Pomp as Kikwete starts new term

President Jakaya Kikwete, 60, on Saturday took the oath of office for the second and final five-year term and appealed to Tanzanians to rally behind his presidency to forge national unity and deepen economic prosperity.

Addressing thousands of people at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Kikwete said he would be ready to join hands, including with the opponents he floored during the election, to put the country back on “the development track.”

However he followed the pledge with a directive to security forces not to hesitate to swiftly move and stop any individuals or groups he said were bent on sowing the seeds of discord among the people after the bitter campaigns and election.

“The election is over. We should let bygones be bygones and ensure peace and stability prevail,” Kikwete said in his 17-minute inaugural speech.

He went on: “I would like our security forces to be on alert. We should not give opportunity to anybody or any groups of people from inside or outside Tanzania to endanger our peace.”

Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhan, flanked by other judges, swore in the President in a ceremony witnessed by five other heads of state. Newly sworn-in Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein also attended.

However, opposition leader Dr Willibrod Slaa of Chadema who finished second, skipped yesterday’s function again.

Dr Slaa is today expected to issue his party’s way forward at a news press conference. He claimed that the vote had been rigged.    

President Kikwete polled 61.1 per cent of the vote in last Sunday’s election followed by Dr Slaa with 26.3 per cent, while Prof Lipumba was a distant third with 8.06 per cent.

On Saturday, President Kikwete said after his victory, he would now concentrate on the efforts to deliver CCM’s promises and take forward what he had started in his first term as President. 

He called on the people to “work harder and tirelessly in making Tanzania prosper.”

He said he will outline his government’s vision and strategy for the next five years in an address to the National Assembly in Dodoma next week.

Parliament will also approve his choice of Prime Minister after which he will assemble the Cabinet for his final administration.

Revisiting the chaos that for three days saw police lob tear gas and water cannons at protesters angry at the delay in some results in Dar es Salaam and some other parts of the country, the president called for tolerance and pledged electoral reforms to make future elections credible.

“We should not create room for more divisions. Tanzania is known the world over as an island of peace. The challenge ahead should be to maintain and cherish that peace.”

He also thanked the six presidential candidates from opposition political parties for “keeping CCM on its toes”.

“I thank God that I finished this arduous task in good health,” said President Kikwete, who in 2005 collapsed at a rally in Dar es Salaam.

He told CCM followers to “walk tall for this huge mandate” and remain loyal to its leaders. He said he will work towards improving the party’s structures in the face of mounting competition.