AfricaPress-Tanzania: SOME Chief Justices from African countries and other international organisations yesterday described the late President John Magufuli, as a far-sighted leader who used his full potential to promote and defend the developments of Tanzania and Africa in general.
In their condolence messages at Magufuli Grounds in Chato District, Geita Region to President Samia Suluhu Hassan extended on their behalf by the Chief Justice (CJ) of Tanzania, Prof Ibrahim Juma, they described Dr Magufuli as an alternative voice who talked boldly and straight others shied away from.
Speaking at a special requiem mass in Chato, Prof Juma further said he received condolences from Chief Justices of Rwanda Faustine Ndezirwayo, Hassan Jallow Abubakar from Gambia, Peter Shibute from Namibia and the Secretary General of the Association of Judges and Magistrates of the Commonwealth.
He also named another as Dr Walid Marick, a Pakistani national, he met in February 2017 in Addis Ababa, who is an official with the World Bank and mostly involved in judicial reforms, saying:“I think it was his first visit to the African Union. What amazed Dr Walid Marick was how the African leaders at the summit were surrounding President Magufuli.”
He said that since Dr Warick was coming to Tanzania he asked him on the Law Day to introduce him to Dr Magufuli so that he could shake hands with him and learn the kind of a leader from Africa, who was drawing attention of other African leaders. On his part, Prof, Juma described the late President Magufuli as big dreamer, who was dreaming major things for the interests of his people at the expense of his personal interests.
“A good leader is one who dreams of great things to benefit his people. But there are some leaders who dream of their own things, others dream big things, but they do not implement them. But John Magufuli was dreaming and fulfilling them and that is why his dreams are still alive,” he added.
For the Judiciary of Tanzania, Prof, Juma was also a witness to the dreams of the late president, said as he could see his vision and where he was trying to take Tanzania to especially in different speeches he made when he was official guest of honour during Law Day celebrations.
“We last met him on Law Day on February 1, this year and he was able to remind us of things that the rest of us forget, but of great importance and contribution to the Judiciary,” he recalled.
According to him, Dr Magufuli reminded judiciary officials of 67 million US dollars, equivalent to 135bn/- loan agreement he signed in 2016 with the World Bank for reform programmes of the Judiciary only, adding that the improvements were his dreams in the sector.
Therefore, Dr Magufuli’s history in the Judiciary will not be completed until these projects are completed in every part the United Republic, adding that there were ongoing projects that were from the loan agreement.
Prof Juma also pointed out that he had the opportunity to work very closely with Dr Magufuli for being appointed Acting Chief Justice of Tanzania on January 17, 2017 and later Chief Justice of Tanzania on September 10, 2017.
He said that there were so many things he knew about his performance as a normal human being and that he had a great love for ordinary citizens, recalling a case study when they went to open the District Court at Chato and burst into tears after hearing a choir song about the plight of the poor.
The Chief Justice added that the history of Dr Magufuli was already on record and would continue to grow especially as a result of massive investments he made within the Judiciary of Tanzania and Zanzibar.
