ZIRPP Lecture: "​​The Life and Times of (the Late) Sultan Ahmed Mugheiry​"

Dear Friends,

I have the pleasure to inform you that there will be another ZIRPP lecture this month at the Institute.

Chairperson: ​Prof. Abdul Sheriff;​

Presenter: ​Mr. Muhammad Yussuf​​

Title of presentation: "​​The Life and Times of (the Late) Sultan Ahmed Mugheiry​".

Date and Time: Saturday 3​1 March​ 201​8​; 4.00PM

Venue: ZIRPP Conference Room, Tiger House, behind Majestic Cinema.

ABSTRACT​:​ ​(The Late) Sultan Ahmed Mugheiry was a Senior Police Officer with His Majesty 's (Seyyid Khalifa) Government​ from 1918 to 1952. At the time of his retirement in 1952, he had attained the position of Assistant Superintendent of Police, a very rare position for a Zanzibari citizen (non-British) at the time of the British Protectorate. In August of the same year, the Sultan of Zanzibar, Seyyid Khalifa bin Haroub, appointed Sultan Ahmed Mugheiry to be one of the two Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council representing the island of Pemba. With his flamboyance, charisma and remarkable articulation in both English and Arabic languages, he became one of the few very active and resourceful members in the Legislative Council, serving in the Development Committee of the House along with an experienced and highly respected MLC member in the person of Sheikh Ameir Tajo.

However, Sultan Mugheiry's rising star power in the political arena was short-lived. After less than two and a half years in the Legislative Council, he was brutally attacked by unknown assailants on 30 November 1955 after parking his car in the garage near his house at Mkunazini. As he was recovering at Mnazi Mmoja hospital, on 1st December 1955, one angry assailant entered into his hospital room and brutally stabbed him to death. Sultan's tragic death had triggered, not only unprecedented sympathy throughout Zanzibar, but had also changed the whole course of political dynamics in Zanzibar whose effects and tribulations could still be felt today 63 years after his tragic death. 

The presenter, will, therefore, try to give a brief account of Sultan Mugheiry's life and times and the reasons behind his murder, and its impact and ramifications on the political and social development of Zanzibar.  

Tea, Coffee and Snacks will be served freely.

Please forward this message to anybody who may be interested. Those who would like to attend should send their email addresses and telephone numbers to: zirpp@googlegroups.com.

Please confirm your participation. You may bring one or two friends with you.

All are welcome.

Muhammad Yussuf

Executive Director

Zanzibar Institute for Research and Public Policy

P.O. Box 4523, Zanzibar, Tanzania;

Tel: +255 242 223-8474;

Fax: +255 242 223-8475;

Cellular: 0777 707820;

Email: zirpp@googlegroups.com;

Weblog: www.zirpo.wordpress.com;

Website: www.zirpp.info