Mohamed Said
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 2, 2008
- 21,796
- 31,809
There is more to the freedom struggle which some of us do not seem to have the inclination to talk or write about.
For example, did you know that Abdul Sykes and the name you read in this Mtemvu story, Ali Mwinyi Tambwe went to Ukerewe Island where Hamza Mwapachu was 'exiled' by Governor Twining in March 1953 to discuss the candidacy of Julius Nyerere as new President of Tanganyika African Association as a prelude to the re-constitution of TAA into TANU in July 1954?
I still recall the visit vividly. I was a standard three pupil then and together with my brother Bakari had to sleep in the sitting room leaving our bedroom to the two guests.
Abdul Sykes was then President of TAA and the TAA leadership plus Dar-based political activists who were predominantly Moslems wanted Abdul Sykes to retain the Presidency.
Abdul was eager to secure Hamza's position on the matter given the fact that it was Hamza who introduced Nyerere to the TAA leadership in Dar back in 1949 before Nyerere left for Edinburgh University.
Since 1945 Hamza was firmly committed to the view that Nyerere was the best person to lead Tanganyika to independence.
For two reasons: First, he knew Nyerere as a very close friend from Makerere between 1943 and 1945 and was seized of his intellectual capacity.
Second, because after his two years stint in Wales as a mature student at the University of South Wales, Cardiff, and coming close to Fabian Society British friends, Hamza was of the firm belief that the Colonialists would be more amiable to dealing with a Christian leader than a Muslim one.
Abdul agreed with Hamza and whilst he had to stand in opposition to Nyerere because of Party electoral rules, he voted for Nyerere to be President of TAA in July 1953.
So here is another piece of history that some of you are unaware of.
For example, did you know that Abdul Sykes and the name you read in this Mtemvu story, Ali Mwinyi Tambwe went to Ukerewe Island where Hamza Mwapachu was 'exiled' by Governor Twining in March 1953 to discuss the candidacy of Julius Nyerere as new President of Tanganyika African Association as a prelude to the re-constitution of TAA into TANU in July 1954?
I still recall the visit vividly. I was a standard three pupil then and together with my brother Bakari had to sleep in the sitting room leaving our bedroom to the two guests.
Abdul Sykes was then President of TAA and the TAA leadership plus Dar-based political activists who were predominantly Moslems wanted Abdul Sykes to retain the Presidency.
Abdul was eager to secure Hamza's position on the matter given the fact that it was Hamza who introduced Nyerere to the TAA leadership in Dar back in 1949 before Nyerere left for Edinburgh University.
Since 1945 Hamza was firmly committed to the view that Nyerere was the best person to lead Tanganyika to independence.
For two reasons: First, he knew Nyerere as a very close friend from Makerere between 1943 and 1945 and was seized of his intellectual capacity.
Second, because after his two years stint in Wales as a mature student at the University of South Wales, Cardiff, and coming close to Fabian Society British friends, Hamza was of the firm belief that the Colonialists would be more amiable to dealing with a Christian leader than a Muslim one.
Abdul agreed with Hamza and whilst he had to stand in opposition to Nyerere because of Party electoral rules, he voted for Nyerere to be President of TAA in July 1953.
So here is another piece of history that some of you are unaware of.
