Why peace, unity, patriotism matter most in national development

KAGERA: SOME Tanzanians, including youths have urged fellow citizens to safeguard peace, strengthen national unity and uphold patriotism, describing the three as essential foundations for political, social and economic development.

Speaking to the Daily News, they said that for any nation to prosper, peace and unity are essential, as no meaningful development can take place without a stable and peaceful environment.

A teacher at Bugandika Secondary School in Kagera Region, Mr Audax Kashaija, said Tanzania has for years been regarded as an island of peace, a factor that has significantly contributed to attracting tourists and investors.

He said that for Tanzania to continue progressing, all citizens must stand together to safeguard peace and ensure that no one disrupts it for personal interests.

“Today we are talking about the construction of an airport at the Kyabajwa area, about five kilometres from here. As residents, we expect to benefit greatly from this project through job creation during and after construction, as well as increased business opportunities due to the influx of visitors. However, all these cannot happen without peace,” he said.

Mr Kashaija added that every year many youths complete secondary education, but not all proceed to higher learning institutions.

“As teachers, we encourage them to engage in various income-generating activities. However, this will not be possible if the country is not peaceful. We must therefore work together to ensure peace is maintained,” he said.

He also called on youths to be patriotic, saying the incidents that occurred during and after the October 29, 2025 General Election should not be repeated.

“I followed the news and saw that lives were lost in some regions and both public and private properties were destroyed. That is not patriotism. Imagine taking a loan to establish a business only for someone to burn it for no reason. That pushes people backward. We must avoid such acts,” he said.

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Meanwhile, a fish vendor at Kashozi Road Market in Bukoba Municipality, Mr Florian Rutanga, urged Tanzanians to remain united and work hard to develop both the nation and their communities.

He said the current business environment is friendlier compared to previous years and called on citizens to seize available opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

“As we speak, the government is constructing a main market in Bukoba Municipality. We have waited for this opportunity for many years and now it is happening. We must therefore support such initiatives instead of engaging in chaotic actions that could disrupt development projects,” he said.

Mr Rutanga further noted that the MV Mwanza and MV Victoria vessels are already in operation on Lake Victoria, enabling residents of Kagera, Mwanza and other regions, as well as neighbouring countries, to engage in various economic activities through reliable transport of people and goods.

“Today we transport avocados, bananas, coffee and other agricultural produce easily from Kagera to Mwanza and we bring in construction materials such as cement, iron sheets and other industrial products at affordable prices,” he said.

He urged Tanzanians to maintain peace, unity and patriotism, emphasising that Tanzania belongs to its citizens and destroying it is equivalent to destroying their own property.

“When things go wrong in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza or any other region, we are all affected. If infrastructure is destroyed in Dar es Salaam, the government will have to allocate funds for renovation instead of directing that money to regions like Kagera for new development projects. Peace and unity are therefore vital for the country’s development,” he said.

On his part, the Coordinator of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa, said the country should avoid a repeat of the violence and unrest witnessed on October 29, highlighting that lasting solutions require dialogue, accountability and respect for the law.

Mr Olengurumwa said that all political parties, both in government and in opposition, have a crucial role in ensuring peace and political stability.

“Those in power have a responsibility to strengthen systems, uphold justice and create platforms for dialogue. Opposition parties have a duty to demand rights through legal means and guide their supporters to follow the law. Parties are not enemies; they are political competitors who must coexist for the benefit of the nation,” he said.

He also stressed that Tanzania’s Constitution recognises the right of citizens to demonstrate, but this right must be exercised within legal frameworks, peacefully and responsibly.

“Global experience shows that when protests are properly led and managed, they promote accountability without disturbing peace,” he added.

Mr Olengurumwa further noted that citizens have a responsibility to respect laws and the rights of others. Claiming your rights does not give permission to destroy property or harm others.

Rights must go hand-in-hand with responsibility. He also highlighted the importance of addressing youth challenges, noting that young people were significantly involved in the October 29 protests.

Issues such as unemployment, lack of economic opportunities and feelings of marginalisation directly affect national stability and require serious attention.

Political analyst Mr Hamiduni Maliseli also has called on political parties, activists and young people to firmly embrace peaceful and lawful political engagement.

Mr Maliseli said political parties have a primary responsibility to reflect on their conduct and ensure they are never associated with violence.

While parties have a legitimate right to demand reforms and accountability, he stressed that such demands must be pursued through non-violent, professional and lawful means.

“Political parties are national institutions registered under the law. They must clearly distance themselves from all forms of violence, destroying public infrastructure or disrupting livelihoods only harms ordinary citizens who pay for those assets through taxes,” he said.

He said that violence undermines political legitimacy, which he said is built through ideas, public trust and adherence to the law, not anger or destruction.

He pointed to historical examples, including India’s independence struggle under Mahatma Gandhi, to show that peaceful movements can achieve meaningful change.

A second-year student at the University of Dar es Salaam, Ms Neema Mcharo, told the Daily News that both citizens and the government must play their respective roles in maintaining peace and ensuring national stability.

She said the government alone cannot guarantee peace without the support of citizens, particularly youths, who are more active in various activities and are regarded as the country’s future leaders.

Ms Mcharo noted that the rule of law is a fundamental pillar in promoting peace, unity and patriotism. She explained that patriotism involves loving the country and fellow Tanzanians, as well as working hard for the nation’s development.

“The government must uphold the rule of law to ensure citizens have confidence in law enforcement agencies and the country’s justice institutions. Failure to do so will erode public trust in the legal system and create mistrust between citizens and the government,” she said.

Recently, the Tanzania Association for Persons with Disabilities (TAJU) appealed for peace, patriotism and forgiveness following the conclusion of general elections held on October 29, 2025.

Speaking during a prayer for national unity, TAJU leaders called on all Tanzanians to protect the hard-earned peace that has defined the nation since independence.

Speaking to journalists, TAJU Chairperson Ndonge Said Ndonge asked the public to observe peace and cherish brotherhood across the country. TAJU reminded citizens that peace is a right and responsibility shared by all.

The organisation urged political parties and religious leaders to use their influence to promote reconciliation, warning that violence has no place in a modern democracy.

Mr Ndonge cited Tanzania’s population growth from eight million people at independence in 1961 to over 60 million people today as proof that only unity and understanding can sustain national harmony.

Quoting religious teachings, he emphasised patience in times of hardship.

“When there are no jobs, be patient. When justice seems delayed, have faith. Violence will never bring solutions,” he said.

TAJU rejected the belief that justice can only be achieved through unrest, calling it “a colonial-era mindset unsuited for a nation as large and progressive as Tanzania.”

He asked Tanzanians to avoid copying violent behaviours from other nations or social media trends that glorify unrest.

“Let us use digital platforms to share good values and reject destructive ideas,” he said. He added: “Peaceful, organised demonstrations with clear agendas are legitimate forms of expression but chaos is not.”

TAJU National Secretary Innocent Gabriel Siriwa called on all Tanzanians, regardless of their political affiliation, to remain united and uphold the values of peace and cooperation inherited from the country’s founding fathers Nyerere and Karume.

“True patriotism means putting the nation before everything. A real patriot protects the country in good and bad times, never wishing to see it humiliated or divided,” he said.

Tanzania is blessed with a young population and natural wealth. According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), youth aged between 15 and 35 account for 34.5 per cent of Tanzania’s population.

This translates to over 21 million young men and women whose choices, values and actions will ultimately determine the country’s destiny.

Whether they choose to build or destroy, unite or divide, serve or sabotage will shape the future of generations to come. According to analysts, sustaining peace requires deliberate and collective effort.

Tanzanians must embrace dialogue as a primary conflict resolution tool. Respect for diverse political views, ethnic identities and religious beliefs to strengthen the nation’s social fabric.

The youth can champion peace by organising community dialogues, youth forums, peace clubs and volunteering initiatives that promote patriotism and responsible citizenship