Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has strongly affirmed that Tanzania and Kenya are partners not competitors in any race one might think of.
The Head of State was addressing the joint sitting of the Kenya’s National Assembly and the Senate, becoming the second visiting President from Tanzania to address the bicameral Parliament after fourth phase President Jakaya Kikwete.
In her address to the MPs, which came hours after she and her host President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed members of Kenya-Tanzania business community, she stressed the need for the two nations to consult one another in any mishap.
However, she thanked President Uhuru for his invitation as well as love for Tanzania. President Samia said that there was no reason for the two countries to scramble for few economic fortunes, but should jointly strive to increase more, so that each of them could get better share.
“For instance, instead of scrambling for tourists, we should convince those tourists to extend their stay in our countries. I am wondering that some people think that these two countries are competitors These people are short-sighted and ignorant and unfortunately enough, some of them are nationals of the two countries and officials of the two governments.
“To those of us, who want us to entertain hostility, they should know that we, as Tanzanians and Kenyans, we were there, we are here and we will still be around, be it long rains stint or the summer,” she said amid applause from senators and MPs.
Equally, the President urged government leaders and MPs in particular, to play a role of reinforcing the integration between the two countries by creating relevant policies and laws towards the purpose.
“The good thing is that citizens in these two countries have strong rooted history in trading, but it is unfortunate we leaders are pulling them back, it is our time as leaders to change,” she told the lawmakers.
She added: “My decision to come to Kenya isn’t by chance but I have started with Kenya because of the special brotherhood that exists between Tanzanians and Kenyans, overlapping on both two sides of the countries.” To show how Tanzania and Kenya are closely related and will forever be partners, Ms Samia cited the historical, geographical and cultural factors, which have made the two countries, co-exist peacefully.
She said before the two countries joined the East African Community (EAC) established in 1967 as members, they had been members of the East African Common Services Organisation under the British colonialism. Geographical relations: the two countries are bordering and have same ecology.
“Even our animals are relatives, there are some animals that become impregnated in Kenya and give birth in Tanzania… If the animals are relatives, how come human beings are separated,” she said as MPs broke into laughter.
Due to this fact, she argued, the cooperation between the countries was not an optional but compulsory. “We depend on each other during good or bad times, when hunger hits Tanzania, Kenya is also affected,” she said.
On security matter, she said Tanzania and Kenya have to closely cooperate to combat piracy.
“Since the pirates in Kenya and Tanzania have good relations, it is a must that our security organs must also strongly cooperate, because when Kenya is safe, Tanzania becomes safe too,” she pointed out.
Elaborating, the President noted that Kenya is among the biggest investors in Tanzania, becoming the fifth with 513 projects registered at the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC). The Kenyan companies have heavily invested in manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, infrastructures, and tourism sectors, among others. On other hand, there are between 25 and 30 Tanzanian companies that have invested in Kenya, with investment capital of Kenyan Shilling 19.3 billion.
“Despite this gap in number of projects, we still invite Kenyans to Tanzania to invest. You (Kenya) have enough capital to come to invest in Tanzania,” she added.
However, she assured the MPs that together with President Uhuru, they have agreed to address several non-tariff barriers at borders. On that, President Samia highlighted key road construction projects, including that from Lamu in Mombasa to Dar es Salaam via Tanga region intended to facilitate trade and movement of people. She also said that Covid-19 should be something to be faced in unison among the two countries.
In a related development, she passed greetings from the Tanzania Parliament to the senators and MPs who in March, this year dedicated special greetings in regard to the passing on of the late President John Magufuli.
It was during the bereavement that Tanzania knew her true friends – Kenya being one of the closest. Equally, she hailed the Parliament for deciding to use Kiswahili language in the bloc.
