Three more Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) cadres yesterday declared their interest to vie for presidency, bringing the total number of CCM aspirants to 16.
The three are Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Bernard Membe, Nzega Member of Parliament Dr Hamisi Kigwangalla and the Deputy Minister of Communication Science and Technology, January Makamba.
Addressing a rally in Lindi Region, Membe said his key priority area if elected president will be extending support to the private sector which in turn will address his second priority area, unemployment among the youth.
“There is not a single country in the world whose economy developed without involvement of the private sector which creates more employment opportunities for the youth,” he said to the cheer of the crowd.
“If CCM fields me as their torch bearer in the presidential race and I am voted into power, my first duty will be linking the private and public sectors so as to strengthen the economy and at the same time provide employment opportunities,” he said.
Thirdly, he emphasised change of the current Corruption Act. According to the presidential aspirant, in dealing with corruption under his leadership the person receiving bribes will be the one answerable and not the one who gives the bribe.
Membe warned that under his leadership, any civil servant implicated in corruption will be automatically dismissed from their post.
He said when there is concrete evidence, the accused would be dragged to court and when the evidence is not sufficient then they would be dismissed from work nonetheless.
“In my leadership, I will not fear of people involved in corruption. There are very few corrupt persons and I cannot fear them. I hate corruption and I will not entertain anyone implicated,” he warned.
On his part, Nzega MP, Dr Hamisi Kigwangalla said his priority is to free the country from donor dependency.
Speaking in his home town of Nzega, Dr Kigwangalla said his second priority is government expenditure noting that; “we have to slash government spending especially on official state visits abroad.”
He urged the citizenry to vote for change saying Tanzania needs leaders who can provide solutions to the nation’s problems.
The legislator went on to emphasise the need for the country to increase investment in the State Mining Cooperation (STAMICO) and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Cooperation (TPDC) to raise more revenue from the country’s natural resources.
According to him, there is need to effectively reduce tax exemptions to at least 1 per cent from the current 4.3 per cent that many foreign companies enjoy.
The lawmaker pledged that if he is voted president he would strengthen health, education and the industry sectors and drive the country out of abject poverty.
The last speaker of the day was Deputy Minister of Communication, Science and Technology, January Makamba who delivered his speech in Dar es Salaam.
He said his priority area will be empowerment of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to the presidential aspirant, the economy will be built by the people and not donors as such; “I will focus on empowering the engine of our economy, the small scale traders.” He said.
He cited his ability to find solutions to the country’s problems citing that he has worked closely with president Kikwete’s administration and as such; “I am well experienced to look for new solutions.”
Makamba said if nominated by his party and voted into power by the masses, he would go straight for solutions that would bring change to Tanzanians.
Second on his list is improving access to social services like health, education and water while third on his list of priorities is strengthening all state organs and in particular those overseeing good governance, the police and the judiciary.
Next he spoke of corruption, Makamba said under his leadership, public servants accused of corruption would be suspended with immediate effect and dragged to court.
He went on to pledge that his administration would revive industries and create employment opportunities for women ensuring that in the revived factories 60 per cent of employment goes to women.
He said under his leadership, in just 10 years, the housing sector would contribute at least 10 per cent of the national GDP and employ over 5 million Tanzanians.
In the ongoing race to State House, other CCM hopefuls who have also announced their presidential aspirations include the Vice President Dr Rashid Bilal, two former Prime Ministers Edward Lowassa and Frederick Sumaye.
Also on the list are former Tanzanian Ambassador to Italy Ali Abeid Karume and the Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Co-operatives Stephen Wassira.
Others are, Minister for Livestock Development and Fisheries, Dr Titus Kamani and Former Ministers for Energy and Minerals Prof Sospeter Muhongo and William Ngeleja.
Also on the long list are Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu, Transport Minister Samuel Sitta, Ambassador Amina Salum Ali, Deputy Finance Minister, Mwigulu Nchemba, Minister for State in the President’s Office (without portfolio), Professor Mark Mwandosya, Luhaga Mpina and the East African Legislative Makongoro Nyerere
He cited his ability to find solutions to the country’s problems citing that he has worked closely with president Kikwete’s administration and as such; “I am well experienced to look for new solutions.”
Makamba said if nominated by his party and voted into power by the masses, he would go straight for solutions that would bring change to Tanzanians.
Second on his list is improving access to social services like health, education and water while third on his list of priorities is strengthening all state organs and in particular those overseeing good governance, the police and the judiciary.
Next he spoke of corruption, Makamba said under his leadership, public servants accused of corruption would be suspended with immediate effect and dragged to court.
He went on to pledge that his administration would revive industries and create employment opportunities for women ensuring that in the revived factories 60 per cent of employment goes to women.
He said under his leadership, in just 10 years, the housing sector would contribute at least 10 per cent of the national GDP and employ over 5 million Tanzanians.
In the ongoing race to State House, other CCM hopefuls who have also announced their presidential aspirations include the Vice President Dr Rashid Bilal, two former Prime Ministers Edward Lowassa and Frederick Sumaye.
Also on the list are former Tanzanian Ambassador to Italy Ali Abeid Karume and the Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Co-operatives Stephen Wassira.
Others are, Minister for Livestock Development and Fisheries, Dr Titus Kamani and Former Ministers for Energy and Minerals Prof Sospeter Muhongo and William Ngeleja.
Also on the long list are Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu, Transport Minister Samuel Sitta, Ambassador Amina Salum Ali, Deputy Finance Minister, Mwigulu Nchemba, Minister for State in the President’s Office (without portfolio), Professor Mark Mwandosya, Luhaga Mpina and the East African Legislative Makongoro Nyerere
