Adeladius Makwega – MARA
On May 26, 2023, students from Malya College of Sports Development, located in Kwimba District, Mwanza Region, visited the residence of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, at Mwitongo in Butiama, Mara Region.
During the visit, they had the opportunity to pray beside his grave and tour various parts of his residence to learn about the life of the leader who guided Tanzania for 23 years. Mwanakwetu accompanied them on the visit.
The tour lasted more than six hours. During this time, the students visited different areas of the residence, took photographs, received historical information about Mwalimu Nyerere, and asked questions that were answered in detail by the staff responsible for managing the residence.
Speaking during the visit, Denis Kayombo, a senior instructor at the college, said that the students had learned a great deal about Mwalimu Nyerere’s life through history lessons at various levels of Tanzania’s education system. However, the visit to Mwitongo gave them an opportunity to see firsthand some of the things they had previously learned in the classroom.
“The most important thing is to see some of the preserved historical items and gain a real understanding of the life of our leader,” Kayombo said.
The students were informed that while teaching at Pugu Secondary School, one of the subjects Mwalimu Nyerere taught was Physical Education, which is also part of the students’ training programme. He also taught Biology and History.
Explaining the relationship between these subjects, instructor Monika Kalonga, who accompanied the students, said that many people were surprised that Mwalimu Nyerere could teach subjects that, at first glance, appeared unrelated.
“Many people wonder how Mwalimu Nyerere could teach subjects that seem unrelated. However, we understand that Physical Education has a strong connection with Biology, particularly when it comes to muscles and how the different parts of the human body function,” Kalonga said.
Towards the end of their visit, the students toured the Father of the Nation’s museum in Butiama. There, they saw various items used by Mwalimu Nyerere, including clothing, shoes, hoes, stools, and other tools.
One of the items that attracted the most attention was a large radio weighing approximately 20 kilograms.
“We were told that Mwalimu Nyerere travelled with this radio on all his trips. He received it in Germany and used it to listen to news and reports from around the world. It turns out that Mwalimu Nyerere was keen to understand what was happening in the world,” said Tabu Masele, one of the college’s instructors and the assistant coordinator of the visit.
Before entering the museum, the students took a group photograph. Prior to that, they had participated in a question-and-answer session in which various questions about the life of the Father of the Nation were raised and answered.
Among those who asked questions was Tabu Masele, who wanted to know whether Mwalimu Nyerere had any other children apart from those commonly mentioned in historical accounts.
The question, which touched on the leader’s private life, was answered with an explanation that Mwalimu Nyerere had no other children beyond those publicly known. It was also explained that the soldier who died during the Uganda War, and who has sometimes been associated with the Nyerere family, was not Mwalimu Nyerere’s child but had been born in a village neighbouring Mwitongo.
However, other questions raised during the session opened up a discussion about another aspect of Mwalimu Nyerere’s life that appeared to surprise the students.
According to information provided by the staff at the residence, the students were told that while Mwalimu Nyerere was a student at Tabora Secondary School, a family had entrusted a woman to him with the expectation that she would become his wife. However, according to the account given, Nyerere neither married nor lived with the woman, although he continued to support her throughout her life.
The students were also informed that the only woman he married and lived with was Mama Maria Nyerere.
These revelations raised several questions, particularly about how Mwalimu Nyerere had managed to continue supporting the woman for such a long period. According to the information the students received, the woman was still alive at the time of their visit to Mwalimu Nyerere’s residence.
The discussion continued even after the students boarded their bus. As they travelled, some remarked that they regarded Mwalimu Nyerere as their grandfather. They therefore felt it was important to learn more about his personal life, beyond his well-known history as the leader of the nation.
Among the questions that emerged during the discussion was the place of this woman in the history of the Nyerere family and why her personal story had remained relatively unknown to the public.
“Many African men are known for practising polygamy. If Julius Nyerere was given a wife by his family and continued supporting her until he died in 1999, why has this woman not been given an opportunity to be heard, so that Tanzanians can know her and she can answer questions the public may have about her life?” This question arose during the discussion on the bus.
However, the question remained unanswered at the time, as the students were already continuing their journey to Serengeti National Park.
The discussion demonstrates how visits to historical sites can raise new questions and stimulate a desire to learn more about the lives of leaders who made significant contributions to the nation’s history.
The next time Mwanakwetu visits Butiama, he intends to look for this woman.
Mwanakwetu, are you there?
Remember the topic:
“Mwalimu Nyerere Was Given a Wife While in Tabora.”
Wishing you a pleasant day.
Email: makwadeladius@gmail.com
Phone: 0717649257
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