Mohamedsaleh Suleman Versi

Mohamedsaleh Suleman Versi

All Nicknames

• Saleh

Town of birth

• Zanzibar

Country of birth

• Sultanate of Zanzibar

Date of Birth

• 1906/03/06

Date of Death

• 1999/07/17

Place of Death

• Dar es Salaam

Country of death

• Tanzania

Name of Cemetery and plot no

• Khoja Ithnasheri Kabrastan
• Dar es Salaam

Source of Information

• CR

Place of longest stay

• Dar es Salaam
• Lindi

Profession or occupation carriedout for the longest period in life

• Sisal Plantations

Where-City or Country

• Tanzania

Family tree

Parents

Jetbai Zaitun Suleman Versi 1959

Suleman Versi 1856–1910

Siblings

Abdulrasul Suleman Versi 1899–1971

Fatma Esmail Hasham Alloo 1967

Kassamali Suleman Versi

Mohamedali Suleman Versi 1909

Mohamedraza Suleman Versi 1900–1989

Rehmat Suleman Versi 1893–1962

Sakina Mohamedrafiq Abdulla Kanji 2005

Sherbanu Suleman Versi 1905

Sugra Suleman Versi 1901–1903

Zainab Mohamed Ali Nathoo 1904–1987

Partners

Kulsum Saleh S Versi

Children

Aunali Saleh Versi

Hasnain Saleh Versi

Born in 1906 Zanzibar

Jetbai Zaitun Suleman Versi(Born in Kutch).

Suleman Versi(Born in 1856 Zanzibar).

Marhum Saleh Versi was Zanzibar Manager of TOM (Dutch Trading Co). After retiring in 1951 he ventured into the sisal business at Lindi. Meanwhile TOM also opened their branch in Lindi. They purchased a building owned by Saleh bhai and turned it into their office and warehouse. Alhaj Husseinali Manekia (Motabha) of Orlando recollects that as a 16-year-old in 1948 he travelled to Lindi from his home town of Kilwa to look for a job. Salehbhai saw him at Fajr Namaz and got him a job the same day at TOM under the supervision of the Manager of Merchandise Dept, Mohamedhussein Pirmohamed (Bhoro Bhim).

The company of M Suleman Versi had branches in Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Lindi and Songea. Salehbhai had purchased two sisal plantations - one at Mkoe and one at Rushungi - about 42 miles from Lindi. Sisal business was at its peak those days. Salehbhai was an excellent businessman and a very busy person. He was smartly dressed, many times with a tie, and a very humble person. He travelled a lot. During flights, he carried his typewriter - a laptop of those days! As a student in Iringa, I remember once having written him a letter and the reply was, to my amazement, typed in an aerogramme with a business letterhead! I did not expect to be treated like a businessman as my letter was just a simple letter to a grand uncle. The sisal plantations owned by Marhum Saleh Versi flourished and the plantations had their own sea port called Rushungi through which sisal was shipped out for export overseas. Some sisal was being transported from Mkoe to Lindi port through Fazal Ladha Dinani transporters. During his stay in Lindi Salehbhai was able to own several properties which include the Tanesco House (glass house) and U-shaped building opposite the post office. During my school holidays in August 1968, I accompanied Marhum Saleh and his son Aunali to Mkoe sisal farm for 3 days. I was amazed to see a colonial mansion in a jungle. I was more amazed to see that during breakfast there would be a smartly dressed cook bringing in different kinds of fruits, forks and knives and spread table mats. I had never known of such breakfast before. Felt a bit of ‘mshamba’.

His son, Aunali Versi (now in Orlando), had taught me driving in Lindi. This must be done at 6 a.m. as per his wishes. During our Sisal farm trip, he gave me his Land Rover to practise driving at Mkoe beach, showed me the hippo population at Lake Mkoe, the sisal factory and a workshop. Aunali was a top cricket player in Lindi representing his school for matches in Dar es Salaam.