Professor Haroub Othman - photo Martin Kabemba

Professor Haroub Othman a veteran senior academic at the Institute of Development Studies of the University of Dar es Salaam died in his sleep in Zanzibar on June 27. A prolific writer of articles [several of which were reviewed in TA] and a radio and TV personality he was at the heart of the organisation of virtually everything that the academic staff did at the university to impact on the wider political environment. He was the author of an excellent tribute to the late Abdulrahman Mohamed Babu entitled ‘I saw the future and it worked’. He formed the Zanzibar Electoral Monitoring Commission and supervised the work of ‘Research and Education on Demcocracy in Tanzania.’ He also founded the Isles’ equivalent of the Legal and Human Rights Centre – East African.

Mr Randal Sadleir who worked in the Tanzanian administration for many years from the 1950’s died from a stroke on August 8. We hope to publish an obituary in our next issue.

Margaret Kumbuka who died on May 4 worked as a teacher, broadcaster, editor and in films in many different organisations including the National Kiswahili Council, the International School and SOAS. The Head of the Department of Languages and Culture at SOAS, Akin Oyetade, wrote in ‘SOAS Information’ that she would be remembered for her openness and vivacity and her beaming smile. She was greatly loved by her students. Thank you Elsbeth Court for this – Editor.

Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume expressed shock when he learnt of the death on March 14 of SHABAAN HAMIS MLOO, the founder of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) saying he played a great role in the Isles’ independence struggle. In his condolence message the President described him as a man who was in the forefront in the fight for the rights of workers in the Isles during the colonial period. In a separate condolence message CUF Chairman Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba said the party would long remember him. Mloo was the first CUF Secretary General for eight years from 1992 to 2000 and became the Vice Chairman until he retired in 2004. He attended the party`s National Congress held in February – Guardian.

Retired BRIGADIER GENERAL ALEXANDER NYIRENDA (72), who is best remembered for hoisting the Uhuru Torch on Mt. Kilimanjaro on the eve of the country`s independence, has died. While at Muhimbili Hospital, his health deteriorated, prompting the government to take him to India for specialised treatment. He had been suffering from malaria, heart complications and low blood pressure.

NTIMBANJAYO JOHN MILLINGA (69), who died of cancer on July 12 last year, was born in one of the far corners of Tanzania by Lake Nyasa. He was educated to standard 8, had two years of nursing training and attended a nine months Political Science course at Kivukoni College in Dar es Salaam. He became well known for his work in setting up the Ruvuma Development Association (RDA) in the 1960’s which is described in an article above. He became Chairman of the Songea District Council in 1963 and in 1965 MP for the Songea South constituency. He worked in a number of areas in the country as District Secretary, Regional Secretary and Area Commissioner of the CCM party. A drawn out fight with prostrate cancer dogged his later years. However for the last decade of his life he re-engaged with the issues of production and enterprise at Litowa, successfully promoting a tile production factory and strengthening educational development. In all his working life he was greatly assisted by his wife Conrada and three surviving children.

Mbeya Rural CCM MP RICHARD SAID NYAULAWA (57) died in mid November last year having been suffering from colon cancer. President Kikwete said: “We shall remember him for his contribution in Parliament and society as well. He was in the forefront in defending the interests of his people and all the citizens”. He was a member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

BISHOP CECIL RICHARD NORGATE (1921-2008), always known as Richard, was ordained priest in England in 1950, and died in Tanzania in October 2008. After joining the then Universities’ Mission to Central Africa (later merged with USPG, but now celebrating 150 years since its inauguration) went directly to the diocese of Masasi in Mtwara Region, where he stayed for the rest of his life. In 1958 he was appointed parish priest of Mkomaindo. The hospital there was an important medical centre, and under Bishop Trevor Huddleston, a nursing school and training for rural medical aides brought new opportunities and responsibilities for the priest. In 1977 he was appointed by Bishop Hilary Chisonga as Vicar-General (in effect deputy to him) and then in 1984 he was elected by the clergy and laity of the diocese as their bishop. More than 25 years after Independence, it was unusual, to say the least, for local people to elect an Mzungu bishop, but Richard had the qualities and had earned the respect to enable him to undertake the task most capably. In 1992 he retired to live at St Cyprian’s College Rondo. The present Bishop of Masasi, Patrick Mwachiko, writes that Bishop Richard contributed a lot to the building of the present new church at Mkomaindo, and “they decided to bury him inside the church where he had worked as parish priest for so many years, but also out of respect for him and his contribution to the diocese of Masasi.” – Thank you Revd. Graeme Watson, USPG Mission Companion (1967 -77 ) for this – Editor.

PROFESSOR A. B. WESTON, who died in London on 23rd June, 2008, laid the foundation of legal education in East Africa in 1961. Colonial neglect of legal education left Tanganyika, at independence in 1961, with only two African lawyers, both newly qualified abroad. Born in Australia in 1924 ‘AB’, after combat experience as a pilot, was teaching in Toronto when Cran Pratt, the (Canadian) first Principal of the hurriedly established University College recruited him as Dean of the new Law Faculty opened in October 1961. It was a formative appointment for Tanzania and a life-changing step for AB, who (at the cost of his own research and teaching) plunged into the demands of organising the first, for long the premier, law school in the region, building a first class library, securing foreign scholarships for graduates and helping negotiate creation of the University of East Africa (1963). He learnt Swahili and left an enduring legacy to Tanzanian law in helping to compile the Swahili Law Dictionary. AB married three times – twice in Tanzania to Sandawe ladies – and had seven children. Many former students are still active as judges, professors or senior lawyers in Tanzania and elsewhere. In the Seventies he was particularly pleased to be formally admitted to practise as an advocate of the Tanzanian bar.
Jim Read

Mourners at the funeral of Bokhe Munanka

Former minister in the first post-independence cabinet, Bokhe Munanka (81) died on July 25 after complaining of chest problems. He was at one time Secretary of the Pan Africa Freedom Movement for East and Central Africa and was imprisoned for political reasons in 1958. He was elected Member of Parliament for North Mara in the first general election in Tanganyika in 1959 and served as a personal assistant to the President from 1964 to 1972.

Frank Humplick, the gifted singer, guitarist and composer of many melodies which are still popular with the present generation and stir memories of yesteryear, died in August 2007 in Lushoto. His death was commemorated by a 3-page article in the 7th January issue of the EAST AFRICAN MAGAZINE. His father was a Swiss civil engineer and was among the engineers who built the Tanga-Arusha railway at the turn of the 20th century. His mother was a Chagga. Although his death passed unnoticed, the article said that one had only to visit the record library of Radio Tanzania, Dar es Salaam to realise how prolific a composer Frank was. In the early TANU meetings at Mnazi Moja in Dar, before Nyerere mounted the stage Humplick’s song ‘Yes No’ would be played to attract crowds. It became a protest song for nationalists. Also in his youth he studied horticulture and wrote about many of the crops introduced by the Germans to Tanganyika.

Major General Mwita Marwa died in Pretoria in January. He was buried in Tarime. Major General Marwa led Tanzanian soldiers in the capture of Masaka and Entebbe during the 1978/79 Kagera War with Uganda. In recognition of his distinguished service the President conferred on him several military medals including the Kagera, Uhuru, Jamhuri, Muungano, 20 years of TPDF, Tanzania Long Service, and Tanzania Eminent Service medals – Guardian.

The former Tabora Regional Commissioner Ditopile Mzuzuri died in a Morogoro hotel in April while on a business trip. President Kikwete was among those who delivered condolences to the family. The had resigned as RC in 2006 following manslaughter charges he was facing in connection with the fatal shooting of a commuter bus driver in Dar es Salaam on November 4, 2006. – Guardian

TRAGEDY AT MERERANI
On 29th March there was a major tragedy at the famous Mererani Tanzanite mining site near Arusha. Some 75 miners were feared dead after rainfall triggered the collapse of some of the pits following floods caused by heavy rain. Some 166 people were said to have been working inside eight pits, some as deep as 300 metres under the ground, by the time the floods struck. 93 were pulled to safety. There have been torrential rains all over the country.

Press coverage of the death of Amina Chifupa – photo Issa Michuzi

The death of Amina Chifupa on 26th June 2007 caused a large outpouring of grief in the press and among ordinary Tanzanians. Aged only 26 and a Special Seats MP representing the ruling CCM’s youth wing, Umoja wa Vijana, Amina was something of a celebrity and her colourful life had been closely followed in the media.

Amina died some days after being admitted to the Lugalo Military Hospital in Dar es Salaam from what was described as complications from diabetes and malaria, although some speculation surrounded the exact cause of her death.
Thousands of people from all walks of life gathered at the last rites ceremony in Dar es Salaam, including veteran politician Mzee Rashid Mfaume Kawawa, the Chief Sheikh, Mufti Shaaban Simba, as well as musicians and media celebrities.

President Jakaya Kikwete described Amina as a fearless girl who staunchly stood for the truth. ‘Many of us will remember Amina for her contribution to debate in Parliament and elsewhere in society, notably among the youth. She was strong, creative and always ready to stand for the welfare of the youth and the nation at large’

In an unprecedented move, the National Assembly was adjourned for the whole day and the Speaker announced that he would be leading a delegation of more than 30 MPs from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam for the last rites, and later to the burial at Amina’s mother’s home village of Lupemba Village, Njombe District in Iringa Region

In her remarks, Special Seats Representative Zahara Ali Hamad (CUF) said the death had robbed Tanzania of a fully dedicated leader who during her short tenure in the public service did a lot for the nation.

‘Most of the legislators fear to speak the truth, particularly when it comes to drug abuse and trafficking, but Amina feared nobody. The government should honour her by making sure that it fights drug trafficking even more vigorously’ he noted.

Amina was born on May 20, 1981 and attended primary school in Mwanza. She completed her schooling in Dar-es-Salaam in 2001. Soon after that, she worked with the Dar es Salaam-based Radio Clouds FM as a broadcaster. She held the post until she ventured into politics in 2005 through the CCM youth wing.

The former Paramount Chief of the Wachagga, THOMAS LENANA MAREALLE (92), died on February 14 from pneumonia. He held the post from 1951 to 1965. After school he was first employed as a clerk by the colonial government at the office of the Moshi District Commissioner, before being transferred to Mbulu, Chunya, Mbeya, Tunduru and Lindi, respectively. From 1944 to 1946, Chief Marealle was in Britain to complete advanced studies. He was one of the first two from the then Tanganyika to be picked by the colonial regime to study in Europe. On return he was a Social Development Officer and in 1948 an Adult Education Officer at Usangi in Kilimanjaro region. In 1949, Marealle joined a welfare/recreation organisation – the Tanganyika African Association (TAA), which the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere later joined. He was the founder of the Tanganyika Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) and the Editor of the Swahili newspaper, KWETU, between 1943 and 1951 – Daily News.

A veteran journalist, media executive and diplomat, SAMMY MDEE, died of high blood pressure at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi on March 10. He was the first Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tanzania Broadcasting Services, Managing Editor of the Daily News and Sunday News, Chief Editor of Radio Tanzania, Dar es Salaam (RTD), Press Secretary to President Julius Nyerere and Managing Director of the Arusha International Conference Centre. He had also served in Tanzania`s Embassies in France and New York – Sunday Observer.

Father Vincent Bailey (69) who was brought up in a council house in Glasgow and never forgot his roots, has died. He worked in Tanzania from 1976 to 1985 at Catholic missions in Kigoma, Mulera and Kabanga. He also taught at the seminary at Kahangala, Mwanza and served for a few years as Assistant Regional Superior for the western part of the country – Thank you John Sankey for this from ‘White Fathers – White Sisters’ – Editor