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No. 00293 |
October 25-31, 2003 |
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Mama Sokoine’s two decades of loneliness and modestyIt is almost twenty years now, since the death of the former Tanzanian prime Minister, the late Edward Moringe Sokoine who was also the Parliamentary representative (MP), for Monduli constituency.Last week, The Arusha Times had the opportunity to visit the late premier’s residency at Monduli Juu village and had a chat with his first wife, Mama Napono Sokoine.By Staff Writer QUESTION: What have you been doing all these years?
ANSWER: Involving myself in agricultural activities, but mainly farming. I grow maize, beans, sunflower and a variety of other local farm produce. I also keep a few livestock. Q: But in Maasai culture, "few livestock" may actually mean, large herds of cattle? A: I just own a few cattle and they are all at our Makuyuni farm. Here is mostly farming. I also run that maize mill you saw on your way here. Q: How old are you now? A: I don’t know. In our times knowing our ages wasn’t very important, but as far as I am concerned, the late Sokoine was about two years older than me! (The inscription at the former premier’s grave indicates that Sokoine, who died on the 12th of April 1984. He was born on the 1st of August 1938. So, if he had lived to-date, Edward Moringe Sokoine would have been 65.) Q: How many children and grand children do you have now? A: Six children and five grand children. However, one of my children died many years ago. The remaining ones are five males and the one and only female child who happens to be the last born. Q: And who are they? A: There is Lazaro, married with one child. Joseph, the second born is married but no child yet, Edward, Ibrahim who is also married and has two children, Kereto, married with one child and the last born Namelo also known as Toto, the young lady you see on the picture there, who also has one child. Q: What about your co-wife? A: That is Nekiteto, she lives at Makuyuni. She five children, four of whom are all female and the last born is the only male .... The other way round. Nekiteto’s children are; Seki, Toel, Chichi, Tini and Babuu. All the four ladies are married with a child each except Chichi who has two children. Babuu is also married but has not had a child yet. Q: Sokoine was such a great figure, you must be getting plenty of visitors here. A: I still get visitors, but then I am very much used at handling people, including the press. Q: This house looks new, was it recently constructed? A: No! Only refurbished and well kept. This house was built by Sokoine himself when he was still a young person. In fact, even before he joined politics. The house is of the same age as our eldest son Lazaro. It is the only house that Sokoine had. The other one that he built, was for his mother. Q: Are you facing any problems here? A: Not much, only ordinary ones. Right now it’s transport, the former Tanzanian President, Ali Hassan Mwinyi had given me a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle, however after much use the car is tied now, it keeps breaking down. However, President Benjamin Mkapa has just promised me another one. Q: Didn’t Sokoine leave you a car? A: No! He had no car of his own, never bought any. In fact, Sokoine didn’t have much property of his own, he dedicated all his life serving the country. Q: What about communication, you don’t seem to have a telephone here. A; There used to be one but got broken down. My children never seem to be bothered about that, because each of them has a mobile phone nowadays. Q: What about security? A There is a Police post just adjacent to the house. It was purposely built to provide security for the late prime minister’s residence. However, it was stationed such that, the Police officers could easily take care of the entire village as well. But there aren’t much security problems here you know.
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Last modified:
October 23, 2003. Webmaster: WDJMallya |
