We must carefully weigh politicians' promises.

BY EDITOR

5th September 2015

Editorial Cartoon.

Once again Tanzanian voters are witnessing presidential candidates criss-crossing the country canvassing for votes in what observers believe will be an even contest between two major opposing political forces.

 

It is a hot political contest since voter turn up in public rallies makes it difficult to say who has an edge  and thus likely to win between CCM presidential candidate Dr John Pombe Magufuli and the Chadema candidate, contesting under an umbrella of the Coalition of the People’s Constitution  or Ukawa in acronym, Edward Lowassa.

 

In short, the two candidates have been receiving massive welcome from voters wherever they go, some chanting supporting slogans or singing. 

 

But, it should not be forgotten that a newly registered political party, Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT) with its presidential flag bearer Anna Mghwira has also been attracting considerable crowds, indicating that the party may pose a threat to the two dominant parties, especially when it comes to votes.Since presidential campaigns kicked off last month no pollster has carried out an opinion poll to find out how voters are likely to conduct themselves on October 25 when they will be casting votes.  Even then such opinion poll results are not always reliable as is usually the case in developed countries. 

 

As campaigns continue in various parts of the country candidates have began making promises, some of which raise eyebrows, especially on whether they can indeed be implemented. We fully understand that each candidate has a responsibility of selling his or her party’s election manifesto to the voters to bring them to his side. An election manifesto is an official agreement between a political party and the citizenry its candidate wins the poll.

 

Much as each party’s candidate would like to win the election, presidential candidates have a tendency of issuing what may be branded as ‘impromptu promises.’ These are promises made by candidates outside their election manifestos. These are promises issued by candidates when they are on the stage addressing voters. 

 

Given our experience dating back from 2005 to 2010 general elections presidential candidates made promises that until now are yet to be implemented.  For instance there are candidates who promised to make Mtwara an industrial hub of the country, turn Kigoma town to be like Dubai, replace the aged MV Victoria with a new one, turn the central railway line into a high speed line, and that sort of dreams. 

 

We fully understand that elections are about promises but promises issued for the major objective of just wooing votes are useless.

 

Candidates ought to understand that implementation of the promises made during election is highly dependent on the country’s economic strength. Very unfortunately no candidate has come out clearly with any plan that will bolster the country’s economic growth. Again, candidates are just speaking about fighting unemployment among the youth but they do not say how they will achieve the goal.  

 

Constructing roads linking regional headquarters in the country is among the promises that top the list this year. Well, it is such a nice promise but from which source will the funds come? This is not time for blah blah!  This is not the time of promising to turn Dar es Salaam into New York. We need workable promises, please!

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN