{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Why false promise will return to haunt parties - Opinion/Editorial | The Citizen
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Why false promise will return to haunt parties - Opinion/Editorial
The first ten days of campaigns have already witnessed some aspiring leaders and their team members giving Tanzanians promises which are obvious untruths. Untruths in the sense that much of what they are pledging is unrealistic and unattainable.
Being a newspaper, our role is to give unbiased coverage of the goings-on in this crucial period of our country's history, for people will be going to the polls without an incumbent gunning for the highest political post—the presidency. Mr Jakaya Kikwete has is about to complete his two consecutive terms and will be leaving the State House before the end of this year.
In some way, therefore, the playing field is more level now than it was in 2010, for we only have an incumbent party, which is now facing an unprecedented challenge given the loss of its several heavyweights to Ukawa – a grouping of four parties that are confident their unity will dethrone CCM, which has been in power since independence.
As the campaigns enter their tenth day, we have already noticed that many office seekers and their helpers at every level are into the culture of telling people virtually anything, apparently in an effort to show they have the best plans for Tanzanians.
Our role is not to give any party or candidate any winning tips. All we are telling them is that they must avoid lying to the people and instead focus on problems facing Tanzanians. They must endeavour to be specific on how they are going to lead us out of the backwardness beleaguering the majority of the population.
There are innumerable problems that Tanzanians are facing, with 28 per cent of its population living on less than a dollar a day, a situation the UN describes as extreme poverty. Ours is ranked among the world's 30 poorest countries, but in terms of natural resources, it can easily be described as one of the richest!
It means there is a problem on how leaderships over the years have failed to devise policies and carry out programmes to harness the potential Tanzania has into wealth. And amidst the debilitating poverty amongst our people, we have a few, including those in leadership positions, who live in obscene luxury. It means there is an unacceptable gap between the haves and the have-nots.
We boast one of the highest school enrolments in Africa and up to 70 per cent of our children who pass their primary school exams get a place in secondary school, but there are questions about the quality of education that is offered.
These are just a few of the many issues that those who are seeking to form the next government should address. And we wish to caution the aspirants that today's Tanzanians are not those of yesteryear. People are now more exposed to what is taking place elsewhere in the world, and they can easily differentiate between genuine promises and lies.
We urge those on the campaign trail to avoid abusive language that could jeopardise our peace and treat the electorate with respect by avoiding giving impracticable promises, for doing that is the same as underestimating the intelligence of Tanzanians. This amounts to insulting them!
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