Gharib Bilal

Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal has said the country would free itself from poverty and economic hardship by investing more in youths “with ability to work” for the development of all Tanzanians.

He made the statement yesterday in Dar es Salaam, when he officially launched two books on human beings and work authored by former CCM Secretary General Yusuf Makamba.

According to the VP, the government has adopted a number of policy initiatives to compliment strategies for tackling poverty, but the challenge of jobless youths who roam in the streets without work remained.

During and after independence, he said, the government used different slogans to sensitise the public on the importance of working hard for the good of the nation.

Giving executive summaries of his two books, Makamba said they represent what he had been experiencing during his entire service in leadership.

With experience gained from his long service, as regional commissioner and ruling party’s secretary general, he said, people dislike working hard; as a result a foundation for dependence and poverty was laid in the country.

“Normally, when you tell people the truth, you will end up making enemies. Similarly, people get irritated when you ask them to look for work,” he said.

Makamba expressed optimism that the two works would compliment ongoing efforts by the government to remind and encourage the people to work hard.

Pentecostal Council of Tanzania chairman Bishop Sylivester Gamanywa hailed the retired politician for authoring the books, saying they will contribute in fighting laziness and falsehood.

The book launching ceremony was yesterday attended by different government officials, members of Parliament, ministers, representatives of political parties and religious leaders.