Nyerere is the one who created Mwinyi

By Obanda, 21 March 1995

I read Nyerere's press statement and I was wondering whether Mwalimu Nyerere had died and has just resurrected and found that Mwinyi was his successor and is corrupt.

Nyerere will go down in history as a man who worked so hard to build a nation and then voluntarily handed it over to a bunch of self-seeking, ideologically bankrupt nincompoops. He then watched quietly for 15 years as these people demolished every work he had done.

Why Nyerere chose Mwinyi out of all the capable people that were available is only clear to him. But it is obvious that the hardliners and revolutionary wing of the Chama Cha Mapindusi were systematically removed either through assassination or exclusion. A natural successor to Nyerere was Dr. Salim Salim, [who was] ideologically closer to Nyerere than any other contender. It still beats reason that Tanzania could afford to "waste" the talents of such a leader (OAU is of course a mere barking dog which never does anything for anyone).

When retiring, Nyerere personally went around Tanzania campaigning for Mwinyi, introducing him to bewildered peasants as "Raisi wangu". Since they trusted him, they went along with it. But soon afterwards the peasantry organized themselves against what they considered the abdication of the ideals of the "Mapinduzi" (against "walanguzi" and other exploiters). The Sungu Sungu and other expressions of peasant disenchantments [were] crushed. Dr. Horace Campbell, then at the University of Dar es Salaam (following the footsteps the late Dr. Walter Rodney), researched these uprisings and tried to publish them. This resulted in his deportation from Tanzania.

Mwinyi and the bunch who took over immediately started to unravel Nyerere's work. Nairobi was their London. They envied their counterpart political thieves in Nairobi. Mansions I have not seen in any Western city (maybe in California etc) shot up in the beach area of Daresalaam. Corruption was the order of the day. Government workers stopped working as each became a little entrepreneur. To get service in Daressalaam, you HAD TO BRIBE (AND THERE WAS/IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS!) The railway stalled (even water was/is being sold at railway stations). The university of DAR, once, the centre of most progressive academic debate became the centre for academic opportunism. Donor countries took it over, different departments "auctioned" [to?] different countries.

All these happened while Nyerere was there. All this time he kept a studied silence while he pertook to international issues as if the North-South dialogue was enough to uplift Africa from its predicament.

It is therefore hypocritical for Mwalimu to pretend that he really cared what type of govt. succeeded him. In his silence, he betrayed the peasants and workers of Tanzania who trusted and respected him so much. His overly and unnecessary concern for keeping Mainland and Zanzibar together maybe blinded his vision. If Zanzibar wants self-determination, he could let them go. All forms of political and economic unions can be formed. The major factor though is that the standard of living of people is raised.

It is also disturbing that Mwalimu should urge people to vote for another political party. The CCM may have been hijacked by opportunists, but the ideals remain. Nyerere is still powerful enough to organize his own candidates in the party. For the October elections, he could now be telling Tanzanians to vote for a better CCM team.

To end, I must add that my respect for Mwalimu will never wane mainly because of his convictions and actions. He never used office for selfish reasons and he tried what was humanly possible to liberate and empower the masses. He is thus a source of inspiration. Above all, he proved that is possible to forge a nation whereby the vissicitudes of ethnic affiliation are banished from social and public life. He created and promoted a powerful African lingua-franca, Swahil which united and educated people. His contributions to the decolonization of Africa is immense.

Obanda