BARRICK Gold Tanzania Limited has been on a charm offensive. They have tried to explain the hastiness of the deal they did with energy and minerals minister, Naz Karamagi. 

They have tried to spray some cologne on the deal. It is the Buzwagi rip-off. I call it a suspected rip off because -- how come the legislature did not get to look at the deal? You cannot let one man sell a chunk of land, gold filled underneath for that matter, for the rest of us. Not in my name!

The other day Barrick presented some men in suits to try to explain the whole deal. 'Eti', telling the reasons that if government postponed to sign the deal could have potentially harmed the confidence which investors have in the Tanzanian investment climate. Which is crap, of course?

That talk about investor climates is just jargon bureaucrats use to confuse the Tanzanians. 'Wanatufanya mabwege'. They are taking us for certified dum dums.

Why was there such a hurry to make Naz Karamagi sign that deal? As Chadema MP Zitto Kabwe asked, why can't the rest of us take a look at the deal? The gold has been there for thousand of years -- why the hurry now? Maybe Barrick should have said that if the deal was delayed, the gold would rot! Barrick gold men in suits could have given us a more valid reason for the rush more than the investor confidence
crap.

If I was the minister of minerals I would have said that the investors can wait or go to hell. After all Buzwagi belongs to the people of the United Republic of Tanzania. Those investors could always go to some other place and dig gold, not Tanzania. It is our gold, if you don't like it just buzz off!

It is our gold for heavens sake! Why are we Tanzanians
being a bunch of stupid people? People come here to make themselves rich 'eti', investors. And they treat us like slime. Trash. And some of us accept that for a few pieces of silver.

I know what will come next. The dear reader should be on alert on who really owns the shares at Barrick gold. One would ask, besides Barrick, who else has an interest in the mine?

I smell a rat! The trouble is it stinks and it stinks big. And it is very irksome when some few so-called smart guys think they can take us for fools and take us for a ride in the name of working for our best interests.

One day the real truth will come out, if it is not
coming out now. 'Waroho tu!'
Mbwene2@yahoo.com