By Prosper Makene
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her counterpart Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of the Republic of Mozambique have witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on peace and security.
The MoUs were signed in Mozambique’s capital city Maputo on President Samia’s first official visit to the country.
The first MoU on the Coordination of Search and Rescue Services was signed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania, Ambassador Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk together with the Minister of Transport and Communications of Mozambique, Mateus Magala.
The second agreement on defense issues was signed by the Tanzanian Defence Minister, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax with her counterpart of Mozambique, Cristovao A. Chume.
However, the two heads of state have also agreed to strengthen bilateral ties on agriculture, fishing, oil and gas, as well as minerals.
The two countries have witnessed a decrease in trade and investment from 53,524.5 billion shillings in 2020 to 46,006.00 billion shillings.
Tanzania and Mozambique have also agreed to revive the student exchange system known as (TAMOSE) which expired in 2015 by benefited 369 students.
On her part, President Samia said that Tanzania is ready to develop a strategic plan which will bring Kiswahili language teachers to Mozambique mainly in primary schools.
However, Mozambique’s Nyusi received his counterpart from Tanzania in Maputo on Wednesday to strengthen political, economic and social cooperation between the two countries.
The visit of the President Samia to Mozambique comes in response to the invitation made by the Mozambican head of state and is part of the strengthening and deepening of historical ties of brotherhood and solidarity.
The President of Tanzania began a state visit to Mozambique Wednesday, which is expected to last until Friday.
The programme also includes a visit to the Maputo Combined Cycle Power Plant on Wednesday.
Nyusi and Samia Suluhu are also due to “exchange views on issues of common interest at the level of southern Africa, the African continent and the world.
Meanwhile, Tanzania is one of the countries that is part of SAMIM, a military mission of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with soldiers supporting Mozambican troops fighting the armed insurgency in Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country.
