[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 139 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO FORMER PRESIDENT JULIUS NYERERE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 14, 1999

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great man, a 
great statesman, a man of great compassion and a visionary who believed 
strongly in Africa's ability to forge a prosperous future of unity and 
peace. Former President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania passed away today in 
London at age 77 after losing a 2-year battle with leukemia.
  Known affectionately throughout Africa as Mwalimu, or ``teacher'' in 
Swahili, President Julius Nyerere was the father of Tanzanian 
independence and a symbol of Africa's hope as it emerged from the 
shadow of European colonial rule.
  He led the drive for the independence of his East African nation from 
British rule and became the country's first president in 1962.
  In 1979, in defiance of the Organization of African Unity, President 
Nyerere sent troops to Uganda in response to the intense suffering of 
the Ugandan people under the brutal dictatorial regime of Idi Amin 
Dada. That operation--one of the first humanitarian missions of its 
kind--would help set a legal precedent for peacekeeping missions all 
over the globe.
  Nyerere stepped down as president in 1985 after 23 years in office to 
devote his time to farming and diplomacy. He worked tirelessly to 
negotiate an end to the violence that has plagued central and southern 
Africa in the past decade.
  Most recently, Nyerere's efforts were directed toward mediating an 
end to the bloody civil war in neighboring Burundi, where more than 
200,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since 1993.
  Nyerere wrote eight books mainly on development and socialism in 
Africa and Tanzania in particular. He also translated William 
Shakespeare's plays ``Julius Caesar'' and ``The Merchant of Venice'' 
into Swahili.
  A Roman Catholic, Nyerere was married and had eight children.
  The current President of Tanzania, President Mkapa, has announced 
that a state funeral will be held for Nyerere in Dar es Salaam early 
next week.

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