MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MyBB Internal: One or more warnings occurred. Please contact your administrator for assistance.
MAISHA YA SHAABAN ROBERT NA MAWAZO YAKE (M.A. Maganga) – 3

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
MAISHA YA SHAABAN ROBERT NA MAWAZO YAKE (M.A. Maganga) – 3
#1
[Image: shaabanrobert.jpg]
Baada ya miaka mitano ya ujane, Shaaban Robert akaoa mke wa pili. Ebu kwanza tujikumbushe ni nini aliyoyataja
kuhusu watu kama wajane au watawa katika Wasifu
wa Siti Binti Saad. Aliwapinga kwa kusema kuwa kukaa na kutoolewa kwa ajili
ya fahari ya kutoolewa tu, ni bure. Hakuna maana. Kwa hivyo yeye akaoa ‘msiba
ni tokeo kwa watu wote. Maisha ya ujane yalijaa tuhuma. Heshima yake ilikuwa
ndogo lakini aibu yake ilikuwa kubwa.’ Kifo kilivunja mkataba wa ndoa na akawa
hutu kuoa; akaoa ‘msichana aliyekuwa na nasaba njema na aliyepata malezi mema
vile vile’
Katika kuoa kila mara, Shaaban
alifuata mambo mawili. Kwanza alifuata uzuri wa mwili na wa tabia. Pili, ndoa
zake hakuziharakisha-alichukua muda wa kutayarisha jambo hilo. Yule wa kwanza
alichukua miaka kumi, na huyu wa pili miaka miwili. Alikuwa akimfariji ‘kama
mama na dada akaziba pengo la ujane kama mke halisi.’ Inaelekea wazo la kuoa
zaidi ya mara moja halikuwa la asili yake. Shaaban anaandika kuwa, ‘Wasutaji
wakinidhihaki kuwa nilikuwa mume wa wake wengi na tabia mbaya wakumbushwa kuwa
nilikuwa sina ahadi wala mkataba na msutaji hata mmoja kuwa sitaoa tena hali ya
mambo ikilazimisha jambo hilo.’ Mauti ndiyo yaliyotangua ahadi yake. ‘Isitoshe;
mke wangu wa kwanza aliishi na mimi kwa wakati fulani mbali, na wa pili alikuwa
na wakati wake mbali vile vile. Hawakukusanywa pamoja katika wakati mmoja wala
katika nyumba moja kama mapacha mimbani au wanyama zizini. Ningalipenda niweze
kuishi na mke mmoja tu lakini bahati haikuniamuru nifanye hivyo.’ Hivi ndivyo
alivyowaza na kufanya kuhusu ndoa.
Je, kazini nako? Kwanza inataka
tufahamu kwamba marehemu hakukaa bure bila kazi. Yale aliyowausia wanawe ndiyo
aliyoyatenda. Kwa hivyo alikuwa ni mfanya kazi. Hakuna tusomapo kwamba alikuwa
na mali aliyopenda wanawe warithi kwani alikuwa ni mtu hivi hivi; si tajiri wa
mali. Utajiri wake ulikuwa ni akili zake na nguvu za mwili wake pamoja na
mipango yake. Elimu humwezesha mtu kupata kazi ya aina fulani tu, lakini
pengine elimu pekee siyo aifanyiayo kazi mtu. Mbali na elimu, juhudi na kupenda
kazi ndio mchanganyiko wa rutuba ya mbolea na maji kazini. Matokeo yake huwa ni
matunda mema ya maendeleo kazini. Hii ni siri kubwa ya kazini. Ndiyo yaliyomo
katika kiini cha kazi. Elimu ni mlango tu wa kuingilia kazi fulani.
Katika Wasifu wa Siti Binti Saad,  Shaaban anatoa mawazo yake kuhusu kazi, na
anasema kwamba kazi lazima ipendwe, ifanywe kwa bidii, isibadilishwebadilishwe.
Kwa kufanya hivyo Siti binti Saad aliendelea vyema na kazi yake ya kuimba. Na hata
naye Shaaban hakupenda kubadilisha kazi na, mwaka alipohamishwa kwenda idara
nyingine, anasema kuwa sikuzote angependa kuwa katika idara moja.
Shaaban aliingia kazi ya ukarani
forodhani ambayo aliifanya mpaka ikafikia miaka kumi bila kubadili! Kazi hiyo,
siku za 1926, kianzio chake kilikuwa shilingi sitini kwa mwezi, lakini aliishikilia
tu! Je, hii inaonesha uvumilivu au shida ya ukosefu wa kazi nyingine? Ni wazi
jambo hili linaonesha ule moyo wa ujamaa aliokuwa nao marehemu. Kwa miaka kumi
hiyo nyongeza yake ilikuwa shilingi sitini tu! ‘Lakini, anasema, ‘kila ongezo
la mshahara lilizidisha uzito wa shughuli kulemea juu ya mabega yangu.’ Kama wewe
msomaji ni mmojawapo wa waliofanya kazi za afisi miaka hiyo, jaribu kufikiri
tena jinsi zilivyokuwa kazi nyingi, na linganisha na pato lake. Au, kama wewe
ni mfanyakazi wa siku hizi, hebu angalia jinsi kazi zilivyokatwakatwa ili
kuwepo wafanyakazi wengi wa kazi moja na jinsi ambavyo mshahara wa kazi hiyo
haukukatwakatwa kugawanyiwa hao wanaoifanya, bali kumewekwa mishahara
mbalimbali, kila mtu na wake, tena si shilingi sitini kwa mwezi! Wale ambao
hawajawa wafanyakazi nawajaribu kulinganisha mshahara huo na yale matumaini yao
tu.
Siku hizo za marehemu kulikuwa na
ubaguzi baina ya wenyeji na wageni katika kazi. Kwa wenyeji wenzake alikuwa
mfano wa kuiga. Lakini kwa wageni kazi yake nzuri ilionewa wivu, jambo ambalo
anasema aliliogopa kama alivyoiogopa tauni, na akajaribu kulikimbia kama
ikimbiwavyo njaa. Je, jambo hilo la wivu afisini alilifanyia nini? Hakuacha juhudi
mpaka uadui ukaupisha urafiki.
Mojawapo ya kazi zake ilikuwa ni
upokeaji fedha na utoaji stakabadhi-kazi yenye mtego na hatari ya kutamani
kuiba, hasa kama karani huyo kima chake cha mshahara ki mbali na fedha azionazo
na kuzishikanisha kila siku. Lakini Shaaban alikuwa imara. Anasema, ‘Kosa ni
uanadamu.’ Siku moja, kulitokea kasoro katika kazi yake hiyo: tafauti ya
upungufu wa shilingi sita! Lakini hakuwa ameziiba. Alikuwa ameziweka mahali
pasipo pake tu, na kisha akasahau. Katika kazi yake ya pili alikuwa mkubwa wa
watu wa kabila, dini na madhehebu mbalimbali. Hawa, anasema, alipatana na
kupeana msaada nao kama walikuwa “Mti-pane” usiovunjika.
Shaaban ana mengi ya kutuachia
kama kielelezo. Jinsi alivyopanda cheo ndivyo jinsi alivyoyapanua mawanda ya
jina lake katika Idara, na alijishughulisha pia kuyaswagia moyoni majina ya
wale alioshirikiana nao katika kazi yake. Kuwa hodari wa kazi, kuwa na uwezo wa
kuchukuana vyema na wafanyakazi wote wa chini na wa juu ndio mfano aliotuachia
marehemu, tuwe nao kazini.
Wafanyakazi hutazamia mabadiliko
mara kwa mara. Mabadiliko ya kazi bora ni kuongezwa mshahara na cheo, na wakati
mwingine uhamisho pia. Baada ya miaka kumi na minane forodhani Pangani Shaaban
aliyapata yote hayo mabadiliko matatu. Alipandishwa cheo cha pili katika
makarani, akapata na uhamisho wa Idara-akenda kwenye Idara ya Utunzaji wa
Wanyama huko Mpwapwa ambako alikaa kwa miaka miwili.
Hapa sitahakiki kazi yake huko
Mpwapwa maadamu ilikuwa nzuri kama kawaida yake. Badala yake, nimechagua kutoa
maoni yangu kuhusu taabu na matukio yaliyimpata kuhusu uhamisho huo. Ingawa alisita,
kama wafanyakazi wengi wafanyavyo, baadaye alitambua kuwa uhamisho huwa una
sababu iliyo nzuri. Kwa kuwa alikuwa anapelekwa mahali papya kwa kazi mpya
anasema, ‘Nilijiona kama mtu aliyepewa shoka na mundu kufyeka njia mpya katika
pori kubwa.’ Aliukubali uhamisho huo kwa kutii amri ya wale waliomtunukia cheo:
‘Nilipewa amri sio uchaguzi.’ Kwa hivyo, hata kama ilikuwa ‘mkuku ng’ombe’,
ilimbidi ahame. Na bila shaka kuondoka ilikuwa ni lazima. Ndege mwenye kutua
tawini lazima aruke. Huu ndio moyo ambao marehemu angelifurahi wafanyakazi wote
kuwa nao.
Pia hakukosa shukrani. Alishukuru
kwa kupandishwa cheo bila ya kukiomba. Msomaji akumbuke kuwa mfanyakazi huwezi
kuwa na sifa bora kazini na papo wakuu wake wasimtambue kwa kumpandisha cheo. Kupandishwa
cheo si tukio la binafsi tu bali ni pamoja na cheche nzuri ziwafikiazo wakuu wa
kazi. Kabla hajenda Mpwapwa, Shaaban alirudi kwao Tanga kupumzika kwa siku
ishirini, na huko alishughulika na kuwarithisha warithi wa mali (mashamba ya
minazi) za marehemu mkwe wake na warithi wa mali za mke wake. Ingawa kulikuwa
na mzozano fulani, kama ilivyo desturi katika mambo ya urithi, Shaaban
aliyatuliza yote.
Baada ya mapumziko yake safari ya
uhamisho ikaanza; Shaaban akiwa abiria cheo cha pili kutoka Tanga hadi Mpwapwa
kupitia Korogwe, Morogoro na Gulwe. ‘Kumbe safari kweli taabu’ ni usemi wa
kweli, kama alivyoimba mwimbaji fulani. Lakini safari ya Shaaban ilikuwa ni
taabu zaidi kwa vile alikuwa Mwafrika ingawa alikuwa na cheo cha pili. Korogwe ilitokea
shida, aliposhuka kungoja safari ya lori. Anasema, ‘Karibu ningalilala nje
Korogwe kwa ukosefu wa malazi ya abiria Waafrika.’ Lakini mtu mmoja, bila shaka
ni Mwafrika mwenzake, alimchukua kwake kumpa malazi mema.
Jambo la kusikitisha zaidi
lilifanyika keshoye Asubuhi alipolazimishwa na Mhindi, msimamizi wa safari,
ashuke kutoka lori la abiria wa cheo cha pili apande lile la cheo cha tatu au
la mizigo kuwapisha nafasi Wahindi wane waliochelewa kuja. Yeye na watoto wake
tu ndio waliokuwa abiria Waafrika katika lori hilo la cheo cha pili, tena
walikwisha wahi kukaa mapema. Lakini mhindi yule hakuona mtu mwingine wa
kumshusha ila Shaaban na watoto wake. ‘Baridi ina mzizimo siku zote kwa kondoo
mwenye manyoya haba’, ndivyo Shaaban alivyoandika. Baada ya kumjibu maneno ya
haki, kwamba yeye naye alikuwa ni abiria wa cheo cha pili na mfanyakazi
Serikalini, aliendelea kukaa; na, kwa vile hakuwa na haki ya kutereshwa, Mhindi
aliwaamuru matarishi wamakamate na kumtupa chini kama mtumba. Mungu awaweke
matarishi hao; hawakutii amri! Lakini, kwa kuwa Shaaban hakupenda kuchelewa
bure Korogwe, aliita watu waje kushuhudia atendewavyo. Wengi wakampa sahihi za
mikono yao na, ingawa yule Mhindi alikataa kuandika stakabadhi ya kuonesha
namna Shaaban alivyosafiri kutoka Korogwe, Shaaban aliwapisha wale Wahindi wane
naye akapanda juu ya gari la mizigo. Lakini hatupati tena habari hii.
Kisa cha tatu ni kile cha
Mpwapwa, Kikombo. Kwa kuwa walifika saa kumi za usiku, aliambiwa akae juu ya
gari hadi saa moja Asubuhi ‘wakati mwendeshaji wetu alipoingia nyumbani mwake
kulala.’ Mpwapwa ni pahali penye baridi kali sana hasa, huo mwezi wa Julai
alipofika Shaaban. Mimi ni mzaliwa na mkulia wa huko; kwa hivyo nafahamu. Lakini
licha ya kumwacha kupigwa na baridi, kumwacha nje mtu mgeni kaka yeye, tena
mahali kama hapo, si uungwana. Na pia, kulikuwa na shida ya nyumba. Hata hivyo,
jambo kuu la Shaaban ni kwamba hakuziacha shida hivi hivi tu bila ya kutafuta
sababu zake. Na, ingawa alikuwa mfanyakazi wa ‘cheo cha juu, hakupigapiga
kelele. Alivumilia.
Katika mwaka huo huo Shaaban
akahamishwa kurudi tena Tanga. Safari hii uhamisho wake ulisababishwa na ombi
lake mwenyewe la kutaka kumwezesha bintiye aendelee na masomo ya juu huko
Tanga. Na hakuomba kwenda Tanga tu, bali kokote kwingine ambako bintiye
angeweza kusoma. Kisomo cha bintiye ni mwangwi wa mawazo yaliyomo katika tenzi
zake za usia. Shaaban anaona kuwa ni sharti watoto wapelekwe skuli;
wote-wavulana kwa wasichana. Anasema, ‘Wakati tulionao sisi sasa, kosa la
kumwelimisha mtoto haliwezi kusameheka hata kidogo pasipo mapatilizo. Mtoto yeyote
anyimwaye makusudi nafasi ya kujifunza matumizi yak soma, kuandika na hesabu
ana haki ya kuwalaumu wazazi wake katika maisha yake atakapojiona kuwa
amefungiwa milango yote ya kusitawi baadaye.’ Haya, sikieni wazazi!
‘Bahati ilinifanya mshairi tangu
1932.’ Hivi aanzavyo kusema juu ya ushairi wake. Mbali na kazi yake maalumu,
Shaaban alikuwa mshairi mashuhuri. Mashairi yake bado yanasomwa sana shuleni,
vyuoni na hata majumbani kwa sababu yanafunza na kutia moyo katika kupambana na
maisha ya dunia hii. Watu wengi husahau kwamba wanaweza kufanya mambo zaidi ya
moja kwa wakati mmoja, kama vile Shaaban alivyokuwa mfanyakazi na mshairi pia. Leo
tuna mfano mzuri wa Baba wa Taifa letu, Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere. Yeye ana
kazi kemkem za Uraisi na uongozi wan china, pamoja na hayo, anatoa mawazo yake
vitabuni. Mpaka sasa hivi ameandika vitabu vimgi sana ambavyo ni msingi wa
maendeleo ya nchi yetu. Hali kadhalika Shaaban naye, katika enzi zake alijishughulisha
na maandiko au fasihi. Ameandika mawazo yake kwa njia za hadithi na mashairi. Kama
Mheshimiwa Waziri wa Elimu wa mwaka 1966, Bwana Solomon N. Eliufoo, alivyosema
katika dibaji ya kitabu hiki hiki tukizungumzacho, ‘Alikuwa mshairi maarufu…..na
kila aliyewahi kusoma tungo zake…hakukosa kupata fundisho fulani…Mbinu ya
kalamu yake mpaka dakika ya kufa kwake ilikuwa ya hekima tupu (au kwa kileo
tusemavyo ya Folosofia).’ Huo ni mfano kwa wale wenye mawazo mazuri ya
kuendelezea nchi na wenye kipawa cha kuandika, waandike ili mawazo yao yasomwe
na wana wao na wa wenzi wao na vizazi hata vizazi.
Yeyote anayeipenda nchi yake
haitumikii tu bali huwa kama kipima-joto cha mahospitali. Huweza kuona hali ya
nchi ilivyo, akafanya kila bidii ili kuleta maendeleo. Kufanya hivyo
kunategemea wakati na mazingira yenyewe. Shaaban anaonesha kuwa aliipenda sana
nchi yake Tanganyika. Kwanza aliitumikia bila manung’uniko na kwa bidii zake
zote, kisha akaipigania kuikomboa iwe huru. Lakini vipi? Alikuwa na ari ya
siasa. Anasema, ‘Alivyokuwa kila mtu ndivyo nilivyokuwa mimi vile vile. Nilitekwa
na uzalendo….Sikupenda kuwa mgeni katika nchi ya asili na uzazi wangu. Sikutaka
kuwa mtazamaji wakati wananchi wengine walipokuwa wachezaji, nikajiunga na
chama….cha siasa cha Waafrika kilichoundwa…1929.’ Hiki ndicho chama kilichokuwa
asili ya TANU ambacho kilizaliwa 1954 kikawa na wanachama wengi zaidi na
kupigania uhuru na utawala chini ya uongozi wa Julius Nyerere.
Serikali haikupenda wafanyakazi
wake wawe wafuasi wa chama cha 1929, kama ambavyo vile vile haikupenda wawe
wafuasi wa kile cha 1954. Kwa hivyo ilijitahidi kila mara kuwawekea vipingamizi
na hatimaye ikawazuia kabisa kuwa wanachama. Mawazo yake Shaaban juu ya Rais wa
chama na wakuu wenzake ambao kazi zao zilikuwa ni za kujitolea yalikuwa ni
kuwaonea huruma na kuwatia moyo kupigana vita hivyo.
Huku kazi, huku siasa, na huku
uandishi. Yote haya aliyafanya Sheikh Shaaban. Katika fasihi yake Shaaban
alichukua wazo juu ya ujane kwa kufikiria ubora na ubaya wake kwa nchi yake
yenye eneo la maili mraba 365,000 iliyokuwa na jumla ya watu chini ya milioni
10. Ushairi ndio sanaa aliyoitumia kutolea mawazo yake juu ya ujane, akasema, ‘Ujane
una matata si jambo la kutumia.’ Mara dhoruba ya ukinzani ikaanza, huyu akisema
hivi na yule hivi hata magazeti mazuri yakachafuka. Lakini, hata hivyo, alipata
watetezi wengi walioandika kutetea ujane, nay eye mwenyewe binafsi alipenda
nchi ijae watu-lakini sharti watu hao wawe wamezaliwa kwa ndoa ya halali. Ndipo
aliposema:
‘Mume ni
mume, ingawa gumegume, ana sifa ya Mtume;
Na mke ni
mke, ingawa kikwekwe, ana manufaa yake.’
Katika mwaka 1959 ikambidi kuacha
kazi. Akawa amefanya kazi miaka 33, na umri wake miaka 57. Kwa kazi zote
alizozifanya, pamoja na dhiki za mahamisho mengi, cheo chake hakikupanda zaidi
ya ukarani! Mtu kama yeye, kama ingekuwa anaacha kazi leo, angepewa zawadi
nyingi-kiinua mgongo. Angefanyiwa karamu na kuletewa kalamu mbalimbali za
shukrani kwa kazi alizofanya, na pia kumtakia heri kwa siku zake za usoni. Lakini
haya Shaaban hakuwa na bahati nayo. Mzungu mmoja tu ndiye aliyempelekea zawadi.
Hata hivyo Shaaban hakunung’unika. Kwake yeye ushairi na kalamu ya kuandika
ndivyo vitu vilivyokuwa bora zaidi! Anasema, ‘Mbinu hufuata mwendo. Mwendo niliopenda
kabisa maishani ulikuwa huu.’ Kisha baada ya kustaafu, Shaaban alimshukuru
Mwenyezi Mungu aliyemlinda na kumwendeleza kazini, na kuwa naye siku zote
katika miaka yote ile 33 ya usumbufu.
Jambo moja zaidi, ambalo hakuna
aliyelitazamia, lilitokea. Alidaiwa kurudisha gharama ya usafiri iliyotolewa
idhini na Mudir  wa Idara alipostaafu. Sababu?
Waliokuwa wakipata usafiri wa bure ni wale waliokuwa wakirudi kazini au makwao
nje ya Tanganyika! Yeye Mwafrika Mtanganyika safari ya kurudi nyumbani kwao
ilionekana kama ambaye anakwenda ‘Uingereza au Bara Hindi.’
Shaaban Robert hakuwa mzalendo
mwenye kuipenda, kuitumikia, na kuipigania Tanganyika tu, bali pia alikuwa na
ule moyo wa kutaka kuwaona binadamu wote ni sawa. Kwa hivyo, mawazo yake
yalivuka mpaka wa shida za Tanganyika, akalifikiria bara zima la Afrika. Jicho lake
la mawazo likatua huko Afrika Kusini ambako Kaburu hadi leo bado anawanyonya na
kuwabagua watu weusi ambao ndio wananchi halisi. Shaaban hakuvumilia ukatili
uliotendeka huko na uliutia moyo wake machungu. Maoni yake kuhusu usawa wa
binadamu wote ni hivi: ‘Wajibu wa watu katika maisha ni kuwiana hisani, usawa,
adabu, heshima na mapenzi…Katika Afrika Kusini wajibu huu ulimezwa na ubaguzi
wa kutisha. Watu waliusiana chuki, kiasi na makanio. Pumzi ya kila mmoja ilijaa
hofu, kutoridhika na manung’uniko, sumu juu ya sumu.
Shaaban alifurahi kuona Serikali
ya Tanganyika huru ikivunja uhusiano wa Kibiashara na Afrika Kusini ‘mpaka
tabia yake itakapokuwa imebadilika kuwa njema na ya amani kwa watu wa rangi
zote.’ Na ndivyo Serikali yetu ilivyofanya hadi leo hii. Biashara nyingi
ziliathirika kwa msuso huo. Hata yeye Shaaban, baadhi ya kazi zake za sanaa ya
ufasihi-zilizokuwa zinapigwa chapa na Chuo Kikuu cha Witwatersrand, kama Kielezo cha Insha ambacho sasa
kinachapwa na Oxford University Press-ziliathirika. Mawazo yake juu ya athari hiyo
ni haya: ‘Walakini, ikiwa change ndogo kama ilivyokuwa yangu mimi ya sadaka,
ilisaidia kupatikana kwa ufanifu wa uhuru na amani kwa watu katika Afrika Kusini,
hasara hii ilikuwa si kubwa ilinganishwapo na furaha ya ushindi uliotazamiwa
kuja kwa watu mwisho; ushindi uliokuwa si wa mweupe, mwekundu wala mweusi,
lakini uliokuwa wa wote; na fahari ya kila taifa katika dunia.’ Yeye alikuwa na
nia moja tu: kukomboa utukufu wa mwanadamu, hata kama ilikuwa kwa kujitoa
mhanga.
Kazi za uandishi za Shaaban ni
nyingi, nazo zilipata neema kwa vile baadaye vitabu vyake vilipata kupigwa
chapa hapa hapa Tanzania. Pia huko Kenya kazi zake nyingi zilipigwa chapa, na
Julai 1960 duka lake likafunguliwa. Alipoona wengi hawanunui vitabu vyake
aliwapa bure. Wakamshukuru, naye akafurahi kwa mara nyingine tena kwa change ya
namna hii. Kutoa misaada kwa namna hii ni tendo la kiujamaa. Hivyo ndivyo
alivyojaribu kuitenga nafsi yake kando ili awatumikie watu. Kama alivyomuusia
mwanawe, mwenye msaada ampe asiye nao. Shaaban alitoa alichokuwa nacho.
 Hivi nivyo alivyoishi mtu aliyetoa mawazo yake
katika Wasifu wa Siti binti Saad na Adili na Nduguze na mahali pengi
pengine. Je alitimiza lengo lake la kuwa na ‘jina’ ulimwenguni? Msomaji utaweza
kulijibu swali hilo wewe mwenyewe. Mimi naona maisha yake ni kielelezo kikubwa,
na yalikuwa ni msingi mkubwa wa maendeleo ya nchi yetu.
Katika kuhakiki vitabu viwili vya
kwanza nilisema lengo kuu la Shaaban kuandika ni kutaka watu waishi kwa
kupendana. Huu ndio msingi wa kuishi kwa Kujitegemea
na kuishi kwa ujamaa. Tumemwona alivyoishi
na wakeze, wanawe, wafanyakazi wenziwe, wananchi wa Tanganyika, na hata jinsi
alivyotandaza mawazo yake kwa wanaadamu wote. Matendo yake yatakamilisha mawazo
yake.
Maisha ya Shaaban Robert, kama
yalivyoandikwa katika Maisha Yangu na
Baada ya Miaka Hamsini, yameandikwa na Shaaban mwenyewe. Wengine wanaweza
kusema kwamba hakujiweka kwenye mizani na kujiandika bila kujipendelea. Mimi naona
amejiandika bila kujipa jambo lolote lisilo lake, wala hakujirefushia jambo
lolote ambalo ni fupi. Amekuwa na kiasi. ‘Maisha yalikuwa matendo, siyo
usingizi,’
 
Na sasa tumeona kwamba ingawa
maisha ya mtu yanafungamana na pengine huongozwa, na mazingira yake-binadamu
wenzake, mahali alipo, na wakati wenyewe aishio-yeye mwenyewe ndiye mwenye
jukumu lote kwa yale ayajazayo katika nafasi ile. Mawazo ya kujitegemea, kama
ayatoavyo Shaaban katika Wasifu wa Siti
Binti Saad, na mawazo ya ujamaa yaliyomo katika Adili na Nduguze na popote pale, yamo tena katika Maisha Yangu na Baada ya Miaka Hamsini.
Mwl Maeda
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 2 Guest(s)