PRESIDENT JAKAYA KIKWETE: PRESIDENCY IS STRESSFUL, THANKLESS JOB

President Jakaya Kikwete.

Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Kikwete has described his job as “stressful and thankless”. Two terms are enough, he said at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington DC on Friday. The centre focuses on independent research, open dialogue and actionable ideas.

In a particularly candid moment, Mr Kikwete added: “After 10 years, you need to move on. It’s been 10 years since I came to this high profile office. I was very young, just 55. But what I can tell you about this job is that it is stressful and thankless.”

In his speech, President Kikwete--whose second and final five-year term ends in October--reflected on his accomplishments, some of the key challenges he has faced and lessons learned during a decade at the helm.

The session was co-ordinated by Ms Monde Muyangwa, the director of the African Programme. Ms Muyangwa asked President Kikwete if he could share his views on why African leaders tend to cling to power, but he avoided a direct comment, saying instead: “I should not speak on their behalf. You need to invite them and get their opinions.”

He also spoke of his plans for the future--and it would appear that he is keen on three things: Agriculture, reducing maternal mortality and fighting malaria. He is particularly keen on cutting maternal mortality.

Mr Kikwete added: “When I look back to 2005, when I assumed office, I have no regrets. The one who comes will take it from there. We have built a very strong foundation, especially Vision 2025.”

The major policy tenets that he considers the hallmark of his presidency include a united nation, peace and political stability, fast socio-economic growth and development, the fight against poverty and accelerated development.

He is also especially proud of his efforts to consolidate democracy and ensure good governance, the rule of law and human rights, undertaking an unrelenting fight against crime and developing good relations with other countries.

But, at the end of the day, he considers his greatest source of pride is to have to continue holding the country together despite the challenges.

President Kikwete said he had done so because he made it a point to move fast to head off whatever threats arose.

And should the people feel he would be useful in any other capacity, he would be happy to volunteer and take up offers as he values his health. Two issues--agriculture and health--preoccupied his presidency.

Although founding President Julius Nyerere was criticised for scrapping chiefdoms, he said, that decision helped build the country. Mwalimu built a nation not based on religion or ethnicity. And he believed colonialism had both positive and negative aspects.

He cited areas where good schools were constructed in places where the weather was good. But there was a threat of a clash of faiths and politics, but he would find a way of tackling the problem.

President Kikwete said he had been talking to clergymen to stress that there is no way they can politicise religion as it will invite the “bad guys”.

He also expressed his pride in Kiswahili as the language that unites the nation because it is spoken everywhere in Tanzania.

The President also explained the postponement of the referendum, saying it was caused by a delay in delivering biometric voter registration machines.

And there were delays in payment in the initial stage. Mr Kikwete gave an assurance that the new technology would be on hand to register voters ready for the referendum and the October General Election.

The Citizen