Q; Hon. Komba, Tanzanians would like to know how you manage to combine two important responsibilities; that of a leader a cultural group and a Member of Parliament at the same time.
A: First, let me tell you one thing, that being an MP is like any other activity, it is like being a middleman who is sent by his people to present their problems and demands before government. Whether he or she can convince he government to do the people’s bidding or not would depending on the government's capability. So, I have been sent by my people in Mbinga West Constituency, I do have some tough work to do.
Art is not a person is an office and I have an office. It is not hard for me because I have enough experience with my work. My professional manager; Mr Tumaini knows how to run the band so well that nothing goes wrong with him. Because of the good administrators I have in the Band, it is easier for me to do other responsibilities in the government.
Q: They say CCM members who have big money or are closer to the top leadership had a better position to enter in party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), what is your comment on this?
A: No, no, and it’s a big no. There is no such a thing in CCM. What matters there is how many votes you garner, and nothing else. Even if you have millions of shillings, you cannot do anything with your money. For my, I got enough votes to enable me win a seat in the NEC, and it made me happy. The same was for Makamba and Kapuya, money was irrelevant here.
Q: During the election campaigns in 2005, CCM had promised Tanzanians good times after a short while, the promises seem to disappear in thin air and Tanzanians are now complaining about the hard times, if not harder, facing them. What has gone wrong?
A: The problem is that Tanzanians tend to see CCM and its government as Angels who have answers to everything at fingertips, and this is not possible. The economic situation has changed all over the world; it is not only in Tanzania. The US $ is going down, so is the situation in most areas.
The world depends on oil, whose prices are soaring high. In the circumstances the economic condition will not be the same.
Nothing has gone wrong with CCM. I cannot count all development projects initiated and accomplished by CCM; projects like schools, hospitals, laboratories and many more. Of course we cannot have everything we would like to have no country can achieve, not even the US or Britain.
Conditions are difficult everywhere. In other places like the Sudan, people are dying of hunger. We have not reached that stage. Surely, we are better off than many countries.
Q: What is your opinion on the Parliament’s decision to pass a bill that will make MP's closer to their people?
A: For me, it is fine, because it will make them more responsible to their people. There was a time when an PM could not go to his constituency for two years, but nothing happened.
Q: Mbinga district is well known for its fertile land, why is agricultural production very low?
A: Who told you there is low agricultural production in Mbinga? Mbinga is one of the leading places in Tanzania where agricultural production is very high. Even when the rains are irregular and erratic, still the farmers do their best. The district has no history of hunger.
Q: Hon. MP, you are also an artist who has been in the industry for a long time, why is it difficult to convince the government to protect the copyrights of artists?
A: There is copyright law already, but the problem is that the artists do not know their rights. Most of them do not have education, and that is why they fail to fight for their rights, they take music as something for entertainment.
Another problem is that most of the artists have a tendency of not finishing their work, you may find an artist releasing a single song and goes to sleep.
Once he gets money he disappears and comes back into the game, when he is bankrupt. I am a rich man today because of music; I sold many copies of ‘Mwalimu Nyerere’ and ‘Mgeni’. No one stole my money because I have enough education to know what I am doing. Educate them first and they will know how to fight for their copyrights.
Q: Hon. MP, the last day for every leader to declare his property is approaching, what are you waiting for?
A: I have already done so a very long time ago, perhaps I should do it again for the benefit of those who do not know it. I said I have two secondary schools, more than ten cars, guest houses, residential houses and other normal properties.
Q: Recently, there were some Ministers and MPs who were jeered at by the citizens during their tours in the regions. What do you think could be the reason?
A: There was no Minister who was jeered at, I do not agree with you because I was in their delegation. You know that in multiparty democracy, anything can happen; I am not surprised. Propaganda can take various forms. All places we went they received us with their open heart.
Q: What do you think is the role of the opposition to our country’s progress?
A: Opposition parties have a very great role to play, that's why Zitto Kabwe is now an agenda. Wherever you go they talk about him. This shows how popular they can be in society; they are allowed to do anything without breaching the peace and security we have.
Q: As a CCM MP, how do you go along with people like Zitto Kabwe?
A: He is my best friend; we only differ when it comes to political issues, but when we are out of it we share many things, business included.
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