When I wrote this piece, published in the Standard Newspaper on 31st March 2021, I was in pain and in awe of an African statesman that led in his own terms. There are aspects of him that called to question his character and resolve as a leader but it was his resolve to serve that endeared me to him and by extension the People of Tanzania. In the passing of John Pombe Magufuli, Africa had lost one of its most polarizing yet transformative leaders. The swirl of controversy that defined his tenor demands a sober and balanced examination, from a lens of critical and fair appraisal.
To read my thinking then, see The Standard. The late Magufuli reclaimed for Tanzanians a sense of pride and possibility. In his watch, public service became an obligation for all public servants. And yes, leadership demands tough choices that are people-centric and the courage to execute on them.
The debate on the complexity of his legacy must continue. As a colossus, he was not beyond scrutiny but he remains a template we can all learn from.
Full article. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/opinion/article/2001408115/president-magufuli-was-a-real-colossus
