FROM COAST

TAARIFA mpya za uchunguzi wa kifo cha msanii Michael Jackson zimeonyesha matokeo ambayo yanashangaza kwa kiasi kikubwa.

Vyombo mbalimbali vya habari ulimwenguni vimefichua kuwa msanii huyo alikuwa amedhoofika kiasi cha kutisha na kubakia mifupa kutokana na kutokula na kisha kutumia kiasi kikubwa cha vidonge.

Uchunguzi huo umeonyesha kuwa baada ya kifo chake mabaki ya baadhi ya vidonge hivyo yamekutwa tumboni mwake.

Mwili wake, uchunguzi huo umebaini kuwa ulikuwa umedhoofu kiasi kwamba kiuno, mapaja na mabega yake yalikuwa na matundo ya vidonda vingi vya sindano, vinavyodhaniwa kuwa ni vya sindano za kutuliza na kuondoa maumivu ambazo alichomwa mara tatu kutwa, tena kwa miaka mngi.

Pia, amekutwa na makovu mengi yaliyotokana na upasuaji wa mara 13 ailiofanyiwa kwa ajili ya kubadili sura yake.

Wataalam hao wamegundua uchunguzi wa kusikitisha wenye kuonyesha kuwa msanii huyo, Wacko Jacko hali yake ilikuwa imedhoofu wakati mauti yakimkuta wiki iliyopita mjini Los Angeles.

Uchunguzi huo umeonyesha kuwa licha ya kuwa na urefu wa futi tano na inchi 10, lakini msanii huyo alikuwa amepungua uzito na kubakia na kilo chache ambazo hazilingani na urefu wake.

Wataalam hao wanaeleza kuwa alikuwa akila mlo mmoja kutwa, kiasi kwamba wakati akifariki tumbo lake lilikuwa tupu, mabaki ya vidonge vilivyoanza kusagika ambavyo alitumia na sindano ambazo hatimaye zilisababisha moyo wake kusimama. Sampuli zaidi zimechukuliwa kwa ajili ya uchunguzi zaidi.

Kichwani, Wacko Jacko alikuwa amepoteza nywele karibu zote. Mfalme huyo wa pop, uchunguzi umeonyesha kuwa alikuwa akivaa nywele bandia, ambazo wachunguzi hawakuwa na kazi ya kuziondoa kwa ajili ya uchunguzi wao.

Kichwani mwake, upande wa sikio la kushoto, alikuwa na jeraha kubwa ambalo liliacha upara kutokana na ajali ya mwaka 1984 wakati alipoungua moto akipiga picha ya filamu ya tangazo la Kampuni ya Pepso.

Mwili mwake, wachunguzi hao wamebaini kuwa alikuwa amevunjika mbavu kadhaa, ikiaminika kuwa zilitokana na juhudi za kujaribu kuokoa maisha yake baada ya kuzimia. Matundu manne ya sindano yamegundulika karibu na moyo wa msanii huyo.

Uchunguzi huo umeonyesha kuwa harakati za kumwokoa ndizo zilizomsababishia madhara hayo yakiwamo ya sindano tatu zilizochomwa na kupenya ukuta wa moyo wake, kumsababisha madhara.

Katika uchunguzi huo, imeonekana kuwa magoti ya Jackson na sehemu ya mbele ya ugoko wake zilikuwa na majeraha kama ilivyokuwa mgongoni mwake.

Daktari wake binafsi, Conrad Murray, ambaye alikuwa karibu na msanii huyo amekamatwa na kuhojiwa huku familia ya msanii huyo ikieleza kuwa inataka uchunguzi zaidi unatakiwa kufanyika.

Dk Murray, ndiye anayeaminika kumpiga sindano msanii huyo kabla ya umauti kumkuta, akiaminika kumpa dawa iitwayo Demerol, jambo ambalo limemwingiza katika mzozo wa kitibabu.

Rafiki wa karibu wa familia, Mchungaji Jesse Jackson alieleza wasiwasi kuhusu chanzo cha kifo cha msanii huyo na kutaka uchunguzi zaidi na mtaalam, Dk Murray ambaye alikodiwa na Kampuni ya AEG Live , ambayo ilikuwa na jukumu la kuandaa matamasha 50 ya msanii huyo, katika ukumbi wa O2 Arena, London mwezi ujao, achunguzwe zaidi.

MHADHIRI mwandamizi wa Chuo Kikuu Cha Dar-es-Salaam, Professa Haroub Miraji Othman, 66, amefariki dunia usiku wa kuamkia jana katika hoteli ya Abuso Shangani mjini Zanzibar.

Kwa mujibu wa msemaji wa familia hiyo, Ali Uki alisema kifo cha Professa Othuman kilitokea ghafla akiwa usingizini. Alisema wakati mkewe akimuasha, alistuka alipoona Dk Othman haamki na ndipo alipoita watu kumsaidia.

Alisema mkewe pia aliomba msaada wa kuitiwa daktari ili aende kumpima na kuthibitisha kwamba taarifa za kuthibitisha kifo chake zilitolewa majira ya saa 1:30 asubuhi.

Professa Othman alifika mjini hapa juzi asubuhi akitokea Dar es Salaam kwa ajili ya kuhudhuria uzinduzi wa kitabu kilichotungwa na Professa Thomas Burgess, Ali Sultan Issa na Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad kiitwacho ‘Race Revolution and the Struggle for Human Rights in Zanzibar".

Hafla hiyo ilifanyika kwenye ukumbi mpya wa Al- Yamin Funguni mjini hapa na baadaye kuhudhuria uzinduzi wa Tamasha la Nchi za Jahazi (ZIFF) hadi majira ya saa 6:00 usiku baadaye kwenda hoteli ya Abuso iliyo Mji Mkongwe akiwa na mkewe Professa Saida Yahya Othman.

“Professa hakuwa anaumwa jana... si mlimuona alivyokuwa katika usinduzi wa kitabu asubuhi na usiku alikuwa katika uzinduzi wa tamasha la ZIFF. Amefariki alfajiri; kwa hakika kila mtu yatamfika mauti yeye ametangulia na sisi tupo nyuma yake ndio ameshatutoka, tunachofanya sasa ni kuwasiliana na jamaa kwa ajili ya matayarisho ya mazishi,” alisema msemaji huyo.

Makamu mkuu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Professa Rwekaza Mukandala alisema Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam kimestushwa na kifo cha mhadhiri huyo na kumuelezea kuwa ni mtu asiyechoka na mchapakazi mzuri.

Profesa Othman atazikwa leo jioni na mipango ya mazishi inafanyika nyumbani kwake eneo la Baraste - Michenzani. Habari zinasema atazikwa pembeni kwa kaburi la mama yake mkoa wa Mjini Zanzibar.

Mhadhiri huyo atakumbukwa kwa msimamo wake na heshima aliyokuwa amejijengea kitaaluma katika sheria za kimataifa, masuala ya maendeleo na diplomasia.

Hakusita kuwakosoa viongozi wa serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano na Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar (SMZ) wakati zilipokuwa zikienda kombo.

Mkuu wa Taasisi ya Mawasiliano ya Umma, Dk Bernadetta Killian alisema kuwa amestushwa na kifo cha mhadhiri mwenzake katika chuo kikuu cha Dar es Salaam.

Mgeni rasmi katika uzinduzi wa tamasha hilo la ZIFF alikuwa Waziri Kiongozi wa SMZ, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha na tamasha hilo lilikuwa likirushwa moja kwa moja na kituo cha televisheni cha serikali, TVZ.

Hadi mauti yanamfika, Professa Othman alikuwa mwenyekiti na muanzilishi wa Kituo cha Huduma za Sheria Zanzibar ambacho kilianzishwa kwa ajili ya kutoa msaada wa kisheria kwa watu wenye kipato cha chini.

Mara baada ya kumaliza masomo yake ya juu nchini Urusi, Prof Haroub alirejea Zanzibar lakini hakupata ajira na kufanyiwa mipango na serikali kwenda kufanya kazi Bara.

Professa Othman alikuwa akifanya kazi katika kitivo cha sheria cha UDSM kuanzia miaka ya sabini na amefariki akiwa mhadhiri mwandamizi.

Mbali na elimu yake, Professa Othman alikuwa mstari wa mbele katika kupigania haki na ameshawahi kuteuliwa katika tume mbalimbali, ikiwemo ya kufanya marekebisho ya katiba na tume ya Nyalali.

Tume ya Nyalali ilikuwa ikiangalia mfumo unaofaa kisiasa nchini wakati dunia ikiwa kwenye mageuzi ya kisiasa na kiuchumi baada ya kumalizika kwa vita baridi kati ya mataifa ya mashariki na magharibi. Aliwahi kuwa mwenyekiti wa bodi ya iliyokuwa Shirika la Habari la Tanzania (Shihata) katika mwaka 1995.

Katika kipindi cha uchaguzi mkuu wa kwanza katika mfumo wa vyama vingi, Prof Othman alikuwa mwenyekiti wa taasisi ya wangaalizi wa ndani wa uchaguzi ambayo iliingia katika lawama kubwa baada ya kusema uchaguzi mkuu wa Zanzibar wa mwaka 1995 haukuwa huru na haki jambo ambalo lilimsababishia kuwekewa chuki na baadhi ya viongozi wa Zanzibar kutokana na msimamo huo.

Waangalizi waliokuwa chini ya Professa Othman walitoa taarifa ya kwamba uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 1995 haukuwa huru na haki tofauti na taarifa ya Tume ya Uchaguzi Zanzibar (ZEC).

Mwezi uliopita alihudhuria semina iliyowakutanisha waandishi wa habari waandamizi kuhusu jinsi ya kuhakikisha chaguzi zinazofuata zinakuwa huru na haki bila ya kutawaliwa na fujo pamoja na kutoa mafunzo ya sheria za kimataifa na haki za binaadamu kwa makamanda na wakuu vya vyuo vya mafunzo Zanzibar, ikiwa ni hatua moja ya kuwaelimisha juu ya masuala ya ukiukwaji wa haki za binaadamu.

"Nikiwa hai inshaallah nataka kushuhudia uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 2010 unafuata misingi yote ya demokrasia na haki za binadamu, zaidi kwa vyombo vya habari," alisema Prof Othman katika semina hiyo.

Akizungumzia kifo hicho, Mwanadiplomasia Dk. Salim Ahmed Salim na katibu mkuu wa CUF, Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad walieleza kupokea taarifa hizo kwa mshituko mkubwa na kwamba msomi huyo atakumbukwa kwa mengi, lakini wakasema kubwa zaidi ni utetezi wake kwa wanyonge na kupigania haki za binaadamu.

Naye Prof Abdallah Safari alisema amepokea kwa masikitiko makubwa taarifa za kifo cha msomi huyo na kuelezea kifo chake kuwa ni msiba mkubwa kwa wanataaluma na jamii kwa ujumla.

"Unajua pengo la Prof Haroub ni kubwa na si kirahisi kuzibika katika Chuo kikuu cha Dar es Salaam kwa sababu kifo cha mwanataaluma siku zote pengo lake huwa kubwa sana," alisema Profesa Safari.

Alimfananisha Prof Haroub na wanafalsafa wa zamani kama Walter Rodney, aliyeandika kitabu kinachoelezea jinsi Ulaya ilivyorudisha nyuma maendeleo ya kiuchumi ya Afrika, na kwamba dunia imempoteza mwanadiplomasia mkubwa.

"Kwa Tanzania ukitaka uchambuzi mzuri wa migogoro hususan ya Mashariki ya Kati, Afrika na nchi nyingine, basi bila ya kumpata Profesa Haroub ni vigumu kupata uchambuzi uliokamilika," alisema.

Alisema hii ni wiki ya misiba mikubwa kwa sababu Tanzania imempoteza Sheikh Suleiman Mohamed Gorogosi, aliyefariki kwa ajali ya gari na mwanamuziki nyota wa miondoko ya pop, Michael Jackson wa Marekani.

Alimkumbuka Prof Othman wakati alipofundisha katika miaka ya sabini akiwa UDSM na kuelezea kuwa walikuwa na uhusiano mzuri.

Prof Othman alikuwa mstari wa mbele kuikosoa SMZdhidi ya ukandamizaji na ukiukwaji wa haki za raia.

Prof Othman ameacha mjane ambaye ni Professa Saida Othman na mtoto mmoja, Tahir Othman.

TAMASHA la 12 la filamu la kimataifa la Zanzibar (ZIFF), 2009 limezinduliwa rasmi jana mjini hapa katika eneo la Mji Mkongwe, viwanja vya Ngome Kongwe kuhudhuriwa na umati mkubwa wa watu.

Burudani kutoka kwa mshairi Mrisho Mpoto 'Mjomba', Beni na Siti zilipamba uzinduzi wa tamasha hilo ambalo litaendelea hadi Julai 12.

Baada ya uzinduzi huo, filamu ya Izulu Lami (My Secret Sky) ya dakika 93 ilionyeshwa.

Kwa mujibu wa Mkurugenzu wa ZIFF, Profesa Muhando, Watanzania wameingiza filamu 13 katika tamasha hilo na mgeni wake rasmi anatazamiwa kuwa muigizaji maarufu wa Hollywood, Danny Glover.

Danny Glover anatarajiwa kwasili nchini Jumatatu tayari kwa ratiba ndefu ikiwa ni pamoja na mwaliko wa Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa la Kuhudumia Watoto (Unicef) na kuwatembelea watoto walioathirika na ugonjwa wa ukimwi.

KAIMU Mufti wa Tanzania, Sheikh Suleiman Gorogosi amefariki dunia katika ajali ya gari iliyotokea kwenye Kijiji cha Mnolela Wilaya ya Lindi Vijijini baada ya tairi ya mbele ya gari alilokuwa akisafiria kutoka Mtwara kupasuka na kupinduka.

Habari zilizopatikana na kuthibitishwa na Kamanda wa Polisi wa Mkoa wa Lindi, Sifuel Shirima zinaeleza kuwa tukio hilo lilitokea jana saa 8:09 katika barabara ya Mtwara-Lindi wakati akitokea Uwanja wa Ndege Mtwara baada ya kushuka kwenye ndege akitoa jijini Dar es Salaam.

Kamanda Shirima alisema katika gari hilo kulikuwa na watu watatu, akiwamo Bakari Maguo, mfanyabiashara wa Lindi ambaye ni mmiliki wa gari hilo na aliyewahi kuwa Mwenyekiti wa CCM Lindi mjini, Bakari Fundi ambao wamejeruhiwa na kulazwa katika Hospitali ya Ligula mkoani Mtwara.

Gorogosi alikuwa amekwenda Lindi kufungisha ndoa ya mtoto wa Maguo ambaye ni mfanyakazi mstaafu wa Shirika la Taifa la Mfuko wa Hifadhi ya Jamii (NSSF), ambayo ilikuwa ifungwe leo.

Ndugu wa marehemu Abilahi Mohammed aliiambia Mwananchi Jumapili jana kuwa mazishi wa Gorogosi ambaye alikuwa Sheikh Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Lindi yatafanyika saa 10:00 jioni leo jioni mjini humo.

Pia Baraza la Waislam Tanzania (Bakwata), lilitoa taarifa jana jioni likieleza kuwa Gorogosi lilithibitisha kifo cha Gologosi na kueleza kuwa atazikwa leo.

Marehemu ameacha wake wawili. Kabla ya kifo chake alikuwa pia mjumbe wa baraza la Ulamaa la Bakwata.

Siku za hivi karibuni, Sheikh Gorogosi alikuwa akisumbuliwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari ambao ulimfanya kulazwa katika hospitali binafsi ya Fire jijini Dar es Salaam kwa wiki mbili, na juzi aliruhusiwa kurudi nyumbani kabla ya kwenda Lindi.

Mufti Sheikh Issa Bin Shaaban Simba alivunja baraza la maulamaa na kamati ya hija ya baraza hilo na kuviunda tena vyombo hivyo, huku akimkabidhi kukaimu nafasi yake Sheikh Gorogosi.

Mufti Simba, ambaye awali alikuwa Sheikh wa Bakwata Mkoa wa Shinyanga, alichaguliwa na Mkutano Mkuu wa Bakwata kushika wadhifa wa Umufti Oktoba 13, mwaka 2002, mkoani Dodoma katika uchaguzi ambao, masheikh tisa walijitokeza kuwania wadhifa huo. 



Masheikh hao, ni pamoja na marehemu Sheikh Gorogosi, Sheikh Suleiman Kilemile, Mbunge wa zamani wa Kibiti, Profesa Juma Mikidadi, Imamu Mkuu wa Msikiti wa Ma`amur, jijini Dar es Salaam, Sheikh Ahmed Twalib, Imamu Mkuu wa Msikiti wa Manyema, Kariakoo, Hamid Jongo.

Wengine, ni aliyekuwa Naibu Mufti, Sheikh Abubakar Zubeir, aliyekuwa Mjumbe wa Baraza la Ulamaa la Bakwata, Sheikh Ahmed Zubeir, Sheikh wa Bakwata Mkoa wa Kigoma, Tawfiq Malilo na aliyekuwa Msaidizi wa Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Dini (Kitengo cha Usuluhishi) ya Bakwata, Sheikh Twaha Majaliwa.

Lakini vipimo vingine vikiwemo vya sumu vimechukuliwa ambapo uchunguzi wake unaweza kuchukua majuma kadhaa, ofisi ya mchunguzi wa vifo vya Los Angeles ilieleza.

Maafisa wamesharuhusu ndugu kuuchukua mwili wa Jackson, lakini bado hakujawa na taarifa zozote kuhusu mazishi yake.

Waombolezaji wakiwemo wasanii wenzake, viongozi wa mataifa mbali mbali na mashabiki wamekuwa wakitoa rambi rambi zao kwa mwanamuziki huyo.

Jackson aliyekufa akiwa na umri wa miaka 50, siku ya kifo chake alikimbizwa hospitalini huko Los Angeles, Marekani, baada ya kupata matatizo yanayodhaniwa kuwa ya moyo.

Taarifa za awali zilieleza kuwa mwanamuziki huyo alikuwa hapumui wakati madaktari wa huduma ya kwanza walipofika kumsaidia nyumbani kwake maeneo ya Bel Air yapata saa sita na nusu majira ya huko. Lakini mwishowe maafisa wakathibitisha kifo chake.

Utata mkubwa uligubika hali ya afya ya mwanamuziki huyo aliyewahi kutamba na albamu mbali mbali kama Thriller.

Michael Jackson, the child star turned King of Pop who set the world dancing but whose musical genius was overshadowed by a bizarre lifestyle and sex scandals, died on Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson was pronounced dead at about 2:26 p.m. PDT (2126 GMT) after arriving at a Los Angeles hospital in full cardiac arrest, said Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. The cause of death was not known and an autopsy would likely take place on Friday, he said.

Jackson's sudden death had been reported earlier by U.S. media, which said he was taken ill at his home and rushed to the hospital by paramedics who found him not breathing when they arrived.

Known as the "King of Pop," for hits that included "Thriller" and "Billie Jean," Jackson's dramatic, one-gloved stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.

He transformed music videos and his lifetime record sales tally is believed to be around 750 million, which, added to the 13 Grammy Awards he received, made him one of the most successful entertainers of all time.

But Jackson's belief that "I am Peter Pan in my heart", his preference for the company of children, his friendship with a chimp, his high-pitched voice and numerous plastic surgeries also earned him critics and the nickname "Wacko Jacko."

Jackson, who had lived as a virtual recluse since his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation, had been scheduled to launch a comeback tour from London next month.

Quincy Jones, who helped arrange the music on the album "Thriller" and produced the "Off the Wall" album, told MSNBC: "I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news."

"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

SOLD-OUT SHOWS

Jackson had been due to start a series of concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010. The singer had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months. The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale in March.

"Rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent, and vision as Michael Jackson," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy in a statement.

"He was a true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim."

There were concerns about Jackson's health in recent years but the promoters of the London shows, AEG Live, said in March that Jackson had passed a 4-1/2 hour physical examination with independent doctors.

Outside the hospital in Los Angeles about 200 fans and reporters gathered on Thursday, waiting for confirmation of Jackson's death or condition.

Some fans were crying and hugging each other, and others were climbing atop fences to get a better look at a microphone stand where a news conference was supposed to take place.

"I hope he's gone to God, and I hope that he's free of all the troubles he's been plagued with," Tonya Blazer, 50, who said she had been a fan going back more than four decades to his days as a child star.

"I just feel like I'm paying tribute to him," said Dawn Burgess, 42, a fan who said she had posters of Michael pinned to her bedroom wall when she was a child.

CHILD STAR TO MEGASTAR

Jackson was born on Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. Five Jackson boys -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael -- first performed together at a talent show when Michael was 6. They walked off with first prize and went on to become a best-selling band, The Jackson Five, and then The Jackson 5.

Jackson made his first solo album in 1972, and released "Thriller" in 1982, which became a smash hit that yielded seven top-10 singles. The album sold 21 million copies in the United States and at least 27 million worldwide.

The next year, he unveiled his signature "moonwalk" dance move while performing "Billie Jean" during an NBC special.

In 1994, Jackson married Elvis Presley's only child, Lisa Marie, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Jackson married Debbie Rowe the same year and had two children, before splitting in 1999. The couple never lived together.

Jackson has three children named Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, known for his brief public appearance when his father held him over the railing of a hotel balcony, causing widespread criticism.

New Yorkers and tourists in the city's Times Square were shocked at the news of Jackson's death.

"I don't know what to say. It's sad, it's really, really sad," said Nicole Smith, an 18-year-old student from Brooklyn, New York, in Times Square. "My mother was a fan. I listened to his music."

"I'm shocked. I thought someone was lying to me when I first heard it. I was a fan from when he was a little boy and then he got weird," said Sue Sheider, 51, a teacher from Long Island.