JK to lead nation at uhuru fete

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Mainland today marks 53 years of its independence with President Jakaya Kikwete expected to lead the nation in celebrations at Uhuru Stadium. This year’s commemoration will be President Kikwete’s last as he will leave office in 2015 after serving two terms in line with the Constitution. The General Election will be held next October.

The Head of State is expected to inspect the Independence Day parade accompanied by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Davis Mwamunyange.

The Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Juma Maharage, told The Citizen yesterday that there would be no invited foreign dignitaries this year.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Presidential Communications yesterday said President Kikwete had officially started working after a brief rest prescribed by his doctors.

He resumed his official duties by swearing in Mr Daudi Ntibenda as the new Arusha regional commissioner. “He has resumed his duties and will start working on pending issues awaiting his attention,” a State House statement said.

President Jakaya Kikwete was successfully on in the United States last month. He underwent surgery for prostate cancer at the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.