Former Speaker Anne Makinda consoles Sarah Filikunjombe, wife of fallen outgoing Ludewa lawmaker Deogratius Filikunjombe, in Dar es Salaam yesterday. The MP died in helicopter crash on Thursday evening. PHOTO | SAID NG’AMILO
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A sombre mood gripped the hospital as hundreds of mourners struggled to come to terms with Filikunjombe’s demise.
Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Kikwete led hundreds of mourners to pay their last respects to former Ludewa MP Deogratius Filikunjombe at the Lugalo Military Hospital in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
A sombre mood gripped the hospital as hundreds of mourners struggled to come to terms with Filikunjombe’s demise.
At his Kijichi home mourners were overcome by emotions and some of them collapsed upon seeing the casket bearing the body.
The mourners also paid their last respects to the former MP’s elder brother, Placidius Haule, and an aide, Egid Mkwera, who also died in a helicopter crash at Selous Game Reserve on Thursday evening.
The outgoing Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Anne Makinda, was also among national leaders to pay their tributes to the former Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
In her remarks, Ms Makinda described Filikunjombe’s time on earth as a well lived.
Ms Makinda said although Filikunjombe was young and served as a legislator for a short time he accomplished more than what other leaders who had been in office for years did. “His demise should act as an example to all of us. He dedicated his life to the country and poor people by standing to what he believed in.”
Ms Makinda said she was still struggling to come to terms with the reality as four immediate former parliamentary candidates have passed away in four weeks’ time.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition camp in Parliament, former Kigoma South MP David Kafulila said Filikunjombe was among few MPs from CCM who fought against corruption and could not hesitate to shame leaders from the ruling party.
He said Filikunjombe was among few MPs from the ruling party who stood firm to ensure that the culprits of the escrow scandal were held accountable despite the reluctance from some of his party leaders.
“Apart from being the best man during my wedding and close friend, Filikunjombe was one of very few MPs from the ruling party who stood firm against corruption. He played a great role to ensure that all culprits of the escrow scandal were held accountable,” said Mr Kafulila.
Speaking on behalf of CCM, Mr January Makamba, described Filikunjombe’s untimely demise as a loss not only to the ruling party but to the nation as a whole.
He said Filikunjombe had always put the national interests and his Ludewa constituency’s interests ahead of everything. “As you can witness here by the people who have turned up to pay their last respect, Filikunjombe worked with other leaders regardless of their political affiliations.”
Former PAC chairman Zitto Kabwe said the nation has lost a fighter against corruption. He called on politicians to continue with the war against sleaze.
“We have been robbed of a great leader. I worked with him as my deputy at PAC and I can attest he was a great leader despite the fact he served for only five years,” said Mr Kabwe.
The minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mr Bernard Membe, who represented the government, relayed the government condolences to Ludewa voters for the loss of their former MP.
According to him, Filikunjombe played a great role not only in fighting corruption but also in other issues of public interests.
Mr Membe said he worked closely with Filikunjombe when the speaker of the tenth assembly nominated him as well as then Mbinga West MP John Komba to a special committee to find a solution for Lake Nyasa border conflict between Tanzania and Malawi.
Filikunjombe, who is survived by a wife and five children, is expected to be buried at his home in Ludewa today.
Other parliamentary candidates who died since campaigns started in August include Chadema’s Lushoto parliamentary candidate Mohamed Mtoi, who died in a car crash on September 13, and ACT-Wazalendo’s candidate for Arusha Urban, Estomih Mallah, who died after a short illness on October 9.
Others include the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service Management), Celina Kombani, and the Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, who died in an Indian hospital on September 25 and October 12 respectively.
On October 4 the chairman of Democratic Party, the Rev Christopher Mtikila, died in a car accident in Coast Region. He was not contesting any elective position after being eliminated from the presidential race by the National Electoral Commission.
