Today, October
14th, 2019; we are commemorating the 20th anniversary
of the death of the
father of our nation, Mwalimu
Julius Kambarage Nyerere,
who sadly departed
from this world in the early morning hours of a
similar date in 1999.
Normally,
the death of any
person is just
a one-off event that
brings his or her life
to a close.
But in the case of such a distinguished
leader and statesman like
Mwlimu Julius Nyerere,
his death brought to
a close an
impressive long list
of endeavours and
achievements, (and, inevitably, a few failures) which he
achieved in his long
service to humanity,
or the human
community generally, not only
of Tanzanians, but
also of other
countries in Africa, and
to the rest
of the world.
Thus, during our annual memorial commemorative events, we ought to remember to commemorate not only that one-off event of his death; but also, and perhaps more important, his exemplary life which he spent in genuine devotion to duty, and commitment to providing service to all those diverse communities who benefitted from his actions; as well as his many intellectual works, which provide a shining example of a person who successfully “walked his talk” in implementing his own dictum “Nitajielimisha kwa kadri ya uwezo wangu, na kutumia elimu yangu kwa faida ya wote”; which he had deeply embedded into the political creed of his political party TANU, which later became CCM.
In that connection, it is gratifying to note that for this year, the 20th anniversary of his death, a number of University Institutions in the country, including the University of Dar es Salaam and the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy at Kivukoni, also in Dar es Salaami; have taken steps to organize major public workshops, at which the participants will have the opportunity to reflect on certain selected aspects of Mwalimu Nyerere’s life-long contributions in a variety of important political struggles; and, in particular, the struggle for Tanganyika’s liberation (and that of several other countries in Central and Southern Africa) from the yoke of colonialism; plus the (failed) struggle for African Unity. But, more specifically, to reflect on his shining successes in building a fully united Tanzanian nation, based on the very firm foundations of unity, equality, and mutual respect.
Thus, during our annual memorial commemorative events, we ought to remember to commemorate not only that one-off event of his death; but also, and perhaps more important, his exemplary life which he spent in genuine devotion to duty, and commitment to providing service to all those diverse communities who benefitted from his actions; as well as his many intellectual works, which provide a shining example of a person who successfully “walked his talk” in implementing his own dictum “Nitajielimisha kwa kadri ya uwezo wangu, na kutumia elimu yangu kwa faida ya wote”; which he had deeply embedded into the political creed of his political party TANU, which later became CCM.
In that connection, it is gratifying to note that for this year, the 20th anniversary of his death, a number of University Institutions in the country, including the University of Dar es Salaam and the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy at Kivukoni, also in Dar es Salaami; have taken steps to organize major public workshops, at which the participants will have the opportunity to reflect on certain selected aspects of Mwalimu Nyerere’s life-long contributions in a variety of important political struggles; and, in particular, the struggle for Tanganyika’s liberation (and that of several other countries in Central and Southern Africa) from the yoke of colonialism; plus the (failed) struggle for African Unity. But, more specifically, to reflect on his shining successes in building a fully united Tanzanian nation, based on the very firm foundations of unity, equality, and mutual respect.
The
Mwalimu Nyerere that I personally
knew.
In terms of
human development, twenty
years is a
quite a long
time. It actually means that we
now have an
entirely new generation
of young Tanzanians, who were born after
Mwalimu Nyerere’s
death; who therefore
have no direct
knowledge of this great
statesman.
Thus, even for that reason alone, those of us who had the privilege of working closely with him, have a binding obligation to help this younger generation to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Mwalimu Nyerere’s productive life, plus his invaluable contributions to the welfare of Tanzanians (and many of other nationalities), both past and present.
Thus, even for that reason alone, those of us who had the privilege of working closely with him, have a binding obligation to help this younger generation to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Mwalimu Nyerere’s productive life, plus his invaluable contributions to the welfare of Tanzanians (and many of other nationalities), both past and present.
It
is precisely for that purpose
that when
I was invited
last month, to
officiate at a zonal graduation
ceremony for a group
of graduating Form
Four Secondary School
students at Mumbuga
Secondary School in
my home District
of Ukerewe, I wrote
for
them a Kiswahili piece titled: “WASIFU WA HAYATI
MWALIMU NYERERE” , which
was received with
great appreciation at
that ceremony.
It may therefore
be similarly worthwhile, and
equally helpful,
to those of
our readers who
belong to this
young generation, to
be provided with a
brief resume of the most
outstanding events in
Mwalimu Nyerere’s leadership
and governance performances;
which is the
purpose of today’s
article. But, in view
of the strict limitations
imposed on editorial
space for these articles,
I will only
present a few selected
events in two
distinct areas, namely
(a) the personal sacrifices he
made for the sake
of the community;
and (b) the
application of his
deeply- held beliefs, or philosophies,
to his performances in the governance
of our country.
The good news is that as a nation
we have, in fact, not only maintained, but have also faithfully continued to implement
his invaluable ‘teachings”
in relation thereto.
His
personal sacrifice in giving up a lucrative
teaching job.
Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere was, basically and professionally, a school teacher; having undertaken his teacher training course at Makerere College in Uganda (as it was then); from 1943 to 1945. And, in fact, my first ever contact with him, was when he was teaching History at Pugu Secondary School , (then known as St. Francis College, Pugu), during the two years of 1953 and 1954; soon after he had returned from Edinburgh University in Scotland, where he completed his studies on 22nd July, 1952 having graduated with a Master’s degree.
Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere was, basically and professionally, a school teacher; having undertaken his teacher training course at Makerere College in Uganda (as it was then); from 1943 to 1945. And, in fact, my first ever contact with him, was when he was teaching History at Pugu Secondary School , (then known as St. Francis College, Pugu), during the two years of 1953 and 1954; soon after he had returned from Edinburgh University in Scotland, where he completed his studies on 22nd July, 1952 having graduated with a Master’s degree.
Mwalimu
Nyerere’s political career actually
started during the period of
his employment at
Pugu; with
his election to
the post of
Chairman of what
was the “Tanganyika
African Association” (TAA); which was, at
that time, a
mere Welfare social
organization for African
Civil Servants, but
which he subsequently
turned into a formidable
political organization called
the Tanganyika African
National Union (TANU); which
came into existence
on 7thJuly, 1954. (Saba Saba Day).
But his engagement with politics, very soon put him
in trouble with the Colonial Authorities; who devised a
cunning method which they
believed would force
him to abandon
politics altogether. They conspired
with the Headmaster, and instructed him to ask
Mwalimu Nyerere to choose between
his secure job
as a teacher, and
his dangerous political
activities!
He
himself subsequently narrated
this moving , but little known
story, to us his close confidants,
as follows:- “ On one Sunday
morning, Father
Lyinch, the Headmaster,
called me into
his office after the morning
prayers, to give
me what
he called his “ considered,
fatherly advice”. So, he said this to me: ‘My son Julius, we
have noticed that
you have recently
been heavily engaged
in politics, often travelling
to Dar es Salaam to attend
political discussions with
other politicians. I therefore
want to strongly warn you, that this
is very dangerous for
your teaching profession. You of course
know what the Bible says
about the dangers of
serving two masters.
You cannot serve two masters. Hence,
take my advice, my dear
son in Christ. Put
yourself on the safe side, and Just
abandon your engagement with those
dangerous political trouble
makers. You should only concentrate on your job
as a good teacher at
this respectable school , and
help your students
to become worthy
members of Society after
they complete their
education here. This is in your personal and your family’s
interest. So, go and think carefully
about it, and
let me know
your decision as
soon as possible”.
Mwalimu Nyerere
told us he took
only a
short time to
make the difficult
choice. As a matter of principle, he
chose to resign
immediately from his
teaching job.
His letter of
resignation reveals the
agony and feeling of
sacrifice, that went
through his mind at the material
time. For, he
said (in part) the
following:- “ When
resignation from TANU
is given to
me as a
condition for retaining
my job as
a teacher, the
problem becomes one
of principle. I am sorry that my activity
in TANU has
adversely affected the
efficiency of my
teaching; I am
sorry about the
inconveniences that my
resignation will temporarily cause
you and my
other colleagues; I am
sad about the economic consequences
to my family.”
His closing
words, namely “I am sad about the
economic consequences to my
family”, do vividly express the
extreme sacrifice which
he made. We must appreciate that this was, indeed,
a rare personal, self-denial
sacrifice which Mwalimu
Nyerere had to make
in pursuit
of our country’s
liberation from the scourge of
colonialism.
Mwalimu
Nyerere’s philosophies.
The word “philosophy”
carries a variety of
meanings. Its best known and most
popular meaning, is
that it is an ‘academic
discipline’; which explains
why we have
professors of philosophy. However,
in the context
of this
article, I am using
the word “philosophy” to
mean “a set
of beliefs, or an attitude
to life, that
guides someone’s behavior.”
Mwalimu Nyerere certainly had his own set of beliefs, and his own attitude of mind, which guided his behavior and actions. What is most important for us to remember and appreciate today, is the fact that he actually translated his beliefs, or philosophies, into concrete action, for the benefit of the community.
Mwalimu Nyerere certainly had his own set of beliefs, and his own attitude of mind, which guided his behavior and actions. What is most important for us to remember and appreciate today, is the fact that he actually translated his beliefs, or philosophies, into concrete action, for the benefit of the community.
For example,
Mwalimu Nyerere’s
philosophy in
respect of matters
relating to the
country’s governance, was
expressed in Kiswahili as “Kujenga
Taifa lenye Umoja kwa
misingi ya kujitegemea,
kuheshimiana, na usawa
wa binadamu” (to
create and maintain
national unity, based
on the principles
of self-reliance, and genuine respect
for human equality). It
is in the context
of this philosophy,
that Mwalimu Nyerere
envisioned the creation
of an equal
Tanzanian society, free
of poverty, ignorance
and disease.
There
are many of
his other governance
decisions, which bear
testimony to his
practical application of
this philosophy, which
he firmly embedded in
the TANU Constitution,
and in
other policy guideline
documents; all of which
have continued to be
implemented to this
day; some of
which are discussed
in the paragraphs which
follow below.
Education for
Self-reliance.
In early
1967, Mwalimu Nyerere
enthusiastically introduced
a new concept,
which he cited
as “Education for
Self-Reliance”; whose
desired goal was
“to provide the
students with the
type of education
that will subsequently
enable them to
be self-employed.” It is
most gratifying that
we are still
witnessing today, 20
years after his
death, the continuing
implementation of this
philosophy, in the
concerted efforts that
are being made
by the Government to
provide technical education
to as many
students as possible,
by constructing facilities
for technical education
in every District
of Mainland Tanzania.
This will surely
subsequently enable them
to be fully self-
reliant in matters
of employment.
Ujamaa Villages
“Ujamaa Villages”
is the fashionable
name that was given
to the village settlements which were established
on the specific orders
of President Nyerere,
a huge exercise
which was carried
out countrywide during
the years 1973 and
1974. It thus became
‘fashionable’ to call them
“Ujamaa Villages”, in order
to capture the prevailing
mood at the
material time, of “building
Ujamaa” in our
country.
But Mwalimu Nyerere’s
definition of an ‘Ujamaa
Village’ was given
as follows: “A village
settlement, in which
the people will live together , and work
together, for the general benefit of
them all”. Thus,
their primary purpose was
to bring the rural
people closer together
(who had previously
been living in isolated
homesteads scattered widely
over large areas),
in such a way
that they could not
benefit from the
advantages of living
closer together , similar
to those that
are normally enjoyed by
people living in
urban areas.
Thus, it is
similarly, and equally
gratifying , to witness
that twenty years after
his death, the
Government is still
faithfully implementing this
philosophy (of improving the welfare
of rural people)
by providing
their villages countrywide with
clean drinking water, and relatively cheap electricity,
through numerous projects
successfully implemented by the Rural Electricity Authority (REA).
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