In the original publication these quotes appeared individually, spread out through the bulletin.
We have built a nation – together. The angel Gabriel could not have built Tanzania alone, still less a fallible human being like myself. Even if the Angel Gabriel had been assisted by Ministers and public servants made up of other Angels, he still could not have built Tanzania. You, the people of Tanzania, acting together and individually, have built Tanzania into what it is – a proud, united, and self-confident nation. I thank you all very much.
Julius Nyerere, Farewell Speech,
4 November, 1985
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It is easier to respond to a simple challenge like an invasion than to withstand the constant difficulties and disappointments, as well as triumphs, of trying to develop a poor and backward country like ours. Yet for nearly 22 years – on the mainland for longer – we have worked and struggled together, and you have supported my leadership while we went through the very many difficulties and troubles of our short national life. And even now we are still contending with extremely difficult economic circumstances, with no sign that external conditions will move in our favour. I repeat; we have faced the sacrifices and fought the difficulties together. We are still doing it. And although I say we have done these things together, it is you, the people of Tanzania, who have borne the real burden – which is a very heavy one.
Over the last six or seven years our country has been hit by many events over which neither Government nor people had any control. Our standard of living has consequently gone down instead of going up. But you, the people of Tanzania, have not just become uselessly and destructively angry, nor suggested that we should sell our independence for very temporary relief from our economic problems. Instead, you have supported me and your Government, and fought against the effects of the break up of the East African Community, the drought, the drop in our export prices, and the international economic recession. And you have understood that the struggle is not over, – that it will go on for a long time.
Thank you very much.
Julius Nyerere, Farewell Speech
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For we have an international reputation, and I have an international reputation also. You have created both. When a person is hard-pressed or in other economic trouble, he can either crawl on his knees and beg the rich for alms, or he can stand up for justice while he endures and struggles to become more self-reliant. The same thing is true of a nation. But the nation has to be politically strong and proud in order to make the latter choice. You, the people of Tanzania, have provided that strength by your unity, your self-respect and your pride in our independence.
Julius Nyerere. Farewell Speech
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And the truth is that religious conflict could have been a bigger danger to us in Tanzania than tribalism. We inherited a situation where the two major religions had about the same number of adherents, but where as far as the Africans were concerned one had had almost a monopoly of access to secondary and higher education. When we began to Africanize posts which were previously held by the colonial servants, almost all of the few Africans who had the necessary educational qualifications were Christians. This fact could have been used to divide us along religious lines – and there were a few individuals who did try to do that. But the muslims of our country absolutely refused to be hoodwinked by this attempt to divide us; in doing so they made a contribution to our later peace and development which is of inestimable value. And they gave us a chance, through our educational policies, to correct the imbalance we had inherited – which we have done. I am now in the happy position of sometimes not knowing whether a new Member of Parliament, a Minister, or a new Principal Secretary in our Government Ministries, is a Muslim or a Christian or neither – unless their first name happens to give it away. And even that is not a sure guide in Tanzania, for we have Christians with Muslim names, and Muslims with Christian names. The religious tolerance and freedom in our country is your creation; what I have done is to speak up for these values on your behalf.
Julius Nyerere. Farewell Speech
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What more can I say? We have worked together, rejoiced together, been sad together, and mourned together when we have lost a colleague or a friend of our country. We have laid the foundations of socialism and self-reliance together. I thank you for your comradeship in all these struggles. I thank you for making Tanzania what it is.
Julius Nyerere. Farewell Speech