Former President of Tanzania, Ali Hasan Mwinyi, said that he had numerous discussions with His Highness Prince Aga Khan and that one thing that he had concluded was that the Imam has a lot of love for Tanzania and its people.
“The fact that he is always looking at the welfare of our country is a clear indication of what he feels for this country and the people. I was whispering to someone a while back and telling them when a person teaches your children about the importance of friendship, unity, love, dignity, integrity, then rest assured that you are loved,” he explained.
via DailyNews Online Edition:
THE second phase President, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, has commended the Ismaili community in the country for their contribution in the education sector particularly in moulding kindergarten pupils into better people.
Speaking on Wednesday evening at the Rays of Light exhibition as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Aga Khan, President Mwinyi said that apart from imparting knowledge, children especially in the Isles were taught to respect their elders, love their faith and to live in harmony in the society.
“Talking about the contribution that the Ismaili community has made to education in this country is like taking cloves to Pemba. We as leaders of this country are forever thankful to what you are doing for the future generation,” he said.
The former president said that he has had numerous discussions with His Highness Prince Aga Khan and that one thing that he had concluded was that the Imam has a lot of love for Tanzania and its people.
He said that Prince Aga Khan wasn’t only a spiritual leader of the Ismaili community but also a person that Tanzania considers a friend, a partner and someone truly loved.
“The fact that he is always looking at the welfare of our country is a clear indication of what he feels for this country and the people. I was whispering to someone a while back and telling them when a person teaches your children about the importance of friendship, unity, love, dignity, integrity, then rest assured that you are loved,” he explained.
President Mwinyi said that the exhibition is a gesture of strengthening ties between the Ismaili community and the nation and to ensure that they are long lasting.
He said that apart from the education sector, the Ismaili community is playing a crucial role in the health sector where they have hospitals that are equipped and ensure that all patients leave their premises when they are cured.
The Tanzania Ismaili Community Vice President, Mr Kamal Khimji, said that the significance of the exhibition was to give a glimpse into the Ismaili Imamat under the Aga Khan.
Mr Khimji said that it was also a chance for other communities to see and learn how the community over the decades has existed in harmony with other faiths, in
respect of each other and to love one another without regard to faith, race, creed or nationality.
Just after the Golden Jubilee in 2007 the concept of the Rays of Light exhibition was founded in France and it has toured Lisbon, London, USA, United Arab Emirates.
It is a photographic and multimedia exhibition showing Prince Aga Khan’s life serving the humanity, upholding the dignity of man and promoting peace and stability, and working towards the common goal of people regardless of their origin or religion.
The Aga Khan Development Network’s long term commitment to Tanzania’s progress and development began in 1905 with the first girls’ Aga Khan School; since then the Ismaili Imamat through the Network institutions, has built 64 Aga Khan schools and 86 other schools under the East African Muslim Welfare Society.
Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network.
DailyNews Online Edition – Ismaili community hailed over education, health contribution.
Photographs from the Rays of Light exhibition here: http://daresalaam-yetu.blogspot.com/2014/02/rais-mstaafu-ali-hassan-mwinyi-aisifia.html and here: http://bashir-nkoromo.blogspot.com/2014/02/rais-mstaafu-benjamin-mkapa-ahudhuria.html
Ismailimail 