Once again, it is October. Tuesday marked exactly 26 years since the founding father of this nation, Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, passed away on October 14, 1999, at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. I was then in my first year of law studies, and I recall vividly the sombre mood that gripped the nation during the weeks of his hospitalisation. 

The final announcement by President Benjamin Mkapa remains etched in my memory. Echoing Jawaharlal Nehru’s words upon the death of Mahatma Gandhi, President Mkapa declared that a light which had shone brightly upon this land and beyond had been extinguished, leaving us in darkness. 

Like Nehru, President Mkapa assured the nation that we would be guided by the foundations laid by Mwalimu, just as India was guided by Gandhi’s. It is also worth noting that Mwalimu was himself a recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize.

Many artists comforted the nation through song, but the most notable was Captain John Komba. Throughout the mourning period and beyond, his music captured the nation’s grief. One line from his songs translates as: “He was with us throughout our struggles… where should we go now to seek guidance?” 

Articles were written and speeches made, with tributes and homage pouring in from across the country, the continent, and the world. His legacy is so vast it cannot be contained in a single article, let alone one book.

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Mwalimu is known and remembered for many things. Here at home, we remember him for founding this nation on the solid grounds of freedom and unity. Across Southern Africa, he is remembered for the frontline role he and Tanzania played in the continent’s liberation. 

As the late President Robert Mugabe once said, no person and no nation bore a heavier burden for the liberation of Africa than Mwalimu Nyerere and Tanzania. This recognition culminated in the unveiling of his statue at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa—the successor to the Organisation of African Unity, which Mwalimu was also instrumental in founding. 

The statue was officially unveiled by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, witnessed by other leaders. Mwalimu’s philosophy on liberation is enshrined in the ‘Mwenge’ or Freedom Torch philosophy: Sisi tumekwisha washa mwenge uulike hata nje ya mipaka yetu, ulete upendo penye chuki na heshima penye dharau —we have lit a torch so that it may shine beyond our borders to bring love where there is hatred and respect where there is contempt. 

This became the basis of our foreign policy. We truly walked the talk.

The inspiration for this article in honour of Mwalimu came from a group discussion paying tribute to Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist, conservation activist, and founder of Roots & Shoots. Tanzania is honoured to have been the launchpad for Dr Goodall’s activities, particularly in Gombe. 

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A tear is shed everywhere for ‘Mama Sokwe.’ Though their fields were different, Mwalimu and Jane shared common traits, not least that they both passed away in October, which led me to reflect on their shared passion for conservation. While many remember Mwalimu for his Arusha Declaration, few may recall that he was also the author of the Arusha Declaration on conservation in 1961. 

If the Arusha Declaration was an original political thought that set the nation on a socialist path, the Arusha Declaration was a profound commitment to wildlife conservation, from which we continue to benefit today. It is upon that vision and foundation that our tourism sector thrives, with recent initiatives like the Royal Tour making this a tangible reality.

Dr Goodall played a great and unique role in fulfilling the promise of the Arusha Declaration. Her work fits perfectly with the Declaration’s vision, which stated categorically: 

“The survival of our wildlife is a matter of grave concern to all of us in Africa. These wild creatures amid the wild places they inhabit are not only important as a source of wonder and inspiration but are an integral part of our natural resources and our future livelihood and well-being. In accepting the trusteeship of our wildlife, we solemnly declare that we will do everything in our power to make sure that our children’s grandchildren will be able to enjoy this rich and precious inheritance.”

Farewell, Jane. You did everything in your power to ensure that our children and grandchildren will reap the fruits of your labour. In the context of the Arusha Declaration, you did not live in vain. As we honour the memory of Mwalimu this October, we also cherish yours, in the hope that more will be done to preserve your legacy. 

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As President Mkapa said, we shall continue to be guided by the foundations laid by Mwalimu; the Declaration is one of them. To reap more benefits, we must hold fast to other guiding principles: the preservation of our freedom and unity, embracing humanity while defending integrity, and maintaining an uncompromising fight against corruption. 

In response to Komba’s question—where shall we seek guidance?—all that Mwalimu stood for is documented for us to reference constantly.

I was first introduced to conservation thanks to Jane Goodall during my secondary school days at Forodhani. Again, thanks to her influence, conservation clubs were introduced in schools to encourage the protection of wildlife. 

I remember most fondly the motto, Mbega aliponzwa kwa uzuri wake —the colobus monkey fell victim to its own beauty, attracting poachers in search of its skin. This was both a spirited call for preservation and a reminder that we must not allow our blessed country to become a victim of its own natural beauty.

Allen C. Kasamala is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and a civil servant. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.