ZANZIBAR: THE Civic United Front (CUF) has urged Tanzanians to safeguard the country’s long-standing peace by upholding the values of national unity and promoting Kiswahili as a symbol of cohesion that has kept the nation together for decades.
Speaking with Daily News, CUF’s Director of Politics and Public Affairs, Ali Makame Issa, said Tanzania’s peace was built through deliberate efforts by the country’s founding leaders, who placed national unity above ethnic, religious and regional differences.
He said the late Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, recognised the importance of fostering one national identity and spent many years strengthening the use of Kiswahili as a common language capable of uniting all Tanzanians.
“Kiswahili became more than just a language of communication. It became a tool for building unity, promoting understanding and strengthening peaceful coexistence among Tanzanians,” Mr Issa said.
He noted that Tanzania’s stability is the result of decades of nation-building and should never be taken for granted, calling on citizens to preserve the values passed down by the country’s founders.
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According to him, peace remains the foundation for social and economic development, making it the responsibility of every Tanzanian to protect the harmony that has enabled the country to remain stable over the years.
Additionally, he said that it is vital for citizens to always place national interests first and avoid actions capable of creating divisions, stressing that the country’s unity has been sustained by respect, tolerance and a shared national identity.
He added that as Tanzania continues to grow, the ideals championed by the founding leaders remain relevant, particularly the promotion of Kiswahili, which continues to unite more than 120 ethnic communities under one national identity.
The politician further called on Tanzanians, especially the younger generation, to embrace the spirit of patriotism, uphold the country’s culture of peaceful coexistence and continue protecting the unity that has made Tanzania a model of peace in the region.