President Samia affirms transparent polls
- Discourages foreign electoral interference;
- Highlights notable success of vision 2025;
DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has reassured the international community of Tanzania’s commitment to holding free and fair elections within a well-defined institutional framework.
Addressing attendees at the annual Diplomatic Sherry Party at the State House in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, she emphasised the nation’s dedication to maintaining peace and security at all costs, with local government elections slated for this year and a general election planned for the following year.
“We anticipate strict adherence to the diplomatic customs and code of conduct as usual, and foreign electoral interference is not expected,” she stated.
Highlighting the recent parliamentary endorsement of three electoral reform bills aimed at bolstering good governance and democracy, President Samia affirmed her intent to sign these bills into law, ensuring the facilitation of free and fair elections.
She credited the recommendations of a task force she formed, particularly focusing on enhancing electoral transparency, including the appointment of the Electoral Commission Chairman, for shaping these reforms.
The execution of Tanzania Development Agenda 2025 (TDV 2025), which driven development for the previous 20 years and will come to an end in two years, was another area of progress, according to her, that was noted in the last year.
“The first assessment of Vision 2025 observed remarkable advancements in results, particularly in the social services domain. We have witnessed a noteworthy decline in the rates of maternal and infant mortality, a rise in the number of safe deliveries at medical facilities, and an enhancement in the average lifespan,” stated Dr Samia.
She added; “We have also witnessed a large increase in the access to education for our youth, where the economy has grown significantly. What the review showed was that the growth was often not in sectors that would lift many people out of poverty.”
Dr Samia further said that’s the weakness of implementation of the Vision 2025. She stated that the government has taken note of that, to ensure future aspirations it will focus on the identified challenges.
In another move, she said the planning commission was re-established last year and it was tasked to coordinate the drafting of the new vision, Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (TDV 2050).
President Samia said among other things, the new document will provide some answers to the critical development questions including the shortfalls identified in the review of the vision 2025.
“We request your continued support as we prepare a new development blueprint,”.
The Office of the Treasury Registrar, which is in charge of all state-owned firms, undertook major reforms last year to increase performance.
Now that the office has undergone the required legislative changes to fortify it, Dr Samia stated that its first task last year was to merge 16 and dissolve four state-owned enterprises.
According to President Samia, Tanzania was approved for the MCC threshold programme last year.
“We value the ongoing collaboration between Tanzania and the United States and their contributions to the country’s growth. We also applaud Denmark’s choice to maintain diplomatic ties with Tanzania.”
President Samia stated that Tanzania values Denmark’s decision given the historical significance of the relationship as the first African nation which Denmark established diplomatic relations with.
Dr Samia further noted that Tanzania strongly supports and values the role of regional and sub-regional organisations in solving regional concerns.
“This is especially true in terms of trade and investment, infrastructure development, and social challenges,” she stated.
Henceforth, she said Tanzania is determined to boost the intra and inter-regional trade of goods and services while encouraging the free movement of people goods and capital. This is in the facilitation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.
