Outpouring of grief is a show of patriotism and affection for JPM

-burial in Chato District, Geita Region, on Friday.

As the weather has generally also been on the benevolent side, all those who wished to go and pay their last respects did not meet with any impediments.

Even the numerous other who didn’t actually go to the venue of the solemn occasion, Uhuru Stadium, contributed to the outpouring of grief as they followed the proceedings on radio, television and the social media.

Silent sobbing was also visible all over the streets of Dar es Salaam soon after news of the president’s death broke – and thereafter – as were audible expressions of shock and grief across the city and its environs.

Scores of those who are community leaders in one way or another, be it in commerce, religion or art, have had occasion to express themselves over various print and broadcast media.

Two cardinal elements come up in the profound affections of the public for the departed leader, who was fondly referred to simply as JPM.

The first is genuine admiration at the speed in which he changed our country’s physical landscape, including how he modernised urban roads and major streets in all districts, leaving people heaving sighs of relief while also expressing astonishment and disbelief.

The other part was his particular regard for informal sector operators, whose lot depends much on municipality attitudes.

The pervasive grieving could also be suggesting doubts whether all these gains, including JPM’s pro-poor governance stance, would be sustained in the coming period.

This, for some observers, could be the belief that some of the achievements made stemmed less from consensus in the government as to policies that are most appropriate but from the departed president’s personal inclination and intervention.

There could be fear that those wishing to be free to do what they like to informal sector operators will now have leeway to do it, just as there is wider fear that the policy choices JPM espoused, which crushed consumption patterns in the ranks of government and the public sector, may not last.

But there is also pervasive hope, fortunately, that those who now share these responsibilities will follow the footsteps of the departed leader, however difficult it might be for them to equal or exceed his speed and efficiency.

While many people admire and salute the changed physical landscape of urban areas and roads in many rural districts as well, there are incontestably large numbers of bystanders who have for several years lamented the ‘disappearance’ of cash from daily use, especially for purposes of luxury.

At the time JPM was conducting a “cultural revolution” on how public finance should be used, these quarters remained low-profile as they did not have particularly audible channels through which to air their voices.

These are areas where many, especially in Western countries, believe that Tanzania will change tack. This is considering that what we may view as laxity and accountability gaps allowing government and other public sector officials to abuse their offices with relative impunity is tolerated – even praised – there.

It is seen to be consonant with democracy, by cardinal rules of human rights where no voice is suppressed, even if this leads to disruption of national unity via unfettered corruption.

JPM’s successor will likely be under some local and international pressure on this, but stands to triumph. It can be said that divinity has put up a stern test for Tanzanians, who found themselves being led by a Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli whom they knew little of what his actual intentions were as he assumed the reins of government, and now he has departed quite early.

Still, what he was doing has been well understood in the ranks of the government and during the three – and, tragically, last – months of his second term it was cabinet ministers who were flushing out wrongdoing in various areas.

In that case it isn’t the experience or skills that they lack but only whether the political will or zeal will be maintained or whether some will be found wanting when it comes to implementation.

While we have been easily talking about cherishing JPM’s ideals and emulating his work outlook, keeping to his ethos won’t be easy at all, as some public officials may have toed the line chiefly thanks to the disciplinary action they know dissent or default called for.

Fortunately, we have in President Samia Suluhu Hassan as JPM’s newly installed successor a Head of State holding every promise to ably carry on from where the indefatigable taskmaster left.

Thus, we have reason to harbour no fear whatsoever that officialdom will fall back on its laurels and do no more than make an effort of continuing or completing the implementation of the landmark development projects JPM embarked upon.

Let us see Dr Magufuli as someone deliberately sent to our country and the world to show and illustrate what is right and figure out if we can live up to his ethos with as much commitment and seriousness as we can and as we believe our leaders will strive to be.

We wish President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Government the very best.