DAR ES SALAAM: CHAMA Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ViceChairman (Mainland), Stephen Wasira has said that safeguarding the country’s peace remains the party’s top priority.
He also reassured Tanzanians and the international community that the upcoming General Election, scheduled for later this year, will be free and fair.
Mr Wasira made the remarks yesterday during the talks with the acting US Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Andrew Lentz, who visited him at his office at the CCM Sub-office along Lumumba Street in Dar es Salaam.
The Vice-Chairman told the acting ambassador that Tanzania is a developing nation, therefore, the country’s peace cannot be compromised. During their discussions, the two talked about the upcoming General Election set to take place later this year, where Wasira assured Ambassador Lentz that it would be free and fair.
CCM is continuing with preparations for the upcoming General Election and expects to win, citing the successful implementation of development pledges outlined in the party’s Election Manifesto 2020-2025.
Regarding Acting Ambassador Lentz’s question on whether CCM is willing to engage in dialogue with opposition parties, Wasira said that the party is open to discussions, because it aligns with the 4Rs philosophy of the President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Wasira explained that the 4Rs philosophy underscores the importance of dialogue whenever there are ideological differences between political parties.
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The 4Rs representing Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding, were introduced by the Head of State to address the current social, political and economic issues in the country.
Through the philosophy, the country witnessed Dr Samia lifting the ban on political rallies, allowing peaceful demonstration, enhancing freedom of expression and increasing investment in economic sectors as well as revenue collection.
In a separate engagement, Vice Chairman Wasira met and held talks with the Cuban Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Yordenis Despaigne.
Vice-Chairman Wasira and the ambassador agreed to strengthen the longstanding friendship and development cooperation between the two nations, which dates back to the first-phase government under the leadership of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Fidel Castro of Cuba.
