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Mixed reaction as JK clocks 100 days
2006-03-30 07:49:01
By Guardian Reporters
Some opposition leaders yesterday criticised the performance of the fourth-government, saying it had failed to lived up to its slogan of ’’new zeal, new vigor and new pace’’.
The reaction comes 100 days since the new government led by close allies President Jakaya Kikwete and Prime Minister Edward Lowassa assumed power.
Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) National Chairman Augustine Mrema said Kikwete’s government was yet to address critical problems cited in the Warioba, Kisanga and Nyalali commission reports.
’’The government suspends junior government officers and arrests businessmen on suspicion of being criminals.
How about big shots mentioned in the Warioba reports? Mrema asked, adding: ’’The crackdown on economic crimes does not make sense if well known and most corrupt officials are left untouched.’’
The outspoken opposition leader said it was unfair to arrest 30 businessmen suspected to be involved in organized crime without taking action against the key players who had been assisting them.
’’Let us start with these reports if the government is really serious. Look at the contentious issues highlighted in the Nyalali and Kisanga reports and resolve them. Get hold of the corrupt institutions and persons named in Warioba Commission report and take action.
I don’t see the logic of jumping at minor issues and ignoring those cited in the reports,’’ Mrema said.
Dr Sengondo Mvungi, who contested the presidency on the NCCR-Mageuzi ticket in last year’s general election, said that the new government had lost direction in the implementation of development programmes.
’’How can you wake up in the morning and start issuing directives, suspending officials and stopping businesses just like that. Certain procedures must be followed. This government does not follow procedures,’’ Dr Mvungi said.
Citing the recent decision to ban activities at Dar es Salaam’s Kunduchi quarry, he said that it was clear that the government did not care about people’s welfare.
”Some of the licensed mining firms and individuals had signed contracts with clients to supply stones. How do you stop the activities and revoke licences just like that?
There are people who depend on the quarry for their survival.
’’Before making such a sensitive decision which affects the lives of many people, the government had to find an alternative site for the miners and mining firms,’’ Dr Mvungi added.
But Chadema National Chairman Freman Mbowe lauded President Kikwete for the ’’positive and commendable’’ achievements recorded in the few days he has been in office.
Mbowe said the new government had demonstrated its readiness to address major problems such as those dogging the Union; the political crisis in Zanzibar; controversy surrounding mining contracts; rampant corruption and gender imbalance in the government.
’’The President has tried to come up with a gender sensitive Cabinet by appointing a sizeable number of women to the sensitive ministries.
The government has brought hope to desperate and poor men and women in Tanzania,” he noted, adding: ’’The President is also determined to address the income gap between haves and have-nots.’’
’’Both the President and prime minister are so quick to respond to situations calling for prompt action,’’ said Mbowe, citing the formation of commission of inquiry to investigate the shooting dead by police of four civilians earlier this year and distribution of relief food to needy communities.
Meanwhile, several academicians expressed satisfaction at the performance of President Jakaya Kikwete in the 100 days he has been in power.
Prof Aggrey Nzali, the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at the new College of Engineering and Technology (CoET), said Kikwete’s leadership style was refreshingly different from that of his two predecessors in that he has been close to the people.
Prof Nzali said Kikwete closely monitored the performance of members of his government who knew that they could not afford to perform below expectations.
’’I like him because he is straightforward. He has been criticising leaders without fear or favour,’’ he said, but hastened to add that the challenge ahead was for all Tanzanians to support the government in its efforts to invest in technology if they did not want to continue being slaves in a globalised world.
Prof Haroub Othman, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), said the President had been doing well, and what he now needed was strong support from other leaders such as district and regional commissioners.
’’The whole Cabinet, regional and district leadership must be at the forefront in efforts to transform this country.
We have lost many years either through inaction or by following foreign imposed models as a result of which a number of democratic gains have been eroded,’’ Prof Othman said.
A second-year student at the UDSM, Margaret Komba, was also of the view that the President had been doing well, especially in improving gender equality by appointing more women to senior positions in his government.
She said the implementation of the ’’new zeal, new vigour and new pace’’ philosophy had exposed lazy and weak leaders who were supposed to work hard to improve the lives of Tanzanians.
Prominent Dar es Salaam-based lawyer Moses Maira said the changes made by the President, especially in the Police Force, had rekindled the public faith and confidence in the government.
’’The President should now move fast to sideline all those who fail to keep up with his pace as it is clear that they will not resign of their own volition. The President should not wait until things get out of hand,’’ Maira said.
Another lawyer, Israel Magesa, said the President had started well by paving the way for good governance through his adherence of the rule of law.
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