Kikwete walks tall
 
2005-12-27 08:08:23
By Webster Malido

	President Jakaya Kikwete

Tanzania’s new President Jakaya Kikwete has promised to walk tall as leader of his country, saying he will carry forward the great works left by his predecessors.

At a colourful swearing-in ceremony held at the capacity full 20,000-seater National Stadium in Dar es Salaam last Wednesday, President Kikwete promised not to disappoint Tanzanians, especially because they gave him an overwhelming mandate of 80 per cent in the elections.

President Kikwete thanked his predecessor, Benjamin Mkapa whom he said in his wisdom and foresightedness prepared him for top leadership by appointing and keeping him as foreign affairs minister in his entire ten years of his presidency which came to an end on Wednesday.

’’And he did not only keep me in this position; he was also my tutor. As a result today, all these world leaders who are here to witness this occasion are not strangers to me; and I am not a stranger to them,’’President Kikwete said.

’’Surely, this is a good position from which to assume my new duties.

I have been very well prepared to implement Tanzania’s foreign policy, focusing on maintaining good relations, friendship and cooperation with all countries that wish us well, in the region and beyond.’’

Quoting an African proverb in explaining how he hopes to build on the legacy of his predecessors, President Kikwete said: ’’If we stand tall, it is because we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.’’

He said it was not the nature of Tanzanians to destroy what was built by previous governments.

’’Fortunately, those who came before us are giants: the father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere; our second president Ali Hassan Mwinyi; and my dear brother Benjamin William Mkapa,’’ President Kikwete said.

’’Is anyone surprised when I stand tall, standing as I do on the shoulders of these giants? No one should be surprised when I, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, walk tall, with confidence, carrying forward the excellent work done by my predecessors.

’’You have entrusted me with this responsibility, but I will walk tall because I am President of the United Republic of Tanzania, a country and people characterised by fraternity and laughter, a confident country and people, deserving dignity in the council of nations.’’

He promised that the fourth government of Tanzania would not disparage or unravel what was done by previous governments.

’’We go forward, not backwards,’’President Kikwete said. ’’Those who expect erratic changes of policy and direction will be disappointed.

The fourth phase government will build on the foundation laid by previous governments, and carry on with the good work in line with the needs of the moment and the realities of the world we live in.

’’We will promote and protect our interests, and those interests we share with the rest of the world and we will do so with new speed, with new determination and with new vigour.

Working together, we can ensure that ultimately government efforts translate into a better life for every Tanzanian.’’

He said now that his party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), had won the mandate of the people, it was time for work.

’’Now, beginning today let us be even more united, let us strengthen good governance and let us live up to the promises we made to our people, and to the world,’’ he said.

President Kikwete thanked his family, especially his wife Salma, whom he said surprised him by proving a formidable politician and campaigner in her own right.

He thanked the people of Tanzania for giving his party another mandate to lead the country.

President Kikwete thanked the opposition political leaders and candidates for giving him and his party a good run.

’’Now, the elections are over and I should like them to work with us to build and develop our nation.’’

He said he was overwhelmed by the confidence and trust the people of Tanzania have placed on him.

President Kikwete said he would on December 30, 2005 address Parliament where he will speak more substantively.

’’Today is a day of joy, of celebration, and of gratitude. And our gratitude also goes to Almighty God for saving our country from turmoil in which other countries, in Africa and beyond, have found themselves,’’ he said.

President Kikwete thanked all the Heads of State from Africa and representatives of other governments who made it to witness his swearing in ceremony.

The African leaders present at the ceremony were South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki, Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Levy Mwanawasa (Zambia), Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Festus Mogae (Botswana), Joseph Kabila (Democratic Republic of Congo), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Meles Zenawi (Ethipia), Omar Al Bashir (Sudan), Bingu wa Mutharika (Malawi) and the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Swaziland and President of Namibia.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Mkapa entered the stadium in a special motor vehicle and went round waving to the jubilant crowd before he went to the saluting podium for a presidential 21 gun salute as the military brass bands played the national anthem. Mkapa inspected a guard of honour for the last time.

To signify the end of his tenure, the flag of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania was lowered as the national anthem was being played.

Mkapa then proceeded to the swearing-in ceremony podium where his predecessor and his vice, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein were seated waiting to be sworn-in by Chief Justice Barnabas Samata. The chief justice then handed President Kikwete the Constitution of the Tanzania which he swore to defend.

As is the custom in Tanzania’s smooth transfer of power, two senior citizens presented President Kikwete with a three-legged traditional seat on which he sat, as he was presented with a spear and a shield, whose use he briefly demonstrated.

After that ritual, as he moved to his seat, Mkapa left his seat and left it for Kikwete, which meant that he had officially vacated the presidency and left it to his successor.

After his vice-president was sworn-in, President Kikwete left for the saluting podium where he was given a 21-gun salute as the national anthem was played.

The flag of the President of Tanzania was again hoisted to signify the beginning of a new presidency.

After inspecting his first guard of honour as President, President Kikwete gave a short speech, but promised to give his vision when he addresses Parliament on December 30, 2005.

After the speech, invited Heads of State left for their luncheon at State House.

Born 55 years ago, Kikwete joined politics soon after acquiring his bachelor of economics degree at the University of Dar-es-Salaam.

Before serving as foreign affairs minister, he was energy and minerals minister in 1990 until 1994 and 1995 when he served as finance minister under Ali Hassan Mwinyi. When Mkapa took over, he served as foreign affairs minister for ten years or during the entire presidency of his predecessor.

In 1995, Kikwete was among the CCM members who joined the presidential nomination race although he lost to Mkapa.

Besides politics, President Kikwete loves sports and he is currently the patron of Tanzania’s National Basketball Association. He is married to Salma and has eight children, six sons and two daughters.

• SOURCE: Guardian