I WILL RELOCATE LAKE VICTORIA TO MBAGALA

 

 

Adeladius Makwega – Musoma & Bunda, Mara, Tanzania

 

July 4, 2026 began with a striking scene: a journey by journalists who were accompanying the Prime Minister, traveling from Musoma Urban to Musoma Rural—a journey that carried narratives, observations, and deep reflections on the lives of ordinary citizens.

According to Mwanakwetu’s findings, there were three groups of journalists: first, those traveling with the Prime Minister from Dodoma; second, local journalists from Mara; and within this group, journalists who were directly working in their respective constituencies.

 

The group of journalists from Musoma Urban arrived in Musoma Rural at the site of a project being inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Honorable Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba.

 

This took place in Kasoma Ujamaa Village, located very close to the shores of Lake Victoria—a vast lake, yet on this particular day, its reality seemed smaller than the expectations of those who live beside it.

 

 Upon arrival, the journalists decided to first look for breakfast. They went to an area with shops and small restaurants at around 7:30 a.m., and the day’s reporting began over a cup of tea.

 

“I arrived at a small restaurant run by Mama Loveness and ordered tea with rice. I did this to give my body energy, because finding time to eat during leaders’ tours is difficult; once I eat rice or ugali, I can last until sunset—maybe just taking water or soda to get through the day. When I asked what was available, Mama Loveness said rice was available, but the problem was the side dish.

 

‘The only side dish I have is beans, because for the past two weeks we have not been going to the lake due to allegations of illegal fishing; there is currently a ban on fishing.’

I asked for rice and beans. Mama Loveness served me while I teased her, ‘Why are you giving me such a small portion of beans? You people from the Wajita and Wakwaya communities, what is your problem? Is this how you serve your husbands—small portions of relish?’

(Mama Loveness just laughed.)

I continued, ‘Mama Loveness, it’s only been two weeks since fishing was banned, and you don’t even have small sardines for visitors? Don’t you have any dried sardines stored at home? If not that, at least you should have fulu (these are low-status small fish said to have been introduced into Lake Victoria as feed for other fish, and a person who eats fulu is considered extremely poor).’

 

I went on, ‘So here, Mama Loveness, you have no fish, no sardines, not even fulu? Your fellow Wagogo people get rain only once a year, yet during the long dry season, every household preserves dried leafy vegetables, properly stored in pots and gourds, along with ghee.’

Mama Loveness responded that nowadays fish is expensive; perhaps a small amount of sardines is affordable—and even those are more available in Musoma Town, not here in the rural areas.

Indeed, in the end I ate rice with beans, even though I was only a few steps away from the shores of Lake Victoria—a place where one would expect an abundance of fish, yet the reality was different.

 

‘This Lake Victoria—we might as well relocate it to our place in Mbagala.’

 

Mama Loveness laughed and asked, ‘So you, Swahili man, is your home in Mbagala or Dodoma?’

I replied, ‘My home is in Mbagala—and also in Dodoma.’”

 

After leaving the restaurant, the journalists returned to the project site where the Administration Building of Kasoma Primary School was officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister—a sign of development, yet with the shadow of ongoing challenges still present.

 

The Prime Minister’s convoy then proceeded to Suguti, where a public rally was held.

 

For Mwanakwetu readers, Suguti is the birthplace of Antony Mtaka, a leader who has served as Regional Commissioner in several regions of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Here, citizens spoke boldly and with clarity. Their concerns focused mainly on gold mining—a resource present in Musoma Rural, yet one surrounded by more questions than answers. The major challenge raised was the environmental and social impact of mining, as well as how local communities benefit from these resources.

 

At every stop the Prime Minister made, complaints were raised against various individuals. However, in Suguti there was a notable incident: a councilor was accused by a woman from Geita regarding a dispute over gold mining money.

 

The councilor stood publicly and admitted receiving ten million Tanzanian shillings, stating that he had returned part of the money. He promised to repay the remaining amount within one month—a commitment that sounded like a small victory for justice.

 

“Honorable Councilor, you have shown great integrity by admitting this matter; by acknowledging that this elder raised you. I thank you very much, and I urge the citizens of your ward to continue electing you,” said the Prime Minister.

Later, the Prime Minister proceeded to Bunda Town, where he held another public rally. Here, politics took center stage. He spent a significant amount of time discussing Honorable Easter Bulaya, emphasizing that she remains a CCM member and that citizens should trust her. He reminded the audience that even in 2020, many candidates who won party primaries were not returned as official nominees—providing context for party decisions.

Afterward, the Prime Minister concluded his tour of the Mara Region.

 

What does Mwanakwetu say today?

 

The political atmosphere in Bunda revealed a sense of uncertainty, prompting the Prime Minister to issue public directives to the Regional Commissioner of Mara. It was clear that national leaders were trying to persuade citizens to maintain trust in these members of parliament.

 

It should be remembered that Easter Matiko and Easter Bulaya were among the 18 CHADEMA MPs who entered Parliament in 2020 under controversial political circumstances.

 

During the rally, the writer witnessed an ordinary yet meaningful moment: he briefly dozed off, dropped his phone, and upon waking heard a voice from behind him:

 

“We are CCM members. Easter Bulaya and Easter Matiko are our blood sisters. Who can come here and start explaining to me about my sister’s good character—how kind she is—better than me, her own brother? These are our relatives; they must reflect on themselves, and this conflict is within CCM. We, as members, are complaining.”

 

This is where the core of the debate lies: is the issue internal or external? Is it accountability or political protection?

 

Some believe that senior leaders within CCM made mistakes—and if so, the question remains: why is it so difficult to publicly admit those mistakes?

 

Mwanakwetu asks: if such a conflict exists, who can resolve it?

 

Furthermore, another issue emerges—the culture of dispute resolution. A woman from Geita travels all the way to Musoma Rural to claim her ten million shillings. Does this not indicate that citizens are seeking justice outside formal systems?

What is the Tanzanian judiciary learning from this? Is it trusted? Does it still serve as a refuge for citizens? And does history—such as the abolition of chieftaincy in 1962—continue to influence how conflicts are resolved today?

 

In truth, this is more than a narrative; it is a mirror of society.

 

This is a summary article of the final day of the Prime Minister’s tour in Mara Region, July 4, 2026.

Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember:

“I will relocate Lake Victoria to Mbagala.”

Have a nice day.

Contact:
makwadeladius@gmail.com
0717 649 257