MBOWE KUPANGUA ‘MAWAZIRI’ WAKE!

• HATIMA YA NAFASI ZA ZITTO KUJULIKANA KARIBUNI
• ALIYEMLALAMIKIA KUHOJIWA POLISI MAKAO MAKUU LEO

Na Goodluck Hongo

   Kiongozi wa Kambi Rasmi Upinzani Bungeni na Mwenyekiti wa CHADEMA, Freeman Mbowe, anatazamiwa kufanya mabadiliko kwa Baraza lake la Mawaziri Kivuli, wakati wowote katika kipindi cha Mkutano ujao wa Bunge ili kutekeleza maagizo ya Kamati Kuu iliyokutana hivi karibuni na kumvua wadhifa wake Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe.

Zitto amevuliwa wadhifa wake wa Naibu Katibu Mkuu kutokana na kile kinachodaiwa anahusika kuandaa waraka wa kufanya mapinduzi ya viongozi ndani ya chama hicho.

Kwa mujibu wa vyanzo vya habari kutoka ndani ya chama hicho vililiambia gazeti hili kuwa Kamati Kuu ambayo ndiyo inasimamia Kambi Rasmi ya Upinzani Bungeni, hivyo mara baada ya kutangaza kumvua Zitto, wadhifa wake (unaibu katibu mkuu) ilielekezwa uanze mchakato wa kumuondoa kwenye nafasi zake.

Bungeni, Zitto ni Naibu Kiongozi wa Kambi Rasmi akiwa msaidizi wa Mbowe na Waziri Kivuli wa

 Wizara ya Fedha. " Kwa nafasi yake ndiye alikuwa akishiriki kuandaa bajeti ya upinzani bungeni, kuwasilisha bajeti ya wizara ya fedha akiwa waziri kivuli, lakini kwa kuvuliwa wadhifa wake maana yake haaminiki tena," alisema mmoja wa watoa habari ndani ya chama hicho kwa sharti la jina lake kutochapishwa gazetini.

Hata hivyo, juhudi za kumpata Mkurugenzi wa Habari na Uenezi wa CHADEMA, John Mnyika, ili kuweza kuzungumzia suala hilo ziligonga mwamba kutokana na simu yake ya kiganjani kutopokelewa.

Wakati huo huo, Jeshi la Polisi Makao Makuu jijini Dar es Salaam leo linatarajia kufanya mahojiano na Katibu wa CHADEMA mkoa wa Dar es Salaam, Henry Kileo, baada ya mahojiano hayo kukwama kufanyika jana kutokana na malalamiko yanayodaiwa kuwasilishwa na Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe.

Mahojiano hayo yalikuwa yafanyike Makao Makuu ya Jeshi la Polisi jijini Dar es Salaam jana mchana, lakini yaliahirishwa muda mfupi baada ya Kileo kuwasili akiwa na mwanasheria wake na makada wengine wa CHADEMA.

Baada ya kufika maofisa wa Polisi walifanya mazungumzo na mwanasheria wake, lakini baada ya muda walikubaliana yafanyike leo saa tano.

Akizungumza na gazeti hili jana, Kileo, alisema awali mahojiano yalitakiwa yafanyike jana saa nane mchana, lakini walichelewa kufika makao makuu ya polisi kutokana na wakili wake kuchelewa kwani alikuwa na kesi makao makuu ya Polisi.

Kileo, alipoulizwa anatakiwa polisi kwa ajili ya makosa gani, alisema hana taarifa kwa undani, kwani alipigiwa simu na ofisa aliyejitambulisha kwa jina la Mbutta na kumwambia kuwa anatakiwa kufika makao makuu ya Polisi kwa mahojiano kutokana na malalamiko ambayo Zitto, ameyafikisha.

"Niliambiwa nahitajika kujibu tuhuma ambazo Zitto amezifikisha Polisi, lakini sikuelezwa ni tuhuma gani hizo," alisema Kileo. Alipoulizwa ni kwa nini Zitto apeleke shtaka hilo Makao Makuu ya Polisi, badala ya vituo vingine kama ilivyo kawaida, Kilewo alijibu; "Mimi sijui labda wapigie polisi ili muwaulize swali hilo."

Gazeti moja (sio Majira) jana lilichapisha habari inayoeleza kuwa Zitto, amemfungulia mashtaka Kileo akimtuhumu kusambaza waraka katika mitandao ya kijamii unaomhusisha na mipango ya kufanya mapinduzi ya chama hicho

WAJASIRIAMALI WAONYWA KUHUSU SIASA

 Na Suleiman Abeid, Shinyanga

Wanachama wa vikundi vya wajasiriamali wadogo katika kata ya Kitangili Manispaa ya Shinyanga wametakiwa kuepuka kuingiza siasa katika vikundi vinginevyo vitasambaratika

.

Tahadhari hiyo ilitolewa juzi na diwani wa viti maalumu (CCM) manispaa ya Shinyanga, Mariamu Nyangaka, alipokuwa akizungumza na viongozi wa vikund imbalimbali vya wajasiriamali waliokutana kwa ajili ya kuanzisha Chama cha Ushirika wa Akiba na Mikopo (SACCOS ).

Nyangaka alisema viongozi wa vikundi vya wajasiriamali pamoja na wanachama wao kwa ujumla wanatakiwa kuhakikisha wanaendesha shughuli zao bila kuingiza au kutanguliza itikadi ya vyama vya siasa katika vikundi vyao kitu ambacho kinaweza kusababisha mgawanyiko miongoni mwao.

Alisema wapo baadhi ya wanasiasa wanaotumia wajasiriamali wadogo kufikia malengo yao waliyojipangia huku wengine wakidiriki hata kuwazuia wafuasi wa vyama vyao wasishirikiane na watu ambao si wafuasi wa vyama vyao vya siasa hata kama shughuli zao zinapaswa kuendeshwa kwa ushirikiano wa pamoja.

"Ndugu zangu mkakati ambao mnataka kuuanzisha ni mkakati mzuri utawasaidia kuendesha shughuli zenu kwa ufanisi mkubwa, mtakapokuwa na SACCOS yenu itawasaidia kuweza kupata mitaji ya kuendesha biashara zenu kupitia mikopo mtakayokopa yenye masharti nafuu tofauti na inayotolewa na benki zetu nyingi nchini,"alisema.

"Lakini naomba mjihadhari na siasa katika vikundi vyenu, mkimruhusu mdudu huyu kuwa miongoni mwenu eleweni wazi hamtadumu kwa kipindi kirefu, hakikisheni mnaendesha shughuli zenu bila kuchanganya na itikadi za kisiasa na wakemeeni wale wote watakaoonesha dalili za kuingiza siasa ndani ya vikundi," alisema Nyangaka.

Kwa upande wake ofisa ushirika kutoka manispaa ya Shinyanga, Athumani, alisema serikali kwa kipindi kirefu imekuwa ikihimiza umuhimu wa wananchi kujiundia vyama vyao vya ushirika wa akiba na mikopo (SACCOS) kwa vile ni rahisi zaidi kusaidiwa na asasi mbalimbali za kifedha. Alisema kupitia SACCOS watu wengi wamefanikiwa katika biashara zao na baadhi wameweza kujenga nyumba za makazi huku wengine wakisomesha watoto wao bila matatizo. Alisema jambo la msingi ni uaminifu wa viongozi wa SACCOS zinazoanzishwa kwa kuhakikisha zinakuwa na wanachama waadilifu na wenye kuzingatia sheria za uendeshaji wa ushirika huo.

Katika hatua nyingine, viongozi hao wa vikundi vya wajasiriamali wadogo wameunda uongozi wa muda utakaosimamia taratibu za uanzishwaji wa ushirika wa akiba na mikopo.

Alisema utaundwa na vikundi vyote vilivyopo katika kata ya Kitangili na kuhakikisha SACCOS hiyo inasajiliwa kisheria ili iweze kuanza kazi mara moja.

Viongozi wa muda waliochaguliwa Elias Joseph (Mwenyekiti), Richard Maige (mwenyekiti msaidizi), Patrick Kileo (katibu), Masunga Elias (katibu msaidizi) ambapo Timothy Kakiri, alichaguliwa kuwa mweka hazina.

HOSEAH AULA SHIRIKISHO LA RUSHWA DUNIANI

Na Mwandi shi Maalumu, Panama 

 

 Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa nchini (TAKUKURU), Dkt. Edward Hoseah, amechaguliwa kuwa Makamu wa Rais wa Shirikisho la Taasisi za Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa Duniani (IAACA).

Dkt. Hoseah alichaguliwa na wajumbe 460 wa Mkutano Mkuu wa saba wa shirikisho hilo kutoka nchi mbalimbali uliofanyika Panama, Amerika ya Kati kuanzia Novemba 22-24, mwaka huu.

Wajumbe wa mkutano huo ni pamoja na wakuu wa taasisi 98 za Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa Duniani ambapo kaulimbiu ya mkutano huo inasema, "Utawala wa Sheria na Rushwa: Changamoto na Fursa Zilizopo".

Kabla ya kuchaguliwa katika nafasi hiyo, Dkt. Hoseah alikuwa Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Utendaji katika shirikisho hilo ambapo kutokana na uteuzi huo, anakuwa Mwafrika wa kwanza kushika wadhifa huo mkubwa katika mapambano dhidi ya rushwa duniani.

Uchaguzi huo ni heshima kubwa kwa Tanzania na Bara la Afrika pia ni fursa nzuri kwa Dkt. Hoseah kuonesha uwezo wake wa kuongoza mapambano dhidi ya rushwa kimataifa. Nyadhifa nyingine za kimataifa ambazo Dkt. Hoseah amewahi kuzishikilia ni pamoja na Rais wa

 Kwanza wa Shirikisho la Taasisi za Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa Afrika Mashariki (2007-2008), Rais wa kwanza wa Jukwaa la Taasisi za Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa katika nchi za SADC (SAFAC-2010-2011).

Nyingine ni Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Umoja wa Afrika ya Ushauri wa Masuala ya Rushwa (AU-ABC 2011-2012).

IAACA linajumuisha taasisi 298 pamoja na wanachama zaidi ya 2,000 kutoka katika asasi mbalimbali zisizo za kiserikali na lilianzishwa Aprili 19, 2006, Makao Makuu yapo Peking, China.

Lengo la kuanzishwa kwa shirikisho hilo ni kuziwezesha nchi wanachama kutekeleza Mkataba wa Umoja wa Mataifa Dhidi ya Rushwa uliopitishwa na Baraza Kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa Desemba 30, 2003.

TZ KUTUNZA NYARAKA ZA MAUAJI YA KIMBARI

 Na Penina Malundo 

 

  Tanzania imeingia mkataba na Baraza la Usalama la Umoja wa Mataifa (UN), kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa jengo la kutunzia nyaraka zinazohusiana na kesi za mauaji ya kimbari nchini Rwanda.

  Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bw. Bernard Membe, aliyasema hayo Dar es Salaam jana wakati akizungumza na waandishi wa habari. 

 

  Alisema jengo hilo litagharimu dola za Marekani milioni tano sawa na sh. bilioni nane za Tanzania na litajengwa mjini Arusha katika eneo la Lakilaki. 

 

  "Jengo hili litaweza kuhifadhi nyaraka hizo muhimu pamoja na vielelezo mbalimbali vya kesi za kimbari...mafaili yote ya kiutendaji na kiufundi yatahifadhiwa humo," alisema. 

 

  Bw. Membe alisema, nchi tatu ambazo ni Tanzania, Kenya na Rwanda, ziliomba ujenzi wa jengo hilo katika nchi zao ambapo baraza hilo, limeridhia jengo hilo kujengwa Tanzania. 

 

  Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Masuala ya Sheria kutoka Umoja wa Mataifa, Miguel de Serpa Soares, alisema baraza hilo limeridhia ujenzi huo ufanyike nchini kutokana na mahusiano mazuri yaliyopo. kati yao na Tanzania.

JK ‘AFUNGUKA’ MGOGORO ZIWA NYASA

•  AWASILISHA VIELELEZO KWA WASULUHISHI WA MGOGORO

Na Penina Malundo 

 

  Rais Jakaya Kikwete, amewasilisha utetezi wa Tanzania kwa jopo la Marais wastaafu wanaotafuta ufumbuzi wa mpaka wa Ziwa Nyasa, kati ya Tanzania na Malawi.

Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bw. Bernard Membe, aliyasema hayo Dar es Salaam jana wakati akizungumza na waandishi wa habari. 

 

Alisema utetezi huo uliwasilishwa kwa Rais mstaafu wa Msumbiji Joaquim Chissano ambaye ndiye Mwenyekiti wa jopo hilo na Rais mstaafu wa Botswana, Bw. Festus Mogae.

Awali, viongozi hao wastaafu walifanya mkutano kama huo Blantyre, nchini Malawi ambapo juzi walisikiliza hoja za upande wa pili juu ya mgogoro huo. 

 

"Katika mkutano huu, Rais Kikwete alitoa maelezo mazuri pamoja na vielelezo mbalimbali... utetezi wetu ulikuwa wa kisayansi hivyo hatuna hofu yoyote juu ya hili," alisema.

Bw. Membe alisema, leo anatarajia kwenda Maputo, nchini Msumbiji, kuwasilisha maelezo yaliyotolewa na Rais Kikwete mbele ya marais hao wastaafu. 

 

Aliongeza kuwa, jopo la Wanasheria wa kimataifa bado linaendelea na kazi ya kufanya utafiti juu ya mgogoro huo kwani jambo hilo kwa kuliangalia ni dogo lakini ni kubwa. 

 

Alisema kuwa mgogoro huu unaweza kuwa na tambo mbalimbali kati ya nchi moja na nyingine ingawa tambo hizo zinaweza kuleta athari kubwa kwa nchi hizo hivyo utafiti zaidi unahitajika.

ZITTO KUJIBU MASHTAKA 11

•  BARUA ZATOLEWA RASMI,WAPEWA SIKU 14

• BAADA YA MAJIBU,KUJIELEZA KAMATI KUU

• LISSU ADAI UTETEZI WAO ULIPOTOSHA UKWELI

 Na Goodluck Hongo

Aliyekuwa Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Bw. Zitto Kabwe pamoja na wenzake, wameandaliwa mashtaka 11 kwa madai ya kuandaa mapinduzi ya siri dhidi ya uongozi wa chama hicho kinyume cha katiba.

Bw. Kabwe na wenzake ambao ni Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya chama hicho, Dkt. Kitila Mkumbo na Bw. Samson Mwigamba, aliyekuwa Mwenyekiti wa CHADEMA jijini Arusha, jana walikabidhiwa barua rasmi ili wajieleze ndani ya siku 14.

Mkurugenzi wa Habari na Uenezi wa CHADEMA, Bw. John Mnyika, aliyasema hayo Dar es Salaam jana wakati akizungumza na waandishi wa habari Makao Makuu ya chama hicho.

Bw. Mnyika ambaye pia ni Mbunge wa Jimbo la Ubungo, Dar es Salaam, alisema chama hicho kimeandaa mashtaka hayo baada ya Sekretarieti ya CHADEMA kupitia maamuzi ya Kamati Kuu yaliyowavua nyadhifa za uongozi watuhumiwa hao.

 "Watuhumiwa hawa watatakiwa kujieleza kwa maandishi ndani ya siku 14, baadaye watajieleza mbele ya Kamati Kuu ambayo itatoa maamuzi ya hatua za kuchukua," alisema Bw. Mnyika.

Alisema mashtaka hayo yametokana na waraka wa siri ambao ulikamatwa na kutolewa mbele ya Kamati Kuu unaowakashifu viongozi wakuu wa chama hicho.

"Wote watatakiwa kujieleza kwa nini wasifukuzwe ndani ya chama chetu kwa makosa waliyofanya... Kamati Kuu ya chama ndicho chombo chenye maamuzi ya kuwaondoa viongozi au wanachama wanaokiuka Katiba.

"Waraka uliochapishwa katika baadhi ya vyombo vya habari (si Majira) na mitandao ya kijamii unaodaiwa kuwaponza Bw. Kabwe na wenzake si wenyewe ni batili," alisema.

Aliongeza kuwa, maamuzi yaliyofanywa na Kamati Kuu yalizingatia kanuni, sheria na taratibu za chama kwa kufuata katiba, hivyo Bw. Kabwe na wenzake hawakufukuzwa kwa sababu walizozitoa kwenye vyombo vya habari bali kwa kuandika waraka wa kimapinduzi.

Msimamo wa CHADEMA

Bw. Mnyika alisema, chama hicho hakipo tayari kuwavumilia viongozi na wanachama wote ambao watakuwa kikwazo kwa chama hicho kufikia malengo yake bila kujali cheo alichonacho.

"Wanatafuta huruma kwa wananchi kutokana na makosa ambayo wameyafanya hasa la kuandaa waraka wa siri, wao wenyewe walikiri kuhusika nao lakini wanapotosha ukweli," alisema.

Alisema Sekretarieti hiyo imepokea na kutoa mapendekezo mbalimbali ya utekelezaji wa mikakati waliyojipangia ambayo ni Vuguvugu la Mabadiliko (M4C) na "CHADEMA ni msingi".

Akizungumzia uchomaji wa bendera za chama, ofisi, fulana na kuondoa mabango ya CHADEMA, baada ya Bw. Kabwe na wenzake kuvuliwa nyadhifa za uongozi, Bw. Mnyika alisema chama kimezisikia taarifa hizo.

"Uchunguzi wa awali unaonesha kilichotokea ni kiini macho tu si wanachama wa chama chetu waliofanya hivyo, viongozi wa maeneo husika wanaendelea na vikao, usalama upo," alisema.

Tundu Lissu azungumza

Kwa upande wake, Mwanasheria Mkuu wa CHADEMA, Bw. Tundu Lissu, alisema watuhumiwa walifanya mkutano na vyombo vya habari kwa lengo la kupotosha ukweli wa mambo juu ya mazingira halisi ya kuvuliwa nyadhifa zao.

"Hawakuondolewa katika nyadhifa zao kwa sababu ya kuuza majimbo yetu ya uchaguzi mwaka 2010, si posho, wala uwepo wake kama Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Serikali (PAC), aliyeibua hoja ya kukaguliwa kwa hesabu za vyama vya siasa.

"Amevuliwa nyadhifa hizo na wenzake kwa sababu ya kuandaa mapinduzi ndani ya chama kwa kukiuka maadili," alisema.

Akizungumzia madai ya kugawanyika au kupasuka kwa chama hicho kama Bw. Kabwe atafukuzwa uanacham, Bw. Lissu alisema kwa nyaraka alizoziona, Kabwe alikuwepo katika kikao cha Kamati Kuu kilichomfukuza aliyekuwa Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho mwaka 2004, Dkt. Amaan Kabourou.

"Ka bwe p i a a l i k uwe p o kwenye kikao cha Kamati Kuu kilichomfukuza aliyekuwa Makamu Mwenyekiti wa chama hiki, marehemu Chacha Wangwe mwaka 2007; hivyo hata kikao kama hicho ndicho kilichowavua vyeo yeye na wenzie hivyo Kamati Kuu isilaumiwe," alisema.

Bw. Lissu alisema, madai ya Bw. Kabwe kudai alijitoa katika utiaji saini katika masuala ya fedha ndani ya chama hicho kwanza hakuwahi kuwa mtiaji saini ili kuidhinisha fedha, hivyo anashangaa kulizungumzia hilo wakati hakuwahi kuwa mtiaji saini.

"Chama kimepasuka mara nyingi tangu enzi ya Bw. Kabwe kuingia kwenye Kamati ya Jaji Bomani, Chacha Wangwe, ugaidi wa Rwakatare hata sakata la mabomu lakini tuliibuka upya, hadi sasa chama kinaendelea na mapambano yake," alisema.

Alipoulizwa na waandishi kama viongozi hao wakiamua kuondoka, chama kimejipangaje, alisema si vizuri kuwahukumu Bw. Kabwe na wenzake kwa sababu bado hawajaanza kujitetea, lakini kugombea uongozi ndani ya chama si uhaini wala dhambi.

Alibainisha kuwa, sh. milioni 100 zilizotolewa na mfanyabiashara maarufu nchini, Bw. Mustafa Sabodo, hesabu za matumizi yake zipo wazi na zilipelekwa kwenye hesabu za chama hicho ili zikaguliwe na Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG).

Aliongeza kuwa, licha ya vyama vya siasa kuwa tayari kukaguliwa, CAG alishindwa kukagua hesabu hizo kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa fedha, hivyo alivitaka vyama husika kuwalipa wakaguzi ambao wangefanya ukaguzi huo jambo ambalo walilipinga.

"Tuna ushahidi wote kuhusu suala hili, hata Msajili mpya wa Vyama vya Siasa, aliandika barua kwa CAG kuhusu kupinga vyama kuwalipa wakaguzi wa hesabu  kwani huo si utarabu wa Serikali, lakini tunamshangaa Kabwe kuzungumzia suala hili wakati analijua vizuri," alisema Bw. Lissu

AMKA WORKSHOP LEO MANGO GARDEN KINONDONI DAR ES SALAAM.

 Mkurugenzi wa Chief Promotion Amon Mkoga wa pili kulia, akifafanua jambo kuhusiana na Semina ya Wasanii inayofanyika leo kwenye ukumbi wa Mango Garden kinondoni jijini Dar es Salaam, ikihusisha wasanii mbalimbali kwa lengo la kujifunza haki miliki ya kazi zao. wengine ni wasanii wa kundi la MABAGA FRESH, Christopher Mwingira-aka DJ SNOX, na Jumanne Omary aka JB Mkuu wa Majaji, wa pili kushoto ni Mkuu wa Mpango wa Uchangiaji wa Hiari Mfuko wa Penshen wa PSPF, Matilda Nyallu.

 Mkurugenzi wa Chief Promotion Amon Mkoga wa pili kulia, akifafanua jambo

Baadhi ya Waandishi wa Habari wakifuatilia kwa makini Hafla hiyo,

Mkuu wa Mpango wa Uchangiaji wa Hiari Mfuko wa Penshen wa PSPF, Matilda Nyallu.akifafanua jambo kuhusiana na Semina ya Wasanii inayofanyika leo kwenye ukumbi wa Mango Garden kinondoni jijini Dar es Salaam, ikihusisha wasanii mbalimbali kwa lengo la kujifunza haki miliki ya kazi zao.

Wasanii wa kundi la MABAGA FRESH, Christopher Mwingira-aka DJ SNOX, na Jumanne Omary aka JB Mkuu wa Majaji,Wakifafanua jambo

 baadhi ya wandishi wa habari wakiuliza jambo

hapa wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja muda mfupi baada ya kumaliza mkutano na waandishi wa habari.(Picha kwa Hissani ya Miss Demokrasia Tanzania).

Manny Pacquiao, coming off back-to-back losses, guaranteed $18 million to fight Brandon Rios

By Kevin Iole 10 hours ago Boxing

• 

Manny Pacquiao could make up to $30 million for his fight with Brandon Rios (Chris Farina/Top Rank)

MACAU -- Losing back-to-back fights, even if most of the world felt he won one of them, did little to hurt Manny Pacquiao's earning power.

Promoter Bob Arum said that Pacquiao is guaranteed $18 million to fight Brandon Rios on Saturday (Sunday Macau time) at Cotai Arena. With pay-per-view upside, Pacquiao could make upwards of $30 million.

That's not quite the $100 million that Floyd Mayweather walked away with after his win over Canelo Alvarez in September in Las Vegas, but it's nothing to sneeze at and it's made better by the fact that he won't be taxed in Macau.

Rios is making a guarantee of $4 million, and Arum said that Rios has little upside.

The most surprising purse on the card may belong to flyweight Zou Shiming, who will earn $500,000 in just his third pro bout.

Zou, though, is a special case. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is the reason that the Venetian Macao decided to get into boxing.

"Without him, none of us would be here," Arum said when a reporter expressed surprise at the amount of Zou's purse.

The Academy Governors Awards: Hollywood's Coziest Clubhouse

By Richard Rushfield November 17, 2013 11:13 AM 

George Lucas presents the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Angelina Jolie on Saturday (Photo: ©A.M.P.A.S.)

What explains the friendship of Angelina Jolie and George Lucas? This one was of the many questions answered when Hollywood's generations collided at the Academy of Motion Pictures's Governors Awards on Saturday night.

Of all the events during the six-month march to Oscars, the Academy's Governors Dinner offers an intimate respite from the usual electioneering frenzy. Now in its fifth year, the event is held to give out those "special" awards that used to be handed out during the show itself. Saturday night's dinner honored Angelina Jolie, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin, and legendary costume designer Piero Tosi in an evening that managed to be touching, hilarious, and heartfelt. It was a tribute to all that is great about Hollywood, moving even the most cynical hearts in the audience.

Held across the mall from the Dolby ballroom where in a few months hence, the Oscar ceremony will occur, the night is a rare awards circuit stop that is A. Untelevised and B. Not in any way an indicator of the all-important Oscar race — with awards given for unbuzzy reasons like good works and lifetime achievement.

The dinner features perhaps the highest celebrity-to-civilian ratio of any Hollywood event. With every ceremony now a major-red-carpeted media stop, it is rare to find a star present at one of these who is not himself a nominee or a presenter. But the Governors Awards brings them all out just to sit and watch. The room was a cross-generational Who's Who with everyone from Warren Beatty and Bruce Dern to Ben Stiller, Jennifer Garner, Octavia Specer, Jared Leto, Judd Apatow, and Colin Farrell mingling while the faces of the honorees loomed overhead, superimposed on curtains like ghostly angels watching benevolently over the crowd.

All hail our #GovAwards winners! pic.twitter.com/id1sDs1MVv
— Richard Rushfield (@richardrushfield) November 17, 2013

One of the most eyebrow raising pairings, however, took place pre-show in the most distant corner of the ballroom. With drapes that created a semi-secluded alcove, Angelina Jolie and buzz-cut partner Brad Pitt, at least two of their flock in tow, chatted at length with director George Lucas and his newly wedded wife, a highly unlikely meeting of icons.

What the world's most glamorous couple had in common with the king of all geeks was answered when the ceremony began, and kicked off with the bestowal of Jolie's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. A recorded tribute narrated by Morgan Freeman explained how shooting "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001) in Cambodia changed Jolie forever and led her down the path of humanitarian work. When legendary actress Gena Rowlands rose to salute Jolie, she summed it up, "How does she have the time? She acts in many pictures, now she writes and directs, and she has a large family... and she has to keep that smile on Brad's face."

[Related: Governors Awards Red Carpet Littered With Oscar Hopefuls]

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Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and son Maddox on Saturday night (Photo: ©A.M.P.A.S.)

George Lucas next rose to salute, however, it was his unlikely tale that was perhaps the night's most touching. He told how when his daughter was 10 she was a huge Angelina Jolie fan "because of her humanity, fighting for what is right." (As he launched into the story, from the Lucas table, daughter Katie, who had just sat down, was heard to moan "Oh no!") So Lucas asked Jolie to lunch to meet her admirer. "At that point we sat down, and she'd adopted a son, and I'd adopted three children by myself and it was two basically single parents talking about children. And I said, children are the pathway to a meaningful life and to happiness, and this is the one true thing you can do, to have children." He paused. "Little did I know she'd take me so seriously."

Accepting her award, Jolie talked about her mother's admonition that nothing has any meaning if "I didn't live a life of use to others." Becoming more emotional she spoke about how it took her a long time to get beyond herself and to see that and to "learn how sheltered I had been, and I never want to be that way again."

Back on the floor, Oscar in hand, Jolie made a detour before returning to her brood. She walked back into the ballroom and snuck up behind her friend and admirer, Katie Lucas, with a "boo!" that took the young woman completely by surprise. The pair chatted for several minutes catching up before Jolie headed back to her berth at the head table.

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Tom Hanks and honoree Steve Martin on Saturday night (Photo: ©A.M.P.A.S.)

The rest of the night proceeded on a more lighthearted note as three entertainment icons were saluted and roasted. Some of the greats in the costume field honored Piero Tosi, the man who created the daring outfits that adorned the Italian New Wave. The award was bestowed (in absentia) in a surprise appearance by Claudia Cardinale, star of "8 ½" and "Once Upon A Time in the West" among other classics.

The house was truly and completely brought down by Martin Short who rose to all but burn in effigy his friend and "Three Amigos" co-star Steve Martin. "The Governors Awards are one of the highest honors an actor can receive, in mid-November," he began, continuing: "So many have used the word genius tonight that I might as well say it about Steve Martin."

After a more earnest tribute by Tom Hanks, Martin accepted his award saying, "I can't express how I feel tonight because the botox is still fresh." By the end of his hilarious remarks, however, as he thanked all those who had guided his career and his life, even Martin succumbed to the sentiment of the night and had to fight back tears.

[Photos: 2013 Governors Awards Red Carpet]

The biggest applause was saved for last, however, as Angela Lansbury took the stage after salutes by Emma Thompson and Geoffrey Rush. Her speech was a reminder that we are down to our last ties to filmdom's Golden Age. Lansbury rattled off reminiscences of co-stars now long gone: Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman, Katharine Hepburn, and Frank Sinatra to name just a few.

Looking around the room as the lights rose, one could indeed see the reshuffling that has taken place as the generations have moved down the table. Those Lansbury's era have all but moved on, while the once icons like Warren Beatty, Bruce Dern, and Jon Voight are now clearly the Old Hollywood presences. Yesterday's pin-ups — Brad and Angelina, Jennifer Garner — are today's establishment. While a new generation was stepping into their place — here represented by the "12 Years a Slave" break-out star Lupita Nyong'o who mingled among the eminences.

But there was also a sense of the kinship of movie makers that hung in the air. From the unlikely pair of Jolie and Lucas finding each other in this crazy business, to Angela Lansbury's reminiscences on that "crazy and wonderful" Bette Davis, to Steve Martin's reflections on a craft services table with "the slowest toaster in the world" and "Twizzlers for breakfast," the night was the Hollywood creative community's one moment to just-between-friends honor what makes this such an odd and wonderful place to work as places to work go.

The night's glow remained even as tables were cleared and many seemed not to want to ever leave. Martin Short climbed up on a chair to take a keepsake picture of one couple on their own iPhone. Jon Voight, in white scarf, having joined his daughter's table for the evening, made circles of the room, ultimately leaving just as the tables were about to be taken up.