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14th October 1999

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Julius Nyerere ...... 1 14 October 1999 ...... 6 ANC Statement On The Death Of Julius Kambarage "Mwalimu" Nyerere 6 African National Congress of South Africa 6 PanAfrican News Agency 6 's First President Dies In Britain 6 WorldBank 7 James D. Wolfensohn Statement On The Death Of Julius Nyerere 7 15 October 1999 ...... 8 BBC 8 Tributes pour in for Nyerere 8 Julius Nyerere: The conscience of Africa 8 E-mails tell of Nyerere's honesty and humility 9 Text of President Mkapa's address to the nation 10 Nyerere: A personal recollection 10 Songs of grief for Tanzania's founder 12 Tanzania prepares for Nyerere funeral 12 Independent 13 Julius Nyerere, the elder statesman of post-colonial Africa, dies, aged 77 13 Third World visionary who brought to the villages 14 'I learnt at his feet ... he was our guru' 15 The Nation (Nairobi) 15 A Symbol Of Africa's Hope 15 The Times Of Zambia (Lusaka) 17 Tanzanians say goodbye to Mwalimu 17 The Times 18 JULIUS NYERERE 18 Guardian 21 Africans mourn death of the father of Tanzania 21 The Independent 23 OBITUARY: JULIUS NYERERE 23 16 October 1999 ...... 26 Panafrican News Agency 26 President Clinton Pays Tribute To Nyerere 26 Nyerere To Be Laid To Rest At His Butiama Home 26 The Times of Zambia (Lusaka) 26 We've been robbed of great leader-- Chiluba 26 Financial Times 27 Guardian 28 Idealism in a cynical world 28 The Nation (Nairobi) 28 Mwalimu Nyerere's bequest to Mkapa a tall order 28 17 October 1999 ...... 31 The Monitor () 31 Kwa heri, Mtukufu Rais Julius K. Nyerere 31 Panafrican News Agency 32 Tanzanians In UK Bid Farewell To Nyerere 32 World Leaders Continue To Send Condolences 32 The Nation (Nairobi) 33 Mwalimu's rise to power 33 Mwalimu's enduring legacy 35 Independent on Sunday 38 18 October 1999 ...... 39 Guardian 39 Julius Nyerere 39 Richard Gott writes: 39 Simon Barley writes: 39 Ronald Segal writes: 39 Julius Nyerere 3

Chandra Hardy writes: 39 BBC 40 Email tributes 40 HYPE 47 The Meaning Of "Mwalimu" 47 Panafrican News Agency 47 Half A Million Tanzanians Welcome Nyerere's Body 47 Museveni To Lead Delegation To Nyerere's Funeral 48 19 October 1999 ...... 49 Guardian 49 Nyerere's return 49 The Times 49 Thousands flock to see Nyerere's coffin come home 49 New Vision (Kampala) 50 Nyerere Body Arrives In Dar 50 The Times of Zambia (Lusaka) 50 Chiluba declares four-day national mourning 50 20 October 1999 ...... 52 Independent 52 Tanzania weeps for 52 BBC 52 World leaders arrive to honour Nyerere 52 Julius Nyerere: Political messiah or false prophet? 53 Panafrican News Agency 58 Nyerere's Daughter Denied Holy Communion 58 Wrangle Over Nyerere's Final Resting Place Solved 58 18 Heads Of State To Pay Respects To Nyerere 58 The Monitor (Kampala) 59 Dreams that never died 59 21 October 1999 ...... 62 BBC 62 World leaders honour Nyerere 62 Panafrican News Agency 62 Academician Revisits Nyerere's Development Vision 62 Rwandan TV Airs Nyerere's Funeral Ceremony Live 63 22 October 1999 ...... 64 Guardian 64 The world turns out to honour Nyerere 64 Independent 65 Nyerere, flawed fighter of colonialism, buried as hero 65 The Times 65 Leaders pay their repects to Nyerere 65 New Vision (Kampala) 66 World Pays Last Respects To Mwalimu Nyerere 66 Museveni Joins World In Mourning Nyerere 67 The Monitor (Kampala) 68 Big farewell for Nyerere 68 Business Day (Johannesburg) 69 Tanzania And The World Say Their Farewells To Nyerere 69 The Times of Zambia (Lusaka) 69 Nyerere was a great African statesman - Chiluba 69 Panafrican News Agency 70 Tanzanians Pay Homage To Nyerere On Eve Of Burial 70 Nyerere Provided Haven For Late Banda's Opponents 70 Downpour, Wind, Mark Arrival Of Nyerere's Body 71 23 October 1999 ...... 72 Economist 72 Julius Nyerere 4

Julius Nyerere 72 Guardian 73 Tanzania's unity weakens without Nyerere 73 Panafrican News Agency 73 The Road Ends For One Of Africa's Greatest Sons 73 BBC 74 Nyerere laid to rest 74 24 October 1999 ...... 75 The Monitor - Kampala 75 Mandela to visit Nyerere's grave 75 Nyerere's not so sweet side 75 The Nation. 77 Remembering a great son of Africa [Analysis] 77 Canto for hope 79 Panafrican News Agency 79 The Road Ends For One Of Africa's Greatest Sons 79 26 October 1999 ...... 81 The East African 81 As 'Kingmaker' Dies, Whither Tanzania Politics and Society 81 Ever the Idealist, Nyerere's Legacy is Everlasting 82 There Was Real in Mwalimu's Day 84 Painful Loss of a Friend, Mentor and Nationalist Par Excellence 87 Death Puts Nyerere Biography in Limbo 87 Leaders Pay Tribute to Mwalimu 88 Sporting Events Postponed in Honour of Nyerere 89 27 October 1999 ...... 91 Panafrican News Agency 91 Spirit Sends Soldiers Scampering For Safety 91 Business Day (Johannesburg) 91 Nyerere No Great Leader, But Ensured Poverty For Tanzania (Column) 91 28 October 1999 ...... 93 Southern African Research and Documentation Centre 93 Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere- A Remembrance 93 Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC)- 95 Address To Members Of Parliament: By Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere 95 UN Integrated Regional Information Network 99 IRIN Focus on the union 99 29 October 1999 ...... 101 All Africa News Agency 101 Julius Nyerere: A Concrete Example Of Commitment 101 Who Else Would Get The Credit For Peace And Unity? 101 The Day The Villagers Lost Their Favourite Son 102 Panafrican News Agency 104 Tanzanian Authorities Crackdown On Poachers 104 The East African 104 He Did Not Think His Life Was in Danger 104 South Africa Remembers Nyerere as One of Its Own 105 Balancing Relative Values at the Funeral (Opinion) 106 A Legacy of Unity, But Not of (Opinion) 107 Why Mwalimu Never Went Out of Fashion (Opinion) 108 Coach Nyerere is Gone, the Team Must Play On 109 30 October 1999 ...... 111 Panafrican News Agency 111 Nyerere Mourning Regulations Relaxed 111 Miscellaneous ...... 112 Saints and Presidents: A Commentary on Julius Nyerere 112 Julius Nyerere 5

14 October 1999 6

Issued by The African National Congress, Department of Information and Publicity, P.O. 14 October 1999 Box 61884, Marshalltown 2107, Johannesburg. Email: [email protected] ANC Statement On The Death Of Julius Kambarage "Mwalimu" PanAfrican News Agency Nyerere Tanzania's First President Dies In African National Congress of South Britain Africa , 1999 October 14, 1999 by Nicodemus Odhiambo Johannesburg - The following document was Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - The first released by African National Congress of president of the United Republic of Tanzania, South Africa: The ANC is devastated at the Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who died news of the death of Julius Nyerere earlier Thursday in , was born in March 1922 today. The organisation weeps in memory of at Butiama, a village near the Lake shore this giant amongst men. town of , to a Zanaki chief, Nyerere Julius Kambarage "Mwalimu" Nyerere was an Burite. outstanding leader, a brilliant philosopher and He received his early education at the a people's hero - a champion for the entire Mwisenge primary school in Musoma before African continent. He shall always be joining a secondary school at Tabora, a remembered as one of Africa's greatest and former slave town in the heart of Tanzania. most respected sons and the father of the From Tabora, Nyerere spent two years at Tanzanian nation. Makerere College, Uganda, then returned to Throughout his long life he enjoyed respect Tabora to teach at St Mary's school. In 1949, and popularity that extended far beyond the he went to Edinburgh University, where he borders of Tanzania. His wise counsel was graduated with a Master of Arts degree in sought from around the globe, even after he 1952. resigned from the presidency in 1985. On his return, he taught at St. Francis, Pugu, A legacy in his own lifetime, he served as a in Dar Es Salaam. He later briefly served as a symbol of inspiration for all African nations in Temporary Nominated Member of the colonial their liberation struggles to free themselves Legislative Council. from the shackles of oppression and In 1954, Nyerere was a founder member of colonialism. the Tanganyika African National Union Mwalimu will always occupy a very important (TANU), and was elected president of the place in the hearts and minds of South party. He accepted a further nomination to the Africans in general and the supporters of the legislature in July 1957, having forfeited his ANC in particular. teaching post, but resigned in protest in The ANC is indebted to his memory for the December the same year. unflinching support that he offered during our In Tanganyika's first elections in 1958, he was dark days of struggle against racist elected a member of Parliament, and was rule and for freedom and democracy. Our returned unopposed in the second general celebration of these basic rights today is to no election in 1960. small degree as a result of the benevolence of In May 1961, he was sworn in as chief Julius Nyerere and the support, both moral minister and led the country to independence and material, received from Tanzanian people on 9 December, 1961. After the decision to under his rule. make Tanganyika a republic, Nyerere was The ANC pays homage to a true African nominated as a TANU candidate for the post legend, a man deserving of great admiration, of president. respect and affection. In 1962, he entered State House (formerly The ANC conveys its sincerest condolences Government House) as Tanganyika's first to his family, friends and the Tanzanian president. people during this painful period. In , Nyerere was signatory to the Issued by Smuts Ngonyama Union of Tanganyika and , and African National Congress 51 Plein Street became president of the new United Republic, Johannesburg 2000 later renamed Tanzania. 14 October 1999 On 30 September, 1965, he was declared president for a second term of five years, 14 October 1999 7 having secured a massive mandate from the "Mwalimu" (or "Teacher")-which was his first people. profession. Many of us still regard ourselves Nyerere ruled Tanzania for 22 years under a as his students, and we feel very honored to socialist regime. But of it he once said: "We have known and worked with him in his life. cannot go 'full-speed' into socialism. Where To the people of Tanzania-and to his wider are the leaders for 'full-speed' socialism?." family across Africa and around the world-I During his life, he backed independence want to say how much we share your sadness movements in Mozambique, Angola, at his passing. However, the example he set Zimbabwe (former Rhodesia) and the fettering and the ideals he represented will remain a of apartheid in South Africa. He was also the source of inspiration and comfort for all of us. chairman of the South-South Commission. That is a legacy which even President And in recent years, he was mediator in a Nyerere-modest as he was-would have been number of peace talks especially in trying to proud of. end the civil war in . In Tanzania, he is James D. Wolfensohn, October 14, 1999 credited for uniting the over 120 tribes into a Africa News Online cohesive society. Known as 'Mwalimu,' Kiswahili for 'teacher,' Nyerere was a darling to millions of Tanzanians. He is survived by his wife, Maria, and six children.

WorldBank

James D. Wolfensohn Statement On The Death Of Julius Nyerere October 14, 1999 Washington - For the men and women who have served the great cause of development in the world, one of the lights of our lives went out today. Mr. Julius Nyerere was one of the founding fathers of modern Africa. He was also one of the few world leaders whose high ideals, moral integrity, and personal modesty inspired people right around the globe. While world economists were debating the importance of capital output ratios, President Nyerere was saying that nothing was more important for people than being able to read and write and have access to clean water. He gave his compatriots a sense of hope and achievement early in their life as a country. And he gave them a sense of nation with few parallels in Africa and the world-bound by a common language (Kiswahili) and a history almost entirely free of internal divisions and conflict. His political ideals, his deep religious convictions, his equally deep religious tolerance, and his belief that people of all ethnic and regional origins should have equal access to knowledge and material opportunities have marked his country-and Africa-forever. He was a leader in the liberation of Southern Africa. He looked after hundreds of thousands of refugees forced to live in western Tanzania by political turmoil in central Africa. And he left office peacefully at an age when he could certainly have continued. He was known as 15 October 1999 8

In Kenya, President Moi said Dr Nyerere was "a good friend" and that Kenyan flags would 15 October 1999 fly at half-mast for four days in tribute. , president of Zimbabwe, said BBC Dr Nyerere had been "the revolutionary, the visionary, the principled, indomitable and unyielding support of the struggle for our own Tributes pour in for Nyerere and the region's independence". UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, led tributes Tributes have been pouring in from around from Europe saying: "The fact that Tanzania the world for former Tanzanian President is today a country at peace with itself and its Julius Nyerere who has died of cancer. neighbours is, in large part, a tribute to The death of the 77-year-old statesman, who Mwalimu." led his country to independence, was Julius Nyerere served as Tanzania's first announced on Tanzanian radio by the current president from 1961 to 1985. Head of State, . Addressing the nation on television, Dr Nyerere had been diagnosed with Tanzanian President Mkapa said the leukaemia in August and was admitted to St challenge now was for Tanzanians to build on Thomas' hospital in London three weeks ago. the important foundation which he laid for the In Tanzania, 30 days of mourning have been nation. declared for the man known affectionately as An important opponent of colonialism and "Mwalimu" - Kiswahili for "the teacher". apartheid, Dr Nyerere stood out as an African Flags are flying at half-mast and many radio leader who ignored the trappings of power. and television stations have been playing But while he united his nation and made major religious music. advances in the fields of health and President Mkapa said arrangements were education, his African socialist policy of being made for a . "ujama" - community-based farming In New York, the General collectives - proved disastrous for Tanzania's Assembly stood in silent tribute to Dr Nyerere. economy. The President of the Assembly, Namibian After stepping down as president, Dr Nyerere Foreign Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, called him became an influential figure on the "a venerable world leader and one of Africa's international scene, becoming one of Africa's most charismatic and respected elder most respected elder statesmen. statesmen". Most recently, he had been mediating talks in He recalled how Dr Nyerere had given refuge northern Tanzania aimed at ending the ethnic to the many black nationalist leaders who fled and political conflict in Burundi. South Africa under apartheid. They were allowed to set up training camps inside Julius Nyerere: The conscience of Tanzania. In , the Secretary-General of the Africa Organisation of African Unity, Salim Ahmed Julius Nyerere: A vision of self-reliance for Africa Salim, called the former president's death "a Dr Julius Nyerere, who has died aged 77, led severe and painful personal loss". the former British protectorate of Tanganyika Dr Nyerere was one of the founding members to independence in 1961, becoming its first of the OAU and a passionate believer in the prime Minister and later its first president. cause of pan-Africanism. His country was withdrawn from British rule South African President said Dr without violence and with comparatively little Nyerere "served as a source of great racial bitterness. Dr Nyerere acquired in the inspiration to efforts towards Africa's rebirth". process the reputation of being a moderate, "He was one of the wise sons of Africa who an idea that was encouraged by his personal guided our journey towards placing Africa in modesty and his preference for Western her rightful place in the world," he said. values. The Zambian President, , In both Africa and the West his prestige, when said it was a sad day for Africa. he first became President, stood high. It was "We have lost a champion and great leader," seriously shaken, however, early in 1964, by a he said. mutiny of the Tanganyikan Army that spread Revolutionary and visionary to other parts of East Africa and was only put down with British help. Later, as , formed by the joining of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, 15 October 1999 9

Nyerere instituted a one-party system, overwhelmed by the lack of individual together with other forms of government that incentive. smacked of a police state. Ten years later, taking stock, President Yet he always defended his position declaring Nyerere issued a remarkably honest booklet that Tanzanians had far more freedom under which gave as much prominence to the his rule than they had ever had under the failures as well as the successes. British, and that the one-party system was "There is a time for planting and a time for vital for stability. harvesting", he wrote. Over the years, he became increasingly anti- "For us it is still a time for planting". British and anti-European, and entered into It was his abject failure at home that will blight close relations with Beijing. He accepted large the reputation of a man who had gained numbers of Chinese military instructors and respect as one of the few African leaders of technicians, a development that angered the his time who stood for idealism and principle. United States, which cut off aid. President Nyerere was outspoken in his E-mails tell of Nyerere's honesty criticism of British Prime Minister Harold and humility Wilson's government for not taking military action against the regime in Nyerere and Mandela - e-mails praise his statesmanship Rhodesia when it issued its unilateral E-mails paying tribute to Julius Nyerere have declaration of independence in 1965. been arriving from around the world to the In common with other African leaders, he was BBC News Online website. greatly concerned about the possibility of the The messages began appearing almost from UK resuming limited arms sales to South the moment the death of Tanzania's former Africa. Nevertheless, by November 1975 he president was announced. came to London and was accorded the full All express sorrow at the death of a great honours of a state visit. statesman - a man known as the father of He was then the longest serving head of a Tanzania - and many references are made to Commonwealth African state, and the UK his honesty, humility and vision. government regarded him as a major Mziwakhe John Tsabedze, of Swaziland, says stabilising force in an increasingly turbulent Julius Nyerere was a true leader. He writes: region. "He taught us integrity and he taught us to As the crisis over Rhodesia worsened in the serve our fellow citizens. late 1970s, President Nyerere played a Noble and edifying campaigning role in moves by the so-called "He taught us to know that the measure of a - Tanzania, Zambia, leader is not how many Mercedes Benz cars Botswana, Mozambique and Angola - to he has or how many wives he has. He taught hasten majority rule. us that a leader can relinquish power and still He also came to have an important influence remain influential." with the nationalist guerrilla groups in what There were many other words of praise for the was to become Zimbabwe, and was a key former president's frugal lifestyle and lack of figure in the formulation of the peace plan that hypocrisy. was concluded at the Lancaster House Efosa Aruede, of Nigeria writes: "The simple conference in London in 1979. and ascetic lifestyle of Mwalimu was always a It was in that year that Tanzanian forces reference point for Tanzanians. invaded Uganda forcing an end to the "It is hoped that despite the embracing of murderous regime of . market economics by the present rulers of In Tanzania itself, President Nyerere Tanzania, they will not jettison all that is noble attempted to achieve his goal of a socialist and edifying in the teachings of Mwalimu." and self-supporting state. In 1967 this policy He preached water and drank water of self-reliance had been enshrined in the Joshua Odeny, of Kenya, writes: "He was still Declaration (named after the northern popular 14 years since he left power, because Tanzanian town where it was announced). It he led by example. came to be regarded as one of the most "He preached Ujama and practised it. In other important political documents to have words he preached water and drank water. He emerged in the developing world. remains the most honest leader East Africa Yet his policy of "ujama", community-based has ever produced." farming collectives, proved disastrous. The There are also many international tributes to idealism of the grand project was Julius Nyerere's determination to pursue his 15 October 1999 10 ideals and his ability to admit when he had Shock and anxiety made mistakes. I know that the death of the father of the "Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere has nation will shock you and sadden all gone down this day as a true and admirable Tanzanians. Many will feel anxiety. citizen of the world," writes George Were, Mwalimu created the foundations of unity for from Sudan. our nation and struggled for it with all his "If he erred, that was only because he was strength. human, not because he meant any harm to Mwalimu and the late Mzee Abeid Amani humanity." Karume created the United Republic of 'A true humanist' Tanzania, by uniting the Republic of Christian Sorenson, from Denmark, writes: "A Tanganyika and the People's Republic of true humanist, a great communicator and Zanzibar. unifier. An African of the highest intellect. Mwalimu gave this country fame and respect "He made mistakes, but who doesn't? I by leading national and international struggles admire him." to liberate the countries of southern Africa and Many of the electronic eulogies praise making efforts to resolve political and military 'Mwalimu' for knowing when to step down. conflicts in independent neighbouring states. "He showed true leadership when he stepped Unity and union down to make way for ", Given this remarkable leadership record there writes Hansel Ramathal, from India and the will be some citizens who will fear that the USA. unity of the country will be jeopardised, that "This was a single act of mature leadership our union will disintegrate and our relations and it is something rarely seen in many of the with neighbouring countries will be affected. worlds governments especially in Africa and I beg you, citizens, to believe that Mwalimu Asia." succeeded in building a firm and strong Bobana Badisang, from Botswana, sums up foundation in all these areas. We, who the affection and emotion many people felt for inherited that unity and union, took an oath to Julius Nyerere. make it everlasting and continuous. "In the desert wastelands of Botswana I beg you, citizens, to cooperate in paying Mwalimu was an icon, a motivator and deserved respect to the father of the nation by mentor. Farewell Mwalimu. Dusk has remaining committed to the legacy of his approached too soon." work, his service and his love. Comrade citizens, as we await the body of the father of the nation, I beg you to remain calm Text of President Mkapa's address and to maintain our solidarity, brotherhood to the nation and love at this heavy and unique moment of grief facing our country. President Benjamin Mkapa appeals for calm and The father of the nation will be accorded a full unity state funeral. The government will issue A special and unscheduled address to the further statements later about the reception of nation by President Benjamin Mkapa, the body of our beloved, and about the funeral broadcast by Tanzanian radio on 14th arrangements. October 1999. We pray to God to rest the soul of our beloved Dear citizens, it is with great sadness that I elder in heaven. announce to you that our beloved father of the God bless our country. God bless Africa. nation, Comrade Julius Kambarage Nyerere, is dead. Mwalimu died this morning at 10.30 Nyerere: A personal recollection Tanzanian time at St Thomas's Hospital, Everyone called him Mwalimu, a Swahili word for London, where he had been undergoing teacher treatment for leukaemia since 24th Vicky Ntetema, a Tanzanian journalist September. working for the BBC Swahili Service gives As our earlier statements have indicated, the her personal recollections about the condition of the father of the nation changed "father" of her country and assesses why suddenly on Wednesday night, 30th he had such an important influence on his September, and all his organs began to people. deteriorate. I have met Julius Nyerere many times. This caused the doctors to transfer him to the The last while he was critically ill in hospital in intensive care unit, where he passed away London. today. 15 October 1999 11

It was hard for me to believe that the great They were going to lose their massive maize statesman was now lying in bed, speechless farms to the state as farms were and so helpless. established. He first began to make an impact on me when It was the end of in practical terms. I was small child in the Southern Highlands of I can look back today and say that if it wasn't Tanzania. for the Ujamaa ideology and policy, maybe I What puzzled me was the way everyone would have not had the chance to reach called him Mwalimu, a Swahili word for where I am today. teacher. Under free medical services I was able to All my teachers at school were called have a major operation 23 years ago. mwalimu too - but with a small 'm'. I went to school at a time when primary My mother told me that Nyerere could see education was compulsory and education was both sides of a coin and make his argument free up to degree level. understood to both sides no matter what the I was one of a family of 10 and I know that my subject was. father, a medical assistant then, would not But he was also a hard nut to crack, who have managed to send all of his children to feared nobody and who would always stand school on his salary. by his word. Not 'one of them' Songs of praise I was sent to the on a As I was getting older, I started listening to government's scholarship where I acquired a songs on the radio. Masters of Arts Degree in Journalism. There was no single day which passed Many thought that Mwalimu was obsessed without hearing songs praising Mwalimu or with and Leninism and that is why Baba (Father) Nyerere. many students were sent to the U.S.S.R. Tanzania Bands sang of how he fought for the In fact while some of us were sent to the country's independence "without spilling communist countries many others went to blood" and how he was still fighting for the Europe, the United States, Australia and liberation of those nations under colonial and India. apartheid regimes. The Soviets actually disliked Nyerere because One song was about his work as a leader of he was not "one of them". the then political and ruling party T.A.N.U. The Whenever we went to the History of the words that I remember most were, "Nyerere, Communist Party class I was attacked by my build more prisons to jail those who oppose lecturer for being a Nyerere follower. T.A.N.U.". The lecturer did not like the idea of Tanzania Another said "Father Nyerere, build and being a member of a Non-Aligned Movement. spread socialism throughout the country and "You are either a communist or a capitalist ... eliminate all parasites, capitalists and puppets we do not like people in the grey areas ... they of imperialists". can be easily swayed to the enemy side..." He preferred to call socialism "Ujamaa", which Donating blood means brotherhood. Listening to Radio Tanzania we followed the In school we were taught some of those struggle of Mwalimu and other African leaders songs and we would sing one or two at our for the liberation of the whole of the continent. daily assembly before and after classes. Twice a year we donated blood and clothing Sharpened teeth to our brothers and sisters in the struggle in One day in Iringa, Southern Tanzania, I was Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia. one of the few schoolgirls who carried We had to welcome and accommodate exiles bouquets to welcome President Nyerere. from South Africa. They became our half- He was just an ordinary person with a great relatives and were given the best of personality and a big smile which revealed his everything, from education to health. baby-like small sharpened teeth. It was when I was in a boarding school in I remember him cracking jokes and laughing that the war with Idi Amin's Uganda and the crowd echoed his laughter. started. He was a leader whose ideas, ideology, We had to be evacuated when a Russian Mig policies, decisions and directives were 16 narrowly missed our dormitories along the respected and adhered to by all citizens. shores of Lake Victoria. But some were not amused by the The previous week we were taught by the announcement of his nationalisation policy. army, under the air raids how to build trenches and how to stock food and sleep in the trenches. 15 October 1999 12

Two years after the war with Uganda, the The usual bustling streets of Dar es Salaam Tanzanian economy went down the drain. are almost silent as people gather around any Shop display windows and shelves were filled available radio listening to President Benjamin with dust and spiders' cobwebs. Mkapa's tribute to Nyerere, which is repeated One language, many voices every few minutes. Many were angry at the situation. But Tanzania's foremost gospel singer Captain Tanzania had been attacked and Nyerere had John Komba and his choir had composed and had to defend his country. recorded a song of tribute and mourning, He was just as tough defending the Union of which was recorded earlier this week for mainland Tanzania with Zanzibar. television and radio. Nyerere used the Kiswahili language to unite The lyrics repeat the refrain: Tanzanians. "The nation is weeping. The father of the He allowed Tanzanians to speak with many nation is gone, he has left us in tears. We will voices, but in one language. This was his remember him forever. The nation is vision of a nation free of tribalism. mourning, the nation is weeping. He was a The nation, especially my generation, will soldier of Tanzania, he was a soldier of remember him for his smooth and voluntary Africa" exit from government leadership in 1985 and Churches throughout Tanzania have party leadership in 1990. convened special prayer services in memory People were overwhelmed with grief at life of the man who led his people from without his active politics and governance. colonialism to independence. They were pleading with him to reconsider. Some businesses have already begun to In fact he had made up his mind long before close down for a period of mourning. The the war with Uganda that he would retire. official announcement for the funeral But after the war he told Tanzanians that it arrangements is expected shortly. would be very unfair if he left the country with The government has called upon Tanzanians a dilapidated economy in the hands of a new to remain calm and to respect the values leader. embraced by the man they call 'Mwalimu' or But the truth is that Tanzania never Teacher, the first occupation of the nation's completely recovered from that war. founder. Living 'for others' The most striking thing throughout Dar es Four years ago I met him in London. Salaam is the intense sense of personal loss We spoke for more than two hours during felt by virtually every Tanzanian. which he asked my opinion on the multiparty Nyerere not only brought the country to system in Tanzania. freedom but also dominated the political and "Corruption has infested the country," he said emotional life of Tanzania for half a century. "Would you like to go back to a single party There is stunned disbelief that he is gone state?" he asked me. despite a long decline into illness in London's I was taken aback by his question. But I told St Thomas's Hospital. him that Tanzania cannot live as an island in Although for many years he had no formal the new world. role in politics, he played an integral position I last saw him when he was critically ill at St. behind the scenes and his influence was felt Thomas' Hospital. by every politician. He had lived all his life for others, for the He was the last surviving giant of the days of betterment of his country, Africa and the rest emerging African independence and until his of the world. death certainly the best known and most He will go down in history as one great African widely respected East African leader. leader and world statesman who knew the Now, on the quayside, people have left their right time to make his exit both in politics and offices, gathering together under the tropical in life. trees, singing along with the radio: 'Nearer my God to Thee...' Songs of grief for Tanzania's founder Tanzania prepares for Nyerere By Tira Shubart in Dar es Salaam funeral Tanzania was plunged into national mourning Friday, October 15, 1999 Published at 12:56 GMT today with the announcement of the death of 13:56 UK former President Julius Nyerere, known here Government officials in Tanzania have been as the Father of the Nation. meeting to discuss funeral arrangements for 15 October 1999 13 the former Tanzanian president, Julius In Tanzania, 30 days of mourning have been Nyerere, who died on Thursday. declared for one of the country's most revered Dr Nyerere's body is to be flown back to figures. Tanzania, where it will lie in state in Dar Es Flags are flying at half-mast and many radio Salaam before being buried in his home and television stations have been playing village of Butiama, near Lake Victoria. religious music. Meanwhile, world leaders have continued to Julius Nyerere served as Tanzania's first pay tribute to the man who led his country to president from 1961 to 1985. independence and was known affectionately An important opponent of colonialism and by his people as 'Mwalimu' - the teacher. apartheid, Dr Nyerere stood out as an African Former South African president Nelson leader who ignored the trappings of power. Mandela recalled that he was among the first But while he united his nation and made major members of the African National Congress advances in the fields of health and (ANC) to be received in Tanzania by Dr education, his African socialist policy of Nyerere during the long struggle against "ujama" - community-based farming apartheid. collectives - proved disastrous for Tanzania's "The freedom of his country, the liberation of economy. other oppressed peoples and the unity and decolonisation of the African continent were Independent part of a single struggle for a better world," he said. Another tributes came from President Julius Nyerere, the elder statesman Museveni of Uganda, who praised the role of of post-colonial Africa, dies, aged Tanzanian forces in helping to overthrow the 77 dictatorship of Idi Amin in 1979. By Joe Khamisi in Dar es Salaam "By helping us to overthrow the Idi Amin 15 October 1999 dictatorship, Mwalimu Nyerere gave us a THE TANZANIAN nation was in shock yesterday fresh start," he said. following the death of the country's founder Julius "All patriots of Uganda are eternally grateful Nyerere, one of Africa's elder statesmen. for Mwalimu's contribution." At exactly noon yesterday, a sombre President Ceasefire declared Benjamin Mkapa went on national television to US President Bill Clinton said Dr Nyerere was announce – his voice cracking with emotion – that a pioneering leader for freedom and self- the man known to all as "Mwalimu" (teacher) had government in Africa, from whom many finally succumbed to leukaemia at the age of 77. African leaders sought guidance as they Nyerere, the father of who led crafted their own new societies. his country to independence from Britain in 1961, In Burundi, where Dr Nyerere was involved in had been in a London hospital in critical condition negotiating a peace agreement between the since 9 September. dominated army and rebel groups, "Today, I have the sad duty to announce that the main rebel faction, the Forces for the Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere has died," Defence of Democracy, has declared a 48 said Mr Mkapa, as senior officials around him hour unilateral ceasefire as a mark of respect. struggled to hold back tears. He ordered a 30-day A spokesman for the FDD said that, although mourning period. Dr Nyerere had made mistakes, he had This port city of almost three million citizens shown himself a good friend of the Burundian virtually came to a standstill as people huddled people. around televisions and radios. Running However, the Burundian authorities have documentaries on Nyerere's life were broadcast accused him of bias and poor judgement in throughout the day. the peace negotiations. Mr Mkapa summarised Nyerere's achievements in The death of the 77-year-old statesman, who fighting colonialism, his vision that led him to led his country to independence, was forge the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar announced on Tanzanian radio on Thursday in 1964, and his role in the independence struggle by the current Head of State, Benjamin of several southern African nations. Mkapa. "There may be those who may fear that the Dr Nyerere had been diagnosed with country would plunge into instability or that our leukaemia in August and was admitted to St relations with our neighbours would suffer," said Thomas' hospital in London three weeks ago. Mr Mkapa. "Nyerere bequeathed this nation with peace and stability and I want to appeal to all to 15 October 1999 14 unite and co-operate to accord Mwalimu the they pragmatically agreed, would be determined respect that he deserves." according to colonial boundaries. Nyerere remains a revered figure in Tanzania and The Nyerere generation espoused old-fashioned abroad, despite his disastrous introduction of socialism, collectivism, even Maoism – Maoist-style policies in the 1960s, which led to the ideological concepts which now seem redundant forced relocation of millions of people into the and damaging but which were crucial, in their day, countryside in an attempt to boost agricultural to nation-building. Those concepts were certainly production. The experiment began to crumble in founded on more substance than the greed and the late 70s when it became clear that the policy power-hunger which have discredited the "strong had brought farming to a standstill and plunged the new leaders'', such as Congo's Laurent Kabila, East African country into debt. heralded less than two years ago as "beacons of Nyerere commands respect for being one of the hope'' by the US Secretary of State, Madeleine first post-colonial African leaders to hand over Albright. power voluntarily. He retired in 1985 after 23 The legacy of Nyerere – or Mwalimu, meaning years as president, admitting that development "teacher'' in Kiswahili – is that of a political policies he so vigorously advocated had failed. activist and, to his fans, a visionary who Yesterday, world leaders praised his detribalised the country. His critics point to the statesmanship. Tony Blair stressed Nyerere's poverty and decrepitude of Tanzania today. You achievement in subordinating tribal rivalries to have to take your pick. national identity. "The fact that Tanzania is today a Post-war Britain, which was administering country at peace with itself and its neighbours is in Tanganyika under a League of Nations mandate, large part a tribute to Mwalimu," said Mr Blair. was ready to be shot of it. This was not Kenya or From elsewhere in Africa tributes poured in, Uganda which with their wealth could help bridge especially from Uganda – where he was admired the dollar-gap; it had more than 100 tribes and the for sending troops to chase out the Idi Tanganyika African National Union (Tanu) was a Amin – and from Zambia, where he is credited convincing movement. with securing the release from jail of the former Tanu's president, Nyerere, in common with a president after Mr Kaunda was whole generation of Africans, had studied in blamed for a failed coup in 1997. Europe or fought in the Second World War. They Nyerere's death had been expected after a brain had returned home with new ideas of justice – scan earlier this week showed that he had suffered linked to the view that Britain had gone to war to a severe stroke. Family members at his bedside defend an oppressed minority like the Poles – and had been debating whether to switch off a life- a whole philosophy built around melding African support system when he suffered a further stroke. rural tradition with European-style government. Preparations for a state funeral were well under After 12 , when Tanganyika way yesterday. The government has already taken became the first east African nation to gain block bookings in major hotels to ensure independence, Nyerere as its prime minister and accommodation for foreign leaders. Repair work is president-to-be wasted no time in bringing being carried out on the airport road and on the Zanzibar into the fold. national stadium in Dar es Salaam, where his body Nyerere's triumph was to build a lasting is expected to lie in state following repatriation. physiognomy for a place which had no logical raison d'etre apart from in the pencil and ruler of a Third World visionary who brought 19th century map-maker. He ruled that Kiswahili socialism to the villages be spoken nationwide, introduced a consistent education policy and rotating official posts. By Alex Duval Smith Africa Correspondent Along with the idea of centralised socialist 15 October 1999 government, he imposed "ujamaa'' – communal JULIUS NYERERE was among an elite club of land ownership which he said was a national African statesmen – including Ghana's Kwame extension of African village co-dependency. Nkrumah, Zambia's Kenneth Kaunda and Kenya's Naturally, it led to a nation of farmers who drove – who led their countries out of their tools into the soil, then leant against them and British rule into self-determination and provided nodded off. the backbone for independence movements which Stanley Meiser, who was a foreign correspondent changed the face of the continent. in Tanzania in the 1960s, said: ''He nationalised In the late 1950s and early 1960s they believed in the banks, plantations and manufacturing plants seeking ''the political kingdom'' which would when he did not have personnel to run them. He ultimately lead to independence for all of Africa pressured farmers into becoming ujamaa villagers and solidarity between people whose countries, even though Tanzanians found abhorrent. He broke relations with Britain, 15 October 1999 15

Tanzania's chief aid donor, because he wanted the Across the Eastern, Southern and Central rest of the world to "take Africa's word seriously''. Africa region, he was known as a champion of He retired in 1985, becoming the first African the liberation movement, a father figure and a leader ever to step down voluntarily. To some, it Pan-Africanist. was 24 years too late. But even if his Maoist Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzania's economic policies were disastrous, Nyerere was founding President who died of leukemia modern enough to understand that "debt, yesterday in a London hospital aged 77, will development and drought'' were Africa's greatest be remembered as a symbol of Africa's hope challenges. as it emerged from the shadow of European colonial rule. 'I learnt at his feet ... he was our Such was his resolve for regional integration guru' that he was prepared to negotiate a delay in Tanzania's independence to wait for Kenya to By Anne Penketh be granted freedom for the countries to form 15 October 1999 an East Africa federation. "I LEARNT at his feet," said Olara Otunnu, UN Later as President, he eloquently justified special representative for children and armed Tanzania's invasion of Uganda in 1978 during conflict, of Julius Nyerere, the former Tanzanian an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) president who died yesterday. summit. The invasion was at the expense of Mr Otunnu, 50, like many of his generation, Tanzania's fragile economy but it set the tide travelled to Dar es Salaam as a student from his of opposing dictatorship on the continent. native Uganda to hear the "Mwalimu" expound on It is to Nyerere that President Benjamin his ideas for African and East African unity, and Mkapa owes the presidency after the elder the radical development policies that gave rise to statesman intervened on the side of older his brand of African socialism. "He was our guru; politicians against youthful ones especially the he influenced a whole generation," said Mr current Foreign Minister . Otunnu, a former Ugandan foreign minister. Nyerere, was one of Africa's most revered The two forged a friendship over the years and post-colonial leaders, although his attempt to would later meet every few months in Geneva or build a socialist society ended in failure and New York on a Sunday. "I would always ask – do impoverished his country. we meet before the church service, or after?" Mr Nyerere paved the way for his bold Otunnu said. Nyerere, always with his cane – a experiment by leading Tanganyika to sign of authority and wisdom – was a Roman independence from Britain in 1961 before Catholic. becoming its first president in 1962 and The Nyerere that Mr Otunnu knew was a man with masterminding its union with the island of a mischievous sense of humour ready to discuss Zanzibar in 1964. African issues but also Shakespeare. "It was His 1967 '' proclaimed always like a college seminar, whether it lasted 10 socialism and self-reliance as Tanzania's twin minutes or two hours." For Mr Otunnu, Nyerere goals and set the stage for sweeping was "a giant by all measure in Africa". At a time nationalisation and a controversial attempt to when African leaders are known for self- group scattered peasant families in "ujamaa" - aggrandisement and corruption, he set "a personal co- operative - villages. example of probity". The scheme produced major benefits in Nyerere's main focus recently had been trying to education and health care, but Nyerere's end the Burundi conflict between the and social achievements were overshadowed by . The last time Mr Otunnu saw the the absolute failure of his economic policies. "Mwalimu" was in Geneva in May. "He said how When he stepped down as president of difficult Burundi was but he wanted them to enter Tanzania in 1985, he confessed that he had the new millennium with a new compact. I said failed to improve the agriculture-based whatever happens, he must see it through ... He economy of the impoverished country of 30 replied: 'That much at least I will do'." million people, a rare admission on a continent where few politicians admit any The Nation (Nairobi) fault. Popularly known as Mwalimu - Kiswahili for teacher - and usually dressed in a Mao-style A Symbol Of Africa's Hope safari suit, he earned respect for his integrity By Nation Correspondent and intellect but was accused by critics of Nairobi - Tanzanians affectionately referred to turning a potentially rich country into one of him as "Mwalimu" (Swahili for teacher). Africa's poorest. 15 October 1999 16

Tanzania's economic crises and the He was known as "Africa's Conscience" and reluctance of Western donors to continue he called himself the "Father of the Nation". funding aid projects which they felt were being No other statesman embodied a country as undermined by government policies led much as Julius Kambarage Nyerere did Nyerere to open talks with the International Tanzania. As president, he led the country Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1980. along its own path of African socialism. He baulked at demands for massive Following his retirement from active politics in devaluation and easing of rigid controls on the 1985, he became a mediator in the numerous economy and left his hand-picked successor crises that gripped Southern Africa and was a Ali Hassan Mwinyi to decide whether to spokesman for the region until his death. As accept the IMF terms. the 26th child of a chief in the then After his retirement, Nyerere played an Tanganyika, Nyerere grew up near Lake advisory role in both Tanzanian politics and Victoria. His second name Kambarage is broader African affairs. For the last four years Swahili for Rain Spirit. of his life, he mediated in peace talks aimed at A charismatic academic with a sense of ending civil war in neighbouring Burundi. humour, he championed the unification of Nyerere's successes were in the international Tanganyika with the Indian Ocean island of arena, where he championed African Zanzibar to form the United Republic of liberation from colonial Western rulers. Tanzania in 1964. He was a strong opponent of South Africa's "Let the others fly to the moon, we need to white minority rule and pushed for economic work to feed ourselves," he said in reference and political measures against the to his country's socialist policy of self-reliance government's apartheid policies. with the emphasis on agricultural economic As a major force behind the Pan-African policy. movement and one of the founders of the Nyerere, whose charisma brought him Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, admirers from outside his country and who Nyerere was a key figure in African events in appeared on the world stage as a voice of the 1970s. It was then that Tanzania became reason, tolerated little criticism within a magnet for anti- colonial activists and radical Tanzania. intellectuals. Right up to the end of the 1970s there were But his role in Africa was often controversial. more political detainees in Tanzanian prisons In 1967, he recognised secessionist , than there were in those of apartheid South crushed three years later in Nigeria's civil war. Africa. In 1979, he rejected the principle of non- Nyerere was also a friend of the liberation interference in the internal affairs of OAU movements trying to free southern Africa from member states and sent the Tanzanian army white rule. to end Idi Amin's brutal dictatorship in Freedom fighters from South Africa, Uganda. Zimbabwe (then known as Rhodesia) and Julius Kambarage Nyerere was born on April Mozambique all began their long fought 13, 1922 at Butiama, a small village near Lake campaigns from Tanzania. Victoria. Nyerere also dominated the informal group of The son of Chief Nyerere Burite of the nations, known as the "Frontline States", Wazanaki sub-tribe, he attended a which were committed to the end of white government school from the age of 12 and minority rule in South Africa and Rhodesia. He then went to a mission school, where he was one of the founders of the Organisation of became a devout Roman Catholic. African Unity (OAU) and left an indelible mark Nyerere took a teacher's diploma at Makerere on the social and political history of the College in Uganda and in 1948 won a continent, earning a place next to Senegal's scholarship to Edinburgh University in poet-hero Leopold Senghor and Ghana's Scotland to study history, politics and law. in the pantheon of African He became the first black graduate in British- legends. administered Tanganyika and in 1954 formed A politician of vision - detractors said utopian - the Tanganyika African National Union - the he was a skilled negotiator, and his services fore-runner of the ruling Chama Cha as a mediator in international or regional Mapinduzi now led by President Benjamin conflicts were in regular demand years after Mkapa to campaign for independence. his official retirement. Nyerere is survived by his wife Maria, whom This smiling, modest and somewhat priest-like he married in 1953, and their eight children. man - he was a lifelong devout Roman Catholic - assumed the charge of a poor state 15 October 1999 17 with little modern infrastructure, dependent on conducted prayers to ensure their beloved agricultural cash crops as its main resource. leader recovered but in vain. Reformist rather than revolutionary, he Nyerere was liberal minded, a socialist and preferred to look to the conscience of the pan-Africanist. He was a revolutionary who West for the solution to problems of radiated charm and charisma. development rather than to the Communist His brand of African socialism that bloc as did many of his contemporaries in emphasised self-reliance and togetherness post-independence Africa. Mwalimu will (ujama) under the Arusha declaration of indeed be missed by many. February 7 1967 made him a darling to many Copyright (c) 1999 The Nation. Distributed via Tanzanians despite its failures in later years. Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For Born in March 1922, his father Chief Burito information about the content or for Nyerere named him after a rain spirit since he permission to redistribute, publish or use for was born during rain season. broadcast, contact the publisher. He was born from a polygamous marriage being a son of a fourth wife. His tribe Zanaki is The Times Of Zambia (Lusaka) one of the smallest among Tanzania's 113 tribes. At the age of 12 only wrapped in an old piece Tanzanians say goodbye to of cloth, he was sent to primary school. He did Mwalimu exceptionally well and within a few years he October 15, 1999 entered Tabora, the only secondary school in By Austin Kaluba Tanzania then run on strict English public Lusaka - Julius Kambarage Mwalimu school lines. From 1943 to 1945 he studied at Nyerere's passing at St Thomas Hospital in the prestigious in London is a close of a chapter in Tanzanian Uganda. history. Nyerere shaped his own brand of After graduating, he taught at St Mary's a African socialism that ushered in ujama Catholic school run by White Fathers . (familyhood ) complete with the promotion of Recognising his intelligence, the priests the indigenous Kiswahili as a lingua franca. encouraged him to study at Ediburgh After remaining at the helm of power in the University in Britain. He took up the challenge ruling (CCM) for and studied for an arts degree. almost three decades, Dr Nyerere voluntarily While in Britain he met other black retired in 1985 joining African leaders like intellectuals who inspired him in nationalism. Leopold Senghor of Senegal and Olusegun When he returned home, he formed the Obasanjo who stepped down on their own. Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). The 77 year old politician commanded respect In 1955 he took the anti-colonial case before for his dedication and idealism that appealed the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations. to the masses who thronged his rallies to In 1957 he served for four months as a listen to him. Mwalimu ( teacher ),one of nominated member in the legislative council Africa's most respected leaders will be and then resigned because the country was mourned as Tanzania's father of the nation making insufficient progress in attaining who helped to shape the destiny of his independence. country and African ideology. As the fight to attain independence intensified, The international community will also the colonialists adopted a sterner stance in remember him for his mediation in the war in dealing with nationalists. Nyerere was neighbouring Burundi in the last few years arrested in 1958 and fined for an article he until the time of his death. Mwalimu had written in a party paper. He scooped the commanded respect internationally and 1961 elections and became president of the locally. new Tanganyika republic. Even the opposition in his country had respect He won by a 97 per cent affirmative vote. for him. Leader of the opposition United Later the island of Zanzibar was granted Democratic Party John Cheyo once said independence but the Afro-Arab government Nyerere was a fountain of wisdom who was overthrown by a revolutionary African qualified for the father of the nation. The government. The coup hysteria spread to Tanzanian former president fell into a coma Tanganyika where Tanganyika Rifles mutinied on October 1 when he was taken to London and Nyerere came close to being toppled. for treatment. He went into hiding and sought British Despite frantic efforts to save his life, the intervention to restore order. Nyerere realised condition continued to deteriorate. Tanzanians 15 October 1999 18 that to ensure unity he had to unite with When Chiluba was elected Zambia's Zanzibar. President, he met Nyerere in Uganda. Though The two governments came together to form Mwalimu was a close friend of Kaunda, he Tanzania with Nyerere as president. But up to respected the decision that Zambians had this day the union has remained more made. theoretical than practical. He even commented philosophically that if Zanzibar has retained its autonomy which one's son was made chief, the father had an preserves its own parliament, armed forces, obligation to respect him. Chiluba has openly customs regulations and its own foreign praised Nyerere for his outstanding reserves. Nyerere's foreign policy was of non- statesmanship. alignment and several other policies were At a Press conference in Harare, Zimbabwe, similar to those of the former Zambia Chiluba said Nyerere was one of Africa's president Kenneth Kaunda. foremost statesmen who value democratic He also got involved seriously in liberating norms. In 1998, Nyerere successfully southern African countries that were under persuaded Kaunda to start eating after the colonial rule. Dar-es-Salaam like Lusaka former president 's fast in protest against his became a base of the leading freedom fighter incarceration for misprision of treason. movements in Africa. Kaunda's family members had tried in vain to It also became a permanent seat of Africa make him eat. Unity Liberation Committee. Like Zambia Nyerere went further to ask the Government Nyerere cut relations with Britain for to transfer Kaunda from Mukobeko prison to recognising Rhodesia's unilateral declaration Kalundu House where he was put under of independence. The relationship were only house arrest. His death is a big loss to Africa restored when Britain made assurances that it and Tanzania whose development he had was not going to give Rhodesia independence greatly helped to nurture. under a white minority government. That was Julius Kambarage Nyerere. His Being a socialist at heart, Nyerere made a countrymen and East Africans will bid him pact with when he visited the country in farewell Kwaheri Mwalimu (goodbye teacher ) 1965. He introduced a one party state. Copyright (c) 1999 Times of Zambia. Zambian opposition leaders like the late Harry Distributed via Africa News Online Mwaanga Nkumbula leader of the African (www.africanews.org). For information about National Congress felt Nyerere had to blame the content or for permission to redistribute, for introduction of the same system in Zambia. publish or use for broadcast, contact the His major home policy of ujama, has had a big publisher. influence in the country's economy and lifestyle of Tanzania. The Times The system of ujama villages where people came together spread like a bush fire. By January 1972 there were over 3,000 Ujamaa JULIUS NYERERE villages covering a population of 1.3 million- Julius Nyerere, President of the United the tenth of the country's population. Republic of Tanzania, 1964-85, died in hospital Like Zambia, Nyerere embarked on a in London yesterday aged 77. He was born on nationalisation exercise. The exercise April 13, 1922. empowered Tanzanians to run institutions Principled but impractically doctrinaire economic which had previously been in the hands of policies: Nyerere in 1983 colonialists. As Prime Minister of Tanganyika from 1961 and, Like Kaunda, Nyerere at first supported the after the union with Zanzibar, President of the Biafra secession cause before condemning United Republic of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere was the move by asking the two parties-the widely regarded as one of the most cultured and Biafran secessionists and the federal personable African statesmen of his time. His government to dialogue. In 1971, he refused natural inclinations and aptitudes might ordinarily to recognise the government of Idi Amin in have made him a preacher or a teacher. To the end Uganda because it had come into power of his life he was popularly known by the Swahili using force. His country played an important title, Mwalimu, or teacher, and among his role in ousting the dictator in 1979. publications were translations into Swahili of Even in retirement, his advice to solve African Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and The Merchant of conflicts was much sought. Until his death he Venice. But circumstances conspired to turn him had played a major role in mediating in the into a nationalist campaigner, the leader of an Burundi crisis. 15 October 1999 19 emergent nation and the prophet of a revolutionary the Tanganyika African National Union (Tanu). In socialist philosophy for Africa. the next six years he played a leading part in As a statesman Nyerere achieved a reputation for forcing the pace of Tanganyika's progress towards personal incorruptibility and principled dealings self-government and independence. He led, though which made him stand out among post- he did not always control, the variegated activities independence African leaders. But his experiment of Tanu in its struggles with a paternalistic in agricultural socialism, with its collectivisation colonial administration which, to use his own of traditional farming methods, was over- analogy, was travelling in the same direction but at ambitious and ultimately disastrous. The a different speed. destruction of the native communes and their He was an excellent speaker and organiser but his replacement with the notoriously inefficient state quiet manner and generally moderate views marketing boards, through which farmers had to concealed a strength of character and purpose sell their produce, reduced a naturally fertile which led some to underestimate his calibre as a country to a state of colossal dependence on politician and a demagogue. If he sometimes overseas aid. And although Nyerere made great seemed unwilling to grasp the nettle, he did not strides in spreading education and healthcare, lack moral courage. these were always at the mercy of economic Soon after Tanganyika became independent in circumstances which kept his country perilously 1961, Nyerere resigned from his post of Prime short of resources. In the end the state to which the Minister as a result of disagreements with some of agricultural had been his more volatile colleagues and devoted himself reduced made Nyerere seem, at the end of his 23- to refreshing his contact with the people through year stewardship of the country, an ineffective travel. He did so with such success that within a figure in practical terms, however pure his motives year he was elected President of a newly- may have been. constituted one-party republic with virtually no As Nyerere's own political position became opposition. In 1964, however, an army mutiny, increasingly embattled, an instinct for survival organised by a group of dissident rivals, created a conspired to make this once liberal and, by nature, situation in which Nyerere reluctantly felt obliged gentle man become impatient and coercive in his to ask for British military forces to restore law and dealings with those who rivalled or opposed him, order and his own position, a call which was and with those of his countrymen who declined to quickly met and generously acknowledged. share his view of what was socially and materially At about the same time a revolution in Zanzibar good for them. His one-party state became caused an upheaval which led to the two countries dictatorial and, his personal austerity apart, it uniting as Tanzania. The union was meant to act as developed a pampered and corrupt political elite. a moderating influence on Zanzibar but in practice By the time that Nyerere - true to his word - stood it served to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of down from the presidency in 1985, his once saintly Nyerere's Government in a situation in Zanzibar image had become somewhat tarnished. where, like the British Government in Ian Smith's Julius Kambarage Nyerere was born Kambarage Rhodesia, it had nominal authority but no real Nyerere, the son of a chief of the Zanaki, a small power. tribe of people who lived east of Lake Victoria. In Tanganyika itself Nyerere could exercise The Zanaki are of Hamitic stock, and this greater control. The political philosophy which he distinctive ancestry showed in Nyerere's features worked out and gradually applied throughout the and complexion. country was set out in his Arusha Declaration in From a local school his quick mind and amiable 1967. It laid emphasis on hard work and self-help, nature gained him a place first at the elitist on the importance of growing crops and living on government boarding school at Tabora and then at the land, and the unwisdom of relying on money Makerere University College in Uganda. He had and expertise from either the West or the East for already become deeply interested in Roman the development of the country's resources. Catholicism and at the age of 21 he adopted the This did not mean that Nyerere was averse to Christian name Julius. In 1949 he was selected to receiving such aid, and there was a time when go on a government scholarship to a British Tanzania was getting more outside help per capita university and eventually graduated with an arts than any other country in Africa. A visit to Mao's degree at Edinburgh. It was at Edinburgh, under China meant that when Western sources declined the influence of postwar Fabian socialists, that he to lend money for what was believed to be an developed his ideas of grafting socialism on to uneconomic railway between Tanzania and African communal habits. Zambia, China agreed both to build and finance it. Three years after his return to Africa he decided to Nyerere was particularly impressed by his visit to give up teaching in order to devote his whole time China and by the seeming relevance of that to politics and the foundation of a party he called country's problems and solutions to those of his 15 October 1999 20 own. When he returned he proceeded to remind his accept the leadership of Robert Mugabe at a time sometimes bewildered countrymen that a citizen when it was still in considerable dispute. has as many duties as rights, and to manifest his In the wider fields of international affairs Nyerere conversion to practical socialism by wholesale acts for a time earned a reputation for clear thinking, of nationalisation, and the establishment of plain speaking and moral superiority, but in the collective farms and villages which were not 1970s and 1980s, as he got older, more autocratic always appreciated by those they were meant to and perhaps less secure, he allowed himself to benefit. become embroiled in other parts of East and In spite of pressure from some of his own southern Africa in ways which did him less credit. supporters Nyerere generally pursued a policy of He quarrelled with his partners in the East African racial and religious toleration, and he set a Community and terminated long-standing personal example of simplicity and honesty in his associations in matters of communications and style of living and the enjoyment of the fruits of transport which had served them well. He closed office. When it came to preserving his own and his the border with Kenya for several damaging years party's political power his record was less until an arbitrated agreement on the Community's impressive. He showed little regard for the assets led to its re-opening in 1983. individual rights and liberties which he and others With as his guest in Dar es Salaam had demanded or taken for granted under colonial after the Ugandan ex-President's expulsion by Idi rule, and after the abolition of British legacies like Amin, Nyerere became a target for Amin's habeas corpus in 1964 he used locally enacted resentment. In 1979, to distract his people from the legislation such as the Refugees Control Act and country's internal troubles, Amin invaded the Preventative Detention Act to hold without Tanzania. Uganda's forces were soon thrown back trial those who embarrassed or opposed his and Nyerere took the opportunity to rid his administration. neighbour of its savage leader and restore Obote to Nyerere had equally little time for democratic power. The earlier use of his forces to help to processes which could upset the uninterrupted topple regimes in the Comoros (1975) and in the exercise of power by himself or his party. In 1975 Seychelles (1977) had a far less clear-cut he was re-elected President for a fourth term of legitimacy. Nyerere was elected chairman of the five years. There were no other candidates, an Organisation of African Unity in 1984. exclusion which was justified on the grounds of Nyerere had given an undertaking that he would the slow and imperfect progress which Tanzania relinquish the presidency of Tanzania when his had made towards the ideal of an egalitarian and last term expired in 1985, and it was in character self-sufficient society. In a review called The that when the time came he did not seek to alter or Arusha Declaration Ten Years After, which was postpone it. It had indeed been prefaced and published in 1977, Nyerere attributed these confirmed in the previous year by changes in the failings to the inability of many of his countrymen Constitution which among other things raised the to understand the principles of sacrifice and hard minimum age of a President from 30 to 40 and work. limited his tenure to two periods of five years. In 1980 Nyerere was re-elected President for a Nyerere's chosen successor, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, fifth, and final term. By this time the economy of had already been nominated and formally elected Tanzania was in a parlous state and Nyerere had to as the senior Vice-President, and when the time reapply for a massive loan from the International came for Nyerere to give up his post Mwinyi was Monetary Fund which he had earlier rejected on the only candidate for the succession. the grounds that it was dependent on conditions, In 1985 Nyerere paid a visit to Britain where he such as devaluation and reduction of government both lunched with the Queen and delivered a expenditure, which were condemned as "using our rebuke to the City for using its financial strength to economic difficulties to interfere in the impose onerous conditions on its debtors in the management of our economy". Third World. While his country had enjoyed an era In external affairs Nyerere took a leading part in of peace and political stability under his the activities of the Organisation of African Unity, presidency, it had also acquired a huge burden of and in supporting and encouraging efforts, by debt and its economy was in a state of serious and whatever means, to end white domination in the uncomfortable decline. Portuguese colonies and in Rhodesia and later in Although he stood down from the presidency Namibia and South Africa. Realising the Nyerere did not retire from politics. He remained weaknesses and dangers of divided forces, he as chairman of Chama cha Mapindizi, the ruling strove to induce the various nationalist leaders in party organisation, for a further five years, Rhodesia to subordinate their separate tribal and continuing to look and to play the part of an personal interests to a common cause, and to éminence grise both in domestic and in external affairs. This was not always convenient. In such a 15 October 1999 21 position he was capable of playing an obstructive grandfather to modern Africa, loved and role as the country's new leaders attempted to roll respected by the whole continent, and the back the frontiers of his and international community. return to more pragmatic policies. "He was an inspiration to everyone involved in His own reputation as a statesman of sincerity, freedom struggles across Africa, and his ability and integrity remained high, both in Africa passing hurts us all." and in the outside world. His incorruptibility made South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, said him singular and the austerity of his personal life Nyerere was a pillar of strength for oppressed was in marked contrast to the excesses of many of people. the leaders of neighbouring countries. In 1990 he His death raised the spectre of instability in finally quitted the political stage and retired to his Tanzania, where political in-fighting and modest farm at Butiyama on the shores of Lake tension over the future of Zanzibar have been Victoria. Recently, however, he had emerged to rising in recent years. They had been held at play a role in trying to negotiate an end to the civil bay by Nyerere's control of the ruling party - strife in neighbouring Burundi. Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). In August 1998 leukaemia was diagnosed and His death was announced in a television and Nyerere was examined by a German doctor. Early radio address by the current president, last month he flew to London for further tests. He Benjamin Mkapa. He said: "Dear Tanzanians, died in St Thomas' Hospital, where he had been it is with great shock and sorrow that I receiving treatment since mid-September. announce our beloved father of the nation, Julius Nyerere married, in 1953, Maria Magige. Julius Kambarage Nyerere, is dead." They had five sons and two daughters. He added: "I know the death of the father of the nation is going to shock and dismay all Guardian Tanzanians. Others will be filled with great doubt and fear. "Mwalimu built a foundation of unity in our Africans mourn death of the father country and he fought for the freedom of all. I of Tanzania assure all Tanzanians Mwalimu left a firm Julius Nyerere, former president of Tanzania foundation." and, in the two decades before the release of State radio played funeral music while its TV from prison, the most station ran film of Nyerere giving speeches in important politician in Africa, died in London parliament, meeting heads of state, and yesterday aged 77, after a long battle against speaking with ordinary citizens. leukaemia. Victoria Brittain His wife, Maria, and six of his eight children Friday October 15, 1999 had been at his bedside during the last week. Nyerere was the first president of Tanganyika His death was mourned across Africa, where after leading the country to independence uniquely he retained his prestige both with the from Britain in 1961. He masterminded union generation of leaders whose countries he with Zanzibar in 1964, renaming his country helped in their struggles for independence Tanzania. and with ordinary people for whom he was the He launched an ambitious project to transform continent's one leader untainted by corruption. the lives of the country's 30m peasants. He He was tireless in his crusade against was enormously successful in bringing poverty. education and health to even the remotest He will be buried at his birthplace in the areas, though the collectivising of the impoverished remote area of Butiama. His agricultural economy largely failed and body will be flown home after a mass at brought him ridicule from a hostile west. at noon on Saturday. In the last years before his death Nyerere was Tony Blair, the prime minister, said: "He was a the key negotiator who stopped Burundi's leading African statesman of his time and the ethnic violence from spilling out of control, as founder of modern Tanzania. He played a had happened in Rwanda in 1994, and the historic role in consolidating independence in one voice of sanity against the unravelling of his country. Congo. "The fact that Tanzania is today a country at For Nyerere the move marked the beginning peace with itself and its neighbours is, in large of an effective commitment to African part, a tribute to 'Mwalimu' Nyerere." liberation movements: later, he played host to Peter Hain, the foreign office minister, who the African National Congress (ANC) and the arrived in Dar es Salaam on a visit yesterday, Pan- African Congress (PAC) of South Africa, said: "Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was a to 's Frelimo - battling against 15 October 1999 22 the Portuguese in Mozambique - and to The idea that when he resigned as president, Robert Mugabe's fledgling Zanla forces, which handing over to Hassan Ali Mwinyi, Nyerere opposed colonial rule in the then Southern would live quietly on his farm at Batiama, Rhodesia. He broke off relations with Britain, cultivating his interest in book-binding, was Tanzania's principal aid donor, after its failure always improbable. And indeed he continued to use force when Ian Smith declared UDI in to influence government policy through his 1965 - earning himself the description by chairmanship of the single ruling party, Smith of the "evil genius" behind the ensuing Chama Cha Mapinduzi. guerrilla war. Whether or not he initiated the debate about The unusually principled way in which an alternative political system in Tanzania is Nyerere looked upon international politics was questionable, but he rapidly became a part of again evident in his uncompromising stand it. Although mwalimu , or teacher, as he liked against the brutal regime of Idi Amin in to be known, was to his own people one of Uganda in the late 1970s. Despite almost them, he nonetheless became - like Senghor, universal condemnation of the dictator's of Senegal, and Sadat, of Egypt - an African excesses, it was left to Tanzania to intervene leader who outgrew his country. militarily and dislodge Amin. A brief invasion When he relinquished the party chairmanship of Tanzania by Amin in late 1978 brought a in 1990, he was able to devote more time to swift reponse from Nyerere: Tanzanian campaigning for greater co-operation between troops, joined by Ugandan exiles, were developing countries, and, as chairman of the mobilised to drive back the invaders. But they South Commission, a closing of the gap didn't stop at the border. Kampala fell in 1979, between rich and poor. He also took on the with its residents lining the streets chanting role of African elder statesman, working the name of the Tanzanian leader. It was the notably in conflict resolution, although his first time in African post-colonial history that most recent efforts - trying to resolve one country had invaded another and Burundi's civil war - did not bear fruit. captured its capital. It was a fundamental Julius Nyerere belonged to a generation of breach of the principles of the Organisation of African post-independence leaders, like African Unity. But Nyerere weathered the Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah and Zambia's storm. Kenneth Kaunda, who had an unshakeable However, the campaign proved expensive, belief in their mission to lead their countries to and while their leader devoted such a better world through their chosen political resources, time and energy to foreign affairs, ideologies, but who were unable to recognise his critics in Tanzania argued that he their personal failings. overlooked domestic problems, and failed to When he stepped down, Nyerere declared apply the same observance of human right that "although socialism has failed in abuses. He seldom flinched from using a Tanzania, I will remain a socialist because I Preventive Detention Act that allowed him to believe socialism is the best policy for poor lock up his opponents virtually at will. countries like Tanzania". His suc cessors Relations with Zanzibar, which had united with decided otherwise, embracing capitalism and Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United the free market, but with arguable benefits to Republic of Tanzania with Nyerere as the country. president, were always strained. Tanzania His detractors would regard his stewardship of became ever more dependent upon foreign Tanzania to have been flawed by his single- aid, and decision-making was paralysed by a minded adherence to a manifestly unworkable ponderous bureaucracy. Nyerere was to admit policy. Yet Nyerere is more likely to be that mistakes had been made, while his remembered for having provided a moral devotees pointed to developments - such as leadership to Tanzania, and indeed Africa, the spread of literacy and primary healthcare. when the continent was taking its first shaky A practising Catholic in a predominantly steps after independence. Muslim country, Nyerere married Maria Julian Marshall Magige in 1953, by whom he had five sons Ahmed Rajab, editor of Africa Analysis, and two daughters. He maintained a writes: Julius Nyerere was "a great leader passionate interest in Swahili, the language of who made great mistakes," as one ruler once East Africa, and translated Julius Caesar and famously said of another. He unified his . His political writings country, certainly, gave it a sense of purpose included Essays On Socialism (1969) and and, in the 1960s and 1970s, made Freedom And Development (1973). Tanzanians feel proud of themselves. 15 October 1999 23

As a pan-Africanist, he could not be faulted for translation of Julius Caesar was not brilliant, putting his country in the forefront of the he did, after all, dare to translate frontline states against white minority rule in Shakespeare. He could be profound and Africa. He took a principled stand at a great esoteric to the intellectuals; streetwise to the cost to his country, but his people never really masses. His speeches were electrifying. minded. Tanzania became a home for exiled I remember spending the best part of two freedom-fighters who are now the rulers in a hours with him alone in a Nairobi hotel room number of southern African states. in 1994, when he was out of office and Many a time, Nyerere confounded those of us Tanzania was about to embark on its first who thought of ourselves as being to his left multi-party elections. Initially, he refused to by appropriating our political lexicon and discuss the prospective presidential social agenda. He never quite became a candidates of his own party, the Chama Cha Marxist, but the former shepherd boy, whom Mapinduzi. But once he had been assured we used to deride as "a good boy of the west" that it was strictly off-the-record, he became and who was viewed with suspicion by the candid, almost gossipy, about a number of likes of Kwame Nkrumah, turned into a party leaders. tactical ally when he started talking about Earlier in the day, when I offered to bring him class struggle and a classless society. tea during a conference break, he turned me But his African socialist philosophy of ujamaa down, saying: "Let me do it myself; it is at only brought misery and economic times like these that I can act as a normal degradation. Under the man who preached human being." self-reliance, Tanzania depended on foreign aid more than any other African country. That The Independent was only one of his contradictions. His vision of a united Africa did not stop him from recognising Biafra, the breakaway OBITUARY: JULIUS NYERERE eastern Nigeria, in the early 1960s. A pious Julius Kambarage Nyerere, politician, born Catholic, who could not tolerate the excesses 1922; died October 14 1999 of Idi Amin, Nyerere nonetheless felt himself WITH THE death of Julius Nyerere, Africa unable to move against another dictator much mourns one of its last and greatest independence closer to home: the burly Sheikh Abeid leaders. Mwalimu, or teacher, as Nyerere was Karume, Zanzibar's then president and known with respect and affection in Africa, was a Tanzania's first vice-president, who presided statesman of principle, intelligence and charisma. over a brutal dictatorship, detained people Political philosopher, militant, idealist and devout without trial, killed countless imagined or real Catholic, he was an innate democrat who was one enemies, and forced girls of Persian or Arab of the few modern African leaders to take and origin to marry elderly black Zanzibaris. maintain power through the ballot and to give it up Karume was assassinated in 1972 but, willingly. throughout the sheikh's eight-year rule, Nyerere will justly be remembered as the man who Nyerere never lifted a finger against his tragic led his country peacefully to independence and to histrionics. nationhood and provided Tanzania, not with Despite his failings, Nyerere was revered by prosperity, but with dignity and with long-lasting progressive Africans. When they talked of stability in a turbulent period of African history. Tanzania, they talked, in effect, of Nyerere - After he retired from day-to-day politics in 1985, the simple, unassuming former schoolteacher, Nyerere became Africa's leading elder statesman, untainted by corruption or personal scandals and provided a voice of reason and moderation in and with a fondness for Mateus rosé. In the a continent rife with conflict and extremism. 1950s and 1960s, admirers would copy his Born in Butiama, north-western Tanganyika, in hairstyle, his moustache, and later, when he 1922, soon after the British took over the started donning a kofia , the Swahili-Muslim administration of the colony from the defeated cap, his fellow up-country Christians did Germans, Nyerere was the son of the chief of the likewise. In the mid-1960s he went to China, small Zanaki tribe. His precocious intelligence was shook hands with Chairman Mao, and came spotted by the influential Roman Catholic order of back with a variant of the Mao suit, which White Fathers who helped him secure a place first became de rigueur among Tanzania's officials at Makerere University in Uganda, where he was and aspiring politicians. one of a circle of young African aristocrats who H ad he not been a politician, Nyerere might were to become leading political figures in East have become a scholar of repute. He was a Africa, and later at Edinburgh University, where poet of modest pretensions and, although his he studied history and politics and became the 15 October 1999 24 second Tanganyikan to earn a university degree play a stabilising role in world affairs, was a outside Africa. persistent and consistent critic of "neo-colonialist" Nyerere opted first for a teaching career, but his interventionism not only in Vietnam, Cuba and the talents as an orator, political thinker and organiser Congo but also in Czechoslovakia. On a more soon singled him out as the obvious favourite for concrete level Nyerere's Tanzania became, like the leadership of Tanganyika's nascent Zambia under his friend Kenneth Kaunda, a independence movement which Nyerere himself foremost mobilisation point for freedom fighters in formally launched with the creation in 1954 of the the struggle against the white minority strongholds Tanganyika Africa National Union, Tanu. of southern Africa. Moderate by nature - he once said that his It is sometimes argued that Nyerere's idealism was philosophical heroes were Pope John XXIII and bad for Tanzania. Certainly by 1967 Tanzania, one Teilhard de Chardin - Nyerere's first major of the world's poorest countries, was facing an achievement was to win independence without acute economic crisis. The causes of this crisis - bloodshed. In this he was helped by the co- shrinking foreign aid, an increase in the foreign operative attitude of the last British governor, Sir debt burden and a fall in the price of commodities Richard Turnbull. In elections in 1960, the same - were largely outside Nyerere's control. Nyerere year as 's "Winds of Change" was however responsible for the radical socialist speech, Tanu swept to victory and formal remedies he prescribed in his famous 1967 Arusha independence came in December 1961 with Declaration: wholesale nationalisation and Nyerere himself, who became President in 1962, agricultural collectivisation and villagisation. riding on the crest of enormous personal prestige Tanzania's economy is still struggling to recover. and popularity. Probably these economic programmes - later, The was at its height and the rivalry when voluntary collectivisation met with between the Soviet bloc and the West, particularly resistance, peasants were forced into rural vicious in Africa, was hardly an auspicious communes - were the biggest mistakes of background for the emergence of young African Nyerere's career. nations trying to build national unity and achieve However these economic policies were part of a economic development almost from scratch. unique social experiment, devised by Nyerere Nyerere's Tanganyika became thoroughly himself, which as a whole did much to cement enmeshed in Cold War politics following the Tanzania's political stability, independence and successful Soviet-backed coup on the island of national unity. Nyerere called it Ujamaa, roughly Zanzibar in 1964. It was followed by a coup translated from Swahili as Familyhood. The idea attempt in Tanganyika itself which very nearly was to harness the tribal ideals of co-operation toppled Nyerere: he had to call up British military with the underlying principles of Western help to put an end to the mutiny. socialism, and to extend the traditional values and These events encouraged Nyerere to enter responsibilities of kinship to the nation as a whole. negotiations with the coup leaders in Zanzibar on a In its implementation Ujamaa laid the groundwork political union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. One for marked achievements in education and health of his aims was to neutralise the revolution in albeit at the expense of the productive sectors. Zanzibar and its East-bloc backers. The upshot Furthermore it was through Ujamaa that Nyerere was the creation of the Republic of Tanzania in was able to address the issue of nationhood which mid-1964 and the absorption of the Zanzibar was and remains - perhaps the key issue of post- Revolutionary Council into the union government independence African politics. The value of which remained under Nyerere's control. Though Ujamaa as a tool of nation building can be grasped not without many difficulties, the union has so far by looking at the fate of those African states succeeded - one of the few successes of its kind in whose leaders either failed to address this issue, or Africa. deliberately fanned the flames of tribal In spite of his socialist ideals, Nyerere never antagonisms for short-term personal advantage. allowed Tanzania to become a dependent of the Nyerere was one of the key African players in the Communist bloc. But in the Cold War atmosphere struggle for the end of white minority rule in of the 1960s Nyerere's non-alignment, his socialist southern Africa. But the main military adventure experiments and his surprisingly warm relations of his career was closer to home, against the with China were all held in suspicion by the West. regime of Idi Amin who took power in Cool relations with the United States and Britain neighbouring Uganda in a coup d'etat in 1971. further deteriorated as Nyerere became Amin violated just about everything Nyerere set increasingly impatient with their tacit support for most store by: constitutionality and the , white ruled Rhodesia and South Africa. tribal balance and national unity, racial harmony Throughout this period Nyerere, a passionate between Africans and Asians, respect for freedom believer in the potential of the United Nations to and human rights. 15 October 1999 25

Though no particular friend of Uganda's first Nyerere's life and career are an inspiration to the president, Milton Obote, Nyerere offered him a many Africans who dismiss the notion current in refuge in Tanzania from which to launch repeated elite African circles today that justice, dignity and attempts to oust Amin. This led to several freedom should be subordinated to the single- outbreaks of small-scale warfare between Uganda minded pursuit of prosperity through economic and Tanzania and eventually, in 1979, to a full- liberalisation and structural adjustment. Africa fledged 20,000-strong Tanzanian invasion which needs more leaders of Nyerere's quality, integrity restored Obote to power. Condemned by the OAU, and wisdom. the invasion of Uganda showed Nyerere as a risk- Tom Porteous taker who was prepared to put his humanistic Julius Kambarage Nyerere, politician: born principles above the slogan of "territorial Butiama, Tanganyika 13 April 1922; President, integrity", behind which so many African Tanganyika African National Union 1954-77; sought - and seek - to conceal the determined Chief Minister of Tanganyika 1960-61, Prime pursuit of their self-interest and self-preservation Minister 1961-62, President 1962-64, President of at the expense of their people. Tanzania 1964-85; Chairman, Chama cha Nyerere deliberately chose one-party rule for Mapinduzi 1977-90; Chairman, OAU 1984; Tanzania on the grounds that multi-partyism was married 1953 Maria Magige (five sons, two too divisive in a tribal society where decisions are daughters); died London 14 October 1999. traditionally reached through consensus rather than through adversarial politics. His reasoning was well borne out by the experience of other African nations and, though Tanzania opted for multi- partyism in 1995, one-party democracy has been adopted by some of the more enlightened of Africa's new generation of leaders. If anything Tanzania achieved more democracy under a one party system than many African states did under a multi-party system. In the 1980 elections, when Nyerere announced that he was standing for the last time, about half of the members of the national assembly, including several ministers, lost their seats in what was seen as a protest vote against the government's economic mismanagement. Nyerere retired from day-to-day politics in 1985, one of the few African leaders to do so voluntarily. But, as chairman of the party, he continued to exercise a benign influence both on Tanzanian and regional politics behind the scenes. Gradually, however, he retreated more and more from politics, emerging from his beloved farm in his native Butiama from time to time to guide this or that political initiative, most recently (in 1996) as chief regional mediator in the Burundi conflict which since 1973 has persistently threatened to spill over into western Tanzania. Slight in build, somewhat austere in manner, Nyerere was neither vain nor arrogant. He set great store by honesty and sincerity. A family man devoted to his wife and children, he was extremely loyal to his friends - sometimes to a fault. He inspired among his people both devotion and respect and returned the compliment by complete dedication to his work on their behalf as head of state. He was ready to admit his mistakes, and to show flexibility and pragmatism, but never if this meant compromising his cherished Catholic, humanist and socialist ideals. 16 October 1999 26

On Tuesday, the body will be taken to the national stadium for public viewing. 16 October 1999 Foreign leaders will pay their respects to Nyerere Thursday during a special service. Panafrican News Agency The body will then be flown to his home where residents of that region will pay their last respects for two days, before the burial President Clinton Pays Tribute To Saturday. Nyerere Mkapa has designated Monday, Thursday Washington, US (PANA) - US President Bill and Saturday national holidays to enable Clinton has paid tribute to former Tanzanian Tanzanians mourn their founding president. President Julius Nyerere, who died Thursday Meanwhile, parliamentary sessions which in a London hospital. He said "Nyerere's were to begin 26 October have been death is a huge loss for Tanzania, Africa and postponed to 2 November. the international community as a whole." The government has also suspended all He recalled that Nyerere was a pioneer of graduation ceremonies in schools and freedom and self-government in Africa, and colleges throughout the one-month long served as a guide to many African leaders. mourning period. "Nyerere devoted his life to defending his All sporting and social activities in the country deeply rooted vision and belief that peoples have also been suspended till further notice. have the responsibility to protect those who Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. cannot ensure their own protection," he Distributed via Africa News Online added, stressing that "all his life, he made this (www.africanews.org). For information about a personal issue." the content or for permission to redistribute, Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. publish or use for broadcast, contact the Distributed via Africa News Online publisher. (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, The Times of Zambia (Lusaka) publish or use for broadcast, contact the publisher. We've been robbed of great leader-- Nyerere To Be Laid To Rest At His Chiluba Butiama Home by Times Reporter October 16, 1999 Lusaka - President Chiluba yesterday by Nicodemus Odhiambo described former Tanzanian President Julius Dar Es SalAAM, Tanzania (PANA) - The Nyerere as a great guide of Africa's political Tanzanian government announced Friday tour. Mr. Chiluba when he signed the book of night that former President Julius Kambarage condolences at the Tanzanian high Nyerere would be buried at his Butiama commission in Lusaka for the late Dr Nyerere home, a village near the Lake Victoria shore said Zambia felt robbed of its great friend and town of Musoma. leader. The State House said that the body of "Africa is orphaned as we pay our last Nyerere, 77, would be flown home from respects to Mwalimu, the great guide of Africa London, where he had died Thursday, political tour. "Although the death has claimed Monday. Vice President Omar Ali Juma is your life, we can say that it has rekindled fond leading a government delegation to London to memories of great exemplary leadership and accompany the body. great deeds to Tanzania, Zambia and the President Benjamin Mkapa will lead whole of Africa. Rest in peace," Mr. Chiluba thousands of mourners, who are expected to said in his message. throng the Dar Es Salaam International Mr. Chiluba later told Tanzanian high Airport, to receive the body, accompanied by commissioner Shani Lweno that he valued Dr a 21-gun salute. Nyerere's fatherly advice and described their A special military carriage will carry Nyerere's relationship as one which was close. Africa casket as the cortege winds through several should soldier on the legacy left by the parts of the city, to enable as many Tanzanian former leader and strive to be self- Tanzanians as possible to view it. reliant. Meanwhile, United States of America Nyerere's body will then be laid in state (USA) President Bill Clinton and his secretary overnight at his Msasani residence in the city. of state Madeleine Albright described Mr. Nyerere's death as a sad loss to the world. 16 October 1999 27

Quoting the United States Information Agency But the ill-planned move, implemented by the (USIA) publication Washington Line for army, authoritarian bureaucrats and party officials, yesterday, Mr. Clinton said Dr Nyerere was a disrupted agriculture, created environmental pioneering leader for freedom and self- problems, and set back an economy whose government in Africa. potential was as great as any in the region. Ms Albright described "Mwalimu" as a giant Born in Butiama, on the shores of Lake Victoria, on the world stage as well as an eloquent in 1922, Julius Kambarage Nyerere was educated spokesman for the developing world. *Flags first at a government school and then at a mission, flew at half mast and radios played only where he became a Catholic. After taking a funeral music or hymns yesterday as teaching diploma at Makerere university college in Tanzanians mourned the death of their Uganda in 1948, he won a scholarship to founding father Nyerere, reports Edinburgh University, where he read history, Zana/. philosophy, and constitutional Most remembered Nyerere, who died in a law. London hospital on Thursday aged 77, as an From the time he launched the Tanganyika African honest leader who led them to independence National Union in 1954 (later renamed Chama Cha and then broke down tribal divisions to make Mapinduzi), leading the campaign for Tanzania one of Africa's most peaceful independence from Britain, until his resignation as nations. party chairman in 1990, he dominated the "Mwalimu was the beginning and end of all country's politics. things. He was a great problem solver and Even in retirement, he continued to play an very wise. I don't understand where we will go influential behind-the-scenes role, although not after this, Andrew Zachariah, a young man left standing in the way of reforms that ended the crippled by polio," said after hearing of state's dominance of the economy. Nyerere's death. He set out his political and economic credo in the And Tanzanians prepared for Nyerere's 1967 Arusha declaration, in which he proclaimed emotional final homecoming. Even street socialism and self-reliance as the country's twin vendors of bootleg tapes, who usually blast goals. out a chaotic mix of rock, rap, RB Initial gains in literacy, primary school enrolment andCongolese Lingala music, turned instead and life expectancy in the early post-independence to choral hymns and funeral music as a mark years seemed to validate Nyerere's approach. But of respect for Nyerere. by the mid-1970s, several signals were becoming clear: Tanzania was living beyond its means; aid Copyright (c) 1999 Times of Zambia. projects were seldom self-sustaining; state- Distributed via Africa News Online dominated agriculture was increasingly inefficient; (www.africanews.org). For information about and agricultural production, the mainstay of the the content or for permission to redistribute, economy, was falling. publish or use for broadcast, contact the It was supported by donors, who share at least publisher. some of the blame for its failure, as a World Bank report belatedly accepted in 1990. A confidential Financial Times internal analysis acknowledged that Bank loans exceeding $1bn over three decades since His lasting achievements include the creation of a independence in 1962 helped "sustain a poorly post-independence Tanzania free of ethnic tension thought out socialist experiment". and unified by a common language, Swahili, while Between them, the World Bank and other donors southern African states will always be indebted to provided more than $15bn in aid during the first him for his backing of their campaign against 30 years of independence. minority rule. But he also presided over one of History may judge Nyerere severely in other Africa's most disastrous experiments in social matters, too. engineering, enforced by an autocratic one-party Tanzania's role in the overthrow of Uganda's Idi state. Amin proved costly for both countries, for the In an exercise that began in 1967 and continued invading Tanzanian troops wrought great damage. until the mid-1970s, 14m peasants and their To his credit, however, Nyerere was always his families were regrouped in communal villages own sternest critic. "Ten years after the Arusha under the banner of ujamaa (a Swahili word declaration, Tanzania is certainly neither socialist meaning "togetherness" or "family"). Voluntary at nor self-reliant. . . we have not reached our goal; it first, becoming compulsory in 1973, the villages is not even in sight," he wrote in 1977. were at the heart of Nyerere's socialist vision. 16 October 1999 28

Whatever the final verdict on his career, he will be think he has not lost the moral purpose that remembered with respect and affection in a always motivated him as the Managing Editor. continent short of heroes. Yet corruption has saturated Tanzania's entire End body politic during his political stewardship. There are reports of gross mismanagement in Guardian all departments. Crime has gripped the Indian Ocean city and other big urban build- ups. Even more dismaying, strong signs are Idealism in a cynical world beginning to be seen of tribalism as the basis Saturday October 16, 1999 of socio-economic preferment, a virus which, Your obituary of Julius Nyerere (October 15) if allowed to sprout, will divide the Tanzanians fails to do justice to the man or his as surely and as irredeemably as it has achievements. At independence, Tanganyika divided Kenya. was a country with virtually no infrastructure, How can these and a plethora of other social and over 100 different tribal groups. The evils, which always concerned Mwalimu achievement of building a stable nation from Nyerere deeply, be explained in the face of such unpromising beginnings is highlighted by my conviction that Ben Mkapa is an ethically the conflicts that have engulfed its good helmsman? To answer that question, let neighbours. us once again appeal to history. Ujamaa failed largely because it was often Corruption and ineptitude were rampant even enforced, by officials who lacked the insight during Mwalimu's protracted tutelage. They and the integrity of Nyerere. But the economic were inevitable under a class of parvenus and crisis of the 70s was to a considerable extent nouveaux riches being forced to implement caused by falling commodity prices, rising oil what purported to be a socialist programme. prices, and the war to remove Amin, for which Mwalimu's reign differed from those of his Tanzania bore the cost. Nyerere saw that the successors only in that he always conducted impact of IMF "structural adjustment" would himself in the most exemplary manner. Just be to destroy many of the great achievements as he was always slight in body, so he never in education and health care, and to worsen grew fat in his pocket by dipping long fingers the plight of the poorest. He stood down into the public coffers. rather than sign a deal - and he has been He always fought for clean government proved right. throughout, his struggle for socialism being Nyerere made mistakes; but on my visits to subsumed under a general struggle against Tanzania I was struck by the extraordinary imperialism. Perhaps this was the cause of his respect in which he was held by ordinary spectacular economic failure. He beat people. In a cynical world, Julius Nyerere was imperialism with the left hand and yet an idealist who showed power need not beckoned it with the right. always corrupt. Nevertheless, he was so loved by the masses Nigel West and, therefore, so powerful that nobody dared Leeds grab anything as openly as has taken place in Kenya under both Mzee Kenyatta and The Nation (Nairobi) President Moi. That was why Tanzania's corruption and ineptitude were never so salient. Mwalimu Nyerere's bequest to Grabbing in daylight became an institution Mkapa a tall order only under his own nominee as successor, President Hassan Mwinyi, under whom October 16, 1999 inefficiency also hit rock- bottom, production By Philip Ochieng took a nosedive and ethnic favouritism began Nairobi - History, it is said, is the best teacher. to rear its ugly head. And history teaches us that our enthusiasm This last one particularly galled Nyerere. He for Benjamin Mkapa, when he was elected had never appointed any official or allowed President of Tanzania four years ago, was one to be appointed on any other basis than misplaced. With the departure of Mwalimu qualification, inclination and experience. This Nyerere, this fact will become even more contributed a great deal to making Tanzania salient. the most united country in Africa. I knew Mr. Mkapa well in the early Seventies, This unity and sharp national consciousness when he and I worked for Mwalimu as editors was contributed to by two other life-works of of the in Dar es Salaam. I still the Teacher. One was that he insisted on 16 October 1999 29 uniform Kiswahili throughout the Republic. Yet, since independence, the Northerners During the three years that I worked in Dar es have tended to dominate economic and other Salaam I rarely heard any tribal language national affairs by sheer dint of their better being spoken. education and experience. Mkapa, however, The other was what Mwalimu called Elimu is a Ngoni, a small southern tribe closely yenye manufaa. This "functional education" related to the Zulu of South Africa, which also was much more than what we in Kenya call was not favoured. elimu ya ngumbaru ("adult education"). Though his wife, Anna, is a northerner - a Though beneficiaries specialised in a Chagga (a people who, because they are so technique, education was always holistic. As a enterprising, have been described as "the result, "poor" Tanzania has one of the highest Kikuyu of Tanzania") - there is a struggle literacy rates (almost l00) in the world, many between the Ngoni and other southerners, on times above that of Kenya. the one hand, and the Chagga and other Mwalimu Nyerere was so appalled by northerners. President Mwinyi's venal practices and The southerners are demanding a levelling off miserable performance that he gathered of the national fortunes, an "equal" share in courage on several occasions to warn him. He power. Being a politician, the President heaved a sigh of relief when his second term cannot afford to ignore these demands. His ended four years ago. return to power in next year's General In insisting that Mr. Mkapa be the ruling Election hinges vitally on how he responds. Chama Cha Mapinduzi's nominee, Mwalimu It is not, therefore, surprising that he is was recognising industriousness and integrity. reportedly busy ingratiating his southerners Mkapa had served the country diligently and almost deliberately. Many of the beneficiaries honestly for decades in the Press as well as in are not very clean or nationalistic individuals. the diplomatic service. This is what is spawning the twin evils I Yet the Teacher would live to regret it. He mention above. frequently noted graft and inefficacy as they It is the source of the deep and deepening escalated nationally. What had gone wrong? corruption, with its clandestine activities in the Had Mkapa lost the moral fibre and body politic. It is also the source of something intellectual greatness over which we had of which Tanzania has hitherto been relatively exuberated in 1995? free - ethnic suspicions and even hostility. Observers affirm that he is still a very As long as Nyerere was alive, his mere voice committed man. They report, however, that he was enough to intimidate many people from has proved a much weaker President than his such divisive activities and keep Tanzania mentor. First, he does not enjoy as much united. Now that he is gone, nobody is sure popularity. Secondly, he lacks Mwalimu's any more. charisma, with his pushy and yet caressing After his death was announced on Thursday, presence. many Tanzanians were heard to express fear Insiders assert that this weakness by the that ethnic and might intensify President is being contributed to by an and break into clashes similar to those which unfortunate subjective development, the have beleaguered Kenya ever since the multi- seeds of which began to germinate only party system was legislated in l99l. during his regime, namely, a struggle between Tanzania's opposition political parties are not the South - from which he hails - and the as tribally based as Kenya's. Yet the North. paramount opposition voice - Augustine Objectively, of course, the problem was as old Mrema, founder of the NCCR- Mageuzi, which as independence, having been a result of has since been depleted by Mrema's colonialism's disparate educational service to departure to form the Labour Party - is a the various ethnic communities. Thus the Chagga. Chagga, the Haya, the Nyamwezi and the The fear is both that opposition activities are Sukuma of the North were always favoured going to be intensified and that, with his new- against the South. found freedom from Mwalimu's admonishing Though Mwalimu is himself a northerner, he hand, President Mkapa is likely to respond by comes from small tribe, which colonialism clamping down on opposition leaders, never favoured, called Zanaki, closely related especially Mr. Mrema. by blood, language and culture to Kenya's To do so, it will be necessary for him to clamp Kuria and (by blood only) to my own Suba down also on the opposition press. Already he people of the southern shores of Nyanza Gulf. has become very thin-skinned about criticism 16 October 1999 30 of his government, responding with threats even to the most innocuous critics. These things do not augur well to our southern brothers and sisters. It can only be hoped that Mkapa will wake up to their extreme perilousness and act promptly to nip them in the bud. This would clearly be Nyerere's bequest. Copyright (c) 1999 The Nation. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact the publisher. 17 October 1999 31

tapes of the speeches he gave and television footage of every important occasion the 17 October 1999 former leader presided over. Not to mention the statues that were desecrated shortly after The Monitor (Kampala) his overthrow in 1966. The project has been completed and with it has been ushered a sense of national nostalgia for the Nkrumah Kwa heri, Mtukufu Rais Julius K. days. All over a sudden, Ghananians feel Nyerere obliged to give credit where it belongs. October 17, 1999 There you have it: a leader who refuses to By Austin Ejiet open a foreign bank account, declines to Kampala - Three things sum up Mwalimu pander to a personality cult, but is particular Julius Nyerere for me. Sometime in the mid about honouring a great Pan African sixties a Swiss bank wrote offering to keep his statesman, the latter's flaws notwithstanding. money in a secret coded account at extremely He was no saint. His twenty four years in generous interest rates. power were also characterised by a certain It was a prudent proposition seeing that authoritarian streak. He jailed political African governments were at the time falling opponents such as and Bibi to military coups at the rate of about one Titit. He perpetrated a one party regime for every six months. But far from jumping at the the entire duration of his rule. He clung to offer, the president published the letter in the socialist economic policies even when it national newspapers with the memorable became apparent that Ujamaa wasn't declaration that he had no money to hide and delivering as efficiently as he had hoped. that the little that he had could only be banked But he was honest enough to own up to his in Tanzania where it belonged. mistakes even if this acknowledgement Whatever its propaganda merit, this action sometimes came very late. When he realised underscored the president faith in his country eventually that his pet ideology had failed he and spoke volumes about the extent of his was candid enough to say so. He had no sincerity. qualms about advising his ruling party (CCM) Shortly after this a type of precious stone was to prepare to compete with other parties in a unearthed in Tanzania. The country's multi-party political arrangement. parliament unanimously resolved to name this His single-minded support of liberation gem the "Nyeretrite" in recognition of his movements in East, Central and Southern stature as a statesman locally as well as Africa speaks for itself. His other legacy which internationally. The president thanked his does not always spring to mind immediately is countrymen for their kind consideration but the fact that he created Africa's only nation. politely declined the honour. Instead he Africa has some 53 countries or states. But proposed that the stone be named the there is only one real nation: Tanzania. How "Tanzanite". Tanzania, he argued, was more he moulded this sprawling giant of 120 or important than individuals. more ethnic groups into one cohesive entity in Just one more. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere paid a which people see themselves first and visit to Ghana shortly after his retirement in foremost as Tanzania is, to say the least, 1985 and reportedly berated the leadership of remarkable. More homogenous societies such that country for the shabby way in which the as Somalia where everybody looks the same, republic's founder, Kwame Nkrumah, had speaks the same language and follows the been treated. same religion are embroiled in nightmare. "This man is one of the greatest Africans that The only fitting tribute that Tanzania can pay has ever lived. If you in Ghana don't respect its founding father is to maintain its stability, him the rest of us in Africa do. Independent unity and the union with Zanzibar and Pemba. Africa owes its liberty to this man. You The only tribute the rest of Africa can pay to overthrew him. The least you can do is to this freedom fighter is to defend out freedom - repatriate his remains from Guinea and give what is left of it at any rate - and aspire him a decent burial." towards the Pan African dream Nyerere so The point was well received. The Rawlings cherished. Kwa heri, Bwana. government set about constructing a Copyright (c) 1999 The Monitor - Kampala. magnificent which would house Distributed via Africa News Online not only Nkrumah's remains but also all (www.africanews.org). For information about memorabilia associated with Ghana's founder the content or for permission to redistribute, such as the numerous books he wrote, audio 17 October 1999 32 publish or use for broadcast, contact the Christ and put it into practice during his life," publisher. he added. In a tribute, the Tanzanian High Panafrican News Agency Commissioner to the UK, Abdul-Kader Shareef, said Nyerere served all human beings and recognised that "we are all Tanzanians In UK Bid Farewell To neighbours." Nyerere He said that the late president embraced all by Desmond Davies Tanzanians, no matter their religious faith. London, U.K. (PANA) - More then 1,000 Shareef said that Tanzanians would sorely Tanzanians and friends of Tanzania packed miss Nyerere because he had "spent his the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral in entire adult life in our service." the British capital Saturday to bid farewell to He went on: "He was a leader who never former president Julius Nyerere who died in a questioned our dignity. He spoke to us, as a London hospital Thursday. teacher who knew that it was easier to learn After the service, mourners, some of them through laughter. tearful, filed past the coffin, draped in the "His words were imbued with respect and Tanzanian , before the body was laughter. He was the founding father of our taken to the airport and flown home Saturday nation and our unity." evening, accompanied by the widow, Maria. The High Commissioner said Nyerere was The requiem mass was a celebration of the human and "naturally he made mistakes. But life of the man who shaped Tanzania and who as a great leader he was willing to listen to us made his people proud. and make changes." This was not lost on those of the generation But his mistakes paled into insignificance that was greatly influenced by Nyerere. when compared with the legacy he had left They turned up in their numbers to pay tribute Tanzania. to Mwalimu. "He left us peace, unity and stability," Shareef Long before the mass began, they said. congregated outside the cathedral while a Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. different service was going on inside. Distributed via Africa News Online Britons and nationals of other African (www.africanews.org). For information about countries who held the late Tanzanian the content or for permission to redistribute, president in high esteem later joined them. publish or use for broadcast, contact the The British Minister for the Foreign and publisher. Commonwealth Office, Peter Hain, was present. World Leaders Continue To Send So were the wife of South African President Condolences Thabo Mbeki, Commonwealth secretary- By Nicodemus Odhiambo general Emeka Anyaoku, the Dean of the Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - World Diplomatic Corps in the UK, George Kirya leaders continue to convey their condolences from Uganda and diplomats from Africa. following the death of Tanzania's first The first reading, taken from Ecclesiastics, President, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, on and offering praise to famous men, was by Wednesday at the age of 77 years. one of the late president's son, Charles. Among the first to send their condolences The second reading, from Saint Paul's letter were the British Queen Elizabeth II and Prime to the Romans, was by his brother's daughter, Minister Tony Blair. Subira. Uganda's President also In his address, Monsignor George Stack said sent his condolences Wednesday. Other Nyerere "was indeed a teacher not just in condolence messages have been received word but by personal and public example." from the President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, He said that Nyerere's philosophy of Ujamaa who also conveyed similar messages from the was similar to the Christian ideal of communal . living. He said: "Tanzania has lost its founding "He touched the hearts and minds of people father, a great leader and teacher, whose far beyond the borders of Tanzania," spiritual legacy will remain a uniting force and Monsignor Stack said. source of inspiration and stability in "He was a famous man; a good man and a Tanzania." man who listened to the gospel of Jesus 17 October 1999 33

Other messages were received from Queen His Julius Kambarage Nyerere's radical Beatrix of the Netherlands and the country's thought was multifaceted. He began as an Prime Minister Wim Kok. anti-colonial African nationalist on his return They said: "Mr Nyerere will remembered as home, seeking the independence of one of the great presidents of Africa. For more Tanganyika, which was at the time a United than 30 years he guided his country with Nations' trusteeship under British wisdom, and won the respect of his country administration. In pursuit of self-government and the international community. and independence, Nyerere helped to form "The world has suffered a great loss," they the Tanganyika African National Union on July added. 7, 1954 (Saba Saba -- seventh day of seventh The King of Norway, Herald V, said Nyerere month). The movement had a three-prong would be remembered in that country as a strategy - to pressure the British government, friend. to pressure the Trusteeship Council of the "Africa has lost a great and respected United Nations and to rally general African statesman; and Tanzania her first president and international support for Tanganyika's and an outstanding national leader," he said. independence. The country became President H. Narayanan of India also sent his independent on December 9, 1961, with him condolences to Tanzania's President Julius Nyerere as Prime Minister. He Nyerere Benjamin Mkapa. became President on December 9, 1962. He said in the passing of Nyerere, the world Linked to Nyerere's nationalism from quite had lost a statesman of international stature, early was his Pan-Africanism, a commitment whose contributions to the liberation and to the pursuit of African unity and the adoption resurgence of Africa were matched by his of the principle of African solidarity whenever work for the fashioning of a new and equitable possible. Sometimes he put his Pan- world order. Africanism ahead of his nationalism, as when "The appeal of his ideas transcended all in 1960 he offered to delay Tanganyika's boundaries of region and race and inspired independence if this would help achieve the the people of the developing countries of creation of an of Africa, Asia and Latin America." Tanganyika, Kenya and Uganda. In the end Narayanan recalled that India conferred upon there was not enough political will in the other Nyerere the first Gandhi Prize and the two countries to achieve such a union. for International Nevertheless, Tanganyika played host to Understanding. other major Pan-African activities. It became a President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, frontline state for the liberation of Southern President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia and Africa from Portuguese rule and from white Ethiopian Prime Minister have minority governments. Politically, the colony also sent their condolence messages. hosted for a while the Pan-African Freedom Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Movement for Eastern, Central and Southern Distributed via Africa News Online Africa (Pafmecsa). AFMECSA). Tanganyika (www.africanews.org). For information about subsequently established major training the content or for permission to redistribute, camps for Southern African Liberation publish or use for broadcast, contact the fighters. publisher. Nyerere's credentials as official host to liberation movements were put into question The Nation (Nairobi) in 1964 when he was forced to invite British troops to put down a mutiny of his own army. The more radical African heads of state, like Mwalimu's rise to power Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah, regarded October 17, 1999 Nyerere's use of British troops as "neo- By colonial" and unworthy of an official host to Nairobi - Almost exactly 50 fifty years ago, liberation movements elsewhere. Nyerere young Julius Kambarage Nyerere entered the defended himself and continued his liberation gates of the as a role, successfully most of the time. student, following his education at Makerere Domestically in Tanzania, he inaugurated University, Kampala. Edinburgh (as well as three areas of reform - a political system Makerere) prepared him for the title of based on the principle of the one-party state; Mwalimu. Young Nyerere entered Edinburgh an economic system based on an African in October 1949. approach to socialism (what he called 17 October 1999 34

Ujamaa, or familyhood); a cultural system Tanganyika and Zanzibar became the United based on the . Republic of Tanzania in 1964. The cultural policy based on Kiswahili was the He strengthened the union when he united the earliest and the most durable. Tanganyika ruling party of Zanzibar (the Afro-Shirazi (and later Tanzania) became one of the few Party) with the ruling party of Tanganyika African countries to use an indigenous (TANU) to form the new Chama cha language in Parliament as well as use it also Mapinduzi (Party of the Revolution). has the primary language of national Has Nyerere's political behaviour sometimes business. Kiswahili was promoted increasingly reflected his upbringing as a Roman Catholic? in politics, administration, education and the There is a school of thought which explains media. It became a major instrument of his recognition of the secessionist Biafra in nation- building; and nation-building became 1969 as a form of solidarity with fellow the most lasting of Nyerere's legacies. Catholics against a Federal Nigeria which was The political experiment of the one-party state potentially dominated by Muslims. This was in produced good political theory but bad the middle of the Nigerian civil war. The Igbo political practice. The theory that the one- of Biafra were overwhelmingly Roman party state could be as democratic as the Catholic. Less convincing is the assertion that multi-party system and was more culturally Nyerere's military intervention in Uganda in suited to Africa was intellectually stimulating - 1979 was motivated by a sectarian calculation but failed the test in practice. Tanzania to defend a mainly Christian Uganda from the became a multi-party state not long after Muslim dictator Idi Amin. In reality, Nyerere Julius Nyerere left office. He himself accepted might have been motivated by a wider sense what seemed to be the inevitable. of humanitarianism and universal ethics. He The economic experiment of African was also defending Tanzania from Idi Amin's socialism, or Ujamaa, which was launched territorial appetites. dramatically by the Arusha Declaration on Most Western judges of Julius Nyerere have Socialism and Self-Reliance in 1967, captured concentrated on his economic policies and the imagination of millions of reform-minded their failures. Ujamaa and villagisation have Africans all over the continent and elsewhere. been seen as forces of economic retardation It was also greatly admired by Western which kept Tanzania backward for at least liberals, intellectuals and by governments like another decade. those of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Not enough commentators have paid attention History gave the Arusha Declaration 20 years to Nyerere's achievements in nation-building. in which to deliver (1967-1987). By 1987 He gave Tanzanians a sense of national disenchantment was widespread and the end consciousness and a spirit of national was near. Far from Tanzania being self- purpose. One of the poorest countries in the reliant, it was more dependent than ever. And world found itself one of the major actors on Ujamaa had left the country poorer than it the world scene. might otherwise have been. Liberalisation, Nyerere's policies of making Kiswahili the privatisation and marketisation were not far national language of Tanzania deepened this behind. sense of Tanzania's national consciousness Nyerere's regional East African legacy is also and cultural pride. Parliament in Dar es mixed. Although he was once committed to Salaam debated exclusively in Kiswahili. More creating an East African Federation, his and more of government business was socialist ideals clashed with his East African conducted in Kiswahili. The mass media ideals. As he struggled to create socialism in turned more and more away from English and his own country, he had to create barriers into Kiswahili. Newspapers had not only against free movement of capital, labour and letters to the editor but also poems to the resources in and out of Kenya and Uganda. editor - in Kiswahili. And the educational Socialist planning in one country proved to be system was experiencing the stresses and incompatible with an open-door Pan-East- strains of the competing claims of English and African policy. Kiswahili. On the other hand, Nyerere's Tanganyika did Nyerere's translation of two of Shakespeare's form a union with Zanzibar. This remains the plays into Kiswahili was done not because he only case in Africa of previously sovereign "loved Shakespeare less, but because he states uniting into a new country - and loved Kiswahili more". He translated surviving as one entity for more than three Shakespeare into Kiswahili partly to decades. What used to be sovereign demonstrate that the Swahili language was 17 October 1999 35 capable of carrying the complexities of a Mwalimu (Teacher or Mentor) even when he genius of another civilisation. was President and long after. Above all, Nyerere as President was a Political Career: Founder, Tanganyika African combination of deep intellect and high National Union (Tanu) July 7, 1954. Member, integrity. Leopold Senghor's intellect was as Legislative Council, Tanganyika (1958-1960). deep as Nyerere's, but was Senghor's Chief Minister (1960- 1961). Prime Minister integrity as high as Nyerere's? Nelson (1961-1962). President of Tanganyika (1962- Mandela's integrity was probably higher than 1964). President of United Republic of Nyerere's, but was Mandela's intellect as Tanzania (1964-1985). President of Tanu deep as Nyerere's? (1954- 1977). Chairman of Chama cha Among East African politicians Julius K. Mapinduzi (1977-1990). Chairman, Frontline Nyerere was in a class by himself in the States (1975-1985). Chairman, Nonaligned combination of ethical standards and Movement Commission (1986). Chairman, intellectual power. In that combination, no Organisation of African Unity (1984-1985). other East African politician was in the same Leader of the South Commission. league. Some East African politicians might Publications: Ujamaa: Essays on Socialism have been more intelligent than Nyerere. (Oxford, 1968). Freedom and Unity: Uhuru na Others might have been more ethical than Umoja (Oxford, 1969). Freedom and Nyerere. But none combined high thinking Socialism: Uhuru na Ujamaa (Oxford, 1969). and high ethics in the way Nyerere did. Freedom and Development: Uhuru na He and I deeply disagreed on the merits of Maendeleo (Oxford, 1973). Swahili Ujamaa. He and I once disagreed on East translations of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar African federation. I thought his socialist (1963) and The Merchant of Venice (1969). policies harmed East African integration. He Family: Married with eight children and with and I disagreed on the Nigerian civil war. He siblings. and I disagreed on the issue of Zanzibar. I Copyright (c) 1999 The Nation. Distributed via thought Zanzibar was forced into a marriage Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For which was not of its own choosing. information about the content or for And yet Julius Nyerere and I were committed permission to redistribute, publish or use for to the proposition that patriotic Africans could broadcast, contact the publisher. disagree and still be equally patriotic. I saw him in Abuja in Nigeria, just before the inauguration of President Mwalimu's enduring legacy late in May 1999. Julius Nyerere and I By Anyang' Nyong'o gossiped in Kiswahili. He looked well - Nairobi - It is a painful truth, but it is a truth we deceptively well, considering his illness. all prefer to deny ourselves on a daily basis. He and I were keynote speakers at a That is, as Shakespeare said, from hour to workshop to inaugurate Nigeria to a new era hour we rot and rot as we all approach our of democracy in 1999. We were voices from graves. When the moment actually arrives, it East Africa at a major West African event. We is always painful, though somehow inevitable. were voices of Pan-Africanism on the eve of It is always untimely, however old we may be. the new millennium. Nyerere's voice is was Mwalimu Julius Nyerere on Thursday reached one of the most eloquent voices of the 20th that moment; not accidentally, but by the twentieth Century. It was a privilege for me to painful process of falling sick with one of the stand side-by-side with such a person to mark world's most deadliest diseases: leukemia. a momentous event in no less a country than Julius Nyerere of Tanzania is now being our beloved Nigeria. eulogised as one of Africa's greatest Born: March 1922 in Butiama, Musoma statesmen. As the founding father of the District, Tanganyika. Educated: Mwisenge Tanzanian nation, founding member of the Primary School, Musome (1934-36). Tabora Organisation of African Unity, driving force Government Secondary School (1937- 1942). behind South-South Cooperation, and a voice Makerere University College, Kampala, of reason at all international forums where Uganda (1943-1945). University of Edinburgh, heads of state meet, Nyerere has always Scotland (1949-1952). stood taller than his compatriots in reputation, Teaching Career: St Mary Roman Catholic performance and respect. College, Tabora (1946-1959). St. Francis' Greatness is not found in possessions, power, Roman Catholic College (1953-1955). This position, or prestige. It is discovered in experience gave him the lifelong title of goodness, humility, service, and character. Moreover, a great man is one who can have 17 October 1999 36 power and not abuse it. Was Nyerere, addressed all citizens as ndugu, or brother. therefore, a great man? To promote communication among the When he was poised to take over as Prime brothers, Swahili, the national language, was Minister in newly independent Tanganyika in vigorously promoted. In fact, at the University 1961, Nyerere chose to resign from of Dar es Salaam, a new Swahili Studies government and spend one solid year building Centre was established, researching into the his party, the Tanzania African National Union language and modernising it for use in (TANU). government, scientific research and His colleague, , took over the international discourse. reigns of government while Nyerere travelled Within the first decade of independence, up and down all over Tanganyika building the Tanganyika, later Tanzania, became one of party. Africa's most solid nations in the way in which Nyerere did this after realising that only a the people identified themselves as citizens of strong nationalist party with a vision for a social republic and not tribesmen who only Tanganyika the country would bring happened to share one common oppressor. meaningful changes in the lives of the people This could not have been achieved without after independence. The colonial state has Nyerere's two other major concerns in had been set up to serve external interests building the new nation. These were his and to preserve and an ethnic and class fervent quest for pan-Africanism and his divided society. unswerving belief in and commitment to Left to itself, the state structure could easily ujamaa, or the Tanzanian version of seek to perpetuate power relations, which socialism. were inimical to the realisation of the hopes of Soon after independence, the government of the people after independence. Tanganyika was shaken by an attempted Across the border in Kenya, there were similar military coup. Nyerere reacted by disbanding problems. The Kenya African National Union the whole colonial army and establishing a (Kanu), TANU's counterpart, was itself riddled nationalist army closely integrated into the with factionalism right from the beginning. ruling party. He also founded the National Attempts to give it the kind of social force that Service into which every young person had to TANU enjoyed in Tanganyika were met with a serve before graduating from school or rude shock when KANU's greatest architects, university. These were attempts to reduce the , was gunned down by an distance between the armed forces and the assassin in the streets of Nairobi in July 1969. people as well as demystifying defense as a From then on, attempts to create one solid purely "army thing." nation in Kenya were forever riddled with Almost at that same time, the government in ethnic contradictions. Zanzibar was also overthrown in a military One of Nyerere's earliest achievements was coup. It became clear to Nyerere that an this conscious effort to create a strong grass- unstable Zanzibar could easily destabilise the roots party with a clear ideology on mainland government. He took the initiative to nationhood and clear principles on citizenship. bring together the Afro-Shirazi Party in Independence could not be meaningful Zanzibar and TANU, and to discuss the union without national unity. Not fake and of the two governments. Nyerere, unlike propagandistic unity; but unity based on a Nkrumah of Ghana, always believed that shared political culture, social practice, African Unity would eventually be brought equitable economic development and about by states first coming together at the accountability of the governors to the regional level. governed. The fusion between Tanganyika and Zanzibar TANU's structure was based on a pyramid in 1964 produced the United Republic of whose base was found in the villages among Tanzania with a structure of government that ten household cells. This climbed to the top was reasonably lose to ensure the units did where the Central Committee of the party not lose their identities permanently, and reigned supreme. The state was subordinate reasonably strong to guarantee a lasting to the party, although party men actually ran marriage. The person of Nyerere, however, the state. The party formulated policies that remained a strong uniting factor. His the state was meant to implement. In this departure may easily herald a stormy season regard, the party structure was meant to give for the pan-africanist marriage. voice to the people in policy formulation. Nyerere always contended that "all human In order to enhance equality among the new beings are equal and Africa is one"- -bina citizens of independent Tanganyika, TANU damu wote ni sawa na Afrika ni moja. That, 17 October 1999 37 indeed, was the corner stone of his other the original document. If anything, the cardinal belief in socialism, the only viable emphasis was on the peasant and peasant ideology for development in Africa as far as agriculture as the basis of the socialist project. Nyerere was concerned. Hard work, intelligence, the land, the people, Socialism was based on the equality of all good policies and good leadership: these human beings, something that was to be were the moral imperatives for the success of found in African culture. People worked in socialism in Tanzania. Their lack, perhaps order to live. Idlers were not tolerated. Mgeni their inadequate supply, became the major siku moja, siku ya tatu mmpe jembe. The problems for the success of Ujamaa in products of human labour were used, not for Tanzania. social domination but for social reproduction. Issa Shivji observed as early as 1971, in his Those who organised society to ensure essay The Silent Class Struggle in Tanzania, division of labour, security and leisure were that Ujamaa would suffer at the hands of state not political oppressors but politically bureaucrats. Capitalising on the need to responsible. When they became exploitative Africanis the economy, the bureaucrats would or oppressive the people either rebelled seek to use state power for self- enrichment. against them or they destroyed their own Very soon, they would find the economic societies. Societies that were on the road to distance between them and the peasants destruction were either abandoned by those rather inimical to democratic politics, who were sensible enough to leave--through especially when they systematically the migration--or were destroyed by internal wars rules of the game to suit and support their rent and conflicts. seeking activities. They would serve their This view of African socialism being based on exploitative interests while giving lip service to familyhood, mutual social responsibility, socialism. egalitarianism and democratic governance The contradiction between the governors and influenced and shaped Nyerere's ujamaa the governed became clearer during the philosophy. He wrote extensively about it. He implementation of the setting up of ujamaa associated various aspects of development villages. This was a program meant to bring and governance to ujamaa. Thus Oxford peasants together into productive hamlets to University Press published his speeches and which government would find it easier to essays on democracy, socialism and unity provide social services and infrastructure. The under the titles, Freedom and Socialism, end result would be increase in agricultural Freedom and Unity, Freedom and productivity as well as better standards of Development, Socialism and Rural living for the peasant communities. Development and, the most memorable was As things turned out, ujamaa villages became the very well argued book on Ujamaa: the instruments of state control over peasant basis of African Socialism. production and lives. Bureaucrats more often The highlight of Nyerere's attempts to build than not simply pocketed resources meant to socialism in Tanzania was the Arusha provide social services in the villages. The Declaration in 1967. Known in Swahili as end result was the ruination of peasant Azimio la Arusha, this was the document and the increase in the accepted by the National Executive nation's external dependency not only on food Committee of TANU in Arusha on 29 January but aid as well. Peasants cunningly 1967. It made explicit Tanzania's socialist disengaged from the villages, becoming ideology. It begins with a declaration of the recluses into independent subsistence TANU creed; the party's commitment to agriculture, hence remaining generally building one united Tanzania based on the "uncaptured" by the state. The story has been equality of citizenship. It confirms democracy well told by Goran Hyden in his book entitled as the viable system of government at the Beyond Ujamaa in Tanzania: national and pan-African levels. Underdevelopment and an Uncaptured It then sets out the chief tenets of socialism as Peasantry." being absence of exploitation of man by man, When Idi Amin overthrew Milton Obote's UPC social ownership and control of the means of government in Uganda in January 1971, production, self-reliance, hard work and good Nyerere gave Obote and his team political leadership. Although the role of the asylum in Dar es Salaam. He started a long- government in nationalising the commanding drawn process of resisting military dictatorship heights of the economy later came to be in Uganda. The assumed as the centre-piece of the Arusha became a casualty, as Nyerere would not sit Declaration, there was no emphasis on this in on the same table with Amin, a member of the 17 October 1999 38

East African Authority comprising the To living heads of states and governments in Presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Africa we need to pose two questions. How do To some Kenyan officials, Nyerere was simply they compare with Nyerere? Can they accept being stubborn and arrogant; they saw no their mistakes, apologise and bow out? These principles in the statement Nyerere was questions are posed with much concern for making. To avoid further embarrassment, they genuine answers in Harare, Windhoek and simply moved in to fold up the Community in a Nairobi. rather untidy fashion. Nyerere was not Copyright (c) 1999 The Nation. Distributed via amused. Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For Following the demise of the Community in information about the content or for 1977/78, Nyerere paid more attention to permission to redistribute, publish or use for liberation movements in Africa, a subject he broadcast, contact the publisher. had been passionate towards all his life. First, this meant getting rid of the Amin regime closer at home. Obote had followed Nyerere's Independent on Sunday ideological footsteps, publishing the Common Man's Charter, Uganda's socialist blue print, 17 October 1999 just before his overthrow. The famous Fay Weldon concern of the Charter in moving to the left towards socialism was to guide the misguided .... Last week, way out of the nursery class of and inform the misinformed in Uganda about wrong doing, President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania nationalism, socialism and pan-Africanism. died and his obituaries read like hagiographies. In Uganda, Nyerere succeeded in 1979. By Ruler of a one-party, undemocratic, revolutionary the early eighties, the focus was on Zimbabwe state, he impoverished his nation to prove a where Mugabe's ZANU assumed power by Marxist theory, and over a period of nine years end of 1981. Further south, Namibia and forcibly resettled 13 million Africans into 8,000 South Africa remained under the menace of co-operative farms, many of them nomads, to their apartheid. The liberation movements rose to great distress. But he did apologise even before success after Nyerere left state office in 1985 apologies were fashionable, way back in 1985. but remained as head of the Chama Cha "Nationalising little things like farms was a Mapinduzi (CCM), the new name of the mistake." Just a little apology, but well done and TANU/Afro Shir-azi marriage. we forgive him. .... Was Nyerere a great man? Yes he was. Nyerere was agreat man. Always simply dressed and disarming in the manner in which he poked fun at himself and almost ridiculed his best qualities, Nyerere was the epitome of sharp wit and a razor- like mind. He suffered no fools but when he found himself foolish he was ready to accept his mistakes. That is why Nyerere, in the mid-eighties, as Tanzania's economy was limping towards disaster, apologised to his people and bowed out of office. He accepted the shortcomings of his ujamaa policies and exhorted Tanzanians to restructure the economy without throwing the baby away with the birth water. Humility, courage, good leadership, respect for the intellect, love for communication, cultural universalism, support for the liberation of man and a deep belief in human dignity: these, I think, are the legacies of Nyerere to humanity as a whole. To Tanzania, he will be remembered as the father of the nation. In this regard, he has left a gap that Ben Mkapa will find difficult to fill. In this gap also lies potential instability for the United Republic of Tanzania. Will the Union survive Nyerere? 18 October 1999 39

Simon Barley writes: 18 October 1999 To work as a doctor in Julius Nyerere's Tanzania in the late 1960s was to share in a hopefulness for the future . Guardian One aspect of health and development that Nyerere encouraged was family planning, and Julius Nyerere in 1968 a deputation from the Tanzanian National Family Planning Association managed to secure a meeting with him. They Richard Gott writes: put on their best clothes, including that rare Julius Nyerere (Obituary, October 15) was an sartorial extra in tropical Africa, the necktie, extraordinarily benign and charismatic figure and, with some nervousness, were shown in. unequalled on the world stage, but he is not They were nervous because to limit family often remembered as a journalist. For a time size was controversial in a comparatively in the early 1970s, as well as being president underpopulated country whose politicians of Tanzania, he was also editor-in-chief of the tended to see such limitation as a continuing state newspaper, the Tanzanian Standard. He instrument of colonialism. The deputation's had ordained that the newspaper, formerly spirits fell further when they saw Nyerere's owned by "Tiny" Rowlands of Lonrho, should unsmiling face and heard his opening words: be nationalised, and he appointed Frene "You're late, you know, too late." After a nicely Ginwala, now speaker of the South African timed pause, he burst out laughing and said: parliament, to be its first "socialist" editor. "Too late - I'm a Roman Catholic and I've got With the aid of the late Ruth First, the 12 children." Needless to say, the FPA got his assassinated wife of the South African support. Communist leader Joe Slovo, Frene recruited a strange assortment of British radicals to join Ronald Segal writes: her staff. Invited to Dar-es-Salaam, I found myself foreign editor of a state newspaper in a In April 1960, after an adventurous journey one-party state and was soon in trouble with from South Africa, Oliver Tambo, Yusuf the British high commission and the American Dadoo and I arrived in Dar-es-Salaam. embassy for rewriting Reuters news stories. In Nyerere, then chief minister in a Tanganyika reports from Vietnam, we used to delete the soon to become independent, was at the words "Viet Cong" and replace them with "the airport, with a smile and a hug that had the South Vietnamese Liberation Front". warmth of home. Nyerere took a relaxed attitude towards his I have always been grateful to him for that, as duties but urged us not to refrain from for the particular help he gave to those of us publishing stories of ministerial wrongdoing. who organised, in London in 1964, the On one occasion, he complained that his International Conference on Economic photograph appeared too often. Sanctions against South Africa. The debt the Only once did he dramatically intervene: new South Africa owes him is immense. He Frene asked me to write an editorial was a rare national leader, who never condemning the action of President Numeiri of confused the power of his position with Sudan, who had just executed several himself. members of the Sudanese Communist party. Numeiri was one of Nyerere's few supporters Chandra Hardy writes: in the campaign against Idi Amin in Uganda, formerly of the South Centre, Beginning in and my outspoken editorial against 1986, Julius Nyerere's work as chairman of Tanzania's current ally proved highly the South Commission put his vision, unique embarrassing. Frene was out of the country capacities and political acumen in the service on the very first plane, and I left soon after. of third world development. The commission's And quite right too. It was not really suitable landmark report, for which Mwalimu chose the for the state paper to be run by expatriates. title The Challenge To The South, comprised The new editor was the excellent Ben Mkapa, the first comprehensive analysis of who had been trained on the Daily Mirror with development challenges "made in the south the assistance of Barbara Castle and her and by the south". husband Ted, and later followed in Nyerere's The report argued that, if developing countries footsteps again, as president of his country. were to challenge effectively the continuing dominance of the north, in the international arena, they needed to be well prepared 18 October 1999 40 intellectually and technically. Thus, one of the ceremony at the former president's home report's principal points was the need to village in Butiama. establish permanent and adequate The government has declared 30 days of institutional support for collective action by the mourning throughout the country. south. Paying respects In September 1995, the South Centre in On Sunday, a memorial service was held for Geneva became the first intergovernmental Dr Nyerere in London's Roman Catholic institution of the developing countries with a Westminster Cathedral. mandate to assist the joint efforts of Nearly 2,000 mourners joined his wife, Maria developing countries in the international and several of his children to pay their negotiating arena. Although officially retired, respects. Mwalimu found the energy and enthusiasm to Several diplomats, including the help put the centre on a solid institutional Commonwealth secretary-general Chief footing and on the international political map. Emeka Anyaoku and the wife of the South Those left to continue the task will recall African president Thabo Mbeki, attended the Mwalimu's oft repeated story, told him by the service. elders of his tribe, of the rabbit and the The Tanzanian High Commissioner to London elephant. "Rabbit, where are you going? I am addressed the gathering, saying that all going to kill the elephant. Can you do it? Well, Tanzanians would have a sadness of heart I'll try, and try again." over the loss of Dr Nyerere.

Email tributes BBC He was a man of the people. We will miss him a Nyerere begins his final journey lot. His death has come at the time when we really Hundreds of thousands of Tanzanians have wanted him. His contribution to Tanzania and the packed the streets of the capital, Dar Es world at large is really appreciated. I personally Salaam, to pay their last respects to their late received with great sorrow the news about his former president, Julius Nyerere. death. I will personally miss him. I feel very sorry Huge crowds lined the road from the for he left without living a word to his people at international airport to Dr Nyerere's home, this time when we are facing many challenges. wailing and ululating as his coffin was driven May god rest his sow in peace. on a gun carriage, escorted by a military Simbo O, Tanzania procession. We will remember him for his exemplary Earlier people had thronged the airport to see leadership role in Africa, selflessness and above all Dr Nyerere's coffin arrive on an aircraft from love for his country. May his soul rest in perfect London. peace Police were forced to hold back crowds as H. K. Wemegah, Ghana mourners surged towards the coffin which Africa has lost one of its greatest sons. May his was decorated in the green, blue, black and admirable ideals continue to guide Africa to attain yellow . peace with itself. May his soul rest in Peace! A guard of honour fired a 21-gun salute. Wmolemogi, Botswana "I am here to see the man who is for me still Mwalimu's death is a great loss to Tanzania and to my president," said one bystander. Africa as a whole but, perhaps more so, to the Lying in state international community with a conscience as we Dr Nyerere, affectionately known as 'Mwalimu' continue to struggle relentlessly for a world that is - the teacher, died from cancer in a London free, just, secure and peaceful for future hospital last week, aged 77. generations. We take the opportunity to reaffirm He is still revered in Tanzania as the 'father of our unwavering resolve in this task. the nation' after leading the country to Prof. Mwesiga Baregu, Tanzania independence and serving as its first I am very sorry that we have lost a great father of president from 1962 to 1985. continent, let god rest him in peace. A funeral mass is to take place at St Joseph's Minas Ghidei Hadgu, Eritrea cathedral in Dar Es Salaam on Tuesday and I once saw the man speak at Abuja during the Dr Nyerere's body will then lie in state at the conference on Africa and debt forgiveness. He National Stadium. spoke for hours without a prepared text and made On Thursday world leaders are expected to more sense, provided more facts than all the other attend a state funeral before a final burial speakers put together. I am sorry to see him go, he was "the" true African. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Nigeria 18 October 1999 41

He was a man of vision and understanding who You were one the African heroes who brought will be missed for his wisdom not only in light to the dark continent. It is hard to find a Tanzania but the world over. replacement. May Lord rest your soul in peace Clifton Desouza, Tanzania forever AMEN! As a Tanzanian, I will live to remember him for Emmanuel Ngallah, Tanzania his honesty, integrity and love for humanity. On behalf of staff of the Planning Commission, Tanzanians and Africa will miss him forever. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I send our most sincere What is the future for us without Nyerere? condolences to the family of our beloved Father Of Adam Simbeye, Geneva, Switzerland the Nation and all Tanzanians on the death of our we are saddened for the departure of our father of Great Dr. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. We shall the nation, Tanzania Mwalimu Julius Kamabarage always remember you for your selfless and Nyerere. We will never forget his efforts for the dedication to the welfare and rights of Tanzanians, struggle he made to achieve independence at time Africans and all peoples. Unlike most African when he shared with our elders while we were leaders you gave a good example of a leader and youths. We share our sorrows with all the refrained from amassing wealth stolen from wealth Tanzanians at home and all over the world. of Tanzania for personal aggrandisement. Nothing can be given to him now except our Rodrick Kiwelu, Tanzania prayers for his soul. Mwalimu, you gave us the freedom in Africa, you Ismail Mohammed Salim, United Arab Emirates lead by example and your departure is difficult to Let our tears be translated into thanks to the accept but god has called you to eternal rest. May Almighty God who gave us the opportunity to live your soul rest in peace. in the era of this Great Man of Africa. He taught us John Fisher Mupangwa, Zimbabwe humility, honesty, compassion and the value of Dr Julius Nyerere, Dear, Father Founder of peace. He is the greatest gift of all that many Tanzania, I got to know you well and admired you. generations will live to treasure. It is difficult to think of Tanzania without you. Ana Tabu Mukami, Bangkok, Thailand May the Almighty God Rest Your Soul in Eternal Africa today has lost a beloved son -one of the few Peace. presidents who relinquished power voluntarily and Dr Gabriel Rugalema, The Netherlands were not corrupted by it. May his soul rest in We have lost the corner stone of our nation. We eternal peace. mourn, we mourn,... Raj Patel, UK Narsis A. L. Mtega, Tanzania Whatever Julius Kambarage Nyerere did in his He made us Tanzanians studying abroad feel like lifetime, including his failures and successes, were from one family. That is was one of his greatest done in good faith. There was no evidence of achievements. Thank you Mwalimu may God rest malicious intent on the part of JKN directed your soul in peace. towards the people he served. Moreover, there has Dr. Peter Lawrence Msoffe, Denmark never been perfection in the history of mankind. Nyerere was a man nobody could buy. Mwalimu Whatever will be said by anyone, anywhere, fare thee well. anytime, about JKN, he will remain one of the Lawrence Wurah, Ghana greatest statesman of all time, and champion of the I'm,with great sadness, sending my condolences to oppressed, impoverished and the neglected people. the all people of the United Republic Of Tanzania! May God rest his Soul in Eternal Peace. Amen. Lay Lawrean, Russia Cuthbert L. Nahonyo, My condolences to the people of Tanzania. May Africa has lost a very renowned son. May his soul the great teacher's soul rest in peace. rest in perfect peace. Paterson Sichalwe, Zambia Hafsatu Garba, Nigeria. I learned with deep sorrow this morning of the I am originally from Kenya and have had the death of one of Africa's great leaders, Mr Julius pleasure of meeting with the Late Nyerere. He was "Mwalimu" Nyerere, I therefore would like to send a formidable politician and statesman. Africa, and my deepest condolences to the family of Nyerere indeed the world at large will feel his absence. Our and may his soul rest in peace. condolences to the People of Tanzania and his ARNOLD, Botswana Family. Africa needs more leaders like you. Keep a watch Hamel Galaiya, United Kingdom over us. we really have missed one of the great guides & Brigette, South Africa teachers from whom we have gained a lot specially We have learnt with deep shock of the death of people of Tanzania. We all miss him a lot. May his Mwalimu Nyerere. The Chisiza family wish to soul rest in peace. convey our heartfelt condolences to the people of Anurag Bhargava, India Tanzania and the entire Nyerere family. We leave you all in the hands of the Lord, the perfect 18 October 1999 42 comforter during this hard time. May his soul rest The death of Mwalimu Nyerere is indeed a blow to in peace. Africa. He stands out as an example of what a CHISIZA FAMILY, Zambia people's leader should be. At a time that other Africa has for too many years had to contend with African leaders were embezzling their country's leaders who fended only for themselves and their wealth, Nyerere stood above all that and remained private estates. The Mwalimu devoted his entire his people's teacher. His policy of Ujama may political life to fending for his country, Tanzania have had some shortcomings but his intention was and Africa as a whole. We pray for his eternal rest. altruistic. He ranks with people like Mandela in His mission here on earth was fully accomplished. the annals of African history. It will be a good The rest is left for us Africans to continue his good thing if present leaders of the continent would work. emulate these two great leaders. Benson Uwatse, Nigeria Amandi Esonwanne, Nigerian in Canada He was a great statesman and a pivotal person in Nyerere, you were a source of hope to the Central the Burundi talks and Africa in general. Tanzania African region. Nobody can replace you. MYSRP and Africa has lost a great son. Gift Sikaundi, Zambia Dr Faustine Ndugulile, Tanzania A great man has passed that we Africans are proud Mwalimu Nyerere was truly the Father of this of I wish I could say the same for 95%of our nation, it is a dark day for Tanzania as we are left African leaders, who without a doubt love their without our beloved father. But his spirit and his sweethearts more than they love their countries. thoughts still live on in every Tanzania. May his God I pray you bring him back for we are running spirit rest in peace. short of Prophets. Anand Acharya, Tanzania Kobina Harleston , Sierra Leone Mwalimu will always live in the Hearts of the It was such a big shock for us. I believe that this People of Tanzania. Deepest Sympathy to all pain will be in our hearts for century. Loosing Family Members and Specially to Mama Maria Mwalimu Nyerere is very big loss not only for Nyerere Tanzania itself but this is a big loss of whole Bimal Gatha, Tanzania Africa. May God put his soul in peace. Amen We will miss you for ever. May god bless you. MSHENGA ABDY NASSEB, ZANZIBAR- Managing Director & all staff of Scan Tanzania TANZANIA. Limited It is with great sorrow that I have learned of the Scan Tanzania Limited, Tanzania loss of one of the most outstanding African One of the great leaders of this century died. I leaders. He was a great teacher and inspiration to hope he'll get a posthumous Nobel-prize for his many Africans including Eritreans on the dedication to peace on the African continent. principles of freedom, hard work and self-reliance. Barend Jasper, Europe May his soul rest in peace. Mehdi Fallah Tafti, Iran Debesay Tesfagaber, Eritrea We're profoundly shocked by the sadden news of Mwalimu is not dead and Mwalimu will never die. his demise. May his almighty rest his soul in His influence on politics, African identity, pan- peace. AMEN Africanism will live on for ages. A salute to you Glaxowellcome(T) limited, Tanzania Mwalimu, your dream will carry. As you join You will be remembered as the hero of peace for Nkrumah, Lumumba, Biko, Sankara, Nasser, ever. Kenyatta in the land of our ancestors, rejoice for Mehdi Fallah Tafti, Iran we the children of Africa will carry on with May the Almight God rest your soul in peace. You NYEREREISM. Accept my regards for your very have been a great warrior of our country. Amen positive contribution to African linguistics. Sleep Susan Mugurusi, Tanzania well Mwalimu, Lala Salama Mwalimu. Africa As the Executive-Director of the Council for loves you Mwalimu. A true African son, African affairs as well as a Nigerian and an statesman, philosopher. Africanist who has been greatly influenced by Mungai Mutonya, Kenya Nyerere's dedication to Africa in particular, we are Dr. Nyerere is truly a big loss for the entire Africa. going to miss this great son of Africa. One Africans need to see in him a highly political role remembers the greatness and the inspirations that model to follow, a model of love, service and pours from his ideas and his vision there is only compassion. May he repose in peace around The one of such unique African leader alive now, Almighty. I will pray for his soul. Nelson Mandela and we have lost Nyerere as he Matthieu w. Yangambi., Democratic Congolese joins others like him, Kwame Nkrumah and in USA Senghor. I never look at Nyerere as a president, but a great Dr Bamidele A Ojo, United States teacher. This is very sad to me, I hope that 18 October 1999 43

Tanzanian leaders will follow his leadership. And I Our dear "Mwalimu" is gone at 77years and may am sure God will rest his soul in greatest peace. his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. While there is Allan Shoo TANZANIAN a tendency to highlight the economic difficulties Nyerere was as true pan African, a man who cared which his rule foisted on Tanzania, it is pertinent for all Africans and always tried to find ways and to point out that he pointed the country in the right means to protect them. May his soul rest in peace. direction in many other respects. Tanzania was Judithbusingye, Uganda spared the consumer society which characterised It is a pity that while Africa continues to lose the many post-independence African states thereby few heroes she has, the satanic military are the drastically reducing social problems. The simple faces we see like recurring decimals on the African and ascetic lifestyle of Mwalimu was always a political scene. May his humble and gentle soul reference point for Tanzanians. It is hoped that rest in Peace. despite the embracing of market economics by the Dr. Victor A. Obajuluwa, Gary, Indiana, USA. present rulers of Tanzania, they will not jettison all Tanzania has lost a great son; Africa, a great that is noble and edifying in the teachings of influential figure and the world a great human Mwalimu. While I wish our teacher, Nyerere, a being. Sleep well my friend. peaceful rest, I also wish all Tanzanians and Althea Campbell, Jamaica indeed all Africans and humanity a more positive Dr. Nyerere was one of the greatest leadesr Post and responsible social direction as envisaged by Colonial Africa has ever produced. He will be Mwalimu. remember for his vision and determination. He Efosa Aruede, Nigeria was able to unite this nation, a task which we A true humanist, a great communicator and unifier should all accomplish as respect for him. - an African of the highest intellect. He made Conrad Msoma, Tanzania mistakes, but who doesn't? I admire him. Dr. Julius Kambarage Nyerere means so much to Christian Sorensen, Denmark me, Tanzanians as well as for all Africa. I can't We Africans are victims of many tragedies, most find words to describe his character. He is truly of them unfortunately self-inflicted. Dr Julius 'the man of the people', and will remain the father Nyerere, Mwalimu remained as a shining of the nation. He was not only the leader of inspiration to many of us. An inspiration that Tanzania but also, Africa in general. Though he reminded us that we can rid our continent of all left us, we are sure that one day we will be these tragedies. He helped us defeat apartheid. He together with him. We Tanzanians promise to taught us integrity, he taught us to serve our fellow follow your foot steps forever, peace and unity citizens, he taught to know that the measure of a will prevail . Amen leader is not how many Mercedes Benz cars he has Kenneth Gibussa, Tanzania or how many wives he has. He taught us that a Adieu! Nwalimu, the great African patriot. leader can relinquish power and still remain O. Oduwole, Nigeria influential. He taught to listen to one another. He A great pan-African giant has fallen! This is a loss brought respect to a continent that, more often than not only to those who knew him, but to not, fails to respect the rights of its people. generations of Africans who continue to benefit Mwalimu will be missed but not forgotten. Be at from his legacies. As a co-founder of the OAU, as peace Mwalimu with yourself, you have done a champion for the entrenchment of democracy in more than was expected of you for Africa. Africa, for his efforts to free Africa from Mziwakhe John Tsabedze, Swaziland colonialism and apartheid, he has earned the title He was indeed a great man who set a very good "father of Africa"! May God grant him eternal but rare example of voluntarily stepping down to rest! pave way for younger leaders. May his Soul Rest Beatrice A. Hamza, New York, USA In eternal Peace Credit for the current democracy, peace and George Mwale, stability in Tanzania goes to the late President It is difficult to believe that the father of our nation Nyerere. Tanzania is one of the few African is dead. Left are the memories of the good things counties exercising democratic political process. he did to his nation and the world at large during We Africans have to learn from Nyerere's legacy. his life time. Tanzanians will always remember History is always a fair judge. Let him rest in him. May God rest your soul in peace. Amen! peace. Frank Mathew, Tanzania Alemayehu Daba, United States We will never forget what you did to our country We have to believe that he is dead, but his spirit and the rest of Africa. People of your type occur and his thoughts are still with us. May the great once in century... Rest In Piece and help us from teacher's soul rest in peace. wherever you are now! Abdallah Liguo, Tanzania Primus Dias Nkwera, Tanzania 18 October 1999 44

A great loss!! He had fully accomplished his There are many Norwegians here who are mission and his spirit will forever live within saddened by the news of the death of Mwalimu Tanzanians and all other peace-keepers. J.K.Nyerere. He was very respected and loved. Betilda C Ngeleja, Tanzania Bjorg Evjen Olsen, Norway My condolences go out to all Tanzanians, both at Nyerere our brave man, you won so many battles home and away. For myself, having spent most of and you fought for so many, today we have not my formative years in Tanzania, I got to see the been able to fight for you on this single war, now influence that Baba Taifa Nyerere had on you lay there helpless, nature has taken over everyone. His guidance was well respected and beyond us, doctors have tried and failed, may honoured by Tanzanians. He showed true almighty God rest your soul in peace, amen. May leadership when he stepped down to make way for God retain the great wall of peace which you built Ali Hassan Mwinyi. This was a single act of for us, stone by stone. mature leadership and it is something rarely seen James Mhagama, Tanzania in many of the worlds governments especially in "Mwalimu" Julius Kambarage Nyerere has gone Africa and Asia. I can say this much that his down this day as a true and admirable citizen of presence will be well missed and our prayers are the world. If he erred, that was only because he with the family and nation at this time. was human -- not because he meant any harm to Hansel Ramathal, India/USA humanity. Yes, "mzee" was wise, honest and, I Nyrere was one of the very few who worked for strongly believe, abhorred corruption. Did you Africa to be self-dependent, there is a lot to be come too early or too late for Africa? Where shall learned from him. we get a replacement for this modern time Ted Andemichael, USA Colossus? No we must create one out of his ideals. Mwalimu, you made Tanzania a great neighbour to Is there any greater honour? To Tanzania "I mourn Malawi. Your efforts to unite the turbulent with you with all my heart". RIP Baba. continent of Africa will be greatly missed. George Were, Sudan Joshua Lichakala, Malawi The loss of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere goes beyond It is a sad day for the world because a great the borders of Tanzania. The story of today's statesman is gone and I therefor send my freedom in the region cannot be complete without condolences to the people of Tanzania and the the mention of Nyerere. He set standards his family of ex-president Nyerere. contemporaries could not match, standards which Magnus Svensson, Sweden the present generation of leaders is struggling to In the desert wastelands of Botswana Mwalimu emulate. He deserves a peaceful rest was an icon, a motivator and mentor Fairwell Gracian Tukula, Malawi Mwalimu. Dusk has approached too soon We as Africans have lost one of the best figures in Bobana Badisang, Botswana the turn of the century .Let us be strong in this My heartfelt condolence to all Tanzanians and time of grief and sorrow. Be strong and follow his fellow Africans who mourn Nyerere. We lost a steps. great son of Africa. Michael Mbagu, USA Ephrem Hunde, Ethiopia If tears are expression of extreme grief and sorrow, I find it difficult to get the best words that explains then let the tears flow in all corners of africa for him well. However as one of the most influential with the death of Mwalimu, Africa has lost its statesmen history has ever produced on the shinning star. continent his name will live above all others. He I. O. Mensa-Bonsu, Switzerland remains a fallen hero of his generation. Mwalimu will be missed by all peace loving Shekania Bisanda, United Kingdom democrats in the world. He was a shining example Tanzania will not be the same again. However the of a leader. He prepared his political successors. strong foundations of unity and love in Tanzania Even in death he lingered on to prepare his people. will live forever. The man has died but his good legacy begins to Ngahyoma, Tanzania live. RIP Mwalimu. My sincerest condolences at the loss of our pillar. Henry Kafwembe, Zambia You will be remembered for your honest, Africa will remember Dr Nyerere as a great flexibility and good leadership. Rest in peace statesman who lived up to his principles. African Mwalimu.. leaders should emulate the late Dr Nyerere's Denford Madenyika, Zimbabwe attributes. The world has truly lost a true giant; the Patrick Ruzinda, The Netherlands conscience of Africa. He was a wonderful African statesman and his Henry O, USA death is an irreparable loss to thousands of African people. May the Lord rest his soul in peace. Phillip Maiyo, Kenya 18 October 1999 45

As a teacher of social and political thought, I Tanzania enjoyed peace, and included his ujuma ideology in my course syllabus national unity throughout because of you. Father to enrich our class discussions and provoke may God Rest you in Peace. students to explore other ideologies. O.Mongi & E.Mosha, Tanzania Noel Servigon, Philippines May his soul rest in peace. In his greatness, he was It is a sad moment for Africa. It would be a proper humble. Africa will not forget him. tribute to Nyrere if some of the African leaders Aida Kiangi, Tanzania who are clinging to power for so long by Mwalimu will be greatly missed as a true world manipulating the political systems of their leader. His legacy is the unity and peace of countries could borrow a page from Nyrere's life Tanzania in a troubled continent. and opt for a smooth transition of power. Tony Janes, UK Gebre Gebremariam, USA/Ethiopia To me Mwalimu was more than a father but also Rest in Peace Julius Kambarage Nyerere. You did God's messenger of his days, I won't forget free many good things to Tanzania and Africa. Your education, free water supply services, electricity, name and fame will last forever. and the like. I won't forget the peace we are Shadrack E. Ndosi, Sweden enjoying this moment, unity among Tanzanians, Man of dignity, courage and honesty, Nyerere was sense of humility which was given to us through an example for Africa, especially for African his wisdom, love and co-operation - all these are Heads of States who stick to power, are afraid of the result of his leadership. Democracy and only care about themselves. Alex Maira, Tanzania Sindou Diarrassouba, USA It is a big loss for Tanzania, Africa and the world Africa has lost a father. We thank you for the work that, Mwalimu has left us! His wisdom and you have done for us and the generations to come. contribution towards the liberation of Africa as a The best tribute Africans and especially the leaders whole will be remembered for ever. With great have to give Mwalimu is to emulate his example sorrow I say ''Kwaheri Mwalimu''!. May God rest and to work hard for the African Unity. Then the his soul in eternal peace! work he began would be accomplished. May the Tobias Mufuruki, Tanzania Lord bless his soul and he rests in everlasting Mwalimu Nyerere was the most honest, dedicated, peace. Amen. and charismatic African leader. I, and my family Evelyn Mukasa, Belgium share Tanzania's grief, and send our condolences Africa and the free world will miss you Mwalimu. to his family. Humble, intelligent and always ready to fight for Said H S Al Dhahry, Sultanate Of Oman freedom of the black man. Rest in peace. Hamba Kahle Julius Nyerere. A towering African Sigombe Paul , Uganda philosopher and politician. A man of rare integrity, What a great lose to Africa as a whole. Mwalimu would that there were more like him. Nyerere must be remembered by all, and in fact Carole Andrew, South Africa the current African leaders need to complete the Rest in Peace. You led Tanzania with dignity, and work started by him. They must now seek ways to when the time came you stepped down and gave bring peace in D R Congo and many other volatile way to others who had new ideas in the running of countries. your country. I hope other leaders in Africa will Dr. J. K. Lonyangapuo, Kenya emulate you, instead of holding on to the myth of There is no doubt that Dr. Julius Nyerere is one of life leadership. Africa needs more Nyereres. If the most influential leaders of this century. He was there is magic on how to do this effectively on the certainly the most respected in Africa. Many other side please send us some. Africa badly needs Africans see him as the advocate of democracy, it. decency and the rule of law in Africa. I wish to Esther Kasalu-Coffin, Cote D'Ivoire send my condolences to his family, friends and all Mwalimu your teachings and principles will Tanzanians and acknowledge that Dr. Nyerere will remain in our hearts forever. remembered by many and emulated by many. Hiten Pandya, United kingdom Zakariya Suleyman, Australia Africa and Tanzania in particular has not only lost, The world is a poorer place today. My heart felt a leader but a wise man whose efforts and love for sympathy to the people of Tanzania and the family humanity may take another century to come across of Mwalimu. If only more world leaders would May God the almighty rest his soul in eternal demonstrate his compassion, humility and the peace amen. wisdom to admit when they get things wrong. Leo Mazigo, Tanzania Joy Clancy, Netherlands We believe that you are the one that had led us Mwalimu J.K.Nyerer it is hard to accept the truth where we are. You are the farther of our nation. that you are gone. You will always be remembered For many, many years to come your name shall be for your guidance honest dedication and wisdom. 18 October 1999 46 remembered, because you were "a god of small I extend my heartfelt condolences to the people of people" Tanzania at the loss of this great man, Dr. Nyrere, Shedrack Mziray, Tanzania the Teacher and the leader. I feel the loss is also He was a Great Philosopher. The Tanzanian shared by all Africans for Dr. Nyrere was one of government should consider establishing a the few early founders of Africa. Nyerere memorial centre in Tanzania to honour his Habte Asfaha, USA greatness The death of "Mwalimu" Nyerere is indeed Makundi Emmanuel, University of Bergen, saddening especially to all of us who saw him as a Norway man with a vision of a united and peaceful Not only Tanzania has lost, Africa as a whole has continent of Africa. We share this grief with our lost. He has played a vital role in the liberalisation brothers and sisters in Tanzania and hope to build of the people of Africa and the world at large. May upon his vision in securing unity and peace in this his soul rest in peace. region. May God rest his soul in eternal peace. Ishmael lekwape, Botswana E. Kinyangi, Kenya Other East African leaders should take opportunity Africa has lost a great leader! A leader who left of his death, to reflect on their own popularity and power without force. He will always be performance. He was still popular 14 years since remembered as "The Father Of Africa" May Dr he left power, because he led by example, he Nyerere rest in peace. preached Ujama and practised it, in other words Yusufu-Shaft Kayima, Uganda - Sweden "he preached water and drank water". He remains Long live Mwalimu the great teacher. Your great the most honest leader East Africa has ever works are your immortality. Thank you for produced. God bless Africa with another Nyerere, teaching African leaders that there is life after his type is all we ever needed. power. Joshua Odeny, Kenya Ronald Goredema, Zimbabwe A true statesman, our country will miss your May our memory of you live forever. outstanding wisdom! Razia Alibhai, Belgium George S. Kivaria, Tanzania. Our father of the nation has gone. Mwalimu This is the saddest moment in the history of Nyerere, you will be remembered by all of us for Tanzania. Rest in Peace Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. cultivating peace and solidarity among Tanzanians Amen and African as a whole. Laurent Ndalichako, Tanzania Charles Mhagama, Tanzania Mwalimu was a great man, ahead of his time, a Nyerere tributes continue visionary whose vision for Africa is accepted as Friday, October 15, 1999 Published at 04:10 GMT the norm today, but whose vision of rural Africa 05:10 UK was not right for the time. He had the confidence The United Nations General Assembly has in his people and himself to hand over leadership stood in silent tribute to the former Tanzanian to a new generation - something his brothers in president, Julius Nyerere, who died in London most other African countries have never had. He yesterday. was a great man, the father not only of Tanzania The show of respect at the UN was a but of much of post-colonial Africa. He will be reflection of feelings around the world about missed. the death of a man who led his country to Mike Bess, UK independence from Britain in 1961. Almighty God, give us another person similar to The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere. In the name of Jesus we that Mr Nyerere set a fine example by pray - AMEN renouncing power voluntarily and handing it to Wildard Lwiza, Tanzania his successor by constitutional means. This is truly a patriot Africa has lost... His non President Clinton said Mr Nyerere was a corruption stand should server as a good example pioneering leader for freedom and self- to many leaders...His is an honourable exit... government in Africa, from whom many Abel, Kenya African leaders sought guidance as they When someone you've known all your life dies, it crafted their own new societies. sure is a tragedy. Mwalimu Nyerere is as close to The Organisation of African Unity, which Mr the people of Uganda as to the people of Tanzania. Nyerere helped to found, said Africa had lost He has been one of the fathers of the liberation of an ardent advocate of its unity, and the South our nation. Truly, he was a great man, and should African president, Thabo Mbeki, said his be recognised by friend and foe, even as we go passing was a loss for the whole African into the millennium. continent. Anne Lydia Sekandi, Uganda From the newsroom of the BBC World Service 18 October 1999 47

HYPE freedom fighters to set up a small clinic at the Congress, and I joined delegates from around the world in giving blood for the fighters. It is The Meaning Of "Mwalimu" one of the great moments of my life. By Yemi Toure Afrika loved Mwalimu. He was given the title One of the world's great leaders, Tanzania "Mwalimu," which means "teacher," because former President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, has of the lessons he imparted. But the term died. Julius Kambarage Nyerere tried to rid meant more. It was also a term of affection, a his government of colonial, racist, capitalist term of endearment, a show of love. past, not just put an "African" cover on it. He Mwalimu loved Afrika. Tanzania is one, if not tried to lead his nation into the future through the only, Afrikan nation that has an Afrikan development, self-reliance, political language, Kiswahili, as a national language. independence and economic justice. Most Afrikan nations use only a European He tried to show his people and the world that language. a nation, though poor, did not have to be Mwalimu was a strong and original and exploited. That self-reliance, in a nation and in creative leader of his country, and equally, a a people, was crucial. strong and original and creative thinker. He was impressive to me because he not only Plain spoken, down to earth, powerful yet made the need for Afrikan socialism so plain easily understandable ideas fill his works. I and clear; but he tried to practice it, even in hope you will read and share "Crusade for his personal example. Liberation," He worked hard to implement cooperatives "Freedom and Development," among the people in the farms and in the "Freedom and Socialism," towns, getting all to share together, in both the "Freedom and Unity," work and the rewards of work. "Man and Development," and "Ujamaa." He decreased the economic gaps between When Afrika, in the future, is strong and individuals and groups. He recognized that united and socialist, and Black folk around the some may make more money than others, world have regained our proper place on the but, as he said so plainly, is there any justice world stage as a world people, and the world is one person making 100 times more than as a whole is more at peace, Mwalimu will be another? Is not the teacher's work just a remembered for his guidance and insight valuable at the businessperson's? And if that during these difficult days. teacher has 5 children and needs a library at Mwalimu, Dear Ancestor: Thank you for your home to prepare her lesson plans, should she leadership. For your vision. Thank you for live in a small hovel, while the businessperson your sacrifice. Thank you for your example of has rooms in his house he has never used? what an Afrikan leader can be. For your Socialism is just another way of saying humility. For your socialism and your Pan- economic justice, and Mwalimu wanted it Afrikanism. We will now, and down through passionately for his people. the ages, continue to look to you for your Mwalimu walked the walk. No big parades, no wisdom. Continue to guide us, dear ancestor. fancy uniforms, no huge entourage, no big Amen-Ra. palace, no Swiss bank account. He lived in a - - Yemi Toure has been an activist in the humble seaside home during his presidency - Black community since the Sixties. He edits - for why should a leader use up the nation's HYPE, a web site that monitors the Black resources for show, when the people do image in the media, at without? For those who like to show off their http://www.afrikan.net/hype riches while the people starve, Tanzania Distributed via Africa News Online came up with a word for them - - wabenzi. (www.africanews.org). If this item is The word riffed off the insane love of redistributed, published or used for broadcast, Mercedes-Benzes that still infects the world the content should not be changed and HYPE today. should be credited. I was fortunate to have been in Tanzania during the Sixth Pan-African Congress in 1974 when Mwalimu was president. I heard Panafrican News Agency him speak to the delegates. A deeply meaningful event came while I was in Mwalimu's country. Next door to the South, Half A Million Tanzanians Welcome Mozambique was fighting to liberate itself Nyerere's Body from Portugal's grip. Mwalimu allowed the By Nicodemus Odhiambo 18 October 1999 48

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Some Dar Es Salaam Wednesday. Basoga said in a 500,000 people turned out Monday at the Dar news release that while each foreign es Salaam International Airport to receive the delegation must strictly comprise of five, body of the founding president of Tanzania, Uganda "has been allowed 10 dignitaries Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who died in owing to the special relations between London Thursday, aged 77. Uganda and Tanzania." Leading the mourners was President Museveni's delegation includes Chief Justice Benjamin Mkapa. The plane carrying Wako Wambuzi, the speaker of Parliament, Nyerere's casket touched down at 9.00 a.m. Francis Ayume, Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala (0600 GMT), greeted by a 21-gun salute. And of the , the National Political in a massive outpouring of grief over the loss Commissar, James Wapakhabulo, foreign of Nyerere, thousands broke down and wept minister Eriya Kategaya and the vice openly. chancellor of Makerere University and the At least 100 people, mostly women, fainted as head of the Uganda civil service. Nyerere's coffin, draped in the national flag, Tanzanian authorities have arranged that was lowered from the plane. foreign dignitaries' participation would end in Throngs lined up the streets to watch the Dar Es Salaam. cortege pass by as it headed towards After viewing Nyerere's body at the Dar Es Nyerere's Msasani residence. Salaam national stadium, each delegation will The casket was carried in a special military convey five minute verbal condolences to gun carriage while Nyerere's widow sat with President Benjamin Mkapa. President Mkapa in an open military jeep. In accordance with the wishes of Nyerere and Nyerere's children were similarly transported his family, the burial ceremony in his home from the airport in a military jeep. village of Butiama, will be entirely a family Everywhere, business was literally at a affair. standstill. Basoga said that because of the intricate Nyerere's body is to lay in state at his nature of this arrangement, another Ugandan residence till Tuesday when a special service delegation will in future visit Butiama to deliver will be said in his memory. condolences "to the family of the late Nyerere The body will then be moved to the National especially to Mama Maria Nyerere, the Stadium where Tanzanians and foreign widow." guests will pay their last respects through Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Wednesday night. Distributed via Africa News Online On Thursday, Nyerere's body will be flown to (www.africanews.org). For information about his Butiama home for burial Saturday. the content or for permission to redistribute, African leaders, representatives of the British publish or use for broadcast, contact the monarchy as well as other countries of the publisher. Commonwealth continue to arrive to honour the fallen statesman. Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact the publisher.

Museveni To Lead Delegation To Nyerere's Funeral Kampala, Uganda PANA) - President Yoweri Museveni will lead a high powered Ugandan delegation to the funeral of former Tanzanian President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. The names of the delegation were released n Kampala Monday by government spokesman and information minister Basoga Nsadhu. According to the programme for the burial, foreign delegations are expected to arrive in 19 October 1999 49

Mwalimu umetuacha " - "Teacher, you have abandoned us". 19 October 1999 "He affected all of our lives and I will miss him like I miss my own father," said Charity Guardian Mutemu as she sat suckling her infant son. Huge crowds lined the 12- mile route from the airport to his home. Youths ran alongside the Nyerere's return gun carriage on which the coffin was placed. GrievingTanzanians flood streets as coffin Behind the carriage, looking sombre and comes home shocked, rode the current president, Benjamin Wambui Chege in Dar es Salaam, and Mkapa, all his adult life close to Nyerere. Next Victoria Brittain to him sat Nyerere's widow. Nyerere's body was taken to his home in In life Julius Nyerere shunned greed and Msasani, where it will spend the night, opulence. In death, the pomp of the week of allowing relatives to pay their last respects. formal state mourning was overshadowed Once he had left the trappings of state house, yesterday by the outpouring of grief from his Nyerere lived in a modest two-storey Indian own closest - the Tanzanian poor whom the Ocean beachfront home on the Msasani former president inspired. peninsula in Dar es Salaam. "He was one of us," said Julius Malowe, a A few blocks away lie miles of slums, from motor mechanic who queued from dawn to where he drew his biggest support. catch a glimpse of Nyerere's coffin at Dar es "He was an inspiration, a symbol of unity, and Salaam's international airport. "He may have now that he is gone it's difficult to cope," one been president but he was with the wananchi of his sons, Makongoro, said. [common people]." Tanzanians will remember Nyerere as an To Tanzanians of all walks of life, Nyerere honest leader who led them to independence was the man who gave them dignity, and who and unified the country to make it one of never deserved the criticism he received Africa's most peaceful states abroad for Tanzania's economic difficulties, "He was a very good man, a very honest man caused by oil price rises and the war he with a lot of sense and a good sense of launched to free Ugandans from Idi Amin's humour. Most of all, he built a nation of unity, murderous rule. a country so peaceful," Makongoro added. It was not only his own people who came with Wambui Chege is a Reuters correspondent their glowing tributes yesterday, however. The South African president, Thabo Mbeki, who as The Times an exile spent part of his youth in Tanzania, acknowledged his country's enduring debt, saying how much Nyerere had helped to end Thousands flock to see Nyerere's apartheid. coffin come home The African National Congress's first military HUNDREDS of thousands of Tanzanians filled the training camps were opened in Tanzania in streets here yesterday to pay their last respects to the 1960s. Nyerere also helped guerrillas Julius Nyerere, their former President and the fighting apartheid's secret wars in Angola, founder of this East African nation. Mozambique and the former Rhodesia, now Huge crowds lined the road from the airport to Zimbabwe. Nyerere's home, wailing and ululating as his coffin "Nyerere meant liberation, he meant attention was driven past on the back of a gun-carriage and for the needs of poor people, honesty in escorted by a military procession. politics, personal integrity and a real Nyerere died in London last week after a long commitment to all of Africa," Mr Mbeki said. battle against leukaemia. His body was returned to Mr Mbeki has ordered flags to fly at half mast Tanzania yesterday morning aboard an Air throughout South Africa. He will lead a high- Tanzania commercial jet. level government delegation to Nyerere's Crowds had begun gathering from dawn to pay state funeral in Dar es Salaam on Thursday. their respects to a man known throughout Nearly 1m people filled the streets of the Tanzania simply as "Mwalimu" - Kiswahili for capital yesterday to pay their last respects as "teacher". First aid workers had to treat hundreds Nyerere's body arrived from London, where for heat exhaustion or emotional stress. Dozens of he died of leukaemia last Thursday. others were slightly hurt when trampled by crowds Women wailed openly and men folded their trying to glimpse the cortège. arms on their heads in grief, chanting " 19 October 1999 50

"There are hundreds of thousands of people," a Kategaya and the National Political senior police official said. "It could be up to one Commissar, Mr. James Wapakhabulo. million." Other members of the delegation are the The crowd was generally peaceful and well Speaker of Parliament, Francis Ayume, the behaved, a fitting tribute to a man who developed UPDF representative, Brig Steven Hashaka, his own brand of African socialism in an attempt Makerere University Vice chancellor, Prof. to unify this nation of more than 100 different John Ssebuwufu and the Head of the Civil tribes and languages or dialects. service, Mrs. Florence Mugasha. Nyerere led what was then Tanganyika to The team was selected after a meeting independence from Britain in 1961 and became its yesterday of the Nyerere funeral coordinating first president the next year. He then united the committee chaired by Prof. Mondo country with Zanzibar to form Tanzania, ruling Kagonyera. The committee agreed that until 1985, when he became one of the first of another delegation will in future visit Butiama what is only a handful of African leaders to leave to deliver condolences to the family. power voluntarily. According to the programme, VIP delegations His widow, Maria, and five sons and three will arrive in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, daughters were at his home in the suburb of October 20. Nyerere's body will this week lie Msasani to receive the coffin. in state in Dar es Salaam to pay their Today it will be taken to the city's main Roman respects. Catholic cathedral for a funeral service before Foreign dignitaries will pay their last respects lying in state at the national stadium until on Thursday at the National Stadium of Dar Thursday, when dozens of world leaders are es Salaam. It has been arranged that the expected to attend a state funeral. (Reuters) foreign VIPs role and participation will end in Dar es Salaam. After the Dar es Salaam New Vision (Kampala) stadium ceremonies, each VIP delegation will convey five-minute verbal condolences to President Benjamin Mkapa and sign the Nyerere Body Arrives In Dar condolence book. By Felix Osike and Agencies Ordinary Tanzanians began arriving at the Kampala - President Yoweri Museveni will airport at dawn and dozens fainted under the lead a ten-man delegation to the burial scorching sun before the Air Tanzania Boeing ceremony of the late former Tanzanian 737 carrying the coffin touched down shortly President Julius Nyerere. A statement issued after 9:00a.m. yesterday by the Minister of Information, When it arrived, the crowd surged forward on Basoga Nsadhu, said the President will be the runway apron and dozens of people were accompanied by his wife Janet. trampled underfoot, but no serious injuries Nyerere who died in a London hospital last were reported. Thursday will be laid to rest Saturday at his Nyerere's coffin was carried from the plane by birthplace in Butiama near Lake Tanganyika. an honour guard made up of servicemen in In accordance with Nyerere and his family's the Tanzania armed forces. The former wishes, the burial ceremony will be an entirely president was given a 21-gun salute and a family affair. His body arrived in Dar es military band played "Nkosi Sikelele Afrika" Salaam from London yesterday afternoon (God Bless Africa), the anthem of the African aboard Air Tanzania. liberation movements. Tens of thousands of Tanzanians lined the Copyright (c) 1999 New Vision. Distributed via streets to receive the body. Women wailed Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For and ululated as a military procession bearing information about the content or for Nyerere's coffin left the country's main airport permission to redistribute, publish or use for for the city. broadcast, contact the publisher. According to the programme released by the Tanzanian government, each VIP foreign delegation will comprise of five dignitaries, The Times of Zambia (Lusaka) "except Uganda, which has been allowed 10 dignitaries owing to the special relations between Uganda and Tanzania." Basoga said Chiluba declares four-day national Museveni will be accompanied by the Chief mourning Justice, Wako Wambuzi, the First Deputy by Times Reporter Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eriya Lusaka - President Chiluba has declared a four-day national mourning period for former 19 October 1999 51

Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere who died Copyright (c) 1999 Times of Zambia. in London last week. Distributed via Africa News Online The period of national mourning will run from (www.africanews.org). For information about today until Friday in honour of the African and the content or for permission to redistribute, Tanzanian statesman. Chief Government publish or use for broadcast, contact the spokesman Newstead Zimba said in Lusaka publisher. yesterday that during the mourning period all flags would fly at half-mast. Meanwhile, former republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda has described the death of Mr. Nyerere as a great blow to peace in Africa. Speaking after he signed the book of condolences at the Tanzanian high commission in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Kaunda said the death was a great loss not only to Africa but also to the entire world. And United States President Bill Clinton will be represented at the funeral of Dr Nyerere by secretary of state Madeleine Albright who is scheduled to visit six African countries. Dr Kaunda said the demise of one of Africa's founding fathers would create a vacuum in the Burundi peace initiative and appealed to leaders in the region to find a suitable replacement. Asked if he would be willing to continue from where Dr Nyerere left, Dr Kaunda said he was ever ready to help resolve conflicts in Africa. The UNIP leader who will travel to Tanzania to attend the burial of Dr Nyerere, dedicated a poem in the book of condolences to his long time friend. Julius. How could you my dear brother, "Kazi ya Africa ni mkubwa sana" a Swahili term meaning, a lot still needs to be done in Africa. How could you my dear brother: I thought you knew you were in success in Burundi. I am sure you knew of all those successes in Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe. I am sure you knew of all those successes in Namibia and finally in South Africa. Why then Julius do you leave Burundi unfinished? Oh God my God. I am inviting Nkrumah, Nasser, Neto, Machel. Oliver Tambo to meet their dear brother at the first gate. Thank you dear Lord. He is safe in your hands Lord, the poem read. And World Bank president James Wolfensohn said Dr Nyerere was one of the founding fathers of modern Africa and one of the few world leaders whose high ideals, moral integrity and personal modesty inspired people. Ms Albright will be in Tanzania on Thursday to attend the funeral of Dr Nyerere. The purpose of her visit and funeral attendance is to highlight the partnership the US has weaved with Africa, the Washington Line says. 20 October 1999 52

southern African liberation movements – Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique – have 20 October 1999 his vision to thank for their success. When he died, he was trying to bring peace to Burundi.'' Independent Outside, the streets were mostly deserted. Dar es Salaam, which means "haven of peace'' is a city of 1.5 million people which usually bustles with the Tanzania weeps for father of the activity of hawkers proclaiming "hii katalogi nation kabisa garantii oringino'' (from the latest By Alex Duval Smith in Dar es Salaam catalogue, guaranteed original) which everyone 20 October 1999 knows to mean the opposite. Yesterday, as one In the biggest outpouring of collective grief that man said outside the stadium, "even the southern Africa has ever seen, Tanzania yesterday pickpockets are paying tribute to Baba''. threw itself into a 48-hour non-stop orgy of tears Former president Nyerere, who died aged 77, had for Baba wa Taifa – the father of the nation – his faults. His ujamaa, Maoist farms, introduced Julius Nyerere, who died from leukemia last after a peaceful transition to independence from Thursday in London. Britain in 1961, ran the economy into the ground. Tomorrow, the Princess Royal and dignitaries In 1979, Tanzania had more political prisoners from all over the world, including the US than South Africa. But in the crowd yesterday Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, will arrive mourners insisted that his legacy was of good. for the state funeral in Dar es Salaam. But for now, Generally, they did not believe the prophets of this is very much a family affair – 30 million doom who have predicted that, in the absence of people grieving as one for Mwalimu – the teacher. former president Nyerere as an éminence grise , President Benjamin Mkapa attended a Roman President Mkapa's ruling party could split ahead of Catholic funeral Mass yesterday which spilled next years elections and that Muslim-dominated outside St Joseph's cathedral. Thousands of people Zanzibar – the island off Dar es Salaam which was were able to watch proceedings on giant video brought into the fold in 1964 – might secede. screens. Cardinal Polycarp Openga praised former Winnie Naali, a market trader in her forties, who president Nyerere for his honesty and integrity on was among hundreds wearing black and wrapped a continent where so many leaders are known for in a kanga (cloth) featuring Nyerere's image said: their corruption. "He was not very clever at economics and this was Mama Graça – Nelson Mandela's wife, Graça not good for the wealth of this country, but when Machel – is here, always by the side of Mama he realised this, he said sorry and resigned. He Maria, widow of the late former president. On the wanted Tanzania to be one big village, a family for television, a tearful little girl sings "you did more us all, and for all of us to take part.'' in your life than all the water in the sea''. After the state funeral – at which several European At the national stadium, where the body was taken royal families will be represented, as well as all of yesterday after it was flown back from London, Tanzania's neighbours and high-ranking officials nothing is pompous but everything is meticulously from allies such as China and the Nordic countries arranged. – former president Nyerere's death will return to There were two weeks of prayers by all religions being a family affair. for former president Nyerere, who lay dying in His body will be taken to his village, Butiama, by Saint Thomas's Hospital, and the country was Lake Victoria, for burial alongside the remains of prepared. his father. Far from the nearest airstrip and prying The body of the man who ruled Tanzania from camera crews, Mama Maria and Mama Graça will 1962 until 1985, when he stepped down, will reclaim the family occasion. remain in the stadium for viewing, night and day, until Thursday. BBC Yesterday, thousands upon thousands of people filed through the specially constructed glass house where the former president Nyrere lies in state World leaders arrive to honour beneath an enlarged photograph of him in an open- Nyerere necked shirt, smiling. From time to time, a choir sang or the band struck up Nkosi Sikelel'i Afrika , A long wait to say goodbye the national anthem. Lucas Kizigha, a clerk, 25, who had come to pay World leaders are arriving in Tanzania for the his last respects said: "He was our father. He state funeral on Thursday of the country's united us. He knew evil and crushed it, like Idi former president, Julius Nyerere. Amin, and he knew what was good. All the 20 October 1999 53

It will be the largest international delegation Just two of the comments Talking Point has ever to visit Tanzania. received so far. Take part below. Heads of state from 14 countries are expected to attend, including South African President The Background: Thabo Mbeki and Zimbabwe's Robert Dr Julius Nyerere, who died last week aged Mugabe. 77, was much more than Tanzania's first US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will president and founding father. He was also fly to Tanzania from Nigeria and the Princess one of those rare political philosophers who Royal is to represent Britain's royal family. was actually able to test out his theories on an The state funeral is set to begin on Thursday entire nation. morning at the national stadium in Dar Es In 1967 he released the Arusha Declaration Salaam and will last about four hours. (named after the northern Tanzanian town The eulogy will be read by the current where it was announced) which outlined his president Benjamin Mkapa, and several other plans to try an turn Tanzania into a socialist foreign dignitaries are also expected to speak. and self-supporting state. He then quickly set After the ceremony, the body will be flown to about applying his ideas. Butiama, Dr Nyerere's birthplace. It will lie in However Nyerere's 'African socialism' proved state for a further two days before being disastrous in the rural areas where his policy buried on Saturday. of "ujama", community-based farming Mourners weep openly collectives, met with resistance from farmers In the past two days, tens of thousands of and led to a subsequent decline in production. Tanzanians have been filing past the body of Ten years later, taking stock, President Dr Nyerere at the national stadium. Nyerere issued a remarkably honest booklet Many have travelled great distances to pay which gave as much prominence to the their last respects to the man many knew failures as well as the successes. simply as 'Mwalimu' - the teacher. "There is a time for planting and a time for An enormous queue stretched for miles harvesting", he wrote. "For us it is still a time outside the stadium and many people wept for planting". openly or gasped as they passed the body, Nyerere's supporters say he is not to blame lying on a bed of satin. for the failure of ujamaa and are adamant that "This is the shock of the century for his principles of African socialism are now Tanzanians. Nyerere was so much loved by more relevant than ever. everyone, " said one observer. Critics claim that Nyerere was a false prophet Dr Nyerere died from cancer in a London who failed to think through the effects of his hospital last week, aged 77. left-wing policies on ordinary people and that He is still revered in Tanzania as the 'father of African socialism is a confused philosophy the nation' after leading the country to which should be confined to the dust bin of independence and serving as its first history. president from 1964 to 1985. What do you think? Was Nyerere a political The government has declared 30 days of messiah or false prophet? Are his ideas mourning throughout the country. important or dangerous (given the failure of ujamaa)? Should his African socialism Julius Nyerere: Political messiah or be taught to future generations or false prophet? forgotten about? Have your say.

Wednesday, October 20, 1999 Published at 17:09 Your Reaction: GMT 18:09 UK It is a great loss not only to our country but to

the whole world. He was a great leader whose Mr Nyerere's views on African wisdom and leadership was surely to be development were an unmitigated disaster admired. Being a youth, he is a role model for and turned his country into a pauper for me and the world to follow. decades (and probably decades to come). Mustafa B. Dinani, Tanzania Rath Andor, USA I was amazed by all the negative criticism, the I longed to be like him, and some of what I late Mwalimu Nyerere received upon his am today comes from the Nyerere's untimely death. I am an Ethiopian by origin, African Socialism. I love it. He was a great who had the chance to live in Tanzania for leader. The world has lost an outstanding four years, from 1990 to 1994. I went to high personality and a leader. school there, and learned Nyerere's Ujaama Nathan Duwah Juniusu, United States of in Siasa (politics) class, although I don't agree America 20 October 1999 54 with everything Ujaama stands for, I admire part of his enduring legacy. Africa will sorely the basic fundamentals, which are free miss Dr Nyerere. education and health service for all, and in Nwora Onwuzulu, Nigeria order to reach these goals you have to form a False prophet? Nyerere was not a prophet, he community, some call it, villagization. was just a realist who with good intentions The other most amazing thing is, when the tried to show that Africa can go on it's own rest of Africa is engaged in meaningless wars, way without blindly following western including my country, Ethiopia; Tanzanians ideologies. Those who claim that he failed say were enjoying peace and harmony. Yes, even so because they measure success with though, they were poor, they did not become material development. Those who see stooges for westerners or Russia, and kill their success as peace and unity will not fail to see brothers and sisters. Because, Mwalimu has that Nyerere excelled in these. His taught them that, the solution for African achievements will remain in Tanzania and problem does not come from the west or Africa for many years to come! Russia, it comes from us, the Africans. Little Peter, UK/Tanzania knowledge is very dangerous, so please study Nyerere is often credited with the far-reaching the issues before jumping to conclusions, and achievements of Tanzania's health and see things from all aspects, economical, education systems. Yet they were paid for by social and political. Mwalimu rest in peace. Western taxpayers, who kept these Yoseph Mekonnen, USA programmes alive on artificial life support. I am amazed by the snide comments about Between them Sweden, Norway, Finland, Nyere mostly from Westerners: yet there is a Holland and Canada provided around £2.7 country in the West that prides itself on its billion every year; in 1983-84 British aid probity and democratic ideals, but politicians amounted to £26 million. By the mid 1980s are elected depending on how much money Tanzania was the highest per capita recipient they can muster. As fir Human Rights, of foreign aid in Africa. Convicts, including children are kept waiting Nyerere's own policies of socialist for years on Death Row before they are collectivisation had reduced Tanzania to one executed in revolting ways. of the world's poorest countries by 1985, Janet, UK burdened by debt and with inflation running To me, Mwalimu Nyerere is Africa's greatest between 30 and 40 percent, industry at only man of our time. He was a righteous man who 30 percent of capacity, and crippled by a lack tried to the best of his human ability to do of foreign exchange to import raw materials good, not for himself but for mankind in his and spare parts. Nearly half of the 330 firms country, for Africa and the international nationalised by the government had gone into community as a whole. I thank God (for him) liquidation and a third of those that survived now that he is going to be buried in the soil of lost money. Tanzania had become dependent a TOTALLY FREE AFRICA, which was one of upon imports of cereals and had to introduce his missions! It is enough to say that Mwalimu rationing; peasants in Shinyanga province was a selfless GOOD MAN, an example I can faced starvation through lack of maize. not easily sight anywhere in Africa. If this is kind of late ex-President held up as a Emmanuel Malaba, Tanzania shining example of African leadership, then Tanzania, and indeed Africa will never be the maybe Africa needs no more "great leaders". same again after the loss of an illustrious son, Henry Case, UK and a towering figure, Mwalimu Julius It is interesting to note that most of the Kambarage Nyerere. Nyerere was not only negative comments about Nyerere so far have the architect of Tanzanian nationalism, but a predominantly been from the US, from people champion of the struggle against the forces of like Rath Andor. Nyerere's self-reliance oppression, colonialism and man's inhumanity policies obviously turned out to be impractical to man in continental Africa. He lived and died for many reasons, a lot of which had to do fighting the good fight to uphold the ideals of with the ideological acrimony at the human rights and dignity, and to foster an international level between the super powers. egalitarian society across all Africa. Nyerere His ideas were well meaning, and could walked the walk and talked the talk with probably still be applied today with the will of utmost selflessness, humility and equanimity. the people. Nyerere was a man of character and vision. Nevertheless, the important issue is that The peace, tranquillity and sense of national Nyerere admitted to the failure of the program pride that prevail in Tanzania today is only a himself. Moreover, Nyerere will be remembered for a whole lot of other ideas and 20 October 1999 55 deeds some of which include the total It is our African culture that lets the dead rest of Africa, and the dismantling in peace, let us do that for President Nyerere. of all the brutal racist regimes in southern Sure he might have made mistakes during his Africa. It is absurd to suggest that Tanzanians rule, we should have learned something out of were better off during colonial rule. that so we wouldn't repeat those same Colonialism as a global arrangement was evil mistakes, but the man that unseated Mr and untenable. Whatever mirage(s) of "better Nyerere and labelled him a dictator turn out to conditions" under colonialism anywhere in be a disaster for Africa. Africa were just that, illusions. Where they Chiluba is no better than any African dictator, existed, they were for the few who constitute in fact he jailed Nyerere and it was Messiah the present sentimental colonialists and their Mandela who convinced Chiluba to free offspring who long for the return of that by- Nyerere. Don't blame the dead, look at the gone era. Nyerere was and is ours. His living they might as well join the dead it would mistakes are ours because we claim them. do Africa a much better good. Look Nigeria, His achievements brought us light, and for had Abacha not been dead do you think the that Africa will forever be thankful. As for Mr. little progress that is taking place would be? Rath Andor and the like, I wonder what they Nyerere had some sense of conscience and have to say on behalf of the likes of Mobutus handed power, that is unheard of in Africa. and Bandas. I bet they are their heroes. Mualimou Nyerere, rest in peace. Moses Warotua Haimbodi, Namibia/USA M, USA Julius Nyerere proved to be one of the Rath Andor should well rethink h/her Greatest African and World Leaders. He impression of the late Mwalimu Nyerere's enjoyed respect not only in Tanzania but ideas and practice of ujamaa. His claimed through out the world. Among other aspects "fiery anti-western rhetoric" obfuscates that gained him popularity was his voluntary Nyerere's moral appeal to capitalism without a act to step down as the president of human face, consumerism to a society in Tanzanian and leader of the ruling party. He need of the basic living requirements. Rath showed a very good example to the other Andor must be a frustrated Thatcherite!! World Dictators and, those leaders who want Ed Edet, USA(Nigerian) to die in office that all people can, and should He was a great leader, a great humanist. As a have a chance to lead. human being he had his own share of Mwalimu Nyerere's leadership went through mistakes (who doesn't) but he was sincere the "Learning Circle" consisting of four basic and devoted to his people and to the cause of stages: 1- What happened during the period? peace and justice throughout the world.. (Reflection), 2- Why did it happen?, 3- What Nizar Visram,Tanzania lessons were learned?, 4- What can be done Though some may deem "Ujamaa" as an to improve the situation?. example of failure in African socialism, it is a Michael Mondi Lopidia, Southern classic example of triumph over colonial Sudanese in UK oriented and non-realistic thought. Mwalimu Julius Nyere was yet another socialist leader Nyerere instilled in us Africans the pride to who got it all wrong, but, as per his fellow look for initiatives to solve Africa's problems. It socialist leaders would never admit it. As far is very sad to realise that in this post as turning his Country into a Socialist independence era Africa is still fighting to paradise he failed miserably. When I was in make policies tailored for foreign systems and Tanzania in the early 1980's you could not political scenarios work in Africa. Africa has even find such basic essentials as toothpaste indeed lost a bold, simple and great son, or soap, crime was rampant and security non- Stephen Njoloma, USA existent. there is no single leadership style which is As far as Ujama went, the system brought the perfect. Nyerere was the right person to our country almost to the brink of famine. nation for that particular time to particular However, let us not condom only Julius Nyere followers was Mwalimu. He was the 20th for there were many others of similar ideals century leader with no doubt. Mwalimu is equally as guilty of the kind short-sightedness among the best model of leadership style and stubbornness which are the inevitable which he practically demonstrated in result of practising and preaching an ideal Tanganyika before "Uhuru" and after it. Many which is totally unpopular and which simply fruits of "uhuru" came including one Nation a does not work. strong one and peaceful Tanzania. He Neil Ashurst, UK Expat in Ghana accomplished his mission in a very glorious 20 October 1999 56 way. Kwaheri goodbye the father of our Tajudeen Isiaka, Nigeria nation. In the long run socialism always fails and Maria Mashingo, USA ruins the economy of the nation experimenting He was neither a false prophet nor a political with it. Nyrere destroyed the economy of his messiah but was just a mere intellectual who nation and the people there will suffer for tried to forecast all that would be best for his years to come because of this. people. That is why in all the time of his Richard T. Ketchum, USA leadership he tried to implement his ideas. He Throughout the history of mankind, we have was a kind of a person who was ready to had Kings, rulers, scientists and philosophers learn even from his mistakes and this is why who have had different impacts and he admitted failures of some of his theories. influences on technological development and All in all Nyerere was a man of integrity whose human civilisation. Mwalimu Nyerere, the delight was the good of his people. A unique founding father of the United Republic of person among the very few people in the Tanzania must go down in history as one of world. The problem of his ujamaa theory is not the greatest leaders of all times whose about him but the problem with people who teachings and unique leadership style have were to implement it. He has done a lot for his influenced the whole world community. We people and it is only god who can reward him. must admit that Africa has produced this great Sturmius Bwire, Tanzania thinker whose teachings have had great When part of the , Tanzania impacts; not only to the lives of Tanzanians was a highly productive and self-sufficient and Africans but the entire world community's nation. As with all the former colonies, bad civilisation. The principles of his Ujamaa and corrupt leadership brought the country to Philosophy will guide the 21-century global its knees. The people were far better off under development scenarios of community the benign and honest British administration. empowerment, democratisation and Nyerere was not a good man. governance through consensus, all of which John Atkins, UK are in Mwalimu Nyerere's Ujamaa. His simple Mualimu was a bright leader who would life style, honesty, integrity and commitment to always be remembered for his honesty and the needy are his most important strong integrity in a continent where many of its points that even the most powerful leaders (past and present) lacked both. governments on earth have something to Yasin Jabir, USA/Ethiopia learn from. Nyerere at least sought to do what he thought Asukile RK Mwandemele, TANZANIA was best for his people, which unfortunately Simple fact: not all dictators had a pleasure of was a disaster. But he tried to help his people having plus 30 world leaders attending their and was not a thief like all the other African funerals. We like it or not, Mwalimu was leaders who shamelessly use their positions among the greatest sons Africa ever had. It to steal and enrich themselves at the expense takes an African to understand Africa, and of their people and countries. Nyerere was a that is why we will forever remember him. good and honest man. Deo Kikudo, Hungary Winnie Onwuanyi, Nigeria/USA Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was one of Africa's Julius Nyerere may have been wrong about and the world's greatest leaders. He was African Socialism but at least he was wrong genuinely concerned about his people, and for all the right reasons he wasn't an evil cynic did the best he could. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere but a true African patriot a man who was is a shining example of a true leader not only inspired by decency and goodwill, there aren't in Africa but also the rest of the world. May his that many African leaders past or present of soul rest in eternal peace. which this is true. He was a great man, may Humphrey, Malawi he rest in peace. Socialist idea practically is dead system. So, Samuel Lando, Kenya what ever Nyerere has written about I shall never use the word "political messiah" Socialism is also a dead issue. But let us or false prophet" to characterise Julius remember Nyerere as the founder of OAU. Nyerere of Tanzania, "the man of honour Intelligent, outstanding, and a very well principled", who never fringed in the face of respected leader. He was one of the most "Western Imperialism". (After all no thinker notable leaders in the 20th Century. What a who speculates on the future can escape the loss! charge of having withdrawn into fantasy Haregeweyn Demoz, U.S.A construction) But, Julius Nyerere's humanistic Nyerere, Nkrumah... you name them... I see views will survive. them as leaders who at least dared to try 20 October 1999 57 something new - who dared to reject western Dr Bhogal MD, Tanzania/UK formulae and try something different. False Indeed, the leaders of post 1957 Africa were prophets, I don't totally agree with that. Within hailed as Messiahs, But they all ended up as the context of a post-independent Africa, "False prophets". And that includes Nyerere. where the fuel for the struggle was Like the Old Testament Jewish Kings who nationalism, they needed ideologies to hold were judged by their relationship with God, on to, which is something that leaders of and how they advanced the ideas and ideals today lack. i would rather have leaders who of God, I grade the modern African rulers by will attempt to lead us into unexplored political how much they helped to introduce political domains than those who sit and blindly institutions (Democracy), that encourages worship the status-quo. freedom. Santrofi, Ghana In this respect, not only Nyerere, but A man's achievements are not judged on how Nkrumah, Kenyatta, and Sekou Toure all much he has earned, they are judged on how failed miserably. They were all tin pot many hearts he has touched. Every leader dictators, who felt somehow that they alone has negative and positive sides. Nyerere's were imbued with a "divine Right" to rule. That Ujama Theory didn't work but that is not a they alone possessed the Wisdom to decide point of criticism towards him. Let us not blind our fate, independent of our wishes and ourselves, take a look at Africa and name a concerns. The tragedy is that they could have country that hasn't experienced tribal wars. successfully won any elections due to their I guess by now you see Tanzania. Do you initial popularity. But the decided to become think this came as a miracle? Of course not, tyrants, and thus became wholly abhorred by isn't this a successfully thing that Nyerere has the majority of the people. Nyerere's decision done. All African countries are poor because to cling on to a moribund economic system, of western imperialism, and for this to change while dealing out utopian political snippets, it means history has to change (Will it Ever does not outlive him. His prophesy was not Happen?) PEACE AND UNITY IS THE fulfilled. He was thus a false prophet!!! BIGGEST PRESENT NYERERE GAVE US Kofi Ellison, USA via Asuonwun, Ghana. AND FOR THAT HE IS OUR HERO. He is just another Hitler who doesn't kill Zinga Banzi, Canada people using guns but destroys people's life On my point of view he had good intentions to using bad ideologies his people but the execution by his assistants Vipi Mshikaji, Kenya was bad. It is important not to let sentiment, caused by Mfumwa Mmbaga, Tanzania Mr. Nyerere's recent death, to blind ourselves African Socialism? More guff from people who to the truth. Mr. Nyerere's views on African should know better. When ruled by the Empire development were an unmitigated disaster these countries had good records of and turned his country into a pauper for production. Under socialism they got decades (and probably decades to come.) plundered. Enough said. While his fiery anti-Western rhetoric may have Pod, Scotland impressed many African nationalists and Nyrere, the Mwalimu, the teacher is unique "well-meaning" idiots in the West, Mr. Nyerere among leaders. He was selfless and honest. I made his people dependent on those whom met him on several occasions and he was he regularly excoriated. Of course, there is inspirational. He never took advantage of his also Tanzania's human rights record to position and amassed wealth. His idea about consider... Ujamma is and was the way because Rath Andor, USA ultimately we cannot have the 6 billion people Julius Nyrere was an Ivy League intellectual even dream of the corrupted life style of the who discovered the hard way that the lofty west. This life style is not possible for the ideas that sounded so good in the halls of majority of 6 billion people. It is a lifestyle Oxford and Cambridge do not work so well in which is wasteful, all consuming and actual application. It is a testament to this destructive for the world. man's foresight and intelligence that he came There can be few people who will enjoy that to realise this and admit to it publicly, when so life style at the expense of others. Even in many other African demagogues clung to it USA there are 50 million people in poverty. blindly, to the resulting ruin of their countries. Mwalimu never intended to be a prophet so Tom Byrne, USA the question whether he was a false prophet is derogatory. The man was great and that is a fact. 20 October 1999 58

Panafrican News Agency Nyerere was a firm Catholic and Cardinal Pengo said it was improper to involve him with the ways of Fr Nkwera now that he is dead. Nyerere's Daughter Denied Holy Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Communion Distributed via Africa News Online By Nicodemus Odhiambo (www.africanews.org). For information about Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - One of the content or for permission to redistribute, the daughters of the late former Tanzanian publish or use for broadcast, contact the President Julius Nyerere was Tuesday denied publisher. 'holy communion' during a requiem mass for her father. Wrangle Over Nyerere's Final Anna Nyerere had gone to receive Resting Place Solved communion kneeling in characteristic 'Fr By Nicodemus Odhiambo Felician Nkwera's' style, while Tanzanian Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) Grave- Catholics receive communion standing. diggers Tuesday began excavating the earth It is said she is a firm follower of Fr Nkwera, at the spot where the late former Tanzanian an ostracised priest since May. President Julius Nyerere will be buried after The mass was attended by President an initial clan dispute. A member of a Benjamin Mkapa and was led by the committee charged with the late statesman's Archbishop of Dar Es Salaam, Polycarp burial said a dispute on where to bury him had Cardinal Pengo, who has issued stern been resolved. directives that Nkwera's followers be evicted "Family members and elders of Nyerere's from Catholic churches the moment they are Zanaki tribe are now finally agreed at the spot spotted. at which Nyerere will be buried," the labour The widow of Nyerere, Maria, who is also an and youth development minister, Paul Kimiti, ardent Nkwera follower, however, received was quoted as saying. the communion standing. Her efforts to have Nyerere's clan members were divided on Fr Nkwera sent to Britain to pray for Nyerere where to bury him, with one of his sons, when the former leader was hospitalised were Emily, opposing that he be buried near his thwarted and criticised by the Catholic church. parents' graves. But Maria had her way Monday when she But Emily later relented, Kimiti said, and the insisted that Nkwera be called to say prayers family agreed to locate the grave at a site at her home after Nyerere's body was flown in called Mwitongo, where Nyerere had once from London. expressed a desire to be buried at. When Cardinal Pengo went to condole Meanwhile, Zanaki elders have demanded Nyerere's family, Anna is said to have walked that Nyerere's body be handed to them for out. traditional rites when it arrives in Butiama, his Nkwera was excommunicated for exorcising village, Thursday. demons without permission from bishops and Led by clan leader Japhet Wanzagi, the "going contrary to church teachings," including elders said Nyerere's body will be received by what the church described as disobeying youths from the tribe, brandishing traditional superiors. He has been ordered to repent shields. before he can be allowed back together with A traditional dance will then be performed at his flock. the chief's compound ahead of the state burial But Fr. Nkwera has petitioned the Pope to Saturday. intervene. Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. In his booklet: Open Letter To His Holiness Distributed via Africa News Online Pope John Paul II and President Mkapa, he (www.africanews.org). For information about says he has been a victim of molestation by the content or for permission to redistribute, Cardinal Pengo. publish or use for broadcast, contact the He has accused the cardinal of convincing publisher. other priests and religions to reject his Marian Faith Healing Ministry and even trying to convince the government to ban it. 18 Heads Of State To Pay Respects But in an apparent move to advise Nyerere's To Nyerere family, Cardinal Pengo used the opportunity at By Nicodemus Odhiambo the requiem mass Tuesday to warn the Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - At least congregation not to let Fr. Nkwera split their 18 Heads of State from Africa and Europe are families. 20 October 1999 59 coming to mourn the late former President of The Monitor (Kampala) Tanzania Julius Kambarage Nyerere. They will view Nyerere's body who died of leukaemia aged 77 in Britain last week during Dreams that never died a special mass Thursday at the National Kampala - In the late 1960s Mwalimu Stadium. Nyerere, who was to become Africa's most Nyerere's body has been laying in state at the respected elder statesperson (apart from stadium for public viewing since Tuesday. The Nelson Mandela) became a magnet for Heads of State are Olusegun Obasanjo of Africans in the Diaspora among them Ikaweba Nigeria, South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, Bunting, currently Oxfam's Communications Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Ghana's Jerry Officer for East Africa who has lived in Rawlings and Mozambique's Joachim Tanzania for over 30 years. Chissano. In December 1998 they sat down at his home Rwanda's Pasteur Bizimungu, Pierre Buyoya in Butiama, Tanzania, and reflected on his of Burundi, Namibia's , Marti role over the past 50 years as an activist. Ahtisaari of Finland and of Nyerere died Oct.14, 1999. Egypt are also to attend. *Ikaweba Bunting: What was the anti-colonial Others are Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, King movement's greatest contribution to Mswati of Swaziland, Bakili Muluzi of Malawi, humanity? Libya's Moammar Kadhafi and Kenya's Daniel *Mwalimu Julius Nyerere: The first is that the arap Moi. suffering of a whole chunk of human beings Botswana's Festus Mogae and the country's through the actions of others was halted. The former President, Sir Ketumile Masire, will arrogance of one group of people in lording it also attend. Eritrea's Isayas Afeworki has also over the human race and exploiting the poorer confirmed to participate. peoples was challenged and discredited. Sweden will be represented by its Deputy Second, the liberation movement was very Prime Minister, Seychelles by its Vice moral. It was not simply liberation in a President James Michael while the United vacuum. Gandhi argued a moral case and so States will be represented by its Secretary of did I. State, Madeleine Albright. Liberation freed white people also. Take The East African Co-operation Secretariat will South Africa: there, the anti- apartheid victory be represented by its Executive Secretary, freed whites as well as black people. Francis Muthaura, while the OAU will be *When did you first encounter the idea of represented by its Secretary General Salim liberation from colonialism? Ahmed Salim, a Tanzanian national himself I cannot say I encountered the idea of and a former premier under Nyerere. liberation like a flash of light, like Paul on the Former US President and close friend of road to Damascus. It was a process. We were Nyerere, , is also to attend. born under colonialism. What many of us went The Netherlands will be represented by through was simply a desire to be accepted Crown Prince Willem Alexander, by the white man. At first this is what it was - a accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister kind of inert dissatisfaction that we were not Jozias van Aartsen. accepted as equals. In total, about 56 countries will be represented World War Two and what it was fought for - during the requiem mass at which Nyerere's democracy and freedom - started the process eulogy will also be read. for many people, especially those who were in Soon after the mass, Nyerere's body will be the Army. flown to Musoma and transported by road to At Makerere in 1943 I started something his Butiama home for burial. called the Tanganyika African Welfare Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Association. We wanted to improve the lives Distributed via Africa News Online of Africans. Inside us something was (www.africanews.org). For information about happening. the content or for permission to redistribute, I wrote an essay in 1944 called The Freedom publish or use for broadcast, contact the of Women. publisher. My father had 22 wives and I knew what they went through as women. Here in this essay I was moving towards the idea of freedom theoretically. I went to Tabora to start teaching. 20 October 1999 60

Then came Indian Independence. When fragmented socialist Africa. I made this Gandhi succeeded I think it made the British distinction deliberately so as not to divide the lose the will to cling to the empire. country. The majority in the anti-colonial When Kwame Nkrumah was released from struggle were nationalist. There was a prison it produced a transformation. I was in minority who argued that class was the central Britain and oh you could see it in the issue, they wanted to approach liberation in Ghanaians! They became different human purely Marxist terms. However, it was more beings, different from all the rest of us! This than class and I saw that. thing of freedom began growing inside all of I never saw the contradictions that would us. First India in 1947, then Ghana in 1949. prevent Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from *Does the Arusha Declaration still stand working together. I was naive, I guess. Even today? now for me freedom and unity are paramount. I still travel around with it. I read it over and I respected Jomo (Kenyatta) immensely. It over to see what I would change. Maybe I has probably never happened before in would improve on the Kiswahili that was used history. Two heads of state, Milton Obote but the Declaration is still valid: I would not [Uganda's leader] and I, went to Jomo and change a thing. Tanzania had been said to him: "let's unite our countries and you independent for a short time before we began be our head of state". He said no. I think he to see a growing gap between the haves and said no because it would have put him out of the have-nots in our country. A privileged his element as a Kikuyu elder. group was emerging from the political leaders *In 1990 you were quoted as saying that you and bureaucrats who had been poor thought the absence of an opposition party under colonial rule but were now beginning to had contributed to the Tanzanian ruling use their positions in the Party and the party's abandonment of its commitments. Do Government to enrich themselves. This kind you think it was a mistake for so many new of development would alienate the leadership African nations to opt for a one-party state? from the people. So we articulated a new I did this for Tanzania because of our national objective: we stressed that circumstances then. In 1990 the Chama Cha development is about all our people and not Mapinduzi (CCM) abandoned the one-party just a small and privileged minority. state for a multi-party system. But we do not The Arusha Declaration and our democratic have an opposition. The point I was making single-party system, together with our national when I made the statement was that any party language, Kiswahili, and a highly politicized that stays in power too long becomes corrupt. and disciplined national army, transformed The Communist Party in the Soviet Union, the more than 126 different tribes into CCM of Tanzania and the Conservative Party a cohesive and stable nation. of However, despite this achievement, they say Britain all stayed in power too long and we failed in Tanzania, that we floundered. But became corrupt. This is especially so if the did we? We must say no. We can't deny opposition is too weak or non-existent. everything we accomplished. There are some *What were your main mistakes as Tanzanian of my friends who we did not allow to get rich; leader? What should you have done now they are getting rich and they say 'See, differently? we are getting rich There are things that I would have done more now, so you were wrong'. But what kind of firmly or not at all. answer is that? For example, I would not nationalize the sisal The floundering of socialism has been global. plantations. This was a mistake. I did not *After independence you pursued an African realize how difficult it would be for the state to socialism while in Kenya Jomo Kenyatta manage agriculture. Agriculture is difficult to embraced a more conservative nationalism. socialize. The two of you came to symbolize opposing *Why did your attempt to find a new way visions of development. Were you conscious founder on the rocks? at I was in Washington last year. At the World the time of the need to chart a different course Bank the first question they asked me was that might inspire other new African nations? "how did you fail?" Anti-colonialism was a nationalist movement. I responded that we took over a country with For me liberation and unity were the most 85 per cent of its adult population illiterate. important things. I have always said that I was The British ruled us for 43 years. When they African first and socialist second. I would left, there were 2 trained engineers and 12 rather see a free and united Africa before a doctors. This is the country we inherited. 20 October 1999 61

When I stepped down there was 91-per-cent Africanism. There is still the room - and the literacy and nearly every child was in school. need. We trained thousands of engineers and Copyright (c) 1999 The Monitor - Kampala. doctors and teachers. Distributed via Africa News Online In 1988 Tanzania's per-capita income was US (www.africanews.org). For information about $280. Now, in 1998, it is US $140. the content or for permission to redistribute, So I asked the World Bank people what went publish or use for broadcast, contact the wrong. Because for the last ten years publisher. Tanzania has been signing on the dotted line and doing everything the IMF and the World Bank wanted. Enrolment in school has plummeted to 63percent and conditions in health and other social services have deteriorated. I asked them again: "what went wrong?" These people just sat there looking at me. Then they asked what could they do? I told them have some humility. Humility - they are so arrogant! *Do you think Third World independence actually suited the industrialized world, leaving it with the economic power but without the political responsibility? It seems that independence of the former colonies has suited the interests of the industrial world for bigger profits at less cost. Independence made it cheaper for them to exploit us. We have too much debt now. It is a heavy burden, a trap. It is immoral. Let us create a new liberation movement to free us from immoral debt and neo- colonialism. The other way is through Pan- African unity. *Should African resistance movements have embraced Pan-Africanism more readily? Do you think we should be working now towards a federal ? Kwame Nkrumah and I were committed to the idea of unity. African leaders and heads of state did not take Kwame seriously. I did not believe in these small little nations. I do not today. I tell our people to look at the European Union, at these people who ruled us who are now uniting. I tried to get East Africa to unite before independence. When we failed in this I was wary about Kwame's continental approach. After independence the wider African community became clear to me. I was concerned about education; the work of Booker T Washington resonated with me. There were skills we needed and black people outside Africa had them. I gave our US ambassador the specific job of recruiting skilled Africans from the US Diaspora. A few came, like you. Some stayed; others left. We should look to our brothers and sisters in the West. We should build the broader Pan- 21 October 1999 62

Many travelled great distances to pay their last respects to the man many knew simply as 21 October 1999 "Mwalimu" - the teacher. An enormous queue stretched for miles BBC outside the stadium and many people wept openly or gasped as they passed the body, lying on a bed of satin. World leaders honour Nyerere "This is the shock of the century for Thursday, October 21, 1999 Published at 11:42 Tanzanians. Nyerere was so much loved by GMT 12:42 UK everyone, " said one observer. The state funeral has taken place in Tanzania Dr Nyerere died from cancer in a London of the country's former President, Julius hospital last week, aged 77. Nyerere. He is still revered in Tanzania as the "father of Representatives of more than 70 countries the nation" after leading the country to made up the largest international delegation independence and serving as its first ever to visit the country. president from 1964 to 1985. South African President Thabo Mbeki and The government has declared 30 days of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe were among 16 mourning throughout the country. African heads of state. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrived in Tanzania from Nigeria and the Panafrican News Agency Princess Royal represented Britain's royal family. Academician Revisits Nyerere's They rubbed shoulders with former Development Vision revolutionaries who plotted their campaigns from Dar es Salaam during the 1960s and October 21, 1999 1970s, when independence was sweeping By Peter Masebu through the continent. Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - As Tanzanians Thousands of ordinary Tanzanians also prepare to bury former President Julius flocked to the capital to pay their last respects, Kambarage Nyerere Saturday, a Dakar- among them Muslims, Christians, tribal chiefs, based intellectual, Dr Sibry J.M. Tapsoba, has beggars and businessmen. suggested a fresh look at the fallen leader's Many lined the route taken by the gun vision could help push the continent's carriage bearing the body of the late president development forward. en route to the airport. "Beyond the fact that he was one of the first The eulogy was read by the current African presidents to voluntarily leave power, Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa. Many he was a person of science who was of the visiting dignitaries also paid lavish knowledgeable about the African situation. tributes. This has been confirmed by his continued Kenyan President said: "He participation in support of peace and was one of the greatest sons of Africa. The development in Africa after leaving office," passing of Mwalimu Nyerere represents the Tapsoba told PANA. passing of an era in Africa... he was rightly Tapsoba, who hails from Burkina Faso, is called the conscience of Africa." Regional Director of the Dakar-based West Mrs Albright said there was no question that and Central Africa Regional Office of the Mr Nyerere was one of the great leaders of International Development Research Centre. our time. She said he had bequeathed He said in an interview that Nyerere will be Tanzania a proud tradition of unity and remembered for championing the African tradition. liberation struggle and particularly for being The body is being flown to Butiama, Dr "one of the few to look for an indigenous Nyerere's birthplace. It will lie in state for a approach to development." further two days before being buried on "We remember back in the 1970s Tanzania Saturday. was the type of model that cold have served More than three million mourners filed through to lift African development. Unfortunately due a temporary mausoleum built at the national to some other internal conditions we do not stadium after the body was laid in state on know, what he had in mind was not Tuesday. implemented," said the former economics Mourners weep openly lecturer. He was responding to perception within intellectual and donor circles that Nyerere's 21 October 1999 63 policy of collectivised "Ujamaa" villages had "Of all the opposition leaders I know, they pulled back Tanzania's development by at have been there for the past 15- 50 years. least a decade. You don't expect them to become presidents "Besides these setbacks, I would continue to but they never leave the leadership even after think that he had a vision and that vision successive electoral defeats." needs to be implemented. Sooner or later we To instil the culture of leadership change in have to go back to these types of visions for Africa, Tapsoba suggested that genuine Africa to get on its own feet," he added. election processes should be introduced in Asked whether it was possible for any African primary schools to enable pupils elect their state to conceive an "indigenous" monitors. development model in this era of structural "We need to start with transparent election adjustment programmes and globalisation, within the classrooms so that pupils know Tapsoba said that in spite of the changed what elections are all about and accept the situation, "Africa will still have to make serious results and the fact that they must leave the (development) choices." elective seat after a certain period." In the He said it will be up to Africans to decide "the absence of this culture, Africa will continue to vision of development we want installed in witness the rise of "life presidents" who re- Africa. I think we are still lagging behind invent themselves by manipulating their because the great debate that everybody is countries' constitutions, for the sake of expecting in order to move Africa forward is perpetuating themselves in the driving seat. not taking place and the democratic process Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. is still monopolised by a few." Distributed via Africa News Online Tapsoba lauded Nyerere for laying the ground (www.africanews.org). For information about for a culture of top leadership transition in the content or for permission to redistribute, Tanzania, in a continent known for coup publish or use for broadcast, contact the d'etats and its long- serving presidents. publisher. Nyerere witnessed two other presidents coming into power after he stepped down in Rwandan TV Airs Nyerere's Funeral 1985. Ceremony Live According to him, changing presidents is still a problem in many other African states due to Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - Rwandan TV began "the combination between modern approach at 0600 GMT Thursday to broadcast live the to leadership and the traditional approach of late former Tanzanian President Julius being a chief, which made it difficult for Nyerere's funeral ceremony, an unusual step leaders in certain countries to understand that for a station which normally begins airing its you can lead for some period and leave room programmes in the afternoon. for others to come." Rwanda declared a 10-day mourning "But, I also think that the way former following Nyerere's death in London 14 presidents were treated discourages other October. incumbent presidents from leaving power It plans to have its own memorial service because, even taking the example of Nyerere, Saturday, the day Nyerere will be buried, at the way he was treated after leaving power Kigali's St. Michael's Cathedral, official was not conducive to anybody else wanting to sources said. leave power. The national radio, which has stopped airing "So, I believe there is definitely a need to start its regular programmes during the mourning looking at the status of former presidents, period, continued to broadcast solemn music which does not exist in many African throughout the day in honour of "Rwanda's countries." friend." According to the IDRC official, clear decisions Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu was are required to assure incumbent leaders on among world leaders to pay their last respects the type of treatment they would get after to Nyerere Thursday in Dar Es Salaam. leaving power. Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. "It does not mean that people have to steal Distributed via Africa News Online and we leave them; but it means that once he (www.africanews.org). For information about is president, he can continue to live with the content or for permission to redistribute, dignity after relinquishing power." publish or use for broadcast, contact the According to Tapsoba, the lack of alternance publisher. also prevails within most African opposition parties as well. 22 October 1999 64

Committed to social development, he advocated his own brand of African socialism 22 October 1999 which united Tanzanians across tribal and religious lines but left the country in economic Guardian ruins. He urged Tanzania to become independent of the developed world, yet under his leadership The world turns out to honour it became one of the most aid-dependent Nyerere countries. But his greatest legacy was his Red velvet on the coffin gun carriage is a rare commitment to nationality and unity in touch of pomp for the Tanzanian leader who Tanzania and Africa as a whole. spurned opulence In his tribute, President Joachim Chissano of David Gough in Dar es Salaam Mozambique spoke of the "enormous" role Friday October 22, 1999 Nyerere played in Mozambique's fight for Representatives from almost every independence, while President Daniel arap government in the world gathered at Moi of Kenya called him a "true pan- Tanzania's national stadium in the capital Dar Africanist". es Salaam yesterday to pay their formal last The green-jacketed troops of the Tanzanian respects at the state funeral of Julius Nyerere, armed forces that 20 years ago marched on the country's first president, who died last Nyerere's orders across the border to week in London. overthrow the dictator of Uganda, Idi Amin, Presidents, royalty and religious leaders filed yesterday marched across the sports field as solemnly through the glass mausoleum where schoolchildren sang the Tanzanian anthem. Nyerere's body lay in state, and paid tribute to Women sat quietly on the stadium's concrete a man universally described as one of Africa's tiers wearing shawls printed with pictures of greatest sons and the father of the Tanzanian Nyerere and bearing the slogan Buriani baba nation. wa taifa - Goodbye father of the nation. Flags He influenced many of the African rulers who fluttered at half mast in a gentle breeze that attended the funeral, Robert Mugabe of did little to relieve the fierce mid-day heat of Zimbabwe, Sam Nujoma of Namibia, Thabo this charming but decrepit Indian ocean city. Mbeki of South Africa and Uganda's Yoweri At the time of his death Nyerere, through the Museveni. auspices of his Nyerere Foundation, was the Princess Anne attended on behalf of the chief facilitator in peace talks aimed at ending Queen, while Peter Hain, minister of state for the six- year civil war in neighbouring Burundi Africa, represented the British government. that has left as many as 200,000 people dead. Thousands of Tanzanians thronged the President Mkapa said of his predecessor: "He terraced steps of the stadium to hear the leaves us a legacy of peace and unity which is tributes to the man commonly known in his admired throughout the world. It is not a homeland as Mwalimu, teacher. legacy we can allow to be squandered." Outside the stadium thousands more, unable Nyerere's death is a huge blow to the Burundi to squeeze inside, thronged the sides of the peace talks, but an official involved insisted street to catch a glimpse of the body before it that there was a "universal commitment was flown to Nyerere's home village of among the delegates to honour Nyerere's Butiama, where he will be buried tomorrow. memory by continuing to work for peace". The US secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, Nyerere's body had been brought to the described Nyerere as "one of the great stadium in a gun carriage bedecked in red leaders of our time", praising his commitment velvet, one of the few touches of pomp in a to humanitarian principles and peace. funeral befitting a man who spurned the Nyerere died at the age of 77 after a long opulence favoured by many African leaders, battle against leukaemia. His wife Maria, other past and present. family members and the Tanzanian president, But yesterday belonged as much to the Benjamin Mkapa, sat next to the body as the people of Tanzania as it did to the dignitaries dignitaries offered condolences. crowding the stadium's presidential box. A British colony until 1961, Tanzania was the There has been a genuine and widespread first east African country to win independence, feeling of enormous loss since news of the and Nyerere its first president. He held the death reached home, and Tanzanians are post for 23 years in a one-party state until deeply saddened. stepping down in 1985. 22 October 1999 65

"I just can't explain my feelings today," said a Yesterday's funeral, after hundreds of thousands of Tanzanian army officer. "He was our beloved Tanzanians filed past his body in a glass structure father and now he is gone, God rest his soul." at the 40,000-seat stadium, was that of a hero. The The irony would not have escaped Nyerere stadium, decorated with green and black drapes, that many of the African leaders sitting side by the Tanzanian flag at half-mast, choirs in cassocks side at the ceremony yes terday are at war and military bands was packed with Tanzanians, with each other. President Isias Aferwerki of many in tears. President Moi said Nyerere was one Eritrea and President Meles Zenawi of of the "African political leaders of my generation Ethiopia, whose countries have been fighting who fought the coloniser and worked together for for 18 months, filed past Nyerere's coffin one the independence and liberty of the continent''. after the other. President Mugabe, now infamous for his regular "You see", said Sadruddin Kassam, a outbursts against Britain, shifted uneasily from his volunteer distributing bottles of water to the neighbour, the Princess Royal. They spoke only to audience, "even in death Mwalimu is trying to greet each other. make peace." Further back, two countries at war were alphabetically close: the Eritrean President, Isayas Independent Afewerki, was seated in front of Ethiopia's Meles Zenawi. They did not speak. The former Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, a Nyerere, flawed fighter of friend of Nyerere, was seated among the colonialism, buried as hero ambassadors, far from the official party of the By Alex Duval Smith, Dar es Salaam country's present leader, Frederick Chiluba, who 22 October 1999 would like to see him stripped of his nationality. Tanzania's late president, Julius Nyerere, was After the speeches, the coffin was taken on a gun yesterday hailed as one of the century's great carriage then flown to Nyerere's home village, freedom fighters by the US Secretary of State, Butiama, by Lake Victoria. There, on Saturday, he Madeleine Albright. She told thousands at his state will be laid to rest, alongside his father. funeral in the national stadium that Nyerere enshrined the same values which inspired her The Times country's independence leaders. But the official celebration for Nyerere, who died Leaders pay their repects to aged 77 in London last week, was filled with contradictions. The man known as Mwalimu (the Nyerere teacher) was praised for setting an example to October 22 1999 African leaders by stepping down voluntarily. AFRICA Next to the podium, the Princess Royal sat BY ROBIN LODGE between two of Africa's longest- serving and most WORLD leaders joined thousands of Tanzanians unrepentant presidents, Robert Mugabe of at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam Zimbabwe and Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya. yesterday to pay their last respects to Julius Between them, they have been in power for 40 Nyerere, former Tanzanian President and one of years, and brought little benefit to their people. Africa's most prominent statesmen. Mrs Albright said: "The United States and Among those filing past the open casket was the Tanzania are far apart in many ways but we are Princess Royal, representing the Queen, and bound together by our belief in human liberty. Presidents Mbeki of South Africa, Mugabe of Mwalimu was every inch a builder who insisted on Zimbabwe, Moi of Kenya and Museveni of complete freedom and peace. He set a standard for Uganda. Madeleine Albright, the American humanitarianism in the world by offering a haven Secretary of State, currently on a tour of Africa, for refugees. He had faith in the power of liberty.'' attended, along with representatives of most of the Nyerere, who died from lymphocytic leukaemia, world's governments. There were also senior ruled Tanzania from 1962 until 1985, after figures from the World Bank, the United Nations independence from Britain. He was a visionary, and other international organisations. and overthrew Idi Amin in Uganda. He believed in In her tribute to the man known as Mwalimu, the African co-operation and backed the Zimbabwean, Swahili word for teacher, Ms Albright described South African and Mozambican independence Nyerere as "a builder and in every sense a great struggles. But at home he suppressed liberty, world leader". ordered forced removals to collective farms and The funeral service, on a blisteringly hot, cloudless imprisoned thousands of opponents of his strict day, began just after 9am, but many of those who Maoist regime. packed the 35,000-capacity stadium had been queuing since before dawn to be sure of a place. 22 October 1999 66

More than three million Tanzanians had filed past Bakili Muluzi of Malawi, Pasteur Bizimungu of the body, which had been lying in state since Rwanda, Issaias Afeworki of Eritrea, Tuesday. Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Pierre Buyoya After the service, Nyerere's body was flown to his of Burundi and Col Assoumani Azali of the home village of Butiama, near Lake Victoria, for a Comoros. private burial. Ethiopia, which has been at war with its neighbour Eritrea since May 1998, was New Vision (Kampala) represented by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who walked directly behind Afeworki in the procession. World Pays Last Respects To Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Mwalimu Nyerere represented the United States. October 22, 1999 "There is no question that Julius Nyerere was Dar Es Salaam, Thursday - The words one of the great leaders of our time," she said freedom, unity, peace and, most of all, in her speech. "He bequeathed to Tanzania a Mwalimu, the Swahili for teacher, echoed proud tradition of unity and tolerance," she across Tanzania again and again Thursday at added. the state funeral of former president Julius Dozens of other delegates from around the Nyerere. world also came to pay their respects, Sixteen heads of state and government -- two including , the Tanzanian of them currently at war with each other -- a secretary general of the Organisation of princess, two princes, dozens of African Unity, a body Nyerere helped to found, plenipotentiaries from across the globe and and a representative of the United Nations. even a rebel leader or two joined thousands of Rebel leaders from the Democratic Republic Tanzanians for the ceremony in the capital's of Congo, such as Wamba dia Wamba, were national stadium, also broadcast nationwide. present. It was in the same stadium that some of the Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa most notable events in Nyerere's life took described his predecessor's funeral as "the place: the formal declaration of independence darkest hour for the nation because under his leadership from Britain in 1961, the Tanzanians loved and revered Mwalimu. union with Zanzibar and Pemba islands to "If he was still with us today, he would ask us form the Republic of Tanzania in 1964 and his to take over his crusade against poverty, stepping down from power -- almost unheard exploitation and discrimination." Moi of in an African leader -- in 1985. described Nyerere as "one of the greatest Nyerere, who died in London on October 14 sons of Africa truly committed to African after a battle with leukaemia, owes his freedom and unity." sobriquet not only to his modest pre-politics "(He) caught the imagination not just of profession but also to his reputation as the African people but of the whole world," he man who founded modern Tanzania, for added. better or for worse, and became mentor to its Ahtisaari said Nyerere's death would "sadden citizens and millions more across Africa. everyone in the world who stands for peace, "We thank God for peace, love and unity in humility and humane development." this country. All this did not come by itself. "He dedicated the whole of his life to Mwalimu was behind this," eulogised promoting equality among all people and Parliamentary Speaker , respect for human dignity," added the Finnish summing up Nyerere's legacy. president, who was once posted as Earlier, as a military band played, world ambassador to Tanzania during the 1970s. leaders filed past Nyerere's body lying in state Nyerere "spent tireless years on the forefront in an air-conditioned glass construction in of the liberation of Africa," said Rawlings, a front of the grandstand, an open casket giving reference to Mwalimu's support of freedom them a final view of his face. struggles not only in his own country but also The guests of honour were: Princess Anne, in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and representing Great Britain, Prince Aga Khan, South Africa. Presidents Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, Robert After the service, as the body left the stadium, Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Joachim Chissano of which tens of thousands of people had visited Mozambique, Yoweri Museveni, Jerry this week, many onlookers wept as the coffin Rawlings of Ghana, Martti Ahtisaari of Finland was driven slowly to the airport. representing the European Union, Frederick Copyright (c) 1999 New Vision. Distributed via Chiluba of Zambia, Sam Nujoma of Namibia, Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For 22 October 1999 67 information about the content or for He said Mwalimu taught Tanzanias that all permission to redistribute, publish or use for people are created equal and they all equally broadcast, contact the publisher. aspire to freedom and dignity. He said Mwalimu dedicated his entire life to serve Museveni Joins World In Mourning others. Nyerere The Speaker of Tanzanian National Assembly Mr. Pius Msekwa gave the eulogy and said October 22, 1999 Mwalimu led the people into forging one By Vision reporter nation. Kampala - President Yoweri Museveni President Moi spoke on behalf of the east yesterday paid condolences to President African leaders and referred to Mwalimu as a Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania on the death of great pan-Africanist whose passing away his friend and comrade in arms Julius signified the end of an era in African and Nyerere. world history. The President also had separate meetings President Ahtissari, who spoke on behalf of with the US Secretary of State, Mrs Madeleine the European Union, said the world had lost a Albright and the French Minister for leader and a statesman who dedicated his Development Co-operation, Mr. Charles whole life to promoting equality and human Josselin. dignity among all people. Museveni and his wife Janet were among President Chissano, chairman of the Southern many leaders who converged at the National African Development Community, said Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam for the state Nyerere is synonymous with the long history funeral. of the liberation of the people of southern They each placed a wreath at the casket, a Africa. He said Mwalimu showed the people of statement issued by the President's Press Southern Africa the way to freedom. Secretary, Hope Kivengere said. President Rawlings said Mwalimu was a After President Mkapa had placed a wreath servant of his people and a revered son of on the coffin, he and his wife Anna joined Mrs. Africa. Other leaders who spoke were Gen Maria Nyerere and her children at the Obasanjo, Mr. Krishna Kant and Mrs. mausoleum to receive leaders' condolences Madelaine Albright. as they paid their last respects. From the stadium, the body was moved slowly Other leaders included Presidents Robert on a red carriage as it started on a journey to Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Daniel arap Moi Musoma airport where it will be received by (Kenya), Joachim Chissano (Mozambique), residents. Thabo Mbeki (South Africa), Issaias Afewerki At Butiama, the body will in the evening be (Eritrea), Frederick Chiluba (Zambia), Gen. taken to Chief Wancagi's residence for the Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Pasteur traditional rituals before proceeding to Bizimungu (Rwanda), and Pierre Buyoya Mwalimu's residence nearby. (Burundi). Chief Japhet Wancagi Nyerere is the chief of Others are Marti Ahtissari (Finland), Sam the Zanaki tribe, the tribe of the late Mwalimu. Nujoma (Namibia), Jerry Rawlings (Ghana), Musoma residents and others from Bakili Muluzi(Malawi), Meles Zenawi neighbouring areas will pay their last respects (Ethiopia), former presidents Ketumile Masire today before burial on Saturday. of Botswana, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, the Meanwhile, a funeral service will be held at Vice President of the Seychelles James Alix Rubaga cathedral today at 11.00 am, a Michel and His Highness the Aga Khan. statement from the President's Office said, The British Princess Royal Anne, the Crown yesterday. It said the Government is making Prince of the Netherlands Prince William arrangements to send a delegation to attend Alexander, the Vice President of India Krishna the private burial at Butiama, Musoma in Kant, the OAU Secretary general Salim Tanzania on Saturday. Ahmed Salim and the President of the 54th Copyright (c) 1999 New Vision. Distributed via UN General assembly Mr. Theo Ben Gurirab. Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For Other delegations were led by ministers or information about the content or for government officials. permission to redistribute, publish or use for In a moving address to the nation, President broadcast, contact the publisher. Mkapa referred to Nyerere as a man who was well loved and highly respected by the people of Tanzania and Africa as a whole. 22 October 1999 68

The Monitor (Kampala) and principles, even advising them on how to win and maintain the support of the Congolese people. Big farewell for Nyerere Although Nyerere's body won't be buried until October 22, 1999 Saturday, this occasion marked the official By Murray Oliver state funeral service for the father of Dar Es-Salaam - With a blast of trumpets and Tanzanian independence. a flurry of speeches, Africa said 'goodbye' An elaborate glass house close to the center yesterday to Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. of the stadium enclosed the casket containing The event sometimes seemed as much a Mwalimu's remains. Nyerere's face was welcome-home as an occasion of last rites. plainly visible through a plexi-glass opening Troops in full dress uniforms marched past on the lid. the viewing stands while their comrades For 24 hours prior to the official service, played martial music on brass instruments ordinary Tanzanians had been given the and children dressed in colourful costumes opportunity to enter the glass structure and sang together in a choir. see Nyerere one final time. More than 3/4 of Africa's leaders --including Almost a million people took the opportunity, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni-- came to creating a touching scene as long lines Tanzania's National Stadium to pay their final weaved through the dark stadium and out into respects to the man American Secretary of the parking lot. State Madeline Albright called, "one of the People formed impromptu choirs, singing great leaders of our time." happily as lines stretched well down the Since many of the Heads of State of Africa highway, and into the far-off darkness. Men, owe their jobs to Nyerere's life-time support of women and children all dressed in their best anti-colonial liberation movements, it wasn't clothing. As they passed Mwalimu's casket, surprising to hear the tone of gratitude in their some would drop flowers or other tokens of speech-making. appreciation. Others would speak a final few Jerry Rawlings of Ghana called Mwalimu, words to the still figure, while still others would "one of Africa's greatest sons." salute, cross themselves, or kneel briefly in Nigeria's Obusanjo said Nyerere had become silent prayer. "an icon at home, a patriarch at home, and a Mobile tent-hospitals had been set up to care patriot in Africa." for the many who were overcome by Others used the opportunity of remembering exhaustion or emotion. One room was set Nyerere to issue a challenge to their aside solely for the distraught cries of men presidential colleagues. The president of and women who could not bear seeing the Mozambique noted that, for Nyerere, face of their dead leader. "independence meant more than the flying of All the while, Nyerere's speeches played in flags over our countries. Mwalimu's dream of Swahili over the loud- speakers, his benign liberation went much further." image hanging everywhere. And in the main eulogy, Kenya's president By daylight, most ordinary Tanzanians had left Daniel arap Moi called on those attending the the stadium so that the dignitaries could have service to complete Mwalimu's dream of their ceremony. Empty seats were available uniting East Africa. throughout the stadium as most Tanzanians In a sad irony, some of the leaders sitting chose to watch this official gathering on together in the VIP stand were men Nyerere television. had been unable to bring together while he Television in South Africa also broadcast the was still alive. The heads of state of Ethopia event live. and Eritrea both attended the ceremony, Mwalimu's body will be laid to rest in his despite the bitter war raging between their two remote home village of Butiama. His body will countries. lie near to those of his parents, although a The representatives from the Democratic large area has been left where a Republic of Congo sat nearby the commemorative statue can be erected in the representatives of the Congolese Rally for future. Democracy (DRC), including the heads of The ceremony is not being called private, both the Goma and factions. although most Tanzanians are respecting the In an informal discussion before the service, rumoured wishes of Nyerere's family to Kisangani leader Prof. Wamba dia Wamba restrict the number of people coming to the claimed Nyerere had actually expressed burial. support for the Kisangani faction's policies 22 October 1999 69

Copyright (c) 1999 The Monitor - Kampala. and the ability of nations to achieve Distributed via Africa News Online sustainable development. (www.africanews.org). For information about minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and a the content or for permission to redistribute, large African National Congress delegation, publish or use for broadcast, contact the Mbeki was accompanied by several Pan publisher. Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) leaders including party leader Stanley Mogoba Business Day (Johannesburg) Copyright (c) 1999 Business Day. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). Tanzania And The World Say Their For information about the content or for Farewells To Nyerere permission to redistribute, publish or use for October 22, 1999 broadcast, contact the publisher. By Stephen Laufer Dar Es Salaam - The presence of The Times of Zambia (Lusaka) democratically elected presidents from SA, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe at Julius Nyerere was a great African Nyerere's funeral was testimony to the former Tanzanian head of state's commitment to the statesman - Chiluba cause of African liberation, Nigerian President October 22, 1999 Olesegun Obasanjo said yesterday. by Times Reporter Speaking at Tanzania's National Stadium, Lusaka - President Chiluba has said that the where the country said its public farewell to its funeral accorded to the late former Tanzanian founding president, Obasanjo praised President Julius Nyerere was that befitting the Nyerere's support for the liberation struggles great African statesman. Speaking on arrival which ended colonial rule in Africa and from the Tanzanian yesterday, where he apartheid. attended the funeral, Mr. Chiluba said the He was joined in his tribute by speakers from multitudes present signified the status of the the US, Mozambique, Kenya, Ghana, India late Dr Nyerere. and Finland, as well as Tanzanian President He said Dr Nyerere led a very simple life Benjamin Mokapa, who spoke entirely in despite his achievements as one of Swahili in an apparent attempt to reach out to Tanzania's first graduates, first president of a nation suffering a genuine sense of loss and Tanganyika and first president of the United grief. Republic of Tanzania. Mr. Chiluba said Dr Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Nyerere did not only play the role of peace Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, said mediator in the Burundi conflict after his Nyerere had been "a great freedom fighter" retirement but was also greatly involved in the who dedicated his life to equality and human Democratic Republic of Congo peace dignity. process. Nyerere had "thought globally", focusing on "Dr Nyerere thought Tanzania owed him peace, stability and humane development in nothing. He believed he owed the people of Africa and beyond, he said. Tanzania and Africa something." In Kitwe, the In a particularly personal speech, partly in Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) Swahili which he learned while he was in exile conveyed its condolences to the Tanzanian in Tanzania, Mozambican President Joaquim Federation of Trade Union (TFTU) on the Chissano said his country had lost a father death of Dr Nyerere. too. ZCTU deputy general secretary Alfred He said that, under the leadership of Nyerere, Mudenda said that his union received the all of Tanzania's citizens had made sacrifices death of Dr Nyerere with great shock. He said so that Mozambique could be liberated. ZCTU would remember Dr Nyerere for his Tanzania's economy could have been tireless efforts towards strengthening the stronger today without those sacrifices. labour movement in Tanzania. Nyerere's slogans on freedom and unity had Dr Nyerere also contributed greatly to the been "transmitted deep into the hearts of all establishment of the Organisation of African Tanzanians and Mozambicans", he said. Trade Union Unity (OATUU) through theOAU. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said "As you put the great son of Africa to rest, the the world owed him an immense debt. His workers of Zambia shall be with you in spirit," bequest was a faith in the power of freedom he said.

22 October 1999 70

Copyright (c) 1999 Times of Zambia. struggle against all oppression and his Distributed via Africa News Online support for African liberation movements." (www.africanews.org). For information about "He worked tirelessly to make Africa the content or for permission to redistribute, independent and self-sufficient," he added. publish or use for broadcast, contact the "May his thinking and ideals inspire all publisher. countries and peoples in their efforts to resolve crisis and strengthen peace and Panafrican News Agency stability." Chissano recalled Nyerere's simplicity, promising: "We will try to follow Nyerere's Tanzanians Pay Homage To examples under the banner of freedom and Nyerere On Eve Of Burial unity." October 22, 1999 Rawlings said Nyerere commanded deep By Nicodemus Odhiambo respect from his contemporaries in Africa and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - the world because of his passion and clarity Tanzanians in their thousands are Friday with which he presented his ideas. paying their last respect to their founding Obasanjo said Nyerere would always be president, Julius Nyerere, on the eve of his remembered for the good work he did at burial in Butiama, his home village, Saturday. home and for the world. Nyerere's body was flown to the area India's Vice President Kant described Nyerere Thursday after a tear-jerking state funeral at as "one of the world's most influential the national stadium in Dar Es salaam, statesman," who articulated concern for the attended by 16 heads of state from Africa and developing world. Europe. Nyerere died at the age of 77 of chronic Those given the chance to eulogise Nyerere leukaemia 14 October at St. Thomas Hospital were Presidents Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, in London. Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, Joachim Chissano of Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Mozambique and Jerry Rawlings of Ghana Distributed via Africa News Online and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (www.africanews.org). For information about and India's Vice President Krishan Kant. the content or for permission to redistribute, Albright described Nyerere as the driving publish or use for broadcast, contact the force behind the Southern African publisher. Development Community, and the man who stood up to the tyranny of former Ugandan Nyerere Provided Haven For Late President Idi Amin. Banda's Opponents "There can be no question that Julius Nyerere October 22, 1999 was every inch a builder and one of the great By Raphael Tenthani leaders of our time," she said. Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - President Bakili She recalled that Nyerere was a man of great Muluzi has said Malawians will never forget faith in the power of freedom and faith in the late former Tanzanian President Julius liberty of the people of Tanzania and East Nyerere's role in sheltering opponents of the Africa to achieve progress. former dictatorial regime in Malawi. "This was his vision for Tanzania and for In a moving eulogy on his return Thursday Africa. As we take comfort ourselves with the night from the Neyere's funeral in Dar es certainty that his spirit will forever soar with Salaam, he said Nyerere saved a lot of us, let us by the example of his life renew our Malawians from persecution. strength, and our faith in the future of this "Nyerere played host to hundreds of Malawi region, and of humanity," she said. political refugees who ran away from the one- Moi said the passing of Nyerere represented party dictatorship" of the late President the passing of an era for Tanzania, East Kamuzu Banda, he added. Africa and indeed the African continent. During the early 70s, members of the Jehovah "We in East Africa have now the challenge to Witness, a radical religious sect, fell out with continue the unity Mwalimu has left behind," Banda with their apolitical stance. he said, adding that "Mwalimu's efforts in The sect refused to participate in any political ending the Burundi conflict should not come to duties, including paying taxes or buying party nought." membership cards. The Banda regime seized Ahtisaari said Nyerere was a great freedom fighter, who will be remembered for "his 22 October 1999 71 property belonging to members of the sect and banished them from Malawi. Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Some of them fled into Mozambique, Europe Distributed via Africa News Online and America while others took shelter in (www.africanews.org). For information about Tanzania where Nyerere risked Banda's wrath the content or for permission to redistribute, by accepting them. publish or use for broadcast, contact the "So it was important that I personally go (to publisher. his funeral) and say 'thank you'," Muluzi said. It was not only members of the Jehovah's Witnesses whom Nyerere provided shelter. Fugitive member of Banda's cabinet, who fell out with him in the first cabinet crisis in 1964, notably the education minister, William Murray , sought asylum in the Tanzania. Human rights activist Vera and her late husband, Orton Chirwa, also have a lot to thank Nyerere for. When Banda accused them of plotting to militarily take over government "he actually gave us a house," she said in her eulogy.

Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact the publisher.

Downpour, Wind, Mark Arrival Of Nyerere's Body October 22, 1999 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - A heavy downpour and strong gales of wind Thursday afternoon marked the arrival of the body of former Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere at his ancestral home of Butiama, a 32 km off the shores of Lake Victoria. The cortege entered the village at 7:08 p.m. (1608 GMT) to the wails of mourners who had braced both the wind and rain, in massive numbers. The casket containing Nyerere's body was later taken to the home of a clan elder, chief Japhet Wanzagi, for tribal rites. Tension ran high with tens of mourners collapsing as thousands wailed uncontrollably. The body had been transported by road from Musoma, where it arrived by air from Dar Es Salaam, accompanied by Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye, Nyerere's widow, Maria, and other family members. Hundreds of people had burst out into mourning the moment the plane touched down at the Musoma airstrip. And as the cortege headed for Butiama, thousands came out of the villages to mourn their founding father, who will be buried Saturday. 23 October 1999 72

Tanzania is a huge, empty country with a vibrant trading tradition on the coast and a poor interior. 23 October 1999 The south-west has potentially good farmland but is cursed by drought. As keen on equality as on Economist economic growth, Mr Nyerere felt that, if Tanzanians were to be poor, they should at least be poor together. He was against handouts. Yet Julius Nyerere national self-reliance had a puzzling consequence: INDEX TERMS |obituary;Obituaries|Nyerere, aid donors so admired it that Tanzanians were Julius; DATE 23-Oct-99 WORDS 828 soon getting more aid per head than any other Julius Kambarage Nyerere, former president of Africans. As elsewhere, much of it was wasted or Tanzania, died on October 14th, aged 77 stolen. Julius Nyerere Mr Nyerere did not want socialism from above on HE BORE the title of mwalimu or teacher. But the Soviet model. Instead he tried to foster a spirit perhaps the clearest lesson of his life was that of of local community—ujamaa in Kiswahili, unintended consequences. A deeply principled meaning family togetherness. People were man, Julius Nyerere was that rare—and not always encouraged to move into villages where schools fortunate—sort of idealist who had a chance to put and medicine were more available and where they his ideals into practice. His philosophy was a mix could work together on communal fields. of Fabian socialism and Catholic social teaching. He kept the Soviet Union at arms length but took He was a preacher as much as a politician. help from Mao’s China. In practice, a mixture of On Tanganyika’s independence from Britain in ujamaa and top-down socialism was imposed. 1961, Mr Nyerere became prime minister and was Land was nationalised and huge state institutions later president. In 1964 the new nation absorbed controlled the economy from factories to shops. Zanzibar to become Tanzania. He ruled until 1985. An army of petty officials bullied people into No one questioned his sincerity, and his integrity communal villages. was widely admired. Unlike many African leaders Tanzanians were loth to share land. Villages were of his generation he lived simply and was not often in bad places. What’s more, this social corrupt. He gave Tanzania stability and unity. engineering coincided with the 1970s rise in oil Under his one-party rule it was politically peaceful prices, when prices for Tanzania’s own and it was spared civil war. commodities were low. Nor did the neighbourhood His social experiments, on the other hand, drove sit still: in 1979 Mr Nyerere sent his army into the country towards economic ruin. Though honest Uganda to remove Idi Amin, a well-meaning himself, his moral example was not enough to venture that did Uganda little good in the end and prevent the widespread theft of foreign aid. A finally bankrupted Tanzania. believer in justice, he nonetheless had political Compared to some of his neighbours, Mr Nyerere opponents and people accused of “economic” was an angel. But Tanzania was a one-party state crimes held without trial, some of them for many from 1965 until 1992. In theory, openness was years. encouraged. In practice those who spoke out were He was born in 1922, one of 26 children of a poor locked up under draconian presidential powers. chief from a small community near Lake Victoria. Although late in life Mr Nyerere did acknowledge He went to school, barefoot and wearing an old that his socialist experiments had failed, his piece of cloth. He won a place at the country’s idealism never left him. In retirement, he even only secondary school and was the first person tried to reform the ruling party. Finding it inert and from Tanganyika to go to a British university. ineradicably corrupt, he changed his mind about On return, he took to teaching but was soon caught one-party rule. up in the nationalist ferment sweeping Africa. Admirers will say that Julius Nyerere was too Independence for Tanganyika, a former German idealistic for this world and that bad colony mandated to Britain after the first world implementation does not negate his dream of war, came without struggle. Mr Nyerere’s equality. To critics, his moral approach to politics Tanganyika African National Union was the only masked an arrogance and a refusal to listen to nationalist movement and the British encouraged those with shrewder views of what was best for his independence. Mr Nyerere was their man. (He country. even offered delay in the hope that Tanganyika Tanzanians abandoned ujamaa as soon as they might join a federation with Uganda and Kenya.) could. Yet Mr Nyerere himself remained When two years later he fled a threatened coup, extraordinarily popular. His policies had failed, but British soldiers arrived to restore him to power. people admired his sincerity and his ascetic life. Surprising to the last His warm and engaging style—in conversation and from a platform—was irresistible. Few could 23 October 1999 73 remain immune to the burst of laughter which Government of Zanzibar, as it is still known preceded his musings—for example, on whether today. poor Tanzanian peasants needed electric The union faced one of its strongest tests in toothbrushes. He was a magnificent teacher: 1993, when Zanzibar, which is predominantly articulate, questioning, stimulating, caring. He Muslim, joined the Organisation of Islamic should never have been given charge of an Countries, but later withdrew following economy. protests from the union parliament.

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Guardian The Road Ends For One Of Africa's Greatest Sons Tanzania's unity weakens without October 23, 1999 Nyerere by Nicodemus Odhiambo Rotimi Sankore in Zanzibar Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Dr Julius Saturday October 23, 1999 Nyerere, the first President of Tanzania, was interred Saturday at his home village of The death of Tanzania's first president has Butiama in northern Tanzania amid solemn already begun to accelerate the restructuring pomp and ceremony. of the United Republic of Tanzania, made up The casket containing his body was lowered of mainland Tanganyika and the Arab and in the grave at exactly 0935 GMT Muslim island of Zanzibar. accompanied by full military honours, Officials in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar say including a final 21-gun salute. that this is inevitable, as the late Julius The burial was preceded by a requiem mass Nyerere was the "superglue" that held the at the 400-seat Catholic church which the late union together, despite strong challenges leader helped build in the village just 100 from both the mainland and Zanzibar in the metres from his home. past decade. The casket was then transported to the burial Zanzibaris increasingly identify with their site at Mwitongo, 30 metres away from the trading partners in the Gulf states and resent late Nyerere's newly-built residence. the control of the mainland, while mainlanders He is buried 20 metres from where his father, have no interest in the fractious politics of Chief Burito Nyerere, and mother Christina Zanzibar and its sister island, Pemba. Mgaya Nyang'ombe, were laid to rest. Earlier this year the government of Zanzibar His funeral was witnessed by Presidents initiated a six-month consultation which Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, and Salmin stopped just short of an official referendum. Amour of Zanzibar. Although the ensuing white paper is yet to be Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who released, it is widely believed that most once gave Nyerere a few heads of Ankole people favour establishing separate cattle to rear on his farm, was also present, governments for the mainland and Zanzibar, and so was former Zambian leader Kenneth and a federal government. Kaunda, a long-time ally in the liberation The late president had on several occasions struggles of southern Africa. criticised those advocating a tripod federal Wife of former South African President, Graca structure, insisting that it would undermine the Machel, was at the funeral flanked by union. Nyerere's widow. The call for three governments is the one Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi was issue on which the ruling Chama Cha represented at the occasion by his Foreign Mapinduzi (CCM) party and the opposition Affairs Minister Bonaya Godana. Zanzibar (CUF) may agree. The OAU Secretary General, Salim Ahmed The CUF favours a more radical approach to Salim, represented the continental the restructuring, which has left it denying organisation of which Nyerere was a founding accusations of separatism; the CCM is more president. cautious. Nyerere died 14 September at St. Thomas Tanganyika, as the mainland was formerly Hospital in London of chronic lymphocytic known, merged with Zanzibar on April 26 leukaemia. 1964, three months after the that produced the Revolutionary 23 October 1999 74

Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Dr Nyerere is still revered in Tanzania as the Distributed via Africa News Online "father of the nation" after leading the country (www.africanews.org). For information about to independence. the content or for permission to redistribute, The government has declared 30 days of publish or use for broadcast, contact the mourning throughout the country. publisher.

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Nyerere laid to rest Thousands lined up to see Dr Nyerere's body Tanzania's founding father Julius Nyerere has been buried near the humble house where he was born 77 years ago. Nearly 500,000 people from the surrounding area packed into Butiama, 1,400km (875 miles) north-west of the capital Dar es Salaam, for Saturday's ceremony. Mourners wailed and several fainted as the former president's coffin was lowered into a roughly-dug grave. Dr Nyerere ruled Tanzania from 1962 until 1985, when he voluntarily stepped down in. He died of leukaemia in London last week, and his state funeral was held on Thursday in Dar es Salaam. As six army generals lowered the coffin, a trumpet played the Last Retreat. President Benjamin Mkapa joined Dr Nyerere's family and close friends in tossing fistfuls of soil onto the coffin. After soldiers had sealed the grave, Dr Nyerere's widow, Maria Magie, knelt and laid her hand on the concrete slab on which she then placed a floral wreath. The burial was broadcast live on radio and television. 30 days of mourning The ceremony combined tribal and Roman Catholic traditions. Dr Nyerere was buried next to the graves of his parents. He was laid on his side, facing east. His younger brother, Jackton Nyambereka Nyerere, said after the funeral: "The place where we bury him will now be his city. "We decided to bury him facing east according to our custom. Unlike our father Burito, who was buried sitting down according to tradition, he wanted to be buried like a normal person." In a grave-side eulogy, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni urged Tanzanians to do everything to preserve the peace and unity that "did not come out of the blue, but were products of Nyerere's hard work". 24 October 1999 75

Mwalimu's widow Maria delicately placing a small flower upon the top of the tomb, then 24 October 1999 nearly collapsing in grief. Other dignitaries then proceeded to the graveside to lay their The Monitor - Kampala own wreathes and pay their final respects. Unlike the official state funeral, this ceremony was relatively simple. Few African leaders Mandela to visit Nyerere's grave attended, although Ugandan President Yoweri October 24, 1999 Museveni and his wife Janet were there, By Murray Oliver placing a wreath on the grave with their own Kampala - At exactly 12 o'clock noon on hands. Museveni delivered a tribute for Saturday, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere's body was Mwalimu following the funeral. He praised gently lowered into the ground by an honour Nyerere's accomplishments as an anti- guard of Tanzanian soldiers, closing an era colonialist, and as a leader of his country. which first began more than forty years ago Some noted the absence of South Africa's with Nyerere's early struggles for Tanganyika former president Nelson Mandela, who many independence. feel to be alongside Nyerere as one of the The moment also capped six dramatic days of greatest African statesmen of the 20th mourning by Tanzanians, beginning last century. Saturday's ceremony was attended Monday with the arrival of Nyerere's body in by Mandela's wife, Graca Machel. She told Dar es Salaam. Nyerere died of leukaemia in journalist that her husband was exhausted London on October 14. and in fragile health. Mandela had indicated to Saturday's burial service was held in her that he would die of shock if he saw the Mwalimu's remote village of Butiama. Nyerere face of Mwalimu in a coffin. Mandela has had requested his body to be buried near his promised to visit the grave as soon as he parents, although some insisted that the tomb feels emotionally able. of the Father of the Nation should lie closer to Tanzania's largest city. Butiama is located in Copyright (c) 1999 The Monitor - Kampala. northern Tanzania, almost one hour's drive Distributed via Africa News Online down an unpaved road from the nearest (www.africanews.org). For information about airstrip. the content or for permission to redistribute, Tanzania's four television broadcasters joined publish or use for broadcast, contact the forces and carried the event live by satellite. publisher. Yet despite the long distances, hundreds of thousands attended Saturday's services. If Nyerere's not so sweet side possible, these mourners were even more passionate than those at other ceremonies October 24, 1999 around the nation. Stretchers travelled in a By Siraje Lubwama constant stream ferrying overwrought men Kampala - Mwalimu Julius Kambarage and women away from the funeral site. Nyerere who died on October 14 in London, Butiama's modest Roman Catholic Church was buried at his Butiama village yesterday, was filled to overflowing, while many finally closing one of the most high profile thousands more waited silently outdoors. political careers in Africa. Tanzania's Cardinal Polycarp Pengo President Yoweri Museveni led a delegation conducted the ceremony in front of Nyerere's to Tanzania to join millions of people to see coffin draped in the Tanzanian flag. off the great African statesman. Mwalimu's body was afterward carried to its The little man, called Mwalimu or teacher is nearby resting-place by a military honour highly regarded as one of the architects of guard. closer East Afrucab co-operation, and has As hatless soldiers placed Mwalimu's coffin been praised all over for relinquishing power into a concrete sarcophagus, an army band in 1985. played "The Last Post" and a 21-gun salute But it's doubtful whether former Ugandan roared from nearby cannon-- a tribute by the dictator Idi Amin shed a single tear or Tanzanian armed forces to their first eulogised Nyerere. The former Ugandan Commander-in-Chief. Tanzanian president president will forever be remembered for Benjamin William Mkapa tossed a ceremonial telling the Tanzanian that, "I would marry you handful of dirt onto the coffin, and then an if you were a woman," during one of their 70s enormous concrete lid was placed over top of meetings. the tomb. A tender moment followed with Tensions between the two neighbours came to a head in October 1978 when one of 24 October 1999 76

Amin's notorious commanders Lt. Col. Juma demote Museveni and the all powerful Brig. Ali alias Butabika sent his brother-in-law into David Oyite-Ojok (RIP). That was Binaisa's Tanzania on a spying mission. end. The spy was nabbed by Tanzanian security, Internal Affairs minister Paulo Muwanga (RIP) and Amin ordered troops to cross into seized power as chairman of Military Tanzania in retaliation. Commission. He was deputised by Museveni Nyerere's invasion of Uganda with rebels in a country where insecurity was getting out (including Museveni's FRONASA) was a of hand. Sometime in June 1980, Dr Paul direct result of this border clash. Ssemogerere, then interim chairman of the When Amin was about to fall in 1979, DP, called members of the interim committee Ugandans in exile gathered at Moshi and to strategise for the December elections. The formed the Uganda National Liberation Front meeting took place at Evaristo Nyanzi's home (UNLF) and they elected Prof. Yusuf Kironde at Lubaga. Lule. It was resolved that a DP delegation After only 68 days, Nyerere ordered his armed comprising Ssemogerere, Francis Bwengye, forces still in Uganda to assist the pro-Obote DP's Secretary General, Nyanzi, Benjamin elements in cabinet and in UNLA oust Lule. Obonyo, John Kabaireho and Henry The TPDF detained him in State House at Ssewanyana-Ssemo's private secretary, Entebbe and kept him there incommunicado should meet Nyerere about the elections. until he was deported to Tanzania from where Paulo Muwanga provided them with a he found his way to London where he lived presidential jet. until his death. The DP demanded for their ministers in Nyerere was now bent on using his troops to Muwanga's cabinet increased from three to reinstate Obote to power. seven, that Tanzanian troops should take over According to Henry Kyemba's book: A State security of both Kampala and Entebbe of Blood, when Obote was toppled by Amin in claiming UNLA was both pro- 1971 while in Singapore, his delegation which Obote/Muwanga. passed through Kenya aboard an East African But the DP was divided over whether to Airways DC-9 got vehicles with the Ugandan believe that Nyerere was genuine or not. presidential flag and received in Dar es Previously, Obote's elements in the Military Salaam by Rashid Kawawa and taken directly Commission had not only given the key and to Nyerere's official residence. important ministries to the UPC supporters, Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa replaced Lule, in a but also monopolised Radio Uganda, UTV, cabinet where Museveni, was minister of state The Uganda Times, as part of their for Defence. Museveni had been one of those propaganda machines. who had been instrumental deposing Lule and The DP (through Francis Bwengye and its bringing in Binaisa. national organiser Zachary Olum) agreed with In his book The agony of Uganda, Francis Museveni's UPM (through Jaberi Bindandi Bwengye says that while at a Church of Ssali, then minister of local government, Matia Uganda gathering at Mitooma, Bushenyi, in Kasaija and Kirunda Kivejinja) to demand for , Museveni revealed that it some minimum standards from the Military was him and some few anti-Lule elements in Commission, or else they boycott the the UNLA who had persuaded Binaisa to elections. become the new president. At this point, Muwanga began lobbying Surprisingly again, when Binaisa fell in May Nyerere who was believed to be the ultimate 1980, the same Museveni publicly castigated authority in Ugandan at the time. He offered a him about being unfit to be head of state and small jet, the King Air to take a delegation accused him of being a political joker, who comprising Ssemogerere, the author Dom had turned State House into a business Baruku, Alex Waibale, Dr. Benjamin Obonyo clearing house where businessmen and and Joseph Byamugisha, to Dar es Salaam. women took their foreign exchange It is reported that after Waibale had put his applications forms for him to sign. case on the role of the NCC among others, Nyerere seemed to believe that Binaisa was Bwengye stressed the need for Muwalimu to just warming State House chair for Obote. To ensure a free and fair election. the surprise of Obote, and his mentor It was further reported that as Nyerere was Nyerere, Binaisa was very much his own man still recalling Bwengye's name, he condemned who even decided to organise elections under him for threatening civil resistance and the UNLF Umbrella. To Nyerere, this was incitement of DP followers. unforgivable. It didn't help that Binaisa wanted 24 October 1999 77

Nyerere then condemned Museveni in the The Nation. bittiest terms: "Ka Museveni kanafikiri ni kanaani? Kama kanaleeta kifuwa tutakasagaaga, [who does Remembering a great son of Africa Museveni think he is? If he brings force, we [Analysis] shall thrash him]," Nyerere said. He told the October 24, 1999 Uganda delegation that aside from the joint By Ciugu Mwagiru threat to boycott the elections, Museveni had Nairobi - I think continually of those who were written to him that Tanzania should assure truly great; the names of those who in their him that if he decided to take over power from lives fought for life; who wore at their hearts Muwanga, the TPDF would not intervene. the fire's centre... - Stephen Spender Muwalimu said that if they boycotted the (American writer). As the rivulets born of the registration exercise they would be torrents of tears that have flowed from the encouraging Obote's UPC to take power eyes of Tanzanians for the last 10 days turned unchallenged and that he would order his into raging rivers during yesterday's funeral of troops to protect the government. the man they revered as the Father of the He also condemned Lule and called him all Nation, the world practically stood still. sorts of names according to one of those who I marvelled as I recalled the luck I had had to attended. have met - less than a year ago - the man As the polling date drew near, the DP referred to by Zambian President Frederick delegation on November 14, 1980 travelled to Chiluba as "one of Africa's most brilliant and Dar to meet Nyerere over their conditions. illustrious sons, a champion and a great Ssemogerere was afraid of travelling with a leader." Indeed, I marvelled in retrospect at radical so he selected moderates like Dr. the electrifying aura of one of the denizens of Joseph Byamugisha, Henry Ssewanyana, Dr. the African - nay world - political scene in Benjamin Obonyo, Cyeperiano Isiko, recent history. Bwengye and Prof. Fred Ssempebwa. Meeting Mwalimu, shaking hands and having Paul Muwanga's team which had David Oyite a quick chat with him was a memorable Ojok, Dr. Moses Apiriga and Picho Owiny was experience. Learning later that during that already in Dar es Salaam. brief meeting his slight frame was being Muwanga's team returned to Uganda that quietly ravaged by leukaemia diagnosed a evening and the Military Commission year before was devastating. chairman said he and Ssemogerere had But what really touched me was the agreed that there would be four ballot boxes knowledge - again in retrospect - that despite instead of one (a box for each of DP, UPC, Mwalimu's awareness of the fatal nature of UPM and CP) provided there were the disease that he probably knew would safeguards. sooner or later fell him, he continued to defy When Ssemogerere and his team met both fate and the advice of his doctors, who pressmen at Entebbe they didn't say anything, must have insisted that he urgently go for which went a long way to confirm Muwanga's treatment. allegations. But then such courage was the mark of a man At DP rally at Zana, Ssemogerere supporters who tirelessly focused on a matter at hand as were eager to hear him deny the Muwanga if it was the last thing he would ever do. When talk of four ballot boxes. But his team only I met him, he was directing all his energies to said "we shall go to State House." the Burundi peace negotiations, which have Of course come December 10, 1980, they been going on for nearly two years in the didn't. Many people think Nyerere helped northern Tanzanian town of Arusha. Obote to a massive but rigged electoral Meeting the man, working for the Mwalimu victory. Nyerere Foundation and being able to So as we mourn Mwalimu Nyerere we should observe his efforts at reconciling the remember that his "other side" which made a Burundians also allowed me to pore into his few of these revolutionaries. personality and begin to see truly the grit that he was made of. Among Mwalimu's most Copyright (c) 1999 The Monitor - Kampala. outstanding features was his tiny frame Distributed via Africa News Online contrasted starkly with the greatness of the (www.africanews.org). For information about man in both political and intellectual terms. the content or for permission to redistribute, If Tanzanians have in recent times felt publish or use for broadcast, contact the orphaned, it is probably because Nyerere publisher. united them and gave them national pride, 24 October 1999 78 while at the same time hardly asking for any the bugles sounded for the late Julius reward and maintaining a sometimes Kambarage Nyerere, millions watching his irritatingly self-effacing demeanour. final send-off on television screens all over the Watching him go about his paces during the world must have brought out their hankies as Burundi negotiations, I was often touched by they mourned a man who was not only an the way he would humbly chat with ordinary icon in his own country, but had become a people, eschew intricate personal security legend in his own lifetime and won the respect details and generally appear extremely down and admiration of all those who value human to earth, going even to the extent of sharing dignity and justice, which the man adoringly public toilets with delegates to the talks and known as mwalimu (The Teacher) dedicated his own ordinary workers, including this writer. his life to. A man I heard publicly stating that he never However much Nyerere might have eschewed gets angry, Mwalimu would also go out of his pomp and pageantry despite his elevated way to ensure the comfort of those around station in life, opting instead for the humility him, whatever their station in life. During that and self-effacement that became his brief encounter with him, he wondered why an trademark, his burial at Butiama, the village of American colleague called John Ellis and his birth on the Western shores of Lake myself had not been offered some tea. This Victoria yesterday, riveted world attention on was despite the fact that Mwalimu himself had that remote part of the world. not been offered any either! The same kind of global attention had been Talking later to those who had known him for focused on London's Westminster Cathedral a long time, I was to learn about Mwalimu's when a service for the departed great son of gregarious nature, as well as the generous Africa was held on Friday last week. It was spirit that those around him always noted probably lost to many that, had Nyerere been when he passed around his cigarettes (he a Briton, his remains would have been laid to gave up smoking in later years), as well as the rest with full honours amongst the departed bottles of Ndovu beer, a few of which he liked heroes of the land at the nearby Westminster to sip from time to time. Abbey. It is no wonder that those who had the But, alas, Nyerere was neither a Briton nor privilege to savour Mwalimu's humanity, was he given to aspiring for the unnecessarily amongst them the villagers in Butiama with ceremonial, and had expressed his wish to be whom he would regularly play the traditional buried at Butiama close to the peasants game of bao, should so violently be wracked amongst whom he spent the later years of his by the pain of imagining Tanzania without life, rather than in a grandiose mausoleum far him. As a former Tanzanian university don put away from the graves of his ancestors. it - expressing a view shared by many Now those who had gathered to pay their last Tanzanians uncertain about the future of their respects to Julius Caesar in the country - Mwalimu was virtually an institution Shakespearean play of the same title, which that Tanzania could hardly do without during the literary Nyerere had translated into these tempestuous times. Kiswahili as Juliasi Kaisari, alongside "He is a man that Tanzania needs badly," said Mabepari wa Venisi (The Merchants of the don just days before Mwalimu's death. Venice), were reminded that they had come to "He has always acted as a restraining force, bury their departed Emperor, not to praise instituting checks and balances that have kept him. Tanzania's political class aware that they had But, as it turned out yesterday during his final to avoid any excesses that could be to the send-off at Butiama, those gathered there had detriment of the country." turned up to praise him rather than to bury Unfortunately, the indomitable Mwalimu, who him. Ironically, the torrents of praise poured had bravely and stubbornly dared and for a out for Mwalimu from around the world would whole year apparently ignored the terminal probably have thoroughly embarrassed the disease that he probably knew would man known for his extraordinarily humble eventually kill him, had to eventually accept demeanour, as would have the glory, laud and that the end was nigh, and that the great honour that marked his solemn funeral. beyond was beckoning, even as the tears and But - to borrow the words of the old poet - tribulations of wary Tanzanians praying for his death shall certainly have no dominion over a life seemed to, alas, be unable to rend off the man widely eulogised as a giant among men hand of fate. and an outstanding philosopher king the But during Mwalimu's funeral yesterday, the memory of whose deeds will definitely assure Tanzanians were not weeping alone, for as his immortality. 24 October 1999 79

If Tanzanians, Africans, in general, and Julius Kambarage Nyerere Slowly the heather people of goodwill around the world wept began to wither hopelessly for Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Julius Kambarage Nyerere When the wick Nyerere, the departed great son of Africa, finally died At St Thomas in London A new they should have been doing so for bud has opened Into a funnel of hope The themselves and not for the legendary icon of lighthouse flicker Beyond Forodhani A voice in the African and world political stage whose the willows Will rise and say with courage humanity, valour, courage and selflessness Venceremos Venceremos Venceremos have no doubt earned him a secure place in *Jared Angira is a Kenyan writer who has the hereafter. published seven volumes of poems. And who can gainsay the fact that that is a Copyright (c) 1999 The Nation. Distributed via just reward for one of those most rare of men Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For who in their lives fought for life, wore as their information about the content or for hearts the fire's centre, and were therefore permission to redistribute, publish or use for incontrovertibly truly great? broadcast, contact the publisher.

Copyright (c) 1999 The Nation. Distributed via Panafrican News Agency Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for The Road Ends For One Of Africa's broadcast, contact the publisher. Greatest Sons October 24, 1999 Canto for hope by Nicodemus Odhiambo October 24, 1999 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Dr Julius By Jared Angira Nyerere, the first President of Tanzania, was Nairobi - Julius Kambarage Nyerere At the interred Saturday at his home village of orangery dawn When many feared To tread Butiama in northern Tanzania amid solemn the cold waters Of East and West The chisel pomp and ceremony. stones Of lies and hate And roaring rivers of The casket containing his body was lowered damnation You built the Slender Bridge in the grave at exactly 0935 GMT Between the Lumpen at the cesspool And the accompanied by full military honours, beparis up the tower Clothed the including a final 21-gun salute. descamisados From the tincans of Magomeni The burial was preceded by a requiem mass To the waters of Kigamboni creek at the 400-seat Catholic church which the late Julius Kambarage Nyerere You gave them a leader helped build in the village just 100 face Shiny in the noonday sun Perpendicular metres from his home. to a future And gave them the voice To sing in The casket was then transported to the burial tandem Along the Palm Beach Road site at Mwitongo, 30 metres away from the Julius Kambarage Nyerere From Mtwara in late Nyerere's newly-built residence. the Makonde trails To Arusha on Kilimanjaro He is buried 20 metres from where his father, laps You gave them hope A pedestal in realm Chief Burito Nyerere, and mother Christina Paradigm near the alcove The silver clouds Mgaya Nyang'ombe, were laid to rest. Melting into a future The convergence Of the His funeral was witnessed by Presidents lavendar waters And the green fields The Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, and Salmin twain for tomorrow Amour of Zanzibar. Julius Kambarage Nyerere You nurtured the Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who courage And armed Agostinho Neto And once gave Nyerere a few heads of Ankole Samora Machel Yoweri Museveni And Sam cattle to rear on his farm, was also present, Nujoma Robert Mugabe And Thabo Mbeki and so was former Zambian leader Kenneth And Julius Kambarage Nyerere The bullets Kaunda, a long-time ally in the liberation Began to flower Ushering in A new dawn And struggles of southern Africa. paradigm shift Wife of former South African President, Graca Julius Kambarage Nyerere The scarlet dawn Machel, was at the funeral flanked by Brother took on brother Daggers at the throats Nyerere's widow. Darkening the skies And you set on trots Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi was South to North East to west And we lost the represented at the occasion by his Foreign centre The dignity of man The pride of Africa Affairs Minister Bonaya Godana. The mellow of the lily Began to wither And The OAU Secretary General, Salim Ahmed Salim, represented the continental 24 October 1999 80 organisation of which Nyerere was a founding president. Nyerere died 14 September at St. Thomas Hospital in London of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact the publisher.

26 October 1999 81

Edward Lowasa and Iddi Simba ministers in his cabinet, there was talk of a group of 26 October 1999 people planning to form a CCM-2; apparently the only solution was to "bring them into the The East African fold." Party officials deny this allegation, but observers say a group of CCM leaders is As 'Kingmaker' Dies, Whither planning to register a new party, ahead of Tanzania Politics and Society next year's election. October 26, 1999 Mwalimu once said, "effective opposition Dar-es-Salaam - With The death of Mwalimu leaders will come from CCM." One such Nyerere and an election looming next year, leader is the vocal Augustine Mrema, a Tanzania is likely to undergo some radical staunch CCM member who rose to the rank of political changes in the next few years. Minister for Home Affairs and Deputy Prime A kingmaker and a peacemaker, Mwalimu Minister, before crossing over to the was a colossus bestriding just about every opposition. sphere of Tanzanian life, overseeing peaceful Whether Mkapa will tolerate splinters in CCM changes in leadership since his retirement remains to be seen, but it seems unlikely. and providing discreet counselling to his two Alternatively, it could be foolhardy to tempt successors, Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mr. Mkapa, a man whose claws have never Mkapa. been tested, left to fend for himself by his When Mwalimu retired in 1985, he retained departed mentor, unlike during the four years chairmanship of the ruling Chama Cha he has been in power, he could 'tear' some Mapinduzi (CCM) for two more years, wayward and truant politicians to pieces effectively ruling the country alongside without fear of reprimand, to safeguard his Mwinyi. position. When Mwalimu relinquished the CCM Mr. Mkapa's tolerance for political opposition chairmanship, Mwinyi took over both has never been fully known by Tanzanian's government and ruling-party leadership. With but the partial show of his dislike for the fiery Mwalimu's tacit support, he proceeded to bury Mrema is indicative that he may not take too Ujamaa in the 1992 Zanzibar Declaration kindly any hullabaloo from the Opposition. which ushered in a free-market economy. The government is accused of having In his second five-year term of presidency - effectively barred Mrema from contesting 1990-1995 Mr. Mwinyi pursued liberalisation, political seats in Dar-es-Salaam by using flinging open the doors to trade and government influence to make people file investment, freeing the foreign-exchange suits barring him from conducting political regime and the media, introducing multi-party activities in their areas. A few months ago, politics and corruption. He quickly earned Mrema was refused the right to contest a Dar himself the nickname 'Mzee Rukhsa' Old man by-election he was billed to win outright. Laizez faire. Mkapa is said to be ready and willing to run Although he was the author of the one-party for a second and final five-year term next year political system, it was Mwalimu's tacit but some CCM leaders are quietly saying they approval that allowed Tanzania to adopt multi- would also like to be considered for party system. nomination. Some women leaders, such as Now that Mwalimu is gone, five years after Gertrude Mongela, have spoken out on the multi-party politics came into practice, one can right of every member to submit forms for only assume that it will continue. However, nomination. That may not go down well with much will depend on the confidence of the Mkapa, who will be seeking full CCM incumbent president and external pressure endorsement of his nomination. from the donor community, which has been The very state of the Union of Tanzania also sponsoring Tanzania's democratisation stands at the crossroads after Mwalimu's process. departure. Nyerere was once quoted as Without Mwalimu around, next year's general saying nobody "really knew the secrets of the election, expected around October, could be Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar," in jeopardy given his crucial peacemaking role except himself and the late Amri Abeid within the CCM. Karume, both of whom hastily united the two In his absence, it is even possible that the countries in 1964 to create Tanzania. CCM could break up into splinter parties. Only Both sides have in due course complained last year, before President Mkapa appointed that the Union articles have outlived their 26 October 1999 82 usefulness and need changing. But change is only because of Mwalimu's support that he has been slow to come and some leaders in has stayed at the helm of the OAU. His both Zanzibar and the mainland are chances of nomination to higher office, even increasingly claiming the Union gives their becoming president after 2005, would be side a raw deal. better if Mwalimu were alive to persuade Mwalimu had always advocated a two- Zanzibaris to support him. government Union, while a sizeable section of If Salim cultivates the same sort of the population on both sides favour a federal relationship with Mkapa, he stands a chance system with three governments - one each for of winning the latter's backing for the Tanganyika and Zanzibar, and the Union. Tanzania presidency in 2005. Internationally Mwalimu's response to this proposal was: respected, he served the Union government "Over my dead body." He insisted there was as Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and nothing wrong with the two-government set as Tanzania's ambassador to Egypt and the up, emphasising that all that was needed was UN in New York. a mechanism to address irky differences that Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. annoy people, but never to create three Distributed via Africa News Online authorities. Proponents of the status quo (www.africanews.org). For information about argue that three governments would be the content or for permission to redistribute, expensive to maintain and found nothing publish or use for broadcast, contact the wrong in the two-government arrangement. publisher. Mwalimu's death comes just when President Mkapa needed his views on the White Paper Ever the Idealist, Nyerere's Legacy on the Union issue, dominated by Zanzibar's is Everlasting demands for greater autonomy. When Mwalimu ruled for nearly 35 years, he October 26, 1999 managed to unite people of all religions and By Gitau Warigi denominations - Christians, Muslims, Hindus Dar-es-Salaam - Founding father of Tanzania, and others. He nationalised schools owned by pioneer African nationalist, Pan-Africanist, religious institutions to allow admission of advocate of non-alignment and disarmament, children of all religions. He applied the same anti-imperialist and arch-champion of the balancing act in his cabinet appointments, liberation struggle in southern Africa, Julius creating a tribal and religious mix that unified Nyerere has left a rich and varied legacy. Tanzanians. Initially, Nyerere was perceived as the most That religious harmony is already at risk after moderate of the East African troika that last month's clashes between muslim activists included Jomo Kenyatta and Milton Obote, and police in Bugurumi, Dar-es-Salaam. even though subsequently he ended up very The Burundi peace talks which Mwalimu had much to the left of the other two ideologically. been facilitating have definitely been set back Unlike Kenyatta, who terrified the Kenyan by his death. A new facilitator acceptable to white settlers and whom the colonial the warring Hutu and Tutsi sides must be government jailed for subversion, the colonial found if the talks are to progress. It's a pity authorities in Tanganyika concluded early that since the talks were coming to the final stages it was in their best interests to work with ahead of the signing of a peace accord. Nyerere. Without Mwalimu it could drag along unless Scholarly in approach and not given to Buyoya's recent alleged reports materialise demagoguery, Nyerere had made an that his government was seeking to interest excellent impression before the UN South Africa president Thabo Mbeki to take Trusteeship Council, which theoretically over Mwalimu's role as facilitator. However, oversaw the British mandate in Tanganyika that claim has been denied by Major Buyoya. after Germany lost the territory in 1945. During his closing remarks at the last round of In effect, Nyerere told the Council: "If Britain the talks in Arusha on July 17, Mwalimu cannot get along with me, who can she get expressed anger, sadness and frustration that along with?" Besides, the special exigencies the year-long negotiations had not yielded of trusteeship meant Britain could not be too peace. overbearing on nationalism in Tanganyika like The death of Mwalimu could also have she could be in her colonies. implications for the future of Salim Ahmed Concluded Tanganyika Governor Edward Salim, Secretary General of the Organisation Twinning: "Nyerere's personal position is of African Unity (OAU), who has always been more important than we perhaps like to admit seen as a "Nyerere man". It is believed that it and therefore it is very strongly in our interests 26 October 1999 83 that we should try and gather him into the fold, expressed reservations about the unified although this might mean making some continental government advocated by concessions." Nkurumah and Guinea's Sekou Toure. What everyone failed to reckon with was the Nkurumah's sweeping vision was deemed fact that Nyerere, virtually alone among his impractical, and it was the gradualist, step-by- African peers, was willing to hold his step strategy of cohesion advocated by ambitions in check for the benefit of wider Nyerere and others that carried the day. regional integration. Nyerere's belief in self-reliance probably grew As early as July 1960, Nyerere had come out out of a growing disenchantment with Western in favour of an East African federation and policy and a desire to disentangle his country offered to delay Tanzania's independence to from the intrigues of the Cold War. This led allow time for the other two territories to catch him to the Arusha Declaration and Ujamaa up, arguing that it would be far more difficult to socialism. In the end, this policy was deemed persuade a state to abandon its privileges at to have been a disaster economically, and the UN, once it began to enjoy them. Nyerere himself admitted as much. Still, as Ali On 5 June 5, 1963, the leaders of the three Mazrui has stressed, Nyerere's intentions East African countries signed in Nairobi a were all along noble. formal declaration of intent to federate. But it The experiment however had its successes. was not to be. Uganda, for one, subsequently Literacy levels and primary health care access expressed reservations on certain specifics of in Tanzania surpassed anything most African citizenship and external affairs which it felt countries had achieved. Adulrahman Babu, a would be inappropriate to cede to federal prominent Zanzibari critic of Nyerere's, has jurisdiction. Ugandan monarchists, especially written that the policy of nationalisation in Buganda, were not keen on the idea either. foundered because Tanzania lacked the According to Kenyan Governor Malcolm managerial resources and institutional MacDonald, there appeared to be a quiet infrastructure to carry on the enterprises that consensus that Kenyatta would be the first the state absorbed. Babu, who was also of a federal president. Nyerere would be Vice- leftist persuasion, had by then fallen out with President in charge of internal affairs, which Nyerere and gone into exile in Britain, as had would probably have been fine with him. But Oscar Kambona, another prominent critic of Kenyans were pushing their luck; they already Nyerere who had served as Foreign Minister. seemed to assume Tom Mboya would The other cause Nyerere lent his voice to for become the federal foreign minister, a post was the crippling Third World debt burden and the Ugandans wanted. the unequal international economic order. Federation begun to look a tall tough order Thus, his decision to open talks in 1980 with when the explosive and highly divided nature the IMF - which he used to ridicule as the of the Kenyan political fabric was considered. International Ministry of Finance - was met Torn as Kenyan politicians were, between the with considerable astonishment. But the fact nationalists in Kanu, majimboists in the of the matter is that Tanzania had run its opposition Kadu, and recalcitrant European economy into the aground and exhausted its settlers who dreamed of an early version of hard currency reserves. Rhodesia's UDI, their situation was not one Though to a degree the talks heralded a they could mesh with their Tanganyika and capitulation of Nyerere. IMF too was Uganda counterparts in a workable federation. desperate for a truce with Tanzania as the Another bad omen, little noticed at the time, Nyerere's highly articulate assaults at the was the hostile position taken by Kwame Fund had registered an unusually strong Nkurumah, who clearly dreamed of impact internationally. developing sufficient leverage from his West An undeniable feature of Nyerere's Tanzania African corner to make himself President of a was the diplomatic weight and prestige she unified Africa. "Regional groupings of any kind carried on the continent, even beyond. This are a serious threat to the unity of Africa", he influence was way out of proportion to the declared. "Only by fomenting regional and country's strength. Like Britain liked to say sectional political groupings in Africa can the about herself, Tanzania was used to punching imperialists and ex-colonial powers be sure of above her weight. retaining their rapidly waning influence in The talks with the IMF eventually broke down Africa." over demands for massive devaluation of the Ironically, the idealistic Nyerere demonstrated . Indeed, many observers his pragmatic bent during the debates believe that Nyerere's decision to step down surrounding the OAU's formation when he from office was because he did not want to be 26 October 1999 84 the humiliation of being arm-twisted into overthrow Amin in 1979, but subsequently economic actions he had long resisted. became convinced that Obote was more of a Nyerere's relations with his economically divisive factor in Uganda than an asset. powerful northern neighbour, Kenya, were Later, he developed very close relations with always complicated. After an initial post- the youthful Yoweri Museveni which endured independence honeymoon, when the idea of to his death. The Ugandan leader, whose federation was being mooted, relations cooled political awakening happened while he was a as Tanzania veered to the left ideologically student in Dar-es-Salaam, remains eternally and Kenya went in the opposite direction. grateful for the help he and colleagues Nyerere's enduring achievement is in creating received from Nyerere in defeating Amin. a genuine national entity out of a hotch-potch On a personal level, Museveni has always of some 120 ethnic groups. A comparison with extended great respect to the Tanzanian the tattered and highly ethnicised fabric in leader such that Museveni's hardline stance present-day Kenya brings out this on the ruling Burundi junta seemed to arise achievement very well. from the impression that they were not paying His other enduring achievement is the role he sufficient respect to the man. played in the liberation struggle in Southern Nyerere's is an enviable niche in Africa's Africa. to ultimate victory. Frelimo, SWAPO history. and the ANC were all invited to open training Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. camps in Tanzania. Distributed via Africa News Online Nyerere was instrumental in the formation of (www.africanews.org). For information about the Frontline States caucus and served as its the content or for permission to redistribute, first chairman. He became a crucial diplomatic publish or use for broadcast, contact the link between the liberation forces and the publisher. international community. Fittingly, the OAU's Liberation Committee was There Was Real Freedom in headquartered in Dar. On the continent, the Mwalimu's Day quest for freedom and human dignity is what Nyerere will best be remembered for. October 26, 1999 Matters got downright frosty in the seventies By Philip Ochieng over disagreements about the operations of Dar-es-Salaam - I never really covered the common market. In 1977, the EAC Mwalimu Nyerere. By the time I got to virtually collapsed amid bitter acrimony. Tanzania to work for The Standard Tanzania, Nyerere ordered the frontier with Kenya I had been an editorial pontiff in Nairobi's closed. Sunday Nation for upwards of two years. And Relations improved following the ascension of that was what I continued to do in Dar-es- Daniel arap Moi, though the real watershed Salaam, fulminating like Ezekiel from my was the ouster from power of Charles Njonjo armchair. in 1984, whom Nyerere long considered a But one thing is true. Working for the stumbling block to closer relations. The president, between September 1970 and relations were perhaps at their best during the January 1973 was probably the most tenure of Mwinyi, no doubt spiced by the fact enjoyable period of my entire journalistic that Moi had grown extremely suspicious of career. There were at least two reasons for Yoweri Museveni in Uganda. this. The first was that ours was a community The creation of the East African Federation in of ideas. The second, contrary to what was 1994 was seen to be a new beginning. But the constantly claimed here in Nairobi and by the old disputes over trade and Tanzanian Western press, was that the Dar-es-Salaam complaints over the lack of equity in Kenya- newspapers enjoyed a high level of freedom Tanzania economic relations persisted. to publish. This reflected the fact that Tanzania's recent refusal to ratify a protocol Tanzania enjoyed an unprecedented freedom on tariffs attests to these differences. of speech. But it was never licentious freedom Meanwhile, relations with Uganda had taken a of the kind with which Nairobi's alternative distinctly different line. Right from the start, a press assails our eyes every morning. certain ideological affinity with Obote existed. Following the Arusha Declaration of 1967, The inspiration for Obote's Common Man's Julius Kambarage Nyerere had, early in 1970, Charter was evidently the Arusha Declaration. nationalised The Tanganyika Standard from And after Obote was overthrown by Idi Amin, Lonrho and rechristened it The Standard Nyerere willingly gave him refuge. He helped Tanzania as the official print organ of the him to regain power when Nyerere moved to government. 26 October 1999 85

The Nationalist and its Kiswahili sister Uhuru translation" by Tanzania's Swahili Academy of already existed as the organs of the ruling the Marxist term petty bourgeoisie, namely, Tanganyika African National Union (Tanu), the peasants and the classroom- created with Ben Mkapa as its editor. Brought in from urban elite. London as Managing Editor of The Standard The Ujamaa Village institution itself proved was a tough- talking South African woman of nothing more than a stratagem for settling Asian origin called . rural people together so as to facilitate such Ginwala, who is now the Speaker of the South social services as water, education and seed African Parliament in Cape Town, was a distribution by collectivising them. It, too, woman of strong left-wing convictions. She would soon be vitiated by graft and lack of very soon collected around her men and commitment. women from the international community with Very soon, production would come to a equally strong socialist views. standstill and distribution of what was This was the context in which I left Nairobi for produced would go haywire. Nyerere, who Dar-es-Salaam, invited by Ginwala. Mwalimu was genuinely persuaded by and committed Nyerere acted as our (non-executive) Editor- to the system, had included a leadership code in-Chief. And yet every Friday I published an in Azimio. It banned corruption and prohibited opinion column highly critical of his system. a certain level of politicians, civil servants and I waxed critical especially of the recently parastatal employees from owning personal nationalised commercial and industrial businesses. But it did not cut much ice. And houses: the corruption that was beginning to things went from bad to worse. From time to invade them and their umbrella organisations, time, the president would hit back through the ineptitude, the apparent absence of widespread sackings, decentralisations and development ideas. shuffles. But he only succeeded in bringing in Yet never once did Ginwala or myself receive leeches more ravenous than those he had a telephone call from or a summons to Ikulu sacked or decentralised. (State House), complaining about anything we Nyerere's failing, then, stemmed both from had written. Of course, there were many objective conditions and from subjective murmurs in the corridors of power against us. weaknesses. Objective because he never They accused us of being a bunch of really came to grips with the forces - national communists, though we never were. But they as well as international - which he was setting dared not call a press conference to attack us. out to defeat. Western individualism had been Nyerere simply would not have allowed them internalised by practically all Tanzanians to do so. through the classroom and the church. The Were we really a den of communists? To be African extended family system, which he was sure, Frene Ginwala herself and Tony Hall trying to reinstitute, had long been done to were members of Joe Slovo's Communist death by cash payment and individualist Party of South Africa and Iain Christie was a callousness. Mwalimu Nyerere just couldn't member of the British Communist Party. see the vital link of this habit of thought with There were were two other British imports - the very same Western institutions whose Richard Gott and Rod Prince - but they were property he was trying to socialise. Socialism, self-confessed anarchists. There was also he claimed, was an attitude of the mind and myself. But, though I would soon be so he hoped to convert people merely by introduced to Marx, Engels, Lenin and Mao, moral preachifying. my leftism continued to be subsumed under Like most other Third World petty-bourgeois liberalism. The rest of our newsroom - the radicals - Josip Broz Tito, Jawaharlal Nehru, corps of reporters and sub-editors, practically Cheddi Jagan, Kwame Nkrumah, Agostinho all of them native Tanzanians - was solidly Neto - Mwalimu vehemently rejected the right-wing, paying lip service to Nyerere's Marxist class analysis. Ujamaa tenets but either cynical about them And this was the subjective aspect of his or ignorant of their social import. position. According to its founders, socialism Yet, to me, Nyerere's greatness does not lie in can be genuine only as an ideology of a class his Ujamaa ideology. Though this ideology without any producer property, namely, the was what attracted most of us into Tanzania, industrial proletariat and the agricultural it was what was to prove the economic bane labourer. It stands to reason that no social of that country. Nationalised property only fell group with any property can be interested in into the jaws of a deeply venal class of sharing it with everybody else. Both the vibwanyenye. The word, which means petty peasantry and the urban elite are propertied commodity owners, was a "technical classes. As individuals, of course, they may, 26 October 1999 86 as Lenin hoped, be converted into socialism. The humdinger, however, was that all these But, as a class, you can only force them into ideas were expressed freely and printed in the collectivisation with disastrous consequences. party and government newspapers with little That was the lesson the world should have attempt at editorial slanting and chicanery. learned from Stalin's forced collectivism, in In 1972 came the only time Nyerere which tens of millions perished. intervened in The Standard Tanzania. Yet, despite all these failings, Kambarage Somebody had tried to overthrow President Nyerere remained one of Africa's Gaafar al-Numeiry of the Sudan, who had quintessential men of the 20th century. His himself staged a coup with the help of the personal probity was unequalled. In Africa, he Communist Party the previous year. He was equalled only by in his responded by killing hundreds of leaders of refusal to use his immense power to enrich the same Communist Party. himself or his family. In an editorial commentary, drafted by Richard It was his intellectual strength and moral fibre Gott, The Standard accused Numeiry of that enabled him, when he saw that his horrendous murder. At a Tanu meeting in experiment could not succeed, to admit the next day, the right-wing, led by openly that his life career had been a failure. Prime Minister Rashidi Mfaume Kawawa, was When he nationalised The Tanganyika up in arms. Editor Ginwala was made to Standard, he gave us a charter which accept very many nasty names: including expressly challenged its new editors to communist, woman and Mhindi (Asian). They criticise all social failings by whomever they demanded her sacking on the spot because are committed. I had never been and would Numeiry, they said, was a good friend of never be freer than when I worked in Dar. Tanzania. Nyerere had to give in. This freedom of the press, as I say above, That was the end of Ginwala's regime. It was was only a mirror-reflection of the much more about that time, too, that The Nationalist important freedom of ideas throughout the married The Standard to beget the present country. Though Nyerere believed more than Daily News, with such successive editors as 100 per cent in Ujamaa, he never tried to Sammy Mdee, Ben Mkapa, the present force it down anybody's throat. President, Ferdinand Ruhinda and Joseph Nor did he ever issue The Standard Tanzania, Mapunda. The merger was necessitated by a The Nationalist or the latter's Swahili daily and reorganisation of the government's weekly counterparts Uhuru and Mzalendo, information structures, with a party-based with any instruction to print only Nyerereist Press Council chaired by Daudi Mwakawago, ideas or to slant news in favour of that Tanu's then Director of Information. ideology and its exponents. Composed totally of right-wingers, including If that had been the case, Tanzania's amazing Ben Mkapa, Information Minister Daudi pluralism of ideas at that time would not have Namfua, Uhuru editor Costa Kumalija, reached the world. Yet it did reach the world, Nationalist editor Ferdinand Ruhinda and attracting into that country hundreds of Radio Tanzania Director Paul Sozigwa, it intellectuals from all over the world. signalled the end of radicalism and free The University of Dar-es-Salaam at Ubungo expression in the press. It was then that I was Africa's, perhaps the world's, intellectual resigned to study in Germany. Mecca. Dar-es-Salaam harboured all the Until his death, Nyerere, who was humble, radical liberation movements in Africa, Latin self-effacing and selfless, continued to serve America, the Middle East, Ireland, South-East humanity on many capacities - particularly his Asia, even the the United States. It was a promotion of mutual South-South assistance crossroads of such celebrated freedom to reduce dependence on Western alms and fighters as Agostinho Neto, Samora Machel, his attempt to help bring about order in Marcelino dos Santos, Jorge Rebello, Janet Burundi. Mondlane, Yoweri Museveni, Sam Nujoma, An intellectual of immense stature, a man of Thabo Mbeki, Oliver Tambo, Gora Ebrahim, great personal integrity, a paragon of Amilcar Cabral, Angela Davis and others, humanism, Julius Kambarage will be hard to changing ideas with us, often hotly. For these replace in Tanzania, in Africa and on the were not uniform minds. There were globe. I was privileged to know and work with intellectuals - both native and alien - who such a man. That is why, as I mourn, I ask, expressed ideas so far to the right that they with Marcus Antonius, whence cometh such bordered on fascism. Others expressed ideas another? so far to the left that again they bordered on Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. fascism. Distributed via Africa News Online 26 October 1999 87

(www.africanews.org). For information about implementing the Arusha Declaration - the the content or for permission to redistribute, country's socialist blueprint. publish or use for broadcast, contact the This developed an even closer relationship publisher. between him, as the national chairman of the party, and I as the national secretary. Painful Loss of a Friend, Mentor In June 1970, the then existing constituent and Nationalist Par Excellence colleges of the then University of East Africa were each granted full university status. The October 26, 1999 law which established the University of Dar- Dar-es-Salaam - The passing away of es-Salaam (upgraded from University College, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the Dar-es-Salaam) declared that the President of Father of the Tanzanian Nation, has brought the United Republic would be the Chancellor intense personal sorrow and grief to me. I of the new university ex-officio. The law also have been in the company of Mwalimu gave the President power to appoint a Vice- Nyerere, being under his direct personal Chancellor of the University, thus creating a leadership and tutelage over a period of many new close relationship between the years. Chancellor and his Vice-Chancellor. I was a history student of Mwalimu Nyerere at This continued for a period of seven years Pugu Secondary School for two years in 1953 until In 1977, when the merger of the Tanu and largely through his dedicated teaching, I party on mainland Tanzania and the Afro- qualified for admission to Makerere University Shirazi Party of Zanzibar was achieved and a College, Kampala, then known as the new party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) University College of East Africa. came into existence, with Mwalimu Nyerere On completion of my university education at elected as its first national chairman. He Makerere in 1960, I was appointed to the quickly appointed me to be the first national Tanganyika Legislative Council as Clerk executive secretary of the new party. Assistant, to understudy the then English In 1984, the year before his retirement from Clerk of the House with a view to taking over the presidency, he appointed me Permanent from him under the then civil service Secretary in the office of the Prime Minister, Africanisation programme. That appointment with Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim as Prime brought me once again into close working Minister. contact with Mwalimu Nyerere, who had in the In the course of this close working relationship meantime been elected to the Tanganyika over the years, Mwalimu Nyerere taught me a Legislative Council. number of things, all of which I fully digested Mwalimu Nyerere ceased to be a member of and treasure. The thought that I will never see the legislature in November 1962, when he or talk to him again is therefore very painful. was elected the first President of Tanganyika. It was by a stroke of good luck that I was able But because, under the constitution, to see him in his apartment in London. I talked parliament consists of both the Presidency to him in London for about one hour, exactly and the National Assembly, my cordial the day before his condition suddenly working relationship with him continued, as I deteriorated and he had to be rushed to St had to pay frequent visits to him in order to Thomas's hospital, where he stopped talking present those Bills which had been passed by and eventually departed. the National Assembly for his statutory May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal assent. peace. FROM: [no name] Mwalimu preferred that I present the Bills Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. personally so that, if necessary, he would Distributed via Africa News Online have the opportunity of asking me questions (www.africanews.org). For information about about the general mood of the House in the content or for permission to redistribute, passing any of them in particular. And he publish or use for broadcast, contact the frequently did so. publisher. He appears to have developed a liking for, and appreciation of, my overall performance. Death Puts Nyerere Biography in Immediately after he had launched the famous Arusha Declaration in , Limbo he appointed me to the position of National October 26, 1999 Executive Secretary of the Tanganyika African By Premy Kibanga National Union (Tanu) for the purpose of Dar-es-Salaam - Tanzania's founder president handling the party's strategies in and Father of the Nation, the late Mwalimu 26 October 1999 88

Julius Kambarage Nyerere, died before his Sources from the 50-plus burial committee autobiography could begin. said last week that although many people had Prof Ahmed Mohiddin, a former academician, expressed their wish to bury Mwalimu in Dar, told The EastAfrican that three people - it wasn't possible as Nyerere's wish was to be himself, Prof Haroub Othman, now in Liberia, buried next to his close relatives. The thought and former ambassador Ferdinand Ruhinda, of a mausoleum for Mwalimu was apparently one of Mwalimu's confidants - had earlier on toyed with by State House but didn't approached the late Mwalimu to seek his materialise due to lack of full support. consent. This writer brushed shoulders with the sage in "He had initially agreed, on that, and Prof Arusha town as a reporter where Mwalimu Othman was to meet him on August 12, 1999 was mediating the Burundi peace talks. so that we could work out a strategy on how "I came to know Mwalimu better as a reporter we were going to do it. I think he knew that his in 1996 during the Burundi peace initiatives in disease was fatal." Arusha when I relentlessly insisted on getting Prof Mohiddin, who describes Mwalimu as an interview him. I learnt that he is very "the last revolutionary," said "it is sad that he patient, determined, never gave up on his has departed without it." assignment even when insulted. I was Ambassador Ruhinda said in Dar: "We were amazed by his dedication to the Burundi going to sit with him whenever he had time, issue. and write his own words, and then he would "On one or two occasions he granted me the go through the manuscript and correct it honour to conduct an exclusive interview with because we wanted it to be his own work. It is him, something I will always treasure." just bad that he has departed before the When Mwalimu was asked why he persisted project could take off." to work for peace in Burundi he said: "I'm not He added: "Actually, we were just going to doing this for myself, I'm doing it for the assist him to write, but not for us to write for Barundi. It is not me who will bring them him; there are so many books that have been peace, they will do it themselves. I'm just written about him that we wanted one by facilitating the talks here because this is the himself." only place where they can do it without fear." The three writers, who had worked on a Every body wishes that Barundi showed framework for the Nyerere autobiography, appreciation for the work Mwalimu had started now have a daunting task ahead. doing for them by conducting proper talks that "We will have to reorganise ourselves and the could lead to lasting peace. work. But it will never be the same again," Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. Prof Mohiddin said. Distributed via Africa News Online This will now keep Tanzanians anxious to (www.africanews.org). For information about know whether there were any last words of the content or for permission to redistribute, wisdom from Nyerere. These will now be only publish or use for broadcast, contact the attainable from his family, who were by his publisher. side during his sickness, especially his wife Mama Maria. Leaders Pay Tribute to Mwalimu The body of the former president of Tanzania, October 26, 1999 the late Julius Nyerere, who died at St By Faustine Rwambali Thomas's Hospital in London on Thursday, Dar-es-Salaam - World leaders last week October 14, 1999, was flown back to Dar-es- continued to send condolence messages to Salaam on Monday in readiness for a funeral President Benjamin Mkapa and the Tanzanian service on Thursday October 21st at the people following the death of Mwalimu National Stadium in Dar. Nyerere. Tanzania's revered founding father Julius One of the first to offer his condolences was Nyerere will be given a state funeral before a President Daniel arap Moi, who said Mwalimu private burial in his home village next Nyerere would be remembered for his Saturday. distinguished role in the liberation of Africans The dirt road off from the Mwanza-Musoma from colonial oppression. tarmac road has been graded by regional "As a Pan-Africanist, Mwalimu was among the authorities. It is said Nyerere did not want the founding fathers of the Organisation of African road tarmacked unless the government was Unity, whose vision was for an organisation ready to do the same on other roads in the that would be committed to the complete neighbouring villages. political and economic emancipation of the African continent," said President Moi. 26 October 1999 89

US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, Dar-es-Salaam - Flags will fly half-mast for 30 described Nyerere as "an eloquent days and all sporting activities are postponed spokesman for the developing world." indefinitely as Tanzanians mourn the death of "His long record of achievement as an the nation's founding father, Mwalimu Julius international figure includes many Nyerere. contributions to regional peace. Most recently, The Minister for Education and Culture, Prof he brought his considerable diplomatic talents Athumani Juma Kapuya, announced in Dar on to bear as facilitator of the Burundi Peace October 14, the day Mwalimu died, that all negotiations." sports events, including soccer matches, Former US President Jimmy Carter, a close would be put off until a later date. Also friend of Mwalimu, also sent heartening postponed are foreign trips by government message to Mkapa and Mwalimu's family. officials. Messages were also received from the The move affects a wide spectrum of activities leaders of Zimbabwe, Botswana, India, including business trips earlier scheduled for Malawi and Zambia. this month. These included the inauguration His Majesty King Harald V of Norway paid by President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania's tribute to Nyerere saying: "I was deeply leading tea packing company, Tanzanian Tea saddened to learn of the death of former Packers (Tatepa). The company was recently President Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Africa listed on the Dar Stock Exchange and floated has lost a great leader." millions of shares. The British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, Tatepa officials told The EastAfrican last week also sent his message saying: "I deeply regret that inauguration ceremony planned to take ... He was a leading African statesman of his place on October 16 has been rescheduled to time and the founder of modern Tanzania. He a later date. played a historic role in consolidating A team of 50 business and government independence in his country. The fact is that executives that was scheduled to leave for Tanzania is today a country at peace and is in Japan and South Korea last week also had to large part a tribute to Mwalimu." postpone the trip. The Tanzanian delegation The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Mr. was to participate in the African Trade Lamberto Dini, said: "It is with deep sadness Exhibition and business seminars in Tokyo that I learn of the passing away of Julius between October 28 and November 1. Nyerere. Africa has lost one of its most The exhibition which has been planned to respected leaders, leader of his country... and attract over 50 Tanzania general trading, father of Independence, but also a determined tourism and industrialists, was organised by mediator," he said. the Japanese External Trade Organisation President Kim Dae-jung of Korea said: (JETRO). "Nyerere greatly promoted the friendly and co- Tanzania's parliament, scheduled to sit from operative relations between the United October 26, has also postponed its session to Republic of Tanzania and Korea as a globally a date to be announced later, a parliamentary respected leader." spokesman said. The parliament sits in The Executive Secretary of the Arusha-based Dodoma four times a year - in February, April, East African Co-operation (EAC), June and October. Ambassador Francis Muthaura expressed Graduation ceremonies that were to take deep regret at Mwalimu's death describing it place this month have also been cancelled. as "a blow to guidance and encouragement This will affect students who completed their towards the quick realisation of regional General Certificate of Education and pupils integration." who sat their Primary School Certificate Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. examination two weeks ago. Distributed via Africa News Online More than 200,000 GCE graduates and about (www.africanews.org). For information about 600,000 Primary School Certificate finalists the content or for permission to redistribute, were to hold their graduation ceremonies this publish or use for broadcast, contact the month. Officials from the Ministry of Education publisher. and Culture said the activities were all put off until future dates Sporting Events Postponed in Our Sports correspondent Willie Chiwango Honour of Nyerere reports that Tanzania has also withdrawn from the East and Central African under-20 soccer October 26, 1999 championship which opened in Nairobi last By Apolinari Tairo 26 October 1999 90

Saturday (October 23) to mourn the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Nyerere. An official at the Cecafa secretariat in Nairobi said the tournament would proceed as planned and that with the exception of the two Tanzanian sides, the rest of the 11 Cecafa members were expected to take part. They are Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti, whose teams are expected to start arriving in Nairobi on Wednesday this week (Oct. 20). The Chairman of the Football Association of Tanzania, Mr. Muhidin Ndolanga, said the association had suspended all local league matches, including the Union Super League, which determines the country's representatives to the African Champions League and the Confederation of African Football Cup. The Super League, involving three teams each from the mainland and Zanzibar, was to kick off last Saturday (Oct. 16) but is now likely to start on November 13. Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact the publisher.

27 October 1999 91

been "every inch a builder and one of the great leaders of our time". 27 October 1999 De mortuis nil nisi bonum, speak nothing but good of the dead. The occasion required the Panafrican News Agency secretary to look on the bright side - not be utterly ahistorical so as not to betray any inkling of the harm Nyerere did his country Spirit Sends Soldiers Scampering and his continent's reputation. For Safety In Albright's defence, her speech was October 27, 1999 probably written for her by the same breed of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Several state department nitwit who, when I recently mourners were reportedly injured Sunday posed a question about the SA arms maker while fleeing from the grave of Tanzanian Denel, replied, quite seriously, "Denel? Is it leader Julius Nyerere's after hearing a spooky one of those small African countries?" voice in the vicinity. If Africa is at last to become more than the In the ensuing confusion at Nyerere's home in land of the permanent future, it is because Butiama, northern Tanzania, only one fewer men like Nyerere are in charge. policeman remained glued at the spot while Mwalimu, teacher, they called him. Indeed he soldiers tasked to guard the grave ran helter- was. He taught two important lessons: how skelter. not to govern and, more positively, the virtue Villagers said the voice was that of Muhunda, of retiring quietly, as he did in 1985, to avoid a well-known spirit among Nyerere's Zanaki disgrace. tribe, who had the capability of transforming Builder? Hardly. Dreamer, certainly, and his into the image of any living being. dreams ensured poverty and dependence on Nyerere's nephew, Magembe Daniel, is foreign aid for generations of Tanzanians. among the mourners who reportedly In Nyerere's Tanzania, his party, the Chama sustained leg injuries and had to be attended cha Mapinduzi, consciously modelled on to at the village dispensary. Chinese lines, was the state. (Tanzanians had The Zanaki believe that Muhunda is capable to wait until 1992, seven years after Nyerere of assuming the form of a monkey, goat, stepped down from the presidency, to vote in leopard or a human being. a multiparty election). In other words, Some elders said Muhunda appears rarely Mwalimu, under Nyerere, was Swahili for during drought seasons or funeral ceremony. führer. They said the spirit may have come to mourn The Arusha Declaration, the founding Nyerere. document of Nyerere's revolution with its apostrophes to freedom and equality, seemed Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. to the kind of westerner who had earlier fallen Distributed via Africa News Online in love with Stalin's Russia to reaffirm the (www.africanews.org). For information about values held dear by America's founding the content or for permission to redistribute, fathers. publish or use for broadcast, contact the It was all words. The peasant farmer and his publisher. traditional leaders were free so long as the former moved into a collective village Business Day (Johannesburg) designated by the state and the latter surrendered their authority to party cell leaders. Nyerere No Great Leader, But Tanzanians became subject to forced Ensured Poverty For Tanzania removals on a scale about which apartheid (Column) bureaucrats could only fantasise. Mwalimu, superior (by definintion) in October 27, 1999 knowledge and immune from popular opinion, By Simon Barber nationalised everything, placing the entire Johannesburg - US Secretary of State economy in the hands of party apparatchiks Madeleine Albright wrapped up another with the power to extort. He may have been inconsequential tour of Africa last week by above taking bribes himself, but he created an speaking at the memorial ceremony for Julius indelibly corrupt society. Nyerere in Dar es Salaam. She was more Here is what The Economist had to say in than fulsome in her praise of the late June 1987 in an analysis of Nyerere's Tanzanian president, declaring him to have achievements: "State corporations and so- 27 October 1999 92 called co-operatives were set up to supply about. What was this hero who would not, (relocated) villagers and buy their produce; a once in power, ever subject himself to a similar pattern was imposed in the towns. popular plebiscite and who relied upon Private enterprise was abolished, its functions westerners to keep his economy solvent? assigned to hundreds of state corporations. A traitor to Africa, I would say. Most did no trade at all; distributing seeds and fertilisers is not hard work if there are no Copyright (c) 1999 Business Day. Distributed seeds and fertilisers to give out. via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). "Those that did have serious jobs involving For information about the content or for foreign transactions - vehicle supply, coffee permission to redistribute, publish or use for and sisal marketing, the airline, public broadcast, contact the publisher. transport - turned to bribery and theft." While Mwalimu claimed that he had made primary education universal, secondary schools and universities withered for want of the funds he had prevented his economy from generating. As for health care, there were dispensaries everywhere, but with nothing to dispense. Nyerere's Tanzania was a nation of lofty promises and empty shelves. The shortcomings of his dictatorship were ignored by whites in the west, especially Scandinavians, who believed that while colonialism had been a great evil liberated blacks were nonetheless incorrigibly stupid and thus in need of firm control, not to mention a spot of detention, torture and arbitrary execution, by their own elite. Nyerere's rough stuff was off the sentimental radar of the folks who gave Archbishop his Nobel prize. Nyerere played on the tears of the white man, and the white man's contemptuous pity for Africans, like Paganini on a violin. He repeatedly convinced donors that Tanzania's economic disintegration was their fault because exploitative western capitalists would not pay enough for his country's products. The real problem was that his nationalised economy could not produce anything. When coffee prices were at their height in the '70s, Tanzanian producers would not pick the beans because the state was not paying them. Nyerere would whine that Tanzania was the victim of apartheid aggression on frontline states. Then how was it that economies actually on the frontline did better than his? Some would excuse his infantile utopianism and the lives it destroyed on the ground that his army overthrew Uganda's Idi Amin in 1979. Not much of an excuse, given that all Mwalimu did was reinstall Milton Obote, a creature just as vicious as Amin, if not quite as ostentatious a butcher. If Nyerere is really an exemplar of Africa's best, as Albright would have us believe, God help Africa. But then Albright probably did not have the faintest clue what she was talking 28 October 1999 93

So he called in his commercial bank manager and asked for a loan. It is said, before giving 28 October 1999 the loan, that the white banker jokingly observed that African Presidents in those Southern African Research and days of coup d'etats were not a very good Documentation Centre risk. Nyerere later nationalised the bank but kept up his payments. When he retired as Tanzania's first President in 1985, he gave Mwalimu Julius Kambarage the Msasani house he had built to the state. Nyerere- A Remembrance He waived all the payments he had made October 28, 1999 leaving the state with the balance. Somewhat by David Martin to his chagrin, the state paid off the mortgage Harare - "We, the people of Tanganyika, and gave him the house back; including all the would like to light a candle and put it on top of upkeep costs that went with it. Mount Kilimanjaro which would shine beyond Whenever he could, Nyerere went back to his our borders giving hope where there was village. There he had a farm - of sorts. despair, love where there was hate and Olusegun Obasanjo, then a farmer and now dignity where before there was only Nigeria's President, once observed that humiliation." although Nyerere had more tractors than he "We cannot, unlike other countries, send did, the Tanzanian would never be a rockets to the moon. But we can send rockets commercial farmer. of love and hope to all our fellow [humans] Soon after independence, Nyerere resigned wherever they may be." That statement, over as Tanganyika's Prime Minister to forge unity two years before Tanganyika's independence, within his party, offered to delay his country's was made by Julius Kambarage Nyerere to independence for the sake of unity with Kenya the Legislative Assembly in October 1959. It and Uganda, and merged Tanganyika and expressed the essence of his beliefs: hope, Zanzibar in the union now known as love and dignity. Tanzania. He was deeply committed to the While those in the developed world walked, unity of east Africa and the rest of Africa, a his brisk and sprightly stride implied, as he reality which ironically may now come to pass repeatedly said, that Africa had to run to catch after his death. up. Once political freedom was attained, unity For his countrymen and women he was an and development, coupled with hard work, inspirational leader. He rarely relaxed and were essential pre-requisites in nation when he did it was usually to play bao with the building. Nyerere was the champion of the elders. He was an avid reader who believed in liberation of southern Africa becoming the first hard work whether it was behind the portals of chairman of the Frontline states. State House, building bricks for an ujamaa In Tanzania, Africa and the world he was village at Chamwino near Dodoma where he regarded almost with awe. Such reaction was moved the country's political capital, or contrary to that which Nyerere wanted. He marching with blistered feet to Mwanza at the was above all a simple man combining this head of his people. He evolved a uniquely with formidable discipline. Once a chain- African electoral system for his people in the smoker, he simply stopped when he became days when Tanzania was a one-party state involved in politics and he rarely drank well before pluralism became the buzz word. imbibing only in an occasional glass of Two candidates from the ruling party ran "Samora" as he called the Portuguese wine against each other. the Mozambican leader had introduced him They had to both speak in Swahili from their to. His wife, he once said in a statement, was shared platform so use of the local language simply Mrs Nyerere and not "the First Lady". by one did not disadvantage the other, and Apart from his simplicity and piercing intellect, they could not make promises that they would one of Nyerere's most endearing traits was do such and such if elected. Reference to the his honesty. Today it is no longer fashionable other candidate's gender, religion, race or among journalists (and much of the public) to tribe was forbidden, the aspirants had to travel take politicians at their word or even imagine together at all times and even eat from the in advance what those words might be. Early same plate in case of poisoning. In the in his Presidency he decided he wanted to be country's first post-independence election the like everyone else and have a home to go to electorate voted out two ministers, seven after the office. But he had no money. junior ministers and over 60 backbench Members of Parliament. 28 October 1999 94

It was an outcome that would have stunned paying their dues to the Organisation of western political parties and while some African Unity Liberation Committee. He looked aspects of this unique electoral system may at me thoughtfully chewing the inner corner of have been undesirable, it is a sad reflection his cheek in the characteristic way he had on the developed nations that they forced its when concentrating. Having made his entire abandonment in 1995 in favour of the decision, he passed across a file swearing me "western model of democracy". Nyerere's to secrecy as to its details. It contained distinctive grey hair atop a slight but athletic Tanzania's budget for that year for the body always stood out from the crowd. When liberation movements fighting colonialism and he was in his seventies, young security minority rule in Angola, Guinea Bissau, officers had to run to keep up with him and the Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South sound of his mercurial voice, raised and then Africa and the Comoro islands. whispered, was still resonant and haunting. I was astounded by just how much I arrived in Dar es Salaam in early 1964, just Tanzanians were paying; a sum well beyond four years after Nyerere's speech to the the country's publicised contribution. The vast Legislative Assembly. Nyerere, I had been amount that one of the continents poorest told in London by my interviewers in that countries materially - and morally - contributed strangely confiding way many whites have to the liberation of Africa should shame those when talking to other whites was, "almost one who are more materialistically inclined. of us". A liberal, a catholic and so on. How Therein, in the view of many non-Tanzanians, right - and how wrong - they were. I was lies Nyerere's greatest contribution. All of the fascinated by the man who was to become my countries of the continent - with the exception informal professor teaching me the meaning of Spanish Sahara - are now fully of principles and non-racialism. Nyerere, as independent. his record testifies, recognised the equality of When Nyerere had spoken to the Legislative all human beings irrespective of race, Assembly in 1959 only nine countries were ethnicity, gender and religion. He greatly independent; today the number is 54. All of admired the late American President, Jack southern Africa's liberation movements at one Kennedy, and was the second visitor to the time had their headquarters in Dar es Salaam. Oval Office during Kennedy's tenure in the Nyerere, along with Hasting Banda of Malawi White House. and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, were the only Kennedy, the subsequent American analysis three leaders to recognise the Zimbabwe showed, tried to set his African visitor at ease African National Union (ZANU) when it was before realising that Nyerere was more at formed in 1963 and Herbert Chitepo was ease than he was. It was a year after my Tanzania's Director of Public Prosecutions. In arrival in Dar es Salaam that I met Nyerere for the days of the heady 1960s through to the an interview and when I did so it was strictly somewhat calmer 1980s, Tanzania was to be on his terms. The West Germans had just the crossroads of Africa. given him an ultimatum: if he allowed the East Almost everyone who was anyone visited Dar Germans to open a consulate in Dar es es Salaam during those years to meet Salaam they would withdraw their support for Nyerere and the leaders of southern Africa's his fledgling air force. His response was liberation movements. The Chinese Premier, immediate. Chou en Lai, spoke of Africa being "ripe for The West German ambassador was shown revolution". Others came with their own the door and the Canadians took over. Now agendas such as Marshall Tito, Olaf Palme, Nyerere wanted the story in the British media. Robert Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, Che I learned two things about the man from that Guevera, and sporting legends meeting. The first was that he was a master such as Arthur Ashe. From Africa there were media manager, a quality some other the leaders such as Gamal Nasser of Egypt, contemporary leaders could well emulate. He Emperor of Ethiopia (whose spoke to journalists on his terms when he had subsequent death Nyerere tried to prevent), something to say. Interminable lectures and William Tubman of Liberia and a host of harangues were not his style. The second others. Almost all Tanzanians hold him in point was that you gave Nyerere ultimatums special esteem. at your own peril. His logic was disarming; his They are stunned by his death gathering in determination both forceful and occasionally silent groups beneath the official photograph somewhat chilling. which in Swahili proclaims him as Baba wa At another meeting I recall commenting on the Taifa meaning Father of the Nation. To number of African countries who were not Tanzanians he remains, Mwalimu, the 28 October 1999 95 teacher, the title they gave him. Tanzanians, Another reason to remember Nyerere is the despite the conspicuous pride they retain in way in which he stood up to the international their country's role in the liberation of southern donors and said "No" when he believed that Africa, have several very different reasons to the course they proposed was not in his remember the man who shaped their lives. people's best interests. One wishes that today One of his most lasting legacies is the union there were more leaders with his courage and of the sovereign states of Tanganyika and mettle. Nyerere was a charmingly forthright Zanzibar into the single country now called and visionary leader, the most forward looking Tanzania. Not everyone, including many politician Africa has yet seen. He also had his mainland Tanzanians, look on the union share of warts. But it is the man's vision and through the same rose tinted spectacles they purpose which will live on. Tanzania, which in once wore for it has been fraught with some ways will be a more difficult place to difficulties. But were it not for that union, and rule without him, Africa and the world is a very particularly the potential protection the much poorer place today. (SARDC) mainland militarily offered, the former Arab David Martin is a founder-director of the rulers - the second largest minority in Africa Southern African Research and behind the whites of South Africa - may have Documentation Centre (SARDC) of which tried to re- seize power from the African Julius Nyerere is patron. Martin lived in majority. Tanzania for 10 years from 1964 and talked Ujamaa, the concept of togetherness often frequently with Nyerere during the past 35 erroneously referred to as African socialism, is years. another of Nyerere's enduring legacies. There * Southern African News Features (SANF) can be no doubt of the logic of bringing can be reproduced with credit to SARDC and scattered communities together into centres the author. SANF is available at our website where goods and services can reach them. www.sardc.net, and upon request at Nyerere had the vision to do this but the [email protected]. implementation of others was found wanting. Southern African Research and But domestically Nyerere's most enduring Documentation Centre (SARDC)- P.O. Box legacy must be Tanzania's unity and stability. 5690, Harare, Zimbabwe - Tel: 263-4- From over 120 ethnic groups, Nyerere forged 738694/5/6 - Fax: 738693 - Email: a united nation bonded by a single language, [email protected] Website: www.sardc.net Swahili. The pride of nationhood is palpable: never more so than when Tanzanians drove Distributed via Africa News Online the dictator Idi Amin out of Uganda. Such (www.africanews.org). If this item is unity is unique in eastern and southern Africa. redistributed, published or used for broadcast, And in a curious sense Tanzania was to be a the content should not be changed and poor classroom for me as it did not prepare Southern African Research and me for the mysteries and miseries of ethnic Documentation Center should be credited. political strife elsewhere in Africa and Europe. When he told his mother in 1985 that he had Southern African Research and decided to retire as President her response, which he gleefully repeated, was "Julius, you Documentation Centre (SARDC)- are a silly boy." His decision to step down as President only Address To Members Of added to the high regard in which he was Parliament: By Mwalimu Julius K. held. Nevertheless, from that day until his Nyerere death, Nyerere remained the first among equals. His endorsement was to be a vital Republished October 28, 1999 component for any contemporary Tanzanian Original date not given politician for, in truth, he never ceased to be Cape Town - Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere: Tanzania's leader. In the 1995 election he Madam Speaker and, I think I may say, formally endorsed Ben Mkapa, a former Comrade President and Comrade Vice newspaper editor and foreign minister, as his President, ladies and gentlemen. I have told choice for Tanzania's third President. you already how I felt when you asked me to One of those he had opposed observed that come and talk here. And then I got the the "constitution" made it impossible for him to message that you were coming. Of course, I become President. By the "constitution" he am happy you are here, but what do I say in said he meant Nyerere and not a written your presence in this House? This is not my document. first time here. 28 October 1999 96

I have been here before and I have thanked stop these poor Mexicans from getting into the you, but I must thank you again. For me to US, but without success. They spend a lot of come here to this Chamber and address you money on the border, and have a lot of police is a dream which you have helped me to there. I don't know whether they have electric make true. How could any one of us have fences and other things to try to prevent thought that it would be possible for me or Mexicans going to the US, but they can't people of my type to come to this country and succeed. They have not succeeded. Mexicans speak from a forum like this? So, Mr. keep pouring into the United States. President, and all your colleagues, I say thank The United States had decided to change its you very much for making this possible. policy. They have invited Mexico to join Now, as for sharing my thoughts with you: my NAFTA, and now they are working together to thoughts, unfortunately, don't change, so a lot create jobs in Mexico to prevent poor of what I am going to say some of you will Mexicans from looking for jobs in the United have heard before, but some of you have not. States. I think they will succeed and Mexicans I am going to say two things about Africa. will now want to remain in Mexico. Some will One, that Africa south of the Sahara is an still want to go to the United States, but the isolated region of the world. That's the first flood can be stemmed. There will not be a thing I want to say. The second thing I want to flood of Mexicans going to the United States. say is that Africa south of the Sahara is not What is happening between Mexico and the what it is believed to be because Africa is now US is happening in Europe. Europe is a changing. So let me see if I can share those powerhouse -- not a political powerhouse or thoughts with you in a very short period. even a military power house like the US, but Africa south of the Sahara is an isolated an economic powerhouse, and one of these region of the world. During the last ten years, days, I think, they are actually going to be a since my retirement as head of state of my bigger powerhouse than USA. They are a country, I was asked, and I agreed, to power and are attracting people: again there establish something called the South is osmosis there, the economic osmosis. Who Commission. That has meant a lot of are pulled there? East Europeans are pulled travelling. I have been many times to Latin towards Europe. America, many times to Asia, many times to But the others who are pulled towards the many parts of Africa before coming here, and economic power are from Mediterranean many times to a large number of countries in Africa, Africa north of the Sahara. That is why Europe. I was talking about Africa south of the Sahara The world is changing. It is not only Africa being the isolated region in the world. So which is changing. The world is changing. Of Eastern Europe and Mediterranean Africa are the three big power blocs developing in the to Europe what Mexico is to the US. world since the end of the Cold War, one -- Geography, the logic of geography, means the obvious one - is the United States. It has that if you have problems of unemployment in always been there. The United States is Eastern Europe, East Europeans will want to building around it a group of other countries. move into Western Europe. The Germans That is the obvious area of power. It is the one know it, and others know it. They will try to which is very clear. Another is Europe, which keep them out. They will not try to keep them is also an obvious power bloc. The third is out by building fences or putting up another Japan and the areas of Asia around it. wall. They will try to help East Europeans to The US has neighbours. One of them is stay at home by creating jobs in Eastern Mexico, from the Third World. A President of Europe, and they are already doing that. They Mexico is reported to have said once -- this is will do the same with regard to the Africans of a president of the country -- "Poor Mexico! So North Africa. far from God, and so near to the United So Europe has a policy with regard to the States!" When he said that, what Mexicans countries of North Africa -- not simply an were reaping were the disadvantages of being economic policy, but actually a security policy. close to the United States. They were not The French, the Italians, the Portuguese, the getting any advantages at all from being so Spaniards -- those are the ones in particular close to the United States. who are frightened of a flood of The US is reach and there is a kind of unemployment from North Africa into Europe. osmosis- a political osmosis, but I think also And some, of course, are afraid not only of the an economic osmosis. The economy of the unemployed. Some think they don't like the US pulls people from Mexico into the United export of Islamic fundamentalism into Europe. States. The US has been trying very hard to But I think that's a minor problem. The real 28 October 1999 97 problem is unemployment, people moving into Africa. None. And, I think, to some extent the Europe from North Africa. Europe has a plan. urge of imperialism has gone. So you could They can't just sit there and watch this easily be forgotten. Africa is of interest when happening. European countries will have to we are killing one another. Then we arouse a work together to help the countries of North lot of interest. The big news now in Europe Africa to create jobs. and North America is not here. It's in Congo The other bloc is Japan. Japan is small, Brazzaville; Congo Brazzaville is now big Japan is wealthy, Japan doesn't like other news. The television screens are full of what people going to Japan. They don't like that. is happening in Congo Brazzaville. That's But they are a big trading nation and they are news. And won't last for long. It might last until pouring a lot of money into Asia, and I think the end of this week, then it's out. And then, if they'll do it in China also. I don't think they'll Africa wants to appear on European be frightened of China. They'll put money in television, we can cause more trouble China. somewhere, I think I've made that point. So there are those three blocs of countries, Africa south of the Sahara is isolated. Africa three power blocs -- power developing in Asia, south of the Sahara, in the world today, is on power developing in North America, power its own -- totally on its own. That's the first developing in Europe- and those countries thing I wanted to say. The second thing I which are geographically in the orbit of those wanted to say is that Africa is changing. I've areas. These rich areas are being forced to been to Europe, Asia, North America and help the countries which are near them. Latin America, and Africa is a stereotype. The Africa south of the Sahara is different - Africa which now arouses some interest is the completely different. It's not in the orbit of any Brazzaville Africa, that Rwanda Africa, that of those big areas. If you people here are Somalia Africa, that Liberia Africa. That is the unemployed, very few of you will want to go to Africa which arouses interest, and I don't the US. The unemployed here will stay here. blame these people. That's the Africa that But so will unemployed in Tanzania. We'll not they know. go to the US. We'll not go Europe. Certainly And so I go out. I come from Tanzania, and we'd never dream of going to Japan or we don't have these blessed troubles that anywhere else. A trickle will go out -- the they have in other places, but I go out. stowaways. But there is no answer to our Sometimes I get annoyed, but sometimes I unemployment in running away from where don't get annoyed. Here I am a former we are. And if you try it, it won't work. president of my country. There are no So the USA is not frightened of problems in Tanzania -- we have never had unemployment in Africa south of the Sahara. these problems that they have -- but I'm an It's your problem. It's not their problem. They African. So when they see me they ask about will not do here or in Tanzania or in Nigeria, the problems of Rwanda. I say, "I don't come what they are doing about Mexico. No, it's not from Rwanda." And they answer, "But you a problem for them, and it's not a problem for come from Africa" But if Blair were to come to Europe either. Europe has a problem arising Dar es Salaam, I wouldn't ask him what is from Algeria, yes, or even from Egypt, from happening in Bosnia. If I meet President Kohi that part of the world. But from Africa south of somewhere. I don't ask him, "what is the Sahara? No, they've no fear of a problem happening in Chechnya? Kohi could say, there. There is no flood of unemployed "Why are you asking about Chechnya? I don't moving from this area going to Europe to seek know hat is happening in Chechnya." jobs. So what would be the imperative from But this is not true about Africa. Mr. President, Europe? What pressure has Europe to deal here you are trying to build something which with you people, unless you create some very is a tremendous experience, but perhaps you attractive means of attracting a few business are different. Sometimes they think South people? Africa is different, so perhaps they would say, And in Asia, the Japanese are afraid that if "This is President Mandela, this is different." they don't share their wealth with some of the But for the likes of me, no, I am an African. poor, these poor might come to Japan. Those And sometimes I get irritated, but then I say, poor are not the African poor from this part of "Why? Why do I get irritated?" Because, of the world. They are from Asia. course, I am a Tanzanian. So that is the first thing I wanted to say about But what is this Tanzania? Why should these Africa south of the Sahara. You are isolated Europeans see me as a Tanzanian? What is from the centres of power. There is no internal this Tanzania? This is something we tried to urge in the US, in Europe or in Japan to help create in my lifetime. I built Tanzania. So what 28 October 1999 98 is this Tanzania? The Europeans are right. the country, he goes out, and he leaves that The North Americans are right to look at me country with a debt of US$14 billion. as an African, not as a Tanzanian, because That money has done nothing for the people Tanzania is a creation of colonialism, which is of Congo. So I sit down with friends of the causing us a lot of trouble on the continent. World Bank and IMF. I say, "You know where So, to some extent, Europeans are right when that money is. Are you going to ask Kabila to they choose to see us in this differentiated tax the poor Congolese to pay that money? manner. The Tanzania here is a president of That would be a crime. It's criminal." And that Tanzania. He struggled there for 23 years was the type of leadership we had over a before he stepped down to try and turn those large part of Africa. They were leaders put 125 tribes into some kind of nation, and he there either by the French or by the has succeeded to some extent. This is what I Americans. When we had the Cold War, boy, I want them to think of. Why? They see me tell you, we couldn't breathe. correctly as an African. So that is where I But Africa is changing. You can make a map want to end. This is the other thing I really of Africa and just look at the countries wanted to say. stretching from Eritrea to here. Just draw a Africa South of the Sahara is isolated, Africa line and see all those countries. You still have south of the Sahara is changing. That a Somalia and a Burundi there, but it's a very stereotype of "There is trouble in Africa all the different kind of Africa now, it has elected time" is nonsensical. There is trouble in Africa, governments, it has confident governments. there is trouble in Asia, there is trouble in Actually, most of those countries with the Europe, there is trouble everywhere, and it exception of Uganda, have never been under would be amazing if after the suffering of the military rule. Never! And since your coming blessed continent for the last 100 years, we onto the scene, this is completely different didn't have what we are having. Some of kind of Africa. these nations we have are not nations at all. When we were struggling here, South Africa They make no sense at all, any geographical still under apartheid, and you being a sense or ethnic sense or economic sense. destabiliser of your neighbours instead of They don't. The Europeans set somewhere working together with them to develop our and said, "you take that part, you take that continent, of course that was a different thing. part." They drew these lines on a map and It was a terrible thing. Here was a powerful here we are, trying to create nations which are South Africa, and this power was a curse to almost impossible to create. But we are us. It was not a blessing for us. We wished it changing. The continent is changing. away, because it was not a blessing at all. It My friend who was introducing me mentioned destroyed Angola with a combination of . I'm glad you still use the word apartheid; it was a menace to Mozambique "neocolonialism", because, you know. We and a menace to its neighbours, but that has went through a period when some of our changed. South Africa is democratic. South people thought we were so advanced now to Africa is no longer trying to destroy the others. talk about neocolonialism. Uh-uh, no, no. It is South Africa is now working with the others. almost communist to talk about And, boy please work with the others! neocolonialism. He is a communist? Well, I And don't accept this nonsense that South am not a communist, but I agree with you! We Africa is big brother. My brother, you can't be went through a neocolonial period in Africa. It big brother. What is your per capita income? nearly destroyed all the hopes of the struggle Your per capita income is about US$3,000 a for the liberation of the continent, with a bunch year. Of course compared with Tanzania you of soldiers taking over power all over the are a giant. But you are poor. When you begin continent, pushed, instigated and assisted by to use that money this is arithmetic, simple the people who talk about this stereotype of arithmetic and if you divide the wealth of this Africa. country for the population, of course We have just got rid of Mobutu, who put him everybody gets US$3, 000, but not everybody there? I don't know what Lumumba would in this country is getting US$ 3,000. That have been if he had been allowed to live. I would be a miracle. That is simply arithmetic. don't know. He was an elected leader, but So when you begin to use that wealth, Mr. angered the powerful and they removed him President and I know you are trying to within weeks. Then Mobutu came on the address the legacy of apartheid -- you have scene within weeks and he's been there no money. You are still different from since. He was the worst of the lot. He loots Tanzania, but you have no money. You are still more powerful. So Tanzania and the 28 October 1999 99 others to say that South Africa is big brother, beginning to realise and we should all and they must not throw their weight around, encourage Africa to get that realisation more what kind of weight is that? And, in any case, and more that we have to depend upon our this would be positive weight, not the negative selves, both at national level and at the weight of apartheid. collective level. Each of our countries will So this is a different Africa. I am saying that have to rely upon its own human resources this Africa now is changing. Neocolonialism is and natural material resources for its being fought more effectively, I think, with a development. But that is not enough. The next new leadership in Africa. And I believe the area to look at is our collectivity, our working one region which can lead this fight is our together. We all enhance our capacity to region. With the end of apartheid and South develop if we work together. Africa having joined SADC, this area of Africa Retyped by SARDC is a very solid area. It is an extremely solid **Southern African News Features (SANF) area. It is strong, it has serious leaders and can be reproduced with credit to SARDC and these leaders know one another. I know that the author. SANF is available at our website because where some of them have come www.sardc.net, and upon request at from, They have a habit of working together, [email protected]. Mr. President, so let them work together. Southern African Research and Deliberately. It should be a serious decision to Documentation Centre (SARDC)- P.O. Box work together. Why? You have no other 5690, Harare, Zimbabwe - Tel: 263-4- choice. You have absolutely no other choice. 738694/5/6 - Fax: 738693 - Email: South Africa, because of its infrastructure, can [email protected] Website: www.sardc.net attract more investment from Europe, from North America, than Tanzania can. Fine, go UN Integrated Regional Information ahead. Do it, use your capacity to get as much investment as you can. That's good. But Network then don't be isolated from the rest of Africa. What you build here because of your IRIN Focus on the union infrastructure and the relative strength of your October 28, 1999 economy, you are building for all of us here. Nairobi - As mourning continues in Tanzania The power that Germany has is European over the death of former Tanzanian president power, and the Europeans are moving and "father of the nation" Julius Nyerere, together. The small and the big are working many are questioning the future of the union together. It is absurd for Africa to think that between the mainland and the islands of we, these little countries of Africa, can do it Pemba and Zanzibar. alone. Belgium has 10 million people. Africa Speaking at Nyerere's funeral on Saturday, south of the Sahara if you exclude South President Benjamin Mkapa warned that Africa has 470 million Africans, I sit down with anyone "dreaming about breaking the unity of the Prime Minister of Belgium, and he talks to Tanzania, generating insecurity or stirring up me about European unity. I say, "You are tensions will be dealt with ruthlessly and their small, your country is very small, so how can activities curtailed". He added that the you talk of European unity with giants like government would do "all in its power to Germany and the others? He says, "This protect Nyerere's legacy of love, unity and question of the protection of our sovereignty harmony" but would not tolerate anyone we leave to the big powers. We lost our causing insecurity on the basis of tribe or sovereignty ages ago." religion. These countries are old, their sovereignty is Nyerere, who led the country to independence old. These Europeans fought wars. When we from Britain in 1961 and achieved the union of were studying history, it was the history of the mainland Tanganyika with Pemba and wars of Europe. They fought and fought, and [Zanzibar] in 1964, died in London from they called their wars World Wars. But now I leukaemia on 14 October. can't imagine Europeans fighting. No, war in Many analysts contacted by IRIN believe Europe is an endangered species. I think it's Mkapa's fears could well be his own and not a gone, certainly war between one country and reflection of the current reality on the ground. another. The internal problems you will still They believe there are no threats "yet" to the have, the problem of the Balkans, but that is a union. reflection of something that is like Africa. "There is no danger at the moment that the So I'm saying that Africa is changing because union could disintegrate," Dr Sengondo the leadership in Africa is changing. Africa is Mvungi, a lecturer at Dar es Salaam 28 October 1999 100

University and legal adviser to the opposition smoothed and the risk of them erupting during National Convention for Construction and Nyerere's time was minimal," he told IRIN. Reform party said. "The truth is that it [the "Now, the situation could be unclear without union] could be more consolidated than ever. the unifying factor or an agent of the calibre of The majority of people, between 85-90 Nyerere." percent, endorse the union both on the Another regional analyst added there was mainland and the islands," he told IRIN. He possibility of Tanzanians "rediscovering their added that political squabbles on the own identity" and "maybe favouring a mainland and in Zanzibar "are often the breakaway". "It is too early to know but there voices of the elite". may be a problem in the future," the analyst However, he cautioned that the present said. Some observers have suggested that structure of the union may be "ill- suited" to Islamic fundamentalism may surface in the make it "flourish" in the future. "The Kisanga islands of Pemba and Zanzibar, posing a commission [set up by the government to potentially serious threat to the union. gather views on possible amendments to the This item is delivered by the UN's IRIN constitution and the union] will give an insight humanitarian information unit (e- mail: as to how the people want the union and the [email protected]; fax: +254 2 622129; constitution to be," he said. But for the time Web: http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN), but may being, there was no party with the strength to not necessarily reflect the views of the United dislodge the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi Nations. If you re-print, copy, archive or re- (CCM), he stressed. post this item, please retain this credit and Norway's Ambassador to Tanzania Nils-Johan disclaimer. Jorgensen observed that Tanzanians are "very proud of the unity, sense of stability and Copyright (c) 1999 UN Integrated Regional peace, and it would not be politically easy to Information Network. Distributed via Africa change this dramatically". "I haven't seen News Online (www.africanews.org). For anything that would disturb that stability and information about the content or for the continuity of the Nyerere legacy," he told permission to redistribute, publish or use for IRIN. broadcast, contact the publisher. "Anyone trying to break this would be terribly unpopular," he added. "There is something very strong which is the sense of peace and unity." But he noted that although the CCM was powerful in both the mainland and Zanzibar, it was "not very clear" what would happen in the latter which would "have to solve its internal political dilemma". Zanzibar has a strong opposition party, the Civic United Front (CUF), which is campaigning to prevent the island's President of the CCM from running for a third term. Eighteen CUF supporters are currently imprisoned, and Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku has launched an initiative to mediate between the two parties. Jorgensen pointed out that Tanzania's democracy is young. "The fact that only one party has been in power for a long time, does not mean it is undemocratic, although the presence of an opposition to check on the government's performance is equally desirable," he said. A regional analyst and lecturer at the University of Nairobi's Institute of Diplomacy, Professor Moustafa Hassuni, said Mkapa was afraid "the ghosts of unity may resurface". "The rifts and divisions which may have existed in CCM or in the union were somehow 29 October 1999 101

"In its work as a whole in support of justice, peace, development, human rights and 29 October 1999 freedom, the WCC was also guided by his words that 'If the church is not part of our All Africa News Agency poverty, and part of our struggle against poverty and injustice, then it is not part of us' ". Julius Nyerere: A Concrete For the Rev Sam Kobia from Kenya, director Example Of Commitment for Issues and Themes, while the world would October 29, 1999 do well to emulate his unostentatious lifestyle, by Special Correspondent Africa might pay a fitting tribute to Nyerere by Geneva - The following tribute to the continuing to work for unity and peace. renowned African elder statesman and former Publication date: November 1, 1999 president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, who died on October 14, has been paid by the Rev Copyright (c) 1999 All Africa News Agency. Dr Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the Distributed via Africa News Online World Council of Churches WCC: (www.africanews.org). For information about "Throughout Africa's struggle for liberation the content or for permission to redistribute, from colonisation and against apartheid the publish or use for broadcast, contact the World Council of Churches, in its efforts to publisher. support that cause, sought the guidance and insights of the man who, as chairman of the Who Else Would Get The Credit For 'frontline states', inspired and exemplified the Peace And Unity? struggle. "As we share in the grief over the loss of our October 29, 1999 friend and mentor Julius Nyerere and express Nairobi - The late former Tanzanian our sincere condolences to his family and President, Julius Kabarage Nyerere, was the friends, we give thanks to God for his life and peaceful son of a continent associated with pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace. wars, ethnic divisions, dictatorships and "Julius Nyerere lived a simple life in harmony famine among other evils. (also see Features with his message and the values of truth and section) justice to which he referred. Incorruptible and Nyerere's native country, Tanzania, is the only fully accountable, his life and work set an nation in Africa that has known peace, example of integrity that challenged his freedom, religion and ethnic harmony for country and people, the rest of Africa and the nearly four decades. He was fondly known as world. Mwalimu, the teacher - a tribute to his initial "In many ways, Nyerere was the conscience profession and astute leadership. of Africa. His voluntary relinquishment of the Credit for unity and peace goes to Nyerere, presidency is evidence of that, but other the son of former colonial chief, who was examples of his integrity abound. brought up as a Christian but wore Muslim "Nyerere was a man of tremendous cap during his days as president of Tanzania. intellectual and moral resources. During the Nyerere is the only African leader to long struggle for decolonisation of the remember that the continent's pre- Portuguese colonies and of Southern independence and post-independence Rhodesia, as well as in the battle against problems are land related and promise to be apartheid in Namibia and South Africa, he put so as long as the statutes remain colonial or his capacities to work in the service of colonial laced. resistance and the liberation struggle. "Africans waged wars against the Berlin "A concrete example of his commitment was partitioners of Africa to regain land, a lost the welcome given by Tanzania to refugees birthright. Community conflicts are land from the Portuguese colonies and South based," Nyerere once said. Africa, land and resources for development Nyerere parted ways with counterparts and and education being specially set aside for proclaimed Tanzania a . With their needs. the package came the controversial "During these years, the WCC through its nationalisation of the land which eliminated Programme to Combat Racism PCR not only speculators. offered financial support to such refugee Of all Nyerere's pronouncements, the Arusha settlements, but frequently consulted Nyerere, declaration that gave birth to Ujamaa or drawing on his wisdom and experience. familyhood remains the secret of unity and 29 October 1999 102 peace envied and admired by many who The former president hosted the OAU wonder how 120 tribes could be so Liberation Committee headquarters to provide harmonious. logistic and military assistance to liberators. After the collapse of communism in the Soviet Tanzania, in Nyerere's days and now, is home Union, the donor community abandoned their to thousands of African refugees fleeing creation, African despots. They introduced genocide in their countries. multi-partism and coined phrases that were as Liberators and refugees alike are fighting to old as Nyerere's vocabulary. regain birthright, land. Nyerere found a Accountability and transparency, welfare solution to Africa's problems before powerful system and empowerment of the rural folk - all Western nations returned to do so. these attributes that the donor communities Nyerere is dead. The legacy remains. Why advocate today were part of Nyerere's can't African countries emulate the statesman socialism package in Ujamaa. of the century to forestall disasters? Education, social services and shelter were Publication date: November 1, 1999 free in Nyerere's socialist Tanzania. Last but not least, Nyerere created Ombudsman to Copyright (c) 1999 All Africa News Agency. check on abuses and corruption. Distributed via Africa News Online Seven, a divine and sacred figure in some (www.africanews.org). For information about African communities dominated the life and the content or for permission to redistribute, times of a man who died at age 77 fighting for publish or use for broadcast, contact the rights and total liberation of the continent. publisher. Nyerere was born 37 years after the partitioning of Africa in Berlin. On July 7, The Day The Villagers Lost Their 1954, he founded a liberation movement, Favourite Son Tanganyika Africa National Union TANU to fight against the partitioners of the continent. October 29, 1999 Seven years later, Tanganyika became by Stephen Mbogo independent and TANU, under Nyerere, Nairobi - As Tanzanians buried the country's assumed the leadership of the East African founding father and senior statesman, Dr nation. Julius Kambarage Nyerere on October 23 in In 1967 Nyerere proclaimed Tanzania a the humble setting of his birthplace, Butiama, socialist state and presided over the formation villagers in this northern region expressed of the three-nation East African Community their heart-felt impressions on the departed which collapsed 10 years later because of leader who Tanzanians fondly referred to as ideological differences between Tanzania and Mwalimu, Kiswahili word for teacher. a partner, Kenya. Fr Rev Tomas Marando, who has pastored In 1977, Nyerere merged TANU and Afro- the late Mwalimu for the last two years at Our Shirazi political parties to find Chama Cha Lady of Precious Blood of Jesus, about 400 Mapinduzi (Revolution Party). The next year, metres from Nyerere's home said: "I have he waged a seven-month successful witnessed the old man constantly perfecting conventional war against dictator Idi Amin of his spiritual life, through attending the Mass Uganda. Nyerere was among the founders of without fail on Sundays, mid-week and the Group of 77 developing countries. evenings, whenever he was within the area". He celebrated 100 years of the scramble for The local parish priest added that the church Africa by retiring from presidency of a poor was built by the Catholic bishops as a way of and proud nation but swore to continue the taking the pastoral service closer to Mwalimu struggle against apartheid and vestiges of after he retired as head of state in 1985. colonialism. Before this, Mwalimu used to attend his mass Fourteen years after retirement, last October at Zanaki (Magorombe) Catholic Church, 14, at 77, Mwalimu Nyerere died in London about 13 kilometres from his home at Butiama following hospitalisation there making figure village, according to Fr., Marando. "seven" significant in the Tanzania political "Sometimes Mwalimu would go without full calendar. breakfast, having shared it with the children, Nyerere lived an uncompromising life. He was who used to time him at breakfast time". non-aligned in the true sense of the word. He 74-year old Mama Dorothy Msoga, who has was friendly to China and Cuba because served Nyerere's household as a these countries provided military support to housekeeper in the past says: "Sometimes liberation movements he provided with Mwalimu would go without full breakfast, training bases. 29 October 1999 103 having shared it with the children, who used to There were times he would work in the time him at breakfast time". shamba (farm) from morning to evening, "I would sometimes hear Mwalimu from the without a break. He grew maize, cassava, kitchen beckoning them(children)… Njooni!, among other farm products, and he also kept njooni!, nyinyi ni watoto wangu ( Come! Come cows and goats, he says. right in my children!) and they would rush in "By the time of his death, he planned to haphazardly and Mwalimu would request me introduce modern dairy cows, a project, he to bring more food. This did happen many a once confided to me, would act as a time, she recalled. demonstrating arena for the villagers that this 71-year-old Teresia Nyakigi, sister to the late would be practically possible," Msengu added. Nyerere says: " He was everything to us . He Muslim Juma Hamisi Kakwaya Nyamberere, a cared for us, from advice to financial needs. Koran teacher in Butiama village says: " We hope the trend will continue especially on Mwalimu was very accommodating when it financial line. The Government has already came to religious faith of the people". promised, but we wait to see it happening". He cites a case where Nyerere planned to The old woman, was referring to an earlier assist Muslim villagers in the construction of a announcement by Tanzanian leader, mosque for them, about 200 metres from his President Benjamin Mkapa that the house. Government would do everything possible to The project reached the foundation level by "assist" Mwalimu's family. Mkapa spoke at the the time Nyerere passed away on October 14. graveside . he former leader had already made his Mama Nyakigi and his brother Josephat personal donation equivalent to half the cost Kiboko, 67, are the only remaining members of the project. I hope the good gesture of in the family of Nyerere, whose father, the late Mwalimu will find its way to realisation, says Mzee Burito Wanzagi, was a traditional chief Juma Hamisi. for the Wazanaki tribal community. The Chief of Zanaki area, 42-year-old 32-year-old Muslim woman, Adijah Mgendi Josephat Wanzagi, whose father Edward recalls vividly how in 1978, she approached Wanzagi Nyerere was brother to the former Mwalimu for some help. She was in dire need president's father, Burito Nyerere, recalls for a set of uniform, shoes and socks. This vividly how Mwalimu presented to him 12 was the day Mwalimu visited her school, Bibles during his installation ceremony as Butiama Primary School. chief in 1997. She says: " I knelt in front of him as a sign of "He told me to distribute them among my respect and presented my case. I was about people while he gave me an extra one, 10 by then. He held me by his hand. Took me stressing 'You need one for yourself '. As a to a nearby tailor and asked him to make a leader he advised me to be always be close to uniform for me. He paid him and told him to God's word," recalls the chief. have it ready by the end of the day. Robert Madebe, 36, says Nyerere taught him "He then took me to a nearby shoe shop. how to play Bao, the African equivalent of Bought me a pair of shoes (tennis) and a pair chess." We later played together during 1996, of socks. I thanked him and then run back to 1997 and 1998. And for all that time until later school". She is now married and runs a small part of his life, I only managed to win twice. restaurant at Centre, about 300 metres, from He was too smart for me," recalls Madebe Mwalimu's house . "I was very proud to have from Bisarye village within Butiama area. "He been very close to Mwalimu. I cared for his welcomed everybody. This is how people, flock, about 20 cows, African breed, ten of especially those who happen to be too close which was a gift from Uganda's President to him, will always remember him". Yoweri Museveni to Mwalimu". Daniel Nyerere, a cousin to the former leader Ambasi Msengu, who described himself as says: " Mwalimu had too much of humanity, Dakitari wa mifugo wa Mwalimu (extension humility to accommodate everybody who officer for veterinary services for Mwalimu's came across him, be it a child, old, baled, farms) has worked for Mwalimu for the last disabled, educated or less educated. This is two years. how Mwalimu lived. This is how people, He says: "I was very proud to have been very especially those who happen to be too close close to Mwalimu. I cared for his flock, about to him, will always remember him". 20 cows, African breed, ten of which was a While presiding over the requiem Mass for gift from Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni Nyerere at the very church which he attended to Mwalimu". his Mass, the Our Lady of Precious Blood of Jesus, about 400 metres from his house, 29 October 1999 104

Archbishop Anthony Mayala of Mwanza said: The authority's director-general, Gerald "Mwalimu had set a good example of moral Bigurube, said that the body was also uprightness, integrity and submission to enlisting the support of villagers to betray the prayer". poachers before they struck. In the Selous He added that these were the secrets behind Game Reserve, 45 villages are now engaged Nyerere's successful leadership. The founding in the protection of the wild animals on their father of Tanzania was a devout Catholic and land. a man of wisdom. He was a moral leader, Village scouts are assisting the Selous game worth emulating, noted the Catholic authorities to combat poaching in return for an clergyman. income which the villages deploy in Publication date: November 1, 1999 development projects. Similar efforts are being employed by the Copyright (c) 1999 All Africa News Agency. Kilimanjaro National Park Authority where Distributed via Africa News Online poaching, especially of bushbuck and buffalo, (www.africanews.org). For information about is very rampant. the content or for permission to redistribute, Confirming that poaching is rampant in the publish or use for broadcast, contact the region, the authority's chief park warden, L. publisher. ole Moirana, said game trophies found their way to markets abroad while game meat was Panafrican News Agency often supplied to local butchers. Unconfirmed reports suggest that game wardens often work in difficult and at times Tanzanian Authorities Crackdown dangerous situations without necessary On Poachers logistics like weapons and radio equipment. October 29, 1999 Compared to the 1980s, authorities are, by Nicodemus Odhiambo however, elated that elephant poaching has at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Wildlife least been brought to a bare minimum. authorities have launched a massive The incidents had been so rampant in the crackdown on poachers in Tanzania's national Selous that a special campaign code- named parks, amid reports that the country had lost "Operation Uhai" (operation life) was launched 35 percent of its wildlife population in the past to avert the slaughter of further beasts. five years. As the largest protected area in the world and A total of 4,333 arrests have been made in the home to over half of Tanzania's elephants, the sprawling Serengeti National Park, in Mara Selous is a big attraction to tourists. region, northern Tanzania, in the last four years alone. Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Authorities also recovered a total of 24 guns, Distributed via Africa News Online 100 hunting dogs, 32 axes and 673 machetes (www.africanews.org). For information about during the same period in the world-famous the content or for permission to redistribute, Serengeti. publish or use for broadcast, contact the The crackdown comes at a time when publisher. speculators say that the country's wildlife had plummeted tremendously. The East African A recent report in the British newspaper, The Guardian, said that animal population in He Did Not Think His Life Was in Tanzania had dropped to an "unsustainable" point. Danger Independent sources say that the population October 29, 1999 of rhinos in the south-eastern Seolous Game By Premy Kibanga park alone had declined from 2,000 in 1970 to Dar-es-Salaam - The late father of the nation less than 150 three years ago. Kambarage Nyerere thought he was going for Government officials, however, say that the a normal medical check-up when he went to number of elephants there had risen from London. He did not talk of death. He did not 30,000 to 57,000 within 10 years. As a leave any last words. measure to curb the poaching menace, park "He did not expect to die when they took him wardens are currently being retrained in skills to the hospital. He thought his was a normal that would help them fight off sophisticated check-up. But when he was given the poacher weaponry, the Tanzania National sedatives, he did not wake up," said Parks Authority, said. 29 October 1999 105

Madaraka, one of his sons, in an exclusive Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. interview with The EastAfrican. Distributed via Africa News Online It is therefore believed that Nyerere did not (www.africanews.org). For information about leave any special instructions about his death the content or for permission to redistribute, or choice of his burial site because he did not publish or use for broadcast, contact the think his life was threatened. publisher. He is said to have even asked to be taken back home to continue with his Burundi South Africa Remembers Nyerere negotiations in Arusha. as One of Its Own "I talked to him a few days before he was admitted to the hospital. He was impatient to October 29, 1999 return to Tanzania to carry on with his By Chris Erasmus Special Correspondent facilitation of the Burundi peace process. I Nairobi - If Mwalimu Julius Nyerere had been pleaded with him to desist from taking such a the founding father of South Africa and not step," said President Mkapa in his eulogy at Tanzania, he would hardly have received a the National Stadium during the state funeral more dignified farewell here than he has on Thursday. done. Although a member of Nyerere's family, Mr. South Africans from across the political Joseph Butiku, had said that Mwalimu had spectrum, including many who once chosen his burial place, a dispute arose at his denounced him as puppet of the evil home village between community elders and communist masterminds in Beijing and one of Nyerere's sons in Butiama. Moscow, if not as a demon himself, praised Sources said the government was the former Tanzania head of state as a great disappointed that it could not bury Mwalimu African and a fine human being. Nyerere at the Karimjee Hall in Dar-es- South African President Thabo Mbeki ordered Salaam. The building is located next to the that the country's flags be flown at half-mast national museum. It was used for for five days of mourning in recognition of parliamentary sessions before the Nyerere's role in South Africa's move from government decided to transferred Parliament apartheid and the achievement of a multi- to Dodoma. party democracy. "We wanted to have Mwalimu as the first Mr. Mbeki, who was one of several heads of leader to be laid to rest there so that we could state to attend Mwalimu Nyerere's funeral, turn it into a heroes' burial ground," said a shared the sentiments of the many posters source, adding that the government was bearing the wording: Farewell Father of the considering making the Karimjee grounds the Nation. final resting place for state leaders. Mr. Mbeki was heading a high-powered South Many Tanzanians did not expect Nyerere to African delegation that included Inkatha die. Although the president's office gave Freedom Party President and Home Affairs regular bulletins on his health condition, his Minister Mongosuthu Buthelizi, Foreign Affairs death still came as a shock to many. Minister Nkosazana Zuma, and Speaker in Thus when the his body arrived in Dar-es- Parliament Frene Ginwala. Salaam on Monday, October 18th, the whole Although Mwalimu Nyerere's passing, aged city came to a standstill. Deep mourning 77, from leukaemia in a London hospital came cloaked the days his body lay in state in Dar. as no great surprise, his death has hit hard People of all age groups, colours and faith many South Africans, especially those who lined the road and streets from Dar es Salaam were involved in the liberation struggle against airport to Mwalimu's residence in Msasani, apartheid and racism in this country and some 20-km long route. region. Nyerere was admitted to at St Thomas's Like so many African leaders who praised Hospital in London on September 24. Mwalimu Nyerere, most South Africans feel He was given sedatives to help put him to they have lost a beloved godfather to their total rest while doctors treated other young nation. complications related to his sicknesses. In the media and on the streets, Mwalimu has He took long to wake up and the doctors later been praised for his selfless contributions to said he had slipped into a coma and a brain the cause of African liberation. scan revealed that he had suffered a massive He has been described as a tireless defender stroke from which he could not recover. He of just causes and a worthy architect of the was pronounced dead on October 14. African people's victory in gaining their rightful place among the nations of the world. 29 October 1999 106

Just as Nelson Mandela is widely known by rights abuses in other parts of Africa, such as his nickname of Madiba, many South Africans by Idi Amin in Uganda. fondly refer to Nyerere as Mwalimu. He had possessed the rare quality of being an From streetsweepers to parliamentarians, honest politician. But his removal of 14 million there was a general sense last week that peasants to communal villages had all but Africa had lost a great man and that South destroyed Tanzania's economy, added Dr Africans of all races and creeds owed him a Geldenhuys. huge debt. The South African media reflected much the Such is the feeling towards Mwalimu that not same spectrum of opinion, with the Afrikaans one but two formal memorial services were press highlighting the forced resettlement of held for him last week. peasants under Nyerere's Ujamaa policy, Deputy President Jacob Zuma and saying it was "one of Africa's most disastrous representatives of all parties in the National experiments in social engineering, enforced Assembly also paid tribute to Mwalimu. They by an autocratic, one-party government." unanimously adopted a motion expressing But even Business Day had to concede that National Assembly's condolences and support Mwalimu had been remarkably honest as an to his family and the people of Tanzania. individual, had not enriched himself through Mr. Zuma said Mwalimu had been "one of the his office, as have so many other African giants" of the African continent. leaders, and in the end had voluntarily stood His name permeated all the significant down from office, thereby saving his nation moments of the continent's development from much grief and pain. its colonial past, and he had played a key Papers with a predominantly black readership supportive role in South Africa's path to heaped praise on Mwalimu and largely freedom. glossed over the mistakes of his leadership, "The best way to remember Mwalimu is to saying that at the least his intentions were continue the struggle to free all Africans from pure, even if Ujamaa had failed in its hunger and starvation; from homelessness; application. from diseases that are killing millions of our people; from joblessness; illiteracy, conflict Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. and war; from tyranny and from oppression," Distributed via Africa News Online Mr. Zuma said. (www.africanews.org). For information about Dr Ginwala said prior to her departure for the content or for permission to redistribute, Mwalimu's funeral that under Dr Nyerere, she publish or use for broadcast, contact the had hosted thousands of exiles from Southern publisher. Africa. Africa would be the poorer from his death. Balancing Relative Values at the Democratic Party foreign affairs spokesman Funeral (Opinion) Colin Eglin said Mwalimu had been deeply committed to the development of Tanzanians October 29, 1999 and to the liberation of Southern Africa's By Mike Okema people from colonialism and racism. Dar-es-Salaam - It had all along been taken He had realised in the course of time that his for granted that Mwalimu had no private life. policies of resettling millions of peasant This line of thought was encouraged by the farmers and of a one-party state had not fact that he never accumulated any wealth. worked as well as he had hoped, and had Of the four houses he possessed - one in become more pragmatic. Msasani, Dar-es-Salaam and three in Today Tanzania is a healthy multi-party Butiama, his native village - two were gifts. He democracy, Mr. Eglin said. built the first house before joining politics. In The Inkatha Freedom Party's Joe Matthews, 1974, the party decided the house was no deputy minister of safety and security, said longer worthy of his status and built him Mwalimu had been a "very bold and another one. imaginative" leader. On April 13, 1999, which was taken to be Even one of Mwalimu's harshest critics in the Mwalimu's 77th birthday, the army gave him past, the New National Party, found praise for another house in Butiama as a birthday Nyerere. Dr Boy Geldenhuys, the NNP's present, mainly because his library was foreign affairs spokesman, said that apart getting larger by the day and there was no from his opposition to apartheid, Nyerere had longer enough space in his Butiama village also "taken up the battle axe" against human houses for his books. This is not much in the 29 October 1999 107 way of possessions for a man who was relationships. It was a delicate balance president for 23 years. between public and private life that lasted only Even so, there is more to private life than as long as he lived. His death marked the end worldly possessions. of that balance. On the one hand, Mwalimu never gave his offspring special treatment just because they Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. were the children of the president. On the Distributed via Africa News Online other hand, it was a close-knit family where (www.africanews.org). For information about even some grown-up children continued to the content or for permission to redistribute, live in close vicinity to their parents until publish or use for broadcast, contact the Mwalimu retired from the presidency and publisher. returned to the village. Treating his children like any other citizens A Legacy of Unity, But Not of meant none was being prepared to take on Democracy (Opinion) the old man's mantle. This has resulted in a certain leadership vacuum within the family. October 29, 1999 Of all the children, Makongoro alone turned to By Charles Onyango-Obbo politics, becoming an MP for Arusha town on Dar-es-Salaam - The numbers tell the story. the opposition NCCR ticket. But his stint on The funeral last week of former Tanzanian the political stage has been brief and he has leader "Mwalimu" Julius Nyerere was possibly let it be known he does not plan a comeback the third biggest in Africa. The biggest ever in the near future. remains that of former Egyptian leader Gamal Makongoro has acted as the family Abdel Nasser in 1970. spokesman ever since his father was taken ill. The second was, possibly, again an He has, however, made it clear to the press Egyptian's, that of singer Umm Kulthoum, the that he is not the new chief of the clan, diva of Arab song, in February 1975. Her pointing out that he is only the fifth child. funeral procession was nearly two kilometres This lack of leadership has affected the whole long, and over two million people turned up. funeral procedure. Tanzanians had taken it for And then there was Nyerere's. granted that Mwalimu's funeral and burial Nyerere, interestingly, was like both. He was a would be public, not private, and it was visionary, an African Big Man (with a small generally assumed he would be buried stick), an intellectual with a sense of humour somewhere in Dar-es-Salaam or Dodoma, the who contributed something lasting to political new capital. Mwalimu had not indicated where thought and practice; as Nasser fashioned he wanted his final resting place to be. So his Pan-Arabism and was a Pan-Africanist too, relatives argued that since, upon retirement, Nyerere gave us Ujaama and was a great Mwalimu had returned to his native village, he Pan-Africanist too. would have preferred a private burial in Like Umm Kulthoum, on the other hand, Butiama. Nyerere had a remarkable ability to remain Within the clan, there was another wrangle connected to the masses and to evoke their going on as to the exact spot where Mwalimu love, while captivating the high and mighty at would be buried. Elders, led by Chief the same time. Wanzagi, wanted Nyerere to be laid to rest He even managed to evoke the admiration of next to his parents. Emil Magige, Nyerere's sworn enemies like Idi Amin. First Amin son, on the other hand wanted his father to proposed that his regime's differences with have the back of the new house for a resting Tanzania be sorted out in a simple and manly place. Digging the grave was thus delayed for fashion - he invited the slightly built Nyerere to a few days. step into a ring with him and box it out. It took the intervention of the Minister for When Nyerere didn't take him up on this offer, Labour and Youth Development, Paul Kimiti, Amin resignedly said he would have married in his capacity as a member of the official Mwalimu had the Tanzanian leader been a burial committee, to strike a compromise: woman. Presumably, he would have Nyerere was to be buried in front of the new appeased Tanzanian pride with a hefty bride house where his statue stands. price. It would be idle to ponder what Nyerere Nyerere remained unimpressed. In a last act himself would have preferred. Public of madness, Amin's troops invaded Tanzania expectations were based on what he was in 1978; Nyerere hit back and ended his perceived to be. Family expectations on the tyranny in 1979. For that, Nyerere earned other hand have reflected his private 29 October 1999 108 himself a very special place in the hearts of Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. many Ugandans. Distributed via Africa News Online At the end of the day though, the Nyerere (www.africanews.org). For information about mystique tells us less about the man, than it the content or for permission to redistribute, does about Africa. publish or use for broadcast, contact the Nyerere, to put it bluntly, was a one-party publisher. dictator. David Lamb, in his caustic book, The Africans, notes that Nyerere brooked no Why Mwalimu Never Went Out of dissent, and until 1979 held more political Fashion (Opinion) prisoners than apartheid South Africa - which he worked so tirelessly to liberate. October 29, 1999 His experiment with Ujamaa was a By John Githongo resounding flop, and he left the Tanzanian Dar-es-Salaam - A deep cynicism infects economy a shambles. Africans' perceptions of their leadership. We Nyerere nevertheless stood several heads are saddled with political elites of such taller than the crowd, if only because very heartlessness that they are prepared to rape many of the other African leaders were economies, visit extraordinary brutalities on illiterate, maniacally brutal, and downright their own citizens and generally behave as if stupid. That was the time when people like their true mission in life is to destroy rather Haile Mengistu in Ethiopia threw their than to build. opponents to the lions and crocodiles, and Mwalimu Nyerere was in a special category of "Emperor" Jean-Bedel Bokassa in Central African leaders. No matter what one may say Africa clubbed schoolchildren to death and about his many failings, he was the allegedly ate the livers of his opponents. continent's most striking exception to this And lest we forget, Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, depressing norm. That's why so many of the who today is often lumped together with the articles written around Africa since Mwalimu's "new breed" of African leaders, rounded up all demise sound so similar. I'm afraid this one previous rulers in that country, had them tied will as well. to poles in a field and executed them by firing Now that he is gone, Mwalimu will be squad. remembered as the African leader who was It was the age of old-fashioned wanton most successful in the fight against tribalism. thieving and excess. It is embarrassing to The sense Tanzanians have of their recall, but wasn't a briefcaseful of dollars the "Tanzanianness" has always seemed more only thing dictator Macias Nguema of durable than the sense of national identity Equatorial Guinea remembered to flee with enjoyed by the citizens of other countries in into the sugar plantations when he was the region. deposed in 1979? Amid this looting frenzy The credit must go to Mwalimu for (which continues in more subtle forms in the emphasising Kiswahili as a national language, country Nyerere shaped), Mwalimu remained in the process also turning it into the most a simple and honest man. serious collective language in East and Soon, we shall have to ask some hard Central Africa. questions. Was Nyerere's image a product of Mwalimu was also the most successful Pan- true greatness, or a result of the inferior Africanist. Even though Kwame Nkrumah was calibre of the peers with whom he was the father of Pan-Africanism, that his regime compared in most of the Third World? turned into a dictatorship that was messily His legacy will soon be tested. While Nyerere overthrown detracts from his stature. kept Tanzania a united country, he didn't Nkrumah's failures left Mwalimu carrying the leave it with the other thing it needed more torch and he did not shirk the responsibility. than unity - a democratic culture. He governed He supported liberation movements across under a one-party regime, and the party he the continent. Many a leader and former bequeathed, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, is a leader across the region would never have vote-cheating monolith. Its government jails made it to State House had it not been for journalists and bans newspapers. Mwalimu. While he lived, Nyerere's charisma and moral All this was at great cost to Tanzania, but one authority kept Tanzania together. Now that he suspects that in the 21st century the country is gone, there are observers who fear the shall finally start to reap its benefits. Nyerere, country will unravel. We can only hope that for example, rescued Ugandans from Idi Amin they are wrong. in a military venture Tanzania could hardly afford. In the process, Mwalimu gave his 29 October 1999 109 country a continental and international stature Coach Nyerere is Gone, the Team totally out of proportion with Tanzania's Must Play On economic and military power. Mwalimu was not a rich man who could bribe October 29, 1999 people to support him; he did not command Dar-es-Salaam - Benjamin Mkapa needs a armies that could intimidate his opponents; he sense of balance now that Mwalimu Julius was not from a dominant tribe that treated him Kambarage Nyerere is gone. He and other like a demi-god. His authority was primarily post-Nyerere rulers ought to applaud moral and derived from true charisma. Mwalimu's accomplishments without Besides his wisdom and integrity; his powerful downgrading Tanzania's capacity for both personality and modesty in power, Mwalimu economic evolution and revolution. was also special in the high standards he set President Mkapa is like the captain of a in African leadership. Ujamaa impoverished national soccer team whose revered coach what should otherwise be one of the passes away a few weeks before the team's continent's richest countries, yet, incredibly to debut in the World Cup. The team captain the cynical, the people of Tanzania clearly cannot afford a eulogy, however fitting, which never held these mistakes against him. puts his team at a disadvantage or cedes an With the benefit of hindsight, it emerges that edge to his competitors. He needs to project Nyerere's Ujamaa was not so much a socialist steadfast determination to fulfil the coach's experiment as it was an African common- wish of winning the trophy. He needs to sense one - the product of an African leader suppress all signs of fear, low morale or who enjoyed thinking, reading and meditating tactical disarray. on complicated African problems more than Underdeveloped countries, particularly those most of his counterparts. Partly as a result of that experimented with socialism, are more or this, even in this hard-edged age of the all less debutantes in a global economy driven by powerful market, Mwalimu's rhetoric did not a triumphant capitalist class. They are pitted reduce him into an anachronism. against other equally investment-hungry One of Mwalimu's greatest successes, economies that may deliberately or otherwise therefore, was that he managed to remain exploit the perceived weaknesses of relevant nationally, continentally and even competitors. They cannot afford to display internationally after he had given up formal desperation or even indecision when a power. revered leader dies. In Tanzania, his not-so-invisible hand was Tanzania, which has a per-capita income of evident in many of the decisions made by the only about $250, is one of the poorest country's leadership on the grand issues of countries in the world. Its political executives the day. should realise that the death of a key In the middle of 1995 his support was so individual in an economic entity can make a crucial to Benjamin Mkapa's eventual profound difference to the hard-nosed players nomination as the Chama cha Mapinduzi's in the game of international investment. It is presidential candidate, that Mwalimu was therefore foolhardy to portray a ruler as being being described as the "Dodoma Candidate" - indispensable to the economic prosperity of a such was his influence that it was as if he nation. were a shadow contender for nomination "Miss Piggy" and other Muppet cartoon himself. When Mkapa won the nomination, I characters are a source of joy to millions of overheard a Tanzanian Asian businessman children all over the world. To business comment, "Mwalimu ameshinda! ("Mwalimu people, they constitute an economically sound has won".) entertainment company. Jim Henson, the Now, the country's political elite don't have puppeteer who created the Muppets, was their "father" there to hold their hand; choose portrayed as being indispensable to the their presidents; or hold the union with company's success. In 1990, the Walt Disney Zanzibar together. Company, one of the world's largest entertainment companies, wanted to buy the Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. Muppet ensemble. When Mr. Henson Distributed via Africa News Online suddenly died, the deal fell though. (www.africanews.org). For information about It may seem laughable to cite a cartoon the content or for permission to redistribute, character when discussing the perils that lie in publish or use for broadcast, contact the wait for a national economy. However, it is not publisher. a laughing matter when one realises that, in comparison to Tanzania's $7 billion annual 29 October 1999 110

GDP, Disney's annual revenues are about and correcting Mwalimu's mistakes would $20 billion - not a Mickey Mouse sum. indeed be a fitting tribute to his teaching. Mainland China, whose communist rulers are Tanzania has prospered both because of and said to have influenced more than the modest despite of Mwalimu's actions. As the world attire of Mwalimu Nyerere, is also a good case mourns his untimely death, Mr. Mkapa would study for post-Nyerere Tanzania. The late be justified to say that Tanzania has lost an largely inspired China's illustrious son. He would be prudent to economic boom. Although Deng, like Mwalimu indicate that Mwalimu is not indispensable to Nyerere, relinquished his formal positions the prosperity of Tanzania. several years before his death, he retained *Grace Bibala writes on business and informal yet paramount political authority. economic policy issues. E-mail: When Deng died in 1997, one of the biggest [email protected] challenges and noteworthy successes of the post-Deng political rulers was to convince the Copyright (c) 1999 The East African. investment community that Deng's business- Distributed via Africa News Online friendly policies would be retained, that (www.africanews.org). For information about China's political stability would not diminish, the content or for permission to redistribute, and that Deng's totalitarian tendencies would publish or use for broadcast, contact the be revised. publisher. If post-Nyerere's Tanzania is to maintain the country's steadily rising rating among the international investment community, then its political executives need to learn from their Chinese counterparts. They need to show that Tanzania's march towards a business-friendly economy will continue, that Nyerere's death will not undermine political stability within Tanzania and among her neighbours, and that Nyerere's dark side will not be replicated. Doing all this requires a conservative approach to praising Mwalimu. First of all, Mwalimu Nyerere was, by many accounts, a humble person. The man who disdained personal monuments would probably wince at the claim that he was solely responsible for Tanzania's progress. He would probably prefer a statement to the effect that he contributed to building a stable system that would survive long after his passing away. Second, Mwalimu was only human. The investment community is aware of Mwalimu's shortcomings and would like to see them discarded. It probably knows that Mwalimu's emotional attachment to some causes prevented him from always pushing for democracy - a long-term political stabiliser. For instance, Mwalimu's stand on the union of Tanganyika with Zanzibar seems to have made an unsavoury contribution to the CCM versus CUF election debacle in Zanzibar. Above all, the overriding goal of Mwalimu's policies seems to have been economic prosperity for his nation. His relentless pursuit of that goal precipitated his possibly painful admission that his brand of socialism had failed to deliver. A good student of Mwalimu should thus not be reluctant to jettison a failed policy, regardless of its initiator. Pointing out 30 October 1999 111

The demand for the speeches skyrocketed since Nyerere's death. 30 October 1999 Copyright (c) 1999 Panafrican News Agency. Panafrican News Agency Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, Nyerere Mourning Regulations publish or use for broadcast, contact the Relaxed publisher. October 30, 1999 by Nicodemus Odhiambo Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - The government has relaxed the regulations stipulated during the mourning of Tanzania's former President Julius Nyerere, allowing "important sporting and social activities" to proceed. "Important activities whose organisers prudently feel that they cannot wait for the expiry of the official (30-day) mourning period can proceed," Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye said. Many Tanzanians had put off their social engagements, including weddings, following a nation-wide government suspension of sporting and entertainment activities upon the death of Nyerere 14 October. "Citizens are free to marry and carry on with other important social functions, without involving in loud merry-making," Sumaye added. He also allowed radio and television stations to air their regular programmes "but must continue playing dirges and religious music to keep the mourning tempo high." Both independent and state-owned electronic media stopped airing normal programmes since the suspension of social activities went into force, and have been playing dirges the whole day. Sumaye also said sportsmen going on the field should wear a black band around their arms as a sign that they were in mourning. "We also do not expect promoters to bring in musicians in the country during this period," he added. Sumaye also said the catafalque that housed Nyerere's body during his state funeral in Dar Es Salaam is to preserved as an artifact. He added that the 15- foot structure that cost the state some 31,250 US dollars would be dismantled and rebuilt at the National Museum. It will be used to preserve newspaper cuttings and video footages on Nyerere's funeral. Meanwhile, traders are minting money from selling pirated speeches of the late leader to those trying to keep any of his memorabilia. Miscellaneous 112

wraparounds with bright, flashy designs and Swahili slogans - that were imported from Kenya Miscellaneous and India. Nyerere used to exhort his people, "We must run while they walk." But most people had Saints and Presidents: A stood still. Commentary on Julius Nyerere What went wrong? It is clear now that while Nyerere spun his ideas a quarter of a century ago, by Stanley Meisler few of his people understood these ideas well American foreign affairs writer and author of enough to implement them. In 1967, Nyerere United Nations: The First Fifty Years wrote a paper, "Education for Self-Reliance," that At a Korea Unirversity conference in Seoul a few was a masterful critique of the ills of African months ago, I was placed next to Julius Nyerere of education. School systems were creating an elite Tanzania at dinner. For those of us who covered class of graduates who refused to work with their Africa more than a quarter of a century ago, hands and soon lost touch with the societies that Nyerere was like a saint. Incorruptible, frank, spawned them. Tanzania's Chief Education Officer good- humored, intellectual, he could charm the that year quoted huge gobs of the paper to me by most suspicious and doubtful questioners into heart. But, when I asked him for an example of following the flow of his logic as he expounded how he intended to wipe out elitism in the schools, the need in Africa for socialism, one-party he replied, "Oh, yes, elitism is one of our problems democracy, self-reliance, non-alignment. He in the schools. But it is not a major problem. There always made sense, at least in theory, and, since are always a few students who come to school and we knew he did not line his pockets with gold or fool around and refuse to study. We must deal with pander to tribalism and racism, we always wished those few students. We must discipline them - him and his poor country well. I turned to him at cane them or expel them." He had missed the the Seoul dinner and said, "Mr. Nyerere, when I whole point of the paper. was a young correspondent, and you were a young When I repeated this to Nyerere later that day, he president, I interviewed you." "Well," he replied laughed and said, "There can only be one with a laugh, "I got out of my business. I hope you missionary in this country, and I am the got out of yours." missionary. But I can not tell them how to carry In fact, the 74-year-old Nyerere is one of the few out my ideas. If I put in examples (in the paper), African leaders to get out of the business the Ministry of Education will follow those and do peacefully and voluntarily. He gave up the nothing else. I want them to think of examples by presidency in 1985 and retired to a farm in his themselves." native village of Butiama near Lake Victoria. The noted French agronomist Rene Dumont, Tanzania coins honor him in Swahili as Baba author of "False Start in Africa", warned Nyerere (Father) of the Nation and First President, and he in those days that Tanzania was at too primitive a still wields a good deal of influence in national level of development for its leaders to talk about politics and in the settlement of international sophisticated economic theories like socialism. But crises. But, as I discovered in a recent visit to Nyerere did not listen. He nationalized the foreign Tanzania, most educated Tanzanians, though they banks, plantations and manufacturing plants when have no bitterness, look on his reign as a failed he did not have trained personnel to run them. He one. The headmaster of a secondary school near pushed out Peace Corps and missionary teachers Moshi took down a couple of volumes of Nyerere's from the secondary schools when he did not have old essays from a bookshelf after I asked about enough Tanzania teachers with adequate English them. "I'm sorry," he said as he handed them to to replace them. He pressured farmers into ujamaa me. "They are very dusty now that we have a villages even though Tanzanians found the idea of multiparty state." No one reads Nyerere any more. collective farming abhorrent. He undercut one of A return to Tanzania after an absence of 25 years Africa's most remarkable cooperatives - the coffee left this visitor with an uncanny sense that little marketing association near Mt. Kilimanjaro - had changed. Foreign aid donors had improved because it did not fit into his theories. He broke some of the roads, and new, monstrously powerful relations with Britain, Tanzania's chief aid donor, buses hurtled down these roads at criminal speed. because the Organization of African Unity had set Swahili had helped unify the disparate tribes and down a ridiculous ultimatum on Rhodesia and he geography into a nation. The country now had wanted the rest of the world to take Africa's word more than 25 private newspapers to supplement seriously. the two bland government and party newspapers. There is a new optimism in Tanzania today. But the country remained dirt poor and devoid of Evidently with Nyerere's acquiescence, his heirs development. France and China had built two have adopted multiparty democracy and the free textile plants for the government but neither market system and have engaged in a war on functioned. Women bought kangas - cotton Miscellaneous 113 corruption. The old Swahili translation of free market - soko huria - had a negative air in the Nyerere era; it connoted uncontrolled capitalism, in short, capitalism at its worst. So the leaders are using different Swahili words - soko huru - which is supposed to mean free market with limits. In an upcountry town like Mbeya in the breathtaking highlands of southern Tanzania, when you sip Safari beer with local journalists, mostly stringers for the mushrooming newspapers in Dar es Salaam, you find them eager, enthusiastic, hopeful and grateful for advice. But their training is inadequate, their English kind of halting, and their poverty obvious. My own optimism for Tanzania is tempered by the memory of similar scenes with eager Tanzanians a quarter of a century ago. They were just as enthusiastic then for African socialism as they are now for soko huru. Tanzania is at so low a level of development that capitalism may be no better as a panacea than socialism was. I do not want to belittle Nyerere. His Tanzania is warm, calm, gentle and united. Standing still in Tanzania was a healthier experience than going backwards in neighboring Zaire, Burundi and Rwanda. Tanzania was far better off with a benign saint for a president than a rapacious tyrant. I still admire Nyerere a great deal. But the Tanzanian experiment offers good evidence that saints do not really make very good presidents. December 17, 1996 featured on the OneWorld News Service December 19, 1996