DELAY ON EAST AFRICA
Kenya has blamed the delay on appointing a Secretary-General for the proposed ‘East African cooperation commission’ on ‘misunderstandings with Uganda’ according to Foreign Minister Kalonzo Musyoka. Kenya was unhappy about Uganda’s dealings with Kenyan dissidents opposed to the government of President Moi – East African.
DIPLOMATIC RESHUFFLE
There has been a reshuffle of High Commissioners in both Dar es Salaam and London.
Mr R Westbrook has left Dar es Salaam for Lisbon and been succeeded by Mr Alan Montgomery (57) from the Philippines who was received in audience by the Queen on June 27th just before taking up his appointment. Mr Ali Mchumo has been posted to represent Tanzania at the UN in Geneva and Tanzania’s new High Commissioner in London is Dr. Abdulkader Shareef from Zanzibar. He was previously Ambassador in Saudi Arabia and knows London well having worked in both the BBC Swahili Service and, as a Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
NEW ART GALLERY
A new art gallery – the Gallery Bamayo – has opened on the ground floor of the NIC Life House building in Dar es Salaam. The proprietor is Grace Rubambe and the opening exhibition included works by the well-known artists N W Nyanzi, R Anderson, J Katembo, J W Masanja, 0 Mandawa and E Jengo. Prices ranged from $132 to $1,320. The other important gallery in Dar, the Gallery Acacia, has moved to the Hotel Karibu – East African (April 17).
BIG GOLD AND NICKEL DISCOVERIES
An Australian investor has discovered 10 million tons of minable gold reserves in Mara region and his company, East African Gold Mines Ltd. which has already spent $4 million on prospecting, proposes to develop a 40 million dollar mine within two years. The company has recruited over 100 staff and hopes to begin mining in 12 months time.
Meanwhile in Kabanga, Kahama District, tests indicate that there are some some 34 million tons of nickel, copper and cobal t. The Kabanga belt which is being explored by BHP of Australia and Sutton Resources of Canada, could become one of the leading sources of nickel and cobalt in the world Business Times.
AJAS STARTS OPERATIONS
The Alliance airline of the African Joint Airline Services (AJAS) held its inaugural flight from Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam and then to Entebbe on June 30 but immediately ran into teething problems. The first aircraft of the joint airline, in which South Africa has a 40% share, Tanzania 30% and Uganda 30%, almost did not land because of week-long protests from Air Tanzania staff fearful for their jobs. Air Tanzania Corporation is a partner in the Alliance. After urgent court cases and detailed explanation by management, agreement for the airline to operate in Tanzania was achieved.