Nyerere, a leader in the making from childhood

TANZANIA: MENTION the name Julius Kambarage Nyerere anywhere in Tanzania or beyond and eyes will inevitably turn toward the Butiama-born Zanaki chief’s son from the Mara Region, who would become a charismatic leader and dedicated his life to securing Tanzania’s independence.

As the country commemorates Nyerere’s 25th death anniversary, one might wonder how this son of Africa emerged as the Founding Father of Tanganyika and later co-founded the United Republic of Tanzania alongside his Zanzibar counterpart, Mr Abeid Aman Karume.

Mwalimu Nyerere’s profound influence extended beyond Tanzania’s borders, underscoring the importance of liberating Eastern and Southern Africa as well as the continent at large. He is renowned globally as a principled and intelligent politician.

Born on April 13, 1922, in Mwitongo, near Musoma, Julius Kambarage Nyerere was one of 25 children of Burito Nyerere.

He experienced an ordinary Zanaki childhood, helping with the farming of millet, maize and cassava. He also participated in herding goats and cattle.

Mzee Wandibha Magesa, an elder from Nyerere’s community once reflected on his childhood, saying, “A chicken that will become a cock can be spotted at the moment it hatches.”

He highlights the early promise he saw in young Nyerere, whose name means “caterpillar” in Zanaki, symbolising resilience amid suffering.

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As the son of a chief, Nyerere underwent all the traditional rituals at Gabizuryo, which, along with exposure to power and authority from a young age, influenced his political views.

Mzee Magesa noted that the British colonisers encouraged Mzee Burito to send Nyerere to school, believing it would help maintain the chieftaincy and prevent the rise of an educated elite that might challenge colonial rule. In 1934, Nyerere began his education at the Native Administration School, where he learned Kiswahili, a language distinct from Kizanaki.

This privilege continued as he moved on to Tabora for secondary education and later attended Makerere University in Uganda (1949- 1952) and Edinburgh University in Scotland.

Charles Atesh, who worked with the Tanzania Family Peace Promoters Society under the auspices of the Nyerere Foundation, describes Nyerere as a humanist with a rare vision.

He notes, “With humour to drive his point home, Nyerere hated tribalism and believed it was absurd to favour people based on their ethnic backgrounds in employment and education.”

He encouraged Tanzanians to speak Kiswahili, intermarry and embrace their national identity, advocating against divisions caused by religion, politics or ideology.

Nyerere played a crucial role in the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU).

By the time he entered politics, Britain’s League of Nations mandate in Tanganyika had transitioned into a United Nations trusteeship, with independence as the ultimate goal.

To expedite this process, Nyerere joined the Tanganyika African Association, becoming its president in 1953.

He transformed the organisation into the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in 1954, advocating for peaceful change, social equality and racial harmony while rejecting tribalism and discrimination.

Mr Charles Makongoro Nyerere, one of Mwalimu’s sons, affectionately recalls his father, nicknamed “Mzee Kifimbo” due to a small baton he carried, akin to what a white handkerchief represented for Zambia’s Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

He emphasised his father’s dedication to motivating Tanzanians towards selfreliance. “Full of wisdom, he held Tanzanians dear to his heart.

He will always be remembered for uniting the nation and promoting freedom and solidarity,” he said.

After Tanzania gained independence, Nyerere declared war against three enemies: poverty, disease and ignorance.

According to Mr Makongoro, Mwalimu Nyerere always stated: “Poverty, ignorance and disease are not mock enemies.

They are the true enemies of our people. Anyone who refuses to participate in this war, or who hinders their neighbours’ efforts, is guilty of helping a far more deadly foe than an armed invader.”

Beyond mere statistics, Mwalimu Nyerere’s achievements contributed to Tanzania’s esteemed reputation on the world stage, fostering economic independence and national unity among diverse ethnic groups.

As the leader of Tanzania since its independence, Mwalimu Nyerere became a symbol of the African liberation struggle, advocating for equitable economic relations between the wealthy North and the developing South.

“Freedom and Unity” was the motto of TANU, the party he founded, which led the country to independence. In April 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form the United Republic of Tanzania, becoming a successful model of unity between two nations.

The merger enabled Tanzania to establish diplomatic relations with other African countries, enhancing its status as a beacon of peace in the Great Lakes Region. Mwalimu Nyerere passed away on October 14, 1999 at the age of 77.

Rest in peace, Mwalimu Nyerere.