Today's story from The Citizen:
President Jakaya Kikwete will today lead his 40 million plus compatriots at the climax of three-month-long celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Tanzania Mainland’s independence.Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, will be the venue of the historic event, which will also be witnessed by at least 14 foreign heads of state and top representatives of several countries.In attendance, too, will be Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, retired presidents, Mr Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1985-1995) and Mr Benjamin Mkapa (1995-2005), plus nine former prime ministers.
Included in the cast of VIPs, furthermore, will be a cross section of political and religious leaders.The city will be a beehive of activity as thousands of people are expected to stream into the face-lifted grounds to witness the event aptly dubbed “party of the decade.”
The Dar es Salaam traffic gridlocks are likely to worsen, as some roads will be cleared for a couple of hours to smoothen the movements of dignitaries arriving for, and departing after the Uhuru Day fete, as well as local leaders cruising to and from the event venue.
Military displays, including a fly past by fighter jets, song and dance, would be some of the highlights for the day whose significance is sure to stir long, happy and emotional memories for many. Over the past five decades since attaining self rule from Britain in 1961, Tanzania has registered many achievements in the social, economic and political spheres.
The country hosts over 120 tribes, and yet they have co-existed largely harmoniously, earning it the distinction of being a model of stability in a continent where tribalism and civil strife are rife. Another big score is that three presidents bequeathed the reins of power to their respective successors and retired peacefully. The multi-party political system that formally took off in July 1992 has functioned relatively successfully in a turbulent region and continent, for which Tanzania has earned accolades.
On the economy and social services front, and despite biting poverty and deepening corruption remaining major concerns for many Tanzanians and development partners today, figures depict a nation that has been on a steady rise (See stories pages 3,4 and 5). Key indicators for Education, Health, Water services, and Infrastructure development are promising despite existing gaps and challenges.
The planned process to review the country’s constitution was timed to coincide with today’s celebrations and the opportunity is being viewed as a major step towards cementing the growth.
It also sets the nation on a clear path to attaining the status currently enjoyed by the Asian tigers whose phenomenal socio-economic growth has provided food for thought for developing nations that were at par during independence.
For many years now, Tanzania has enjoyed the goodwill of development partners and other international organizations, chiefly due to its peaceful nature and its support to the southern African liberation struggle, and mediation role in unstable nations.
Today is an occasion for the people to celebrate and engage in justifiable collective self-congratulation, at the end of which, they will figure out how to triumph over ignorance, disease and poverty, which founding President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere cited as the three major stumbling blocks that the newly independent nation had to confront.
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