Nyerere remembered as pioneer of democracy in Africa

Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere

By Hassan Abbas
The Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, has ones again received resounding acclamation for his role in establishing good governance and democracy not only in Tanzania but also across the continent.

The commendations were aired during the opening of a two-day round table discussion to reflect on the 10th anniversary of the APRM, achievements and shortfalls.

It is at that convention that African leaders were challenged to promote democracy and good governance even as the African Union (AU) celebrates its 50 years golden anniversary and its brain child, the governance assessment Mechanism (APRM), marks 10 years of its existence. Two African governance activists, the CEO of the APRM continental office, Assefa Shifa, and the former Mozambican president, Joachim were keynote speakers at the event.

In his presentation on progress made in improving governance in Africa, Shifa cited Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere of Tanzania as one of the few African leaders who ever descended from power on their own volition.

He did acknowledge other leaders like Joachim Chissano of Mozambique and Nelson Mandela of South Africa who like Nyerere, also stepped down from their leadership positions. Former President Chissano, who offered a keynote address to the gathering of more than 100 African experts and political leaders’ noted that the African continent, once accused of having imperial presidents was now making significant strides in democratisation and respect to constitutional and term limits.

Reminiscing how his own people protested when he announced his step down, he argued that term limit and respect for good governance values were the heart of the AU and APRM cherished values but that the ground situation in isolated countries has tainted the whole continent.

“My personal view of the state of governance and democratization in Africa is that against the backdrop of imperial presidents and hegemony leaders, the wave of democratisation is now too high for such practices,” said Chissano a recipient of the prestigious Mo Ibrahim Governance Award.

He expressed his optimism that with the APRM, Africa has now a unique opportunity to address governance issues with a Pan-African solidarity.
He said the design of the APRM makes it possible for African countries to treat each other like members of the same family. He accredited the APRM with the decline of forcedly hoisted leaders.

“With democratisation in Africa and APRM advocacy among other interventions, Africans today must act and feel like brothers and sisters … military coups are now sporadic as those who continue to ascend to power unconstitutionally are clearly aware that they will be denounced,” he said.

The former leader called upon the current African leaders to strengthen the Mechanism to become a premier assessment Mechanism for governance in Africa so as to cherish the dream of AU founders who longed for a more prosperous Africa.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN