'St. Nyerere’s' 18 political miracles

By J. M. Kavuma-Kaggwa - June 20, 2009

The greatest news of this century from East Africa is that the Catholic Church has started the canonisation process which will culminate in the Pope declaring Julius Kambarage Nyerere, a Catholic Saint.

Who was Julius Kambarage Nyerere? Nyerere was one of the greatest sons of Africa. He was one of Africa’s most remarkable statesmen and a great freedom fighter and liberator. That is why the Catholic Church in Tanzania and Uganda want to declare him a Saint of the Catholic Church I personally do not know of any saint who was originally a politician. The saints we know were priests, bishops, nuns, popes or people who were committed to religion throughout their lives and they lived in Catholic monasteries.

I believe, and I am sure many people would believe the same, that Nyerere will be the first politician of our time to become a saint in the Catholic Church.


HONOURED: Former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa, Kampala Archbishop Dr Kizito Lwanga, President Yoweri Museveni and Maria Nyerere at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine after prayers in honour of the late Nyerere. FILE PHOTO

It is also known that for one to become a saint, after devoting all his/her life to religion or the services of the church, he/she must perform miracles after death. If people pray to him/her in times of danger, or sickness and they get cured, then he/she is declared a saint by the Pope. The situation of Nyerere is different, as we shall see the miracles he performed when he was still alive.

I took interest in Julius Nyerere in 1956 when I joined the newspaper industry in Katwe, after my studies at Namilyango College.

That was the time when the Kabaka, the late Sir Edward Mutesa II had just returned from exile and both Uganda National Congress and the Democratic Party were busy spreading the gospel for the demand for “INDEPENDENCE NOW” !!. Nyerere also had abandoned teaching and founded Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) with Oscar Kambona, Paul Bomani, Rashid Kawawa, Bibi Tit Mohamed, Chief Fundikira and many others.

In Kenya, the Mau Mau war of independence had reached its peak and Jomo Kenyatta, Kungu Karumba, Paul Ngei, Bildadi Kagia, Fred Kubai and Achieng Oneko were in detention at Lodwar in Nothern Kenya.

To me, Julius Nyerere performed miracles (political miracles in actual fact) when he was still alive. The following are the political miracles which he performed when he was still alive in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) and Africa, which I remember.

1. Julius Nyerere struggled for independence and liberated Tanganyika (now Tanzania) on December 9, 1961.

2. He was the first Catholic President of Tanzania

3. He was President of Tanzania for 26 years.

4. He was the first graduate of Makerere University to become President of an African country.

5. He abolished all kingdoms in Tanzania.

6. He enforced the Swahili language suppressing all tribal languages.

7. From 1963 until the day he died, he refused to dress like an Englishman- a suit and a tie. He preferred the Mao Tse Tung and Chou en Lai suits – the Chinese suits. MaoTse Tung was the leader of the Peoples Republic of China and Chou en Lai was the Prime Minister when Tanganyika achieved independence in 1961.

8. In 1964, after the Zanzibar Revolution led by a Ugandan military man, John Okelo from Lango, Nyerere rushed to Zanzibar and met Sheikh Abed Karume, who was the President of Zanzibar, and they formed the United Republic of Tanzania.

9. He abolished the name of his party TANU and he named the party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) which means the party of revolution although there was no revolution on the mainland. The national flag was also changed but the national anthem “MUNGU IBALIKI AFRICA” (God Bless Africa) was not changed.

10. He told the people of Tanzania never to address his wife – “FIRST LADY”, but to address her – “Mama Maria Nyerere”.

11. In 1967, he requested the American and Canadian Governments to lend Tanzania money to build the railway from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka in Zambia. America and Canada refused. Nyerere went straight to China and requested Chairman Moi Tse Tung to give Tanzania money to build the railway. The Chinese Government gave him 100 million Dollars “friendly grant” with Chinese Technicians who built what is now called Tanzam Railway.

12. Nyerere made Dares salaam the base for all liberation movements in Africa, to liberate Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

13. Again, in 1967, he went to Arusha, Northern Tanzania (an area of the capitalist and coffee growers (Bachaga people) and declared Tanzania a socialist country. He forced people to abandon capitalism and private ownership and he forced them into communal villages which he named “Vigigi”. He told the people to call him “Mwalimu” which means teacher and both himself and the people, were happy with that name.

Songs such as “Mwalimu has said it can be done – so play your part” were the order of the day on Radio Tanzania.

14. Socialism, or “Ujamaa”, brought terrible abject poverty in Tanzania because people were not producing. In the later years nearly to the end of his rule. Nyerere apologised to the people of Tanzania for introducing “that bad economic system of socialism”. It was poverty everywhere in Tanzania. What amused me during the years of socialism, it would be strange and surprising to some people to see a person banking Shs5,000. People would ask you in Kiswahili in the bank “wajua ndugu kuuliza sio vibaya, lakin hera nyingi kama hizo umezipata wapi?” what translates that my brother you know it is not bad to ask but how and where did you get too much money like that?”

Thank God in 1987 Julius Nyerere, who was a staunch Catholic, heeded the advice from the Catholic Church to “give up power and let another Tanzanian take over”. The Catholic Church, under the leadership of the late Cardinal Loriano Rugambwa, advised Nyerere with the following statement.

“You have made great achievement for Tanzania and Africa and you have stayed in power for a long time, it will be a tragedy for Tanzania and Africa if a mad man assassinated you because of refusing to leave power”.

The Church gave him a formular how to leaver power: “Allow a multiparty system to work in the country and leave the presidency to another person of your own choice but remain as Chairman of the ruling party for about four years”. Thank God Nyerere accepted the advice of the Church and the formular worked perfectly well.

A multiparty system is working very well in Tanzania and they hold general elections every after five years and they have not changed their constitution to allow one particular citizen to stay in power without any limit.

16. The last two and more recent miracles Julius Nyerere performed were the military assistance to Ugandan exiles to remove General Idi Amin from power and refusing the Democratic Party to take power after winning the 1980 general elections,

When Idi Amin took power through a military coup de tat in January 1971, Nyerere refused to recognise him and this sadly contributed to the collapse of the East African Community in 1977.

Later on, in 1978/79 Nyerere sent in troops which assisted Ugandans to topple Amin after he had attacked Tanzania by bombing the Kagera Salient in 1978.

Amin was toppled by a combined military force of Uganda exiles and Tanzanian troops on April 11, 1979. On December 10, 1980, Ugandans held a general election, the first one since Independence in 1962, and the Democratic Party won by a majority of 75 seats out of 108 seats. Paul Kawanga Semwogerere who was the leader of DP at that time, went to Paul Muwanga, accompanied by Mzee Evaristo Nyanzi, to make arrangements for Paul Semwogerere to be sworn in as the new President. Paul Muwanga who was the Chairman of the ruling military Commission at that time, told them he would check with President Nyerere in Dar es Salaam and advise them the following day.

Paul Muwanga telephoned Nyerere that very day and said: “Mr President, the Democratic Party has won the elections and Paul Semwogerere has just been here, he wants me to hand over to him. What should I do now?” Nyerere replied and said: “Paul Muwanga, you have got my army there – change all the results”. Muwanga changed all the results and gave victory to UPC/Obote. (The Commonwealth Observer Team declared the elections free and fair- Editor)

A big number of Ugandans launched a five year guerrilla war in Luweero which ended on January 26, 1986 and President Museveni and NRA took state political power until today.

That was Julius Kambarage Nyerere of the BAZANAKI tribe in Northern Tanzania, near Lake Victoria, a politician who led Tanganyika (and later named it Tanzania) from December 9, 1961 to December 1987.

Let us wait he will be declared a saint by the Pope at the Vatican and then we shall hold celebrations in Tanzania and at Rubaga and Namugongo in Uganda.

[Abdulhalim]

	Quote:	Mazingira
	Abdulhalim, Haya nitajibu baadae endelea kutoa majibu ya zile hoja zingine kwenye post # 73.

MOSI, SIDHANI kama yote yanahitaji majibu mazee. Mengine ni ya kuelewa tu na ku-move on.

PILI, nitajibu maswali yako kwa nafasi yangu, maana hapa silipwi na wala hatuwezi kuwekeana timelines ..Nafanya yote haya kwa utumishi tu kwa kujinyenyekeza kubeba mizigo ya watu kama wewe, hata pale mnapoonesha ukaidi na lugha za kuitana ushetani..Hivyo bana relax wakati tunaendelea kujuzana..hakuna la haraka hapa...kama una haraka hire services za professional church doctors.

[Kalunguyeye]

	Quote:	Abdulhalim
	Unasema ninayoongea ni mawazo yangu binafsi? Yes ni mawazo yangu kwa mujibu wa facts nilizoziweka..inaonekana huu mjadala utakushinda ndg. Nimetoa maelezo in simplest and shortest form kuhusu kuomba ktk ku-respond kwenye hoja yako. Sasa kama kuna mahali kuna tatizo tuanzie kwenye majibu niliypkwisha leta ..kuanza kurejea tena kwenye maelezo ya jumla hakutasaidia kitu hapa.Hoja kuhusu maandiko nimeshafafanua zaidi ya mara nne lakini inaonekana kichwa chako hakitaki kupokea maarifat..sasa hilo sio kosa langu vumilia hivyohivyo tutafika tu. Kuitana majina na kuitana shetani ni kujichumia dhambi tu..ujumbe nadhani upo loud and clear kama una masikio utakuwa umeshasikia na kama una akili ilio safi utakuwa umeshaelewa. Kuhusu Yesu sijaona hoja ya kujibu maana umeshajijibu mwenyewe. Kuhusu hiyo passage ya Mhubiri pia umejipatia jibu mujarabu wewe mwenyewe ila tu umeshindwa kuling'amua hilo. Mhubiri anaposema Bwana Mungu ni Mungu wa walio hai hana maana ya mtu alikufa kimwili..Mungu ni Mungu wa walio hai Kiroho ..Na ndio maana Mungu alipomtokea Musa alisema nanukuu : Kutoka 3:6 inasema:- Tena akasema, Mimi ni Mungu wa baba yako, Mungu wa Ibrahimu, Mungu wa Isaka, na Mungu wa Yakobo. Musa akaficha uso wake; kwa maana aliogopa kumwangalia Mungu.. Ibrahimu, Isaka na Yakobo..hawa walikwisha kuondolewa duniani kitambo kabla ya kipindi cha kutokewa Musa. Walikufa kimwili na sio kiroho. Kwa hiyo mtu aliyekufa kimwili lakini yu hai kiroho, ndio mwanzo wa concept nzima ya watakatifu tunaowaheshimu ndani ya Kanisa Katoliki.. Tungetumia tasfeer yako potofu ya andiko la Mhubiri ina maana hii passage ya kutokewa kwa Musa kule mlimani Sinai ingekuwa inai-contradict ile passage nyingine. Hivyo basi ndugu, kabla ya kurusha shutuma na kuwaita wenzako wanaoamini ktk Utatu, wanaoamini ktk Sadaka ya Yesu Msalabani, wanaoamini ktk Umungu wa Yesu kuwa ni wafuasi wa Shetani utafanya la maana ukitanguliza busara na kuwapa benefit of doubt kabla hujajichumia dhambi za rejereja. Natumaini utauzingatia ushauri niliokupatia.

Ndugu Abdulhalim(huu ni ushauri tu),jamaa hatokuelewa kamwe for sure,upeo ni mdogo mno kuweza kukuele zaidi ya kutoa kashfa na kujichumia dhambi bure! Mi nilidhani angesema kuwa angetuombea Wakatoliki kwakuwa tumepotea badala yake anacondemn,sidhani kama Mungu anafurahia roho yoyote kupotea.Nilidhani angekuweka ktk maombi yake ili na wewe (japo hujapotea) kama umepotea basi ururudi kwenye mstari ujoin anapoabudu ila duh.....!lol.....sipati picha kama angekuwa kapewa fungua ya St Peter....sidhani kama kuna RC yeyote angetia timu kwenye uzima...teh teh teh
Concept nzito hizo kamwe hamtaelewana,na hayupo tayari kuelewa bali kukashifu tu bila kuwa na points za maana zaidi ya hadithi za vijiweni na mambo waliyokaririshwa na wachungaji wao!!
Unyenyekevu zero !

[Abdulhalim]

	Quote:	Kalunguyeye
	Ndugu Abdulhalim(huu ni ushauri tu),jamaa hatokuelewa kamwe for sure,upeo ni mdogo mno kuweza kukuele zaidi ya kutoa kashfa na kujichumia dhambi bure! Mi nilidhani angesema kuwa angetuombea Wakatoliki kwakuwa tumepotea badala yake anacondemn,sidhani kama Mungu anafurahia roho yoyote kupotea.Nilidhani angekuweka ktk maombi yake ili na wewe (japo hujapotea) kama umepotea basi ururudi kwenye mstari ujoin anapoabudu ila duh.....!lol.....sipati picha kama angekuwa kapewa fungua ya St Peter....sidhani kama kuna RC yeyote angetia timu kwenye uzima...teh teh teh Concept nzito hizo kamwe hamtaelewana,na hayupo tayari kuelewa bali kukashifu tu bila kuwa na points za maana zaidi ya hadithi za vijiweni na mambo waliyokaririshwa na wachungaji wao!! Unyenyekevu zero !

Ni kweli ndugu yangu..

Watu wengine wanazipenda dini zao kiasi cha kutenda dhambi kitaalamu hii inaitwa overzealotry.. Ni kweli hawa ndugu wawili wanaoongoza kukinzana na ukatoliki nilishawabaini kitambo kuwa hawapo hapa kupata elimu bali kubishana na kukataa kila nitakachosema...Wao walidhani wanayo theory of everything kumbe wamefunua kitabu na kugundua lugha wasiyoielewa sasa wanabaki kutapatapa na kila jibu utakalowapa wata-recycle hoja ambayo imekwisha jibiwa.

Taratibu tu tutaafikiana nani amepotoka maana kila kitu kitaachwa wazi, mwenye kuchagua kuelewa ataelewa asiyetaka shauri lake.

[Magobe T]

	Quote:	Waberoya
	You know my teacher told me, 40 people they can say 1+1=3, and only who says 1+1=2 s/he can loose. However how many people are to our knowledge and belief.Facts remains facts. You have said facts; they too know that, wasiojua ukweli huwa sikuzote watabisha hata kutukana.Tunapoeleza ukweli hata ule wa ndani wengi hawataki kuusikiliza kwani bongo zao zimeshajaa yale wanayoyaamini! Kanisa katoliki is against bible in many ways! we can discuss one by one still some people somewhere wont belive it. The church that killed christian who were spreading the gospel is catholic, this history is undeniable! when are taliking about ant-christ they all goes to RC! idol worship etc! Is good religion though, is good organisation, but bible is not their book! is not centre of their belief. Haiingii akilini kung'ang'ania kusema tunaamini bible usiyoifuata, kila kitu kina maelezo yake!!!! Deep down their is no difference between RC and Muslim, yo can see how they relate in many ways , simply their 'father' is the same. I can testify in many ways that RC and Muslim are not God's. However I can testify in many churches they are not different from them as per God's standard we need to deeply know the origin of this religions, utajikuta kila siku mtu wa kupanic na kukasirika watu wanapoanza kuanika ukweli! ukiujua ukweli na ukaamua kuufuata is even better, lakini naona wengi hapa wameshiba na umbumbumbu wakuamini wasichokijua! kuna ukweli unaoweza kukufanya ukawachukia wazazi wako. Maana what is going on ni kuwa maadam nimezaliwa kwenye familia ya kikristo basi ni mkristo , ungezaliwa mwislam je?? kuna ujasiri gani wa kusemana pasi wote hamjui mnaabudu nini na kwa basis gani.Na hii imewafanya waafrka wengi kuwa wanafaiki wa kutofuata wanayoyaamini! JK Nyerere, atakuwa tu mtakatifu kwa mujibu wa RC and this does not relate to God's ways of judgement. His ways are not our ways Isaiah 55:6-11

Siyo kweli hata kidogo. Sema Kanisa Katoliki limewazidi kwa mema mengi na mnaliona wivu, chuki, nk. Hamtaliweza hata mseme nini! Hilo linapeta! By the way, what are those God's ways of judgement that are hidden to Christians and only revealed to you? Je, wanaovaa mabomu na kuua 'innocent people' Uarabuni ni Wakatoliki?

[X-PASTER]

Nahisi kama mahindi bisi yamekwisha...!

Yaani wameelemewa kiasi hata ukweli hawahuoni... lol!

[X-PASTER]

	Quote:	Magobe T
	Siyo kweli hata kidogo. Sema Kanisa Katoliki limewazidi kwa mema mengi na mnaliona wivu, chuki, nk. Hamtaliweza hata mseme nini! Hilo linapeta! By the way, what are those God's ways of judgement that are hidden to Christians and only revealed to you? Je, wanaovaa mabomu na kuua 'innocent people' Uarabuni ni Wakatoliki?

Mmh! ndio maana pope akaenda kuwaomba radhi waaanga, walio athirika kwa njia moja ama nyingine... na wale wanao endelea kuathirika kila kukicha wataendelea kupata hayo mazuri yanayofanywa kila kukicha na hao wanao jiona kuwa ni wateule...!

Nashindwa kuelewa wakristu wa kimarekani wameenda kufanya nini uko arabuni kiasi ya kwamba wanaripuliwa.

[Kalunguyeye]

	Quote:	X-PASTER
	Nahisi kama mahindi bisi yamekwisha...! Yaani wameelemewa kiasi hata ukweli hawahuoni... lol!

Ndugu yangu X-Paster,nani hao wameelemewa kiasi hata ukweli hawauni?
Mana sijakupata hapo,mana zipe pande mbili tukicharibu kuelimishana.
Nashukuru.

[Kalunguyeye]

	Quote:	X-PASTER
	Mazingira nahisi kuwa kuna mambo yapo nje ya huwezo wako wa kufikiria. Uislam na ukatoliki wapi na wapi ndugu...! Mimi ni mwanafunzi wa comparative Religion kwa hali hiyo najuwa nini nafanya, na nafahamu nini unaabudu na hao wakatoliki nini wanaabudu. Wakati mwingi huwa nabakia kutabasamu sana kwa jamaa zangu hapa wanapong'ang'ania mambo na kukataa kujibu hoja kwa kuyumbisha mijadala na kujitia ujuwaji wa hapa na pale, lakini ni watupu... Ila sishangai ukiwa wewe ni mmoja wapo. Open your mind, soma kisha tafakari, ikiwezekana muombe M'Mungu akuangazie ili ujuwe kweli ipo wapi. Kujitia ushupavu wa kujiona kuwa wewe ndio bora zaidi ya wengine matokeo yake utawakejeli wenzio, na amani itatokea dirishani. Tunafundishwa hivi: Waite waelekee kwenye Njia ya Mola wako Mlezi kwa hikima na mawaidha mema, na ujadiliane nao kwa namna iliyo bora. Hakika Mola wako Mlezi ndiye anaye mjua zaidi aliye ipotea Njia yake, na Yeye ndiye anaye wajua zaidi walio ongoka... Shukran

Dah....hayo maandishi ya 'bold' umemjibu vizuri kweli huyo ndugu aliyekosa unyenyekevu japo kiduchu tu.Nimeyapenda sana ndg X-Paster hayo maneno !

[Kilasara]

I am not a Catholic. But I thought the miracles that make a person blessed and later a saint, happen after he has died.

If one starts counting the good things that Nyerere did for Tanzania etc. one has to count the mistakes committed too. I thought this country is this poor partly because of Nyerere's mistakes.

May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace. Amen!

[Mazingira]

Abdulhalim,
Mbona umepakimbia hapa? Nasubiri majibu yako ya post # 73.