There have been 9 other Mbuzis. Attend one, then we talk.

To the best of my knowledge,nothing prevents people from making suggestions about what should be done/how to improve.
Toa maoni yako about how things should be done and by whom.

Just a long 2 cents based on experience coordinating Mbuzis.

Mbuzi 5 and 6 had contributors such as @ Ric Dees and @ storyteller who gave full mbuzi wakiwa diaspora- they didn’t need to be there to eat and many others who contributed expensive drinks and were not in the list of ‘eaters’-so wazua has very generous people.Then the subsequent mbuzis,pledges dwindled, late contributions, some didn’t honor the pledges and a number wanted to show up without contributing. At some point,I had to tell people to pledge and only then would they be on the list; let’s face it,if we have more ‘eaters’ than pledges/ little pledges ,that will be an epic fail.

The last mbuzi also happened last minute,people were slow to honor their pledges. I think that there is need to change the way mbuzi is organized . I might be wrong,but I think that people are a bit tired of always kind of being on the contributing list and a large number saying ‘I pledge my appetite’

@ Tycho,mbuzi has never been about drinking and eating, that means you have not been to any mbuzi. It is about fun,yes,but also an opportunity to network. For example, I am doing some work now with contacts from @smano.I also do not think anyone felt that they should be there for mbuzi to happen.Last mbuzi had many new faces and it was very nice.

@ Muriel,how will a venue be determined if people either do not suggest, or suggest a place and when asked to bring rates,no one wants to do that? That is why we have always stuck with Alfajiri . The way to make it happen would be to have as many suggestions as possible and with rates and then let the people decide. That has never happened in the history of mbuzi planning. It is always @ JB or @ MC who check the venue and bring rates. We have stuck with Alfaijiri for convenience.

So the question would be,do people want to continue to network through mbuzi and if yes,then how do they want to do it and then move forward from there.

My suggestion would be along the lines of @ MC;every ‘eater’ should pledge and then that money goes to buy food( shared meal),and for drinks,everyone buys what they want to drink . That would still keep the aspect of sharing and responsibility