Revealed: Sokoine wanted to be a monk

DAR ES SALAAM: FORMER Prime Minister, the late Edward Sokoine, had planned to become a Catholic friar after retirement, contrary to the popular belief that he would succeed former President Julius Nyerere.

Reading of a review of his biography launched in Dar es Salaam on Monday, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi revealed that information gathered from the family indicated that Sokoine had indeed aspired to become a friar in the Catholic Church and had presented this plan to Nyerere as a special request.

“He wanted to live a communal life in a monastery under a monastic rule. He divided his assets among his wives and prepared to become a monk,” said Prof Kabudi in a review of the biography prepared by the Uongozi Institute in collaboration with the Sokoine University of Agriculture.

Prof Kabudi noted that they gathered diverse opinions from former leaders regarding the widespread belief that Nyerere was grooming Sokoine as his successor.

Some interviewed leaders suggested that Nyerere had prepared multiple potential successors, while others asserted that he did not specifically groom anyone for the role.

Fifty-seven people were interviewed in the preparation of the 499-page biography.

Prof Kabudi said Sokoine’s Maasai heritage, Catholic faith and unwavering patriotism were integral parts of who he was and how he approached his leadership.

His Maasai roots deeply influenced his values and his Catholic faith provided him with a moral compass and a sense of purpose, he said, noting that these aspects of his identity combined to make Sokoine a unique and inspiring leader.

“He was truly a Maasai, a devout Catholic, and a patriotic Tanzanian beyond doubt,” said Prof Kabudi noting that Sokoine had an unusual and fearless obedience to his leader, whom he regarded as his father, Julius Nyerere.

In 1975, he was crowned as an elder of the Maasai community at a renowned hill in the Sanya Juu area of Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region. He was initiated by General Mirisho Sarakikya, who confirmed that they underwent the ceremony together.

General Sarakikya was the first chief of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), having taken command shortly after the army mutiny of 1964.

Professor Kabudi urged President Samia to consider declaring the site of the Maasai cultural ceremonies in the Sanya Juu area as a cultural heritage site to help preserve the culture and attract tourism.

He said Sokoine had about 500 cattle, two wives and eleven children, still considered modest in Masai cultural context. The Maasai are traditionally pastoralists and wealth is often measured in terms of livestock.

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Sokoine was a pioneer of free enterprise in Tanzania and advised Nyerere to allow Tanzanians with substantial funds abroad to return and invest in the country. He also initiated the daladala transport system in Dar es Salaam after the public transport company UDA transport services became disrupted.

Prof Kabudi said Sokoine as a pioneer of free enterprise in Tanzania was emphasising that socialism did not mean poverty.

He had advised President Nyerere to allow Tanzanians with substantial funds abroad to return and invest in the country, he said.

He also initiated the daladala transport system in Dar es Salaam after the UDA transport services were collapsing, he said.

Sokoine was the chairman of the government’s special committee of the war during the Kagera war to oust Uganda’s Iddi Amin who invaded Tanzania in 1978.

Prof Kabudi said Sokoine was renowned for his unwavering stance against corruption. He was known to be uncompromising in his pursuit of transparency and accountability, even if it meant going against established norms or laws.

“He had an unmeasurable disdain for corruption and was willing to break the law,” he said.

He wondered why Tanzania was importing maize when it has such vast land.

Tanzania faced a severe hunger crisis during the 1970s and 1980s due to unintended consequences of the past policies and drought and natural disasters.

The Uongozi Institute Chief Executive Officer, Kadari Singo said his Uongozi Institute is involved in on-going preparation of biographies of former president, Jakaya Kikwete and former Prime Minister, Rashid Kawawa.

He thanked Vice-President Dr Phillip Mpango for playing a crucial role in bringing the biography to fruition. He recalled feeling the Vice-President’s frustration when he expressed concerns about the delays in the project.

“The VP didn’t scold me; he reprimanded me,” he said. “He made it clear that he saw the work was lagging and that he wouldn’t be willing to continue working with us if it didn’t progress.

The Sokoine University of Agriculture Vice-Chancellor Prof Raphael Chibunda said they take pride that SUA is the only university allowed to use Sokoine’s name.

He recalled the intense debate in Parliament on April 11, 1984, regarding the bill to establish the University of Morogoro, highlighting the efforts of then-Prime Minister Edward Sokoine to advance the government’s agenda for the university’s establishment. The bill was approved just a day before Sokoine’s death on April 12.

Prof Chibunda mentioned that they requested a name change to Sokoine University of Agriculture in honour of Sokoine’s contributions to agricultural development and the establishment of the university aimed at promoting agricultural progress.

“On April 11, 1984, Parliament debated the bill to establish the University of Morogoro. The discussion was intense, but due to the skill and influence of the Prime Minister, the bill was passed. The following day, Sokoine passed away,” he said.

“We submitted a request to change the name of the University of Morogoro to Sokoine University and the government approved it and began the process. On July 1, 1984, the name officially began to be used.”