POLITICAL COVER: Kimiti to Nyerere: Ikulu is too hot a seat for me

Dodoma. Paul Kimiti, the man who was nicknamed ‘Senator’ by his fellow members of parliament is one of the few legislators who willingly retired from politics.

Seeing him again, though, in the list of 201 appointed members of the Constituent Assembly (CA) got rumours going in some circles to the effect that Mr Kimiti was attempting a political comeback.

But the 74-year-old Kimiti said he  quit in 2010 and vowed never  to make a U-turn. His decision to retire from active politics after serving the country for more than 50 years still stands.

Despite his age, Mr Kimiti is charming and entertaining. He says he is happy with his life in retirement, which is “stress free.”

Four years after retiring from active politics, Mr Kimiti shares his story. He was born in 1940 in Rukwa Region. He went to primary school in the same region before joining Mzumbe secondary school in Morogoro for further studies in 1954. Soon after his secondary education, Mr Kimiti got direct employment in the ministry of Agriculture as an extension officer in 1959. “I was employed as an extension officer when I was 19 at the ministry of Agriculture. I was young but I was focused and was committed to my job,” he said. Mr Kimiti joined the Tengeru Agriculture College in Arusha in 1961 for further studies. While at Tengeru, he became the chairman of Students’ Union.

Becoming a musician

In 1962, Mr ‘Senator’ got a scholarship to study agriculture at Deventer Agriculture University in the Netherlands. While in the Netherlands Mr Kimiti met Alphonce Lyimo from Marangu in Kilimanjaro Region. The two formed a music band that they christened ‘Safari Brothers’. I loved music and I still love music very much. At the Safari Brothers band, I was singing and playing the guitar,” he said. According to Mr Kimiti, his band recorded many songs and managed to inspire many people back home. 

The first time to meet Mwalimu Nyerere

Mr Kimiti met Mwalimu Nyerere for the first time in 1965. “I met Mwalimu Nyerere for the first time in 1965 in the Netherlands. By that time Tanzania was only four years old after independence and Mwalimu was going around the World asking for support to build the young nation.” He added: “We gave Mwalimu Nyerere $20,000 (Sh32 million at current exchange rate) as our contribution for our nation back home through Tanganyika Development Fund (TDF).

The money was the proceeds from selling music records.” “We were students by then, for us music was just a hobby, and so the money we got was only for use in personal expenses,” he said. “I gave the money to Mwalimu to support development programme at home because I was patriotic. And I am still proud that I made the right decision,” he added.

Unlike other African students who stay abroad, Mr Kimiti came back home at the end of 1965 and was employed as a tutor at the Ukiriguru Agriculture College. At the college, Mr Kimiti formed another music band that he named ‘Crooning Stars’ and later changed its name to ‘Luna Fiesta’ in the wake of US astronauts’ landing on the moon in July 1969.

Interests in politics

He started political activism since 1960s after joining Tengeru Agriculture College where he was a chairman of Students’ Union Organization. His political career started when he was transferred from Ukiriguru Agriculture College to the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) headquarters as assistant secretary. “I think Mwalimu Nyerere recognized my leadership and political capability and thus I was transferred to TANU headquarters,” he said.

Kimiti, a DJ and radio presenter

While at TANU headquarters, one of his duties was to organise political training programmes for the party members. He taught politics in national services camps, schools, colleges and the Dar es Salaam University. He also had political radio programmes at the Radio Tanzania Dare s Salaam (RTD), the precursor of TBC Taifa Radio where he also played various patriotic records during his programme. “I became an effective radio presenter. I was among those guys who were sending bitter messages to capitalists. We vehemently advocated socialism and self reliance,” explains Mr Kimiti. In 1973 Mr Kimiti went for his Master’s degree in Agriculture Sciences at the California State University.  Upon his return from the US, he became the Head of Uyole Agriculture College and at the same time a TANU leader.

From 1980 Mr Kimiti’s political profile started rising steadily. From regional commissioner for several regions to a cabinet minister. He served the legislator for Sumbawanga from 1980 to 2010 when he decided to step down. As a regional commissioner he served in Kagera, Mbeya and Kilimanjaro regions. He also served as minister for Agriculture. Among things he recalls is the restructuring of Co-operatives and local governments when he was a minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office under the former Premier Cleopa Msuya and later the late Edward Moringe Sokoine.

“When I became Kilimanjaro RC, Mwalimu assigned me to teach modern farming to the Chagas. I implemented the Lower Moshi Irrigation project and introduced ‘kubota’ tractors from Japan. We imported at least 200 tractors for Kilimanjaro Region,” he said.

He also helped the Hayas in Kagera to fight coffee and bananas deceases,supervised the construction of tarmac roads in Mbeya city. He built all these projects without money from the central government but mobilized the people and businessmen to make contribution.  He added: “ As an MP, am proud that I have done a lot for my constituency, today we have electricity, water, better roads, hospitals  and enough schools.”

Presidential ambitions

 “I remember in 1995 when I was the Mbeya RC, Mwalimu Nyerere came and asked me if I was thinking of the highest post in the country. I humbly told him that I did not think I was ready for the presidency as I considered it as a very difficult task. He told me ‘you are very wise man,’” explained Mr Kimiti.  The next day Mwalimu Nyerere warned those who were rushing for ‘Ikulu’ saying Ikulu was a holy place.

According to Mr Kimiti, in 1995 at least 17 CCM members collected forms for presidential post.

“I realized that people differ in leadership skills, capability and talent, thus it is better to leave some posts for those who we believe can manage them,” he said.

Why he decided to retire from politics in 2010

“It is always a great honour to voluntarily retire from politics before people get tired of you,” said Mr Kimiti.

He said he learnt a lesson from Mwalimu Nyerere, Nelson Mandela and other wise leaders who retired from politics.

“I tried to advise some of my fellow senior legislators to do the same but they refused and called me a coward. What happened is that most of those who refused my advice lost elections in the 2010 General Election. For me it is wise to give a chance to others to lead. You cannot be the best leader for decades,” he said.

He added: “I was among the top and powerful members of the CCM’s Central Committee (CC). I always competed with top government leaders and won.”  CC comprises only 20 members.

Mr Kimiti said he was given a certificate of appreciation after he retired from politics in 2010. “I was recognized by parliament as the most disciplined backbencher whose contributions have helped to bring changes in the country.

His views on the ongoing CA process

Mr Kimiti says Tanzania is stable because of peace and unity that has existed for decades. And the process of forming the new constitution should not be a source of problems and misunderstanding among wananchi. 

“Maybe we made a mistake to start discussing the structure of Union [in the debates in the Constituent Assembly] because all problems are centered there. Maybe we were supposed to start with other chapters, which are less controversial,” he said.