Africa, Analysis, Side Feature

Cosmetic Drug War to Further Diversion

Tanzanian and international media outlets reported on the ongoing drug war in Tanzania, whereby Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda named some prominent businessmen, church leaders, politicians, various celebrities and police officers among suspects linked to this illicit trade. City Regional Commissioner instructed all suspects to report to the police station for interrogation and providing assistance in tracing sources of drugs supply.

Comments:

In the year 2011, Wikileaks website revealed various prominent politicians who were involved in international drug dealing using their high rank position. There are also allegations from various writers on CIA involvement in drugs trafficking.

It is an undeniable fact that narcotics victimize many in terms of addiction and trafficking. According to a new UN World Drug report, the global number of drug abusers has risen to 29 million from 27 million from recent years. Tanzania alone has more than 1000 traffickers languishing in foreign jails and 68 of them are convicted to death in China not to mention thousands of domestic addicts.

Drugs barons scattered worldwide enjoying profitable trade which is considered the third most profitable business in the world after the sales of petroleum and weapons.

As a matter of course, this sophisticated illicit trade requires cartel and that includes drug lords, key government officers to succeed. While all work via a high-level conspiracy associating police, national intelligence, sea and airports officials, etc.

As the matter of fact, not any major drugs dealers would be arrested except trivial peddlers as a cosmetic effect to fool masses and further promoting trade even higher. If you observe and trace back the so-called war on drugs, you will find that the trade is mounting to a higher level decades after decades.

Capitalists-secularists cannot hinder this acceleration rather they tend to publicise and propagate it. Democratic/capitalist system views everything in profitable angle neglecting any other outcomes even harms. Also it glorifies the ‘freedom’ to be utilized in every aspect of life, while the meaning of happiness in the life is to satisfy physical needs and instincts according to their lust and limitless desires. That is why drug supply, abusing and other alcohol trade are exaggerated on a daily basis.

Since Tanzania imitates this system where its benchmark is profit, politicians can not in any way distance themselves from world’s political tycoon in this trade. Therefore the measures being taken to combat drugs is empty slogan, rather than its promotion. On the other hand, they capitalize via this saga for political maneuvering and political diversion and fooling people from current economic crisis hunger, unemployment, mass students failure in secondary school  examinations to name a few.

Islam as a complete way of life which is implemented via the Khilafah state will put drugs, all alcohol and other illicit trades to an end. It will not prioritise profit over lives thereby using the basis of halal and haram in the State. As for pleasure and peace of mind will be achieved through adhering to Allah’s commandments and believing in qadhaa wal qadar irrespectively of drug abuse.

 

Ramadhan Said Njera

Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Tanzania