Football Bromances: Xaviesta

Xavi and Iniesta! - This is a match made in football heaven!

Playing together at Barcelona and Spain, these two don't just connect off pitch but on pitch too.

They are both quiet, private and humble individuals. They kinda prove wrong the say 'opposite attracts'!

Even when you Google, try any of the two names then add 'and' and see the first option! Coincidence?

Is it also a coincidence that Xavi wears Number 6 for Barca and 8 for Spain while Iniesta wears Number 8 for Barca and 6 for Spain?

Since these two are too private to even declare their bromanceship in public here are eight photos which sums up to 8,000 words! Let every photo say 1000 words to you.

For Barcelona. 86

For Spain. 68

Training buddies. Good thing they are of the same height.

They always find a way to be together, even in a crowd!

Like any other good bromance, someone will always try to come between them!

A key to a good bromanceship, talk it out!

And all is well!

And when football is done, we have a band!

NOTE: 

More bromances coming right here.

Our Hell, Our Heaven

By: @Zamaradi_M


Been through hell!

So many times we have heard that. So many times we have started a conversation with that sentence. So many times!

We all know hell. It's that place that will freeze over if Arsenal win the English Premier League title next season. It's a place we wish our exes would disappear to.

So, who has never been through hell?

Roman Abramovich? But what about that time his yacht manufacturer was behind schedule and he had to host a party in his old one?

Paris Hilton? But what about that time she missed her flight and had to fly economy with 'other' people?

Our dearest MPs? But what about that time we verbally attacked them for wanting more allowances?

Barack Obama? But what about that time he had to prove to American voters that he was more American than Kenyan?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic? But what about all those times Zlatan style didn't work and his team lost?

Your neighbor? But what about all those times he had to put up with your crying baby at 4AM?

Padres? But what about knowing all our sins and yet have to treat us like angels?

Imams? But what about all those reminders for us to follow the right path and yet we always do the opposite?

You? *Insert 100 pages of your hell situations here*

Me? But what about ... You know what? Forget it, we really don't have enough time for my hells!

My point is, we have all been through hell. They might look different and some might seem easier, but they are all hells nonetheless.

You are here wondering why would anyone say flying business class is hell while there is someone somewhere wishing they had that leftover you threw away last night.

Hell is hell! What is hell to you is luxury to someone else and what is luxury to you is hell to someone else.

It's a messed up world. While Brazil spends millions hosting the 2014 World Cup some Brazilians are going to bed hungry tonight.

It's an unfair world. While you are buying that expensive ticket for a concert, a child is going to school barefoot and with a torn shirt.

It's a fucked up world. While I am sitting here writing in English someone is missing a well deserved job opportunity only because they are not fluent in English.

Life is not fair, I don't think it was ever meant to be.

Less complaints, no judging and more helping. We might not be able to make it easier but we can make it a bit more bearable.

Help because you are fortunate to have a hell that is somebody's heaven.

Lazima nipige kura 2015

By: @Zamaradi_M

Kitambulisho changu cha kwanza kabisa cha mpiga kura! Wala sikuwa makini kiasi kwamba jina langu na la baba yangu yote yalikosewa na sikugundua!

Labda unashangaa kwa nini nimepania kupiga kura mwaka 2015, hasa ukizingatia kwamba haitakuwa mara yangu ya kwanza kutimiza vigezo vya mpiga kura!

Kadi yangu ya kwanza ya mpiga kura niliipata tarehe 17/04/2005. Nililazimishwa, na nakumbuka vizuri tulikuwa tumetoka kwenye arubaini ya Bi mkubwa nikashushwa Tabata Shule nikajiandikishe kupiga kura!

Na kupiga kura mwaka 2005 nililazimishwa pia. Sikulazimishwa nimpigie kura nani lakini kila aliyeishi na mzazi au mlezi ambaye ni polisi anafahamu hawa watu wasivyotaka utani na masuala kama haya.

Nilipiga kura, na niliipigia kura CCM kuanzia Rais hadi diwani! Niliipigia CCM kwa sababu ya shinikizo la watu waliokuwa wananizunguka kipindi kile. Kila mtu alikuwa anamuongelea Mh. Kikwete na jinsi gani atakavyopendeza na lile tabasamu lake kwenye noti. Nilichofanya ni kuchagua CCM mwanzo mpaka mwisho bila hata kuangalia majina.

Kadi yangu ya pili niliipata tarehe 03/12/2008 pale shule ya msingi Kambangwa kituo cha Kinondoni D. Hii sikulazimishwa na mtu bali na mfumo mzima wa utambulisho wa nchi hii. Kadi ya mpiga kura ni kama kitambulisho cha uraia, kwa hiyo ni lazima niwe nacho.

Na wakati huu sikuwa na Mjomba wa kunilazimisha kupiga kura kwa hiyo sikupiga kura mwaka 2010.

Sifuatilii siasa, sifuatilii kabisa! Sijui jina la hata waziri mmoja na wala sijui Makamu wa Rais anaitwa nani. Na zaidi ya yote, sioni aibu kwa hilo. Sijawahi kuwa na sababu ya kufuatilia siasa lakini sasa nina kila sababu.

Haya machafuko yanayotokea kila kukicha, yanasababishwa na nini? Kwa nini hayazuiliwi? Arusha wamepata matukio ya mabomu mara mbili ndani ya mwaka mmoja na yote ni kwenye mikusanyiko mikubwa ya watu. Watanzania tumefikia hatua ya kulipuana kwa mabomu?

Migongano ya kidini nayo! Dini zipo kabla hatujazaliwa, leo hii zinasababisha tunakosana? Kilichobadilika kwenye maandiko ya dini ni nini? Quran ni ileile na Biblia ni ileile, tatizo liko wapi? Kila dini inaelekeza jinsi ya kuishi kwa amani na majirani zako ambao sio waumini wa dini yako, huyo anayechochea chuki kwa nini hachukuliwi hatua?

Tusianze kwenye suala la rushwa! Huko ndio uozo kabisa. 

Wabunge kugeuza bunge letu tukufu sehemu ya kurushiana vijembe. Aibu gani hizi? Mbunge ni muwakilishi wangu bungeni, ikimaanisha kila anachokifanya na kuzungumza bungeni kinawakilisha matendo na mawazo yangu, nawakilishwa kweli? Je, anachokifanya mbunge bungeni ndicho ambacho 'nimemuagiza' akafanye?

Miundo mbinu! Barabara zinajengwa na kubomolewa kila siku. Nakubali nyumba ya maskini haiishi kujengwa, lakini ndio tunajenga sehemu moja kila siku? Inakuwaje kuna barabara zimedumu kwa miaka nenda rudi na nyingine hazidumu hata miaka miwili? Ndio kuna misaada ambayo inatulazimu kutumia wahandisi kutoka kwenye nchi inayotusaidia, lakini je barabara zote mbovu ni za misaada?

Wakati tunaongelea suala la kujenga, majengo yanayoporomoka nayo inakuwaje? Ukipita Ilala, Kariakoo na Posta unaona majengo yaliyojengwa hata kabla ya uhuru na bado mazima (yanahitaji rangi lakini) halafu jengo hata halijaisha kujengwa linaanguka! Ni shule na vyuo vyetu vya wahandisi, wahandisi wenyewe au wahandisi kutoka nje?

Mambo ni mengi ambayo hayanifurahishi na nataka yabadilishwe.  Na kuna mengi mazuri yamefanywa. Amani haipo kama zamani lakini pia sio vita, nashukuru kwa hilo. Mwanangu anaweza kwenda shule nzuri (baada ya mimi kulipa mamilioni ya pesa), nina uhuru wa kufanya maamuzi yangu binafsi kuanzia kwenye bidhaa gani ninunue na mambo mengine mengi tu.

Namshukuru Rais Kikwete kwa aliyoyafanya yeye na serikali yake, Asanteni sana.

Ila sitafanya makosa tena ya kupiga kura kwa kushinikizwa au kumpigia kura Rais kwa sababu atapendeza kwenye noti au kumpigia kura mgombea ambaye simjui hata jina! 

Panapo majaliwa 2015 nitapiga kura. Nitampigia kura mgombea atakayenihakikishia kutatuliwa kero zangu, kuboreshwa kwa amani na labda wenye mshahara chini ya TZS. 2,000,000 KWA MWEZI hawatakatwa kodi! Ndio, Milioni mbili! Wazungu wanasema a girl is allowed to day dream (msichana anaruhusiwa kuota ndoto za mchana)!

Wewe utapiga kura 2015? Utampigia kura nani na kwa nini?


MUNGU IBARIKI TANZANIA, MUNGU TUBARIKI WATANZANIA.

Dear Uncle Moyes

Dear uncle David,

I hope all is well with you and your family. And I hope you are as excited to start your new job as I am excited to watch you do it!

First things first, let me wish you the best of everything in this new challenge. It is definitely the biggest challenge of your career but if anybody can take over after Grandpa Alex, that person is none other than you.

I saw your 2013/2014 tasks. From the first five I can say, you need all the support you can get! That is your chance to show that you will not be bullied around by the so called big Five!

Chelsea are coming home and only one dream comes true at the Theater of Dreams and we all know whose dreams! Show Liverpool why we are THE Red Devils and paint Manchester Red, starting from Etihad. On the Etihad task, please uncle we can not start a season with noises, please uncle David shut those Noisy neighbors up!

I know how every grown up say they were always first in class, if Grandpa Alex told you this, that old man lied! It took him six seasons to come first. Moral of this story is, it is not how you start it is how you do, continue doing and how you end your Manchester United stay.

Me and the rest of the family got your back. We are 110% behind you. if we retain the EPL it will be great, FA will be sensational, Capital One will be okay and please warn us now if you are going to win Champions League, we don't wanna loose anybody to heart attacks!

But, if worse comes to worst and we end with nothing we will still stand behind you. We know you can do this and you will do this, win us trophies and make us proud and we are willing to wait.

If I was your boss, I would give you a three seasons probation. Don't ask me why Grandpa Alex had six and you have three, grandpa Alex was new to Division One and you have at least 10years of experience in Premier League. And not to mention you having champions for players! So, being me I will review your performance after your three seasons probation, which is right after 2015/2016 season.

If I can tell you a few things Uncle David, please and please do not give in to Jose's mind games! And you already know Arsene is not as scary as he looks!

Lastly, I know my birthday is in December but if I can make an early birthday wish; will you please sign Thiago Alcantara? Can we please keep Wayne Rooney too?

Talk to you soon Uncle David.

XOXO,
@Zamaradi_M

Tumfunge Paka Kengele

By: @Zamaradi_M

Kuna hadithi nilihadithiwa wakati nakua. Nje kidogo ya kijiji ambacho wakazi wake wote walikuwa panya kulikuwa na paka ameweka makazi. Paka yule aliwavizia panya nyakati za usiku na kuwala. Panya wakafanya kikao na katika majadiliano wakaona njia ya kupambana na adui yao ni kumfunga kengele, ili akiwa karibu basi wamsikie. Ila, nani atamfunga paka kengele?

Kwenye hili janga la madawa ya kulevya linaloikumba nchi yetu, lazima huyu paka tumfunge kengele. Tatizo ni kwamba, akienda panya mmoja tu ni rahisi kugeuzwa mlo. Ila tukiwa wengi, hata kama wengine tutakuwa mlo tutashinda vita. Tutaacha kijiji chetu kikiwa salama, ndio ushujaa huu tuliokuwa tunauimba enzi zile za mchakamchaka.

Suala la madawa ya kulevya! Tofauti na matatizo mengine ambayo hata pa kuanzia hamna, hili liko waziwazi. Waathirika tunawaita mateja, wamejaa karibu kila kituo cha daladala Dar es Salaam, vijiwe vyao vinajulikana kabisa. Na ukiwaona wala huhitaji teknolojia ya hali wa juu kuwatambua, wana alama zao usoni. Waangalie vizuri midomo na wasikilize wakipiga debe!

Kwa machache tu niliyoyaona kwenye filamu za kipelelezi najua kupata mwanzo mzuri kama huo ni ishara ya kuwa na kesi itakayofika mwisho. Tunashindwa nini kuanzia hapo? Tunashindwa nini kufuata huo mnyororo mpaka tukawafikia hao wahusika wakubwa? Na kama kisingizio ni wao kuwa na ushawishi na fedha nyingi basi huo ni udhaifu kwa serikali yetu.

Naelewa vyema kwamba hatuwezi kumaliza vita dhidi ya madawa ya kulevya kwa asilimia mia moja, ila hali mbaya kwa sasa. Tupunguze kwa hizo asilimia tutakazoweza. Na hata kama wataendelea kuuza na kutumia basi iwe kwa siri. Hii hali ya mateja kuwepo hadharani ni kashfa kubwa sana kwa serikali na wahusika wote.

Kweli tumefikia hatua ya watu kuvunja sheria bila uoga? Nani asiyejua kwamba kuuza na kutumia madawa ya kulevya ni kosa? Kwa hiyo anayetumia na kuonesha kwamba anatumia ni kwamba anaikebehi serikali, jeshi la polisi na kila aliye kwenye vita dhidi ya madawa ya kulevya? Ni kama vile wanatuambia, 'Ndio nauza na natumia, unasemaje sasa?'

Na suala lingine, kumekuwa na habari kuhusu watanzania waliokamatwa nje ya nchi wakisafirisha madawa ya kulevya. Kulikuwa na yule dada aliyekuwa anyongwe, niliacha kufuatilia baada ya kuona picha yake na mwanae kwenye sintah.com. Na pia kuna kaka ambaye amehukumiwa kwenda jela miaka nane nchini Angola na hii nimeiona kwa millardayo. Huyu aliyeko Angola anaomba arudishwe Tanzania kwa sababu mazingira ya Angola ni magumu.

Tuweke hisia pembeni, hawa wanaosafirisha madawa ya kulevya wanafanya hivyo kwa faida zao binafsi, na  hata kodi hawalipi! Leo amekamatwa serikali iingilie kati, itumie kodi zetu ili warudishwe nchini! Na mbaya zaidi eti mazingira ya jela za kule ni mabaya! Samahani, kama nina maamuzi na kodi yangu naomba isitumike huku. Anayetaka basi atoe hela yake. Angefanikiwa kufikisha huo mzigo angefaidika yeye na familia na rafiki zake, basi na wamsaidie sasa.

Na angefanikiwa kufikisha huo mzigo, ungeua na kutesa vijana wangapi? Huo mzigo anaouleta yeye ndio unasababisha tukwapuliwe vijipochi na visimu vyetu kila siku! Tunaishi bila amani. Tunapoteza nguvu kazi ya taifa kwa sababu tu kuna watu wachache wanataka maisha mazuri na ya harakaharaka. Hata mimi nayatamani ila najua hatari yake, sio tu kwangu bali kwa mwanangu, ndugu jamaa na marafiki. Ndio maana nimeamua kutokuwa mbinafsi na kutafuta hela yangu kihalali. Kwa nini nilipe kwa makosa na maamuzi ya watu wengine?

Sikubaliani na adhabu ya kifo, kwa hili kodi yangu itumike. Itumike kuokoa maisha ya huyo muhalifu. Na kama atarudishwa nchini, awekwe jela ikibidi kifungo cha maisha.

Ni wakati sasa kila mtu awajibike kwa makosa yake. Tuache kuoneana aibu na kuoneana huruma zisizo na sababu. Kuna msemo wa kizungu unasema you've made your bed, now you'll have to lie in it (Umetandika mwenyewe kitanda chako, itabidi ukilalie). Sasa kama hukutoa wale kunguni hilo halituhusu.

Haya, nani yuko tayari kumfunga paka kengele?

Nimeandika makala hii kama njia ya kumuenzi Langa. Moja ya vipaji adimu tulivyobahatika kuvishuhudia. Mpaka mauti yanamkuta Langa ambaye alikiri kuwa muathirika wa madawa ya kulevya alikuwa katika vita dhidi ya kilevi hicho hatari.

Tangulia Langa, tupo nyuma yako.

Chase the good life but ...

 By: @Zamaradi_M

I am writing this to Tanisha, my little nephews and nieces, the young girls and boys all over the world and to anyone who can listen.

I am also writing this for me. A reminder to myself and a reference point for my child in case I do not live long enough to remind her.

I want you to have a good life. I want you to be anything you want to be. And I mean it; you can be a pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, a chef, a singer, or a house wife. Anything, as long as it is what makes you happy.

But before you become any of those, be a good person. Be an honest person. Learn to apologize and most of all, learn to forgive.

Be the person, who before crossing the road will look around to see if there is a child, an elder or anybody else they can help to the other side.

Be the person that is late for a plane but will still drive slow to avoid splashing dirty water on pedestrians.

Be the person that will smile to a stranger, make kids laugh and elders feel safe, loved and valued.

Be the person that I will be proud of, me and all of humanity.

Be that person first and foremost. Be that person before and during your journey as you are chasing the good life. Be that person when you are living that good life.

That is the person you should always be. That is the person who might not always go to bed with a smile or hiding under heavy blankets as the air conditioning is blasting, but that is the person who will have the most peaceful sleep.

That might not be a person with an army of followers dressing as friends but that is a person with friends that would take a bullet for her/him. That is the person people respect and truly appreciates.

Be that person, that good, honest and kind person before you become anybody else. That is the person, I as a mother and any other parent would wish their children to be.

I will tell you a little secret. This good life that everybody is so crazy about is super overrated. It is mostly a show off!

Just think, a car is meant to take you to places faster than your legs or a bicycle or a motorcycle, then why should it matter what make it is? Or how much it costs?

Or why should you pay more for a mobile phone just because it is slimmer than a previous version?

Chase the good life, get the good life, live the good live, but NEVER at any stage should you stop being a good person. Never!

Have principles, have your limits, draw a line between the can and can never do's, and stay on the can do's side of that line, forever.

Make mistakes just don't make the mistake of putting the good life as your number one priority. It is not worth it. Love, happiness, family, friends and most of all life itself if worth more than the good life.

Be wise, be kind, be loving, be caring, be emotional, be a good person. Be a person humanity will be proud of.

Stick to this and you will testify to the fact that good people have a better life than bad people with all the wealthy in the world!

With Love,
Zama.


PS: I did not do editing in this because I want it to be as original as possible. Kindly ignore the writing crimes committed.