John Mwakangale (original) (raw)

John Mwakangale was one of the main leaders in the struggle for independence in Tanganyika (now part of Tanzania) during British colonial rule. When the country gained independence, Mwakangale joined the first cabinet of Julius Nyerere, the first President of Tanzania as Minister of Labour. Mwakangale is also regarded as a Pan-Africanist and a staunch African nationalist. He was also the first leader whom Nelson Mandela met in 1962 when he escaped from prison seeking assistance from other African leaders. Mandela gave a detail account about that encounter in his book Long Walk to Freedom.