AfricaPress-Tanzania: PRESIDENT John Magufuli has described the late Chief Secretary Eng John Kijazi as a great public servant whose exemplary performance enabled his rise to the echelons of power in the government.
“Eng Kijazi was a loving, generous and humble person who served all people equally,” the president told thousands of mourners who attended a state funeral in Dar es Salaam on Friday.
Speaking after a requiem mass held at Karimjee Grounds in the commercial capital, Dr Magufuli said the nation has lost a great man and enlightened leader who performed his duties with diligence and dedication during his lifetime.
The president said that he knew Eng Kijazi in 1995 when he was appointed Works Deputy Minister during which he had the opportunity to meet with regional engineers including the late Eng Kijazi who was stationed in Dodoma.
“What was unique with Eng Kijazi is that while serving as Dodoma Regional Engineer, all roads in the region were in good condition despite being allocated similar budget with other regions,” the president said.
He observed that in 2000 after the late President Benjamin Mkapa named him Minister for Works, he personally requested the president to appoint Eng Kijazi as Permanent Secretary. The request was granted in 2002.
Dr Magufuli said when Fourth Phase President Jakaya Kikwete rose to power, he appointed Eng Kijazi as Tanzania’s High Commissioner to India, a position that helped in the consolidation of Indo-Tanzania relations.
“When I was elected President in 2015, I appointed Eng Kijazi as Chief Secretary after recalling him from India. He was a hard-working, loving, generous and humble person,” he said.
He noted that despite Eng Kijazi reaching his retirement age in 2017, he retained him as Chief Secretary.
The late Eng Kijazi’s exemplary performance, which can also be attested by other public servants — including members of the cabinet – “prompted Dr Magufuli to retain him for the second time in 2019.
Speaking at the same venue, Chief Justice Prof Ibrahim Hamis Juma said that Eng Kijazi had all the qualities of a public servant as stipulated in Public Service Act.
“In public service there are three qualities which each public servant should have which are leadership, direction and image,” he said.
He said that the departed Eng Kijazi had a leadership quality which he showed not only in public service but also in the Judiciary and Parliament.
He said the late Kijazi was also capable of showing direction to others (managing others) but also his image made him qualify for the post.
He said he will remember Eng Kijazi for being extra careful in handling minor issues, which others could just ignore them.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson said that Eng Kijazi was a man of people who did what he believed was good.
He called upon Tanzanians to honour him by doing good things he did during his lifetime.
Zanzibar Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdallah said that Eng Kijazi was an exemplary leader who linked them in government activities.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said that, “Eng Kijazi was a link to public servants. He did great things with the government as a public servant we are aware of his cautiousness and braveness.”
He had done great job when he served as Tanzania National Road Agency Manager for Lindi we should honour him by doing all good things he did in public service.
