HISTORIA NDEFU YA MNAZI MMOJA DAR - ALHAJ ABDALLAH TAMBAZA

Shajara ya Mwana Mzizima:

HISTORIA NDEFU YA MNAZI MMOJA DAR

Na Alhaji Abdallah Tambaza

ENEO la Mnazi Mmoja hapa jijini, lina historia ndefu pengine kama ilivyo historia ya jiji lenyewe la Dar es Salaam liloanza na Mzizima zaidi ya miaka 150 iliyopita.

Hakuna maelezo sahihi yaliyorekodiwa yanayoelezea hasa ni kwa vipi eneo hilo likaitwa Mnazi Mmoja; lakini itoshe tu kusema kwamba majina kama hayo hupewa maeneo, ama kwa kuwepo kwa mti kama huo mahala hapo huko nyuma; na baadaye, pengine kwa sababu yoyote ile, labda ukakatwa usiwepo tena, lakini jina likawa limebakia.

Aidha, jina hilo pia hutolewa kwa sababu ya harakati za mahala hapo kufanana na zile za ki-mnazi mmoja hivi—liko eneo linaitwa Mnazi Mmoja kule Unguja ambako pirikapirika zake zinalingana na hizi za hapa Dar es Salaam. 

Eneo la Mnazi Mmoja ya Dar es Salaam, kiasilia linaanzia mwanzo wa Barabara ya Lumumba (zamani New Street)/Morogoro Road na kuelekea mpaka mwisho wa Lumumba kule Gerezani; halafu ikutane na Bibi Titi Mohammed, na kuja hadi Morogoro Road tena. Mzunguko huo na vilivyomo ndani yake, hasa vile viwanja, ndio Mnazi Mmoja yenyewe.

Kwenye viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja pale barabara ya New Street siku hizo, mikutano mikubwa sana ya kihistoria ilifanyika ambayo ilikuja kubadili historia ya nchi ya Tanganyika wakati huo wa utawala dhalimu wa Serikali ya Malkia Elizabeth wa Ulaya Ingereza.

Iliyokuwa Ofisi ya African Association 1929, TANU 1954
na CCM 1977,New Street (Lumumba Avenue)

Mikutano hiyo ni pamoja na ule mashuhuri ulioitishwa na Chama cha TANU siku hizo kuja kuwaelezea wananchi kusudio la kumpeleka Mwalimu Nyerere Umoja wa Mataifa (UNO), kwenda kulieleza baraza lile kwamba, ‘wakati umefika sasa Watanganyika wanataka uhuru wao ili wajitawale wenyewe’.

Julius Nyerere alienda  UNO na kurejea nchini Machi 19, 1955 na siku iliyofuata Jumapili, Machi 20,1955, TANU ilifanya mkutano mkubwa sana ambao unakisiwa ulihudhuriwa na watu wasiopungua 40,000 waliokuja kutoka pande zote za nchi hii kusikiliza matokeo ya safari ile ya kihistoria, iliyokuja kubadili kabisa taaswira na mtizamo wa Watanganyika kwa nchi yao.

“Mikutano ya mwanzo kabisa ya TANU ya siku za mwanzo ilifanyika kwenye viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja mbele ya Princess Hotel. Kwenye jukwaa kubwa lililojengwa kwa miti walikuwa wakikaa wale viongozi wa mstari wa mbele ndani ya TANU, Bibi Titi Mohammed, John Rupia na Clement Mtamila,” anaandika Mohammed Said kwenye kitabu chake mashuhuri cha Maisha na Nyakati za Abdulwahid Sykes, ukurasa 191.

Kulia Sheikh Bi. Titi Mohamed, Clement Mtamila, Sheikh Suleiman
Takadir, Julius Nyerere, Mnazi Mmoja, 1955

Mkutano mwengine mkubwa alioufanya Mwalimu Nyerere kwenye viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja ni pamoja na ule aliouita kulielezea taifa kutoroka nchini kwa aliyekuwa Waziri wake wa Mambo ya Nje, Oscar Salathiel Kambona. 

Waziri Oscar Kambona, alikimbilia Uingereza baada ya kukosana na Mwalimu Nyerere siku hizo kuhusiana na Azimio la Arusha, ambalo yeye aligoma kuwa muumini wake. Alipopata fununu za kwamba labda angetiwa mbaroni, akakimbilia Kenya na baadaye kuishia London, Uingereza kama mkimbizi wa kisiasa.     

Nyerere, katika mkutano huo, alimshambulia hadharani aliyepata kuwa Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Rais, Masuala ya Muungano, Abdallah Kassim Hanga, ambaye alikuwa rafiki mkubwa wa Oscar Kambona, na ambaye wakati huo alihusishwa na masuala ya uhaini kwa Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar.

Katika mkutano huo, Hanga, ambaye aliletwa kutoka kizuizini Ukonga, alitukanwa na kufokewa kama mtoto mdogo mbele ya kadamnasi ya watu. Baada ya tukio hilo, Hanga hakuonekana tena na hajulikani mahala alipo mpaka leo hii. Kambona yeye alishambuliwa ‘ghaibu’ (hakuwepo alikuwa yuko London akila ‘bata’).

Mama yetu mpendwa Bibi Titi Mohammed, pia alifanya ule mkutano wake mashuhuri wa mwanzo kabisa uliomjenga kisiasa kwenye viwanja hivyo hivyo vya Mnazi Mmoja, pale alipoweza kuwahamasisha wanawake wenzake kujiunga kwa wingi kwenye harakati za ukombozi wa taifa hili. Huo ukawa ndio mwanzo wa safari ndefu ya kisiasa ya Bibi Titi Mohammed, ambaye jina lake lilivuma na kuvuka mipaka mpaka kwenye nchi jirani za Kenya, Uganda, Zambia na Malawi.

Viwanja hivyo pia, vilikuwa maarufu na mahsusi kwa shughuli za kidini hasa ya Kiislamu wakati huo, kwani ndipo mahala ambapo sherehe za Maulid ya Mfungo Sita (mazazi ya Mtume Muhammad SAW) kwa jiji la Dar es Salaam na Mzizima, zilipokuwa zikifanyika na kuhudhuriwa na Gavana mwenyewe.

Pia, sala za Eid zote zote mbili zilikuwa zikisaliwa viwanjani hapo huku misikiti yote ya jijini, ukiacha michache sana, ilikuwa ikifungwa ili watu waweze kujumuika pamoja kwenye sala na sherehe hizo za sikukuu ya Eid.

Sala ya Eid Mnazi Mmoja 2006

Mnazi Mmoja nyuma ni iliyokuja kuwa Titi Street 1966

Sherehe hizo zote zilikuwa zikipangwa na kuratibiwa na kamati maalumu iliyoshirikisha madhehebu zote za dini ya Kiislamu (Sunni, Bohra, Shia, Ibadhi, Ismailia n.k) iliyojulikana kama Maulid Committee na mwenyekiti wake kwa muda mrefu alikuwa Ismailia mmoja aliyeitwa Aziz Khaki. Hakukuwa na Bakwata siku hizo, ambayo kimtazamo inaonekana kama ni ya Waislamu Waafrika au weusi.

Kwa siku za sikukuu ya Eid, viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja ilikuwa ndipo panapofanyika sherehe zote kwa kuandaliwa mambo mbalimbali ya kufurahisha, hasa kwa watoto kupata burudani ya michezo mbalimbali ya kubembea na vichekesho pamoja na vyakula vyenye kufurahisha nyoyo kama vile sharbati, askirimu, gubiti na mishikaki. Ngoma za asili pia hupigwa hapo kuwaburidisha watu kwa muda wa takriban siku tatu mpaka nne kila jioni. Zile zilikuwa ni siku za kukumbukwa kweli, kwani mambo kama yale sasa hayapo tena sijui yamepotelea wapi.

Sasa kwa siku nyingine za kawaida, viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja vilikuwa ni kimbilio la wakazi wengi wa hapa mjini kuja kushuhudia mechi mbalimbali za mpira wa miguu zilizokuwa zikichezwa hapo kwa kushirikisha timu mbalimbali za hapa mjini kuwania ama vikombe au kucheza kirafiki tu pamoja.

Mjini hapa siku hizo, ukiacha Sunderland (sasa Simba) na Yanga, kulikuwapo na vilabu vingine maeneo ya Kariakoo, Ilala na Magomeni vilivyokuwa vikitoa burudani tosha kabisa katika medani ya soka kwa wenyeji wa jijini.

Eneo la Gerezani kulikuwa na timu kali sana ikiitwa Victoria, ambapo inapopambana na New Take Time ya Kariakoo, basi huwa patashika kweli kweli. Klabu ya Kahe ya Kariakoo inapomenyana na Rover Fire ya Msimbazi Center pale Ilala, huwa ni kama vile ‘asiye na mwana aeleke jiwe’. Hali kadhalika klabu ya New Port ilipokuwa ikicheza na Young Boys, basi siku hiyo macho yote huelekezwa Mnazi Mmoja au kwa jina jengine viwanja hivyo vikijulikana kama ‘Tua Tugawe’.

Tua Tugawe, ni jina pia la eneo hilo la asili kwa vile pale mbele, ambapo kwa sasa imejengwa ile Shule ya Msingi ya Mnazi Mmoja, kulikuwa na mbuyu mkubwa uliojulikana kwa jina ‘Mbuyu wa Simbamwene’. Simbamwene alikuwa ni mzee mmoja ‘babubabu’ hivi, ambaye kutwa alikuwa akishinda kwenye mbuyu huo. Mara nyingi jijini Dar, mibuyu huwa na majina ya watu. Kwa mfano mbuyu ule uliopo pale St. Peters, Oysterbay, ulikuwa ukiitwa ‘Mbuyu wa Kigwe’, jina la kiasili hilo ambalo limekufa kabisa. Kigwe ni moja ya majina makubwa ya wazawa wa Msasani kule baharini.

Sasa, mahala pale kwenye mbuyu wa Simbamwene kulikuwa na wahuni wakishinda hapo kuwasumbua watu wanaopita njia hiyo kuelekea Kisutu, Stesheni au Gerezani. Kama itatokea wewe mpita njia ukawa umebeba kitu, basi ghafla hukutokea na kukutisha wakikwambia “tuwa hicho ulichonacho tugawe!” Wanyonge wao mara nyingi huwa ni akina mama ambao walikuwa wakiitumia njia hiyo kwenda hospitali ya Sewa Haji iliyokuwapo maeneo ya kule Polisi Kati (Central Police Station) jijini, wakiwa wamebeba chakula kuwapelekea wagonjwa. Kadhia hiyo pia iliwakumba wasafiri kutoka mikoani ambao walikuwa wakitoka Stesheni ya Treni, ambayo haiko mbali na ‘Tua Tugawe.’

Jirani na Tua Tugawe na Mbuyu wa Simbamwene, ndipo ilipoasisiwa Madrassa maarufu jijini ya Maalim Ramadhan Abbas, ambapo wakazi wengi wa asili ya jiji hili walipitia kupata elimu yao ya Dini ya Kiislamu. Madrassa ya Abbasiya, kwa sasa imehamia maeneo ya Kariakoo jirani na Msikiti wa Idrissa. Miongoni mwa wanafunzi mashuhuri ni pamoja na Sheikh Zubeir Yahya wa Msikiti wa Mtoro, Sheikh Ali Azan wa Msasani na hayati Maalim Badi Ali, aliyepata kuwa mchezaji na kocha wa timu ya mpira ya Yanga ya Dar es Salaam.

Sasa, pamoja na mambo yote mazuri hayo yaliyopo eneo la Mnazi Mmoja hapa jijini; Mnazi Mmoja ndipo ilipoasisiwa TAA, TANU na baadaye CCM (chama kikuu cha siasa nchini) ambayo ilikuwa na makao yake makuu pale New Street/Lumumba kabla kuhamia Dodoma.

Mkabala na Ofisi za CCM, inapatikana shule maarufu ya Msingi ya Mnazi Mmoja, iliyojengwa mwaka 1957 kuja kuisaidia shule pekee ya msingi ya Mchikichini kusomesha Waafrika wajue kusoma na kuandika waje kusaidiana na watawala kweye kazi za daraja la chini—hasa hasa kuhesabu magunia na marobota ya bidhaa. Watu wengi walipitia hapo kwa elimu hiyo, akiwamo mwandishi huyu.

Wengine ni pamoja na Balozi Asha Rose Migiro, Alhaji Ramadhani Madabida aliyekuwa Mwenyekiti wa CCM Dar es Salaam, Wendo Mwapachu mfanyabiashara mashuhuri jijini Dar es Salaam na Alhaji Mussa Shaggow Mweka Fedha wa Klabu ya Saigon ya Dar es Salaam.

Historia ya Mnazi Mmoja haikuishia hapo, kwani kule upande wa pili inapatikana hospitali pekee iliyokuwa ikihudumia watu weusi wakati huo wa ukoloni uliogubikwa na ubaguzi wa rangi kwenye kila jambo. Hospitali ya Mnazi Mmoja ilikuwa inatibia magonjwa madogo madogo sana kama homa, kukohoa, kufunga vidonda na labda majipu na mapunye uliokuwa ugonjwa mkubwa kwa watoto majumbani.

Magonjwa mengine ni kichocho na kisonono ambayo yalikuwa yakiwakumba watoto mashuleni kwa sababu sera ya serikali ya kikoloni wakati huo ni kwenda shule ‘pekupeku’ (hakuna ruhusa kuvaa viatu shuleni), hivyo wanafunzi walikuwa wakiambukizana magonjwa hayo kwa sababu ya kukanyaga uchafu vyooni.

Jumba la Sukita na lile la Ushirika pale Lumumba ni majengo yenye historia ya kipekee kabisa kwenye miaka hiyo ya nyuma hasa kabla ya uhuru na mwanzoni mwa miaka ya 1960s mara tulipoanza kujitawala wenyewe.

Jumba la Ushirika Lumumba Avenue

Msomaji, amini usiamini lile Jumba la Ushirika ndilo lilokuwa jumba la kwanza refu hapa Dar es Salam likiyapita majengo yote mengine. Wachoraji ramani na wajenzi walitokea nchini Israel.

Hii inaweza ikawa ni kichekesho kwa watu wengi, lakini ukweli unabakia kwamba jumba lile lilipotangazwa kwamba litafunguliwa rasmi kwa kukamilika ujenzi wake, wakazi wengi walisikika wakilalamika ‘inakuwaje linafunguliwa bila kupigwa rangi nje; hawajui kujenga hao!’ Watu kwa mara ya kwanza tulishuhudia nyumba zikiwa na rangi ile ya cementi nje ili kupunguza vumbi, kwani baada ya jengo hilo likafuatia lile la Kilimanjaro Hotel nalo likafunguliwa bila kupigwa rangi nje. Mambo yakawa yaleyale, ‘ujenzi gani huu, nyumba zinapigwa lipu tu bila rangi!’

Jumba la Sukita, wakati huo likijulikana kama Jengo la Elimu ya Watu Wazima kwenye miaka ya 1960s, ndipo kilipoanzia Chuo Kikuu cha mwanzo Tanganyika kabla majengo ya kule UDSM Mlimani hayajajengwa. Nchi hii, kabla ya kupatikana uhuru hakukuwa na elimu ya shahada inayotolewa. Wazungu kwa miaka yote waliyokaa hapa hilo hawakulitaka litokee, maana shahada huzalisha watu wajanja na werevu ambao wangekuwa hatari kwa utawala wao. Udini na uchifu ndio uliowaibua na kuwapaisha akina Nyerere, Mareale, Fundikira, Kunambi na Kidaha Makwaia; ingawa hawakusomeshwa waje wadai uhuru baadaye.

Kushoto ni Mnazi Mmoja 2010

Msomaji historia ya Mnazi Mmoja ni pana sana kuelezeka kwa kikamilifu. Kwa hiyo naona kwa kumalizia nizungumzie sakata la kutaka kuibadilisha Mnazi Mmoja ili ichukue sura ya mpya ya kupendeza zaidi kulikoanzishwa na serikali ya Nyerere na chama chake cha TANU pale uhuru ulipopatikana.

Kwa nia nzuri tu, Mwalimu na viongozi wenzake waandamizi kwenye ile miaka ya mwanzo ya kujitawala walipanga kujenga jengo kubwa la chama chao cha TANU pale Lumumba; kujenga jengo jipya la Bunge pamoja na majengo mengine ya serikali yasambae kwenye eneo lile la Mnazi Mmoja na mitaa ya jirani.

Mpango huo ulikuwa utekelezwe kwa kuvunjwa nyumba nyingi sana mahala pale ukiwamo na Msikiti maarufu wa Manyema. Walipofuatwa kutakiwa kuvunja msikiti wao kupisha ujenzi mpya, wazee wa Kimanyema jijini waligoma kabisa wakasema wao hawawezi kuvunja nyumba ya Mwenyezi Mungu.

Mazungumzo mbalimbali ya kutaka wabadili msimamo yalishindikana hata pale Mwalimu mwenyewe alipoingilia kati kushawishi jambo hilo. Bado walikataa wakasema labda yeye kama rais wa nchi anaweza kutoa amri hiyo.

Nyerere alikasirika sana kupita kiasi; na hapo ndipo alipoanza mikakati ya kuhamisha kabisa makao makuu ya serikali kuhamia Dodoma. Haikuwa kwa kufuata mji wa katikati wala nini. Alijua Dar es Salaam angepata changamoto nyingi bora akaanze upya mahala pengine kama Dodoma, ambako wakazi wangelipokea kwa mikono miwili jambo hilo. Hivyo ndivyo ilivyokuwa serikali kuhamia Dodoma kwa kinyongo!

Basi tukutane juma lijalo. Alamsiki!

atambaza@yahoo.com

Simu: 0715808864

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WAISLAM NA BAKWATA 1990s

The Founding of Baraza Kuu

(The Supreme Council of Islamic Organisations and Institutions of Tanzania)

Kamati iliyoasisi Baraza Kuu la  Jumuia na Tasisi za Kiislam Tanzania
Kulia ni Mzee Awadh, Ilyasa Makusudi,  Dr. Sengo,
Salum Khamisi, Omari Alamoody, Abbas Kilima,
Abdallah Mgambo na Hamisi Fikirini

By 1990s BAKWATA was literally dead. Its decision to appease the government and to distance itself from each and every Muslims issue made it irrelevant. Yet its leadership had the audacity to blame the government that it had not supported it by allowing other independent organisations to exist. On 17 April, 1991 during Idd Baraza at Arnautoglo Hall, Dar es Salaam President Mwinyi was invited to the occasion by BAKWATA as a guest of honour. In his speech to welcome the president, the Vice-Chairman of BAKWATA, Suleiman Hegga accused the government of indecision in hesitating to curb Muslim groups which in his views were undermining BAKWATA. Hegga’s speech was in fact a lament to the government that it had withdrawn its support to a long time ally in face of opposition from a common foe.¹

In his reply President Mwinyi told the BAKWATA leadership to stop complaining and advised them to convene a meeting of all Muslim organisations to discuss whatever differences BAKWATA might be having with Muslims. This advice by the government was ignored by BAKWATA. What BAKWATA envisaged was for the government to use its powers to effect a crackdown of those independent Muslims organisations to enable BAKWATA enjoy centre stage in Muslims affairs. Muslims had long decided that the only way forward was for each organisation in its locality to try and help Muslims in its own way. As these Muslims became engaged in various activities from building simple madras to providing tuition to school children BAKWATA increasingly became redundant and hence the statement by BAKWATA that the government was allowing other Muslim organisations to “meddle” into their exclusive zone, that of preventing Muslims to have any influence in the political system.

It was now obvious that BAKWATA did not command support or respect of Muslims. It did not have a competent leadership in terms of education and experience to administer such an organisation. BAKWATA did not have a single graduate in its administrative machinery. It had become the norm rather than the exception that in order for a Muslim to be accepted in BAKWATA his education has to be mediocre. Since Muslims were supportive to these independent organisation it was felt that it was high time for this loose leadership to manifest itself and take-over the leadership BAKWATA for the good of Islam. This act it was felt was important and necessary in order to formalise and confirm its status as the true Muslim representative.

The only organisation thought fit to co-ordinate all those Muslim organisations and convene a meeting to discuss the future of Islam in Tanzania was the Dar es Salaam University Muslim Trusteeship (DUMT). DUMT convened a meeting in which all Muslim organisations based in Dar es Salaam including BAKWATA were invited. The agenda of the meeting was how to solve the leadership crisis in BAKWATA. The meeting was held at the University of Dar es Salaam and was chaired by Tewa Said Tewa the former chairman of the EAMWS.² BAKWATA refused to attend this meeting. Several meting were to be held at the university under the chairmanship of DUMT between July and September, 1991. Emissaries were sent to the regions to consult with the independent Muslim leadership on the possibility of convening a national Muslim conference to debate on the future of Islam in Tanzania. The responses from the regions were very encouraging. BAKWATA tried its best to sabotage the conference. It sent its own emissaries to the region to try to persuade Muslims not to attend the conference. It also sent a letter to the government to ask its intervention to stop the conference.

On 15 September, 1991 a National Muslim Conference was held at Nkrumah Hall of Dar es Salaam University. ³ Appreciating the sensitivity of Muslim politics the select committee which was co-ordinating Muslim affairs sent each and every minutes of the meeting to the President’s Office. President Mwinyi realising religious issues which required government intervention, had established a special desk of religious affairs. President Mwinyi sent Abdulrahman Kinana, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to open the conference. Kinana delivered a message from the government which said that the government would cooperate with Muslims in finding a solution to their problems so long as Muslims pursued their goal peacefully.

In the history of Muslim movement in Tanzania never before had such a huge number of Muslim activists assembled in one place. Delegates came as far as Kagera and Rukwa. All who rose to speak had nothing but condemnation for the leadership in BAKWATA and none was more vocal than Sheikh Kassim bin Juma. In his speech to the delegates he said he supported the new initiative to provide a strong and dependable leadership to Muslims of Tanzania but was worried with the factor that the leadership which was poised to lead Muslims was comprised of the Ansar (Orthodox Muslims). The conference by acclamation ousted the BAKWATA leadership from power except the Grand Mufti Sheikh Hemed bin Juma bin Hemed on the ground that it did not have qualifications to lead a Muslim organisation. A 15-man caretaker committee under Sheikh Salum Khamis, a retired civil servant and a graduate of Allahabad University in India na Bedford University in UK was elected and given the task to prepare for general election to enable Muslims choose its own leadership freely.

The committee was to run the organisation for an interim period of three months after which a general election was to be called. Its other task was to give BAKWATA direction according to the Holy Qur’an and Sunna of the Prophet (SAW). But its most important responsibility was the amendment of the constitution passed in Iringa in 1968 and change of the official name. This had a special significance to Muslims and the organisation as a whole because the amendment of the constitution and change of name meant a break with the dark past. The BAKWATA constitution was a replica of the constitution of the then ruling party TANU. The committee issued a statement which stated that:

BAKWATA had been used to control Muslims instead of dealing with their development. As a result of this Muslims in different parts of the country had formed their own organisations to look after their religious interests. There was a lot of animosity between the council and the various organisations which effected the development of Muslims in the country.⁴

It is said that at this juncture the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) sent a secret delegation to the Minister of Home Affairs Augustine Mrema to request him to use his powers to prevent the new Muslim leadership from coming to power in BAKWATA for what it feared was a strong Muslim independent leadership which will challenge Christian hegemony wherever it existed and would promote “Muslim fundamentalism.” The Caretaker Committee requested a meeting with the Minister of Home Affairs and the Registrar of Societies in order to have their co-operation for a peaceful and orderly transition but all of them refused to meet the Committee. The Registrar of Societies wrote to the committee accusing it of flouting the constitution.

Meanwhile rumours were circulating in Dar es Salaam that BAKWATA leadership had asked Nyerere to intervene and use his powers to prevent the new leadership into coming to power. This rumours incensed Muslims and hostility to BAKWATA leadership was intensified to the extent that it had to be provided with security by the government. Sheikh Hemed bin Juma the Grand Mufti nor the Acting Secretary General Rajab Kundya, who was at the centre of criticism because he was married to a Christian, could freely go to their offices for fear of being physically attacked by Muslims. BAKWATA was overwhelmed by hostility from the Muslim community. Meanwhile the BAKWATA leadership under the Grand Mufti Sheikh Hemed bin Juma refused to hand over power to the popular will of Muslims. BAKWATA issued a statement which stated that the constitution of the organisation protected its leadership from being ousted and therefore the leadership was still in power.⁵ By the end of December signs of violent change were evident.

On 4 th January, 1992 Muslims held a meeting at the Diamond Jubilee Hall. This followed the conference held at the Nkrumah Hall in September, 1991. It was at that conference that Muslims were informed that even as they were deliberating in the hall, the committee had ordered the invasion of BAKWATA headquarters and Dar es Salaam regional office including Al Haramain School. The conference was informed that the offices have been secured and occupied. President Mwinyi intervened and called a meeting in his office between the Grand Mufti Sheikh Hemed bin Juma and his executive committee and the Caretaker Committee of Sheikh Salum Khamis.

The Caretaker Committee told the president that it would accept nothing short of resignation of the Vice-Chairman Suleiman Hegga, a former broadcaster and Acting Secretary General Rajab Kundya, who was at the centre of criticism for being married to a Christian. These people the committee reiterated were not fit to lead Muslims. It was then decided to resolve the crisis on the following terms:

1.    The crisis should be solved through due process of law. BAKWATA offices forcefully occupied by the committee should be opened and its officials allowed performing their duties.

2.  All executive posts in BAKWATA should be advertised to enable qualified Muslims apply.

3.   BAKWATA and Baraza Kuu should form a committee of five persons each forming a central committee of 10 members which would be required to do the following:

          i.          To conduct elections from grassroots level of the mosques up to national level

       ii.          To prepare proposal for a new constitution.

The president ordered the two parties to solve the leadership crisis fast and peacefully and ended with a threatening note to the two parties that if they disturbed the peace the government will come very strong against them. The Committee assured the President that it would solve the Muslim crisis sensibly.

While the committee fulfilled its part of the agreement, BAKWATA did not adhere to the above and refused to fulfil theirs. The Grand Mufti chose to snub President Mwinyi. On 12 February, in a live broadcast from Songea during Maulid celebrations, Sheikh Hemed bin Jumaa sneered at the efforts of the President arguing that president Mwinyi was involving himself in trying to effect changes to BAKWATA without being conversant with its history and objectives; and without knowing why it was formed by the government of Julius Nyerere in the first place.⁶

Failing to dislodge BAKWATA from its offices the committee decided to lodge its own application to the Registrar of Societies for registration. Muslims had come up with an innovation which would force the government to officially allow another national Muslim organisation to operate and serve the Muslim community. The government sat on the application for more than a year. Meanwhile Baraza Kuu continued to operate and enjoy Muslim support. The vacuum created by BAKWATA for its non-compliance of the wishes of Muslims was ably filled by Baraza Kuu.⁷

On 28 April, 1993 bizarre occurrence took place. In desperation and in its effort to salvage BAKWATA the Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Augustine Mrema convened a meeting between Muslims and Christians at the Diamond Jubilee Hall, Dar es Salaam. The agenda was not stated. The Church sent a strong delegation. Muslims abstained except BAKWATA. The few Muslims who turned up were there out of curiosity rather than conviction that the meeting would bear fruits. When the time for introduction between the two parties came, Muslims refused to shake hands with the Church leadership. Mrema addressed the meeting in which in his speech it was revealed that elections for BAKWATA were long overdue and could not be held because of lack of funds.

The Church volunteered to provide funds to BAKWATA to enable it hold its elections. The Minister for Home Affairs Augustine Mrema also helped to collect money from the business community to fund BAKWATA elections. When eventually BAKWATA met in Dodoma from 10 th -12 th May the guest of honour was Augustine Mrema. Instead of conducting elections BAKWATA passed some constitution changes to empower the Grand Mufti Sheikh Hemed bin Hemed with absolute powers to fire any executive member without being answerable to anyone.

The government reluctantly registered Baraza Kuu. Much as Baraza Kuu has the support of Muslim majority the government still refuses to recognise it throwing its weight and support behind BAKWATA. In response to this Muslims have refused to recognise BAKWATA and so for forty years since its imposition on Muslims by the government in 1968 the standoff between Muslims on one hand and BAKWATA and the government on the other lingers on.

***

1 Hotuba ya Suleiman Hega Aliyotoa Kwenye Baraza la Idi El Haj Tarehe 23 June, 1991 Mbele ya Mheshimiwa Rais.

2 It should be beared in mind that organised effort to emanse support from Muslims had begun in 1987 and several meetings were held in Dar es Salaam under different venues. See minutes: Muhtasari wa Kikao cha Kamati ya Kupendekeza Muundo wa Chombo Kilichofanyika Tarehe 17/9/89 Shule ya Haramein. Contents of the minutes show that the thrust of the meeting was to forge unity among different da’awa groups and avoid duplication of efforts.

3 The night before in an attempt to play down the Muslim National Conference the state-radio announced in its prime time news bulletin that the conference was for delegates from Dar es Salaam only.

4 Daily News, 17 September, 1991.

5 Mfanyakazi, 18 September, 1991.

6 Part of the speech appears verbatim in An-Nuur, June, 1993, “Mufti Hemed Afichua Siri Kubwa.”

7 Baraza Kuu la Jumuiya na Tasisi za Kiislam 16 Mei, 1992 Kauli Rasmi ya Baraza Kuu, Mkutano wa Chuo Kikuu Dar es Salaam 15 Septemba 1991 na Diamond Jubilee Dar es Salaam 4 Januari, 1992.

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TAAZIA: BURIANI MWALIMU IDDI KIKONG'ONA NA MUSSA ALLY BWAKILA

ALHUDA, Februari 15, 2018

Taazia

Buriani Mwalimu Iddi Kikong’ona akiwa shule ya msingi alijitahidi kusoma vitabu vya Maududi

Na Mussa Ally Bwakila

Mwanaharakati wa Uislamu na Mwalimu wa somo la dini ya Kiislamu Iddi Suleiman Kikong’ona amefariki dunia.

Kiko(45) alifariki siku ya Ijumaa usiku na kuzikwa Jumamosi iliyopita jioni katika makaburi ya Kola Mjini Morogoro, baada ya kuswaliwa katika Msikiti wa Al-Fiqihiya chini ya Sheikh Ayub Salum Muwinge.

Mmoja wa walimu wake aliyehusika pakubwa katika kumjenga mwanaharakati huyo ambaye ni sehemu ya watendaji wa Al-Huda anamuelezea marehemu kuwa ni kijana aliyekua akiwa na mapenzi ya dini yake.

“Nilimfahamu Iddi akiwa darasa la tano shule ya msingi Kikundi mjini Morogoro wakati huo nikihudhuria kufundisha elimu ya dini ya Kiislamu, nikiwa chini ya taasisi ya Munadhamat al Daawa al Islamiya ambayo ilikuwa chini ya Ukurugenzi wa Sheikh Abdulkarimu baadaye AbdulRahman Khalil wakisaidiwa na marehemu ustaadh Mtengwa Burhan, tangu siku ya kwanza ya vipindi vyangu Iddy alipenda kusikiliza mafunzo ya dini ya Kiislamu akiwa katika umri mdogo sana”, anaeleza Mwalimu wake huyo.

Ustaadh huyo anataja program hiyo ya ufundishaji elimu ya dini ya Kiislamu iliendeshwa na Munadhamat katika mikoa ya Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Tanga na Tabora.

“Wakati Munadhamat daawa al islamiya ikianza shughuli zake rasmi Tanzania mwaka 1988 Ofisi yetu ikiwa shule ya Alharamain baadaye tukahamia mtaa wa Agrrey upande wa Mishen Kota, Mimi nilikuwa mmoja wa waanzilishi wa shughuli hizo nikiwa mmoja wanaohudumu chini ya taasisi hiyo, wengine walikuwa ni pamoja na Mwalimu Said Nsigarila, Mwalimu Mohammed Kassim Rulengelule na Mwalimu Adam Salim Kaoneka”, ameeleza Mtendaji huyo wa gazeti hili la ALHUDA.

“Wengine ni Mwalimu Subira Nzole, baadaye waliongezeka Mwalimu Hashim Kassim, Mwalimu Zainab Mweche na Marehemu Mwalimu Iddy Juma” na Sekretary wetu akiwa mmoja wa waanzilishi wa TAMWA, Asmah Basafari, tukiongozwa na Ustaadh Mtengwa Burhan, timu yetu hii ndiyo iliyotafuta vile viwanja vilivyojengwa shule za sekondari za Ununio na Kunduchi”, ameongeza.

Akimzungumzia Marehemu Kikong’ona ameongeza kuwa kutokana na shauku aliyoonesha kutaka kuijua dini yake, alikuwa akifika mara kwa mara nyumbani kuangalia na kujaribu kusoma vitabu kadhaa vya Kiislamu katika maktaba yake, viliyokuwa katika lugha ya kiingereza akiwa hajaijua hiyo, wakati huo huo akihudhuria Madrasa iliyokuwa ikiongozwa na Mwalimu wake Ustaadh dady Ramadhani Kambi maeneo ya mtaa wa Mtoni mjini humo.

“Mimi na Bwana Mussa Nzige tuliiboresha Madrasa hii(Alfiqhiya) wakati huo ikiwa katika nyumba ya aliyekuwa mfanyabiashara wa kiarabu Mzee Swalah ambaye hivi anaishi Temeke jijini Dar es Salaam, tulinunua bati tukapaua, awali watoto walikuwa wakisoma huku jua likiwachoma, tukaweka utaratibu mzuri wa masomo, asubuhi na mchana walikuwa wakisoma Qur’an, jioni nilikuwa nikifika pale kuwafundisha tabia za Kiislamu(Akhlaq) na tawhiid(Kumjua Muumba vilivyo)”, Iddy aliweza kuhifadhi majina yote ya Muumba katika umri ule mdogo”, ameeleza.

Mwalimu huyo ambaye hakupenda jina lake litajwe gazetini amesema aliendelea kuwa na Iddy akimpa kila aina ya usaidizi vikiwemo vitabu vya masomo yake ya msingi hadi alipomaliza shule ya msingi na kufaulu kuingia shule ya sekondari ya Morogoro ambako pia alikutana naye wakati wa somo hilo ambalo pia Mwalimu huyo alikuwa akifundisha katika shule hiyo na shule nyingine za sekondari mjini humo.

“Nilikutana tena na Iddy pale nilipowakusanya wanafunzi wa Kiislamu wa shule za sekondari kidato cha pili katika kituo cha Jabal Hira ambako niliandaa masomo ya ziada kwao pamoja na kuwafundisha elimu ya dini yao, Iddy akiwa kidato cha pili alikuwa mmoja wa wanafunzi hao”, ameeleza.

Aidha anasema Iddy alikuwa mtoto pekee aliyekuwa akihudhuria semina za Kiislamu za watu wazima maalumu ambazo ziliandaliwa na ama MSAUD, WARSHA, Munadhamat au IPC.

“Ni kutokana na shauku yake ya Uislamu aliamua kutokwenda shule ya Sekondari ya Pugu kusoma mchepuo wa sayansi PCB badala yake akajiunga na Ubungo Islamic High School kusoma EGM akiwa ni miongoni mwa wanafunzi walioanzisha A Level kwa shule hiyo ya Kiislamu inayoongozwa na Sheikh Mohmmed Kassim kwa kushirikiana na Mwalimu Said Nsigarila na Sheikh Omar Msangi, iliyopo jijini Dar es Salaam,” ameeleza.

Akikariri maneno yake ya mwisho akiwa katika Zahanati ya Wakorea Magomeni siku ya jumamosi mwishoni mwa mwezi uliopita, Mwalimu huyo anasema Iddy alieleza mambo kadhaa yakiashiria kuiaga dunia muda si mrefu.

“Brother umenitoa mbali, nilikuwa nacheza Disco toto, ni wewe uliyenitoa huko, umenifunza dini yangu, Brother umenitoa mbali, nimekumbwa na Kadari kubwa”, Mwalimu huyo alimkariri marehemu Iddy akimsikia kutamka hayo akimuashiria yeye baada ya kufika kumjulia hali hospitalini hapo.

Kiongozi mwingine wa Kiislamu Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda amehimiza kumuomba Allah (S.W) Amrehemu, na kuwapa uwezo waliobakia nyuma kuendeleza pale alipoishia.

Prof. Hamza Njozi aliyekuwa Makamu Mkuu wa Chuo cha waislamu Morogoro (MUM), na Mwenyekiti wa bodi ya Islamic Propagation Center (IPC), ambayo marehemu aliwahi kufanya kazi kama mwalimu wa moja ya shule za taasisi hiyo, na msanifu kurasa katika vitabu vya maarifa ya Kiislamu, amemsifu kuwa hakuchoka kutumikia Dini yake.

Dkt. Khalid aliyekuwa Mkurugenzi wa taasisi ya Daa’wa ya Munadhamat ambayo marehemu Iddi Kikong’ona alikuwa mfanyakazi wake hadi umauti unamkuta, naye amesifu utumishi wake wa kupigiwa mfano.

Ust. Sadiki Gogo na Ust. Ramadhan Sanze wanamuelezea Marehemu Iddi Kikong’ona kuwa katika uhai wake amewahi kushiriki harakati nyingi za maendeleo ya jamii yake ikiwa ni pamoja na programu ya kutoa elimu ya ziada katika ili kuongeza ufaulu kwa wanafunzi wa Kiislamu, harakati za kuendeleza taasisi za Kiislamu, na harakati za kuandika na kusanifu tovuti, magazeti, na vitabu vya Kiislamu, na nyinginezo kadhaa.

Baadhi ya waumini wa Dini ya Kiislamu walioongea na mwandishi wa habari hizi wamesema, ulingo wa harakati za kupigania haki na maendeleo ya Uislamu na waislamu utakuwa umemtendea haki marehemu Idi Kikong’ona si tu kwa kundeleza mema aliyoyaacha, bali pia kutazama namna ya kukiendeleza kizazi chake (watoto wake) kitaaluma, ili wasihisi pengo la kihuduma baada ya kuondokewa na mzazi wao.

Mwalimu Iddi Suleiman Kikong’ona atakumbukwa na wengi aliofanya nao kazi kama mwanaharakati aliyejitenga na majukwaa ya hadhara, bali alikuwa mpiganaji wa chini kwa chini aliyefanya Daa’wa kikamilifu hadi Muumba wake alipomchukua.

Tunamuomba Allah (S.W) Amrehemu. Sote ni wa Mwenyezi Mungu (S.W) na sote kwake tutarejea.

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TUNAYOJIFUNZA KUTOKA KWA SHEIKH AHMED ISLAM NA RAMADHANI K. DAU

TUNAYOJIFUNZA KUTOKA KWA SHEIKH AHMED ISLAM

Ramadhani K. Dau

Sheikh Ahmed Islam

Kufuatia msiba wa mzee wetu Sheikh Ahmed Islam, niliandika taazia kuelezea wasifu wake na mchango mkubwa alioutoa kuwaendeleza Waislamu na hasa kazi kubwa aliyoifanya kuwainua viijana wa Kiislamu kielimu.  Baada ya kuandika taazia hiyo, nimekuwa nikipokea maoni mengi sana kutoka watu mbalimbali ndani na nje ya nchi. Wengi wao wametoa ushuhuda wa namna ambavyo wao binafsi walivyosaidiwa na marehemu Mzee Islam. Wengi zaidi wameonesha hamasa ya kutaka kuiga mfano wa Mzee Islam japo kwa uchache.

Kama nilivyoandika kwenye taazia, kifo ni faradhi na kila mmoja wetu ataonja umauti. Mzee Islam amekamilisha faradhi hii. Lakini pamoja na kuondoka kwake, ametuachia darsa na changamoto kubwa. Yapo mengi sana ya kujifunza kutoka kwake. Kutokana na umri tuliokuwa nao, ni dhahiri kuwa baadhi yetu hatutoweza kudumisha sunna ya kufunga Jumatatu na Alhamisi na kuanza kuswali Tahajud kwa zaidi ya miaka 60 kama alivyofanya Mzee Islam kwa sababu umri umeshatutupa mkono. Lakini hata kwa upande wa vijana, ni dhahiri pia kutokana na harakati za kupambana na maisha, wengi wao wataona ni uzito mkubwa kufanya hivyo kwa muda wa uhai wao, japo  hawajui urefu wa muda uliobaki.

Kama nilivyosema awali, marehemu Mzee Islam amefanya mengi na yapo mambo mengi ya kumuiga kila mtu kwa nafasi yake. Iwapo hayo ya kufunga Jumatatu, Alhamisi na kuswali Tahajud hatuyawezi, basi hakuna hata jema moja la marehemu Mzee Islam ambalo tunaweza kuiga na kulidumisha? Kwa mfano, kwa kuwa Mzee Islam ametumia muda mwingi wa uhai wake kusaidia vijana wa Kiislamu kupata elimu, hivi sisi tuliobaki (na hasa wale walionufaika na juhudi zake) hatuwezi kuanzisha taasisi (Ahmed Islam Foundation? --- AHIFO) na kujilazimisha kuchangia angalau shs. 10,000.00 kwa mwezi (au zaidi kulingana na uwezo wa mtu) kwa ajili ya kusaidia kusomesha mayatima au wanafunzi wasio na uwezo? Kuna njia bora ya kumuenzi Mzee Islam zaidi ya kudumisha mambo ambayo ameyasimamia?

Iwapo watapatikana watu 1,000 ambao watachangia shs. 10,000.00 kwa mwezi, taasisi itakusanya shs. 120 million kwa mwaka, fedha ambazo zinaweza kusomesha wanafunzi zaidi 100 kwa mwaka kwa kiwango cha Chuo Kikuu. Najua wapo watakaosema kuwa uzoefu unaonesha kuwa taasisi zilizoanzishwa kwa utaratibu kama huu wa kuenzi mazuri yaliyoachwa na marehemu hazikuwa na mafanikio. Mfano ni Sheikh Kassim Juma Foundation, Abubakar Tambaza Foundation nk. Kwa upande mmoja kuna ukweli kwenye kauli hii. Lakini zipo taasisi ambazo zilianzishwa kwa malengo kama haya na zimepata mafanikio makubwa sana. Mfano mzuri ni Hassan Maajar Trust.

Hii ni taasisi ambayo ilianzishwa tarehe 11 Julai 2011 kufuatia kifo cha ajali ya gari cha kijana Hassan Majaar kilichotokea tarehe 11 Novemba 2006 Mbabane Swaziland. Wakati wa kifo chake, Hassan alikuwa na miaka 18 na alikuwa anapenda sana kufundisha michezo mashuleni kwa vijana wasiojiweza.  Kutokana na sababu hiyo, wazazi wake waliamua kuanzisha taasisi ya kufadhili madawati, vitabu, kompyuta nk. Hadi sasa Taasisi ya Hassan Maajar imeshanunua na kusambaza madawati zaidi ya 9,000 kwa ajili ya wanafunzi zaidi ya 30,000 kwenye mikoa 10. Lengo lao ni kununua madawati 3 milioni. Iwapo familia ya Bibi na Bwana  Maajar wameweza kufanya mambo makubwa kama haya tena kwa muda mfupi, naamini kabisa familia ya Mzee Islam ambayo inajumuisha wale wote walionufaika na jitihada zake wanaweza kufanya mambo makubwa zaidi.

Wengi walioguswa na taazia wamenitumia ujumbe wa simu kuonesha hamasa zao na kusema wanatamani wafanye angalau 10% ya aliyoyafanya Mzee Islam. Hii ni ishara nzuri. Lakini hamasa na kutamani peke yake havitoshi. Wakati umefika tuzibadilishe hamasa zetu ziwe ni vitendo. Marehemu Mzee Ahmed Islam alikuwa anaswali Tahajud kila siku kwa zaidi ya miaka 60. Alikuwa anafunga mara mbili kila wiki kwa zaidi ya miaka 60. Kwa sababu mbalimbali nilizozieleza hapo juu inaelekea wengi wetu hatuwezi kufikia daraja hiyo. Lakini hivi kweli wengi wetu hatuwezi kuchangia shs. 10,000.00 kwa mwezi? (si kwa kila siku au kila wiki kama alivyokuwa akifanya Mzee Islam).

Nawaomba wale wote walioguswa na taazia hii, waweke nia na wawe tayari kuchangia angalau shs 10,000.00 kwa mwezi ili kuendeleza mazuri aliyoyasimamia mzee wetu Ahmed Islam wakati wote wa uhai wake.  Ili kulipa msukumo jambo hili, namwomba Mhe Dr. Hussein Mwinyi kwa upande wa wanaume na Dr. Mashavu kwa upande wa wanawake washirikiane na watoto wa Mzee Islam katika kulianzisha na kulisimamia jambo hili jema. Hii itakuwa ni sadaqa nzuri ya kumtolea mzee wetu. Kwa upande mwingine kuanzishwa kwa taasisi hii kutatoa fursa kwa watu wengi kupata fadhila za kusaidia mayatima na masikini.

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SHEIKH AHMED ISLAM (1930 - 2017) NA MOHAMED SAID

SHEIKH AHMED ISLAM (1930 – 2017)

KIONGOZI SHIRIKA LA UMMA, SHEIKH, BABA WA VIJANA NA MWALIMU

Sheikh Ahmed Islam akiwa Masjid Ngazija akiongoza shughuli

Allah ana njia za ajabu sana za kukutanisha waja wake na kutokana na kusubihana huko mengi yakapatikana. Ilikuwa mwaka wa 1972 niko ndani ya basi la KAMATA (Kampuni ya Mabasi Tanzania) natokea Nairobi likizo. Basi limesimama Korogwe kupakia abiria. Katika basi lile akaingia kijana mtanashati umri wangu karibia miaka 20 akaniuliza kama pale pembeni yangu kiti kile ni wazi ili akae. Nilimfahamisha kuwa kiti ni kitupu. Akakaa na mara akaja mtu mzima dirishani wakawa wanaagana. Yule alikuwa ni baba yake na amemsindikiza. Huyu kijana jina lake ni Charles James Bossa. Bossa kuanzia siku ile ndani ya lile basi akawa rafiki-ndugu hadi hii leo ninavyoandika. Bossa alikuwa amemaliza shule na alikuwa anakwenda Dar es Salaam kufanya ‘’interview,’’ ya kazi Posta. Bossa aliajiriwa na Posta na akafanya kazi hadi alipostaafu miaka michache iliyopita.

Katika taazia hii ya mzee wetu Sheikh Ahmed Islam Bossa amekuwa na msaada mkubwa kwangu kwa kunieleza mengi ya Sheikh Islam kwani alifanyakazi katika Idara ya Rasilimali watu ambayo Sheikh Islam alikuwa mkurugenzi wake na ameshuhudia mengi katika utu, huruma na ukarimu wake kwa wafanyakazi.  Sasa ndiyo nami nakumbuka kuwa katika mazungumzo yetu miaka ile sasa zaidi ya miaka 40, jina la Mzee Ahmed Islam likawa halipungui mdomoni kwake akimtaja kwa sifa nzuri na za kupendeza za ukarimu na huruma kwa vijana waliokuwa katika idara tofauti za shirika lile.  Kabla sijanyanyua kalamu kuandika taazia hii nilimpigia simu Bossa kumpa pole kwa msiba wa mzee wake. Bossa alinistaajabisha kwani alilokujanalo sikuwa nalijua. Baada ya kupokea mkono wangu wa taazia akanambia, ‘’Mimi nilikuwako mazishini na nikamkumbuka na mama yetu kwani hata mama tulimzika katika makaburi yale pale pale tulipomzika Mzee Islam.’’ Nikamuuliza, ‘’Kwani ulikuwa ukimfahamu mkewe? Jibu likaja, ‘’Sana, wakati Mzee Islam alipokuwa mkurugenzi wetu mara kwa mara alikuwa baada ya kazi jioni akituchukua katika gari yake tukienda nyumbani kwake pale Upanga kunywa chai na sambusa, bajia na vitu vingi vya tunu na hapo ndipo tulipojuana na mama. Walikuwa watu karimu mno.’’

Ilibidi nishushe pumzi. Mkurugenzi mzima anajishusha chini kiasi kile cha kuwachukua wafanyakazi walio chini sana kwake kuwaleta nyumbani kunywa nao chai. ‘’Sheikh Islam tukizungumzanae sana na alitusogeza karibu sana na yeye. Sisi alitufanya kama wanae. Hata nakumbuka siku moja katulueleza jinsi alivyonunua ile nyumba yake. Anasema yeye akifanyakazi Cable and Wireless, Zanzibar na baada ya kampuni ile kuvunjwa na kuingizwa katika Shirika la Posta la Afrika ya Mashariki, alipopewa mafao yake yeye alitumia fedha zile kununua nyumba ile Upanga kwa shs: 54,000.00 kwa wakati ule. Sina la kukueleza ndugu yangu Mzee Islam kawanusuru wengi katika kazi. Yeye alikuwa mzito sana wa kuandika barua za karipio kali na kuadhibu. Kawaida yake alikuwa akifanya nasaha na kutoa msamaha kisha akimweleza muhusika njia ya kulipa msamaha ni kwake kuwa mfanyakazi mwema kwa faida yake mwenyewe na familia yake na kwa shirika na nchi iliyompa fursa ya kazi ili aendeshe maisha yake bila tabu.’’

Nilikuwa kimya siwezi hata kutia neno ila kumuitika rafiki yangu Bossa ili ajue simu haija katika na mimi namsikiliza kwa makini. ‘’Mzee Islam alikuwa kama mlezi wetu, baba yetu akiuzuia mkono wake kuadhibu. Kuna mwenzetu alikuwa afukuzwe kazi kama si Mzee Islam kumsaidia kisha kumkalisha kitako. Ile kesi ilikuwa ya mtu kupewa ‘’summary dismissal,'' na yeye alilijua hilo kwani aliondoka kazini akabaki nyumbani kusubiri kufukuzwa kazi.’’ Mzee Islam aliagiza aitwe aje kazini. Mzee Islam alimsamehe baada ya kumpa nasaha. Huyu jamaa hivi sasa amestaafu kwa salama akiwa mfanyakazi wa Shirika la Posta. Haya yalinitosha sikua na haja ya zaidi. Maisha yake mwenyewe Sheikh Islam yalikuwa mfano tosha kwa wale aliokuwa akiwaongoza. Hakuna haja ya kumfananisha na wakurugenzi wengi tuliopata kuwajua na pengine kufanyanao kazi kwani hawastahili wala hawana hadhi hata ya kuwekwa kwenye mizani moja na Sheikh Islam.

Wafanyakazi mafundi wa mawasiliano ya simu kutoka Shirika la Posta Tanzania
waliopelekwa Zimbabwe kwa juhudi za Sheikh Ahmed Islam wakiwa na Mwandishi
(aliyevaa miwani) mjini Harare March 1993

Baada ya Cable & Wireless kampuni ya Uingereza kufunga shughuli zake ndiyo ikawa Extelcomms chini ya Jumuiya ya Afrika ya Mashariki na ilipovunjika jumuia Extelcomms ikaunganishwa na Posta na kuwa Tanzania Posts & Telecommunications Corporation. Mwaka wa 1993 zikagawanyika kuwa   TTCL na TPC. Jumuia ya Afrika ya Mashariki ilipovunjika mwaka wa 1977 Sheikh Islam akiwa Mkurugenzi wa Rasilimali Watu Posta alifanya kazi kubwa ya kuwakaribisha nyumbani wafanyakazi wa iliyokuwa East African Posts and Telecommunication wengi wao wakiwa wafanyakazi waliokuwa wakifanya kazi Kenya na Uganda. Hawa walirudi nyumbani wakiwa na hofu kubwa ya hali yao ya baadae nchini Tanzania. Huu ulikuwa wakati hali ya uchumi Tanzania ilikuwa ngumu sana. Sheikh Islam aliwatia moyo na kuwatuliza akiwaambia hakuna shida ya kudumu daima. Zimbabwe ilipopata uhuru wake mwaka wa 1980 Wazungu waliondoka kwa wingi na pakawa na shida ya wataalamu wa simu nchini. Sheikh Islam alisaidia sana akishirikiana na serikali katika katika kuchagua mafundi wa simu ambao walikwenda Zimbabwe kusaidia kuweka mambo ya mawasiliano sawa. Mafundi hawa kutoka Tanzania wengine wao wakiwa bado vijana wadogo baadae walihamia Botswana na nchi nyingine za Kusini ya Afrika katika kutafuta maslahi zaidi. Katika vijana waliopelekwa Zimbabwe na Sheikh Islam ni rafiki yangu Erick Mpwagi ambae baadae alihamia Marekani.

Mimi binafsi kumbukumbu yangu ambayo itabaki katika fikra yangu ni uradi wa kila Alkhamis Msikiti Ngazija ambapo yeye na Sheikh Aboud Maalim walikuwa hawakosi na kwa hakika ndiyo waliokuwa wakituongoza. Kadri ya kukumbuka kwangu huu uradi umekuwa ukisomwa hapo msikitini miaka na miaka na uliwakutanisha vijana na wazee hapo msikitini kutoka sehemu tofauti za mji wa Dar es Salaam. Uradi huu mbali ya kumtukuza Allah, ulikuwa sababu kubwa ya kujenga udugu na mapenzi baina ya wengi kwani nawafahamu hii leo watu ambao nisingefahamiana kwa kiasi cha undani huu uliopo baina yetu kama si ule uradi. Kwa hakika kwa sisi ambao wakati ule tulikuwa vijana sana si jelebi, kababu na samabusa ndizo zilizokuwa zikitupeleka katika uradi, hapana. Uradi ule ulitunufaisha zaidi ya hapo. Labda kama si uaradi huu wengi tusingeingiliana na Sheikh Islam na watu wengine kwa kiasi cha kuwa na mapenzi ya kiasi kilichokuja kujengeka.

Nafasi yangu kubwa ya kumjua Sheikh Islam kwa karibu zaidi ilikuja mwaka 1997 tulipokwenda sote Umrah na ndege ya kwanza ya Shirikia la Ndege la Tanzania ilipofanya safari yake ya kwanza kwenda Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Namshukuru Allah kuwa si tu kuwa nilipata kuwa karibu yake tukiwa safarini, bali tulikuwa sote katika dhifa tuliyoandaliwa Al Harithy Hotel, moja ya hoteli mashuhuri Jeddah na vilevile mimi na Dr. Dau tulilala ubavuni kwake katika nyumba ya Tanzania Haj Trust ambako baadhi yetu tulifikia. Si haya tu bali Sheikh Islam alituongoza Makka katika Umrah na baada ya kumaliza alisimama mbele ya Kaaba akaomba dua hadi machozi yakammwagika. Sote tuna machozi lakini tabu kutoka kwa ugumu wa nyoyo zetu.

Kulia Sheikh Ahmed Islam, Dr. Ramadhani Dau na Mohamed Said, Minna
Safari ya Umrah 1997

Baada ya kufanya Umrah baadhi yetu tulikwenda Madina kumzuru Mtume SAW Sheikh Islam akituongoza. Nakumbuka tukiwa Madina asubuhi baada ya kusali Fajri Masjid Nabawy Sheikh Islam, Balozi Ramadhani Dau na mimi tulikwenda nje si mbali na msikiti kulikuwa na kiosi kinauza chai ya mkono mmoja. Basi wakati tunakunywa chai sikumbuki nani alianza kusoma kasda maarufu, ‘’Twala Al Badru,’’ ninachokumbuka ni kuwa asubuhi ile ilikuwa njema sana kwangu mimi na Dr. Dau kwani Sheikh Islam na  yule mwenye kile kibanda wakawa kama vile wako kwenye ‘’duet,’’ wanapokezana kusoma, mmoja akimaliza ubeti mwenzake anapokea. Walipomaliza kasda hii wakaingia katika kasda nyingine, ‘’Yarabibi Mustafa…’’ Binafsi kasda hizi zilinikumbusha mbali sana Moshi kwa Mwalimu Juma aliyekuwa akitusomesha watoto Qur’an Msikiti wa Ijumaa, Mtaa Chini. Miaka mingi sana sasa nikiwa mtu mzima nilionana na Maalim Juma pale pale msikitini na nyuma tu ya pale walipokaa ndipo aliponishikisha alif kwa kijiti. Maalim Juma alikuwa amekaa na wazee wenzake. Maalim Juma hakunikumbuka kwani ilikuwa zaidi ya miaka 40 imepita. Mwenzake mmoja anaenifahamu akamwambia, ‘’Sheikh Juma lisikutishe lile gari lake pale huyu mtoto umemsomesha hapa.’’ Nikizisikiliza hizi kasida mbele ya Msikiti wa Mtume SAW nilikuwakumbuka waalimu wangu wote, Maalim Badi na Maalim Mussa wote weshatangulia mbele ya haki.

Sheikh Islam katika utu uzima wake akiwa kachoka na anatembea kwa shida hakuacha kuhudhuria shughuli zote alizokuwa akishiriki wakati ana nguvu zake. Sasa ndiyo naanza kuelewa kwa nini kila alipokuwa kakaa na nalitumia neno hilo kwa maana yake halisi. Sheikh Islam alikuwa akija mazikoni Makaburi ya Kisutu atakaa kwenye mabenchi yale ya saruji pale karibu na lango la kuingilia. Hapo atakuwa anapokea mikono ya wakubwa na wadogo wanaokuja kumlaki. Hali ni hivyo hivyo akiwa kakaa kwenye kiti chake upande wa kulia Msikiti wa Maamur. Kila aingiae atakwenda kumsalimu Sheikh Islam kiasi mimi wakati mwingine nikimuonea tabu kuwa mbona hawa watu hawamwachi Sheikh Islam akapumzika kila dakika kafika mtu. Lakini hii ndiyo ilikuwa namna ya watu kuonyesha heshima na mapenzi yao kwake. Sheikh Islam alibeba mambo mengi ya watu mabegani kwake bila kuona wala kuhisi tabu.

Kama alivyowalea wafanyakazi chini yake aliokuwa akiwaongoza wengi wao vijana wa kike na wa kiume hivyo hivyo ndivyo alivyowalea vijana katika jamii. Sheikh Islam katatua migogoro mingi ya kifamilia na kasaidia vijana wengi kupata kazi na wengine kusoma ndani na nje ya nchi na wengine kuoa na kuolewa. Hapa nitakielza kisa kimoja. Kisa cha mwenzetu mmoja ambae alitaka kuposa katika moja ya koo za Dar es Salaam lakini palikuwa na vikwazo kadhaa ambavyo vilikuwa kwanza viondolewe na wazazi wa pande zote mbili ili posa ipelekwe na baadae wazee watoe idhini ya ndoa. Hofu ilikuwa ni wapi mambo yaanze na ugumu ulikuwa hapo kuwa jambo lenyewe likikosewa kwenye hatua za awali huenda likavurugika kabisa. Kwa kawaida wazazi wa binti huwa hawataki kabisa kuonyesha kuwa wao ni wahitaji wa mtoto wao kupata mume. Kwa ajili hii husubiri wafatwe kwa taadhima zote zikiwa zimezingatiwa. Ndugu yangu alikuwa amezama kwenye lindi la mapenzi hajui afanye nini avuke kizingiti kilichokuwapo.

Sote tukimjua Sheikh Islam heshima yake katika familia zetu. Wazee wetu wakimuheshimu Sheikh Islam mwisho wa staha. Huyu ndugu yangu akaenda kwa Sheikh Islam nyumbani kwake kueleza kuwa anataka kuoa lakini pana ugumu. Nilivyokuwa namfahamu Sheikh Islam sina wasiwasi wowote kuwa ndugu yangu kwanza alipokelewa kwa utulivu wa hali ya juu na akamsikiliza na kumuuliza maswali khasa kutaka kuipata yakini ya jambo lenyewe. Ndugu yangu yeye alikuwa kaweka uzito juu ya kuwa wazazi wa pande zote mbili wamekuwa wagumu. Sheikh Islam yeye akawa anamtuliza kwa kumwambia kuwa jambo la ibada haliwezi kuwa gumu kwa yeyote amuogopae Allah labda kama halitofanikiwa ni kwa qadar ya Allah mwenyewe hataki.

Sheikh Islam alikuwa anajua kuziweka heshima za watu na alikuwa mtu wa kujishusha sana hakuwa yule mtu wa makuu wa kunyanyua simu akazungumza na mtu kwa mbali. Baba wa Bwana Harusi mtarajiwa alipofatwa juu na mama kuambiwa kuwa Sheikh Islam amekuja yuko chini alishtuka. Mzee, baba wa Bwana Harusi mtarajiwa alishtuka. Sheikh Islam kugonga mlango wa nyumba yoyote Dar es Salaam kuja kuwaona wenye nyumba ile ni heshima ya pekee isiyo kifani. Huyu ni mcha Mungu mtu muungwana, kipenzi cha watu. Haraka mzee kashuka chini akiziruka ngazi mbili mbili tayari tabasamu kubwa limetanda uso mzima kumlaki Sheikh Islam. Baada ya kumkaribisha na kukaa na kahawa kuwekwa wakawa wanaulizana hali. Huyu mzee wetu mtu mkubwa sana na Maa Shaa Allah ni mtu wa kujiweza sana lakini yeye alikuwa anajua ndani ya dhati ya nafsi yake kuwa nyumba yake Allah kaikumbuka kwa kumleta Sheikh Ahmed Islam. Hili kwake ilikuwa ni baraka kubwa isiyo na mfano.

Sheikh Islam alianza mazungumzo kwa kusoma aya ya Qur’an mnasaba na lile aliloendea. Kisha akamgusia vipi wazazi wanakasirishwa na watoto kiasi watoto wanakuwa na uoga hata wa kuwaendea wazazi wao. Akamwambia mzee wetu, ‘’Mtoto kaja kwangu kwa kuwa ana hofu kubwa ndani ya nafsi yake juu ya Allah na wewe baba yake. Anajua kuwa bila ya radhi yenu yeye hana kitu mbele ya Allah. Apate radhi yenu nyinyi wazazi wake ndipo yeye atakuwa na mafanikio hapa duniani na kesho akhera.’’ Sheikh Islam alikuwa mtu fasaha sana labda kwa ile hifdh yake kubwa ya Qur’an na nyuradi chungu mzima. Kufika hapo akataka kujua tatizo nini kiasi posa isipelekwe nyumba ile na kijana wao akaoa. Sheikh Ahmed Islam akaelezwa na bahati nzuri maelezo ya mzee yalikuwa sawasawa na yale aliyopewa na Bwana Harusi mtarajiwa. Kikao kikamalizwa kwa mzee kumshukuru sana Sheikh Islam na kumwambia kuwa wao hawatakuwa na pingamizi madam yeye analisimamia jambo lile.

Mimi ni mmoja wa walioshudia harusi nyumbani kwa Bi. Harusi, Sheikh Islam akiwa kakaa ubavu kwa ubavu na baba wa Bwana Harusi. Bwana Harusi alikuwa kapendeza, sura inang’ara kwa tabasamu na furaha. Ndoa hii imetoa mtoto ambae hiVi sasa kila siku baada ya kutoka shule anachukua mfuko wake ambao ndani kuna juzuu yake anakwenda kusoma Qur’an chuo cha jirani na nyumbani kwao. Kila siku ya Eid huyu mtoto na baba yake wanakuja kusali Eid Maamur na baada ya sala watapita kwa Sheikh Ahmed Islam kumwamkia. Mtoto akiwa hajui kama si juhudi za huyu mzee aliye mbele yake labda asingelizaliwa na baba yake huyu.  Huu ni mfano mmoja katika mingi kwa yake aliyofanya marehemu Sheikh Islam.  Katika uhai wake Sheikh Islam wanasema waliokuwa karibu yake kuwa alipeleka posa 200 na zote zilikubaliwa isipokuwa moja. Rafiki yangu Charles James Bossa anasema Sheikh Islam hakuacha kumshinikiza kufunga ndoa hadi alipooa. Kwa maneno yake anasema, ‘’Mzee Islam kwetu sisi tuliokuwa tukifanyakazi Posta alikuwa baba na rafiki. Huenda ni haya malezi ya Sheikh Islam kuwa sababu ya rafiki yangu kwenda kusoma Chuo Cha Mzumbe na kisha kupata mafunzo zaidi Uingereza.  

Kulia: Sheikh Ahmed Islam, Sheikh Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Sheikh Aboud Maalim,
Himid Ashraf na Said Kassim

Hakika ni tabu sana kumwandika Sheikh Ahmed Islam bila ya kumtaja rafiki yake kipenzi Sheikh Aboud Maalim. Wawili hawa walikuwa mithili ya ambari na zinduna. Muda mwingi sana walikuwa pamoja na walifanya mengi katika kuusukuma mbele Uislam. Kama alivyokuwa Sheikh Islam, Sheikh Aboud Maalim alikuwa mzee wangu na mtu wangu wa karibu. Inawezekana pengine bila ya wao wenyewe kufahamu, mapenzi baina yao na mapenzi yao kwa watu wengine walijenga kundi kubwa la watu ambao wote kwa umoja wao wakiwapenda na kuwaangalia kama viongozi katika jamii. Nakumbuka mmoja katika watu ambao walikuwa katika kundi hili ni marehemu Kiaratu Hussein. Sheikh Islam alipofiwa na mkewe msiba ule uliwapiga wengi waliokuwa karibu na yeye na Kiaratu aliathirika sana. Tukawa tukizungumza ananifahamisha vipi Sheikh Islam alivyokuwa mwenye huzuni kwa msiba ule na namna gani Sheikh Aboud Maalim alivyokuwa akimfariji kila alipokuwa kamuona kakaa msikitini kajiinamia. Kiaratu akiniambia kuwa kuwa Sheikh Aboud alikuwa akimshika akimpigapiga na kumwambia, ‘’Ahmed stahamilili mshukuru Allah…’’ Hawa walikuwa watu waliopendana kwa ajili ya Allah na kwangu mimi nilijifunza kitu kingine kuwa watu wema, wema wao huambukiza wale waliowazunguka hadi watoto wadogo.

Kiaratu alikuwa na mwanae akiitwa Hussein. Miaka ile alikuwa mtoto mdogo wa shule ya msingi na kila mwezi wa Ramadhani alikuwa akifuatana na baba yake pale msikitini Maamur. Kiaratu yeye ndiye alikuwa akituongoza kwenye Sala ya Tarweh kwa nyuradi na kwa hakika Tarweh ya Maamur ilikuwa ikipendeza. Mwanae Kiaratu Hussein nikimuona akiswali safu za nyuma na watoto wenzake kati yao ni Mohamed Bakashmar mtoto wa Ahmed Rashad na Mohamed mwingine mtoto wa Dr. Amza Mahunda. Hawa watoto wote walikuwa wakija pale msikitini wamefuatana na baba zao. Baada ya sala hawa watoto watakwenda kumwamkia Sheikh Islam na yeye atawashika mikono na kichwa bila shaka akiwaombea dua. Miaka ikaenda na Kiaratu akatangulia mbele ya haki. Ramadhani ilipofika nikawa naiambia nafsi yangu kuwa Ramadhani hii Tarweh itapooza bila ya sauti ya Kiaratu pale mbele. Nilipata mshtuko mkubwa sana usio na kifani. Mara baada ya kumaliza Sala ya Isha na suna nikamuona Hussein, mtoto wa Kiaratu kanyanyuka kasimama mbele ameikabili kibla analeta nyuradi alizokuwa anasoma marehemu baba yake. Kilichotufurahisha wengi naamini si tu kumuona mtoto kashika nafasi ya baba yake katika jambo kubwa la ibada bali na kule pia alivyoshabihiana na baba yake kwa sauti na zile ‘’gestures,’’ alipokuwa anasoma. Safu ya mbele pale namuona kasimama Sheikh Islam na safu yake maarufu iliyozoeleka pale Maamur. Nikaiuliza nafsi yangu, ‘’Huyu Hussein, huyu mtoto lini kapewa haya mafunzo? Sikutaabika sana kuona ushawishi wa Sheikh Islam na dua zake kwa hawa watoto waliokuwa wakisali pale na baba zao.

Kipo kisa kingine cha Mohamed mtoto wa Ahmed Rashad. Kama mwenzake siku zote alikuwa kwenye jicho la Sheikh Islam pale msikitini. Siku moja Sheikh Islam alikuwa anasafiri na kulikuwa na uradi ukisomwa pale msikitini katika baadhi ya siku. Sheikh Islam akamwambia Mohamed kuwa yeye atakuwa anaongoza kusoma uradi ule hadi yeye atakaporejea. Akamkabidhi Mohamed kitabu cha uradi ule. Mohamed aliongoza uradi ule hadi siku Sheikh Islam aliporudi. Aliporudi ilipofika wakati wa uradi ule Mohamed akampa kitabu Sheikh Islam na yeye akawa kimya. Sheikh Islam akamwambia Mohamed aendelee kusoma uradi ule. Bila kufungua kitabu Mohamed akaanza kusoma ule uradi ghibu. Baba yake Ahmed Rashad na Sheikh Ahmed Islam wanamtazama na kumsikiliza. Nitahitimisha kipande hiki kwa kumweleza Mohamed mwingie, mtoto wa Dr.Mahunda. Katika maziko ya Sheikh Islam nikamuuliza Dr. Mahunda Mohamed yuko wapi nilikuwa sijamuona muda. Dr. Mahunda akanambia baada ya kumaliza chuo kikuu Uingereza Mohamed kenda India kusoma shahada ya pili.

Haya ndiyo matunda ya Sheikh Islam na ndiyo wanafunzi wake ambao ambao nimewaona kwa macho yangu mwenyewe akiwalea pale msikitini wakiwa watoto wadogo wakiswali safu za watoto nyuma ya msikiti wakati wakubwa wanasali. Leo ni vijana wakubwa na ndiyo hawa nawaandika hapa. Hussein Kiaratu yuko Uingereza anasoma, Mohamed Bakashmar, mtoto wa Ahmed Rashad ni Ph D Political Science anafundisha katika moja ya vyuo vikuu Malaysia na kaoa Mmalay na ana watoto na Mohamed Mahunda yuko India In Shaa Allah anafanya shahada ya pili. Haya ndiyo matunda ya uongozi wa Sheikh Islam. Hakuwa mfano kwa vijana peke yao bali hata kwa watoto wadogo ambao kwa wakati ule walipokuwa wadogo huenda baadhi yetu walipochokozana safu za nyuma wakati tunasali walitukera. Lakini babu yao Sheikh Ahmed Islam baada ya sala akiwashika vichwa na kuwaombea dua Allah awaongoze watie furaha kwenye nyoyo za wazazi wao na ndani ya nyoyo za umma.

Hatutaweza kummaliza Sheikh Ahmed Islam. Sheikh Islam alikuwa mtu wa pekee. Tunaomba Allah amsamehe dhabi zake na amweke mahali pema peponi.

Amin.

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