The bad you do, you do to yourself; the good you do, you do to yourself

Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

On April 14, 2026, Mwanakwetu met a certain government official who had once been a member of the Regional Security and Defense Committee in Tanga Region. 

 

On that day, Mwanakwetu was climbing the stairs to the Office of the Regional Commissioner of Mara when suddenly he saw an older man—very light-skinned, of average height, wearing a coat and a shirt of different colors—talking on the phone.

“Okay, send that to my phone… alright, alright, alright.”

The man seemed to be speaking with relatives. Mwanakwetu felt eager to greet him. The former committee member signaled Mwanakwetu to sit on a bench near the registry office. After finishing his call, he turned to Mwanakwetu and asked, So, you’re here in Mara? Mwanakwetu replied, Yes.

The man said that after leaving Tanga, he had been transferred there. They both laughed, and Mwanakwetu felt very happy meeting this man, who is known for writing with his left hand.This man had been among those who provided training to leaders in Mara Region, particularly on refugee-related matters.

 

For the reader’s benefit, note that a Regional Security and Defense Committee usually includes members from security organs, but this man was not from the police, prisons, or the army.

“This left-handed man is very competent, not a hypocrite, and he is truthful.”

Afterward, they parted ways. The man returned to the hall, and Mwanakwetu, still very happy, went back to his office and told his colleagues about the encounter.

One day, this man said the following:

“Directors of Tanga Region, I urge you to be careful. I have been assigned this task by the President. My chairman is the Regional Administrative Secretary, and I am her secretary. Let’s do this job well. Anyone who undermines me, I will report them to the President just as you have undermined me. Remember, I got this government job when I was very young, right after finishing high school. If I get dismissed, where will I go?”

Mwanakwetu’s colleagues laughed.

Later, Mwanakwetu completed his work and returned home. As he was about to sleep, he received a call from someone he did not know:

“Mwanakwetu, I see you praise Ambassador Hussein Katanga a lot. You don’t really know him—that’s why you speak so well of him. You don’t know what he did to some people when he was at the State House…”

Mwanakwetu listened carefully and replied:

“I hear you, but it’s not true that I don’t know him. I’ve known him since he used to board public buses and UDA buses from Kurasini to Tambaza Secondary School. Students used seasonal tickets back then. He loved playing football and was devoted to his Islamic prayers.”

He continued:

“I’ve known him from when he wore grey polyester shorts, a white shirt, and simple shoes going to school. He rose step by step—from an ordinary accountant, to District Accountant, then Executive Director, then Regional Administrative Secretary, then Permanent Secretary, then Ambassador, and later Chief Secretary.”

Mwanakwetu added:

“I agree with you about opposing injustice against public servants. But the real issue is this: are those who send reports to the President honest? Do they have good intentions? They live like everyone else—they eat from the same markets, face the same needs—so some can be influenced. That’s where misinformation arises. A good person can be removed while a corrupt one remains, due to personal interests.”

He explained further that the Chief Secretary receives compiled reports and advises the President, who may decide based on those reports or personal judgment.

“So if you blame Ambassador Hussein Katanga for decisions made while he was Chief Secretary, you are mistaken. First blame those who collect and submit those reports—from the lowest levels upward—and even the President who makes the final decision.”

After this meaningful conversation, they parted ways. The next day, April 15, 2026, Mwanakwetu decided to share these two experiences in this article.

 

What is Mwanakwetu saying today?

He reminds readers of his earlier encounter with the former committee member—how eager yet patient he was to speak with him. The man was known for integrity, patriotism, and being exemplary.

Those who send reports to the President must be truthful and careful. Wrong information can lead to poor decisions, causing complaints and harm not only to leaders but to the government and society at large.

Example:

If false reports lead to the removal of a competent district leader and replacement with a weak one, the consequences may affect even the person who spread the misinformation. For instance, if you later travel home and face an emergency—like an accident—and find that services such as ambulances are unavailable due to poor leadership, you suffer the consequences of your own actions.

 

Mwanakwetu insists that Ambassador Hussein Katanga is not to blame. Instead, those who provide information must act with integrity.

“The bad you do, you do to yourself; the good you do, you do to yourself.”

Have a good day.

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