Nyerere Day: Let us continue to guard our peace and unity

BY EDITOR

14th October 2015.

Editorial Cartoon.

Today Tanzanians are marking two events of national importance. First, the 16th anniversary of the passing away of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage  Nyerere. Second, the climax of this year's Uhuru Torch race - underscored the unity this country has enjoyed for decades.

 

We see the great wisdom in the decision to jointly hold the two events, considering the fact that Mwalimu had in his life time fervently advocated unity among the people in addition to selling the idea to start the cross-country Uhuru Torch race as a national unity symbol.

 

The Uhuru Torch is part and parcel of this nation's independence symbol, carrying on historic Uhuru time act in which an army officer undertook the heroic feat of scaling Africa's highest mountain, the Kilimanjaro, and placing the Uhuru Torch on its Kibo Peak.Brig. Alex Gwebe Nyirenda who died in Dar es Salaam from throat cancer in 2009 at the eve of Tanzania's independence in 1961, had hoisted Tanzania's flag (then Tanganyika) on the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro as the Union Jack was lowered at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

 

Two years earlier on 22nd October 1959, former President Julius K. Nyerere, in a speech to the Tanganyika Legislative Assembly, said the following:

 

We the people of Tanganyika, would like to light a candle and put it on top of Mount Kilimanjaro which would shine beyond our borders giving hope where there was despair, love where there was hate, and dignity where there was before only humiliation.

 

That candle (which came to be known to Tanzanians as the Uhuru torch) placed on Mt. Kilimanjaro signalled Tanzania's long and unwavering commitment to the liberation struggle of those African countries that remained in the early sixties under colonialism and white minority rule.

 

It was an event that contained a very important message for unity and peace - for Tanzania, Africa and the world. If any success is to be measured from this, then the unity, peace and solidarity this country has enjoyed since independence on December 9, 1961, stand to be counted!

 

All this would not have been possible had it not been for the deliberate efforts by the pioneers of this country's independence led by Mwalimu Nyerere to ensure greater unity.

 

In the midst of the struggle for independence from British colonial rule, Mwalimu and his fellow Uhuru pioneers, through the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) doctrine of "All humans are equal and Africa is one", ensured people rallied behind the unity motto.

 

It paid dividends and set strong foundations for peace and unity that are still being enjoyed in this country to this day, making Tanzania an island for peace for unity in a continent (and other parts of the world) that have not known everlasting peace for most of their independence life.

 

There had been sparks of division or misunderstanding based along tribal and political lines, which at times have threatened to shake the very foundations for peace and unity we have enjoyed all along.

 

Fortunately, each time this has happened, it has been nipped in the bud, thanks to timely intervention by responsible state organs. Let us all continue to guard our peace and unity. It is for the good of us all.

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN