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Darlington Musarurwa recently in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
President Mnangagwa yesterday thanked members of the Bagamoyo community, which is 75 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for looking after him and his fellow cadres as they pioneered the first military camp in the area in 1963.
Speaking during his tour of the site, President Mnangagwa said he was “extremely grateful” to be back in the area 58 years after his year-long stint at the camp.
At the time, President Mnangagwa was among 59 cadres from Frelimo (Mozambique), six from Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and five from South Africa.
Among some of the prominent revolutionaries who passed through Bagamoyo were former Mozambique presidents Joaquim Chissano and Samora Machel.
“I am extremely grateful to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, President Magufuli, for affording me this opportunity to visit this part of your camp, which opened in 1963,” said President Mnangagwa.
“We were 59 comrades of Frelimo, five comrades from Rhodesia – now Zimbabwe – and six comrades from South Africa; this was around May-June in 1963, which is now 58 years ago.
“The local population was very kind to us and assisted us in many ways. May I thank the government of Tanzania and Mozambique for preserving this historic place.”
Kaole Wazazi College of Agriculture has since been built on the site.
Cadres who volunteered to join the war, said President Mnangagwa in a separate interview, did not do so for financial gain, but were driven by a commitment to free their countries from colonialism.
Sacrifice, perseverance, honesty and staying the course of the struggle were the hallmark of good leadership, he said.
According to President Mnangagwa, the road to independence was long and arduous.
“It’s a long, long, arduous road – the struggle,” he said. “Again, I must say we should not focus on me; focus on everybody who travelled this arduous road to independence.”
Leadership, he said, was a reward for commitment, honesty and hard work.
“You can pass thorough State House the entirety of your life, but I can assure you that someone (travelling) on foot to China, will reach China on foot (and) you will still be passing by State House without getting in,” he said.
“So, it is a system, a structure, a process, where through your sacrifice, your commitment, your perseverance and consistency in the revolution that the people recognise you and reward you stage by stage, step by step as you discharge those responsibilities with commitment and honesty and hard work.”
The Head of State and Government also donated $10 000 to Kaole Wazizi College of Agriculture.
President Mnangagwa on Thursday described Tanzania, which got its independence from Britain on December 9, 1961 and was part of the Frontline States, as a midwife of the liberation movements on the continent.
“Tanzania is the midwife of our freedom,” he said. “It is our duty, we of the older generation, to teach that legacy. Tanzania must be understood and cherished by the younger generation.”
Yesterday’s visit to Bagamoyo wound up President Mnangagwa’s two-day State visit to Tanzania.
Online Reporter