EDITORIAL : Why we must cherish uhuru fight heroes

As we continue to mourn the death of one of Tanzania’s independence movement heroes who passed away on Sunday, May 19, it is opportune for us to reflect on others like him who contributed immensely in the effort to rid the country of colonialism.

With the death Ally Abdallah Kleist Sykes, the country now remains with only two of the 17 founder members - Constantine Milinga and Lameck Bagohe – of the Tanganyika African National Union (Tanu), the party which, under the chairmanship of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, spearheaded the final lap of Mainland’s struggle for independence.

The Tanu member Card No. 02 holder (Mwalimu Nyerere held Card No. 01) was known for his steadfast party support, which saw him spend his own resources to boost the then financially strapped organisation. The sacrifice he and the others took at a time when agitating against colonialism was considered foolhardy or even treasonable must never be forgotten.

Of course, like we note above, Tanu endeavours should be viewed as the last stage of our people’s uhuru struggle, traceable to gallant fighters like chief Mkwawa of the Wahehe, Milambo of the Wanyamwezi and the Maji Maji freedom fighters.

We are talking of, as Kenyan novelist Ngugi wa Thiong’o puts it in his classic, Grain of Wheat, the people who died (or were ready to die) so that we could live.

The memory of Ally Sykes is still fresh in our minds because it was only on Monday – two days ago – that we laid him to rest at the Kisutu Cemetery in Dar es Salaam, but how about our children of tomorrow? How much do today’s youth know about the other 16 Tanu heroes besides Mwalimu Nyerere, or those of Zanzibar Revolution besides Sheikh Abeid Aman Karume? Let everything be done to ensure the legacies of our heroes are cherished and retained in our collective memory as a free nation.