DODOMA: VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Philip Mpango has said that his office has continued to make various efforts to ensure effective implementation of various Union related issues in order to strengthen the merger.
The VP said the efforts include educating the public on the Union by writing and publishing books and magazines, especially conducting debates and face-to-face media interviews, as well as managing the implementation of projects that are cross-cutting on both sides of the Union, mostly on the environmental side and using music and arts.
Dr Mpango made the remarks yesterday during the launch of books on 60 Years of the Vice-President’s Office and Photographic Journey of the United Republic of Tanzania held at Chamwino State House in Dodoma.
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He said that according to the 2022 national census Tanzanians, who were born after the Union are 77.3 per cent and are almost three quarters of the country’s population and mostly of them are youth, who either learn about the union through reading or hearing.
“Following a large number of Tanzanians who are born after the union we thought of the need of having a book detailing the history of the union so that it can be used as a reference by the present and future generations,” Dr Mpango said.
On the 60 Years of the Vice-President’s Office Book, Dr Mpango said that the book describes in details the history of Vice-President’s Office which is charged with the responsibility of coordinating Union matters as well as strengthening relationships between the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar on non-Union matters.
Elaborating, the VP thanked the 13 former Vice Presidents of the United Republic of Tanzania who served in the position since the office was established in 1964.
He mentioned the leaders as Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume (1964 – 1972), Rashidi Kawawa (1964-1977), Sheikh Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi (1972 – 1984), Al-hajj Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1984-1985), Sheikh Idris Abdulwakil (1985-1990), and Judge Joseph Warioba (1985-1990).
Other former Vice Presidents including Dr Salmin Amour Juma (1990-1995), John Malecela (1990-1994), Cleopa Msuya (1994-1995), Dr Omar Ali Juma (1995 – 2001),Dr Ali Mohamed Shein (2001 – 2010), Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal (2010 – 2015) and Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan (2015-2021).
“The leaders laid a strong foundation for the implementation the Vice-President’s office responsibilities which have enabled me to continue executing my constitutional duties and coordinate Union issues and strengthen cooperation between the Mainland and Zanzibar governments on non-Union matters,” Dr Mpango pointed out.
Dr Mpango said that the book will be a good memory and reference for the current and future generations.
For his part, Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Dr Selemani Jafo said that the Vice President’s office book has been written in Kiswahili and English so that every Tanzanian can understand.
According to Minister Jafo, the book has described the specific areas of the VicePresident’s office as including employment and leadership, their structure and responsibilities, implementation of constitutional, policy, legal responsibilities and how they are remembered for what they did.
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He said that the book has also identified leaders who served in the office of the Vice-President and later obtained high leadership titles including President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was the Minister of State in the VicePresident’s Office (Union and Environment), Vice President and currently she is the President of the country.
Dr Jafo added that other former Ministers who served in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), included Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi and Dr Ali Mohamed Shein.
He also mentioned the late Edward Sokoine and Edward Lowassa who later became Prime Ministers, Pius Msekwa and Anne Makinda who later became Speakers of National Assembly as well as Gertrude Mongella and Mussa Hassan Zungu.
