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Katika pitapita zangu nimekutana na hiki kilichoongelewa wakati wa ujio wa rais wa China
SPEECH DELIVERED BY HON. OMARI R. NUNDU (MP), MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA DURING CHINESE MEMORIAL CEREMONY (QINGMING) HONOURING THE CHINESE EXPERTS WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES CONSTRUCTING TAZARA
2012-04-05
[April, 4th 2012, Majohe, Gongolamboto Cemetary,Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA]
His Excellency, Lu Youqing, Ambassador of People’s Republic of China to Tanzania,
Eng. Omar A. Chambo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Tanzania,
Major General Kijuu, Commandant of TPDF Army,
Mr.Sadic, Regional Commissioner of DSM,
Mr. Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika, Managing Director of TAZARA,
Mr. Damas Ndumbaro, Deputy Managing Director of TAZARA,
Governments Officials,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is with great respect that I join all those present at this special festival “Qingming” the Chinese tradition to remember ancestors and national heroes. On behalf of the Government and the people of United Republic of Tanzania, the Ministry of Transport, the Council of Ministers of TAZARA and on my own behalf, I thank the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Tanzania and the Chinese fraternity in Tanzania for organizing this important occasion. I also thank all of those present here to commemorate this occasion in remembrance of Chinese experts who sacrificed their lives in building Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA) in 1970’s.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is befitting the occasion to recall the history of TAZARA known as the UHURU Railway, 1,860 kms that join Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) to New Kapiri Mposhi (Zambia). It is the Uhuru Railway because it was born during the liberation struggle of Southern Africa following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Southern Rhodesia by Mr. Ian Smith in 1965 followed by closing the border with Zambia on 9th December 1968 thus cutting off Zambia from “the rest of the world” at the time that country’s only access to the sea was through Southern Rhodesia.
Sourcing for money to construct the railway line did not only prove futile but also it was considered that constructing the line itself would be very difficult especially the Mlimba/Makambako section, which is characterized by complicated topographical features.
That was indeed a testing time and the surfacing of the true friendship between the Peoples Republic of China, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Zambia when Chairman Mao Tse Tung accepted the joint request by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda to fund and construct the railway line. The vision of these Leaders was exemplary and the creation of TAZARA is an act the South-to-South cooperation that has yet to be matched.
I therefore pay tribute to these great leaders for their wisdom and action at the right time for the service of not only the peoples of Tanzania and Zambia but also to the liberation and development of countries in the Southern Africa region.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The construction of TAZARA was a very difficult undertaking, yet thanks to Chinese hard work and dedication it was built in the shortest time possible. At completion, almost 89 million cubic meters of earth and rock had been moved and 320 bridges, 22 tunnels and 2,225 culverts had been built. The extent of heroism displayed by the Chinese engineers during the construction of this unique railway is unmatched. Many contributed to this noble work. At the height of construction, there were 38,000 Tanzanian and Zambian workers and 13,500 Chinese technical and engineering personnel. Their cooperation, hard work and dedication gave birth to TAZARA, the pinnacle and evidence of excellent tripartite relations in modern history.
This achievement was not without sacrifice and many Chinese, Tanzanians and Zambians workers lost their lives. It is recorded that over 160 workers including 64 Chinese workers died during the construction of the railway. The evidence of the sacrifice and dedication of these Chinese people is recorded and preserved here in this cemetery of Majohe, Gongolamboto, Dar es Salaam and in Mpika, Zambia. They have become a part of the land for which they gave their lives gracefully.
May I invite you all to pay attention and observe one minute of silence in respect of all Chinese experts and our late founders of TAZARA; Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere and Mao Tse Tung.
Let their Souls Rest in Eternal Peace. AMEN
Invited Guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We know that TAZARA faces many challenges, but none of these can match the difficulties encountered during construction. Today is a day to remember all those who have contributed in one way or another to the existence of TAZARA and also those who supported it. Let history preserve them, all of them. Let those of us who died with TAZARA now and those in future strive to overcome the obstacles and actualize a better future for TAZARA leaving no stone unturned in search for excellence in pursuit for success. TAZARA must be more efficient and cost effective organization; it must become the success story that it was meant to be.
Let us emulate the courage of our heroes. As we pay tribute to them, let their story guide our hearts and minds towards constantly modernizing and expanding TAZARA. Let us ensure that the construction they did with their blood will forever bloom, so we can bequeath a bountiful future for generations to come.
The future of TAZARA is bright if we want it to be. There is adequate market given the mineral deposits that are found in our lands. TAZARA is Zambia’s and Tanzania’s choice. What the success of TAZARA needs is very little compared to what chance already exists. It only takes all of us Tanzanians, Zambians and Chinese putting our acts together. This is simple but could be difficult. Let us make it simple.
Finally, I wish to pay tribute to my fellow Tanzanians and Zambians whose burial sites may be scattered or unknown but their sacrifice for the construction of TAZARA is equally valuable and greatly appreciated and valued.
MAY THE SOULS OF OUR DEPARTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS FRIENDS AND COMRADES REST IN ETERNAL PEACE
THANK YOU
