‘Protect peace, reject violence’

DODOMA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday warned youth against being manipulated into violence, saying the October 29 unrest tarnished the country’s image and must never be repeated.

Speaking in Dodoma after meeting residents, including petty traders, food vendors and motorcycle operators, President Samia said she was surprised to find people standing along the roadside wearing T-shirts carrying the message “Never Again”. “When I saw people standing along the road, I asked myself what was happening, then I noticed they were wearing T-shirts with the Tanzanian flag and the words ‘Never Again’,” she said.

She added, “I have received your message and I urge you, if you truly mean ‘Never Again’, then protect one another and do not allow yourselves to be misled into destroying the peace and security of our country.” The Head of State said the events of October 29 were harmful to the nation and affected many young people, including some who were not directly involved.

“What happened on October 29 was not good for anyone. That trap caught both those who were involved and those who were not. “If you remember, many young people were affected by that situation, but as a mother I said they should be released so they could learn,” President Samia said.

President Samia called on youths to remind each other in their workplaces, social groups and daily activities to ensure such incidents never happen again.

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“Tanzania is a peaceful nation. Such things have never happened before; we must show the world that what happened is not Tanzanian and not part of our culture. These are foreign behaviours that were planted among us,” she said.

She commended youths in Dodoma for publicly declaring that such incidents should never recur. “Young people of Dodoma, today you have comforted me greatly by saying these things will never happen again,” she added.

During the meeting, leaders representing petty traders and food vendors thanked the government for providing loans to small-scale entrepreneurs, while appealing for easier borrowing conditions to allow more people to benefit. Dodoma Regional Food Vendors’ leader, Esther Mwansasu, thanked President Samia for interestfree loans issued to traders but appealed for some conditions to be relaxed so more people can qualify.

Meanwhile, Dodoma Regional Petty Traders’ Chairman, Christian Msumari, said the government had allocated 200bn/- for loans to small traders through a scheme charging seven per cent interest. He proposed that the loans also be distributed through more banks to enable a larger number of petty traders to access the funds.

Mr Msumari also raised concern over some traders leaving the Dodoma Machinga Complex market and returning to street vending, saying the trend was disrupting the order established by authorities.

Responding , President Samia said the government had already started expanding the loan programme to other banks. “The 200bn/- is only the beginning. The more you work hard and repay honestly, the more the funds will increase,” she said. The President also pledged to return to Dodoma within a month to assess challenges facing residents and traders in the region.