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Photos Scanned And Provided By: Mustafa Pirmohamed
Email: mpirmohamed@gmail.com
 

to Mustafa Pirmohamed's Lindi Notes - Family - Settlement Stories Main Page

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FAZEL REMTULLA VIRANI – CHIUNGUTWA – SOUTHERN TANZANIA

In 1908, at the age of 16, Fazel Remtulla travelled from India and landed in Tanga. After three days in Tanga he went to Pangani where he joined in the employment of Mr Mohamed Karim. After 6 months he joined in the employment of Mr Mohamed Tharoo where he worked for 3 years. In 1912 he left Tanga with 4 labourers on a 20 day trip to Singida (300 miles away) on foot. He worked with Jaffer Khimji in Singida for 12 months.

Fazelbhai decided to start his own business. He bought cattle in Singida and went on a 25-day foot journey to Korogwe where he sold the cattle. He continued this business for 3 years. The business was going on well but an incident in 1916 made him to drop the business. While traveling to Korogwe, he reached Kondoa-Irangi where British rule was already established after throwing out the Germans. The permit rules for moving cattle had changed and when he went to collect the permit he was told to come after a week. In two days, he was apprehended and sent to a Nairobi prison. His 500 cattle were confiscated and fed to the military. When the war was over in 1918 investigations were made into Fazelbhai’s crime and he was found to be innocent and released. He left Nairobi by train to Korogwe from where he travelled 50 miles on foot to Handeni where his cousin Gulamhussein Jeraj was residing. He took a break of 3 months resting at Handeni after the prison term. He then left for 80 mile journey to Pangani.where he stayed 6 months. He then decided to move to Dodoma traveling by bicycle.

In Dodoma, Fazelbhai joined employment of Mohamed Remtulla for 12 months. He then moved to Kigoma where he worked with his brother for 12 months. He then moved to Uvira in Congo for 6 months and returned to his brother in Kigoma in 1921.

In 1922, he moved to Lindi from Kigoma. In 1923 he travelled to Mtama, 40 miles away on bicycle and started his shop business. He stayed in Mtama upto 1939. At the time Mtama had 5 Khoja families. Majalis were held at the home of Fazelbhai which was made of mud. In 1941, he moved to Kitangari where he stayed for 4 months and then moved to Luatala where he opened a shop and stayed for 2 years. In 1943 he went to Mingoyo where he stayed for 7 years. In 1950, he moved to Chiungutwa (Masasi District) where he is residing now. (written in 1960)

Source: Trade Directory