Over 500 Mozambican troops trained by Rwandan instructors conclude advanced infantry course
African freedom parties [Mozambique’s Frelimo included] team up in US$45M leadership venture supported by China
8:20 CAT | 19 Jul 2018
From left to right: SWAPO (Namibia) SG Sophia Swaniga, Frelimo (Mozambique) SG Roque Silva, ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe) SG Obadi Mpofu, Head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Song Tao, Chama Cha Mapinduzi national Chairman and President of Tanzania John Magufuli, CCM (Tanzania) SG Bashiru Allynm, ANC (South Africa) SG Ace Magashulem and MPLA (Angola) SG Antonio Kasoma at the laying of the foundation stone of the proposed Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School at Kibaha kwa Mfipa in Coast Region, Tanzania, on Monday July 16. Photo: Tanzania State House
The $45 million Mwalimu Nyerere Leadership School, to be built in Tanzania with Chinese support, will offer training in, among other things, political ideology to hasten economic liberation.
Six African liberation parties are joining forces to put up a $45 million political leadership college in Tanzania in recognition and appreciation of the role played by the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere in their own national independence struggles.
The six parties are Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the Africa National Congress (ANC) in South Africa, Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), and the SWAPO Party of Namibia, formerly known as the South West African People’s Organisation.
They will work together to establish the Mwalimu Nyerere Leadership School, which will offer training in political ideology and leadership skills with the aim of hastening the economic liberation of Africa.
President John Magufuli on Monday officiated at the laying of the foundation stone for construction of the college in Kibaha District, Coast Region; a project to be carried out by the China Railway Jianchang Engineering Company Ltd (CRJE) over the next two years.
According to Magufuli, who is also chairman of the ruling CCM in Tanzania, the lack of leadership skills and clear ideologies has caused many problems for African political parties, most of which were established without having these in place.
“We need to have the political parties with strong leadership who will obey leadership ethics and be able to bring economic development to the people,” said Magufuli.
He said the new college should be able to produce leaders who can play the same roles as the late Mwalimu Nyerere, ex-Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, and other key figures in the struggle for Africa’s liberation.
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The school will offer short, mid and long-term courses in political party ideologies and leadership. According to the head of the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s department of foreign affairs, Song Tao, it will be a key tool in strengthening overall political leadership in the southern African region.
CPC is offering financial support for the project, and has also pledged to provide expertise support through training of trainers (ToT) courses for the school.
According to CCM secretary general Bashiru Ally, the project is part of implementation of the party’s 2015 election manifesto.
Bashiru’s FRELIMO counterpart, Roque Silva, described the project as crucial towards unify the liberation parties and cementing cooperation among them.
His words were echoed by MPLA secretary general Antonio Kasoma, who said: “The project is important for our political parties as it will serve as a pillar of cooperation.”
ZANU-PF secretary general Obadi Mpofu commented: “This is a memorable event…the flags of our countries flying high here is a result of (Tanzania’s) efforts to support the liberation struggles in Africa.”
On her part, SWAPO secretary general Sophia Swaniga said her party is ready to contribute generously to realising the late Nyerere’s dream of forging a united Africa.
ANC secretary general Ace Magashule also asserted that the school should bring a common stance on commitments to develop values of patriotism and belief in equal rights. “This will bind us all and liberalise our people from economic bondage… our people are living in abject poverty, and this means that liberation struggle isn’t complete,” Magashule said.
According to CCM’s own ideology and publicity secretary Humphrey Polepole, the project is further reflection of CCM’s commitment to “undertake political science for good leadership.”
Focus on bringing about economic liberation
Speaking during the event, President Magufuli said apart from leadership and ideological studies, Secretaries-General from the six political parties should consider development issues. “Let’s consider widening the school’s education boundaries by providing education on development and strategic studies,” he said.
“We shouldn’t think of admitting people from the six political parties alone…let’s consider welcoming other political parties with vision and ideologies similar to us.”
Dr Magufuli said the secretaries-general would be charged with preparing curriculums, recruiting staff and raising funds, which will be used to run the school.
He challenged the contractor, China Railway Construction Engineering Group, to complete the project on time or even before the scheduled deadline.
“There is no reason for delaying the implementation of the project, while funds are available. The contractor should also use manpower from Kibaha to enable local residents to benefit from the project,” he noted.
President Magufuli said Tanzanians should seek employment opportunities during and after the implementation of the project.
“The project has come to the region that is at the forefront of building industries in the country. Continue building industries to create jobs for our people,” he noted.
He commended the secretaries-general for naming the school after the late father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, saying the decision was aimed at honouring the country’s contribution to the liberation struggle.
A new beginning
Dr Magufuli said the countries should now focus on bringing about economic liberation, adding that the school would give these efforts fresh impetus. According to him, most political parties on the continent had leaders who were not conversant with the parties’ ideologies. The school would address this anomaly, he added.
Speaking during the occasion, Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa said that it was time for countries which share common ideals to come together and promoted what the nations’ founding fathers stood for. “We are here to cement our liberation history and also enhance the sustainability of our liberation fathers’ determination to transform our African countries,” she said. “The China-Africa cooperation especially with political parties which share great historical relations, is commendable for the sustainability of our nations…we will support the move.”
Frelimo secretary-general Roque Silva said that it was a special day that heralds a new beginning. “We believe that this project will bear fruit and strengthen our relations. We will support this movement because it will help us continue liberating our people from economic bondage,” he said.
MPLA secretary-general António Paulo Kassoma said the occasion was very essential for the continuous liberation of the people from both parties. “The construction that we are all ready to support here today, will be a pillar to improve our diplomatic relations and the Communist Party of China (CPC) has come at the right time where we need transformation in the basic areas of our society, including poverty reduction, “ he said.
Communist Party of China offering financial support, consultancy and running of the school
Dr Magufuli said the school will be jointly owned by all six political parties, with the Communist Party of China (CPC) offering financial support, consultancy and running of the school, thanks to its massive experience.
Chinese Minister and Head of Department of Foreign Affairs in CPC Song Tao led the Chinese delegation to the foundation stone lying.
Leadership gap
President Magufuli thanked former CCM leaders, including retired President Jakaya Kikwete for initiating talks with other liberation parties to set up the political college in the country.
The school will be offering short, mid and long-term courses on party ideologies and leadership to prepare the cadres into becoming good leaders.
“This idea came after realising a leadership gap especially at this time of multipartism. The school will be offering short, midindustry to produce good politicians,” Dr Magufuli argued.
He commended decision to name the school after the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, saying since he was one of the good leaders ever happened in the continent, the decision was to keep his legacy.
Mr Song stated that the six political parties were important in bringing economic liberation, emphasising that the school will focus on strengthening leadership in the region.
He said China has been in good relationship with the parties for many years since the time of struggle for independence.
CCM’s Secretary General Dr Bashiru Ally said the event was partly to implement the party’s 2015 election manifesto.
FRELIMO Secretary General Roque Silva described the function as crucial in unifying the liberation parties and cementing cooperation among them.
“The project is important for our political parties as it will serve as the pillar of cooperation and MPLA is ready to contribute to strengthen the school,” said MPLA Secretary General Antonio Kasoma.
ZANU-PF Secretary General Obadi Mpofu commented: “This is a memorable event…the flags of our countries flying high here testify CCM efforts to support liberation struggles in Africa.”
SWAPO Secretary General Sophia Swaniga said, “My delegation and I are here to witness the event to cement our cooperation and we are ready to contribute to the realisation of Nyerere’s dream to bind us together.”
ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule explained that the school will bring common stance on the commitment to develop values of patriotism and belief in equal rights. “This will bind us all and liberalise people from economic bandage…our people are living in abject poverty, meaning that our liberation struggles aren’t complete,” he said.
The ruling [Tanzanian] CCM has since the 1950’s been embracing the culture of training its cadres and political leaders as well as counterparts from other African political parties that fought for independence.
Chinese China Railway Jianchang Engineering Company which has been contracted to execute the school promised to build high standard structure to maintain the trust that exists between Tanzania and China.
Xi congratulates groundbreaking ceremony of Julius Nyerere Leadership School
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday congratulated the groundbreaking ceremony of Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania.
In a congratulatory message, Xi said that on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Julius Nyerere Leadership School co-founded by the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania, the African National Congress of South Africa, the Mozambique Liberation Front Party and the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the SWAPO Party of Namibia and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, he extended his warm congratulations on behalf of the CPC as well as in his own name.
Xi said that the six parties in southern Africa are the important forces to lead the national liberation and economic construction in their respective countries.
Jointly building Julius Nyerere Leadership School is an important move for the six parties to strengthen their self-construction and improve their governing capacity and will play an active role in promoting the development and progress of their respective countries, Xi said.
For a long time, Xi added, the CPC has maintained a traditional friendship with the six parties, which has played an important and strategic guiding role for the development of China’s bilateral ties with the six countries, respectively.
The CPC is willing to take this opportunity to enhance exchanges with political parties in Africa including the six parties and learn from each other, so as to jointly promote the construction of a closer community with a shared future for China and Africa and make contributions to advancing the lofty cause of peace and development for mankind, Xi said.
Source: The Guardian Tanzania / Tanzania Daly News / The Citizen Tanzania / Encs, China News Service / Xinhua
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