THE Chief Sheikh, Mufti Abubakar Zubeir Bin
Ali, addresses the Idd el-Hajj Baraza held at national level at the
National Muslim Council of Tanzania, BAKWATA, headquarters in Dar es
Salam yesterday. Listening; from right are Retired Union President Ali
Hassan Mwinyi, who was the chief guest, Dar es Salaam Regional Shekh,
Alhad Mussa Salim, Chalinze MP, Mr Ridhiwani Kikwete, and Dar es Salaam
Regional CCM Chairman, Mr Ramadhani Madabida, and other Muslim leaders.
(Photo by Mohamed Mambo)
PEACE and ethical conduct featured prominently in messages from national and religious leaders in yesterday Idd el-Hajj celebrations.
On separate occasions, Zanzibar
President Ali Mohamed Shein and Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa reminded
the public and religious leaders on the importance of maintaining peace
and embracing ethics for the betterment of the nation.
Addressing an Idd Baraza at Mkanyageni
Village in South Pemba Region, Dr Shein asked the people to work hard
and safeguard peace and stability, noting that his government has been
fully committed in ensuring that Zanzibar remained a safe place for both
its people and visitors.
“Everyone in the country has a role to
play in keeping peace and promoting unity. I commend Union President
John Magufuli for emphasizing on peace, when he visited Zanzibar. I
concur with him as that would lead to achieving our development goals,”
Dr Shein said.
Mr Majaliwa touched on the same peace
and unity message when speaking at the Mwembeyanga Grounds in Temeke
Municipality where Idd prayers were conducted.
He asked religious leaders to preach the
importance of protecting the country’s peace and tranquillity. The
Premier pledged that the government would on its part ensure that peace
and calm continue to prevail so that Tanzanians could engage in economic
activities in peaceful environment.
“For us (government), we will always play our part to strengthen security in all parts of the country.
My plea to you religious leaders is that
you should insist to your followers to protect peace and condemn evil
acts so that the nation could prosper,” he stressed.
On other hand, Dr Shein called on
Zanzibaris to obey laws without enforcement, saying that is even
reflected in the holy books that guide them. “To obey laws voluntarily
and observe human rights is also what our religions teach us.”
The Zanzibar president also prayed for
victims of Kagera earthquake and congratulated Muslims who went for
pilgrimage this year. He promised to establish a Hija Fund to enable
more people to travel to Mecca for pilgrimage.
“To ensure that more retired people get
the opportunity, the government spent 16.2bn/- to pay benefits to 1,193
retired civil servants, including some 90 who requested for quick
payment because they wanted to go for pilgrimage this year,” the
president reported.
He said that so far, the implementation
of the CCM 2015/2020 manifesto is on track as ministries have been
working hard to fulfill the expectations of the electorate.
Dr Shein commended the people in South
Pemba Region for the achievement in development programmes, which
include access to safe water to 80 per cent of the required litres (22.5
Million litres per day).
“Our target is to ensure that access to
safe water in villages increases from the current 70 per cent to 85 per
cent, and 87 per cent to 97 per cent in urban areas by 2020,” said Dr
Shein as he also commended the ongoing improvement of roads and health
services, including the modernisation of Abdalla Mzee Hospital.
Mr Majaliwa used the same platform to
ask the Good Samaritans to help the victims of the weekend earthquake in
Kagera in which 16 people died and 253 others were injured.
No comments :
Post a Comment