{UAH} Dr Salim: Why I'll not seek top seat again - National - thecitizen.co.tz

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Dr Salim: Why I'll not seek top seat again - National

Dr Salim Ahmed Salim talks to Mwananchi Communications Limited journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday.  PHOTO | VENANCE NESTORY 

In Summary

POSTS HELD BY DR SALIM OVER THE YEARS

• Chief Editor of a Zanzibar daily paper, Secretary General of the All-Zanzibar Journalists Organisation 1963–1964
• Minister for Foreign Affairs 1980–1984
• Prime Minister of Tanzania 1984–1985
• Deputy Prime Minister of Tanzania 1986–1989
• Minister for Defence and National Service 1986–1989
• President of the Julius K. Nyerere Foundation 2001 – current
• Member of the Central Committee of the ruling political party in Tanzania (Chama Cha Mapinduzi).
• Member of the Tanzania Commission for Constitution Review 2012-2014

Former prime minister and respected diplomat says Tanzania needs to devise a better system of grooming future leaders

Dar es Salaam. Former Prime Minister Salim Ahmed Salim has ruled out running for the presidency in the forthcoming General Election, saying time has come for him to retire from active politics.

Dr Salim, who reached the last stage of the CCM presidential primary contest in 2005, said he was categorical he wouldn't run come 2015, even if he were urged by his supporters.

He was defeated by Mr Jakaya Kikwete in a three-man contest that included Prof Mark Mwandosya. Dr Salim has been mentioned in some quarters as one of the most likely contenders in next year's presidential race.

"I am 72 now and it is time to let younger blood get the opportunity to compete for the chance to lead this nation," said Dr Salim who also served as the OAU General Secretary for 12 years and as Tanzania's Permanent Representative to the UN for ten years, in an inclusive interview yesterday.

Recounting his 2005 experience, Dr Salim says his experience in the primaries race was mixed. But, he admits, he had not prepared himself for what was to come; how nasty the race would be. "I was naïve, I think. I thought my experience, qualifications and leadership qualities would speak for themselves, only to find that there were other factors involved," Dr Salim divulged.

The 2005 presidential primaries within CCM were marred with allegations of corruption, too much use of money for campaigns and a host of other dirty tricks, including character assassination.

If allowed to continue, such style and manner of nominating leaders will do a lot of harm to the country's future, Dr Salim cautioned.

Tanzania needs to devise a better system of preparing future leaders, a system that would get the country individuals who can lead with integrity, persons who are able to translate people's aspirations into meaningful results.

"If we do not prepare leaders, some individuals will just emerge from nowhere and spend a lot of money and give a lot of promises but end up being leaders who cannot bring the nation together as one," he noted, adding:

"It is high time we started nurturing leaders. And this should cut across political and religious ideologies. It shouldn't be confined to one political party or other. Because we need national leaders, who can meet people's expectations and bridge the large religious, political and income divisions that are emerging in the country."

 Dr Salim also spoke of corruption and how it has become a cancer in the society, threatening social cohesion and stability of the nation.

In the past during my travels and work overseas, I used to be very proud of my country because of the absence or low levels of corruption. Now that pride is gone. Corruption has become pervasive and is the source of huge injustices," he charged.

When there is corruption there cannot be justice, he said, adding that combating petty corruption will not be of much use to Tanzania if grand corruption is not tackled first."You cannot combat graft by focusing on petty corruption and succeed. You must start with grand corruption," said Dr Salim.

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