JK calls for unity as country enters ‘challenging’ year

“We have managed to sail through 2014 and previous years without any major problems...it is my hope it will be the same for 2015.”  PRESIDENT KIKWETE 

By  Frank Kimboy,The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• The President made the call during his end of the year message to the nation. He said patriotism and calmness was needed if the country was to overcome the challenges which will be brought by the two major events.

Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Kikwete has called for unity and patriotism as the country begins 2015, a year which the country is expected to hold the General Election and the referendum for a new constitution.

The President made the call during his end of the year message to the nation. He said patriotism and calmness was needed if the country was to overcome the challenges which will be brought by the two major events.

“I believe that as a country we can and we are ready to make sure that we maintain the good reputation of Tanzania’s unity and solidarity which leads to peace and stability,” said the President in his speech.

He added; “We have managed to sail through 2014 and previous years without any major problems...it is my hope it will be the same for 2015.”

The President used his speech to outline various achievements that the country attained in 2014. They include the completion the Constituent Assembly which drafted the proposed constitution, maintaining good diplomatic relations with the international community as well as completing the construction of laboratories in many ward secondary schools.

According to President Kikwete, the country also made strides in agriculture sector in 2014 where it managed to produce 16.02 million tonnes of food compared to 14.38 million tonnes produced in 2013.

Meanwhile, Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein has vowed to make sure that peace prevails in the Isles during the referendum for the new constitution scheduled for April 30.

In his end of the year message to wananchi, Dr Shein urged people to observe peace during their daily lives. According to him, Zanzibar would prosper economically if its people would maintain peace.

 “For citizens to participate effectively in referendum and general election, there should be peaceful political environment and the public must develop a culture of respecting laws as we are heading to the poll,” he said.