TWO STORIES, ONE MESSAGE

 

Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

 

On the evening of July 14, 2026, Mwanakwetu came across this narration:

 

“We had made very good preparations for our Board meeting. In the evening, the Board Chairperson called and said,

 

‘Well, I have seen that your meeting preparations are complete. Congratulations for the good work. I see from the schedule that the meeting is supposed to start at exactly 8:00 AM and end at 04:00 PM. Now, your town is extremely cold (very cold indeed), so I direct that the meeting should start at 11:00 AM and end at 1:00 PM. I will travel early the same day; I will arrive just before 11:00 AM and leave at 1:00 PM immediately after the meeting ends.

 

I really do not like the cold weather in your town. I cannot travel, spend the night in that cold, and wake up there! I will travel by car, step out, go straight into the meeting, and then leave immediately afterward.’

 

We received these instructions as they were, and indeed, on the day of the Board meeting, it started at 11:00 AM and ended at 1:00 PM. The Chairperson stepped out of the car, went into the meeting, and immediately after the meeting, returned to the car and left for where he had come from.”

 

Mwanakwetu then told this man the following:

 

“There was a time when I was a Board member at Mabughai Community Development College, and the Chairperson of that Board was Ambassador Engineer Zena Said, who I believe is now Tanzania’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

I used to live in Lushoto, while Engineer Zena, who was the Regional Administrative Secretary of Tanga, came from Tanga town.

 

Board meetings often started exactly at 9:00 AM, but by 8:30 AM, all members and the Chairperson would already be in the hall. At exactly 9:00 AM, sharp on the clock, the meeting would begin and continue until 5:00 PM.

During the meeting, there was a full-day schedule—about nine hours inside the meeting—followed by external activities such as inspecting buildings, institutional assets, and checking the boundaries of the college, as the institution faced challenges of land encroachment.

Inside the meeting, we discussed many issues one after another, and any matter that raised doubt was examined deeply to ensure proper decision-making.

 

While in the meeting, our Chairperson, Ambassador Engineer Zena Said, would say:

‘Kazimbaya Makwega, my brother, please share your thoughts freely in the meeting. The staff bring proposals, but we as the Board make the decisions. Please do not remain silent; I will ask each one of you what you advise on this matter.’

 

Decisions were made thoroughly, with all members present on time.”

 

Mwanakwetu then shared this with the man who had told the first story.

 

The man said:

 

“Congratulations to you. So even in Tanga, Tanzania, it is as cold as here?”

 

Mwanakwetu replied:

 

“In Lushoto, Tanga, it gets very cold, especially in May, June, and July.”

The man continued:

 

“Even in that meeting, the Chairperson kept going in and out repeatedly. Honestly, even if the meeting lasted only two hours instead of eight, the Chairperson did not do justice to that meeting.

 

At one moment he would drink water, then step out to take medicine, then something else.

 

Please, when making these appointments, choose people who are physically and mentally fit to serve society effectively. Otherwise, they add more burden instead of reducing it. Choose someone by asking: Can they think clearly? Can they handle responsibilities and progress within the institution, instead of struggling unnecessarily?”

 

Mwanakwetu listened as the man concluded:

 

“These young people graduating from schools and universities today are very intelligent—they have been well-nurtured. We must be careful when choosing leaders for them; they will not accept leaving society as it is.”

 

The man added:

“Let me go receive a visitor—I hear a knock. My child’s tuition teacher has arrived. Goodbye.”

 

After parting ways with him, Mwanakwetu decided to prepare this article as it is.

 

What is Mwanakwetu saying today?

 

This article provides important lessons about leadership, accountability, work discipline, and the importance of making careful decisions in institutions and society.

First, we learn that a leader must have genuine commitment to properly fulfill their responsibilities.

 

Unfortunately, in the first case, the Board Chairperson changed the meeting schedule for personal reasons (cold weather) and did not fully participate. This shows a lack of dedication and seriousness toward the responsibility.

 

Second, the article emphasizes the importance of discipline and full participation in meetings and public duties. The second case presents a good example of leadership where the Chairperson and members were punctual, engaged in deep discussions, and everyone contributed ideas. This leads to better decisions and institutional progress.

 

Third, there is a lesson on selecting leaders who are physically and mentally capable. It is not appropriate to appoint people without considering their health, thinking ability, and readiness to work. Weak leaders increase problems instead of solving them.

 

Fourth, the article highlights that today’s youth are highly capable thinkers and expect quality leadership. Society must therefore be careful in selecting leaders who can match the pace of development and the expectations of the new generation.

This article is not discriminatory based on health or age. Rather, older individuals should self-assess their health and willingly step back from certain public roles when necessary. This will help society obtain the right leaders.

In summary, the main lesson is:

Good leadership requires accountability, discipline, inclusiveness, and the ability to make sound decisions for the benefit of society—not for personal interests.

 

This article is dedicated in honor of Ambassador Engineer Zena Said, Tanzania’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, I kindly request the Embassy of Tanzania in Saudi Arabia to translate this into Arabic and preserve three copies—Swahili, English, and Arabic—in the Embassy’s library.

 

Mwanakwetu, Are you there? Remember:

 

“Two stories, one message.”

 

Ahlaan wa Sahlaan

makwadeladius@gmail.com
0717649257