SEVEN AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE WATCHED CHAD CELEBRATE ITS FIRST DECADE OF INDEPENDENCE FROM FRENCH RULE WITH MASSIVE PARADE IN THE CAPITAL, FORT LAMY, ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 2).

REVIEWING THE IMMENSE THREE-HOUR PARADE BY CIVILIANS AND MILITARY UNITS, CHAD'S PRESIDENT FRANCOIS TOMBALBAYE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY PRESIDENTS JOSEPH MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA, AHMADOU AHIDJO OF CAMEROUN, JEAN BEDEL BOKASSA OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, ALBERT BERNARD BONCO OF GABON, SANGOULE LAMIZANA OF UPPER VOLTA, AND HAMANI DIORI OF NIGER.

IN A MESSAGE MARKING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE, PRESIDENT TOMBALBAYE DECLARED THAT CHAD HAD MADE EXCELLENT PROGRESS IN EDUCATION, MEDICINE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SINCE 1960.

COTTON PRODUCTION HAD RISEN THREEFOLD TO 150,000 TONS LAST YEAR AND THE INDUSTRIALISATION PROGRAMME WAS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. THE PRESIDENT ALSO ANNOUNCED A NEW NATIONAL ENTERPRISE -- CHAD IS PLANNING A VAST PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO PROMOTE TOURISM.

REVIEWING EDUCATION, PRESIDENT TOMBALBAYE SAID THAT IN 1960 THE POPULATION WAS 95 PER CENT ILLITERATE WITH VERY POOR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. SINCE BECOMING INDEPENDENT, THE COUNTRY HAD MADE "MAGNIFICENT" PROGRESS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.