The Political Accident at a Red Light

Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

“He has no appeal whatsoever to be Minister of Foreign Affairs; this person is failing badly in matters of national interest, and that situation is closely tied to the presidency. Honestly, if Chinua Achebe were alive, he would have told him, ‘His head is not right.’ You cannot despise your fellow citizens and at the same time seek to undermine or tarnish the International Criminal Court, Vatican City, the African Union, and the world at large. We are not there to show off our faces — it is a great shame…”

These were the views of Raphael Ondengo in one of the Mwanakwetu articles discussing the position of Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Thabiti Kombo. This is how our Minister is being assessed by Mr. Ondengo.

 

Other comments were as follows:

“Believe it or not, Mahamoud Thabiti Kombo will be the President of the United Republic of Tanzania in 2030, God willing. Whoever does not like it should leave the country. Tanzania will be ruled by Zanzibaris until the end of the world, God willing.”

These were the views of someone calling himself Tanzania Pemba. More comments followed after Mwanakwetu published nine pieces — three written articles, three audio pieces, and three videos — about Hon. Mahamoud Thabiti Kombo, who is Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

My reader, there are many opinions, but I have chosen to present to you just two — those of Raphael Ondengo and the second individual calling himself Tanzania Pemba — following the circulation of Mwanakwetu’s articles on social media.

 

What is Mwanakwetu saying today?

Mwanakwetu clearly stated that Minister Mahmoud Thabiti Kombo, one of the sons of the late Thabit Kombo, has — according to Mwanakwetu’s assessment — reached the end of his political rise in Tanzania. Mwanakwetu believes Mahamoud will not obtain another major position again, and that his political downfall resembles that of Ahmed Hassan Diria during the era of President Ali Hassan Mwinyi in the 1990s.

History suggests the following:

“Following the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964, Ahmed Hassan Diria was appointed Regional Commissioner for Pemba and remained in that position until 1965, when he was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania. He served as Tanzania’s Ambassador to Congo from 1970 to 1972; High Commissioner in New Delhi, India from 1971 to 1978; later Ambassador to Japan from 1979 to 1984; and Ambassador to Germany in 1984. After serving in several diplomatic postings, he returned to Tanzania and became Member of Parliament for Raha Leo, where he held various ministerial posts. In 1989, he joined Tanzania’s Cabinet, serving as Minister, and from 1990 to 1993 as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Republic of Tanzania. Earlier he had been Minister of Information and Broadcasting. It was during this period that the OIC controversy emerged, leading to the political decline of Ahmed Hassan Diria and John Samweli Malecela in Tanzanian politics.”

My reader, allow me to add one thing. In this single matter there are actually two sides. If Hon. Mahamoud Thabiti Kombo were to respond to these issues raised by Mwanakwetu, he might present the complementary side of the story. However, since Mahamoud Thabiti Kombo — Mwanakwetu’s brother — has remained silent, Mwanakwetu is keeping that second aspect in reserve and is presenting only one side.

 

For a Tanzanian to become President of the United Republic of Tanzania, the two sides of the Union must have no accusations linked to that leader — for example, appearing to suppress one side. If your name is proposed and one side openly complains about you, then in order to safeguard the Union, you must step aside to preserve national unity.

Salim Ahmed Salim — when Julius Nyerere stepped down in 1985 — was completely rejected by the Unguja side, even though he was popular in Tanganyika. Mwalimu accepted this reality. Even in 2005, figures like Jakaya Kikwete knew that the threat was Salim Ahmed Salim; intrigue was at play, and in the end Jakaya Kikwete prevailed.

This criterion — of facing many accusations from one side — is what is sinking Mahamoud Thabiti Kombo. Even attempting to seek the Presidency of Zanzibar will be difficult for him. On the Tanganyika side, within the party, people will harbor their own private reservations. For now, people remain silent, but when critical moments arrive, all these issues will come to light.

 

Mwanakwetu insists that his ‘brother’ Mahamoud Thabiti Kombo has now reached the edge of his political career in Tanzania. He may remain only as a Member of Parliament, and even this tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs — though Ahmed Hassan Diria held it for quite some time — Kombo’s period will be very short, for reasons everyone knows. In short, Mahamoud Thabiti Kombo has had a political accident at a red light.

Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember:

“He has had a political accident at a red light.”

Have a good day.

makwadeladius@ gmail.com

0717649257