It's Been A Hard 12-Step Road For Zanzibar's Heroin Addicts

Could a 12-step program, with its Christian roots, help addicts recover on a conservative Muslim island in the Indian Ocean?


Suleiman Mauly was desperate to find out. He'd been using heroin in his native Zanzibar since age 17. The island nation is a key stop for heroin smuggled from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Europe. An estimated 7 percent of the 1 million inhabitants are heroin addicts.

Mauly had tried to get clean a couple of times. It didn't work. Then he discovered a 12-step program in Mombasa, Kenya.

He not only stopped using drugs but also made amends to friends and family he'd harmed as an addict. "And before you make amends, you have to search yourself, your feelings of guilt and resentment," says Mauly, now 34 and in recovery for eight years. "It's a kind of Christian spiritual process." Indeed, the 12-step program, founded in Akron, Ohio, some 80 years ago, relies on Christian concepts: confession, redemption, submission to a higher power.

"People have different experiences with the higher power," he says. "Some of them say it's Allah. Some of them, Jesus. For me, the power greater than myself was a program, a group and my family. And then later, I've started to understand how to rely on God." He is largely responsible for introducing the program to his country.

But the program's Christian connection turned out to be a sensitive topic in Zanzibar, where the mostly Muslim population has long had a frictional relationship with the mostly Christian mainland.

For example, one of the core principles of 12-step is submission to a higher power, often shorthanded as "HP."

Abdulrahman Abdullah remembers the first time he told his mother about HP. "She said, 'Come here, talk about Allah. Don't give a [expletive] about your HP,' you know?" He laughs now at the memory, but he says his mother still worries that 12-step will be a gateway to conversion to Christianity.

Many islanders have been won over by the program's success. Six years after Mauly brought 12-step to Zanzibar, there are 11 recovery houses that have treated 3,000 addicts. He serves as head of Recovery Community Zanzibar, which is staffed by former addicts, and is also a community outreach officer with Tanzania Health Promotion Support.

But Zanzibar's traditional values could bend only so far. Mauly says that while he successfully introduced the concept of 12-step for men, he's been unable to get community support for a women's program.

"Because they give up hope with women," Mauly says. Women often turn to prostitution to support their drug habit. For traditional Muslims in Zanzibar, Mauly says, that is an act from which there can be no redemption.

Using funds he diverted from the men's clinic, Mauly opened a recovery house for women last month. He says he's not just trying to help women recover. He's trying to change local culture and make Zanzibaris see that women too can find redemption.

"You never know," he says with a smile, "when someone will be saved."

NPR's Frederica Boswell has reported on Mauly's story since he set up his first sober house. On a visit in January, she photographed him, staff members at the rehab centers and some of the recovering addicts, with their permission.



Abdulrahman "Mani" Abdullah was in and out of rehab and jail for 22 years in the United Kingdom. Since returning to Zanzibar, he's been clean for five years. He's the general secretary of Recovery Community Zanzibar.

"I sincerely had a desire to stop using and change my life because I was sick and tired, and I had lost everything that I've ever had in my life: my relationship with my God, with myself, with my family. I didn't have anybody, and I was so desperate. I would have done anything to get myself out, and with the help of the brothers, they've made my life better today."




Mwanahamisi Aysha
Divorced with two children, Mwanahamisi Aysha was only 18 days into recovery in this photo. She started using drugs at age 18 and admits to stealing and selling her body to support her habit. She's been jailed many times; this is her third attempt at sobriety.

"I have no religion. I was born Muslim. I was brought up as a Muslim. And I believe, but the things I have done in the course of my addiction have not been Islamic. They are wrong. I believe that one day I will repent and go back to my religion, but for now, what I am is a pagan."




Zuhura Khamisi
is a volunteer and mentor at Malaika Sober House. At 34, she's been in recovery for a year and nine months. She married a former addict, then left him when he relapsed. Her goal is to find a job to look after her five children.

"My boyfriend started me on drugs. By the time we left each other, I was very far gone. I had no job, no money, but I had to continue taking drugs. When he left me, I was just like in Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video — you know the people who come out of the graves — because I was so, so tired of the drugs. I was told about the sober house from a friend. The first time, I relapsed. After a while, I came back, and now I am very happy because I've been here now one year and nine months, and I'm feeling human again."

Tatu Makame
Tatu Makame had been at the Malaika Sober House for 16 days. She's 31 and says she started off drinking, then smoked marijuana, then moved on to heroin. This is her second attempt at getting clean. Khadija Juma, 29, had come from Dar es Salaam and was two days into recovery.

Makame: "I want a child. My sister has got three children, and I've not been able to have one. I'm now very lucky. I'm pregnant, so my goal is to have this baby and stay clean to bring it up. It was the pregnancy that made me come to the sober house, because I can't be pregnant and doing drugs. And I want this baby."

Juma: "I'm here because I'm tired."

Seif Umche and Larry Isaac Lugombe
Seif Umche, 28, in the lilac shirt, had been in recovery for one month. He started using in 2003 and says he became a liar and a thief. Now he asks for help from God. Larry Isaac Lugombe, 21 and in the bright green shirt, had been at Detroit sober house for three months and six days, with 24 days to go. He hopes to move to Canada and start school.

Umche: "I failed at my life. I failed at school. My life was bad outside. When I got here, I couldn't hit the punching bag, because when I got here I was close to death. I had no strength, but now I'm in recovery. I want to now leave my life to God."

Lugombe: "I plummeted through life. I was born in South Africa. I lived a bit in Canada, then I moved to Dar es Salaam. Life kind of got hard. I didn't understand how life worked, so I started using drugs. Being here has opened my mind in ways I couldn't understand. I've learned things and experienced things that I didn't think I would. Because some of the people here come with really creepy stories, and I figured out that life could get a lot worse. And I'm proud of myself for making the step of understanding my problem and trying to solve it. I have a lot of hope that I'll be somebody. That's what I'm counting on, to be somebody."



Mosi Tamim Khalfani
Mosi Tamim Khalfani, 22, was 11 days into her recovery when this picture was taken. Two days later, she left the house and is believed to have relapsed.

"I've relapsed eight times. I'm back now, and when I get out of here, I certainly don't want a man for at least two or three years, because he might put me back into drugs. I also don't want to get a job, because I believe if I get a job and I have money to spend I'll buy drugs again. I have three brothers at home who are also on drugs, so I don't want to go and live at home. They say things like 'we're giving her two weeks and then she'll go back to using.' God will help me.' "


Source: NPR

Zitto Ruyangwa Kabwe, Ndie Kinara Katika Twitter Tanzania

Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini Mhe. Zitto R. Kabwe 38 ndie mtanzania na mwanasiasa mwenye wapenzi wengi zaidi katika mtandao wa Twitter nchini Tanzania. Zitto ana zaidi ya wapenzi/wafuatialiaji 220K, hivyo kumweka katika nafasi ya kwanza kwa nchi ya Tanzania kwa mjibu wa mtandao wa Socialbakers.

Matumizi ya mtandao wa Twitter katika Tanzania umewaweka kando wanasiasa, ukimwondoa Mhe. Zitto ambae pia ni mwanasiasa toka Chama cha Upinzani. Wengi wenye wapenzi wengi katika Tanzania ni Wasanii kwenye fani za Muziki na Vichekesho. Hii ni tofauti kigodo na baadhi ya nchi zingine katika Afrika. Kwa mfano Afrika ya Magharibi, Wachezaji wa mpira wa miguu ndio wenye wapenzi wengi kama vile Didier Drogba wa Cote d'Ivoire mwenye wapenzi 520K, Mali ni Frederic Kanoute mwenye wafuatiliaji 213K na Togo, Emmanuel Adebayor ndie kinara akiwa na jumla ya wafuatiliaji 137K.

Kwa Afrika ya Mashariki,jirani zetu Kenya, Rais Uhuru Kenyatta ndie mwenye wapenzi wengi zaidi nchini humo kwa idadi ya 716K, hali Uganda nafasi ya juu ikishikwa na mfanyabiashara Ashish J. Thakkar mwenye wafuatiliaji 720K, huku Rwanda nafasi ya kwanza ikienda kwa Rais wa nchi hiyo Paul Kagame kwa kuwa na wafuatiliaji 786K.

Tukirudi hapa Tanzania Wasanii ndio wanao wafuatiliaji wengi, kama vile Masanja Mkandamizaji 181K, Millardayo 190K,Ambwene AY 164K, Diamond Platnumz 154K, Jokate Mwegelo 160K, MwanaFa 145K.

Mfanyabiashara mwenye wapenzi wengi hapa nyumbani ni Reginald Mengi akiwa na wafuatiliaji 130K.

Kwa upande wa Zanzibar, Zantel ndio yenye wafuatiliaji wengi wakiwa ni 7K

Mawaziri wa Afya Zanzibar na wa Jamhuri ya Muungano Tanzania Wakutana na Watanzania - Ujerumani

Mhe. Seif Rashid, Waziri wa Afya Zanzibar.


Mhe. Rashid Seif Suleiman, Waziri wa Afya Tanzania.


Baadhi ya Watanzania (FFU-Ujerumani)katika picha ya pamoja na Mhe. Rashid Seif Suleiman


Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii wa Jamhuri ya Muungano Mhe.Seif Rashid na Waziri wa Afya wa Zanzibar Mhe. Rashid Seif Suleiman, Siku ya jumapili 25 Januari 2015, walikutana na kuongea na baadhi ya Watanzania waishio nchini Ujerumani katika Hoteli ya Martim, mjini Berlin.

Mawaziri hao kwa pamoja waliongozana na balozi Tanzania nchini Ujerumani mheshimiwa Bw.Philip Malmo,katika mkutano huo Mawaziri hao wote walielezea jinsi wizara zao zinavyofanya kazi kuhakikisha kuwa huduma za afya zinawafakia walio wengi na pia kuhakikisha siku za usoni kila mtanzania atanufahika na huduma hizo kwa kutumia bima ya afya bila kujali tofouti za uwezo wa vipato vyao.

Watanzania waishio ujerumani wamefarajika sana na mkutano huo, pia Mawaziri wamewataka Watanzania waishio ughaibuni kuchangia kuwekeza katika sekta ya huduma ya afya hata ikiwa ni sekta binafsi,

Mawaziri hao wamesema milango ya wizara zao hipo wazi kwa watanzania wanaotaka ushauri,ushirikiano au kuwekeza katika sekta hizo.



Source: Msema Kweli- Ujerumani

Muscat Festival 2015: Tanzanian painter recreates the beauty of Zanzibar

They hail from the United Republic of Tanzania, but their works are as diverse as their country that comprises numerous ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. Fred Halla uses acrylic and canvas to send strong messages to the authorities to improve civic amenities, Salim Muchin recreates the beauty of Zanzibar, while Moosa Suleiman loves to depict the vibrant and striking appearance of animal kingdom.

One doesn't need to be an art wizard to enjoy their paintings on display at the international exhibition centre at the Muscat Festival venue in Amerat Park. Though the artists have given subtle touches to their works, the subjects are so familiar for people in any part of the world.

"I use the medium to urge authorities to improve civic amenities. It is quite natural for an artist to express anguish through his works," Fred points to one of his drawings that show people running helter skelter to board a city bus in Dar es Salaam. But being a versatile artist, he doesn't ignore the beauty of his country. "It took considerable time to finish the beautiful Tanzanian woman and her colourful clothing. Painting is my passion, and all my works have a story to tell," says Fred.

Hailing from Zanzibar, Salim Muchin's works shows the rich tradition of Zanzibar. Being a painter who pays close attention to detail, Salim has portrayed dhows of different size and shape, old streets and many landmarks from his province. His works also reveal Zanzibar's cultural links with the Sultanate of Oman. "Zanzibar has a rich cultural heritage. I travel to different parts of the region to understand the tradition and history. It gives me the inspiration and gives ideas. I am happy that people identify Oman's cultural links with Zanzibar through my works," says Salim.

When visitors step in to Moosa Suleiman's gallery, they feel as if they are entering into a zoo in Tanzania. All his 60 oil paintings on display show the vibrancy inside the animal kingdom. He shows giraffes, rhinos, zebras, elephants, deers, peacocks living peacefully in nature's lap. The wise selection of colours makes his works attractive, and many children have already taken the paintings to their homes. "I derive inspiration from nature, and I observe the intricate patterns of birds and animals before putting it to the canvas."

But what makes Moosa's paintings different is the use of bright colours. "Bright colours give a distinct look to the animals in a natural habitat. An artist should use his skills to think differently and make his works more attractive," said the diminutive artist, adding "I have to spend more than two days to complete one painting. So I never compromise on quality and try to make it more attractive," he says.



Source: Times of Oman