ZANZIBAR, PAJE PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday implored Tanzanians to instill good morals in children in order to build a strong and prosperous nation.
“Children are the strongest foundation for any nation; we have to groom our children morally and instill in them good traits,” Dr Samia said in her public address to the nation at the closure of the 2023 Kizimkazi Festival at Paje suburb’s Kashangae grounds here.
She described the festival as an opportunity to introduce children to their traditions, citing language, food, economic activities and cultural music and dances as the critical ingredients that they should get accustomed to in their early upbringing.
“Our children must get familiar to their traditions and culture irrespective of the modernity we live in today,” said President Samia, noting that Kizimkazi festival’s key focus is on promotion of South Unguja region’s traditions.
The president appreciated all the development partners who have supported the event but invited more stakeholders, saying there are still many challenges that require concerted efforts to address for the benefit of wananchi.
“As the festival grows also do the social and economic activities,” Dr Samia said, referring to a myriad of projects, which were executed in education, water, health, financial services and social welfare sectors as part of this year’s event.
President Samia invited all Tanzanians to effectively participate in preparation of the country’s 2025/2050 development vision.
“Everybody is welcome to share their opinions in the envisaged development vision…we aspire for an inclusive document that will accommodate the needs of the country and its people for the next 25 years,” she said.
The president said through Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) programme, the government is determined to address the unemployment problem especially among the youth in the country.
“…and, BBT is for all Tanzanians, it’s not an exception for the mainland,” she told the cheering Zanzibar youth.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa commended Dr Samia for the successful event, which he said has grown to become international. “This is a record Kizimkazi festival; it’s a national event that brings people from every corner of the country,” said the premier.
He directed the union’s ministry of natural resources and tourism as well as Zanzibar ministry of tourism and heritage to include Kizimkazi festival in their activity calendar and work hard to attract tourists in the country.
“The festival has promoted development; it carries the country’s development image…it has attracted many tourists,” Premier Majaliwa said of the festival.
Zanzibar First Vice-President Othman Masoud Othman; Chama Cha Mapinduzi Vice-Chairman Mainland Abdulhaman Kinana; Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Tulia Ackson and her Zanzibar counterpart Zubeir Ali Maulid were among the high ranking dignitaries at the week-long event that ended yesterday.
