CLEOPA David Msuya is a former Prime Minister of Tanzania from 7 November 1980 to 24 February 1983 and again from 7 December 1994 to 28 November 1995. Msuya was born in Chomvu, Usangi, in the Mwanga District of Kilimanjaro Region.
---------------------------------------------------------------Mzee wa Atikali (0754 744 557)
January 4, 2023
1. Introduction
Cleopa David Msuya, affectionately referred to as CD Msuya, turns 92 today. Although CD is a nonagenarian, he is as fit as a fiddle and doesn't use a wheelchair for mobility.
CD is the only Tanzanian to have been appointed Prime Minister by two different Presidents, _viz_ President Julius Kambarage Nyerere and President Ali Hassan Mwinyi.
In view thereof, _"Mzee wa Atikali"_ has crafted this Special _Atikali_ in honour of the 92nd birthday of CD.
2.Nativity
CD was born on Sunday, January 4, 1931 in Chomvu-Usangi, Mwanga district in Kilimanjaro region.
3.Educational Journey
3.1 Primary Education
In 1939, at the age of 8, CD's parents enrolled him in Kivindu Primary School in Usangi. Back then, teachers were role models. They dressed immaculately in shorts, white shirts, white stockings and black leather shoes. Every pupil looked up to them and emulated them. CD was one of those pupils who emulated their teachers. He was a smart boy and very brilliant.
Despite being a very obedient and brilliant pupil, there were, initially, one or two hiccups, but CD eventually passed his final exams.
3.2 Secondary Education
CD was selected to join Old Moshi Secondary School. The Headmaster was one G.W Ginner, a European, whereas the Headteacher was Erasto Mang'enya, a Tanganyikan. Mang'enya was one of the first Tanganyikans to travel to Uganda to join the Makerere university college _"The Havard of Africa"_. Old Moshi Secondary School was an exceptional school which, at that time, was the only secondary school in the Northern zone, admitting only the best students, ie _la crème de la crème_. While at the school, CD lived in a dormitory named Meru house.
As a result of his hardwork and perseverance at Old Moshi, CD passed his final exams with flying colours and was subsequently selected to join Tabora Boys Government school, the best school in the country at the time. Started originally to educate sons of chiefs, it grew into a household name taking in the brightest boys from all over Tanganyika. For instance, notable alumni include the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
CD lived in a dormitory named Biscoe and continued to do very well academically. He completed his studies in 1951.
3.3 University Education
CD was among those students who obtained the highest marks in the final exams and he was thereafter one of the few students from Tanganyika who were selected to join the prestigious Makerere university college in 1952.
Makerere was, _hitherto_, awarding diplomas only but in 1952 started to award degrees. CD studied history, geography and political science and successfully completed his course in 1955 and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
4.Employment
In 1956, CD began work as a Social and Culture Development Officer in Same, Mwanga district. In 1962, he was promoted and was transferred to Dar es Salaam and became Commissioner for Social Development and Culture.
5.CD Bids Farewell to Bachelorhood
On Sunday, January 11, 1959, CD tied the knot with Rhoda Mshana, also from Same, in a colourful wedding.
6. The Political Arena
6.1 CD Joins TANU
CD, who was living in Kurasini, became a member of TANU in 1964. It is surprising that he became a member ten years after its establishment on July 7, 1954 when many other Tanganyikans, including those in rural areas, had already joined before him.
One would think perhaps CD was not inclined to politics but was rather a technocrat. One would also think that it was perhaps due to the fact that it was illegal, before independence, for civil servants to join TANU.
6.2 CD Appointed PS
In 1964, President Julius Kambarage Nyerere appointed CD Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Culture, after having been hugely impressed by his work ethnic and integrity.
In 1965, President Nyerere transferred CD to the Ministry of Lands Settlement and Water Development. In 1967, he transferred him to the Ministry of Development & Economic Planning.
In 1970, he transferred him, yet again, to the Ministry of Finance, one of the key ministries, where he worked under the then Minister of Finance, the late Amir Jamal, an impeccable Asian Minister.
In this portifolio, CD was exposed to the challenges of managing Tanzania's limited financial resources. This was an eye- opener and almost everything CD was doing was first off but he soldiered on magnificently.
6.3 CD Appointed MoF
On Friday, February 18, 1972, very early in the morning, CD received a call from President Nyerere requiring him to go to Msasani.
Upon his arrival there, President Nyerere confided to him that he was intending to appoint him a Member of Parliament and subsequently Minister of Finance.
CD was visibly shell-shocked and told the President, in no uncertain terms, that he was a technocrat and didn't have any political ambitions. But President Nyerere was having none of that.
Eventually, CD thanked the President and left. That very day, at 1 pm, it was announced by RTD that President Nyerere had appointed CD Member of Parliament, following which he was immediately sworn-in.
While _"Bongolanderz"_ accross the country were still digesting the news regarding CD's appointment as an MP, President Nyerere, at 4 pm, appointed CD Minister for Finance and he was immediately sworn-in.
After the general elections of October 1975, President Nyerere announced a Cabinet reshuffle on November 3, 1975.
He appointed CD Minister for Industries. CD excelled in this portifolio and he is widely regarded as the best this country has ever produced.
He, among other things, oversaw the establishment of an array of factories including tanneries, garment, cashewnut and agricultural equipment.
CD and his subordinates worked hand in glove and this impressed President Nyerere a lot.
6.4 CD Becomes a CCM Member
After the merger of TANU & ASP to form CCM on February 5, 1977 in Zanzibar, CD became a member and one of the founders of CCM.
6.5 CD Becomes an Elected MP
After having served previously as one of the ten Members of Parliament nominated by the President, CD made a foray to vie for the Mwanga seat in the 1980 general elections and won a landslide victory.
6.6 CD Appointed PM
In 1980, after the general elections, Hon. Edward Moringe Sokoine, Prime Minister since 1977, confided to President Nyerere that he would be travelling to Yugoslavia for medical treatment and couldn't, therefore, continue in his role as Prime Minister.
In sync with that, Hon. Pius Msekwa said on April 6, 2020-:
"There was the unexpected spectaculation by first-time Prime Minister Edward Sokoine who had been appointed only three years earlier that he was not going to seek re-election in his constituency during those elections explaining that he was going for treatment in Yugoslavia".Prof Issa Shivji added, in his recent book:
_"Sokoine requested Nyerere to be relieved of his post because of his illness; he suffered from severe diabetes. He went to Yugoslavia for treatment"_.
Consequently, on November 7, 1980, President Nyerere appointed CD Prime Minister of Tanzania. CD, thus, achieved the pinnacle of his civil service career.
In his position as Prime Minister, CD's monthly salary was Tshs 3,000/=. CD himself divulged this info on January 16, 2011-:
_"On my 80th birthday which I celebrated on January 4, 2011, I told my family and friends that when I was Prime Minister I was being paid Tshs 3,000/= a month and they were absolutely shocked; but I was comfortable with it"_.
After the Kagera war, life was extremely difficult. The 1980s were a hard time. During that period, almost all shops were empty and _"Bongolanderz"_ had to queue to get even a bar of soap!. Tanzania was, indeed, in an economic quagmire.
6.7 CD "Deputised" for Sokoine
_"Mzee wa Atikali"_ holds the view that the appointment of CD as Prime Minister was a result of the _"Titan"_ Sokoine's ill health which necessitated his treatment abroad, otherwise CD wouldn't have been appointed Prime Minister.
In 1983, Sokoine returned having fully recovered from his illness. Thus, on February 24, 1983, President Nyerere re- appointed him as Prime Minister. CD, who in _"Mzee wa Atikali's_ view was "housewarming" that position in Sokoine's absence, was appointed Minister for Finance.
6.8 CD Wins Parliamentary Seat Again
In the 1985 general elections, CD, once again, won the Mwanga parliamentary seat.
After being elected as the second President of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi appointed CD Minister for Finance & Economic Affairs on November 7, 1985.
CD played a significant role in restoring relations, which at the time were frayed, between Tanzania on one hand and the WB & IMF on the other. CD revealed on May 7, 2006 :
_"We rectified the dire economic situation (1980-85) and normalized relations with the World Bank, the IMF and other donors . This facilitated huge economic transformations during the second phase government"_.
6.9 CD's Infamous Statement: _"Everyone will carry their own Burden"_
In 1989, CD, a no nonsense leader who never minced his words, said something that caused panic accross the country. CD, countering propositions by MPs who had threatened not to endorse the Ministry of Finance's budget, said (Translation mine) :
_"Hon. MPs, there is no reason to suck up to the public by not telling them the truth. Tell them exactly how our economic situation is, and that everyone will have to carry their burden"_.
More than 2 decades later, on September 3, 2014, CD gave the following clarification :
_"I said that, while I was Minister for Finance. I brought the budget before the Parliament and at that time clothes were crucial because we didn't have many functioning garment factories. So we levied taxes on khangas and vitenges and then MPs argued "I have 2, 3, 4 wives and with these taxes I wont afford to cloth them all". That's when I said everyone will carry their own burden.
If you chose to have two or more wives, well that is within your means, but the concept was that health and education were government's responsibility. When you choose to have 2, 3 wives or beers, it is your own responsibility and you must accept the consequences.
I said that purposely to encourage people to be self- sufficient. The Japanese have succeeded a great deal because every citizen is taught that they are individually responsible for their own development instead of relying on the government for everything"_.
6.10 CD Wins Parliamentary Seat Again
In October 1990, CD secured a stunning landslide victory, once again, in the Mwanga parliamentary contest. President Mwinyi appointed him Minister for Industries and Trade.
6.11 President Mwinyi Sacks Mrema on CD's Advice
CD was highly respected by President Mwinyi and his fellow Cabinet ministers. When Augustine Mrema dilly-dallied around the concept of collective responsibility, CD promptly advised President Mwinyi to fire him from his ministerial post, which President Mwinyi did on February 24, 1995. CD divulged on May 27, 2006-:
_"I advised President Mwinyi against keeping Hon. Mrema in his ministerial position; he agreed and sacked him immediately"_.
Shortly after, Hon. Mrema announced that, as he was being "harassed" by the ruling party CCM, he was resigning from it and had decided to join NCCR whose chairman, Mabere Marando, promptly resigned to make way for him.
6.12 CD Wins Parliamentary Seat Once More
In 1995, in the first parliamentary contest since the reintroduction of the multiparty politics in Tanzania, CD emerged victorious in the Mwanga constituency, with 23,134 votes against 3,253 of a candidate representing NCCR who was his main opponent.
6.13 President Mwinyi Appoints CD PM
On December 7, 1994, President Mwinyi announced a Cabinet reshuffle. He appointed CD Prime Minister and Vice President replacing Hon. John Malecela.
6.14 CD's Presidential Candidacy
In 1995, CD was one of the 17 CCM stalwarts who registered interest in running for President by collecting the relevant forms.
6.15 CD Sails through the CCM's CC
CCM's Central Committee shortlisted 6 aspirants from the 17, namely J. Kikwete, P. Msekwa, J. Warioba, M. Bomani, Ben Mkapa and CD.
6.16 CD Among Top Three
On June 25, 1995, CC's NEC met and dropped three names and fowarded the selected three names to CCM Congress _viz_ Mkapa, CD & JK. The D- Day was July 22, 1995.
On that day, the first round of voting couldn't produce a winner as JK got 40%, Mkapa 34% and CD 25%. As per the CCM's Constitution, the winner must get 50% of votes, thus, the Convention had to vote on the two names with the most votes, that is Mkapa and JK. CD's name was, consequently, dropped.
The failure to get an outright winner caused tremendous anxiety. The group of youths who had thrown their weight behind JK who had led in the NEC votes and the first round of voting in the Congress, were busy dancing outside the hall while others drank believing the second round would be a walk in the park and that their candidate would win massively.
Mkapa's faction, on the other hand, campaigned tooth and nail and he eventually got 52% and JK 48%.
Mkapa was, thereafter, elected as the third President of Tanzania. When he formed his Cabinet, he surprised many when he left out CD and Malecela. In his Autobiography _"My Life, My Purpose"_, Mkapa narrates-:
_"I came to learn that the Father of the Nation was hugely surprised by my decision to exclude Msuya and Malecela and that he didn't know I had the nerve for it"_.
6.17 CD Retires from Public Service
CD served out the parliamentary term as a backbencher. He retired from membership of Parliament on October 29, 2000 and thus brought to an end his 5 decades of glittering service that began in Same, Kilimanjaro in 1956 .
6.18 CD and Mwanga District Progress
CD worked very hard to transform his constituency. He took up representation of Mwanga when it was chocked between high mountains and rocky terrain in the midst of poverty.
Through his creativity, imagination and cooperation with Mwanga residents, he turned Mwanga around and set it as an example in terms of improved roads, water, schools and electricity coverage.
In sync with that, Fahir Mvungi, a wiseman who has served as a councilor for more than 5 decades, narrated on May 17, 2020 -:
_"Mwanga lights up at night with electric lights and not paraffin lamps and despite mountainous terrain of Usangi and Ugweno, we have tarmac roads. Education & health care challenges were eliminated by Msuya when he was a Member of Parliament and Prime Minister"_.
6.19 CD Proclaimed "Father of Mwanga"
In recognition of the above achievements, CD was bestowed upon the title _"The Father of Mwanga"_ by the inhabitants of Mwanga. Msangi adds-:
_"Just as Mwalimu is the Father of the Nation, so is Msuya the Father of Mwanga"_.
6.20 CD is Retired But not Tired: He Continues solving Mwanga's Challenges
_"Even when I made the decision to quit politics, I felt I still needed to be actively involved in helping my people to find solutions to their problems and that is exactly what I am doing now"_.
CD is not like many other Tanzanian leaders who down their tools once their tenure ends. CD is, indeed, a unique leader who always leads by example.
6.21 CD's Endorsement
In the light of the influence that CD has in Mwanga, accumulated over many years of being its voice both in parliament and in government, anyone contemplating vying for the Mwanga parliamentary seat cannot break through without his nod. It has now become a tradition to seek first his endorsement.
6.22 CD Wrongly Slammed for Misusing his Premiership
In the light of Mwanga's remarkable development, some _"Bongolanderz"_ alleged that CD had used the office of the PM to favour his district.
On May 27, 2006, CD set the record straight :
_"That was a blatant lie and there was plenty that was said. I was an elected MP from 1980 to 2000 when I retired. In the 1980s, the economy was in terrible shape so I went over and told people there that they shouldn't expect handouts from the government because there weren't any, and if they wanted development then we all had to contribute and work collectively. I mobilised people and they built schools, dispensaries, roads and water infrastructure.
I made a point of visiting the entire district examining problems and helping to solve them, and also providing assistance wherever I could. There are MPs who worked with their constituencies like me and helped usher in progress.
One was the late Lawrence Gama; many years Ruvuma had nothing but Gama mobilised people in a massive way and together they focused on agriculture so much that Ruvuma was among the "Big Four" and people's lives improved"_.
6.23 CD Loses his Wife, Son & Daughter in Law
The year 2005 was a painful one for CD following the losses of his wife, Rhoda, son, Godfrey and his daughter in law. He stated-:
_"One of the things that hit me hard in my entire life was losing my son, my wife and my daughter in law in virtually one year"_.
6.24 JK Awards CD
On April 26, 2014, when our Union marked 50 years, President JK awarded CD _"The Order of the Union, First Class"_ acknowledging his immense contribution.
6.25 CD Endorses Membe in Presidential race
On June 16, 2015, CD endorsed the then Foreign Affairs minister, Bernard Membe, for nomination as CCM's presidential candidate. CD said-:
_"CCM should not waste time looking for another person. We need a leader with a clean record. Mr. Membe is clean and has a good track record"_.
However, CCM picked Dr. John Magufuli as its flag- bearer who was subsequently elected as the fifth President of Tanzania after narrowly warding off a challenge from Edward Lowassa of Chadema. Dr. Magufuli garnered 58% while Lowassa garnered 40%.
6.25 President Magufuli Appoints CD Chancellor of Ardhi University
In 2017, the then President, Dr. John Magufuli appointed CD Chancellor of Ardhi University.
6.26 CD raised well- mannered Children
CD and Rhoda were blessed with 6 children namely George, Joyce, John, Job, Angela and Godfrey. CD and Rhoda refused to join the ranks of leaders who spoil their children. CD once explained-:
_"Rhoda suggested that we don't bring up our children any different from the way we were brought up thus we sent them to ordinary schools and we spent our holidays in Same so that they could be exposed to rural life and learn our vernacular language. At home, my wife did tremendous work to keep them in line"_.
7. Conclusion
Cleopa David Msuya, who has had forty-four years of illustrious public service career, is the only Tanzanian to have served as Prime Minister under two different Presidents. Incidentally, Edward Sokoine was also appointed twice as Prime Minister, however he served under President Nyerere only.
_"Mzee wa Atikali"_ congratulates CD on the happy occasion and wishes him many successful years to come !
HAPPY 92ND BIRTHDAY, CD !!!
Mzee wa Atikali✍️✍️✍️
0754 744 557