Makonda hints at Samia monthly public audience

 

Ally Mayala

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to start an audience programme for listening to citizens’ problems, with the

aim of accelerating prosperity and accountability.

President Samia who doubles as the ruling party’s CCM Chairperson, will be listening to citizens’ problems once per month at the party head offices either in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma or Zanzibar.

The CCM’s Ideology and Public Secretary, Mr Paul Makonda yesterday revealed the plan, saying it will boost public servants’ integrity and accountability on timely addressing of citizens’ problems before they reach the head of state.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s sub head office in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Makonda said that President Samia is committed on emulating former President, the late Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who during his regime used to listen to citizens at the CCM Headquarters located at Lumumba Street in Dar es Salaam.

“Any citizen who will need to have an audience with the president in the scheduled time will be required to submit all information of where his or her problems were not dealt. This is an alert to public servants to be accountable to citizens,” Mr Makonda said.

Mr Makonda noted that during his recently concluded visit in 23 regions across country, they discovered a number of unaddressed citizens’ problems, which pushed the president to design the programme to listen and address the challenges.

He said the programme is in line with the party’s Election Manifesto of 2020/2025 centred on citizens’ well-being.

He said his tour which started shortly after being appointed in October last year, covered about 1,100 kilometres in which over 247 public rallies were held.

“Citizens are eager to have an audience with their leaders and they get hope when they air out their grievances so that they can be resolved,” Mr Makonda said.

Furthermore, he said the visits uncovered over 2,000 grievances caused by sluggishness of some leaders, irresponsibility, miscommunication and corruption.

Mr Makonda said that the official report on the visit was on final preparation to be submitted to the party’s Secretary General, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi and Chairperson Dr Samia.

“We listened to many challenges, some we addressed extemporaneously and others we left for responsible machineries to address them,” he said.

He said a large portion of the grievances come from the land sector, pressing a need for concerted effort from all leaders to complement the Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr Jerry Silaa’s efforts on addressing them.

“All those who have been fuelling land conflicts should be held accountable as per the law” Mr Makonda said.

He also said the visits disclosed many injustices in the field of business culminated by some citizens’ self-enriching through illegal ways including defrauding.

He also noted Gender Based Violence (GBV), including rape as amongst major challenges in the country.

In another development, Mr Makonda urged leaders to speed up efforts in solving citizens’ problems rather than embarking on listing to them only.

Mr Makonda said the party directs public servants to ensure justice and rule of law is observed by disregarding the person who brings a problem before them, but should instead consider the weight of the grievances.

He insisted that it is necessary for all citizens’ problems to be addressed on time for their wellbeing and the country’s transformation at large.

In that regard, Mr Makonda called upon leaders in various sectors to be proactive, accountable and to provide favourable environment for citizens to submit their problems.

“Ours is a people centred party, if citizens cannot explain their concerns? Where else will they be heard? The core responsibility of CCM is to serve as an ear for all Tanzanians,” he said. He said the party will continue addressing citizens’ problems.