THE AZANIA -TAMBAZA CONFLICT XXIX

Adeladius Makwega – DODOMA

The education system at that time provided an opportunity, after school boards expelled a student, for an appeal to be made to the regional appeals board. If the decision of the appeals board was not accepted by either side, the case would be taken to the Minister of Education as an appeal. And if either side was still dissatisfied with the Minister’s decision, the case would be taken to the High Court.

 

Remember when Mwanakwetu’s father left his sister’s place at Kariakoo Market, they agreed to call a family meeting to discuss the matter in depth. Remember that Mwanakwetu’s aunt, known as Salome Fidelis Makwega, was working at Kariakoo Market. Kariakoo was a place full of many clever people in Dar es Salaam at that time, with all sorts of hustle and bustle.

 

This Salome, who is Mwanakwetu’s aunt, previously studied at Kisutu Secondary School, coming from Mbagala in the 1970s. When she was a young girl, the lifestyle of Catholic Christian youth involved great respect for religion. Therefore, she sang in the choir at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Mbagala, under the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam. At that time, the diocese was led by Cardinal Lauriane Rugambwa, a very tall, strict, and slender Black cardinal.

 

While Salome Fidelis Makwega was singing in that choir, the first, second, third, and fourth voices included several fellow youths, both locals and newcomers who had moved to Mbagala, Dar es Salaam, either for work or studies.

 

Their choirmaster was a young man from Upimbweni, Peter Pinda (Mizengo Pinda). According to several choir members who were still alive at the time this article was written in 2022, they said they knew Peter as a magistrate.

 

“Our choir master is a magistrate, and his tribe is Mpimbwe.”

 

At the family meeting, Salome told her relatives that she would ask Peter to assist in the case by writing an appeal for them. Since she had his home phone number, she would go to her workplace at Kariakoo Market and sneak into the office phone to call him and explain the situation. Then she would report back whatever he told her. (My reader, remember that in 1993 there were no mobile phones; phones were only landlines.)

 

When she spoke with him, Brother Peter (her former choirmaster from Mbagala Parish Choir, established in 1975) said:

 

“Tell this student to come to my place in Msasani, house number 55, with the relevant letter and all academic reports from Form One to Form Three.”

 

Indeed, when Mwanakwetu was informed, he boarded a bus to the station. There, he found a UDA bus that came every hour going to Msasani, since daladala did not go there.

 

I boarded that UDA bus to Morogoro Store and got off, then walked along Kaunda Road to Msasani, house number 55. That government house was quite ordinary—there was no gate, only a simple fence made of planted trees, and there was no security at all.

 

I think Peter was a senior government official, judging by the area he lived in and his neighbors, though personally I could not identify his exact rank. During the time I was going there, I noticed that he was a modern cattle farmer, kept both modern and local chickens, and cultivated a vegetable garden. Many of his neighbors bought milk, chickens, and vegetables from him.

 

At that home, although Mwanakwetu stayed only briefly, he noticed that Peter Pinda, on his right side, lived next to Judge Mkude. In that judge’s house lived a musician known as Mr. Paul. The next house was occupied by the then Chief Justice, the late Augustino Ramadhani. In front of this Zanzibari judge’s house, there was a small kiosk where sodas were sold.

 

Peter’s house also faced a small building where Nsa Kaisi lived, who I believe was a regional commissioner. Nsa Kaisi had impressive arrangements, including a large generator that would be switched on whenever electricity went out.

In front of Peter Pinda’s house was another house, I think number 54, where Brigadier Kotta lived. At that time, he was probably still in the army and had military security. For those who do not know him well, Brigadier Kotta was the head of TALK AIDS, and he is the father of Faraja Kotta—the beautiful woman of the city, the beauty of Dar es Salaam, who grew up near the ocean, bathing in seawater. And you know, my reader, seawater has a salty quality—nothing bad happens to you if you bathe in it. That is the nature of the ocean, and that is Faraja Kotta (the beauty).

 

At Brigadier Kotta’s place, there was a nursery school known as Faraja Day Care Center. This school was likely managed by Brigadier Kotta’s wife, who is Faraja Kotta’s mother. This woman had once taught at Tambaza, so she used her teaching skills at home. Her school even had a television, and she taught English pronunciation using video sounds for the children.

 

I do not know whether Faraja Day Care Center still exists or not. What I remember is that it was named after Brigadier Kotta’s child, the beautiful Faraja Kotta. I do not know where this beauty is now, because what I am narrating is from long ago. Do not be surprised, my reader—even back then, Faraja Kotta was considered beautiful. Even we Tambaza students recognized her beauty. God gave us eyes to see, and indeed we saw her beauty, but HE (GOD) also gave us self-control.

 

I do not know where Faraja Kotta is now! But truly, Faraja Kotta is beautiful.

 

I will ask one of my cousins to tell me where Faraja Kotta is and whether Faraja Day Care Center still exists, so I can take my child there to study. The story of this nursery school is very long.

 

In front of Brigadier Kotta’s house was École de France, a French primary school. Then if you crossed the road, I think Kaunda Road, you would find Oyster Bay Hotel, which I believe was publicly owned at that time.

 

When I arrived at Peter’s house, I was welcomed by red sofas, with a large television. I sat on those sofas, perhaps dirtying the clean red carpet with dust and mud from Mbagala.

 

“Why are you causing trouble at school? Understand that school years are very few in a person’s life, but they carry great importance.”

 

Said Peter Pinda.

 

Mwanakwetu explained what had happened while Peter took notes in his notebook. The conversation did not take more than 10 minutes. He then asked for the names of three of Mwanakwetu’s friends from Tambaza and the name of a former class teacher from the early period before transfers occurred.

“Ibrahimu Liguo (now works in the Ministry of Planning ), Hamisi Ramadhani (Rashidi Kazyoba), who lived in Mbagala—the one I went with to tuition where we were required to pray in a mosque—and the third was Atanas Luis (Mzee Ole).”

 

He wrote down their names and told me to go find them, deliver the message, and come with them the next day at 5:00 PM.

Will those individuals agree to go to Peter Pinda?

Wait for the next article.

Remember, this is part of the series The Azania and Tambaza Conflict XXIX.

I wish you a good day.

makwadeladius@gmail.com
0717649257