Hon.
Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International
Co-operation during his radio interview earlier this morning with Clouds
FM’s program Power Breakfast.
Mr.
Gerald Hando listens to Hon. Membe as he explains about upcoming
historical visits and meetings that includes the State Visit of Sri
Lanka President scheduled for June 27, the Smart Partnership Dialogue
scheduled to kick off on June 28, the Official Visit of President Barack
Obama of the United States of America on July 1 and the First Lady
Meeting on July 2, 2013. All events are scheduled to take place in Dar
es Salaam.
----
By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO
The
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation earlier
today met with Clouds FM casts to discuss the upcoming historical visits
of multiple world dignitaries, placing Dar on the competitive pedestal
among other African Nations.
“It
is going to be a week of sequential events that will feature
technology, energy and women empowerment dialogues by world leaders, key
stakeholders and citizens – all aim at boosting and transforming
Tanzania’s socio-economic endeavors to the highest form,” said Hon.
Bernard K. Membe during his interview with Mr. Gerald Hando, host of the
programPower Breakfast.
He
further noted that Tanzania is a forefront runner of peace and
security, with good governance and democracy in Africa Continent, which
is the latter that attracts world leaders to choose it as a must-country
to visit.
Tanzania
recently was ranked 55th in the 2013 Global Peace Index (GPI), ranking
above other East African countries (Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda)
according to the index produced by the Australia-based Institute for
Economics and Peace (IEP).
Prior
to unveiling the upcoming events, Hon. Membe first took time to wish a
speedy recovery to the ailing Mr. Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid icon
and former President of South Africa, who has been in a critical
condition in the Hospital. Mr. Mandela had been a symbolic figure for
his revolutionary role in the Civil Rights Movement in a fight against
apartheid in South Africa.
“Mandela
is a fighter, and we know he will pull this through. We are sending
our prayers to him, his family and the South Africans, for a speedy
recovery,” said Hon. Membe during his interview with Clouds FM Power
Breakfast.
During
his interview, Minister Membe said that World Leaders from 14 countries
are expected to start arriving in Dar es Salaam anytime, starting with
President King Mswati III of Swaziland who was expected to arrive later
today. Other Leaders include countries of Sri Lanka, Uganda, Kenya,
Algeria, Zimbabwe, the United States and others.
In going over the
programs, Minister Membe said that the Global 2013 Smart Partnership
Dialogue kicks off on June 28, 2013 with theme of “Leveraging Technology
for Africa’s Socio-Economic Transformation: the Smart Partnership Way”,
convened by Chief Secretary Ambassador Ombeni Y. Sefue. Smart
Partnership Dialogue is the brainchild of the Commonwealth Partnership
for Technology Management. It creates a platform for key decision-makers
in both the public and private sectors from various countries to come
together with a view to coming up with solutions to social and economic
problems bedeviling their nations.
The main objective of
Smart Partnership Dialogue is to enhance government engagement with all
sectors of the society in enhancing information, knowledge and expertise
in finding solutions to sustainable development challenges. Smart
Partnership International Dialogues are held alternately between
Malaysia and countries in southern Africa and are jointly organized by
the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM) and the
Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT). The
four-days’ Dialogue will be hosted by President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete,
President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Another
event is the official two-days tour by President Barack Obama of the
United States of America on July 1 to 2, 2013, where he is expected to
participate in a roundtable of businessmen drawn from the US, Tanzania
and other African countries. He is also expected to launch the Power
Africa Initiative at the US’ Symbion Power Plant in Ubungo, foreshadows
to build energy infrastructures in Africa. Recently, Tanzania has been
exploring gas and oil in Mtwara and Lindi Regions, which is geared to
power the economy in the country.
Indeed,
there is going to be this year’s African First Ladies’ Summit, hosted
by our First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete on July 2-3, 2013, which aims at
promoting women’s education, health and economic empowerment.
The
Summit will be attended by US First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama, former US
First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush and her husband former President George W.
Bush Jr., including Ms. Nancy G. Brinker, the UN Goodwill Ambassador for
Cancer Control and Mrs. Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair. Other participants include First Ladies from
Zambia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and
Namibia.
First
Lady Mama Kikwete is also expected to host a tea-get-together for her
counterpart Mrs. Obama, then the two will visit the Memorial site to the
1998 US Embassy bombing, including observing a performance by the Baba
wa Watoto troupe.
In
responding to recent criticisms about country’s multiple visits,
including why President Obama chose to visit Tanzania, Hon. Membe
explained that the visits are essential in anchoring socio-economic
development in the country, as they are set to open new business
ventures and investment opportunities for the country. He highlighted
the success achieved from the First Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC) since 2008, which resulted from the 700 million US dollars (about
1.12tri/-) invested by the United States through MCC to rehabilitate and
expand water, energy and road infrastructure development that included
the completion of the highway from Tanga to Horohoro, upgrading of
Mtwara Corridor and upgrading of Tunduma to Sumbawanga road.
Hon.
Membe further hailed President Kikwete’s exemplary leadership and his
unwavering dedication that has positioned Tanzania to be eligible to
develop second MCC compact proposals. This is because Tanzania has
performed well on the MCC scorecard on its first compact implementation,
and has continued a good policy performance and development proposals
that have significant potential to promote economic growth and reduce
poverty.
“The other
reason is the fact that the World sees us as among the champions of
good governance and democracy,” said Hon. Membe, also highlighting
recent measures taken to restore peace, security and stability in
Eastern Congo-DRC by deploying battalion of more than 850 soldiers to
join the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Currently, Tanzania sits
as a Chairman for the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s
organ tasked with politics, defence, security and co-operation.
Recently, Tanzania has been voted the best Safari Destination in Africa, with a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars by “safaribookings.com”,
an online marketplace for African Safari tours. The survey, which was
conducted to more than 1,000 safari-travelers and reputable industry
experts, ranked Tanzania as the most outstanding winner beating Botswana
by about a tenth of a point, whereby Kenya came third, Zambia fourth
and South Africa ranked fifth.
The
Global 2013 Smart Partnership is expected to climax on the 1st
July this year, whereby the US President Barack Obama is expected to
arrive in Tanzania for a two-day official tour.
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