Category:Tanzania Stories

wa-Chirangi, Musuto.The Example of our Hero in Diaspora

Prologue.

Anecdote evidence manifests that quite a number of Tanzanian Mennonites (actual data unknown) reside temporarily or permanently outside Tanzania based on different pull and push factors be it for economic, further studies, special missions, family reunification, visits etc. Despite of some efforts once reported by one Tanzanian Mennonites, Bishop J. Nyakyema, there isn’t much significant strategic undertaking that has been carried to either unite or motivate all those human capital herein to be referred as Tanzanian Mennonites in Diaspora (TMDs) from either side, either by themselves or our Church (Kanisa la Mennonite Tanzania).

File:KMT- Church building.jpg

All in all, these TMDs are potential human resources with diverse capabilities that if organized and tapped could have substantial contributions to the development of the Church.

In as much as our Church Leadership ought to recognize and encourage their participation, the prime driving force lies first on the TMD’s, themselves. They have got to practically emulate most if not all of the 10 major principles of their fellow example in the then Diaspora, Nehemiah s/o Hachaliah. Nehemiah heatedly, felt and shared the burden of his people. “…Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" he explicitly cried out. (Nehemiah 2:3)

Herein, I feel to elucidate the 10 major principles in our lingua franca (Swahili) so as to be understood by the majority targeted audience of this site.

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Mfano wa Shujaa wetu Mwana-Diaspora.

Misingi 10 Alizotumia Mwana Daspora Shujaa, Nehemia.

Kuwa na mawasiliano endelevu na nyumbani kujua si tu habari za kifamilia lakini pia maisha ya jamii na maendeleo yao kwa ujumla.

1. Kuwa na mzigo na matatizo yaliyoko nyumbani.
   
2. Kumshirikisha Mola katika mipango na mafanikio yetu.
   
3. Kutumia fursa na rasilimali tulizo nazo kwa ajili ya maendeleo ya jamii yetu
   
4. Kufanya tathinini za kisayansi za matatizo / mahitaji yetu halisi na kuweka mipango kazi na mikakati.
   
5. Kuhamasisha wengine na kugawana majukumu ikiwezekana kwa kujali vipaji / uzoefu / uwezo wetu.
   
6. Kushiriana pamoja kutekeleza mipango kazi.
   
7. Kutokuyumbishwa wala kukatishwa tamaa na wanaotubeza na au wanaotaka kutuondoa katika maono na mwelekeo wetu wa ki-maendeleo.
   
8. Kuonyesha ushujaa, kujilinda na kupambana na maadui wetu wa ndani na nje.
   
9. Kusimamia haki, maadili na kuwajali wahitaji zaidi.

Kanuni hizi nimezidondoa nilipomkumbuka kiongozi - shujaa mmoja katika Agano la kale, aliyeitwa Nehemia.

TAFADHALI KAMA HUJAWAHI SOMA AU KUTAFAKARI KWA UNDANI KITABU CHA NEHEMIA WAKATI NDIO SASA!

Kwa kifupi tu ili kukupa hamu ya kusoma,

1. Nehemia alikuwa mshika kombe (the Cup- bearer) wa Mfalme wa Uajemi. Pamoja na kuwa katika maisha mazuri huko ughaibuni na katika hiyo kazi ya watu wachache sana katika ‘special branch’, aliwasiliana na watu wake nyumbani, akapata habari kuwa kuta za Yerusalemu & malango yake vimebomolewa na kuchomwa moto.
2. Alibeba mzigo wa taabu zilizokuwa zinawakabili watu wa nyumbani Jerusalem, akahuzunika na kuomboleza sana.
3. Akamwomba Mola juu ya jambo hilo
4. Akatumia nafasi yake kumwendea Mfalme ambaye alimpa ruhusa na kumpa usalama na pia vitendea kazi vya kuanzia kazi ya ujenzi. (Sisi tunatumiaje vipawa na nafasi tulizo nazo kuendeleza jamii zetu?)
5. Alipofika kabla ya kuanza kazi alifanya tathmini ya kiwango cha uharibifu na kazi iliyotakiwa kufanywa na kupanga kazi.
6. Akahamasisha wenzake na kuwaambia kuwa tujenge pamoja, kazi iligawanywa vyema kufuata uzoefu/ uwezo. Mfano Makuhani walipewa kushughulia mlango waliouzoea na kuufahamu – mlango wa kondoo!
7. Watu walishirikiana, wakachapa kazi mchana na usiku
8. Kuliibuka akina Sanbalati, Tobia na wenzao wakawabeza na kutaka kuwaondoa kazini, lakini Nehemia alisisitiza kuwa hawezi kuacha kazi.
9. Maadui walipopanga njama, ulinzi mkali uliwekwa na wakapambana nao. (Ni aibu sisi leo tunakatishwa tamaa wala hatupambani na maadui wetu katika maendeleo!)
10. Nehemia alisimamia haki kama kuwasaidia maskini n.k na pia akawawajibisha wakiukaji ili kulinda maadili yaliyokubalika.

Hitimisho:

Yawezekana tukawa na maisha bora zaidi popote tulipo nje ya mji au nchi, inatubidi kubeba mzigo na kuhuzunika na hali yoyote mbaya (kama ipo) katika jamii zetu. Mbele ya Viongozi wetu au Mashirika yenye uwezo au yeyote mwenye uwezo wa kutusaidia kutatua tatizo lililopo, tunapaswa kusema kuwa, “Tutakosaje kuwa na huzuni wakati mji/ nchi ya baba zetu na mama zetu ina hali isiyoridhisha?”

Halafu tufanye kweli kwa tuchukuwa hatua 10 za kuleta maendeleo kama kiongozi wa mfano Nehemia alivyofanya.