15th October 2013
President Kikwete who was presiding over the Nyerere Day and the climax of this year’s Uhuru touch race in Iringa Municipality yesterday said Nyerere’s philosophical guidance is of great value to the Tanzanian society today.
He said it is for this reason that Tanzanians should clearly understand it and make use of it in the current Constitution making process.
“Yes, changes are essential as we work on the Constitution draft but, we need reasonable reforms that won’t make us regret later,” the President said in colourful rally that was also televised countrywide.
In his end of the month address to the nation last month, the President told political parties to bury the hatchet and refrain from threats of taking to the streets in protest saying there was still room for talks on how the Constitution review bill 2013 can be handled.
In the speech President Kikwete did his best to dissolve the Constitution review deadlock and dissuade the opposition parties of Chadema, CUF and NCCR-Mageuzi from mobilising the people to oppose the Constitution Review (Amendments) Bill 2013 passed last month.
The three parties oppose the bill on grounds that some of its clauses give the President a big leeway in appointing members of the Constituent Assembly.
Today, the President is scheduled to meet NCCR-Mageuzi’s James Mbatia, Chadema’s Freeman Mbowe and CUF’s Prof Ibrahim Lipumba to discuss how they can square off the differences over the Constitution Review (amendment) Bill 2013.
At the Nyerere Day celebrations which concided with the climax of the Uhuru torch race, the President also addressed a wide range of issues including drug trafficking, HIV/Aids and youth empowerment.
On drug trafficking the head of state insisted that the government will allocate funds in the (2014/15 to set-up a special unit to deal with the crime.
The unit, the President said, would have more powers in dealing with the problem of drugs compared to the Drug Control Commission.
However, the plan, he said, is in line with the government’s decision to repeal the current Drug Abuse and Illicit Drugs Trafficking Act, 1995 so as to empower the unit.
According to the President, the government will leave no stone unturned in dealing with individuals or institutions which are behind the drug pushing business.
Besides, he said, the government will not hesitate to employ new investigation techniques in the fight against drugs trafficking particularly given the fact that drug dealers have been changing their methods every day.
On HIV/Aids, President Kikwete said despite major improvements recorded by the government in reducing HIV prevalence, “more effort is still needed in the struggle against this disease.”
President Kikwete pointed out that with the current ratio of five in every 100 people who are HIV positive in Tanzania it is still big challenge to the nation’s human capital.
He said coordinated efforts by public, religious, political and civil society leaders are needed in the fight against HIV/Aids.
The government would come up a special plan to help orphans whose parent died of HIV/Aids so that they could also enjoy life like other children.
Explaining on empowering youths, President Kikwete said plans to dish out ‘Kikwete billions’ money for the second phase is underway. He said the fund is planned for the next financial year, just soon after the evaluation of the first phase has been done.
Further, President Kikwete said his government will dish out more financial supports to the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports so as to empower more youths.
This year’s Uhuru touch rally leader, Juma Ally, told the President that the government should survey and allocate more land for agriculture and pastoralism in the rural areas so as to check the increasing number of land conflicts in the country.
He urged the government to address the challenge of increased drug trafficking cases and high rate of HIV prevalence in an effort to assure people of better welfare.
For her part, Zanzibar Minister for Social Development Zainab Mohamed Omar, called on the general public to stand firm in propagating peace and security and refrain from promoting their differences.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
