![]() ![]() Through Mwalimu’s leadership, all Tanzanians were able to take pride in their contribution to the liberation of the region, through “people-to-people” support in hosting refugees, contributing food, clothing, and shillings. The political changes in Namibia and South Africa in 19, changed the face and future of the African continent, and completed the work of the OAU Liberation Committee, but socio-economic development has remained a vision. ![]() The leaders of Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana formed the Front Line States in 1974 to work together in a united front for common security and for majority rule in neighbouring countries, under the chairmanship of Nyerere, and this was a forerunner of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. Nyerere was one of nine leaders who came together in 1980 to establish the Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), which later became the Southern African Development Community (SADC). True to his vision, it can be said that he “carried the torch that liberated Africa”. Mwalimu’s dedication and commitment to the liberation of the sub-continent, to African unity and to pan-Africanism remains unsurpassed. ![]() Their tool for achieving this, the OAU Liberation Committee, was hosted by Tanzania, and most liberation movements were based there at one time or another. The main objective was political liberation for the rest of the continent. Nyerere pursued the ideals of liberation, democracy and common humanity into the rest of the continent and, with the leaders of the other few African countries that were independent in 1963, established the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which later became the African Union. When the other countries of southern Africa were forced into wars of liberation to eventually achieve the same end, Tanzania provided political, material and moral support until independence and majority rule were achieved in 1975 (Mozambique, Angola), 1980 (Zimbabwe), 1990 (Namibia) and finally, 1994 (South Africa). Tanganyika’s independence in 1961 was an inspiration to those who believed that political independence could be achieved by non-violent means and he worked tirelessly in support of this goal for Zambia(1964), Malawi(1964), Botswana(1966), Lesotho(1966), Mauritius(1968), Swaziland(1968) and Seychelles(1976). His pursuit of an equitable socio-economic society through collective self-reliance was more difficult than he had envisaged, and he once said that “we are very good at sharing the wealth in Tanzania but I only wish we had made more wealth to share.” He encouraged Tanzanian women to play a leadership role in society and adopted a parliamentary system that has guaranteed seats for women. His firm support for equality and tolerance ranged across all diversity of race, religion, class and gender. He was Baba wa taifa, father of the nation, the moving force for the independence of Tanganyika on 9 December 1961 and for its unity with Zanzibar on 26 April 1964 to create the United Republic of Tanzania.Ī charismatic leader of sharp intellect and great personal integrity, he welded a country and a national identity from over 120 ethnic groups, united by their language Swahili and by a social harmony constructed on the ideals of peace, justice, unity and personal commitment. Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere was the father of southern African liberation, and one of the founding fathers of the Southern African Development Community.īorn in Butiama near Lake Victoria on 13 April 1922, when he passed away 15 years ago on 14 October 1999, Africans everywhere shared the sense of loss felt by Tanzanians. ![]()
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