DAR ES SALAAM: LEADERS in the country have been urged to groom a culture of writing books so that whatever they speak today is kept, remembered and implemented by the next generations.
Making the revelation during the launch of his book titled ‘A Journey of My Life, Speeches and Writing, Ambassador Juma Volter Mwapachu in Dar es Salaam over the weekend noted that despite being old and retired, he was still reading books to get updated so that the coming generation will get insights of what took place during their absence.
“The only way to share ideas and experiences with the coming generations is to write books and encourage also our leaders to constantly read so that the young generations find a basis to grow on the line,” he pointed out.
He further said that writing is a basic need for anyone to share experiences, adding that it helps in transformation of knowledge, skills, extending history to other generations.
Elaborating, Amb Mwapachu, who was former East African Community Secretary General, further said the writing was in a way leaving behind a legacy to the youth that knowledge acquisition has no end.
“One of my greatest and most enduring gifts is to be the inspiration and pass knowledge to others.”
This conforms to an African proverb that when an old man dies, a library burns to the ground. We have to open and read them. Usually, it’s not until we’re older that we appreciate the wisdom in the libraries of those who have come before.
Amb Mwapachu said the book is both in terms of life lessons for individuals and policy choices for the country, adding that it has deep observations collected from his personal speeches and interspersed with humour to the readers.
“Courage and vision and a drive to always do something different and push the boundaries are consistent themes throughout the book with real practical examples of the power of entrepreneurship allied to a strong sense of purpose,” Amb Mwapachu highlighted.
“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage,” he added.
Commenting on the book, one of Africa’s leading experts on law and development issues, Prof Issa Shivji, who is also Tanzanian author and academic of several books, said Amb Mwapachu has well balanced life between being a politician and an intellectual.
He noted that reading the book makes one to realise that what counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived, it is the difference we have made to the lives of others that determines the significance of the life we lead.
Source : Daily News
