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Issue 00407 |
Feb 1 - 24, 2006 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Local News |
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By Valentine Marc Nkwame Controversy surrounds the Soldier statue, that has been adorning the Bondeni park and which early this week was dug out and taken to an unknown destination. The soldier statue, constructed in 1979, was a symbol of victory that the country won in the 1978-79 war of liberating Uganda. During the war Tanzanian soldiers battled the forces of 'Field Marshall' Idi Amin, a dictator who had also invaded the Lake Victoria Zone regions, in a quest to extend his territory. A catch phrase on the soldier statue read: 'Kazi Mliyotutuma tumeimaliza.' (Mission accomplished). Over the last week, the statue was being obscured from view as it had been curtained in old sacks. Most people thought the badly beaten and worn-out monument was being repaired, but eye witnesses reported that last Monday night, February 13, 2006, the statue was removed. They watched it being ferried away . The Municipal Director Noah Mwaikuka, was out of his office when we called for explanation. "He is out of town with visitors," said his secretary. The Mayor, Paul Lotta Laizer ha not sbeen picking up his phone and the Municipal advocate Anderson Nsumba, said the matter was not in his hands. Ismail Ally Kaole, the counselor of the Central ward, within which, the Bondeni park is situated, admitted that, the statue will now have to be re-located, because the open space which used to serve as Bondeni public park, has been given to the main Friday mosque, which is located adjacent to the plot. He was however not sure where exactly the soldier statue was to be taken afterwards. "They have just taken it for repairs first, because it was in a very bad shape." Said counselor Kaole. "I believe that the statue will then be put up at the Arusha Declaration Museum." He added, but rather unconvincingly. The Arusha Declaration Museum is located just across the (Makongoro) road, from the Bondeni park. According to Kaole, the portion of land on which the statue stood, belonged to the mosque and the Arusha chapter of Muslim Council (BAKWATA), have always wanted it back. However ten years ago, BAKWATA had requested the Municipal council to give the mosque the remaining section for extension and development projects and apparently the council had agreed. Constantine Nyamabondo, the chief curator of the Arusha Declaration Museum was adamant to comment on the issue. "You see the municipal director is heading the committee which is in charge of the whole project and he is the spokesperson." He said, the curator however added that the statue will not be installed at the museum but at the Kaloleni roundabout, where the other 'Mwenge' (Freedom torch) monument stands. Sheikh Adam Chora of BAKWATA said the statue was removed after consultations with both the army and government. The Muslim council was supposed to foot all the bills of its transfer from the park to the roundabout. At the moment, the soldier statue has been taken to the person who initially made it, Abbas Kiagho, who is supposed to repair it before being put up at the junction. Observers however cannot understand why two monuments should be put up in one plot especially because the Freedom torch monument symbolizes peaceful transition from colonialism, while the soldier statue represent war, a paradox that sounds like Leo Tolstoy's title, "War and Peace!" It was actually for the same reason, according to a local official who preferred anonymity, that it wasn't right for the statue to be set up at the declaration museum. The museums apparently are all under the Ministry of tourism while such a soldier statue is supposed to be under the ministry of defense.
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Updated:
January 07, 2006 . |
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Webmaster: WDJMallya |
