INDEPENDENT AFRICA: COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY – THE CONGO AND TANZANIA Critically discuss how Mobutu Sese Seko (the Congo) and Julius Nyerere (Tanzania) promoted economic and cultural developments in their respective countries after the attainment of independence in the 1960s - NSC History - Question 5 - 2017 - Paper 1

Mobutu adopted a model that heavily relied on foreign aid and mineral exports. He focused on the export of resources such as copper and diamonds, but this led to a neglect of agriculture and resulted in economic instability. In contrast, Nyerere’s Ujamaa policies aimed at agricultural self-sufficiency, emphasizing the importance of rural development. He sought to redistribute land and resources among the population, paralleling a communal approach to agriculture. However, both countries struggled with economic crises in the 1970s, which affected growth.

Nyerere placed considerable emphasis on education and cultural identity. He promoted Swahili as a national language to foster unity and reduce reliance on colonial languages like English. In contrast, Mobutu’s regime was marked by a promotion of Africanism, which included celebrating traditional culture but was marred by nepotism and corruption. Both leaders recognized the importance of education, but their approaches varied significantly in their outcomes and efficacy.

In summary, while both Mobutu Sese Seko and Julius Nyerere sought to promote economic, social, and cultural developments in the Congo and Tanzania respectively, their methods and successes were vastly different. Mobutu’s reliance on foreign aid and inability to create sustainable economic growth contrasted sharply with Nyerere’s commitment to agricultural development and social equity. Each leader's legacy is reflective of their country's unique challenges and their responses to post-colonial realities.