Mwalimu's Non-alignment and Pan-Africanism in relation to the tasks of the post-neo-liberal generation

Abstract

Mwalimu was a great leader but not an angel. There are his personal qualities like integrity which are inspirational. There are his political practices; some of which need to be assessed and others cannot stand up to criticism. But there are two aspects of his political practice which need to be carefully evaluated and its relevance gauged. This is his, first, foreign policy in relation to super-powers and his association with non-alignment and, second, his fervent, and virtually unconditional support for African unity. In this short issues paper I want to touch on three elements in Mwalimu’s political practice. First, non-alignment in relation to superpowers; secondly, African unity or pan-Africanism and, thirdly, solidarity with the oppressed people and co-operation with the countries of the South. The paper will briefly discuss the background and then raise, somewhat provocatively and tentatively, what this means in identifying the tasks of the post-neo-liberal generation in Africa.