TANZANIA: FORMER President Dr Jakaya Kikwete has urged Tanzanians and all Africans to honour Mwalimu Julius Nyerere by maintaining the pace in the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease the challenges he once referred to as the enemies of progress on the continent.
Speaking during the commemorative dialogue in honour of the Father of the Nation at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School (MJNLS) on Saturday, the former Head of State urged Africans to ensure unity, solidarity and freedom.
“Let’s not lower our weapons against these challenges; the founder of this nation, Mwalimu Nyerere, was committed to bringing about positive changes not only in his country but to the whole African continent,” he said.
Dr Kikwete, who was the guest of honour at a dialogue that brought participants from various countries, including representatives from six friendly political parties, said one of the right ways to honour Mwalimu Nyerere is by putting into action what he did during his lifetime to bring development in various aspects.
The dialogue under the theme: Reflections on Solidarity, Leadership, Pan-Africanism and African Unity was attended by representatives from South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) from Namibia, the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) from Angola, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) from Zimbabwe, the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) from Mozambique, the African National Congress (ANC) and the host, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
The dialogue was also attended by representatives of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Heads of Government institutions, diplomats, politicians, academicians and other citizens.
Dr Kikwete told the participants that in marking the 25-years anniversary of Mwalimu Nyerere’s demise, it is also the right time to remind each other of the kind of person he was in fighting for African freedom.
He said Mwalimu Nyerere was a true Pan Africanist who fondly delegated his time, energy and intelligence to ensure Africa is free from colonialism, apartheid and all forms of exploitation.
He added that the Father of the Nation preached peace, unity and freedom for those whose countries were still under colonial rule.
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“Mwalimu allowed a number of freedom fighters to stay in the country and enabled them to train and plan for freedom struggles in their countries. Many of the freedom fighters stayed in the land of Tanzania, such as Kongwa, Mgagawa, Nachingwea, Chunya, Farm 17 and many other places. He was a true Pan Africanist who never gave up for African struggles,” said Dr Kikwete.
He added, “Today, people from different countries we have gathered here to reflect on the life of our leader, who proved to the world that human beings can live by respecting each other, a Pan Africanist who was against racism, neocolonialism and all forms of social injustice.”
Dr Kikwete told the participants that Tanzania, under Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, gave it all to support liberation struggles in various African countries that were still under colonial rule.
He said a number of freedom fighters had offices in Tanzania and their leaders and members were assisted to entre the country, get military training and all other sorts of support.
“The first President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, was given a passport with the name of Sam Mwakangale; he used this passport to travel to many countries to seek support for the liberation struggle back home in Namibia,” he said.
He added that the first black President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, also got big support from Mwalimu Nyerere after crossing the border from his country via Botswana, Zambia and then Mbeya, Tanzania.
He said Mwalimu Nyerere ordered Mzee John Mwakangale to escort Mandela to Dar es Salaam, where he was assisted to get passports and other travel documents to other countries to seek support.
“Mwalimu Nyerere also ordered the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) to offer military training and facilitate the availability of weapons for freedom fighters,” he said.
He added: “Opposite to the current Zambian high commission building, the building there was being used by the TPDF unit, which was tasked to support freedom fighters; that was Mwalimu Nyerere, the true Pan Africanist.”
Dr Kikwete added that due to the position of Tanzania and Mwalimu Nyerere, many freedom fighters and organisations managed to get support from foreign countries such as China, Russia and others.
Commenting on the establishment of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School (MJNLS), Dr Kikwete said the idea started in 2006 in Adis Ababa and later all six friendly political parties agreed to build the school in Tanzania.
Earlier, the dialogue moderator, Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, said Mwalimu Nyerere has refused to ‘die’ because his ideas live forever.
He said Mwalimu Nyerere is remembered for unifying Tanzania and supporting other African countries to get independence.
Prof Marcellina Chijoriga, the college’s principal, said in her welcoming remarks that Nyerere lives among Tanzanians and Africans through his ideas and good deeds.
She said the dialogues are prepared to enable people to discuss and reflect on various issues for the development of the continent.
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