I Would Have Called My School Headmaster

 

Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

In human life, it is normal and very easy to speak about someone you know, but it is a much harder task to speak about, criticize, confront, or throw words, insults, and even mockery at someone you do not know.

Not speaking badly about an unknown person does not mean that such a person is extremely good or extremely bad—far from it.

That is why, after the events of October 29, 2025, the Police Force has received a lot of blame. When you mention the Tanzania Police Force, the image that comes to mind is our brother, IGP Camilius Wambura. He is mentioned directly, even down to his tribe, lineage, and parents. And Mwanakwetu is certain that such words deeply offend the person being spoken about negatively:

“That Camilius Wambura—we know him very well. His family are very good people. If there is a problem, it is from his mother’s side, but his father’s side are very kind and very religious people. If there are bad traits, then Camilius Wambura inherited them from his mother’s side…”

These are the thoughts of Tanzanians speaking freely about their Inspector General because he is someone who comes from their society, from families that are known to them.It is the community that determines whether a person’s maternal lineage is good or bad. The community has the right to say such things because the person being mentioned holds a public position.

“If you do not hold a public position, no one can say such things about you—unless someone intends to marry into that family; only then would such discussions arise.”

On the other hand, most Tanzanians who work in the National Security Department are largely unknown, except perhaps the Director of the department and a few individuals who may be recognized due to their duties at district or regional levels.

 

My reader, today I would like to discuss this:

“In any society, there are authorities that are visible and others that are not visible. For society to achieve its goals, these two authorities must work together harmoniously. The invisible authorities must be very careful and show great respect to the visible ones, because the visible image carries more weight than the hidden one. It is the visible image that will ultimately determine perceptions about the hidden one.”

My reader, allow me to share a true story—an incident I believe occurred in August 2017.

In 2017, President John Pombe Magufuli made a visit to the Tanga Region. That was the time he reconciled the Minister of Information (as of 2026) with the late Ruge Mutahaba. President Magufuli visited almost all districts in the region, except Lushoto District.

Initially, it was known that he would visit Lushoto and inaugurate several projects, including the Lushoto District Council building.

 

During these preparations, the Lushoto Council received a visitor accompanied by two young men:

“They entered the office of the Executive Director of Lushoto District Council—three people in total: two well-built young men, and another man wearing shorts and a T-shirt, who appeared to be their leader, though not physically imposing. This man introduced himself and signed the visitor’s book as the Head of Internal Operations of the National Security Department.”

This leader held a conversation with Mwanakwetu. The office door was initially open, but Mwanakwetu asked for it to be closed so they could speak privately. The young men closed the door, they spoke, and later left in a white Toyota government vehicle.

 

After they left, Mwanakwetu recalled the name ‘Nyaulingo’ Back when he was a teacher at Isimani Secondary School, the headmaster had that name. Even the signatures in the visitor’s book—two of the three names—resembled that former headmaster’s name.

Looking at the Head of Internal Operations, even his facial features resembled Teacher Nyaulingo. By that time, the former headmaster had already passed away, but the resemblance—in height, complexion, and manner of speaking—was striking.

After this visit, questions arose:Why were they using a good government vehicle?Why was one of them wearing shorts in a public office? Isn’t such attire prohibited in public service?Doesn’t public service emphasize proper dress code?

 

These questions were never answered.

Mwanakwetu thought to himself: if Teacher Nyaulingo were still alive, he would have called him to ask about this visitor who seemed like his relative. But since the teacher had passed away, he kept the thought to himself.

So what is Mwanakwetu saying today?

Invisible authorities, in everything they do, must be careful to create a good environment for the visible authorities in the eyes of society. Because the failure of visible authorities is also the failure of invisible authorities.

Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember:

 

“I would have called my school headmaster.”

Have a good day.

makwadeladius@gmail.com

0717649257