Opposition urged to give credit where it`s due

BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER

President Jakaya Kikwete has faulted opposition parties for criticizing everything done by the government, saying it a wrong interpretation of the multiparty system in the country.

Addressing thousands of wananchi on Tuesday at the inauguration of the construction of Kikwete Bridge on Malagarasi River, he said the role of opposition parties was to remind the government of its responsibilities and not to oppose everything done by the government.

“I would like to assure you that I, as your president, recognize my responsibilities to the people I am leading. I do not discriminate anybody on development issues on the basis that they have not chosen members of parliament or councillors from my political party, as doing so, means I don’t understand my duties,” Kikwete said.

He said MPs, councillors, village and divisional functionaries were supposed to fulfill their obligations, irrespective on party affiliation because the multiparty system means providing opportunity to people to elect leaders of their choice.

Citing Kigoma-Ujiji municipality, Kikwete said he would be surprised to see Chadema continuing with its opposition stance because it was the ruling party in the municipality and CCM was in the opposition there.

President Kikwete’s statement came in the wake of a statement by Kigoma-South legislator David Kafulila, who thanked the president for the commencement of the bridge's construction, which had stalled for a long time. The constituency is also set to be the new district of Uvinza.

Kafulila said by electing a member of Parliament from the opposition could possibly cause delays in implementing development projects, something which was different with President Kikwete's leadership.

Kafulila also requested President Kikwete to work on the problem facing Uvinza salt factory, which he claimed was dying while people had not benefited from it since it was privatized 30 years ago.

Earlier, Works minister John Magufuli said construction of the bridge was sponsored by the South Korean government, which footed 80 per cent of the total bill amounting to over 85bn/-.

Magufuli said the construction would take three years.

source: The Guardian