THOHOYANDOU - The University of Venda for Science and Technology (Univen) will honor the first President of Tanzania in a conference dubbed, Peace, Unity and People Centered Development: The Legacy of Mwalimu Julius K Nyerere.

This international conference, organised to honour the life and work of Nyerere, will take place next Thursday and Friday.

The conference is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding entered into between Univen, under the leadership of Professor Muxe Gessler Nkondo and the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation. In the agreement signed late last year, the two parties agreed to work together and the hosting of this conference is one such collaborative venture.

Univen spokesperson Mmbangiseni Masia said a galaxy of public figures of international stature and scholars will deliver papers during the conference. Amongst these personalities are Joseph W Bituku who was a permanent secretary of Mwalimu Nyerere (the highest civil servant in Tanzania) during Mwalimu's reign, Dr Barney Pityana, the vice-chancellor of Unisa, Prof DS Obekeze of the National University of Lesotho, Dr Motsamai Setlhare of the University of North West, Prof Gessler Nkondo, the vice-chancellor and Principal of Univen, Prof Mukandala of the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Matamela from the University of the North and Prof L Miti also from Univen.

The different speakers will focus on issues of human rights and democratic leadership in Africa, Nyerere's unfinished struggle against the third world debt, industrial democracy in Africa, women development, poverty eradication and others.

The MEC for Education in Limpopo, Mrs Joyce Mashamba will officially open the conference on Thursday.

Preceding the conference will be activities around the University Campus marking what has been declared the Mwalimu Nyerere week. These will take the form of traditional dance performances, renditions by choristers, book and art exhibitions.