President Kikwete urges Tanzanian youth to tackle corruption

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) – Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, has implored the youth wing of his ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to ensure that the party rids itself of the image of corruption.

Opening the wing’s eighth general conference in Dodoma, central Tanzania, on Tuesday, Kikwete said: “CCM relies on the youth wing to popularise it among the nation’s young population. The party was created for the sole purpose of dominating state leadership.”

Kikwete, whose two-term presidency of five years each is due to end in 2015 in accordance with the country’s constitution, also appealed to the youth to ensure victory for the party at the 2014 polls for local authorities and the 2015 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The president, who is also national chairman of CCM, cautioned delegates to the youth conference to beware of and expose corrupt persons who use bribes to win favours of the electorate.

The CCM youth wing is due to elect its new leaders during the conference.

According to Kikwete, corruption has been a source of divisions within the party membership.

“Though election is the best way of getting committed party leaders, it is now threatened by disagreements arising from the process,” he said.

On the challenges of unemployment and education that face hordes of Tanzanian youths, the president urged the youth wing’s leadership to work out viable solutions in cooperation with state institutions and the private sector.
-0- PANA AR/VAO 23Oct2012