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Sarakikya Pension: SunCit Jun19 (SNT June 12, 2011).
By Karl Lyimo
'Pension' is becoming a serious issue in Tanzania, a country where, we're told, 'Binadamu Wote ni Sawa, na Afrika ni Moja:' All Men (and women) are equal; and Africa is one in unity!
I'm told this is (was?) the credo of the Independence political party TANU (Tanganyika African National Union: 1954-77). What happened to TANU, we all know... It was slaughtered on the altar of political expedience (more like political machination), together with the Zanzibar Afro-Shirazi Party, to form the revolutionary party CCM.
But, that's a tale fit to be told another day. Today's story is based on a lamentation by retired Military General Mirisho Sarakikya regarding his monthly pension of Sh50, 000 (roughly $32.5). (Mwananchi: June 8, 2011).
Taking into account that Sarakikya served his country exceedingly well – climaxing his career with top military honours as Chief of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) – then it's flummoxing that the man should be paid a mere Sh50, 000 as monthly pension. This is ostensibly in recognition of the sterling services he provided to his country!
If I remember well, Sarakikya was the first son of the soil to head the newly reconstituted TPDF, taking over from Briton Brigadier Sholto Douglas following the January 20, 1964 military mutiny.
Let me declare my interest here... I'm also a retired (very) civil servant who, like Mr Sarakikya, draws Sh50, 000 a month as pension. But, I'm no General; and still less chief of anything – to say nothing of the national Defence Forces or suchlike rarefied echelons of power, privilege, pomp and ceremony!
I knew Mr Sarakikya long before he became a national hero. We attended the same alma mater in the late 1950s – Old Moshi Secondary, under J G Gray as headmaster. At that time, the man was known as Sam Hagai... And he had already shown exceptional leadership qualities then, rising to school head prefect in due course of time. He also was an excellent athlete, a good soccer player and, all in all, a highly inspirational leader.
In the event, I wasn't taken aback at all to learn that he had not only joined the Army, but had eventually risen to the top of the military establishment. He, of course, also served stints as an elected Member of Parliament (Arumeru Constituency), government minister, and ambassador (Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya).
What/where is the rationale for paying the fellow mere peanuts, Sh50, 000 a month, in a country where other citizens who weren't as distinguished as Sarakikya is – and never will be; tarnished, yes! – who count $1m in their dubious offshore bank account as 'Vijisenti,' small change?
In those early heady days before corruption and other u-Fisadi acquired currency in Tanzania, public/civil servants were a personification of all that's pure and simple; clean as the legendary desk sergeant's whistle.
Alas, that's no longer the case today, beginning with the 7th Republican Government of President Benjamin Mkapa (1995-2005). Tanzania has become a stinking morass of sleaze, scams, segregationist practices, police brutality, the lot! More is the pity...
Another pitiful case of infinitesimal pension is/was the former chief secretary of government, Timothy Apiyo, who was/is reportedly living in dire circumstances. But, after his case was reported in the press several times, some top folk from State House ingratiatingly called upon him – and Apiyo's woes seem to have dissolved into thin air.
What miraculous intervention took place here? Can that be repeated for the other pensioners labouring under the Sh50, 000-per-month cruel joke?
I've recommended this elsewhere before... Dar should seriously consider linking pensions to the statutory minimum salary to minimise discriminatory anomalies. Cheers!
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