President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called on Tanzanians to actively participate in the local government elections set for November 27, 2024, stressing their significance as a precursor to the 2025 general elections.

President Samia made the call today October 10, 2024 at the climax of the 2024 National Uhuru Torch Race and the launch of the Uhuru Torch history book.

She urged citizens to view the civic polls as a vital opportunity to promote democracy and community involvement.

"As the youth say, ‘we should not take it lightly.’ This election is just as important as any other and provides us with a glimpse of what to expect in the general elections next year. Therefore, I urge all eligible citizens to participate fully in this important election."

She also emphasized the importance of understanding the difference between the voter list used for local government elections and the permanent voter register for the general election. "I encourage everyone to register in their respective areas for the upcoming elections, as this reflects public engagement in regional development and the management of community-level economic activities," she said.

The Head of State also highlighted the rationale behind the establishment of administrative structures at the regional, district, town, and village levels, stating that these structures aim to decentralize power and enhance public participation in decision-making processes, thereby promoting self-governance.

More on that,  she acknowledged the increasing challenge posed by pollution, both in Tanzania and globally as she  linked the effects of environmental damage to climate change, citing issues such as erratic rainfall, droughts, and extreme weather events as consequences that are impacting citizens. 

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (Labour, Youth, Employment, and Disabled Persons), Ridhiwan Kikwete, reported that the Uhuru Torch had traversed over 37,235 km across 31 regions and 195 councils within 195 days, led by six youth participants from Zanzibar, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, and Dar es Salaam. 

The race resulted in the planting of over 150 million trees and the inspection of 1,595 projects worth 11 trillion shillings, significantly up from the previous year.

He added that 16 projects, valued at 8.6 billion shillings, were found to have issues and were referred to the Anti-Corruption Bureau for further investigation.

During her visit, President Samia also attended a memorial for the late Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere's 25th death anniversary, toured Youth Week exhibitions at Furahisha grounds, and launched a new book on the Philosophy of the Uhuru Torch, authored by Job Lusinde and edited by Dr. Bashiru Ally.