Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan To Visit South Africa

Tanzania's president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, is set to pay a state visit to South Africa on Thursday at President Cyril Ramaphosa's invitation.

The ceremony will crown the second session of the South Africa-Tanzania Bi-National Commission (BNC), SA News reported. BNC consists of four committees including Political and Diplomatic, Defence and Security, Economic Affairs and Social and Cultural Affairs.

"The Bi-National Commission is a platform for strengthening cooperation, especially in areas such as trade and investment, infrastructure, transport, energy, water, science and innovation, education, defense, agriculture, environment, health and culture, among others," the Presidency said in a statement on Sunday.

South Africa and Tanzania are long-term trading partners. In the statement, South Africa shared that they wish to increase trade and investment alongside broader economic development with Tanzania.

The trade between both countries has increased from 6.89 billion rand in 2021 to 8.71 billion rand in 2022.

"The strong economic ties are evidenced by the presence of more than 250 South African companies in diverse sectors in Tanzania," the Presidency added.

"The ruling party in Tanzania, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), supported the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in the struggle against apartheid," the Presidency noted further. "These ties culminated in the establishment of official diplomatic relations when South Africa achieved freedom in 1994 and have since evolved into excellent political, economic and social relations."

South Africa elected its first Black president, anti-apartheid activist and politician Nelson Mandela, in 1994. He served his term until 1999. Before that, the country was ruled by the National Party, which had been in power since 1948. Founded in 1914, the party got disbanded in 1997.

Tanzania has a long history of supporting liberation movements in South Africa. It even hosted forces of the PAC and ANC as it offered itself as a base for those who were fighting for freedom.

Moreover, the country, located in East Africa, welcomed large numbers of South African refugees who escaped war and colonial oppression. It also gave a helping hand to several other countries including Angola, Mozambique and Namibia.

Going back to the state visit of Tanzania's president, a meeting will be held for senior officials on Monday and Tuesday, while another meeting of senior officials by the Ministerial Bi-National Commission will take place on Wednesday.

These engagements will happen at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation OR Tambo headquarters in Pretoria. The event will reportedly have the theme "Forging a New Deal between South Africa and Tanzania Towards High Levels of Trade and Investment."

Ramaphosa and Hassan will address the plenary session at The Union Buildings, Pretoria.

Hassan is serving as the first-ever female president of Tanzania since March 2021. The 63-year-old leader is a member of CCM. She served as vice president of Tanzania from 2015 to 2021.