Extraordinary moments. Extraordinary things.

Katika hali inayoonesha uelewa wenye upeo wa tofauti na pengine mfano mzuri wenye manufaa kabisa kwa Taifa lolote kupitia nyanja za siasa, raisi mteule wa Marekani bw. Barack Obama amewakutanisha na kukutana na waliokuwa maraisi wa nchi ya Marekani (watatu waliopita, wa sasa, na mtarajiwa yeye mwenyewe).

Maraisi wote walio hai ambao waliwahi kuhudumu katika Ikulu ya Marekani walikutana na kujadili juu ya mustakabali wa hali ya Taifa lao inayotatizwa na kuyumbishwa na suala la uchumi.

There they stood, shoulder-to-shoulder in the Oval Office: George H.W. Bush, Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club. In an image bound to go down in history, every living U.S. president came together at the White House on Wednesday to hash over the world's challenges with the president-elect. 

It was a moment of statesmanship that tends to happen when presidents get together, no matter how bitter their previous rivalries.

Pengine ni jambo la pekee sana kujifunza kuwa, WaMarekani wana umoja wa kitaifa wa aina ya pekee sana pale wanapokuwa wanataka kuzungumzia mambo yanayolihusu Taifa lao. Inapofikia hatua ya kuachana na silka, itikadi mrengo wa chama na kukaa pamoja kama ndugu, ile dhana ya 'umoja ni nguvu' ama 'penye wengi haliharibiki jambo' huleta maana kamili.

"I just want to thank the president for hosting us," Obama said. When a reporter asked Obama what he could learn from the mistakes of the four presidents surrounding him, he smiled and said he planned to learn from their successes.

Carter, Clinton and the two Bush presidents were last together at the Washington funeral service of President Gerald Ford in 2007. And presidents have gathered at other occasions over the years. But not since October 1981 — 27 years ago — had all of the living presidents gathered at the White House.

Natamani jambo kama hili lingeweza kufanyika katika nchi yetu ya Tanzania tena likapanuliwa hadi kufikia kuwakutanisha Mawaziri wa wastaafu na wale wa vyama vya upinzani na kisha kuweka maamuzi na kufuatilia utekelezaji wake kwa vitendo.

One message that I have, and I think we all share, is that we want you to succeed," Bush added, a beaming Clinton at his other side. "Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country." I want to thank the president-elect for joining the ex-presidents for lunch," said Bush, who is in fact still the president until Jan. 20.

Sijui watawala wetu wanapoketi na kupanga mipango madhubuti inayoashiria kuleta maendeleo lakini wakashindwa kusimamia utekelezaji wake na kupima matokeo ya mipango yao huwa wanajifikiria vipi. Huwa najiuliza kama kweli viongozi wetu huwa wanafikiria kabisa, wachilia mbali kujipangia ratiba ya kufuatilia mipango wanayowaambia wananchi waitekeleze. Nadhani hapa ndipo mahala pamojawapo, (kutokuwepo ufuatiliaji), pa vyanzo vya ni kwa nini sisi kama Taifa tunakosa kusonga mbele na kutimiza malengo tunayojiwekea ama tunayowekewa na watawala wetu.

This is an extraordinary gathering.

All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office," Obama said. "And for me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary. And I'm very grateful to all of them, Obama said.