Who will win in
Adam Lusekelo, 17th February 2009 @ 11:14 Daily News (Tanzania)
I gather that the government has short-listed six companies from which only one could get a tender to produce the country’s first national Identity Cards using smart card t e c h n o l o g y . Cool. You will be forgiven for being impressed when you get those technological jargons like ‘smart-card’ and tamper- proof, multi-purpose and state-of-the-art. Don’t be fooled, though.
For when you hear that, you might forget to notice the number of zeros of the final bill – some 200 billion shillings. Someone has said that the government printer can do the job for 95 billion with the availability of the same technology. Those in charge of the tendering system would not even check out the offer. That is very understandable. The difference between 95 billion and the 200 billion is 105 billion.
Now these are difficult times and some guys could do ‘wonders’ with that kind of money. Lest we forget, there are elections coming up next year. The names of the finalist who are bidding contract all sound foreign and white. You don’t expect names like Rungwe Electronics or Kahe Communications. Such deals will never go to black Tanzanian companies. Despite our age as a free people, we are still oozing with a gigantic inferiority complex - white is still right. Richmond sounds right.
Sounds English even if it was presented by a couple of Tanzanian conmen of Asian descent. Now the present companies vying for the contract are Unisys of South Africa (whose branch could be in Yombo Kijichi in Dar es Salaam). Then there is Giesecked and Devrient FZE of Dubai, with a onebedroom branch in Kariakoo. Iris Corporation of Malaysia (the directors could be having a Malaysian restaurant in Dar es Salaam), Madras Security Printers (Isn’t that a front for Vithlani, of the radar rip-off repute, who is currently holed up in Switzerland?), or On Track Innovation from India (Kariakoo Branch).
I am also wondering if the security of our country has not been hopelessly compromised by Tanzanians who have relatives in India and Canada. They seem to be very successful in supplying and compromising our security forces and being ‘pally pally’ with our leaders. I worry. I think the Tanz, Indi, Cana citizens even know our leaders’ bathroom schedule. You see there are cultures which will embrace you as long as you have money or power, or both. They will kiss you, hug you and grovel before you. Some of us find that hard to do. Maskini jeuri.
I say this because we have been burned before. A Tanzanian of Asian origin and an avid contributor to party coffers who also has a relative in Canada called Canadian Securities Inc which applies for a 200 billion shilling tender to make IDs for Tanzanians. They could win; they usually win – with a little help from Tanzanian fisadis. Behind the ‘white’ companies are Black Tanzanians in the government who have lined themselves up for the take. They are presently at daggers drawn with rival Tanzanians who back other companies to make sure that their Mzungu companies win. Let’s just wait for the big entertainment. God Bless Tanzania.
I gather that the government has short-listed six companies from which only one could get a tender to produce the country’s first national Identity Cards using smart card t e c h n o l o g y . Cool. You will be forgiven for being impressed when you get those technological jargons like ‘smart-card’ and tamper- proof, multi-purpose and state-of-the-art. Don’t be fooled, though.
For when you hear that, you might forget to notice the number of zeros of the final bill – some 200 billion shillings. Someone has said that the government printer can do the job for 95 billion with the availability of the same technology. Those in charge of the tendering system would not even check out the offer. That is very understandable. The difference between 95 billion and the 200 billion is 105 billion.
Now these are difficult times and some guys could do ‘wonders’ with that kind of money. Lest we forget, there are elections coming up next year. The names of the finalist who are bidding contract all sound foreign and white. You don’t expect names like Rungwe Electronics or Kahe Communications. Such deals will never go to black Tanzanian companies. Despite our age as a free people, we are still oozing with a gigantic inferiority complex - white is still right. Richmond sounds right.
Sounds English even if it was presented by a couple of Tanzanian conmen of Asian descent. Now the present companies vying for the contract are Unisys of South Africa (whose branch could be in Yombo Kijichi in Dar es Salaam). Then there is Giesecked and Devrient FZE of Dubai, with a onebedroom branch in Kariakoo. Iris Corporation of Malaysia (the directors could be having a Malaysian restaurant in Dar es Salaam), Madras Security Printers (Isn’t that a front for Vithlani, of the radar rip-off repute, who is currently holed up in Switzerland?), or On Track Innovation from India (Kariakoo Branch).
I am also wondering if the security of our country has not been hopelessly compromised by Tanzanians who have relatives in India and Canada. They seem to be very successful in supplying and compromising our security forces and being ‘pally pally’ with our leaders. I worry. I think the Tanz, Indi, Cana citizens even know our leaders’ bathroom schedule. You see there are cultures which will embrace you as long as you have money or power, or both. They will kiss you, hug you and grovel before you. Some of us find that hard to do. Maskini jeuri.
I say this because we have been burned before. A Tanzanian of Asian origin and an avid contributor to party coffers who also has a relative in Canada called Canadian Securities Inc which applies for a 200 billion shilling tender to make IDs for Tanzanians. They could win; they usually win – with a little help from Tanzanian fisadis. Behind the ‘white’ companies are Black Tanzanians in the government who have lined themselves up for the take. They are presently at daggers drawn with rival Tanzanians who back other companies to make sure that their Mzungu companies win. Let’s just wait for the big entertainment. God Bless Tanzania.
e-mail: mbwene2@yahoo.com
1 comment:
Sounds like Masha… At least Masha hakusema kuwa hizo 6 bora hazina sifa ila alidai kuwa Sagem pia ina sifa na kusisitiza itangazwe kama 7 bora!
Most of the 54 companies were "who is who" of the industry… He should have done his homework before writing haya madai. Inaonekana Adam Lusekelo anayajua makampuni ya TATA Consultancy na Marubeni Corporation tu na mengine ameyafananisha na Richmond… Simple googling can get you these companies website na angeangalia track record ya hizo kampuni kabla ya kufungua mdomo wake na kuzihusisha na Wahindi. I can understand yeye kushindwa kuifahamu Madras Printer (afterall the name is typical Indian) lakini kuitilia mashaka kampuni kama Unisys, Giesecke & Devrient FZE na Iris ni matatizo ya kutaka kuzungumzia kitu ambacho hauna maarifa nacho.
Government Printer inawashinda ku-print katiba za nchi, kweli inaweza kufyetua na ku-rollout smart-cards nchi nzima? Has anybody visited ofisi za government printer? Hivi hata website wanayo?
Mwaka huu wengi watalia… Sitoshangaa kuona juhudi za makusudi zikifanywa kumfelisha atakayeshinda hii tender…
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