VARDA ARTS

Former President of Tanzania, Hon. Ali Hassan Mwinyi had a great sense of humor.. While presenting him our music album, he asked "Varda Arts Maridadi au Jamila?" We said, "Hakuna kama Mzee Ruksa!" The point to be noted here about his greatness is being a President, he humorously gave us a message with kind appreciation that he knew 'Varda Arts' and our songs 'Maridadi' & 'Jamila' !! When we told him "No one like Mzee Ruksa," it came out from the chore of our heart as we really meant it and was not just to please him.. I would like to share with you an incident about this great leader.. In the year 2009, our President delivered a perfect message when he preached peaceful coexistence between Muslims & Christians when a 26 year old rascal Ibrahim Said emerged from the congregation, walked up to the podium landing a slap on Mzee Mwinyi's flaccid cheek.. Our President pardoned him and did not arrest him portraying high command of tolerance.. To have such goodness and to be a good human being, there is always a price to pay.. The slap might be the cost of calmness, modesty and integrity.. Though all the religious scriptures of the world teach us tolerance, yet how many of us practically apply in our daily life? We become victim of our ego and we take revenge to satisfy ourselves against those who are identified as uncivilized ignoramus people of the Stone Age.. The Bible states : Mathew 5:38 or Luke 6:29.. "On his own part he (Jesus) was not merely slapped on the cheek..He was thrashed with sticks and all manner of straps before he was nailed on to the cross.. Yet, none of his torturers was arrested, as he expired, he asked God to forgive all.."
We pray to God to bless our country with a tolerant & humble President like Mzee Mwinyi in the forthcoming election!!