Dar es Salaam. Opposition ACT-Wazalendo party made history Wednesday by probably becoming the first political party in Tanzania to honour one of its leaders and their contribution to the party and the country while they were still alive.

The party, also a partner in the ruling Government of National Unity (GNU) in the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, decided to honour its former national chairperson Juma Duni Haji, intending to influence a cultural shift in the way political parties in Tanzania express appreciation for their leaders, officials, and members.

Numerous activities accompanied the function at the well-decorated and attended Majid Hall in the Kiembe Samaki town of Zanzibar. These include an awards ceremony, where ACT-Wazalendo members presented whatever they could to Mr Duni, popularly known as Babu Duni, as a token of appreciation for his contribution to the party and the country.

The biggest present was a second-hand Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX, which Babu Duni received at the end of the six-hour function. Party members also awarded Mr Duni a brand-new 75-inch Hisense TV set, a sofa set, and a drawing of Mount Kilimanjaro. Others offered chicken eggs, watches, and coconut tree plants, among many other gifts.

Juma Duni Haji waves a hand after ACT-Wazalendo gifted him a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX during a function to honour his contribution to the party. PHOTO | COURTESY OF ACT-WAZALENDO.

ACT-Wazalendo party leader Dorothy Semu said that rarely in Tanzania are people making significant contributions to democratic development recognised, noting that by celebrating the life and legacy of Mr Duni while he’s still alive, the centre-left party engages in cultural and mindset shifts that will make Tanzania’s politics more meaningful.

“This is a policy that we’ve been considering implementing for some time now, and I’m super happy today to see that we have finally managed to put it into action,” Ms Semu addressed a well-packed hall of party members in their spotty party uniforms. “I hope that the party will continue this tradition, not only for our leaders but also for our committed members who continue to serve our party with devotion and dedication.”

Household name

Reading Mr Duni’s short biography during the function, member of ACT-Wazalendo Central Committee Ally Saleh described Babu Duni as a “household name” in Zanzibar and even Tanzania at large, explaining that the veteran politician has managed to build himself a “brand of his own.” 

READ MORE: ACT-Wazalendo’s New Leadership Singles Out Election As Top Priority

Born on November 26, 1950, Juma Duni Haji has a long and rich history in politics, civil service and activism. He has served as a youth leader of the Afro-Shirazi Party, a predecessor of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in Zanzibar and as a cabinet minister, among other senior positions, in subsequent administrations in Zanzibar.

A graduate of the UK-based Machester University with a master’s in human resource management, Mr Duni was among very few senior civil servants in Zanzibar who joined opposition parties immediately after the reintroduction of political pluralism in Tanzania. He joined the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), setting forth a journey involving many trials and tribulations.

These include spending time in prison twice: one for allegedly killing a police officer in Pemba and two for allegedly engaging in treasonous acts against the government of Zanzibar. The treasonous charges, later dropped, led the human rights organisation Amnesty International to designate Mr Duni as “a prisoner of conscience.”

The thrice running mate of CUF’s perennial candidate Ibrahim Lipumba in the 1995, 2005, and 2010 presidential elections, Mr Duni also served in various Zanzibar cabinet posts following the Government of National Unity (GNU) formation there. 

Juma Duni Haji (left) receives a car key from ACT-Wazalendo party leader Dorothy Semu (right) during a function to celebrate the former’s life on September 4, 2024, in Zanzibar. PHOTO | COURTESY OF ACT-WAZALENDO.

In March 2019, when former CUF Secretary General the late Seif Sharif Hamad joined the opposition ACT-Wazalendo party following months of conflicts in the former, Mr Duni was among several party members and leaders to follow suit. He would serve in different positions in the new party, including its national chairperson, before retiring this year, and Othman Masoud Othman succeeded him.

“History will remember Babu Duni as a politician who refused to betray his colleagues for selfish reasons and for remaining steadfast in his pursuit for justice and democratic governance in Tanzania,” Mr Saleh, a seasoned journalist and former lawmaker, said in his tribute. 

READ MORE: High Cost of Living on Top of ACT-Wazalendo’s Agenda As It Inaugurates Its Political Rallies

“These qualities earned Mr Duni much respect and are demonstrated today at an event to honour his life and contribution.”

Selflessness 

Other members of ACT-Wazalendo’s top brass also showered Mr Duni with many other qualities, including that of selflessness that Mr Othman, who doubles as the First Vice President of Zanzibar, associated with Mr Juma Duni Haji.

“He did so much, within and outside the party, without caring who will take the credit in the end,” Mr Othman, former Zanzibar Attorney General, said during the function. “That’s a very important quality to have in any struggle, i.e., playing your part regardless of who gets the credit. Babu Duni had that quality, and that’s why we are here today celebrating his life.”

ACT-Wazalendo deputy chairperson (Zanzibar), Ismail Jussa, Duni’s student when he was a teacher, described his former teacher as someone who’s “conscious” of his purpose in life, and that has prevented him from “wavering” in what he believes and what causes he fights for.  

Isihaka Mchinjita, the party’s deputy chairperson (Tanzania Mainland), described Mr Duni as “perhaps the only Zanzibari politician, outside the ruling party, who has succeeded in appealing” to the people of both parts of the Union. Mr Mchinjita said achieving that is not a small feat, noting that the achievement speaks to Mr Duni’s “unique political character and ability.”

Wound-healing?

Stated objectives of Wednesday’s event aside, the honouring of Mr Juma Duni Haji comes six months after the veteran politician cried foul play in ACT-Wazalendo’s internal scramble for the position of national party chairperson of which Mr Duni was an incumbent and also a contender.

READ MORE: ACT-Wazalendo: A Decade of Democratic Resilience in Tanzania My Generation Witnessed

Pitted against Othman, Mr Duni publicly complained about machinations senior party officials undertook to sabotage his candidature in favour of his opponent a few days before he dropped out of the race, leaving Othman a sole contender for the position. Duni had previously made it clear that he was serious in his bid, saying no to people who wanted him to step down. 

Othman Masoud Othman (left) and Juma Duni Haji (right) shake hands during a function to celebrate the latter’s life on September 4, 2024, in Zanzibar. PHOTO | COURTESY OF ACT-WAZALENDO.

Mr Duni gave seven reasons for withdrawing his name from the race, including “bigger institutional interests” and “ridding [the party] of the tension that [had] emerged” following his public complaints. He also mentioned strengthening party unity and cohesion and supporting Othman’s bid as reasons for dropping out. 

Speaking Wednesday during a function organised for him, Mr Duni mentioned the succession issue as one of the “narrow and tottering bridges” he is proud to see the party managed to cross during his time as its leader.

“Comes the second bridge; who should be the party’s chairperson?” Mr Duni said, after mentioning the issue of the First Vice President following the death of Mr Hamad as the first bridge the party crossed successfully. “All of you remember the tribulation we went through [as the party]. Thank God, we successfully managed to cross it, too.”

In his speech, Mr Duni also thanked the party for organising a function to honour his life and contribution to the party and country, noting that saying ‘Thank You’ could not fully express how grateful he was for the party, its leaders, and its members, but regretted there’s no other way of expressing it.

“To me personally, and on behalf of my family, I’d like to admit that I’ve been deeply privileged, extremely so, to have my colleagues doing all of these to me, of being presented with all these gifts and presents just a moment ago, while I’m still alive, healthy and mentally stable,” Mr Duni said. “I cannot thank you enough!”

Lukelo Francis is an associate editor at The Chanzo. He’s available at lukelo@thechanzo.com.