He said in his address to the nation on the occasion to commemorate the 38th anniversary of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) at the Majimaji Stadium in Songea that the ballot box was the only way for the people to exercise their constitutional right.

Mr Kikwete also asked the public not to heed to opposition outfit Ukawa’s recent call to reject the referendum on the proposed constitution, terming the move as self-defeatist since not taking part would not reflect their position on the draft in the voting outcome.

“We have a referendum that shall take place on April 30. Registering voters is the most important thing for now. Ensure that many of our supporters register for voting, the exercise starts in February,’’ the president told thousands of people who attended the rally.

He reminded his audience that a new system of BVR CCM National Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete.was starting and everyone of voting age will be given a voter card, further telling them that it was important that everyone got involved in educating one another to vote in the affirmative for the constitution draft.

“If our colleagues have planned to mobilise the public for a ‘No’ vote, then we have to mobilise the public as CCM for the ‘Yes’ vote,” he stressed.

The party chairman observed that the draft in hand has more progressive issues than the current constitution for all groups, adding that it also gives a better path for Zanzibar to chart out its future.

“I see no reason for rejecting the draft. And if we reject it, there is no likelihood that the next president would prioritise the constitution making process,” he pointed out.

He added that the opposition’s decision to reject taking part in the referendum is unfortunate and is not in the country’s interest.

“Let’s not accept to lose whatever good we have in the draft only because there is no three-tier government structure in it… because that is Ukawa’s only issue.

So for them not taking part in the referendum is self defeatist because if they don’t, even their ‘No’ vote would not be recorded anywhere,” he noted.

Mr Kikwete assured the public that in choosing the party’s flag bearer to contest for presidency, CCM would get the country the kind of contestants they would not have any hesitation in voting for.

He said that if CCM does not choose an acceptable candidate for presidency, then they would have defeated all hopes. “CCM has enough good people who can become leaders.

And if there are those who are capable but have not yet moved out to reveal to the public, let them do so. Some people can make great leaders but they don’t seem to realise it.

They need to be told. It’s not a sin to come out and pronounce one’s intentions. The sin is to engage in unethical conduct,” he pointed out. Noting that the party had won elections in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010.

President Kikwete said he was certain that come October 15 this year, the same would be replicated. He, however, asked members not to be complacent with results in last local government elections and should instead work harder for victory in this year’s general elections.

The top CCM leader called on them to galvanise themselves and work for the party in the search for victory in the elections. “This is a year where work within the party to facilitate acceptability of the party in the wider community is very important. I congratulate the leaders in the party for having done their best thus far.

But there are others who have not done anything – this is most regrettable,” he quipped. Mr Kikwete also took the opportunity to give a lesson in mobilisation.

He asked all party branches in all districts to have an elections fund. “This is the time to use that fund. You should ensure that each fund is amply-resourced.

Those that don’t have enough resources should start finding ways of expanding it,’’ he said, cautioning them, however, against accepting money contributions that would put them in trouble in future.

He also reminded them that this is a year of coming clean on the pledges that each of them made in the previous elections. “This is a year of following up on political pledges.

There are presidential pledges and pledges at various levels. There are areas where, when pushed to the wall, you pledge to the people. Let each person follow up on what they pledged, follow up on what has been done and others not,’’ Mr Kikwete told his audience.

He observed that there have been things that the leaders have done and others that they have not. “For those that we have not fairly done, let’s find words to explain why we have not been able to implement those pledges,” he pointed out.

The chairman further told CCM members that this is the time when the electorate would ask them whether they have implemented what they pledged in the 2010 elections. “Other pledges we have implemented, others we may not implement in time but our objective is clear,’’ he stressed.

Mr Kikwete said that while he was certain CCM would win this year’s general elections, it was important for members to be cognizant of the need to win highly.

“This is a year of maintaining our lot and adding on new ones significantly. I know there has been a challenge of having enough cards, but I know the Secretary General will be printing two million new cards soon,” he noted.

Mr Kikwete hailed the CCM Secretary General, Mr Abdulrahman Kinana, for his mobilization tour across the country recently. “He is doing so much. Let other party leaders emulate him.

All these party leaders across the country have big cars but they are not going out enough to mobilise party members. Because we are the ones in power, it’s important to meet the people to get to know their daily challenges.

Please go out to meet the people because if you do not do so, there is no certainty of notching a win,” he said, adding: “You should give this matter top priority because the road to getting victory starts with mobilizing your supporters to vote”.

Turning to development activities, President Kikwete said negotiations for funds to construct the road from Mbinga to Mbamba Bay are going on.

He said that 300 villages in Ruvuma would get electricity among over 5,000 villages earmarked for power distribution. The country has over 12,000 villages.

On health, he said he had already discussed with the Ministry of Health to start construction of the new Songea Regional Referral Hospital.

On the purchase of farmers’ produce, President Kikwete noted that some 80bn/- due to farmers had not yet been paid, saying that he had directed the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to pay.

As of Sunday, some 15bn/- had been paid. He directed that priority in payment should be directed at smallholder farmers instead of agents. He pledged that before end of March, all the money would have been paid.

Mr Kikwete urged that CCM should move away from subsidies and contributions from business people as it is not sustainable. We have to be innovative in looking for resources.