New Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete arrived in Pretoria on Friday for his first official visit to South Africa.
Kikwete’s one-day working visit and meeting with South African President Thabo Mbeki was to build on the growing partnerships between the two nations, which included a joint commission between their respective departments of foreign affairs and a presidential economic commission.
Development and peacekeeping on the continent were also on the agenda for the meeting between the two heads of state.
Earlier in the week Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad told journalists Kikwete’s visit to South Africa was important because of the major role Tanzania played in the African Union, the Southern Africa Development Community, the East African Community and in the Great Lakes region.
Pahad described Tanzania as an ”African success story” and commended the country for its role in the peace process in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pahad said trade with Tanzania was in a healthy position, with South African exports to the country having grown from R901-million in 1997 to over R2-billion in 2004.
He said South Africa ranked fourth on the list of top investors in Tanzania.
Kikwete was elected in December, succeeding Benjamin Mkapa, who stepped down at the end of his presidential two-terms. As is the case in South Africa, the Tanzanian constitution allows a candidate no more than two terms in office. — Sapa