Samia pleads Union protection

ZANZIBAR: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged all citizens to preserve and protect the Union as the cornerstone of peace, stability and sustainable development in the country.

Speaking yesterday at a Youth Union Anniversary Symposium in Tunguu, Zanzibar, as part of celebrations marking the 62nd anniversary of the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, she urged citizens particularly the youth to uphold unity and resist divisive tendencies.

She underscored that the Union of the United Republic of Tanzania is a union of people that transcends the integration of the two governments—Zanzibar and Tanganyika to embrace citizens who share a common destiny.

“With unity, the enemy has no space to penetrate. You should not allow yourselves to be divided. Let us move forward in unity and love. This is not the Union of governments. It is the Union of people,” President Samia said.

She added: “This is no longer the Union of governments, it is of the people and it is ours. Unity and solidarity have the power to protect the country.”

The President expressed gratitude to the Union’s founding fathers, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Abeid Amani Karume, the first presidents of Tanganyika and Zanzibar respectively, for their decisive role in forming the United Republic of Tanzania on April 26, 1964.

“You can agree with me that this decision was rooted in courage, broad vision and a genuine commitment to build national unity, integration, prosperity and a shared destiny,” Dr Samia said.

Reflecting on 62 years of the Union, she said Tanzania has managed to maintain peace and national tranquillity, which has contributed significantly to progress in economic, social, political, cultural, technological and security spheres

. On cultural integration, she noted that the Union has promoted intermarriages between citizens from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, strengthening social cohesion.

However, President Samia cautioned that these achievements did not happen by chance, but were the result of protecting and preserving national founding values, including peace, unity and solidarity, passed down through generations.

ALSO READ: Union: Tanzania’s journey of shared prosperity

She credited the country’s progress to all former presidents of the Union Government and said continuity of strong leadership, including her own administration, has helped safeguard stability and development.

“The responsibility of continuing to uphold our Union rests in our hands,” she said. The President also warned of a gradual weakening of national integration among some youth, urging young people to avoid divisive rhetoric and behaviour that undermine peaceful coexistence.

“Currently, some youth use trivial words and new terminologies to discriminate against one another and create division. I urge you to restore unity. Do not destroy your country. Hold hands together,” she said, stressing the central role of youth in nation-building

. On youth economic empowerment, Dr Samia said government plans, including the National Development Vision 2050 and the CCM Election Manifesto 2025– 2030, are youth-focused and aimed at improving livelihoods.

Clarifying concerns over the coordination of youth development funds across ministries, she said the Ministry of Youth Development is mandated to ensure all youth programmes across sectors, including agriculture and fisheries, are effectively implemented and properly reach intended beneficiaries.

The symposium, organised by the CCM Youth Wing, also featured the conclusion of special training sessions for party secretaries and assistant secretaries at district and regional levels.

President Samia commended the Youth Wing for organising leadership and patriotism training programmes, saying they had improved the performance of party officials in both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Earlier, through her X account (formerly Twitter), President Samia extended her congratulations to Tanzanians on the 62nd Union Anniversary.

“Our Union is a blessing and a unique heritage that we inherited from our forefathers. We therefore have a noble obligation to preserve, protect and strengthen it so that we pass it on to the next generation in a safe and stable condition,” she wrote. “God bless Tanzania, bless our Union,” she added.

The event brought together thousands of citizens and government officials, including the President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi.