SANF 05 No 120
President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, sworn in as the fourth president of the United Republic of Tanzania, has promised continuity of policies and improved living conditions for Tanzanians.
The motto of Tanzania’s ruling party promises Maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania (Good life for every Tanzanian), and this was the basis of Kikwete’s campaign.
Judging by the huge number of voters (more than nine million) who put their confidence in him, Tanzanians believe that a vote for the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and its presidential candidate is a vote for the “good life”.
Kikwete promised to defend the gains of the Mkapa administration, especially in the economic sector, and ensure good governance and the rule of law.
He promised to maintain peace, tranquility, national unity, accomplish the unfinished projects in education and health, promote human rights and combat poverty.
Two major areas of focus will be to confront unemployment by creating new jobs, and to expand agricultural production in the countryside.
The former president, Benjamin William Mkapa, is standing down after 10 years in office. He was the third president of the United Republic of Tanzania, founded by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Asked in a local media interview about the legacy of the first three presidents, Kikwete said Mwalimu Nyerere was “instrumental in building a united, peaceful, stable country; Mzee Ali Hassan Mwinyi spearheaded political and economic reforms; and I credit President Mkapa for managing macroeconomic stability.”
After his election in 1995, Mkapa prioritised economic development, stabilizing the macroeconomic environment and the exchange rate, widening the space for local and foreign investment, and reducing inflation to single digits, from 21 percent in 1996 to less than five percent in 2005.
Kikwete quoted a number of indicators in this regard. “Micro-finance indicators place the economic growth rate now at 6.7 percent and inflation at 4.4 percent. Revenue collection has increased admirably.”
Tanzania is now ranked ahead of Kenya and Uganda in the 2005 global economic competitiveness rating produced by the World Economic Forum (WEF), a ranking based on macroeconomic stability, the quality of public institutions and technological readiness
Kikwete also credited the incumbent with commendable efforts to stamp out corruption. “Had it not been for the interventions of President Mkapa, corruption would have become a normal way of life. We have got to continue with the efforts, strengthening the Prevention of Corruption Bureau is one of the means of fuelling the anti-corruption drive.”
The health delivery system has improved significantly during Mkapa’s tenure as has the road network, and Tanzania expects to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of full enrolment in primary education by next year, well ahead of the 2015 deadline.
Mkapa predicts that his successor will focus on the next stage, that of agricultural development, and he has left a regional legacy in this sector through hosting a summit of leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on agriculture and food security which set development targets and plans, including a regional food reserve.
Kikwete’s message has been consistent. He said that if elected, he would fight poverty and underdevelopment, and sustain the achievements of the current administration with “renewed determination, vigour and at a faster pace”.
He said he would try to avoid “cronyism and recycling… as factors influencing appointments” if he becomes the president and thus the leading appointment authority.
The criteria he would use in appointing ministers and key officials, he said, would be “patriotism, love for the nation, integrity, hard work and experience.”
On employment creation, he outlined two priorities. These are encouragement to the private sector as “a complimentary job creator to government” and “self-employment, through empowerment, by micro-finance schemes.”
Kikwete has the track record to deliver, having been involved in national service for more than 30 years through CCM, working closely with his predecessors. He has been a cabinet minister for 17 years, the last ten years as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The new president has said he hopes that Tanzanians will be “happier at the end of my tenure than they were at its beginning.”
That is certainly the case with his predecessor, who served two terms which saw him increase his percentage of the popular vote from 62 percent to 72 percent. He was determined that his party’s presidential candidate in 2005 would do even better, and he worked hard to achieve that.
Kikwete said that Tanzanians will see the building of more schools and houses for teachers both for primary and secondary education, especially in villages.
He also pledged to provide water for every Tanzanian. Water services have been privatised in Dar es Salaam. However, after privatisation, problems started arising with the city going without water in some areas, forcing government to reverse the process.
A CCM government would continue improving the telecommunications network, and expanding it. “Now it’s possible for many Tanzanians to contact some villages in the far places, and I pledge to take telecommunications to other areas.”
Kikwete’s government will also focus on improving and sustaining access to electricity. Although there has been significant investment in the country’s power grid, Kikwete says that more is still needed to take electricity to all corners of Tanzania.
Other infrastructure projects started under Mkapa will continue, especially road construction.
Kikwete has promised to strengthen support for smallscale enterprises so the sector can make a stronger contribution to the economy. There will be a focus on job creation. “We’ll do everything to reduce unemployment,” Kikwete said.
He told the youth to expect opportunities in the new job schemes his government would establish. This is particularly important because about 28 percent of people aged between 15-24 are said to be unemployed in the rural areas.
Opportunities will be extended to women, including small grants to start projects. He also pledged to continue in the struggle against HIV and AIDS
