Dar cheers as Lungu, Deby jet in

PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday received his Chad and Zambian counterparts who arrived in the country for working and state visits, respectively.

Chad’s Idriss Déby who also chairs the African Union (AU) arrived for a two-day working visit while Zambia’s Edgar Lungu is in Dar es Salaam for the three-day state visit.

President Déby was received at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)’s Terminal One by his host President Magufuli who chairs the East African Community (EAC) as well.

Present at the airport to receive the visiting leader were Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Augustine Mahiga and other senior government officials.

During the visit, President Déby is scheduled to hold official talks with President Magufuli on issues pertained to the East African region and Africa as a whole. President Déby’s AU Chairmanship that spans 2016/2017 comes amid the continent’s serious challenges, including terrorism and underdevelopment.

The visiting leader was accompanied by his wife, Mama Hinda Déby Itno and Chadian Minister for Foreign Affairs and African Intergration, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, as well as other high ranking officials.

The plane carrying President Déby touched down at the JNIA at exactly 14:59 and after the reception by President Magufuli, the guest was introduced to leaders at the airport before proceeding to watch a traditional dance.

There was no usual fanfare reserved for visiting Heads of State such as the 21-gun salute and inspecting a guard of honour since his was just a working visit.

“Such fanfare is accorded to visiting Heads of State on state-visit but President Déby’s is on working visit,” a protocol officer explained to this paper. After a shortconversation with President Magufuli, the visiting leader left the airport at 15:19.

Also present at the airport to receive the leader were Chief Secretary, Eng John Kijazi, Chief of Defence Force (CDF), General Davis Mwamunyange, the Commissioner General of Prisons Department John Kijazi and Director General of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS) Dr Modestus Kipilimba. There were as well a number of diplomats accredited to Tanzania from other countries in the African continent.

Zambia’s Lungu arrived in the evening to a warm welcome by President Magufuli, Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan and other senior government officials. This is the first visit to the country since Mr Lungu was elected into office in September last year 9J-One, a plane carrying the Zambian Head of State touched at the JNIA at 5:15 PM.

The visitor later received a 21-gun salute before inspecting a guard of honour. He was also greeted by members of the diplomatic coup and troupes of dancers who stole the show at the country’s main airport.

Mr Lungu is this morning scheduled to visit the Tanzania- Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) and the Tanzania Zambia Oil Pipeline (Tazama), according to Dr Mahiga. President Lungu is accompanied by 20 delegates.

His visit at TAZARA is critical as the firm struggles to regain its lost glory. The railway line’s cargo capacity dropped to 87,000 tons in 2014/15 owing to dilapidated infrastructure and poor management.

According to Ambassador Mahiga, TAZARA has since been playing critical role to economic growth of other countries, including Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

Later, he will be received by Dr Magufuli at State House where the two leaders would sign several agreements towards strengthened bilateral diplomatic ties as well as trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

The visit by the Zambian leader comes a few days after a meeting of the recent session of a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), according to Dr Mahiga.