The makinikia experience left sour taste in our mouth, however. The reasons advanced to detain the makinikia were later abandoned after the agitators were bribed. Once bribed all the arguments against exportation of makinikia were forsaken. After lining their pockets, nobody cared anymore about kiln constructions to process the metals locally. Hastily, the argument shifted to the makinikia ought to be allowed to be exported because the miners had agreements with metal processors abroad so they need to respect those arcane agreements. Nobody cared about us anymore but to please the miners. The tone abruptly changed from hostility to accommodation of foreign miners' convenience. What we came to learn is that shujaa wa Afrika used us as haggling baits to line up his bulging pockets. From defending the citizens before he was compromised to the miners have rights too. Very unpatriotic despite demanding unquestioning patriotism from all of us....
Our concern is we are not sure of the conditionalities imposed by the Chinese in Bagamoyo port redevelopment. We suspect the makinikia tactics may be at hand to force the Chinese to oil our policy makers with hefty bribes.
Unless, the Parliament has read the contract and share the niggling issues with the public any approval of Bagamoyo port redevelopment will be regarded as bribes have changed hands to forsake Tanga, Mtwara ports and tax collection...After this our bellwether will do well desisting from preaching patriotism....