JPM: Uhuru torch races are here to stay

Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli said on Saturday October 14 that the government has no plan to cancel Uhuru Torch races due to the positive impact the symbolic races have on economy and history of the country.

The head of state said this in Zanzibar during the climax of the Uhuru Torch Races which was marked alongside the commemorations of 18 years after the death of Tanzania’s founding President Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

Addressing the nation, at the Amaan stadium in Unguja, Dr Magufuli said the races help Tanzanians to keep reminded of the history of the country and furthermore helps in launching development projects being implemented across the country.

“I don’t understand those who want the Uhuru torch races to be cancelled, I’m not sure if they are aware of the history, let’s be patriotic to our country,” he said.

“Under my tenure I will protect and ensure the races are being carried on, and I’m sure even the Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein is of the same opinion,” he added.

During this year’s Uhuru torch races a total of 1500 development projects worth Sh1.1 Trillion across the country were launched, he said.

“Among the projects, 148 were industries worth Sh468 billion which are projected to offer over 13000 employment opportunities,” said the races’ national leader Mr Amour Hamad Amour.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled Ms Jenista Mhagama asked the public to support the races as it was sign of unity and solidarity.

She said, “It plays a great role in the development of our country, we should maintain it as part of efforts to protect the values we inherited from our founding fathers of the nation.”