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Adeladius Makwega – Dodoma
The situation at Tambaza Secondary School continued to be marked by serious tensions between the new teachers at the school, including the Headmaster Mr. Mtera, the Assistant Headmaster Wajimila, and other teachers such as Mr. Songo, famously known as “Teacher Nyau.”
The standing “rule” was that whenever an incident occurred, expulsion from school became a very common outcome. As a result, many parents who had the means transferred their children elsewhere, while those who remained had to continue their studies under very difficult conditions.
It should be remembered that this school had been closed for a long time, leaving several students at home without schooling. When it reopened, the environment was one of constant struggle from beginning to end, with a clear impression that the government had ordered that Tambaza students must be controlled at any cost—raising the question: who exactly were they?
Meanwhile, the media attempted to report on the situation at the school.
Let me take you back a little. Shortly before the old teachers were transferred, several journalists from newspapers visited the school to report and take photos of the situation there. Newspapers published images of Tambaza students in their gangs.
There were gangs in various parts of the school, including one near the dining hall. In that area, there were heavy weightlifting bars, and the strongest lifter among them was William Damson (nicknamed Puzza). These weights had been made during renovations funded by DANIDA, after Tambaza students requested the workers to make them.
The journalists introduced themselves to the school administration and spent several days gathering information about the students’ misconduct. Their reports were published in newspapers such as Uhuru, Mfanyakazi, Mzalendo, Daily News, and Sunday News. While they were doing this work, Tambaza students became aware of their presence and began monitoring them.
On the second day, the journalists arrived on an XL motorcycle, parked it at the front of the school, and went to see the Headmaster, Julius Mushi. After speaking with him, they continued their work.
Students spread the word that “these people have arrived,” and began to act accordingly as the journalists took photos. After finishing, the journalists returned to the Headmaster’s office to inform him that their work was complete.
They then went back to their motorcycle—but when they tried to leave, they realized that their bags, which contained their work equipment, were missing. They returned to the Headmaster to report the incident.
What did Julius Mushi do?
He was completely shaken, realizing that the journalists would now report even more negatively about the school after this incident.
The matter was discussed for about thirty minutes, and then an emergency bell was rung. All Tambaza students—those finishing the morning session and those arriving for the afternoon—assembled.
Teachers, staff, and the Assistant Headmaster lined up, waiting for the Headmaster to address them.
Julius Mushi—a tall, very fair, slim, and neat man wearing white-framed glasses—arrived accompanied by two men, one of whom had a camera around his neck.
“Hello, my children. You understand that you are here to study. When you finish school, you will enter different professions—some of you will become teachers like me, others doctors, accountants, engineers, and some of you will become journalists. These gentlemen beside me are journalists. They came here to do their work, passed through my office, completed their tasks, and came back to inform me. But when they returned to their motorcycle, they found their bag missing. I kindly ask whoever may have seen it or moved it aside to return it.”
What was in the bag? Julius Mushi asked.
One of the journalists, speaking in Kiswahili with a Luo accent (suggesting he was Kenyan), said it contained a passport, an extra camera, and two camera flashes.
After listing the items, the Headmaster asked the journalists to introduce themselves to the students, which they did—while the Tambaza students laughed at the situation.
Indeed, after two days, the Headmaster posted a notice on the school board thanking whoever had returned the journalists’ passport.
Soon afterward, all the old teachers were transferred to other schools, and Julius Mushi himself was transferred to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in Dar es Salaam.
Such were the students of Tambaza.
Since Mwanakwetu is a journalist, I have often wondered about the name of the photographer who experienced this ordeal. Based on my memory of his face, I suspect he may have been a photographer from Daily News. If I ever meet him, I will ask—especially since he is also from the Mara Region.
As Muslims are in the fasting period, let me offer you this verse:
God,
remove diseases—especially HIV/AIDS.
Children are being infected without knowing their fault.
Orphans are increasing and are not being cared for.
Ramadan has arrived—God, forgive our sins.
Remember, this is part XXII of The Azania–Tambaza Conflict.
Wishing you a good day.
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