President Julius Nyerere told a mass rally in Dar es Salaam on Sunday (21 February) that he plans to raise a Peoples' Militia to help guard Tanzania's frontiers and expose traitors and enemies within the country. The rally came after a week-long session of the national executive of the Tanzania African National Union which has been called to consider the implications of last month's army coup in neighbouring Uganda. The national executive issued a declaration attacking Britain and other Western countries as enemies of the African Revolution.

SYNOPSIS: Crowds gathered outside the Tanzania African National Union headquarters in Dar es Salaam on Sunday to hear President Julius Nyerere announce the results of a week-long session of the party's national executive. It had met to consider the implications of last month's army coup in neighbouring Uganda.

Members of the Police and Armed Forces were among those who waited to hear about what has been called the executive's most significant meeting since the Arusha Declaration. Dr. Nyerere told them he plans to raise a Peoples' Militia to help guard the country's frontiers and expose enemies and traitors within Tanzania. He reiterated that he still considers the deposed President, Milton Obote, to be Uganda's leader but denied that Tanzania would invade Uganda in an attempt to restore the ousted President.

The large crowd listened attentively as President Nyerere vowed to fight for a new Africa free from exploitation. "The first task of our party must be to teach our people how to fight", he said. He claimed that imperialism led by Britain was responsible for the takeover by Uganda's army leader, General Idi Amin, and that Uganda's people would eventually overthrow the general. Much of Dr. Nyerere's two-hour speech was devoted to attacks on Western nations.

The TANU executive has issued a 35-point declaration, calling on the Government to reinforce militant Leftist trends in its foreign policy and support revolutionary movements throughout Africa and other developing areas.