Meet Madaraka, President Nyerere’s son who summited Mount Kilimanjaro 12 times to raise funds for schools

He has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro 13 times, reaching the summit on 12 occasions.

Now, at 64 years old, he is preparing for yet another journey to the top of Africa's highest peak.

Ironically, the motivation to climb the highest free-standing mountain in the world came from people constantly asking him if he had done so whenever he travelled abroad.

“Whenever I am out of the country and I introduce myself as a Tanzanian, one of their first questions would always be if I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro,” he grinned.

Before his first summit in 2008, he credits his Spanish friend for influencing his decision to look at the possibility of ascending to the snow-capped peak.

The friend, who by then had climbed Kilimanjaro 10 times, would always tell Madaraka of his expedition.

"I felt ashamed that a foreigner from Spain had climbed the mountain 10 times, while I, a Tanzanian, had never done so," he explained.

That pushed Madaraka into climbing Kilimanjaro.

In his mind, he simply wanted to climb it once to check it off his bucket list.

Procrastination loomed, and he would often talk about his desire to conquer the mountain but never attempt it.

Seven years passed, and he had not set foot at the mountain's base.

On one occasion, he had the pleasure of meeting retired Major General Mrisho Sarakikya, an avid mountaineer whose Kilimanjaro expeditions Madaraka deeply admired.

Madaraka shared his plans to summit the mountain with him.

Sarakikya cautioned him not to become like many Tanzanians he encounters, who express intentions to climb our beloved mountain but never follow through with action.

With that word of caution, Madaraka had to come up with a way that would bind him into fulfilling his dream.

A chance encounter with the headmaster of a local school gave him a new purpose.

The teacher from Chief Wanzagi Secondary School asked him to climb the mountain to raise funds for their school.

When he consented, the school proudly proclaimed that Madaraka would be ascending to raise funds for them.

Jubilation swept through the community as they eagerly anticipated the day he would commence his ascent.

What had initially been a personal ambition to conquer Kilimanjaro had now evolved into a monumental endeavour for a greater cause.

He had to do it for the students

Fate intervened when his Spanish friend introduced him to Lee, a seasoned mountaineer from Vietnam.

 This fortunate connection significantly bolstered his confidence to embark on the ascent.

Lee became handy in Madaraka’s navigation through the mountain trails; his first summit was without major incidents.

Since then, he has devoted much of his climbing efforts to fundraising for numerous schools across the country.

"I have climbed to support Nyegina Secondary School in Musoma and Loreto Secondary School in Mwanza," he recollects.

He frequently opted to raise funds for educational causes as a tribute to his father, Julius Nyerere, Tanzania's founding President known affectionately as Mwalimu (teacher), who staunchly advocated for quality education for all citizens.

Contrary to what many believe, Madaraka says climbing Kilimanjaro is more psychological than physical.

He attributes 40 percent of the challenge to physical endurance and says that the remaining 60 percent hinges on one's mental strength, which ultimately determines success in reaching the summit.

He recounted instances where he ascended the mountain without his customary three-month physical preparation regimen and still successfully reached the summit.

“Your mental strength is more important than your physical,” he affirmed.

He emphasises that determination and a relentless mental attitude are crucial, as the body will inevitably tire during the climb.

It's the strength of one's mind that must prevail, pushing them forward towards their goal.

“You have to say it in your mind that if a 65 or 80-year-old can summit, why not me?” he said.

Madaraka highlighted that the never-give-up attitude extends beyond mountain climbing to everyday life.

In moments of failure, one should identify areas for improvement. Madaraka emphasises the importance of perseverance and resilience, urging individuals to never abandon their goals.

“When you fail and make a second attempt, always look at how you can approach problems differently to overcome the barrier and reach your goals,” he advised.

Madaraka draws a parallel between life's journey and climbing Kilimanjaro, noting that both involve varied terrain.

He explains that while climbing, there are phases of descent, when climbers meet the terrain that goes downhill, followed by ascent, when climbers start climbing again.

This mirrors life's ups and downs.

This cyclical nature, he suggests, exemplifies the challenges and triumphs encountered along life's path.

Madaraka has consistently championed tourism activities, not just mountain climbing.

His affinity for diverse experiences in tourism was sparked when he accompanied a Scottish cyclist passing through Tanzania en route to South Africa, prompting him to venture into cycling himself.

“He came from the United Kingdom; he had travelled across Europe and was heading to South Africa. I asked him if he could bring his bike to Butiama so that I could escort him for a short distance,” Madaraka remembers.

After that, Madaraka became a constant rider, and a chance encounter with a fellow cyclist, Gabriel Landa, would eventually lead to the formation of the ‘Twende Butiama’ cyclist group, an initiative that has enormously helped increase the number of tourists coming to Butiama.

As Independence Day approaches, Madaraka is preparing to embark on another ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This time, he will join Zara Tanzania Adventures, an indigenous tour company that annually organises a special trip to Africa's highest peak from December 5th to 9th in celebration of Independence Day.

Madaraka eagerly anticipates being part of this expeditionary group trekking towards the summit.

"It is widely documented that on December 9, 1961, as the British flag was lowered at the national stadium in Dar es Salaam, marking the end of colonial rule in our land, Brigadier Alexander Nyirenda hoisted our own flag atop Mount Kilimanjaro. Our summit on Independence Day is a tribute to this historic event," Madaraka explained passionately.

Madaraka pointed out that there are times when we might overlook the importance of our independence, yet the freedom we cherish remains a fundamental necessity for all Tanzanians.

He emphasised that freedom is intricately linked with peace; without peace, both personal prosperity and national progress are unattainable.

Madaraka stressed the importance of fostering an environment where peace and freedom accommodate diverse perspectives and open discourse, which is particularly crucial during electoral processes and throughout governance.

As he prepares to climb Mount Kilimanjaro on Independence Day, Madaraka expresses hope that these values will remain ingrained in the hearts of all Tanzanians.

Despite having summited the mountain 13 times, and at the age of 64, he firmly believes age poses no barrier to his ambitions.

While acknowledging that each climb doesn't become easier with time, he draws strength from his accumulated experience, knowing well the challenges that lie ahead, a benefit he has over first-time climbers.