Honourable Minister Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor
Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation
460 Soutpansberg Road, Rietondale,
PRETORIA
SOUTH AFRICA
Dear Comrade,
It is with humility and pride at the same time that, we, the undersigned Tanzanians and committed members of the Pan-African community, congratulate the Government of South Africa and you, personally, for taking an unwavering and bold stand against the genocide being committed by Israel on the people of Palestine. By taking this matter to the International Court of Justice, you have made us proud as Africans. You have given meaning and proof of the honour of Africa in the face of heartless false narratives and vicious propaganda, relentlessly generated by the imperialist and Zionist media. Your government has stood firm and upheld the noble principles that we were taught by our founding fathers Comrades Nelson Mandela and Julius Nyerere. Apartheid is not a matter of hearsay for us Africans; we suffered its brutality and continue to experience aspects of its ugly legacy. We understand fully the dehumanising and traumatic effects of being treated as non-people that our Palestinian brothers and sisters are presently undergoing and have been experiencing for the last 75 years. We cry as we watch thousands of innocent souls being bombed and buried alive under the rubble of their destroyed homes, hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and institutions.
You, our South African comrades, steeled in the struggle against vicious apartheid, have shown that it is not sufficient to cry. You have come forth and added your voice to that of thousands of South Africans and other human beings all over the world who have been protesting, and continue to do so. Humanity is not dead. You have reinforced our faith in humanity and in the cause of justice.
Through this letter, as we congratulate you for your courage and fearlessness, we also express our enduring solidarity with the people of Palestine. We commit ourselves to fully support the people of South Africa and their leadership in their struggle against Zionism and imperialism in world forums, and against their diabolical retaliatory actions designed to threaten the Government and people of South Africa.
The ICJ judgement is yet to come but you have already won the case in the Court of Humanity and international public opinion because you have touched the hearts and minds of millions of people all around the world.
With comradely salutations,
1 Issa Shivji Professor Emeritus, University of Dar es Salaam
2 Walter Bgoya Independent
3 Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda Katibu Mkuu, Shura ya Maimamu, Tanzania
4 Ikaweba Bunting Global Pan-African Movement
5 Diana Kamara Makerere Institute of Social Research
6 Abdullah M. Othman Chairman, Tanzania Palestinian Solidarity Committee
7 Hamza Mustafa Njozi Professor, Muslim University of Morogoro
8 Kulikoyela Kahigi Professor, St. Augustine University, Tanzania
9 Karim F Hirji Professor of Medical Statistics, retired.
10 Amil Shivji Director – Kijiweni Productions
11 Chris Maina Peter Professor Emeritus, University of Dar esSalaam
12 Joseph Chiombola Land Rights Research and Resources Institute
13 Saida Yahya-Othman Professor, University of Dar es Salaam, retired
14 Inessa Hadjivyanis Legal Advisor & PhD Candidate, SOAS, University of London
15 Wilbert Kapinga Managing Partner, Bowmans Tanzania
16 Bahame To Nyandunga Advocate, Former Human Rights Commissioner, African Commission
17 Ng’wanza Kamata Senior Lecturer, Dept Of Political Science,
University of Dar es Salaam
18 Salvatory S. Nyanto Lecturer, Dept of History, university of Dar esSalaam
19 Chambi Chachage Independent
20 Theodora Pius MVIWATA
21 Sabatho Nyamsenda Asst. Lecturer, Dept of Political Science,
University of Dar es Salaam
22 Christina Mfanga Tanzania Socialist Forum
23 Richard Mabala Researcher & Educationist
24 Salha Hamdani Retired UN WFP Staff
25 Capt. Ibrahim Mbiu Bendera Executive Partner, Bendera & Co, Advocates
26 Nahida Esmail Author
27 Ian Bryceson Professor, retired.
28 Ramesh Chauhan Retired
29 Bernard Baha Tanzania Land Alliance
30 Natasha Shivji Lecturer, Dept of Historical Studies, University of Cape Town
31 Stephen Ruvuga MVIWATA
32 Marjorie Mbilinyi Professor, University of Dar es Salaam, retired.
33 Penina Mlama Professor Emiritus, University of Dar es Salaam
34 Demere Kitunga Transformative Feminist Movement Building
35 Ado Shaibu Secretary General, ACT Wazalendo
36 Ahmed Rajab Gazeti la Dunia
37 Emma Lwaitama Nyerere Pan African Women Organisation, AU Agency
38 Abdul Sheriff, Zanzibar Professor, University of Dar es Salaam, retired.
39 Deus Valentine Rweyemamu Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Strategic Litigation
40 Juma Mwapachu Ambassador of Tanzania
41 Mona Mwakilinga University of Dar es Salaam
42 Navaya Ndaskoi Human Rights Activist
43 Adolfo Mascarenhas Professor, University of Dar es Salaam, retired
44 Hamudi Ismail Majamba Professor of Law, University of Dar es Salaam
45 Kajubi Mukajanga Journalist, former Executive Secretary of Media Council of Tanzania
46 F. E. M. K. Senkoro Professor, University of Dar es Salaam, retired
47 Ida Hadjivyanis Senior Lecturer, SOAS University of London
48 Nassoro Kitunda Asst. Lecturer, Sociology Dept, University of Dar es Salaam
49 Nizar K Visram Tanzania Palestine Solidarity Committee
50 George Hadjivyanis Retired University Professor
51 Boniface Kamara Tutorial Assistant, University of Dar es Salaam
52 Theresa Kaijage Herbert Kairuki Medical University
53 Onesmo Olengurumwa Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition
54 Mussa J Assad Vice Chancellor Muslim University of Morogoro
55 Paschal Mihyo Retired Professor
56 Aldin Mutembei Professor, Institute of Kiswahili Studies, University of Dar es Salaam
57 Cathbert Tomitho HAKIARDHI
58 Irene Mgonja Advocate
59 Aysha Mbarak Meghji Independent
60 Ismat Sheriff Teacher, Secondary School
61 Hasnain Khimji Tanzania Palestine Solidarity Committee
62 Mneke Jafari Deputy Director of Foreign Relations, Civic United Front, CUF.
63 Abdul Wakati Imam Mkuu Masjid Taqwa Ilala Bungoni
64 Sheikh Ibrahim Ghulaam Katibu Mtendaji, Umoja wa Wanazuoni wa Kiislamu Tanzania