DISASTER STRIKES MWALIMU RAPHAEL'S FAMILY

 In 1941 my father Francis, who was now 10 years old started schooling at Itetemia Elementary School some few kilometers from home, he was in this school for next four years. His younger sister Isabela, who was 5 years old then was sent to a nursery school that was run by Mrs Hancock who was also the  headmistress of Tabora Girl’s school, the nursery school was just a short distance from home.

Life changed forever for this family in October 1942. One evening their mother did not come home at her usual time, darkness came and she still did not appear, search parties were formed and she was found very late at night kneeling, like in a prayer, under a street light.  Unfortunately since that day my grandmother Elizabeth Saula Mtagulu was never of her right mind.
My grandfather Mwalimu Raphael took all his family back home to Tosamaganga,  for a few days after their arrival the family stayed at one of my grandmothers sisters who was married to a teacher called Phillip Kihwele. After about a week my grandmother  was sent to stay with her parent Benedict Saula and Bibi Kongo and there she lived for many years after that.

Letter to PEO requesting a transfer

My grandfather went back to Tabora alone. In 1944 he was transferred to NA Middle School Mbeya, NA stood for Native Authority, it was a government  boarding school for boys. In 1946 he was back again to his first school, Malangali.  In 1948 he was transferred to Iringa Government School, this school is now known as Mlandege primary school.  The  school was built in 1947, it was the first government school building in Iringa.  In 1949 Mwalimu Raphael  was again transferred to Mbeya where he remained until 1952, when he got transferred to  Ikolo Middle School in Kyela.

Mwalimu Raphael (sitting left) with other members of staff at Iringa Government School 1953

For a short while in 1953, he again taught at Iringa Government school after he had requested a transfer to prepare for his retirement. Mwalimu Raphael retired in 1953 at the age of 45.