The beatification of former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere is important for Africa because he set a standard of good leadership.
This is the thesis of theologian Laurent Magesa from Tanzania.Fr. Magesa said in today’s political context where many African leaders are criticized for embezzling public funds, Mr. Nyerere is remembered for his honesty.
The theologian added that Mr. Nyerere was very honest, very simple, did not acquire any wealth and respected everybody.
Julius Nyerere was born in northern Tanzania in 1922. Educated at Kampala’s Makerere University and in Edinburgh, Scotland, he was the first president of Tanzania from its independence from Britain in 1961 until 1985.
Mr. Nyerere was known for his political ideology called “Ujamaa” or African socialism and advocated the principle of single party rule.
He died in London in 1999.
Tanzania’s Catholic Church started the process of Nyerere’s beatification in 2006.
The process of beatification in the Catholic Church is the first step towards sainthood.