From Goatherd to Governor, Edwin Mtei's Autobiography

[epigenetics]

Heko kwa Mh. Mtei kwa kuandika kitabu hiki.

​

From Goatherd to Governor is Edwin Mtei's autobiography. Its a a story of the journey a few Africans of his generation made, from humble begininings to heights of success and power. Mr. Mtei was the first Governor of the Bank of Tanzania and the architect of Central Banking in Tanzania, Secretary General of the East African Community and Minister of Finance in Nyerere's Government.

Born in 1932 in Marangu, Moshi, he was brought up in a grass-thatched conical hut by his mother, a single parent; he attended 'bush' school at Ngaruma Lutheran Parish Church, and herded goats after lessons finished; he attended Old Moshi Middle and Tabora Secondary Schools and went to the Makerere University College in 1953. He graduated from there with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, History and Geography in 1957.

In his own words he states: "I have felt it worthwhile starting right at the beginning of my life. In this way, I aim to give some idea as to what it was like growing up in my birthplace, Marangu, in the tribal and colonial environment of Tanganyika in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. I touch on some of the traditions and beliefs of those days and on some colonial laws that impacted on our lives and surroundings"

But as he himself states: "The most interesting part of my story is that relating to the events when I held senior positions in Nyerere's Government, and in the public service generally." That includes his falling out with Mwalimu Nyerere over IMF and its polices, and his resignation from his past as Minister of Finance. For the first time he tells his side of that story.

In 1992 Mr. Mtei threw himself deep into the waters of multiparty politics. He founded Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) - the Party for Democracy and Development - and worked tirelessly to see it grow and emerge as an important party in the oppositions, despite his own failure to win the parliamentary seat for Arusha Urban in the 1995 election.

Even at 77 Mr. Mtei does not mince his words. He says what he believes and says it with courage and conviction. This is history, spanning well over half a century, written by someone who was involved in and who observed closely the key events of this time. He is retired and works on his far Ogaden Estate, but still manages to ruffle feathers whenever he is asked to comment on the economy and politics of Tanzania and East Africa.

 

[Josh Michael]

I will find one copy.. Je anazungumzia masuala ya uchumi pekee yake au na social affairs mengine, na pia kwa kuwa huyu jamaa ndiye anaweza kuona na kutoa mawazo yalio huru kweli kweli, Karibuni vyuo vyetu waweze kuvitumia na kuongeza maarifa yao

 

[Gongagonga]

Chadema mna kazi kubwa mwaka huu

 

[Kilasara]

Nimesoma kwa haraka kitabu hiki cha Mzee Mtei na maisha yake tangu utotoni. Ametoa Assessment ya Enzi ya Mwalimu Nyerere hasa katika Chapter 18. Hii ni sura inayokifanya kitabu kiwe muhimu kwa wana-zuoni.

Nashauri Mhe. Mtei aruhusu kitabu hiki kitafsiriwe kwa Kiswahili ili Watanzania wengi zaidi waweze kuona maisha na maoni ya mwana-mageuzi wa enzi zake.

 

[Masatu]

Chadema mna kazi kubwa mwaka huu

Umenena mkuu hapo

 

[Zakumi]

Hivi kitabu kama hiki kinahamasisha nini? Wakati wa utoto wake, profession ya kijana yoyote ilikuwa kuchunga mbuzi. Hivyo katika kundi wachunga mbuzi, ukitaka kumpata gavana ni lazima atatoka kwenye kundi la wachunga mbuzi. Hakuna kitu cha kushangaza hapa.

Lakini angekuwa ametoka kwenye kuchunga mbuzi wakati vijana wengi wakiwa wanatoka kwenye familia za well to do, tungeona kuwa alifanya juhudi.

 

[S. S. Phares]

Hivi kitabu kama hiki kinahamasisha nini? Wakati wa utoto wake, profession ya kijana yoyote ilikuwa kuchunga mbuzi. Hivyo katika kundi wachunga mbuzi, ukitaka kumpata gavana ni lazima atatoka kwenye kundi la wachunga mbuzi. Hakuna kitu cha kushangaza hapa.

Lakini angekuwa ametoka kwenye kuchunga mbuzi wakati vijana wengi wakiwa wanatoka kwenye familia za well to do, tungeona kuwa alifanya juhudi.

Ni wachunga mbuzi wangapi unaowajua wewe wamefikia mafanikio ya Mzee Mtei?

Lengo sio kutafuta cha ajabu au miujiza aliyofanya Mzee Mtei, bali ni kuhadithia njia alizopita; aliyojifunza, aliyokosea, aliyofanikisha na ushauri wake kwa wachunga mbuzi wa leo.

Hilo kwako halitoshi..!!??

 

[Hukumuzuku]

The title may appear misleading as many normally associate the term "governor" as head of a territorial entity (i.e., a state or a province) and not so much as CEO of Central Bank.

 

[Bulesi]

Afadhali Mzee Mtei kaandika ukweli wake juu ya maisha yake; sasa tunangojea kitabu cha BWM tuone kama atakuwa mkweli kwa nafsi yake na kuanika uozo uliotokea wakati wa urais wake!!

 

[Semilong]

The title may appear misleading as many normally associate the term "governor" as head of a territorial entity (i.e., a state or a province) and not so much as CEO of Central Bank.

the tittle may be misleading if you live in the us and other countries which use state sytem. for those of us who lives in TZ,UK and other african countries the governer is the CEO of central bank

 

[Junius]

Nimpongeze Mzee Mtei kwa kazi hii na niwapongeze Mkuki na Nyota kwa kuthamini kazi za wazalendo.

Kwakweli, Mzee Mtei si tu ameandika kitabu bali kwangu mimi naona kama ni wosia kwa kizazi hiki cha sasa na kijacho kuishi na kuamini kuwa, mtoto wa Mkulima na mfugaji anaweza kupiga hatua za kimaendeleo si kwa lolote bali elimu ambayo itamvusha kutoka maisha ya aina moja, kama "kuchunga mbuzi" na kuelekea hatua mpya ya kimaendeleo katika maisha...kama "ugavana".

Kadhalika ni changamoto kwa watunga sera,wapangaji maendeleo, asasi za kiserikali na kiraia...kuona kuwa kuna kuondokana na umasikini katika jamii zetu ni kwa kuwapatia elimu bora watoto wa masikini na kuwatoa vichakani (ujingani),kuanzia hapo taifa linaweza kupiga hatua likiwa na watu wasomi na wazalendo kama akina Mzee Mtei.

 

[Waberoya]

Hawa jamaa ku-excel in those days was easy, taabu ni kipindi cha sasa, wakati elimu mbovu, wazazi kipato hawana, serikali hawatoi mikopo, wawekezaji wanataka wanaojua kiingereza vizuri, wakati watu wanasoma shule za manzese kwa mfuga mbwa.

Mtei nafurahi kipindi hicho alikuwa na misimamo mpaka akagombana na JK Nyerere, same Mtei akaanzisha chama, na juzi anakuja kuibaka demokrasia hivi hivi bila sababu za msingi.

Mtei anasema CCM walipenyeza fedha pasi kuwataja ni akina nani waliopokea fedha.

You know chachu kidogo huchachua donge zima!

 

[Mkaguzi]

Ha
Mtei nafurahi kipindi hicho alikuwa na misimamo mpaka akagombana na JK Nyerere, same Mtei akaanzisha chama, na juzi anakuja kuibaka demokrasia hivi hivi bila sababu za msingi.

Mtei anasema CCM walipenyeza fedha pasi kuwataja ni akina nani waliopokea fedha.

You know chachu kidogo huchachua donge zima!

Just learn to apreciate even once! Changamoto aloleta huyu mzee kwenye demokrasia yetu c ya kubeza!wacha kuvunja ukuta kwa mlango kupauka rangi!

 

[MkamaP]

Just learn to apreciate even once! Changamoto aloleta huyu mzee kwenye demokrasia yetu c ya kubeza!wacha kuvunja ukuta kwa mlango kupauka rangi!

changamoto gani? ya kubaka demokrasia Heri hta mapalala watu walijiita akina mapalala

 

[alles]

Kitendo cha Mtei kutoka na autobiography ni cha kupongezwa sana sana!our national history ilikua inapotea kwa viongozi wetu wa kitaifa wa zamani kutotoa historia ya maisha yao na misimamo yao enzi izo ilikuaje. Mpaka wafe ndio tunapata brief histoy.Matokeo yake wakifa wanakufa na national history.

Wengine wafuate..mfano mzee Kingunge Ngombare Mwiru(pamoja na ukinyonga wake) lakini ana historia ya TZ na serikali kwa ujumla kuanzia 1960'S.Wasiwasi wangu akifika bila kuacha serious Autobiography ataondoka na historia ya taifa letu.Naomba kutoa hoja.

 

[Ndahani]

Nafikiri ni wazo la kuungwa mkono kuweka katika maandishi historia yake kwa manufaa ya vizazi vijavyo vya nchi yetu. Bado naamini kuna wengi waliotoa mchango positive na negative lakini hatujui chochote kwasababu hakuna initiative ya kuandika nini public figures wanafanya.

Tukumbuke, reference nyingi hata za nchi zilizoendelea sasa zinafanyika kwa kuangalia pia na wale waliopita nyuma walifanya nini. Namna bora ya kuwezesha reference hizo kufanyika ni kuandika vitabu.

Na kubwa pia ni kuimarisha maktaba zetu ili watu wengi zaidi waweze kujisomea vitabu hivyo. Tukumbuke elimu ni muhimu sana na uchawi wote wa mambo yanayoendelea leo duniani uko kwenye vitabu. Tusiache kuvisoma.

 

[Gaijin]

nampongeza kwa kuzindua kitabu cha historia yake......
laiti ingelikuwa watanzania wengi tuna hulka ya kuandika vitabu, basi na hulka ya kupenda kusoma vitabu pia ingesambaa.

unaweza kupinga content iliyomo kama hukubaliani nayo, lakini ni better kuandikwa kwanza kwa uchambuzi

 

[Mponjoli]

Hawa jamaa ku-excel in those days was easy, taabu ni kipindi cha sasa, wakati elimu mbovu, wazazi kipato hawana, serikali hawatoi mikopo, wawekezaji wanataka wanaojua kiingereza vizuri, wakati watu wanasoma shule za manzese kwa mfuga mbwa.

Mtei nafurahi kipindi hicho alikuwa na misimamo mpaka akagombana na JK Nyerere, same Mtei akaanzisha chama, na juzi anakuja kuibaka demokrasia hivi hivi bila sababu za msingi.

Mtei anasema CCM walipenyeza fedha pasi kuwataja ni akina nani waliopokea fedha.

You know chachu kidogo huchachua donge zima!

Ku excel zamani au sasa hakuna kipindi iliwahi kuwa rahisi,acha uvivu na visingizio,piga kazi tafuta pesa.

Wapo waliosoma manzese kwa mfuga mbwa na ngeli wanaichapa vizuri tu,tatizo wewe ulikuwa unaona soo kuongea kiingereza kwa kuogopa utakosea na kuchekwa ndiyo maana hujui.

Wabongo tuache haya mambo ya visingizio,elimu hii hii unayoiona mbovu kuna watu wanatoka na wanakamata position nzuri tu na hawajasoma international wala hawajawahi hata kwenda ulaya before kupata elimu "bora".

Kiingereza hata ukiamua serious sasa hivi kujifunza in one year time utakuwa mbali sana. Acha visingizio, komaa utafika tu. Naweza kukupa mifano ya watu waliosoma St. Kanumba na wana position nzuri ambazo wamepata bila upendeleo.

Tatizo letu wabongo tunapenda visingizio wakati uzembe ni wetu wenyewe. Kipindi kile secondary tunavalishwa kibao shingoni ukiongea kiswahili tulikuwa tunaona kama upuuzi. Walimu walikuwa wanajua kiswahili cha kuongea na kiingereza cha kuandika tunajua kiasi,ila walitaka tujue kiingereza cha kuongea pia ambacho tunakijua kwa practice.

 

[kanda2]

Huyu mzee hakuwa gavana kwa merit bali alibebwa na nyerere ndio maana uchumi ukafa.kwenye hicho kitabu kaeleza alivymzuia zitto kabwe ili mwanawe awe mwenyekiti?

Ni kitabu cha kikabila zaidi kuliko utanzania.ndio maana mengi amepewa nafasi kubwa.huyu mzee anatapata tu

 

[WildCard]

Mzee Mtei aliondoka kwenye utumishi wa umma bila doa. Tunampongeza sana kwa kuyahimili mashinikizo ya ndugu, jamaa, marafiki na hususan kabila lake.