By Asterius Banzi and Erick Kabendera
In Summary
- Paul Makonda was appointed regional commissioner for Dar es Salaam on March 13, 2016.
- Early this year, Mr Makonda launched an anti-drug war: Through a series of televised press conferences in which he named businessmen, politicians, clerics, artistes and some ordinary citizens suspected of trafficking and use of narcotics.
- Some members of parliament condemned the naming as unlawful, but a defiant Makonda said he would not listen to “people who only doze off in the parliament.”
Paul Makonda bust into the limelight in 2015, when he was
accused of beating up retired judge Joseph Warioba, who was the chairman
of Constitutional Review Commission. The judge had come up with a draft
constitution that CCM did not like.
At a meeting in a Dar es Salaam, where participants were
debating the Warioba Draft, angry CCM youth booed the judge and some
tried to rough him up. In the melee was Mr Makonda, who later said he
was just trying to protect the judge.
Mr Makonda was born on February 15, 1982 at Kolomije village in
Mwanza Region, western Tanzania. He attended Lake Secondary School and
Mbegani Fishery College, before joining Moshi University College for
Co-operative and Business Studies, a constituent college of Sokoine
University of Agriculture.
He was appointed a District Commissioner on February 18, 2015 by
president Jakaya Kikwete, a move that was criticised by those who
claimed he lacked experience. But as a DC, he gained popularity for his
unique style of addressing societal problems. He first embarked on a
spirited crackdown on prostitutes and homosexuals.
He was appointed regional commissioner for Dar es Salaam by
President John Magufuli on March 13, 2016, and he hit the ground
running, leading a major operation against shisha smoking in the city.
Then early this year, Mr Makonda launched an anti-drug war:
Through a series of televised press conferences in which he named
businessmen, politicians, clerics, artistes and some ordinary citizens
suspected of trafficking and use of narcotics. He summoned them to
police stations for interrogation after which some of them underwent
drug tests. After the tests, some were charged in court and others
released.
While some members of parliament condemned the naming as
unlawful, a defiant Makonda said he would not listen to “people who only
doze off in the parliament.”
The National Assembly instructed its Clerk to summon him to
appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Immunities, Powers and
Privileges for questioning. As the storm gathered a prominent Bishop
Josephat Gwajima started criticising the RC. Then a clip was released on
social media, in which a woman claimed she had a baby with the bishop
and he had abandoned her.
A few days later, Mr Makonda stormed the Clouds Media station, accompanied by armed police and demanded airing of the clip.
That is what led Information Minister Nape Nnauye, a critic of the RC, to condemn the incident and visit the TV station to “get the truth of the matter.” He formed a probe team and asked it also to get Mr Makonda’s side of the story.
That is what led Information Minister Nape Nnauye, a critic of the RC, to condemn the incident and visit the TV station to “get the truth of the matter.” He formed a probe team and asked it also to get Mr Makonda’s side of the story.
The same morning Mr Nnauye formed the team, President Magufuli told Mr Makonda to ignore the “noise” and keep working.
Mr Makonda is described as a self-made man who did menial jobs in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam to pay his school fees.
His critics have demanded a lifestyle audit to establish the
source of his wealth. A member of parliament. Joseph Selasini, once
claimed that Mr Makonda owned an apartment worth $262,952 and had given
his wife a $250,000 Mercedes Benz as a birthday present. The allegations
were never proved.
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