People from over twelve nations around the globe, but especially the African Continent will be gathering for a historical vigil night to welcome the New Year 2025 at the center point between Cape Town and Cairo.
The Clock Tower Roundabout junction located in the Northern Tanzanian city of Arusha happens to be the spot which is located precisely halfway between Egypt’s Cairo and the southernmost tip of the Continent in Cape Town, South Africa.
It is in Arusha that mass gathering representing more than 12 nations will be joining hands to usher into the New Year 2025 with music, various shows, food drinks and fireworks to colour the night sky, according to the Governor of the Region, Paul Christian Makonda.
“We are going to enter into the New Year in style,” boasted the Arusha Regional Commissioner during an open-air public gathering event which the governor had organized in town for what he described to be a ‘communal prayer and supplication,’ sessions to purge the precinct of its misfortunes.
The public prayer sessions, involving members and clerics from all religions and denominations practising in Arusha City, started with a solidarity march of faithful worshippers who walked from the Kijenge Roundabout Junction, via the Clock Tower all the way to the Mwenge Freedom Torch area.
Apparently, the gathering was specifically held to commemorate the 63rd Anniversary of Tanganyika Independence from Britain.
Drenched in rain, the brethren maintained their stand to stick at the venue until the prayer sessions were over.
But for Mr Makonda, the gathering was just for starters, because the main shebang should be expected on the 31st of December 2024 during the New Year Eve when more people from different countries and nations are expected to converge at the Clock Tower pinnacle along Boma Road in the city.
The last time that such an event was held at the Clock Tower spot was when Arusha, Tanzania and the rest of the world were ushering into the New Millennium on the 31st of December 1999.
The Second Millennium vigil night which was organized 25 years ago, was attended by the then Arusha Regional Commissioner, Daniel Ole Njoolay, the former city mayor, the late Phillip Kivuyo, former Arusha City Director, Assumpta Ndimbo and various members of the local clergy.
There was the late Bishop Thomas Laizer, of the Arusha Diocese of Evangelical Lutheran Church; Archbishop Josaphat Louis Lebulu of the Catholic Diocese and Sheikh Ally Kisiwa, the former head of Muslim Council in Arusha region.
Now a similar gathering is bound to be repeated as people usher into New Year 2025 in Arusha.