African Union honours Tanzania's Julius Nyerere with a monument in Ethiopia
What you need to know:
- The idea to honour Nyerere with a monument was first proposed by the late President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, in 2017.
Dar es Salaam. Today, the African Union (AU) unveiled a statue at its headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to honour Mwalimu Julius Nyerere's contribution to Africa's liberation struggles.
Nyerere, who died in 1999, served as Tanzania's first president after leading the country to independence in 1961.
He is among a few notable figures on the African continent, who spearheaded the independence movement against white colonialism.
During his leadership, Tanzania was considered a haven of peace for many African leaders fighting for emancipation.
The idea to honour Nyerere with a monument was first proposed by the late President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, in 2017.
Addressing the gathering, Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the unveiling of Mwalimu Nyerere’s statue symbolises recognition of his contribution to the liberation of the African continent and his commitment to peace and unity, leaving behind a legacy to be cherished.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan holds the ribbon together with various African leaders as Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia, cuts the ribbon to mark the inauguration of the Statue of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere at the African Union (AU) Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 18, 2024. PHOTO | STATE HOUSE
She thanked the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for implementing the project and the AU for providing land for the statue of Mwalimu Nyerere near the statues of other prominent African leaders, Haile Selassie and Kwame Nkrumah.
She said Mwalimu Nyerere established institutions and sought resources to support the liberation movements of the African continent, and even after leaving office, his contribution to promoting peace is still recognised.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan (2nd L) walks with President of Kenya William Ruto (L) and President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema (2nd R) after the unveiling ceremony of a statue dedicated to late Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere during the second day of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa on February 18, 2024. PHOTO | AFP
For his part, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who is also the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security, said they are grateful to the generation of freedom fighters who worked with Mwalimu Nyerere in the fight for the liberation of the African continent.
“This statue will be a reminder to us, our countries, regional communities, and Africa and the world at large, of the great and glorious work that this son of Tanzania, this son of Africa, did for all of us,” he said.
“I now have the honour to unveil this statue of one of the founders of SADC and the African Union. May the memory of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere live on. Viva Sadc, viva African Union,” said Hichilema.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said that in 1963, at the launch of the African Union, Mwalimu Nyerere said; “Africa is one, and we are all Africans. This unity is a sign of our faith in going together.”
Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki (C) attends the unveiling ceremony of a statue dedicated to late Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere during the second day of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa on February 18, 2024. PHOTO | AFP
He said his commitment to the unity of Africa went beyond the borders and interests of his nation, as evidenced by his words in the Tanzanian Parliament in 1970: “We must stand with our brothers and sisters to fight for freedom in Southern Africa. Their slogans are our slogans and their victory is our victory.”
He said that during his presidency, Tanzania was the centre for liberation struggles in Africa. The Southern Africa Liberation Committee was headquartered in Tanzania, and Dar es Salaam was not only the centre for liberation movements in Africa but also the centre for the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and South America.
