Book Review. from GOATHERD to GOVERNOR: The Autobiography of EDWIN MTEI.
27 views
Skip to first unread message
Adam Foya
Oct 28, 2009, 9:06:17 AM10/28/09
to Marafiki wa Vitabu - Friend's of Books
from GOATHERD to GOVERNOR: The Autobiography of EDWIN MTEI. By Edwin
Mtei.
Publisher: Mkuki na Nyota, October 2009.
A brief book review.
This is a new book officially launched on 27th October 2009 at British
Council by Reginald Mengi. It is a story well and timely written by
Mtei himself, aptly titled from GOATHERD to GOVERNOR: The
Autobiography of EDWIN MTEI, revealing his life from a boy who looking
after his families’ goats at Marangu Moshi (sharing with his mother
and sister a bed covered with dry banana stalks as a mattress) to a
senior person serving as the first Governor of Bank of Tanzania,
Minister of Finance and later Executive Director of IMF (based at
Washington DC and probably sleeping in 5 start hotels around the
world).
Mzee Mtei has done a commendable work for documenting his life and
times give information about facts and situation which were not well
know or clear to some if not majority. He is also making records
straight. In Chapter 17: Events Leading to My Resignation, he recounts
his role in negotiation between Tanzania and IMF and WB. The proposal
included programme of adjustment measures and the provision of credit
facility to support on balance-of-payment. Keys areas which I think
were reason for differing with President Nyerere was on devaluation of
Tanzania Shilling and change in ownership and or operation of publicly-
owned corporation which by then were bankrupt or making loss. Mzee
Mtei narrates about a courtesy visit he and negotiation team paid to
Nyereres’ residential place. During the talk, Nyerere was unhappy and
agitated, he thanked the IMF delegate and abruptly stood and left them
standing at meeting places and walked to the beach. Mtei followed him
to beach, where Nyerere told him “I will devalue the Shilling over my
dead body”. After this meeting, it when Mtei realised he could not
cross over Mwalimu who rejected Tanzania being ‘run’ from Washington.
He decided to tender his hand-written resignation letter as it was on
public holiday and no secretary to type it.
After getting the book I just read the introduction, Chapter One: My
Life in Summary and due to curiosity of his resignation went to read
Chapter 17 and some few chapters. He started writing the book in 2004,
but due to many reasons, he had some breaks and postponing but finally
it has launched and he is working on its translation to Kiswahili
(which is very usefully, as many will have chance to read it).
The book is not about Mtei alone, but his times, people and social,
political and economics of various historical events and trends. His
commitment to write the book will contribute to their understanding
and make us reflect and think more about them. Most of chapters are
short and it contains allot of interesting pictures.
Though, I have just read some few chapters, but I recommend the book
to everyone who wants to understand Edwin Mtei, his times and get
information of his role in establishing Bank of Tanzania and CHADEMA.
In his launching speech Mr. Mengi characterized, Mzee Mtei as: honest
(who calls a spade spade), person of integrity, courageous and
intellectual stubborn.
This is my quick review; full book review is yet to come after
finishing it, hoping it will be soon rather than later.
©Adam Jackson Foya
Mtei.
Publisher: Mkuki na Nyota, October 2009.
A brief book review.
This is a new book officially launched on 27th October 2009 at British
Council by Reginald Mengi. It is a story well and timely written by
Mtei himself, aptly titled from GOATHERD to GOVERNOR: The
Autobiography of EDWIN MTEI, revealing his life from a boy who looking
after his families’ goats at Marangu Moshi (sharing with his mother
and sister a bed covered with dry banana stalks as a mattress) to a
senior person serving as the first Governor of Bank of Tanzania,
Minister of Finance and later Executive Director of IMF (based at
Washington DC and probably sleeping in 5 start hotels around the
world).
Mzee Mtei has done a commendable work for documenting his life and
times give information about facts and situation which were not well
know or clear to some if not majority. He is also making records
straight. In Chapter 17: Events Leading to My Resignation, he recounts
his role in negotiation between Tanzania and IMF and WB. The proposal
included programme of adjustment measures and the provision of credit
facility to support on balance-of-payment. Keys areas which I think
were reason for differing with President Nyerere was on devaluation of
Tanzania Shilling and change in ownership and or operation of publicly-
owned corporation which by then were bankrupt or making loss. Mzee
Mtei narrates about a courtesy visit he and negotiation team paid to
Nyereres’ residential place. During the talk, Nyerere was unhappy and
agitated, he thanked the IMF delegate and abruptly stood and left them
standing at meeting places and walked to the beach. Mtei followed him
to beach, where Nyerere told him “I will devalue the Shilling over my
dead body”. After this meeting, it when Mtei realised he could not
cross over Mwalimu who rejected Tanzania being ‘run’ from Washington.
He decided to tender his hand-written resignation letter as it was on
public holiday and no secretary to type it.
After getting the book I just read the introduction, Chapter One: My
Life in Summary and due to curiosity of his resignation went to read
Chapter 17 and some few chapters. He started writing the book in 2004,
but due to many reasons, he had some breaks and postponing but finally
it has launched and he is working on its translation to Kiswahili
(which is very usefully, as many will have chance to read it).
The book is not about Mtei alone, but his times, people and social,
political and economics of various historical events and trends. His
commitment to write the book will contribute to their understanding
and make us reflect and think more about them. Most of chapters are
short and it contains allot of interesting pictures.
Though, I have just read some few chapters, but I recommend the book
to everyone who wants to understand Edwin Mtei, his times and get
information of his role in establishing Bank of Tanzania and CHADEMA.
In his launching speech Mr. Mengi characterized, Mzee Mtei as: honest
(who calls a spade spade), person of integrity, courageous and
intellectual stubborn.
This is my quick review; full book review is yet to come after
finishing it, hoping it will be soon rather than later.
©Adam Jackson Foya
bernard baha
Oct 29, 2009, 1:16:50 AM10/29/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Kitabu kinauzwa kiasi gani na mbali na Mkuki na nyota wapi pengine kinapatikana?
From: Adam Foya <adam...@gmail.com>
To: Marafiki wa Vitabu - Friend's of Books <marafiki...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, October 28, 2009 4:06:17 PM
Subject: [Marafiki wa Vitabu] Book Review. from GOATHERD to GOVERNOR: The Autobiography of EDWIN MTEI.
Gasper Goodchance
Oct 29, 2009, 4:06:02 AM10/29/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Thanks Adam,
Itabidi nikitafute ndugu yangu.
Siku Njema.
Gasper Goodchance Mrina
Consultant
Deloitte Consulting Limited
P.O.Box 1559
Dar Es Salaam-Tanzania.
Cell: +255 713 260 861
Marafiki wa Vitabu ..
Oct 29, 2009, 11:05:38 AM10/29/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Gasper
You have to read it.Quite inspirational seeing, Mzee Mtei from mdenyi looking after family goat to become a Governor. He has writen it in a simple and humorous way with couple of chaga words.
Wishing you a nice reading.
Regards
Adam
Marafiki wa Vitabu ..
Oct 29, 2009, 11:08:07 AM10/29/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Benard
Bei ni Tsh 25,000. Zaidi ya Mkuki na Nyota, sijui ni wapi zaidi kinauzwa. Nitauliza na kukupa jibu.Ila usikikose maana kuna vitu na matukio ya kihistoria ameandika kwa lugha rahisi zaidi.
Wasalaam
Adam
bernard baha
Oct 29, 2009, 11:11:09 AM10/29/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Ok, thanks for the info, I'l work on it!
From: Marafiki wa Vitabu .. <marafiki...@gmail.com>
To: marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thu, October 29, 2009 6:08:07 PM
Subject: [Marafiki wa Vitabu] Re: Book Review. from GOATHERD to GOVERNOR: The Autobiography of EDWIN MTEI.
Marafiki wa Vitabu ..
Oct 29, 2009, 11:14:05 AM10/29/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Pia unaweza kuwasiliana na Mkuki na Nyota kupitia, email: con...@mkukinanyota.com au simu 286 5411 na 212 1416
Kila la kheri
Mbogela Jackson
Oct 29, 2009, 6:01:40 PM10/29/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Bernad na Wapenzi wa vitabu
wakati bado unatafuta kupata nakala halisi nadhani unaweza kupitia preview ya kitabu kwenye google books.
Sijui kama hii link itafunguka vizuri lakini nimesoma sehemu kubwa, kwa ujumla ni kitabu kinachovutia kusoma.
I think wakijitokeza watu mbali wakaandika kila mtu kwenye kada yake tutaweza kuweka kumbu kumbu sawa kwa kizazi kijacho.
Gonga hapa
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cHyG9-vOWb8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=mtei+edwin#v=onepage&q=&f=false
all the best
Jackson Mbogela Cell: +31 633 684 836
Tz: +255 787 410 315
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:14:05 +0300
Subject: [Marafiki wa Vitabu] Re: Book Review. from GOATHERD to GOVERNOR: The Autobiography of EDWIN MTEI.
Marafiki wa Vitabu ..
Oct 30, 2009, 1:15:21 AM10/30/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Mbogela
Asante sana. Hiyo link inafunguka. Mimi nimefika nusu ya kitabu hiki. Kwa kweli, Mtei amefanya kazi nzuri kuandika historia yake na matukio mengine muhimu katika nchi yetu. Yamkini kitabu hiki kitashawishi na wengine kuandika juu ya maisha yao.
Nawatakia usomaji mwema
Wasalaam
Adam
Asante sana. Hiyo link inafunguka. Mimi nimefika nusu ya kitabu hiki. Kwa kweli, Mtei amefanya kazi nzuri kuandika historia yake na matukio mengine muhimu katika nchi yetu. Yamkini kitabu hiki kitashawishi na wengine kuandika juu ya maisha yao.
Nawatakia usomaji mwema
Wasalaam
Adam
bernard baha
Oct 30, 2009, 1:15:28 AM10/30/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Thanks Mkuu Mbogela!
Nikipata nafasi itabidi nikifuate, naona hii preview imeongeza hamasa zaidi, kweli kabisa nadhani ni wakati muafaka hawa wazee waweke records kama hizi!
From: Mbogela Jackson <mbo...@hotmail.com>
To: marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, October 30, 2009 1:01:40 AM
JOSEPH NDAWI
Oct 30, 2009, 5:06:42 AM10/30/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
HI,friends of books.
Thanks 4the message,i saw in news coverage the launching of the book by Edwin Mtei,the book seem so fascinating with full of experience,i ll be on it too,the 4 upgading Mr Adam.
----- Original Message ----
From: Adam Foya <adam...@gmail.com>
To: Marafiki wa Vitabu - Friend's of Books <marafiki...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, October 28, 2009 4:06:17 PM
Thanks 4the message,i saw in news coverage the launching of the book by Edwin Mtei,the book seem so fascinating with full of experience,i ll be on it too,the 4 upgading Mr Adam.
----- Original Message ----
From: Adam Foya <adam...@gmail.com>
To: Marafiki wa Vitabu - Friend's of Books <marafiki...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, October 28, 2009 4:06:17 PM
Marafiki wa Vitabu ..
Oct 30, 2009, 6:47:31 AM10/30/09
to marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Joseph
The book is so fascinating and you can get a gist of it from Good Books.
All the best and nice weekend
Regards
Adam
Rafiki Wa Vitabu.
The book is so fascinating and you can get a gist of it from Good Books.
All the best and nice weekend
Regards
Adam
Rafiki Wa Vitabu.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages