‘Embrace democracy tenets’
MTWARA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has said that Tanzania will continue to practice democracy by adhering to the country’s values, traditions and customs, including assessing the prevailing context, conditions and environment.
The Head of State made the remark at Nangwanda Sijaona Stadium in Mtwara Region shortly after visiting and inaugurating four projects including Southern zone referral hospital, rapid sand filter at Mangamba Water Treatment Plant, Mtwara port and the 50-km Mtwara – Mnivata road.
President Samia, who is in Mtwara for a four-day tour of the region, said as the word marked the day the country will continue adhering to all principles of democracy by observing the country’s values and morals as well as tradition and customs.
“Today (yesterday) is the International Day of Democracy, I would like to say that despite the fact that Tanzania follows all principles of democracy, we will execute democracy compatible with our environment, values and morals as well as tradition and customs,” President Samia insisted.
“Democracy is governance that cares about the rights of a person, including the right to life and right to vote and to be elected…so I beg the residents of Mtwara not to disrupt peace and stability…
We expect to hold local government elections next year and the general election in 2025… I know people are also busy preparing for the elections, this should not be the source of breaching peace in the pretext of excising democracy,” she emphasised.
In particular, the Head of State said despite the fact that elections preparation have commenced, peace and harmony should be maintained.
“Let’s practice democracy in the best way without violating our values and norms; our tradition and customs,” Samia underlined.
She also called upon the politicians who stand on podiums and insult others under the pretext of exercising democracy to stop, saying the country’s traditions and customs must be upheld and respected.
Tanzania on Friday joined the rest of the world to mark the day.
Recently, President Samia expressed great concerns over moral decline among a section of politicians, who aspire to become future leaders of the country.
Dr Samia said unethical politicians, who cared less about political parties’ code of conduct, were tarnishing the political field.
“There are people like us who are the products of political parties and there are those who just aspire to be leaders through political parties, these are the ones who disturb us,” President Samia was quoted as saying when she graced the opening of the special meeting of political parties’ council and stakeholders in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting, which was organised by the Registrar of Political Parties, was aimed to evaluate the state of politics in the country and the implementation of recommendations by the taskforce formed by President Samia to look into the state of politics in the country.
The International Day of Democracy was declared by the UN General Assembly in 2007, and is marked on every September 15.
The commemoration of the day aims to encourage governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy. It also provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world.
This year’s theme is “Empowering the next generation,” focuses on young people’s essential role in advancing democracy and ensuring that their voices are included in the decisions that have a profound impact on their world.
