SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, HIS EXCELLENCY JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, ON INAUGURATING THE FOURTH PHASE PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, DODOMA,

30 DECEMBER 2005

Honourable Speaker:

Let me begin with words of gratitude. I should like, first of all, to thank Almighty God for the life and health we continue to enjoy, and for enabling us to convene this inaugural session of the Fourth Phase Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania. I also thank Almighty God for enabling us to conduct free and fair 2005 General Elections, in peace and security, earning great respect for our country. I am sure the conduct of these elections has made every Tanzanian, at home and abroad, feel good.

I should like, once again, to thank my Party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) for putting me forward as its presidential candidate. I thank my fellow CCM members and supporters for actively and effectively campaigning, resulting in a landslide victory. I want to assure them that I will not let them down. The implementation of the CCM Election Manifesto is in safe hands.

Through this Parliament I should like to thank my fellow citizens for giving me and my Party a resounding victory. There are people who have expressed concern over the implications of such a landslide. These obviously do not understand Tanzania well. Those who know well this Nation, founded by Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and Abeid Amani Karume, were not surprised. The only way I can express my gratitude to the Tanzanian people—both CCM and non-CCM members – is my promise to live up to their expectations.

I am grateful to opposition parties and leaders for their courage in taking on CCM. Now the elections are over. The people’s verdict is known. We should now unite in developing our country. I believe that a peaceful and economically prosperous Tanzania is in the interest of everyone, as it will provide a better life for every citizen.

I am grateful to the Honourable Members of Parliament for electing Hon. Samuel John Sitta, MP, and a CCM nominee, to the position of Speaker of the House. I thank you also for endorsing Hon. Edward Ngoyai Lowassa, MP, who I appointed as my Prime Minister. I ask the Honourable Members of this House to give him full cooperation as he executes his responsibilities as Leader of Government Business in the House. I also ask for similar cooperation and support for the Ministers and Deputy Ministers I shall soon appoint. Keep them on their toes; but treat them fairly and give them your necessary cooperation.

Honourable Speaker:

Let me now congratulate you all, Honourable Members of this House, for being elected. You are the eyes and ears of the people. The people have trusted and honoured you. Every time you get in or out of this House; every time you speak or listen; awake, or in deep contemplation, always remember the confidence and trust bestowed upon you by the people.

I congratulate you, Honourable Speaker, for being elected as a Member of this House, and secondly for being elected Speaker of this House. This is a position of great honour, and enormous responsibilities. But you have the necessary abilities and experience. I have no doubt you will discharge your responsibilities with great distinction and wisdom, treating all Members and the Government fairly. I wish you well in your new responsibilities and assure you of my full cooperation.

Honourable Speaker:

I congratulate the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, His Excellency Amani Abeid Karume for being re-elected. The confidence of the Zanzibari people in him derives from a successful and productive first team of office. The Zanzibari people have seen his abilities, and they value his efforts to protect the dignity and respect of all Zanzibaris. I should like to assure him of my full support and cooperation, as well as the support and cooperation of my government.

Honourable Speaker:

I want to commend our defence and security, and law and order organs, for a job very well done in ensuring that Tanzania remains peaceful during the entire electoral process. The top leaders, commanders, officers, men and women from these organs were loyal to the Nation, and showed great patriotism. I congratulate them.

Honourable Speaker:

The mass media did a good job to inform and educate the people during the entire electoral process. They worked, often under difficult circumstances, to keep the people informed. I thank and congratulate the media for what they did.

Honourable Speaker:

The Fourth Phase Government I have been privileged to lead takes office at a good time politically, economically and socially. It is an opportune time to get into high office. The Third Phase Government has done a tremendous job, and it is due to the firm and focussed leadership of the Third Phase President, His Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa.

I heartily congratulate and thank President Mkapa for all he has done for our country. At a personal level, he has been my tutor and guide, who contributed to expanding my capabilities and determination to follow in his step. I wish President Mkapa, Mama Mkapa and their family, a long and happy life in retirement. I know there will be a lot of international demand on his time, but he is ours first, and we have the right to continue drawing on his fountain of wisdom, experience and expertise. It is my expectation that he will allow us to do so.

Honourable Speaker:

My last, but not least, congratulations go to the National Electoral Commission and the Zanzibar Electoral Commission. National, regional and international election observes have been unanimous in noting huge improvements in the conduct of our elections. I congratulate our Electoral Commissions and urge them to keep up the good work. For, Tanzania has a historic responsibility to be a good example to others on the African continent and beyond.

Politics

Honourable Speaker:

Chama Cha Mapinduzi has been returned to power with a clear and resounding mandate. We will not hesitate to use this mandate, through this Parliament, to implement the 2005 CCM Election Manifesto.

My victory, and that of CCM, is in fact a vote of confidence in our party and its policies, a vote of confidence in the dedicated leadership of my predecessor. The record of the past CCM government is what we stood on when we went back to the electorate.

As a CCM member I am pleased with the results. But as President I should like to assure everyone that we have no intention or policy to wipe out the opposition.

The Fourth Phase Government will continue to safeguard space for our multi-party democratic dispensation. My advice to the opposition is that they should not look for scapegoats every time they lose an election. They should, instead, ask themselves why people did not vote for them as they had expected. I am sure they will get an answer.

Honourable Speaker:

Much work remains to be done to build and entrench a culture of multiparty democratic competition for office. The Fourth Phase Government will do all it can in this area. We will do our best to improve inter-party dialogue and cooperation. We guarantee each party the right to develop and propagate its policies. But I do not expect any party to have policies that are harmful to national unity and concord.

Like former President Mkapa, I think the time has come for us to evolve national political ethics that do not depend on the wishes of party or government leaders. We need a code of political conduct that is binding on all political parties and leaders, including those from the ruling party.

If we do not do this, there is a real possibility that someone might one day undermine our national unity on the pretext of political freedom. The Fourth Phase Government will respect and protect civil and political rights and freedoms; but only to the extent that this does not undermine national peace, security, unity and concord. True freedom is not without limit. Limitless freedom is anarchy. That will not be allowed during my watch.

Honourable Speaker:

Let me dwell for a while on campaign finance, for the notion is beginning to emerge that political office can be bought with money. If this is true, we have to be careful and ensure our country will not one day be mortgaged to finance someone’s desire for high office. No party or candidate can successfully conduct an election campaign without money. But it is not right to buy victory. In my view, we must fight this tendency. Let us then have a broad national dialogue on transparent campaign finance. This should help us agree on an open, legal and transparent way for a party or candidate to raise campaign funds, and an open, legal and transparent way in which the use of the funds can be ascertained. What we agree on will then be part of our code of conduct for elections nationally and within the political party themselves.

Central Tasks of the Fourth Phase Government

Honourable Speaker:

Each phase of national leadership since independence has had its own central tasks. The first phase, under Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and later with Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, created a united nation. The departing colonial power had not developed a sense of nationhood. Their strategy was one of divide and rule. Mwalimu Nyerere did not inherit a nation. He inherited a collection of tribes; people of diverse religions, colour and creed. But thanks to his long-term vision, he decided to focus on nation building. He realised that even if Tanzania were to have a fast growing economy, it would all unravel one day if it were not built on a strong foundation of nationhood.

Mwalimu inherited a country of people afflicted with poverty, illiteracy and disease. He made the war on illiteracy, poverty and disease a cornerstone of his policies. The wide network of social services, such as education and health that we are proud of today has its roots in Mwalimu’s development philosophy. Most of us here, of my generation, would never have gone to school and reached this far in life had it not been for the far-sightedness and good social policies of our Founding Father. We will eternally be grateful to him and to Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume.

The Second Phase Government under President Ali Hassan Mwinyi initiated far-reaching political and economic reforms. President Mwinyi is credited with political and economic reforms in Tanzania. He sorted out the demeaning shortages of essential consumer goods. He expanded the horizons of political and economic freedoms.

I remember once President Ali Hassan Mwinyi remarked that his legacy is of one who opened the windows for fresh air to come in. But, he said, along with fresh air comes in flies, mosquitoes and other insects.

That is where the Third Phase Government under my predecessor started. President Mkapa dealt with the flies and the mosquitoes. He enforced fiscal discipline. He fought corruption within the confines of the law. He restored good relations with our development partners. He created a conducive environment for investment and growth. He sorted out the macro-economic fundamentals. Inflation was contained, along with black racketeering. He built the foundations and frameworks for empowerment of the people for development through initiatives such as the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF), the Property and Business Formalisation Programme for Tanzania (MKURABITA), all under the umbrella of the Tanzania Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (MKUKUTA).

President Mkapa’s legacy includes substantial investment in the expansion and rehabilitation of social service delivery infrastructure, in sectors such as education, health, water and power. And, as we all know, the Third Phase Government invested a lot in roads and bridges, and the work is on going. On the day I was sworn in, the International Monetary Fund announced that Tanzania was one of the countries that had met all the criteria for getting a complete debt write-off. It is thanks to his efforts, within Tanzania and abroad that the Fourth Phase Government begins with a clean slate, without the debt burden he had to carry since he came into office ten years ago. We have much to be grateful to President Mkapa.

The IMF, in announcing the debt cancellation, commended President Mkapa for meeting all conditions for debt cancellation. Earlier in the year, the World Bank Institute issued a report on governance in Africa, which showed that Tanzania was the only country that made significant improvement in all the indicators of good governance used. Once again, Tanzanians have much to be grateful to President Mkapa

Honourable Speaker:

Let me now address the central tasks of the Fourth Phase Government.

The CCM Election Manifesto for the 2005 General Elections identified two central tasks.

• First, to take Tanzania out of the morass of a still backward and dependent economy, and modernise it.
• Second, to include more Tanzanians in the national economy, and empower them to fight poverty.

Honourable Speaker:

In performing these central tasks, I should like the people of Tanzania to expect action on the following ten core issues:

1. The Fourth Phase Government will ensure peace, stability and unity;

2. The Fourth Phase Government will protect and promote all the successes attained during all the previous three phases of government;

3. The Fourth Phase government will carry forward the war on poverty, illiteracy and disease, with new vigour, new zeal and new speed;

4. The Fourth Phase Government will fulfil its governance and development responsibilities, and will focus on good governance and accountability; the rule of law and respect for the human rights of all people;

5. The Fourth Phase Government will enhance its capacity to maintain law and order, and protect people’s lives and property. We will resolutely fight crime, and stop armed robbers from operating with impurity;

6. The Fourth Phase Government will ensure our national borders remain secure and inviolable. We will not allow anyone or any country to infringe on our territory, or our freedom;

7. The Fourth Phase Government will do all in its power to maintain good relations with all countries and with regional and international organisations;

8. The Fourth Phase government will pay special attention to the needs of disadvantaged groups, including women, youth, children, the disabled and orphans;

9. The Fourth Phase Government will lead a new initiative on environmental conservation so that future generations may inherit a beautiful country with a secure base for sustainable development; and

10. The Fourth Phase Government will promote sports, as

well as cultural and other forms of entertainment.

National Unity

Honourable Speaker:

National unity is important for peace and stability. And Tanzanians treasure all these national attributes, a clear illustration of this fact is that those political parties associated with violence, or those whose stand on the Union is not clear, were punished at the polls.

National unity in Tanzania has two parts. The first relates to the Union between Tanzania Mainland and Tanzania Zanzibar, two sovereign states that decided to unite. The Union is now over 41 years old, and is one of its kind on the African continent. Despite a few problems, the Union remains strong, stable and a source of pride to us.

The second aspect of national unity is the unity among citizens, who like to consider themselves Tanzanians first, before identifying themselves by tribe, race, religion, gender or region of origin.

As far as the Union is concerned, I promise before this august Parliament, that one of the central tasks of the Government that I will constitute will be to protect, to sustain and to strengthen the Union.

In this connection, I will do the following:

1. I will develop mechanisms to speedily and seriously deal with problems related to the Union. We will discuss the problems openly, and take appropriate remedial measures at the appropriate time;

2. I will relieve the Vice-President of the portfolio of poverty reduction to give him more time to focus on Union matters,
3. I will strengthen existing structures and frameworks for resolving Union problems; and

4. I will look again into how the Union government can more effectively support socio-economic development in Zanzibar, without infringing on the autonomy of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government on non-Union matters.

Honourable Speaker:

Tanzanians also value their national unity as individual citizens, in a country with over 120 tribes, of different races and religions. Mwalimu Nyerere moulded them into one nation, with one identity, setting an example for the rest of the African continent and beyond. This is a good thing, which we must continue to promote and protect with all our might and all our resolve.

Honourable Speaker:

There is genuine fear among Tanzanians that some people want to take us back to where we came from, so that we can once again ask and discriminate each other on the basis of our tribes, colour, religion or place of origin.

I ask those who aspire for office at all levels—in government, in politics or in religious organisations—not to use discrimination as a leverage to power. This is something we will not tolerate; and we will not let them divide the country.

Honourable Speaker:

As I take office, I am distressed by the evident polarisation of politics in Zanzibar, especially between Zanzibar and Pemba. The recent election results have once again brought into sharp focus this polarisation. We cannot run away from this historically determined polarisation. We must now confront it. Human beings do not have to be prisoners of their history. The people from Pemba are among those Tanzanians who have taken full advantage of the Union to live and promote their business and commercial interests anywhere in the Union. How can they on the one hand integrate themselves fully into the Union national economic space, yet be so detached when it comes to the Union national political space?

The time is now upon us to find a lasting solution to the political polarisation in Zanzibar. I count on the broad cooperation and support of the Tanzania-Zanzibar political leaders. I do realise that the final decision on the future of politics and governance in Zanzibar rests fully between the Zanzibaris themselves. But ours is a United Republic, and what happens in Zanzibar tends to overflow into the mainland; perhaps more so today than during those early days when the saying was coined: “When music is played in Zanzibar they dance upcountry”. So, I will be ready to initiate, to facilitate and to assist a broad dialogue on the political future of Zanzibar. It will be helpful to start with the Muafaka. If not, and if necessary, we will look for alternative strategies. I know this will not be an easy task. But this is our country. I will do all in my power so that I do not leave behind the same level of polarisation when my term of office comes to an end.

Honourable Speaker

The Fourth Phase Government will, among other things, strengthen national unity through the following ten strategies:

1. We will use the education system to strengthen national unity, including by creating Pan-Territorial Secondary Schools that will deliberately mix talented students from all corners of the country;

2. We will redesign the curriculum for civic education at different levels of education to focus on encouraging nationalism and patriotism;
3. We will encourage religious organisations to open their schools, with the exception of seminaries, to students from all religious backgrounds;

4. We will continue with the good work started by the Third Phase Government to revive the National Service;

5. We will work with other stakeholders towards the determination of core national values that will hold the nation together, such as justice, equality, unity and solidarity;

6. We will use sports, art and culture to arouse sentiments of patriotism;

7. We will seek to open space for citizens to respectfully use and take pride in national symbols;

8. We will work towards strengthening inter-religious and inter-political party dialogue and cooperation;

9. I will appoint a Minister of State in my Office whose portfolio will include inter-religious and inter-party dialogue and cooperation; and

10. We will establish mechanisms for social dialogue to prevent conflicts from getting out of hand.

Peace and Stability

Honourable Speaker:

It is not without reason that our country has to a large extent enjoyed unbroken peace and stability in a turbulent region. Our Founding Father deliberately forged national unity and eschewed discrimination on the basis of tribe, religion, colour or creed. I will expect those who will be in my government not to discriminate anyone for any reason. I will also expect them to uphold human rights.

I should like us to reach a stage where our national values and ethos are so entrenched that any political leader, of any political party; any leader of a voluntary association or trade union; any leader of a professional association or any other organisation, would resign immediately upon it being proven that he/she pursues selfish or discriminatory policies, or engages in activities detrimental to national unity, peace and stability.

Good Governance

Honourable Speaker:

My government will be guided by good governance, transparency and accountability. We will respect the rule of law, and we will respect the principal of separation of powers between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. And we will empower each branch to discharge its responsibilities. The Fourth Phase Government will strengthen the public service and fight social ills without fear or favour.

Corruption

We will accelerate the war on corruption in a more scientific way and by addressing its root causes. Remunerations for public officials will be improved in line with improved economic growth and enhanced government revenues. The idea is to reduce temptations for corrupt practices to make ends meet. We will also enhance transparency in government decision-making and procurement. We will strengthen the resource and technical capacity of those organs at the forefront of the war on corruption, especially the Prevention of Corruption Bureau, the Police Force and the Judiciary. But all this will not amount to much if the public is not cooperative. I ask for the full cooperation of citizens in the war on corruption.

There are two other fronts in the war on corruption we will focus on. The first is in the area of contracts. We have to look again at our systems and processes of contract making, contract enforcement and tendering in the government and other public offices, in order to increase transparency and accountability. Contracts remain a major loophole for corrupt practices, especially those that are called “grand corruption”. The time has come to close these loopholes.

Likewise, we must tighten mechanisms to ensure public officials do not use their offices for personal gain and self-enrichment. I am not against people getting rich. Indeed, I want everyone to have a better life. What I am against is people using public offices for self-enrichment.

This is what people find obnoxious, when they see someone with nothing to begin with getting rich almost overnight after being a Member of Parliament, a Minister, a Permanent Secretary, a Director or a Head of Department. When suddenly such people have posh houses, town buses, unregistered taxis, and the like, the people have the right to ask, and the right to get answers. For, such dramatic changes in one’s fortunes after getting into public office smacks of corruption. The Fourth Phase Government cannot accept this and everyone in it must help to fight it. I ask the Public Ethics Commission not to shy away from asking each one of us to account for our assets and wealth. The Commission should be proactive. I will help it to build the capacity to do so, if indeed that is the problem.

Public Service

Honourable Speaker:

The concept of good governance is broad. It includes much more than fighting corruption. The Fourth Phase Government will address all other areas of good governance. We will focus on government delivery, on effectiveness and on efficiency. The Public Service must be characterised by a high level of integrity and accountability, initiative, commitment, and professionalism. The people deserve and must get better service delivery from their government.

I would want those who will serve in this government to regularly evaluate their own performance against public expectation. They should be able to ask themselves if what they do, or do not do, puts their offices and the government in a positive light or not. They should always be conscious of public perception of their offices and of themselves.

I am aware that pay levels in the public service remain a matter of concern. We will look into it. I intend, as soon as possible, to establish a Commission on Public Service Remunerations that I will task to produce short, medium and long-term strategies to improve pay levels and other benefits. The measures that we will take will reduce complaints and pre-empt unnecessary conflicts.

Judiciary

Honourable Speaker:

The Third Phase Government has done much to strengthen the Judiciary, including by establishing specialized divisions of the High Court, such as the Commercial Court, and the Land Court. The government I will constitute will further strengthen the infrastructure for the dispensation of justice by, among other things, employing more judicial officers, staff training, rehabilitation of court premises and building new ones, so as to bring judicial services closer to the people.

Government Revenue and Expenditure

Honourable Speaker:

Managing public finances is part of good governance. In any case, no other efforts to improve governance and service delivery will succeed without better management of public finances. The Third Phase Government, under President Mkapa’s strong leadership, increased government revenues almost five-fold, and introduced modern and transparent ways to monitor government expenditure and manage the entire budgetary process.

I should like to assure my fellow Tanzanians that the Fourth Phase Government will do likewise. We will not relent. We will not tolerate tax evasion, or embezzlement of public finances and assets.

Fiscal discipline and transparency are critical to good governance, and for macro-economic stability. The Public Finances Act, and the Public Procurement Act, must be adhered to, and those who contravene these laws must be disciplined, as must be those who do not properly retire their safari imp rest.

The Role of Government in a Market Economy

Honourable Speaker:

Good governance demands also that government delivers on its other responsibilities in a market economy. For that reason, the Fourth Phase Government will implement the following seven tasks:

1. We will continue to improve the investment climate, for both domestic and foreign investors;

2. We will improve on government policies to facilitate economic growth;

3. We will strengthen our capacity to protect the environment;

4. We will enhance capacity to resolve business conflicts and disputes;

5. We will strengthen the rule of law;

6. We will strengthen the regulatory framework, including the enforcement of quality standards for goods and services; and

7. We will further improve fiscal policies to encourage investment and production.

A Modern, Sustainable and Growing Economy

Honourable Speaker:

According to the 2005 CCM Election Manifesto, the central task of the Fourth Phase Government is to engender faster economic growth in order to increase the incomes of our people and enable them to live a better life.

I will constitute a government that will prioritise the creation of a modern, sustainable and growing economy. The Third Phase Government has bequeathed to us a good foundation upon which to do so. We will not dismantle what has been done. We will use the successes of the previous government to accelerate economic growth.

Honourable Speaker:

The private sector is the pillar of the national economy. The Third Phase Government developed a good working relationship with the private sector, as a result of which the private sector is now more able to influence government policy, especially in improving the investment and business climate. The Fourth Phase Government will do likewise, and profitably engage the private sector.

Agriculture

Honourable Speaker:

Agriculture will for the foreseeable future continue to be the backbone of our economy. It is the sector that provides jobs and sustenance for the vast majority of our people. It is the sector that accounts for most of our commodity exports and industrial raw materials. The Third Phase Government introduced subsidies and tax exemptions for fertilisers and agricultural machinery and inputs. We will continue with such supportive policies, and strengthen them even further.

The Government will also ensure that the Irrigation Master Plan is better funded and better staffed so as to quickly expand acreage under irrigation. We will also revive the technology and the infrastructure for traditional irrigation. Extension services and market support will be enhanced.

Honourable Speaker:

We will take deliberate measures to improve the livestock sector. Our people must change from being nomadic cattle herders to being settled modern livestock keepers. We will take measures to improve pastures, veterinary care, cattle dips and auctions.

It is the duty of all Regions, Districts and Local Authorities to set aside pastoral land, especially in those areas with much livestock. We will also help people in the fisheries sector get better equipment so as to better utilize our abundant fish resources in our oceans, lakes and rivers.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Honourable Speaker:

All developed economies made the transition from agriculture to industries. We too have to work towards such a transition, beginning with small and medium industries. These have the potential to produce jobs, to process our agricultural products, and to reduce post-harvest loses. The Fourth Phase Government will develop an Industrial Strategy Master Plan, and will also do all it can to empower small and medium sized producers through access to finance, technology and market information.

The Government will continue to facilitate access to credit for SMEs through the existing framework managed by the Bank of Tanzania. The Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) will be strengthened to support SMEs with training, and skills development, consultancy and supervision.

Science and Technology

Honourable Speaker:

We strive for a modern economy, and that entails the use of science and technology. The Fourth Phase Government will encourage and facilitate the use of science and technology, and promote investment in science and technology. We will also find ways to cooperate with the private sector in channelling more resources to institutions dealing with the development and application of science and technology. The National Fund for Science and Technology will be strengthened by enhancing government support and encouraging other stakeholders to contribute.

Honourable Speaker:

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is especially critical as a pillar of a modern economy. Moreover, ICT provides a good way to narrow the knowledge gap between developed and developing countries. In the next five years we will work hard to create a conducive environment for the introduction and use of ICT in our development and government operations.

An Inclusive Economy

Honourable Speaker:

The underbelly of the economic reforms we have embarked upon is the increasing wealth gap, and this could potentially lead to social stress and instability. The solution, of course, is not to take away from those who have, but to help those who are left out to get in. The real challenge is two-fold. First, to create space for those excluded; and, second, to encourage those who do not yet benefit from the reforms to take advantage of government initiatives taken to empower them.

Honourable Speaker:

Economic reform and macro-economic stability is not an end; it is only the beginning of a long journey towards economic prosperity and poverty reduction. The Fourth Phase Government will continue with existing policies and strategies to empower the majority of Tanzanians to take part in the national economy. The First Phase Government wanted the people to own the commanding heights of the economy through public ownership. The Fourth Phase Government will strive to reach the same goal, not through public ownership of the means of production and services, but by empowering its citizens to directly participate in the economy as individuals, as shareholders, or as cooperative societies.

Honourable Speaker:

The Fourth Phase Government will address the different obstacles that the ordinary Tanzanians encounter as they try to be part of the national economy. Likewise we will continue with on-going initiatives to improve the business environment for small and medium sized enterprises so that they can be productive and be helped to grow, providing jobs and access to the national economy. In short, the Fourth Phase Government will do the following:

1. We will improve further the business licensing environment;

2. We will restructure the regulatory processes such that the benefits of regulation should not at the same time stifle the nascent private sector;

3. We will support SMEs with market intelligence;

4. We will ask all regions to establish local investment promotion offices and create Regional Business Councils;

5. We will further improve the business environment for SMEs, including through credit guarantee schemes for the sector;

6. We will improve infrastructure specifically targeted to facilitate the operations of SMEs;

7. We will encourage, facilitate and provide incentives for agro-processing and value addition in our exports; and

8. We will encourage, facilitate and provide incentives and technical training to improve productivity, including in the export sector.

Honourable Speaker:

We will empower Tanzanians at three different levels. The first one is for professionals—those within Tanzania, and those in the Diaspora. In the past, one was assured of a government job upon graduation from a high level learning institution. This is not the case today. The Government can meet the cost of your education, but it cannot guarantee you a job. Many of our professionals have to look for work in the private sector on their own, or have to employ themselves. Some of them, as I speak, are walking up and down the streets of our urban areas looking for employment, even though they have marketable or usable knowledge and skills. For instance, it is not uncommon to find university graduates in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries looking for employment in urban areas, hoping to work in an air-conditioned office.

I should like today to throw such professionals a challenge, in their different professions such as agriculture, veterinary science, fisheries, engineering, architecture, law, accounting and the like. First, they must realise that in today’s world of globalisation, they will not be competitive if they are not more aggressive and more innovative, or if they do not unite and form stronger, professionally managed, indigenous companies and investments.

But if they agree to be more innovative and aggressive, and if they agree to unite and form a few large local companies, professionally run and managed, the Government, through their professional associations, will support them and will empower them. The Fourth Phase Government will welcome ideas from professional associations on how this can be done. I truly want our professionals to be competitive and to constitute the nucleus of an indigenous entrepreneurial and middle class.

The second level of empowerment will cover our people operating in the informal, and the micro, small and medium enterprise scale. The Third Phase Government has done much in this area, and we will continue along the same path.

The third level of empowerment will include our peasant farmers, small fishermen, cattle keepers, and artisanal miners. These constitute the majority of our people, and no strategy to fight poverty will succeed if it does not address their needs. I will demand more creativity in this regard from those I will entrust the relevant sectors to.

Honourable Speaker:

Le me repeat. All these government initiatives will succeed only if Tanzanians change their attitude towards their own role, and the role of government, in a private sector led economy. Tanzanians have to learn to be entrepreneurs, and be ready to see and use opportunities for self-development that economic reforms provide, and the empowerment efforts by the government. We have a saying: If someone carries you, you must at least hold on to him/her. A better life for everyone will not be brought about by the government acting alone; it is a product of a partnership between the people and the government. The Fourth Phase Government will actively work for such a partnership.

Employment and Industries

Honourable Speaker:

During the election campaign we promised one million jobs in five years. Most of these will come from on-going work to expand and improve social services, in sectors such as health and education, as well as agriculture, construction, agro-processing, fish processing and tourism. The work we are doing with SMEs and the informal sector will also provide employment, and self-employment. Our goal is to ensure each citizen has an assured source of income.

The Fourth Phase Government will also encourage and facilitate industrial investment, including in sectors such as textiles and assembly of consumer goods with great potential for job-creation. The Third Phase Government promulgated the Tanzania Mini-Tiger Plan 2020, which, through Special Economic Zone, will quickly increase exports and jobs. The Fourth Phase Government will diligently and enthusiastically implement this Plan.

Cooperatives

Honourable Speaker:

The best source of strength for the poor and the weak is unity. Cooperatives can give voice and power to the poor and the weak. The Third Phase Government has done a good job in implementing legal and structural reforms in the cooperative sector. The new cooperative policy and law provides a better environment for the revival of free cooperatives, owned and run by the members themselves. The new government will continue with the implementation of these reforms as well as encourage our citizens to form and join cooperative societies.

Social Services

Education

Honourable Speaker:

The Third Phase Government did an outstanding job in improving and expanding the education delivery infrastructure. There have also been tremendous improvements in enrolment, access and quality, both for boys and girls, at all levels of education. The Fourth Phase Government will concentrate on the following:

1. We will ensure universal access for primary school age children;

2. We will improve curriculum and quality of education given;

3. We will employ, train and retrain more teachers, for both primary and secondary schools, in view of increased enrolment of students;

4. We will cooperate with parents and other education stakeholders to build or rehabilitate schools, classrooms, teacher houses, laboratories and toilets;

5. We will increase government subsidies to meet the running costs for schools;

6. We will strengthen the education regulatory framework to ensure high standards of the education given;

7. We will provide more space and incentives for the private sector and religious institutions to invest in education;

8. We will strengthen the Higher Education Students Loans Board so that it can offer its services to more people;

9. We will strive to build at least one more public university;

10. We will expand technical training and skills development as a way to make the youth employable.

Water

Honourable Speaker:

Water is the biggest problem for many Tanzanians, in both urban and rural areas. It is the number one problem. All previous governments have done their share in dealing with the problem. The Fourth Phase Government will likewise do its part, with new vigour, new zeal and new speed. The government will give a new impetus in efforts to provide safe water to more people in urban and rural areas. It is my intention to create a National Water Master Plan, which will include new strategies to implement the National Water Policy, and solve the problem of water. The government will also strengthen Urban Water and Sanitation Authorities so as to improve their capacity for self-reliance in terms of both expansion of the infrastructure as well as meeting their administrative overheads in the next five years. This includes the two major projects – the Dar es Salaam Water and Sanitation Project, as well as the Lake Victoria Water Project for Kahama and Shinyanga towns, as well as for villages along the water pipeline.

Health

Honourable Speaker:

The Third Phase Government is rightly credited with large investments in improving and expanding the infrastructure for delivery of health services. The services have improved and are getting closer to the people. Accountability in the sector has been strengthened. We will continue along the same path. In particular, we will improve Mother and Child Health Services, and ensure each Tanzanian child gets all the necessary vaccinations.

Moreover, we will further strengthen the systems and process for distribution of essential drugs in hospitals, health centres and dispensaries. We will increase the budget for acquisition of drugs and medical equipment. The rehabilitation of hospitals, health centres and dispensaries will continue. And we will expand and strengthen health insurance schemes such as the National Health Insurance Fund, and the Community Health Funds, both of which have been very successful. Preventive health services will be expanded and the struggle against malaria and tuberculosis will be intensified.

HIV and AIDS

Honourable Speaker:

HIV and AIDS continue to pose one of the greatest threats to everything else we do. The pandemic has adversely affected government delivery of services and it has decimated the national human resources base. Almost every Tanzanian now knows about HIV and AIDS, its effect and the means to protect oneself from infection. Yet, too many people do not yet comprehend the gravity of the situation. We will continue to provide public education and sensitisation. We will also continue to provide financial resources for the acquisition of more life-prolonging and palliative care and treatment.

Special Groups

Honourable Speaker:

The government has responsibility for certain groups of people in our communities. The first group is orphans. The HIV and AIDS pandemic has produced and continues to produce many orphans. In some areas, too many children head families. I would want different stakeholders to brainstorm and prepare a sustainable plan on how best to take care of the orphans. For, like other children, they too need education, they too need access to health services, they too need decent accommodation, and they too are entitled to love, care and a sense of belonging. It is our duty as communities to provide for orphans.

On its part, the government will take measures to ensure all orphans have access to education and health care. I want the relevant Ministry to prepare and present to cabinet proposals on how best to take care of the needs of orphans.

Honourable Speaker:

The other special group is that of the disabled. Work has been done to help disabled people use their talents for self-reliance. The challenge for us is to rid ourselves of the stigma often associated with being disabled. We must see and treat them as our fellow human beings. The government will review the existing policy and laws to see how affirmative action can be introduced to help the disabled be self-reliant, and to help them make their contribution as full members of the society.

Honourable Speaker:

Another special group is that of the elderly. They are a national treasure. They built the foundations of our Nation. A number of measures have been taken to improve their access to free medical care, and free housing. To us, a civilised community must take care of its elders. The first responsibility lies with the immediate family members and the immediate community. As Africans they cannot run away from this responsibility. On its part the government will ensure there is improvement in access to essential services for the elderly at affordable or no cost, in line with our cultural values and traditions.

Honourable Speaker:

My government will continue to mainstream gender issues in our development plans. We will gradually increase the representation of women at different levels of political leadership, public service and other decision-making positions. We will encourage women to use opportunities for political participation; including opportunities for elected office at all levels.

Tourism

Honourable Speaker:

It is not enough to derive pride in Tanzania’s abundant tourism endowment, including vast wildlife sanctuaries, mountains and pristine beaches. It is true we have to preserve these, some of which are world heritages. But, we must also use them sustainably for our benefit. We have to improve services to the tourism sector, including restaurants, accommodation, transport and trade in gift and souvenirs items. We have to invite more domestic and foreign investors in the sector who can build more four to five star hotels. We have to improve the road infrastructure to service the industry. We have to transform the tourism sector so as to rapidly increase tourism arrivals and revenues.

Saadani, for instance, is a unique game reserve in Africa, which has both wildlife and pristine beaches. The Fourth Phase Government will build a tarmac road from Bagamoyo to Saadani, and will invite private investors to build the Saadani harbour as a join venture with the government, or on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis. The harbours will enable cruise lines to dock at Saadani.

Environmental Conservation

Honourable Speaker:

The Fourth Phase Government will pay great attention to environmental conservation. Where we failed to protect the environment, the damage is obvious. Erratic and low levels of rainfall, water resources dying up, and areas affected by drought increasing. The government will increase public education on environmental conservation, and will give more supervisory powers to the ministry dealing with the environment. We will also expand the national tree planting campaigns and work against reckless tree harvesting and forest fires. We will also promote the use of alternative sources of wood based fuel.

Forty years ago, there were still on Tanzania Mainland vast forests, fountains, and streams. A large part of our country was still covered with grass. Today, things have changed, and in some areas the situation is shocking.

Honourable Speaker:

Reckless harvesting of trees and uncontrolled forest fires has resulted in water resources drying up, rivers drying up, and biodiversity being put under great threat. We cannot continue to be bystanders, surprised at what is happening to our environment, and to the life of our nation. The freedom we guarantee citizens to live where they want in the country is not a licence for them to destroy the environment, and then move on to another area to repeat the same damage. There is no freedom to destroy the environment. The Fourth Phase Government would like to give the following guidelines:

1. Every village should plant trees at their traditional sources of water;

2. The Ministry of Works should ensure that trees are planted along our roads, and near bridges;

3. The Ministry responsible for natural resources should create a mechanism, measurable and monitorable, for planting trees and grass;

4. The Ministry responsible for lands should ensure sand and gravel pits are not close to water sources;

5. The Ministry for Mines should develop a mechanism to monitor the environmental impact of mines, and ensure mining companies comply with established environmental standards;

6. In those areas that receive ample rainfall the people should plant even more trees;

7. The ministry responsible for the environment should develop an environmental barometer and produce annual reports on the state of our environment, including successes and challenges;

8. City, Municipal and Town Councils should implement fully the directive to plant fruit trees in urban areas; and

9. Individual people, or in groups should begin special campaigns to grow trees as a commercial undertaking.

Honourable Speaker:

A few areas need special and urgent measures to protect the environment because the situation has deteriorated to an extent that it affects other sectors. One such area is the Ruaha River Basin, which connects almost all major river systems in the country. We have watched as the situation at the Mtera Dam deteriorated. The Great Ruaha River is no longer great—it is almost dry in some parts. The Government at all levels should now intervene and be ready to be held to account for this situation. This damage must be stopped, and reversed.

Another area is the Lake Victoria basin. We are now implementing a major project to pipe water from the lake to Shinyanga Region. But reports by environmental experts show that too many pollutants and effluents enter the lake. We will take to task the leaders of the surrounding regions, and ensure they cooperate with national and international organisations and citizens to protect this lake that is so critical for the welfare and the well being of our people.

A Fast Growing Economy

Honourable Speaker:

After the economic success of the Third Phase Government, it is inconceivable that the Fourth Phase Government will want to slow down, or damage the foundations of the unprecedented growth rates attained, and which we are all so proud of. I know that word has been spread by some people who pretend to know Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, on how he is going to loosen the reigns of prudent fiscal, monetary and economic management. I want to assure you that such people are very mistaken.

During the election campaign there were some people from the opposition who, ungratefully, tried to belittle the significance of the economic successes of the Third Phase Government. They said, wrongly, that the government was implementing policies determined in Washington. The Fourth Phase Government will not hesitate to design and implement policies and strategies beneficial to our people simply because such policies win the approval of rich country governments and international financial institutions.

We will not make policy decisions that are not in the national interest simply because they are demanded by rich governments or international financial institutions. We will not seek to ingratiate ourselves with such governments and institutions. But we will not hesitate to make decisions that meet the approval of such governments and institutions if we are convinced that such decisions are in the national interest.

Honourable Speaker:

We will do all these things because we know they are a pre-condition for rapid economic growth and for poverty reduction. But our actions are also in response to the reality of globalisation, and its attendant competitive global and regional markets. We must, as a nation, develop a strategy to work in partnership to increase investment and production, efficiency and quality of exports of goods and services, and hence increase the pace of economic growth. There is no turning back.

Sports, Culture and Entertainment

Honourable Speaker:

Sports are about pleasure and entertainment. Sports help to improve people’s health. Tanzanians love sports, but too often they are disappointed on account of poor performance. We must perform better, and it is possible. We need to be more determined and focussed. We will encourage sports in schools, and where possible at work places. Schools provide a good environment to identify sporting and artistic talent. We will empower sports associations to help ensure Tanzania becomes a serious contender in regional and international sports. I will also start a nation-wide dialogue on sports promotion. All citizens and stakeholders need to agree on the future of sports in the country. We will also promote culture and entertainment. Among the issues we will address is the question of the rights and interests of artistes so that they can be well rewarded for the great work they do.

Honourable Speaker:

Kiswahili, our national language, is getting more attention in Africa and beyond. The African Union has agreed that Kiswahili should be one of the working languages of the organisation. In the Great Lakes Region, Kiswahili is increasingly being the lingua franca. And governments in the region are encouraging the use of Kiswahili in their countries. The Fourth Phase Government will ensure these efforts continue and that Kiswahili continues to spread even beyond Africa’s shores.

Town Planning and Urban Development

Honourable Speaker:

We are all witnesses to how some of our people, and some city, municipal and town authorities, are ignoring town planning and urban zoning regulations. The following are a few examples:

1. Houses and perimeter walls are blocking natural water courses;

2. Houses are built on road reserves;

3. Open space and playgrounds are being invaded;

4. Domestic animals are kept in urban areas, close to other people’s residences;

5. High rise buildings are being put up in areas where existing water and sanitation services are meant for fewer people;

6. High rise buildings are being built even in zones legally meant for single family dwellings;

7. Residential houses are built on plots without the necessary infrastructural services;

8. Plots meant for public services, such as religious services, shopping complexes, markets, schools, hospitals and the like are either invaded or decimated piece by piece for different purposes; and

9. There is too much litter, including plastic bags.

Honourable Speaker:

If we do not contain this trend, our urban areas will become jungles of unplanned, unregulated and poorly serviced concrete structures. The Fourth Phase Government will demand that Local Authorities should address this matter as soon as possible.

Road Construction and Maintenance

Honourable Speaker:

Previous Governments have invested in infrastructure development, including roads, bridges and ferries. The Fourth Phase Government appreciates the importance of linking the different parts of the country with reliable infrastructure, and the importance of opening up new areas of economic activity. For this reason, it is the intention of the government to expedite on-going and future work in this area as set out in the 2005 CCM Election Manifesto. TANROADS will be strengthened.

Energy

Honourable Speaker:

The Fourth Phase Government will give priority to the expansion and improvement of energy supplies to both urban and rural areas in order to improve production and human welfare. We will look for new sources of energy that are not too costly, to meet the needs of industry and services, as well as for household use.

Honourable Speaker:

The 2005 CCM Election Manifesto has clearly tasked the Fourth Phase Government to accelerate the production of electricity from Mchuchuma coal. That is what we will do. Furthermore, the Fourth Phase Government will revive the Rusumo River and Stigler’s Gorge Hydro-electric Power Projects. We will also accelerate the production of electricity from Mnazi Bay natural gas.

Honourable Speaker:

It is the intention of the Fourth Phase Government to supply electricity to all those District Headquarters without electricity, and to accelerate rural electrification using the Rural Electrification Fund. We will also connect Kigoma and Ruvuma Regions to the national electricity grid.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Honourable Speaker:

The First Phase Government built the foundations of Tanzania’s Foreign Policy, which include good neighbourliness, defence of our borders, providing succour to refugees, and defending the interests of the downtrodden. Subsequent phases have upheld these principles. The Fourth Phase Government will, likewise, be guided by these principles as well as implement the new Foreign Policy focussing on economic diplomacy.

Honourable Speaker:

The creation of a committee to produce proposals for the fast tracking of the East African Federation has created new hopes for the realisation of the goals we share. The Fourth Phase Government will continue with the regional dialogue to ensure the dream of an East African Federation is realised. The Fourth Phase Government will, likewise, continue to play its part within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in pursuit of shared goals.

Honourable Speaker:

Tanzania is a founder member of the African Union. The Fourth Phase Government will ensure Tanzania’s active participation in the organisation’s activities. We will participate in continental efforts to fight poverty and promote development as outlined by the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

Honourable Speaker:

The Fourth Phase Government will ensure Tanzania continues to participate in conflict prevention, management and resolution on the African continent, especially in the process for peace and development in the Great Lakes Region. We want durable peace and stability so as to reduce the refugee burden we have carried for too long, and so as to promote regional economic cooperation.

Honourable Speaker:

Tanzania will, likewise, continue to be an active member of the United Nations. We are currently members of the United Nations Security Council, and beginning the day after tomorrow, on 1 January 2006, will be President of the Council for one month. During that period, it is our intention to focus the Council’s attention on the peace and conflict resolution agenda in the Great Lakes Region in particular, and Africa in general. Likewise, we will increase the participation of our armed forces in United Nations and African Union peace missions.

Defence and Security

Honourable Speaker:

National peace and security is one of the central tasks of the Fourth Phase Government. Economic development depends on an environment of peace and stability in the country. Our country is at peace, and it is our duty to preserve that peace, through:

1. To improve the working environment for our defence and security organs;

2. To continue ensuring our armed forces are disciplined, loyal capable and well-equipped;

3. To improve the capacity of our law and order forces to combat crime, and to contain the proliferation of small arms. We will put a lot of effort in this area;

4. To finalise the preparations and assurance of national identity cards; and

5. To step up efforts to repatriate refugees.

Honourable Speaker:

In addition to these efforts, it is the duty of every citizen individually or in groups, to participate in national defence and security. Everyone should be ready to provide our security organs with information on crime and criminals so that they can be contained and be brought to book as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Honourable Speaker:

Honourable Members of Parliament:

I should like, once again to thank my fellow citizens for electing me the Fourth President of the United Republic of Tanzania. I am ready to diligently serve all Tanzanians, with all humility.

I will form a government that will promote national unity, peace and stability. Likewise, I will endeavour to provide leadership characterised by integrity and efficiency, a government that will lead and empower Tanzanians.

Honourable Speaker:

I am grateful, once again, to the Third Phase Government for building a strong foundation for guiding us and empowering us to build a self-reliant nation, with assured prosperity for all its citizens. Our goal is to accelerate economic growth with new vigour, new zeal, and new speed, so that all citizens can have a better life.

Honourable Speaker:

Honourable Members of Parliament

I have covered a lot of ground. It is enough for today. I should like to end by assuring you that I am aware of the great honour that my fellow Tanzanians have reposed in me. I am aware of the enormity of the task ahead. I know the expectations of my Party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi. I will diligently lead the implementation of our promises to the people, and to the world. I am aware of the hopes of my fellow Tanzanians when they positively responded to the call for new zeal, new vigour and new speed. I know of the expectations of our neighbouring countries, of African countries and of the world, for the Fourth Phase Government. I know that our development partners and investors—both domestic as well as foreign—are listening carefully to every word, wanting to be assured that I will fill the shoes left by our beloved Third Phase President, Benjamin William Mkapa.

To you all, and to each and everyone, I promise that, with God’s help, and with the cooperation of this august Assembly and citizens, I shall strive to meet everyone’s expectations and hopes.

A prosperous Tanzania is possible. A better life for everyone is possible. All it takes is for everyone to fulfil his or her duty.

God Bless Africa

God Bless Tanzania.

I thank you for your kind attention