The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and First Lady of Tanzania, Salma Kikwete, are expected to arrive in Jamaica on Monday, November 23 at the start of a 3-day State Visit.
President Kikwete and the First Lady will be visiting Jamaica on their way to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago to be held from November 27-29.
A busy programme of activities has been planned as the Jamaican government moves to establish closer linkages with key African states. The visit follows one earlier this year by Tanzania’s Minister of Water and Irrigation and officials of that East African country's Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority. Arising out of that visit, the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) had put forward a proposal for both countries to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to exchange information and experience to foster a long-term sustainable relationship.
The Tanzanian leader will be looking at tourism investment opportunities and will be visiting National Hero, Marcus Garvey’s parish of St. Ann for meetings with parish officials and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett. On the first day of their visit they will be taken on tours of some of the top attractions in the parish. President Kikwete is also expected to unveil the statue of Olympian Herb Mckenley at the National Stadium on the afternoon of Tuesday November 24.
Day two of the visit (Wednesday Nov. 25) will see meetings with Prime Minister Bruce Golding, bilateral meetings at the Office of the Prime Minister, courtesy calls on the Leader of the Opposition, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J Patterson, and a visit to Liberty Hall in downtown Kingston, a cultural and educational institution which honours the legacy of Marcus Garvey.
One of the high points of the visit will be an address by President Kikwete to the joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament on the afternoon of November 25. A state dinner will be hosted in honour of the visiting head by the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen on the evening of November 25 at which the President will be conferred with the Order of Excellence.
President and Mrs Kikwete will depart on November 26 to the CHOGM in Trinidad and Tobago.
