TANZANIA CELEBRATES ITS 50TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

President Kikwete arriving at the Uhuru stadium

By Ipyana Mwaipaja

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has said that during the 50 years of Tanzania mainland independence, the government has managed to cover the gap left by the British colonial rule.

He said that in the speech he made on Friday 9^th December this year when celebrating the 50^th independence anniversary of Tanzania mainland, which were held at Uhuru stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Kikwete said that the British colonial rule exploited Tanzania and left without building any infrastructure.

“When the colonialists left in 1961, they left us with only three tarmac roads; that is, from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro, Korogwe to Tanga and Moshi to Arusha,” he said.

He however added that Tanzania has managed to maintain peace and security inside and outside its boundaries, for all the 50 years that it has been independent.

“We have a well equipped army with modern military weapons and by 2015 we shall have a very professional army with more modern equipment,” he said.

One of the army weapons being displayed during the celebrations

The President also congratulated and thanked the 17 TANU party founders for their effort to free the country from colonialists.  He said out of the 17 founders, only three are still alive, and named them as Lameck Makaranga, Ally Sykes and Gozberth Milinga.

On the other hand, the chairman for Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Mr. Freeman Mbowe has criticized the anniversary celebrations saying that the government has spent a lot of money for the celebrations instead of using the money to reduce poverty to the citizens.