THE Father of the Nation, Mwalimu
Julius Nyerere is among three Tanzanians honoured with a Pan Africanist
Personality Award for their contribution to the struggle for African
independence and the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
on May 25, 1963.
According to a statement issued by
the Directorate of Presidential Communications, the other Tanzanians that will
be recognised include the late Mzee Rashid Kawawa and the late Sebastian Chale
who was the first Secretary of the first Secretariat of the OAU liberation
committee.
President Jakaya Kikwete on Friday
arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a four day official visit where he will
attend the ceremony to mark 50 years since the birth of the OAU and later the
African Union (AU) and the 22rd Summit of Heads of State and AU secretariat.
President Kikwete who has been
accompanied by his wife, Mama Salma, leads a strong delegation including
retired Presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Mr Benjamin Mkapa at the ceremony to
mark 50 years.
Mama Maria Nyerere has also been
invited to attend the ceremony as part of a group of special international and
Africa regional guests.
Also in the delegation is Mr Salim
Ahmed Salim, the former Secretary General of the African Union for over 12
years, a period that is longer than that of any other Secretary General, the
former Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr Asha- Rose Migiro and
former Executive Secretary of the OAU Liberation Committee, General Hashim
Mbita.
It was during the leadership of Mr
Salim Ahmed Salim when the OAU was amended and underwent major changes from the
OAU to that of the African Union (AU).
The former Presidents are among
retired African presidents invited to participate in the ceremony while Mr
Salim was invited among all past Secretary Generals of the former OAU and AU.
The AU has also invited other
personalities that have influenced the continent through politics, sports,
music and leadership in their communities including Tanzania namely Ms Gertude
Mongella, the first Pan African Parliament Speaker, Dr Rosebud Kurwijila, the
Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture and Economic affairs of the AU Commission
and Mr Jenerali Ulimwengu who for many years represented Tanzania in the Union
for African youths in Algiers, Algeria.
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