A Tanzanian newspaper Saturday published an editorial saying that the Olympic Torch Relay should be supported by the peace-loving Tanzanians, who should help render the Dar es Salaam section of the global relay a success.
The ThisDay newspaper warned Tanzanians against "jumping on the political bandwagon that is engulfing the Olympic Torch Relay in several parts of the world".
The political chaos should not be allowed to affect the scheduled Torch Relay in Tanzania.
"Tanzanians should focus on the genuine objectives of the Olympic Torch Relay and should not at all entertain the growing chaos that has been witnessed in other countries," the editorial said.
The newspaper carried the editorial on the eve of the Dar es Salaam section of the Olympic Torch Relay.
The Olympic flame arrives in Dar es Salaam later on Saturday and the torch relay will be held on Sunday starting from the TAZARA Dar es Salaam railway station and ends at the newly-constructed national stadium which was co-financed by the Tanzanian and Chinese governments and built by a Chinese contractor.
The editorial added that the honor (of being chosen as one of the host cities) confirms that Tanzania is still a well-respected nation especially on her effort to champion for peace in the world.
"We hope the relay will be conducted safely so as to improve the country's image to the rest of the world," the editorial said.
Dar es Salaam City Mayor Adam Kimbisa has urged city dwellers to turn out in large numbers on Sunday to witness with their own eyes the spirit of the Olympic Flame and the Dar es Salaam part of the Olympic Torch's global relay.
(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2008)