Opening a meeting of the council of political parties discussing what to add to bills for political parties and electoral reforms tabled back in November, he said there are leadership gaps in political activity, the legislature, the judiciary and within the general public.
Accountability can be achieved if there are reforms for a democratic electoral processes as currently envisaged, he said.
It is the general election that brings in leaders at all levels, thus getting candidates has to be well-managed as it is leaders who shape the country’s image, he said, urging participants at the meeting to make good use of the platform.
They need to ensure that electoral laws coming from the bills are beneficial to the country, while veteran CCM cadre and former cabinet minister Stephen Wasira praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan for embracing the country’s traditions.
She had introduced political dialogue and sought reconciliation, which is suitable for the promotion of peace, he said, underlining that it was wrong to oppose what President Samia has demonstrated in spearheading democratic reforms, improving the conduct and operations of multiparty politics.
Right after being sworn in, the president demonstrated what she wished the country to be like, he said, noting that media outlets, hitherto operating in fear, were now operating freely. The general public can now discuss and talk politics anywhere, he remarked.
Major steps have been taken in improving the economy and slowly the economy is becoming inclusive, while earlier a small section of society was holding the economy.
He said that for countries like Tanzania, reconciliation was a vital issue meriting priority, expressing concern that some politicians are prioritising their parties in the dialogues instead of the country.
In the meeting, various points were discussed regarding the conduct of multiparty politics as the country heads towards the 2024 local government polls and the 2025 general election.
Hamza Hassan Juma, the Policy, Coordination and House of Representatives state minister in the Zanzibar Second Vice-President’s Office, said that efforts by the government to involve other stakeholders seek to enact good laws.
Judge Francis Mutungi, the registrar of political parties, said that the meeting takes up President Samia's instructions regarding recommendations from meetings of the council of political parties in changing various law provisions on elections and democracy.
The meeting participants need to prioritise patriotism for productive debate focusing on building national institutions, not for benefiting specific parties, where stakeholders ought to give their own contributions in the broadest way possible, he added.
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