Celina Ompeshi Kombani (June 19, 1959 –September 24, 2015) was a Tanzanian CCM politician and Member of Parliament for Ulanga East constituency from 2005 to 2015. She also served as Minister of State in the President’s Office for Public Service Management. She has been described as a hardworking and cooperative person. She will always be remembered for what she has done for the people of Ulanga and the country in general. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Amen
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Ms Celina Kombani has been described as a hardworking, efficient and cooperative person, who will always be remembered
Morogoro/Dar es Salaam. Residents of Ulanga East constituency said yesterday they had received the death of their Member of Parliament Celina Kombani, 56 (pictured), with “shock and sadness” considering the significant development she had contributed to their constituency.
Ms Kombani, who was also State Minister in the President’s Office (Public Service Management) died on Thursday in India, where she was being treated. Speaking in separate interviews with The Citizen yesterday, the residents said during her 10-year tenure of office as their Member of Parliament, Ms Kombani had succeeded in bringing about development to the constituency, which in the past its roads were in a bad condition.
“The people of Ulanga can’t get a leader like Ms Kombani. She supported everyone here, including students and entrepreneurs,” said Ulanga resident Hashimu Kamugisha. He said Ms Kombani did a lot to support poor students by paying for their school fees and finding jobs for those, who had completed their studies. Another resident, Ms Katarina Jongera, said the news of her death had paralysed business activities in his hometown and many still did not believe it.
CCM Ulanga District chairperson Khalid Nalyoto said she remembered Ms Kombani for her active participation in the party’s primaries in July.
“She told me during a nomination process that her legs were no alright and she was suffering from malaria, but fortunately she was endorsed by our party to defend her seat,” he said.
He described her as a patient person, who could overoame many challenges. Ms Kombani’s sister, Ms Coletha Kombani, told The Citizen that the family was expecting the body of their beloved in Dar es Salam today.
She said mourners would get a chance to pay their last respects to her body at Karimjee grounds tomorrow before transporting her body to Ulanga for burial in Morogoro. However, she could not tell the specific date from which the body will be buried as family members were still discussing it. According to her, Ms Kombani was admitted at Apollo Hospital in India a month ago. She was first elected Ulanga East MP in 2005 before she retained the seat in the 2010 election unopposed.
In 2006 she was appointed by President Jakaya Kikwete Deputy Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government Authorities) before she was promoted to be full minister under the same docket in 2008.
Funeral arrangements are made by the government in collaboration with the office of the National Assembly and the family. President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday sent his condolences to Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and the family.
“All of us have lost a hardworking mother, efficient and the one who liked to cooperate with others…we will indeed remember her always,” said Kikwete, May her soul rest in peace. Amen.
Reported by Lilian Lucas, Morogoro and Frank Kimboy and Bernard Lugongo.
