Zimpapers Logo

Former presidents of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa (left) and Ali Hassan Mwinyi (right) arrive at the Harare International Airport for President Mugabe’s inauguration in August

Gidi Ngwindingwindi
If he was alive, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere would have graced that occasion of the inauguration of his heir apparent to the African throne, our very own President Mugabe, on August 22, 2013.
Sadly the iconic pan-Africanist had been gone 14 years earlier, though he was fully represented by his lieutenants on the historic day. Despite that given short notice, I could not help, but marvel at the arrival of Ndugu Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Tanzania’s second president after Mwalimu.

Ndugu Mwinyi ruled Tanzania for 10 years from 1985 to 1995 before he stepped down for Ndugu Benjamin William Mkapa, who also graced Harare’s grand occasion.

To seal off the complete pride of African solidarity, from Tanzania’s perspective, the seating President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was also there. So we had all three in the same city at the same time, amounting to the presence of the spirit of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who must have turned in his grave in Butiama village.

My personal connection to Tanzania has compelled me to compile this account as a way of appreciating the great African nation’s continued show of the spirit of Africanism.

I saw them all entering the stadium and wished if I could leap down into the pitch from the terraces to hug them welcome and say “karibu wazee”, but I could not; I just sat still filled with a visible expression of curiosity and joy.

Zimbabweans of today and the future must be told about Tanzania, a country which sacrificed a lot for the liberation of Africa, Zimbabwe included. I am not sure if we have Mgagao or Nachingwea monuments in Zimbabwe. If not, surely work must begin to establish such monuments — it could be a suburb, army barrack or a school, we just must have them.

Our nation is what it is today or what it will be tomorrow because of events of yesterday and some of those events were brewed in Mgagao and Nachingwea. I was fortunate to travel to Mtwara Region and had time in Masasi in 1998, where Ndugu Mkapa comes from.

I pressured my hosts to take me to Nachingwea and with their hospitable nature, they succumbed. I did not encounter a 20-year-old son or daughter of a Zimbabwean ex-freedom fighter who trained in that place, even though my wish was exactly that.
All I witnessed was the famous Nachingwea and the military monument at the heart of the town of history.

Tanzania’s commitment to Zimbabwe did not end in 1980, though I may not be able to put everything on paper that which we benefited from Mwalimu Nyerere’s country in post-independence era, but I can safely tell that our military and police organisations benefited immensely from Tanzania’s years of prior experience during the period of security integration.

Most freedom fighters, some of who are our current Government officials, passed through Tanzania where they acquired military training.
The commitments which Tanzania has showcased must compel other nations to desire. From the time of Nyerere through Mwinyi and Mkapa to Kikwete, Tanzania has been desirous of a united Africa which treasures its values and heritage. Tanzania has been the heart of love and solidarity for Africa.

Upon presenting the Sadc Observer Mission’s final report on Zimbabwe Elections in Harare, Cde Bernard Membe’s statement that Zanu-PF will rule Zimbabwe for 100 years if the sanctions regime stay put.

Social networks, politicians, opposition forces and analysts were quick to scoff at Cde Membe’s statement which could actually be interpreted in various forms if one did not confine themselves to its purported meaning. I personally could opt to tell that he implied that the sanctions must simply be removed unconditionally since they are unnecessarily affecting the common citizen.

It is obviously known that the instigators have only one agenda — “Zanu-PF must go”. So the statement was meant to tickle them to shift their stance on the sanctions gimmick which has failed to render desired results. His wish is simply upon the people whose faces he wants to produce some smile.

Among other benefits, Tanzania has a lesson for some of our politicians who are in the habit of jostling for power. Jakaya Kikwete was reportedly the hottest favourite for presidency way back in 1995 when he was that young and very handsome “kijana”.

It was therefore reported that he was advised to wait and give way to more experienced leaders while he gathered more wisdom. He heeded and waited for his turn, a decade later, where upon he still enjoyed that superiority over other contenders, and yet, he became president. Such patience must be of great profit to some of our leaders and political parties — they must wait for the appointed time.

I wonder why it should not bother some people from abroad that why African leaders pay reverence and homage to President Mugabe. Today, I must tell it to the world. Each continent has its own heroes, when they pass on, the spirits find a suitable temple to use.

We had Kwame Nkrumah, Nyerere, Samora Machel and others. They were the chosen of the Kingdom of Africa, so when they departed, the kingdom had to have a custodian — Robert Mugabe was found suitable, hence we have him able and electable at 89.

It is not by choice here in Africa that majority of people adore him; it is natural, Mwalimu Nyerere and others passed it to him. I can go on reminding the world the words that were said to President Mugabe by Mwalimu Nyerere: “You have inherited a jewel in Africa, don’t tarnish it.”

These words are well recorded in history books and literature such that today’s people often invoke them in relation to Zimbabwe’s economic crisis. Just as I have said earlier, words can be interpreted in a way that suits the user’s purpose.

That is the humanly way of doing things. I could opt to tell the people that the moment Mwalimu Nyerere uttered those words; that was the minute when President Mugabe assumed Custodianship of the Torch of Africa. He belongs to the house of dynasty which Mwalimu Nyerere was also a member.

Nyerere did not know what he meant and perhaps it might start making more sense in President Mugabe’s head today as well.
I write this to bring people to reason. The common thinking that President Mugabe is so obsessed with love for power must shift forthwith; he is simply fulfilling a role that was assigned him by the unseen powers of Bantu Africa.

In support of this revelation, truth be told, it would have been easy in 2008 to do in Zimbabwe what the West did in Cote d’Ivoire against Laurent Gbagbo, but a voice rang in the air’ “Touch not my anointed”. So, they retreated. The African spirits therefore sought a suitable messenger in President Thabo Mbeki whose “quiet diplomacy” restored order at the throne against a doctrine of violence which the white West believe so much in.

I can reveal to you that I am personally a direct beneficiary of Tanzania’s wisdom. My years of service at the Tanzania Club in Harare granted me the opportunity to gather some amount of this wisdom. Among my benefits, some which are material, I boast the ability to speak KiSwahili, their national language which is also spoken in quite a number of countries in East and Central Africa.