Dialogue set to highlight Mwalimu’s role in liberation struggle

ALL roads are leading to the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School (MJNLS) in Kibaha kwa Mfipa, approximately 60 kilometres from Dar es Salaam along the Dar es Salaam-Morogoro Highway.

On Friday, October 11, 2024, the school will host an international dialogue that has drawn over 200 invitees, including prominent Tanzanian politicians, diplomats, former government officials, academics and notable figures such as former South African President Thabo Mbeki, along with top officials from the Communist Party of China and former freedom fighters from Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Angola and Mozambique.

This Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Dialogue honours Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who played a critical role in Africa’s liberation struggle from the early 1960s to the early 1990s.

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Namibia achieved independence in March 1990, followed by South Africa’s transition to majority rule in 1994.

“Mwalimu Nyerere led Tanzania for 24 years, from 1961 to 1985 and passed away in October 1999 at the age of 77.

He prioritised Africa’s liberation as a fundamental goal following Tanganyika’s independence from Britain on December 9, 1961,” said Professor Marcelina Chijoriga, Principal of MJNLS, during a recent interview in Zanzibar.

Professor Chijoriga, the founding Principal of the MJNLS—a leadership school established by the ruling parties of Tanzania (CCM), Zimbabwe (ZANU PF), Mozambique (FRELIMO), Angola (MPLA), South Africa (ANC) and Namibia (SWAPO)— noted that Nyerere’s commitment to African liberation inspired the annual dialogue.

“The Mwalimu Nyerere International Dialogue at MJNLS aims to highlight his steadfast belief in Pan-Africanism.

On October 11, we will convene representatives from former liberation movements that are now ruling parties, alongside scholars, diplomats from African nations and anyone interested in Mwalimu’s legacy to share insights on his vision for a free Africa,” added Professor Chijoriga, a veteran academic who previously served as Dean of the University of Dar es Salaam Business School.

The dialogue, themed “Mwalimu Nyerere and Africa’s Liberation Struggle: Reflections on Solidarity, Leadership, Pan-Africanism and African Unity,” will feature a presentation by Dr Charles Mubita, a Central Committee member of Namibia’s ruling party, SWAPO.

“Dr Mubita fled Namibia in the early 70s at just 17, travelling through Zambia and Botswana before arriving in Tanzania, where he underwent training at the Kongwa Freedom Fighters Central Training School.

This institution provided essential military training to various liberation movements, including SWAPO, ZANU (PF), the African National Congress (ANC) and FRELIMO,” explained Professor Chijoriga.

She further revealed that, given the school’s namesake, MJNLS aims to uphold Nyerere’s ideals through published writings, audio and video speeches and by connecting with those who participated in Africa’s liberation struggle alongside him.

“Consider the inspiring journey of Dr Mubita, who trained at Kongwa and later fought against the formidable South African Defence Force to liberate his homeland,” she remarked.

Upon speaking with him, he vividly recalls crossing the Zambia-Tanzania border at Tunduma before travelling along the Mbeya-Iringa-Dodoma Road to Kongwa.

There, in addition to undergoing military training, he had the opportunity to interact with the local Gogo people, whom he found to be exceptionally friendly and supportive.

“Such personal stories are invaluable in portraying a genuine image of Mwalimu Nyerere to the new generation of Tanzanians and Africans who were unfortunate enough not to have met him during his lifetime,” noted the don.

Dr Mubita is set to present a paper titled “The Role of Educational Ideology in Preserving Mwalimu Nyerere’s Heritage” as part of an international dialogue featuring nine presentations.

The event is expected to be officially opened by Tanzania’s retired fourth-phase President, Dr Jakaya Kikwete.

To honour Mwalimu Nyerere’s contributions to the liberation struggle, the school governing board has invited Dr Kikwete to grace the occasion.

I am pleased to announce that he has confirmed his attendance.

This event brings us back to a time when the former president worked closely with Mwalimu as the TANU Under Secretary for the Singida Region in the mid-70s, later moving to the TANU and CCM sub-Head Office for Zanzibar and then to the Lumumba sub-Head Office in Dar es Salaam,” summarised Professor Chijoriga.

In addition to Dr Mubita, other notable speakers at the international dialogue include former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe, head of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, both of whom will present papers for discussion.

Additional speakers will include unnamed officials from Mozambique’s ruling party, FRELIMO and their Angolan MPLA counterparts.

Both FRELIMO and MPLA are among the numerous African liberation movements that benefited from the Tanzania-based Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Liberation Committee, headed by General Hashim Mbita of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces.

The presence of the OAU Liberation Committee in Dar es Salaam enabled leaders from recognised liberation movements across Africa to visit, as each movement maintained a headquarters or field office in the city.

“It’s no surprise that Dar es Salaam was dubbed the Mecca of African freedom fighters, given its role in hosting these leaders,” remarked a retired senior TPDF officer, who preferred to remain anonymous due to restrictions on speaking for the organisation.

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Historical records indicate that the OAU Liberation Committee, in close coordination with the Tanzanian government, provided military, logistical and financial support to approximately 20 freedom movements.

Most of these movements originated from five Southern African states—Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa—where liberation movements fought against colonial rule and the Apartheid regime.

Among the prominent liberation movements were the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and the later-rebel turned-political party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

The Mozambican FRELIMO was also significant, alongside the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU PF) and the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU PF).

Additional movements included the African National Congress (ANC), the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP).

Other African liberation movements affiliated with the OAU and based in Dar es Salaam included Namibia’s South-West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) and Guinea Bissau’s African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), led by Amílcar Cabral, who was tragically assassinated by the Portuguese Secret Service during Guinea Bissau’s fight.