Mama Maria Nyerere: No claims over house

The family of the late Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere has refuted reports that it has plans to protest through demonstrations against demolition of their house located at Magomeni in Dar es Salaam to give way to a new building. The family?s remarks came in response of media reports early this month that the family of the late Mwalimu Nyerere was planning to protest by demonstrating against the demolition of the house or erection of a new building nearby for investment purposes. Speaking on behalf of her mother, Mama Maria Nyerere at the late Mwalimu?s residence in Msasani in the city yesterday Makongoro Nyerere said that the house his father lived in was owned by the colonial government and that his late father and was only a tenant. Makongoro said that in 1959, the late Nyerere built his own house next to the disputed one where he lived in for a period of six months before shifting to another government house located at Sea View also in the city. ?He sold the house he had built at Magomeni to Ambassador Mzee Tibandebage. Therefore the family has no claim on any of the two houses, including the one at Maduka Sita,? he clarified. He said that the late Mwalimu thought it was not a good idea to have two houses and thus he sold it to his friend ambassador. Makongoro said that Mwalimu?s family is delighted to send a word of appreciation to all who participated in the peaceful discussion on the Magomeni house and that whatever views given were all without bad intentions. ?The family recognises that though Mwalimu was the father and a loved leader of the family though out his life, still he was and is the father and leader of many Tanzanians, if not all,? he said.