Measures to address pending Union vexes on final stage

DODOMA: AS Tanzanians from across the country prepare to mark 60 years of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar later next month, the government has said it is finalising procedures to solve the remaining four unresolved Union contentious matters.

According to the Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Dr Selemani Jafo, so far both the Union and Zanzibar governments have already resolved 21 Union vexes with only four issues remaining.

“We have made significant progress in resolving the vexes, for which we are grateful, and we anticipate that in the near future, we will resolve the remaining ones aimed at strengthening the Union,” he said.

The remaining four issues, the minister noted, were distribution of revenue from the Zanzibar shares in the East African Currency Board and the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) profit, recommendations of the Joint Finance Commission, motor vehicles registration and importation of sugar produced in Zanzibar into the Mainland market.

“I would like to assure the general public that both governments are committed to work on the remaining issues,’’ said Dr Jafo when addressing journalists in Dodoma yesterday.

Beginning yesterday, ministers whose dockets fall under the Union issues on different sectors will be appearing before journalists to outline the key achievements that have so far been attained in 60 years of the Union between the two countries on April 26,1964.

The sessions between ministers and heads of government institutions with journalists are being coordinated by the office of the Director of Information Services, MAELEZO and Chief Government Spokesperson.

Today, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination), Jenister Mhagama will appear before journalists at the similar venue.

During the meeting yesterday, Dr Jafo outlined several achievements that had so far been obtained via the Vice- President’s Office (VPO), which is charged with the responsibility to coordinate Union matters as well as strengthening relationship between the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar on non-Union matters.

“Equally, the VPO is responsible for coordination, supervision and environmental management and indeed, it has in the past 60 years continued to foresee issues pertaining to environmental management, supervision and coordination,” he said.

Dr Jafo underlined key achievements in 60 years of the Union, including upholding peace, national unity and socio-economic development.

According to him, the success was in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and Sheikh Abeid Aman Karume.

As Tanzanians in both Mainland and the semi-autonomous Zanzibar Islands prepare to celebrate the unique Union between the two sides sealed in 1964, Dr Jafo asked the citizens to continue protecting the prevailing peace, unity and tranquility.

“It has been years of unity, peace and prosperity as was the vision of our founding fathers …we should continue to maintain this noble and unique value of our nation,” Dr Jafo added.

The minister further highlighted other major strides that the country has so far attained in the past 60 years. They include improvement of the economy, advancement in provision of social services such as education, water and health.

He went on to mention other achievements as improvement in defence and security, implementation of development programmes and development for the two parts of the Union.

“The government has also continued to address challenges of the Union, improving the cooperation on non-Union matters as well as providing mass education on Union affairs,” said the minister.

Dr Jafo said the recorded success has been beneficial to the people from Mainland and Zanzibar, and, as a result, the Union has remained stable for over a half century.