Political leaders, CEOs celebrate Bakari Machumu’s 20-year journey at MCL

Dar es Salaam. Leaders from top political parties and executives of different companies gathered on Friday September 6, 2024 to celebrate the 20-year journey of former Mwananchi Communications Ltd (MCL) managing director Bakari Machumu who retired last month.

Mr Machumu is a seasoned journalist who rose to a top executive position of the leading media company in Tanzania.

He rose from a business editor of The Citizen newspaper which is one of the MCL publications to the top position of the subsidiary of Kenya’s Nation Media Group.

The event brought together a diverse group of politicians, Mr Machumu’s family and MCL employees who shared their personal experiences of working with him and the friendships they’ve built over the years.

The chairman of Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema, Mr Freeman Mbowe, reflected on Mr Machumu’s pioneering role in the entertainment during a period when Tanzania largely overlooked the industry.

"I remember when he first started working for Business Times. He reached out for an interview to understand the entertainment business in Tanzania. At that time, the industry was largely neglected. I gave him the opportunity and our conversation helped him grasp the importance of entertainment as a major employer of young people. That was many years ago, and since then, we’ve remained friends," Mr Mbowe shared.

He also acknowledged their occasional disagreements but affirmed that their friendship has endured.

The secretary general of the ruling party CCM, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, recalled a dramatic moment from his tenure as Minister for Home Affairs.

He described how Mr Machumu called him for assistance after gunshots were heard near his work location.

“I remember I called the RPC, but he was unreachable. I also tried to reach my driver but he was unavailable. So, I thought to myself, ‘Am I not the Minister for Home Affairs?’ I took my pistol, started my car, and headed to where he was, and the robbers fled. What I remember is that he was still at work at that time. So, as friends, we take great comfort in seeing that you have completed your years as a public servant,” Dr Nchimbi said.

Former leader of the opposition ACT-Wazalendo Party, Mr Zitto Kabwe, praised Mwananchi and The Citizen newspapers for their role in enhancing accountability in Tanzanian politics.

"Many of us politicians gained prominence after being featured in Mwananchi and The Citizen. I entered parliament in 2005, a few years after the launch of Mwananchi and a year after The Citizen. The ninth Parliament was transformative, thanks in part to the role these newspapers played in advocating for accountability," Mr Kabwe said.

He also acknowledged that despite being a challenging critic, the newspapers continued to provide valuable explanations.

The government spokesperson, Mr Thobias Makoba, emphasised that as Mr Machumu concludes his tenure, it is crucial to remind those who remain in the industry that the government is neither an adversary nor a rival to the media.

"We trust that you have passed this lesson on to capable hands. We are partners in development and should collaborate to further progress," he said.

MCL acting managing director, Mr Victor Mushi, described Machumu as someone who consistently supports and guides others towards success.

"Mr Machumu has always been a motivator, pushing people to achieve their goals while fostering personal growth. I've learned that success is not just about expertise but also about maintaining high personal standards," Mr Mushi said.

MCL board chairman, Mr Leonard Mususa, highlighted Machumu’s personal growth.

“I’m a fan believer that the success of the organisation is in the quality people. If you want to start an organisation or a company, if you haven’t done so, start by hiring the best people and those best people are those who like to learn. Even myself, I’m still learning. So if you have that caliber of individual, you will succeed,” Mr Mususa said.

At the event, Mr Machumu reflected on his career, emphasising the importance of feedback as a guide in one's journey.

He shared how he cultivated a culture of feedback, focusing on strengths, areas for improvement, and performance shortcomings.

"Receiving that feedback never discouraged me because I believe that to truly grasp something, you need to share it with others. If you learn or acquire knowledge and wish to fully understand it, apply it by teaching someone else. I concentrated on those strengths. To those I may have upset, I offer my apologies today and extend my thanks. I regret any unintended mistakes and assure you they were not intentional. I use this moment to sincerely apologise," Mr Machumu said.