Harris visit, a diplomatic masterstroke 

DIPLOMATS consider US Vice-President Kamala Harris’ official visit to Tanzania as a milestone and a diplomatic masterstroke.

They said the visit will cement further existing diplomatic ties established by the two countries way back in 1961 and ever since, the relations have remained strong.

According to them, the trip in Tanzania is motivated due to the importance placed on the historic relationship between the US and Tanzania but more so, they said, clearly the deliberate diplomatic efforts by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, which are yielding fruits.

Deputy Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nation Mission in New York, Ambassador Dr Suleiman Haji Suleiman in a televised interview with the State Broadcasting Corporation, TBC 1 said the country eyes a lot of benefits from the visit but in particular, the economic aspect which includes issues of trade, investment, women empowerment as well as improvement of social services.

Ambassador Suleiman revealed that the visit marks an important milestone in promoting the country’s diplomacy. The Tanzania-US relations existed way back before and after independence under a strong foundation established between then Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1826 during the sultanate regime in Zanzibar.

He said the good relations manifested itself in terms of trade taking into account that Zanzibar was among the largest trade gateways hosting large ships, which exported various goods to other African countries.

“Ever since the mutual relations have continued to exist and this is witnessed from the previous visits by the top leadership of the world’s economic power house geared towards benefiting its people,” said Ambassador Suleiman.

He referred to the visits of former US President Bill Clinton (2002) to the country, whereby he also visited Arusha to witness the signing of the Burundi Peace Agreement.

Others include former President George Bush (2008), saying that he arrived with huge funding identified as the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) grants in support of delivery of various social services sectors within the country.

And, former President Barack Obama also came into the country with a goal to strengthen further the relations in terms of trade and investment.

“This trip is anticipated to build on and forge deeper diplomatic ties among other areas of cooperation for the betterment of the people of these two countries,” asserted the Ambassador.

Commenting on why Tanzania has been chosen, a lecturer at the Centre for Foreign Relations (CFR), Mr Innocent Shoo who doubles as the Public Relation Officer at the institution, said that attending the US Africa Summit President Samia had the opportunity to speak with the US VP, Kamala Harris.

He said the rare opportunity has opened Tanzania to be visited with the high dignitary of the US government among more than 50 African countries, noting this is a crucial moment to forge deeper friendship between these two countries.

“This visit is of strategic importance to Africa, as it will strengthen ties and opportunities in global issues including climate change, supply chain and resilience given that America plays a big role in implementation of UN agendas.

On the other hand, an analyst in the area of Diplomacy, Rev Isaya Mugara said considering the rich history between the two countries, Tanzania politics has attracted a lot of interest globally built on the strong foundations of peace and tranquility.

Also, he noted the rich natural resources that the country is endowed with are another eye-catching factor that grabs the attention of many in the world.

“One cannot leave behind the crucial aspect of President Samia’s Royal Tour, which has boosted further her aspiration of opening-up Tanzania to the rest of the world,” he said.

He added that “Tanzanian’s envoys were doing a very good job in promoting the country’s economic diplomacy agenda alongside the National Leader drawing the attention of investors coming from the US to Tanzania,” he said.