Tovuti Rasmi ya Rais

Mheshimiwa Anne Makinda, Spika wa Bunge;

Mheshimiwa Dkt. Fenella Mukangara, Waziri wa Habari, Vijana, Utamaduni na Michezo;

Mheshimiwa Zainab Mohamed, Waziri wa Uwezeshaji, Ustawi wa Jamii, Vijana, Wanawake na watoto - Zanzibar;

Waheshimiwa Mawaziri na Nanaibu Mawaziri;

Mheshimiwa Dkt. Christine Ishengoma,  Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Iringa;

Waheshimiwa Wabunge na Wajumbe wa Baraza la Wawakilishi;

Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCM (wa Mkoa) na Viongozi wa Vyama vya Siasa mliopo;Waheshimiwa Mabalozi na Wawakilishi wa Mashirika ya Kimataifa, Viongozi wa Serikali wa Ngazi mbalimbali za Taifa na Mkoa;

Wageni Waalikwa;

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mabibi na Mabwana;

Shukrani

Niruhusuni nianze kwa kumshukuru Mwenyezi Mungu, mwingi wa rehema, kwa kutujaalia uzima na kutuwezesha kukutana tena mwaka huu kuadhimisha Kilele cha Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru, kumbukumbu ya Baba wa Taifa hayati Mwalimu Julius Nyerere na Wiki ya Vijana.  Namshukuru sana Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Iringa, na viongozi wenzake pamoja na wananchi wa Iringa kwa kutupokea vizuri na ukarimu wenu. Pia nawapongeza kwa kukubali kuwa wenyeji wa maadhimisho haya.  Kazi ya kuandaa sherehe kubwa kama hizi siyo jambo jepesi hata kidogo. Bahati nzuri mambo yamefana sana kama tunavyoshuhudia sote.  Hongereni sana.

Pongezi Wizara

Ndugu wananchi;

Niruhusuni pia nitoe pongezi nyingi kwa Mheshimiwa Dkt. Fenella Mukangara, Waziri wa Habari, Vijana, Utamaduni na Michezo na Mheshimiwa Zainab Omary, Waziri wa Uwezeshaji, Ustawi wa Jamii, Vijana, Wanawake na Watoto wa  Zanzibar  kwa uongozi wao makini wa shughuli za Mbio za Mwenge. Kama tujuavyo shughuli za Mbio za Mwenge husimamiwa na Wizara zetu hizi mbili. Tunawapongeza kwa kazi nzuri waifanyayo. Ni ukweli ulio wazi kuwa kila mwaka tunashuhudia mambo yakiwa bora zaidi kuliko mwaka uliopita. Mcheza kwao hutunzwa. Hongereni sana.

Pamoja na Mawaziri napenda kuwatambua viongozi na wafanyakazi wote wa Wizara zetu mbili waliohusika na Mbio za Mwenge kwa kazi yao nzuri tunayojivunia sote. Aidha, nawapongeza Wakuu wa Mikoa na Wilaya, viongozi na watumishi wa Serikali zetu mbili na wajumbe wote wa kamati mbalimbali walioshiriki katika kuratibu Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru mwaka huu.  Wamefanya kazi nzuri inayostahili kupongezwa na kila mmoja wetu. 

Kwa namna ya pekee nawapongeza ndugu Juma Ali Sumai, kiongozi wa Mbio za Mwenge na Wakimbiza Mwenge wenzake kwa kutimiza kwa ufanisi wa hali ya juu jukumu kubwa na zito la kukimbiza Mwenge wa Uhuru nchi nzima.  Nawapa pole nyingi kwa changamoto mbalimbali walizokumbana nazo katika safari ya kilomita nyingi.   Kazi hiyo wameimaliza salama na leo wameukabidhi Mwenge ukiwa salama. Nawapongeza sana kwa kuufikisha ujumbe wa Mwenge kwa uhodari mkubwa.

Waheshimiwa Mawaziri;

Ndugu wananchi;

Nafurahi kusikia kuwa kama ilivyokuwa miaka iliyopita, mwaka huu watu walijitokeza kwa wingi kila mahali Mwenge wa Uhuru ulipopita. Pia nimeambiwa ujumbe wa Mwenge ulifikishwa kwa ufasaha na kwamba umepokelewa vizuri. Miradi mingi ya maendeleo imezinduliwa na kuwekewa mawe ya msingi.

Napenda kuchukua nafasi hii kuwapongeza kwa dhati kabisa wananchi wa Tanzania kwa ushiriki wao mzuri katika Mbio za Mwenge.  Ushiriki wao ni kielelezo tosha cha kutambua umuhimu wa Mwenge wa Uhuru na cha moyo wa uzalendo kwa nchi yetu na kuwaenzi waasisi wa taifa letu.  Kwa niaba ya Serikali nawahakikishia kuwa tutaendelea kuwahimiza viongozi wa ngazi mbalimbali kuhakikisha kuwa miradi yote iliyozinduliwa na kuwekewa mawe ya msingi wakati wa mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru inaendelea kutekelezwa kama ilivyokusudiwa.

Kwa namna ya pekee nawapongeza waandishi na vyombo vya habari kwa kuwa nasi bega kwa bega kuhamasisha watu na kueneza ujumbe wa Mwenge.  Mchango wao umesaidia sana kufanikisha malengo ya Mbio za Mwenge kwani siku zote wapotoshaji hawakosekani.

Kumbukumbu ya Baba wa Taifa

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kama mjuavyo siku ya kilele cha Mbio za Mwenge pia ni siku ya kuadhimisha kumbukumbu ya kifo cha Baba wa Taifa letu la Tanzania kilichotokea miaka 14 iliyopita.  Ni siku ambayo tunawajibika kukumbuka mema mengi aliyoifanyia nchi yetu, mafundisho yake na urithi aliotuachia.  Nia yetu ni kutaka watu wasimsahau kiongozi wetu huyu maalum na muhimu sana katika historia ya nchi yetu.

Miongoni mwa mambo ya kukumbuka hasa wakati  huu wa Mchakato wa Katiba Mpya ni (jambo la busara kutumia muda wetu) kujikumbusha mawazo ya Mwalimu kuhusu umoja wa nchi yetu pamoja na Muungano wa Zanzibar na Tanganyika.  Hotuba zake na maandishi yake kuhusu mambo hayo yana mafundisho mengi mazuri ambayo tukiyaelewa vyema na kuyazingatia yatatusaidia sana katika mjadala na ukamilishaji wa  mchakato wa Katiba mpya.  

Mimi naamini fikra za Mwalimu na mtazamo wake kuhusu umoja wetu na Muungano bado vina maana hata leo.  Tujiepushe na kuyapuuza tusije tukawa na Katiba itakayolibomoa taifa badala ya kulijenga.  Ninaposema hivyo sipendi nieleweke kuwa sitaki mabadiliko ila napenda tuwe makini katika kufanya mabadiliko.  Nataka tufanye mabadiliko yatakayotupeleka mbele na siyo kuturudisha nyuma. 

Ndugu wananchi;

Pamoja na kuadhimisha siku ya kifo cha Baba wa Taifa (Mwalimu Julius Nyerere), nadhani ni vyema pia tukawa tunaikumbuka siku ya kuzaliwa kwake yaani tarehe 13 Aprili (1922). Nisingependa kujiingiza katika mjadala wa siku ipi bora zaidi kwani zote ni siku muhimu katika historia ya maisha ya mwanadamu. Tofauti yake ni kuwa siku ya kuzaliwa ni ya furaha na siku ya kufa ni ya majonzi.  Kama tutakubaliana tuikumbuke na siku yake ya kuzaliwa pengine siku hiyo tungeiita Nyerere Day. Tuiadhimishe siku hiyo kusheherekea maisha yake kwa kujadili kazi zake na   kufanya shughuli mbalimbali kuenzi mambo mema aliyosimamia na kuifanyia nchi yetu na dunia kwa ujumla.   

Kauli Mbiu ya Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru 2013

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kama alivyoeleza Mheshimiwa Waziri kila mwaka Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru huwa na ujumbe maalum unaobebwa na kauli mbiu ya mwaka huo.  Mwaka huu ujumbe ulikuwa “Watanzania ni Wamoja:  Tusigawanywe kwa Msingi wa Tofauti Zetu za Dini, Itikadi, Rangi na Rasilimali”.  Ujumbe huu ni muafaka kabisa hasa ukikumbuka misukosuko na majaribu makubwa nchi yetu iliyopitia mwaka huu.  Hivyo kutumia Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru kukumbushana haja na hoja za kuziba nyufa zilizoanza kujitokeza ni  jambo la busara sana. Ni jambo la kuungwa mkono na kila mwananchi na hasa kila mzalendo.

Bahati nzuri upepo huo mbaya umepita na tuombe usirudi tena.  Hivi sasa hali ni shwari na Watanzania tunaendelea kushirikiana vizuri bila ya kubaguana kwa dini zetu, vyama vya siasa na kadhalika kama tulivyozoea kuishi miaka yote. Waliotaka kutufarakanisha hawakufanikiwa lakini, lazima tuwe makini kwani wanaweza kujaribu tena kutugawa ama kwa yale yale au mambo mengine.

Ndugu wananchi;

Kwa kweli nafarijika sana kuona Watanzania wakiendelea kukataa ushawishi na uchochezi wa kugawanywa kwa misingi ya dini au mambo mengine.  Ndugu zangu naomba tuendelee hivyo na hayo ndiyo mafundisho mema na urithi aliotuachia Baba wa Taifa tunayemkumbuka leo. Tukigawanyika, nchi yetu itavurugika na sote tutakuwa tumeharibikiwa. Dhambi kubwa ya kubaguana kwa misingi yo yote ile ni kupotea kwa amani na utulivu.  Bila amani, hatuwezi kuishi kwa furaha katika nchi yetu hii nzuri.  Bila amani, jamii haiwezi kujishughulisha kwa ukamilifu na shughuli za kujiletea maendeleo.  Amani ikituponyoka nchi yetu itayumba na hakuna atakayebaki salama.

Napenda kuwahakikishia wananchi wenzangu wote, kuwa sisi Serikalini tutaendelea kufanya kila tuwezavyo kujenga, kulinda na kudumisha umoja na mshikamano wetu ambao ndio msingi mkuu wa kuwepo kwa amani na utulivu nchini.  Tutaendelea kukemea kwa nguvu zetu na uwezo wetu wote vitendo vinavyosababisha mmomonyoko wa umoja na mshikamano wetu.  Serikali haitasita kuchukua hatua za kisheria dhidi ya mtu au kikundi cha watu watakaojihusisha na vitendo vya kuvuruga amani ya nchi yetu. Naomba Watanzania wenzangu mtuelewe hivyo. Napenda kusisitiza na kuwasihi kuwa  tuendelee kuaminiana, kuheshimiana na kuvumiliana pamoja na tofauti zetu.

Mapambano Dhidi ya UKIMWI

Ndugu wananchi;

Pamoja na ujumbe huu maridhawa ambao kimsingi ndiyo ujumbe mkuu wa Mbio za Mwenge tangu kuasisiwa kwake, mwaka huu wananchi waliendelea kuhimizwa kuendeleza mapambano dhidi ya ugonjwa wa UKIMWI, rushwa na dawa za kulevya. Tangu ugonjwa wa UKIMWI uingie nchini kwetu mwaka 1983, inakadiriwa kuwa zaidi ya ndugu zetu milioni 2 wamepoteza maisha kutokana na maradhi haya.  Hali kadhalika zaidi ya watoto milioni 1.3 wamekuwa yatima na watu zaidi ya milioni 1.5 wanaishi na VVU hivi sasa. Bahati mbaya karibu asilimia 65 ya hao ni wanawake. 

Kitaifa, takwimu zinaonesha kuwa maambukizi ya UKIMWI yanazidi kupungua kutoka asilimia saba mwaka 2005 hadi asilimia 5.7 mwaka 2010 na kufikia asilimia 5.1 mwaka 2012. Hapa Iringa napo maambukizi yamekuwa yanapungua ingawaje bado yapo juu na kwamba ni Mkoa wa pili nchini kuwa na kiwango cha juu cha maambukizi. Takwimu zinaonesha kuwa kiwango cha maambukizi Mkoa wa Iringa ni asilimia 9.1, wanaume asilimia 6.9 na wanawake asilimia 10.9.  Mkoa wa Njombe ndiyo unaoongoza ukiwa na asilimia 14.8. 

Kwa sababu ya maradhi haya idadi ya watoto yatima ni kubwa katika mkoa huu (inakadiriwa kuwa waliopo ni 3400).  Inahuzunisha sana kusikia au kuona baadhi ya watoto hawa wamelazimika kukatisha masomo yao baada ya wazazi wao kufariki ili kuwalea wadogo zao.  Kwa ajili hiyo, wamelazimika kufanya kazi zisizostahili kufanywa na watu wa  umri wao.  Wapo pia wazee ambao kwa umri wao wanahitaji kulelewa lakini wamebaki peke yao na wakati mwingine wanalazimika kulea watoto walioachwa na watoto wao. 

Ndugu wananchi;

Nilishaagiza viongozi siku za nyuma na leo narudia tena kuwa, tuwatambue watoto yatima kisha tutengeneze mipango thabiti ya kuwasaidia. Lengo letu hapa ni kutaka tuwawezesha kupata fursa ya kukua na kuishi kama watoto wengine.  Jambo moja muhimu nililolisisitiza ni kuwa tuhakikishe kuwa vijana hawa wanapata elimu ambayo ndiyo ufunguo wa maisha yao.

Ndugu wananchi;

          Tuongeze ari, nguvu na kasi ya kupambana na gonjwa hili hatari. Ni kweli tunapata mafanikio lakini hayatoshi.  Kiwango bado ni cha juu mno.  Nawaomba viongozi wa Serikali, dini, asasi za kijamii, wanasiasa na wananchi tuendelee kuhamasisha jamii kujiepusha na ugonjwa huu.  Tuwahimize watu wajitokeze kupima wajue mustakabali wao, waepuke ngono nzembe na hasa hasa wawe na subira na waaminifu kwa ndoa zao au wapenzi wao.  Sisi katika Serikali tutaendelea kutimiza wajibu wetu wa kuelimisha na kuhakikisha kuwa dawa za kufubaza vijijidudu vya UKIMWI zinapatikana bure kwa waathirika waliofikia hatua ya kutumia dawa hizo.

          Natoa wito kwa wananchi wa Mkoa wa Iringa kuongeza juhudi maradufu kutokana na ukweli kwamba kiwango cha maambukizi kiko juu mno. Watu waendelee kujitokeza kwa wingi kupima kwa hiari ili kujua afya zao.  Katika zoezi la kupima kwa hiari hapa Iringa, watu 388,071 wamejitokeza kupima.   Jambo hili ni jema sana.  Napenda pia kuchukua fursa hii kuwasihi akina mama wajawazito wawe mstari wa mbele kupima VVU ili wale walioathirika waitumie ipasavyo huduma ya kuzuia maambukizi ya VVU kutoka kwa mama kwenda kwa mtoto.  Huduma hii inamfanya mtoto anayezaliwa na mama aliyeathirika kuwa salama.  Huduma hii ipo kote nchini na inatolewa katika hospitali zote za Serikali.

Ndugu wananchi;

          Ombi langu maalum kwa wanaume, kote nchini ambao bado hawajafanyiwa tohara wajitokeze kwa wingi kufanya hivyo.  Madaktari wanasema kuwa mwanaume aliyefanyiwa tohara anapunguza kwa kiasi kikubwa hatari ya kuambukizwa VVU wakati wa kujamiiana.  Naomba ieleweke kuwa sisemi mtu akifanyiwa tohara hapati UKIMWI. La hasha.  Ninachosema ni kwamba  ukimlinganisha na yule ambaye hakufanya hivyo, uwezekano wa kuambukizwa unapungua. Wanasema asiye na tohara ana uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kupata michubuko ambayo hurahisisha virusi kuingia kwenye mwili wake.  Narudia kusisitiza mtu akipata tohara asidhani yuko salama kabisa.  Watu wote lazima wachukue tahadhari stahiki.   

Ndugu wananchi;

Ombi langu la pili ni kwa watu wanaotumia dawa za kufubaza virusi vya UKIMWI wasiache kuzitumia.  Wakiacha kwa sababu yo yote ile wanavipa vijidudu nafasi kujiimarisha na  hivyo kuhatarisha maisha yao. Ombi langu la tatu ni kwa jamii kuendelea kuwasaidia na kuwahudumia wenzetu ambao wameathirika badala ya kuwanyanyapaa na kuwatenga.  Na, muhimu zaidi tuwasaidie watoto yatima na wazee ambao wameachwa bila msaada wowote.

          Nawataka viongozi wote katika ngazi mbalimbali washiriki kwa ukamilifu katika mapambano dhidi ya maradhi ya UKIMWI. Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu, Wizara ya Afya na TACAIDS waendelee kuongoza mapambano hayo bila kuchoka.  Mimi bado naamini Tanzania bila UKIMWI inawezekana iwapo tutazingatia masharti ya kuepuka ugonjwa huu na kuwahudumia ipasavyo walioathirika.  Ushindi hauko mbali sana.

Mapambano dhidi ya Rushwa

Ndugu wananchi;

          Mwaka huu, katika Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru wananchi waliendelea  kukumbushwa wajibu wao katika kupambana na rushwa,  kwa kauli mbiu isemayo “chukua hatua dhidi ya rushwa sasa”.  Ujumbe huu unakwenda sambamba na juhudi za serikali za kupambana na rushwa nchini.  Tunafahamu kuwa rushwa ni  adui wa haki na kikwazo kikubwa cha maendeleo  ya jamii na taifa.  Nchi ikiwa imegubikwa na vitendo vya rushwa itakosa maendeleo stahiki na watu watadhulumiwa haki zao. 

          Hizo ndizo sababu kuu zilizoifanya serikali yetu ichukie rushwa na kuchukua hatua za kupambana na uovu huu, tangu nchi yetu ilipopata uhuru mpaka sasa. Kazi hiyo ngumu na yenye changamoto nyingi inaongozwa na Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (TAKUKURU). Serikali imechukua na itaendelea kuchukua hatua mbalimbali za  kuimarisha chombo hiki ili kiweze kutimiza majukumu yake kwa ufanisi zaidi.  Matokeo yake TAKUKURU sasa ina mtandao mpana zaidi. Ina ofisi kila Mkoa na kila Wilaya, watumishi wameongezeka na vitendea kazi pia.

          Nafurahi kuona kuwa mafanikio ya kutia moyo yanaendelea kupatikana ingawaje kazi iliyo mbele yetu bado ni kubwa.  Sote tunasoma na kusikia kupitia vyombo vya habari taarifa za watumishi wa serikali, taasisi za umma pamoja na watu wengine wanavyokamatwa na TAKUKURU kwa kujihusisha na vitendo vya rushwa.  Tangu mwaka 2006, kesi 63 zinazohusu rushwa kubwa zimefikishwa Mahakamani.  Baadhi zimeisha na wahusika waliopatikana na hatia wameadhibiwa kwa mujibu wa sheria. Zipo pia tulizoshindwa, ni sawa katika nchi inayoheshimu utawala wa sheria. Nyingine zinaendelea. Vile vile juhudi za TAKUKURU  zimeokoa fedha nyingi za umma.  Kwa mfano, kwa kipindi cha miaka mitatu, yaani kati ya 2010 hadi 2013, zaidi ya shilingi bilioni 28 zimeokolewa ambazo zingeweza kunufaisha watu wachache wanaoendeleza vitendo vya rushwa badala ya taifa.

          Naomba wananchi waendelee kutoa taarifa zitakazosaidia kuwatambua na kuwakamata watoaji na wapokeaji rushwa. Tukumbuke kuwa mafanikio katika mapambano haya hayategemei Serikali au TAKUKURU peke yake.  Ni mapambano ambayo jamii ikijihusisha kwa ukamilifu ushindi mkubwa utapatikana. Yanatuhusu sote kwani tukishinda, matunda yake yatawafaidisha watu wote.  Pia, napenda kutumia nafasi hii kutoa wito kwa taasisi na idara zote za serikali zinazohusika moja kwa moja katika vita dhidi ya rushwa zitimize ipasavyo wajibu wake. Aidha pakiwepo na ushirikiano mzuri na mshikamano wa dhati miongoni mwetu kwa hakika ushindi utapatikana.  Tukifanya hivyo nina imani tutapata mafanikio makubwa zaidi tena kwa haraka.

Dawa za Kulevya

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Tatizo la biashara na matumzi ya dawa za kulevya limeendelea kuwa moja ya changamoto kubwa zinazolikabili taifa letu. Serikali imeendelea kufanya jitihada kubwa kupambana na changamoto hiyo. Yapo mafanikio yanayopatikana lakini bado tuna kazi kubwa ya kufanya mbele yetu.  Ukubwa wa kazi hiyo unaletwa na ule ukweli kwamba watu wanaohusika ni wengi na wanazidi kuongezeka kila kukicha  kwa tamaa ya kupata utajiri wa haraka. Isitoshe wakati wote washiriki wake wanabuni mbinu mpya za kusafirisha, kusambaza na kuuza dawa hizo haramu. Pia ni kazi hatari kwani wapambanaji kupoteza maisha si jambo la ajabu.

Pamoja na changamoto hizo, kwa vile matumizi ya dawa za kulevya yana athari mbaya kwa watu wanaotumia na jamii kwa ujumla, Serikali haitachoka kufanya kila tuwezalo kupambana na uhalifu huu mpaka ushindi upatikane.  Wakibadili mbinu na sisi tutabadili maarifa ya uchunguzi na utambuzi mpaka tuwapate. Tutawahami ipasavyo watu wanaojitolea muhanga kupambana na uovu huu. Mafanikio yanaendelea kupatikana.  Kwa mfano, kuanzia Januari hadi Septemba, mwaka huu (2013) watu 2000 (wafanya biashara na watumiaji wa dawa za kulevya) wamekamatwa na aina mbalimbali ya dawa za kulevya ikiwa ni pamoja na kilo 681 za dawa hatari ya heroine, zimekamatwa.

Watu hao kama wasingekamatwa wangeendelea kuuza na kusambaza dawa za kulevya na kuathiri maelfu ya watu na hasa vijana ambao ni nguvu kazi muhimu ya taifa letu na warithi wa jamii na taifa wa kesho.  Inatia uchungu sana kuona kuwa tegemeo letu hilo linaangamizwa na watu wachache wenye uroho usio na kifani wa kujipatia utajiri wa haraka, tena kwa gharama yoyote ile.

Ndugu wananchi;

          Kwa niaba yenu, napenda kutumia nafasi hii kutoa pongezi zangu za dhati kwa viongozi na wafanyakazi wote wa Tume ya Kuratibu na  Udhibiti wa Dawa za Kulevya na vyombo vingine vya dola kwa kazi kubwa na nzuri inayoendelea kufanyika ya  kukabiliana na tatizo hili.  Katika mapambano yetu tunashirikiana na nchi na taasisi za nchi mbalimbali duniani. Hivyo basi nazipongeza kwa dhati nchi na taasisi hizo rafiki kwa ushirikiano wao ambao umetusaidia kupata mafanikio haya kiasi tunayojivunia leo. Naomba ushirikiano huu uendelee kwani umetusaidia kwa namna nyingi na umekuwa wa manufaa makubwa.

Ndugu wananchi;

Nilishawahi kusema siku za nyuma kuwa ni makusudio yangu na ya serikali kuanzisha chombo chenye uwezo na nguvu kubwa  zaidi ya kupambana na tatizo la dawa za kulevya nchini.  Mchakato wa kuunda  chombo hicho umeanza na unaendelea vizuri.  Hivi sasa tunayo Tume ya Kuratibu Udhibiti wa Dawa za Kulevya.  Chombo hicho kipya kitakuwa na nguvu kubwa zaidi kuliko Tume na hata kuliko kikosi kazi cha vyombo vyote vya dola nilichokiunda kuipa Tume meno.

Ndugu wananchi;

Ili juhudi hizo zifanikiwe na ushindi upatikane itategemea sana msaada, ushirikiano na ushiriki wa wananchi.  Nawaomba sana ndugu zangu wananchi wenzangu mshirikiane na vyombo vya dola katika kupambana na usafirishaji, uuzaji na usambazaji wa dawa za kulevya.  Baadhi yenu mnawajua watu wanaojihusisha na biashara hii haramu.  Watajeni washughulikiwe ipasavyo.

Wiki ya Vijana

 Ndugu wananchi;

Kama nilivyosema awali leo pia tunaadhimisha wiki ya vijana. Nimepata fursa ya kutembelea mabanda ya maonesho ya vijana ili kuona shughuli wanazozifanya. Nimefurahi na kufarijika sana na kile nilichokiona. Vijana wanafanya kazi nzuri na kwa kweli ni uamuzi wa busara kuwashirikisha katika sherehe hizi kwani wanapata fursa ya kuonesha kazi wanazozifanya katika kuboresha maisha yao na kuleta maendeleo ya taifa. Hii pia ni nafasi nzuri kwa vijana kukutana, kufahamiana na kubadilishana mawazo, ujuzi na taarifa muhimu zinazohusu maisha na maendeleo yao. Kwa kuzingatia umuhimu na faida ya maonesho haya, ni vyema kuangalia uwezekano wa maadhimisho ya Wiki ya Vijana yakafanyika katika ngazi ya Mikoa na kuhitimishwa Kitaifa kama tulivyofanya leo.

Ndugu wananchi;

Mimi na wenzangu Serikalini tunatambua na kuthamini sana nafasi na mchango wa vijana katika kuchochea maendeleo ya nchi yetu. Ndio maana Serikali inawekeza sana katika elimu na mafunzo yao. Ndiyo maana pia Serikali imeamua katika mwaka huu wa fedha kuongeza uwezo wa bajeti ya Wizara ya Habari, Vijana, Utamaduni na Michezo ili iweze kuwahudumia vijana vizuri zaidi.  Tutaendelea kuongeza bajeti hiyo ili Wizara iweze   kuwaongezea vijana mitaji ya biashara kupitia Mfuko wa Taifa wa Maendeleo ya Vijana.

Nimefurahi kumsikia Mheshimiwa Waziri akiahidi hapa kwamba baadhi ya vijana walioshiriki katika maonesho niliyoyaona leo watafikiriwa kupewa mikopo kwa mujibu wa taratibu zilizowekwa. Nawasihi vijana watakaopata mikopo kupitia Mfuko huu pamoja na mifuko mingine ya uwezeshaji wahakikishe wanaitumia vizuri kwa malengo yaliyokusudiwa na kuirejesha kwa wakati ili wengine nao wapate.

Maendeleo ya Mkoa wa Iringa

Ndugu wananchi;

          Jana jioni nilipokea taarifa ya maendeleo ya Mkoa wa Iringa kutoka kwa Mkuu wa Mkoa, Dokta Christine Ishengoma. Natoa pongezi nyingi kwa wananchi wa Iringa kwa juhudi zenu na mafanikio mnayoyapata katika kujiletea maendeleo.  Mkoa umeendelea kuwa wa kutegemewa katika kulipatia taifa chakula hasa mahindi na sasa mwelekeo ni mzuri kwa mazao ya chai, mpunga, mboga na matunda. Nawaomba muendelee na juhudi zenu. Ongezeni maarifa na matumizi ya zana za kisasa na pembejeo za kilimo ili tija iongezeke mpate mavuno mengi zaidi.  Mtatosheleza mahitaji yenu na mtapata ziada kubwa itakayotumika kwingineko nchini na hata kuuzwa nje ya nchi.  Sisi katika Serikali tutaendelea kuwasaidia kwa upande wa upatikanaji wa pembejeo, zana za kilimo, masoko, huduma mbalimbali zikiwemo za ugani, fedha na kadhalika. Mkoa wa Iringa utanufaika kupitia Mpango wetu wa Matokeo Makubwa Sasa (Big Result Now) na SAGCOT. 

Ndugu wananchi;

Serikali itaendelea kununua mahindi ya wakulima kupitia Wakala wa Taifa wa Hifadhi ya Chakula.  Hata hivyo ni vyema nikaeleza wazi kuwa Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Chakula haitanunua mahindi yote yaliyovunwa nchini. Ukomo wetu kwa sasa ni tani 250,000 lakini tunaendelea kupanua uwezo wa maghala hadi kufikia tani 400,000 ifikapo mwaka 2015.  Tayari Hifadhi ya Taifa wameshanunua tani 209,000 hivyo bado tani 41,000. Hivyo nashauri wenzetu wa sekta binafsi nao wajitokeze kununua mahindi ya wakulima.

Kwa kuwa hakuna kizuizi cha kuuza nje wanaweza kufanya hivyo wakipenda.  Hata hivyo, sisi tungependa kwanza wauze hapa nchini.  Naomba ieleweke kuwa hatutawauzia watu akiba yetu ya mahindi  katika Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Chakula kwa ajili ya kuuza nje.

Ndugu wananchi;

          Pamoja na kuendeleza kilimo katika Mkoa wa Iringa, tutaendelea kuboresha barabara, na huduma za umeme, maji, elimu na afya.  Ninyi ni mashahidi kwamba utekelezaji wa  ahadi ya kujenga barabara ya lami kutoka Iringa hadi Dodoma unakwenda vizuri na ukarabati wa barabara ya Morogoro – Tunduma kupitia Iringa na Mbeya umekamilika.  Tunajipanga kutekeleza ahadi zetu kwa baadhi ya barabara za Mkoa huu.

Kwa upande wa umeme vijijini tunaendelea kuvipatia umeme vijiji 38 vya Mkoa huu na wakati huo huo tunajiandaa kuvipatia umeme vijiji vingine 86. Tutaendelea kuongeza upatikanaji wa maji vijijini na mijini. Aidha, tumeanza kutekeleza mkakati kabambe wa kuboresha elimu kwa shabaha ya kutoa fursa ya elimu kwa vijana wetu wengi na kuongeza kiwango cha ufaulu.  Haya yote tunayafanya chini ya mkakati mpya wa kupata Matokeo Makubwa Sasa. Tutaongeza mara dufu juhudi za kuboresha huduma ya afya.

Hitimisho

Ndugu wananchi;

Kabla ya kumaliza hotuba yangu niwakumbushe Watanzania wenzangu kuwa mwaka ujao ni wa aina yake katika nchi yetu.  Kwanza tunasherehekea miaka 50 ya Mapinduzi Matukufu ya Zanzibar, pili, tunasherehekea miaka 50 ya Muungano. Na tatu, kama mambo yatakwenda sawa tutapata Katiba Mpya. Niwaombe Watanzania wenzangu tujiandae vyema kufanikisha mambo yetu hayo matatu ya kihistoria. Naomba nimalize kwa kuwashukuru tena wananchi na viongozi wa Mkoa wa Iringa kwa kufanikisha sherehe hii muhimu. Nawashukuru pia wadau mbalimbali ambao wamechangia kwa hali na mali kufanya sherehe hizi zifanikiwe na kufana sana kama hivi. Napenda kutumia nafasi hii pia kuwatakiwa ndugu zetu Waislamu na Watanzania wenzangu wote heri ya Sikukuu ya Idd El Hajj.

Baada ya kusema hayo sasa natamka rasmi kwamba shughuli za Mbio za Mwenge wa Uhuru, kumbukumbu ya Baba wa taifa Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere na Wiki ya Vijana kwa mwaka 2013 zimefikia kilele chake.

Asante sana kwa kunisikiliza.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Namshukuru Mwenyezi Mungu, mwingi wa rehma, kwa kutujaalia uzima na kutuwezesha kumaliza mwezi Septemba salama na kuwasiliana kwa kutumia utaratibu wetu huu mzuri.  Naomba radhi kuzungumza nanyi siku ya leo kwa sababu nilikuwa safari na nilirejea jioni ya tarehe 30 Septemba, 2013.   Awali nilifikiria nisiseme, nisubiri mwisho wa mwezi wa Oktoba.  Lakini, baada ya kupata taarifa ya yaliyojiri, nimeshauriwa na nimekubali angalau niyasemee baadhi ya mambo huenda itasaidia.  Niwieni radhi nisipoyasemea baadhi ya mambo siyo kwa kuyapuuza, bali kwa kuepuka hotuba kuwa ndefu mno.  Nitayatafutia mahali pengine pa kuyasemea.

Uhusiano na Rwanda

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Katika hotuba yangu ya mwisho wa mwezi wa Julai, nilizungumzia hali ya uhusiano wetu na Rwanda kutokuwa mzuri na tatizo la ujambazi na wahamiaji haramu katika Mikoa ya Kigoma, Geita na Kagera.  Nafurahi kusema kuwa kwa yote mawili kuna maendeleo ya kutia moyo.

          Tarehe 5 Septemba, 2013, nilikutana na kuzungumza na Mheshimiwa Rais Paul Kagame waRwandamjiniKampala.  Tuliitumia fursa ya ushiriki wetu katika Mkutano wa Nchi za Maziwa Makuu kuzungumzia uhusiano baina yetu na nchi zetu.  Mazungumzo yalikuwa mazuri na sote tulikubaliana kuwa yaliyopita si ndwele tugange yajayo.  Kwa sababu hiyo tulielewana kuwa tutengeneze mazingira yatakayosaidia kutuliza hali na kurudisha nchi zetu katika uhusiano mwema kama ilivyokuwa siku zote.  Nawaomba ndugu zangu hususan wanasiasa, watumishi wa umma, wanahabari na wenye mitandao ya kijamii na blog na wananchi kwa ujumla tusaidie kuimarisha uhusiano mwema baina ya Rwanda na Tanzania na watu wake.

Majambazi na Wahamiaji Haramu

Ndugu Wananchi;

Katika hotuba hiyo pia nilisema kuwa tutachukua hatua thabiti dhidi ya majambazi na wageni wanaoishi nchini bila ya kuzingatia taratibu zinazohusika.  Niliwataka majambazi wajisalimishe wao na silaha zao kwa hiari.  Wale wanaoishi nchini bila ya kuwa na kibali halali wahalalishe ukaazi wao au warejee makwao.  Nilitoa siku 14 kuanzia tarehe 29 Agosti, 2013 wafanye hivyo kwani baada ya hapo tungeanzisha operesheni maalum ya kushughulika na watu wa makundi yote mawili.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Kumekuwepo na mafanikio ya kutia moyo.  Kwa upande wa wahamiaji wanaoishi nchini kinyume cha sheria watu wapatao 21,254 waliondoka kwa hiari.  Hali kadhalika zaidi ya ng’ombe 8,000 waliondolewa na silaha 102 zilisalimishwa.   Baada ya operesheni kuanza tarehe 6 Septemba, 2013 na kumalizika tarehe 20 Septemba, 2013, wahamiaji haramu 12,828 walirejeshwa makwao na watuhumiwa 279 wa unyang’anyi wa kutumia silaha walikamatwa.  Aidha, mabomu 10 ya kutupa kwa mkono (offensive hand grenades), silaha 80, risasi 780 na mitambo 2 ya kutengeneza magobole vilikamatwa.  Pia, ng’ombe 8,226 walikamatwa wakichungwa katika mapori ya hifadhi.  Kwa upande wa mazao ya misitu, mbao 2,105 zilikamatwa pamoja na nyara mbalimbali za Serikali.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Agizo la kuwataka watu wanaoishi nchini isivyo halali wahalalishe ukaazi wao au waondoke kwa hiari au wataondolewa lilipotoshwa hasa na vyombo vya habari vya nje ya Tanzania.  Walikuwa wanadai eti Tanzaniailikuwa inafukuza wakimbizi.  Madai hayo si ya kweli hata kidogo.   Hadi kufikia tarehe 30 Septemba, 2013 wakimbizi 68,711 walikuwepo kwenye Kambi ya Nyarugusu, Mkoani Kigoma.  Hakuna mkimbizi ye yote aliyetakiwa kuondoka.  Ukweli ni kwamba hakuna mtu ye yote kati ya wale watu walioondoka kwa hiari au kusaidiwa kuondoka wakati wa operesheni ambaye ni mkimbizi.  Kama ingekuwa hivyo, wa kwanza kulalamika wangekuwa wenzetu wa Shirika la Wakimbizi la Umoja wa Mataifa.  Bahati nzuri jambo hilo halikutokea.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Yalikuwepo pia madai kwamba tunawaonea na kuwatesa watu walioishi nchini miaka mingi.  Ati iweje sasa ndiyo waambiwe kuwa siyo raia.  Siku zote Serikali ilikuwa wapi? Uraia haupatikani kwa kuishi nchi ya kigeni kwa miaka mingi.  Unapatikana kwa kutimiza masharti ya kuomba na kupewa uraia.  Kama mtu hakufanya hivyo anabaki kuwa raia wa nchi aliyotoka au walikotoka wazazi wake.  Ipo mifano ya watu mashuhuri ambao walilazimika kuachia nyadhifa zao baada ya kugundulika kuwa siyo raia.  Hawakuwa wanaonewa, ndiyo matakwa ya Katiba na Sheria za nchi yetu.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Katika kutekeleza operesheni hii niliagiza kuwa wale watu ambao wameishi hapa nchini miaka mingi ambao wana nyumba, mashamba au mali mbalimbali au wameoa au kuolewa na wana watoto au hata wajukuu waelekezwe kuhalalisha ukaazi wao.  Iwapo watakataa kufanya hivyo basi wasaidiwe kurejea kwao.  Pia niliagiza watu wasiporwe mali zao wala kudhulumiwa.  Sijapata taarifa ya kufanyika kinyume na maelekezo yangu.  Lakini kama wapo watu waliotendewa tofauti, taarifa itolewe kwa Wakuu wa Wilaya na Mikoa au hata Ofisi ya Rais ili hatua zipasazo zichukuliwe.  Hatutaki watu wadhulumiwe au kuonewa.

          Napenda kutumia nafasi hii kumpongeza Waziri wa Ulinzi na JKT, Mheshimiwa Shamsi Vuai Nahodha na Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani, Mheshimiwa Emmanuel Nchimbi kwa uongozi wao mzuri katika zoezi hili.  Pia, nawapongeza Makamanda na askari wa JWTZ na Polisi pamoja na maafisa wa Idara ya Uhamiaji, Idara ya Mifugo, Idara ya Wanyamapori, Idara ya Misitu na Idara nyinginezo za Serikali kwa kazi kubwa na nzuri waliyofanya.  Najua awamu ya kwanza imeisha tarehe 20 Septemba, 2013 na kama nilivyosema kuwa safari hii operesheni itakuwa endelevu, muda si mrefu awamu ya pili itafuata.  Nawaomba waendelee kuchapa kazi kwa bidii, maarifa na nidhamu ya hali ya juu.

Ziara ya Canada na Marekani

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kati ya tarehe 17 na 28 Septemba, 2013 nilifanya ziara ya kikazi katika nchi zaCanadana Marekani.  Nchini Canada nilitembelea Chuo Kikuu cha Guelph ambapo nilitunukiwa Shahada ya Heshima ya Uzamivu kwa kutambua jitihada zetu tuzifanyazo kujiletea maendeleo na mafanikio ya kutia moyo tunayoendelea kupata licha ya changamoto zinazotukabili.  Katika mazungumzo yangu na uongozi wa chuo hicho wamekubali kuwa na ushirikiano wa karibu na Wizara zinazohusika na Elimu, Kilimo na Mifugo pamoja na Chuo Kikuu cha Kilimo cha Sokoine,  Morogoro na Chuo Kikuu cha Dodoma.  Nimewataka Mawaziri wa Wizara hizo na viongozi wa vyuo hivyo kuchangamkia fursa hiyo bila kuchelewa. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nchini Marekani nilikutana na kuzungumza na maafisa na viongozi mbalimbali wa Serikali ya nchi hiyo wakiwemo Rais Barack Obama na baadhi ya Wabunge wa Bunge la Marekani.  Mazungumzo yetu yalilenga kuimarisha ushirikiano baina ya nchi zetu na mambo yalienda vizuri.  Wote walituhakikishia kuwa mambo tuliyoyazungumza na kukubaliana na Rais Barack Obama wakati wa ziara yake nchini yanaendelea kufanyiwa kazi.  Miongoni mwa hayo maombi yetu ya kupatiwa vitabu milioni 2.4 vya sayansi na hisabati yamekubaliwa na utekelezaji umeanza.  Upatikanaji wa vitabu hivyo utamwezesha kila mwanafunzi wa sekondari kuwa na kitabu chake.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Jambo lingine kubwa na la faraja kwetu ni kuwa mapendekezo yetu ya miradi ya umeme na barabara za vijijini za kugharamiwa na Serikali ya Marekani kupitia Shirika lao la Changamoto za Milenia yamepokelewa vizuri.  Kinachosubiriwa ni miradi ipi itakubaliwa na Bodi ya MCC na kiasi gani cha fedha kitatengwa na Bunge la Marekani kwa ajili hiyo.

Tuzo ya Uhifadhi

Jambo lingine muhimu katika safari yangu ya Marekani ni kutunukiwa tuzo na “International Congressional Conservation Foundation” kwa kutambua juhudi zetu katika kuhifadhi wanyamaporina mafanikio tuliyoyapata.  Licha ya changamoto mbalimbali tunazokabiliana nazo, tuzo hii imetupa moyo wa kuongeza nguvu katika jitihada tunazozifanya sasa kupambana na ujangili na matatizo mengine ya uhifadhi wa wanyama na misitu. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kilichotupa moyo zaidi ni kauli za utayari wa kutusaidia katika mapambano hayo zilizotolewa wakati wa kupewa tuzo na katika mkutano wa mfuko wa Maendeleo wa Clinton na katika mkutano maalum wa kupambana na ujangili na biashara ya meno ya tembo duniani.

Baraza Kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa

Ndugu Wananchi;

Shabaha kuu ya safari yangu ya Marekani ilikuwa kuhudhuria Mkutano wa 68 wa Umoja wa Mataifa unaoendelea jijini New York mpaka Desemba, 2013.  Mada kuu ya mkutano wa mwaka huu ni kuandaa agenda ya maendeleo baada ya mwaka 2015 yaani: Post 2015 Development Agenda:  Setting the Stage. Kama mtakavyokumbuka Malengo ya Milenia yaliyoamuliwa na Baraza Kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa mwaka 2000, yanafikia ukomo wa utekelezaji wake mwaka 2015. 

Katika Baraza Kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa mwaka huu mjadala umehusu nini kifanyike baada ya mwaka 2015.  Hata hivyo, mjadala huo unaanza kwa kufanya tathmini ya utekelezaji wa yale Malengo Manane ya Milenia ya mwaka 2000 umefikia wapi mpaka sasa na utafikia wapi mwaka 2015 kwa kila nchi na kwa dunia kwa ujumla.  Tathmini ya jumla inaonesha kuwa kumekuwepo na jitihada kubwa ya kutekeleza malengo haya katika kila nchi.  Yapo malengo ambayo utekelezaji wake umefikia shabaha hivi sasa na yapo ambayo upo uwezekano wa shabaha kufikiwa ifikapo mwaka 2015.  Vile vile yapo ambayo shabaha haitafikiwa. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kwa upande wetu, Tanzania, tumefikia shabaha katika mambo yafuatayo: 

(1)                Lengo la Milenia namba 2 kuhusu uandikishaji wa watoto wenye umri wa kwenda shule ya msingi;

(2)            Lengo la Milenia namba 3 hasa kuhusu usawa wa kijinsia katika Shule za Msingi na Sekondari.  Ukweli ni kwamba, wasichana wanaanza kuwa wengi kuliko wavulana.  Hatujafikia shabaha kwa upande wa usawa wa kijinsia katika elimu ya juu na ni vigumu kulifikia ifikapo 2015.  Pia hatujafikia lengo kwa upande wa usawa wa Wabunge wanawake na wanaume.  Hata hivyo, kwa kutumia mchakato wa Katiba unaoendelea sasa tunaweza kufikia lengo katika uchaguzi wa 2015 iwapo tutaamua iwe hivyo;

(3)            Lengo la Milenia namba 4 kuhusu kupunguza idadi ya vifo vya watoto wachanga na wale wenye umri chini ya miaka mitano;

(4)            Tumefikia shabaha kwa Lengo la Milenia Namba 6 kuhusu  kupunguza maambukizi ya UKIMWI; na

(5)            Kwa upande wa lengo namba 7 kuhusu mazingira, tumefikia shabaha kwa upande wa upatikanaji wa maji mijini.  Bado tuko nyuma kwa maji vijijini ingawaje tunaweza kufikia lengo ifikapo mwaka 2015 kama tutaendeleza uwekezaji tulioamua kufanya katika bajeti ya mwaka huu.  Lakini, hatutaweza kufikia shabaha kwa upande wa usafi wa mazingira mijini na vijijini ifikapo mwaka 2015.  Safari bado ndefu sana.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Malengo ya Milenia namba 1 na namba 5 ambayo bado tuko nyuma sana ya shabaha hatutafikia lengo ifikapo 2015.  Tumeendelea kutekeleza lengo la Milenia namba 1 kuhusu kupunguza umaskini na njaa kwa zaidi ya nusu kutoka kiwango cha mwaka 2000.  Hatua tunazochukua kuleta mageuzi katika kilimo zina lengo la kuhakikisha usalama wa chakula na kuongeza mapato ya wakulima.  Mafanikio yanaanza kuonekana lakini si ya kiwango cha kutufikisha kwenye lengo ifikapo mwaka 2015.  Tunao, pia, mpango wa kupanua programu ya TASAF ya Conditional Cash Transfer ili tuwafikie watu wengi maskini.   Hata kama tutafanikiwa kuutekeleza mapema mpango huu utatusogeza sana mbele lakini bado tutakuwa chini ya lengo kwa upande wa kupunguza umaskini ifikapo 2015.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kwa upande wa Lengo  la Milenia namba 5, kuhusu afya ya kina mama wajawazito bado tuko nyuma katika kupunguza vifo vya kina mama wajawazito na kuongeza idadi ya wajawazito wanaojifungua chini ya uangalizi wa wataalamu wa afya.  Hatutaweza kufikia shabaha ifikapo mwaka 2015.  Mpango wa Maendeleo ya Afya ya Msingi (2007 – 2017) una nia ya kukabiliana na matatizo haya.  Tumeongeza ujenzi wa zahanati, vituo vya afya na hospitali, tumeboresha upatikanaji wa dawa na tumepanua sana mafunzo ya madaktari, wauguzi na wakunga mambo ambayo yamesaidia kutufikisha hatua tuliyopiga mpaka sasa. Naamini juhudi zetu tukiziendeleza zitatusogeza mbele zaidi ingawaje bado tutakuwa chini ya lengo.  Miaka michache ijayo, tatizo hili nalo litakuwa historia.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Lengo la Milenia namba 8 linazihusu nchi tajiri kuongeza michango yao kusaidia nchi zinazoendelea kutekeleza Malengo ya Milenia.  Bahati mbayasanamataifa tajiri hayajafikia viwango wanavyotarajiwa kutoa na hata vile wanavyoahidi wenyewe kutoa katika majukwaa mbalimbali.  Kama wangetimiza ahadi zao, sura ya utekelezaji wa Malengo ya Milenia ingekuwa tofauti kabisa. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Hiyo ndiyo hali ya utekelezaji wa Malengo ya Milenia hapa nchini. Hakuna nchi ye yote duniani iliyofanikiwa kutekeleza shabaha za malengo yote kwa ukamilifu.  Ushauri wa viongozi wote waliozungumza ulitaka mataifa yaliyoendelea yatimize ahadi zao za kuchangia utekelezaji wa Malengo ya Milenia.  Ilionekana suala la upatikanaji wa fedha halina budi kuangaliwa kwa makini sasa na baada ya mwaka 2015.  Bila ya hivyo ufanisi utakuwa mdogo katika kuongeza kasi ya utekelezaji kwa pale paliposalia kufikia malengo ya 2015 na hata kwa Malengo ya baada ya mwaka 2015. 

Mashambulizi ya Kigaidi ya Westgate, Nairobi

Ndugu Wananchi;    

Wakati nikiwa safarini, tarehe 21 Septemba, 2013  kulitokea shambulilizi la kigaidi katika Jengo la Biashara la Westgate, huko Nairobi, Kenya.  Watu 67 walipoteza maisha na zaidi ya 200 walijeruhiwa.  Nilituma salamu za pole na rambirambi kwa Mheshimiwa Rais Uhuru Kenyatta na wananchi wa Kenya na kuwahakikishia kuwa tupo pamoja nao katika wakati huu wa majonzi.

Nafahamu kuwa baada ya tukio hilo watu wengi hapa nchini wameingiwa na hofu kuhusu usalama wetu.  Ni hofu ya msingi kwani tarehe 8 Agosti, 1998 Ubalozi wa Marekani hapa nchini ulishambuliwa na magaidi na ndugu zetu 11 wasio na hatia walipoteza maisha. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Napenda kuwafahamisha kuwa tangu shambulio la mwaka 1998, Serikali imekuwa inajenga uwezo wa vyombo vyetu vya ulinzi na usalama kupambana na ugaidi katika nyanja mbalimbali.  Tunaendelea kujiimarisha bila kusita siku hadi siku.  JWTZ, Polisi na Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa wamekuwa na ushirikiano wa karibu kwa ajili hiyo.  Juhudi zetu hizo ndizo zinazotufanya tuwe salama hadi sasa.

Baada ya tukio la Kenya, vyombo vyetu vya ulinzi na usalama vimeimarisha mikakati yao maradufu.  Pamoja na kujizatiti kwetu huko hatuwezi kusema kuwa tukio la kigaidi halitaweza kutokea nchini.  Uhakika huo hatuna kwani hata mataifa makubwa na tajiri yameshambuliwa.  Kilicho muhimu ni kuendelea kuchukua tahadhari na wananchi kusaidia ili  vyombo vyetu vifanikiwe zaidi.    

Hali kadhalika, tumewataka watu wote wenye shughuli zinazokusanya watu wengi kama vile maduka, maofisi, mahoteli, migahawa n.k. waweke kamera za ulinzi nje na ndani ya maeneo yao.  Pia waangalie uwezekano wa kuweka vifaa vya upekuzi (metal detectors and x-rays).  Najua watu wanaweza kulalamikia usumbufu au gharama, lakini gharama na hasara ya kushambuliwa ni kubwa zaidi kuliko ya usumbufu huo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nawaomba muendelee kufanya shughuli zenu bila ya hofu ingawaje msiache kuwa makini na kuchukua tahadhari.  Watu watoe taarifa kwa vyombo vya usalama wanapoona mtu au watu au kitu cha kutilia shaka.  Ni muhimu kwa usalama wake, wa kila mtu, jamii na taifa.  Maafisa husika wa vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama wataendelea kuelimisha umma kuhusu hatua mbalimbali za tahadhari za kuchukua.  Sisi Serikalini tumejipanga kuchukua hatua zaidi kuimarisha ulinzi na usalama wa nchi yetu na watu wake.  

Mchakato wa Katiba Mpya

Ndugu Wananchi;

         Kamamtakavyokumbuka, Bunge lilitunga Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba Novemba, 2011.  Sheria hii imeweka mchakato mzima wa kupata Katiba hiyo na kuunda taasisi zake.  Mwezi Mei, 2012, Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba iliundwa na imekamilisha hatua tatu muhimu katika mchakato huo.  Hatua hizo ni kupokea maoni ya wananchi, kutayarisha rasimu ya kwanza ya Katiba Mpya na kupokea maoni ya Mabaraza ya Katiba ya Wilaya na ya taasisi.  Hivi sasa Tume inaandaa mapendekezo ya Rasimu ya Pili ya Katiba itakayopelekwa kwenye Bunge Maalum.  Baada ya tafakuri zake, Bunge Maalum litatoa rasimu ya mwisho ya Katiba ambayo itapelekwa kwa wananchi kwa ajili ya uamuzi wa mwisho kupitia kura ya maoni.  Baada ya hatua hiyo, ndipo tutakapokuwa tumepata Katiba Mpya.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Baada ya Bunge la Novemba, 2011 kupitisha Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba, kulikuwepo na madai ya kutaka sheria hiyo iboreshwe kutoka vyama vyote vya siasa vikiwemo vyama vya upinzani na Chama tawala.  Majadiliano yalifanyika baina ya Serikali na vyama hivyo pamoja na shirikisho la asasi za kiraia.  Makubaliano yalifikiwa kuwa marekebisho yafanyike kwa awamu.  Awamu ya kwanza ihusishe Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba kisha hapo yafanyike marekebisho yanayohusu Bunge Maalum na mwisho Kura ya Maoni.

Kama ilivyokuwa kwa mabadiliko yaliyohusu Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba, safari hii nayo vyama vya siasa vilitoa mapendekezo yao.  Yalifanyika mazungumzo kati yao na Serikali na maelewano kufikiwa kuhusu maeneo ya kufanyiwa marekebisho. Serikali ilitayarisha rasimu ya Muswada na kuuwasilisha kwa wenzetu wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar.

Ndugu Wananchi;

 Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar ilitoa mapendekezo yake na ushauri kwenye maeneo mawili. Kwanza kwamba uteuzi wa wajumbe wa Bunge Maalum ufanywe na Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kwa kushauriana na kuafikiana na Rais wa Zanzibar.  Pili walishauri kwamba kamaBunge Maalum litashindwa kufikia maamuzi ndani ya siku 70 zilizopendekezwa, liweze kuongezwa muda hadi kufikia siku 90.  Maeneo mengine ya Muswada waliafikiana nayo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Kwa kuzingatia utaratibu wa kutunga Sheria, Serikali ilifikisha Muswada kwa Spika wa Bunge ambaye nae aliuwasilisha kwenye Kamati ya Kudumu ya Katiba, Sheria na Utawala.  Kama ilivyo ada, Kamati hiyo ilifanya vikao na wadau na kupokea maoni yao kuhusu Muswada.  Nimeambiwa kulikuwa na mjadala wa kina na mapendekezo mazuri yalitolewa na wadau.  Kisha hapo Wajumbe wa Kamati walikaa wenyewe kujadili Muswada walikuwepo pia Wabunge ambao si Wajumbe wa Kamati walioshiriki kwa vile Kanuni zinaruhusu.  Nimeambiwa pia kwamba mjadala ulikuwa mpana na wa kina zaidi.  Mapendekezo kadhaa yalitolewa na Wajumbe kuhusu vifungu mbalimbali vya Muswada.

Ndugu Wananchi; 

Nimefahamishwa kuwa Wabunge wa vyama vyote walichangia na kwamba baadhi ya nyakati mambo yalipokuwa ugumu mawazo mazuri ya baadhi ya Wabunge wa upinzani yalisaidia kupata ufumbuzi.  Nimeambiwa pia kwamba Wajumbe wa Kamati na upande wa Serikali walikubaliana kwa maeneo mengi isipokuwa machache ambayo walikubaliana kwa pamoja wayapeleke Bungeni ili Wabunge nao wayajadili na kuyapatia ufumbuzi. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Baada ya Kamati kumaliza kazi yake, Waziri wa Katiba na Sheria, Mheshimiwa Mathias Chikawe aliwasilisha Muswada Bungeni.  Akafuatiwa na Mheshimiwa Gosbert Blandes kwa niaba ya Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Katiba, Sheria na Utawala, kutoa maoni ya Kamati. Baadaye Msemaji wa Kambi ya Upinzani, Mheshimiwa Tundu Lissu  alitoa maoni yake. 

Ndugu Zangu;

Baada ya watu hao watatu kutoa maoni yao ilitarajiwa kuwa Wabunge wangeanza kujadili Muswada.  Naambiwa mambo hayakuwa hivyo.  Badala yake kukazuka malumbano baina ya Spika na baadhi ya Wabunge wa Upinzani wakitaka Muswada usijadiliwe.  Ilifikia wakati hoja hiyo ikabidi iamuliwe kwa kura ambapo ilishindwa.  Katika hali isiyotarajiwa, Wabunge wote wa upinzani wakatoka nje ya Bunge isipokuwa wawili.  Kitendo hicho kimewanyima Wabunge wengi wa upinzani fursa ya kutetea hoja zao walizozitoa kupitia hotuba ya Msemaji wa Kambi ya Upinzani.  Pia wamejinyima nafasi ya kusema mambo mengine wakati wa mjadala na Kamati ya Bunge zima.

Wabunge waliokuwepo waliendelea kuujadili Muswada na kutoa hoja na mapendekezo ya kuuboresha.  Walifanya hivyo wakati wa mjadala na wakati wa kupitia kifungu kwa kifungu.  Baadhi ya hoja na mapendekezo yalikubaliwa na mengine yalikataliwa.  Miongoni mwa yaliyokubaliwa na Wabunge, kwa mfano, ni kuhusu elimu ya mtu atakayekuwa Mwenyekiti wa Bunge Maalum na lile la ukomo wa uhai wa Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kwa maoni yangu madai ya Kambi ya Upinzani yanazungumzika na hata baadhi yangeweza kukubalika kama Wabunge wake wangekuwepo Bungeni na kushiriki mchakato wote wa kujadili na kupitisha Miswada Bungeni.  Bahati mbaya hawakuwepo, hivyo hapakuwepo na mtu wa kusema mawazo yao.  Baada ya kupoteza fursa yao halali, kutaka kupata ufumbuzi nje ya Bunge ni jambo lisilowezekana.  Haya ni masuala yanayohusu Bunge ambayo hujadiliwa na kuamuliwa Bungeni na si vinginevyo.  Kuandamana nchi nzima au kuchukua hatua za kutotii sheria kama Mwenyekiti wa CHADEMA, Mheshimiwa Freeman Mbowe anavyotaka, hakutaleta mabadiliko wanayoyataka katika sheria hii. Naamini na wao wanautambua ukweli huo. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kuna msemo wa wahenga kuwa “historia hujirudia”.  Naomba hekima ziwaongoze viongozi wa CHADEMA, CUF na NCCR-Mageuzi na zituongoze sote kutumia utaratibu tulioutumia mwaka 2012.  Kulipotokea mazingira kama haya pande zote zilikaa pamoja na kuzungumzia hoja moja baada ya nyingine na kukubaliana nini kifanyike na kifanyike vipi.  Baada ya kuridhiana hatua zipasazo za kisheria na kanuni zilichukuliwa na kumaliza mzozo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kufanya kinyume cha hayo hakutaleta ufumbuzi wa mzozo huu.  Tutaliingiza taifa kwenye matatizo yasiyokuwa ya lazima.  Tukikataa kufanya hayo Watanzania wanayo kila sababu ya kuhoji dhamira zetu na kutilia shaka nia zetu.  Watakuwa na haki ya kuuliza nia ni hii yetu sote ya kupata Katiba Mpya kwa kutumia njia za kikatiba na kisheria au tuna dhamira nyingine iliyojifisha? 

Kama dhamira yetu ni kutaka kupata Katiba mpya kwa mujibu wa Katiba na Sheria, ushauri wangu na rai kwa ndugu zetu wa CHADEMA, CUF na NCCR-Maguezi ni kuwa waachane na mipango ya maandamano na kufanya ghasia.  Badala yake watumie njia halali zinazotambulika kikatiba na kisheria kujenga hoja za kufanya marekebisho wanayoyaona wao yanafaa kuboresha Sheria ya Marekebisho ya Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba.  Tukifanya hivyo tutakuwa tunajenga badala ya kubomoa.  Tutaliponya taifa.  Sisi katika Serikali tuko tayari.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Napenda pia kuzisemea baadhi ya hoja zilizotolewa na Kambi ya Upinzani.   Kwanza kabisa nasema kuwa nimesikitishwa sana na madai na tuhuma za uongo eti katika uteuzi wa Tume ya Katiba sikuheshimu mapendekezo ya TEC, CCT na walemavu.    

Ndugu Zangu, Watanzania Wenzangu;

Siyo tu kauli hiyo ya Mheshimiwa Tundu Lissu ni uzushi na uongo mtupu bali pia ni ya unafiki, fitina na uzandiki wa hali ya juu.  Nasema hivyo kwa sababu, sipendi kuamini kuwa Mheshimiwa Mbunge amesema yale kwa kutokufahamu ukweli au kwa bahati mbaya.  Amesema yale kwa makusudi mazima ya kupotosha ukweli ili pengine isaidie kujenga hoja yake ya kutaka Rais asiteue wale Wajumbe 166 wa Bunge Maalum.  

Napenda ieleweke kuwa siishabikii kazi hiyo, lakini kwa kutimiza wajibu na maslahi ya taifa nikiagizwa na Sheria za nchi nitafanya.  Nasema hivyo kwa sababu nafahamu ni kazi ngumu.  Kama kazi ya uteuzi wa Wajumbe 30 wa Tume haikuwa rahisi hata kidogo, hii ya uteuzi wa watu 166 itakuwa ngumu zaidi.  Ile ya Tume ilikuwa ngumu kwa namna mbili.  Kwanza, kwamba taasisi zilizoomba na waombaji walikuwa wengi mno kuliko nafasi za kujaza yaani 15 Zanzibar na 15 Bara.  Zanzibar ziliomba taasisi zaidi ya 60 na waombaji walikuwa zaidi ya 200 wakati Bara kulikuwa na taasisi zaidi ya 170 zikiwa na waombaji zaidi ya 500.  Kupata watu 30 kutoka orodha kubwa kiasi hicho si mtihani mdogo.  Pili kwamba tulitakiwa kuunda Tume inayoasili sura ya taifa, yaani watu wa nchi yetu kwa maeneo, vyama vya siasa, dini, wanawake, vijana, walemavu, wafanyakazi, wasomi, Wabunge, Wawakilishi, wanasheria, wafanyabiashara, wakulima, asasi za kiraia n.k.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Pamoja na changamoto hizo, lakini tulifanikiwa kuunda Tume iliyopokelewa vizuri na jamii na kufanya watu wengi hata wale ambao hawakuteuliwa wahisi kuwakilishwa.  Tulifanyaje? Kwanza kabisa tulihakikisha kuwa tunapata wawakilishi wa vyama vya siasa vyenye wawakilishi Bungeni na kwenye Baraza la Wawakilishi na tunapata wawakilishi wa mashirika ya dini zetu kubwa yaani, TEC, CCT na BAKWATA.    Ndiyo maana nikasema kuwa kwa Mheshimiwa Tundu Lisu kudai kuwa mapendekezo ya TEC na CCT hayakuheshimiwa ni uongo wa mchana usiokuwa na kichwa wala miguu.

Baada ya hapo ndipo tukaangalia waombaji wa makundi na taasisi nyingine.   Tulijitahidi sana kupata watu ambao wanawakilisha kundi zaidi ya moja.  Tulifikiria hivyo kwa sababu ni ukweli ulio wazi kuwa si kila taasisi iliyoomba itapata mwakilishi kwani hata tungependa iwe hivyo nafasi hazikuwepo.  Kwa kutumia utaratibu huu makundi mengi yamepata uwakilishi kutokana na watu waliopendekezwa na makundi mengi.  Tumefanya kazi kubwa sana ya kuwianisha mambo na makundi ya maslahi mbalimbali nchini. 

          Ndiyo maana naiona mantiki ya Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania akishirikiana na Rais wa Zanzibar wa kuwateua Wajumbe wa Bunge Maalum.  Dhana kuwa kila kikundi kiteue chenyewe watu ingefaa sana kama kungekuwepo na nafasi za kutosha kila kundi nchini.  Hilo haliwezekani, labda tuwe na Bunge Maalum lisilokuwa na ukomo wa wajumbe.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mimi na Rais wa Zanzibar tumekuwa tunajiuliza baada ya kazi ngumu na nzuri tuliyoifanya na iliyopongezwa na wengi ya kuteua Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba nini kilichoharibika sasa hata tuonekane hatuaminiki kuteua hawa 166?  Kama ni kwa sababu za Mheshimiwa Tundu Lissu, nimeshasema hazina ukweli wowote.  Ninapojiuliza kwa nini aseme uongo nashindwa kupata jibu linaloingia akilini.  Wakati mwingine nafikiria kuwa ni hiana.  Lakini nadhani ni hila za kisiasa zenye nia ya kutaka kupata watu wa kutetea maslahi ya chama chake.  Kama hiyo ndiyo shabaha basi amekosea sana. 

Ndugu Zangu, Watanzania Wenzangu;

Hatutengenezi Katiba ya Chama fulani bali Katiba ya nchi, Katiba ya watu wa vyama vyote na wasiokuwa na vyama ambao ndiyo wengi kuliko wote.  Lazima tuongozwe na ukweli huo na tuwe na msimamo huo wakati wote.  Lazima tukumbuke kuwa si watu wote wanaostahili au kuwa na sifa ambao wataomba na kupata nafasi ya kuwa Wajumbe, hivyo wale wachache watakao bahatika lazima wawasemee wote.  Wanatakiwa kusikiliza na kuwakilisha mawazo ya wote hata wale wasiokuwa wa Chama chao au kundi lao. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Bahati nzuri hii ndiyo sifa kubwa iliyooneshwa na Wajumbe wa Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba.  Wamewasimamia na kuwasemea watu wote bila ya kubagua.  Natambua kuwepo kwa baadhi ya watu ambao hawafurahii msimamo huo na matokeo ya kazi yao.  Watu hao kuwalaumu Wajumbe wa Tume kwa ajili hiyo ni kuwaonea na kutowatendea haki.  Tunataka watakaokuwa Wajumbe wa Bunge Maalum nao waige mfano huu mzuri.  Wajali maslahi mapana ya taifa letu na watu wake badala ya kujali yale ya taasisi zao au makundiyao.

Zanzibar Kutokushirikishwa

Ndugu Wanachi;

Nimeambiwa pia kuliwepo madai ya Zanzibar kutokushirikishwa ipasavyo.  Nimeeleza kwa kiasi gani Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar imeshirikishwa na kutoa maoni yake yaliyojumuishwa katika Muswada.  Hivyo basi napata tabu kuyaelewa madai kwamba Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar haikushirikishwa msingi wake nini!  Labda kuna kitu sikuambiwa! 

Nimeulizia kuhusu hoja ya Kamati kutokufanya vikao Zanzibar kusikiliza maoni ya wadau wa Zanzibar.  Nimeambiwa kuwa Kanuni za Bunge hazina sharti hilo hivyo Kamati haistahili kulaumiwa.  Kama hivyo, nashauri kuwa suala hili lirudishwe Bungeni ili Wabunge walizungumze na kulifanyia uamuzi muafaka. Vinginevyo watu wataendelea kulauminiana isivyostahili.  Hivyo basi, kuligeuza jambo hili kuwa ni suala la kukataa Muswada au kususia vikao vya Bunge au kufanya maandamano sidhani kama ni sawa. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nimeambiwa pia kuwa kulikuwa na hoja ya kutaka idadi ya Wajumbe wa kutoka Tanzania Bara na Zanzibar iwe sawa kama ilivyo kwenye Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba.  Sababu ya idadi ya Wajumbe wa Tume kuwa sawa inatokana na utaratibu wao wa kufikia uamuzi.  Ni kwa maelewano ya wote (consensus) na siyo kwa kupiga kura.  Ndiyo maana idadi imewekwa sawa ili sauti za pande zote zisikike sawia.  Bunge Maalum lina sharti la kufanya uamuzi kwa theluthi mbili ya kura za kila upande kukubali.  Bila ya hivyo hakuna uamuzi.

 Hivyo basi, katika Bunge Maalum nguvu si uwingi wa kura ambazo upande fulani unaweza kupata bali ni ulinganifu sawa wa kura za kila upande peke yake.  Huu ndiyo msingi unaotumika katika Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania hivi sasa kwa lengo la kulinda maslahi ya Zanzibar.  Zanzibar ina Majimbo 50 ya uchaguzi na Tanzania Bara ina Majimbo 189, hivyo ukiamua kwa wingi kila wakati Wazanzibari watashindwa.  Lakini, hapajakuwepo madai ya Zanzibar nao kutaka kuwa na idadi sawa ya majimbo kama Bara au kupunguza majimbo ya Bara yawe sawa na ya Zanzibar kwa sababu wingi si hoja. Msingi unaotumika ni kutoa nguvu sawa za uamuzi kwa kila upande wa Muungano wakati wa kuamua masuala ya Katiba.  Hakuna mdogo wala mkubwa, wote wako sawa.  Hakuna mdogo kumezwa na mkubwa.  Ndiyo msingi unaopendekezwa kutumika kwenye Bunge Maalum hivyo hakuna kitakachoharibika kwa idadi ya Wajumbe kutokukulingana.  Nadhani inafaa ibaki ilivyo.  Lakini kama Wabunge wataamua waongeze idadi itakuwa kwa sababu nyingine siyo hii ya mfano wa Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba.

Ndugu Wananchi;

          Katika orodha ya madai ya ndugu zetu wa upinzani lipo suala la uhai wa Tume ya Katiba.  Wanataka usiishe wanapokabidhi rasimu ya pili kwa Bunge Maalum bali waendelee kuwepo mpaka mwisho wa mchakato.  Nimeulizia ilikuwaje?  Nimeelezwa kuwa jambo hili halitokani na mapendekezo ya Serikali wala ya Kamati ya Bunge ya Katiba, Sheria na Utawala.  Limetokana na pendekezo la Mbunge katika Bunge wakati wa kupitia vifungu na kuungwa mkono na Wabunge wengi.  Kwa hiyo kuilaumu Serikali si haki.  Serikali inaweza kuwa mshirika katika hoja hii.

          Nami naiona hoja ya Wajumbe wa Tume kuwa na wajibu wakati wa Bunge Maalum hasa wa kusaidia kufafanua mapendekezo ya Tume.  Je ushiriki huo uwe vipi? Je ni Wajumbe wote au baadhi yao ni jambo linaloweza kujadiliwa.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Naomba nimalizie kwa kuwasihi viongozi wa CHADEMA, CUF na NCCR-Mageuzi kuongozwa na hekima iliyotumika wakati tulipokuwa na tatizo linalofana na hili kuhusu Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba. Mimi naamini kama iliwezekana kufanikisha mambo wakati ule inaweza kufanya hivyo hata safari hii. Itatufikisha pale tunapopataka salama salimini bila maandamano, kushupaliana au uvunjifu wa amani.  Kupanga ni kuchagua, naomba sote, mmoja mmoja na kwa umoja wetu tuchague njia ya mazungumzo na maelewano kwani itaihakikishia nchi yetu amani, usalama na utulivu. Tukifanya hivyo historia itatuhukumu kwa wema.

Mungu IbarikiTanzania.   Nawashukurusanakwa kunisikiliza.

Mr. President;

Mr. Secretary-General;

Excellencies;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Allow me to begin by congratulating you Mr. President on your well-deserved election to steer the affairs of 68^th General Assembly of our esteemed organisation.  As I congratulate you, I would like to assure you of Tanzania’s support and cooperation in the discharge of your responsibilities.  I also wish to acknowledge and commend your predecessor, His Excllency Vuc Jeremic for his outstanding leadership of the 67^th General Assembly.  A lot was achieved because of his visionary and wise leadership. 

In the same vein, I would like to pay glowing tribute to our illustrious Secretary General for the excellent work he is doing for the United Nations and humanity at large. 

My delegation and I, find the theme of this year’s General Assembly to be timely and very opportune. Indeed, we should start now to set the stage for the post 2015 development agenda. Hence, for the theme of this 68^th General Assembly to be “Post-2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage” is the wisest thing to do. It affords us the opportunity to know where we are with regard to the Millennium Development Goals and decide what needs to be done to complete the unfinished business and enable us to make informed decision beyond 2015. 

The Status of MDGs

Mr. President;

Millennium Development Goals framework is the best development framework ever developed to address global and national development challenges.  The world has never witnessed such a coalescence of concerted efforts into a unified framework.  It is heartwarming indeed to note that progress towards attaining MDGs has been made in the last 13 years.  However, the progress varies from one goal to another and is highly uneven among nations and continents.

Mr. President;

Although extreme poverty has been halved at the global level, over 1.2 billion people are still trapped in extreme poverty; and an estimated 19,000 children under the age of five and around 800 women die every day mostly from preventable and curable diseases and other causes. This is totally unacceptable in the world of plenty we live in today where there is unprecedented advancement in science and technology which can be leveraged to solve almost all development challenges facing humanity.  In a world which has enough food to feed everybody, nobody should go hungry or be undernourished.  In a world with so much wealth, there is no reason why poverty, hunger and deprivation should ever continue to inflict pain and cause misery to many people.  It is incomprehensible therefore, why the MDG’s could not be attained to the fullest.

This reality must be taken into account when we attempt to find ways to tackle unfinished business of the 2000 MDGs and design the post-2015 development agenda.  Mechanism must be put in place to ensure that sources of financing will be adequate and reliable.   

Mr. President;

Tanzania made significant progress in implementing the MDGs.  We have already achieved the targets in four of the eight MDGs well before the set deadline of 2015. On MDG 2 we have achieved a target on universal primary education enrolment. On MDG 3 we have achieved target of parity of boys and girls in both primary and secondary schools enrolment.  This is different from the past when there were more boys than girls.  As a matter of fact, the trend appears to be tilting towards getting more girls than boys in the near future.  We are yet to meet targets with regard to the ratio of females to males in tertiary education and in position of decision making particularly Parliament.  However, it is possible to achieve the target on Parliamentarians by 2015 by taking advantage of the ongoing Constitutional review process.    

We are on target with regard to reducing HIV/AIDS infection rate, the requirement of MDG 6.  Similarly, we have attained MDG 4 on Child Mortality which is big achievement indeed, compared to where we were in the year 2000.  But it is depressing we are not on track with regard to MDG 5 on Maternal Health.  We are intensifying efforts to do better in order to improve the maternal health among Tanzania women.

With regard to MDG 7 on Environmental Sustainability we are on target with regard to drinking water for urban population.  But, we are lagging behind with respect to rural water supply as well as access to improved sanitation both in rural and urban areas.

That notwithstanding, we have not relented in our pursuit of the targets in the MDGs which we are not likely to achieve by 2015.  This will be the unfinished business for which we need to take action probably over and above what we are doing.  We are lagging far behind with regard to MDG 1 in its four main indicators.  There is not much possibility of achieving the targets despite the efforts we have been making.

We have been intensifying actions to transform and modernise our agriculture.  Our aim is to increase productivity and farmers’ incomes as well as ensure food and nutrition security for themselves and the nation.  Agriculture  employs 75 percent of the Tanzania population and this is where the majority of poor are concentrated. Improved agriculture means less poor and hungry people.  Plans are also underway to expand the conditional cash transfer programme under the Tanzania Social Action Fund supported by the World Bank.  We want to increase the size of investment to benefit more vulnerable people so as to accelerate the implementation of MDG 1 in the shortest possible time.

Mr. President;

Generally, it remains my firm belief that despite some failures, MDGs have been nothing short of a remarkable success. If the developed countries provided the financing as envisaged under MDG 8 and as per the Monterrey Consensus and their own commitment in different fora of the G8 and G20, we would have implemented all the MDGs to the letter and spirit.  It is in this regard we would find unrealistic any approach to the post-2015 Development agenda that does not address the critical issue of ensuring adequate financing.  This is also true with regard to accelerating implementation of the MDGs in the remaining period.    

We will continue to look at the United Nations for guidance and leadership in steering both processes to their successful conclusion.

The Reform of the United Nations

Mr. President;

The fact that the United Nations needs reform is a matter of little disagreement. Our collective failure to respond to this reality creates scepticism on our common resolve to strengthen an institution that is meant to serve nations and peoples. The reform we demand is long overdue. While we welcome discussions on the reform of the ECOSOC, Africa will not relent in demanding reform of the Security Council so that the continent, with the largest membership of the UN, has a permanent voice.

Global and Regional Conflict Situation

Mr. President;

Regrettably conflicts have continued to interfere in our development endeavours as they linger on in different parts of the world, from the Sahel to eastern DRC, Syria to Afghanistan, and other areas. They have caused enormous loss of innocent lives as populations continue to endure untold sufferings. The recent use of chemical weapons in Syria as confirmed by the United Nations inspections team to kill innocent people is rather distressing. We condemn such flagrant and senseless killing of innocent people including children in Syria. We commend the Secretary General and the UNSC for way they handle the matter.  I believe the doors for a peaceful solution to the Syrian problem are not closed and that a military solution should be the last resort.   

The Situation in the Great Lakes Region and DRC

Mr. President;

The United Republic of Tanzania regrets to see the suffering of the people of DRC as a consequence of the conflict in Eastern DRC has continued for far too long.  We hope this time around the initiative of the Secretary General which resulted in the establishment of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Great Lakes Region and DRC signed in February, 2013 will deliver lasting peace, security and development for the DRC and the Great Lakes Region. We highly commend the UN Secretary General for his vision and leadership in this regards.  We welcome the choice of Her Excellency Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland as the United Nations’ Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region.  She will surely help advance the cause of peace in the region if supported by all of us in the region and the international community. 

Part of the enduring problem facing the DRC is the proliferation of armed groups with varied interests. Bolder action is required to uproot these negative elements. These groups should be neutralized and disarmed.    It is in this context that we welcomed MONUSCO’s expanded mandate as per resolution 2098 (2013) of the Security Council that among other things established the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB).  Tanzania agreed to contribute troops to the FIB because it can help to deter belligerence and create a conducive environment for a political process to take effect.  Of course the panacea to the DRC problem is political rather than military.

Tanzania’s Role in Peacekeeping

Mr. President;

Since 2007 Tanzania has become proactive in contributing troops to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. With over 2,500 peace keepers in Lebanon, Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are the 6^th contributor of military and police peacekeepers in Africa and 12^th globally. We are partaking this noble endeavour, as members of the United Nations with the duty of advancing and upholding the ideals of our esteemed organisation.

We are satisfied that our contribution, though modest, is having a broader impact to those who have experienced the horrors of conflict. In this endeavours our peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price as was the case with the loss of we seven brave soldiers in Darfur, Sudan under UNAMID and two in Eastern DRC under MONUSCO. These are our national heroes whose sacrifices are not in vain. 

The death of our peacekeepers was a grim reminder of the dangers facing peacekeepers around the world. It is disturbing that, armed groups and peace spoilers are increasingly attacking these servants of peace. We must unreservedly condemn all these attacks as there is no cause or justification for such barbaric attack which constitute a crime under international law. The UN Security Council whose primary role is the maintenance of international peace and security should be in the forefront in condemning such barbaric acts in good time.

Unilateral Sanctions and Embargo

Mr. President;

At this juncture, I wish to reiterate our call for ending unilateral economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba which has lasted for more than 50 years. Our call to end this unilateral embargo is not only predicated on its legality but also on humanitarian concerns particularly the negative effects of the quality of life of innocent Cubans. 

We are deeply encouraged by recent developments especially of removing restrictions on family travel, cash remittances and telecommunication services. We believe this spirit will culminate into total cessation of the embargo in not to distant a future so that Cubans will be relieved of enormous economic, social and financial hardships they have endured for far too long.

Western Sahara

Mr. President;

The quest to resolve the dispute over the sovereignty of Western Sahara is also long overdue.  It is high time that the United Nations took bold actions to give the people of Saharawi the opportunity to decide on their fate.  It is incomprehensible why the Security Council which has been able to handle bigger security challenges cannot decide on the matter for nearly forty years now. 

International Criminal Court

Excellencies;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

       You will agree with me that the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC) was a major milestone of the international criminal justice system.  Indeed, the Court's creation as a machinery for fighting impunity was only possible with the support of Africa.

       However, a decade after its entry into force, a rift has grown between the Court and the continent. The court is perceived as irresponsive to what are, in our view, legitimate concerns of African people.  

       It continues to ignore repeated requests and appeals by the African Union.  It was sad to note that legitimate requests regarding the timing of the trials of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Rutto went unanswered.  This attitude has become a major handicap that fails to reconcile the Court's secondary and complementary role in fighting impunity. Indeed, the Court's rigidity has proven counterproductive and stands to undermine the support it enjoys in Africa.

Terrorist Attack in Kenya

       Tanzania condemns in the strongest terms possible the cowardly terrorist attack that happened last week at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya which left at over 60 innocent people dead and hundreds others injured. I spoke and wrote to President Uhuru Kenyatta to express our sadness and dismay.  I also reaffirm our solidarity with him and people of Kenya during these difficult moment and the fight against terrorism.  This horrendous attack is a heart-breaking reminder of the threat that terrorism poses to humanity.  Indeed none of us is completely safe from terrorism as it can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone.

       We must increase vigilance, enhance regional and global cooperation and scale up the fight against terrorism.  The challenge ahead of us cannot be understated nor underestimated.  The success will depend on our unity of purpose and determination.  At this juncture I would like to commend His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya for his exemplary leadership in the wake of the attack and his unshaken resolve and firm commitment to support the peace building efforts in Somalia and elsewhere.  We are with Kenyan people at this time of distress and grief.

Conclusion

Mr. President;

In conclusion, I would like to stress once more that, we are passing through a time of great opportunity despite the many challenges. We must take advantage of the current scientific and technological innovations; information and communication technologies; and knowledge and lessons learned from the implementation of development programmes, including MDGs to build a world without poverty, hunger, diseases and deprivation.

 A world that protects its environment and nature.  It is possible to have a world without wars, conflicts and acts of terrorism.  A world where human rights are respected, rule of law observed, democracy reigns and civil society is regarded as an integral part of the development endeavour. With stronger multilateralism and the United Nations leading the way and, with strong political will on the part of national leaders and the people everything is possible.  We can make our world a better place for everyone to live. 

I thank you for your kind attention.

Ambassador Donald Gips, Chair of the US-South Africa Business Council and Honorary Co-Chairman of the US Chamber’s Africa Business Initiatives;

Excellencies Fellow Presidents;

Mr. Daniel W. Yohannes, CEO of MCC;

Honourable Mr. William Burns, Deputy Secretary of State;

CEOs of Companies;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          I commend you Mr. Daniel Yohannes for organising this important roundtable discussion on Africa’s economic transition.  I also thank you for inviting me to participate in this landmark event.  Tanzania is one of the beneficiaries of the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Africa.  The Government and people of Tanzania highly appreciate the valuable support extended by the Government and the people of the United States. 

We shall ever remain grateful because the infrastructure projects in the road, airport, energy and water sectors financed by US$ 698 million MCC grant have made a huge difference in the lives of the people of Tanzania.  The Tanzania economy has benefited immensely.  Through these funds, we shall have 472.9km of tarmac roads constructed of which 437.9 km will be in Mainland Tanzania and 35km in Pemba Island of Zanzibar.  The airport at Mafia Island of Mainland Tanzania will be rehabilitated and upgraded.  A submarine electricity cable bringing electricity from Tanzania Mainland to Zanzibar has been constructed.  Electricity transmission and distribution projects in 10 regions covering 356 villages in 24 districts have been implemented.  In the water sector there are projects to rehabilitate and expand water supply for Dar es Salaam and Morogoro. 

Besides improving the living conditions of the people living in the area where these projects were implemented these projects will benefit the Tanzanian economy in a big way.  They will open key economic areas for expansion of economic activities in these areas and beyond.  These areas are now ripe for investment from elsewhere.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          The Namtumbo – Songea – Mbiga road for example, opens up an important region for corn, tobacco, coffee and cashew nuts production.   This region is also rich in minerals such as coal, uranium, gemstones and gold.  Similarly, the Tunduma – Sumbawanga road opens up a large corn and tobacco growing belt and gold, copper and gemstones mining areas.  The construction of these roads therefore, opens up these regions for taping the huge investment potential which is being underutilized at the moment.

The Mafia Island airport opens up the huge tourism potential of this beautiful island of the coast of Mainland Tanzania. It is renowned for its diversity of marine life including the surviving dinosaur fish silicant and the scuba diving because of its clear waters.  It is also near the gas fields discovered and ongoing exploration.

The electricity interconnector between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar provides Zanzibar with stability of electricity supply as opposed to the current situation where there is only one cable.  Rural electrification projects on the mainland open up rural Tanzania for investments big and small.  In the villages small industries can be established, but big investors can be attracted because of the availability of electricity. 

Mr. Chairman;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          We are now preparing for the second compact with focus on rural roads and electrification.  This will further assist Tanzania unlock its development potential and eradicate poverty especially through modernization of agriculture and enhancement of industrialization.  It makes the country even more attractive to private investment. 

As in the first compact where US companies benefitted in the implementation of the projects and in investing in the areas supported by MCC, we see the same with MCC II.      We therefore encourage other US companies to come and work with us and invest in various areas in our economy.  We have investment potential in energy including oil and gas, agriculture and agri-business, mining, infrastructure projects including railways and ports, manufacturing and fishing.  With the investment climate permissive, I see even bigger potential for more robust FDI flows from the US to Tanzania.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Let me conclude my remarks by saying that Africa is at a very important juncture where FDI has surpassed ODA and no one would doubt that this is the trend that has to be sustained as African countries have now substantially improved their business and investment climate. 

          I am looking forward to a continued cooperation between my country and the US Government through MCC and other initiatives that have proved to be useful in complementing our efforts to better lives of our peoples.   My Government is fully committed to the process of developing Compact II.

I thank you for your attention

Hotuba ya Mhe. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, wakati

wa Hafla ya Kutunuku Hati Idhini kwa Vyuo Vikuu na Vyuo Vikuu Vishiriki NANE

Tarehe 20 agosti, 2013, IKULU, DAR ES SALAAM

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

Profesa Awadh Mawenya, Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu Tanzania;

Wakuu wa Vyuo Vikuu, Wakuu wa Mabaraza ya Vyuo Vikuu, Makamu Wakuu wa Vyuo Vikuu;

Watendaji Wakuu wa Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi Mliopo Hapa;

Viongozi Mbalimbali wa serikali na taasisi zake mliohudhuria;

Wageni Waalikwa;

Mabibi na Mabwana;

Nakushukuru sana Mheshimiwa Waziri na Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu Tanzania kwa kunishirikisha kwenye tukio hili adhimu la kutunuku Hati Idhini Nane kwa vyuo vikuu na vyuo vikuu vishiriki.  Natoa pongezi zangu za dhati kwa Wakuu wa Vyuo hivyo ambavyo leo nimevikabidhi Hati Idhini.  Mmepewa dhamana kubwa na heshima ya aina yake ambayo mimi nina imani mtailinda. 

Natoa pongezi maalum kwa Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi na Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu Tanzania kwa kazi nzuri mliyofanya mpaka kukamilisha zoezi hili la utoaji wa Hati Idhini.  Nafahamu siyo kazi rahisi sana, inahitaji umakini na ueledi wa hali ya juu. Ninyi mmeifanya vizuri na mafanikio yake ndiyo haya.  Hongereni sana.

Ndugu Wageni Waalikwa;

Leo ni siku ya faraja kubwa kwangu na wenzangu Serikalini kwa vile dhamira yetu ya kupanua fursa za elimu kwa vijana wetu katika ngazi zote inazidi kupata mwelekeo mzuri.  Miaka mitatu iliyopita, tulipokutana kufanya kazi kama hii ya leo, nilielezea mafanikio makubwa tuliyokuwa tunaendelea kupata kwa upande wa upanuzi wa elimu nchini.    Ni furaha iliyoje kuona kuwa mafanikio hayo yanazidi kuongezeka kadri miaka inavyokwenda.  Kwa ulinganifu, idadi ya shule za msingi, sekondari na wanafunzi imeongezeka zaidi kuliko ilivyokuwa miaka mitatu iliyopita.  Kwa mfano, mwaka 2010 idadi ya shule za msingi ilikuwa 15,816 na shule za sekondari  4,266 na idadi ya wanafunzi ilikuwa milioni nane na nusu katika shule za msingi na zaidi ya milioni moja na nusu shule za sekondari.  Lakini, mwaka 2012, idadi ya shule hizo imeongezeka kufikia 16,331 kwa shule za msingi na 4,528 kwa sekondari.  Kwa upande wa wanafunzi wa elimu ya msingi karibu watoto wote wenye umri wa kwenda shule wameandikishwa na idadi ya wanafunzi wa sekondari imefikia 1,884,272. 

Kwa upande wa elimu ya juu, idadi ya vyuo vikuu na vyuo vikuu vishiriki imeongezeka kutoka 37 vilivyokuwepo wakati ule hadi kufikia 50.  Ongezeko hilo la Vyuo Vikuu nchini limewezesha idadi ya wanafunzi wanaojiunga na vyuo vya elimu ya juu nchini kuongezeka kutoka 117,068 mwaka 2009 hadi 166,484 mwaka 2012.  Kwa ujumla nimeridhishwa na mafanikio tuliyopata na utekelezaji wa maagizo yangu niliyoyatoa siku ile. 

Mabibi na Mabwana;

Mafanikio tuliyopata hayakuja kwa bahati.  Ni matokeo ya sera yetu nzuri ya elimu inayolenga kupanua fursa za elimu ili vijana wengi wa Kitanzania  wanufaike.  Ndio maana tumekuwa tunaongeza bajeti ya elimu kila mwaka ili tuweze kugharamia upanuzi huo ambao ni lazima tuufanye.  Bajeti ya elimu imefikia shilingi trilioni 3.1 mwaka huu wa fedha ukilinganisha na shilingi trilioni 2.1 mwaka 2010/11 au  shilingi bilioni 669.5 mwaka 2005/6.  Hata ufadhili unaotolewa na Serikali kwa wanafunzi wa elimu ya juu umeongezeka sana kutoka shilingi 243 bilioni zilizotengwa kwa ajili ya mikopo ya wanafunzi mwaka 2010 hadi shilingi 345 bilioni zilizotengwa mwaka huu wa fedha.  Kutokana na ongezeko hili la fedha, zaidi ya wanafunzi 98,000 watanufaika na mikopo ya elimu ya juu ukilinganisha na 72,035 mwaka 2010 au 16,345 mwaka 2005. 

Pamoja na sera nzuri na kuongezeka kwa uwekezaji wa Serikali katika elimu, mafanikio tunayoyashuhudia sasa yametokana pia na kuungwa mkono na sekta binafsi, mashirika ya dini na wananchi kwa ujumla.  Sekta binafsi na Mashirika ya dini ni wadau muhimu wa Serikali kwenye maendeleo ya elimu nchini.  Wamewekeza katika ujenzi wa shule za awali, msingi, na sekondari pamoja na vyuo vya ufundi, ualimu na elimu ya juu.  Hatuna budi kuwashukuru kwa mchango wao wenye manufaa makubwa kwa nchi yetu na watu wake. 

Ndugu Waziri;  

Napenda kuchukua nafasi hii kukupongeza wewe, Naibu wako,Mheshimiwa Philipo Mulugo, Kaimu Katibu Mkuu, Selestine Gesimba, Wakuu wa Idara  pamoja na watumishi wote wa Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi kwa kusimamia vizuri utekelezaji wa sera yetu ya elimu.   Nakupongeza pia kwa uamuzi wa busara wa kuitisha mkutano wa watendaji wakuu wanaosimamia elimu nchini uliofuatiwa na mkutano wa wazi wa wadau wa elimu uliofanyika jijini Dar es Salaam tarehe 15 Agosti, 2013.  Nawashukuru wananchi na wadau wa elimu kwa ushirikiano wao na michango yao waliyotoa yenye lengo la kuborsha utendaji wa taasisi zinazojihusisha na usimamizi wa sekta ya elimu.  Naomba Waziri na timu yako msimamie kwa ukamilifu utekelezaji wa mambo mliyokubaliana kufanya.  Hakikisheni kuwa ahadi ya kutekeleza Mpango wa Matokeo Makubwa Sasa katika Sekta ya Elimu kwa mwaka 2013 – 2015 inatekelezwa ipasavyo.  Mkifanya hivyo kasi ya kupata majawabu ya changamoto mbalimbali zinazoikabili sekta ya elimu itaongezeka sana. 

Nampongeza pia Profesa Mawenya, Profesa Mchome, viongozi wa Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu pamoja na taasisi na wadau wote wanaoshughulika na maendeleo ya elimu nchini kwa kushirikiana vizuri na Serikali katika kutekeleza jukumu hili zito na muhimu kwa maendeleo na mustakabali wa taifa letu.  Kwa namna ya pekee nawashukuru wananchi, sekta binafsi na mashirika ya dini kwa kuitikia vyema wito wa Serikali na kuongeza uwekezaji kwenye sekta ya elimu.  Nawashukuru pia washirika wetu wa maendeleo kwa kuwa nasi bega kwa bega katika kila hatua tunayopiga ya kuendeleza na kukuza elimu nchini.  Mchango wao na misaada yao mbalimbali imesaidia sana kutufikisha hapa tulipo. 

Ndugu Wageni Waalikwa;

          Pamoja na mafanikio hayo ya kutia moyo, hatuwezi kusema kuwa tumefikia pale tunapopataka au tunapopatarajia kufika.  Bado tuna safari ndefu mbele yetu na kazi kubwa ya kufanya.  Bahati nzuri yale tunayotaka kufanya au yanayotakiwa kufanywa yanafahamika.  Kwa upande wa elimu ya juu, lazima tuendelee kuongeza wanafunzi wanaoandikishwa katika vyuo vyetu.  Idadi ya wanafunzi 166,484 waliopo katika vyuo vyetu ni ndogo ukilinganisha na nchi kama Kenya ambayo ina wanafunzi wa elimu ya juu takriban 235,000 na Afrika Kusini yenye zaidi ya wanafunzi  800,000.     

Maana ya takwimu hizi ni kwamba bado tunayo kazi kubwa mbele yetu katika kuongeza idadi ya Watanzania wenye elimu ya juu.  Lengo la Serikali ni kuongeza maradufu idadi ya wahitimu katika vyuo vyetu vya elimu ya juu kutoka 40,000 ya sasa hadi ifikie 80,000 kila mwaka. Hatuwezi kuikwepa kazi hiyo, lazima vijana wetu wengi zaidi wapate elimu ya juu.  Jukumu hilo lipo kwenu Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi, Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu Tanzania, vyuo vikuu, sekta binafsi na wadau wengine wa elimu.  Naomba tuifanye kazi hiyo bila kuchelewa.

Mheshimiwa Waziri;

Naomba ikumbukwe kwamba kuwa na idadi kubwa ya wanafunzi peke yake haitoshi.  Ubora pia uzingatiwe sana ili wahitimu wawe na ujuzi na sifa zinazostahili kiwango cha elimu yao.  Inatakiwa waweze kutoa mchango unaokusudiwa katika ujenzi wa taifa letu; waweze kuhimili ushindani uliopo katika soko la ajira hasa kwenye nyakati hizi ambapo utangamano wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki unaimarika; na wawe na umahiri wa kukabiliana na changamoto za utandawazi.   Kwenye hili pia bado tunayo safari ndefu mbele yetu.  Kwanza, kuongeza idadi ya wakufunzi wenye vigezo na sifa stahili.  Niliwahi kutoa ushauri huko nyuma kuwa vyuo vyetu vyenye Wahadhiri na Maprofesa wa kutosha katika fani mbalimbali wasaidie kwa kupanua, kuimarisha na kuboresha programu zao za uzamili na uzamivu. 

Nafahamu juhudi mbalimbali zinazoendelea kufanywa kama alivyoeleza Waziri.  Lazima tuongeze bidii maradufu. Katika kipindi hiki chenye upungufu mkubwa wa wakufunzi, vyuo visisite kutafuta wakufunzi wenye sifa na vigezo kutoka nchi za nje.  Tunaweza kuanza na nchi jirani na za ukanda wetu au kwingine Afrika na duniani kuziba mapengo yaliyopo wakati tunaendelea kujenga uwezo wetu wa ndani.  We cannot afford to compromise the quality of our higher education on the excuse that we do not have sufficient qualified lecturers”.  Kwa vyo vyote vile, utetezi wa aina hiyo haukubaliki, hausaidii na wala haueleweki.  Dunia itatucheka.

Ndugu Mwenyekiti;

          Jambo lingine linalokwenda sambamba na ubora wa elimu ya juu ni hali ya miundombinu ya vyuo vikuu nchini.  Lazima tuhakikishe kuwa vyuo vyetu vina miundombinu inayotosheleza mahitaji ya kufundishia kwa wakufunzi na kujifunzia kwa wanafunzi.  Lazima vyuo viwe na mahitaji yote muhimu ya kutoa elimu iliyo bora.  Lazima kuhakikisha kuwa miundombinu hiyo inatunzwa vizuri.  Kwa ujumla, uhaba na uchakavu wa miundombinu unachangia sana kuathiri ubora wa elimu inayotolewa vyuoni.  Hivyo kuna haja ya vyuo vikuu na vyuo vikuu vishiriki kuweka mkazo maalum kwenye kuboresha na kuimarisha miundombinu ya kufundishia na kujifunzia.  Vyuo viwekeze kwenye vifaa na majengo ya madarasa, maabara, maktaba, mabwalo na pia kwenye mabweni na viwanja vya michezo.

Napenda kuvihimiza vyuo vikuu viendelee kushirikiana na vyuo vikuu vya nje kwa kubadilishana ujuzi na uzoefu.  Vyuo vipya viendelee kuimarisha ushirikiano na kuiga mifano mizuri ya vyuo vyetu vya zamani.  Kuna mengi ya kujifunza kutoka kwao.  Aidha, natoa rai kwa vyuo kuendelea kutafuta vyanzo vingine vya mapato ili viwe na fedha za kutosha kuendesha shughuli zao badala ya kutegemea ada peke yake.  Sisi Serikalini tupo tayari kusaidiana nanyi ili kuhakikisha kuwa elimu inayotolewa inakuwa ya ubora unaokubalika na wa hali ya juu.   

          Naomba Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi na Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu wachukue hatua thabiti na endelevu za kusimamia na kuimarisha ubora wa elimu ya juu nchini.  Kuwe na utaratibu madhubuti wa kufuatilia mwenendo wa vyuo vikuu na vyuo vikuu vishiriki baada ya kutunukiwa Hati Idhini ili viendelee kuzingatia ubora unaokubalika.  Vyuo vitavyokuwa na upungufu vioneshe mpango wao wa kurekebisha hali hiyo.  Nina imani ukaguzi wa mara kwa mara ukiimarishwa utasaidia sana kuhakiki ubora wa elimu inayotolewa na vyuo nchini.

Ndugu Wageni Waalikwa;

Mwisho, napenda kuwashukuru wamiliki wote na Wakuu wa Vyuo na Makamu Wakuu wa Vyuo kwa mchango wao mkubwa wanaotoa kwenye maendeleo ya elimu ya juu nchini.  Nawapongeza wale waliotunukiwa Hati Idhini siku ya leo, na, nawatakia utendaji wenye tija na ufanisi.  Nawaahidi ushirikiano wangu binafsi na wa Serikali ninayoiongoza. 

Asanteni kwa kunisikiliza.

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY  JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE TANZANIA PRIVATE  SECTOR FOUNDATION (TPSF) BUSINESS DINNER, SERENA HOTEL,

DAR ES SALAAM 15^TH AUGUST, 2013

Honourable Dr. Mary Nagu (MP), Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office; Mama Esther Mkwizu, Chairperson of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF);

Distinguished Members of the TPSF;

Mr. Godfrey Simbeye, Executive Director, Management and the Entire Staff of TPSF;

Invited Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I sincerely thank you Mama Esther Mkwizu, Chairperson of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and your distinguished leaders of TPSF for being kind enough to invite me to this gala dinner.  It is heartwarming indeed to be in the company of such distinguished captain of industry, key partners of government in driving the socio-economic development agenda forward.

I thank you for the kind words you said about me and the government I lead with regard to the efforts we are making to promote growth and development with the private sector in Tanzania being in the forefront.  Indeed, it is gratifying to note that through our partnership a lot has been achieved thus far and the spirit of partnership and cooperation between us, the government and the private sector – is taking root and getting stronger with each passing moment. 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

We have heard loudly and clearly, the voice of the Chairperson of TPSF narrating the achievements made and the challenges ahead which require our joint attention and action.  Fortunately, most of issues are known and work to find suitable and sustainable solutions are on going.  My promise to you today is that we will do everything within our powers to help overcome the obstacles.  I heard the Executive Director asking me to say something about fiscal measures of this financial year.  First and foremost I would like to reaffirm that the participatory nature of the budget process where all stakeholders including private sector are involved will be maintained.  As you all know the private sector is an active member of the Task Force on Tax Reforms.  This way, the private sector is afforded the opportunity to discuss issues of fiscal policy every time taxes are being conceived.  The private sector is part and parcel of the process, it will remain that way.  We are ready to listen to advice from the private sector about what more needs to be done to deepen your involvement to ensure an effective participation at all levels. 

On particular issues of newly introduced taxes, I would like to inform you that we have heard the feelings of the public and the industry.  We have taken note of the valuable suggestions from various stakeholders and, we are working on them.  The government is always stands ready to listen and receive views and proposals from individuals, business community and organizations.

 Tax measures are the most difficult decision to be taken by government. Let me also state the obvious that taxes are necessary evil, we cannot do away without.  Government has to deliver on its duties and responsibilities of the State which are ever expanding as population increases and social and economic functions expand.  Every year therefore, there is a need to increase the financial resources over and above what was collected the previous year.  Hence, new revenue measures have to be put in place.    I don’t need to narrate to you the needs.  We all know them.

  They are needed to build more schools so that many more children can get formal education; we need resources to increase access to health care so that communities can enjoy higher quality of life.  We need additional resources to support infrastructure development and energy projects, to transform agriculture and accelerate industrialization.  That is why we need more resources, to ensure social development and overall prosperity. Unfortunately, the traditional sources of revenue are not sufficient to meet those new and emerging needs. As government we have to respond to this reality by exploring new sources of revenue. 

Madam Chairperson;

          There are two ways of ensure that government gets more revenues.  One is strengthening tax administration.  This has been done to great success over the last few years with the establishment of the TRA and continuing work of building the institution.  It is an ongoing exercise.  The second is identifying new sources of revenue that would facilitate widening of the tax base.  Tax collection is not an easy task.  Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of United Kingdom, one said:  “there is no such thing as a good tax.  My humble appeal to you is to please bear with us.  We are doing all this for a common good.  We need your cooperation and understanding so that together we can build our nation.  We do our best to ensure fairness, decency and sense of dignity in the way taxes are collected.   It is not in our best interest to suffocate the private sector.  We will not kill the golden goose that lays the golden eggs. 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          We are ready to work with the private sector.  The PPP Act of 2010 is one clear demonstration of our resolve to promote and strengthen the involvement of the private sector in our development endeavors.  We want the private sector to be a true engine of growth and partner.  In this regard, we have realized that some areas in the PPP Act need further re-enforcement.  Indeed, this is exactly what we proposed in the Finance Bill of 2013/2014 which amended some of the aspects.  Furthermore, the government has also decided to streamline the coordination of issues related to PPP.  We will soon streamline the unit at the Prime Minister’s Office dealing with PPP in order to strengthen the one at the Ministry of Finance.  We believe that this will help to expedite decisions on PPP issues.

          Another example is the formulation of the Private Sector Development Policy which is at an advanced stage.  I am informed that last week the private sector submitted its comments on the first draft of the policy.  I want to assure you that the government will take into account your comments and improve the document accordingly.  Once it is operational, we will endeavor to implement it by the letter and spirit.         Last, but not the least Madam Chairperson, you have rightly said it that the Tanzania Business Council has not met for quite some time.  Indeed we will convene TNBC forums, the International and Local Investors Roundtables this coming November.  The preparations are well underway as the regional and districts’ business council meetings have started taking place.  Now that we have a young and dynamic CEO, I am confident that the affairs of TNBC are in good hands.  Indeed, those meetings are important as they provide a platform for exchange of ideas on how to improve the business environment in the country.

 Members of the Business Community;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that we value your contributions and the government will continue supporting your efforts.  We will continue to undertake reforms and improve economic services particularly transport, power and water to make our country a favorable investment destination.  I am happy that we are making a good progress in this regard.  Many investors, from all over the world are knocking at our doors.  They want to invest in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, agriculture and in many other areas.  They have seen our potential and they are satisfied with the way we are conducting our business.

 It is up to you to take advantage of these emerging and potential opportunities.  I challenge your apex organizations and indeed the Tanzania Investment Centre, to work together to ensure that adequate information on business opportunities is widely available to local business community.  I believe there is a lot to gain out there for all of you. 

Madam Chairperson,

Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The achievements that we have attained so far could not have been possible without the goodwill and support of our development partners.  I would therefore like to commend our development partners for their generous support and assistance.  We are looking forward to working with them to strengthen further, our private sector.  We want to build the capacity of the private sector so that it truly plays its role as our engine of growth.  We are not yet far from making this a reality. 

In conclusion, I thank you Madam Chairperson for your invitation.    I promise to continue working closely with the private sector and the business community through their apex organizations so that we can together realize the aspirations of our people.  It is possible if each of us plays higher part effectively.  I thank you for your kind attention and enjoy your evening. 

Asanteni sana.

Your  Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and IITA Goodwill Ambassador;

His Excellency President Benjamin Mkapa;

Honorable Christopher Chiza, Minister for Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives;

Hon. Ugandan Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheriers Minister;

Governmenent Officials Present;

Professor Bruce Coulman, Chair of the IITA Board of Trustees and Members of the IITA Community;

Director General of IITA,

The IITA Director of Eastern Africa;

Excellencies Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Missions;

Renowned Scientists; Invited Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;      

I sincerely thank Honorable Christopher Chiza, the Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives and the Board of Trustees of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture for inviting me to officiate the launching of IITA Science Building located here at Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam. I commend the decision of IITA Board of Trustees to elevate this Station to become the headquarters of the Institute’s regional activities in Eastern Africa.

I welcome all our distinguished guests to Tanzania and to Dar es Salaam in particular. In a very special way, I extend very warm welcome to our senior brother, a longtime friend of Tanzania and an accomplished Pan-Africanist, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is here today in his capacity as IITA Goodwill Ambassador. We are happy to have you in this capacity. The IITA could not have a better ambassador than you.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I consider the investment by IITA in this Science Building and the good work being done by IITA, to be very opportune indeed. About 70 to 80 per cent of the people in Africa depend on agriculture for their livelihod. Unfortunately, these are the people who form the bulk of the poor in our dear continent. Also many African countries are food stressed and currently, there is a decline in per capita food production in Africa. All of these are a function of low productivity in our agriculture. This signals an urgent need to revitalize agriculture research and to scale up the application of science and technology as well as agro-processing and agribusiness.  

In essence, the economic growth and sustainable development of most African countries depends on agriculture. In this regard, any initiatives that are aimed at improving agriculture productivity in Africa deserve the encouragement and support of all of us. By doing this, we will stand a better chance to attain broad-based economic growth and thereby ensuring food security and poverty reduction.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I am happy to note that IITA has been an important partner in promoting crop quality and productivity of agriculture in Africa. The Institute has an impressive track record in its research activities and has made tremendous impact in Sub-Sahara Africa notably on key tropical food crops such as banana, maize, cassava, soya beans, cowpea, tree crops, and yam. In Tanzania, we cherish the commendable job the Institute is doing in building the capacity of researchers and agriculture students. We are also thankful for various activities that enabled our farmers to increase production of cassava by developing improved high-quality disease resistant varieties. I would like to assure you that Tanzania will strengthen the working relations with IITA in our pursuit to improve agriculture in the country. We will also contribute more than what we are doing now.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

We know too well that overcoming the many challenges facing African agriculture is gigantic task.  It requires addressing many issues including developing adequate capacities for research in order to develop high yielding and diseases resistant seeds. In this regard, in 2006, the government of Tanzania developed a comprehensive 14-year Agricultural Sector Development Programme to overcome the challenges.

The purpose is to increase agricultural productivity through more application of modern science and technology. We have given more attention to research. Also, we have instituted measures to increase the involvement of the private sector and other stakeholders in agriculture development. In other words, we are including other players as well besides government and development partners as sole agents for agriculture development. I believe when this mix is properly attained other agriculture related sectors such as agro-processing, manufacturing and service industry will come into play and benefit accordingly. In turn, incomes of farmers and many other Tanzanians engaged in these sectors will improve and so will their living standards.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

As we all know, research activities in any field require substantial resources and expertise. This is also true for agricultural research and development. It is heartwarming, indeed, to note many governments in Africa are taking research seriously and they are investing resources to that effect. However, African governments are resource constrained as such they cannot allocate adequate resources in view of so many competing priorities.  Political will has never been wanting, but the competing needs in our respective countries are overwhelming. It is difficult to choose which activity should get what.  In this regard, the support of friends of Africa from the international community is needed to close the financing, technical and technological gap in agriculture research and development needs of Africa.

Excellencies; Ladies and Gentlemen;

Let me express my optimism that Africa is likely to succeed in her quest to transform agriculture and thereby attain food security, poverty reduction and prosperity. Positive signs are emerging for all to see. We should therefore build on the momentum and strengthen our collaboration with all stakeholders towards that end including this, all important International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. I believe this is the time to do it because there is awareness in Africa and growing global consensus to assist and support Africa to achieve this noble objective.

Excellencies; Invited Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen;

It would be remiss of me if I concluded my speech without expressing my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency Obasanjo, for his commitment and devotion to our dear Continent. He could have decided to rest at his farm and enjoy his retirement but he is right here in our midst taking forward the African agriculture agenda. We really appreciate your efforts.

I also thank Professor Bruce Coulman and the entire leadership of IITA as well as researchers for their hard work and determination to transform African agriculture. I want to assure you that Tanzania, the Eastern African region and Africa as a whole is appreciative of IITA’s efforts to boost agriculture through capacity development with a view to improving the livelihoods of small holder farmers and big farmers alike in Africa. You are giving us a lot of inspiration as we endeavour to overcome the many obstacles. Let us re-dedicate our resolve to ending Africa’s persistent food shortages and poverty by scaling up our efforts and of course, interventions.  I am sure we can.

Excellencies; Ladies and Gentlemen;

After these many words, it is now my singular honour and pleasure to declare that the IITA Science Building located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is officially opened.

Thank you for your kind attention

HOTUBA YA MHESHIMIWA DKT. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, RAIS WA JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA KWA WANANCHI, TAREHE 31 JULAI, 2013

Utangulizi

Ndugu wananchi;

Kama ilivyo ada naomba nianze kwa kumshukuru Mwenyezi Mungu, mwingi wa rehma, kwa kutujalia uzima na kutuwezesha kwa mara nyingine tena kutekeleza utaratibu wetu huu mzuri tuliojiwekea wa Rais kuzungumza na taifa kila  mwisho wa mwezi.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mwezi Julai, 2013 ulikuwa wa neema kubwa ya wageni kwa nchi yetu wakiwemo watu na viongozi mashuhuri duniani. Natoa shukrani nyingi kwa Watanzania wenzangu kwa jinsi tulivyowapokea wageni wetu zaidi ya 1,700.  Wamefurahi kuwepo kwao nchini na wameondoka wakiwa na kumbukumbu nzuri ya nchi yetu.  Wageni wetu wamekuwa wa manufaa makubwa kwa nchi yetu.  Wamesaidia kuitangaza Tanzania duniani na kuendeleza fursa za kukuza utalii, biashara na uwekezaji nchini na kwingineko katika Afrika.

Mkutano wa Smart Partnership

Ndugu wananchi;

Wageni wetu wa kwanza ni wale waliokuja kuhudhuria Mkutano wa Global 2013 Smart Partnership Dialogueuliofanyika Dar es Salaam tarehe 28 Juni hadi 1 Julai, 2013.  Mkutano huo

ulihudhuriwa na watu zaidi ya 800 kutoka mabara yote duniani wakiwemo Watanzania.  Miongoni mwa waliohudhuria ni pamoja na wakuu wa nchi na Serikali, viongozi wastaafu, wanadiplomasia, wawakilishi wa mashirika na taasisi za kimataifa, makampuni ya ndani na nje, wafanyabiashara, wasomi, asasi za kijamii na watu wa makundi mbalimbali katika jamii.  Makampuni yetu 21nayo yaliungana na makampuni mengine 28 kutoka nje ya nchi kushiriki kwenye maonesho ya matumizi ya sayansi na teknolojia yaliyofanyika sambamba na mkutano huo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Agenda kuu ya majadiliano ya mwaka huu ilikuwa ni “Matumizi ya teknolojia kama nyenzo ya kuleta maendeleo ya kijamii na kiuchumi Barani Afrika(Leveraging Technology for Africa’s Social-Economic Transformation: The Smart Partnership Way).  Tuliichagua mada hii kwa kuwa ni ukweli ulio wazi kuwa matumizi ya sayansi na teknolojia ndiyo chachu kubwa iliyoleta mageuzi na maendeleo ya kiuchumi na kijamii katika nchi. Ndiyo siri ya mafanikio katika nchi zilizoendelea na zinazopiga kasi kubwa ya maendeleo duniani.

Bahati mbaya sana kumekuwa na maendeleo na matumizi madogo ya sayansi na teknolojia katika Afrika.  Ndiyo maana nchi za Afrika ziko nyuma kimaendeleo ukilinganisha na zile zilizoendelea.  Katika mkutano huo umuhimu wa kuendeleza na kuongeza matumizi ya sayansi na teknolojia kwa ajili ya maendeleo Barani Afrika ulitambuliwa na kusisitizwa.

Mkutano ulihimiza na kusisitiza kuwa sera, mikakati na mipango ya maendeleo ya nchi za Afrika zitoe kipaumbele kwa kuendeleza matumizi ya sayansi na teknolojia.  Nchi zetu zimehimizwa kuwekeza katika elimu ya sayansi na teknolojia pamoja na kujenga uwezo wetu wa ndani wa uvumbuzi, ubunifu, umiliki na uendelezaji wa sayansi na teknolojia. Aidha, imesisitizwa kwa nchi zetu ziongeze  kasi ya kutumia sayansi na teknolojia katika shughuli mbalimbali za kiuchumi na kijamii ili kuongeza ufanisi na kasi ya maendeleo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Jambo la kutia faraja kwetu nchini ni kwamba mambo yote hayo tunayafanya.   Tunachotakiwa sasa ni kufanya vizuri zaidi na kuongeza uwekezaji na kasi ya kuendeleza matumizi ya sayansi na teknolojia katika shughuli za maendeleo ya kiuchumi na kijamii nchini.  Tutaendelea kuboresha sera, kuboresha mazingira ya uwekezaji na kwa ajili ya maendeleo ya sayansi na teknolojia nchini.

Ziara ya Rais wa Marekani Nchini Tanzania

Ndugu wananchi;

Mgeni wetu wa pili alikuwa Rais wa Marekani, Mheshimiwa Barack Obama, aliyefanya ziara nchini kwetu kati ya tarehe 1  - 2 Julai, 2013.  Lengo la ziara yake ilikuwa kuimarisha uhusiano wa kihistoria uliopo kati ya Marekani na Tanzania.  Kama mjuavyo, nchi zetu mbili zina uhusiano wa kibalozi tangu Uhuru wa Tanganyika mwaka 1961 na Mapinduzi Matukufu ya Zanzibar mwaka 1964.

Uhusiano wetu umepita katika vipindi mbalimbali na kwamba hivi sasa umekuwa mzuri zaidi kuliko wakati mwingine wowote katika historia ya nchi zetu mbili.  Kumekuwepo na ongezeko kubwa la misaada ya maendeleo kutoka Marekani na uwekezaji wa vitega uchumi na biashara navyo vinakua.  Pia ziara za kiserikali za viongozi wa nchi zetu kutembeleana zimeongezeka. Kama mtakavyokumbuka, mwaka 2008 aliyekuwa Rais wa Marekani Mheshimiwa George W. Bush alifanya ziara ya siku nne nchini.  Pia Mawaziri mbalimbali wa Serikali ya Marekani wametembelea Tanzania akiwemo Mheshimiwa Hilary Clinton akiwa Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa Marekani aliyekuja mwaka 2011. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nchi ya Marekani imekuwa mshirika wetu muhimu wa maendeleo katika nyanja mbalimbali.  Kwa upande wa afya kwa mfano, tunapata msaada mkubwa katika mapambano dhidi ya malaria na UKIMWI.  Katika maendeleo ya elimu, nako wanatusaidia katika mafunzo ya wataalamu mbalimbali pamoja na upatikanaji wa vitabu vya sayansi na hisabati kwa ajili ya shule za sekondari.  Kupitia Mfuko wa Changamoto za Milenia, Marekani inatusaidia katika kuimarisha miundomuinu ya barabara, umeme na maji.  Ujenzi wa barabara za Tanga – Horohoro, Namtumbo – Songea – Mbinga; Tunduma – Sumbawanga na baadhi ya barabara za Pemba, ujenzi wa njia ya pili ya kupeleka umeme Unguja kutoka Dar es Salaam, ujenzi wa Uwanja wa Ndege wa Mafia na usambazaji wa umeme katika Mikoa 10 ya Tanzania bara ni miongoni mwa matunda ya msaada wa Mfuko huo.  Pamoja na hayo, ipo miradi ya kuongeza maji katika jiji la Dar es Salaam na Manispaa ya Morogoro ambayo inaendelea kutekelezwa.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Wakati wa ziara yake, Rais Obama alielezea na kusisitiza dhamira yake na ya Serikali yake ya kuimarisha zaidi uhusiano na ushirikiano mzuri uliopo kati ya nchi zetu.  Alielezea kuridhika na hatua tuliyofikia ya kukuza demokrasia nchini, utawala bora na kuwekeza katika maendeleo ya watu wetu.  Aliahidi kuendelea kuunga mkono juhudi zetu.  Katika hili ameahidi kuongeza misaada ya maendeleo na kiufundi katika sekta za afya, elimu, kilimo, barabara, nishati na maendeleo ya vijana.  Pia, alithibitisha kwamba nchi yetu itaendelea kunufaika na ufadhili wa Awamu ya Pili ya Mfuko wa Changamoto za Millenia.  Katika awamu hii, maeneo yatakayopewa kipaumbele hapa kwetu ni umeme na barabara za vijijini.  Mazungumzo ya miradi itakayotekelezwa katika awamu hiyo yanaendelea vizuri.

Power Africa

Ndugu Wananchi;

Rais Obama alitumia fursa ya ziara yake nchini kuzindua mpango wa Serikali yake wa kusaidia maendeleo ya sekta ya umeme katika Bara la Afrika.  Mpango huu unaoitwa “Power Africa Initiative” umetengewa kiasi cha dola za Marekani bilioni 7 na Serikali ya Marekani na makampuni binafsi ya nchi hiyo yameahidi kuwekeza dola bilioni 9 katika mpango huo.  Kwa kuanzia, nchi sita za Afrika (Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Liberia na Kenya) ikiwemo Tanzania zitahusishwa.

Bila ya shaka Mpango huo ukikamilika utasaidia sana kuimarisha upatikanaji wa umeme barani Afrika ambayo ni nyenzo muhimu katika kuleta maendeleo ya kiuchumi na kijamii.  Ni ukweli ulio wazi kuwa ukosefu wa umeme wa kutosha na wa uhakika ni sababu kubwa inayokwamisha maendeleo ya haraka katika nchi za Afrika.  Hivyo basi, msaada huu ni muhimu sana kwetu.   Kwa ajili hiyo nimeagiza Wizara ya Nishati na Madini iandae mkakati madhubuti wa namna Tanzania itakavyoshiriki na kufaidika na mpango huo.  Nataka mpango huo utakapoanza kutekelezwa utukute sisi tupo tayari kutumia fursa zake.

Vile vile, ndugu wananchi, katika ziara hiyo Rais Obama alielezea nia ya Serikali yake kutaka kuwepo mpango wa kukuza ushirikiano wa biashara na uwekezaji baina ya nchi yake na nchi za Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki.  Nimeelekeza Wizara husika yaani Wizara ya Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki na Wizara ya Viwanda, Biashara na Masoko nao watengeneze mkakati utakaoonesha jinsi tulivyojipanga kufaidika na mpango huo.  Lazima tujiandae vyema na mapema tunufaike saiwa na mpango huo.

Ziara ya Rais Mstaafu wa Marekani Nchini

Ndugu Wananchi;

Sambamba na ziara ya Rais Obama, nchi yetu ilipata bahati ya kutembelewa tena na Rais Mstaafu wa Marekani, Mheshimiwa George W. Bush na mkewe Laura Bush, tarehe 1 hadi 3 Julai, 2013.  Kwa udhamini wa asasi ya George W. Bush Foundation waliandaa Mkutano wa Wake wa Marais wa Afrika uliofanyika hapa Dar es Salaam, tarehe 2 na 3 Julai, 2013.  Mama Michelle Obama naye alishiriki mkutano huo uliozungumzia kuimarisha maendeleo na afya ya wanawake Barani Afrika.

Katika mkutano huo, pia, Mheshimiwa George W. Bush alizindua mpango wa kuimarisha mapambano dhidi ya kansa ya shingo ya kizazi na matiti barani Afrika.  Kufuatia Mpango huo, Serikali ya Marekani imetoa dola milioni 3 na mashine 16 za Cryo Therapy zinazotumia baridi kali kuua chembechembe za kansa.  Msaada huo ni muhimu hasa ukizingatia kuwa kila mwaka hapa nchini zaidi ya Watanzania 21,000 wanapata maradhi ya kansa.  Kati ya hao asilimia 29.4  ni wanawake wanaopata magonjwa ya kansa ya shingo ya uzazi na asilimia 6.2wanapata kansa ya matiti. Naamini Mpango huu utatusaidia sana katika kuimarisha mapambano dhidi ya maradhi haya yanayowasumbua na kuua kina mama wengi nchini.  Nimeitaka Wizara ya Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii kuweka utaratibu mzuri ili msaada huo utumike ipasavyo na kuwanufaisha walengwa.

Ziara ya Waziri Mkuu Mstaafu wa Uingereza Nchini

Ndugu Wananchi;

Tarehe 23 mwezi Julai, 2013 pia tulitembelewa na Waziri Mkuu Mstaafu wa Uingereza, Mheshimiwa Tony Blair.  Katika mazungumzo yetu Mheshimiwa Blair aliahidi kuisaidia nchi yetu kupitia taasisi yake ya Africa Governance Initiative kusaidia kusambaza umeme wa jua katika shule zetu za sekondari vijijini, maboresho ya shirika letu la umeme (TANESCO) na kusaidia uanzishaji na uimarishaji wa Kitengo cha Rais cha Ufuatiliaji Utekelezaji wa Programu za Maendeleo (Presidential Delivery Bureau - PDB).   Tunamshukuru kwa ahadi yake hiyo itakayochangia katika jitihada za kujiletea maendeleo. 

Ziara ya Waziri Mkuu wa Thailand Nchini

Ndugu Wananchi;

Tarehe 30 Julai, 2013 tulimpokea Mheshimiwa Yingluck Shinawatra, Waziri Mkuu wa Thailand aliyefanya ziara ya siku tatu nchini.  Lengo la ziara yake ni kuimarisha uhusiano mzuri uliopo kati ya Thailand na Tanzania. Katika ziara hiyo, tumezindua Jukwaa la Wafanyabiashara wa Thailand na Tanzania (Thai-Tanzania Business Forum) ili kukuza biashara na uwekezaji baina ya nchi zetu.  Waziri Mkuu Yingluck Shinawatra alitumia fursa hiyo kufafanua sera ya Thailand kwa Afrika inayosisitiza kukuza ushirikiano wa karibu wa kiuchumi na kibiashara.  Pia amepata nafasi ya kutembelea Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Serengeti kujionea mwenyewe jinsi nchi yetu ilivyobarikiwa kwa kuwa na kivutio hicho cha aina yake.  Alipokuwa kule nchi zetu zilitiliana saini maelewano ya ushirikiano katika kulinda na kuhifadhi wanyama pori.

Katika mazungumzo yangu na yeye, tumekubaliana kuchukua hatua thabiti kukuza ushirikiano katika nyanja mbalimbali.  Tumetiliana saini mikataba mitano ya ushirikiano kwa mambo yafuatayo:  Kukuza na kulinda vitega uchumi; kubadilishana wafungwa; ushirikiano wa kiufundi; na ushirikiano kwa masuala ya madini. Aidha, Waziri Mkuu huyo ameahidi kuwahimiza wawekezaji wa nchini mwake kuja Tanzania kuwekeza katika sekta mbalimbali za uchumi ikiwemo kilimo, utalii, viwanda nakadhalika.          Pia, Waziri Mkuu wa Thailand ameahidi kuwa Serikali yake itatoa ufadhili kwa vijana 10 kusoma Shahada ya Uzamili nchini humo.  Vile vile, nchi hiyo itaanza kuleta wataalamu wa afya wa kujitolea kuja kushirikiana na wataalam wetu kuimarisha huduma ya afya nchini. 

Ziara hizi zinaonesha utayari wa dunia kuunga mkono jitihada zetu za kujiletea maendeleo.  Naomba Watanzania wenzangu tutumie vizuri utayari huo wa dunia kuongeza kasi ya maendeleo yetu.  Tusijikwaze wenyewe.

Ziara ya Kagera

Ndugu wananchi;

Kuanzia tarehe 24 hadi 29 Julai, 2013, nilifanya ziara Mkoani Kagera.  Nilishiriki kwenye Maadhimisho ya Siku ya Mashujaa na kuzindua jengo jipya la Mahakama Kuu. Pia niliweka jiwe la msingi la upanuzi wa kiwanja cha ndege cha Bukoba na kuweka mawe ya msingi ya ujenzi wa kiwango cha lami kwa barabara za Kigoma – Lusahunga na Kyaka – Kayanga – Bugene.  Vile vile nilizindua Wilaya mpya ya Kyerwa na kukagua shughuli za maendeleo pamoja na kuona na kusikiliza changamoto mbalimbali zinazowakabili wananchi ili kuzitafutia majawabu.

Sherehe za Kumbukumbu ya Mashujaa zilifana sana.   Niliwapongeza viongozi wa Jeshi na wa Mkoa kwa maandalizi mazuri ya sherehe hizo.  Pia nilirudia kumpongeza Mkuu wa Majeshi, Jenerali Davis Mwamunyange, kwa uamuzi wake wa busara wa kufanya sherehe za kumbukumbu za mashujaa wetu pale Kaboya badala ya kufanyikia Dar es Salaam tu kama ilivyokuwa miaka ya nyuma.  Ni uamuzi muafaka na wa busara kwani pale Kaboya ndipo walipolala  mashujaa wetu waliopoteza maisha yao kutetea mipaka na uhuru wa nchi yetu dhidi ya Nduli Iddi Amin.  Hali kadhalika, kule Naliendele, Mtwara ambapo sherehe za mashujaa zilifanyika mwaka wa juzi, ndipo walipozikwa mashujaa wetu waliopoteza maisha kuisaidia nchi jirani na rafiki ya Msumbuji kutetea Uhuru wake dhidi ya wakoloni, makaburu na vibaraka wao wa ndani ya Msumbiji.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Katika hotuba yangu pale Kaboya niliwakumbusha Watanzania wenzangu kwamba katika kuwakumbuka mashujaa wetu wale na wale sisi tulio hai, hatuna budi kutambua wajibu wetu wa kuwa tayari kujitolea muhanga kwa ajili ya kulinda uhuru wa mipaka ya nchi yetu.  Nilisisitiza utayari wa nchi yetu kulinda mipaka yake na kwamba mfano wa mashujaa waliolala pale ni fundisho kwa mtu ye yote anayetamani kumega kipande cho chote cha ardhi ya nchi yetu.  Atakiona cha mtema kuni kilichomkuta Nduli Iddi Amini  au hata zaidi.

Nimesikia kuwa kauli yangu ile imetafsiriwa visivyo na kupotoshwa na baadhi vyombo vya habari na hata majirani zetu.  Tafsiri hizo ni potofu.  Sikumtaja mtu ye yote au nchi yo yote.  Nilikuwa nazungumzia wajibu wa majeshi yetu na raia wa nchi yetu wa kulinda uhuru na mipaka yetu na kwamba hatutamruhusu mtu au nchi yo yote kutupokonya wala kuichezea haki yetu hiyo ya msingi.  Tuko tayari kuitetea hata kama gharama yake ni maisha yetu kama walivyofanya mashujaa waliolala Kaboya.

Mahakama Kuu

Ndugu Wananchi;

Katika ufunguzi wa Mahakama Kuu ya Bukoba nilisisitiza dhamira na utayari wa Serikali yetu kuiwezesha Mahakama ya Tanzania kuwa na Mahakama Kuu katika kila Mkoa.  Baada ya kukamilika kwa Mahakama Kuu ya Bukoba bado kuna Mikoa 14 hainazo.  Katika bajeti ya mwaka wa fedha 2013/14 tumetenga fedha za kujenga Mahakama Kuu katika Mikoa 7 na nilirudia ahadi yangu kuwa katika mwaka ujao wa fedha tutatoa fedha za kumalizia Mikoa 7 iliyosalia.  Niliamua tuongeze kasi ya kujenga Mahakama Kuu hizo ili kuiwezesha Mahakama ya Tanzania kutimiza ipasavyo wajibu wake wa kutoa haki nchini.

Maendeleo ya Mkoa wa Kagera

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nilipokuwa Kagera nilifurahishwa na utekelezaji wa shughuli mbalimbali za maendeleo ya kiuchumi na kijamii.  Taarifa za Mkoa na Wilaya zimefafanua kwa kina mambo mazuri yaliyofanyika na yanayoendelea kufanyika Mkoani.  Wameelezea furaha yao kwa mafanikio yaliyopatikana ambayo baadhi nimeyashuhudia au hata kushiriki kuyazindua na kuweka mawe ya msingi.  Taarifa hizo pia zimelezea mambo mengi zaidi wanayotaka yafanyike na matatizo mapya na hata ya zamani ambayo wanataka yapatiwe ufumbuzi.

Katika mazungumzo yangu na viongozi na wananchi, yapo mambo ambayo yako kwenye uwezo wao kijijini, Wilayani na Mkoani kuyapatia ufumbuzi.  Tulikubaliana na kuelekezana nini kifanyike.  Yapo mengine mengine ambayo yanahitaji nguvu ya taifa tumeyachukua kuja kuyafanyia kazi.  Kuna baadhi yaliwahusu Mawaziri ambao nilikuwa nao ziarani waliyasemea na kuyafanyia kazi palepale yalipojitokeza.

Ulinzi na Usalama

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kuna mambo matatu yahusuyo usalama ambayo yalizungumzwa na wananchi kwa uchungu mkubwa ambayo niliamua tuyashughulikie kitaifa.  Mambo hayo ni ujambazi wa kutumia silaha kuteka magari, kupora mali na watu kuuawa.  Jambo la pili ni wahamiaji kutoka nchi jirani wanaoingia, kuishi na kufanya shughuli nchini kinyume cha sheria.   Na tatu, mifugo kuingizwa kwa wingi nchini bila kufuata taratibu husika na mingine kuingizwa katika hifadhi za wanyama.

Ndugu wananchi;

Nilitoa maagizo kwa wakuu wa vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama yaani JWTZ, Polisi, Usalama wa Taifa na Uhamiaji watengeneze mpango kabambe wa kuyashughulikia matatizo hayo.  Watayarishe na kutekeleza operesheni maalum itakayo au zitakazokomesha ujambazi, kuondoa wahamiaji wasiokuwa halali na kuondoa mifugo iliyoingizwa nchini kinyume na utaratibu na ile iliyoko kwenye maeneo yasiyo stahili.

Aidha, niliwataka majambazi wajisalimishe na wasalimishe silaha zao ndani ya wiki mbili na siku hizo zinaanzia tarehe 29 Julai, 2013 nilipomaliza ziara yangu Mkoani humo.  Kwa wahamiaji wanaoishi nchini kinyume cha sheria nimewataka watumie muda huo kuondoka nchini au kuhalalisha ukaazi wao.  Hivyo hivyo kwa mifugo iliyoingizwa nchini kinyume na sheria au ile iliyoko kwenye maeneo yasiyostahili.  Ndani ya muda huo watu wote waondoe mifugo yao au wajitokeze kufuata taratibu zilizopo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nilisema nilipokuwa Mkoani Kagera na narudia tena leo kuwa baada ya siku 14 kupita, vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama vitaendesha operesheni maalum ya kushughulikia matatizo hayo.  Nilisema kuwa operesheni hiyo itafanyika katika Mikoa ya Kigoma, Kagera na Geita kwa wakati mmoja.  Napenda kuwahakikishia kuwa hapatakuwa na mahali pa kukimbilia wala kujificha.  Nawashauri wale wote wanaohusika na ujambazi, uhamiaji haramu na uingizaji haramu wa mifugo waamue kuchukua hatua muafaka sasa.  Wasisubiri operesheni iwakute, wala wasifikirie kuwa hili ni jambo la kupita.  Safari hii itakuwa endelevu.

Ndugu Zangu;

Hatuwezi kukubali hali hii niliyoikuta Mkoani Kagera ikaachwa kuendelea.  Italeta madhara makubwa zaidi siku za usoni.  Haiwezekani raia katika nchi yake, akose uhuru na usalama wa kutembea peke yake mpaka asindikizwe na Polisi.  Na, baya zaidi hata Polisi nao wanashambuliwa na kuuawa watakavyo majambazi.  Uhalifu huu lazima ukomeshwe, uishe na usijirudie tena.

Pia, haiwezekani hali ya watu kutoka nchi jirani kuingia nchini, kuishi na kufanya shughuli na kutoka watakavyo.  Hatuzuii watu kuingia na kuishi Tanzania lakini wafuate sheria na taratibu za kuhamia na kuishi katika nchi yetu.  Nchi yetu ina sifa na ukarimu huo. Hakuna uthibitisho mkubwa zaidi ya ule wa mwaka 1982, Rais Julius Nyerere wakati ule alipowaruhusu wakimbizi wanaopenda kuwa raia wa Tanzania wafanye hivyo.  Wakimbizi 30,000 tu waliitumia fursa hiyo.  Mwaka 2010 tuliwapa uraia wakimbizi 160,000 wa kutoka Burundi. Kwa sababu hiyo hatuoni sababu ya watu kufanya wanayoyafanya sasa kule Mkoani Kagera.  Hatuwezi kuacha hali hiyo iendelee ilivyo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Nilipokuwa Mkoani Kagera nilielezea kusikitishwa kwangu na vitendo vya baadhi ya watendaji na viongozi wa vijiji na wananchi kuwaruhusu watu kuingia na kuishi nchini kinyume cha sheria.  Nimewataka waache mtindo huo.  Nimeagiza na wao wajumuishwe katika operesheni ijayo.  Watakaobainika kujihusisha na vitendo hivyo haramu wachukuliwe hatua zipasazo kisheria.  Aidha, niliwataka Maafisa wa Uhamiaji watimize ipasavyo wajibu wao.  Ukweli ni kwamba, mambo haya kuendelea kwa muda mrefu kiasi hiki ni kwa sababu ya udhaifu wa mamlaka husika.  Vile vile, nimewataka TAKUKURU nao watimize wajibu wao.  Hapa kuna uthibitisho tosha wa kuwepo kwa vitendo vya rushwa vinavyohusisha wahamiaji hao na maofisa wa vijiji na idara husika za Serikali.  Mimi naamini kama TAKUKURU ikiwabana na Uhamiaji wakichemka vya kutosha tatizo hili lingepungua sana au hata kutokuwepo kabisa.

Uhusiano na Nchi ya Rwanda

Ndugu wananchi;

Katika kipindi cha miezi miwili sasa hususan tangu mwishoni mwa mwezi Mei, 2013, uhusiano baina ya nchi yetu na Rwanda unapitia katika wakati mgumu.  Kauli za viongozi wa Rwanda dhidi yangu na nchi yetu ni ushahidi wa kuwepo hali hiyo.  Napenda kuwahakikishia Watanzania wenzangu na ndugu zetu wa Rwanda kuwa mimi, Serikali ninayoiongoza na wananchi wa Tanzania tunapenda kuwa na uhusiano mzuri na ushirikiano wa karibu na Rwanda kama ilivyo kwa nchi zote jirani.  Kama majirani kila mmoja anamuhitaji mwenzake, hivyo lazima tuwe na uhusiano mwema na ushirikiano mzuri.

Napenda kusisitiza kuwa mimi na Serikali ninayoiongoza tutakuwa wa mwisho kufanya kitendo au vitendo vibaya dhidi ya Rwanda au nchi yo yote jirani au yo yote duniani.  Hatuna sababu ya kufanya hivyo kwani ni mambo ambayo hayana tija wala maslahi kwetu.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Ukweli ni kwamba wakati wote tumekuwa tunajihusisha na mambo ya kukuza na kujenga ujirani mwema na kufanya mambo ambayo yatasaidia kuimarisha uhusiano wetu kwa maslahi ya nchi zetu.  Hiyo ni moja ya nguzo kuu ya Sera ya Mambo ya Nje ya Tanzania. Huo ndiyo ukweli kuhusu uhusiano wetu na nchi ya Rwanda kabla na hata baada ya sintofahamu iliyojitokeza sasa.  Napenda kuwahakikishia ndugu zetu wa Rwanda kuwa kwa upande wetu hakuna kilichobadilika wala kupungua katika uhusiano na ushirikiano wetu. Mambo yapo vile vile. Kwa upande wangu, binafsi, sijasema lo lote kuhusu Rwanda pamoja na maneno mengi ya matusi na kejeli yanayotoka kwenye vinywa vya viongozi wa Rwanda dhidi yangu.  Siyo kwamba siambiwi yanayosemwa au sijui kusema au sina la kusema, la hasha.  Sijafanya hivyo kwa sababu sioni faida yake.  Kwangu mimi sioni kama kuna mgogoro wa aina yo yote.   Busara inatuelekeza kuwa tusikuze mgogoro usiokuwepo.  Waingereza wanasema “two wrongs do not make a right”.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kama mjuavyo uhusiano wetu na Rwanda umekuwa mzuri kwa miaka mingi.  Tunashirikiana na kusaidiana kwa mambo mengi baina ya nchi zetu kitaifa na katika kanda yetu ya Afrika Mashariki na Nchi za Maziwa Makuu, katika Umoja wa Afrika na hata kimataifa.  Uhusiano unaelekea kupata mtikisiko baada ya mimi kutoa ushauri kwa Serikali ya Rwanda kuzungumza na mahasimu wao.  Ushauri ule niliutoa kwa nia njema kabisa kwani bado naamini kuwa kama jambo linaweza kumalizwa kwa njia ya mazungumzo njia hiyo ni vyema itumike.  Isitoshe, ushauri ule niliutoa pia kwa Serikali ya Kongo na kwa Serikali ya Uganda.  Katika mkutano ule Rais Yoweri Museveni wa Uganda aliunga mkono kauli yangu. Rais wa Rwanda hakusema cho chote pale mkutanoni.  Baada ya kurudi nyumbani ndipo tukaanza kuyasikia maneno tuliyoyasikia na tunayoendelea kuyasikia.

Kwa kweli nimestaajabu sana na jinsi walivyouchukulia ushauri wangu na wanayoyafanya.  Havifanani kabisa, completely out of proportion and out of context. Mimi nilifanya vile kwa kuzingatia mila na desturi zetu za miaka mingi katika ukanda wetu.  Tumekuwa tunakutana katika mikutano na vikao mbalimbali tunazungumza na kushauriana kwa uwazi juu ya njia za kushughulikia matatizo na masuala mbalimbali kila yanapotokea.  Wakati wote tumeyachukulia kuwa ni mambo yanayotuhusu sote hivyo kupeana ushauri ni wajibu wetu wote.  Na mara nyingi ushauri kwa wanaogombana kuzungumza tunautumia sana.  Iweje leo mtu kutoa ushauri ule lionekane jambo baya na la ajabu.  Jambo la kushutumiwa na kutukanwa!  Siyo sawa hata kidogo!! Ushauri si shuruti, ushauri si amri.  Una hiyari ya kuukubali au kuukataa.  Muungwana hujibu:  “Siuafiki ushauri wako”.  Hakuna haja ya kutukana wala kusema maneno yasiyostahili wala kusema yasiyokuwepo na ya uongo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Napenda kurudia kusema kuwa mimi binafsi na Serikali yetu ya Tanzania hatuna ugomvi wala nia yo yote mbaya na Rwanda.  Tunapenda tuendelee kuwa na uhusiano mzuri na Rwanda.  Labda wenzetu wanalo lao jambo dhidi yetu ambalo sisi hatulijui.  Maana na sisi tunasikia mengi yanayozungumzwa na kudaiwa kupangwa kufanywa na Rwanda dhidi yangu na nchi yetu.  Hatupendi kuyaamini moja kwa moja tunayoyasikia lakini hatuyapuuzi.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kabla ya kumaliza, naomba kutumia nafasi hii pia kuwatakia Waislamu wote nchini heri na baraka tele katika kukamilisha ibada muhimu ya kufunga mwezi Mtukufu wa Ramadhan.  Naomba tuendelee kuwatakia heri ili wamalize salama na tuweze kusherehekea kwa furaha na bashasha tele siku kuu ya Idd el Fitr pindi itakapowadia.

Mwisho kabisa, nawaomba Watanzania wenzangu wote tuendelee kushirikiana na kuishi kwa upendo, umoja na mshikamano kama ilivyo kawaida yetu.

Mungu Ibariki Tanzania!

Mungu Ibariki Afrika!

Asanteni Sana Kwa Kunisikiliza.

Mhe. Dkt. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania;

Mhe. Dkt. Ali Mohammed Shein, Rais wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar;

Mhe. Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda (Mb), Waziri Mkuu wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania;

Mhe. Seif Shariff Hamad, Makamu wa Kwanza wa Rais wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar;

Waheshimiwa Mawaziri na Manaibu Waziri;

Balozi Ombeni Sefue, Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi;

Makatibu Wakuu;

Dkt. Philip Mpango, Katibu Mtendaji wa Tume ya Mipango;

Washirika na Wadau wa Maendeleo;

Viongozi wa Taasisi za Serikali na Mashirika ya Umma;

Viongozi wa Kidini na Sekta Binafsi;

Wataalamu Elekezi kutoka PEMANDU na Mckinsey;

Washiriki wa Maabara;

Ndugu Wananchi;

Mabibi na Mabwana:

Napenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwakaribisha wote katika Warsha ya Wazi kuhusu mfumo mpya unaoanzishwa na Serikali wa ufuatiliaji na tathmini ya utekelezaji wa miradi ya kitaifa ya kipaumbele. Warsha hii inatoa nafasi ya pekee kwa wananchi kushiriki na kutoa mawazo yao jinsi ya kuboresha mfumo huo unaopendekezwa. Ni Warsha ya kuelimishana, kubadilishana mawazo na kufahamishana mipango na mambo ambayo Serikali inatarajia kuyafanya katika siku za karibuni.

Namshukuru Balozi Ombeni Sefue, Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi, Dkt. Philip Mpango, Katibu Mtendaji wa Tume ya Mipango, viongozi na watumishi wote wa Tume ya Mipango kwa kuandaa Warsha hii mahsusi. Kwa namna ya pekee nawashukuru pia wataalamu wa PEMANDU na McKinsey kwa kushirikiana vizuri na wataalam wetu katika kila hatua ya safari hii ambayo Serikali yetu imeianza.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Kupanga na kutekeleza mipango ya maendeleo sio jambo geni hapa nchini. Ni jambo ambalo tumelifanya tangu tupate Uhuru na tunaendelea nalo. Serikali ya Awamu ya Kwanza chini ya Baba wa Taifa Hayati Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, ilianza na Mpango wa Kwanza wa Maendeleo mwaka 1961 – 1964. Mpango huo uliainisha maadui watatu wa maendeleo ambao ni umaskini, ujinga na maradhi. Mikakati mbalimbali na mipango madhubuti ya maendeleo ilibuniwa ili kupambana na maadui hao. Baada ya hapo ukaja Mpango wa Maendeleo wa Miaka 15 wa mwaka 1964 – 1980, uliokuwa umegawanywa katika vipindi vitatu vya utekelezaji vya miaka mitano mitano.

Baadhi yenu mtakumbuka kuwa utekelezaji wa vipindi viwili vya mwanzo ulikuwa wa kuridhisha. Hata hivyo, utekelezaji wa kipindi cha mwisho cha Mpango ule, yaani kati ya mwaka 1975 – 1980, ulikuwa duni mno. Utekelezaji wake ulivurugwa sana na changamoto za wakati ule kama vile kupanda sana bei ya mafuta, kuvunjika kwa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki (1977) na Vita ya Kagera. Mambo haya yalisababisha fedha zetu nyingi kutumika kuagiza mafuta, kujenga taasisi zetu wenyewe na kutetea mipaka ya nchi yetu. Rasilimali kidogo tuliyonayo ikaenda huko badala ya kugharamia miradi ya maendeleo. 

Ndugu Wananchi;

Pamoja na changamoto zilizojitokeza, Serikali iliamua kuanzisha mpango mwingine wa maendeleo wa muda mrefu wa mwaka 1981 – 2000. Kwa bahati mbaya mpango huo nao haukutekelezwa kufuatia kuendelea kudorora kwa uchumi. Kati ya mwaka 1981 na miaka ya 90 mwanzoni, Serikali ilianza kufanya mabadiliko makubwa ya kiuchumi. Tukawa na National Economic Survival Programme (NESP) mwaka 1981 – 82 na Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) mwaka 1982 – 1985. Mipango hiyo haikutekelezwa vizuri kutokana na sababu mbalimbali ikiwemo ya ukosefu wa rasilimali za kutosha. Kati ya mwaka 1986 – 89, Serikali kwa kushirikiana na Mfuko wa Fedha wa Kimataifa (IMF) ikaanza kutekeleza programu ya kwanza ya kufufua uchumi (ERP – I). Ya pili ikafuatia kati ya mwaka 1989 – 1992.

Mwaka 1994 Serikali ikaanza kuandaa mpango wa maendeleo wa muda mrefu utaowezesha kuzikabili changamoto mpya kufuatia mageuzi ya kiuchumi na kijamii yaliyokuwa yanaendelea nchini na duniani kwa ujumla. Kazi hiyo ilikamilika mwaka 1999 na kuzinduliwa kwa Dira ya Maendeleo ya Taifa ya 2025. Malengo ya Dira hiyo ni kuleta maendeleo ya haraka nchini na kuifanya Tanzania kuwa nchi ya uchumi wa kati ifikapo mwaka 2025. Maana yake ni kwamba wananchi wawe na chakula cha kutosha, huduma ya elimu na afya iliyo bora iwafikie watu wengi zaidi, vifo vya watoto na akina mama vipungue, wastani wa kuishi uongezeke, maji safi na salama yapatikane kwa wote, uhalifu upungue na umaskini uliokithiri usiwepo kabisa na pato la wastani la Watanzania liwe zaidi ya dola za Kimarekani 3,000. Vile vile pawe na maendeleo ya viwanda, matumizi ya teknolojia na sayansi yaongezeke, miundombinu ipanuke na uchumi ukue kwa asilimia 8 au zaidi.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Juhudi kubwa zilizofanywa na Serikali za awamu zote ikiwemo na hii ninayoiongoza mimi zimeleta mafanikio ya kutia moyo. Kwa mfano, uchumi wa nchi umekua kwa wastani wa asilimia 7 kwa miaka kumi iliyopita, mfumuko wa bei upo chini ya asilimia 10, mapato ya ndani yameongezeka, mauzo ya nje yameongezeka na hifadhi ya fedha za kigeni imeongezeka pia. Hata hivyo, idadi ya Watanzania walio maskini bado ni kubwa hususan umaskini wa kipato. Vile vile bado hatujafanikiwa kufikia malengo katika maeneo mengi tuliyojiwekea. Hata tathmini ya utekelezaji wa Dira ya Maendeleo 2025 tuliyofanya mwaka 2000 imethibitisha hivyo. Hatuendi kwa kasi inayotakiwa na utekelezaji wake siyo wa kuridhisha. Matokeo yake tupo nyuma ya hatua tuliyotakiwa kuwa. Kwa mfano, kwa upande wa safari ya kuelekea pato la wastani la watu kuwa dola 3,000 mwaka 2025, tulitakuwa tuwe tumefikia dola 995 mwaka 2010.  Lakini ilikuwa tumefikia dola 545 tu. Kwa ukuaji wa uchumi, tulitakiwa tuwe asilimia 8, lakini tulikuwa asilimia 7.

Zipo changamoto nyingi za ndani na nje, zilizofanya tusifikie malengo hayo: Kubwa ni misukosuko ya uchumi wa dunia, uhaba wa rasilimali fedha na ufuatiliaji mdogo katika utekelezaji wa miradi iliyoainishwa kuleta maendeleo. Aidha, mipango na mikakati ya maendeleo ilikuwa na vipaumbele vingi kwa wakati mmoja wakati rasilimali za utekelezaji wake ni kidogo. Hali hii haikutuwezesha kujielekeza ipasavyo kwenye maeneo yenye kuleta matokeo makubwa na kwa haraka.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Baada ya kutafakari yote haya, tukafikiria namna ya kuweza kufikia malengo yetu ya Dira ndani ya muda uliobakia. Hivyo, tukaamua kuja na Mpango ya Maendeleo wa Muda Mrefu wa Miaka 15 ambao utatekelezwa katika awamu tatu za miaka mitano mitano. Katika Mpango wa Kwanza Maendeleo wa Miaka Mitano (2011/12-2015/16), maeneo yaliyopewa kipaumbele ni Miundombinu, Kilimo, Viwanda, Huduma za jamii na Uendelezaji Rasilimali Watu na Utalii, Biashara na Huduma za Fedha. Changamoto kubwa ikabaki kuimarisha mfumo wetu wa kusimamia utekelezaji wa mipango ya maendeleo ili kuleta matokeo ya haraka. Kuendelea kufanya vilevile tulivyokuwa tukifanya kusingeweza kuleta mabadiliko tuliyokuwa tunayataka katika utekelezaji wa mipango yetu. Ilibidi tubadilike, ikiwezekana tukimbie pale ambapo wengine wanatembea.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Tukiwa katika hali hiyo ya kutafakari cha kufanya, mwezi Mei, 2011 ikawa bahati mimi kuhudhuria Mkutano wa Kimataifa wa “Langkawi International Dialogue” uliofanyika mjini Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Katika mkutano huo, Serikali ya Malaysia iliwasilisha mada jinsi inavyoendesha na kusimamia utendaji wake ikiwemo utekelezaji wa miradi ya maendeleo na huduma kwa jamii. Mimi na viongozi wenzangu tuliohudhuria mkutano huo tulivutiwa sana na mfumo wa utendaji wa Malaysia na tukadhamiria kujifunza zaidi kutoka kwao. Tukaomba watusaidie. Bahati nzuri Serikali ya Malaysia ikakubali ombi letu na kuandaa warsha maalum mwezi Novemba, 2011. Ujumbe wa Tanzania kwenye warsha hiyo ya aina yake uliongozwa na Dkt. Philip Mpango. Waliporudi, tukaamua kuwa na sisi tuanze kutumia utaratibu wa Malaysia wa “Matokeo Makubwa Sasa” ama kwa Kiingereza “Big Results Now”.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Utekelezaji wa mfumo wa “Big Results Now” hapa nchini ulianza kwa kuainisha maeneo sita yenye uwezo wa kutupatia matokeo makubwa kwa haraka. Maeneo hayo ni nishati, elimu, maji, miundombinu, kilimo na utafutaji fedha. Kazi ya kuchagua maeneo sita ya kwanza nayo haikuwa rahisi. Tulibishana sana katika kuchagua vipaumbele vichache lakini vyenye kuleta matokeo makubwa. Hatimaye tukafanikiwa. Vipaumbele hivi vinabeba msingi wa kufungulia fursa za ukuaji uchumi wa Tanzania kwa ujumla na kuchochea ustawi wa maisha bora kwa wananchi.

Hatua ya pili ikawa ni kufanya uchambuzi wa kina kupitia awamu ya kwanza ya maabara (lab) kama alivyoeleza Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi. Kazi hiyo ilitekelezwa kwa wiki sita mfululizo na wataalam wetu zaidi ya 300 kutokanyanja na sekta mbalimbali na kukamilika tarehe 05 Aprili, 2013. Nawapongeza sana kwa kazi hiyo kubwa na moyo wao wa kujitolea. Tumeandaa ratiba ya utekelezaji kwa kila mradi na programu ikionyesha kazi zilizopangwa kufanywa, mtekelezaji-husika na muda na kukamilisha kazi.  

Katika mfumo huu, Mawaziri na Watendaji katika Wizara na Idara watapimwa kwa vigezo vilivyo wazi na ninyi wananchi mtapata fursa ya kuvijua vigezo hivi pamoja na matokeo ya upimaji. Hapatakuwa na siri. Hii itarahisisha usimamizi wa utendaji kwa maana Waziri au Katibu Mkuu atajifunga yeye mwenyewe kimaandishi na ataweka saini yake kwenye vigezo ambavyo atapimwa navyo na wananchi mtashuhudia matokeo ya upimaji huo.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Ili kuweza kuratibu vyema shughuli za ufuatiliaji wa utekelezaji wa miradi ya maendeleo katika mfumo huu mpya, nimeunda chombo maalum kitakachokuwa chini ya Ofisi yangu ambacho kitajulikana kama President’s Delivery Bureau (PDB). Kazi zake za msingi zitakuwa ni pamoja na: kupanga na kuendesha shughuli za uchambuzi wa kina wa kimaabara (labs); kuandaa mikataba ya kupima utendaji kazi wa Mawaziri kwenye miradi na programu za maendeleo katika wizara zao; kwa kushirikiana na Tume ya Mipango kuishauri Serikali kuhusu maeneo machache ya kipaumbele yenye kuleta matokeo ya haraka (National Key Results Areas); kusaidia sekta binafsi kuwekeza kwenye maeneo hayo; na kufanya tathmini huru ya utendaji kwa viongozi wote hususan Mawaziri katika utekelezaji wa maeneo muhimu ya kitaifa.

Ndugu Wananchi;

Tumefanya kazi kubwa sana ya kuandaa na kuainisha maeneo ya kimkakati na kuyaandalia programu za kina kwa ajili ya utekelezaji. Lakini tumeona ni vyema kuwashirikisha wadau na wananchi katika jambo hili kubwa. Ndio maana tupo hapa kuhakikisha kuwa wananchi kwa ujumla wenu mnapata fursa ya kuchangia katika miradi na programu hizo kwa maendeleo ya taifa letu na watu wake.

Ndugu Zangu;

Sitapenda kuongea sana hivyo basi nataka niwape nafasi wananchi na wadau wengine mliofika hapa kupita katika eneo la kila maabara na kupata maelezo ya kina kutoka kwa wataalam. Muwe huru kuuliza maswali, kujenga hoja, kutoa maoni na kukosoa na kuboresha katika kila maabara. Baada ya kupata maoni yenu ndipo tutaboresha na kwenda kuyafanyia kazi maoni na ushauri wenu.  

Ndugu Wananchi;

Baada ya kusema hayo, napenda kutamka kuwa Warsha ya Wazi imefunguliwa rasmi. Ninawatakia majadiliano mazuri na uchangiaji mzuri.

Asanteni kwa kunisikiliza

 Your Excellency, Comrade President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan;

Excellencies;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Once again I heartily welcome you, and First Lady Madam Peng Liyuan, to Tanzania. Congratulations on your well deserved election to the highest offices of your great Country: Secretary General of the Communist Party of China and most recently President of the Peoples Republic of China. We are very pleased and, in fact humbled that you included Tanzania in your first visit to Africa since you assumed the Presidency in your great country.

We in Africa highly appreciate this gesture of friendship and solidarity that in your first foreign trip, Africa is in your itinerary. And, more importantly we are anxious and excited that you will seize the opportunity of your visit to Tanzania to speak about China-Africa relations.

Mr. President;

Your visit to Tanzania will further consolidate and advance the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Tanzania and China, built on a very solid foundation by the founding fathers of our two nations, (who unfortunately all are late) President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere on the Tanzanian side, Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou en Lai on the Chinese side. The relationship we are witnessing today was further nurtured, consolidated and advanced by the successive generations of leaders in our respective countries. Fortunately for Tanzania two of my Predecessors, His Excellency Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the Second President and His Excellency Benjamin Mkapa the Third President are here with us.

Sino -Tanzania relationship has endured a lot and withstood the test of time. It is the steadfastness of our leaders and peoples of our two countries which sustained it and enabled it to grow from strength to strength. Now, we have become all weather friends. The words of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere in a speech, delivered at the Peking Square in Beijing, during his state visit to China in February 1965 attests to underline this fact. He said:

“We shall see for ourselves what are China's intentions towards us. We shall not be told by others.... the fears of others will not affect Tanzania's friendship with China, any more than our friendship with other countries would be affected by what their opponents say of them".

Mr. President; Ladies and Gentlemen;

When President Julius Nyerere established diplomatic relations with China in 1964, visited China in February, 1965, Premier Zhou En Lai visited Tanzania in June 1965 and Tanzania supported China to take her rightful seat at the United Nations, it was at the height and intense heat of the cold war. Today, forty eight years later the fear of China by others still remains, despite the cold war having ended. Those words of wisdom by the founding father of our nation still resonate in my mind and the minds of all of us in government. They informed and guided Tanzania’s - China policy for the past five decades. The fact of the matter is that: “We will always be guided by our own judgment based on Tanzania’s best interests”. I say this to assure you that Tanzania will continue to work closely with China at bilateral and multilateral settings in pursuit of national and global development goals of mutual interest.

Mr. President;

Next year our two countries will be celebrating 50 years of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, friendship and cooperation. Our relationship is excellent and China and Tanzania see eye to eye on many bilateral, regional and global issues. Trade and investments have been increasing. Tanzania has received invaluable support and assistance in our development endeavours as it has been the case with many African countries. These have made a huge difference in the livelihood of our nations and peoples. We will always be grateful and pray for continued support and assistance both at bilateral level and under FOCAC, which has proved to be a very useful initiative to support Africa’s development. In this regard we look forward to expansion of areas of cooperation and resource.

Your Excellency; Ladies and Gentlemen;

We are gathered here this morning for official handover and inauguration of the Julius Nyerere Convention Centre built by the support and assistance from the Government and people of China. This is another important milestone in the cooperation and solidarity between our two nations and peoples. Indeed, it is quite befitting that this monumental building bears the name of the founding father of the Tanzanian nation and of China-Afri-Tanzania relationship. We could not have chosen a better name.

The Convention Centre joins the long list of other symbols of Sino-Tanzania friendship and co-operation. These include, among others, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, URAFIKI Textiles Mills, the National Stadium and several others which for brevity of time I will not mention all of them.

The Julius Nyerere Convention Centre will provide another modern conference facility for Tanzania and will be the first of its kind in Dar es Salaam. It will now be easy for Dar es Salaam to host local and international conferences which require facilities like the ones available at this Convention Centre. I am sure it will also be a source of promoting conference tourism for the City of Dar es Salaam.

Allow me, at this juncture to acknowledge and pay homage to your predecessor, His Excellency President Hu Jintao, for accepting my request and making it possible for this magnificent Julius Nyerere Convention Centre to be built. The people of Tanzania will forever cherish this symbol of true friendship.

Your Excellency;

Before I conclude let me express my profound gratitude to the China’s policy towards Africa. It has worked well and we have no doubt that the people of China will continue to walk with the people of Africa. So far China has been a dependable supporter and ally of African countries and other Third World countries, in their quest for support in their development efforts and plea for a just and equitable world economic order. We are eagerly waiting to hear from you on the policy of your administration towards Africa. It is now my singular honour and pleasure to welcome you to address this audience.

Long live China-Tanzania friendship! Long live China - Africa friendship! Please welcome.

            I thank you for your kind attention.

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY  JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, ON THE OCCASION OF HANDING OVER THE CHAIR OF SADC ORGAN ON POLITICS, DEFENSE AND SECURITY COOPERATION, 17^TH AUGUST, 2013, LILONGWE, MALAWI

Your Excellency Joyce Banda, President of the Republic of Malawi, Chairperson of SADC and our host;

Your Excellency Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of Mozambique and outgoing Chairperson of SADC;

Excellencies Heads of State and Government;

Heads of Delegations;

Honourable Ministers;

Your Excellency, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomao, SADC Executive Secretary;

Distinguished Delegates;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          Allow me to begin by thanking Her Excellency Joyce Banda, President of the friendly Republic of Malawi and the great people of Malawi for the warm reception and gracious hospitality accorded to me and my delegation since our arrival in this beautiful city of Lilongwe.  I congratulate you Madam President on the well deserved election to the Chairmanship of SADC. We trust that under your able hands our regional cooperation institution will continue to make progress and attain greater heights.

I also thank Your Excellencies for the honour you reposed on me last year to Chair the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.  I have the pleasure to present to you the report of the work of the Troika of the Organ in the past twelve months. Let me hasten to say that it was a very eventful year.  The Troika met a record seven times, probably unprecedented in the history of our organization.  We were obliged to do so because of the demand for action in view of what was happening in the DRC, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.  

Excellencies;

          On the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Troika was preoccupied with ending the fighting between the Government of the D.R. Congo and the rebels of the M23.  In this regard the Troika, the SADC Chairperson and the SADC Secretariat worked closely with International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.  As a result of this cooperation our two organizations agreed on a number of things to do together including the creation of the Neutral International Force. Later this force became the Force Intervention Brigade under the United Nation’s – MONUSCO.  Several SADC countries volunteered to contribute troops to the Brigade. Ultimately, three countries South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania were chosen by the UN to deploy.  South Africa and Tanzania have already deployed Malawi is in the process of doing so.

          The decision to establish and deploy this Force has not been without its own challenges.  There were voices which  did not favour the idea and worked to oppose it.  After establishment and deployment there are efforts to discredit the Force probably for the purpose of influencing its dissolution or recall of some countries who have deployed or break the morale of the soldiers. This calls for continued support on the part of SADC and vigilance on the part of the nations which have deployed.  And, the officers and men of the Force Intervention Brigade must beware of these unusual circumstances.  This means, besides discharging their duties with highest levels of professionalism they must exercise and take extra caution because one would not know what is up their sleeves of those who are not happy with their very presence.

          You will recall, Excellencies, that at the August 2012  Summit we also agreed on a number of things to do to help our brothers and sisters in the DRC build capacity in various fields.  The idea was to assist them address the challenges they are facing.  I must admit that, the security situation in the Eastern part of this country exhausted most of our energy at the expense of these other important matters.  I appeal to incoming Chair to give due attention to these outstanding issues.  They are equally and critically important for the future of stable peaceful and prosperous DRC.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

With regard to Madagascar and Zimbabwe, the Troika of Organ worked in close collaboration with SADC’s very able Mediators. His Excellency Jacob Zuma President of the Republic of South Africa with regard to Zimbabwe and His Excellency Joachim Chissano, former President of Republic of Mozambique with regard to Madagascar. We tirelessly engaged the political stakeholders in both countries and it is encouraging to note that these efforts did not go in vain. A host of challenges were overcome and visible progress has been made.

In Zimbabwe, for example, the constitution making process was successfully concluded. The referendum on the draft Constitution was held on 16^th March, 2013 and a new constitution has been put in place thereafter.  This paved the way for the harmonized elections of 31 July, 2013 despite the brevity of preparatory time. SADC was able to deploy observers for both the constitutional referendum and elections.  Unlike the last election, this time around the election was peaceful so people had the opportunity to vote freely. 

The SADC Electoral Observer Mission issued its preliminary report to that effect. They deemed the election free and peaceful.  We are anxiously awaiting the final report where they will pronounce themselves on the other aspects of the elections in accordance with the SADC Electoral Observation Guidelines. 

Excellencies;

We commend the people of Zimbabwe on the peaceful elections.  We congratulate President Robert Mugabe on his re-election and the ZANU-PF on convincing victory in Parliamentary seats. We commend Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Professor Welshman Ncube and their respective Parties for participating in the elections and on the hard fought campaign and for what they were able to achieve.

We humbly appeal to all parties to remain civil and where there are grievances, legal and constitutional means should be invoked.  We advice against resorting to violence.  It is not in their best interest neither is it in the best interest of the people of Zimbabwe and their great country.  Overall as we congratulate the people of Zimbabwe on the peaceful and orderly elections, we wish them every success going forward. 

Excellencies;

          On behalf of the Troika, I would like to call upon this August Assembly to commend the sterling job done by our facilitator on Zimbabwe, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa and officials of this esteemed government who helped him deliver on our promise. Indeed, the road has not been easy.  It has many challenges, it needed the patience and diplomatic skills of the facilitator and his team to achieve what we have been able to achieve thus far.  We owe them a vote of thanks and big applause.

Excellencies; 

Madagascar has been very tricky and quite a challenge. However through concerted efforts of the Troika and the SADC Mediator, Former President Joacquim Chissano of Mozambique commendable progress in the implementation of the Roadmap has been made. All institutions of transition have been established and the Amnesty Law was enacted. Preparations for the elections were made, the implementation process was initiated but got stalled because of the problems which had arisen.

  Perhaps the most intriguing challenge we faced was that of leaders and other stakeholders reneging on promises and commitments they make.  This has been the cause of reversals as well as delays and slow pace in implementation of the Road Map.  It is very much the reason behind the unreliability of the many decisions being made.

Excellencies;

Among such examples is the way President Andry Rajoelina and Former President Mark Ravalomanana chose not to honour their promise not to contest.  The other is lack of respect for rule of law and the Constitution as was exemplified by the candidature of President Andry Rajoelina, Mrs. Lalao Ravalomanana and former President   Didier Tatsiraka.  Both these candidates and the Special Electoral Court decided not to respect the law.

The list of things not done as agreed is long. In short, the issue of   Madagascar is unfinished business, hence the Troika and the SADC has to remain seized with the matter.  We must ensure that the parties stick to the Roadmap and implement decisions of SADC, AU, UN and International Contact Group on Madagascar.  We should also push for the reconciliation particularly of the main protagonists for the sake of durable peace and stability in Madagascar. 

          Another important milestone that we achieved was the launch of the Second Edition of the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO II) in November last year. Your Excellencies agree with me that SIPO remains one of the key frameworks for the SADC regional integration agenda.  It provides SADC with a consistent and comprehensive programme of longterm political, economic, social and security policies.  At the same time it provides SADC Secretariat with a strategic direction and sets priorities for Member States. 

SIPO II has been structured to respond to existing and emerging challenges facing our Region including climate change, unconstitutional change of government, illegal immigration, increase in organized transnational crime, drug and human trafficking, money laundering, illicit mining and maritime piracy.  The good thing about SIPO II is that it has a strong monitoring and evaluation mechanism.  I therefore, appeal to all Member States to support the implementation of this important policy document as it provides SADC with an opportunity to move forward with unity of purpose and renewed strength.  Let me underscore the obvious fact that its success will depend on each one of us playing his or her part accordingly.  It can be done, play your part.

Excellencies;

          During the last twelve months we also undertook various activities aimed at achieving the broad objectives of the Protocol on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation of the Southern African Development Community.  I am pleased to announce that during this Summit we will witness the launch of the Hashim Mbita Research Publication following the conclusion of Member States’ Chapter. 

I had also the rare opportunity and privilege to work very closely with various institutions established under the Organ.  I was thrilled and encouraged to learn that we have a formidable institutional set up and highly motivated staff.  However, we need to do more to build the capacity of these institutions to make them more effective in responding to regional challenges.  In this regard, sufficient funding should be made available to these institutions if we are to achieve the outcomes we all desire.

Excellencies;

          It is clear that a lot of ground has been covered over the past twelve months but several challenges still remain ahead of us.  I am confident that with concerted efforts, close cooperation and commitment of all the SADC Member States, our Region will eventually overcome the challenges.  As I am handing over the baton to able hands of my brother, His Excellency Hifikepunye  Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia, I have no doubt that our organization will effectively rise to challenges. I pledge unqualified   support to our new chair in discharging his new responsibilities.  He can count on me and my other colleagues in the government I lead.  I wish President Hifikepunye Pohamba and the people of Namibia every success.

Excellencies;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

          It would be remiss of me if I did not thank our illustrious Executive Secretary, His Excellency Tomaz Augusto Salomao his Deputies and the entire team at the SADC Secretariat and indeed our development partners for the support and cooperation rendered to me and my country during our tenure of office.  We are truly indebted to you all.

          And now it is now my singular honour and pleasure to officially present the Report of the work of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation for the period of August, 2012 to August, 2013 to the 33^rd Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government for your consideration.

          Thank you for your kind attention. Mercy beaucoup, Muite obligado, Asanteni sana.