Edward Lowassa bado angali vinywani mwa wabunge japokuwa hayupo tena Bungeni .Jina lake jana limeibua mjadala bungeni wakati wabunge walipotoleana maneno makali kuhusu waziri huyo mkuu wa zamani.
Sakata hilo limetokea wakati Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano lilipokuwa likijadili Muswada wa Huduma ya Habari ambao ulipitishwa jana licha ya kupingwa vikali na kambi ya upinzani na wadau wa habari.
Lowassa amelizua tafrani bungeni baada ya wabunge wawili kurushiana maneno kuhusu taarifa zake tofauti zilizokuwa zikiandikwa na vyombo vya habari kiasi cha kusababisha mwenyekiti wa Bunge aingilie kati.
Akichangia muswada huo, mbunge wa viti maalumu (CCM), Amina Mollel amerejea sakata la zabuni ya kuzalisha umeme wa dharura iliyopewa kampuni ya Richmond Development ya Marekani ambayo ilibainika baadaye kuwa haikuwa na uwezo. Sakata hilo lilitokea wakati Lowassa akiwa Waziri Mkuu.
“Mimi naomba ninukuu baadhi ya vichwa vya habari ambavyo vilitumiwa katika magazeti,” amesema Mollel, ambaye kitaaluma ni mwandishi wa habari.
Mollel ametaja mfano wa gazeti lililoandika “Lowassa anajua uzalendo au ni machozi ya mamba” na kichwa kingine cha habari cha gazeti hilo kilichosema “Lowassa Hasafishiki” na kingine kilichosema “Lowassa karibu Chadema”.
“Kuna haja ya kuwa na waandishi ambao leo hii wanaandika habari kwamba mtu huyo ni mbaya lakini kesho hiyo hiyo uongo huo unabadilika na kuwa ukweli?”amehoji Mollel.
Amesema Taifa linahitaji kuwa na sheria kama hiyo ambayo inaweza kulinda taaluma ya waandishi wa habari, hivyo kupitishwa muswada huo ni kwa manufaa ya wanahabari.
Maneno hayo kuhusu Lowassa yakamfanya mbunge wa Konde (CUF), Khatib Said Haji kusimama na kutumia methali inayosema “ukienda kwa wenye chongo, ufumbe macho ili ufanane nao japokuwa unaona”.
“Leo kituko cha karne hii ni pale anaponyanyuka mbunge wa CCM ndani ya Bunge akatulaumu eti sisi (wabunge wa kambi ya upinzani) kwa sababu tunampenda Lowassa. Hiki ni kituko cha karne,” amesema.
“Rudini kwenye kumbukumbu ya Mkutano Mkuu wa CCM kuhusu kale kawimbo katamu. Kweli?” amesema na kufanya wabunge wengine wa upinzani kuanza na kuimba “tuna imani na Lowassa”.
Jina la Lowassa limekuwa likiibuka kwenye vikao mbalimbali na katikati ya mwaka lilikuwa gumzo kwenye Mkutano Mkuu Maalumu wa CCM ulioitishwa kwa ajili ya uchaguzi wa mwenyekiti mpya wa chama hicho,
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UN has let Kenya down on South Sudan
The decision by Kenya to
withdraw its troops and disengage fully from the South Sudan peace
process is unfortunate. The UN, on its part, while appreciating Kenya’s
long-standing relationship with UN peacekeeping and to UNMISS, has
accepted the decision to withdraw.
This is a very unfortunate situation that should not have come to this.
The genesis is the decision of the UN Secretary General to sack the Kenyan commander of the peace-keeping force in South Sudan. Ban Ki-moon dismissed Lt Gen Johnson Ondieki after a report said it had failed to protect civilians in July.
Kenya immediately rejected the sacking, terming it ‘disrespectful’. And Kenya is right on this front. In a strong-worded language, President Uhuru Kenyatta said regional peace should not come at the expense of the country’s dignity, honour and pride.
The country has in the past played a key role in efforts to stabilise South Sudan. Right from the period under Former President Daniel Moi, Kenya has been a key player in peace negotiations in South Sudan. She has played host to thousands of South Sudan refugees and continues to do so.
Hence the feeling that the decision by the UN demonstrates complete disregard for Kenya’s key role.
The UN should have handled the situation better, and in consultation with Kenya. Kenya has often complained of being taken for granted by UN and Western countries on issues affecting the region. This was the case with Somalia and it is the case now in South Sudan.
But on the South Sudan front, Kenya should not throw out all her efforts over the years over this incidence.
The latest action threatens to undo the work and investment Kenya has made towards peace in South Sudan over the years. She should continue to have the long-term goal for South Sudan and the region at heart.
This is a very unfortunate situation that should not have come to this.
The genesis is the decision of the UN Secretary General to sack the Kenyan commander of the peace-keeping force in South Sudan. Ban Ki-moon dismissed Lt Gen Johnson Ondieki after a report said it had failed to protect civilians in July.
Kenya immediately rejected the sacking, terming it ‘disrespectful’. And Kenya is right on this front. In a strong-worded language, President Uhuru Kenyatta said regional peace should not come at the expense of the country’s dignity, honour and pride.
The country has in the past played a key role in efforts to stabilise South Sudan. Right from the period under Former President Daniel Moi, Kenya has been a key player in peace negotiations in South Sudan. She has played host to thousands of South Sudan refugees and continues to do so.
Hence the feeling that the decision by the UN demonstrates complete disregard for Kenya’s key role.
The UN should have handled the situation better, and in consultation with Kenya. Kenya has often complained of being taken for granted by UN and Western countries on issues affecting the region. This was the case with Somalia and it is the case now in South Sudan.
But on the South Sudan front, Kenya should not throw out all her efforts over the years over this incidence.
The latest action threatens to undo the work and investment Kenya has made towards peace in South Sudan over the years. She should continue to have the long-term goal for South Sudan and the region at heart.
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