Jobs top Chaumma agenda

Dar es Salaam. The opposition Chama Cha Ukombozi wa Umma (Chauma) yesterday launched its presidential campaign, saying employment would top its agenda if elected in the October General Election.

The party’s presidential candidate, Mr Hashim Rungwe, made the promise when addressing a campaign rally in Manzese, Dar es Salaam.

He said the promise would be fulfilled by lowering prices of production tools to allow the majority of Tanzanians to be engaged in various economic activities.

Mr Rungwe, an advocate of the High Court and a businessman, pledged to make Tanzania an industrialised nation, saying this was the surest way of creating employment.

“By using our own technology and borrowing a leaf from developed countries, it will be possible to have a vibrant industrial sector and create more jobs for the people, particularly our youth,” he said.

Mr Rungwe said a country with a strong industrial base stood a greater chance of promoting exports and cutting imports, adding that this would boost Tanzania’s earnings from international trade.

The party’s presidential candidate for Zanzibar, Mr Mohammed Rashid, said the reduction of imports would be a relief to Tanzanians, who shoulder the burden of import duties.

“In most cases, business operators tend to shift the cost of imports to the final user by increasing the prices of the product in question,” Mr Rashid told the rally.

He said 87 per cent of import duties were paid by the final consumer and the rest by businesses, and this forces Tanzanians to dig deep into their pockets, thus increasing the cost of living.

Chaumma secretary-general Ally Omar said if the party wins the October 25 General Election, it would ensure all Tanzanians enjoyed the national cake.

“As we are firmly for the national interest, we are committed to ensuring that all Tanzanians benefit from the abundant natural resources we are endowed with,” he said.