Witchcraft increases climate change casualties in Rukwa !

Being familiar with frequent reports in Tanzania and from other parts of the world about casualties resulting from traditional climatic adversities , particularly floods and droughts, news of the greasily   killing of two elderly people in Mpanda , Rukwa region, allegedly for preventing rain using witchcraft should   come as a rude shock to environmentalists, scientists, human rights activists and all people of good faith.

WAPO radio FM’s morning programme –Patapata, on 24 February 2012, quoting the Rukwa regional police commander, reported that 5 people had been arrested in connection with the killing of two elderly women accused by a section of the community in Mpanda   for preventing rain allegedly using witchcraft.

As Tanzania and other sub Saharan countries  strive to put in place different strategies to address climate change impacts, the Mpanda killings highlight the challenges that government , development partners and other actors face in engaging local communities on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and on development issues in general.

Incensed by the Sumbawanga killings report, COBIHESA members:

1. strongly condemn these killings as an  outright violation of human rights and call for all those involved to be prosecuted immediately.

2. Call on the NEMC, the Vice Presidents’ office ( the overall coordinating authority on environment activities) and other actors to accelerate public education on climate change to increase awareness and understanding of basic climate change processes and risks, and how to reduce them . Lack of correct information could undermine effective community responses in the on- going national strategies.

3. Call on government and other partners to support special interest groups such as farmers, livestock keepers,  fishers and competent NGOs working at community level to design and implement local initiatives for mitigation and adaptation that suit the local contexts.

The alarming climate change adversity in Rukwa region is also represented by the receding Lake Rukwa surface area. The Lake has reportedly receded by 7 kilometres over the past 50 years. This has been directly attributed to several factors including  increased evaporation due to high temperatures, increased degradation of the lake’s ecosystem due to growing livestock herds and over grazing, inadequate rains and prolonged droughts. These are plausible   scientific explanations associated with unsustainable environmental human activities and overall global warming –not witchcraft !.

Witchcraft, a backward and a risk laden belief system, has been associated with some of the most systemic inhuman practices in Tanzania including the killing of albinos   and old women in the Lake Victoria region. Although the government does not recognize witchcraft in its laws and policies, witchcraft beliefs are  considered to be widespread in Tanzania and constitute a significant social development challenge. Anecdotal evidence shows that most victims of witchcraft are people perceived to be of lower status in local communities: women rather than men; old women or men (especially widows or widowers, or childless families); the lonely; the poor; children; people with disabilities eg. albinos ; those with little or no education at all etc. Thus, witchcraft, like climate change impacts are likely to compound the problems of   the poor and most vulnerable people in Tanzanian society.    

Uchawi kuongezeka majeruhi mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa katika Rukwa!

Kuwa ukoo na taarifa za mara kwa mara katika Tanzania na kutoka maeneo mengine ya dunia juu ya majeruhi kutokana na adversities jadi ya hali ya hewa, hasa mafuriko na ukame, habari za greasily mauaji ya watu wawili wazee katika Mpanda, Rukwa kanda, inadaiwa kwa ajili ya kuzuia mvua kwa kutumia uchawi waje kama mshtuko rude kwa wanamazingira, wanasayansi, wanaharakati wa haki za binadamu na watu wote wa imani nzuri.

Asubuhi wapo redio FM ya mpango-Patapata, tarehe 24 Februari 2012, kunukuu Rukwa Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa, taarifa kwamba watu 5 walikuwa wamekamatwa kuhusiana na mauaji ya wanawake wazee wawili waliotuhumiwa na sehemu ya jamii katika Mpanda kwa ajili ya kuzuia mvua madai ya kutumia uchawi.

Kama Tanzania na nchi nyingine ndogo Sahara kujitahidi kuweka mikakati mbalimbali ya kukabiliana na madhara ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa, mauaji ya Mpanda changamoto zilizopo kuwa serikali, washirika wa maendeleo na wahusika wengine walioshiriki katika uso jamii juu ya kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya tabia nchi na marekebisho, na katika masuala ya maendeleo kwa ujumla.

Incensed na ripoti ya mauaji ya Sumbawanga, COBIHESA wanachama:

1. sana kulaani mauaji haya kwani ni ukiukwaji dhahiri wa haki za binadamu na wito kwa ajili ya kushiriki kwa kuwa mashitaka mara moja wale wote.

2. Wito kwa NEMC, ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais (jumla ya uratibu ya mamlaka juu ya shughuli za mazingira) na watendaji kuongeza kasi ya elimu ya umma juu ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na kuongeza ufahamu na uelewa wa michakato ya msingi ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na hatari, na jinsi ya kupunguza yao. Ukosefu wa taarifa sahihi inaweza kudhoofisha majibu ya jamii na ufanisi katika mikakati inayoendelea kitaifa.

3. Wito kwa serikali na wadau wengine wa kusaidia vikundi vya riba maalum kama vile wakulima, wafugaji, wavuvi na NGOs uwezo wa kufanya kazi katika ngazi ya jamii na kubuni na kutekeleza mipango ya ndani kwa ajili ya suti za kukabiliana na kukabiliana na kwamba mazingira ya ndani.

kutisha ya hali ya hewa shida mabadiliko katika mkoa wa Rukwa pia inawakilishwa na eneo la Ziwa Rukwa receding uso. Ziwa zimeripotiwa kumalizika kwa kilomita 7 zaidi ya miaka 50 iliyopita. Hii imekuwa moja kwa moja kuhusishwa na sababu kadhaa, ikiwa ni pamoja na uvukizi kuongezeka kutokana na joto ya juu, kuongezeka kwa uharibifu wa mazingira ya ziwa kutokana na kuongezeka kwa mifugo na ng'ombe zaidi ya malisho ya mifugo, mvua za kutosha na ukame wa muda mrefu. Haya ni plausible kisayansi maelezo yanayohusiana na shughuli isiyokuwa endelevu ya mazingira ya binadamu na kwa ujumla joto duniani-si uchawi.

Uchawi, nyuma na hatari mizigo mfumo wa imani, imekuwa kuhusishwa na baadhi ya mila nyingi za utaratibu unyama katika Tanzania ikiwa ni pamoja na mauaji ya albino na wanawake wenye umri katika eneo la Ziwa Victoria. Pamoja na kwamba serikali haitambui uchawi katika sheria na sera, imani za uchawi ni kuchukuliwa kuwa kuenea katika Tanzania na kuanzisha muhimu ya maendeleo ya jamii na changamoto. Anecdotal ushahidi unaonyesha kuwa waathirika zaidi ya uchawi ni watu alijua kuwa wa hadhi ya chini katika jamii: wanawake kuliko wanaume, mambo ya kale wanawake au wanaume (hasa wajane au wajane, au familia mtoto); lonely, maskini, watoto, watu wenye ulemavu kwa mfano. albino, wale walio na elimu ndogo au kukosa yote nk Hivyo, uchawi, kama madhara ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa ni uwezekano wa kiwanja matatizo ya watu maskini na wanaoishi katika mazingira magumu katika jamii ya Watanzania.