A man with a
mission
By Heckton Chuwa, Moshi
The 10th of November used to be the Chagga Day, something which not
many of
the current generation know about. In the past, the Chagga were seen as one of
the wealthiest, most highly organised and modern tribes.
On the 9th of November The Express interviewed the last ruler of the Chagga,
Chief Thomas Marealle II OBE at his home in Shanty Town Moshi, Kilimanjaro
Region.
During his time as Chief, Marealle worked hard to create strong chieftainships
in
the country, with councils working for development. Thanks to his education and
later awards, Marealle, after being stripped of his title, continued to work for
development under the auspices of the United Nations.
The Express:
When did you become chief of the Chagga?
Chief Marealle:
Officially, this was on the 17th January, 1952, the day I was inaugurated
after
winning the chieftainship elections.
The Express:
Winning the elections? But do not chiefs and kings inherit their thrones?
Chief Marealle:
Definitely. But in my case it was a little bit different. After my
grandfather Chief
Marealle I died, my father was to inherit the throne but it passed him because
of
the war between the Germans and the British. The war made the colonial powers
and the local people unable to concentrate on local administration matters.
The Express:
So what happened?
Chief Marealle:
After the war had ended the British who were then ruling Tanganyika imposed
Divisional Chiefs in 1946 that were known locally as Mitoris, but this did not
please the local people who wanted to have there own local leadership.
The Express:
Did the people stage an uprising?
Chief Marealle:
No, although there was one indirectly. The Chagga led by the leader of all
the
Chagga clans, Petro Njau in 1949 formed the Kilimanjaro Chagga Citizens Union,
KCCU, with the main objective to establish local self government.
The Express:
Was it successful?
Chief Marealle:
Yes. The Provincial Commissioner (PC) of that time conveyed a big meeting which
comprised of different leaders from religious organisations and the Divisional
Chiefs
among them. They discussed the contents of the proposed KCCU constitution
which called for a Paramount Chief of the Chagga. The motion was passed and
the Chagga got their constitution in 1951, making the Chagga the first local
community to have our own constitution in the then Tanganyika.
The Express:
Who were your main opponents in the contest for the chieftainship?
Chief Marealle:
There were three of them, all of them Divisional Chiefs: Abdi Shangali of Hai;
Petro Marealle of Vunjo and John Maruma of Rombo.
The Express:
What did you do before you became a chief?
Chief Marealle:
I was the Manager and founder of the Tanganyika Broadcasting Corporation.
The Express:
During the colonial era, it must have been very unusual for a local person to
get
such a big post. How did you get it?
Chief Marealle:
It is unquestionable because of my education. I had come back from England
where I went for my higher education. I studied economics and political
economics at the London School of Economics, and Public Administration at the
Trinity College.
The Express:
Tell us briefly about the Chiefdom.
Chief Marealle:
There was a supreme council known as the Chagga Council, which had complete
autonomy. The Council was divided into committees which ran the daily
administration services of the chiefdom. The paramount chief was the chairman of
all the committees.
The Express:
Can you tell us about the Chagga Day and how it all started?
Chief Marealle:
This was the Chagga chiefdom’s version of an Independence Day, because it
was
the day when the Chagga people got what they wanted most: self local
administration. Its origination dates back to the day when I was nominated as
the
Chief of the Chagga, the 10th November, 1951.
The Express:
How did the celebrations of the Chagga Day look like?
Chief Marealle:
Very colourful! We started the day by attending prayers in our respective
areas
of worship; at the churches for Christians and mosques for Muslims. After the
prayers we used to march to a place known as Kiboriloni to perform traditional
Chagga rituals to mark the day, after which I delivered my traditional Chagga
Day
speech. It included the past year’s performance of the monarch and the future
plans.
The Express:
Did the celebrations end there?
Chief Marealle:
No. After my speech we settled for lunch together with other invited guests
and
after the afternoon rest, all council members used to watch football matches in
the evening. Later in the evening, all leaders of the Chagga Council together
with
invited guests exchanged views as far as development were concerned. Those
who performed well in development of the chiefdom were rewarded.
The Express:
Did you have any relations with other chiefdoms?
Chief Marealle:
Yes. I suggested to the then governor of Tanganyika to convey a conference
of
the local chiefs in the country with the intention of creating unity among us
and
also to discuss our problems so that we could help each other to solve them.
The Express:
Did this work?
Chief Marealle:
Yes, the Governor agreed and the first conference was conveyed at Mzumbe
Morogoro. Mwani Ntare, ruler of the Waha from Kasulu Kigoma was elected the
Chairperson; that was in 1957. I was elected the Chairperson the next year and
Chief Adam Sapi Mkwawa was elected my deputy. We agreed to select an official
with the then British leadership, C.I.Meek, for the post of Secretary General.
He
acted as a coordinator between the Conference of the Chiefs and the Governor.
The Express:
How did your people benefit from your chieftainship?
Chief Marealle:
Many got education, the primary education was free and the parents of those
who went for higher studies were asked to pay what they could and the
remaining was then subsidised by the Chagga Council treasury. Some went to the
Makerere University. We also build our own State House and Parliament and our
people were provided with clean water.
The Express:
Did you ever get any subsidies or any other type of help from the government?
Chief Marealle:
I remember getting two voluntary government contributions. The first was 50
per
cent towards the expansion of educational services and 75 per cent towards
water supplies.
The Express:
What are your fondest memories from the time of your chieftainship?
Chief Marealle:
First I was very glad that I was able to serve my people and share with them
my
achievements as far as my education was concerned. My achievements and good
relations with the British leadership made the Governor choose me to represent
Tanganyika at the coronation of Her Majesty the Queen of England Queen
Elizabeth II. I was also chosen to represent Tanganyika at the Independence Day
of Ghana of which the late Richard Nixon then the US President attended. I
addressed the United Nations Assembly and I was awarded with the British
Empire’s OBE on the 12th June 1958.
The Express:
How did the chiefdom come to an end?
Chief Marealle:
This was after the declaration of the abolition of the Chieftains by the
government in 1961.
The Express:
How did you feel when the chiefdom ended?
Chief Marealle:
I didn’t feel anything because I had left the chieftain in 1960.
The Express:
Why?
Chief Marealle:
Plans were then underway to join the traditional chiefdoms with the new
political
administration systems that I didn’t see as fair. I had sworn that I couldn’t
involve my God-given chieftainship with modern politics.
The Express:
Do people still recognise you as their Chief?
Chief Marealle:
Yes, especially those who remember my achievements. Even those who benefited
during our administration do visit me here, others come for advice.
The Express:
What did you do after you were stripped off your title?
Chief Marealle:
Because of my achievements, I was called to join the United Nation’s FAO/WFP
programme. I was in charge of all aid directed to Third World Countries. I was
based in Rome, Italy for the entire 13 years of my service.
The Express:
What are you now doing for a living?
Chief Marealle:
I am a retired diplomat.
The Express:
I do thank you your Majesty; long live the King.
Chief Marealle:
Thank you and May God bless you.