Press Releases
Mzee Kawawa Receives MLK Award
January 23, 2007
Veteran politician Mzee Rashid Mfaume Kawawa, was on Tuesday January 23, 2007 conferred with the Martin Luther King Jr Drum Major for Justice Award, for his great contribution to Tanzania before and after this country's independence.
The MLK Award was presented to Mzee Kawawa by U.S. Ambassador Michael L. Retzer, after the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Political Affairs and Civil Societies Relations) Hon. Kingunge Ngambale-Mwiru made an introduction of the 2007 Drum Major for Justice Laureate.
A press release from the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam says that Mzee Kawawa’s great contribution was the struggle for independence, as he was the key person who supported Nyerere in the liberation struggle.
Another remarkable achievement was his contribution towards recognizing and supporting peoples’ small groups like Women and Youth associations. He also supported the Tanganyika African National Congress (TANU) activities financially. TANU is the political party that came to win independence in 1961.
The Drum Major for Justice Award is named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr King was a vital figure of the modern era. His lectures and dialogues stirred the concern and sparked the conscience of a generation. The movements and marches he led brought significant changes in the fabric of American life through his courage and selfless devotion. This devotion gave direction to thirteen years of civil rights activities. His charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, in the United States and around the world.
Mzee Kawawa becomes the eighth MLK Drum Major for Justice Laureate since the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam first conferred the award to Justice Sinde Warioba in 1999. The late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere was the second laureate the following year posthumously, while there was no laureate in 2001.
In 2002, Hon Francis Nyalali received the award, followed by Professor Geoffrey Mmari and Mama Justa Mwaituka in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Ambassador Gertrude Mongella received the award in 2005, and last year it was conferred to Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim.
Mzee Kawawa believes in the freedom of religious benefits, the power of self reliance and the strength individuals can bring to achieve their development goals. In retirement, he still continues to follow Tanzania’s development, providing important advice where necessary.