Media statement South Africa looks forward to Tanzanian State Visit

President Jacob Zuma will host President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania for a two day State Visit on 19-20 July 2011.

It will be President Kikwete’s first State Visit to South Africa. South Africa looks forward to this historic State Visit given the deep and longstanding historical ties between South Africa and Tanzania, and in particular Tanzania’s contribution to South Africa’s struggle for liberation.
 
South Africa and Tanzania have deep fraternal ties. Former Tanzanian President, Excellency Mwalimu Julius Nyerere allowed the  African National Congress to open its first offices in  Tanzania in 1960 following its banning in South Africa by the apartheid regime. Tanzania hosted other South African liberation formations such as the Pan-Africanist Congress.

South Africans were made to feel at home in Tanzania, and developed historical South African settlements, Mazimbu and Dakawa. Another South African footprint in that country is the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College, named after the symbol of youth resistance and resilience in the country, who was the first young person to be hanged by the apartheid regime.

Former President Nyerere also initiated the formation of the Frontline States, a group of newly independent states from Southern Africa which spearheaded the international campaign against apartheid.  The resolve, the solidarity and the unity of these countries played a critical role in the liberation of South Africa.

Meanwhile, President Zuma and President Kikwete also have a working relationship dating back to the period when then Deputy President Zuma was the mediator in the Burundi peace talks, which were held mostly in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The two leaders worked very closely during those difficult years of searching for a solution, which was eventually found.

South Africa and Tanzania are now to use the historical ties to deepen solidarity towards a common goal to alleviate inequality, poverty, underdevelopment and other social ills that continue to confront the peoples of the two countries.

The two Presidents will discuss and concretise cooperation in the key bilateral priority areas such as cooperation in trade, energy, mining, agriculture, transport, water as well as science and technology. In this regard, it is expected that four bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding will be signed during the visit.

There is strong trade cooperation between the two countries. More than 150 South African companies operate in Tanzania. The business delegations of the two countries will meet on the sidelines of the visit, and will be addressed by the two Heads of State on the 19th of July.

President Zuma will be supported by the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Arts and Culture, Transport, Science and Technology, Energy, Finance; Mineral Resources; Water and Environmental Affairs as well as Trade and Industry.

For further information please contact Mr Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

Issued by the Department Of International Relations and Cooperation
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Pretoria

17 JULY 2011