Sad and shocking news from Zanzibar

I have just received very sad and shocking news from Zanzibar. Our beloved Professor, Horoub Othman, passed away in his sleep. The last time I saw him was three weeks ago when we travelled together to the the third European Conference on African Studies, as usual he looked healthy and composed. I am at lost for words. I will keep you posted as soon as I get more information on the plans for the funeral among other plans.
- CHAMBI CHACAGE

My uncle, my hero, my guardian, my role model, my Prof..

The family is at lost,
Tanzania is at lost,
ZANZIBAR is at lost,
Africa is at lost,
Palestine is at lost,
The left is at lost,
U should not leave us now Prof Othman...

Not now when we need ur wisdom,
Not now when we need ur patience,
Not now when we need ur ideals,
Not now when we need ur values,
Not now when we need ur integrity,
Not now when we need u most...

Yes u have given us the most,
Yes u have stand for us during the worst,
Yes u have taught the greatest
Yes u have inspired the best,
Yes u have done ur share,
But u shouldn't leave us the earliest.....

Ur the best,
Ur the greatest,
Ur the LEFT,
Ur the THA PANAFRICANIST,
Ur the teacher, ur the wisdom, ur the hope, ur the role model, ur THA comrade, ur the friend in the struggle...
- OMAR ILYAS

I have just been informed that the funeral will take place tomorrow noon in Zanzibar. Some young intellectuals are organising to travel tomorrow to Zanzibar to join the family and other friends who are already there. There also plans to meet in the evening at the University of Dar-es-Salaam for a vigil in remembrance of our beloved Professor. Will keep you posted as soon as I get more information on these plans.

The funeral of Prof. Haroub Othman took place yesterday in Zanzibar. A number of us from this side of the ocean joined throngs of those from the beautiful Island to bid farewell to our beloved Professor, Mentor and Colleague among many other titles. I have been informed that there are plans to hold a commemoration event in the very near future at the University of Dar-es-Salaam. His wife, Prof. Saida Yahya-Othman, and son, Tahir, are still in Zanzibar. I am not sure when they will come back to Dar-es-Salaam. When they do so it would be befitting to pay them a visit.
- CHAMBI CHACAGE

This is too troubling a moment for us all; pass our condolences to Saida.
- GODWIN MURUNGA

This is so devastating. I have no words. And here I am sitting in Toronto in transit to Dar tomorrow arriving Dar on July 1st afternoon. I have no one here to share my sorrow with except Parin and amil. Don't know what to do. Feeling so helpless. I am with you in spirit. Collectively express my profound shock to Saida, my dear friend. Give the best farewell ever to my dear dear friend of over 40 years. Buriani rafiki yangu, ndugu yangu, kamaradi Haroub.
- PROFESSOR ISSA SHIVJI

What depressing news it is about Prof Othman's passing on. He was such a mentor to most of us, and motivated us over the last three decades. Issa please convey our condolences to his family
- SAM MOYO

In adding my voice to the shock and sorrow expressed here, which is shared with others I have been talking to who knew him, I am also struck by what an immense contribution Mwalimu made in his life to so many. This week, we have visiting us in Nairobi a young graduate student from Tanzania, who was the first to break the news to me on Monday morning as soon as I got into work, and I am impressed by how Prof touched lives even amongst those he did not directly teach or interact with. As those who had known even slightly (or known of him) shared about him to those who did not, the sense of loss was tangible amongst us all.

We often talk about the celebration of a life – and certainly, here is one that is to be celebrated as a teacher (in the true sense of the word), a mentor and a role model. Please pass on our condolences and gratitude for a life well lived to his family.
- MSHAI MWANGOLA

On the sideline of Mwalimu Nyerere Intellectual festival, April in Dar es Salaam university... Dr Willy Mutunga who happened to have been a student in Dar ... invited me to greet his Professor, a great teacher Prof Haroub... He defended the unity of Tanzania and he said in one of the debates that he was navigating on unity of Tanzania during the intellectual festival.. that he, HOPED in his lifetime Tanzania will remain in Peace and United... I also captured another one from Prof Horoub Othman... That...Mwalimu... in reference to Nyerere... Delayed Tanzania independence to wait for Kenya... independence in order to unite Kenya and Uganda to create an East africa state.

I send my comradley... condolences to students of UDSM and Prof Issa Shivji, Prof Chris Maina Peter. Willy Mutunga... and all comrades.

It was great while we were in Dar, Prof Haroub also wellcomed as students and non-students , peasnts , workers... etc to enter in classes Dar es Salaam University , If we wished... to learn a bit... a privilege today reserved for middle class family...
He inspired my hope... that university education can be democratised and qualification and acess to the university education be only the desire to learn.

Am sure Cabral, Fanon and Walter Rodney... will well come his remains in the... Immortal intellectuals revolutionary square in the soil of africa and Latin America...for the south- south students. Aluta Continua... Mwalimu.
- GACHEKE GACHIHI