Tanzania receives accolades from African leaders
By Hassan Abbas, Addis Ababa – President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania has received accolades on behalf of his country for its role in decolonization, peace keeping, hosting of refugees and swift measures to strengthen good governance in the country.
The accolades came from various African Presidents during the submission of the Tanzanian governance report under the auspices of the African Union governance assessment-the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
President Michael Sata of Zambia kick started the day when he congratulated Tanzania for not only supporting the political independence of Zambia and other African nations but its contribution to the Zambian economy by accepting the construction of Tanzania-Zambia Railway (Tazara).
“Tanzania did a lot to support liberation struggle in Africa. Without countries like Zambia and Tanzania South Africa would not have been where it is today, said President Sata.
President Jacob Zuma speaking after President Jakaya Kikwete responded to the Tanzania APRM report, while urged the government to implement strategies that promote economic growth which reduce poverty, he said South Africans will not forget Tanzanians for its support to the anti apartheid struggles.
“South Africa is happy to note that Tanzania has attained massive development in areas of promotion of gender equality especially in political and government positions and fights against corruption.
“We in South Africa were supported to get out of the past by so many people and nations-but Tanzania did it in a special way. We promised you via our freedom songs that ‘when freedom comes, we shall always love you’,” said Zuma.
Zuma expressed readiness of his country to learn from Tanzania on how the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and the Ethics Secretariat work and invited Tanzania to go to learn in South Africa on managing its infant corporate governance.
On his part, Senegal President Marky Sall commended Tanzania for reviews of its mining laws to benefit the country adding that his country would learn from Tanzania and seek more help from AU-APRM on how to deal and benefit with minerals.
The Ethiopia Prime Minister, Hailemariam Dessalegne commended the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar stating that it reminds Africa of its cherished dream of a United States of Africa. He urged Tanzania to resolve the recurring Union issues to make it stronger.
President Dr. Boni Yayi of Benin promised the APRM Forum of Heads of State and Government that since Tanzania faces similar problems like his country on religious tensions he would work with his Tanzanian colleague to find common solutions.
In his speech President Kikwete assured his peers that Tanzania will continue with its commitment to the APRM and that after the peer review, his government will fund the National Programme of Action (NPoA) which seeks to resolve identified governance challenges.
