Reported by
Faridah N Kulumba
The new Tanzania’s Foreign and East African Cooperation Minister, Amb Liberata Mulamula said that Tanzania’s zonal and international relations has continued to grow in various areas.
Mulamula who was appointed by the newly sworn in Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, said the main aim was to ensure Tanzania takes up front line in the issue of maintaining the peace, freedom and the national interests when dealing with foreign countries including grabbing economic opportunities out of these relations, reported The IPP.
She stated that considering the current diplomacy, Tanzania’s ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s manifesto aims at strengthening the implementation of plans to enhance strategic political diplomacy aimed at maintaining peace, freedom and national interests, as well as strengthening relations with neighbouring countries.
Why now?
Ms Mulamula admitted that the foreign ministry’s performance during the last few years was not pleasing. President Hassan’s administration is putting emphasis on strengthening relations with foreign countries as well as international institutions, this includes Tanzania’s voice and vision in the entire zonal areas.
Tanzania’s Zonal areas
Tanzania officially known as the United Republic of Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, covering 940,000 square kilometres, 60,000 of which is inland waters. It borders eight countries including Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Zaire, Malawi and Mozambique. Tanzania’s geographical zones include Central Zone, Coastal Zone, Lake Zone, Northern Zone, Southern Highland Zone and Western Zone.
Foreign relations
Tanzania enjoys good relations with its neighbours in the region and in recent years has been an active participant in efforts to promote the peaceful resolution of disputes. Tanzania helped to broker peace talks to end conflict in Burundi and support the Lusaka agreement concerning the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is the only country in East Africa which is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Tanzania in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees, has played an active role in hosting refugees from neighbouring countries including Mozambique, DR Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda.
How will Tanzania execute its mission?
According to Tanzania’s Foreign and East African Cooperation Minister Mulamula, Tanzania will enhance economic relations with other nations, zonal institutions, in order to protect the economy and the wide national interests by strategically using the country’s geography and historical persuasion, especially in regard to Africa’s South Zone.
Mulamula also said they will ensure that the ministry’s responsibilities are implemented with achievements, and Tanzania foreign embassies and its other institutions are to work together.
She revealed that Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s manifesto never omitted giving the Foreign Ministry crosscutting responsibilities that needed to be implemented, including participation in the East African Community (EAC). Tanzania’s foreign embassies will become important links in Improving investment and availability markets for products and services.
