YEAR ENDER 2025: Nation lost big names

DAR ES SALAAM: THE year 2025 will be remembered in the country as a season of repeated farewells, marked by the loss of leaders, thinkers and artists whose lives shaped public discourse and national identity.

From the corridors of diplomacy and Parliament to radio studios, theatres and church pulpits, death visited spaces long animated by familiar voices and steady leadership, leaving the nation in collective reflection.

The country entered a sombre mood in late March following the death of Ambassador Juma Mwapachu, who passed away on March 28 in Dar es Salaam after a long illness.

A respected diplomat and former Secretary-General of the East African Community, Mwapachu’s career spanned decades of public service at both national and regional levels.

He served Tanzania and the wider East African region with integrity, wisdom and dedication, earning respect across political and institutional divides.

Less than a month later, grief extended beyond Tanzania’s borders with the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Although a global religious figure, his passing resonated deeply among Tanzanian Catholics and other faith communities who had closely followed his papacy.

Pope Francis, remembered for humility, compassion and advocacy for the poor, died at the age of 88 after prolonged health complications.

His life was devoted to the service of the Lord and of the Church.

April continued with loss closer to home, particularly in the creative arts. On April 15, actress Hawa Hussein Ibrahim, popularly known as Carina, died while receiving medical treatment abroad. Her performances on stage and television earned admiration for vividly bringing everyday Tanzanian stories to life.

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Days later, on April 19, Hashim Lundenga, the long-serving Miss Tanzania coordinator, passed away after suffering a stroke. Having guided the national beauty pageant for decades, his death marked the end of an era in the country’s fashion and modelling industry.

May brought the nation to a standstill with the passing of Cleopa Msuya on May 7 at the age of 94.

A former Prime Minister and Vice-President, Msuya was among Tanzania’s most senior statesmen, serving across different administrations during critical periods of nation-building and economic reform.

Widely regarded as a calm and principled leader, he served the nation faithfully at defining moments in its history.

The same month, the music fraternity mourned veteran guitarist Omar Seseme, who died on May 12 after a prolonged illness.

Known for his instrumental mastery and mentorship of younger musicians, Seseme’s influence was felt quietly but deeply across Tanzania’s music scene.

June added to the nation’s sorrow with the death of veteran actor Raidanus Vitalis, widely known as Kitundu, on June 24.

A familiar face in popular television dramas, his humour and expressive performances endeared him to audiences for years, making his absence keenly felt among fans and colleagues.

In August, Tanzania lost a towering parliamentary figure when former Speaker of the National Assembly Job Yustino Ndugai died on August 6 in Dodoma after a short illness.

His tenure placed him at the centre of legislative life during a defining political period.

He devoted his life to public service and the strengthening of parliamentary democracy.

September brought sorrow to the Catholic Church in Tanzania and beyond with the death of Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa on September 16 in Rome.

A son of Bukoba and a seasoned diplomat of the Holy See, Archbishop Rugambwa served the Vatican in several countries before succumbing to illness.

His death prompted nationwide prayers and a large farewell after his body was returned home.

As the year progressed, the media and entertainment world continued to feel the weight of loss. On November 16, comedian and event host Emmanuel Mathias, popularly known as MC Pilipili, died in Dodoma.

Known for his energetic stage presence and quick wit, he had become a familiar figure at public events, radio programmes and national celebrations, making his passing particularly painful for the media fraternity.

December, a month usually associated with celebration and closure, arrived with renewed grief. On December 11, Jenista Mhagama, a long-serving Member of Parliament and former Cabinet minister, died at the age of 58.Her political career was marked by resilience, outspoken leadership and dedication to public service, particularly in social development sectors.

She was widely remembered as courageous, humble and steadfast.

By the end of 2025, Tanzania had lost not only politicians and diplomats, but also artists, broadcasters and entertainers whose work had accompanied citizens in their daily lives. The passing of media personalities, whose voices entered homes through radios, televisions and public stages, underscored how closely their lives were woven into the national fabric.

As the country turns toward a new year, the memory of those lost in 2025 remains etched in the institutions they strengthened, the stories they told and the lives they touched. Their journeys may have ended, but their legacies continue to speak, quietly yet firmly, in the ongoing story of the nation.