Independence Movement Was Nothing But Deceit to Mass

News:

14th October is a public holiday in Tanzania which annually commemorates the death of Julius Nyerere, the “father of the nation” who died in London 1999.

Comment:

This day is significant in Tanzania as it honors the life and legacy of the first president of the United Republic of Tanzania, who is considered a great leader and played a crucial role as an anti-colonial activist and political theorist who shaped the country's future.

Despite Nyerere’s authoritarian rule for 24 years, from independence in late 1961 to his departure from office in late 1985, he, as many others so called anti-colonialists, has been idolized and given a status that almost elevates him to the point of being contrary to the reality.

The ultimate picture of the so-called anti-colonial activists like Nyerere, who was a staunch front-liner fighting for flag independence, can be clearly understood once linked with the international context of the time.

After the Second World War, the positions of the old colonizers, namely the UK and France, weakened internationally. Instead, the United States rose to counter the influence of those two colonial powers globally. Despite sharing a similar capitalist system, these states differed in terms of their national interests.

      Britain came up with several strategies to protect and maintain its fading dominance and influence in its colonies, such as strengthening the Commonwealth organization, firmly extended its education networks in schools and universities, and using those institutions to groom loyal agents who would be granted a form of 'flag independence' to align with the global wave led by the US.

British champions in colonial education, such as Lord Cromer in Egypt and Lord Macaulay in India, made it clear that the goal of the British education system was to keep the natives of their colonies as natives only in appearance but transform them to adopt English tastes, policies and perspectives.

Makerere University in Uganda in East Africa was one of the many examples that partly played such a British strategy. Obviously, Nyerere was one who underwent such grooming in Makerere, then received further education and refinement in Edinburgh, UK.

He was loyal and a staunch supporter of Britain to the extent that when a coup attempt emerged in the early sixties, the UK came very fast to rescue their ‘young man’.

Additionally, Nyerere was assigned by the UK to swiftly go to Zanzibar to facilitate the union of the so- called African and Shirazi communities, leading to the birth of the Afro Shirazi Party, which was working under the influence of the UK.

Under Nyerere's guidance, Afro-Shirazi Party managed to overthrow the Zanzibar government, then succeeded in bringing the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar as per the UK’s directive.

Not to mention how the same party was utilized to sow, amplify racial discord and engage in violence between Zanzibar's Muslims and the general populace.

In the case of Tanganyika, Nyerere would be remembered how he marginalized Muslims, disrupted their unity, dismantled their institutions, and disregarded them despite the grand reception they gave him, their high esteem for him, serving him, and holding his hand in the struggles for independence.

Nyerere left the country under British dominion, disguised as independence, granting them every opportunity to exploit the country's resources while ordinary citizens, especially Muslims and non-Muslims alike, struggled with hardships and uncertainties.

This is how the call of independent and liberation was used to deceive the public presenting false heroes, who were, in reality, agents of the colonial masters. The true liberation and true heroes would only be obtained once the Islamic Ideology with its Khilafah (Caliphate) State take hold.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Said Bitomwa
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Tanzania