 |
 |
|
|||||
|
Issue 00442 |
October 21 - 27, 2006 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
||||
|
|||||||||||
|
Off Topic |
He was my Leader Before he Became President by lute wa lutengano Then came Jakaya Kikwete, or JK as he is fondly called. JK was my leader before he became president. I am serious! I do remember that it was in the mid 70s when we were at the University of Dar es Salaam, otherwise known as Manzese College. Here we used to have an organisation bringing together all university students. This was the Dar es Salaam University Students Organisation, fondly called DUSO. Naturally it had its politics, I mean student politics. It also had its cabinet headed by leaders elected by all university students. Elections were serious matters. That year, I believe it must have been 1974 or 5 our group, which was one of the most vocal at the campus was approached to assist in fielding a candidates who would represent our interests and who would be agreeable to the majority of the student community. We went through many names. As is usual most of them had some unique scandals known to all the students at the campus. These included being drunk and disorderly, harassing female students, unstable temperament etc. In a nutshell most of those we analysed were ‘rioters’ – a popular terminology then. But when we came to Kikwete we all felt that he was all clean and met all the requirements of representing our interests as well as being agreeable to the majority of students at the campus. We established our ‘mtandao’ or network and campaigned for him. Kikwete sailed through with one of the highest majorities ever attained by a DUSO leader. Our leader never let us down. His reign was without doubt one which attained some of the best achievements in student politics. These included, among others, the most important student demand ‘to receive our annual ‘boom’ without due delay.’ ‘Boom’ was the term given to our annual university students’ allowances from the government. The rest is history. Kikwete joined the ruling party immediately after college and rose through the ranks to what he is now, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chairman of the Chama cha Mapinduzi – the ruling party. I have had the privilege of meeting him several times whenever he was in Arusha. But now he is president meeting him is very rare. But while in Arusha a few weeks ago he sent word that he would love to meet me. There was a frantic search for me by several people. At last they managed to get hold of me. I was delighted to meet the president and he led me by hand to the car park at the Arusha International Conference Centre where I was advised to follow his presidential motorcade. We drove to the Arusha State Lodge where I was invited to join him and other prominent Arusha Muslims and invited guests in breaking the fast – it was Ramadan time. As protocol would demand I removed my shoes, washed my hands and sat at the far side of the mat with plenty of delicious food in front of me. But I was very uncomfortable. Sitting yoga-style with my prominent beer belly made me get dog tired. Actually I almost turn-turtled and lay on my back. It was a terrible experience. My resolution – getting rid of my beer belly NOW! _
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Webmaster: WDJMallya |
