On Wednesday 17 March 2021, Tanzanian President John Magufuli died of a heart ailment. President Mnangagwa has already arrive in Tanzania, joining other African and world leaders for today’s memorial service for former Tanzanian President John Magufuli.
President Mnangagwa was unsurprisingly amicable with the late Tanzanian President. One of the major reasons for this was his strong stance against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. At the 40th SADC Ordinary Summit Heads of States and Government hosted virtually by Mozambique last year, President Magufuli had the following to say on the issue of sanctions:
“It is my strong belief that our nations will benefit if sanctions on Zimbabwe are lifted. It will offer an invaluable contribution not only to Zimbabwe but to the entire continent. These are some of the achievements we have been able to achieve during the past year.
“During the 39th summit, we (SADC) passed the resolution to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe, which were imposed since 2001. In that resolution we approved October 25 of every year to be a special day against sanctions in Zimbabwe where member states will be conducting various activities including preparing dialogues and declarations against the sanctions on Zimbabwe.
These sanctions have not only affected the people of Zimbabwe and their Government but the entire region. It is like a human body: when you chop one of its parts it affects the whole body.
Therefore, I would like to seize this opportunity to urge the international community to lift sanctions it imposed on Zimbabwe. This brotherly country after all has now opened a new chapter and it is ready to engage with the rest of the world. It is therefore, I believe, in the interest of all parties concerned to see these sanctions removed.”
For this display of support for the good of the Zimbabwean people he was no doubt respected by our leadership. Hence, the President E.D Mnangagwa traveled to Tanzania to attend the late President’s memorial service.
The late President’s funeral service is expected to be held in Dodoma, the administrative national capital for Tanzania.
President Mnangagwa was joined by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Acting Minister Professor Amon Murwira, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet responsible for Communication Mr George Charamba and senior Government officials Foreign Affairs and International Trade Acting Minister Professor Amon Murwira and Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet responsible for Communication Mr George Charamba.
The delegation was welcomed at Julias Nyerere International Airport by Tanzanian Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mashimba Ndaki, other Tanzanian officials, Zimbabwe Ambassador to Tanzania Anselm Sanyatwe and embassy staff.
VP Chiwenga is the Acting President while the President is out of the country.