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UNITY – EDUCATION & POVERTY Ulema-e-Kiram, the Chairman of Arusha Jamaat – Alhaj Mehdibhai Rashid, the
Past Chairman of the Federation – Alhaj Mohamedbhai Dhirani, my
Vice-Chairman – Alhaj Ramzanbhai Nanji and my Office Bearers, the
Trustees of the Federation in Tanzania, Uganda & Kenya, the
Secretary General of the World Federation – Alhaj Sibtainbhai Panjwani, the
Chairmen of various member Jamaats of Africa,
Councilors, the Past Office Bearers, Dignitaries,
Invitees, the Youth fraternity, my Brothers and Sisters: Salamun
Alaikum. I
welcome you all. Let
us first of all, remember all those who were present with us last year and
are no more amongst us and especially the following Marhumeens: ·
Marhum Ayatullah Shirazi. ·
Marhum Gulambhai Dhala – Los Angeles. ·
Marhum Roshanbhai Daya Kanji - Moshi. ·
Marhum Muslimbhai Jivraj – Dar es Salaam. ·
Marhum Amirali M. G. Daya - Mombasa. ·
Marhuma Sikinabai Asgher M M Jaffer – London. ·
Marhuma Fatema Zehra Seyyid Akhtar Rizvi – Dar es Salaam. ·
Marhuma Hajiani Parinebai Haji Roshan Jameel – Madagascar.
Al
Fateha. It
was precisely 9:33 and 34 seconds on the night of 13th of April
2001, when I was officially inducted as the Chairman of Africa Federation
in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As
we approach the first full year of our term, by way of our first Supreme
Council Meeting during the next 2 days, I wish to take this opportunity to
present highlights of some of our activities during the year. To
lead us and into the pages that follow, the theme of the coming years
shall be dedicated to:
“UNITY – EDUCATION AND ERADICATION OF POVERTY”. This
theme is from the extracts of the questionnaire paper obtained at the
Conference April 2001 statistics of which showed that 67% of the completed
Qs wanted Education as a priority. Totally
committed to engendering team spirit and trying to cultivate general
consensus, the cabinet at the Secretariat level sees Africa Federation as
an encourager and trying hard to facilitate all our needs towards the
betterment of our Community. We
have stretched ourselves to enhance co-operation amongst all our Jamaats,
sister Federations and other institutions in the service of our Community
in Africa and the world at large. As
we review the requirements of our Community, the Office Bearers of Africa
Federation are expected to define clear strategies and policies for the
wider spectrum of our Community in Africa. This shall increase our level
of responsibility and now it is necessary all the more so as to strengthen
the intellectual as much as financial resources of the Community around
African Jamaats. In
keeping with the resources available to us, we shall do all possible to
focus on the priorities of Jamaats and its member’s objectives.
It
is high time this Community spells out its strategies in this meeting as
to what direction we need to move. The
situation worldwide is not favorable and so we need to tighten our belts
and preserve Unity, concentrate on educating our children, in order to
overcome POVERTY and become more PROSPEROUS. CENTRALIZATION: It
is very important that we learn and educate others to practice
centralization of: a)
Huqooq. b)
Donations. c)
Human resources. d)
Have strong relationship with the World Federation and all regional
Federations. e)
Neither a Jamaat nor an individual should try to break this format,
and the thought of seeking of a separate Ijaza should be avoided – the
Supreme Council has and shall continue to obtain Ijaza for all special
projects. In
order to keep up with the best secretarial services for our Community
members, we have maintained the Dar es Salaam office with headquarters in
Nairobi and a branch office in Mombasa to facilitate the Education and
Tabligh Boards simultaneously. Insha
Allah, we hope, gradually that once all the offices are well set, our
services shall become more prompt in the future. Should
there have been any delays in the past, kindly bear with us. Please
appreciate that all these extra extensioned office takes time to settle. MARJA`E: To
keep up with our activities in line with the blessing of our Marja`e
Taqlid – Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Husseini Seestani, I had an opportunity to
have an hour long closed door meeting with him. All the discussions were
related for the betterment and prosperity of our Community at large. He
has offered all his guidance and blessing to our Community. He
has also conveyed his salaams to all of you. Agha
displayed his disappointment on hearing that disunity has arisen in
Madagascar for the collection of Huqooq, whereby a few members are holding
Ijaza for collection. There is a constant tug-of-war and the money is not
actually being utilized in the right and timely need. Agha
has appointed me to look into this matter and come up with a proposal and
a solution, where he wishes to offer Ijaza to only one institution in the
region in order to avoid any such future misunderstandings. This
has to be a lesson for us all, and that holding of Ijaza by individuals
and/or Jamaats can lead to disunity within our Institutions and the
purpose of Centralization shall never be achieved.
MADAGASCAR: I
have always kept in touch with our brothers in Madagascar and even during
my absence, the Dar es Salaam office was regularly in contact to obtain
updates of the situation of our brothers.
All the reports have been put up on our web site and regularly
updated. I
last talked to the President of Council Regional – Alhaj Moajezbhai
Khamis on Sunday 23rd of March 2002 and I talked to the Vice
President – Alhaj Roshanbhai Jameel on Wednesday 27th of
March 2002, when they gave me the last update.
A Circular to that effect has also been forwarded to all respective
Jamaats. JAMAAT
VISITS: In
order to understand the Jamaats leadership, find out about the problems of
each individual Jamaat and keep up the strong relationship with Jamaats,
my Office Bearers decided, as a priority, to visit as many Jamaats in
Africa and abroad as soon as possible. The
official visits to Jamaats where our brothers reside were as follows: KENYA: Nairobi,
Mombasa, and Nakuru Jamaats. TANZANIA: Arusha,
Moshi, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Morogoro, Dodoma, Bukoba, Songea, Tunduru,
Zanzibar Kuwwat, Zanzibar Hujjat, Masasi, Nachingwea, Mikindani, Mtwara,
Lindi, Kilwa, Mwanza and Magu Jamaats. UGANDA: Kampala
Jamaat, Jinja Centre. BURUNDI: Bujumbura
Jamaat. MADAGASCAR: Tananarive,
Mourandava, Tulear, Tamatau and Majunga Jamaats. NORTH
AMERICA (U.S.A): New
York, Orlando and Allentown Jamaats. NORTH
AMERICA (CANADA): Toronto
Jamaat. EUROPE
(U.K): London
Stanmore and Peterborough Jamaats. U.A.E: Dubai
Jamaat. I
also had an opportunity to visit other Jamaats as under, more often for
various pertinent issues: Visited
Mombasa 4 times. Visited
Dar es Salaam 4 times. Visited
Arusha 4 times. Visited
Moshi 4 times. Visited
Tanga twice. Visited
Dubai twice, including attending the Supreme Council Sports Festival. WORLD
FEDERATION: I
am pleased to inform you that our relations with the World Federation
Office Bearers have been further strengthened. We
work in consultation of each other on matters of Education, Tabligh,
SETWEL, Medical and we have now agreed to globalize the Federation
Samachar. The centralization policy is also being practiced by the World
Federation and all the funds destined for various Institutions in Africa
are now channeled through Africa Federation. Marhum
Mulla Asgher Child Sponsorship Scheme was launched during the last
Executive Meeting in Mombasa, especially for assistance to African Jamaat
students. Assistance,
guidance and equal contributions from the Office Bearers of World
Federation for SETWEL issue are highly commendable. We have discussed,
pondered over and agreed to the solutions together, for the betterment of
our Somali brothers and sisters. On
behalf of the Office Bearers, the Trustees and the Councilors of Africa
Federation, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the
assistance, guidance, be it monetary, human or through any other source.
I am confident that if we continue working together, we shall
create the uniformity in the service of Khoja World at large. May
Allah (S.W.T) guide us in the right path.
AMEEN. EDUCATION: The
whole year has passed, in search of establishing to commence an
institution or Higher Education for our children. This Community is
currently spending over US$ 500,000 for Higher Education abroad. The
aim is to seek affiliation with reputable universities abroad and start a
college in East Africa and offer the same level and standard of Education
to our children for the first 2 or 3 years within East Africa at a third
of the price and the final 1 or 2 years for graduation abroad. Several
attempts have been made which includes; upgrading the standard of
Education for our Primary, secondary and Higher Education level. Last
year, we have offered scholarships loans to over 40 students.
We are pleased to report that this is one of the highest number of
scholarships offered by the Council. We
are expecting to offer even more this year. We
are in the process of offering 100% funding scholarships in conjunction
with the World Federation to gifted children and those children engaged in
Community services. Overseas
Pledges: During
our visits to North America, we had appealed to sponsors for scholarships
to our students in Africa. The
response in offering pledges was Alhamdulillah very satisfactory although
practically, we are still waiting for it to become effective.
Our hopes are still high. One
of our brothers came forward and has promised 500 computers for Africa.
Trusting the offer, I have pledged to some of the Jamaats, upon
receiving them. Inshallah I
shall fulfill my pledge. The
following is the gist of efforts to enhance our Education standards: a)
32 acres of land
offered by Alhaj Gulam Dewji. b)
Report on establishment of a University by Alhaj Akber Jaffer. c)
Whispering Palms (A tourist resort hotel – 164 bed roomed). d)
Madrasatul Al Akram – Langata. e)
Higher Education Scholarships. f)
Increased our budgets. g)
Inspectorates for our 4 schools in Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Arusha
& Nairobi. h)
Educational seminar – Arranged in 8th June 2001 in Dar
es Salaam. i)
Invited Brother Aliasgher Sheriff for Career Guidance. j)
Study on all our 4 schools – Viable expansion for annexed college
for Higher Education by Alimohamed Bhayani from Oman. k)
Marhum Mulla Asgher Child Sponsorship in conjunction with the World
Federation is launched. Jamaats are requested to register all in need. l)
Five fully paid scholarships (loans) for those youths who serve in
the Community – 50% Africa Federation, 50% World Federation. m)
Solidarity Day Appeal – Proceeds for Education. It
is heartening to note that this year, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Arusha and
Nairobi schools have achieved excellent results, especially Dar es Salaam,
where there has been a tremendous rise in the standard of Education and
also acquired very good results compared to previous years. TABLIGH: This
is again one of the very important Boards and one of our fundamental
duties to be performed. It
is said that we live and earn in this country or continent and we have
done all the possibilities for the comfort of our own private lives.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE OR THOUGHT FOR TABLIGH?? The
Tabligh report has vast and full report in details. We have appointed a
full time, qualified person to look after this board. Br. Suhail
Janmohamed has taken over the new Council’s offices in Mombasa. The
Tabligh Board has identified over 140 centres performing actively as
Tabligh centers all over Africa. Gradually,
we wish to bring them under the Council’s fold and we wish to centralize
all the centers to operate with uniformity. Madressahs
in all Jamaats are running satisfactorily. During our Jamaat visits, we
inspected the Madressahs in all respected Jamaats. The Tabligh Board is coming up with new ideas and some
changes in the future, such as Inspection etc. The
Hilal Conference was called and participants from Kenya and some Jamaats
of Tanzania, Burundi participated. This conference was called to
centralize the confirmation (decision) of moon sighting and to have one
voice and uniformity and unity to be observed by all member Jamaats.
Visited various Bilal Muslim Centres personally - Dar es Salaam, the
Arusha Shia Centre and all other privately run centers – Moshi Bilal
Centre, Songea Bilal Centre, Mombasa Bilal Centre, with other centers run
by individuals – Tanga Islamic Centre, Jinja
Centre, Namanga Centre, Nakuru Bilal Office, Kampala Orphanage Centre,
Kilwa mosque where Madrasa is run, Matuga Centre in Mombasa, Zanzibar
Bilal Centre, Zanzibar Bilal Primary School, visited all 5 Bilal centers
in Bujumbura – Burundi, visited Bilal Muslim Mission in Madagascar. Zakirs
and Zakiras were posted to all respected Jamaats as routine. Offers: During
my visit to Iran, we had a meeting with The Ahlul Bait (A.S) World
Assembly and they have offered a 30-day of crash course to our boys and
girls – Details to follow. And
during my visit to Beirut, I had an opportunity to visit The Islamic
Center for Studies. It is one of the most advanced “HOUZAS” run by a
collective of scholars. They have also offered Higher Islamic Education
for our students, especially for boys, but they have also offered should
there be a number of girls. They are ready to cater special arrangements
for them. All
their offers were with the courtesy of Sayed Mourtada Mourtada. TRUST
BOARD: Alhamdulillah,
all our Trustees have performed well and all our properties are well
looked after, with the exception of Dar es Salaam properties where the
comparative rental income is far less then the average rental income from
other countries. I shall seek
guidance from the Councilors in this meeting.
I would expect this Session for guidance as some Trustees have
proposed to sell properties with low rental income.
The
full Trust Report is already in your folders. Kampala
property has also started fetching satisfactory income. CENTRAL
HEALTH BOARD: Under
the able leadership of Alhaj Safderbhai Jaffer, a prominent figure not
only in our Jamaats, but also all over Tanzania, has promised wonders. I
hope let us give him some time and he shall definitely perform well quite
a few activities that has already been listed in his report. I
personally wish to thank him for his great assistance in the SETWEL Board
affairs. SAMACHAR: Our
dynamic editor in chief – Br. Munir Daya and his team, are putting all
their efforts to improve the standard of our Federation Samachar. It looks
more presentable, with many articles and new prominent members as
columnists. Hopefully,
Inshallah, the next issue will bear even more articles from the European
Jamaats, as the Samachar is in the process to go Global. During
my last visit to the World Federation offices, they have already
identified the convener and the Youth fraternity of U.K Jamaats are also
ready to contribute towards the success of their goal. Equally,
the standard and the presentation of our newly designed web page is worth
visiting regularly. It is being updated on regular intervals and it is
high time, that we should educate our Jamaat members to visit the web site
regularly, where Jamaat, African, Federation and World Federation new
activities can be seen more professionally. The
Africa Federation has recruited a professional web designer to upgrade the
standard of our web page and be with the current design and time. SPORTS: Gentlemen,
sports should be considered part and parcel of our Education curriculum
and should be given or considered with the same importance as Education is
in our society. This
years Dubai Marhaba Festival was very well attended. I personally made
sure that it should be a success and to achieve this, I was present in the
festival right from the opening to the closing ceremony, a total of 12
days. More details are in the sports report.
At
this juncture, may I request all the Jamaats to be cooperative to the idea
and aims of our Sports Board Chairman – Alhaj Amirali Somji, who is
initiating more Sports Festivals for East African Jamaats. EXTERNAL
COMMUNITY LINKS: Considering
the large number and diversity of Community associations, the need for
joining the Asian Community common platform, which was formed earlier in
1998, under the informal body called Asian Leaders Advisory Forum (ALAF)
was found to be very instrumental. The objectives of this association is
to unite all Asians in Kenya into a cohesively organized and internally
harmonious Community and encourage the Community to contribute more
towards Health, Education, Culture and Social Welfare of the Kenyan people
in such a manner that the long-term interest of the Asian Community is
protected and nurtured. This
would assist over come increasing problems of insecurity and common
problems of “image-deficit”, which is being suffered by all
associations of Asian Community (despite their enormous contribution to
Social and Charitable causes) and enhance them to come together to deal
with these problems jointly. The association is so far made up of leaders
of diverse groups such as: Hindu Council of Kenya, Visa Oshwal Community,
Ismailia Council of Kenya, The Dawoodi Bohra Community, Sikh Council, The
Goan Welfare Association, The Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Supreme Council and
other Community associations. In
the meantime, at the Council Level, we had an opportunity to have very
fruitful meetings with the Ismailia Council of Kenya and Ismailia Council
of Tanzania. The
meetings with both the Councils were well attended by the top officials
from both sides Board Chairmen such as: EDUCATION MEDICAL TABLIGH WELFARE SECURITY Discussions
were held at a high level to work together in all the activities. Work
has already been started - in Kenya, we are already being privileged the
discounted rates in the Agha Khan Hospital. We have also been offered full
facilities at the security level during any incidentals at the Agha Khan
Club in Nairobi and Mombasa. Negotiations are in process for Educational
facilities. May
I request all Jamaats to start practicing and start building bridges with
other Communities and reside with peace and harmony. JAMAATS’
DATA: It
is very disheartening to note that during the visits of the Jamaats, we
have noted that some of our Jamaats have out dated constitutions and
documents for the Jamaat properties are also not in place. All Jamaat
properties should have clean Title Deeds and Jamaat returns be submitted
on regular basis to the current elected Trustees.
Africa Federation is in the process of collecting a copy of all
documents of Jamaat properties, to be forwarded to the World Federation
archives. At
this juncture, may I very kindly request all the Trustees and the Managing
Committee of all Jamaats to maintain and refurbish all Jamaat properties,
as I would like to initiate one special trip to all Jamaats to inspect the
same. It
is my recommendation that we should appoint a committee in this Supreme
Council Session and have a uniformed constitution for all Jamaats on all
principal matters. FORECAST
VISIONS: It
is my earnest request that it should be decided or agreed that in order to
keep our Supreme Council self sufficient, we should identify potential
properties in East Africa with attractive returns and purchase them for
running our affairs in Education, requirements. We
should also identify and purchase separate properties for two other very
important boards, namely for Tabligh and one for Welfare. Gentlemen,
our Welfare cases are increasing day by day, and it will be prudent to
have enough funds to cater for this need. It is high time, we should think
for sufficient funds in this sector. Tabligh
is also ever expanding Board and we are seriously in the process of
increasing the present grants given to our Bilal Muslim Missions of Dar es
Salaam and Mombasa and other institutions. They are doing a wonderful job,
but are always in a very tight budget, which should not be the case. Since
our Tabligh Board has identified so many centers, it is my hope that it is
our duty to offer the required assistance to as many as possible. To
cater for this aim, we need to have money generating ideas and the best I
would suggest is to buy a property to cater for it, I would leave this
upto the Session to decide. BUSINESS
FOUNDATION: I
would like to take this opportunity to propose to this August gathering,
that if we all agree, the Supreme Council although registered as a
non-profit making institution, we should have a separate Business
Foundation Registration and start operating active businesses on profit
sharing basis. In other words, we sell shares and manage professionally
with transparency and accountability our business activities. I shall just
give an idea; it can be expanded by this gathering. People are free to
give ideas on this matter. For
instance, we open a “SPORTS” shop. We sell all sporting equipments
i.e. for golf, cricket, football, tennis, badminton and gymnasium.
Statistics show that this is a none competitive business with lucrative
returns. The
shares shall be sold at whatever one invests. 50% profit or shareholder is
the Supreme Council. For example, if the share is US$ 10, the US$ 5
invested will be for the investor and US$ 5 for the Supreme Council. We
start with the first shop in Dar es Salaam or Nairobi or Mombasa or in one
of our Jamaats. Eventually, we should have branches all over East Africa. It
should have proper stock records and the business be managed
professionally. We are seeing so many businesses run by the staff and have
proved successful. We can appoint a committee to look into this matter and
report back once it is agreed. FOCUS
GROUP: The
whole idea of organizing the Youth Conference for the first time during
the Supreme Council Session where I believe over 50 participants are
taking active interest, is to see the talent of some of our youth both
boys and girls. It
is my desire that we should identify 5 young professional Youths from the
boys section and 5 from the girls section and form a “FOCUS GROUP”,
who should forecast and give the Supreme council a 5 year Focus plan on
its activities. I
shall leave this again to this August body to decide and come up with
proposals. Lastly,
I deeply from the inner part of my heart, wish to thank you for attending
this Session and I wish you successful & fruitful deliberations. I
also wish you a safe journey back home.
Ameen. Wassalaam, Zulfikar
H. Khimji. Chairman, Africa Federation. |