PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday faulted entrenched political vendetta and uncultured politicians, appealing to Tanzanians to refrain from backing them.
Addressing thousands of CCM fans and
members from other political parties who turned up at Demokrasia Ground
yesterday afternoon, Dr Magufuli said such politicians who promote
division must be sidelined because they contribute to delays in
achieving development goals.
"People need to move forward and not backwards.
Thanks God you have a good leader, Dr
Ali Mohamed Shein, who has proved that he loves his people. It is
unfortunate that some people are not happy with the prevailing peace and
instead parade uncultured behaviour,” Dr Magufuli said.
He praised Dr Shein for being a polite
man and that despite winning 92 per cent in the rerun general elections,
he included the opposition in his cabinet. "People in different parts
of the world were surprised with the news that somebody (political
leader) rejected his (Dr Shein) hand at a funeral.
This is being uncivilised...," he said,
adding: "You reject President Shein's hand and yet you expect him to
sign financial approval to pay for your treatment abroad ... It is
fortunate that you have a polite leader.
I personally would not tolerate," Dr Magufuli said, asking people not to allow such divisions among them.
Recently, Mr Seif Shariff Hamad, the CUF
Secretary General who was defeated in the last March 20 fresh polls in
the Isles, rejected extending his hand to President Shein at the funeral
of the former Zanzibar President Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi.
The action appeared to foment a growing political impasse in the archipelago.
He snubbed Shein twice at the funeral
ceremony at the late Jumbe’s Migombani residence in Zanzibar. The
incident happened as various government officials, political leaders,
ex-presidents and other dignitaries were lined up outside the house to
receive Shein upon his arrival.
Moreover, President Magufuli said
Zanzibar stands a chance of being a 'paradise' should its people be
committed to work, sidelining unnecessary political hatred which
includes sabotage of farm crops and public property and that if such
situation persists investment programmes cannot succeed. "You have
beautiful islands still with good beaches.
This gift from God is an opportunity
that attracts tourists for economical development," said Dr Magufuli who
has been in Zanzibar islands for twoday tour starting last Friday.
He reminded people here that the only
way to get out of economical difficulties is to honestly work hard
alongside promoting peace and love in the country. He said already
Zanzibar has a good leadership of President Ali Mohamed Shein, because
of his commitment and love to the people and "It is up to you to focus
on development.
"In the presence of Zanzibar ministers,
retired leaders and the First Ladies: Janet and Mwanamwema Shein, Dr
Magufuli said Zanzibaris can establish different industries, improve
agriculture and other undertakings.
He said Dr Shein has been working hard
as he has already won some development partners’ support such as the USD
38 million from the World Bank for urban development which includes
street lighting and the 21 million dollars from AfDB for water projects.
“Let us celebrate and thank God for
development. Even the airport of Zanzibar is now busy because of
increasing planes schedules, which increase tourists in the country.
We must understand our past, present, to
better prepare for our future,” Dr Magufuli emphasised. “Fishing and
light industries are possible in Zanzibar, therefore just invest in the
development programmes or woo investors from abroad to come and
establish industries including fish processing,” Dr Magufuli said.
He said that his three priorities during
his tenure as Union president are: Peace, safeguarding union, and to
ensure that all people benefit from the development programmes.
The Union president issued similar
message to the people in Pemba islands where he emphasised on work, love
and unity as he condemned political hatred which include discrimination
and sabotage (cutting down) of farm crops like cloves and coconut
trees.
Dr Magufuli appealed to religious
leaders to pray for the country and people of Zanzibar to stop division
and hate so that they concentrate on development alongside keeping peace
and that it is meaningless for him (Union president) and Dr Shein to be
leaders if people live in fear.
He asked the Speaker of the Zanzibar
House of Representatives, Mr Zubeir Ali Maulid, to speed up the approval
of the bill on Oil and Natural Gas development to pave the way for the
development of the much awaited natural resources.
Dr Magufuli thanked the people of
Zanzibar for voting for him and that it is a big debt for him to ensure
that he pays Tanzanians by ensuring that all people regardless of
political affiliation get better services.
I his short speech before welcoming the
Union president, Dr Shein said the islands have been doing well in terms
of revenue collection which has increased from 13bn/- to 52bn/- monthly
in recent years and that the government has enough reserve, which led
to the settlement of the debt of the retired civil servants.
Before addressing Unguja Islands, Dr
Magufuli spared some time to visit the graves of the late Abeid Amani
Karume, the first president of Zanzibar and Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi who
recently past away.
He also comforted members of the Aboud Jumbe family.
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