FROM ME TO YOU, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Burundian humanitarian honored for her work healing broken Hutu and Tutsi families.

 

 Special to The Herald-Sun | Christina Holder Maggy Barankitse, a Burundian humanitarian, visited Duke University last week to receive an honorary doctor of humane letters at the university’s May 12 commencement and to share her story of raising a new generation of Burundians in her country.

 

 

DURHAM —Marguerite Barankitse will tell you that she is an ordinary woman.

She goes by an informal “Maggy.” She relies on her Catholic faith, drawing inspiration from another woman, the Virgin Mary, whom she says was merely obedient to God. And when asked to reflect on her accomplishments, she says in French, “Je m'émerveille,” or “I marvel.”
And yet, it does not take one long to see that this humble Maggy Barankitse is far beyond so simple a word as “ordinary.”

Barankitse, a Burundian humanitarian, visited Duke University last week to receive an honorary doctor of humane letters at the university’s May 12 commencement and to share her story of raising a new generation of Burundians in her country. Burundi endured genocide in 1972 and a 12-year civil war from 1993 to 2005. Both were fueled by ethnic tensions.
But rather than remaining divided along the ethnic lines of the East African region’s Hutu and Tutsi people groups, Burundians under Maggy’s care are learning to live as one family.
“When I saw my brothers and sisters killing each other, my dream was how I can improve, how I can create a new generation who will break this cycle of violence,” Barankitse said in a recent interview. “We are one human family.”

Following a brutal episode of violence in 1993, in which she witnessed the murders of more than 70 people, Barankitse, a Tutsi, founded Maison Shalom in the eastern Burundi city of Ruyigi. Barankitse envisioned the home, which means House of Peace, as a place where both Hutu and Tutsi children who lost their parents during the country’s civil war could grow up learning to love one another.
The idea for Maison Shalom emerged from searching for a way forward in the midst of unspeakable pain and violence. Several people who took part in the mass murder that Barankitse witnessed were part of her extended family.
“I was thinking, How can I belong to this family? I am a Christian,” she said, “and I know that our vocation — human vocation — is to love. Why did my cousins become killers?”
Those difficult questions urged Barankitse to think about how she could create a new family — whose members did not abandon those who had committed crimes but instead brought together perpetrators, victims and their families in order to dismantle hatred and to build love.
“At Maison Shalom, we have created a new ethnic group,” Barankitse said.
Today Maison Shalom has expanded from a single home to more than 3,000 individual homes, a vocational training facility, farms, schools, a hospital, and micro-finance businesses throughout the country that, in total, have brought more than 30,000 Burundians into new family systems that are working through histories of hatred.
Chris Rice, the director of The Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School, which works to form and to connect leaders for reconciliation throughout the world, met Barankitse in Burundi in 2009 at a gathering of East African reconciliation leaders sponsored by the center. Barankitse shared her story, and then Rice and several other center staff visited Maison Shalom.
For Barankitse to visit Duke to share her story and to receive an honorary doctorate for her peace work is the culmination of years of anticipation and hope for a wider audience for Barankitse’s witness, Rice said.
Barankitse’s story reveals the “power of seeing what reconciliation looks like,” he said.
In addition to her honor from Duke, Barankitse also received an honorary doctor of humane letters from Emory University in Atlanta. She is the past recipient of nearly 10 awards for her humanitarian work, including the French government’s Award of Human Rights and the Opus Prize, an award for faith-based, humanitarian work.

At a public lecture on May 10, Barankitse shared her words of hope for living through and beyond conflict — lamenting, like a prophet from the Hebrew Scriptures, the past violence of her native Burundi and calling her listeners to a life of radical reconciliation.
Duke Divinity School Dean Richard Hays commended Barankitse for her example as an ambassador of reconciliation and quoted Romans 8:38-39: “ ‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’,” he said. “Your work at Maison Shalom is testimony to that truth — that nothing can separate us from the love of God.”
Innocent Ndagijimana Justice, a Rwandan who fled his country’s 1994 genocide and who recently received his Master of Divinity from Duke, said that Barankitse’s testimony inspired him as he prepares to take the next step in his calling as a minister.

Barankitse’s message speaks not just to East Africans who have witnessed ethnic conflict but to Americans who are facing racial, ethnic and social divisions. Barankitse’s message can help American audiences in “confronting injustice, in whatever form it presents itself,” Ndagijimana Justice said.
When people ask Barankitse what Maison Shalom is, she replies as one would expect her to — without pomp and pretense, with the minimal words that lead only to marveling.
“I say, ‘Maison Shalom is a message,’ ” she said. “It is a message: We can live together.”
 

EKN SNV Sustainable Water Supply Services High Level Event Press Releases

Dear,

On May 14, a High Level Learning Event took place in Dar es Salaam on sustainability of rural water supply services, organized by SNV/Netherlands Development Organisation and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The meeting was called to discuss the importance and dynamics of sustainability of rural water supply services. It also provided the opportunity to share experiences on how attention for local accountability relationships can contribute to improved sustainability. 

The Event was officiated by the Minister of Water, Hon. Professor Maghembe and Closed by Hon. Aggrey Mwanry, Deputy Minister PMO-LARG.

Attached, please find an English and Swahili press release on the event, for your information and further sharing. In case of any questions or more information needed, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Asante sana.


Regards,

Agnes Hanti
Policy Officer Public Administration and Governance,
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
P.O. Box 9534,
Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania.
Tel.   +255 22 2110000
Fax    +255 22 2110044
Mobile +255 778 444455

MKURUGENZI WA FES NCHINI AIPONGEZA CCM KWA KUJENGA DEMOKRASIA NCHINI

SHIRIKA la Kijerumani la Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), limekipongeza na kukisifu Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), kwa kuendelea kujenga utawala bora na kujenga amani ya nchi.

Akizungumza na Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCM, Bara, Philip Mangula, 

Mkurugenzi Mkazi wa FES nchini, Rolf Paasch, alisema shirika lake linatambua juhudi na kazi inayofanywa na CCM katika ujenzi wa demokrasia na amni ya Tanzania.

Paasch alisema Tanzania ni nchi muhimu katika historia ya bara la Afrika hususan mchango wake katika ukombozi wa nchi zilizo kusini mwa Afrika, hivyo inapaswa kuwa mfano na kuhifadhi kumbukumbu muhimu za kihistoria kuhusu ukombozi.

"Ni mara yangu ya kwanza kuja Tanzania na nafurahi leo kukutana nawe kiongozi wa juu wa CCM, kwa niaba ya FES naahidi kuimarisha na kuedndeleza ushirikiano uliopo baina yetu na CCM na Tanzania kwa jumla," alisema.

 

Kwa Upande wake Mangula, alisema katika kuhakikisha Tanzania inatunza kumbukumbu muhimu za kihistoria za bara la Afrika, kwa makubaliano na nchi zingine za bara hilo zimeamua kutenga eneo maalumu wilayani Bagamoyo kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa kijiji cha kumbukumbu hiyo.

Mangula alimwambia mkurungenzi mkazi huyo kuwa tayari eneo hilo limeshapatikana na kwamba mchakato wa hatua zaidi katika kuelekea ujenzi wake kwa kushirikiana na nchi nyingine, unaendelea

 

 HABARI NA PICHA NIMEUMIWA NA ADAM MZEE.

THE BEST WAKULIMA EVER

 Msimu wa kuandaa bustan ndiyo huo umewadia,hahaaaa kama tuko Iringa vile... I LOOOVE IT.

 Thanks wifi for giving us a hand,you are the best.

 Its fun coz huyu (wifi) mdada kasafiri kutoka Ujerumani ili tu atusaidie kuuandaa hii bustani,bora sasa ingekuwa kubwa mweeeh.Ila tunamshukuru sana maana kila siku tulikuwa tunasema tutaanza kesho na hiyo kesho haifiki,alipofika tu akasema haya twendeni tukaanze kazi.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND

LADY IN RED

NASUBIRI AGEUKE

BONGO DAR ES SALAAM ISIYOISHIWA NA VITUKO,TUMEZOEA KUSIKIA NA KUONA MUME/MKE KUFUMANIANA LAKINI HII YA SASA BALAA.

Aibu hiyo ya mwaka ambayo ilionekana pia kama kituko ilijiri Mei 3, 
mwaka huu ndani ya gesti moja maarufu iliyopo 
Devi’s Corner –Tandika, jijini Dar es Salaam.

Mama Salome akimpa kisago mumewe baada yakumfumania 
akiwa na 
 Mwita (kushoto) anayedaiwa kuwa shoga

...Watuhumiwa wakipelekwa kituo cha polisi.

Baba Salome (kulia) na Julius Mwita baada ya kufumaniwa wakiwa
 katika hatua za mwisho za kuingiliana kimwili.

Aibu hiyo ya mwaka ambayo ilionekana pia kama kituko ilijiri Mei 3, mwaka 
huu ndani ya gesti moja maarufu iliyopo Devi’s Corner –Tandika, jijini 
Dar es Salaam.

HABARI ZA AWALI
 

Awali ilidaiwa kuwa, mwanaume huyo na baba Salome mwenye mke na 
watoto wawili wanaomtegemea kwa kila kitu, walionekana wakiingia 
kwenye gesti moja ambayo pia ipo maeneo hayo hali iliyozua maswali kwa watu waliokuwa wakiwafahamu.

“Unajua tatizo lilianzia wapi? Baba Salome na yule mwanaume mwenzake 
walionekana wakiingia gesti moja kisha wakatoka, wakaingia nyingine
 pia wakatoka, ndipo watu wanaowafahamu wakajiuliza kulikoni wawili 
hao kutembelea gesti siku hiyo, wakawafuatilia,” alisema mnyetishaji mmoja.
 

Akaendelea: Lakini watu waliwafahamu kwa namna mbili tofauti, 
baba Salome ni mtulivu, mwadilifu, mwenzake watu wanasema 
ana ‘katabia’ ka kutaka kuwa faragha na  wanaume wenzake 
bila kujulikana nini anakitaka katika usiri huo.

Madai zaidi yakawekwa wazi kwamba, baadhi ya watu walikwenda 
kwenye gesti walizokwenda wawili hao na kuulizia nini walikuwa 
wanakitaka, ndipo siri ikawekwa wazi kwamba wanatafuta chumba 
cha kupumzika kwa siku hiyo lakini kwa sheria za Jiji la 
Dar es Salaam (kama siyo za nchi nzima), wanaume wawili 
hawaruhusiwi kulala chumba kimoja. Chanzo kikasema: 
Wambeya wakawaona wakiingia kwenye gesti ya tukio, 
wakapewa chumba. Ndipo wakakimbia nyumbani kwa 
baba Salome na kumtonya mkewe, mama Salome kwamba 
mumewe ameingia gesti.

MAMA SALOME AJA JUU, AMTAJA KIDAWA
 

Kichekesho zaidi kinaangushwa kwamba, baada ya kuambiwa 
mumewe amezama gesti, mama Salome ambaye ndiyo kwanza 
alikuwa amefika kutoka  kwenye mikopo ya Finca, alitoka 
mbio huku akisema anakwenda kumtoa sikio la kulia Kidawa 
akiamini mumewe ameingia gesti na mwanamke huyo.

“Watu walimwambia mumewe hakuingia gesti na Kidawa 
bali mwanaume mwenzake. Kwanza mama Salome aliomba
 asitaniwe juu ya hilo, lakini akasisitiziwa,” alisema mtoa habari huyo.

NJE YA GESTI, MAMA SALOME AFUNGUKA
 

Akizungumza kwa jazba na waandishi wetu nje ya gesti hiyo, 
mama Salome alisema kwamba alipata taarifa siku nyingi 
mumewe ana ukaribu na mwanaume huyo ambaye mitaani watu 
wanasema  anajihusisha na vitendo vya ushoga. “Nilipozipata 
taarifa hizi sikuziamini, nilidhani ni Kidawa ndiyo kaingia gesti 
na mume wangu, maana Kidawa ndiye mbaya wangu,” alisema 
mwanamke huyo kisha akazama ndani ya gesti akiwa na polisi 
ambao haikujulikana walikotokea.

FUMANIZI TAAP!
 

Huku mumewe na mwanaume mwenzake wakiwa hawana hili 
wala lile kule chumbani, mlango ulisukumwa na kufunguka 
ambapo mwanamke huyo aliwakuta wawili hao wakiwa 
wameshavua baadhi ya nguo. Wote walishtuka kuona wameingiliwa!
 

“Yaani roho inauma sana, sijui ni kitu gani umekosa 
kwangu mpaka unakuja kwa mwanaume mwenzako jamani 
 baba Salome,” alisema huku akilia mama Salome.

MWANAUME MMOJA AANGUA KILIO
 

Baada ya kugundua wamenaswa, mwanamke aliyekuwa na 
baba Salome aliangua kilio huku  akiomba kusamehewa kwa vile 
yeye ni mume wa mtu, lakini kilio chake hakikusikika kwa polisi 
 ambapo waliwafunga pingu na kuwataka kuelekea katika kituo cha polisi.

MMOJA ALIA NA MAPAPARAZI
 

Wakati wakitoa maelezo kwenye kituo cha polisi, mwanaume aliyekuwa 
na baba Salome alijitambulisha kwa jina la  Julius Mwita, mkazi wa 
Devi’s Corner ana  mke na watoto wawili na aliwaomba sana 
mapaparazi wamhifadhi kwani wakwe zake wakimuona ‘itakula  kwake’.
 

“Jamani mapaparazi nipo tayari kwa lolote naomba sana tuyamalize 
hapahapa, mimi ni mume wa mtu, wakwe zangu wananiheshimu
 na kunithamini sana,” alisema Mwita.  
Hata hivyo, pamoja na kilio hicho mwanaume huyo aliishia 
kuswekwa lupango na baadaye kuhamishiwa katika Kituo 
cha Polisi cha Chang’ombe kwa hatua zaidi.