President Kikwete paid an official visit to Britain at the invitation of Tony Blair in January.

Speaking during a dinner on January 15 hosted by the Britain Tanzania Society in his honour, he commended the Society’s continued support to Tanzania’s economic development, terming the society members ‘ambassadors of goodwill.’ “One may be tempted to say that BTS is yet another Tanzanian mission in the United Kingdom. You have acted as our goodwill ambassadors, over and above your efforts to support the development activities of Tanzania”. He said the society’s senior members were not just working towards sensitising retired people to be active in the pursuit of economic stability in Tanzania by soliciting aid, but were also encouraging Tanzanian students in Britain to join in these efforts.

Mr Kikwete said he felt proud and encouraged to see BTS members so committed to helping out in key areas of service delivery in Tanzania, particularly in the education, health and other social service sectors. The President also briefed BTS members on current challenges facing Tanzania. A full account of the dinner is in the current issue of the Newsletter of the BTS – Editor.

President Kikwete in London (photos Issah Michuzi)
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The President has been making speeches on an almost daily basis during the last few months. The following extracts from some of his recent speeches give an indication of the flavour of Tanzania’s present policies:

Speaking at an Eid Baraza in Arusha: “The government cannot tolerate stubborn clerics. We will be keen to restrict the operations of these people …I want to warn potential preachers of hatred.” He said the government would continue protecting the freedom of worship. Continue reading →

After Prime Minister Edward Lowassa had rejected reports presented to him by district commissioners in Kigoma region, Tanzania Daima reported that DCs in Iringa region were very worried because their region was next in line for a visit from the PM. It was said that some of the DCs had shredded the reports they had already written and were burning the midnight oil rewriting them. The Kigoma DC, who was said to have had a tongue lashing, was said to be receiving phone calls from his colleagues in Iringa asking for advice. Commenting on this, the Prime Minister said “I am told DCs in Iringa have lost sleep since hearing that I am coming their way. They might as well lose sleep, because they might end up losing their jobs.”

After only ten months in office, on October 15, President Kikwete changed the portfolios of ten of his ministers and eight deputy ministers. No reasons were assigned for the changes, but MP’s had begun to complain about delays in executing development projects, uneven allocation of funds to the regions and careless negotiation of important contracts. There had also, according to the Daily News, been criticism of the handling of specific issues such as the power crisis; the food deficit; the management of forest resources and wildlife and the distribution of communication projects. Continue reading →

Newly appointed High Commissioner in London, Mrs Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, has said that she would not disappoint President Kikwete on his decision to appoint her to the post. In a talk with the press at her Bond Street office, Maajar said: “I will do my best to fulfil the responsibility entrusted to me by President Kikwete, keeping in mind that this is a senior post in a country with which we have special ties.” She insisted that she has no political ambition and upon retirement she would like to go back and help women in legal matters. She said she would be implementing Tanzania’s the new foreign policy of economic diplomacy. To start with she would relocate the Tanzania Trade Centre and bring it under the High Commission. It would be allocated a better budget to enable it to function well – Majira.

The picture above shows Mrs Maajar presenting her credentials to the Queen. Continue reading →

There has been no let up in President Kikwete’s extremely energetic governance of Tanzania during the last few months. Some of his actions and the statements he has made give further indications as to his future policies and what he wishes to achieve.

Prime Minister Edward Lowasa has stated that the President has been getting over 100 messages a day from people needing answers to their concerns. Mostly the messages are about local governments and their alleged failings. The PM added that the President forwards the messages to him and he then warns local officials to be extra careful as, with modern means of communication, their weaknesses can be instantly detected and exposed. Continue reading →

Chairman of the leading opposition party on the mainland, the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Freeman Mbowe, when opening his party’s conference on August 13 attended by 600 delegates, lauded the ‘good performance of Chadema in last year’s elections despite polls irregularities.’ The party had increased its local councillors from 46 to 96 and its MP’s from 5 to 11. Continue reading →

Tanzania’s new High Commissioner in London is H.E. Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar. The previous HC, Mr Hassan Omar Kibelloh, has been transferred to Paris.

Ms Maajar, the new Tanzanian High Commissioner in London

Mrs Maajar is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania her main activities having been in the fields of corporate and commercial law. Continue reading →