DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 1 -- THE year 2025 will be remembered in the country as a season of repeated farewells, marked by the loss of leaders, thinkers and artists whose lives shaped public discourse and national identity.

From the corridors of diplomacy and Parliament to radio studios, theatres and church pulpits, death visited spaces long animated by familiar voices and steady leadership, leaving the nation in collective reflection.

The country entered a sombre mood in late March following the death of Ambassador Juma Mwapachu, who passed away on March 28 in Dar es Salaam after a long illness.

A respected diplomat and former Secretary-General of the East African Community, Mwapachus career spanned decades of public service at both nation...