An Extraordinary Life of an Incredible Man
By. M. M. Mwanakijiji

There was a time when one mentioned Tanzania one implied in the same breath liberation struggle of countries in the Southern Africa. As countries around the world enjoyed the advent of the modern era many countries in Africa were just being created from former colonies and many more were still under rule of colonial oppression or unacceptable minority white rule as was the case in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Many of the later were in Southern Africa; Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, and Zimbabwe to mention but a few.

The powers that controlled these African countries were in all practical purposes insuperable. Britain as well as Portugal had vested interests in many of these countries. These interests included some claims that today can only be seen as extraordinarily idiotic if not pathetic. None of the powers had more menacing threat than the apartheid regime of South Africa which also had its tentacles of oppression extended to some of the countries in Southern Africa such as Namibia. Many people in Africa in these countries lived under political systems not of their choosing and led by leaders not of their own making.

It is in this context that when Tanganyika under the Founding Father Mwalimu Nyerere attained its independence one of the choices she had to make early was an easy but necessary one. The choice was that Tanganyika and later Tanzania would support the liberation struggle of all countries in Africa. It was an easy choice because it was in line with its own philosophical outlook of the world and a necessary one because there was no way for Tanzania to be safe and a prosperous country as long as countries around it were still under colonial rule. The freedom and independence of Tanzania was ultimately linked to the freedoms and independence of all other African countries. This was so stated at the time.

When Hashim Mbita was picked to be the Secretary General of the Liberation Committee of the Frontlines States- an organ of then OAU - he was of a tender age of 33 years old. For the next twenty years or so he expertly, meticulously and effectively carried out the duty of coordinating the efforts of African countries to rid themselves and the continent of foreign rule. While most people know Addis Ababa as the seat of the then Organization of African Unity it was in Dar-es-Salaam where the Liberation Committee was headquartered under Hashim Mbita. It was here where "who is who" of liberation struggle had to appear as they coordinated liberation of the respective countries. From Edward Mondlane of Mozambique to Nelson Mandela of South Africa; Sam Nujoma of Namibia to Robert Mugabe of Zimbwabwe and many more passed under the trusted hands of Hashim Mbita and his officers in Dar.

For many of us who grew up during the liberation era the name Hashim Mbita poignantly brought a sense of pride and purpose. We could not mention the Liberation Committee without mention Mbita’s name and vice versa. He was a man of incredible intellect, a military strategist per excellence. He was one of the few people who I can argue understood Mwalimu Nyerere’s vision for the nation as well as for Africa; a true Nyerereist if you will. He was a Pan-Africanist of the first caliber who not only gave much of his youth for the liberation of Africa but received very little – at least from his own nation.

It is shameful to even read that it was in Zimbabwe last year where President Mugabe bestowed Mbita (who could not attend the occasion) with the highest civilian honor and a good sum of 100,000 USD as a sign of gratitude to Mbita’s contribution. Even South Africa is due to honor Mbita this morning with its own National Order – the Oliver Tambo order. According to a press brief given last week Brig. Gen. Mbita would receive this order “For his exceptional and gallant support of African Liberation Movements and his tireless efforts in ensuring that the struggle for freedom throughout the African continent bore fruit.” Unfortunately the accolades will be given posthumously.

We have to honor our own. When we see other countries honoring Mbita’s contribution more than ourselves we should somehow feel outraged at the least. I know Mbita had already received some of our own national orders for his contribution in the past.

However, I believe he deserves even more; we have to ensure that his name lives for many generations to come. So far I don’t know any landmark that bears this exceptional Tanzanian name as a commemoration of his incredible contribution to our national history and the modern history of the African people.

If I were to pick one landmark to bear Mbita’s name for posterity I would propose our National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam; the one that currently bears Mkapa’s name. I don’t think Mkapa would object to the change of name of the national stadium to honor Mbita. It should be known Hashim Mbita National Stadium and on its ground a statue of the man should be erected. That is the least we could do; and still we could do more.

Mbita served his nation well; he served the African people well. As we say goodbye to him we should remember the whole point of liberation struggle was to give the people Africa the opportunity to be masters of their own fate. Mbita and his compatriots did not successfully coordinated the liberation struggle just for the sake of liberation. It was about the people who were suffering under colonial rule. It is our duty now and for a foreseeable future to extend and continue this struggle albeit not against foreign domination but against corrupt political regimes which have cropped up in a number of African countries in recent years. We should continue to fight to ensure that the African people –wherever they may be – remain forever free to lead and enjoy a quality life of dignity worthy of a human person.