Ipi Historia ya Kweli ya TANU? Sura ya Nne na ya Mwisho

[Mohamed Said]

UTANGULIZI
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Nimeweka historia nne za kuasisiwa kwa chama cha TANU.

Kuna historia ya TANU inayoanza na Mwalimu Julius Nyerere akiunda TANU ndani ya Misheni ya Kanisa Katoliki Tosamaganga, Iringa.

Kuna historia ya TANU ya Mwalimu Nyerere kufuatwa Francis College Pugu alipokuwa akifundisha aje mjini Dar es Salaam kuunda TANU.

Kuna historia ya TANU ya Mwalimu Julius Nyerere kuunda TANU Mwananyamala nyumbani kwa Mzee Mwinjuma Mwinyikambi.

Kuna historia ya TANU inayoanza nyumbani kwa Hamza Mwapachu, Nansio Ukerewe mwaka wa 1953 kwa mazungumzo kati yake na Abdul Sykes na Ali Mwinyi Tambwe kujadiliana na kukubaliana kumwingiza Julius Nyerere katika nafasi ya juu kabisa katika TAA na baada ya kufanikiwa katika hilo TANU iundwe mwaka unaofuatia 1954 na Mwalimu Nyerere aongoze harakati za kudai uhuru wa Tanganyika.

Historia hii inaelezwa kwa wakati tofauti na Juma Mwapachu mtoto wa Hamza Mwapachu (1913 - 1962) na Aisha ''Daisy'' Sykes mtoto wa Abdul Sykes (1924 - 1968).

Juma Mwapachu anaeleza:

''I still recall the visit vividly.

I was a standard three pupil then and together with my brother Bakari had to sleep in the sitting room leaving our bedroom to the two guests.

Abdul Sykes was then President of TAA and the TAA leadership plus Dar-based political activists who were predominantly Moslems wanted Abdul Sykes to retain the Presidency.

Abdul was eager to secure Hamza's position on the matter given the fact that it was Hamza who introduced Nyerere to the TAA leadership in Dar back in 1949 before Nyerere left for Edinburgh University, Scotland.''

Juma Mwapachu anasema hivi:

''Bado nakumbuka kwa uyakinifu.

Nilikuwa mwanafunzi wa darasa la tatu na pamoja na kaka yangu Bakari tulilala sebuleni kuwachia chumba chetu wageni wawili, Abdul Sykes na Ali Mwinyi Tambwe.

Abdulwahidi alikuwa Rais wa TAA na uongozi wa TAA pamoja na wanaharakati wa siasa wengi wao wakiwa waislam walitaka Abdul Sykes abaki kuwa Rais.

Abdulwahid alikuwa tayari kumuafiki Hamza katika suala hilo katika ukweli kuwa ni Hamza ndiye aliyemtambulisha Nyerere kwa uongozi wa TAA Dar es Salaam mwaka 1949 kabla Nyerere hajaondoka kwenda Chuo Kikuu Edinburgh, Uskochi.''

Aisha ''Daisy'' Sykes anaeleza:

''...the open door policy prevailed at our home.

Which is how we always had visitors of all races, caliber and background.

But what has really stayed within my memory was frequent arrival of the leadership echelons of the pre-independence era, the tribal chiefs and the leaders of the budding nationalist movements, trade unions and other government staff.

Hence, courtesy to my father’s fame and hospitality, I grew up to be no stranger to the famous tribal chiefs and royalty as I greeted and attended to the dignitaries who came home regularly.

Such high profile frequent guests included Mangi Mkuu Thomas Mareale, Chiefs Abdiel Shangali, John Maruma from Moshi, Adam Sapi Mkwawa from Iringa, Kidaha Makwaiya from Usukuma, Abdallah Fundikira, Harun Lugusha from Tabora, Humbi Ziota from Nzega, Michael Lukumbuzya from Ukerewe and Patrick Kunambi from Morogoro among others.

They were normally accompanied by their very dignified looking wives who never ceased to mesmerize me.

I remember among the chiefs, was the one and only woman Chief Mwami Ntare from Kasulu Kibondo.

In this unlikely manner, as children, we gained awareness about the demography, tribal languages and culture of the myriad of tribes and people of Tanganyika, way before most other people from the coastal region knew about.

I was also most privileged to meet at this time the growing class of African civil servants, the elite who were distinguished by their education in Makerere College and other institutions.

These were the nucleus among the new breed of educated Tanganyikans in galvanizing political awareness and freedom.

Most memorable to me were great men such as Hamza Mwapachu, Zuberi Mtemvu, Mzee John Rupia, Steven Mhando, Dunstan Omari, Uncle Dossa Aziz to name but a few.

There were also the elite from Zanzibar like Uncle Ahmed Rashad Ali and Abdul Wadood who were a constant feature in the family.

But I could never forget Uncle Maloo, a Baluchi from Easterm Congo who enjoyed Dad's hospitality for so long that we believed he was one of the Sykes.

Top most in my mind as a child was Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and through him we got to know for the first time of the existence of a tribe called Zanaki.

His home coming was always an event and there would be silent murmurs of “Mwalimu is coming or has arrived,” For me that signaled my main task as I was always asked to make breakfast of tea and eggs whenever he arrived from St Francis Secondary School in Pugu where he taught.

I in fact have a more or less vivid childish memory of him actually taking up temporary residence at our Stanley St. home after he resigned from St. Francis, while his committed friends, that is Baba and Uncle Dossa, were looking for a place for him to stay.

Our house at Stanley being a corner house had a unique design for those times.

The main house with several rooms was on the Stanley side and the Sikukuu side was a kind of studio cum apartment with just the sitting room and an open plan bedroom.

So although it was sizeable, it was difficult for two male adults to share.

I believe, my Uncle Abbas who was the regular occupant of this premises would have had to move to Kipata, our other home, or squeeze in on the main house, so that Mwalimu could be comfortable and have privacy.

Of all the regular visitors, Mwalimu Nyerere and Uncle Hamza Mwapachu were highly impressionable to me because of the way they pronounced my nick name, ''Daisy,'' with an Anglicized twist, making it a permanent name for me, even lagging behind my official name Aisha.

As a child I also remember how diligently Baba was preoccupied about the welfare of Mama Maria and her kids, making sure that enough cooked food was delivered to her daily at her little shop in Livingstone/ Mchikichi, a mark of extreme kindness and generosity.

It was also during this formative period in my life that I met the budding women nationalist leaders such as Bi Lucy Lameck from Moshi, Mary Ibrahim and the Moslem women such as Bibi Titi Mohamed, Bi. Tatu biti Mzee, Bi. Hawa biti Maftaha from Dar es Salaam, who all passed as my grannies.

Interestingly, these Moslem women were drawn in by Bibi Chiku biti Kisusa, populary known to us as Mama Sakina.

It was Mama Sakina who introduced these famous Moslem women mentioned above.

Baba was very central to this strategy because without his encouragement and influence, it is unlikely that these women could have been drawn into the mass mobilization of Moslem women to become prominent at political rallies, singing and shouting out nationalist slogans.

This was knew in the culture, a trend that was at the time totally unexpected and untypical for Moslem women.

I overheard numerous discussions when my Dad and his colleagues discussed the names and occasions for which these women were to be brought in to build the political momentum.

I also remember vividly how Baba who was very close to Mwalim Sakina and her sister Mwalim Fatna (both daughters of Mama Sakina), brought them close to Mama Maria and who introduced Mama Maria Nyerere to their Mother and her friends (Bi Hawa Maftaha, Bibi Titi and Bi Tatu biti Mzee).

It turned out that it was these women who then helped Mama Maria to set up a small shop on Livingstone/Mchikichi Street and where she spent most of her daytime.

As a kid I remember visiting this little shop regularly to deliver lunch to Mama Maria, which was not far from our home in Stanley /Sukukuu Street.

With Baba fully committed to this routine, he made sure the delivery was on time, a matter which at times vexed our mother...''

''...nyumbani kwetu milango ilikuwa wazi siku zote kwa wageni.

Hivi ndivyo tulivyokuwa na wageni kutoka kila kabila, uwezo na hali tofauti.

Lakini kile ambacho kimeathiri fikra zangu na kubakia na mimi katika kumbukumbu zangu ni kufika pale nyumbani kwa uongozi wa juu wa Waafrika kabla ya uhuru, machifu kutoka makabila mbalimbali ya Tanganyika na viongozi wa vyama vya wazalendo vilivyokuwa ndiyo vinainukia, viongozi wa vyama vya wafanyakazi na wafanyakazi Waafrika katika wa serikali ya kikoloni.

Kutokana na hadhi hii ya baba yangu na umaarufu wake na kule kupenda kukirimu watu, nikawa si mgeni kwa machifu mashuhuri na nikawa nawahudumia walipokuwa mara nyingi wakija nyumbani. Wageni hawa mashuhuri waliokuwa wakija nyumbani ni pamoja na Mangi Mkuu Thomas Marealle, Machifu Abdiel Shangali, John Maruma kutoka Moshi, Adam Sapi Mkwawa kutoka Iringa, Kidaha Makwaia kutoka Usukuma, Abdallah Fundikira, Harun Lugusha kutoka Tabora, Humbi Ziota kutoka Nzega, Michael Lukumbuzya kutoka Ukerewe na Patrick Kunambi kutoka Morogoro na wengine wengi.

Hawa machifu kwa kawaida walikuwa wakija na wake zao, wanawake warembo ambao hawakuacha kunifanya mimi kuwashangalia.

Nakumbuka katika machifu wale, alikuwapo chifu mmoja na wa pekee mwanamke - Mwami Theresa Ntare kutoka Kasulu Kibondo.

Katika hali kama hii iliyokuwa tabu kufahamika, tukiwa watoto tulipata kujua maisha ya jamii nyingine, lugha zao, utamaduni wa makabila mengi ya Tanganyika kabla ya watu wengi kutoka sehemu nyingine za pwani hawajajua chochote kuhusu watu hawa.

Nilibahatika kukutana na katika utoto wangu na lile tabaka la Waafrika waliokuwa watumishi wa serikali, kundi dogo makhsusi lililokuwa linakua na liliopembuka kwa elimu zao kutoka Chuo cha Makerere, Uganda na vyuo vingine.

Hiki ndicho kilikuwa kizazi kipya cha Watanganyika wasomi waliohusika na kuasisi siasa fikra ya uhuru itakayopelekea Waafrika kujitawala - Hamza Mwapachu, Zuberi Mtemvu, Mzee John Rupia, Steven Mhando, Dunstan Omari, Dossa Aziz kwa kuwataja wachache.

Kulikuwa pia na tabaka jingine la watu maarufu kutoka Zanzibar kama Ahmed Rashad Ali and Abdul Razak Abdul Wadud ambao walikuwa kama sehemu ya familia yetu.

Siwezi kumsahau Maloo, Mburushi kutoka Congo ya Mashariki ambae alikuwa anakaa nyumbani na baba kwa muda mrefu sana kiasi tuliamini ni mmoja katika familia ya Sykes.

Lakini aliyeshika nafasi ya juu kabisa katika fikra zangu nikiwa mtoto alikuwa Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, na ni kupitia kwake ndipo tukapata kujua kwa mara ya kwanza kuwa kuna kabila linaitwa, ‘’Wazanaki.’’

Kila alipokuwa anakuja nyumbani kwetu kuja kwake kulikuwa jambo maalum kulikosababisha minong’ono watu wakizungumza kwa sauti za chini wakipeana taarifa kuwa, ‘’Nyerere anakuja au keshafika.”

Kwangu mimi hii ilikuwa ishara ya kutimiza kazi yangu kwani siku zote nilikuwa nikiambiwa kutengeneza kifungua kinywa cha chai na mayai kila alipokuja nyumbani akitokea Shule ya Mt. Francis,Pugu alipokuwa akisomesha.

Nakumbuka katika akili yangu ya kitoto kumuona Mwalimu Nyerere akiishi nyumbani kwetu kwa muda katika nyumba yetu ya Mtaa wa Stanley baada ya kuacha kazi wakati marafiki zake wa karibu baba na Dossa Aziz walikuwa wanamtafutia nyumba ya kuishi.

Nyumba yetu ya Stanley kwa kuwa ilikuwa kwenye makutano ya barabara mbili ilikuwa na mjengo wa kipekee kwa nyakati zile.

Nyumba kubwa na yenye vyumba kadhaa ilikuwa upande wa Mtaa wa Stanely na upande wa Mtaa wa Sikukuu ilikuwa nyumba nyingine inayojitegemea ikiwa na sebule na chumba cha kulala hapo hapo.

Ingawa upande huu wa nyumba ilikuwa na nafasi ya kutosha ilikuwa vigumu kwa wanaume wawili wakubwa kuishi pamoja.

Naamini baba yangu Abbas ambayo sehemu ile ndiyo aliyokuwa akiishi ikabidi ahame kwenye nyumba ile aende kweye nyumba yetu nyingine Mtaa wa Kipata au ajibane nyumba kubwa ili Mwalimu Nyerere apate utulivu na faragha katika nyumba ile.

Mwalimu Nyerere na Hamza Mwapachu ni watu walionivutia sana mimi kwa kiwango cha juu kwa namna walivyokuwa wakilitamka jina langu, ‘’Daisy,’’ kwa lafidhi yenyewe ya Kiingereza kama wanavyozungumza Wazungu na hii ikalifanya jina hili langu la utani linigande na liwe ndilo jina langu halisi.

Nikiwa mtoto nakumbuka sana vipi baba akishughulishwa na kutaka kuona kuwa Mama Maria na watoto wake hawakosi chochote kuyafanya masiha yao kuwa mepesi, ya starehe na furaha akihakikisha chakula kinapelekwa dukani kwa Mama Maria kila siku katika duka lake dogo lilikuwapo Mtaa wa Livingstone kona na Mtaa wa Mchikichi, hiki kikiwa kielelezo chake kikubwa kabisa cha huruma na ukarimu wake.

Ilikuwa katika kipindi hiki cha mimi kuanza kupata akili katika kukua kwangu ndipo nilipokutana na wanawake wazalendo waliokuwa wanaochipukia katika uongozi wa Tanganyika, wanawake kama Bi. Lucy Lameck kutoka Moshi, Mary Ibrahim na akina mama wa Kiislam kama Bi. Titi Mohamed, Bi. Tatu bint Mzee, Bi. Hawa bint Maftah, hawa kutoka Dar es Salaam, wote hawa kwangu mimi walikuwa bibi zangu.

Kitu cha kufurahisha nni kuwa hawa akina mama wa Kiislam wote walivutwa katika siasa na Bibi Chiku bint Kisusa, maarufu akijulikana kama Mama Sakina.

Alikuwa Mama Sakina ndiye aliyewapa hawa wanawake wa Kiislam niliowataja hapo juu utambulisho na wakaja kuwa watu maarufu.

Baba yeye ndiye alikuwa kiongozi wa mikakati hii yote kwa sababu bila yeye kuwatia hima kwa kutumia ushawishi wake ingekuwa vigumu kuweza kuwatia hawa wanawake katika kuwahamasisha wanawake wenzao wa Kiislam na wao watoke majumbani kuja mstari wa mbele katika mikutano wakiimba na kutoa vibwagizo vya kuunga mkono TANU na kudai uhuru.

Hili jambo lilikuwa jipya, jambo ambalo katika utamaduni wetu kwa wakati ule halikutarajiwa na ni kinyume katika utamaduni wetu kwa wanawake wa Kiislam kulifanya katika siku zile.

Nimesikia mazungumzo mengi wakati baba na wenzake walipokuwa wakijadili majina na shughuli ambazo hawa akina mama walikuwa wahusishwe ili kuleta mvuto wa kisiasa katika mikutano yao ya TANU.

Nakumbuka vizuri sana jinsi baba alikvyokuwa karibu sana na Mwalimu Sakina na ndugu yake Mwalimu Fatna (wote hawa watoto wa Mama Sakina), na jinsi alivyowaleta ndugu hawa karibu na Mama Maria na hawa wakamjulisha Mama Maria Nyerere kwa mama yao na mashoga zake Bi Hawa Maftaha, Bibi Titi Mohamed na Bi Tatu binti Mzee.

Hawa wanawake ndiyo waliomsaidia Mama Maria kufungua hilo duka lake dogo pale Mtaa wa Livingstone kona na Mchikichi, mahali ambako Mama Maria alishinda kutwa nzima akiuuza duka lake.

Nikiwa mtoto nakumbuka kwenda kwenye duka lile kila siku mchana kupeleka chakula kwa Mama Maria, ambako hapakuwa mbali kutoka nyumbani kwetu.

Kwa kuwa baba alikuwa anataka ratiba hii yake ya chakula ifuatwe sawasawa kwa wakati wake, wakati mwingine hii ilikuwa changamoto kubwa sana kwa mama yetu, Bi. Mwamvua bint Mrisho.''

Hamza Mwapachu na Abdul Sykes

Juma Mwapachu na Julius Nyerere

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