Dar es Salaam. The government of South Africa,
through its National Heritage Council, yesterday presented the Ubuntu
honour to Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term roughly translating to “human kindness.”
Speakers at the event held at the University of
Dar es Salaam described the Father of the Nation as one who dedicated
his entire life for the wellbeing of humanity.
Mr Zolani Mkiva from the South African National
Heritage Council said that Africa has been blessed with individuals who
deserve recognition and Mwalimu is one of them.
“He stood for the embodiment of Ubuntu..he is the
father of South African liberation, an indigenous treasure and a symbol
of hope for everyone”, said Mr Mkiva.
He said that Mwalimu influenced many young men and women of Africa to preserve their identity.
“He produced many leaders in Africa and Tanzania
in particular. Nyerere remains a tower of African politics who fought
for self governance”. South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Arts and
Culture, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, said Mwalimu’s main passion was love
for humanity.
“He had a belief that when I dehumanise you I have
dehumanised myself...we I South Africa can’t take for granted the risks
that your country and Nyerere took for supporting the liberation
struggle of out nation,” said Ms Mabudafhasi.
The honour came several months after the burial of
South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela who had a close
working relations with Mwalimu Nyerere. The award also mirrors on the
account of Tanzania’s role in helping South Africa to attain self rule
devoid of apartheid.
President Jakaya Kikwete captured the relations,
when during his speech at the Mandela burial, recounted how some of the
later-year South African citizens, including leaders did not remember
the role that Tanzania played to emancipate their country.
President Kikwete told them that the late Mandela
and many other leaders like former President Mr Thambo Mbeki were at one
time granted Tanzanian passports to help them in their fight for
freedom.
The current South African President, Mr Jacob Zuma, also had a stint in Tanzania during the fight to end apartheid.
Executive Director of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation Joseph
Butiku and UDSM Vice Chancellor Rwekaza Mukandala received the honour on
behalf of Mwalimu’s family. “I ask all the youth around here to
continue the good relationship between Tanzania and South Africa,” said
Mr Butiku.
He said Mwalimu Nyerere was for two things –
Ubuntu and asked all the Tanzanians to believe and accept that humanity
is one and Africa is one-representing the diversity of humanity; if one
accepted that he/she was human then one has to treat others equally.
source: the citizen Tuesday, August 12 2014 at 08:48
source: the citizen Tuesday, August 12 2014 at 08:48
0 comments:
Post a Comment