Hichilema Unveils Julius Nyerere statue at AU Headquarters

A statue of Julius Nyerere, known as Tanzania’s founding father, was unveiled yesterday outside the Africa Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

The three-meter-tall statue of the statesman and activist was revealed during a ceremony hosted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), led by President Hakainde Hichilema, who serves as the Chairman of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security Cooperation.

In his address outside the Julius Nyerere Peace and Security Building commissioned in 2016, President Hichilema praised the effigy as a permanent reminder of the leader’s pivotal role in the liberation of nations across the continent. Nyerere led what is now Tanzania from its independence in 1961 until 1985.

An anti-colonial activist, politician, and proponent of Pan-Africanism, Nyerere was a central figure in shaping the African continent into what it is today. Known for peaceful methods of protest to fight for racial harmony and social equality, he also played a key role in the effort to overthrow white supremacist governments in Southern Africa.

The ceremony was attended by numerous African heads of state, who saw the statue erected alongside figures of Ghana’s founding father Kwame Nkrumah and Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie. Nyerere is the third leader to be commemorated with a statue outside the AU headquarters.

AU Commission leader Moussa Faki Mahamat, who unveiled the statue, said: “The legacy of this remarkable leader encapsulates the essence of Pan-Africanism, profound wisdom, and service to Africa.”

In a post after the ceremony, President Hichilema reflected upon the honouring of Nyerere, stating that the statue “serves as a constant reminder to the people of Africa, especially the youth, of the heroism, sacrifice, and noble works of Julius Nyerere.”