Maria Sarungi, siblings pay tribute to late father from afar

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi and her siblings, Martin and Emöke, paid tribute to their father from abroad through recorded voice messages. 

The late Prof Philemon Sarungi, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon, Member of Parliament, former Cabinet minister, and regional commissioner, passed away last week at the age of 88. 

Members of the public, government officials, politicians, and other leaders joined the rest of the family yesterday to pay their final respects during a ceremony held at Karimjee grounds in Dar es Salaam, before his body was laid to rest at the Kinondoni Cemetery in the city. 

Maria, residing in Nairobi, Kenya, cited security concerns beyond her control as the reason for her absence, while Martin and Emöke did not specify their reasons. 

In her recorded message, Maria reflected on her father's teachings, emphasising that “life is a struggle,” a theme he elaborated in his book Maisha ni Mapambano, which underscored equality, courage, and humanity. 

"He told us that people from all walks of life are equal," she said. 

Maria said that, beyond his public roles, they were fortunate to know him as their father and life mentor. She noted his unwavering commitment to assisting others, even after retirement. 

"He was never wealthy in material possessions but was rich in relationships, and your presence here is a testament to the love and respect he garnered in society," she added. 

She also mentioned that their father instilled in them values of trust, faith, and reverence for God, along with a deep love for Tanzania and a commitment to serve the nation selflessly. 

"Although I cannot attend due to security reasons beyond my control, I believe we will meet again in the hereafter, father," she concluded. 

In her message, Dr Emöke Sarungi expressed gratitude for her father's life, recalling their recent encounters and expressing belief in his continued presence through his grandchildren. 

"I love you and will remember you. We love you and will remember you. May God grant you eternal peace," she said. 

Martin Sarungi echoed similar sentiments, vowing to cherish his father's teachings and uphold his legacy. 

In addition to the children's tributes, Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu praised Prof Sarungi's dedication to the nation. 

"He fought his battles well and protected his country," Mr Lissu remarked, noting that, despite not being one of his orthopaedic students, he has learned much about orthopaedics in his life, acknowledging Prof Sarungi's contributions to the field. 

"We are here to celebrate the life of this exceptional Tanzanian. His presence shows that we can still build a better country," Mr Lissu added. 

Mr Lissu said that he recently met with former President Jakaya Kikwete, who reminisced about frequent debates with Prof Sarungi regarding Simba and Yanga football clubs. 

“What more can be said? I believe that having people like him in this world makes life better. The existence of individuals like Sarungi reassures us that we can still build a better nation and society,” he said. 

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila called on society to recognise and honour individuals for their contributions while they are still alive rather than waiting until after their passing. 

“He did a lot for our country and was fortunate to live for nearly 90 years. Many tributes have been shared here about Mzee Sarungi, but perhaps we made a mistake by expressing all these after his passing. Had these proposals been put forward during his lifetime, he would have been delighted to see institutions like MOI renamed in his honour,” Mr Chalamila said. 

“The challenge we face is that, once someone has passed away, we sometimes speak the truth, while at other times, we search for words to say at the funeral. It is crucial that, when you have the opportunity to know someone, you do well for them while they are still alive so that they can depart knowing they were appreciated,” he added.