Kikwete remained optimistic about his chances of re-election, Prof Lipumba had urged voters to reject the CCM government

Dar es Salaam — The CCM presidential candidate, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, yesterday hinted on the type of government he will form if he wins tomorrow's General Election.The President, who is fighting to be re-elected to the seat, said more youthful leaders will form the bulk of assistant ministers in his new administration.

He spoke during a live radio interview yesterday on Clouds FM, following in the footsteps of his opponents, Dr Willibrod Slaa of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) and Prof Ibrahim Lipumba of the Civic United Front (CUF), who had similar interviews this week.

But as Mr Kikwete remained optimistic about his chances of re-election, Prof Lipumba had urged voters to reject the CCM government, saying the party policies were doomed to fail.

Speaking during a televised interview on Thursday night, Prof Lipumba said he was more qualified than Mr Kikwete to lead the country and asked voters to elect CUF.

Prof Lipumba said if given the chance, he would increase tax collection from 15 per cent today to 25 per cent of the GDP in three years' time.

He said Tanzania could not develop out of excessive tax exemptions and poor revenue collection from companies that raked in billions of shillings from the country.

According to Professor Lipumba, Tanzania loses not less than Sh150 billion every year for failing to collect tax from oil companies alone.

In his interview, President Kikwete, who was also scheduled to carry out another televised interview last night, said CCM was sure of victory. He promised to implement all promises that were in the party's manifesto.

He said his commitment to place more young people in the government was intended to establish a good succession plan for public leadership.

He said ten seats in Parliament will also be reserved for the youth should he form the next government.

Another area that he would give priority to is enhancing the efficiency of the civil service. He said the use of the Information and Computer Technology (ICT) will top his agenda to end bureaucracy.

He said the government would offer special services to old people and those with disabilities. In the near future, he continued to say, social services will be given in all parts of the country.

On infrastructure, President Kikwete said his government has already started a programme to build tarmac roads in the country. The aim is to ease transport and thus develop the country's economy.

He reiterated that the traffic jam experienced in Dar es Salaam was a sign of prosperity, but his government plans to solve the problem.

On corruption, Prof Lipumba said his government will not tolerate corrupt individuals.

He said the war against corruption would not take more than six months. He emphasised: "If the corruption war takes more than six months, then consider yourself a failure. My government will arrest and take to court all suspects within six months."


Leonard Magomba

Supporters of the ruling party at a campaign rally (file photo).
He said his government would also put in place strategies to boost local banks and enable them provide loans with affordable conditions to wananchi.

"It is good to have foreign investors and banks, but we must set strategies to protect our local banks. Today all our banks have been sold to foreign investors except the CRDB Bank. Tanzanians own nothing and have no voice on their decisions," said Professor Lipumba.

He said President Kikwete and his government carried the blame of joining the East African Community Common Market without preparing Tanzanians to face its future challenges.

Professor Lipumba added that he was in the race to win, and dismissed those asking him to throw his weight behind Dr Willibrod Slaa of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema).