Kikwete:My legacy to Tanzanians Friday, 01 October 2010 08:33 digg
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
By Citizen Reporters
President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday outlined issues that he would like Tanzanians to remember him after his leadership as Chadema Presidential candidate, Dr Willibrod Slaa promising subsidy to all religious hospitals in the country to enable them provide health services free to all Tanzanians.
Addressing a campaign rally in Urambo West constituency, President Kikwete said he would like Tanzanians to remember him for improving irrigated agriculture through Kilimo Kwanza initiative; use of fertilisers and pesticides as well as production of many extension officers.
He said he would like Tanzanians to remember him on creating markets for agricultural products, improving infrastructure especially roads and mechanisation of agriculture.
He conceded that targets set in a number of areas like water and infrastructure have not been achieved fully but promised that in the next five years he would strive to ensure that they meet all the targets if elected.
He said many projects have not been achieved fully because of donor dependence.
On his foreign trips, which have been lamented by many opposition politicians, Mr Kikwete said the country would not been where it is today development wise, if he would have not gone to seek assistance.
If I had decided to sit at the State House looking at my wife Salma and tell her she is beautiful, I think many Tanzanians would have died of hunger... to achieve what we have achieved I had to travel to US and other places to meet donors and supporters, he said.
for his part, Dr Slaa made the promise when addressing a campaign rally at Kiungani grounds in Ifakara town, Kilombero district in Morogoro region yesterday.
Dr slaa said there were many hospitals run by religious institutions which were fundamental for provision of health services but cannot be accessed easily by majority of Tanzanians.
The first budget of our government will provide subsidies to all religious run hospitals so that they extend their quality services free to all citizens, said Dr Slaa.
He also promised to make sure that Kilombelo and Rufiji valleys were effectively utilised to produce food for the country and stop berging for assistances.
Kilombero can be turned into a bread basket as it is endowed with many valleys. If we will utilize them well we will get surplus food and stop begging outside the country. We will also be able to increase
employment to our people, said Dr Slaa.
He dismissed Presidents Kikwete promises of building infrastructures and other things noting that they were within the budgets and anyone who is elected president will implement them.
Roads, bridges, water, health centres are within the budget and are the works of councils and municipals, why are they not addressing the sources of those problems? asked Dr Slaa who noted that Chadema was offering new measures which the government has failed to tackle.
He defended Chadema policy of free
education to all noting that even Mwalimu Julius Nyerere had managed to provide free education.
If the late Nyerere managed to provide free education in those days when we had scarcity resources, why not today where we have a lot of revenue and other natural resources to boost our income? he posed.
He aid Chadema will not only provide free education to the public but also to make sure the quality of that education is improved.
He said the problem of employment will be solved by providing good education. He said number of employed people would not include youths who sale water or collecting plastics bottles in streets.
The Chadema parliamentary candidate in Kilombero, Ms Regia Mtema told the rally that first thing she will work on was to make sure the residents of Kilombero get reliable electricity.
It is a shame to us, two sources of electricity Kidatu and Kihansi are in this district but only one percent of the residents in the district are using electricity. Health centres are using candles, I will make sure you became first beneficiaries of these services, said Ms Mtema.
Meanwhile, the United Peoples Democratic Party (UPDP) presidential candidate, Mr Fahmi Dovutwa campaigns have halted for six days now after he fallen sick.
Speaking to the Citizen yesterday, Mr Dovutwa said he is suffering from stomach ache as a result of a lot of gas which causes pneumonia.
I am still bedridden. I started to feel sick last Saturday and I received treatment from Tumaini Hospital, he said noting that he was planning to return to the hospital this month for further treatment.
Speaking over the phone, he was not aware on when he would start his campaigns as his health was still deteriorating.
I dont know what will happen as I have not started my campaigns while my colleagues are continuing, said the presidential candidate who in his party manifesto had promised to make Tanzania produce arms locally.
Reported by Ibrahim Bakari (Kaliua), Beatus Kagashe (Kilombero) and Fredy Azzah (dar)