into the American political ring by default. It was by political design that Hillary be the one to move the nomination motion and take credit for it, now and forever, and lastly it was not lost that after history was made, former President Bill Clinton will be crowning the days events with his Convention speech. Now if this is not political brilliance, then I don't know what to call it.

Ladies and gentlemen, Bill Clinton is a political master manipulator and we are about to see big things ahead as they define the course of American politics for years to come. With what has happened tonight, Clinton has secured and sealed a political Presidential future for his wife, paved the way for a political introduction for his daughter and basically stolen the thunder from behind the scenes to be a future force to reckon with in the Democratic Party and on the American political landscape. Watch that space!

Obama's 'extended' family!

REVEALED: SENIOR BARACK OBAMA'S FORMER AMERICAN WIFE IN KENYA

Confirmed sources in Nairobi yesterday revealed the existence of an American woman who answers to the name of Ruth Ndesanjo, who was once the wife of Senior Barack Obama, the Kenyan father of US Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama!

Visited by the daily Nation at her upmarket residence of Lavington in Kenya's capital of Nairobi, the reserved now Mrs. Ndesanjo refuses to talk about politics, a woman who features prominently in Barack's book Dreams From My Father.

As she went about her business in Nairobi as Madari kindergarten teacher, she told the Nation: “I’ve been here (in Kenya) for 44 years and run this school for 28 years, but my age is none of your business.”

A close family friend who talked to the Nation after the interview at her residence had fond memories of his encounter with Ruth’s parents in Boston, USA, in 1966. Mr Barack Odinge Odera said Obama Snr and Ruth were a wonderful couple.

Ruth was most reluctant to do this interview. “No interview about my private life. I’m Mrs Ndesandjo, a caring man who built for me the school you visited,” she said.

And as foreign journalists with positive and negative intentions troop to the Kenyan capital in search of a story or dirt on Obama, the US Presidential elections have all the ingredients of being dirty, as the two opposing camps roll up their sleeves for a bare-knuckled, dirty, no-bars-hold fight for the White House.

The saga continues.....

Hillary launches bid for 2012?

HILLARY UNITING THE PARTY? I DON'T THINK SO....

New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, former US First Lady and immediate former Democratic Party Presidential contender didn't impress me last night at her much anticipated and hyped Convention speech in Colorado. I just wasn't impressed. I personally believe that we are yet to see the last of the Clinton's. Hillary last night officially opened her bid for the White House in 2012! And she did it with gusto. The woman has style, knows how to capitalise of political expediency and put on a real good show for herself (and also Chelsea for the future). She knows that 18 million disgruntled voters could be her perfect excuse for her 2012 sights and doesn't want to just throw it all away, just yet. As for the Obama support needed from the Clinton axis is all a fairy tale. In the background Hillary fans the fires from behind the scenes to make Obama look desperate while on the front she comes out smiling and 'supporting' him for the Presidency. Sheer politics! Welcome to the real world Obama, NA BADO! Did you see all those hillaryclinton.com and Hillary emblazoned sea of banners as she strode onto the podium before being given a 4+ minutes encore even before she had opened her mouth? The winners of the night were indeed the Clinton's and more so Bill Clinton, who in his mind isn't finished yet with Obama. His Clintonite Dynasty will be built at all costs and for them this is just a pit stop! Didi you see him smiling all through his wife's speech? He wasn't smiling because Hillary was scoring the point for Obama? He was literally in stitches for what his wife was doing in terms of securing her political future. Period. Achana na siasa bwana. I am watching what Lewinsky's former sweetheart has in his bag of political tricks tonight!

Michelle Obama Steals the Show at the DNCC

The 101 Democratic Convention Kicks off in Style as...
Magnificent Michelle and Thunderous Teddy Roar!

In a carefully scripted Democratic Party National Convention Opening Night in Denver Colorado last night, Michelle Obama, US Democratic Presidential Candidate Barrack Obama's wife literally stole the thunder off her critic, white washed the Hillary Clinton 'losing phobia' and stole the hearts of the 20,000 plus Democrats inside the Pepsi Hall and millions upon million watching her in America and the world over.
After being introduced by her elder brother 6ft 6inches Craig Robinson, Michelle softly bellowed her opening statement, 'As you might imagine, for Barrack, running for president is nothing compared to that first game of basketball with my brother, Craig. I can’t tell you how much it means to have Craig and my mom here tonight. Like Craig, I can feel my dad looking down on us, just as i’ve felt his presence in every grace-filled moment of my life.'
And as she gracefully went through her speech, Democrats, black and white, old and young, straight and gay, physically impaired and mentally challenged connected with the south side Chicago born and bred girl who is stealthily racing to be the 44th First Lady of the United States of America.
Mentioning Hillary Clinton's sacrifices on the American people, Michelle tickled emotions and a thunderous acclaim which maybe did its magic at pacifying perceived 'bad blood' between her husband Barrack and the Clinton's.
And when Powerful Barrack joined in via satellite from Kansas city, to congratulate his wife, the convention hall seemed to be overtaken by familial emotions when the Obama's and their children played put a loving family setup in front of millions of people around the world.
While watching the whole show though the night, far, far away from the United States, I have never been so taken over by such political grandeur like the Democrats did of me last night. This is going to be a contest to watch.

Kenya's Best Ever Olympics

THE GOLDEN KENYAN OLYMPIC ALTHETES

left to right: Samuel Kamau Wanjiru (Marathon), Pamela Jelimo (800m), Nancy Jebet Langat (1,500m), Brimin Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase), Wilfred Bungei (800m)
(pic courtesy of The Daily Nation)

Samuel Kamau, new Olympic Marathon Champion

Kenya's latest athletic sensation Samuel Kamau Wanjiru today set a new Olympic record of two hours and 6.32 minutes in the Men's Marathon to claim gold this morning in Beijing. Smashing the previous record of two hours and 9:21 minutes set by Carlos Lopes of Portugal in the 1984 Olympics, Samuel now becomes the first male runner from Kenya to win gold in this event.

And what a proud moment it was for Kenya when the country's national Anthem was played in honour of Samuel as he was awarded his Gold medal as part of the closing ceremony activities. London 2012, here we come!

Jaouad Gharib from Morocco also broke the previous Olympic record to take silver in two hours and 7.16 minutes. Tsegay Kebede from Ethiopia crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 10 minutes to claim the bronze.

Arubaini ya Kaka Simbo Ntiro

IN REMEMBERANCE OF SIMBO NTIRO

40 DAYS SINCE YOU LEFT US

Today, very many folk in Dar es Salaam and indeed Tanzania will be commemorating the passing on, 40 days ago today, of a great friend Simba Ntiro.

His close friends led by Aziz Mongi and Stephen Holmes have designed and produced high quality polo shirts that will be up for sale to remember our brother. The polo shirts come in different colours and sizes.

Rest in Peace bro. We shall dearly miss you, Simbo.

Kenya Olympic Champions

KENYAN PRIDE IN BEIJING

Kenya's Brimin Kiprop Kipruto celebrates after winning the men's 3000-meter steeplechase final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Kenya's Pamela Jelimo celebrates winning the gold in the women's 800-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Second-placed Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (L) of Kenya celebrates with team-mate and winner Pamela Jelimo after their women's 800m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 18, 2008.

Kenya's gold medalist Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, left, silver medal winner Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong, right, and Ezekiel Kemboi run with Kenya's national flag after the men's 3000-meter steeplechase final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008

(pics courtesy of kumekucha)

Michael Phelps' magic rubs on

Michael, Mom Debbie and her ex-hubby Fred Phelps

This is the indefatigable twenty three year old American swimmer Michael Fred Phelps, who seems to have a developed an insatiable appetite of breaking swimming records knack at bagging every gold has taken the world and indeed the Beijing Olympics by storm. This young man, whose parents divorced when he was nine years old has to his record scooped a total of 14 all-time Olympic gold medals and currently holds seven world records in swimming.

At the ongoing Olympics he has bagged a total of eight swimming gold medals. In winning these medals, he has twice equaled Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin's record of eight medals (of any type) at a single Olympics. He is currently the worlds most decorated Olympian in the entire Olympics history.

Now that he's won his eight gold medals, Michael Phelps is officially the "greatest Olympian of all time." Now the swimmers mom, Debbie, has an impressive title of her own. Johnson's Baby has dubbed Debbie their "Mom of the Olympic Games" – and the company will donate money in her name to children's causes. "When he was nine, 10, 11 years old, he would sit at the pool for hours," she said. "That's why when I was talking with his teachers, and they'd say, 'He can't focus on anything,' I'd say, 'Well yes he can! He can focus on the pool.' ... He was able to focus on what he loved."

During Michael Phelps' races, camera shots of his mother Debbie were a fixture on NBC. All this coverage of the Phelps family led to one obvious question from our readers: Where was Dad?
It's been well-documented that Debbie and Fred Phelps divorced when Michael was 9. Beyond that, little else has been publicized about Michael Phelps' father.
Fred Phelps is a retired Maryland State Trooper, lives in a suburb of Baltimore and has remarried since divorcing Debbie Phelps in 1993. According to the Baltimore Sun, he watched the Olympics from his home, saying he was "on pins and needles" every time Michael dove into the pool. But, the New York Post reported that Fred has yet to call his son to congratulate him on his Olympic accomplishments.
Following the divorce, Fred Phelps had little contact with his son. Prior to the 2004 Olympics, Michael told a reporter that his father hadn't even called to congratulate him when he set his first world record. However, the two reconciled prior to the Athens Games and Fred even made the trip to watch his son win six golds and two bronzes. Since then, however, the relationship has reportedly fractured.

Hon. Wangwe Death Saga

Suspect Granted bail BUT...

Deus Mallya, the man who is alleged to have been with departed former Tarime Member of Parliament Hon. Chacha Wangwe after a grizzly car accident that took away the life of the fiery opposition MP, was arraigned in court Thursday in Dodoma, Tanzania. Answering to charges of causing death my reckless driving, Mr. Mallya was granted bail worth TZS 5 million ($ 4,200) but no one turned up to his rescue.

Police prosecutor superintendent of Police Polycarp Urio for the prosecution told the court that investigations into the accident are going on.

Mr. Mallya will be remanded in police cells until his next court mention scheduled for the 28th of August.

Kenya and Africa Swimming Champ 'The Michael Phelps' of the future?

Jason Dunford breaks Olympic record

African multiple champion Jason Dunford is jubilant after winning the seventh heat of 100m butterfly in an Olympic record time of 51.14 2 at the National Acquatic Centre in Beijing Thursday to qualify for the semi finals. His younger brother David , however failed to qualify despited winning his heat in the 50m freestyle in 22.29 21. Photo/MOHAMMED AMIN

For seven memorable minutes, the world stood up and watched as brilliant Kenyan swimmer Jason Dunford held the Olympic 100 metres butterfly record that he shattered on the way to making it to Friday’s semi-finals of his speciality at Beijing’s National Acquatic Centre.
Stunned swimming analysts froze in awe inside the 18,000-seater “Water Cube”, one of Beijing’s architectural masterpieces, as the 21-year-old student of human physiology at Stanford University swam 51.14 seconds to break American Michael Phelps’ old mark of 51.25 that he set at the Athens Games four years ago.
Jason was swimming in Heat Seven which he won by 0.23 seconds ahead of second-placed Australian Andrew Lauterstein. His parents Martin and Geraldine and brothers David and Robert watched.
David had earlier just failed to make it to the semi-finals of the 50m freestyle despite winning Heat Nine in a new national record of 22.29 seconds, an improvement on his brother Jason’s previous mark of 22.73 seconds.
But swimming in Heat Nine, seven minutes after Jason’s record, Serbian Milorad Cavic, under pressure from American torpedo Michael Phelps improved on the Kenyan sensation’s time, clocking a new Olympic record 50.76 seconds which is just 0.26 seconds outside American Ian Crocker’s world record of 50.40 set in Montreal in 2005.

Jason, the Phelps of the future???? Go Kenya Go!

(excerpts from Daily Nation, Kenya)

Necessary Dependency

For one reason or another I felt the real insecurity of being totally and utterly dependant on my laptop (Internet world). My machine, after performing normally today suddenly decides to crush on me and I was left feeling wasted! That more than 60% of my real work is done over the Internet is a matter of grave concern for me. Because either I will have to device ways of having a machine that is fully 'insured' crushes or spend more in delivering work to clients, something that I have comfortably done over the Internet. I am so annoyed at my dependency on this technology it hurts! If you cant beat them, they say, join them.... we are indeed neck deep....

The Beijing Olympics kick off in style

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

The impressive Beijing Olympic Stadium 'The Bird's Nest'

The Chinese 600 plus contingent romps into the Olympic stadium less than half an hour ago

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge delivering his speech at the opening of the Games

Fireworks

The Chinese I tell you have outdone themselves. Albeit all the recent global bad mouthing from their polluted air space to their human rights record to their clamping down on Internet freedom, they have put up a most impressive Olympic Opening Ceremony that has left the world to say the least, breathless.

With the placard holders leading the Athlete Parade, the Greek team entered first, leading 203 other countries represented at the Games. The placard's have been designed as a Chinese painting scroll, corresponding to the former performance. Then there's this paper that was strewn on the stadium floor for all the 10,000 athletes to walk over as they walked into the stadium leaving colorful footprints. All athletes from the world will leave their footprints on this piece of paper. Their colorful footprints will form a beautiful scene with the painting left by artistic performers. This paper will become the Protocol Platform, a most unique design of this Ceremony, mildly and prettily melting the artistic performance into the parade of athletes.

After speeches by Liu Qi, mayor of Beijing Municipality and the President of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bidding Committee in 1999, Belgian Jacques Rogge, 8th President of the International Olympic Committee and President of the People’s Republic of China, Hu Jintao, who declares the declares the opening of the Olympic, the next big creative show is the entrance of the Olympic Flag and Torch.

Eight flag bearers representing the Chinese Olympic history troop into the stadium carrying the Olympic flag. The flag is raised and the Olympic anthem played. Athlete’s and Officials represented by two members from each side take their respective official oath on behalf of their respective colleagues, athletes and officials.

Then doves are released as a symbol of peace as a hundred young women lead the athletes and spectators to imitate the act of dove release on the the Protocol Platform.

Then the flame arrives...and i think this deserves its own space....AMAZING AND BREATH TAKING UTTERLY CREATIVE FUNCTION....OH MY GOD

The Chinese are bent on showing the world that they are truly a force to reckon with in anything and everything that goes around the world.....

In attendance are world leader's who include George Bush and Nikolas Sarkozy other leading heads of governments, monarchs and famous people.

Well done Beijing...

Captain Mazula Laid to Rest in Dar es Salaam

BURIANI KAPTENI MAZULA

REST IN PEACE OH GOOD MAN

pic courtesy of Mpoki Bukuku

Pall bearers carry the coffin containing the remains of the departed Captain George Mazula for his furnarl service yesterday in Dar es Salaam
His elder son eulogises a great man
In attendance at the solemn funeral service included prominent members of society. From left front row Ibrahim Lipumba (Chairman of opposition party Civic United Front (CUF)), Mzee Pius Msekwa (immediate former Speaker of the Tanzania national Assembly and current 1st Vice President of ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM)), Freeman Mbowe (Cairman of opposition party Chama cha Democrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)) and Abbass Kandoro,

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner
Mourners pay their last repects

al-Qeada Terrorist Mystery Disappearance

I thought to myself yesterday, in my terror, that it wasn't just possible for a hard core terrorist such as Fazul Abdullah, who is wanted over the November 28, 2002 bomb attack at an Israeli-owned tourist hotel in Kilifi, Mombasa Kenya, to evade a police dragnet and disappear into thin air just like that! My analogy was that a security leak from within the police trap aided his escape, as confirmed from reports trickling out of Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

It is reported that a couple of minutes before the police dragnet stormed his Malindi hideout, the guy is claimed to have hurriedly left the place for an unknown destination (police believe Mombasa) leaving behind his laptop, two passport's, the food he was allegedly eating and his change of clothes. Initial reports indicated that the passports were foreign but copies seen by the Nation showed that they were Kenyan. One of the passports had expired while the other was issued on February 28, 2008.

Three people who are believed to have aided his safe keep in Kenya, Mahfudh Ashur Hemed, his wife Luftiya Abubakar Bashrahil and their son Ibrahim Mahfudh Ashur have since been arrested and denied the charges when produced in a Mombasa High court under heavy security. Hemed and his son were found inside a house in Malindi Old Town at 7.30pm on Saturday, just three hours after the officers received information that senior members of al Qaeda had met to prepare an attack. The squad of 25 officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, backed by the GSU’s Recce Company, raided yet another house in Malindi, where Fazul was believed to have been hiding.

My opinion is that someone in the security network needs to answer for this blunder. That a police officer could actually tip off Abdullah and aid his escape sends chilling signals as to the compromised state of security in Kenya. How can people who are entrusted with the security of Kenya as a sovereign state, be trusted to guarantee the security of Kenyans when they can actually be involved in a security breech as lethal as this? This is really depressing. Money obviously changed hands and not one or two or three people are involved in this scandal, because it actually is a scandal of high proportions.

The security apparatus in Kenya, besides working round the clock to apprehend and put him in his place (i suggested Guantanamo bay), a serious top to bottom reshuffle, rearrangement and realignment of the entire Kenyan security network needs to be addressed urgently. And maybe, just maybe, these stupid blunders that put at risk the security of an entire Nation and region will never be allowed to occur again.

Someone needs to pay the price!

Nasreem Crowned Miss Tanzania 2008

THE QUEEN BEE

MISS TANZANIA 2008

Name: Nasreem Karim

Age: 22

Sex: obvious unless your....

Title: Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2008

pic courtesy of Issa Michuzi

Dar es Salaam Students chiding the Law!!!!!

ANNOYED DAR ES SALAAM STUDENTS

With the recent hiking of public transport fares in Tanzania, because of obvious fuel cost escalation reasons, students have had to bare the full brunt of the whole operation. These youngster have had to contend with fighting for scare transport to schools with adult full paying passengers whilst bus conductors often refused to carry them on board. But with the meagre fares of TZS 50, all was well, until Monday this week. After fare hikes, the poor students still have to contend with hustling for the limited transport and the conductors, but they are not taking kindly to the fact that they now have to pay TZS 100 per one way trip!!!! So the lads and lasses resorted to a strike and it wasn't funny!!! Seen here above, the students, who were captured by fast actioned Bukuku Mpoki, had the audacity to chide and jeer a POLICE OFFICER who was comfortably seated in the bus. They wondered why she wasn't coming to their aid, and went on to tell her that this was because she was getting a free ride!!!! At least they had their TZS 100 to pay for the ride!!!!! Such cheek!

During the first day of the fare hike, some students resorted hiking to all sorts of lifts to school as seen here, when dangerously getting on to this lorry!

The Strike! they must have had a field day away from their Science, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics class sessions! Physical Education this was maybe!!!!

Man of the Moment...Mr. I-Dont-Know-How-To-Drive

MALLYA ON THE SPOT, AGAIN!!!

You don't want to be one Deus Mallya (left being escorted to hospital immediately after the accident) a.k.a 'Mr. i-cant-drive-a-car'! This is indeed a man on the spot in Tanzania. This is the man who was allegedly 'a passenger' in the fatal car accident that stole the life of a prominent Tanzanian opposition member of parliament Hon. Chacha Wangwe. The guy, who Civic United Front (CUF) party chief Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba has branded a terrorist, was apparently seen driving the late Wangwe by family member and mechanic of the garage where he and the late MP went have their car serviced less than two hours before the accident occurred at the Panda Mbili area outside Dodoma.

Deus, who is right now in police custody to answer charges of reckless driving and driving a vehicle without a licence, let alone a valid one, denies that he was driving. 'I don't even know how to drive,' he categorically states in his apparent excuse that he wasn't at the wheel. So who drove the b****y car whilst witnesses two minutes into the accident scene state that the honourable was literally plugged and strapped to his passenger seat, with his upper body stuck between the passenger seat and the mangled back door? kitendawili? tega!

The Kuria's, Hon Wangwe's tribesmen, has albeit grudgingly buried their hero but more questions than answers beg of this incident!!!

At yesterdays press conference in Dar es Salaam, opposition figures turned their heat on Mallya stopping short of calling him a perpetual liar. Lipumba: mafundi wa gereji walimwona akiendesha gari. familia nao, walimuona akiendesha gari.....hili swali ni zito kweli,' he stated as his compatriot James Mbatia of the NCCR-Mageuzi party confirmed that they would be seeking an appointment with the Inspector General of Police to take up the matter with him on the issue.

All in all, alot of questions beg for answers:

1. How many people were in the saloon car travelling towards Dares Salaam on that fateful day?

2. Who was the wheel at the time of the accident?

3. If Hon. Wangwe was driving, when found strapped by his seat belt on the front passengers seat by eye witnesses ho arrived at the scene within minutes of the accident?

4. Who is this mysterious fourth person who instructed that money be removed from the Honourable Wangwe's jacket pocket? Was he a passenger in the said car?

5. Mallya says e was sleeping in the back seat of the car with Wangwe driving when the accident occurred? Is it possible that two friends travelling such a long distance would assume those seating positions??? A case of the boss driving the subject??? (real parliamentary service to the citizenry this is I tell you!!!

Utterly Chilling: al-Qaeda operative evades Police Dragnet in Kenya

That most wanted East African al-Qaeda operative Fazul Abdullah Mohammed (Arabic: فاضل عبدالله محمد) (born August 25, 1972 February 25, 1974, or December 25, 1974) escaped a police dragnet in Kenya over the weekend sends chills down my spine. That the Comoran born terrorist, who masterminded the tragic and horrific 1998 U.S. embassy bombing in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam sneaked into Kenya via Somalia and had been shacking in some upmarket residential area in Malindi is even more shattering.

Kenya's Standard sources supposes that the man is seeking medical treatment from alleged kidney ailments but other sources quoted by the Nation suppose that the man could be planning other attacks on Kenya.

It is high time Kenya played harder and tougher ball with these people who have created fear and despondency amongst the populace. That someone planning more murder to Kenyans, especially after the elections events that dogged Kenya is the worst joke that can be entertained by any sane thinking person in Kenya. I am waiting to see if the much adrenalined Kenyan politicians will organise demonstrations against this operative in the same breathe they did when fighting for the coalition governments birth.

God forbid that Kenya's security apparatus could be compromised to allow such a dangerous refuge in Kenya. With a price tag of $5 million on his head, and the recent revelations that Kenya's intelligence network was compromised into selling to Libyans the Grand Regency, someone has to take the flack for such a major blunder of this man side-stepping intelligence and security sleuths as sharp as the Kenyan ones.

Terrorism has completely changed the face of this world for ever and to even imagine that i would be sharing a 200km radius with a most wanted man like Osama and his boys is to say the list a nightmare.

This man needs to be apprehended and fast, and dispatched to the only one place in the world that I and George Bush fully agree on: Guantanamo Bay; not withstanding whatever tricks they allegedly use to 'extract' info from them ....

Tanzania Mourns The Late Captain George Mazula

Tanzania mourns the passing on of Captain George Mazula, (lef) indeed a great personality. The immediate former Chief Pilot of the Air Tanzania Corporation, sucumbed to an ashmatic attack in Dar es Salaam, Friday morning at his Mikocheni B residence. He was 59 years old.

Family spokesperson Dr Charles Lugora was quoted as saying that Captain had just returned home from India after surgical treatment. Burial arrangements are slated for Wednesday in Dar es Salaam, as the family awaits the arrival of his children from the United States, who are expected in today.

Captain Mazula is survived by a widow and two sons Brian and George. His other son Walter, died two years ago after being found dead from gunshot wounds on Sept. 22, 2006 in St. Aubin on Detroit’s east side. Mazula’s body was in a field by an alley and Bonetha Nkya’s (his fiancee) was burned beyond recognition inside Mazula’s black Jeep Cherokee, a company car he was using. The two were talking about getting married on New Year’s Eve, like Mazula’s parents who still lived in Africa.

Captain Mazula was a perfect gentleman and friend to tons and tons people. Rest in Peace George.

Captain Mazula (left) at the funeral service of his son Walter and his fiancee Bonetha Nkya in 2006 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Walter and Bonetha, who were found dead in Sept 2006 in the USA. Their murder's still remained unsolved.