Tanzanians should reflect on the brilliant ideas of the late Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, in re-writing the constitution of the land, President Jakaya Kikwete has said.
CONGRATULATIONS! President Jakaya Kikwete receives the Uhuru Torch at the climax of this year’s cross-country relay from the race leader, Mr Juma Ali Simai, at the Samora Machel Stadium in Iringa. (Photo by State House)
“His (Nyerere’s) ideas on unity, solidarity and the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar should guide us in having a constitution that would unite us even more rather than divide us,” the president said.
The head of state made the observation here during the climax of the Uhuru Torch race and commemoration of Nyerere Day which is marked on October 14, the day which the late president passed away at St Thomas’s Hospital in London in 1999.
President Kikwete warned against despising the great ideas of Mwalimu Nyerere in connection with uniting Tanzanians despite various differences. “The constitution that we are now drafting should bind us together even more rather than divide us.
Mwalimu Nyerere wanted us to remain united as a country. “I am not against changes but it should be noted that the ideas that the former president stood for are still alive today,” Mr Kikwete told hundreds of people who gathered at the Samora Stadium here to attend the commemoration.
He went on to warn that Tanzanians should refrain from any form of segregation, be it because of colour, faith, ideology or resources, as Mwalimu Nyerere believed that all human beings are equal. “Unity and brotherhood is what has made us to enjoy peace and tranquility.
You should be warned that if this country is thrown into turmoil no one will be spared,” he warned. He added: “We should continue to trust, respect and be tolerant to each other even with some differences between us.
When you differ this anomaly presents an opportunity to deliberate on issues more fruitfully.” President Kikwete noted that the year 2014 will be a historic one for Tanzania as it will be marking 50 years of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
“Zanzibar will also be marking 50 years of its Revolution and if all goes well we will have a new constitution by next year,” the president noted. He added: “It will be a historic year and we will open a new chapter in the history of our country. We want a constitution that will take us through the next 50, 100 or 200 years.
“ In another development, Mr Kikwete also opened up a discussion on whether the Nyerere Day should be marked on the date of his death or birthday.
“I think we should also consider celebrating on the date he was born and this should be called Nyerere Day,” Mr Kikwete proposed. Mwalimu Nyerere was born on April 13, 1922 and passed away on October 14, 1999 after succumbing to leukemia.
Meanwhile, the president has called on Tanzanians not to rest in the fight against HIV/ AIDS, even as prevalence rate for the diseases is on the decrease.
The prevalence rate for the disease decreased to 5.1 per cent last year, down from 7 per cent that was recorded in 2005. Some 1.5 million people have been infected while 2 million people have died leaving behind 1.3 million orphans.
Source Tanzania Daily News
