On neither tribe nor religion but in brotherhood we should stand

BY EDITOR

2nd July 2015

 Come October General Elections as Tanzanians  we should  prove  the prophets of doom wrong by going to conduct one of the most peaceful elections in the history of Africa.

 

This should  display of political maturity to show that there will be no bitterness, and acrimony. After the elections the new administration needs to focus more on things that unite rather than those which divide Tanzanians.

 

President Jakaya Kikwete many times has called on religious leaders to pray for the nation, particularly now with the General Elections approaching. 

 

The developed countries of the world have something in common; they have successfully removed tribal, religious and ethnic considerations from their polity. Americans relate to themselves and regard themselves as Americans and not as adherent of different religions, or ethnic groups.

 

No doubt, Tanzanians have not been   divided along religious and ethnic lines since independence.For Tanzania to develop and catch up with some of the fast developing nations of the world, there has to be a deliberate national policy aimed at down-playing issues of tribe, religion and ethnicity, like is the case in developed countries.

 

Tanzania  cannot develop to the extent of leading Africa and earning honour and respect among comity of nations if ethnic and religious considerations will reign supreme in our day to day dealings.

 

The rule of law, good governance and quality leadership should not be sacrificed on the altar of religion and ethnicity.

 

As we prepare for the elections there is need for us to, not only remove religion from the head count, but it would do us a lot of good if the question of ethnicity is also removed from the head count during the elections.

 

The Rwandan genocide which has become an epitome of man's inhumanity to his fellow man in the history of Africa was facilitated owing to the fact that it was demanded that the two warring ethnic groups of Hutu and Tutsi are inscribed on the national identity cards of every Rwandan.

 

This made it possible for people to be easily identified, killed or maimed. 

 

The president of Kigali was quick to identify this and as soon as he became president, he ordered that new national identity card devoid of ethnic identification be issued to all Rwandans. Today in Rwandan, it is difficult to know who is Hutu or Tutsi; the only ethnic tribe that exists is Rwandan.

 

Considering the damage that ethnic sentiments and chauvinism as well as religious intolerance had done to some countries, there is need for us to learn from the example of Rwanda in removing those issues that divide us. 

Regardless of any part of Tanzania, we may find ourselves, all should be accorded the full right and privilege of indigeneouship and citizenship of Tanzania. 

 

Tanzania’s quest for development, greatness and leadership in Africa entails and requires that tribe, religion and ethnicity should not exist from our day to day considerations.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN