A Chicken That Eats Eggs Must Be Slaughtered

By Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

This is the morning of April 2, 2026, in Musoma, Mara Region. Mwanakwetu has been assigned the task of going to the residence of the Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) of Mara, where major renovations are underway. The RAS, Mr. Gerald Musabila Kusaya, was expected to visit and inspect the renovation.

At around 10:00 a.m. on this day, which is Maundy Thursday, this government leader arrived at the residence, entered, and inspected the work while the builders continued with their duties.

While the RAS was there, it was explained by Ms. Irene Mosha, the Project Manager, that:

“This project is being implemented under contract number RAS/077/2025/2026/NC/11 using the force account method. It began on December 1, 2025, and is expected to be completed soon.
The only challenge is that suppliers delay delivering construction materials on time.”

At the Mara Regional Secretariat, Mr. Gerald Musabila Kusaya, while at the project site, said that if government projects have sufficient funds, there is no reason for any contractor to request an extension of time. These projects must be completed on schedule—especially projects in Mara Region. The funds are available, so what is the problem? These projects should not be given to inexperienced contractors.

“I recognize that the work is being done well, but I want it to be done with high quality because this is the residence of a senior government leader, and the funds are available. I am the owner of this project—why should it be delayed?
It must be completed on time. If the problem is suppliers delaying materials, then qualified and capable suppliers must be found. Government projects are not for experimental contractors—they are not to be taken lightly.”

These remarks were made by the Mara Regional Administrative Secretary, Mr. Kusaya, while inspecting the renovation of his residence, which is undergoing major refurbishment costing about 60 million Tanzanian shillings. The house is located near Lake Victoria.

While inspecting the project, Mr. Kusaya passed by his chicken coop. Suddenly, he found two of his chickens had broken an egg and were eating it:

“Oh my! The Mara Regional Administrative Secretary’s chickens are eating my eggs! (staff nearby laughed) Lock up those two chickens immediately! Any chicken that eats eggs must be slaughtered because it will teach bad behavior to the others…”

The two chickens were quickly confined in the coop.

The inspection exercise later concluded, while the leader’s chickens continued clucking in their enclosure.

At the time of this inspection, the weather in Musoma town was 26°C, humidity 25%, a 63% chance of rain, and wind blowing at 14 km/h.

What does Mwanakwetu say today?

Mwanakwetu wonders: will those two chickens that were locked up for eating the eggs they themselves laid really be safe? Or will they end up decorating the table of the Mara Regional Administrative Secretary as a dish during the Easter celebrations of 2026? Mwanakwetu has no answer.