The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Salma Said
30 June 2009
Zanzibar — Hundreds of Zanzibar residents led by Chief Minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha. Yesterday participated in the burial of Prof Haroub Othman of the University of Dar es Salaam.
Academicians, diplomats, political and religious leaders, turned up to pay their last respect to the renowned don who passed away suddenly in Zanzibar on Sunday morning.
Reading Prof Othman's profile, the Algeria ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Abdelmoun'aam Ahriz, said the late Prof Othman was a staunch fighter for human rights and democracy.
"We had invited him next month for the African festival in Algeria, but God has denied us the pleasure of having him during the occasion," he said.
Earlier, the UDSM vice-chancellor, Prof Rwekaza Mukandala, described Prof Othman as a person with wider perspective, humble and principled.
"He was confident and ready to assist others mainly students who joined UDSM his death is a blow to many people," he said.
Prof Mukandala said Prof Othman was instrumental in establishment of Research on Democracy and Education in Tanzania (Redet).
The Zanzibar Lawyers Association chairman, Mr Hamid Mbweleni, said Prof Othman would be remembered for his boldness even when it involved pointing an accusing finger to the authorities.
He used the recent demolition exercise carried out by the Zanzibar government as an example.
"While we remained quite, Prof Othman publicly denounced the action, saying it was against the principles of good governance," he said.
The Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) secretary general, Mr Kajubi Mukajanga, described Prof Othman as a person who was ready to assist whenever he was asked to.
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