Around Mother Africa Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #449)

We arrived in Dar the day Julius Nyerere resigned from the premiership and not knowing the reason for this completely unexpected development we were disturbed for he had made a marked impression not only as a leader of his country but aa a faithful friend of the oppressed people of my own country. I met him the following morning and the first question I asked related to his resignation and from what he said it became clear to me that he was still in firm control of the political machinery of the ruling party and that the extraordinary step he had taken was a carefully planned and shrewd move to put TANU in an unassailable position and to prepare it for the great task of social reconstruction that lay ahead. He was well disposed towards our mission and readily promised help where he could but frankly discussed his difficulties in regard to other aspects, and referred me to Emperor Haile Selassie, promising at the same time to introduce us to him. Although he was the first African statesman I met his simplicity, modesty and ability to get at grass roots of every question we discussed at once convinced me that he was one of Africa's top men and would go very far in his efforts to solve the problems of poverty and ignorance bequeathed to him by many years of colonial exploitation. That same afternoon I met his close friend Rashid Kawawa, then Prime Minister. Although he had a busy programme and was due to meet the Governor that afternoon he nonetheless gave me enough