Zephania Ubwani: As prolific as they come!

“I first met Zeph in 1985,” writes Machua Koinange a seasoned Kenyan Journalist in his tribute to Zephania Ubwani.

Ubwani is the veteran Tanzanian journalist who recently passed away. He was buried at his home village at the foot of Mount Hanang’ in Manyara Region on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Now, 1985 must be the same year that Koinange, during his journalism beat, also met Ndirangu Mau the man who is suspected to have shot Kenya’s Freedom Fighter, Dedan Kimathi.

Anyway, back to his threshold meeting with Zeph.

“I was a ‘schoolboy, reporter still attending high school at Starehe Boys but given the opportunity to correspond for the Daily Nation.”

I had landed the holiday job role after an interview with Editor-in-Chief Peter Mwaura and later George Mbuguss.

Between Daily News and Daily Nation

“I had followed Zephania’s contributions to the Daily Nation from Dar es Salaam where he was a reporter for the Daily News…

.. We would speak often on the phone when he called to file a story (for the uninitiated…those were the days with no internet).”

Correspondents would file their stories either via phone or telex.

It was traumatic! Thank God for technology! Filing via phone meant the writer had already handwritten the story and would simply call to read the story over the phone to a transcriber in the newsroom.

If I was not busy writing my own stories, I would take the phone as directed by the news Editor (either Peter Kareithi or Phillip Wangalwa (OBE) or whoever was manning the desk.

Zeph had his story all shaped up and as our friendship over the phone grew, so did my admiration for his work.

Finally, months later, Zeph came to visit the newsroom when he moved to Arusha from Dar.

It was closer and he would catch the shuttle from Arusha to Nairobi. His visits were essentially to collect his cheque.

Since I was already versed with the Nation accounts operations, I would help him convert the “paper” to cash by taking him from the old Nation house to the Nation distribution office down Tom Mboya Street which was a five-minute walk.

Old Nairobi days

I would also vouch for him since he was not a Kenya citizen and carried his Tanzanian passport for identification.

Once he received his colossal Kenya Shillings, a big smile would envelope his face.

I was just lucky to be in his presence because he proceeded first to treat me to sumptuous lunch (at Growers café restaurant), save some of his money at a local bank where he had opened an account and then keep the rest which he would convert to Tanzanian shillings once he crossed the border.

The exchange in those days was heavily in favor of Kenya so, trust me, Zeph was doing okay! 

I became accidently his local “fixer”.

If he stayed overnight, he would get a room near Taveta road hotels and the following morning we would catch up in the newsroom or help him run personal errands now that he was ‘loaded’. It grew into a lifetime of friendship which I will treasure forever.

Zephania Ubwani was witty with words, and he showed his profound understanding of Kenya politics.

There is nothing about ‘Siasa za Kenya,’ that did not pass him.

In 1986, I decided to do a road trip and visit him in Dar-Es-Salaam, and he took me on a tour of the Daily News newsroom (where I was treated like a celebrity).

In those days, a visiting journalist had to obtain permission from the Ministry of Information to work. I had planned to do a series of articles on business and tourism.

Zeph stepped up big time. He took me to the Office of the President (no less!) and I was given a letter signed by the Director Information.

Karibu sana ndugu

The letterhead was from the Office of the President and was headlined: ‘To Whom It May Concern,’ introducing me as a visiting Kenyan journalist and requesting for facilitation in my work. 

I don’t know how he pulled that off but suffice to say that letter opened all the doors during my stay!

Every time some nosy public official asked me why I was taking pictures or jotting notes, I pulled out that letter like a gunslinger and they would recoil, change their demeanor and smile.

“Karibu sana ndugu, nikusaidia vipi?” they would offer.

It was like a magic wand!

In those days, Tanzania was very sensitive to foreign journalists. That letter came in handy when I visited Zanzibar next where I was treated with such respect.

Zeph returned the favor with such grace. He showed me the best places for lunch, places to visit in Dar (we went to Oyster Bay…which was like the ‘in place’ those days).

His hospitality was superlative. He was a gentleman with enormous respect.

‘Alinibeba kama ndugu yake ila nilikuwa mdogo wake kwa miaka mingi.’

I always felt he was my elder brother from another mother across the border. I was out of the country for a long time from 2001 and returned in 2014.

From Arusha with Love

I yearned to find my elder brother. In 2019 my wife and I drove to Arusha on our way to Dar.

We had planned to stay in Arusha and then fly to Dar. By some misfortune (actually good fortune) the airline we had booked and paid went bankrupt the week before our trip. Our tickets were useless.

It was Zephania who met us at the Bus Park in Arusha and recommended the Tahmeed bus shuttle for a 10-hour road trip to Dar.

But in the process, I reconnected with Zeph after almost a decade and half, and we had a fantastic reunion.

He was still the same Zeph, funny, witty and reminiscing on our good old days at Old Nation house. It was the last time I saw him.

We worked together on many other projects by referring each other to new opportunities.

I used to write for several overseas publications and agencies which included African Business magazine, New African and Compass News features, then under Gerry Loughran (RIP).

I would put in a good word for Zeph, and he would do the same for me. 

By doing so, we opened up new horizons where our work could reach a global audience.

This included feature stories on business, tourism, Finance and general human-interest stories. Zeph was as prolific as they came.

Until his death on Saturday, April 6, 2024, Zephania was working with Mwananchi Communications as a writer for the Citizen Newspaper. He was based in Arusha.