‘Mwenge’ is the Kiswahili word for torch but it also
\nrepresents a major national event in Tanzania, which is
\nalso known in English as the National Torch Run. If you can
\nimagine an African version of the carrying of the Olympic
\nFlame, restrict it to one country but take it all over that
\ncountry, and make it an annual event which has a ‘message’
\nto pass to the people – that is ‘Mwenge’.<\/p>\n
‘Mwenge’ began as a single event in 1961, as part of
\nTanzania’s Independence celebrations, when a burning torch
\nwas carried to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. A few years
\nlater, the nation-wide runs began and it is now an annual
\nevent. In the technologically advanced countries awareness
\nof major issues is spread through newspapers, television
\nand radio. Tanzania, although now trying hard to catch up,
\nhas not had these advantages, and so the ‘Mwenge’ is run
\nwith the purpose of spreading a message – a different
\nmessage each year. The original Mt Kilimanjaro torch was to
\ncelebrate President Nyerere’s independence slogan ‘Umoja na
\nKazi’ ‘Unity and Labour’ – there have been issues such as
\nencouraging parents to send their children to school and
\nthis year it was HIV\/AIDS awareness.<\/p>\n
One Tuesday evening 2 ladies from Mtwara Town Council
\nappeared and asked if we would be prepared to ‘host’ the
\n‘Mwenge’ breakfast on the following Thursday – 2 days later
\n– for the runners and officials – a total of 40 people. It
\nwas to consist of a cup of tea, a hard-boiled egg and a
\nbread roll. They would only stay for about 15 minutes and
\nthen move on to the next place. This seemed a simple
\nrequest and despite their pitiful budget we decided that
\nthis was a reasonable public relations exercise. I am not
\nsure that we could have refused – it would not have been a
\ndiplomatic move to turn down the opportunity to be involved
\nin this event.<\/p>\n
We had been advised to expect the runners and their
\nentourage at 10.00am but would be ready for an earlier
\narrival. So, at 9.45 we were ready and, together with
\nseveral other members of staff, I climbed up the Boma tower
\nfrom where we had a spectacular view of the bridge at the
\nfar end of Mikindani. Below us in the village we could hear
\nsinging and drums as the party atmosphere got underway.
\nAlready on the bridge was a convoy of cars, pickup trucks,
\nmotor bicycles and people. It seemed a long time before
\nthey slowly moved off but eventually they started moving,
\nand we watched this motorised cavalcade wend its way though
\nMikindani. The convoy was accompanied, as always, by crowds
\nof people, and along the route there were groups of people
\ndancing, playing drums and singing all adding to a real
\ncelebration and party atmosphere. The convoy stopped when
\nit reached the Clinic by the Friday Mosque, and
\nmessage-carrying speeches were made to the Mikindani
\npeople. Then they all moved to the open area by Livingstone
\nHouse, where the runners and officials left the crowd and
\nwalked up to the Boma for their breakfast. The crowd
\nremained down by the official cars parked outside Samaki
\nand Livingstone – it appeared that most of the people of
\nMikindani had taken a ½ day off to celebrate ‘Mwenge’.<\/p>\n
The District Commissioner and other Mtwara officials
\nenjoying their breakfast by the Boma swimming pool were
\njoined by 5 of the 6 runners – unfortunately the only girl
\nin the group was unwell, and remained sleeping in the car.
\nAfter the food had been consumed, the District Commissioner
\nstood up and made a short speech on the importance of
\n‘Mwenge’, and what it stands for, together with the honour
\nof being chosen to run throughout Tanzania for this cause.
\nAlmost as quickly as they had arrived, they all left. They
\nhad arrived half an hour late, but by 11.00 they had gone.
\nThe 40 breakfasts had grown to 42, and they had also bought
\nsome bottles of water. We certainly did not make any cash
\nprofit, but we had participated in a national event and
\nhopefully shown a little goodwill, and were proud to have
\ndone so. We were left clearing up, knowing that the next
\nvillage to receive them would have to provide lunch – a
\nmuch more extravagant meal!<\/p>\n