TANZANIA: FORMER Tanzania’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Major General (rtd) Gaudence Milanzi has lauded President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her counterpart, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa for continuing to deepen diplomatic relations of the two countries.
He said Tanzania and South Africa have maintained a good relationship which transcends beyond political to economic cooperation as envisioned by the countries’ founding fathers, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Mr Nelson Mandela.
In an exclusive interview with the ‘Daily News’ over the weekend in an occasion to reflect the late Mr Mandela’s life, Major General (rtd) Milanzi lauded Dr Samia and Ramaphosa for living the dreams of the founding fathers of the two nations.
Globally, the Mandela International Day is observed in July 18 of every year, in recognition of the former South Africa’s first black president contribution to the struggle for freedom, poverty alleviation, development of democracy and promotion of peace worldwide.
“During the struggle for independence, the focus was mainly on political liberation, currently the two countries collaborate to foster concurrently their political and economic transformation,” he said, while commenting on the ongoing diplomatic cooperation of Tanzania and South Africa.
He said his stay in South Africa for four years as the Tanzania’s High Commissioner made him realise the healthier historic bilateral cooperation of the two countries.
However, Major General (rtd) Milanzi said more concerted efforts are needed for elevating the people to people relation by further enabling citizens of the two countries to interact, share and exchange economic opportunities for their wellbeing.
“What I have learnt, some time we promote Government to Government (G2G) relation alone, my experience underlines the essentiality of G2G and Business to Business (B2B) collaborations, I think more emphasis also should be on stimulating people to people interaction through among others trade and tourism activities,” he said.
Revisiting the late Mr Mandela’s legacy, he described him as one of the outstanding leaders in Africa and world at large, who led liberation of South Africa against white minority.
The South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon Mr Mandela died at the age of 95 in 2013.
He spent 27 years in jail due to his political activities against the white minority rule before becoming the president in 1994, the South Africa’s top government seat in which he served for a single term only by considering the fact that he stepped down in 1999.
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Therefore, he said the Mandela day underscores the significance of remembering the late and cherishing his ideals on among others ending poverty and advocating for freedom as well as democracy.
On the other hand, he urged Tanzanians and Africans to continue embracing other nation founding fathers in the continent such as Mwalimu Nyerere, who fought for independence for Tanganyika and supported numerous countries on the cause encompassing South Africa.
Major General (rtd) Milanzi appreciated President Samia for coming up with the 4Rs philosophy which stands for resilience, rebuilding, reconciliation and reform, saying it aligned with Mr Mandela’s values of promoting peace and good governance.
Reacting on this year’s Mandela Day theme dubbed “It’s Still in Our Hands to Combat Poverty and Inequity,” he commended the government under President Samia for strengthening education accessibility especially to girl child who in most case were vulnerable of missing education due to among others gender stereotype of downplaying them to do better academically.
Major General (rtd) Milanzi served as the Tanzania’s High Commissioner to South Africa from 2019 to 2023.
