- Samia aulogises him as true hero, champion of public sector reforms
Mafuru, who passed away on November 9th, this year at Apollo Hospital in India where he was hospitalised, will be laid to rest today at Kwa Kondo Cemetery at Tegeta, Dar es Salaam.
Speaking during the national funeral service, the Head of State called on Tanzanians to emulate the late Mafuru by working hard, demonstrating professionalism and patriotism for the betterment of the citizens and the country’s growth.
In a heartfelt tribute, President Samia credited the ongoing reforms in the country’s public entities to the late Ma- furu’s contributions.
President Samia emphasised that the public sector reforms initiated during Mr Mafuru’s tenure as Treasury Registrar (TR) between 2014 and 2016 have had a lasting and positive impact on the nation.
“These reforms, which have been successfully carried forward by the current Trea- sury Registrar, Mr Nehemiah Mchechu, were first set in motion by Lawrence (Mafuru),” President Samia said.
The president further said that her decision to appoint Mr Mafuru as Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission in July last year was not coincidental, but a recognition of his exemplary professional history.
“Lawrence was a great gift to our nation. He was one of Tanzania’s true heroes,” President Samia remarked.
She added: “Whether in the private sector or later in the public sector, Lawrence worked with exceptional pro- fessionalism. Indeed, he leaves an indelible mark to this nation.” She highlighted the invaluable lessons and contributions Mafuru imparted to the nation during his lifetime.
“Despite the great loss he has left us with, Mafuru also imparted many lessons to all of us, one of the most important being that we should contribute to the society as much as we can, while we are alive,” President Samia remarked.
“Mafuru gave his all, adapting to different environ- ments with skills and grace. As, I have often said, this na- tion belongs to all of us and each of us has the right and duty to contribute to its devel- opment,” she said.
President Samia said the late Mafuru played a significant role to leveraging both public and private sector knowledge and expertise to build a stronger nation.
She said Mafuru’s career journey was a testament to this, having started in the private sector at institutions like Standard Chartered Bank and NBC Bank, where he gained extensive experience.
She said when late Mafuru transitioned to the public sector, joining the Office of the President in the Presidential Delivery Review under the “Big Results Now” initiative, he demonstrated an unparaleled ability to adapt quickly to government protocols without compromising his efficient work ethic and the professional culture from his private sector background.
Late Mafuru’s seamless integration into the public sector showcased the potential for private sector professionals to contribute meaningfully to public service, said the president. “Anyone in the private sector can learn from the late Mafuru that joining public service is not a limitation to one’s career but rather an expansion of one’s impact,” President Samia noted.
She also called upon all government leaders to recognise and commend their team members for their good work.
“When those under our leadership perform well, we should not hesitate to appreci- ate and encourage them. Let’s praise them while they are still alive,” she said. She described Mafuru as a unique asset to the nation, both a devout man of faith and a dedicated leader.
“He demonstrated heroism through his hard work and dedication to his country. I can confidently say that the late Mafuru was a hero for our na- tion,” she declared.
Appointed as Commissioner of Policy in the then Ministry of Finance and Plan- ning, TR and later as Deputy Permanent Secretary for Economic Policy, Mafuru played a pivotal role in transforming public entities.
In 2023, President Samia appointed him as the Planning Commission Executive Secretary where he left a significant mark by establishing robust institutional systems and steering the commission’s first meeting on May 26, this year.
His contributions were critical in drafting the national development vision, which President Samia praised for its promise. Recalling their last profes- sional interaction,
President Samia shared, “During the dollar shortage, I formed a committee led by Mr Nehemia Mchechu and supported by Mafuru.
He confidently assured me, ‘If we follow this plan, the challenge will be resolved soon,’ and indeed, it was.” President Samia expressed profound loss at his passing but found comfort in knowing that during his life, late Mafuru was aware of the nation’s deep appreciation for his work.
Daily News
No comments:
Post a Comment