Mourners at the house of the late Elizabeth Lobulu (inset) at Sanawari on Tuesday. She was laid to rest at the family farm at Sanawari, Arusha on Thursday, near to her late husband William Lobulu’s grave.
BY DANFORD MPUMILWA
It was in 1980 that I walked one afternoon into the offices of the then Tanzania News Agency (SHIHATA), located along Upanga Road in Dar es Salaam. The offices were within walking distance of my workplace on Maktaba Street at Tanganyika Standard Newspapers (TSN), publishers of the Daily and Sunday newspapers, where I worked as a journalist. I had gone to SHIHATA, among other reasons, to visit my friend William Lobulu, a Sub-Editor and a long-time companion from our days at Mkwawa High School through to the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). William was a year ahead of me and had mentored me in journalism from the time we produced The Mkwawan, our high school publication. On that particular visit, after our usual friendly conversation, he introduced me to a beautiful, soft-spoken young lady, telling me she was his girlfriend. This was new to me. In all the years I had known him, he had never introduced me to anyone in that way. It soon became clear that he was serious about her. Before long, they were married.
In due course, the couple moved to Arusha. William became a media consultant for several local and international organisations while his wife assumed the role of Public Relations and Information Officer at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT). In 1981, I too relocated to Arusha after securing employment at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC). With her coordination and organisational support, William and I established The Arusha Times, which endured for more than three decades. She managed the administrative and logistical operations with remarkable diligence. It is thanks to her dedication that the newspaper survived the many challenges it faced over the years. I was also a frequent visitor to their beautiful home in Sanawari, surrounded by lush gardens, tropical greenery and abundant birdlife. Her warm hospitality and delicious meals were always an added delight.
A consummate professional and tireless worker, Elizabeth was also among the founders of the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA). Seven years ago, in 2019, she lost her beloved husband. Yet she bore the loss with courage and resilience continuing to care devotedly for their four children and eight grandchildren. Last Saturday, 21 December 2026, Elizabeth passed away. Next month, March, she would have turned 72. She had been fighting cancer, first diagnosed in July, last year. She will be remembered for her love, courage, humour and devotion to God. It is with deep sorrow that I write this tribute. Yet even as we mourn her passing, we must also celebrate her life – a life marked by commitment, grace, strength and quiet achievement. As the saying goes, “Those who live in the hearts of others never truly die.” Elizabeth Lobulu lives on in the lives she touched, the family she nurtured and the legacy she helped build. May the Lord grant her eternal rest.
Comment for correction:
“Last Saturday, 21 December 2026…” there should be a mistake there on that date.
My tribute to the Late Mama Lobulu:
I pass my condolences for the loss of Mrs. Elizabeth Lobulu (used to refer to her as Mama Lobulu). It’s unfortunate that I’ve just learned of her departure this evening (2 April 2026) through a call from my mother who unfortunately had as well just known about this sad news today!
I knew Mama Lobulu through my mother who worked together with her at ELCT. I met her for the first time in 1994 when I was in Standard One at Meru Primary School in Arusha. I met her when she picked me up for a car lift to school and gave Tsh 50 (it was a reddish note). The car was a Suzuki (the old model). I really enjoyed the lift because it was rainy. I gladly informed my mom about it and they communicated and my mom would forever told me “that madam who gave you Tsh 50 note” whenever she talked about her at home or when I met Mama Lobulu whenever I visited my mom at her workplace. I grew to remember her for that generosity throughout my childhood.
The last time I saw Mama Lobulu was in 2019 at ELCT HQ in Arusha, during her retirement farewell which coincidentally took place on the same day as my mom’s retirement farewell, as well as other workers who were retiring at ELCT. I cannot stop gazing at the photos of that day.
To-date, 32 years since then, at my age of 38 with a family and two children, I still remember Mama Lobulu for the Tsh 50 note she gave me. She was kind and soft-spoken through all the fewer times I was lucky to interact with her. Both me and my mom loved Mama Lobulu.
I cherish the memories and the life of Mama Lobulu that was well lived. May her kind and precious soul keep resting in peace. Amen!