We are just now right in the middle of the month of July, of the year 2021. Historically, the month of July was famed for its huge political significance of its seventh day, which became generally respected and nationally celebrated as “Saba Saba Day” which is its Kiswahili translation.
I have purposefully designed today’s article, so as to make it a ‘lamentation’ for the forgotten political significance of “Saba Saba Day”.
I have purposefully designed today’s article, so as to make it a ‘lamentation’ for the forgotten political significance of “Saba Saba Day”.
The English word ‘lamentation’ means “an expression of great sadness or disappointment”. My purpose for penning this presentation is driven entirely by my love of history, and, in particular, for the political history of our country. The dictionary definition of the ord ‘history’ is given as follows: “The study of important events, especially those relating to the political, social, and economic development of a country, or nation”.
It is presumably common knowledge, that right from the time of Tanganyika’s independence on 9th December, 1961; this country’s political, social and economic development was all the time managed by the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), until the time of TANU’s merger with Zanzibar’s Afro-Shirazi Party on 5th February, 1977, which formed the present Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM); and which has continued to be the country’s ruling party, right up to the present day. This is what makes it important for CCM to continue commemorating TANU’s birth date, namely Saba Saba Day; even if only for the purpose of recognizing its historical importance and great significance; and consequently, also recognizing the late Mwalimu Nyerere’s memorable contributions to that struggle for the country’s independence.
This is important because ‘Saba Saba Day’ was, in fact, the day of commencement of the struggle for the country’s independence. Thus, its political significance is based on the fact that the sevenh day of July, 1954, was the day when the “Tanganyika African National Union (TANU)” political party was inaugurated; and placed under the able leadership of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere; plus the other fact that TANU was the political party that peacefully brought independence to Tanganyika (now Tanzania Mainland), seven short years later, which is a relatively short period of time for such heavy undertakings.
Political parties in early Tanganyika.
Political parties in Tanganyika were, in fact, a creation promoted by the British colonial Administration at that time. TANU was the first of several political parties that were established in Tanganyika. It was a unique political organization in many significant ways; but the main one was its iconic leader, Mwalimu Julius Nyererere, who was in possession of many unique personal attributes, including his being a charismatic, intensely human personality, with the gift of extraordinary intelligence, and appealing in equal measure to both the society’s elite, and its ordinary masses
But apart from the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) there were the following other political parties that were created during that period, each of them having its own clearly defined objectives;-
(i) The United Tanganyika Party (UTP). (ii) The All Muslim National Union of Tanganyika (AMNUT). and (iii) The African National Congress (ANC);
The political parties that were formed during the period before independence, were purely electoral organizations, designed solely for the purpose of participating in elections.
Thus, fortunately for TANU, this party was able to win, overwhelmingly, both the pre-independence general elections, which were held consecutively in 1958/59; and in 1960. And this is the main factor which accounts for the peaceful attainment of independence within that relatively short period of only seven years from its formation. This is principally because the people of Tanganyika showed such massive and unconditional support for TANU, that they were willing and ready to vote for any TANU-sponsored candidate, even if he was not a native of the relevant constituency.
It is presumably common knowledge, that right from the time of Tanganyika’s independence on 9th December, 1961; this country’s political, social and economic development was all the time managed by the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), until the time of TANU’s merger with Zanzibar’s Afro-Shirazi Party on 5th February, 1977, which formed the present Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM); and which has continued to be the country’s ruling party, right up to the present day. This is what makes it important for CCM to continue commemorating TANU’s birth date, namely Saba Saba Day; even if only for the purpose of recognizing its historical importance and great significance; and consequently, also recognizing the late Mwalimu Nyerere’s memorable contributions to that struggle for the country’s independence.
This is important because ‘Saba Saba Day’ was, in fact, the day of commencement of the struggle for the country’s independence. Thus, its political significance is based on the fact that the sevenh day of July, 1954, was the day when the “Tanganyika African National Union (TANU)” political party was inaugurated; and placed under the able leadership of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere; plus the other fact that TANU was the political party that peacefully brought independence to Tanganyika (now Tanzania Mainland), seven short years later, which is a relatively short period of time for such heavy undertakings.
Political parties in early Tanganyika.
Political parties in Tanganyika were, in fact, a creation promoted by the British colonial Administration at that time. TANU was the first of several political parties that were established in Tanganyika. It was a unique political organization in many significant ways; but the main one was its iconic leader, Mwalimu Julius Nyererere, who was in possession of many unique personal attributes, including his being a charismatic, intensely human personality, with the gift of extraordinary intelligence, and appealing in equal measure to both the society’s elite, and its ordinary masses
But apart from the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) there were the following other political parties that were created during that period, each of them having its own clearly defined objectives;-
(i) The United Tanganyika Party (UTP). (ii) The All Muslim National Union of Tanganyika (AMNUT). and (iii) The African National Congress (ANC);
The political parties that were formed during the period before independence, were purely electoral organizations, designed solely for the purpose of participating in elections.
Thus, fortunately for TANU, this party was able to win, overwhelmingly, both the pre-independence general elections, which were held consecutively in 1958/59; and in 1960. And this is the main factor which accounts for the peaceful attainment of independence within that relatively short period of only seven years from its formation. This is principally because the people of Tanganyika showed such massive and unconditional support for TANU, that they were willing and ready to vote for any TANU-sponsored candidate, even if he was not a native of the relevant constituency.
Thus, for example, in the 1960 pre-independence general election, Mr. Richard Wambura, who belonged to the Kurya tribe of Tarime District, was nominated by TANU to stand for election in Maswa, an different area dominated entirely by the Wasukuma tribe. But he got elected unopposed; just because he was a TANU sponsored candidate.
However, this quickly changed after independence had been achieved; as evidenced by the first post-independence general election of 1965; in which TANU was statutorily required to nominate two candidates to compete in every Parliamentary constituency. In Mafia constituency, a seemingly stronger candidate, but who was a normal resident of Dar es Salaam, was soundly defeated by a local resident of Mafia.
Recognizing Mwalimu Nyerere’s contributions.
It is therefore gratifying, that Mwalimu Nyerere’s contributions in the struggle for the country’s UHURU, are being commemorated annually, in the form of independence Day celebrations ; and in the form of other national events which regularly take place on 14th October, in commemoration of his inevitable removal from this world, by the unchallengeable will of God.
But also, perhaps not directly related to his contributions in the struggle for independence; there is also the private process that is being conducted by the Catholic Church in Tanzania, for Mwalmu Nyerere’s eventual canonization. This is a process of intense prayer, which is undertaken for any of its departed faithful, to be recognized as a “Saint”, which means a deceased person whom the Church recognizes as having gone to heaven and is very close to the Lord God Almighty.
However, this quickly changed after independence had been achieved; as evidenced by the first post-independence general election of 1965; in which TANU was statutorily required to nominate two candidates to compete in every Parliamentary constituency. In Mafia constituency, a seemingly stronger candidate, but who was a normal resident of Dar es Salaam, was soundly defeated by a local resident of Mafia.
Recognizing Mwalimu Nyerere’s contributions.
It is therefore gratifying, that Mwalimu Nyerere’s contributions in the struggle for the country’s UHURU, are being commemorated annually, in the form of independence Day celebrations ; and in the form of other national events which regularly take place on 14th October, in commemoration of his inevitable removal from this world, by the unchallengeable will of God.
But also, perhaps not directly related to his contributions in the struggle for independence; there is also the private process that is being conducted by the Catholic Church in Tanzania, for Mwalmu Nyerere’s eventual canonization. This is a process of intense prayer, which is undertaken for any of its departed faithful, to be recognized as a “Saint”, which means a deceased person whom the Church recognizes as having gone to heaven and is very close to the Lord God Almighty.
This is not an appropriate platform for narrating the details of this lengthy process; because it is, basically, a matter of conventional Christian ‘positive imagination and absolute faith’; which is better left to the Catholic faithful themselves.
Lamenting the lost political significance of Saba Saba Day.
In 2016, an new educational publication, titled “The comprehensive Secondary School ATLAS for Tanzania”. (Longhorn Publishers Ltd, Dar es Salaam) was issued. This publication gives (on page 3) a list of Tanzania’s public holidays, plus a description of their significance, which states (misleadingly) that “these holidays help to maintain the history of or country”; and describes the Saba Saba Day public holiday only as a “Trade Fair Day” ! This description is obviously referring to the (lucrative) commercial business that is held annually around Saba Saba Day in Dar es Salaam; which has, apparently, misled the vast majority of Tanzanians of the current generation, into the misguided belief that the Saba Saba public holiday is perhaps intended to mark this international trade fair ‘festival’; and this mistaken belief is apparently enforced when the said event is opened and closed in great pomp and ceremony (in many previous cases, these ceremonies were presided over by a specifically invited Head of State from a neighbouring country). This is what, sadly, contributed to the complete loss of Saba Saba Day’s historic significance as the birth date of the political party that brought independence to our country.
But, obviously, this purely commercial event, cannot fairly be described as “part of our country’s political history; because it just isn’t that at all. Thus, Such educational publications like the Secondary School ATLAS which we referred to above, are intended to shape the minds of their students. It is therefore inevitable that the students who use this book will be denied knowledge of the historical significance of Saba Saba Day. And that is, precisely, the basis of my lamentation, which is expressed in this presentation.
What then, should be done?
Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), of course has the undisputed mandate to continue implementing the programmes of its predecessor, TANU. And commendably, that is what CCM did in 2011. That year was the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence, when CCM was under the leadership of national Chairman Jakaya Kikwete, then President of the United Republic. On that occasion, CCM commendably organized, and carried out, certain special celebration events in Dar es Salaam, which were specifically designed to commemorate the Saba Saba historic event. This was, indeed, a welcome reminder of the historic importance of Saba Saba Day.
What happened on that day, was that a special meeting of all the CCM grass-root leaders, i.e. the ten-cell leaders (mabalozi wa nyumba kumi) of the entire Dar es Salaam Region, was held at a designated venue in the morning of that day. This was a memorial meeting that was also attended by the party’s national level leaders, plus all the Regional and District level CCM leaders of the Dar es Salaam Region. One of the 17 founder members of TANU, Mr. Constantine Milinga (now deceased), was invited to give a live account of what actually transpired at that inaugural TANU meeting; a task which Mr Milinga performed with gusto, to the great delight and excitement of all of us who were present at that function.
Those morning events were followed by other even more colourful events, which were held in the evening of that day, at Mnazi Mmoja open grounds in the center of the Dar es Salaam Business District.
This is the kind of ‘ remembrance celebration’, that could maintain the proper meaning, and particularly the historical significance, of Saba Saba Day, for the benefit of the younger generations of Tanzanians. A plea for the restoration of Saba Saba Day to its original glory.
Just like in all recent years since this day lost its political glory; apart from the fact that it was a public holiday, the Saba Saba Day of the year 2021 similarly came and went away quietly, totally unnoticed. It is, presumably, also common knowledge, that each public holiday has a meaning and purpose attached to it. For example, we have established public holidays in honour of Christian and Muslim religious events. Such as Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Christmas Day; plus Eid el Fitr, Eid el Hajj, We also have public holidays that celebrate political events; such as Independence Day, and Union Day; and other public holidays that are in commemoration of the nation’s departed founder leaders, namely Nyerere Day and Karume Day.
The Saba Saba public holiday should, similarly, have a clear meaning and purpose attached to it; and that purpose cannot be “to celebrate the international Trade Fair” The correct meaning and purpose of Saba Saba Day is its historical significance. I am, of course, fully aware of the reason why a ‘ public holiday’ status cannot be granted to the birth date of CCM, which is only one of several fully registered political parties operating in the country. That would be most inappropriate, and clearly unacceptable. And it is because we were conscious of this fact, that upon entry into multi-party politics in 1992, we initially re designated Saba Saba Day as “Peasants Day”. But this was subsequently changed, when ‘Peasants’ Day’ was shifted to the eighth day of August (Nane Nane), and that day was consequently added to the list of public holidays in order to give credence to the slogan that Tanzania “is a country of Workers and Peasants”.
My contention is only that the fact of entry into multi-party politics alone, cannot justify the complete abandonment by Chama cha Mapinduzi (TANU’s worthy successor) from celebrating TANU’s birth date in a fitting and visible manner. It is therefore my humble submission, that the current CCM leadership should take appropriate steps to restore the lost historical meaning, and purpose, of ‘Saba Saba Day’ as the commencement date of the peaceful liberation struggle for our country’s independence.piomsekwa@gmail.com / 0754767576.
Lamenting the lost political significance of Saba Saba Day.
In 2016, an new educational publication, titled “The comprehensive Secondary School ATLAS for Tanzania”. (Longhorn Publishers Ltd, Dar es Salaam) was issued. This publication gives (on page 3) a list of Tanzania’s public holidays, plus a description of their significance, which states (misleadingly) that “these holidays help to maintain the history of or country”; and describes the Saba Saba Day public holiday only as a “Trade Fair Day” ! This description is obviously referring to the (lucrative) commercial business that is held annually around Saba Saba Day in Dar es Salaam; which has, apparently, misled the vast majority of Tanzanians of the current generation, into the misguided belief that the Saba Saba public holiday is perhaps intended to mark this international trade fair ‘festival’; and this mistaken belief is apparently enforced when the said event is opened and closed in great pomp and ceremony (in many previous cases, these ceremonies were presided over by a specifically invited Head of State from a neighbouring country). This is what, sadly, contributed to the complete loss of Saba Saba Day’s historic significance as the birth date of the political party that brought independence to our country.
But, obviously, this purely commercial event, cannot fairly be described as “part of our country’s political history; because it just isn’t that at all. Thus, Such educational publications like the Secondary School ATLAS which we referred to above, are intended to shape the minds of their students. It is therefore inevitable that the students who use this book will be denied knowledge of the historical significance of Saba Saba Day. And that is, precisely, the basis of my lamentation, which is expressed in this presentation.
What then, should be done?
Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), of course has the undisputed mandate to continue implementing the programmes of its predecessor, TANU. And commendably, that is what CCM did in 2011. That year was the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence, when CCM was under the leadership of national Chairman Jakaya Kikwete, then President of the United Republic. On that occasion, CCM commendably organized, and carried out, certain special celebration events in Dar es Salaam, which were specifically designed to commemorate the Saba Saba historic event. This was, indeed, a welcome reminder of the historic importance of Saba Saba Day.
What happened on that day, was that a special meeting of all the CCM grass-root leaders, i.e. the ten-cell leaders (mabalozi wa nyumba kumi) of the entire Dar es Salaam Region, was held at a designated venue in the morning of that day. This was a memorial meeting that was also attended by the party’s national level leaders, plus all the Regional and District level CCM leaders of the Dar es Salaam Region. One of the 17 founder members of TANU, Mr. Constantine Milinga (now deceased), was invited to give a live account of what actually transpired at that inaugural TANU meeting; a task which Mr Milinga performed with gusto, to the great delight and excitement of all of us who were present at that function.
Those morning events were followed by other even more colourful events, which were held in the evening of that day, at Mnazi Mmoja open grounds in the center of the Dar es Salaam Business District.
This is the kind of ‘ remembrance celebration’, that could maintain the proper meaning, and particularly the historical significance, of Saba Saba Day, for the benefit of the younger generations of Tanzanians. A plea for the restoration of Saba Saba Day to its original glory.
Just like in all recent years since this day lost its political glory; apart from the fact that it was a public holiday, the Saba Saba Day of the year 2021 similarly came and went away quietly, totally unnoticed. It is, presumably, also common knowledge, that each public holiday has a meaning and purpose attached to it. For example, we have established public holidays in honour of Christian and Muslim religious events. Such as Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Christmas Day; plus Eid el Fitr, Eid el Hajj, We also have public holidays that celebrate political events; such as Independence Day, and Union Day; and other public holidays that are in commemoration of the nation’s departed founder leaders, namely Nyerere Day and Karume Day.
The Saba Saba public holiday should, similarly, have a clear meaning and purpose attached to it; and that purpose cannot be “to celebrate the international Trade Fair” The correct meaning and purpose of Saba Saba Day is its historical significance. I am, of course, fully aware of the reason why a ‘ public holiday’ status cannot be granted to the birth date of CCM, which is only one of several fully registered political parties operating in the country. That would be most inappropriate, and clearly unacceptable. And it is because we were conscious of this fact, that upon entry into multi-party politics in 1992, we initially re designated Saba Saba Day as “Peasants Day”. But this was subsequently changed, when ‘Peasants’ Day’ was shifted to the eighth day of August (Nane Nane), and that day was consequently added to the list of public holidays in order to give credence to the slogan that Tanzania “is a country of Workers and Peasants”.
My contention is only that the fact of entry into multi-party politics alone, cannot justify the complete abandonment by Chama cha Mapinduzi (TANU’s worthy successor) from celebrating TANU’s birth date in a fitting and visible manner. It is therefore my humble submission, that the current CCM leadership should take appropriate steps to restore the lost historical meaning, and purpose, of ‘Saba Saba Day’ as the commencement date of the peaceful liberation struggle for our country’s independence.piomsekwa@gmail.com / 0754767576.
Source: Daily News and Cde Msekwa.
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