New Song,My BLock remix

I have posted a new track 'My Block" remix featuring Mc Tipztar and SoulBruva [SB] of U.K on myspace, eastafricantube. com and and indiecharts.com. For my U.K funs and friends you probably have heard it already. I have another project with Tipzter ,"loving you",this track is still work in progress will be coming out soon. For my swahili speakers funs I got one hot track for you,' Utasema Nami" .This track is blazing hot, Kaeni mkao wa kula maana mla ni mla leo mla jana kala nini? hasa kwa wabongo hii track kama track zangu nyingine najua haitapigwa redioni kwa sababu mafisadi hawataki kusikia ukweli kwa hivyo tune in.it will be coming out to you soon.

One love

Mali army 'takes al-Qaeda base'

Mali's security forces have captured a suspected al-Qaeda base in the Sahara desert near the Algerian border, Malian officials say. At least 12 militants died while five soldiers were killed by land mines during the operation. Earlier this month, the al-Qaeda group is thought to have killed a UK hostage it had been holding for five months. Last week, a senior Malian intelligence officer who was investigating the group was shot dead in Timbuktu. Lt Col Lamana Ould Cheikh was believed to have been behind the recent arrest of three alleged militants. One of his colleagues reportedly said his assassination was "an act of war". Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is believed to operate in the Sahara desert between Algeria, Mali and Niger. It grew out of Algerian Islamist groups which have been battling the government for almost two decades. Mali's government believes that Algerian militant Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, listed by the UN as a known al-Qaeda member, was responsible for the death of the British hostage Edwin Dyer. Mr Dyer was kidnapped in Niger in January, but was being held in Mali. It is believed the al-Qaeda cell is still holding a Swiss national, Werner Greiner, captured alongside Mr Dyer.

Remember Soweto

Adirine began his journey at the school his mother attended that morning

Kedibone Losaba was an 11-year-old school pupil when she took part in a protest 1976 which became known as the Soweto uprising.

The students took to the streets of the township, angered by a new regulation that they be taught in Afrikaans, and she was standing just 20m away when 12-year-old Hector Pieterson was shot.

The daughter of a domestic servant, Mrs Losaba is now a successful optometrist, living in the affluent Johannesburg suburb of Waverley.

This week, on the anniversary of the uprising, she returned with her son Adirine to the scene of the shooting, to reflect on how the events of that day have transformed her life, and his.

---

On Tuesday, I took my son Adirine to relive the events I witnessed more than 30 years ago.

The reason? I went to an event at his school, where the pupils were being taught about 16 June, 1976.

My son goes to a private school. He is one of the fortunate ones.

But I was a little disturbed by what they were presenting. It was quite superficial.

It's important for our children to know what we had to go through Kedibone Losaba

I felt like jumping on the stage and correcting them.

But I could not, for I have never bothered to relate the story to my son.

So I decided to take him to relive what happened. I wanted to give my son the whole picture - what happened and why.

It's important for our children to understand the history. To realise what we took part in and the liberation we had to go through.

A stitch in time

We started at the wall of my old school, at Nka-Thuto, in Dube village.

AT THE SCENE Adirine Losaba, age nine, Soweto It was really interesting for me to know what happened. I saw where Hector Pieterson was educated - and where he got shot. The story was a lot different from the one in school. My teacher didn't really explain much of what happened. She didn't really know. My mum knew more about it and what really happened that day. She knew what started everything.

I remember that morning in 1976, I was sitting in my standard four class, wearing my green school uniform, and busy with my sewing.

Mine was a milk jug cover, in turquoise blue.

Suddenly there was this big man who told us to get up and start walking.

Confused as I was, I packed my sewing quickly and put it in my green camouflage backpack bag, and joined a huge number of older students.

We marched from Vocational and Nka-Thuto up Mncube Drive and joined other students from White City, Naledi area, down on Mahalefele Road.

With my petite body and innocence, I walked down along the pavement with the intention that when I reached Masike shops, A1 Dry cleaners, I would take a turn and go home.

For whatever reason I did not.

Instead, I proceeded with the students, who were singing their hearts out. Even though I did not know any of the songs.

As I reached Belle Primary school, just few metres away, by Uncle Tom's Hall, there were two green police vans blocking the road.

An older student was going into Belle to do what they did at Nka-Thuto.

Gun shots

Suddenly, I heard a few bangs.

I was maybe 20m-25m away when the gun shots were fired.

It was the first time for me to hear a gun shot. I was a little bit scared. I was shocked.

I was hyperventilating, but I didn't cry - I wanted to be strong for my boy Kedibone Losaba

I didn't run. I had no clue of what was happening. But I saw the action.

Then, there it was - three innocent pupils all being carried to Phomolong Clinic. I could see people carrying the students who had been killed.

When Adi and I reached that spot on Tuesday, I became very emotional.

In fact, I was overwhelmed. I was hyperventilating. But I didn't cry. I wanted to be strong, for my boy.

Adirine stands at the spot where Hector Pieterson was shot

When I stood there in 1976, I was just 11 years old. I was young and naive. I had no clue if it would end up being a riot.

Little did we realise that today, we would be looking at this day as historic.

Curiosity kept me for a while around that area, waiting to see what was next.

All hell

At around 1300, all hell broke out.

I saw a helicopter flying low. Around Phefeni station, the Coca Cola truck was already getting looted.

He produced his firearm... Big mistake Kedibone Losaba

At Vilakazi, next to Khumalo shops, a Chappies van was in flames.

Realising what was happening, I tried to find my way home. On my way, I saw a white van with green curtains on the side, driven by a white man.

As he was trying to drive through the students, he panicked and swerved his car, screeching the tires along the short street that is facing Phomolong Clinic gate.

He produced his firearm. Big mistake.

The image of Hector Pieterson became symbolic of the struggle

He was pulled out of his car and beaten with everything you could think of.

My last straw was when one student took a pike and hit him on the head and put him in the dustbin with ashes.

I could not stand this anymore. I ran home. Already, a sneezing powder that was used by the police in the helicopter was all over us.

I found my grandmother panicking at the gate with a big chain and a lock waiting for us all to come back home so that she can lock her gates that police do not have access to us.

Rewriting history

The day is important to me because that was when the youth, the students of Soweto, decided to take it upon themselves to say "No! We will not be taught in Afrikaans." Because our teachers could not speak it. So how can they educate us, in a language they do not speak? I feel strongly that we need to educate our kids, so that they are able to give their peers correct and informed knowledge about our history.

The impact on Adi was overwhelming Kedibone Losaba

Our history is written by white people and half the time it is distorted.

That's why as parents, my husband and I both take our children to Soweto, to see where we grew up, and to understand where they came from.

Because what they see now is not what the world was all about in the previous years.

The type of education these kids have is totally different from ours.

Some 500 died in three weeks of nationwide protests

When I was young there were no private schools for poor black people at that time.

And even if there were, my mother was a domestic servant. She wouldn't have been able to afford to pay for private education.

Now I live in Waverley, in Johannesburg. I'm a successful entrepreneur.

My daughter is studying to be an architect; my son doesn't even consider himself black.

You have to remind them - to bring them back.

At the end of our trip, I took Adi up to the Hector Pieterson memorial museum, in Orlando West.

The impact on Adi was overwhelming - now he's got the real picture of what was happening and he intends to sit down and write it.

We also took pictures, so he can present it to the school.

Anything is possible

Over the years my view of 1976 has changed and so have my circumstances.

But I'm not taking my success for granted because I had to work five times more to get here.

Even now we still have to fight for certain things.

But today, if you have vision and you have focus and a dream of what it is you want to become, it is possible.

All you have to do is read and study.

But had it not been for 1976, we would not be where we are today.

That was the starting point.

Noise fear for elephants

The area around Victoria Falls has a large concentration of elephants Noise pollution from helicopter flights over Victoria Falls could badly affect important elephant herds in Zimbabwe, environmentalists have warned. They say senior government ministers are backing plans for a four-fold increase in tourist flights. It is part of attempts to take advantage of an expected tourist boom when neighbouring South Africa hosts next year's football World Cup. Work has already begun on new helipads but without official permission. Zimbabwean Environment Minister Francis Nehema says no environmental impact assessment has been made - and without it the scheme cannot go ahead. "It doesn't matter who you are. We want it done. It is a prerequisite," he said. Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe says at present just five helicopters fly over the falls at any one time. That figure is set to grow to around 20, as tourists scramble to secure stunning aerial views of one of the world's most spectacular sights, he says. But environmentalists fear excessive noise pollution will have an adverse effect on the behaviour patterns of the elephants. And Deliwe Utete from non-governmental organisation Environment Africa says if the elephants flee it could have worrying repercussions for the resort's entire ecosystem, affecting thousands of wild animals and birds.

Mobiles boost Africa climate data

Gaping gaps in weather and climate data across Africa may be filled by a partnership between humanitarian groups and mobile phone companies.

The project aims to deploy 5,000 automatic weather stations across the continent mounted on phone masts.

They will gather data on aspects of weather such as rainfall and wind, and send it to national weather agencies.

Former UN chief Kofi Annan says the project could help save lives of people on "the frontlines of climate change".

"The world's poorest are also the world's most vulnerable when it comes to the impact of climate change, and the least equipped to deal with its consequences," he said.

"Today you find cell phone towers in almost every part of Africa. We have never been able to establish weather monitoring on that scale, until now."

Mr Annan now serves as president of the Global Humanitarian Forum, which is formally launching the programme, named Weather Info for All, at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction meeting in Geneva.

Global conversation

More than 70% of Africans make a living from farming, and the vast majority of the continent's agriculture is rain-fed, making it highly vulnerable to variability in weather and climate.

Yet report after report has concluded that weather data - needed to make accurate projections of climate change - is in woefully short supply.

Africa has less than 200 weather stations meeting World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards. Europe, by comparison, has several thousand.

Mr Annan now devotes a lot of time to African science and technology issues

"We see the Weather Info for All initiative as a major pan-African effort to empower our 188 (nation) members to provide enhanced weather information and services," said Michel Jarraud, WMO secretary-general.

"For food production, almost every decision is linked to weather, climate and water parameters."

The success or failure of the initiative will largely hinge on the willingness of Africa's mobile phone companies to take part, according to Carl-Henric Svanberg, president and CEO of Ericsson, who conceived the project during conversations with Mr Annan and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) chief Rajendra Pachauri.

"This initiative presents a unique opportunity to simultaneously help mitigate the impact of climate change for those most affected and to strengthen weather networks and systems across the continent," commented Mr Svanberg.

So far the project's pilot phase has seen 19 stations established around Lake Victoria in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Organisers acknowledge more funding will be needed to attain the final goal of 5,000 stations.

Fifa likely to honour late Marc-vivien Foe

Marc=Vivien Foe

Fifa may dedicate one of the Confederations Cup matches to the memory of the late Marc-Vivien Foe.

Aged just 28, Foe died shortly after collapsing during the 2003 Confederations Cup in France.

The Cameroonian midfielder died following an on-pitch cardiac arrest caused by a genetic heart defect.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter revealed the idea after being pressed on the matter at a news conference in Johannesburg.

"Now that we are back in Africa, we shall see if a memory to Foe can be staged in one of the matches," said Blatter.

Football's world governing body has already dedicated a previous Confederations Cup match to Foe, namely the 2005 semi-final, which fell two years to the day after his death.

Should a match be staged in his honour, it seems likely to be either one of next week's semi-finals, being staged on Wednesday and Thursday, or the final on Sunday 28 June.

While Fifa established a foundation to look after Foe's wife and the education of his two children, Blatter said the respected Cameroonian's tragic demise left other legacies.

"Foe's death has brought a new approach to the prevention of health, disease and cardiologic problems in football organisation," Blatter declared.

"More and more, a special cardiologic check-up has to be done before tournaments - just as Fifa has done with the eight teams at this year's U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

"Another result was that Fifa has now recommended that a defibrillating machine should be present in all stadiums where football is played."

In his curtailed career, Foe, a powerful central midfielder, won two African Cup of Nations and two French league championships, with Lens in 1998 and Lyon in 2002.

As well as playing in England's Premiership, Foe played at two World Cup finals, winning 64 caps and scoring eight goals for his nation along the way.

In his homeland, where he was given a state burial, the footballer was posthumously awarded Cameroon's Commander of the National Order of Valour.

Zimbabwe

Obama pledges aid for Zimbabwe

m (£44m) in aid for Zimbabwe.

The US president was speaking at the White House in Washington, where he met the visiting Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mr Obama said he wanted to encourage the rule of law, human rights and basic health and education in Zimbabwe.

Mr Tsvangirai - who entered a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe in February - is on an international tour to seek aid.

President Obama said he had "extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity" shown by Mr Tsvangirai, the leader of the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe.

Contrast with Mugabe

The US president said the power-sharing coalition in Zimbabwe was showing promise, following what he termed the "very dark and difficult" period the country had been through.

Correspondents say the warm welcome given to Mr Tsvangirai is in sharp contrast to the attitude towards President Mugabe, who is the subject of a travel ban and assets freeze by the United States and European Union.

Earlier, Zimbabwean Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the country's economy could grow by between 4% and 6% this year.

Tendai Biti is optimistic about the prospects for economic growth

Mr Biti said steps would be taken to restrict central bank activities such as borrowing and that Zimbabwe was coping with a lack of foreign aid.

The Zimbabwe economy has been battered by years of hyperinflation.

Mr Biti was speaking at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town.

"I think we will be able to achieve a growth rate of at least 6%, although conservatively it will be 4% in 2009," he told journalists.

Zimbabwe's economy has been shrinking for years. It contracted by 6.1% in 2007, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The power-sharing government has said the country needs about $10bn (£6bn) to stabilise its economy.

Israel sets terms for Palestinian state

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will back a Palestinian state - but only if it is completely demilitarised.

He said a Palestinian state must have no army, no control of its air space and no way of smuggling in weapons.

In a landmark speech, weeks after the US president urged him to agree a two-state plan, he said the Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state.

Palestinian leaders reacted angrily, accusing him of sabotaging peace plans.

Settlers 'not enemies'

The White House said President Barack Obama welcomed Mr Netanyahu's "endorsement" of a two-state solution as an "important step forward".

The BBC's Paul Wood says Mr Netanyahu broke ground by accepting the principle of a demilitarised Palestinian state, albeit with conditions.

Any demand to resettle refugees within Israel undermines Israel as a state for the Jewish people Benjamin Netanyahu Speech: Key excerpts

But our correspondent says the question is whether the White House regards this as sufficient to make up for the lack of movement on the issue of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Mr Obama has stressed that he wants all settlement activity to stop.

But in his speech at Bar-Ilan university Mr Netanyahu said settlers were not "enemies of peace" and did not move from his position of backing "natural growth" in existing settlements.

Thorny issues

The Israeli leader offered to talk to the Palestinians immediately and with "no preconditions".

Tim Franks, BBC News, Jerusalem Benjamin Netanyahu has shifted. He has used the word "state", when it comes to Palestinian self-rule. In another deeper sense, though, there has been no shift. Mr Netanyahu's closest aides have been saying for months that they have two over-arching pre-conditions: a public Palestinian acceptance of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, and a complete demilitarisation of any future Palestinian entity. And Mr Netanyahu tersely dismissed the US call for an end to settlement expansion: these people have to live, he said. He described them as "pioneers" and "principled". This is a speech which will shore up the prime minister's position within his right-wing coalition. It is, whatever you think of the rights and wrongs of it, a powerful forehand deep into the back court of the Americans. It will be fascinating to see when and how the Americans return the ball.

"We want to live with you in peace as good neighbours," he said.

Mr Netanyahu also said he was willing to go to Damascus, Riyadh and Beirut in pursuit of a Middle East peace deal.

He went on to tackle the major stumbling blocks in negotiations with Palestinians over the years.

Not least was the issue of Palestinian refugees who fled or were forced from their homes in what is now Israel in 1948 and 1949.

The Palestinians say they and their millions of descendants have the right to return to Israel - which would mean an end to its Jewish majority - but Israel has consistently rebuffed that demand.

Mr Netanyahu stuck to a similar line, saying: "The Palestinian refugee problem must be resolved outside the borders of the state of Israel.

"Any demand to resettle refugees within Israel undermines Israel as a state for the Jewish people."

Another key issue the two sides have failed to agree on is the status of Jerusalem.

Mr Netanyahu insisted the city must be the "united capital of Israel", although Palestinians want it divided to allow them to locate the capital of a future state there.

Agreeing the principle of a Palestinian state, he said Israel would "be prepared for a true peace agreement [and] to reach a solution of a demilitarised Palestinian state alongside the Jewish state".

But only if "we receive this guarantee for demilitarisation and the security arrangements required by Israel, and if the Palestinians recognise Israel as the nation of the Jewish people".

'Racist and extremist'

Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Israeli leader's speech "torpedoes all peace initiatives in the region".

Another Abbas aide, Yasser Abed Rabbo, told the AFP news agency that recognition of Israel's Jewish character was a demand for Palestinians "to become part of the global Zionist movement".

While the militant Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, said the speech reflected Mr Netanyahu's "racist and extremist ideology".

Confederation cup

Spain 5-0 New Zealand

By Peter Scrivener

Torres' hat-trick was the second of his career for Spain

Fernando Torres' first-half hat-trick helped Confederations Cup debutants Spain to crush New Zealand 5-0.

The Liverpool striker curled in from the edge of the box, sidefooted a second from six yards and powerfully headed a third inside 20 minutes.

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas then ended a neat passing move by turning Joan Capdevila's cross into an empty net.

David Villa tapped in a fifth after the break as Spain recorded a 33rd game without defeat and 13th successive win.

It was the first meeting between the countries at senior level, and one that the All Whites will be keen to forget.

They were given a footballing lesson in the opening 25 minutes as a full-strength Spanish side tore them apart with excellent passing and movement.

Torres was the chief beneficiary, delightfully curling in his first from 20 yards after being left unmarked. He then created his own space in the box to coolly turn in Villa's accurate centre from the left.

Moments later Torres should have completed his hat-trick, but New Zealand keeper Glen Moss held his weak header.

However, Torres was not to be denied and he outjumped a static defence to clinically nod in Capdevila's cross from 10 yards.

And on 24 minutes, Spain produced the move of the match to score their fourth.

606: DEBATE Torres is the perfect striker and if he's off his game - oh well David Villa it is Gingfranco_Zola

Villa started the move passing the ball to Torres on the right who cut inside and found Xavi.

The Barcelona midfielder in turn spread the ball to Capdevila on the left wing and he exchanged passes with Liverpool's Albert Riera before picking out Fabregas, who calmly slotted home.

After the break, Torres turned provider after skipping past two players down the left wing. His low cross should have been cleared by Andy Boyens, but he kicked fresh air instead of the ball to leave Villa with the simplest of tap-ins at the back post.

Capdevila and Villa spared New Zealand further humiliation by firing shots wide, while Fabregas blazed over from close range as Spain continued to create chances.

Simon Elliott went closest for New Zealand, but his low shot from 30 yards was comfortably saved by Iker Casillas.

---

New Zealand: Moss, Lochhead, Vicelich, Mulligan, Boyens, Elliott, Brown, Bertos, Smeltz, Killen, Brockie.
Subs: Paston, Bannatyne, Scott, Oughton, Sigmund, Barron, Christie, James, Old, Wood, Bright, Smith.

Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Albiol, Capdevila, Xavi, Fabregas, Riera, Alonso, Villa, Torres.
Subs: Reina, Diego Lopez, Pique, Marchena, Pablo, Busquets, Llorente, Guiza, Arbeloa, Santi Cazorla, Silva, Mata.

Referee: Bonaventure Codija (Benin)

South Africa 0-0 Iraq

Highlights - Wasteful SA draw with Iraq

Hosts South Africa and Iraq shared the spoils in the opening game of the Fifa Confederations Cup in Johannesburg.

The hosts missed a hatful of chances with Kagisho Dikgacoi unlucky to see a goalbound header accidently blocked on the line by team-mate Bernard Parker.

Earlier South Africa's Macbeth Sibayo saw his 20-yard shot tipped round the post by Iraqi keeper Mohammed Kassid.

Striker Parker saw two efforts saved by Kassid while Thembinkosi Fanteni headed Teko Modise's corner over the bar.

Substitute Katlego Mashego should have done better for South Africa when finding himself one-on-one with Kassid.

The world of football trusts you, and the confidence is in you. It is in Africa, it is in South Africa today Fifa president Sepp Blatter

But as was the case for much of the game the Iraq keeper proved to be unbeatable, doing well to smother the ball at the feet of Mashego.

Iraq rarely threatened South Africa who were cheered on by a partisan crowd of 48,837 at Johannesburg's Ellis Park.

The one time the hosts did beat Kassid, Parker found himself in the way of Dikgacoi's header, blocking it on the line and away to safety.

Earlier Fifa president Sepp Blatter had opened the tournament after a colourful ceremony at Ellis Park.

"Fifa is committed to Africa," said Blatter.

"The world of football trusts you, and the confidence is in you. It is in Africa, it is in South Africa today."

Tanzania troops attack policeman

Officials in Tanzania are investigating the alleged beating up of a traffic policeman by a group of eight soldiers. The soldiers were apparently angry that he had held up their convoy at a roadblock in Dar es Salaam. They attacked him with fists, boots and army belts, prompting a crowd to boo their actions, witnesses say. A BBC correspondent in the city says traffic police are not popular, as they often ask for bribes but people still felt it was wrong to beat the officer. He had to be taken to hospital. This is not the first time that Tanzania's military has clashed with the police.

Somali 'pirate' pleads not guilty

Abde Wale Abdul Kahhir Muse appeared briefly in court A Somali man arrested after a US captain was kidnapped has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges in a New York court, including piracy. Abde Wale Abdul Kadhir Muse was also charged with holding a hostage for ransom and armed hijacking. He spoke through a translator during the brief appearance. His next hearing was set for 17 September. His lawyers said they had difficulty communicating with him, and that he was "confused" about the situation. Defence lawyer Phil Weinstein also said "they are giving him medications that he doesn't understand", AFP news agency reported. It was unclear what the medication was for. 'Pirate ringleader' Mr Muse's mother has said he is only 16 years old but prosecutors argue he is over 18 and a judge last month ruled he should be tried as an adult. He is believed to be the first person to face piracy charges in the US in over a century. He faces life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors have accused Mr Muse of being the ringleader of a pirate gang which boarded a container ship, the Maersk Alabama, on 8 April and took Capt Richard Phillips hostage in a lifeboat. After a five-day stand-off, US Navy marksmen killed three of the pirates and captured Mr Muse, who had gone aboard a US warship, allegedly to demand a ransom. Mr Muse's mother has previously told the BBC's Somali service her son is completely innocent. Heavily-armed pirates operating off the coast of Somalia carry out regular attacks on shipping in recent weeks in one of the world's busiest sea lanes, despite patrols by the US and other navies. Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to the gangs.

Tanzanian to face US trial

Guantanamo inmate gets US trial

Ahmed Ghailani is considered a "high value detainee" by the CIA

An al-Qaeda suspect is to become the first inmate at the Guantanamo Bay camp to stand trial in a US civilian court.

Ahmed Ghailani will face charges in a federal court in New York over the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa, the justice department announced.

The news comes as the US Senate voted against funding President Obama's plans to close down Guantanamo Bay detention centre and transfer its 240 detainees.

But Mr Obama later insisted a secure way to close the camp would be found.

In a speech in which he criticised the camp as a "misguided experiment", he said the cases of the remaining detainees were being considered one by one.

Where feasible some would be tried in US civilian courts, he said - though he conceded there remained some who could not be prosecuted but who posed a "danger to the American people".

Apology

"By prosecuting Ahmed Ghailani in federal court, we will ensure that he finally answers for his alleged role in the bombing of our embassies in Tanzania and Kenya," Attorney General Eric Holder said.

The American people don't want these men walking the streets of America's neighbourhoods John Thune Republican senator Detainee move blocked What next for inmates? Profile: Ahmed Ghailani Send us your views

Ghailani, a Tanzanian, was seized in Pakistan in 2004 and was one of 14 so-called "high-value detainees" transferred from secret CIA prisons abroad to Guantanamo in September 2006.

He was indicted in New York on charges related to the August 1998 bombing of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya that killed more than 200 people.

According to the transcript of a closed-door hearing in March 2007, Mr Ghailani admitted delivering explosives used to blow up the US embassy in Dar Es Salaam.

However, he told the hearing he did not know about the attack beforehand and apologised to the US government and the victims' families.

The expected announcement comes as Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete is to hold talks with President Obama - the first African head of state to meet the new US leader in Washington.

Mother's joy

Mr Ghailani's mother, Bi-mkubwa Said, expressed joy at the news.

"To receive the news that my son will be transferred from Guantanamo to go to New York - I am thankful and so happy.

"Maybe I will have an opportunity to see him, to even talk to him over the phone, and also when I will see him on his trial, see him with my own eyes, my heart will be relieved and have hope."

She urged President Kikwete to ask President Obama to allow Mr Ghailani to stand trial at home.

"I know my son has nothing to do with the attacks. And I have huge hope that my government will defend this citizen so that he can be returned home," she said.

Congress ruling

The issue of transferring Guantanamo Bay inmates to the US has caused alarm among many members in Congress.

FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme

"The American people don't want these men walking the streets of America's neighbourhoods," Republican Senator John Thune said on Wednesday.

"The American people don't want these detainees held at a military base or federal prison in their backyard, either."

President Obama's request for $80m (£51m) to close the camp was overwhelmingly rejected by senators by 90-6 votes.

The House of Representatives made a similar decision.

Both Democrats and Republicans argue that there needs to be a better plan for closing Guantanamo.

The Republicans want to see the camp remain open, while the Democrats are asking the president for a plan of the closure process before agreeing to fund it.

Concerns will not be eased by a New York Times report on Thursday, which quoted an unreleased Pentagon report as saying that one in seven of the 534 prisoners already transferred abroad from Guantanamo Bay have returned to terrorism or militant activity.

The detention centre, on US territory in Cuba, was established after the 9/11 attacks by the then President, George W Bush.

In one of his first acts on taking office, President Obama pledged to close the camp by January 2010.

He also halted the Bush-era military commissions, saying the US was entering a new era of respecting human rights.

Last week, he announced he would revive the military tribunal system for some Guantanamo detainees but with greater legal rights for defendants.

Here is the test of what's coming from Aleyfex.

PS:It's nice to make my own music from ground Zero

Maximo Kuwatema Wazee

2009-04-24 14:02:56 By Jimmy Charles
Kocha Mkuu wa timu ya taifa, Taifa Stars, Marcio Maximo, amesema atawaacha wachezaji wakongwe kwenye kikosi chake atakachokitangaza leo. Kikosi cha Stars kinatarajia kutangazwa leo tayari kwa ajili ya maandalizi ya mchezo wa kirafiki wa kimataifa dhidi ya Mabingwa wa Afrika kwa wachezaji wanaocheza ligi za nyumbani (CHAN), timu ya taifa ya Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasi ya Kongo. Stars, inatarajia kujipima ubavu na Kongo, Mei 9 kama maandalizi ya kujiandaa na mchezo mwingine wa kirafiki wa kimataifa dhidi ya timu ya taifa ya New Zealand utakaochezwa Juni 3, kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa, jijini, Dar es Salaam. Akizungunmza na Nipashe jana, Maximo alisema kuwa katika kuhakikisha anawaachia watanzania wachezaji watakaolitumikia taifa lao kwa muda mrefu, amedhamiria kuachana na wachezaji wenye umri mkubwa pamoja na wale wasiokuwa na nidhamu kuanzia kwenye klabu zao hadi kwenye timu ya taifa. Maximo, alisema kuwa kikosi chake kitakuwa na wachezaji wengi wenye umri mdogo, ambao atawachanganya na baadhi ya wachezaji wenye uzoefu lakini hawana umri mkubwa. Alisema kuwa kikosi chake kitawashtua watu lakini hilo halitampa tabu kwani malengo yake ni kutekeleza kile alichopanga kuifanyia Tanzania kabla ya kuachana nayo mwakani. ``Najua nitawashtua watu kwenye kikosi changu nitakachokitangaza Ijumaa, lakini sitajali, lengo langu ni kuhakikisha nawaachia watanzania hazina ya wachezaji,``alisema Maximo. Alisema vijana atakaowajumuisha kwenye kikosi chake watakuwa na kati ya umri wa miaka 18, 19, 20 hadi 28, ambapo kama mchezaji atakuwa amevuka kwenye umri huo atakuwa amepoteza sifa ya kuitwa kwenye kikosi chake. Baadhi ya wachezaji waliokuwa kwenye kikosi cha Maximo kilichokwenda Ivory Coast kwenye michuano ya CHAN ni Shaban Dihile, Deo Mushi, Shadreck Nsajigwa, Salum Swed, Amir Maftah, Juma Jabu, Godfrey Bony,Kigi Makassy,Athumani Idd, Henry Joseph, Mrisho Ngasa, Musa Mgosi,Mwinyi Kazimoto,Haruna Moshi na Jerry Tegete.
SOURCE: Nipashe

Mengi na Mafisadi

Mengi ataja mafisadi papa 2009-04-24 14:38:18 Na Muhibu Said
Mwenyekiti Mtendaji wa Makampuni ya IPP, Reginald Mengi, amewataja watu watano wanaotuhumiwa kuhusika na ufisadi mkubwa nchini na kuitaka serikali iwashughulikie haraka iwezekanavyo ili kuinusuru nchi kuyumbishwa nao. Watu hao, ambao Mengi alisema kwamba wanatuhumiwa kuwa ni `mafisadi papa`, ni pamoja na Mbunge wa Igunga na Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CC-CCM) na Halmashauri Kuu ya Chama hicho (NEC-CCM) Taifa, Rostam Aziz. Aliwataja wengine, kuwa ni wafanyabiashara, Tanil Somaiya, Yusuf Manji, Jeetu Patel na Subash Patel, ambao alisema wanatuhumiwa kuiba mabilioni ya wananchi na kuzihamishia nje ya nchi. ``Hawa wanatuhumiwa kuiba mabilioni ya fedha za wananchi, na baya zaidi fedha hizo zimehamishiwa nje ya nchi,`` alisema Mengi alipozungumza na waandishi wa habari katika Ofisi za IPP Limited, jijini Dar es Salaam jana na kuongeza: ``…mafisadi wote na hasa wale wanaotuhumiwa kuwa mafisadi papa ni lazima washughulikiwe, la sivyo wataiyumbisha na kuitingisha nchi yetu. Ni lazima Watanzania tuone kwamba sasa tumefika mahali pa kusema imetosha.`` Alisema watu hao ni kati ya watuhumiwa wasiozidi kumi wanaotuhumiwa kwa ufisadi mkubwa nchini na kuongeza kuwa wanahusishwa na karibu kila kashfa kubwa nchini, ikiwamo inayohusu kampuni hewa ya Richmond, ambayo ilitiliana saini na Shirika la Umeme nchini (Tanesco) mkataba tata wa kufua umeme wa dharura. Kashfa nyingine, ambayo watu hao wanahusishwa nayo, alisema inahusu Akaunti ya Malipo ya Madeni ya Nje (EPA) kwenye Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT), ambamo imethibitika kuchotwa Sh. bilioni 133 kwa njia za kifisadi na ile inayohusu kampuni ya Dowans Tanzania Limited, iliyorithi mkataba tata wa Richmond. Nyingine, inahusu ununuzi wa helikopta na magari ya jeshi, ndege ya Rais, rada, Shirika la Taifa la Hifadhi ya Jamii (NSSF), Mfuko wa Pensheni ya Watumishi wa Umma (PSPF), Bahati Nasibu ya Taifa na Mradi wa Makaa ya Mawe wa Mchuchuma. Alisema jitihada kubwa za Rais Jakaya Kikwete za kuleta maendeleo na maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania, zimekuwa zikidhoofishwa na wizi mkubwa wa rasilimali za taifa, huku Watanzania wengi wakiandamwa na umaskini mkubwa, ikiwamo kutojua hata mlo mmoja kwa siku utatoka wapi. ``Chakusikitisha ni kwamba, pale Mtanzania mwema mwenye uwezo anaposaidia jamii kuondokana na umaskini, mafisadi wanapiga kelele kuwa misaada ya aina hiyo ina agenda. Wanapinga, wanataka Watanzania wafe kwa njaa na matatizo mengine,`` alisema Mengi. Alisema inavyoonekana, nia ya watu hao ni kutaka kuvuruga nchi na kwamba, si ajabu wakaunga mkono matatizo yanayotokana na kampuni ya Development Enterpreneurship Community (Deci) iliyokuwa ikichezesha mchezo wa upatu na Watanzania wakabaki wakifukuzana na wachungaji bila kujiuliza ni kina nani hasa wanachochea vurugu hizo. Mengi alisema ‘mafisadi papa, hawawaibii tu Watanzania rasilimali, bali wanawaibia pia muda. ``Badala ya kutumia muda katika shughuli za maendeleo tunajikuta tukitumia muda mwingi kupambana nao, na hawatingishiki. Badala yake wanatumia fedha walizotuibia kuanzisha magazeti ya kujenga kiburi cha kutudharau, kututukana na kutunyanyasa. Inakuwa kesi ya mwizi kumkimbiza na kumpiga aliyeibiwa,`` alisema Mengi. Alisema hata hivi sasa, `mafisadi papa` wanaendelea kutumia uwezo wao wa kiuchumi uliotokana na wizi wa rasilimali za nchi kushawishi na kupata miradi mikubwa mikubwa kwa kutumia majina tofauti tofauti, huku wakipuuza kabisa kelele za wananchi kuhusu ufisadi huo. Mengi alisema Watanzania wanaolia na ufisadi, ni mamilioni wakiongozwa na Rais Kikwete, lakini wapo wachache waliojitokeza na wanajulikana kwa majina. Alisema zipo habari kwamba, wanaotuhumiwa kuwa `mafisadi papa`, wamedhamiria kuwatokomeza kabisa wanaopiga vita ufisadi wanaojulikana kwa majina. Kutokana na habari hizo, alisema: ``Mafisadi papa ni lazima wajue kwamba iwapo wapambanaji hao wa ufisadi watadhuriwa kwa njia yoyote hapa nchini au nje ya nchi, watawajibishwa na wananchi wa Tanzania.`` Aliongeza: ``Ni lazima Watanzania sasa tujiulize, hivi hawa mafisadi wanapata wapi ujasiri wa majigambo, dharau na nguvu za kututukana na kutunyanyasa?`` Awali, Mengi alisema nia njema ya Rais Kikwete ya kupambana na mafisadi na aina zote za uovu zimewashtua mafisadi na sasa wamecharuka na wanapambana na watu wote wanaomsaidia kupambana nao kuwazuia wasiendelee kuitafuna nchi. Rostam amekuwa akituhumiwa kuwa mmoja wa wamiliki wa kampuni ya Kagoda Agriculture Limited, inayodaiwa kuchota Sh. bilioni 40 kwenye EPA, tuhuma ambazo amekuwa akizikanusha. Shubash Patel anakabiliwa na sakata la kuchukua ardhi ya wanakijiji kwa njia za hila eneo ambalo kuna madini ya chuma, katika eneo la Mchuchuma, Iringa. Tanil Somaiya anatajwa kuwa ni mshirika kwa mtuhumiwa wa ununuzi wa rada, Shailesh Prapji Vithlani ambaye tayari ana kesi katika mahakama ya Kisutu alikoshitakiwa bila kuwepo nchini. Katika sakata la rada, serikali ililizwa kiasi kikubwa cha fedha huku zaidi ya Dola milioni 12 zikiingia katika mifuko ya waliofanikisha ununuzi huo. Somaiya na Vithlani walikuwa wanamiliki kampuni nchini iliyohusika na kashfa hiyo. Jeetu Patel kwa sasa ana kesi za EPA katika mahakama ya Kisutu zikihusu kampuni zake tano tofauti ambazo zilihusika kuchota mabilioni ya fedha kati ya Sh bilioni 133 zilizochotwa kifisadi.
SOURCE: Nipashe
Tuma Maoni Yako

Mengi on Corruption

Five grand corruption `sharks` named 2009-04-24 12:52:23 By Patrick Kisembo
IPP Limited Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi yesterday named five people he described as ``notoriously corrupt sharks``. He also called on the public to be more courageous in stamping out corruption, a monster he said has been eating up Tanzania’s resources and stealing people`s precious time. Addressing a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Mengi said the country was facing serious problems due to grand corruption and was ``troubled by the fact that the people involved in acts of corruption do not want to be touched``. He explained that the “notoriously corrupt people” were involved in almost all scandals the country has been witnessing. These include those revolving around the Richmond and Dowans emergency power generation contracts, the Bank of Tanzania`s external payment arrears account (EPA), purchases of military helicopters and vehicles, the presidential jet, Radar, National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) and National Lottery. Here is the full text of the statement the IPP Executive Chairman issued at yesterday`s news conference: ``Our country is currently facing a huge problem of corruption and is troubled by the fact that the people involved in acts of corruption do not what to be touched. The resolve by our President, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, to fight corruption and all other evils has shaken these people and they are now determined more than ever to combat all the people who are supporting the President in stopping further plunder of our country`s resources. ``Tanzanians should know that people who are being accused of being corrupt in our country do not exceed ten, and out of the ten, five are being accused of being notoriously corrupt - ``corrupt sharks``. ``These are: Rostam Aziz, Tanil Somaiya, Yusuf Manji, Jeethu Patel and Subash Patel. These people are being accused of stealing billions of public money, and to make this worse, the billions have been transferred out of the country. ``These notoriously corrupt people are involved in almost all scandals that have happened in our country, including those concerning Richmond, EPA, Dowans, Army helicopters and vehicles, the Presidential Jet, Radar, NSSF, PSPF, National Lottery etc, etc. ``The great efforts of His Excellency the President to hasten economic development and better living for every Tanzanian are weakened by the horrendous theft of national resources. A great majority of Tanzanians still face extreme poverty; they are unable to determine where the one meal a day is going to come from. To make things worse, where a Tanzanian with better means provides assistance to lessen hardship within the society and to eradicate poverty, these people involved in corruption allege that such assistance has political agenda. They want Tanzanians to starve or die as a result of other problems. ``It seems that their aim now is to cause national havoc; it will not be surprising to learn that these people support what is behind DECI while Tanzanians remain chasing Pastors instead of asking themselves the real source of the havoc. ``These notoriously corrupt people are not only stealing our national resources; they are also stealing our precious time. Instead of using our time for economic development we are using most of it to combat corruption. ``Our efforts have failed to even cause a dent; instead these corrupt people have been hardened in their determination. They have established newspapers that are abusive and treat Tanzanians with contempt. ``They have created a scenario where the thief chases and attacks the person from whom he has stolen. Even as Tanzanians continue to cry foul, the notoriously corrupt people continue to use their ill-obtained wealth to influence the granting of big contracts to them often in different names. ``Millions of Tanzanians are combating corruption, but there are a few who have come forward vehemently and are known by their names. The notoriously corrupt people have been heard to say that they will annihilate these vehement combatants. ``The notoriously corrupt people should know that if the combatants are harmed in any way in this country or any other country, they will be answerable to the people of Tanzania. ``We Tanzanians must now ask ourselves - what gives these notoriously corrupt people the audacity to treat Tanzanians with contempt? ``I would like to conclude by saying that all corrupt people and especially those who are being accused of notorious corruption must be dealt with conclusively, otherwise they will rock the stability of our nation. We must realise that we have now reached the stage when we must say enough is enough.``
SOURCE: Guardian
Comment on this article

Ngasa

Kwa muda mrefu nimekuwa nikiota kuona mchezaji wa tanzania akicheza ulaya.Kwa sisi tuishio nje ya Tanzania tunatamani kusema mchezaji huyu ni wa Tanzania lakini bado haijawahi kutokea tunabaki kusema huyu ni Mwafrika mwenzetu.Kama Mrisho Ngasa atafanikiwa katika majaribio yake ya West Ham basi atakuwa ni mchezaji wa kwanza wa kitanzania kwenye ligi kubwa ya ulaya.

Nakutakia mafanikio mema kwenye majaribio yako,na hata kama yasipoenda sawa sio mwisho wa njia.Itakuwa furaha next time nacheza gemu kwenye PS3 au Xbox na kuona jina la Mtanzania ndani.

Kila la Kheri.

Taifa Stars 2

Niliangalia dakika za mwisho za mpira kombe la CHAN kati ya Stars na Zambia kwa masikitiko makubwa.Ushindi ulikuwa karibu kiasi cha kuweza kuulamba na kusikia utamu wake lakini bahati haikuwa yetu.Sio siri mpira wa Tanzania umepanda kiwango sina wa kumlaumu kwa kushindwa kupata ushindi maana asiyekubali kushindwa sio mshindani.Hongera sana timu ya Taifa tukiongeza bidii labda na sisi siku moja tutawatetemesha wengi kwenye ulimwengu wa soka.

New Songs

I added a couple new songs on my myspace page.As always all my songs are my favourite but this time I have added two special songs."Stay with me" which wrote to my wife and "this is our day"which I wrote special for my wedding.These two songs are so special to me since I didn't have to use too much imagination to write them,lyrics and melody came from my heart.Stop by my myspace page and listen to them and if you like them I will be more than happy to give you a copy for free.

Gaza

My close friend Ashraf and I have worked, eaten, discussed... even disagreed, through so many broadcasting assignments - some under intense pressure as Palestinian gunmen in Gaza fight Israel, or each other.

The Israeli attack on Gaza began on 27 December 2008

On the sixth day of this current war I could not get hold of Ashraf on the mobile phone.

Later, in tears, he told me why. His youngest brother Mahmoud, aged 12, and his 14-year-old cousin, were told it was too dangerous outside Ashraf's family home in the deserted side streets. So the children played innocently on the family home's flat roof.

Then an unmanned Israeli aircraft fired two small rockets.

Ashraf rushed upstairs and took the boys to hospital, but it was hopeless. They were buried the same day.

I have also met killers - people who have destroyed innocents like Israeli Ella or Palestinian Mahmoud

Just the latest in a series of disasters for Mahmoud and Ashraf's very dignified father, a medical doctor. He had been turned into a refugee by the 1948 war.

A year ago he lost one son, my marvellous and irrepressible cameraman Ahmed, in a car crash. And now his youngest boy, Mahmoud.

Macabre scene

Was there any reason for the rocket strike?

Possibly. The Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle may have relayed back live pictures not showing children but just some fuzzy figures moving on a rooftop. How clear the aircraft's picture of Ashraf's rooftop was, is going to be the subject of an inquiry, the Israelis have promised.

Also, Ashraf's home was close to one of the city's security headquarters.

In June 2007 I had watched - sheltering under large slabs of meat dangling in a butcher's shop - as the building was seized by Hamas forces.

I have seen civilians on the Israeli side die too, blown to bits in suicide bombings. Eleven dead - including a whole family of six in a Jerusalem side street - bits of body splattered on the walls.

There was a macabre scene in 2001 at a beachside hotel in Netanya. Knives and forks hanging embedded in the high ceiling of a dining room, where 30 elderly men and women had gathered for a festival meal, all now dead.

I sometimes lie awake and wonder, when I saw our target was close to civilians, whether I was right not to fire. Maybe I let him live and tomorrow he will kill more of our civilians Uri, Israeli pilot

And in the Israeli town of Sderot over two years ago, I met an ambulance driver who had raced to the scene of a rocket attack that flattened a house near the Gaza border.

He found his own grandson, one-year-old Osher, lying with his left eye dangling out and his head split open. Doctors saved his life.

Then in a side street in Sderot there is a small bench, painted with red and blue flowers at the spot where 17-year-old Ella, a talented musician, was walking when a rocket hit and killed her.

Compulsion to kill

I have also met killers - people who have destroyed innocents like Israeli Ella or Palestinian Mahmoud. They have their explanations. Some months ago, I went with a Palestinian rocket-firing brigade keen to dispatch their weaponry into the heart of an Israeli town (Sderot itself actually).

Twenty-four-year-old Mohammed (on his first rocket-firing mission) said Israeli men, women and children would one day end up fighters. "So let's kill them first," he said.

Missiles have exploded near the homes of 90% of Sderot's residents

Months later I met him in a Gaza street. He had decided to retire from rocket-firing and return to computer programming.

Hamas's prime minister has an American-educated adviser, who once told me on camera: "Our rockets are not lethal enough yet but one day, God willing, they will be."

I also met two Israeli pilots from the Cobra brigade, their twisted snakes emblazoned on the sides of their one-man helicopters, each bristling with rocket launchers and a machine gun.

One pilot, Uri, pulled down his dark-glasses visor, then whipped out a Hebrew newspaper clipping with photos of a boy and his grandfather.

They died, he said, when this man was picking up this kid from the nursery school. Uri was taking off, aiming to kill what he defined as terrorists. "I always carry these photos with me on a mission," he explained, "to remind me that when I hunt down a terrorist I am protecting people like these."

Did he sleep easy at night? I asked him.

There was a long pause. "No," he said, "I sometimes lie awake and wonder, when I saw our target was close to civilians, whether I was right not to fire. Maybe I let him live and tomorrow he will kill more of our civilians."

From neither the Israeli nor the Palestinian fighting men could I detect much empathy for the innocent.