Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA
“I am the Bread that came
down from Heaven, says the Lord…
Eat My Body, drink My Blood, and you will live forever, says the Lord.”
Mwanakwetu was at his family home in Mbagala kwa Mangaya one evening when he heard this song being sung at a religious lecture of the Islamic faith, led by a tall, dark-skinned man.
This gathering was taking place beside Sinina Mosque, Mbagala kwa Mangaya, in 1994. On that day, while Mwanakwetu was at home, he received his friend Lucas Mwaikasu, who had been his classmate at Tambaza Secondary School when they were in Form Three in 1993. They had jointly borrowed a physics book, and Mwaikasu came to collect it because Mwanakwetu had been transferred to Same Secondary School. After his friend left, Mwanakwetu went to listen to this gathering and realized that the song being sung was the Holy Eucharist hymn of the Catholic Church, which is always used during the reception of the Lord in the Holy Mass. It was being sung by Ustadh Said Mwaipopo.
People at the gathering said,
“This man used to be a Christian, and at every gathering he likes to sing this Holy Eucharist song.”
Ustadh Mwaipopo then spoke for a while and again sang this song:
“I am the Drink that came down from Heaven, says the Lord…Eat My Body, drink My Blood, and you will live forever, says the Lord.”
Ustadh Mwaipopo boasted that he had been a Christian and that he knew Christian teachings well, including Christian hymns.
During this lecture, a heated debate arose. An elderly man of Luo origin, Mzee Ngutu, argued strongly with them. Mzee Ngutu was a Protestant (Mlokole), although his family was Catholic, including Frank Ngutu, who had studied First Communion catechism together Mwanakwetu in 1988.
Remember, we were at a lecture in Mbagala Mangaya, near Sinina Mosque, where there was intense argument and a request was made for an English Bible, the King James Version. It was not available. Mwanakwetu then ran to the house of Professor Robert Mfugale, who had a library of books in his living room, took the English King James Version Bible, and brought it to the debate. Unfortunately, the debate did not continue, even though they were informed that the English King James Version Bible had arrived.
Other lecturers present that day included Mazinge and even Ustadh Kipozeo, who presented topics on marriage. The meeting proceeded well until the end, remaining peaceful, and the crowd of people from Mbagala kwa Mangaya dispersed.
Why has Mwanakweu remembered this incident?
He has remembered all this because of a recent statement by Ustadh Said Mwaipopo claiming that the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) gave Sheikh Issa Ponda 100 million shillings in order to destroy BAKWATA. These statements by Ustadh Said Mwaipopo have deeply angered Mwanakwetu, and that is why he has decided to write this article and address Ustadh Mwaipopo with the following words:
“The responsibilities of TEC are many, but what Ustadh Mwaipopo said is not true. He should know that giving 100 million shillings to Sheikh Ponda cannot be a responsibility of TEC or of any Catholic believer. It is not good for someone like you to make such statements publicly. First, you should consider your age; such words should not be spoken by a person of your age. One hundred million shillings would be better used to establish a kindergarten school or a parish dispensary that would treat Christians and neighboring Muslims alike, rather than being used for such purposes.”
Ustadh Mwaipopo should remember that he and several of his colleagues were the leading figures of the Council for the Propagation of the Qur’an at that time, when they were in conflict with BAKWATA.
Through this article, Mwanakwetu tells Ustadh Mwaipopo that even if he has a personal conflict with Sheikh Issa Ponda, it is not right to involve any Christian institution in that conflict.
“Ustadh Mwaipopo, understand that hypocrisy in old age is bad; it will deprive your daughters and your grandchildren of opportunities to marry upright and respectable people. This blessing may pass them by if you are not careful. I beg you, my brother Ustadh Mwaipopo, I repeat and strongly urge you to respect Christians and never try to repeat this mistake again.”
As a layperson, Mwanakwetu has decided to write this article and ensure that it reaches Ustadh Mwaipopo wherever he may be.
“I am Life, which came down from Heaven, says the Lord…Eat My Body, drink My Blood,and you will live forever, says the Lord.”
Mwanakwetu, are you there?
What should this article be called? Ustadh Mwaipopo, Stop Your Hypocrisy or You Are Depriving Your Daughters and Grandchildren of the Opportunity to Marry?
Mwanakwetu chooses: Ustadh Mwaipopo, Stop Your Hypocrisy.
I wish you a good day.
makwadeladius@gmail.com
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