President of the Tanzania Democratic Alliance (Tadea) John Chipaka (L) receives presidential nomination forms from National Electoral Commission (NEC) official Hassan Salum in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Looking on is NEC official Shaaban Kissu. (Photo: Mroki Mroki)
Democratic Party (DP) candidate Christopher Mtikila has vowed to mount a relentless war against HIV/Aids if elected president in the October polls.
Speaking to the press after collecting nomination forms at the National Electoral Commission (NEC) offices yesterday, Mtikila said HIV/Aids was top of his agenda because he would not like to lead a sickly nation that is unable to stand up to the challenges of accelerated economic growth.
The other aspirant who picked up nomination forms yesterday is John Lifa Chipaka, who is running with the Tanzania Democratic Alliance (TADEA) ticket.
Mtikila said the HIV/Aids pandemic would decimate millions of Tanzanians in 10 years unless wananchi are co-opted into the war against the disease.
He promised to revive the Tanganyika government and give greater autonomy to Zanzibar.
He said the current structure had stripped Zanzibar of its autonomy and robbed Mainlanders of many civil liberties.
Mtikila’s running mate is Saidi Sudi Saidi. Saidi said that increase in issues the union government is supposed to handle had stripped the Zanzibar government of its role in the Union leadership structure.
He said oil exploration was not part of the Union issues before 1984, but had been made so without the consent of Zanzibaris.
He questioned why the Isles do not benefit from gold boom, while Zanzibar oil is part of the Union economic agenda.
Chipaka declined to talk to the press, saying that he was not sure whether he would return the nomination form.
