President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday led thousands of ordinary Tanzanians
who thronged at Uhuru stadium in Dar es Salaam to mark the 50th birth
of the United Republic of Tanzania which came into being in April, 26th 1964 as
a result of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The union of the two
countries was formed following an agreement between the then President
of Tanganyika, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, and his Zanzibar counterpart, Sheikh
Abeid Amani Karume. The celebration was also attended by six foreign heads of state together
with other countries’ representatives including of international organizations,
had also attended by local and foreign dignitaries represented by other countries who
President Kikwete had introduced at the end of the occasion. The
Presidents and their countries in brackets are, His Majesty Letsie III, King of
Lesotho and His Majesty Mswati III of Swaziland, Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Pierre
Nkurunzinza (Burundi) Joyce Banda (Malawi), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya). Also in attendance were former heads of States
who included Sam Nujoma (Namibia) Rupia Banda (Zanbia) and Mwai Kibaki (Kenya).
President Kikwete arrived at the stadium at around 10:20 am in a resplendent
dark suit on board an open special State House car standing on the rear wearing
his characteristic broad smile waving to people who responded with deafening
cheers, clapping and ululation while being flanked by the Chief of Defense
Forces (CDF) General Davis Mwamunyange. His
motorcade was being escorted by a dozen of police motorcycle riders. He later
proceeded to the saluting dais and was greeted by a 21 gun salute while at the
same time the national anthem was being played. He later on inspected a guard
of parade mounted by ten units composed of gallant defense and security forces
armed forces including TPDF, Police, Prisons and National Service soldiers
which was being led by Lt. Colonel Makanya Errasy. The occasion which was marked more in a
military fashion gave President Kikwete and other spectators an opportunity to witness
a paramilitary exercise prepared by military soldiers who included those from infantry,
Marine and Air force army divisions. These among them included the long
procession of military vans showing various types of sophisticated modern
military armaments and five troop commander led by Lieutenant Joseph Kabipe.
The soldiers successfully came down from higher 4,500 ft above sea level. After
that, five special fast running military planes for training and jet fighters
performed a military show in respect of the guest of honour. These were controlled in systematic styles as
they moved from South to North waving a fearing look to spectators in the
stadium. Later, the President witnessed an exercise performed by a group of
army commandoes led by Lieutenant Utawangu. The soldiers showed their fatigued
military styles of various tactics on how they can fight with their enemies
without fire arms.
While they were performing, people who attended were
impressed by their performances whose practices brought positive distortions
which made people understood the importance of their work in the army. This
year’s union celebrations under the theme “Our
Tanzania is our union style, Let’s defend and protect it” as usual was graced by government leaders,
diplomats, business executives, political leaders and ordinary people. Earlier in the morning security people had a
hard time to control the influx of people into Uhuru stadium controlling
thousands of people who started to flock in at around 07.00 in the morning. The situation which later compelled the
officers to open the ultra-modern national stadium and allowed some people in
to watch the event after having realized they could not find a space at Uhuru stadium. The arrival of the President Kikwete had been
preceded by government leaders including former national President of the third
phase government Benjamin Mkapa, and was followed by former Zanzibar President
Aman Abeid Karume. Other national leaders who attended the occasion included,
Zanzibar President Dr. Mohammed Shein, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, First
Vice-President Dr. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, Speaker of the National Assembly Anne
Makinda. Others were former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, CCM Secretary
General Abdalhaman Kinana, Speaker of
the House of Representatives Pandu Amir Kificho Among in attendance were
representatives of foreign countries which includes Oman , Angola, Kuwait,
Mauritius, Botswana, Ghana, Jamaica, France, South Korea, Brazil, Netherlands,
Finland England, Qatar, Eritrea, Egypt and Algeria. Although there were a series
of national leaders both retired and current, an anonymous person was heard
asking for the where about of the other former national dignitaries who ever
served as Presidents of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government. These he mentioned are Aboud Jumbe who ruled
the Island since 1972 when the first President and the architect of union Sheik
Abeid Aman Karume died up to 1984, and Salmir Amour who ruled as from 1990 and
2000. Since their retirements the two have never been seen attending such
public functions. The celebrations were
colored by acts of activities and fan fare and other school children treated
thousands of spectators with their grand performances conducted by 3,475 students
from Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. Among them were 35 children who performed
acrobatic games. The children performed various styles that showed various
shapes that reflected the current standing situation of the security, health
and economy in the country.
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