Let young leaders emulate Makonda’s innovative style

Frankly speaking, his appointment was not well received, especially considering his age and that the majority of former Dar es Salaam RCs had been much older than him and yet the region was very challenging for them.

The new RC had earlier served for a year as Kinondoni District Commissioner.
Many people were caught unaware and were left wondering why the young man should be the number one choice by the president to man the country’s largest city.

Of course, the young man had had some past political engagements which made him somewhat popular.

A year on the job as Dar es Salaam RC, however, he has proved to have been the right choice to run the city. A couple of days ago he was showered with praises by none other than the president himself, who remarked that he wished other RCs in the country, some of whom are apparently more experienced, would emulate Makonda’s innovative leadership style in conducting their duties.

The young politician has proven to be a man of action and, more precisely, a fearless and creative person, drawing praise and admiration even from the original doubting Thomases.

The RC has always looked forward than backward, reporting all crooked and corrupt individuals to the president, who himself entertains no nonsense graftwise.

The list of names of presidential appointees and civil servants whom he has so far reported to the president for both indiscipline and corruption has been getting longer on a daily basis.

The former city director, the late Wilson Kabwe, and Dar es Salaam Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Commissioner of Police (CP) Simon Sirro, are just some of the top officials so far on Makonda’s list of shame.

Makonda’s accusations met a broad protest from both the media and the public, some predicting this would seal the fate of his position, particularly after Prime Minister Majaliwa did not seem to agree with him.

However, his determination and zeal has moved the president, especially on his task of traversing the city’s suburbs to hear various challenges facing the community.

He has so far made various tours in Dar es Salaam which attract masses who come forward to express their concerns over land disputes and security, among others.

Land has been a challenging issue to local leaders, municipal and land officers in the responsible ministry who have all proved to be master minders grabbing land through corrupt means.

Makonda says he has learnt from these meetings that various official reports being presented in formal meetings by responsible officials depict unrealistic situation from the ground or artificial situation, so to say.

In most cases, municipal and local leaders failed to explain land issues beyond reasonable doubt, which shows that they are failing to protect the people.

Despite sound efforts by William Lukuvi, the minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, on addressing land issues, many disputes remain unattended at grassroots level.

It will be difficult for these issues to be resolved by those entrusted to manage land due to the fact that they are themselves part and parcel of the problems.

That is why we think Makonda’s approach is worth emulating. He is trying to solve problems from the grassroots. The same scenario happened one day when President Magufuli drove from Dodoma to Arusha, making various stops along the way to hear people’s concerns.

At Babati, the president heard about the plight of a woman whose property had been seized illegitimately. He ordered for the authorities to resolve the issue, instructing RCs and DCs to set time in their timetables for face-to-face meetings with the people.

No wonder, therefore, President Magufuli on Friday phoned Makonda to praise him for his initiatives that have uncovered the extent of problems facing communities.

Certainly, it was one of the encouraging moments of the RC who has been going through various challenging moments to receive a call aired publicly through a radio channel.

People have a lot of grievances but have little hope of resolving them because the leaders keep deaf ears when they try raising the problems.Keep it up Makonda, for that is the way to go.