Tanzania Celebrates 50 Yrs Anniversary with Queries

The Citizen: By Polycarp Machira

11 December 2011 - Dar es Salaam

Questions are being asked following the conspicuous absence of four East African Community (EAC) heads of state from celebrations to commemorate the 50th independence anniversary of fellow member Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Friday.

Observers are puzzled over whether the absence was a normal occurrence or a big snub to the country, and specifically its leader, President Jakaya Kikwete.

Tanzania's regional partners were represented by high-profile representatives, but their below-presidential ranks raised eyebrows, as observers feel that, the top-most leaders should have attended in person, as a demonstration of solidarity.

Withholding the gesture has raised speculations, considering, especially, that, unlike relatively lighter events like witnessing the installation of a president after an election or re-election, Tanzania was marking 50 long years of nationhood. Plus, there has been nothing to suggest that any of the presidents in the neighbourhood had travelled abroad, or had been tied up by too hugely taxing domestic commitments, to spare a day or two off to give a close neighbour company at the latter's momentous event.

President Kikwete's colleagues in the EAC are Mr Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi.Out of 14 Presidents who were reportedly invited to attend the golden jubilee, only five turned up but they were mainly drawn from the South Africa Development Corporation block, of which Tanzania is a member.

The guest presidents were Namibia's Mr Hifikepunye Pohamba, Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania and Ikililou Dhoinine of Comoros. Kenya and Burundi sent their Vice Presidents Mr Kalonzo Musyoka and Mr Therence Simunguruza respectively, while Uganda and Rwanda were represented by Prime Ministers Messers Amama Mbabazi and Bernald Makuza, respectively.

North Korea, Gambia and Botswana were also represented. From as early as when official entourages sneaked their way into the Uhuru stadium that hosted the celebrations, curious observers begun circulating SMS messages enquiring why not a single EAC President had shown up.

A majority of them appeared to suggest that the absence of the other top men at a time when the momentum for East African political federation seemed to be building up, was not positive, or at least sent the wrong signal.

Efforts to get comments on the issue from local government officials, as well as those of the other EAC member countries didn't yield results, as phone calls and email messages went unanswered.

However, opinion was sharply divided among a cross section of people who volunteered their views.

And separately on the social forums, commentators wondered if the other EAC member states were sidelining Tanzania, as a silent demonstration of misgivings over its hard-line position toward formation of the envisaged federation. Last week, President Kikwete and Rwanda's Paul Kagame skipped a regional heads of state summit in Bujumbura, Burundi, that was attended by the other three presidents.

They each sent junior-ranked representatives. The Speaker of National Assembly Ms Anne Makinda also skipped a parallel meeting of all regional Speakers and did not even send a representative.

But during the summit, Tanzania caused uneasiness, by boycotting the final signing event of the ministerial committee on two important protocols on the Political Integration and Defence Cooperation.

It was protesting over the inclusion of land and security matters in the two protocols. Even though the country finally endorsed the protocols the following day, it forced amendments that had first to be endorsed by the Presidents present.

Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe yesterday said he was apprehensive of the absence from the Uhuru fete of the four EAC Presidents. "Diplomatically it was not a good sign for Tanzania....I believe it must have had something to do with the way we carried ourselves in Bujumbura," said the Chadema MP and deputy leader of official opposition in Parliament.

According to the MP, Tanzania's hard line stance on some of the regional issues may have not gone down well with the other countries. "You cannot rule out the possibility that they are not happy with the way we run our diplomacy.

Mr Samuel Sitta should come out and explain," said Mr Kabwe. He warned that Tanzania may be going the UK way over integration issues.

His position was shared by a distinguished political commentator, Prof Mwesiga Baregu of St. Augustine University, who observed that Tanzania portrayed a negative image in Burundi. "The miss on Friday may be just one sign of annoyance with us."

The prof who attended the Burundi meeting, said: "My worry is that the rest of EAC states look at Tanzania as the stumbling block and may begin to isolate it."

He said it was time the government decided to move on like the rest or ditch the whole integration plan, warning that the countries may take a decision similar to that of the EU where slow reformers were not allowed to hold others back.

But the University of Dar es Salaam's Political Science and Public Administration Lecturer, Dr Benson Bana, said nothing much should be read into the matter. He said the mere fact that the neighbouring countries sent delegations showed that the spirit of the EAC was alive.

According to Dr Bana, President Museveni was in the country not long ago. He however admitted that the country may be sidelined by other EAC member states.

According to Dr Bana, Tanzania may not want to fast-track the political federation owing to its experience in the Union of the republic of Tanzania and the need to protect other national interests.