AN aspirant for the vice-president position in the coming Athletics Tanzania (AT) election, Jackson Ndaweka, says that for the country to develop in athletics there is a need for it to introduce zonal junior tournaments.

Ndaweka says if elected into office, he will champion the hosting of the zonal junior athletic tournaments in the country.

The national athletics governing body's elective meeting is slated for this weekend in Mwanza.

"For the country to develop in athletics, there is a need to have vibrant youth athletics tournaments; we need age group tournaments in all zones," Ndaweka disclosed.

"I will use my four-year experience in AT to champion for this," Ndaweka, also the AT Acting Secretary-General, stressed.

He also said he will advise the AT executive committee on important issues which will bring positive changes to the association.

"We will strive for professionalism, good governance in compliance with the government, make sure that the AT constitution is respected at all levels, aiming at reaching the required standards. This will be a collective responsibility," he said.

Ndaweka said that in the four years he has served as the AT Acting Secretary-General, he has managed to woo many companies and organizations to sponsor marathons and pledged to continue the initiative.

"During the four-year period I have been at AT, the country has witnessed an increased number of races; it is also during my period that AT signed a partnership with Xtep company," he revealed.

"Many of our athletes have also taken part in international events. I will continue this and strengthen the cooperation with athletics stakeholders, including the government, the corporate world, Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC), media houses and others," he said.

Ndaweka, a lawyer by profession, will face Baraka Sulus in the AT election.

The AT Election Committee Chairman, Leonard Thadeo, said all is set for the election.

"For now, all I can say is that all is set for the election, we expect many delegates to exercise their voting rights in the election and elect office holders of their choice," he said.