Mwalimu Nyerere, a rare visionary leader
AS we commemorate 25 years since the passing of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the Founding Father of the Nation, Tanzanians are reminded of the importance of unity and national pride.
Since Mwalimu Nyerere’s death, Tanzania’s population has surged, with many young people, who make up half of the populace, never having experienced his leadership firsthand.
Others in positions of leadership, also young, often rely on stories and accounts of Nyerere gleaned from books, lacking direct memories of the man himself.
Abdon Mwanyika, an 18-year-old Form Six student at Ihungo Secondary School, expresses deep admiration for Nyerere. Born in 2006, he has immersed himself in literature about the late leader’s life.
“I was not lucky to see Mwalimu Nyerere, but I have read extensively about him. He was one of Africa’s most respected elder statesmen, leaving a firm legacy. His global standing for justice, equality and egalitarian economic policies still resonates today. We, the young generation, should emulate his example through hard work,” he reflects.
Amina Abdul, also 18 and a Form Five student at Bukoba Secondary School, remembers Nyerere for his efforts to promote Kiswahili.
“Nyerere used Kiswahili to unite Tanzanians, who spoke more than 100 traditional languages. He even used it at international meetings, unlike many other African leaders who favoured foreign languages,” she notes.
Dr Charles Timbigambirwa, 53, proudly displays a large portrait of Nyerere in his sitting room.
“Without Mwalimu Nyerere’s initiatives, I could not have afforded the fees to become a doctor, as I come from a poor family. During his tenure, we enjoyed free education from primary to university level,” he recalls.
Professor Nelson Boniface, the Deputy Chancellor for Research at the University of Dar es Salaam, shares that the institution has organised conferences to honour Nyerere’s legacy.
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“The University of Dar es Salaam has established professional chairs in Pan African Studies to preserve the nation’s history. This initiative aims to educate Tanzanians who lack sufficient knowledge about Mwalimu Nyerere’s contributions,” he explains.
These professional chairs cover fields such as Political Studies, Kiswahili, Environment and Economics.
Jacob Byombalirwa, 56, a resident of Muleba district’s Nshamba village, remembers the peaceful life in Kagera before the 1978/79 Kagera War against the dictatorship of Idi Amin of Uganda.
“Before the war, we cultivated various crops, including bananas, coffee, maize, cassava and millet,” he reflects.
The Uganda Tanzania War, known as the Kagera War in Tanzania and the 1979 Liberation War in Uganda, lasted from October 1978 to June 1979 and led to the overthrow of Idi Amin’s regime. Many lives were lost and properties were devastated during the conflict.
In 1971, Idi Amin seized power in Uganda through a military coup, which strained relations with Tanzania. Amin’s regime was marked by oppression and brutality. The kidnapping and subsequent murder of Kagera’s Regional Police Commander, Hans Poppe, triggered military confrontations between the two countries.
Despite a previous diplomatic resolution in the form of the “Mogadishu Pact” of 1972, relations soured again in October 1978 when Amin’s forces invaded Tanzania, seizing the Kagera Salient. Mwalimu Nyerere, then Commander-in-Chief of the Tanzanian Armed Forces, could not tolerate this aggression and declared war to defend Tanzanian sovereignty.
Approximately 619 heroes, including both Tanzanians and Ugandans who perished during the war, are buried at the Kaboya TPDF Camp in Muleba, where a monument honours their sacrifice.
This October 14, the nation will commemorate 25 years since the death of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who served as President of the United Republic of Tanzania from its founding in 1964 until his retirement in 1985.
Born on April 13, 1922, in Tanganyika to a local Zanaki chief, he earned the Swahili title “Mwalimu,” meaning “teacher,” due to his profession before entering politics.
Nyerere was a pivotal figure in Africa’s struggle for independence and its post-colonial development. He was the first African head of state to retire voluntarily and he provided sanctuary for numerous African liberation movements.
After his presidency, Nyerere remained a respected elder statesman, offering guidance in Tanzanian and regional politics. His final mission involved mediating peace talks to end a civil war in neighbouring Burundi.
Nyerere passed away on October 14, 1999, in London, UK, after battling leukemia. As we reflect on his contributions, let us continue to uphold the values of unity, peace and justice that he championed throughout his life.
