PRESIDENT
John Magufuli yesterday vowed to guard the Union by all means,
threatening to deal ruthlessly with anybody who tries to break the now
53-year old merger.
Commander-in-Chief President John Magufuli waves to the thousands of people who attended celebrations to mark the 53rd anniversary of the Tanzanian Union, held at national level at Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma municipality yesterday.
Addressing
the second Union Day commemoration since he took office, Magufuli
reminded Tanzanians that it is a tangible symbol of the nation’s past
that needs to be protected for the sake of a healthy future. It was the
first time the day was being officially celebrated since he took over as
president.
Last year he cancelled the customary celebrations and directed that the 2 billion/- set aside specifically for the event be spent on expanding a road in Mwanza.
Yesterday he again broke a norm of celebrating Union Day without giving a speech, as was common with his predecessors. Magufuli used the occasion to reiterate that his government will continue doing everything possible to ensure the Union never dies.
He said since all his predecessors, from Mwalimu Nyerere to Jakaya Kikwete, had shown commitment to upholding the Union through thick and thin, his duty is to do the same.
“I and (Zanzibar president) Dr Ali Mohammed Shein will protect the union at all cost since it brings our people together as a nation,” he told a large public rally at the Jamhuri stadium in Dodoma where the day was marked at national level.
The commemoration went smoothly despite a heavy downpour yesterday morning. The people of the new capital remained calm as they followed the proceedings of the first-ever Union celebrations to be held there.
Magufuli called on wananchi to reflect on where the nation has come from since 1964, where it is now, and where it wants to be, emphasising that there is a strong need to maintain peace and tranquillity among its people as it goes forward.
He said some big steps have been made economically, politically and socially during the 53 years of the Union, and pledged that his government will continue building on the successes in various areas of national development.
On the decision to mark the Union celebrations in Dodoma for the first time, Magufuli said this was a further sign of his government’s commitment to complete its relocation to the new capital as soon as possible.
According to President Magufuli, over 3,000 civil servants have so far moved permanently from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma in line with the plan to fully complete the move by the year 2020. He also said that plans are underway to build more government offices and staff houses in the municipality.
Last year he cancelled the customary celebrations and directed that the 2 billion/- set aside specifically for the event be spent on expanding a road in Mwanza.
Yesterday he again broke a norm of celebrating Union Day without giving a speech, as was common with his predecessors. Magufuli used the occasion to reiterate that his government will continue doing everything possible to ensure the Union never dies.
He said since all his predecessors, from Mwalimu Nyerere to Jakaya Kikwete, had shown commitment to upholding the Union through thick and thin, his duty is to do the same.
“I and (Zanzibar president) Dr Ali Mohammed Shein will protect the union at all cost since it brings our people together as a nation,” he told a large public rally at the Jamhuri stadium in Dodoma where the day was marked at national level.
The commemoration went smoothly despite a heavy downpour yesterday morning. The people of the new capital remained calm as they followed the proceedings of the first-ever Union celebrations to be held there.
Magufuli called on wananchi to reflect on where the nation has come from since 1964, where it is now, and where it wants to be, emphasising that there is a strong need to maintain peace and tranquillity among its people as it goes forward.
He said some big steps have been made economically, politically and socially during the 53 years of the Union, and pledged that his government will continue building on the successes in various areas of national development.
On the decision to mark the Union celebrations in Dodoma for the first time, Magufuli said this was a further sign of his government’s commitment to complete its relocation to the new capital as soon as possible.
According to President Magufuli, over 3,000 civil servants have so far moved permanently from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma in line with the plan to fully complete the move by the year 2020. He also said that plans are underway to build more government offices and staff houses in the municipality.
