COLUMN : CURRENT AFFAIRS CORNERHence, that is also the purpose of today’s presentation; in which we will focus on his personal life and attributes; as an outstanding, exemplary, great leader of the people.
There are many wise sayings relating to the concept of ‘death’ that are attributed to the wise men of ancient times; such as the following one from that famous English dramatist, William Shakespeare, who said the following in his “Henry IV”, (Part Two. Act III, scene 2) :- “I care not, for a man can die but once. We owe God a death”.
Memories of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere
A huge collection of new insights into Mwalimu Nyerere’s personal life of dedication and devotion to duty, have recently been made available in a new publication edited by Mark Mwandosya and Juma Mwapachu, titled “38 Reflections on Mwalimu Nyerere”; published earlier this year by Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, Dar es Salaam; and in which, upon the editors’ kind invitation, I too made a little contribution. This book of more than 400 pages; provides the reader with minute details of Mwlimu Nyerere’s personal life by his close aides; some of which are reproduced in the paragraphs below.
Charles Asilia Sanga, Mwalimu Nyerere’s Personal Assistant from 1992
Charles Sanga provides the following moving account of Mwalimu Nyerere’s final days, just before he died:- “Even though he was in great pain, and before being admitted to St. Thomas Hospital in London, Mwalimu never ceased working. Among his last works was the translation of The Plato Republic into Kiswahili.
“President Benjamin Mkapa was scheduled to visit Mwalimu on 25th September, 1999. Two days before his arrival, Mwalimu called me and said: ‘Charles, I know President Mkapa is about to come. However, my condition has deteriorated such that it is likely I will not be able to talk to him’. And indeed, it is on that day of 25th September, 1999, that Mwalimu’s health suddenly deteriorated, to the extent that I considered it necessary to find a priest who would administer to him the ‘sacrament of the last rites’ that is normally administered to the Catholic faithful when they are on their death bed”.
My own recollections of Mwalimu Nyerere’s illness
I was the Speaker of the National Assembly at the material time. When Mwalimu Nyerere decided to retire voluntarily from the Presidency at the end of his term in 1985; our Parliament, being aware of his scholarly interests and pursuits; resolved to present to him, as his retirement gift, the full set of the book titled Encyclopaedia Britanica, which consists of 32 thick volumes. But it turned out that these books had run out of print at the time, hence, under a special Agreement with the Publishers, we ordered a special reprint of one such set. The books were printed in London, and delivered to the Speaker’s office in Dar es Salaam, in early August, 1999.
The necessary arrangements were made to enable me to deliver the books to Mwalimu Nyerere at his retirement residence in Butiama. However, by coincidence, I arrived there at the time when his illness had just started. So I was ushered to his bedroom where he was resting, but obviously in pain. In the course of our conversation, he told me that President Mkapa had decided that he should be taken to London for treatment, and that, as he was leaving in the next two or so days, he might not have the time to read the gift books.
Thereafter, I was to meet with Mwaalimu Nyerere the following month of September, 1999; on my return from attending the Annual General Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. It so happened that, as a result of the general election which were held at that meeting, I was elected Chairman of that Association’s Executive Committee, which is the body that actually manages the affairs of that Association. Thus, in those pleasant circumstances, I requested the Tanzania High Commission in London to make arrangements for me to visit the sick Mwalimu Nyerere on my return to Dar es Salaam by British Airways via London.
These arrangements were made accordingly, and on Friday, 25th September, 1999, I was granted audience with Mwalimu Nyerere at his temporary London residence, where he was recuperating after being discharged from St. Thomas Hospital after his health condition had greatly improved.
And indeed, when I met him, he was manifestly not in pain; and he actually told me that he had asked the High Commission to make arrangements for his return to Dar es Salaam early the following week. He explained further that his return would give him the opportunity to complete what he referred to as his ‘unfinished business’ regarding he Burundi reconciliation talks, which he was coordinating as chairman thereof; and also that he had already asked our High Commission there to make arrangements for his flight back to Dar es Salaam, early the following week; so that he could continue working in order to complete this unfinished business. After leaving him, I asked the High Commissioner whether he had indeed been asked to do that, he confirmed that the plane bookings had already been made, and confirmed, for the British Airways flight to Dar es Salaam on the following Tuesday night.
But alas, that was not to be! As the religious saying goes, “Man proposes, God disposes”. Later that same day, Mwalimu Nyerere’s health condition suddenly deteriorated later that same day when he was abruptly paralyzed, and lost the ability to speak; and had to be rushed back to St. Thomas Hospital. But he could not regain his ability to speak until he eventually met his death on 14th October, 1999. Thus, as he himself had predicted, he was unable to speak to President Mkapa when the President visited him in the late afternoon on 25th September.
Some significant aspects of Mwalimu Nyerere’s personal life.
This is easily confirmed by his action after retirement to his Butiama village, where he had a Catholic Church built for him. But he also sent a request to President Muammar Gaddafi, saying this to him: ‘A church has been built for me in Butiama. But in this village, we have both Christian and Muslim residents. However, Muslims do not have a mosque. Would you be in a position to assist? President Gaddafi quickly obliged, and a beautiful mosque was built at Butiama”. It is, presumably, because of his manifest dedication to the service of the Catholic Church, and to humanity generally, that a process has began for his canonization as a saint.
Philemon Nathaniel Mgaya, President Nyerere’s Aide-de-Camp.
Philemon Nataniel mgaya, discloses that he was appointed Aide-de- Camp (ADC) to President Nyerere in 1966; and gives the following account regarding President Nyerere’s extraordinary modesty:- “The size of the Presidential entourage was usually very modest. Mwalimu liked it that way; for he hated pomposity. When in Dar es Salaam, he instructed that the Presidential motorcade shall consist of only three vehicles: a sweep car at the front, followed by his vehicle, and one security personnel vehicle at the back. We had to stop at traffic lights like all other motorists. Mwalimu also instructed that no street should be cleared in advance of his motorcade. This is a far cry from the present situation, where an entire street or streets are closed to all other motorists, hours before the Presidential motorcade appears”.
The ‘long march’ from Butiama to Mwanza.
Philemon Mgaya also tells the story of Mwalimu Nyerere’s 1967 ‘long march’, from Butiama to Mwanza; in which he says the following:- “The entourage, led by Mwalimu Nyerere himself, left Butiama at exactly 6.00 a.m. On the first day, we walked from Butiama to Kiabakari (11 km); where we stopped for the night.
Anna Julia Mwansasu, another close aide; has this to say about Mwalimu’s personal life after he retired from the Presidency:- “After his retirement in 1985, Mwalimu Nyerere decided to relocate to Butiama, his home village in Mara Region. He was not one of those politicians who did the opposite of what they preach. He walked the talk. He was a man who sincerely believed that all human beings are equal, as creations of the Almighty God. Therefore, they deserve to be accorded respect and equal treatment, in all circumstances and under the law. He led a life that was underpinned by benevolence and love to all.
Those of us who worked for him, at whatever level, can attest to his modesty, humility, and complete lack of arrogance. At Butiama, Mwalimu would sometimes get out of the house alone, without the knowledge of his security guards, to visit his friends and relatives.
I remember on one occasion, he left his house unnoticed through the back door and went to visit , Jacton Nyambereka Nyerere, one of his relatives. Eventually, an alarm was raised, that Mwalimu was nowhere to be seen. This caused considerable panic among family members, and staff. Much to the relief of everyone, we learned that he had gone to visit his relative. He would often visit his brother, Chief Wanzagi Nyerere, and jokingly tell him that he had managed to escape from ‘jail’. To Mwalimu Nyerere, farming was a passion. He was an ardent farmer and livestock keeper; but much of the produce from his farm was shared with his extended family. He had a very big heart”.
Will continue next week.
Source: Daily News today.
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