Civic United Front (CUF) National Chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba has reassured supporters that opposition coalition UKAWA remains strong and united.
Addressing party supporters yesterday in Dar es Salaam after he had picked up his presidential nomination forms, Prof Lipumba explained that his aspiration is not a sign of division in the newly formed opposition coalition.
Prof Lipumba who is to vie for the top office under the CUF ticket said parties in the coalition would announce their various presidential nominations from which Ukawa will then select the best option to run for State House.
He pledged that if elected president, his top priority would be national unity and equitable utilisation of natural resources for all.
“The citizens are suffering due to misuse of resources which were supposed to improve their lives and reduce the gap between the poor and the rich…when I am president this will change,” he pledged to the cheer of the crowd.
The professor said his government would review all signed mineral contracts and
implement all the necessary projects to ensure the lives of the people are improved through the sustainable use of our resources.
“…and this shall be done fairly and without fail,” he emphasised.
Lipumba also promised to prioritise employment, infrastructure development, healthcare provision and promote access to healthy food for children and women who he cited currently suffer major malnutrition.
“I will make sure that I deal with all corruption elements when I make it to the State House,” he reassured the country.
“I want to be the first Tanzanian President to win the Mo Ibrahim award for good governance,” he SAID.
He went on to accuse the government of ignoring many important issues in the proposed new constitution saying when he is president, he will reinstate all the ‘neglected public views.’
Prof Lipumba took the opportunity to urge the public to register for voting in the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration (BVR).
“You should participate in large numbers in this significant exercise…it is the only way to decide which leader you want,” he said.
Despite his own ambition to occupy the State House, Prof Lipumba was keen to reassure the coalition supporters that he is ready to support any nominee that UKAWA will nominate to bear its flag.
Speaking at the same event, Zanzibar’s First Vice President and party’s Secretary General, Maalim Seif Hamad called upon Tanzanians to vote a new government into power come the October elections.
“You have to put into power a government that will work in the interest of the citizens…wananchi are tired of the repressive government,” he said.
“Tanzanians should vote into power a president who is creative, able to work on their problems, ready to fight corruption and capable of improving the country’s economy … this can be achieved if Prof Lipumba is voted President,” he said.
Sharing his views at the same event, Vice Chairman (Zanzibar) Juma Duni Haji said; “Tanzanians should wake up if they want a new and better country. We need extra effort to realize such a dream let us vote a news government into power.”
