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Grief was on the faces of mourners who gathered at the Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam yesterday to pay last respects to the late Mbinga MP John Komba.
President Jakaya Kikwete led top ranking government officials, retired Presidents, judges, politicians and hundreds of mourners during the solemn occasion.
In attendance were Vice President Dr Gharib Bilal, Retired Presidents Ally Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin William Mkapa, former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and the Registrar of Political Parties, Francis Mutungi.
Conveying a condolence message from the government, Minister of State- Prime Minister’s Office - Policy, Coordination and National Assembly, Jenister Mhagama, urged the people, in particular leaders, from the government to borrow a leaf from the life of late army captain.
She described him as having led a transparent life and “a loving person”. The minister reassured residents of Mbinga-West Constituency of the government’s commitment to implement all developmental programmes initially promised by the late MP.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi Secretary General Abdulrahman Kinana urged CCM members to cooperate with each other, especially at this time of mourning the deceased.
Kinana conceded that his death was a great surprise and tragedy to the family, party, government and Parliament in general.
He said during the 1978 Kagera war, the late Komba harmonized songs that raised the emotions of the country’s militia to fight against Idd Amin, then president of Uganda.
He said it would be very difficult to find someone who would cover the gap left by the late Komba, especially this time when the country gears up for the coming general election later this year, he pointed out.
On behalf of the official Opposition camp in Parliament, Arumeru MP Joshua Nassari (Chadema) reminded Tanzanians that the world they live in was not their home as they were only passengers who had to be prepared for any eventuality.
He said Komba did what he did according to his capacity and intoned: “We are obliged to follow his footmarks to see to it that all relevant development issues he worked for are successful.”
The Mbinga West Member of Parliament and popular musician passed away at around 4pm on Saturday at the TMJ Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
He was taken to hospital when his health suddenly deteriorated at 11am and died by 4:00 pm.
The deceased was discharged from the Mikocheni-based Sanitas Hospital where he had been admitted for three days suffering from diabetes and blood pressure.
People close to the deceased have said his health was going on well after being discharged, only to be informed of the shocking news of his demise moments later.
The former captain left a wife, Salome, nine children and several grand children. He was born on March 18, 1954 in Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region.
He went to Songea Boy’s Secondary School before joining Kleruu Teacher Training College between 1975 and 1976, where he obtained a certificate in education.
He joined a cadet officer training at Monduli TPDF between 1978 and 1979, serving in the army until 1992 when he joined the Tanzania One Theatre (TOT) group as Executive Director until 2005 when he became MP for Mbinga West.
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