“President Magufuli knows how hardworking I am. That’s why he appointed me. He has known my track record, not only as minister, but from way back when I was Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1994 and Minister for Labour and Sports from 1994 to 1995,” he stressed.
He promised to work hard in the interest of the nation regardless of the fact that he is from an opposition party. He noted that elections were over and now was the right time to work together as one government for the sustainability of national socio-economic progerss, democracy as well as safeguarding peace and tranquillity.
“I wonder why some legislators from the opposition parties refused to participate in Bunge sessions; if I was there I wouldn’t have left the National Assembly because I know what the opposition is….” Dr Mrema explained.
Dr Mrema explained is seriousness about peace, calling upon Tanzanians irrespective of their tribes, religions and political backgrounds to respect each other. He blamed his fellow politicians “for thinking they could benefit from violence.”
"I advise them to concentrate on bringing Tanzanians together and at the same time emulate former leaders and politicians who embraced peace and solidarity," he said.
He said besides chaos brought about by religious differences, there were some politicians who were guilty of fuelling violence in some parts of the country.
Dr Mrema said it was high time the country encouraged religious tolerance, accusing some religious leaders of direct involvement in some conflicts and chaos countrywide.
He warned the public against entertaining violence and urged the government to issue stern measures against selfish leaders.
"Some of the pandemonium we are witnessing in the country is being stoked by a few politicians out of their own personal interests. I urge them to shun such behaviour," he appealed.
Even though Mrema has contested every presidential election in Tanzania since the country instituted a multiparty system in the early 1990s, his political career started in 1985 when he tried to run for MP in his home district of Kilimanjaro.
His candidacy was blocked by the High Court but in 1987 he was officially announced the winner after a lengthy appeals process. He was able to retain his seat in 1990 without stiff competition. The fact that he was an MP enabled the president to appoint him to various cabinet positions.
From 1990 to 1995 Mrema held various cabinet and high level government positions such as Minister of Interior (1990 to 1994), Deputy Prime Minister (1993 to 1994), as well as Minister of Labour, Development and Sports from 1994 to 1995.
Mrema left CCM in 1995 and joined a new political party, the National Convention for Construction and Reform-Mageuzi (NCCR_Mageuzi). In the first multiparty election in 1995, he ran on the ticket of the NCCR-Mageuzi party and won 27.77 per cent of the vote.
He finished third behind incumbent former president Benjamin Mkapa of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and Ibrahim Lipumba of the Civic United Front (CUF) in 2000, capturing 7.80 per cent of the vote, this time on the ticket of the TLP.
Running again as the TLP presidential candidate in the December 14, 2005 elections, Mrema clinched fourth place out of ten candidates, winning 0.75% of the vote.
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