TZ weeps as the silent giant Kitine bows out

TANZANIA: TANZANIA is in mourning following the passing of Dr Hassy Kitine, a distinguished son of the soil whose legacy spans military service, national security, politics and intellectual engagement. He breathed his last on Friday.

A man of steadfast principles, sharp intellect, and unyielding patriotism, Dr Kitine embodied the spirit of the post-independence generation, those who not only dreamt of a liberated Africa but labored to make it real.

His death marks the end of an era. With his departure, Tanzania has lost a rare statesman. He lived with quiet dignity, served with unmatched commitment and stood firm against the moral erosion whenever he sensed it.

A man of unwavering principles, unflinching patriotism, and deep intellect, Dr Kitine leaves behind a legacy rooted in integrity, liberation, and loyalty to the ideals of the late Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

Born in 1943 in Kisinga Village, nestled within the Lupalilo Ward of Makete District, Dr Kitine’s journey began under the shadow of personal loss. After the death of his father in 1948, he was carried quite literally by his grandmother from Makete to Tukuyu, where he would begin formal schooling at Rungwe Primary School in 1950.

Unlike many who were renamed in school, his name Hassy was a pure Kinga name, bestowed by his grandmother, and worn with pride throughout his life.

He was a bright student, moving from Ndembela Middle School to Malangali Secondary, where he completed his education in the very year of independence in 1961.

He went on to study at Tabora Boys, a breeding ground for future national leaders, before securing admission to the University of Dar es Salaam in 1964, where he pursued Economics.

Even as a student, Kitine demonstrated both courage and conscience. Alongside peers like the former Cabinet Minister and Speaker of National Assembly, the late Samuel Sitta, he took part in early protests at the University, which earned him a temporary expulsion, but also cemented his reputation as a principled, outspoken young intellectual.

His academic path led to the classroom, briefly teaching Economics at Ihungo Secondary School in Bukoba. He later joined National Service (JKT) in 1969, where his talents were quickly spotted. While most recruits returned to civilian life, he was among ten exceptional graduates retained and eventually encouraged to join the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF).

After officer training at Mgulani, he was sent to the United Kingdom for rigorous military schooling. Upon his return in 1971, he was deployed to Nachingwea as a Lieutenant and platoon commander, actively participating in military support for FRELIMO during the Mozambican liberation struggle.

Dr Kitine didn’t just talk about Pan-Africanism, he lived it, with boots on the ground.

Recognizing the importance of building an ideologically grounded military, the government assigned Dr Kitine to help establish the Officer Cadet School (OCS) at Kurasini in Dar es Salaam, which would later become the prestigious Monduli Military Academy.

Here, he was more than a military instructor, he was a mentor and ideologue, shaping young minds in the principles of national unity, discipline and African liberation.

By 1974, in a surprise move reflecting great trust, President Nyerere appointed him Commandant of the Monduli Academy. He was still only a Major, far below the customary rank for the post, but it marked yet another chapter in Kitine’s ascent, not through politics, but through merit.

Then came one of the most significant appointments of his career: in 1976, he was made Director General of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS). It was a role that demanded absolute discretion, analytical sharpness and ideological clarity, all of which Kitine brought in abundance. His tenure marked a golden age of professionalism and purpose in Tanzania’s intelligence community.

Dr Kitine’s influence reached far beyond Tanzania’s borders. As a key advisor to liberation movements across Africa, he helped support SWAPO (Namibia), ZANU (Zimbabwe), FRELIMO (Mozambique), ANC (South Africa) and others in Seychelles, Guinea-Bissau and Comoros.

He interacted directly with continental icons such as Yoweri Museveni, Samora Machel, Sam Nujoma, Kenneth Kaunda, and José Eduardo dos Santos, all thanks to introductions and trust established by Mwalimu Nyerere.

One of his proudest assertions was that Tanzania not only hosted freedom fighters but trained them, armed them and protected their cause, even when it came at great risk.

Family members confirmed yesterday that Dr Kitine passed away peacefully in Dar es Salaam on Friday after a period of illness. Dr Kitine is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.