"We need leaders who are ready to uphold interest of the majority of the
population, said Prof Soyinka. Prof Soyinka was speaking yesterday at
the University of Dar es Salaam, during the Mwalimu Nyerere
Intellectual Festival, where he delivered the first Nyerere Annual
Lecture on New Imperialisms'.
He spoke against dictatorial and authoritarian regimes, saying they are
not only inflicting misery, trauma and denying peoples' rights, but
remained a major stumbling block towards improving the people’s welfare
in their respective areas. Prof Soyinka said Africa had in the past
gone through slavery, colonialism and currently neo-colonialism. The
continent needs to stand firm against devastating practices caused by
what he termed as New Imperialisms.’
He criticised President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe for his controversial
land redistribution policy. Prof Soyinka said much as land was an
important issue to the people, democracy must be maintained and short
of that would be enslavement of the citizens. The festival which is
scheduled to end on Friday, is being attended by hundreds of local and
foreign guests, including academics, politicians, diplomats and
journalists.
Daily News
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