Nemes Tarimo’s family in Tanzania urged him against joining Russian forces in Ukraine, but the 33-year-old had a compelling reason to join.
His family learned the news that verified their greatest fears three weeks ago. He had perished in battle.
Everyone at the family residence in the city of Dar es Salaam appears fatigued. As they await word on when his remains might be returned.
The waiting is wearing on me.
There are approximately 15 people in the enclosure, and relatives are constantly entering and exiting to inquire about recent developments.
The last time they heard from him was in October when he informed them he had accepted to join the Russian mercenary company, Wagner.
“Nemes notified me and a few other family members about his intention to join Wagner, and we persuaded him not to,” said an unnamed family member.
But the young man, whose relatives describe him as polite, God-fearing, and supportive, found it difficult to refuse an offer.
The family reports that Tarimo, who aspired to become a member of parliament for the opposition Chadema party. Studied at the Russian Technological University in Moscow. However, he was incarcerated sometime after January 2021 for alleged drug-related offenses.
A deal was offered to him a year ago: sign up and be pardoned, or remain in prison.
“He stated that he would join to liberate himself,” the relative explains.
This situation is similar to that of Lemekhani Nyirenda, a 23-year-old Zambian student who was also imprisoned in Russia and died battling with Wagner last year.
The Zambian foreign minister, Stanley Kakubo, informed the legislature that he had been informed that inmates who consented to fight could be pardoned.
In September of last year, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen on a leaked video explaining the rules of combat, such as no desertion or sexual contact with Ukrainian women, and then allowing the captives five minutes to decide if they choose to join.
Wagner informed Tarimo’s family that he passed away at the end of October. While on a combat assignment in Ukraine alongside him.
Our last contact with him was on October 17
According to media sources, his death was the result of the Ukrainian artillery fire. Which we learned about in December through his friends.
The Federal News Agency, a Russian broadcaster utilized by Mr. Proghozin to enhance the reputation of his gang, has released a video of what it claims was Tarimo’s memorial service in the town of Goryachiy Klyuch. According to the story, he passed away on October 24 in Bakhmut, the site of fierce conflict in recent months.
A man who claimed to have battled alongside Tarimo was interviewed by Ria Novosti. The state-owned domestic news agency of Russia. According to him, the Tanzanian died while attempting to aid a wounded soldier.
Tarimo received a posthumous medal “for courage” from the Wagner Group, according to the Federal News Agency.
Relatives have contacted the embassy in Moscow, but the Tanzanian government, which has remained neutral on the war in Ukraine, has not yet issued a public statement regarding the death of the student.
The family desires to bury Tarimo in their Southern Highlands community, but cannot make arrangements until his bones are returned.
“Until we receive his remains, we refuse to accept that he is deceased… We are extremely saddened by the loss of a respected young man in this area.”
