Kikwete to Tanzanians: We all won
Asks media to help heal wounds.jpg)
President-elect Jakaya Kikwete said yesterday that the results of this year’s general election posed the biggest challenge to the ruling party in the country.
Speaking shortly after being declared the winner of the presidential polls by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) in Dar es Salaam, Kikwete said the outcome of the election would require his party to review its political strategies for future elections.
“We have to sit down, re-plan and re-organise our strategies for landslide victories in future elections,” said Kikwete who will be sworn in today for his second and final presidential term.
He however, noted that this year’s results were not a challenge to CCM alone but also to opposition parties, saying they too, needed to re-organise themselves for future elections.
He praised the media for doing a good job and urged it to help the nation in the task of healing the wounds created by the political contests at all levels, to ensure peace and harmony is sustained.
Kikwete said he would be ready to work on constructive comments and views collected from both CCM and opposition parties.
“I will use manifestos of both CCM and opposition parties, since I believe all the documents intend to build the nation and lead Tanzanians to prosperity,” he noted.
The president-elect promised to work on the concerns raised during the campaigns, for an independent electoral body and other issues of national interest.
He pledged to respect and implement development promises spelt out in the ruling party’s manifesto and those made at public rallies.
Kikwete said his government would look into and work on weaknesses and irregularities detected in the 2010 general election.
The CCM national chairman said: “I thank all who voted for me…my victory is the victory of all Tanzanians…I will not let you down, I promise to serve the people with greater vigour, greater speed and greater zeal.”