The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Philip Mpango, has reaffirmed the commitment of both the Government of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to uphold the principles of democracy.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that citizens fully exercise their constitutional right to participate freely in the 2025 General Election—whether by running for leadership positions or by voting for the leaders they deem capable.
The Vice President made these statements during the launch of the 2025 National Uhuru-Torch Relay at the Kibaha Education Institute grounds in Pwani Region.
He called on all citizens, particularly the youth, to be vigilant and resist manipulation by those with ill intentions, urging them to avoid engaging in actions that could disrupt peace and stability.
In his address, the Vice President reminded all election stakeholders, especially political parties, of their significant responsibility in maintaining peace and order throughout the election process.
He urged them to conduct campaigns with respect for the law and adhere to the guidelines set forth for a fair election.
He further pointed out that the General Election will be held in line with the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977), Articles 42(2) and 65, the Election Act No. 1 of 2024, the Constitution of Zanzibar (1984), and the Zanzibar Election Act No. 4 of 2018.
Additionally, the Vice President instructed regional authorities and local government agencies to fully cooperate with the torchbearers during the National Uhuru-Torch Relay.
This support is crucial in ensuring that the torchbearers effectively convey accurate information to the public about government policies, plans, projects, and development strategies.
The Vice President also highlighted that the Torch Relay for 2025 will focus on key issues such as promoting proper nutrition, combating corruption, addressing HIV/AIDS, tackling drug abuse, and fighting malaria.
Reflecting on the history of the torch relay, the Vice President noted that the idea of carrying the torch nationwide every year was proposed by the youth of TANU during a meeting on June 26, 1964.
The primary objective was to put into practice the vision of the Father of the Nation, advocating for unity, love, peace, and national development by promoting progress across the country.
Since then, the torch has been carried to various regions in Tanzania, inspiring the public to uphold peace, unity, patriotism, and solidarity.
Over the years, the relay has achieved tremendous success, fulfilling the aspirations of the nation’s founders.
The theme for the 2025 Torch Relay is "Come Forward to Participate in the 2025 General Election Peacefully and Calmly."
This theme aims to encourage all Tanzanians to exercise their constitutional rights to participate in the upcoming elections in a peaceful and orderly manner.
The 2025 National Torch Relay will span 195 days, covering 31 regions across Tanzania. During the relay, the government will engage with citizens, promote the implementation of various development projects, and inaugurate new initiatives by visiting, inspecting, launching, and laying the foundation stones for key projects.
The launch ceremony of the 2025 Torch Relay was attended by distinguished figures, including the Prime Minister of Tanzania, Kassim Majaliwa; the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Dotto Biteko; the Fourth President of Tanzania, Dr. Jakaya Kikwete; the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mussa Azzan Zungu; the Chief Secretary of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Engineer Zena Said; ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, judges, regional commissioners, district commissioners, religious leaders, political party leaders, and citizens from various regions.
