Arusha: About one month is left for the general election and ahead of it the ruling party candidate promises to redistribute the unused land, to bring to end land rights conflict taking place for years.
The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party candidate John Magufuli made the promise during the political campaign. It is hoped he may succeed the President Jakaya Kikwete.
In a televised campaign meeting Magufuli said thousands of hectares of land, owned by high-placed people, are kept unused and hence those will be redistributed to bring it in use for cultivation of housing livestock.
Pastoralists and indigenous groups have been in conflict for years over land rights and it was mainly fuelled after a period of privatisation in the 80s and 90s.
The CCM party has been in power since 1964 when modern Tanzania was formed. Presently it has two-third majority in the parliament.
The 55-year-old Magufuli has been considered as a clean politician. He is presently a minister of works and now is facing tightest electoral rate. To strengthen his campaign he also vowed to root out corruption from the country and help the poor.
Internal splits have weakened the party along with couple of scandals. Also, very recently, high-profile members including former home affairs minister Lawrence Masha and ex-prime minister Frederick Sumaye have suffered defections to the opposition coalition.
Fact Files:
The country has a population of more than 50 million and is considered as the most populous country in east Africa. World Bank data reveals economic growth to be more than 7 percent. As per the international as well as regional standards, it is very poor with agriculture being the key sector.
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