Item 733 - Communique on President Mandela's Official Visit to Tanzania

TRANSCRIPT

1. At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, President of the Republic of South Africa paid a one-day Official visit to the United Republic of Tanzania on 17th November, 1998.

2. His Excellency Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's official visit to Tanzania accorded him an opportunity to renew and bring closer the cordial relations which exist between the Government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania and those of the Republic of South Africa. President Mandela paid a State Visit to Tanzania in May 1995. In turn, the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Mr. Ali Hassan Mwinyi paid a reciprocal State Visit in October 1995.

3. On arrival at the Dar es Salaam International Airport on 17th November 1998, H.E. Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who was accompanied by Honourable Alfred Nzo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senior government Officials was warmly welcomed by H.E. President Benjamin William Mkapa, first Lady, Madam Anna Mkapa; the Vice-President H.E. Dr. Omar Ali Juma, the President of Zanzibar, H.E. Dr. Salmin Amour, the Prime Minister, Rr. Hon. Mr Frederick T. Sumaye, Cabinet Ministers, and Senior Government Officials. At the Dar es Salaam International Airport, H.E. President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was greeted with a 21 gun salute and a Guard of Honour mounted by the Tanzania People's Defence Force.

4. During the Official Visit, H.E. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela addressed the National Executive Committee of the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi in which he reaffirmed the cordial relations existing between the ruling parties in Tanzania (CCM) and that of the Republic of South Africa (ANC) borne out of the national liberation struggle of South Africa in particular, and Africa in general. He reiterated the ANC's quest for heightening and strengthening the bonds that bind the two political parties and peoples. In this connection, he informed the leaders of Tanzania of his decision to retire from active politics and to leave the top leadership of the ANC and the Government under the able leadership of his Deputy President, H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki. President Dr. Nelson Mandela requested the President and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to continue working closely with the new leaders of the Republic of South Africa.

5. President Mkapa reiterated his party's commitment to continue working very closely with the ANC leadership in the Republic of South Africa as well as that of the Government. In this regard, President Mkapa reaffirmed the good working relations with the Government and the people of the Republic of South Africa as attested by many investors and tourists coming in from that country. President Mkapa also invited more investors to come to Tanzania and called for more people-to-people co-operation to further consolidate our cordial relations established for more than three decades.

6. The two Presidents also held Official Talks in a cordial and friendly atmosphere on 17th November, 1998 at the State House, Dar es Salaam and reviewed the latest bilateral, sub-regional, continental as well as international issues of mutual interest and concern to the two countries.

7. During the Official Talks, President Mkapa briefed President Mandela on the latest political, economic, social and cultural developments in his country. In turn, President Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela briefed President Mkapa on the latest political, economic, social and cultural developments in the Republic of South Africa. The two Presidents urged their two countries to speed up co-operation in the sectors identified by the General Agreement on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation concluded between the two parties in October 1995.

8. On sub-regional co-operation, the two Presidents re-iterated their commitment to SADC as a vehicle towards regional economic integration in southern Africa and eventually that of the African Economic Community. They, therefore, underscored the imperative need by all Member-States of the Organisation to scrupulously observe and implement all decisions of SADC towards strengthening the regional economic integration. They also offered their strong support, to the initiative undertaken by South Africa's Deputy President, Hon. Thabo Mbeki, at the level of Deputy Heads of State, for the formation of a SADC VISION and Development Agenda upon which member states and external partners would direct the priorities and resources, for accelerated growth and balanced development in the region.

9. On the on-going conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (DRC), the two Presidents reaffirmed the decisions reached at the Pretoria Summit, Victoria Falls II meeting, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Durban as well as the recent SADC Summit in Port Louis, the Republic of Mauritius, the East African Co-operation Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya on 18th October, 1998 as well as the SAD ministerial meeting held in Lusaka, Zambia on 26th - 27th October, 1998 which called for a cessation of hostilities, a troop standstill, signing of a formal cease-fire and the withdrawal of all foreign forces. They requested all parties to the conflict to urgently enter into negotiations in order to resolve the conflict in a peaceful manner.

10. The two Presidents also applauded the relentless efforts of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General in Angola, Mr. Issa Diallo, to promote a political solution in terms of the Lusaka Protocol in that war-torn country.

11. On the continued stalemate in the search for a political solution in the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, the two Presidents welcomed the steps taken by the acting President of that country in improving conditions for a negotiated settlement. They also urged all parties to uphold the principles of unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and to commit themselves to a search for a political solution under the auspices of the OAU.

12. On the on-going political impasse in the Kingdom of Lesotho, the two Presidents urged the government, opposition parties and the security forces to redouble their efforts in the search for a politically acceptable solution to the crisis in that country. In this regard, President Benjamin William Mkapa commended the efforts of the leaders of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique for coming to the aid of the Lesotho government on behalf of SADC as well as for their role in searching for an acceptable solution to the crisis.

13. With regard to the Burundi conflict, the two Presidents re-affirmed their total support for the negotiation process, under its Facilitator, Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere, for political and sustainable democratic solutions that will guarantee security for all citizens. In this connection, they urged all the parties to the conflict to continue with efforts aimed at realising substantial progress in the Fourth Round of the All-Party Talks, scheduled to commence on 18th January, 1999 in Arusha, Tanzania.

14. At the end of the Official Visit on 17th November 1998, H.E. Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela expressed his appreciation to H.E. President Benjamin William Mkapa, the Government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him and his entourage during their stay in the country. H.E. President Dr. Mandela and his delegation left for Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, after the conclusion of his one-day Official Visit.