The Commonwealth, Africa and Tanzania have paid glowing tribute to the late Dr William Shija, describing him as an education and diplomatic icon who worked devotedly in accomplishing his local and international missions.
Dr William Shija
Speaking as he delivered the government condolences shortly after the requiem mass at the St John’s Catholic Parish Nyampande area here, Dr Bilal said he will not forget the working spirit of the late Dr Shija when they worked together in the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology in 1990.
“Dr Shija is a result of current achievements that you see in the development of the higher learning institutions and the entire education sector following the hard work and spirit he demonstrated as the first permanent secretary in the ministry,” he said.
According to Dr Bilal, Tanzania was equally indebted with the dedication of the fallen patriotic leader who delivered exemplary services in all the ministries he worked in before he joined the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
The VP recalled the strong partnership with Dr Shija that resulted in the formation of the Higher Education Students Loans Board (HESLB), the Tanzania Commission of Universities (TCU) and the transformation of technical education in the country.
Apart from being a staunch lover of the Union, Dr Bilal described the late Shija as a champion of the Kiswahili language, saying he was one of the first Tanzanians to address international meetings using the language.
For her part, the CPA Chairperson, Africa Region, Ms Lindiwe Maseko from South Africa, said Dr Shija shone brilliantly when he was serving the CPA, adding that no wonder he was reappointed to the post for the second term in the history of the Association.
“CPA has been shocked over the sudden demise of this humble but very hardworking African fellow whose service in the Association was not liked by its founders, particularly the whites from the Caribbean and Pacific regions,” she said.
Ms Maseko said CPA was proud of Dr Shija, who found it in a terrible financial state when he joined it but now had left it in strong liquidity of about 9 million pounds, Africa contributing almost 60 per cent of the share.
Other messages came from the CPA Head of the Treasury, Mr Request Mntanga, who said the current successes of the CPA lied in the hands of Dr Shija, who made a lot of reforms.
Other mourners included Mr Moses Wetangula, Mr Boyi Juma Boyi, Mr Chris Wamalwa and Mr Samuel Moroto from Kenya; representatives from Cameroon, cabinet members and legislators led by the Speaker, Ms Anne Makinda, and CPA Tanzania leaders.
Dr Shija, who succumbed to prostate cancer on October 4, this year, also enters in the books of history as the first Tanzanian journalist to be awarded a PhD. He is survived by a widow and five children.
BY PIUS RUGONZIBWA, Tanzania Daily News
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