Sorrow as MPs pay their last respects to colleague

Lawmakers pay their last respects to Ukonga MP Eugene Mwaiposa at Parliament grounds in Dodoma yesterday. Mwaiposa died in her sleep on Monday night. PHOTO | EDWIN MJWAHUZI 

By Alawi Masare

In Summary

“We must acknowledge that the late Mwaiposa won in a very competitive constituency. Winning in Ukonga, a constituency within the country’s commercial and political capital of Dar es Salaam, was not an easy task” OPPOSITION MP TUNDU LISSU     

Dodoma. MPs were united yesterday in paying their last respects to fellow lawmaker Eugene Mwaiposa.

Ms Mwaiposa (Ukonga-CCM), who was reported to have a long history of high blood pressure, died in her sleep on Monday night at her home in Dodoma, and her body was later yesterday taken to Dar es Salaam, where she will be buried on Saturday.

Following her sudden death, Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai postponed House business until today for MPs and other National Assembly officials to pay their last respects at Parliament grounds.

Many MPs were overcome with emotion as they filed past the casket bearing Mwaiposa’s body.

CCM Special Seats MPs Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir and Esther Bulaya were among lawmakers who had to be assisted after they were overwhelmed by grief.

Mr Ndugai said the burial ceremony was delayed until Saturday as the family was waiting for Ms Mwaiposa’s two children from the UK and Canada.

“I wish to convey the condolences of the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly Anne Makinda, who is now travelling back home from Switzerland after receiving this sad news. Parliament has also donated Sh5 million to the family of our colleague,” he said.

Mr Tundu Lissu, who spoke on behalf of the Opposition, said the late Mwaiposa was aa notable lawmaker in that she was among only 21 women MPs representing constituencies in Parliament.

“We must acknowledge that the late Mwaiposa won in a very competitive constituency. Winning in Ukonga, a constituency within the country’s commercial and political capital of Dar es Salaam, was not an easy task,” said Mr Lissu, who is also the Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament.

The chairperson of the Tanzania Women Parliamentarians Group, Ms Anna Abdallah, described the late MP as an affable and easy-going individual.

The late Mwaiposa is the second woman MP to have died since the tenth Parliament was elected in 2010.

Chadema Special Seats MP Regia Mtema died in January 2012 in a road accident.

Mwaiposa is the second lawmaker to have died this year following the death in March of Mbinga East MP John Komba.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pastor Samuel Mshana of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania said politicians should shun witchcraft ahead of the general Election.

“Avoid going to sangomas (witch doctors) because they won’t get you anywhere other than misleading you,” he said.

“Remain confident and according to what you have done during your tenure, be hopeful that you will come back in November. All in all, we want peace during and after the General Election, and you should invest in that,” he said.