Leaders, analysts rally youth for peace

DAR ES SALAAM: POLITICAL stakeholders have emphasised proper child upbringing and leadership trainings as key for equipping youth with clean politics which promotes peace, love, justice, unity, democracy, patriotism and sustainable development for all people.

Speaking in separate interviews recently, the stakeholders underlined the importance of integration of youth in governance and politics to stir inclusive development ahead of General Election on Wednesday.

Chairperson of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Memorial Institute and former Cabinet Minister, Mr Paul Kimiti (85) said that of all the factors necessary for nurturing youth leaders, proper upbringing is the most important as children are best inspired by the exemplary leadership practices of their parents.

“The challenge is that we have left children to do as they wish which is wrong, that is not democracy. Elders should play their parenting role as foundation for proper upbringing,” Mr Kimiti said. He added: “by respecting elders we can develop as the nation.”

Revisiting his political journey, Mr Kimiti said he borrowed his exemplary leadership from his father, Mr Peter Kimiti who was a taxi driver.

He recalled that his father (Mr Peter) in 1954 during British rule was conferred a medal by Queen Elizabeth in recognition of his outstanding performance as the driver.

Mr Kimiti said such a career achievement has forever shaped his leadership, serving as a lasting reminder of the value of respect for work and hard work.

As a result, he said that during his active political career in 1987, he too was awarded a medal by the then President Ali Hassan Mwinyi for his exemplary performance while serving as regional commissioner.

Furthermore, he also called for provision of civic education to youth on the significance of being patriotic, contributing to national development.

“We should prepare environment that will make youth see themselves as leaders within their country,” he said.

According to him, a good leader is the one who solves people’s problems, upholds justice and selflessly delivers services to all without favouritism.

Meanwhile, chairperson of elders in Mwanza region, Mr Charles Masalakulangwa (85) said youth can cultivate visionary leadership by embracing Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s ideals and values including his stance on unity, freedom and prosperity for all people.

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In that regard, he urged the upcoming leaders to avoid ethnicity and regionalism politics but instead practice issue-based politics with the goal of transforming the country.

“Nyerere did a great job through among others Kiswahili to unite the country as we see today there is no tribalism. Mwalimu went further by contributing the establishment of the United Republic of Tanzania after merging Tanganyika and Zanzibar,” Mr Masalakulangwa.

In promoting patriotism among the youth, he called on them to take pride in their local culture instead of blindly embracing foreign influences.

Political Science’s Lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Richard Mbunda advised the government to continue ensuring all elections are predictable by being free and fair to have political legitimacy for all people including youth to engage in politics peacefully and cherish the power for them to be voted or elect leaders of their choices.

Dr Mbunda said youth who form the largest portion of the country’s population have power to substantially influence elections given their mobility and flexibility capacity.

Overall, he said people, land, clean politics and good leadership remains the four pillars of the country’s progress as once emphasised by the nation founding father, Nyerere.

On his part, Political analyst, Mr Yonah Mapury urged youth to believe on their capability and contest in various leadership positions including as parliamentarians, ward councillors and presidential candidates.

“It is through voting or to be voted we get leaders,” Mr Mapury said.

Citing the 2022 Population and Housing census, he said it shows a considerable number of youths forming over 34 per cent of over 61 million people in the country.

Mr Mapury said such statistics presses the need for youth to be part of the decision-making bodies to bring desired sustainable development that leaves no one behind.

Furthermore, he urged youth and all citizens to exercise their constitutional rights of electing visionary leaders based on their ability to bring development in Tanzania, uphold peace and unity.

Public administration and governance expert, Dr Adam Mnyavanu based at the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) urged political parties to prioritise youth’s concerns relating to job creation, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) empowerment and security.

Furthermore, he called on parties to see the youth as central area of focus when it comes to workforce development who both in the present and future, they can implement the national industrialisation agenda.

In that regard, Dr Mnyavanu emphasised the importance of the upcoming government to continue integrating higher learning institutions with vocational training, agro-education among others, youth development priorities.

He insisted that youth has not only power to decide in the election but also redefine and accelerate national development.

Overall, Dr Mnyavanu said youth votes are imperative beyond the number of the ballot papers to the meaning of the votes that represent the type of government they need to address their challenges.

Seasoned Political Analyst, Mr Hamiduni Maliseli based in Mwanza urged all political parties to ensure they undertake deliberate measures of ensuring their youth are educated with leadership skills that embrace patriotism and peace as foundation for development.

He advised political parties to introduce declarations as condition for all members including youth to preserve peace before they seek leadership positions.

Looking back, he also urged Tanzanians to revisit the country’s long built history of peace planted by the nation founding father, Mwalimu Nyerere centred on unity, love, solidarity and brotherhoods.

Nevertheless, he urged youth to abstain from imitating dirty politics from other countries which can lead them into political violence.

Mr Maliseli underlined the importance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure all elections are free and fair through which justice can prevail to all people.