Introduction
I welcome you to the State House and thank you for coming. I
extend to you, your families and staff, my best wishes for the New Year. Please, convey to your Heads of State and Government my best wishes for the New Year. Give them the assurance as it was the case last year and the years before that Tanzania wishes to continue to consolidate good relations that so happily exist between our two countries.
Golden Jubilee
Ladies and Gentlemen;
The year 2011 was a very special and eventful one for us in
Tanzania. We celebrated the golden jubilee of the independence of
Tanzania Mainland on December 9th. We used the occasion to look back
through the time tunnel of our history. Indeed, the 50 years were full of achievements worth praising. We have been able to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. We are proud to have remained united and peaceful amidst so many challenges.
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We have made considerable progress in the socio-economic
wellbeing of our country and its people. Despite the momentous
progress made for the past 50 years, we are mindful of the fact that
Tanzania is still in the category of Least Developed Countries.
Overcoming the poverty challenge remains the topmost priority of our
development agenda.
Let me take this opportunity to thank all our friends and
development partners for the invaluable support and cooperation which has contributed in a very special way to the progress achieved to date in our country. We look forward to continued cooperation and support. I
have no doubt in my mind that through working together we should be
able to deliver on the objectives of Development Vision 2025,
particularly that of Tanzania becoming a middle income country.
Constitutional Review
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
In my new year message, on December 31st, 2010, I spoke about
my intention to initiate a Constitutional review process as part of our
independence Golden Jubilee celebrations. Indeed, the process is
already underway. The legislation is already in place. It is my sincere hope that in the next few months, the Constitutional Review Commission will be on the road listening and collecting views of Tanzanians on the things they want to see included in their new Constitution. I hope also things will go according to plan and that by 2014 the country will have a new Constitution which will be used in the next General Elections of
2015.
The Economy
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
On the economic front, 2011 was not an easy year for our country
as has been the case for many countries in the world. Of course, the
level of impact differed from country to country, depending upon the
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strength of the respective economies. For a poor country like ours, the shocks became severe because of being weak and unable to withstand the effects and respond effectively.
The rising global oil and food prices, the slow recovery of the global economy, the Euro zone crisis, the weakening of the Tanzanian shilling as well as power rationing and food shortages in 36 districts occasioned by drought have affected negatively the pace of our economic growth and price stability. Inflation rose from 5.6 percent in December, 2010 to 19.2 percent in November, 2011.
As a result of all these, we have daunting challenges to contend
with this year. I am confident, however, that with the plans and
programmes we intend to initiate and, if we get the support of partners
and friends of Tanzania, we should be able to rise to the challenges and
prevail. We are still hopeful that our economy will grow at around 7
percent and that inflation will be brought down to a single digit by June,
2012.
Investment
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
It is the intention of our government to be more proactive in the
promotion of investment in Tanzania in the year 2012. We will increase
advocacy about the investment potential of Tanzania. We are in the
process of identifying specific productive and services sectors and subsectors
to be afforded special attention this year. We will continue to
take measures to improve the investment climate.
We are not quite happy with the scores we have been getting in
some indicators on Doing Business Reports. We are working to improve
matters in the identified areas of weakness. With regard to Foreign
Direct Investment, we will continue to rely on your support and
cooperation to tell investors in your respective countries to come and
take advantage of Tanzania’s immense potential.
Other Major Events
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Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
In my last year’s address to you, I expressed our apprehensions
about the scarcity of rainfall and its possible impact on food security in
the country. Indeed, our worries were well founded and, consequently
423,530 people from 36 Councils in 13 Regions of Tanzania experienced
food shortage. To respond to the situation, my government availed food
aid to the affected population.
The drought, also affected power supply in the country forcing us to
out-source generators from private operators which have become a big
burden to TANESCO and the government. Power supply has now
stabilized and our eyes are now focusing on long term solutions. We
have begun to put into place a set of measures which, if successfully
implemented, we may have a lasting solution to these recurrent power
shortages.
Excellencies;
My message this year is different, we have had good rains so far
and in some places too much rain to the extent of causing devastating
flash floods like what happened in Dar es Salaam last December.
Nevertheless, we pray for good rains to continue until the end of the rainy
season in May. If that happens, there is going to be a good harvest of
grains, there will be no food shortages this year.
Also, if rains are good in the catchment areas of Mtera, Kidatu and
Kihansi dams, the power shortages will ease and the burden to
TANESCO and the country will subsequently be eased.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Let me use this opportunity to thank those of you who have come
to the assistance of the victims of the flash floods in Dar es Salaam. The
process of resettling them has just started. In fact more support is
required now to assist them rebuild their lives ,and enable the
government to effectively support the victims. Whoever can contribute in
any way towards this worthy humanitarian cause is welcome. We will
greatly appreciate that.
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The Dar es Salaam flood disaster, and others, experienced in 2011,
such as the Gongolamboto explosions and the sinking of MV Spice
Islander in Zanzibar remind us of the urgency of strengthening
Government’s capacity to respond to disasters. And more importantly,
also building capacity for early warning so as to be able to prevent
disasters from happening and reduce their impact when they do occur.
We count on your continued support and cooperation in these important
noble objectives.
The Regional Scene
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
On the foreign policy front, Tanzania will continue to be a
responsible member of the regional and international community. Our
commitment to regional integration and cooperation remains firm, and
will continue to guide us in the years ahead. We are members of the
East African Community and the Southern African Development
Community. We will continue to be faithful and proactive members of
these two regional economic groupings. We are satisfied with the
progress being made by both on the integration agenda.
We welcome the signing of the declaration to launch the
negotiations for the establishment of the COMESA-SADC-EAC Tripartite
Free Trade Area on 12th June, 2011 by the leaders of three regional
groupings. We agreed that in four years, we will establish a Grand Free
Trade Area from Cape Town to Alexandria with a market of 600 million
people and a combined GDP of USD 1 trillion. We look forward to the
support and encouragement from our development partners and friends
in the international community towards the realization of this noble
dream.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Yet another important milestone worth mentioning is the successful
holding of the 4th Ordinary Summit of the Conference on the Great Lakes
Region on the 16th December, 2011 in Kampala, Uganda. For us in
Tanzania it was an occasion to celebrate the sterling job done by
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Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, the first Executive Secretary of the
organization. I am glad she was able to do an exemplary job of creating
a secretariat and she left it functioning very well. As a result, the CGLR
has become a dependable organization for promoting peace, stability
and development. Indeed, except for a few spots in one or two
countries, our region is much more peaceful today than it was six years
ago; thanks to the good work done by the Governments, youths, women
and civil society organizations of our region under the auspices of the
CGLR. I believe, we are now in better place to attain lofty objective with
regard to socio-economic development in the next few years.
The International Scene
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Regrettably, the global scene is far from being salubrious, partly
due to events that are beyond human control and some caused by
actions taken by human beings.
Last year, we witnessed a terrible tsunami in Japan. We also witnessed
harsh climatic conditions that led to one of the worst famines in six
decades in the Horn of Africa, as well as the severe floods that claimed
hundreds of lives in Asia and elsewhere. Piracy and acts of terrorism
also claimed lives of many innocent people and wounded others in
several countries. Once again my heart goes out to the victims of all the
natural and man-made tragedies that took place last year.
With regard to piracy we are determined to continue to fight the
pirates in our territorial waters. Let them know that, their life is in great
risk by venturing into Tanzania. At the same time we will expedite the
negotiation on transfer of prisoners with the EU and other bilateral
partners.
Global Response to Global Challenges Through Multilateralism
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
In the recent past there has been an increased consensus among
the world’s nations on the need for a global response to global
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challenges. Among the chief pre-occupations, henceforth, is how to
facilitate the attainment of sustainable development for all with due
regard to climate change. This can be a daunting endeavour given the
world’s demographic outburst which currently stands at 7 billion people
and, which according to United Nations projections, is expected to reach
9.22 billion in 2075.
In this regard, it is crucial that we seize the opportunity of
international platforms such as the forthcoming Rio + 20 Conference on
Sustainable Development, to be held in June, 2012, to reaffirm our
commitment towards the achievement of just, equitable and sustainable
development; and agree on practical interventions for accommodating
this population, including ensuring availability of basic services to all.
At national as well as global levels, we are duty bound to address,
in a comprehensive manner, the remaining gaps in the implementation of
outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development. We in the
developing countries seek the timely fulfillment of all the commitments
made in international fora pertaining to sustainable development; we
need fair access to international markets; meaningful access to modern
technologies; and an increased voice in global institutions of economic
and political governance. If there is a political will, I believe nothing will
be impossible to achieve.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
We are encouraged by the outcome of COP 17 which put in place a
framework for achieving a meaningful conclusion on climate change.
Indeed, the four political agreements reached at the COP 17 conference
in Durban are a significant advance in the climate change negotiations.
Africa will continue to stand united and speak with one voice on the
matter.
Conclusion
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Let me end my statement by once again wishing you and through
you to your Principals and countrymen and women my very warm
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greetings and best wishes for a brighter, secure and prosperous 2012. It
is my sincere hope that in the year 2012 together we can overcome the
common challenges; together we shall prosper; because together
we are stronger.
I thank you for your attention.