‘Mwenge’ is the Kiswahili word for torch but it also
represents a major national event in Tanzania, which is
also known in English as the National Torch Run. If you can
imagine an African version of the carrying of the Olympic
Flame, restrict it to one country but take it all over that
country, and make it an annual event which has a ‘message’
to pass to the people – that is ‘Mwenge’.

‘Mwenge’ began as a single event in 1961, as part of
Tanzania’s Independence celebrations, when a burning torch
was carried to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. A few years
later, the nation-wide runs began and it is now an annual
event. In the technologically advanced countries awareness
of major issues is spread through newspapers, television
and radio. Tanzania, although now trying hard to catch up,
has not had these advantages, and so the ‘Mwenge’ is run
with the purpose of spreading a message – a different
message each year. The original Mt Kilimanjaro torch was to
celebrate President Nyerere’s independence slogan ‘Umoja na
Kazi’ ‘Unity and Labour’ – there have been issues such as
encouraging parents to send their children to school and
this year it was HIV/AIDS awareness.

One Tuesday evening 2 ladies from Mtwara Town Council
appeared and asked if we would be prepared to ‘host’ the
‘Mwenge’ breakfast on the following Thursday – 2 days later
– for the runners and officials – a total of 40 people. It
was to consist of a cup of tea, a hard-boiled egg and a
bread roll. They would only stay for about 15 minutes and
then move on to the next place. This seemed a simple
request and despite their pitiful budget we decided that
this was a reasonable public relations exercise. I am not
sure that we could have refused – it would not have been a
diplomatic move to turn down the opportunity to be involved
in this event.

We had been advised to expect the runners and their
entourage at 10.00am but would be ready for an earlier
arrival. So, at 9.45 we were ready and, together with
several other members of staff, I climbed up the Boma tower
from where we had a spectacular view of the bridge at the
far end of Mikindani. Below us in the village we could hear
singing and drums as the party atmosphere got underway.
Already on the bridge was a convoy of cars, pickup trucks,
motor bicycles and people. It seemed a long time before
they slowly moved off but eventually they started moving,
and we watched this motorised cavalcade wend its way though
Mikindani. The convoy was accompanied, as always, by crowds
of people, and along the route there were groups of people
dancing, playing drums and singing all adding to a real
celebration and party atmosphere. The convoy stopped when
it reached the Clinic by the Friday Mosque, and
message-carrying speeches were made to the Mikindani
people. Then they all moved to the open area by Livingstone
House, where the runners and officials left the crowd and
walked up to the Boma for their breakfast. The crowd
remained down by the official cars parked outside Samaki
and Livingstone – it appeared that most of the people of
Mikindani had taken a ½ day off to celebrate ‘Mwenge’.

The District Commissioner and other Mtwara officials
enjoying their breakfast by the Boma swimming pool were
joined by 5 of the 6 runners – unfortunately the only girl
in the group was unwell, and remained sleeping in the car.
After the food had been consumed, the District Commissioner
stood up and made a short speech on the importance of
‘Mwenge’, and what it stands for, together with the honour
of being chosen to run throughout Tanzania for this cause.
Almost as quickly as they had arrived, they all left. They
had arrived half an hour late, but by 11.00 they had gone.
The 40 breakfasts had grown to 42, and they had also bought
some bottles of water. We certainly did not make any cash
profit, but we had participated in a national event and
hopefully shown a little goodwill, and were proud to have
done so. We were left clearing up, knowing that the next
village to receive them would have to provide lunch – a
much more extravagant meal!

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