THE AZANIA–TAMBAZA CONFLICT XXVIII

 

 

Adeladius Makwega – DODOMA

 

When board meetings are held, decisions are made in the meeting and then instructions are left to the board secretary to put them into writing, and the board secretary, who is also the Head of School, signs the letters on behalf of the board.

After the board finished its work, indeed letters were written to be sent to the parent of Saidi Masuodi, to the parent of Mohammed Said, to the parent of Adeladius Makwega (Mwanakwetu), and to the parent of Arone Sifuni.

 

The Tambaza notice board displayed names of several students to report to the Headmaster’s office, where these four names were included.

Mwanakwetu was informed and went to the Headmaster’s clerk, who was a very well-known lady at the school.

 

When Mwanakwetu arrived, he found the clerk, and then the clerk went to the Headmaster saying Makwega has arrived.

Mr Mtera said, tell Makwega to come in. As Mwanakwetu was entering, Mr Mtera told Makwega to sit on a chair, Makwega sat down, suddenly another person entered, I think a food Supplier.

Mr Mtera said:

“Wait a moment, let me finish with these troublesome boys.”

 

The Headmaster’s clerk came in with Makwega’s file, and since she knew what had been decided, her eyes looked as if they were filled with tears.

 

Makwega does not know what had been decided.

Mr Mtera said:

“Makwega, the board has decided to expel you from school, but you are allowed to appeal within 45 days from the date of this letter, I wish you a good life.”

 

Makwega asked Mr Mtera, where do I file the appeal?

Mr Mtera replied:

“You appeal to the Regional Commissioner of Dar es Salaam who is the chairman of the Dar es Salaam Regional Education Appeals Board, but the letters pass through the Dar es Salaam City Education Officer.”

 

The Headmaster’s clerk was going in and out; as Mr Mtera was finishing speaking, the clerk was there listening, and immediately she came closer and gave me a book, I signed the letter, she gave it to me, I put it in my upper shirt pocket, I stood up and extended my hand to Teacher Mtera, this teacher refused to shake my hand.

The clerk said no Mr Mtera, shake his hand.
Mr Mtera stood up while smoking a cigarette, the office smelling of cigarette smoke. Mwanakwetu gave him his hand and left, returning to classroom 3R1 to take his bag and go back home ( Mbagala).

 

When he arrived in class, he spoke to the class monitor, who was called Heriheri Haggai, who is a medical doctor and later had studied at Tumaini University Iringa with a degree in Cancelling, this young man, a born-again Christian and a Chagga, Makwega explained what had happened and asked to say goodbye to class 3R1. Heriheri Haggai had a friend called Bernad Lema, who was also Chagga and a born-again Christian. Haggai stood in front of the class and said, everyone listen, Makwega has something.

 

“You saw our names posted on the Headmaster’s notice board, I have come from the Headmaster, I have been informed that I have been expelled from school, here is the parent letter, goodbye if God wills we shall meet again.”

 

 

The students of 3R1 were very saddened, but the water had already been spilled.

Since the letter came at 4:00 pm and that day 3R1 had afternoon classes, studies did not continue, immediately 3R1 stopped classes, some cried including Ibrahimu Liguo, there was chaos, they did not continue studying. The entire class could not believe what had happened.

 

Regarding the letters of Arone Sifuni and Mohammed Said, they were not well known because these colleagues were not blessed with being good attendees in class.

 

The entire class left with Mwanakwetu, while Tambaza students made noise like an alarm signaling danger, asking what happened. Teachers began closing offices and leaving the school immediately, and now 3R1’s journey was on foot from Tambaza – United Nations Road, Fire, Kariakoo to Uhuru School.

The class of 45 students gradually reduced along the way.

“Sir, I am boarding at Fire”

Students saying goodbye.

By the time we reached Uhuru School, there remained Makwega, Hamisi Ramadhan (Rashidi Kazyoba), and Christian Maembe (brother of Vitalis Maembe). This Hamisi Ramadhan is the one I went with to study at the free Sinza Mosque tuition where we were required to pray at the mosque.

 

He escorted Mwanakwetu all the way home to Fidelis Kazimbaya Makwega in Mbagala Sabasaba, where 3R1 students instructed him to ensure Makwega arrived home safely.

 

“I arrived home and greeted my paternal grandmother, I did not tell her anything, Rashidi said goodbye to grandmother saying I have brought my friend, grandmother did not notice anything and did not ask why my grandson, who usually returns alone, has come with someone? I am leaving, Rashid said, and he left, I packed my suitcase and clothes. In the room I had an Abbott book, notebooks and school uniforms, I left them there, I took casual clothes and left carrying my suitcase to my father’s house, I arrived, opened the door, placed the letter on the table and left.”

The letter was placed on the table for my father Francis Makwega; when he returned at night, he saw it and went to look for me but did not find me, I had gone to my friend Musa Ally Mbonde (this man is now a big businessman), I left my suitcase there, later Mwanakwetu went to stay with his biological mother who was in another town.

 

So when my father got the letter, he went to his mother Binti Omari but did not find me, the next morning he went early to Tambaza Secondary to inquire what had happened.
There he met Mr Wajimila(Second Master).

 

“I am the parent of Adeladius Makwega, I have come here to ask what happened, because I saw this letter at home.”

 

I know you and your name is Francis Makwega, we studied together at Pugu Secondary in 1972, so that stubborn one is your son! Oh you are completely finished my friend, this boy is very troublesome. What we can do is give him a leaving certificate for Form Three where he reached, Francis Makwega I have no other help.

 

My reader, the question is only one: what will that Form Three leaving certificate help this student?

This old man left and passed by his sister at Kariakoo Shimoni known as Salome Fidelis Makwega to explain what had happened. At that time Kariakoo Market was truly Kariakoo Market, where Salome Makwega was a clerk to the Administrative Officer of Kariakoo Market.

 

He spoke with his sister there, and a family meeting was called to decide what to do.

While Mwanakwetu was at his mother’s place one evening, he was visited by an old man known as Mr TANU Rehani Mswago with his wife known as Otilia Fidelis Makwega, the elder aunt of Mwanakwetu.

 

“Life is like that and life is a struggle, whether you are a man or even a woman you must struggle until your day of death, so go back home. Do not fear being expelled from school my child, my uncle. These things will pass.”

 

Said TANU Rehani Mswago, uncle of Mwanakwetu. And Mwanakwetu accepted that call.

 

“This was at night about four days after being expelled. TANU Rehani Mswago and his wife Otilia Fidelis Makwega left with Mwanakwetu who was at his mother’s home (Doroth Hezron Mlemeta) and went to Musa Ally Mbonde where Mwanakwetu had kept his suitcase, and returned home to Mbagala Sabasaba to the house of mzee Fidelis Kazimbaya Makwega his grandfather.

 

At Tambaza school, students of class 3R1 held a big meeting in their classroom discussing what had happened to Mwanakwetu. First they contributed money and collected about 5900 shillings, I remember that money was very large, and it was handed to a very devout Catholic student named Dunkani (whom we believed would become a priest later). Dunkani was the chief altar server at St. Peter’s Oysterbay Church, and he was sent to Mbagala to deliver that money to Mwanakwetu.

Dunkan arrived in Mbagala with two matters: first to deliver the money, and second, they had communicated with the mother of Said Masoud (who had also been suspended with us, an Indian Arab), who worked at BAKWATA headquarters. Dunkani told Mwanakwetu that we ask you to go study Form Four at Kinondoni Muslim, and we have already spoken with the head of that school, everything is good, everything is arranged, no fees or anything.

 

Some students of 3R1 assured Said Masoud’s mother that Mwanakwetu did not participate in that chaos, and that is why this mother made the decision to help me through BAKWATA so that I could finish Form Four there, because Said Masoud’s mother was an employee of that school and a high-level employee at BAKWATA.

After Dunkani left, the following Sunday I went to this Arab mother at her home within the Kinondoni Muslim and BAKWATA staff houses, we talked a lot and she gave me time so that I could start school quickly at Kinondoni Muslim to finish Form Three.

 

While preparing this text for the first time in 2022, Mwanakwetu was informed that this mother is ill and is in the United States. Through this article, Mwanakwetu personally wishes her a quick recovery.

 

The questions that up to today I have not found answers to are about class 3R1: did they contribute money for Arone Sifuni? Did 3M1 contribute money for Mohammed Said? Did 3R1 find a school for Arone Sifuni to sit for Form Four exams? Did 3M1 find a school for Mohammed Said to sit for Form Four exams?

 

Those who studied in 3R1 who are still alive have answers to all these, but my reader, do not be naive, know that all answers are no, this fortune was only for Adeladius Makwega.

 

Why did they do all that for Mwanakwetu?

Wait for the next text.

Remember this is an article of the Azania and Tambaza Conflict XXVIII.

I wish you a good day.

makwadeladius@gmail.com
0717649257

(The second picture is Tambaza Secondary School as it looks today. The first picture is three students of 3R1 including the very devout Catholic Dunkan (wearing a wristwatch), Said Masoud and James Shemdolwa.)