Samia eulogises Membe

…President says, gone, is person of integrity

…JK jets back in time to bid farewell to dear friend

… Dr Tax reveals how Membe stirred up her career path

… Zitto describes the late as strong contender of justice

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan on Sunday led hundreds of mourners at Karimjee grounds in paying their last respects to the body of former Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe (69), describing him as a person of high integrity, diligent and desired to see Tanzania prosper.

The body of the former Minister is expected to be laid to rest in his home village at Rondo-Chiponda in Lindi Region tomorrow.

Membe died on Friday morning at Kairuki Hospital in Dar es Salaam, where he was taken for treatment owing to chest pains, but lost battle to acute respiratory failure caused by pulmonary embolism.

Delivering her condolences, Dr Samia said the death of the seasoned diplomat has touched and saddened many people both within and outside Tanzania.

“I pray to God to bestow faith and hope to the deceased’s family during this sad moment…we have all been touched by the sudden death,” said President Samia.

Recalling how she met with the late Membe, the President said they have known each other on various encounters as cabinet ministers during the fourth phase administration and as members of the ruling party CCM National Executive Committee (NEC) and Central Committee (CC).

According to him, the late Membe was a brother who liked to instill knowledge and his skills to others, noting that he loved to see the development of Tanzania and other nations.

“The death of the renowned diplomat has left an indelible mark not only to his family members but Tanzanians and people of other nationalities’ where he had served during his lifetime,” noted Dr Samia, praying to God to grant him peace and rest his soul in heaven.

Former President Jakaya Kikwete arrived from Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) straight from Seoul, South Korea in time to bid farewell to dear friend.

Mr Kikwete eulogised Membe, describing him as a special friend who helped him in both his career and political life.

“I knew Membe many years ago, I have gone a long way with him, we helped each other on issues related to our families and lives. In general, Membe was of great help to me in my career and political life,” Kikwete said.

Mr Kikwete was in Seoul to hold talks with government leaders and organisations on ways to improve provision of education in developing countries.

For her part, Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister, Dr Stergomena Tax also described the late Membe as the iconic diplomat and committed leader who held various positions in government.

Dr Tax said the late Dr Membe was amongst the longest serving Foreign Affairs Minister, whereby he served in the docket for nine consecutive years after Former President Jakaya Kikwete who served in the portfolio for 10 years.

During his tenure, she said the deceased did a lot including strengthening and scaling up the country’s diplomacy and other nations and international organisations.

“His contribution in promoting diplomacy and neighbourliness between Tanzania and other nations will remain historic. The ministry has benefited from his bold leadership and will continue to remember him,” stated Dr Tax.

Similarly, the iconic diplomat took part in building strong systems as well as pioneered in the effective execution of the country’s foreign policy for the betterment of the country.

Commenting on how the late Dr Membe stirred up her career path, Dr Tax said he was the one who put courage on her when the nation nominated her to vie for the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the period between 2013-2021.

“He instilled a lot of confidence in me telling me that the nation believed in me…go and contest for the high post in the SADC,” recounted the Minister.

The farewell event was also attended by other top rank officials, dignitaries, members of the diplomat corps and many others.

For his part, CCM General Secretary Mr Daniel Chongolo observed that the party had received news of the death of the late Membe with great shock.

“CCM has lost its seasoned member…he was a leader who was deeply concerned with the development of the party and country.

“It’s often very difficult to tell the stories of people of his caliber. His life as a public servant and leader has a lot of things which deserve credit. He was a cadre who the party had relied on,” noted Mr Chongolo.

On behalf of the Judiciary, the Chief Court Administrator, Professor Elisante Ole Gabriel noted that the deceased had served in various economic, political and diplomatic spheres; his expertise and wisdom was very much needed in the country.

For his part, the Ambassador of the Union of Comoros and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Tanzania Ahamada Mohamed Fakih said Tanzania has lost one of his greatest leaders, who was deeply fond of his country and his diplomatic job.

The Parliament was also represented by the Deputy Speaker; Mr Mussa Azzan Zungu, who eulogised the late Membe as a person of high integrity in the country, sending his condolences to the family and the entire Tanzanian community asking God to receive his noble servant.

ACT-Wazalendo leader Mr Zitto Kabwe considered the late Membe as a person who desired to see democracy, smart and a strong contender of justice and multipartyism.

“He was a person who had always advocated for human rights and a true patriotic individual in the country,” stressed Mr Zitto.

The former Minister passed away at Kairuki Hospital in Dar es Salaam on May 12, this year after battling chest complications, where he was diagnosed with lung problems which led to his death.