Dear Tanzanians,
Have you read that article titled XENOPHOBIA AND THE EA FEDERATION ( in The EastAfrican issue No. 626 of this week) By one, Oscar Kimanuka, in Kigali, Rwanda? If not, read it. It is a very disgusting article.
Let me just quote for you some of the paragraphs in that article:
"There is a new wave of xenophobia that is slowly creeping into the East African region that if not nipped in the bud, could undermine the ongoing efforts at political federation, the much cherished goal of our region.
"The timing of this xenophobia is unfortunate. It has come at a time when the leaders of East Africa have just launched the fast-tracking of the political federation. What is worrying is that at the official level, not much has come out by way of condemnation of these regrettable acts.
"Xenophobia should not just viewed as a dislike or fear of foreigners. It is a form of violence. People get killed and property destroyed. In recent months, thousands of Rwandans have been expelled from Tanzania where, as minorities, they have lived in harmony with locals since the 1930s.
"This is a time long enough for any foreigner to be accepted as a bona-fide resident. The fact, however is that the Rwandans returned home under harrowing conditions and dirt poor. Stories abound of their mistreatment and loss of property.
"A Tanzanian website,
www.habaritanzania.com, is getting xenophobic in its postings on issues of foreigners in Tanzania. Its message is that Tanzania is for Tanganyikans only..."
These are some of the views from the man in Kigali. He is short of "talking" genocide committed by Tanzanians to Rwandans. What a pit ?
Let me ask you, Who (a tanzanian) has said that Tanzania is for Tanganyikans? So, this man in Kigali is trying to sow seeds of mistrust among Tanzanians- from the mainland and Zanzibar. Clever isn't it?
Yaani wanyarwanda wale Tanzania kinyume cha sheria sasa tunalazimishwa tuwape uraia simply because they have stayed in Tanzania for a long time! This is ridiculous. We tanzanians (we) should be aware. There is a hidden agenda in this part of Africa to "victimize" us. They want our land. Do you remember tha Bamanyamulenge saga in Eastern Congo? They wanted the same to happen here. We are awake, Tanzania is awake now.
What is this xenophobia they are talking about? Can you just go in Rwanda, Kenya and do what you want? Tanzania is for Tanzanians and not for Rwandans and Kenyans. Watanzania tumekuwa wajinga kwa muda mrefu mno, sasa imetosha. Tunawafahamu watu waliojifanya kuwa ni Watanzania, tukawasomesha, wakafanyakazi tena wengine katika sehemu nyeti hata kwenye majeshi yetu. Baada ya kinachoitwa kupata uhuru wakakimbia wakaenda kwao na huko wakapewa madaraka makubwa wakituacha tunashangaa kwamba kumbe watu hao, waliokuwa kwenye nafasi yeti nchini mwetu kama vyuoni, madaktari na hata kwenye vyombo vya dola, hawakuwa watanzania! Je, mnafahamu kwanini baadhi ya watu wa Ngara na Karagwe wanasema kuwa hawataki kuona Wanyarwanda na Warundi kuingizwa kwenye Federation? Inasekemekana kuwa wahamiaji hao huwa wanawatambia kuwa itafika siku moja wanaitawala Tanzania. Kauli hizo zinawaudhi mno watanzania wa maeneo hayo.
Je, huyo Kimanuka wa Kigali ana hoja katika mada yake hiyo kwenye The EastAfrican? Naomba maoni yenu>