Summary
·
Geoscientists
in Tanzania and worldwide are grieving Kimambo’s death and remembering his
illustrious career
Dar es Salaam. On December 28, 2022, Tanzania so sadly lost Rumisha Henry Kimambo, the first Tanzanian to study the profession of geology in the country. Geoscientists in Tanzania and elsewhere are mourning his passing and honoring his distinguished career.
Born on February 15, 1934, in
Mbokomu village, Moshi Rural District, Kilimanjaro Region, Kimambo went to
Natiro-Mbokomu Primary School in Kilimanjaro from 1946 to 1950 and later
received secondary school education at Ilboru, Arusha, and Tabora Boys’ School,
Tabora. From 1958 to 1961, he studied science subjects at the University of
Makerere, Uganda. He joined Glasgow University in Scotland in 1961 and
graduated with a bachelor of science (BSc) in geology with honours in 1965. He
is recorded as the first Tanzanian to obtain BSc in geology, hence considered
as the father of geology profession in Tanzania.
On completion of BSc and returning
to Tanzania, Rumisha was employed by the Government of Tanzania, in 1965, as
the first Tanzanian geologist, at the Department of Mineral Resources (now
referred to as Geological Surveys of Tanzania (GST)), which by then had only
foreign geologists/British geologist employees whom the government inherited
from the British government after independence in 1961.
He spent much of the next two years
after being employed by the government in the field of geological mapping and
mineral exploration while attached to the UNDP projects in the Lake Victoria
Gold Field. During this work, the Buck Reef gold deposit was discovered
1966/67, which eventually became Buck Reef Gold Mine, fully owned by State
Mining Corporation (Stamico) in 1984, which was operational for about eight
years and closed down on the advent of technical problems during the year
1989/90 and reopened under joint venture arrangements, Today, about 2,000
ounces of gold are produced monthly, which is a living testimony to the
discovery made by Rumisha and his team.
Rumisha went on to pursue an MSc
degree in mineral exploration at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, from 1967
to 1969. Upon his return, in 1969, he was promoted to chief geologist at GST up
to 1971, and in 1972, he was appointed assistant commissioner for minerals at the
then ministry of Commerce and Industries, which was responsible for minerals
and relocated to Dar es Salaam from Dodoma.
After a short stint at the Ministry
in 1972, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere appointed him to the position of
General Manager to lead the newly established State Mining Corporation
(Stamico), which took over a number of mines that were previously under the
National Development Corporation (NDC).
During his tenure as General Manager
of Stamico, he spearheaded the strong growth of Stamico and its subsidiaries,
which included Williamson Diamond Ltd., Tancut Almasi, Tanzania Gemstone
Industries, Tanzania Portland Cement (Wazo Hill), Nyanza Salt Mine, Pugu
Kaolin, and Tanganyika Meerschaum Corporation Ltd.
Kimambo’s diligence and commitment led
Mwalimu Nyerere to appoint him the general manager of the newly established
Tanzania Saruji Corporation (Saruji) in 1976, which was mandated to develop
mineral-based manufacturing industries for building materials and other
applications.
Rumisha Kimambo in his younger years
During his tenure as the general
manager of Saruji, the Tanzania Portland Cement Factory (Wazo Hill) was
expanded, and furthermore, two more cement factories, namely Tanga Cement and
Mbeya Cement Limited, were constructed. In line with its mandates, Saruji also
established other subsidiaries such as Mbagala Sheet Glass, Morogoro Ceramics,
Nyanza Container Glass, Saruji Trucking, and Saruji Training Institute. He
retired from Saruji Corporation in 2000 after subsidiaries constituting the
corporation were privatized. He pursued other interests within his field of
competence.
Mzee Kimambo is also to be credited
for playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the Geology Department of
the University of Dar es Salaam in 1974. Other notable achievements include
being a founding member of the Tanzania Geological Society (TGS) in 1969 and
its president in 1986. Rumisha was chairman and board member in various public
and private organisations including National Housing Corporation, State Mining
Corporation, Kiwira Coal Mines Limited, and Tanzania Portland Cement (Wazo
Hill).
Rumisha was an avid reader and
writer of articles of a scientific nature, and Tanzanian scientists will
remember him for the publications he made over the years, which include two
volume books on industrial minerals in Tanzania.
These are “Development of
Non-Metallic Minerals and the Silicate Industry in Tanzania, Volume I: Basic
Concepts, Strategies, and Achievements. Published by East African Publication
Limited, 1986 and Development of Non-Metallic Minerals and the Silicate
Industry in Tanzania Volume II - A Profile of the Silicate Industry in Tanzania
(Editor), 1988; both Published by East African Publications Limited”.
Rumisha was known for his impeccable
leadership style and his soft spokenness. Those who worked under him testify to
his great ability to build consensus through accommodating what others have to
say on any issues under discussion.
Presently, Tanzanian geoscientists
are in discussions about establishing some awards or prizes in his honour. For
example, it has been proposed that Rumisha Kimambo’s annual award or prize for
the best student in a geological course at one of the universities in Tanzania,
such as “Geology and Mineral Resources of Tanzania,” be established.
Other suggestions include naming any
new mineral discovered in Tanzania in the future after him, though this
requires Tanzanian geoscientists to collaborate with other international bodies
that authorise the naming of newly discovered minerals.
For these particulars, we are much
indebted to the courtesy of Honourable Professor Sospeter Muhongo, Member of
Parliament (Musoma Rural constituency), the retired Professor of Geology at the
Department of Geology of the University of Dar es Salaam, and former minister
for minerals.
Tanzanian geoscientists, we are in
deep sorrow for the loss of our pioneer, and for sure, he has left a legacy
worth emulating by every geoscientist. May God Rest his soul in eternal peace.
Amen.
Compiled by the following
geoscientists: Professor Sospeter Muhongo, Mr Florian Ngunangwa, Dr Peter
Dalaly Kafumu, Dr Athanas Macheyeki, Julius Sarota, Gideon Nasari, Emmanuel
Jengo, George Mwakarukwa
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