Forty years after the death of Sokoine, Tanzanians fondly remember their patriotic Prime Minister

Around this time, 40 years ago, Tanzania lost the country’s most adored, albeit feared, Prime Minister.

Edward Moringe Sokoine was killed in a tragic road accident on Thursday afternoon of April 12, 1984.

The tough, straight and patriotic Premier met his death while travelling from Dodoma heading to Dar-es-salaam in a Mercedes car.

He was a dedicated statesman who hardly amassed any wealth and until his death Sokoine modestly owned a single house at his Monduli-Juu village.

Previously the old house in Monduli was fenced with a live Bougainvillea fence which seemed to serve mostly as decoration than security perimeter enclosure.

The homestead has been upgraded now with a larger house and concrete wall fencing.

As Arusha gets to mark the 40^th Anniversary of the former Prime Minister’s death, at least there is a new house, built by the fourth phase government in 2014 three decades after Moringe’s departure.

A walled fence keeps the property secured and an attached mausoleum gives the house a special look and respect.

There is a special mass planned at the former leader’s homestead in Monduli District.

Official reports from both the Sokoine Memorial Foundation and the Arusha Regional Commissioner’s office indicate that high profile government leaders are expected to grace the occasion and pay homage to the late premier at his residence in Monduli District on April 12, 2024.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, former Premiers and other dignitaries will be in attendance.

Former President, Jakaya Kikwete graced the 30^th Anniversary of Sokoine’s death in 2014 and used the occasion to order the construction of a new and larger house for the former premier’s family.

Previously in 2004, the former Prime Minister, Frederick Sumaye led his predecessors, including Salim Ahmed Salim, John Malecela and Joseph Sinde Warioba to mark the 20^th Anniversary of Sokoine’s death in Monduli.

Sokoine family spokesperson Lembris Kipuyo said this year, as the former premier’s family observe the 40th anniversary of his death there will also be a special mass in respect to the departed hero in Monduli juu.

A visit to the homestead revealed ongoing preparations for the big day

Until his death, at Dakawa section of Morogoro, the late Edward Moringe Sokoine of the Mollel clan was the Member of Parliament for the Monduli Constituency, which by then had extended to as far as Longido District.

He was killed in a mysterious road accident while traveling from Dodoma, where he had gone to attend attending a National Assembly session.

On his way back to Dar-es-salaam City, on Thursday, the 12th of April 1984, his official Mercedes-Benz car was involved in a road accident in Morogoro.

A speeding Toyota Land-Cruiser BJ Series, which was being driven by one Dumisan Dube, a South African freedom fighter, rammed into the premier’s car resulting in Sokoine’s death.

Sokoine left behind two wives, Napono who stays at the Premier’s residence in Monduli-Juu and Nekiteto, who had another home in Makuyuni Ward.

Napono bore six children, five males and one female while Nekiteto managed five children, four of whom are all female and the last born being the only male.

Sokoine the man and the Legend

Edward Sokoine took administration studies in Germany between 1962 and 1963 and upon returning he became District Executive Officer of the then Masai District, which combined Monduli, Longido, Ngorongoro and Simanjiro.

Sokoine was elected Member of Parliament for the Maasai Constituency in 1967 then made the Deputy Minister of Communication, Transportation and Labour.

He was promoted to the Minister of State position in 1970 and two years later Sokoine became the Minister of Defence and National Service of Tanzania.

In 1975, Monduli was an independent District and Constituency with Sokoine becoming its first representative to the National Assembly.

Following the formation of the new political party in 1977 Sokoine became a member of the Central Committee of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

In the same year he began his first term in office as Prime Minister of Tanzania.

The country went into war with Uganda from November 1978 to April 1979 with Sokoine going into the frontline.

After suffering ill health, Sokoine resigned from premiership in 1980.

He was however anointed again to become Prime Minister in 1983 but served for only one year before his untimely death on Thursday, 12 April 1984.