Zitto steps down as ACT-Wazalendo leader after eight years

Dar es Salaam. ACT- Wazalendo founder Zitto Kabwe will step down from his party’s leadership role in March 2024.

Mr Kabwe was elected as ACT-Wazalendo party leader in March 2015.

He announced his decision to step down at the ACT's National Executive Council meeting held at the party’s head offices in Magomeni, Dar es Salaam, on February 12, 2024.

Despite being legally eligible for a 10-year tenure, Mr Kabwe says he has chosen to step down earlier to allow for the smooth continuation of party activities, including preparations for local and national elections.

“As we approach the end of my leadership, I thank you for your trust and cooperation. I have great confidence that we have strong leaders who will guide us at this stage and the next because every era has its own book,” he said.

"Thank you very much for your cooperation, and thank you for standing together in building our party,” he told party delegates.

Speaking on the achievement, Mr Kabwe said since the ban on public gatherings was lifted in January 2023, the party has toured all regions of Zanzibar and 17 regions of mainland Tanzania; held public meetings and listened to the voices and desires of the citizens.

“This has allowed us to build strong relationships with the people and give them hope for positive change. These tours have revealed the real situation of the citizens and highlighted various challenges facing them, and through our Shadow Cabinet, we have been closely monitoring these issues to bring relief to the citizens,” he said.

Furthermore, during the tour, they identified areas that needed to be addressed by the government, he added.

One of the areas, according to him, is land conflicts and border disputes between conservation areas and villages.

“In southern Tanzania, we have encountered significant complaints from farmers against pastoralists invading their land. People have died in some of these conflicts. Similarly, in pastoralist areas, we have heard complaints from citizens about their livestock being confiscated by officials from various conservation authorities,” he noted.

Mr Kabwe added; “We reiterate our proposal for the government to address this issue by establishing a presidential commission to review village and conservation area boundaries. We have proposed a commission like the one in 1991 that dealt with land issues, famously known as the Shivji Commission.”

The rising cost of living is another problem they identified.

People struggle to make ends meet, he noted, as prices of food and other essential items, transportation and construction materials increase daily.

"The government's responsibility is to ensure that citizens can afford the necessities of life by devising, enacting, and implementing policies that guarantee essential commodities such as food, clothing, and transportation are not burdensome for citizens. Our party continues to call on the government to fulfil its obligation,” he noted.