TANZANIA'S PRESIDENT NYERERE IS A SOCIALIST. FOLLOWING TRADITIONAL SOCIALIST POLICIES, HE HAS NATIONALISED MOST FORMERLY PRIVATE SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY AND CREATED "UJAMAAS", OR SELF VILLAGE COMMUNES, IN MOVES TO GIVE THE COUNTRY'S PEOPLE A GREATER SHARE OF THE NATIONAL WEALTH. DURING REGULAR TOUR OF THE UJAMAAS, PRESIDENT NYERERE AND NAY MINISTERS WHO ACCOMPANY HIM DO NOT MERELY INSPECT, BUT STRIP OFF THEIR SHIRTS AND DO SOME MANUAL LABOUR.

SYNOPSIS: PRESIDENT JULIUS AND HIS MINISTERS REGULARLY VISIT THE COUNTRY'S "UJAMAAS", OR SELF-HELP VILLAGE COMMUNES, WHICH WERE SET UP IN PURSUIT OF TANZANIA'S SOCIALIST POLICIES. BUT THE PRESIDENT AND HIS MINISTERS -- LIKE MINISTER OF REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION PETER KISUMO -- DON'T MERELY INSPECT VILLAGE PROJECTS LIKE THE BUILDING OF NEW SCHOOLS, MEDICAL DISPENSARIES, AND VILLAGE HALLS. INSTEAD, THEY ACTUALLY GIVE A HAND WITH THE MANUAL LABOUR. THEY PICK UP SHOVELS OR PICKAXES, AND HELP THE UJAMAA VILLAGERS TO HELP THEMSELVES.

THIS COMMUNE IS BUILDING A MEDICAL DISPENSARY. IT IS TYPICAL OF MANY OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, SET UP BY PRESIDENT NYERERE IN AN EFFORT TO SHARE THE COUNTRY'S WEALTH AMONG THE PEOPLE. THE VILLAGERS ARE EACH GIVEN A SMALL PLOT OF LAND TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD, AND WORK COMMUNAL FARM PROJECTS TO RAISE COMMUNAL FUNDS. THEY ARE NOT PAID A WAGE BUT INSTEAD ARE CREDITED WITH A SHARE OF THE PROFITS ON THE BASIS OF THE WORK EACH HAS DONE. SO FAR, UJAMAAS HAVE BEEN A MILD SUCCESS.