MARCH 25, 2014, will be remembered as a
sad day for residents of Mara Region and
the entire nation. This is the day when
death grabbed from the nation a hard
working leader who dedicated a larger part
of his life serving Tanzanians.
His wish was to see them prosper in
development. This is none other than Mara
Regional Commissioner Mr John Tuppa (64).
The RC died shortly after his arrival in
Tarime District for an official working tour
on Tuesday morning this week, at around
10: 45 am.
He felt unwell while at the Tarime District
Commissioner's office and was rushed to
the nearby Government Hospital where he
was declared dead after several minutes of
struggle to serve his life. According to the
Mara Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr
Samson Winani, the sudden death of RC
Tuppa was caused by a stroke.
The sad news spread very fast across the
country, within no time, due to the fast
growing communication technology. It was
immediately treated as breaking news by
major media houses in the country. The sad
news plunged Mara residents into shock.
But for top regional and district government
leaders including top of security department
it was more than a shock. These are the
officials who witnessed what had happened
to their beloved leader whom they had
accompanied for a well planned working
tour.
Before his death, the regional chief was
scheduled to close a major youth training
programme at Nyamwaga village, several
kilometres from Tarime Town. Shortly after
the sad news, a team of officials from
Tarime had to be sent to Nyamwaga village
to postpone the event.
The regional leaders had no other option
but to transport the body to Musoma, for
medical examination and burial
arrangements. The mood at the hospital
was sombre. Many, including officials wept.
"The RC has been in good health.
This is bad news to us", said Ms Peregai
Joel, a senior extension officer at Tarime
District Council, as she shed tears. The late
Tuppa was regarded as one of the best RCs
who ever served Mara Region. He had
opened Mara's potential for a wide range of
investment opportunities in areas of
mining, tourism, agriculture, fishing and
manufacturing.
He has of late been leading a number of
ambitious initiatives aimed at wooing both
foreign and local investors. They included
the recent Lake Zone Investors Furum held
at Malaika Beach in Mwanza City February
13-15. " Mr Tuppa was a patron, a leader
and hard working man, who devoted his life
to serving the people without
discrimination. He respected everybody",
said Mr Gesase Mahanga, a big farmer in
the region.
Apart from investments, other priorities
given due consideration by the late RC were
peace, education for every child, good
relations between local communities and
investors, so as to create a win-win
situation, rain water harvesting, profitable
livestock keeping and rain water harvesting,
just to mention a few.
"He was more than a good leader. I met
and talked with him during the recent
investors' forum held in Mwanza. I
particularly liked his plan for Mara Region
development," said Mr Mseti Wangwe, a
local investor who has invested in tourism
and hospitality sector in Tarime. Before he
became RC, the humble looking Tuppa
served as District Commissioner (DC) in
several parts of the country including
Muleba, Chunya, Mwanga and Dodoma.
President Jakaya Kikwete promoted him in
September 2011 Mara Regional
Commissioner. In September last year, the
Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda,
congratulated Mr Tuppa for ensuring that
there were no more fights that used to
claim a lot of lives and property worth
millions of shillings.
"What we have achieved is not little. Keep
it up. Clan clashes that used to disturb us is
no more," Mr Pinda told the late RC shortly
after he received the regional report.
President Jakaya Kikwete has sent deep
condolence to the Minister of State in the
Prime Minister's Office (TAMISEMI), Hawa
Ghasia, following RC Tuppa's death.
"For sure we have lost a hard working and
dedicated leader who served people until
last minute of his lifetime," President
Kikwete said on part of his condole message
shortly after the RC passed away. The body
of RC Tuppa will be laid to rest on Saturday
(tomorrow) at his home village of Rudewa
in Kilosa District of Morogoro Region,
government officials confirmed in Musoma
on Wednesday.
"Burial arrangements are going on well and
burial will be on Saturday", Mara Regional
Administrative Secretary (RAS) Mr Benedict
Ole Kuyan told the' Daily News'. Hundreds
of Mara residents from all walks of life
including government, political, religious
leaders, business community,
representatives of financial institutions
turned up to pay last respects to their
beloved RC at his residence in Musoma on
Thursday.
The body was yesterday later expected to
be transported to Mwanza Airport and taken
to Dodoma by plane in the evening.
Residents of Dodoma will be given an
opportunity to pay last respects too. "He
worked in Dodoma for a long time as a DC
and we believe that it is important to give
people a chance to pay their last respects, "
Mr Ole Kuyan said. The late Tuppa was born
in September 1950.
He is survived by a wife, Ms Kate Rebecca,
five children and four grand children. We
loved RC Tuppa so much but the Almighty
God loves him more than we did. Rest in
peace Mzee John Gabriel Tuppa.
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