Kenya-Tanzania relations are not frosty, says Chirau Mwakwere

Kenya’s ambassador to Tanzania Chirau Mwakwere has dispelled claims that there is a simmering diplomatic row between the two countries.

He said matters arising from access to resources are normal and should not be equated to animosity or war.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 17th Biennial Ambassadors and High Commissioners’ Conference at Leisure Lodge Resort, Kwale County last week, Mr Mwakwere said conflicts are not unique to the two states, and can be amicably resolved.

“Kenya’s relationship with Tanzania is at a level we can call excellent. Recently we had a conflict involving slashing of KQ flights to Tanzania and the barring of our neighbour’s tourist vans from accessing Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,” Mr Mwakwere said.

Last week, Tanzanian reduced the frequency of KQ’s trips from 42 to 14. The matter was, however, resolved when President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart Mr Jakaya Kikwete met in Namibia early last week.

The vans resumed their routine picking and dropping of passengers at JKIA while KQ regained its trips to Tanzania.

'MISINTERPRETED' AGREEMENT

Mr Mwakwere said Tanzania’s civil aviation officials ‘misinterpreted’ a section of Bilateral Air Service Agreement.

The agreement, which was drawn in 2003 and revised four years later stipulates the number of plane landings a country can offer to another state based on reciprocity.

International relations analysts have claimed the two countries are living in perpetual suspicion which could harm the spirit of cooperation in East Africa.

Some of the analysts claim President Kikwete may be weighing options to jump ship into Southern African Development Communities (SADC).

But Mr Mwakwere, a former Foreign Affairs minister, said each state will seek partnership with countries where its citizens will reap more, adding that Tanzania knows the benefits of being in EAC are more than those of SADC.

Tanzania’s parliament recently passed an Anti-Foreigners Bill requiring employers to only give jobs to ‘outsiders’ if a native  cannot handle such assignment.

“All countries act in the interest of their people and each country will act to protect its citizens. I do not see anything wrong with that,” the envoy said.

Mr Mwakwere, also said he had received reports that contracts of Kenyans working in the East African Secretariat are not being renewed.

He has raised the matter with the relevant authorities. He assured those affected to remain calm since each country has a portion of employees to the secretariat of the economic bloc.

The conference, which was officially opened last Tuesday by President Kenyatta, is the first since Jubilee took power over two years ago.

The envoys concluded the eight-day meeting yesterday by visiting Wasini Island, Shimba, Base Titanium, Kaya Kinondo and Colobust Trust.

They also visited Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Navy as well as Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute.

The envoys will meet foreign missions in the country tomorrow in Nairobi.

Plenary sessions will run until Thursday when Deputy President William Ruto is expected to close the meeting.