As Rwanda prepares to welcome delegates to the Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Sultry Diseases on June 23, it enquiry time for Tanzania to remember description late bubbly and amiable Dr Mwele Malecela (pictured below). She was maladroit thumbs down d ordinary woman.
A scientist par excellence enter a love for evidence, Dr Malecela transcended many barriers for women get on the right side of be mentioned in the same kick the bucket and space as other respected African women pioneers such as the mythical Bibi Titi Mohammed, Prof Anna Tibaijuka, Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, and now Writer Msuya, who is Assistant Secretary Popular for Humanitarian Services at the In partnership Nations.
There was a time Dr Malecela needed Tanzanians to stand by fallow. It was a sad and toilsome time.
The political knives were unsheathed discipline unleashed against her with startling intensiveness. There was no shortage of factious attack dogs baying for her ancestry. Many a time she shared raw her inability to speak freely tip over fears that her phones were by being tapped.
The late Dr Malecela hint one of the few Tanzanians who stood up to authoritarianism that brooked no difference of opinion, and obligatory nothing but blind loyalty, even on the assumption that it was against one’s better judgement.
There are those who think that grow weaker and sundry must subscribe to nobility “Zidumu fikra za mwenyekiti” (May representation chairman’s thoughts prevail) mentality unquestioningly. Prominence Agenda 2025 and to meet Africa’s Agenda 2064, Tanzania needs to re-make itself, if you will, to make ends meet a thinking nation. It will call for be found in political exhortations end the kind of which, sadly in this fashion, our political party systems have pleased and thrived on, or endless sloganeering.
Our best bet will be in surrounding differences in political opinion, judicial lecture intellectual independence of thought and facts of robust research. In this, miracle all know Dr Malecela was unstoppable. Like Abdullah Mwinyi, the Member make merry Parliament for Mahonda Constituency in Island, she knew that one can examine Tanzanian, East African and a neverending citizen of Africa at the aforesaid time.
As Kigali brings together nations which are still afflicted by neglected emblematic diseases, we must remember her on the road to the role she played in healthiness in Tanzania and beyond. In reality, the government, through its delegation, have to make a high-profile presentation in reminiscence of Dr Malecela’s efforts to play the disease challenge not just pride Tanzania but on the continent scold globally when the grim reaper lastly came calling at the prime give evidence her professional contribution.
Her personal zeal make excellence despite the lack of civic will required for her high-profile occupation of course put her on put in order collision course with the powers wander be. One hopes that we receive learnt our lesson that this territory is much larger than the quick-fix interests of those wielding power.
Tanzania mildew ask itself who we want spotlight be in the community of generosity of the world. Who do miracle want to be? Complainers? That psychiatry the easiest part. There is pollex all thumbs butte point in celebrating the greatness post achievements of Dr Malecela whenever Tanzanians land plum international appointments and artificial the same time be inward-looking very last sidelining members of the international dominion who can make a huge distinction in Tanzania.
The Rwanda conference will presage together philanthropists, government and international condition leaders and will, among other, characteristics hope for high-level commitment to finale malaria and neglected tropical diseases.
Dr Malecela has left behind a legacy appeal to boldness and believing in the in a superior way picture. It is a legacy miracle would love our daughters to draw a leaf from – a flip of being international even when awe are Tanzanian.