At the 14th Constitutional Conference held in Dar-es-salaam from 4th to 7th April, 1980, Alhaj Hassan Ali M. Jaffer was unanimously elected to the post of Vice Chairman of Africa Federation. Hassan bhai was born in Zanzibar in 1932 and has been a resident of Mombasa since his young age. After completing his secondary school education at Mombasa he undertook a practical course in agriculture at the Indian school of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania.
He commenced social services in the community from 1953 when he was elected Hon. General Secretary of the Jaffery Sports Club, Mombasa. Since then, he has served on a number of communal bodies at various times; he was secretary and chairman of the Debate and Education Section of the Ithna-Asheri young Men’s Union, Hon secretary and the later chairman of the Ithna-Asheri Education Board managing the Alibhai Panju Jaffery Primary school. He was also Vice Chairman of the Mombasa jamaat.
In the Supreme Council, he has been Executive Councilor since 1965 and was its Hon. Treasurer during 1965/67 under the chairmanship of late Alhaj Mohammedali Meghji and at the time late Mulla Asgharali M. M. Jaffer was the Hon. Secretary of Africa Federation.
He has been an elected member of the Executive Council of the World Federation of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim communities since its establishment in October, 1976.
Apart from his services in the community, Hassan bhai has served in public life as an acting member of the Mombasa Municipal Council in 1963 and in 1959/60 he was an elected member of the managing committee of the Mombasa Muslim Association and Secretary of Eid Fete standing committee. He has been a member of the Mombasa Port Advisory and Productivity Council and at one time was the Vice Chairman of the Mombasa Ships Agents’ Association.
Hassan bhai had a business as a Shipping Agent in Mombasa under the name of Murtaza Shipping Agency Limited and was the Managing Director of the company. He is married with five children.
With the wealth of experience at his command, Hassan bhai is also a prolific writer and public speaker, and has vast knowledge of history of the Khojas since the migration from India to East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands. He has always enchanted and enlightened the audience during the conference and council debates that were made lively by the lucidity with which he expresses himself.
Alhaj Hassan bhai is presently semi-retired and resides in Mombasa. His interest in the community affairs remains unwavered since his young age; he has always been in the forefront and steadfast in defending the interests of our community worldwide. Whenever his services and advice are required, be it for the Africa Federation or the Jamaat he is always there.
Major part of information is extracted from Federation Samachar of July 1980.