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Adeladius Makwega (Mwanakwetu)
“Being caught in a political storm does not mean the journey has ended. Sometimes, it marks the beginning of a new chapter.”
On October 18, 2026, I received a message from a reader who wrote:
“Hello, brother. Excuse me, who are you, and where are you based? I have noticed that you write many articles about Pauline Gekul. What is going on?”
Without hesitation or ill intent, I responded openly:
“My name is Adeladius Makwega. At home, I am known as Kazimbaya, but these days I have been given the name Mwanakwetu. I am based in Mbagala. I have a great deal of admiration for Pauline Gekul because I see her as a leader with the ability to serve the people. I believe Tanzanians should recognize leaders who have the ability and commitment to serve the nation.
Do you have any other questions? I would also appreciate answers to my own questions: Who are you, where are you based, and why are you asking me these questions?”
By the time I began writing this article, the reader had not yet answered my questions.
Nevertheless, this exchange prompted me to ask an important question: Is it wrong for a citizen to defend a leader they believe in? Must every article written about a particular politician be motivated by personal interests?
In my view, the answer is no. In a democratic society, everyone has the right to express their opinions about leaders and the political future of their country, provided they do so responsibly and with respect for the truth.
I, Adeladius Makwega, writing under the name Mwanakwetu, have my own perspective on Ms. Pauline Gekul. I believe she may still have a place in Tanzania’s political future.
On my Facebook page, a reader known as Reginald Curty wrote:
“Whether the incident involving Gekul is true or false, it will be difficult for Pauline Gekul to return to Tanzanian politics.”
I responded by stating my position: I believe Pauline Gekul could make a powerful return to Tanzania’s political arena before 2030.
By the time I began writing this article, Reginald Curty had not yet responded to my argument.
But the central question remains: Why does Mwanakwetu believe Pauline Gekul could make a powerful return to Tanzanian politics?
My answer is this: Political history, both around the world and in Tanzania, teaches us that the challenges, controversies, and scandals faced by a politician do not automatically mean that their political journey has come to an end.
However, a political comeback does not happen by magic. It depends on the political environment, how the individual responds to challenges, the level of public support, and their ability to rebuild public trust.
Let us consider a few examples.
Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa, is one example that can help us understand how a politician can face turbulent times and later rebuild political influence.
Zuma faced allegations, legal disputes, and various political challenges, including corruption allegations.
In 2005, he lost his position as Deputy President of South Africa amid corruption allegations involving him and an associate.
Despite these difficulties, Zuma remained active in politics and eventually became President of South Africa in 2009.
Years later, in 2024, he re-emerged as a major political figure through the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which attracted substantial support in South Africa’s general election.
Zuma’s story teaches us an important lesson: a politician may go through a difficult period and still find an opportunity to rebuild their political influence.
This does not mean that the challenges they faced were insignificant, nor does it mean that every politician caught up in a scandal will make a comeback. Rather, it shows that a politician’s future should not necessarily be judged by a single event.
Silvio Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister of Italy, is another example of a politician who faced numerous controversies but continued to play a role in his country’s politics.
Throughout his political career, Berlusconi faced tax-related scandals, a conviction for tax fraud, and various controversies concerning his private life.
In 2013, he lost his seat in the Italian Senate following his conviction for tax fraud. Many might have regarded this as a major blow to his political future.
However, Berlusconi’s political journey did not end there. In 2019, he was elected to the European Parliament, and in 2022, he returned to the Italian Senate.
His story reminds us that a person’s political history does not necessarily end with a period of defeat or controversy.
Popularity, political networks, a party with a loyal support base, the ability to reorganize, and the political climate of a country can all contribute to a politician’s return.
Turning to Tanzania, we find the story of Edward Lowassa, the country’s former Prime Minister.
In 2008, Lowassa resigned as Prime Minister following a major political controversy surrounding a contract awarded to Richmond Development Company for emergency electricity generation. The affair significantly affected his political image and became an important chapter in Tanzania’s political history.
Nevertheless, Lowassa retained supporters and continued to wield political influence.
In 2015, after failing to secure the CCM nomination for the presidency, he joined CHADEMA and became the presidential candidate for the UKAWA opposition coalition.
This was a major political shift. A senior figure who had once belonged to CCM found himself on the opposition side, competing against his former party in the general election.
His campaign attracted large crowds and made the 2015 election one of the most closely watched periods in Tanzania’s multiparty political history.
However, Lowassa did not win the presidency. John Magufuli of CCM was declared the winner.
In 2019, Lowassa left CHADEMA and returned to CCM.
In my view, Tanzania’s political environment has continued to grapple with challenges whose roots can be traced, in part, to the political developments surrounding the 2015 election.
Lowassa’s decision to return to CCM can be interpreted in different ways. Some may regard it as an ordinary political decision, while others may wonder how his legacy might have been different had he remained in the opposition until the end of his life.
I have personally reflected on this and said:
“If Edward Lowassa had remained in CHADEMA until his death, his political history might have been written from a very different perspective. In my view, he still had an opportunity to leave a greater legacy within the opposition.”
The main point here is not to condemn Lowassa for his decisions, but to understand that a politician can face a crisis, reorganize, regain political strength, and later make decisions that change how their legacy is remembered.
Lowassa’s story teaches us that a scandal or political controversy does not necessarily mark the end of the road. He remained an important figure in Tanzanian politics even after resigning in 2008. Changing political circumstances can open new doors, as happened when he joined CHADEMA and contested the presidency in 2015.
However, public support does not guarantee victory, and subsequent decisions can influence how a politician is remembered.
Having considered the examples of Jacob Zuma, Silvio Berlusconi, and Edward Lowassa, let us return to my central argument: Ms. Pauline Gekul, a politician whom Mwanakwetu holds in high regard.
There is a difference between saying that a politician has faced a serious challenge and declaring that they no longer have a future in politics. These are two very different things.
In politics, circumstances change. Public opinion can shift. Political parties can make new decisions, and politicians may find other opportunities to rebuild their relationships with the public.
For this reason, when I say that Pauline Gekul could make a powerful return to Tanzanian politics before 2030, I am expressing my assessment of a political possibility. I am not claiming that such a development is guaranteed or has already been confirmed. Rather, I am sharing my political analysis.
I believe a politician’s prospects should not be assessed on the basis of a single event alone. We must also consider how they respond to challenges, the facts surrounding the issues associated with them, the steps they take, and how the public evaluates their place in political life.
Of course, a successful comeback requires more than having supporters. It requires rebuilding public trust, providing appropriate explanations regarding issues that raise questions, respecting legal procedures, and demonstrating how one can continue to serve the nation.
In my view, these will be important factors in assessing Pauline Gekul’s political future.
In politics, some leaders rebuild their influence after facing controversy, while others never regain their former position. There is no rule guaranteeing that every politician will make a comeback.
History nevertheless teaches us the importance of distinguishing between allegations, claims, established facts, and public political judgments.
Sometimes, a scandal dominates public discussion to such an extent that other aspects of the person concerned are overlooked. At other times, people form judgments before the relevant issues have been adequately clarified.
That is why I believe the debate about Pauline Gekul’s political future should be guided by truth, fairness, accountability, and the right of citizens to express their opinions.
Defending someone does not necessarily mean ignoring questions that deserve answers. Similarly, asking questions about a politician does not automatically mean that the individual has no place in public life.
We can demand truth and accountability while recognizing that a politician’s future cannot be determined by a single comment from a social media user.
Dear reader, consider the story of Jacob Zuma in South Africa. Consider Silvio Berlusconi in Italy. Also consider Edward Lowassa’s political journey here in Tanzania.
These examples do not guarantee that Pauline Gekul will successfully return to politics. However, they remind us that politics can change and that a politician’s future should not be declared over on the basis of a single event.
I, Adeladius Makwega, writing under the name Mwanakwetu, stand by my argument that Ms. Pauline Gekul could make a powerful return to Tanzania’s political arena before 2030.
This is my personal view, and I recognize that some people will agree with me while others will disagree.
To those who disagree, I invite you to engage in a respectful debate based on facts and sound arguments. To those who agree with me, I also encourage you to remember that political hope must go hand in hand with accountability and respect for the public.
History always leaves room for a new chapter, but actual events, the decisions of the individual concerned, and the public’s response will determine what that next chapter looks like.
Mwanakwetu has spoken. Time will tell.
I wish you all a pleasant day.
makwadeladius@gmail.com 0717649257
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