In Search of an Islamic Party Part One

TANU Annual Meeting Hindu Mandal Hall, Dar es Salaam 24 Oktoba 1955

In Search of an Islamic Party in Tanzania

Part One

The earliest attempt by Muslims activists to try to provide Muslims with a political platform was through the United Movement for Democracy, (UMD) a party which was under Chief Abdallah Said Fundikira. But it was soon realised by the activists who had penetrated into the party that the Church was in control of most political parties. It was not the CCM alone which had been hijacked. When the UMD leadership realised that it had “Muslim fundamentalists” among its midst, they were expelled from the party in a meeting of the national executive which took place at Msimbazi Hall of the Roman Catholic Church in Dar es Salaam. The second attempt was more daring as the activists registered their own party the United Peoples’ Congress (UPC). UPC received its preliminary registration pending full registration upon completion of the laid down regulations as specified by the law. The party began membership drive but these efforts were bogged down by the secrecy which was surrounding the party. The membership drive could not come out into the open because the law establishing political parties barred religious as well as regional based parties. Despite of all these obstacles UPC leadership believed the party had a special mission to create a political platform for Muslims and would try to have the part registered.

Islam was a sensitive issue in the country and the act of Parliament establishing political parties forbids religious parties. When this law was passed those in the parliament had Muslims in mind. The manifesto of the party therefore had to pass by word of mouth to Muslims. The word of mouth is slow. A political party has to operate publicly and through open campaigns and because UPC was shrouded with secrecy, the very Muslims which the party were targeting were not aware of the existence of UPD or its objectives save the Muslim activists themselves. UDP managed to recruit few Muslims activists in Dar es Salaam and other urban centres. But the most pressing problem for the party was finance. The party did not have resources to enable its leadership to manage day to day activities of the party. The Registrar of Political Parties used every excuse in the book to frustrate UPC and it could not therefore acquire full registration.

Failing with UDP the Muslim activists sought another avenue. They were worried with the possibility of facing the first multi-party elections without a Muslim presidential candidate. In April a two-man delegation from the UDP top leadership in Dar es Salaam went to Zanzibar to contact the leadership of another political party, the United Peoples’ Democratic Party (UPDP) which had full registration. A request was put to UPDP that  the party should be used as a base out of which Muslims would  articulate their  conscience as a people disillusioned and therefore have to stand up to the Christian leadership in the government. This idea was accepted even though at that time UPDP was engulfed in an internal crisis. Another meeting was held in Dar es Salaam between UDP and UPDP to discuss on how to integrate the membership of the two parties and open an office in Dar es Salaam to work out a strategy for membership drive and to popularise the party. UPDP was easily registered in Zanzibar because in its urge to prove to the Western powers that the country was abiding to the democratisation process the early parties in Zanzibar like UPDP and National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) in the mainland did not encounter obstacles from the government.

Chief Abdallah Said Fundikira

But the government did not leave these parties to operate freely weak as they were. They had to be chaperoned.  State Intelligence personnel were infiltrated into all the opposition parties to inform on their daily activities. The government was informed that “Muslim fundamentalists” had taken over UPDP and have formed a secret alliance to merge it with the UDP with the aim of turning the party into its own sphere of political influence to confront the Christian dominance in Tanzania mainland. In its own ways the government in Zanzibar contacted the UPDP leadership and was warned of ‘mixing politics and religion.”  UPDP therefore did not turn up at an executive meeting of the two parties which was scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam on 21 May, 1995 which was to finalise the pressing issue of membership drive and opening of party branches in the urban centres of the mainland where Islam has a huge following.

To be continued...

ALLY KLEIST SYKES 1926 - 2013

Ally Kleist Sykes na Mohamed Said picha ilipigwa siku ya Eid El Fitr 19 September 2009 nyumbani kwake Mbezi Beach Ally Kleist Sykes na Mohamed Said picha ilipigwa siku ya Eid El Fitr 19 September 2009 nyumbani kwake Mbezi Beach ‘’Bwana Ally Sykes (1926 - 2013) alisoma kitabu changu Uamuzi wa Busara wa Tabora na baada ya kukimaliza alinipigia simu na tukawa na mazungumzo ya muda mrefu akilaumu kuwa uandishi wa wanahistoria wa Tanzania pamoja na mimi tumeshughulishwa sana na kuandika mchango wa Mwalimu Nyerere katika harakati za kudai uhuru wa Tanganyika na kusahau kabisa mchango wa wazalendo wengine. Katika kukikosoa kitabu changu akasema nimemweleza Said Chamwenyewe nusu nusu kwa hiyo sikuwatendea haki wasomaji wangu na hata hao wazalendo ambao mie nilitaka kuwafufua na kuwarejesha katika historia ya kupigania uhuru wa Tanganyika. Bwana Ally Sykes akanambia inahitaji kitabu kizima kueleza yale yaliyopitika kabla na baada ya yeye na marehemu kaka yake Abdulwahid Sykes kujuana na Julius Nyerere mwaka 1952 na wakafahamiana na kati yao ukajengeka udugu na mapenzi makubwa si baina yao tu bali hata na mama zao na wake zao udugu uliodumu hadi uhuru unapatikana. Akamaliza maneno ya kw akusema inahitaji mwandishi makini sana kuweza kuandika historia ya kweli ya uhuru wa Tangnayika. Mimi nilikaa na Ally Sykes na tuliweza kuandika maisha yake. Ni historia nzuri ya kusisimua sana. Kitabu nilikipa jina ''Under The Shadow of British Colonialism the Life of Ally Kleist Sykes'' lakini wachapaji walipokipitia wakasema kibadilishwe jina kiitwe ''Unfulfilled Dreams .’’ Mswada huu bado haujachapwa hadi leo takriban miaka 17 baada ya kumaliza uandishi. Naweka hapa chini utangulizi wa kitabu chake kama ulivyo katika mswada. Introduction My name is Ally Kleist Sykes. I was born in Dar es Salaam on 10 th September 1926 from Kleist Sykes Mbuwane, the son of a Zulu mercenary, Sykes Mbuwane and Bibi Mruguru bint Mussa who my father married in February 1923. My father’s other name is Abdallah but he never identified himself by this name. This is the name written on his tombstone, which today identifies his grave at the Kisutu Muslim graveyard in Dar es Salaam. I was named Ally after my father’s elder brother Ally Sykes, or Kattini Mbuwane, as he was known back home in Mozambique. My grandfather is from the Shangaan a Zulu clan, which originated from South Africa but settled in Mozambique. The reason, which caused the Zulu migration to Mozambique, was to run away from civil upheavals caused by the reign of Shaka, the Zulu King. My father was the second child; the first one was Ally Kattini who was born from Mbuwane’s first wife back home. My uncle Kattini was blind. When Mbuwane came to Tanganyika he came with him but he was later sent back home. The village, which my people settled, is known as Kwa Likunyi. I had the occasion to visit the village of our origins in 1952 and I was able to trace some members of our family. At that time the country was under the harsh rule of the Portuguese. I will narrate the story of my travel to trace my people later on. The history of my family begins at a village called Kwa Likunyi in the then Portuguese Mozambique about a hundred years ago. I learned most of the history of my forefathers from my father, Kleist Sykes.  Kleist Sykes was born in Pangani in 1894. His mother, my grandmother, was a Nyaturu from Central Tanganyika. My father always considered himself as an aristocrat of sorts and had his own exceptional way of carrying himself. He behaved and even dressed differently in comparison to other Africans. He was always immaculately dressed and all his existing photographs show him in suit and tie. He considered himself a modern man, a man of the times. He was very conscious of his Zulu origins and loved and longed for the country which he never set foot on.  My father sentimental and melancholy used to talk about his father, Sykes Mbuwane, who he never even knew because Mbuwane my grandfather, died soon after my father was born. My grandfather, Sykes Mbuwane, the Zulu mercenary and warrior from Inhambane died in Uhehe. Mbuwane died crossing River Ruaha returning from the campaign against Chief Mkwawa. He had seen cows crossing and he thought the water was shallow. Measuring himself up the Zulu warrior and others attempted to cross the river and were swept away and drowned. My father’s narration about his people was stories of wars and power of the white men over Africans. He used to narrate to us this history when we were young. I now can understand why that part of history was important to him. That history was the only thing he could hold on about his people and tribe.  Kleist was sentimental and melancholy because apart from us, his children he never had a living relative in Tanganyika. Whatever relatives he had were left behind in Inhambane, Mozambique at the turn of the century even before he was born. Part of that history and indeed the history of our family has also been recorded together with the history of Tanganyika itself.  Kleist preserved this history through his own pen. And it was from Kleist’s pen that many years after he had passed away that we now have an accurate account of those days long passed. Before he died on 23 May 1949 my father left behind his memoirs in his long flowing Germany handwriting picked from a Germany school he attended in Dar es Salaam, as a child in early 1900s. These memoirs [1] were later revisited by Abdulwahid my elder brother with his daughter Aisha Daisy Sykes, then an undergraduate student at Dar es Salaam University under the tutelage of Illife the renowned historian from Cambridge University. A month before he died on 12 October 1968 Abdulwahid had had already assisted Daisy to complete her research assignment of prominent Africans in Tanganyika for a history seminar on the life of her grandfather. The aim of this project was to document the life history of our father, Kleist Sykes and his achievement in politics, education and business. It was from his diaries, personal papers as primary sources and with the assistance of Daisy that Iliffe was able to research and write accurately on African Association and early colonial politics.[2] This work was submitted to the History Department of University of Dar es Salaam in September 1968. It was later published in 1973 in a book edited by Illife.[3]  It is a pity that Abdulwahid who was the main informant on the biography did not leave to see the fruits of his work. Prior to publishing of my father’s biography, little was known about the founding fathers of the African Association. Dar es Salaam 24 March 1997 Kushoto ni Ally Sykes akiwa na miaka 17 na kaka yake Abdulwahid miaka 19 wakiwa katika unifomu za King's African Rifles (KAR) katika kikosi cha Burma Infantry Vita Kuu ya Pili 1938 - 1945 [1] A.D. Sykes “The Life of Kleist Sykes,” University of Dar es Salaam Ref. No. JAN/HIST/143/15. [2] See John Illife: A Modern History of Tanganyika, Cambridge University Press, London, 1977; Also “The Role of the African Association in the formation and Realisation of Territorial Consciousness in Tanzania.” Mimeo, University of East Africa Social Sciences Conference 1968.[3] Illife Modern Tanzanians, (ed), East African Publishing House, Nairobi, 1973.

BILALI REHANI WAIKELA...

Bilali Rehani Waikela akitoka Mahakama ya Kisutu Dar es Salaam alipokuja kutoa ushahidi kesi ya Sheikh Ponda

Naweka hapa chini yale ambayo niliandika katika kitabu changu, ''Maisha na Nyakati za Abdulwahid Sykes...'' kuhusu Mzee Bilal Rehani Waikela:

''Napenda kutoa shukrani maalum kwa Bilal Rehani Waikela, muungwana wa Kimanyema na Muislamu wa kweli. Waikela akiwa na umri wa miaka ishirini na tano mwaka 1955, alikuwa mmoja wa waasisi wa TANU mjini Tabora. Waikela alinieleza jinsi Waislam kwa umoja wao walivyomuunga mkono Julius Nyerere na harakati za uhuru. Vilevile vilevile alinieleza kwa muhtasari siku zake kizuizini pamoja na babu yangu katika gereza la Uyui, Tabora kwa kile kilichoitwa kosa la ëkuchanganya dini na siasa.í  Nina deni kubwa kwake kwa kunipa picha za wakati ule na nyaraka zake binafsi juu ya ëmgogoroí wa EAMWS uliozushwa mara baada ya uhuru. Natoa shukrani kwa Waikela kwa kunitia hima na kunipa moyo kuandika kitabu hiki ili nieleze kuhusu dhulma waliofanyiwa Waislam na utawala wa Nyerere. Waikela tofauti na watu wengine waliozungumza na mimi aliniruhusu pia kumnukuu kwa jina bila ya woga wowote.  Alifurahi kuona kwamba historia ya kweli ilikuwa inaandikwa na habari alizonieleza zitakuja kutumika katika kuhifadhi historia ya nchi yetu kwa faida ya vizazi vijavyo. Vilevilevilevile Waikela alinikutanisha na wazalendo wengine kama Mohamed Mangiringi, marehemu Ramadhani Singo na wengineo ambao nilizungumzanao kwa kirefu.

Mwaka 1955 Bibi Titi Mohamed na Julius Nyerere waliitika mwaliko na kuja Tabora. Mkutano ulifanyika katika ile kilabu ya kandanda. Waliohudhuria mkutano ule walikuwa Germano Pacha, Juma Mrisho, Shaaban Mohamed Silabu, Bilali Rehani Waikela, Mohamed Mataka wakati ule akiwa muadhin wa Masjid Nur - msikiti wa Wamanyema pale Tabora, Hassan Mohamed Ikunji, Ramadhani Mussa Wajaku, Swedi Mambosasa, Said Ali Kiruwi na Hamis Khalfan. Uongozi wa kilabu ulimwambia Nyerere na Bibi Titi  kuwa kilabu hiyo ya kandanda ilikuwa ikitaka udugu na TANU ili ifanye kampeni ya kuipatia TANU wanachama wengi. Uongozi huo wa TANU kutoka makao makuu Dar es Salaam uliambiwa kuwa maadam kilabu hiyo ilikuwa ikipendwa na kuungwa mkono na watu wa Tabora na ilikuwa maarufu sana, sifa hizo zingeweza kutumiwa kwa manufaa ya TANU. Vilevile Nyerere alifahamishwa kuwa  kilabu hiyo ingependa kuvijumuisha vyama vitatu vya lelemama na vikundi vya taarabu, Nujum ul Azhar, Waridatil Hubb na Egyptian Club. Nyerere na Titi waliyakubali mapendekezo haya na usiku ule akifuatana na uongozi wa kilabu Nyerere alizungumza na kikundi cha watu waliyokusanyika nje ya nyumba ya kilabu juu ya hali ya Tanganyika katika siku zijazo. Nyerere alikuwa amerudi Tabora ambapo alianza siasa kiasi cha miaka minane nyuma. Jambo muhimu katika kipindi hiki pale Tabora ni kuwa wasomi wa Makerere waliokuwa St. Maryís School hawakuwapo katika harakati hizi na katika mikakati iliyokuwa ikipangwa.

Bibi mmoja wa Kiganda, Nyange bint Chande, mwanachama wa moja ya vikundi vya lelemama mjini Tabora alijitolea nyumba yake kama ofisi ya kwanza ya TANU katika Jimbo la Magharibi. Uchaguzi ulifanyika na Shaabani Marijani alichaguliwa Mwenyekiti wa Wilaya na Idd Said Ludete Katibu wa TANU. Bilali Waikela akawa mjumbe wa kamati. Kadi za kwanza za uanachama wa TANU ziliuzwa ndani ya soko la Tabora  na Amani Idd na Pacha, Katibu wa Jimbo wa TANU. Pacha alikuwa na lingo la kuni pale sokoni kama biashara yake. Baadae Amani Idd alisaidiwa kazi hiyo ya kuuza kadi za TANU na Dharura bint Abdulrahman.

Makao makuu ya TANU yaliamua kumtuma Peter Mhando, (mdogo wake Stephen Mhando) kwenda Tabora kufanya uchunguzi na kuandika taarifa ambayo ingetoa msingi wa ufumbuzi wa kudumu kuhusu matatizo yanayoisibu TANU pale Tabora. Wakati ule Peter Mhando alikuwa kijana wa kiasi cha miaka ishirini hivi aliifanya kazi ile na vijana wengine kama Bilal Waikela, Ramadhani Abdallah Singo, Abdallah Saidi Kassongo na vijana wengineo. Vijana hawa walikamilisha taarifa na kuituma makao makuu. Hii ilikuwa ndiyo kazi ya mwisho ya Mhando kuifanyia TANU kwani alifariki kwa ugonjwa wa kisukari mara tu baada ya kutayarisha na kutuma taarifa yake makao makuu ya TANU.

Jaribio la mwanzo la Nyerere kutaka kuivunja EAMWS lilikuwa mwaka 1963. Lakini jaribio hilo halikufanikiwa kwa sababu ya mpango uliopangwa na Mufti Sheikh Hassan bin Amir na kutekelezwa na Bilali Rehani Waikela, katibu wa EAMWS Tabora. Mwaka huu wa 1963 EAMWS ilifanya mkutano wake katika ukumbi wa Shule ya wasichana ya Aga Khan. Wajumbe wa mkutano huo walipowasili mjini Dar es Salaam walikuta uvumi kuwa wajumbe wa mkutano wa EAMWS watakamatwa na kuwekwa kizuizini. Chanzo cha uvumi huu hakikufahamika lakini haikuwa vigumu kuhisi. Baada ya kuvunjwa kwa Baraza la Wazee wa TANU mwaka ule ilikuwa wazi kuwa Nyerere alikuwa amewatupa mkono washirika wake wa zamani na sasa alikuwa akitafuta wapya ili kujenga upya msingi wake wa siasa. Kutokana na mambo yalivyokuwa yakienda ilikuwa ni dhahiri washirika wake wapya hawatakuwa Waislam.

Katibu wa EAMWS Tabora, Waikela alipowasili Dar es Salaam kuhudhuria mkutano aliitwa na Sheikh Hassan bin Amir. Mufti Sheikh Hassan bin Amir mbele ya Mzee Ali Comorian, alimfahamisha Waikela kuwa kulikuwa na njama zilizokuwa zikipikwa na Nyerere kumuungamiza yeye na Tewa Said Tewa ili kuvunja EAMWS ipatikane nafasi ya kuanzishwa jumuiya ya Kiislam ya Watanganyika itakayokuwa chini ya wanafiki. Sheikh Hassan bin Amir alimwambia Waikela kuwa harakati za uhuru zilikuwa zinatekwa nyara na Wakristo kwa manufaa ya makanisa yao. Sheikh Hassan alimfahamisha Waikela kuwa ni lazima yeye afanye kila linalowezekana ili njama za Nyerere zishindwe. Waikela alimuuliza Sheikh Hassan bin Amir kwa nini amechaguliwa yeye kufanya kazi ile. Sheikh Hassan bin Amir alimuambia kuwa yeye ana imani na uwezo wake. Baada ya maneno hayo Sheikh Hassan bin Amir alinyanyua mikono yake juu na kumuombea dua Waikela. Nyerere alikuwa anamfahamu Waikela  kwa kuwa alikuwa muasisi wa TANU na alikuwa ametoa mchango mkubwa katika kupigania uhuru.

Nchi nzima hasa sehemu za Waislam kulikuwa mpango wa serikali wa kuwavunja Waislam nguvu na kuwakatisha tamaa. Waikela, kama ilivyokuwa kwa viongozi wengine wa EAMWS alikuwa anasuguana na Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Jimbo la Magharibi, Richard Wambura. Kulikuwa na ujeuri kwa upande wa serikali walipokuwa wanashugulikia matatizo ya Waislam, mbali na mategemeo ya Waislam waliyokuwanayo kabla ya uhuru. Subira ya Waikela ilifikia kikomo pale Wambura alipowatukana Waislam katika mkutano wa hadhara. Baada ya kuhutubia Wambura, Waikela alipanda jukwaani na akaikumbusha serikali isiwe mwizi wa fadhila kwa kusahau jinsi Waislam walivyojitolea muhanga katika kudai uhuru. Serikali ikachukulia hotuba ya Waikela kama usaliti na yenye kuwashawishi Waislam wasiitii serikali. Ilikuwa katika hali hii Waikela mwanachama shupavu wa TANU alijitoa kwenye chama na akaamua kutumia nguvu zake kuwatumikia Waislam kupitia EAMWS. Ilikuwa wazi kuwa Nyerere alikuwa na habari za msuguano kati ya serikali na Waislam kule Tabora na mtu ambae alikuwa akihusika na msuguano huo.

Siku kabla ya mkutano wa EAMWS, Nyerere aliwaalika wajumbe wa mkutano Government House kwa chakula cha usiku. Hao waalikwa walikuwa wajumbe waliochaguliwa mahsusi. Waikela hakuwa mmoja wa hao waalikwa. Nyerere alichukua nafasi ile kuwashauri wajumbe wale waanzishe jumuiya ya Waislam wa Tanganyika ichukue nafasi ya EAMWS. Wajumbe hawa walipoleta katika mkutano hoja ya kuanzisha jumuiya ya Waislam wa Tanganyika, Waikela alisimama na kuipinga hoja ile. Alizungumza vilevile kuhusu uadui wa serikali kwa Waislam na Uislam. Waikelaalimaliza hotuba yake kwa kutoa changamoto kwa wajumbe wamuite Nyerere kwenye ufunguzi wa  mkutano ili aje awaeleze wajumbe msimamo wake kuhusu kadhia hii ya chinichini baina ya serikali na Waislam.

Baada ya kushindwa kwa hoja ya kuivunja EAMWS wajumbe wa mkutano ikaonekana kuwa ingekuwa vyema Nyerere aitwe kufunga mkutano ule na asomewe makubaliano yaliyofikiwa. Nyerere alifika kufunga ule mkutano na akakutana uso kwa uso na Waikela, ambae alimsomea maazimio ya mkutano. Waikela alimfahamisha Nyerere kuwa umoja kwa Waislam ni fardh ñ wajibu wa lazima. Ni kwenda kinyume na maamrisho ya Allah kuwagawa watu. Baada ya utangulizi huu Waikela huku akimnyooshea Nyerere kidole alieleza uadui unaoonyeshwa na serikali dhidi ya Waislam. Waikela alimaliza hotuba yake kwa kitisho. Alimwambia Nyerere ikiwa Waislam watamgeuka kupambana na yeye hatakuwa na uwezo wa kuwashinda. Nyerere alitulia tuli pembeni mwa Rais wa Baraza la Tanganyika la EAMWS Tewa Said Tewa akimsikiliza Waikela. Aliposimama kujibu hotuba ya Waikela Nyerere kwa upole alisisitiza msimamo wa serikali wa kutoa haki na usawa kwa raia wake wote. 

Kwa kiasi fulani Nyerere alikuwa amefanikiwa kupunguza joto kati ya Waislam na serikali. Hotuba ya Waikela na ya Nyerere zikapewa umuhimu mkubwa katika radio. Waislam wengi wakajitokeza stesheni ya gari moshi Tabora kuja kumpokea shujaa Waikela. Alipewa heshima ile kwa kuwa na ujasiri wa kuweza kusimama kidete dhidi ya wale waliodhani kuwa wanaweza kuwakalia Waislam vichwani. Nyerere alihisi ameumbuka na hili lilimchoma moyo sana. Kuanzia hapa Nyerere hakumtazama Sheikh Hassan bin Amir kwa jicho jema. Alingoja nafasi yake ili alipize kisasi. Mwaka uliofuata, tarehe 20 Januari, 1964 jeshi liliasi. Nyerere alichukua fursa ile kuwatia kizuizini masheikh walioonekana wanapinga serikali na viongozi wa vyama vya wafanyakazi. Waikela alikuwa mmoja wa wale waliokamatwa na kuwekwa kizuizini. [1]Nyerere kwa wakati ule hakuwa na nguvu ya kumgusa Mufti Sheikh Hassan bin Amir...''

In Sha Allah Itaendelea...

Uongozi wa East African Muslim Welfare Society katika ni Solomon Eliufoo (Waziri wa Elimu) na Tewa Said Tewa (Territorial President EAMWS) kulia kabisa aliyevaa kanzu na kilemba ni Mufti Sheikh Hassan bin Amir.

SHEIKH CHAMBUSO RAJAB RAMADHANI CHAMBUSO

Sheikh Chambuso akigawa mashaf kwa wanafunzi wake katika shule ya St. Christine Tanga anaowasomesha somo la Islamic Knowledge. 

Sheikh Chambuso mbali na kusomesha Uislam katika shule za sekondari vilevile yeye ni mmoja wa walimu katika mojawapo ya shule ya awali aloaanzisha pamoja na vijana wenzake Mabawa Tanga. Sheikh Chambuso pia ni Imam katika moja ya misikiti maarufu ya Tanga.

Mbali na kusomesha Qur'an Sheikh Chambuso ni mlezi wa vijana na mshauri katika masuala ya elimu na tabia njema kwa vijana wetu.

Ilikuwa katika moja ya kazi zake kuwatumikia Waislam ndipo alipokamatwa Tanga mjini akawekwa rumande, akatishwa na mwishowe alipelekwa Handeni kulipotokea mauaji ya Waislam Oktoba na huko akafunguliwa mashtaka ya kubambikizwa ya ''kushawishi mauaji.''

Sheikh Chambuso alikaa mahabusu kwa takriban wiki mbili na ilikuwa katika kipindi hicho alipokuwa mahabusu ndipo allipoelezwa dhulma walizofanyiwa Waislam wa vijiji vya Madina, Dibungo na Lwande.

Hii ikamfanya Sheikh Chambusio kuwa mtu wa kwanza kutoka Tanga kuwa na taarifa kamili ya kile kilichotokea katika vijiji hivyo.

Sheikh Chambuso anasema alifarajika sana siku ndugu zake walipofika rumande pale Handeni wakamletea gazeti la Annur ambalo ukurasa wa mbele ilichapwa picha yake na taarifa ya kukamatwa kwake.

Sheikh Chambuso anasema siku hiyo gazeti la Annur lilikuwa kivutio kikubwa kwa askari na kila askari aliliomba nagalau na yeye apitie asome habari za Sheikh Chambuso na kukamatwa kwake Tanga.

Hivi sasa yuko nje kwa dhamana. 

Sheikh Chambuso anasema kwa kupata mtihani huu yeye amefarajika sana kwani katika mihangaiko hiyo mpaka ndani ya jela amekutana na baadhi ya vijana ambao yeye aliwasomesha dini katika shule mbalimbali za Tanga na wengine akiwasalisha katika msikiti wake.

Sheikh Chambuso anasema kote huko wanafunzi wake aliowakuta ndani ya kazi zao walikuwa wakiinamisha viichwa vyao mbele yake na kuwekea heshima ya hali ya juu.

In Sha Allah tutakuwa wazi hapa kwa kipindi chote cha kesi ya Sheikh Chambuso na tutaweka taarifa zote zake yeye na za ndugu zetu wa Madina, Dibungo na Lwande.

Itaaendelea...In Sha Allah....

WALIOACHA ALAMA KATIKA HISTORIA YA TANU NA YA KUPIGANIA UHURU WA TANGANYIKA: DOME OKOCHI BUDOHI

Katika kitabu changu ''The Life and Times of Abdulwahid Sykes (1924 - 1928) The Untold Story of the Muslim Struggle Against British Colonialism'' London 1998,  ambacho kilikuja kufasiriwa na kuitwa ''Maisha na Nyakati za Abdulwahid Sykes Historia iliyofichwa  Kuhusu Harakati za Waislam Dhidi ya Ukoloni wa Waingereza'' Nairobi 2002 nimeandika maneno hayo hapo chini kuhusu Dome Budohi:

''Familia yangu ilifahamiana na Dome Budohi, mmoja wa wanaharakati kutoka Kenya. Wakati ule wakati wa kudai uhuru wa Tanganyika alikuwa akiishi Dar es Salaam. Budohi alikuwa mmoja wa wazalendo walioasisi TANU na kadi yake ya uanachama ni nambari sita aliyopewa Julai 1954. Mwaka 1955 alikamatwa na serikali ya kikoloni kwa tuhuma ya kuwa mmoja wa askari wa Mau Mau harakati za wazalendo takriban wengi wao wakulima wadogo waliokuwa wakipigana na ukoloni wa Waingereza nchini Kenya. Ninazo kumbukumbu nyingi za utoto nikimtembelea Budohi ndani ya selo yake Kituo Cha Kati cha Polisi. Hivi sasa jengo hilo ni Makao Makuu ya Shirika la Reli la Tanzania. Wakati huo mimi nilikuwa mtoto, si zaidi ya miaka minne hivi. Jambo la kwanza ninalokumbuka kuhusu Budohi ni kuwa kila mara tulipokwenda kumtembelea tulimkuta anasoma gazeti. Baadae Budohi alihamishiwa Kenya na aliwekwa kizuizini katika kisiwa cha Lamu. Alipofunguliwa toka kizuizini mwaka wa 1963 miezi michache kabla ya uhuru wa Kenya, Budohi alikwenda Uganda na akaajiriwa na gazeti la Uganda Argus. Hivi sasa ninaelewa kwa nini siku zile kila mara nilikuwa namkuta amezama ndani ya gazeti kila tulipokwenda kumtembelea pale rumande mjini Dar es Salaam. Niliweza kwa msaada wa rafiki yake Maxwell aliyelowea Tanganyika, kumpata Budohi mjini Nairobi mwaka 1972. Nilimtembelea mjini Nairobi wakati huo alikuwa akiishi Ruiru maili chache kutoka Nairobi mjini. Budohi alikuwa ametundika picha ya Nat King Cole sebuleni kwake. Mwaka 1974 nilimtembelea tena, safari hii katika nyumba yake ya Ngei Estate. Budohi alikuja kuwa mtu wa kwanza kabisa kunipa habari kuhusu historia ya harakati za Tanganyika dhidi ya ukoloni wa Waingereza. Hata hivyo wakati ule nilikuwa bado sijapata hamu wala kuwa na hamu ya kuandika kitabu kuhusu uhuru wa Tanganyika.

Kulikuwepo na wazalendo kutoka nchi jirani ya Kenya kama vile Dome Okochi Budohi na Patrick Aoko ambao walikuwa wanajua vyema siasa za walowezi za kupora ardhi za  wananchi. Kutoka kwa wazalendo kama hawa, Abdulwahid alipata usikivu wa mawazo yake ya kuigeuza TAA kuwa chama cha siasa chenye nguvu. Lakini mara tu baada ya kuundwa kwa TANU wazalendo hawa wa Kenya wakakamatwa na serikali. Kwa miezi sita walihojiwa na kuwekwa rumande Central Police Station huku wamefungwa minyororo. Budohi na Aoko walikuwa wakifuatwa na makachero (Special Branch) toka mwaka wa1952 baada ya hali ya hatari kutangazwa Kenya. Inasemekana Dome Budohi aliponzwa na barua iliyotoka Kenya ambayo ilikamatwa na makachero. Barua hii ilikuwa inamuhusisha Budohi na Mau Mau. Inasemekana Budohi alisalitiwa na Mkenya mwenzake aliyeitwa Martin[1]ambaye alikuwa pamoja naye katika Blackbirds. Martin alikuwa akipuliza tarumbeta.

Askari waliokuwa wakiwalinda kule rumande walitoa habari kwa TANU kuwa kulikuwa na mpango wa kuwapa sumu wafungwa wale, Budohi na mwenzake Aoko. Baadaye wafungwa hawa walihamishiwa Handeni ambako kulikuwa na kambi ya kuwafunga watuhumiwa wa Mau Mau. Kawawa alikuwa amehamishiwa hapo kutoka Dar es Salaam. Baadhi ya wafungwa walikuwa wananachama wa TAA na baada ya kuundwa TANU wakawa wanachama wa TANU. Kawawa alikuwa akifahamiana na wengi kati ya wafungwa wale. Budohi na Aoko waliwahi kuwa  viongozi wa TAA. Kawawa aliwaangalia wafungwa hawa kwa moyo wa huruma akijaribu kupunguza shida zao pale kambini kila alipopata mwanya wa kufanya hivyo. Budohi aliwahi kucheza senema ya Kiswahili na Kawawa iliyoitwa Mgeni Mwema iliyokuwa imetayarishwa na Community Development Department. Idara hii ilitengeneza filamu kadhaa ambazo Kawawa alicheza kama nyota wa mchezo. Katika senema zote alizocheza, iliyopata umaarufu na kupendwa zaidi ilikuwa Muhogo Mchungu ambalo ndiyo lilikuwa jina la Kawawa katika filamu hiyo.

Minongíono ilikuwa ikisikika kutoka kanda ya ziwa kuwa kiongozi wa wapiganaji wa Mau Mau, Dedan Kimathi alikuwa anaonekana mjini Mwanza. Wakati ule pale Mwanza kulikuwa na Wakikuyu wengi wakifanya biashara sokoni. Ilivumishwa kuwa Dedan Kimathi alikuwa akiwasiliana na Wakikuyu wenzake na wao walikuwa wakimkusanyia fremu za baiskeli za zamani ili zitumike kutengenezea magobole ili zitumiwe misituni dhidi ya majeshi ya Waingereza. [1]  Mapigano yalipoonza kati ya Mau Mau na Waingereza kulikuwa na Wakikuyu kama elfu kumi na sita wakiishi na kufanya kazi kaskazini ya Tanganyika. Kama tahadhari, Wakikuyu wachache walioonekana kuunga mkono Mau Mau, walikamatwa na kupelekwa Kenya ambako waliwekwa kizuizini katika kambi mbali mbali. Wakati Budohi na Wakenya wengine walipopita Korogwe wakati wakirudishwa Kenya kupitia Taveta, Ally Sykes, ambaye alikuwa amehamishiwa Korogwe, alikwenda hadi stesheni ya reli kuwaaga. Watuhumiwa hawa wa Mau Mau walikuwa wametiwa katika mabehewa ya kubebea ng'ombe huku wamefungwa minyororo. Dome Budohi na wazalendo wengine waliwekwa kizuizini kwa miaka saba.

Katika wale walioasisi TANU, ni wale tu aliokuwa makao makuu ya TAA ndiyo wanaoweza kueleza historia ya kweli ya  chama hiki. Hawa ni John Rupia, Dossa Aziz, Tewa Said Tewa, Julius Nyerere, Dome Budohi, Abdulwahid na Ally Sykes.

Miaka mingi baada ya kutoka kizuizini kisiwa cha Lamu, Budohi bado alikuwa ma mfundo na Martin na kila alipozungumza kuhusu yeye na mwandishi,alionyesha chuki ya kupindukia.

Wazalendo wa Kenya waliokuwa katika harakati nchini Tanganyika hawakuwa na uhusiano na TANU baada ya uhuru na wala chama hakikufanya juhudi kuwasiliana nao. Dome Budohi alijaribu mara nyingi kuomba kukutana na Nyerere alipozuru Nairobi lakini ilishindikana. Budohi hafahamu kama maafisa wa serikali ya Tanzania walimzuia wao tu au walifanya hivyo kwa amri ya Nyerere. Hadi anafariki Dome Budohi hakuwahi kuonana na Nyerere ambae wakati wa enzi za TAA na TANU walikuwa wakifahamiana vizuri.

Kadi nambari 1 ilitolewa na Ally Sykes kwa rais wa TANU, Julius Kambarage Nyerere na Ally aliweka sahihi yake kama afisa aliyeitoa. Ilipendekezwa kwamba kadi chache za mwanzo lazima zipigwe mnada na fedha zitakazokusanywa zitiwe  kwenye hazina ya chama. Abdulwahid, Ally, Dossa Aziz, Rupia na wengine walipanda dau kununua kadi hizo. Ally alimshinda kaka yake Abdulwahid kwa bei akapata kadi ya TANU nambari 2; Abdulwahid alipewa kadi nambari 3; Dossa Aziz kadi nambari 4; Phombeah kadi nambari 5; Dome Okochi, mmoja wa wale wazalendo kutoka Kenya katika TANU alipata kadi nambari 6 na Rupia kadi nambari 7. Bibi Titi kadi nambari 16; Iddi Tosiri kadi nambari 25.

Mwezi June 1953, makao makuu ya TAA yalitangaza kamati yake ya utendaji: J. K. Nyerere, Rais, Abdulwahid Sykes, Makamu wa Rais; J. P. Kasella Bantu, Katibu Mkuu; Alexander M. Tobias na Waziri Dossa Aziz, Katibu wa pamoja wa muhtasari; Wajumbe wa kamati: Dr Michael Lugazia, Hamisi Diwani, Tewa Said Tewa, Denis Phombeah, Z. James, Dome Okochi, C. Ongalo na Patrick Aoko.[1]Muundo wa uongozi katika TAA unaonyesha ule mshikamano wa Afrika ya Mashariki uliokuweko wakati wa harakati za uhuru. Wazalendo wa Kenya walichaguliwa kama viongozi wa TAA bega kwa bega na Watanganyika.'' 

Nimenyanyambua vipande hivyo kutoka sehemu tofauti ya kitabu changu ili kutoa picha na kujaza habari katika historia ya TANU na harakati za kudai uhuru. Mengi ya haya hayajulikani na wengi na hivyo kuathiri sana kufahamika na kuheshimu historia ya uhuru wa Tanganyika na mashujaa wake.

 

Mzee Omar Suleiman (1910 - 2012) Mwasisi wa TANU Dodoma

Mzee Omar Suleiman (1910 - 2012) Mwasisi wa TANU Dodoma 1955

Mohamed Said

Katika moja ya misiba mikubwa ya Tanzania ni kukosekana kuwapo kwa historia ya kweli ya kupigania uhuru na kwa ajili hiyo kusababisha kutokuwapo kwa mashujaa wa taifa. Mzee Omar Suleiman ni mmoja wa waasisi wa TANU Dodoma na kwa ajili hii ni kati ya mashujaa waliopigania uhuru wa Tanganyika ambao si wengi wanamfahamu na kujua khasa nini ulikuwa mchango wake. Mara kwa mara hasa kwa siku hisi za mwisho wa maisha yake kila ilipotokea nafasi ya kutaja Mzee Omar Suleiman kilichokuwa kikielezwa ni uhusiano wake na Julius Nyerere na kusema kuwa Nyerere alikuwa akifikia nyumbani kwake basi. Nini ulikuwa mchango wake haukuwa uanelezwa na sababu khasa ni kuwa hakuna aliyekuwa anaujua. Hata alipokufa hakuna taazia yoyote iliyoandikwa kumweleza Omar Suleiman alikuwa nani. Ili kumjua Omar Suleiman ni lazima mtu arudi nyuma sana na kumtafuta Omar Suleima katika kundi la wazalendo wenzake aliokuwanao katika siasa wakati wa kuiunda TANU Jimbo la Kati mwaka wa 1955.

Kuipata picha ya siasa katika Tanganyika ya 1950 hatuna budi uitazama African Association mtangulizi wa TANU. African Association mjini Dodoma ilikuwa ikiongoza katika harakati baada ya Vita Kuu ya Pili. Ilikuwa na wanasiasa wenye juhudi sana na wabunifu kuliko wanasiasa wengine wote waliopata kutokea katika historia ya Tanganyika. Wanasiasa hawa walikuwa Ali Ponda, Mmanyema na Hassan Suleiman, Myao, rais na katibu wake. Mwaka 1945 Ali Ponda alitoa wito kwa Waafrika wote kuungana kama umma mmoja. Lakini kuanzia mwaka 1948 harakati za siasa mjini Dodoma zilififia, na TANU ilipoanzishwa mnamo Julai, 1954, tawi la TAA Dodoma lilikuwa limedorora kiasi kwamba kilishindwa hata kupeleka mjumbe kwenye mkutano ule wa TAA wa kuundwa kwa TANU. Pamoja na ukweli kuwa mji wa Dodoma kulikuwa na Kikuyu Secondary School (sasa Alliance Secondary School) ambako kulikuwa na walimu wa Kiafrika, wengi wao kutoka Makerere, ambao kama wasomi, wangechukua juhudi kuihuisha African Association. Labda kwa kuhisi kuwa hapakuwapo na ukinzani unaokwenda kinyume na  maslahi yao katika mfumo wa kikoloni, walimu wale waliamua kujitenga na siasa. Kwa hiyo basi, harakati dhidi ya serikali ya kikoloni ziliachwa kuwa mikononi mwa wa Waislam wa mjini Dodoma, wengi wao wakiwa hawakujaliwa kupata elimu ka ajili ya siasa za Waingereza walioacha elimu iwe mikononi mwa Wamishionari.

Historia ya Mzee Omar Suleiman haiwezi kukamilika bila ya kumtaja rafiki yake shujaa wa uhuru marehemu Haruna Taratibu. Mwaka wa 1953 Haruna  alikuwa  na umri wa miaka 23 na akifanya kazi Public Works Department (PWD) kama mwashi. Haruna Taratib alijaribu kuunda chama cha wafanyakazi kwa kuwahamasisha na kuwakusanya vibarua walioajiriwa katika kazi za ujenzi. Kwa sababu ya harakati hizo za kutaka kuanzisha chama cha wafanyakazi, Taratibu alionekana na wakoloni kama mtu mkorofi na mzusha vurugu. Hata hivyo Taratibu hakufanikiwa kuanzisha chama hicho na matokeo yake akapewa uhamisho kwenda Singida kama adhabu. Taratibu alivutiwa sana na harakati za Mau Mau nchini Kenya na alizoea kufuatilia matukio yake katika gazeti lake alilokuwa akilipenda sana, “Baraza,” gazeti la Kiswahili la kila wiki kutoka Kenya.

Ilikuwa katika Novemba 1954 wakati Taratibu alipokuwa akipekuapekua gazeti hilo ndipo alioposoma habari kuhusu TANU. Taratibu aliuliza pale Singida mjini kama kuna tawi la TANU. Taratibu alifahamishwa kukuwepo kwa tawi la TANU  pale mjini na katibu wake alikuwa mzee mmoja kwa jina la Mzee Kinyozi. Taratibu alikata kadi yake toka kwa huyo mzee na akawa mwanachama wa chama cha siasa. Asubuhi iliyofuata Taratibu aliingia ofisini kwake na akaiweka  kadi yake ya  uanachama wa TANU yenye  rangi nyeusi na kijani juu ya meza yake, kila mtu aione. Ofisa Mzungu wa PWD Singida hakuweza kuvumila ufedhuli kama ule, alishauri Taratibu apewe uhamisho kurudi Dodoma alikotoka, kabla hajaeneza  sumu yake kwa Waafrika wengine. Hapo ndipo alipokuja kuungana na Mzee Omar Suleiman.

Mwaka 1955 wakati wimbi la utaifa wa Tanganyika lilipokuwa limepamba moto Tanganyika, Omari Suleiman alikuwa na umri wa miaka 43. Omar Suleiman alikuwa fundi cherahani akifanya shughuli zake katika nyumba moja katikati ya mji wa Dodoma. Mkabala na nyumba ambamo Suleiman alikuwa amepanga chumba kimoja ilikuwa nyumba aliyopanga Taratibu. Mara baada ya kupewa uhamisho kutoka Singida, Taratibu alimuuliza jirani yake, Suleiman, kama kuliwepo na tawi la TANU pale mjini. Suleiman alimwambia Taratibu kuwa hapakuwepo na tawi la TANU mjini Dodoma na alimjulisha kuwa kulikuwa na tetesi mjini kuwa Hassan Suleiman amemuahidi na kumhakikishia DC kuwa yeye, akiwa katibu wa Jimbo wa TAA, hatairuhusu TANU kusajiliwa katika Jimbo la Kati bila ya idhini yake. Lakini ukweli ulikuwa Hassan Suleiman akitokea katika uongozi wa TAA alikuwa tayari ameisajili TANU lakini hakumfahamisha mtu yoyote wala kufanya juhudi yoyote kuitisha uchaguzi au kufanya mkutano. Hassan Suleiman kama, Omar Suleiman alikuwa na umri wa miaka arobaini na tatu mwaka 1955. Tofauti na Omari Suleiman, Hassan Suleimani alikuwa ameelimika na alikuwa mwanasiasa mwenye uzoefu akiwa amekiongoza chama cha African Association kuanzia miaka ya 1940 na alikuwa amehudhuria mikutano ya African Association Tanganyika na Zanzibar.

Haruna Taratibu, Omari Suleimani na marafiki zake wachache waliunda kamati ndogo kisha wakaandika barua kwenda makao makuu ya TANU Dar es Salaam kuomba ruhusa ya kufungua tawi la TANU. Katibu mwenezi wa TANU, wakati ule Oscar Kambona, aliwaandikia kuwaeleza kuwa Hassan Suleiman tayari alikuwa ameshaisajili TANU na ikiwa uchaguzi wa viongozi haujafanyika basi waonanena na yeye pamoja na Ali Ponda. Omari Suleiman na Haruna Taratibu hawakuridhika na majibu kutoka makao makuu ya TANU kwa hiyo walikwenda kutafuta ushauri kwa Edward Mwangosi, aliyekuwa mwanachama mkongwe wa African Association. Mwangosi aliishauri kamati ile iitishe mkutano Community Centre ili kujadili ufunguzi wa tawi la TANU, na Hassan Suleiman na Ali Ponda waalikwe kuhudhuria. Kadhalika Mwangosi aliishauri kamati ile kuwaalika walimu waliokuwa wakifundisha Kikuyu Secondary School, wengi wao wasomi kutoka Makerere kuhudhuria mkutano huo.  Mwangosi aliwaambia wajumbe wa kamati ile ndogo kuwa wasomi wa Makerere walikuwa ni muhimu sana kwenye chama kwa kuwa wangetoa uongozi uliokuwa unatakiwa.

Karibu ya watu arobaini pamoja na wale wasomi wa Makerere, miongoni mwao Job Lusinde walihudhuria mkutano ule. (Lusinde alikuja kuwa waziri, na Amon Nsekela, alikuja kushika nyadhifa muhimu katika serikali na vilevile kuwa balozi wa Tanzania nchini Uingereza). Hassan Suleiman na Ali Ponda hawakutokea mkutanoni. Wakati wanakusanyika kwa ajili ya mkutano, afisa wa Community Centre aliwaambia kuwa alikuwa amepokea amri kutoka kwa DC kuwa mkutano huo usifanyike. Kufuatia amri ile watu walitawanyika mara moja. Alexander Kanyamara aliyekuwa Mwafrika tajiri mjini Dodoma na rafiki wa John Rupia, wakati ule makamu wa rais wa TANU, aliwataka kuahirisha mkutano huo kwa sababu ya kutokuwepo kwa viongozi wa juu wa TAA, Hassan Suleiman na Ali Ponda.  Kutokana na sababu hii na vile vitisho vya DC, mkutano uliahirishwa bila kupanga tarehe ya mkutano mwingine. Asubuhi iliyofuata Taratibu alikamatwa na polisi na kupelekwa kwenye ofisi ya DC, (hivi sasa ofisi hiyo ni ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu). Taratibu alimkuta Hassan Suleiman pale ofisini akizungumza na DC, Bwana Smith. DC alianza kumsaili Taratibu kwa kumuuliza kama alikuwa akijua kuzungumza Kiingereza. Taratibu alijibu kuwa yeye hakusoma. Akizungumza Kiingereza Hassan Suleiman alimwambia DC kuwa yeye ndiye katibu wa TANU mjini Dodoma. DC, Bwana Smith, alimshutumu Taratibu kwa kuunda chama haramu na kwa kuitisha mkutano usio na idhini ya serikali katika Community Centre jana yake ambao ulielekea kuvuruga amani. Bila woga Taratibu alijibu kwamba yeye alikuwa na mamlaka ya kuitisha mkutano kwa sababu alikuwa mwanachama wa chama cha siasa kilichosajiliwa kihalali. Taratibu aliichomoa kadi yake ya TANU kutoka mfukoni kwake yenye rangi nyeusi na kijani na kumwonyesha DC. Bwana Smith alimuuliza Hassan Suleiman kama ikiwa na yeye pia alikuwa na kadi ya TANU. Hassan Suleiman hakuwa nayo. Hassan Suleiman na DC walizungumza Kiingereza kwa muda baada ya hapo aliwataka wote wawili kuandika maelezo yao. Baada ya kuandika maelezo yake Taratibu aliruhusiwa kurudi nyumbani. Inasadikiwa kuwa wakati ule mwanachama pekee wa TANU mjini Dodoma walikuwa Haruna Taratibu na Alexander Kanyamara ambae yeye alikata  kadi yake Dar es Salaam.

Wasomi wa Makerere, ambao Mwangosi aliwaamini sana katika kuunda TANU, walipopata habari kuhusu mkasa wa Taratibu na DC, Bwana Smith, waliogopa. Waliamua kujiweka mbali kabisa  na TANU na mambo ya siasa na kuendelea na kazi yao ya kufundisha. Haruna Taratibu na Omari Suleiman sasa waliamua kugeuza mbinu, waliitisha mkutano wa siri usiku nyumbani kwa Swedi bin Athumani. Mkutano huu uliamua kuwa Taratibu lazima aende makao makuu ya TANU Dar es Salaam akazungumze na Nyerere ana kwa ana kuhusu matatizo yaliyokuwa yakiikabili TANU Dodoma.  Mahdi Mwinchumu aliyekuwa mwanachama wa TANU Dar es Salaam alijitolea kufuatana na Taratibu hadi makao makuu ya chama Dar es Salaam kwa kuwa alikuwa akijuana na viongozi wa TANU. Said Mussa mjumbe mwingine wa ile kamati ya siri alijitolea vilevile kufuatana na Taratibu na Mwinchumu hadi Dar es Salaam. Siku ya kuondoka Job Lusinde alikwenda stesheni ya gari moshi kuagana na ule ujumbe uliokuwa ukielekea Dar es Salaam, makao makuu ya TANU. Lusinde aliuambia ule ujumbe kuwa jamaa wa Makerere wanaunga mkono maamuzi yote yatakayoamuliwa na ile kamati ya siri.

Kwa bahati nzuri katika gari moshi lile lile ambamo Taratibu na wenzake walikuwa wakisafiri kulikuwa na wajumbe wa TANU kutoka Kigoma, Bukoba na Mwanza wakisafiri kwenda Dar es Salaam kuhudhuria mkutano mkuu wa kwanza wa mwaka wa TANU. Wahudumu ndani ya gari moshi walipofahamu kuwa walikuwa na wajumbe wa TANU kwenye gari moshi lile, waliwafanyia heshima kubwa. Mmoja wa wahudumu wale alijitolea kumpa malazi Salum Mussa nyumbani kwake Dar es Salaam. Mahdi Mwinchumu aliwapeleka Haruna Taratibu na Said Mussa makao makuu ya TANU New Street ambako walifanya mazungumzo na Nyerere pamoja na Rupia. Uongozi wa makao makuu ulielezwa kwa ufupi matatizo yaliyokuwa yakikabili Dodoma katika kufungua tawi la TANU. Papo hapo Nyerere alimwalika Taratibu kuhudhuria mkutano mkuu Hindu Mandal Hall kama mjumbe wa Jimbo la Kati.  Mkutano ule ulimchagua Taratibu kuwa mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Taifa ya TANU.  Taratibu na ujumbe wake walirudi Dodoma washindi, walikwenda Dar es Salaam watu wasiojulikana na walirudi nyumbani wakifuatana na mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Taifa wa TANU, chombo cha juu kabisa katika chama. Nyerere alimpa Taratibu dafari ya tasjili ya wanachama, kadi mia moja  hamsini  za uanachama wa TANU na nakala hamsini za “Bill of Rights.” Kazi ya kuwahamasisha na kuwaingiza watu TANU alipewa Omari Suleiman, na fundi cherahani mwingine aliyejulikana kwa jina la Abdu Mohamed Mkamba. Mara tu baba mwenye nyumba wake alipopata habari za kuwa mpangaji wake, Haruna Taratibu alikuwa mwanachama wa TANU, alimfukuza kutoka kwenye nyumba yake.

Baada ya kupata kikundi kidogo cha wanachama, Taratibu alipiga simu makao makuu ya TANU na kuzungumza na kaimu katibu, Elias Kissenge akaomba ruhusa ya kufanya uchaguzi. Kissenge hakuweza kutoa uamuzi wowote wa maana kuhusu tatizo la uongozi wa TANU Dodoma. Taratibu alifanikiwa kumpata Kambona ambae aliidhinisha uchaguzi ufanyike kwa shuruti moja la kuwa Hassan Suleiman na Ali Ponda waruhusiwe kushiriki na kugombea uongozi wa chama. Kusisitiza kwa Kambona juu ya uongozi wa zamani wa TAA kuongoza chama kipya huenda kulishawishiwa na mafanikio ya zamani ya uongozi wa Hassan Suleiman mbae alimfahamu huko Dodoma wakati Kambona alipokuwa mwalimu akifundisha  Kikuyu Secondary School. Kwa bahati mbaya, wanachama wa TANU waliokuwa wanainukia na chama pale mjini Dodoma waliwaona Hassan Suleiman na Ali Ponda kama wasaliti kutokana na kutokushirikiana na wenzao katika kuanzisha TANU.

Wakati ametatizwa na tatizo la uchaguzi wa TANU, Taratibu alijulishwa na makao makuu kuwa makamo wa rais, John Rupia, atapita Dodoma kwa gari moshi akiwa njiani kwenda Tabora kushughulikia mambo ya chama. Gari moshi liliposimama Dodoma Rupia alishangazwa kuona kundi la wananchama wa TANU wakimsubiri katika kituo cha gari moshi wakimtaka avunje safari waende mjini kujadili na kutatua tatizo la uchaguzi. Rupia aliwaeleza wanachama wa TANU wa Dodoma kuwa  yeye hakuwa na idhini kutoka makao makuu kufanya shughuli yoyote ya chama mjini Dodoma. Wanachama wa TANU hawakutaka kusikia lolote na walimwambia Rupia kuwa wamechoshwa na makao makuu kwa kushindwa kwake kutoa uamuzi wa tatizo la uchaguzi. Mizigo ya Rupia ilishushwa chini kutoka kwenye gari moshi na Rupia akawa hana khiyari isipokuwa kuwafuata wale wanachama wa TANU hadi mjini.

Ghafla mji mzima ukavuma tetesi kuwa makamu wa rais wa TANU, John Rupia, yupo mjini kufungua tawi la TANU. Rupia alimwita Hassan Suleimna na akamtaka alete hati ya tasjili ya TANU Hindu Mandal siku inayofuata, mahali ambako mkutano utafanyika. Hassan Suleiman hakutokea mkutanoni lakini alimtuma mtu apeleke ile hati. Ali Ponda alihudhuria mkutano ule. Rupia alikuwa mwenyekiti wa mkutano na TANU ikafanya uchaguzi wake wa kwanza.  Alexander Kanyamara alichaguliwa Rais; Haruna Taratibu Makamu wa Rais, Abdu Mohamed Mwamba, Katibu na Omari Suleiman Mweka Hazina. Miongoni mwa wanachama waasisi alikuwa mwanamke mmoja wa Kimanyema, Binti Maftah Karenga; wengine walikuwa Bakari Yenga, Maalim Khalfan, mwanachuoni wa Kiislamu aliyekuwa akiheshimiwa sana pale mjini, Idd Waziri na Said Suleiman. Wale wasomi  wa Makerere  hata mmoja hakujitokeza kwenye mkutano huu wa kuasisi TANU. Ali Ponda, mwanasiasa mkongwe alipuuzwa na hakuchaguliwa kushika wadhifa wowote. Walipoona hawakupewa wadhifa wowote katika TANU, Ali Ponda na Hassan Suleiman walijiunga na UTP kuipinga TANU.

Baada ya uchaguzi huo, wale mafundi cherahani wawili, Abdu Mohamed Mkamba na Omari Suleiman, walianza kuhamasisha wananchi waziwazi kujiunga na TANU ili wapiganie uhuru wa Tanganyika. Tawi la TANU la Dodoma baada ya kujizatiti pale mjini, lilituma wanaharakati kuwahamasisha watu wa Kondoa ili wafungue tawi la TANU katika wilaya hiyo. Abdallah Jumbe alizipenyeza kadi za TANU na kuzipeleka kwenye wilaya hiyo kwa siri akaanza kuandikisha watu. D.C. wa Singida alikuwa jeuri sana kiasi kwamba ni baada ya Mkutano Mkuu wa Tabora wa mwaka 1958 ndipo Abdallah Jumbe aliweza kufanikiwa kufungua tawi mjini Singida. Wakati huo TANU ilikuwa na nguvu sana ikiwa na wajumbe wake katka Baraza la Kutunga Sheria. Kwa ajili hii hakuna Mzungu aliyethubutu kuwa fedhuli kwa TANU na kuwabughudhi wanachama wake.

Hii kwa muhtasari ndiyo historia ya marehemu Omar Suleiman na wenzake waliopigania uhuru wa Tanganyika historia ambayo si wengi wanaifahamu na kwa ajili hii ikawa imepotea hata historia ya wazalendo wengine aliokuwanao bega kwa bega katika kuitafutia Tanganyika heshima yake. Mungu ailaze roho ya Mzee Omar Suleiman mahali pema peponi.

12 Februari 2012