Tanzanian statesman and president (196285), born in Butiama, N Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika). He became a teacher at Makerere, then studied at Edinburgh. He reorganized the nationalists into the Tanganyika African National Union (1954), of which he became president, and in 1960 became chief minister. He was premier when Tanganyika was granted internal self-government (1961), and was made president on independence (1962). In 1964 he negotiated the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar as Tanzania. He led his country on a path of Socialism and self-reliance, but his policies failed, and he retired in 1985.
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| 1st President of Tanzania | |
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In office October 29, 1964 – November 5, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Ali Hassan Mwinyi |
| Born |
April 13, 1922 Butiama, Tanzania |
| Died |
October 14, 1999 London, United Kingdom |
| Political party | CCM |
| Spouse | Maria Nyerere |
Julius Kambarage Nyerere (April 13, 1922 - October 14, 1999) was President of Tanzania, and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1964 until his retirement in 1985. Born in Tanganyika to a local Zanaki chief called Nyerere Burito, Julius Nyerere was known by the Swahili name Mwalimu or 'teacher' because of his profession before becoming active in politics.
Education
Nyerere began attending Government Primary School in Musoma at the age of 12 where he completed the 4 years program in 3 years and went on to Tabora Boys Government Secondary School. In 1949 he got a scholarship to attend the University of Edinburgh (he was the first Tanzanian to study at a British university and only the second to gain a university degree outside Africa) where he obtained his Masters of Arts Degree on Economics and History in 1952.
Political career
On his return to Tanganyika, Nyerere took a position teaching History, English and Kiswahili, at St. Francis’ College, near Dar es Salaam. Nyerere entered the Colonial Legislative council in 1958 and was elected chief minister in 1960. In 1961 Tanganyika was granted self governance and Nyerere became its first Prime Minister on December 9, 1961. A year later Nyerere was elected President of Tanganyika when it became a Republic. Nyerere was instrumental in the union between the islands of Zanzibar and the mainland Tanganyika to form Tanzania, after a coup in Zanzibar in 1964 toppled Jamshid bin Abdullah, who was the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Economic Policies
When in power, Nyerere implemented a socialist economic program (announced in the Arusha Declaration), establishing close ties with China, and also introduced a policy of collectivization in the country's agricultural system, known as Ujamaa or "familyhood". With the realisation that the Tanzanian economy did not flourish and being unwilling to lead Tanzania using an economic model he did not believe, Nyerere willingly announced that he would retire after presidential elections in 1985, leaving the country to enter its free market era under the leadership of Ali Hassan Mwinyi.
Nyerere was instrumental in putting both Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa in power.
Foreign Policy
Nyerere was one of African Leaders during the Pan-African movement that swept the continent in the 1960's. Nyerere provided a home for a number of African liberation movements including the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan African Congress (PAC) of South Africa, FRELIMO when it sought to overthrow Portuguese rule in Mozambique, and ZANLA (and Robert Mugabe) in its struggle to unseat the white regime in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Nyerere's foreign policy emphasized neutrality in the Cold War, and under his leadership, Tanzania enjoyed friendly relations with both the West and the East.
After the Presidency
After the Presidency, Nyerere remained the Chairman of CCM until 1990 when Ali Hassan Mwinyi took over. Nyerere remained vocal about the extent of corruption and corrupt officials during the Ali Hassan Mwinyi administration. Nyerere was instrumental in getting Benjamin Mkapa elected (Mkapa had been Minister of Foreign Affairs for a time during Nyerere's administration).
In one of his famous speeches during the CCM general assembly, Nyerere said in Swahili "Ninang'atuka", meaning that he was pulling out of politics for good. Nyerere travelled more widely after retiring than he did when he was president of Tanzania.
Beatification inquiry
In January 2005, the Catholic diocese of Musoma opened a cause for the beatification of Julius Nyerere.
Honorary Degrees
University of Edinburgh (UK) University of Duquesne (USA), University of Cairo (Egypt) University of Nigeria (Nigeria) University of Ibadan (Nigeria) University of Liberia (Liberia) University of Toronto (Canada) Howard University (USA) Jawaharlal Nehru University (India) University of Havana (Cuba) University of Lesotho University of the Philippines Fort Hare University (South Africa) Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania)Awards
Nehru Award for International Understanding, 1976 Third World Prize, 1982 Nansen Medal for outstanding services to Refugees, 1983 Lenin Peace Prize, 1987Publications & (1979) Julius Kaisari (a Swahili translation of William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar) Mabepari wa Venisi (a Swahili translation of William Shakespeare's play - The Merchant of Venice)
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Preceded by: none |
Prime Minister of Tanzania 1960–1961 |
Succeeded by: Rashidi Kawawa |
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Preceded by: none |
President of Tanzania 1964–1985 |
Succeeded by: Ali Hassan Mwinyi |
| Presidents of Tanzania | |
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| Julius Nyerere • Ali Hassan Mwinyi • Benjamin Mkapa • Jakaya Kikwete |
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