The world is still digesting the news that the international athletics body is considering banning one of Africa’s top athletes from competing again unless she takes drugs to lower her testosterone levels. The reigning women’s 800meter champion, Caster MokgadiSemenya lost an appeal to a decision banning her from competing with other women because her body naturally produces a lot more testosterone and thus gives her a competitive edge over other women athletes. I must confess that the scientific bit of her saga is confusing to me now as it was back in school when the topic of genetics was being taught. What I know is that all high achieving sports personalities were naturally gifted in a way that gives them a competitive edge over the rest of us. I hope the IAAF has thought about the precedent they are setting here. The stakes in sports keep growing and this has resulted into more scrutiny into all competitions. Look at football and its Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for example. Closer home, the passing of Dr Reginald Mengi came as a huge blow to East Africa as a region. The Tanzanian tycoon passed away in Dubai where he had gone to seek medical treatment. Many outside Tanzania may not have known who Mengi was besides the usual businessman and philanthropist accolade and yet Mengi owned one of the largest media conglomerates in Africa, IPP Media which runs a total of 11 newspapers, radio and television stations as well as internet properties. He also owns Bonite Bottlers, the sole bottler of Coca-Cola products in Moshi, Tanzania as well as Kilimanjaro brand of bottled water. He built his empire starting with a pen assembly factory and when the money was indeed a lot, he was kind with it, sending so many children with heart ailments to India for treatment among other things. Building a media empire in East Africa is no mean feat and Mengi deserves all the accolades in this regard. I have mentioned before in these pages that the business community, sometimes without knowing, shapes the concept of the East African Community. For example, Dr Mengi’s East Africa TV and Radio that used to broadcast beyond Tanzania did a lot in popularising Tanzanian music but also East African music in general. It was through the videos on East Africa TV that many got introduced to what was then referred to as Bongo Flava with the likes of Professor Jay, Mr Blue, SaidaKaroli, Ferooz, Juma Nature, Mwana FA, A.Y and many other artistes. The Tanzanians also got to know about music outside their borders especially when the artistes put together enough Swahili lines to keep the attention of the good folks from the land of Nyerere. Today, the music industry in the region has grown by leaps and bounds but still the Tanzanians remain ahead of the pack. With some of their musicians like Diamond Platnumz even owning media houses of their own. It was during the peak era of EATV and EA Radio that DJs started appreciating East African music and would play it as a whole session in clubs around the region. I know a veteran journalist who argues that you can tell a country’s development by looking at the news stand the moment you land at the airport. I had this thought when I travelled to Tanzania my first time. I was shocked to see they had broadsheet newspapers and newspaper stands with so many titles. There were so many Kiswahili papers but also some in English. During my stay, I enjoyed reading The Guardian newspaper from Dr Mengi’s IPP stable and even got inspired to do some stories for this paper. Last year, Dr Mengi launched his autobiography titled, “I can, I must, I will: The Spirit of Success.” The book that essentially talks about his life’s journey and is filled with lots of words of wisdom for those finding their feet in the business world today. In a region where the reading culture remains poor and many having to rely on oral narratives, it is really commendable when one sits down and documents things for posterity. It is always good to walk into a bookstore and find so many books by African authors. For a man whose empire included a pen factory and several newspapers, a book at the evening of his life was quite a fitting way to sign out. It is fair to say that the old man lived a full life and left a legacy worth emulating. May he rest in eternal peace. The views expressed in this article are of the author.<doc-sep>Dar es Salaam. Business leaders have said Reginald Mengi was an inspirational leader whose path to business success was extraordinary. In a tribute following Mengi’s death in Dubai on Thursday, May 2 Ali Mufuruki, the founding chairman of the CEO Roundtable of Tanzania said the departed business mogul personified private sector struggle in Tanzania. “He succeeded where many failed. He led by example to the very end,” said Mufuruki, adding that “Mengi made history by launching the first TV station on mainland Tanzania, making it possible for us to watch the 1994 World Cup live for the first time as it was played in some distant lands.” Subash Patel, the chairman of the Confederation of Tanzania Industries said Mengi’s death is a loss to the nation because he was a generous and hardworking. "I knew Mengi a long time ago. We both started business with very little money. Mengi was lucky he had some more formal education than me,” Mr Patel, who is also chairman of Motisun group told reporters on Thursday May 2. On his part the chairman for Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) Salum Shamte said the country has lost an African businessman, who always stood for the rights of the poor. Advertisement Reacting to Mengi’s death Mr Shamte said the businessman served as TPSF chairman from 2013 to 2018 and was later replaced by Esther Mkwizu whose term has also expired. “I knew him in the 1980s when he started IPP companies. He always encouraged me and told me the importance of trusting in ourselves. We have really lost an icon,” Mr Shamte noted. Mengi was one of the very few self-made billionaires in Africa, Mr Shamte noted. “His success inspired many young entrepreneurs,” Mr Shamte noted. Mr Mufuruki said Mengi made a mark as a philanthropist and he always looked out for the less fortunate amongst us. “He led the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation with grace during a challenging period spanning two political administrations,” Mr Mufurki noted adding that in Mengi’s passing the business community has lost its brightest shining light, an inspirational leader and most importantly, a good man. “My thoughts and prayers are with Mr Mengi’s family and loved ones. I pray that Allah grants them patience, fortitude and serenity during these exceptionally trying times, Mr Mufuruki who is also founder of Infotech Investment Group noted.<doc-sep>
I have received with shock and great sadness, news of the passing on of the IPP Chairman Dr Reginald Abraham Mengi. I have known Mr Mengi for so many years and to me he will go down the history as a staunch nationalist who stood for the general welfare of citizenry. He was one of the few national industrialists that we as a country have grown to be proud of. He was a selfless philanthropist, clearly discontented with extreme poverty within our society and was deeply disturbed by the perennial income disparity. He was simply an extraordinary statesman and a patriot who embodied so much that is best in our country. During my presidency, Dr Mengi, through my various interactions, made me a better president. He was always true to his opinion, even if it differed with my standpoint and that enabled me to immensely benefit from his wise counsel. His role in helping the nation to nurse the-still nascent private sector can never be over emphasized. He considered this the imperative of every citizen that aspires to see this country make developmental strides. In the midst of all this, a better way to honour Dr Mengi’s life of service is to continue being modest in our privileged positions while following his example to prove that the willingness to get in the arena and fight against extreme poverty is not the preserve of the government, it is open to all of us, and in fact it is demanded of all of us as citizens. We will honour him best by recognizing that there are some things bigger than money or fame or power, that the things that are worth spending our time energy and resources on. At his best, Dr Mengi showed us what that means. For that, we are all deeply in his debt. May God rest Dr Reginald Abraham Mengi’s soul in eternal peace. Benjamin Mkapa is former president of of Tanzania