“We have a working democracy, public participation in political arenas and free media…there is no racism, religious, ethnic or any other form of discrimination,” Kikwete said.
The President’s remarks were made in response to a question posed in an interview that he gave late last week in the Houston, Texas, United States where the president was on a nine day official visit a statement from the Directorate of Presidential Communication circulated to the media yesterday reports.
Responding to the official from Starfor Consultancy and research institution inquired as to ‘the secret behind Tanzania’s unity, solidarity and stability.’
that came after Nyerere include Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa and the incumbent – Kikwete.
“Tanzania has continued to enjoy peace and tranquility as a direct result of the ‘good policies that are inclusive and non-discriminative against any one - be it on the basis of colour, ethnicity, religion or origin,” President Kikwete said.
“As a nation, we have had a number of challenges but managed to face and overcome them in unity and emerged a secure, united and peaceful nation,” the president went on to say.
“We have good political, economic and social policies…we came up with policies that benefit all and without discriminating against anyone for any reason,” the press release reads.
“The policies were put in place by the founding father of the nation and we who came after him continue to ensure the policies are upheld,” President Kikwete said.
Kikwete noted that if a leader ensures and respects democracy and does not take advantage of the people or subject them to hardships, then there is no reason why the nation shouldn’t enjoy lasting peace and stability.
The president took the opportunity to recognise and commend the US for their continued assistance to Tanzania.
He highlighted their support in the fight against malaria and HIV/Aids, construction of infrastructures, food security and the education sector among others noting that, after the just ended Washington DC Summit where African heads of State met with USA President Barack Obama, ‘we are now entering into another era of cooperation and investment.’
President Kikwete was one of the 47 African leaders who participated in the US-African Leaders Summit hosted by President Barack Obama in Washington DC from Monday to Wednesday last week.
President Kikwete’s attendance of the summit in the US’ capital was part of his nine-day official visit to the USA.
Apart from the summit, Kikwete, who was accompanied by the First Lady, Mama Salma Kikwete, also visited cities of Dallas and Houston in Texas where he held strategic business meetings with prominent oil and gas business persons.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
0 comments :
Post a Comment