Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) presidential candidate, Mr Yustas Rwamugira has pledged to establish youth training centres and boarding schools in every region to support street youth and school dropouts.
The party has also pledged, if elected, to set up special care camps for the elderly who lack family support.
Speaking on Monday at Tandale grounds in Dar es Salaam during the launch of his presidential campaign, Mr Rwamugira said the youth centres will equip young people with practical, income-generating skills, while the elderly care camps, each designed to accommodate between 1,000 and 2,000 seniors will provide shelter, food and other basic necessities.
“These initiatives will ensure no young person or elder is left behind,” he said. “Our youth must be given skills to stand on their own feet and our elders deserve dignity and care in their final years.”
Mr Rwamugira said job creation would be his top priority if elected, especially tackling youth unemployment, including among university graduates.
“Employment will be my number one focus,” he declared. “We will ensure that young people get jobs so they can sustain themselves socially and economically.”
He noted that Tanzania’s vast land and abundant human resources can be leveraged to boost agriculture, small-scale industries and self-employment opportunities across the country.
The TLP candidate also promised to ensure better management of strategic sectors, including minerals, gas and agriculture alongside reforms to the taxation system to increase efficiency, reduce loopholes and ensure transparency.
“Through effective supervision and fair taxation, we will generate enough resources to support Tanzanians,” he said.
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Healthcare reforms were also high on Mr Rwamugira’s agenda. He vowed to implement universal health insurance for all citizens, covering children, parents, the elderly and informal sector workers.
He pledged to abolish consultation fees in public hospitals and provide insurance coverage to bodaboda and bajaji operators through district and regional banking systems.
“Every Tanzanian will have a health card,” he said.
The TLP leader promised a complete overhaul of the education system, from nursery to university, with an emphasis on practical, hands-on training to ensure students graduate with employable skills.
“We will build an education system focused on practice over theory, to make our graduates more competent and innovative,” he said.
He also committed to strengthening sports development, starting from early childhood through to higher education and pledged to modernise playgrounds and stadiums to nurture talent and promote healthy lifestyles.
On infrastructure, Mr Rwamugira vowed to revive the Central Line and Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) to improve transportation efficiency.
He also pledged to reserve all construction jobs for Tanzanians, allowing foreign experts only in subcontracting or advisory roles.
In terms of fiscal policy, he promised citizen-friendly taxation for both individuals and institutions and committed to settling both domestic and foreign debts, with a focus on clearing outstanding pension arrears owed to retirees.
TLP’s National Vice-Chairperson, Ms Johari Rashid outlined the party’s agenda for women, saying the goal is to reduce the burdens Tanzanian women face in their daily lives.
“We want to remove the buckets from women’s heads,” she said, symbolising the party’s plan to alleviate domestic and economic hardship for women.
She also vowed to eradicate harmful traditional practices, including kausha damu (bloodletting loans), which she said endangers women’s health and dignity.
“Our focus is to ensure women live in peace, safety and dignity,” she emphasised.
Ms Rashid called for peace and calm during the election period, urging all stakeholders to uphold national unity.
“We pray for peace throughout the campaigns and beyond,” she said.
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