ACT-Wazalendo says now shifts focus to politics of struggle
What you need to know:
- ACT has invited other political parties to join the effort to ‘liberate’ Tanzanians, stressing that without such collective action, the people would remain politically captive within their own country
Dar es Salaam. ACT-Wazalendo chairman, Othman Masoud Othman, has announced that the opposition party is shifting its political strategy from one of reconciliation to a focus on political struggle.
Mr Othman, who also serves as Zanzibar’s First Vice President, clarified that “struggle” does not mean violence, but rather a fight for the country’s democracy.
He invited other political parties to join the effort to ‘liberate’ Tanzanians, stressing that without such collective action, the people would remain politically captive within their own country.
He said this call for cooperation is rooted in the pursuit of democracy and is not tied to the upcoming General Election.
Mr Othman made these remarks during a press conference yesterday, at the Hakainde Hichilema Hall, located in the Maalim Seif Shariff Hamad building, at the party’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam.
“Struggle politics means fighting for what we believe in to ensure its success. Our priority is to secure democracy in Tanzania.
Without democracy, we are as though we have all been taken captive,” Mr Othman said.
He pointed out that citizens should be in control of the decision-making process regarding the nation’s governance, equating it to owning a house or business without having a say in who manages it.
“If you own a house or business but cannot choose who manages it, is that house truly yours?” he asked.
He further said that the party’s struggle is focused on ensuring the full implementation of the country’s constitution, with citizens having a say in decisions affecting their lives.
Mr Othman also stressed that Tanzania’s democratisation process should not only be viewed through a political lens but also with a focus on economic accountability, with elections serving as the foundation for transparency and responsibility.
“Today, someone is entrusted with the country’s resources—collecting and using taxes. But often, politicians attribute all successes to the President. People say, ‘Mother has brought this, has brought that… but where did she get it from?” he questioned.
Furthermore, Mr Othman explained that those responsible for tax collection should be held accountable for the lawful and transparent use of funds.
He also noted the country’s vast natural resources, including gold, tanzanite, oil, gas, and land, covering over 234 million acres, as areas requiring greater accountability.
“How can such individuals remain unaccountable? Failure to hold them accountable leads to corruption,” he noted.
Othman further noted that the party’s shift in approach is a response to widespread frustration among Tanzanians and their allies worldwide, especially after the electoral irregularities of 2019 and 2020.
He noted that the sixth-phase government had promoted a reconciliatory approach to heal the nation.
“They set up a task force, and ACT-Wazalendo participated more than any other party in discussions on electoral and constitutional reforms,” he said, adding that the party had also supported the President’s 4R framework (Reconciliation, Resilience, Reform, and Rebuild).
