Masato Masato: ZANZIBAR President Ali Mohammed Shein is this morning expected to highlight his ten-year presidency’s social, economic and political feats.
He is scheduled to address the nation through a live speech from the Chukwani-based legislative House before dissolving the ninth House of Representatives.
Postponing the House session here on Friday, House Chairman Shehe Hamad Matter reminded members to arrive as early as possible to welcome the high-profile guest.
Dr Shein’s entourage to the House will include Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, Members of the Union Parliament from Zanzibar, Chief Justices from Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland, Omar Othman Makungu and Ibrahim Hamis Juma, respectively, and First Lady Mwanamwema Shein.
This is President Shein’s last address to the House ahead of his retirement from the country’s top office later this year upon completion of his two five-year terms.
Tanzanians and Zanzibaris in particular are eagerly waiting to listen to Dr Shein as he outlines the great achievements that the country has recorded during the past ten years.
He will particularly make reference to the country’s peace and tranquility, which have helped to bolster the national Gross domestic Product (GDP) from 1,768bn/- in 2010 to 2,874bn/- as of 2018, with the per capita income increasing from 942,000/- to 2,323,000/- during the period.
During the period, Zanzibar has succeeded to attract serious investors, with data from Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA) showing that 304 projects involving 3.74 billion US dollars (over 8tri/-) were executed, creating 16,866 jobs.
President Shein’s presidency spearheaded free education and health services have yielded great feats as portrayed by the number of student enrolment both at nursery, primary and secondary schools.
The number of secondary schools, for instance, increased to 284 with 130,713 students last year from 105 schools, which had 80,008 students in 2010 when Dr Shein first assumed the presidency.
The outgoing president will definitely have a lot to brag about; he leaves behind a historical legacy of paying pensions to all senior citizens in the Indian Ocean’s semi-autonomous archipelago.
During the past decade period, the government invested heavily in transport infrastructure – land, marine and air transport, in efforts to accelerate industrial and service backed economic growth.
Dr Shein ends his two five-year terms with great honour.
When dissolving the 11th Parliament in Dodoma on Tuesday this week, President John Magufuli showered praise on the outgoing Zanzibar President for his outstanding leadership.
The President described Dr Shein as a great leader who displayed remarkable leadership in public service for all the eight years he served as the Union Vice President of Tanzania and later as Zanzibar leader, a position he served for ten years.
Dr Magufuli said Dr Shein wrote history in public leadership in the country as his contribution to the nation was great. He said like other retired presidents and top government officials, Dr Shein will be honoured.
“Dr Shein, you have done the work. You deserve to go and have a rest. I wish you all the best,” Dr Magufuli was quoted as saying.
Apart from holding other posts in the Zanzibar government, Dr Shein was appointed Vice President by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania on 13th July 2001 and has since then been a member of Central Committee of CCM.
When the ruling party presidential candidate won the 2005 general elections, being the running- mate, he was elected Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania and was sworn-in on 21st December 2005.
He contested the Zanzibar 2010 Presidential Election and was elected President on 31st October 2010.
He was sworn in as President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council on 3rd November 2010. He became Chancellor of the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) on 29 th March, 2011.
AfricaPress-Tanzania
