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Kwame Nkrumah

Sifelani Tsiko Sydnication Writer
Africa today celebrates the 54th anniversary of the founding of the continental body — the African Union — at a time when Africa is building up the momentum to press for industrialisation to rapidly transform its desire to turn its vast economic potential into reality. There is no doubt that the continent’s thrust to unleash its economic potential through the implementation of strong industrial policies will, at least, despite the huge challenges that exist, help provide Africa with the tools for value addition and commodity-based industrialisation.

With bold leadership and state support, consistent monitoring and evaluation, inclusivity and prioritisation of major sectors, it is possible that Africa can be firmly put on the tough and winding road to structural transformation.

The era of begging bowls is ending and Africa increasingly needs to finance its development programmes to ensure sustainability of projects and, more importantly, for its own survival.

The continent has posted enviable economic growth rates in the past few years despite a slowdown in its 2016 economic growth rate which stood at 2,2 percent down from a 3,2 percent in 2015 owing largely to low commodity prices, weak global recovery and adverse…

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Nairobi, Kenya – Three months before the end of the last millennium, Africa’s arguably greatest leader-president breathed his last in a big city hospital, far away from the peasants who held him in awe and whom he loved to banter with so much.

On October 14, 1999, Africa woke to the sad news of the demise of Julius Kambarage Nyerere. He was 77, a tender age considering that his beloved mother died at the ripe old age of 100-plus years. His elder brother Wanzagi had died at the age of 86 and his maternal uncle died at the age of 96 years.

The founder-president of the Republic of Tanzania died at St Thomas Hospital in central London. He had been diagnosed with a rare terminal illness — lymphatic leukaemia — a disease that is primarily caused by persistent multiplication of the white blood cells in the blood.

The course of the disease is very slow, but towards the end, is one of extreme discomfort. It is probable Nyerere suffered great pain as he lay in his bed. To date, the ailment has no cure.

Even the magnanimously forgiving first president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, would not have kept silent in the face of the swamp of corruption his party, the ANC, which prides itself as a liberation movement, now finds itself deeply mired

Given his…

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President Mugabe is set to launch a book published in honour of the founding Tanzanian President, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere at State House this afternoon.

The book is entitled Julius Nyerere, Asante Sana, Thank you Mwalimu and it was co published by Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC), House of Books, African Publishing Group in Zimbabwe and Mkuki na Nyota of Tanzania

Julius Nyerere, Asante Sana, Thank you Mwalimu is a compilation of articles by scholars and his speeches. In attendance are cabinet ministers, service chiefs, scholars, writers and ambassadors.

Back page of the book Julius Nyerere, Asante Sana, Thank You Mwalimu

12:30 Pres Mugabe takes to the podium now. Speaks glowingly of Phylis Johnson who is co-editor of the book. “You are marvelous woman a rare species.  We don’t find such many in the western world.”

12:33 Nyerere is an eminent symbol of unity and freedom.  The book covers a wide range of thematic areas including Africa’s struggle for political independence, says Pres Mugabe.

12:35 Nyerere had a multiple function of carrying the burden of African countries pursuing independence. He sacrificed and suffered so much. He is a man really, who has no comparison ~ President says.

12:38 “I was overjoyed that the building under construction to house the African Union peace…

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The then leaders of the Front Line States (from left) Tanzania’s Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Mozambique’s Samora Moises Machel, Botswana’s Quett Masire, Angola’s Eduardo dos Santos and Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda spearheaded the decolonisation of Southern Africa

MWALIMU Julius Kambarage Nyerere was the father of Southern African liberation, and one of the founding fathers of the Southern African Development Community.  Born in Butiama near Lake Victoria on April 13 1922, when he passed away 15 years ago on October 14 1999, Africans everywhere shared the sense of loss felt by Tanzanians.  He was Baba wa taifa, father of the nation, the moving force for the independence of Tanganyika on December 9 1961 and for its unity with Zanzibar on April 26 1964 to create the United Republic of Tanzania.

A charismatic leader of sharp intellect and great personal integrity, he welded…

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My generation led Africa to political freedom. The current generation of leaders and peoples of Africa must pick up the flickering torch of African freedom, refuel it with their enthusiasm and determination, and carry it forward,” said Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, one of the founding fathers of the OAU, in a speech given in Accra on the occasion of Ghana’s 40th independence anniversary celebrations on 6 March 1997. This piece is extracted from that speech.

In May 1963, 32 independent African states met in Addis Ababa, founded the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and established the Liberation Committee of the new organisation, charging it with the duty of coordinating the liberation struggle in those parts of Africa still under colonial rule. The following year, 1964, the OAU met in Cairo [Egypt]. The Cairo Summit is remembered mainly for the declaration of the heads of state of independent Africa to respect the borders inherited from colonialism. The principle of non-interference in internal affairs of member states of the OAU had been enshrined in the [OAU] Charter itself. Respect for the borders inherited from colonialism came from the Cairo Declaration of 1964.

In 1965, the OAU met in Accra [Ghana]. That summit is not as well remembered as the founding summit in 1963 or the Cairo Summit of 1964. The fact that Nkrumah did not last long as head of state of Ghana after that summit may have contributed…

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Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the founding father of Tanzania, is one of the pioneers of African nationalism and Pan-Africanism. He was not only the principal actor in the struggle for Tanganyika's independence but he was also at the forefront of the liberation of central and southern Africa.

Title: The Story of Julius Nyerere, Africa's Elder Statesman - From the pages of DRUM
ISBN: 9976 973 52 7 (Mkuki na Nyota)
ISBN: 9970 02 153 2 (Fountain Publishers)
Publishers: Mkuki na Nyota Publishers Dar es Salaam - Tanzania
Fountain Publishers: Kampala - Uganda

After independence, he united Tanganyika and Zanzibar to create the modern Republic of Tanzania. For twenty three years he presided over the affairs of Tanzania and forged a distinct Tanzanian national identity.

He played a key role in the formation of OAU, the East African Community and was the leader of the Frontline States in the liberation struggle against white-ruled southern Africa.
He ruled peacefully, retired voluntarily and oversaw a peaceful transfer of power to his successors. The story of Nyerere captures the most significant milestones in his leadership of Tanzania and Africa as a whole.

Contents: Preface - The 1800s to the 1950s - Independence
"The uncertain years - African Socialism - The years in between - Zanzibar - Nyerere's last decade - The end of an…

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Speech By President Nelson Mandela at a Banquet in Honour of Julius Nyerere, Johannesburg, 17 October 1997

Master of Ceremonies; Mwalimu Julius Nyerere; Mr Nicky Oppenheimer; Honoured guests;

It is a great pleasure to share in this occasion honouring one of Africa's great patriots.

It is a humbling experience to recall the contribution that Mwalimu Nyerere has made to the liberation of our continent, and to freedom in South Africa.

This is the freedom fighter who heard Chief Luthuli's appeal and joined Trevor Huddleston in launching the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain in 1959; a leader whose decisive intervention at the Commonwealth Conference after the Sharpeville Massacre led to the exclusion of apartheid South Africa.

I had the personal privilege of meeting him many years ago, in 1962, when I visited Tanzania seeking help as we embarked on the armed struggle. Then, as now, I was struck by his lucid thoughts; his burning desire for justice everywhere; and his commitment to Africa's interests.

After the independence of Tanzania, Mwalimu, as its head of state, continued to play an important role in the struggle for justice and democracy not only in Africa, but throughout the world.

The people of Tanzania gave unstinting support to the liberation of South Africa. They gave recognition of the most practical kind to the principle that our freedom and theirs were interdependent.

Today, as free nations we have…

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