President Ali Mohamed Shein has urged Tanzanians to maintain peace, tolerance, stability and national unity to achieve the country’s development goals.
Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein lights the Uhuru Torch at Chokocho Village in Pemba South Region on Monday. He is flanked by the Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr Fenella Mukangara (right) and the Isles Minister for Social Welfare, Youth, Children and Women Development, Ms Zainab Omar Mohamed (left).
“We need peace and stability for our development. Everyone has a role to make sure that we remain united and we should not allow anybody to divide us,” said Dr Shein in Pemba South Region where he launched 2013 Uhuru Torch race.
He said the government would not spare anyone trying to divide Tanzanians, appealing to the people in the Isles and Mainland to avoid unnecessary disruption of peace, emphasising on freedom of movement and worship as well as protection of the Union.
The celebrations to launch this year’s Uhuru Torch race and the preparation for the 50th anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution next year, were held at Dr Shein’s home village of Chokocho.
Dr Shein said that the Uhuru torch is a symbol of unity and that this year’s theme “Tanzanians are one, we should not be divided by our religious creeds, colour or political inclinations,” should be put into practice by all.
The Zanzibar President also expressed his concern with the ongoing corruption in the country, saying it was a major setback and that concerted efforts were necessary to combat the vice.
The ceremony was also attended by ministers, politicians, regional commissioners and senior government officials from Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland.
The Zanzibar Minister for Social Welfare, Youths, Children and Women Development, Ms Zainab Omar Mohammed, said at the colourful launching ceremony that the campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS and ‘drugs use’ will also be addressed in the Uhuru torch race scheduled to end in October in Iringa Region.
Ms Zainab was joined by Dr Fenella Mukangara, the Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, in the call for Tanzanians to welcome the torch in their respective areas and contribute to development projects.
Earlier, the Pemba South Regional Commissioner Major (Retired) Juma Kasim Tindwa, expressed his delight for the honour bestowed to his region of hosting the celebrations to kick off the Uhuru torch race and that Zanzibar has been recording admirable achievements under President Shein and that he is being rewarded by having the race inauguration at his home village.
The leader of the torch’s race, Mr Juma Ali Simai from South Unguja Region asked Tanzanians to turn out and show support to the government’s initiatives of uniting people and war against use of drugs, promising to lead the race successfully.
By Issa Yussuf, Tanzania Daily News
