Following the death of Tanzania’s renown diplomat and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Bernard Membe, the fourth phase President Jakaya Kikwete has written an open letter to Mama Dorcas Membe, the widow of the former.
The following is a literal translation of Kikwete’s letter to Mama Dorcas.
Mama Dorcas Membe,
Greetings!
I have received with great shock the news of the death of honorable Bernard Kamilius Membe. I have known him for the past many years, we came a long way, we have supported each other. Our families and life dynamics related a lot.
Bernard Membe was a person of great help to me in both my career and political lives. I trusted him in all the positions he served in my cabinet. He was once a deputy minister in the ministry of Home Affairs and then at the Ministry of Energy. Additionally, he had also been the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation for nine years where he did a great job of promoting Tanzania’s interests in the international arena.
I recognise his great contribution in the Chama cha Mapinduzi when he was a member of the party’s National Executive Committee [NEC], member of Central Committee [CC] and Secretary for Political Affairs and International Relations at Secretariat of National Executive Committee. In those positions he devoted himself and left a lasting mark.
I recognize the Honorable Membe as a competent diplomat, strategist, good scholar, God-Fearing man, patriotic, hard worker and brave-who didn’t fear to speak or stand up for what he believed. Truly, the nation has lost one of its very important people.
I convey my condolences to you my in-law, Dorcas Membe and to your children Cecilia, Richard and Dennis as well as grandchildren, relatives and close friends to Benard Kamilius Membe. I am so sorry for this great loss, but I like to promise that you are not lonely. I and my wife, Salma, and all our family members, are with you in this grieving period. I pray that God gives you endurance and patience in this difficult moment you are going through.
Let us always remember, ‘we are His and to Him we shall return.’ The Lord has given and the Lord has taken, may his name be glorified. Let us pray that our beloved rests in peace and his soul be at the better place in heaven. Amen.
Translated by Esther Takwa, revised by Sauli Giliard
