DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 3 -- AT just 41 years old, Mr Hassan Almas stands at the threshold of the highest political stage in Tanzania, carrying with him the hopes of a party that believes the country is ready for a fresh start.

As the presidential candidate of the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA), Mr Almas represents both continuity and change, a blend of youthful energy and long-tested political commitment.

Born in Kigoma in 1984, Almas grew up witnessing both the potential and struggles of his homeland.

The shores of Lake Tanganyika offered him a view of abundant resources, but the everyday lives of the people around him told another story: Scarcity, inequality and underutilised opportunities.

Those early impressions, he often rec...