The day Nyerere refused to meet Ali

[BOB OS]

By The Citizen Reporter @TheCitizenTz news@thecitizen.co.tz
In Summary

• On February 2, 1980, Ali landed in Dar es Salaam for his three-day mission: To convince Tanzania to boycott the 1980 Summer Moscow Olympics.
  
• The visit was a failure. Not only did Tanzania refuse to boycott the Olympics, President Julius Nyerere also refused to meet with the boxing legend despite multiple efforts and intense lobbying by US embassy officials.

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Dar es Salaam. Muhammad Ali’s only trip to Tanzania was 36 years ago. But he wasn’t here for boxing. The outspoken personality was on a diplomatic mission. He had suddenly been thrust into the cold war politics played out in Africa at the time.

On February 2, 1980, Ali landed in Dar es Salaam for his three-day mission: To convince Tanzania to boycott the 1980 Summer Moscow Olympics.

US President Jimmy Carter had sent the boxer, who was at that time on a tour of India, to five African countries to convince them to boycott the Moscow Olympics in retaliation against Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Hundreds of enthusiastic Tanzanians, who had turned up at the airport to greet the great sportsman, ignored barricades and mobbed Ali when he emerged from the plane, according to reports.

But the excitement ended at the airport. The visit was a failure. Not only did Tanzania refuse to boycott the Olympics, President Julius Nyerere also refused to meet with the boxing legend despite multiple efforts and intense lobbying by US embassy officials.

 

[SHIEKA]

Did Nyerere give any reasons for not meeting with the 'greatest boxer'?

 

[UDSM Alumni]

Nyerere alikuwa anakiburi sana....

 

[MKWEPA KODI]

Nyerere alikuwa mtu huru sana, sina uhakika kama na watanzania walikuwa huru

 

[fyddell]

Did Nyerere give any reasons for not meeting with the 'greatest boxer'?

Mkuu remember at that time Tanzania was implementing social and self relience politics ambazo muasisi wa hizo sera ni Urusi na China. Ingekuwa ngumu kwa Mwal. Nyerere kukutana na kumsikiliza Ali aliyetumwa na uongozi wa nchi inayokumbatia ubepari. Kipindi hiko vita baridi ilikuwa imepamba moto na kukutana nae kingetafsiliwa kama kitendo cha usaliti wa Tanzania kwa Urusi. Mwl. Nyerere hakutaka kujibaka

 

[FRANCIS DA DON]

Did Nyerere give any reasons for not meeting with the 'greatest boxer'?

Umeshaambiwa ilikuwa ni cold war, na tz ilikuwa pro communist

 

[Kituko]

By The Citizen Reporter @TheCitizenTz news@thecitizen.co.tz
In Summary

• On February 2, 1980, Ali landed in Dar es Salaam for his three-day mission: To convince Tanzania to boycott the 1980 Summer Moscow Olympics.
  
• The visit was a failure. Not only did Tanzania refuse to boycott the Olympics, President Julius Nyerere also refused to meet with the boxing legend despite multiple efforts and intense lobbying by US embassy officials.

Advertisement

Dar es Salaam. Muhammad Ali’s only trip to Tanzania was 36 years ago. But he wasn’t here for boxing. The outspoken personality was on a diplomatic mission. He had suddenly been thrust into the cold war politics played out in Africa at the time.

On February 2, 1980, Ali landed in Dar es Salaam for his three-day mission: To convince Tanzania to boycott the 1980 Summer Moscow Olympics.

US President Jimmy Carter had sent the boxer, who was at that time on a tour of India, to five African countries to convince them to boycott the Moscow Olympics in retaliation against Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Hundreds of enthusiastic Tanzanians, who had turned up at the airport to greet the great sportsman, ignored barricades and mobbed Ali when he emerged from the plane, according to reports.

But the excitement ended at the airport. The visit was a failure. Not only did Tanzania refuse to boycott the Olympics, President Julius Nyerere also refused to meet with the boxing legend despite multiple efforts and intense lobbying by US embassy officials.

Hapo ndio unaona Nyerere alikuwa Kichwa, Kitendo walichokuwa wanakipinga Wamarekani cha Urusi kuivamia Afganstan cha ajabu na wao Wamarekani wamekuja kikifanya kitendo hichohicho cha kuivamia Afganstan

Hao wakina Ally pamoja na usuperstar wao na misimamo yao bado walikuwa wanatumika kisiasa sana tu

 

[Zamiluni Zamiluni]

No comment!! No olympic medals....

 

[NEPTUNE]

Mwalimu hakuwa mtu wa kuyumbishwa katika klle anachooiamini.

 

[Hoshea]

ninahisi Nyerere alikutana nae in private akamchana ukweli, na ali alimwelewa sababu ali mwenyewe aliikatalia serikali yake asipigane vita na vietnam

 

[Mohamedy cadinaly]

Naona ujesca tu humu ukitawala

 

[Nyaka-One]

Lakini si uwa inadaiwa kwamba rais wa Marekani kwa wakati huo Jimmy Carter alikuwa ni "rafiki mkubwa" wa Nyerere? Kama ndivyo ilikuwaje Jimmy Carter amtume Muhammad Ali kwa rais Nyerere ambaye alikuwa mtata kipindi hicho cha cold war badala ya yeye mwenyewe (Jimmy) kufanya lobbying kwa "rafiki yake mkubwa" Nyerere kugomea michezo hiyo? Si unaona jinsi legend wetu alivyotolewa nishai na Mwalimu?!

 

[sanif]

Ni kilaza au ualaza?

 

[Tanzania Njema Yaja]

Naona ujesca tu humu ukitawala

Hili jina litakuwa maarufu kama Kihiyo au Maimuna.....

 

[bullet]

Did Nyerere give any reasons for not meeting with the 'greatest boxer'?

Mohamed Ali came on a mission to convice Tanzania to boycott the Olympic games in Moscow (1980), because USSR was illegally occupying Afganistan. US did not take part in the games and was trying to get followers from other nation. Nyerere did not buy an idea right from the beginning since he was zealot believer in the Non Alignment policies.

 

[Mayoge.]

Kama

Lakini si uwa inadaiwa kwamba rais wa Marekani kwa wakati huo Jimmy Carter alikuwa ni "rafiki mkubwa" wa Nyerere? Kama ndivyo ilikuwaje Jimmy Carter amtume Muhammad Ali kwa rais Nyerere ambaye alikuwa mtata kipindi hicho cha cold war badala ya yeye mwenyewe (Jimmy) kufanya lobbying kwa "rafiki yake mkubwa" Nyerere kugomea michezo hiyo? Si unaona jinsi legend wetu alivyotolewa nishai na Mwalimu?!

Kama kumbukumbu zangu zipo sawa rafiki mkubwa wa mwalimu alikuwa John Kennedy na sio Jimmy Carter

 

[Mwana]

Mwalimu hakuwa mtu wa kuyumbishwa katika klle anachooiamini.

Indeed!

 

[crabat]

Mkuu remember at that time Tanzania was implementing social and self relience politics ambazo muasisi wa hizo sera ni Urusi na China. Ingekuwa ngumu kwa Mwal. Nyerere kukutana na kumsikiliza Ali aliyetumwa na uongozi wa nchi inayokumbatia ubepari. Kipindi hiko vita baridi ilikuwa imepamba moto na kukutana nae kingetafsiliwa kama kitendo cha usaliti wa Tanzania kwa Urusi. Mwl. Nyerere hakutaka kujibaka

Lakini ukumbuke sisi tuli jiita tupo nchi zisizo fungamna na uoande wowote..Non-Alignment countries...ingawa tulikuwa upande wa mashariki.

 

[crabat]

Hapo ndio unaona Nyerere alikuwa Kichwa, Kitendo walichokuwa wanakipinga Wamarekani cha Urusi kuivamia Afganstan cha ajabu na wao Wamarekani wamekuja kikifanya kitendo hichohicho cha kuivamia Afganstan

Hao wakina Ally pamoja na usuperstar wao na misimamo yao bado walikuwa wanatumika kisiasa sana tu

miaka mi 4 kabla sisi tuligomea michezo kama hiyo iliofanyika Antlanta USA. sababu kuu ushiriki wa New zealand kwa vile timu yake ya Rugby ili cheza mechi na Springbok ya South Afrika...sababu dhaifu.

ingawa Nyerere alikua akichukia nchi nyengine kuvamia nchi nyengine ...lakini hili la Urusi hakuchukia hata kidogo wala kulaani... Kitendo hichi cha Urusi kuingia Afghanstan ni tofauti kabisa na cha sasa cha USA kuingia huko. Tunajua kuwa USA waliingia baada ya sept./11 hivyo kulikua na justification fulani fulani..ingawa haikua invasion as nchi nyingi ziliungana na US.
Lakini uvamizi wa USSR ulikua ni total control ya Nchi hio na kumweka kibaraka wao Mohammad Najibullah ambapo hakukua na haki za msingi wala uongozi unao eleweka isipokua mauaji na uonevu. Hapa ndipo Dunia ilikasirika na ulimwengu wa kiislam nao ulikasirika na ukaamua kuwaunga mkono mujahidina kuwatoa Warusi ..na wakafanikiwa
Nyerere asingeweza kusapoti Mujahidina ....inagwa aliwahi kusapoti Biafra...sababu zinajulukana

 

[Kituko]

miaka mi 4 kabla sisi tuligomea michezo kama hiyo iliofanyika Antlanta USA. sababu kuu ushiriki wa New zealand kwa vile timu yake ya Rugby ili cheza mechi na Springbok ya South Afrika...sababu dhaifu.

ingawa Nyerere alikua akichukia nchi nyengine kuvamia nchi nyengine ...lakini hili la Urusi hakuchukia hata kidogo wala kulaani... Kitendo hichi cha Urusi kuingia Afghanstan ni tofauti kabisa na cha sasa cha USA kuingia huko. Tunajua kuwa USA waliingia baada ya sept./11 hivyo kulikua na justification fulani fulani..ingawa haikua invasion as nchi nyingi ziliungana na US.
Lakini uvamizi wa USSR ulikua ni total control ya Nchi hio na kumweka kibaraka wao Mohammad Najibullah ambapo hakukua na haki za msingi wala uongozi unao eleweka isipokua mauaji na uonevu. Hapa ndipo Dunia ilikasirika na ulimwengu wa kiislam nao ulikasirika na ukaamua kuwaunga mkono mujahidina kuwatoa Warusi ..na wakafanikiwa
Nyerere asingeweza kusapoti Mujahidina ....inagwa aliwahi kusapoti Biafra...sababu zinajulukana

Kaka historia ya Dunia hii unapoisoma lazima uwe open minded namaanisha usiwe na influence ya dini yoyote namaanisha uwe huru, sababu zilizomwingiza Mrusi Afganstan ndio hizohizo zilizomwingiza Mmarekani Afganstan japo kama haufati contents hasa unaweza swma ni mambo ya kidini,

Hao Mujahidina unaowasema ni Marekani aliyewatengeneza na kuwasupport, kwani Osama chimbuko lake ni wapi? Si ni hapo hapo Afganstan? Si haohao Wamarekani ndio waliomtengeneza? Sasa tena Osama awe adui wao?, Wewe una uhakika kweli kuwa Osama alikufa pale kwenye lile shambulizi la kuchora pale Pakistan?

Uwe makini sana kaka na hii dunia, ugonvi wa Saudi na Iran una historia ya kidini (shia na Suni) lakini Marekani anaingia ndani ya ugomvi huo Kimaslahi yake zaidi ya hayo mambo ya kidini, sasa keshamtupa MSaudi na anaenda kwa MuIran