This is the seventh article in my series of my presentations, in a stylish countdown to the upcoming ‘golden Jubilee’ (60 years) of our country’s independence on 9th December, 2021; in which I have chosen to introduce our new book that represents our joint efforts (me and my friend and colleague Nkwazi Mhango) in recording the unique style of leadership of the late President John Pombe Mmagufuli, which captured and engulfed the world as a bushfire; and to which we have purposefully given the name ”Mgufulification”.
Our avid readers will probably remember, that in the second article of this series (published on Thursday, 7th October 2021); we looked briefly at the major contributions to the country’s development that were made during the two and a half decades of leadership by Presidents Benjamin William Mkapa; Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete; and John Pombe Magufuli (1995 – 2020). But, due to the strict editorial space limitations, I was unable to present a full picture of President Magufuli’s unique and innovative leadership style; a shortcoming,which I have endeavoured to remedy in today’s article.
And, as we said in the Prologue, “if there is any contemporary eye-rolling event with very positive effects and big lessons to offer globally that has politically and powerfully defined Tanzania (and Africa at large) with good tidings; it is the election of John Pombe Magufuli as the President of the United Republic of Tanzania in October 2015. His style of leadership has refreshingly amazed and wowed his friends, foes, optimists and pessimists alike; and has earned him bot friends and enemies”.
But we certainly did not invent the term “Magufulification”, for it had already been invented and used by other thinkers with great minds; such as the renowned Kenyan Professor Patrick Lumumba, who apparently felt very strongly, that President Magufuli’s unique style of leadership “needs to be given a conceptual dress, so that it can be well studied and analyzed, in order to make others benefit from it”.
Indeed, President Magufuli’s unique style of leadership, quickly won the hearts of Africa, particularly the hearts of African journalists, right from the beginning of his tenure which, unfortunately, turned out to be a short one. For, he had already become a continental icon within just one month of his being elected to that office, even without crossing the country’s borders. This was evidenced by a number of different captions from leading Newspapers in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe; all of which showered praise o President Magufuli’s exceptional performance, in their commentaries on the occasion of Tanzania’s 2015 independence anniversary celebrations.
Indeed, the late President Magufuli’s unique style of governance, “needs to be given a “conceptual dressing”; for it is a distinctive style that clearly distinguishes him from many other Presidents, particularly in Africa.
Furthermore, the late President Magufuli was an ‘innovator’, or a person who boldly introduces new ideas, and/or new ways of doing things. In my humble opinion, the late President Magufuli was able to demonstrate, during his relatively short term in office, that he possessed all these special qualities; and, seemingly, in surplus abundance.
That is the Magufuli story which is succinctly narrated in our “ Magufulification” book; in which we have boldly suggested, that the “ Magufulification” concept is applicable to many other African countries, simply due to the fact that the problems they face, do share the same nexus that can be traced to the external root causes, which were created by the bygone and forgotten forces of colonialism and neocolonialism; plus the internal forces of bad governance, rampant corruption, administrative ineptness, laziness, and their likes.
We have done that in ten carefully structured Chapters, spread over some two hundred pages; and covering topics, which include the following: - (a) “The genesis and making of the man and the concept” (Chapter 2); in which we focus on the late President’s persona, in order to present him as accurately and effectively as we can; and then we proceed to introduce the concept itself as a new concept, based on the actions taken by this person in his leadership role, but which, because of its newness, needs to be analyzed and interrogated, in order to lay bare its efficacy and lessons to other leaders.-
But we certainly did not invent the term “Magufulification”, for it had already been invented and used by other thinkers with great minds; such as the renowned Kenyan Professor Patrick Lumumba, who apparently felt very strongly, that President Magufuli’s unique style of leadership “needs to be given a conceptual dress, so that it can be well studied and analyzed, in order to make others benefit from it”.
Indeed, President Magufuli’s unique style of leadership, quickly won the hearts of Africa, particularly the hearts of African journalists, right from the beginning of his tenure which, unfortunately, turned out to be a short one. For, he had already become a continental icon within just one month of his being elected to that office, even without crossing the country’s borders. This was evidenced by a number of different captions from leading Newspapers in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe; all of which showered praise o President Magufuli’s exceptional performance, in their commentaries on the occasion of Tanzania’s 2015 independence anniversary celebrations.
Indeed, the late President Magufuli’s unique style of governance, “needs to be given a “conceptual dressing”; for it is a distinctive style that clearly distinguishes him from many other Presidents, particularly in Africa.
Furthermore, the late President Magufuli was an ‘innovator’, or a person who boldly introduces new ideas, and/or new ways of doing things. In my humble opinion, the late President Magufuli was able to demonstrate, during his relatively short term in office, that he possessed all these special qualities; and, seemingly, in surplus abundance.
That is the Magufuli story which is succinctly narrated in our “ Magufulification” book; in which we have boldly suggested, that the “ Magufulification” concept is applicable to many other African countries, simply due to the fact that the problems they face, do share the same nexus that can be traced to the external root causes, which were created by the bygone and forgotten forces of colonialism and neocolonialism; plus the internal forces of bad governance, rampant corruption, administrative ineptness, laziness, and their likes.
We have done that in ten carefully structured Chapters, spread over some two hundred pages; and covering topics, which include the following: - (a) “The genesis and making of the man and the concept” (Chapter 2); in which we focus on the late President’s persona, in order to present him as accurately and effectively as we can; and then we proceed to introduce the concept itself as a new concept, based on the actions taken by this person in his leadership role, but which, because of its newness, needs to be analyzed and interrogated, in order to lay bare its efficacy and lessons to other leaders.-
My friend and colleague, Nkwazi Mhango and I, have co-authored a book titled: - “Magufulification: A new Concept which will define Africa’s Future”. Although the contract for its publication was formally ‘signed and sealed’ last year (2020) with GDY Publications Company Limited of Dar es Salaam, it still, very sadly, has not yet seen the light of day.
However, we are hopeful and confident that, by the grace of God, it will soon hit the book market; a hope which is based on good old Shakespeare’s words in his “Julius Caesar, (Act III, scene I)”, in relation to Brutus (and his fellow conspirators) who participated in the killing of King Caesar: - “I came to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The noble Brutus has told you that Caesar was ambitious. If it were so, it was a grievous fault, and grievously hath Caesar paid for it. For Brutus is an honourable man, and so are they all, all honest men”.
I am also saying this not to blame GDY Publishing Company, for they have told us that they will honour our contract, and we are confident they will indeed do so; for, we believe, “they are all honourable men”.
We selected “ Magufulification” as our book’s title, in order to honour the man who made it happen, namely John Pombe Magufuli, the fifth-phase President of the United Republic of Tanzania; who, unfortunately, served the country for only one five-year term, due to the cruel fact that his life was suddenly terminated very soon after he had been re-elected in October 2020, and sworn into office for his second (and final) term. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
In our said “Magufulification” book, we delved into exploring the concept itself, plus its practical achievements, and what it can offer to other State leaders who may be facing similar problems in the fight against poverty, ignorance, and disease in their respective jurisdictions.
This ‘magufuliphoria’ is precisely what gave us, as authors, the courage to confidently suggest in our book, that ‘Magufulification ‘is a concept, which, hopefully, “will define Africa’s future, and perhaps change Africa’s destiny”.
And, as for me personally; this is also what motivated me to enter into Agreement with the government owned News Paper, the Daily New; to write weekly articles for this exclusive column. In her letter to me dated 11th May, 2015, Ms Tuma Abdallah, then the Deputy Managing Editor of the Daily News, confirmed that Agreement in the following words: “Tunakushukuru kwa kukubali kwako kuwa na column ya ‘Current Affairs’ katika gazeti letu la Daily News. Tumeona tukupe muda wa kujiandaa, ili tuanze na wiki ya kwanza ya mwezi Juni, 2015; ama Jumanne, au Alhamisi. Tunaamini kuwa sisi wenyewe binafsi, na pia wasomaji wetu, tutanufaika sana kutokana na hazina kubwa ya knowledge uliyo nayo, na busara zako”.
I paid special and particular attention, to her captivating kind words, namely that: “tutafaidika na knowledge uliyo nayo, na busara zako”, whereupon my religious orientation raced quickly to the Biblical sayings in Ecclesiasticus, 8 . 9; which provides the following friendly advice: - “miss not the discourse of the elders, for they also learned from their fathers; and of them, thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth”.
I interpreted those words to mean that as an elder myself and a (presumed knowledgeable) retired Speaker; I had the duty and obligation to impart such knowledge to my readers as will enable them “to learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth”.
I stand to be corrected, but I believe I have endeavoured to do exactly that in all of my weekly articles. And because of my personal admiration of President Magufuli’s extraordinary performance, I undertook to write appropriate articles of appreciation (which were duly published in this column), after his first hundred days in office, and after he had completed each year of his first term. And, indeed very fortunately, except where there were absolutely unavoidable reasons, we have faithfully implemented that Agreement to date.
President Magufuli’s outstanding achievements were so glaringly conspicuous, that they can be seen and appreciated by anyone and everyone. These included his most effective tax collection drive, which raised government revenues from the previous few billions of shillings to the current trillions; which enabled him to make huge investments in all kinds of infrastructure development projects, specifically, in mega new projects relating to education; the provision of health; and of clean water, both in Urban and in the rural areas; plus his successful introduction of ‘sanity’ in the public service; and his sterling efforts in combating corruption; poverty alleviation measures; et cetera.
President Magufuli’s unique style of governance.
The late President Magufuli was ‘a man of action’, i.e., a leader who makes things happen, rather than merely talking about them. He was a man “who takes the bull by the horns”.
The late President Magufuli was also ‘a man of his word’, or a person who actually implements whatever he promised to do. In other words, a person who ‘walks his talk’.
(b) “The concept of economic independence” (Chapter 5); and the decolonization of Tanzania’s economy (chapter 9). In these two chapters, we have focused on the late President Magufuli’s efforts in the decolonization of Tanzania’s economy, by addressing the myths and negativities of the colonial structures and procedures, that basically deprived Africa of its development, despite being in possession of these natural resources of great value that had previously not been adequately exploited for the country’s benefit.
The ‘power of natural resources’ did not free African countries from the dependence syndrome, simply because their leaders had not seen the vast potential that lay idle in these resources, which had worked well in respect of the Gulf States by making them an economic powerhouse, not only of the middle East, but, in reality, of the whole world.
We bravely made the assertion in that chapter, that “Magufulification” has unveiled this hidden ‘power of resources’; which he put to very good use in promoting the fast-track economic development of Tanzania that we all have witnessed. “Mwenye macho, haambiwi tazama”.
(c) “The fact of African countries’ dependence on donor aid” (chapter 9); in which we have pointed out that many African leaders have been spending much time and money “globetrotting around the world in search of donors’ aid; instead of concentrating on the wise management of their own God-given natural resources riches”. But ‘donors’ aid’ has, in effect, been generally problematic; and as the late President Magufuli said, “Africa’s former tormentors cannot possibly turn themselves into its benevolent ‘uncles’ overnight”.
We have faithfully acknowledged that there are many varied personal views regarding what the late President Magufuli did, which is a normal thing. But our assessment is based entirely on his ‘governance delivery’ performance, i.e., how he exercised power in the management of the country’s resources, to benefit our country’s development. piomsekwa@gmail.com / 0754767576.
Source: Daily News today.
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