The dirge for Chacha Zakayo Wangwe

IT is very sad indeed. Chacha Zakayo Wangwe, MP for Tarime, is no longer with us! Gone is the man who roared like a lion as he spoke about political and economic issues that he deeply cared in Tanzania.

Indeed, when Wangwe’s voice was heard, many Tanzanians seemed to listen carefully to what he said. Being a forceful critic, along with Dr Willbroad Slaa and others, Mr Wangwe was not fearful to expose government misdeeds as he did so well during the revelation of the EPA scandal.

I can comfortably say he was a man and a half. I believe so. When one looks at his struggles in life, one has to nod that Wangwe was a real person who sought to inspire people to exercise their individual rights guaranteed in the national constitution. Indeed, Wangwe was a challenge to many of us as he sparked our minds on issues of public interest in the nation.

Following his political rhetoric as a member of NCCR-Mageuzi, I became so interested in Wangwe’s public issues that analyzed well the plight of poor majority Tanzanians. I still remember Wangwe in the way he used to roar at public rallies in urging Tanzanians to join a new political party other than CCM. For example, when CCM played God by toying almost everybody around, Wangwe was fearless in exercising his freedom of speech to speak out the abuse of authority by CCM. Now, this firebrand is a dead candle! Dead is Wangwe, but not what he stood against such as the violation of the rule of law, corruption and abuse of power. I know that many may probably say that Wangwe was a troublemaker, especially when the recent fallout between him and other official members of Chadema became a public issue. I

know, for sure, that disagreements or conflicts are natural and that people can’t avoid them. What seems to be true is that Wangwe did not close all communication channels in effort of resolving the conflict. And, indeed, that made him a strong man in finding a solution to the problem.

I, for one, would take all good in-puts that Wangwe donated to Tanzania’s struggles against corruption and maladministration - anathema that still eats our country.

Now, Wangwe is gone. I send my heartfelt condolences to the family, and voters in Tarime. I have one word for all, and that is make sure that Wangwe is replaced by a person, who has the same convictions, which can move forward his dreams. Let gone be the other side of Wangwe we think we did not like or appreciate. He was a human being like you and I. We thus need to appreciate whatever good he left behind as we move on with our lives.

Against all odds, Wangwe, though, a neophyte, even a rookie, stood a high ground to foster whatever he believed in.

Again, that is what he knew too well so as to fight amidst turmoil. Who can be the first to throw a stone to he who labours under ghoulish?politics of lies that Wangwe fought nail and tooth? This, indeed, is what helped all of us to know what was going on in this country. As bad as trouble makings may seem, we need to learn one thing from Wangwe, and that is, he was a man of character, dignity, and respect as he fought for the rights of every Tanzanian.

But a point should be noted that when we heroically fight, we must do so for the good cause of the nation in lieu of self-seeking prosperity. At this time when the nation is on the move of cleaning evil, let us remember that people like Wangwe contributed immensely to the nativity of tough stance against Mafisadi, even though the fight has not yielded much as we expected.

The Mafisadi, he used to pursue are smiling and congratulating each other; many of us are grieving for the loss of Wangwe. But the death of Wangwe should act as a catalyst in lieu of deterrence. Once one hero goes automatically another emanates. I thus strongly believe that voters in Tarime will eventually give us another person of his caliber.He did what many elites failed. Whilst they complained and feared for their dear lives, Wangwe came forth with full force to see to it that Mafisadi pack and hit the road. And indeed he did. One can see this by counting the number of the already hammered Fisadis, especially from high government offices.

If anything, I mourn Wangwe as I remember the precedent he set for all of us.
Go Wangwe for the job fare-thee-well done. But you were a hero. Accord my salaams to Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Edward Sokoine, Horrace Kolimba, Hussein Shekilango, Seth Benjamin, and others whose blood was shed in the planting of a beautiful tree known as Tanzania.
To the Fisadis, rest assured that you will never get away with it despite the death of the great fighters. We shall pursue you ad infinitum. Fare-thee-well Chacha Zakayo.
Source: Thisday August 4, 2008.