DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 27 -- THIS Wednesday, the 29th, our nation writes another proud chapter in its democratic story.

Tanzania that is our beautiful, peaceful and ever-patient home will once again prove to the world that elections here are not a battlefield but a festival of civic duty.

So, dear fellow citizens, make sure you keep your voting card and identification documents whether it is your NIDA card or driving licence ready and in a safe place, so you will not have to scramble to find them when it is time to head to the ballot box that awaits you.

Since independence, Tanzania has built a reputation as a country where democracy is exercised with calm maturity. Ours is a tradition of peace and participation, where the sound of votes ...