AfricaPress-Tanzania: FORMER Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein eulogized the late President John Magufuli as a leader who lived to his words, and believed in ability of having a developed and independent nation as he envisioned a bright future for Tanzania.
Dr Shein made the remarks in Chato village, Geita Region on Friday during the burial of Dr Magufuli, further saying he was lucky enough to have got an opportunity to live and work with him for over 19 years, as the Vice President of Tanzania and President of Zanzibar.
He further said there was a lot that he had seen in the late President’s style of leadership that was beneficial to the nation, especially on strengthening the Union.
“Among the major praises the late President Magufuli held was that he was an honest and a nobleman. His honesty created confidence in him, which made him fear no man but the God alone.
“Dr Magufuli did what he said, and never scolded a righteous person. While many think of him as a harsh man, he was not; he was a leader and it was a must for him to lead in accordance to the foundations of justice and equality. He did all these in action, and Tanzanians are witnesses, he pointed out.
Elaborating, the former Zanzibar President said Dr Magufuli had the ability of foreseeing the future and transform what he saw in action in workable action plans.
“I remember when I was the Vice President, he invited me to launch the Tegeta-Bagamoyo road together with the former President Jakaya Kikwete who was then the minister of foreign affairs…Dr Magufuli whispered something to me that at first I did not believe… he said this road will go as far as the north and south. I was hesitant if it could be done. I think right now it has happened, his words are a reality,” he recalled, saying the event was among the major events that proved to him on how far Magufuli envisioned things.
“These were his (Dr Magufuli) efforts, and he told me -we will do so without depending on loans and aids; we will make efforts by making plans and creating systems that will help us collect our own money, because we are capable and there is a lot of money in the country,” asserted Dr Shein.
Adding that, “I trusted a lot in him.” On the Union, Dr Shein said that the late President encouraged him a lot, especially the events that occurred after the general elections when he told him to concentrate on working hard; and the people would later see the results.
“I did my best to do so, I followed his footsteps and heed his advice, and he never led me astray, not even once,” he added
