Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA
It was already very late in the evening; the sun had set in the west. If we had been near a mosque, the call for the night prayer would have been heard, Muslims would have already performed the Maghrib prayer and would now be returning to their homes. And if it had been the month of Ramadan, then those of that faith who had been fasting—having fulfilled one of the pillars of their religion—would already have taken at least three deep mouthfuls of porridge mixed with chili and cinnamon, and a few pieces of futari to soothe mouths that had gone without food for more than twelve hours, for faith.
Mwanakwetu’s relative said:
“Brother, today I want to buy cashew nuts because I haven’t eaten cashews in a long time. Here it’s not like at the Pwani; a whole year can pass without eating cashews.”
So now Mwanakwetu and his relative headed to a place where cashew nuts were sold. As they were going there, Mwanakwetu said:
“All these shops you see belong to employees of the defense and security organs. I didn’t know this before, but during the unrest of October 29, 2025 and the days that followed, many other shops were closed, but these shops remained open. That day I bought goods from these shops, and when I asked the seller what power enabled him to keep the shop open during such a dangerous time, the seller replied, ‘Mzee, this entire line you see belongs to employees of the defense and security organs; here, security is very tight.’”
By God’s truth, these shops helped the people of that town greatly during that dangerous period.
We reached the shop. Mwanakwetu’s relative bought two half-kilos of cashews, while Mwanakwetu himself bought one kilo of cashews and two packets of dates.Mwanakwetu said:
“Sister, these cashews are very good. If I want to get them when I’m far away, how can I do so? Please give me your phone number.”
The female seller, who had short hair, was light-skinned, and dressed simply, replied:
“My phone number is on the packet of these cashews.”
A man standing next to Mwanakwetu said:
“Do you want to call her? Do you want her to be questioned about why she is communicating with civilians? Because these soldiers call us civilians.”
Mwanakwetu asked the woman,
“Are you a soldier?”
She replied:
“I work under The Officer of RCO.”
Mwanakwetu then said,
“So sister, if I call you and Officer RCO answers, what will happen?”
The woman replied jokingly:
“Just answer like this: ‘Officer RCO, I have called this lady I want her to arrest a criminal, because this criminal has been troubling me for a year now.’”
Indeed, that evening this woman did very good business, because the purchases made by Mwanakwetu and his relative amounted to almost one hundred thousand shillings.
Officer RCO, don’t take it personally—because if your clerk or your investigating officer is attractive at work, know that she is also doing good business here in the neighborhood, because people like Mwanakwetu support her in her cashew business.
As we were leaving, Mwanakwetu’s
relative said:
“So, brother, you were telling the truth—this place is really full of ‘their own people.’”
Mwanakwetu laughed and said that he was a stakeholder of the Tanzania Police Force. There are young police officers who might trouble Mwanakwetu, but they have no authority to strip him of his stake in this force.
Mwanakwetu added this:
“When you look at a woman who works with the defense and security organs, it’s very easy to identify her. First, the language she uses—for example ‘Officer RCO’—they use few words, they are very sharp and clever, but even their physical build, their shoulders, tend to open up and slope to the side because of military training and carrying weapons.”
My reader, remember that Mwanakwetu and his relative are heading home. Mwanakwetu’s relative said he was going to the bank, while Mwanakwetu said he was rushing to his own home.
Mwanakwetu boarded a bodaboda, and his journey began. While on the road, he remembered one of his friends, RPC Advocate Nyombi, who had once been the Regional Police Commander (RPC) of Mbeya and Iringa.
“RPC Advocate Nyombi was a very special kind of police officer, actively participating in social activities. Even the community in Iringa recognized him for his good character and his neighborly relations with them, so he received many invitations. Even when musicians came to Iringa, RPC Advocate Nyombi had to be invited, and once invited, he would attend with his wife. When he was in a hall, you wouldn’t believe he was a police officer—he blended in perfectly, dancing freely to the music.
When I was in Iringa as a leader from the student government of Tumaini University Iringa, we often invited Advocate Nyombi to various festivals, and he would come with his wife.
One day, I took an invitation to his office. RPC Nyombi had a clerk, an older woman, but she was very beautiful. Mwanakwetu says he really liked this woman, who was also a police officer, and every time he visited, he would tease her.
‘Madam, I’ve come to deliver an invitation to the RPC, but please let me speak in a low voice so the RPC doesn’t hear me and throw me in jail. Now tell the RPC that Makwega has brought an invitation—we have a festival at the university. Jackline Ntabaliwe is coming, Banana Zoro, Mr. Blue, and TID. So I know RPC Advocate Nyombi will come with his wife; I’m asking for permission in advance that I go with you.’
Unbeknownst to me, Advocate Nyombi was hearing Mwanakwetu’s words through his clerk. After my theatrics, the clerk went into RPC Advocate Nyombi’s office, then came out and said, ‘The RPC is calling you.’ The door was open, and the RPC said, ‘Hey Makwega, you journalist, you CCM member, come in.’ The clerk added, ‘Makwega, the RPC is calling you.’ I went inside.
‘Makwega, I heard your cry. I’ve granted permission. Tomorrow evening you will accompany the RPC’s clerk to your festival, and my officers will provide you with security.’
Indeed, the day of the Tumaini Night of Talent festival arrived. RPC Advocate Nyombi was there in front with his wife, wearing a hanging chain, uniform set aside, and Mwanakwetu was together with the RPC’s clerk.
Life was truly very good.
Later, RPC Advocate Nyombi was transferred to Mbeya, and around that same time Iringa received a new RPC. Worse still, it was under this new RPC in Iringa that the death of journalist Daudi Mwangosi occurred.
The incident of Daudi Mwangosi’s death would have been very difficult to happen during the time of RPC Advocate Nyombi, because he was a complete police officer, a capable officer, and he knew very well how to live and work with the community he served.”
The question Mwanakwetu continues to ask himself to this day is whether relations between the police and journalists in Iringa Region and other areas can ever reach the level they were at during the era of RPC Advocate Nyombi in Iringa.
Remember, my reader, all these are just memories running through Mwanakwetu’s mind as he rides on the motorcycle after parting with his relative on his way home.
Then Mwanakwetu decided to put all these events of the day into the article you are now reading, my reader.
What is Mwanakwetu saying today?
In truth, today’s Tanzania—and Tanzania after October 29, 2025—relations between the police and civilians have seriously deteriorated.
The police are part of Tanzanian society. For someone to become the Inspector General of Police, the community must first produce young people who join the police, and then they reach the IGP. There, they are trained to gain discipline so that they can protect civilians and their property.
In this article, the senior police officer mentioned, RPC Advocate Nyombi, is an example of how well he related with the people of Iringa. One good thing is that even in his meetings with journalists, RPC Advocate Nyombi provided very engaging information: “Today RPC officers will plant trees; today RPC officers will visit the hospital; today a large group of musicians is arriving and security will be provided.” Very rarely did he talk about negative matters.
Since Mwanakwetu is a stakeholder of the Tanzania Police Force, he asks to end here today.
Mwanakwetu, are you there?What should this article be called?
Mwanakwetu Together with the RPC’s Clerk?Please Let Me Speak in a Low Voice So the RPC Doesn’t Hear Me?Officer RCO, Don’t Take It Personally?orSorry Officer RCO, I Have Called You—This Lady Wants You to Arrest a Criminal?
Mwanakwetu chooses: Officer RCO, Don’t Take It Personally.
I wish you a good day.
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