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President Jakaya Kikwete graced the celebrations.
Flanked by the Chief of Defence Forces of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), Gen Davis Mwamunyange, the Commander in Chief President Kikwete arrived at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam at about 10:10 in the morning.
At the occasion, the President was joined by Zanzibar President Dr Mohammed Shein, Vice President Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and First Vice President (Zanzibar) Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad.Other high profile leaders were retired Presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Aman Abeid Karume.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai and Zanzibar Speaker of the House of Representative Pandu Amir Kificho were also in attendance.
Invited guests were senior government officials, members of diplomatic missions and judges.
As usual, the President and Commander in Chief arrived aboard an open special State House car standing on the rear wearing a broad smile, waving to people who responded with rowdy applause. He was escorted by a dozen of police motorcycle riders as he touched the ground.
He arrived and went straight to greet the nationals at the saluting dais; people were in jovial moods cheering up. They welcomed him with the national anthem playing followed by a 21 gun salute.
The stadium was coloured by mainly people wearing white t-shirts featuring images of the founding fathers of Tanganyika, the then President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and his counterpart Zanzibar President Abeid Aman Karume.
Other colourful gear was images featuring President Jakaya Kikwete and Zanzibar President Dr Mohammed Shein.
The security was intensified at all corners, mainly the armed forces taking charge. The President inspected the guard of honour mounted by the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces, the police and National Service.
The celebrations which were televised live, saw a paramilitary exercise from the armed forces. Including infantry brigade, tank brigade, artillery battalion, air defence artillery battalion, mortar battalion, anti-tank battalion, engineer regiment (Communications).
Other group showcased before the president were the prison force, military police, national servicemen , marine unit as well as the commandos.
There were no military vehicles to showcase, but upcoming and well trained commandos who were part of the thousands kept the president smiling as they went on to show how they can fight the enemy.
The displayed a number of military techniques which included to pass along restricted areas, crow through the rope and showing sophisticated modern military -like hardware.
It was all wonderful when the group of mass display of children aging between 10 and 18 years of age took the podium at the stadium in a display to marked the Union.
Drawing a number of objects to describe the nation endowments from farming, youth opportunities, natural resources and tourism attractions they had one word: “Stop Poaching for the national benefit.”
Simultaneous messages they carried for the national day in their pinkish and reddish outfits, the children urged the use of modern farming tools for maximum productivity. They also faulted some Tanzanians over unwise killing of people with albinism.
They also said “physical exercises are crucial for better health” while “peace and security is the responsibility of all citizens.” This year’s Union Day celebration was under the theme: “Maintain peace, vote YES for the proposed constitution and participate in the general elections.”
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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