On May 25, 1963, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was officially born. The founding fathers included Kwame Nkrumah, Haile Selassie, Sekou Touré, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Julius Nyerere, and 27 others. The OAU was created to promote unity and solidarity among African countries, and to work towards the decolonization of the continent.

In 2002, the OAU was replaced by the African Union (AU). The AU is a more ambitious organization than the OAU, and its goals include promoting democracy, good governance, and human rights in Africa. The AU is also working to address the continent's many challenges, such as poverty, disease, and conflict.

As Tanzanians, we cannot claim to celebrate the legacy of Mwalimu Nyerere without embracing Pan-Africanism and advocating for a robust and well-equipped African Union. Pan-Africanism is the belief that all Africans share a common destiny, and that we should work together to build a strong and united Africa. The AU is the best vehicle for achieving this goal.

Individually, the 54 African countries may not be strong enough to demand a commanding voice on the international stage. However, as a collective, we are a force to be reckoned with. The AU can use its collective power to negotiate better trade deals, secure more foreign investment, and promote peace and security on the continent.

We must all work together to make the African Union a success. The future of Africa depends on it.