SOUTH Africans who visit Tanzania are accorded royal treatment and pampered by locals because of the heritage the ANC left for the people of Morogoro.
During its exile years the ANC built a massive infrastructure in Mazimbu and Dakawa to accommodate, train and educate thousands of South African youths who were fleeing from apartheid South Africa after the 1976 and 1980s uprisings.
Then Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere gave land to the ANC to set up its camps to absorb thousands of South Africans.
The Somafco and Dakawa camps have projects such as crop, diary, poultry and pig farming, a furniture making workshop, a hospital, tailoring workshop, welding centre, houses and education centres.
When South African political organisations were unbanned the ANC handed the Somafco and Dakawa camps back to the Tanzanian government for local residents to continue to use.
"We will forever be indebted to the ANC and South Africans for the Solomon Mahlangu Centre. It is resourceful to us and we value it," said Chief Albert Luthuli Primary School principal Moses Achimpota.
Achimpota, whose school was freshly painted by a group of South African youths who were on a 10-day visit to Tanzania, said the school was renamed following a consultation process.
"Parents and teachers decided that since the university campus is also known as Solomon Mahlangu, we should rename our school after another South African liberation struggle hero, Chief Albert Luthuli," he said.
Achimpota said residents of Mazimbu had limited knowledge about Luthuli but they would learn more about him.
"We take comfort in the fact that he was a Struggle hero," he said
During the painting of the building and the portrayal of Luthuli on the entrance wall of the school, learners entertained their guests with cultural activities, including singing songs honouring Mahlangu.
Nomazulu Taukobong, a South African youth, said: "This moment has filled our hearts with happiness. The people of Tanzania are us and we South Africans are them."
Executive member of the Somafco Trust Tlholo Mohlathe said the renaming of the school from Solomon Mahlangu to Albert Luthuli represented a movement from the sacrifice of the past.
"We have moved from sacrifice, symbolised by Solomon Mahlangu, and we are preparing to produce leadership of Luthuli's stature," said Mohlathe.
Mohlathe, who is a former Somafco student, said the tour sought to encourage dialogue between South Africans and Tanzanians.
"We hope to build sustainable relationships and reinforce friendships to meet today's challenges," he said.
The tour, aptly called OR Tambo Edu-tour, had different themes to mark each day.
The days were dedicated to icons such as OR Tambo Day, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Day, Solomon Mahlangu Day, Dr Kenneth Kaunda Day, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Day, Chief Albert Luthuli Day, Lillian Ngoyi Day, Albertina Sisulu Day and Charlotte Maxeke Day.
'Forever indebted to the ANC'
SOUTH Africans who visit Tanzania are accorded royal treatment and pampered by locals because of the heritage the ANC left for the people of Morogoro.
During its exile years the ANC built a massive infrastructure in Mazimbu and Dakawa to accommodate, train and educate thousands of South African youths who were fleeing from apartheid South Africa after the 1976 and 1980s uprisings.
Then Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere gave land to the ANC to set up its camps to absorb thousands of South Africans.
The Somafco and Dakawa camps have projects such as crop, diary, poultry and pig farming, a furniture making workshop, a hospital, tailoring workshop, welding centre, houses and education centres.
When South African political organisations were unbanned the ANC handed the Somafco and Dakawa camps back to the Tanzanian government for local residents to continue to use.
"We will forever be indebted to the ANC and South Africans for the Solomon Mahlangu Centre. It is resourceful to us and we value it," said Chief Albert Luthuli Primary School principal Moses Achimpota.
Achimpota, whose school was freshly painted by a group of South African youths who were on a 10-day visit to Tanzania, said the school was renamed following a consultation process.
"Parents and teachers decided that since the university campus is also known as Solomon Mahlangu, we should rename our school after another South African liberation struggle hero, Chief Albert Luthuli," he said.
Achimpota said residents of Mazimbu had limited knowledge about Luthuli but they would learn more about him.
"We take comfort in the fact that he was a Struggle hero," he said
During the painting of the building and the portrayal of Luthuli on the entrance wall of the school, learners entertained their guests with cultural activities, including singing songs honouring Mahlangu.
Nomazulu Taukobong, a South African youth, said: "This moment has filled our hearts with happiness. The people of Tanzania are us and we South Africans are them."
Executive member of the Somafco Trust Tlholo Mohlathe said the renaming of the school from Solomon Mahlangu to Albert Luthuli represented a movement from the sacrifice of the past.
"We have moved from sacrifice, symbolised by Solomon Mahlangu, and we are preparing to produce leadership of Luthuli's stature," said Mohlathe.
Mohlathe, who is a former Somafco student, said the tour sought to encourage dialogue between South Africans and Tanzanians.
"We hope to build sustainable relationships and reinforce friendships to meet today's challenges," he said.
The tour, aptly called OR Tambo Edu-tour, had different themes to mark each day.
The days were dedicated to icons such as OR Tambo Day, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Day, Solomon Mahlangu Day, Dr Kenneth Kaunda Day, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Day, Chief Albert Luthuli Day, Lillian Ngoyi Day, Albertina Sisulu Day and Charlotte Maxeke Day.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos