The new General Secretary for the South Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT-SCD) have been installed last Sunday.
Rev. Levis Sanga a masters holder in theology was appointed to take over the post of the general Secretary following the resignation of the former general secretary Samson Sanga.
It was said by some member of the diocesan Council where Samson have submitted his resignation letter that Samson was disappointed by the poor performance of the diocese and lack of transparency and accountability from the high ranking officers of the diocese.
There have been a long time outstanding conflict between the Bishop Manyiew the head of this diocese with his immediate subordinates.
the appointment of Rev. Levis have been taken by the majority like it is a way of trying to sort the problem of the diocese. Rev. Levis is said to be accepted by donors abroad who were disappointed by the performance of this diocese to the point of suspending their direct support to this diocese.
when asked for comment some parish members who have spoken with this blog said "It is not enough and can not help, what is important is the diocesan councils and the bishop to understand that they are leading a diocese with a vague system"
"they nee to mend the system of responsibilities to put the vehicle diocese on road again" finished the comment the source which is been seen several times very close to bishop manyiewa.
The Problem of mismanagement and lack of the pillar of administration, Transparency, accountability and collective responsibility was reported by the end of 2004 following a massive embezzlement of millions of donor money that were targeting for Community social and Economical development projects including the money that were allocated for the fight against HIV.
Wednesday 13 June 2007
HIVER SERVING PATIENTS
The Makete District Officer have visited the self support Organisation of People Living with HIV/AIDS called PIUMA in their head office Bulongwa.
When talking to the members of the Executive committee he said apart of his intention to familiarize with the group, his visit have a purpose of inspecting the structural preparation to start a Care and Treatment Organisation.
In his comments concerning the preparedness of the group the district medical officer said "I was pleased with your buildings and the technical resources you have got"
PIUMA have applied for the licence for care and Treatment since last Year the application which have been delayed and the District medical officer was thought to be against this good will of the organisation to help in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
The group have got a number of expertise including medical doctors, nurses, and Pharmacists. It have been learned that the group is being supported by the Evangelical Association for the World Mission in Austria.
If successful the group will be the first one of its kind to own a treatment center and it is expected that through its cooperation with it long time standing partners, the Partec the company based in Germany that manufacture Medical equipment and the McGill University the organisation will be able to carry researches on HIV and AIDS
In its future programs the organisation is intending to run a mobile clinic, a newsletter "Pamoja" and the radio "Southern Link"
Saturday 28 April 2007
THE DICISION OF THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT TOUCH ITS CHAIRMAN?
In a very strange and unexpected situation, the diocesan council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, South Central Diocese have come out silence in their last meeting concerning their previous decision on the suspension of Bishop Manyiewa.
Bishop Manyiewa was suspended last two months from his service following allegation on embezzlement, fraud and mismanagement of funds from local income generating projects and donor money.
Opposite from the expectation of the majority, the Bishop have never obeyed the decision of the council and have been seen going to the office on daily basis. Many are questioning the safety of the evidences following the allegations.
Further more the bishop have been keeping at his house all the few three remaining car the property of the diocese at his home.
Much more one car which was assigned under the office of the general secretary has been changed into a commercial car doing business of carrying passengers from one town to another and the money gained from this business has never been accounted to any one.
The diocesan council that met last week was expected to come out with reasons to why the bishops have not obeyed its decision, something which never happen.
When members asked about this they said the council could not force the bishop to go on suspension because the diocese could not get the money from donors to afford school expenses.
There has been all necessary arrangement by the church to change the decision of the council from suspending its bishop into granting him with the sabbatical leave.
If the bishop and his team will manage to manoeuvre the decision of the council will be awarded with a scholarship to go for further studies under donors’ sponsorship.
When asked for their opinion the parish members of this diocese they were surprised with the kind of “a good hearts” are these donors will be carrying. “some one have stolen and slaughtered you flock, then he is given and got to sell and get some times to rest while chewing the piece of meet he has kept this more that the good Samaritan of the bible times”, commended one of the Christians.
In this meeting the councils have made some changes where by Samson Sanga the general secretary who is an accountant by professional, who have not been in good books with the Bishop and trusted by many Christian have been replaced by pastor Levis Sanga the headmaster of the diocesan school.
Bishop Manyiewa was suspended last two months from his service following allegation on embezzlement, fraud and mismanagement of funds from local income generating projects and donor money.
Opposite from the expectation of the majority, the Bishop have never obeyed the decision of the council and have been seen going to the office on daily basis. Many are questioning the safety of the evidences following the allegations.
Further more the bishop have been keeping at his house all the few three remaining car the property of the diocese at his home.
Much more one car which was assigned under the office of the general secretary has been changed into a commercial car doing business of carrying passengers from one town to another and the money gained from this business has never been accounted to any one.
The diocesan council that met last week was expected to come out with reasons to why the bishops have not obeyed its decision, something which never happen.
When members asked about this they said the council could not force the bishop to go on suspension because the diocese could not get the money from donors to afford school expenses.
There has been all necessary arrangement by the church to change the decision of the council from suspending its bishop into granting him with the sabbatical leave.
If the bishop and his team will manage to manoeuvre the decision of the council will be awarded with a scholarship to go for further studies under donors’ sponsorship.
When asked for their opinion the parish members of this diocese they were surprised with the kind of “a good hearts” are these donors will be carrying. “some one have stolen and slaughtered you flock, then he is given and got to sell and get some times to rest while chewing the piece of meet he has kept this more that the good Samaritan of the bible times”, commended one of the Christians.
In this meeting the councils have made some changes where by Samson Sanga the general secretary who is an accountant by professional, who have not been in good books with the Bishop and trusted by many Christian have been replaced by pastor Levis Sanga the headmaster of the diocesan school.
Tuesday 13 February 2007
Solar and Biogas Projects
The main source of fuel in Makete is fire woods, the logs. It is the responsibility of the women to collect fire wood which are used to cook, warm the house and warming bathing water and every thing that will require being preheated as well as source of light during night.
It happened some times back in early 2000, missionaries in cooperation with the local church leadership of the South Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania did a feasibility study to see if it is possible alleviate the situation.
It was revealed that the fetching of fire wood have consumed a lot of energy and time of these poor peasants women on the mountains, also they have to walk long distance to get an access of the forest where they can easily harvest the woods.
A simple solution was thought, these people have got plenty of cattle as their traditional wealth. One peasant could own as far as hundreds cows at one time. Then a simple solution was thought in relation to their cow keeping tradition.
A new technology was to be inverted in the Makete Mountains, the cow dung were proposed to be used to generate energy by producing a bio gas that would at last bee used to produce heat and light.
Then KPS mission in Germany volunteered to fund the project. On January, 2001 they transferred under project tattled (SCD, III 20201) the total of DM 5.714,00 for Biogas project. The money was directly received by Lutheran Mission cooperation, LMC.
On January 2003 they farther transferred a total of 12.000, 00€ for the same. The money was once again directly received by LMC.
To date these women is still spending more that five hours daily in the forest looking for the fire wood. Why? Because these projects proposal had never been implemented.
At time of planning the project, it was calculated that one biogas plant would cost approximately 500, 00$ that would serve one family. It is absurd that there is neither biogas plants in the district nor the money intended for this project in the bank accounts.
When this blog was going through the reports produced for different projects to be submitted to the donors in Europe, it was discovered this is one of the many projects whose report are still pending. However in the audit report by independent auditors the figures are not mentioned as they were not seen in the books of accounts.
This blog when demanded for explanation from by the Bishop of the diocese, Rev. Shadrack Manyiewa, I was told that the money was not embezzled instead inappropriately allocated.
The same happened to the money donated on January 2001 where by the total of 22.857, 00DM and on January 2003 a total of 20.000.00€ were donated for solar energy projects. Which till to date there is no single solar energy panel in this diocese.
In a quick summation a total of 28,571,00DM and 32,000,00€ went without being accounted for. And the supervisors, LMC nor the donors, missions abroad has ever asked for the where about of these funds.
When visited this diocese the LMC secretary, Lars Hofgren was told by this blog that, there have been gross mismanagement and embezzlement going on in this diocese for years now. Some of them could have been prevented if the donors could have taken tough stand to oversee what is going on in the field.
It is not the intention of this blog to disturb harmony in the house of the LORD rather, it is requesting making the house clean by participatory approach. Let us discuss where are all of these monies going? Who is benefiting? Are the beneficiaries the targeted group?
Be blessed.
It happened some times back in early 2000, missionaries in cooperation with the local church leadership of the South Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania did a feasibility study to see if it is possible alleviate the situation.
It was revealed that the fetching of fire wood have consumed a lot of energy and time of these poor peasants women on the mountains, also they have to walk long distance to get an access of the forest where they can easily harvest the woods.
A simple solution was thought, these people have got plenty of cattle as their traditional wealth. One peasant could own as far as hundreds cows at one time. Then a simple solution was thought in relation to their cow keeping tradition.
A new technology was to be inverted in the Makete Mountains, the cow dung were proposed to be used to generate energy by producing a bio gas that would at last bee used to produce heat and light.
Then KPS mission in Germany volunteered to fund the project. On January, 2001 they transferred under project tattled (SCD, III 20201) the total of DM 5.714,00 for Biogas project. The money was directly received by Lutheran Mission cooperation, LMC.
On January 2003 they farther transferred a total of 12.000, 00€ for the same. The money was once again directly received by LMC.
To date these women is still spending more that five hours daily in the forest looking for the fire wood. Why? Because these projects proposal had never been implemented.
At time of planning the project, it was calculated that one biogas plant would cost approximately 500, 00$ that would serve one family. It is absurd that there is neither biogas plants in the district nor the money intended for this project in the bank accounts.
When this blog was going through the reports produced for different projects to be submitted to the donors in Europe, it was discovered this is one of the many projects whose report are still pending. However in the audit report by independent auditors the figures are not mentioned as they were not seen in the books of accounts.
This blog when demanded for explanation from by the Bishop of the diocese, Rev. Shadrack Manyiewa, I was told that the money was not embezzled instead inappropriately allocated.
The same happened to the money donated on January 2001 where by the total of 22.857, 00DM and on January 2003 a total of 20.000.00€ were donated for solar energy projects. Which till to date there is no single solar energy panel in this diocese.
In a quick summation a total of 28,571,00DM and 32,000,00€ went without being accounted for. And the supervisors, LMC nor the donors, missions abroad has ever asked for the where about of these funds.
When visited this diocese the LMC secretary, Lars Hofgren was told by this blog that, there have been gross mismanagement and embezzlement going on in this diocese for years now. Some of them could have been prevented if the donors could have taken tough stand to oversee what is going on in the field.
It is not the intention of this blog to disturb harmony in the house of the LORD rather, it is requesting making the house clean by participatory approach. Let us discuss where are all of these monies going? Who is benefiting? Are the beneficiaries the targeted group?
Be blessed.
Monday 5 February 2007
Bishop Suspended
Bishop Shadrack Manyiewa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, South Central Diocese (ELCT – SCD) has been suspended from his service.
The suspension followed allegation of embezzlement of donor money amounting to thousands dollars, fraud and poor administration.
The allegations were first raised by the self help group of people living with HIV, PIUMA which on April last year demanded explanation on the where about of thousands of us dollars donated for various social project in the diocese.
The allegations were confirmed by three different audit reports from three different firms. Many inhabitants of this place had always asking the relative authority to take action for long.
The decision to suspend Bish. Manyiewa was reached by the consensus of the majority of the members of the diocesan council set for an extra ordinary meeting last Monday.
ELCT- SCD had been facing serious financial crises for a period of about two years following the suspension of the donation from donors abroad.
When the local people asked decison of the donors stoping their support, said they never felt a difference because the money from donors through church structres never reached the people at the grass root.
The crises became more worse in April 2005 when Bishop Manyiewa closed down the HIV/AIDS clinic, locking out all the volunteers from Austria following their stand not to allow him to have an unlawful access to fund intended for treatment of the HIV- AIDS patients.
However there has been underground unconfirmed information that the Church is seeking for a position somewhere else for bishop Manyiewa. The members of the diocesan council said that there was an offer from one of the donors’ representative from Europe who was here recently that the mission can help to register and finance Manyiewa and his wife for further studies abroad.
When asked about this a man living with HIV Izack Sanga who had talked to Manyiewa personally two times on his leadership style said that, it will be an insult of the donors from developed places like Europe who are pictured as model of civilization, democracy an accountability to embrace the bishop who has allegation to answer.
´´It would be a right step if Bishop Manyiewa will be striped his travelling documents and brought before justice in the court of law`` he further added.
It is not yet known if Bishop Manyiewa will be taken to court to face charges against corruption, fraud and theft or not.
The suspension followed allegation of embezzlement of donor money amounting to thousands dollars, fraud and poor administration.
The allegations were first raised by the self help group of people living with HIV, PIUMA which on April last year demanded explanation on the where about of thousands of us dollars donated for various social project in the diocese.
The allegations were confirmed by three different audit reports from three different firms. Many inhabitants of this place had always asking the relative authority to take action for long.
The decision to suspend Bish. Manyiewa was reached by the consensus of the majority of the members of the diocesan council set for an extra ordinary meeting last Monday.
ELCT- SCD had been facing serious financial crises for a period of about two years following the suspension of the donation from donors abroad.
When the local people asked decison of the donors stoping their support, said they never felt a difference because the money from donors through church structres never reached the people at the grass root.
The crises became more worse in April 2005 when Bishop Manyiewa closed down the HIV/AIDS clinic, locking out all the volunteers from Austria following their stand not to allow him to have an unlawful access to fund intended for treatment of the HIV- AIDS patients.
However there has been underground unconfirmed information that the Church is seeking for a position somewhere else for bishop Manyiewa. The members of the diocesan council said that there was an offer from one of the donors’ representative from Europe who was here recently that the mission can help to register and finance Manyiewa and his wife for further studies abroad.
When asked about this a man living with HIV Izack Sanga who had talked to Manyiewa personally two times on his leadership style said that, it will be an insult of the donors from developed places like Europe who are pictured as model of civilization, democracy an accountability to embrace the bishop who has allegation to answer.
´´It would be a right step if Bishop Manyiewa will be striped his travelling documents and brought before justice in the court of law`` he further added.
It is not yet known if Bishop Manyiewa will be taken to court to face charges against corruption, fraud and theft or not.
Friday 2 February 2007
DONORS WITHDRAWS THEIR SUPPORT
The members of the Kidope Parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, South Central Diocese, have lost one of the funding partner the Curau parish in German.
The news that have reached the desk of this blog says that, the Curau christians have pulled out from sponsoring any project to this parish following serious unaccountability and embezzlement of the funds donated to this parish for various project in past years.
Curau sponsored a number of projects for Kidope parish including, centre for the disabled and orphaned children, the public primary school and the centre in Makete town which if after completion could have been used as a source of income to sustain other non profit project.
Number of these projects have not been completed and the reports are still pending. Though the project have not been completed the money donated for these projects have been spent. Several time in different occasion when such crisis happens the leaders of different parishes including the diocese will run for simple excuse, the money have been spend on administration, paying salary of the staff who most of them do not exist.
The members of the parish were very angry with the financial committee which was been administered by the leading pastor of the parish. However in more than five consecutive meetings they came to realise that the pastor was the root of this embezzlement.
It was discovered that the pastor has deflected more than €.7.000- into his personal account. The pastor after facing the serious and angry members of the parish he admitted that he has swindled the money. The pastor when given a chance to defend himself he said he could not resist the temptation from the devil.
The shepherded that turned to become a wild dog was asked by his flock to refund the money. While waiting for the cash to be refunded the members of the parish were astonished to hear that Bishop has Shadrack Manyiewa transferred this pastor to another distant congregation.
Bishop Manyiewa is also under scrutiny by police force department for criminal investigation, following the embezzlement of thousands of donor money intended for different projects in the diocese he is leading. The donors have been distancing themselves from discussing the problems though they have been asked by the local people several times to take action.
The donors are blamed by the indigenous here for not being accountable, demanding reports and ensuring there are physical evidence on the progress for the projects they are funding.
The news that have reached the desk of this blog says that, the Curau christians have pulled out from sponsoring any project to this parish following serious unaccountability and embezzlement of the funds donated to this parish for various project in past years.
Curau sponsored a number of projects for Kidope parish including, centre for the disabled and orphaned children, the public primary school and the centre in Makete town which if after completion could have been used as a source of income to sustain other non profit project.
Number of these projects have not been completed and the reports are still pending. Though the project have not been completed the money donated for these projects have been spent. Several time in different occasion when such crisis happens the leaders of different parishes including the diocese will run for simple excuse, the money have been spend on administration, paying salary of the staff who most of them do not exist.
The members of the parish were very angry with the financial committee which was been administered by the leading pastor of the parish. However in more than five consecutive meetings they came to realise that the pastor was the root of this embezzlement.
It was discovered that the pastor has deflected more than €.7.000- into his personal account. The pastor after facing the serious and angry members of the parish he admitted that he has swindled the money. The pastor when given a chance to defend himself he said he could not resist the temptation from the devil.
The shepherded that turned to become a wild dog was asked by his flock to refund the money. While waiting for the cash to be refunded the members of the parish were astonished to hear that Bishop has Shadrack Manyiewa transferred this pastor to another distant congregation.
Bishop Manyiewa is also under scrutiny by police force department for criminal investigation, following the embezzlement of thousands of donor money intended for different projects in the diocese he is leading. The donors have been distancing themselves from discussing the problems though they have been asked by the local people several times to take action.
The donors are blamed by the indigenous here for not being accountable, demanding reports and ensuring there are physical evidence on the progress for the projects they are funding.
Monday 29 January 2007
HIV PATIENT LOST A JOB
When you are looking at his face he is a charming man most of the time but he is humble, he is guy who is liked by many poor and peasants in the mountainous villages. He has served the community by working as watch man and a cleaner. He has been cleaning all the bed sheets for the hospital with more than fifty beds, when he is sun drying clothes he would be send there and here, bring this or go call that one, only that he would be busy for the whole day.
By the end of 2004 he was diagnosed HIV positive, he could not hide, he stood in front of his working colleagues, he declared his status, he told everybody about HIV and he was put on treatment.
This man is called Kabuyu Kamabanyuma Kyando. He is well known as Kambanyuma, he is very popular in the mountains in the district because he became the chairman of the self support group of the HIV positive patients. The group within one year has transformed the life of many in the district. The group has made so many people to be aware of the disease and to take action like testing and prevention.
This man has been fired from his employment in the hospital. His employment has been terminated because he has been a leader and a member of this active group. Under his leadership the patients have managed to stand up and criticize the church hierarchies for bureaucracy, theft, fraud and embezzlement. He told the church leaders that they are hypocrite for they preached different things from their deeds.
The hospital has lost more that two hundred million the amount which is equal to two hundred thousand Euros for a period two years. The money has been chewed by the big people in the church leaving the service deteriorating in the hospital.
When I was taking to him he said there are no reason been given to him about the decisions of the church and the hospital on terminating his service, they told him that they have to fire him because they feel he can not serve two master, the hospital and the group. When asked about his personal feeling on the decision, he said, ``I feel this intimidation on my effort to combat corruption and I believe it is stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS``
Kabuyu is a married man with several children; he is the chairman of the self support group of the people living with HIV called PIUMA. There have been millions of most of them donor money from Europe which were donated for the purpose of helping the patients and the hospital. The money has gone in the pocket of few. In his letter to the partners Rev. Sheckenbarch of the Bavarian mission in Germany the organisation that have poured millions of cash in the south central diocese the owner of the hospital that it was sad to see how local representative misappropriate support for their own people.
There is no enough action from the donors from Germany; they are embracing the corrupt system a gang of thieves, they always ask for proof, Kabuyu would tell them you want proof go to Makete ask if there solar power system , biogas system that would cost more than forty thousands Euro money donated through KPS. I agree with him, we don’t need to see nice justifiable paper reports, we want to see the result in the field. If money was donated to build a vocational school we want to see a well organised running school equally to the amount of the money donated.
It is pity that Kabuyu has lost his job and the greedy thieves are still in position asking for more money leaving the needy and the poor.
By the end of 2004 he was diagnosed HIV positive, he could not hide, he stood in front of his working colleagues, he declared his status, he told everybody about HIV and he was put on treatment.
This man is called Kabuyu Kamabanyuma Kyando. He is well known as Kambanyuma, he is very popular in the mountains in the district because he became the chairman of the self support group of the HIV positive patients. The group within one year has transformed the life of many in the district. The group has made so many people to be aware of the disease and to take action like testing and prevention.
This man has been fired from his employment in the hospital. His employment has been terminated because he has been a leader and a member of this active group. Under his leadership the patients have managed to stand up and criticize the church hierarchies for bureaucracy, theft, fraud and embezzlement. He told the church leaders that they are hypocrite for they preached different things from their deeds.
The hospital has lost more that two hundred million the amount which is equal to two hundred thousand Euros for a period two years. The money has been chewed by the big people in the church leaving the service deteriorating in the hospital.
When I was taking to him he said there are no reason been given to him about the decisions of the church and the hospital on terminating his service, they told him that they have to fire him because they feel he can not serve two master, the hospital and the group. When asked about his personal feeling on the decision, he said, ``I feel this intimidation on my effort to combat corruption and I believe it is stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS``
Kabuyu is a married man with several children; he is the chairman of the self support group of the people living with HIV called PIUMA. There have been millions of most of them donor money from Europe which were donated for the purpose of helping the patients and the hospital. The money has gone in the pocket of few. In his letter to the partners Rev. Sheckenbarch of the Bavarian mission in Germany the organisation that have poured millions of cash in the south central diocese the owner of the hospital that it was sad to see how local representative misappropriate support for their own people.
There is no enough action from the donors from Germany; they are embracing the corrupt system a gang of thieves, they always ask for proof, Kabuyu would tell them you want proof go to Makete ask if there solar power system , biogas system that would cost more than forty thousands Euro money donated through KPS. I agree with him, we don’t need to see nice justifiable paper reports, we want to see the result in the field. If money was donated to build a vocational school we want to see a well organised running school equally to the amount of the money donated.
It is pity that Kabuyu has lost his job and the greedy thieves are still in position asking for more money leaving the needy and the poor.
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