JK on ambitious Makamba

Tanga. President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday spoke about the declared intention to succeed him by deputy minister for Communication, Science and Technology Mr January Makamba.

Speaking in the MP’s Bumbuli constituency yesterday, President Kikwete said he had heard of the intention of the youthful leader to run for the highest political office in the land when he retires in 2015.

“I hear your MP is vying for a bigger office. He has however not told me. That is ok, but he should not force things. When the time comes he will get the presidency but if it is not yet time, he will not get it,” he told a maultitude of Bumbuli residents at Soni area in his second day of an official tour of Tanga region.

Speaking shortly after Mr Makamba invited him to speak to the people, the Head of State used the opportunity to counsel the man who rose from a desk officer in the ministry of foreign affairs to working as the President’s speech writer before plunging into elective politics.

He told him to “adhere to dictates of time.”

Earlier he prased Makamba for an excellent work saying he had helped his administration with a lot of things. He urged him to take leaf from him when he tried for the op seat and missed the opportunity. He however called on him not to harbour ill feelings when he fails to get the post.

This was in reference to his first attempt at the presidency in 1995 when he was prevailed upon by the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to step aside in the race that was won by Mr Benjamin mkapa whom he would later succeed in 2005.

President Kikwete told Makamba to listen to the words of wisdom from elders whom he said will advise him accordingly.

Mr Makamba listened attentively as the President with whon he has worked closely for many years spoke. He was among local leaders in the tour, having arrived a few days from london where he made it clear that he would be making a bid for the presidency. He revealed the plan during an interview with BBC.

Speaking on the conflict between tea growers and the investor who run Mponde tea factory. He assured tea farmers the Prime minister has taken up the issue. ‘I know the problem and the government is dealing with it.”

He assured Bumbuli residents that he will help in pushing for addition of funds to conduct feasibility study on the Soni-Bumbuli-Kwashemsi road which is due for an upgrade to tarmac level.

Earlier, Mr Kikwete advised local water committees in the villages to include a big number of women in mansgement committees. He said they would be better placed to take care of the facilities as they knew and felt the paid of lack of water.

He spoke at Kwediboma ward in Kilindi district when launching a multimillion water project undertaken in ten villages.

He said the water problem in Kilindi district is being addressed saying that ten villages are on the drawing board. He said according to the district report, two villages in Kwediboma ward are set to get water by the end of this financial year.