James Sinclair: A Friend or Foe?

[Kuhani]

Jamani chombo maarufu wa Financial cha Bloomberg.com walishawai kutoa data za huyu Sinclair mwezi wa nne. Yeye akakanusha, sasa tunaweza kuwaonyesha ni kwa jinsi gani Sinclair and his company are manipulating things in Tanzania in order to please Investors in North America, we can ask if they think Sinclair follows the moral conducts in order to archive the mission and vision of his organization.

Also, we can question those investors who add TRE stock in their portfolios " Would they keep TRE stock if the knew their company is putting Tanzanian peace and harmony into danger"? What the difference between Investing in TRE and investing in Blood Diamond from Ivory Cost?

Let call and Fax bloomberg, for those in US let fax the article and our response to bloomberg. I attached the article on top and our response at the bottom. Let make phone call and fax.

Ahsante.

Nimewaandikia Bloomberg News kuhusu tabia za mtu wao Jim Sinclair. Na nimetuma makala Wall Street Journal, lakini sidhani kama wanaweza kui-publish. Wataogopa. Lakini naituma the Economist, jamaa hawaiogopi US wale.

STOP JIM SINCLAIR, THE INFLUENCE-PEDDLING INVESTOR IN TANZANIA!

Your Op-ed submission guidelines require that a piece be about what's in the news. Well, this may not be, but we would like, and we think it should, be part of the news, in this global web of the marketplace.

If you get concerned with some of the nationalistic turmoil surrounding oil supply in places like Nigeria, where citizens sometimes rise up and disrupt production by violently vandalizing oil infrastructure, at times even killing workers of foreign companies engaged in the business, it is the unbecoming business practices exhibited by some foreign investors, such as Jim Sinclair's, which help understand the genesis of such market destabilizing problems.

Late in 2007, the president of an African country of Tanzania formed an inquiry commission aimed at fixing a malfeasant mining industry. Corrupt acquisition of mineral rights, mind-numbing tax loopholes and outright evasion, as well as rampant irregularities in procurement of government contracts were among the prime concerns.

After the commission's report was submitted to the president last month, but before it was made public (not yet to this day), a renowned Canadian/American commodities investor, Jim Sinclair, who has exclusive mineral exploration rights in the country, and a close friend of President Jakaya Kikwete, announced that he's had "the privilege" of seeing the report. Worried that the impending overhaul of the industry could roil the industry's status qua and his company's stakes in investment, he issued a blunt public statement late last month, assuring his own investors that it is the President who has the last call on this matter, and wrote a thinly veiled advice to the president not to follow the commission's recommendation to revamp the industry. (The link to the letter is provided below).

To anyone who respects the sovereignty of nations to set self-benefiting economic policy and the prosperity of capitalistic business in a lawful and ethical atmosphere, Jim Sinclair in an international Jack Abramoff on steroids!

At least Jack was ashamed of his conduct enough to avoid signing the visitor log-book every time he patronized presidential quarters. Jim, on the other side of the same dirty coin, is unabashed about calling the Tanzanian President a "close friend" on his website. Advantaged by insider information, he goes about his influence-peddling business, not seeing a problem with lobbying against a national call to rid the mining industry of rampant corruption, unchecked abuse of tax laws, and illegal acquisition of mineral rights. All this after being given inexplicable, exclusive mineral exploration rights. By Tanzanian law, only a citizen can have "right of occupancy" to land, and no one can own a piece of land with mineral deposits under it - whether a citizen or not. So, under the circumstances where a foreigner has been conferred with exclusive rights to mineral exploration contrary to the spirit of the law, you must wonder where Jim Sinclair gets the galls to go around advertising his shady association with the president and to make bold assertions which try to set a self-serving national agenda on the mining policy. Policies which condone, aid and abate a business atmosphere marred with haywire corruption .

The Presidential Commission raised questions, among the issues investigated, on the circumstances in which a sitting president, Benjamin Mkapa, acquired the biggest power-generating coal mine in the country, in partnership with his Energy minister as co-owner! (Mkapa's term has since ended, and the incumbent Jakaya Kikwete has quieted calls to bring Mkapa to justice, urging the people to let "Mzee wetu," or, our dignified elder, rest in retirement). That is the depth of the problem we are trying to work at, here. Efforts that the Jim Sinclairs of the world, and their profit-at-any-cost instincts are trying to stymie.

It is influence peddling of the n-th degree, abuse of high office subsidized by the West's confused interests in Africa. The type of corrupt, self-serving foreign incursion into domestic economic policy that give big nations a bad name. This business chicanery would not be tolerated by the law in America, Canada, or anywhere else in the West where Jim Sinclair does business.

International business leaders and ethicists decry wanton corruption in Africa. Only when they are sitting in arm chaired corner offices out of Africa. Once they come down here to invest, they get right in the muck, and they get on to business as it is usually done down here. No laws to be enforced on them means no principles of business ethics to adhere to. History teaches us that, sometimes, the local populations unjustifiably rise up to scapegoat the foreigners for all their economic maladies. Once in a while, though, the exploited natives are in the right, that foreign-subsidized corruption is real, and that the culprits are a few of power-abusing local leaders colluding with venal Western businessmen. The root of the problem.

We believe foreign investment in Africa can prosper without being supported by influence peddling and corruption. Stop Jim Sinclair now!

Tanzania Consortium of Concerned Citizens
Jamiiforums.com

P.S.
Link to Jim Sinclair's letter: http://www.tanzanianroyaltyexplorat...ning-Law-Certain-to-Benefit-Mineral-Explorers
(if he will have removed it, it's already in someone else's server. Just contact us for a copy)

To give you a sense of the outrage touched off by Jim Sinclair's behavior, we've attached a petition circulating in some segments of Tanzanian cyberspace denouncing Jim Sinclair's unacceptable behavior.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Chamber of Commerce au Chambe of Mines zinaitwaje kwa Kiswahili?

 

[Haki.tupu]

On another note, haya magazeti yetu hayafahamu kinachoendelea? Mbona hatujasikia chochote kwenye media? I believe kila mtanzania ana haki ya kufahamu kinachoendelea.[/QUOTE]

Nadhani THISDAY (www.thisday.co.tz) wameandika habari hii leo kwa upana wake kabisa!

The whole thing is simply disgusting!!!

 

[Kuhani]

Chamber of Commerce au Chambe of Mines zinaitwaje kwa Kiswahili?

Nadhani "Kitengo cha Biashara ya Madini"

Au Kitengo cha Biashara

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Nimewapata wote wawili Pundit na Kuhani Mkuu..

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Chamber of Commerce au Chambe of Mines zinaitwaje kwa Kiswahili?

Chemba ovu komasi na chemba ovu mainz.....

 

[Alpha]

To give you a sense of the outrage touched off by Jim Sinclair's behavior, we've attached a petition circulating in some segments of Tanzanian cyberspace denouncing Jim Sinclair's unacceptable behavior.

Where is this petition and where can i sign it?

Nice letter i am going to try and forward it to as many people and organisations as i know. Great work.

 

[Fidel80]

Uswahiba huu wa Rais Kikwete na Bw. Sinclair!

Lula wa Ndali-Mwananzela Juni 4, 2008



KUNA tabia imeanza kuzoeleka na ambayo kwa hakika haina budi kukemewa, kubezwa, kupingwa, na kukataliwa na kila Mtanzania mwenye kupenda utawala wa uwazi na ushirikishwaji wa wananchi katika mjadala wa taifa lao.

Tabia hiyo ni ile ya wageni a.k.a. Wazungu kupata nafasi ya kujua kinachoendelea ndani ya serikali yetu kuliko sisi raia wenyewe - ni tabia ya ajabu na ya kushangaza.

Sijui ni kitu gani kinaashiriwa pale ambapo Watanzania wanahangaika kupata taarifa kutoka asasi mbalimbali lakini wageni tena wakiwa mbali kabisa wanaonekana kupata habari za ndani kabisa ya nyumba yetu wakati wenyewe wenyeji tukiwa tumekaa nje na vikamera vyetu na rekoda kusubiri habari hizo hizo.

Wiki iliyopita nilishangazwa na kitendo cha Benki Kuu kuwakataza waandishi kuingia eneo la Benki Kuu kufuatilia ziara ya Kamati ya Bunge ya Fedha na Uchumi iliyokuwa inatembelea Benki Kuu. Kwa asasi ambayo imegubikwa na kashfa za upotevu wa mabilioni ya shilingi kuanza tena kitendo cha usiri hakiwasaidii bali zaidi kinaonesha ni jinsi gani uongozi wa benki hiyo bado umekita kwenye kiburi.

Hivi hizo fedha wanazozizungumzia ni za nchi gani? Na hii benki inaitwa Benki Kuu ya Taifa gani? Sasa iweje hawa ndugu zetu wanapojadili fedha za nchi yetu kwa kutumia chombo cha Bunge la Taifa letu, kwanini sisi wenye fedha hizo hatutakiwi kusikia wanachozungumza?

Benki Kuu ni benki ya Watanzania na kuna mambo yanatakiwa kuwa ya siri lakini suala la chombo cha wawakilishi wa wananchi kufanya mikutano kwa siri ni kitendo cha kupingwa kabisa na kulaaniwa. Prof. Ndullu ujumbe wangu kwako ni kuwa fungueni milango ya Benki Kuu ili hewa ya uwazi na ukweli (siyo kama wa Mkapa) ianze kuingia ili usiri uliozoeleka upotee daima.

Lakini cha kushangaza mambo ambayo Watanzania wanafichwa yatakuja kujitokeza kwa wageni, na hili ndilo linalonisumbua hasa.

Iweje Watanzania tuwe watu wa mwisho kujua nini kinaendelea katika utawala wa nchi yetu? Kwanini tuwe wa mwisho kujua kinachoendelea na inapotokea kujua inakuwa hadi watu wa nje watuambie? Nitakupa mifano.

Suala la ununuzi wa rada lilianza kutajwa na vyombo vya kigeni hasa lilipoanza kujadiliwa katika Bunge la Uingereza. Wakati Bunge letu likijiweka pembeni kabisa na kugoma kuliangalia jambo hili kwa ukaribu, Waingereza wakiwa na uchungu na fedha zao wakalivalia njuga suala hili. Si wao tu; bali hata mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali kama Oxfam yalianza kupigia kelele ununuzi wa rada hii kabla yetu.

Ilikuwaje Wazungu wenye kutuuzia rada wajue kabla ya sisi wanunuzi kujulishwa? Kinachoshangaza ni pale ilipogundulika kuwa mpango wa kununua hii rada ulianza tangu enzi za Mwinyi! Sasa inakuwaje Watanzania tuje kufahamu dakika za mwisho? Inakuwa kama vile viongozi wetu walikuwa wanatununulia zawadi ya kutushangaza nayo.

Nakumbuka Prof. Lipumba (Mwenyekiti wa CUF) alikuwa ni miongoni mwa watu walioashangazwa na jinsi gani ni ripoti za kikao cha Bunge la Uingereza ndicho kilichotujulisha kile kilichokuwa kinaendelea.

Mfano mwingine ni jambo linalotokana na uchunguzi huu wa rada ambapo wiki chache zilizopita tumesikia kuwa aliyekuwa Waziri wa Miundombinu anachunguzwa na asasi ya SFO ya Uingereza kuhusiana na madai ya rushwa katika mchakato wa ununuzi wa rada hiyo.

Cha kushangaza ni kuwa wengi wetu tulisikia juu ya Chenge kuchunguzwa baada ya ripoti iliyoandikwa kwenye gazeti la The Guardian la Unigereza. Kwanini Waingereza walijua kwanza kuhusu Chenge na sisi kudokezwa baadaye?

Kama hilo halitoshi ni pale ambapo habari ya mtuhumiwa mkuu wa sakata hilo Bw. Vithlani alipotajwa na gazeti hilo hilo kudaiwa kupokea karibu shilingi bilioni 21 kama malipo ya udalali wake. Inakuwaje wageni wajue wahusika wa mambo yanayolihusu taifa letu na vyombo vyetu vya habari ndivyo vinajikuta vinarudia majina hayo kama kasuku?

Kwanini inakuwa vigumu kwa waandishi na vyombo vyetu vya ndani kupata taarifa lakini wakija hawa Wazungu na kimombo chao milango inafunguliwa kama mlango wa nyumba ya mlevi?

Lakini kilele cha wageni kupata taarifa za ndani za mambo ya taifa letu kimetokea wiki iliyopita mara baada ya Rais Kikwete kukabidhiwa ripoti ya Kamati ya Rais ya Ushauri kuhusu Sekta ya Madini. Wakati Watanzania wanasubiri kusikia kilichomo ndani ya ripoti hiyo na kama yaliyopendekezwa yatafanyiwa kazi, huwezi kuamini ni nani amejitokeza kudai kuwa ameona yote yaliyopendekezwa, tena mtu mwenyewe yuko Marekani! Nitakukumbusha.

Desemba 19, mwaka jana, niliandika makala kwenye gazeti hili nikizungumzia "Pembetatu ya Machozi". Katika makala hiyo nilimtaja mtu mmoja ambaye kila Mtanzania kuanzia sasa anapaswa kulijua jina lake kama anavyolijua jina la Chenge au Lowassa, au Bangusilo! Si mwingine bali ni James Sinclair. James Sinclair ni rafiki wa karibu wa Rais Kikwete na urafiki wao msingi wake tangu mwanzo ulikuwa madini.

Bw. Sinclair na binti yake waliingia nchini miaka ya mwanzo ya tisini na akaanzisha urafiki wa karibu na aliyekuwa Waziri wa Madini wa wakati huo Bw. Jakaya Kikwete. Ni urafiki ambao umekuwa wa kudumu na sitoshangaa kama nikisikia siku moja kwamba Kikwete, au familia yake ya karibu, wanakuwa na hisa ya aina fulani katika makampuni ya Sinclair.

Kilele cha urafiki huu kilikuja pale ambapo Bw. Sinclair alikuwa ni mmoja wa wageni rasmi wa Kikwete walioalikwa siku ya kuapishwa kwake na yeye mwenyewe (Sinclair) amekuwa akibeba bango la "Urafiki na Kikwete" kila aendapo na anazungumza kana kwamba na yeye ana ka-ubia katika urais wa Kikwete na hasa kwenye sekta ya madini.

Ni vipi Sinclair anazipata mapema habari nyeti kuhusu sekta ya madini ambazo Mtanzania wa Maneromango, au Kigonsera au wa Itumba hawezi kuzipata mapema?

Ijumaa iliyopita Bw. Sinclair aliandika waraka wake wa kila Ijumaa kwa wanahisa wake na katika waraka huo alioupa kichwa cha habari "Mabadiliko sheria ya madini hakika kunufaisha watafutaji wa madini", anawatuliza wanahisa hao kuwa wasiwe na wasiwasi na mapendekezo ya Kamati ya Bomani.

Katika barua yake hiyo Bw. Sinclair anawaandikia wanahisa hao na kuwaambia pasipo kigugumizi chochote kile "Nimepata nafasi ya kupitia mapendekezo ya kamati hiyo pamoja na mapendekezo ya wadau wa madini na sina matatizo nayo makubwa" (kana kwamba angekuwa nayo angepinga).

Lakini kilichonichefua mwenzenu ni maneno yake hayo ambayo naamini atakuwa ameyasema pengine baada ya kuzungumza na swahiba wake Rais Kikwete. Sinclair aliendelea kuandika hivi "Jambo la kuzingatia ni kuwa mtu atakayefanya maamuzi ya mwisho kuhusu mapendekezo hayo ya Kamati ya Bomani ni Rais na si hiyo kamati".

Binafsi naweza kuhisi kuwa wakati wa mazungumzo kati ya Rais Kikwete na Sinclair alimtoa wasiwasi Bw. Sinclair kuwa mapendekezo hayo hayataharibu shughuli za watafutaji madini. Na hilo linadhihirishwa na kile ambacho Bw. Sinclair anakijua kwani ananukuu kutoka mapendekezo hayo ambayo bado ni siri kwa Watanzania wenyewe.

Sinclair anaandika kwamba anafurahishwa na pale ambapo inapendekezwa "sera (mpya ya madini) itoe motisha kwa watafutaji madini (kina Sinclair) kuliko kwa wachimbaji". Sasa tunaweza vipi kuamini kuwa hicho ndicho kilichopendekezwa wakati bado ripoti hiyo haijawekwa wazi kwa Watanzania?

Sasa hii si mara ya kwanza kwa Bw. Sinclair kudai kujua mambo yanayofanywa na serikali yetu kuhusu Sekta ya Madini. Ni hii access ya wageni katika habari za nchi yetu ndiyo jambo linalonisumbua sana.

Kama Watanzania hawajapata kuyaona hayo mapendekezo (ukiondoa wanakamati) iweje wageni wajue yanayoendelea na kutunukulia sisi? Ni lini tutambua kuwa wageni wako hapa kuchuma na kulinda maslahi yao, na siku mambo yakiharibika watatokomea makwao; wakati sisi tutabakia kubanana wenyewe kwa wenyewe hapa hapa.

Ombi langu kwa wanaohusika, kama mnatunyima Watanzania taarifa zinazohusu nchi yetu na mna haraka kutuambia tusubiri "uchunguzi" ufanyike au "serikali ipitie", nadhani wakati umefika pia wa kuwanyima marafiki zenu habari za taifa letu na zile zinazohusu maslahi ya Watanzania.

Hatutaki tena kusikia sijui "fulani ana vijisenti Ulaya" na tunasikia kwenye magazeti ya "Wazungu". Huu mtindo wa kuabudu na kupiga magoti kwenye altare ya Wazungu lazima uanze kukoma.

Ombi langu kwa Rais Kikwete; kwa vile rafiki yake James Sinclair amepata nafasi ya kupitia mapendekezo ya Kamati ya Madini na kuwatangazia wadau wake angalau jambo moja lililopendekezwa, tunaomba wiki hii na sisi wananchi wenzake na raia wenzake, tuone mapendekezo hayo kwa yeye (Rais) kuruhusu yawekwe hadharani. Haiwezekani mgeni ajue kinachoendelea na sisi wengine tuendelee kusubiri.

Na hili linawahusu viongozi wengine ambao wana haraka ya kutoa habari kwa wageni lakini kwa sisi wenyewe hadi tushikane mashati. Kama ni vigumu kwenu kuwa wa wazi kwa wananchi wenzenu lakini mna haraka ya kuwaambia "kila kitu" wageni, basi, kwanini msiamue kuwapa uraia tu ili angalau tujue Watanzania wenzetu wamehabarishwa. Vinginevyo, kabla hamjawaambiwa wageni yanayohusu nyumba yetu, tuambieni kwanza wenye nyumba. Ni ushauri tu.

 

[Fidel80]

Uswahiba huu wa Rais Kikwete na Bw. Sinclair!

Lula wa Ndali-Mwananzela Juni 4, 2008



KUNA tabia imeanza kuzoeleka na ambayo kwa hakika haina budi kukemewa, kubezwa, kupingwa, na kukataliwa na kila Mtanzania mwenye kupenda utawala wa uwazi na ushirikishwaji wa wananchi katika mjadala wa taifa lao.

Tabia hiyo ni ile ya wageni a.k.a. Wazungu kupata nafasi ya kujua kinachoendelea ndani ya serikali yetu kuliko sisi raia wenyewe - ni tabia ya ajabu na ya kushangaza.

Sijui ni kitu gani kinaashiriwa pale ambapo Watanzania wanahangaika kupata taarifa kutoka asasi mbalimbali lakini wageni tena wakiwa mbali kabisa wanaonekana kupata habari za ndani kabisa ya nyumba yetu wakati wenyewe wenyeji tukiwa tumekaa nje na vikamera vyetu na rekoda kusubiri habari hizo hizo.

Wiki iliyopita nilishangazwa na kitendo cha Benki Kuu kuwakataza waandishi kuingia eneo la Benki Kuu kufuatilia ziara ya Kamati ya Bunge ya Fedha na Uchumi iliyokuwa inatembelea Benki Kuu. Kwa asasi ambayo imegubikwa na kashfa za upotevu wa mabilioni ya shilingi kuanza tena kitendo cha usiri hakiwasaidii bali zaidi kinaonesha ni jinsi gani uongozi wa benki hiyo bado umekita kwenye kiburi.

Hivi hizo fedha wanazozizungumzia ni za nchi gani? Na hii benki inaitwa Benki Kuu ya Taifa gani? Sasa iweje hawa ndugu zetu wanapojadili fedha za nchi yetu kwa kutumia chombo cha Bunge la Taifa letu, kwanini sisi wenye fedha hizo hatutakiwi kusikia wanachozungumza?

Benki Kuu ni benki ya Watanzania na kuna mambo yanatakiwa kuwa ya siri lakini suala la chombo cha wawakilishi wa wananchi kufanya mikutano kwa siri ni kitendo cha kupingwa kabisa na kulaaniwa. Prof. Ndullu ujumbe wangu kwako ni kuwa fungueni milango ya Benki Kuu ili hewa ya uwazi na ukweli (siyo kama wa Mkapa) ianze kuingia ili usiri uliozoeleka upotee daima.

Lakini cha kushangaza mambo ambayo Watanzania wanafichwa yatakuja kujitokeza kwa wageni, na hili ndilo linalonisumbua hasa.

Iweje Watanzania tuwe watu wa mwisho kujua nini kinaendelea katika utawala wa nchi yetu? Kwanini tuwe wa mwisho kujua kinachoendelea na inapotokea kujua inakuwa hadi watu wa nje watuambie? Nitakupa mifano.

Suala la ununuzi wa rada lilianza kutajwa na vyombo vya kigeni hasa lilipoanza kujadiliwa katika Bunge la Uingereza. Wakati Bunge letu likijiweka pembeni kabisa na kugoma kuliangalia jambo hili kwa ukaribu, Waingereza wakiwa na uchungu na fedha zao wakalivalia njuga suala hili. Si wao tu; bali hata mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali kama Oxfam yalianza kupigia kelele ununuzi wa rada hii kabla yetu.

Ilikuwaje Wazungu wenye kutuuzia rada wajue kabla ya sisi wanunuzi kujulishwa? Kinachoshangaza ni pale ilipogundulika kuwa mpango wa kununua hii rada ulianza tangu enzi za Mwinyi! Sasa inakuwaje Watanzania tuje kufahamu dakika za mwisho? Inakuwa kama vile viongozi wetu walikuwa wanatununulia zawadi ya kutushangaza nayo.

Nakumbuka Prof. Lipumba (Mwenyekiti wa CUF) alikuwa ni miongoni mwa watu walioashangazwa na jinsi gani ni ripoti za kikao cha Bunge la Uingereza ndicho kilichotujulisha kile kilichokuwa kinaendelea.

Mfano mwingine ni jambo linalotokana na uchunguzi huu wa rada ambapo wiki chache zilizopita tumesikia kuwa aliyekuwa Waziri wa Miundombinu anachunguzwa na asasi ya SFO ya Uingereza kuhusiana na madai ya rushwa katika mchakato wa ununuzi wa rada hiyo.

Cha kushangaza ni kuwa wengi wetu tulisikia juu ya Chenge kuchunguzwa baada ya ripoti iliyoandikwa kwenye gazeti la The Guardian la Unigereza. Kwanini Waingereza walijua kwanza kuhusu Chenge na sisi kudokezwa baadaye?

Kama hilo halitoshi ni pale ambapo habari ya mtuhumiwa mkuu wa sakata hilo Bw. Vithlani alipotajwa na gazeti hilo hilo kudaiwa kupokea karibu shilingi bilioni 21 kama malipo ya udalali wake. Inakuwaje wageni wajue wahusika wa mambo yanayolihusu taifa letu na vyombo vyetu vya habari ndivyo vinajikuta vinarudia majina hayo kama kasuku?

Kwanini inakuwa vigumu kwa waandishi na vyombo vyetu vya ndani kupata taarifa lakini wakija hawa Wazungu na kimombo chao milango inafunguliwa kama mlango wa nyumba ya mlevi?

Lakini kilele cha wageni kupata taarifa za ndani za mambo ya taifa letu kimetokea wiki iliyopita mara baada ya Rais Kikwete kukabidhiwa ripoti ya Kamati ya Rais ya Ushauri kuhusu Sekta ya Madini. Wakati Watanzania wanasubiri kusikia kilichomo ndani ya ripoti hiyo na kama yaliyopendekezwa yatafanyiwa kazi, huwezi kuamini ni nani amejitokeza kudai kuwa ameona yote yaliyopendekezwa, tena mtu mwenyewe yuko Marekani! Nitakukumbusha.

Desemba 19, mwaka jana, niliandika makala kwenye gazeti hili nikizungumzia “Pembetatu ya Machozi”. Katika makala hiyo nilimtaja mtu mmoja ambaye kila Mtanzania kuanzia sasa anapaswa kulijua jina lake kama anavyolijua jina la Chenge au Lowassa, au Bangusilo! Si mwingine bali ni James Sinclair. James Sinclair ni rafiki wa karibu wa Rais Kikwete na urafiki wao msingi wake tangu mwanzo ulikuwa madini.

Bw. Sinclair na binti yake waliingia nchini miaka ya mwanzo ya tisini na akaanzisha urafiki wa karibu na aliyekuwa Waziri wa Madini wa wakati huo Bw. Jakaya Kikwete. Ni urafiki ambao umekuwa wa kudumu na sitoshangaa kama nikisikia siku moja kwamba Kikwete, au familia yake ya karibu, wanakuwa na hisa ya aina fulani katika makampuni ya Sinclair.

Kilele cha urafiki huu kilikuja pale ambapo Bw. Sinclair alikuwa ni mmoja wa wageni rasmi wa Kikwete walioalikwa siku ya kuapishwa kwake na yeye mwenyewe (Sinclair) amekuwa akibeba bango la “Urafiki na Kikwete” kila aendapo na anazungumza kana kwamba na yeye ana ka-ubia katika urais wa Kikwete na hasa kwenye sekta ya madini.

Ni vipi Sinclair anazipata mapema habari nyeti kuhusu sekta ya madini ambazo Mtanzania wa Maneromango, au Kigonsera au wa Itumba hawezi kuzipata mapema?

Ijumaa iliyopita Bw. Sinclair aliandika waraka wake wa kila Ijumaa kwa wanahisa wake na katika waraka huo alioupa kichwa cha habari “Mabadiliko sheria ya madini hakika kunufaisha watafutaji wa madini”, anawatuliza wanahisa hao kuwa wasiwe na wasiwasi na mapendekezo ya Kamati ya Bomani.

Katika barua yake hiyo Bw. Sinclair anawaandikia wanahisa hao na kuwaambia pasipo kigugumizi chochote kile “Nimepata nafasi ya kupitia mapendekezo ya kamati hiyo pamoja na mapendekezo ya wadau wa madini na sina matatizo nayo makubwa” (kana kwamba angekuwa nayo angepinga).

Lakini kilichonichefua mwenzenu ni maneno yake hayo ambayo naamini atakuwa ameyasema pengine baada ya kuzungumza na swahiba wake Rais Kikwete. Sinclair aliendelea kuandika hivi “Jambo la kuzingatia ni kuwa mtu atakayefanya maamuzi ya mwisho kuhusu mapendekezo hayo ya Kamati ya Bomani ni Rais na si hiyo kamati”.

Binafsi naweza kuhisi kuwa wakati wa mazungumzo kati ya Rais Kikwete na Sinclair alimtoa wasiwasi Bw. Sinclair kuwa mapendekezo hayo hayataharibu shughuli za watafutaji madini. Na hilo linadhihirishwa na kile ambacho Bw. Sinclair anakijua kwani ananukuu kutoka mapendekezo hayo ambayo bado ni siri kwa Watanzania wenyewe.

Sinclair anaandika kwamba anafurahishwa na pale ambapo inapendekezwa “sera (mpya ya madini) itoe motisha kwa watafutaji madini (kina Sinclair) kuliko kwa wachimbaji”. Sasa tunaweza vipi kuamini kuwa hicho ndicho kilichopendekezwa wakati bado ripoti hiyo haijawekwa wazi kwa Watanzania?

Sasa hii si mara ya kwanza kwa Bw. Sinclair kudai kujua mambo yanayofanywa na serikali yetu kuhusu Sekta ya Madini. Ni hii access ya wageni katika habari za nchi yetu ndiyo jambo linalonisumbua sana.

Kama Watanzania hawajapata kuyaona hayo mapendekezo (ukiondoa wanakamati) iweje wageni wajue yanayoendelea na kutunukulia sisi? Ni lini tutambua kuwa wageni wako hapa kuchuma na kulinda maslahi yao, na siku mambo yakiharibika watatokomea makwao; wakati sisi tutabakia kubanana wenyewe kwa wenyewe hapa hapa.
Ombi langu kwa wanaohusika, kama mnatunyima Watanzania taarifa zinazohusu nchi yetu na mna haraka kutuambia tusubiri “uchunguzi” ufanyike au “serikali ipitie”, nadhani wakati umefika pia wa kuwanyima marafiki zenu habari za taifa letu na zile zinazohusu maslahi ya Watanzania.

Hatutaki tena kusikia sijui “fulani ana vijisenti Ulaya” na tunasikia kwenye magazeti ya “Wazungu”. Huu mtindo wa kuabudu na kupiga magoti kwenye altare ya Wazungu lazima uanze kukoma.

Ombi langu kwa Rais Kikwete; kwa vile rafiki yake James Sinclair amepata nafasi ya kupitia mapendekezo ya Kamati ya Madini na kuwatangazia wadau wake angalau jambo moja lililopendekezwa, tunaomba wiki hii na sisi wananchi wenzake na raia wenzake, tuone mapendekezo hayo kwa yeye (Rais) kuruhusu yawekwe hadharani. Haiwezekani mgeni ajue kinachoendelea na sisi wengine tuendelee kusubiri.

Na hili linawahusu viongozi wengine ambao wana haraka ya kutoa habari kwa wageni lakini kwa sisi wenyewe hadi tushikane mashati. Kama ni vigumu kwenu kuwa wa wazi kwa wananchi wenzenu lakini mna haraka ya kuwaambia “kila kitu” wageni, basi, kwanini msiamue kuwapa uraia tu ili angalau tujue Watanzania wenzetu wamehabarishwa. Vinginevyo, kabla hamjawaambiwa wageni yanayohusu nyumba yetu, tuambieni kwanza wenye nyumba. Ni ushauri tu.

 

[Mfwatiliaji]

There is no way, hii issue lazima imtokee mtu puani. Inaudhi na kusikisha.
Hakuna uzalendo wowote hapo.

 

[Fidel80]

There is no way, hii issue lazima imtokee mtu puani. Inaudhi na kusikisha.
Hakuna uzalendo wowote hapo.

Huyu jamaa naye ni walewale tu hana jipya ndo maana hata mafisadi anashindwa kuwavalia njuga si anakula nao.

 

[KakindoMaster]

Huyu jamaa naye ni walewale tu hana jipya ndo maana hata mafisadi anashindwa kuwavalia njuga si anakula nao.

Ilitakiwa tuandamane kumuuliza kama amechaguliwa na barick basi aende akawe managing director hili tutafute wa kuongoza Ikulu

 

[Pundit]

Lula wa Ndali kwa mara nyingine ameonyesha umahiri katika kuandika makala iliyo on point, iliyojenga kesi kwa mifano thabiti, yenye kubeba ushawishi mkubwa na ambayo wahusika ni lazima wapate ujumbe na kujua kwamba Watanzania wamechoka kuchezewa .

Wakipata makala hii hao vigogo wahusika kuanzia rais mpaka mafisadi wake wanaojidai wawekezaji lazima watapata kazi ngumu kuijibu.

Inabidi Ikulu ipewe pressure kujibu swala hili, tuelewe Sinclair kaonaje ripoti kabla yetu.Hii kauli inayodhalilisha institutions za nchi ilitosha kumfanya "persona non grata". Tunahitaji uwekezaji, hatuhitaji parking lot pimping kama hii.

 

[Fidel80]

Ilitakiwa tuandamane kumuuliza kama amechaguliwa na barick basi aende akawe managing director hili tutafute wa kuongoza Ikulu

Yaani inauma sana.....wazungu kunyenyekewa kama ndo wazawa.Huyu Sinclair ni raia tu wa kawaida lakini inaonyesha mungwana anamnyenyekea sana.Inauma sana wana JF.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Yaani inauma sana.....wazungu kunyenyekewa kama ndo wazawa.Huyu Sinclair ni raia tu wa kawaida lakini inaonyesha mungwana anamnyenyekea sana.Inauma sana wana JF.

Sasa mkiambiwa kuwa JK ana hisa katika mojawapo ya makampuni ya Sinclair na kufanikiwa kwa Sinclair ni kufanikiwa kwa ukoo wa Kikwete si ndio kila kitu kitakuwa kinaeleweka. Hivi mnafikiri JK anamsaidia na kumpa habari kwa sababu ya urafiki tu na hana maslahi mengine?...

 

[KakindoMaster]

Asante sana Lula wa Ndali-Mwananzela

Nafikiri ujumbe wako umemfikia mkuu na pia akumbuke jinsi Slaa alivyo waambia watanzania bado hatujasahau.

Tunashukuru kwa kuanza biashara mapema na tunaomba tu baada ya miaka 5, basi watanzania watafute kiongozi mwingine. maana nina wasi wasi kama tutaendelea na hawa watu wenye urafiki mkubwa na wafanyabiashara usije ukaamuka Asubuhi ukakuta Tanzania nzima imeisha uzwa.

Tunaomba tusipate kijikampuni kingine katika Ikulu ya tanzania.

Kwa wale Rafiki zangu wa CCM Je na huyu ni wakufukuza katika chama au tufanyeje? Maana ameshika mpini.

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

This could as well be the best article of the year, at least so far. Ahsante sana bwana Lula aka...

 

[Fidel80]

Sasa mkiambiwa kuwa JK ana hisa katika mojawapo ya makampuni ya Sinclair na kufanikiwa kwa Sinclair ni kufanikiwa kwa ukoo wa Kikwete si ndio kila kitu kitakuwa kinaeleweka. Hivi mnafikiri JK anamsaidia na kumpa habari kwa sababu ya urafiki tu na hana maslahi mengine?...

Hapo mkuu hatuwezi tukabisha,moja kwa moja wana masrahi binafsi na si urafiki huu tuujuavyo.Subilini mtasikia Ridhiwani ni mkurugenzi katika moja ya makampuni ya Sinclair dalili za mvua ni mawingu.

 

[Malila]

Mnashangaa hiyo,je nani anayejenga uwanja wa ndege kule Serengeti mbugani ndani kabisa.Mnaojua data hii pia mkumbusheni muungwana kuwa na yeye sawa na aliyemtangulia.

 

[Masaki]

Mnashangaa hiyo,je nani anayejenga uwanja wa ndege kule Serengeti mbugani ndani kabisa.Mnaojua data hii pia mkumbusheni muungwana kuwa na yeye sawa na aliyemtangulia.

Kwani uwanja wa ndege ndani ya Serengeti umesha anza kujengwa?