Adeladius Makwega MBAGALA
At present, Tanzania is going through a very difficult period. Some people may compare this situation to that of the 1990s, but by Mwanakwetu’s reckoning, the current state of Tanzania is more fragile than it was in the 1990s leading up to the multiparty elections.
Why does Mwanakwetu believe this?
In his view, there are certain similarities. Among them is the fact that the current President comes from Zanzibar. Not only that, but the current Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs is the son of the late Thabiti Kombo, a Zanzibari of mixed heritage—just as the late Ahmed Hassan Diria was during the time of Ali Hassan Mwinyi.
Mwanakwetu has been closely observing this Minister of Foreign Affairs—his demeanor resembles that of the late Ahmed Hassan Diria. This resemblance has led Mwanakwetu to reflect deeply, concluding that what happened to Diria may also happen to the son of Thabiti Kombo.
Mwanakwetu believes that the son of Thabiti Kombo lacks one key quality that his father, the late Sheikh Thabiti Kombo, possessed. The Mzee Kombo understood this well:
“For Zanzibar to succeed within the Union, it must ensure that Tanganyika—which lost everything in the Union—remains calm, secure, and largely free of grievances. If there are complaints, they must be few, because Zanzibar is never safe. If Tanganyika is sitting on burning embers, Zanzibar will be in ashes. Even CCM’s survival depends solely on the stability of Tanganyika—nothing else. It is like a mother carrying a child on a long journey; when one shoulder tires, she shifts the child to the other. But if that mother contracts cholera, will the journey continue?”
When one observes the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and how he speaks in both domestic and international media, there are several major shortcomings:
“He shows no sorrow, no sadness, no repentance, no apology. His words do not heal wounds; instead, they tear off the hard scab of a wound that had begun to heal, reopening it into a fresh injury that bleeds and oozes. Worse still, his answers to questions do not satisfy the questioners; rather, they seem to confirm some of the accusations being raised.”
In this context, Mwanakwetu recalls words once told to him by the Wakwere:
“Listen—Jakaya Kikwete was a barefoot-walking Member of Parliament. It is impossible for a barefoot-walking MP to produce a barefoot-walking MP. Ridhiwani Kikwete cannot be as attentive an MP as his father, because Ridhiwani is a shoe-wearing MP. Without realizing that most citizens are barefoot walkers—those who wear shoes are few.”
In this regard, Mwanakwetu says:
“A rowing MP cannot give birth to a rowing MP. What the father experienced, the child does not fully understand. That is the situation of Thabiti Kombo and his son, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
So what does Mwanakwetu say today?
Indeed, the political trajectory of Thabiti Kombo’s son mirrors the same challenges that Ahmed Hassan Diria faced when he was Minister of Foreign Affairs—up to the point when Tanzania entered the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and was later pressured to withdraw. Eventually, Ahmed Hassan Diria—a Tanzanian of Zanzibari and Somali mixed heritage—remained only as a Member of Parliament until his death.
Diria had served as Regional Commissioner in Pemba, later as an ambassador, and finally as an MP and Minister.
At all three levels, Diria faced serious accusations. It was during his tenure as minister that the controversy over Tanzania’s involvement with the OIC arose.
When Diria was serving in the diplomatic service and later as an ambassador, he was burdened with allegations of having fueled conflict among Oscar Kambona, Abdallah Kassimu Hanga, Abeid Amani Karume, and Julius Nyerere—conflict that ultimately led to Hanga’s disappearance. Many believe Diria was among those who added fuel to the fire.
While serving as Regional Commissioner in Pemba, Diria was also accused of abusing his authority, with allegations that some incidents led to deaths.
In truth, the tragedy surrounding Hanga’s death closely resembles the current situation in Tanzania following the General Election of October 29, 2025. Where is Hanga? Where are our brothers/sisters?
In all these matters, those complaining are Tanganyikans—just as in the OIC case, the complainants were Tanganyikans. How did Mwinyi become involved there? The humiliation of citizens is reminiscent of what happened on October 29, 2025, and the days that followed—similar to the accusations made against Diria when he was a young leader appointed after the Zanzibar Revolution.
Mwanakwetu believes that politically, Thabiti Kombo’s son has already lost ground and will not endure long in politics. This position as Minister of Foreign Affairs will be his final office—he will not cross this threshold.
Are you there, Mwanakwetu? Remember:
“The Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs awaits the same fate as Ambassador Ahmed Hassan Diria.”
I wish you a good day.
makwadeius@gmail.com
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