This new target followed bilateral talks between President Jakaya Kikwete and the President of Mozambique Felipe Nyusi, here on Thursday. President Kikwete is in the country at the invitation of President Nyusi for a two-day state visit.
At the start of the bilateral talks, President Kikwete said that his counterpart’s invitation to him was timely since it also availed the opportunity to visit Mozambique for the last time as President and say farewell to Mozambicans and Frelimo colleagues since his term comes to an end following elections on October 25.
Speaking following the official talks at Mozambique Presidential palace, the host’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Oldemiro Baloi, said the two countries saw the necessity to strengthen their inter-state relations and grow trade.
He said trade between the two countries is impressive and that the two sides have also agreed on mechanism to work on a number of factors which had contributed to the phenomenon of some unofficial cross border trade. Mr Baloi said although the existence of informal unrecorded trade is known, its magnitude and mode of functioning had not been documented previously.
He noted that as consequence of inappropriate trade statistics, wrong policies can be pursued and poor regional trade strategies formulated. “Trade is very good between the two countries.
The two leaders talked about cross border trade which is not significantly included in official statistics.They said this can be followed up so that there are official statistics to tell the full story of growing trade relations between the two countries,” he said. He was appreciative of the unity bridge in Ruvuma, which is symbolic in the trade relations between Tanzania and Mozambique.
He said the Unity Bridge across Ruvuma River at Negomano, between Tanzania and Mozambique was a dream of the first generation of leaders of the two countries, but was realized by the second generation.
The bridge was proposed as early as 1975, shortly after Mozambique’s independence. It was the idea of the two countries former Presidents, Mwalimu Nyerere and Samora Machel. Prior to the bilateral talks, President Kikwete laid a wreath at the country’s heroes monument square in the city.
The Air Tanzania plane carrying President Kikwete touched down at Maputo International Airport VIP section at 11.40 am local time where he was received by his host, President Nyusi, resplendent in a dark grey suit.
The official talks followed his morning arrival here.The colour and pomp with which President Kikwete was received on arrival was high, perhaps similar to the one Mozambican President Nyusi was given when he visited Tanzania for the first time as President in May this year.
Prior to his arrival, local daily newspapers and television stations ran their news bulletins leading with the expected visit of Tanzania’s president, making background references to how President Nyerere supported Frelimo in their fight for independence.
The President also toured the National Assembly in the city and the historic Maputo city council premises. Today, President Kikwete is expected to address a rally of local people at Campo 25 de Setembro and subsequently meet Tanzanians who live and work in Pemba, which is part of Mozambique. Relations between the two countries have always been close.
It was in Tanzania that the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) was set up in 1962 and the Tanzanian government, under the country’s founding President, Julius Nyerere, allowed Frelimo to launch the independence war from rear bases in Tanzanian soil.
Source: In 2 East Africa

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.