Tanzania’s opposition ADC candidate promises free electricity, water within 90 days
What you need to know:
- The ADC candidate promised free education up to university level, cancellation of student loan debts, free healthcare, and a maternal grant for every woman who gives birth to help curb child abandonment. He added that every child born in Tanzania would be supported until the age of 18.
Dodoma. Opposition party ADC’s presidential candidate, Wilson Mulumbe, has vowed to provide free nationwide electricity and water connections within 90 days if elected in the October polls.
Mulumbe, who officially collected his nomination forms yesterday, had earlier missed his Tuesday appointment with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Though expected at 9am on Thursday, he arrived at 3:10pm, blaming traffic congestion and narrow roads for the delay. He pledged to reform infrastructure laws if elected, saying poor planning was contributing to accidents.
His convoy, accompanied by motorcycles, mdundiko drummers, a sound truck and an MC, drew attention as it made its way to the INEC offices, where he was received by Elections Director Ramadhan Kailima. After a brief session inside, Mulumbe addressed reporters, declaring: “We believe CCM is about to hand over the country to us.”
Unveiling five key pledges, the ADC candidate promised free education up to university level, cancellation of student loan debts, free healthcare, and a maternal grant for every woman who gives birth to help curb child abandonment. He added that every child born in Tanzania would be supported until the age of 18.
“Our government will deliver services without discrimination. Electricity will be connected for free across the country within 90 days of assuming office, alongside water connections,” Mulumbe said.
ADC’s running mate, Shoka Khamis Juma, promised that an ADC administration would safeguard the Union and ensure political parties received fair subsidies. He criticised CCM for imposing a five-percent vote threshold for parties to qualify for state funding, calling the system discriminatory.
“This is exclusionary. They are in power, they use state resources, yet they impose conditions that lock others out. I urge those who have said no reform, no election to unite with us to remove CCM and pass fairer laws,” Juma said.
He added that ADC would mobilise grassroots fundraising to support its campaigns, mirroring strategies previously used by CCM.
