Jakaya Kikwete tells of presidency being stressful, thankless as end nears

Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete participates in a roundtable discussion with American and African business leaders at the US Chamber of Commerce on August 7, 2014 in Washington, D.C. Alongside him are President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. FILE PHOTO | CHIP SOMODEVILLA |

What you need to know:

  • He considers his greatest source of pride is to have to continue holding the country together.
  • After 10 years, you need to move on, it’s been 10 years since I came to this high profile office, he says.

Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete has described his job as “stressful and thankless”.

Two terms are enough, he said at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington DC on Friday.

The centre focuses on independent research, open dialogue and actionable ideas.

In a particularly candid moment, President Kikwete added: “After 10 years, you need to move on. It’s been 10 years since I came to this high profile office. I was very young, just 55. But what I can tell you about this job is that it is stressful and thankless.”

President Kikwete, whose second and final five-year term ends in October, reflected on his accomplishments, the key challenges and lessons learned during a decade at the helm.

The session was coordinated by Ms Monde Muyangwa, the director of the African Programme.

Ms Muyangwa asked President Kikwete if he could share his views on why African leaders tend to cling to power, but he avoided a direct comment, saying instead: “I should not speak on their behalf. You need to invite them and get their opinions.”

He also spoke of his plans for the future — and it would appear that he was keen on three things: Agriculture, reducing maternal mortality and fighting malaria.

President Kikwete added: “When I look back to 2005, when I assumed office, I have no regrets. The one who comes will take it from there. We have built a very strong foundation, especially Vision 2025.”

The major policy tenets that he considers the hallmark of his presidency include a united nation, peace and political stability, fast socio-economic growth and development, the fight against poverty and accelerated development.

He is also especially proud of his efforts to consolidate democracy and ensure good governance, the rule of law and human rights, undertaking an unrelenting fight against crime and developing good relations with other countries.

But, at the end of the day, he considers his greatest source of pride is to have to continue holding the country together despite the challenges.

President Kikwete said he had done so because he made it a point to move fast to head off whatever threats arose.

And should the people feel he would be useful in any other capacity, he would be happy to volunteer and take up offers as he values his health.

NEW CONSTITUTION

Meanwhile, Tanzania has postponed a referendum on a new constitution after delays in registering voters, the electoral body said. The delays could complicate presidential and parliamentary elections due to be held in October.

The new constitution would replace one passed in 1977 when the state was under one-party rule. The opposition says it was approved last year without a quorum by an assembly dominated by President Jakaya Kikwete’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has been in power since Tanzania’s independence from Britain in 1961.

The electoral commission said it has not received enough biometric voter registration kits to enable the vote on the constitution to take place as planned on April 30.

“The previously announced referendum … has been postponed until the National Electoral Commission announces a new date,” it said in a statement late on Thursday.

By Mkinga Mkinga and Agencies.