A patriotic song titled “Tazama ramani utaona nchi nzuri”; carries the following words:“Majira yetu haya, yangekuwaje sasa, utumwa wa nchi Nyerere asingeukomesha? And another song in the same category says: “Kama siyo juhudi zako Nyerere, na Uhuru tungepata wapi?
The basic intention of these songs was, presumably, to remind all the subsequent generations of Tanzanians, of their binding obligation to honour Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, for his pivotal role in the struggle for our country’s independence.
The annual independence celebrations present the most appropriate moment for us to do so. Next Saturday, 9th, December, 2023; we will be happily celebrating the 62 anniversary of our country’s independence. I wish therefore to urge everyone, to offer a silent prayer for the late Mwalimu Nyerere, the Father of our nation.
When we celebrated the ‘golden Jubilee’ of Tanganyika’s independence two years ago, I made use of that opportunity to write a series of articles which were published in this column during the whole of October 2021, mainly detailing the successes achieved by all our country’s apex leaders during the whole of that period; starting with founder President Julius Nyerere’s ‘formative years’, during which he laid the ‘firm foundations’ for the country’s subsequent development, ending with President John Pombe Magufuli, whose second and final term was rudely interrupted by his sudden death in March 2021; when, by the smooth operation of our country’s constitution, Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan ascended to the Presidency.
Thus, as a follow up on those earlier presentations, it seems logical and appropriate, that I should devote today’s presentation to President Samia’s contributions thereto; with her lyrical slogan “kazi iendelee”. But since we are now talking to an entirely new generation about “firm foundations” that were laid six decades ago, it is only fair, and just, that we should provide a resume of what we are actually talking about, particularly in the area of political management; namely, those that relate directly to the country’s governance.
These were clearly laid down in a document titled: “Guide to the One-Party State Commission”. In this document President Nyerere provided a short list of the “principles” that were to form the basis of the country’s new constitution, and also for the ‘administrative practices’ to be observed at all levels of government. They were the following:-
a) That the country shall remain a Republic, with an executive President;
(b) That the Rule of Law and the independence of the Judiciary shall be preserved;
(c) That there shall be complete equality for all the country’s citizens;
(d) That there shall be maximum political freedom for all citizens, within the context of a single national movement;
(e) That there shall be the maximum possible participation by the people in their own government, and ultimate control by them over the State Organs, on the basis of universal adult suffrage; and
(f) That there shall be complete freedom for the people to choose their own representatives on all representative and legislative bodies, within the context of the law”. These are the principles which have formed the basis for all our subsequent constitutions, starting with the ‘Interim’ constitution of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar of 1964; followed by the ‘One-Party’ Constitution of 1965; and the ‘permanent’ constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977. They are the principles, which have also guided the ‘administrative practices’ of all President Nyerere’s successors; including the current President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose outstanding “Reconciliation” contributions she is making under her umbrella lyric slogan of “kazi iendelee”, plus her refreshing “4Rs” philosophy; are the main focus of today’s presentation.
The “courage of reconciliation”
We will focus primarily on her work in respect of “Reconciliation”. The word “reconciliation” means “an end to a disagreement, and the start good relationship again”. It is not always easy to achieve reconciliation. Hence, in that connection, my memory races back to President Nyerere’s “Dag Hammarskjold Lecture” to which he chose to give the title “the courage of reconciliation”.
President Nyerere had been invited to deliver that particular lecture as part of a series of such international lectures, organized by the ‘Dag Hammarskjold Memorial Foundation’ in commemoration of that United Nations Secretary General; who had died literally “with his boots on”, in a tragic plane crush accident. That speech was delivered in Dar es Salaam, on 24th January, 1964, before an international audience.
It was a great speech, in which, among other things, President Nyerere said the following:-“Dag Hammarskjold was working hard in search for peace in the whole world; but he also realized that peace can only be obtained on certain conditions, specifically, of compromise, tolerance, and a devotion to the principles of human equality and brotherhood.
“As UN Secretary General, he tried both to promote these conditions; and, just as important, he allowed time for them to become effective”.
Thus, reconciliation efforts need courage. As we are all aware, President Samia Suluhu Hassan is working very hard to promote peace in our society, through her “Reconciliation” efforts, and its implementation programmes. And she is clearly observing the “conditions” specified in President Nyerere’s lecture referred to above.
Among the most enduring, ‘firm foundations’, that were laid by the founder President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, were those that were aimed at: (a) maintaining the nation’s unity and stability; and (b) the resettlement of the rural population into properly organized villages. Indeed, it is upon these foundations, that all our subsequent apex leaders have been ‘building the walls’ for the peoples’ welfare and prosperity; and investing their efforts in securing enhanced human and material development.
In her political reconciliation efforts (one of her big 4Rs), President Samia has clearly shown that she is working very hard in search for lasting peace among our political community; and her endeavours can thus be rightly described as “courageous” in the context of President Nyerere’s lecture referred to above; and they clearly constitute a major contribution, to the nation’s continued unity, peace and tranquility.
This is precisely the reason why we often sing in chorus: ‘Kazi iendelee’; hopefully in genuine appreciation of, and support for, her efforts in maintaining the nation’s unity. But President Nyerere also pointed out in that speech, that this work of reconciliation “needs the support of the law”; because, he said, “reconciliation arises out of the basic conflicts which are inherent in society . . . Through cooperation with his fellows an individual person is enabled to enjoy the economic and social benefits of communal life.
But, at the same time, this cooperation introduces the possibilities of conflict; ‘cooperation’ and ‘conflict’ being but two sides of the same coin. It is the law, or a system of rules that govern interpersonal behavior; and the enforcement of these rules, that makes cooperation between individuals fruitful”.
For President Samia’s sterling efforts to achieve the desired success, she needs the full support of the law makers (who are aware of the difference between a ‘just’ law, which is impartial between persons, and aims at achieving reconciliation between groups that are locked in conflict; and an unjust’ law, which unfairly discriminates between such groups).
However, law, which is not enforced, is liable to deteriorate into mere expressions of pious hopes. She also needs the genuine support of the general public (which is willing to cooperate by obeying the law voluntarily); and the support of the ‘Law enforcement’ Agencies; (who must not rely on the use of brute force, even in circumstances which do not justify such action).
It is In that connection, that President Samia’s government recently submitted three major Bills to the Union Parliament, which will result in the enactment of a new elections law (to replace that which was enacted a long ago in 1985); and a new law establishing the National Electoral Commission; plus others that will introduce significant improvements to the relevant laws, namely, the Political Parties Act; and the Election Expenses Act (which is aimed at eliminating corruption in our election processes).
The proposed new law establishing the National Electoral Commission, seeks to make new provisions for: (i) the independence of the National Electoral Commission (section 6(1) thereof); (ii) the ethical qualifications required for its members (iii) new transparent procedures for the recruitment of its members; and (iv) for the Commission to have its own staff, solely answerable to it (section 21(1). All these new provisions appear to be a positive response to many of the demands that have often been voiced by various stakeholders. They may be inadequate; but, at least, they demonstrate the government’s ‘willingness to listen’ to such reasonable demands.
But there is more that needs to be done.
It must be admitted, however, that not all of the principles of ‘good governance’ that were listed that were shortlisted in President Nyerere’s “Guide” referred to above, have been observed in practice; particularly those relating to “maximum participation by all citizens in their own government”; because the demand for allowing “independent candidates” to participate in our elections still remains undetermined; since, under the 1977 constitution, all candidates for election to the Presidency and to Parliament, “must belong to and be sponsored by a fully registered political party”. In 1994, the Tanzania High Court, in the ‘constitutional petition’ case cited as: Rev. Mtikila v Attorney General; made a ruling that this prohibition of independent candidates from participating in elections, “was incompatible with the basic right of every citizen to participate in the governance of his country and was therefore unconstitutional”.
But even this court ruling was not implemented; and the said prohibitions are still firmly in place. This was, actually, the result of a clever ‘legal engineering’ move, by the learned Attorney General. It is an interesting story, but cannot be narrated here, due to editorial space limitations.
Building on the foundation of people living in properly organized villages. President Nyerere laid this foundation firmly in his inaugural Address to Parliament as President of the Republic of Tanganyika, which he delivered on 10th December, 1962 (my translation from the Kiswahili original):- “If you ask me what the government is planning to do in the next few years, the answer is very simple: the government will do all it can to enable our peasants farmers to live together in Village communities; for unless we achieve that, we shall not be able to provide them with the things that are needed in order to raise their standard of living. For example, we will not be able to provide hospital services close enough to the people, or clean drinking water. And even when we will have a sufficient supply of electric power, we will be unable to connect it up to each isolated homestead”.
What we are witnessing now, namely, electricity being made available in all the country’s villages; Dispensaries and Health centers, and Primary and Secondary Schools; being constructed in practically every village throughout the country; all this provides a clear demonstration, of the fact that the government is building on the foundations laid by President Nyerere in his inaugural Address to parliament referred to above.
And more than that, every village is now ‘self-governing’ in the sense that each village has its own elected ‘Village government’, embedded in the structure of Local government Authorities.
piomsekwa@gmail.com/0754767576.
Source: Cde Pius Msekwa.
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