President Jakaya Kikwete led thousands of Tanzanians to mark 51 years of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar at a colourful ceremony at the Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam.

This year’s commemoration is Kikwete’s last as he leaves office after his two terms come to a close with the October General Election.

High-profile guests at the event included Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, former Union and Zanzibar presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Amani Abeid Karume, current and former prime ministers Mizengo Pinda and Frederick Sumaye, ministers, government officials as well as diplomatic corps.

The event was spiced up by traditional dances, a special song from security and defence forces as well as plays staged by more than 4,000 pupils from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar primary schools.

The Union Day anniversary presentations emphasised the need to maintain peace and stability, to vote for the Proposed Constitution and to curb killings and brutality against people with albinism.

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In their speeches, distinguished personalities hailed the socio-economic developments that the country had registered since April 26, 1964 when the Union pioneers, Father of the nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Zanzibar first President Sheikh Abeid Aman Karume, unified the two, previously separate entities.

Former speaker of the national assembly Pius Msekwa said despite some challenges, the bond has become stronger with the passage of time, because of the solid foundation that its principal pioneers had laid.

“I am lucky to be present throughout the past 51 years of the Union’s existence. I have seen a lot and written a lot about it. Unlike other set-ups that have since collapsed, such as the Egypt-Syria and Senegal-Gambia ones, ours has continued to flourish because of the solid foundation laid by the founders,” remarked Msekwa in the 40,000-seater stadium that was jam-packed.

The former speaker challenged the youth to make sure that the Union between the two countries survives for another 51 years. “Our (elders) time is coming to an end so it is up to the youth to take over and make sure that the Union does not collapse. They should understand that the Union will continue to encounter challenges but they should go back to the drawing board,” said Msekwa, who was clerk of the National Assembly when the Union was founded.

The chairman of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, Joseph Butiku, said Tanzania had made tremendous progress in all sectors, over the past 51 years.

When the Union was founded, he explained, Tanzania’s economy was heavily dependent on agriculture but the country was now on the verge of entering the gas economy. Mr Butiku added that the country had made progress in health and social sectors.

He urged stakeholders to engage in sober debates on the General Election and the referendum on the Proposed Constitution, to enable the nation to sail through peacefully. 

“As we tackle those issues, we should be cool-headed, and even those with divergent opinions should strive to strike compromises. The focus should be on remaining a united nation,” remarked the senior citizen who was long-time private secretary to Mwalimu Nyerere.

Mzee Juma Rajabu, who has witnessed all the past 51 anniversaries, said those who are against the Union should pick lessons from countries where schemes to break such entities had led to bloodshed.

“Many people lost their lives when the Republic of Ireland separated from Britain in 1919, I do not think we need that to happen to us,” said Mr Rajabu.

-The Citizen