Tanzania: Opposition Demonstrations Threaten Our Peace – President

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

28 February 2011

Dar es Salaam — Warning that ongoing demonstrations and rallies of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo could plunge the nation into a crisis, President Jakaya Kikwete has advised the Tanzanian public to ignore the opposition party and focus on safeguarding the country’s peace. In his monthly address to the nation, the President stated that Chadema’s move to organise rallies around the country was bent on disruption of peace.”There is worry among Tanzanians on the peace and security of the country.

This is due to statements made by Chadema which aim at instigating violence around the country,” Mr Kikwete charged.Though he acknowledged that it is a basic right of every political party and citizens to organise rallies and demonstrations, the president cautioned that such events should not be misused and turned into a vehicle for forceful removal of the government in power.

He maintained that the people should disregard an opposition party that failed to turn the tables on Chama Cha Mapinduzi during the general election, held in October last year. President Kikwete elaborated that Tanzania has established the system of holding elections every five years. He therefore advised Chadema leadership to concentrate on strengthening their party ahead of the next polls in 2015.

“How can they hold rallies on the same issues they presented on the campaign platform just three months after the election?” the President wondered.”It is not right at all. Instigating chaos for the purpose of removing the government from power is against our Constitution and this will plunge the country into unnecessary conflict,” he said.

Warning that the consequences of conflict could lead to bloodshed, destruction of properties and deaths of innocent Tanzanians, he said the proper political course for Chadema and other parties was through parliament and local councils.”Our Constitution provides that after one election, you should prepare for the next election. You build your party, you increase membership, you improve your policies and how you can present them in better way so that the voters can accept you next time,” he said.

Turning off from these principles and engaging in chaotic ways of opposing the government, he said, was not only an undemocratic path to take but could ruin the foundations upon which the nation has built its peace and tranquillity for many years.

“If every party that has failed in election decided to engage in such activities, how are we going to cope? Tanzania, which is reputed as a cradle of peace will lose that status and bloodletting will ensue to tarnish its image,” he said.

Mr Kikwete believes that Chadema leaders are well aware of such circumstances but, he said: “They want to plunge the country into chaos for their selfish interests.”

“Don’t heed what they say. Tell them that what they are doing is dangerous and it might ruin us. We in the government will do all within our power to safeguard peace and security of the country, the people and their properties,” he assured.

During their rallies which kicked off with a bang in Mwanza last week, Chadema officials leaders have lashed the government over the untamed inflation, manifested by the upward spiral prices of essential items and unemployment, among others.

Conceding the fact that life has become hard for most of the people in Tanzania, Mr Kikwete said that the main agenda of the government at present was to rein in the situation.

“We have directed our efforts and resources to improvement of living standards and the successes recorded in various areas are results of our efforts. Our challenge is not poor policies and intentions. The major challenge is the low level of economic development which has reduced our ability to quickly deal with problems facing us,” he said.

On recent bomb blasts at Gongo la Mboto which claimed 25 lives, President Kikwete said the cabinet has directed the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), through the economic wing of the National Service, to reconstruct houses which were demolished. He said the government has met burial costs of all the deceased it would make sure that all the affected people were duly compensated.

“There are 36 victims still admitted to hospitals. TPDF doctors have been directed to assist in treating them. A total of 857 children were displaced but until now only 15 are yet to be reunited with their families and they are hosted at Kurasini orphanage,” he said. On power crisis, Mr Kikwete said the Cabinet, at its Feb 15 meeting, directed the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) to immediately hire generators for production of 260MW on an emergency basis.

He said Tanesco has assured the government that the generators would be secured between now and July but the government has emphasised that the procurement procedures should be strictly adhered to and the contract should take national interests into account. The President said the situation at Mtera hydroelectric dam was pathetic as of Sunday when the water level had dropped to 691.25 metres above sea level. That amount was only 1.25 meters above the level that could keep the dam operational.

He said the power situation in the country would change in the next two years as many of the proposed power projects would by then be on stream. On the food situation, President Kikwete said the country has enough food reserves but there were sporadic shortages and the government has already ordered the release of 13,760 tonnes from the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to assist 423,530 needy people in several food deficit districts.

He said NFRA has 216,012 tonnes of maize and rice in its warehouses, which is a record amount and the government target is to have a stockpile of 400,000 tonnes.Regarding the price of sugar, Mr Kikwete blamed what he termed as “bad relations” between producers and traders as the main reason behind the hiked price of the commodity.

He said the government has intervened and asked wananchi not to pay over Sh1,700 for a kilo of sugar. Consumers are also required to report to authorities any unscrupulous retailer who overcharges the commodity.

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