Kimera, Salimu Justin (1904–1980)
By Hudson Mngumi
Hudson Eliya Mngumi, B.A. in theology (Bugema University, Uganda), a MABTS candidate (Adventist University of Africa, Ongata Rongai, Kenya), is an ordained minister, currently serving as a front line pastor in North Eastern Tanzania Conference. Previously he served as a school chaplain at Suji for eight years (2006-2014). He is married to Verynice and they have two children.
First Published: October 19, 2021
Salimu Justin Kimera was the first native mission director of the East Tanganyika Mission.
Salimu Justin Kimera was born at Bumbuli in 1904, on Usambara Mountains, when the Adventist missionaries had just reached Tanganyika. His mother was known as Kivunga, but not much is known about his father. Salimu grew in a typical Muslim family and so in his childhood he attended madrassa (Muslim school). He was so passionate about formal education that he ran away from home to seek a school. He went to Mkomazi where he met Petro Risase Kime who took him to Kihurio Mission School where he fulfilled his dream of getting an education.1
After receiving primary education, he received training as a teacher at Suji Training College. In the early 1940s, he and Ezekiel Mafuru were privileged to receive training in English and health at Malamulo in Malawi. Only two teachers were selected from Tanganyika. This was purposely done in order to introduce English as a subject in Adventist schools.2 This made him a promoter of English as its teacher and an advocate of healthful living. He taught in several different schools, but mainly at Ikizu, Kibumaye, Utimbaru, Busegwe, and Suji. He also served as director of church schools in the Mara zone.
He had also received pastoral training, so he became a pastor and served in several places. These included Mbeya, Tukuyu, Iringa Moshi, and Tanga, among others. He worked also as a director at the Pare Mission. He was the first African to lead the mission between 1957 and 1960. This was before the mission became East Tanganyika Mission Field. He was one of the few pastors from the Sambaa ethnic community.
Pastor Salimu Justin Kimera married Kompeho Mose and they had 12 children of which three died in their infancy. The remaining nine included three boys and six girls.
Pastor Kimera retired from active ministry in the early 1970s. After his retirement he continued with his passion for mission, opening churches in unentered areas.3 He could walk more than ten miles on foot to take the message to new places. He opened the work in Korogwe where there is now is a district with more than ten churches. Salimu Justin Kimera died December 14, 1980.
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