Julius Kambarage Nyerere (1922-1999), was the first president of Tanzania (1964-1985). Nyerere entered politics in 1954 and founded the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). He became the chief minister of British-ruled Tanganyika in 1960 and continued as prime minister when Tanganyika became independent in 1961. In 1964 Nyerere formed Tanzania - a union of Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar - with himself as president. He stepped down as president in 1985 but continued as head of the ruling party until 1990.
On 26 June 1959 Julius Nyerere was the principal speaker - along with Father Trevor Huddleston - at a meeting in London which launched the Boycott South Africa Movement. (It was re-named Anti-Apartheid Movement in 1960.)
Committed to African liberation, he offered sanctuary in Tanzania to members of African liberation movements from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, and Uganda, and in 1978 he sent Tanzanian troops to depose Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Tanzania hosted the African Liberation Committee from its inception in 1963.
Tanzania gave land and other assistance to the African National Congress of South Africa for its headquarters in Morogoro, and for the Solomon Mahlangu school and other projects.
Items on Julius Nyerere
JULIUS NYERERE ON THE BOYCOTT OF SOUTH AFRICA
Letter by Julius Nyerere to the editor of Africa South,
October-December 1959