Natepe’s family says media report on Mwinyi 'made up'

Natepe had succeeded Mwinyi who was later elected as president of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Natepe’s family spokesperson Ismael Saidi said over the weekend they have read the news on social media with sadness, adding that the family – did not understand the motive behind such fabrication which according to him has been circulating every time an election and the Zanzibar Revolution commemoration approaches.

“Our father was home affairs minister when the founding father of this country, Julius Nyerere was still president, we were born and brought up in Upanga in Dar es Salaam since 1977 and up to now we are in Upanga,” he said adding that they had never lived in Oysterbay where the said house is located.

He said such information is being fabricated to tarnish the image of the family and warned those behind it to immediately stop it before the full force of the law takes its course.

He said the family has been working in collaboration with the police and other law enforcement agencies to trace people behind the fabrication and circulation of such misleading information which he said promotes division among people to people.

A quick look on the home affairs ministry’s website shows former president Mwinyi served as minister in the docket between 1975 and 1976 while the late Natepe served between 1980 and 1983.

In his book the ‘Journey of My Life’ former president Mwinyi wrote that he was residing in Oysterbay before a cabinet reshuffle took place and he was moved from the Natural Resources ministry to the ministry responsible for union matters, a move which saw him move from the house and hand it to newly appointed minister.