On our Youth Village Kenya – Young Mind project,we spoke to Dixon Kamala about the issues facing young people, his volunteering experience as he checks in so young in politics, and how young people can get more involved in political issues, especially if they’d like to run for office someday.
Who is kamala Dickson?
Kamala is a young African leader who has inspired changes in African community. As a leader I dedicated myself to work hard on solutions out of challenges that the community is facing and every community member can observe and eager to change being an example as a community leader under the umbrella of East Africa youth ambassador.
What inspired you into politics and social development?
I am a follower of thoughts of great leaders such as Martin Luther, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere , Kwame Nkrumah and others. If you need to change a community you must have ideology; Ideology has to be taught to the people so as to understand it and implement it. The only legal power of implementing your ideology is to join politics so as to make decision which you think will benefits the community at large. We need to make decision on community development and new policy to cover the gap of challenges existing in the community, the only way to influence changes in the community.
Why your focus is on youth?
The globalized world has influenced the young people to join and become a part of decision maker in decision making bodies, There is no way we can give the chance to these young people to be a part of decision making bodies while they are empty CD. We need to be trained and join different forum so as to be mentality matured so that the community can enjoy the creativity of young people and innovative solution on the problems facing the community.” If you want to make revolution began with young people”- Mao ze Tung
What are challenges that are facing young people who join politics in Tanzania?
In 1992 Tanzania adopted multiparty system but in real sense the ruling party has got a lot of power and influence to the people due to the legacy of the first president of Tanzania Mwalimu Nyerere. This has created a loop hole in Tanzanian politics and due to the increase of demand especially on young people they have decided to join opposition parties such as CHADEMA, CUF, NCCR MAGEUZI, TLP among others. Young people are getting low or nothing sometime comparing to the big opportunities that the young people got from the ruling party CCM. The second challenge is income, politics has become business and the one who wants to be elected he must” buy voters”, but the young people joining politics have no money for and hence the one with money they end up taking position and young people loose.
What are some of difficulties you face in politics and as a volunteer?
I hope that everything we face in life toward achieving our dreams we must face them as they gave as an experience and the push our mind to concentrate much so as to come up with the solutions. I was been in volunteerism for some years upto date, I do volunteering in a lot of organization by mind, soul, time, income and intellectual skills. Some of the organization are United Nations organs such as YUNA, UN-HABITAT, the other are Mitost Hamburg in Germany but also in East Africa some of the organizations where I was volunteering are Tanzania Activist, Kenya Activist, Tanzania youth coalition,(TYC) Tanzania youth vision association (TYVA) open mind Tanzania and others, pleas I call upon to young leaders to keep on volunteerism.
What do you aim to achieve with politics and your activism in Tanzania?
The only thing I need to see it’s the community which is free corruption, rule of law respect of human rights and strong ideology that will change the community. In one way or another we are concentrating to see if we can build the young community which based on solution so that we can be in a good position of innovating the solutions on the problems that are facing the community. It’s possible to achieve the free equality in our Tanzania community.
As a youth leders and activist. What do you feel needs to be done or implemented in East Africa to create more enabling environment for young people who need to join politics?
Young people need to stay involved in the politics by holding their leaders accountable for the decisions they make. Currently we are working as ambassadorial Team in East Africa community where I represent the young people from Tanzania, but in one way we have created the East Africa youth network and we are moving in creation of East Africa Youth councils (EAYC). Our goal we need to create a big network and forum where every young person will benefit as being a member and getting information. But also we will have a lot of trainings and scholarship that young people will benefit from them at the end of the day the community will have young leaders who are committed and informed on the ongoing process in integration economic and political.
What do you look up for inspiration?
I quote” when you see the rat running away from fire, then what is chasing it is actually hotter than the fire” we need to do something before we run from fire,my call is to inspire young people that we can make the world a peaceful area if we are dedicated to do so.
Where do you see your political impact in the next five years?
Currently my highest position is Youth ambassador in East African Community (EAC-YAP) but still I am pushing the envelope until they open it. We have election this year (2015) in Tanzania,I am going to contest for Member of Parliament for karagwe Constituency.Then in 2017 we will have the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) so the sky to me its not the limit but we need to go further to seek the more,both in local and international involvement as leaders
Entertainment……what do you do for fun?
Interesting question indeed, most of the time I just go for Church but apart from that I love playing basketball.
I work as a Master of ceremony (MC) in some events in the community, I like to make people happy, the world does not need more successful people but rather a person who can make other people happy.
Favorite places to hangout in Dar es salaam?
We have a lot of good places in Dar for relaxing and ( kula bata) most of them is Bagamo where its local area where you find Pweza (Octopus) . I am more interested in spending my time with orphans in Kigaboni and spent much time on the shore of Indian ocean.
What Music do you listen to?
The music more I prefer apart from gospel songs its raggae music these songs are very exciting ,they have a strong message to the community and in real life.In Tanzania,we have bongo flavor,for the love birds.I enjoy to listen to Sura yako mzuri by Sautisol from Kenya.
What do you look for in life partner?
Though I am not married, I hope one day I will. The most and very important thing is to get a wife who is more committed to your vision and she can support you in any condition – difficult or good,hence a happy family.
What advice would you like to give young people who would like to be political leaders?
The sky is open for every young person who want to realise his dream to be true and put more efforts because we are competing to be the best in our community. Every opportunity comes to you just go for it and don’t take it for granted,with your heart and soul you will achieve it.
It’s said “A man who hangs around a beautiful woman without saying a word ends up serving water on her wedding day”
How has social Media change politics in Tanzania?
We are using social media in Tanzania and it has a positive and negative impact to the community that’s why we need to have a strong knowledge on its application and to whom it will benefits.We are using social media for political campaigns and social activism in order to create a strong society in which every person can get information at through social media platforms and it will be easy for him or her to receive the information.Remember information is power.
How can people reach you?
Kamala Dickson Mwombeki
Email : [email protected]
Facebook : Dixon kamala
Twitter : @kamalamasai
Phone number : +255 655719406
East Africa Youth Ambassadors platform
Tanzania Youth Vision Association
