BY MOHAMED MATOPE, Washington DC January 28, 2013
Two and a half years ago, President Jakaya Kikwete made history by appointing seasoned lawyer, Mwanaidi S. Maajar, Tanzania’s first female ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Maajar’s pick surprised many observers. People did not doubt her capabilities but it had not been done in the more than 50 years that Tanzania and the US have maintained diplomatic relations.Despite the fact that she had been High Commissioner to Britain before coming to Washington DC, many questioned whether a Tanzanian woman could effectively perform the duties of ambassador in this citadel of global power play. To say the least, expectations were low founded equally on baseless fears.
But as Mrs. Maajar’s tour of duty winds up, it is imperative that we put in perspective what this formidable woman has accomplished in her rather short stay here and, by extension, the fundamental impact of her presence on the Tanzanian community here and in the US generally. First and foremost, Mrs. Maajar is a highly talented and skilled diplomat of our time.
What has been most striking about her tenure of office is how effective on the job she has proven to be, improbable as it once seemed. She transformed the ambassador’s role as radically as President Barack Obama changed the American presidency. Before her arrival, the ambassador’s office was regarded as elitist post and generally detached from mainstream life and society.
That negative perception changed completely as she connected outright with the people and the community at large to the extent that she became, and was seen, as part of the community itself. She is a dynamic and likeable leader, who leaves behind unmatched inspiration as her biggest legacy in this country where ambitions can be easily lost in the fast paced lifestyle of doing anything, from politics to scientific inventions.
She will be remembered more as a bridge builder and unifier of what was once a highly fragmented community here in America. Before she came, the general perception was that the embassy was a separate entity (not a mission for the people) and therefore, had no business linking up with the Diaspora community. That perception was debunked under her tenure of office.
We also witnessed the transformation of the ambassador’s persona from the traditional diplomatic aloofness to that of a more engaging and role model organizer for results. Through her untiring efforts, the society of Tanzanians living in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) and other organizations of Tanzanians in the United States were strengthened and contributed markedly to the reawakening of our cultural and national identity as Tanzanians living abroad.
Also, Mrs. Maajar has arguably done more to integrate our community than any of her predecessors. We should remember that Mrs Maajar around during the 2010 general election, which was characterized by hyper partisanship and polarization of the national agenda here in United States as well as in Tanzania. Mrs. Maajar had all the reasons to also advance partisan actions that would have split our community even further. Instead, she steadfastly remained non-aligned and chose to tread the unifying path. As a result, the Tanzanian community in the United States emerged more integrated today than it was three years ago.
After two and a half years of meritorious service through her unrelenting efforts, she has succeeded immeasurably to unify our community, shaped as much by her experience as a lawyer, as well her skills as an administrator. We measure our leaders’ greatness by their ability to do big things, Mrs. Maajar was able to organize our community and overcome huge obstacles even in the face heartbreaking despair. She simply never gave up even when matters appeared to be hopelessly out of hand.
Aisha Damji, a Tanzanian business woman in California, said there was a reason the community held seemingly endless farewells parties for Mrs Maajar. “She is people’s person,” said Aisha. “Her performance as ambassador was spectacular. All Tanzanian women should be proud of her, and now, the pressure is on our leaders to appoint another female ambassador,” she concluded and lobbied in typical American style.
We also witnessed the transformation of the ambassador’s persona from the traditional diplomatic aloofness to that of a more engaging and role model organizer for results. Through her untiring efforts, the society of Tanzanians living in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) and other organizations of Tanzanians in the United States were strengthened and contributed markedly to the reawakening of our cultural and national identity as Tanzanians living abroad.
Also, Mrs. Maajar has arguably done more to integrate our community than any of her predecessors. We should remember that Mrs Maajar around during the 2010 general election, which was characterized by hyper partisanship and polarization of the national agenda here in United States as well as in Tanzania. Mrs. Maajar had all the reasons to also advance partisan actions that would have split our community even further. Instead, she steadfastly remained non-aligned and chose to tread the unifying path. As a result, the Tanzanian community in the United States emerged more integrated today than it was three years ago.
After two and a half years of meritorious service through her unrelenting efforts, she has succeeded immeasurably to unify our community, shaped as much by her experience as a lawyer, as well her skills as an administrator. We measure our leaders’ greatness by their ability to do big things, Mrs. Maajar was able to organize our community and overcome huge obstacles even in the face heartbreaking despair. She simply never gave up even when matters appeared to be hopelessly out of hand.
Aisha Damji, a Tanzanian business woman in California, said there was a reason the community held seemingly endless farewells parties for Mrs Maajar. “She is people’s person,” said Aisha. “Her performance as ambassador was spectacular. All Tanzanian women should be proud of her, and now, the pressure is on our leaders to appoint another female ambassador,” she concluded and lobbied in typical American style.
11 comments:
Point of correction, She has done well and did a lot to the community BUT saying she did this more than any of the predecessors? That is not true. Lets not erase history. I was one of the community leaders in 1996 to early 2000 under the ambassador Nyang'anyi under the leadership of Kessy Janabi as our president was the only Ambassador who accepted to be a patron of DMV community. He did a lot to Tanzanians in DMV, his office was open to all Tanzanians and we had a lot of free social events than any period in a history, everything from summer cook-out, end of the year free parties AT THE AMBASSADORS'S RESIDENCE AND WE ALWAYS MEET ALL LEADERS COMING FROM TANZANIA THAT TIME WAS BENJAMIN MKAPA THEN KIKWETE. We had chance to ask them questions or concerns we have. Lets give Ambassador Maajara the credit she deserves without comparing with any of her predecessors. Because times are changing, in 90's or early 2000 there was not many Tanzanians with NGO's or bussiness,wengi walikuwa wanafunzi. DJ LUKE USIIBANE HII.
Yes sir ,i agree with everything you said,the woman is fantastic .I don't know the lady ,but i can feel her ,she is the good person.I know 2 Tanzanians who got business connections through her,and those peoples told me she didn't even know them.They met Ms Maajar on the Diaspora forum and she was able to help them.Do you have any of these kind of story from any other ambassadors?Thubutu!
I will say this in swahili.Mimi ni mbongo ,namjua mtu mzuri na mbaya.Wewe kaka umezungumza mazuri kabisa.Najua haya ni maoni yako,lakini yanatutachi watu wengi.Mimi namjua mfanya kazi wa Ubalozi ambaye amesema kwamba yeye amefanya nkazi na mabalozi watano ,lakini huyu mama ni wa pekee.Huyu mama amempa kila mtanzania namba yake ya simu ya mkono ,and trust me ,anajibu kila ukimpigia.sasa hebu niambie ,namba ya balozi gani uliyokuwa nayokabla ya huyu?.Mwisho ,nakubali kweli huyu balozi amepokea party nyingi ,sijawahi kuona,sababu ni kwamba anapendwa na watu.Kwa hiyo mtu chake mpe.
Ask any Tanzania who live in America ,how many former ambassadors do they know?and how many of them have they met in person?the number will be less than 10%.But for this lady probably the people who have heard or met her are about roughly 60%.Thats people's person.
The person who wrote that he was community leader from 1996-2000,and was meeting ambassador in his house is laughable. That's elitist Mr Matope is talking about in this column.Few people meet in the ambassador's house ,drinking beer and wine and talk about the rest of us.And you want to convince us that ambassador was people's person,it is crazy.If he was people's person he should be out meet people in the community ,shake hands.For him to sit in his house and meet you and mr Janabi and few others he qualified to be called elitist.
That's well written column,i will recommend to any publisher.I live in California ,i came here personally to say goodby to Mr.Maajar ,the way you see her visible here in DC ,it is the same way she was in California.She will be remembered as the lady who was available to all of us.
Nitampa Balozi Maajar Heshima yake ila washauri wabaya wa kutaka kuifanya Washington Dc ndio centre ya CCM ilifeli , Namsifu Balozi Maajar kwa kuweza kuonesha Udemokrasia wake kuweza kuwakaribisha VIongozi wa Upinznai waliofika Washington DC wa Chadema na CUF wakati huko nyuma kama hutaki kazi umkaribishe Kiongozi wa Upinzani Ubalozini tumeona huko Nyuma Ylaiomkuta Balozi Nyaki kwa kumpa Heshima Mrema kumkaribisha Ubalozini kama kiongozi wa Upinzani , amefungua milango ya umoja kwa wanajumuia , wa vyama vyote ingawa wana CCM walimbana aliweza kuonesha misuli yake , wako wlaiosema yeye ni Chadema , Lakini ameonesha Equality ya kuwa yeye sio Baloz iwa Chama bal iwa Nchi, Ningeuomba Ubaloz ikwak ushirikiana na Jumuia kuwapa Heshima Viongozi wa Vyama vyote wanaotembeela Washington wapewe audience sawa kuzungumza na Watanzania wa hapa .
Pia nitampa Kudos Balozi kwa k uwa Champion wa Wanawake Hatukuona mbalaozi wengine huko Nyuma.
Your comments are well received with some common sense build into it. I have been in this country since 1976 and interactions with all leaders from Nyerere to Kikwete. The fact of the matter is all these leaders have one mission: Create a social development model as a base of social intractions-gognitve growth and knowledge buildings. hat said, every leader has his or her own weakness and strength. Ambassador Major is exceptional case, as she has demonstrated her talent and challenges playing men’s role. That said, she deserves extra credit to encourage women take more role in leadership. Give a credit where a credit is due.
Let me put this all into prospective,you have to be stupid not agree with Mr Matope here.This article has highlighted nothing but the truth.Maajar is different because she came here as a successful lawyer not a politician who seeks to climb further into the politics ladder.She is independent because,she took a pay cut to work as ambassador ,i know her from Tanzania ,her low firm is a mult million dollars law firm .She took ambassador's job just to serve her country.How many ambassadors left US to go back to the private sector?.She is genuine and fair,she performed her job with no fear,she represent us all equally.
Mr Matope i disagree with you ,she didn't transform the ambassador's role,but she revolutionize the office of the ambassador.She knows who she was ,and did magic on her performance. One thing i want to add in your article is ,for her being a woman and lawyer ,i don't think contributed anything to her performance.I'm from New york,we had a woman ambassador and lawyer for 4 years,she turned out to be one of the worse.She never met our community,very few people here had met her.She had only one exclusive farewell party when she was leaving.I hate to compare people ,but i want to put forward this distinctions so that people can see them in unbiased way.
The point ya annonimous wa kwanza was not understood. Kila Balozi anastahili sifa zake lakini hakuna haja ya kudhalilisha wengine waliopita na waliofanya kazi kubwa sana ya kujenga jumuiya wa Watanzania hapa DMV, or if you want to compare basi be specific what year are you talking about than saying wote waliopita hawakufaa!! Hakuna Mtanzania aliyekuwa hapa DMV na vitongoji vyake in late 90's to early 2000 ambaye hakuwahi kuingia nyumbani kwa balozi kukaa naye kwenye makochi, na kumshika mkono na kupata nafasi ya kuongea jambo lolote lile na kama yupo but was by his or her own choice na kujumuika kwenye shughuli za jumuiya. Kwani that was the time the embassy and Residence was accessible with no restrictions, na wale mliokuwepo miaka hiyo wanajua huu ni ukweli
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