AfricaPress-Tanzania: CERTAINLY the legacy of President John Magufuli in promoting the sports and entertainment sector in Tanzania will continue to live since he devoted himself to invest and ensure great results in the future.
The motivational investment made by the President was an important foundation for the revolution of the sector and reminds his statement that once he said that: “One day you will remember me, you will remember me for the good deeds not for the bad because I have given my life for the poor Tanzanians.”
These words are indeed touching, mostly after knowing that President Magufuli is no longer with us anymore. The only thing that Tanzanians are now left with is the sacrifice that he gave for his nation, especially to youth in the sports and entertainment industry.
It will be remembered during his second term of inauguration ceremony, President Magufuli promised to establish a special fund for the national teams which will solely make Tanzania a sports powerhouse.
He noted that the special fund was to enable good preparations for the national team in various continental or global level events as he was fed up witnessing Tanzanian teams performing poorly in the international tournaments.
“Tanzanians want victory, we are tired of losing every match,” JPM noted.
To ensure emphasis of his vision to improve the national team he directed the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Innocent Bashungwa and his Deputy Abdallah Ulega to ensure the national team perform well.
Apart from encouraging the Tanzanian envoys to represent the nation in competitions he also had the opportunity to issue his appreciation whenever the representatives did well in competitions.
In 2019 President Magufuli awarded “Taifa Stars” players portions of land as part of an appreciation to their achievement for qualifying in AFCON. Hassan Mwakinyo and his coach were both given land on the same day.
Among the biggest sports projects that he eagerly waited to complete in his second term of presidency include the construction of the hyper modern sports arena in Dodoma capable of accommodating a big audience and sports activities in the near future.
During his swearing-in ceremony at Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma, people missed an opportunity to witness the ceremony as the venue failed to accommodate all of them.
Since then, the government has been working to ensure the project becomes successful.
Whereas according to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Dr Hassan Abbasi recently noted that the ultra-modern sports complex is set to begin soon, as construction tender is at its final procedures.
It is said the hyper class stadium would cost between 80m/- and 100m/- US dollars and able to accommodate a seating capacity of between 85,000-105,000 spectators.
President Magufuli did all these knowing that the sports sector is an important pillar in the nation as it creates jobs for a huge group of youths.
On his leadership President Magufuli also directed the ministers to ensure artists and artistes get all rights for their works. In his first term of presidency he ordered the move of transfer Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA), to the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports from the Ministry of Industry.
The move was received by artists and artistes as the wisest move; that will surely benefit them. He did these all because he knew how arts or artistry have been contributing to the national income but they have put Tanzania in the world entertainment map.
Showing his appreciation to artists he offered hats to those artists who joined him in the general election campaign. Among the artist are Diamond Platnumz, Ali Kiba, Harmonize, Nandy and Zuchu in which they are all well recognised as top artists in the country, East Africa and the world at large.
JPM’s reign in the past five years had seen a steady growth in sports and entertainment sectors, and the arts-loving Head of the state, had most often promised more vitality in the 2020/25 term.
The country in the first five years under JPM made notable progress in the women and girls’ football as proved by Kilimanjaro Queens, the Mainland football team, which won back to back CECAFA Women Championship.
His first five year reign also saw the national team “Taifa Stars” qualifying into the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals staged last year in Cairo, Egypt, for the first time after almost 30 years.
