Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA
April 23, 2026
On this day, Mwanakwetu was seated, ready to listen to the report from the Commission on what happened on October 29, 2025 and the days that followed in Tanzania, led by retired Chief Justice Mohammed Othman Chande. When Mwanakwetu noticed the delay in the release of the report, he decided to go to the NMB Bank, Musoma Branch, located in the town center, to collect his new bank card since the old one had expired.
Upon arrival, Mwanakwetu went to the reception and told a pregnant woman there that he had come to collect his new bank card because the old one had expired.
The pregnant woman asked him to provide his account number. Mwanakwetu replied that he did not have the number memorized. This led the woman to direct him to another young lady outside who could help retrieve his account number. This annoyed Mwanakwetu, but he complied, got his account number, and returned to the pregnant woman. She then directed him to be served at counter number one. However, Mwanakwetu refused and said:
“Today, I want to be served by the pregnant woman.”
At that time, there were not many customers in the bank. This situation attracted attention, even causing a security guard to come closer, as Mwanakwetu was speaking quite loudly. Nearby, there was also a young soldier from the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (JWTZ) receiving services. Mwanakwetu wondered silently:
"Why is a guard coming near me while there is a JWTZ soldier right next to me? Is this like what happened on October 29, 2025, when people were being shot while soldiers stood by watching? Is the police more powerful than the military?"
These thoughts remained in his mind, while nearby staff quietly laughed, especially at his repeated statement:
“Today I want to be served by the pregnant woman.”
Eventually, the pregnant woman took his account details, checked the system, confirmed his name (Kazimbaya Makwega), and asked him to sign a document. He was then given his new bank card. After that, Mwanakwetu asked what to do next. She responded:
“Go to the Relationship Manager; they will assist you with your PIN.”
Before leaving, he asked her name. She wrote it down as Hafsa Athumani. Mwanakwetu left very happy with the service he had received.
He then went to the Relationship Manager, where there was a small queue that moved smoothly. When his turn came, he said:
“I have come to set a password for my account.”
The manager clarified:
“Here we set a PIN, not a password. There is a big difference—passwords include letters and numbers, while a PIN consists of numbers only.”
He set his PIN, then asked the manager’s name. She introduced herself as Josephine Ndosi. After finishing, he went back to say goodbye to the pregnant woman, Hafsa Athumani, before leaving.
What is Mwanakwetu saying today?
The main issue is about NMB customers being forced by the system to replace their bank cards, even when the cards are still in good condition. Mwanakwetu strongly disagrees with this practice.
According to his findings, NMB has a contract with a company known as SMART CARD, which produces bank cards. This company allegedly requires banks to replace customers’ cards periodically as a mandatory condition. Their justification is:
"It’s about card security and protecting what’s in your account. Technology keeps changing. In the past, cards lasted longer, but now things are different."
Mwanakwetu finds this reasoning weak. He questions why customers should be forced to replace cards that are still functional. He argues that SMART CARD could even produce lower-quality cards to ensure frequent replacements, calling this a form of commercial exploitation.
Mwanakwetu adds:
“Mwanakwetu has a bank account with Sparkasse in Germany. Their cards have an expiry date, but two weeks before expiry, they automatically send you a new card at a low cost—no hassle at all.”
Mwanakwetu calls on Tanzanian banks to reflect on this. Why can’t local banks offer more durable cards, especially in a developing country? He urges the NMB Board and the Ministry of Finance to look into this issue across all banks and address the practices of card manufacturers.
Mwanakwetu expresses great happiness for being served by Hafsa Athumani, the pregnant woman, noting that since birth, Mwanakwetu had never been served by a pregnant woman in a bank.
Mwanakwetu concludes with his signature phrase:
“I want to be served by a pregnant woman.”
Have a nice day.
0717649257
.gif)
.gif)
Post a Comment