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Uhuru Day should be time for stock-taking
2007-12-10 08:44:55
By Editor
Stanley Meisler, Los Angeles Times foreign and diplomatic correspondent for three decades, wrote an article on December 17, 1996 headlined `Saints and Presidents: A Commentary on Julius Nyerere`.
The veteran American journalist, who had covered Africa as a journalist in the 1960s, said he had come to know Mwalimu Nyerere much like a saint – good-humoured, frank and incorruptible.
To him, Tanzania`s Founding President was a pleasantly unique statesman who sincerely believed that it was anathema for a leader `to line his pockets with gold or pander to tribalism and racism`.
Few who know Tanzania`s history well enough will say this flattering description was wide off the mark or surprising, particularly considering the way Mwalimu Nyerere had so vehemently and consistently argued as he elaborated on what he believed to be the most sensible development path for Tanzania to take.
He made definitely one of the most memorable such arguments in October 1959 when he wrote, in line with the country`s struggle for independence: `We would like to light a candle and put it on top of Mount Kilimanjaro which will shine beyond our borders, giving hope where there was despair, love where there was hate, and dignity where there was humiliation.`
That was just over two years to Independence. As happened, the Uhuru Candle was indeed lit and heroically installed atop Africa’s highest peak.
Whether it went on to play the role Mwalimu Nyerere expected it to play is a question to which Tanzanians and Tanzania watchers will continue to seek answers to, particularly each Independence Day – December 9.
Yesterday was the 46th anniversary of our Independence and President Jakaya Kikwete graced the national level celebrations at Dodoma`s Jamhuri Stadium.
It is quite possible the occasion was more low-key than was the case, say, during the tenth, 20th, 25th, 30th and 40th anniversaries.
That would be understandable although it would not be necessarily suggestive of any abnormal or excessive disillusionment or despondency on the part of the citizenry.
There is every reason for taking stock of one’s record over a particular period, evaluating the magnitude or impact of the achievements made, the challenges met or hiccups experienced.
It is true that, as expected, our national leaders have every so often always done the stock-taking on our behalf. We might choose not to see much in the effort, saying it was one of their obvious responsibilities.
Yet the productivity or efficiency of leaders is always horrendously limited unless complemented by understanding and support from the larger population.
That our country is faced with a host of pressing social, economic and other problems is as clear as daylight and we should all celebrate Uhuru Day thinking of ways to solve them.
That essentially means devising better ways of immobilising deadly enemies like corruption, misappropriation of public resources, illiteracy, disease, and overt and disguised unemployment.
It means waging a full-scale war that knows neither nobility nor power or influence where crime, lack of accountability and other anti-social elements, practices or trends are at play.
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