Tovuti Rasmi ya Rais

Makamu wa Rais Mheshimiwa Dkt. Mohamed Ghalib Bilal;

Waziri Mkuu Mheshimiwa Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda;

Waziri wa Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi, Mhe. Dkt. Shukuru Kawambwa;

Waziri wa Nchi OWM- TAMISEMI, Mhe.  Hawa A Ghasia;

Naibu Waziri wa Elimu– OWM-TAMISEMI, Mhe. Kasimu Majaliwa;

Naibu Waziri wa Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi, Mhe. Anne Kilango Malecela;

Waheshimiwa Mawaziri wote mlioko hapa,

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dar es salaam, Mheshimiwa Said Meck Sadiki;

Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi , Balozi Ombeni Sefue,

Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi;

Naibu Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi;

Naibu Katibu Mkuu –OWM-TAMISEMI;

Katibu Mkuu- OWM-TAMISEMI;

Mabalozi

Wahisani wa Maendeleo;

Wakurugenzi wa Wizara na Wakuu wa Taasisi zilizo chini ya Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi;

Viongozi mbalimbali wa Chama na Serikali;

Walimu, Wanafunzi, Wanahabari,

Mabibi na Mabwana.

Leo ni siku muhimu katika historia ya maendeleo ya elimu nchini.  Tunakutanishwa kwa ajili ya kufanya jambo kubwa, la kihistoria na la kimaendeleo la uzinduzi wa Sera ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya mwaka 2014.  Uzinduzi wa Sera mpya unaashiria mwanzo wa ngwe mpya katika safari ya kuimarisha, kuendeleza na kuipaisha elimu nchini kufikia viwango vya juu vya kukidhi ubora na mahitaji ya taifa.  Ni kielelezo cha utashi na azma yetu ya kuboresha mfumo wetu wa elimu uende na wakati na kuiwezesha jamii kuzikabili ipasavyo changamoto na maendeleo na maisha yao.  Maisha bora kwa Mtanzania yanaanzia na kutegemea uwezekano wa kila Mtanzania kupata fursa ya kupata elimu iliyo bora, elimu itakayomuwezesha kutawala mazingira yake na kukabili changamoto za maisha. 

         Nakupongeza sana Mheshimiwa Waziri, Dkt. Shukuru Kawambwa,  Katibu Mkuu, Prof. Sifuni Mchome pamoja na wataalamu wenu na wadau wengine wa elimu kwa kuongoza na kusimamia mchakato huu ulioanza kwa kupitia Sera mbalimbali zilizokuwapo katika sekta ya Elimu na kuzihuisha kwa kuandaa Sera hii.  Napenda pia kumtambua Naibu Waziri, Mheshimiwa Anne Malechela Kilango pamoja na upya wake katika Wizara. 

Mheshimiwa Waziri;

 Nakushukuru pia kwa uamuzi wenu wa kuzindua Sera hii katika eneo la shule.  Tunapata fursa maridhawa ya kuoanisha kile kilichopo na kile tunachoazimia kutekeleza kwenye Sera.  Nimepata fursa ya kutembelea maabara na kuwaona vijana wetu wanavyopata elimu ya sayansi kwa vitendo.  Aidha, mnanipa nafasi ya kusema na walimu na wanafunzi ambao ndiyo wadau wakuu wa Sera hii ya Elimu.  Ni jambo la faraja kwangu kuona tulipofikia na mafanikio tuliyoyapata, kama haya niliyoyaona katika shule hii.  Inatupa kila aina ya sababu kuongeza bidii na kasi zaidi ya kufikia malengo makubwa zaidi.

         Vilevile, nakushukuru,  Mheshimiwa Waziri, kwa maneno yako ya utangulizi kuhusu Sera hii.  Kama ulivyokwishasema, Sera hii ni matokeo ya mapitio na uhuishaji wa Sera ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya mwaka 1995, Sera ya Elimu ya Ufundi na Mafunzo ya mwaka 1966 na Sera ya Taifa ya Elimu ya Juu ya mwaka 1999.  Kipindi cha zaidi ya kipindi cha miaka 14 ya utekelezaji wa sera hizo na maamuzi mengine kuhusu elimu kimekuwa cha mabadiliko mengi ya kijamii, kiuchumi na teknolojia ndani na nje ya nchi.  Uchumi wetu umekua na kutanuka na kuzua mahitaji mapya ya rasilimali watu na stadi mbalimbali ambazo hazikuhitajika siku za nyuma.  Aidha, mipango mitatu ya miaka mitano ya maendeleo kuelekea mwaka 2025 nayo imezaa mahitaji mengine.  Yote haya pamoja na maoni ya wadau mbalimbali yamezingatiwa katika Sera hii ya mwaka 2014.

Hali ya Sekta ya Elimu

Mheshimiwa Waziri;

Ndugu Wadau wa Elimu;

         Elimu ni kitu kinachomgusa na kumhusu kila mtu hapa Tanzania.  Sisi katika Serikali, tunatambua wajibu wetu na nafasi yetu maalum kwa upatikanaji wa elimu nchini.  Kwa ajili hiyo, elimu ni jambo la kipaumbele cha juu, ni la kufa na kupona.  Ukweli wa usemi wangu huo unajihidhirisha katika uwekezaji mkubwa tunaoufanya katika kuendeleza elimu.  Bajeti ya Elimu ndiyo iliyo kubwa kuliko zote kwa miaka mingi  na imekuwa ikiongezeka.  Kwa mfano, mwaka 2005/2006 zilitengwa shilingi bilioni 669.5 wakati mwaka 2014/2015 zimetengwa shilingi trilioni 3.1.  Katika kipindi hicho, bajeti ya mikopo ya wanafunzi wa elimu ya juu imeongezeka kutoka  shilingi bilioni 56.1 hadi shilingi bilioni 345. Kwa sababu hiyo idadi ya wanafunzi wanaofaidika imeongezeka kutoka 16,345 mwaka 2005 hadi 98,000 mwaka 2014.  Shule za msingi zimeongezeka kutoka 14,257 mwaka 2005 hadi 16,343 mwaka 2014 na hivyo kufanya idadi ya wanafunzi nayo kukua kutoka milioni 7.54 hadi milioni 8.23.  Kwa upande wa sekondari shule zimeongezeka 531 mwaka 2005 hadi 4,576  mwaka 2014.  Idadi ya wanafunzi nayo imeongezeka kutoka 524,325 mwaka 2005 hadi 1,804.056 mwaka 2014. 

Upanuzi huu mkubwa na wa kihistoria  umetokea pia kwenye vyuo vya elimu ya ufundi stadi ambapo vyuo vimeongezeka kutoka 184  hadi 744 kati ya mwaka 2005 na 2014.  Kwa upande wa elimu ya juu, idadi ya vyuo imeongezeka kutoka 26 hadi 50 kati ya mwaka 2005 na 2014 na kufanya idadi ya wanafunzi wa vyuo vikuu iongezeke kutoka wanafunzi 40,719 mwaka 2005 hadi wanafunzi 200,986 mwaka 2014.  Leo hii tunapokutana hapa, hatuna tena tatizo na fursa ya kupata elimu kwa elimu ya msingi,  sekondari, ufundi na elimu ya juu. 

Mwaka 2005, urari wa wanafunzi kati yetu na wenzetu wa Afrika Mashariki ulikuwa wa chini mno kwa upande wetu.  Kenya walikuwa na wanafunzi wa sekondari 925,341 na wa vyuo vikuu 108,407  ikilinganishwa na Tanzania iliyokuwa na wanafunzi 524,325  wa sekondari na 40,719 wa vyuo vikuu.  Uganda ilikuwa na wanafunzi 728,393 wa sekondari na 124,313 wa vyuo vikuu.  Sasa hali ni tofauti.  Kwa mwaka 2013, kwa mfano, Kenya ilikuwa na wanafunzi wa sekondari 2,104,300 na wanafunzi wa vyuo vikuu 324,600.  Katika mwaka huohuo, Uganda walikuwa na wanafunzi wa sekondari 1,362,739 na wa vyuo vikuu 140,403.  Ongezeko hili linatuweka katika hali nzuri ya ushindani tunapoelekea katika ushindani wa soko la pamoja ndani ya Afrika Mashariki ikilinganishwa na hali ilivyokuwa miaka 10 iliyopita.  Jukumu letu ni kuimarisha ubora wa elimu yetu na hasa iwe ni ile inayokidhi mahitaji ya soko la ajira nchini, Afrika Masharini na dunia.

 Juhudi zetu hizi za kuendeleza elimu zimetambulika duniani na kutupatia heshima kubwa zikiwemo tuzo mbalimbali.  Tumekuwa nchi ya kupigiwa mfano katika kutekeleza Malengo ya Milenia (MDGs) yanayohusu fursa ya watoto kupata elimu ya msingi, na usawa wa kijinsi baina ya watoto wa kiume na wa kike kupata elimu ya msingi na sekondari.  Haya na mengine mazuri tuliyofanya ni mambo ya kujivunia.  Ni mafanikio yanayotokana na utekelezaji mzuri wa Sera tatu za elimu ya Msingi, Ufundi na Elimu ya Juu zilizokuwepo. 

Ndugu Wadau wa Elimu;

         Mafanikio hayo makubwa nayo yamezua changamoto mpya mbalimbali.  Miongoni mwake ipo ile ya malengo ya Elimu kuwa sawa na goli linalohama kila unapolikaribia.  Hali hii haipo hapa nchini kwetu pekee, bali ipo kote duniani.  Nimebahatika kutembelea nchi nyingi na kuona yanayofanyika. Hali kadhalika nimesoma yanayoendelea kwenye nchi mbalimbali kuhusu elimu.  Ukweli ni kwamba hakuna nchi duniani ambayo imemaliza changamoto zote zihusuzo elimu.  Katika kila nchi kuna mjadala unaoendelea kuhusu ubora wa elimu.  Na, sababu ni moja, uboreshaji wa elimu ni jambo endelevu.  Iko hivyo kwa nchi zinazoendelea kama yetu na hata zile zilizoendelea.  Tofauti yetu ipo kwenye aina ya changamoto zilizopo.  Nchi zilizoendelea hazina matatizo yanayozikabili nchi zinazoendelea. 

Ni jambo la kutia moyo kuwa tangu uhuru mpaka sasa matatizo mbalimbali yanayoisibu elimu yametambuliwa na kushughulikiwa.  Katika awamu hii ya uongozi wa nchi yetu tumetoa msukumo maalum tena mkubwa katika kutafuta majawabu ya changamoto zinazokabili sekta ya elimu nchini.  Bahati nzuri tumepata mafanikio kwenye nyanja nyingi.  Nimekwishaelezea jinsi idadi ya shule za msingi na sekondari pamoja na vyuo vya ufundi na vyuo vikuu vilivyoongezeka.  Mambo hayo yameongeza sana fursa za elimu nchini.  Hivi leo watoto wote wenye umri wa kwenda shule wanaweza kuwa shule labda wakatae wenyewe au wakatazwe na wazazi au walezi wasioona mbali.  Watoto wote wanaofaulu darasa la saba wana hakika ya kwenda sekondari na vyuo vikuu vina nafasi wazi zinazosubiri wanafunzi wenye sifa kuzijaza.

Kimsingi tunaweza kusema kuwa suala la watoto  na vijana wetu chini kupata fursa ya kupata elimu inayolingana na umri wao siyo tatizo kubwa tena la kutuumiza vichwa.  Hata hivyo, kazi kubwa inayohitajika kuendelea kufanyika ni kuhakikisha kuwa elimu wanayopata watoto na vijana wetu ni bora.  Kwa ajili hiyo, hatuna budi kuendelea kuboresha mazingira ya kutolea elimu.  Walimu wa kutosha wawepo kwa masomo yote.  Tena wawe ni walimu wanaoyamudu vyema masomo wanayofundisha.  Hali kadhalika, huduma za msingi kwa maisha na utendaji kazi wa walimu ziboreshwe pamoja na maslahi yao.

Vifaa vya kufundishia na vile vya kusomea na kujifunzia vipatikane kwa uhakika.  Majengo ya kufundishia na huduma mbalimbali shuleni na vyuoni yawepo ya kutosha tena yaliyo bora.  Pamoja na hayo, mifumo na miundo ya uendeshaji na usimamizi wa elimu nchini iendelee kuboreshwe zaidi na zaidi. 

Sera Mpya na Matumaini Mapya

Ndugu Wadau wa Elimu;

         Sera Mpya ya Elimu inatupa mwanzo mpya na matumaini mapya ya kututoa hapa tulipo sasa na kutupeleka mbele kwenye neema na mafanikio makubwa zaidi.  Mahali ambapo nyingi ya changamoto zinazotukabili sasa zitakuwa hazipo ila zitakuwepo zile za kupeleka elimu yetu mbele zaidi.  Sera mpya inatambua umuhimu na nafasi ya elimu kwa maendeleo ya nchi yetu na watu wake.  Sera inatambua kuwa Elimu ni silaha ya ukombozi kwa Watanzania dhidi ya umaskini na madhila yake.  Ni nyenzo ya uhakika ya kutupeleka kwenye uchumi wa kati ifikapo mwaka 2025.   Kwa sababu hiyo, Sera inasisitiza umuhimu wa kuendelea kupanua fursa kwa kila mtoto mwenye umri wa kwenda shule aende shule.  Sera Mpya inatoa dhima kwa taifa kuanza safari ya kumuwezesha kila mtoto anayeanza darasa la kwanza aweze kupata elimu ya sekondari ya mpaka kidato cha nne.  Hili ni lengo la muda mrefu kwamba elimu ya msingi iwe mpaka kidato cha nne badala ya darasa la saba kama ilivyo sasa.  Hili ni lengo ambalo halitakamilika mara baada ya uzinduzi huu.  Yanahitajika maandalizi makubwa.  Katika kuanza safari ya kuelekea huko, Serikali imeamua kufuta ada ya elimu ya sekondari kuanzia mwaka 2016 ili wale waliofaulu kwenda kidato cha kwanza wasishindwe kusoma. 

         Sera Mpya ya elimu imeweka msisitizo wa pekee kwa kila mtoto kupata elimu ya awali kabla ya kupata elimu ya msingi.  Tumedhamiria pia kuwekeza zaidi katika stadi za Kuandika, Kusoma na Kuhesabu (KKK) katika miaka miwili ya elimu ya msingi.  Azma yetu ni kujenga msingi imara wa elimu kwa wanafunzi nchini ambao hutegemea sana upatikanaji wa stadi hizo.  Watoto wanapoimarishwa vya kutosha kwa upande wa kusoma, kuandika na kuhesabu, aghalabu humudu vyema masomo yao shuleni.  Aidha, itasaidia kurekebisha upungufu uliopo sasa. 

Ndugu Wadau wa Elimu;    

Ni ukweli ulio dhahiri kwamba ili tuweze kupata maendeleo makubwa ya kiuchumi lazima tuongeze matumizi ya sayansi na teknolojia nchini.  Tunaweza kufanya hivyo tu kwa kuwa na wanasayansi wengi.  Sera hii inasisitiza kuimarishwa kwa muundo na utaratibu wa ufundishaji wa masomo ya Hisabati, Sayansi na Teknolojia katika ngazi zote.  Kazi hii tayari tumekwishaianza na tunaendelea nayo kwa ari na nguvu.  Tumetoa msukumo mkubwa katika ujenzi wa maabara na naamini, Juni, 2015 tutafikia malengo yetu.

 Tunapanua mafunzo ya walimu wa sayansi.  Tutakapotekeleza mradi wa matumizi ya computer mashuleni tutakuwa tumepiga hatua kubwa muhimu.  Sera hii imetoa mwongozo kwa changamoto nyingine nyingi muhimu ambazo zimetolewa maoni na wadau mbalimbali.  Kwa mfano, Sera inaelekeza sasa kutumika kwa utaratibu wa kila somo kitabu kimoja kwa shule zote badala ya utaratibu wa awali wa kila shule kuwa na kitabu chake.  Sera inatoa msisitizo kuwa elimu ni huduma na inaelekeza kuwekwa kwa utaratibu utakaodhibiti upangaji wa ada katika shule za binafsi kwa utaratibu wa kuweka ada elekezi (indicative fees) kwa msingi wa gharama halisi kwa mwanafunzi (Student Unit Course).  Hii itatoa ahueni kwa wazazi na walezi na kuwawezesha kumudu gharama za kusomesha watoto wao katika shule za binafsi.

         Suala la ubora wa elimu inayotolewa tumeliwekea mkazo wa kipekee katika sera hii mpya.  Tutaimarisha mfumo wetu wa usimamizi na ukaguzi wa shule zetu kwa lengo la kuimarisha ubora wa elimu inayotolewa.  Tutajenga uwezo wa Wizara kwa kutenga fedha za kutosha kwa shughuli za ukaguzi, kuajiri wakaguzi wa kutosha na kuwapatia vitendea kazi vya kuwawezesha wakaguzi kufanya kazi zao kwa ufanisi nchi nzima.  Madhali tumeshapata mafanikio ya kutosha kwenye kupanua fursa ya kupata elimu, sasa tunaelekeza nguvu zetu kwenye kusimamia ubora wa elimu inayotolewa.

Wito kwa Wadau

Mheshimiwa Waziri;

Ndugu Wadau wa Elimu;

         Mafanikio yote tuliyoyapata katika Sekta ya Elimu yamepatikana kutokana na ushirikiano wa wadau wote wakiwemo walimu, wazazi, wananchi wetu wote na wadau wa maendeleo.  Mafanikio haya hayana budi kuenziwa na kuendelezwa.  Tunapoanza utekelezaji wa Sera Mpya ya Elimu, hatuna budi kukumbushana tena wajibu wetu na kushirikiana kufikia malengo yetu haya mapya.

         Mdau mkubwa wa kwanza katika elimu ni mzazi na mlezi ambao ndiyo viongozi wa kaya wanazotoka wanafunzi wetu.  Ninyi mnao wajibu wa kipekee wa kuwahamasisha na kuwahimiza watoto wenu kupenda shule kwa kuwajengea mazingira mazuri ya kuwawezesha kusoma.  Jihusisheni na elimu ya watoto wenu, na jengeni uhusiano na walimu wao katika kufuatilia maendeleo ya watoto wenu.  Wakati mwingine inashangaza sana kuona wazazi na walezi kutojali kujua maendeleo ya watoto wao shuleni.  Hawakagui maendeleo yao, wala hawajihusishi na kamati za elimu za shule za watoto wao na kata wanazoishi.  Njia bora ya kutatua changamoto za elimu za nchi ni kwa kila mmoja wetu kushiriki katika kutatua changamoto zilizoko katika shule iliyoko katika eneo lake analoishi.

         Walimu ni wadau wenye wajibu wa kipekee sana.  Jukumu lao la kuwafumbua macho na kuwaongezea upeo wa ufahamu wa vijana wetu pamoja na kuwandaa kuwa raia wema halina mfano wake.  Halina badala yake.  Mnafanya kazi nzuri lakini mnatakiwa kufanya vizuri zaidi leo na siku za usoni.  Elimu ni kitu chenye unyumbufu mkubwa na mabadiliko mengi na hasa siku hizi.   Lazima muende na wakati.  Ni ninyi waalimu, pengine kuliko watu wengi wengine  mtakaoumba Tanzania ya kesho iliyo bora kupitia elimu mnayowapa wanafunzi.  Ninyi walimu ndiyo wa kutusaidia kuleta mabadiliko chanya katika jamii na nchi yetu.  Nawaomba sana muendelee kujizatiti katika kutambua uzito wa majukumu yenu na kuyatekeleza.  Sisi Serikalini tutaendelea kufanya kila lililo katika uwezo wetu kuboresha maslahi yenu na mazingira yenu ya kazi.

         Nawaomba pia wamiliki wa shule, hususan shule zinazomilikiwa na mashirika ya dini na watu na makampuni binafsi nanyi mtimize ipasavyo wajibu wenu.  Tunatambua na kuthamini mchango wenu mkubwa katika utoaji wa elimu.  Nawaomba mkumbuke kuwa Elimu ni haki ya mtoto hivyo mjiepushe na upendeleo na ubaguzi. Elimu ni huduma, hivyo mtoze ada zinazohimilika.  Aidha, hamna budi kuzingatia mitaala na miongozo inayotolewa na Wizara ya Elimu na Taasisi zake kuhusu elimu.  Serikali inawahakikishia kuwa tutaendelea kuweka mazingira rafiki ya kuwawezesha kutimiza wajibu wenu huo wa kutoa huduma ya elimu.  Ni kwa sababu hiyo tumewatambua katika Sera hii na mmeshirikishwa kwa ukamilifu katika mchakato wote wa kuitunga.  Naomba tuendeleze ushirikiano wetu katika utekelezaji wa Sera hii.

         Sina budi kuwashukuru pia wadau wetu wa maendeleo kwa michango yao muhimu iliyotuwezesha kufikia mafanikio makubwa katika Sekta ya Elimu. Tunapowashukuru, tunawaomba waendelee kushirikiana nasi tunapoianza safari yetu hii ya kutekeleza Sera Mpya ya Elimu.  Utekelezaji wa Sera hii utahitaji rasilimali nyingi na hivyo tutashukuru kupata mchango wao katika kuongezea nguvu jitihada zetu.  Mchango wao utatuwezesha kupata matokeo makubwa kwa haraka.

Hitimisho

Mheshimiwa Waziri;

Ndugu Wadau wa Elimu;

         Ni jambo la faraja kubwa kwangu kwamba, katika kipindi changu cha uongozi kwa ushirikiano wetu tumeweza kupata mafanikio makubwa na ya kujivunia katika kuendeleza Elimu nchini.  Sera hii tunayoizindua leo ni mojawapo ya mafanikio hayo.

         Naamini kuwa tuliyoyafanya yamechangia kwa kiasi kikubwa kuzikomboa kaya nyingi kutokana na kutoa fursa kwa watoto wengi zaidi wa Watanzania kupata elimu ikiwa ni pamoja na watoto wa kike.  Bado tunayo kazi kubwa ya kufanya mbele yetu. Bahati nzuri, tunayatambua na tunaendelea kuyafanya.  Sera ya Elimu tunayoizindua leo inatoa mwongozo na kutupa mwelekeo mzuri wa namna ya kufanya yanayotakiwa kufanyika sasa na miaka 10 ijayo.    Uzinduzi wa Sera hii mpya ya elimu, na yale yaliyomo katika sera hii ni ushahidi tosha wa dhamira yangu na ya wenzetu wote tulioshirikiana kutayarisha sera hii kuona elimu nchini ianzidi kuimarika na kuwa bora zaidi. 

         Napenda sasa, kwa heshima na taadhima kubwa kutamka kuwa Sera ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Mwaka 2014 imezinduliwa rasmi.

         Asanteni sana.

Mheshimiwa Mohamed Chande Othman, Jaji Mkuu wa Tanzania;

Mheshimiwa Anne Semamba Makinda, Spika wa Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania;

Mheshimiwa  Asha-Rose Migiro, Waziri wa Katiba na Sheria;

Waheshimiwa Majaji wa Mahakama ya Rufani;

Mheshimiwa Omar Othman Makungu, Jaji Mkuu wa Zanzibar;

Mheshimiwa Shabani Ali Lila, Jaji Kiongozi;  

Waheshimiwa Majaji wa Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania;

Mheshimiwa George Masaju, Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali ;

Waheshimiwa Majaji Wakuu Wastaafu;

Waheshimiwa Majaji wa Mahakama ya Rufani wastaafu;

Rais wa Chama cha Mawakili Tanganyika;

Waheshimiwa Mabalozi na Wawakilishi wa Mashirika ya Kimataifa;

Wasajili, Wakurugenzi na Watendaji wa Mahakama;

Mahakimu na  Mawakili;

Mtendaji Mkuu wa Mahakama;

Watumishi wa Mahakama;

Wageni waalikwa;

Mabibi na Mabwana;

          Nakushukuru sana Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu kwa kunialika kwa mara nyingine tena kushirikiana nanyi katika maadhimisho ya Siku ya Sheria Tanzania.  Hii ni mara yangu ya nane na ya mwisho kuhudhuria sherehe hizi nikiwa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania.  Sherehe za mwakani zitahudhuriwa na Rais mpya. Natumai mtaendelea kumualika.

          Napenda kuwashukuru wale wote tulioshirikiana nao katika utekelezaji wa jukumu zito la kuimarisha mhimili wa Mahakama katika kipindi changu cha uongozi. Napenda kukutambua, wewe mwenyewe Mheshimiwa Mohamed Chande Othman na Majaji Wakuu waliokutangulia, Mheshimiwa Barnabas Samata niliyemkuta na Mheshimiwa Augustino Ramadhani aliyemfuatia. Nawashukuru kwa ushirikiano wenu, umakini, weledi na umadhubuti wa hali ya juu kwa kuwaongoza wenzenu vizuri katika kutoa haki nchini. Nyote mlikuwa kielelezo kizuri cha utoaji haki hapa nchini na kioo cha uongozi bora wa Mahakama yetu.  Pamoja nanyi nawashukuru Majaji wote wa Mahakama ya Rufani na wa Mahakama Kuu, Wasajili, Mahakimu Wakazi, Mahakamu wa Mahakama ya Mwanzo ambao wote mmejitoa kusimamia utoaji wa  haki katika nchi yetu.  Vile vile, namtambua Mtendaji Mkuu wa Mahakama  na Watendaji  wa ngazi zote pamoja na watumishi wote wa Mahakama kwa kazi yao nzuri waifanyayo.

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu;

          Kauli mbiu ya maadhimisho ya mwaka huu yaani, “Fursa ya Kupata Haki:  Wajibu wa Serikali, Mahakama na Wadau” ni muafaka kabisa kwa wakati uliopo.  Inatoa fursa kwa mihimili yetu miwili ya dola na wadau wengine kupima jinsi tunavyotimiza wajibu wetu.  Naomba tutumie fursa hii tuangalie yale tuliyofanya katika kipindi cha miaka tisa (9) ya uongozi wangu kuhusu kuimarisha utoaji wa fursa ya kupata haki nchini.

Kuboresha utoaji wa haki na utawala wa sheria nchini  ilikuwa miongoni mwa mambo tuliyoyapa umuhimu wa juu katika majukumu ya Serikali yetu. Kwa ajili hiyo tumejitahidi kutambua mahitaji na changamoto zilizokuwa zinaikabili Mahakama nchini na kujaribu kutafuta majawabu. Tumechukua hatua na kufanya mambo mbalimbali kwa madhumuni ya kuiwezesha Mahakama kutekeleza wajibu wake wa kutoa haki.

Fursa ya Kupata Haki

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu,

          Kama ulivyosema, wewe mwenyewe fursa ya kupata haki imegawanyika katika sehemu mbili. Kwanza, ni fursa ya kuifikia Mahakama, na pili, ni fursa ya kunufaika na huduma za Mahakama yaani kupata haki.  Dhana hii inazilazimu Serikali na Mahakama kufanya kazi kwa pamoja, kwani mhimili mmoja pekee hauwezi kufanikisha haya yote mawili.  Kimsingi, Serikali inao wajibu wa kuweka mazingira mazuri kwa Mahakama kuweza kutimiza wajibu wake huo wa kutoa haki kwa wakati.

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu;

          Ninapoiangalia Mahakama ya leo ninafarijika kuona kwamba hatua zilizochukuliwa na Mahakama yenyewe na nyingine zilizochukuliwa kwa kushirikiana na Serikali zimesaidia kuleta mabadiliko kwenye mifumo na kuboresha utoaji wa haki.  Changamoto za kimfumo zilizokuwapo ziliathiri ufanisi katika utoaji haki nchini hususan zilisababisha ucheleweshaji wa mashauri na hukumu.

 Hali hii imefanya utatuzi wa migogoro ya mikataba, biashara, ardhi, mahusiano kazini kuchelewa sana (labor matters).  Kwa ujumla, jitihada zetu za kukuza uchumi zilipambana na vikwazo vya mifumo yetu ya sheria.  Hali kadhalika, kwa upande wa mifumo ya haki jinai, taratibu za kuendesha mashauri hazikuakisi mahitaji ya kutoa haki kwa kuadhibu wakosaji  kwa wakati na kutoa fidia na ahueni nyingine inayofaa kwa wahanga wa uhalifu.

          Mambo mengi yamefanyika kuboresha Mahakama.  Tumetunga Sheria namba 4 ya mwaka 2011 ya uendeshaji Mahakama ambayo pamoja na mambo mengine ilianzisha Mfuko wa Mahakama na kuwezesha Mahakama kuwa na bajeti inayotabirika na ya uhakika.  Fedha za Mfuko huu zimekuwa zikiongezeka kutoka bilioni 57.8 mwaka 2012/2013 hadi bilioni 89.6 mwaka 2014/15 sawa na ongezeko la asilimia 54.8.  Katika mfumo huu mpya tumeanza sasa kutenga bajeti ya maendeleo inayowezesha uwekezaji katika upatikanaji wa miundombinu ya utoaji haki.  Nimesikia mwaka huu bajeti ya maendeleo haijaingia, naomba niwahakikishie kuwa mtaipata. Jana nilizungumza na Waziri wa Fedha aliyenihakikishia kuwa katika nusu ya pili ya mwaka huu wa fedha wataanza kutoa fedha.

          Jambo lingine muhimu tulilofanya lilikuwa ni kuongeza rasilimali watu. Tumepunguza uhaba mkubwa uliokuwepo na kuwezesha Mahakama kuboresha kazi yake ya kutoa haki.  Hivi sasa kuna Majaji wa Rufani 16 kutoka 9 waliokuwepo mwaka 2005 na kuna Majaji  wa Mahakama Kuu 81 kutoka Majaji 35 waliokuwapo 2005.  Ninafurahi kuwa kati ya Majaji wote wa Mahakama ya Rufaa na Mahakama Kuu waliopo, Majaji 38 sawa na asilimia 39.2 ni wanawake. Haya ni mageuzi makubwa. Natambua kuwa mahitaji halisi ni kuwa na Majaji 120. Napenda kukuhakikishia Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu kuwa mtakapokuwa tayari nileteeni mapendekezo yenu nifanye uteuzi. Kwa upande wa Mahakimu Wakazi, hadi mwaka huu  idadi yao ilifikia 677 nchi nzima ukilinganisha na Mahakimu Wakazi 151 mwaka 2005. Mwaka wa jana pekee tulitoa kibali cha kuajiri Mahakimu wapya 300.

          Katika kipindi hiki pia tulifanya mambo mawili mengine muhimu kwa utekelezaji mzuri wa majukumu ya Mahakama.  Kwanza ni lile la kukamilisha mchakato wa kutenganisha shughuli za upelelezi na uendeshaji wa mashtaka. Imesaidia kupunguza ucheleweshaji wa mashauri na kuimarisha utoaji wa haki. 

Jambo la pili ni kuanzishwa kwa nafasi ya Watendaji wa Mahakama iliyo waondolea Majaji majukumu ya utawala na fedha na kuwaaacha washughulike na utoaji wa haki.  Jambo hili limeboresha na kuimarisha utendaji na uendeshaji wa shughuli katika Mahakama kwa namna ambayo haijawahi kuwepo huko nyuma.

Huduma ya Msaada wa Kisheria

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu,

          Nakubaliana nawe kuwa kukosekana kwa msaada wa kisheria kwa wale wasio na uwezo wa kulipia huduma ya uwakili ni kikwazo kwa watu hao kupata fursa ya kupata haki.  Pia inakwaza utoaji wa haki.  Nimefurahishwa na pendekezo lako la kuiomba Serikali kuona uwezekano wa kugharamia huduma za uwakili kwa watuhumiwa wasio na uwezo kifedha nje ya watuhumiwa wa makosa ya mauaji.  Umeomba sasa tuangalie na wale wenye makosa yenye adhabu kubwa na vifungo virefu.  Nakubaliana nawe kuwa wakati sasa umefika wa kuyaangalia mambo hayo  kutokana na mabadiliko mbalimbali yaliyotokea nchini ikiwemo kuongezeka kwa aina ya makosa, adhabu na kuwepo kwa Wanasheria wa kutosha wa kuweza kutoa huduma hiyo ni jambo linalowezekana. Sisi katika Serikali tutalifanyia kazi pendekezo hilo na tutawashirikisha mtupe maoni yenu ya namna bora ya kutekeleza wazo hili.  Naamini, tukifanya hivyo, tutakuwa tumepanua fursa kwa watu wengi kupata haki ya kisheria.

Wajibu wa Mahakama

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu,

          Kama nilivyosema awali, fursa ya kupata haki inategemea pia jinsi Mahakama inavyotelekeza ipasavyo wajibu wake.  Nafurahishwa sana na hatua ambazo Jaji Mkuu umechukua ambazo zimewezesha kuboresha fursa ya kupata haki.  Taarifa uliyoitoa hapa leo imeonesha wazi mafanikio yaliyopatikana. Kufuatia uamuzi wenu wa kujiwekea ukomo wa muda wa kuendesha kesi na idadi ya kesi kwa kila Jaji na Hakimu, mmeweza kupunguza mashauri ya siku nyingi kwa asilimia 50 kutoka mashauri 6,887 mwaka 2012 hadi 3,632 katika Mahakama Kuu mwaka 2014.  Aidha, mmeweza kumaliza mashauri 52 kati ya 59 yanayohusu miradi mikubwa ya serikali iliyoko katika Mahakama Kuu Kitengo cha Ardhi.

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu;

          Natoa rai kwa wadau wengine wa sheria yaani waendesha mashtaka na vyombo vya upelelezi kwa upande wa mashauri ya jinai pamoja na Mawakili wa kujitegemea kuunga mkono juhudi zenu hizi.  Bila shaka Mahakama itaendelea kuonyesha njia kwa kusimamia mwenendo wa mashauri ya jinai na madai pasipo kuchelewesha.  Ni matumaini yangu kuwa Mkurugenzi wa Mashitaka na vyombo vya upelelezi havitakuwa chanzo cha kuchelewesha mashauri pasipo sababu za msingi.

Kusogeza Huduma ya Mahakama karibu zaidi na Wananchi

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu;

          Natoa pongezi nyingi kwamba kwa sababu ya mambo mbalimbali mazuri yaliyofanyika ambayo yamesogeza huduma za Mahakama karibu na wananchi.  Sehemu kubwa ya migogoro inayowagusa moja kwa moja wananchi imeshughulikiwa. Miongoni mwa hiyo ni ile ya ardhi ambapo Mabaraza ya Ardhi yameundwa katika Kata zote nchini chini ya Wizara ya Ardhi, Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi. Jambo hili limepunguza sana mzigo wa mashauri katika Mahakama zetu na kusaidia kuleta usuluhishi katika jamii zetu.  Inawezekana utendaji wa vyombo hivi una upungufu mbalimbali kinyume cha matarajio ya wananchi.  Dawa yake siyo kuvitelekeza bali kuyatambua matatizo yaliyopo na kuyapatia ufumbuzi.

Wizara ya Ardhi, Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi pamoja na Halmashauri za Wilaya waendelee kusimamia kwa karibu vyombo hivi muhimu kwa kusogeza huduma ya upatanishi na kushughulikia migogoro midogo ya ardhi. Kuna malalamiko ya kutokuwepo kwa Mabaraza ya Ardhi ya Wilaya katika Wilaya nyingi nchini.  Kwa sababu hiyo watu wamekuwa wanapata usumbufu katika kutafuta haki baada ya kutokuridhishwa na uamuzi wa Mabaraza ya Kata. Wizara iharakishe kuunda Mabaraza hayo na Halmashauri zisaidie upatikanaji wa majengo ya Mabaraza hayo.

Uhusiano wa Mabaraza ya Ardhi na Mahakama Kuu

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu;

          Naambiwa kuwa yapo malalamiko ya kukosekana mtiririko mzuri wa majalada kwenda Mahakama Kuu Kitengo cha Ardhi. Nia njema ya kuanzisha Mabaraza ya Ardhi imezaa adha. Kilio kilichopo ni kwamba Mabaraza hayo yamekuwa hayataki kutii amri ya Mahakama Kuu ya kupeleka kumbukumbu pindi kunapokuwa na rufaa dhidi ya maamuzi yake ni jambo ambalo sio tu halikutarajiwa bali halikubaliki. Linatia dosari katika utoaji wa haki ya ardhi. Wakati huo huo, Wizara ya Ardhi iwachukulie hatua zipasazo watendaji wa Mabaraza ya Ardhi wanaochelewesha kumbukumbu.

 Ni matumaini yangu kuwa wadau wanaohusika yaani Wizara ya Ardhi, Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi, Wizara ya Katiba na Sheria na Mahakama mtakaa pamoja mapema iwezekanavyo kulitafutia ufumbuzi tatizo hili. Kama itahitaji kupitia upya sheria na taratibu ifanyike hivyo ili kuondoa kikwazo hiki na kuondoa malalamiko yanayoendelea kwa muda mrefu sasa kuhusu jambo hili. Ipo rai kwamba Sheria iwawajibishe watendaji wa Mabaraza ya Ardhi kwa Mahakama Kuu moja kwa moja. Busara na hekima ya kufanya hivyo itafakariwe kwa makini.  Ni matarajio yangu kwamba hatua hizi zitachukuliwa mapema na pale kwenye mkwamo tuambiane tuone namna ya  kusaidia kukwamua.       

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu;

          Nimefarijika sana kusikia kwamba mkakati uliopo sasa ni kuongeza weledi kwenye Mahakama za Mwanzo kwa kuendelea kuajiri wahitimu wa Shahada ya Sheria kwenye Mahakama hizo.  Hili ni jambo zuri ambalo litawawezesha Mawakili kusimamia na kuendesha kesi kwenye Mahakama za Mwanzo.  Madhali sasa, hatuna uhaba wa Wanasheria na Mawakili, hili linawezekana.  Uamuzi wetu wa kupanua huduma ya Mahakama Kuu kila Mkoa ni mwendelezo wa dhamira yetu ya kuwafanya wananchi waweze kuifikia huduma hiyo karibu na wanapoishi.  Bado tunayo dhamira ya kukamilisha ujenzi wa Mahakama Kuu kila mkoa ifikapo mwaka 2016 kama tulivyoagiza.  Utekelezaji wa dhamira hii unakwenda sambamba na uteuzi wa Majaji wengi wa Mahakama Kuu kama nilivyoeleza awali. 

          Mapendekezo yako, Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu, ya kupitia upya taratibu zilizopo ili kufanya utatuzi wa migogoro na utoji haki uwe rahisi na unaoeleweka kwa wananchi ni mzuri. Sehemu kubwa ya mashauri ya madai yanahusu usuluhishi.  Kinachotakiwa ni kwa wanaosuluhishwa kuelewa na kuridhika na utaratibu uliotumika kusuluhisha migogoro yao. Nakuomba, Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu na wenzako myafanyie kazi mapendekezo hayo ili nchi yetu iwe na mfumo rahisi unaoeleweka wa kutatua migogoro kwa haki, wepesi na haraka.  Tukiweza kufikia lengo hili, wananchi wataiona Mahakama ni chombo cha kutatua migogoro na siyo mahali pageni pasipofaa kufika hata kama mtu hana budi kufanya hivyo. Hii itaondoa kishawishi kwa wananchi kutafuta njia nyingine zisizofaa kupata haki zao. Tusikubali tufike huko.

Hitimisho

Mheshimiwa Jaji Mkuu;

          Napenda kumalizia hotuba yangu kwa kurudia kukushukuru kwa kunialika kuja kujumuika nanyi siku hii adhimu. Katika kipindi hiki tumefanya mambo mengi yaliyoleta mabadiliko madogo na makubwa katika mifumo ya utoaji wa haki nchini na kuongeza ufanisi. Nawashukuru wale wote tulioshirikiana katika kuleta mabadiliko haya. Busara za Majaji Wakuu watatu walioiongoza Mahakama, Majaji wa Rufani, Majaji wa Mahakama Kuu, Wasajili, Mahakimu na watumishi wengine wa Mahakama ni hazina kubwa na ya kujivunia. Ushirikiano wa wadau mbalimbali umetusaidia kufikia hapa tulipo sasa. Naamini kama watu wataendelea kuitumikia nchi yetu na watu wake kwa moyo wa uzalendo na  kujituma tutapiga hatua kubwa mbele.

          Baada ya kusema hayo yote naomba sasa niwatakie siku njema  ya Sheria nchini.

Mungu Ibariki Afrika!

Mungu Ibariki Tanzania!

Ndugu Philip Mangula, Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCM;

Mheshimiwa Mizengo Peter Pinda, Waziri Mkuu na mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu;

Mheshimiwa Anne Makinda, Spika wa Bunge na Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu;

Ndugu Abdulrahman Kinana, Katibu Mkuu wa CCM;

Ndugu Mike Mukula, Makamu Mwenyekiti wa NRM ya Uganda na ujumbe wake;

Waheshimiwa Wajumbe wa Kamati Kuu;

Mheshimiwa Oddo Mwisho, Mwenyekiti wa CCM Mkoa wa Ruvuma;

Waheshimiwa Wajumbe wa Halmashauri Kuu ya CCM Taifa;

Wajumbe wa Sekretarieti ya CCM;

Ndugu Verena Shumbusho, Katibu wa CCM Mkoa wa Ruvuma;

Wenyeviti wa Jumuiya za CCM;

Viongozi, wananchama na wapenzi wa CCM;

CCM Oyee!

          Naomba nianze kwa kuwashukuru na kuwapongeza wenyeji wetu kwa mapokezi  mazuri, hususan napenda kuwatambua wananchi, viongozi na wana-CCM wa Mkoa wa Ruvuma wakiongozwa na Mwenyekiti wao ndugu Oddo Mwisho, Katibu wa Mkoa Mama Verena Shumbusho, Mkuu wa Mkoa na Mjumbe wa Kamati ya Siasa Ndugu Said Mwambungu. Nawapongeza kwa maandalizi mazuri ya sherehe hizi. Hakika zimefana sana.  Hii ni mara ya pili sherehe hizi kuadhimishwa mkoani hapa.  Mara ya kwanza ilikuwa mwaka 1991 wakati wa kuazimisha miaka 14 ya CCM.

Tunatambua kuwa mmefanya kazi kubwa ya maandalizi  mpaka mmeweza kufanikisha shughuli ya leo kwa kiwango cha juu. Waswahili wanasema “Usione vinaelea Vimeundwa”. Napenda kutumia nafasi hii kutoa pongezi maalum kwa Katibu Mkuu Abdulrahman Kinana kwa uongozi wake makini uliowezesha mambo kuwa mazuri kiasi hiki.  Hongera sana kwa hili na kwa kazi nyingi nzuri unazofanya kwa maslahi ya Chama chetu na nchi yetu.

Leo ni siku ya furaha kwangu na kwa viongozi na wanachama wenzangu wa CCM kote nchini ya kusherehekea na kuadhimisha miaka 38 ya kuzaliwa kwa Chama cha Mapinduzi. Tunastahili kuisherehekea siku hii kwa nderemo na vifijo kwa sababu ya mafanikio makubwa ambayo Chama chetu kimeendelea kupata ndani ya Chama na katika kuliongoza taifa letu. Katika miaka 38 ya uhai wake Chama chetu kimezidi kuimarika na kimeendelea kuliongoza vyema taifa letu: kuna amani, utulivu na maendeleo yanayoonekana.

Tumeeendelea kuaminiwa na kutumainiwa na Watanzania. Kama ilivyothibitika na ushindi wa kishindo katika chaguzi zote tangu mfumo wa vyama vingi uanze mwaka 1995 mpaka sasa.  Hata mwaka huu itakuwa hivyo hivyo. Dalili ya mvua ni mawingu: ushindi mnono tulioupata kwenye Uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa ni dalili tosha kwamba Oktoba, 2015 watani zetu hawana chao.

Ninaposema hivyo nawaomba wana CCM wenzangu tusibweteke tukadhani kwamba ndiyo tumekwishafika. Bado safari ndiyo kwanza tumeianza na inaweza kuwa na changamoto zake.  Lazima tufanye kazi tena kazi kubwa sana ndipo tutakapojihakikishia ushindi.  Nguvu ya ushindi inaanzia kwenye Chama.  Huu ni mwaka ambao kazi ya Chama ndani ya Chama na kazi ya Chama ndani ya umma inatakiwa ifanyike kwa nguvu zaidi na kwa ari kubwa zaidi.  Lazima tuhakikishe tunao umoja wa dhati na kwamba  wanachama wetu wanakuwa na mwamko wa hali ya juu wa kukipigania Chama katika kutafuta na kupata ushindi kwa Udiwani, Ubunge, Uwakilishi, Urais wa Zanzibar na Urais wa Muungano.

Huu ni mwaka ambao wanachama na viongozi wanatakiwa kuhakikisha kuwa wanakutana mara kwa mara kwa mujibu wa Katiba na hata zaidi kuzungumzia mikakati ya kupata ushindi na kuitekeleza.  Huu ni mwaka ambao lazima tuhakikishe kuwa tunazo rasilimali na nyenzo za kutuwezesha kufanya kazi ya Chama ndani ya umma na kuwapatia ushindi wagombea wa Chama chetu.

Huu ni mwaka ambao kazi ya Jumuiya za Chama ya kukiwezesha Chama kuungwa mkono na jamii pana ya Watanzania walio vijana, wanawake na wazazi inafanyika kwa umahiri na ufanisi wa hali ya juu.

Bila ya shaka, ndugu zangu mtayakumbuka maneno niliyoyasema kwa kuyarudia kuwa “Mwisho wa uchaguzi mmoja ndiyo mwanzo wa uchaguzi mwingine”. Najua baadhi yenu mmezingatia na kuchukua hatua za kufanya maandalizi mapema ya uchaguzi wa mwaka huu mara   baada ya kumaliza uchaguzi wa mwaka 2010. Hao nawapongeza.  Lakini wapo viongozi na wanachama ambao hawajafanya chochote.  Hawa, wananisikitisha kwa athari mbaya na hatari ya kupoteza ushindi wanayokiletea Chama chetu. 

Naomba kila mmoja wetu ajipime yupo fungu gani. Kama upo kwenye kundi la kwanza lililokwishaanza maandalizi natoa pongezi nyingi.  Nawaomba muendelee kukamilisha ipasavyo. Kwa wale ambao wapo kundi la wale ambao maandalizi yao ni ya kiwango kidogo au hawajaanza kabisa lazima waanze na wakati ni huu.  Usikawie, unatakiwa kufanya kazi kwa ari zaidi, nguvu zaidi na kasi zaidi kama ilivyo kauli mbiu ya CCM. Yapo mambo kadhaa ya kufanya ambayo tulikwishaambiana tufanye.  Miongoni mwao ni lile agizo la kutaka kila ngazi ya Chama na hasa Wilaya na Mikoa kuwa na Mfuko wa Uchaguzi. Wakati wake ndio huu sasa wa mfuko huo kufanya kazi iliyokusudiwa.  Naomba tujiulize wangapi wanayo mifuko hiyo na wangapi hawana.  Kwa wale walionayo wahakikishe ina rasilimali za kutosha.  Kama hazitoshi waweke mikakati ya kuitunisha mifuko hiyo.  Kwa wale ambao hawajaanzisha wachune bongo kuhusu namna ya kupata fedha za kuendeshea shughuli za uchaguzi. Sina budi kuwatahadharisha kuwa msichukue fedha ambazo zitazua matatizo.

Ndugu viongozi na ndugu wanachama;

Huu ni mwaka wa kutambua ahadi zipi tulizotoa zimetimizwa na zipi bado.  Kwa zile ambazo hazijakamilika wajibu wetu ni kuweka mikakati ya kuzikamilisha.  Kwa zile ambazo hazitakamilika tutafute maelezo sahihi ya kutoa kwa wadau wa huduma hiyo.  Naamini hazitakuwa nyingi za kuchosha. Mwaka huu siyo mzuri kwenda na madeni lukuki ya ahadi.  Yanaweza kutupunguzia ushindi wetu.

Huu ni mwaka wa kuongeza ukubwa wa jeshi letu la ushindi kwa kuongeza wananchama wapya. Natambua tatizo la upungufu wa kadi lakini najua mipango thabiti iliyopo ya kuleta kadi nyingi za kutosha wale waliopo nje. Tujiepushe na kuingiza mamluki hivyo taratibu za kuingiza wanachama zizingatiwe ipasavyo.

Ndugu Viongozi;

Ndugu Wananchi;

Jambo lingine kubwa na muhimu sana kufanya mwaka huu ni kuwatembelea wanachama na wananchi na kuzungumza nao. Hatujaifanya vizuri sana kazi hii lakini hatujachelewa.  Sina budi kutoa pongezi maalum kwa Katibu Mkuu wa CCM kwa ufanisi mkubwa aliopata kwa jambo hili.  Sote hatuna budi kuiga mfano wake mzuri.  Tuache kukaa maofisini tutoke kuzungumza na watu kuwashawishi waunge mkono na kuipigia kura CCM katika uchaguzi ujao. Kila Ofisi ya Mkoa na kila Ofisi ya Wilaya inalo gari la kuwawezesha kufanya kazi hiyo. Tafadhali fanyeni hivyo, kwani bila ya kufanya hivyo hakuna uhakika wa kupata ushindi.  Kilichobakia kwa upande wetu ni kutafuta vipando kwa Ofisi za Kata na Matawi. Tusaidiane pale inapowezekana.

Uandikishaji wa Wapiga Kura

Ndugu wana CCM na ndugu Wananchi;

          Jambo lingine muhimu katika kutafuta ushindi ni kupatikana kwa wapiga kura.  Chama chetu kama vilivyo vyama vingine, hatuna budi kuwahimiza wanachama wetu, wapenzi wetu na wananchi wengine wajitokeze kwa wingi kujiandikisha kupiga kura.  Mwaka huu wenye kadi mpya za mpiga kura ndiyo watakaoruhusiwa kupiga kura katika uchaguzi mkuu na katika kura ya maoni kuhusu Katiba Inayopendekezwa.

Asiyejiandikisha hatapata fursa ya kushiriki kura ya maoni na uchaguzi mkuu.  Kwa sababu hiyo nawaomba viongozi na wanachama wa CCM wawe ndiyo wa kwanza kujitokeza kujiandisha.  Pia wawe mstari wa mbele kuwahimiza wananchi wengine kujiandikisha.  Nawaomba jambo hili mlipe uzito mkubwa kwani safari ya kutafuta na kupata ushindi inaanzie kwenye kupata wapiga kura hususani wapiga kura wanaounga mkono Chama chetu na wagombea wetu.

Kura ya Maoni

Ndugu wananchi;

          Kama mjuavyo, jambo kubwa lililo mbele yetu ni kura ya maoni kuhusu Katiba Inayopendezwa itakayofanyika tarehe 30 Aprili, 2015. Maandalizi yote husika yanaendelea kufanyika ili kuwezesha kura hiyo kutekelezwa kama ilivyopangwa. Kama nilivyokwishaeleza hivi punde uandikishaji wa wapiga kura ni miongoni ma maandalizi hayo. Mengine ni uchapishaji na usambazaji wa Katiba Inayopendekezwa.

Yapo mambo kadhaa ambayo nawasihi viongozi na wanachama wenzangu mfuatilie kwa karibu ili yasiwapite. Yale tunayoyajua tuwaambie. Miongoni mwa mambo muhimu sana ambayo Chama hakina budi kujipanga vizuri ni kuhusu kutoa elimu kwa umma kuhusu Katiba Inayopendekezwa na kampeni ya Kura ya Maoni. Watani zetu watatoa elimu hasi kuhusu  Katiba Inayopendekezwa, sisi tutoe elimu chanya. Wenzetu watataka Katiba Inayopendekezwa  isipite. Sisi tupige kampeni ikubalike.  Nilisema siku ile Dodoma wakati wa kukabidhiwa Katiba Inayopendekezwa na narudia tena leo kwamba Katiba Inayopendekezwa imebeba maslahi mapana ya taifa letu. Hatujawahi kuwa na Katiba kama hii Inayopendekezwa.  Misingi ya historia ya nchi yetu yaani kule tulikotoka, tulipo sasa na tuendako imezingatiwa vizuri. Katiba hiyo inatambua maslahi ya makundi yote nchini na kuyawekea utaratibu mzuri wa kutekelezwa. Wakulima, wafugaji, wavuvi, wanawake, vijana, wasanii, wafanyakazi, wazee na watoto wametambuliwa kwa kina na upana zaidi kuliko Katiba ya sasa. 

Katiba Inayopendekezwa imeshughulikia kero za Muungano na kujenga mazingira bora zaidi kwa Muungano wetu kuimarika. Yale mambo yaliyokuwa yanaikwaza Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar na kuukwaza Muungano yamepatiwa ufumbuzi mwafaka. Sasa Zanzibar itaendesha na kushughulikia mambo yake kwa uhuru mkubwa zaidi.

Ndugu wananchi;

          Kwa maoni yangu sioni sababu ya kuikataa Katiba Inayopendekezwa. Hatuna budi kutambua kuwa tukiikataa Katiba Inayopendekezwa, Katiba ya sasa itaendelea kutumika mpaka hapo mchakato mwingine utakapomalizika miaka mingi ijayo. Viongozi wa vyama vinne vya siasa wamesikika wakisema watasusia kushiriki katika kura ya maoni na kuwataka wanachama wao wasishiriki. Kauli hiyo imenisikitisha sana ingawaje haikunishangaza hasa tukikumbuka waliyoyafanya wakati wa Bunge la Katiba. Mimi nawaomba washiriki.

Nawasihi wananchi wasiwasikilize. Wao wakitaka kususia waacheni wasusie lakini nyie jitokezeni kupiga kura.  Nawasihi msikubali kupoteza mema mengi yaliyo katika Katiba Inayopendekezwa ati kwa sababu tu hakuna Serikali Tatu walizokuwa wanazitaka. Kama kweli wananchi wa Tanzania wanakereketwa na Serikali Tatu watathibitisha hiyo kwenye kura ya maoni.

Naomba msibabaishwe wala kudanganywa na watu wanaotaka kuturudisha nyuma kutoka katika hatua kubwa muhimu tutakazopiga kwa kuikubali Katiba Inayopendekezwa. Tusikubali kubaki nyuma.

Uchaguzi Mkuu

Ndugu wananchi;

          Kama mjuavyo mwezi Oktoba, 2015 nchi yetu itafanya uchaguzi mkuu wa Madiwani, Wabunge, Wawakilishi, Rais wa Zanzibar na Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano. Uchaguzi wa mwaka huu ni wa kihistoria kwa nchi yetu kwani tunachagua Rais wa Awamu ya Tano wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania. Mimi nataka Rais huyo awe mwana CCM.  Sisi sote katika CCM tunataka Rais atoke katika Chama chetu  kwa sababu kama alivyousia Baba Wa Taifa Mwalimu Julius Nyerere “Rais wa nchi yetu anaweza  kutoka Chama chochote lakini Rais bora atatoka CCM”.

Huu ni usia mzito wenye maono ya mbali.  Tusiupuuze wosia huu bali tuuenzi.  Sisi katika Chama cha Mapinduzi tuwe mstari wa mbele katika kuuenzi wosia huu kwa kupata mgombea aliye bora wa kupeperusha bendera ya CCM  katika uchaguzi ujao. Mgombea ambaye wananchi wakisikia jina lake likitajwa watasema naam, hapo sawa, hapo barabara.  Lakini tukiteua mgombea ambaye watu wataguna na kusema hata huyu? Tutakuwa tumemuangusha  Muasisi wa Chama chetu na taifa letu katika wosia wake. Bila shaka laana yake tutaipata. Na hilo likitokea itakuwa hasara kubwa kwa taifa letu na msiba kwa CCM.  Nchi itayumba.

Lazima tuhakikishe kuwa hatutafika huko.  Watu wazuri wapo wa kutosha katika CCM na naamini  tunawajua. Kama hawajajitokeza tuwashawishi wafanye hivyo. Ndugu zangu, tusifanye ajizi katika jambo hili kubwa na la msingi kwa Chama chetu.  Kushinda chaguzi za dola katika sehemu zetu mbili za Muungano ndiyo madhumuni makuu ya kuundwa na kuwepo kwa CCM.      

          Napenda kuwahakikishia wanachama wa CCM na wananchi kuwa, Chama cha Mapinduzi ni Chama kilichokomaa, kilicho makini na imara. Tunao utaratibu  unaoeleweka na kutabirika wa kuwapata wagombea. Inazo kanuni na vigezo vya wazi vya kuwapata viongozi walio bora, na tunavyo vikao rasmi vya kuchuja na kuteua wagombea kwa kuzingatia kanuni, taratibu na maadili ya Chama chetu. Hivyo basi, hapataharibika jambo.

Naomba niwahakikishie kwamba CCM itawapatia Watanzania wagombea bora ambao hawatawapa wananchi mashaka wala kigugumizi cha kuwachagua.  Tutafanya hivyo kwa nafasi ya Rais wa Muungano, Rais wa Zanzibar, Wabunge, Wawakilishi na Madiwani. Nawaomba wagombea wazingatie na kuheshimu masharti ya Katiba ya Chama, Kanuni na Madili ya uteuzi kwa wanaotaka kuteuliwa kugombea nafasi katika chaguzi za dola. Asiyezingatia hayo asije akakilaumu Chama bali ajilaumu mwenyewe kwa makosa aliyoyafanya.

Utekelezaji wa Ilani ya Uchaguzi wa CCM

Ndugu wananchi;

          Miezi minne iliyopita nilifanya ziara ya mkoa huu wa Ruvuma kukagua shughuli za maendeleo.  Nimefurahishwa sana na jitihada za kujiletea maendeleo zinazofanywa na wananchi wa mkoa huu na mafanikio mnayoendelea kuyapata. Utekelezaji wa Ilani ya Uchaguzi ya CCM na mipango mbalimbali ya serikali unakwenda vizuri, kiasi cha kuwastajabisha hata wale waliokuwa na mashaka na wasio tutakia mema.

Yako mambo mengi tuliyoahidi kufanya ambayo tumeyakamilisha na mengine utekelezaji wake unaendelea vizuri. Kilio cha miaka mingi cha wananchi wa mkoa huu kuhusu barabara kimefanyiwa kazi vya kutosha. Ujenzi wa barabara ya Namtumbo – Songea na  Peramiho - Mbinga kwa kiwango cha lami umekamilika. Tunaendelea na ujenzi wa barabara ya Namtumbo – Tunduru na Tunduru – Mangaka ili kuunganisha mkoa wa Mtwara na Ruvuma kwa barabara za lami. Aidha, mipango ya kujenga barabara ya Mbinga – Mbambabay kwa mkopo wa Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika imefikia mahali pazuri.  Kwa upande wa usafiri katika Ziwa Nyasa hivi sasa mchakato wa ujenzi wa chelezo cha kujengea meli ya ziwa hilo kule kwenye bandari ya Itungi, Kyela unaendelea vizuri. Ujenzi wa chelezo ukishakamilika ujenzi wa meli utaanza.

Kwa upande wa umeme tunaendelea na ujenzi wa njia ya umeme ya msongo wa Kv 220 kutoka Makambako kuja Songea na hadi Mbinga na Namtumbo.  Ujenzi wa njia hii ya umeme utakapokamilika utawahakikishia wakazi wa mji wa Songea na mkoa wa Ruvuma umeme wa uhakika. Tumechelewa kidogo kwa sababu ya kubadilisha ukubwa wa njia kutoka msongo wa Kv 132 tuliyotaka kujenga awali hadi Kv 220. Aidha, usambazaji wa umeme vijijini unaendelea kwa kasi katika maeneo yote nchini. Tunataka ifikapo June, 2015 zaidi ya vijiji 5,336 viwe vimepatiwa umeme. Kati ya vijiji hivyo zaidi ya vijiji 300 ni vya mkoa wa Ruvuma. Haya ni mafanikio makubwa na ya kutia moyo.

Kuhusu sekta ya Afya nako pia tumepata mafanikio makubwa katika utoaji wa huduma ya afya kwa Watanzania. Kwa hapa Songea nimekwishatoa maelekezo kwa Wizara ya Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii kuanza mchakato wa ujenzi wa hospitali mpya ya Mkoa wa Ruvuma na hii iliyopo sasa iwe ni hospitali ya Manispaa ya Mji wa Songea. Halmashauri ya Manispaa ya Songea iharakishe kutenga eneo la kutosha kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa hospitali hiyo ya mkoa ambayo itakuwa ni ya rufaa kwa yale ambayo hospitali za Wilaya zitashindwa kumudu.

Haya ni maeneo machache tu ambayo yanaonyesha hatua kubwa tuliyopiga katika utekelezaji wa Ilani ya Uchaguzi na maendeleo ya mkoa huu. Ukweli ni kwamba Ruvuma ya miaka 10 iliyopita siyo Ruvuma ya leo. Ninyi nyote ni mashahidi wa mambo haya. Mwenye macho haambiwi tazama.

Ndugu wananchi;

Jambo la mwisho ambalo napenda kulizungumzia ambalo nilishalizungumzia kwenye hotuba yangu ya mwaka mpya inahusu ununuzi wa mazao ya wakulima. Nilieleza siku ile kuwa Wakala wa Taifa wa Hifadhi ya Chakula (NFRA) ilikuwa bado haijalipa shilingi bilioni 89 kwa wakulima kwa mazao yao iliyonunua. Nilielezea kutokufurahishwa  kwangu na hali hiyo na kuagiza Wakala kulipa deni hilo. 

Nimeambiwa kuwa tayari shilingi bilioni 15 zimeshatolewa na hapa Ruvuma mmepata shilingi bilioni 8.  Hivi karibuni shilingi bilioni 36 zitatolewa na kubaki shilingi bilioni 38 ambazo zitalipwa mwezi Machi.

Jambo lingine ambalo tunaendelea nalo kulishughuikia katika Serikali ni kupata masoko mengine kwa mazao ya wakulima.  Kama nilivyosema NFRA haiwezi kununua mazao yote ya wakulima nchini. Uwezo wake ni kuhifadhi tani 240,000 wakati uzalishaji wa mahindi hapa Ruvuma ni tani 993,350.  Hata kama NFRA ingeamua kununua mahindi yote kutoka mkoa wa Ruvuma peke yake isingeweza kuyamaliza.

Nimewaagiza viongozi wa mkoa wa Ruvuma  na mikoa yote nchini washirikiane na Wizara ya Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika na Wizara ya Viwanda na Biashara kutafuta masoko mengi kwa ajili ya mahindi, mpunga na mtama wa wakulima ndani na nje ya nchi.

Tunakokwenda

Ndugu wana CCM;

          Mafanikio ya miaka 38 ya Chama chetu yasitufanye tubweteke. Bado tunayo kazi kubwa mbele yetu.  Ili tuendelee kuongoza dola hatuna budi tuendelee kuwa tumaini na kimbilio la wananchi wetu. Inatupasa kuwa waaminifu kwa ahadi zetu na watiifu kwa matakwa yao.  Kubwa sana, tunatakiwa tuwe tayari wakati wote kubadilika na kwenda na wakati. Tunaweza kufanya hivyo ikiwa tutaendelea kukuza demokrasia ndani ya Chama chetu na kuruhusu na kuvumilia tofauti za mitazamo.  Hiyo ndiyo siri ya uhai wa CCM ambayo hatuna budi kuendeleza.

          Tunapoanza safari ya kuelekea mwaka wa 39, hatuna budi sasa kuelekeza nguvu zetu kwenye kuondoa utegemezi wa kifedha kutoka kwenye ruzuku na michango ya wafanyabiashara.  Kutegemea misaada na michango si mambo endelevu na huo hauwezi kuwa ni mkakati wa kutumainiwa wa kuimarisha Chama chetu.  Wakati mwingine michango hii imetugharimu ndani ya Chama chetu.  Lazima tuwe wabunifu katika kutafuta vyanzo vya mapato ikiwa ni pamoja na rasilimali zetu nyingi tulizonazo ili kuwezesha Chama kujitegemea. Tayari yako mawazo yaliyoibuliwa kutokana na kazi nzuri ya Kamati iliyoongozwa na Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu na Mweka Hazina wetu Mheshimiwa Zakhia Meghji tumeagiza yatekelezwe. Naomba mtimize ipasavyo wajibu wenu.

Hitimisho

Ndugu wana CCM;

          Leo ni siku ya furaha kwetu sote. Wakati tukisherehekea mafanikio yetu tuwakumbuke pia waasisi wetu Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, aliyekuwa Mwenyeti wa TANU na Ndugu Sheikh Aboud Jumbe aliyekuwa Mwenyekiti wa ASP kwa busara, hekima na uamuzi wao uliotukuka uliowezesha kuzaliwa kwa CCM.  Tunawakumbuka pia wale wote waliotangulia mbele ya haki ambao walijitoa maisha yao kujenga CCM.  Hatuna budi kuwaenzi kwa kutoa  mchango mkubwa zaidi mwaka ujao na miaka mingi ijayo. Tuhakikishe kuwa tunaimarisha Chama chetu na kutenda mema kwa ajili ya nchi yetu na watu wake. Hili linawezekana ikiwa kila mtu atatimiza wajibu wake. Kidumu Chama cha Mapinduzi!

Asanteni sana kwa kunisikiliza.

Your Excellency Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of the Republic of Mali;

Honourble Dr. Gerd Muller, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany;

Honourable Ministers present;

Mr. Bill Gates, Co-Chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation;

Mr. Dagfinn Hoybrated, Chairman GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance;

Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Appreciation

Much has been said already, by those who spoke before me at this unique opportunity “making history together”.  Mine, therefore, are a few words to amplify the same.  Tanzania is proud to be part of this great GAVI family, and part of this historical mission of saving lives of innocent children through vaccine and immunization. This meeting here in Berlin to renew our resolve to scale up our immunization programs to reach more children and save more lives gives us every reason to be hopeful. 

I thank Mr. Bill Gates and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the outstanding contribution they have been making in supporting GAVI and for bringing us together this evening. It takes such a caring and compassionate to do what you are doing for the world, Bill. It is beyond philanthropy, it is beyond service, it is beyond words, it is a reflection of a genuine belief in humanity and the dignity of human beings. This evening we are also celebrating your lives, and accomplishments in life.

Tribute to Late Nelson Mandela

Ladies and Gentlemen;              

As we meet this evening, it is befitting that we pay tribute to the legendary leader, the late President Nelson Mandela and the first President of GAVI. Madiba is one of Africa's best sons. We will always applaud him and remember him for his outstanding contribution to this noble course. Words are not good enough to speak about the late Mandela. He is a man of extraordinary accomplishments, lessons and facets.

To many of us, the name Mandela is associated with the fight for equality and justice. His search for equality and justice for both the oppressed and the oppressors distinguished him from many people who otherwise would have searched for one and leave the other. To him, equality and justice was not only meant to be matters of political realm, but of all spheres of life. No wonder, he advocated for equality and justice with regard to the well being of children when he said, " life or death of a young child too often depends on whether he is born in a country where vaccines available or not".  Today, his legacy and spirit continue to live with us and they guide our actions. I am gratified that we have dedicated this evening to celebrate his life and renew our commitment to make his spirit immortal.

Achievements of GAVI

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The timing of this meeting is perfect given that it allows us to take stock of the gains and shape the future that is ahead of us. Since 2000, GAVI has made immunization possible to 370 million children, and has helped developing countries to prevent more than 5.5 million future deaths. These would have been caused by preventable diseases such as Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenza type B (HiB),  Measles, Pertussis, Pneumonic disease, Polio, Rotavirus, Diarrhea and Yellow Fever. 

We in Tanzania have made remarkable achievements with regard to vaccine and immunization coverage.  Thanks to GAVI we speak about the universality of this program in Tanzania. Every child irrespective of the place they came from, family they belong or gender are granted free access to immunization. These achievements are not small at all. It took a lot of efforts and commitment on the part of a number of players including GAVI, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners, to arrive at these hard-won results.  I thank each one of those who contributed for making it possible. Each life we have saved, we saved a generation and the next generation.

The challenge ahead of us is daunting one, indeed. One is tempted to say that it is an uphill task which requires timely action. We know fairly well that, securing the gains is one thing and sustaining those gains is another. We must rise to the challenge together.

Conclusive Remarks and Way Forward

Ladies and Gentlemen;

This evening we are walking through the path and footsteps of the great man, the late President Nelson Mandela. As he undertook the long walk to freedom, we are undertaking the long walk to freedom of our children from death caused by preventable diseases. Ours is a long walk for our children’s freedom to access vaccines and immunization, freedom from diseases and preventable deaths, and freedom for our children to pursue their future with hope and as equal. Taking this long walk is the best way to live up to President Mandela's legacy. I thank all of you for your readiness to undertake this long walk and make it bear the desired outcomes. Again, I thank the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for leading the walk, and I thank GAVI and all other partners present here for making us walk the talk.

I thank you all for listening.

Your Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of  Uganda;

Your Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya;

Your Excellency Salva Mayardit Kiir, President of the Republic of South Sudan and Chairman of SPLM;

Your Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa;

Your Excellency Riek Machar, Former Vice Chairman of SPLM and Former Vice President of South Sudan;

Honourable Deng Alor Kuol, Representative of SPLM Former  Leaders Detainees;

Madame Rebecca Nyandeng Garang de Mabior, Mother of the South Sudanese Nation;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          I thank Your Excellencies for accepting my invitation to join our brothers and sisters of South Sudan on this very auspicious occasion of signing an Agreement on the Re-unification of the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement.

          Today therefore, is a momentous day for the SPLM, its members and all the people of South Sudan.  This is the new chapter which they have been anxiously waiting to dawn on their historic party.  It is the day when hope for peace and unity for the people of South Sudan is not only being rekindled  in earnest but seems to be within reach.  As we all know, it is the split in the ranks of the SPLM which landed this youngest nation on this planet into the on going civil war.

          All of us gathered here today are deeply touched and elated by the historic event we have just witnessed.  We warmly congratulate His Excellency Salva Mayardit Kiir, President of South Sudan and Chairman of SPLM, His Excellency Riek Machar, former Vice Chairman of SPLM and former Vice President of South Sudan and Comrade Deng Alor Kuol of the SPLM’s Former Detainees on this important milestone. We commend and congatulate most sincerely, the negotiating teams from the three factions of the SPLM  for the wonderful work. It is a job very well done.  Allow me to recognise the SPLM in Government team led by Comrade Daniel Awet Akot, the SPLM in Opposition team led by Comrade Taban deng Gai and the SPLM – Former Detainees team led by Comrade Deng Alor Kuol.  At kast their sweat and toil here at the Ngurdoto Montain Lodge since October, 2014 has born the desired fruits. Nothing is impossible. Where there a will, there is a way.

The signing of the agreement today, marks the beginning of a new era and a new beginning in the history of the SPLM. The agreement says it all. It is an era of reconciliation,  healing and rebuilding of the party. The signatures apended symbolise the beginning of the end of the dark shadow that has unfortunately shrouded the Party and the nation, causing immense pain and suffering to both members of SPLM and the people of the South Sudan.

Excellencies;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Today’s agreement gives the people of South Sudan  and all of us gathered here and beyond, every reason to hope that a successful conclusion of the Addis Ababa peace process is feasible. I believe it will not take long from now to be realized. We hope, from now on the negotiations will move much faster and enable the people of South Sudan to look to the future with  even greater hope and antincipation. It is a victory for us all.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Allow me to quote a Swahili saying (which goes) “Kuzaa si kazi, kazi kulea”.  Translated literary, it means: “giving birth is easy, but bringing up the child is the difficult task”. Senior most SPLM leaders have appended their signatures to this historic agreement on re-unification of their party.  The most demanding task begins immediately hereafter. The agreement contains specific commitments and timelines, very well elaborated in the implementation matrix.  Please ensure that you keep the promise and stay the course on implementation.  Ensure adherence to the timelines.

I know, it is not going to be easy all the time. There may be some difficulties or difficult moments.  That should not discourage you.  You must never give up.  Remain steadfast, maintain dialogue amongst youselves and continue to find amicable solutions  to the challenges you may encounter on the way.  I would like to assure you that all of us  gathered here stand ready, wherever and whenever, to do the needful if you so wish. These include Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. We will not leave you alone.  Our presence here today serves as an assurance of our readiness and availability. 

Excellencies;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          It would be remiss of me if I concluded my speech without expressing words of appreciation to President Salva Kiir, former Vice President, Riek Machar and all leaders and  members of the SPLM for the trust you have reposed in Chama Cha Mapinduzi. By that inference you have reposed on Tanzania. It is something we did not expect. I must admit when I received the request from President Salva Mayardit Kiir I had some trepidation. I consider this to be humane.  It was the fear of the unknown. I asked myself many question. Can we really, be useful? Can we deliver on their expectations? Are we not creating a parallel initiative to the one of IGAD in Addis Ababa? All that not withstanding we plucked courage and rose to challenge. Here we are, witnessing this momentous achievement by our SPLM comrades. We thank you for your co-operation and understanding for, had it not been for that, we would not have been here, this evening.

Excellencies;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Allow me to thank my colleagues of Chama Cha Mapinduzi and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the excellent work done. I thank them for agreeing to spare their precious time to undertake this historic mission. Above all I commend their patience and perseverence. I know it has not been easy. I thank the Secretary General of CCM, Comrade Abdulrahman Kinana, Foreign Minister Honourable Bernard Membe, His Excellency John Samuel Malecela, Former Vice Chairman of CCM (the Chairman of process) and his team of cadres for their commitment and had work. You have done Tanzania proud. I also thank in a very special way, the CMI and all friends for the generous support which made undertaking the process possible.

Excellencies;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          In conclusion, let me say once again that,reunifying the SPLM is a process whose the success of which  requires that today’s agreement be fully and earnestly implemented. It is in your best interest, our SPLM Comrades, and that of the people of Sudan to see that is done.  The eyes  and ears of all persons in the region, on the continent and in the world are now fixed on you.  The whole world wishes to see that South Sudan is restored to normalcy and people live safely, happily and return to their normal and ordinary lives. Personally, I have no doubt in my mind that the people of South Sudan and their leaders will successfully rise to this occasion.  You have to prove wrong the doubting Thomases and your detractors. You did so when you joined hands in the  liberation  struggle and you were crowned with success. After working with you since August, 2014 I know there is a part of the leaders gathered here. You will definitely do it again this time around. You will prevail and overcome the current trials and tribulations. We want you to succeed. Your success is our success.  Let me assure you that we in Tanzania, the countries gathered and the whole of Africa shall always be there for the people of South Sudan as we have always been.  We will walk with you every step of the way during the process of re-unification of your Party and in the search for sustainable peace and stability in your great nation.

          Long live the SPLM! Long live South Sudan! Long Live Africa!

I thank you.

Honourable Bernard Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation;

Your Excellency Juma Alfan Mpango, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps;

Excellencies, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Welcome Remarks

          I welcome you all to the State House. I thank you for accepting my invitation to attend this traditional event to commemorate the end of 2014 and welcome 2015. 

I do hope that, those of you who joined the diplomatic community in Dar es Salaam in 2014, have settled down, and are receiving the necessary cooperation of my government and of your diplomatic colleagues.  I extend our very best wishes for the New Year to you all and through you to your Heads of State and Government, Heads if your respective institutions, your people, your spouses and staff,.

Economic and Political Development

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

The year 2014 has been a very eventful year for Tanzania.  We are witnesses to important landmark events happening in the social-political and economic landscape of the country.  The economy continued to register strong macro-economic performance.  GDP growth is expected to be 7.4 percent compared to 7.3 percent in 2013.  Inflation rate dropped from 6.0 percent in January 2014 to 4.8 percent in December 2014. This drop is a result of an increase in food production. Last year, we produced a surplus of 3.25 million tonnes of grains which is an increase of 31.4 percent compared to a surplus of 2.23 million tonnes in 2013.    The objectives of Kilimo Kwanza and SAGCOT are working and succeeding.

We also registered an increase in export earnings.  By 31 October, 2014, Tanzania exported goods and services worth USD 8.539 billion compared to USD billion 8.332 recorded at the same time in 2013. Had it not been for the fall in the world prices of coffee, tea, cashew nuts, cotton and gold, we would have done much better.

Excellencies;

          In another development, last year, we concluded the rebasing exercise of our economic statistics.  The base year will now be 2007 instead of 2001.  Accordingly, therefore, the GDP of Tanzania in 2013 was 70 trillion shillings using 2007 base year compared to 53.7 billion shillings using 2001 base year.  Likewise, GDP per capita is 977 USD compared to 742 USD using 2001 figures.  Please be informed that this is the 5^th time such an exercise was undertaken in Tanzania.  Previously it was done in 1966, 1976, 1992 and 2001.

Social Progress

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

We also registered commendable progress in the social-economic services particularly in education, health care, water supply, roads, airports and railways. The New Education and Training Policy was approved by Cabinet.  The Policy underlines improving access and quality of education and training as core tenet of the new policy.  Everything else is an elaboration of how to see this core policy tenet is realised.

 There are two important factors of the new Policy that are worth mentioning.  First the renewed emphasis on ensuring that Tanzanians get the type of education that will cater for the needs of the job market in terms of wage employment and self employment.  The second is the aspiration of making secondary school education free from next year, 2016.  The idea to make primary and secondary school education accessible to every Tanzanian is a major undertaking on our part.  That is why we in government have given ourselves the task of ensuring proper preparations are made so that this noble goal can be realised smoothly.

Excellencies;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

There are three other landmark developments in education which occurred in 2014 that I would like to share with you today.  The first one is with regard to availability of primary and secondary school teachers.  With the employment of 36,339 teachers in 2014 we remain with a shortage of 45,233 teachers of which 26,946 are for primary schools and 18,288 are for secondary schools.  This is the lowest shortage of teachers we have ever been in the last seven years.  Indeed, the cooperative endeavour of some of you and us, to invest in teacher training is paying desired dividends.

 The other important highlight worthy mentioning is the fact that there is no more shortage of teachers of arts subjects in secondary schools in Tanzania unlike the situation seven years ago.  However, we are still contending with a shortage of 18,277 science teachers in secondary schools.  The capacity of our training institutions is to produce 2,500 teachers annually, compounds the problem.  In this regard, we welcome the innovative action by the University of Dodoma to design a diploma course for science and mathematics teachers.  The plan to enrol 5,602 students annually beginning 2014/2015 academic year should help ease and resolve the shortage of these teachers at the earliest possible time.

Excellencies;

The second thing is the shortage of text books in primary and secondary schools.  We have been making steady progress in tackling this problem.  In 2005, for example, in primary schools the ratio of book to students was 1:6 while in secondary schools it was 1:5.  Through using own budgetary resources and support from development partners, in 2014 the ratio was 1:2 for both.  I would like, to use this opportunity to thank our development partners for their support.

 Allow me to recognise the United States of America for donating 2.5 million science and mathematics books for secondary school last month.  Our overarching ambition is to get to 1:1 ratio by 2016.  Your continued cooperation and support will be highly appreciated.

Excellencies;

Through a unique Public People Partnership, close to 3,500 community secondary schools have been built since 2005 todate.  Because of serious oversight on the part of leaders, 3,463 of these schools did not construct science laboratories.  Two years ago, I launched a major campaign to build laboratories in these schools.   Good progress has been made.  So far 40.5 percent of the laboratories have been completed, work is at advanced stage for 54.8 percent and 4 percent of the laboratories is at initial stage of construction.   I believe in six months time all of these schools will have physics, chemistry and biology laboratories.  Any support we can get from your great nations with regard to provision of laboratory equipment and other needs will be highly appreciated.

Excellencies;

After dealing effectively with the issues of shortage of teachers, text books and science       laboratories, the next big thing ahead of us will be teacher’s houses.  We will launch a major initiative in the next budget to build houses for teachers beginning with rural areas.  There is a huge shortage.  We will seek your support in this last mile action in primary and secondary school education development in Tanzania.  We look forward to your cooperation and support as you have always done in the past. 

Health Sector

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Equally important progress was made in the health sector.  This was in terms of building and equipping health delivery centres and dealing with diseases.  With regard to employment, in 2014 we employed 8,345 health professionals of whom there were doctors, nurses and other professionals. With regard to training of health personnel, we were able to reach 97 percent of our target of admitting 10,000 students by the year 2017.  I am sure, therefore that, we will surpass that target by far by that time. 

Infrastructure

Excellencies;

We registered remarkable progress in infrastructure development in 2014.  The tarmac road network was extended by 1,459 kilometres with 19 tarmac roads completed in 11 regions.  This year we expect 24 roads to be completed in 12 regions.  This will add another 1,339.06 kilometres.  We also expect work to start on eight new roads in Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Kilimanjaro, Katavi and Arusha regions.  Thousands of kilometres of earth roads have been improved using the Road Fund whose budgetary allocation has been increased to 751.7 billion shillings in 2014 from 504.4 billion shillings in 2013.

  Implementation of the rural electrification programme being undertaken by the Rural Energy Agency (REA) has been a tremendous success.  3,836 villages have been electrified by 2014 and we expect another 1,500 will be reached by June, 2015.  This means 43 percent of all villages in the country will be covered giving an access to electricity for 38 percent of Tanzanians as compared to 18.4 percent in 2012.  This is no small achievement in a short period of two years.  A lot has been achieved as well in the railway, ports and water sub sectors.  For brevity of time I will not go into details today. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

It would be remiss of me, if I did not acknowledge, appreciate and thank some of you gathered here for your country’s or institution’s kind support.  It has made a huge difference.  I appeal for continued support and cooperation in 2015 and other years to come. 

50^th Anniversary of the Union

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Another landmark event of last year was the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Union between the People’s of Republic of Zanzibar and the Republic of Tanganyika on 26^th April, 1964, which gave birth to the United Republic of Tanzania.

The people of Tanzania had every reason to celebrate because it is a momentous achievement.  Our Union remain one of the few examples of successful and long surviving mergers of two sovereign republics into one new nation.  The secret behind this success has been the continued goodwill of our cooperating states and our readiness to openly discuss challenges facing the union and resolving them. 

I initiated Constitutional Review process in the same spirit.  There are some issues which require action in the Constitution.  I am glad the Constitution Review process went well and if the Proposed Constitution is endorsed in the Referendum a last solution will have been resolved.  The Electoral Commission is finalising preparations for the referendum to be held on April 30^th, 2015.  We are doing everything within our powers to ensure that the problems identified in the pilot registration of voters exercise and others, are addressed speedily. 

Excellencies;

It is critically important that the exercise succeeds because   the Voters Register being developed for the Constitutional Referendum is the same one that will be used in the General Elections later in October 2015. With regard to support for the General Elections, let me use this opportunity to thank the UNDP and all other partner states and institutions that have expressed readiness to assist our government in the preparations.  Please expedite the disbursement of the promised resources.  I want to assure you of the readiness of my Government to work with you all.   

Local Government Elections

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

On 14^th and 20^th December 2014, respectively, the country conducted local Government elections. The successful conduct and conclusion of these elections speaks volume about the vibrancy and consolidation of democracy in Tanzania.  I commended the Parties and the people who contested the elections.  I also congratulated the winners.  I commended my Party CCM for the landslide victory and the opposition parties for the stronger performance. I deplored violence by followers of political parties and mistakes committed by some election officials.  We took action against both, we are sending a strong message that such action will not be tolerated in the General Elections in October, 2015.

Post 2015 Development Agenda

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

The year 2015 is a special one as far as the global development agenda is concerned.  It is the year when the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) comes to a close and the negotiations on the Post 2015 Development Agenda will be concluded.

          We in Tanzania would like to see the unfinished business of the MDGs to form part of the post 2015 development agenda. For effective implementation of the post 2015 development agenda Tanzania emphasizes on a clear mechanism to ensure stable, predictable and reliable sources of financing for its implementation.  We promise to play our part well in the negotiations of the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

Regional Integration

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

At the regional level, Tanzania will continue to be a committed and proactive member to the EAC, SADC and ICGLR.   Last November, Tanzania assumed the Chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC). In our one year tenure of office, we will strive to consolidate the gains made todate and work to advance the East African integration agenda to the greatest heights possible.  We shall equally remain committed to the SADC and participate fully in the implementation of the Regional Indicative Development Plan (RIDP), the SADC Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO) and all decisions of the SADC Summit and its Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

The International Scene

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

At the continental and global scene, Tanzania will remain a faithful member of the African Union and the United Nations.  Currently, we have contributed over 3,000 troops to UN peace keeping mission in the DRC, Darfur and Lebanon.   Tanzania is the 6^th contributor of military and police peacekeepers in Africa and 12^th globally. In making this noble contribution, we are advancing both our foreign policy objective and upholding the ideals of the United Nations Organisation. I promise continued contribution to UN peace keeping efforts whenever requested to do so.

Let me use this opportunity to set records straight about Tanzania’s position and role in the evolving security situation in the Eastern DRC and the on going voluntary surrender and disarmament exercise by the FDLR rebels.  We have always been supportive and will continue to be supportive of these efforts to ensure the Eastern DRC is free of armed groups that threaten the security of the people of Congo and Congo’s neighbours.  Any misrepresentation of Tanzania’s position is done by people who pretend to read Tanzania’s mind and make their thinking the truth.  This is preposterous and contemptible.  It is done by people who have ill intensions against our country.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Another development which I would like you to know is about South Sudan.  In October, 2014 Tanzania through the ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi facilitated the Intra – Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) dialogue, in Arusha.  This was done following the request of His Excellency President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and the leadership of the SPLM in August, 2014.  They requested CCM to help unify the conflicting factions within the SPLM.  It is these decisions in SPLM which is actually responsible for the ongoing conflict and war in their dear country.  

The first round of the dialogue went very well, and at its conclusion the three factions signed a Framework Document.  President Salva Kiir, Former Vice President Riek Machar and I, were present to witness this occasion.  The parties are now back, and in accordance with the Framework Document, they will now address the root causes of the conflict within the party and devise the way out. 

Excellencies;

I am of the view that, if the negotiating teams maintain the spirit they demonstrated in the first round, this process will be crowned with success.  They will be able to reunite their Party and pave the way for ease and success of the IGAD peace negotiations in Addis Ababa.  We urge the international community and all other people of good will to spare no effort in assisting the SPLM teams involved in the negotiations in Arusha to reach an amicable solution. Let us help them agree to reunify their Party – the SPLM and end the armed conflict which has caused untold suffering and deaths to innocent people in this youngest nation in the world.  The newest member of the African Union and the United Nations. 

Bilateral Relations

Your Excellency Dean of the Diplomatic Corps;

Excellencies, Heads of Diplomatic Missions;

Representatives of International Organizations;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Last but not least in importance, I would like to say a few words about our bilateral relations.  I am amply satisfied with the state of relations between Tanzania and the countries and organisations you represent.  You have been important contributors to our development endeavours.  Some of you have been important partners in regional, and global political-diplomatic arena as well. 

On behalf of the government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania and on my own behalf, I thank you so much for your friendship, cooperation and support.  Let us strive to do more in 2015 and advance our bilateral relations to greater heights. You will always find in Tanzania a trusted and dependable friend and partner.

The year 2015 will be an exciting one, especially on the political front with the Constitutional Referendum and the General Elections.  We look forward to your usual cooperation, support and understanding.  Please do not do otherwise. 

After these many words, I once again thank you for accepting my invitation.   I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year 2015.  Thank you for your kind attention.

Utangulizi

Ndugu zangu;

Watanzania Wenzangu;

Kama ilivyo ada imefikia siku ya kuuaga mwaka mmoja na kuukaribisha mwaka mwingine. Leo tunauaga mwaka 2014 na kuukaribisha mwaka mpya wa 2015. Tunamshukuru Muumba wetu mwingi wa rehema kwa kutujaalia uzima na kutuwezesha kuifikia siku ya leo. Kwa ndugu na jamaa zetu ambao hawakujaliwa kuiona siku ya leo tuzidi kuwaombea mapumziko mema.  Nasi tumuombe Mwenyezi Mungu, mwingi wa rehema atujaalie umri mrefu, afya njema na mafanikio tele kwa kila tuliombalo katika mwaka 2015 na miaka ijayo.

Ndugu wananchi;

          Hizi ni salamu zangu za mwisho za mwaka mpya kutoa nikiwa Rais wa nchi yetu. Mwakani salamu kama hizi zitatolewa na Rais wetu mpya.  Mimi wakati huo nitakuwa raia wa kawaida kijijini kwangu Msoga nikifuatilia kwenye TV na radio hotuba ya Rais wa Awamu ya Tano ya uongozi wa nchi yetu akitoa salamu zake za kwanza za  mwaka mpya, itakuwa siku ya furaha na faraja kubwa kwangu.

                                                Hali ya Usalama                                               

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Tunaumaliza mwaka 2014 kwa salama na amani.  Mipaka yetu iko salama na hakuna tishio lolote la kiusalama kutoka ndani au nje ya nchi yetu. Uhusiano wetu na nchi jirani na nyinginezo duniani ni mzuri.  Hakuna nchi iliyo adui au tunayoitilia shaka kuwa na njama za kuhatarisha usalama wa Tanzania.  Nawapongeza wanadiplomasia wetu pamoja na viongozi na watendaji wa vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama kwa kuendelea kuifanya nchi yetu kuwa salama.

Uhalifu Unapungua

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Taarifa za Polisi zinaonyesha kuwa, mwaka 2014 vitendo vya uhalifu vimepungua ikilinganishwa na mwaka 2013.  Mwaka huu, matukio ya uhalifu yaliyoripotiwa Polisi yalikuwa 64,088 ikilinganishwa na matukio 66,906 katika mwaka 2013. Haya ni matokeo ya kazi nzuri inayofanywa na Jeshi la Polisi wakishirikiana na vyombo vingine vya usalama pamoja na raia wema.  Naomba ushirikiano huu uendelee mwaka ujao na miaka ijayo ili tuweze kupata mafanikio makubwa zaidi. 

Ajali za Barabarani

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Nimefarijika kusikia pia kuwa matukio ya ajali za barabarani nchini nayo yanaendelea kupungua. Mwaka huu kumetokea ajali 14,048 zilizosababisha vifo vya watu  3,534 na wengine 16,166 kujeruhiwa.  Mwaka 2013 kulitokea ajali 22,383 zilizosababisha vifo 3,746 na majeruhi 19,433.  Hivyo mwaka huu kulikuwa na ajali 8,335, vifo 212 na majeruhi 3,267 pungufu kuliko mwaka jana. Huu ni mwelekeo mzuri na wa kutia moyo ingawa bado ni nyingi mno. Naomba yale tuliyoyafanya yaliyotuwezesha kupata unafuu huu mwaka huu yaendelezwe maradufu mwaka 2015 na miaka ijayo.

Ugaidi

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Mwaka huu tumefanikiwa kutambua mtandao wa viongozi na washirika wao wanaotuhumiwa kupanga na kufanya mashambulizi ya kigaidi kwa kutumia mabomu na kumwagia watu tindikali Tanzania Bara na Zanzibar.  Watu 112 wanaotuhumiwa kujihusisha na vitendo vya ugaidi wametiwa nguvuni.  Tayari watuhumiwa 87 kati yao wameshafikishwa mahakamani na waliosalia watafikishwa wakati wo wote.  Uchunguzi unaendelea ili kuwatambua wahusika wengine ambao hawajakamatwa.

Ndugu wananchi;

          Kwa niaba ya Watanzania wenzangu wote, natoa pongezi nyingi kwa vyombo vyetu vya ulinzi na usalama kwa kazi nzuri waliyofanya ya kutambua mtandao wa ugaidi nchini na kuchukua hatua thabiti za kuudhibiti.  Hali kadhalika nawashukuru raia wema waliotoa taarifa zilizowezesha haya kufanyika.  Hatupaswi kubweteka wala kudhani kuwa mambo yamekwisha.  Lazima tuendelee kuchukua tahadhari muda wote kwani hatujui adui anapanga kufanya hujuma gani, lini na wapi.

Dawa za Kulevya

Ndugu Wananchi;      

          Tumeendelea kupata mafanikio ya kutia moyo katika vita dhidi ya biashara na matumizi ya dawa za kulevya nchini. Mwaka huu watuhumiwa 935 wakiwemo vigogo wa biashara hii haramu duniani wamekamatwa.  Jumla ya kesi 19 zimefunguliwa Mahakamani.  Aidha,  kiasi cha kilo 400 za heroine, kilo 45 za cocaine na kilo 81,318 za bangi zimekamatwa.  Narudia kutoa pongezi nyingi kwa Kikosi Kazi Maalum cha Kukabiliana na dawa za kulevya nchini kwa mafanikio yanayoendelea kupatikana. Matunda ya kazi yao tunayaona.  Naomba juhudi ziongezwe maradufu mwaka ujao na miaka ijayo.  Serikali itaendelea kuwaunga mkono.

Ndugu wananchi;

Kama nilivyoahidi mwaka jana, Muswada wa Sheria ya Kuthibiti na Kupambana na Dawa za Kulevya umeshasomwa kwa mara ya kwanza katika Mkutano wa Novemba, 2014 wa Bunge letu tukufu. Pamoja na kupendekeza kuongeza adhabu kwa makosa ya kujihusisha na dawa za kulevya, Muswada huo pia unapendekeza kuanzisha chombo kipya chenye nguvu cha kuzuia na kupambana na dawa za kulevya.  Muswada huu ukipitishwa na kuwa Sheria tutakuwa tumeongeza nguvu ya mapambano dhidi ya biashara na matumizi ya dawa za kulevya nchini.

Ujangili wa Wanyamapori

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Katika mwaka tunaomaliza leo mapambano dhidi ya ujangili na biashara haramu ya bidhaa zinazotokana na wanyama pori yameimarishwa. Kwa ujumla kasi ya ujangili imeendelea kupungua.  Katika mwaka 2014 ndovu 114 waliuawa ikilinganishwa na ndovu 219 waliouawa mwaka 2013 au ndovu 473 mwaka 2012.             Aidha, majangili 1,354 wamekamatwa na pembe za ndovu 542 na silaha mbalimbali 184 nazo zilikamatwa. Naamini uamuzi wa kuifanya Idara ya Wanyamapori katika Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii kuwa Wakala yaani Tanzania Wildlife Agency (TAWA) kutaongeza nguvu ya kuhifadhi wanyama pori na mapambano dhidi ya ujangili.

          Natoa pongezi nyingi kwa askari wa wanyamapori, Jeshi la Polisi na vyombo vingine vya Serikali na raia wema kwa kazi nzuri wanayoendelea kufanya na mafanikio yanayoendelea kupatikana.  Juhudi za kupambana na ujangili na biashara haramu ya bidhaa zinazotokana na wanyama pori zitaendelezwa kwa nguvu zaidi mwaka ujao 2015 na miaka inayofuatia.  Napenda kutumia fursa hii kuwashukuru kwa dhati marafiki zetu wa maendeleo wanaotuunga mkono kwa hali na mali katika mapambano haya.  Naomba waendelee kutusaidia. 

Hali ya Uchumi Jumla

Ndugu wananchi;

          Mwaka 2014 ulikuwa mzuri kwa uchumi wa taifa. Uzalishaji katika sekta nyingi ulikuwa ni mzuri. Ndiyo maana tunategemea kuwa tutafikia au hata kuvuka lengo tulilojiwekea la pato la taifa kukua kwa asilimia 7.4 mwaka huu.  Mwaka 2013 pato la taifa lilikua kwa asilimia 7.3.  Mfumuko wa bei uliendelea kushuka na kufikia asilimia 5.8 Novemba, 2014 ukilinganisha na Januari 2014 ulipokuwa asilimia 6.0.  Hali nzuri ya upatikanaji wa chakula nchini imesaidia sana kufanya mfumuko wa bei kuendelea kushuka.  Ni matumaini yangu kuwa mfumuko wa bei  utaendelea kushuka na kufikia asilimia 5 ifikapo  Juni, 2015.    

Mauzo Nje

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mauzo nje yameendelea kuongezeka. Katika kipindi kilichoishia Oktoba 31, 2014,  Tanzania iliuza nje bidhaa na huduma zenye thamani ya dola za Marekani milioni 8,503.9 ukilinganisha na mauzo ya dola milioni 8,332.5 katika kipindi kama hicho mwaka 2013.  Mapato yetu yangekuwa makubwa zaidi kama bei za kahawa, chai, korosho na pamba zisingeanguka au bei ya dhahabu nayo isingepada.

Akiba ya Fedha za Kigeni

Ndugu Wananchi;

Akiba yetu ya fedha za kigeni ilikuwa Dola za Marekani milioni 4,251.8  kwa kipindi kilichoishia  Novemba 30, 2014. Kiasi hicho kinatuwezesha kuagiza bidhaa toka nje kwa miezi 4.1. Hii ni chini ya lengo letu la kuwa na akiba ya fedha za kigeni ya kuagiza bidhaa kwa miezi minne na nusu.  Hata hivyo, sina wasiwasi kabisa kwamba tofauti hii ndogo tutaweza kuiziba mwaka 2015.

Mapato ya Serikali

Ndugu Wananchi;

Makusanyo ya mapato ya Serikali kwa mwezi, kati ya Julai hadi Novemba, 2014 yaliongezeka kutoka shilingi bilioni 3,555.5 kipindi kama hicho mwaka 2013 hadi shilingi bilioni 3,924.1 mwaka huu.  Hata hivyo, makusanyo hayo yalikuwa  asilimia 90 ya lengo tulilojiwekea la kukusanya shilingi bilioni 4,459.7. Kwa mujibu wa Mamlaka ya Mapato, zipo sababu mbalimbali zilizosababisha lengo lisifikiwe katika nusu ya kwanza ya mwaka wa fedha wa 2014/2015.  Hatua zipasazo zinaendelea kuchukuliwa kurekebisha mambo hayo ili katika nusu ya pili ya mwaka huu wa fedha makusanyo yafikie lengo na ikiwezekana yazidi ili kufidia pengo la nusu ya kwanza.

Takwimu Mpya za Pato la Taifa

Ndugu wananchi,

Ni utaratibu wa kawaida wa nchi zote duniani kuwa na mwaka unaotumika kuwa kizio (base year) cha kukokotoa  takwimu za Pato la Taifa.  Ni utaratibu wa kawaida pia kwa kila baada ya muda fulani mwaka wa kizio hubadilishwa.  Lengo ni kuboresha takwimu husika. Katika marekebisho hayo pia huingizwa thamani ya bidhaa na huduma mpya katika pato la taifa na kuziondoa zilizotoweka ili kutoa picha halisi ya ukuaji wa shughuli za kiuchumi.

Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni nchi za Ghana (mwaka 2010),  Nigeria (mwaka 2013) na Kenya (mwaka 2014) wamefanya marekebisho ya takwimu zao za pato la taifa. Na sisi Tanzania tumefanya hivyo mwaka huu (2014).  Hii ni mara ya tano kwa nchi yetu kurekebisha takwimu za pato la taifa.  Mara nne zilizopita ilikuwa mwaka 1966, 1976, 1992 na 2001.

Ndugu wananchi;

Ofisi ya  Taifa ya Takwimu imekamilisha marekebisho ya takwimu za pato la taifa na kukokotoa takwimu mpya kwa kutumia mwaka 2007 kama mwaka wa kizio.  Kutokana na marekebisho yaliyofanyika, pato la taifa kwa mwaka 2013 ni shilingi trilioni 70 kwa kutumia bei za mwaka 2007.  Ukitumia bei za mwaka 2001, pato la taifa kwa mwaka 2013 ni shilingi trilioni  53.17.  Kuongezeka kwa pato la taifa kumeongeza pia pato la wastani la kila Mtanzania kutoka shilingi 1,186,200 (sawa na US$ 742) kwa bei za mwaka  2001 hadi shilingi 1,560,050 (sawa na US$ 977) kwa bei za mwaka 2007.

Kilimo na Chakula

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mwaka 2014 ulikuwa mzuri sana kwa uzalishaji wa mazao ya chakula nchini. Uzalishaji ulikuwa tani milioni 16.02 ukilinganisha na uzalishaji wa tani milioni 14.38 mwaka wa jana 2013.  Hili ni ongezeko la tani milioni 1.64.  Kwa mujibu wa mahitaji yetu ya chakula nchini kuna ziada ya tani milioni 3.25.  Katika ziada hiyo, mahindi yanachangia tani milioni 1.55, mchele tani 794,000 na kiasi kinachobakia kinachangiwa na mazao mengine ya chakula.

Ndugu wananchi;

Kuna jambo moja muhimu  kuhusu ununuzi wa nafaka ambalo ningependa kulifafanua.  Naomba ieleweke kuwa Wakala wa Taifa wa Hifadhi ya Chakula (NFRA) sio mnunuzi wa mahindi yote,  mpunga wote na mtama wote unaozalishwa na  wakulima nchini. Wakala hununua  sehemu ndogo tu ya nafaka ya ziada iliyozalishwa na hununua kwa ajili ya kuweka akiba ya taifa ya chakula cha kutumika wakati wa dharura ya watu kupata tatizo la njaa.  Aidha, Wakala hununua kiasi kinacholingana na uwezo wa maghala yake kuhifadhi. Kwa sasa uwezo wa maghala yetu ni kuhifadhi tani 246,000 ingawaje tunaendelea kujenga maghala mengine mpaka tufikie uwezo wa kuhifadhi tani 400,000 ifikapo 2015. Hivyo basi kwa Wakala kununua tani 292,415.41 mwaka huu ina maana kwamba kiasi cha karibu tani 50,000 zinahifadhiwa nje ya maghala kwa kutumia maturubai. Huu siyo utaratibu mzuri na haifai kuendelea nao kwani kuna hatari ya nafaka hiyo kuharibika na kuzua mgogoro mkubwa siku moja.  

Ndugu wananchi;

Baada ya NFRA kununua tani 292,415.41 kuna takribani tani milioni 2.96 za nafaka ya ziada ambayo iliyobaki mikononi mwa wakulima. Mategemeo yetu ni kuwa wafanyabiashara wetu watanunua nafaka hiyo kwa ajili ya kuuza mijini na kwingineko inakohitajika.  Bahati mbaya mwaka huu  kama ilivyokuwa  mwaka wa jana, wafanyabiashara wetu hawakuweza kununua nafaka yote ya ziada ambayo Serikali haikuweza kununua kupitia Wakala wa Taifa wa Hifadhi ya Chakula. Hali hii imezua tatizo ambalo Serikali kwa kushirikiana na wafanyabiashara nchini hatuna budi kulitafutia majawabu.  Tunalazimika kutafuta masoko mengine ndani na hata nje ya nchi ya kuuza mahindi, mpunga na mtama wa ziada.  Nimeagiza Wizara ya Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika na Wizara ya Viwanda na Biashara kukaa chini na kushirikiana na wafanyabiashara kulitafutia ufumbuzi suala hili lenye maslahi makubwa kwa wakulima na nchi yetu kwa jumla.   

Ndugu Wananchi;

Katika mazingira haya, ninapopata taarifa ya kuwepo watu wanaotaka  kuuza mahindi nje ya nchi lakini wanawekewa vikwazo na maafisa wa Serikali  inanishangaza na kunisikitisha. Nawataka wale wote  wanaofanya hivyo waache mara moja na badala yake  wawasaidie wafanyabiashara hao kufanikisha azma yao.  Hali kadhalika, tuwashawishi watu wengine nao wajitokeze kufanya biashara  hiyo.  Jambo muhimu ninalopenda kulisisitiza ni kwamba pawepo na utaratibu mzuri ili biashara hiyo ifanywe kwa kutumia njia halali na zilizo wazi.  Kutumia njia za panya hakukubaliki na wala hakuna sababu ya kufanya hivyo.

Miradi ya Kimkakati

Ndugu wananchi;

Katika mwaka 2014 utekelezaji wa miradi mikubwa ya kimkakati kwa mujibu wa Mpango wa Maendeleo wa Miaka Mitano (2011/12 – 2015/16) umeendelea vizuri. Tunayo matumaini makubwa kwamba katika mwaka 2015 miradi mingi  itakamilika. 

Tuanze na Mradi wa ujenzi wa bomba la gesi kutoka Mtwara na Songosongo hadi Dar es Salaam.  Mradi huu unategemewa kukamilika Januari, 2015. Utakapokamilika utatuwezesha kutimiza lengo letu la kuzalisha MW 2,780 za umeme ifikapo 2016.  Mipango ya kupata ardhi ya ujenzi wa mitambo ya kuchakata gesi asili kuwa ya kumiminika (LNG) ili iweze kusafirishwa kwenda kwenye masoko, inakwenda vizuri. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Utekelezaji wa mradi mkubwa wa kimkakati wa kusambaza umeme vijijini umeendelea vizuri na tumepata mafanikio makubwa  yasiyokuwa na mfano wake katika historia ya nchi yetu.  Hadi kufikia Novemba, 2014, jumla ya vijiji 3,836 vimepatiwa umeme na vingine 1,500 vinategemewa kupatiwa umeme ifikapo Juni, 2015.  Hivyo basi, vijiji 5,336 kati ya vijiji 12,423 vya Tanzania Bara vitakuwa vimepatiwa umeme. Hii ni sawa na asilimia 43 ya vijiji vyote nchini vitavyokuwa vimepata umeme.  Hivi sasa wananchi  milioni 17.3 nchi nzima sawa asilimia 36  wamefikiwa na huduma ya umeme ikilinganishwa na watu milioni 8.1 sawa na asilimia 18.4 waliokuwa wamefikiwa na huduma hiyo mwaka 2012.  Mwaka 2015 tunatarajia watu milioni 18.2 sawa na asilimia 38 watafikiwa na umeme. Kwa upande wa vijijini  mwaka 2012 watu milioni 2.3 sawa na asilimia 7 walikuwa na umeme.  Ifikapo Juni 2015, idadi hiyo itaongezeka na kuwa milioni 7.4 sawa na asilimia 21.  Haya ni mafanikio makubwa kwa wananchi wengi vijijini na mijini kupata umeme katika kipindi kifupi kiasi hiki.  Ni mageuzi ya aina yake yatokayotoa mchango muhimu katika kuinua hali za maisha ya Watanzania.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Tunaanza kuiona nuru ya matumaini kwamba siku si nyingi kutoka sasa, makaa ya mawe ya Mchuchuma na madini ya chuma ya Liganga yataweza kutumika kwa maendeleo ya nchi yetu na watu wa Ludewa.  Maandalizi yote muhimu yamekamilika kwa ajili ya Januari, 2015 kuanza ujenzi wa mgodi wa makaa ya mawe kule Mchuchuma, mtambo wa kufua umeme, ujenzi wa mgodi wa chuma kisichoyeyushwa pale Liganga na ujenzi wa kiwanda cha kuyeyusha chuma.   

Natoa pongezi maalum kwa Shirika la Maendeleo la Taifa (NDC) na wabia wenzao, Kampuni ya Sichuan Hongda ya China kwa hatua iliyofikiwa.  Inakadiriwa kuwa miradi hii ikikamilika itatoa ajira 33,000 za moja kwa moja na zisizokuwa za moja kwa moja.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mradi mwingine mkubwa wa kimkakati ni ule wa kujenga Eneo Maalumu la Kiuchumi (Special Economic Zone) la Mbegani, Bagamoyo.  Kwa mujibu wa mpango kazi wa wabia wa mradi huo yaani Mamlaka ya Kuendeleza Maeneo huru ya Uwekezaji (EPZA), Kampuni ya China Merchants Holdings International na Mfuko wa Uhifadhi wa Akiba ya Mali za Serikali ya Oman (Oman State General Reserve Fund), ujenzi wa bandari na miundombinu mingine itakayowezesha viwanda kujengwa imepangwa kuanza Julai 2015.

Miundombinu ya Usafiri na Uchukuzi

Ndugu Wananchi;

Katika mwaka huu wa 2014 kazi ya kujenga barabara za lami na kuimarisha barabara za udongo ili ziweze kupitika wakati wote ziliendelea kote nchini.  Huu nao ni mradi mkubwa wa kimkakati.  Barabara za lami 19 zenye urefu wa kilometa 1,459 zimekamilika kujengwa mwaka huu katika Mikoa ya Ruvuma, Mbeya, Rukwa, Kagera, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Tanga, Morogoro, Arusha, Tabora na Shinyanga. Ujenzi unaendelea kwa barabara nyingine 24 katika mikoa ya Dodoma, Iringa, Mbeya, Kilimanjaro, Rukwa, Simiyu, Katavi, Tabora, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, Kagera na Pwani  ambazo wakati wo wote mwaka 2015 zitakamilika.  Maandalizi ya kuanza ujenzi wa barabara nyingine nane yanaendelea vizuri sehemu mbalimbali nchini.

 Kwa kutumia fedha za Mfuko wa Barabara, tumeendelea kufanya kazi ya ujenzi na ukarabati wa barabara za udongo kote nchini.  Mwaka huu Mfuko huo umetengewa shilingi bilioni 751.7 ukilinganisha na shilingi bilioni 504.4 mwaka jana. Aidha, mwaka huu tumeweka jiwe la msingi la ujenzi wa Daraja la Mto Kilombero. Matumini yetu ni kuwa ujenzi wa daraja hilo na Daraja la Kigamboni utakamilika mwaka 2015.  Ujenzi wa Daraja la Malagarasi ulishakamilika mwaka jana, kinachosubiriwa ni sherehe ya uzinduzi. 

          Kwa upande wa jiji la Dar es Salaam, tunategemea kukamilisha ujenzi wa Awamu ya Kwanza ya barabara za mabasi yaendayo kasi. Ni matarajio yetu pia kwamba mabasi yataanza kusafirisha abiria katika kipindi cha nusu ya kwanza ya mwaka 2015.  Halikadhalika, tunategemea katika mwaka 2015 ujenzi utaanza wa barabara zinazozunguka jiji la Dar es Salaam (ring roads), barabara ya Mwenge - Morocco na ile ipitayo juu ya nyingine (flyovers) eneo la TAZARA. Vile vile,  daraja jipya la Salenda litaanza kujengwa.  Aidha, kivuko cha abiria 300 cha MV Dar es Salaam kitaanza kusafirisha abiria kati ya Dar es Salaam Kaskazini na Ferry mapema mwakani.  Hatua zote hizi zinalenga kupunguza msongamano wa magari katika jiji la Dar es Salaam.    

Usafiri wa Anga na Reli

Ndugu wananchi;

          Jitihada za kuboresha huduma ya usafiri katika Reli ya Kati zimeendelea kwa mafanikio.  Mwaka huu vichwa vinane vya treni vimekarabatiwa, mabehewa mapya 22 ya abiria na mabehewa 274 ya mzigo yamenunuliwa. Mabehewa hayo yameanza kuwasili nchini kati ya Novemba na Desemba mwaka huu.  Kati ya Januari na Mei, 2015 tunatarajia kupokea vichwa vipya vya treni 13. Uboreshaji huu wa huduma za treni unakwenda sambamba na ukarabati wa reli yenyewe, ujenzi wa madaraja na kuimarisha maeneo yaliyo korofi katika reli hiyo.

Kuhusu ujenzi wa reli iliyo pana zaidi (standard guage),  yenye uwezo wa kubeba mabehewa mengi na kuwezesha treni kwenda kwa mwendo wa kasi zaidi, juhudi za kutafuta fedha za ujenzi au wabia wa kushirikiana nasi kujenga zinaendelea. Wakati huo huo, tunaendelea na juhudi za kutafuta ufumbuzi kwa matatizo ya reli ya TAZARA ili mambo yaende vizuri. Tutashirikiana kwa karibu na wabia wenzetu wa Zambia.  Bahati nzuri Serikali ya China iko tayari  kuunga mkono juhudi zetu za kufufua reli ya TAZARA.

Usafiri wa Anga

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Sekta ya usafiri wa anga imeendelea kukua katika mwaka 2014. Idadi ya abiria wanaowasili na kutoka katika viwanja vyetu vya ndege nchini imeongezeka kutoka abiria milioni 2.5 mwaka 2013 hadi abiria milioni  3.5 kufikia Septemba, 2014. Safari za ndege kati ya Tanzania na nchi za nje zimeongezeka kutoka 274 Januari, 2013 hadi 295 kufikia Septemba, 2014.  Hili ni ongezeko la asilimia 8. Safari za ndege ndani ya nchi nazo zimeongezeka kutoka safari 230,458 mwaka 2013 hadi safari 241,922 mwaka 2014.  Hii ni sawa na ongezeko la asilimia 39. Maongezeko haya ni kielelezo na ushahidi kuwa shughuli za utalii na biashara nchini zimeendelea kukua.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Ujenzi wa Jengo la 3 (Terminal 3) la Abiria katika Uwanja wa Ndege wa Kimataifa wa Julius Nyerere unaendelea vizuri.  Jengo hilo litakapokamilika mwakani, litakuwa na uwezo wa kuhudumia wastani wa abiria milioni 8 kwa mwaka. Aidha, ukarabati wa Jengo la 2 (Terminal 2) utafanyika ili liweze kutoa huduma iliyo bora zaidi. Sambamba na ujenzi huo, Wakala wa Viwanja vya Ndege wameendelea kukarabati na kuboresha viwanja vya ndege vya KIA, Mwanza, Songwe, Bukoba, Tabora na Kigoma.  Tunatarajia ukarabati wa viwanja vya ndege vya Shinyanga na Sumbawanga kuanza mapema mwaka 2015.

Elimu

Ndugu wananchi;

          Tumeendelea kupiga hatua za kuridhisha katika kuboresha elimu nchini.  Tumefanikiwa kupunguza tatizo la upungufu wa maabara, vitabu na walimu wa shule za msingi na sekondari.  Mwaka huu tumeajiri walimu 36,339 kati ya 81,562 wanaohitajika. Tumebakiwa na upungufu wa walimu 45,223 yaani 26,946 wa shule za msingi na 18,277 wa shule za sekondari hususan wa masomo ya sayansi.  Hivi sasa hatuna tatizo la walimu wa masomo ya sanaa katika shule za sekondari.

          Mwaka huu tumeanza mpango maalumu wa kutoa mafunzo ya Diploma ya Ualimu kwa masomo ya sayansi na hisabati katika Chuo Kikuu cha Dodoma ambapo jumla ya wanafunzi 5,602 wa masomo hayo wamedahiliwa. Mpango huu utatuwezesha kupunguza pengo kubwa tulilonalo la walimu wa sayansi katika muda mfupi zaidi.

Ujenzi wa Maabara

Ndugu wananchi;

Ujenzi wa maabara za Fizikia, Kemia na Baiolojia katika shule  za sekondari za Kata 3,463 umekwenda vizuri kiasi.  Kwa idadi hiyo ya shule inatakiwa zijengwe maabara 10,389 ilipofika Novemba, 2014.  Taarifa kutoka TAMISEMI zinaonyesha kuwa hadi kufikia Desemba 29, 2014, maabara 4,207 sawa na asilimia 40.5 zilikuwa zimekamilika, maabara 5,688 sawa na asilimia 54.8 zilikuwa katika hatua mbalimbali za ukamilishwaji, na maabara 494 sawa na asilimia 4. zilikuwa katika hatua za awali za ujenzi. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Natoa pongezi nyingi kwa Wakuu wa Mikoa, Wakuu wa Wilaya, Wenyeviti na Wakurugenzi Watendaji wa Halmashauri za Wilaya na Miji nchini  pamoja na wananchi, kwa jitihada kubwa iliyofanyika. Kwa kutambua jitihada hizo, nimeongeza miezi sita zaidi kwa wale ambao hawajakamilisha ujenzi wa maabara hizo wafanye hivyo. Sikusudii kuongeza tena muda baada ya hapo.  Naomba watumie kipindi hicho kitumike kutafuta vifaa vya maabara. Serikali itasaidia upatikanaji wa watunza maabara (laboratory technicians) ambao tumeanza programu kubwa ya mafunzo yao na mahitaji mengine ya maabara.

Ununuzi wa Vitabu

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Tumeendelea kupunguza tatizo la uhaba wa vitabu na vifaa vya kufundishia katika shule za msingi na sekondari.  Tumekuwa tunanunua vitabu kwa kutumia Bajeti ya Serikali na misaada kutoka kwa marafiki zetu wa maendeleo.  Kwa mfano, Serikali ya Marekani imetupatia vitabu milioni 2.5 vya masomo ya sayansi na hisabati kwa shule za sekondari.  Ongezeko hili la vitabu linashusha uwiano uliopo sasa wa kitabu kimoja kwa wanafunzi wanne na kufikia kitabu kimoja kwa wanafunzi wawili. Lengo letu ni kila mtoto kuwa na kitabu chake kwa kila somo ifikapo mwaka 2016.

Sera Mpya ya Elimu na Mafunzo

Ndugu wananchi;

Mafanikio mengine tuliyopata mwaka huu ni kukamilika kwa Sera ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya mwaka 2014. Hii ni hatua muhimu sana katika maendeleo ya elimu nchini hakuna badala yake. Sera mpya inalenga kuinua ubora wa elimu na mafunzo na kuweka mifumo na taratibu zitakazowezesha Watanzania wengi zaidi kupata fursa za elimu iliyo bora na inayolinga na wakati tulionao.  Jambo jipya sana na la kihistoria katika Sera mpya ya Elimu ni dhamira ya Serikali ya kuondoa ada katika elimu ya sekondari kuanzia mwaka 2016.  Mpaka sasa hatuna ada kwenye shule za msingi, sasa wakati umefika kufanya hivyo pia kwa elimu ya sekondari.  Kwa mujibu wa maelezo hayo ya Sera, nimekwishatoa maagizo kwa Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi, Wizara ya Tawala za Mikoa na Serikali za Mitaa, Wizara ya Fedha na Tume ya Mipango kuanza kutafakari namna jambo hilo litakavyotekelezwa.

Afya

Ndugu Wananchi;

Katika mwaka 2014 jitihada za kuboresha huduma ya afya kwa Watanzania ziliendelea.  Tulipambana kwa mafanikio na mlipuko wa homa ya dengue iliyowapata watu 1,039 na kusababisha vifo vya watu 3 kati yao. Kwa upande wa maradhi ya ebola tumejiandaa vya kutosha kutambua watu wenye maradhi hayo wanapoingia nchini kupitia viwanja vya ndege vya kimataifa na vituo vyote vya mpakani.  Aidha, tumejipanga vyema kuwahudumia wagonjwa wa maradhi hayo iwapo watatokea.

Mwaka huu pia, Madaktari wetu watano wamekwenda Liberia kusaidiana na ndugu zetu wa huko katika kukabiliana na ugonjwa wa ebola.  Madaktari wetu hao wako salama na wanaendelea vizuri kutoa huduma. Madaktari hao watakaporejea nchini watakuwa hazina kubwa ya taifa katika kupanga mipango ya kukabiliana na ugonjwa huu hatari.  Hali kadhalika, watakuwa viongozi wa wengine katika kutibu wagonjwa wa maradhi ya ebola iwapo watatokea nchini.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Katika kipindi cha Januari hadi Desemba, 2014, tumeweza kuajiri watumishi wa sekta ya afya 8,345 ambao kati yao kuna madaktari 244, madaktari bingwa 75, wauguzi 2,555 na wataalamu wa kada nyingine za afya 5,471. Mwaka huu pia tumefanikiwa kuongeza udahili wa wanafunzi kutoka wanafunzi 7,956 katika mwaka 2012/2013 hadi wanafunzi 9,730. Kwa ongezeko hilo, sasa tumefikia asilimia 97 ya lengo letu la kudahili wanafunzi 10,000 ifikapo mwaka 2017.

 Jitihada zetu za kuongeza fursa za mafunzo kwa Madaktari, Wauguzi na wataalamu wengine wa afya zina muelekeo mzuri. Ujenzi wa hospitali ya kufundishia pale Mloganzila unaendelea vizuri na hospitali ya kufundishia ya Chuo Kikuu cha Dodoma umekamilika.  Ni matarajio yangu kuwa wakati wo wote mwakani ujenzi wa kampasi mpya ya Chuo Kikuu cha Muhimbili pale Mloganzila utaanza. Ujenzi huo ukikamilika Chuo kikuu cha Muhimbili kitaweza kudahili wanafunzi 12,000 kutoka wanafunzi 2,500 wa sasa jambo ambalo litafanya upungufu wa Madaktari, Wauguzi na Wataalamu wa Afya kupata jawabu la uhakika. Tumeendelea kufanya mambo mengine ikiwemo ujenzi wa jengo la tiba za ubongo na mishipa ambalo limekamilika pale Muhimbili, sasa tunahangaikia kupata vifaa. 

Maji

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Katika mwaka huu wa 2014 tumeendelea kutekeleza miradi mbalimbali ya kuwapatia wananchi maji safi na salama mijini na vijijini.  Kwa ajili hiyo miradi 498 ya maji vijijini imekamilika na miradi 740 ipo katika hatua mbalimbali za ujenzi.  Miradi mingine 378 ipo katika maandalizi ya ujenzi kuanza.  Ni matarajio yetu kwamba katika mwaka ujao wa 2015, miradi mingine 731 itatekelezwa na vituo 25,790 vya kuchota maji vitajengwa.  Miradi hii ikikamilika tutaweza kuwafikia asilimia 71 ya wananchi wanaopata maji safi na salama vijijini kutoka asilimia 58 ya sasa. Kwa ajili hiyo, tutakuwa tumevuka lengo tulilojiwekea la kuwapatia watu maji asilimia 65 ya Watanzania waishio vijijini ifikapo 2015. Ombi langu kwa ndugu zetu wa Hazina waiangalie sekta hii ya maji kwa ukaribu zaidi na wawapatie fedha kwa wakati.  

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Utekelezaji wa mradi wa kuipatia maji miji ya Mwanga – Same – Mkomazi pamoja na miji na vijiji vyote vya njiani, utaanza Februari, 2015.  Fedha zimekwishapatikana na Mkandarasi wa Awamu ya Kwanza ameshapatikana.  Makandarasi wa Awamu ya Pili na Tatu watapatikana muda si mrefu kutoka sasa.  Hii pia itahusu kupata Mkandarasi wa mradi wa maji wa mji wa Orkesment.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mwaka huu miradi ya kuipatia maji miji kadhaa nchini ilikamilika na tatizo la upungufu wa maji litakuwa limepatiwa ufumbuzi.  Ipo miji kadhaa ambayo miradi imefikia hatua ya juu na kwamba wakati wowote  mwakani itakamilika.  Jiji la Dar es Salaam lipo katika kundi hili.  Kazi ya upanuzi wa miradi ya maji ya Ruvu Juu na Ruvu Chini kwa msaada wa Serikali ya Marekani na mkopo kutoka Serikali ya India imefikia hatua nzuri.  Inatarajiwa kukamilika katika nusu ya kwanza ya mwaka 2015.    Mwaka ujao pia visima virefu vya Kimbiji na Kipera vitachimbwa na Bwawa la Kidunda litaanza kujengwa. 

Serikali ya India pia imekubali kutupatia mkopo wa Dola za Marekani milioni 268.2 kwa ajili ya kugharamia mradi wa kuipatia maji miji ya Tabora, Nzega na Igunga kutoka Ziwa Victoria.   Uwezekano wa kujumuisha miji ya Sikonge na Urambo katika mradi huo utaangaliwa.

Bunge na Mahakama

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Katika mwaka 2014, mihimili ya Bunge na Mahakama iliendelea kutekeleza vyema majukumu yao.  Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania limeweza kuendesha shughuli zake kama ilivyopangwa pamoja na kulazimika kugawana Ukumbi ule wa Bunge na Bunge Maalum la Katiba.  Bunge limefanya mikutano mitatu, Miswada 17 ya Sheria ilisomwa kwa mara ya kwanza, Sheria tano na maazimio saba yalipitishwa. Maswali ya msingi 569 na ya nyongeza 1,541yaliulizwa na kujibiwa. Aidha, sakata la Akaunti ya Tegeta Escrow nalo lilijadiliwa na kutolewa maazimio.  Tumeshaanza kuchukua hatua kuhusu maazimio hayo na bado tunaendelea.

Napenda kuitumia nafasi hii kutoa pongezi nyingi kwa Wabunge wetu kwa kutekeleza vizuri wajibu wao wa Kutunga Sheria na kusimamia Serikali.  Nawasihi waendelee na msimamo huo mwema na chanya kwa maslahi ya nchi yetu na watu wake.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Kwa upande wa Mahakama napenda kutambua kazi kubwa na nzuri inayofanywa ya kupunguza mrundikano wa mashauri katika Mahakama za ngazi zote.  Wahenga wamesema “mcheza kwao hutunzwa”.  Hatuna budi kutoa pongezi maalum kwa Jaji Mkuu, Mheshimiwa Mohamed Chande Othman kwa uongozi wake mahiri.  Chini ya uongozi wake Majaji wa Mahakama ya Rufani, Majaji wa Mahakama Kuu na Mahakimu Wakazi na Mahakimu wa Mahakama za Mwanzo wamejiwekea malengo ya kusikiliza na kutoa hukumu kwa mashauri yasiyopungua 200 kwa mwaka kila mmoja wao.  

          Habari njema na ya kuleta faraja ni kwamba utekelezaji unaendelea vizuri.  Mashauri 870 yalisikilizwa na kuamuliwa kwenye Mahakama ya Rufani, mashauri 11,334 kwenye Mahakama Kuu, mashauri 8,715 kwenye Mahakama ya Mahakimu Wakazi na Mashauri 25,683 katika Mahakama za Wilaya.   Aidha, mkakati wa kupeleka timu ya Majaji wa Mahakama Kuu kwa wakati mmoja kwenye maeneo yenye mashauri mengi kama ilivyofanyika Kigoma, Shinyanga na Tabora umesaidia sana kupunguza mrundikano wa mashauri ya siku nyingi. Haijawahi kutokea mashauri mengi kiasi hicho kusikilizwa na kumalizwa katika historia ya Mahakama nchini.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mkakati huu mpya umeleta matumaini mapya kwamba   tatizo la kuchelewesha kwa mashauri ambalo lilidhaniwa kuwa ni tatizo sugu sasa limeanza kupatiwa ufumbuzi.  Kwa niaba ya Watanzania wenzangu wote natoa shukrani na pongezi nyingi kwa Jaji Mkuu, Majaji wa Rufani, Jaji Kiongozi, Majaji wa Mahakama Kuu na Mahakimu wa ngazi zote kwa kazi nzuri waifanyayo. 

Hali kadhalika, nampongeza Mtendaji Mkuu wa Mahakama na watendaji wote wa Mahakama kwa kazi nzuri waifanyayo ya kuwawezesha Majaji na Mahakimu kutimiza ipasavyo majukumu yao.  Hakika utendaji Mahakamani umebadilika na kuwa bora zaidi. Mimi naahidi kuendelea kusaidia Mahakama kwa kuwahimiza ndugu zetu wa Hazina kutoa kwa wakati pesa zilizotengwa katika bajeti.

Mapambano Dhidi ya Rushwa

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Mapambano dhidi ya rushwa na matumizi mabaya ya madaraka yameendelea bila ya ajizi.   Katika mwaka huu wa 2014 TAKUKURU wamepokea taarifa 237 na wamekamilisha uchunguzi wa mashauri 545.  Watuhumiwa waliofikishwa Mahakamani ni 428.  Mashauri yaliyomalizika ni 205, kati ya hayo 125 watuhumiwa waliachiliwa na 80 walipatikana na hatia na kuhukumiwa.  Mwaka huu wa 2014 mali na fedha taslimu zenye thamani ya shilingi bilioni 38.96 zimeokolewa.  Katika kuimarisha Taasisi hiyo kiutendaji, maafisa wapya 394 wameajiriwa.

Sherehe za Miaka 50 ya Muungano

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mwaka huu wa 2014 tuliadhimisha miaka 50 ya Muungano wa nchi zetu mbili yaani Jamhuri ya Watu wa Zanzibar na Jamhuri ya Tanganyika kwa heshima inayostahili.  Maadhimisho yalifikia kilele tarehe 26 Aprili, 2014  na zilifanyika sherehe nchini kote na sherehe hizo zilifana sana.  Ni ukweli usiopingika kuwa kwa Muungano wetu kuweza kudumu kwa nusu karne ukiwa bado imara na unazidi kustawi ni mafanikio makubwa.  Matumaini kwa siku za usoni ni mazuri.  Naamini Muungano wetu utaimarika zaidi iwapo Katiba Inayopendekezwa itapitishwa kwani yale mambo yenye kuleta matatizo hivi sasa yatakuwa yamepatiwa ufumbuzi.

Miaka 50 ya JWTZ

Ndugu Wananchi;

Wakati nchi inasherehekea miaka 50 ya Muungano, baadhi ya vyombo na taasisi muhimu kitaifa zilifanya hivyo hivyo.  Miongoni mwa walioadhimisha nusu karne ya kuundwa kwake ni Jeshi la Ulinzi la Wananchi wa Tanzania kama mjuavyo JWTZ ilizaliwa tarehe 1 Septemba, 1964. Jeshi letu liliadhimisha siku yao hiyo kwa kufanya zoezi kubwa la kivita lililoanza Kibaha mkoani Pwani  na kumalizikia Monduli Mkoani Arusha.

Nilibahatika kushuhudia siku ya mwisho ya zoezi hilo.  Nilifurahishwa sana na kiwango cha utayari kivita cha Jeshi letu. Wanajeshi wetu walionesha weledi wa hali ya juu, umahiri mkubwa, ujasiri, ukakamavu na uvumilivu wa aina yake wakati wa kutekeleza majukumu yao katika mazingira magumu ya uwanja wa medani za vita. Niliwapongeza siku ile na narudia tena leo kuwapongeza. Niliyoyaona yamenihakikishia mimi na Watanzania wote kuwa Jeshi letu la Ulinzi la Wananchi wa Tanzania liko imara kulinda mipaka ya nchi yetu na kuhakikisha usalama wa taifa letu na watu wake. Jeshi letu bado ni lile tunalolijua sisi sote, lakini limezidi lile lililomng’oa mvamizi Dikteta Iddi Amin wa Uganda, tena limezidi kwa mbali.  

Mchakato wa Katiba Mpya

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mwaka huu pia tumeshuhudia kukamilika kwa zoezi muhimu la kuandika Katiba Inayopendekezwa. Kama tujuavyo sote, mchakato uliozaa Katiba Inayopendekezwa ulikuwa na changamoto nyingi ndani na nje ya Bunge Maalum la Katiba. Pamoja na hayo, Bunge hilo lilikamilisha kazi yake kwa salama siku mbili kabla ya tarehe 4 Oktoba, 2014 ambayo ndiyo ilikuwa siku ya mwisho.  Mimi na Rais wa Zanzibar, Mheshimiwa Dkt. Ali Mohamed Shein tulikabidhiwa nakala za Katiba Inayopendekezwa tarehe 8 Oktoba, 2014.  Nimeshatimiza wajibu wangu wa kuchapisha katika Gazeti la Serikali na kutangaza siku ya kupiga kura ya maoni kuwa tarehe 30 Aprili, 2015.  Nimeshatoa maagizo kwa Tume ya Uchaguzi kufanya matayarisho husika ya kuwezesha Kura ya Maoni kufanyika.    

Ndugu Wananchi;  

Moja ya mambo muhimu ambayo Tume ya Uchaguzi inafanya kwa sasa ni kuandikisha wapiga kura katika Daftari la Mpiga Kura.  Tume imeamua kutumia mfumo mpya wa Biometric Voters Register.  Uandikishaji wa majaribio umefanyika katika baadhi ya Kata katika Majimbo ya Mlele, Kawe na Kilombero.  Matatizo yaliyojitokeza yatasaidia kuboresha mfumo huo kabla ya uandikishaji wa watu wote wenye sifa stahiki kuanza. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Napenda kutumia nafasi hii kuwafahamisha Watanzania wenzangu wote kuwa mfumo mpya unatengeneza Daftari Jipya la Mpiga Kura ingawaje lugha inayotumika ni uboreshaji wa Daftari la sasa.  Uboreshaji huu wa Daftari la Mpiga Kura ni tofauti na ule tuliouzoea ambapo walikuwa wanaandikishwa wapiga kura wapya na wale waliopoteza vitambulisho vyao.  Safari hii wanaandikishwa wote wapya na wa zamani na wote watapata vitambulisho vipya.  Hivyo basi, sisi wenye vitambulisho vya kupiga kura vya zamani tusifanye ajizi, tujitokeze kujiandikisha wakati ukifika.

Jambo la pili ni kwamba, Daftari la Mpiga Kura linalotayarishwa siyo kwa ajili ya Kura ya Maoni ya Katiba Inayopendekezwa peke yake, daftari hilo hilo litatumika pia kwenye Uchaguzi Mkuu wa Oktoba, 2015.  Hivyo basi, kujiandikisha ni jambo muhimu sana.  Usipofanya hivyo siyo tu utajinyima fursa ya kushiriki kuamua kuhusu Katiba Inayopendekezwa bali pia utakosa fursa ya kuchagua Rais wako, Mbunge wako na Diwani wako.  Katu usikubali yakukose hayo. 

Uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Kama mjuavyo tarehe 14 Desemba, 2014 na 20 Desemba, 2014 ulifanyika Uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa kuchagua viongozi wa vitongoji, vijiji na mitaa. Uchaguzi umekwisha na viongozi wamekwishapatikana.  Sasa ni wajibu wa viongozi hao kufanya kazi waliyoiomba.  Kwa walioendesha uchaguzi ni wakati mzuri wa kufanya tathmini ili wapate mafunzo yatokanayo na uchaguzi huo.  Kwa TAMISEMI na Wakurugenzi Watendaji wa Halmashauri, lengo liwe ni kuona namna ya kuimarisha mazuri na kusahihisha makosa na matatizo yaliyojitokeza.  Kwa walinzi wa amani watambue matatizo ya kiusalama yaliyotokea na kuona namna ya kutengeneza mikakati ya kuzuia matatizo ya namna hiyo yasijitokeze tena.   Hatma ya yote, shabaha yetu ni kutaka kufanya vizuri zaidi katika chaguzi zijazo za Serikali za Mitaa na kufanya vizuri zaidi katika Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwaka 2015.

Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mwaka huu Tanzania imechaguliwa kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki.  Ni zamu yetu kwa mujibu wa mzunguko wa uongozi wa Jumuiya yetu kati ya nchi wanachama. Ni dhamana kubwa na kwamba wenzetu wa Afrika Mashariki wanatutegemea tuwaongoze katika kutekeleza malengo na madhumuni ya Jumuiya kama yalivyoainishwa katika Mkataba ulioanzisha Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki.  Hali kadhalika, tunategemewa kuongoza katika utekelezaji wa maamuzi mbalimbali ya vikao vya Jumuiya.  Hii inahusu maamuzi yaliyokwishafanywa kabla yetu ambayo utekelezaji wake unaendelea na uamuzi mpya utakaofanywa katika kipindi cha uongozi wetu.  

Kwa niaba ya Watanzania wote napenda kuwashukuru ndugu zetu wa Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda na Uganda kwa kutuamini.  Napenda kuahidi kuwa hatutawaangusha.  Sisi Watanzania tutafanya kila tuwezalo kuimarisha Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki kwa manufaa ya Jumuiya yenyewe, nchi zetu na wananchi wa Afrika Mashariki.  Tutajitahidi kuwa wabunifu kwa nia ya kuona utangamano unakua na kustawi kwa kasi na kuzaa matunda ya maendeleo tunayoyatarajia sote.  Matunda tuliyoyatarajia tulipoamua kuanzisha Jumuiya hii na matunda tuliyoyapata tulipoamua kwa hiari yetu kujiunga nayo kuwa wanachama.

SADC, AU NA UN

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kuhusu Jumuiya ya Maendeleo ya Kusini mwa Afrika (SADC), Umoja wa Afrika na Umoja wa Mataifa, tunaahidi kuendelea kuwa wanachama waaminifu na kushiriki kwa ukamilifu katika utekelezaji wa shughuli mbalimbali za mashirika haya ya kikanda na kimataifa. Kwa upande wa SADC tutaendelea kushiriki katika utekelezaji wa mikakati na mipango ya maendeleo ya kiuchumi na kijamii na ile ya kisiasa na kiusalama kama ilivyoainishwa katika RISDP (Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan) na SIPO (SADC Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ). Kwa ajili hiyo Tanzania, itaendelea kutoa mchango wake katika kukuza utangamano wa kiuchumi katika SADC na kusaidia kuimarisha uhusiano mwema na usalama miongoni mwa nchi wanachama wa SADC. Hii ni pamoja na kusaidia katika kutatua migogoro ya kisiasa na kusalama kati ya nchi wanachama.

Kwa upande wa Umoja wa Afrika tutaendelea kutekeleza maamuzi ya vikao na taasisi mbalimbali za Umoja huo.  Daima tutakuwa wanachama waaminifu wa Umoja wa Afrika na kuchangia katika uimarishaji wake.  Kuhusu Umoja wa Mataifa tutaendelea kutimiza wajibu wetu kama wanachama wa Umoja huo wa kimataifa ulio adhimu na muhimu kwetu na dunia nzima.  Tutaendelea kushiriki katika shughuli za ulinzi wa amani chini ya Umoja wa Mataifa.  Hivi sasa tunao wanajeshi wetu katika majeshi ya kulinda amani ya Umoja wa Mataifa katika nchi za Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasi ya Kongo, Sudan na Lebanon. Tuko tayari wakati wote kuchangia zaidi iwapo Umoja wa Mataifa watatutaka tufanye hivyo. 

Hitimisho

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Namaliza hotuba yangu hii ndefu kwa kuwashukuru Watanzania wote kwa kuiunga mkono Serikali yetu na kwa mchango wenu uliowezesha nchi yetu kupata mafanikio haya makubwa tunayojivunia katika mwaka 2014. Tumeweza kuvuka mitihani na nyakati zenye majaribu mengi.  Umoja wetu na mshikamano wetu ndivyo vilivyotuwezesha kufika hapa. Tunauanza mwaka 2015 kwa matumaini makubwa. Mwaka 2015 unatupa fursa kubwa ya kuendelea kuliimarisha zaidi taifa letu. Mwaka ujao ni mwaka wa Uchaguzi Mkuu, hivyo huenda ukawa na changamoto na majaribu magumu zaidi kuliko mwaka huu.  Uelewa wetu, umoja wetu, mshikamano wetu na moyo wetu wa uzalendo ndivyo vitakavyotuvusha kama ilivyokuwa kwa miaka ya nyuma.  Mimi nina imani kubwa kwa uwezo na utayari wa Watanzania wenzangu kuidumisha sifa nzuri ya nchi yetu ya umoja na mshikamano wa watu wake uliozaa amani na utulivu.  Tumeweza mwaka huu na miaka ya nyuma, tutaweza tena mwakani na miaka ijayo. Inawezekana, Timiza Wajibu Wako!  Nawatakia heri ya mwaka mpya.

Mungu Ibariki Afrika!

Mungu Ibariki Tanzania!

Asanteni kwa kunisikiliza.

Shukrani

Mheshimiwa Makamu wa Rais;

Mheshimiwa Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCM;

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam;

Viongozi wa CCM Mkoa;

Viongozi Wenzangu;

Viongozi wa Dini;

Wazee Wangu;

Wananchi Wenzangu;

Nawashukuru sana wazee wangu wa Dar es Salaam, kwa kukubali mwaliko wangu na kuja kuzungumza nami siku ya leo.  Natambua kuwa taarifa ilikuwa ya muda mfupi lakini mmeweza kuja kwa wingi kiasi hiki.  Naomba radhi kwamba ilikuwa tukutane Ijumaa lakini kwa sababu zilizo nje ya uwezo wangu tukaahirisha mpaka leo. Asanteni sana kwa uvumilivu wenu.  

Kama mjuavyo, kila ninapoomba kukutana nanyi ninalo jambo au mambo muhimu kitaifa ambayo napenda kuzungumza nanyi, na, kwa kupitia kwenu taifa zima linapata habari.  Leo nina mambo mawili.

Wazee Wangu;

Kwanza kabisa, nataka kurudia kuwashukuru Watanzania wenzangu kwa moyo wenu wa upendo mliouonyesha kwangu katika kipindi chote cha matibabu yangu nikiwa nje na hata baada ya kurejea nchini. Kwa kweli nina deni kubwa kwenu.    Lazima nikiri kuwa, salamu zenu na taarifa kwamba watu wamekuwa wananiombea uponaji wa haraka na uzima zinanipa faraja kubwa na kunitia moyo.  Nadhani zimechangia sana kuifanya afya yangu kuendelea kuimarika kila kukicha.  Bado sijawa “fit” kabisa lakini naendelea vizuri. Hali yangu ilivyo sasa sivyo ilivyokuwa wiki iliyopita au siku niliporejea nchini.

Uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa

Ndugu Wananchi;

Jambo la kwanza ninalotaka kulizungumzia leo ni uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa uliofanyika Jumapili iliyopita tarehe 14 Desemba, 2014 na jana tarehe 21 Desemba, 2014 katika maeneo ambayo uchaguzi huo uliahirishwa.  Bila ya shaka sote tumesikia taarifa ya awali ya zoezi la upigaji kura iliyotolewa na Mheshimiwa Hawa Ghasia, Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu, TAMISEMI tarehe 17 Desemba, 2014.  Katika taarifa yake hiyo, Mheshimiwa Waziri alieleza kwamba kwa jumla zoezi limeenda vizuri kwenye maeneo mengi nchini.  Uchaguzi ulifanyika kwa ukamilifu katika Halmashauri 141 kati ya 162.  Katika Halmashauri 21 uchaguzi wake uliahirishwa na umefanyika jana tarehe 21 Desemba, 2014.

Kwa jumla, katika maeneo mengi uchaguzi ulifanyika kwa salama na amani na hivyo kuwapa wananchi fursa ya kuchagua viongozi wanaowapenda kuongoza vijiji vyao, vitongoji vyao na mitaa yao.  Kufanyika kwa uchaguzi huu ni uthibitisho mwingine wa kuendelea kukomaa kwa demokrasia nchini.  Napenda kutumia nafasi hii kutoa pongezi za dhati kwa wale wote walioshiriki katika uchaguzi huu kwa maana ya vyama vya siasa na wagombea.  Natoa pongezi maalum kwa walioshinda.  Nawaomba sasa wakae chini kutengeneza mikakati na mipango ya kuwaongoza wananchi wa maeneo yao katika kupata ufumbuzi wa changamoto za maendeleo na za maisha, zinazowakabili.

Ndugu wananchi;

Katika taarifa yake hiyo pia, Waziri Hawa Ghasia alielezea masikitiko yake kuhusu kasoro za uendeshaji wa zoezi zilizojitokeza katika maeneo mbalimbali.  Aidha, aliahidi kuchukua hatua stahiki za kinidhamu dhidi ya watendaji na viongozi wa Serikali waliosababisha kasoro hizo.  Alifafanua kuwa miongoni mwa hatua zinazoweza kuchukuliwa ni pamoja na kufukuzwa kazi, kusimamishwa kazi, kushushwa cheo, kukatwa mshahara au kupewa onyo.

Napenda kuelezea kufurahishwa kwangu na msimamo huo wa Waziri wa TAMISEMI na nampongeza kwa hatua alizochukua.  Namuunga mkono na namtaka aendelee na msimamo huo katika kukabili vitendo vya utovu wa nidhamu wa watumishi wa umma.  Lazima kila mtumishi wa umma ajue kuwa asipotimiza ipasavyo majukumu yake kuna adhabu inayolingana na kosa alilofanya.  Isitoshe, watu hao ndio watakaoendesha na kusimamia Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwakani wakiwa mawakala na wasaidizi wa Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi.  Hivyo basi, kuwajibishwa wale waliozembea katika uchaguzi, itakuwa fundisho kwao na kwa wengine katika uchaguzi wa mwaka 2015 na chaguzi nyingine zijazo.

Ndugu wananchi;

Kwa upande wa ghasia, fujo na ugomvi uliotokea wakati wa zoezi la uchaguzi, nimezungumza na viongozi wa juu wa Jeshi la Polisi na kuwataka kuhakikisha kuwa wale wote waliofanya vitendo vya kuvunja sheria wanatiwa nguvuni na kufikishwa kwenye vyombo vya sheria.  Nimewataka wasifanye ajizi na watu wa aina hiyo.  Hawa ni watu hatari ambao hawana budi kuchukuliwa hatua thabiti za kuwadhibiti na kuwaadabisha. Tusipofanya hivyo tunawakatisha tamaa raia wema na watiifu wa sheria.  Aidha, watu wakikamatwa na kuachiliwa muda mfupi baadae, wakati mwingine hata bila dhamana ya namna yo yote inawachanganya sana watu wema.  Isitoshe tutakuwa tunalea maradhi ya watu wabaya na kuwafanya waendelee kusumbua jamii.  Nimewakumbusha kuwa wasipokuwa wakali sasa  tunaweka mazingira ya hatari ya kuja kutokea mambo mabaya zaidi  mwaka ujao kwenye uchaguzi mkuu.

Sakata la Akaunti ya Tegeta ESCROW

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Jambo la pili ninalotaka kulizungumzia si geni masikioni kwenu, nalo ni sakata la Akaunti ya Escrow ya Tegeta. Bila ya shaka mtakumbuka kuwa wakati wa kikao cha Bunge la Bajeti mwezi Juni, 2014, kulitolewa madai kuwa fedha zilizokuwemo katika Akaunti ya Escrow ya Tegeta iliyoko Benki Kuu zimechotwa kinyemela na mmiliki wa Kampuni ya Pan African Power Solution (PAP) akishirikiana na Maafisa wa Serikali.

  Serikali iliahidi kufanya mambo mawili.  Kwanza, kumtaka Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) afanye ukaguzi wa Akaunti hiyo na kwamba taarifa yake itawasilishwa Bungeni.  Na, pili, kumuagiza Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (TAKUKURU) kufanya uchunguzi wa mwenendo mzima wa miamala katika Akaunti hiyo na kama kuna uhalifu wo wote uliopo kwenye mamlaka yake achukue hatua  zipasazo kwa mujibu wa mamlaka na madaraka aliyonayo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Yote mawili tuliyoahidi tumefanya.  Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali amefanya ukaguzi wa miamala katika Akaunti ya Escrow ya Tegeta iliyoko Benki Kuu na taarifa yake ilishawasilishwa Bungeni.  Pia niliagiza taarifa hiyo ichapishwe kwenye magazeti na tovuti ya Serikali ili watu waweze kuisoma. Agizo hilo nalo limetekelezwa. TAKUKURU  wameendelea na uchunguzi wao na watakapomaliza na kuridhika kuhusu makosa yaliyofanywa watawafikisha wahusika Mahakamani.  Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa PCCB alifika kwenye Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Serikali na kutoa baadhi ya mambo kuhusu suala hili aliyoyaona ni muhimu Kamati iyajue.

Mambo Manne Makuu

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Tarehe 8 Desemba, 2014 nilipoanza kazi baada ya mapumziko ya ugonjwa nilikabidhiwa taarifa mbalimbali kuhusu sakata hili.  Tangu wakati huo nimekuwa nazisoma pamoja na kuzungumza na watu mbalimbali na kuagiza nipatiwe ufafanuzi wa mambo mbalimbali kutoka kwa wahusika.  Shabaha yangu ni kuyaelewa vizuri mambo hayo ili niweze kufanya uamuzi ulio sahihi na wa uhakika.  Nimebaini kuwa yapo mambo makuu manne:-

(a)  Akaunti ya ESCROW

(b)Miliki ya PAP kwa IPTL

(c) Kodi za Serikali,  na

(d)Tuhuma za Rushwa

Akaunti ya ESCROW

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Katika Mikataba ya Kununua Umeme (Power Purchase Agreements) ambayo TANESCO imetiliana sahihi na kampuni binafsi za kuzalisha umeme za IPTL, SONGAS, SYMBION POWER na AGGRECO, kuna malipo ya namna mbili yanayofanywa na TANESCO.  Kwanza, hulipia umeme ilionunua kutoka kwa kampuni hizo yaani tozo ya umeme (energy charges). Na, pili hulipia gharama za uwekezaji uliofanywa na kampuni hizo, yaani tozo ya uwekezaji (capacity charges). Katika mikataba yote hiyo imekubaliwa kuwa iwapo kutatokea kutofautiana, au mzozo unaohusu uwekezaji, upo utaratibu wa usuluhishi. Utaratibu huo unataka kwanza kufanyike mazungumzo, wakishindwa kuelewana watafute mtu wa kuwashauri na kuwasuluhisha; wakishindwa kukubaliana wapeleke shauri lao kwenye Kituo (Mahakama) cha Kimataifa cha Usuluhisi wa Migogoro ya Uwekezaji, (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes – ICSID) kilichopo London, Uingereza

Ndugu Wananchi;      

Mwaka 1998 TANESCO walifikisha kwenye Kituo cha Kimataifa cha Usuluhishi wa Migogoro ya Uwekezaji, London, malalamiko kwamba gharama za uwekezaji za IPTL ni kubwa mno kuliko kiasi halisi walichowekeza.  Mwaka 2001 Kituo cha Usuluhisi kilifanya uamuzi wa shauri hilo.  Madai ya TANESCO yalikubaliwa kuwa uwekezaji halisi uliofanyika ni Dola za Marekani 127 na siyo Dola milioni 163.17 walizodai IPTL.  Kutokana na kupungua huko kwa gharama za uwekezaji, tozo ya uwekezaji (capacity charges) nayo ilipunguzwa kutoka Dola za Marekani milioni 3.6 kwa mwezi mpaka Dola za Marekani milioni 2.6 kwa mwezi.  Kituo pia, kilitoa mwongozo kuhusu ukokotoaji wa tozo hiyo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Miaka minne baadaye TANESCO ilianza vuguvugu la kutaka kupata nafuu zaidi.  Waliamua kugomea kulipa tozo ya uwekezaji kwa mkokotoo wa mwaka 2001.  Nimeambiwa kuwa wanasheria wa TANESCO walishauri Shirika hilo lidai ukokotoaji kiwango cha tozo ya uwekezaji wa IPTL ufanyike kwa kuzingatia thamani ya hisa walizolipia wawekezaji ambayo ni shilingi 50,000 badala ya kutumia msingi wa mtaji uliotokana na mkopo wa Dola za Marekani milioni 38.16 wa wanahisa uliotumiwa na usuluhisho wa kwanza ICSID-1.

Wakati wakisubiri mchakato wa usuluhishi wa mzozo huu mpya kuanza, pande zote mbili zilikubaliana kuanzisha Akaunti ya Escrow ya Tegeta. Tarehe 5 Julai, 2006, akaunti hiyo ikaanzishwa kwa mkataba uliyotiwa sahihi na IPTL upande mmoja na Wizara ya Nishati na Madini kwa niaba ya TANESCO upande mwingine.  Aidha, Benki Kuu iliteuliwa kuwa wakala wa kutunza akaunti hiyo nayo ilitia sahihi. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kwa mujibu wa mkataba huo, Kampuni ya IPTL iliendelea kupeleka madai ya tozo ya uwekezaji kwa TANESCO ambayo nayo iliwajibika kulipa madai hayo.  Malipo hayo yalitakiwa kupelekwa kwenye Akaunti ya Escrow ya Tegeta tofauti na ilivyokuwa kabla ambapo yalipelekwa IPTL moja kwa moja.  Utaratibu huu mpya ulikubaliwa kutumika hadi pande mbili zitakapofikia mwafaka kuhusu kiwango cha ukokotoaji.    Kwa upande wa malipo ya gharama ya umeme (energy charges) TANESCO imeendelea kulipa moja kwa moja kwa IPTL bila kupitia Akaunti ya Tegeta ESCROW maana hizo hazikuwa na mgogoro. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kwa miaka saba tangu tarehe 5 Julai, 2006, akaunti hiyo ilipoanzishwa mpaka tarehe 5 Septemba, 2013, wakati Mahakama Kuu ilipokabidhi shughuli zote za IPTL kwa PAP, hakuna hatua stahiki zilizochukuliwa kutafuta ufumbuzi wa mzozo wa tozo ya uwekezaji baina ya ITPL na TANESCO.  Pande mbili husika hazikuwahi kukaa kuzungumza na wala hakuna shauri lililofikishwa kwenye Kituo cha Kimataifa cha Usuluhishi wa Mogogoro ya Uwekezaji kama ilivyofanyika mwaka 1998.    

         Wakati wote huo, TANESCO iliendelea kulipa madai ya tozo ya uwekezaji ya IPTL na kupeleka malipo hayo kwenye Akaunti ya Escrow.  Ulipaji ulisimama katika kipindi kifupi wakati kampuni ya IPTL ilipowekwa kwenye ufilisi.  Kwa mujibu wa taarifa ya CAG, wakati akaunti hiyo inafungwa tarehe 20 Novemba, 2013, kulikuwa na fedha taslimu shilingi 8,020,522,330.37; Hatifungani zenye thamani ya shilingi 159,231,370,000 na Dola za Marekani 22,198,544. Fedha zote hizo ni sawa na shilingi bilioni 202.9.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa hiyo, kama TANESCO ingelipa tozo ya uwekezaji ipasavyo, wakati huo Akaunti hii ingekuwa na shilingi bilioni 306.7.  Kwa sababu ya kutolipa fedha zote ipasavyo, wakati Akaunti inafungwa TANESCO walikuwa wanadaiwa na IPTL shilingi bilioni 103.8.    Kwa mujibu wa Mkataba wa Mauzo ya Umeme (PPA) malipo yaliyocheleweshwa, yanatozwa riba ya asilimia mbili ya fedha zote ambazo hazikulipwa kwa wakati.  Hivyo basi, riba iliyotokana na TANESCO kuchelewesha malipo ilikuwa Dola za Marekani milioni 33.6.    

Ni matumaini yangu kuwa ufafanuzi uliotolewa katika Taarifa ya Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali unasaidia kuweka kumbukumbu sawa na sahihi kuhusu kiasi gani kilichokuwepo kwenye Akaunti ya ESCROW siku uamuzi wa Mahakama ulipofanya akaunti hiyo ifungwe.  Kwa kifupi Taarifa ya Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali inaeleza kuwa Akaunti hiyo ilikuwa na shilingi bilioni 202.9 na siyo shilingi bilioni 306.7 kama inavyodaiwa na baadhi ya watu.  

Fedha za Nani

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Ni matumaini yangu pia kwamba maelezo haya kwa kiasi fulani yamesaidia kutoa jibu kwa swali maarufu la fedha za kwenye akaunti hii ni za nani?  Je ni za umma au za IPTL?  Pengine nianze kwa kuelezea Akaunti ya ESCROW ni nini?  Akaunti ya ESCROW ni tofauti na akaunti nyingine tunazozijua katika Benki zetu ambazo mtu anaweka fedha zake.  Kama tujuavyo, katika Benki zipo Akaunti za aina tatu ambazo wengi tunazifahamu na kuzitumia yaani Akaunti ya Akiba (Savings Account), Akaunti ya Hundi (Current Account) na Akaunti ya Muda Maalum (Fixed Deposit Account).  Akaunti ya Escrow ni akaunti maalum inayoanzishwa kwa ajili ya kufanya kazi maalum, kwa masharti maalum na kazi hiyo ikiisha akaunti yenyewe hufungwa.  Akaunti hiyo husimamiwa na wakala aliyeteuliwa kwa makubaliano ya wale wanaofungua akaunti hiyo.  Wakala ndiye mwenye jukumu la kusimamia akaunti na kumlipa mwenye fedha wakati ukifika.  Kwa akaunti ya Escrow ya Tegeta pande mbili husika zilikubaliana kuwa Benki Kuu ndiyo iwe Wakala.  Ni muhimu kujua kuwa akaunti hiyo ingeweza kufunguliwa kwenye Benki yoyote siyo lazima BoT. 

Akaunti ya Tegeta ESCROW ilifunguliwa BoT mwaka 2006 kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi fedha za malipo ya tozo ya uwekezaji (capacity charges) zilizokuwa zinalipwa na TANESCO kabla hazijakabidhiwa kwa anayelipwa ambaye ni IPTL.  Kabla ya hapo TANESCO ilikuwa inalipa moja kwa moja kwa IPTL.  Kama  nilivyokwishasema, awali ilifanyika hivyo ili kutoa nafasi kwa pande hizo mbili husika kumaliza tofauti zao kuhusu kiwango cha tozo ya uwekezaji ya IPTL. 

Kimsingi basi, fedha hizi ni za IPTL kwani ndiye mlipwaji na ni malipo yanatokana na madai ya IPTL kwa TANESCO kuhusu tozo ya uwekezaji.  Hata hivyo, kwa mujibu wa CAG, inawezekana katika fedha hizo kuna fedha za umma.  Hi ni kwa namna mbili. 

Kwanza, kama mgogoro baina ya TANESCO na IPTL ungetatuliwa na kiwango cha tozo ya uwekezaji kupungua kama ilivyofanyika mwaka 2001 katika ICSID-1 na kama pande mbili husika zingekubaliana au kuagizwa kuwa punguzo hilo lianze kuhesabiwa tangu tarehe ilipofunguliwa Akaunti hiyo (tarehe 5 Julai, 2006), basi kungekuwepo pesa za kurejeshwa TANESCO.   Maadamu hili halikufanyika mpaka Mahakama ilipofanya uamuzi uliosababisha akaunti hiyo kufungwa.  Katika mazingira hayo fedha zote zinakuwa ni za IPTL maana hakuna madai ya TANESCO.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Namna ya pili ni ile ambapo katika fedha hizi kunaweza kuwepo fedha za umma na iwapo kuna kodi za Serikali ambazo hazijalipwa.  Kwa mujibu wa Taarifa ya Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali na kuthibitishwa na TRA ni kwamba kulikuwa na kodi ya VAT ambayo haikulipwa.  Nimeambiwa kuwa TANESCO ndiyo ilikuwa na wajibu wa kukata kodi hizo kabla ya kulipa madai ya IPTL lakini kwa baadhi ya malipo haikufanyika hivyo. Hivi IPTL inastahili kudaiwa kodi ya Serikali?  Kwa mujibu wa tathmini iliyofanywa, kodi inayotakiwa kulipwa na IPTL ni shilingi bilioni 21.7. IPTL wameshapelekewa madai na TRA, na IPTL wamekubali kulipa.

Katika ukaguzi wa Hesabu za TANESCO za mwaka 2012, Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali aliwaelekeza TANESCO kuacha kuhesabu fedha zilizopo kwenye Akaunti ya ESCROW kama ni fedha zao.  CAG aliwaambia TANESCO kwamba fedha hizo si zao.  

Maagizo hayo ya CAG yanasomeka kama ifuatavyo:

“As a result, the deposit balance in Escrow account does not meet the definition of an asset of the Company and therefore an adjustment has been made to de-recognize the asset and related liability to the tune of the amounts available in the Escrow account” 

Kwa tafsiri yake ni kuwa: “Hivyo basi, fedha zilizowekwa kwenye akaunti ya Escrow hazina sifa ya kutafsiriwa kama ni mali ya kampuni (TANESCO) hivyo, marekebisho yamefanywa ili kutotambua mali na madeni yanayohusu fedha hizo kwa kiasi cha fedha zilizopo kwenye akaunti ya Escrow.” 

Kutokana na maelezo haya ni dhahiri kwamba, fedha zilizokuwa kwenye Escrow siyo za TANESCO na hazikupaswa kuingizwa kwenye vitabu vya TANESCO kama mali yake. 

Chimbuko la Sakata

Wazee Wangu;

Chimbuko la kadhia yote hii Bungeni na kwenye jamii ni uamuzi wa tarehe 5 Septemba, 2013, wa Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania wa kuitambua PAP kuwa mmiliki halali wa IPTL na kuagiza Mfilisi akabidhi shughuli zote za IPTL kwa PAP.  Katika utekelezaji wa uamuzi huo wa Mahakama Kuu ukazuka  mjadala mkali kuhusu fedha zilizomo kwenye akaunti ya ESCROW kukabidhiwa kwa PAP.  Kwanza kabisa mjadala ulikuwa ndani ya Serikali miongoni mwa viongozi na watendaji wa Wizara na Taasisi zinazohusika moja kwa moja na akaunti hiyo.  Hizi ni Wizara ya Nishati na Madini, TANESCO na Benki Kuu.  Viongozi na Watendaji husika walikuwa wanajiuliza na kuuliza kama walipe au wasilipe.  Walipotaka ushauri wa Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali wakaelekezwa watekeleze uamuzi wa Mahakama Kuu.  Alisema uko sawa na hauna matatizo.  Halikadhalika, Benki Kuu walipoulizia kuhusu kodi za Serikali, Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali alielekeza kuwa hakuna kodi ya kulipwa.

Kwa kuzingatia ushauri wa Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali, malipo yakafanyika kwa IPTL tena bila ya kodi kulipwa.  Baada ya malipo kufanywa ndipo mjadala huo ukahamia katika jamii na Bunge na kugeuka kuwa kadhia kubwa iliyochukua sura ya kashfa yenye dalili za rushwa na wizi. 

Uamuzi Unaotiliwa Shaka

Wazee Wangu na Ndugu Wananchi;

Kwa jumla uamuzi wa Mahakama Kuu kuhusu akaunti ya Escrow, ushauri wa Mwanasheria Mkuu kwa Serikali wa kuelekeza uamuzi huo utekelezwe na viongozi wa Serikali kutekeleza ushauri huo vimetiliwa shaka.  Umeonekana kuwa haukuwa uamuzi sahihi na kwamba umeitia hasara nchi.  Isitoshe uamuzi huo umeibua hisia za kuwepo harufu na vitendo vya rushwa. Wapo waliosema si bure iko namna!  Wapo waliotaja majina na watu wanaodai wamepata mgao wa Escrow tena wengine wamechukua fedha kwa viroba, sandarusi na rumbesa.  Bahati mbaya sana katika mjadala ilijengeka dhana isiyokuwa sahihi kwamba jambo hili lilianzishwa na Maafisa hao wa Serikali kwa nia ya kujinufaisha wao binafsi.  Ukweli ni kwamba uamuzi ulifanywa na Mahakama Kuu na kwenye Serikali ilikuwa utekelezaji wa amri hiyo.

Wazee Wangu;

Nilipokutana na aliyekuwa Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali kupata maoni yake kuhusu kadhia hii ameendelea kusema alichosema Bungeni kuwa hakukosea katika ushauri wake na wala Mahakama haikufanya makosa.  Hivyo basi, hakuona sababu ya kwenda Mahakamani kuomba marekebisho ya uamuzi wa Mahakama kuhusu fedha zilizokuwepo kwenye akaunti ya Escrow ya Tegeta kukabidhiwa kampuni ya PAP mmiliki wa IPTL.  Vilevile haoni kama kuna hasara yo yote ambayo nchi imepata kwa sababu fedha zile ni za IPTL na imelipwa IPTL. 

Akifafanua, alisema kuwa akaunti ya Escrow ilianzishwa kwa ajili ya kutunza fedha za malipo ya tozo ya uwekezaji kwa IPTL yaliyokuwa yanafanywa na TANESCO.  Kabla ya mzozo kuhusu ukokotoaji wa tozo hiyo na kuanzishwa kwa akaunti ya Escrow ya Tegeta, TANESCO ilikuwa inalipa tozo ya uwekezaji moja kwa moja kwa IPTL.  Baada ya kutokea mzozo na akaunti kuanzishwa mambo mawili hayakubadilika.  Kwanza kwamba IPTL haikuacha kupeleka madai ya tozo ya uwekezaji kwa TANESCO.  Na, pili, kwamba TANESCO haikuacha kulipa madai hayo.  Mdai na mdaiwa hawakubadilika.  Kuwepo kwa akaunti ya Escrow hakubadili mwenye fedha zake.  Akaunti hiyo iliundwa kuhifadhi fedha za IPTL wakati suluhu inatafutwa kuhusu kiwango cha tozo.  Matumaini ni kwamba kama kiwango kitapunguzwa, TANESCO inaweza kupata nafuu ya malipo. 

Kuhusu uamuzi wa Mahakama Kuu kuruhusu IPTL ilipwe fedha za akaunti ya Escrow, Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali alisema ni uamuzi sahihi na wala taifa halikupata hasara kwa sababu pesa zimelipwa IPTL na siyo mtu mwingine.  Isitoshe anaona uamuzi wa Mahakama umeisaidia TANESCO kutua mzigo mkubwa iliyokuwa nao kwa miaka saba.

         Kama mjuavyo, akaunti ya Escrow ilianzishwa kuhifadhi pesa za malipo ya tozo ya uwekezaji ya IPTL.  Ilianzishwa kwa matumaini kuwa TANESCO watapata nafuu ya tozo ya uwekezaji.  Lakini, hapakuwahi kufanyika mazungumzo baina ya TANESCO na IPTL kuhusu jambo hilo na wala suala hilo halijafikishwa ICSID.  Haikuweza kufanyika hivyo kwa sababu washauri wa kisheria wa TANESCO hawajafanya hivyo.  Wapo wanaodai kuwa hawafanyi hivyo kwa sababu hakuna sababu mpya zinazoweza kupatikana kuifanya ICSID ibadili uamuzi wake wa 2001 kuhusu kiasi cha tozo na namna ya ukokotoaji wake.

         Matokeo yake ni TANESCO kuwa na akaunti ya Escrow ambayo mwisho wake haujulikani.  TANESCO inaendelea kudaiwa na IPTL tozo ya uwekezaji na kulazimika kulipa kwenye akaunti hiyo.  Kwa masharti ya akaunti ya Escrow wanaposhindwa kulipa wanatozwa riba.  Kwa mujibu wa taarifa ya CAG mpaka tarehe 20 Novemba, 2013, TANESCO ilikuwa inadaiwa shilingi bilioni 103.8 ambazo hawajalipa kwenye akaunti ya Escrow na riba ya Dola za Marekani milioni 33.  Kwa sababu hiyo basi uamuzi wa kufunga Akaunti ya Tegeta Escrow unalipatia unafuu TANESCO dhidi ya kulimbikiza madeni na riba.

         Kwa upande wa kodi za Serikali ambazo hazikulipwa, Mheshimiwa Jaji Werema alisema yeye alitoa ushauri tu.  Hata hivyo, kama mamlaka husika inaona zipo kodi zinazostahili kulipwa izidai.  Hakuna kilichopotea kwa sababu anayedai, yaani TRA yupo, na mdaiwa yupo, IPTL.

Uamuzi wa ICSID II Kuhusu Tozo ya Uwekezaji

Wazee Wangu;

Yalitolewa mawazo kuwa kama fedha za akaunti ya Tegeta Escrow zingelipwa baada ya uamuzi wa Mahakama ya Kimataifa ya Kusuluhisha Migogoro ya Uwekezaji (ICSID II) kutoa uamuzi wake, TANESCO ingepata nafuu ya kupungua kwa tozo ya uwekezaji.  Kuhusu jambo hilo nimeambiwa kwamba kuna mambo mawili ya msingi.  Kwanza kwamba Mahakama hiyo haikutoa viwango vipya vya tozo kama ilivyofanya mwaka 2001 kwenye ICSID–I.   Haikubadili mwongozo wa ukokotoaji wa tozo.  Imesema madai yanaweza kuzungumzwa na kusisitiza kuwa katika mazungumzo hayo TANESCO watambue kwamba wanahisa waliwekeza mtaji wao binafsi wakati wa kununua mtambo na pia walikopa madeni, na kwamba kiasi cha fedha walichowekeza kilitakiwa kiwe na kiwango cha juu zaidi cha faida.

Jambo la pili ni kwamba, shauri hili la pili la ICSIDI II halikuihusisha kampuni ya IPTL mwenye Mkataba wa Kuuza Umeme na TANESCO na siyo Benki ya Standard Charterd.  IPTL wameweka pingamizi la utekelezaji wa uamuzi wa shauri hilo hapa nchini, hivyo inakuwa vigumu kwa TANESCO kufanya mazungumzo kwa msingi wa shauri hilo.

Kinga Dhidi ya Madai

Wakati wa kufunga akaunti ya Escrow, upande wa Serikali ulielezea hofu yake ya uwezekano wa siku za usoni mtu kudai tena kulipwa fedha hizi hizi ilizolipwa PAP.  Nimeambiwa kuwa suala hilo haliwezi kutokea kwani limetengenezewa wigo imara wa kimkataba kuzuia.   PAP imetiliana sahihi na Serikali kwamba iwapo kutatokea mdai yo yote PAP itawajibika kulipa.

Mashaka ya Miliki ya PAP kwa IPTL

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Hofu nyingine kuhusu uwezekano wa Serikali kupata hasara ni yale madai kuwa huenda miliki ya PAP kwa asilimia 70 za hisa za IPTL zilizokuwa za kampuni ya Mechmar Berhard ya Malaysia siyo halali.  Pale mwanzoni ilidaiwa kuwa kampuni ya Mechmar ilipouza hisa zake kwa kampuni ya Piper Link ya British Virgin Islands ilikuwa chini ya mchakato wa ufilisi kule Malaysia.  Kama ingekuwa hivyo, kisheria mtu hawezi kuuza hisa zake akiwa kwenye mazingira hayo.  Katika uchunguzi wa CAG alieleza kuwa amethibitisha kwamba madai hayo si kweli,  Mechmar walipouza hisa zao tarehe 9 Septemba, 2010 kampuni haikuwa kwenye ufilisi.  Iliingia kwenye mchakato wa ufilisi mwaka 2012.

         Lakini kwa upande wa kampuni ya Piper Link ya Uingereza inasemekana iliuza hisa hizo baada ya kuwa wamepokea amri ya Mahakama ya Malkia ya BVI kuizuia isiuze hisa hizo.  Je ni kweli?  Imefanyika hivyo?  Kama ni kweli je PAP waliponunua hisa hizo walijua kama kuna zuio au hapana?  Kama walijua basi na wao ni sehemu ya njama za kufanya udanganyifu.   Kama hawakuwa wamejua basi wametapeliwa.  Nimeagiza uchunguzi wa kina ufanyike kupata ukweli.  Natambua hivi sasa Mahakamani zipo kesi zinazohoji uhalali wa PAP kumiliki asilimia 70 za hisa za Mechmar Berhad.  Uchunguzi wetu hautaingilia mchakato huo lakini unaipa Serikali fursa nzuri ya kuchukua hatua zipasazo kuhusu suala hili lenye mjadala mkubwa.         Jambo lingine muhimu ambalo limeleta matatizo kwa Mahakama zetu nchini na BRELA ni uuzaji wa hisa za IPTL au kuwekwa rehani hisa hizo bila ya uamuzi huo kusajiliwa BRELA na kwenye Mahakama zetu.   Sheria zetu ambazo ndizo za nchi ya Jumuiya ya Madola kama ilivyo kwa Hong Kong, Malaysia, na BVI, inaitaka kampuni ya Piper Link ya BVI iliponunua hisa za Mechmar katika IPTL kusajili BRELA ununuzi huo.  Hali kadhalika, inaitaka SCB ya Hong Kong na kupata amri ya Mahakama kuzuia deni la Mechmar na kuwekwa dhamana ya hisa za Mechmar katika IPTL.  Piper Link isiuze hisa 70 za Mechmar katika IPTL.  Walitakiwa wasajili na BRELA na Mahakama yetu.  Kutokufanya hivyo ndiko kunazua maneno mengi na mzozo kuhusu uuzaji wa hisa hizo kwa PAP.  Kwa SCB wanapata usumbufu wa kudai madeni yao IPTL kwa sababu hiyo hiyo.  Uchunguzi utakaofanyika utapata ukweli wa yote kwa uhakika.   

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Taarifa niliyopewa wakati najiandaa kuzungumza nanyi ni kuwa katika  Mahakama zetu nchini kuna mashauri yahusuyo miliki ya PAP ya hisa 70 zilizokuwa za Mechmar katika IPTL na yapo mashauri yahusuyo PAP kupewa fedha za akaunti ya Escrow.  Zipo pia nyingine za masuala mbalimbali yakiwemo mashauri yaliyofunguliwa na PAP dhidi ya watu, na makampuni binafsi na vyombo vya Serikali.  Naamini uamuzi wa Mahakama zetu utatoa majibu kwa masuala yote hayo.

         Pamoja na hayo yatakayokuwa yanaendelea Mahakamani, Serikali itaendelea kufanya uchunguzi wake na kuamua namna ya kushughulikia taarifa zitakazopatikana ili nayo iweze kwenda Mahakamani itakapolazimu kufanya hivyo. 

         Jambo lingine muhimu nataka uchunguzi wa kina ufanyike ni kujua nani ni nani katika uuzaji na ununuzi wa hisa za Mechmar.  Hususan nataka tujue kwa ukweli na uhakika hisa hizo zimeuzwa kwa bei gani.  Je, ni kweli gharama zinazosemwa  ndizo zenyewe?  Nataka kuthibitisha ukweli huo ili tujue kodi yetu ya ongezeko la mtaji (Capital Gains Tax) inayostahili kulipwa Tanzania ni kiasi gani? Je kiasi gani kimelipwa na kipi hakijalipwa ili kidaiwe? 

Tuhuma za Kuwepo kwa Harufu ya Rushwa

Wazee Wangu;

         Kumekuwepo na tuhuma za vitendo vya rushwa katika mchakato mzima wa kufunga akaunti ya Escrow na kukabidhi fedha hizo kwa kampuni ya PAP.  Halikadhalika, kumekuwepo na hisia hizo hizo kwa upande wa jinsi kampuni ya VIP Engineering and Marketing ilivyotumia pesa zake zilizoko kwenye Benki ya Mkombozi.  Yamesemwa mengi sana na mmeyasikia na kuyasoma. 

         Rushwa ni kosa la kijinai ambalo kwa Serikali yetu ni kosa ambalo ni vigumu kulivumilia wala kulifumbia macho.    Mara baada ya kupata fununu za uwezekano wa vitendo hivyo kufuatia taarifa ya awali ya CAG ya kwenda kukagua miamala, niliagiza taarifa husika zifikishwe kwenye Taasisi ya Kupamba na Kuzuia Rushwa (PCCB) kwa uchunguzi zaidi.  Naambiwa taarifa hizo zimefika na kazi ya uchunguzi inaendelea.  Tayari watu kadhaa wamehojiwa na wengine wanaendelea kuhojiwa.  Wakati nawasihi wananchi kuvuta subira ili tuwape nafasi PCCB wakamilishe kwa ufanisi wa hali ya juu kazi yao waliyokwishaianza, nawaomba PCCB waongeze kasi ya uchunguzi.  Napenda kufafanua kwamba kwa upande wa miamala iliyotoka katika akaunti ya kampuni ya VIP Engineering and Marketing ya Ndugu James Rugemalila, Serikali inashughulika na watumishi wa umma kwa kuzingatia Sheria ya Maadili ya Utumishi wa Umma, maana suala lao ni la kimaadili.  Hatuwahoji wasiokuwa watumishi wa umma. 

Maazimio ya Bunge

Ndugu Viongozi;

Wazee Wangu;

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Niliona nianze kwa kutoa maelezo hayo ya utangulizi kabla ya kuyazungumzia maazimio ya Bunge.  Serikali imepokea maazimio hayo ya Bunge na kuyafanyia kazi kwa ajili ya utekelezaji wake.  Nawapongeza Wabunge wetu kwa moyo waliouonesha wa kuchukia maovu na kutaka yashughulikiwe ipasavyo.  Napenda kuwahakikishia kuwa niko pamoja nao.  Nampongeza Mheshimiwa Anna Makinda, Spika wa Bunge, Mheshimiwa Job Ndugai, Naibu Spika na Mwenyekiti wa Bunge Mheshimiwa Mussa Zungu kwa uongozi wao mahiri.  Hakika haikuwa kazi rahisi, lakini chini ya uongozi wao mambo yameisha salama na tumepata maazimio nane yanayozungumzika na kutekelezeka.  Nawashukuru na kuwapongeza sana Wajumbe wa Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Serikali (PAC), chini ya uongozi wa Mheshimiwa Zitto Kabwe na Mheshimiwa  Deo Filikunjombe na pia Wajumbe waliounda Kamati ya Mapendekezo kwa kufikia mwafaka wa mapendekezo haya 8 ambayo yaliazimiwa na Bunge. 

Mwisho lakini si ya mwisho kwa umuhimu, nawapongeza Wabunge wote kwa michango yao mizuri.  Jambo lililonifurahisha sana ni ushirikiano wa Wabunge wa kambi zote katika kutafuta ufumbuzi wa suala hili muhimu,.  Hivi ndivyo inavyotakiwa Bunge liwe.  Kwa kweli lazima nieleze mshangao wangu niliposikia kambi ya upinzani ikijaribu kufanya maamuzi yale ni yao wao na wenzao hawamo.  Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Serikali ina Wajumbe 19 wa CCM na wa Upinzani 5. Bunge lina Wabunge wa CCM asilimia 74 na wa upinzani asilimia 26. Hivi kama ni yao wao pekee na wa upande wa CCM wangepinga yangekuwa?  Yasingefika po pote, yangefia kwenye Kamati.  Huku ni kutafuta umaarufu kwa mgongo wa wengine.  Na, Wabunge wengi wa CCM na nyie semeni msikike kwa uamuzi mliyofanya wote.

           Napenda kuwahakikishia kuwa mimi na wenzangu Serikalini hatuna upungufu wa dhamira ya kutekeleza yale maazimio yanayoangukia katika dhamana yetu.  Napenda kuainisha mtazamo na mwelekeo wa Serikali katika utekelezaji wa maazimio hayo manane kama ifuatavyo:-

Azimio la kwanza:  Serikali iangalie uwezekano wa kuchukua mitambo ya kufua umeme ya IPTL na kuimilikisha kwa TANESCO kwa mujibu wa Sheria za nchi.

Pendekezo tumelipokea, ni jambo linalowezekana kufanya.  Hata hivyo, tunapopima ujumbe tunaoupeleka kwa jumuiya ya wawekezaji tunachelea kuwa inaweza kuleta hofu na kuwatisha wawekezaji waliopo  na wajao.  Nalisema hivyo kwa sababu sisi tuna historia ya kutaifisha mali za kamapuni binafsi.  Hofu hiyo bado ipo.  Tukichukua mitambo hii tunaweza kurudisha hofu za kurudi tulikokuwa na kukimbiza mitaji tunayohitaji kwa uchumi kukua na nchi kupata maendeleo.  Nashauri tuendelee kuyapatia ufumbuzi matatizo ya IPTL kila tunapoyabaini.   Aidha, Mahakama imetusaidia sana kwa kuamuru mitambo ya IPTL ibadilishwe ili itumie gesi asilia na kutoza bei ya umeme isiyozidi senti nane za Marekani. Tuyafuatiliye haya kwanza.

Azimio la Pili:  Azimio hilo linazungumzia kuhusu uwazi wa Mikataba linasomeka ifuatavyo:  “Bunge limeazimia kwamba Serikali itekeleze Azimio husika la Bunge mapema iwezekavyo na kwa vyovyote vile kabla ya kumalizika kwa Bunge la Bajeti.  Serikali iwasilishe taarifa ya utekelezaji wa mapitio ya mikataba ya umeme”.

Azimio hili tumelipokea na tunaangalia namna bora ya kulitekeleza ili kuweza kuua ndege wawili kwa jiwe moja.  Kwanza, kuitikia kilio cha muda mrefu kuhusu uwazi katika mikataba ambayo Serikali inaingia na wawekezaji; na pili kuhakikisha usiri wa mikataba hiyo ambayo ni haki ya wawekezaji hao dhidi ya washindani wao inazingatiwa.  Serikali na Bunge tutakaa chini hivi punde kutafuta namna bora ya kisheria na tutafanya hivyo kwa kujifunza pia kutokana na uzoefu wa nchi ambazo zina utaratibu wa aina hii.

Azimio la Tatu:  Linasomeka; “Bunge linaazimia kwamba TAKUKURU, Jeshi la Polisi na vyombo vingine husika vya ulinzi na usalama vichukue hatua stahili kwa mujibu wa sheria za nchi yetu dhidi ya watu waliotajwa kwenye taarifa maalum ya Kamati husika na vitendo vyote vya kijinai kuhusiana na miamala ya Akaunti ya ESCROW, na watu wengine watakaogundulika kufuatia uchunguzi mbalimbali unaoendelea kuhusu kuhusika kwao katika vitendo hivyo vya jinai”

          Vyombo husika vimekwishaagizwa kufanya hivyo na kazi imeanza na inaendelea.  Ikiwa wapo watu wenye makosa hatua zitachukuliwa kwa mujibu wa sheria.

Azimio la nne:  Linasomeka, “Kamati za Bunge kuwavua nyadhifa zao wenyeviti wa Kamati za Bunge waliotajwa kupewa fedha na kampuni ya VIP Engineering kabla ya kikao kijacho cha Bunge”

         Azimio hilo liko chini ya mamlaka ya Bunge lenyewe.  Nawaachia wao waamue.

Azimio la Tano:  Linasomeka; “Bunge linaazimia kwamba Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania aunde Tume ya Kijaji ya Uchunguzi kuchunguza utovu wa maadili dhidi ya Jaji Aloysius Mujulizi na Jaji Profesa Eudes Ruhangisa wa Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania”

         Azimio hili nimelipokea, tumelijadili hata hivyo, itabidi tufuate utaratibu wa kikatiba na kisheria wa kushughulikia masuala ya namna hiyo.  Inatakiwa suala kama hili lianzie kwenye Mhimili wa Mahakama yenyewe na siyo kwa Rais au Bunge.  Tume ya Mahakama ndiyo yenye mamlaka ya kumtaka Rais aunde Tume ya Kijaji ya kumchukulia hatua Jaji yeyote pale inaporidhika kuwa amepoteza sifa za kuendelea kufanya kazi hiyo.  Nashauri suala hili tumuachie Jaji Mkuu wa Tanzania alishughulikie atakavyoona inafaa. 

Azimio la Sita:  “Bunge linaazimia kwamba mamlaka husika za kifedha na za kiuchunguzi kuitaja Stanbic Bank Ltd. na benki yeyote itakayogundulika kufuatia uchunguzi wa mamlaka ya uchunguzi, kujihusisha na utakatishaji wa fedha zilizotolewa katika akaunti ya ESCROW kuwa ni taasisi zenye shaka ya utakatishaji wa fedha haramu (Institutions of money laundering concerns).

         Pendekezo la Bunge ni zuri kwamba mamlaka husika na udhibiti wa vitendo vya utakatishaji fedha vifanye uchunguzi kwa mujibu wa Sheria.  Serikali imelipokea na mamlaka husika yaani Financial Intelligence Units kulishughulikia.  Naamini wameshaaza, tuwape muda watimize wajibu wao kwa mujibu wa sheria. 

Azimio la Saba:  “Bunge liliazimia kwamba Serikali iandae, na kuwasilisha Muswada wa Marekebisho ya Sheria iliyounda TAKUKURU kwa lengo la kuanzishwa Taasisi mahsusi itakayoshughulikia kupambana na kudhibiti vitendo vya rushwa kubwa, ufisadi na hujuma za uchumi zinazotishia uhai wa taifa kiuchumi, kijamii na kisiasa.

         Kazi ya kufanya mageuzi katika TAKUKURU inaendelea.  Tayari Sheria mbalimbali zimetungwa ikiwa ni pamoja na Sheria Mpya ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa ya mwaka 2008, Sheria ya Kudhibiti Matumizi ya Fedha Haramu ya mwaka 1991 ambazo zote zinaweka utaratibu wa kushughulikia vitendo vya rushwa.  Tutaendelea kuziboresha sheria hizo kwa kadri itakavyohitajika.  Kazi iliyopo mbele yetu ni kuimarisha usimamizi wa sheria hizo.  Jambo hilo nalo litazingatiwa katika maboresho hayo.  Ni dhamira yangu na ya Serikali ninayoiongoza kupambana na kushinda  vita dhidi ya rushwa.  Kwa hiyo tuko tayari kulifanyia kazi pendekezo lolote linaloimarisha dhamira yetu hii njema.

Azimio la nane:  “Bunge linaazimia kwamba Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Waziri wa Ardhi na Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi, Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali, Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Nishati na Madini na Wajumbe wa Bodi ya Wakurugenzi ya TANESCO wawajibishwe kwa kuishauri mamlaka ya uteuzi kutengua uteuzi wao.

         Azimio hili ndilo Azimio ambalo limevuta hisia za watu wengi, na pengine ndilo ambalo utekelezaji wake unasubiriwa kwa hamu.  Utekeelzaji wake umeanza.  Kwanza, ni kuhusu Bodi ya TANESCO,   tumeanza mchakato wa kuunda Bodi mpya kwani iliyopo imemaliza muda wake.  Kuhusu Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Nishati na Madini,  kwa vile ni mtumishi wa umma anatawaliwa na Sheria na Kanuni za Utumishi wa umma, hivyo nimeshaelekeza Mamlaka kuchunguza tuhuma zake na hatimaye ikibainika ana makosa hatua za kinidhamu zitachukuliwa.  Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali ameshajiuzulu.  Tumelitafakari suala la Waziri wa Ardhi, Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi la kupokea fedha kutoka VIP Engineering and Marketing ambazo kwa maelezo yake ni kwa ajili ya shule anayoimiliki na kuiendesha.  Mwenyewe ameeleza wazi kupitia vyombo vya habari. Pamoja na hayo yapo mambo ya msingi kimaadili ambayo hayakuzingatiwa, hivyo tumemwomba atupishe tuteue mwingine.  Kuhusu Prof. Muhongo nimemuweka kiporo, kuna uchunguzi niliagiza ufanywe na vyombo vyetu bado nasubiri taarifa hiyo ili nifanye uamuzi ndani ya siku chache zijazo. 

Hitimisho

Wazee Wangu;   

         Nawashukuruni kwa kunisikiliza.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Nakushukuru sana Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Wazee wa Dodoma, Mheshimiwa Balozi Job Lusinde kwa kuandaa mkutano huu.  Wakati nilipofanya ziara ya Mkoa wa Dodoma tulipanga tukutane lakini kwa vile ratiba yangu iliingiliwa na mambo mengi, hivyo haikuwezekana, lakini leo imewezekana.  Pengine hii ndiyo siku ambayo Mwenyezi Mungu alipanga tukutane.  Tumshukuru Muumba wetu kwa rehema zake, na tumuombe ajaalie mkutano wetu uanze salama na uishe salama.  Nawashukuru kwa Risala yenu na maudhui yake.  Nawaahidi nitayafuatilia na majibu mtapata. Pamoja na yaliyomo kwenye risala yenu mimi nina mambo manne ambayo ni yatokanayo na ziara yangu nchini China na Vietnam, maradhi ya Ebola, uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa na hatua zinazofuata kwenye Mchakato wa Katiba.

Ziara ya China na Vietnam

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kuanzia tarehe 21 Oktoba, 2014 hadi tarehe 28 Oktoba, 2014 nilikuwa katika ziara rasmi ya kutembelea nchi za China na Vietnam. Nilitembelea China tarehe 21 hadi 26 Oktoba, 2014 na Vietnam tarehe 26 hadi 28 Oktoba, 2014. Ziara hizo nilizifanya kufuatia mwaliko wa Rais wa China, Mheshimiwa Xi Jinping na mwaliko wa Rais wa Vietnam Mhe. Truong Tan Sang.  Ziara katika nchi hizo zilikuwa za mafanikio makubwa sana hata kuliko nilivyotarajia.  Nchini China tulipokelewa kwa namna hawajafanya kwa miaka mingi.

Ziara ya China

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nchini China, kwa makubaliano na wenyeji wetu tulifanya hafla maalum ya kuadhimisha miaka 50 tangu kuanzishwa kwa uhusiano wa kidiplomasia kati ya Tanzania na China. Katika hafla hii upande wa China uliwakilishwa na Makamu wa Rais Mheshimiwa Li Yuanchao.    Pande zetu mbili ziliitumia fursa hiyo kuzungumzia tulipotoka, tulipo sasa na mbele tuendako.

Kwa jumla wote tumeridhika kuwa tumekuwa na nusu karne ya uhusiano wenye mafanikio makubwa.  Katika kipindi hiki nchi zetu zimekuwa marafiki wa kweli, wa kuaminiana na kusaidiana kwa mambo mengi. Katika medani za kimataifa nchi zetu zimekuwa zikielewana kwa mambo mengi na kusaidiana.  China ilikuwa ngome kuu katika kusaidia kwa hali na mali harakati za ukombozi wa Kusini mwa Afrika. 

Wakati ule Tanzania ilikuwa ikiongoza nchi za mstari wa mbele.    Wenzetu bado wanakumbuka sana jinsi nchi yetu ilivyokuwa mstari wa mbele kuipigania nchi ya China kurejeshewa haki yao hususan ya kuketi kiti chao katika Umoja wa Mataifa, baada ya Chama cha Kikomunisti chini ya uongozi wa Mwenyekiti Mao Tse Tung kufanikiwa kukishinda Chama cha Kuomintang na kiongozi wake Chian Kai Sheki na kulazimika kukimbilia Taiwan. Mataifa makubwa ya Magharibi yalikataa kuitambua China mpya na kuitenga.  Katika kufanya hivyo, waliitambua Taiwan na kuifanya kuwa ndiyo wawakilishi wa China katika Umoja wa Mataifa.

Baada ya hapo Jamhuri ya Watu wa China ilipinga uamuzi ule na kuanzisha kampeni ya kudai haki yake stahiki.  Madai yao hayo yalipata nguvu pale Baba wa Taifa Mwalimu Julius Nyerere alipoamua kuwa Tanzania ishiriki katika kampeni hiyo kwa nguvu zake zote.  Kwa kushirikiana na nchi nyingine rafiki, jitihada hizo za pamoja zilizaa matunda na mwaka 1971, China ilipokubaliwa kuchukua nafasi yake stahiki katika Umoja wa Mataifa na Taiwan kuondolewa.  Ndugu zetu wa China hawasahau msaada wetu huo na hawaoni haya kulisemea waziwazi jambo hilo na vizazi vyote vya China vinafundishwa kuhusu wema ambao Tanzania imewafanyia. Kwa sababu hiyo, Tanzania ina nafasi maalum nchini China.  Wao wenyewe wana msemo maalumu kuhusu Tanzania kwamba ni “all weather friends”.  Yaani marafiki wa majira yote. 

Katika ziara yangu nilifuatana na kaka yangu Dkt. Salim Ahmed Salim ambaye ndiye alikuwa Balozi wa Kudumu wa Tanzania katika Umoja wa Mataifa wakati ule.  Rafiki zetu wa China walifurahi sana kumwona Dkt. Salim kwani yeye hasa ndiye aliyefanya kazi ya kushawishi nchi nyingine kuiunga mkono Jamhuri ya Watu wa China.  Pia nilifuatana na Mheshimiwa Balozi Mstaafu Jenerali Mrisho Sarakikya aliyekuwa Mkuu wa Majeshi wa kwanza wa Tanzania.  Yeye ndiye alihusika sana kujenga uhusiano wa mambo ya kijeshi baina ya nchi yetu na China.  Pia, nilikwenda na Balozi Mstaafu, Mzee Waziri Juma aliyewahi kuwa Balozi wa Pili wa Tanzania nchini China. 

Kama mjuavyo nchi ya China imetusaidia mambo mengi kwa maendeleo yetu.  Misaada mingine ilihusu vitu vikubwa ambavyo katika hali ya kawaida isingewezekana kusaidiwa na nchi nyingine zinazotoa misaada ya maendeleo na mikopo.  Miongoni mwa hayo ni ujenzi wa Reli ya Uhuru (TAZARA), misaada ya zana, vifaa na mafunzo vilivyosaidia kujenga Jeshi letu jipya yaani JWTZ baada ya kuvunjwa kwa lile tulilorithi kutoka kwa Wakoloni kuaasi Januari 20, 1964.  Msaada wao mkubwa ndiyo uliotuwezesha  mpaka kuweza kulinda na kukomboa nchi yetu dhidi ya uvamizi na kutekwa eneo la Misenyi, Kagera na majeshi ya dikteta Iddi Amin wa Uganda.

  Hata sasa China imeendelea kuwa mshirika wetu mkubwa kuliko wote katika kuimarisha na kuendeleza Jeshi letu.  Msaada mwingine mkubwa ni ule mkopo wa dola za Marekani bilioni 1.2 wa kujenga bomba jipya la gesi kutoka Mtwara na Songosongo hadi Dar es Salaam.  Isingekuwa rahisi kupata mkopo mkubwa kiasi kile kutoka nchi nyingine au Shirika lolote la fedha duniani.  Mkopo ule unalimaliza tatizo la upungufu wa umeme kutokea sasa mpaka mwaka 2020 inapokadiriwa kuwa nchi yetu itahitaji megawati 10,000.  Hata wakati huo bomba hili ni muundombinu wa msingi utakaorahisisha upanuzi wa miundombinu ya kuzalisha umeme kutosheleza mahitaji hayo kama itaamuliwa gesi iendelee kuwa chanzo kikuu cha nishati ya umeme nchini.

Katika mazungumzo yangu na Waziri Mkuu Li Keqiang na Rais Xi Jinping wote wawili wameelezea kuridhika kwao na uhusiano baina ya nchi zetu tangu siku za nyuma mpaka hapa tulipo sasa.  Hali kadhalika walielezea kuwa wangependa kuona uhusiano wetu na ushirikiano wetu unaimarika na kukua mpaka kufikia hatua bora na ya juu kabisa.  Niliwahakikishia kuwa hiyo ndiyo fikra yangu na Watanzania kuhusu uhusiano baina ya nchi zetu mbili rafiki.

Kwa nyakati tofauti viongozi wote wakuu wa China walinihakikishia utayari wao wa kuendelea kuchangia maendeleo ya kiuchumi, kijamii na kiusalama ya Tanzania.  Jambo lililonipa faraja kubwa mimi na wenzangu ni kuwa mambo yote tuliyoomba ndugu zetu wa China watusaidie wamekubali.  Hakika Wachina wameendelea kuwa marafiki wa kweli wa nchi yetu na watu wake. 

Tuliwaomba waendelee kushirikiana nasi na wabia wenzetu wa Zambia kulijenga upya Shirika la Reli ya TAZARA na wamekubali.  Tuliwaomba pia tuendelee kushirikiana kukuza uwekezaji na biashara baina ya nchi zetu mbili rafiki.  Walilipokea jambo hilo kwa furaha.   Ni ukweli ulio wazi kwamba biashara na uwekezaji umekua sana kiasi cha kuifanya China kuwa nchi inayoongoza kwa mambo yote mawili.  Hata hivyo, sote tumekubaliana kuwa biashara ya dola za Marekani bilioni 3.7 na uwekezaji wa dola za Marekani bilioni 2.5 ni kidogo mno hivyo tuongeze juhudi tufanye vizuri zaidi katika kipindi kifupi kijacho. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kulikuwa na mkutano mkubwa wa uwekezaji uliohudhuriwa na makampuni ya kichina yapatayo 500 yaliyokuwa tayari kuwekeza na kufanya biashara na Watanzania.  Kwa upande wetu miradi kadhaa tuliyopeleka imepata wabia.  Miongoni mwa waliofaninikiwa sana ni Shirika la Nyumba la Taifa waliopata wabia watakaowekeza dola za Marekani bilioni 1.7 kwenye ujenzi wa nyumba.

Aidha, kuhusu ujenzi wa Ukanda wa Kiuchumi wa Mbegani ambao tuliwaomba watusaidie kusukuma utekelezaji wake, viongozi wa China walielezea utayari wao kusaidia mradi huo ufanikiwe.  Tulipokuwa Shenzhen, tulipata nafasi ya kutembelea Makao Makuu ya Kampuni ya China Merchants Ltd., na kuzungumza na viongozi wake.  Walitembezwa kuangalia shughuli za kampuni hiyo ikiwa ni pamoja na jinsi Kampuni hiyo ilivyoshiriki katika ujenzi wa mji wa Shenzhen kutoka kijiji cha uvuvi na kuwa jiji kubwa la kisasa, lenye maendeleo ya kiuchumi, teknolojia na biashara.  Waliahidi kutumia ujuzi wao, maarifa yao na uwezo wao wa kifedha kujenga Mbegani kama ilivyotokea Shenzhen. 

Siku ile pia tulishuhudia Mfuko wa Akiba wa Oman wakitiliana saini na China Merchants na Mamlaka yetu ya Uendeshaji wa Maeneo Huru ya Uwekezaji (EPZA) hati ya makubaliano kujiunga rasmi katika kuwekeza na kushiriki katika utekelezaji wa mradi huo.  Kilichonifurahisha sana siku ile ni kule kuwepo kwa mpango kazi unaotarajia ujenzi wa bandari na ukanda wa maendeleo ya kiuchumi wa Mbegani kuanza tarehe 1 Julai, 2015.  Hali kadhalika, nilipokuwa Shenzhen nilipata nafasi ya kutembelea kampuni za teknolojia ya habari na mawasiliano za Huawei na ZTE.  Nilifika mjini Jinan, Jimbo la Shandong na kutembelea kampuni nyingine kubwa ya aina hiyo iitwayo INSPUR.  Bahati nzuri kampuni zote zimewekeza Tanzania na wanataka kupanua uwekezaji wao.

Nilipokuwa Jinan nilitembelea Hospitali Kuu ya Jimbo la Shandgon, Mjini Jinan, ambayo imetoa madakatari wengi na kupata nafasi ya kuwashakuru viongozi wa Jinan na Jimbo la Shandong kwa kutuletea madakatari na wataalamu wengine wa afya kuja kufanya kazi nchini Tanzania.  Vile vile, nimewashukuru kwa mchango wao muhimu uliotuwezesha kupata hospitali ya moyo katika Hospitali ya Muhimbili.  Pamoja na kuwashukuru niliomba idadi iongezwe kwani mahitaji yapo na watu wanawapenda Madaktari wa China.  Yapo mambo mengi mazuri yaliyofanyika katika ziara yangu nchini China ambayo tutakesha kama tutahitaji kuyafafanua moja baada ya jingine.  Hata hivyo, napenda kuyazungumzia mambo mawili.  Kwanza ni taarifa aliyonipa Rais Xi Jinping kwamba wanaongeza ufadhili wa masomo kwa kutupa nafasi 100 zaidi kwa vijana wa Tanzania kusoma China kwa kipindi cha miaka mitano.  Pia wamekubali kutusaidia ujenzi wa chuo cha ufundi (VETA) cha Mkoa wa Kagera. Aidha, wamekubali ombi langu la kuongeza idadi ya madaktari na wataalamu wa afya kutoka China kuja kufanya kazi nchini.

Ziara Vietnam

Ndugu Wananchi;

Baada ya kumaliza ziara yangu China nilitembelea Vietnam kwa siku mbili.  Huko nako nilikwenda kuimarisha na kuendeleza uhusiano mzuri uliopo kati ya nchi zetu, na kujifunza zaidi kutoka kwa wenzetu ambao wamepata mafanikio makubwa kiuchumi katika kilimo na viwanda kwa kipindi kifupi. Hii ni nchi ambayo tulianza nayo mageuzi ya kiuchumi wakati mmoja mwaka 1986.  Wenzetu wameweza kupata mafanikio makubwa katika kilimo, viwanda, ufugaji wa samaki na mengine mengi.  Kwa upande wa teknolojia ya mawasiliano ya simu, wanayo kampuni ya Viettel ambayo imekuwa kubwa duniani na inakusudia kuwekeza nchini. 

Kwa kweli mafanikio ambayo Vietnam imepata tangu mwaka 1986 yanatupa matumaini kwamba na sisi Tanzania tunaweza kufanikiwa kama wao.  Hatuna budi kujipanga vizuri.  Tumekubaliana kushirikiana zaidi hasa kubadilishana uzoefu na maarifa katika kilimo na viwanda. 

Ugonjwa wa Ebola

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Jambo la pili ninalotaka kulizungumzia, si mara yangu ya kwanza kufanya hivyo.  Hili si jingine bali ni tahadhari juu ya maradhi ya Ebola yaliyoanzia huko Afrika Magharibi katika nchi za Liberia, Sierra Leone na Guinea. Baadae yalifika Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Marekani, Spain na Uingereza.  Inakadiriwa kuwa ugonjwa huu hatari umekwishaua watu 4,960 na wengine 13,567 wameambukizwa toka ulipoanza hadi sasa.  Ugonjwa huu umeendelea kuwa tishio la dunia kutokana na kasi kubwa ya kuenea kwake.  Lakini hasa kwamba asilimia 70 mpaka 90 wanaoupata ugonjwa huu hupoteza maisha.  Bahati mbaya hauna dawa wala kinga. Bado wataalamu wa dawa wanachuna bongo.

          Taarifa njema ni kuwa ugonjwa huu haujaingia nchini Tanzania.  Hata hivyo, hii haiondoi ukweli kuwa unaweza kufika kwani watu wanatembea kutoka nchi zenye maradhi haya na kuja nchini kwetu.  Hapa jirani na sisi upo Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo.  Sitashangaa pia kwamba wapo Watanzania wanaokwenda nchi zenye maambukizi makubwa hata wakati huu.  Watu hao wana hatari kubwa ya kupata maambukizi. 

Narudia kukumbusha umuhimu wa kuchukua tahadhari kitaifa na kila mtu anayeishi hapa nchini.  Sisi Serikalini tunaendelea kuchukua hatua stahiki na kuimarisha jitihada na hatua za kuwachunguza wageni katika mipaka yetu ya usafiri wa nchi kavu na usafiri wa anga.  Tumejiandaa vya kutosha kutambua watu wenye joto kubwa zaidi ya joto la kawaida la mwili wa mwanadamu.  Hali kadhalika, tumewataka watu wanaoingia nchini kueleza kama katika wiki tatu zilizopita wametembelea nchi za Guinea, Sierra Leone na Liberia.  Nia ya kutaka waseme siyo kuwazuia wasiingie nchini bali kuwapa ushauri juu ya dalili za ugonjwa wa Ebola na nini wafanye iwapo dalili hizo zitawatokea.  Pia tunapenda kujua mahala watakapofikia ili tuweze kuwafuatilia. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Ninawaomba ushirikiano wa kila mmoja wenu kutoa taarifa kwa wakati mara mtakapoona mtu mwenye dalili za ugonjwa huo ambazo ni homa kali ya ghafla, kutokwa na damu mwilini, kutapika na kuharisha kwa wakati mmoja.  Toeni taarifa ili wataalamu wenye ujuzi na vifaa stahili vya kujikinga waweze kuja kuwahudumia ipasavyo wagonjwa wenye dalili hizo.  Jiepusheni na kumsogelea au kugusana na mtu wa aina hiyo.  Na, maiti aliyekufa kutokana na ugonjwa wenye dalili hizo pia asiguswe.  Kufanya hivyo ni kujiweka kwenye hatari ya moja kwa moja ya kuambukizwa kwani huenda mtu huyo ni muathirika wa Ebola. Toa taarifa upate maelekezo ya kitaalamu.

Uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa

Ndugu Wananchi;      

Kama mnavyofahamu tarehe 14 Desemba, 2014 tutafanya Uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa kwa ngazi ya vitongoji, mitaa na vijiji.  Tumelazimika kufanya Uchaguzi huo mwezi Desemba, 2014 badala ya mwezi Oktoba kama ilivyostahili kutokana na shughuli za Bunge Maalum la Katiba kuendelea hadi tarehe 4 Oktoba, 2014 kwa kupitisha Katiba Inayopendekezwa.  Kutokana na Taifa kuwa katika jambo lile kubwa ilionekana ni busara kuacha kwanza mchakato ule ukamilike kabla ya kufanyika kwa uchaguzi huo.

          Nimeambiwa na TAMISEMI kwamba maandalizi ya uchaguzi huo yanakwenda vizuri na kwamba ratiba imekwishatolewa, na majina ya mitaa, vijiji na vitongoji vipya nayo yamekwishatolewa. Kazi ya kuandikisha wapiga kura itafanyika kuanzia tarehe 23 Novemba, 2014 na itamalizika kwa orodha ya wapiga kura kubandikwa mahali pa wazi hasa kwenye mbao za matangazo katika vitongoji, mitaa, na vijiji husika ifikapo tarehe 30 Novemba, 2014.  Kufanya hivyo kutawezesha wananchi kukagua orodha hiyo kuona kama majina yao yapo, na kujiridhisha kuwa majina ya wale walioandikishwa kwenye daftari hilo ni wapiga kura wenye sifa stahiki za kupiga kura katika uchaguzi huo katika eneo husika.  Nawasihi wananchi wote mjitokeze kwa wingi kujiandikisha na kukagua orodha ya wapiga kura itakapobandikwa ili kufanikisha zoezi hilo. 

          Kwa mujibu wa ratiba ya uchaguzi vyama vya siasa vinapaswa kuwasilisha fomu za wagombea wao kwa Msimamizi wa Uchaguzi kuanzia tarehe 20 hadi 22 Novemba, 2014.  Kwa maana hiyo, wale wenye shauku, nia na sifa za kugombea uongozi katika uchaguzi ujao wa Serikali za Mitaa, wanapaswa kutega sikio ili kujua ratiba za uchaguzi na uteuzi ndani ya vyama vyao ili wapate fursa ya kuteuliwa kugombea.  Napenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwahimiza wananchi wote wakiwa pia vijana na wanawake wasibakie nyuma, wajitokeze kwa wingi kugombea nafasi hizo na nyingine katika Uchaguzi Mkuu ujao.   Ratiba ya uchaguzi huo iliyotolewa na TAMISEMI inaonyesha kwamba mikutano ya kampeni ya kuwanadi wagombea itafanyika kwa siku 14 kuanzia tarehe 30 Novemba, 2014 hadi tarehe 13 Desemba, 2014 siku moja kabla ya siku ya kufanyika kwa uchaguzi huo. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Mfumo wa utawala wa nchi yetu huanzia katika ngazi ya kitongoji na mtaa kisha kijiji, kata na hatimaye taifa.  Kwa hiyo uchaguzi wa vitongoji, mitaa na vijiji ndiyo msingi wa uongozi na utawala wa nchi yetu.  Tukipata viongozi wazuri katika ngazi hii ya msingi, tutakuwa tumefanikiwa sana katika kuimarisha utawala bora na kuongeza kasi ya maendeleo yetu.    Rai yangu kwenu, wananchi wenzangu ni kuwa mjitokeze kwa wingi wakati wa kampeni kuwasikiliza wagombea wetu wakijieleza, kisha tuwachague wale watu ambao sisi tunaona wanatufaa.  Lazima tutambue kuwa ngazi ya vitongoji, mitaa na vijiji ndiyo msingi wa uongozi wa nchi yetu.  Tukipata watu wazuri tutakuwa tumejenga msingi imara wa uongozi katika taifa letu. 

Watu wote watakaojitokeza kugombea katika ngazi ya vitongoji,  mitaa na vijiji vyetu ni watu tunaoishi nao na kwamba tunawafahamu vizuri sana.  Hatuna budi kuvitendea haki vijiji, mitaa na vitongoji vyetu kwa kuwachagua viongozi wazuri watakaokuwa chachu ya maendeleo katika maeneo yetu.  Tukifanya makosa ya kuchagua watu wasiofaa tuelewe kwamba tutakuwa tumejinyima fursa ya kuwa na viongozi bora kwa kipindi cha miaka 5 ijayo.  Pia tunaweza kuzua migogoro na kupunguza kasi ya maendeleo katika maeneo yetu.  Tusione haya kuwashawishi watu wazuri wajitokeze kugombea.

Mchakato wa Katiba na Kura ya Maoni

Ndugu wananchi,

          Bunge la Katiba lilikamilisha kazi yake ya kutunga Katiba mpya ilipofika tarehe 2 Oktoba, 2014 ambayo ilikuwa siku mbili kabla ya muda uliopangwa wa tarehe 4 Oktoba, 2014.   Tarehe 8 Oktoba, 2014, Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Katiba aliikabidhi Katiba hiyo kwangu na kwa Rais wa Zanzibar kama yalivyo matakwa ya Kifungu cha 28A(1) cha Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba.  Kwa mara nyingine tena nawapongeza kwa dhati aliyekuwa Mwenyekiti wa Bunge Maalum la Katiba, Mhe. Samuel John Sitta, Makamu wake Mhe. Samia Suluhu na Wajumbe wa Bunge Maalum la Katiba kwa kazi kubwa na nzuri.  Wametupatia Katiba Inayopendekezwa inayojitosheleza kwa kila hali.  Nawapongeza pia Makatibu wa Bunge, Sekretarieti yao na wafanya kazi wote.   Bunge Maalum la Katiba linastahili pongezi nyingi kwa kazi nzuri waliyofanya na hasa kwa kuikamilisha ndani ya muda wa uliopangwa wa siku 130 tu.  Baadhi ya nchi duniani jukumu hili limechukua muda mrefu zaidi ya uliokusudiwa au hata kushindikana.

          Tutakuwa wachoyo wa fadhila tusipoipongeza Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba chini ya uongozi wa Mwenyekiti Mheshimiwa Jaji Joseph Sinde Warioba na Makamu wake Mheshimiwa Jaji Augustino Ramadhani pamoja na Wajumbe wote wa Tume hiyo. Tunawapongeza kwa kutayarisha Rasimu nzuri ya Katiba ambayo ndiyo iliyoliongoza Bunge Maalum la Katiba kupata Katiba Inayopendekezwa iliyo bora.  Kilichobakia ni kuwaachia wananchi kuamua kama wanaitaka Katiba Inayopendekezwa au hapana.  Watafanya hivyo kwenye kura ya maoni itakayofanyika kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba na Sheria ya Kura ya Maoni iliyotungwa kutekeleza matakwa ya Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba. 

Ndugu wananchi,

          Miaka ya nyuma kulikuwa na tangazo la sabuni ya Omo lililokuwa likisema “Uzuri wa Ngoma Sharti Uicheze”.  Uzuri wa Katiba Inayopendekezwa  siyo wa kuambiwa.  Unahitaji uione, uisome na uielewe.  Imeandikwa kwa Kiswahili rahisi na fasaha.  Inasomeka na kueleweka kwa urahisi sana.  Ni rai yangu kwamba wananchi wote muipate nakala ya Katiba Inayopendekezwa na mjisomee.  Sheria imeniagiza kuichapisha Katiba hiyo kwenye gazeti la Serikali ndani ya siku saba baada ya kukabidhiwa.  Nimekwisha kufanya hivyo.  Aidha, Sheria inaeleza kwamba Katiba Inayopendekezwa isambazwe kwenye magazeti ya kawaida ndani ya siku 14.  Zoezi hili ni endelevu.  Usambazaji wa Katiba Inayopendekezwa unaendelea na utaendelea mpaka Kura ya Maoni itakapopigwa. 

          Wito wangu kwenu Watanzania wenzangu ni kwamba msikubali kulaghaiwa na maneno ya wale wachache wanaotaka kuturudisha nyuma na kutunyima fursa ya kupata Katiba iliyo bora zaidi.  Maana hapajawahi kutokea ushiriki mpana kama huu katika kutengeneza Katiba katika nchi yetu.  Pengine, hata kwingineko duniani si wengi wametoa fursa kama tulivyofanya sisi.    

Kura ya Maoni

Ndugu wananchi,

          Sheria ya Kura ya Maoni iliniagiza kutangaza tarehe ya Kura ya Maoni katika Gazeti la Serikali ndani ya siku 14 baada ya kupokea Katiba Inayopendekezwa.  Nimefanya hivyo.  Awali Sheria hiyo iliagiza Kura ya Maoni ifanyike na matokeo yake yajulikane ndani ya siku 70. Waziri mwenye dhamana ya Uchaguzi alipowauliza viongozi wa Tume ya Uchaguzi kuhusu utekelezaji wa matakwa hayo ya Sheria, Tume ilisema isingweza kuendesha Kura ya Maoni ndani ya muda huo.  Mambo yanayojitajika ni mengi mno ambayo hayawezi kukamilika katika muda huo.  Wakaomba wapewe muda zaidi.  Bahati nzuri Kifungu 51 cha Sheria ya Kura ya Maoni kimetoa mamlaka kwa Waziri mwenye dhamana ya Uchaguzi baada ya kushauriana na Waziri anayehusika na Uchaguzi wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar, kubadilisha masharti haya kama kutakuwa na umuhimu wa kufanya hivyo.    

Baada ya mashauriano hayo, Mawaziri wenye dhamana ya uchaguzi wa pande zetu mbili za Muungano waliridhika kuwa upo umuhimu wa kusogeza mbele muda ili kutoa fursa kwa Tume kukamilisha taratibu inazowajibika kufanya.  Hayo ni pamoja na kuboresha Daftari la Kudumu la Mpiga Kura,  matayarisho ya upigaji wa Kura ya Maoni na mambo mengine kadhaa.  Hivyo basi, tarehe 03 Oktoba, 2014, Waziri mwenye dhamana ambaye ni Waziri Mkuu kwa kutumia mamlaka aliyopewa ya Kifungu cha 51 cha Sheria ya Kura ya Maoni, alitangaza kupitia gazeti la Serikali kubadilisha sharti la siku 70 na kuacha Rais aamue siku ya kupiga kura.  Kwa sababu ya mabadilikio hayo, tarehe 10 Oktoba, 2014 nilitangaza kupitia Gazeti la Serikali kuwa Kura ya Maoni itakuwa tarehe 30 Aprili, 2015 ili kutoa fursa kwa Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi kukamilisha taratibu zake.  Katika tangazo hilo pia, nilielekeza kuwa kampeni zitaanza tarehe 30 Machi na kuisha tarehe 29 Aprili, 2014 siku moja kabla ya siku ya kupiga kura, kama ilivyo desturi yetu katika upigaji kura hapa nchini.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Natambua kuwepo dhana kuwa siku za kampeni ni 60.  La hasha!  Siku za Kampeni zinaamuliwa na Rais, kufuatia Kifungu cha 4 (2) b kisemacho:   “Amri kwa ajili ya kura ya maoni itakuwa kama ilivyo kwenye fomu iliyotajwa kwenye jedwali la Sheria hii, na itaainisha:

(a)  Katiba Inayopendekezwa kuandikwa;

(b)             Kipindi ambacho kampeni kwa ajili ya Kura ya Maoni itafanyika;

(c)      Kipindi ambacho Kura ya Maoni itafanyika”

Tume ya Uchaguzi ina mamlaka ya kuruhusu vyama vya kijamii na vya kiraia kutoa elimu ya umma ndani ya siku 60 kabla ya siku ya Kura ya Maoni.  Tume imepewa mamlaka hayo na Kifungu cha 5 (4) cha Sheria ya Kura ya Maoni.  Kwa sababu hiyo, nawaomba Watanzania wenzangu tuzingatie matakwa ya Sheria ya Maoni ambayo imeelekeza vizuri kuhusu lini Kura ya Maoni itafanyika na lini wadau watoe elimu kwa umma.  Naomba tuwe na subira mpaka hapo Tume ya Uchaguzi itakapotoa maelekezo ya utekelezaji wa fursa husika kwa wadau.

Ndugu wananchi,

          Ni matarajio yangu kwamba wananchi wote mtajitokeza kwa wingi kwenda kuboresha taarifa zenu kwenye Daftari la Kudumu la Mpiga Kura kama itakavyoelekezwa na Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi, na hatimaye itakapofika tarehe 30 Aprili, 2015 mtakwenda kwa wingi kupiga kura ya kuamua kuhusu hatma ya Katiba Inayopendekezwa. Naomba mfanye uamuzi mzuri.  Fursa hii ni adhimu na ya kihistoria ambayo tukiipoteza huenda itachukua miaka mingi kuipata tena.  Mtakapokuwa mnakwenda kupiga kura zingatieni maslahi yenu pamoja na ya watoto na wajukuu zenu, maana Katiba ndiyo inayoweka misingi na mstakabali wa taifa letu sasa na karne nyingine zijazo.   

Hitimisho

Ndugu Watanzania wenzangu,

          Naomba nimalizie kwa kuwasihi mjitokeze kwa wingi kushiriki katika Uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa utakaofanyika tarehe 14 Desemba, 2014.  Endeleeni kusoma Katiba Inayopendekezwa ili muda utakapofika kila mtu atoe uamuzi stahiki na wenye maslahi kwa nchi yetu.  Nimezitaka Wizara na Taasisi zinazohusika na utekelezaji wa makubaliano yetu na Serikali ya China na Vietnam kuchukua hatua za ufuataliaji na wanipe taarifa. Narudia kutoa wito tuendelee kuchukua tahadhari dhidi ya ugonjwa wa Ebola.  Nawaomba muendelee kuiunga mkono Serikali yetu katika jitihada zake za kuiletea maendeleo nchi yetu na watu wake. 

          Mwisho, ingawa siyo kwa umuhimu, vijana wetu 297,488 wameanza mtihani wa taifa wa kidato cha nne jana tarehe 3 Novemba, 2014.  Tuna imani wamejiandaa vya kutosha na wameandaliwa vyema na walimu, wazazi na walezi wao kwa ajili ya mtihani huo.  Naungana na walimu, wazazi, walezi na Watanzania wote kuwatakia kila la heri katika mtihani wao huo.

Mungu Ibariki Afrika!

Mungu Ibariki Tanzania!

Ahsanteni Sana kwa kunisikiliza!

Hon. George Mkuchika, Minister of State President’s Office (Good Governance);

Hon. Engineer Evarist Ndikillo, Regional Commissioner – Mwanza;

Dr. Edward Hoseah, Director General of PCCB and Chairperson of SAFAC;

Mr. Ekwabi Mujungu, Secretary General of SAFAC;

Heads of Anti Corruption Agencies from the SADC Region;

Distinguished Participants;

Hon. William Ngeleja, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing

      Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Justice and Administration;

Invited Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Good Morning,

It is a pleasure for me to welcome you all to Tanzania and to Mwanza in particular.  I thank Dr. Edward Hoseah, the Director General of Tanzania’s Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and Chairman of Southern Africa Forum for Anti-Corruption (SAFAC) together with the SAFAC Secretariat for inviting me to officiate at the opening ceremony of your 12^th Annual General Meeting.  I also thank you for choosing Tanzania to play host to this year’s meeting.  Thank you for the honour you have reposed in us. 

I am informed that this meeting has been convened to address two overarching issues in the fight against corruption as enshrined in the theme of this meeting: “Strengthening Asset Recovery, Forfeiture and Corruption Prevention Mechanisms in the SADC Region”.  I commend this initiative whose time has come, and whose realization will go a long way towards reduction of corrupt practices in our respective countries and in the region as a whole.    You have also intimated the need for hastening formation of SADC Anti-Corruption Committee as part of your agenda.  This is highly welcome and let me assure you of my personal support and that of our country.  Certainly, SADC needs such a Committee. 

Defining the Problem and Action

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Fighting corruption is the right thing for us to do.  Also, it is the kind of fight that we must win.  Losing is not an option.  Its consequences are too ghastly to contemplate.  Simply, it is an imperative to fight this war and win.  Left unchecked corruption has dire consequences.

Corruption can erode the moral fabric of politics and public service resulting into people losing confidence and trust in politicians, civil servants and the government at large.  Corruption, therefore, puts the legitimacy of governments at stake.  This is something awful.  Corruption undermines the administration of justice and delivery of government services.  It erodes the moral fabric of society where people with the money can buy their way on anything even what they are not supposed to get.  In a society bedeviled by corruption the poor get hurt disproportionately.  Their basic rights as citizens and human beings are denied or trampled upon simply because they cannot afford to make illicit payment.  It divides society and people into categories of the have and the have-nots which is not healthy and terribly dangerous.

Corruption undermines economic growth and development.  It causes investments and trade to shy away from the country.  Development assistance becomes difficult to get because of the fear that the money they contribute will not benefit the intended persons but line the pockets and fill the pot bellies of corrupt government officials and corrupt elements in the private sector.  There may be no value for money on work done or service delivered.  Something substandard or even nothing at all would be done and money would be paid, because of connivance between corrupt officials and corrupt contractors.  Corruption makes many people live a life of misery and depravation while a small group of corrupt individuals live a life of plenty, splendor and luxury at their expense.  This has to be stopped.  It cannot be left to go for long, for it will create social strife.  Nobody should be left to suffer because of some corrupt people.  In the same vein, nobody should be allowed to live a life of luxury and splendor through corrupt practices.   Nobody should be left to tarnish the image of the government, its institutions or the good name of the country because of his or her greed and corrupt practices.

The scourge of corruption must be stopped.  This can happen through first and foremost getting public and private officials who are of high integrity.  People who whatever the circumstances they will not indulge in corrupt practices.  We need to put in place mechanisms and measures which will discourage and prevent the weak hearted from indulging in corrupt practices or being tempted to do so.  We must also sensitize the general public to hate corruption and the people who perpetrate this heinous crime.  They should refuse to pay corrupt officials even when coerced to do so.  They should refuse to pay bribes and refuse to keep silent about it.  They should go further and be ready to name them to the responsible authorities for action to be taken. Over and above that there should be laws that will be effective enough to plug the loopholes and severely publish the offenders.  Laws that will prevent corruption from happening, and met out punishment discourage those who have been punished to do it again and others fear joining the fray.

The fight against corruption needs champions to spearhead  and lead the fight against it.  We need strong institutions of the state to undertake this task.  We need strong anti-corruption institutions to lead the fight.  But these institutions must have adequate investigative capacity and sufficient mandate to apprehend and take to courts of law the suspected offenders.  Equally, important there must be people who are ready to volunteer information about corrupt practices they know and the people involved.  The anti-corruption institutions must have officers with integrity and moral authority to enable them deal with corruption cases without any inhibitions. To compliment these efforts there is need for the justice system to be corruption free.  

Where and when all these elements are available it is possible to fight the war on corruption successfully.  However, it should be noted that, it is not possible to have a society that is completely free of corruption.  The practice has been there from time immemorial even the Holy Scriptures have talked about this scourge.  There is corruption in big and small nations and in rich and poor nations alike.  However, developing nations suffer comparatively more because of weak polities and weak institutions of governance including those involved in the fight against corruption.  Therefore, developing nations need to do more to make up for their inherent weaknesses.

Action is Being Taken

Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is encouraging to note that, in the whole of the SADC region, there is awareness about the evils of corruption and serious efforts are being made to fight the scourge.  Each country has an anti-corruption law and an anti-corruption institution as evidenced by this gathering today.  Progress is being registered although it differs from one country to another.

As we acknowledge and commend the actions being taken, we must be cognizant of the work ahead of us.  In all our nations corruption remains a big problem which calls for more robust action.  It also needs cooperation among countries, particularly the anti-corruption institutions.  They need to share intelligence and information and develop modalities of cooperation, for example, on matters like training and joint action especially with regard to cross boarder corruption crimes.

The formation of the Southern African Anti-Corruption Forum is the right thing to do and habit of holding annual meeting serves the purpose very well.  At this juncture, let me re-state that I fully support the proposal of establishing a SADC Anti-Corruption Committee.  It will certainly go a long way towards complementing your efforts and strengthening the fight against corruption in our region.

The Global Challenge

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The transnational nature of Corruption is not a problem limited to the SADC region alone.  Not at all.  As a matter of fact, it is one of the biggest challenges facing Africa and the world we live in.   We are told that Africa alone, politically exposed persons (PEPs) sustain the continent a loss of between 20 – 40 billion USD, which are starched abroad by corrupt means.  This is not good news at all.  That amount of resources can make an enormous impact to the economic wellbeing of our people if invested in the continent. The international frameworks of cooperation such as the SADC protocol Against Corruption, the Africa Union Convention on Prevention and Combating Corruption and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) are key instruments in ensuring cooperation among states to address this problem. 

The theme of this meeting is therefore timely in ensuring that we set up mechanisms and processes for ensuring that the economic loss to our region and the continent in particular is checked.  As much as we have moved from reactionary mechanisms of apprehending and punishing the corrupt to a more proactive role of “Prevention and Combating” corruption, there is also need for being proactive in the otherwise equally important role of prevention of economic losses that are caused by corruption.

In this score let me underline the importance of taking stock of legal processes for plugging holes in order to mitigate the economic losses that are sustained through corruption. Efficient oversight measures in public procurement and payment systems are such means, which if properly managed can be very effective in addressing the economic losses.  Diligent execution of Anti Money Laundering Mechanisms is yet another instrument to be used.  These mechanisms alone may go a long way towards instilling perfection and tidiness in our financial systems.   Furthermore, assurance of level playing field in all our economic spheres will add a lot of value.  I am one of those staunch believers in the efficacy of leveraging information and communication technology in conducting government business.  E-Government will minimize people’s contact with public officials, hence reducing the temptation of asking and paying bribes.  Similarly, e-finance instills law help in the fight against theft and corruption.  It transparency a big disincentive to stealing and bribery.  Erstwhile, people effecting financial transactions using cash from their pockets are susceptible to bribery and create a favourable ground for corruption.  We need, therefore, to put our houses in order, with a view to scaring away corrupt conduct.

The Tanzanian Experience

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The history of Tanzania’s fight against corruption has come a long way.  The existence of the problem of corruption was acknowledged very early on before and after independence.  It is for this reason that the fight against corruption was one of the key elements in the creed of the independence movement and it has remained an important guide to it this day: It says I quote: “Corruption is an enemy of justice, I shall not give or receive a bribe”.  It is the spirit of this creed which has guided our anti-corruption efforts since independence to this day. 

Solid legal frameworks for preventing, apprehending and punishing the corrupt were put in place from time to time depending on the needs of the time.  But, more serious action was taken in 1971 the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1971 was enacted.  This legislation was the first attempt to introduce more robust measures to fight corruption in the country after previous measures proved inadequate. As a result an institutional framework for the fight against corruption was established.  Hence the Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCB) was established. Amendments were made in 1991 to the Law which increased the mandate of the institution from that of apprehending and punishing the corrupt to the prevention of corruption.

 Eventually, beginning year 2006 efforts were put in place with the aim of undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of the whole legal regime. This was done in order to have a legislation which will usher in holistic approach to the problem.  Subsequently, in 2008 we enacted a new legislation which was comprehensive and gave birth to the PCCB in its present force, is a much stronger institution with more powers and greater operational certitude.  Thanks to the architects of the process, some of whom are with you today.

The new legislation on Prevention and Combating of Corruption (PCCA), the Anti Money Laundering and the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1991 provide answers to many challenges in the fight against corruption.  The legislations and actions taken to implement them speaks volumes about the resolve of the Government to intensify the fight and ensure that the corrupt are punished and no one is left to enjoy the ill-gotten proceeds of criminal activities.

I am aware that many of the countries represented here have taken more or less a similar path, because we are parties to international instruments on corruption. Some of you are members of the Commonwealth fraternity, which in recent years has taken a number of initiatives in combating corruption in particular, and transnational crime in general.  Yet, we ought to do more so that we can achieve more.  I believe through local action and regional collaboration and sharing of experience, information and intelligence on combating corruption, we shall do better and achieve more.  I say so, knowing that at times, the corrupt or their actions transcend national boundaries and their proceeds are kept or invested in other countries in the region and beyond.

Ethics as a drive on the war against corruption:

Ladies and Gentlemen;

In addressing corruption, we need to put in place solid institutional frameworks for championing ethics, since corruption is more or less a consequence of a weak ethics foundation.  The PCCB’s success is grounded not only on a strong legislative framework and its National Anti Corruption Strategic Plan, but also on a strong national policy framework and legislations on ethics.  In fact the ethics oversight mechanisms such as the law establishing the National Ethics Committee and the Election Expenses Act, 2010 feed into the anti-corruption drive spearheaded by the PCCB.  The legislations and mechanisms are so intertwined that they are inseparable.  Recently Constituent Assembly saw the merit and wisdom of bolstering Anti-corruption endeavours and recognizing the need of creating stronger institutions to fight corruption and enforce national ethics.   We hope the proposed Constitution will be passed because the PCCB will enjoy a Constitutional clout and muscle to fight corruption.

As alluded to earlier, the success of the PCCB in fulfilling its mandate is related to work of other institutions such as the National Audit Office,  the Public Procurement Authority, the Tanzania Revenue Authority, the National Ethics Committee, the Commission of Human Rights and Good Governance, the National Elections Bodies and the Judiciary.  In their own ways, depending on each institution’s mandate, they are the eyes, ears, nose and the hand in the fight against corruption.  Each one of them has a role to play in ensuring that our society does not let loose the scourge of corruption to reign.

Conclusion

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I am confident that, by the end of the three day meeting, you will have shared experiences on how to improve your efforts in the fight against corruption in our region especially in the area of Asset Tracing and Recovery.  We are putting a lot of hope and expectations on the outcome of this meeting.  Your deliberations will provide us with yet another opportunity to gain more mileage in our noble fight and just war against corruption.

That being said, it is now my singular honor and pleasure to declare that the 12^th SAFAC Annual General Meeting opened.  I thank you for you kind attention.  KARIBU MWANZA and KARIBU TANZANIA.

Mhe. Celina Kombani (Mb), Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Rais, Menejimenti ya Utumishi wa Umma;

Waheshimiwa Mawaziri;

Mhe. Balozi Ombeni Sefue, Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi;

Bibi  Claudia Mpangala, Katibu wa Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma;

Makatibu Wakuu wa Wizara;

Mhe. Dkt. Didas Massaburi, Meya wa Jiji la Da r es Salaam;

Makatibu Tawala wa Mikoa;

Watendaji Wakuu wa Taasisi za Umma, Idara Zinazojitegemea na Wakala wa Serikali;

Wakurugenzi wa Mamlaka za Serikali za Mitaa;

Wageni Waalikwa;

Mabibi na Mabwana;

Nimefurahi kualikwa kuja kushiriki katika ufunguzi wa Kongamano la kuadhimisha miaka 10 ya Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma tangu ilipoanzishwa tarehe 7 Januari, 2004. Imekuwa ni miaka 10 ya mafanikio na mafunzo mengi ambayo tunajivunia hii leo.  Hivyo basi leo ni siku ya kujipongeza kwa mafanikio tuliyoyapata, kujifunza kutokana na  uzoefu tulioupitia, na kujiandaa kufanya vizuri zaidi na hivyo kupata mafanikio makubwa zaidi miaka 10 na zaidi ijayo mbele yetu.

Nawapongeza Tume ya Utumishi kwa maandalizi mazuri ya kongamano hili.  Maadhimisho haya yanatoa fursa kwa wananchi na watumishi wa umma kupata kufahamu kazi zenu mnazofanya, na muhimu zaidi mchango wenu katika kuboresha utumishi wa umma, ambao ndio nyenzo ya serikali ya utekelezaji wa majukumu yake ya kisheria na kisera.  Kwa kweli hatuwezi kuzungumzia maendeleo au uboreshaji wa huduma za jamii bila ya kuwa na utumishi wa umma unaozingatia weledi, uwajibikaji, nidhamu na uadilifu.  Yote haya manne, yanasimamiwa na Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma.

Ndugu Washiriki;

Nimeambiwa katika Kongamano hili mada tatu zitatolewa. Mada ya kwanza itahusu Chimbuko la Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma (kuanzia mwaka 1955 hadi 2004), mada ya pili itahusu uzoefu, mafanikio na changamoto katika kipindi cha miaka 10 ya Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma (kuanzia mwaka 2004 hadi 2014) na mada ya tatu, itahusu matarajio ya Tume katika kipindi cha miaka 10 ijayo. 

Ndugu Washiriki;

Kongamano hili linafanyika wakati ambako kumekuwepo na mafanikio yanayoonekana katika utumishi wa umma. Hata hivyo yapo pia, manung’uniko kuhusu watumishi wa umma kutoka kwa wananchi, vyombo vya habari, sekta binafsi na hata viongozi wa kisiasa. Wengi wa hawa wameonesha kukwazika na vitendo vya baadhi ya watumishi wa umma wachache wenye mienendo isiyoendana na matarajio yetu juu ya sifa na hadhi ya mtumishi wa umma.  Wapo wanaotuhumiwa kutumia vibaya nyadhifa zao, kudai na kupokea rushwa, uzembe na kauli na wajihi usioridhisha.  Vitendo hivi vya wachache vinatia dosari taswira na imani ya wananchi na wadau kwa utumishi wa umma.

Wakati mwingine inashangaza na kushtua zaidi kuwa hata watumishi wa umma wenyewe nao huulalamikia utumishi wa umma, ambao wao wenyewe ni sehemu yake. Watumishi wa umma wa ngazi za chini wananung’unikia viongozi wao na wakuu wa sehemu zao za kazi kwa kutowatendea haki. Wamekuwa wanapindisha taratibu, kanuni na sheria za utumishi wa umma.  Yapo malalamiko kuhusu kutopandishwa vyeo kwa wakati, kutotolewa kwa fursa za mafunzo, au kuwepo kwa upendeleo, unyanyasaji wa kijinsia, na kutolewa kwa adhabu zisizofuata kanuni za adhabu.  Wapo wakubwa ambao kauli zao, matakwa yao na mapenzi yao huwa ni sheria, tena juu ya zile zilizoainishwa  kwenye kanuni za utumishi (standing orders).  Mengi ya malalamiko hayo hunifikia kwa njia ya rufaa za watumishi kupitia Tume hii.

Ndugu Washiriki;

Manung’uniko haya na minong’ono hii siyo ya kupuuza hata kidogo, kwani kuendelea kwake kunapunguza imani na taswira ya utumishi wa umma katika jamii. Jambo hili ni baya.  Hatutarajii watumishi wa umma, na hasa viongozi kuwa malaika.  La hasha! Hata hivyo, hatutazamii wawe ni watu ambao jamii haina imani nao. Kwa sababu hiyo ni matarajio ya wananchi na wadau ni kuwa pale watumishi wa umma wanapokosea, hatua ziwe  zinachukuliwa na mamlaka zao za nidhamu. Kwa yale makosa yenye kustahili adhabu za kiutawala, na pale inapoonekana inabidi, hatua za kisheria zichukuliwe ifanyike hivyo. Ni vyema pia adhabu zizingatie sheria, kanuni na taratibu na si utashi wa kiongozi.  Kufanya hivyo kutaepusha si tu manung’uniko bali pia itaokoa fedha za serikali tunazolazimika kuwalipa kama fidia kwa wale wanaoathirika na maamuzi yasiyozingatia sheria, kanuni na taratibu za utumishi wa umma. 

Kwa minajili hiyo, Serikali ikaunda Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma kupitia Sheria Namba 8 ya mwaka 2002 na kuipa majukumu ya:-

(a)     Kupokea na kushughulikia rufaa na malalamiko ya watumishi wa umma;

(b)    Kufanya ukaguzi wa uzingatiaji wa sheria, kanuni na taratibu katika usimamizi wa rasilimali watu;

(c)     Kushughulikia masuala ya nidhamu kwa walimu kupitia Idara yake ya Utumsihi wa Walimu.

Aidha, kwa kutambua unyeti na umuhimu wake, Tume ikapewa uhuru wa utekelezaji wa majukumu yake ikiongozwa na Mwenyekiti na Makamishna ambao wanateuliwa na Rais, miongoni mwa watumishi wa umma wastaafu wenye uzoefu wa kutosha na uadilifu usiotiliwa shaka.

Ndugu Washiriki;

Katika miaka 10 ya uhai wake, Serikali imeonyesha dhamira ya dhati ya kuimarisha Tume na kuiwezesha kibajeti, vitendea kazi na rasilimali watu ili iweze kutekeleza majukumu yake kwa ufanisi.  Tumeongeza bajeti ya Tume kutoka shilingi bilioni 4.88 Mwaka 2005/2006 hadi shilingi bilioni 118 mwaka 2014/2015.  Aidha, Tume imepokea na kusikiliza rufaa 926 za watumishi na malalamiko 108 katika kipindi cha miaka 10. Imefanya ziara za ukaguzi kwenye taasisi 257 kati ya 425, kuchukua hatua za kinidhamu dhidi ya watumishi 4,284 ambapo 1,933 sawa na asilimia 45 walifukuzwa kazi. Mafanikio hayo yamefanya nchi nyingine za Afrika kuja hapa nchini kujifunza kutoka kwetu. 

Changamoto kwa Tume

Ndugu washiriki;

         Tume imekabidhiwa jukumu zito na dhima kubwa sana ya ulezi wa utumishi  wa umma. Wananchi na wadau wengine wakiwemo watumishi wa umma wanayo matarajio makubwa sana juu yenu.  Wananchi na wadau wanatarajia mtasimamia vizuri utumishi wa umma ili wahusika watimize ipasavyo majukumu yao na kuboresha huduma kwa wananchi.  Katika kipindi cha miaka 10 tumeshuhudia mlivyojitahidi kutekeleza wajibu wenu huo kwa moyo wenu wote na uadilifu mkubwa. Kumekuwepo na changamoto na ugumu mbalimbali ambao Tume ilikabiliana nayo katika utekelezaji wa majukumu yake. Mmekabiliana nayo vyema kiasi cha kujenga imani kwa watu kuwa mnaweza kufanya vizuri zaidi ya mnavyofanya sasa siku zijazo. Miaka 10 iliyopita imeipatia Tume uzoefu wa kutosha kuiwezesha kufanya vizuri zaidi miaka 10 ijayo.

         Matarajio hayo yanakuja na changamoto zake kwa Tume. Ili muendelee kuaminiwa na kutumainiwa, hamna budi kujipanga vizuri ili muweze kuboresha zaidi ufanisi wenu.  Mnatarajiwa muendelee kusimamia na kutenda haki tena kwa wakati, maana “haki inayocheleweshwa ni haki inayopokonywa” Jitahidini kushughulikia mashauri yanayoletwa kwenu kwa wakati maana kutokufanya hivyo ni kuwaletea madhila makubwa wale wanaotumikia adhabu wasizostahili huku wakisubiria rufaa zao.

 Katika  kutenda haki huko, hali kadhalika msichelee kufanya hivyo hata pale ambapo Serikali au kiongozi ndiye mwenye  haki dhidi ya mwajiriwa. Wajibu wenu ni kutenda haki kwa pande zote. Aidha, msisite kuchukua hatua na kupendekeza hatua kuchukuliwa dhidi ya wakuu wa kazi  wenye kutumia madaraka vibaya  kunyanyasa walio chini yao  ikiwemo unyanyasaji wa kijinsia. Leteni kwangu yale mashauri yaliyowazidi kimo, ikiwemo wale wanaokaidi maelekezo ya Tume ili nichukue hatua stahili kwa wale ambao mamlaka yao ya nidhamu inaangukia kwangu.

         Utumishi wa umma umepanuka sana katika kipindi cha miaka 10 iliyopita kutokana na serikali kuajiri wafanyakazi wengi wapya kufidia lile pengo la kutokuajiri kwa miaka 10 wakati wa mageuzi ya kiuchumi.  Matokeo yake, leo hii tunao watumishi wengi vijana ndani ya utumishi wa umma.  Wengi wa hawa hawafahamu vizuri kazi za Tume, jambo ambalo limesababisha watumishi wengi kutojua njia sahihi ya kushughulikia mashauri yao.  Wengine kwa kutofahamu, wamekuwa wakiniandikia  mimi moja kwa moja  na wengine kuwasilisha malalamiko yao kwenye vyombo vya habari, na hata Bungeni.

Nawatia shime muanze sasa kufikiria mkakati wa kuwafikia watumishi wa umma na kuwaelimisha kuhusu majukumu ya Tume na taratibu rasmi za kuwasilisha mashauri yao.  Hii itaepusha tabia inayojengeka sasa ya kupitisha malalamiko ya kiutumishi kwenye njia na mamlaka zisizo sahihi na wakati mwingine kuzaa migogoro isiyokuwa ya lazima.

Tume Miaka 10 Ijayo

Ndugu Washiriki;

         Sisi katika Serikali tunayo matumaini na matarajio makubwa kwa Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma katika miaka 10 ijayo. Kama mjuavyo miaka 10 ijayo nchi yetu inatakiwa iwe imepanda daraja kutoka kuwa nchi maskini na kuwa  nchi ya uchumi wa kati (ifikapo  mwaka 2025).  Ili kufikia lengo letu hilo ambalo linaashiria kuwa nchi ya  uchumi wa kisasa wa viwanda na sekta ya huduma iliyokubwa na kutoa mchango mkubwa katika  katika kuchangia pato la taifa, sekta ndogo ya utumishi wa umma ina mchango maalum. Tena mkubwa na muhimu katika kuwezesha sekta nyingine za uchumi kutekeleza ipasavyo wajibu wake katika kutekeleza malengo ya Tanzania Development Vision 2025. Hivyo, basi Tume inapaswa kujipanga vyema kuwawezesha watumishi wa umma kutimiza ipasavyo wajibu wao.

Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma iendelee kuhimiza na kusimamia nidhamu, weledi na uadilifu kuliko ambavyo imefanya miaka ya nyuma.       Kinachonipa matumaini makubwa ni kuwa wananchi, Tume ya Marekebisho ya Katiba na Wajumbe wa Bunge Maalum la Katiba nao wameuona umuhimu huo, kwa kupendekeza Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma sasa kuwemo kwenye Katiba Inayopendekezwa.  Nina imani maboresho hayo iwapo yataungwa mkono na wananchi kwa kupitisha Katiba Inayopendekezwa katika kura ya maoni, tutakuwa tumepiga hatua kubwa katika kuwa na utumishi wa umma unaokwenda na wakati.

         Sisi katika Serikali tunaahidi kuendelea kuiwezesha Tume kwa fedha, rasilimali watu na vitendea kazi ili iweze kutekeleza kwa ukamilifu, majukumu yake kama inavyotarajiwa na kwa mujibu wa Sheria iliyoiunda.

Hitimisho

Ndugu washiriki;

         Mwisho, napenda kuipongeza tena, Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma kwa kazi kubwa na nzuri inayofanya.  Pongezi za kipekee ziwaendee Makamishna wa Tume waliopo na wale waliopita   katika kuwezesha Tume kupata tunayojivunia leo. Nawapongeza na kuwashukuru Katibu wa Tume na watumishi wote wa Tume kwa kufanya kazi zao kwa moyo umakini na weledi mkubwa.  Tunawaomba waendeleze rekodi hii nzuri ya miaka 10 iliyopita  katika miaka 10 ijayo.  Baada ya kusema hayo, sasa ninayo furaha kutangaza kuwa Kongamano la miaka 10 la Maadhimisho ya Tume ya Utumishi wa Umma limefunguliwa rasmi.

Asanteni kwa kunikiliza!

Excellency  Comrade  Jiang Peimin, Chairman of the

China Agricultural University Council;

Hon. Comrade Ke Bingsheng, President of China Agricultural University;

Distinguished Council Members;

Distinguished Members of the Convocation;

Distinguished Students;

Invited Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Introduction

I thank you Comrade Chairman, Comrade President and Members of the Council of the China Agricultural University for having me here and for awarding me Honorary Professorship of this prestigious University. I must admit it was a big surprise when I got the news of the award. I am used to getting Honorary PhD never expected such a big award. All the same, I am very happy and grateful for the recognition and honour. I will always cherish it.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

 I accept this award on behalf of the people of the United Republic of Tanzania. Through me, this great University has recognized their collective efforts to transform their country and their lives from underdevelopment to prosperity.  This award gives them a sense of satisfaction and optimism that their sweat and toil is being noticed and appreciated. More importantly, they are getting another important partner to buttress their efforts in addressing the challenges of transforming their agriculture and livelihood.  

Ladies and Gentlemen;

As it is customary at such occasions, the awardee is expected to say something in accepting the award. I have chosen to speak about agriculture, a subject of particular interest to this University, to the faculty and to students.  Specifically, I have decided to share my views on the essence and essentials for transforming agriculture in Africa and Tanzania, in particular.

The Importance of Agriculture

Mr. Chairman;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Let me hasten to say that one cannot talk of development in Africa without talking about agriculture. For many African countries, agriculture is the lifeline of their economies. The livelihood of two out of every three Africans depends on agriculture. Besides being the source of food, agriculture is the leading foreign exchange earner and a source of raw materials and employment. 

In Tanzania, for example, agriculture contributes about 25 percent of GDP; 34 percent of foreign exchange earnings and about 95 percent of food requirements. Agriculture employs 75 percent of the labour force, and is an important source of raw materials for the manufacturing sector.

Given the important role that agriculture plays, particularly that of being source of livelihood to the majority of the people of Africa, no serious discourse about transformation of African economies or poverty reduction can be complete without talking about agriculture.

Indeed, we look to  China for good examples and inspiration in agricultural transformation. It is an open secret that China is a success story in increasing economic growth and substantially reducing poverty, with transfromation of agriculture being an important factor. China succeeded to increase agricultural productivity and overall output under the Green Revolution. The success with agriculture have had a multiplier effect in other sectors of the economy, particularly  with industrial development.

Problems Facing Agriculture in Africa

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Despite its central role, African agriculture is underdeveloped and characterized by low productivity and low production. For example, maize production in Africa averages 1.8 tons per hectare while in China it is 5.7 tons per hectare. Low productivity is a result of limited application of modern science and technology in crop production and animal husbandry. 

This is exemplified by  low mechanization and the hand hoe being the dominant farming implement. As a result farm sizes are small and so is the volume of production. The situation is compounded by little use of irrigation and insufficient use of high yielding seeds, fertilizers and other farm inputs. Extension service is inadequate and so are financial services.  Rural infrastructure is not well developed and crop marketing is plagued with a lot of inadequencies. Invariably, the buyers and prices they offer to farmers’ produce are not certain.

African agriculture, therefore, needs radical transformation to turn it from backwardness to modernity, from low productivity to high productivity and from subsistence to being commercial.  In other words, Africa needs a Green Revolution.

China’s experience has taught us that there is no substitute to the Green Revolution in tackling the problems and challenges constraining the development and advancement of agriculture. I know it is not easy and quite expensive but, there is no better option than this.  It confirms the historical path of development of human society that no country has leaped forward without transforming its agriculture.

Boosting Agricultural Production: Transforming Small Scale Farmers

Ladies and Gentlemen;

In pursuit of the desire to transform our agriculture, our government in 2006 launched the Agricultural Sector Development Programme. This is a comprehensive seven year programme designed to tackle the main constraints that impede growth and development of agriculture in our dear country. 

Under the ASDP, deliberate efforts are being made to reduce the predominance of rain-fed agriculture and increase irrigation in agriculture. Currently, the proportion of irrigated agriculture in Africa is very minimal. At 5 percent, Africa has the lowest irrigated agriculture on this planet.  Asia is at 37 percent and Latin America is at 14 percent of their cultivated area. Tanzania, has 29 million hectares of arable land that can be irrigated of which only 450,000 hectares are being utilized for that purpose.

Indeed, high priority has been given to irrigation. About 60 percent of the financial resources for implementation of the Agricultural Sector Development Programme is set aside for irrigation. The biggest problem has always been the inability of our government to get all the money both from local and external sources. Because of that not all budgeted money is being disbursed by government hence complicating the implementation processes and causing low performance in irrigation.

Comrade Chairman;

It is one of the cardinal objectives of the Agricultural Development Programme to reduce the dominance of and the use of rudimentary farm implements like the hand hoe. The aim is to adopt modern technology and equipment: mechanize our agriculture. Currently, 70 percent of farmers are using the hand hoe, 20 percent are using oxen ploughs and only 10 percent are using tractors. As a result farm sizes are small and, coupled with little use of irrigation, high yielding seeds and fertilizers, productivity and production is low.

To address this problem, mechanization of our agriculture is one of the main objectives of the ASDP. In this regard, the Local Government Authorities and the National Service have been importing tractors and selling them to farmers on credit. We have, also, taken action to remove import duty for most agricultural implements and equipment to encourage the private sector to deal in these important tools. This has turned out to be a good incentive to both the public and private sectors. It has enabled the tripling of the importation and use of tractors in the country, from 5,308 tractors in 2005/06 to 14,668 in 2012/13.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

For the last seven years we have employed more than 4,295 extension workers. They are important cadres to educate farmers on application of new farming methods and techniques as well as on the use of modern inputs and implements. The Government has been working with other stakeholders and on its own to invest in improving agriculture related infrastructure such as big irrigation canals, rural roads, electricity, telecommunications and water supply.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

We have increased the budget to subsidize inputs for small holder farmers’ from TShs. 8.5 billion (5 million USD) in 2005/06 to TShs. 157.8 billion (92.8 million USD) in 2013/14. Close to one million farmers are beneffiting with fertilisers, seeds and pesticides provided under this programme. This way our farmers have been able to increase fertilizer usage from 8.5 kg per hectare in 2005 to 13kg per hectare in 2013. The average for Africa is 8kg per hectare. We want our farmers to use at least 50kg per hectare as per the target set by the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the African Green Revolution. As you know very well even that amount would still be too low by world standards.

Lack of reliable sources and avenues of agricultural financing remains one of the major constrains and a setback to transformation of agriculture in Tanzania and Africa as a whole.  Farmers cannot easily access credit to enable them buy farm implements, agricultural inputs and machinery.  If we cannot overcome this challenge the Green Revolution will take a long time to happen in Africa. Our experience has taught us that agriculture needs special if not peculiar financing mechanisms or arrangements.

Commercial banks have shown indifference in lending to farmers. They also find it difficult to lend money to buyers of farmer’s crops.  That is why it deemed necessary to us to introduce input subsidies to small holder farmers. Because of problems of sustainability we consider the input subsidy programme as an interim measure. For the long term we have decided to establish the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank, which will exclusively finance agricultural activities. We have been talking to major financial houses in China to explore the possibility of assisting us in this endeavour. We are also encouraging the private sector to establish financing facility to in the country.

Modernizing Agriculture

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The implementation of the ASDP and two other initiatives: the Kilimo Kwanza and SAGCOT which compliment it, has very much improved matters in agriculture.

With Kilimo Kwanza (Agriculture First) initiative we took deliberate measure to involve the private sector in the agriculture value chain. With SAGCOT we also involved both local and international private sector in collaboration with small holder farmers to develop the agricultural potentials of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor. There is also the participation of the development partners and civil society. It is worth noting that these initiatives have had positive results. Agriculture productivity and output has been increasing substantially. In 2012/13 food self-sufficiency in the country was at 118 percent and in 2013/14 it is close to 130 percent. Interestingly, we are now facing the challenges related to our successes. There is the problem of market for farmers’ produce and that of inadequate storage facilities.  

Indeed, the assumption that the invisible hand called “market” will solve these problems has not worked very well for us. The private sector buyers have not been able to buy all farmers produce at favourable prices.  As a result the prices offered are low and not the whole crop is bought.  This sad state of affairs demoralizes farmers and keeps them and us under pressure about how to overcome these new challenges.  We are now looking for new and innovative ways of addressing crop marketing problems.  This compels us to expedite and hasten the process of establishing a Commodity Market Exchange. We are also working on building more warehouse facilities for storing crop. It is important to do so in order to help farmers overcome the problem of post harvest losses.

Research and Development

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Agricultural research is an important factor in the transformation of agriculture. Unfortunately, this is a matter we have not been doing well. In this regard, we have been taking measures to correct past inadequacies and improve the matters. The deliberate action I took to provide funding for research has been a game changer of its own kind. It has enabled our scientists to do research work.  The funds have enabled our research institutions to buy new equipment as well as repair and upgrade existing equipment. Many scientists are getting the money to do Masters and PhD studies. I know USD 30 million is not enough but I have set a target of allocating one percent of the national budget to research purposes.  We have not been able to meet this objective yet but we are on course to get there. However, as alluded to earlier even at the current levels of funding noticeable progress has been made. The unfreezing of employment has also been useful to our research institutions and future research work. The employment of young scientists is giving new hope and life to agriculture research in Tanzania. With more money being spent on seed multiplication, by government and the private sector   researchers are getting motivated even more.

Comrade Chairman;

Let me at this juncture, applaud China University of Agriculture for its determination to support agricultural research in Tanzania through scholarship and research. I understand that you have offered to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training seven scholarships beginning next academic year. I sincerely thank you for this generous support.  The partnership you have entered with the Sokoine University of Agriculture will surely enable researchers from our two institutions of higher learning to work together for our mutual benefits. Your plan to establish demonstration centres in villages around Morogoro will go a long way towards helping the dissemination of your research findings to farmers. This is exactly what we need.  This is why universities are there for. I want to assure you that my government is very supportive of this initiative.

Support from China

Ladies and Gentlemen;

We are building a new Agricultural University in Butiama, the birth place of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to compliment the work done by the Sokoine University of Agriculture. We are looking for partners in this important endeavour. We will highly appreciate your readiness to support and work with us to the full realisation of this noble dream.

Let me conclude by once again thanking you for the honour you have given me and for the support that you are giving to our country in our historic mission and duty to transform Tanzania’s agriculture.

I thank you for your attention!

Mr. Luo Jun, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office, Guangdong Province;

Your Excellency Mr.  Lu Youqing, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China in Tanzania;

Mr. Xu Zhiming, Vice Chairman, China Africa Business Council (CABC);

Mr. Wang Xiaoyong, Secretary General, China Africa Business Council (CABC);

Mr. Bai Xiaofeng, Director for International Communications, China; Africa Business Council (CABC);

Members of my delegation from Tanzania;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Introduction

I am in China for official visit at the invitation of His Excellency President Xi Jinping. The objective is to strengthen the excellent bilateral relations that so happily exist between our countries. It is also an opportunity to promote and deepen our investment and trade relations. This Forum demonstrates our commitment in that respect. 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

50 years ago, Tanzania and China did not have such an opportunity to bring together our private sectors in Tanzania-China Business and Investment Forum. At that time, such an undertaking could only be achieved through government to government arrangement. The Forum today speaks for its self about the progress we have made and the transformation that has taken place in both China and Tanzania. It denotes growing relations beyond governments, to relations between private sectors.

Doing Business in Tanzania

Ladies and Gentlemen;

         We are gathered here to share views and experiences in terms of investment and business opportunities. Some of you are already involved in various businesses in Tanzania and in China are new comers and would like to explore available investment and trade opportunities in both Tanzania and China.  I am here to tell our Chinese friends what Tanzania has to offer and why you should choose Tanzania as the destination for their trade and investment.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

There are eight key attributes which make Tanzania an investment destination of choice for our Chinese friends. First, China and Tanzania have enjoyed warm and friendly bilateral relations for half a century now.  Surely, this presents the confidence and assurance that your investments operates in a favourable and friendly environment.  Second, Tanzania pursues sound economic policies which have engendered strong macro-economic performance and stability for over two decades now.  Tanzania’s economy grew by an annual average of 7 percent in the last decade and is among the 7 fastest growing economies in Africa. Tanzania is the leading FDI’s destination in the East African Community. Inflation is at 6.6 percent and headed to 5 percent by June, 2015.    

Third, Tanzania is a peaceful and stable country. Fourth, Tanzania has a friendly business environment underwritten by good investment policy and legislation.  We continue to take measure to improve investment climate as and when need arises.  Tanzania’s investment environment continues to offer predictable, transparent and strong long-term proposition to investors. Investment is safe against expropriation and one is allowed to repatriate profits and dividends. In terms of investment facilitation, the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA) and Export Processing Zone (EPZA) promote, coordinate and facilitate all investments in Tanzania. These are premier ports of call for investors coming to Tanzania. In particular, TIC is a one stop centre for all investors’ needs. The CEOs of these Institutions are in our midst today.  Make a full use of them.   

Fifth, Tanzania’s geographic location position makes her as a natural regional business hub.  Tanzania borders 8 countries, 6 out of which namely Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, uses the Dar es Salaam port and Tanzania’s railways and roads for their sea freight.   This presents good opportunities for investment in infrastructure development, trade, transport and logistics.

Sixth, Tanzania provides a sizeable market of 48 million people. Being a member of two regional economic groupings, namely the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Tanzania provides a market access of close to 400 million people for her investors. Our country also enjoys duty free and quota free access to the US market through AGOA, the European market through the EBA facility as well as with China through FOCAC arrangements, India through Indo-Africa Partnership and Japan through TICAD.

  Seventh, is the availability of semi skilled and skilled labour force. As a developing country, Tanzania’s population of about 48 million people is predominantly young, which is a pool of labour seeking for jobs.  The country has invested heavily in education at all levels and in training of the skilled labour force. 

Eighth and last is the fact that in Tanzania, offers plenty of investment opportunities. There include oil and gas, mining, agribusiness, infrastructure development, manufacturing, health care, tourism, housing, ICT and other services.  So far among all TIC registered projects, 31 percent are in manufacturing, 25 percent in tourism, 14 percent real estate and 30 percent are in other sectors including oil and gas exploration.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

         The detailed account of available opportunities in oil and gas, mining, agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing, information and communication technology, power, ports, railways and tourism will be presented by the respective members of my delegation who are here with me.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is worth stating here that the seven attributes that I have mentioned, have worked well for us and our investors.  Our country has, in recent years, witnessed a phenomenon increase in the flow of FDIs.  Investment projects and value of those investments have been on the increase.  For example, FDI inflows increased from US$ 150 million in 1995 to US$ 1.8 billion in 2013.  Overall investment projects registered by Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) increased from 178 projects worth US$ 874 million in 2000 to 826 projects worth US$ 7.1 billion in 2011 to 869 projects worth US$ 11.4 billion in 2012.   

Confidence in Tanzania’s business environment has further been strengthened by the fact that Tanzania has emerged as the leading East African country in attracting investments and inflows of FDI in recent years. In 2013, for example, Tanzania received US$ 1,872 million, Uganda US$ 1,146 million, Kenya US$ 514 million, Rwanda US$ 111 million and Burundi US$ 7 million. Importantly, in Tanzania FDI inflows were almost fully financed by equity and retained earnings, which signals the confidence of foreign investors in the country's economic prospects.

Chinese Investments in Tanzania

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The Government of Tanzania is pleased that Chinese companies are amongst the top five investors, in terms of value of investments, in Tanzania. Up to the end of December 2013, Tanzania Investment Centre had registered more than 522 Chinese projects worth more than US$ 2,490.21 million. These investments are scheduled to create more than 77,335.28 jobs once all are fully operational. Large inflows were recorded in the manufacturing sector which accounted for 354 out of the 522 projects registered. Although oil and gas projects are the largest source of FDI, manufacturing projects are just as valuable to the country if not more as they have the propensity to generate more jobs.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I am told that following the 2^nd Tanzania-China Business Forum held in Dar es Salaam from 23^rd - 25^th June 2014 during the visit by His Excellency Li Yuanchao, Chinese Vice President, many business interests were registered by various investors, including 100 Chinese Investors and Businessmen delegates who accompanied the Vice President. This is witnessed by the increase in value of registered projects by Chinese investors from July-September 2014, which reached US$ 533.9 million compared to US$ 124.14 million recorded in July-September 2013. It is my sincere hope that this 3^rd Tanzania-China Business Forum will generate even more investment deals.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is through increased investments that we can promote more trade between our two countries. Trade volume has been on the increase but we can do more. For example, in 2012/2013, the total trade volume between China and Tanzania was only US$ 3.7 billion of which China's exports to Tanzania were worth US$ 3.1 billion and imports from Tanzania were worth US$ 600 million. We both can do more.

Conclusion

Ladies and Gentlemen;

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that Tanzania has many investment and trade opportunities and political – economic environment is permissive for Chinese companies to come and invest.  I am glad that some Chinese companies have already seen this opportunity and are already doing business with us. I expect more companies to come and join.   With the existing cordial relations between our countries, I am sure, working together with Chinese business, we can increase many times the size of investment and the volume of trade.  Please,   Come one, Come all.

Thank you very much, asanteni sana.

Dr. Fenella Mukangara, Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports,

Ms. Deborah Rayner, CNN SVP International News Gathering,

Mr. Nick Meyer, CEO of the MultiChoice Africa,

Ms. Julieth Kairuki, Executive Director, Tanzania Investment Centre,

Distinguished Judges of the Panel

Award Finalist and Nominees,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

I can’t find words good enough to express our gratitude to CNN and MultiChoice Africa for the honour they have bestowed on our dear country Tanzania of hosting this prestigious event is no small matter.  It puts our country on the spotlight in a manner that is in incorporable with a lot of benefits to reap in future.  I hope my fellow countrymen and women will take advantage of this event and make full use of it.  

2014 CNN Journalist Awards

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I commend CNN and MultiChoice for conceiving the idea of presenting Awards to African journalists who have excelled in perfoming their duties ad functions.  In many ways these Awards act as a major incentive for our journalist to observe professionalism, diligence, honesty and integrity.  Sometimes these important attributes remain wanting among the practioners of this important profession in respective countries.  In many ways these awards encourage our journalists to do better.   I am particularly pleased to note that one of our own Mr. Dickson Ng'hilly,  from the Guardian Newspaper is among those who have been nominated.  I pray that it ends well for Dickson, and if otherwise it still remain a sense of pride for us for him to have come this for.

CNN and Africa

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I commend CNN for the wonderful work they are doing of providing news and information in Africa and the world.  By all standards CNN is a global media power house with a big stake in Africa According to the EMS Africa Survey 2014, CNN is the undisputed number one international news brand in Africa and the Middle East reaching larger audience than all direct news competitors in every lucky across the region on TV, Digital and cross platform. The statistics show that, CNN reaches 59 percent of Africa's upscale population every month, 71 percent of key business decision makers in Africa, 79 percent of Opinion Leaders and 10 percent of all the continent’s affluent people who use CNN mobile services every month. I hope these statistics will encourage CNN to  consider having Swahili Service program. 

Africa and Freedom of Press

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Undoubtedly, there has been a lot of improvement in the state of journalism and freedom of the press across Africa.  In many ways this is very much a function and measure of the progress being made in democracy and good governance.  I know, there are still countries where press freedom remains a challenge but overall the future looks prospective in Africa as democracy, good governance, rule of law, and respect for human rights are taking roots.

Freedom of Press in Tanzania

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tanzania takes the freedom of press very dearly. I for one, have done a lot to promote press freedom in the country.  I am happy to note that freedom of press continues to take roots in Tanzania as days pass by. Today, we have 29 television stations, 94 radio stations , 825 newspaper and publications compared to one television station, three radio stations,  and three newspapers in year 1992. Mind you, the state owns only,  one TV station, two newspapers and one radio. For one to read all the daily newspapers, he or she must be required to spend at least between 20 and 30 US dollars per day.

We are committed to do more to enhance freedom in the country.  We are going to table before the parliament a Bill on Freedom of Information which will go a long way towards guaranteing access to information by general public and journalists.  The purpose is to foster transparency and accountability on the part of government. Challenges notwithstanding, freedom of press and information remains important building block for a healthy democratic society.  We will never waver nor renage in pursuit of the same.  

A Call to Africa Journalists

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My brothers and sisters in the media please continue to do the good work.  My humble appeal to you, be responsible journalists, be ethical, be professional and have integrity.  Use the power of the media judiciously to promote unity and harmony.  Shy away from promoting disorder and social tensions above all be free of corruption so that you can have the moral authority to point fingers at others. 

Once again I thank and commend CNN and Multichoice for affording Tanzania this prestigeous honour. We will always cherish and remember this day.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Waheshimiwa Mawaziri…

Professa Li Songshan na Dokta Han Rong, Waanzilishi wa Kijiji cha Sanaa za Afrika;

Waheshimiwa Mabalozi na Wawakilishi wa nchi za Afrika hapa China;

Wageni waalikwa, Mabibi na Mabwana;

Shukrani na Pongezi

Ninayo furaha isiyo kifani kuwepo hapa kwenye kijiji cha Sanaa za Afrika. Napenda kuwashukuru Professa Li Songshan na Dokta Han Rong, waanzilishi wa Kijiji hiki kwa kunialika kuja kushiriki katika uzinduzi wake rasmi. Napenda pia kutumia nafasi hii kutoa pongezi zangu za dhati kwa Profesa Li na Dkt. Han kwa kufanikisha ujenzi wa Kijiji hiki maalum kwa ajili ya Afrika. Mandhari yake nzuri,  yenye maudhui na hisia za Kiafrika ni mambo yanayovutia sana.

Napenda vile vile kuwashukuru waheshimiwa Mabalozi wa Afrika wanaowakilisha nchi zao nchini China kwa kujumuika nasi hapa siku ya leo katika ufunguzi rasmi wa Kijiji cha Sanaa za Afrika.

Kuenzi Miaka 50 ya Ushirikiano wa Tanzania na China

Wageni waalikwa;

Mabibi na Mabwana;

            Tukio hili la kufungua kijiji cha Sanaa za Afrika lina umuhimu wa kipekee  kwa Tanzania.  Kwanza, kwa kuwa muanzilishi wake Profesa Li. Songshan na Dokta Han Rong wageni wakubwa wa Afrika na  wameishi muda mrefu Tanzania. Pili, sherehe hizi zinafanyika wakati ambapo Tanzania na China zinasherehekea miaka hamsini (50) tangu kuanzisha ushirikiano wa kidiplomasia. Tunaiona kama ni namna nzuri ya kusherehekea mafanikio haya makubwa.

            Katika nusu karne ya uhusiano wa nchi zetu mbili rafiki mambo mengi yanayoonekana na yasiyoonekana yamefanyika.  Kati ya yale yatakayokumbukwa milele ni  Reli ya TAZARA.  Reli hii ambayo ilikuwa ikiitwa ´Reli ya Uhuru´ ilitumika sio tu kuinua uchumi wa nchi za Zambia na Tanzania, lakini ilitumika pia katika harakati za ukombozi wa nchi za Kusini mwa Afrika. TAZARA ni kielelezo cha dhamira ya ukweli ya urafiki baina ya China na Afrika. Miradi mingine muhimu ni Uwanja wa Taifa, Dar es Salaam, Kituo cha Tiba ya Maradhi ya Moyo katika Hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili, bomba la gesi kutoka Mtwara na Songo Songo hadi Dar es Salaam.  Hayati Baba wa Taifa, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere aliwahi kusema, “…katika dunia hii, tuna marafiki wengi , lakini tuna rafiki mmoja wa kweli, ambaye ni Jamhuri ya Watu wa China…."

Ukweli huu unaendelea kujidhihirisha hadi hii leo ambapo kiuchumi, takwimu za 2013 zinaonesha kuwa, China ni nchi iliyoongoza kuwekeza mitaji na kufanya biashara na Tanzania. Serikali ya Watu wa China imeendelea kutoa mchango wake katika kusaidia jitihada zetu za kujiletea maendeleo nchini Tanzania.

Mahusiano ya Watu wa China na Tanzania

Wageni waalikwa;

Uhusiano wa Tanzania na China hauonekani tu kwenye vitu bali pia kwa watu wetu. Katika kipindi cha miaka 50 tunajivunia kukua kwa uhusiano wa watu-kwa-watu kati ya nchi hizi mbili. Watu wetu wanashirikiana katika shida na raha, masika na kiangazi, neema na dhiki.  

Takwimu zinajieleza vizuri zaidi. Tangu 1968 mpaka 2014, Tanzania imepokea madaktari 1,705 kutoka China (1,055 wakiwa Tanzania Bara, na 650 wakiwa Zanzibar). Kadhalika, katika kipindi cha mwaka 2011 - 2013, zaidi ya wanafunzi 1,600 Wakitanzania wamepata mafunzo katika fani mbalimbali nchini China.  Aidha, tunao ushirikiano wa damu kwani  kuna Wachina 69 waliofia Tanzania wakati wa kujenga Reli ya TAZARA. Vile vile wapo Wachina wengi wanaoishi na kufanya shughuli za uchumi na biashara nchini Tanzania. Hali kadhalika,wapo Watanzania wengi wanaoishi na kufanya shughuli zao za kujipatia riziki nchini China.  Kwetu sisi Tanzania, Wachina sio wageni bali ndugu zetu na sehemu yetu. Tunafurahi kuona kuwa, uhusiano huu wa watu-kwa-watu unaendelea kukua siku hadi siku.

Prof. Li na mke wako Dokta Han;

Kuishi kwenu Tanzania kwa miaka 26 tangu mwaka 1978 na kuamua kurudi nyumbani China na kuanzisha mradi huu wa Kijiji cha Sanaa za Afrika ni ishara ya matunda ya urafiki wa kweli, wa kidugu na wa muda mrefu kati ya watu wa Tanzania na watu wa China. Wewe Profesa Li pamoja na mke wako Dkt. Han ni mfano dhahiri wa Marafiki wa Kweli wa Tanzania. Tunashukuru sana!

Umuhimu wa Kijiji cha Sanaa za Afrika

Wageni waalikwa;

            Umuhimu wa Kijiji hiki kwa Tanzania na Afrika ni wa aina yake. Kijiji kinatoa nafasi ya kutangaza sanaa na utamaduni wa watu wa  Afrika kama vile lugha, sanaa za mikono na ngoma. Kadhalika kinalenga kutangaza vivutio vya utalii vya Afrika kama fursa za biashara na uwekezaji vya Bara letu. Vile vile kituo hiki kitatumika kufanya majadiliano ya maendeleo kati ya wanazuoni wa Afrika na China. Kijiji hiki sio tu kinatoa nafasi ya kuitangaza Afrika nchini China, lakini pia kinaileta Afrika karibu sana na nchi ya China na watu wake.

            Kwa kutambua umuhimu wa kijiji hiki, ningependa kuwahakikishia kwamba, Serikali ya Tanzania  inayo dhamira ya dhati ya kushirikiana kwa karibu na uongozi wa kijiji hiki katika kutimiza malengo yake  ya kutangaza na kukuza sanaa na utamaduni wa Afrika pamoja na fursa za biashara, uwekezaji na utalii zilizopo Afrika na Tanzania. Vilevile, Serikali yetu iko tayari kushirikiana na Kituo hiki kupata waalimu watakaofundisha lugha ya Kiswahili katika Kijiji hiki.

Tunafurahi kuona kizazi cha sasa na vizazi vijavyo vinaendeleza kijiji hiki ili kikue na kuwa jiji la Afrika ili  kuzidi kuenzi na kukuza uhusiano mzuri uliopo baina ya China, Tanzania na Afrika kwa ujumla wake katika nyanja za uchumi, utamaduni na kijamii.

Hitimisho

Wageni waalikwa;

Mabibi na Mabwana;

Nimalizie kwa kutoa shukrani zangu za dhati kwa Profesa Li na Dkt. Han pamoja na wadhamini wote kwa ujenzi wa Kijiji cha Sanaa za Afrika kilichogharimu zaidi dola za Kimarekani milioni 20. Majengo tunayozindua leo ni sita (6) yakijumuisha jengo la ghorofa  la makazi lenye nyumba 13 (apartments), makumbusho, ukumbi wa kisasa wa mikutano na mihadhara, ofisi, maduka na mgahawa.

            Natoa rai kwa nchi za Afrika kukitumia kijiji hiki muhimu katika kukuza uelewa na udugu baina ya China na Afrika.  Kupitia uhusiano wa kiutamaduni na uhusiano wa watu wetu tutaweza kuendeleza na kuudumisha uhusiano wetu na China na kurithisha kizazi hata kizazi. Kama wahenga wa Kichina wanavyosema; “ukitaka kuvuna ndani ya mwaka mmoja panda ngano, ukitaka kuvuna baada ya miaka mitano panda mti, na ukitaka kuvuna kwa muda mrefu, pandikiza watu”. Kijiji hiki ni ushahidi wa dhahiri wa dhamira yetu hiyo. 

            Baada ya kusema hayo machache, napenda kutamka kuwa sasa majengo ya Kijiji cha Sanaa za Afrika Songzhuang yamefunguliwa rasmi!

Asanteni sana kwa kunisikiliza.

Mheshimiwa Dkt. Fenella Mukangara (MB), Waziri wa Habari,

       Vijana, Michezo, Utamaduni na Michezo;

Mheshimiwa Zainabu Omar Mohamedi, Waziri wa Uwezeshaji,

      Ustawi wa Jamii, Vijana Wanawake na Watoto – Zanzibar;

Mheshimiwa Fatuma A. Mwasa, Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Tabora;

Mheshimiwa Samwel Sitta, Waziri wa Afrika Mashariki, Spika Mstaafu na Aliyekuwa Mwenyekiti wa Bunge Maalum la Katiba;

Waheshimiwa Mawaziri na Naibu Mawaziri;

Waheshimiwa Wabunge na Wajumbe wa

         Baraza la Wawakilishi;

Ndugu  Mwenyekiti  wa CCM Mkoa wa Tabora;

Waheshimiwa Wakuu wa Mikoa kutoka Tanzania

        Bara na Zanzibar;

Makatibu Wakuu kutoka Wizara Mbalimbli Tanzania

      Bara na Zanzibar;

Waheshimiwa Mabalozi na Wawakilishi wa Mashirika ya Kimataifa;

Waheshimiwa viongozi wa vyama mbalimbali vya Siasa;

Viongozi wetu wa Kiroho kutoka katika Madhebu mbalimbali;

Vijana Wetu;

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mabibi na Mabwana;

Nawashukuru Mawaziri wetu Mheshimiwa Fenella Mukangara wa Serikali ya Muungano na Mheshimiwa Zainabu Omari Mohamed wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar kwa kunialika kuja kushiriki katika sherehe za mwaka huu za kilele cha Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru.  Napenda pia kutumia nafasi hii kumpongeza na kumshukuru Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Tabora na viongozi wenzake na wananchi wote wa Tabora kwa kukubali kuwa mwenyeji wa sherehe hizi na kwa maandalizi mazuri.  Hakika sherehe zimefana sana.  Tunawashukuru kwa mapokezi mazuri na kwa ukarimu wenu.

Pongezi kwa Wizara na Wananchi

Aidha, nawapongeza Makatibu Wakuu, viongozi waandamizi na maafisa wa ngazi mbalimbali wa Wizara zetu mbili husika kwa kazi kubwa na nzuri ya kuandaa na kusimamia utekelezaji wa programu ya Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru mwaka 2014.  Matunda yake mema sote tunayashuhudia na kujivunia.  Pamoja na hao napenda kuwatambua, kuwashukuru na kuwapongeza Wakuu wa Mikoa, Wakuu wa Wilaya, Wakurugenzi, Watendaji wa Halmashauri na viongozi wa Shehiya, Majimbo, Kata, Vijiji na Mitaa kote nchini kwa kuziwezesha Mbio za Mwenge mwaka huu kupita kwa usalama katika maeneo yao.

Mwisho, lakini siyo mwisho kwa umuhimu, nawapongeza na kuwashukuru wananchi wote kwa jinsi walivyoupokea na kuukimbiza Mwenge katika maeneo yao.  Kama tulivyosikia Mwenge umekagua, kuzindua na kuweka mawe ya msingi kwa miradi 1,451 yenye thamani ya shilingi bilioni 361.3.  Hii ni miradi mingi yenye manufaa makubwa na kufanya mbio hizi kuwa chachu kubwa ya maendeleo hapa nchini.  Hongereni sana.

Pongezi kwa Wakimbiza Mwenge

Nawapongeza sana vijana wetu waliokimbiza Mwenge wa Uhuru kitaifa chini ya uongozi wa Ndugu Rachel Kasanda kwa kazi kubwa na nzuri ya kukimbiza Mwenge kwa siku 165 kupitia Mikoa yote, Wilaya zote, vijiji vingi na mitaa mingi kote nchini.  Poleni kwa yote yaliyowakuta lakini uvumilivu wenu na moyo wenu wa upendo na uzalendo kwa nchi yenu ndivyo vilivyotuwezesha kufikia kuiona siku ya leo.  Mwenge mmeufikisha salama Tabora ukiwa unang’ara kama ilivyo kawaida yake.  Nawashukuru kwa Risala yenu na kwa kunikabidhi Kitabu kikubwa chenye Risala za Utii za wananchi wa Tanzania.  Kama ilivyo ada tutazisoma zote na mambo yanayostahili kufanyiwa kazi tutachukua hatua stahiki. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

 Kama mjuavyo, katika sherehe hizi pia tunakumbuka tarehe na siku kama ya leo mwaka 1999 ambapo mpendwa wetu Baba wa Taifa, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere alitutoka hapa duniani.  Ilikuwa siku ya majonzi na simanzi kubwa.  Leo, hata hivyo, siyo siku ya kuomboleza, bali ni siku ya kusherehekea maisha ya kiongozi wetu mpendwa asiyekuwa na mfano wake na muasisi wa taifa letu lililo huru la Tanganyika, Desemba, 1961 na wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Aprili 26, 1964 kwa kushirikiana na Mzee Abeid Amani Karume. 

Katika kipindi cha uongozi wake na uhai wake Mwalimu aliifanyia nchi yetu mema mengi ambayo daima hayatasahaulika.  Hivyo basi, siku kama ya leo ni ya kukumbuka kazi zake nzuri pamoja na mambo mengi mazuri aliyotuachia kama urithi.  Ni siku ya kutafakari na kuona namna gani tutayadumisha  na kuyaendeleza.

Sherehe za mwaka huu ni spesheli kweli kweli, kwani zinafanyika siku chache tu baada ya Bunge Maalum la Katiba kukamilisha kazi yake na kukabidhi Katiba Inayopendekezwa.  Katiba hiyo ambayo imepatikana chini ya uongozi wa mwana Tabora, mashuhuri, Mheshimiwa Samwel Sitta imesisitiza ubora na kuendelea kwa Muungano wa Serikali Mbili alizoasisi Mwalimu Julius Nyerere akiwa na Mzee Abeid Amani Karume.  Bila ya shaka mtakumbuka jinsi Mwalimu alivyoupigania muundo huo kwa nguvu zake zote wakati wa uhai wake.  Hatuna budi kulipongeza Bunge Maalum la Katiba kwa uamuzi wake wa busara ambao unamuenzi kwa dhati Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere na kudumisha urithi wake mkuu kwetu ambayo ni Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania.  Sijui tungesema nini katika Sherehe za mwaka huu kama ndiyo tungekuwa na Katiba Inayopendekezwa yenye muundo wa Serikali Tatu?

Mwenge na Taifa Letu

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Mwenge wa Uhuru ni moja ya alama muhimu ya umoja wa nchi yetu na utaifa wetu.  Mwenge umebeba falsafa kubwa ndani yake kuhusu nchi yetu na uhusiano wake na watu wengine duniani hasa wanyonge wenye dhiki wasiokuwa na amani.  Wakati wa harakati za kudai Uhuru wa Tanganyika kutoka kwa Wakoloni wa Kiingereza Mwalimu Julius Nyerere aliwahi kusema “Sisi tunataka kuwasha Mwenge na kuuweka juu ya mlima  Kilimanjaro, umulike hata nje ya mipaka yetu, ulete tumaini pale ambapo hakuna matumaini, upendo mahali palipo na chuki na heshima palipojaa dharau”.  Dhamira hii ilitimizwa tarehe 9 Desemba, 1961 siku Tanganyika ilipopata Uhuru.  Pamoja na kupandisha  bendera ya taifa huru la Tanganyika kwenye Kilele cha Mlima Kilimanjaro na Mwenge wa Uhuru uliwashwa.

          Miaka michache baadaye utaratibu wa kukimbiza Mwenge ulianza na kuendelea mpaka sasa.   Mwenge wa Uhuru umeendelea kumulika nchi nzima ukipita katika mitaa, vijiji, shehia na majimbo, wilaya na mikoa ukieneza ujumbe wa udugu, umoja, upendo, amani na mshikamano miongoni mwa Watanzania.  Aidha, Mwenge umeendelea kuwakumbusha Watanzania wajibu wa kufanya kazi kwa bidii na maarifa ili kujiletea maendeleo yao na ya nchi yetu.  Pia wapige vita maovu nchini. 

Kwa kuzingatia dhima nyingine ya Mwenge wa Uhuru, nchi yetu na sisi Watanzania tumejitolea kwa hali na mali kusaidia ndugu zetu Barani Afrika waliokuwa wanatawaliwa kujikomboa kutoka kwenye makucha ya wakoloni na wabaguzi wa rangi.  Ni fahari kwetu kwamba wananchi wa Msumbiji, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia na Afrika Kusini wamepata ukombozi na uhuru wao na sisi tumetoa mchango muhimu.  Ni jambo la faraja kubwa kwamba nchi yetu imeweza kuwapatia hifadhi ndugu zetu wa nchi jirani na hata mbali wakati maisha yao yalipokuwa hatarini kwa sababu ya kukosekana kwa amani au kwa kukimbia mateso ya uongozi wa kikatili na kidikteta.  Ndugu zetu wa Kongo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya na Comoro wanajua ukweli huo.  Na, kwa Uganda tuliwasaidia kuling’oa dikteta Idd Amin na Comoro tumewasaidia kuunganisha tena nchi yao.  Hivi karibuni ndugu zetu wa Sudani Kusini waliniomba tuwasaidie kupatanisha makundi makuu yanayohasimiana katika Chama chao kikuu cha SPLM.  Nimekubali, hivyo tutaanzisha mchakato huo tuone tutafika nao wapi.

Ujumbe wa Mbio za Mwenge

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nimefurahishwa sana na kuafiki ujumbe wa mwaka huu wa Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru unaosomeka “Katiba ni Sheria Kuu ya Nchi:  Jitokeze kupiga kura ya Maoni Tupate katiba Mpya”.  Ujumbe huu ni mwafaka kabisa kwa kipindi hiki cha mchakato wa kupata Katiba Mpya nchini. Pamoja na ujumbe huu mahususi wa kila mwaka, Mwenge wa Uhuru umeendelea kuelimisha jamii na kutoa msukumo kuhusu vita dhidi ya UKIMWI, malaria, dawa za kulevya na rushwa.  Nawapongeza sana Wakimbiza Mwenge kitaifa kwa kuwasilisha ujumbe wa mambo yote manne vizuri. 

Ndugu Wananchi:

Kama mnavyofahamu nchi yetu iko katika mchakato wa kuandaa Katiba Mpya. Mchakato huu sasa umeingia hatua ya juu kabisa baada ya kumalizika kwa Bunge Maalum la Katiba kwa kutunga Katiba Inayopendekezwa.  Baada ya Katiba Inayopendekezwa kukabidhiwa kwangu na kwa Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Bunge Maalum la Katiba tarehe 8 Oktoba, 2014 mjini Dodoma, kazi inayofuata ni Kura ya Maoni ya wananchi kuamua ili nchi yetu ipate Katiba Mpya.  Hatua husika kuhusu matayarisho ya kutekeleza masharti ya Kura ya Maoni zimeshaanza kuchukuliwa.  Nawaomba Watanzania wenzangu muwe na subira.  Mtaelezwa na kuelekezwa ipasavyo. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nimebahatika kuisoma Katiba Inayopendekezwa na naendelea kuisoma.  Kwa kweli ni Katiba bora, kuliko hii tuliyonayo sasa yaani Katiba ya mwaka 1977.  Ni Katiba inayotambua na kuimarisha tunu za taifa letu na mambo mazuri ya huko tulikotoka na hapa tulipo.  Ni Katiba inayorekebisha upungufu uliopo sasa na kuweka mifumo mizuri inayoendana na wakati tulionao sasa na huko mbele tuendako.  Kwa lugha nyepesi ni Katiba inayotoa majawabu sahihi kwa changamoto zetu za leo na kesho.

Katiba Inayopendekezwa inatokana na ushirikishwaji mpana wa wananchi wa Tanzania walioko ndani na hata wale walio nje ya nchi.  Ndiyo maana haki na maslahi ya makundi yote zimetambuliwa na kupewa nafasi yake stahiki.  Kama mjuavyo, leo pia ni kilele cha Wiki ya Vijana.  Napenda mjue kuwa Katiba Inayopendekezwa imetambua haki za vijana na kuelekeza kuundwa kwa Baraza la Vijana la Taifa.  Kuundwa kwa Baraza hilo kutawaongezea vijana sauti katika kushiriki kwenye utungaji wa sera na uamuzi unaohusu maendeleo ya vijana na nchi yenu (ambayo ndiyo yetu sote).  Kitakuwa chombo huru cha kuunganisha vijana wote nchini bila kubagua kwa jinsia, rangi, kabila, dini, ufuasi wa vyama vya siasa na maeneo watokako katika kutafuta majawabu ya changamoto zinazowakabili ikiwemo tatizo kubwa la ajira.

 Hii ni fursa ambayo vijana wamekuwa wakiililia tangu kutungwa kwa Sera ya Vijana ya mwaka 1996.   Hatimaye kilio hiki kimepatiwa kitambaa cha kufutia machozi na Katiba Inayopendekezwa.  Shime vijana mjitokeze kwa wingi wakati utakapofika, mpige kura ya kuunga mkono Katiba Inayopendekezwa ili mjitengenezee hatma njema ninyi na vizazi vyenu. Mnayo nafasi sasa ya kihistoria ya kushika hatamu ya maendeleo yenu.  Katiba Inayopendekezwa ni fursa hiyo, hakikisheni haiwaponyoki.

Ndugu Watanzania Wenzangu;

Naomba muisome kwa makini Katiba Inayopendekezwa ili  muielewe na kuona jinsi masuala muhimu kuhusu vijana na wananchi wengine yalivyozingatiwa.  Epukeni kuondolewa kwenye mambo yenye maslahi ya moja kwa moja na ustawi wenu na kubeba agenda hasi za watu wengine.  Kamwe msikubali kutumika na kutumiwa na wanasiasa au wanaharakati kwa mambo ambayo hayana tija kwenu na nchi yetu.  Nawaomba vijana mtambue kuwa kwa sababu ya umri wenu, ninyi ndiyo mtakaoishi na kufaidi matunda ya Katiba Inayopendekezwa kwa miaka mingi ijayo.  Kwa sababu hiyo, itumieni fursa hii vizuri, kutengeneza mustakabali mwema kwenu na kwa vizazi vyenu.  Hatima ya nchi yetu iko mikononi mwenu.   

Ndugu Wananchi;

Bila ya shaka mnajua kuwa mwezi Desemba, 2014 kwa upande wa Tanzania Bara kutafanyika Uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa.  Napenda kutumia fursa hii kuwashauri vijana na wananchi wote wenye sifa stahiki na kujitokeza kugombea uongozi.  Pia nawaomba mjitokeze kwa wingi na kushiriki kwa ukamilifu katika kupiga Kura siku ya uchaguzi.  Kufanya hivyo ndiko kutakakotupatia viongozi wazuri wanaoweza kutuvusha na kutupeleka huko mbele kuzuri tunakokutaka.  Tushirikiane ili tupate viongozi wanaoendana na mahitaji ya sasa na ya miaka ijayo mbele.  Ngazi za kitongoji, mitaa na kijiji ndizo ngazi za msingi za kuanzia za kuleta maendeleo na mabadiliko katika nchi yetu.

 Shughuli za maendeleo na utoaji wa huduma za jamii hasa zinafanyika katika vijiji, vitongoji na mitaa tunayoishi.  Hivyo, mabadiliko mnayoyataka hamna budi yaanzie katika mitaa au kitongoji unachoishi. Hii ndiyo ngazi inayotugusa moja kwa moja kila mmoja wetu katika maisha yetu ya kila siku. Hivyo basi, vijana mjitokeze kugombea uongozi katika uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa.  Vile vile, mwakani kwenye Udiwani, Ubunge na Uwakilishi, msibaki nyuma.  Ni haki yenu na ni wakati wenu.  Gombeeni hata kwa nafasi ya Urais, na iwapo kuna mtu anayefanana na ujana na atakuwa ametimiza masharti ya Katiba, asiogope, ajitokeze.  Watu wataamua.  Shime jitokezeni mkawe chachu ya mabadiliko katika maeneo mnayoishi na nchi nzima. 

Wiki ya Vijana

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Kama sehemu ya sherehe hizi, jana nilitembelea Kijiji cha Mfano cha Vijana katika wilaya ya Sikonge.  Nimefurahishwa sana na juhudi zifanywazo na vijana za kujiletea maendeleo.  Nimevutiwa na miradi mbalimbali wanayoitekeleza pale ikiwemo ya kufuga nyuki na kuvuna mazao yatokanayo na nyuki, ufugaji wa kuku na ng’ombe wa maziwa, ushonaji nguo na viatu.  Halikadhalika, shughuli za kilimo na ujenzi wa nyumba bora.  Nimewashauri viongozi wa Wilaya, Mkoa na Wizara waangalie uwezekano wa kuwafanya vijana hao kuwa wakaazi na wamiliki wa eneo hilo la miradi ili kiwe kweli kijiji cha mfano badala ya kuwa mahali pa kupita mithili ya chuo cha mafunzo ya amali.

Baadae nitapata nafasi ya kutembelea mabanda ya maonesho ya kazi wafanyazo vijana na wadau wengine hapa uwanjani.  Maonyesho haya yanathibitisha kwa uwazi fursa zilizopo za kuwaendeleza vijana.  Lililo muhimu kufanya, ni kwa vijana kuwa na upeo mzuri wa ufahamu wa mambo, ubunifu, moyo wa kujituma na kufanya kazi kwa bidii.  Mkifanya hivyo tutaondokana na tatizo la ukosefu wa ajira na umaskini kwa vijana na taifa kwa ujumla.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kwa kutambua ukweli huu, ndiyo maana Serikali zetu zimeongeza bajeti katika Mifuko ya Maendeleo ya Vijana kupitia Wizara zetu mbili zinazosimamia na kuratibu maendeleo ya vijana.  Shabaha yetu ni kuwawezesha vijana wengi zaidi kupata mikopo na kuwa na mitaji ya kutekeleza miradi yao itakayowawezesha kujiajiri wenyewe na kujipatia kipato. Naikumbusha Wizara inayosimamia na kuratibu Mfuko wa Maendeleo ya Vijana kuhakikisha kwamba fedha za Mfuko huo zinawafikia walengwa na, kwa wakati muafaka.

Kwa upande mwingine nazikumbusha Halmashauri zote za Wilaya na Miji kutekeleza kwa ukamilifu agizo la kutenga asilimia 10ya mapato yao kwa mwaka kwa ajili ya shughuli za maendeleo ya Vijana na Wanawake.  Ninazo taarifa kuwa baadhi ya Halmashauri zinalitekeleza vizuri agizo hili lakini zipo nyingine ambazo zinasuasua.  Nataka isiwepo hata Halmashauri moja ya kunyooshewa kidole kwa kutokufanya vizuri kwa jambo lenye manufaa kwa vijana wetu kama hili.  Naomba nitumie nafasi hii leo kuzitaka Halmashauri zote kutoa taarifa za mara kwa mara za utekelezaji wa agizo hili.  Taarifa ya kwanza kwa ajili hiyo itolewe mwisho wa mwezi Desemba, 2014, ifuatayo iwe miezi minne baadae na kila baada ya miezi minne. 

Mapambano Dhidi ya UKIMWI

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Janga la UKIMWI bado ni tatizo kubwa nchini hivyo ni sahihi kabisa kwa Mwenge kuendelea kulisemea.   Inakadiriwa kuwa tunao wagonjwa wa UKIMWI milioni 1.4.   Bahati mbaya waathirika wengi zaidi ni vijana.  Takwimu za maambukizi zinaonyesha pia kuwa wasichana wa umri wa miaka 20 – 24 wako katika hatari ya kuambukizwa karibu mara tatu ikilinganishwa na wavulana wa umri huo huo. 

Ni jambo la kutia moyo kwamba kiwango cha maambukizi kinashuka mwaka hadi mwaka kutokana na shughuli za uhamasishaji ambazo na Mwenge nao una mchango wake.  Kwa mfano, kiwango cha maambukizi kimeshuka kutoka asilimia 5.7mwaka 2010 hadi asilimia 5.1 mwaka 2012.  Kiwango cha maambukizi ya UKIMWI hapa mkoani Tabora ni wastani wa asilimia 5.1 ambayo ni sawa na kiwango cha kitaifa.  Mwelekeo huu kwa taifa na Tabora ni mzuri lakini tusibweteke bali tuongeze bidii katika mapambano.  Watu watano katika kila 100 kuwa wameambukizwa ni wengi mno.  Isitoshe maambukizi mapya 78,843 ni makubwa mno, tunataka maambukizi mapya yawe sifuri.

          Tumeendelea kupata mafanikio ya kutia moyo katika vita dhidi ya UKIMWI.  Idadi ya watu wanaoishi na virusi vya UKIMWI wanaopata tiba imeongezeka kutoka 201,181 (2005) hadi 512,555mwaka 2013.   Hali kadhalika tumewezesha huduma za kuzuia maambukizi kutoka kwa mama kwenda kwa mtoto kutolewa karibu katika Kliniki zote nchini (aslimia 97).  Vilevile, idadi ya waliopima afya zao imeongezeka kutoka watu 365,189 mwaka 2005 hadi20,469,241 mwaka 2013.  Katika mwaka 2013 peke yake, watu2,793,636 walipima afya zao.  Yote hayo ndiyo yanayochangia kupungua kwa maambukizi. 

Ndugu Wananchi; 

          Ili kushinda vita hii hatuna budi kukumbushana kuachana na tabia na mienendo inayowaweka wanaadamu katika hatari ya maambukizi.  Mimi naamini Watanzania tunaweza kabisa kushinda vita dhidi ya UKIMWI.  Kinachotakiwa ni kuamua kukataa kupata maradhi haya.  Inawezekana, timiza wajibu wako.

Mapambano Dhidi ya Rushwa

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Tumeendelea na mapambano dhidi ya rushwa na mafanikio yanaendelea kupatikana.  Watu wengi zaidi hivi sasa wakiwemo vijana, wamefikiwa na kampeni ya kuwafanya watambue madhila yake, waichukie rushwa na wawe tayari kujitokeza kupambana na uovu huu.    Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (TAKUKURU) imeongeza kasi ya kupambana na rushwa.  Katika kipindi cha Julai 2013 hadi Juni, 2014 imefanikiwa kufungua kesi mpya 327, kati ya hizo kesi tatu ni za rushwa kubwa.  Aidha, shilingi bilioni 38.96 zimeokolewa.  TAKUKURU sasa imekwenda mbali zaidi na kuanzisha ofisi za Waratibu wa Kanda (Public Expenditure Tracking System – PETS Coordinators) wenye jukumu la kufuatilia matumizi ya fedha kwenye shughuli za ununuzi hasa kwenye miradi ya maendeleo.

 Tumefanya hivyo kwa kutambua kuwa shughuli za ununuzi kwenye Halmashauri na Serikali Kuu kwa jumla ndiko waliko mchwa wengi, wakubwa na wanene.  Katika kipindi cha 2013/14 pekee, miradi 215 yenye thamani ya shilingi bilioni 20.594imekaguliwa.  Kati ya miradi hiyo, miradi yenye thamani ya shilingibilioni 9.59 ilionekana kuwa na mazingira ya mashaka na uchunguzi wa kina unaendelea hivi sasa.  Itakapothibitika kuwepo kwa dalili za rushwa, hatua zipasazo za kisheria zitachukuliwa bila ya ajizi.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Tunaweza kupata ushindi mkubwa zaidi katika vita dhidi ya rushwa na mafanikio tunayoendelea kupata ni ushahidi wa ukweli wa kihistoria.  Sisi katika Serikali tutaendelea kutekeleza wajibu wetu kwa kuiwezesha TAKUKURU kwa rasilimali watu, vitendea kazi na majengo.  Mwaka huu pekee tumeiwezesha Taasisi kuajiri Maafisa Uchunguzi na Wachunguzi Wasaidizi 304 ili kuimarisha utendaji katika taasisi yetu hii muhimu.  Tunachohitaji ni ushirikiano wa karibu wa wananchi katika kuwafichua wale wanaojihusisha na vitendo vya rushwa. 

Ukweli ni kwamba watu hao tunaishi nao katika maeneo yetu.  Tuache kuwatukuza na kuwalinda kwani kwa kufanya hivyo tunawaimarisha, na kuwakatisha tamaa watu waadilifu na wale walio mstari wa mbele katika mapambano dhidi ya rushwa.  Tuyachukue mapambano dhidi ya rushwa kuwa ni yetu sote na siyo ya TAKUKURU au viongozi peke yao.  Ushindi dhidi ya rushwa ni ushindi wetu sote. Hali kadhalika, kushindwa vita dhidi ya rushwa ni kushindwa kwetu sote.  Ni hasara kwako na taifa kwa jumla.

Vita Dhidi ya Dawa za Kulevya

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Tunaendelea na mapambano dhidi ya matumizi na biashara haramu ya dawa za kulevya.  Tunaendelea kupata mafanikio pamoja na ugumu uliokuwepo katika mapambano hayo.  Wahalifu wamekuwa wakibadili mbinu na kuongeza nguvu kila kukicha.  Hata hivyo, na sisi tumekuwa na unyumbufu wa kutosha. Ukweli ni kwamba kadri wahalifu hao wanavyoongezeka na ndivyo wanavyoongezeka kukamatwa.  Wakati katika kipindi cha Januari hadi  Septemba mwaka 2013 walikamatwa watuhumiwa 2,000,mwaka huu tangu Januari, hadi kufikia Oktoba, (2014) watuhumiwa6,875 wameshakamatwa  na kesi zao ziko katika hatua mbalimbali.  Takwimu hizi zinaonyesha namna tulivyoongeza nguvu na tunavyofanikiwa katika juhudi zetu. 

Katika Mkoa wa Tabora peke yake, washitakiwa 177wamefikishwa Mahakamani.  Kilichonisikitisha zaidi ni taarifa kuwa sasa kilimo cha bangi kinaongezeka kwa kasi mkoani Tabora.  Nawaomba muendelee kuwa wakulima hodari wa tumbaku pekee na siyo kilimo cha bangi.

Ndugu Wananchi;      

Tumeendelea kuchukua hatua nyingi madhubuti kukabiliana na mtandao wa uuzaji na usafirishaji wa dawa za kulevya, ndiyo maana taarifa za matukio ya kukamatwa watu katika viwanja vyetu vya ndege zimepungua sana tofauti na mwanzo mwa mwaka huu.  Hii inaashiria kuwa mambo yamekuwa magumu kwenye njia hiyo, lakini tunajua  wanatafuta au watatafuta njia nyingine.  Kwa yote mawili hawatafika mbali, mkono mrefu wa sheria utawafikia. 

Tumeendelea kutoa huduma za kuwasaidia waathirika wa dawa za kulevya kuacha kutumia dawa hizo na kurejea katika maisha ya kawaida.  Vituo vyetu vya majaribio katika hospitali za Muhimbili, Mwananyamala na Temeke sasa vinahudumia waathirika wapatao 1,835 kwa kutumia dawa ya Methadone.  Tanzania ni moja kati ya nchi chache sana Afrika ambazo zimepiga hatua kubwa katika kutibu waathirika wake na wenzetu sasa wanakuja kujifunza kwetu.  Tutafanya zaidi ya tufanyavyo sasa.  Nia yetu ni kueneza huduma hiyo nchi nzima ili kunufaisha vijana wetu wengi.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Tunayo kila sababu ya kushinda vita hii.  Hatamu ya ushindi wetu iko mikononi mwa wananchi wa Tanzania na vijana ambao ndiyo waathirika na wateja wakubwa wa dawa hizo.  Kataeni kuwa mawakala wa biashara hii haramu na ya maangamizi.  Pia kataeni kuwa watumiaji wa dawa za kulevya.  Biashara hii haiwezi kushamiri iwapo hapatakuwepo na mawakala na wateja wa uhakika.  Sisi Serikalini tunaendelea kuchukua hatua stahiki. Sasa tunapitia upya sheria ili tuweze kuanzisha taasisi mpya yenye mamlaka makubwa ya kupambana na dawa za kulevya kuliko Tume ya Kudhibiti Dawa za Kulevya iliyoko sasa.  Maandalizi yamefikia pazuri.  Tutakamilisha jambo hili mapema iwezekanavyo.

Maji na Barabara

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kabla ya kumaliza naomba niwathibitishie wananchi wa Mkoa wa Tabora kwamba ahadi yangu ya kuleta maji mjini Tabora, Nzega na Igunga kutoka Ziwa Victoria iko palepale.  Tumechelewa kuanza kutokana na kuendelea kutafuta fedha za kutekeleza dhamira yetu hiyo.  Nafurahi kusema kuwa Mungu ni mwema tumefanikiwa.  Serikali ya India imekubali maombi yangu na watatukopesha kiasi cha dola za Marekani milioni 264 kwa ajili ya kutekeleza mradi huu.  Wataalamu wanamalizia michoro ya mradi ili baada ya hapo ujenzi uanze.  Subira yavuta heri, wote tuwe wavumilivu.

Tunaendelea na jitihada za kujenga barabara mbalimbali kwa kiwango cha lami hapa Mkoani Tabora.  Barabara zinazoendelea kujengwa zitakamilishwa na zile zinazoendelea na maandalizi zitaanza pindi tutakapopata fedha.  Lengo letu ni kuunganisha Mkoa huu na Mkoa wa Katavi, Kigoma na Singida kupitia Itigi hadi Manyoni.  Tumezungumza na Kuwait Fund ili watusaidie kujenga barabara ya Nyahua – Chaya wamekubali.  Hali kadhalika, Benki ya Maendeleo ya Afrika wanaelekea kuwa tayari kutupatia mkopo wa ujenzi wa barabara ya Tabora -  Sikonge – Koga - Mpanda.

Hitimisho

Ndugu Wananchi;

Narudia tena kuwashukuru wote walioshiriki kwa njia moja au nyingine kufanikisha sherehe hizi ambazo zimefana mno.  Baada ya kusema hayo natamka rasmi kwamba shughuli za Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru kwa mwaka huu zimefikia kilele chake leo.

Nawatakia kila la kheri katika shughuli zenu za kila siku.

Mungu Ibariki Tanzania!

Mungu Ibariki Afrika!

Ahsanteni sana kwa kunisikiliza.

Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu (MP);

Hon. Said Meck Sadick, Regional Commissioner;

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism;

Board of Directors, Tanzania Tourist Board;

High Commissioners and Ambassadors,

S!TE Organizers and Exhibitors,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning!

It gives me great pleasure to grace this official opening of this first Swahili International Tourism Expo (S!TE).  I thank the organizers, the Tanzania Tourism Board (TTB) and South African based Pure Grit Project and Exhibition Management Limited for conceiving the idea and organizing this event.  For the first time, Tanzania will be having her international tourism exhibition.  I am sure this will go a long way towards promoting Tanzania as a destination of choice for tourism.  The fact that 160 exhibitors from 13 countries and 25 tour operators (hosted buyers) are gathering here gives us a sense of optimism.  It is a sign of confidence and good beginning for this Swahili International Tourism Expo. 

Uniqueness of Swahili International Tourism Expo

Excellencies;

Ladies and gentlemen;

Swahili International Tourism Expo is a new tourism event in Tanzania and one of its kind.  The choice of the name “Swahili” itself explains the richness and uniqueness of the event.  Swahili civilization is one of the old that borne out of early contact between the people of the coast of East Africa and Arabian, Persian, Asian and European sailors.  As a result of trade and later colonialism, Swahili language, a lingua franca widely spoken in Eastern Africa was born.  Swahili language and its civilization has maintained its tradition of being a melting pot between world cultures and civilizations, understanding, friendship, cooperation and peace.  This expo could therefore bear no other better name than Swahili International Tourism Expo.

The Outlook of World Tourism Industry

Excellencies;

Ladies and gentlemen;

 Apart from being a source of attracting investments, creating jobs and generating revenue, tourism fosters cultural understanding, friendship and cooperation among peoples of the world.  Today, tourism accounts for 9 percent of global GDP, 6 percent of worlds export and 1 percent in every 11 jobs worldwide.  According to UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2014, international tourism has increased from 25 million international tourists in 1950 to 1.087 billion tourist in 2013.  With an estimated growth of 3.3 percent annually, international tourists are expected to reach 1.8 billion in 2030.  Most of this growth is expected to take place in emerging economies whose market share will account for 57 percent equivalent to 1 billion tourists in 2030.

Despite this rosy picture, Africa lags behind in both attracting international tourists and in revenue earnings despite having many attractive spots for both leisure and adventure.  In 2013, Africa received about 56 million international tourists which accounts for only 5 percent of the world share.  In terms of international tourism receipt, Africa received only 34 billion US dollars which is equivalent to 3 percent of total income from tourism.  This is even less than what Middle East received which is, 5 percent of international tourist arrivals and 4 percent of income earned.  It is far from Asia which receives 23 percent of tourists and 31 percent of incomes.  Europe hits the jackpot by receiving 52 percent of tourists and 42 percent of income.

  This inequality in terms of world’s inbound tourists and earning is attributed to lack of tourism infrastructure, marketing and investment.  Among the three, Africa’s tourism is also affected by negative perception that paints about Africa.  Foreign media is fond of talking about armed conflicts, diseases and problems of poverty.  Good stories about progress being made on the Continent do not find headlines.  Indeed, Africa has its positive sides too and extraordinary attractions for leisure, adventure and relaxation.  This shortcoming has costed Africa dearly.  It is an anomaly that needs to be corrected.

The story about Africa must be told and the misrepresentation corrected.  The perception that Africa is a country rather than a continent must not be left to prevail.  It must be reminded that Africa is a continent of 54 countries not a country of 54 provinces.  Therefore, singling out a problem in one country or part of Africa and generalizing it to be the situation all over the continent is erroneous and unfair.  

Obviously, we cannot put all blame on others, we too have some responsibility.  We are not doing enough.  It is high time we realized that telling our story is our responsibility and not that of tourists or foreign media.   It is incumbent upon us therefore that, we must be proactive to tell our own story and tell it loud.  For it has been said, “Until lions have their own historians, the history of the jungle will always glorify the hunter.”  Fortunately, it is easier to tell ones story these days than was the case in 20 or 30 years ago.  We must appreciate its significance and be ready to make good use of it.

The State of Tourism Industry in Tanzania

Excellencies;

Ladies and gentlemen;

The tourism industry in Tanzania has been recording an improved performance in recent years. In 2013 the sector recorded an increase in the number of international tourist arrival by 1.7 percent from 1,077,058 recorded in 2012 to 1,095,885 in 2013. As a result, tourism earnings increased by 8.2 percent, from US dollars 1,712.7 million recorded in 2012, to US dollars 1,853.28 million in 2013. 

According to the Monthly Economic Review Publication issued by the Bank of Tanzania, the country earned nearly two billion US Dollars from tourism receipts in the year between July 2013 and June 2014. This constitutes an increase from the previous year of nearly 12.3 percent. This makes the tourism industry the largest foreign exchange earner after gold whose income has fallen significantly as a result of lower world prices for the commodity.  But, Tanzania can do much better than this, get three or four times more tourists and earnings.

          We have to double efforts to create a better enabling environment for private sector and other stakeholders to contribute to tourism growth.   We must do more and better with regard to the investment climate in tourism, issuance of visa, harmonization of taxes and fees to make packages competitive and improving services to tourists so that they enjoy their stay and realize value for their money.

The Government’s Commitment to Tourism Industry

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I wish to assure you that my Government is fully committed to improving matters in the tourism industry in Tanzania.  We commit to sustain policies as well as legal and fiscal regimes that facilitate and promote growth of tourism sector.  We shall remain vigilant in promoting sustainable conservation policies and management practices of our eco-systems, natural attractions and resources.  Safety and security of tourism will remain high on the agenda.  We shall never waver in our resolve or morale in addressing all security concerns, as and when they arise.

Our track record on conservation speaks volume of our commitment.  We have allocated 36 percent of our land (equals to the size of Indonesia) for conservation.  Despite the enormity of the challenge these days, we have undertaken robust anti-poaching campaigns with encouraging outcomes. We are beginning to register significant reduction in poaching incidences from 6 per month in 2012 to none in the last 3 months.  We also subscribe to the decisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and London Initiative Against Illegal Trade in Wildlife with regard to intensifying the fight against poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products.  To that end, we have proclaimed 22^nd September of every year to be the National Elephant Day.   

Way Forward

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          The world tourism trend presents plenty of opportunities for Africa going forwards towards 2030.  Therefore, Africa must do more and better in promoting growth of the tourism sector to more than the estimated 5 percent next to only Asia and Pacific which will grow at 6 percent.  Certainly, African governments will have to do better in addressing bottlenecks related to tourism infrastructure and services such as hotels, air travel and security and safety concerns of tourists.  Much more also, needs to be done to improve the perception of our dear continent.  In this regard, more Expos like this one, branding and promotion initiatives are needed.  We must do more to reach out to tourists to visit Africa and Tanzania in particular.  While it is incumbent upon us Africans to do so, it is fair to ask tour operators and other players gathered here to use their good offices and influence to promote tourisms to Africa.  Your voice carries a lot of weight, please use it for our mutual benefit.   

Conclusion

Excellencies;

Ladies and gentlemen;

Before I conclude, allow me to thank all the sponsors of this first Swahili International Tourism Expo. Your support to Tanzania Tourist Board is highly appreciated.  I am particularly impressed with the extent of the contribution of our very own local companies and institutions.  It gives this Expo a sense of local ownership and belonging.  I would like to recognize the Ethiopian Airlines, Tanzania National Parks, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, Bank of Tanzania, CRDB Bank, Zanzibar Collections, Serena Hotels and Lodges, Precision Air Services and Sea Cliff Hotel.

Others are Azam Marine, Sun Tours, Zara Adventures, Hyatt Regency, Acacia Lodge, Protea Hotel, Southern Sun, Montage, Wildlife Expedition, Naenda Safaris, Ngorongoro Wild Camp and Serengeti Wildbeest Camp, Soroi Serengeti Lodge, High View Hotel and Bouganvillia Safari Lodge.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  Please continue to support and participate in the future Swahili Expos.  It benefits you and all of us.

Last but not least, I thank and congratulate all the exhibitors, travel trade professionals and visitors for making the right decision to participate in the first ever Swahili International Tourism Expo.  I wish you all every success in this Expo and, please, let this be the beginning of many more such Expos..

Ahsanteni Sana!

Professor Richard L. Edwards, Executive Vice President for   Academic Affairs and Chancellor of Rutgers University;

Dr. Ousseina Alidou, Director, Center for African Studies; Rutgers University;

Members of the faculty;

Students;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          I thank you Professor Richard L. Edwards, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chancellor of Rutgers University, for the invitation to visit this prestigious and world renowned University.  I am impressed by your accomplishments. This University is a household name in research and development in chemistry, which makes you the first in the US for federal funding in Chemistry. It is gratifying to note the existing ties between your Centre for African Studies and Tanzania.

More interesting, is the intention of this University to enter into partnership with the University of Dodoma in Tanzania. I believe there is more we can do together, and that this partnership will build a foundation of many more partnerships with Tanzania Universities in future. My government is in full support of such partnership and shall do what is required of us to sustain them for mutual benefits.  I also thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts on the “Importance of Creating International Collaborative Partnerships for Solving Global Challenges”.  I consider, the theme very opportune, particularly, at this time of conceiving the post 2015 Development Agenda. This is the successor program to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  I am happy to note that the discussions at the United Nations are not whether or not international partnerships are important, but how can we create these partnerships in a manner that they are effective and efficient in addressing global challenges.  

Global Problems Need  for Global Solution

Ladies and Gentlemen,

          I also, thank you for affording me the opportunity to share my thoughts on the importance of creating international collaborative Partnerships for solving Global Problems. Many challenges and problems that the world is facing today are global in nature. Today, there is no longer a problem called Eastern or Western, African or European or American, or a problem of the North or South. With the triumph of information and communication technology (ICT), the world is more connected today than any other time in the human history. Unlike in the past, geography and distance are no longer making us safer or completely immune from the challenges and problems happening on other parts of the world. A problem in one country can cause problems to other countries afar. Similarly, solutions for challenges for a particular country may be applicable in other countries. Therefore, the times we are in, call for global partnership in finding solutions to many global problems.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

This is largely because globalization has leveraged roles of many other actors in the international arena, which was an exclusive arena of a state. The state no longer enjoys the powers and monopoly of solutions to world problems. Much as the role of state remains significant, it has been dramatically reduced. With the changing power configuration, non-state actors including corporations and international non-governmental organizations are playing a significant role in formulation and implementation of strategies in areas such as poverty, health, climate change, security, energy and the like. The fact that 37 of the world’s 100 largest economies are corporations, not states, and less than 1 percent of banks control the shares of 40 percent of global business, and major international philanthropies have budgets larger than many of the developing nations’ budgets, demonstrates the importance of these actors in the international arena.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is clear, therefore, that addressing the traditional social gaps and emerging development challenges in the developing world, requires both public and private actors in order to team up to seek  greater efficiency, quality and sustainability in the delivery of goods and services traditionally provided by the public sector.

Experiences in International Partnership

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me use the 14 years of implementation of Millennium Development Goals to illustrate how international partnership works in solving global development challenges. The implementation of MDGs has exposed us to best experiences where international partnerships contributed in solving global challenges. One of such areas is an advancement of health, which is covered under Goal Number 6 on Fight Against Diseases such as Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS and Goals 4 and 5 which are about Child Health and Maternal Mortality.  Through partnerships between governments, the United Nations system, multilateral institutions, non-governmental organizations, private sector and private foundations the world has managed to record tremendous achievements in addressing these issues.

          According to the UN MDG 2014 report, child mortality rate has almost been halved since 1990, with six million fewer children dying in 2012 than in 1990. Also, between 2005 and 2012, the annual rate of reduction in under-five mortality was more than three times faster than between 1990 and 1995.  Moreover, 52 percent of pregnant women had four or more antenatal care visits during pregnancy in 2012, which is an increase from 37 percent from 1990. Immunization against measles also helped to prevent nearly 14 million deaths between 2000 and 2012. Furthermore, in fighting diseases, antiretroviral medicines were delivered to 9.5 million people in developing regions in 2012; malaria interventions helped save the lives of 3 million young children between 2000 and 2012; and 22 million lives were saved through tuberculosis treatment between 1995 and 2012.

          These achievements have been made possible not by governments alone, but through international partnerships. International partnerships involving academia, research, pharmaceutical companies, corporate bodies and philanthropists, the United Nations and governments have contributed to these momentous achievements. For instance, in early 1990s, people in developing countries could easily die of HIV/AIDS simply because they could not afford the ARV treatment. Through collaboration with United Nations, private sector and philanthropists, the Global Fund alone has been able to spend about USD 4 billion annually to reach 140 countries globally to provide for free ARV treatment to 6.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS, treat 11.9 million TB cases, distribute 410 million insecticide-treated nets and medicines to treat 430 million people on malaria as of July 2014.

Tanzania and International Partnerships

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tanzania has benefitted immensely from this international partnership in all aspects of development. As you are aware, Tanzania is one of the 8 least developed countries in the world which aspires to become a middle income country by year 2025. As a developing country, Tanzania has all features of under-development, which coupled with the limited capacity of the government, makes solving development challenges a daunting task. However, we have been able to make impressive strides in many scores as a result of international partnerships.

          Through international partnerships and working together with our partners, such as friendly governments like USA and others, organizations like United Nations, World Bank, European Union, Global Fund, private foundations, Bill and Melinda Gates, GAVI, Clinton Foundation and many others we have been able to reduce infant mortality rate from 115 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990 to 21 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013. We have also managed to reduce the under-five mortality rate from 191 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 54 deaths per 1,000 in 2013 and reduce HIV/AIDS infection rate from 7 percent in 1990 to 5.1 percent in 2013. However, we lag behind on Goal 1 on halving extreme poverty although it has declined from 39 percent in 1990 to 28.2 percent in 2012.  On Goal 5 on improving maternal health, we have witnessed reduction in maternal mortality from below 478 per 100,000 live births to 432 per 100,000 live births. We are far below target of 191 per 100,000 live births.

          We have been able to increase the number of pregnant women who deliver under supervision of skilled birth attendants. These days more infants survive the first 5 years, more children are immunized, more HIV/AIDS patients are under ARV treatment and there is significant reduction in   incidences of malaria and related deaths. We are in the threshold of attaining UPE. As alluded to earlier, all of these have been made possible by international partnerships.  I believe we can do more with increasing partnerships and collaborations in other areas and sectors.

          These partnerships have made it possible for countries like mine to overcome the capacity limitations of our government to address these problems. Relying on government resources and own capacity alone, may have taken us longer to marshal the requisite resources and capacity to get to where we are today. With international partnership, it has been possible to bridge this gap. It is for this reason that my government has opted to cooperate with all other people and organizations of goodwill.

Partnership between Rutgers University and Tanzania

Ladies and Gentlemen,

          It is a statement of fact that one reason why Africa, Tanzania included, lags behind in development is limited application of modern science and technology in development. In this era where knowledge, science and technology are drivers of development across the world   Africa and Tanzania need to do more on research and development. This is because the transformation that we need to undertake to increase productivity requires great contribution of research and development.

          Tanzania, for example, cannot attain middle income status without transforming her agriculture.  This is because, agriculture employs about 75 percent of the population and it gives us the food we eat and raw materials for our industries.  It is the agriculture sector that majority of poor people depends on for their livelihood.  However, with little application of science and technology, agricultural productivity is low.  Therefore, application of science to increase productivity, improve quality of seeds, produce disease resistant crops and improve methods of farming will make a huge difference in moving our people out of poverty in the next decade.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Aware of the nexus between research and development, I made a decision to allocate one percent of our budget to invest in research and development. However, given competing demands, we have been able to allocate only 30 million USD each year, an amount that is small for any meaningful impact.  I say so because according to the 2014 Global Research and Development Funding Forecast issued in December, 2013, US, China, Japan and Europe will spend about 78 percent of all the 1.6 trillion dollars expected to be spent globally on research and development. In figures, US will spend about 465 billion USD (2.8 percent of GDP), China will spend 284 billion USD (2.0 percent of GDP) and Japan will spend 165 billion USD (3.4 percent of GDP). 

          Definitely, Tanzania like many other developing countries is left far behind in financing research and development due to competing budgetary demands. What we manage to provide to our universities and research institutes is a fraction of what universities in United States spend on the same.  I am told Rutgers University spends about 430 million USD annually on research and development in life sciences alone, and this campus receives about 304 million USD annually on externally sponsored research, grants and contracts. It is evident, therefore, that our universities and research institutions require international partnership in order to be able to do more on research. Leveraging international partnerships in undertaking research and development is the smartest way of meeting technological, expertise and funding gaps for development nations.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          International partnerships between our academic institutions will not only help reduce the funding gap for research and development, but most importantly, will enable the sharing of knowledge, innovation, science and technology and make these essential global goods to be accessed and enjoyed by all humanity. Failure to make these essential global goods available to African countries which need them the most to transform their economies is tantamount to condemning these countries to perpetual poverty. It does not make any moral sense to allow people to die or languish in poverty on one side of the world, while knowledge, technology and financial resources to prevent that to happen is available on the other side of the world.

For that reason, we welcome the gesture of partnership between this University and our University of Dodoma and many others in Tanzania. I commend the leadership of this University for this kind gesture of friendship between the people of New Jersey and Tanzania.  I believe such a partnership will go a long way in making an impact to our academia, students and our two communities who will be primary beneficiaries of the products of this partnership. Tanzania though the University of Dodoma avails its readiness to continue this partnership with Rutgers University in the identified areas of cooperation that include academic knowledge through teaching and research.

Conclusion

Ladies and Gentlemen,

          Let me conclude by emphasizing that international partnerships are the surest way to go in the 21^st century.  It is no longer a matter of choice but a dictate of the era that we are in, the era of globalization.  This is an opportunity the world has waited for so long. It was not possible during colonialism and subsequently during the cold war. It is now possible with globalization.  It is incumbent upon us to realize and live with it.

          Today’s global challenges cannot be solved by an individual country or government, however mightier or wealthier that country or government can be. Therefore, collaboration is the way to go, and international partnerships are the best vehicles to achieve that.  International partnerships allow rationalization of resources, efficiency and unity of purpose. They allow complementarity and avoid unnecessary competition between actors in solving global problems.

          Having said so, I would like to thank you once again Mr. Vice President for inviting me to speak to this august audience.  I commend once again your good intention to forge partnership between this prestigious university and our university of Dodoma.  I cannot find words good enough to express how impressed I am with great things you do in this University.  I would definitely be pleased to visit again at an opportune time.  I expect to see more collaboration between this University with ours and researchers of this University partnering with their fellows in Tanzania.

          With these many words, I wish to thank you more times for your kind attention.

Thank you.

Excellences Heads of State and Government and members of

   the Committee of  African Heads of State and Governments

on Climate Change (CAHOSCC);

Your Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini–Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission;

Honorable Dr. Binilith Mahenge, President of the AMCEN;

Honorable Rhoda Tumusiime, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Economy – African Union Commission;

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

As I indicated in my invitation letter to you, the UN Secretary General has invited world leaders tomorrow to a Climate Summit to mobilize more actions across the globe in defining the new climate change agreement to be adopted in 2015. As members of CAHOSCC, we have two tasks ahead of us. First, we need to provide the needed political guidance to follow members of the AU on our contributions at this meeting and on submissions of the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) of our individual   countries by early next year as agreed in Warsaw. At this summit we need to ensure that African countries are part of driver States in the search for solutions, and not just frontline countries for the impacts of climate change.

Second, we need to ensure that our continued engagement is beneficial to the continent both in terms of adaptation and opportunities arising from regional and global mitigation efforts. Today, Africa is showing great potential in terms of its macroeconomic growth.  Africa’s medium-term growth prospects look promising. For example, economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) averaged 6.5 percent in the last decade (2004 – 2013), with some slowdown in 2009.  This average level of growth of 6.5 percent is expected to be maintained in 2014 and 2015 both at levels higher than 3.6 percent and 3.9 percent average for the global economy in 2014 and 2015, respectively. This underscores again the continent ́s resilience to global and regional headwinds. We need to maintain this amidst the changing climate much as we know such growth is based on climate sensitive sectors.

Excellences;

You may recall that after the Malabo CAHOSCC meeting, I requested the ministers responsible for climate change and foreign affairs from CAHOSCC member countries to meet and provide the necessary input for Africa’s contribution to the Summit. I am glad to inform you that the ministers met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 29^th August, 2014 and the outcome of the meeting in form of the key political messages will be tabled before us today. The key political messages have encapsulated Africa’s challenges, efforts, and expectations in three broader areas of Adaptation, Mitigation and Means of Implementation.  Through these key political messages, Africa has also articulated the type of the climate agreement we want in 2015. 

Excellencies;

Our region cannot afford to allow climate change to derail our development goals, rob us of our most critical resources and mock our best efforts as we strive to give our people the future they want. What we want is for developed countries to take concrete actions to reduce the heat trapping emissions and to meet their commitment in terms of financial and technological support to the continent. 

At this Summit we need to reiterate that addressing climate change in Africa should take into account food   security, poverty eradication, socio-economic development, environment and livelihood sustainability. The international community needs to understand that Africa’s contributions will be premised on the implementation of continent-wide programmes that can address these challenges. The programmes include those on energy diversification that can ensure energy security for all and better transport and communication infrastructure in cities that can increase resilience, reduce emissions and encourage commerce across the continent. Support in areas such as Climate Smart Agriculture for food security as well as early warning systems and better climate information services is key. 

The continent will build the momentum to address climate change if serious efforts are geared towards addressing its vulnerability and supporting the various regional and national programmes that African countries are taking as part of our national development agenda.

Excellencies;

We need to support the attainment of a legally binding agreement in Paris, December 2015, within the context of the Climate Change Convention that is applicable to all taking into account the principles and provisions of the Convention, in particular the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and equity.

The 2015 agreement should reinforce multilateral rules based climate regime that responds to science and fairness provisions of the Convention where developed countries take the lead in a global response to climate change.

Excellencies;

I have tried to present to you a reflection of the key messages from our experts. It is our mandate to ensure that Africa is well represented with one voice and its agenda well articulated at this UN Climate Summit and beyond as we move towards Paris. I believe the key political messages we will adopt today should guide Africa’s approach and action on the climate change agenda now and in the near future. We must use the messages as our clear position and direction. It is my call once again, as I said in Malabo, that we need to be united, coherent and consistent in our appeal, while, remaining honest to our obligations and responsibilities.

I now declare this Consultative Meeting of the CAHOSCC officially opened.

I thank you for your attention.

Excellencies First Ladies;

Madam Savannah Maziya, Chairperson of the Bunengi foundations;

Mr. Robert Shafir, Chief Executive Officer of the CREDIT SUISSE;

Distinguished Participants;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          I am pleased to join you this morning for this important discussion on Women and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  I thank the Bunengi Group for inviting me to share my thoughts on this important matter.  It is heartwarming indeed to see that Bunengi continues to spearhead this discussion for three years consecutively.  Associating this agenda with First Ladies gives the course an extra mileage.  I am optimistic that using their voice, clout and social influence, First ladies will elevate this agenda (on Women and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to the importance it deserves.

          It is a fact that gender gap exists in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  This gap exists in both developed and developing countries alike.  However, this gap is wider in developing countries than in developed ones.  The gap is primarily a result of historical injustices associated with skewed gender relations.  In many countries gender inequality still widely exists and continues to deter women from advancing in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In many of our countries, these fields are considered to be masculine and, therefore, are believed to be exclusive for men.

First Ladies,

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Tanzania like many other African countries lags behind in terms of the number of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  This gap has both historical as well as social-cultural back ground.  Historically, as a country, we started from a very low base to build a pool of scientists after independence.  At our independence, in 1961, for example’ Tanzania had only two engineers and four doctors all of them happen to have been males.  A lot has been done ever since and the numbers have increased exponentially. However,   irrespective of gender consideration, we have a shortage of scientists, engineers and mathematicians in relation to demand.  But women are fewer than men.

          At the second level, wider gender gap exists within fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  Much as government policies did not deliberately discriminate against women to join and excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, socio-cultural factors discouraged girls and women to opt for science related disciplines. For instance, for a long time, being a doctor was associated with the masculine gender and nursing with the feminine. This applied to many other fields of science. Such stereo types affect educational choices of young girls in opting for their career path.

          Statistics of enrollment in the science related degree courses explain better this phenomenon. Even though number of enrollment of science students increased from 32,899 in 2008/2009 to 51,840 in 2012/2013 number of female students has not increased significantly. Between 2008 and 2013, there has been an increase of only 5,622 female students which is about 2.4 percent only. Out of 51,840 university students enrolled in 2012/2013 in the agriculture, medical science, natural science, ICT and educational science degree course, there we only 16,241 female students which is about 31.3 percent compared to 35,599 male students who make up 68.67 percent. 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Certainly, this situation cannot be left continue.  Deliberate actions must be taken to address this gender gap.  For these actions and interventions to be effective they must aim at addressing two things, First, to create a conducive environment to attract more students, and, in particular female students to pursue studies and  careers in the field of science.  And, secondly, to address social-cultural barriers that discouraged female students from opting for science related fields.  The former has more to do with the government, while the latter requires assistance of agents of change, like the First Ladies gathered here this morning and other people of influence including men.

Actions Taken by the Government

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Our government has employed measures to create attractive environment for students to pursue science related fields. Of critical importance was to address the shortage of science teachers, text books and laboratories at secondary school, which discouraged students from taking science subjects teachers alike.

The government has been taking deliberate steps to increase scholarships for students pursuing science related subjects. That goes in tandem with guaranteeing employment for science teachers who graduate from teachers colleges and universities. We have also embarked on a nationwide construction of science laboratories in our community secondary schools which happen to be the majority in the country but with acute shortages. We have increased funding for procuring science text books and ensure that there is no shortage of science text books as well as those for other subjects.  All together, these measures are geared towards improving conditions in order to encourage our young girls and boys to pursue and excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          As alluded to earlier, our efforts in creating a conducive environment to attract more students to science, and particularly female students, cannot be effective without addressing social cultural barriers.  More educational and sensitization campaigns are needed to demystify existing perceptions and notions that discourage girls to pursue science related subjects.  In this respect, we must create incentives for girls who have shown interest to pursue these subjects. But most important, girls need inspiration to get out of the misconceptions that deter them from excelling in science.

          The First Ladies have special role in our societies. Many of our young girls look to them for inspiration and guidance.  They are role models.  Therefore, their role in promoting young women to pursue studies and careers in science is much needed as we march forward in nation building. It is therefore, heartening that Bunengi Foundation has chosen to join the First Ladies of Africa in addressing this course. This is the partnership that requires the support of all of us.

Conclusion

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          The challenge before African governments to address the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematic is not insurmountable.  It can be fixed. However, it is a challenge that must be addressed.  It is a challenge that requires all of us to work together to confront it.  Governments must work to create conducive environment to encourage female students to advance their carrier in science.  The First Ladies and other partners, may help in addressing social cultural barriers that frustrate female students from pursuing science related subjects.

          In this respect, I thank Bunengi Foundation for this initiative to address gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  We welcome this initiative and encourage you to keep up the good work.  The government of Tanzania supports this initiative and stands ready to work with your organization and that of First Ladies to address this challenge.

          With these many words, I wish you fruitful discussion and looking forward to work with you in this course.

I thank you all for listening.