WHY MWALIMU NYERERE ABHORED LIVING IN THE ‘COLONIAL’ IKULU.

President Nyerere’s motive was entirely ideological, as we shall see presently,  in the paragraphs that follow  below. When  Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere first  ascended to  the Presidency  of the Republic of Tanganyika in 1962;  and  subsequently  of the United Republic of Tanzania  in 1964;  he  deliberately avoided living  in the  Magogoni  IKULU,  in Dar es Salaam.   Why did he do that? Well, the only  reason that  I know,  is that it was  because he had a very strong  aversion  to being  associated with  the symbols of the ‘shameful’ colonialism; and  he  wanted to have all such symbols  completely obliterated from the innocent minds of the young generation of  what  was now  the independent country of Tanganyika (before its Union with Zanzibar).           

            Today’s presentation will attempt to  throw some light  on this historically  important matter; in  order to enable  the stakeholders, and  observers, to fully  appreciate the  importance, and political significance, of the grand  ceremony which was held in Dodoma last Saturday, of inaugurating the new IKULU at Chamwino;  in the government city of   Dodoma;  presided over by President Samia Suluhu Hassan herself;  a  proud  project which was not only funded from the country’s own internal resources, but was also  proudly, constructed by   our own   Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT)  Building Brigade. This was in complete contrast to the Dar es Salaam – based IKULU, which was a colonial heritage.    

            It is, presumably, common knowledge, that the current Dar es Salaam  IKULU  (which was replicated at Chamwino in Dodoma); was  built by the German colonialist, when they  became the rulers of our country  following the division of Africa countries among the European ‘Great Powers”  at the Berlin Conference in 1885; and was subsequently  transferred to  the British colonialists  in 192o.

        Thus, when independence was achieved in December 1961, we just inherited this ‘colonial relic’. And that is precisely the reason why President  Nyerere’s  did not want  to live in it; which is he  had a very strong  aversion to being associated with the symbols of colonialism.  Consequently, he did not want to live in the same building that was used as the residence of  the colonial Governors.  That is why he took out a personal Bank loan to build his own private house at Msasani, in which he lived throughout his entire life.   The inside story of this aversion,  is told in the paragraphs below.
Mwalimu  Nyerere’s  aversion to the symbols of colonialism.
It is from this  perspective, that we should view  the ceremony which was held in Dodoma last Saturday, in order to appreciate its special  significance. Mwalimu  Nyerere’s   dislike  (call it  hatred )  for living in the Dar es Salaam  IKULU originated from      his being  “a man of principle”;  and this action was actually  based  on  the  ideological  ‘principle’  of  his  refusal to  be associated with  the symbols of the  past  ‘shameful’  colonialism.    Here is the  story. 
        Mwalimu  Julius  Nyerere was sworn into office as  the  founder-President of the Republic of Tanganyika, on 9th December, 1962, the first anniversary of the country’s independence from  British  colonial rule.   Whether it was by design, or by sheer coincidence, I was appointed Clerk of the National Assembly on that same date.          

        This “coincidence” was the starting point for my close relationships with President Nyerere,  which lasted throughout the entire period of  his Presidency. Among the earliest duties that are prescribed by the constitution which must be performed by a newly installed President, is the “State Opening of Parliament”. This function is prescribed by the country’s constitution; and  was  performed by President Nyerere  on his first working day,  which was  10th December 1962.   As part of its regular business that session of Parliament also passed several  Bills, which needed the President’s Assent.                                    

        In my enthusiasm to make sure that this part of the  ‘Legislative process’  was completed without delay, I decided to take the relevant Bills to IKULU  myself; and handed them to the President’s Personal Secretary.  She immediately took the Papers to the President, and asked me to wait a little, “just  in case the Boss  had something  to ask me”.   Within one minute she came out, and told me to enter the President’s office, as he wanted to see me. 
        I still remember, and  with nostalgia, that  particular meeting;  which,  indeed surprised me, for  the President turned it  into a tete-a -tete  private meeting  between the two of us!   I was, of course, no stranger to him, having previously been his student at St. Francis College Pugu; where, apparently, my outstanding class performance had attracted his attention.                                 

         And subsequently, after I had completed my undergraduate studies at Makerere University College he  had again watched my performance, when the Colonial Administration appointed me (in  a  “Training grade” capacity),  to understudy the British Clerk of the National Assembly; while  he was, at that time,  the Member of Parliament  representing  the then Dar es Salaam constituency.  Hence, I was no stranger to him.                  

        And on that material day;  he happened to be in very good mood, and we talked,  and talked,  for about an hour and a half; with him doing most of the talking;  while I listened, very carefully and attentively.                                        
        That is when he told me about his discomfort with the appearances of maintain the colonial  status quo; and specifically,  the  symbols of colonialism;  such as him having to operate from the same office that was previously used by the Governors of the colonial Administration, and  our Parliament  having to work  in the same colonial  ‘Legislative Council  Chamber’,  Karimjee  Hall.

        And, in particular, he expressed his disapproval  of  the action  I had taken  when preparing the programme for his ‘State Opening of Parliament’ function; when I had, rather foolishly,  just  copied the same colonial  words and phrases  that had been used by the  British officials  in preparing the programme   for the Duke of Edinburgh‘s  ‘State opening of the Independence Parliament’  a year earlier, in December 1961.   The objectionable words and phrases were:  “First Lady” that  I had used  in reference to mama Maria Nyerere; and “Lady-in-waiting” in reference to  the woman  official accompanying her.               

            He strongly objected to the use of these ‘colonial’ words and phrases;  and said to me:  “Listen”,  you  people must change  your  colonial  mindsets.   We are now independent; and  this fundamental   change  must be  reflected in all your actions  in performing your governmental functions”;  he  said.                                     

            This shows that he was absolutely determined to make a complete break with the ‘shameful’ colonial past.  Although  he did not specifically say so  himself,  but with the advantage of  ‘hind sight’,   I have a feeling that his idea of  shifting the government capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, must have  crystalized  at that point in time; in view of the fact that it was only a few years later,  in 1966; that Mwalimu Nyerere’s younnge brother Joephh Nyerere, Member of parliament for Musoma constituency, introducea a “Private Member’ Motion” in the National Assembly, seeking BUNGE’s decision  to direct the government to shift to Dodoma; plus what followed thereafter, when this matter was taken over by the ruling party, TANU; under the skillful  management and   direction  by Mwalimu Nyerere himself.    
Hence, It is against this background, that we should view the celebrations that were held in Dodoma last Saturday.  They were, basically, celebrations to mark the successful realization of  Mwalimu Nyerere’s long time  ‘dream’,  of shifting the  government capital to Dodoma.                       

            As that famous English Play Wright of the sixteenth century William Shakespeare put it,  Mwalimu Nyerere’s  good deeds, and fine ideas,  were  fortunately “not interred with hi bones”;  but continue to be implemented, even  so many decades after his death. 
            Kudos  to  his  successors  in office, particularly the  fifth-phase government of President  John Pombe  Magufuli (who initiated this action);   and the sixth-phase government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan  (who  successfully  completed  it).  
There were also other areas.
Mwalimu  Nyerere’s  aversion to maintaining colonial symbols under the new  independence  jurisdiction  also extended to many other areas.  I still remember three such areas, in  two of which I was personally involved.  The first was in respect of   making  the design of a new mace for the independent Parliament; which the  British  House of Commons had offered  to produce  and present  to our Parliament,  as an ‘independence gift’,  and had  requested our office to provided them with a design of our choice.   I was assigned the task of finding that desired design.                         

         Under the British Administration, the giraffe had been treated as the “national”  animal; and was being  printed on all government documents.   Hence, my proposal was  to place the  symbol of a giraffe at the head of the mace.    But when  I showed this  to  Mwalimu Nyerere  and sought his approval;   he immediately  rejected  the giraffe  proposal;  and directed that  the ‘UHURU Torch’   should be  used instead of   the giraffe;  which, he said,  was a relic of the shameful colonial past.

        The second matter was his directive, issued at  the beginning of 1963;  to  all government establishments  to  use Kiswahili  instead of English,  where  possible,  in all government communications.  The phrase “where possible” was, indeed, necessary; because at that time, many of the government  entities were still being operated by British officials who were still serving in their previous  posts, who were not Swahili speakers.

        But BUNGE was different, we had a Kiswahili speaking Speaker, Chief Adam Sapi Mwawa, and a Kiswahili speaking Katibu wa Bunge, Pius Msekwa; plus Members of Parliament who were all Kiswahili  speakers.    Hence it was very easy for us to undertake the implementation of the President’s directive.                                               

        Thus,  “obliterating the symbols of the shameful colonialism”; and “building a new culture of  UZALENDO”,  were  Mwalimu  Nyerere’s  twin   motives,  and  the  guiding  factors,  in  his  issuance  of  all  these directives. 
        The third issue, in which I was not personally involved (because it was essentially directed to the Police Force, was the colonial police practice of closing the streets through which the Governor General (as Head of State representing the Her Majesty the Queen), would be travelling, to all other traffic.    President Nyerere actually wrote a Presidential Circular, in which he ordered the discontinuation of this particular practice.  “I am fast becoming the greatest nuisance to the road users of Dar es Salaam’ he  quipped  in that circular. “It is as if motorists must call State House every morning, to enquire if the President was scheduled to travel out of State House on that day, and in what direction, to enable them to avoid the relevant streets or roads, for fear of being held up for several hours due to the closure of the streets, ostensibly to clear the President’s way!   

          I believe there is no need for inconveniencing our citizens to such a ridiculous extent. I know that there is a better way of enabling the President to travel fast through the streets and roads without closing them to other road users”. He then issued his directive: “this practice must therefore stop, effective from the date of this circular letter”.  However, this action was not solely due to  his strong aversion to maintaining the symbols and practices of the colonialists; it  also reveals  President Nyerere’s  personal  humility, and  his  genuine care for the needs of other persons. 
piomsekwa@gmail.com  / 0754767576.