Tanganyika Prepares For Independence

Press, Volume C, Issue 29691, 8 December 1961, Page 17

Tanganyika Prepares For Independence

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

DAR-ES-SALAAM, December 7. About 80,000 persons will crowd into a spe-cially-built stadium near Dar-es-Salaam tomorrow night to watch the ending of British rule in Tanganyika. The assembly, including the Duke of Edinburgh and 500 statesmen from 65 countries, will see Sir Richard Turnbull, the last British Governor of Tanganyika, lower the Union flag and hoist the new Tanganyika flag in its place, aid the Associated Press. Dar-Es-Salaam is ready to celebrate Tanganyika’s new status as a sovereign independent State within the Commonwealth. T-iumphal arches and coloured motifs including drums and African shields devised from plastic, nylon and string—decorate the principal routes through which Prince Philip and other world leaders will drive in procession tomorrow. The most dramatic event of Tanganyika’s independence—the planting of the new flag

on top of 19,340 ft Mount Kilimanjaro—is running into serious difficulties because of severe weather, said the British United Press. An announcement said it. was feared that the African lieutenant due to plant the flag at midnight on Friday may be unable to reach the summit. At least one member of the flag team has collapsed in the below-freezing temperatures.