MINISTER
for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation, Dr Augustine Mahiga has
underscored the need to turn the historic relations between Tanzania and South
Africa into co-operation and partnership for prosperity of the two countries.
“We have
enjoyed cordial and historic relations dating back to founding fathers of
Tanzania’s Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.
The relations
should now be translated to improved economic ties. “Not only that, there is
need for the two partners to pass on the heritage of this historic relations
and liberation struggles to future generations in Tanzania and South Africa,”
he remarked.
Dr Mahiga was
speaking during a ministerial session with South African Minister for Foreign
Affairs and International Relations, Ms MaiteNkoana-Mashabane, ahead of the
inaugural session of Bi-National Commission (BNC), today.
The BNC is a
unique forum established between two countries to allow regular exchanges at
cabinetlevel on a wide range of issues, critical to them. Tanzania and South
Africa agreed on the arrangement during a visit by former Tanzania President
Jakaya Kikwete to South Africa, in Pretoria, way back in 2012, but it was yet
to be put into action.
President
Jacob Zuma of South Africa, who jetted into the country yesterday and his host
President John Magufuli are today expected to witness signing of an agreement
and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on co-operation in transport,
bio-diversity and conservation.
Speaking at
the session yesterday, the Minister said it was high time the two countries
aimed higher in areas of trade, investment and interactions for common
interests. “We have both recorded impressive figures in trade and investment,
but we must aim higher, the existing opportunities ought to be scaled-up.
The BNC sets
the stage for a properly structured modality to achieve this,” he stressed.
Dr Mahiga said
the ministerial session had as well set out priorities and implementation plan
for agreements to be signed today, in addition to 14 others, which were inked
in the past between Dar es Salaam and Pretoria
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